Chengdu Bowl opens new “hidden” flagship outlet at Changi Airport, with new exclusives

Love all things spicy and Sichuan? Popular Sichuan concept Chengdu Bowl has opened a new outlet at Changi Airport’s Terminal 3, and a “hidden” one at that, too.

If you’ve never enjoyed Chengdu Bowl, it’s well-loved for its Sichuan-inspired grain bowls and authentic dishes that taste like they’ve come right out of a Chengdu’s mom’s kitchen. 

This outlet in the east may be the brand’s fifth, but it is also its flagship outlet, complete with an intriguing “hidden” concept — the restaurant is cleverly concealed behind a vending machine front.

Push past the doors and you’ll enter a cosy, warm-lit abode that truly looks like you’ve entered someone’s home. It’s a little cramped, yes — but not in a bad elbow-to-elbow way, and there’s always the option to leave your suitcases by the door.

Since it’s in the bustling airport and pretty popular among families and travellers (of course), Chengdu Bowl’s new outlet not only brings some of its classics — such as classic spicy assorted skewers in red chilli oil (S$14.80) — but also introduces kid-friendly, non-spicy options to its mix.

One of the most memorable non-spicy items — that lingers on in our memory even at the time of writing — is the Mom’s homemade rice pot (S$32.80), an outlet-exclusive. 

It’s a generous bowl of mixed grains in a thick seafood broth, and served in a stone crockpot, that’s warm, hearty and brimming with seafood-y goodness.

Another outlet-exclusive and a non-spicy option is the Mulan beef on hotplate (S$23.80).

This dish has all the elements of a good Chinese dish — tender beef slices, leafy kailan greens and oyster mushrooms, tossed together in a savoury, rich sauce on a sizzling plate. 

But if you’re one for the spice, then you’ll want to dive right into the fiery dishes. 

New spicy items to the fray (all unique to the Changi Airport outlet) include the Volcano crispy shredded potatoes (S$12.80), a very big and addictive bowl of crispy potato strands, tossed in a secret seasoning that’s not too spicy, but still has a very alluring kick. 

Everyone at our table kept helping themselves to it — it’s that addictive. 

The Sichuan cuisine purists should not miss the spicy chilli chicken with cheesy rice cake (S$22.80), essentially the quintessential la zi ji, but jazzed up with bits of cheesy rice cakes, to add to the bite, but also to quell some of that tongue-numbing spice. 

With the June school holidays coming up, Chengdu Bowl at Changi Airport is making dining with your kids even more of a breeze by offering kids under 12 years old a complimentary meal, with every paying adult. 

Children get one cute steamed bun (U.P. S$6.80 for a set of three), coupled with chicken nuggets, french fries and vegetables.

We can already see how the concept of a restaurant hidden behind a vending machine will intrigue the little ones, but couple that with such cute morsels waiting behind, too? It’s a sure-win formula for a fun night out with the fam.

This was an invited tasting.

For more eats around the airport, check out our latest Jewel Changi food guide, or visit Queic by Olivia, that serves up legendary cheesecakes. 

Chengdu Bowl is 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 Chengdu Bowl at Changi Airport Terminal 3.