If you have craving for Korean Kimchi Fried Rice, Bibimbap and Bulgogi Rice, look no further.

Masizzim located at 313@Somerset and Westgate, has introduced a NEW weekday lunch menu that is pretty affordable, starting from $10.90++ for a set.

This is great for individuals and smaller groups for a fuss-free lunch, especially since many Korean restaurants emphasizes on communal dining and bigger meals.

A bit on Masizzim: An amalgamation of the Korean words ‘masi’ (delicious) and ‘jjim’ (steam), Masizzim specialises in meat stews – Beef, Pork, Chicken and Seafood.

The stews such as the Signature Beef Rib Stew, Spicy Seafood Beef, Chicken and Pork Rib (available in individual or double-sized sharing portions) are slow-cooked with its own proprietary secret-recipe sauce and served bubbling hot in cast-iron pots.

Diners can choose between the non-spicy soy flavour which has a sumptuous blend of soy sauce, pineapples and Korean pear; or the spicy base made with gochujang (red pepper paste) for some tongue-tingling heat.

For the Masizzim Lunch Sets, each includes a main course, a bowl of seaweed soup and two pieces of Korean pancakes. The type of the Korean pancakes rotates daily, and you can get anything from Squid & Leek, Tomato Cheese Kimchi, to Potato Pancake.

For the choice of Korean mains, there are offerings of Bibimbap, Kimchi Fried Rice, Spicy Meat Rice, Bulgogi, and Teriyaki Chicken. Here’s more:

Bibimbap (Vegetable $10.90++, Beef / Pork $12.90++)
Bibimbap, sometimes romanised as bi bim bap or bi bim bop, is the popular and comforting Korean rice dish.

The term “bibim” actually means mixing various ingredients, while the “bap” refers to rice.

Masizzim’s Bibimbap includes ingredients of shiitake mushrooms, beansprouts, carrot, spinach, yellow radish and a raw egg yolk atop rice.

What’s noteworthy is mixed grain rice – a combination of white rice, black rice and roasted millet, is used as the base. This gives the bibimbap a tastier, more textured, and healthier mixture.

To eat, just add the speciality bibimbap sauce and mix thoroughly. The bibimbap sauce used is not the typical gochujang (red pepper paste) and had a slight-spicy and fermented savour to it.

My favourite part is always the bottom layer of crusty rice with a crispy texture.

The basic Bibimbap is suitable for vegetarians, while those who want something more substantial can choose to add minced beef or pork at an additional $2.

Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi only $10.90++, Seafood $12.90++)
The highlight to me is the Kimchi Fried Rice, which includes fragrant mixed-grain rice fried with kimchi for the slight spicy-tangy flavour within.

While most versions of fried rice come with egg fried within, the Masizzim Kimchi Fried Rice is served on a hotplate with rice in the middle surrounded by a ring of egg.

You know that soft egg you get at some Korean BBQ or galbi restaurants, the egg has the same feel here – cooked to a soft, almost wobbly consistency.

Eat the egg separately or mix with the rice; I recommend a combination of both.

Diners can top up with seafood of shrimp and squid at additional $2.

Spicy Meat Rice (Squid / Beef / Pork $12.90++)
The next three mains are quite similar, reminiscent of the popular Korean hot-plate rice. Go for this if you are the type who loves your food rich and mildly-spicy.

Choose from squid, sliced beef or pork to be stir-fried with onion and carrot slivers, served with mixed-grain rice and fried sunny side up.

I had the shiny stir-fried pork in in-house Korean red pepper sauce, which was actually not as spicy as imagined, though was still rather addictive with nice smoky flavour.

Bulgogi (Beef / Pork $12.90++)
For non-spicy food lovers, the Bulgogi contains slices of beef and pork stir-fried in a sauce sweet, slightly salty and loaded with Korean flavour.

Bulgogi generally pairs better with beef, and you can experience the juiciness and tenderness of the meats, especially when they are quite generous with the sauce.

Teriyaki Chicken ($10.90++)
This main did remain me of the Japanese Teriyaki Chicken due to the sweetness and stickiness of the sauce.

Good to mention that the chicken chunks are first fried with onion and carrots in high heat (giving that ‘wok-hei smokiness), then heated on hotplate so that the entire dish stays warm for a long while.

For a top-up of $1.90++, diners can enhance their set with a cup of iced lemon tea.

Masizzim’s lunch set menu is available every Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 11am – 2pm at both outlets in Singapore; located at 313@Somerset and Westgate.

Masizzim Daebak Set
Masizzim has also introduced a Daebak Set which allows customers to choose one double stew, one rice ball, and one egg roll/pancake for $50 – good for 3 to 4 diners.

Some of Masizzim’s signature stews include the Beef Rib Stew, Pork Rib Stew, and Spicy Chicken Stew, with bubbling pots of succulent meat.

The recommended is the “King’s Ribs”, with beef ribs are first slow-cooked in Masizzim’s secret stew sauce until fork-tender, then stir-fried with capsicums, red dates, king oyster mushrooms, chilli powder and sesame seeds.

Also get the Honey Mustard Cheese Egg Roll, which would ooze out with stretchy mozzarella and cheddar, brightened with sweet-zingy honey mustard. Daebak!

Masizzim – Westgate
Westgate #01-07, 3 Gateway Drive, Singapore 608532 (Jurong East MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm Last order 9pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 10pm Last order 9:30pm (Fri – Sat)
https://www.facebook.com/masizzimsingapore

Masizzim – 313@Somerset
313@Somerset #B3-02, 313 Orchard Road, Singapore 238895
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last order 9.30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 11pm Last order 10.30pm (Fri – Sat)

Other Related Entries
Nipong Naepong (313@somerset)
Nipong Naepong (JEM)
NY Night Market (Westgate)
Chir Chir Singapore (JEM)
Kogane Yama (Bugis Junction)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Masizzim.

2019 is a happening year for mall lovers with the opening of Jewel Changi Airport, Funan, and Paya Lebar Quarter Mall (PLQ).

One of the more highly anticipated F&Bs to open at Paya Lebar Quarter Mall is Fong Sheng Hao 豐盛號, a Taiwanese Toast Cafe which originated from Taipei’s Shilin Night Market 士林夜市.

Apart from the 2 shops in Taiwan, Singapore is their first international outpost with a total of 32 seats available, located right next to FairPrice Finest.

There is a sense of Taiwanese familiarity, from the traditional Chinese words on the menu, to friendly service crew taking the order with their fluent and polite accent.

Diners have to make their order and payment at the counter, collect a buzzer and wait patiently for their orders to be made.

Both dine-in and takeaway options are available, but do note that the sandwich will look almost like Isaac Toast for the former.

On the other hand, they will offer to slice the sandwich and served on metal plates for dine-in orders, which is more appetising and “Instagram-worthy”.

The savoury toasts include their bestseller: TW Special Pork Patty ($6.30), Pork Egg & Cheese ($6.30), Spicy Pork Egg & Cheese ($6.30), Pork Floss Egg & Cheese ($6.50), Potato Special ($5.80).

Lettuce is available at an additional $0.60, for the Pork Sandwiches such as Pork Egg & Cheese, Spicy Pork Egg & Cheese and TW Special Pork Patty Toast.

Complete the meal with a choice of cup of coffee (additional $1), Cane-flavoured Black Tea (additional $2.60) or Signature Milk Tea (additional $3.30).

Note that the Fong Sheng Sandwich, a huge club sandwich that comes with Pork, Egg Mayo, Cheese, lettuce and tomato suitable for 2 pax is currently unavailable.

My favourite was the TW Special Pork Patty ($6.30) that came with a thick cut of minced pork patty with a sweeter profile.

The patty was soft and refined in its texture.

The milk loaves are specially created in their own central kitchen using New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra’s premium NZMP butter, sent over to the shop then toasted over charcoal fire before serving.

Indeed, the loaves were soft and sweet but was kind of lukewarm when served, perhaps due to the operation hiccups.

That aside, the egg scrambled egg was softly warm and fluffy, complemented well with homemade mayonnaise using canola oil.

The savoury option will be the Pork Egg & Cheese ($6.30) that comes in both normal and spicy version.

I preferred the normal Pork Egg & Cheese ($6.30) in which you would get some contrast from the savory-ness from the marinated pork loin and sweetness from the milk toast and mayonnaise.

My only gripe was that the marinated pork loin is on the thinner side, which lacked that textural bite.

Don’t worry about the Spicy Pork Egg & Cheese ($6.30) being too spicy, whereas their version tasted like a sweet Tabasco sauce drizzled on the scrambled egg.

The combination was more complex with sweet, savory and spiciness all in one bite.

Sweet options are also available such as Chocolate & Peanut ($4.80), Strawberry ($4.20) and Condense Milk Toast ($3.80).

Exclusive to Singapore are Kaya Butter Toast ($4.20) and Butter Sugar Toast ($4.20), something would be more familiar to Singaporeans.

The Cane-flavoured Black Tea that costs an additional $2.60 to complete the meal, is worth a mention.

The black tea is specially sourced from Taiwan’s oldest tea shop Lin Hua Tai Tea, with 140-years of history and boiled with sugarcane for 12 hours for natural sweetness.

Although it was on the sweeter side, the Cane-flavoured Black Tea packed a bunch of flavours that reminds me of Taiwan.

Fong Sheng Hao is off to a promising start to be a popular sandwich shop, but could probably work on getting their goods out faster for hungry customers on a go to get a quick bite.

Fong Sheng Hao 豐盛號
Paya Lebar Quarter Mall, 10 Paya Lebar Rd, #B2-04, S409057
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/FongShengHaoSG/

Other Related Entries
NY Night Market (313@somerset)
KToast (Clement)
Egg Stop (Paya Lebar)
Isaac Toast Singapore (Plaza Singapura)
Patbingsoo Korean Dining House (Vivocity)

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

When you put “2 Michelin stars”, “uni” and “ramen” in the same line – which will be an excellent marketing tool, people will be curious about what’s being offered.

