Basdban is Singapore’s Coolest Sichuan Restaurant, masterminded by Chef Pang of Antoinette
[Update: Basdban has closed.] Many would argue that hearty Chinese flavours —Sichuan and Dongbei in particular— are some of the biggest recent trends in Singapore. However, most wouldn’t also argue that these flavours are chic — until mavericks like Basdban came into the scene.
This modern Sichuan concept is given direction by the experienced Chef Pang, who hailed from Antoinette and Hakka Pang, amongst other luminaries.
Quite the dream team up as the whimsical ideas of Chef Pang are married with the unconventional Chinese fusion of the Birds of a Feather team. If you’re befuddled by the peculiar name, it’s actually Sichuan Slang for awesomeness.
There’s a certain rebellious edge to this concept along Telok Ayer, littered with a motley of rowdy, audacious neon lights while a vibrant technicolour neon haze seethes into the ambience.
If anything, it feels more like a vivid lucid dream born out of Wong Kar-Wai’s Chungking Express visuals, exuding a certain unruly underground club energy.
A perfect setting by Basdban to whip up their self-dubbed style of “Rock’n’Roll Sichuanese food”.
A brave new world
Compared to most of its Chinese fusion contemporaries, Basdban is actually a jolting breath of fresh air. There is a certain touch of insanity to their novelty that’s just so, so gripping.
For example, Basdban Roasted Eggplant ($14) swings out of the left-field with markedly Western influences.
The same soft roast eggplant at its base, but drowned in an overload of cheese and garlic. To cap it all off, an avalanche of popcorn injected a unique new dimension of sweetness you’d never expect.
While the Lalalalalala Fried Chicken ($26/$34) is not as audacious in execution, Basdban’s substitution of green chilli introduces some enchanting complexity.
Compared to your regular La Zi Ji, the heat is mellowed to give way to a green chilli twang. More sweetness and brine are added by a jumble of Lala to distinguish it from its original inspiration.
A miss on the basics
Bewilderingly, it’s Basdban’s less playful dishes that didn’t quite hit the mark, such as the Crab Meat Mapo Tofu ($20).
While the skewed ratio towards numbness over spice is welcome, the overall profile was punctuated by too much pungent peppercorn astringency.
Alas, the bigger issue would be that the Mapo Tofu just wasn’t as silky and bouncy as anticipated. Still, it’s a moderately flavoursome carb that could round off the meal but can’t quite impress.
What impresses is the creativity on show here, with some simple but coherent twists found in Basdban’s arsenal. But the wild ride of flavours can get monotonous if spice tolerance is your weakness.
Make your reservations here.
Basdban
Website | Facebook | Instagram
- Address: 51 Telok Ayer St, #01-01, Singapore 048441
- Hours: (Mon–Sat) 11am–11pm