A few days ago, my friend jio-ed me for a catch-up session at a cafe.
“What’s your budget?”
“Under $15”.

My jaw dropped. Is my beloved friend still living in the past? Where in the world would you still find cheap AND good food at a cafe for under $15? At this millennia, at this century, I thought she was out of luck.

Then, I realised – it’s not impossible. Dive into the weekends with these 10 wallet-friendly brunch places that wouldn’t cost you more than $12!

VXX Cooperative

Since it’s opening, VXX Cooperative has taken Instagram by storm. There’s something just so unique about the place – from the indie vibes to the simple every day food served at VXX, all plated beautifully and artfully with contrasting coloured ingredients. Placing a huge emphasis on serving consistent quality coffee, this is the place you would wanna visit for a great coffee experience along with instagrammable-and-delicious food. Besides the Banana french Toast ($12) pictured, which is denser than usual with a hint of savouriness from the bits of thyme, VXX Cooperative also serve probiotics (Milk Kefir with House-made granola, chia seeds and stewed apples $10) to keep your gut healthy and avocado smoothie bowl ($8) for all the health-conscious.

La-Ristrettos

For all of you working around Novena – don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Unbeknownst to many, La-Ristrettos is a quaint little cafe serving all-day brunch at super affordable prices. Hidden at the 8th floor of Novena medical centre, this places makes a great hideout if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of life for just a moment. Besides, they have a really beautiful al fresco rooftop dining area for a relaxing and chill dining environment.

Although prices are on the cheaper side, they don’t discount the quality of the dishes served. Pancakes here are super soft, fluffy and ultra tender. The Sweet Pancakes with caramel and gelato (above) goes for $9. They do savoury pancakes with bacon and scrambled eggs at $11 too.

Bread Yard

Though not new in the F&B scene, Bread Yard is definitely an off-the-radar gem in the West serving real affordable mains and brunch menu made from quality and nourishing ingredients.

Can’t choose between, bacon, eggs and pancakes? All my sweet and savoury fans, this is THE ONE for you. Raised using wild yeast and no other artificial ingredients, Bread Yard’s pancakes are thick, dense and slightly eggy.

Not feeling pancakes for that day? Bread Yard also serves really good sandwiches using fresh home-made breads made using a fusion of Japanese and European techniques inhouse everyday. We suggest toting a loaf of their homemade rustic bread home with you, too.

PUNCH

PUNCH is another gorgeous little cafe at North Canal Road that exudes so much elegance not only in their beautiful chic modern minimalist interior decor, but also in their food.

Serving simple and homely food that packs a punch, you’ll be sure to get every bang for your buck here. Although I wished there were more cheese in this Grilled Cheese Toast with Bacon Tomato Soup ($12), this easily tops my list of ultimate comfort food – you just have to taste it for yourself!

Opening as early as 8am, consider getting your caffeine fix here too – with hints of dark chocolate, black berries, and butter popcorn, any coffee lover will agree that their coffee (Latte goes for $5.50) is indeed really good.

Bakery By Woodlands Sourdough

A newly opened humble bakery in Serene Centre, this is the place you would want to go for some good quality artisanal breads made with organic flour. We can’t resist their rustic sourdough bread which carries a range of sweet, earthy and nutty flavours.

With so many spreads and toppings you can choose to go on top of your sourdough slices, we recommend the Hummus and Za’atar ($4), Sage Cream Cheese and Berry Compote ($4) and the Nut Butter with Honey ($4). We are a fan of their home-made hummus and nut butter, which had a nuttier fragrance than whatever you can get off the shelves.

Their toasts are often sold out (11am, normally) before most of us even wake up in the morning, which just goes to say that their toasts are really good. If you arrive too late, console yourself with their sandwiches or pastries they have on offer at the counter.

Six By Sera

Wake up to wonderful pastries, savoury donuts and interesting croissants with a local twist on weekends! With each donut coming at $2.30 each (limited quantities produced every weekend) and the weekend special savoury croissants to look forward to (Chili Crab Croissant $11.90 and Smoky Pork Croissant $12.90), this one-month-old modest cafe in Rangoon road is taking brunch to another level.

Everything here is made by Seraphina herself, except the croissants. Definitely go for the Chili Crab Croissant – the addictively sweet and tangy chili crab sauce is made using Seraphina’s (owner) granny chili crab sauce recipe. And also, nothing beats our ahma’s homemade dishes right?

Brothers in Fine Food

Opened by the same folks behind Penny University, Tampines residents would probably have heard of this halal cafe hidden at the second level of Tampines West CC. Serving brunch till 3pm on weekends, Brothers in Fine Food is a peaceful place for a casual weekend brunch with your BFF. Their innovative creations will definitely satisfy you without leaving your wallet crying.

Go for their Moroccan Baked Eggs ($12, above) or Dashi Noodles Breakfast ($8.90) if you feel like starting your day with something savoury that day. Prefer something sweet instead? Go for their Peanut Butter and Jelly Charcoal Waffles ($12), Peanut Butter Jelly Toast ($10), or a nourishing Smoothie Bowl ($10) that comes with seasonal fruits, chia seeds, nuts, dates and almond/soy milk.

Corner Burger

Burgers for brunch? Why not? A little hawker stall situated in Brunners Coffeeshop, Corner Burger serves up deliciously nostalgic burgers and rice bowls, using the simplest ingredients but packing with big flavour.

This breakfast burger ($7) is a tantalizing combination of all your favourite breakfast food – hashbrowns, fried sunny side up eggs and super crisp bacon that’s just so lip-smacking good all together. Hard to go from with these breakfast favourites.

Sunday Market

Located at the corner of Lim Tua Tow road, Sunday Market is an industrial theme cafe with quirky furniture. Offering a more Asian approach to the regular brunch items, their menu will definitely satisfy anyone who prefers Asian cuisine in general. The ambiance here makes it a great place for meetups with friends too.

For a sweet brunch, you can choose to go either for their signature Bangkok toast ($10.90) – an eggy cinnamon brioche toast served with matcha custard and Thai milk tea ice cream – or The CCP (chocolate chip pancake $12), which perhaps is a better option than the former.

To-Gather Cafe

Gather all your friends together now, my Bedok friends! Located in the neighbourhoods of Bedok, To-Gather Cafe is relatively accessible for residents living around the vicinity. A humble eatery that presents itself as a home away from home with their delicious comfort food, this is a place you can consider to head for a filling weekend brunch with your family or friends. Although their All-day-Breakfast costs only a mere $9.90, the given quantity of bacon, scrambled eggs, potato wedges will definitely keep you full for a long time.

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 listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Best Weekend Brunch Munching Spots For Under $12! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Think breakfast and one of the first things that comes to mind is a flavoursome plate of nasi lemak. Two brothers Kenneth and Shawn are nasi lemak lovers. They have been reminiscing about eating their Grandma’s homemade nasi lemak back in Northwest Malaysia Kedah. As a way of paying homage to their Grandma, the brothers decided to share this uniquely tasting recipe with fellow Singaporeans by opening Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak.

“We love the nasi lemak made by our Grandma and we hope to bring this unique taste to Singapore. My grandma is very good in cooking especially in Malay and Nyonya foods. We were born in a small Malay village and we have a lot of Malay neighbours and friends who inspired us. My brother was a chef. He is very passionate about his work and learnt the recipe from our Grandma.”

While learning, the brothers added their own touch and improvise the recipe further until they achieve the results they wanted. We ordered the Pandan infused Set A2 ($3.50) as well as the picturesque Blue Rice Set B3 ($4). Both sets also had an egg, chicken drumstick or 3 joint wing, sambal chilli, achar as well as anchovies and nuts.

Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak uses less coconut milk and 100% natural pandan juice to give it the aroma. The sunny side up egg was nicely cooked, with the yolk golden and runny. It sure feels oddly satisfying watching that yolk break over the light and fluffy rice. Munch on their tender fried chicken, which was well-seasoned with garlic, onion, pepper and their self-mixed marinate. Fancy that added sourness? Each meal comes with their signature Achar, which I found to be pretty decent.

I was captivated by the gorgeous mix of white and Persian blue rice cooked using butterfly pea. Their grandmother often uses this flower to cook rice and to make Butterfly Pea Flower Tea.

“This flower is very common in my village and we have plenty of it in our garden. However, it is pretty rare in Singapore, and we hardly see people add such flower into the rice. Many customers have no idea what butterfly pea flower about, they thought we use coloring for our rice, but once we explained to them that we use 100% natural butterfly pea flower for our rice.”

Who doesn’t love a good, fragrant sambal chilli? Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak’s homemade sambal is robust in flavours, slightly spicy with a strong presence of shallots and a perfect balance of sweet and savoury. Be sure to check out their weekly special Rendang Chicken set, only available every Tuesday.

Located in a canteen of an industrial warehouse, it wasn’t an easy find for first-timers. But if you come from Tampines MRT or Tampines Avenue 10, there is a free Shuttle bus service to the building. Plus, it’s just opposite IKEA, so you can take a 5 minutes walk over.

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With the popularity of vegetarian and vegan diets, lots of hawker food options have been closed off to our vegetable loving friends. Fret not, you can now bring your vegetarian AND vegan friends to Xuan Miao Vegetarian for hawker favourites such as chicken rice, banmian and even bat kut teh!

We tried the U-Mian Dry ($6.50), Banmian Soup ($6) and the Bat Kut Teh Soup ($7). All of the items here come with fried vegetarian fish maw, mock meat slices, and a generous portion of chinese spinach (amaranth). 

The U-Mian Dry ($6.50) has its noodles separated from the ingredients and comes with a blob of xiang chun sauce, a type sauce made with Chinese toon leaves. It coated the noodles evenly after a few tosses and has a strong garlicky taste, which some may find too overwhelming. Black sauce which had more savoury than sweet notes sealed the deal the for us, complementing the xiang chun perfectly. 

If you can take a slight spice, do request for chilli oil to be added to your bowl of dry noodles as the noodles can get a little dry after being left out for some time. *Note that it contains garlic*

While the soup may taste a little bland for some, rest assured that you’re getting in your five a day with the amount of chinese spinach (amaranth) in the bowl! Filled to the brim with vegetables and accompanying ingredients, you’d wonder if you’re ordering noodles with a side of vegetables, or vegetables with a side of noodles. Hmm… No complaints though!

The Banmian soup ($6) surprised us as the noodles texture is similar to kuay teow. Instead of being opaque like our usual banmian noodles, these were ever so slightly translucent.

The portion honestly looks rather intimidating. It comes in a larger bowl since the load of veggies are included in the same bowl as the noodles. This wasn’t as satisfying as the dry version, since the xiang chun and black sauce were absent, leaving the flavours almost bland with none of the tasty goodness to cut through the soup.

Bak Kut Teh ($7) is one of those dishes that two camps of people can never seem to agree on. We have the Teochew camp that prefers the clear peppery soup, and the Hokkien camp that lives for the darker herbal broth. Its surprising to find a vegetarian version of bak kut teh, as the name translates directly into ‘meat bone tea’.

The herbal camp will rejoice in this case, as the bak kut teh here had no peppery taste whatsoever. While we found it disconcerting to drink bak kut teh without huge chunks of pork bones floating in the soup, the absence of jelat-ness from the fat-laden soup that usually kicks in after half a bowl was a welcome change.

The mock meat was different from the ones in the U-mian and Ban Mian, and looked unsettlingly like the real deal. However, it tastes worlds apart from actual pork meat. I would recommend if you’re looking for a healthier choice, but you’re better off getting some non-vegetarian bak kut teh if you’re craving for something heavier.

With long queues during peak hours, Xuan Miao Vegetarian has proven that Vegan food need not be boring and bland. While it might not taste anything like their non-vegetarian originals, you can rest assured that you’re taking one step in the right direction for your health and the environment. Your food might take between 10-15mins to arrive, so grab a seat and keep waiting for the buzzer to beep!

*Other branches in Tampines Mall and Sengkang Compass One.

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 Xuan Miao Vegetarian. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Xuan Miao Vegetarian – Vegetarian Ban Mian in a Food Court appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Fast food.

What are the immediate thoughts you have when you first read those 2 words? Fries, junk, processed, unhealthy, etc. Fast food is known to be bad and harmful to our bodies, but not the case for nomVnom, where food is free of any preservatives and artificial ingredients! Their soft fluffy buns are made of unbleached wholemeal flour and organic brown sugar, steamed instead of having them grilled in margarine (fun fact: margarine is worse than butter due to hydrogenation!) Yeah, talk about nourishing real foods. With no dairy, no MSG, no alcohol, no onion, no garlic – nomVnom is great for both vegans and vegetarians!

With every burger comes a shot of fruit vinegar as an appetizer. This is a concept brought over from Taiwan, known to promote digestion and increase one’s appetite. Interestingly, the flavour of the fruit vinegar served varies every day.

I have never been a big fan of satay sauce, but the homemade satay sauce used for Temptation Satay ($8.90) was slightly different from the normal sweet, nutty satay sauce. It was spicier and had a hint of star anise. Though it was slightly sweet, it lacked the nutty fragrance that characterizes satay sauce. The marinated tempeh patty was soft and slightly mushy.

“Did I just eat a piece of chicken?” – that was my first thought when I took a bite of the QQ cheesy burger ($8.90). Yes, I really thought I was having a chicken burger for a moment. The chewy king oyster mushroom stems had a bite to it that so resembles that of a chicken thigh; I was blown away by how its texture totally tricked my taste buds into thinking otherwise.

Even my friend who doesn’t fancy vegetables was impressed.

The homemade cashew nut cheese at nomVnom was a letdown, though. Although creamy, it lacked that cheesiness I was looking for – perhaps too little nutritional yeast was added into it (nutritional yeast is known for its unique flavour profile that’s akin to that of cheese). If no one told me that there was vegan cheese inside, I would just have thought that it was some bland and tasteless white sauce.

Nevertheless, this burger did not fail to meet the approval of the carnivorous me.

I don’t like potatoes, but the Goro Balls ($3.90) were so flavourful and fragrant from the sheer amount of curry leaves added into it, so much so that I found myself munching everything down. These fried little beauties had a nice crispy crust but were too soft to be picked up by the given toothpick. 

Most of the drinks in nomVnom are homemade. Fresh Lemon Passionfruit Tea ($3.90) is a sweet and refreshing drink recommended by one of the staff. Made in-house with lemon juice and Passionfruit bits, this is indeed a great drink to accompany any meal!

Before I bought the limited edition Beetroot Mame Burger($14.90), the owner of nomVnom assured me that the homemade beetroot hummus does not have an overpowering bitter earthy taste of beetroot. True enough, the taste of  beetroot was so subtle that you wouldn’t have known that there was beetroot added into it. The cumin flavour spiced things up and also helped to mask the bitterness of the beetroot.

I love the homemade tofu edamame patty, which had a nice crisp on the outside but was really soft on the inside. It melts almost immediately when you bite into it. 

Since every component in this burger is made in-house, the owner may not be bringing this burger back into the menu for he lacks the manpower to provide for customers such a labour-intensive burger.

Fret not! Almost every month, a new limited edition burger will be released, so if you can’t get your hands on Beetroot Mame, there will definitely be another interesting burger for you to try. 

So come get it while stocks last!

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 the stall. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post NomVnom – Another Delicious Vegan Burger Contender! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Sawasdee! Countless of us Singaporeans flock to Bangkok on a yearly affair to savour the combination of aroma and spices found in authentic Thailand cuisine. Why not take a detour and visit Saap Saap Thai, a Thai Restaurant located at the newly established Tampines Hub? Surely our muslim friends would be pleased to hear that it is also MUIS halal-certified! No wonder diners were swooping in even before lunchtime!

Saap Saap Thai’s Original Iced Thai Milk Tea ($3.00) is thick and rich, but not as sweet as the ones found on the streets of Thailand.

The tom yum broth in the Seafood Carribean with noodles ($9.90) was watery and not as spicy as I liked it to be. What stood out for me was the Signature Australian Beef Boat Noodle ($7.90). The broth nicely captures the sweetness of the beef. Bite into that tender, moist beef slice to unravel a sweet and savoury combination that will surprise your palette. Just remember to quickly mix it up before the noodles clumps tiogether.

The Basil Chicken Slice Rice ($7.90) offers chunkier pieces of basil chicken that digresses from the usual minced chicken you find in Thailand. Although I think the aroma of the dish could be better enhanced with more chillies and garlic, some diners may appreciate Saap Saap Thai’s subtle use of these spices.

If you’re in a group or just plain insatiable , you can also try their succulent wings and drumettes with their tangy saap saap sauce ($6.90)!

To complete the quasi-Thai cuisine experience, finish off with a plate of signature Mango Tango ($5.50) which serves up a slightly sourish mango that complements the sweet sticky rice. The rice might be a tad dry for some, so remember to douse it in the coconut milk.

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This hidden gem situated at a corner coffeeshop along Tai Thong Crescent is easily missed out on, as people usually head to the area for River South (Hoe Nam) Prawn Noodles and Lao Zhong Zhong Ngor Hiang. Well, it’s time you try Zheng Yi’s slurp-worthy beef noodles!

You can either choose the dry or soup version, which comes in different sizes. We had the Dry Mixed Beef Noodle ($8 large), which isn’t well presented, as all that you’ll see is a thick, gooey gravy drenched over the noodles, with toppings like spring onions, peanuts, and fried shallots. But, don’t be deceived by its unappetising appearance! Just give the bowl a good toss, let the savoury gravy coat the strands of noodles totally, and you’ll enjoy a flavoursome bowl of noodles with a nutty finish from the peanuts. Moreover, you’ll find generous servings of beef slices, beef tripe, beef tendons, and beef balls buried underneath which give the dish some textures!

Mixed Beef Noodle Soup ($8 large), on the other hand, is a must on rainy days. The broth is light, and flavoured with the sweetness of the beef. As compared to the dry version where the flavour of the beef is overwhelmed by the rich and thick gravy, you’ll get to savour the flavour of the beef more for the soup version. However, we still prefer the dry mixed beef noodle for its stronger flavours.

Zheng Yi’s beef noodles certainly warrant a second, or even third visit. Next time you’re in the vicinity, do give this a 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 Zheng Yi Hainanese Beef Noodles. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Zheng Yi Hainanese Beef Noodles – We Love The Dry Mixed Beef Noodles appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Planning for a weekend feast? Look no further, because Jem has got everything you need! Recently, we held a Jem Food Trail with 10 lucky readers of Miss Tam Chiak. It was a fun-filled Saturday afternoon as we got to try 3 international cuisines in the mall – Seoul Yummy, En Sakaba, and Bangkok Jam. Check out what we ate!

Seoul Yummy #03-05/06

Experience a taste of Korea at Seoul Yummy, with an array of Korean appetisers, main courses, desserts and beverages without burning a huge hole in your pocket for flights to Seoul. Start with Potato Pancake ($7.90) or Kimchi Pancake ($7.90) as an appetiser. These pancakes are surprisingly light on the palate.

Army’s Stew with Spicy Octopus & Assorted Seafood ($39.90), Royal Doekbokki ($39.90), and Andong Jjim Dak ($39.90) are good for sharing. The secret of Royal Doekbokki’s flavour lies in the harmony of the chewy rice cakes and the spicy red pepper sauce. The restaurant has also included dumplings, boiled eggs, fish cakes, mushrooms and other ingredients to tantalise your tastebuds.

Andong Jjim Dak, on the other hand, is a nutritious dish due to high protein content from the chicken, and various vitamins provided by the vegetables in the dish. Marinated in Korean soy sauce, each mouthful is tasty and features tender chicken meat.

We were in a big group, so instead of individual portions of Ginseng Chicken Soup, we were served Dak Hanmari ($39.90), which is literally translated to “a whole chicken”. Remember to dip the chicken in Seoul Yummy’s specially concocted mustard vinegar soya sauce for that extra oomph!

If you prefer to have individual portion, Kimchi Fried Rice with Pork & Assorted Seafood ($14.90) and Ginseng Chicken Soup ($15.90 half chicken/$25.90 whole chicken) are available. The former contains generous amounts of seafood, and the spices are well balanced such that there’s enough spiciness and tanginess to the dish.

Seoul Yummy is launching set lunches at $9.90++. There are 6 choices available ranging from fish, chicken, and beef, to octopus. Some are served with chicken dumplings, while others are served with spicy Korean rice cake or potato pancake. The only constants are the house salad and Korean seaweed rice with a sunny side up egg. You can top up $1.90 for their ice lemon tea with aiyu jelly.

En Sakaba #01-04

Drunk by 3pm in the afternoon? Not a problem! Loosen up and indulge in fresh Japanese dishes while pairing Japanese Sake with delicious sashimi, yakimono, kaisen chirashi don, and many other delightful Japanese delicacies. We were served 3 different types of Sake, namely Sparkling Sake (330ml for $30), Masumi Sanka (720ml for $180), and Dassai 39 (720ml for $190).

3 starters were served with the Sparkling Sake – Baigai Uni Miso Ae ($6), Jikasei Ankimo Tofu ($10), and Beef Truffle Carpaccio ($13). The first starter is basically Japanese sea snail with sea urchin and miso dressing. The sea snail has a chewy texture that’s a great contrast to the creamy uni. The second starter consists of homemade monkfish liver tofu with caviar, uni and ikura topping while the third starter features thinly-sliced sirloin beef drizzled with truffle citrus soy sauce. The beef is done just right, which makes this our favourite starter!

Next up was the Fresh-Catch-of-the-day, a sashimi platter containing a variety of flying fish, great amberjack, and cornet. The fresh fish are directly imported from Japan and delivered to En Sakaba every Friday. The pricing for sashimi ranges between $30 and $60, depending on what fish is available and also, on the size of the fish. Indeed, what we tasted were very fresh. This is paired with Masumi Sanka Sake.

A selection of yakimono and shokuji were served, together with Dassai 39 Sake. Zuwai Kani Miso Kourayaki ($13) combines crabmeat with roe and gut, grilled in the shell; while the Kurobuta Niku No Hoho Yaki ($12) is simply grilled black pork cheek with wafu sauce. The flavours are perfectly brought out, and each boasts a smokey aroma that whets your appetite.

As for items that fall under the category of shokuji, we tried En Kaisen Chirashi Don, Wakatori Nanban, and 2 new dishes that have yet to be added on to the menu. They are Ume Tartar Premium Ebi Fry and Aburi Salmon Maki so, look forward to these new oishi items in a few months’ time!

Bangkok Jam #03-21

After two satisfying rounds of mains, it’s time for desserts! Khao Neaw Ma Muang is a hot favourite. This Mango Sticky Rice ($9.50) has fresh mango slices that are quite sweet, and is served with coconut milk drizzled atop glutinous rice.

Tap Tim Krob, also known as Red Rubies paired with Coconut Ice Cream ($7.90) is an eye-catching dessert. The vibrant colours entice one to savour this sweet treat. The crunchy red rubies added a nice texture to the otherwise milky and creamy dessert. Another showstopper will be the Lord Chong Ruammitr, Thai Chendol ($8). Give it a good mix to ensure that the sweetness is well spread out, and not concentrated at the bottom.

Last but not least, we also tried Kluay Tod Ice Cream which is Banana Tempura topped with Hot Caramel Sauce ($10.50). The warm, sweet sauce complements the banana tempura very well, and ended our day on a wonderful note.

Jem Food Trail was a great success, all thanks to the organisers and very sporting participants. Throughout the trail, they have been busy feeding both their stomachs and cameras, and updating their Instagram with delectable photos of the feasts. It was a really fun-filled day!

This post was brought to you by Jem.

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Jack’s Place value-for-money daily set lunch menu has been a favourite since my school days. Especially after our tutorials in collage, we would always head to there for lunch. The recent visit to Jack’s Place at Bras Basah Complex brings back so much memories. It’s our first time entering the newly renovated space, it’s brighter and looks more spacious.

Their value-for-money daily set lunch menu features a variety of new soups and sauces. These items are rotated on a daily-basis to keep the food refreshed and certainly offer diners more variety. All lunch deals include one main, served with garlic bread, soup of the day, dessert of the day, as well as, your choice of coffee or tea. With prices beginning at $13.80, you can get the executive lunch deal which offers 5 different options for your main.

Jack’s Place new soups ranges from the creamy and rich pumpkin soup, to potato soup and cauliflower bacon soup, to lighter ones such as the clear chicken soup and minestrone soup.

Our favourites are the potato soup and minestrone soup. While the aforesaid goes pretty well with Jack’s Place tasty garlic bread, the minestrone soup boasts a good balance of tanginess and sweetness. Though you will be served the soup of the day that’s part of the set lunch, you can add on $1.70 just to select the soup of your choice.

One of the latest addition is the locally farmed barramundi fish with mango salsa cream sauce. The barramundi fish used is fresh and seared to perfection. The sweet and tender fish is paired with a refreshing sauce. The restaurant is quite generous with the portion, I must say, making their executive lunch deal value-for-money.

We also tried Chicken Gratin with Sautéed Mushroom topped with Pimento Sauce ($13.80). What’s not to like about this simple yet tasty dish? Flavourful meat is covered with cheese, and the dish is served with twister fries, a hot favourite amongst children.

Now this is my favourite – N.Z. Ribeye Steak with Mushroom Fricassee and Brown Sauce ($19.90). Jack’s Place imports these grass-fed beef directly from New Zealand, hence they are able to keep the pricing affordable. Grass-fed beef is a healthier choice as compared to grain-fed beef. This is my to-order lunch set during school days, mainly because of the whole baked potato with sour cream and bacon bits that accompanies the succulent beef steak. “More cream, more cream,” that’s what I would always tell the waitress. This set lunch is certainly designed for hearty eaters!

All sauces are made in-house, such as sausage ragout sauce, thyme and garlic sauce, dill cream sauce, onion mustard sauce, creamy tomato sauce, lyonnaise sauce and salted egg hollandaise sauce. The sausage ragout and creamy tomato sauces will appeal to children. Thyme and garlic sauce is our best pick, as it really enhances the flavours of the dish, making it more aromatic as well.

There are more than 20 items on the daily set lunch menu here, and the traditional ox-tail stew is only available at three outlets (Bras Basah Complex, The Grandstand, and Parkway Parade). With such a great variety of set lunch items, accompanied by different soups and desserts daily, dining at Jack’s Place isn’t boring at all. Moreover, the set lunch is really value-for-money. See you there!

This post was brought to you by Jack’s Place.

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A good ol’ bowl of handmade noodles is comfort food for most of us Singaporeans. Despite the swelteringly hot weather, I’ve conquered many a bowl of ban mian in humid hawker centres. Here, I bring to you 10 Ban Mian Places which are worth the sweat stains that you’ll earn from slurping down those delicious egg noodles.

Grandma Ban Mee

Expect super long queue during lunch time at Grandma Ban Mee! While I have not tried Kin Kin to make a comparison, the noodles here are springy with a moderately spicy chilli paste, egg, ikan bilis and minced meat. You could feel a little heat, but it keeps you going, perhaps due to the fragrance from shrimps. Before you know it, the bowl of noodles is gone!

Grandma Ban Mee’s clear soup version was lighter than many other ban mee stalls but it’s filled with ingredients like mushrooms, black fungus, ikan bilis and vegetables. My dining partner finds it lack of depth, which is understand-able. But for me, it is probably a similar taste to what I eat at home. I call it “comfort”.

L32 Geylang Handmade Noodles

Okay this is IT. This is officially my new favourite banmian store. 

The Dry Pork Banmian ($4.30) contains both sliced pork and minced pork, a nice touch which justifies the (slightly) higher price of their noodles. The pork slices used here was of the leaner variety, making it a bit tough. Perfect for the more health conscious crowd though. I liked the addictive savoury-sweet dark sauce that coated the noodles. It might not be as strong as the one at Greenview, but it showcases the quality of the noodles better, since it is not as overwhelming. The homemade noodles, and broth which is boiled for more than 10 hours is definitely worth sweating for. Be prepared to wait, especially during the dinner rush!

J99 Coffeeshop Toa Payoh Ban Mian

Despite staying a fair distance away, this might be one of my new favourites and I’ll be sure to make another visit to try their famed dry version. We got the soup Ban Mian ($3.50) from this popular store at Toa Payoh. Situated in a coffee shop, we spotted most of the patrons slurping down noodles from their iconic red bowl. The noodles are done just right, with a nice bite.

Unlike some places have a cloudy soup base, the soup here is extremely clear. With the generous serving of lettuce, we felt healthier just by eating this bowl of goodness.

Greenview Cafe @ Far East Plaza

Looks can be deceiving. Don’t judge a bowl of noodles by its appearance! Made to order, the thick and chewy Dry Mee Hoon Kueh ($4.50) here is to die for. The dark sauce that coats each chunk of noodles is deliciously sweet, with a tinge of saltiness. It is also tossed together with chilli, bringing you an explosion of flavours with just one bite. The sauce comes mixed in with the noodles, instead of like how other places let you mix in the sauce yourself. Well, that just means we can dig in even sooner!

I like that the clumps of minced pork were well seasoned, especially fragrant after being coated in the sauce. However, if seafood is more up your alley, opt for the version which comes with prawns instead. 

Top 1 Home Made Noodles

This place gets a little confusing for first timers. You start by choosing your type of noodles, followed by your soup base and finally, the type of ingredients you want to top your noodles with. Their special black sauce is more savoury than sweet, but is nothing much to shout about. The real kick comes in after you add in their killer chilli sauce and toss your noodles again. Their mee hoon kueh is thinner than usual and not too starchy. Makes for easy slurping! Nicely seasoned minced pork and meat balls are included as well. 

Do try their mala mee, which comes with flat noodles, fresh prawns and well seasoned minced meat. The heat will kill you but it might just turn out to be a love-hate relationship.

China Whampoa Homemade Noodles

A clear and light broth that is only cooked with ikan bilis and soya beans instead of pork bones is served here at China Whaompoa. Unlike other ban mian stalls, no eggs are added. In addition, they add the old-school mani cai (马尼菜 or sweet leaf) into the soup which helps to give a little sweetness to the soup. 

Their more popular dry version is tossed with their premium dark soy sauce and homemade chilli sauce. The texture of the noodles stand out much more when you order the dry version. The sauce used is flavourful, but some may find it a tad too sweet. 

They have two variations of chilli for you to pick from. One is sweet with pineapple, while the other is a more savoury one. Do ask for the chilli to be placed separately because it sure packs a punch!

Xuan Miao Vegetarian @ Paya Lebar Square

Labelled simply as ‘Vegetarian Food’, this unassuming store in Cantine Food Court at Paya Lebar Square has its own crowd of healthy fans. We tried the U-Mian Dry ($6.50), Banmian Soup ($6) and Bak Kut Teh Soup ($7). I would recommend the Dry U-Mian, which comes with a blob of xiang chun sauce, a type sauce made with Chinese toon leaves. Grainy and green in colour, it reminded us of pesto sauce and coats the noodles evenly after a few tosses. It has a strong garlicky taste, which some may find too overwhelming. Black sauce which had more savoury than sweet notes sealed the deal the for us, complementing the xiang chun perfectly. 

The other dishes taste a little too bland for most, and would be best reserved for when you’re feeling a little under the weather.

Poon Nah City Home Made Noodle

Located at the food court of City Plaza, Poon Nah serves 8 different kinds of noodles. From ban mian to you mian, mee sua, bean flour noodle etc, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Furthermore, there are so many permutations. You can either pair it with prawns, fish, kidney, clams etc. Its kinda like ‘DIY Banmian’ if you think about it. Poon Nah serves chewy and soft noodles. Along with the tasty clear soup that contains wolfberry leaves in their dishes, the combination is mouthwatering! Their chilli sauce gives a punch to the entire flavour of the dish, as it may get a bit plain for some.

Seletar Sheng Mian & Mian Fen Guo

In the dry version of this dish, the owner mixes in the sauces before pouring it to the noodles. The umami flavour that hits you after the chilli sauce is mixed with the mee hoon kueh is irresistible! While the savoury sauce is tasty, the chilli does not carry much heat. The fried shallots and crispy ikan bilis makes for a satisfying bowl of handmade noodles. Do add an extra 50 cents for some extra ikan bilis crunch. The minced pork in the soup makes it extra tasty. This place is extremely popular with the elderly and a perfect spot to dine with your grandparents! His brother owns another outlet in Blk 210 Lor 8 Toa Payoh.

Marsiling Handmade Mee Hoon Kueh

At $2.80, this is definitely one of the cheapest bowls of Banmian you can find in Singapore. With extremely early opening hours, starting from 3am daily, you can be sure of getting a hearty bowl of noodles for breakfast, if the craving ever arises. However, we thought that the soup was too salty and the noodles were overcooked. While the portion was generous (we even spotted a lone fishball in our bowl of noodles!), this place is best left as a cheap fix instead of a regular haunt. 

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 stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 10 Awesome Ban Mian Places Worth Sweating in the Scorching Weather For appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Starting from June, low-cost carrier Scoot will be launching their first-ever long-haul flight between Singapore and Athens. With this new addition offered by the airline, Scoot is launching a whole new menu to celebrate the big step, and to cater to the needs of passengers. Not surprisingly, they have included Greek meal options on this route. YAY!

Getting a good meal on a flight is, surprisingly, difficult. However, Scoot is a game-changer as they take their in-flight meal catering process seriously. With the first long haul flight (11 hours non-stop) happening soon, they have come up with a new type of menu to meet the needs of the passengers on flights to and from Athens.

BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO GREEK FOOD

Surrounded by the Mediterranean sea, Greece is home to some of the finest ingredients in the world. Using mainly Mediterranean vegetables, olive oil, lemon juice, various types of fish and meat, and grains, Greek food is flavoursome and packed with a variety of fresh and dried herbs.

Prior to travelling to Greece, I was totally clueless about Greek food. However, after spending a few days exploring Athens, I started to love it as my days were filled with moussaka and spanakopita. If you are travelling to Greece for the first time and are totally clueless Greek food, like me, here’s an introduction for you.

• Moussaka
  Moussaka is one of the best known Greek dishes and is also my favourite. This oven-baked dish is filled with layers of eggplant and spiced meat filling topped with a creamy béchamel sauce.
• Keftethes
  Savoury Greek meatballs are served as an appetizer or as a main course at any table in Greece. They are usually lightly flavoured with parsley and olive oil.
• Choriatiki
  Greek salad is a must have for Greeks. Choriatiki is made up of tomatoes, olives, cucumber and a large piece of feta cheese. It is served without any dressing. Diners have vinegar, salt, pepper and olive oil at their disposal and can choose how they want to flavour their salad.
• Spanakopita
  What the Greeks do with filo is what the Italians do with pizza. The Greeks love their pies and you can find numerous varieties. They can be made with enriched dough or filo pastry, and filled with anything from meat, to greens, to cheese. The most classic pie has got to be the spanakopita – filo pastry layered with feta cheese and spinach, and flavoured with dill.

Scoot’s Greek meal options on the Athens-Singapore route are prepared by locals, so you get a real Greek experience up in the air. Expect dishes like Greek salad and Moussaka when you are onboard. I can say, the dishes are comparable to the ones I tasted in Athens. In fact, the Moussaka was particularly memorable because it was rich and flavourful, just like how the Greeks do it.

WHY YOU SHOULD ORDER PRE-PURCHASE MEALS

Scoot is offering a pay-per-meal plan. Passengers can order their meals from an exclusive menu 72 hours prior to the flight’s departure time.

Prepaid meals are prepared on demand, so Scoot can cut down on food costs and prevent unnecessary waste. They are thus translating the savings to higher quality meals made from even fresher ingredients. These meals are prepared closer to the time of the flight and once prepared, they are blast chilled and loaded onto the aircraft.

The flight to/from Athens is a long haul flight (around 11 hours direct!), so one is bound to get hungry. So, Scoot is offering a special meal bundle on this route (at S$50) to ensure that you are well-fed throughout the flight, comprising:
– 1 x Premium Meal Combo which includes a deluxe meal, 2 sides and a drink
– 1 x Light Meal Combo which includes a light meal, 2 snacks and a pre-cupped juice

Meal bundles come in non-vegetarian (no pork no lard) and vegetarian versions.

While Scoot’s current menu focuses primarily on stronger-flavoured Asian cuisines on the short/medium haul routes, featuring dishes such as Nasi Lemak and Cardamom Butter Chicken, the Athens menu looks into Western and Greek cuisine options.

We had a chance to meet the Scoot team in Singapore, as well as in Athens, to understand more about their meal planning for this long-haul flight. It is a rigorous selection process undertaken by the team to guarantee you of tasty and delicious mealtimes in the air. Questions raised during the food tasting includes the range of dishes offered, different ovens on board, the size of the tray, and even the aircraft type and configuration were taken into consideration.

Singapore to Athens Meal Bundles for Pre-order

We joined the Scoot team’s meal tasting session at SATS Inflight Catering Centre, organised by SATS. Scoot is working with their strategic inflight services partner SATS, to collaboratively research and develop a unique inflight food and beverage bundle for this long haul flight.

