The Place While the name might not sound like a Chinese restaurant, I checked out 5 On 25 recently for lunch, the Chinese restaurant concept of Andaz Singapore in Bugis. The restaurant is located on level 25 of the hotel, and it is a beautiful space with ample natural light in the day.

The interior of 5 On 25 is elegant with hints of retro vibes from the dark wood wall panels, along with beautiful tableware which reminds me of the ones at Summer Pavilion. 5 on 25 is helmed by head chef, Chef Lim Hong Lih who has two decades of Cantonese culinary experience under his belt. 

The Food The extensive menu is a mix of ala carte dishes and set menu options where lunch set starts from S$68 (minimum 2 pax). For lunch, dim sum is also offered in addition to the usual selections of roast meats, seafood, soups, rice and noodles, and desserts. In terms of beverages, there is a good selection of Chinese tea, sparkling tea, champagne or wine. 

I started with a series of dim sum dishes which has a good variety of baked, steamed and fried items –  Scallop Siew Mai, Fish Roe (S$8/3 pieces), Prawn Dumpling, Pork, Vinegar, Spicy Sauce (S$8.50/5 pieces), Crispy Taro Pastries, Onion, Pork, Scallop (S$3.50/piece) and Honey Barbecue Pork Puff Pastry (S$3/piece).  I like that some of the dim sum items go by per piece, which is great if you are planning to dine alone.

My favourite ones are the pork puff pastry which has the right balance of sweetness in the pork along with the buttery golden crust, as well as the delicious crispy taro pastries.  

I also love the Deep-Fried Lobster Roll (S$3.50 per piece) which spots a perfect golden crisp texture.

Another dish I recommend is the Crispy Fried Codfish Fillet, Black Vinegar Sauce (S$30/portion), where the cod fish is wrapped in a perfect crispy crust along with the flavourful black vinegar sauce. 

Something good to share would be the Chef ’s Barbecue Combination Platter: Roasted duck, Crispy Roast Pork, Char Siew Pork (S$38/portion), where the meats are generally good, though the standout for me here is the char siew. I usually like my char siew with more char especially at the edges, though this version has less of that char. The char siew is also mainly lean meat, so if you prefer fattier char siew this might not be to your liking.  

I love Peking Duck and could not resist trying the 5 On 25 Cantonese Style Roasted Duck (S$48/half, S$90/whole).

Half portion is good for 2 persons, where the duck is sliced tableside, and the crispy skin and crepes are presented along with condiments and sliced greens. Nothing too fanciful here, but you do get a good, crispy duck skin and flavours. 

I did not opt for the duck meat to be stir-fried into noodles, hence I was served the remaining duck meat as is (no additional cost). 

I also had the Fried Hor Fun, Hokkaido Scallops, Egg Gravy, Spring Onion (S$32/portion), which is good to share for 2-3 people. Not too much of a surprise here, and I would recommend the next dish I had instead if you are looking for a carb dish. 

The last dish I had was the Boston Lobster Poached Rice “Pao fan”, Lobster Broth, Spring Onion (S$28/person), which comes with two chunks of lobster meat. Very flavourful lobster broth which spots a nice sweetness, and the portion is just right for one person, or if not for two small eaters. 

Rants Other than the fact that guests to the restaurant will have to walk through the busy lobby to get to the restaurant’s entrance, there is nothing much to rant. If any, try to score a table beside the window which offers more privacy.

Will I Return Again? Service was great at 5 On 25 and I really like the elegant yet not overly opulent looking space. If you are looking for a decent and conveniently located Chinese restaurant in town, this is one to consider. 

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

5 On 25 
Level 25, Andaz Singapore 
5 Fraser Street 
Singapore 189354 
Tel: +65 6408 1228 

Opening Hours 
Monday to Sunday: 11:30 to 14:30; 18:00 to 22:00 

Ranted by The Ranter