Located at the stylish Downtown Gallery, this new cafe is less than a month old. We managed to chat with Alan, who’s one of the partners behind this bicycle-themed establishment. Alan used to study in Perth, and was actively participating in hiking expeditions despite being slightly plump. The company whom he embarked on these expeditions with would always encourage him and push him. He liked the idea of a close-knitted community, and wanted to bring this culture to Singapore.

Hence, the idea of a bicycle-themed cafe popped up in his head. On weekdays, those who cycle to work in the CBD can park their bicycles at this cafe for free, before getting a shower at the basement of Downtown Gallery, and grabbing a coffee to kickstart the day. They can collect their bicycles after work. Note that the cafe can only hold up to around 30 parked bicycles. Their weekday lunch menu(11am – 4pm) features DIY protein bowls($12 – $16). After 4pm, light bites and heartier items will be available.

On weekends, bicycle enthusiasts can pop by to chill out, and admire the bicycles displayed at the cafe as all of them are collector’s items. There is also a good range of bicycle apparel and equipment available. The weekend brunch menu features interesting items such as Duck Rillette Toastie and The Autobus Sundae. 

After placing your orders at the counter, place your receipts in the basket in front of the kitchen, and the chefs will prepare your dishes. We had the Salmon on Toast ($15), which boasts generous servings of cubed salmon sashimi, mashed avocado, cucumber, mango, and rocket leaves, topped with dollops of wasabi aioli atop two slices of toast. It was light and refreshing, with a nice combination of textures. However, do beware of the wasabi as the spice gets up your nose and leaves you with watery eyes and a burning palate.

The Wagyu Burger ($24) comprises fresh lettuce, tomatoes, Spanish red onions, a slab of Wagyu beef patty, melted cheese, two fluffy burger buns, truffle fries and house-made ketchup. The Wagyu beef patty is tender, and super juicy! It’s not the best burger, but definitely good enough if you work in the vicinity and are craving for burgers.

There’s a good selection of drinks available – healthy juices, smoothies, recovery shakes, coffee, tea, beers, and wines. Vita+ ($5) is a blend of banana, pineapple, and green apple. It leaves you feeling refreshed after a couple of sips. Berryfresh ($5) which consists of carrot, strawberry, and orange, is sweeter.

The Autobus exudes a laid-back ambience, completed with comfortable sofa seats. The cafe is quite spacious, and you don’t have to worry about others eavesdropping on your conversation. It’s a great place for gatherings!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the cafe 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 Autobus. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post The Autobus – Relax at this New Bicycle-Themed Cafe in the CBD appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

It is a challenge to find halal Char Kway Teow. Following a recommendation from a dear old friend, I headed down to Bukit Merah View to check out a hawker who has been selling halal char kway teow for close to 6 years. When we arrived, the security shutter of the shopfront was pulled down and so I thought it was closed. A while later, the shutters went up and unveiled a Chinese man. Turns out, the Chinese man was performing his daily muslim prayers. Anis, the owner, revealed that he is actually a Muslim convert. Prior to his marriage to his Malay-Muslim wife, Anis has always been interested in Islamic beliefs. “Even before my marriage, I was already a Muslim convert,” said Anis.

The stall sells only Char Kway Teow (regular – $3, big – $5). “Considering our present economy, you don’t need anything too complicated. It is better to keep it simple,” Anis explains his rationale behind the sale of only char kway teow. Similar to the traditional version, Anis’s stir fried kway teow consist of kway teow and yellow wheat noodles stir fried in sweet black sauce, and garlic. A good amount of egg, chye sim vegetables and cockles were thrown in as well. For $3, the portion is sufficient to fill our bellies without being too “jelak” for us.

The noodles are fairly moist and oily, and each strand of noodles separated nicely. I do feel that the lack of pork lard (because it is halal) robbed the noodles of its potentially rich flavour, but the sweet and savoury notes underlying each bite is still satisfactory. What we liked most was their homemade chilli, which left an enduring heat on our tongues. Very shiok! Do ask for no chilli if you are unable to take the heat, though. 

The beansprouts were still crunchy after being left out for a long time. Perhaps, the highlight was the use of fresh cockles, which added a slight sweetness to the dish. Each cockle is fat and chewy! If you like, you can have additional cockles for only $1!

With a solid background in cooking, Anis serves up plates of char kway teow that everyone should try. We weren’t too impressed on our first bite, but the char kway teow became more addictive with every subsequent bite. 

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 786 Char Kway Teow. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 786 Char Kway Teow – A Hidden Halal Char Kway Teow in Bukit Merah! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Started by two cousins, Ng Jiewei and Lim Pei Tang, in January 2016, Eat 3 Bowls serves affordable and tasty Taiwanese food. Prior to moving to the current location, they were operating in pasar malams. After much validation and support from a group of regulars, both Jiewei and Pei Tang quit their full time financial planner jobs to open this stall in Seah Imm Food Centre.

Both of them travelled frequently to Taiwan and did extensive research to craft what they are serving today. The Braised Pork Rice ($2.50) is steeped very deeply in Taiwanese tradition. The pork belly is cut into small pieces and braised in a gorgeous thick and savoury sauce for at least 6 hours. The pork belly has a good mixture of lean meat and fats. It’s not too oily, so I don’t feel guilty eating it.

They ran out of Pig Intestines Mee Sua ($3.50) when we ordered, so we waited for a good 30 minutes for the next batch of mee sua to be ready. Each bowl is served with minced garlic and vinegar. It was a little bland on its own, and I wished they had some chilli oil to pair with it. However, I am impressed by the huge and tender pieces of intestines.

We ordered a set meal for 2 ($15) which comes with 2 bowls of braised pork belly rice, salted crispy chicken, braised cabbage and bittergourd pork ribs soup. The salted chicken comes in huge chunks and had a thin crispy skin. It’s nicely spiced with salt, pepper and five spice powder. I like the well-braised cabbage and bittergourd pork ribs soup, which are perfect for the hot weather. They also have a set meal for 1 ($7.50).

Eat 3 Bowls serves more than decent Taiwanese food, I must say. Many Taiwanese eateries in Singapore are serving Taiwanese food at way too exorbitant prices. The prices here are really affordable and this is how Taiwanese food should be.

The post Eat 3 Bowls – Cousins Sell Taiwanese Food in Hawker Centre appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

If you’ve ever dreamed of being a pizza chef when you were a kid, this is the place to indulge your inner child! Rhombus Pizza is a small halal-certified eatery which is a mere 9-minute walk from Eunos MRT. You can eat as many mini pizzas as you want within 90 minutes. You can pick all your favourite toppings – no more picking bell peppers off your pizza!

As they only accept reservations, be sure to text or call 98440210 to reserve a spot. The small eatery only seats 10 indoors and 4 outdoors. From now till 31st August, Rhombus Pizza is offering an introductory price of $15 nett for adults and $12 nett for children(aged 7 to 12).

So how exactly does this work? First, you pick your toppings from the counter. Toppings include crab sticks, small prawns, hotdog, salami slices, chicken ham, mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, corn and pineapples.

Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the pizza base before sprinkling a liberal amount of mozzarella on top. Add your chosen toppings to the pizza before sliding it into the mini ‘oven’ on your table for 4-6 minutes, till the base is crisp and slightly browned at the edges. The mozzarella cheese should be oozy and melted by then!

We came up with 3 different pizza combinations – feel free to try them out if you make a trip here! First, we had the classic ham and mushroom combination. We added a generous amount of cheese to make it extra savoury! Next, we had the seafood pizza where we added green bell peppers, small prawns and crab stick slices. Lastly, we crafted a meat pizza which had salami slices and chicken ham on it. Yum!

While you’re waiting for your pizza to be ready, help yourself to free-flow chicken bolognese spaghetti and mushroom soup. Green tea and iced lemon tea are available as well. We got a bowl of piping hot chicken bolognese and mushroom soup to share. We liked that there was a generous amount of minced chicken and tomato cubes in the bolognese sauce. However, it could be thicker and have a more distinct tomato flavour. Each paying customer also gets 2 oven-baked chicken drumsticks. Flavoured with paprika seasoning, the drumsticks are rather flavourful and served warm (waiting time of 20 minutes).

After you’ve just nearly filled your tummy with enough savoury pizza, its time to move on to the dessert pizzas! Nutella sauce is provided in a bottle for you to squeeze out. Have half of your pizza with nutella and the other half plain, or swirl it around in spirals, or zigzag the hazelnut sauce over your pizza base, or simply spread it all over.

