We Tried A $19.90++ Taiwanese Buffet With Free-Flow XLB And Lu Rou Fan

Typhoon Cafe has a cheap Taiwanese buffet at Plaza Singapura

Previously well-known for its range of Taiwanese dishes, the popular Typhoon Cafe at Dhoby Ghaut’s Plaza Singapura has undergone a significant revamp. Rather than ordering dish by dish, the brand now offers an all-you-can-eat a la carte buffet starting at just $19.90++ per pax, making it a solid option for those who want to go back for seconds (or thirds) of their favourite picks.

The brand is part of local F&B group Creative Eateries, which was acquired by Andie Chen and his brothers, Ash Chen and Adam Chen, who now lead the company. Frequent trips were made between Taiwan and Singapore to refine the menu and bring it closer to its roots. 

Each diner has 80 minutes to tuck into unlimited servings of over 30 Taiwanese specialties. The spread ranges from classic staples to dim sum and street snacks. We were able to sample eight of co-owner Andie’s favourite dishes.

Starting with their classic street snack: Taiwanese Salt and Pepper Chicken, a personal go-to for any fried food lover. While the seasoning—a blend of salt, white pepper, and five-spice powder—was enjoyable, the chicken itself fell a little short on texture. It lacked that signature crispness, making it less satisfying to bite into.

The opposite was the case for the Casserole Tofu. Though the silken tofu had a pleasing, delicate texture, the dish leaned slightly too salty, which unfortunately masked the rest of its flavours.

Moving on to the mains, the Signature Braised Pork Rice was a standout. There was a generous portion of braised pork, rich and fatty. I also enjoyed how the gelatinous sauce struck a nice balance between sweet and savoury, which coated the fluffy white rice and tied the dish together well.

The Beef Noodle Soup was likewise impressive, with the broth delivering an intense beefy flavour and strong depth, along with generous slices of beef that melted in your mouth.

The Spicy Scallion Oil Noodles were a little too clumpy, though the scallion flavour still managed to shine through. The Signature Taiwanese Oyster Mee Sua, on the other hand, carried a silky texture with an earthy broth, complemented by oysters that were not overly fishy.

A meal here would not be complete without Xiao Long Bao, which delivers a comforting bite with a hearty burst of soup enclosed within a delicate skin. The Three-Cup Chicken carried a rich, caramelised taste, lifted by the sesame oil and herbs that added plenty of fragrance to the dish.

Rounding off the meal was the brand’s Signature Pot-Boiled Milk Tea, available in Assam Reserve Milk Tea and Mountain Oolong Tea flavours. This typically comes at $8.90++, but is currently available at a limited-time price of $4.90++ with the purchase of the buffet.

While conventional milk tea brands typically hand-shake their teas, Typhoon Cafe pot-boils its milk tea in small batches to ensure optimal flavour. This results in a lightly sweetened, layered profile, with a subtle burnt sugar note that gives it a more authentic taste.

Overall, the dishes at Typhoon Cafe were a bit of a mixed bag, with some strong highlights alongside elements that didn’t quite meet expectations. That said, we only managed to sample a small selection from its expansive menu, which may not fully reflect the overall spread. Still, this doesn’t take away from the fact that the buffet offers solid value for money.

Typhoon Cafe offers a tiered pricing for its all-day buffet with tiered pricing across lunch and dinner. Lunch starts at $19.90++ from 11.30am to 12.30pm, and $23.90++ from 12.30pm to 4.30pm. For dinner, pricing is at $24.90++ from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, and $28.90++ from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. An additional $3++ charge will apply on Fridays to Sundays, public holidays, and eve of public holidays.

If you are looking to sample other all-you-can-eat options, check out our list of buffet options in Singapore, or read our guide to cheap buffets under $40 if you are on a tighter budget.

Address: 68 Orchard Road, #04-63/67, Plaza Singapura, Singapore 238839
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: 3106 4205
Website
Typhoon Cafe is not halal-certified.

Photos taken by Nivian Chiang.
This was a media tasting at Typhoon Cafe.