Friday, 6 March 2026

Datenite @ Ke Ren Lai, The Starling

I finally made it to Ke Ren Lai with my partner.


Ever since this restaurant opened (taking over the space vacated by Teo Chew Lor) I wanted to visit but somehow I was hesitant, unsure if the food is something that I would like.


This visit was after Chinese New Year.


We were early and I took the opportunity to take photos before more diners arrived.


On the table were condiments, chopsticks and a call button attached to the tissue paper container. Ordering is by way of an order chit and you make payment after your meal at the cashier counter.


For drinks we ordered a Honey Jelly with Passion Fruit to share. I actually wanted to get us a mug of warm water but my partner decided that we should get something more interesting. It was datenite after all.

Well, it was very sweet (as expected) but became less so once the ice melted.


This Minced Meat Skewer was for sharing. It was pretty good. My complaint is that I did not like the Yuzu Sesame dressing on the salad. I would have preferred regular roasted sesame dressing.


This is my partner's Pig's Stomach with Pork Pepper Set with his choice of Yuzu Sesame Dressing Salad as a side dish. My partner is very much a soup person and he found the soup pleasing.


This is my order of Pan Seared Pork Belly Set with a side dish of Century Egg Cold Tofu.


The pork belly was well seasoned and pan fried until nicely crispy. I loved it! I let my partner try a piece and he gave the thumbs up.


The side dish is made up of cold tofu drizzled with oyster sauce and sprinkled with bonito flakes and half a century egg. It was not bad.


Well, it was a very good dinner but the sweet drink did wreak havoc with both of us getting leg cramps that evening. LOL! Lesson learnt. No more fancy drinks, just plain water will do.


I ate only a little bit of rice and gave the rest to my partner. We will revisit Ke Ren Lai for sure!

15 comments:

  1. Dear friend, I love the positive illustration at the end of your post! Your post and photos warm my heart...always! :)
    The salad on your plate looks delicious! I do love salad! I will give you a recipe that I make often, one that I created myself! LOL!
    Romaine lettuce, washed and torn into bite size pieces, cucumbers sliced, tomato, sliced, either shallots or onion chopped, and sometimes if I have cooked chicken or a can of salmon, I will add either into this salad! Of course with tne canned salmon, I drain it and remove the bones, then crumble it into the salad.
    Then I add either avocado or extra virgin olive oil, (sometimes grapeseed oil), either lemon or lime juice, salt and pepper. That's it! It is delicious! :)
    As far as bonito flakes and oyster sauce, Mei, the Japanese lady with the YouTube channel who does a lot of cooking, often uses these ingredients...neither of which I have ever tried.
    I hope your leg cramps have subsided.
    The pork belly looks delicious!

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    1. Linda, thank you for sharing your salad recipe with me! I like uncomplicated salads like yours, a nice drizzle of vinaigrette rather than a heavy creamy dressing. I'm glad you also like onions/shallots in your salad! I always have a protein in my salad, usually chicken. My leg cramps have subsided, thanks. No more sweet drinks!

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  2. Good morning πŸŒ„ dear friend PH, my breakfast at Raffles Hotel was heartwarming fried carrot cake with 2 hard boiled eggs (for protein and vitamin D) and black coffee with just a little sugar haha! After having my shower. Also chanted early in the morning and transfer the merits to all sentient beings. Thank God it is Friday today. May you have a safe, smooth, healthy, happy, peaceful and productive day ahead!

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    1. Good morning! Wah...Raffles Hotel sounds so posh and your breakfast reminds me that I have not eaten fried carrot cake in a ling time! A little bit of sugar in coffee is fine, no judgement! Your early morning chant is therapeutic and thank you for your wish for me. My Friday turned out very well!

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  3. Wah, the pork belly I am sure my spouse would like. The cold tofu and century eggs I would like. Yummy πŸ˜‹πŸ€€

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    1. Oh ya, both of you would enjoy the food at Ke Ren Lai!

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  4. Good afternoon. The quote is very positive and encouraging and the quote cute and lovely. We should always try to be strong and positive and things will turn out right, that is what the quote is trying to say.

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    1. I make an effort to think positive everyday but sometimes I fail!

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  5. Same as you, I would love my salad or shredded veggies with the normal roasted sesame dressing. Tofu and century egg I also like. What you and your partner had during your date night looked enjoyable and satisfying. No wonder you had bookmarked it for next visit.

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    1. Since they use this dressing, next time I will request for no dressing.

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  6. It was a porky and veggies date night.

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  7. This is a meal my husband would enjoy very much....he loves fatty pork belly and pork stomach (he doesn't like soups unless it's pepper soup with innards). What is that condiment on top of the century eggs?

    Wow, just a sugary drink for sharing can cause leg cramps in both of you! :O How is then that you don't get cramps when you have sugary pastries? Lol!

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    1. Ah! Then your husband would enjoy the pan fried pork belly. You would have to choose something leaner hee..hee.. That condiment tasted of ginger and maybe that's what it was. Sugary food and drinks if I ate them earlier in the day, then I don't get leg cramps. I would have burned off the sugar hah..hah...

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