Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant
Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant
7500 Beach Road
Level 1, PARKROYAL On Beach Road
80 Raffles Place
#60-01 1 UOB Plaza
181 Kitchener Road
Level 3, PARKROYAL On Kitchener Road
https://www.sichuandouhua.com/
Pioneer Of Refined Sichuan / Szechuan Dining
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 8
Value for Money: 7
Spent about SGD $55 per person.
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Established since December 1981, Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant is a stalwart pioneer of Chinese fine dining in Singapore, championing Chinese Sichuan / Szechuan cuisine, even before it was mass-market popular. Today, Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant remains among the premier dining destinations, serving dishes that are delicious, traditional, and hearty, yet presented with modern visually appealing flair.
Ambience at Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant exudes a refined modern Oriental splendor. The plush patterned carpet and black wall colour is offset by gleaming lights, symmetrical white lined ceiling tiles, and touches of Oriental decor. Wide and comfortable booths line the walls, while sturdy furnishings are neatly spaced out in the broad dining hall. Definitely feels luxurious from the minute you step in.
Service at Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant befits a fine dining establishment. Staff are assigned specific sections, so you almost have a personal server to attend to several tables. Staff are quick to greet and seat guests and carry out requests. They display deep product knowledge, able to describe dishes sufficiently. I note they proactively offer to clear finished plates throughout the meal. Billing was a little slow though.
Food at Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant is focused on Chinese Sichuan / Szechuan and Chinese Cantonese cuisine. Ingredients are fresh, premium, and consistently well executed, resulting in delicious dishes. The menu has a good variety, but I note some common Sichuan / Szechuan dishes aren't available here. Portions are sized for communal group dining. Prices are reflective of their fine dining status, budget about SGD $55 per person.
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A lovely fragrant Jasmine Flower Tea (SGD $5), with earthy floral sweet herbal flavour.
This Chinese Green Tea (SGD $5) is quite different from the more familiar Japanese version, being lighter with a mild earthy floral flavour.
Found the Sichuan Pickled Big-Stem Mustard (SGD $Complementary) to be rather addictive. Served chilled, the slippery pickled big-stem mustard offers a nice crunch to texture, and the salty sour vegetal flavour entices the palate. Kept reaching for more. Good!
The Salted Peanuts, Almonds, Anchovies (SGD $Complementary) is a beautiful textural dish, with the soft almonds, firm peanuts, and crisp anchovies, complementing each other nicely. Primarily salty savoury nutty in flavour, this appetizer is great for snacking. Good!
A bowl of White Rice (SGD $1.50). The white rice is fluffy and sticky soft, with grainy sweet flavour, pairing well with most of the heavily flavoured dishes here. Almost a must-order because of the full-flavoured gravy most dishes have.
The Deep-Fried Yam In Salted Egg Yolk And Black Pepper (SGD $18) was lovely. The warm cubes of tender yam / taro are coated in sticky salted egg yolk sauce, seasoned with curry leaves and black pepper. Complemented by crunchy almonds, this has bold earthy salty savoury spice nutty flavour, yum. Highly recommended!
Felt the Sichuan Hot And Sour Soup (SGD $14) here was rather muted. While properly thick and silky in texture, the hot and sour soup was more savoury than spicy in flavour, with only a bit of sour notes. The garnishings of crisp bean sprouts, tender shiitake mushrooms, chewy pork loin, and crunchy bamboo shoots, lend good texture, and pick up the flavours of the warm soup / broth. Could be improved.
The Double-Boiled Kampung Chicken Soup With Sea Whelk And Conpoy (SGD $16) was soulful and comforting. The warm soup / broth holds good sweet savoury herbal flavour. Garnished with tender chunks of boneless chicken, chewy dried scallops, and bouncy sea whelk, all of which are infused with the flavours of the soup / broth. Good!
The Double-Boiled Fish Soup With Almond And Apple (SGD $14) is unique and tasty. The warm soup / broth holds delicate savoury fruity sweet salty flavour, an interesting combination. The tender flaky chunks of fried mackerel fish has small bones which are easily removed, and the natural sweet savoury salty flavour is so enticing. Completed with soft red apple slices with fruity sweet flavour, crunchy white fungus with herbal sweet flavour, tender carrots with vegetal sweet flavour, and crunchy almonds with a nutty flavour. Good!
