What are they Queuing for? Snaking queue at Ion B4, Joy Luck Teahouse (歡樂冰室)

Long snaking queue was seen at Ion B4. What are these people queuing for?

Pandemic or not, it’s clear Singaporean’s appetite for good food can’t be dampened.

Can’t travel to Hong Kong? Nevermind. Singapore-born TV producer Robert Chua, in his latest F&B venture- Joy Luck Teahouse (歡樂冰室), has brought the best of Hong Kong’s cha chaan teng scene to Singapore.

JOY LUCK TEAHOUSE

Joy Luck Teahouse opened for business on Friday, 28 August 2020 at ION Orchard, #B4-61, bringing in the 3 culinary treasures from iconic Hong Kong brands — egg tarts, pineapple buns and milk tea. A part of Hong Kong’s food legacy, these three offerings are recognised on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong list.

Besides the three items, Joy Luck Teahouse will also dole out Hong Kong Fish Balls and an array of Hong Kong-style beverages.

Two kinds of egg tarts, which are from Hoover Cake Shop (豪華餅店) are available: puff pastry and butter cookie. Smooth, wobbly and creamy, the custard is made with high-quality eggs and butter, hitting just the right note of sweetness. Veteran thespians Chow Yun-Fat and Liza Wang Ming-Chuen are fans of these egg tarts.

The Hong Kong pineapple bun (bo lo/ bolo bao) hails from Kam Kee Café (金記冰室), a stalwart in Hong Kong’s cha chaan teng scene. 

Kam Kee’s bolo baos are firm on the outside with a sweet, crumbly golden crust that resembles a pineapple and covers almost the entire exterior to provide crunch in every bite. The bun is also stuffed with a generous slab of fragrant premium butter in the middle (Bo Lo Yau) that melts within the soft warm bread. Other fillings such as kaya and luncheon meat are also available. 

The Hong Kong-style milk tea also follows Kam Kee’s secret recipe that calls for a blend of superior-quality tea leaves imported from Sri Lanka. European full cream evaporated milk is added to the brew to lend a moderately sweet flavour. 

Also available are Hong Kong Fish Balls, the most popular street food in the city. The fish balls are by Tak Hing Fishball Company(德興魚蛋公司): the freshly made fish paste is smooth and soft in texture with no flour or additives added. 

OPENING SPECIALS

• 10% off regular items with no minimum spending for all walk-in customers
• 20% off regular items with $10 minimum spending with membership signup in the 1st 2 weeks of ION opening
• Buy 1 get 1 Free Hong Kong Milk Tea (Hot/Cold) or Pearl of the Orient (Hong Kong Milk Tea with Bubble) with membership signup in the 1st 2 weeks of ION opening. The free item will be the lower priced item.

SINGAPORE SENIORS 50% DISCOUNT PROGRAM

As Joy Luck Teahouse’s token of appreciation for Singaporean senior citizens who have contributed to nation building, Singaporean senior citizens aged 60 years old can enjoy 50% off Hong Kong-style Milk Tea and 8 Treasures Tea when they present their Merdeka or Pioneer Generation cards.

ADDRESS

B4-61 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801

Operating Hours: 9am to 10pm

SOCIALS

Instagram: @joyluck.teahouse
Facebook: @joyluck.teahouse