Our Review on Lai Lai Taiwan Dining (City Square Mall Outlet)
We chanced upon this Lai Lai Taiwan Dining hiding in one corner of Level 3 of City Square Mall and we told each other that we must try it again. We first tried this more than 10 years ago when they were at one of the shophouse lanes in Bugis and they were definitely a must-try for Soupy Beef Noodles.
As usual, similar outlets opened in Singapore and they closed down the only shop in Bugis and we lost track of their existence. So when we found them in City Square Mall, it brought back some good memories.
The place was pretty crowded on a Sunday afternoon around 1.30pm and we were given a table for 2 near the entrance. We were told to scan the QR Code on the table for the Menu, to make our orders and payments.
Menu
Compared to those time in Bugis, the menu was quite limited back then. This time round, they have more to offer. They have like:
- Bentos starting from $12.90
- Lai Lai Classic Set and Signatures
- Main Course of Noodles and Rices
- Side Dish
- Taiwan Pancake
- Lai Lai Claypot
- Beverages like Taiwan Milk Tea
- Toasts
- Beverages
What We Ordered And Payment
We went with Stew Beef Mix Tendon Soup ($12.90) from the Lai Lai Claypot Section, went with Half Tendon (+$2) and Stew Beef Noodle Soup ($14.90) from the Lai Lai Signature Section, went with All Meat and add Noodles (+$1.50).
The above prices were before Service Charge of 10% and GST of 9%. Thus the total for this meal was $37.53. Payment was made online with our Credit Card.
They brought us cutlery after our order went through and the waiting game began.
The Taste
— Stew Beef Noodle Soup
Both the Stew Beef Noodle Soup and Stew Beef Mix Tendon Soup were served together and it took around 12 minutes of waiting time.
For the Stew Beef Noodle Soup, it came with lots of greens (there’s an option to exclude them in the order), a good serving of their springy noodles, all fresh looking beef meat, a dash of salted vegetables, vegetables and a bowl of half-filled broth.
One of their signature ingredients is their noodles which are their own – the texture is smooth, springy and thick. One portion of it was enough to make us feel bloatedly full.
The next key ingredient was their stew beef though it had no signature taste but the meat was very soft and there was a certain shine in between the beef.
The last key ingredient was their broth which had a good beef taste to it. Their website mentioned something about a secret ingredient added but we could not taste it out. This broth was less thick than the one from claypot.
There was a good small serving of Xiao Bai Chye so for those who need greens in their diet, this dish has it.
— Stew Beef Mix Tendon Soup
This Stew Beef Mix Tendon Soup consisted of the same beef chunks as the Stew Beef Noodle Soup with the difference that it came with Beef Tendons.
We liked their Beef Tendons which were all soft and none of them had a tough texture. It was good to taste the broth inside our mouth as we bit through the Tendons.
As for the broth, it was thicker and had a stronger flavored taste, possibly due to the heated claypot treatment minus off any noodles.
How To Get To Lai Lai Taiwan Dining?
Address: 180 Kitchener Road #03-39/40 City Square Mall, Singapore 208539 (Google Maps)
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park MRT
Other Outlet(s):
- Lai Lai Cafe – 151 Lorong Chuan, #01-03 New Tech Park, Singapore 556741
Check Them Out: