A Qiu Niu Pai (Huxin Street)

The 40-plus-year-old shop has stayed true to its origins, boasting red wood furniture and old-school vibes. Niu Pai is the Chinese term for beef steak. Rather than being seared on a grill, here, it is braised with curry spices until it melts in texture. Veal from yellow cow boasts robust meaty flavours that work well with the complex, mild heat. With deep umami and faint herbal aromas, double-boiled oxtail soup impresses with a gelatinous texture.