Pop the pizza base (with the nutella sauce) into the oven for 1 minute, just to warm up the sauce. We topped our dessert pizza with honey stars, oreo crumble and rainbow sprinkles. Other sweet toppings on offer include mini marshmallows and chocolate chips. As expected, our pizza was overwhelmingly sweet. Perhaps we shouldn’t have put so much nutella, oops. Pro tip: heat up the dessert pizza again after adding the mini marshmallows or chocolate chips for a slightly oozy mess.

Although the ingredients are simple, we would still recommend this place for those who will love the novel experience! It is still a fun place to hang out at if you want to experience making your own pizza. Note that each oven can only fit 4 small pizzas. They seem to have a bigger oven available, so let them know if you need it when making a reservation. Note that they only accept payment by cash.

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

The post Rhombus Pizza – Play Chef with this Affordable $15 Halal Pizza Buffet! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Need a celebration during the work day? Or how about just an ordinary Thursday afternoon at the office? A tea party in the office is a fun way to unwind after the completion of an important project, or just a way to show appreciation to your employees. Save all the trouble of food preparation to Four Seasons Catering as they have launched two High Tea Party Boxes. All you have to do is, CHIAK!

Delicious bites are essential for an afternoon pick-me up. And of course, Four Seasons Catering has picked out the perfect assortment of noodles, fried items, pastries, small sandwiches, fruit, and more to please everyone in your office!

Big thank you to Four Seasons Catering, I get to try two high tea party boxes with my colleagues. Party Box A begins with homemade chocolate tarts with sea salt as well as chicken hams and cheese sandwich. Something sweet is always welcomed (as a lady) so we really enjoyed the chocolate tarts. Deep fried items are always a hit, be it young or old. The honey prawn dumplings, golden pear dumplings and prawn twisters were gone very quickly. I pair it with wok fried white bee hoon and some chilli sauce.

In Party Box B, there is egg mayonnaise finger sandwiches and chocolate eclairs on the first stack. Followed by pumpkin croquette, golden shrimp wantons, sesame balls with golden salted egg yolk and Penang fried kway teow. The wantons are fried till golden brown, I am sure you can imagine the crunchiness when you bite into it. I like it that fruits are also added into the spread, it is a great way to add some healthy options!

The dishes are stacked in a special designed party box and delivered like a present – isn’t this more convenient and hassle free? Full set of biodegradable disposable wares, serviettes, garbage bags, chilli and tomato sauce will be provided. Just purchase it online and have it delivered to your home or office. You just have to open up and DIG IN!

The high tea party box is an ideal way to push away that tired feeling, the afternoon slump. It’s also a great way for my colleagues to come together and get to know each other better. Think of this office party as a fun, casual team-building event!

Four Seasons Catering’s High Tea Party Box costs $88 ($94.16 w/GST) per set and is suitable for 8 to 10 pax. Note that food is best consumed within 2 hours upon delivery (your afternoon tea also cannot be so long right? LOL)

STAND A CHANCE TO WIN NDP PARTY BOX!

In line with the range of Party Box menus, Four Seasons Catering has launched a NDP Party Box specially for the coming National Day. This party box features juicy whole chicken marinated in 4 unique flavours – prawn paste fried chicken, nyonya assam fried chicken, tandoori masala fried chicken and turmeric fried chicken. The party box costs $38 for self-collect or $52 for delivery. For a limited time only!

To celebrate Singapore’s 52nd birthday, Four Seasons Catering will be giving away a NDP Party Box to ONE LUCKY WINNER! Here’s how to win:
1. Like & share Four Seasons Catering Pte Ltd Facebook Page,
2. Tag your friends & comment who will they share the NDP Party Box with.

Giveaway period: 1 Aug – 5 Aug 2017

Four Seasons Catering
Hotline: +65 6383 3003
Website: http://www.fourseasons.com.sg
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fourseasonscateringpteltd

The post Enjoy a Tea Party with Four Seasons Catering! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Western cuisine is perhaps one of the most popular cuisines amongst Singaporeans. It’s difficult to not enjoy it because there’s nothing much to not like. What makes Next Stop Cafe stand out from other neighbourhood cafes is their affordably-priced western dishes. From starters, to pizzas, to burgers, to waffles, it’s hard to not find something that will tickle your fancy. 

Helmed by Chef Choo Liong Hau, Next Stop Cafe was launched three months ago, on 14th April. Tapping on his experience as a chef at Orchard hotel, and other American chain restaurants, Chef Choo is a veteran in western cuisine. He told me that he mans the kitchen himself, and uses only quality fresh ingredients. Owing to this fact, you might find that the food does take a little longer than usual to be prepared and served. With over 2 decades of experience under his belt, Chef Choo makes all the sauces by hand, using fresh ingredients, so its flavour and taste cannot be replicated elsewhere. He also shared that he has to come in about 3 hours before the cafe opens, to prepare everything.

One look at the menu and you’ll easily notice that most items are priced well below $10. If you’re a student (wear your uniform or show your student pass), you get an additional 15% discount off all dishes on weekdays from 1pm to 5pm! Although the prices are really affordable, Chef Choo isn’t stingy when it comes to the portions. One of his signature and best-selling dish is the mushroom aglio olio ($6.50, $5.50 for students). For its price, it really is difficult to beat. Using a deep wok to cook, Chef Choo tells me that his pasta has a slightly different flavour than other aglio olios. The portions are more than generous and well worth the $5.50. It’s a little spicy but nothing too overwhelming. The dish is well seasoned and the pasta is firm. It might not look impressive, but you can be assured that you won’t go home disappointed. 

If you prefer a cream-based pasta, you can opt for the Carbonara ($7.90, $6.70 for students). The pasta is slightly more cooked through, as compared to the Aglio Olio. The creamy sauce has a rich and creamy consistency but we felt that it could do with a little more salt. The turkey bacon bits aren’t the usual crispy ones but had a meatier flavour to it, without the saltiness. Overall, for its price, it’s difficult to fault it. However, if I had to choose, I’d go for the Aglio Olio.

We also got the Sirloin Steak ($14.90, $8.10 for students) which is the priciest item on their menu, but it was impressive considering the price. In fact, this is the only item above 10 bucks here! It comes with a bed of fresh salad and a separate cup of crinkle cut fries so that they don’t get soggy. The steak was surprisingly succulent and chunky. Cooked till medium, there was a slight tinge of pink present in the meat. It wasn’t as bloody as my usual steaks, but I reckon you can request for your desired doneness. I’m sure friendly Chef Choo will gladly oblige. The homemade black pepper sauce has a robust peppery finish but the excess water from the salad did dilute it a little. While the fries weren’t as crispy as I expected, they were nonetheless still satisfyingly addictive. If you’re craving for steak, this is definitely a steal.

Last but not least, we tried the Crispy Chicken Baked Rice ($7.90, $6.70 for students). Most baked rice dishes come drenched in a cheesy cream sauce but this was a tad different. Chef Choo uses a homemade tomato-based sauce and tops the dish off with melted mozzarella cheese. The tomato sauce comes with soft tomato chunks. Remember to mix everything well before you jump into it! The chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. My only reservation was that the rice underneath didn’t get the love from the tomato sauce. I prefer cream sauces because they seem to bring all the ingredients together more flawlessly. Nonetheless, this is prefect for those with bigger appetites.

What’s a meal without dessert? To complete our meal, we got the Apple Cobbler served with premium vanilla ice cream ($3.90, $3.30 for students). The dessert comes with a generous scoop of premium ice cream atop an interesting looking pastry. Bite into the soft pastry to reveal a fruity apple filling made from real apples. I thought that the pastry could do with a crispier edge but I liked that the overall dessert wasn’t overly sweet. 

Like all cafes, you get free flow water so you needn’t worry about spending more to get a drink. Enjoy the free wifi and there’s even external power sockets so you can finish up your work or hold a project meeting here. Great food, attractive prices, what more can one ask for?

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

The post Next Stop Cafe – Authentic Western Cuisine Under 10 Bucks! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Ayam penyet comes to mind when I crave Indonesian food. Oh, the thought of smashed fried chicken with fluffy white grains, sambal chilli, cucumber slices, fried tofu and tempeh, makes my mouth water. Ayam penyet is known especially for its super tender meat which is a result of a unique light smashing technique.

While pursuing a tip-off about a store that concocts their fresh sambal chilli by hand, I stumbled upon what could possibly be one of the best ayam penyet sambal chilli I have tasted thus far. Impian Wahyu is a humble little stall helmed by an Indonesian couple, Abang Batman and Wahyu Ning. You’d probably guess by now that the shop is named after Ms Wahyu. However, Mr Batman commands a spot on the signboard too. Spot that batman logo? There’s even a batman plushie hanging from the ceiling. If you’re curious, you should most definitely pop by. Mr Batman will be more than happy to provide a show-and-tell session about his name and the origins of the dishes, whilst you enjoy the the Indonesian spread prepared by them.

The Ayam Penyet ($5.50) is essentially an Indonesia-style chicken rice dish, so critics will probably be placing most emphasis on the quality of the rice or chicken. For me, the key is really the sambal chilli. 

Impian Wahyu’s sambal is divine. Yes, DIVINE. It is surprising that the sambal isn’t as spicy as the ones you would usually get at Ayam Penyet Ria or other stores. The combination of sugar, fried tomatoes, and dry chillies is a flavourful mix that can be enjoyed even on its own. Each portion of sambal chilli is handmade upon order.

Ms Wahyu first grabs a handful of tomato, and fries them till they are dry, before pouring it onto a portion of dried chillies and sugar. The ingredients are then pounded in a mortar to create the sambal chilli.

The chicken is slightly crispy, and is well seasoned with Indonesian spices. “Before this, we actually boil the chicken in a broth for at least 3 hours to soften the bones”, Mr Batman reveals right after he places the already softened chicken chunks in extremely hot oil. 

The couple recommended the Sup Buntut Oxtail ($8.00), which is a broth swimming with a generous amount of carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and oxtail meat. The vegetables added a touch of sweetness to the dish as well. I really liked the oxtail, which is soft and fatty.

The Tahu Goreng ($4.00) was a simple assembly of fried tofu and beansprouts, served with peanut sauce. Though the peanut sauce was slightly watery, the sweetness from it paired nicely with the tahu goreng.

“Do you know why we use begedil in our Mee Soto? If you put it in, the chicken broth will become thicker!” Yes Mr Batman, soaking the begedil in the already savoury chicken broth of the Mee Soto ($3.50) really gives it a better texture. Though I found the noodles to be quite average, the shredded chicken pieces were tender and really tasty.

I’m proud to say that Impian Wahyu has exceeded my expectations. Having built a home to some of the most authentic Indonesian dishes, Mr Batman guarantees that your tummies will be satisfied!

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

The post Impian Wahyu – This Indonesian Couple Makes Awesome Sambal Chilli! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Meow. Catfeine is a cozy new home to specialty coffee, tea, and cats! Well, plushie cats. Sorry to have burst your bubble, but there isn’t actually a real cat. There’s a corner which plays host to adorable cat plushies – some of which are available for purchase. “See our cafe’s logo, the black cat? That was inspired by our own cat at home,” said Ellen, the co-founder of Caffeine. Ellen, together with her husband, Ken, left their day jobs to set up Catfeine.

“We both worked at a cafe for a year, and we learnt everything we needed to know about managing a cafe,” Ellen said.  

We ordered a couple of drinks – Floral Latte (Rose, $5), Matcha Latte ($5), and Iced Latte ($4.50). Ken shared that they use a blend specially customised by Smitten for their espresso-based beverages. My favourite would have to be the rose latte, which carries a subtle sweet note. and floral hints.

Catfeine delivers a Laksa Seafood Shepherd’s Pie ($15), which comes in a hot casserole with a healthy serving of salad on the side. A a generous amount of seafood such as mussels, squid and prawns, is buried together with mixed vegetables, authentic laksa paste, coconut cream in a bed of mashed potato. The laksa taste is nicely captured within the dish, but it would have been better if they had thrown in a couple of laksa leaves for a more distinct aroma. 

The Duck-gle ($12) is an assembly of duck foie gras, caramel sauce, orange zest, onion bagel, and orange salad. The foie gras was rich, albeit a tad dry, and paired well with the soft bagel. The caramel sauce was hardly discernible, but I loved the citrusy elements from the orange zest. Usually, I would ditch the salad, but I just couldnt resist the aromatic sesame dressing on the greens.

The KayaGooyoo ($12) is the waffle-version of our favourite local breakfast item – kaya toast. Four waffle quarters are served on a plate, along with kaya toast elements such as butter and kaya. In the centre you’ll find a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with whipped cream and half a peach. This actually resembles the soft boiled eggs you get in your kaya toast sets! The neutral tasting waffle is slightly chewy. Overall, a pretty decent dish that is best shared amongst 2-3 persons.

Caffeine is only 2.5 months old, but boasts a number of dishes that I feel are worth trying. Ellen strongly recommends their homemade sandwiches. Despite my animosity for cats, I would definitely return to this cozy little cafe for a cup of rose latte.

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

The post CATfeine – A New Cafe To Enjoy A Purr-fect Cup Of Coffee appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Fish and chips (and chicken chop) was probably my favourite food when I was 12, and I think most of us can relate to that. Even though it isn’t one of my favourites any longer, it still remains as one of my top comfort foods. So, in an attempt to satisfy my inner child, we set out on an adventure to bring you 9 fish and chips that will hopefully rekindle your fire for this classic dish.

5 Star Corner Western Food

Kopitiams are steeped with hidden food gems because there’re simple too many kopitiams to check out. 5 Star Western Food is one of such gems. We tried their fish and chips, but it didn’t impress. However, for $6, this really deserves 5 stars for value. We got 2 medium-sized fillets with crispy skin and a tasty fish. My only gripe was that the skin was a little too thin, so it wasn’t really quite as satisfying as one would expect. I liked the thick cut fries but would’ve preferred it to be better seasoned. I thought that the unpretentious slice of garlic bread really stood out – well-seasoned and crunchy. I hear that their steak and chicken chop are more popular with diners.

Mr Fish & Chips @ Wok Inn café

Once located in Toa Payoh, Mr Fish & Chips has since relocated to PoMo. They’re known for their crispy fish and chips so we had to try it out! We got the set meal which costs $9.90 and you get to pick 2 out of 3 sides – Chips, mashed potatoes or coleslaw. I thought that it was a really value-for-money meal. No wonder this place is packed during lunch and dinner time. Stall owner, Michael Molina, has over 9 years of experience in a fish and chips shop in the UK, and he has brought his expertise over so that Singaporeans can also enjoy an authentic plate of fish and chips at affordable prices. Needless to say, the fish and chips here are pretty legit. The stall owner also imports bottles of malt vinegar which is what the British add to their fish and chips. The fish was silky smooth, and the portion was generous. The fries were similar to potato wedges. If you’re a student, you can opt for the student meal – just remember to bring your student card!

Western Barbecue

One of the star tenants at Old Airport Road Food Centre is Western Barbecue. Diners can look forward to popular dishes such as fish and chips, mixed grill and chicken chop here. For a mere $6, the fish and chips were really impressive and I felt like they should have charged more, given the superior quality of the fish. Expect 2 medium-sized fillets with a side of thick cut fries. The dory fish is coated in homemade batter before it is fried to crispy perfection. I liked that the batter was buttery and the fish, silky smooth. You even get a butter bun to fill up your tummy. This makes the most value-for-money fish and chips in this list! If you haven’t tried it, you really should!

ChopS! Grills & Sides

Humble and unpretentious, Chops! Grills and sides is yet another contender in the race for the Best Fish & Chips title. Despite the great quality, the prices are aptly priced for the common man, like myself. For $7.90, you get to pick 2 sides to accompany your battered fried fish. Diners can opt from Aglio Olio, Garlic fried rice, Shoestring Fries, Romane lettuce, Tuna Salad, Pasta salad or coleslaw. We got the fries and garlic fried rice. Waiting time wasn’t long and I loved the friendly service. They coat dory fish in bread crumbs so the batter wasn’t as buttery as the others. I found the batter a little too thick but I realised that if I dipped the fish in tar tar sauce, everything gets balanced out. Kudos! What stood out was the recommended garlic fried rice which was really fragrant and well-seasoned.

Cups and Canvas

Cups and Canvas is a homey café that offers coffee and a limited selection of food items. I enjoyed the outdoor seating which makes for some lovely photos. If you’re a café hopper, this is one café you should definitely check out. For a price of $12.90, the fish and chips was a little pricier than those offered at other places. It comes with 3 small fillets, a bed of crispy fries, and a side of salad. The fish was a little too oily and soggy which didn’t really appeal to us but it was still decent. On the other hand, the fries were light and crispy. Although they weren’t as thick as I would have liked them to be, I still found myself reaching for more. 

I am… Cafe

Fish and chips doesn’t have to be exclusive, so it’s great that there are places offering halal versions so that everybody can enjoy their plate of delicious fish and chips, regardless of race, or religion. One of such places is I am… café, which dishes out some mean fish and chips.Beneath a beautiful golden brown exterior, lies lusciously succulent flesh. The batter was surprisingly hard, but nothing too tough I couldn’t bite through. The fish did retain a slight fishy taste which may disappoint some, but it was still a very delicious piece of fried fish. Although it is significantly pricier than other options, this is probably one of the best fish and chips in town.

Smith’s Fish and Chips

Smith’s is dedicated to its roots, serving the true-blue fish and chips. Run by Englishmen, Smith’s boasts a robust and extensive menu of fish and chips. They offer a fine selection of white fish including the popular Dory, Cod, Haddock and Halibut. I was recommended the Haddock, which is what the English enjoy most frequently in their country. The prices are really steep when compared to other options, but you are getting your money’s worth. They put a lot of hard work into their fish and chips – they peel and chip the potatoes, and make the batter daily. Owing to a different cooking method, the chips here aren’t as crispy as you’d expect but I liked that the flavour of the potatoes were more prominent. The haddock is super fresh and has a flakier texture. They serve the fish and chips unseasoned, but every table comes with a salt shaker and a bottle of malt vinegar. You might be disappointed because it ain’t the crispy fish and chips you’d expect. I guess the English enjoy their fish and chips really differently from us.

Molly Malone’s

A friend introduced this place to me so I decided to give it a try. I’m not saying that this is the best, but off the top of my head, Molly Malone’s serves one of the best fried fish around. For $16, we got two medium sized golden-brown fillets, a side of thick fries and 2 dips – chilli sauce and tar tar sauce. Dory is encased in an impressive batter which is neither too hard, nor too soggy, so the knife cuts through with the right amount of ease. The fish was light, smooth and moist.  The fries, were a tad too salty, but had the right balance of crispiness while still retaining the original flavour of potatoes. I can’t quite explain it, but this appealed to me. A reservation I had though, was the long waiting time even though there was nobody. Nonetheless, the chill atmosphere and friendly staff did help to mitigate my frustration.

吃western

Western stalls in kopitiams are always rather obsure, and 吃western is no exception. Launched about a year back, 吃western offers affordably-priced western food that everybody can enjoy. For just $6.50, this is one fish and chips that I’ll be coming back for. Not because I’m a cheapo okay, but I earnestly don’t think that it can get any better than this, at this price. I couldn’t wait to dive into the 2 crispy dory fish fillets, side of thick and chunky fries, and interesting purple cabbage salad. The combination of tender fish and buttery thick batter was spot on. I have no complaints at all.  I liked that they use crinkle cut fries because it reminds me of the fish and chips that I had when I was a child (so nostalgic). Truffle-flavoured fries are available too. We polished the plate even though we were already full. Overall, this was my favorite. Even though the staff wasn’t quite friendly, I’ll definitely return should my craving for fish and chips resurface.

We all enjoy a hearty plate of fish and chips every once in a while. Some of us love soggy fries, some prefer crispy thick ones instead. Nonetheless, hopefully this short guide will be useful! Just remember to drink lots of water after, so you don’t fall ill.

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 9 Delightful Fish & Chips You Batter Not Miss Out On! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Staying in the east, I never had the impression that there would be an abundance of good food in Yishun. Imagine my surprise when I found this gem along Yishun street 11! It seems that Huat Kee Kway Chap is popular amongst the Yishun residents – you’ll notice that everyone there is busy slurping down bowls of broad rice sheets and a medley of braised items. They only open in the morning and usually sell out by noon, hence it was a true struggle to beat the morning blues but I’m glad I did.

Huat kee kway chap has been operating in the current coffee shop for almost a decade but they’ve actually been in business since 1970! Wow almost half a century now. Kway chap is no chicken feet, it takes hours of hard work to clean the intestines thoroughly so that it doesn’t give off a nasty stench. Likewise, it takes hours and hours of preparation to simmer the broth that we all love. In order to start operations at 630am, the folks behind Huat Kee wake up at 3am, and continue preparing even after they are sold out for that day! It’s a family business started by the mum (the old lady sauntering around) who has since imparted all her techniques and recipes to her children. Now, it’s helmed by the oldest son who oversees everything in the kitchen. I like that they’re all really friendly; It doesn’t come as a surprise that they have throngs of loyal customers.

I reached the place at around 11.15am (Thursday morning) but they were already out of the more popular ingredients such as pig’s skin, tau pok and fishcakes! Ergo, I had higher expectations for my breakfast (more like brunch) but they didn’t disappoint. Just for this stall, the more ganchiong you are, the better; better be early than late. The Uncle told me that the best time to come is 7am – when there aren’t many people and all the items are available. However, this means I’ll have to wake up at 530am (#firstworldproblems)!

The kway chap consists of a platter of intestines and a comforting bowl of noodles. I always had an impression that they were bitter and didn’t understand why people loved pig’s intestines so much. Instead of intestines, I’m more of a tau pok tau kwa kind of guy. Unfortunately, there was no more tau pok, nor tau kwa..  Imagine my surprise when I realised that I actually finished all the intestines! I think a good hallmark of kway chap is the clean intestines and Huat Kee has definitely excelled in this area. Doused in their housemade gravy, the braised items had the right amount of sweetness and chewiness. The meats were especially tasty and rather tender. I enjoyed the homemade chilli which carried a refreshing sour twist. 

The bowl of broad rice sheets also hit all the right notes for me. The broth is light, but possessed a distinct herbal flavour. If you prefer a more robust broth then it may not appeal to you as much. Served warm, this makes for the perfect breakfast on a rainy morning. For $4.50, the portion is incredibly generous. 

Even as I was busy slurping away, there were a good number of people who came to ask if they were sold out. Seems like you really have to get up early to secure yourself a bowl of their famous kway chap. 

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 Huat Kee Kway Chap. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Huat Kee Kway Chap – A Glorious Kway Chap Worth Waking Up For appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

National Day is the perfect occasion to spend quality time with your loved ones. If you’re the type who would rather snuggle on your sofa to catch the National Day Parade live show, than squeeze with the crowd at the floating platform, why not take a break from fussing around in your kitchen too? Coca-Cola has partnered up with Deliveroo and a good number of restaurants to bring you different bundle meals from 7 August to 3 September 2017. These irresistible deals allow you to catch the fireworks while enjoying delicious food at home!

Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh
Book now: https://deliveroo.com.sg/menu/singapore/sin-ming/rong-cheng-bak-kut-the

Rong Cheng has been serving Singaporeans with piping hot bowls of traditional Teochew Bak Kut Teh since 1976. The bak kut teh soup is prepared daily in the most traditional teochew way – cooking the fresh pork ribs in water with just garlic and pepper. Its peppery taste packs quite a punch but isn’t too overwhelming. The bundle meals also have comforting and hearty sides for you to pair with the bak kut teh.

The Bundle Meal for 2 pax ($25) consists of 1 serving of pork rib soup, 1 serving of pig trotter (or liver/kidney soup), 1 serving of youtiao, 2 servings of white rice, and 2 cans of ice-cold Coca-Cola. 

The Bundle Meal for 4 pax ($54) offers 2 servings of pork rib soup, 1 serving of pig trotter, 1 serving of pork liver or kidney soup, 1 serving of salted vegetable, 2 servings of youtiao, 4 servings of white rice, and 4 cans of ice-cold Coca-Cola.

The Bundle Meal for 6 pax ($85) contains 4 servings of pork rib soup, 1 serving of braised pig trotter, 1 serving of pork liver or kidney soup, 2 servings of youtiao, 1 serving of salted vegetable, 1 serving of braised beancurd skin, 1 serving of braised peanut, 6 servings of white rice, and 6 cans of ice-cold Coca-Cola.

Rong Guang BBQ Seafood
Book now: https://deliveroo.com.sg/menu/singapore/upper-bukit-timah/red-hill-rong-guang-bbq-seafood

Rong Guang BBQ Seafood serves a wide variety of seafood dishes, which are prepared with interesting sauces. It’s common to find Sambal BBQ Stingray, but Rong Guang offers Assam and Curry BBQ Stingrays too. You can also find Salted Egg BBQ Crayfish, Gong Bao BBQ Prawn, Lala, and Mussels on the menu as well. The Seafood Platter for 2 pax ($30) consists of stingray, lala, and fried rice. This is probably one of the meatiest stingray we’ve come across. The sambal is not too spicy, but still has enough kick.

The BBQ Lala is available in 4 different flavours – sambal, ginger and onion, gong bao, and gan xiang. We opted for gong bao lala, and were surprised by the combination. We didn’t think gong bao sauce will go well with lala, but were proven wrong. There is also a Seafood Platter for 3-4 pax ($50) which includes stingray, vegetables, oyster omelette, chicken and fried rice. You can also choose one vegetable dish – baby kailan, fried kang kong, or fried potato leaves.

We suggest savouring all these smokey BBQ delights with a can of refreshing Coca-Cola. Just imagine the fizzy bubbles, mixed with the lovely taste of BBQ food sliding down your throat!

Hard Rock Cafe
Book now: https://deliveroo.com.sg/menu/singapore/orchard/hard-rock-cafe-hpl-house

Hard Rock Cafe is known for whipping up classic American food, and regional favorites. The Fish & Chips is a great choice. Sink your teeth into juicy and succulent flesh enveloped in a crispy batter. For cheese lovers, we will recommend the Twisted Mac, Chicken and Cheese, which features Cavatappi, a type of macaroni, tossed in a lightly spiced 3-cheese sauce, and accompanied with garlic, roasted red peppers, Romano parsley bread crumbs, grilled chicken breast and garlic bread.

Those who prefer meatier dishes can go for the New York Strip Steak or Hickory Smoked Barbeque Chicken. The steak is grilled and topped with Merlot-garlic butter, and served with roasted garlic smashed potatoes, gravy and fresh vegetables. The chicken, on the other hand, is rubbed, grilled and basted with authentic homemade Hickory Barbeque sauce, and served with seasoned fries, ranch beans and fresh coleslaw.

The value for money Bundle Meal for 2 ($52) includes 1 Satay Burger (new item on the menu), 1 Chilli Crab Dip, 2 cans of ice-cold Coca-Cola, and 1 mini brownie. What a great representation of Singapore! The Satay Burger boasts an Angus beef patty slathered with peanut. We really like the Chilli crab dip too.

Citrus By The Pool
Book now: https://deliveroo.com.sg/menu/singapore/marsiling/citrus-by-the-pool

Citrus By The Pool is a Halal-certified café restaurant offering a range of Western food, Asian Fusion Cuisine and desserts. Bundle A for 2 pax ($39.90) includes 2 starters, 2 mains, 1 snack, and 2 cans of ice-cold Coca-Cola. Bundle B for 4 pax ($79.90) contains 4 starters, 4 mains, 2 snacks, and 1 bottle of ice-cold Coca-Cola. Bundle C for 6 pax ($109.90) features 6 starters, 6 mains, 3 snacks, and 2 bottles of ice-cold Coca-Cola. 

For starters, the Homemade Pumpkin Soup which is blended into a creamy and smooth consistency is a promising option. The snack menu is more attractive as it features Chilli Chicken Fries which is an assembly of crispy fries, minced chicken chunks, hot chilli, and jalapenos. The tangy and spicy chilli chicken dressing makes it very addictive! You can also enjoy the Sweet Potato Fries which are served with your choice of dip – salted egg yolk dip, curry mayo dip or spicy mayo dip.

Celebrate National Day with local delights such as the Nyonya Style Fish Rice and signature Tom Yum Seafood Pasta. The homemade Nyonya sauce is lightly spicy and citrusy, which complements the crispy chunks of fried fish. The pasta consists of linguine ‘swimming’ in their Tom Yum broth, along with fresh clams, squid and prawn.

Fish & Co.
Book now: https://deliveroo.com.sg/menu/singapore/novena/fish-and-co-novena-square

The Petite Fish & Chips Combo for 2 ($32.90) consists of 2 servings of any Petite Fish & Chips, 6 pieces of buffalo drumlets, and 2 drinks. You get to choose from Best Fish & Chips, Bombay Fish & Chips, Singapore Fish & Chips, Danish Fish & Chips, New York Fish & Chips, and Swiss Fish & Chips. The Singapore Fish & Chips consists of a savoury homemade chilli crab sauce, making it stand out from the rest. The unique Danish Fish & Chips presents a slab of fried fish that oozes mozzarella cheese from its core.

The Classic Fish & Chips Combo for 2 pax ($42.90) features 2 servings of any Fish & Chips, 1 portion of fried calamari, and 2 drinks. The flavours of Fish & Chips available are similar to the ones offered for the Petite Fish & Chips Combo, but the portion is more substantial. There’s also a Family Combo for 4 pax ($76.90) which brings you 4 servings of White Fish with Pesto Parmasan or Singapore Fish & Chips, 1 portion of fried calamari, 1 portion of prawn fritters, and 4 drinks. For that perfect finish, grab a can of ice-cold Coca-Cola to accompany your seafood feast.

With such good deals on this National Day, we’re convinced to stay home to catch the live broadcast of the celebrations, while enjoying a scrumptious feast with our beloved ones. Head over to Coca-Cola® SG’s Facebook and Instagram (@cocacolasg) or Deliveroo’s Facebook @deliveroosg and Instagram @deliveroo_SG to check out how you can indulge in amazing meals with an ice-cold Coca-Cola!

This article is brought to you in partnership with Coca-Cola®, the opinions are the writer’s own.

The post Celebrate Singapore’s 52nd Birthday With Deliveroo’s Amazing Bundle Deals This August appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Halal Lobster Nasi Lemak??? Say what?

Lawa Bintang, which has an outlet in Tai Seng and Kaki Bukit respectively, has invaded Tampines too. Sare, known affectionately as Kak (Malay word for sister) Sare, now mans the third stall which started operations in February 2017.

“We focus on bringing fusion food to the table. We use a variety of herbs and spices to create our food – including the fried chicken and lobster,” said the ex-property agent. Indeed, there is an unusual spread of Nasi Lemak ingredients, including the famous sotong grill, salmon, and even crayfish.

The Lobster Nasi Lemak ($22) was pleasing to the eyes. It features a whole lobster coated with grounded herbs and cheese, a bed of basmati grains, a fried egg, sambal peanuts and anchovies, and a generous dollop of sambal chili. “We use basmati rice because it is more presentable. It is also a healthier option since it does not absorb the coconut milk as well as normal rice do,” said Kak Sare.

Coating the lobster flesh is a ground blend of herbs that incorporates rosemary, parsley and other secret ingredients. The cheese, which is made from three types of cheese, is cooked separately before it goes onto the lobster. The lobster meat is sweet and succulent, and the herb blend lends a herbaceous dimension to the flesh. The cheese is sufficiently rich and fragrant, without overpowering the deeply-flavoured lobster. I love the elements present in this fusion dish but the combination may be slightly ambitious for those with a penchant for tradition.

The Nasi Lemak Sotong Goreng ($7.50) comprises a whole squid coated in fried batter, as well as the nasi lemak essentials. Though intended for one, the huge squid is definitely sufficient for two. The batter is flavourful, and is covered in a thin coat of herbal seasoning and chilli powder. Take a huge bite to reveal a fresh squid which is chewy and savoury.

Kak Sare reveals that her fragrant sambal chilli tunis is cooked for about 5 hours before being served. The fire in it was excellent; the enduring heat was pleasant. I usually skip the anchovies and peanuts, but the sambal that they were dressed in was too addictive! I was surprised that I actually finished them all. 

The menu of the family-run business boasts a number of grilled dishes, and other favourites such as fried sotong. Kak Sare recommends the grilled sotong, which I’m sure would impress just like the rest of the dishes did. Nasi Ambeng is also available for pre-order, so do drop them a message on Facebook if you want to lay your hands on it. The location of this outlet is, unfortunately, quite ulu, so get ready to walk quite a distance before you can spot this hidden gem.

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

The post Lawa Bintang – A Delicious Encounter With Halal Lobster Nasi Lemak! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

For as far as I remember, hankerings tend to come in hordes, never alone. Its often a tall order to satisfy and quell them all simultaneously. In that same vein, it’s probably a strong driving reason why Cai Png and Tze Char places are very popular amongst the locals. You get to kill two birds with one stone – resolve multiple cravings and satisfy your rumbling tummy. While it’s difficult to find bad Cai Png or Tze Char, it’s also paradoxically difficult to find good ones. So, in our quest to gratify our cravings, we decided to try out an unpretentious Tze Char stall that some have been raving about.

805 Seafood Kitchen is known for their curry fish head amongst a selected inventory of local delicacies that we’re all familiar with. Besides the famed curry fish head, we also got the prawn paste chicken (Har Cheong Gai), Xian Cai In Superior Stock, Braised Bean Curd with Green Vegetables and Fu Rong Egg (Fu Yong Dan).

My favourite was the prawn paste chicken, but not just because it’s fried chicken. The prawn paste chicken has an addictive and captivating fragrance. The juicy chicken wings feature a crispy and crunchy skin that’s well seasoned. We wiped this plate clean so it’s safe to say that it wasn’t enough for all. For 5 pax, I reckon the large size would have been just about right.

