Chen's Mapo Tofu (The Star Vista)

sooooo yummy but q pricey for what you get

I’ve never cared for tofu, so I can’t explain why I ended up at @chensmapotofu. Maybe I got swayed by the Michelin Bib Gourmand, or maybe I just decided to walk into the first restaurant I saw and hope for the best. My luck was in and my hope was not in vain, as my choice of the Signature Combo ($15++) was an inspired one.⠀
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Featuring a half portion of the Mapo Don that got Chen’s on the Bib Gourmand and a half portion of Dan Dan Mian, this double combo combines to make a truly filling meal. The sauce of the mapo tofu was downright delightful, with its supreme savouriness spiced up with Sichuan peppercorns for that trademark numbing. The intensity of the peppercorns was quite tame, with a subtle but unmistakable numbness & a hit of spicy heat. The sauce was thick, going against the norm of a thin watery sauce, and the mapo tofu felt considerably more substantial as a result. The silky soft tofu was enriched by an abundance of minced pork, and when combined with the sapid spicy sauce & steamed rice, made me reconsider my indifference towards mapo tofu.⠀
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As for the Dan Dan Mian, it was simple but satisfyingly savoury. Bouncy, QQ ramen is topped with a saucy minced pork sauce, and normally that would be all she wrote. However, here at Chen’s, that meat sauce is upgraded with a splash of Sichuan chili oil for that trademark tongue numbing sensation and the kick of spicy heat. This simple noodle dish is elevated with just a little tweak, and it was so supremely satisfying to savour. Enjoy the noodles first though, as the noodles get cold real quick and clump up.

Szechwan popcorn chicken
The popcorn chicken is so irresistibly crispy & very flavourful from the Szechuan spice. Pack a mild spicy punch, making it an addictive bites.

Signature Mapo Don
I got the level 3 here & didn't regret. Arrive in an inviting dark red colour & is very fragrant. It is spicy but is the kind of very addictive spicy kick that keeps me wanting more & is so flavourful. The silky immensely smooth tofu also fell apart easily in my mouth & pairing it well with the spicy gravy with a creamy finish. The fluffy short-grain rice soaked up the gravy very well, making me go spoon after spoon.

Kurobuta Tonkatsu Kombu Mien.
The Kombu Mien is cook al dente, blanketed by a huge potion of Kurobuta Tonkatsu with oozy egg at side. The tonkatsu are perfectly fried till crispy yet juicy inside! Comes with a spicy mala mayo dip which goes so well with the tonkatsu ! Love the oozy egg too!

Mala Aburi Chashu
Come with choice of base either Egg Garlic Chan, Kombu Mien or Shishito Mien. I choose Egg Garlic Chahan & totally love it. The Egg Garlic Fried Rice is cook to fluffy with a moist texture & a strong wok hey aromatic with the combination flavours of eggy garlicky fragrant. The caramelised Chashu in Szechwan Mala Sauce is super tender, with mild mala spice, super shiok.