A disappearing food that deserves more attention.

Turtle soup, the mention of anything like that and we start shying off, thinking it’s rather inhumane to have. Truth is, turtle soup has been around for the longest time and it was fairly popular back in the older days.

What happened to this old tradition then? As with the times, it gets increasingly harder to get hold of turtle meat itself and well, there’s not a lot of people left who bother themselves with the arduous preparation process of the turtle soup.

Ten years ago, Kent Thong, the owner of Kent Thong Turtle Soup nestled inside Chinatown Market Food Complex, decided that he wanted to continue this dying tradition. So he quit his job, set up the stall and it has been running ever since.

In order to continuously serve the crowd and possibly get more on board the turtle soup bandwagon, they’ve revamped their stall recently to give it a cleaner and modern outlook, inviting anyone and everyone to come have a try.

Ladies listen up, you’ll be damned to know just how rich in collagen turtle soup is and yes, it is also high in protein, making this bowl of delicacy a thoroughly nutritional one to have. Not only that, turtle soup is said to have multiple health benefits such as the detoxification of blood, lowering blood pressure, increasing blood circulation and many more.

Claypot of Turtle Soup ($20). With so many benefits and also highly tempted by the collagen factor, I decided to have a go at this turtle soup. I’d recommend having it in the claypot because it helps to keep the soup warm throughout while you slowly make your way through every nook and cranny of this bowl.

If you prefer more collagen, you can request for less meat when placing your order. I personally love collagen and I wasn’t disappointed with the amount in this soup. There’s a mix of albeit gelatinous-like and fish maw texture, while the meat tastes like chicken, only more tender.

The broth is boiled with chinese herbs and it is exceedingly comforting without being overly rich in the herbal department. The light and hearty broth will definitely warm your heart up. With so many health and beauty benefits, I’m definitely jumping onto the turtle soup bandwagon.

Other than the turtle soup, they serve herbal black chicken soup and herbal mutton soup as well. So why not head down and give it a try yourself.

Yes some might find it unethical to eat turtles, but tradition does have its place too.

Expected damage: $20 per pax

Kent Thong Turtle Soup: Smith Street, Chinatown Complex Food Centre #02-188, Singapore 050335

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David Myers, a celebrity chef hailing from Boston, has recently ventured to Singapore, starting up Adrift by David Myers located inside Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Other than Adrift by David Myers, he is overseeing all the Tokyo, Japan branches too.

Dishes at Adrift are prepared using fresh Californian ingredients with an Asian touch. One can also opt for the Omakase dinner to let the chef curate a specially designed meal for the evening.

I was lucky enough to catch Chef David himself at the restaurant during our tasting and he welcomed us with such warmth and friendliness.

Adrift by David Myers boasts of a casual bar area that is exceedingly sleek and chic, complete with a large seating area adorned with plush sofas for the King or Queen in you. As for the dining concept, it models an outdoor canopy fashion, with large transparent glass sides that lets in abundant natural sunlight.

The seats are suspended like swings and resembles an outdoor bench. The flooding of daylight exudes a warm and cosy interior while nightfall boasts of a more romantic and intimate atmosphere perfect for a night out.

And what better way to start the evening than with some cocktails from the bar?

Troublemaker ($23). There’s really no better way to start a dinner than having some pre-drinks. The troublemaker is light and refreshing, with subtle sweetness. It is very easy to drink and will definitely work up an appetite.

Penicillin ($23). The next drink is literally what it is, a penicillin for whatever headache that life has caused you. It is your go to drink for quick remedy. Think whisky sour but much lighter in texture, with a spicy hint of ginger. Definitely refreshing and decorated with a slice of preserved ginger, this cocktail has won my heart for the night.

Lobster Roll ($26). Moving onto the bar bites, the sliced up lobster roll has a good blend of flavours that complements each other – The mayo gives the richness and more body while the slight citrus taste helps to balance the whole dish, allowing it to remain creamy yet light all at the same time.

King Crab Melt ($25). I literally couldn’t keep my hands off this delicious toastie, it is exceedingly savoury and definitely worth all the calories. The melted cheese combines well with the well seasoned crab meat to give the savouriness while the jalapenos gives a spicy kick. This is the kind of cheesy situation I’ll want to be caught in.

Housemade Ricotta Toast, Preserved Lemon and Black Sugar ($10). A thinly sliced bread that has been baked to a crisp, topped with velvety ricotta that is very smooth, infused with lemon and black olives that adds the extra aroma. There is also a hint of sweetness, which is a match made in heaven with the savoury ricotta cheese.

If anything, I’m pretty convinced by now that all of these little appetizers are worthy of contributing my daily calories.

Karaage Chicken ($10). Pardon my lack of words but this is literally like a popcorn chicken, only better, more crisp and fragrant. It is fried to a golden brown, while the meat remains piping hot, juicy and tender. First bite in and all the essence of the chicken overflows, albeit scalding the tongue in a good way.

The miso mustard sauce lends a piquant spiciness, adding layers to its flavour. And yes, this is dangerous with drinking because it is all the right flavours you’re craving for when you’re slightly tipsy. All that savoury and salty goodness packed solid.

Duck Confit Gyoza ($10). Interesting twist using duck instead of the usual minced pork, there’s a a richer taste in the gyoza. The duck confit meat combines well with the chives and makes for a really good filling that is extremely tender and juicy, though the gyoza skin is a little too thick for me.

Big Eye Tuna ($13). Unlike the usual, these slices are saltier and chunkier. It is exceedingly savoury and served with a luscious tofu puree and sesame leaf salad.

King Crab Pasta ($25/$50). It is done al dente and tossed in a creamy yet light sauce that complements the tagliatelle. The cherry tomatoes and yuzu kosho add another dimension of flavour to the dish, with occasional citrusy sweet bursts, though I think the pasta would be improved with a bit more sauce.

Iberico Pork Chop ($30). The pork is fatty, tough and slightly acidic, which is a good contrast of flavour to the sourness from the salted plums. The loaded sweet potatoes particularly caught my attention and are super chunky and savoury.

And on to dessert!

Yuzu Mousse, Shiso Sorbet and Matcha Sponge ($12). This dessert almost looks deconstructed and definitely fancy, containing matcha sponge and spherification as well. The different forms provide different textures, which all blends well together to give an interesting organic-looking dessert. There are sweet notes complemented by citrus bursts, complete with spicy hints.

Chocolate Fritters, Vanilla Ice Cream and Pistachio Nut ($11). Extremely crispy, goes well with the ice cream for the contrast of temperature. Really love how fried it is and the warm filling oozing out.

If you’re into decadence, opt for the chocolate fritters for dessert. Definitely hits the sweet spot with all the fried goodness.

Rhubard, Strawberry ($12). The white chocolate complements the poached rhubarb that isn’t as sour as per usual of its characteristic, inclining more towards jackfruit. There is a mellow sweetness to it and the crispy rice tuile gives textures.

Just the mere thought of Adrift’s drinks and cute interiors have got me charmed, let alone their bar bites and mains that have thoroughly won me over. Adrift by David Myers is a playful take on differetn experiences and is perfect for a romantic cosy dinner or a cheery afternoon ladies luncheon – I’d definitely recommend having some of their drinks together with their bites.

Expected Damage: $70 – $80 per pax

Adrift By David Myers: 10 Bayfront Ave, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018956 | Tel: 6688 5657 | Website

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Raffles Grill, a key limb to the long-established Raffles Hotel, has been around since 1923.

Priding itself for its exceptional Asian-accentuated Contemporary French Cuisine, Raffles Grill, in collaboration with Chope, has conceived an exclusive 3-course Chope dinner menu for patrons who make reservations through Chope.

On top of its exceptional cuisine, the distinguished Raffles Grill is highly-regarded for its excellent service and array of fine wines, including noteworthy vintages.

Adorned with hanging chandeliers and daylight pouring through tall French Windows that line each wall, this Colonial-style dining hall fills one with a clear sense of elegance and grandeur.

As we settled down at our Orchid-embellished table, the sommelier promptly presented us with a bottle of Champagne: Billecart-Salmon Brut reserve, and we were all poured glasses of lovely bubbly.

Then we were offered a bread basket filled with mini French Baguettes and Multigrain Rye Bread with the choice of salted or unsalted butter. Ahh, there’s nothing more comforting than the smell of freshly baked bread.

We sauntered into our 3-course meal with the first course of White Asparagus and Crispy Maine Lobster.

Underneath crisp breaded coating were small chunks of soft and sweet lobster.

The White Asparagus, currently in season, was cooked till tender, juicy and effortless to tear apart.

Decorated with Cep mushrooms and drizzled with Argan oil Vinaigrette, all the elements of this dish, light on the palate, came together perfectly.

The second course served was the Grilled Pollock Fish in Spiced Tomato Nage.

I find titillation from interactive dishes, so when our server approached us with soup in a beaker and proceeded to elegantly pour it into my bowl, I could say I was more than a little excited.

The pollock itself was well roasted and tender with hints of herby flavours on its skin.

The tomato soup had an exciting sour kick and hidden in it were little pieces of light and juicy zucchini.

To balance these soft textures, was the crisp squid ink-infused potato chip that also brought a nice salty finish to the dish.

In between courses were several sips of champagne and by the time dessert had arrived, we were completely replete. However, there is always room for dessert.

Placed on a platter was the Petit Four: Raspberry Financier, Black Chocolate Praline, and Calamansi Marshmallow, all contrasts to one another in both flavours and texture.

The Raspberry Financier was sweet, fluffy and slightly tart. The Black Chocolate Praline was bitter-sweet and milky smooth, while the Calamansi Marshmallow, so soft that it disintegrated almost immediately in my mouth, gave off a sweet tinge of sour.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was more than one dessert dish.

This is the Chocolate Mango. Warm chocolate lava cake loaded with Mango Custard and on the side, Jasmine Ice Cream, Jasmine Tea Jelly, Mango Puree and a small slice of Fresh Mango.

With the warm bittersweet bliss of the lava cake, came bursts of sweet, tangy flavours brought out by the mango components of the dish.

To cleanse the slightly bitter aftertaste left behind, were the light and pure flavours of the jasmine ice cream and jasmine tea jelly.

And thus, that wraps up the 3-course set menu created in conjunction with Chope. With impeccable service, wonderful Champagne, and magnificent food, our dining experience at Raffles Grill was a wonderful delight.

To gain access to this select April menu, make your reservations through the Chope app or website.

Expected Damage: $98++ per pax for the 3-Course Chope Dinner Menu

Raffles Grill: 1 Beach Road,Raffles Hotel, Singapore 189673 | Tel: +65 6412 1816 | Website

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Located at a quieter end of Orchard, Hua Ting Steamboat which sits within Claymore Connect, brings hotpot-devotees superb lunch deals that are completely worth it. Diners can prepare to dig in to hassle-free and delicious mini pots made up of scrumptious broths and freshly-picked, quality ingredients.

For those pressed for time, Hua Ting Steamboat offers Casserole Hotpots which are self-contained casserole hotpots that offer the same tastes and experience as a regular hotpot but with a more down-sized, specialized sort of pre-cooked hotpot set lunch. This allows busy office workers to enjoy hotpots with extreme ease.

Hua Ting Steamboat has a rather straightforward get-up – comfortably-cushioned seats and polished, sturdy tables with at least one hot pot cooker. There is more than enough space for you to snugly settle in and enjoy a meal with your friends, colleagues or family. On top of its 60-persons seating capacity, Hua Ting also has two private rooms for those looking to host small get-togethers with business associates or family.

Being a restaurant that prides itself for its fresh live seafood, Hua Ting Steamboat definitely knows how to showcase what is has to offer. Sitting boldly in one corner of the restaurants is a sizable tank filled with different sea creatures like prawns, lobsters and sea perch that seem to morbidly await their imminent deaths.

Right next to the fish tank is an impressive selection of sauces and toppings. Before devouring your hotpot meal, you can come to this colourful station and handpick sauces like soy sauce, sambal chili and mix them in with toppings like crushed peanuts and sesame seeds. The options to entice your taste buds are rather extensive so go crazy.

The first hotpot we indulged in was the Stir-Fried Garoupa with Chef’s Homemade Sauce ($18.90), one of the fantastic “Fragrant Pots 香锅” that Hua Ting serves at lunchtime. This ready-to-eat mini pot of beautifully-sauced up, chewy-skinned fish is sublime and the fact that it comes with a generous serving of rice and add-on ingredients makes it all the more worth it. 

While this fragrant pot is usually served with Sea Perch, we had the opportunity to try it with Garoupa which is likewise soft and delicious. Ingredients like spring onions and black fungus are tossed into the mix together with the fish which serves to intensify the flavours of the dish.

This dish came with a generous add-on of ingredients like kway teow, handmade meatballs, glass noodles, golden mushrooms and tofu. There was a sufficient amount of greens to keep us from feeling too indulgent too. For a mere $18.90, I thought this dish was completely worth it and while the stir-fried fish had been cooked beforehand, we could still experience, to some extent, the true blue steamboat affair.

After most of us had devoured the stir-fried garoupa, the friendly waiter serving us came forward and masterfully hurled the remaining ingredients into the hotpot still laden with the chef’s scrumptious homemade sauce and within minutes, prepared a pot full of tasty kway teow. I was very impressed by how none of the ingredients wasted and a completely new and likewise delicious dish was prepared so readily for us.

The next “Fragrant Pot 香锅” we tried was the Tender Chicken with Ginger and Spring Onion ($13.90) which was one of my favourite dishes of the day. When had by itself, one can taste how the chunks of chicken are packed with robust herbal flavours and the taste of ginger comes through quite strongly. I loved how the chicken was slightly spicy too.

After the delicious chicken-based broth had been added to the hotpot, I happily dug into the meal and left all my woes with the wind. Just like the Stir-Fried Garoupa with Homemade Sauce, this hotpot also comes with add-on ingredients like handmade meatballs, mushrooms and lotus. Worth it, no?

Much like how a new dish was whipped up with the Stir-fried Garoupa, the waiter full of his enchantment and brilliant new-dish-creating skills, came with a good serving of crispy rice and cooked a delicious portion of porridge with the remaining broth from the Tender Chicken dish.

The porridge dish was both innovative and highly-appetizing so while I was stuffed, I had no complaints at all as I slurped up the porridge. Filled with crispy rice bits and coupled with the warm broth, this dish left me fully satisfied.

Next, we tried one of Hua Ting’s “Chef Creation Steamboats” – Superior Fish Soup with Winter Melon and Conopy 玉环瑶柱鱼汤锅 ($34). I found this rather fascinating mostly because as the soup simmers over the course of the meal, it becomes sweeter and more flavourful, without having to add more ingredients to it.

At the end of the meal, a server will come to chop up the winter melon and mix it in with the soup within, allowing us to savour the softened and rather refreshing melon. The superior fish soup within the insides of the melon have ingredients like wolfberries, conopy shreds (dried scallop) and Tianjin cabbage that pair nicely with the added meats.

There were several classic meats that we tried, mainly the U.S. Korobuta Pork 1/2 ($6), Fresh Sliced Chicken 1/2 ($5) and Sliced Carp Fish 1/2 ($6).  There was nothing too exciting about the meats, the pork was tender and nice when cooked, the chicken succulent and a little chewy and the fish soft and tasty.

One particular thing about Hua Ting which I found to be rather interesting was the fact that their handmade balls, as innocuous as they looked, were fully stuffed with exotic-sounding ingredients.

They have Fresh Shrimp Paste Ball Stuffed with Minced Pork and Chinese Rice Wine 1/2 ($8), Fresh Scallop Ball Stuffed with Goose Liver Paté 1/2 ($12), Minced Pork Meatball with Water Chestnut 1/2 ($7), Dace Fish Paste Ball with Preserved Tangerine Peel 1/2 ($7) and good ol meatball stuffed with cheese. It is a real mouthful ain’t it?

The two meatballs I liked were the Fresh Shrimp Paste Ball Stuffed with Minced Pork and Chinese Rice Wine as the chinese rice wine really packed a punch with the flavours in the shrimp paste ball and the water chestnut filling was very refreshing and it helped in balancing out the textures of the thick pork meatball.

Lastly, we tried one of Hua Ting’s Live Seafood selections – the Live Prawns ($8). The six skewered prawns were still wriggling about and in spite of the beautiful get-up, my squeamish self could not fully appreciate this dish. Irregardless, when cooked, the prawns turned a lovely rosy pink and the meat was sweet and tender. And as an added bonus, the helpful servers helped to de-shell the prawns which worked nicely for me.

To end things off on a sweet note, we tried a few of Hua Ting’s desserts. First off, we had the Chilled Cream of Dragon Fruit with Passion Fruit and Lychee ($6) and the Chilled Cream of Purple Sweet Potatoes with ‘Xiao Wan Zi’ (mini mochi) ($6). I preferred the Dragon Fruit (the more vibrant of the two) mostly because it had a fresher, more zesty taste to it while the former, while still delightfully sweet and nice, was heavier and made me feel fuller than full. 

And to draw our meal to a lovely close, we had Hua Ting’s Red Bean Tofu Pudding ($12) which was very refreshing what with the glassy, sweetened chunks of grass jelly and the big red beans coming together to form a nice, candied blend.