The Boiled Sliced Fish With Spicy Chili Oil (SGD $28) was nice. I'm surprised the oil is so clean and clear, revealing the tender soft creamy white fillets of grass carp fish floating within, as well as the crunchy bean sprouts and crisp leeks beneath. The fish and vegetables take on the spicy savoury salty flavours of the gravy, yet their own natural sweet notes still shine through. Mildly numbing and not too fiery, pleasant enough to finish. Highly recommended!
There's a choice of cooking style for the cod fish, so we got a Cod Fish Fillet Duo. Both pieces of cod are medium small, served in a light soy sauce, with tender flaky flesh that is moist and oily. The Cod Fish Fillet Steamed (SGD $18) has delicate sweet salty flavour, you get more of the natural oily fish taste that is so delicious. The Cod Fish Fillet Pan-Fried (SGD $18) has robust savoury salty flavour, you get a more pleasant crunch to texture that is nicely appealing. Both are garnished with minced fried garlic that lend a herbal savoury note. Highly recommended!
Loved the Braised Pork Belly Served In Whole Pumpkin (SGD $28). It features large succulent juicy tender chunks of pork belly, braised in light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, ginger, brown sugar, and Shaoxing rice wine, resulting in a robust salty savoury flavour. Served in a partially hollowed out young pumpkin, whose soft tender flesh holds mild vegetal sweet savoury flavour. The pork belly braising gravy pools within, and along with the wispy shreds of fried ginger garnish, creates a fragrant wafting aroma that is so enticing. Must pair with white rice. Highly recommended!
Served in a woven flour netting that makes this visually exciting, the Stir-Fried Diced Beef With Garlic (SGD $30) was so good. The tender chunky beef cubes are generously coated in black pepper sauce, tossed with crisp shallots and soft garlic slices, resulting in a robust meaty savoury salty peppery spice flavour. Best paired with white rice to tame the strength of taste. Highly recommended!
The Signature Bean Curd Medley (SGD $26) is a house speciality, a unique dish all its own. The base has fresh crisp chye sim / choy sum / Chinese flowering cabbage with vegetal sweet flavour, and 2 types of silky soybean pudding; the original with grainy savoury flavour, and the purple rice version with earthy savoury flavour. In the center sits large cubes of spongy tofu beancurd with delicate grainy sweet savoury flavour, coated with a thick luscious minced pork gravy with meaty salty savoury flavour. The stack is crowned with strips of crisp fried tofu puffs with sweet salty flavour. A delicious and whimsical treat, great for sharing. Highly recommended!
The Steamed Mee Sua With Crab Claw In Egg White Sauce (SGD $16) is a light dish; being mild on the palate. A large deshelled crab claw, tender and juicy with sweet savoury flavour, takes centerstage here. Surrounded by silky egg white with delicate eggy sweet flavour, and long smooth mee sua / rice vermicelli noodles with gentle grainy sweet flavour. While nice, this lacks that edge of salt or spice to make it enticing, coming across as rather flat overall. Could be improved.
The Osmanthus Jelly With Almond (SGD $6.80) is clean-tasting and refreshing on the palate. This elegant dessert features osmanthus flower infused jelly, with a cube of almond infused jelly within. Topped with a chewy wolfberry / goji berry, this wobbly gelatinous dessert has bright floral nutty herbal sweet flavour. Good!
The Dou Hua Trilogy Of Desserts (SGD $14.80) is a showcase of some of the unique desserts on the menu. The juicy Strawberries & Black Grapes are fairly straightforward with fruity sweet flavour. The Green Tea Glutinous Rice Ball With Salted Egg Custard was interesting, with its chewy outer shell and burst of gooey creamy filling, combining the earthy grassy flavours of the green tea glutinous rice ball with the salty savoury flavours of the salted egg yolk custard. The Home Made Purple Rice Beancurd With Ice Cream was wobbly and silky soft, the purple rice beancurd having a mild grainy sweet flavour, contrasting the milky earthy sweet nutty flavour of the creamy black sesame and vanilla ice cream. Good!
The Giant Deep-Fried Sesame Ball (SGD $12) is so tasty. It features a large round dessert ball of chewy glutinous rice, coated with crisp white sesame seeds, and filled with a smooth sticky red bean paste. Has a beautiful earthy sweet grainy nutty flavour, yummy. The Green Tea Glutinous Rice Ball With Salted Egg Custard (SGD $10.80) remains as good as before.
The Double-Boiled Lotus Soup With Mini Glutinous Rice Balls (SGD $6) is served in a cute pot shaped like a pumpkin. Open it, and the warm aroma of the lotus soup greets you with its distinct earthy sweet fragrance. Filled with tender lotus seeds and colourful bouncy mini glutinous rice balls, both of which carry the earthy sweet flavour infused by the warm soup / broth. Good!
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7500 Beach Road
Level 1, PARKROYAL On Beach Road
80 Raffles Place
#60-01 1 UOB Plaza
181 Kitchener Road
Level 3, PARKROYAL On Kitchener Road
https://www.sichuandouhua.com/
 |
| Braised Pork Belly Served In Whole Pumpkin (SGD $28) |
Pioneer Of Refined Sichuan / Szechuan Dining
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 8
Value for Money: 7
Spent about SGD $55 per person.
.....
Established since December 1981, Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant is a stalwart pioneer of Chinese fine dining in Singapore, championing Chinese Sichuan / Szechuan cuisine, even before it was mass-market popular. Today, Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant remains among the premier dining destinations, serving dishes that are delicious, traditional, and hearty, yet presented with modern visually appealing flair.
Ambience at Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant exudes a refined modern Oriental splendor. The plush patterned carpet and black wall colour is offset by gleaming lights, symmetrical white lined ceiling tiles, and touches of Oriental decor. Wide and comfortable booths line the walls, while sturdy furnishings are neatly spaced out in the broad dining hall. Definitely feels luxurious from the minute you step in.
Service at Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant befits a fine dining establishment. Staff are assigned specific sections, so you almost have a personal server to attend to several tables. Staff are quick to greet and seat guests and carry out requests. They display deep product knowledge, able to describe dishes sufficiently. I note they proactively offer to clear finished plates throughout the meal. Billing was a little slow though.
Food at Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant is focused on Chinese Sichuan / Szechuan and Chinese Cantonese cuisine. Ingredients are fresh, premium, and consistently well executed, resulting in delicious dishes. The menu has a good variety, but I note some common Sichuan / Szechuan dishes aren't available here. Portions are sized for communal group dining. Prices are reflective of their fine dining status, budget about SGD $55 per person.
.....
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| Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant Signage |
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| Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant Exterior |
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| Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant Interior |
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| Seating |
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| Seating |
A lovely fragrant Jasmine Flower Tea (SGD $5), with earthy floral sweet herbal flavour.
 |
| Jasmine Flower Tea (SGD $5) |
This Chinese Green Tea (SGD $5) is quite different from the more familiar Japanese version, being lighter with a mild earthy floral flavour.
 |
| Green Tea (SGD $5) |
Found the Sichuan Pickled Big-Stem Mustard (SGD $Complementary) to be rather addictive. Served chilled, the slippery pickled big-stem mustard offers a nice crunch to texture, and the salty sour vegetal flavour entices the palate. Kept reaching for more. Good!
 |
| Sichuan Pickled Big-Stem Mustard (SGD $Complementary) |
The Salted Peanuts, Almonds, Anchovies (SGD $Complementary) is a beautiful textural dish, with the soft almonds, firm peanuts, and crisp anchovies, complementing each other nicely. Primarily salty savoury nutty in flavour, this appetizer is great for snacking. Good!
 |
| Salted Peanuts, Almonds, Anchovies (SGD $Complementary) |
A bowl of White Rice (SGD $1.50). The white rice is fluffy and sticky soft, with grainy sweet flavour, pairing well with most of the heavily flavoured dishes here. Almost a must-order because of the full-flavoured gravy most dishes have.
 |
| White Rice (SGD $1.50) |
The Deep-Fried Yam In Salted Egg Yolk And Black Pepper (SGD $18) was lovely. The warm cubes of tender yam / taro are coated in sticky salted egg yolk sauce, seasoned with curry leaves and black pepper. Complemented by crunchy almonds, this has bold earthy salty savoury spice nutty flavour, yum. Highly recommended!
 |
| Deep-Fried Yam In Salted Egg Yolk And Black Pepper (SGD $18) |
 |
| Deep-Fried Yam In Salted Egg Yolk And Black Pepper |
Felt the Sichuan Hot And Sour Soup (SGD $14) here was rather muted. While properly thick and silky in texture, the hot and sour soup was more savoury than spicy in flavour, with only a bit of sour notes. The garnishings of crisp bean sprouts, tender shiitake mushrooms, chewy pork loin, and crunchy bamboo shoots, lend good texture, and pick up the flavours of the warm soup / broth. Could be improved.
 |
| Sichuan Hot And Sour Soup (SGD $14) |
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| Sichuan Hot And Sour Soup |
The Double-Boiled Kampung Chicken Soup With Sea Whelk And Conpoy (SGD $16) was soulful and comforting. The warm soup / broth holds good sweet savoury herbal flavour. Garnished with tender chunks of boneless chicken, chewy dried scallops, and bouncy sea whelk, all of which are infused with the flavours of the soup / broth. Good!
 |
| Double-Boiled Kampung Chicken Soup With Sea Whelk And Conpoy (SGD $16) |
 |
| Double-Boiled Kampung Chicken Soup With Sea Whelk And Conpoy |
The Double-Boiled Fish Soup With Almond And Apple (SGD $14) is unique and tasty. The warm soup / broth holds delicate savoury fruity sweet salty flavour, an interesting combination. The tender flaky chunks of fried mackerel fish has small bones which are easily removed, and the natural sweet savoury salty flavour is so enticing. Completed with soft red apple slices with fruity sweet flavour, crunchy white fungus with herbal sweet flavour, tender carrots with vegetal sweet flavour, and crunchy almonds with a nutty flavour. Good!
 |
| Double-Boiled Fish Soup With Almond And Apple (SGD $14) |
 |
| Double-Boiled Fish Soup With Almond And Apple |
The Boiled Sliced Fish With Spicy Chili Oil (SGD $28) was nice. I'm surprised the oil is so clean and clear, revealing the tender soft creamy white fillets of grass carp fish floating within, as well as the crunchy bean sprouts and crisp leeks beneath. The fish and vegetables take on the spicy savoury salty flavours of the gravy, yet their own natural sweet notes still shine through. Mildly numbing and not too fiery, pleasant enough to finish. Highly recommended!
 |
| Boiled Sliced Fish With Spicy Chili Oil (SGD $28) |
 |
| Boiled Sliced Fish With Spicy Chili Oil |
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| Boiled Sliced Fish With Spicy Chili Oil |
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| Boiled Sliced Fish With Spicy Chili Oil |
There's a choice of cooking style for the cod fish, so we got a Cod Fish Fillet Duo. Both pieces of cod are medium small, served in a light soy sauce, with tender flaky flesh that is moist and oily. The Cod Fish Fillet Steamed (SGD $18) has delicate sweet salty flavour, you get more of the natural oily fish taste that is so delicious. The Cod Fish Fillet Pan-Fried (SGD $18) has robust savoury salty flavour, you get a more pleasant crunch to texture that is nicely appealing. Both are garnished with minced fried garlic that lend a herbal savoury note. Highly recommended!
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| Cod Fish Fillet Duo |
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| Cod Fish Fillet Steamed (SGD $18) |
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| Cod Fish Fillet Steamed |
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| Cod Fish Fillet Pan-Fried (SGD $18) |
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| Cod Fish Fillet Pan-Fried |
Loved the Braised Pork Belly Served In Whole Pumpkin (SGD $28). It features large succulent juicy tender chunks of pork belly, braised in light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, ginger, brown sugar, and Shaoxing rice wine, resulting in a robust salty savoury flavour. Served in a partially hollowed out young pumpkin, whose soft tender flesh holds mild vegetal sweet savoury flavour. The pork belly braising gravy pools within, and along with the wispy shreds of fried ginger garnish, creates a fragrant wafting aroma that is so enticing. Must pair with white rice. Highly recommended!
 |
| Braised Pork Belly Served In Whole Pumpkin (SGD $28) |
 |
| Braised Pork Belly Served In Whole Pumpkin |
Served in a woven flour netting that makes this visually exciting, the Stir-Fried Diced Beef With Garlic (SGD $30) was so good. The tender chunky beef cubes are generously coated in black pepper sauce, tossed with crisp shallots and soft garlic slices, resulting in a robust meaty savoury salty peppery spice flavour. Best paired with white rice to tame the strength of taste. Highly recommended!
 |
| Stir-Fried Diced Beef With Garlic (SGD $30) |
 |
| Stir-Fried Diced Beef With Garlic |
 |
| Stir-Fried Diced Beef With Garlic |
The Signature Bean Curd Medley (SGD $26) is a house speciality, a unique dish all its own. The base has fresh crisp chye sim / choy sum / Chinese flowering cabbage with vegetal sweet flavour, and 2 types of silky soybean pudding; the original with grainy savoury flavour, and the purple rice version with earthy savoury flavour. In the center sits large cubes of spongy tofu beancurd with delicate grainy sweet savoury flavour, coated with a thick luscious minced pork gravy with meaty salty savoury flavour. The stack is crowned with strips of crisp fried tofu puffs with sweet salty flavour. A delicious and whimsical treat, great for sharing. Highly recommended!