Seizan Uni Ramen is an Uni Ramen kiosk set up within Wisma’s Atria Picnic – a Marche-style food hall. You get an ordering mechanism, order at the stall, and pay at the end.

It is not “Michelin ramen” per se though.

There are only three 1-Michelin starred ramen eateries from Tokyo – Tsuta 蔦, Nakiryu and Konjiki Hototogisu, though two brands have already arrived in Singapore.

The association came about as Seizan Uni Ramen is an offshoot of the 2-Michelin starred Seizan which is a kaiseki restaurant. There is also Nabe Seizan, a Japanese hotpot restaurant located at Japan Food Town Singapore upstairs.

I didn’t head down immediately to try (especially when I love ramen so much) because I heard reviews on both ends.

Some gave the noodles and broth extremely high praise; while there is a sizable number of people who thought it was average at best.

There are three main items sold here, the Uni Ramen ($21), Kumamoto Wagyu Ramen ($20), and Dashi Somen ($18).

The signature Uni Ramen is cooked up from the “2-Michelin star Dashi” which is prepared over 10 hours, and fresh Bafu Uni melted into the stock.

What you get is a creamy-orangey base matched with specially-made curly ramen noodles, topped with cha shu, egg, leeks, spring onion, spinach and seaweed.

Diners are advised not to spend too long on photo-taking as the noodles would quickly absorb the stock.

Okay. The stock itself had that mildly-sweet taste and creamy texture that could remind some of say pumpkin soup.

The distinctive flavour of the briny uni was faint and subtle, so you wished there was more of that.

Noodles were cooked soft (maybe too soft) and limpy, perhaps cooked this way to better match the thicker broth, though I would have preferred if there was more bite.

It wasn’t as life-changing as I would have expected, but would say it was a not bad bowl.

Thankfully, I also ordered the Kumamoto Wagyu Ramen ($21) which balanced out the richness of the meal overall.

The light saltiness of the broth reminded me of a certain type of Taiwanese Beef Noodles interestingly.

My friend wondered why the shop would be set up within a foodcourt rather than a standalone eatery. Because you may not get the type of “Japanese service” or even consistency across bowls. I suspect it would be gauge response before moving on to bigger things.

Seizan Uni Ramen
Wisma Atria, Picnic #03-15, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Konjiki Hototogisu Singapore (CHIJMES)
Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen (Suntec City)
Ramen Champion (Changi Airport T3)
Hototogisu Ramen (Great World City)
Afuri Ramen (Funan Centre)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

If you are looking for an impressive Chinese restaurant in the east of Singapore, especially at the Changi Airport area, then this piece of food news would excite you.

Home-grown Crystal Jade Group has opened a brand-new “Crystal Jade Pavilion” concept, located within Crowne Plaza Changi Airport which is near Terminal 3.

Many diners are familiar with Crystal Jade Group’s restaurants such as “Hong Kong Kitchen”, “La Mian Xiao Long Bao” and “Palace”.

The word “Pavilion” could mean large palaces that are elegant and dignified, and you can probably render a guess that you can expect a gastronomic dining experience from this contemporary concept.

Having a Chinese restaurant within a hotel itself would mean there is a certain level of privacy – somewhere to enjoy Cantonese fare in a more luxurious setting.

In terms of its décor, there is an elegantly done up communal dining hall in hues of jade green, as well as a number of private dining rooms for family functions, social gatherings, and business meetings.

If you are looking for formal corporate meals and functions, the culinary team also offers customised menus specially crafted.

With an extensive menu designed by Group Executive Chef Martin Foo and team, there are broad-ranging choices – containing quite a number of Crystal Jade’s signature dishes, a la carte highlights suitable for sharing, and modern interpretations of classic fare.

As many of the dishes are served in sizeable portions, I would recommend coming here with your family and friends to experience a better spectrum of what they have to offer.

Starting with the dim sum, there is a spread of items categorised under “steamed”, “deep-fried/baked”, “rice roll”, and “congee and noodles”.

If you love certain recommended dim sum items from the other Crystal Jade restaurants, you may just find it here.

There are familiar favourites from the Steamed Custard Bun with Salted Egg Yolk ($6.80 for 3 pieces), Steamed Glutinous Rice in Lotus Leaf ($6.80 for 2 pieces), Deep-fried Mango Prawn Roll ($6.80 for 3 pieces), Hong Kong BBQ Pork Bun “Bo Lo Bun” ($6.30 for 3 pieces), Baked Mini Egg Tart ($5.80 for 3 pieces), Lean Meat with Century Egg Congee ($9.80), to Deep-fried Rice Roll with Salted Egg Yolk Shrimp ($8.80).

However, there are other well-loved classics jazzed up with unique touches.

Steamed Scallop Dumpling with Sliced Almond ($7.80 for 3 pieces)
Upon lifting the cover of the yellow dim sum basket, the pastel pink delicate skin and plump Australian scallops wrapped within would already draw some “wow”s.

Let’s just say they are very pretty, and taste just as worthy.

One pop in the mouth and you could slowly savour the moist and juicy flavours of the dumplings. These are further crowned with fragrant toasted sliced almonds lending it some crunch and bite.

Hong Kong Style Steamed Tofu with Minced Meat stuffed in Bamboo Pith ($6.30 for 3 pieces)
In contrast, the Hong Kong style Steamed Tofu would look more unassuming.

When you lift a piece up, it would remind you of a mini-pillow – bamboo pith with a blend of tofu and minced meat wrapped within.

Topped with egg-white sauce, this would appeal to those who love simpler flavours and the wobbly texture of soft tofu.

Deep-fried Dumpling with Chives Stem ($5.80 for 3 pieces)
These could remind you of gyozas or pot-sticker, but I assure you there is something about that crispy crust with a soft interior that made this more appetising and moreish.

The dumpling was thankfully not very greasy, filled with delightful combination of sweet chopped chives stem and minced shrimp.

While pork is the typical filling for dumplings like this, I thought that the bacon bits added the element of savouriness and surprise.

Moving on to the starters and appetisers, you get a range of both chilled and warm highlights which includes Deep-fried Mushrooms & Corn with Salted Egg Yolk ($11.80), Chilled Century Egg with Preserved Ginger ($8.80), and Crispy Beancurd with Salt & Pepper ($9.80).

Chilled Australian Baby Spinach topped with Salmon Roe & Japanese Sesame Sauce ($12.80)
These are bite-sized rolls of briefly-blanched and delicately wrapped Australian baby spinach topped with salmon roe and a touch of ‘goma’ (black sesame) dressing.

Chilled Jellyfish and Fresh Lily Bulb in Wasabi Aged Vinegar ($14.80)
This refreshing appetiser has an intriguing texture.

I had jellyfish appetisers before, but this version happened to be crunchier and bouncier than usual, also with a gelatinous and smooth side.

Another element worthy of mention was the dressing of aged vinegar spiked with punchy wasabi, which would be described as ”kai wei” 开胃 (stimulating the appetite).

BBQ Roasted Combination ($24.80 for 2 varieties, $29.80 for 3 varieties)
The perennial favourite BBQ Roasted Combination which features a variety of succulent and well-charred roast meats.

Choose from specialities of pork belly, BBQ pork, roasted duck, or soya sauce chicken.

Roasted Pork Collar marinated with Mirin Sauce ($19.80)
Wonderfully marbled pork collar meat marinated with mirin which gives it a touch of sweetness.

Roasted till the pieces are slight-crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, you can further enhance the taste with a dip of zesty Thai-inspired sauce.

Fish Maw Superior Thick Soup with Mushroom served in Hot Stone Bowl ($32.80/person)
Nourishing soups are also a cornerstone at Crystal Jade Pavilion, with choices of Double-boiled Whole Yellow Melon Soup with Seafood ($18.80/person), Double-boiled Black Chicken Soup with Conpoy & Pine Mushroom ($23.80/person) to Four Treasures Thick Soup with Fish Maw & Conpoy ($13.80/person).

As for the most luscious of it all in my opinion, it would be the Fish Maw Superior Thick Soup brimming with fresh shiitake, king oyster and white beech mushrooms and premium fish maw served in Hot Stone Bowl.

The crispy spring roll ‘cigar’ that accompanies would be great to dip into the soup with.

Grilled Cod Fish Fillet with Lemon Lime Salt ($19.80)
Lightly-browned grilled cod fish with buttery-flesh, accentuated with a touch of lemon-lime salt.

Crab Steamed with Egg White (seasonal price)
This dish to me is one of the highlights of Crystal Jade Pavilion. Mud crab is steamed with egg white, a touch of Chinese wine and a light touch of seasoning.

This silky steamed egg would likely remind you of chawanmushi, elevated with the innate sweet flavours of the crab juices which blends harmoniously with the egg whites.

Pan-fry Live Prawns with Superior Soya Sauce (seasonal price)
A classic Cantonese dish using fresh-from-the-tank prawns which would provide that flavourful and sweet bite.

The crustaceans are flash-fried over high heat with superior soya sauce which creates a dark caramel-like layer. Smoky and sweet.

Free Range Chicken with Rice Wine & Ginger ($28.80 for half, $56.80 for whole)
A healthful pot of free-range chicken stew entices with tender chicken pieces, black fungus mushroom strips and Chinese celery steeped in fragrant Chinese rice wine, Hakka yellow wine and ginger.

Best eaten when it is out piping hot.

Sautéed Beef Cubes with Foie Gras Sauce & Garlic ($36.80)
If you enjoyed the Sautéed Beef Cube with Shishito Peppers in Black Pepper Sauce offered at Crystal Jade Palace, you would likely fall for this too.

This dish is prepared with premium USDA beef short-rib cubes expertly flash-fried to achieve that desirable wok hei, then topped with deep-fried garlic slivers

The foie gras sauce completes the dish with that added rich buttery flavour.

Braised Vermicelli with Conpoy, Fish Meat & Egg White ($24.80)
The bee hoon is braised in chicken stock so you can imagine those flavours after they absorb the essence. It is then surrounded with fluffy scrambled egg whites studded with fish and conpoy.

Clean and comforting flavours.

Well, a meal is not complete without some sweet temptations. Crystal Jade Pavilion’s exquisite desserts range from the refreshing Coconut Jelly with Fresh Milk in Whole Coconut ($9.80/per person), Almond Cream with Peach Resin ($8.80/per person), Chilled Mango Purée with Sago and Pomelo ($8.80/per person), to Chilled Osmanthus Jelly ($6.80 for 4 pieces) to Deep-fried Black Sesame Glutinous Rice Ball “Jian Dui” ($6.80 for 3 pieces).

Double-boiled Snow Pear with Chuan Bei & Almond ($8.80/per person)
Available hot or chilled, this dessert consists of a soothing combination of snow pear with chuan bei and almond. Chuan bei helps clear phlegm and heat, while also being nourishing.

Lemongrass Jelly and Sour Plum Aloe Vera in Lime ($7.80/per person)
A refreshing dessert with homemade lemongrass jelly and aloe vera with lime juice; a great dessert to aid digestion after a hearty meal.

Crystal Jade Pavilion
75 Airport Boulevard #01-02 Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, Changi Airport Terminal 3, Singapore 819664
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am – 3pm Last Order 2:45pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm Last Order 9:45pm (Mon – Fri)
Lunch 10:30am – 3pm Last Order 2:45pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm Last Order 9:45pm (Sat, Sun, PH & PH Eve)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Crystal Jade Group.

As an affordable Italian restaurant in Singapore, PocoLoco is a gem waiting to be discovered. Tucked away in the Upper Thomson neighbourhood, you could easily miss it if you don’t pay attention.

Reviewed as “Food King Good”, they started off at Ang Mo Kio and has expanded to Jurong (Snow City Level 2), Royal Square@Novena, Yishun Wisteria Mall, and Upper Thomson – all slightly off-the-radar locations.

PocoLoco is known to take quality Italian-sourced ingredients and transform them into affordably-priced dishes.

After all, Italian food is often seen a premium cuisine.

Aside from the imported raw materials, it often requires well-trained culinary and service staff for full table service, adding to the cost of running the business.

It is quite different at PocoLoco. Since it started off at the heartlands of Singapore, and continue to sell their food at “heartlands prices”.

If you have a thirst for European cuisine, check out these recommended dishes, lifted from its well-executed menu. You may find Japanese influences here and there, but Italian cuisine is at its core.

Mentaiko ($14.90)
A must-try pasta is PocoLoco’s Tagliolini.

Tagliolini, what? Actually, it’s not tagliatelle either. Both are traditional egg pasta cut into ribbons, so let’s say tagliolini is tagliatelle’s lesser known cousin. The difference is in the ‘taglia’ or cut, with tagliolini strands around 2-3 mm wide.

Enjoy this pasta with a Japanese-inspired cream sauce with mentaiko (marinated cod roe) from the Chubu region of Japan.

The spicy cod roe which imparts that orange-pink colour, giving it slight spiciness which complements the buttery, creamy sauce.

Uni Tagliolini ($21.40)
A variation of the previous pasta is Uni Tagliolini. This time, they use fresh Hokkaido sea urchin in the sauce, bringing a sweet taste with a faint scent of the sea.

It is prepared pepperoncino style – if you love a dash of spicy, these pickled pepperoncini peppers (a.k.a. Tuscan peppers) will add a lightly sweet heat tang to your pasta.

When you mix the sea urchin into the pasta, you get that rich, buttery and ‘sea-taste’ in the mix.

Order this as your main or even as just an appetizer, if you’re planning to go all in.

Smoked Tuna ($14.90)
It’s hard to imagine going Italian without a pasta dish in your meal. Try their Smoked Tuna Pasta served with a creamy cheesy sauce.

The gorgonzola, a type of fresh, blue-veined cheese produced in the northern Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy, adds a biting taste that cuts through the creaminess of the sauce.

It also adds buttery, salty notes making this a savoury pasta through-and through.

Fegato D’oca ($18.70)
Fegato di oca aka foie gras is one of the premium ingredients you’ll find laden on your dish.

A slice of this luxury food product made from duck liver is topped over a plate of risotto.

A Northern Italian rice dish, the risotto is cooked with a flavourful broth until it becomes creamy. Order this to experience a blend of rich and velvety flavours in your palate.

Canelloni Ripiene De Angelo ($17.00)
Moving on to filled pastas, this canelloni dish uses minced lamb drenched in white béchamel sauce as its filling.

The large, green-coloured tube pasta is hand-made fresh to achieve a quality product (boxed pastas are a no-no).

If you love layered pastas like a lasagne, your palate will be familiar with this style of filled pasta.

Pollo De Senape ($18.10)
Another main you could try is the Pollo de Senape (senape is mustard in Italian), especially if you prefer white meat.

Using chicken tenders, they saute the strips of meat in a creamy sauce spiced up with mustard. Mushrooms are also thrown in to add a depth of earthy flavour.

Roasted Pork Rack ($23.50)
If your eyes roll in delight at the sight of a beautifully roasted rack of pork, then this could make you go mamma mia.

Made with Iberico pork, the rack is well-seasoned and cooked tender and juicy that its meat comes right off the bone.

A thin layer of salsa verde adds a mustard-like taste that complements the flavour of pork.

Funghi ($7.00)
Some of the popular starters at PocoLoco include Bruschetta ($5.90), Gamberi – sautéed prawns and butter, garlic and lemon ($9.50), Vongole ($11.70), and Portobello ($13.80).

A recommendation is to start off your meal with different types of mushrooms, sautéed until soft and al dente to the bite.

This dish also makes good vegetarian option – as an appetizer or a side dish to your creamy pasta.

Calamari ($10.60)
This seafood appetizer combines the delectable crunchy of deep-fried calamari with the piquant kick of a spicy tomato sauce.

Using fresh squid that has been sliced and evenly battered, this dish is a delight to bite. Make sure you savour it right after the dish is served to maximize its crisp-level factor.

Zuppa di Riboluta Toscana ($9.50)
Next up is an Italian soup, prepared particularly Tuscan-style. It combines assorted vegetables and complements their nutritious profile with a boost of flavour from Parma ham.

This type of dry-cured ham (sometimes called Prosciutto di Parma, comes from the Parma region of Italy. Its saltiness and tremendous flavours add a remarkable flavour to this soup.

So cosy up and enjoy the warmth of your zuppa with the accompanying homemade toasted bread.

Tiramisu ($8.50) and Panna Cotta ($5.90)
End the meal with sweet treats, such as Panna Cotta ($5.90), Tiramisu ($7.90) and Matcha Lava Cake ($11.70).

PocoLoco has made it easier for us to enjoy quality Italian food at pocket—friendly prices.

PocoLoco – Upper Thomson
215F Upper Thomson Road Singapore 574349
Tel: +65 8436 3363
Opening Hours: Lunch 12pm – 3pm Last Order 2:30pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Mon – Fri),
12pm – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Sat, Sun, PH)
Reservation Online – PocoLoco

PocoLoco – Novena
Royal Square @ Novena, 103 Irrrawaddy Road #02-08 Singapore 329566
Tel: +65 8699 6664

PocoLoco – Yishun
Wisteria Mall 598 Yishun Ring Road #01-37/38 Singapore 768698
Tel: +65 8826 1919

PocoLoco – Ang Mo Kio
408 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 #01-779 Singapore 560408
Tel: +65 8436 3363

PocoLoco Microbrewery – Jurong
Snow City Level 2, 21 Jurong Town Hall Road Singapore 609433
(Alight at Jurong East Station on the East West Line and walk 10-15 min or transfer to Bus No. 335 or 66.)
Tel: +65 8438 3833

Opening Hours for all PocoLoco outlets:
Lunch 12pm – 3pm Last Order 2:30pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Mon – Fri),
12pm – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with PocoLoco.

Depart from the usual hotspot joints and go for the interestingly unique variety of soup bases at Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot 同心如意传统铜火锅.

What’s the difference between this and other hotpots?

I am talking about Golden Chicken Soup, Golden Frog Soup (!), Stewed Marinated Beef with Spicy Soup, Tomato with Oxtail Soup, Pickled Chinese Cabbage with Pork Rib Soup, and Catfish with Spicy Soup.

(Also look out for 1-FOR-1 MEATS* and 1-FOR-1 SOUP BASES Happy Hour promotions after 8pm daily.)

Interesting, yah? Serving signature soups brimming with premium ingredients upon order, this steamboat restaurant moved from its location in Boat Quay to Lorong Telok recently.

Every soup base is a product of creative intent, developed after months of tweaking and adjusting until masterfully executed. Soups can also be further customised with any of their three levels of spicy-and-sour.

Here you will find a wide range of different beef cuts from around the world, from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and USA. There are also unique and specially-sourced vegetables like the Gracilaria (龙须菜) and Pea Sprouts (豌豆尖) to be discovered.

Golden Chicken Soup / Golden Frog Soup ($68)
Two new soup bases are introduced in Tong Xin Ru Yu’s menu – a complex yet mildly flavoured Golden Soup available in Chicken and Frog variants.

Like a well-orchestrated symphony, the Golden Soup is composed of different ingredients added in at the right moment – a medley of black fungus, yam, konjac, pineapple chunks, sliced cucumber, brown shimeji mushrooms, fresh parsley, and sweet golden pumpkin swimming in a pool of liquid gold.

Hours of slow cooking produced a robust flavoured soup that harmoniously blends with fresh hotpot ingredients – your choice of succulent chunks of chicken and a nourishing chicken broth or some plump frogs.

First things first, so you would discover loads of ingredients already within your hotpot broth, so you may just want to savour the soup on its own and tender chicken pieces (they were really soft) before adding more ingredients.

As for the taste, it was something I never quite had before, but it would be a cross between chicken and pumpkin soup? Nourishing tasting, and doesn’t leave you thirsty after seconds and thirds.

Stewed Marinated Beef with Spicy Soup ($48)
This top-seller signature soup features a savoury trilogy of fork-tender chunks of braised beef, soft beef tendons and chewy beef backstraps.

In contrast to the mild Golden Soup, this one is intensely packed with spicy notes from the mix of Sichuan peppercorns and chilli slices.

A hearty soup made even heartier with the addition of house-made deep-fried golden tofu cubes and chunks of radish.

You will taste in each spoonful an intensely piquant soup further enriched with traditional herbs and spices.
Other signature soups include Pickled Chinese Cabbage with Pork Rib Soup ($28), Tomato with Oxtail Soup ($48), Catfish with Spicy Soup ($48), and Fish with Pickled Cabbage Soup – with your choice of Dory Fish ($38) or Catfish ($48).

Vegetarians will have their own share of equally satisfying hotpot soup bases such as the Vegetarian Spicy Soup ($16) and Corn with Tomato Soup ($16).

Premium Eight Second Beef ($24 per portion)
Aside from the usual meats, seafood, mushroom, leafy greens and noodles, Tong Xin Ru Yi offers top-rate ingredients like the Premium Eight Second Beef.

The best way to savour this well-marbled meat, as its name suggests, is to dip it into the hotpot for exactly 8 seconds.

Sourced from New Zealand, this high-quality beef is delivered weekly and comes in limited quantities.

Make sure to add this to your hotpot ingredients to experience its melt-in-the-mouth tenderness.

Beef Tongue ($22 per portion)
Another premium cut for your steamboat is the Beef Tongue, presented in a non-so-common fashion.

You wouldn’t expect this chewy meat stylishly served as thin slices, then rolled intricately to resemble a pinkishly red rose. But it is.

Appreciate it before you plop those slices into the piping hot soup. This has a lean and chewy texture – some love it; some may not as much.

Premium Chef-Sliced Beef Shin ($28 per portion)
From the land of Australia comes this satisfying marbled beef cut, chef-sliced with precision for utmost thinness.

According to the waitress, the meat comes from a small portion of the cow’s steer (cut of beef taken from the lower leg) so it is more precious and available only in small quantities (pre-ordering would avoid disappointments).

The Beef Shin is usually seen as a tougher cut but since it is sliced so thin and blessed with marbling, it turned out to be tender and flavourful.

Spicy Beef Cube ($16 per portion)
Switch up the heat some more when you add these spicy beef cubes into your spicy soup, a popular dish from Sichuan.

Sourced from the USA, these bite-sized beef cubes are marinated in a Picante sauce and lavishly crusted with red chilli flakes.

These turned out to be one of my new-found favourites due to the tenderness of the cubes.

As a tip: these would be better for the spicy broth to further accentuate the flavours.

Shake-shake Crispy Pork ($10 per portion)
Served in a shaker tub, these addictive pork pieces are fried to a crisp and lightly seasoned with salt and pepper.

Munch them on their own as a snack or appetiser, pair with some ice-cold beer as bar chow, or just dip them in your preferred broth for seconds.

However you want it, make sure to shake shake it to spread out the seasonings.

Fish Tofu ($14 per portion)
Add variety by throwing in some fish tofu into your hotpot. These firm yet chewy pieces are made with minced Dory fish meat and moulded by hand into cubes.

They are steamed and then lightly fried to a nice shade of golden brown.

Vince Tofu ($8 per portion)
Under the soy bean products you’ll find the Vince Tofu, a display of the chefs’ impeccable kitchen skills.

This eye-catching tofu is delicately sliced into thin strands to replicate a white Chrysanthemum in bloom inside a bowl. Both visually stimulating and a textural addition to your soup.

Gracilaria ($6 per portion)
The Gracilaria or 龙须菜 is a specially sourced imported vegetable with a seaweed-like texture.

Its crunchy texture and distinctive taste could appeal to diners with an acquired taste, or to those who are ready to try anything at least once.

Do not leave this in the broth too long as it loses it crunchiness and becomes mushy.

BBQ Garlic Oysters ($32 for 6pcs)
One of the special recommendations, these BBQ Garlic Oysters are prepared by roasting oysters in shells over live charcoals.

Slurp all 6 pieces of Canadian oysters generously drizzled with the chef’s special house-made sauce, blended with minced garlic, chilli, and chopped spring onions.

Or opt to enjoy the oysters fresh so you can taste the pure essence of the sea. This dish requires pre-order in advance.

Sichuan Traditional Ice Jelly ($3 per portion)
Conclude your meal with this summer dessert bowl, a refreshing combination of ice jelly, black sugar syrup, crushed peanuts, raisins and hawthorn.

With just the right amount of sweetness, this Sichuan specialty is the perfect antidote to the numbingly delicious spicy soup you just had.

This 150-seater, ornamented with traditional Chinese porcelain, calligraphy and basketry, almost feels like an art gallery (and can be considered as ‘instagrammable’).

Its dining space is accentuated with a Manchuria window-inspired decor, furnished with earth-toned tables and chairs, and sectioned off intricate hand-woven bamboo dividers.

You can even book your event in one of their well-partitioned rooms and enjoy private dining with family and friends.

Feel its refined and relaxing atmosphere – and there is a lot of space, a far cry from the busy streets of Singapore. Feel ‘zen’ while having hotpot, why not?

Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot Promotions
Attractive Stackable Promotions until 14 Sep only
Simply share photographs of your meal on Facebook and Instagram, tag @tongxinruyi. and hashtag #tongxinruyi #tongxinruyisg to enjoy 12% OFF all hotpot ingredients immediately upon payment.

Every day after 8pm daily, Tong Xin Hot Pot is offering Happy Hour Promotions:
– Enjoy 1-FOR-1 MEATS*: Choose from US Premium Beef (U.P $20) and Japanese Black Pork (U.P $16) (*Limited to one order of US Premium Beef and one order of Japanese Black Pork per bill per table)
– Enjoy 1-FOR-1 SOUP BASES: Get 2nd soup free with any order of Herb Chicken Soup. You can choose from these hearty and nourish broths boiled over hours: Pork, Mutton, or Tomato Soup.
– Enjoy BUY 3 GET 1 FREE on Snow Beer (U.P $9)

Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot
6 Lorong Telok, Singapore 049019
Tel: +65 6536 8058
Opening Hours: 11am – 10.30pm (Mon – Fri), 12pm – 10.30pm (Sat, Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/hotpotruyi

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot.

”Eh, no queue?” No doubt it was a weekday afternoon, but being typical Singaporeans, we quickly wanted to try what is “IN” for now.

Popular Korean Fried Chicken brand Mom’s Touch Chicken and Burger has opened at Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ), to a relatively long queue during the opening weekend.

Established since 2004 with over 1,187 outlets in South Korea, the chain is brought over to Singapore by No Signboards Holdings which owns the master franchise.

The store is located at the outer arena of PLQ with limited seating area inside. So you got to count your luck to find a table and seats outside (students are quick and have already marked their territory around here), bear the heat on occasional hot afternoons.

The brand is called “Mom’s Touch” because it is supposed to represent the way a mother prepares for a meal for her family.

The chicken is hand-battered, hand-breaded, and marinated with Mom’s Touch special blend of seasoning for a fuller, tender and juicier taste. No ajummas spotted at the Singapore store though.

The menu is divided into chicken and burgers, with fried chicken items including Mom’s Fried Chicken in Original or Spicy ($8.70 for 2 piece set, $11.70 for 3), Mom’s Spicy Sauce Chicken ($8.90 for 2 piece set, $12 for 3), Chicken Tenderloin ($7 for 3 piece set).

A bundle of 9 pieces is priced at $27, and 12 pieces for $35.80 for the Mom’s Fried Chicken.

As for the burgers, you can look out for the Mom’s Thigh Burger ($8.70 for set), Incredible Burger ($9.80 for set), Bulgalbi Chicken Burger ($8.20 for set), and Deep Cheese Burger ($8.80 for set).

The Original Mom’s Fried Chicken reminded me of some of the other familiar brands, except that this was much cruncher and crispy. Not greasy to the touch too.

However, the meat unfortunately was on the dry side, lacking the tenderness and juiciness one would expect.

My friend mentioned between crispy + dry OR oily + moist, then he would rather have the former.

Competition, competition. I did think that Paya Lebar has a number of fried chicken shops, such as Arnold’s Fried Chicken and Jollibee which both have their loyal fans.

The weirdly-named Mom’s Thigh Burger ($8.70 for set, $5.70 for ala carte) came with freshly cut lettuce, onions, pickles and burger sauce stacked in between two oven-baked sesame buns.

Slightly on the pricier side, this reminded us of the capitol “Z” burger, but at least the thigh was of a good portion and juicy.

On a branding note, the Cajun fries and drinks came in generic packaging which made it harder to differentiate this with other fast-food joints, especially if people don’t know if this is a famous chain from Korea.

Mom’s Touch
10 Paya Lebar Quarter #01-37 Singapore 409057
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Chir Chir Singapore (JEM)
Dosirak (313@somerset)
Burger+ (Wisma Atria)
Masizzim (Westgate)
Yoogane Singapore (Westgate)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Guan Kee Fried Kway Teow sometimes known as “Ghim Moh Char Kway Teow” has just been listed in the Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore 2019, joining Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee at Hong Lim Food Centre and Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow at Old Airport Road Food Centre in the ranks.

That also means that some other well-known CKT stalls such as Hill Street Fried Kway Teow at Bedok South Food Centre and No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow at Zion Road Food Centre are left out. Well, well.

This stall was once awarded in the Channel U television programme, which propelled its fame further.

It has the longest queue and it is surely one of the gems of Ghim Moh.

The wait can be a bit long and tedious as uncle prepares the dishes at his own pace, but their Fried Kway Teow ($3/ $4/ $5) is worth the wait for its fans.

A few things to note: The stall is only opened 4 days a week (Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat) for short window period of 7am to 2pm.

Even if you see say about just 6 to 8 customers in the queue, it may take anything from 20 minutes to more than half an hour because uncle fries plate by plate, and some customers may be buying packets for the village.

Also, no advance ordering allowed.

Uncle is a class-act to watch. While most hawkers are hidden in the background or you can throw a peek at how they cook up a fare, you would notice a window where you can watch uncle fry up plate-by-plate.

Like a ‘live’ kitchen concept.

There are all the basis ingredients of eggs, cockles, kway teow, fried pork lard and lap cheong, along with reasonably good wok-hei.

Quite balanced flavours as well, even though you do not really taste that sweet-sauce.

However, I suspect that some customers would prefer a version in which the dark sauce is more pronounced.

Some customers said that the best flavours are experienced upon ta-baoing home in which the heat gets ‘trapped’ within the packet.

Guan Kee Fried Kway Teow
20, 01-19 Ghim Moh Rd, Singapore 270020
Opening Hours: 7am – 2pm (Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat), Closed Mon, Thurs, Sun

Other Related Entries
10 Must-Try Char Kway Teow Singapore
Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee (Hong Lim Food Centre)
Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow (Old Airport Road Food Centre)
Hill Street Fried Kway Teow (Bedok South Food Centre)
No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow (Zion Road Food Centre)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Paradise Dynasty’s signature Xiao Long Bao has made it a household name, especially its 8-coloured Specialty Dynasty Xiao Long Bao which was launched with various exciting flavours never-seen-before then.

The newly opened Paradise Dynasty at the Paya Lebar Quarter or PLQ Mall continues to be up to something special.

On September 14, a mystery Xiao Long Bao flavour will be unveiled to the public.

Paradise Dynasty Mystery Flavour Xiao Long Bao at $1*
Be one of the first to find out this mystery flavour, available only for a limited period.

In conjunction with the opening of Paradise Dynasty Paya Lebar Quarter, this limited-edition Xiao Long Bao will be exclusively available at this PLQ outlet for a month from 14th September.

This mystery-flavoured Xiao Long Bao is pleated using the brand’s golden formula of 18 exquisite folds.

Its delicate skin, masterfully folded, encases delectable fillings which will promise an explosion of flavours.

I am not supposed to say anything yet, but here’s some clues what it may contain:
– As iconic as 101
– Savoury and slightly sweet
– Taste of nostalgia

Diners can try the mystery-flavoured Xiao Long Bao at Paradise Dynasty @ PLQ from 14 September (Sat) to 13 October 2019 (Sun).

Simply share a photo of this XLB on Facebook or Instagram (set to public) to enjoy a basket of 5 pieces of Xiao Long Bao at $1 (U.P: $7.80). Include the hashtags #paradisegrpsg, #paradisedynasty and #plqmysteryxlb.

T&C:
– Valid from 14 Sep till 13 Oct 2019, while stocks last
– One redemption per table per bill

If it’s been a while since you visited Paradise Dynasty, now is a good time. Taste their signature XLBs, La Mian, as well as eight cuisines of China all under one roof: Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan and Zhejiang.

Specialty Dynasty Xiao Long Bao 特色皇朝小笼包(八色) ($15.80 for 8 pieces)
These multi-flavoured pork-filled dumplings need little-introduction. As Paradise Dynasty’s most iconic dish, they are coloured using natural ingredients.

Each 25g xiao long bao is a hallmark of precision, pleated with exactly 18 folds.

You will taste 8 flavours in one basket, the signature original, ginseng, foie gras, black truffle, cheese, crab roe, garlic and Szechuan.

To appreciate each flavour, slurp your way from the delicate original up to the bold Szechuan, in that sequence.

Drunken Chicken 李白醉鸡 ($9.80)
This traditional appetiser favourite is made from deboned chicken steamed with scallions, ginger and salt.

What makes the chicken “drunk” is the marinade made from a blend of yellow wine and soy sauce, flavoured with ginger, pepper, and spring oil.

That aromatic liquid seeps into the meat, making its texture moist and gelatinous, and its taste clean and refreshing.

Spinach and Vermicelli tossed with Vinaigrette 春雨拌绿蔬 ($5.00)
Another must-try appetiser, this dish combines chilled baby spinach with Chinese rice noodles, thin strips of carrots and onion.

The tart dressing is a vinaigrette-style blend of light soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, sugar, and salt.

Double-Boiled Chicken Soup 清炖甘榜鸡汤 ($11.50)
A classic soup that’s light and clean-tasting, it has that subtle sweet savoury herbal flavour.

Nourishing mix of traditional Chinese herbs create that broth profile, boiling bone-in chickens for hours.

Another comforting soup to choose would be the Double-boiled Pork Rib with Cabbage Soup.

Crispy Pork Chop 香酥猪扒 ($9.80)
A hit amongst kids and adults alike, this well-loved pork dish is marinated in a flavourful mix of soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, five spice powder, scallion, ginger and garlic.

The infused meat is then battered and fried ‘til the edges are crispy while inside the meat stays moist. Served sliced for your convenience.

Crispy Sweet and Sour Pork 菠萝咕噜肉 ($13.50)
Next up in the hot dish section are deep-fried pork pieces, stir-fried with chunks of red and green bell peppers, carrots, onions, and sliced pineapples.

Together they are slathered in sweet and sour, well-balanced mix of sugar and rice vinegar.

La Mian in Hot and Sour Soup 酸辣海鲜汤拉面 ($9.50)
La Mian or hand-pulled noodles are a comforting staple in this restaurant. They are expertly prepared, shaped into fine and silky threads, and served with a classic soup base or dry.

Some of the popular choices here include La Mian with Sliced Kurobuta Pork in Signature Pork Bone Soup, La Mian with Double-boiled Chicken Soup, and La Mian with Pork Dumpling in Hot Chilli Vinaigrette.

If you love that bit of spiciness and tanginess, with substantial portion, then go for the La Mian in Hot and Sour Soup.

Chockful of ingredients, this thick soup features Chinese mushrooms, thinly sliced soft bean curd, shredded bamboo shoots, ginger, garlic, beaten egg, light soya sauce and sesame oil. A splash of black vinegar is added for that sour element.

Stir-fried Noodle with Shredded Pork 木樨肉炒拉面 ($12.30)
Another la mian dish at Paradise Dynasty is their stir-fried version mixed with shredded pork. Rich in umami for its soya-flavoured sauce, this noodle dish also contains finely shredded black wood ear fungus.

Fried Rice in Shanghai Style 上海炒饭 ($12.80)
One of Paradise Dynasty’s all-time best-selling dish, this Shanghai-style dish features a medley of shrimp, minced pork and chopped kai lan, all tossed and wok-fried with fluffy grains of rice.

A simple yet aromatic dish that will delight your senses, and pair well with almost any dish.

Fragrant Layered Cake Chinese Style 千层油糕 ($4.80 for 3 pieces)
A famous snack during the Qing Dynasty, these Chinese-style layered cakes are prepared steamed. You get 3 pieces of these diamond-shaped warm, soft and fluffy 千层油糕, which literally means “thousands of oil cakes”. Actually, there are 64 layers if you dare to count.

Paradise Dynasty – Paya Lebar Quarter
10 Paya Lebar, Paya Lebar Quarter Mall #03-08, Singapore 409057
Tel: +65 6971 6575
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Mon – Fri), 10:30am – 10:00pm Last Order 9:30pm (Sat, Sun & PH)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Paradise Group.

Good news for our Muslim friends. Japanese casual dining concept located in the heart of town, Sora Boru has recently been Halal-certified.

Playfully named after how Japanese pronounce ”bowls”, Sora Boru found at the basement of 313@somerset serves up variety of affordable one-bowl meals in the form of DonBoru (rice bowls), CurryBoru (curry rice bowls), ChirashiBoru (sashimi bowls) and Noodles.

NEW on the menu are five different types of Sushi Keiki aka ‘cakes’, which will be officially launched on 12th of September.

Here are some of the other interesting features of Sora Boru: Diners can also design their own Chirashi bowl through a six-step customisation process to choose their preferred size (mini starting from $9.50), base (sushi rice or greens), raw fish, add-ons, sauce and garnishes.

Add just $3.90 to make up a set with chawanmushi, miso soup and 12 oz regular drink. Plus, all prices stated are inclusive of GST with no additional service charge.

Here are some of Sora Boru’s food highlights:

Sushi Keiki ($8.90)
Now you can have your sushi and cake at the same time. And you do not have to wait for a birthday celebration to have it.

These Sushi Keiki comes with a base of sushi rice and seaweed, topped with your choice of raw fish, add-ons, sauce and garnishes, then moulded like a mini-cake.

Choose between Chirashi, Salmon Avocado, Tuna Avocado, Tuna Mango or Crabmeat Tamago.

The Chirashi Sushi Keiki is similar to what you get in a Bara Chirashi bowl, but moulded into a cake shape. Get the Avocado Keiki if you enjoy mashed avocado which would add a creamy texture and rich flavour.

Feel free to explore your creativity on how you want to have them.

You can slice them by piece like a cake; mix the ingredients all up; wrap the ingredients in the seaweed like a sushi roll.

My recommendation? Split a cake into three, and experience a combination of all of the above.

Snow Beef Don ($7.50 for mini, $11.90 for regular)
This has been one of the best-sellers of Sora Boru since its opening, and it is not difficult to understand why.

The inclusion of grated parmesan and a special sweet-savoury sauce made from whipping cream may remind diners of a Korean-meets-Japanese meal; and I don’t think this style is served anywhere else in Singapore.

The donburi (rice bowls) is constructed with a base of steamed rice, a choice of either stewed cabbage or seasoned beansprouts, then piled with succulent flame-grilled beef slices.

While you would expect donburis to be savoury, this is sweet, creamy and cheesy, and would appeal to those who are more adventurous to try something new and interesting.

Volcano Beef Don ($7.50 for mini, $11.90 for regular)
This is personally my favourite bowl. The name “volcano” comes from the spicy ‘lava’ that runs down the side.

That sauce is created with a spicy, earthy flavour that is like a cross between the Korean gochujang sauce and local sambal chilli (the aftertaste).

Paired with stewed cabbage – I feel it goes better (or seasoned bean sprouts) and slices of beef that are first marinated in a special blend of shoyu sauces, stir-fried for wok-heat, then torched for added smokiness.

The Snow Beef Don, Volcano Bee Don and ChirashiBoru are available in two sizes – Mini and Regular. The kids-sized Mini bowls are for those who really want something light, or would like to try a few different dishes in one seating.

Garlic Fried Rice ($10.50 for chicken, $12.50 for salmon, $13.50 for unagi)
Also known as ”Chahan” or ”Yakimeshi”, the fragrant Garlic Fried Rice is cooked using Japanese rice and house garlic shoyu sauce, with choices of chicken, salmon or unagi (Japanese eel).

As this is cooked using premium Koshihikari short-grain rice, this is a little starchier and plumper that the usual zi-char fried rice you have outside.

The crispy fried garlic chips also add a wonderful garlicky flavour.

Unagi Tamago Don ($19.50)
A bowl of grilled eel glazed with a sweetened and caramelised soy-based tare, over Japanese steamed rice accompanied with strips of egg that add a pop of colour.

The eel was surprisingly soft and fleshy, moderately fat with rich taste.

Breaded Ebi with Shabu Beef ($14.50)
Other than donburi, you can also expect Curry dons such as Chicken Katsu ($12.50), Chicken Karaage ($12.50), Shabu Beef ($12.50), Breaded Salmon ($12.50) and Bread Ebi ($12.50)

The “CurryBoru” showcases mildly spicy gravy Japanese curry cooked with a secret recipe, with options of three varying levels of spiciness.

Have the best of both worlds with a two-protein-combos of bread tempura prawn with shabu beef, a surf n’ turf style curry rice.

So you get a bit of crispiness from the tempura prawns, and juiciness from the thinly sliced meat that is not commonly found in Singapore.

I just noticed that Sora Boru has introduced new BROWN SUGAR Iced Milk Tea ($3.50) – no bubbles though. For something refreshing, thirst-quenching and possibly good for the guts, get your hands on the crowd-favourite Apple Yogurt Soda or Orange Yogurt Soda.

Sora Boru
313@somerset #B3-19/20, 313 Orchard Road, Singapore 238895
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/SoraBoruSingapore/

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Sora Boru.

Of all the new entrants of the Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore Guide 2019, perhaps the most surprise entry would be Fu Ming Cooked Food 福明熟食.

Located at a quiet corner of Redhill Food Centre, it is not one of those ‘famous’ Chai Tow Kway stalls in the likes of Chey Sua at Toa Payoh, Heng 興 at Newton Food Centre, Song Zhou Luo Bo Gao at Bedok Interchange, or He Zhong Carrot Cake at Bukit Timah Food Centre.

Plus, it is only opened from 5pm onwards till around midnight, catering only to the dinner and supper crowd.

When I went to congratulate the stall owners, auntie smiled sheepishly and remarked, ”The hawker centre still very quiet at night… you look around.”

I usually head over here for supper, and when not worried about counting calories. To look out for the stall, find the “Mickey Mouse” on their signboard.

Fu Ming Cooked Food is quite popular as a supper treat for its Fried Carrot Cakes ($3, $4, $5), available in both white or black versions. The stall also sells Bak Zhang on the side for $1.40 each.

Good to know that this stall still steams their own carrot cake, and thus you would find it softer and more watery, compared to many others who simply get their supply from factories.

The question: black or white?

Usually I would go for the white versions in most stall, but somehow I prefer the black here.

There is this soft texture and flavour along with hint of radishes, some pieces of eggs, dribbled with sweet black sauce which was added twice for extra sweetness.

Compared to the average carrot cake which can be starchy with a lot of flour (especially the factory made ones), you can still taste traces of radish here, and the cubes almost melt in your mouth.

You may find it slightly salty and greasy though. Portions are also slightly smaller.

The White Carrot Cake is less eggy and not as crisp as those elsewhere. Strangely devoid of spring onions.

Then again, this is their style and would get some getting used to. If you like your Carrot Cake soft and wobbly, then this is for you.

Fu Ming Carrot Cake
#01-49 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
Tel: +65 9641 0565
Opening Hours: 5pm – 1am (Mon – Sat), 6am – 1am (Sun)

Other Related Entries
Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore 2019
10 Must-Try Stalls At Redhill Food Centre
Chey Sua Carrot Cake (Toa Payoh Lor 1)
Heng 興 (Newton Food Centre)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

We are seeing more new cafes choosing to open at more ‘hidden’ places this year, possibly due to the lower rental and thus operating costs.

From Lee’s Confectionery at Jurong East One Stone Three Birds at Clementi, there are quite a number of new cafes situated in the heartlands.

So perhaps even residents of Ang Mo Kio may not know there is an Acoustic Café at Avenue 10. The name would suggest a café that is passionate about music as much as coffee.

At first glance, you might think the panelling on the wall in this 10-seater cozy café is merely part of the decoration.

However, they are actually acoustic panels, manufactured from high density glass wool and coated with a special coating on the surface to absorb unnecessary noise and echoes.

This explains why the sound quality from the music seems better here, as the HiFi system is said to be “carefully tuned”, with an “almost echo-less environment”.

According to the café staff, there is no need for you to raise your voice even if the café is packed to the brim. (We have yet to put it to the test, and personally feel that customers in cafes shouldn’t talk too loud anyway.)

The menu here at Acoustic Café is relatively simple, drinks you would find at typical cafes and some simple cakes.

The bakes are made in-house, you can even pre-order a batch of brownies or cookies if you like.

Their recommended food and drinks include Brownie ($3.50), Brookie ($4.00, $1 more for Vanilla Ice Cream), Mocha ($4.70), Lavender Tea Latte ($4.50), and Acoustic Milk Latte ($3.00).

The one item that caught my eye though was the Brookie.

Currently in its soft launch phase, the Brookie ($4) is a 2-in-1 combination of a classic Brownie and Cookie.

I was expecting the cookie to be crispy and hard, but it wasn’t. Slightly chewy in texture, this reminded me of the Subway cookies.

The brownie part was chocolatey and crispy on the outside, while soft on the inside. This could do with an ice-cream pairing for that extra oomph.

The Mushroom and Cheese Toast ($4) feels like something I used to eat when I was young, somewhat like those homemade pizza.

Wouldn’t say it’s wow, but at least this is comfort food with generous amount of mushroom and cheese, a possible grab-and-go option.

As for the coffee, the Flat White ($4.20) which wasn’t too acidic complemented well with the Brookie.

Plus point, It was also served with one of their home baked cookies.

With so many neighbourhood cafes popping up, it may be difficult to stand out in this saturated industry.

At least it is one of the more affordable cafes in Singapore. Prices are on the lower side, on top of that, students also enjoy a 10% discount upon showing your student pass.

The owners commented, ”Since the space belongs to us, why not work around our cost and charge at a more affordable price?” Wow.

If you are looking for a place to chill in Ang Mo Kio, Acoustic Café promises good music, ambience and affordable coffee.

Acoustic Cafe
421 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 #01-1159 Singapore 560421
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/acousticcafeamk/

Other Related Entries
Kura (Kim Yam Road)
Banchong Café (Kallang Junction)
PPP Coffee (Funan)
Antea Social (Jalan Besar)
The M Plot (King Albert Park)

* Written by DFD’s Café Correspondent @__sy_g. Songyu is a food and travel blogger whose hobby is uncovering hidden hipster cafes. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Cafes in Singapore are opening up in the most unexpected of places, and this latest coffee place is found along River Valley at Loft@Nathan (diagonally opposite Valley Point).

The name and logos of “Grace Espresso” may draw some topic for discussion with its biblical connotations.

Its logo is depicted by a picture of Jesus Christ standing on earth underneath a crown (with thorns drawn within), surrounded by four trees.

Shall leave it to you to do your interpretations.

The interior is done up simply with medium-blue walls, with most of the customers seated outside on the wooden bench.

The tables are ‘tree logs’ and I enjoyed its easy-going vibes.

While there is no air-con, I still think it is a rather comfortable space to watch the world go by.

The menu is quite rather lean for now, with items of Garlic Butter Baguette ($6), Avo Sourdough Melt ($12), Grapefruit Breakfast Bowl ($13), Queen’s Toast with Strawberries ($11), and Home-made Hokkaido Milk Tea ($7).

I did think it was a slight waste-of-opportunity to not extend its theme to its food, naming and even latte art as well, for the café to have a more distinct character.

Perhaps due to opening jitters, my order of food took a long 35 minutes or so to arrive, and I joked that ”we all need a lot of grace” in this situation. (Joke was lost by the way.)

The Avo Sourdough Melt ($12) may not be like the typical avocado toast, a much cheesier take with its liberal use of gouda cheese.

So if you are expecting mash avocadoes and stuff, this is not it.

The toast was a not-bad rendition, but I felt it needed a drizzle of fruity sour of sorts to differentiate this from something you could create at home.

The mini Croissants which I had in another occasion, were crisp and fluffy. They probably have a good supplier for its breads, and could further use it to their strengths.

For drinks, they offer up the usual Flat White, Latte, Cappucino ($5.50 each), Mocha ($6), Matcha Latte ($6) and option of Ceremonial Grade Matcha Latte ($7.50).

I enjoyed the coffee which was balanced and slightly rich due to the usage of Hokkaido milk.

As a form of service recovery, they made me a cup with I would assume Pikachu latte art. The barista was earnest and very willing to share (nope, I don’t think he knows who I am as I visited anonymously).

Grace Espresso does serve up decent coffee and is a friendly neighbourhood coffee place. I wished that the menu is more “bold and courageous”.

Grace Espresso
428 River Valley Road #01-14 Loft@Nathan Singapore 248327
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 5pm (Mon – Wed, Fri, Sun), 7:30pm – 6:30pm (Sat), Closed Thurs

Other Related Entries
Little Farms Café (River Valley)
Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee (VivoCity)
Starter Lab (Havelock Road)
Quarter Life Coffee (Prinsep Street)
Mavrx Coffee Bar (Great World City)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

If you have walked from Paya Lebar MRT to Paya Lebar Quarter, you may have taken note of this new café in the corner.

Morphine Coffee already has an eye-catching name with its use of “morphine” (taken in directed medication to remove pain).

This may look like another next-door coffee place, but how they brew their coffee is varied from the usual typical practices. Their drinks could therefore taste different from the norm.

In terms of pricing, there are some inexpensive drinks such as the Cold Brew Coffee O ($2.10), Hot Coffee O ($1.80), Coffee C ($2.00) and “Tea C” ($1.80), slightly cheaper than the average chain store.

Also available are other specialty drinks such as Specialty Black Cold Brew No. 18 ($5.50), Iced Ginger Ale ($5.00), Hojicha Latte ($5.00), and Matcha Latte ($5.50).

Its prime location makes it a good place for a grab-and-go. There are no seats around, but you can grab one of those in PLQ’s delegated public sitting area.

However, during my first visit I ordered the usual Coffee C ($2.00) and thought that something was missing.

If you wanted a perk-me-up and did not get any explanations (or read this), you may just wonder if something is ‘wrong’ with the drink because it does taste different.

First things first, they are leaving out the sugar, margarine, corn etc. in the roasting, so as to bring out a more natural coffee flavour and taste in the traditional local coffee.

They also use a higher graded Robusta beans, which can be matched with the evaporated or condensed milk.

However, they recommend drinking the items straight black so that customers can appreciate them at its most natural state.

Even though there is an espresso machine in their store, their method of brewing is from filter and cold brew, so you won’t get that strong bitter coffee extraction flavour in any of their products.

Their rationale is that ”cold brewing brings out more flavour in the coffee as the coffee oils are not easily washed away when drowned in hot boiling water”.

Some customers could feel that the drink would be ”poh”, (“poh” in Hokkien means “thin”) or otherwise diluted.

(Photo credit: Nicholas Tan @stormscape)

Their cold brewed Hojicha Latte ($5.00) and Matcha Latte ($5.50) in cute (some say photogenic) bottles, available in limited quantities.

Similarly, some people could find the drinks more diluted than usual, lacking the robustness and milkiness one would expect.

The products of Morphine Coffee is likely to keep customers divided, but like their name, it is a bold step they are taking.

Morphine Coffee
10 Paya Lebar Road, #01-K5, PLQ Plaza, Paya Lebar Quarter, Singapore 409057
Tel: +65 6802 2321
Opening Hours: 9am – 9:30pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 10pm (Sat – Sun) (Soft launch opening hours)

Other Related Entries
Narrative Coffee Stand (Bras Basah Complex)
Starter Lab (Havelock Road)
Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee (VivoCity)
Banchong Café (Kallang Junction)
PPP Coffee (Funan)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Unless you specifically knew that there is a café within this single storey long house along East Coast Road, chances of you entering it would be low.

Mod Café is situated in refurnished pink-coloured single storey detached house (with ample outdoor parking space), right next to a hair salon.

There were a number of “Mod Cafes” in Singapore previously, but this is an entirely new setup.

Interesting to know that a hair salon is their core business, while the café is created to provide guests a place to chill and relax before or after their hair treatment (or when husbands need to wait for their wives).

This places used to house horses (!) but has been once transformed to a “lifestyle garden centre”. It is a quiet space, rather white with natural daylight, with wall-art painted by Bill Ho from Eight Cafe & Bar.

The food menu at Mod Café is kept lean, with items of All Day Breakfast ($14.90), Eggs & Mushrooms ($10.90), French Toast ($8.90), Broccoli Soup ($6.90), Mushroom Soup ($6.90), Chicken Pie ($5.50), and Shitake Mushroom Pie ($5.50).

A highlight is that they also serve up Cheesecakes ($7.90, $8.90 a slice) from The Cheesecake Factory, in flavours of original, key lime and caramel.

The Caramel Cheesecake had a delightful soft creamy texture, dollop of slightly sweetened whipped cream, and a blonde brownie base.

I imagined it to be much sweeter, but surprisingly not too much with delicate caramel which reminded me of toffee.

The Thai Chicken Wrap ($7.50) was not as spicy as imagined, also with a rather sweet touch.

It contained roasted chicken leg tossed in Thai sweet chilli sauce and cheddar cheese, in a yellow-coloured lemon wrap. You may have seen another version of this floating around at other cafes.

For drinks, check out their range of hot and iced coffee ($4.90 – $7.90) and Organic Tea range exclusively from the Tea Forte ($6.90 for hot, $7.50 for iced) in flavours of Green Mango Peach, Ginger Lemongrass, Orchid Vanilla, Blueberry Merlot.

For foodies and coffee drinkers, it is of short walking distance from Firebake, Brawn & Brains Coffee, and Forty Hands – if you need to find alternatives.

All in all, Mod Café is a homely and cosy space, and perhaps the only place where you can find The Cheesecake Factory items in the east of Singapore.

Mod Cafe
1A Kuo Chuan Avenue Singapore 426888
Tel: +65 9816 1877
Opening Hours: 9am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Brawn & Brains Coffee (East Coast Road)
Firebake (East Coast Road)
Forty Hands (East Coast Road)
Kota88 Restaurant (East Coast Road)
Cafe De Nicole’s Flower (Telok Kurau Road)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

While the queue at Singapore’s first Tsui Wah outlet at Clarke Quay may have dwindled, fans would still be excited to know that there is now a 2nd outlet at Orchard Road.

This is especially so when a couple of Hong Kong style cha chaan teng didn’t survive that long in this part of the Orchard Road belt. Remember Xin Wang at Cineleisure? Remember Ruyi Sweetheart?

This Tsui Wah is a two-storey 192-seater establishment which features a quick service concept on Level 1 and a contemporary-styled restaurant on Level 2.

That means customers can choose to drop by for takeaways or dine-in alfresco without any service charge at Level 1; or they can also head upstairs to the full-fledged restaurant.

Outside = no aircon; inside = aircon (can smell kitchen). You choose.

Closing hours are at 10:30pm though, with last orders at 9:45pm. Otherwise, it would have been a suitable supper place for Orchard Road night owls.

As for the queue system, customers will be informed via SMS so they can keep cool shopping at Heeren and return when it is time to be seated.

If this is your first time to Tsui Wah, pick one of those Top 10 signatures, including the Pork Chop Bun ($8.50), Kagoshima-style Braised Pork Cartilage with Tossed Instant Noodles ($10.50), Crispy Bun with Condensed Milk ($4), Brisket Curry with Steamed Rice ($15), Chicken Wings in Supreme Sauce ($13) and Jumbo Hot Dog ($6.50).

Okay, the not-so-good news. Many of the items are about 50 cents to $2 pricier (when I compare to the first menu at Clarke Quay).

Also one of the most iconic items – the Fish Paste Puffs in Fish Soup with Mixian, has been removed from the menu. Nooooooo….

The Kagoshima-Style Braised Pork Cartilage with Tossed Instant Noodles ($10.50), is a homage dish to a Japanese chef who shared this recipe with Tsui Wah.

Stewed for many hours daily, the pork cartilage is tender, chewy and gelatinous, with a good savoury aroma.

The chunks of pork are served over Hong Kong’s famed instant noodles, coated in a luscious gravy.

I also had the Stir-Fried Flat Rice Noodles with Beef ($14.50), a not bad rendition with tender beef slices except that it was a tad oily and salty.

Tsui Wah The Heeren will also be including two new dishes at Level 2, such as the Mala Prawns ($11) – mala soup of prawns in a broth laden with enoki mushrooms and stewed radish; and the Assorted Vegetables and Prawns Curry with Steamed Rice ($16).

Launched exclusively at Tsui Wah The Heeren is the Tsui Wah Bottled Milk Tea. Freshly brewed daily and served chilled, customers can choose to grab-and-go at Level 1 ($5.50) or enjoy it cold from an iced bucket at Level 2 ($5).

Tsui Wah – The Heeren
260 Orchard Road, The Heeren #02-02 Singapore 238855
Tel: +65 6366 9270
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10:30pm, Last Order 9:45pm (Mon – Sun)

Tsui Wah – Clarke Quay
3A River Valley Road, Clarke Quay, #01-03, Singapore 179020.
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Thurs, Sun), 11am – 4am (Fri, Sat)

Other Related Entries
10 Hong Kong Cafes In Singapore
Tsui Wah Singapore (Clarke Quay)
Xin Wang (Kovan)
Mui Kee (Shaw Centre)
Tai Cheong Bakery Singapore (Holland Village)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Saint Pierre is the newly awarded 2 Michelin star restaurant in the Michelin Guide Singapore, the brainchild of owner-chef Emmanuel Stroobant and his wife Edina Hong.

More than just a restaurant, Saint Pierre is Chef Emmanuel Stroobant’s homage to the gastronomic arts.

19 years. They came a long way from being at Central Mall, Quayside Isle to taking over this space previously occupied by the Butter Factory nightclub.

Friends who dine at Saint Pierre more regularly told me that the food has gotten more intricate every single visit.

Known for his Asian-inflected French fare, Liege-born Emmanuel Stroobant creates dishes reflecting his signature style, ie “essence-centric cuisine”.

It is the culmination of his culinary career and personal journey of self-discovery. He is devoted to freshness and quality, and takes a spiritual view of cooking. That is why you will see his menu has strong vegetarian leanings.

Guests love how he uses organic, wholesome and fresh produce that emphasizes on purity and simplicity.

This smart-dressed 2000-sq ft restaurant dons a modern 30-seater dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing a picturesque view of Marina Bay.

The posh interiors are in neutral hues. Pristine white and grey tablecloths deck the tables.

You will see crockery imported from Japan, paired with elegant cutletries made by Christofle, a luxurious French silverware brand. Natural light generously fills the space, creating in an airy-laid back ambiance.

