Nestled within an unassuming residential coffeeshop is an old school Western food stall. The appearance of the stall and the prices may make you think twice about order from here initially, but you’ll definitely find that you’re getting your money’s worth. The portion is huge and the food is good!

Ubi 325’s classic Black Pepper Chicken Chop ($6.50) will never go wrong. The charcoal grill lent a lovely smokiness to the meat, and the black pepper sauce was not too overpowering. Its perfect for me because I don’t really like black pepper. I love the chicken thigh which was juicy and tender! The side were all pretty average, your standard Western stall side dishes, but the portions were more than adequate. Four sides and a huge slab of chicken chop for just $6.50? I’m sold.

If there is only one thing that will make me travel from my office to this Ubi coffeeshop, it will be Ubi 325’s chicken cutlet! The breaded exterior, which was golden brown and crisp, gave way with an audible crunch, when I cut into it. I do not know what was used to marinate the meat, but it was flavoursome!

Wow, codfish! This is my first time coming across a hawker Western food stall offering codfish, because the cost of codfish is much higher than a typical dory fish. Ubi 325’s Codfish Fillet, which consisted of 2 long fillets of sweet and soft cod, ($7) was super value-for-money! It has a better texture than dory, in my opinion, and I like that batter was not too thick.

There are actually quite a handful of old school Western food stalls all over Singapore, but it’s rare to find one that scores above average for most of its dishes. Ubi 325 would score even higher if the fries were crisp. So glad I manage to find this hidden gem, and I actually have cravings for at least once a fortnight! The stall offers an extensive amount of fried finger food on its menu too. If you’ve tried it, let us know which is your favourite dish!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Ubi 325 Fried Chicken & Western Food. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Ubi 325 Fried Chicken & Western Food – Rare Old School Chicken Cutlet & Codfish Fillet appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Before I get started, I’ll just like to say that if you’re looking for a healthy meal, this is definitely not the place for you. However, if you enjoy Yong Tau Foo because of the variety of ingredients you can pick from, you have to try this! The ytf here is priced extremely reasonably; our entire meal cost us $16.80. This included 11 ingredients, two bowls of noodles, and one otah. The otah was $6, so without it, the yong tau foo and two noodles would have cost only $10.80! There a minimum order of six pieces, and the price of each piece ranges from $0.40 to $2.

Unlike most yong tau foo places, this store does not blanch your ingredients in soup, or boiling water. Instead, they deep fry every ingredient before drizzling it with a delicious soy-based gravy which is wonderfully savoury with bits of minced meat and mushrooms. My first reaction to it was, “Wow!”. I’m used to the standard sweet sauce that’s offered at most yong tau foo stalls, so this was a pleasant change for my taste buds.

Another unique thing about Fu Lin is that they offer thick bee hoon noodles that are covered in the same delicious sauce. Not something you commonly see at a yong tau foo stall, right? I saw photos of the noodles before I got here, and it made me so excited. I couldn’t wait to dig in!

Just one bite was all it took to make the hour long journey here worth it. The moreish sauce paired perfectly with the noodles! I love all things spicy, so having a good chilli is essential for me. Once again, they didn’t disappoint. The chilli had a slight spicy kick, and a lovely acidity.

While the otah was not the main aim of our visit, it was actually pretty good as well. To be honest, when it first arrived on our table, I was not impressed by how it looked. It looked dull, and it wasn’t fragrant. However, after taking a bite, I changed my mind. The meat was nice and firm, and I could even see actual bits of fish meat in it! The spiciness was also not too strong. I’ll say it’s worth a try!

I will be back for more of this sinful goodness! We visited the original stall along East Coast Road but if don’t want to travel too far, you can have their ytf at six other locations.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Fu Lin Tou Fu Yuen – Must-Try Yong Tau Foo in the East! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

I’m not sure about you, but for me, there’s something extremely comforting about Teochew porridge, especially on a rainy day. My go-to place is Soon Soon Teochew Porridge as it’s conveniently located near my home.

I love it when I get there at just the right time, and they’ve just finished cooking a fresh pot of porridge. While Teochew porridge may not win in the aesthetics department, it dazzles in the taste department for sure! This is definitely one of those meals that are ugly but delicious.

We ordered a total of eight dishes, and four bowls of porridge for $31 — an extremely reasonable amount if you ask me! The ginger chicken and fried batang fish are popular but are also more expensive. There is just a hint of ginger in the ginger chicken for those who do not enjoy the taste, so don’t worry! The fish is always beautifully crispy and definitely one of my favourite things here. We also got the heibihiam (dried spicy shrimp), a dish not seen at every Teochew porridge store. It was fragrant with a slight spicy kick, and went very well with the porridge.

Being a tofu fanatic, I must always have the tau pok and tau kwa (braised beancurd) with my porridge.  While some tau kwa might be too hard for my liking, Soon Soon’s beancurd is usually soft, while retaining the firmness associated with this particular tofu. Drizzle some of the braising sauce onto your porridge and you have a winner. Since the beancurd tends to be on the saltier side, it goes perfectly well with a mouthful of piping hot porridge.

I’ve always loved their minced pork but, unfortunately, on our last visit, it had a strong pork taste which I didn’t like. Normally we head there for dinner, when there’s the full layout of dishes, more customers, and a faster turnover. This time, however, we went there in the morning so it might have something to do with that. If you’re headed there, I’ll recommend going in the evening to avoid being disappointed!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Soon Soon Teochew Porridge – Comfort Food for Rainy Days appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Singapore has seen a rise in the number of Chinese noodles stalls in recent years, and most of them are not halal-certified. Niu Zou La Mian Muslim Food does not just serve noodles; they serve handmade Halal noodles. Musa, the owner, actually owns a few other stalls in the same coffeeshop too, but it was really hard to catch him for a quick chat.

I’ve been here a few times and it seems like he has hired 2 right-hand men who have mastered the skill of hand-pulling the noodles. It was very evident that both of the staff took pride in what they are doing. One of them was really enthusiastic about showing me how it was done. I was beyond impressed by how he pulled a serving of noodles within just one minute. My photos definitely did not do justice to his “performance”. You just got to watch it live — the slamming of the initial dough, the twisting and trimming of the thick main dough, and the pulling and dividing of the strands!

Niu Zou La Mian’s handmade noodles are perfectly imperfect. The uneven strands proved that they are handmade, and every strand is springy and firm. Lan Zhou Beef Ramen ($5) is the signature dish and I can totally understand why. At just $5, the bowl consists of a decent portion of beef and a relatively huge portion of handmade noodles.

A flavoursome beefy broth laced with chilli oil coated every strand of noodle, making them even smoother. Surprisingly, the dish was not too spicy. So, don’t be fooled by its fiery appearance! It turned out to be extremely palatable and I downed the broth really quickly. SLURP!

I was curious about the mutton noodle dishes so I decided to give the Dry Noodles With Cumin Lamb ($8) a try. When I pointed to that on the menu, the staff nodded like I’ve made the right choice. I’ve never received so much affirmation for picking a dish. After I placed my order, two guys who ordered before I did commented: “Those two are good choices!” They then shared that they actually stay in Woodlands but frequently come to Niu Zou La Mian. Their love for Niu Zou La Mian just amplified my anticipation!

The moment this was dished out, a strong cumin fragrance hit my senses. The mutton slices and onions were stir-fried, before being laid on the handmade noodles. The dish seems to dry up easily so give it a good mix once you get it, so that the noodles don’t dry up.

The characteristic taste of mutton was pretty pronounced, and was a tad overwhelming, but it was acceptable when consumed with the noodles. The sweetness of the onions also helped to mitigate the gaminess. Maybe a bowl of soup would be the perfect accompaniment since the only issue that I had with it was the noodles getting dry as I was working my way through it.

I’ve introduced this stall to my colleagues and most of us came back again and again. Other must-tries include the Beef Stewed Noodles ($8) and Beef Cold Ramen ($7) which sometimes are sold out by early evening. If there are people who travel all the way from Woodlands to Ubi just for a bowl of noodles, you know your trip to this place will be worth it! Do come only after 12pm because that’s when the full menu will be available!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Niu Zou La Mian Muslim Food. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Niu Zou La Mian Muslim Food – Halal Chinese Handmade Noodles that’s Made Upon Order! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

It was inspiring to meet young entrepreneur Travis, co-owner of Apiary Cafe, when I decided to pop by on a Monday night to satisfy my sweet-tooth craving. To my surprise, even though it was already 9pm, the cafe was filled to the brim and people were still pouring in (pictures were taken on my second visit in the afternoon!). I suppose it was the time of the day when groups of friends and the office crowd look for a sweet finish to their day.

Travis has been in the business for 3 years, but his passion for the F&B industry has not faded one bit. As he explained to me that the cafe would be expanding, he mentioned that the second floor would house a new concept — to give people the ultimate experience of being a Chocolate Gatherer. Customers will be able to watch the chocolate-making process from start to finish and engage with the cafe’s chocolate makers!

Ice-cream is priced at $3.90 for a single scoop, $7.30 for double, and $10 for triple! You can get your ice-cream in either a cup or cone, together with a brownie, inside a brioche bun, or with a waffle (choice of either a normal waffle or charcoal waffle).

From the get-go, you can tell that Apiary has a wide selection of ice-cream (18+ flavours) that are constantly on rotation once they sell out. They also have an average of 2-3 alcoholic flavours at any given time. When I was there, they had Rum & Raisin, and Bailey’s Brownie. I also learnt that Apiary’s ice-cream contains a variety of premium ingredients!

First, I tried their signature flavour, the Apiary Honey, together with their best seller, the Blue Milk, on a normal waffle ($4.50).

The former flavour’s base is always honey ice-cream, but they often switch up the fold-in ingredients, such as bee pollen and cacao nibs, to keep things fresh.

Blue Milk is the result of an outstanding experimental concoction. Its nice pastel blue colour is derived from blue pea flowers. It was unlike anything I had ever tasted. It was milky and creamy but not too sweet; very well balanced with a certain lightness that lingers on even after the ice-cream has melted, it kinda made me feel like I was eating clouds by the beach. MUST TRY!!!

Next, I decided to try their Brioche Bun ($3), which is something I had never heard of before in the dessert scene. The idea behind the Brioche Bun is to give Singaporeans a pang of nostalgia! When I held it in my hands, I was reminded of my childhood days when $1 ice-cream carts were the in-thing, and I would always pester my parents to get me an ice-cream sitting in rainbow-coloured bread or between wafers.

The Brioche Bun is toasted to crisp perfection before milk crumbles are sprinkled on and the ice-cream is inserted. As I used to have my $1 ice-cream with mint ice-cream, I decided to try Apiary’s Brioche Bun with their Fresh Mint ice-cream! Mint is a rare flavour that Apiary only does once in a while. It’s minty freshness truly stands out as they do not use artificial flavours!

Lastly, I tried their Ferrero Rocher and Summer Black Truffle (a seasonal flavour) with a charcoal waffle ($5.50). At this point, I was a little overwhelmed with sweetness, but thankfully they have self-service water points which are on both the ground and second level!

The Ferrero Rocher did not disappoint because the ice-cream contained little crispy bits which go well with the crispy waffle and resemble the sensation of biting into an actual Ferrero Rocher chocolate ball. The Summer Black Truffle was a wonderful mix of different flavours that confused me at the start but got me hooked by the third mouthful. It had a little hint of caramel and a touches of vanilla. I was sold when the taste of truffle kicked in.

Although Apiary’s desserts are a little pricey, their ice-cream (especially the Blue Milk) is one of the best I have ever tasted! Being surrounded by night clubs, wine bars, and trendy restaurants, Apiary is the precise definition of a hidden gem!

P.S. The cafe has free Wi-Fi! You have to order first though because the password is only indicated on the receipt.

The post Apiary Cafe – Unique Ice-Cream Flavours That Will Blow Your Mind! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

If you’re looking for a hawker centre filled with good food near Botanic Gardens MRT Station, Adam Road Food Centre should be on your list! Although it may be considered to be rather small, it is one of the most popular hawker centres in Singapore! From Nasi Lemak to Mutton Soup, and Rojak to Prawn Noodles, Adam Road Food Centre offers a range of multi-ethnic cuisines!

Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak

There was a long queue when I arrived at Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak. The staff were serving customers in the queue AND preparing more than 50 packets of Nasi Lemak for a takeaway order at the same time! I found it rather intriguing that their Nasi Lemak meals are named after terms in poker. Between the Full House and the Royal Flush, I had to go with the winning hand!

Selera Rasa’s Nasi Lemak basmati rice is really fragrant! The sambal chilli and otah also had the right amount of spiciness. What really surprised me was the chicken. The meat was tender and the skin was so crispy! Although the potato tasted a little stale, the other flavourful ingredients and the dish’s presentation made Selera Rasa’s nasi lemak stand out from its competition in the same hawker centre.

Adam Fishball Noodles

Adam Fishball Noodle stall has been featured in two newspaper articles which are displayed at the storefront. When asked what makes his noodles so special, the humble owner simply smiled and replied that his noodles are “normal la!”

How do you like your fishball noodles? I like to add in both chilli and tomato sauce!

Priced at $3.50 for the small portion, the Fishball Noodles came with plenty of fishcakes and a bowl of soup with 3 fishballs! I love it when I don’t have to worry about rationing the amount of ingredients for each bite, because there’s a generous amount of them. The fried shallots that have been mixed into the chilli paste also complemented the springy noodles perfectly.

The Laksa ($3.50/small) had a luscious broth that was rich and robust, but wasn’t too thick or spicy. If you’re looking for that extra kick, you may consider mixing a spoonful of sambal chilli into the broth! The gravy-soaked tau pok was extremely satisfying to bite into and the prawns were fresh! The cockles were a little sweet with a slight rubbery texture, but its strong taste was a tad overwhelming.

Stall 22 Hokkien Mee

Hokkien Mee is my one true weakness! It has been one of my favourite local dishes ever since I was a child but still, I shall attempt to give an honest review.

The prawns were fresh and they were generous with the fishcakes! The $4 portion was more than enough for 1 pax and the sambal chilli was not too spicy — just about right to enhance the overall flavour of the dish.

Some people prefer their Hokkien Mee to be more moist, with the noodles being coated in a glossy layer of gravy, while others prefer it to be dry. Personally, I prefer my Hokkien Mee to be wet, but upon tasting Stall 22’s dry Hokkien Mee, I was astounded by how flavourful Hokkien Mee can be without copious amounts of gravy!

Their other specialties include Carrot Cake, Fried Kway Teow, and Fried Oyster!

Warong Pak Sapari

As the stall’s signage suggests, I had to try their Mee Soto and Mee Rebus! Both were $3.50, very affordable!

To be perfectly honest, I had always preferred Chinese over Malay Cuisine, however, as I prepared myself to taste this bowl of Mee Soto with an open mind, I was astounded at just how flavourful it was!

After my first mouthful of shredded chicken with yellow noodles and broth, I found myself unconsciously smiling and nodding in approval as I continued to gobble down more. I could taste the turmeric, coriander, and fragrance from curry leaves which are just some of the ingredients that make up the spice paste which is cooked together with the broth.

The Mee Rebus was equally as delicious! Garnished with a hard-boiled egg, spring onions, bean sprouts, fried shallots, and tau kwa, the potato-based gravy was thick, flavourful, and robust! While I was feasting on these two mouth-watering bowls of noodles, a passerby even stopped to ask: “eh where you buy from?!”

Adam Chicken Rice

The Chicken Rice served at this Malay stall did not have the conventional coat of oil like most of the Hainanese-style chicken rice I’ve tasted, but it was still intensely fragrant (in its own unique way)!

I don’t know if you’re able to tell, but the rice from Adam Chicken Rice is yellow, as in more than ordinary chicken rice yellow kind of yellow! I was interested as to how they made their rice so I returned to the stall to ask the Malay couple running it what their recipe was. In reply, they said it was a secret they couldn’t reveal as it gave them an edge over the other chicken rice stalls in the vicinity!

The chicken was also very moist and tasty. I usually don’t pay much attention to the skin of roasted chicken but this one caught my attention! It was flavourful and I found myself slurping it up like strands of noodles. My only gripe was that the chicken was quite bony. If you want to avoid having to pick through the bones in order to reach the meat, you can request for boneless chicken (breast meat)! All in all, for $4, the dish was worth the money, I’d say!

