The Place Located along Jalan Bukit Ho Swee, this zichar restaurant was a hidden find for me during a weekend family meal. Spoke with a lady staff (or perhaps the owner) of Jia Wang Cafe, the zichar restaurant opened in 2018 with the team having worked together previously in other zichar stalls. Located under a HDB flat, there are some indoor air-conditioned tables, and a small sheltered outdoor space. As it is a standalone store with limited seating unlike the usual zichar which are located within a coffeeshop, do make sure you call to reserve a table if you are planning to check this place out.

The Food Expect the usual zichar menu with some a couple of interesting tweaks by the Jia Wang’s kitchen. Of course, these are all the recommended items to order here, and we decided to go with these.

First up, the Wa Ba Leaf Fish Head (S$24) is definitely one of the signature dishes here. Served on Wu Ba Leaf, the fish head is cooked separately before being drizzled with a tomato-based spicy sauce and finished off with Lady Fingers, Tomatoes and Pineapple slices. A refreshing take, going really well with a bowl of steamed rice. A must order at Jia Wang indeed.

Not sure what to expect when I ordered the Fried Garlic Pork (S$12), and was surprised to find the dish served with as much fried garlic as there were pork slices. The aroma will immediately hit you when served at the table, and the crispy well-fried pork slices gets the nod of everyone on the table.

Another dish on the menu which I strongly recommend is the Oyster Egg on Hotplate (S$10). Not the usual Orh Lua you are expecting, the creamy eggs with oysters are served on a hot plate, and I was resisting badly not to dig in while trying to snap a quick photo of the dish. The fluffy egg texture has its taste elevated with the mix of oysters and spring onions.

Nothing unusual, I ordered the Sambal Kang Kong (S$8) as we had cravings for this. Delicious.

I would also like to mention the soup options here, including this popular Small Cucumber Soup (S$4.50) at Jia Wang. Ordered this as we wanted a simple soup for dinner, and was surprised to be served with a large bowl of a hot pipping delicious soup which could well be good for a table of 4 pax. This is a steal considering the affordable price point. Another reason to return to Jia Wang Café again!

Rants Space constraint is the biggest downside of Jia Wang Cafe.

Will I Return Again? A definite yes. A very satisfying above-average zichar stall, with a good attempt to create new dishes that excite the palate. I spotted a few other interesting dishes to order on the menu, and will find time to head back again.

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

Jia Wang Cafe
4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee
#01-164
Singapore 162004
Tel: +65 9362 6359

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 10:30am to 9:30pm

Ranted by The Rantee