[Bangkok] This family-run eatery near Victory Monument is well known for two dishes which both happen to be my favourite – Thai style wanton mee and “Rad Na Nua” which is stir-fried wide rice noodles with slices of meat.

Making a trip there was a must for me, though was not the most convenient.

Unfortunately, I also left disappointed the first time round as they stopped selling by 2pm, even though the closing hours indicated 3pm. ”No more, no more”.

Jakkee Restaurant ภัตตาคารจ๊ากกี่, also written as “Chakki” is located at Ratchawithi Soi 7, a 15 minutes’ walk from Victory Monument BTS station.

The shop used to be from Chinatown, and has been at this location for more than 30 years.

Therefore, it is not surprising to find the slightly older generation dining here, reading their newspapers or elderly couples reminiscing their good-old days.

It is also awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

It looked like the typical Chinese-Cantonese eatery in Bangkok, though you would notice it is unusually crowded even before lunch time.

Also, prices are considered higher than the average eatery serving the similar food, even up to double for a couple of dishes.

There would be an auntie cooking up Wanton Noodles skilfully at the front corner of the shop, keeping the noodles springy and drained of water.

3 types are available, with Roasted Pork (112 baht, SGD4.60, USD3.40), Crab (152 baht, SDS6.30, USD4.60) or Mixed (152 baht).

The Thai style of wanton noodles is generally one with minimal seasonal, added with some pork lard oil, fish sauce and perhaps chilli flakes.

Somehow, they just come together fragrantly with an ‘al dente’ bite. However, I know there are people who finds this too plain and simple.

While this bowl is considered pricey in Bangkok terms, there was generous serving of roasted pork and crab meat, and this a fairly average bowl (definitely better than the touristy ones Singaporeans keep visiting).

Add on an appetiser of Fried Pork Wontons (60 baht, SGD2.50, USD1.80) with thick crunchy skin dipped into sweet-honeyed sauce, and you would not regret.

The star of Chakki is the “Rad-Nha” of stir-fried noodles with meat in thick, brown gravy.

You can choose from big flat noodles similar to the hor fun, crispy rice vermicelli or egg noodles (20 baht extra), fried with meats such as pork, chicken, beef, prawn & crab or fried seabass.

A plate is priced from 120 baht to 160 baht (starts from SGD5, USD3.61).

This is certainly one of the best fried Hor Fun I had in Bangkok, came steaming hot with wok-hei with wide-flat and smooth rice noodles with very slight char, coated on top with sweetish-brown sauce.

Some people may not like that sweet-tinge and can be marginally to the salty side, but a lot of wok-fried dishes in Bangkok are like that.

Thankfully, I thought Chakki got the balance quite right, and was not as heavy or rich as I would have expected.

The noodles were also delightful, staying slightly crisp even towards the end.

While the beef slices were tender, I remember I had softer ones elsewhere, say at Lukkaithong.

For tourists, do not worry as there is an English menu, and one English-speaking member of the family (though she is always running around).

I know the food is considered pricier than the average and service is brisk, but the quality of the ingredients used, and oh that sauce, and the history of Chakki makes it quite a worthy to visit place for “Rad-Nha” lovers.

Chakki
1/35 Ratchawithi Rd, Khwaeng Thanon Phaya Thai, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand (Victory Monument BTS, walk to Ratchawithi Soi 7)
Tel: +66 2 245 0849
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 3:00pm (Mon – Sun) (May close earlier when sold out, closed every first Mon of the month)
Google Maps – Chakki

Other Related Entries
Sabx2 Wanton Noodles (Bangkok, Thailand)
Yentafo Convent (Sala Daeng, Bangkok)
Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai (Luang Road, Bangkok)
Pee Aor Restaurant (Soi Phetchaburi 5, Bangkok)
Sawang Noodles (Phetchaburi Rd, Bangkok)

Click HERE for other BANGKOK Food Entries

* 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.

