Swa Garden, even though it’s pretty rustic, has quite a history which you may remember - back in the late-1980s, it was really successful, and the owner sold it to an entrepreneur who subsequently turned it into the Swatow Teochew restaurant chain which took Singapore by storm, with outlets all over the island. It closed suddenly in 1992 thereabouts, the entrepreneur fled to Japan where he died suddenly. The original founder of the restaurant had then opened Swa Garden in MacPherson and still churn out the same dishes as he’d always done - the Teochew fried koay teow, a simply fried dish with salted radish (chye por) as the main flavouring being its best-known offering.
Have you tried Liang Kee at Whampoa, or its sibling-run rival, Mu Liang Zai Liang Kee in Havelock Road? Both offer about the same spread of dishes: Teochew braised duck, “orh nee” yam paste, 8-Treasure braised vegetables, Teochew-style steamed pomfret, etc.
You can also check out Cheng Hoo Tian, which is now on Bishan Lane in the compound of Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng temple. It dates back from 1936 - started in Clarke Quay before moving on to Teochew “pa sat” (Ellenborough Market), then Tessensohn Road . It was last in Keong Saik Rd, before moving to this much humbler premises. I’d not been to this Bishan location myself yet. Their food should be pretty traditional & retro, if my meals at its old Keong Saik location is any indication.
