Tucked away at Level 1 of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Cherki is a Peranakan restaurant that serves modern Peranakan food as well as unique cocktails for those looking for atipple to unwind.
Cherki Restaurant: Joy Through Food Around The Table
In case you are wondering where the restaurant gets its name, Cherki is an old Peranakan card game that was popular amongst Nyonya ladies in the past. Played using a deck of Cherki cards or tiles, it has similarities to mahjong. And just like mahjong games, it was not just a form of gaming but an opportunity to socialise and exchange the latest news around the table.
This is where the Cherki Peranakan restaurant at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre has some parallels. Just like the Cherki game table, it a place is where friends and family can sit around the table and enjoy food together while chatting and catching up.
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This philosophy is also reflected in Cherki’s logo. It is made up of four tiles, three suites of the traditional Peranakan Cherki game – “Coins”, “Strings”, and “Myriads” – and one of the special cards, the “Red Flower”.
Peranakan Fusion Food at Cherki Restaurant
Cherki at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre serves up modern Peranakan dishes. Think of regular Peranakan dishes like buah keluak and rendang but with a fusion twist.
We visited the restaurant for lunch to try out the Lunch Tingkat Set ($20.90). Included in the set is a main staple, two sides, achar, crackers and a drink.
The choice of main staples include Fragrant Pandan Blue Pea Rice, Signature Sambal Fried Rice, Buah Keluak Fried Rice over Egg, Nyonya Kerabu Noodles with Minced Pork and Cherki Dry Laksa with Tofu Puff & Fish Cake.
Sides that are available as part of the Tingkat Set include Masak Merah Soft Boiled Egg, Honey Soy Crispy Pork Belly, Wing Beans and Pomelo Greens, Nyonya Tamarind Chicken, Satay Tofu with Minced Pork, Cempedak and Monkey Head Rendang, Buah Keluak Chicken Wing (additional $1), Sambal Glazed Prawns (additional $2), Beef Cheek Rendang (additional $3) and Pongteh Duck (additional $3).
We ordered three sets with Fragrant Pandan Blue Pea Rice, Buah Keluak Fried Rice over Egg and Cherki Dry Laksa with Tofu Puff & Fish Cake as the mains.
For sides, we chose the Honey Soy Crispy Pork Belly, Wing Beans and Pomelo Greens, Satay Tofu with Minced Pork, Cempedak and Monkey Head Rendang, Buah Keluak Chicken Wing and Pongteh Duck.
The food arrived in beautifully decorated blue tingkat sets. The generously portioned main stables were on the lower tier while the upper tier was sectioned into five with the chosen sides flanked by keropok and achar.
Amongst the mains, the one that stood out the most to us was the Buah Keluak Fried Rice with Egg. The buah keluak spices imparted a rich flavour to the rice, which was topped off with spring onions and slices of chilli for good measure.
Our favourite sides included the Pongteh Duck, where the meat had been stewed till tender, as well as the Buah Keluak Chicken Wing and Cempedak and Monkey Head Rendang.
Craft Cocktails at Cherki
In addition to modern Peranakan food, Cherki also prides itself for its cocktails.
The cocktails make use of Peranakan elements such as Galangal (Blue Ginger) and Pandan, and with the aromas of herbs and spices, provide a story behind each cocktail.
We tried the Royal Sultana ($24), made with Cognac, Kyoho Murasaki, Vedrenne Banna, Shortbread Cordial, Mead and Citrus. This layered cocktail takes inspiration from the traditional kueh lapis and comes with an apom manis served on a dish at the top to pair with the beverage.
Potpourri ($23) celebrates the Nyonya’s love for colour and details. The aromatic floral cocktail features Peach Blossom Gin, Grapefruit, St Germain Elderflower, Rose Apple & Rhubarb Jam, Pamplemousse Rose and Citrus.
Look out for Happy Hour deals at Cherki with cocktails, wines and beers going at special prices.
Cherki Peranakan Restaurant
Where: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Boulevard, #01-02, Singapore 018906
Opening Hours:
Sat to Thur, 12 pm to 2.30 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm
Fri, 12 pm to 2.30 pm, 5 pm to 11.30 pm
The Lunch Tingkat Set is available from 12 pm to 2.30 pm, daily.
Website: Cherki
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