China’s largest coffee chain, Luckin Coffee, has made its debut in Singapore with not one but two stores at the same time. The outlet located outside Takashimaya is presented as an outdoor kiosk, while the other is nestled within Marina Square. Luckin Coffee also boasts cashier-less stores, where you can select, purchase, and pick up their coffee through a mobile app for a seamless hassle-free experience.

Its Coconut Latte ($6.40) is the highlight, made with cold-pressed raw coconut milk that gives the beverage a smooth velvety finish, with just a hint of coconut flavour. Other options in the Coconut series include the Coconut Velvet Latte and Coconut Mocha.

If you like your usual caffe latte creamier, then make the Creamy Dreamy Latte ($6.40) your go-to, made with cold-pressed milk that’s thicker and higher in protein levels. There’s also the frappe-style Luckin Exfreezo series, with flavours like the Matcha Exfreezo ($6.40), though this would have benefitted from a stronger hit of matcha.

You can also try the brand’s Little Black Cup Specialty Single Origins Espresso (SOE) series. This shines the light on beans sourced from Ethiopia, Columbia and Yunnan, and has won Luckin Coffee the gold medal at the IIAC International Coffee Tasting Competition for five consecutive years (2018 to 2022).

There isn’t any food served in the stores as yet, but we hear this might change. Its third outlet in Guoco Tower will be ready by April, while the rest will subsequently meet coffee fans atAperiaand Jewel Changi Airport throughout the year.

Promo: Try your first Luckin beverage at $0.99 when you download the Luckin Coffee app and make your first in-app order.

Luckin Coffee is at #02-153, Marina Square (opens daily from 8am to 10pm), and #01-K2, Civic Plaza, Ngee Ann City (opens daily from 9am to 9.30pm).

Following a two-month renovation, modern seafood restaurant and wine bar Humpback has transitioned into a stylish 63-seater that evokes a laidback vibe. Its menu has also gotten a revamp, too.

Fans of its signature oyster bar, fret not. That remains, featuring a seasonal rotation of American Pacific Northwest oysters from the Hama Hama Oyster Company. For now, there are three varieties ($8 each, min six per order) — the clean and slightly sweet Hama Hama with a hint of cucumber; Summerstone with a mild brininess and sweet finish, and the Blue Pool, which is creamy with cucumber notes. They come served with a house mignonette of chardonnay and rice vinegar, as well as lemon and seasonal citrus fruit.

Do yourself a favour and get the Mussel Toast With Spicy Nduja ($16++ for two pieces), a crispy airy brioche that pops with the oceanic sweetness of Australian mussels, spicy nduja, and tart vinegar gel. For something refreshing, get the Red Prawn Tartare ($26++), with succulent Argentinian scampi marinated in dashi and rice wine vinegar and paired with a bright tosazu jelly. Marigold petals add delicate herbaceous notes. A reintepretation of clams in wine, the Purple Clams with Toasted Koji and Green Asparagus ($31++) in an intense savoury broth is worth ordering, too.

The restaurant’s only pasta offering is the Ricotta cavatelli with swordfish bacon and chitose corn ($28++). With a rich savouriness, it does get a little cloying after a while, so order this to share. We’d also have liked the cavatelli to have a little more bite.

For mains, there’s wild-caught marble goby from the Tembilahan River in Sumatra, Indonesia. Cooked till flaky and tender with a lightly crisped top, and drizzled with mussel jus and brown butter. It’s accompanied by a creamy and slightly sweet black garlic and shallot puree, and Australian mussels cooked in sake.

Humpback is at 20 Bukit Pasoh Road,  Singapore 089834. Visit its website for more information.

BHC Chicken, South Korea’s largest fried chicken chain, is arriving on our shores come April 26. Its fourth overseas destination (it’s also in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Los Angeles), the 108-seater space will be situated on level two of Marina Square.

Its Bburinkle Chicken is its star attraction, with a coating of cheese, onion and garlic as well as other fried chicken options like Macho King, with aged soya sauce and honey-based oriental sauce, as well as Gold King. This is drizzled with soya sauce, honey and garlic. There are also plans to include new fried chicken options that appeal to local tastebuds.

Diners can choose from sides like Cheese Balls, Sotteok, Bburing Hotdog for a heartier meal. And if that’s not enough, the restaurant also has other mains. Think Korean classics like samgyetang, kimchi fried fice, tteokbokki and rabokki. Wash it down with a swig of beer, which will also be served on the establishment.

As part of its opening promo, BHC Chicken will be holding an Instagram giveaway contest, with vouchers worth $100 each to two winners. Visit its Instagram page (@bhc_chicken_sg) to find out more. The giveaway ends April 2, 2023, Sunday, 23:59pm.

BHC Chicken will be located at #02-332A & #02-332F Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594.

It’s been 12 years since executive Cantonese chef Leung Wing Cheung took over the reins at Si Chuan Dou Hua at Parkroyal on Kitchener Road. To mark the occasion, he’s presenting 12 old-school dishes ($33++ each) from his repertoire, which are also a love letter to his hometown of Guangdong.

For seafood, there’s the Wok-Fried Squid Stuffed with Prawn Paste cooked in the bi feng tang-style with rice crackers, shrimp and crispy garlic, as well as Poached Giant Garoupa Fillet with Luffa Melon in Fish Stock

Don’t miss the luxurious Slow-Cooked Roast Duck with Sea Cucumber and Shrimp Roe, a clay pot dish that has the poultry meticulously basted with gravy for tender meat. And for the tongue-tingling flavours that are the hallmark of Sichuan cuisine, there’s the Boiled Sliced Venison with Spicy Chilli Sauce.

From now till May 31, diners are eligible for a Buy-3-Free-1/Buy-6-Free-2 promotion with any orders from Chef Leung’s 12th Anniversary menu.

Chef Leung’s 12th Anniversary: A Classic Feast is available from now till May 31, 2023. Click here for reservations. Parkroyal on Kitchener Road is at 181 Kitchener Rd, Singapore 208533.