TRY EVERY ITEM AT TAO YUAN

Tao Yuan is a Singaporean restaurant.  Specializes in seafood dishes.  The menu also offers a wide range of dimsum and hotpot items.

I launched a project to eat my way through the entire menu, all 222 items (excluding shark’s fin and desserts).

Project rationale: (1) based on a few preliminary experiences, the food seemed generally pretty good, potentially excellent, though I did anticipate some disappointment along the way; (2) the menu was Singaporean/Cantonese, my favorite, which I could eat daily, gratefully; (3) booze, including whisky; (4) no limits on how many dishes I could order at any sitting, including lunch; and (5) it was the kind of place where I could invite others to join me and try many more dishes, which would accelerate the project’s completion.  Not that I had too much time on my hands, rather that I needed something to keep me preoccupied.

To the bitter end, the restaurant consistently proved to be one of the best in the neighborhood, solid on all counts: taste, quality, variety, service, vibe, proximity, maybe price.

Ultimately, TEITY was worth the effort.  I didn’t appreciate every item, as the ratings indicate, a lot of zeros from the hotpot and ones from the dim sum.  Towards the end, admittedly, as the frequency would suggest, I was getting rather tired of the place.  However, as best exemplified by the white pepper lobster, which will remain one of my all-time favorite dishes until the day that I die.  I discovered quite a few gems along the way, enough to maintain an average rating above 2.0, even the hotpot.  While 2.0 may not seem like much quantitatively, I enjoyed every meal nevertheless, great times with great friends and colleagues.  In particular, I must acknowledge the unwavering support of EK, who joined me on 15 visits, without whom the project would’ve taken forever.

Visits

1. 1. 5.088 Chilli Crab (1-6)
   2. 5.238 Char Kway Teow (7-11)
   3. 5.252 Seafood Hofan (12-15)
   4. 5.256 Lapu Lapu with Chopped Chilies (16-22)
   5. 5.263 Braised Beancurd with Dried Scallop (23-24)
   6. 5.264 Fried Rice in Fujian Style (25-29)
   7. 5.264 Fried Rice in Fujian Style (30-33)
   8. 5.268 Beancurd Roll with Superior Sauce (34-38)
   9. 5.279 Assorted Hot Mezzah (39-41)
   10. 5.287 Lotus Leaf Chicken Rice (42-43)
   11. 5.288 Special Beef Brisket in Pot (44-47)
   12. 5.291 Beef Tenderloin with Special Sauce (48-54)
   13. 5.296 Ba Kuh Teh (55-56)
   14. 5.298 Braised Pork Belly with Taopok (57-64)
   15. 5.299 Pork Bones with Preserved Vegetable Soup (65-76)
   16. 5.302 White Pepper Crab (77-83)
   17. 5.305 Braised Fish Maw with Sea Cucumber (84-87)
   18. 5.307 Shrimp Ball Crab Roe (88-95)
   19. 5.309 Steamed Fish Fillet Stuffed with Mashed Shrimp (96-100)
   20. 5.313 White Pepper Lobster (101-102)
   21. 5.315 Scallops (103-112)
   22. 5.318 Cantonese-Style Fresh Drunken Shrimp (113-121)
   23. 5.320 Suahe (122-128)
   24. 5.321 Fried Spring Roll with Shredded Taro (129-135)
   25. 5.322 Shabukity (136-141)
   26. 5.324 Singaporean Spareribs (142-149)
   27. 5.327 Steamed Fish Fillet with Black Mushroom (150-154)
   28. 5.330 Mango Lapu Lapu (155-160)
   29. 5.332 The Pilot Spread (161-163)
   30. 5.344 Fresh Sliced Squid (164-172)
   31. 5.347 Japanese-Style Corn Soup (173-174)
   32. 6.001 Braised Superior Whole Abalone
   33. 6.009 Awful
   34. 6.031 Fried Fish Skin
   35. 6.044 Slipper Lobster in White Pepper Sauce [first white pepper lobster with rock/slipper lobster!]
   36. 6.055 The Penultimate
   37. 6.095 The Final Egg
   38. 6.128 Slipper Lobsters in White Pepper Sauce
   39. 6.209 Mantis Shrimp with Salt & Pepper
   40. 6.297 Rock Lobster in White Pepper Sauce
   41. 6.342 Prawns & Tofu
   42. 7.001 Sizzling Stuff Tofu
   43. 7.049 Sauteed Shrimps Ball with Broccoli
   44. 7.059 Roast Soy Chicken
   45. 7.123 Singaporean Tofu
   46. 7.178 One for the Road: White Pepper Lobster
   47. 7.188 White Pepper Prawns
   48. 7.274 White Pepper Lobster
   49. 8.168 Singapore Prawn Tofu
   50. 8.235 White Pepper Slipper Lobster
   51. 9.225 White Pepper Slipper Lobster
   52. 10.278 White Pepper Slipper Lobster

