With its pink chairs, pastel tones and soft lighting, you would hardly guess Xi Tang HK Café 囍糖 is a Hong Kong café.
The look is far from the fast-paced, no-frills style of the usual cha chaan tengs.
Instead, it feels almost whimsical, with a touch of playroom charm.
Yet behind the light-hearted design, Xi Tang serves classic Hong Kong comfort food prepared by chefs from Hong Kong themselves.
I find that it is also quite under-the-radar despite having two outlets.
One’s at i12 Katong, and the other along Kampong Bahru Road, both aiming to bring a slice of Hong Kong’s everyday dining culture to Singapore.
The food covers familiar staples and a fair range of sweets.
If you are feeling hungry, mains include HK Beef Brisket Rice ($11.90), HK Beef Shank Rice ($11.90), HK Curry Beef Brisket Rice ($11.90), HK Curry Chicken Rice ($9.90), HK Chicken Chop Rice ($9.90), HK Pork Chop Rice ($9.90), and Soya Sauce Chicken Wing Rice ($9.90).
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting too much initially, but the HK Curry Chicken Rice ($9.90) turned out to be straightforward but hearty.
The curry was thick, mildly spicy, and coated the chicken well without being too heavy. The kind of plate you would happily mop up with rice on a busy weekday.
The Soya Sauce Chicken Wing Noodle ($9.90) was not too bad either.
The wings were well braised, and the sauce carried that familiar savoury note which brought to mind Hong Kong cart noodles, simple but satisfying in its own way.
If the food had been served more piping hot, it would have scored extra points for me.
Desserts stood out as the café’s stronger point.
It ranges from Peach Gum Fungus Longan Tonic Soup ($8.00) to Mango Pomelo Sago with Mango Ice Cream ($8.50), Black Sesame Paste ($5.00), Tang Yuan in Black Sesame Paste ($6.50), and Orange Peel Red Bean with Tang Yuan ($6.50).
The Mango Pomelo Sago with Mango Ice Cream ($8.50) was refreshing, not overly sweet, and well layered.
The usual Mango Pomelo Sago ($6.50) dessert wasn’t as ‘exciting’ though, but struck a good balance between sweet mango and the slight bitterness of pomelo, which helped to cleanse the palate.
If you need something that would remind you of Hong Kong, the HK Iced Red Bean ($4.50) was more of a dessert in itself.
The drink was thick and filling, and perhaps best saved for those who want a heavier treat.
Xi Tang HK Café does not try to reinvent Hong Kong food.
It keeps close to the basics, offers them at a fair price, and presents them in a friendlier, softer setting than you would expect.
Xi Tang HK Cafe 囍糖
i12 Katong #01-21, 112 East Coast Road, Singapore 428802
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Xi Tang HK Cafe 囍糖
5 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169341
Opening Hours: 11am – 7:30pm (Mon), 11am – 8pm (Tues – Sat), Closed Sun
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