The Place My previous dining experience at TAO Seafood Asia was a memorable one, to the extent that I have high expectations this time round to try some of its specially crafted Chinese New Year creations. The theme of the festive menu is specifically Thai-Yaowarat inspired style, to bring out the best in Thai-Teochew cuisine.

The Food The highlights are TAO Supreme Prosperity Yu Sheng, House of Golden Riches Yaowarat Pen Cai, Abundance of Wealth Golden Soon Hock with Mango Slices, Continuous Successes TAO Thai-Teochew Curry Crab and Lap of Luxury Sautéed Prawns with Macadamia Nuts.

Available for dine-in and takeaway for a limited time from 3 February to 5 March 2015, prices start from S$32++ for ala carte dine-in creations and S$48++ for takeaways.

TAO Supreme Prosperity Yu Sheng: 三羊􁘙泰 捞生

In an era where every restaurant is offering Yu Sheng in all fanciful forms and styles, TAO’s version consist eighteen ingredients such as the Thai-inspired basil leaves, fried fish skin and peanuts, not forgetting the abalone, salmon roe and crispy deep-fried fish skin. I also find the addition of fruits to Yu Sheng a refreshing concept, which the likes of the fresh slices of mango, blueberries and strawberries enhance the dish visually.
TAO Supreme Prosperity Yu Sheng is priced at $128++, it is recommended for 8 to 10 guests. 1-day advance reservation for dine-in and takeaway is required.

House of Golden Riches Yaowarat Pen Cai: 金家福祿 耀华力盆菜

Whenever there is Pen Cai these days, I know I can very well expect a luxurious treat. This peasant dish used to be a simple and humble version stuffed merely with vegetables, but has evolved much in modern times with premium ingredients such as the whole abalone, premium sea cucumber, conpoy, sea prawns, dried oysters and fish maw. Of course, the other more plebeian ingredients include black moss, mushroom, radish, roasted pork and mustard greens. The winning formula for Tao’s Pen Cai, which I enjoyed tremendously, is chef Lee’s signature noble gravy soup. The gravy soup is very thick and rich in flavour, and I highly recommend adding some bits of the restaurant’s special Yaowarat-style green chill sauce prepared in-house for an even fuller flavour.
House of Golden Riches Yaowarat Pen Cai is priced at S$318++, recommended for 6 guests, and $488++, recommended for 10 guests. 2-day advance reservation for dine-in and takeaway is required.

Abundance of Wealth Golden Soon Hock with Mango Slices: 富貴有餘 黄金笋􁊏配芒果丝

The deep fried goby (soon hock) fish won me over with its crispy texture on first bite, coupled with its sweet and sour sauce, a rather quintessential Thai-Teochew style of preparing fish. The sauce has a fruity flavour as well, which is specially concocted by the chef. Different from other rendition of the dish, I also like the refreshing mix of the slices of mango, green apple and onions to compliment the fish.
Abundance of Wealth Golden Soon Hock with Mango Slices is priced at S$9.80++ per 100gram, it is recommended for 3 to 4 guests. 2-day advance reservation for dine-in and takeaway is required.

Continuous Successes TAO Thai-Teochew Curry Crab: 万事如意 饕聚泰式咖喱蟹

Drenched in thick curry sauce, our TAO Seafood experience will not be complete without trying its signature crab. The restaurant always manages to nail their crab dishes at the right spot, with the extremely fresh and sweet Sri Lankan crab meat, as well as their forte in preparing the curry sauce with the use of ingredients such as Thai basil leaves, coriander, kaffir lime leaves, raw palm sugar, and coconut milk. Good news for non-spicy eaters, this dish is not at all spicy even for the lowest threshold of all, testament of the Rantee.
Continuous Successes TAO Thai-Teochew Curry Crab, is priced at S$6++ per 100gram. 1-day advance reservation for dine-in and takeaway is required.

Lap of Luxury Sautéed Prawns with Macadamia Nuts: 碧意如意炒虾马卡达姆坚果

The sautéed prawns with whole macademia nuts, celery, and bell peppers is a respite from the other dishes thus far, in the sense that it is meant to be relatively lighter yet still flavourful. No doubt on the freshness of the prawns, with my favourite macadamia nuts, which is such a welcoming combination.
Lap of Luxury Sautéed Prawns with Macadamia Nuts is priced at S$32++, it is recommended for 3 to 4 guests. 1-day advance reservation for dine-in and takeaway is required.

Rants It is Yaowarat style, no doubt. But we felt if they could push this even more, without adapting to local taste buds, TAO might just differentiate itself from the rest of its competitors better.

Will I return again? The use of quality ingredients and cooking style at TAO never fails to leave a mark on me after every meal, only to crave for more soon again. This is one seafood restaurant not to miss trying at least once.   

Reserve your table at TAO Seafood Asia on Chope.co now!

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4.5/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 4/5

TAO Seafood Asia
12 Marina View
Asia Square Tower 2 #02-10
Singapore 018961
Tel: +65 6844 9969

Opening hours:
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm