Yi Qian Private Dining | A Hidden Gem Near Redhill MRT

With the ever-growing food scene, Yi Qian Private Dining boasts exceptional Cantonese and Teochew fare that will delight your tastebuds if you pay them a visit. Located near Redhill MRT station, ex-Golden Palace and Lei Garden Restaurant Chef Raymond is here to present a haven for foodies and gourmands alike with his well-honed culinary skills.

Not that there are over 1000 dishes on the menu, Yi Qian (壹仟) means ‘one thousand’ in Mandarin, signifying longevity and representing the creation of a culinary legacy that will be carried on for a thousand years.

With over 100 dishes available, diners can also choose to customize their very own menu with an advanced request of 3 days here. These are some of the dishes that are not to be missed.

Start with the Crispy Prawn Fritters ($9.80) that is made with Sakura prawns and fried till crispy like a pancake. The prawns were flavourful and not to oily when paired with the sweet and not too spicy chilli sauce that whetted our appetite for the other dishes to come.

The star of the show and a dish we highly recommend is the Stir-fried Shark Fin Soup with Crabmeat, served with Superior Stock in Teapot ($68). Consisting of pan-fried shark’s fin and fresh crabmeat served alongside a teapot of superior soup, pour the fragrant broth into the teacup, take a bite of shark’s fin followed by a sip of soup that has both textural contrast and flavour that goes really well with each other.

This unique 2-part dish is special as it adds the “wok-hei” element that is not commonly found in the shark’s fin soup that we consume at Chinese banquets. Consuming the shark’s fin separately allows you to better appreciate the delicacy as well and left us wishing for a 2^nd portion as we could not stop raving about it even after our meal.

For additional sides that were a delight, the Sizzling Kai Lan in Claypot ($22) is made with a mouth-watering combination of kai lan, belachan and large dried shrimps that had delightful and savoury bite which contrasted the green vegetables well. Mix the kai lan that comes in a sizzling hotpot that will fill the room with its fragrant smell.

The next dish tasted more like a crispy yam cake than an omelette, but the Teochew Crispy Yam & Prawn Omelette ($24) is filled with hearty yam wedges and fresh prawns. Pan-fried till golden, the edges are beautifully crisp while the center remains light and fluffy with a sprinkling of chopped nuts.

The Pig’s Stomach and Chicken in Pepper Soup ($108, pre-order 1 day in advance) may not be the most aesthetically pleasing dish but the richness in taste is splendid. Comprising a whole Kampung Chicken wrapped in a pig’s stomach, the nutritious broth is boiled in white pepper soup for 4 hours till the meat is fall off the bone tender. One serving can serve 4-6 persons and as there a limited quantities available, do remember to pre-order in advance.

With the name Wok Hei Fried Kway Teow with Diced Kai Lan and Preserved Radish ($18) their “wok hei” definitely stands out and can be tasted in each and every bite. As not much of a carbs eater myself, I polished off my bowl before realising it.

Made without the use of pork lard as a healthier choice, the combination of flavours are still uncompromisingly evoked through chef’s expert handling of the heat and ingredients that is totally worth the calories in my opinion.

Ending off a delectable meal with a sweet finish is a dish of Sugar Encrusted Deep Fried Yam Sticks ($20) that had a soft interior and a sweet and crispy exterior. Mimicking powdered snow, liquid sugar is poured over the sticks of yam for a sinfully good ending.

A great place to bring your parents or in-laws for a nice meal out, Yi Qian Private Dining pulls out all the stops that will definitely please everyone with their service and food. Other great options you can try includes their Braised Abalone with Dried Shrimps Claypot Rice ($20 per pax, min 4 pax) and Poached Bamboo Clam with Beansprout and Dough Fritter in Prawn Stock ($24) that is sure to delight your tastebuds so make a reservation with them today.

Yi Qian Private Dining