[Review] Must-tries from TungLok Teahouse and Lao Beijing, both at Novena Square 2

If you are a fan of classic yet modern Chinese dishes, Square 2 at Novena is where you’ll want to be. Housed within the same mall are two Chinese dining concepts from the leading restaurant group TungLok.

Find the casual TungLok Teahouse at level 1 with classics that evoke the taste of home, or head up to level 2 to find a refreshed Lao Beijing with new drool-worthy theatrical creations.

TungLok Teahouse

The new menu at TungLok Teahouse introduces over 25 a la carte creations ranging from savoury meat and seafood delicacies to staple noodle dishes.

Paired perfectly with the restaurant’s casual tea house ambience, these traditional comfort food transport customers back in time, perfect for families to gather and reminisce. Highlights to the revamped menu include the following:

Seafood Treasure Bowl $48.8++

Available exclusively at the Square 2 outlet, this is an opulent dish featuring the gems of the sea. It brims with juicy scallops and prawns to represent fortune and happiness, as well as crab and garoupa slices that signify harmony and abundance. Housed within a deep-fried whitebait lattice and topped with a glossy golden crab roe sauce, this seafood medley is great for sharing.

Braised Rice Vermicelli with Seafood $26.8++

A family recipe of TungLuk founder Andrew Tjioe, this is a very comforting dish of hair-thin silky smooth rice vermicelli braised in an umami-rich broth. Ingredients include prawns, squid, clams, sliced fish, and crunchy pork lard.

Hinghwa Pangsit $8.80++

This bowl of piping hot Pangsit, also known as wonton or dumpling, is yet another heirloom receipt from the TungLok family. The simple ingredients of pork, dried shrimps, spring onions, garlic etc, put together were delicious. But the magic lies in the handmade pangsit skin- semi-translucent, and feather-light and silky smooth as it glides down your throat.

Alongside the refreshed a la carte menu, TungLok Teahouse also offers its well-loved selection of dim sum, made on the spot and steamed to order.

TungLok Teahouse
Square 2, #01-73
10 Sinaran Drive, Singapore 307506
TEL: +65 6893 1123
Nearest MRT: Novena

Lao Beijing

Previously located at the adjacent Velocity for 22 years, Lao Beijing has shifted over to Square 2, with a revamped new look. The restaurant’s motto stays, “Pushing Boundaries to Engage Palates of the Present”, by presenting classic Chinese delicacies with new concepts.

At the new Lao Beijing restaurant, the dining experience starts with your eyes, featuring specially-designed wall art visuals to lend a touch of fun and vibrancy to the dining space. You may enjoying classic Chinese dishes, but that doesn’t mean the presentation has to be traditional and stiff.

Braised “Shaoxing Herbal Chicken Soup with Pork & Cabbage Dumplings $32.80++

Tender succulent chicken braised in 7 different types of herbs for over an hour, topped with Shaoxing wine. This dish is complemented with fat and juicy handmade pork and cabbage dumplings. A nourishing and warming dish especially suitable for elders in the family.

The soup was poured in at the table for theatrical flair.

Grilled Barramundi with Tomato and Pickled Cabbage Soup $80++

Locally farmed Kuhlbarra barramundi grilled until the skin is crispy, served in a tangy tomato and pickled cabbage soup loaded with tofu, black fungus and tomatoes. A very appetizing dish!

TungLok’s line of cocktails

TungLok’s line of freshly-made bottled cocktails, 𝐒𝐈𝐏𝟐𝟏, accompanied our dinner. Made only with real fruits with NO commercial syrups, each flavour has an oriental twist. We loved the DRAGON variant – a mix of baijiu, chrysanthemum, strawberry, honey and lemon skillfully calibrated into a subtly sweet and refreshingly light drink.