The post Chakki – Bangkok Eatery Famous For Thai Style Beef Horfun And Wanton Noodles, Near Victory Monument appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

The food items on the menu may get you noticing… Unagi Sandwich, Century Egg Pasta, Carrot Cake with Nacho Cheese.

Though I would say nothing there would beat Smoked Salmon Cake in terms of unconventionality.

Want/dare to try?

The Green Ducklings is newly opened at The Concourse Shopping Mall at Beach Road, with Wakey Wakey as its neighbours.

The café is set up by two “green ducklings” who were previously culinary students from Temasek Polytechnic.

After 4 years in the industry, the two friends have decided that working for others in the F&B field is “not well paid” with many restrictions, and wanted start their own business.

This name of “green ducklings” also suggest that they are adventurous with little to fear, even though they may still be ‘wobbling around’.

When asked about the challenges when opening a café at such a young age, they shared that they had a lot of convincing work to do, especially to their parents.

”Yes, a lot of people say that we are way too young and business is too hard. But if we never try we never know.”

”At our age (23), we do not consider ourselves that young anymore, as many get married in their mid-20s. It has always been our dream to have our little shop to serve what people want, at an affordable price. We are happy that we made it happen.”

In terms of starters, you get choices of Shrimpy Seaweed Fries ($5.90), Scrambled Egg & Bacon, and Poached Egg with Chilli Lim Butter.

But those were not as intriguing as the Fried Carrot Cake with Nacho Cheese ($5.90), which turned out to be not bad a choice as you get the familiar local-style Chai Tow Kway drenched in Nacho Cheese Sauce.

Seemed like a sinful, heavy, rich starter, and it was. Just treat it like having fries, and your mind would feel better after that. Maybe.

Three pasta choices were available – Cereal Prawn Pasta ($18.90), Century Egg Pasta ($16.90), and Meatball Pasta ($15.90).

The Cereal Prawn Pasta was topped with a giant prawn, added with the crumbly bits that had this milky-sweetness.

Its weakest link I thought was the cream sauce itself, which didn’t blend well with the rest of the ingredients. I think it needed some form of an ‘Asian-ness’ to it, or say curry-spices to bring out the flavours better.

Another feature are the cakes done by the co-partner, who also bakes at @blooperscreation.

Of course, I just needed to try the Smoked Salmon with Dill Cream Cheese – which is likely a love-it or hate-it thing.

To me, the balance of sweetness and savouriness could have been better managed, and cutting away some of the cream cheese, and adding a sweet element somewhere could make this work better.

We should applaud the young and bold who take their first step out in this risky F&B industry, especially in the offering of more unusual food items which need not be ‘instagrammable’.

The Green Ducklings
302 Beach Road, The Concourse Shopping Mall #01-06, Singapore 199600
Tel: +65 9126 6715
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Mon – Sun) (Soft launch timing)

Other Related Entries
Wakey Wakey (Concourse)
Black Fairy Coffee (Tyrwhitt Road)
Liberty Coffee Bar (Jalan Besar)
C Plus Café (Rangoon Road)
Mother Dough Bakery (North Bridge Road)

* 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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HEYTEA Singapore
ION Orchard Mall, 2 Orchard Turn, #B4-29, Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm

Original Inventor of Cheese Tea Arriving in Singapore
A China’s most popular iconic tea brand, HEYTEA 喜茶 is set to launch its first-ever overseas store in Singapore.

There are many imitation brands around, but this is the real McCoy.

The cheese tea brand is known for its high standard and quality raw ingredients to deliver the same delicious and healthy menu as its Chinese counterparts offer.

There will a wide range of offerings that will cater to different palates: Cheezo Tea, Season Limited, Strawberry & Mango Family, Fruits Burst and more.

Apartment Coffee
161 Lavender Street #01-12 Singapore 338750
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sun), Closed Wed

Beautiful White Cafe That Makes You Feel Like Home
This specialty coffee place at Lavender Street is called “Apartment” because the owner wanted to create the vibes of inviting people home, to have chats with coffee lovers at the counter seats, and for them to feel welcomed.