Pondok Satay

Going for $0.70 per stick, the satay is served with slices of onions and cucumbers, I ordered a mix of 6 mutton satays, 6 chicken satays, and 8 beef satays. You may also choose to add on a ketupat for $1.

Albeit a little dry, the mutton was firm and tough, as it naturally should be. I did expect the beef to be juicier though. Its overall texture was similar to that of the mutton. Thankfully, the flavourful peanut sauce saved the day. The chicken was the best among the three different meats!

Zaiton Satay

Similar to Pondok Satay, Zaiton Satay has beef, mutton, and chicken satays that go for $0.70 per stick, served with slices of onions and cucumbers and peanut sauce. However, upon sinking my teeth into my first satay, I noticed a tremendous difference in taste and quality.

If you look closely, you will notice that the satays from Zaiton Satay are glistening and moist with crispy and charred bits compared to Pondok Satay’s satay which appeared a tad bit dry. The meat was also a lot more succulent and flavourful with some chunks of meat having a little bit of fat sandwiched between them!

I immediately left my seat to enquire as to how the stall owner achieved this texture. She replied in earnest that the difference could be the special sauce that she uses to marinate the meat before barbecuing them!

Adam’s Delights

A family business for over two generations, Adam’s Delights has been serving their famous mee goreng with cheese fries for almost 46 years at Adam Road Food Centre! Upon arriving at Adam’s Delights, I asked the chef what his specialty was and…

Almost instantaneously, he shouted at me with zest, MEE GORENG SPECIAL COMBO POWER!!! To this, his mother who was manning the cash register, began to beam with joy as she turned around to take my order.

Adam’s Delights’ mee goreng with cheese fries was exceptional! They were generous with the cheese and mayonnaise when it came to the fries, and the mutton was extremely tender and flavourful. I could feel the individual layers of meat falling apart as I chewed on a cube. The mee goreng had a slight hint of chilli, and every mouthful of noodles was just tasty! An absolute must try!

Cheng Ji (成记)

Owner of stall 24 Cheng Ji (成记), is a cheerful and bubbly woman who greeted me with a smile before taking my order. I ordered the small portion of her Pork Leg Bee Hoon (猪脚米粉) for $5!

It did not look like much at first – I even thought she might have forgotten to add the meat in. But upon closer inspection, buried beneath the steamy pile of Bee Hoon was a decent amount of tender pork legs, vegetables, and beansprouts!

I tried the Bee Hoon and meat independent of the lime and chilli sauce first. Absolutely delicious. The noodles had the precise amount of moisture, making it slightly slimy to go well with the pork, which was soft, savoury, and not too salty.

Next, I squeezed the lime for a sharp and sour aftertaste, then I tried mixing in the chilli for an added sweet and slightly spicy flavour. I was told that this dish will give you a sentimental taste of the past, back when the economy was bad in the 80s and all families could afford was a can of 猪脚 (Pork Leg)，米粉 (Rice Noodles)，and 豆芽 (Beansprout). How nostalgic!

Yummy Rojak

This stall is a testament to the way food culture has evolved in Singapore — a Chinese stall, serving Rojak (which is a Malay word that translates to ” fruit and vegetable salad”.

I ordered a plate of Rojak ($4) from Yummy Rojak. The sauce was sweet and aromatic with a pleasantly sharp sourness. I think it’s pretty standard, you can’t really go wrong with Rojak! However, the youtiao at Yummy Rojak was not as crispy as I had hoped it’d be. I suggest eating this dish right away before the sauce turns the youtiao soggy.

Teck Kee Hot & Cold Dessert

As I was told that Teck Kee Hot Cold Dessert stall makes one of the best Tau Suan and Green Bean Soup, I waited anxiously for them to open shop! If you look the stall up on the Internet, it will indicate that they open at 11am. However, they only opened around 12pm while I was there.

Unfortunately, I only had the privilege of trying their Green Bean Soup ($1.80) as the owner explained to me that the Tau Suan will only be ready by 3pm because it requires a long and tedious process of steaming and cooking.

Nonetheless, being the only dessert stall at Adam Road Food Centre, Teck Kee Hot & Cold Dessert certainly lives up to its name! The Green Bean Soup was piping hot and not too viscous with the right amount of sweetness. As I slowed down to chew and swallow individual green bean, I noticed that they were also fresh and extremely flavourful!

Surprise! I came back to Adam Road Food Centre just to try their Tau Suan in the evening! Thankfully they weren’t sold out yet!

I have loved Tao Suan as a hot dessert ever since I was young but I have always faced the qualm of having too little You Tiao (dough fritters). However, when the aunty unleashed an entire payload of you tiaos upon my Tau Suan, I couldn’t help but exclaim “WOW, so much ah?”. Look at the mountain of crispy You Tiaos!

The crispy You Tiaos complemented the Tau Suan which was a lovely warm, starchy, and not too sweet! My favourite comfort dessert! 100% did not regret coming back for this!

I have also been told that on certain days, customers wait patiently for them to prepare their dessert before ordering plenty of takeaways! So make sure you come at the right time to avoid missing out on this wonderful dessert!

House of Braised Duck

I ordered their signature Happy Duck Rice ($4.50) and for an additional $1, I got a serving of san ceng rou (三辰肉) or three-layer pork!

The duck, which was juicy and tender, coupled with the flavourful gravy that seeped into the creases of the meat, was just delicious. The portion of duck meat was a tad small, but luckily I added on the three-layer meat! The top layer of the san ceng rou was exceptionally crispy and went well with the tau pok which soaked up the gravy.

Apart from Duck Rice, House of Braised Duck actually also sells char siew, dumplings, and chicken meat with rice for $3/ $4. As if the variety isn’t wide enough, they also serve kway chup!

Bahrakath Mutton Soup King

For $6, Bahrakath Mutton Soup King’s mutton leg seemed to be pretty pricey, but it was excellent.

The soft and tender meat was falling off the bone! The soup was more like a gravy than soup, as it had a very strong flavour and was rather thick. But, ultimately, it was still very tasty!

I believe the soup’s flavour is enhanced by the addition of scallions and toasted onions! Absolutely delicious. It got quite salty after a while though, so order some bread to go along!

Noo Cheng Adam Road Big Prawn Noodle

Last but not least, Noo Cheng Adam Road Big Prawn Noodle!

For more than 30 years, Noo Cheng has been serving their signature Big Prawn Noodles ($8/$10/$12) — a timeless favourite. They also have Pork Belly Prawn Noodles ($6), Pork Ribs Prawn Noodles ($5) and even Sliced Pork Prawn Noodles ($5)!

I ordered the star, the Big Prawn Noodle ($8). Just looking at the bowl made me salivate. In spite of the rather hefty price tag, the portion did not disappoint. Sitting atop the noodles were three massive and juicy prawns! The bowl also contained a few pieces of pork ribs. What I loved most was the heavenly broth!

According to 46-year old Mr Teo, the broth is boiled with prawn shells, pork bones, and chicken bones for approximately one and a half hours.  The time and effort that goes into preparing the broth definitely bore fruit. I found myself gulping down spoonful after spoonful of the deeply flavorful broth. It had the robust taste of pork and a subtle but ever-present flavour of prawn. I’m not sure anyone can quite say they’ve been to Adam Road Food Centre if they haven’t tried Noo Cheng’s Big Prawn Noodles!

Adam Road may be small, but it sure is packed with good food!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the cafes/stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Adam Road Food Centre – The 14 Best Stalls at this Hawker Centre Near Botanic Gardens appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

I remember it was a very busy day for us. We spent a full day at Jewel Changi Airport, and rushed all the way to the west for dinner with our friends at Ga Hock Seafood. I was very tempted to “fly aeroplane” but our friends have been talking about the food and atmosphere for weeks, so I knew I just had to be there.

The long day of photoshoot made me really tired. But as we drove into the carpark beside Ga Hock Seafood, I started getting excited. We got a table in the open space at the back of the old school coffeeshop.

Fish Head Curry is one of the signature dishes here. It’s similar to assam curry fish head — the flavours were well balanced, and it had a slight sourness and a hint of fruitiness. The sauce had a nice thickness and it definitely paired well with my plate of white rice.

