The Grand Nihao: Is the city's best fish soup worth forgiving everything?
qponx
2026-03-04
The Grand Nihao boasts what some call the city's best fish soup, but is it worth the hype? This spacious, Halal Chinese restaurant is a potential spot for family gatherings, also serving tasty Peking Duck and Coconut Pudding. However, this review gives a heads-up on the steep prices, small portions, and notoriously long waits. Discover if the divine, milky fish soup is truly enough to forgive the frustrating service and high cost before you decide to visit.
To be honest, my feed has been flooded lately with the super-hyped The Grand Nihao, which claims to have "the best fish soup in town"[1]. As a fish soup fanatic, I rushed over immediately, and the result... Anjay, my feelings were like a rollercoaster ride! 🎢
Let's start with the conclusion: if you're looking for a place for a family gathering, want a spacious Halal Chinese restaurant[2], and have a high enough tolerance for the price and service, then you can give it a try. Otherwise, please read my complaints below.
The Soup is Divine, but... 😮💨
I gotta say, this bowl of Signature Fish Soup Kerapu[3] is no joke. The soup base is the kind that's simmered until it's milky white, with added goji berries and ginger slices. It's rich and silky smooth, and the fish is incredibly fresh. With the first sip, I understood why some people call it "the best in town." My friends who came along also thought it was Mantap!
We also ordered the Peking Duck[4] and the highly recommended Coconut Pudding[5], and the flavors were on point, no disappointments there. As for the ambiance, the place is indeed quite large, perfect for a large group to Nongkrong, but I wouldn't say it's particularly elegant or high-end. It just looks like a standard Chinese restaurant[6], and even feels a bit dated.
A Big Test for Your Wallet and Patience 🫠
Alright, enough with the praise, it's time to get real. First, the price. It's genuinely not cheap. The seven of us ate a casual meal, and the bill came to almost 1.6jt[7], and the portions are generally on the small side. If you have a lot of guys in your group, they probably won't get full. The tea isn't refillable for free either, which is a bit of a minus.
But what really made me lose my cool was the service! 💥 We waited a full hour and a half for our food to arrive that day[8], I was starving to the point of fainting. A friend also mentioned that as closing time approaches, the staff will turn off the AC to rush customers out[9]. That's such a turn-off, isn't it? And I also noticed a small sign on the table saying there's a reward for giving a five-star review... Hmm, no wonder the Google rating is so high. I'll let you guys be the judge of that[10].
Blogger's Honest Take: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls 📝
So, would you endure all of this for that bowl of fish soup? Let's chat in the comments! 👇
- Who should go? Families who aren't on a budget, aren't in a hurry, and are specifically craving that fish soup. After all, it's Halal, so it's very convenient to bring Muslim friends.
- Who should run for the hills? Those who are impatient, looking for value for money, or have high standards for service. Trust me, the waiting process will make you want to flip the table.
- Ordering Strategy: The fish soup is a must-order. For other dishes, just order whatever looks good, but don't have high expectations. The coconut pudding is a nice dessert to finish the meal.
- Best Time to Go: Definitely avoid weekends and public holiday peak hours! If you must go, go on a weekday. Otherwise, you'll be waiting forever.
- Parking: It's inside Flavor Bliss, and there are plenty of parking spots, so no worries on that front.
- The signature Garoupa Fish Soup[1] has a rich, milky broth with goji & ginger. Silky, fresh, and hailed as "the city's best."
- Also try the Peking Duck and Coconut Pudding[2][3]. Both are delicious, foolproof hits perfect for sharing.
- Great for big groups to Nongkrong. It's also a rare Halal Chinese restaurant[4], so you can bring Muslim friends.
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