At buffets, some of us lose all self-control and rationality as we devour way more food than what our bellies usually can take. The array of choices is a gastronomical galore for the glutton in us.
Quality of food aside, what’s as essential to such feasts is the company we are with. They say people who eat together, stay together, but eating in a group can be tricky sometimes with different palates and needs.
Katong Kitchen is an inclusive location for communal dining with family, friends, and colleagues. They are halal-certified with a buffet line-up that they expanded to feature familiar Malay, Indian, Chinese, and Eurasian dishes in addition to their Peranakan cuisine. Like their theme, it’s where the ‘Flavours of Singapore’ meet. There’s a selection of fresh seafood on ice, DIY dishes, as well as a hot plate and a noodle station where you can request for food that’s made-to-order.
This is definitely one place that will please one and all. If you haven’t been, here’s everything to love about Katong Kitchen.
Our readers can quote “ladyironchef” upon making reservations to enjoy 15% off Katong Kitchen’s lunch and dinner buffet from now until 30 June 2019.
Head towards the East of Singapore and get off at the main entrance of Village Hotel Katong (formerly Paramount Hotel), then go up to the fourth floor and you will see Katong Kitchen. A weekday buffet lunch costs S$40++ per adult and S$20++ per child, while weekend lunches cost S$50++ per adult and S$25++ per child.
Dinners on Mondays to Thursdays go at S$50++ for an adult and S$25 for a child, while the prices on Fridays to Sundays, eve of and on Public holidays are S$60++ per adult and S$30++ per child.
Settle in to the modern and cosy vibes of Katong Kitchen that reflects Peranakan culture with its panels of Peranakan motifs. Its central dining space is where you will be surrounded by the buffet stations. There are seats on the side that are ideal for a quieter cosy gathering.
If you prefer to work your way up to the mains, appetisers include Smoked Duck Salad, Baby Clam with Onion Dressing, Baby Octopus Salad, and Gado Gado. There’s a whole variety but as with the rest of the stations at Katong Kitchen’s buffet, most of the food items are put out on a rotational basis.
Explore the buffet range and stop by the live stations. Watch the chef cook up Katong Kitchen’s Signature Laksa with your choice of noodles and condiments. The laksa is robust with rich coconut milk flavour. There are also other rotational options such as Beef Ball Noodle Soup, Mee Rebus, or Prawn Noodle Soup at the live noodle station.
Walk down the line for a serving of Fried Carrot Cake (the white version). Copious amount of chopped garlic are first thrown into hot oil, giving off an irresistible aroma. Fat chunks of radish cake are cooked with generous amounts of fried eggs. Add however much condiments you need; the sambal chilli is a must.
Katong Kitchen also has Do-It-Yourself stations where you can toss up a Singapore Rojak or stuff Nyonya Kueh Pie Tees with only your favourite ingredients. If these items are foreign to you, Katong Kitchen has a step-by-step guide to teach you how to do it; anyone can enjoy it, including kids!
For the rojak, throw in lots of dough fritters and toss with as much rojak sauce as you wish. There are also side of cucumber, beansprouts and turnip. If you’ve got overseas guests dining with you, this Asian salad is one local delight you have to introduce to them.
Kueh Pie Tee—a quintessential Peranakan dish—is a bite-size item that really is braised turnip (same filling as popiah) encased in a crispy deep-fried pastry shell. The textural delight is sweet from its sauce and savoury from its ingredients which include boiled eggs and shrimps.
If you’re a meat lover, the carving station is where you can get your cuts of meat. Swing by for dinner and you’ll have the option of Roasted Ribeye with Rendang Mushroom Sauce.
Katong Kitchen also has a large skillet for more choices such as Satay Marinated Roasted Lamb, Grilled Chicken, and Grilled Prawns. Pair these meats with herby Baked Potato and Sauteed Asparagus for a wholesome plate.
Their range of Seafood On Ice includes Gong Gong Clams, Prawns, Mussels, and Flower Crabs. But if you’re here for dinner, you can indulge in unlimited Snow Crabs and Poached Salmon. Weekend dinners also includes Boston Lobsters.
The mains at Katong Kitchen feature cuisines from various cultures, so you truly have to sample everything for the full experience of the Flavours of Singapore. Other options include the Kam Xiang Crayfish, Sambal Stingray, and Katong Kitchen Assam Pedas Fish.
Other signature mains include the Peranakan classic Ayam Buah Keluak and an Indian-style dish of Devil’s Mutton Curry. The Shepherd’s Pie has an intensely bovine base of beef mince but we loved how substantially meaty the pie was; the Eurasian Oxtail Stew was fragrant sans the gamey taste. To round it off with carbs, there are options of blue-hued Nasi Bunga Telang and Chinese Ee-Fu Noodles.
Katong Kitchen also spoils you with a good mix of choices for desserts. If you’ve overstuffed yourselves with savoury items, end the feasting off with shots of chilled Durian Pengat for a taste of Singapore’s famed fruit.
What you must not miss, too, is the Ondeh-Ondeh Cake which has some crunch from gula melaka (palm sugar) granules.
Just look at this beauty! Another dessert to love is this gorgeous Chempedak Crème Brulee which is heavily topped with cut fruits and has a pasty base of jackfruit.
There’s also a variety of bite-sized kueh—for the uninitiated, kueh are heritage snacks made of glutinous rice flour with a pudding-like texture but firmer.
If you have belly space for something heavier, there’s also the American Cheesecake as well as Bread & Butter Pudding which comes topped with colourful marshmallows.
Our readers can quote “ladyironchef” upon making reservations to enjoy 15% off Katong Kitchen’s lunch and dinner buffet from now until 30 June 2019.. This promotion is not applicable on eve of and on public holidays and not valid with other promotions, discounts, privileges unless otherwise stated.
Buffet Lunch
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2:30pm
S$40++ (Adult), S$20++ (Child)
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 3pm
S$50++ (Adult), S$25++ (Child)
Buffet Dinner
Mon to Thu: 6:30pm – 10pm
S$50++ (Adult), S$25++ (Child)
Fri to Sun, Eve of PH & PH: 6:30pm – 10pm
S$60++ (Adult), S$30++ (Child)
*Child: Aged 6 – 12
Children under 5 years old dine free with every paying guest.
Prices may vary during festive periods.
25 Marine Parade
Village Hotel Katong Level 4
Singapore 449536
Tel: +65 6551 2141
Nearest Station: Dakota
This post was brought to you by Katong Kitchen.