The Place Located at level two of Scotts Square, a new opening in this mall is the Michelin-selected Ban Lan restaurant which hails from Fuzhou, China. Helmed by Chef Sun Xiao Yang, a disciple of Chef Wu Rong – one Michelin Star and the 2024 Chef of the Year by the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, Ban Lan focuses on Fujian cuisine and its space is a contemporary wooden interior with a main dining hall and a few private dining rooms. 

The Food Expect traditional Fujian dishes on the menu with a focus on lighter seasoning and pure, natural flavors. I started with the First-Harvest Seaweed with Dried Shrimp & Sea Urchin (S$36), a cold appetiser which is light and refreshing for a start. 

The Silkie Chicken with Whelk Slices (S$39) reminds me of ‘yusheng’ where the thin slices of chicken and whelk are tossed and mix together, while the Fuzhou Hot & Sour Fish Maw Soup (S$52) is a comforting soup to enjoy. That said, I thought that the hot and sour elements could be dialed up further. 

Something similar to sweet and sour pork’s texture and presentation is the Fuzhou-style Crispy Drunken Pork Ribs (S$29) which is an easy dish to share on the table. 

Comforting and rich, the Taro with Scallion-infused Braised Pork Gravy (S$36) balances the earthiness of taro with savoury pork and fragrant scallion oil. 

For fish, the Mindong Yellow Croaker (S$79) features steamed Mindong yellow croaker with Yong’ an yellow chili. This dish showcases the natural sweetness of the fish, enhanced by the mild heat of yellow pepper. 

For carbs, I had the Quanzhou Seafood Braised Noodles (S$38) where the noodles here is akin to ‘mee sua’ texture in an enjoyable braised sauce. 

For dessert, my meal ended with a simple looking Jianning Lotus Seed Milk Pudding (S$32) which is quite a light option. 

Rants The prices of the dishes are generally on the higher end of Chinese restaurants in Singapore. 

Will I Return Again? Not many Chinese restaurants in Singapore solely focus on Fujian cuisine and Ban Lan is for those who seek to explore a deeper appreciation of Fujian flavours. With its Michelin recognition and chef-driven innovation, the dining experience is an elevated one. Service is also attentive without being intrusive. 

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 3.5/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 3.5/5
Overall Experience: 3.5/5  

Ban Lan 
6 Scotts Road 
#02-01/02 Scotts Square 
Singapore 228209 
Tel: +65 8067 6688 

Opening Hours 
Monday to Sunday: 11.30am to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pm 

Ranted by The Ranter