Two Chefs Eating Place

Two Chefs Eating Place is a zi char restaurant on the ground floor of a public housing block at Commonwealth Crescent. Zi char means Chinese dishes cooked to order and shared at the table, usually with rice. The restaurant has long promised restaurant-quality cooking at neighbourhood prices.

There is a second outlet on Sin Ming Avenue, and this guide covers the Commonwealth branch. Both stay open late and draw steady crowds, which makes them a popular choice for family dinners.

What to order

The dish everyone talks about is the Butter Pork Ribs. Despite the name, it is boneless pork cut into pieces, fried and covered in a sweet, buttery powder. The kitchen spends about four hours making the coating. Many diners compare the sweet coating to milk powder or condensed milk, and a few curry leaves give it a fragrant edge. It is rich, so one plate goes a long way when shared.

Other dishes that regulars order include:

• Seafood Claypot, a generous mix of seafood served in a clay pot
• Golden Mushroom Beancurd, soft tofu with enoki mushrooms
• Drunken Cockles, a chilled starter
• Har Cheong Gai, fried chicken marinated in prawn paste

Noodle dishes are on the menu too if you are eating on your own. Still, the best way to eat here is in a group, ordering several plates to share. If this style of eating is new to you, our first-timer's guide to Singapore food covers the basics.

The setting

This is a simple neighbourhood eatery under an HDB block, the public flats where most Singaporeans live. Large tables suit families and groups. Commonwealth Crescent is an older estate with a nostalgic feel, and a meal here is a good look at everyday Singapore. Our guide to staying in the Singapore heartlands explains more about these estates.

Good to know before you go

• Crowds: the restaurant is often full at dinner, so arrive early or be ready to wait.
• Portion sizes: many dishes, including the butter pork ribs, come in more than one size. Order a larger plate for a bigger group.
• Groups: if you are a large party, it is worth phoning ahead.

Nearby

For more places to eat in this part of town, see our list of restaurants in West Coast and Buona Vista. Seafood fans can also try Chin Huat Live Seafood. Our guides to Chinese restaurants and chilli crab and seafood cover the rest of the island. To make a day of it in the west, pair dinner with a walk in Kent Ridge Park or a visit to Haw Par Villa.