The flight bound for Athens is scheduled to depart Singapore at 2.45am and arrive in Athens at 8.45am. A light meal service will commence first.

Depending on your choice of meal bundle (vegetarian or non-vegetarian), you will be served the Greek Salad Wrap or the Turkey Pastrami with Cranberry Sauce & Roasted Pumpkin Mushroom Wrap. While both wraps are delightful, the Greek Salad Wrap is a clear winner. Inspired by the typical Greek salad, this wrap consists of crunchy lettuce, roasted bell peppers, couscous, black olives, and a citrusy lemon mayonnaise. Each bite is refreshing and gives a mix of textures!

The light meal service comes with a cookie, apple juice and a pack of cashew nuts. Great for a quick bite before a nap or to munch on while watching some streaming inflight entertainment on ScooTV.

During the main meal service, you have a choice of Moshari Kokkinisto (Beef Stew with Buttered Linguine) and Psito Kotopoulo Lemoni (Herb Lemon Roasted Chicken with Pilaf Rice) for the non-vegetarian meals. Beef is first stewed with Mediterranean herbs and spices, before it is paired with an olive oil-infused tomato sauce and served with buttered linguine, cheddar cheese and an assortment of vegetables. The beef stew looks appealing and tastes as good as it looks. The roasted chicken, on the other hand, is marinated with lemon and Mediterranean herbs, and served on a bed of fragrant pilaf rice.

The vegetarian main meal is a breakfast dish of Vegetable Frittata, with rosti potatoes and baked tomato.

The main deluxe meal comes with a side salad, 2 deluxe sides and a cup of water, as well as a choice of Evian Mineral Water or Coca Cola.

Athens to Singapore Meal Bundles for Pre-order

At the catering office in Athens, I had the chance to try a variety of Greek food. You will be happy to know that at least 1 Greek-style option is available in the prepaid menu. There are 3 options (including Greek options!) available – 2 non-vegetarian and 1 vegetarian. Do note that meals and sides are subject to change.

Scoot’s flight departs Athens at 11.30am and arrives Singapore at 3.55am (+1). Meal service will begin with lunch.

Greek salad is a must have with almost every meal. A mix of tomatoes, olives, cucumber and feta cheese, the salad is a staple side for all deluxe meals on flights from Athens.

From Athens to Singapore, I will suggest that you go for the Greek Moussaka – a creamy and palatable dish with luscious layers of juicy minced beef and eggplant. I enjoyed this pasta-free lasagne the most. Another dish that was shortlisted was the Chicken Giouvetsi (Chicken with Orzo Pasta. This tomato-based dish is served with tender chicken pieces.

For the vegetarian option, Fusilli Pasta with Ratatouille Sauce will be served.

Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian hot meals will be served with a side salad, 2 sides, and water. The meal also comes with a choice of Evian mineral water or Coca Cola.

Before you arrive, there will be a light meal service. On this flight, there are two baguette versions for the light meal combo – Turkey & Cheese for the meat option and Grilled Mediterranean Vegetables for the vegetarian option. I find the Grilled Mediterranean Vegetables Baguette to be a great choice.

The baguette will be served with a snack and a drink.

FYI, Scoot reserves the right to change the menu without notice if required. If the meal you pre-ordered is not available, you will be served a delicious alternative instead.

SCOOT TO GREECE!

Scoot’s inflight meals offer passengers a wide variety of choices that are affordable, and there’s truly something for everybody. They are constantly introducing new additions to their selection of flight meals so passengers can look forward to new dishes each time they fly with Scoot.

Passengers are strongly encouraged to pre-purchase meals, as these meal bundles with deluxe and light meals are available for pre-order only. Buying your meals in advance ensures that you will be served with meals through the flight. There will only be a limited quantity of food and beverages available for sale onboard, subject to availability, so it is best to plan in advance to avoid any disappointment!

The Singapore-Athens route will be serviced by Scoot’s fleet of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The planes are fitted with eight crew bunks and a total of 329 seats, including 18 in ScootBiz.

There will be three to four flights from Singapore to Athens per week (depending on the season), taking off at 2.45am (Singapore time) and arriving in Athens at about 8.45am (Athens time). To book, visit Scoot’s website for more information.

This post was brought to you in partnership with Scoot.

The post A Look at Scoot’s Long Haul Inflight Meals to Greece appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

I was introduced by my Jin Hua to visit Tony Cafe. This unassuming chap chye peng eatery is located at a corner of The Adelphi. I am surprised by the crowd, considering that the mall is relatively quiet. He then told me,”They have chicken wings on Wednesday!”

Right, so the place serves fried chicken wings every Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and apparently many diners come here specially for it. The Fried Chicken Rice scored on every aspect. Nicely seasoned, the wings were immensely tender and juicy! Adapted from corona chicken recipe, the skin was beautifully golden and addictively tasty. No wonder almost every table ordered it.

The owner of Tony Cafe, Shirley, was working upstairs and heard this cafe was letting out so she took over the whole space in 2002. So why doesn’t Tony Cafe sell their Fried Chicken Rice everyday? “We don’t want to do it everyday, otherwise people will get so sick of it.” That’s such a great marketing idea. It reminds me how I would always queue for nasi briyani at this particular Indian stall because they only cook it once a week!

I added some curry vegetables and achar to go with the wings. Don’t forget to dip the wings with their homemade chilli sauce. Similar to what you get in chicken rice stall, but definitely tastier because of the chicken wings.

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 Tony Cafe. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Tony Cafe – Crispy Chicken Wings at The Adelphi, Available Only 3 Days A Week! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

“Pasir Ris nothing to eat la… Come over to town, I’ll bring you for good food.”

Sounds familiar? Us East Siders don’t have to be forced to leave our cosy abodes for good food anymore! Jio your friends over to the east side so you don’t have to travel. *winks* Here are some affordable places in Pasir Ris which will satisfy your rumbling tummies and save your wallets from the exorbitant prices in town.

Herbs Bistro

Herbs Bistro is brought to you by the people behind Chapter 55 at Tiong Bahru and Ice Edge Cafe. With low hanging lights indoors and fairy lights outdoors, the rustic wooden tables and spacious interior made us forget that we were in Singapore. The place filled up pretty quickly, perhaps due to their 1-for-1 Student Lunch and Executive Set Lunch. With the latter including a main course and a drink while going for just $9.90+, its a steal. Available daily from 11.30am to 3pm. We tried the Claypot Laksa Pasta ($16.80++), the chef’s unique recipe of laksa pesto with linguine, clams, prawns and tau pok. It comes in a cute little claypot, topped with egg shavings and crispy bits.

There is an alluring display of gelato in a wide assortment of flavours (think: Durian, Salted Caramel, Salted Yolk, Nutella, etc.) is available for $5 a scoop. Get yours with a freshly made waffle for the ultimate chill day.

Mukshidonna

Mukshidonna means Eat (Muk), Rest (Shi), Pay (Don), Leave (Na). So, what’s the hype? A bubbling sweet and spicy stew that will make your eyes sparkle. Rice cakes and fish cakes will be included for sure, but choose from a variety of soup bases which includes beef and mussels ($13.90 per person). You may also add on ramyun noodles ($3) and savoury toppings ($3) to make your pot look as appetising as possible. Fresh mussels were aplenty in our stew, along with chewy rice cakes!

Get the cheese on top, and watch as the cheese slowly melts and engulfs the noodle strands. If you have space in your stomach for more, order a serving of fried rice ($5) to soak up all the leftover juices – it’s the best part.

Binggo – Bingsoo On the Go

They have quite a few items marked as best sellers ranging from Strawberry Cheesecake to Cookies and Cream here at Bing-go, which is short for ‘Bingsoo On the Go’. I shocked the waitress when I asked her for the “Best Selling of the Best Selling”. She recommended the Injeolmi (rice cake) Bingsoo for $6.90, which arrived with a sprinkling of soy powder, Korean rice cake, almond slices and a few tiny bits of cranberries. The condensed milk was poured in for us, so mix it well if you can.

While it was a refreshing pick-me-up on a hot day, the shaved ice was not fine enough compared to other Korean dessert places selling the same dessert. I would recommend getting the flavours which come with a scoop of ice-cream on top to get the most bang for your buck. After all, all flavours go for the same affordable price of $6.90.

Basil Inn

A Thai eatery is only as good as its Pad Thai. We tried Basil Inn’s rendition for an affordable price of $6.50. The noodles were drenched with zhup and wetter than usual, and came with small cubes of fried tau kwa, egg, prawns, chicken, spring onions and bean sprouts. The noodles were coated with a sweet sauce and has dried shrimp mixed in for that extra oomph. Tamarind sauce was probably added, resulting in a tangy taste.

If you’re coming in a bigger group, do try their signature dish, the Steamed Lemongrass Fish ($30). Note that this restaurant only accepts cash.

Cottage Pie Cafe

Stationed right beside the taxi stand of Whitesands Mall is Cottage Pie Cafe. You can smell the pastries being baked fresh on-site while walking past! The founder, Dennis, honed his pie baking skills in New Zealand as an apprentice, and has been baking these New Zealand-style buttery pies for the last 18 years.

Mini pies ($1.30 for 1, $3.60 for 3) are perfect for a mid-day snack or breakfast in the morning, especially since they open at 7am and have their pastries out by 7.45am on weekdays. 