I enjoyed my meal at Hua Ting Steamboat because while I am not a huge fan of steamboats and hotpots, I delighted myself in the fact that Hua Ting knew how to add cool new twists to their self-contained casserole hotpots. I was very satisfied came the time to leave the place.

Expected Damage: $25  – $40 per pax

Hua Ting Steamboat: 442 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238879 | Monday to Sunday Lunch: 1130-1430, Dinner: 1730-2230 | Tel: 6739 6628 | Website

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For the weirdest reason, I find myself the most hungry at midnight, when the streets are quiet and most F&B outlets are closed.

However, being a Westie in Singapore, there aren’t many articles that I can depend on to point me in the direction of supper places in my area. And it might be due to this very reason that there’s a rumour going on about how there aren’t any good supper spots in the West side of our little island.

Us Westies have been made the butt of jokes by our friends from the other regions for quite some time now. I’ve heard my fair share of “Journey to the West”, “Ulu industrial part of Singapore” and “Meet where? Jungle ah?”, followed by evil slews of laughter.

And you know what? I think it’s time to prove our friends wrong. Here’s a list of West-based midnight supper spots that you can wave in your friends’ faces for the next time they dare to mock our lands again.

–Far West–

1. Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak

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Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak Stall, so popular that there always seems to be an everlasting queue in front of it, is very well known amongst us Westies. To me, an important component to a Nasi Lemak is their Sambal, and Boon Lay Power has mind-blowing Sambal Chilli.

Apart from their default set meals, they’ve also got scrumptious unusual sides to add to your meal, like Popcorn Chicken.

Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak : #01-06, Boon Lay Place Market and Food Centre, 221 Boon Lay Place| Tel: +65 9006 4730
Opening hours: 6pm to 2am (Daily)

2. Bai Li Xiang @ 179 Kopitiam (Ah Lian)

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Endearingly known by the NTU students as “Ah Lian”, Bai Li Xiang offers a large selection of sides to add to your choice of noodles.

If you live in Pioneer or are around that area looking for a good supper place, I’d recommend coming to Ah Lian. It’s guaranteed satisfaction.

179 Kopitiam: Blk 651, Jurong West St 63, Singapore 648310
Opening Hours: 10pm – 5.30am (Daily)

3. JW 491 Frog Porridge

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JW 491, formerly known as Sixties Frog Porridge, whips up some pretty awesome frog porridge at reasonable prices. If, for some reason, it’s the middle of the night and you’re craving for some amphibians simmering in thick gravy, I’m pretty sure this is the stall for you.

JW 491 Frog Porridge: 491 Jurong West Avenue 1, Singapore 640491 | Tel: 8168 4843
Opening Hours: 5:30pm – 3:30am (Daily) 

4. Prata Wala (Jurong West)

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6. SPRUCE @ Fire Station

If you’re craving the Italian classics and some American comfort food, SPRUCE is the place for you. And get this, they have an exclusive menu just for us supper folk from Tuesdays to Sundays between 10pm to 11.45pm.

So gather a large group of your best kakis and come on down to this joint to stuff your faces. I’d recommend their Pugliese ($27) and Spruce Hot Wings ($12).

Spruce: 260 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #01-01, Singapore 588213 | Tel: +65 6466 5582 | Website
Opening Hours: Mon: Closed | Tue – Thu: 11.30am – 12.30am | Fri: 11.30am – 1am | Sat: 9am to 1am | Sun: 9am to 12.30am 

7. Fong Seng Fast Food Nasi Lemak

Fong Seng is the joint that the NUS crowd go to for their quick Nasi Lemak fix. I’d say that they’ve got a larger than normal range of ingredients to add to the base of coconut rice. Several unconventional ingredients like the Tempura Crab Stick, and Breaded Prawns are there for your selection to decorate your rice with.

Although it surely isn’t the best in Singapore, it’s definitely above average.

Fong Seng Nasi Lemak: 22 Clementi Rd, Singapore 129751
Opening hours: 6am to 4am (Daily)

8. Boon Tong Kee

Cheong Chin Nam Road is a treasure trove of supper places with almost the entire stretch of shops being open for business till late at night.

One of my favourites from this stretch would be Boon Tong Kee’s Chicken Rice. Arguably the franchise that serves up the best chicken rice in Singapore, Boon Tong Kee is a place I find solace at when my Chicken Rice cravings get out of hand.

Boon Tong Kee: 18 Cheong Chin Nam Road, Singapore 599742 | Tel: 6463 2289
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11am – 2:45pm, 3:30pm – 1am | Sat – Sun: 11am – 3pm, 3:30pm – 1am

9. Al-Azhar

I remember ordering my first Milo Dinosaur, Godzilla, and Bandung Dinosaur from this place, and you know what, even to this day, I feel that they serve the best Dinosaur/Godzilla drinks. Apart from their drinks, I’d recommend getting anything on their menu. Yes, anything. Everything is good at Al-Azhar. Why else would it be jam-packed with people 24/7?

Apart from these two joints, there are several other stalls open to suit your individual supper cravings.

10. G7 Sin Ma Claypot Live Frog

Those into frog porridge, go to G7 Sinma Frog Porridge. With fresh, succulent frogs simmering in gravy cooked with a closely-guarded and long standing secret recipe, G7 Sinma Frog Porridge has been a popular go-to for those who love eating green leapers. If you’re not really sure of what you want, just try walking along the stretch of Cheong Chin Nam to see what catches your eye!

G7 Sinma Frog Porridge: 5 Cheong Chin Nam Rd, Singapore 599730 | Tel: +65 6467 7317

Opening Hours: 12pm – 2:30am (Daily)

11. 2am: Dessert Bar (Holland V)

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For those looking for a fine artisanal dessert and cocktail experience, 2am: Dessert Bar boasts amazing gastronomical delights and a dining area with comfortable leather beds to lounge on.

If you’d like, you could witness the wizardry behind these creations by sitting at their open bar area. Watch the magic come to life.

2am:Dessert Bar: 21A Lorong Liput, Holland Village, Singapore 277733 | Tel:6291 9727

Opening Hours: Mon: Closed | Tue – Sun: 3pm – 2am

–North West–

12. Fishball Noodle @ 302

Located right beside Choa Chu Kang MRT Station and the bus interchange, the 302 coffee shop is extremely convenient to get to and hosts awesome supper stalls (which explains why it’s ALWAYS crowded).

Majority of the stalls are open 24/7, so you can come down here at literally any time you want to and not have to worry about food availability.

The Bak Chor Mee from the Fishball Noodles Stall at CCK 302 Foodhouse has been my guilty pleasure for years on end. It’s one of the few comfort foods that I’ve unfailingly had random cravings for and continually return to. This Bak Chor mee has NEVER ever failed me. And I can vouch that it will never fail you either.

CCK 302 Foodhouse: 37 Choa Chu Kang Loop, Singapore 689675
Opening Hours: 24 hours (Daily)

13. Economic Bee Hoon Noodle @ 302

By day, they serve the standard economic Bee Hoon, but by nightfall, the ingredients get the limelight. You get to choose whatever liao you want and when you see that your bowl is sufficiently loaded, you pass it to them and they’ll deep fry everything for you.

That means that everything is served hot (unlike standard economic Bee Hoon procedure). You also have the option of adding Bee Hoon if you want. And you know you want it.

The liao is served with a side of really sweet chili sauce, and although I’m not a really big fan of it, others find it amazing.

CCK 302 Foodhouse: 37 Choa Chu Kang Loop, Singapore 689675
Opening Hours: 24 hours (Daily)

14. Siam Square Mookata (Bukit Batok)

Simply because I’m a sucker for extremely value-for-money foods and barbecues/steamboats, Siam Square Mookata simply hits the spot for me. Their menu has a generous selection of ingredients to choose from, including ingredients marinated in their recently introduced choices of Teriyaki and Black Pepper marinades. Most ingredients offered are priced at a dirt cheap $1.80, and these low costs sure don’t compromise quality at all.

Furthermore, they have three amazing dipping sauces to choose from for you to spice up your meal.

Tip: get the fish pasta. It might not sound appetising, but oh it undoubtedly is.

Siam Square Mookata:Blk 155, Bukit Batok St 11, Singapore 650155
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 5pm – 2am| Fri – Sun: 5pm – 3am

FoodClique, located just a bus stop away from Bukit Gombak, resides just beside another fellow coffeeshop, but I think it serves a wider variety of food, and good food at that (perfect for supper cravings).

Help yourself to some Western Food at the Chargrill Bar at relatively cheap prices. All set meals come with the choice of two side dishes. Their 200g steak set meals are priced as low as $10.80, and come served sizzling on a hot stone pan. Chargrill Bar has such a colourful and extensive menu, they even have seven types of fish options to select from.

FoodClique (Char-Grill): 359 Bukit Batok West Ave 5, Singapore 650347
Opening Hours: 24 Hours (Daily)

16. Teochew Noodles Stall

Ah, the Teochew Noodles Stall. They serve thick, creamy laksa and amazing Mushroom Pork Ribs Noodles. I’m telling you, I could down both in just five minutes. Their dishes keep you wishing that there were more in the bowl.

FoodClique (Teochew Noodles): 359 Bukit Batok West Ave 5, Singapore 650347
Opening Hours: 24 Hours (Daily)

17. Wanton Noodles Stall

Their Wanton Noodles are quite different from your average Wanton Noodles. These noodles are more floury than usual, and their Wantons have water chestnuts in them. You don’t find many Wanton Noodle Stalls that serve these elements anymore. Although the portions might be quite small, it’s a noodle dish I’m willing to sacrifice quantity for.

Another thing that I love about Foodclique is their Dim Sum Stall that’s open 24/7. Now that’s a gem because really, how many dim sum stalls do you know that are open 24/7 and are located in the West? Their Dim Sum sells at as low as $0.70, and are a much better quality than the standard Hawker Centre grade.

FoodClique (Wanton Noodles): 359 Bukit Batok West Ave 5, Singapore 650347
Opening Hours: 24 Hours (Daily)

18. Hai Xian Zhu Zhou 海鲜煮粥 (Ke Kou Mian)

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Hai Xian Zhu Zhou opens only in the wee hours of the morning, catering more to the clubbers who travel back home to the West after an exhausting night of drinking and dancing in Town. Those Westies looking for a heartwarming bowl of noodles, the kind that your Mum makes and you can just feel the love seeping out of, come to Hai Xian Zhu Zhou for some love served in the form of soup noodles.

19. Mufiz Food Corner

Sometimes, when you go out in search of good prata to pamper yourself, you get disappointed because the Prata is cold or too moist or too tasteless etc. Now, Mufiz will not disappoint you. On top of great Prata, their curry is quite close to perfect, I would say. If prata isn’t enough, get some of their Kway Teow Goreng too (it’s even nicer if you mix tomato sauce with it).

Mufiz Food Corner: 632 Bukit Batok Central, Singapore 650633
Opening Hours: 24 Hours (Daily)

20. Roasted Delights Stall

Most of Happy Hawkers’ stalls are open 24/7, but there are only a select few that I consistently patronise.

My favourite from Happy Hawkers is the Roasted Delights Stall. I visit this stall so often after clubbing or late night work shifts, that the stall owner’s pretty much become my homie. Mouthwatering chicken, fragrant rice, and a large bowl of hearty peanut soup, is really all one could ask for.

Happy Hawkers (Roasted Delights): 632 Bukit Batok Central, Singapore 650632
Opening Hours: 24 Hours (Daily)

21. Ban Mian/Fish Soup Stall

Another stall to look out for at Happy Hawkers is the Ban Mian/Fish Soup Stall. Their broth is really homely, the kind that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. A second factor to look out for is the Ikan Bilis. Their Ikan Bilis, fried to crispy tastiness and dunked into your soup, makes everything even more delectable. I’d recommend either getting the normal Ban Mian or their Tom Yum Dumpling Noodles. Or why not both?

Happy Hawkers (Ban Mian): 632 Bukit Batok Central, Singapore 650632
Opening Hours: 24 Hours (Daily)

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Long Chim’s new menu by Celebrity Chef David Thompson.

Chef David Thompson, a renowned Australian celebrity gastronaut whose expertise is in Thai cuisine, is the brains behind Long Chim, which translates to ‘come and taste’ in Thai. To him, what’s most important is serving up authentic, classy Thai street food. The spicier the better, of course.

So you can expect nothing fusion or on the fancy molecular gastronomy level. Though, as Long Chim is situated within the casino atrium 2, with all the other celebrity chef restaurants, it is usually assumed that to dine there is probably an extravagant affair. However, you’ll be pleased to know that isn’t the case. Nope, you don’t have to fork out a couple hundred per person for dinner.

Another plus point of Long Chim – the bar. Helmed by head bartender Jay Gray, the cocktails are all Thai inspired and definitely unique. Choose from cocktails like a Thai Pisco to Bangkok Pain Killer that consists of dark and white rum, shirred with pineapple, mandarin and fresh coconut cream. Whatever the tipple, you’re in safe hands. Tried and tested.

Long Chim’s interior is perfect for a casual get together or a business luncheon with its warm atmosphere, inviting and laid back. You won’t ever feel pressured into being all sophisticated.

Chef David Thompson knows that interior decor matters just as much as the food in creating a better whole experience, so he included quintessentially Thai trinkets, like the street side food cart, Singha signboards and many more others to layer on the authenticity. Diners can fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere, and food.

Kopi Cocktail ($22). Stirred down and strong, it consists of bourbon, sweet vermouth, campari and cold pressed Thai kopi. On the nose, the orange peel gives a slight zest combined with the aroma of the coffee, on the palate it’s definitely intense and bitter, just the way I like it. I’d recommend getting this if you’re into something heavy, if not, start with a more refreshing Thai Pisco.

Grilled Pork Skewers ($14). It tastes a lot like satay, for obvious reasons. I like how it’s nicely char grilled, with slight burnt bits that gives aroma to the whole skewer. The meat retains all of its essence, being tender and juicy.

Chiang Mai Larp of Chicken with Northern Spices and Herbs ($16). Can I first mention how I underestimated the spiciness of this harmless looking leafy dish. The first bite into it and I could taste the heavy spices alongside the lemongrass hints.

Though it is spicy, it is done so in a way that could be enjoyed. The chicken is well seasoned and the cabbage brings in extra layers of texture, balancing the flavours. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend this.

Crunchy Prawn Cakes, Herbs, Shallots and Chillies ($16).  Fried to a golden brown, the prawn cakes can prove to be rather addictive, especially as a drinking accompaniment. Lather on the lime and it offers complexity in its flavour, with it being more citrusy at first, before the savoury bit settling in.

Chive Cakes, Dark Soy Garlic and Chillies ($15). The chive cakes are a combination of soon kueh and gyoza, with the bottom being pan-fried to a crisp while the fillings remain soft. The dark soy garlic and chillies add an extra aroma, giving it a slight sweetness to the otherwise savoury dish.

Grilled Long Eggplant with Dried Prawns and Steamed Egg ($24). This definitely caught my eye with its interesting mix of ingredients. The grilled eggplant gives a smoky flavour, while the dressing adds an extra tang. The egg helps to offset the smokiness, making it a comforting dish that also stole my heart subsequently.

Baked Prawns with Glass Noodles ($30). The vermicelli is chewy and flavourful. It is slightly spicy with hints of lemongrass. The prawns on its own tend to be a little bland, but when dipped in the sour and tangy sauce, it is delectable. This would be a good dish to cleanse your palate in between other heartier dishes that are extremely rich in flavours.

Tilapia in Salt Crust ($34). The fish is chewy and fresh and the skin is crisply fried and crunchy. Extremely fleshy, it goes well with the spicy and sour sauce, which gives an overall delectable taste that is invigorating.

Green Curry of Chicken, Thai Eggplant and Chillies ($24). Here it is, the first of the heartier mains. Salty and strong in aroma, the Thai green curry is extremely robust in stock and spices, with a layer of coconut oil covering it. It definitely needs the vermicelli or a bowl of plain rice to balance the taste.

If you’re not a huge fan of overly greasy stuff, I’d suggest skipping this. With that said, the flavours are immensely intense.

Baby Squid Chillies, Green Peppercorns and Holy Basil ($26). The squid is also rather salty, basted in prawn paste-like sauce that is fragrant. The squid is soft and tender, also spicy and definitely warms your soul in a heartening manner. Get a bowl of rice to balance out the saltiness.

Siamese Watercress Garlic and Yellow Beans ($16). A break from the heavier dishes, the greens are stir fried nicely, giving my palate a refreshing change although the garlic adds some body.

Dtom Yum Super Chicken Wing and Feet with Lemongrass Lime and Chilli ($25). I was half expecting to douse myself with cups after cups of water when having this because tom yum is presumably spicy. Surprisingly, it’s exceedingly sour and not all that fiery. Clear and appetising, I’d suggest having this in between the heartier dishes to reset the palate with its sourness.

Banana Roti ($12). Commonly found alongside the streets of Thailand, it is usually dubbed as pancake but it is really a roti prata. It is crisply fried and lathered with sugar and condensed milk.

Extremely fragrant and sweet on the outside, the banana fillings are warm and caramelised till it is soft and aromatic. It combines well together to make it an extra decadent dessert that I can’t stop having.

Pandanus Layer Cake ($12). As the name suggests, it is much like the local colourful layered cake (kueh lapis) that we have, except that is it green and exceedingly rich in the pandan flavour. A lighter option for dessert as opposed to the banana roti, but hey they say go hard or go home.

Long Chim has definitely put in effort to delivering genuine street market Thai food. Though compared to the prices in Thailand, these are much more expensive but considering the location and quality of food coming from celebrity chef David Thompson himself, the prices are worth the while.

While some dishes are exceedingly robust, it can be easily balanced out with other lighter dishes or some rice. No fancy names and pseudo spiciness, Long Chim promises to excite your palate with their fierce flavours. Besides, with a crazy bar like theirs, I’d be well on my way down soon.

Expected damage: $60 – $70 per pax

Long Chim: #02-02, Atrium 2 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave, 018955 | Tel:+65 6688 7299 | Website

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From the gilded cutlery to the charming view, the chic American steakhouse SEAR perched atop Singapore Land Tower welcomes people (office workers, businessmen and ordinary common folk like yours truly) to try its affordable quality steaks and to revel in the restaurant’s beautiful setting.

I’ve always found there to be a certain allure in high ceilings and I was thus thrilled to see how SEAR, a steakhouse that prides itself in its beautiful interior decor, managed to impress with its modern-looking, tall windows and plush, velvety seats. We were able to enjoy our meal comfortably whilst basking in the lovely afternoon sun within a gloriously-air-conditioned area.

Ordained with a gorgeous breeze and a lovely overhead view of Marina Bay, SEAR offers to momentarily hush your troubles away with drinks at noon or in the dark of the night on their exterior sitting deck whilst allowing you to savour the city sights.

We were first served a platter of toasty Onion Bread that came with a small side of butter. As a fanatic of all sorts of breads, I was immediately drawn to this loaf of carbohydrates which was fluffy and infused with a slightly tangy taste of onion. It goes without saying that the Onion Bread tasted wonderful. It was also interesting to learn that this bread unique to SEAR is produced from the steakhouse’s central bakery where they utilize a one-of-its-kind-in-SEA pira grill oven to achieve its acclaimed SEAR effect.

When we first entered SEAR, apart from the high ceilings and tall clean windows, I marveled at the collection of bottled drinks SEAR boasted against its bar’s backdrop. From the multitude of drinks offered, we were served the Catena Alamos, Malbec, 2014 ($16/glass, $85/ bottle) – a bold red wine from the beautiful wine country of Mendoza, Argentina. It is always a good idea to pair steaks with red wine so do not hold back on your alcoholic instincts in this case.

The first beauty that we tried was the Black Onyx Tenderloin 250gm ($78) and it was paired with Bordelaise with Soft Bone Marrow. It was evident from this first steak that the pira grill works wonders for the outer layer of the steak was seared to perfection and the sweet and vinegary bordelaise sauce complimented the well-marinated, meaty pieces of tenderloin very nicely.

We chose to have our meat cuts cooked medium-rare and I regret nothing. When cut, the slab of tenderloin revealed a rosy pink hue surrounded by a light brown layer of tenderloin. It was fascinating to learn how the reddish shade achieved in SEAR’s meat cuts comes from the year-long aging of the meat.

The second meat cut we had was the Jacks Creek Ribeye 250gm ($70) which turned out to be my favourite of the three we tried. The Ribeye came with SEAR’s 5-Type Peppercorn sauce which had the right amount of piquancy and peppery taste.

The slices of Ribeye were juicy, tender and came with a great deal of marbling. The fatty bits could be easily chewed and were very flavourful and one of the reasons this dish championed the other two for me. Coupled with the 5-type peppercorn sauce, the succulent strips of ribeye burst into rich waves of flavours in my mouth.

Last but not least, we tried the Margaret River Wagyu Striploin 300gm ($75) which was served with SEAR’s signature sauce, the Whole Grain Mustard (an additional $4). The Wagyu striploin was very fatty which made it all the more flavourful and paired with the Whole Grain Mustard sauce which had a slight hint of vinegar, the dish did not disappoint.

While the Wagyu Striploin may have been slightly tougher to chew than the Ribeye, I still greatly enjoyed this dish for the slices of meat soaked up the whole grain mustard sauce quite nicely and the overall dish thus packed a lovely punch.

Apart from the steaks, we tried a few accompanying dishes like this Mac and Cheese ($16). It was love at first bite. The soft melted Parmesan and Gruyere cheese went very nicely with the buttery crumbs that were added for that added extra flavour and texture. The mac and cheese had a strong rosemary flavour which only made the pasta dish all the more beautiful.

To tantalize our taste buds further, we had the side dish of Mushrooms with Rosemary and Thyme ($15). This dish of soft, moist mushrooms was heavily infused with butter and garlic which made it very tasty. The fact that the mushrooms were marinated in rosemary and thyme only brought forth the savoury flavours to a fuller degree.

My experience at SEAR was brilliant – the steaks were impeccably seared, the foods were scrumptious and the accompanying view is definitely worth the money and the time. The only complaint I might have about this delightful steakhouse would be that the nearest restroom (in order to appeal to the ambiance of the neighbouring club) was too eerily set-up for my liking.

Expected Damage: $80 – $120 per pax

SEAR: 50 Raffles Place, #45/46-01, Singapore Land Tower, Singapore 048616 |Monday to Friday 1200-1430, 1800-2230, Saturday 1800-2230, Closed on Sundays | Tel: 6221 9555 | Facebook Page

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Ang Mo Kio Town is a matured satellite town in Singapore’s North-East, of which I am a proud resident. Ang Mo Kio’s ten avenues are home to several wet markets and their adjoining food centres, which feature some stellar hawker food. In recent years, Ang Mo Kio has also seen a rise in small startups by young foodie entrepreneurs, bringing residents exciting and foreign flavours.

Growing up in Ang Mo Kio, I had the fortune of trying all the food it had to offer, so I decided to compile a list of good eats in Ang Mo Kio, from humble local fare to newer Cafe nosh. Most of these are my favourite haunts, so here goes!

— Chinese —

35. Teck Kee Cooked Food

Teck Kee Cooked Food sells my all-time favourite Sheng Mian. I can’t emphasize enough how divine their noodles are, except by bolding my phrases so you can imagine me screaming across the screen at you confessing that I, an impatient Singaporean, will willingly queue 20 minutes for a bowl each time I visit Kebun Baru Food Market.

Their Sheng Mian has an al-dente (I cringe using this descriptor on a Chinese noodle, but it must be done) bite, almost like a ramen noodle, while their soup manages to be both sweet and salty in all the right amounts. A bowl of their noodles also includes an egg, slices of pork, liver and fishballs.

Starting at $3 a bowl, you have to try Teck Kee at least once in your life.

Teck Kee Cooked Food: Blk 226H Ang Mo Kio Street 22, Kebun Baru Food Market, #01-23, Singapore 568226 

34. Xi Xiang Fen Yong Tau Fu

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My siblings adore Xi Xiang Fen. That, and the endlessly long queue at the stall, attest to the goodness of their grub. I like their Yong Tau Fu soup, which is boiled with a soybean and dried fish, infusing the soup with a good deal of flavour without the need of any MSG.

Their dry Yong Tau Fu sauce is sweet and tangy, and goes superbly with Bee Hoon. Xi Xiang Fen also gives customers the option of having their Yong Tau Fu ingredients with Chee Cheong Fun instead of noodles, which is quite delightful.

As I see it, their Yong Tau Fu is worth braving the queue for.

Xi Xiang Fen Yong Tau Fu: Blk 724 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, #01-23, Singapore 560724 | Tel: 94551641 | Mondays to Saturdays, 0700-1900 | Closed on Sundays

33. Lao San Kway Chap

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Lao San Kway Chap and its trademark green bowls fill my heart with joy and my stomach with soup. Their ingredients are fresh and most importantly, devoid of that weird grimey intestine taste, while their thin sheets of silky smooth kway glide around in a warm bowl of dark, meaty broth.

They’ve been around for as long as I can remember, and have consistently cooked up good fare. A basic set of Kway Chap starts at $4, so take my word and satisfy your kway-vings at Lao San.

Lao San Kway Chap: Blk 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #01-1222, Singapore 560232 | Closed on Mondays | Tuesdays to Sundays, 0600-1500 | Opens till 2200 on Thursdays and Saturdays |

32. Eng Ho Fried Hokkien Mee

The Hokkien me enjoys Hokkien Mee and I always get mine from Eng Ho. As a whole, Eng Ho’s Hokkien Mee ($4) is decently good, but it is the thick prawn stock and thin Bee Hoon that they use that have me coming back for more.

The thin Bee Hoon soaks up the prawn gravy, so each mouthful of noodles is umami-heaven. The faint wafts of wok hei also imparts a delicious charred flavour to the Mee.

Eng Ho Fried Hokkien Mee: Blk 409 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, #01-34, Singapore 560409 | Mondays and Wednesdays to Sundays, 1600-0000| Website

31. Seletar Sheng Mian & Mian Fen Guo

Also located in Kebun Baru Food Market is Seletar Sheng Mian and Mian Fen Guo. With equal popularity and queue-length to Teck Kee Cooked Food, this stall whips up Sheng Mian ($3) with a different appeal.

Their noodles are softer, and the flour coating the noodles thickens the Sheng Mian soup to a somewhat starchy, almost-Lor-Mee-Gravy consistency. Quite a satisfying eat!

Seletar Sheng Mian and Mian Fen Guo: 226H Ang Mo Kio Street 22, #01-07, Singapore 568226 | Mondays to Sundays, 0600-1430

30. Han Jiang Fish Soup

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I usually have Fish Porridge when I visit hawker centres, so I’m always on the look out for stalls which have a great fish soup. Han Jiang has one of the more memorable soup stocks I’ve tried, with prices starting at $4. Flavoured with tomato, bittergourd, seaweed and parsley, their soup is somehow sweeter than that of typical stalls.

Not forgetting the star of the dish, Han Jiang’s Batang fish slices are thickly-cut and very fresh, so you can savour the springiness of the fish meat. Yum!

Han Jiang Fish Soup: Blk 409, Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, #01-15, Teck Ghee Square, Singapore 560409 | Tuesdays to Sundays, 1100-1400, 1700-2200 |

29. Fishball Khin

Fishball Khin is my go-to spot for Fishball Noodles ($4). With a 50-year operational history, it’s unsurprising that their handmade fishballs are so spot on in their flour-to-fish ratio, achieving a sweet, fresh flavour while retaining that satisfying ‘QQ’ texture.

They also allow customers the choice of noodles, so you can match your carb to your mood. On days I feel extra fancy, I opt for their Sliced Fish and Fishball Kway Teow. The more ingredients, the better.

Fishball Khin: Blk 574 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, Singapore 560574 | Tel: 8198 6868 | Monday, Wednesdays to Sundays, 1100-2330 | Closed on Tuesdays | Website

28. Bedok Chwee Kueh

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I’m not crazy about Chwee Kueh, but on occasion a craving strikes, I always head to the 628 Market to get my fill of Bedok Chwee Kueh. Their golden-brown chai poh is the perfect medley of sweet, savoury and crunchy. Paired with the soft, starchy white kueh, the combination is truly sublime.

On greedy days, I like to have their Chwee Kueh ($1 for 2 pieces) alongside 2 soft boiled eggs. Spooning runny yolk and dark soya sauce over your Chwee Kueh makes for a mind-blowing breakfast.

Bedok Chwee Kueh: 628 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4, #01-96, Singapore 560628 | Mondays to Sundays, 0630-2130 |

27. Face Ban Mian

If you are a ban-mian lover, you’re in luck. Face Ban Mian adds thin slices of tender pork-belly to their noodles, a unique touch that I personally feel elevates the entire bowl ($3.80).

Their soup is less salty than some may prefer, but I quite like the lightness of the soup and the way it warms your belly without setting off MSG alarms in your head. Also, do try their Dry Ban Mian ($4.50). Bouncy noodles seasoned with dark, spicy sauce — it’s really good.

Face Ban Mian: Blk 722 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6, Singapore 560722

26. Hong Heng Beef Noodles

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Hong Heng Beef Noodles has been featured in the media on several occasions, so they’re quite a well-known stall. My whole family would frequent Hong Heng back when it was still at Ang Mo Kio Blk 233, so of course when they moved I had to follow them to their Niu location at Kebun Baru.

I usually have their Beef Noodles ($4.50/5/6/7) in clear soup rather than in Lu Zhi (braised sauce), but both styles are good in their own right. Their beef soup is robust, and their noodles come with tender slices of beef and firm, tasty meatballs.

I do feel like the standard of their Beef Noodles has declined since their Blk 233 heyday, but I’m including Hong Heng in this list because they still serve up a decent bowl of Beef Noodles. Sue me.

Hong Heng Beef Noodles: Blk 226H Ang Mo Kio Street 22, Kebun Baru Food Market, #01-16, Singapore 568226 | Closed on Mondays | Tuesdays to Sundays, 0730-1530 |

25. Ho Bee Roasted Food

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Situated in the Ang Mo Kio 628 Market, Ho Bee Roasted Food is where I go for a plate of good Char Siew & Sio Ba Rice (roasted pork belly) ($3.50).

Their roasted meats are fragrant and tender, especially so their pork and duck. The well-seasoned roast pork skin crackles perfectly with each bite, while the roast duck meat retains its soft juiciness beneath crisp skin.

I particularly like the side of Achar that comes with each portion of rice. The crunchy and tangy vegetables go supremely well with the sticky, sweet sauce ladled over the rice.

Ho Bee Roasted Food: 628 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4, #01-84, Singapore 560628 

24. Penang Delights Prawn Mee

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Penang Delights Prawn Mee ($3.50) has been featured in numerous Lianhe Wanbao and Channel U articles in the past. Their noodles’ most striking feature is a rich prawn broth, the result of boiling pork bones, prawn shells and heads for long hours — A surefire umami fix. 

The stall also sells Penang Lor Mee, which comprises flat yellow noodles drenched in a dense, sour and spicy gravy. At present, the stall owners are taking a hiatus, but business will resume from 6th May 2016 onwards.

Penang Prawn Mee: Blk 711 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, #01-3501, Singapore 560711 | Mondays to Sundays, 0930 – 2300 |

23. Ban Chuan Duck Rice

Ban Chuan’s Hokkien-style duck rice sports a gloriously dark and savoury sauce, a glossy coat to their soft and tender duck slices. Their Duck Rice ($3) is accompanied by a small helping of peanuts, which adds an addictive crunch to the meal.

The small bowl of soup that comes with the rice has a very pleasant herbal and peppery flavour that always gets me asking for refills. Ban Chuan is also quite famous for its Kway Chap, so if you fancy something soupy, you can give theirs a try.

Ban Chuan: Blk 724 Ang Mo Kio Food Centre, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, #01-19, Singapore 560724 | Monday to Sunday 1130-2100 

22. Hong Ji Ba Kut Teh

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I used to travel almost an hour to visit the Hong Ji Ba Kut Teh at Marsiling, so you can imagine my sheer joy when I discovered their newly opened stall at Ang Mo Kio, just ten minutes away from me.

Hong Ji’s Ba Kut Teh is not for the weak-hearted folk who enjoy a clear, peppery soup. Instead, Hong Ji’s Ba Kut Teh is a rich herbal broth, served in a bubbling claypot. The addition of Mee Sua makes the soup thicker and more indulgent, perfect to have on a cold day.

Hong Ji Ba Kut Teh: Ang Mo Kio Ave 4, St 11, Blk 107 #01-38 Singapore 560107 | Monday to Sunday, 0800-2130 | Website

— Western —

21. Rasa Sayang Western Food

Rasa Sayang is a rather popular Western food stall because of its generous portions and good food. Their Fish and Chips ($6.50) arrived with two large, bread-crumbed Dory fillets and sizeable portions of crinkle-cut fries, garlic bread and coleslaw.

For the economical price of $13, you can even get Rasa Sayang’s Fillet Mignon. Rasa Sayang opens till slightly past midnight, so it also makes for an amazing supper spot.

20. PocoLoco

PocoLoco is a relatively new restaurant in Ang Mo Kio. They dish out top quality Italian meals in a comfortable, casual heartland setting, and for a very reasonable price tag. I really liked their starters. The air-flown Burrata Cheese was soft and creamy, while the pan-seared Foie Gras came with a very tasty truffle sauce, far surpassing my expectations.

PocoLoco: Block 408, Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, #01-779, Singapore 560408 | Tel: 8436 3363 | Mondays to Sundays, 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm | Website

19. Fish & Chicks

Judging by the exponential increase in Fish & Chicks’ queue length, I’m sure by now everyone has heard about their Chilli Crab and Salted Egg Yolk Fish and Chips ($12.90). Fish & Chicks is run by two young hawker-preneurs Justin and Albert, who deliver a fresh and unexpected twist on typical Western food.

Their interesting sauces are handmade from scratch, and pair well with the light, airy battered fish. As my colleague who reviewed Fish & Chicks aptly puts it, “this dish is out to steal Singaporeans’ hearts!”

