I've been to Mister Wu at both their CHIJMES and China Square Central outlets a few times with buddies as they like to hangout here.
The lunch menu is simple, with everything on one page - there is chicken rice, la mian (noodles), dim sum and Chinese tea. Everything seems familiar yet all have a contemporary twist to it. It took me a few visits to get my boomer bearings here ๐ But, I grew to love it too, over time - like my buddies.
The reception and al fresco dining area. It is actually very comfortable even during mid day as the whole (pedestrianised) street is covered by a canopy overhead, then there are large umbrellas and large air coolers. We always hang out outside when we are at Mister Wu.
Fully aircon inside, quite compact, seats about 40 (I estimate), there's a bar and a couple of intimate private spaces.
Ben, the head chef shuttles between Mister Wu's at CHIJMES and China Square Central (so, the food is consistent between the outlets). He has over 20 years of F & B experience under his belt including running his own food stall.
Here are some of the dishes that I've tried at Mister Wu over a few visits.
A couple of buddies like Mister Wu's Prosperous Pork Chop La Mian (price $11+). It's a mound of noodles topped with a large piece of fried pork chop, choy sum greens and half an ajitsuke tamago (ramen) egg.
I took a slice of fried pork chop to try. It's really nice. All lean meat. Crisp golden brown, savoury outside while inside it was tender, moist and slightly sweet.
Braised Pork Belly La Mian (price $11+). Noodles topped with tender, juicy savoury pork belly stewed in soy sauce and spice blend.
Mister Wu uses a quite heavy, thick noodle. The sauce was savoury, slightly sweet with a bit of aromatic oil infused by frying shallots in it.
Truffle Chicken Rice set (price $8+).
A large piece of poached chicken breast and a piece of leg. Nice natural chicky sweetness in the tender, moist chicken meat. A trickle of truffle oil added a bit of that distinctive aroma which lifted the dish.
I know lah.... there's no truffle in truffle oil but it does make everything taste nicer to me lah.... .
Missing is that layer of jellied fat which would please unkers but might scare off CBD OLs (Central Business District office ladies). They can't please everyone, so I guess Mister Wu decided to be a women's man ๐
The rice was quite fluffy and tenderly nutty which I like. Grease was light, so flavour and aroma were slight. I guess Mister Wu, the ladies' man, is himself again.
Tomato Soup Beef La Mian (price $11+).
It's the
Sometimes, it is good to check out the people's choice. Mister Wu's Tomato Soup Beef La Mian is indeed nice!
The thick sauce has a robust savoury flavour undergirded by a slight sweetness and subtle tomato tanginess. Same heavy gauge tender, lightly springy noodles. It's quite addictive when eaten all together with the well marinated, quite sweet, thinly sliced beef. I can see why my buddies love it.
Three unkers? Make it four, next time.
Mister Wu has set lunches that come with a main course, basket of dim sum and one of their signature Chinese teas. Costs between $12+ and $15+, I think it is a very good deal in the financial district.
There are 3 dim sum options. There's the dainty truffle xiao long bao. Truffle and xiao long bao lovers, ki chiu (raise your hand). That's me ๐♂️ Now, we can have the best of both worlds in every dainty mouthful. Mister Wu, you rascal, I know what you did there ๐
Har Gow (steamed prawn dumpling).
I had a hard time deciding between the Truffle Xiao Long Bao and Mango Prawn Roll.
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Savoury sweet fried crisp wrap coated with sesame seed, savoury sweet prawn mash, sweet mango, sweet mayo - you say nice or not leh?
Truth be told, I couldn't really appreciate the finesse of Mister Wu's Chinese teas - I am only a peasant lah. All I can say is, they have nice names like Young Master Pu Erh with Rosebuds ๐ค etc, pleasantly aromatic and thirst quenching. If Mister Wu has those trendy fizzy Chinese teas, then his makan joint will be a higher level of heaven for me ๐
Wu Jue Nong is a tea expert / historian who meticulously recorded all things about Chinese tea during the Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution in China (1966 - 1976). The powers were eliminating anything cultural contrary to the Revolution and that included bourgeois tea culture. It's a peasant rebellion mah. Fortunately, thanks to Mister Wu's meticulous records, accumulated knowledge about Chinese tea varietals, culture and art are saved and preserved for future generations. This restaurant is dedicated to Mister Wu Jue Nong. (Source: T Ching.)
Information for you ๐ Mister Wu is a nice place to chill in the city. Good food, good value for money. I especially love the Tomato Beef La Mian and crispy Mango Prawn Roll.
Next time, will tell you more about Mister Wu's dinner and darned worth it dim sum buffet.
Restaurant name: Mister Wu (China Square Central outlet)
Address: 3 Pickering Street, Nankin Row, 01-44/45, S048660
GPS: 1°17'04.1"N 103°50'49.0"E ๐ 1.284481, 103.846935
Tel: 6781 3833
Hours: Lunch 11:30am - 2:30pm | Dinner 6:00pm - 10:30pm
Date visited: 26 Feb 2020
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