The Nan Ru Pork Belly may not be labeled as a must-try, but it was still pretty good. The aroma of garlic was distinct, and the thick slices of golden brown pork belly may have you and your pals fighting over the final piece. This plate of goodness is infused with flavors of fermented beancurd. I thought I was already full but I felt otherwise after this arrived. We also had the Shark Head in Black Bean Sauce and Qing Long Vegetables.

The salt baked crabs is another signature. I have heard so much about it even before our dinner, so my expectations were high. It was the last dish to arrive and we were all waiting in anticipation. Huge chunky crabs were crusted in salt and baked in the oven. With such a simple dish, the quality of crabs plays an even more important role, as it is even more prominent. Just like when we eat Teochew steamed fish, the freshness of the fish is very important. Unfortunately, the crabs fell short of expectations that night.

Opening up a crab claw to find it empty is indescribably disappointing. Not to mention, it’s a waste of a good crab. Our friend, Benny, who used to sell crabs, explained that crabs that are low on meat may have recently moulted their shell and have not had a chance to fill their body with flesh. And on our day of visit, the crab didn’t have much flavour. It was a pity considering that we paid close to $200 for the crabs.

I love the environment here because it feels like I am somewhere in Malaysia. I will probably come back again for other dishes. Not too sure if I will order the crabs again though. Not in my photos was a plate of satay which was very tasty. With a good proportion of fats to meat ratio, the satay was so juicy and each stick had a slight charred aroma.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Ga Hock Seafood – Old School Zi Char Along Upper Bukit Timah Road appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

In Singapore, there is no shortage of places offering chicken rice which is commonly regarded as a national delicacy.

While other chefs have strived to adapt and innovate, Michael Lee, the owner of Qi Lin Xuan Chicken Rice has brought back and perfected the old rice ball technique! With the motto to give everyone a chance to enjoy the chicken rice balls, Michael sells his chicken rice at affordable prices!

Now, you must be wondering, what makes Michael’s chicken rice balls so different from the normal chicken rice? To attain a not-too-oily texture and ensure its fragrance, time control and the use of quality rice grains is very important. A few different types of rice grains are used to make the chicken rice (mainly Song He old rice), and workers have to ensure that the rice gets neither too sticky nor too dry throughout the cooking process.

Measuring the amount of rice to be moulded into a ball is another key factor in achieving consistency. On top of that, a lot of manpower is required as the rice balls have to be hand-pressed while they are still hot in order for the rice to maintain its shape when served.

The stall avoids using frozen chicken. Instead, they serve 3 varieties of fresh chicken – roasted, soya sauce, and steamed chicken. Michael mentioned that the roasted chicken is the most popular amongst younger customers!

After tasting all three types of chicken, we decided to order the half roasted chicken set meal($20) which feeds about 2-3! It comes with 10 rice balls, vegetables, and soup.

The roasted chicken skin was glistening, and the meat was exceptionally succulent and juicy. Moreover, the sweet and savoury gravy, which had just the right amount of oiliness, complemented the overall taste of the chicken and fragrance of the rice. I can’t remember the last time I had such a satisfying plate of chicken rice!

The chilli was also extraordinarily fresh, but it was quite spicy and may overwhelm the taste of the chicken rice balls. Michael recommended us to try the individual ingredients on their own before soaking them in chilli!

I feel that 3 rice balls are equivalent to 1 serving of rice! This is their roasted chicken drumstick with rice set which costs only $4.50.

When asked if he had any thoughts about the future of the Chicken Rice industry in Singapore, Michael mentioned that he is not interested in fame or reputation — he simply wishes to deliver a taste that he holds close to his heart. Preserving the taste that never fails to evoke memories of Michael’s childhood in Malacca, Qi Lin Xuan Chicken rice is a must-try!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Qi Lin Xuan Chicken Rice. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Qi Lin Xuan Chicken Rice – Handmade Chicken Rice Balls! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

I’m sure many of us despaired when we found out that Plum & Rice, the delightful Japanese fusion stall, was ceasing its operations after 2 years. But not to worry! They’ve rebranded, and are back serving up bowls of prawn noodles instead. Curious, we asked why, and it turns out that it was to cater more to the crowd there. Apparently, noodles are a more popular choice at this particular market, and so they’d made this difficult decision.

Another change I noticed is the absence of their third partner, Eric, who has left the business. It’s nice to see that both of them are still as friendly as ever! The stall now only sells two classic items — Prawn Noodles, and Pork Rib Prawn Noodles. Both items come in soup and dry versions, and are priced at $4, $6, or $8.

Their broth is painstakingly boiled overnight with pork bones, before prawn shells are added in the morning. At first glance, their broth was noticeably darker than what’s served at other stalls. The soup was overly salty to me, and the saltiness overpowered all the other flavours present in the soup. Surprisingly, I was told that customers tend to say it’s not salty enough.

Fortunately, the pork ribs and prawns were great, and made up for the broth. The pork ribs were extremely tender and fell right off the bone. It had a slight sweetness, and there was no strong porky smell. You know how some prawn noodle stalls have prawns that are mushy, and make you wonder why it’s even in there? It’s definitely not the case here! The prawns were springy, and had a lovely crustacean sweetness. I’m utterly lazy at peeling prawns, so when I saw that they even peel off the shells for you beforehand, I couldn’t be happier!

The dry noodles looked rather normal at first, but it carried a subtle hei bi (dried shrimp) flavour. It would’ve been better if it was spicier, but that’s just my personal preference.

While I wouldn’t say it’s the best prawn noodles I’ve had, I would say its worth a try. After all, it’s not easy for them to have changed their entire concept and to have make it work. Do support them if you’re in the vicinity!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Prawn & Mee – Plum & Rice has Rebranded, They Now Serve Prawn Mee! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

The smoky “stench” that lingers on your clothes after you’ve dined at any Korean BBQ restaurant is, what I would call, a small price to pay for a delicious Korean meal, especially at Kim Dae Mun Korean Food. I visited the restaurant on a Thursday evening and it was filled with working adults, groups of friends and even families!

Now married with 2 children, 38 year-old Kim Hyeon Ju started working in the food industry, alongside her father, when she graduated from local university NTU. Her father used to be a Head Chef at Seoul Garden before starting the family business. Ever since he retired, Hyeon Ju has been running and managing the restaurant.

Fun fact: the restaurant name “Kim Dae Mun” is actually a combination of the family name “Kim”, and references to Dongdaemun and Namdaemun — two of the most popular shopping and tourist districts in Seoul. While Dae Mun translates to Da Men (大門) in Chinese, and Big Gate in English, Dong translates to East, and Nam translates to South. Thus, in a way, the restaurant’s name embodies the flow of tourism and business from all directions, and also the Korean heritage and culture.

First, I tried the Tender Sliced Beef ($10.50). The slices of beef were indeed, as its name suggests, tender, but also chewy and tremendously flavourful! It was also not too salty and came with a decent amount of vegetables, rice, and soup! With each meal, you also have a choice of 1 side — kimchi, Korean styled stir-fried anchovies, or spicy cucumber salad.

Apart from the Tender Sliced Beef, the restaurant also serves Spicy Shredded Chicken ($8.50) and Spicy Pork ($9) on hotplates.

Kim Dae Mun Korean Food also serves Chicken/ Beef/ Seafood/ Fish soups ($8.50), Kimchi Soup with Pork ($8), Dumpling Soup ($6.50), Bean Paste & Vegetables Soup ($8), and Beancurd Soup ($8).

I decided to try their Chicken Soup, which was served piping hot with a mixture of ingredients such as chicken, vegetables, noodles, egg, and tofu. The set meal also comes with rice. Although more slices of chicken would have been ideal, the soup was to die for. It was only mildly spicy and was incredibly comforting.

Being a huge fan of gyoza, I decided to give the restaurant’s fried dumplings a try!

The dumplings, which were filled with ingredients such as pork, vegetable, and the same noodles found in their Chicken Soup, were juicy and had a crusty exterior. If we order this together, you’ll be lucky if I decide to share even one dumpling with you!

The restaurant also has a drinks stall at the entrance, which is manned by a part-time staff who is… yep you guessed it, also Korean! Before leaving the restaurant, I asked Kim if she had any plans to expand the business or hand it down to her children in the future. She heaved a sigh and said that running the restaurant is not easy due to long working hours, high turnover rate, and expensive rent.

Do check out Kim Dae Mun Korean Food at Concorde Hotel!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Kim Dae Mun Korean Food. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Kim Dae Mun Korean Food – Affordable AND Authentic! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

One of the tallest skyscrapers in Singapore, One Raffles Place shopping mall is located in the heart of the CBD and is constantly buzzing with activity. There are plenty of dining establishments at One Raffles Place, making the mall a place brimming with life and laughter during peak lunch hours. We’ve sussed out eight great lunch spots for our dear working adults. Some are new, and some even have special promotions for those who bring their own containers this GSS!

Kipos

Named after the Greek word for garden, Kipos is the second location by Kipos Collective. Serving up a variety of delicious signature salad and grain bowls. Kipos patrons will also be able to choose between customising their own meals or choosing from a range of signature bowls. Try the Chicken Grain bowl with roasted sesame dressing ($12), the Quinoa Quorn Lemak ($10) which is a healthier, vegetarian version of our local favourite nasi lemak, and a customised bowl with Soba and Aburi Mentaiko Salmon ($18). Omit the onsen eggs from the Quinoa Quorn Lemak and you have yourself a vegan version too!

Our personal favourite was the Aburi Salmon which was torched perfectly. For those who prefer something light and healthy for lunch, Kipos is the place for you. And, If you bring your own containers and cups, you’re entitled to a $0.50 discount off each bowl or $1 off their organic iced tea.

Aloha Poké

Aloha Poké was the first to introduce poké to Singapore. All avid poké fans would have been to Aloha Poké at least once. The popular chain has recently opened a new store in One Raffles Place, much to the delight of office workers in the vicinity.

We ordered their Spicy Tuna, Mentaiko Salmon, and of course, the Original Salmon ($10.90++). One thing that separates Aloha from most other poké stores is the way they present their bowls — the rice and ingredients are laid out separately. Customers also get a free standard add-on (worth $1) when you bring your own containers so don’t forget to bring along one from home!

Le Tian Tian

First founded in 2016, this is Le Tian Tian’s second location. They serve up traditional Hong Kong snacks and desserts (hot or cold) for any time of the day. We went for the Black Sesame Paste ($3.50), Papaya, White Fungus and Almond soup ($3.50), Yam Cake ($4) and Glutinous Rice ($3.50).

Everything is made in-house, including the traditional Yam Cakes, with premium ingredients such as grade A lap cheong (dried Chinese sausages) and dried mushrooms. The Sesame Paste and Papaya Soup had just the right level of sweetness for me, and we could really taste the hei bi (dried shrimp) in the Glutinous Rice.

SandGer by Take a Bread

A combination of the words sandwich and burger, SandGer puts together a killer SandGer indeed. Originating from Thailand, SandGer makes its breads according to its own unique recipe. These are then baked fresh daily to ensure that each SandGer is up to standard. The bread is crispy on the outside, and fluffy and soft on the inside. On top of that, SandGer imports its spices from Thailand and creates everything from scratch.

We ordered their signature Pulled Pork with Sambal and added Mozzarella ($8.80), the Chicken Patty with added bacon ($7.80) and lastly, the Tom Yum Tuna ($5.80). They also offer iced teas such as the Traditional Thai Milk Tea ($3) and a special Rose Milk Tea with Cheese Foam ($5). Our favourite was definitely the pulled pork sandwich and rose milk tea. Don’t miss their special promotion — get a free Thai milk tea with any SandGer ordered.

JoAh Korean Restaurant

Craving for some yummy Korean food for lunch? Head over to JoAh with a few colleagues and tuck into any of their hearty dishes. We had the Ginseng Chicken soup (whole) ($24++), Claypot Beef Bulgogi ($15++), Cheese Dakgalbi ($21++), and the Seafood Pancake ($18++).

The Cheese Dakgalbi was flavourful and had a slight spicy kick. We definitely recommend getting it with the cheese so that you can wrap the pieces of chicken with melted cheese! The Beef Bulgogi with a clear but tasty broth and a generous amount of beef, was also yummy. This is the perfect place for some warm comfort food on a rainy day.

Munch Saladsmith

Munch Saladsmith has been around since 2005. Located in the basement of One Raffles Place, they offer healthy and satisfying meals. We dug into their delicious Potato Rosti with a Bratwurst sausage ($10.40++), Roasted Chicken Thigh with tri-colour pesto pasta and broccoli ($11.90++), Dory with Soba Noodles and Chicken Caesar ($11.40++), and lastly, a Turkey Cranberry Sandwich ($8.40++).

My favourite was the Rosti as it was buttery, without being too greasy! Fresh out of the oven, the roasted chicken thigh which had a lovely caramelized skin, was also great. Pesto lovers would definitely enjoy the pasta! Munch also offers $0.50 off when you bring your own container or cup this GSS, so don’t forget!

Don Your Personal Pie Club

Also located in the basement level, Don Pie sends out delicious and flaky pies. We went with their signature Chicken Puff ($2.40 per puff or $11 for 5) and a personal Black Pepper Chicken Pie ($7.50), both of which were buttery and savoury.

If you’re looking to share, the family sized pies are a good idea. We recommend the classic signature flavour in the puff form as it’s fuss-free and easy to eat on the go.

Twelve Cupcakes

I’m sure we all know of homegrown brand Twelve Cupcakes. The chain has continually rolled out cupcakes that are perfect for all occasions. For those who don’t particularly enjoy cupcakes, you’ll be pleased to know that they offer other sweet treats as well.

Other offerings include whole cakes ($22.80++) or sliced ones ($3.80++) and even cookies ($3.20)! You’ll definitely be spoilt for choice! I highly recommend the Salted Caramel Milk Chocolate cookie and Crunchy Hazelnut cake.

With a range of dining options available, One Raffles Place, conveniently located above Raffles Place MRT, has just about everything you need. If you’re looking for an attractive lunch spot today, look no further. Head to One Raffles Place and have your pick!

This post was brought to you by One Raffles Place.

The post One Raffles Place – NEW Food Options and GSS Discounts! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

It’s been a long time since % Arabica first announced their first outlet in Singapore. Originally slated to open a few months back, the store was unfortunately faced with numerous delays. But the wait is finally over! At long last, they’ve opened their doors on 28 June, and received a warm welcome (both figuratively and literally). I headed down around 2pm and despite the sweltering sun, there was a snaking queue outside the door.

For those who are hearing about % Arabica for the first time, they are a world-renowned coffee shop from Kyoto. While the brand was founded in 2012, their flagship store in Kyoto was only opened in 2014. The founder Kenneth Shoji’s philosophy was to create the best coffee possible, and even invested in his very own coffee farm in Hawaii. As word spread, they quickly gathered a large fanbase for the high quality of their beans and coffee. Fast forward to 2019, and they now have 38 outlets in 12 different countries.

Each cafe is equipped with a roastery, and roasts the coffee beans in-house to ensure fresh cuppas every time. This provides the top notch quality they’re known for, and the beautiful aesthetics of the brand are a huge plus. The space at Arab Street keeps to % Arabica’s signature minimalist style – clean white walls and simple decor. If there were less people, it would definitely be perfect for an Instagram shot. Although the seating inside is more limited, they also have additional tables outside the store for those who can brave the heat.

Given how popular they are, I was resigned to my fate of having to wait at least an hour. But thankfully, I’d only waited about half an hour for my coffee after ordering! I ordered an Iced Latte (Blend) ($9) and an Iced Americano (Single Origin) ($7). To be honest, I’m usually more of a tea person, but I quite enjoyed their coffees. The latte was milkier than other places I’ve tried, and helped to mask the bitterness of the beans. I would say that their coffee is actually one of the less bitter ones I’ve had! It’s good for those who find pure coffee too bitter, but coffee purists might find it too milky.

The Americano was nice and smooth, with an acidity that was not too overwhelming. I tasted some fruity notes to the drink, and although I’m not a fan of sour coffee, I found this quite easy to drink.

The roastery here is located at the back, and you can purchase the coffee beans itself too! This might be a more worthwhile option as the drinks do lean towards the expensive side.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post % Arabica – World-Renowned Kyoto Cafe Finally Opens Its Doors! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Singapore is no stranger to local bakeries, with many scattered all around neighbourhoods. Many of them sell simple buns and breads that we grew up eating. We all know the nostalgic classics such as sausage rolls, ham and cheese bun, butter sugar bread and more. However, European or specialty bakeries are less common, and mostly are brands brought in from overseas.

