Be damned. If we told you that you could pay $31.80++ per pax (weekdays) for a buffet dinner that includes chili crab, Buddha Jump Over the Wall, steamed cod fish and scallops with unlimited servings of goodies such as cereal prawns, sea bass in a banquet hall setting, you would have thought we were kidding.
Say no more.
Joy Garden Restaurant (千禧集团) @ Jurong Safra
You might find Joy Garden Restaurant to be a bit familiar especially if you are living in the West. Chances are that you probably attended one of your friends’ wedding banquet there and enjoy good food.
Sadly, times have changed since the covid pandemic. Joy Garden Restaurant suffered a major setback when it got hit with the first few waves of covid clutter on 15 Feb last year.
Despite having such an awesome promotion, there were only 2 tables in a big hall on a Monday evening.
Honestly, it felt like an private dining experience.
Enough said, lets dive deep. Here were the dishes we ordered.
Crispy Roasted Pork Belly & Honey Glazed BBQ Pork Combo (Individual Serving Only)
Our Ratings: ★★★★★(5/5)
We were so disappointed to know that the pork combo only comes in one single serving. The honey glazed BBQ pork aka char siew was so rich and succulent with a touch of sweetness while the skin of the roasted pork belly was extremely crispy.
What made them even more enjoyable is that they had a perfect ratio of fat and lean meat. You definitely have to order it.
Chili Crab with Buns (Individual Serving Only)
Our Ratings: ★★★★☆(4/5)
For the price we were paying, we weren’t expecting an Alaskan crab. It was a medium size crab at best, but the flavor of the sauce was on point. Compared to Jumbo Seafood, the sauce was just as rich but had a more spicy tone which we gladly welcomed.
That said, we mopped the plate with the buns though we felt the buns could be a little crispier.
Mini Buddha Jump Over the Wall (Individual Serving Only)
Our Ratings: ★★★★★(5/5)
We had great expectations for this, but we weren’t expecting it to blow our minds.
The fish maw was tender and soft, the abalone was decently sized and had a nice tender bite to it, but it was the broth that really hit the spot. It had an intricate and delicate flavor yet maintaining a clean taste profile.
An absolute must-have order.
Poached Prawn with Herbs and Cordyceps (Individual Serving Only)
Our Ratings: ★★★☆☆(3/5)
Nothing too heavy on the palate. Herbal flavor was good and decent, but what made the dish delightful was its thicc juicy prawns. However, if you are a fan of herbal broth, avoid drinking the broth as it was rather bitter.
We made a mental note to save some tummy space for its signature cereal prawns.
Steamed Scallop with Minced Garlic and Vermicelli (Individual Serving Only)
Our Ratings: ★★★★☆(4/5)
This was an absolute flavor bomb.
It was just so satisfying to pop the entire scallop into your mouth and the minced garlic and vermicelli was a perfect complement to it. Not to mention, the scallop was pretty substantial too.
Steamed Cod Fish with Garlic (Individual Serving Only)
Our Ratings: ★★★☆☆(3/5)
We were quite surprised to such a big piece of cod fish served. While the flavor of the fish was delightful, we felt the fish was a little too soft for our liking.
Nonetheless, it was still a very enjoyable dish.
Qianxi Signature Cereal Prawn (Unlimited Serving)
Our Ratings: ★★★★☆(4/5)
In general, cereal prawns is quite an standard dish when done right. However, Qianxi Signature Cereal Prawns was a one notch above the rest.
Fried to golden perfection, the prawns underneath that crispy skin were plump and juicy, similar to the poached prawns we had earlier.
The best part, you can order as many as you want.
Steamed Sea Bass with Bean Crumb (Unlimited Serving)
Our Ratings: ★★★★☆(4/5)
We remembered having a similar dish in one of the wedding banquets and this steamed sea bass was exceptional as well.
The meat was moist, buttery, and tender. It had a tangy Thai style sauce that made the overall dish extremely appetizing and palatable.
Crunchy Jelly Fish (Unlimited Serving)
Our Ratings: ★★☆☆☆(2/5)
Average. If you have craving for crunchy jelly fish, be sure to only order one serving. They serve a huge load of jelly fish in one single serving.
Chef’s Special Fried Red Tilapia (Unlimited Serving)
Our Ratings: ★★★☆☆(3/5)
“香” is the probably the most fitting word to describe this dish.
As tilapia connoisseurs, we were pleasantly surprised to find almost no trace of muddy smell in this dish. Thicc chunky pieces of meat with a crispy and garlicky combo was a perfect ending to the night.
Yam Paste with Ginkgo Nuts (Unlimited Serving)
Our Ratings: ★★★★★(5/5)
There’s no better way to end the dinner than with an satisfying dessert.
Banquets often serve the best yam paste aka orhnee and this was definitely one of the best. The consistency was slightly runnier than most, you could taste its slight traces of soft-cooked yam through its creamy viscosity. That said, we knew the good old pork lard was definitely present to give that succulent, rich taste.
Good Food but Lonely Tables
While the food was good at such a good price point, it was rather disheartening to see just 2 tables occupied in a huge banquet hall. Even then, we were been well taken by two members of the staff.
While we might joke of a private dining experience, the truth is the business may not survive if the situation carries on.
Support Joy Garden So They Can Tide Over This Difficult Period
We weren’t paid to write this review. In honest of good faith and good food, we hope more will support Joy Garden Restaurant so they can tide over this difficult period. If you find the food enjoyable, please help to share this article to help them find traction in their business.
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