We tried the Original Chicken Pie, Curry Chicken Pie (triangle) and Black Pepper Chicken Pie (diamond). While the pies were promisingly buttery and flaky on the outside, the insides were too dry. Your best bet would be the Curry Chicken Pie, which came with curry potatoes. Perhaps you should skip the mini pies for the larger pies, like the Steak and Mushroom Pie ($4+)

Ministry of Rojak

Ministry of Rojak is an expansion of Abdhus Salam Rojak, a popular Indian rojak stall in Ayer Rajah hawker centre. Giving traditional Indian hawker food with a twist, they are the first to introduce “The Rojak Fondue” platter where you get to share a variety of ingredients with your friends. Their famous sweet potato dip has a smooth nutty touch that is flavourful and rich in taste. Orders are prepared a la minute, meaning they will deep fry the items only upon order. They also serve prata and teh tarik.

The Tree Cafe

The Tree Cafe has been open for close to a year. With an eye-catching tree right smack in the middle of the cafe, you’re sure to notice this halal cafe. We tried the Chic & Waffles ($7.50) which includes waffles, maple syrup, butter and fried chicken. The waffle was a too doughy for my liking.

The Tree Cafe is great for your #OOTDs. Without any service charge or GST, the prices are great for a student budget though. Where else can you get smoked duck with homemade cream sauce and spaghetti for $6.50?

Coolman Frozen Yogurt

Opened in November 2016, this froyo joint imports its yogurt from Italy. Getting a parfait (think: Llao Llao’s Sanum) for $6.90 gets you a choice of 3 fruits ranging from kiwi to dragonfruit, 1 crunch and 1 sauce of your choice. For the month of May 2017, one extra topping of fruit is given with every purchase of their parfait!

We selected the mangoes, strawberries, blueberries and kiwis, maple pecan granola and dark chocolate sauce. The frozen yogurt has fruity undertones and tastes slightly like peach. Their fruits are definitely fresh though, since they also serve up fruit juices and smoothies!

Mala Xiang Guo @ Pasir Ris MRT

Right opposite Koi Whitesands is an unassuming Mala Xiang Guo, which blends in perfectly with the other stores in the row. The pricing is calculated based on the ingredients you choose instead of the weight, which can get a little pricey if you’re a meat lover. 

We chose the tofu, luncheon meat, enoki mushroom, broccoli, oyster mushroom and meatballs, which came up to a total of $8. The xiao la was not spicy enough for us, and it tasted more like spicy yong tau foo instead of Mala. When your tongue isn’t numb and your lips aren’t fiery red, you know its time to ‘level up’. I’ll be getting the zhong la the next time! 

One thing that I liked was that it wasn’t oily. You know that pool of oil that after you finish the top half of the dishes that threatens to drown the bottom half? Yeah, none of that here! 

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 stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 9 Affordable Places to Makan in Pasir Ris appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

The biggest and most celebrated pasar malam is here again! Our team at MissTamChiak visited the renowned Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2017 to feature some of it’s highlights, such as Singapore Chilli Crab Churros, Galaxy Milkshake, Chocolate Italian Kebab and Seared Raclette cheese on potato and sausages. Get ready your electronic fans, water bottles and cash – and let’s go!

By Maureen, Alexis, Nat, Sean & Adele

Singapore Chilli Crab Churros
Stall 11

Loco loco is back with Singapore Chilli Crab Churros! These are the people who brought salted egg yolk churros to the bazaar last year. Going for $6, the churros are drizzled with stir fried Chilli crab paste made with homemade seasoning, egg and GENUINE crab craw meat. The recipe is a kept a secret, but the owner revealed that the paste is semi-homemade.

Our cup was almost overflowing with churros, with at least 9-10 bite sized pieces. Freshly fried churros and Chilli crab sauce were put into the cup in alternate layers, helping to ensure all pieces get equal love from the sauce.

They also have Original and Pandan ($5 for both) flavoured churros, alongside Oreo ($5.50) and ASSORTED ($5.50). They have sauces like chocolate, caramel and Gula Melaka if you need some extra toppings!

Chendol Soft Serve
Stall 9

Soft Nade is a pretty looking store helmed by the lady boss and her partner. They serve up some interesting soft serves such as Chendol and Thai Mango ($5 for both). Both cups come with 2 toppings of your choice, ranging from red bean to almond flakes and even cornflakes. If you’re a Durian lover, just top up $1 for the D24 durian topping!

We tried the Chendol Soft Serve with Chendol jelly and red beans. The soft serve did not have much of a ‘Chendol’ flavour, but was satisfying nonetheless. It’s sure to be a treat after squeezing with the crowd on a hot day.

Salted Egg Marshmallows
Stall 26

Look no further for a sweet treat; Wicked Cream delivers Wicked Mellows, which are handcrafted gourmet marshmallows ($4 for 3 marshmallows) on a stick. Pick from an assortment of flavours, including classic red velvet, unique charcoal lemonade and the ever popular sea salt gula melaka. Watch as the flavored marshmallows is slowly torched over direct flame that gives it its melt-in-your-mouth sensation. If you’re gunning for their premium flavours indicated by a star, it’ll cost you an extra 50 cents. Look out for them at the corner junction of main road Geylang Rd & Engku Aman Rd (near the open space carpark).

Rainbow Ice Cream Bun
Stall 33

Feeling the bazaar heat? Get hooked on the synchronously hot and cold sensation that is the Rainbow Planet Ice Cream Bun ($8/pc), which is a cookie monster flavoured ice cream encased in a pillowy rainbow bun.

Halal Chicken Scotch Eggs
Stall 7

If you feel overwhelmed with the amount sweet treats available, you’re in luck. Loco Loco serves halal-certified Chicken Scotch Eggs ($5.00), which are essentially two halves eggs encased in a minced meat mixture that is served in a box of keropok. Served with a sweet duck peking sauce, the dish is best eaten hot. Loco Loco has two outlets operating during the bazaar. If scotch eggs and Thai Milk Tea soft serve are your cup of tea, look out for stall 7 (not stall 11) which is found along Engku Aman Road.

Raclette Cheese
Stall 78

Debuting this year is The Raclette Factory that serves the exclusive Raclette cheese at the 2017 Ramadan Bazaar. Raclette is a cow’s milk cheese that owner Edward had air flown in from France after being inspired by his trip to Europe. Watch how the huge slab of halal-certified raclette cheese bubbles up while slowly seared with a kitchen torch.

Torched till velvety and melty, the cheese is then poured over a tray of pan fried baby potatoes and gourmet chicken sausages stir fried with garlic. I enjoyed the cheese by itself, though it was a little more charred than I’d liked. Quickly slurp up that cheesy goodness while it’s hot.

Dragon Breath
Stall 25

Breathe like a dragon with Mr Q’s Dragon Breath with corn rolls ($5.00/cup)! The pizza-flavoured corn rolls are first doused in icy liquid nitrogen, which causes icy cool wind to spew out. Despite it’s overdramatic display, don’t expect much from the taste the corn rolls which are at best mediocre. Effects of the nitrogen liquid runs out fast, so ready your cameras, put a piece of corn roll in your mouth, exhale and snap.

Chocolate Italian Kebab
Stall 62

“ALL IN” might be familiar to students in NUS or those of you who hang out near Takashimaya. Helmed by W Food Holdings, All In has been around since 2016, and the owners have been in the f&B scene for the past 15 years!

We tried the Chocolate Kebab ($6), which has a huge serving of whipped cream with chocolate sauce, fresh fruits (bananas, strawberries, grapes), mini chocolate balls and chocolate shavings. Our Kebab tasted like a thick crepe, and was made by an Egyptian who has been in Singapore for nearly 11 years! Made on the spot, the heat of the ‘kebab’ will melt the whipped cream and it’ll get messy fast, so be quick!

They also have Pulled Lamb Burger ($7) which is rather uncommon, and the usual stuff like Beef Kebab ($6). Look out for the friendly lao ban niang, Ivy!

Fairyfloss
Stall 33

Color that bit of your life with the rainbow themed Thai candyfloss burritos ($8/3pc) available along Engku Aman Road. Kaleidoscopic strips of candied floss is wrapped in colored popiah skin that will be a hit amongst kids.

Unicorn Tears (Popcorn Flavour)
Stall 42

If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re attending potions class in Harry Potter, this is the place to be. Lost Unicorn Tears (GS042) serves Unicorn Tears ($6), non-alcoholic Mojito ($5) and their Mystical ($4) series.

All have the same sweetness level, but the Mystical one uses butterfly pea colouring which gives it a bluish tint.

The store owner recommended the popcorn flavoured Unicorn Tears to us. The silvery sheen of the drink is perfect for that Instagram shot! I didn’t find the non-carbonated drink overwhelmingly sweet, and it miraculously really did taste distinctly of popcorn.

Don’t worry, the mojitos are non-alcoholic. The Guava and Popcorn Flavours are recommended. Remember to hashtag #lostunicorntears after you’re done!

Galaxy Milkshakes
Stall 9

Other than their soft serves, Soft Nade also carries Galaxy Milkshakes ($6.50) with a purple base, pink middle and blue top. The milkshake is made with fresh hand-crafted ice-cream, and tasted exactly like melted ice-cream, or really thick froyo.

The milkshake got cloyingly sweet after a few sips, so it’s best to share this with your group of friends. Get your tissues and cameras ready because the blue colouring stains your teeth…

If you’re going for something more tame, the have Pretzel Bites in classic Flavours like cinnamon and fun Flavours like toasted cheese.

