Imperial-Herbal
PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended
ADDRESS: 41 Seah St
COUNTRY: Singapore
PHONE 1: 65/6337-0491
People come again and again for the healing powers of the food served here, enriched with herbs and other secret ingredients prescribed by a resident Chinese herbalist. Upon entering, you'll be ushered to the herb counter. The herbalist, who is also trained in Western medicine, will ask for the symptoms of what ails you and take your pulse. While you sit and order (from an extensive menu of meats, seafood, and vegetable dishes that are delicious in their own right), he'll prepare a packet of ingredients and ship them off to the kitchen, where they'll be added to the food in preparation. Surprisingly, dishes turn out tasty, without the anticipated medicinal aftertaste. The herbalist is in-house every day but Sunday. It's always good to call ahead, though, as he's the main attraction. When you leave, present him with a small
ang pau -- a gift of cash in a red envelope -- maybe S$5 (US$3.20/£1.65) or S$7 (US$4.50/£2.30). Red envelopes are available in any card or gift shop.
Copyright: Excerpted from
Frommer's Singapore & Malaysia, 5th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

, Singapore