This is what makes Bakery Brera & Fine Foods so special — it’s a completely local artisan brand. Started by husband-and-wife duo, Thrina Low and Jacky Chan, the humble bakery churns out amazing European bakes, comparable to those in Europe! Their breads are so good, they even supply to popular establishments such as Wolfgang Puck and The Alley Luxe.

Most people probably know of their Insta-famous cruffins, but do you know that they serve up amazing breads as well? All their breads are made with premium ingredients from France and Japan, with no preservatives at all. Unlike quick breads which do not require much proofing, Bakery Brera proofs their dough for 16 to 18 hours before baking. Despite the laborious process, Thrina explained that they do not want to take shortcuts. You can tell the quality of the bread in just one bite! They have options suitable for people of all ages, and even offer vegan and sugar-free breads.

There’s a good variety of sweet and savoury options, and we were lucky enough to try them both. I’m an avid bread fan, so this was basically heaven to me! I was blown away by their Nutty Salted Caramel and Lemon Curd Cruffin which hid a delicious filling within. The caramel was perfectly browned with nutty bits that provided a contrast in texture, while the lemon curd was smooth and refreshing. Amazing looking and delectable — no wonder they’re so popular! I love a good croissant, and both the Regular and Pain Au Chocolat were perfect too. Flaky, pillowy, and buttery, they ticked all the boxes!

I also tried their Raspberry Brioche bun. Brioche is an enriched dough that contains a higher density of butter and eggs, making it a more indulgent treat. The dough was slightly sweet, while the tart raspberries provided a pop of flavour. I really enjoyed the savoury Ham and Cheese roll. It was a nice ode to the traditional bun seen in Chinese bakeries and a reminder of my childhood. It uses a brioche dough instead of the regular dough, but biting into it still transported me back to my younger days where I tucked into one of these on the way to school.

There are also classic European choices such as Baguettes, Ciabattas, and Sourdough. These are sugarless options which are also suitable for vegans! You can tell a good loaf from its crust and crumb, and they definitely got that right here! The crust was perfectly browned, and had a nice chew to it without being too tough. I’ve often been disappointed by loaves which took so much effort to chew through that I felt as though my teeth were about to fall out. Great with just some olive oil and vinegar, or butter, these breads taste good even on their own.

I was also impressed by Thrina’s passion for the community. She tries to give back to society and spread positivity with the bakery. We were only there for a while, but we loved the friendly and cozy atmosphere in the store. A few patrons who live nearby even told us that they visit the store every other day! I’ll definitely be back to try the rest of their delicious goodies!

The post Bakery Brera & Fine Foods – Homegrown Artisan Bakery You Must Try! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

With the owner’s notorious reputation for having a RBF and being unfriendly, Bai Li Xiang Economic Bee Hoon had earned its nickname of Ah Lian Bee Hoon amongst NTU students since a long time ago. Ah Lian Bee Hoon has been the most popular supper spot for NTU students since the 80s, that having supper here is almost a rite of passage for every student who’s living on campus.

I remember arriving at 179 Kopitiam for supper late one night with my friends. We had caught Ah Lian in a bad mood and when one of us requested: “可以加米粉吗？” (can I add more Bee Hoon?), she replied: “要加米粉啊？来，加给你死！” (want to add Bee Hoon ah? Come, add until you die!). Good times.

It has been some time since I last had Ah Lian Bee Hoon. Still, I was not prepared to learn that she no longer makes an appearance at the stall. Arriving for dinner around 7PM last night, I noticed that she was not behind the counter, and that a sign which says “We are looking for Stall Helper” had been put up at the storefront.

Upon enquiring about her absence, the part-time staff manning the stall mentioned that Ah Lian no longer comes down to operate the stall. Instead, she spends her days sleeping and relaxing at home. One of them even said that ever since he started work a few months ago, he has yet to see Ah Lian.

Even though Ah Lian no longer makes an appearance, the stall’s noodles still remain one of the most satisfying bee hoons I have ever tasted. Just look at its majestic grandeur of golden brown. Until today, I still can’t figure out what it is that makes the bee hoon so delicious — does Ah Lian’s impatience and rage add an unexplainable fragrance to her food? I guess I’ll never find out.

Although the Fried Kway Teow was a tad oily, and the portion seemed smaller than it used to be, the chicken wings, seaweed chicken, egg, sausage, fillet, and luncheon meat, which I frequently ordered, were still well marinated and crispy (especially the chicken wings)!

The standard NTU da bao order is always bee hoon with egg and chicken wing.

Another wonderful aspect of the Ah Lian Bee Hoon that has yet to change is the chilli sauce. Usually, I use my chilli sauce as a dip to enhance the flavour of whatever I am eating. However, whenever I dine at Ah Lian Bee Hoon, I soak my ingredients in the chilli sauce AND mix it into my noodles as though it were gravy. Never too spicy and always flavourful!

I was glad to find out from my visit that the standard of Ah Lian Bee Hoon has been maintained. The only difference is that Ah Lian does not appear anymore.

Ah Lian, if you are reading this, you are sorely missed.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Bai Li Xiang Economic Bee Hoon. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Bai Li Xiang Economic Bee Hoon – Where is Ah Lian now? appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Most people will mistake this stall near Lakeside as the 2nd branch of the 24/7 “Kuai San Dian Xin” in Woodlands. However, they’re not the same! It doesn’t really matter to me because the $1.30 dim sum is what I’m here for! I was uncertain about the portion since it is only $1.30, but I was taken aback when I collected my order. A good thing is that the staff will heat up your steamed dishes upon order while the fried dim sums are kept warm.

$1.30 for 3 pieces of Prawn Dumpling, and $1.30 for 3 pieces of Siew Mai is  quite a bang for your buck, isn’t it? Although the skin of the har now was slightly thick for me, the sweet prawns made up for it. The siew mai was also decent as it was firm and flavourful. The mini fish roe, which burst mildly in my mouth, was the icing on the cake. Yummy!

$1.30 for a bowl of Century Egg Pork Porridge?! This simple, but comforting, dish was thick and was a good option to tuck into, before I tackled the fried fried dim sums.

I ordered “Xian Zhu” Roll and Fried Sotong Roll, and the staff placed them all on a plate. Both weren’t the most fantastic but were still savoury and crispy. There’s really nothing to complain about considering their prices.

The HK Style Prawn Chee Cheong Fun was smooth, but was a tad too thick for my liking. Nonetheless, the plain rice roll went really well with the delectable light soy sauce.

Fried prawn dumpling is always a must-order for me at any dim sum place. Kuai San Dian Xin’s Fried Prawn Dumpling reminded me of my childhood. It wasn’t the best, but it was filled with chewy fish paste with prawns. You just can’t go wrong with fried dumplings!

7 dishes for less than $10?! Kuai San Dian Xin is now my go-to place for cheap dim sum since I stay much nearer to Lakeside than Woodlands. The price tag actually reminded me of “primary school food” because this is the price I used to pay when I was in primary school! Some primary schools’ porridge even costs more than $1.30!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Kuai San Dian Xin. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Kuai San Dian Xin – EVERY Dim Sum Here is $1.30! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

The owner of Cheng Ji (成记) at Adam Road Food Centre is a cheerful and bubbly 48 year-old woman named Ye Hongxia. Since she took over the stall from her mother-in-law in 2003, she has been operating the stall on her own in the day. Her son occasionally comes to help out in the evening.

First, I ordered the small portion($5) of her specialty Pork Leg Bee Hoon (猪脚米粉). It also comes in medium($8) and large portions($12).

It did not look like much at the beginning — I even thought she might have forgotten to add the meat in. But upon closer inspection, I found a decent amount of tender pork legs, vegetables, and beansprouts buried beneath the steamy pile of bee hoon!

I tried the bee hoon and meat without the lime and chilli sauce first. Absolutely delicious! The noodles, which had just the right amount of moisture, went really well with the pork, which was soft, savoury, and not too salty.