I think a lot of instagrammers will start heading here, because the café fulfills many requirements needed for those ‘mood’ and ‘got-feel’ shots – natural daylight, white space, Scandinavian furniture, locally-designed ceramic cups.

I was recommended the Colombia La Falda ($6.50), a single origin with notes of plum, redcurrant and grapefruit.

It was indeed a well-balanced, refreshing cup with that obvious fruitiness that made a good perk-me-up. Apartment Coffee (Lavender Street)

Scrambled
12 Gopeng Street, 01-33/34 Icon Village, Singapore 078877 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Tel: +65 6221 0289
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 8pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun

Scrambled Eggs Focused Café Offers Brioche Burgers And Egg Boxes
The main item here are the scrambled egg burgers, made using brioche buns ordered from the Michelin-starred Burnt Ends, toasted upon order.

Each burger mixes both Western and Asian flavours together, with sauces used made in house.

Choices include the Signature Egg ($7.90) included with cheese, hashbrown, onion jam and chipotle aioli; Spam & Cheese ($8.90); Smoked Salmon ($10.90); Smoked Duck ($10.90); Bacon & Cheese ($8.90); Avocado & Tomato ($8.90); and Scrambled ($13.90) comprising of almost all the fillings available.

As for the star – the scrambled eggs, it did not disappoint as it was evenly seasoned and satisfactorily creamy.

Birdy’s
215F Upper Thomson Road Singapore 574349
Opening Hours: 10am – 11pm (Mon, Wed, Thurs), 10am – 12am (Fri), 8am – 12am (Sat), 8am – 4pm (Sun)

Brunch & Dinner Cafe At Upper Thomson
Birdy’s is a newly-opened neighbourhood kitchen and bar at 215F Upper Thomson, which serves up breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, wines, craft beers and everything in between.

The strange name of “Birdy’s” comes from a fictional character who is peckish is all day, and the shop’s objective is to provide quality without the frills.

Faced with a list of items, the signatures include Duck Confit Hash ($18) of pulled duck confit with pimiento peppers, onions, potatoes, poached egg and greens; Breakfast Sanga ($14) included with bacon, fried egg, emmental cheese, house made beetroot pickles and brioche; and Overnight Oats ($11) with rolled oats, chia seeds, soy, banana, berry compote and pistachios.

Not many cafes (even restaurants) in Singapore do the ‘simple’ Scrambled Eggs well, but Birdy’s got it just right in terms of the consistency, creaminess and fluffiness. Birdy’s (Upper Thomson)

Black Fairy Coffee
131 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207553
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 10:30pm (Mon – Sat), 8:30am – 6pm (Sun)

Cafe At Jalan Besar, With Goblin Burger, Poke Bowls And Enchanted Matcha Parfait
With a name like “Black Fairy Coffee”, one would expect more whimsical or fantasy elements in terms of menu design or décor.

The offerings included Poke Bowl, Croissant, Sandwiches, Toast, Salads, a Burger, an all-day breakfast item called Morning Feast, and a couple of desserts such as Parfait, French Toast and Ice Cream Waffles.

Sort of everything under the sky, yet limited.

The most thematic item on its menu board was The Goblin Burger ($20), of pulled pork and yogurt coleslaw and smoked barbecue sauce in a brioche burger bun.

For more ‘brunch-type’ food, get the Morning Feast ($18) of scrambled eggs, sautéed mushrooms, bacon, Italian sausage, baked beans and garden salad. Black Fairy Coffee (Tyrwhitt Road)

Galettes
529 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 #01-2365, Singapore 560529
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 12pm – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

Unique Crepe Café Found At Ang Mo Kio
Galettes located at Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 (with Pine Garden as its neighbour) specialises in making crepes – the thin, flat French-style pancakes.

On the savoury end, options include the All Day Breakfast ($14), and Funghi & Cheese ($10), while sweet crapes offered are the Crepe Suzette ($12.50) and Cherry Jubilee ($12.50) with flambeed dark cherries.

As I was feeling kind of full, I had the Crepe Cake instead ($6.50) with flavours of Crème Brulee, Dark Chocolate, Lemon and Strawberry.

The cake was on the lighter end and not too sweet, with beautiful thin layers. I am comparing this with the other familiar brand, and I wished that the cream could have been smoother and more delicate. Galettes (Ang Mo Kio)

Bread Createur
182 Jalan Jurong Kechil, The Hillford, #01-51, Singapore 596152
Tel: +65 9179 5804
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 8:pm (Mon – Sun)

Quality Artisanal Bakes From A Humble Cafe At Upper Bukit Timah
The small shop offers a wide selection of freshly baked bread and pastries, prepared using quality ingredients.

It looked like a family-owned place, with personable service. Except that the space could be a bit cramped.

Some of their recommended include the Kougin Amann ($3.30) which uses brown sugar; Chocolate Almond Banana ($4.50) which has the fruit blended into pain aux chocolate – thus quite special; Traditional Baguette ($3.20) with starter cultivated in-house; and Sourdough ($3.50) with tangy texture.

As for the Charcoal Bacon & Cheese ($5.50), it had quite a likable, doughy-chewy texture with creamy, savoury fillings. Bread Createur (Jalan Jurong Kechil

C Plus (C+)
217 Rangoon Road Singapore 218457 (Farrer Park MRT Station – 10min walk away)
Tel: +65 8733 2177
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon, Tues

Understated Café That Gathers The Best Cakes From Various Home-Bakers
C+ Café, which stands for Community Plus, has opened diagonally opposite Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh, the same row as Mr Pho House.

The unique thing about them is they work closely with local craft makers and home bakers to provide a different experience to customers.

In terms of cakes, they work with a community of home bakers who bake in their premises, and then provide their best-selling items for sale. So, you get a variety of bakes, and possibly the best of the best.

Some of the recommended cakes you can expect include the Ondeh Ondeh Cake by @beelibakes ($7.50 per slice), Earl Grey Cheesecake by @101weis2bake ($7.50 per slice), Matcha Latte Pie by @elijahpies ($7 per slice) and Lychee Rose by @petitejoybakes ($7.5 per slice). C Plus Café (Rangoon Road)

Walking On Sunshine
Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Rd, #03-07, Singapore 238896
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm

Garden Themed Korean Cafe & Hair Salon, Hidden Within Orchard Central
Walking On Sunshine is a Korean beauty and café concept. (M1 should just come and advertise here.)

There are Korean hair stylists who would give you a “Korean hair” make-over, along with photo studio for you to take photos in hanboks.

Food wise, the brunch-cafe presents a limited menu with offerings such as Souffle Pancake ($23), Eggs Benedict ($18.50), American Breakfast ($19.50), Honey Butter Toast ($11.50), Seoul Beef Bulgogi Pizza ($21.50), and Double Beef Budger ($18.50).

I had a Spicy Pork Panini ($17.50), which were nicely grilled to a golden crisp, packed with ingredients which were moist, and the spiciness gave it a Korean twist. Walking On Sunshine (Orchard Central)

Brawn & Brains Coffee
218 East Coast Road Singapore 428916

Quality Coffee With Minimalist Vibes, New Outlet At East Coast Road
Brawn & Brains has launched an outlet on 218 East Coast Road, a few shops away from another strong ‘competitor’ Forty Hands.

While the coffee place is seldom in-your-face and not often in the radar, it has gathered quite a loyal fan-base over the years who vouch for their quality of coffee.

The Easties should like this space, it has natural light, minimalist decor and this easy-going calm vibes. Brawn & Brains Coffee (East Coast Road)

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10 NEW Cafés In Singapore April 2018
10 NEW Cafés In Singapore March 2018
14 NEW Cafés In Singapore February 2018
12 NEW Cafés In Singapore January 2018

* 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.

The post 10 New Cafes November 2018 – HeyTea In Singapore, Scrambled Eggs Cafe, Crepe Café At Ang Mo Kio appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

In our modern society where everything is about being fast and efficient, Claypot Rice is possibly one of those food that would disappear in time to come.

I mean, those stalls that cook the rice in the pot, not add after.

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot 联合本记砂煲饭 located at the corner of Chinatown Complex Food Centre is one of the most popular claypot rice stalls in Singapore (the other being New Lucky Claypot Rice at Holland Drive.)

It has also made it as one of the 50 restaurants and hawker stalls in the 2018 Michelin Bib Gourmand Selection list.

The shall has been in business since 1979, and has gathered tons of loyal customers through the decades. Its original location was in Kreta Ayer, near the intersection of Sago Lane and Keong Siak Road, before it moved to Chinatown Complex Food Centre in 1983.

Mdm Lim runs Lian He Bin Ji with her sisters (and also a cousin), hence it earned the moniker “Sisters Claypot” or “Three Sisters’ Claypot Rice”.

The average waiting time is accurately estimated by the service staff – can be anything from 30 minutes to more than an hours, as they have no shortage of customers. When they tell you it is 1 hours 15 minutes, it is really about there.

Some customers I saw walked away shocked after they heard the waiting time. So the recommendation is to get a drink or dessert from another stall, and make small talk with whoever is waiting with you.

If not, come as early as 4:30pm for your dinner.

Why is Lian He Bin Ji’s claypot rice so good and worth the painstaking wait?

It starts with good quality long grain rice that is cooked to order and never pre-cooked. The minimum waiting time is 25 minutes. That is the time it takes to cook the rice grains and for the flavours to meld together.

Each claypot of rice is steamed to a boil over a gas stove for 5 minutes. Once boiling, ingredients are added so all the flavours could seep into the rice. Then, the claypot is transferred to one of the charcoal stoves.

There it sits and simmers over the blazing charcoal flames for the next 20 minutes. That will give the rice a wonderful, smoky flavour.

With this tried-and-tested-for-years cooking method, the rice turns out fluffy, tender yet retains a subtle firmness. Moist but not too wet. Each grain is distinct, not mushy.

They do not scrimp on ingredients and use good chunks of chicken in bone, duck liver sausages, pork belly, and slivers of salted fish, wax meat, and lup cheong (Chinese sausage).

And for those who like guo-ba, here’s the best part. Scraping that partly charred rice in the base and sides of the claypot and mixing it in. The crackle of the crisp brown rice combined with the fluffy rice, moist chicken and savoury flavours will be a party in your mouth.

And if you prefer to boost the flavours, drizzle some dark soya sauce and fried shallot-infused aromatic oils to your claypot rice.

I do think that this is one of the best Claypot Rice in Singapore, but maybe I have other favourites – the Holland Drive stall being one of them.

You can order a Mixed Claypot Rice for $12 SGD, good for sharing for 2 persons. Other choices include Sausage, Chicken, priced at $5, $8, $10, $12, $15, and $20.

As a side dish, you can pair your claypot rice with deep-green vegetables with oyster sauce, sprinkled with fried shallots for crunch and extra sweetness.

Aside from claypot rice, Lian He Ben Ji also sells double-boiled soups like Watercress Pork Rib Soup, Salted Vegetable Pork Rib Soup, Lotus Root Pork Rib Soup, Chicken Log Peanut Soup, Old Cucumber Pork Rib Soup, and Black Chicken Herbal Soup.

All are priced affordably at $2.50.

Occupying the corner of Smith Street Food Centre, Lian He Ben Ji’s stall is bright and airy unlike other stalls within the food centre.

Compared to other areas which can get stuffy, eating here will be relatively more pleasant – though it can be still hot as it is an open-air concept. Enjoy!

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot
Blue Zone Block 335 #02-198/199 Chinatown Complex Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, Singapore 050335
Tel: +65 6227 2470
Opening Hours: 4:30pm – 11:00pm (Fri – Wed), Closed Thurs
Google Maps – Lian He Ben Ji Claypot (Chinatown Complex)

Other Related Entries
New Lucky Claypot Rice (Holland Drive)
Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee (Hong Lim Food Centre)
Kok Sen Restaurant (Keong Saik Road)
Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle (Chinatown Food Complex)
Tian Tian Chicken Rice (Maxwell Food Centre)

* 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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If you are bored with Subway (are you?), there are always sandwich shops known for their exciting fillings such as Park Bench Deli, Sandwich Lab and 52 Sandwich Shack.

Which I think you should give a try.

Stack should also gather some attention for their cheekily-named sandwiches such as Chunky AF ($15), Sweet Valley High ($11), Deli Alli ($13), Blue Steel ($11), Sleepy Nonna ($9), Green Goblin ($9), and Gold Finger ($9). (I can imagine the meeting behind naming all these sandwiches should be fun.)

This is a concept behind The Black Hole Group, which must be doing something right as they are on the roll for shop openings, from The Great Mischief, Santap, Tipo Pasta Bar, The Thievery, to The Mad Sailors.

They obviously know their target customers very well.

The sandwich café is located along Jalan Klapa (10 minutes’ walk from Bugis MRT station), a few shops away from Kumoya known for their pop-up themed café, sharing space with co-working office Camelia & Co.

It has a colourful, almost beach-like vibes, just that there is no air-con and you may find part of your sandwich flying away if a big gush of wind comes descending.

There are a couple of sandwiches I am keen to try, such as the Sweet Valley High with French toast, country apple and peach compote, hickory turkey ham, blueberry cream cheese with speculoos sauce.

I can imagine all that party in the mouth with the savoury-sweet combination.

It wasn’t hard to settle for The Makcik ($13) – the name and components got me sold.

Rendang? Of course.

So the Makcik sandwich comes with tri-tip beef rendang, garlic aioli, bruised tomatoes, garden greens, pickled onions and fresh jalapeños, in Rye bread.

The fillings were quite da-shiok, with that familiar spiciness that tickles your tongue, balanced by the amount of greens.

I only thought that the bread was on the dry side, and could have either been more toasted, or replaced with something softer (Either would have been fine with it, I just thought that the bread was neither here nor there, and didn’t gel well with the fillings.)

This could make a good grab-and-go place, but I am wondering about the price, could be slightly on the high side for the youth and students who definitely love their sandwiches.

Stack
4 Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199316
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm Daily

Other Related Entries
Park Bench Deli (Telok Ayer)
Sandwich Lab (ION Orchard)
Mother Dough Bakery (North Bridge Road)
Egg Stop (Paya Lebar)
KToast (Clement)

* 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.

The post Stack – Muslim-Owned Sandwich Shop Offering The Makcik Rendang And Chunky AF Sandwiches appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Perhaps you do not need to fly to Hokkaido just to try their authentic ramen anymore.

Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen has arrived at Suntec City Mall, and it is also the first Halal-certified Hokkaido-style ramen restaurant in Singapore.

Located at the basement near the Fountain of Wealth, the restaurant serves not only noodles, but an array of donburi, teishoku, sides, desserts and drinks to get you all filled up.

The other good news is, prices are considered affordable and value-for-money, with a bowl of Original Ichikokudo Ramen priced at $9.90. Hard to find in this downtown area.

Ramen has been named as one of the “Hokkaido Heritages” that the Japanese people need to treasure and preserve.

So, you may wonder what is the difference between Hokkaido ramen and say, Hakata style ramen.

While different regions have signature styles, Hokkaido ramen generally has a thick, creamy broth, seasoned with soy sauce, salt or miso-based sauce for those added flavours, whereas the Hakata-style typically has a tonkotsu broth.

To keep the taste of their bowls as authentic as possible, Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen uses noodles produced exclusively using Hokkaido wheat for that the noodles are firm with a pleasant texture; kelp from Hokkaido is used in the soup stock for that added umami; butter directly-imported from Hokkaido; and adds aosa seaweed to evoke the feel of the Hokkaido sea.

The menu is really extensive, so here are some of the 10 recommended items you can try from Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen: (Prices are subject to GST & service charge.)