Color Coding Legend:

• • BLUE: highly recommended
  • GREEN: respectable
  • YELLOW: mediocre
  • ORANGE: better avoided
  • RED: never again
  • GREY: off-limits (ethical concerns)
  • WHITE: not available

Dishes

1. 1. Chilli Crab (2.0)
   2. Parros Clams in Spicy Black Bean Sauce (2.5)
   3. Hainanese Chicken (2.0)
   4. Stir-Fried Spinach with Garlic (2.0)
   5. Mixed Vermicelli (2.5)
   6. Bean Curd with Dried Scallops (1.0)
   7. Char Kway Teow (4.0)
   8. Spareribs with Taosi (3.0)
   9. Har Gao (2.5)
   10. Taro Basket with Seafood (3.5)
   11. Szechuan-Style Spicy Beef (1.0)
   12. Seafood Hofan (4.0)
   13. Shrimp Rice Roll (Chung Fan) (2.5)
   14. Singaporean Black Pepper Prawns (1.0)
   15. Sauteed Mix Mushroom in XO Sauce (3.5)
   16. Tiger Lapu Lapu with Chopped Chilies (3.5)
   17. Garlic Shrimp Spring Roll (3.0)
   18. Steamed Gailan with Garlic (2.5)
   19. Braised Special Seafood in Pot (3.0)
   20. Singaporean Original Hokkien Clay Pot Seafood Noodle (1.5)
   21. Roasted Peking Duck (1st way) (2.0)
   22. Roasted Peking Duck (2nd way) (3.0)
   23. Braised Beancurd with Dried Scallop (1.5)
   24. Yang Chow Fried Rice (2.0)
   25. Fried Rice in Fujian Style (4.0)
   26. Seaweed with Minced Shrimp Thick Soup (3.5)
   27. Fresh Shrimp Rolls with Beancurd Skin (1.5)
   28. Sambal Prawns (1.5)
   29. Sauteed String Beans with Pork Belly & Dried Tofu (1.5)
   30. Tao Yuan Special Seafood Fried Rice (1.0)
   31. Barbecued Pork (2.5)
   32. Dried Scallop with Two Kinds Vegetable (3.5)
   33. Braised Imported Whole Abalone in Brown Sauce (2.0)
   34. Beancurd Roll with Superior Sauce (4.0)
   35. Fried Spareribs with Garlic (2.0)
   36. Braised Sea Cucumber with Dried Shrimp Roe in Abalone Sauce (0.5)
   37. Hainanese Rice (1.5)
   38. Singaporean Kam Hiong Clams (2.5)
   39. Clams in Salted Water (3.5)
   40. Asado Rice Roll (2.5)
   41. Fried Noodle with Assorted Seafood (1.0)
   42. Lotus Leaf Chicken Rice (1.5)
   43. Special Prawns with Egg Yolk (1.0)
   44. Special Beef Brisket in Pot (3.5)
   45. Fried Squid with Mashed Shrimp in Salt & Pepper (2.0)
   46. Fried Rice with Barbecued Pork and Garlic (1.0)
   47. Tapioca in Mango Puree (3.0)
   48. Beef Tenderloin with Special Sauce (3.5)
   49. Crab Roe Siomai (3.0)
   50. Radish Cakes with XO Sauce (2.0)
   51. Sichuan Hot & Sour Soup (1.0)
   52. Clams with Spicy Wine (1.0)
   53. Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle (2.5)
   54. Mixed Vegetables with Soy Bean Sauce in Pot (1.0)
   55. Ba Kuh Teh (3.5)
   56. Local Abalone with White King Oyster Mushroom (3.0)
   57. Braised Pork Belly with Taopok (3.5)
   58. Chicken Feet with Taosi (0.5)
   59. Sesame Ball with Bitter Melon (1.0)
   60. Scallop with Minced Vegetable Soup (2.0)