Fish & Chicks: Blk 531, Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, Happy Hawkers 喜多福, Singapore 560531 | Tel: +65 9828 3490 | Website

18. Next Door Deli

This humble diner delivers a variety of wholesome, hearty meals at prices that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. If you fancy an Asian brunch, try their Chicken Soba Salad ($14.50) or Wok Fried Mee ($6.50) Siam.

They also sell freshly-fried Chicken Wings for $1.50 a pop, which some people claim are comparable to those from IKEA.

Next Door Deli also collaborates with neighbour bakery Pine Garden Cakes, so you get 50% off any hot drink with purchase of any Pine Garden cake.

Next Door Deli: 529 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, #01-2369, Singapore 560529 | Tel: 64586180 | Mondays to Fridays, 1130-2200 | Saturdays and Sundays, 1000-2200 | Website

17. Canopy Garden Dining

Canopy Garden Dining is a scenic lounge spot, nestled amongst the lush greenery of Bishan Park. Diners can enjoy nature with their Western fare. Canopy is my ideal place to chill on a weekend. More often than not, I find myself enjoying their Crunchy French Toast ($14) with an Iced Latte ($6).

Canopy Garden Dining: 1382 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Bishan Park 2, 569931 | Tel: 6556 1533 | Mondays to Fridays, 0900-2230 | Saturdays and Sundays, 0800-2230 | Website

16. Cornerstone

Cornerstone is another establishment in Bishan Park that offers fine American cuisine. Alongside solid mains like their Signature Lamb Rack with Garlic Crust ($37), they also boast a strong pastry menu with sweets like bread and butter pudding to satisfy the brunch-goers.

The best part is, Cornerstone is a pet-friendly restaurant with a water point and dog bowls provided, so patrons and their pooches can take a rest at Cornerstone after a walk in the park.

Cornerstone: 1380 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Singapore 569930 | Tel: 6554 7230 | Closed Mondays | Tuesdays to Thursdays, 1200-2230 | Fridays, 1200-2245 | Saturdays, 1000-2245 | Sundays 1000-2230 | Website

15. Grub

Grub is a yet another cafe in Bishan Park, this time with an industrial and edgy vibe. Some items worth visiting Grub for are their highly raved about Churros, unique Mentaiko Fries and Truffle Wagyu Burger.

It’ll probably be hard to find specific reasons to decide between visiting Grub or the other two eateries in Bishan Park, so I’d advise you to just go cafe-hopping and visit all three.

Grub: 510 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, Singapore 569983 | Tel: 64595743 | Mondays to Fridays, 1100-1500, 1730-2230 | Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, 0900-1600, 1730-2230 | Website

14. Murphy’s

This Murphy’s outlet in Ang Mo Kio is the first of its kind outside the United Kingdom, the original birthplace of Murphy’s signature Fish and Chips ($16). The people behind Murphy’s are serious about their Fish and Chips and execute the dish with finesse, delivering battered fish that is gorgeously golden and crisp without being greasy and heavy.

Murphy’s: 532 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, #01-2495, Singapore 560532 | Tel: 6452 9863 | Mondays to Fridays, 1100-1500, 1700-2200 | Saturdays and Sundays, 1000-2200 | Website

13. L’Rez

Here’s a lesser known restaurant in Ang Mo Kio. L’Rez is a restaurant where Nanyang Polytechnic students from the Diploma in Food & Beverage Business train and hone their culinary skills under the tutelage of big-name chefs. It offers set meals for very affordable prices (their April menu costs only $15 for three solid courses!!) that dips even lower if you’re a student or staff member.

Unfortunately, L’Rez only operates during certain periods of the academic year (4 April 2016 to 17 August 2016). Do give them a call or drop them an email at l-rez@mymail.nyp.edu.sg to make reservations before you visit, as the restaurant is almost always packed.

L’Rez: 180 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8,  Nanyang Polytechnic Block F, Level 3, Singapore 569830 | Tel: 64514384 | Mondays to Fridays, 1130-1430 | Closed Saturdays and Sundays | Website

12. Cafe Elementz

11. The Workbench

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10. The Castel Cafe

Castel Cafe is a homely Italian eatery along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10. I ordered their Smoked Salmon Pizza ($6), and it was brought to my table piping hot, fresh out of the oven. The Smoked Salmon topping I found to be average and unexciting, but the pizza base was surprisingly good — crisp crust and slightly doughy centre.

— Japanese —

9. Takagi Ramen

— Thai —

8. Nakhon Kitchen

I am an ardent fan of Nakhon Kitchen. They stir up very authentic Thai dishes at reasonable prices. Some of my favourites include their Cashew Nut Chicken, Thick Red Tom Yum Soup and Pandan Chicken and Thai Iced Tea.

Nakhon Kitchen is a great place to eat as a group, so you can order a greater variety of dishes to share, almost like a Thai zi-char of sorts. If you haven’t tried Nakhon yet, you really ought to.

Nakhon Kitchen: Blk 527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, 560527 | Monday to Sundays, 1200-1430, 1730-2130 | Tel: 6451 1332

7. Soi 19 Wanton Mee

Soi 19 cooks up a seriously shiok bowl of Thai-style Wanton Mee ($3.50/4/5). If you don’t take my word for it, I’m sure you’ll be persuaded by the results of the AsiaOne People’s Choice Awards 2016, where first-time finalist Soi 19 snagged the Best Hawker Stall Award.

Soi 19’s Wanton Mee has thin, fragrant egg noodles and is full of ingredients such as fried wontons, char siew and greens. There’s also free flow pork lard and an array of condiments which you can add to your bowl of Wanton Mee for extra ‘Thai’ flavour.

Do avoid visiting Soi 19 during peak hours, as the wait for a bowl of Wanton Mee does get quite crazy.

Soi 19: Blk 151 Ang Mo Kio Ave 5, Singapore 560151 | Tel: 9138 8881 | Wednesdays to Sundays, 0715-1530 | Website

6. Siam Square Mookata

— Dessert —

5. Pine Garden’s Cake

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I’m sure those born and bred in Singapore’s 90s will remember neighbourhood bakeries and their fresh cream cakes. Well, before the nostalgia eats you alive, head down to Pine Garden Bakery for a taste of their old school cream cakes.

Pine Garden revives old flavours like Black Forest and Chocolate Rice Cake, amongst other new inventions like Lychee Martini Cake and my personal favourite, Nuttymisu. You can also get Pine Garden cakes at their conveniently located shop in Ang Mo Kio Hub, on the same floor as the bus interchange.

Pine Garden: Blk 529 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, #01-2369 | Tel: 6459 5507 / 6456 3552 | Mondays to Sundays, 0830-2130 | Website

4. Twenty Grammes

An ice-cream parlour with a beautifully sleek interior, Twenty Grammes stirs up artisan handmade waffles and ice-cream. Plated in style, they are perfect for the Instagram or Snapchat picture that will fill your friends with dessert envy.

I’m glad that Twenty Grammes exists so I can satiate my Charcoal Waffle craving in the comfort of the Ang Mo Kio neighbourhood. No more travelling to the other ends of Singapore.

Twenty Grammes: Blk 529 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, Singapore 560529 | Tel: 68161916 | Mondays to Thursdays, 1200-2200 | Fridays to Saturdays, 1200-0100 | Sundays, 1200-2200 | Website

3. Belinda’s Traditional Pancake

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Belinda’s Traditional Pancake is a stall located Teck Ghee Court Food Centre, specializing in Ban Chang Kueh or Chinese pancake. One interesting offering they have is their Crispy Cone ($1), a paper-thin pancake rolled into a cone and filled with what you choose: Red Bean, Peanut, Chocolate, the list goes on.

Their Putu Mayam, a Tamil rice-flour cake bearing an uncanny resemblance to Bee Hoon, is also delectable, especially when taken with heaps of red sugar.

Belinda’s Traditional Pancake: Blk 341 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Teck Ghee Court Food Centre, #01-27, Singapore 564341 | Tel: 96846155 | Closed Mondays | Saturdays and Sundays, 0630-1400 | Tuesdays to Fridays, 0630-1330 |

2. Rainbow Cottage Cafe

Rainbow Cottage Cafe is a rather quaint little cafe at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, best known for their vibrant rainbow-mimicking desserts. I had to try their Paddlepop Cheesecake ($7.50), and I was quite pleased to find that it was light, sweet, and didn’t taste of food colouring as its appearance might suggest.

The cafe interior is homely, with a cozy corner for  younger children to play. I think it’d be a great place for parents to gather and chit chat while their kids occupy themselves with toys.

Rainbow Cottage Cafe: Blk 452 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, Singapore 560452 | Tel: 6451 2483 | Mondays to Sundays, 1100-2130 | Website 

1. Double Scoops

Artisan gelato sound good to you? As its name will already tell you, Double Scoops sells ice-cream, handmade and delightfully good at that. Choose from typical flavours like Mixed Berries and Baileys to more local flavours like Sea Salt Gula Melaka, and have a waffle ($3.60) or thick toast to go with.

Double Scoops: Blk 226A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, #01-627, Singapore 561226 | Tel: 64520208 | Sundays to Thursdays, 1200-2200 | Fridays to Saturdays, 1200-2300 | Website

That’s it! Since I can’t possibly have listed everything available in Ang Mo Kio, feel free to let me know what else it has to offer that I might have missed.

Related Guide: Best Eats in Toa Payoh

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Are you longing for Taiwan’s most popular bowl of light, fluffy shaved ice in this crazy heat?

Having already appeased fans of Smoothie House at both the East and Central areas of Singapore, Westies can now satiate their sweet-tooth cravings at the chain’s new flagship store, situated at Westgate and opened in May 2016.

Known for it’s healthy, fruit-based toppings and ingredients, the original snowflake ice dessert chain at Yong Kang Street in Taipei serves up to 1,000 bowls of cold, sugary treats daily to both tourists and locals.

Here at Westgate at Jurong, the after lunch crowd were already flocking to the store on its first day of opening. Large photos of their desserts and signature dishes decorated the walls, enticing you to try everything on its menu as you make your way to your table.

The kitchen staffs, also known as ‘Ice Magicians’, churned out bowls of shaved ice that are playfully dressed up with chunky bits of fresh fruits and toppings, recreating the vibrant atmosphere and familiar taste of the desserts without having to fly to Taiwan.

These ice blocks are freshly imported from its Taiwan headquarters, and the Ice Magicians are trained in Taiwan to master the skill of shaving them into intricate layers through its customised machines. Each bowl is guaranteed of its original standards, and remains consistent with its snow-like texture.

Mango Snowflake Ice with Panna Cotta (Sharing Size, $9.90). A hot favourite among goers, the mango shaved ice is covered in juicy bite-sized chunks of mangoes that are precisely sliced into 1.5cm to 2cm cubes.

It is topped with a milky panna cotta jelly, and drizzled over with condensed milk and a specially concocted fresh fruit mango sauce. A classic, go-to bowl for a refreshing perk-me-up.

Tie Guan Yin Jelly Milky Snowflake Ice (Sharing Size, $9.90). Another popular flavour is this rich milk shaved iced with tie guan yin jelly, served with a side of soft chewy mixed pearls and a mini portion of black sugar syrup. To my surprise, the tie guan yin jelly pleasantly jolted my senses with its aromatic fragrance, which complemented well with all the other ingredients.

Yogurt Berry Snowflake Ice (Sharing Size, $9.90). My personal favourite out of the three flavours, this super healthy bowl will get into the good books of people who are calorie conscious. It is made of yogurt shaved ice, topped with sliced bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and tiny bits of mochi, drizzled with sumptuous mulberry sauce.

The different toppings created an interesting play of texture, and the sweetness from the bananas and sour hints from the berries made it thoroughly enjoyable on the palate.

The snowflake ice comes in three different sizes; a Healthy Size priced at $7.90, Sharing Size at $9.90, and a Family Size at $15.90.

Smoothie House has plans of expanding their menu with other waffle inventions in the line up. In the meantime, customers can enjoy other lighter selections of smoothies, ice blended or fresh fruit teas, and savoury items like their burger sets.

While I’ve not too sure about waffles or food, the snow ice bowl is indeed smooth and worthy of its famed reputation in Taipei.

———

In celebration of its opening weekend, Smoothie House will be running a series of promotions only at Westgate

On 6th, 7th and 8th May customers will get to enjoy a free healthy size mango snowflake ice (U.P. $7.90) with every purchase of a sharing size snowflake ice at Westgate.

For Mother’s Day Special on 8th May 2016, the first 10 customers at every hour can enjoy a sharing size Mango Snowflake Ice at only $2 (U.P. $12.90) when they bring along a parent to Westgate’s outlet.

A special offer is also available for our readers: order a sharing size Mango Snowflake Ice and receive a complimentary sharing size snowflake ice of any flavour of your choice when you quote “SethLui”. This offer is valid only at Westgate outlet, from 9th-31st May 2016.

Expected Damage: $8 – $10 per pax

Smoothie House Flagship Store: 3 Gateway Drive, Westgate Mall #01-08, Singapore 608532 | Tel: (65) 6710 5567 | Opening time: Daily from 11am-10pm | Website | Facebook

*This post is brought to you in partnership with Smoothie House.

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The Gourmet Bus is a novel dining concept (a first-of-its-kind in Asia) that offers us common folk the opportunity to feel slightly touristy and more classy in an edgy sort of way, on board a bus that serves both food and Singapore’s most scenic, urban views.

For two hours, one can spend a romantic date or an interesting business lunch on a bus customised specially to let people dine comfortably in their seats whilst being mobile. At one point, the bus even makes a stop at the well-adored Gardens by the Bay for a good thirty minutes of roaming about amid lush trees and greenery.

We headed down to Suntec City at about 1200 to catch the Gourmet Bus for its lunchtime showing at 1300. When we arrived, we sat around for a while before the bus promptly arrived at 1300, impressively decked out with two storeys and with a bold imprint on the side of the bus, making it known that the Gourmet Bus was there and ready to get going.

Before we got on board the Gourmet Bus, a coy but warm server brought glasses of chilled apple juice for us to cool off with. We quickly downed the drinks and excitedly made our way to the double-decker bus.

Once on board the Gourmet bus, we were greeted with clean and plush, leather seats in bold red and white covers that ran from the entrance of the bus to the end, where a television hangs. This area is wheel-chair-accessible and would also make for the perfect spot for anyone looking to host a late-night party of sorts on board a bus.

The front section of the bus which is where the trusty driver sits along with the prepped dishes, utensils and drinks, impresses with how securely the utensils and glasses are kept in place. The driver has to be extra careful when driving and he does a fantastic job too since throughout our entire journey, not a single “clank” or “clink” from below was heard.

The second floor opens up to a more spacious area, with a rather retro-looking get-up. The ceiling is adorned with a vibrant and playful piece while the jazzy tunes played over the speakers help put you into a jivey sort of mood. The seats are well-spaced out and they are very comfortable, regardless of where you may choose to sit.

One impressive feature of this Gourmet Bus is that each table comes quipped with a fully-functioning projector and with a blank piece of cloth on which slide shows can be projected on to.

It is undeniable that a gourmet bus such as this one would make for a unique and perfect setting for a business meeting over a meal. The route the bus takes can also be altered so if there is a structure within the area that the host would like to shows his/her associates, it is completely possible with the bus!

The Gourmet Bus currently serves two particular meals – the Dim Sum Lunch and the IndoChinese Dinner, with two more dining tours, the Singapore Brunch and Peranakan Hi-Tea, which will be in effect rather soon.

The Dim Sum Lunch that we went for is $57 per pax and is served from 1300 to 1500. Served with an optional add on of $13 for free-flow drinks, we had a seemingly simple and rather delicious meal to keep us full and well throughout the ride.

The first dish mains dish that was served to us was the Samsui Ginger Chicken, which is a highly refreshing dish of tender chicken pieces, complete with skin that comes with cucumber slices and a side of savoury ginger sauce.

While I was slightly disappointed that this dish was not served with rice but instead, lettuce, I was pleasantly surprised when I realised how the chicken tasted wonderfully fresh and succulent especially when had with the crunchy lettuce.

Now, having earlier been slightly let down that there was no rice, my qualms vanished instantly when I realised that the Dim Sum lunch would consist of a good amount of carbs. We had Carrot Cake which does not, in any way, resemble the beloved carrot cake we have in our hawker centre, but was absolutely delicious in a subtle sort of way.

The wobbly carrot cake was topped with chewy bits of chinese sausage and shallots and its insides were randomly stuffed with bits of meaty chunks. It was an overall very scrumptious dish and in a way, a healthier option for a carrot cake.

This next Dim Sum dish was one of my favourites. There are two different types of buns served – the Mushroom Bun and the Char Siew Bao. I loved the Char Siew Bao what with the filling oozing with sweet and savoury pork bits and the bun being soft, pillowy and tasty.

While it may be that the buns were not served steaming hot (since no food can be cooked on the bus directly and must be pre-cooked and delivered to the vehicle), they were still absolutely scrumptious.

I found the mushroom-looking bun to be especially intriguing since the chef took special care to make the buns look like actual mushrooms. The insides of this bun revealed a saucy, relatively syrupy filling stuffed with shredded mushrooms and while there was a distinct mushroom taste, the sweet bun helped to mellow the flavours out nicely.

