What to Eat at Shang Social – Jewel Changi Airport

Shang Social – Jewel Changi Airport is the Shangri-La Group’s first venture into a standalone F&B outlet outside of a hotel setting.

I was in Terminal 1 Changi Airport on transit and wanted something light to eat before my long haul flight to the USA.

I walked around to check out the dining outlets and found an appealing Chinese restaurant I was attracted to. I didn’t realize the significance of the name of Shang Social (香聚) but decided to check it out.

What is Shang Social – Jewel Changi Airport?

Malaysians and Singaporeans are familiar with Shang Palace, the popular premium Chinese restaurant in Shangri-La Hotel. Shang Palace is an authority in Cantonese cuisine and provincial specialties.

Shang Social is the Shangri-La Group’s first venture into an F&B outlet that is not set in a hotel for more visibility and accessibility.

You can find the same deliciously prepared seafood, tasty barbecued meats, noodles, casseroles and various set menus.

Shang Social Cuisine

Shang Social has a good selection of dishes that pays tribute to three distinctive Chinese cuisines –

• Cantonese
• Huaiyang
• Sichuan

You will be brought on a culinary journey conceptualized by three of Shangri-La’s highly acclaimed master chefs.

Shang Social Menu

Shang Social menus have closed to 100 items, all curated with inputs from three of Shangri-La’s highly acclaimed master chefs.

Shang Social Specialty

Shang Palace’s Michelin-starred Cantonese Chef Mok Kit Keung’s famed signature dish of Bamboo Noodles with Dark Soya Sauce (S$6) is available at Jewel.

Shang Social Interiors

The layout of the restaurant is specially designed to cater to everyone and for every dining occasion with three dining options.

The design is seamless with peppering of Chinese motif that draws the space together.

Shang Social Spaces

1. DINING (formal space)
2. MRKT (casual dining)
3. BAR

The space is split into three concepts making it a one-stop destination for cheap quick lunches, fancy dates, and casual drinks.

Shang Social DINING

The formal dining place is casually elegant and offers comfortable seats in a well-appointed space that does not look too formal.

Shang Social MRKT

The MRKT is a lively open space sandwiched between the open kitchen on one side and communal dining tables on the other. If you like the buzz of activity and are not bothered with the movement of people and food, this is where you will want to be seen.

Shang Social BAR

The art deco style 18-seater bar is where you can sip cocktails or specialty Chinese tea and enjoy Chinese tapas, like smoked tea fish and deep fried cuttlefish. The area has an interesting and impressive feel which was casual and inviting.

BAR menu offers

• Chinese Tapas
• Cocktails
• Mocktails
• Alcoholic Drinks

Naturally since I was alone and wanted some quiet, I chose to sit at the bar.

Shang Social – Jewel Changi Airport is the Shangri-La Group’s first venture into a standalone F&B outlet outside of a hotel setting.

Shang Social MENU

The Manager recommended some of the popular best seller items from the Dining Menu

• Pan Fried Pork Bun ($2.50 per piece) – MRKT Menu
• Stewed Beef Brisket Bamboo Noodles ($13) – MRKT Menu
• Seafood Broth with Rice ($18) – Dining Menu

Other items that look attractive are the variety of Fancy Chinese dishes.

• Deep Fried Whole Boneless Chicken with Glutinous Rice ($78)
• Double Boiled Fish Maw Broth ($32)
• Sichuan Kung Pao Prawn ($32)
• Braised Black Marbled Pork ($26)
• Eight Treasures Tofu Pudding ($18)
• Seafood Broth Rice in Iron pot ($18)
• Deep Fried Glutinous Rice Ball ($18)
• Signature Honey Pork Belly ($16)

Dim Sum Items recommended

• Deep Fried Cuttlefish with Salt and Pepper ($10)
• Rice Flour Roll with Shrimp, BBQ Honey Pork, and Scallop ($8.80)
• Crispy Vermicelli Roll with King Scallop ($6.80)
• Dumpling with Vegetable and Century Egg ($5.80)

Dessert

• Snow Pear with Peach Gum & Aloe Vera ($8) Dessert Menu

You can order from the main Dining Menu if you choose to seat at other sections of the restaurant. The staff and service is friendly and they will tell you an estimate of waiting time for the dishes from the Dining Menu.

