Shu Yan Sichuan Cuisine has been sitting pretty on my food bucket list ever since I spotted it trending on RedNote. The buzz around their weekday lunch buffet got me curious. After a solid experience at Xiao He Shan’s similar setup at Grantral Mall, I figured it was time to give this Chinatown Point spot a proper go.
The Basics: What You Need to Know
Here’s the deal with Shu Yan Sichuan Cuisine’s lunch buffet. It runs Monday to Friday, 11:30am to 3:00pm. The damage? Just $12.80 nett per person. That’s proper value in today’s market.
We rocked up at 11:10am expecting to cool our heels outside. Surprise – they let us in early and told us to crack on. All the food was ready and waiting. Two other people were already tucking in when we arrived.
How It Works
The system at Shu Yan Sichuan Cuisine is straightforward:
- Walk in and pay at the counter
- Grab any available table
- Pick up a white tray and cutlery from the buffet station
- Help yourself to the rice and dishes
- Everything’s self-service
The Spread: 20 Dishes of Sichuan Goodness
Shu Yan Sichuan Cuisine serves up around 20 dishes in their buffet lineup. You’ll find cold appetisers mixing it up with piping hot mains. The selection covers all bases – meat lovers get sorted, veggie fans aren’t left hanging, and there’s even two fish dishes plus a stir-fried lala number thrown in.
One quirk – none of the dishes come with labels. You’re flying blind unless you know your Sichuan cuisine. Most dishes are pretty standard though, so seasoned eaters won’t struggle.
Drinks and Desserts
The drink situation at Shu Yan Sichuan Cuisine is basic. Two types of cordial that taste like sugar water with artificial flavouring. Skip these and stick to the iced water.
Dessert options are slim – just glutinous rice balls in rice wine soup (酒酿圆子). More on this later.
The Staff Situation (Slightly Odd)
Here’s where things get weird. Four to five staff members just stand around the buffet area watching you take your food. They’re not helping, not chatting, just… staring. Feels like shopping with security guards breathing down your neck.
Same story at the tray return station. Another staff member posted up there, watching but not lifting a finger to help. Bit strange, honestly.
The Food: Hits and Misses
I sampled everything except the fried kway teow (wanted to stick with rice). Shu Yan Sichuan Cuisine nails the flavour balance – nothing was overly salty, greasy, or tongue-numbing spicy.
My Top Picks from Shu Yan Sichuan Cuisine:
La ji zi (辣鸡子): Crispy chicken that’s absolutely addictive. Could demolish a whole plate.
Drunken chicken: Chunky drumstick pieces with firm meat. The wine sauce adds proper fragrance without being boozy.
Spicy fish fillet: Clean-tasting fish with zero muddy flavours. The chilli oil does the heavy lifting here.
Mapo tofu: Ladled over rice, this hits different. Silky tofu in that classic numbing sauce.
Cumin beef: Tender beef slices with cumin that punches through without overpowering.
Shredded potato: Tangy and refreshing – perfect palate cleanser.
Cucumber and black fungus salad: Crunchy textures with that signature sour kick.
Pig stomach salad: Love it or hate it. The chewy texture works brilliantly for me.
The Dessert Surprise
That glutinous rice ball dessert caught me off guard. First spoonful was rough, but it grew on me. Sweet with a gentle booze kick, soft and chewy texture. My hubby didn’t enjoy it though.
Value for Money
At $12.80 nett, Shu Yan Sichuan Cuisine delivers solid value. Sure, mixed rice might cost half that, but you’re paying for variety here. Getting to sample multiple Sichuan dishes in one sitting is worth the premium.
They even hand out loyalty cards on your first visit. Two stamps for two people – collect enough and score a free buffet. Smart move for the regular lunch crowd.
The Verdict
Shu Yan Sichuan Cuisine serves up a decent lunch buffet that won’t break the bank. The food hits more than it misses, the portions are generous, and you won’t leave feeling stuffed or sluggish.
Yes, Hong Lim Market sits right behind Chinatown Point with cheaper options. But during peak lunch hours, that place turns into a sweaty, chaotic mess. Shu Yan Sichuan Cuisine offers air-conditioned comfort without the premium price tag.
If you’re working around Chinatown or just fancy some proper Sichuan flavours without the fuss, this buffet does the job. Just ignore the hovering staff – they’re harmless, just peculiar.