The last “Dim Sum” dish we tried was the Lo Mai Gai which came nicely wrapped up in lotus leaves. The glutinous rice was well-stuffed with savoury chunks of chicken and the steamed, sticky rice was easy to cut into and munch on. I loved this dish not only because I had my fill of carbs but because for this modest portion, I was quickly satisfied with each delectable bite.

And here is just one of a few shots you can get of Singapore’s city while roaming around on this bus. Do not get too frantic with your cameras and mobile phones though, since the bus will be sure to drive by nice and slowly, giving you just enough time to snap a shot.

Here is another view of the scenery outside, from within the Gourmetbus. If you and your mates run out of conversational topics, all you have to do is look out the window and pick up on something you see and go on from there.

After the main course has been served, the bus will stop at Gardens by the Bay for at least 30 minutes, giving you enough time to wander around amongst the towering trees and giving the servers on board the bus to clear your tables for dessert. At night, for the dinner showing, diners can even catch the lights show at Gardens by the Bay, which makes for a picture-perfect evening, no?

After all the necessary pictures have been taken and after you have taken in a good amount of good views, you can simply get on board the Gourmet Bus again and settle in for dessert. We had Osmanthus Jelly with Wolfberry which I found to be a very interesting dessert dish. The jelly blocks had a fragrant, floral smell and had a sweet, herbal taste to it. The chewy bits of Wolfberry and flowery bits in the jelly only sought to make the dish better.

When the Gourmet Bus eventually returned to Suntec City, I was slightly disappointed that it had come to an end so quickly but I knew that past a certain point, the novelty of this moving dining experience would slowly wear off.

But nonetheless, while I was on board the bus, I enjoyed myself thoroughly since I always appreciate lovely sights and substantial, good food. I aim to return with my family and possibly more friends the next time I come on board this marvellous bus. Do book early to avoid any potential disappointment, though!

Expected Damage: $57 per pax

Gourmet Bus: DUCK & HIPPO Hub Suntec City Mall, 3 Temasek Blvd, #01-330 | Monday to Saturday: Lunch 1300-1500, Dinner 1930-2130 | Tel: 6338 6877

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Ever wondered what it would feel like to stay home and still dine extravagantly? For someone who chooses comfort above everything else, I’ve always delighted myself in the fact that brilliant people will always try to make in-home-dining a viable option for the lazy.

It comes as an absolute thrill then that One Paradise has decided to make steamboat delivery an actual thing! With three different but wonderfully-packed sets to choose from, we went for Beauty Pot Steamboat Set B for 5 pax ($283.55 w GST). We chose both the Spicy Nourishing Broth (Pork Bone Soup) and Beauty Collagen Broth (Shark’s Cartilage Soup), both of which were packed with a ton of flavours and richness.

Apart from the fantastic service that they provide, the way the servers handle the delivery process is impeccable. Utensils like soup ladles, long chopsticks, regular-sized chopsticks, bowls and even toothpicks are provided. The servers who deliver the food items and this marvelous set will come set everything up nicely and will return at the time you set (like 2200) to come collect everything back.

The spread of ingredients that came along with the steamboat was glorious. Not only was the portion of each ingredient generous and more than sufficient for each of us, the vegetables and seafood were kept fresh. Each food item was delivered in disposable food containers and most of the cooking was hassle-free.

For the meats, we had a good selection of  US Wagyu Ribeye, US Kurobuta Pork, Sliced Lamb, Sliced Pork Belly, Sliced Chicken Thigh, Gourmet Chicken Sausage, Pork & Chives Dumpling and Luncheon Meat. And as for the seafood, we had Sliced Toman Fish, Fish Maw, Ebiko Prawn Paste, Fresh Sea Prawns, Japanese Crab Stick, Cuttlefish Ball, Fish Ball, Dried Fish Maw and Fried Fish Skin.

Serving 5 people, the variety of meats and seafood and the portions delivered were overwhelmingly generous. There was more than enough food for everyone.

The grass is always greener on the other side (of the table)…Ha….Excuse my lame attempt at a pun/ wordplay. But for those who value their health and always look out for fresh greens, fret not. The sets all come with a good number of vegetables. In our set, we had Silken Tofu, Black Fungus, Assorted Mushrooms, Sliced Winter Melon, Chinese Cabbage, Tang O, La Mian and Glass Noodles under the “Vegetables Section”.

While La Mian and Glass Noodles don’t necessarily fall under “Vegetables” as much as they do “Carbs”, there was a generous serving of these carb-y food items which made me extremely thrilled.

For a meat-lover like myself, I was very impressed by how the steamboat set offered meats like US Wagyu Ribeye which was beautiful after having been cooked in the simmering broths. I always look out for beefs whenever I go for steamboat meals and I was thus far from disappointed when I found out Beauty in a Pot served these beef darlings.

Another favourite pick of mine from the Meats Selection was the Sliced Pork Belly. They were tasty and succulent when cooked and there was quite a number that came packed in one container so each of us had a good serving of the pork belly.

And as with most steamboat places we go to these days, handmade balls are always sought after. We had the chance to try both the Cuttlefish ball and Fish Ball which were seemingly plain but very savoury what with the balls soaking up the flavours of the broth they have been dunked into.

While I don’t see the huge deal with prawn pastes when it comes to steamboats, most people seem to see the beauty in it and so, if you are the sort that loves to cook prawn paste, the Ebiko Prawn Paste will definitely please your senses. I admit it can be quite entertaining to watch people scoop globs of the paste and hurl them into the broths and to watch the prawn paste emerge as unshapely meat chunks at the surface.

Cooking the food items was not much of a trouble at all as we were equipped with the proper utensils and we simply had to pick what we desired and throw them into the pot. The Beauty Collagen Broth (Shark’s Cartilage Soup) which most who are seeking to maintain “youthful-looking skin” usually go for had just the right amount of salt, was slightly creamy and it filled me up with much warmth.

Meanwhile, the Spicy Nourishing Broth (Pork Bone Soup) was, as the name suggests, rather spicy and its piquant, herbal flavours came through more heavily than the collagen broth. Both were flavourful in their own special ways so I would not rule out either if I were you.

The La Mian cooks quickly and while we did not have the steamboat with any rice, there was a good amount of carbs in our system by the end of the meal. It really is very filling and fulfilling to constantly slurp up bowls of soupy noodles.

Was the in-house steamboat experience fun? Would I do it again? The answer to both those questions is yes, absolutely. It was an undeniably lovely and intriguing experience to have, helping ourselves to countless rounds of rich broths and numerous types of meats. Good food, good company and good fun…What better way to end the week off?

After you’re done, their delivery person comes back to collect back the pots and utensils, so you don’t have to wash anything. Steamboats can be so much more accessible now.

Expected Damage:

Set A: $350 ($374.50 w/GST) For 10 pax, $215 ($230.05 w/GST) For 5 pax

Set B: $450 ($481.50 w/GST) For 10 pax, $265 ($283.55 w/GST) For 5 pax

Set C: $530 ($567.10 w/GST) For 10 pax, $305 ($326.35 w/GST) For 5 pax

More detailed menu information on their website.

One Paradise’s Beauty in a Pot Delivery: Tel: 6465 6565 | Website

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YAN is a restaurant specializing in Catonese cuisine, managed by the Park Hotel Group.

YAN has a spacious interior, featuring contemporary Chinese decor with touches of modern elegance. Situated on the fifth floor of the recently opened National Gallery, restaurant goers can venture into the exhibits on lower floors to appreciate some art after a taste of Yan’s signature Peking Duck or delicate dim sums.

This visit, we tried YAN’s newest offering — their Omakase menu, a Chinese adaptation of the Japanese ‘up-to-the-chef’ concept. The Chinese character ‘宴’ means banquet, so feast we did.  

The first dish on our Omakase menu was the Marinated Goose Webs and Beancurd. I appreciate how the dish was separated so that those who aren’t keen on the goose webs can just savour the tofu.

The tofu was executed nicely with a golden-brown skin and silky interior, but I believe the sauce could have been better seasoned to give more dimension to the bland-by-nature tofu. My dining companion hilariously compared the tofu to a glimmering treasure chest that one eagerly opens… only to find a meagre ten dollar note. In short, a tad underwhelming.

I didn’t find myself a huge fan of the goose webs either, but it could be that I’m just not naturally inclined to eating such parts. That being said, the goose webs were well-marinated and I’m sure their soft, chewy and gelatinous texture will sit well with those who enjoy eating chicken feet.

Sauteed Frog Leg with Vegetables and Clam Sauce

This claypot of frog legs was quite enormous, more than enough for the ten people around our table to share. The frog legs were coated with a light, savoury sauce and served alongside chunks of garlic, chilli, fleshy stalks of spring onion and abalone mushrooms.

YAN also provides a clam sauce on the side to have with your frog legs. Where others found the clam sauce too overpowering in odour, I personally liked its briny flavour and felt the pairing gave the frog legs a greater umami profile.

Overall, I enjoyed the dish’s clean flavours that preserved the natural springy sweetness of the frog legs rather than overwhelming them with heavy sauces.

Sauteed King of Grouper Fillet with Preserved Vegetables and Lily

For our particular Omakase menu, YAN’s seasonal ingredient of the day was their King of Grouper, weighing in at a massive 30 kilograms.

Despite the size of the fish, the flesh was still tender. Tossed in a delicious sauce along with coarse black pepper, capsicums, asparagus and lily bulbs, this dish had good contrast of textures — sweet slices of mango, crunchy asparagus, firm lily bulbs and meaty grouper.

Pan-Fried Chilli Crab Meat Bun

YAN’s take on a Singapore’s hot favourite, this was probably my most anticipated dish on the menu. The buns arrived piping hot and beautifully plated, I gobbled up mine and had to rely on photographing my friend’s buns instead (not like that, you nasty!).

The bun had a crisp sesame shell, while its centre was pillowy soft with a dollop of sweet chilli crab filling. I would’ve reached for another had not the other buns been swiped so quickly.

A delicious eat, though I felt the combination of Chilli Crab and Mantou was rather safe and perhaps too-predictable for an Omakase menu, where I would expect more daring or novel chef creations.

Oven-Baked Lamb’s Rack with Bacon 

I never expected an American-style bacon-wrapped lamb rack nor a battered onion ring from YAN, a distinctly Cantonese restaurant. Rather ironically, I found this to be the best dish on the Omakase menu.

The lamb meat was succulent and had little to no gamey flavour, while its glaze was amazingly sweet, dark and sticky. The bacon, chewy not crispy, provided a rich saltiness that enhanced the flavour of the lamb.

The lonely onion ring upon which the lamb rested was possibly the best of its kind I’d ever eaten. It had an airy batter that was light and crunchy, while delivering a fresh onion sweetness lacking in freezer-pack onion rings.

Definitely something I’d have.

Double-boiled Bamboo Shoots with Chicken, Conpoy and Black Mushroom

This soup was warm and comforting, as most clear soups are. YAN assures its diners of quality ingredients, as the soup is boiled with seasonal bamboo shoots from Guang Xi, one of the few types of bamboo that do not give out an overpowering foul smell.

While easy to drink and nourishing on the body, the soup did not stand out to me in terms of its flavour or content.

Fried Rice with Sakura Ebi

I wasn’t hoping for much from the Fried Rice, simply because it seems like such a typical dish that it’d be hard to stray far from a generic taste. So, in that aspect, YAN’s Fried Rice with Sakura Ebi superseded my expectations.

The rice itself was well-seasoned and full of ingredients: egg, long beans, spring onion, large pieces of fresh prawn. The star of the dish was indeed the pink flecks of Sakura Ebi, which gave the rice a delightful crunch and a fragrant aroma.

Chilled Ficus Carica with White Fungus

I really enjoyed the fresh fig that came in the clear soup, a change from the typical dried-then-rehydrated figs you get in most other Chinese desserts. The bouncy fungus was rather fun to eat, and the chilled soup refreshed my palate after the previous savoury courses.

As someone who normally skips Chinese sweet soups, I finished all of mine — a testament to how good it was.

In all, our meal at YAN was a pleasant one. Their Omakase menu served up decent dishes, with some hits and misses, but I struggle to justify the $120++ price tag on the 8-course set menu that we tried.

I’d recommend trying YAN out if you’re in the vicinity, but ordering from their a la carte menu might be a better alternative and greater value for money.

Expected Damage: YAN’s Omakase menus range from $60 – $120

YAN: #05-02 National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957 | Tel: 6384 5585 | Website

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Honolulu Cafe was founded by Mr Yeung Jin Hei about 80 years ago and is now run by his sons, Mr Derrick Yeung and Mr Wayne Yeung. Altogether, there are nine outlets in both Hong Kong and China. In May 2016, Honolulu Cafe opened its doors to Singapore too – its first international outlet.

Famous for its coffee, tea and baked goods, could Honolulu Cafe be Singapore’s next cha chaan teng craze?

Honolulu Cafe is reminiscent of 1940s Hong Kong. With colonial-inspired, dim lights, checkered floors and simple drawings on the wall, it feels as if you have traveled back in time despite the fact that you are sitting smack in the center of Singapore’s busiest shopping area.

Its menu also resembles that of cha chaan tengs in Hong Kong – expect to see dishes like Sweet & Sour Pork Rice, Curry Fish Balls, Instant Noodles with various toppings, Luncheon Meat Sandwich and other typical Hong Kong jam.

But of course, Honolulu is most well-known for their egg tarts.

Honolulu Egg Tarts ($1.70 each) is probably the flakiest egg tart you will ever come across in Singapore. Made by freezing the dough overnight to fold 192 layers, the egg tart is exceedingly crispy and is pleasing to your taste buds. However, it would probably taste better if served warm. Nonetheless, these limited baked-daily egg tarts are worth queuing up for.

The Polo Bun with Butter ($3) was better than expected but still did not match up to the Polo Buns in Hong Kong. The Polo Buns could be toastier and have a more rounded and complete egg-washed, sweet overcrust. Even so, the butter within tasted amazing with the crust.

The Swiss Sauce Chicken Wings ($6.00) were absolutely divine. Tender and juicy, it was a perfect affair. Most Swiss Sauce Chicken Wings also usually turn out too salty for my liking, but Honolulu’s was just right.

The Pork Chop Bun with Salad ($5.00) was sinfully delightful. With pork fats on the edge and melting butter hamburgered in between, the Pork Chop Bun with Salad is a rustic must-try specialty in Hong Kong that the Cantonese adore.

The HK Style Curry Fish Balls ($3.00) was also another highlight. These fish balls were certainly bouncy and chewy while the curry gravy was also slightly spicier than the HK style, perhaps adapted to the Singaporean taste.

The Deep-Fried Egg Puffs ($2.00 each) tasted a lot like a donut or some may even say French Toast. However, it could have been better with a tinge of condensed milk inside, waiting to sinfully surprise you.

The Stir-Fried Flat Rice Noodle with Beef ($7.00) unfortunately could also have been better if the beef was more tender. The noodles were no doubt moist and springy enough but did not taste as good as it looked.

The Milk Tea ($3.00 hot / $3.20 cold) was creamy but slightly sour and I’m not sure if that is an intentional effect. To some, this may be favorable and to others, it may not. Taste is after all subjective. I personally liked it because I never like overly sweet Milk Teas.

Overall, I really liked the experience at Honolulu cafe simply because it was fairly reminiscent of an authentic cafe in Hong Kong. However, I would not queue up just to dine there; Honolulu cafe’s Egg Tarts are great and so are the Curry Fish Balls but these highlights don’t need sitting down to enjoy unlike the Stir-Fried Flat Rice Noodles with Beef which didn’t quite sit on par with the former.  If that were the case, I’d just take away some egg tarts.

Worth a takeaway for their snacks, but I’d skip the mains.

Expected Damage: $8-15/pax

The Honolulu Cafe: #01-33F/G, The Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Road, Singapore 238843 | Opening Hours: Mon – Sun 11am – 10pm

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20. Wild Honey

“…all about beautiful breakfast. All day, everyday.”

Wild Honey passionately believes in the ideology that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

They loves breakfast foods so much that they’ve decided to bring in as many kinds as possible from all over the world. From signature dishes like The English and Aussie to Tunisian, European and Norwegian, it’ll be like having breakfasts from different continents all in one place.

Wild Honey: #03-01, Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road | Tel: 6636 1816 | Website

Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (daily)

19. Arbite

Arbite offers quality gourmet food at very reasonable prices, staying true to their motto of being intrinsically honest to their name – a pun on the German word for “work”.

All their breakfast foods are wholesome goodness that won’t make you walk away from the Cafe feeling like you’ve been ripped off.

I’d recommend getting the Arbite Breakfast ($17) or the Banana and Caramel Pancakes ($12). They’ll leave you positively stuffed and extremely satisfied at the end of your visit.

Arbite: 66A Serangoon Garden Way | Tel: 6287 0430 | Website

Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11.30 am – 3.00 pm, 6.00pm to 10.30 pm |Sat – Sun: 11am – 10.30pm 

18. Common Man Coffee Roasters

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Having been proudly awarded Readers Choice Best Café by SG Magazine back to back in 2014 and 2015, Common Man Coffee Roasters is no cafe to be taken lightly.

