Hotel Jen Orchard Gateway Buffet

Orchard Road has changed so much in the recent years, and one of the newest Hotels to hit the Famous Singapore Shopping strip is Hotel Jen Orchard Gateway.  Centrally located just next to the Somerset Train Station, the Hotel Jen Orchard Gateway buffet will be showcasing Singapore’s Hawker Cuisine this August, with freshly made local dishes and Chef’s Signature Laksa Fried Rice.

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As a family we love food, and with a new buffet in town, we were more than willing to sample the local spread offered by the folks at Hotel Jen.  Entering into Makan@Jen,  we were warmly greeted by the Hotel Jen staff, and we couldn’t wait to discover the local Hawker Fare.

In terms of spread and pricing, the spread does the disappoint. Priced at $42++ for Dinner (Mon-Thurs Dinners Only) , the buffet offered the usual Seafood with Oysters, Crabs,  Sashimi,  and other roasted delights like Fried Garoupa, Squid, and Crayfish. This was certainly a nice spread, as it offered something from the West and the East.

Yes! The pictures don’t lie, as there is certainly a lot of local delicacies, found at this buffet. From Wan Ton Mee, Popiah to local Rojak, everything that a local tourist needs to know about Singapore Hawker fare, can be found in this buffet. If you want your parents to eat Hawker Fare at one-go, this buffet is a good option for extended families.

To add to the variety and sinful calorie intake, the Singapore Hawker Fare offers local favorites in the balcony as well. As you head out to the verandah in the cool of the night, one can find local drinks like Ice Milo, Bandung, Barley and other local drinks.

Besides the drinks, one can also find a Satay Man, who is ever ready to grill your favorite local meat, over a piping hot charcoal fire. Together with  stations offering Fried Oyster Omelette, Roti Prata and Hokkien Mee, this Buffet has certainly something for everyone. As usual, the kids went crazy over the Chicken Rice and Hokkien Noodles, which is a firm favorite with my kids.

One of the specials of the buffet is the Singapore Laksa offered with a twist. Chef Lee’s Fried rice was first brought to Singapore by the Peranakans. Chef Lee’s variation of the Laksa is a fried recipe, and it is offered alongside fresh seafood and Laksa sauce. 

And to end the buffet, expect to find sweets with a local twist. Fill your tummy with local swiss rolls, traditional nonya kueh, and BuBur Cha Cha to close the feast.

How is the food at Makan@Jen

The food quality at the Hotel Jen Orchard Gateway Buffet is decent, and it offers a great deal in terms of local variety. The only thing, you might find missing at the buffet is a Western Roast Stations, but the dinner offers far more in its local selection. Tastewise, the local food is average, as many locals will still attribute their favorite local delights to neighborhood Hawker Stalls, which are still the best at producing local hawker fare. However, the convenience of  a one-stop station, plus a competitive dinner price of $42++, makes the Hotel Jen Orchard Gateway Buffet, a good option for a family gathering or a night out with friends.

• Monday to Thursday Hawker Fare Buffet Dinner (6.30pm to 10pm)
  Priced at SGD 42 (SGD 40 for online reservations) Menu
• Weekend Singapore Roast Brunch (12.30pm to 3pm)
  Priced at SGD 42 (SGD 40 for online reservations) Menu
• Friday & Saturday Seafood Buffet Dinner (6.30pm to 10pm)
  Priced at SGD 65 (SGD 63 for online reservations) Menu

For more information, about the Makan@jen, do visit Hotel Jen Orchard Gateway Buffet.