 |
| Signature Bean Curd Medley (SGD $26) |
 |
| Signature Bean Curd Medley |
 |
| Signature Bean Curd Medley |
The Steamed Mee Sua With Crab Claw In Egg White Sauce (SGD $16) is a light dish; being mild on the palate. A large deshelled crab claw, tender and juicy with sweet savoury flavour, takes centerstage here. Surrounded by silky egg white with delicate eggy sweet flavour, and long smooth mee sua / rice vermicelli noodles with gentle grainy sweet flavour. While nice, this lacks that edge of salt or spice to make it enticing, coming across as rather flat overall. Could be improved.
 |
| Steamed Mee Sua With Crab Claw In Egg White Sauce (SGD $16) |
 |
| Steamed Mee Sua With Crab Claw In Egg White Sauce |
 |
| Steamed Mee Sua With Crab Claw In Egg White Sauce |
The Osmanthus Jelly With Almond (SGD $6.80) is clean-tasting and refreshing on the palate. This elegant dessert features osmanthus flower infused jelly, with a cube of almond infused jelly within. Topped with a chewy wolfberry / goji berry, this wobbly gelatinous dessert has bright floral nutty herbal sweet flavour. Good!
 |
| Osmanthus Jelly With Almond (SGD $6.80) |
 |
| Osmanthus Jelly With Almond |
 |
| Osmanthus Jelly With Almond |
The Dou Hua Trilogy Of Desserts (SGD $14.80) is a showcase of some of the unique desserts on the menu. The juicy Strawberries & Black Grapes are fairly straightforward with fruity sweet flavour. The Green Tea Glutinous Rice Ball With Salted Egg Custard was interesting, with its chewy outer shell and burst of gooey creamy filling, combining the earthy grassy flavours of the green tea glutinous rice ball with the salty savoury flavours of the salted egg yolk custard. The Home Made Purple Rice Beancurd With Ice Cream was wobbly and silky soft, the purple rice beancurd having a mild grainy sweet flavour, contrasting the milky earthy sweet nutty flavour of the creamy black sesame and vanilla ice cream. Good!
 |
| Dou Hua Trilogy Of Desserts (SGD $14.80) |
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| Dou Hua Trilogy Of Desserts |
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| Green Tea Glutinous Rice Ball With Salted Egg Custard |
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| Green Tea Glutinous Rice Ball With Salted Egg Custard |
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| Home Made Purple Rice Beancurd With Ice Cream |
 |
| Strawberries & Black Grapes |
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| Dou Hua Trilogy Of Desserts |
The Giant Deep-Fried Sesame Ball (SGD $12) is so tasty. It features a large round dessert ball of chewy glutinous rice, coated with crisp white sesame seeds, and filled with a smooth sticky red bean paste. Has a beautiful earthy sweet grainy nutty flavour, yummy. The Green Tea Glutinous Rice Ball With Salted Egg Custard (SGD $10.80) remains as good as before.
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| Giant Deep-Fried Sesame Ball & Green Tea Glutinous Rice Ball With Salted Egg Custard Set |
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| Giant Deep-Fried Sesame Ball (SGD $12) |
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| Giant Deep-Fried Sesame Ball |
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| Giant Deep-Fried Sesame Ball |
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| Green Tea Glutinous Rice Ball With Salted Egg Custard (SGD $10.80) |
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| Green Tea Glutinous Rice Ball With Salted Egg Custard |
The Double-Boiled Lotus Soup With Mini Glutinous Rice Balls (SGD $6) is served in a cute pot shaped like a pumpkin. Open it, and the warm aroma of the lotus soup greets you with its distinct earthy sweet fragrance. Filled with tender lotus seeds and colourful bouncy mini glutinous rice balls, both of which carry the earthy sweet flavour infused by the warm soup / broth. Good!
 |
| Double-Boiled Lotus Soup With Mini Glutinous Rice Balls (SGD $6) |
 |
| Double-Boiled Lotus Soup With Mini Glutinous Rice Balls |
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| Double-Boiled Lotus Soup With Mini Glutinous Rice Balls |
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| Double-Boiled Lotus Soup With Mini Glutinous Rice Balls |
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