A taste of Singapore: Buffet @ Makan@JEN – Hotel Jen Orchardgateway

I’ve heard a lot about Hotel Jen. Friends of mine in SG rated it highly and would recommend it in a heartbeat to fellow Malaysians.
“Good value wei..breakfast buffet is good. Location right in the city. Swimming pool very good.” they have said.

I could virtually read their mind, whose thoughts were no doubt along the lines of ‘Poor Malaysians.. ringgit is worthless now. JEN offers the best value lor“.

My SG influencers friends are forever posting about their staycations here; with their most popular postings being of the pool and rooms.

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I finally got to see and have a feel of the hotel recently when I was invited for the launch of the “A Taste of Singapore” weekday dinner buffet.
This promotion placed the spotlight on Singapore’s flavours with many hawker delights taking centre stage. That said, it doesn’t mean it is cheap.
The dishes were amped up with plenty of quality ingredients; besides being prepared with utmost skill.

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The Laksa Fried Rice was incredibly tasty, a proud specialty of Makan @JEN by the Head Chef Lee.

The international guests of Hotel Jen would appreciate this, Chef Lee had said enthusiastically, indicating the hotel’s aim to showcase more of Singapore local delicacies to tourists.

For the locals, we wanted to show our support for our local cuisine and heritage this buffet showcases the diversity of our wonderful Singapore eats, prepared using the freshest ingredients, cooked on the spot as how it should be,” he had added.

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Looking at the spread available, it is a value deal even for Malaysians, not to mention those earning SGD.

For SGD42++, the seafood on ice selection was fair with unlimited prawns, crabs and plus a spread of sashimi and sushi.

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The humble Hokkien Mee boasts of plump fresh prawns and rings of squids while the oyster omelette station were dishing up plates after plates of juicy fat oysters omelette.
In fact the omelette was an afterthought, for the large oysters formed the main bulk of each serving!

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A few plates of this and several rounds of fresh seafood later, I reckon that I’ve ate my money worth!

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Other noteworthy items on the buffet spread was the chicken rice, the bak kut teh, the grilled fish, cooked seafood (yes, more seafood!), the wantan noodles with thick cuts of char siew (add as many as you wish) and the desserts.

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The chicken rice was succulent and the ginger and chilli excellent.
International guests would have tasted one of the best chicken rice in Singapore and the locals would be hard-tasked to recommend a better version for a hotel.

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We do not get pork in our buffets in Malaysia, so being able to slurp up piping hot bak kut teh soup and to chew on tender pork ribs was a treat.

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Offering rojak on the buffet spread is a strategic move too, for not many tourist would put this high on their list to try, but having it part of a buffet would certainly encourage them to dig into this unique dish.

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For desserts I found myself loading up on the ais kacang and heaping scoops on ice cream on my bowl.
There were a selection of 8 ice creams, pretty nyonya kuih, puddings, cakes and local “tong shui” aka chinese dessert soups.

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The chef is spying on me! 😀

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1 scoop of durian ice cream please.
Yes, you read right. DURIAN ice cream!

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And a scoop of refreshing coconut ice cream for added creaminess to my bowl.

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The bubur cha cha was rich and loaded with yam, potatoes and the chewy jellies.
It is not an everyday occurrence that a good bubur cha cha was served at a buffet, especially one as good as this. If you love bubur cha cha, please make space for this!

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I liked the liveliness of this property; decked out in furniture of numerous colors and exuding a modern, chic vibe.
Makan @JEN itself is similarly themed, and the vibrant atmosphere plus helpful staff certainly amps up the appetite.

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Yes, Makan@Jen is certainly easy to like. With its variety of live cooking stations, delicious hot dishes options, local temptations and international treats, your hunger would be satiated in no time.
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Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore’s Hawker Promotion is available for dinner only from 6:30pm to 10:00 pm on Mondays – Thursdays for the months of July and August 2016.
It is SGD42++/pax.

**Prices are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes.

Hotel JEN Orchardgateway,
277 Orchard Road, Singapore, 238858, Singapore.
MRT: Somerset. Exit: Orchardgateway
Look for Coffeebean and there lift to the hotel is nearby. Take the lift to the 10th floor.

For further details : Facebook Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore or email them at [email protected].

This Post Has One Comment

  1. Sean EDKL

    even after converting to ringgit, this feels like a worthwhile buffet, with all the good ingredients and good execution. i think i’d take two plates of the oh chien! 😀

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