Min Jiang at Dempsey might be a Chinese restaurant, but the decor, and even location, exudes a completely different vibe. For some two years, the garden eatery has been charming diners with its tranquil dining experience: Rustic motifs of weaved wooden panels and rattan chairs, with glass windows looking out to the lush Dempsey enclave.
And to celebrates its upcoming second anniversary, the restaurant has put together a limited-time menu that features old-time classics alongside contemporary flavours.
The meal might begin with some barbecued chicken necks ($16), a playful take on smoky yakitori. The off-cut, with its almost crunchy cartilage-rich bite, comes marinated in savoury shacha sauce and sesame oil. Or munch on the Appetiser Trio ($18), which comes with Iberico char siew sliders, minced beef encased within a crispy puff, and a refreshing baby tomato marinated with preserved plums.
Other creations include the crispy Iberico char siew ($38) – here, the traditional roasted meat recipe gets dressed up with a coating of torched white sugar to lend a satisfying sweet snap with every bite. Mapo tofu is typically served atop rice, but head chef Goh Chee Kong has put together a novel of enjoying the restaurant’s popular dish. Spice-scented tofu cubes come lavished with slices of Irish duck, and encased within a warm blanket of buttery puff pastry ($18). Dessert tastes as good as it looks. Lemongrass jelly and lime sorbet is served within a halved yellow dragon fruit ($16), and laid atop a cloud of smoke.