For the time being, the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble is still not open, which means we’ll have to eat HK food at home till the borders reopen. In the meantime, there’s a new cha chaan teng to check out in the city.
Pi Foods serves classics diners can enjoy like Hong Kong-style noodles, rice, congee, and roast meats, as well as Canto-Western cuisine, during the day. As the evening unfolds, guests may unwind with a variety of sharing style dishes bursting with wok hei accompanied by a variety of alcoholic beverages of choice.
Dishes To Look Out For
Sweet and Sour Pork ($15.80) is a delicious Cantonese dish that is frequently ordered in all cha chaan tengs. The one served here is no different, with chunky pork deep-fried to perfection, with a crust that remains crisp even after being tossed in the tangy sweet and sour sauce.
Another memorable dish would be the Meat Platter ($16.80) which comes with a 3-way combination of crispy Roasted Duck, sweet and savoury Iberico Pork Char Siew and delicately steamed Gui Fei Chicken. Most people would normally stay away from steamed chicken dishes as it is hard to develop and retain flavour through steaming. However, the one served here is fragrant and has an enjoyable delicate bite.
The roasted duck on the plater boasts succulent, juicy meat and irresistible crisp skin. Even with these two deliciously prepared types of meat, the Iberico pork char siew takes the cake with a good balance of meat and fat, a perfectly balanced sweet and savoury marination that goes down well with any main course.
As part of their western-fusion menu, they also serve a mouth-watering Braised Beef Short Rib ($16.80). The dish consist of two cuts of short rib served over a smooth carrot puree, doused in the braising liquid. Being such a complicated dish that’s being served in a Cantonese dinner, I had low expectations. Once I took a bite, I was amazed.
The beef had a complex flavour profile as it was both seared and braised, which was pleasant. The puree was sweet and tangy which helped cut through the richness of the fatty short rib.
The Stir-Fried Beef Noodles ($13.80) is another must-try dish. Being a classic Cantonese dish, I wasn’t surprised by how delicious it was. With soft, springy noodles and tender beef tossed to perfection in a smoky wok, it proved that it was a dish worth sinking your chopsticks into.
After devouring all the main, if you still have space in your tummy for dessert, turn to the Pi French Toast ($5.80). Unlike the regular canto-western french toast, the one served here is portioned into four bite-sized pieces and deep-fried with a delectable peanut filling.
The HK Style Milk Tea (Hot $3.80, Iced $4.80) prepared with Black & White Evaporated Filled Milk, is a must-try if you are thirsty as well. It is smooth and not too sweet while tasting the same as the ones you would find all the way in Hong Kong.
Unique Interior
The 150-seat restaurant features a sleek, industrial aesthetic with stainless steel walls and ceilings, as well as large windows.
There is also a miniature train drifting on a track overhead while you are dining. There is an outside dining space if it gets too crowded inside, as well as seats at the bar, which offers alcoholic beverages starting at 6 p.m.
With Ex-Lei Garden Hong Kong Chef Tsang Tak Ching leading the kitchen, you are sure to be in good hands at Pi Food, be it a meeting with an important client or a simple get together with friends.
Location: 9 Penang Rd, 01-18, Singapore 238459
Opening Hours: 11.00am – 10.00pm (Mon – Sun)