They’re breakfast foods might be more on the pricey end (they’re the kind that make you want to leave once you look at the menu), but it really is all worth it.

Their Fluffy Brioche French Toast ($18) is a must try. Two slices of egg-soaked brioche served with tart berry compote and quality Kapiti Vanilla ice cream might sound measly for its steep price, but trust me, you’d be willing to hand over all your money for this breakfast food.

Note: It’s always chock full of people, so do avoid peak hours and don’t come expecting a nice quite ambience.

Common Man Coffee Roasters: 22 Martin Road, #01-00, Singapore 239058 | Tel: 6836 4695 | Website

Opening Hours: 7:30am – 6pm (Daily)

17. Group Therapy

Group Therapy ensures that you get the therapy you deserve after a tiring week of work or school. Nourishing you with their selection of all-day breakfast foods, you’ll leave Group Therapy feeling happy and ready to take on another week of labour.

Their Poached Eggs ($16) with a generous amount of smoked salmon, eggs cooked to perfection, and crispy french toast, is served with extraordinarily rich hollandaise sauce. You might wanna share this with someone because it’s just so rich that one person might not be able to take this on alone.

While you’re at it, get their Pancake Stack ($16), where fluffy pancakes are piled on top of one another, with bananas, strawberries and bits of honeycomb scattered around.

Opening Hours: Tue – Sun: 10am – 6pm | Mon: Closed

16. Ronin Cafe

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Famous for their Scrambled Eggs on Toast ($9), some might argue that it’s the best place to get scrambled eggs in Singapore. It’s so silky smooth, you could slurp it right up. I’d probably add a sausage or some bacon to kick it up a notch (and also because I’m a crazy meat lover).

The dimly-lit cafe’s soft ambiance makes it a perfect place to hang out with friends and get amazing coffee at. I’d recommend getting a cup of Wicked ($5.80), one of their signature coffees.

Ronin: 17 Hong Kong Street, Singapore 059660 | Website

Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 8am – 6pm | Sat – Sun: 8am – 7:30pm 

15. Food for Thought (Cluny Road)

“Good food for a good cause” is the theme underlying Food For Thought and everything that they do.

Food for Thought: 1 Cluny Rd, Tanglin Gate B1 | Tel: 6338 4848 | Website

Opening Hours: 7.30am – 5.30pm (Daily)

14. Butter My Buns

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Oh they do so much more than just butter your buns.

With several ingredients options, they allow you to mix and match different ingredients for various dishes to customise your very own breakfast perfection. Dishes you’re allowed to mix and match include: BMB Breakfasts, Belgian Waffles, and Crepes.

Butter My Bun’s funky Signature Belgian Waffles are also something to look out for. Their Honey Truffle Belgian Waffle ($12) is a hit or miss for all of us. You’ll either love it or hate it – there will never be a neutral stand to this dispute.

Butter My Buns: 2 College Avenue West, University Town Stephen Riady Centre,  #01-07, National University of Singapore (NUS) Singapore 138607 | Tel: 62621649 | Website

Opening Hours: Sun – Fri: 10.30am – 9pm | Sat: Closed

13. Orange Thimble (weekends)

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The Orange Thimble, a relaxing cafe tucked away in the enclave of cafes that is the Tiong Bahru Heartlands, offers one of the cheapest Full English Breakfasts I could find in Singapore. Although they only serve breakfasts during the weekends, I’d still come here if I wanted a relatively cheap Full English Breakfast.

Their English Breakfast ($11.50) of two eggs (sunny-side up) , streaky bacon, two pork sausages, home-made baked beans, roasted tomatoes, 2 slices of toast, and sautéed mushrooms is a pretty solid steal to me.

The Orange Thimble: 56 Eng Hoon Street #01-68 | Tel: 6223 8068 | Website

Mon – Thur: 11am – 9pm | Fri: 10:30am – 12am | Sat: 9am – 12am | Sun: 9am – 10:30am

12. Strictly Pancakes

Pancakes, pancakes and pancakes. Well actually, apart from pancakes, they do serve other breakfast foods during the weekends too. Not so strictly pancakes after all, and thankfully so.

With a wonderful array of savoury and sweet pancakes alike, Strictly Pancakes has been my go-to pancake joint. I always leave the place with an exploding belly and a very happy heart. All of them are priced between $11 – $15, and that’s pretty economical considering that each of them come with three extremely filling pancakes to fatten you up. If you can’t handle the big three, you could  downsize to two and they’ll remove $1 off for you.

Strictly Pancakes: 44A Prinsep Street Singapore 188674 | Tel: 6333 4202 | Website

Opening Hours: Mon: 6pm – 10pm | Tue – Thur: 11:30am – 10pm | Fri: 11:30am 12am | Sat: 10am – 4pm, 6pm – 12am | Sun: 6pm – 10pm 

11. The Plain Cafe

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A quaint, and as its name suggests, plain cafe – but plain in a comfortably minimalistic way. It’s a wonderful place to have a quiet afternoon at for some long conversations over coffee and breakfast foods.

I’d recommend getting their Bircher Muesli ($8.50 for large portion), a warm heartening bowl of organic oats soaked in apple juice, with a blend of honey-infused yoghurt, fresh slices of grapes and strawberries, then topped off with almond flakes.

On top of heartwarming breakfast, they also serve pretty decent coffees, especially their Generra ($5.50) – refreshingly tangy mocha.

The Plain Cafe: 50 Craig Road #01-01 Singapore 089688 | Tel: 6225 4387 | Website
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 7.30am – 5.30pm | Sat – Sun: 7:30am – 7:30pm

10. PODI

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PODI is an acronym for Pure. Offbeat. Delicious. Infusions., and also a Brainchild of the same people that brought us Cedele . They serve a wonderful range of All-day breakfast foods amongst other good things.

I’d recommend getting their Stuffed Ham and Brie Brioche French Toast ($15) – Spinach Brioche with eggs, smoked ham, brie cheese and maple syrup. It’s humble and really simple considering it’s basically french toast with Spinach in the picture. A smart way to get people to eat their veggies. Sandwiched between two spinach french toasts is delicious ham and cheese. Mmmmm, yummy.

PODI: 252 North Bridge Road, #B1-45, Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore 179103 | Tel: 6336 5648| Website

Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)

9. 20F Specialty CoffeeHouse

20F Specialty Coffeehouse stands where a 60-year-old clinic used to reside, and although that space doesn’t provide anymore medical treatment, it sure does heal our foodie souls.

What I really appreciate is personal space i.e. cafes that don’t have tables just literally inches away from each other, and this coffeehouse understands this very need. With three separate sections, there’s plenty of space for everyone to settle down and have a conversation that the next-door table won’t be able to eavesdrop on.

Apart from its famous Duck & Waffle ($22), I’d recommend getting their Orange Cinnamon French Toast ($15) and Pulled Pork Benedict ($18). I get how paying $15 for bread might seem a bit pricey, but I think it’s interesting enough to render a taste or two.  Their French Toast’s orange jam isn’t spread on top or drizzled around but is actually infused into the fluffy moist bread itself. And laying on top of its crisp outer layer are two pieces of bacon strips that bring in a savoury element to this sour and sweet-spicy breakfast food.

20F CoffeeHouse: 20 Foch Road, Singapore 209261 | Tel: 6291 4940 | Website

Opening Hours: Tue – Sun: 10am – 7pm | Mon: Closed

8. Arteastiq (Plaza Singapura)

Arteastiq, an elegant teahouse, definitely caters to the more sophisticated tai tai crowd. With dish names like Allegory of Love and Aphrodite, it’s sure enough testament to my statement. Arteastiq has weekday brunch specials between 11am – 1.30pm, priced at $16 and up that come with free specialty tea. Their weekday brunch specials actually features some of the most popular dishes from their all-day ala carte menu such as The Prince of Monte Carlo – Short Ribs Croque Monsiuer at only a fraction of its original price.

So if you’re planning on coming to Arteastiq and want to get the best deals, I’d recommend coming between their brunch hours. Well, of course if you’re a big spender, visit at any time of the day and there’ll still be breakfast/brunch foods (just set at a higher price).

Arteastiq: 68 Orchard Road, #03-70/72, Plaza Singapura, Singapore 238839 | Tel: 6336 0951| Website

Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)

7. The Beast (Sunday)

The Beast is home to probably the best Chicken and Waffles I could find in Singapore. A 24-hour brine ensures that the chicken is soaking in delicious juices, and wrapping that moist tender meat is its crunchy herby skin. Some might say it’s a tad bit greasy, but greasy is good if you ask me.

Alongside the chicken is fluffy and light buttermilk waffles to balance the chicken’s heavy flavour and then topped with bourbon maple butter sauce that give it a wonderful smokey-sweet finish.

Unfortunately for us, their (extremely American) brunch menu is only available on Sundays, seeing as to how they don’t operate before 5pm on normal days. Their Chicken & Waffles ($20), however, happen to be available all day everyday, so that’s good news!

The Beast: 17 Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199329 | Tel: 6295 0017 | Website

Opening Hours: Mon – Wed: 5pm – 12am | Thu – Fri: 5pm – 1am | Sat: 5pm – 12am | Sun: 10am – 5pm

6. The Assembly Ground

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The Assembly Ground: 2 Handy Road #01-21, The Cathay, Singapore 229233 | Tel: 6733 3375 | Website

Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11am – 10pm | Sat – Sun & PH: 10am – 10pm

5. The Daily Roundup

The Daily Roundup gives us breakfast foods in the form of classic French savoury Galettes and sweet Crepes. They ensure quality by paying attention to every single detail, like using buckwheat flour for their savoury Galettes, distinguishing their slightly sour tastes from the dough used for sweet Crepes.

The Daily Roundup: The Working Capitol, 1 Keong Saik Road #01-02, Singapore 089109 | Tel: 6338 8035| Website

Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 8am – 9:30pm | Sat – Sun: 9am -9:30pm

4. Mr & Mrs Maxwell’s

I think Mr and Mrs Maxwell’s is a mecca of breakfast foods with an extensive menu that reflects their very own personality and enthusiasm.

Their Ricotta Hotcakes ($14) are the most perfect, prettiest and fluffiest pancakes I’ve ever seen. With blueberries, strawberries, vanilla yoghurt and truffle honey, it’s unconventionally conventional.

Also, look out for their Lobster Omelette ($16) – well-seasoned and butter-soaked eggs filled such sweet and tender lobster filling. And oh, the Gruyere cheese makes it a sweet/salty heaven.

Mr & Mrs Maxwell’s: 28 Ann Siang Road, Singapore 069708 | Tel: 6808 2181| Website

Opening Hours: Sun – Thu: 7am – 11pm| Fri – Sat: 7am-12am

3. Ninethirty

Ninethirty is a dining bistro restaurant that is a flagship Awfully Chocolate Store, and the only concept of its kind in Singapore. Apart from serving Western main courses and Awfully Chocolate desserts, they also serve our favourite kind of food – Breakfast food!

If you’re a fan of peanut butter (who isn’t?), I’d recommend getting Ninethirty’s Brioche French Toast ($16) because they serve up some fluffy ones over here. You can get them done in three ways: regular, skillet or souffle. Get souffle for the ultimate level of fluffiness. They come with freshly whipped vanilla bean cream and almond streusel along with maple syrup.

Ninethirty: 131 East Coast Road, Singapore 428816 | Tel: 6345 2190| Website

Operation Hours: Mon – Thu: 12pm – 11pm | Fri and Eve of P.H: 12pm – 1am |Sat: 9:30am – 1am | Sun: 9:30am – 11pm

2. Ninja Bowl

Sister to Chillax Cafe and Babette Restaurant & Bar, Ninja Bowl is a simple, industrial-chic cafe at Duxton Road, that offers unique all-day brunch options with a Japanese flair. An outstanding thing about Ninja Bowl is that they serve all their food a la minute, meaning that you’ll get everything prepared on the spot to guarantee freshness.

That also means that if you’re rushing for time, maybe not opt for their brunch foods because you’ll definitely be late for whatever appointment you have.

I’d recommend getting their Fancy French ($16), an extremely thick-cut (around three inches high) homemade brioche filled with fig jam. For its thick cut, it was surprisingly evenly cooked through.

Drizzled with Umeboshi-infused honey and homemade hazelnut butter to slather all over, it was a wonderful mix with the slight cinnamon-like, milky Brioche. Slices of figs, plums, green grapes and edible flowers are scattered around for us to pair with this delight.

Ninja Bowl: 15 Duxton Road, Singapore 089481 | Tel: 6222 8055 | Website

Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 9:30am – 7:30pm | Sat – Sun: 9am – 6pm

1. Cheng’s Gourmet Food Bar

A wonderful cafe that’s recently upped their menu ante, Cheng’s Gourmet Food Bar serves breakfast food till 5pm daily amongst other wonderful gourmet food.

However, they do understand the power of breakfast foods and its irresistibility, so they’ve made an exception. They allow customers to request for breakfast foods after hours, if and only if, there aren’t many customers around.

The most outstanding element about their Big Breakfast ($18.90) was that on top of the usual eggs, sausages, bacon etc., they added caramelised watermelon. It was literally cooked watermelon, and was a mind-boggling experience for me because who eats warm watermelon?? Strangely, it worked. The watermelon balances out the saltiness of bacon and ties the breakfast together nicely.

Cheng’s Gourmet Food Bar: 34A Clementi Rd, Singapore 129758 | Tel: 6464 0617 | Website

Opening Hours: Tue – Sun : 11:45am – 11:45pm| Mon: Closed

Related Guide: Best Cafe Brunch Places in Singapore

The post 20 All-Day Breakfast Places in Singapore That’ll Make You Wish Lunch and Dinner Never Existed appeared first on SETHLUI.com.

Pig’s organ soup or “zhu zha tang 猪什汤” has always been one of the dishes in my ultimate go-to list of Singapore comfort food — it brings back fond memories of when my cousins and I were kids, fighting over who gets more pig innards and slurping the last drop of grandma’s peppery sweet broth. Kids fight over the weirdest things, like intestines.

Zhu zha tang is popular in both Singapore and Malaysia, which originated from the Teochew province but has evolved into its own identity in Singapore. What makes a good broth is the harmonious blend of sweetness and saltiness from the hours of boiling together pork bones and pickled mustard vegetables. The offal should be fresh, clean and void of any pungent odor, and the chilli should be spicy and tangy to add an extra oomph to each bite.

I squeal in delight putting together this list for you to pig out to. This might not be for you if you’re put off by offal.

1. Ri Tao Fu Teochew Pig’s Organ Soup

A faint sweet aroma from the broth instantly hit my nose as I walked towards to the stall, the uncle wasted no time in chopping up the offal to fill up my bowl with goodness.

To get to the food centre, you’ll have to climb up a flight of stairs from the bus stop. You can easily spot the Teochew Pig’s Organ Soup stall, which is nestled in the middle of the hawker centre.

Pig’s organ soup ($3/$4/$5) & Rice ($0.50).

The soup had a slightly darker shade of brown as compared to others that were clear, and it had a very light aftertaste. If you’re a fan of a stronger tasting broth, then you’d probably want to skip this stall.

The uncle was generous with the pig stomach and they were clean throughly, I enjoyed the collagen-filled pig’s skin, which had a very soft jelly-like texture that disintegrates quickly in the mouth.

Ri Tao Fu Teochew Pig’s Organ Soup:1 Jalan Kukoh, #01-11 Jalan Kukoh Market and Hawker Centre, Singapore 161001 | Monday – Saturday: 1015am – 9pm, closed on Sunday and Public Holidays

2. Jin Ding Xiang Pig Organ Soup

Jin Ding Xiang is located in Kovan Hougang Market and Food Centre, along the first row of stalls as you enter into the food centre from Kovan MRT station.

Pig’s organ soup ($3.80).

The broth was rich and had a defined sweetness from the pork bones, which was accompanied with a light peppery taste. One sip and you could tell that the soup was boiled over a long period of time.

It was filled to the brim with the basic ingredients like pig’s liver, intestines, stomach, tender pieces of pork meat, a thin slice of three layer pork belly, meatball and tofu cubes.

To my delight, the intestines were stuffed, I verified by doing a quick check with the hawker, in which she nodded her head with a tiny smile of approval to my intestinal knowledge.

It is a method familiar to me as I’ve seen my mother preparing it at home on a few occasions. To stuff the intestine into multiple layers, you would have to flip it to clean from the inside out, then stuff one end into the other side, and layer it to your preference.

That’s a lot of effort put into a bowl of hawker food, I’d say.

Jin Ding Xiang Pig’s Organ Soup: 209 Hougang Street 21, #01-08 Kovan Hougang Market and Food Centre, Singapore 530209 | Open daily 11am – 11pm 

3. Ah Keat Pig’s Organ Soup and Kway Chup

Just a stone’s throw away from Woodlands Checkpoint, Ah Keat Pig’s Organ Soup is popular among the residents, factory workers and even school kids of that area.

Almost everyone at that coffeeshop were seen eating either the stall’s pig’s organ soup or kway chap, its other highly recommended dish that also uses similar ingredients.

Pig’s organ soup ($3), additional pig’s kidney ($1).

Apart from the generous bowl of basic ingredients, the stall added in a super thick three layer pork belly, which I quickly savoured. I also added a portion of kidney, which was nicely cooked with a little pink tint. 

Its chilli had a garlicky note, liken to those you eat with chicken rice. It is refreshing and resets your tastebuds with every dip.

Ah Keat Pig’s Organ Soup: 221 Marsiling Crescent, Lucky Star Eating House, Singapore 730211 | Opens daily 7am – 9pm, closed on every fortnight on Wednesday

4. Pig’s Organ Soup. Bak Kut Teh. Kway Chap

With no specific name or signboard to this stall, I walked around the estate twice to look for it. Look out “Huang Restaurant”, the store is at the corner of this little coffeeshop.

Pig’s organ soup ($3.50).

Besides using pork bones and salted vegetable, the soup was also boiled with celery slices, which made the broth clear and slightly sweeter. It tasted like a comforting bowl of homemade soup.

Though not as much ingredients as other stalls, the pig stomach were chewy and fresh, slices of pork belly accompanied the lean meats, the meatballs were soft, and the salted mustard vegetable still retained it saltiness and crunchiness despite being boiled together with the soup. 

Pig’s Organ Soup. Bak Kut Teh. Kway Chap: Block 848 Yishun street 81, Huang’s Restaurant, Singapore 760848 | Tuesday to Sunday 930am – 9pm, close on Monday

5. Cheng Mun Chee Kee Pig Organ Soup

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If you were to ask anyone which stalls sell the best zhu za tang in Singapore, Cheng Mun Chee Kee never fails to appear on the list of recommendations. It is always packed with diners, and a popular hang out amongst supper kakis.

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Pig Organ Soup ($4/$6).

The plus point to eating here is having your soup refilled until you are fully satisfied with your meal. The protein-filled regular bowl ($4) contains innards, lean meat, meatballs, tofu, salted vegetable, pork belly, stomach and liver. While the large bowl ($6) has small intestine and kidney on top of the mentioned ingredients.

The downside is you won’t stop at ordering only one bowl of pig’s organ soup, other specialty side dishes will entice you, like the black vinegar pig trotters ($6), steam minced meat with chestnut ($2), and many more. Pull along a friend or two so that you can try more food on their menu.

Cheng Mun Chee Kee: 24 Foch road, Singapore 209263 | Tuesday – Saturday: 9am – 5am, Sunday: 9am – 12am, closed on Monday | Tel: 6297 5068

6.Yu Ji Pig’s Organ Soup Herbal Mutton Soup

Whampoa Makan Place is a food heaven and I reckon Yu Ji’s pig’s organ soup has a part to play in it. 

Yu Ji Pig’s Organ soup is my personal favourite. Apart from having a balanced sweet and salty soup stock, the peppery flavour adds body to the taste.

The pig intestine and stomach had a nice chewy texture, pig liver has a natural sweetness to it and was powdery; meatballs, pig skin, tofu, slice pork meat, salted vegetable and pork belly were added to the soup. The chilli reminded me of the sour, watery type usually eaten with ban mian.

However, the serving is slightly small, so go on and add more dishes to complete your meal.

Yu Ji Pig’s Organ Soup Herbal Mutton Soup:Whampoa Makan Place, 90 Whampoa Drive #01-81 Singapore 320090 | Opens daily: 1030am – 11pm 

7. Aik Kee Haslet Soup

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Tucked away in Geylang East Centre Market and Food Corner, the stall serves up generous bowls of peppery soup with thick liver slices, lean pork meat, meat balls and large intestines. 

A special shout out to its tasty homemade ngoh hiong, which costs only $1.50 for a more robust spread.

Aik Kee Haslet Soup: Geylang East Centre Market and Food Corner, Block 117 Aljunied Ave 2 Market and food centre, #01-56, Singapore 380117 | Daily 930am – 8.30pm, close ad hoc

8.  Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup

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Established in 1955 by Koh Kee Teo, Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup is kept buzzing alive by his son and grandson.

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The soup is freshly brewed daily with pork bones and mustard vegetable, it has a rich pork sweetness and the broth is clear. It is served with the usual ingredients like liver, stomach, lean meat and pork meatball.

A side dish that is highly raved about is its large intestine stuffed with glutinous rice, chestnut and pork belly ($3.50). A traditional snack that is rarely seen and prepared these days.

Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup: Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre, 30 Seng Poh Road #02-29 Singapore 168898 |Tuesday – Saturday: 8:30am – 3:30pm, 6pm – 8:30pm, Sunday: 8:30am – 3:30pm | Tel: 8113 7218 | Facebook page

9. Soon Huat Pig’s Organ Soup

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Pig’s organ soup ($3.50/$4.50/$5.50).

If you are not in the mood for Chomp Chomp, Serangoon Garden Market is just steps away. Soon Huat Pig’s Organ Soup is quite hard to miss – it is often lined with a queue of hungry goers at its stall front.

I was surprised to see slices of tomatoes in the soup, which adds a tangy taste to the salted vegetable flavour. It is served with liver, large intestines, stomach, sliced pork belly and lean meat.

Soon Huat Pig’s Organ Soup: 49A Serangoon Garden Way, #01-42 Serangoon Garden Market, Singapore 555945 | Tuesday – Sunday: 930am – 4pm

10. Say Seng Cooked Food

Say Seng Cooked Food is located in Albert Market & Food Centre. At 6pm the queue had already formed up to two tables away.

Pig’s organ soup ($4), rice ($0.50), braised wild boar belly ($5).

I quickly dig in to find out what it tastes like—the peppery flavour masks a slightly pungent pork smell from the broth. It was cloudy due to the continuous boiling of the soup stock. While the serving was huge, the pork slices, liver, stomach and other ingredients were slightly tough and overcooked. 

Tempted by the people ahead of me, I had to get my hands on the juicy braised wild boar belly, which is served from 4pm onwards. Lucky me to have gotten a plate of it, as it is said to be sold out very quickly. The braised belly lived up to its fame and had adequately infused in the gravy, which is causing me to salivate at this very moment while typing.

Say Seng Cooked Food: 270 Queen St #01-92, Albert Market & Food Centre, Singapore 180270 (Opp Fu Lou Shou) | Closed on Monday and Friday, opening hours: 12noon – 8pm

Feel free to share with us your favourite go-to zhu za tang stall that is not listed in this article.

Related Guide: Best Frog Porridges in Singapore

The post 10 Best Pig’s Organ Soup 猪什汤 in Singapore So Delicious You’ll Praise The Lard appeared first on SETHLUI.com.

These fluffy South Indian flour-based pastries are one of Singapore’s favourite supper foods, but you can really eat prata anytime of the day. Roti prata is made by flipping the dough into a thin layer, adding ingredients like mushrooms or eggs, then folding the edges in.

The name is adapted from ‘paratha’ in South East Asia, but also goes by ‘roti canai’ in Malaysia (which is pretty much the same thing, although Malaysians will beg to differ).

So what makes this special crispy bread thingamajig so special in my heart?

Firstly, even in its most basic form – Kosong/Plain,  prata is crispy, fragrant and buttery (margarine-y if you may). Simply incredibly tasty.

Secondly, there are so many ways one can customise prata to his/her own liking. This attribute allows the Roti Prata to easily suit the tastes of many.

Thirdly, Roti Prata Places are just always opened till pretty late so there’s that.

So here’s a guide to celebrate one of Singapore’s favourite supper food; it includes what can be on or in your prata and simple variations of the plain prata.

—What you can add to the classic prata—

Egg

The standard ‘kosong’ prata with an egg inside.

Cheese, Double Cheese

The standard prata with cheese.

Onion

The standard prata with onion.

Garlic

The standard prata with garlic.

Mushrooms

The standard prata with mushroom.

Chicken Floss

The standard prata with chicken floss.

Honey

The standard prata with honey.

Chocolate Sauce/ Strawberry Sauce/ Blueberry Jam (Depends on the restaurants)

The standard prata with some kind of sweet sauce.

Condensed Milk

The standard prata with condensed milk.

Fruits (Pineapples, Strawberries, Bananas etc. depending on what the restaurant has)

and even…

Ice Cream

The best part is you can mix and match all of them. Mushroom Cheese, Onion Egg etc.

Basically the list could go on and on but these are the more common combinations of prata you can find in Singapore

—Variations of Prata—

Now this is where prata starts to get fancy.

Roti Plaster

Technically an egg prata. But instead of having the egg inside, it is on top of your prata, sunny-side up style (kind of). Cool ain’t it?

Where to get it:
ENAQ: Block 303, Jurong East Street 32, Singapore 600303 | 24 hours

Prata Bomb

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Prata Bomb is like a thicker version of the regular prata because it is coiled. As it has more layers and thickness, the inner part of the dough is harder for heat to reach. Hence upon biting into it, you’ll realise the insides are much softer while the surface is crisp and browned.

Also, with a Prata Bomb, Margarine and Sugar are hidden inside the coils (sometimes cheese too if you order cheese bomb) so you can imagine that amazing melting sensation of margarine, sugar and pastry (maybe cheese).

Other Prata Bomb flavours: Kaya, Honey

Where to get it:

Spize (their cheese bomb pictured above): 336 Bedok Road, Singapore 469512 | Tel: 6734 9194 | Website

The Roti Prata House: 246 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574370 | Tel: 64595260 |

ENAQ: Block 303, Jurong East Street 32, Singapore 600303 | 24 hours

Tissue/Paper prata

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Super addictive super thin super crisp prata in a shape of a cone. The name tissue/paper prata comes from its thinness. Usually has a carmalised skin already, so it’s more of a sweet dessert prata than a savoury one.

Basically, think prata chips(/crisps) seasoned with sugar. Majority of Prata places sell this.

Where to get it:

Casuarina Curry Restaurant: 136 & 138 Casuarina Rd, Singapore 579524 | Tel: 6455 9093  | Website | 7AM-12AM

RK Eating House: 1 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557253 | 24 Hours

Coin Prata

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Coin Prata is simply a smaller version of the plain prata and instead of being completely flat, the dough is rolled/twisted before frying. It tends to be crispier than the normal plain prata, not to mention also cuter looking.

Most prata places have this.

Where to get this:

Sin Ming Roti Prata: #01-51, Jin Fa Kopitiam, 24 Sin Ming Road, Singapore 328254 | Tel: 64533893 | Hours: 6AM-7PM

Haven’t had enough of pratas? Check out our other prata guides.

Related Guide: Controversial Pratas in Singapore, Best Pratas in Singapore

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Having lived in Canada for the past year, I have become accustomed to having French pastries in the morning, crepes for lunch and the occasional foie gras, but I still refuse to believe there is any better food than at home – Singapore and Malaysia. Nasi Lemak, Char Kway Teow, these are all pretty popular choices, but it is the less conspicuous Nasi Briyani that I arguably miss the most.

Nasi Briyani is a traditional Indian rice-based dish accompanied by meat, vegetables and a gravy or curry. The long grain basmati rice is cooked with garlic, yogurt, aromatic spices, onions and sometimes with ghee or a substitute for this unique butter.

However, there are Malay variations of it as well. Hence, the word ‘Nasi’.

Nasi Briyani is my staple takeaway go-to in Canada; the portions are big so the meal lasts me an entire day or two, and above all, I like rice – it all made economical and gastronomical sense – but sitting in the comfort of my college dorm is not quite like the experience in Singapore.

I love how each Nasi Briyani in Singapore is different so here is a list of Nasi Briyanis that make me burp for joy!

1. Skeikh Indian Pakistani Food

Located in ABC Brickworks Hawker Centre, Skeikh Indian Pakistani Food  Nasi Briyani ($5) is a good hour away from where I live but I would still make the journey there any day. This is the best Tandoori Chicken Nasi Briyani in town.

The fluffy rice, rich mutton gravy and melt-in-your-mouth tandoori chicken makes an excellent lunch combo. The gravy was spicy but not to the point that it masked the flavour of the saffron. The saffron scent, in particular, reminds me of my best friend’s mother’s cooking back in Kuala Lumpur.

Skeikh Indian Pakistani Food: 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 150006,  ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre, #01-12 | Tel: 8287 1410 | Opening Hours: Mon – Sun, 9.30 am – 9.00 pm

2. Thambi’s

It is not very often that you stumble upon an obscure Nasi Briyani stall in the CBD. With big Nasi Briyani household names such as Golden Nur Nasi Briyani in Golden Shoe Food Centre nearby and Sedaaap Nasi Briyani on the floor below, Thambi’s is a hidden gem that sits on the 2nd floor of Amoy Street Food Centre that is yet to be discovered.

Thambi’s rendition of Nasi Briyani is not only authentic but also healthier than most Nasi Briyanis. I was surprised by how un-guilty I felt after consuming the Nasi Briyani here.

The owner laughed at my puzzled reaction and told me that unlike the average Nasi Briyani, his rendition is cooked with peanut oil. So if you’re looking for a guilt-free Nasi Briyani, you know where to head to. If you’re looking for some Putu Mayam and Apam Balik to snack on, Thambi’s is where you should be headed to as well.

Thambi’s: 7 Maxwell Rd, 069111, Amoy Street Food Centre, #02-92 | Expected Damage: $5 | Opening Hours: Mon – Fri, 6:45 am – 4:00 pm

3. IMAM Banana Leaf Restaurant

Situated right in front of Kallang MRT, IMAM Banana Leaf Restaurant is not only convenient but also opens 24/7! However, Nasi Briyani ($6.50) is only available from 11 am onwards and lasts until whenever someone buys the last plate of Nasi Briyani.

The mutton curry here is a personal favourite of mine because it reminds me of the the Mutton Briyani at my go-to Mamak store in Malaysia. Although they didn’t serve it with bone marrow, the mutton is very succulent. The rice is slightly dry but this is a quick fix with mutton gravy on the side.

IMAM Banana Leaf Restaurant: 10 Geylang Lorong 1, Singapore 389119 | Website | Tel: 6744 8644 | Opening Hours: 24/7

4. Mami Midah Briyani

Another Nasi Briyani gem in the East, Mami Midah Briyani is one of the best Malay-influenced Nasi Briyanis ($5) in town. Doused in thicker-than-usual curry and served with acar acar, the briyani strikes an impressive balance between sweet, sour and spicy. The rice even emits a fragrant masala scent.

Located near the MRT, Mami Midah is also extremely accessible. Just note that they usually start serving around 10:30am and finish around 4:00pm. They regularly update their Facebook too so I strongly advise all adventurous Nasi Briyani hunters to check that out before heading there.

Mami Midah Briyani: Eunos Block 4A Opp Eunos MRT | Tel: 9177 7153 | Website | Opening Hours: Tues – Sun, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

5. Hanifa’s Briyani Specialist

Hanifa’s Fish Briyani is one of my favourite Nasi Briyanis ($5) to eat whenever I’m down to eat until I’m full to the brim. The rice is buttery and complements the dry texture of the fried mackerel slice perfectly. The fried mackerel may also seem hard to bite into but once you’re a bite in, you’ll find out how soft it is despite its tough exterior.

If you are up for another round of Nasi Briyani, Yakedar is also definitely worth a try and just a store or two to the right of Hanifa’s.

Hanifa’s Briyani Specialist: Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road #01-256 | Opening Hours: Mon – Sun, 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

6. Sakunthala’s Food Palace

Sakunthala Food Palace’s Nasi Briyani ($11) is one of a kind because the highlight of the meal is usually the meat that is served with it and for that reason, pick mutton. The mutton here is absolutely mouth-watering and kept warm by a blanket of aluminium foil on top. Served with the bone marrow, the mutton oozes calorie-worthy fatty juices despite not being covered in curry or gravy which is served on the side instead.

Unlike the above-mentioned Nasi Briyani places, you will also be glad to hear that Sakunthala Food Palace is air-conditioned and whips up some pretty good Mango Lassi! However, that does come with a higher price to pay. If you have even more room to splash that moola, try Aromas of India, which is located nearby, for an atas Nasi Briyani experience.

Sakunthala Food Palace: 66 Race Course Rd, Singapore 218570 | Website | Tel: 6293 6649 | Opening Hours: Mon – Sun, 11:00 am – 10:30pm

7. Islamic Restaurant

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Islamic Restaurant has also been serving up some pretty great Nasi Briyani since 1921.  Its old charm is embodied in its rustic recipes. The fish briyani ($11) will blow your mind. I mean, it’s still around for a reason right?

Here, you can also dine comfortably in air-con. The chicken and mutton briyanis are also worth a try.

Islamic Restaurant: 745 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198713 | Website | Tel: 6298 7563 | Opening Hours: Mon – Sun, 10:00 am – 9:30 pm 

8. The Banana Leaf Apolo

The Banana Leaf Apolo Nasi Briyani ($12) is a popular choice. The Nasi Briyani is fresh, moist and redolent. There is something about serving Nasi Briyani on a banana leaf that makes the experience all the more authentic too.

Crispy, airy and light, they also have the best papadums in town. The papadums make this Nasi Briyani stand out from other Nasi Briyanis, especially when dipped in mutton gravy. If you are in the vicinity, the famous Bismillah Briyani is also nearby (choices, choices, too many choices).

The Banana Leaf Apolo:  54 Race Course Rd, Singapore 218564 | Website | Tel: 6293 8682 | Opening Hours: Mon – Sun, 10:30am – 10:30 pm 

9. Allauddin’s Briyani

Switching gears back to Tekka Centre, if you’re looking for a briyani ($5) to eat for breakfast, Allauddin’s Briyani is your safest bet. Allauddin’s Briyani is always ready to serve breakfasts for champions. The portions are huge and the service is quick!

The highlight of the Nasi Briyani was definitely the rice. The high quality basmati rice with cashews drizzled in it will knock your socks off. The pickled cucumbers perfectly complemented the rice and mutton too, adding much-appreciated acidity.

Allauddin’s Briyani: Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Rd, 210665, #01-232 | Expected Damage: $5 | Tel: 6296 6786 | Opening Hours: Mon – Sun, 9:00 am – 8:00 pm

10. Geylang Briyani Stall

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Last but not least, a briyani list could never be complete without the Geylang Briyani Stall. Known for making its customers come back not once, or twice, but several times within a week, the Geylang Briyani Stall is a must-try. The owner is exceptionally fond of the art of making Nasi Briyanis. His passion clearly translates into his highly praised Briyani ($5).

The Geylang Briyani Stall‘s Nasi Briyani may look paler than your average Nasi Briyani but what it lacks in looks is certainly made up in taste. The rice is exceptionally pillow-like and the crunchy acar acar tickles your taste buds to a whole new level. The days when Fish Briyani is served are the best. The best times to go are after 11am and before 4pm.

Geylang Briyani Stall: Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre, 1 Geylang Serai, 402001, #02-146 | Tel: 9831-0574 | Opening Hours: Tues – Sun, 10am – 5pm

That rounds up my Nasi Briyani list. I hope y’all have a burp-worthy briyani experience, briyani enthusiasts, newbies and non-enthusiasts alike!

Related Guide: Best Halal Restaurants in Singapore

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Don’t you just love rojak, the sweet and piquant sauce that is oh so aromatic, mixed in with refreshing slices of fruits and topped with chopped nuts and some other surprises, which varies from store to store. Hands up if you’re with me on this one.

Rojak is a traditional messy mix of fruit and vegetable salad, found commonly in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. There’s a couple versions including a red Indian rojak, but the typical style you’ll find in Singapore is sweet. comes with dough fritters, a salad mix and lathered with pungent black prawn paste.

For us Singaporeans, rojak is very common and most of us know the word ‘rojak’ literally means ‘mixture’ in Malay. So pretty much self-explanatory, I went on a hunt for the best spots for rojak in Singapore, where you definitely won’t get any mixed feelings about it, ha ha ha.

12. Rojak. Popiah & Cockle

Prices start from $3 onwards, plate shown above is $6.

The only rojak store in Maxwell Food Centre, Rojak. Popiah & Cockle serves up a generous plate of rojak with a sauce that is intensely rich. The flavour is even more intesne with the addition of century egg, which has a distinct camp of supporters and naysayers. My only complaint is that the fried dough fritters (youtiao) aren’t as crispy as they can be, but still worth a try.

Rojak Popiah & Cockles: Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore 069184

11. Shen Fang Fruit Rojak

Prices start from$3, plate shown above is $3

The sauce for Shen Fang is savoury with a piquant end note, accompanied with crispy youtiao and made zesty with crunchy green mango slices. If you’re a fan of a lighter rojak sauce as opposed to the really goopy ones, then the rojak at Shen Fang will be a good choice.

Sheng Fang Fruit Rojak: Pasir Panjang Foo Centre, stall #45, 121 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore 118543

10. Orang Orang Coffee Shop

Starts from $4 onwards, plate shown above is $5.

I chanced upon this little rojak stand at Bukit Batok West Ave 6, and am absolutely glad that I did. An endearing makcik (malay aunty) would grill your desired ingredients and mix it in with the rojak blend. This caramelizes the sugar expecially in the fruits like pineapple and makes it all that more delicious.

The sauce is inclining towards salty and savoury with subtle sweetness, then finishes off with a little spicy kick. Do avoid eating the chilies though, because I did it and had a thousand regrets after. Portion is generous as well.

Orang Orang (F&B) Coffee Shop: Block 134 Bukit Batok West Avenue 6, Singapore 650132 

9. Tow Kwar Pop

Price starts from $4 onwards,  plate shown above is $5.

With a decoratively cute signage, there’s no way you can ever miss Tow Kwar Pop in Tiong Bahru Market, on the second level where all the food lies. The tau kwa served here is still hand-grilled, I like how they stick to traditions and simply because of that, the tau kwa used in the rojak is phenomenal, albeit life changing.

Think airy and fluffy on the inside, charred fragrant and crispy on the outside. Sandwiched between are tow gheys (beansprouts) that adds textures and it helps in balancing out the heavy rojak sauce. Served with xue yu (cod fish) slices instead of cuttlefish because their supplier ran out of stock, there is an optional extra serving of sauce on the side as well for those who prefer a ‘wetter’ rojak.

One of the more nicely plated rojaks I’ve seen and served with chopsticks, making it easy to eat. The sauce was slightly cold and its saltier than usual, where one can vividly taste the prawn paste and not be overpowered by sugar.

Tow Kwar Pop: Tiong Bahru Market, 3o Seng Poh Road, #02-06, Singapore 168898

8. Lau Hong Ser Rojak

Price starts from $2 onwards, plate shown above is $6.

Lau Hong Ser Rojak at Dunman Road Food Centre is pretty popular. The stall only starts running from 5pm onwards and even then, orders are streaming in way before he starts. I got there 15 minutes after 5pm and had to wait a short while for my order (around 20 minutes). The wait can go up to an hour though if you come any later.

But that’s totally okay because good things are worth waiting for, besides, the stall uncle was excruciatingly sweet and kept apologising for the waiting time.

I like how Lau Hong Ser separates the grilled stuff from the plate of rojak and serves it with another bowl of sauce, so as to not have it soggy. This way, ingredients won’t be over-drenched and customers get to choose how saucy they want it. Pineapple slices are really fresh and the sauce is viscous, being a little bit on the spicier side. Do let him know if you’re not a big fan of spice.

Lau Hong Ser Rojak: Dunman Road Food Centre Stall #02-14, Singapore 424768 | Tel: +65 6346 6519

7. Eat May Know

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Prices start from $2 onwards

Known for having the crispiest youtiao that will change your life, Eat May Know’s rojak at Bendemeer promises to serve only the best accompaniments to your preferred plate of rojak. Alternatively, you can have it with a cup of soy milk but seriously, why not both?

Eat May Know: #01-32 Bendemeer Market & Food Centre, Blk 29 Bendemeer Road, Singapore 330029

6. Clementi Brothers Rojak

Starts from $3.50 onwards, plate shown above is $8.

Well well, if it isn’t the famed Clementi Brothers Rojak that has got everyone salivating. And for good reasons because the rojak served here really does live up to its name. The tau kwa, together with the youtiao is roasted to a crisp and the sauce isn’t overly gelat.

It has this well-balanced sweet and savoury flavour that is brought to another level by the slight spiciness. The only down part? The queue can get quite long and the price is on the steeper side. But was it worth it? Definitely.

Clementi Brothers Rojak: 70 Zion Rd, Singapore 247792

5. Power Rojak Bandung

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Prices start from $3.50 onwards

Power Rojak Bandung is nestled inside Ayer Rajah Food Centre, they’re usually open from 12pm but closing time varies. Do check out their Facebook page for updates before heading down as operationg days might be a bit fickler.

What makes Power Rojak Bandung really special is in their modification of adding bee hoon and spinach into the dish. Yes, you heard me right, Bee hoon and spinach in rojak.

Showered with generous serving of peanuts and delectable sauce, Power Rojak Bandung is one rojak to try for the creatives out there who want something different.

Power Rojak Bandung: 503 W Coast Dr, Singapore 120503 | Website

4. Gu Zao Rojak 古早啰惹

Starts at $2.50 onwards, plate shown above is $5.

Located inside Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 is Gu Zao Rojak, at Block 347’s Food House. And this extremely down to earth and unassuming little kiosk can be easily missed as it is placed right next to another rojak stand that boasts of bigger signages.

One of the cheaper rojaks I’ve seen and tried, it definitely doesn’t discount on the flavour though. In fact, it is one of the better ones I’ve tried. The youtiao is grilled till it’s golden brown and has a nice aroma, especially when combined with the rich sauce that has little bursts of coarse sugar granules. Unhealthy as it is, I’m a sucker for it.

Another thing worth mentioning is how all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed evenly, ensuring that everything is coated with a thin layer of sauce and that is just about the way I like my rojak.

Gu Zao Rojak: AMK 347 Food House, 01-2150, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, Block 347, Singapore 560347

3. Toa Payoh Rojak

Starts from $3 onwards, plate shown above is $7.

Toa Payoh Rojak have implemented a system of getting a queue number to order and this how you know they are doing serious business. Previously located at HDB Hub, they’ve since moved and set up a store at Old Airport Road Food Centre.

The sauce is sweet, creamy and luscious with a concentrated prawn paste flavour. One interesting thing that they add into their rojaks is… spinach. I’ve never had spinach with my rojak before and was rather sceptical about it, only to remove all fears after trying it out because it really does work pretty well together.

The spinach helps to balance out the intensity of the sauce and gives an overall refreshing yet sweet experience. I really, really, really, like this rojak. Like really.

Toa Payoh Rojak: Old Airport Road Food Centre, 51 Old Airport Rd, Singapore 390019 | Tel:+65 6958 9380

2. Soon Heng Rojak

Prices start from $2.50 onwards

Every single time I walk into Gourmet Paradise in Toa Payoh, there is a snaking line for Soon Heng Rojak. Of course there will be a queue for things that are amazing and that’s what Soon Heng’s Rojak is. Heavily doused with loads of peanuts and slathered with an intense and heartening sauce, their rojak is definitely something you’d have to try for yourself.

The fruits and vegetables used are refreshing and complements the sweet sauce, giving a well-balanced flavour that will negate all queuing time. The toasted youtiao is crisp on the outside, mellow and fluffy on the inside, making it extremely addictive with the pungent yet fragrant sauce.

Soon Heng Rojak: HDB Hub Gourmet Paradise, 480 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #B1-01 HDB Hub, Singapore 310480

1. Balestier Road Hoover Rojak

Starts from $4 onwards, plate shown above is $7

And finally we are here with Balestier Road Hoover Rojak, the critically acclaimed one. The queue was rather long (around 30 minutes) and by the time I got my rojak, I was all ready to delve into it and stuff myself silly. Hoover Rojak doesn’t use cuttlefish, instead they serve jellyfish in their rojak.

It’s no wonder people would queue for this, their sauce is definitely something else. It has julienned lime, which adds zest to the otherwise sweet and rich sauce. Coupled with the green mango slices, the special penang prawn sauce is now a blend of both sweet and tang, a match made in heaven. Complementing that is the fresh youtiao, fresh fruits and aromatic peanut shavings. Mmhm.

Balestier Road Hoover Rojak: Whampoa Wet Market & Food Centre, 90 Whampoa Dr, Singapore 320090 | Tel: +65 6253 0137

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Following the success of Hong Kong Cafe KALA Toast’s ‘unicorn toastie’, Singapore now has it’s very own Rainbow Cheese Toastie ($9) as well, created by Epicurious cafe at Robertson Quay.

The owner even brings out the rainbow cheese toastie in a little unicorn getup.

The thick toast looks pretty unassuming from the outside, but once you tear it open you’ll see a splash of bright colors from the melted cheese within.

There is currently four colors of cheese in this rainbow toastie: Pink (beetroot), Orange (carrot), Green (spinach) and Violet (red cabbage and eggplant). There is apparently a blue colored cheese being developed to add to the color palette, but its still in the works.

The colorful rainbow effect is mostly from natural ingredients as mentioned, but admittedly there is just a splash of food coloring to make the colors pop more.

Arriving warm and crispy, the cheese melt is mainly a blend of mozzarella and parmesan to give it that stretchable texture. It is also flavoured with truffle oil for some extra oomph since these cheeses aren’t naturally very sharp in taste.

The buttery toastie itself is reasonably tasty as a snack, with prominent flavours coming from the truffle oil and spinach, however don’t expect to taste all the flavours used in the cheese which is more for coloring than anything – it would be weird anyway with so many different flavours.

There you have it, for $9++ you can get your own Rainbow Cheese Toastie right here in Singapore. You can get a set with beetroot salad and fries for $16++ too. Time to stock up on your instagram photos!

Expected Damage: $9++ per toastie

Epicurious: 60 Robertson Quay, #01-02 The Quayside, 238252 | Tel: 6734 7720 | Website

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*Warning, just skim through the pictures if you don’t want to spoil your theatre experience!

ANDSOFORTH is a series of pop-up theatrical feasts that unites your gastronomic and artistic urges into one experience. Plot twists, secrets, drama… you’ll never know what to expect when you’re served by and dining with actors in character.

This time round in 2016, the theme dinner revolves around the novel ‘If We Dream Too Long’ by Singaporean writer, Goh Poh Seng.

Founded by Stuart Wee and Emily Png, this experience is deeply influenced by London’s underground dining sub-culture. The ANDSOFORTH creative team consists of actors, set designers, chefs, costume designers, illustrators, copywriters, scriptwriters/producers, lighting designers, sound scape artists who aspires to make out-of-the-world immersive dining experiences in Singapore.

To attend such a dinner with a show, to-be diners have to head to their website first and book their tickets online. The location, which changes every time, is kept secret and is only revealed on the day of the dinner in the form of clues via SMS. I suppose it’s this exclusivity and mystery that made us somewhat excited for the dinner.

We won’t be explaining too much about the story, however each scene is inter-connected into one storyline.

Once you step into the room, you are greeted by actors in character straight away. This is the first of many scenes that we experienced, all of which had excellent settings that matched the theme of their story this time around – 1960s Singapore.

The actors are expert improvisers and are ready to react to anything you throw at them. This is the most fun aspect of the experience.

This interaction also makes this experience a phenomenally multi-sensory one.

You could be yourself… or not, just for this one night! Either way, you’d feel like you’re starring in a production. So the theatre aspect of ANDSOFORTH is really good, what about the drinks?

From left to right, we have the Lychee Paradise ($14), Floaty Pineapple ($13) and Longevity Island ($17). The Longevity Island was a particular stand-out. What’s in it? Barcadi, vodka, gin, tequila, grand marnier, lemon juice, simple and coke – its a long island tea basically. They also have beers and wines on offer. Now, off to the next scene…

From the KTV bar to the diner, after we grabbed a few beers and cocktails, we were ready to be fed. The menu was also kept completely secret so in accordance with the theme of this month’s dinner, we were served Mee Siam.

The Mee Siam tasted pretty good but could have been served with hotter gravy, but it was good enough thick, savoury gravy really. The tofu was soft and the prawn was juicy, while the vermicelli could be less dry, however you can see there are some limitations to preparing a live dinner according to the show schedule. There are vegetarian options too, if you were wondering.

Seth: The food for this round of ANDSOFORTH’s production has been a major step-up from the previous renditions, so one can’t complain.

In the next room, we continued with the story and food trail in a picnic-themed scene. We were given mats to sit on instead of chairs.

We were also served finger food like fried fish ball, ngo hiang and otah ball which was a bit underwhelming because you wouldn’t expect to be served something you could find at an Old Chang Kee store if you were paying $88. The otah ball was probably the best of the three choices, but kudos to keeping to the retro Singapore theme.

In the next scene with apek, we were warmly greeted by ah ma‘s smile. The room had a family vibe to it.

Doesn’t this remind you of Reunion Dinner during Chinese New Year? The scene felt almost as if this was real life, despite the fact we were strangers that met probably 30-45 minutes ago. Very immersive and realistic indeed.

Then apek and ah ma both served us some Kapitan Curry Chicken with Acar Acar  – this time it arrived warm and that was a very welcome touch. Again, if you’re not one who handles spice well, there are other options!

The curry chicken was better than the Mee Siam. The rice was soft and the curry was fragrant. The skin was still attached to the chicken thigh and having been slightly grilled, the fatty juices were water-falling into the rice. Thereafter, we walked into the final scene of the story for dessert.

We were gathered around a table as the characters continued to tell the last part of the story. The room was traditionally decorated for a Chinese Wedding in the 1960s. See the hong paos? There were even people saying yum seng in the background.

Then we cracked into eating kuih putri salat. Accompanied by a blob of coconut jelly, dashes of coconut milk and purple petals, it was an instagram-worthy affair.

Definitely give ANDSOFORTH’s dinner this time round a try at least once. The food has been improved substantially but isn’t really the highlight of the whole experience, rather the acting and decor settings are. It is also a place where you could bring a date or just have fun with a couple of close friends. It’s fancy, yet not too fancy.

So, go for the theatrics, art and alcohol, I assure you’re in good hands for a good hour and a little more.

Expected Damage: $88/pax

Shows start from 5pm onwards up until 9pm which is the final entry. Each show lasts around an hour and a half. The dates for this month’s “If We Dream Too Long” are:

• 13 May Friday
• 14 May Saturday
• 15 May Sunday

• 20 May Friday
• 21 May Saturday
• 22 May Sunday

• 28 May Saturday
• 29 May Sunday

ANDSOFORTH: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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