Review: Shao Tapas puts a nice modern twist on Teochew flavours, with dishes such as braised foie gras

What do you think is the most iconic Teochew dish? Porridge? Steamed fish? Orh nee?

In the eyes of many people, the best Teochew restaurants in Singapore are the places where you go to indulge in the homeliest flavours.

Teochew fare is a creature comfort for many, especially those who pine for the nostalgic dishes made by their late grandparents.

With that said, have you ever wondered what it would be like for Teochew food to be prepared in tapas form? 

It turns out that someone has already done it: We’re talking about none other than Shao Tapas at Holland Village.

The backstory

Located along the famous Lorong Mambong stretch in the Holland Village enclave, Shao Tapas is opened by Shao, a modern Teochew restaurant that also has two other outlets at Frankel Avenue and Rangoon Road.

The moment you step in, you’ll see that this place is markedly different from the usual Chinese restaurants we are accustomed to.

The decor here is snazzier and has more of a contemporary bistro vibe. The menu is similarly aligned, putting a modern twist on traditional flavours by offering a slew of dishes served in a smaller tapas-style format.

That said, tapas aside, as with any Teochew restaurant, you can expect a wide assortment of dishes on Shao Tapas’ menu, ranging from fresh seafood (such as its signature marinated raw crab) to Teochew-style braised dishes. 

If you’re looking for a spot to host your family or colleagues, the diverse menu and its quaint vibes makes it a conducive gathering spot for small to medium groups.

Related Articles:

Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre opens with 22 food stalls, S$3.20 value meals

Craft beer bistro Autobar at Raffles Place serves value-for-money $35 heritage lunch set and S$10 happy hour

Madam Flod: New French creperie at Boat Quay with sweet & savoury crepes and galettes

Our verdict

Shao Tapas delivers a very enjoyable experience, underscored by prompt service and solid cooking.

The vibe is more “modern zi char” than “modern Chinese restaurant” and it feels nice and casual here.

Also, unlike what the name suggests, not everything served here is in tapas form — the restaurant also provides plenty of traditional Teochew staples such as steamed fish and porridge. That ensures a good variety of dish types to make your meal there more interesting. 

On top of that, prices at Shao Tapas are also generally reasonable for the quality, with dishes priced from S$8.

More importantly, having dishes served tapas-style also means more dishes for the table, so everyone can try a bit of everything!

What it’s good for

Shao Tapas’ signature braised item is the braised combination platter (from S$28), served with your classic braised duck, pig trotter and tau kwa (firm tofu), but we found ourselves gravitating towards the unique braised foie gras (S$18), instead.

Foie gras at a Teochew restaurant might sound a bit dubious, but our doubts were quickly allayed when we took our first bite. And it was a splendid bite, indeed —  tender, buttery and it melts in your mouth, too.

More interestingly, the Teochew braise sauce also imbued a herbaceous richness that gracefully covered over the goose liver’s mild natural gameyness. A unique but well-executed dish, for sure.

Tapas-wise, we thought the deep-fried fish collar (S$16 for four pieces) was a standout amidst all the options under Shao Tapas’ appetisers section. 

Sure, the quintessential Teochew dish of steamed fish (which is also on the menu, starting from S$15 per 100g) might be the safer choice, but we were glad we went for this. 

The fry on the fish collar was immaculate and its airy golden-brown exterior, combined with the tender, moist and slightly gelatinous flesh made for an indulgent medley of textures.

The pan-seared Hokkaido cuttlefish with squid ink (S$25) is also a good choice if you’re looking to order something to share with the table at Shao Tapas. 

You get an array of cuttlefish slices, and each chunk of the came delightfully bouncy and loaded with umami, along with a charming tinge of brininess — all elements that would make for a great beer pairing.

Being huge fans of cai poh (preserved radish), we also felt compelled to order the stir-fried rice noodle with minced vegetables in XO sauce (S$18), as our carb for the night.

It’s everything you want in a stir-fried kway teow dish: Fragrant, silky, and brimming with richness.

On top of that, Shao Tapas’ addition of cai poh punctuates the dish with crunch and a gratifying earthiness that all cai poh lovers would undoubtedly enjoy.

What it could improve on

We thought everything was pretty much on point but if we had to pick one weaker dish at Shao Tapas, it would be the drunken cockles (S$16).

It’s not bad by any means, though. The shellfish is fresh and plump and the sauce is sharp and flavoursome — but we thought that it could be too salty if you’re eating it on its own.

However, that’s a small issue that could be easily countered with some carbs — in fact, the sauce would go really well with plain rice, we think!

Our quick takes

Is it conducive to conversation? It can get rather packed and buzzy during dinner time but you shouldn’t have much issues chatting.

Is a reservation necessary? It wasn’t packed but still surprisingly crowded on a Monday night — reserve just to be on the safe side!

How to get there? It’s a five minute walk from Holland Village MRT station’s exit B.

For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on places to book to impress bae for Valentine’s Day and the return of the McGriddles.

Shao Tapas is on the GrabFood delivery service and offers free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited.

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out.

You can also book a ride to Shao Tapas at Holland Village for some Teochew food!