Fun Wan Lets You DIY Zi Char Bowls With Salted Egg Pork Ribs And More

Fun Wan is now open in Tanjong Pagar

Attention all CBD office workers, we’ve got some good news for you! You now have another option for lunch: Fun Wan. A play on the Chinese phrase, 饭碗 (fàn wǎn), which translates to “rice bowl” in English, this eatery offers homely zi char options in a bowl, and is conveniently situated just a four-minute walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station.

Fun Wan was established with the aim of delivering a heartwarming and comforting meal for busy CBD office workers to enjoy. Whether you prefer crafting your own bowl or choosing from their six pre-set bowls, Fun Wan has got you covered.

Ordering here is a breeze: simply place your order at a self-ordering kiosk or scan the QR code on the table to order through your phone. To beat the lunch crowd, you can even order in advance for self-collection or opt for delivery too!

If you’re a fan of customisable bowls, consider the Build Your Fun Wan option, priced at $11.90++. Each bowl comes with your preferred combination of rice, protein, and sauce, accompanied by achar, sous vide egg, and seasonal vegetables.

First, select your choice of protein from three different options: crispy chicken, stir-fried beef, or fried pork ribs. Then, pick from four sauces: black pepper, marmite, salted egg, or sweet & sour sauce. Lastly, choose your preferred type of rice: white rice, brown rice ($1.50++), or cauliflower rice ($2++)━great for those who want a zi char meal without the carbs.

We settled on the combination of Salted Egg Fried Pork Ribs with Cauliflower Rice ($13.90++).

The salted egg sauce, which is served on the side, was more milky and sweet than it was spicy━great for those who prefer a more pronounced, savoury salted egg flavour without the heat.

If you like something more spicy, dip it into their tangy house-made sambal ($1++) which packs quite the punch. As much as we found the salted egg sauce quite moreish, we were slightly let down by the pork ribs. I appreciated how they were marinated, but we found them a tad too salty. They could have been crispier too.

Similarly, the cauliflower rice erred on the salty side and was slightly mushy. Both my colleague and I agreed that it would have been better if it hadn’t been seasoned so heavily, to match the other savoury ingredients.

If you prefer chicken, go for their Curry Chicken Rice Set ($11.90++) instead, which comes with a whole chicken leg and chunks of potato in a thick, flavourful gravy.

This set also includes a bowl of rice with sous vide egg, achar, and seasonal vegetables.

The achar was an excellent palate cleanser, offering a refreshing kick of sour and spicy notes with a nutty undertone.

For an additional $3, we paired this with Fun Wan’s soup of the day. The soup changes daily, featuring regular double-boiled options such as old cucumber soup, white radish and more.

While not the most tender, we were pleasantly surprised by the generous portion of the chicken, which was easily cut into with our disposable cutlery, and not dry at all! The curry was rich, with a punch of spice that kicked in gradually.

Those who prefer fish should go for their Hong Kong Style Steamed Fish Set ($13.90), with a fillet of steamed seabass served in a sauce crafted with light soya sauce and the surprising addition of Marmite. Like you’d get in a restaurant, it’s garnished with ginger slices, red chilli, spring onion, and cilantro.

The fish was exceptionally tender, boasting a robust gingery flavour that added an extra depth of flavour. The sauce here wasn’t overly salty and paired well with the rice.

Fun Wan exudes a clean and minimalistic ambience, accented with comfortable blue cushioned chairs and sofa seats.

With a seating capacity of approximately 40 people, you can rest assured that Fun Wan can comfortably accommodate the lunchtime crowd. 

Stay informed about the latest updates on their Instagram page, as they plan to open two more outlets next January in CIMB Plaza and International Plaza━great news for CBD workers!

Jin Wee Restaurant is another zi char restaurant known for their old-school Hainanese zi char with offerings such as charcoal salt-baked chicken and more. Otherwise, Wen Zhang Lao Mian is a famous Chinese noodle shop from China that’s now open in Bugis.

Address: 77 Robinson Road, #01-04, Singapore 068896
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 7pm
Tel: 8919 6909
Website
Fun Wan is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Raelynn Ng.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg