Tan Xiang Yuan opened in November 2022, and specialises in mid-to-high-end Chinese cuisine with dishes such as live seafood, hotpot and Peking duck.
The restaurant, which operates from a charming two-story conservation house in Little India, has just undergone a minor revamp. There’s a brand new neon-lit alleyway, plus a few new dishes created by chef Cao Yong, Ben’s biz partner.
The purple-blue alleyway is lined with flashy signboards shouting colloquial Singaporean sayings like ‘wa lao eh’.
Ben tells 8days.sg that he “wanted to do something [new] to bring excitement to the building, ’cos the restaurant has been there for one year plus already”.
Vote for Ben and snag a 500g lobster for $1
But what about the $1 lobster promotion? Here’s how it works: each table of voters (no minimum number of pax but everyone at the table must vote for Ben), are entitled to a live Australian Rock Lobster of up to 500g for just $1 (usual price seasonal, it’s currently $94 for 500g), with every purchase of a Signature Seafood Hotpot (from $98/small for about five pax).
Ben brushes off the promo as “nothing much lah, just something to give back to my customers”, adding that he came up with the idea with his biz partners. “My partners congratulated me for being one of the [Star Awards] nominees, so we decided ‘why don’t we give some perks to our customers?’”
“Paiseh” about asking people to vote for him
If you’ve been keeping up with Star Awards news, you might’ve read that veteran actor Wang Yuqing is also offering a makan promo to garner votes for the same category, by treating 10 fans who vote for him at least 10 times to a $188 private dining experience at his eatery, Golf Spot Cafe & Bistro. Ben says he heard about Yuqing’s promo, but wasn’t inspired by him to start his own one. “I did this because my partners and I discussed doing it before the article [about Yuqing] came out”.
What does he think of his colleague’s deal? “Okay ah, why not?” he says. “Actually, I think the reason artistes do this is not just because it’s an excuse to get polling votes, but also more about advertising our businesses and to return something to our customers”.
Not confident about winning this year
While this vote-to-enjoy-perks practice may be considered ‘unfair’ by some, Ben laughs it off and says “nothing is fair in this world”. He admits to 8days.sg that he usually feels paiseh to ask for votes. “Actually I’m very paiseh one. Super – that’s why I don’t really ask people to vote for me. To me, [this promo] is more about giving back to my customers, it’s not really about voting, ’cos winning or losing is not that important,” he explains. Ben snagged the award in 2022 but lost out on it last year.
What does he think of his chances this year? “I’m seriously not confident [of winning] at all,” he tells 8days.sg humbly.
For easy voting, he has printed out a QR code which links to the Star Awards voting page at the restaurant, so that patrons can conveniently scan their phones and vote on the spot.
Chef Cao Yong, whose accolades include being part of Team Singapore at the 2015 World Championship Chef Competition in Shanghai, has also come up with four new dishes: Signature Luo Han Delight Tripe ($16), Stuffed Prawn Ball with Foie Gras Sauce ($12/pc), Steamed Garlic Lobster with Taro (seasonal price), and Jiangnan Salted Duck ($20).
$1 Peking duck with every order of the Signature Seafood Hotpot
To celebrate Tan Xiang Yuan’s expansion, the restaurant is offering another good deal indefinitely – but this time, you don’t have to vote for Ben. Pay just $1 to enjoy a 20-piece Peking duck set (U.P. $98, about the size of a whole duck) at lunch time, with every purchase of their Signature Seafood Hotpot. Each table is limited to one redemption only.
$1 lobster promo valid till 21 April 2024 (day of the Star Awards).
Tan Xiang Yuan is at 1 Dickson Rd, S209493. Open Mon – Fri 11.30am – 3pm; 5.30pm – 10pm & Sat – Sun 11.30am – 3pm; 5.30pm – 10pm. Tel: 8058 5527. More info via website, Instagram and Facebook.
Photos: Tan Xiang Yuan
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