Cineleisure Orchard which usually sees little traffic has been undergoing a transformation this year with the introduction of new gems like theTaiWan Night Market, Milk & Cookies x Famous Amos’soft serve, and now, Hainan Lao Ba (海南老爸茶).

Photo: Hainan Lao Ba/facebook

Lao Ba Cha (老爸茶) is a Hainanese term for afternoon tea, and today, cha chaan tengs that offer an impressive array of culinary delights during this tea time are referred to as Lao Ba Cha establishments. It’s a must-try experience for every visitor to visit a Lao Ba Cha when they pass through Hainan.

Photo: @hainanlaoba/instagram

Hainan Lao Ba has brought this tea time culture here to Singapore as well, offering more than 60 items — including Hainanese specialities, your favourite zi char dishes, western dishes, dim sum & more!

Photo: Hainan Lao Ba/facebook

Hainan Lao Ba is offering all-day buffets from S$24.90+ on weekdays and S$34.90+ on weekends. The buffet is available from 11am to 10pm, with a minimum group size of two required.

You’ll have 90 minutes to devour as much of the scrumptious food and desserts as you like.

Photo: Hainan Lao Ba/facebook

Choose from their specialities like the Hainan Special Sand Ginger Chicken which infuses notes of ginger that is flavourful yet not overpowering, or the Hainan Special Salt Baked Chicken that is extra tender, savoury and juicy.

Although you are limited to one order per person for specialities, you’ll be able to order up to three portions for the rest of the menu.

Photo: @hainanlaoba/instagram

If you want to get some rice or noodles to go with your Hainanese chicken, check out their Hainan Special Noodles, Fried Rice or Oil Rice (chicken rice). There’s also Hainan Beef Brisket Hor Fun if you want some hot, comforting soup.

Of course, you can just pick from their soup menu instead, which sees an interesting Coconut Chicken Soup and the popular Winter Melon with Clam.

Photo: @hainanlaoba/instagram

Hainan Lao Ba’s buffet menu also has the classic zi char items like Stir-Fried Pork with Onions, Sweet & Sour Fish, Claypot Tofu & more. Their Eggplant with Salted Fish is said to go really well with rice. 

Photo: @yellowcarnivoreeats/instagram

Another dish that will have you wolfing down a second bowl of rice is the Tomato Omelette, with soft, silky eggs and fresh tomatoes. 

Photo: @yellowcarnivoreeats/instagram

Finally we have the dim sum and desserts that everyone has been waiting for. Gorge yourselves on Yi Bua, a traditional Hainanese kueh that is rarely found anywhere else in Singapore, and don’t forget to get some of the Double Milk Skin dessert that never fails to impress me with its fragrant milkiness, as well as Har Gow (prawn dumplings)!

Photo: @薇薇不要怕/RED

You might be surprised to find Laoba Hainan ‘Chicken Poop’ listed in the desserts section, but it’s actually mini boba pearls in a sweet ginger soup! Thankfully, it’s been modified to suit local tastes, or you would have to subject yourself to eating the traditional version which unfortunately, really smells like chicken poop.

Photo: Hainan Lao Ba/facebook

Can’t decide what to eat while in Orchard? Why not try out Hainan Lao Ba’s buffet — it’s a steal for S$24.90 after all.

Hainan Lao Ba (海南老爸茶)Facebook| Instagram| Website📍 8 Grange Road, #02-18 to 23, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, Singapore 239695🕒 11am–10pm (Daily)