7 Wonders: Mouth-watering Zi Char Dishes and Affordable Mala Xiang Guo in Upper Thomson

From iconic seafood dishes like chilli crab to savoury pork ribs, the choices are endless when it comes to your local zi char store. Unlike your typical zi char fare, 7 Wonders serve up both delicious zi char nosh and mala xiang guo.

What I love about this place is the breadth of its variety; want to enjoy a nice zi char meal and also satisfy your mala xiang guo cravings at the same time? 7 Wonders is sure to please.

A family-friendly Chinese restaurant located at Red House Coffeeshop in Upper Thomson, 7 Wonders skilfully combines local Singaporean food with popular Chinese cuisine. Opened by three young hawker-preneurs one and a half years ago, the humble store aims to serve hearty stir-fries and delicious seafood that will surely warm your hearts and bellies.

I chanced upon 7 Wonders on the Hawkers United Facebook group and a video they posted caught my eye. The store is helmed by head chef Xiao Hei, who is of Indian ethnicity, and first stepped into the kitchen at the age of 12. In addition to his many years of cooking experience and superb cooking skills, he is also able to converse fluently in Mandarin. I was left in awe; passion and good food certainly know no boundaries!

Currently available for islandwide delivery, there’s a minimum order of S$30, with a S$6 delivery fee for locations below 10km and S$9 delivery fee for locations above 10km. If you spend above S$100, you’re entitled to free delivery! I decided to explore a variety of 7 Wonder’s signature dishes such as the Buttermilk Crab, Chilli Crab (S$50 for two crabs), Double Cooked Pork (S$10), Homemade Tofu (S$10), Stir-Fried Kailan (S$7), Horfun Gravy (S$7) and Mala Xiang Guo (S$9).

If you’re looking forward to satiating your crustacean cravings, wait no further. These lip-smackingly delicious crabs are going for S$50 for two, accompanied with six complimentary mantous.

The Chilli Crab was drenched in slick, rich gravy, boasting sweet and spicy flavours thickened with beaten egg. For what it’s worth, the crabs were fresh and meaty, possessing a firm and flavourful bite. The starchy tomato-based sauce was notably spicier than usual renditions, if you’re looking for a sauce with a bit of punch and a slight kick, you’ll be pleasantly delighted.

Oh, crab, why is the hermit looking at me like that? The Buttermilk Crab was doused in a silky, wet butter sauce exuding slightly sweet and salty flavours. Encompassing buttery and milky notes with the distinct scent of curry leaves, the sauce spiked each bite of the crustacean with added creaminess and sweetness.

Whichever one you order, you’ll want to use the fried mantou to soak up every last bit of sauce. Soft, pillowy and fluffy, what’s there not to love? My only gripe was it was a bit soggy, perhaps due to the fact that it was left out on the table for quite some time.

The Double Cooked Pork is a famous Chinese Szechuan dish. The twice-cooked pork is first simmered before stir-frying with garlic and dou ban jiang to give it its final flavorful punch. The spices delivered sophisticated and addictive flavours, tangy, spicy and slightly sweet and sour.

I really enjoyed the umami kick from the salted beans and the mild heat from the spices that ran in the background. Fragrant and flavorful, I was glad it wasn’t over-fried with the meat remaining succulent.

The velvety Homemade Tofu was topped with minced pork and drenched in an umami-packed sauce.  A simple yet well-executed dish, the tofu possessed a crisp exterior and a soft and silky interior whilst the savoury minced meat gave the dish a good bite. Together, the tofu and pork made true harmony.

Pair it with a bowl of warm fluffy white rice for a delicious and wholesome meal!

The Stir-Fried Kailan is a classic Chinese stir-fry dish. It featured crunchy vegetables sauteed with garlic. The garlic heightened the dish to provide a fragrant and refreshing zing I thoroughly enjoyed. If you like your garlic punchy and aromatic, you’ll love this.

The vegetables were coated with piquant garlic notes with characteristic sharpness that washed over my palate, reeling me in for another bite.

The Horfun Gravy was nicely charred with evident full-bodied wok hei flavour. Soft, flat rice noodles on a bed of gloriously, silky and thick sauce, each spoonful was a flavour-infused oomph.

This has to be one of the most affordable Mala Xiang Guo out there. Each 100g of ingredients (be it meat, seafood or vegetables) is priced affordably at S$1.99. It is no secret that mala xiang guo is an expensive dish, so it’s definitely a score when I found one that is so value-for-money. I ordered a portion of mushrooms, chicken chunks, potatoes and noodles at a medium spice level.

Mala xiang guo, for me, is an obsession and a way of life. After trying so many different mala places, I have to say this was really an impressive bowl of mala. Well-seasoned and backed with a spicy kick, the fragrant, aromatic homemade mala paste coated the ingredients evenly with an intense and spicy kick that set my heart racing. Punctuated with the fragrance of peppercorn, the moreish and fragrant belly-warming mala is one not to miss!

I have to say, 7 Wonders delivered each dish immaculately, from its myriad of zi char dishes to its addictive mala xiang guo. If you are looking for a flavourful zi char and mala xiang guo spot that packs a punch, 7 Wonders is the one for you.

Expected Damage: S$15 – S$20 per pax