We also had the Braised Tofu with Green Vegetables. Think thick chunks of Tofu smothered in a starchy gooey gravy. The tofu may be soft but it doesn’t fall apart easily. The portion of mushrooms and assorted vegetables is generous, but we found the tofu slightly bland and would have preferred it to be a little saltier. The omelette is served whole with a slightly crispy exterior and charred edges. Bite into the egg and you’ll notice that they’ve added a good amount of onions and shrimps. The interior of the omelette was sufficiently soft and moist, making this an easy winner amongst us. 

We needed to balance our meal with some vegetables so we ordered the Xian Cai in Superior Stock. The dish presents a generous portion of spinach and mushrooms mixed with tang hoon, in a pool of cream-coloured broth. While the flavour of the broth didn’t impress, the copious amounts of eggs made up for it. The spinach was well cooked, and adequately crunchy. 

I saved the best for last – the signature curry fish head ($25) which is a popular dish that many lust after. The creamy, spicy and robust curry comprises a medium-sized red snapper head, and vegetables. I thought that they were super generous with the vegetables and the curry. The spice is evident in the curry but it only hits after a while. Coupled with a bowl of hearty white rice, the curry fish head is definitely a must-order.

We ordered a medium size for all the dishes for the five of us, and there were still leftovers. The bill came up to a total of $93.20 which is reasonably under 20 bucks per pax! For the quality and portions, I thought the value was unbeatable. There is also plenty of parking space, and big round tables – perfect for family gatherings! If you like, you can also opt for the chef’s recommended salted egg crab too.

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 805 Seafood Kitchen. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 805 Seafood Kitchen – Local Delicacies at Affordable Prices appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Launched a few months back, Chiu Chau Lou boasts a medley of soupy seafood dishes. The owner is an old uncle who has over 40 years of experience in cooking. He decided to set up a shop after returning from his trip to China. The uncle is really friendly and he will give you recommendations if you ask. He told me that he used to teach cooking but decided that his passion still lies in cooking. He specializes in old-school Teochew fish porridge and fish soup – a flavor difficult to find these days.

They use Spanish Mackerel (aka Batang fish) but they also have Red-spotted Grouper Soup if you prefer grouper. Their broth takes hours to simmer and that is the secret to their slurp-worthy dishes. The owner starts preparation at 6am daily. He also doesn’t use pork or lard in his dishes. While he communicates in Cantonese, it’s interesting to note that he sells soupy Teochew porridge and not the gooey Cantonese porridge which I prefer. If you can’t decide what to get, you can opt for the Sea Jumbo which is basically a seafood soup that contains every kind of seafood they have.

I ordered the $4 Teochew Fish Porridge ($4/$5/$6) and was pleasantly surprised. I reckon the secret lies in the broth. It is very light, but doesn’t come off as bland. The broth carries a slight sweetness from the seafood that it has been simmered with. The plump rice grains aren’t too mushy but have the right amount of bite to them. Sieve through the unimpressive-looking bowl of porridge and you’ll notice small bits of seafood such as anchovies and even lala swimming in the broth. The batang fish was superb, and extremely fresh. However, I thought that they could be a little more generous with the fish as they were with the rice/porridge. 

I decided to go back for a bowl of their 2 Tone Slice Fish Noodles ($4/$5/$6), but with additional ingredients ($9). The usual fish soup comes with fresh Batang fish, fried fish pieces and your choice of bee hoon. I added fish maw and lala to mine. The broth is slightly different because the uncle cooks all the ingredients together with the broth before serving. Deep flavours are present but the broth is not as sweet as that of the Teochew Porridge. The ingredients are fresh and are prime examples of what good seafood should taste like. I especially liked the fish maw; it was crunchy and thick enough. The flavors are simple but they exude an old-school taste that is unique to this stall. 

If you go during lunch time, like I did, you’ll notice that a good number of their patrons belong to the older generation. However, I’m pretty sure that the younger generation would enjoy their food, too. 

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 Chiu Chau Lou. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Chiu Chau Lou – Heartwarming Fish Soups Great for Rainy Days appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Hailing from Japan, Pepper Lunch is a popular DIY restaurant that promises superior-quality ingredients and a unique culinary experience for everyone. The most exciting part about dining here is that you get to play chef! Here, every dish is served on a Japanese Teppan. You get to stir and mix the ingredients while watching them sizzle right in front of your eyes. Immerse yourself in their rich and diverse menu which covers everything from chicken, to seafood, to my favorite steak. Pepper Lunch has recently introduced 8 tantalizing new items to ensure that all palates are pleased!

As a true blue meat-lover, it was a given that my favorite out of the 8 new dishes would be the Meat Trio Deluxe, which sees a juicy chicken steak, tender BBQ beef slices, and a Hamburg steak, served with a good portion of white rice. Pepper Lunch prides itself on the quality of ingredients used in all their dishes, and this dish is no exception – Australian beef is used to craft the Hamburg, and only U.S beef slices are used in the Meat Trio Deluxe. I especially liked the beef slices. After drizzling on the special BBQ sauce, the beef slices were simply irresistible. For the price, I thought that the portions of meat were very generous and filling.

For seafood fans, you can indulge in the new Seafood Trio Deluxe. It comprises saba, Japanese scallops, and a chunky salmon steak that’ll get you salivating. Served with a side of bean sprouts, corn and long beans, this dish makes for a really well-balanced diet and we have no doubt that it will please your palate. If you just can’t get enough of seafood, we strongly recommend that you go for this. It comes with a bowl of rice so you won’t leave hungry.

If you prefer pasta to rice, opt for the Salmon & Prawn Pasta which comprises hearty salmon slices, and crunchy prawns, swimming in a pool of rich cream sauce. The Teppan helps to thicken the sauce so if you enjoy your pasta creamy and rich, this one is for you! Keeping to their promise of using only top quality ingredients, Pepper Lunch is now using pasteurized eggs. Most of us don’t cook (at least I don’t) but Pepper Lunch has also kindly compiled a short guide to ensure that you get your food cooked right. Hooray!

For greater value, we recommend the Mixed Katsu Toji which is made up of beef slices, golden-brown chicken cutlet, and crispy fried ebi, all topped generously with scrambled eggs and toji sauce. Due to the use of pasteurized eggs, you can now safely enjoy your eggs half-cooked. We enjoyed this dish because of the generous amount of eggs. There can never be too much egg! The toji sauce enhances the flavors but doesn’t overpower the dish. With such a wide variety of ingredients in this dish, it is definitely a steal for just $13.90!

Rejoice seafood-lovers because Pepper Lunch has also included a Cheesy Seafood Risotto ($12.90)! The sauce used in the Risotto is a different sauce than the one used in the Carbonara so don’t discount this just yet. Once mixed, you’ll notice that the risotto is significantly thick and sticky in texture. Owing to their use of premium short grained rice, the risotto tends to be gooier since the rice absorbs the moisture from the sauce during the mixing. If you like cheese and cream based dishes, this would definitely appeal to you!

Last but not least, we tried the Ebi Fry Curry Rice and the Chicken Katsu Curry Rice. Since both dishes use the same curry sauce, the only difference lies in the main ingredient – Ebi or Chicken Katsu. I’ve a relatively low tolerance for spice so it was a relief that the curry wasn’t spicy. Bite into a thin crispy golden brown batter and you will be greeted with either succulent chicken or crunchy prawns. Either way, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

To top it all off, Pepper Lunch has also introduced a medley of chilled desserts and drinks! We got the Milo Ice Cream Float and it hit all the right notes. We reckon it will appeal to most but if you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, go for the Ribena Float!

To thank you for being an avid reader of our articles, we have tied up with Pepper Lunch to offer an exclusive discount of 15% off any a la Carte dish to our readers. Simply quote “MISSTAMCHIAK” at any of the 7 Pepper Lunch restaurants in Singapore. This promotion runs till 30th September 2017. Take this opportunity to try out their new dishes and let us know which is your favorite!

This post was brought to you by [Pepper Lunch].

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This is it. The article that best summarises my journey in the National University of Singapore. Before, during and after classes, I’d dashed straight for the canteens no matter where I was. School food played a grand part in my academic journey, for sure. I wasn’t the best performing student, but I hope I did my best in bringing you some of the best food places that might become your new favourites. 

Tai Feng Wei

For the later half in NUS, I moved into Prince George Park Residence (which is opposite King Edward VII Hall). Prior to living here, my impression of the food choices here wasn’t positive. Turns out, it really isn’t so bad. For one, the Taiwan Popcorn Chicken Rice Box ($4.50) at Tai Feng Wei (Taiwanese) is pretty decent. Each of the components is decent, and the chicken is nicely seasoned. If you’re famished, the portion here is guaranteed to fill your tummy.