Great choice for those on a date. Why?

Saint Pierre is praised not only for its great views of the marina, but also for its assured service and discreet atmosphere.

I happened to get a table when there were fireworks going on nearby (didn’t plan for it), and it certainly made the meal very magical.

The Seasonal Menu is classified into Classic ($198 per person), Discovery ($248 per person), and Adventure ($298 per person).

By all means, you can upgrade your menu by paying extra for wine accompaniment (choice of standard or premium wines), and cheese supplement ($28).

With the Discovery Menu, you’re getting the “Chef’s Choice”, i.e. you entrust your dining experience to Saint Pierre Team as they create an 8-course meal based on highlights from current season.

As the dishes change seasonally, I won’t dwell too much into detail on each item.

Signature dishes that I had include starter like Scallop with Hokkaido scallop, kaffir lime leaf, coconut and jalapeno.

The highlight dish to me was the “Cod” – roasted Atlantic cod, oxtail consommé, chervil powder, Jerusalem artichoke, with its freshness and intricate flavours coming well together.

I was glad the dessert was both indulgent and refreshing, a take on Chocolate with tanariva-manjari chocolate, orange cremeux and pear-passion jelly.

If you are looking at having something more affordable, the Set Lunch Menus (3-course at $88 per person, 4-course $118) are available Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11:30am to 3pm, with last seating at 1:30pm.

The Wine Menu is extensive (pick by the glass or by the bottle, from all parts of the world) as well as the Digestif Menu (coffee, tea and alcoholic drinks).

This family-friendly atmosphere sets it apart from most fine dining restaurants, usually formal aka intimidating (even for adults).

If you are dining as a family with kids in tow, do consider Saint Pierre. A fine dining restaurant that will make you feel at home.

Saint Pierre (One Fullerton)
1 Fullerton Road, #02-02B One Fullerton, Singapore 049213
Tel: +65 6438 0887
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am – 3pm Last seating 1:30pm, Dinner 6:30pm – 11pm Last seating 9pm (Tue – Sat), Closed Sun, Mon
https://www.saintpierre.com.sg

Other Related Entries
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Corner House (Botanic Gardens)
Shoukouwa (One Fullerton)
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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

After the Michelin Guide Singapore and Bib Gourmand lists were announced, I was also curious which stalls were categorised under the “Michelin Plate” as well.

Now, it is worth noting that Pondok Makan Indonesia is one of the few Michelin-listed halal eateries in Singapore.

The others include Hjh Maimunah Restaurant, Bismillah Biryani at Dunlop Street, Traditional Haig Road Putu Piring, Allauddin’s Briyani and Y.R Ahmad (at ABC Brickworks Food Centre).

Pondok Makan Indonesia is considered one of the more under-the-radar names, located just a few minutes away from MRT Bugis Station at Albert Centre Market & Food Centre.

Offering a variety of Indonesian hawker fare, including Mee Rebus ($3), Mee Siam ($3), Gado Gado ($3), Tahu Goreng ($3), Soto Ayam ($3), Nasi Soto ($3.50, $4), Lontong ($3), Satay ($0.60 per stick, minimum 10 sticks).

Most of their food item are about $3, making it very affordable fare.

Its Satay seems to be the most popular choice, the skewered chicken well-marinated with a touch of sweetness and turmeric-spices.

You may note that even the Mutton Satay (which is recommend) are not overly charred and in fact rather ‘fair’, retaining the juiciness and not tough.

Another great find was their Tahu Goreng ($3), with lightly crispy fried beancurd and it was the thick, slightly-spicy over-flowing peanut sauce that stole the show.

Sometimes not peanut sauces are fresh-tasting, worse if it is lao-hong and lose its crunchiness.

The Mee Rebus ($3) with its thick and flavourful potato sauce, makes it a worthy contender for one of the best I had in Singapore. Plus, there is a homely feel to the rendition.

Pondok Makan Indonesian
270 Queen St. #01-123 Albert Centre Market & Food Centre, Singapore 180270
Tel: +65 9155 6623
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Bismillah Biryani (Dunlop Street)
Traditional Haig Road Putu Piring (Geylang Road)
Hjh Maimunah Restaurant (Jalan Pisang)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

NTU students may grumble and complain that there is literally nothing to eat in school – at least when it comes to hipster café food and coffee.

The next nearest place to get that would be Jurong Point, and that is not saying much.

Drumroll for the good news… there is actually a NEW, legit café that recently opened within the school compound.

Like FINALLY.

Connect 71 Café or C71 is located within Innovation Centre (previously SIMTech Tower Block).

For students who only go your lecture theatre and back, it is conveniently situated right beside the Arc – NTU’s latest learning hub.

For those taking 179/179A, alight at Lee Wee Nam Library bus stop and walk for about 3-4 minutes. (If you still do not know where, take a shuttle bus and go a couple of rounds for orientation.)

The café is already packed with students and staff during its opening days, which can make you convinced that NTU is finally hip.

The interior felt really cosy, and doesn’t lose out to the cafes you would find outside.

Connect 71 currently serves four different bowls as mains, including Mazesoba ($8), Lor Bak Bowl ($8), Yakitori Bowl ($8), and Gyu Don ($9).

Plus a FREE drink, and NTU Students and Staff enjoy a further 10% discount. *dances a happy dance*

The Yakitori Don ($8) is served with 4 chicken thigh skewers drizzled with mentaiko mayonnaise.

For its price, the chicken was succulent and quite evenly grilled. Mixing the onsen egg together with the rice, along with the crunch coming from the edamame and corn made a good interplay of textures.

The shaved beef rib-eye meat in the Gyudon ($9) was surprisingly well-marinated, possibly a quality I would not expect coming from a school café.

However, the bowl could be a tad greasy with an accumulation of oil from the meat settling at the bottom of the bowl.

Other bowls include the Lor Bak Bowl ($8) which features slow braised pork belly and the B.M.E Mazesoba ($7). B.M.E stands for Burst, Mix and Eat, suggesting that you break the onsen egg, minced spiced pork and soba noodles together for the best experience.

Every purchase of a bowl comes with a Free Cold Brew Tea, in flavours such as Simply Mango, Fruit Basket and Jasmine Green.

According to the staff, the flavour of the cold brew tea will change every now and then.

I had the Milky Oolong Cold Brew Tea and it was quite fragrant.

Connect also serves a basic range of coffee beverages you typically see in cafes such as Black ($4), White ($4.5), Mocha ($5) and Chocolate ($4.50).

(They are currently having a 1-for-1 promotion for drinks until 31st September.)

The White was slightly acidic, and while they claim to be the best coffee in campus (the next best coffee is perhaps from Starbucks LOL), they certainly won’t be the best in Singapore.

I foresee this place being popular among students and staff, as the quality of the food is on the better side compared to some of the stalls around (I shall not elaborate further…)

This is quite a pleasant place to chill, catch up over coffee, you know… go on a date. Like “Lets go to Connect 71 to connect”.

If you are thinking of heading here for mugging and copying completing tutorials, there are not many sockets to connect your plugs.

Connect 71 Cafe
71 Nanyang Drive #03-23 NTU Innovation Centre Singapore 638075
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon-Fri), By Reservations Only (Sat-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/c71singapore

* Written by DFD’s Café Correspondent @__sy_g. Songyu is a food and travel blogger whose hobby is uncovering hidden hipster cafes. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Not everyone is a fan of Mutton Soup. It is ‘heaty’, and mutton meat usually has a particular gamey taste. A friend joked that he spotted mainly uncles queuing up at the Mutton Soup stalls.

If you are searching, some of the famous Mutton Soup stalls in Singapore include Chai Chuan Tou Yang Rou Tang at Bukit Merah View, Ivy’s Hainanese Herbal Mutton Soup at Pasir Panjang Food Centre, Hong Wen Mutton Soup at Beauty World Food Centre, Kong Kee Mutton Soup at Jalan Besar, and 老吴記 Mutton Soup at Ang Mo Kio Ave 10.

New World Mutton Soup stall found at Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre specialises in Teochew-style mutton soup, and offers a few variations of it.

It is also listed under the Michelin Guide Singapore with a “Michelin Plate”.

First things first, be prepared to rub off the wrong shoulders of auntie. Just smile, order properly but don’t expect a smile back. (I guess quite a number of customers experienced similar seeing the online reviews.)

Start with the basic Mixture ($6, $8, $10) which uses their regular mutton, or the signature Mutton Soup ($6, $8, $10) which includes some better mutton (Though I am not sure why the price is the same).

Here you’re able to choose different cuts of mutton, and other internal organs like the stomach. You can also add other accompaniments such as Tau Pok ($0.60 per piece), Salted Vegetable ($1.20, $2), and Braised Egg ($0.60 per piece).

Prepared after hours of boiling, the soup has a defined light herbal taste and captures the flavour essence of the mutton.

Most of the fats are cut off before cooking, so the soup will come across rather ‘clean-tasting’ and not too oily or rich.

Note its taste may be a tad too sweet for some diners.

For variety, upgrade your Mutton Soup to either Mutton Ribs ($6/$8/$10), Mutton Tendon Ribs ($9/$12) or Mixture & Tendon ($9/12).

The menu recommends the Mutton Kway Teow ($6/$8). They also serve Mutton Meatballs ($5/$6).

While I thought the Kway Teow could have been smoother and silkier, it helped cut through the gaminess of the meat and helped balance out the intensity.

Their own blend of chili is rather appetizing with its spicy-sour taste, with flavour that complements the taste of the mutton.

For those who enjoy the heavy-going Mutton Soup, this may be too muted for them. Otherwise, you can always try something different and go for this Teochew-style mutton soup.

New World Mutton Soup
207 New Upper Changi Road, #01-55 Bedok Interchange Food Centre, Singapore 460207
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 10pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues

Other Related Entries
Chai Chuan Tou Yang Rou Tang (Bukit Merah View)
Ivy’s Hainanese Herbal Mutton Soup (Pasir Panjang Food Centre)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.