Dusk Restaurant & Bar – European Tapas & Cocktails On Faber Peak, For Some Of The Most Amazing Views In Singapore

January 20, 2018, 7:26 am

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If you are searching for a restaurant and bar to experience some of the best hilltop views in Singapore, look no further.

Dusk Restaurant & Bar by One Faber Group located 100-metres about sea level, provides al fresco dining with a panoramic views of HarbourFront and Sentosa Island. Check it out.

Getting here wasn’t too difficult – you can always cab or GRAB up, or even take a cable car from Harbourfront or Sentosa.

When was the last time you experienced the views from the cable car or sat on one before?

Somehow when you get up and seated down, there is this calming effect watching the cable cars go to and fro, along with the natural scent of the green rainforest.

The recommended time to visit is when the sun sets, during the magic hour when the skies turn to a different hue. So, so beautiful.

I must say this hilltop restaurant is good for a casual yet romantic nights out, or after-work gathering with colleagues and friends over sharing platters, tapas and drinks. An added bonus is the beautiful views that can be seen from here.

As for the food conceptualised by Executive Chef Kenny Yeo and team, there is a wide range from Main Courses with a touch of Asian, European Tapas, Sharing Platters, Snacks, and Desserts.

You can also expect a Brunch Menu of Eggs Benedict ($17), The Breakfast Plate ($21) and Swiss Rosti ($22) on Sundays.

Here are some of the recommended favourites from Dusk Restaurant & Bar:

Tiger Prawn Capellini ($28++)
Our table’s favourite dish. This contains angel hair pasta served with juicy tiger prawns, tossed in fragrant lobster-infused oil and Japanese seaweed.

The pasta was pleasantly al dente and springy, and lightly aromatic with that intricate seafood flavour.

The other pasta dish you can order is the Spicy Spaghetti Amatriciana ($19++) with crispy bacon and shaved Parmigiano.

Côte de Boeuf ($98++)
In French cuisine, the Côte de Boeuf is a bone-in rib steak, considered a more flavourful cut and marbling which makes it suitable for grilling.

Over at Dusk, the Côte de Boeuf is a 700g bone-in Prime Rib suitable for 2 to 3, first cooked using the sous-vide method, followed by grilling just before serving to enhance the flavour and presentation.

The huge slab is served with roasted marble potatoes, buttered garden vegetables and red wine sauce.

A popular choice for groups, I would recommend getting a medium rare for better succulence and tenderness.

Citrus Fremantle Octopus Tapas ($25++)
There are 12 tapas dishes available at Dusk, ranging from Jamon Iberico & Cheese on Sourdough ($12), Chorizo with Marble Potatoes ($14), Forest Mushrooms with Sherry ($14), Beef Cheek with Port Wine Demi Glaze ($19) and Parma Caesar Salad ($18).

The octopuses are sourced from the famous Western Australia Fremantle market, cooked sous-vide style to 80% done to retain its succulence.

The seasoning is kept uncomplicated, with simple drizzling of citrus oil so that diners can savour the natural freshness and sweetness.

Foie Gras au Gratin ($20++)
Flame-seared duck foie gras served on baguette slices and topped with truffle balsamic pearls. A good contrast of buttery melt-in-the-mouth foie gras on crunchy bread.

Beef Meatballs in Cherry Tomato Sauce ($16++)
Homemade meatballs in a rich cherry tomato sauce. I thought that the marinara sauce was slightly on the heavy side, so this could be suitable to pair with some drinks.

Flambé Grand Marnier Tiger Prawns ($25++)
Sautéed tiger prawns topped with Grand Marnier sauce served with mesclun mix.

The prawns were crispy and succulent, and you get a touch of that citrusy and alcoholic element that may need some getting used to.

Ricotta Cheese Cake ($14++)
Rich Ricotta cake served with Chantilly cream and fresh wild berries.

A creamy and not too rich cheesecake which has berries included to help balance out the sweetness. Interesting, there is a crispy ‘crown’ on top for that added crunch in the dessert.

Flambé Baked Alaska ($16++)
An attractive Neapolitan style Baked Alaksa with strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla ice cream as its centre, surrounded by rich chocolate cake and topped with meringue.

Flambéd for the perfect finish.

Dusk Restaurant & Bar also offers a variety of wines selected based on three criteria: exclusivity, quality and affordability.

Wines by the glass start from $13 for a red; $13 for white; and $12 for sparkling wines. Also available by bottles, from $69 for red; $69 for white; and $78 for sparkling wines.

Nitro-Frost Caviar Martini ($16++)
The cocktail menu features a Nitro-frosting technique which injects nitrogen into the cocktail through an aerator. Other than an ‘instagrammable’ effect, practically the drink stays chilled for a longer period of time.

I would recommend the refreshing and fruity Nitro-Frost Caviar Martini, which comes topped with fruit caviar. Flavours include original, lychee and passionfruit.

Dusk Till Dawn ($16++)
The Dusk signature cocktail, presented in an inverted lightbulb, containing a combination of Gin, Vodka, Rum, Tequila, Blue Curacao Lemon juice, Peach syrup topped with tangy cranberry juice.

For romantic dates, friends’ night out or birthday celebrations, Dusk Restaurant & Bar is divided into an alfresco-dining garden section, a sheltered dining area, and bar for drinks. You can pick your favourite section.

Also look out for credit card promotions with UOB and Mastercard for a further sweet 10% OFF the total bill with $80 spend.

Dusk Restaurant & Bar
Faber Peak Singapore, 109 Mount Faber Road Singapore 099203 (Level 2)
Tel: +65 6377 9688
Email: guestrelations@onefabergroup.com
Website: www.onefabergroup.com/dusk
Opening Hours: 4pm – 11pm (Mon – Thurs), 4pm – 2am (Fri, Sat, Eve of PH), 11am – 11pm (Sun)

Other Related Entries
Spuds and Aprons (Faber Peak)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Dusk Restaurant & Bar.

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Care Bears Café Singapore – Lovable Themed Café Coming To Singapore In February 2018

January 21, 2018, 12:30 am

≫ Next: Typhoon Café – Modern Taiwanese Food Café At Plaza Singapura, With $14.90 Mee Sua

≪ Previous: Dusk Restaurant & Bar – European Tapas & Cocktails On Faber Peak, For Some Of The Most Amazing Views In Singapore

“Care Bear, STARE…”

How many of you remember the encouraging Tenderheart Bear, blue Grumpy Bear, talented Harmony Bear, fearless Brave Heart Lion, and (my favourite) sleepy Bedtime Bear?

Care Bears Cafe IS coming to Singapore. Goody Goody Gosh!

This is the first full-fledged Care Bears centric pop-up cafe in South-East Asia and Singapore.

The collaboration is taking place with Kumoya, Singapore’s first Halal-certified Japanese-French café. Kumoya is no stranger to character cafes, also behind Miffy Café and
Cinnamoroll Café pop-up concepts.

The period for the Care Bears pop-up is from 1st February 2018 (Thursday) to end March 2018.

First introduced by American Greetings in 1982, many kids (during my era) were caught up with the cartoon show.

Of course there were many positive messages such as friendship and courage that were inculcated through the series.

Care Bears soon become one of the world’s most popular and endearing children’s show, and its cuddly toys were very popular. I think even till now people are still buying them.

The limited-time menu has been curated and styled by well known food stylist Shirley Wong (Little Miss Bento) and the Kumoya team. Shirley is also consultant of the menu at Gudetama Café Singapore.

Check out what they have to offer:

Kumoya’s Star Attraction ($18.90)

Cheer-Up Chicken Katsu Burger ($21.90)

Seafood Chowder Rice ($28.90)

Salted Egg Yolk Fries ($11.90)

Chicken Karaage with Shoyu Glaze ($12.90)

Chicken and Corn Stick with Nacho Cheese ($12.90)

Strawberry Parfait Dessert ($18.90)

Spread The Cheer Waffles ($19.90)

Japanese Calpis ($11.90)

During this pop-up, there is a requirement of a minimum expenditure of $10 per customer, and dining time may be limited to 90 minutes.

Care Bears Cafe
Kumoya @ 8 Jalan Klapa Singapore 199320
Opening Hours: 12.00pm – 9.30pm (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sun), 12.00pm – 10.30pm (Fri, Sat), Last Order 30 minutes before closing, Closed Mon
Duration: 1 February (Thurs) to End March 2018

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Typhoon Café – Modern Taiwanese Food Café At Plaza Singapura, With $14.90 Mee Sua

January 21, 2018, 5:59 pm

≫ Next: Shanghai Master Shao 上海邵師傅湯包 – 1st Smelly Tofu Xiao Long Bao in Taipei. Innovative Crispy-Tiered Dumplings

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Maybe it doesn’t help that I have just returned from Taipei. Of course I will be excited to find a Taiwanese style café in Orchard Road at Plaza Singapura.

Typhoon Cafe supposedly specialises in the “Taste of Taiwan”, serving Taiwanese street food, fruit teas and instagrammable desserts set in cafe-style comfort.

I always think that Orchard Road needs more sit-down cafes, at least emmm, good ones.

Its name “台风” (“typhoon” on direct translation), is an abbreviation of “台湾风味” which means “flavours of Taiwan”.

Typhoon Cafe menu boost a series of 17 board sets – these Typhoon Boards Sets come in a variety of noodles, rice like Oyster Mee Sua, Lu Rou Fan and San Bei Chicken.

Prices start from $12.90, and each board set comes with a Chinese chilled salad side dish and a soup of day for rice and dry noodles.

I was initially craving for Braised Pork Rice, otherwise known as Lu Rou Fan ($12.90). However, I was disappointed to see on its menu that the rice was served separate from the meats and gravy, and large pieces of pork belly were used instead of the chopped ones.

Instead, I ordered a Taiwan Lu Rou Noodles ($12.90). Even though the menu said “minced” pork stew, this should be called “stewed pork belly pieces” instead.

Served on mee kia style thin yellow noodles, the meat could have been marinated and stewed for a longer period to fully absorb the sauces and five spice.

Even though the Taiwanese Oyster Mee Sua ($14.90) came with a heavier than usual price tag, I would be willing to give it a try if it tasted ‘legit’.

Served with oyster fritters and coming with a rather smooth starchy consistency, the Oyster Mee Sua wasn’t that bad on its own. A decent choice.

However, I won’t go as far to use “authentic” to describe this, as it still a bit off from the familiar umami taste from those at the night market. The price isn’t “authentic” anyway.

Perhaps because the menu is too extensive, and that they are trying to find a sweet spot between being authentic and instagrammable, some dishes didn’t quite hit the mark.

I would say, don’t go expecting those flavours of Taiwan if you head over to Typhoon Café. It is still somewhere for quick lunches, casual dinners and a cup of not-that-bad Bubble Milk Tea in a comfortable café setting.

Typhoon Café
68 Orchard Road #04-67 Plaza Singapura (new wing) Singapore 238839 (Dhoby Ghaut MRT)
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm Daily

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Shanghai Master Shao 上海邵師傅湯包 – 1st Smelly Tofu Xiao Long Bao in Taipei. Innovative Crispy-Tiered Dumplings

January 22, 2018, 12:07 am

≫ Next: Navy Cafe – Bingsu At SGD$3.30 With 10 Different Flavours, At Jonker Street Malacca

≪ Previous: Typhoon Café – Modern Taiwanese Food Café At Plaza Singapura, With $14.90 Mee Sua

[Taipei] This is the story about how a Shanghainese ventured to Taiwan and started his own Xiao Long Tang Bao (小籠湯包) store to make a living, all in pursue of love.

Just when you thought you heard and ate it all, available here are Crispy Cheese Xiao Long Bao, Mapo Tofu Xiao Long Bao and Zha Jiang Xiao Long Bao.

Note: 上海邵師傅湯包 does not have an official English name yet (at least according to Google), so we just call this “Shanghai Master Shao” – a direct translation for easier reference.

Not too sure if Master Shao ended up happily ever after with his love one, but his store turned out to be a hit and was featured by various Taiwanese media and food variety programmes.

All thanks to his persistence.

His Xiao Long Bao are of quality standards, but yet remains affordable to all.

Also his creativity which drives him to constantly come up with innovative Xiao Long Bao creations, captured the attention and taste bud of many.

Their dumplings (Set of 8pcs) came with the choice of pork (NT$60, SGD$2.80), chives (NT$70, SGD$3.30) or smelly tofu (NT$70, SGD$3.30) fillings.

Smelly Tofu in Xiao Long Bao?!

That would probably be a bane or boon depending on individual.

Being a smelly tofu affectionate, I could immediately detect the ‘stinkiness’ when the dish was served, which translated into very well-marinated tofu fillings with ‘stinky’ aroma.

(‘Stinkiness’ in this dish is always subjective.)

As much as I fond over this dish, my dining companions’ response to this was pretty much luke-warm.

I generally liked how their dumplings are plump, juicy and filled with ingredients. My friend took a bite and accidently squirted the meat juices across the table…

Other than steamed version, there is an option of having your Xiao Long Bao pan-fried (Top-up NT$10, SGD$5) and stacked in tiers.

The dumplings would then be accompanied with a thin layer of skin pan-fried till golden crisp. Almost similar to guo tie (鍋貼).

They also serve innovative dumpling variations like Crispy Cheese 脆皮起司湯包 (8 pcs for NT$110, SGD$5.10), Zha Jiang 炸醬湯包 (8 pcs for NT$90, SGD$4.10) and Mapo Tofu 麻婆豆腐湯包 (8 pcs for NT$90, SGD$4.10).

While I find the combination interesting, the accompanying sauces may be richer in flavour and outshone the dumplings’ original taste.

Other than dumplings, side dishes such as Sour & Spicy Soup (NT$20, SGD$0.90) and Assorted Pickled Vegetables (NT$30, SGD$1.40) are also available.

If you do not want to queue for regular xiao long bao at Ding Tai Feng or Kao Chi, this place could be worth added to your Taiwan to-eat list.

Shanghai Shao Shi Fu Tang Bao 上海邵師傅湯包
No. 31-1, Leli Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan
台北市大安區樂利路31-1號
Opening Hours: 11am – 8.30pm (Mon to Sat), Closed Sun
https://www.facebook.com/上海邵師傅湯包-1437053369923410/
Google Maps – Shanghai Shao Shi Fu Tang Bao

Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

* Written by Lewis Tan @juicyfingers, a self-proclaimed coffee addict. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Navy Cafe – Bingsu At SGD$3.30 With 10 Different Flavours, At Jonker Street Malacca

January 22, 2018, 12:44 am

≫ Next: Final Fantasy Café Singapore – Pop Up Themed Café At Orchard, From 24 Jan – 10 Feb

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[Malacca, Malaysia] Walking along the busy Jonker Street in Malacca may be hot and tiring, especially on a crowded weekend maneuvering through both the traffic and human crowd.

I received many recommendations on a bingsu along Jonker Street that is only SGD$3, which could probably only get us a bowl of chendol in Singapore.

Right opposite The Daily Fix Café is this hidden gem, double floors high, with a beach theme (not navy blue though), and thus its name, Navy Cafe.

The café is small and cosy, with a total of 10 seats on the first floor and tatami mats and indoor tentage on the 2nd floor.

The colour scheme for the interior is furnished in white, brown and blue, which represents the sky, sand and sea respectively.

Their menu is simple and concise, with All Day Breakfast, (RM 5.90-29.90, SGD$2-10), Shaved Ice (RM 8.90-14.90, SGD$3-5), Smoothie Bowl (RM 16.50, SGD$5.50), Coffee (RM 7-13, SGD$2.30-4.30) and Juices (RM 12.90, SGD$4.30).

Needless to say, I went ahead to order the Matcha Snow (RM 12.90, SGD$4.30), that came with generous amount of Uji matcha powder dusted on the top layer.

So much that I choked on it on my first bite.

Good is probably an understatement. The matcha powder was so fine, yet so intense, but well balanced by the sweetness from the milk shavings beneath it.

Just like first snow as the name implied, the milk shavings was so soft and fluffy just like any other Korean bingsu in Singapore, and the best thing was at just one-quarter of the price of the latter!

To our surprise, the bottom layer is a layer of matcha ice cream, which further intensifies the ‘matcha-ness’ in the entire combination.

Sedap! As a matcha lover, I can have 2 bowls of this to myself.

Other interesting flavours of Shaved Ice include Coconut Gula Melaka (RM 9.90, SGD$3.30), Rose Milk Tea (RM 12.90, SGD$4.30) and Watermelon (RM 13.90, SGD$4.70).

For coffee drinkers, there’s quite a few variety of uncommon latte flavours (Hot RM 11, SGD$3.70/ Iced RM 13, SGD$4.30) such as Beetroot, Purple Sweet Potato Butterscotch and Toffee Nut.

Aloha! Definitely worth a re-visit and I will set sail to Navy Cafe again on my next visit to Malacca.

Navy Cafe
No.5 Jalan Hang Lekiu, Malacca, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 8.30am – 5.30pm (Tue-Sun), Closed Mon
https://www.facebook.com/navycafe/
Google Maps -Navy Cafe

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Final Fantasy Café Singapore – Pop Up Themed Café At Orchard, From 24 Jan – 10 Feb

January 22, 2018, 8:32 am

≫ Next: WOLF – Rice Bowls And Coffee At Raffles Place, Opened By The Local Coffee People

≪ Previous: Navy Cafe – Bingsu At SGD$3.30 With 10 Different Flavours, At Jonker Street Malacca

For the Final Fantasy fans, a Dissidia Final Fantasy NT pop-up themed café will be happening in Singapore, from 24 January 12 noon (Wed) till 10 February 2018 (Sat).

Location will be at Watanabe Coffee, Orchard Road Shaw House.

The Dissidia Final Fantasy NT game is a follow-up to Dissidia Final Fantasy and Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, which allows players to battle one another using many characters from the Final Fantasy series.

The themed Set Menu, priced at $28.90++, includes a Moogle Curry & White Stew with a special prink.

Okay, at first I was looking at the photo of the Japanese Curry for a long time, and wondered why a Curry Png would cost more than $30 (after taxes).

Then I realised it had the face of a Moogle, the white cat-like furry creature with small wings that appeared in Final Fantasy. “Nya!”

There will also be Final Fantasy merchandise air-flown from Japan. Seats are on a first come first serve basis, and no reservations are allowed.

Final Fantasy Café Singapore
Watanabe Coffee 350 Orchard Road Shaw House #01-00 Isetan Scotts Singapore 238868
Duration: 24th January 2018 (12pm) to 10th February 2018
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 8am – 11pm (Fri – Sat, Eve of PH)
Ala-carte and Set Menu available from 11am onwards daily

* Photo credit: Avex Asia

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WOLF – Rice Bowls And Coffee At Raffles Place, Opened By The Local Coffee People

January 22, 2018, 5:09 pm

≫ Next: Shi Da Night Market 師大夜市 – 10 Must Have Street Food At One Of Taipei’s Best Night Markets

≪ Previous: Final Fantasy Café Singapore – Pop Up Themed Café At Orchard, From 24 Jan – 10 Feb

The Local Coffee People, known for providing affordable coffee and beverages (and quick service) in takeaway stands, has opened Wolf at Chevron House.

While it has a logo quite similar to Wolf Burgers (at Pasar Bella Suntec City and Changi City Point) and will also sell burgers, the two businesses are not related.

This space used to be where Bottles & Bones was situated. You can sit at the window counter facing Raffles Place MRT, where you can do some CBD people watching.

All peace before 11:30am or so, and turns into mini-mayhem come 12 noon.

Rice bowls are offered during lunch time, with up to a selection of 14 types, though not all would be available at the same time. This may remind some of Waa Cow Sushi Bar a short distance away, which is doing reasonably well during lunch time.
The four recommended are Short Rib, Salmon Mentai, Oyster & Eggs, and Truffled Salmon Bowls.

The others included Chicken Teriyaki, Chicken Black Pepper, Mapo Tofu, Crispy Skin Unagi, Aburi Scallop, King Oyster Mushroom, Foie Gra & Ikura, King Crab & Ikura, Short Rib & Foie Gras and Fresh Seafood Bowls.

Price range from $12.80 to the King Oyster Mushroom, to $28.80 for the Foie Gras & Ikura Bowl. I suspect that the price-sensitive CBD workers may find it hard stomaching some of these.

I had the Short Rib Bowl ($16.80), of seared and peppered beef slices nearly arranged over rice, topped with soft egg and ebiko, added with 2 slices of yellow picked radish.

It was as straight-forward as it gets. The beef slices were lean and tender enough, though I felt something was lacking in the rice component. I wished the grains were fluffier and there was some sauce of sorts.

Comparatively, I preferred the Salmon Mentai Bowl ($18.80) which featured a chunk of salmon with drizzled with creamy mentaiko sauce above then aburi-ed.

Overall, you can tell Wolf is trying to cater to the wider customers by offering beyond the typical rice bowls, with incorporating vegetarian options and those suited for the local taste such as Chicken Black Pepper.

For those in need of a caffeine boost, coffee was decent, though take note you have to order and pay at another counter. The Cold Brew White ($6.50) I had was smooth, only mildly strong, with a hint of sweetness.

Wolf
30 Raffles Place #01-42 Chevron House Singapore 048622

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Shi Da Night Market 師大夜市 – 10 Must Have Street Food At One Of Taipei’s Best Night Markets

January 23, 2018, 1:06 am

≫ Next: Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 – Original Store Of World’s Most Famous Xiao Long Bao, At Xinyi Road Taipei

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[Taipei] Taiwan is famous for its night markets and the Shi Da Night Market 師大夜市 is a good introduction to this eating and shopping experience.

First-time tourists can warm up here before venturing to bigger night markets like Shi-Lin, Raohe, and Ximending. I like Shi Da because it feels young, laid back and not as touristy.

Located in one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in Taipei, Shi-Da Night Market is in a university area near National Taiwan Normal University. The main market street is Longquan Street (龍泉街), running parallel to Shi-Da Road (師大路).

It is an area well known for its alternative style, with rock bars, cafes and restaurants dotting the area and its neighbour Gongguan.

It primarily caters to young locals and residents from nearby university looking for cheap fashion finds and night market food.

Shi Da Night Market is popular for its trendy retail shops for millennials (especially for ladies) more than its selection of eateries.

Along Longquan Street, you will find apparel, bags, and accessories designed by young entrepreneurs with start-up businesses. Shop here if you want to support the local fashion community.

Since most of the market-goers are students, including foreign students, the food sellers price their items very reasonably. Those who reside nearby grab meals here on a regular basis.

Generally well-lit except for some dark alleys, it is not as busy as other bigger night markets. Shi-Da has its own fair share of activity though. With the popularity of online shopping, you are likely to see scooters riding along the roads, basically deliveries and couriers.

As a smaller, compact night market, you can tour the entire place easily in a shorter time. It is spread around several small alleyways clustered together.

Because of the recent rezoning of the area, many of the unlicensed food sellers may have relocated to other markets in the city, and I noticed that it wasn’t as bustling as before.

Here are some must-try stalls from Shi Da Night Market:

Shi Yun 师园盐酥鸡
This is deep fried food wonderland. Shi Yun is famous for its deep-fried chicken, juicy and flavoured with garlic and herbs.

It has been around since 1984.

What you do is to pick your ingredients (they also have bean curd, vegetables, etc.), place them in a basket, and they will deep fry them for you in an open kitchen. Otherwise, you can also get their signature big serving of chicken, priced at NTD65 (SGD$2.90).

Hsu Ji Sheng Jian Bao 許記生煎包
One of my favourite stalls, and the waiting time was about 10 to 15 minutes. Hsu Ji is another long-time seller is which sells only one product: Sheng Jian Baos.

These are minced pork-stuffed dumplings which are steamed, yet with a pan-fried bottom layer. They have been attracting long queues of buyers since 1984.

Each is priced at NT$10 (SGD$0.45), 5 for NT$40 (SGD$1.80), while 12 in a box is at NT$90 (SGD$4.00).

The skin was thin, packed with moisture, though some people might have already been broken. Be careful when you bite into one, as the juice could just burst out and spill on your shirt (like what happened to me.

Li Ayi Shui Jian Bao 李阿姨水煎包
Similarly, there is Aunt Lee’s Sheng Jian Bao李阿姨水煎包 that sells these steamed pork or cabbage buns at NT$13 (SGD$0.58) each.

Deng Long Lu Wei 燈籠滷味
You shouldn’t miss the stall called Deng Long Lu Wei 燈籠滷味 – directly translated as “Lantern Braised Food”, identified by non-Mandarin readers by its hanging red lanterns.

What you do is to grab a tong and basket aka how you would pick Yong Tau Hu. Then pick out food items that you enjoy.

There are a least more than 50 picks, from the usual fish ball, tau pok, sausages, enoki mushroom to pig intestines, duck parts and some unidentified objects. The MUST PICK for me was the pack of 王子面 (Taiwan’s version of Mamee) for a salty carbo-load.

The items are cooked in a savoury braised sauce, so items like tau pok will absorb the delicious gravy. After that, the stall helper would pour in a variety other special sauces and topped up with salted vegetable and spring onions.

If you tapao (takeaway), you get the entire combination in one big plastic clear bag.

Niu Lao Da 牛老大
If you are looking for noodles, check out Niu Lao Da, literally means Beef Boss. Its speciality is beef noodle soup with knife-cut noodles. You can take a photo with their noodle-slicing robot!

Bei Gang Dou Hua 北港豆花
Taiwanese style beancurd dessert shop, added with toppings such as red bean, green bean and peanuts cooked till soft. The shop uses brown sugar, so you get that caramelized sweetness with the dessert soups.

Lan Jia Gua Bao 藍家割包
Consider these Taiwanese Pork Bun Sandwiches. A Taiwanese friend told me this is a must-have.

Over at Lan Jia, it is best to choose half and half of two types of fillings — pork fat or pork meat. Each is priced at NT$50 (SGD$2.25).

The soft bun would then be further filled with pickled greens and peanuts, handled to you in a plastic bag. Eating can be messy, and it is best to consume this in big bites.

Zhen Pin Wei Charcoal-Grilled Thai Cuisine 珍品味泰式炭烤
Specialising in Thai-style grilled meats and rice sets, such as Charcoal Chicken Leg Rice, Charcoal Grilled Pork Rice, Deep Grilled Pork Chop Rice and Yellow Curry Rice. Priced at NT$100 to NT$110 (SGD$4.50 – SGD4.95).

Arnor Crepes 阿诺可丽饼
Cooked-upon-order golden brown crepes with different filling and sauces. There are more than 90 different flavours and combinations available. However, do not worry as they will put up a ranking of the top-selling flavours.

I Love Bow
HK-style egglets.

好好味港式小吃 Ho Ho Mei
This stall serving Hong Kong-style pineapple buns and tea drinks enjoys constant queues. The signature Polo Bun with Cheese (NT$40, SGD$1.80) was as good as those in Hong Kong, with that crispy outer layer and buttery fragrance.

Shi Da is quite different from traditional night markets as it is a place of diverse features. There is an open-air theatre at the Normal University Park next to Shugu Road. It is a venue for performance and creativity of the young locals of Taipei.

Take the Green Line 3 to Taipower Building Station (台電大樓). Take Exit 3, then make a right turn. Make another quick right to reach Shi-Da Road (師大路). You’ll find the market along both Shi-Da road and in the alleys off both sides. The night market is located at lane 39 and 49.

Taking the MRT, you’ll walk around 10-30 minutes to reach it. Take the taxi if you want to be taken closer to the market itself.

Opening hours are generally from noon onwards until around midnight or slightly after. Closes beyond midnight on weekends and holidays.

Shida Night Market 師大夜市
Lane 39, Shida Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106 (Near MRT Taipower Building Station)
台北市大安区师大路龙泉街
Tel: +886 2 2720 8889
Opening Hours: 5:00pm – 12:00mn Daily
Google Maps – Shida Night Market

Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Shi Da Night Market 師大夜市 – 10 Must Have Street Food At One Of Taipei’s Best Night Markets appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

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Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 – Original Store Of World’s Most Famous Xiao Long Bao, At Xinyi Road Taipei

January 23, 2018, 3:14 am

≫ Next: 10 “Michelin” Hawker Stalls In Singapore – From Tai Hwa Bak Chor Mee, Hawker Chan, To A Noodle Story

≪ Previous: Shi Da Night Market 師大夜市 – 10 Must Have Street Food At One Of Taipei’s Best Night Markets

[Taipei] Even though Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 has numerous branches in Singapore, my friend needed to tick off the bucket list of being to the original outlet in Taipei.

Din Tai Fung is the mecca for Xiao Long Bao lovers around the world.

It is synonymous to world-renowned, hand-crafted dumplings especially its Xiao Long Bao a.k.a. soup dumplings.

People rave about its taste (some say “over-rated”), stemming from the use of the best natural ingredients (and excellent branding and marketing).

In 1993, the New York Times named DTF as one of the “10 restaurants around the world to inspire a pilgrimage.

It has a reputation as one of the cheapest Michelin starred restaurant in the world. In November 2009, it was awarded one Michelin star at its first Hong Kong location in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Today it has spread internationally, conquering the world’s taste buds in Japan, US, China, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines.

It has 10 stores all over Taiwan.

Before Din Tai Fung became the global restaurant brand that it is today, it was a cooking oil retail business in 1958. Its founder, Yang Bingy was born in Shanxi, China, and worked for 10 years at Heng Tai Fung, the cooking oil retail company.

The name Ding Tai Fung combined “Heng Tai Fung” and “DinMei Oils”, Yang Bingy’s new oil supplier.

From a retail store in Xinyi Road next to Yong Kang Street (Taiwanese food center), it evolved to become a snack bar in 1972, making its own dumplings and noodles.

The rest is history.

The Xinyi Road restaurant next to Yong Kang street, is a long and narrow 3-storey space along a busy street.

You cannot miss the group of tourists hurdling at the entrance, waiting for the number to be called to go in.

Faced with such a crowd, my tip would be to go early in the morning before lunch, get a number then shop around Yong Kang Street, and come back 5 to 10 minutes before the stipulated timing.

It was an ‘easy’ 30 minutes’ wait for me.

The ground level is divided between the cashier and the glass-walled kitchen, where they showcase the action. A battalion of staff in white lab gowns seriously makes dumplings.

It is both clockwork and poetry in motion.

The next two levels are clean and well-maintained eating areas. Wooden tables are placed far enough, so private conversations won’t be much of a problem. Each table includes an illustrated set of instructions on how to eat their soup dumpling, and a set of condiments.

The waitresses are most bilingual or even tri-lingual (or more), some speaking English or Japanese rather fluently.

The Xinyi store menu is more varied compared to menus in international locations. Prices range from NTD$70 – $550 (SGD$3.15 – SGD$25.80).

If you are at loss of what to order, the top recommendations are: Pork Xiao Long Bao (NT$105 for 5), Green Squash and Shrimp Xiao Long Bao (NT$170 for 5), Truffle and Pork Xiao Long Bao (NT$450 for 5), Din Tai Fung House Special “Xiao Cai” (NT$70), Shaohsing Marinated Chicken (NT$70), House Steamed Chicken Soup (NT$210), Braised Beef Noodle Soup (NT$250), Pork Chop Fried Rice (NT$230), House Special Shrimp and Pork Wontons (NT$180 for 8) and Cold Snow Mushroom Sweet Soup (NT$90).

Of course you cannot leave without trying the signature dish of Pork Xiao Long Bao, priced at NTD$100 (SGD$4.48) for 5 pieces and NTD$200 (SGD$8.96) for 10 pieces.

Its paper-thin wrapper with exactly 18 folds (go count them!) measuring 21 grams (+/- 0.4 grams) envelopes a finely minced pork filling and a delicately flavored broth.

You can prepare your own dipping sauce by combining 1-part soy sauce, 3-parts vinegar, plus strips of freshly ginger.

To be honest, I always find the items in Taipei better than Singapore’s. Marginally better. The pork fillings were somehow more succulent and juicier with that sweetness.

If you have a penchant for hot stuff, you will get a high from House Special Spicy Vegetable and Pork Wontons (NTD$75, SGD$3.36).

The Steamed Sticky Rice and Ground Pork Shao Mai (NTD$130, SGD$5.82) is another option, though not as popular as the soup dumplings.

To complement all the dumplings, add in the House Salad commonly called “Xiao Cai” (NT$70, SGD$3.15). It contains mung bean noodles, bean sprouts, sesame oil with a sour dressing.

Or the Noodles with Minced Pork Sauce. It is a delicate yet well-balanced dish with noodles, minced pork, tofu cubes, green onions, and soybeans.

My must-order every meal here is the Pork Chop Fried Rice With Egg (NT$230, SGD$10.36), and I was glad their version came with a choice of white or brown rice.

Despite the throngs of diners that troop to Xinyi, advance booking is not allowed. Don’t worry, their queuing system is impressively efficient.

Ride the MRT Red Line or Orange Line going to Dongmen Station. Take Exit 5 and walk straight, then cross Yongkang St. DTF Xinyi will be on the right, about 75 meters from the MRT Exit.

The moment you reach DTF, approach any of the staff. You will be given a menu, an order form, and a pen. Tick off the items you want to order. Get a receipt with your queue number, and an estimated waiting time. At times you’ll be called earlier than the estimated time.

Be prepared to wait longer during peak hours, 12:00-1:30 pm and 6:00-8:00 pm.

They would separate you into 3 queues to expedite the process: 1-2 pax, 3-5 pax, and 6 and above. If you’re dining solo, you can tell them you can sit at a group table.
One very important thing: This branch accepts only cash, so remember to bring enough of that.

Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐
No. 194, Section 2, Xinyi Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106 (Dongmen Station)
台北市信義路二段194號 (捷運東門站)
Tel: +886 2 2321 8928
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 9:00pm (Mon – Fri), 9:00am – 9:00pm (Sat, Sun, PH)
https://www.dintaifung.com.tw
Google Maps – Din Tai Fung

Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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10 “Michelin” Hawker Stalls In Singapore – From Tai Hwa Bak Chor Mee, Hawker Chan, To A Noodle Story

January 23, 2018, 4:34 am

≫ Next: Smoke House Deli – Famous All-Day Cafe With Comfort Food Served In A Dapper Setting, At New Delhi

≪ Previous: Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 – Original Store Of World’s Most Famous Xiao Long Bao, At Xinyi Road Taipei

This listicle is for travellers to Singapore who would like to cross out a bucket list of Michelin-listed hawker stalls.

Singapore should be the only country in the world with 2 hawkers being awarded the prestigious stars – Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles and Hawker Chan with 1 Michelin Star each.

While Bangkok’s street hawker Jay Fai has also been given a star, she has a physical shop.

The other 8 hawker stalls I have included are those listed or previously in the Michelin Bib Gourmand.

While these stalls might be listed, some locals would comment they are not the best around, but are generally of above-average quality.

If you are short of time, be sure to check out Amoy Street Food Centre, Maxwell Food Centre, and Tiong Bahru Food Centre.

10 “Michelin” Hawker Stalls In Singapore

Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles 大华猪肉粿条面
466 Crawford Lane, Tai Hwa Eating House #01-12 Singapore 190465 (Lavender MRT)
(Behind Immigration and Checkpoint Authority Building)
Tel: +65 6292 7477
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 9:00pm (Closed on 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month)

Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles is commonly known as the best Teochew style Bak Chor Mee aka minced pork noodles in Singapore.

Here’s the magic: Al dente springy noodles tossed in a savoury vinegary sauce, filled with tender pork and liver slices, minced pork, dumplings, and a sprinkling of fried sole fish.

Each bowl is priced at $5 – $10.

The queue is crazy though, and can last from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Please be ready for the heat if you intend to join in the line.

With that said, I used to find it better in the past, somehow the proportion of the vinegar and other sauces seemed slightly off the last I tried. Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles (Crawford Lane)

Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle 香港油雞飯麵
Blk 335, Smith Street #02-166, Chinatown Food Complex, Singapore 050335
Opening Hours: 10:30am to 7:00pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Fri), 8:30am to 7:00pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Wed

One of the 2 hawker stalls with a Michelin star. Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle sells Soya Sauce Chicken Rice, Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle, Roasted Pork Rice, Char Siew Rice, and Char Siew Noodles are unbelievable prices of $2 – $3.

It is otherwise known as the “Cheapest Michelin Star Meal In The World”.

Don’t like the word “cheapest”, though Hawker Chan has found his world opening branches throughout the world, from Bangkok, Jakarta, Taipei to Melbourne.

However with commercialisation, customers have reflected disappointment (especially in Bangkok where it opened with a bang and is now relatively quiet), and perhaps the best place to have it is still at the original stall. Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle (Chinatown Food Complex)

A Noodle Story – Amoy Street Food Centre
Amoy Street Food Centre #01-39 7 Maxwell Road Singapore 069111 (Tanjong Pagar MRT Exit G)
Opening Hours: 11:15am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 7:30pm (Mon – Fri), 10:30am – 1:30pm (Sat) , Closed Sun, PH

This is not the typical local food. Opened by young hawkerpreneurs, A Noodle Story serves “Singapore-style ramen” ($7, $9).

A bowl with Japanese style charshu, soy-flavoured braised egg, Hong Kong style wontons, potato wrapper prawn fritter for that crunch.

Aesthetically pleasing and well-arranged, for a hawker stall. I like it – you don’t get a bowl like this anywhere else. A Noodle Story (Amoy Street Food Centre)

Hong Kee Beef Noodle – Amoy Street Food Centre
Amoy Street Food Centre #01-42, 7 Maxwell Road Singapore 069111 (Tanjong Pagar MRT Exit G)
Opening Hours: 11am – 7:30pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 2:30pm (Sat – Sun), Closed PH

This stall is said to be around for more than 50 years, moved from Tanglin Koek Road, to Cuppage Centre to its current location at Amoy.

Gooey gravy, tender beef slices, slippery kway teow and a sprinkling of salted vegetables make a satisfying bowl ($4, $5, $6). Hong Kee Beef Noodle (Amoy)

J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff – Amoy Street Food Centre
Amoy Street Food Centre #01-21, 7 Maxwell Road Singapore 069111 (Tanjong Pagar MRT Exit G)
Opening Hours: 8am – 4pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun, PH

Also known as J2 Crispy Curry Puff, this comes with layered flaky pastry and spicy potato, black pepper chicken, sardine and yam paste fillings. Each at $1.20.

Chef Willin Low recommends the sardine ones, “One of the best around”. I agree.

For locals who have yet to try this brand, their skin is most similar to A1 Curry Puffs. J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff (Amoy)

Balestier Road Hoover Rojak – Whampoa Market Place
Whampoa Drive Makan Place #01-06, Block 90 Whampoa Drive Singapore 320090
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 4pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon – Tues

The special blend of Penang Prawn Paste is addictive. DO NOT miss ordering the divine century eggs to go along.

If you are at Whampoa Market, do check out the other gems in the vicinity, from Hokkien Mee, Lor Mee, to Chicken Rice.

Liang Zhao Ji (soy duck) – Whampoa Market Place
Whampoa Drive Makan Place #01-07, Block 90 Whampoa Drive Singapore 320090
Opening Hours: 10.45am – 3pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Tues

Right next to Hoover is this braised duck stall. Many grow up having Liang Zhao Ji’s Braised Duck Rice, affordability priced at $4 – $5.

I did think that the best part of the plate was NOT the duck, but perhaps everything else that came together.

The savouriness of the flavoured rice (didn’t taste any yam though), the texture of the tau kwa (beancurd) and the tangy-spiciness of the chilli sauce. Liang Zhao Ji (Whampoa)

New Lucky Claypot Rice
Holland Drive Market and Food Centre, 44 Holland Drive, Singapore 270044 (10 min walk from Buona Vista MRT)
Tel: +65 6778 7808
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:00am – 1:00pm, Dinner 5:00pm to 8:00pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sun) Closed on Wed

The signatures at New Lucky Claypot Rice include the Claypot “Wu Wei” Rice for two pax ($10/$15), 3 pax ($15/$20), 4 pax at ($20/$25). The “Wu Wei” rice includes a mix of both chicken and Chinese sausages.

The waiting time is estimated to be between 20 to 30 minutes for off-peak periods, and 45 to 90 minutes for peak period.

Some diners any ask – why so long, why can’t fast fast?

That is because traditional Claypot Rice requires the rice to be cooked within the pot itself, with appropriate control of the fire. Plus the fact the stall is using charcoal, which would take up at least 45 minutes of cooking. New Lucky Claypot Rice (Holland Drive)

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice- Maxwell Food Centre
Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street #01-10/11, Singapore 069184
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Tian Tian’s winning formula to me has to be its rice. Even Anthony Bourdain said that the chicken rice is so fragrant and delicious that it can be eaten on its own. Gordon Ramsey ‘lost’ a hawker challenge here.

Probably (used to be) one of the best chicken rice in Singapore, as it was warm, fluffy, fragrant and tasty. However, with increasing fame comes greater inconsistency. Tian Tian Chicken Rice (Maxwell Food Centre)

Wedang (Indonesian food and satay)
Golden Mile Food Centre B1-19, 505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583
Opening Hours: 10am – 3pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat – Sun

Wedang was the only Muslim-owned Halal hawker stall which was listed under the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2016 Guide.

It was unfortunately not listed in Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore 2017 , likely because the stall did a few rounds of moves – from its original location at Golden Mile to Blk 117 Aljunied Ave 2 Food Centre, back to Golden Mile again.

Wedang’s offerings are straightforward – Tahu Goreng (Malay style fried tofu with spicy peanut sauce., Gado Gado (a style of Indonesian salad with peanut sauce), Mee or Bee Hoon Soto Ayam (yellow spicy chicken soup with noodles or rice vermicelli) and Nasi Ayam (chicken rice), all at $3.00 per plate or bowl.

Read: DFD Singapore Michelin Bib Gourmand Reviews

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Smoke House Deli – Famous All-Day Cafe With Comfort Food Served In A Dapper Setting, At New Delhi

January 23, 2018, 8:07 am

≫ Next: Tian Bao Szechuan Kitchen 天宝阁 – Authentic Sichuan Cuisine And Cute Dim Sum at Hillion Mall and Ngee Ann City

≪ Previous: 10 “Michelin” Hawker Stalls In Singapore – From Tai Hwa Bak Chor Mee, Hawker Chan, To A Noodle Story

[New Delhi] An award winning restaurant, Smoke House Deli is a café and delicatessen that has spread its wings across India.

This is largely due to the wide variety of options for food enthusiasts and being consistent in terms of service and overall ambiance.

Their branch in DLF Promenade, New Delhi, which I have visited a few times, is a delightfully chirpy place that even has open air seating.

The perfect spot to spend a long relaxing brunch during the warm winter afternoons of the city.

Smoke House Deli walks a thin line between casual and fine dining, presenting comfort food in lavish surroundings, and whips up dishes that impress in the form of taste, flavour, and subtle yet exquisite appearances.

It is part of the Impresario group of restaurants that has been one of the leading and driving forces in the country’s culinary expansion over the last decade.

As part of the group and under the guidance of one of the most notable individuals from the business, Riyaaz Amlani, the company as well as the restaurant has grown to become one of the most prominent brands of the Indian food industry.

At present the brand has four restaurants in New Delhi, two in Bangalore, and three in Mumbai. The Kolkata franchise has only recently closed down.

Quirky is the first thought that comes to mind when talking about Smoke House Delhi.

The atmosphere that is created is very professional and the food is something that is very close to my heart with dishes consisting of classic egg preparations, pizzas, pasta, and sandwiches being some of the best that can be found in the city.

Eating there is an experience and just like the diversity in its menu and ingredients, the restaurant is perfect for a variety of occasions be it a casual family get-together, a romantic dinner, or an important business lunch.

One of the odd things about Smoke House Deli is that they are hesitant about letting customers take photos of the restaurant’s interiors.

I have found this to be awkward and strange, but they do have extremely chic décor that comprises of beautifully drawn oddities on the walls along with vintage styled furniture that is both colourful and lively.

The walls are unique and make for a great conversational starter or are simply something to look at and admire as one waits for the food to arrive.

In fact, some of the art have QR codes on them that allow the guests use modern technology to learn a little something about the city they are in.

In hindsight, maybe not having seen the interiors prior to visiting the restaurant is a good thing as it provides as chance to be surprised and amazed when first visiting.

Smoke House Deli is known for serving some classic favourites along with presentations that are not always easily available at your average café.

Their all-day breakfast menu is my all-time favourite especially the selection of Eggs that range from Skillet Fried Eggs (Rs. 330, SGD$7.00) with chorizo and sausages to an Open Faced Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Omelette (Rs.230, SGD$5.00).

Some other signature dishes include Smoked Carrot and Ginger soup (Rs. 230, SGD$5.00) which comes with the option of adding smoked chicken, prawns or even ham; Kefir Soaked Chicken, Organic Red Rice, and Brown Rice Flakes salad (Rs. 440, SGD$9.15) accompanied by an apricot-chilli dressing; Smoked Salmon and Wasabi Bagel (Rs. 440, SGD$9.15).

However, if you want to really go all in, try the Saffron and Champaign Risotto with Chicken (Rs. 570, SGD$12.00) which is full of meaty goodness.

For someone like me, who has a sweet tooth, a meal at Smoke House Deli cannot be complete without that faultless Crème Brulee (Rs. 210, SGD$4.50)

The food at SMD, as it is often called by regulars, comes packed with flavours and they have perfected their cooking.

The only disappointment that I feel is that keeping in mind the pricing, sometimes the quantity/size of the dishes just isn’t enough.

Having evolved into a chain restaurant over the years, one of the specialities of Smoke House Deli is that even though the interiors might look similar when you go from one branch to another, a closer look with show more local eccentricity being part of it.

The restaurant has grown popular mostly by word of mouth and its clientele can swear by the food that they serve bringing a level of familiarity that is often hard to find in the volatile culinary business.

When visiting Smoke House Deli at Promenade Mall, New Delhi, I highly recommend sitting outside in the covered tent extension as it allows for more free space especially if you are with children who can then run around in the open courtyard adjoining to the restaurant.

If you’re looking for food that is guaranteed to impress, dishes that is full of flavours and presented beautifully, creations that are comforting, all the while sitting surrounded by equally captivating décor, in addition to immaculate service, then Smoke House Deli is a sure bet.

The fact that they remain steady day in and day out makes the restaurant the perfect place to visit when you want appetizing no-fuss food that will satisfy your soul.

Smoke House Deli
Ground Floor, DLF Promenade Mall, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
Tel: 011 46075646
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 1:00 am Daily
https://www.facebook.com/smokehousedeli
Google Maps –
Smoke House Deli

Click HERE for other India Food Entries

* Written by DFD’s India Correspondent @tickereatstheworld. Raghav is a travel and food writer who enjoys the thrill of discovering new places and writing about them. When he is not working, he can be found driving around his two kids from one birthday party to another.

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Tian Bao Szechuan Kitchen 天宝阁 – Authentic Sichuan Cuisine And Cute Dim Sum at Hillion Mall and Ngee Ann City

January 22, 2018, 6:00 pm

≫ Next: Shi Li Fang 食立方 – Budget Hotpot In Singapore From $9.90++

≪ Previous: Smoke House Deli – Famous All-Day Cafe With Comfort Food Served In A Dapper Setting, At New Delhi

Talk about Sichuan (or Szechuan) cuisine, and the thought of its intense spiciness, bold flavours and signature dishes of Mapo Tofu, Kung Pao Chicken and Dan Dan Mian come to mind.

Tian Bao Szechuan Kitchen 天宝阁, known for providing authentic range of Szechuan Xiao Chi at Ngee Ann City Level 5, has also opened at Bukit Panjang’s Hillion Mall.

The chefs are from renowned restaurant in Sichuan China, and thus are able to cook up a storm of Chinese households’ favourites.

For those who are concerned about extreme spiciness, some of the dishes have been tuned to suit local Singaporean palates, or you can always inform the service staff to tame the heat down.

On the whole, its spiciness level is “just nice”.

Interesting to note that other than Szechuan cuisines, you can also indulge in variety of Szechuan style Dim Sum dishes, from Steamed Prawn Dumplings, Wild Vegetable Pan Cakes, Pan Fried Dumplings, to Black Sugar Buns.

Not forgetting the cute and representative Sweet Panda Dessert. (Pandas live in the forests of the Sichuan province of China.)

Soupy Wok – Spicy and Non-Spicy
The Wok-Fried Soup dishes are the signature here, available in spicy and non-spicy options, meant for 2-3 to share.

For the spicy soups, you get choices of Boiling Spicy Fish Fillet ($27.00), Chilli Chicken with Yam ($26.80), and Sour & Spicy Beef ($28.00). All 3 come with tofu, quail egg, or enoki mushroom add on options ($3.50, or $4.50).

The non-spicy soups include Mushroom Pork Bone ($27.00), Seafood Combo ($29.80), and Tomato Pork Ribs ($26.80).

I had the Boiling Spicy Fish Fillet with Tofu 沸腾鱼加豆腐 ($27.00 + $3.50), which reminded me of a modern version of the classic Szechuan dish of ”Shui Zhu Yu” 水煮鱼 (Szechuan Boiled Fish).

The fish fillet are first quickly poached in seasoned water, then scalded over with sizzling hot oil that was cooked heavily with chilli and Szechuan peppercorns.

I took the fish slices mainly on their own first, and they tasted fresh, succulent (they still retained that ‘watery’ bite) and packed with flavour.

But as I went further down for pieces which absorbed some of the sauces, those would give you that numbing sensation.

It is an acquired taste, but once you get a hang of it, it can become addictive and you cannot stop having more.

Till the spiciness takes over.

Double Chilli Chicken
In comparison, the Double Chilli Chicken ($26.80) was so much tamer, without that numbing effect. Actually, I was disappointed it was not spicy enough considered it is called “double” chilli.

The savoury dish feels like a cousin of the Kung Pao Chicken, with a more family-friendly sauce base that would go well with rice.

Tian Bao Savoury Wok Fried
For the classic home-style dishes, otherwise known as ”Jia Chang Cai” (家常菜).

The offerings include Marinated Duck ($25, $45, $60), Soy Bean Pork ($16.80), Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs ($18.80), Golden Prawn Balls ($20.80), Prawn Vermicelli ($22.80), Prawn with Asparagus ($23.80), Boiling Pork Slices, Claypot Eggplant ($15.80), Beef Cubes with Mushroom ($26.80) and the popular Ma Po Tofu ($15.80).

The stir-fried dish of La Zi Ji ($18.80) 辣子鸡 came highly recommended, consisting of marinated then deep-fried pieces of chicken, dried Sichuan chilli peppers, spicy bean paste, Sichuan peppers, garnished with sesame seeds.

The dried chilies on the dish are not meant to be eaten.

I liked how the dish was ‘deceptive’, it didn’t look or taste THAT spicy at first. The saltiness and nuttiness of the aromatics made it quite addictive, and as I took more and more pieces (like having popcorn chicken), that tingling feeling hit you at the unexpected moment.

Cold Appetisers
The “Cold Dishes” available include Spicy Chicken Slices ($9.80), Cold Black Fungus ($8.80), sesame Sauced Chicken ($9.80), Pickled Radish ($8.80) to more intriguing-sounding Blueberry Yam ($8.80) and Cold Sweet & Sour Ribs ($10.80).

I wondered if the Salty & Spicy White Fish 椒盐白饭鱼 are at the wrong part of the menu, since they were deep-fried and not exactly cold.

These were like Crispy White Bait Fish, which made an addictive starter.

Spicy Wanton Dumplings
Oh… these were some of the best Hong You Chao Shou 紅油抄手 ($5.80) I had in a while.

The origins of the name is said to mean “crossing arms”, because the way the dumplings were folded looked similar to the way people cross their arms during the cold seasons. Seriously?

The dumplings were plump, and minced pork wrapped within fresh and succulent. The touch of vinegar and chilli oil added more layers of taste, which even helped whet the appetite.

Dry Dan Dan Noodles
The quintessential Szechuan noodle dish. Tian Bao’s version of Dan Dan Noodles 四川担担面 ($6.80) came dry accompanied with a bowl of soup. Though not particularly memorable, this nutty bowl was decent.

TB Specialty Dim Sum
I initially didn’t expect to find Dim Sum items here, but can be a good way to cater to Singapore families and groups.

With that said, some of the items were unique-tasting, so don’t come here expecting the Hong Kong or Shanghai style of Dim Sum.

My recommendation would be the Egg Custard Pau 紫彩流沙包 ($4.80 for 2), coming with gorgeous violet-purple twirls, and bursting with yellow sweet lava in the middle.

The most popular TB Piggy 天宝萌猪仔 ($6.00 for 2 pieces) also comes with oozy molten fillings, though is taro-packed rather than custard. Taste wise, I preferred the former.

For savoury items, you can consider the TB Mushroom Pau 天宝蘑菇包 ($6.00 for 2 pieces).

I thought that the Crystal Flower 水晶花 ($5.50) was shrimp dumpling or something due to its translucent skin, till I took a bite and realised the blossom was sweet. So perhaps you want to check with the server as the Chinese naming can be ambiguous.

To cool down after all that heat, the Colourful Jelly 彩色缤纷 ($5.80) with 8 different ingredients should provide a sweet end to the meal.

Tian Bao Szechuan Restaurant 天宝阁 – Hillion Mall
17 Petir Road, Hillion Mall #01-15/16, Singapore 678278
Tel: +656266 5688.
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 4.15pm, 5.30pm – 9.00pm Daily

Tian Bao Szechuan Restaurant – Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road, #05-06/07 Ngee Ann City Podium Block, Singapore 238872 (beside Best Denki at Level 5)
Tel: +65 6734 4216
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 4.15pm, 5.30pm – 9.00pm Daily

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Tian Bao Szechuan Restaurant.

The post Tian Bao Szechuan Kitchen 天宝阁 – Authentic Sichuan Cuisine And Cute Dim Sum at Hillion Mall and Ngee Ann City appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

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Shi Li Fang 食立方 – Budget Hotpot In Singapore From $9.90++

January 23, 2018, 9:56 pm

≫ Next: Prego – The Ultimate Italian Sunday Brunch Buffet. 50% OFF 2nd Diner For DFD Readers

≪ Previous: Tian Bao Szechuan Kitchen 天宝阁 – Authentic Sichuan Cuisine And Cute Dim Sum at Hillion Mall and Ngee Ann City

A friend who asked for “budget hotpot” that can fit his group prompted me to write this post, after he commented most hotpot restaurants in Singapore are expensive. (Also read: 10 Best Hotpot Restaurants In Singapore )

Thankfully, he didn’t ask for cheap AND good AND can sit many people, because that would be non-existent in this country.

Taiwanese hotpot restaurant Shi Li Fang is one of the wallet-friendly hotpot restaurants you may want to consider, with 9 branches in Singapore and counting.

You can find the restaurants in City Square Mall, Orchard Central, Icon Village, Thomson Plaza, Chinatown Point, J-Cube, West Coast Plaza, Bedok Point, and Hougang 1.

It prides itself in its MSG-free soup bases, non-fried cuisine, with over 20 dipping sauces (sauces offered free of charge).

They have different promotions going on at different times and branches, so it is best to check with the restaurants (if they answer your call).

The current set-meal is priced at $9.90++. Plus there are occasional 50% off seafood and meat items.

With that said, you would usually find yourself needing to top-up if you come in a group.

Recommended items included Japanese Kurobuta Pork ($13.00), Japanese Wagyu Beef ($24.50), Specialty Beef ($6.10), Pork Tenderloin ($5.40) and Crab ($9.80).

First things first, I know some of my friends would give me *that look* if I were to suggest Shilifang.

I think this largely has to do with their tacky décor more than everything. That bright purple walls, Pokemon toys which look fake, and staff having to wear those (fake) Pokemon caps inviting people to come in.

There is a robot that serves and can ‘sing’ birthday songs. But I will suggest the humans to do the singing instead.

Soups include Specialty Mala Soup, Tonic Chicken Soup, Beauty Collagen Chicken, Nourishing Fish, and Tasty Mushroom Soup.

Try their Tomato Base soup for light tanginess and sweetness in the broth, which would become more flavourful after addition of the meats. So actually the soup base was not that bad, though you know the meats are not of the highest quality.

Service can be inconsistent between branches, with some reviews stating service staff “looked bored” and would “stare into blank space”.

As the Chinese saying goes, ”一分钱一分货”. You get what you pay for.

City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Rd #02-53/54 Singapore 208539
Tel: +65 6636 7899

Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road #07-10/11 Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6238 0800

Icon Village, 12 Gopeng Street #01-41 Singapore 078877
Tel: +65 6222 8518

Thomson Plaza, 301 Upper Thomson Road #01-106 Singapore 574408
Tel: +65 6456 0800

Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Road #B1-30 Singapore 059413
Tel: +65 6636 3833

J-Cube, 2 Jurong East Central 1,#02- 08A Singapore 609731
Tel: +65 6694 2122

West Coast Plaza, 154 West Coast Road #02-24 Singapore 127371
Tel: +65 6266 2858

Bedok Point, 799 New Upper Changi Road #03-38/39 Singapore 467351
Tel: +65 6581 8885

Hougang 1, 1 Hougang Street 91 #01-23 Singapore 538692
Tel: +65 6282 6678

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Prego – The Ultimate Italian Sunday Brunch Buffet. 50% OFF 2nd Diner For DFD Readers

January 24, 2018, 6:14 am

≫ Next: Northpoint City – The Ultimate Food Guide To Yishun’s Most Exciting Mall, Over 100 Food & Dining Concepts

≪ Previous: Shi Li Fang 食立方 – Budget Hotpot In Singapore From $9.90++

Talk about the classic favourite Italian restaurant, and Prego at Fairmont Singapore would come to the minds of many.

It is one of the recommended Italian restaurants in Singapore that offer an authentic Italian family style dining experience, known for its decadent variety of offerings, especially the pastas and pizzas.

Few may know that they have actually launched a Sunday Brunch from 12pm to 3pm every week, themed “A Sunday Trattoria Brunch Buffet”.

A “trattoria” is an Italian-style eating establishment, considered less formal than a ristorante, emphasising in communal dining.

So I say, get your family or small group of friends if you intend to dine here.

You get that sense of homely and light-hearted casual vibes, from the service to the décor featuring wood dining tables and Italian features (such Parmesan wheels, hanging sausages) to complete the feel.

In a nutshell, the Italian Sunday Brunch conceptualised by Chef de Cuisine Antonio Facchinetti and team showcases a live pasta crafting and risotto bar; meat and seafood grill selection; loads of fresh seafood; various seasonal stations; Italian farm cheeses; and some of the most amazing Italian desserts.

Hungry yet? There are many counters and highlights at the Sunday Trattoria Brunch Buffet, and here are 10 of them:

Live Pasta Crafting and Risotto Bar
Easily my favourite section. There is something about freshly-made pastas that commercial ones cannot replicate – the texture and that pleasant chewy bite.

This is a ‘live’ station, and it is not only the cooking. Chef Antonio and his team can be seen making the pasta on the spot. That means you can technically watch your pasta go from flour to a plate of piping hot charcoal gnocchi (which is what I had).

Also, diners are not given only a choice of one, but four seasonal sauces. There were Truffle Cream Sauce, Beef Bolognese, Spiced Tomato Sauce with Seafood and Carbonara when I visited, accompanied with a variety of condiments.

If that is not enough, there is always freshly cooked Risotto with Radicchio and Sausage cooked using premium Acquerello Rice, and Beef Lasagna.

Prego’s Signature Pizza
Authentic Wood Fried Pizza with that light, crispy pizza base. I actually finished 4 slices on my own, 3 beyond my own-set quota.

Over at the Pizza counter, there is a rotational Chef’s Choice of 2 non vegetarian and 1 vegetarian options. This can range from Margherita, Funghi Misti, 5 Formaggi (different types of cheese), Rustico to Parma.

Seafood Bar and Condiments
The cold seafood counter is where you can find freshly shucked seasonal oysters, poached Alaskan crab, marinated tiger prawns, mussels and scallops.

I found the seafood items to be particularly fresh, especially the poached Alaskan Crab Legs which were sweet and juicy. Plus point: the crabs were first cut up and thus it was very easy to pick up the flesh without a big mess.

Meat and Seafood Grill
How this section works is that you pick your choice meats and seafood, and the chefs will prepare them à la minute and send them to the table once ready. No hassle.

The offerings include a selection of succulent meats and seafood such as Lamb Rack with Garlic & Thyme, Salmon Fillet with Dill & Lemon, Beef Sirloin with Rosemary and Chicken Thigh with Lemon & Oregano.

Sunday Roast and Grill Specials
Experience a Sicilian-style feast with Baked Seabass in Sea Salt Crust (a Sicilian classic) and Roast of the Day.

The fish is baked with salt setting to a crust which helps hold the moisture in the fish. When it is cracked open, the crust peels off in large chunks, and you can savour chunks of succulent flesh.

The Sunday roast differs every week, and you get choices such as Slow Baked Plum Stuffed Porchetta (savoury, moist boneless pork roast), Roasted Chicken with Rosemary or Wood-Fired Roasted Angus Beef Rump, all served with variety of sides and sauces.

Hot Section
This section alone can allow you to experience an Italian feast with many of your favourites from Slow Braised Short Ribs with Mushroom and Truffles Gravy; Roasted Pork Belly, Porchetta Stile with Rosemary and Garlic Sauce; Crispy Calamari with Spicy Tomato Salsa & Fresh Lemon; Roasted Fish with Cherry Tomato, Capers, and Black Olive; Cioppino Seafood Stew with Spiced Tomato & Oregano and Soft Polenta.

Cold Cuts Interaction Deli
You will not get bored of the cold cuts here, which are flavourful, authentically Italian. Get your fill on the Parma Ham, Coppa, Salami, Pork Porchetta Chorizo Sausage & Prosciutto Cotto.

Italian Farm Cheeses
Cheese connoisseurs will be treated to a sensory experience of the best of Italy’s cheeses, from Ricotta, Burrata and Mozzarella, Asiago, Taleggio, Gorgonzola, Parmigiano, Scamorza, Goat Cheese and Pecorino.

Spread some of the fresh honeycomb on the cheese for enhanced flavours and textures.

Home Crafted Rustic Italian Bread
Assortment of rustic Italian bread such as Basil Pesto, Tomato Pesto, Olive Pesto, and bruschetta.

Seasonal Desserts Counter
Always save some room for the grand finale, and I am glad to find some really Italian classics of Tiramisu, Panna Cotta, Traditional Cannoli, Gianduja Finger, Chocolate Salame, and even a Gelato and Sorbet cart.

There are too many to choose from, and in very cliché words… there is something for everyone.

If I got to pick 3 items, I would recommend the Tiramisu for its silky mascarpone and rich cocoa flavour, Ricotta Cheese Cake, and Lemon Crumble for the burst of zest at the end of the meal.

Another one highlight is the Rotation Interaction Dessert Bar, to be surprised by stunning desserts from Deep-Fried Apple to Flambé Tiramisu Ball.

For families with children, good to know that there is a dedicated buffet of kids’ delights and a supervised kids’ room where they can take part in fun culinary crafts and pasta making.

As for the adults, you can opt for the ultimate indulgence and include free-flow Moët & Chandon Impérial or Zardetto Prosecco, along with Italian cocktails and house wines.

Prego Italian Sunday Brunch Buffet
Every Sunday: 12pm – 3.00pm
Adult / Child: $98++ / $49++ (Includes free flow of non-alcoholic drinks)
$128++ (Includes free flow of Zardetto Prosecco, Italian cocktails, and house wines)
$148++ (Includes free flow of Moët & Chandon Impérial, 3 styles of Negroni Italian cocktails, and house wines)

DFD’s Readers Exclusive for Prego Sunday Brunch
From now till 28th February 2018, enjoy 50% OFF 2nd diner for every full paying diner. To enjoy this offer, simply quote “PREGODFD” when making your reservations.
*Kindly note that discount will apply to lower-priced buffet option

Prego
Level 1, Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189560 (City Hall MRT Station)
Opening Hours: Lunch: 12.00pm – 2.30pm, Dinner: 6.00pm – 10.30pm
Sunday Brunch: 12pm – 3.00pm Every Sunday
Reservations Tel: +65 6431 6156
Email: dining.singapore@fairmont.com
Website: https://www.prego.com.sg

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Fairmont Singapore.

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Northpoint City – The Ultimate Food Guide To Yishun’s Most Exciting Mall, Over 100 Food & Dining Concepts

January 24, 2018, 10:06 pm

≫ Next: Benedict – Hearty All-Day Breakfast And Mango Sticky Rice Tart, At Grand Indonesia Jakarta

≪ Previous: Prego – The Ultimate Italian Sunday Brunch Buffet. 50% OFF 2nd Diner For DFD Readers

Good things do come to Yishun. Northpoint City, the largest mall in the Northern part of Singapore, has opened with over 100 international dining concepts including a specialty food street.

It is located right next to Yishun MRT station with an underground linkway that connects the MRT station directly to Northpoint City. Very convenient.

The mega mall has also just opened its new South Wing.

Other than specialty food street The Makan Town at the South Wing’s basement, there are two popular food courts, Bagus (South Wing Level 2) and Kopitiam (North Wing Basement 2).

Northpoint City looks set to be the next dining destination where Eastern (Oriental) meets Western cuisines under one roof.

Here are more than 10 NEW dining options at the South Wing of Northpoint City:

Pizza Maru
B1-192/193
Tel: 6254 4307
Opening hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

South Korea’s Most Iconic Pizza Brand
The K-wave continues to hit our shores with the opening of South Korea’s most iconic pizza brand Pizzamaru, boosting of over 630 stores in Korea.

Adding some Korean element into their menu, recommended items include the 9-inch Chicago Pizza ($26.80) made using black rice dough and Premium Pizza (9-inch $19.80, 12-inch $23.80) made using patented Green Tea Wellbeing Dough with flaxseed, chlorella, barley and 12 other grains.

Apart from pizzas, diners can also indulge in Korean Fried Chicken (6pcs $16.90, 12 pcs $29.80) with 4 different flavours: Sweet Chili, Supa Hot, Honey Butter and Onion Tartar; 4 different Bibimbap Tower: Spam ($12.80), Kimchi Bulgogi ($12.80), Crab Claw ($15.80) and Maru Chicken ($10.80) and Bingsu ($9.90- $11.90).

Recommended: Real BBQ Chicago ($26.80)
Say Cheese! Get your cameras ready for some #foodporn when the slices of pizza are lifted.

Stuffed with creamy double mozzarella cheese, string cheese and cream cheese mousse with honey and BBQ sauce, this is a combination of sweet and savoury in one bite.

And it also doubles up as a dessert. Mashiseoyo!

PatBingSoo Korean Dining House
B1-181
Tel: 9169 5835
Opening hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm (Sun – Thu), 11:30am – 11:00pm (Fri – Sat)

19 Types Of Bingsoo At One Place
Continuing the K-wave journey right opposite Pizzamaru is PatBingsoo Korean Dining House, a fun and casual restaurant that brings together the latest food trend in Korea.

As their name implies, you can look out for 19 types of bingsoo, each named after the different districts in South Korea.

Cheese lovers will rejoice at their menu with Rolling Cheese Pork Ribs ($38.90), Rolling Cheese Chicken Wings ($22.90), Pork/ Beef Cheese Kimchi Fried Rice ($11.50), Beef ’n Chicks ($13.90) and Chicken Skin with Nacho Cheese ($7.90).

Recommended: Rolling Cheese Pork Ribs ($38.90)
An instagrammable stretchy cheese dish, as cheddar and mozzarella cheese are first melted before wrapping it around the pork ribs.

The pork ribs come in spicy and non-spicy versions, and I will recommend the former with an additional addictive kick.

Gyoza-ya
B1-199
Tel: 6481 5893
Opening hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

The Japanese Gyoza Specialist
For Japanese cuisine lovers, check out Gyoza-ya which is part of the Akashi Group.

The shop specializing in both Gyoza (Japanese dumplings filled with grounded meat and vegetables) and Jya Jya Men.

The noodles are best enjoyed by simply adding white vinegar and chili oil. Half-way through the noodle meal, you can follow up by adding egg and boiling noodle water to the remaining small amount of noodles.

Recommended: Pan-Fried Dumpling with Mentaiko Miso ($8.80)
Addictive mentaiko sauce drizzled generously on the plump Gyoza, which were further torched on the surface to give it an additional smokey taste.

The crispy golden brown gyoza skin was thin, smooth and slippery.

One thing to note is that the Gyoza skin is air-flown directly from Japan. Each Gyoza is hand-made and shaped identically with consistent amount of fillings in it by the Master Chef.

Big Fish Small Fish
02-132/133
Tel: 6513 9533
Opening hours: 11:00am – 10:00pm, Last Order 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Fun & Vibrant Fish & Chips Shop
Fans of Big Fish Small Fish which first opened as a container cafe in the Punggol settlement will rejoice with a fully sheltered and air-conditioned place within Northpoint City.

Retaining its vibrant yellow and blue container outlook, the appearance brings more fun and relaxing vibe to its casual setting.

The menu includes their 6 signature Fish & Chips: Dory ($7.90), Tilapia ($8.90), Seabass ($11.90), Salmon ($12.90), Cod Fish ($15.90), Sandwich & Crisps ($8.90-16.90) and Fish & Rice ($11.90-12.90) that is exclusive to this outlet.

Adding to this fun-loving ambience is the flexibility and free-flow of sauces at the DIY counter where everyone can be a MasterChef to create your favourite dips. Think Cheese, Curry Mayo, XO Mayo, Salted Egg and Mozzarella Cheese dip.

Recommended: Salmon Fish & Crisps ($12.90)
The Fish & Chips are packed into cone boxes which is both ideal for dine-in and takeaway.

This is quite an interesting experience to dine-in by pouring the Fish & Chips onto the table (like casting a fish net) before digging in with gloves. The salmon comes in a big slab, with a creamy and buttery taste.

Guzman Y Gomez
01-176/177/178
Tel: 6254 4979
Opening hours: 11:00am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Mexican Fever With Burrito, Quesadillas and Tacos
Speaking of Mexican food, Guzman Y Gomez (GYG) is probably one of the well-known brands in Singapore, with its latest outlet in Northpoint City.

Combining the Latin experience in their food, music, art and vibe, their strategic location in CBDs and near the offices had attracted a steady crowd with their Burritos ($7.90/10.90), Burrito Bowls ($10.90), Nachos ($13.50), Quesadillas (2 for $8.50, 3 for $10.90) and Tacos (2 for $8.50, 3 for $11.50).

Recommended: Burritos (Mini $7.90/ Regular $10.90)
With a choice of grilled chicken/ steak, roasted beef/ pork, barramundi or sautéed vegetables for fillings, each burrito is packed with a generous amount of fillings and manually rolled in a soft tortilla wrap.

Convenient to eat in a compact takeaway form, with a balanced but flavourful mix of ingredients.

Collin’s
01-113/114
Tel: 6481 9036
Opening hours: 10:00am – 1:00am (Sun – Thu), 10:00am – 2:00am (Fri – Sat)

Wide Selection Of Western Cuisine At Affordable Prices
Perfect as a midnight supper place. Collin’s at Northpoint City is opened till late (past midnight) for shoppers and movie-goers.

With a total of 21 outlets island wide, Collin’s serves a selection of western cuisine at affordable prices. Being one of the 2 restaurants (out of the 21) that uses the Mibrasa charcoal oven.

Know not what to choose? Get the Charcoal Grilled Pork Ribs – Full Slab ($35.90), Octopus Leg ($25.90) and Teriyaki Pork Belly ($16.90) with a distinct smokiness in the taste.

Recommended: Charcoal Grilled Pork Ribs – Full Slab ($35.90)
Distinct smokiness with chunks of tender and juicy ribs, which retained its flavour even after grilling.

Kanshoku Ramen Bar
B1-151
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm Daily

Kanshoku Ramen Bar is popular for being one of the first (and most successful) ramen shops in Singapore to introduce Truffle Ramen – in both dry and broth versions.

Look out for the food truck at basement 1 of Northpoint City. That’s where you can find them.

NEW to the ramen bar is the Yuzu Ramen, with a light clear broth made from free-range French poulet added with Japanese Yuzu for that subtle citrus flavour.

London Duck By Fei Siong
B1-103/104
Opening hours: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm (Mon – Sun)

From the people at Fei Siong Group with brands such as Fei Siong, Encik Tan, Nam Kee Pau comes their latest venture at Northpoint City – London Duck by Fei Siong.

Offering Irish Duck aka “Wagyu of ducks” air-flown directly from the United Kingdoms (UK) at affordable pricing and a selection of dim sum, this casual setting is suitable for family gathering.

LeNu
B1-101
Opening hours: 10:30 am – 10:00 pm (Mon – Sun), Last Order 9:30pm

LeNu is a casual Chinese noodle bar that serves Lamian noodles in secret recipes broth that involves many hours of preparation from boiling to being served on the table.

Apart from using the finest ingredients, the proportion of ingredients (pork, chicken, beef) are carefully measured to ensure consistency in every bowl.

Fruiturday
B2-146
Opening hours: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm (Mon – Sun)

From Chang Mai to Singapore, Fruiturday had launched its first overseas franchise in Northpoint City. Each smoothie and shakes uses fresh fruits selected daily for optimal freshness and ripeness with no artificial flavouring and preservatives.

Bestsellers on the menu include Mango Sticky Rice Shake ($6.90), Coconut Shake ($4.90) and Mango smoothies ($5.90) such as Mango Delight (mango and strawberry), Mango Sago and Mango Passionfruit.

iTea
B2-119
Opening hours: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm (Mon – Sun)

Pronounced as “Ai Tea” in Mandarin which means “love tea”, iTea was first founded in 2011 with multiple outlets across Singapore.

With a wide selection of Macchiato/Latte ($ 2.70-3.50), Premium Tea ($ 2.10-3.30), Juice/Yakult ($ 2.10-3.30), Milk Tea ($ 2.50-3.10), Smoothie ($ 2.90-3.10) and Ice Blended ($ 2-2.30), an upsized version is available at an additional $0.60.

Other Food & Restaurant Places At Northpoint City South Wing include: (Some have yet to open, look out for them! One shop to check out when it opens is Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul’s first shop in Singapore.)

– Baskin Robins South Wing #02-114
– Bee Cheng Hiang South Wing #02-155
– Bengawan Solo South Wing #B2-162
– Big Fish Small Fish South Wing #02-132/133
– BlackBall South Wing #B1-154
– Bonchon South Wing #B1-180
– Burger Up Express South Wing #B2-113
– Central Hong Kong Café South Wing #01-137/138
– Chargrill Western South Wing #01-128
– Chateraise South Wing #01-152
– Chuan Xiang South Wing #B2-115
– Cococane South Wing #B2-160
– Collin’s South Wing #01-113/114
– Curry Times South Wing #B1-201/202
– Din Tai Fung South Wing #B1-107/108
– Dough Culture North Wing #B1-10 and South Wing #B2-147
– Dough Magic South Wing #B2-128
– Eighteen Chefs Signature South Wing #02-128/129
– Express Teppan-yaki South Wing #B1-200
– Fat Papas Burgers & Shakes South Wing #01-150
– Feng Food South Wing #B1-156
– Fragrance North Wing #B2-15 and South Wing #B2-117
– Fruit Box South Wing #B2-116
– Fruiturday South Wing #B2-146
– Fuji Bakery South Wing #B2-161
– Fun Toast South Wing #02-170
– Gado & Grill South Wing #B1-198
– Golden House Fried Snacks South Wing #B2-126
– Greedy Duck South Wing #B2-139
– Green Signature South Wing #02-126/127
– Gu Thai South Wing #B1-157
– Guzman Y Gomez South Wing #01-176/177/178
– Gyoza-Ya South Wing #B1-199
– Heavenly Wang South Wing #01-167
– Hi Tea South Wing #01-127
– Ho Kee Pau South Wing #B2-145
– Hockhua Herbal Tea South Wing #B2-148
– HoneyWorld South Wing #B2-129
– Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert South Wing #B1-155
– iTea South Wing #B2-119
– Joe & Dough South Wing #01-118/119
– Juewei South Wing #B2-132
– K-Market South Wing #B1-110/111
– Kanshoku Ramen South Wing #B1-151
– Khun Thai South Wing #B2-144
– Krispy Kreme South Wing #01-133
– LE Castella South Wing #01-151
– LeNu South Wing #B1-101
– London Duck by Fei Siong South Wing #B1-103/104
– Maki-San South Wing #01-172
– Malaysia Chiak South Wing #B1-194/195 & #B1-203-205
– Mei Heong Yuen Dessert South Wing #02-171
– Monster Curry South Wing #B1-102
– Nine Fresh South Wing #B2-153
– O’Coffee Club Xpress South Wing #01-126
– OMOOMO Food Concepts South Wing #B1-191
– One (Simply One) South Wing #B2-130
– Oosh! Nosh! Fashionable Food South Wing #B1-105
– PARTEA South Wing #01-153
– PatBingSoo Korean Dining House South Wing #B1-181
– Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul South Wing #01-168/169
– Pezzo South Wing #B2-152
– Pizza Hut Express South Wing #B2-149
– Pizza Maru South Wing #B1-192/193
– Pontian Wanton Noodles South Wing #B2-154
– Proofer Boulangerie South Wing #B2-158/159
– Qian Wei Shan Dong Da Bao South Wing #B2-118
– Sakon Thai South Wing #01-129
– Seoul Jjimdak South Wing #B1-179
– Sichuan Chef South Wing #B1-187
– Singa Goody South Wing #02-155
– SMA – Super Makan Asia South Wing #B1-112
– Smooy South Wing #B2-124
– Snackz It South Wing #B2-156
– So Pho South Wing #B1-182/183
– Sultan Turkish Corner South Wing #B2-125
– Sushi Express South Wing #B1-150
– Swee Heng Classic 1989 South Wing #B2-114
– Teafolio South Wing #01-154
– The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf South Wing #01-110
– Tori-Q South Wing #B1-185
– True Boss South Wing #B2-134
– Twelve Cupcakes South Wing #01-105
– Unice South Wing #B2-135
– Xin Bei Healthy Papaya Milkshake South Wing #B2-157
– Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh South Wing #B1-196/197
– Yi Qian Ling Yi Ye South Wing #B1-184
– YuBa Hut South Wing #B1-186
– ZTP Herbal Tea South Wing #B2-133

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape. This entry is brought to you in partnership with Frasers Centrepoint Singapore.

The post Northpoint City – The Ultimate Food Guide To Yishun’s Most Exciting Mall, Over 100 Food & Dining Concepts appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

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Benedict – Hearty All-Day Breakfast And Mango Sticky Rice Tart, At Grand Indonesia Jakarta

January 25, 2018, 8:51 am

≫ Next: Tamoya Udon – Authentic Inexpensive Udon At Liang Court, NEW Dried Sakura Ebi and Beef Sukiyaki Udon

≪ Previous: Northpoint City – The Ultimate Food Guide To Yishun’s Most Exciting Mall, Over 100 Food & Dining Concepts

[Jakarta] Just when you thought that Mango fever is fading away in Jakarta, think again… introducing a Mango Sticky Rice Tart.

Yes… Mango Sticky Rice in a cake form Introduced by Benedict, nestled on the lower ground of Grand Indonesia East Mall.

This cake has been appearing far too frequently on my Instagram feed.

Benedict is part of the Union Group known for their Red Velvet Cheesecake & Pie, and they never fail to amaze me with their innovative cakes creations.

This is considering I am not a dessert person.

As the name suggest, Benedict offers different kinds of egg benedict dishes varieties ranging from Western to Mexican and Japanese style.

Besides the breakfast menu, other food items ranging from light meal (sandwiches, salads), main course (burgers, steaks and rice bowls) and some sweet delights (pastries, smoothies-milkshakes and of course, cakes).

Frankly speaking, I wasn’t really keen initially at the idea of going all out just for a Mango Sticky Rice Tart (considering the traffic condition in Jakarta) as I thought it will be just another instagrammable cake.

The brand new dessert is created by the new pastry chef, Charins Chang the Mango Sticky Rice Tart (IDR 55k, SGD$5.50), and you get fresh ripe cubes of mango and soft coconut milk cream topped with crispy mung beans.

Crispy crust tart, sticky rice and mango cream.

Initially I thought it would be so sweet and heavy as it contained both sticky rice and coconut milk cream.

It turns out to be so fluffy and light.

The mango cubes were fresh and sweet, outer tart crust crispy, sticky rice chewy, mango cream rich yet not overwhelming.

The mung beans definitely added that finishing crunchy texture.

Benedict
Lower Ground #37-#39 Grand Indonesia East Mall, Jakarta Pusat 10310, Indonesia
Tel: +6221 235 812 380
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm (Mon-Sun)
Google Maps – Benedict

@iknowhowtoeat who loves exploring NEW food places in both Indonesia and Singapore. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Tamoya Udon – Authentic Inexpensive Udon At Liang Court, NEW Dried Sakura Ebi and Beef Sukiyaki Udon

January 26, 2018, 8:56 am

≫ Next: Fruiturday – One Of Thailand’s Top Smoothie and Dessert Brand In Singapore, At Northpoint City

≪ Previous: Benedict – Hearty All-Day Breakfast And Mango Sticky Rice Tart, At Grand Indonesia Jakarta

Udon, the thick Japanese wheat flour noodles, never really caught on the waves in Singapore like ramen.

That was before Tamoya Udon came along at Liang Court, and I know many who are converted fans and swear this is one of the best udon available in Singapore.

Founded in 1996 in Kagawa prefecture, Tamoya’s udon propelled to fame after it won the “Best Udon Maker of Kagawa Prefecture” in a television champion show in Japan (We should have a show like this in Singapore for our noodle sellers).

Good to know (and see) that its udon dishes are handmade on site with ingredients imported from Japan, from flour to shoyu to bonito.

The noodles blend 3 types of different flour, and will change their combination ration by the seasons depending on the temperature and humidity.

Therefore, you would find it having more bite and chewiness unlike some others who can be soggy or just plain rubbery.

The other plus point is that most of the udon items are $10.80 or below, inclusive of GST, and the eatery waives off the additional service charge.

That is even though they import many of the raw ingredients, which honestly pushes the cost.

If this is your first time at Tamoya Udon, here’s how you order. (Just imagine that you are in a canteen)

Step 1: Choose the type of udon
Step 2: Pick your tempura sides
Step 3: Pay
Step 4: Then add some condiments (there are green onions, ginger, grated radish, seafood and tempura flakes, but don’t be so greedy such that the condiments overtakes the taste of the broth.)
Step 5: Be friendly customers, and return the utensils

The 3 most popular tempura pieces are the Fishcake ($2), Kakiage ($1.80) and Ebi Prawn ($2).

My tip: I look out for those who are just out of the hot oil, as some pieces could have been left there for a while.

As for udon items, the ever favourite are the Beef ($10.80) and Pork Udon ($9.80), with prices still remained UNCHANGED from opening days of 2013.

Although looking clear, the soup stock was on the slightly saltier side comparatively, which I think was also tastier. The thinly sliced tender beef also brought out the flavour of the broth.

For those who has yet to be back for a while, there are 4 new tossed udon items on the menu – Oooh-mami Udon ($10.80), Triple Egg Udon (S$9.80), Fried Onion Udon ($8.80), and Pesto Udon ($8.80).

Think of this as dry Mazesoba, but with Udon as the lead.

My favourite was the Oooh-mami Udon (S$10.80), which had a lot going on with dried sakura ebi, fresh spring onions, and bonito flakes.

The handmade udon noodles were coated with rich XO sauce, and the dried sakura ebi added a delightfully toasty and crispy texture.

Egg lovers should also like the Triple Egg Udon ($9.80), with 3 different eggs of tobiko, mentaiko and tamago added for layered flavours.

Tamoya Udon also has new additions during dinner time, with 4 mainstays of Beef Sukiyaki Udon ($13.80), Double Tempura Vegetable Udon ($13.80), Pork Spicy Miso Udon ($13.80) and Maze Mix Udon ($8.80).

If you like Sukiyaki for the soy sauce broth full of bold flavours, then this is for you.

The Beef Sukiyaki Udon ($13.80) included accompaniments of Chinese cabbage, carrots, green onions, tofu, shiitake mushroom, enoki mushroom and shirataki – noodles made from konnyaku.

There are 3 ways to enjoy sukiyaki udon: dip the chewy udon into the egg mixture; immerse the udon in the soup for one minute to get a softer texture; or mix an egg with the soup and udon to enjoy them together.

However, as the Sukiyaki broth is generally very rich, dipping the udon into it with a small sip of the soup, rather than drinking it whole would work better.

It has been a while since I last returned to Tamoya Udon, and glad to see that they give taste consistent, introduce new dishes, yet still keep prices competitive.

Lunch times can be slightly crowded, so pick a slightly off-peak time to come.

Tamoya Udon Singapore たも屋うどん-シンガポール
177 River Valley Road, Liang Court Shopping Centre, #01-32, Singapore 179030
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 9:30pm Daily

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Tamoya Udon Singapore.

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Fruiturday – One Of Thailand’s Top Smoothie and Dessert Brand In Singapore, At Northpoint City

January 26, 2018, 4:54 pm

≫ Next: LIME – Royal Reunion CNY Buffet With Yu Sheng And Buddha Jump Over the Wall, At PARKROYAL on Pickering

≪ Previous: Tamoya Udon – Authentic Inexpensive Udon At Liang Court, NEW Dried Sakura Ebi and Beef Sukiyaki Udon

The mango drinks wave has hit several cities in Asia, though Singapore seems to be taking it slightly slower.

After Mango King is launched at ION Orchard, next comes popular Thailand’s specialty smoothie and dessert brand Fruiturday at Northpoint City.

By the way, basement 2 of the mall can be quite a maze, so hopefully you will find the shop in a sea of people.

Fruiturday which started in the city of Chiang Mai, has multiple franchises in Thailand.
Their fruit beverages are made with 100% fresh fruits and ingredients.

Another ‘secret’ lies in a special emulsifier syrup, which helps blend the ice, fruits and ingredients smoother.

Signature items include Mango Sticky Rice Smoothie ($6.90); Mango Delight – Mango with a Strawberry twist ($5.90); Mango sago Smoothie ($5.90); Mixed Berries Smoothie ($4.90); and Apple Shake ($3.90)

I was recommended the Mango Sticky Rice Smoothie ($6.90), blended with a mix of fruits and ingredients with chewy sticky rice bits.

You want fine or chunky?

At the moment of ordering, “chunky” didn’t sound optimal, so I went for the “fine” thinking that it would be easier to gulp down on the go.

After getting the cup, I realised that “fine” meant that the sticky rice is blended into the mixture, so you wouldn’t really get to taste the bits.

So I found the smoothie refreshing, neither too watery nor lumpy, though slightly on the sweet side. I may want to order “chunky” in the future so that I can taste more of the fruit and rice bits.

In Singapore, many drinks store make it not just because of the product, but with some marketing carried out matched with careful branding strategy, at least during the initial days to get the hype going.

I think this is something that cannot be ignored, especially in this very competitive market.

Fruiturday Singapore
Northpoint City, B2-146 (South Wing), 1 Northpoint Drive, Singapore 768019 (Yishun MRT Station)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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LIME – Royal Reunion CNY Buffet With Yu Sheng And Buddha Jump Over the Wall, At PARKROYAL on Pickering

January 27, 2018, 8:01 am

≫ Next: TungLok Seafood – Special Yu Sheng Sauce And Nian Gao Endorsed For Lower Sugar Content, For Healthier CNY Celebrations

≪ Previous: Fruiturday – One Of Thailand’s Top Smoothie and Dessert Brand In Singapore, At Northpoint City

If you are looking for a buffet restaurant for the Lunar New Year festivities, this Royal Reunion special at LIME Restaurant includes COMPLIMENTARY treats of Prosperity Yu Sheng (for buffet lunch and dinner) and Buddha Jump over the Wall (for buffet dinner).

That is not all.

The other luxe, mouth-watering food items include Peking Duck, Claypot ‘Foie Gras’ Rice, Roasted King Salmon in Salt Crust, and exclusive Crispy Suckling Pig (for Chinese New Year eve).

Certainly impressive and should also please fussy eaters.

Have I mentioned about the Orange Chocolate Fondue Fountain?

This is probably the only buffet restaurant in Singapore which presents the-best-of-the-best Lunar New Year prosperity dishes all at one place.

There are two parts to LIME Restaurant’s Lunar New Year, the Feast of Paws-perity from 2 February to 14 February and 19 February to 1 March 2018; and A Royal Reunion on the key dates of Lunar New Year Eve, and on the first, second, third and 15th day of the New Year.

A Feast of Paws-perity at Lime (2 February to 14 February 2018 | 19 February to 1 March 2018)
For the “Feast of Paws-perity”, you get to try both LIME Restaurant’s contemporary dishes, and Asian favourites.

One of the main highlights to me was the Peking Duck with Hoisin Sauce Pizza, with generous duck meat, unique sweet sauce, complete with thin crispy base. These are light, easy-to-eat slices, so you can have room for more.

For the meat lovers, there is a dedicated carvery station for crispy Roasted Pork Knuckle which reminded me of another version of ’Sio Bak’ or Slow Roasted Boneless Beef Short-Ribs.

If you are counting on European favourites, the recommended offerings are Pink Peppercorn Brined Salmon fillet with Garlic Aioli, Half Shell Scallop with Garlic Butter, and Thyme and Garlic Roasted Lamb Chop with Mongolian Sauce.

Perhaps it is the season, I found myself going for several of the more traditional Asian dishes.
The Slow Cooked Soy Braised Pork Belly with Fatt Choy is a must-have, with melt-in-the-mouth fat, and meat enveloped by caramelised and comforting flavours.