Next, I squeezed on some lime, and mixed in the chilli. I was told that this dish offers a taste of the 80s, back when the economy was bad, and all families could afford was a can of 猪脚 (Pork Leg), 米粉 (Rice Noodles), and 豆芽 (Beansprout). How nostalgic! If you were born in the 80s, do give it a try and let me know if this is true!

I wanted to try another dish so she recommended her Hokkien Mee! I ordered the medium serving($4). The lady boss was extremely generous with the ingredients. The noodles were coated in a layer of gravy that reminded me of a Hokkien mee that I tasted when I was a little boy. Similar to the Pork Leg Bee Hoon, both lime and chilli complemented each spoonful of noodles perfectly.

There were actually not 2, but 3 prawns! One of them was underneath the avalanche of noodles. I didn’t realise till I dug in and got a pleasant surprise!

It wasn’t till after the entire meal when I approached the lady boss for a chat. She told me that she had given me a slightly bigger portion of bee hoon for my Pork Leg Bee Hoon because I was a young and growing adult! No wonder I had trouble finding my ingredients…

I noticed that actual canned Pork Legs were used to make the dish. I enquired further to see if she uses any special ingredients in order to make it so delicious. She replied that apart from ensuring that the meat and noodles were neither too oily nor dry, the most important aspect was the soup.

The soup, which is a homemade specialty, is poured into the wok during the process of frying so that the noodles soak up the fragrance and taste of it.

Apart from Pork Leg Bee Hoon and Fried Hokkien Mee, a variety of Singapore’s favourite local delicacies such as Fried Kway Teow and Carrot Cake are also available! If you happen to be at Adam Road Food Centre for a meal, do show Cheng Ji (成记) some support!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Cheng Ji (成记). We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Cheng Ji (成记) – How Can Canned Pork Legs Taste So Good? appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Souffle Pancakes have been all the rage recently, and we’ve sussed out seven places for you to get them! Soft and fluffy like a cloud, these are the perfect treats to have on any day. Don’t worry, even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, you can still enjoy these pancakes in savoury renditions!

Gram Cafe & Pancakes

Everyone’s been eagerly anticipating the day that Gram arrives in Singapore and the wait is officially over. Known for its OG Instagram Soufflé Pancakes, Gram definitely lived up to expectations. Biting into their Premium Pancakes ($17.90) felt like biting into a delicious cloud. When paired with their special maple syrup and housemade whipped cream, the pancakes were heavenly. The maple syrup was of a thicker viscosity, which I prefer, and paired well with the cream, which was light and milky.

Without a doubt, it’s one of the best souffle pancakes I’ve had in Singapore, and definitely worth a try. These beautiful pancakes are made upon order, so do expect to wait a little while! Unfortunately for us, it’s also only limited to 30 servings a day at 11am, 3pm and 6pm. This is due to the amount of time and effort required to produce each batch.

Poofy

Hidden in the southwest, Poofy which sits quietly in habitat by honestbee serves up more of these beautiful pillows. Their soufflé pancakes are a tad cheaper here, coming in at $14. They definitely do not cut corners or use inferior ingredients though! The pancakes are made from Japanese Takaragasa flour and Hokkaido milk, before they’re expertly cooked on a non-stick griddle. Its then served to you simply with a vanilla Chantilly cream and some fresh berries. Yum!

I was definitely not disappointed. The fluffiness was on point, and the pancakes were slighter softer than Gram’s. It sort of reminded me of the airiness in a mousse when I looked at the centre. While the maple syrup was not as fragrant as I would’ve liked, it balanced well with the Chantilly cream which carried a slight sweetness. Do be patient, especially if you intend to visit over the weekends, as each batch requires at least 15 minutes to perfect!

Sweet T.Rex

Undoubtedly the cheapest in the entire list, Sweet T.Rex’s pancakes will cost you just $4 for two pancakes with just a drizzled sauce, or $5 with ice cream! You get to pick from three flavours – Caramel, Strawberry or Chocolate. Heeding the owner’s recommendation, I picked the caramel sauce.

The pancakes were actually fluffy and airy enough, pleasantly surprising me. I wasn’t sure if it was from the pancakes or the sauce, but I did taste a slight artificial vanilla flavour. I really can’t complain much as they cost just a small fraction of the prices of most of the other souffle pancakes out there. I would think having it with the ice cream would make it a much better dessert! There are so many good hawker stalls around as well, so it’s great that one can have both lunch and dessert in one location!

Hoshino Coffee

Popular for its coffee and desserts, Hoshino Coffee at ION Orchard has been serving their signature Double Pancakes Souffle Style ($12.50) for a couple of years now. I’ve been to Hoshino in Japan, and while I didn’t particularly enjoy the waiting time, the food served was pretty solid. I’ve only ever seen photos of their souffle pancakes, and each time it looked great. It had the height, and the beautiful tan colour of a pancake. Alas, my pancakes arrived looking a little too pale, and the top pancake was a little lopsided.

The texture was closer to a cake than a souffle, and I was disappointed after having the various splendid ones before. One thing I liked about Hoshino though, was their butter. It was a whipped butter, so it was lighter and complemented the denseness of the cakes. If I thought of this not as a souffle pancake, but simply a tall pancake, I would tell you that it was actually quite decent.

Typhoon Taiwanese Cafe

This place had one of the best presentations by far, and I was impressed to say the least. Their Souffle Stackers ($17.90) came with three pancakes, fresh berries, crushed biscuits and even a scoop of ice cream! Also, their pancakes definitely fulfilled the fluffiness criterion as well.

While it wasn’t the fluffiest, it was still pretty great! When paired with fresh fruits and ice cream, it was delicious. They have four other flavours — all of which sound very interesting too! Think of it as Asian-inspired souffle pancakes. One of them even includes durian! I’ve had their Granny Smith Apple Fruit Tea on a previous visit and that was delightful as well!

Seiwaa Okonomiyaki & Teppanyaki Restaurant

This is probably my favourite place in the entire list! The way they serve their pancakes is so unique! First and foremost, Seiwaa is an Okonomiyaki and Teppanyaki restaurant. Souffle pancakes are just the latest addition to Seiwaa’s menu. It comes in at $18 for four Original pancakes, or $20 for their Cheese flavoured one.

Like a true Okonomiyaki restaurant, Seiwaa cooks the pancakes right in front of us! Don’t forget to get your phones ready, as watching the chef ladle the poofy batter onto the grill is the perfect Instagram story moment. We opted to have 2 without cheese just to taste the difference. However, like everything else, cheese definitely made it better. Once done, the pancakes are drizzled with a gula melaka sauce instead of maple syrup  — another unique and local twist! The pancakes were wonderfully poofy, and fluffy like a souffle indeed. The cheese added a nice savoury note to the slightly sweet pancakes, and the caramelised gula melaka just made the entire dish even better.

Antoinette

Antoinette definitely has the fanciest setting. I’d originally anticipated a heftier price tag to come along with their pancakes too. Surprisingly, their Tres Berries Souffle Pancakes are priced at $14. Two pancakes, vanilla creme Chantilly, strawberries, blueberries, butter, and a honey maple syrup for $14 in a beautiful space? It definitely sounds like an indulgent treat. Albeit on the smaller side, the pancakes seemed a tad more refined. Antoinette also offers savoury souffle pancakes for those who aren’t into sweets!

While I preferred Seiwaa’s pancakes, this was my partner’s favourite. Their pancakes were extremely soft, and melted in my mouth the way a mousse or a meringue would. Afterall, souffle pancakes are part meringue right! The chantilly was gently sweet and creamy, pairing well with the slight tartness of the berries. As for the honey maple syrup, it tasted more like honey. While we didn’t get to taste it, the Ondeh Ondeh Souffle Pancake sounds delicious. This is a great location to spend a relaxing afternoon!

Did we miss out your favourite souffle pancakes? Let us know!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the cafes/stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 7 Fluffy Souffle Pancakes in Singapore for All Pancake Lovers! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

We are never too far away from an easy, delicious meal. At Wisma Atria, it’s all about food and fun. Just a few weeks ago, I hosted the #SavourAtWisma event where the first 100 shoppers with the Qualifying Pass were treated to a yummy lunch feast at Food Republic Singapore and Picnic SG respectively.

Besides sharing about food photography tips during the event, some shoppers went home with not just a full tummy, but also shopping vouchers, concert tickets and Singapore Badminton Open passes! Here are some highlights of #SavourAtWisma events.