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“SHIOK” is a colloquial term that almost all Singaporeans are familiar with. Similarly, the Shiok Maki at Koh Grill & Sushi Bar has earned a spot in the heart of Singaporeans for years. This place is a MUST TRY for fans of the Japanese maki!

There are 2 ‘generations’ of the Shiok Maki, the original with Unagi and avocado and the ‘2nd generation’ with fried ebi and wakame seaweed. We tried the original ($16.80), which had firm yet tender slices of unagi nestled together with avocado within the rice rolls. The aburi salmon pieces were placed on the top, along with a generous scoop of tobiko for extra crunch.

To complete the whole package, the entire maki is drenched with their secret sauce, which tastes like a cheesy blend of mentaiko and mayonnaise. The sauce is REALLY shiok, it is creamy and savoury-sweet, the perfect accompaniment to the maki.

By the way, each maki roll is made to order here. We could take apart the individual rice grains easily – it’s definitely not the cold, pre-made Japanese sushi rolls.

The Crabby maki ($18) also caught my eye because of its punny name. It has soft-shell crab with swordfish slices on the top. If the sound of the creamy mayo-like sauce turns you off, order this instead to get a more distinct taste of the individual components on its own.

Personally, I can’t do without my carbs. The Yaki Udon ($10) is a simple unassuming looking plate of stir-fry udon. My dining partner even commented that it “looks like Hokkien Mee”.

The plate of Udon comes with spring onions, carrots, chicken and bonito flakes. There is an extremely generous portion of eggs here – we had eggy bits in almost every bite. The sauce that coated each noodle was slightly sweet. The whole plate felt very ‘wet’ and satisfying. However, they could have been more generous with their portion of chicken.

Agedashi tofu ($4) is a classic Japanese dish of warm tofu coated with potato starch or cornstarch before being deep fried. Koh’s version was not greasy and remained warm on the inside even though we attacked the Udon and Maki before moving on to it. Perhaps we should have gotten the Pitan Tofu ($4), chilled tofu with century egg paste. The older crowd should love this, so no worries when bringing your parents or grandparents for a meal here.

The perpetual queue at Koh Grill & Sushi Bar can seem intimidating, but the wait time is shorter than it looks. Go at non-peak hours to enjoy people-watching along busy Orchard Road at the window seats!

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 L32 Geylang Handmade Noodles. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Step into this dainty cafe marked by a fine serenity and calm. Nesuto means “nest”, which is really a testimony to their generous use of eggs in their picturesque desserts.

Following the success of their phenomenal choux puffs back in SHUU by KOKI Tamagoyaki, pastry chef Alicia Wong desired the creation of a series of dessert mused by her choux puffs. With the birth of Nesuto, the talented pastry chef finally realized her dream of having a home built to house some of her finest Japanese-French inspired desserts.

Exclusively made in house, pastry chef Alicia Wong names each of her choux-based desserts inspired by the ingredients used for each dessert. The highly acclaimed Suzette ($9.80/pc) possesses an ethereal texture, with every bite that is light and fluffy. Relish in the orange flavoured liqueur mousse filled with crunchy varlhona chocolate pearls, going deeper into the layer of orange caramel goodness that coats a flavourful santiago almond tart.

The Noisette Rocher ($10.50/pc) is a less sweeter counterpart of the famed Suzette. Bite into the first layer of bittersweet ganache encasing a combination of sweet velvety hazelnut praline mousse with a crunch caramelized hazelnut feuilletine. Finally, bite into the almond dacquoise layered with light meringue and cake.

Alcohol lovers may like Tiramisu ($9.80/pc), which is essentially a mascarpone mousse topped with cocoa powder and chocolate shavings. Displayed alongside is a mini pipette filled with coffee liqueur, rum and marsala wine which diners can take delight in squeezing into the mousse for that alcoholic burn.

Nesuto also offers specialty tea selections to pair with your desserts. We ordered the Lychee Oolong Tea ($9/pot), which exudes a fragrant lychee aroma. Whether it is time for high tea or for small gatherings, this homely nest is designed for all occassions.

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 Nesuto. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Nesuto – Ushering in An Era of Decadent Desserts appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Most people think that Bukit Batok lacks good food, but we’ve written quite a number of delectable stalls around the area, and here’s another one worth trying. Located at the same S11 Foodhouse as Xiang Mei Roasted Meat, Soi 11 is the latest addition to this coffeeshop. Expect a variety of Thai favourites which range from appetisers to soups, and mains. There are even set meals available for 2 to 3 persons.

We began with Home Wrapped Pandan Leaf Chicken ($6 / 3 pieces) served with a special concoction of chilli sauce. The tender chicken meat is infused with a tinge of curry before being encased in pandan leaves to enhance its fragrance. Dip the meat into the tangy and spicy sauce for that extra oomph. It’s good that the spicy level isn’t overwhelming, or else we wouldn’t be able to taste the chicken marinade anymore.

Tom Yam Seafood Soup ($6 small / $10 large) features a mild broth, but the fresh prawns and squids give the broth a nice crustacean flavour. The balance of seafood sweetness with just the right amount of spiciness makes this broth appetising. We might have savoured better ones elsewhere, but if you’re staying around Bukit Batok, and craving for some tomyam soup on a rainy day, Soi 11 is decent enough to satisfy.

Pad Thai ($4), on the other hand, is quite disappointing. The noodles are a tad too mushy, and no grounded peanuts are served with the pad thai. However, they are very generous with the chunks of chicken meat. We would’ve preferred the dish to be more savoury, as we felt it’s too sweet for our liking. Perhaps, Soi 11 would need to work on improving this dish in order to attract more customers.

Prior to this review, we’ve tried Soi 11’s pineapple fried rice and found it to be good. We’ll probably stick to the fried rice and tomyam soup the next time we visit. It’s considered quite expensive for hawker standard, but it’s worth treating yourselves to a good meal after a hard day at work.

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 Soi 11. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Mention Tan Yong Kang (previously Tan Yong Hua) and you will probably remember him as the chef who beat Thailand’s Chinese cuisine Iron Chef in the Iron Chef Thailand cooking competition. We last visited his Restaurant Home when it was still at the Railway Mall. But since then, he has moved to Cosford Road, taking over the premise of Catch Seafood.

Because of the bigger space, chef has lots of creativity to play with. He is growing herbs and vegetables in his own food garden and can also do barbecue at the back of the restaurant. We first had a platter combining BBQ prawns, BBQ white snapper with salt, BBQ sliced beef BBQ sliced pork belly and poached la la with chef spicy chilli. The tender meats are coated with a sweet marinade. When grilled, they are tasty and had a smoky aroma.

At the previous location, we tried some of Chef Tan’s signature dishes including Peking Duck Barbecued with Lychee Wood and Baked Marble Goby in Claypot. This time round, the tasting menu revisited the traditional cooking methods that our forefather used during the old days. It reminds Chef of the kampung days of his childhood in Singapore.

A good example is the Baked Golden Snapper Fish with Sea Salt ($7/100g). Both covered with salt, it forms a hard crust during cooking, hence sealing all the moisture in the fish. Don’t worry about the overly salted food. Being an accomplished cook, Chef Tan ensures that the salt creates a crust and cooks gently but does not overly permeate the skin. When served, the crust breaks away in big pieces, releasing the most delicious aroma and you’re left with a really juicy fish to eat.

Likewise, Baked Spring Chicken with Herbal Sea Salt ($24 per bird) had the chicken marinated overnight for the flavours to be absorbed into the tender chicken meat. It is baked for another 1.5 hours wrapped in lotus leaf and cooked with herbal sea salt before serving. Some things in life need to be enjoyed in their simplest form.

The new Hot-Stone Sauteed Pig Liver with Ginger and Onion ($14) is done well, it’s tender without any unpleasant taste. Cooked in a rich gravy seasoned with oyster and soya sauces, eat it immediately when it’s served or else the liver may be overcooked.

If you are a huge fan of seafood, go for the Black Pepper Crab ($58/kg). It has not much gravy but the pepper was definitely strong, which made the crab very tasty. End the meal with a hearty pot of La La Crispy Rice ($10/pax). Add the crispy rice into the comforting hot stone of clam broth, perfect for rainy days.

This was an invited tasting.

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You’d be forgiven for thinking this new store along Grange Road just across the huge H&M is pronounced as ‘coo-ca-ca’. A newly opened acai bowl store, Coocaça is pronounced “coo-ka-sa”. Right smack in the heart of Orchard Road, their acai bowls are perfect as a refreshing pick-me-up in between your shopping sprees. 

An acai (pronounced ah-sah-ee. Don’t pretend, we know you’ve been calling it ah-cai) bowl tastes like a really thick smoothie, with a truckload of health benefits. A good acai bowl is all about the right consistency. It should be thick enough to be scooped with ease, but not too dense that you’re scooping up chunks of frozen acai.

The consistency here can be a little too watery, but personally, I enjoy it like this as it feels more revitalising and doesn’t get too cloying in our crazy sweltering weather.

Looking at the colourful menu, the Sao Paolo Superfood bowl ($12.90) caught our eye, with invigoratingly cool acai mixed with cacao and soy milk as the base, topped with slices of banana, strawberries, blueberries, almond butter and their signature homemade granola. We topped our bowl with a free serving of chia seeds, another popular superfood.

The base which was purple in colour got thicker as we mixed in the almond butter. On hindsight, we should have savoured it separately because I personally enjoy having the almond butter on its own and it totally ‘disappeared’ in the blend of acai. 

