LEE's Taiwanese - The Flavors of Taiwan, Or Close Enough

Mention Taiwan and street food comes to mind.

More specifically, food such as fritters on sticks and everything from charcoal-grilled squid to roasted chicken wings dripping with oil.

While LEE's Taiwanese offers more substantive dishes than street snacks, it has arguably succeeded in delivering authentic Taiwan food to its customers.

Ala carte main courses are a little pricey, all falling within the range of $10 to $14. Despite being in the higher tier of $15 to $18, set meals give you more bang for your buck by including an appetizer and drink. As such, I tend to get the sets.

By default, I'd end up having the Braised Minced Pork Rice ($15.90 per set, $10 for ala carte), which contains a half-boiled egg, a slice of sausage, and a relatively decent helping of vegetables, pork and tofu strips. With most pork bits laden with fat, the meat glides down the throat and yet doesn't feel nauseatingly greasy. This bowl is a 3-in-1 meal in itself.

The Salt & Pepper Chicken Rice ($17.90 per set, $12 for ala carte) is another dish worth ordering. Made up of similar ingredients as the pork rice, the only changes are to the type and cooking style of the meat. Biting into the fried, crumbly surface of the breaded chicken pieces, lightly enhanced with spices, reveals the savory meat within. In addition, they retain their crispiness even after some time. 

Out of all the available appetizers, the Century Egg Tofu (inclusive per set, $4.80 for ala carte) suited my preference the most. The large slab of tofu, dusted with spring onions, is incredibly silky and easy to swallow, while the bite-sized chunks of century egg have a smooth, springy texture and mild-tasting paste in their centers.

I have mixed feelings about the Baby Bak Choy (inclusive per set, $4.80 for ala carte). The leafy sections were fine, but crunch down on the base of the stalks and subtle rawness wraps around the tongue. Though the taste is not entirely unpleasant, it did feel like they were not blanched properly. In my opinion, vegetables that taste raw are exclusively for salads and sandwiches.

Practically buzzing with sugar, the Warm Red Bean Soup with Yam Balls ($3.80 add-on with a set meal, $4.80 for ala carte) will satisfy your sweet tooth! The proportion of red beans was unexpectedly low. However, the presence of the soft and chewy yam balls, which were the size of quail eggs, added some much-needed volume to the dessert.

I adore their Iced Green Milk Tea (inclusive per set, $4.80 for ala carte). It contains the right amount of sweetness and a strong aftertaste of green tea.


Halal Certified: No

50 Jurong Gateway Road

#03-05/06 

Singapore 608549

Website: http://www.leestaiwanese.com/.

Overall Rating: