So Good Char Chan Tang Review: Affordable Hong Kong Cafe With Nett Prices At 111 Somerset

So Good Char Chan Tang has affordable Hong Kong food in Somerset

Somerset is blessed with plenty of good food. While most of us are more familiar with 313 Somerset than 111 Somerset, the latter is, in fact, home to a few underrated gems—Jakarta Ropang Project, Great Nanyang Heritage Cafe and more! So Good Char Chan Tang is another must-try in the mall; this casual Hong Kong cafe offers a wide range of cha chaan teng bites, all at wallet-friendly prices.

Food at So Good Char Chan Tang

If it’s your first time here, you might feel a little overwhelmed by the extensive selection. The menu is split into different categories: all-day dim sum, congee, and toasts are served from 8am to 8:30pm, while BBQ meats, Hong Kong noodle dishes, and other signature mains are available from 11am onwards.

The good news is you can get the French Toast ($3.60) at any time of the day. This indulgent snack was a highlight of our meal!

It came with a small saucer of golden syrup on the side, so you could drizzle as much or as little as you like. The slab of cold salted butter melted into the lightly crispy crust, pairing well with the spongy and fluffy middle of the bread. The deep-fried bread got a little greasy after a while, so I’d suggest sharing this among the table.

Another popular bake at So Good is the Polo Bun with Butter ($2.80), a must-order at any cha chaan teng.

Fresh from So Good’s in-house bakery just next door, this bun came with a generous slab of butter in the middle that contrasted well with the crispy polo crust.

The crumb was slightly drier as compared to the polo buns at Victoria Bakery, which I thought fared better. I also wished they’d used salted butter to offset the sweet crust and add additional flavour, but thankfully, the bread wasn’t cloying on its own.

Fill up on more carbs in the form of the Hong Kong Style Plain Rice Roll ($4), which gets you two rolls of steamed chee cheong fun cut into bite-sized chunks, sitting in a bed of light soya sauce.

These rice noodle sheets were also accompanied by a creamy sesame drizzle and a sweet, hoisin-based sauce. I enjoyed the sweet and savoury combination of the three sauces, but wished the chee cheong fun was a little firmer.

If you want something more comforting, you won’t go wrong with a serving of Hong Kong Boat Congee ($7.80). This hearty bowl of Cantonese-style porridge came loaded with liao, including cuttlefish, fish maw, peanuts, and crispy you tiao shreds. It was smooth and flavourful enough; my only gripe, if any, was that the congee could be richer and thicker in consistency.

Complete your dim sum experience with a side of Pan-Fried Carrot Cake ($4), which comes with two pieces. This classic snack was decently done, with a lightly crisp exterior and flavourful centre, so I had no complaints.

No cha chaan teng experience is complete without an order of Hong Kong Style Milk Tea ($2.80). I appreciated how So Good’s rendition came unsweetened, served with sugar on the side so I could decide how sweet I wanted it to be. This milk tea had just the right dose of milk, allowing the fragrance of the tea to shine through.

I was also surprised by how smooth the Cold Black Coffee ($3) was. Served over ice, this brew remained strong without any astringent or bitter aftertaste.

I’d recommend you come after 11am to try their signature Hong Kong-style mains, especially if you’re a meat lover.

The Double Combination BBQ Meat ($19) lets you pick two out of three meats: Roasted Duck, Roasted Pork Belly, and Honey Char Siew. We went with the first two.

Duck isn’t an easy protein to execute, so I was impressed by how tender and flavourful the duck slices turned out to be.

The siew yoke was equally delicious, with its three layers: crispy skin, juicy meat, and a melt-in-the-mouth fat layer that wasn’t too porky or jelak.

While this platter was on the pricier side, the meats were well-executed. They were not the best I’ve had, but I felt that the quality was not too shabby for a mall restaurant.

The Stewed Beef Brisket Noodle ($7.80) came highly recommend, too. You get all you need for a well-balanced meal: rich beef brisket atop dry HK noodles, accompanied by greens.

I enjoyed the springy, al dente mee kia, though you can opt for other carbs such as hor fun and flat noodles instead.

The beef brisket chunks were the star of this dish, as they were rich and savoury, with a slight sweetness from the braise that went well with the simple egg noodles. I felt that the meat could be a tad more tender, but those who usually enjoy the brisket cut might think otherwise.

Ambience at So Good Char Chan Tang

So Good Char Chan Tang sits on the ground floor of 111 Somerset, a three-minute walk from Somerset MRT Station.

The restaurant isn’t the most spacious, with limited tables packed back to back, so it might get a little squeezy during the peak lunch and dinner hours. Somehow, dining here reminded me of what I’d experienced in Hong Kong’s casual diners—the experience being somewhat hurried, but with decent food to make up for the lack of ambience. Service was quick and efficient too, though you’re expected to return your tray after you’re done.

The verdict

So Good Char Chan Tang exceeded my expectations. All things considered—its central location, nett prices, and variety of dishes—this is one spot to bookmark if you’re in town and craving legit Hong Kong fare. Just be prepared to queue when you’re visiting on the weekends.

If Somerset isn’t near you, the chain has multiple outlets across the island, including Katong and Tanjong Pagar!

Address: 111 Somerset Road, #01-16, TripleOne Somerset, Singapore 238164
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 9pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 9pm
Tel: 6493 0338
Website
So Good Char Chan Tang is not a halal-certified eatery.

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