Joyden Seafood @ West Coast – One of the Best-Kept Secrets in the West

Finally, I have travelled all the way to the west of Singapore to Joyden Seafood Restaurant (欣藝海鲜). A family-run business, Joyden Seafood set up shop ten years ago at the West Coast Recreation Centre for its spacious shop size, convenient parking access, and location in the fast-growing neighbourhood. This restaurant started has recently underwent a major revamp, offering a interior facelift and comprehensive revamped menu.

Honestly, there wasn’t much to praise about their decor but I enjoyed their food. A favourite is the Signature Cereal Prawns ($22 / $34 / $46). Dive into the pile of Tiger Prawns which have been expertly fried till the shells are crunchy while maintaining their moist flesh. Joyden’s version departs slightly from the usual by imbuing the cereal mix with shards of kaffir leaves, chili padi, and a smattering of curry powder. Everyone loves the distinct sweetness and firm texture of fresh prawns.

With about 80% of their menu offering dishes from the sea, you can enjoy ‘live’ picks such as Soon Hock, Tiger Grouper, Sea Bass, Pomfret and more. These can be prepared steamed or fried, and come with a variety of sauces and toppings that include Signature Nonya Sauce, Superior Stock Teochew Style, Fragrant Bean Crisps, Preserved Radish and Minced Garlic.

One of the most popular choices at Joyden is the Deep Fried Soon Hock Fish in Superior Soy Sauce with Scallions (market price). Although deceptively simple, an excellent fried fish is the mark of a chef’s mastery with the wok. At Joyden, the fried soon hock is delivered with perfectly crisp skin and moist pearly white flesh within. The subtle sweetness of the thick superior soy sauce complements the clean flavours of the fish, and coats it lightly without compromising on the crispiness. It would have been perfect with a bowl of rice.

Rice would come in handy too if you order the Signature Imperial Oyster Sauce Chicken ($28). This homely dish seems unassuming but reigns supreme at Joyden Seafood. This is probably my favourite dish at Joyden as it is big on flavour.

A whole chicken is first stuffed with chives and garlic cloves before it is roasted to infuse the flavours through the flesh. It is then braised for three hours in superior oyster sauce. The result is a hearty dish with earthy flavours; sugar snap peas and carrots lend textural contrast to the fall-off-the-bone tender meat.

Lemongrass Pork Ribs in Crispy Yam Ring ($25 / $38) puts a different spin on the traditional crispy yam ring. Perfectly executed for a light, crispy and lacy exterior, the yam ring is crowned with pieces of pork ribs that have been sautéed with fragrant lemongrass, ginger flower, chilli, Chinese wine and molasses. Each morsel is succulent to the bite and a wondrous pairing with the pillowy yam.

Steamed Lobster with Glutinous Treasure Rice (market price) was a show stopper. The entire table of foodies immediately went ‘WOW’ when the bamboo basket opened to reveal plump lobsters over a layer of glistening glutinous rice. The rice is first fried quickly with dried shrimps, shallots, Chinese sausage and scallions. Thereafter, the glutinous rice is steamed with the lobster to allow the succulent juices of the crustacean to impart a richer flavour.

A seafood feast would not be complete without digging, knuckle deep, into a crab dish. Perennial favourites such as Supreme Chilli Crab (market price) and Classic Black Pepper Crab (market price) have been on the menu since day one and are still crowd-pleasers at Joyden Seafood, but two new crab dishes are fast becoming ‘must-haves’ here. Joyden’s Signature Creamy Crab (market price) features steamed crab steeped in milk and pumpkin puree aromatic with curry leaves, chilli padi (bird’s eye chilli) and black pepper. One cannot help but reach for a steamed mantou bun to mop up all that luscious velvety sauce.

The dish of Crab and Vermicelli Braised with Ginger & Spring Onion (market price) proffers a simpler, comforting take for those seeking lighter flavours. The crab is braised with vermicelli, ginger, and spring onions, and then finished with a generous scattering of crispy slivers of garlic.

Desserts, meanwhile, are limited to a predictable traditional delights such as Osmanthus and Wolfberry Jelly ($5), and Sago and Pomelo in Mango Puree ($5). For dim sum lover, you will be happy to relish 25 Cantonese-style dim sum temptations during lunch, especially prepared from scratch daily by a chef from Guangzhou.

For a fuss-free weeknight meal, to a more elaborate feast of crab and lobster and everything in between, Joyden Seafood appeals with its neighbourhood charm and food quality.

Joyden Seafood Restaurant (欣藝海鲜)

Address: 12 West Coast Walk, #01-11, West Coast Recreation Centre, Singapore 127157 (enter from West Coast Walk next to Clementi Stadium)
Tel: 6779 5355
Website: www.joydenseafood.com.sg

Operating Hours: Open daily
Lunch: 11.30am – 2.30pm (last order 2pm)
Dinner: 5.30pm – 10.00pm (last order 9.30pm)
Dim Sum: Daily, 11.30am – 2.30pm

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