The Teochew Kitchenette

For the first time, my mum was the one who wanted to visit this restaurant as her friends introduced her to try their dishes

Located on Keong Saik Street, the restaurant has 2 other locations in Tanjung Pagar and Bugis. Tanjung Pagar was the first location opened in 2018, while the Keong Saik location opened in 2024

The restaurant is known for various fish dishes and classic Teochew sides like the Teochew Fish Soup, Red Grouper Fish Head Steamboat, Seafood White Bee Hoon, Homemade Prawn Rolls, Teochew Bak Kut Teh and many more. The outlet at Keong Saik was not too big and could house up to 30 diners. The decor is simplistic and cosy, with many signature dishes printed as posters and hung around the shop

We ordered some of their signature dishes, like the steamed Teochew red grouper, which was cooked in the traditional Teochew style with salted vegetables, sour plums, tomatoes, tofu and ginger. The fish was fresh and sweet, and well complemented by the garnishes used while steaming the fish

We had the fried nan ru pork belly, which is actually pork belly marinated in fermented beancurd before deep frying and is more like a Hakka dish and a favourite in my family. The moment we saw this dish, we had to order it as my mum makes quite a mean dish, so we were quite strict in tasting. The pork served was tender, but the flavours of the fermented beancurd were not distinct enough, so while the pork was savoury, it was missing some flavour profile from the beancurd

We had the claypot pig liver stir-fried over high heat with spring onions and ginger. This is another family favourite and can’t really be done well at home due to the heat of the stove. The ones served here were decent, with fresh liver, so there was no unpleasant smell or taste. The liver was also soft and tender, although I did pick out some tough pieces, so the texture was not consistent. The sauce was slightly salty but perfect when paired with rice

Last but not least, we had the spinach with 3 types of egg and superior broth, which is something served often at restaurants. The broth was light and the vegetables tender, while the eggs and century eggs gave the creamy flavours to the dish

Overall, the restaurant serves homely dishes which remind you of the dishes cooked by your grandmother. Some dishes are not perfect, but also not terrible enough to be dismissed. I would recommend them for family meals, going for traditional flavours and an affordable price tag

Address: 26 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089133

Opening hours: 11 am to 3.30 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm