[Updated 24 March 2020: Peppercorn has announced that their last day at Kandahar St will be 25 April 2020. They have not confirmed if they will be reopening in a different location so this may be your last chance to try their signature Malatang and scallion oil noodles!]
If you're living in Singapore, you'd probably have heard of mala which is all the craze these days. The notoriously spicy sauce originated from China and it's been a hit with spice lovers everywhere! And it sure looks like the craze won't die down anytime soon.
For the uninitiated, "mala" literally means numbing and spicy, which is exactly what you'll feel in your mouth after savouring their malatang! The mala sauce itself is made from Sichuan pepper and dried chilli pepper, which gives it the oomph ?
Peppercorn's founders were actually inspired by the cuisine in Beijing, Shanghai and the Sichuan region. Sichuan cuisine, in particular, uses a lot of garlic and chilli peppers plus Sichuan peppercorns which is essentially what this eatery is all about!
If you're not sure what malatang is all about, don't worry as it's actually quite simple! First, you pick your ingredients, get it weighed, tell the staff your preferred spice level and wait for them to serve it to you! There are 4 spice levels to choose but if you're not sure which spice level is perfect for you, we recommend starting with low or no spice and then adding the chilli into the soup yourself as you enjoy your malatang. You can also choose to have your mala in soup or dry form ?
P.S. After you enjoy your malatang, chill in one of the many hipster cafes around Bugis!
We had high expectations with regards to the spiciness of the mala after talking to the founders and needless to say, we were thoroughly impressed by it! The numbing feeling hit the spot even though it took a while to kick in, and the broth was delicious as well. Even though it was numbing, we simply couldn't stop having more!?
We really loved the variety of ingredients offered at Peppercorn, especially the sirloin beef strips. There's also a decent selection of chicken, fish, vegetables and other instant soy and meat ingredients, which reminded us of yong tau fu. The ingredients are charged according to their categories and how much they weigh. Not to mention that you can add bee hoon, udon or Maggi noodles for an extra $2.
But perhaps, what really surprised us was their Scallion Noodles ($4.50)! This noodles mixed with a blend of scallion oil, soy sauces and vegetable oil was so fragrant and flavourful and we enjoyed every slurp of it. Plus, it pairs really well with the burning malatang too, so don't miss out on this!
So, if you're up for the challenge, head over to Peppercorn and prepare for a tingling sensation on your taste buds! Trust us, you'll keep coming back for more ?
P.S. Looking for more halal Chinese food in Singapore? Check out our guide on the top 18 authentic halal Chinese restaurants in Singapore!
Halal status: Halal-certified
Average Price: SGD10
Opening Hours: 11.30AM - 2.30PM, 5.30PM - 9.30PM (Mon-Sat), closed on Sundays
Address: 30, Kandahar Street, Singapore 198890
Contact: 9862 2559
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