A Delicious Cantonese Dinner at East Bistro, Serangoon Gardens

 Singapore - I recently had dinner at East Bistro, located at Serangoon Gardens Village, and it turned out to be a very enjoyable Cantonese dining experience. The food was genuinely good, with each dish prepared with care and packed with flavour although I have to say, the prices are on the expensive side for a neighbourhood restaurant.

Fish Curd with Luffa

We started with the fish curd with luffa in soup, which was essentially fresh and fluffy fishballs served together with luffa in a clear soup. The soup had a lovely ginger fragrance and flavour, while the fishballs were soft, fresh and bouncy. It was a comforting dish and a very good way to start the meal.

Mongolian Pork Ribs

The Mongolian pork ribs were another highlight. The ribs were tender and delicious, with a rich savoury flavour that made them very easy to enjoy. The meat came away nicely from the bone and was one of the dishes that everyone at the table kept going back to.

Salt-baked half chicken

We also tried their signature salt-baked half chicken, which was beautifully tender and nicely seasoned. The salt and spices penetrated the chicken well without overwhelming the natural flavour of the meat. It was simple but very satisfying.

For vegetables, we had kale with garlic and fried broccoli with garlic. Both were cooked very well, retaining a pleasant texture while carrying the fragrant flavour of fried garlic. Sometimes vegetable dishes can be an afterthought in a Chinese meal, but these two were definitely not; both were delicious and complemented the heavier meat dishes nicely.

East Bistro is also associated with Chef Tony Wong, who was previously the head chef of the Michelin-starred Lei Garden in Hong Kong and Singapore. That background certainly adds some credibility to the restaurant's Cantonese cooking.

Overall, I enjoyed my dinner at East Bistro. The fishball and luffa soup, Mongolian pork ribs and salted-baked chicken were particularly memorable, while the two vegetable dishes were equally well executed. The only drawback for me was the price; good food, but not a cheap dinner.