Restaurant Spotlight #6: Ayla Upstairs

Ayla Upstairs is a Hong-Kong inspired restaurant and cocktail bar serving creative and innovative Asian fusion cuisine. A newly opened and small yet vibrant spot located on the second floor, it's the perfect date night spot with an intimate retro atmosphere.

Unique doorway decor

Indoor dining area

The dining area was small but cozy, with mostly tables for two, along with bar seating and a few patio tables outside. The high ceiling, warm lighting, and colourful decor came together to create a welcoming and intimate atmosphere.

Prawn Toast Okonomiyaki

Crispy Dill Pickle Tofu

Typhoon Shelter Mushrooms

To start, we ordered the Prawn Toast Okonomiyaki, the Crispy Dill Pickle Tofu, and the Typhoon Shelter Mushrooms. Each dish was beautifully plated and were perfect sizes for sharing. The Okonomiyaki and tofu were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, while the mushrooms were topped with crispy, flavourful garlic that added a tasty touch.

Cha Chaan Teng Risotto

For the first main, we got the Cha Chaan Teng Risotto. The colour was strikingly unique and so was the taste: a delicious mix of tangy beet, tender rice, and a rich, savoury broth.

Char Siu

For our second main, we had the Char Siu, which was the perfect way to end the meal. The pork was tender, juicy, and perfectly charred, while the tangy green sauce that accompanied it paired beautifully with the meat.

Pricing: The total came to around $106 for two, which is on the pricier side, but well worth it in my opinion for the overall dining experience, service, and the quality of the dishes.

Overall, I loved the unique, artistic vibe of this place and the creative, beautifully presented dishes. The smaller portions make them perfect for sharing, ideal for a nice get-together with friends or a relaxed, intimate date night.

Dish of the Day: Char Siu (sooo good!)

Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time!