Fiesta Restaurant

Fiesta opened about 4 months ago, just before the start of the 2017 summer holidays. Fiesta is essentially a Chinese restaurant serving tze char dishes, and express lunch sets that are wallet friendly. I went for the Black Pepper Beef Fried Rice ($6.90) which sees beef slices coated in a black pepper sauce that is cooked with tomatoes, green peppers and onions. I loved the sweet and savoury notes!

Chinese Noodles @ Frontier, Faculty of Science

I remember taking Darwin & Evolution, and Global Health –  both were mentally draining. Thankfully, I was able to restore my energy with a comforting plate of Chinese noodles from the Science Canteen, the Frontier. There appears to be a never ending queue at the stall, but you won’t have to queue for more than 20 minutes. You can look forward to dumpling noodles, chicken noodles, and wanton noodles. Pro tip : Ask for Chan Chan (mix) and you’ll be given a plate of noodles with all the ingredients – dumpling, fried wanton, fishball, mushrooms, sliced chicken, minced meat, as well as a slice of ngoh hiang. Best part? This ultimate plate of noodles costs only $2.30! 

Yong Tau Foo & Laksa

The Yong Tau Foo at FASS is crazy popular. Be prepared to queue for at least 10-15 minutes before you can pick your ingredients, and another 15-20 minutes before you receive your food. Regardless, it’s worth it because you’re really getting your money’s worth. For just $3.50, you get 9 pieces of ingredients, and bee hoon, noodles or laksa soup! My go-to ingredients would have to be the seaweed chicken and crabstick! I liked that the laksa soup has a good balance of coconut milk and spices. During exam periods, I usually switch to clear soup and opt for more greens, for a lighter meal. 

Liang Ban Kung Fu @ The Deck, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

For just $7, we scored a serving of broccoli, raw chicken slices, pork balls, tau kwah, and enoki mushrooms. If this is your first time trying the ma la xiang guo, ask for mild spice (小 辣). If you need a loud awakening, go for medium（中辣）or hot spice（大辣). I find the 小 or 中 辣 still manageable especially if you can take the heat. This ma la xiang guo is fragrant, and very much comparable to those found in restaurants. Super value for money, isn’t it?

Sin Kee Famous Chicken Rice @ The Deck, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

The chicken rice ($2.80) from The Deck, is undoubtedly, one of my favourite dishes. The rice pairs extremely well with the flavourful chilli sauce. I would always order the chicken thigh as it is more tender. Soaked in soy sauce, the flavourful chicken can be eaten on its own. 

Kaneda Japanese Cuisine @ Technoedge, Faculty of Engineering

One of the must haves in Technoedge is the Fried Chicken Tama ($4)! You’ll be served a hotplate filled with chicken chunks swimming in a savoury egg and sweet gravy mix. They also serve wakame, which I love!

Hougang Fishball Minced Meat Noodles @ Technoedge, Faculty of Engineering

Sometimes, my friends and I get caught up in study sessions that endure till night falls. Fortunately, Hougang Fishball Minced Meat Noodles opens till 8pm. I was introduced to the Fried Minced Meat Ball Noodles ($2.80) in year 2, and I’ve loved it ever since. The handmade meatball is oil, but succulent. Though I find the noodles just alright, the soft pieces of pork lard elevate the taste of the noodles. If you like, you can even get the meatballs without the noodles, as a snack. The cook puts chilli into your noodles by default, so remember to alert him should you prefer otherwise. 

Western Food @ Technoedge, Faculty of Engineering

A couple of my peers in the engineering faculty recommended this stall so I had a go at the Black Pepper Grilled Chicken Chop ($3.20), which comes with a set of side dishes. I opted for coleslaw, sausage, and thick cut fries to pair with the grilled chicken which was pretty well executed. This is a good beginner set if you’re craving for some western food. 

Indonesian Panggang @ Technoedge, Faculty of Engineering

A fan of ayam panggang? You will be pleased to know that you don’t have to venture out of school to get it then! The ayam panggang is priced very reasonably, and features tender chicken flavoured with kecap manis (sweet sauce). The chicken skin sports a nice char and smokiness. You can opt to have your rice drenched in a rich curry gravy.. For only $3.50, you’re really getting your money’s worth.

The Spread @ NUS Business School

Nestled in a corner of the Mochtar Riady building is this pretty cafe selling Asian cuisine. The Spread is perfect for lunch if you ever need to escape the heat. The Japanese Beef Bowl / Gyudon with Sunny Side Up ($8.80) is made up of rice, a sunny side up egg, sliced beef and onion. I love the sweet and savoury marinate on the beef, but I did find the beef a tad dry. The cafe also offers do-it-yourself salad bowls, desserts, and beverages. 

Dickson’s North Indian Halal Food

The Terrace canteen, in the School of Computing, is a place I hardly visit. However, it is home to a number of international cuisine – Western, Indian and Vietnamese. If you’re heading to Dickson’s, you have to get the Steamed Briyani Rice, Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, and Cauliflower ($6). I couldn’t stop slurping up the curry of the butter chicken, which was robust and highly addictive. The chicken itself is well marinated, though slightly fibrous. Equally flavourful is the tandoori chicken, which has a strong charred taste.  

Café on the Ridge @ NUSS The Graduate Club

Previously accessible to students, this eatery now allows only members of the NUSS graduate club. Pro tip : register for the NUSS graduate club 90-days trial membership to gain access to the graduate club’s swimming pool and gym. After a workout session, you can drop by Café on the Ridge for a good lunch. Just remember to wear covered shoes and long pants. A highly recommended dish is the Nasi Goreng ($9.90), which consists of sambal prawns, chilli chicken, mutton rendang, as well as keropok, achar, fried anchovies, and rice. The sambal prawns are delish! I also enjoyed the chilli chicken and mutton rendang which were both very savoury. However, the meats were a little too tough. 

Indian Food @ Food Clique, University Town

This stall is super popular. The queue is unbelievable, especially during lunch hour. Reviews from my lecturers and peers about this place have been largely positive. For $3.30, I got a Mushroom Prata and Plaster Prata. The plaster prata was a tad disappointing, because the yolk of the egg was cooked through instead of being runny. The mushroom prata, on the other hand, was decent and comes with a generous amount of cut mushroom. The prata was not as crispy as I would have like, but I thought the curry was decently thick and well spiced.

Ban Mian / Fish Soup @ Food Clique, University Town

Week 13 is the most stressful week, and also the most exhausting time of my academic life. If I get too sleepy or restless while studying in UTown, I’ll go for a bowl of Tom Yum Fish Soup Noodles ($3.20) and request for a spicier version to wake myself up. The thick-cut and chewy noodles are topped with minced meat, crab sticks, egg, vegetables, anchovies, and sliced fish. It might be too spicy for some, but it’s excellent comfort food for me. 

Astons Express @ Food Clique, University Town

When I was still a freshman living in UTown, one of the first things I ate was Aston’s. Quality wise, the dishes are adequate, but what really makes it stand out is the affordable pricing. For $6.90, I get to savour the Chargrill Chicken which comes with 2 complimentary sides of your choice. I opted for the garden veggie and pasta salad, both of which were yummy. Be prepared to wait up to an hour during peak hours.

Hwang’s Korean Restaurant @ University Town

For a fuss-free Korean food fix, try the Doeji Bulgogi ($5.50) –  a basic assembly of spicy marinated pork, rice, and side dishes, on a hotplate. You can always add an egg for just 50 cents! The pork is nicely marinated, and carries a slight fire. While the pork isn’t too oily, it can be slightly dry. The onions add a sweet crunch to the dish. Scoop a mouthful and eat it while it’s hot!

There is something for every student in almost every part of NUS. Apart from the wide variety of food choices, there are also beverages that you must try – soya milk from Technoedge, and fruit juices from the Deck. There is also McDonald’s near the School of Engineering. I hope you discover more delicious food in your 3 or 4 years 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 cafes/stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Perhaps, a dish that encompasses our Singaporean identity and culture is everyone’s beloved chicken rice. Proudly labelled as our National dish, Chicken rice is probably the first thing you’d introduce to your friends who come to visit from abroad. There are a decent number of chicken rice restaurants around but I’ve always enjoyed my chicken rice from hawkers because it’s cheaper! (Yes I’m a cheapskate)

Launched 13 months back, Zeng Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice is helmed by Wei Liang. Born in Malaysia, Wei Liang has nurtured a passion for food after working in Boon Tong Kee, in Singapore, for 10 years. With years of experience under his belt, Wei Liang decided to start out on his own. He hopes to push on to develop his own brand of chicken rice here in Singapore. He also told me that he named his stall after his surname.

