‘Red Chilli, Green Chilli, Chilli Padi, We Give You For Free’ — We Called 15 Popular Chinese Restaurants To Ask If They Charge For Chilli
Charging for chilli became a spicy topic online recently, after a netizen made a viral complaint about popular East Ocean Teochew Restaurant’s $1 pre-GST charge for a small saucer of chilli padi. 8days.sg finds out if this is a widespread practice among Chinese restaurants in Singapore.
There’s nothing, erm, spicier than drama over chillies — literally. Two weeks back, a netizen’s complaint went viral online when she groused about being charged a steep $1 for a tiny saucer of sliced chilli padi at East Ocean Teochew Restaurant at Ngee Ann City.
Known only by her surname Chee, the netizen told Asiaone that she was shocked to see the price. "I can understand if the first plate of chilli is complimentary, and the subsequent plates are chargeable. But to charge for chilli that usually goes with dim sum — I can't appreciate [this move]," she told the media outlet. "I can buy a whole pack [of chilli padi] from the supermarket at a cheaper price."
After a quick calculation, this means that the small saucer of chilli padi in soy sauce will cost S$1.20 after factoring in the GST and dine-in service charge.
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The Chilligate sparked some heated discussions online, with some netizens opining that high prices are par for the course when dining at an Orchard Road restaurant.
In response to queries from Shin Min Daily News, East Ocean’s restaurant manager explained that the $1 charge for chilli padi is not profit-driven, but is instead a move to prevent unnecessary wastage by diners.
The manager, who goes by Mr Lai, said the restaurant charges a flat $2 per pax for meal accompaniments like light appetisers, wet towelettes and condiments. As long as there is no sign of wastage, he shared, the items are provided free-flow.
He added that the restaurant also clearly indicated on signs that other condiments like sliced chilli padi or minced garlic are chargeable at $1 a portion, and diners can choose to order them a la carte if they did not want to pay the $2 all-in fee.
Mr Lai stated that charging for sliced chilli padi is necessary because ingredients are costly now, and hired manpower is needed to deseed the chillies as well as to chop the chilli padi.
Who else charges for chilli? 8days.sg investigates
That said, how widespread is it now for Chinese restaurants in Singapore to charge for chilli? 8days.sg anonymously called up 15 popular Chinese eateries, including East Ocean Teochew Restaurant, to find out if they charge for sliced chilli padi or basic chilli sauce. Some restaurants sell bottled versions of their chilli sauce for customers to bring home, but that’s a separate thing lah.Here is what we found out:
Photo: Crystal Jade
1. Crystal Jade
We called up four different Crystal Jade outlets in prime locations — Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao at Holland Village, Crystal Jade Palace at Ngee Ann City, Crystal Jade Pavilion at VivoCity, and Crystal Jade GO at Changi Airport Terminal 4.
At Crystal Jade Palace, the amused staff who picked up our call said the restaurant does not charge for regular chilli sauce: “Do we charge for our chilli sauce? (Cackles amusedly) At the moment we don’t charge for regular chilli sauce, and we have no plans to start charging. Unless customers want our special XO chilli blend or har cheong chilli, then we will charge them $6 per serving. But so far, people have rarely asked us for the special condiments, because our regular chilli sauce is already very nice. (Laughs merrily in amusement again)”
Chilli charge: Free for regular chilli sauce, green chillies, chilli padi, and hot oil. $6 per saucer for XO chilli or shrimp paste chilli at Crystal Jade Palace.
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to www.crystaljade.com
2. Imperial Treasure
We called up Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine at Marina Bay Sands and Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck at Paragon.
Chilli charge: Free for cut chilli and red chilli sauce. $7 per saucer for XO chilli or shrimp paste chilli at Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine. $5 per saucer for XO chilli and $2 for shrimp paste chilli at Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck.
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to www.imperialtreasure.com
3. Paradise Group
We called up Canton Paradise at Plaza Singapura, Taste Paradise at ION Orchard, Paradise Dynasty at Wisma Atria, and Paradise Teochew at Scotts Square.
Chilli charge: Free for regular chilli sauce. $5 per saucer of XO chilli at Taste Paradise.
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to www.paradisegp.com
Photo: Din Tai Fung
4. Din Tai Fung
Chilli charge: Free for chilli and condiments (when dining in). $0.30 for chilli oil, chilli padi and vinegar, $0.77 for ginger (for delivery).
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to dintaifung.com.sg
5. Tunglok Group
We called up Tunglok Private Dining at OUE, Tunglok Signatures at Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, and Tunglok Seafood at Orchard Central.
Tung Lok Seafood restaurant staff (sounding genuinely shook): “Huh? Sauce? We don’t charge for chilli sauce! Red chilli, green chilli, chilli padi, we give it to you for free. Only sambal we charge you $3 per plate lah… But all the other regular chillies are free!”
Chilli charge: Free for regular cut chilli. $3 per saucer of sambal chilli.
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to www.tunglok.com/en/home
6. Peach Garden
Chilli charge: Free for chilli sauce. $3 per saucer of XO chilli.
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to www.peachgarden.com.sg
Photo: East Ocean Restaurant
7. East Ocean Restaurant
Restaurant staff: “Though we do charge $1 for a la carte chilli and other condiments, we have an all-inclusive set for $2 per pax. That way, you don’t have to keep adding $1 to your bill with every condiment that you ask for.”
Chilli charge: $1 for regular chilli sauce/chilli padi. $2 for an all-inclusive free-flow set of condiments and wet towelettes. $6 for XO chilli (not included in $2 set).
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to www.eastocean.sg
8. Spring Court Chinese Restaurant
Restaurant staff: “Our chilli sauce is free, we will give you a portion by the side to go with your dim sum. But if a customer wants A LOT more chilli, they will have to pay $15 for a [take-home] full-sized bottle”.
Chilli charge: Free for first serving of regular chilli sauce. $8 for a saucer of XO chilli.
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to www.springcourt.com.sg
9. Yan Restaurant at National Gallery Singapore
Chilli charge: Free for all kinds of chilli except for XO chilli. $5 for a saucer of XO chilli.
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to www.yan.com.sg
Photo: Summer Palace
10. Summer Palace at Conrad Singapore Orchard
Chilli charge: Free for both regular chilli sauce and XO chilli (yay!)
Restaurant staff (very friendly; we could almost sense her smiling over the phone): “Oh, we don't charge for our condiments. It’s complimentary, including the XO chilli. I believe there are Chinese restaurants such as those selling hotpot who charge for their chilli, but we don’t charge!”
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to Summer Palace.
11. Blossom Restaurant at Marina Bay Sands Hotel
Chilli charge: Free for regular chilli sauce. $5 for XO chilli. $3 for shrimp paste chilli.
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to Blossom Restaurant.
12. Si Chuan Dou Hua at ParkRoyal on Beach Road
Chilli charge: Free for chilli sauce on its own. $6 for a set of pickles and chilli sauce.
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to www.sichuandouhua.com/en
13. Jade at The Fullerton Hotel
Chilli charge: Free for regular chilli sauce. $5 per saucer of XO chilli.
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to Jade.
14. Golden Peony at Conrad Centennial
Chilli charge: Free for regular chilli sauce. $10 per saucer of XO chilli.
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to Golden Peony.
15. Yan Ting at The St. Regis
Chilli charge: Free for regular chilli sauce. $15 for a saucer of XO chilli.
For dining enquiries and reservations, go to www.yantingrestaurant.com
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