When I first heard the name “Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen“,  it did not come across my mind that there would be chinese-style food involved.

And I was in for a pleasant surprise!

A brief summary of the eatery:

Nestled in the heart of the city,  Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen is a 2-in-1 eatery that serves its famous style of yong tau foo during the day  (coasted in unique meat gravy made with their original recipe since Year 1995!) .

When the night comes, the eatery transforms itself into a modern Chinese local street bar with hip ambience and trendy industry-style decor.

Well, nothing beats the physical experience of heading down to the venue, and so I did! With the nearest MRT station at Telok Ayer, the location is definitely not difficult to find – and I was soon greeted with its trademark wordings “FU LIN“.

I have to say I was WOW-ed when I stepped foot into the eatery.

Here are some photos to show: (The place was actually quite romantically dim)

Notice the interesting fusion?

On the left, it appeared to be an english-looking bar (with some chinese ornaments on the shelves), while the right side of the decorations carried a super Asian ambience. (I could tell that the owner of the place loves Mao Ze Dong, as seen on many significant collectibles and props)

Now comes the most important part – The FOOD.

Although I was given multiple salivating choices to choose from during the tasting, I decided to trust Fu Lin’s staff with their recommendation.

I told them to bring on their recommended dishes that were highly raved. (And I am gonna share my personal reviews here, but please do bear in mind that opinions shared can be VERY subjective as it’s ultimately up to individual’s preferences!)

#1: Iberico Pork

If you were to ask me if they do taste as good as they look, I would say Yes. The taste reminded me of BBQ – chewy texture, smoked, and some pieces even had dark, burnt edges.

However, it was not exactly easy for me to chew (probably due to my braces. HAHA) – but the overall taste was pleasant.

#2 Baby Back Ribs

This tasted quite… Special. It reminded me of the combination of spices + peppermint. And SPICY ALERT. If you are someone who loves spicy food, then you will be sure to enjoy this plate of delicacy. Despite that these are the back ribs part, the meat was juicy and very well-marinated. With each bite, you will enjoy the rich taste of its recipe.

#3 Mala Beef/Fish (You can choose between Beef or Fish)

Yes,  I know some of you will be staring at the fiery red colour and go: –

“OMG IS IT SPICY?!“

Well, its a big YES. But again, this is the kind of dish that will not taste good if it isn’t spicy to begin with. Harsh reality.

I would suggest to pair the gravy with plain rice – they make a great combination! The beef slices that were soaked in it was really tender and came in thin pieces (that made them easy to chew on!) If you are a fan of China food, you are gonna’ approve this. Caution: Prepare cups of water if you are worried of it being too spicy!

#3 XO Carrot cake

Portion was big, but I have to admit I did not really taste the XO flavour. I am sure this will make a filling dish for anyone with bigger appetite!

The carrot cake pieces were chopped separately into thick pieces – although honestly I would have preferred for them to be smaller. Leaning more to being a tad plain, it still maintained a tiny level of spiciness. The carrot cake comes with the combination of bean sprouts and eggs, and they complement well.

Whether or not you are here for the ambience or food, I would say this is a pretty interesting place to visit, especially with your date.

The environment creates a relaxing feel for a perfect night out.

And since I was here, how could I not pose with the props.. and also the food?!

Not the most glam photo as the environment was quite dark, but there are many corners in the eatery that can offer good Insta-worthy photo ops.

If you are interested in experiencing for yourself, here are the details:

Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen 

127 Telok Ayer. St, Singapore 068596

tinyurl.com/fulinreserve or call 6423 0311 to make a reservation!

Do feel free to share your favourite dish with us in the comments!

*This was an invited media tasting, but all reviews are of our own