   61. Sesame Ball with Bitter Melon (1.0)
   62. Happy Birthday Noodles (1.0)
   63. Fried Rice with Salted Fish and Diced Chicken (1.0)
   64. Curry Fish Head (0.5)
   65. Hotpot: Pork Bones with Preserved Vegetable Soup (3.0)
   66. Hotpot: HK Kailan (3.5)
   67. Hotpot: Tangho (3.5)
   68. Hotpot: White Cabbage (2.0)
   69. Hotpot: Clams (2.0)
   70. Hotpot: Corn (3.0)
   71. Hotpot: Golden Mushroom (2.5)
   72. Hotpot: Shrimp Paste with Taopok (2.0)
   73. Hotpot: Handmade Fishballs (2.0)
   74. Hotpot: Taro (2.0)
   75. Hotpot: Shrimp Dumplings (3.0)
   76. Hotpot: Egg Noodles (2.5)
   77. White Pepper Crab (3.5)
   78. Jelly Fish with Beef Shank (1.5)
   79. Dried Scallop and Fresh Mushroom Soup (3.0)
   80. Sweet and Sour Pork with Pineapple (3.5)
   81. Braised Bamboo Pith and Beancurd (1.5)
   82. Birthday Misua (1.0)
   83. Assorted Cold Cuts Combination (1.5)
   84. Braised Fish Maw with Sea Cucumber (2.5)
   85. Minced Beef Ball (2.0)
   86. Double Boiled Wintermelon with Dried Abalone Fish (1.0)
   87. Almond Jelly with Lychee (2.5)
   88. Hotpot: Shrimp Ball Crab Roe (3.0)
   89. Hotpot: Tao Yuan Superior Soup in Pot (3.0)
   90. Hotpot: Chinese Lettuce (2.5)
   91. Hotpot: Chinese Tofu (2.5)
   92. Hotpot: Meat Vegetable Dumpling (2.5)
   93. Hotpot: Sliced Native Chicken (1/2) (3.0)
   94. Hotpot: Hofan (3.0)
   95. Hotpot: Polonchay (3.5)
   96. Steamed Fish Fillet Stuffed with Mashed Shrimp (3.5)
   97. Double Boiled Fish Maw with Red Dates (1.0)
   98. Beef Rice Roll (1.0)
   99. Fried Salad Seaweed Rolls (3.5)
   100. Pork Belly with Salted Fish in Hot Pot (3.0)
   101. White Pepper Lobster (3.5)
   102. Fresh Scallop with Celery Dumplings (2.5)
   103. Hotpot: Scallops (3.5)
   104. Hotpot: Assorted Mushroom with Clams Soup (3.0)
   105. Hotpot: Taiwan Pechay (3.0)
   106. Hotpot: Chinese Mustard (2.5)
   107. Hotpot: Lettuce (3.0)
   108. Hotpot: Pork Meat Ball (1.0)
   109. Hotpot: Beef Kimchi Slice (2.0)
   110. Hotpot: Local Geo Duck Sashimi (2.0)
   111. Hotpot: Local Geo Duck (2.5)
   112. Hotpot: Beef Tendon (2.0)
   113. Hotpot: Bihon (2.0)
   114. Cantonese-Style Fresh Drunken Shrimp (2.0)
   115. Sautéed Salted Pork with Spinach (2.0)
   116. Steamed Dace Ball with Vegetable (2.5)
   117. Golden Seafood Roll (2.5)
   118. Steamed Pork & Coriander Dumplings (2.0)
   119. Crispy Pork Pie with Cashew Nuts (1.5)
   120. Braised Stuffed Whole Dried Scallop (1.5)
   121. Pan-Fried Egg White with Dried Scallop (3.5)
   122. Hotpot: Suahe (2.0)
   123. Hotpot: Fresh Tomatoes with Potatoes and Beancurd Soup (2.0)
   124. Hotpot: Japanese Tofu (3.5)
   125. Hotpot: Broccoli Flower(1.5)
   126. Hotpot: Beancurd Sticks (2.5)
   127. Hotpot: Local Spinach (2.0)