Shang Social Dessert Menu

The Shang Social MRKT menu is a simple one sheet affair which also serves as the order chit.

You can order from the main Dining Menu if you choose to seat at other sections of the restaurant.

What did I order?

I wanted a light meal and the bar man recommended his favorites which are now my favorites.

Eight Treasures Tofu Pudding $18

Tau Fu Fa or Tofu Pudding is an enjoyable comfort food and Chinese snack made with very soft tofu.

I’m used to eating Tau Fu Fa as a cold dessert dish.

This is a first as a savory mains which is healthy a versatile, delicious, and great snack for any mood.

Traditionally it is made in a wooden bucket, and sold as wooden bucket tofu pudding. Tau Foo Fah is made by coagulating hot soy milk a coagulant to achieve that velvety silken texture.

If you have an allergy to coagulants, please note that commonly used ingredients may include any one of these.

• Gypsum (calcium sulfate)
• Nigari (magnesium chloride)
• Glucono delta lactone (GDL)

I have no knowledge of which ingredients are used by the restaurant or how the master chefs make this dish. If you want to order, please check with the restaurant.

The soft Tofu Pudding is quite neutral and can be match both with sweet tastes and savory tastes. The warm soft tofu topped with Soya Sauce and variety of 8 piquant toppings

1. Mild Green Spring Onion
2. Chinese Chives
3. Stir-fried Minced Meat
4. Fried Dried Prawns
5. Sesame Seeds
6. Pickled Vegetables
7. Flavored chili oil
8. Meat Floss

I like custardy tofu take center stage and ate a few mouthfuls to taste the texture. My second bowl I tried with soy sauce, and flavored chili oil.

I tired each topping to get a different mouthful for each spoonful.

The verdict: The Eight Treasures Tofu Pudding stands on its own with minimal topping of soya sauce and tastes wonderful with all the toppings coming together with the crunch of fried tiny shrimps, sesame seeds, minced meat, pickled and fresh herbs.

Yunnan Ham Pu Er Ice Cream $5

I was a little surprised at first when I read the ice cream menu. If Shangri-la incorporates Yunnan Ham and Pu Er with a soft serve ice cream, then it must be good.

I could taste the smokiness and salty notes of Chinese Ham in the innocent vanilla soft serve.

The Yunnan Pu Er has a strong bitterness, with subtle floral notes.

Getting the Twist with both flavours in a cup was an excellent good idea.  Initially i thought, in case I wouldn’t like the one taste, I could eat the other.

The verdict: The flavours complemented each other well. The distinct bitter floral notes of the Yunnan Pu Er masks and balances the savory flavor of the Yunnan Ham.

I like the combination and would definitely go back for seconds the next time I’m at the Jewel.

Review of Shang Social:

Waiting Period

There is normally a wait outside the restaurant due to people milling around at the entrance trying to decide.  Just signal to speak to the staff and if you’re dining alone, there is normally no wait time.

The service is attentive and recommendations are good.

Staff Recommendation

As I was alone in the late afternoon, the bartender was able to chat and gave me good pointers on the cuisine and made very good recommendations.

One of the things I value in a restaurant is that the staff is able to make recommendations based on the dishes they have tasted.

Classy Ambience

Overall the restaurant is sophisticated with a classy ambience without being overtly posh.

Seating

Customers have an option to choose where to dine. Try the outdoor area for a great view of the Rain Vortex.

Good Service

The staff is friendly and attentive, and checks in if you require anything periodically. Some are just wait staff so they may appear to be inexperienced initially. The important thing is they do get a senior staff to attend to you promptly if they are unsure.

Pricing

For Malaysians, everything is Singapore is deemed expensive if you convert. If you pay dollar for dollar, the meal is affordable for the quality of dishes in a restaurant with good ambience.

My meal of Eight Treasures Tofu Pudding $18 with a dessert Yunnan Ham Pu Er Ice Cream $5. This is about RM69 with a bit more for service charge.

I think this is a good price for an Atas restaurant in Jewel Changi Airport. But then again, all of the restaurants are Atas if you’re thinking of buying a meal in MYR.

Shang Social (香聚) | # 01-219 to 222 Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819666 Telephone: +65 6346 0260 | Opening Hours: Daily 9 am – 11 pm

WEBSITE: www.shangsocial.com