Paradise Inn

This is a review of a group lunch (8 people) at Paradise Inn in Funan Digitalife Mall.
The ambiance is relatively basic. There are plain tables. Many of these are for larger groups. On the day we were there, it was not very busy. The restaurant was clean and well-​maintained.
The staff was friendly and professional. The meal moved along at a nice pace. There were no significant delays and I did not feel it was rushed.
The food ranged from good to extremely good.
Paradise Herbal Soup — This is a bold and rich soup. I really enjoyed it. I would guess this is made from a beef stock and cooked for a very long time.
Century Egg — Ok, this was my first experience tasting century egg. Did I particularly like it? Well, no I did not. I thought it tasted of decaying fish. However, those who like century egg seemed to enjoy it.
Coffee Pork Ribs — These were very good. The flavour of the coffee really stood out. They were tender. I could’ve made a meal of these.
Sambal Kang Kong — This dish was some really enjoyable greens. They were tender. They had a nice fresh flavour to them. Then there was the sambal bringing some heat.
Scrambled Egg and Bitter Gourd — Somewhere along the way, I did not try this dish. However, it was heartily devoured by the remainder of the table.
Steamed Chicken — This was another dish I really found to my liking. The chicken was so tender and had a very nice delicate flavour. The other ingredients really didn’t smother the natural taste of the chicken.
Beef w mushrooms — Another winner, it is unusual for me to eat a beef dish and think the beef wasn’t the star of the dish. However, for me, the earthy mushrooms carried this plate.
Vermicelli with pork — This was my least favourite dish. Well, except for the century egg. It just didn’t have any punch to it. There just seemed to be one note dominating every bite.
Wasabi Prawns — This was my favourite dish. Sometimes, I wish I didn’t have to share. The prawns were sweet and then the wasabi brought the heat. I simply have no idea how many of these I could eat.
Receipt (Lunch for 8): $ 214.33
Overall — I thought this was a great lunch. The food was consistently well prepared. The service was friendly and efficient. I thought that considering the number of dishes and generous portions, the price was very reasonable.

The soups here are what I turn to, being deprived of home cooked food in general. We usually go for the pigs stomach soup — heart warming and lovingly brewed, with a strong hit of pepper that neutralizes any offensive smells. It comes in an earthenware pot, and servers are usually walking around to check if the contents of your bowl has depleted. If so, they’ll top your soup up for you. Another not to be missed item is the pigs trotter mee sua. Yes, yes, it may be a bit of a pork overload, but trust me on this one. Braised till tender pork trotter atop smooth mee sua, doused with fragrant sauce. What’s not to like? Interestingly, some friends are also great fans of the braised peanuts served as appetizers, and will not hesitate to lick the tiny plate clean. Literally.

Paradise Inn serves traditional Cantonese cuisine, and this branch at Funan Mall is a popular spot for the lunch crowd. I went with a couple of friends on a weekday evening, and the crowd was much thinner then. I’d advise you to make reservations just to be safe.
On to the food: generally, the kailan (leafy vegetables) was fresh and appetising, though you can certainly spot the glazed surface of the vegetables (indicating the amount of oil included). The Stewed Tofu with Chicken was also decently flavoured and not overly salty. On a less crowded night, the ambience can be rather warm and cosy, if a little corny (they coloured the place with a predominantly red design, consistent with the Chinese theme). Service was acceptable if unremarkable. We paid about $ 15 – 20 per person, which I find a little steep for three dishes and white rice.