The fruits used were fresh and went well with the heavier texture of the acai, but the real star of the show was their yummy homemade granola. I took a quick peek while ordering, and saw the shop assistants making them in store itself. The generous portion of oat clusters added a nice crunch to every bite, and it was not overly sweet. 

The other bowl that we tried out was the Singa Smoothie bowl ($11.90). Made with a blend of mango, pineapple, banana, and coconut water, it certainly had a more tropical note compared to the Sao Paolo Superfood Bowl. The toppings were alike to the Sao Paolo, short of the almond butter and topped up with pumpkin seeds instead. You also get one extra normal topping (add 50 cents for their premium range) on your smoothie bowl. We picked the almond flakes which provided an extra bite to their granola.

This is a more refreshing option compared to the heavier Sao Paolo that we tried, and the consistency of the bowl was thinner, perhaps because its a smoothie bowl instead of a sueprfood bowl? This is perfect for an introduction to acai bowls, with familiar tropical fruits such as mangoes and pineapples. 

We also tried the Rip Smoothie ($9.60) which was too thick and dense for our liking. It got too rich and cloying after a few sips, and has none of those rolled oats to add a crunch to it. I would recommend to stick with their acai bowls and skip the drinks. The smoothie tasted extremely similar to the Sao Paolo bowl.

If you’re part of the ~chill beach vibes~ movement that has been overtaking Singapore, don’t miss out on this healthy hole in the wall! Although it is hidden at a corner of Orchard Building, an office, it is super accessible and only a short walk from Somerset MRT. 

The place only has outdoor seating and sits up to 12, so it might be a wiser decision to takeaway instead. The portion was more filling than expected, so you can definitely have this as a light meal. No judgement if you want to dabao this to eat at your office workstation with your kdrama playing in the background. 

Its the best way to combat the scorching weather or your after lunch munchies! 

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 Coocaça. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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By Maureen, Alexis, Nat & Sean

“LiHO!” That’s the hokkien greeting you get from the ex-Gong Cha staff when you visit the new bubble tea outlet. If you have been a big fan of the Taiwanese bubble tea franchise, Gong Cha, you will realize that the brand has transformed. From June onwards, all 84 Gong Cha outlets will be replaced by homegrown tea brand LiHO. (Wahbiang, no more Gong Cha Milk Alisan Tea. SADNESS.)

LiHO is the first brand in Singapore to introduce a new concept takeaway drink here – Cheese Tea. This afternoon, the team tried some of the new offerings at Bedok Mall’s Gong Cha LiHO!

LiHO’s specialty is cheese tea. The signature milk froth found in Gong Cha is now replaced with cheese froth! The Cheese Mango Smoothie ($6.90, $0.50 for additional pearls) is served with a specially-designed lid with a re-sealable spout. That way, customers can enjoy the cheese topping without having to break the plastic seal.

Like regular macchiato drinks, there’re 3 ways to enjoy this drink.
1) Gulp it down to enjoy the both the mango smoothie and cheese froth
2) Slurp down the cheese mixture first, enjoy the sweet mango smoothie thereafter
3) Mix it all up and enjoy the best of both worlds!

The drink is served with two layers – a thick and slightly salty cheese froth sits atop the fruity mango smoothie. The creamy cheese topping tasted like Gong Cha’s milk froth, albeit saltier. When enjoyed separately, it tasted like mango cheesecake. However, the consistency becomes similar to that of a mango milkshake if you give it a good mix. Some may love it for its novelty.

LiHO’s Royal Milk Guan Yin ($3.50 medium / $4.50 large) features a top layer of creamy milk froth that’s light enough for our palates, followed by tie guan yin tea at the bottom. The drink is slightly bitter and tartly, with a hint of sweetness. This is our favourite among the 3 drinks which we’ve tried.

LiHO also offers an assortment of fruit flavoured teas. Cool off with a cup of fruity Lychee Jing Suan tea ($3.30 for Medium, $4.30 for Large). The Jing Suan tea is a variety of the classic oolong tea, which has a mellow floral sensation with a slightly roasted aftertaste. The taste of the lychee further lends a refreshing texture to its floral counterpart.

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Ask any of your family members or friends if they know any Korean BBQ restaurants in Singapore, and I bet they will be able to name at least 2 or 3. Here’s the thing: Singaporeans love Korean BBQ, but do they know the stories behind that sizzling charcoal grill or prime meat cuts? We headed to SEORAE to find out more for you guys.

Fans of Korean cuisine rejoice! Popular Korean Charcoal BBQ SEORAE sizzles up its mouth-watering selection with exciting new additions, sets for sharing and a merry array of soju cocktails and makkoli mixes that guarantees good times all round. Inspired by her love for Korean dramas and BBQ, Managing Director Wilyawati Tjiu left her previous corporate position to bring the brand to Singapore.

Although not the biggest fan of alcoholic beverages, I marveled at their newly created Pineapple Cocktail ($22.90) which features a whole pineapple that’s spiked with soju. Get ready to fall in love with this refreshing drink armed with a nice alcoholic punch. For diners who prefer Soju, original and grape-flavoured ones are available. If you prefer non-alcoholic beverages, like me, you can opt for Barley Tea.

Used to grill its signature meats, such as the galmaegisal, to perfection, SEORAE’s special ‘circle grilling’ technique also allows you to dig into silky steamed egg and fiery grilled kimchi at the same time. While diners can pay a small price for 4 additional rounds of velvety-smooth cheese ($2) on grill, diners will receive 4 complimentary rounds of fluffy steamed egg with every grill set.

We can’t stop dipping our meats into the layer of melted cheese. The creaminess is hard to resist. You’ll be glad to know that SEORAE uses authentic top-notch white charcoal which gives a stronger smoky flavour to their meats.

SEORAE’s signature Galmaegisal Pork skirt meat ($21.90) is simply divine! According to Tjiu, SEORAE is the first to bring Galmaegisal into Singapore. Also known as pork skirt meat, the Galmaegisal is a unique 250 grams cut found between the ribs and the belly of the pig. Said to have been served exclusively to the Royal Family of Korea in ancient times, SEORAE now offers this highly prized meat to all.

Tjiu shared with us that each Galmaegisal is marinated and massaged in-house exclusively for 30 minutes under cold temperature to retain its moisture and juicy goodness. Not only was the marination of the Galmaegisal well balanced, every bite of this premium meat was also consistently juicy and succulent.

We also had the Spicy Samgyeobsal Pork belly ($17.90). With just the right amount of meat and fat, each piece of meat nicely charred and tender. This is one dish that you must not miss.

Rivaling the Woosamgyeob beef cut is my personal favourite: the La Galbi Prime beef short-ribs ($29.90). The La Galbi is so tender and moist, and the sweet marinate on this thinly sliced beef is simply heavenly!

Feast on this melt-in-your-mouth goodness that is the beautifully marbled Jinkkotsal Wagyu beef boneless short-rib ($29.90 for Prime, $37.90 for Wagyu). Don’t forget to coat the short-rib with cheese.

Remember to enjoy the Woosamgyeob Beef shortplate ($22.90) in a Korean Ssam style by dipping it into the sauces and wrapping the mix all up with a piece of crunchy fresh lettuce.

If you’re craving for a good army stew, why not try the Budae Jjigae Army stew ($35.90 for ala carte, $26.90 with a minimum order of 2 grill meats at regular price) which comes with a choice of pork or beef! Though recommended for 2 persons, you can easily share the generous serving with a party of 3 or 4. Indulge in a spread of fish cakes, tteokboki rice cakes, beans, fresh vegetables, sausages, spam and bacon cooked in SEORAE’s special Gochujang Red Chilli paste sauce for a belly good time!

Also new to SEORAE’s menu is the Cheese Mandu Tteokbokki sharing set ($35.90 for ala carte, $26.90 with a minimum order of 2 grill meats at regular price), which offers glutinous Korean rice cakes and fried fish cake cooked in a spicy, thick hot sauce. I’d definitely recommend the interesting corn-cheese dumplings, which has a creamy corn filling encased in a crunchy shell.

A recent addition to SEORAE’s menu is the Kkochi Platter ($21.90 for ala carte, $14.90 with a minimum order of 2 grill meats at regular price), which serves up an assortment of meat and vegetable skewers inspired by charcoal grilled Korean street food. With an array of addictive fillings such as melted cheese, kimchi and spicy enoki wrapped in samgyeobsal (premium pork belly) or woosamgyeob (US prime beef shoortplate), the Kkochi Platter is perfect for sharing.

What’s more, diners can now enjoy a fuss-free lunch in affordable lunch sets (starting from $10.90 with free drinks and side dishes) of popular Korean meals such as Kkochi Platters, Budae Jjigae, Seoul Bulgogi and Dolsot Bibimbap that are perfect for sharing. BBQ meats are 20% off during lunch, and the best part is, you can even ask their friendly servers to grill your meats, so rest assured that you’re able to head back to your office without smelling of smoke. Moreover, the side dishes are free and refillable!

GIVEAWAY: Five lucky readers will walk away with $100 dining voucher. Take Part HERE.

My personal experience at SEORAE has been nothing but exceptional! From the perfectly grilled meats to the oh-so scrumptious choices of Korean cuisine, and even the smallest gestures like offering diners Febreze to eliminate the smoke scent before they leave. Just take note of their break time (no Grill) on weekdays from 3pm to 5pm!

This post was brought to you by SEORAE Korean Charcoal BBQ.

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