Food Review: New Ubin Seafood at CHIJMES | Second Outlet of Popular Zi Char Restaurant in City Hall

Posted on April 8, 2018 by theRantingPanda in Food

The Place Mention New Ubin Seafood and most people would be familiar with this popular local Zichar restaurant, which relocated from Sin Ming to Hillview Avenue few years ago. Finally, we can spare the trip to the west as the restaurant opened its second outlet at Chijmes in the past one month. Located at level 2 of Chijmes, the space is typical of a Chinese restaurant – round tables which cater for big groups mainly, along with a couple of small tables.

The Food I know a trip to New Ubin Seafood is incomplete without ordering the steak, but I skipped it this time round as there were only two of us. It is better to order the USDA Prime Rib Eye (S$18/100g) with more diners, which is available in approximately 900g to 1.2kg. For a start, the Traditional Satay (S$6/5 sticks) is delicious. It is available in chicken, pork or mutton flavours. I had chicken satay, and while the meat is overly charred at some parts, the sauce makes up for it.

The KL-Style Hokkien Mee (S$15/small) is a classic KL dish, though this version is not as black as I thought it would be. Regardless, the gravy is good, with a nice wok-hei flavour. Pork lard is also sprinkled generously, which was touted as one of the healthy food around. Natural fats for the win.

I also tried the “Cze Char” Style Pork Chop (S$15/small), available in 3 types of cooking styles – Salt and pepper, Supreme or Coated with Salted Egg. We had the salted egg version, which is competent but not memorable.

Other dishes we tried include the Beancurd ( (S$16/small), where we went for the claypot beancurd with mixed vegetables and mushrooms; as well as Stir-Fried Kang Kong with Sambal Belacan (S$10/small).

Rants Expensive. That is my impression of the new New Ubin Seafood at Chijmes. To be in perspective, a commonly seen Zichar dish like Har Cheong Kai is priced at S$18 for 6 wings. There are many service staff but I find the restaurant pretty chaotic and inattentive. For drivers, there is carpark redemption at the restaurant they dined at if the bill exceeds S$50, which none of the staff took the initiative to at least check with diners if they do drive upon billing. We only found out about the redemption process after an accidental enquiry with the adjacent restaurant, Lei Garden.

Will I Return Again? A reassuring no for me. Food is expensive and quality is nothing to shout about. You will be better off at Keng Eng Kee Seafood or JB Ah Meng. Seriously, where is the New Ubin Seafood I once adored back in Sin Ming?

Make your reservations instantly at New Ubin Seafood Chijmes here. Discount dining vouchers available here.

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 3/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 2.5/5
Overall Experience: 2.5/5