Other Asian favourites include the family-favourite ‘Kong Ba Bao’, Double Boiled Chicken Soup with Ginseng, and Braised Fish Fillet in Traditional Five Spice Soya Sauce.

Not forgetting the dessert, as this is the first section everyone pays attention to once you walk into LIME.

Its signature Matcha Fondue Fountain needs little introduction. For the festive period, this fountain will be transformed to an indulgent Orange Chocolate Fondue Fountain, beaming in hues of bright orange.

Tip: Get one of the Chinese New Year cookies, say Pineapple Tart into this orange chocolate dip, and try the unique combination and tell me how it goes.

”Feast of Paws-perity” Highlight Dishes includes:

Peking Duck with Hoisin Sauce Pizza

Pink Peppercorn Brined Salmon fillet with Garlic Aioli

Thyme and Garlic Roasted Lamb Chop with Mongolian Sauce

Roasted Pork Knuckle

Braised Pork Belly Buns (Kong Ba Bao)

Braised Fish Fillet in Traditional Five Spice Soya Sauce

Mandarin Orange Cheesecake, citrus flavours married with a smooth, creamy cheesecake base

Eight Treasure Cake

Swag, a festive concoction made using Eight Treasure Herbs, Wild Berries and topped with Salted Egg Cadillac Foam

Feast of Paws-perity
Dates: 2 February to 14 February 2018 | 19 February to 1 March 2018
Lunch: SGD60++ (except on Sundays)
Dinner: SGD80++ (except 14 February and 2 March)

A Royal Reunion (15, 16, 17, 18 February and 2 March 2018)
It is a such good deal (and also good luck) that LIME Restaurant is including both Prosperity Yu Sheng (available for both lunch and dinner) and the Chinese delicacy of Buddha Jump Over the Wall (available for dinner only) for the key dates served complimentary.

These are for meals on Lunar New Year Eve, and the first, second, third and 15th day of the New Year.

Huat ah! The Prosperity Yu Sheng is served with a few items that I thoroughly enjoyed, namely crispy fish skin and gold coin bak kua which is not so commonly found in other versions.

Other highlight ingredients include fresh salmon slices, traditional candied vegetables, poured over with Chef’s special Yu Sheng sauce.

The Buddha Jump Over the Wall, also known as Buddha’s Temptation, has been known to be one of the top Chinese delicacy due to usage of several high-quality ingredients with special way of cooking.

Consider this a clear, yet rich and more intensely flavoured soup. Dig into this bowl and you would find, yes, an abalone.

Known for its ‘Foie Gras’, LIME has also included this pan-seared signature on savoury Claypot Rice. Mix it up to savour the creamy piece in flavourful smoky goodness.

Other superior dishes offered include Peking Duck, Braised Seafood Soup with Fish Maw and Crabmeat, Roasted King Salmon in Salt Crust, Five Spice Braised Duck Leg Carta Fata, and Crispy Suckling Pig treat (for Chinese New Year eve).

”A Royal Reunion” Highlight Dishes includes:

Prosperity Yu Sheng

Buddha Jump Over the Wall

Peking Duck

Roasted King Salmon in Salt Crust

Claypot ‘Foie Gras’ Rice

Five Spice Braised Duck Leg Carta Fata

A Royal Reunion
15 February (Thu) – Reunion Lunch: SGD68++ | Reunion Dinner: SGD128++
16 February (Fri), 17 February (Sat), 2 March (Fri) – Lunch: SGD68++
16 February (Fri), 17 February (Sat), 18 February (Sun), 2 March (Fri) – Dinner: SGD88++
18 February (Sun) – Super Lunch Sunday: SGD88++

Prosperity Salmon Yu Sheng
Available for dine-in only between 2 February and 2 March 2018 – Fresh Salmon slices served with crispy fish skin, gold coin bak kua and the chef’s special Yu Sheng sauce, atop traditional candied vegetables.
– SGD48++ (small, serves 4 to 6 persons)
– SGD88++ (large, serves 8 to 10 persons)

LIME Restaurant
PARKROYAL on Pickering, 3 Upper Pickering Street, Singapore 058289
Tel: +65 6809 8899
Email: lime.prsps@parkroyalhotels.com
Opening Hours: Lunch 12:30pm – 2:30pm, Dinner 6:30pm – 10:30pm

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with PARKROYAL on Pickering.

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TungLok Seafood – Special Yu Sheng Sauce And Nian Gao Endorsed For Lower Sugar Content, For Healthier CNY Celebrations

January 27, 2018, 9:42 pm

≫ Next: Roti King – Hidden But Popular, For Authentic Malaysian and Singaporean Street Foods In London

≪ Previous: LIME – Royal Reunion CNY Buffet With Yu Sheng And Buddha Jump Over the Wall, At PARKROYAL on Pickering

Come to think of it, TungLok Seafood may be the only seafood restaurant at Orchard Road where you can get some sumptuous Singapore Chilli Crabs.

This can be a consideration when you have foreign friends travelling to the country with a craving for our iconic local dish.

The Singapore-style seafood restaurant is located on Level 11 of Orchard Central, considered a hidden find because less shoppers comparatively go all the way up in this mall.

Well, you get to dine next to a romantic rooftop garden and get a partial view of Orchard Road if you sit near the window.

There are 3 VIP rooms, each that seats 10. The walls are partitioned so the space can be extended.

For those in the west, there is another outlet located within Arena Country Club at Upper Jurong side near Joo Koon.

The specialty of TungLok Seafood is in the best of Singapore-style seafood, and favourites include Chilli Crab, Black Pepper Crab with Fresh Peppercorns, Stir Fried Crab with Salted Egg Yolk and Curry Leaves, Wasabi Prawns, TungLok Seafood Platter, Crisp-fried Pork Ribs with Preserved Beancurd Sauce, Crisp-fried Baby Squid, Deep-fried Prawns with Crispy Oats, and Fish Maw Broth with Four Treasures.

TungLok Lunar New Year Specials
For the coming Lunar New Year festive season, TungLok Group has also introduced “Take-Home Feast” for a delicious and fuss-free experience.

The bundle of 5 items includes TungLok Treasure Bowl (Pen Cai), Prosperity Yu Sheng, Superior Herbal Chicken, Fried Glutinous Rice with Assorted Meat, and TungLok Nian Gao. Prices start from $388 for 6 person portion, and $498 for 10.

There are also Vegetarian options, with prices starting from $268++.

Royal Treasure Bowl 皇家聚宝盆菜 ($288++ for 6 pax, $388++ for 10 pax)
This is the festive dish to look forward to many. The Pen Cai is a comforting treasure pot of goodness filled with layers of premium ingredients, braised in savoury superior abalone sauce.

The moment is when the cover of the pot is lifted off, and you take in that fragrance.

This Royal Treasure Bowl comprises of 13 quality ingredients, with some of the most premium ones at the top such as 10-head Abalone, Fresh Scallop, Sea Cucumber, Dried Oyster, Live Prawn and Smoked Duck Breast.

I am one, however, who likes to dig to the bottom to savour some of those Shiitake Mushroom, ‘Bai Ling’ Mushroom, Lotus Root, Black Moss and Chinese Cabbage. Especially so for the deep fried Bean Dough which would have absorbed quite a bit of the sauce.

For an even more premium option, there is the Heavenly Treasure Bowl 金装聚宝盆菜 ($388++ for 6 pax, $588++ for 10 pax portion) which consists of 16 quality ingredients including a 6-head Abalone.

Prosperity Yu Sheng 鸿运鱼生 ($48++ for 6 pax, $78++ for 10 pax portion)
Huat ah! The must-have Chinese ‘salad’ for the reunion celebration to symbolise prosperity, unity and good health.

I had TungLok’s for my reunion dinner last year, which came in a modern and presentable packaging that presented a talking point among my family. I will probably get the same this year.

This version of Yu Sheng features a vibrant harmony of fresh vegetables, mushroom, yam, and sweet potato shreds, drizzled with TungLok’s new and improved Yu Sheng sauce endorsed by Health Promotion Board (HPB) for its lower sugar content, making this popular festive dish a perfect choice for a healthier celebration.

My family typically steers away from new-fangled flavours, and I noticed that all the vegetables used for this plate were fresh, not lined with artificial colourings of vibrant red and green. Major plus point.

A wholesome plate of fresh, delicious shredded vegetables with succulent salmon.

For dine-in orders, fresh Norwegian Salmon which has that attractive red-orange colour, good fat marbling and pleasurable consistency. Smoked Norwegian Salmon is used for takeaways.

TungLok Nian Gao 同乐年糕 ($22+ for Traditional, Pandan, Black Sesame, $28+ for Red Dates – for takeaways)
Four flavours of Nian Gao, from Traditional, Pandan, Black Sesame and Red Dates.

It seems like the favourite is the Pandan, with a light fragrance, mildly sticky texture and doesn’t taste too heavy.

The better news is, Health Promotion Board has recognised this Nian Gao for its “lower sugar content and source of dietary fibre”. Less guilt having your CNY goodies.

The following are some of the recommended TungLok Seafood signature dishes:

TungLok Chilli Crab 辣椒螃蟹 ($6.80++ per 100g for crabs below 1kg, $7.80++ per 100g for crabs above 1kg)
And yes, possibly the only seafood restaurant in the heart of Orchard Road to offer Singapore Chilli Crabs.

Crabs were moist and juicy, and the dining experience is best when you order deep-fried mantou to go with the gooey, eggy sauce.

The interesting inclusion was, the sauce was wok-tried with a unique combination of tomato sauce and freshly-squeezed orange juice using thin slices of oranges. Thus, there is this fruity tinge of tangy sweetness which made the gravy more slurp-worthy.

Spicy Curry Laksa with Thick Rice Vermicelli 咖喱加沙粗米粉螃蟹
The other popular crab dish is cooked with laksa gravy, with thick rice vermicelli soaked within. Considering that I take hot dishes all the time, this was spicier than the average (don’t say I never warn.)

The irony because I don’t think the ‘Chilli’ Crab is as spicy as this.

If you can overcome that, then it can be very “shiok” (enjoyable) as you pick up those chunky claws and suck a combination of coconut-y gravy and crab juices.

Other crab dishes that can be found here include Black Pepper Crab with Fresh Peppercorn, Stir-fried Crab with Salted Egg Yolk and Curry Leaves, White Pepper Crab with Leek, Stir-Fried Crab with Ginger and Spring Onion, and Steamed Crab with Chinese Wine.

TungLok Seafood Platter 缤纷海鲜拼盘 ($68++)
Somehow, I had a different imagery of “Seafood Platter” in a Chinese restaurant.

The dish was presented sashimi-style, and the service staff explained that TungLok Seafood also has a trained Japanese chef in the kitchen. Therefore, you get some atypical dishes.

This bowl brims with the freshest catch of the sea, such as Sake (Salmon), Hamachi (Yellow Tail), Mekajiki (Swordfish), Poached Prawns, Fresh Oysters with Chilli Sauce and Sliced Baby Abalone Salad.

As the salmon used is from Norway and raised in cold, clear waters, the slices have this delicious pure taste and firm consistency.

Deep-fried Prawn with Salted Egg Yolk 鲜蛋黄炸虾 ($8++ per 100g)
TungLok is known to be the originator of Deep-fried Prawn with Wasabi-mayo Sauce, but this is another popular choice.

Rather than a thick-saucy version, the prawns have salted egg grains enveloping outside the shells.

I would reckon there are two ways of eating this: lick off the salted egg, then go into the prawns; or eat the entire thing in its crispiness with the shells (except the head maybe).

Nonya-style Steamed Marble Goby with Spicy Assam Sauce 娘惹酱蒸笋壳鱼> ($9++ per 100g)
Surprisingly, this is one of my favourite dish even though it is not a good-looker.

Looking like a Cantonese style steamed whole dish, the marble goby is then added with a tamarind-based Nonya Spicy Assam Sauce.

So beneath the sweet and fresh tasting fish, you get a part sour-sweet-spicy accompaniment which lifts the flavours up and adds a gentle kick. Should be a hit with families.

Mee Goreng 马来炒面 ($18++)
A comforting Chinese style of wok-fried noodles with generous portion of seafood, eggs, and sweet, spicy flavours.

TungLok Seafood – Orchard
Orchard Central #11-05 181 Orchard Road Singapore 238896 (Somerset MRT)
Tel: +65 6834 4888
Opening Hours: Lunch 11.30am – 3.00pm, Dinner 6:30pm – 11:00pm (Mon – Sat)
Lunch 10.00am – 3.00pm, Dinner 6.00pm – 11.00pm (Sun, PH)

TungLok Seafood – Upper Jurong
The Arena Country Club, 511 Upper Jurong Road Singapore 638366 (Opposite SAFTI)
Tel: +65 6262 6996
Opening Hours: Lunch 11.30am – 3pm, Dinner 6.30pm – 11.00pm (Mon – Sun)

* This post is brought to you in partnership with TungLok Group.

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