   128. Hotpot: Japanese Udon (1.0)
   129. Fried Spring Roll with Shredded Taro (2.5)
   130. Curry Fish Ball (1.0)
   131. Steamed Crab with Rice in the Basket (2.0)
   132. Sate Minced Beef Dumpling (1.0)
   133. Steamed Minced Pork with Salted Fish (1.5)
   134. Braised Imported Sliced Abalone with Black Mushroom (2.5)
   135. Cereal Prawns (1.5)
   136. Hotpot: Crystal Shrimp Ball (1.0)
   137. Hotpot: Fried Bean Curd Stick (2.0)
   138. Hotpot: Hand-Made Squid Ball (3.0)
   139. Hotpot: Fish Tofu (3.5)
   140. Hotpot: Fried Fish Cake (2.5)
   141. Hotpot: Hand-Made Beef Ball (0.5)
   142. Singaporean Spareribs (3.5)
   143. Roasted Crispy Pork Belly (3.5)
   144. Asado Steamed Bun (2.0)
   145. Pan-Fried Beef with Flat Rice Noodle (3.0)
   146. Taro Puff (1.5)
   147. Smoked Beancurd Sheet Roulades with Shredded Vegetables (0.5)
   148. Egg Tart (2.0)
   149. Pan-Fried Beef with Flat Rice Noodle (3.0)
   150. Steamed Fish Fillet with Black Mushroom (3.0)
   151. Pan-Fried Pork & Vegetable Bun (2.0)
   152. Ham Soy Kok (1.0)
   153. Butter Cream Crab (0.5)
   154. Fresh Milk Tart (1.5)
   155. Mango Lapu Lapu (3.0)
   156. Braised Sliced Abalone with Fish Maw (2.5)
   157. Fried Crispy Pigeon (2.0)
   158. Fishball with Pumpkin and Taro in Coconut Milk (3.0)
   159. Century Egg Asado Tart (1.5)
   160. Crispy Barbecued Pork Pie (2.0)
   161. Fruit Platter (3.0)
   162. Singaporean 5 Kinds Hot Cuts (2.5)
   163. Hong Kong Style Preserved Meats with Rice in Clay Pot (2.0
   164. Hotpot: Fresh Sliced Squid (2.5)
   165. Hotpot: Double Soup in Pot (2.0)
   166. Hotpot: Shell Meat (0.5)
   167. Hotpot: Crab Powder Ball (3.0)
   168. Hotpot: Cold Tofu (1.0)
   169. Hotpot: Fresh Sliced Beef (2.5)
   170. Hotpot: Watercress (3.0)
   171. Hotpot: Radish Stick (2.5)
   172. Hotpot: Sotanghon (3.0)
   173. Japanese-Style Corn Soup (2.5)
   174. Chao Chow Cold Cuts Combination (1.0)
   175. TBC
   176. TBC
   177. TBC
   178. TBC
   179. TBC
   180. TBC
   181. TBC
   182. TBC
   183. TBC
   184. TBC
   185. TBC
   186. TBC
   187. TBC
   188. TBC
   189. TBC
   190. TBC
   191. TBC
   192. TBC
   193. TBC
   194. TBC
   195. TBC
   196. TBC
   197. TBC
   198. TBC
   199. TBC
   200. TBC
   201. TBC
   202. TBC
   203. TBC
   204. TBC
   205. TBC
   206. TBC
   207. TBC
   208. TBC
   209. TBC
   210. TBC
   211. TBC
   212. TBC
   213. TBC
   214. TBC
   215. TBC
   216. TBC
   217. TBC
   218. TBC
   219. Hotpot: Egg (2.5)
   220. Hotpot: Soy Milk with Pumpkin and Corn (2.5)
   221. Hotpot: Sliced Pork Liver (0.0)
   222. Hotpot: Original Lobster (3.5)

146,257.45 PHP = about 3,361.50 USD.  Not all of it from me; I also shelled out a few thousand pesos in tips, like to the guy who tied my shoelaces for me.