PICNIC
#03-15 to 23 & #03-41 to 49

Sometimes, I would spend my weekend afternoon in Picnic because there are different lunch options there and we get to enjoy our food in such an Instagram-worthy space. This communal dining eatery serves comfort food dishes such as Japanese Butadon, Taiwanese beef noodles, Korean-Mexican tacos, and American-style smash burgers by Omakase Burger – all within a garden-themed food court.

The camera always eats first!

Shoppers from Wisma Atria received $20 dining credits each. They can queue for their favourite food and share it with their friends. The highlight is definitely the Omakase X Impossible Burger, which includes a customised patty that comprises a blend of the original Impossible patty with a selection of handpicked plant-based ingredients. The meatless patty is pressed against a grill to produce a flatter, caramelised crust on the exterior. It has everything a meat lover looks for in a burger: a slightly pink middle with a smoky flavour. Except that this is also suitable for vegetarians.

I always come here for the Hokkaido-style Butadon where strips of pork belly, collar, and loin are triple-marinated before being grilled and served atop a bowl of rice. If you come in a big group, the Picnic’s Celebration Feast is perfect. Suitable for 8 pax or more, the Celebration Feast is a smorgasbord of 10 different signature dishes such as the signature butadon, pastas and pizzas, and a choice of roast beef or basked barramundi, and served on a long platter. It certainly is a one-of-a-kind showpiece that makes for a memorable celebration.

Mentaiko Pasta

Meatballs Pizza

Omakase Cheeseburger

Besides enjoying the scrumptious meal, the shoppers also picked up food photography tips and two winners walked away with a pair of season passes to Singapore Badminton Open (worth $500) each. How lucky!

FOOD REPUBLIC
Level 4

Do you know, Food Republic’s very first outlet is in Wisma Atria? The food court gathers iconic and popular brands under one roof. Whether you are grabbing breakfast on the run or taking a shopping break over kopi and toast, there is definitely something for everyone. We spent one Saturday afternoon with shoppers from Wisma Atria to try some of the signature dishes at Food Republic Wisma Atria.

Some of the highlights at Food Republic @ Wisma Atria include KL Ban Mian, Fitra Chicken Rice, Hok Kee and Huat Huat BBQ. Hok Kee hails from Yuen Long, Hong Kong and has more than 60 years of heritage. The wontons here are plump and fresh; it is a surprise find in a food court. For chicken rice lovers, the halal-certified Fitra Chicken Rice will satisfy your cravings. You can choose between tender, juicy chicken roasted or poached, served on a bed of fragrant chicken rice.

If you can take spicy food, the KL Ban Mian is pretty decent. The noodles are QQ and chewier. The dry version is drizzled generously with lard oil, minced pork and a perfect poached egg. Just break the egg and let the yolk coat every strand of the ban mian. While the participants are enjoying their main course, they also ordered a plate of Huat Huat BBQ chicken wings to share.

KL Traditional Chilli Ban Mee

Huat Huat BBQ Chicken Wings | Fitra Hainanese Chicken Rice

Hong Kong Hok Kee Noodle & Congee

I hope these pictures would tempt you enough to head down to Wisma Atria for a meal. They have many exciting culinary concepts to enhance your shopping experience. See you here soon!

The post Savour at Wisma Atria – Feast on Local and International Cuisine at Food Republic and Picnic appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

I chanced upon this coffeeshop when I was on one of my food hunts, and I was taken aback by the large lunch crowd here. Apparently, the boss of this ban mian stall is also the boss of this DMQ Coffeeshop, thus the name “Ubi DMQ Eating House”. The stall looks like one of those ban mian chain stores but I was told that this is the only outlet and it opened almost 5 years ago.

I noticed that EVERY table had these orange and red bowls. I am not exaggerating! That’s also because only another (Mala Hotpot) stall was open in the coffeeshop, but no one seemed to be patronising that stall.

The prices and portions are reasonable. But what about the taste? Read on to find out!

The Dry Mee Hoon Kueh ($4) looked plain at first, but hidden underneath the noodles was a glorious savoury dark sauce. You may add on some chilli padi if you like. I went for it because I like my mee hoon kueh to be spicy! The basic ingredients which include crispy ikan bills and flavourful minced meat were adequately satisfying!

What surprised me was the discovery of a runny egg yolk served in a separate small bowl of soup! Bursting the yolk unto the QQ mee hoon kueh made it even more palatable.

I knew I had to try the one with Lala ($5) when I saw it on the menu, because Lala is seldom sold at ban mian stalls. The amount of Lala was decent, and they were surprisingly fresh! I’ve selected you mian to go with the Lala and the noodles turned out to be really chewy. They were not soggy at all even though I only had it after awhile. Adding the chilli padi made the flavoursome soup even more shiok!

Lastly, I had Fish & Prawn ban mian($6.50). I was looking forward to this bowl the most! And this turned out to be my favourite bowl of the 3! The firm prawns added a dose of sweetness to the already-flavourful soup. The fish slices, which had been marinated beforehand, were so yummy. Can you imagine what a flavour bomb the soup was? Writing this article is making me crave it now!

Amazed by the 3 bowls I’ve tried so far, I was keen to know more about the chef. Chef Zou Dong Sheng came to Singapore more than 4 years ago and started learning how to pull noodles by hand. He begins his day at 9:30am to prepare the batches of noodles before officially opening the stall from 11am till 9:30pm. Zou is a really humble man who gets most of his motivation from the acknowledging smiles of his patrons. The never-ending orders, even during non-peak hours, shows just how tasty his noodles are!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Ubi DMQ Eating House. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Ubi DMQ Eating House – The QQ Handmade Noodles with Lala is so Good! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

It was our first time in Busan. To be honest, I don’t really know what to expect. But a visit to Jagalchi Market came highly recommended by many friends.

Jagalchi Fish Market is the largest seafood market in South Korea, and it sells both live and dried seafood.

This is a large building housing the fish and seafood sellers on the first floor, and the restaurants on the second. It is, therefore, very convenient to procure your desired seafood, and have them cooked and served to you all in “one place”.

The wet market on the first floor sells almost everything the ocean has to offer. The types of sea creatures are endless — crabs, octopus, fish, abalone, and lots of shellfish.

You can purchase the live seafood on the ground floor and bring it to one of the many restaurants on 2nd floor for preparation and cooking at an additional charge. It was difficult to pick a stall to get our seafood from, but I guess a good tip will be to check the prices at each stall before you make your purchase. A little bargain is allowed.

We selected a live octopus, fish and some scallops for our meal. It cost us about 23,000 won. Once you have made payment, the fishmongers will prepare the seafood. Then, they will call a waitress from their “buddy” restaurant and someone will bring you upstairs to your table.

Sannakji, sliced raw octopus, is definitely a dish you must order especially if you haven’t try them before. Looking at a plate of wriggling tentacles, I squealed. I am probably not the most adventurous traveler but I was very determined to try it.

The octopus came to us cut up but still moving. The restaurant has tossed the octopus in sesame oil before serving. I took a deep breath before putting one small piece in my mouth. The octopus carried a mild taste of the ocean and it was chewy, slightly slimy, and crunchy. Make sure to chew thoroughly before swallowing. Eating this dish was definitely a very memorable moment for me!

Half of our fish was prepared as sashimi, which was wonderful, and the other half was grilled. The grilled fish was the real highlight — the fish was so soft and oily. You don’t need any sauce to go along with it!

They used the fish head to make a fish hotpot, which was similar to Doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew). It’s mildly spicy, tasty, hearty and comforting. Our cooked food added up to about 20,000 won.

If you are too lazy to select the seafood on the ground floor, just turn up at any restaurant and pick the dishes you prefer. If you are a huge seafood fan, go to the seafood buffet restaurant on level 5. You can try huge varieties of seafood dishes.

There is also an outdoor market where you can get dried fish and some seafood in the morning. Walk to the back of the market and you will be able to enjoy a beautiful sea view, and outdoor street performances.

This is probably the most memorable experience we had in Busan. It’s a seafood lover’s dream come true here. I will be posting more Busan articles, so if you are heading there soon, keep a lookout!

The post Jagalchi Market – A Seafood Lovers’ Dream Come True at this Popular Seafood Market in Busan appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.