Wei Liang told me that he uses fresh Malaysian chicken, which he receives daily. Wei Liang poaches the chicken and dumps it in a huge pail of cold water to tighten its skin, and to stop the chicken from being cooked any further. If you’re lucky enough to sneak a peek, you’ll be able to see him pulling the entire chicken out of a pail of water before he starts to chop it.

Some like their chicken roasted and some like theirs steamed. When in doubt, I get both. You can opt to add ingredients like braised egg (50 cents), viscera (50 cents) and even a chicken wing ($1.50)! If you’re looking for a feast, you can go for the half chicken ($11) or the whole chicken ($22)! I requested for chicken breast and topped up 50 cents for an egg.

For $5, I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of food that was served. As expected, the chicken was fresh and not flaky. I liked that it was chunky so it had a firmer bite to it. The sauce is done well, not too salty and not too sweet. One of my chicken rice deal-breakers is the flavored rice that comes together with the chicken. I find that many tend to overlook the importance of the texture of the rice. I especially love the aromatic pandan fragrance from the rice. One of my pet peeves is rice that is undercooked or overcooked but I’m happy to report that the flavored rice served here was perfect! 

Most will tell you that you have to add chilli when eating chicken rice. I don’t always do it since I don’t really fancy spice in my food. However, I highly recommend adding the chilli this time round. Although it exudes a very ordinary color and smell, this handmade chilli really packs a punch. The heat follows through and I like that the acidity helps to add contrast to the chili. Wei Liang told me that all of the condiments (Chili and Ginger) are prepared by him. He gets to his store about 2 hours earlier to prepare everything before he starts serving.

Food is subjective but I sincerely think that this is a good plate of chicken rice. There’s little to dislike but so much to like, especially the chili. Given the economical prices and the superior quality, you’d be missing out on life if you missed out on this.

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 Zeng Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Zeng Ji Chicken Rice – Now, You’ll Never Feel Peckish Again appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Opened on 7 June, Lickety is the next new concept store by the people behind Fika and Konditori. Our  cries for desserts by the popular Fika have finally been heard.  

Their famous Halal egglets are actually a modern rendition of Belgian waffles. Each egglet is packed in a pretty box with shades of white and pale sea foam. Before you tuck in, you should expect a buttery and fluffy texture similar to that of Belgian waffles, instead of the usual eggy fragrance and crispy interior. You can customise your egglet by adding ice cream and toppings of your choice. Toppings include rainbow sprinkles, gem biscuit, pocky stick, oreo biscuits and more (50 cents/topping)!

We opted for the buttermilk and red velvet flavoured egglet. We loved the fluffy and moist interior of the warm egglet, which pairs excellently with a scoop of ice cream. As mentioned earlier, the taste and texture resembles that of Belgian waffle instead of the Hong Kong Egglets.

You can even choose up to three scoops of ice cream for your egglet ($4.50/scoop, $7.90/2 scoops, $8.90/3 scoops). We tam chiak right so we just swoop up three big scoops – Cookies & Cream, Dark Angel and Bubblegum ice cream. The sweet cookies and cream and bubblegum flavours delivered a stark contrast to the bittersweet Dark Angel, which is a homemade dark chocolate concoction.

Lickety may be dressed in a girly, pastel theme but this snug spot will please even the boys. Be prepared to get your hands dirty as you reach the bottom of the egglet. I hope you love Lickety’s egglets as much as we did.

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

The post Lickety – Delicious Halal Egglets Debut In Singapore appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Keeping up with the recent Nasi lemak burger food fad, we’ve sniffed out another new stall just for you! Launched about 7 months back, Nasi Lemak Specialist is a family-run business located in Tampines Round Market. 

Mdm Mazwin, who’s the key figure the kitchen, told me that she starts preparing everything at 5am so that they can start operating by 7am. What’s special is their use of long grain basmati rice and fresh coconut milk. Another notable feature is the special homemade batter used for both her chicken wings and fried fish.

They have quite a number of ingredients for you to build your nasi lemak but we recommend the Mega Value Nasi Lemak set ($5) which comprises fried egg, otah, begedil, anchovies, peanuts and homemade chicken wing. I think it’s a steal considering the number of ingredients present. The otah wasn’t exceptionally large but I liked that they use real fish. The begedil was well-executed; the potatoes were smooth without lumps. The star would be the fried chicken wing. Crunch through the crispy batter and skin to reveal succulent flavorful flesh. The batter is a little thicker than usual so it’s best to use your hands.  The use of basmati rice is interesting. The grains were lighter and fluffier but I felt like that they weren’t as lemak as I had expected. Nevertheless, the rice was fragrant and still very tasty. My only other reservation was that the chilli was too sweet but it wasn’t a deal breaker for me. All in all, I think this is really mega value for $5.50. Even if you’ve got a big appetite, this will satisfy.

Mdm Mazwin also recommended the Beef Rendang Nasi Lemak ($5.50) which features homemade beef rendang in replacement of the chicken wing and otah in the Mega Value Nasi Lemak Set. The beef rendang has a depth of flavor that is quite mesmerizing, and tender beef chunks. The curry used was alluringly spicy, but nothing too overwhelming.  

We also got the Economical Nasi Lemak which is the most basic nasi lemak and the most affordable. For $2.50, you get basmati rice, anchovies, peanuts, chilli and a fried egg. Nothing stood out but if you’re on a budget, this will definitely appeal to you. If you feel like adding more ingredients, you can get a begedil or fried egg for 50 cents. 

The Nasi Lemak Specialist also sells lotong and biryani. Other noteworthy nasi lemak dishes include the Yellow Fish Nasi Lemak and Chicken Wing Nasi Lemak. I hear that their lontong is also very popular, and I’ll definitely be back to try it.

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 Nasi Lemak Specialist. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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SAMA Curry & Cafe which hails from Hokkaido, Japan, is situated on the 3rd floor of OUE Downtown (not to be confused with OUE Bayfront). It commands a snaking queue during lunch hours and sees mostly office workers clamouring for some of their Sapporo-style soup curry.

Unlike traditional Japanese curry that is thick and almost creamy, Sapporo-style curry is thin and has a soup-like consistency. In fact, if you choose the shrimp base or Japanese base, the curry is completely clear.

Over at SAMA Curry & Cafe, your dish is highly customisable – perfect for picky eaters. I love being able to choose my favourite combination of ingredients and soup base! First, choose the ingredients in your curry. Assorted vegetables are present in all the bowls. Think a mix of baby corn, broccoli, egg plant, green pepper, okra, potato, carrot and half a Japanese soft-boiled egg.

Next, choose the level of spiciness. They have a whopping 30 levels for you to choose from! Level 0-5 (Baby Bear), 6-16 (Adult Bear) and 16-30 (Crazy Bear).

Finally, choose your soup base. There are 4 available – tomato, coconut, shrimp, and Japanese.

Get the Coconut soup base if you want a milky broth. For something lighter on the palate, get the Japanese soup base which is a light chicken soup curry.

So, what did we get?

For our first bowl, we got the Hungry Bear ($18.90) which comes with a tender chicken leg, and an extra pork or hamburger patty (we picked the hamburger patty). The ingredients sit in a bowl of piping hot soup curry, together with a random selection of assorted vegetables and half a Japanese soft boiled egg. We decided on level 5 (Baby Bear), and a clean-tasting Japanese soup base, which the service staff recommended.

The chicken leg was fall-off-the-bone tender and extremely healthy tasting. It is perfect for those on a diet. We felt that the chicken leg could have been better marinated though. However, we loved the hamburger patty. The flavourful beef patty was so tender that it was rather fragile and broke apart when we tried to pick it up. We like that the soup curry complemented the taste of the assorted vegetables. To be honest, I could not taste any spice at all in our Level 5 soup.

Hence, we decided to level up to Level 15 for our other bowl. We chose the Ocean Trophy ($18.90) which has 2 large prawns, squid, a fried fish fillet and a blue mussel together with more assorted vegetables. This time, we tried the shrimp soup base, which had a fragrant and intense flavour. We thought that the robust broth was enjoyable, especially with our spice level being Level 15. I haven’t tried the other levels, but I feel that 15 is a good level to enjoy the taste profile of the soup, without the spice level being too overwhelming.

Premium Yumepirika rice grains, which are known for their sticky texture, are used. The portion of rice is slightly smaller than our usual bowl of rice, but the plentiful ingredients are sure to fill you up.

For the average Singaporean, I would recommend a spiciness level of 10-15. It lets you get a taste of the spice without it overpowering the flavour of the soup. We’ll be back to try the other soup bases in the future!

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 SAMA Curry & Cafe. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post SAMA Curry & Cafe – Delicious Sapporo-Style Soup Curry from Japan appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.