Who would have expected that a split-up between partners of a restaurant business, set up in 1925, could become Singapore's oldest Hainanese restaurant today? Founded by Hai Chin, Mooi Chin opened in 1935 at the corner of North Bridge Road and Purvis Street serving western food. Chinese cuisine was added after World War II and the restaurant currently shares space with the lobby of Landmark Village Hotel (formerly known as Golden Landmark Hotel) at Victoria Street. With no ambience to speak of, the simply furnished restaurant looked dated. Our order of Hainanese Mutton Soup was thoughtfully portioned into individual bowls for us with the remnants in the large bowl placed on our table. For someone who does not usually take mutton, the soup was surprisingly pleasant and not oily, with an herbal taste that stopped short of coming across as an herbal soup. Ingredients included red dates, wolfberries, crunchy black fungus and tender meat.
