The environment is nice for family or business meals. I recommend trying their Chilled Teochew Pig Trotter Jelly, which is perfect. The Teochew Crispy Pig Trotter is very crispy, but not for the elderly; it's too hard. Overall, the food is salty and would need rice to tone it down. The soup of the day is old cucumber soup, but I would skip it because it's not well prepared. The Teochew Yam Paste & Pumpkin With Gingko Nut is worth trying, though it received mixed reviews from my team.
Morris Lee
5
I took a long drive to try the dim sum at Chin Lee Tea and Dine. It is a long drive to Canberra Plaza from the East, but it is conveniently located on Level 3. The restaurant is bright and spacious. Customer service is good and attentive.
We ordered the char siew bao, steamed Yam Cake, fried bean curd skin, glutinous rice with chicken, and fried sesame peanut ball.
The steamed Yam Cake is a winner. The texture is soft and chewy, yet firm. The flavor is right. The glutinous rice is also very good; it is well seasoned and tasty. It is closer to a Lor Mai Gai. The char siew bao is just right but not exceptional. The fried bean curd skin is a tad too oily, and the texture is crunchy.
Another winner is the fried sesame peanut ball. It is coated with chopped peanuts. The texture is chewy, and the peanuts are delicious.
Overall, the experience is good. I will make a repeat visit.
Damian Pek
5
Amazing dim sum place that's a hidden gem in the North. Specialising in Teochew dishes, they also serve a fabulous dim sum brunch on weekends! The dim sum menu is a bit small, but all the classics are available and good. The har gow, siew mai, and XO fried carrot cake are especially tasty. For an additional treat, call in advance to pre-order their oyster omelette (which is usually only available on weekdays) to complete the meal. Attentive and efficient service staff rounds off a delightful dining experience each time we visit. Highly recommended!
Lawrence Yeo
5
Service is top-notch. The processes are very effective.
Food comes in very fast, and is delicious too.
Ambience is great.
Toh Bee Ling
4
I was delighted when my friend told me that Chin Lee has opened a branch at Canberra Plaza.
**Premise**
Direct access to Level 2 via Canberra MRT Station. The tables were arranged spaciously, keeping safe distancing in mind. The restaurant was modern, new, clean, and comfortable.
**Service**
The staff were much warmer, friendlier, more attentive, and hospitable than the staff at Bedok, who came across as rude and impatient. The staff took the initiative to bring two bag stands for the four of us so that we could place our bags. This is commendable. Other than forgetting about my request for toothpicks, the staff remembered the other things we requested.
**Food**
I enjoyed all the dishes we ordered. Their Teochew Yu Sheng is the best Yu Sheng I have ever tasted. It looked plain and simple at first, but do not be deceived by its appearance. The vegetables were so fresh and crisp. Simply refreshing! According to my friend, there was no ginger added, which I also prefer. I also liked that the vegetables were not laden with fake food colouring. My friend felt that it was the sauce that pulled the whole dish together. It had a nice plum sauce taste but was not too sweet. The top shells were cut in generous slices, and they were satisfying. We paid extra to add the crispy crackers. It definitely enhanced the overall taste of the Yu Sheng. The crispy crackers did not taste mass-produced. The Yu Sheng tasted like a very delicious salad. I love it!
We also ordered the Prawn Balls, Braised Goose, Spinach with Minced Garlic, Deshelled Prawn with Mayonnaise, Roast Chicken and Crackers with Salt and Pepper, Oyster Flour Omelette with Chilli Vinaigrette, Fried Chye Por Hor Fun, and Orh Nee. Every dish was excellently executed, and I enjoyed each one. The Pu Er Tea and Oolong Tea were aromatic and delicious!
**Tea Bar**
Chin Lee Canberra features a unique tea bar, selling several types of tea as well as teapots and cups. I find it innovative that Chin Lee has introduced this tea bar concept. This caused some excitement in me as I am an avid tea drinker. 100g Pu Er Tea Leaves in a black tin costs $55, while the same amount of Tie Guan Yin costs $60. I look forward to buying the Pu Er Tea from them on my next visit. I will bring my fellow tea enthusiasts next time.
**Gripe**
The bill came up to about $280, including taxes. We paid S$70 per person, including taxes. I wish the price were lower, or that there were some credit card discounts, so that I could dine at Chin Lee Canberra more frequently instead of only on special occasions.
Darren Koh
3
Had an assortment of dim sum for lunch. Overall, pretty average. I reckon the cooked food might be better. It was quite crowded during lunch hour. The charsiew pau was probably the best of them all.
J.C “J.W” Wee
1
Overall, it was bad. I came to try after seeing their business seemed to pick up since opening.
The lobby/waiting area smells like salty urine.
1. The service captain couldn't be bothered to recommend any dishes. Other service staff all seemed very busy.
2. Spring onion deer was very salty.
3. Asparagus was very oily and tasted raw.
4. The salad prawn (medium size, $30) came with only 6 pieces. I wonder how many pieces would come with a small size ($20).
5. The half chicken came without thigh meat. Seriously?
I wouldn't come back even if it were free.
Do not recommend.
Regina Yeo
5
A newly discovered little gem in the far-flung borders of Canberra Plaza! Chin Lee Tea and Dine Restaurant serves up the most delectable traditional Teochew favourites in a gracious setting, highlighted by the impeccable service of its genuinely friendly and caring waiting staff. The decor is a classy grey hue, matched down to its silver-grey, brocade-like tablecloth, with tables well-spaced and accented by minimalist Chinese paintbrush artworks. Truly a lovely, calm respite far from the madding crowd, with an ambience exuding cool calmness. The food was perfection itself, and every dish delighted! Indeed, advisories should be drawn up regarding the addictiveness of their Coffee Spare Ribs, fresh, succulent, crispy mayo prawns, and ngoh hiam sio bee!
However, good as the food was, what stood out a mile for me was the gracious hospitality. It has been a long time since I have encountered "magic cups" – but they were here – glasses and cups that were refilled quietly, magically, even before you noticed that they were emptying. My first visit was just to while away a simple, small dim sum lunch while waiting for some photographs, but you would think that I was visiting royalty, given the gracious and attentive service that greeted me in a restaurant that was busy with the lunchtime crowd. I returned that same evening with my mum – and we both had a feast! And we left with this little tune ringing in our hearts:
"Lovely, never, never change,
Keep that breathless charm,
Won't you please arrange it?
'Cause I love you,
Just the way you look tonight!"
(Lyrics from "The Way You Look Tonight" by Dorothy Fields/Jerome Kern)
Janet Tan
4
Enjoyed the various dishes we ordered as recommended by the staff. It was our first visit at this outlet. The ambiance is cosy, and the service is good and efficient. All the Teochew dishes we had were delicious. For those who like dim sum, this restaurant serves it too. We will certainly be back again soon to try it.
Benny Tan
5
We were celebrating Lunar New Year as well as a birthday. You really have to book early, as most people book for Lunar New Year celebrations. They can accommodate events like birthdays even when they are very busy and the restaurant is packed; my booking was at 7:45 PM. Overall, I enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Their service is great; do book early and pre-select your menu dishes for easier and faster service.