JL Studio 現代新加坡料理

I had the pleasure of dining here on 4/4, we were met by a courteous staff at the front door and led to our table on the second floor. Besides the wait time until our reservation, we were escorted at every turn until we were seated, which was a nice touch and something that demonstrated the attention to detail that JL Studio offers. Upon being seated we were then greeted by our hostess for the meal, Sharon. She was exceptionally knowledgable and answered each of our inquiries with patience and professionalism. She was thorough and asked us if we had any dietary restrictions or preferences which she was able to accommodate, even halfway through the meal when I noticed on the tasting menu that there was something I didn't like. Sharon exhibited outstanding attention to detail, knowing exactly when during a conversation to set plates and when to refill our glasses, which I noticed since I saw her in a holding pattern with our refills while my companion and I were engaged in a conversation. The tasting menu was exquisite and even more exciting than anticipated, drawing from inspiration from Singapore, Jimmy crafted a delicate and elaborate menu which truly combined all aspects of Singaporean cuisine: elements that swirled you though the ocean and brought the flavorful freshness of the sea paired with lush greens that delivered you back to land, with reduction crafted from all aspects of the food itself, nothing was let to waste, a true virtuous art that encompasses Asian home cooking. Jimmy also demonstrated the complexity of Singapore with different elements from cultural cuisines found sprinkled across Singapore, with Indian spices and curry coupled with pumpkin bread showcasing the sharpness of the spices gently eased in with the depth of the loaf. The sous vide Wagyu with a sear finish was to die for, perfectly capturing the full range of taste from the beautiful cut partnered with traditional Singaporean seasoning, bringing this French technique home with a brilliant touch of cheekiness with green Samba hidden underneath perfectly touched zucchini. The coconut rice that accompanied was as delightful as it was essential to balance flavoring. No Singaporean chef worth their salt would forget to put Bak Kut Teh on the menu, and Jimmy did not only that but also exceeded expectations when he put a twist on a traditionally heavier dish: the core elements were all present and accounted for, while the traditional sides exchanged for a playful combination of mushrooms that provided the texture while keeping the dish light. The desserts proved to be not only Instagrammable but also irresistible, the plating and presentation showed color and warmth, even with the nitrogen flash frozen coconut which was a genius stroke(or spoonful if you will). The meal which was out of this world, could not have been complete without Sharon, who provided top notch service, and expert knowledge on the wine parings. Our experience at JL Studio has been an absolute delight, thanks to you. To Jimmy, Sharon and the whole staff at JL Studio, thank you for allowing us to be part of such a monumental culinary journey; I am certain my partner and I will be back for more, insatiably waiting for Jimmy Lin's next season menu.

A great fusion of both Singaporean cuisine and Taiwanese local ingredients. And I love the private space of the restaurant. Food- Visual presentation is pleasant, but I hope the taste could be lighter and fresher in some certain way without depriving of the original design from the chef. The theme of this season I’ve tasted is more Indian oriented flavor, one of big portion in Singaporean food. But since I’m not a fan of poignant curry style, I wish I could have options to select more customized adjustment. Nonetheless I really love the desert! Impressive taste with innovative style. Service- The waiter is well trained and polite, and one thing to add the point is that when I found a little bug under the edible leaf, the waiter responded quickly to replace me with a new dish without inspection in front of me. But since I can see from the trap aren’t glass window of their cooking area, I know they passed down the plate to be checked with other staffs. Yet the story of ingredient and the unique fusion way is what I think can be improved — please don’t introduce like a robot with a long wording without any pause. It’s not easy to comprehend and didn’t mention how special value it added (like how the chicken from xx region is differentiated from others and how it adds the value to the flavor). Wine- Many great wine choices in JL, and they provide wine pairing as well. But since the flavor is somehow strong and I did love the unique drinks in Singapore like Barley water, Bandung, and Teh Tarik, and how it can be fused with some cocktail to balance the flavor could be a great idea to present Singaporean cuisine, and even make the storyline of the set menu more consistent and impressive.

