HazelDiary

Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro, Singapore’s highest-awarded Chinese restaurant with 1-Michelin star, has officially reopened at Hilton Orchard Singapore on 16 December 2024 after an extensive five-month renovation. Renowned for its Chuka Szechwan Ryori — a refined interpretation of Szechwan cuisine with Japanese influences. The refreshed restaurant now boasts an elevated dining experience with a revamped interior and menu.

Read more: [SG EATS] Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro Reopens with Elevated Dining Experience

We dined here after the revamp and were treated to a menu that beautifully blends signature dishes with new creations. Each dish celebrates the restaurant’s Chuka Szechwan Ryori heritage while incorporating innovative techniques and premium ingredients. Here are the highlights from our experience.

Monkfish Xiao Long Bao

We began with a seasonal exclusive from the Chef’s Table Experience — the Monkfish Xiao Long Bao. This indulgent dumpling features a decadent filling of monkfish liver and minced pork, paired with grated daikon purée and a side of mala sauce. Each bite delivers a delightful harmony of textures and umami-rich flavours. It is transforming the classic xiao long bao into a luxurious treat. Be sure to enjoy it while it’s hot to fully savour its exquisite taste.

Peking Duck Roll

Shisen Hanten’s Peking Duck Roll offers a delightful twist on the traditional favorite. Succulent slices of Peking duck are wrapped in a soft steamed pancake along with apple slices, cucumbers, and spring onions. The roll is then lightly pan-fried, adding a crispy texture that contrasts beautifully with the tender duck and fresh accompaniments. It’s so delicious that one piece is simply not enough.

Shisen Hanten Five Signature Appetisers

This platter highlights the restaurant’s mastery in crafting a variety of bold and flavorful starters. It includes Jellyfish, Chilled Steamed Chicken with Spicy Sesame Sauce, Mushroom (replacing Angel Prawn due to my prawn allergy), Tofu and Century Egg, and Char Siew, each accompanied by expertly crafted sauces like Tang Cu ,La Jiao You , and Dou Ban Jiang .

Foie Gras Chawanmushi with Alaskan Crab

A must-try at Shisen Hanten, the iconic Foie Gras Chawanmushi is elevated with the addition of sweet Alaskan crab meat and roe. The rich, velvety custard perfectly complements the delicate crab, resulting in a luxurious, heartwarming dish that truly reflects the restaurant’s philosophy of cooking “from the heart.”

Steamed Kinmedai with Hot and Sour Sauce and Fresh Yuba

A fresh addition to the menu, the Steamed Kinmedai (golden eye snapper) is paired with a tangy hot and sour sauce made from Hainan pickled chilies. This dish beautifully blends Japanese and Chinese flavors, offering a unique twist on Chuka cuisine and providing a refreshing new taste experience.

Szechwan-style Stir-fried Hokkaido Mangalica Pork (Chengdu Style)

This dish features twice-cooked Hokkaido Mangalica pork stir-fried with Japanese garlic shoots. Guests can choose between the bold Chengdu Style, made with fermented broad bean chili sauce (Dou Ban Jiang), or Chen Kenmin’s Style, which incorporates Japanese ingredients. This dish is a tribute to the foundations of Chuka cuisine, beautifully balancing tradition with innovation. Best enjoyed with a bowl of white rice for the perfect pairing.

Wagyu Beef Tendon Chen’s Mapo Tofu

A signature legacy dish, Chen’s Mapo Tofu is elevated with the addition of wagyu beef tendon, adding a creamy richness to the traditionally spicy tofu. The fermented Dou Ban Jiang lends depth and authenticity to the dish, making it both comforting and satisfying. While the wagyu beef tendon provides a luxurious touch, I found the mapo tofu itself already delicious on its own — for my personal preference, the beef tendon could be optional. Regardless, it’s a dish best enjoyed with a bowl of steamed rice for the perfect balance.

Szechwan Jelly with Seasonal Fruits

To conclude the meal, we enjoyed a refreshing dessert of Szechwan Jelly paired with sweet seasonal persimmons. The light and smooth jelly offered a perfect contrast to the richness of the earlier dishes, while the persimmons added a delightful bite and texture. Love it!

The reopening of Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro marks a thrilling new chapter for the restaurant, blending modern elegance with the essence of its Chuka Szechwan Ryori heritage. The refreshed interiors create a contemporary, welcoming atmosphere, setting the stage for elevated dishes that honour tradition while pushing creative boundaries. The Chef’s Table is offering seasonal creations, adds an exclusive touch for those seeking a unique dining experience. Personally, the transformation from the previous Shisen Hanten to this more refined version enhances not only the visual appeal but also the depth of flavors and overall dining experience.

Address: Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro
Hilton Singapore Orchard
Level 35, 333 Orchard Road, Singapore 238867
Website: https://shisenhanten.com.sg/

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12:00PM – 3:00PM | 6:00PM – 10:00PM

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram and Tiktok for insta updates

Celebrate with auspicious set meals at two Michelin-star Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro at Mandarin Orchard this Chinese New Year. The Lunar New Year specialities are available for dine-in and takeaway as well. There are 8-course Prosperity menu at S$138.00++ per person for a minimum of two persons, to the nine-course Majestic menu at S$298.00++ per person for a minimum of six persons. Full Lunar New Year Set Menus are available here. Read More

This year’s Dragon Boat Festival or we called it 端午节 “Duan Wu Jie” falls on 25 June. During this festival, we will celebrate with eating delicious rice dumplings/ bak chang/zongzi with family members and friends. People traditionally wrap zongzi in leaves of reed forming a pyramid shape and the choices of fillings vary depending on regions.Over the years, there are different flavours of glutinous rice dumplings available in the market. Read More

So starting from 07 April to 04 May 2020, all schools and non-essential business have to closed to tighten measures to fight the Covid-19 outbreak in Singapore. And we are not allowed to dine-in during this period but allow to takeaway and online food delivery services. Thus, hotel restaurants have launched the takeaway services to overcome this difficult period. Read More

Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro , 2 Michelin Starred Sichuan Restaurant at Mandarin Orchard usher this Chinese New Year with 7 auspiciously-themed set menu starting from 10 January to 8 February 2020. The menu is available from 8-course -Prosperity menu priced S$538.00++ for 4 pax, to 9-course- Majestic Menu priced S$2,988.00++ for 10pax. And the highlight for the new dishes include the Roasted Brown Rice-fed Chicken topped with Garlic, Mala-glazed Barbecued Pork, and Braised “Rat Noodle” with Lobster in Superior Broth. Click here for the full menu. Read More

Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro located at 35th floor of Mandarin Orchard Hotel Singapore is the first overseas branch of the restaurant chain outside of Japan. Chef Chen Kentaro is the third generation to continue his family legacy and introduce Japan’s best loved Szechwan restaurant in Singapore. Read about the history here.

The restaurant has a grand interior setting with multiple hanging chandeliers to greet you. And if you would like to have a city view while dining here with them, be sure that you make your reservation request earlier. Read More