Spice lovers should already be familiar with Chen’s Mapo Tofu, an offshoot of chef Chen Kentaro’s two-Michelin-starred establishment, Shisen Hanten. This casual and more affordable concept, highlights the famed mapo tofu dish ($10.80): slick Sichuan peppercorn-spiced meat sauce comes cooked with silky cubes of tofu, and served atop a bed of steamy Hokkaido white rice.
And now, you won’t need to jostle with the CBD lunch crowd to get a taste of its tongue-numbing dishes. The Bib Gourmand-listed eatery has opened its second outlet in the west, on the second floor of The Star Vista.
The 73-seater space feels bright and open; choose to dine alfresco, or head indoors where wide-panelled windows let in plenty of natural light. Tuck into signatures of its mapo don and Dan Dan Mien ($11.80), or sample them both in a signature combo ($14).
Exclusive to The Star Vista outlet are also two new creations: the Shishito pepper fish soup ($16) and the Kurozu Buta Don ($15.30), a take on the hawker classic of sweet and sour pork, jazzed up with tender chunks of meat tossed with a piquant Kurozi vinegar sauce. Complete the meal with a drink and sides (from $3.50) of spicy Sichuan dumplings, popcorn chicken, seasonal vegetables, and more.
More than just for the spice lovers, Chen’s Mapo Tofu also has a line-up of non-spicy dishes that are worth an order, too. Equally popular is the slurp-worthy Kaisen Katayaki ($15.50), where crispy fried noodles come topped with a slick, umami-ladened sauce filled with vegetables and bits of seafood.
Come 3pm, a supplementary bar menu will be made available for those looking to grab a drink. Sip on Suntory Premium Draft Beer ($10.80) or some chilled sake ($26), then spice up your night out with an extended sharing plates menu of mala chicken wings ($5), Sichuan edamame ($4.50), sliced pork belly with pickled chilli sauce ($5.50), and more.