I specifically said I am allergic to chocolate and even confirmed if the desert has coco in it, the waitress confidently said no but when I had a bite, i instantly tasted a chunk of chocolate!!!! The waitress only insisted to change a new dish without coco in it. Does she not understand allergy is something serious that could ultimately lead to serious illness and not something that would just go away after changing to a new dish….. For a restaurant with Michelin two stars, this is quite disappointing.

Had a meal there few weeks ago. The meal started well with the curry puff with puffed quinoa. Chicken rice with choux pastry wasn't a good combination for me. The rojak (with a Kueh pie tee shell) was okay, but the shell lacked a crunch. Black pepper crab's tinge of lime jelly didn't work for me. And that's where the dishes started to feel sloppy for me. The Yong taufu was uninspired and bland, popiah was a good prawn tempura but nothing more. Otak was confusing and unmemorable, basically a slice of steamed fish on a bed of spiced rice. Main course was a slice of sous vide short rib which is hard to mess up, but unimaginative. Dessert started with a teh tarik ice cream which tasted one dimensional with tea jelly, foam, etc. The Bandung sphere was quite good, but the spiced watermelon needn't be there at all. Durian puff was average at best. It's accolades got me scratching my head after the meal.

The main dining room has bad sound insulation and gets really loud, maybe to replicate Singapore hawker centers?? Also, I don’t think QR codes for a digital menu is fitting for a restaurant of this caliber. With the loud dining room and the digital menu it was like eating in a mall food court. But then the food arrives and each and every dish was executed with precision and the flavors were playful and bold. Delicious.

JL Studio, a Michelin-2-star restaurant in Taichung, is led by Singaporean Chef Jimmy Lim Tyan Yaw, and his mission is sharing the culture & cuisine of Singapore to the world. It is located on the second floor and shares the same entrance with PINOCOCO. The decor is modern and cozy with wooden & authentic furniture. Reservation is needed via website or email and there is only one set on the menu - JL’s Feast Journey (NT$3,800, optional drink pairing would be extra) available currently. We celebrated my sister’s engagement with a group of seven in their private room. What we had that night was their special menu for the holidays and everything was amazingly satisfying with lots of surprise from the first course to dessert. Our favorites were the reinvented Hainan Chicken Rice, which was delicate and the Angus Beef Short Rib which was tender & melted in the mouth immediately after we had it. We were impressed by the concept and idea of Chef Jimmy to infuse all the dishes with Singapore features & holidays elements. The taste may not be the best among all the fine-dining experience I have ever had but their service was definitely the greatest. I was in my week 39 weeks + 3 days pregnancy and my baby was born on the same night after we finished the meal. I started to feel labor pain during the dinner and the staff took care of us in details. It was an unforgettable night for our family and we appreciate all the help & blessing we received. We highly recommend JL Studio for important occasions.

Lovely meal overall. A few dishes could have been plated better for prettier presentation but the taste was unaffected so no big issue there. Friendly service, good pace, portion control was perfect for me. Particularly enjoyed the desserts. Would be happy to dine here again.

I finally had the pleasure and honor to dine at this fabulous establishment, and goodness gracious, it was an exceptional meal, indeed! From the very first plate to the very last, the 13 dishes were absolutely fantastic in their variety, composition, elegance, and creativity, and most importantly, in the freshness and flavor and texture of the ingredients themselves. The servers are immensely knowledgeable and thoroughly aware of the origin and cultural meaning of each plate, and are able to guide the guest through each course with delicate descriptions and enveloping warmth. Each dish is assembled into a glorious yet mysterious balance of the 5 tastes culminating into a gentle explosion of pure joy in every bite, creating an absolutely and totally magnificent dining experience. Congratulations to the Chef and his wonderful Team in the back and front to achieve this level of sophistication in fine dining, and thank you for bringing it to this exquisite Food Mecca, the city of Taichung.