Ichikokudo Ramen – Original ($9.90)
I like to start with the most basic signature bowl if it is my first time in that ramen shop, and the original Shoyu Ramen happens to be one of my favourites as well.

The rich broth is cooked by slowly simmering chicken bones daily. Sit by the counter as you can see one of their chefs painstakingly stirring the whole container of broth, and smell some of that soup aroma.

Because there is shoyu added, along with that ‘sea flavour’ present in the broth, some diners may find it slightly on the salty side, though the creamy base helps balance that off.

Another component that I enjoyed was the noodles itself – long and thin (my preferred type), with a satisfactory chewy bite. Not too heavy even if you finish an entire bowl.

Hokkai Jigoku Smoked Duck Ramen ($15.90)
“Jigoku-dani” is the name of a famous volcano in Hokkaido, and this ramen is so named to reflect the fieriness of the bowl.

So it came in that vibrant red-coloured soup cooked with spicy miso.

The moment of truth. I actually thought the spiciness was quite manageable, say a level 2 out of 5? If you need to feel that shiok-ness, mix in more of the accompanying chilli powder.

Another reason why there are other vegetable-based ingredients such as corn, black fungus, boiled vegetables, shredded white leek is to balance out the heat.

The noodles used are different – thicker (which reminded me of Hokkien mee), so that it works better with the red-hot soup base.

Other than the original Hokkai Jigoku Ramen, you can choose the recommended Smoked Duck version, or signature “Gifts from The Sea” which is a bountiful bowl with crab leg, shrimps and scallops.

Ichi Beef Ramen ($12.90)
For beef lovers, this Shoyu-based bowl comes with Sukiyaki-styled beef slices and seasoned bamboo shoots (menma), added with a delicious flavoured ajitama egg with a slight-runny centre.

Hokkai Clams Ramen ($14.90)
This was the favourite ramen choice of a couple of friends, reason being that the soup base had this sweet seafood-freshness; and the creaminess of the Hokkaido butter beautifully complemented the flavours.

Have it with clams (there are plenty of them), shrimps, hotate (shell-on-scallops), or “Gifts from The Seas” which includes crab leg, shrimps and scallops.

Daichi Tomato Ramen with Cheese ($12.90)
Compared to the rest, this is the more Western-tasting, and perhaps funky bowl that could remind some of pasta due to the tomatoes.

The soup base is added with tomato puree and fresh tomatoes to provide that tanginess and sweetness, elevated by fried garlic chips.

That is not all. You can choose the ‘safer’ ingredients such as fresh clams or beef; or be unconventional by adding that fluffy scrambled egg (in soup) or the cheese version with shredded cheese, parmesan cheese and chicken chashu.

Japanese Style Beef Yakiniku Don ($12.90)
Since Gyu-Don is one of the trendy food items in Singapore this year.

This bowl contained Japanese-style grilled beef slices, on a bed of Japanese white rice drizzled with a special blend of sweet sauce. Break that runny soft-boiled egg which further moisten the meat.

Hokkai Salmon Ikura Don ($16.90)
For salmon lovers, this contains ‘salmon 3-ways’, including fresh salmon, lightly broiled salmon and salmon roe (ikura).

Also included are pickled ginger, shredded dried seaweed, chopped green onion, shredded white leek and miso soup.

If Ikura is your thing, get the Hokkai Special Ikura Don ($19.90) to satisfy your ultimate roe cravings.

Chicken Cutlet Don ($10.90)
The family-favourite and comforting choice of fried breaded chicken cutlet cooked in a sweet and savoury dashi broth, further thickened with egg.

Japanese Special Tartar Sauce Karaage Don ($10.90)
Other than ramen, Ichikokudo also provides a range of donburi.

It seems like Chicken Karaage is one of their strengths, with the offering of 3 related bowls – Japanese Garlic Karaage Don, Korean Spicy Karaage Don, and Special Tartar Sauce Karaage Don.

Indeed, their deep-fried chicken which is freshly fried-to-order, is more chunky than usual, and rather moist and juicy.

Even if you do not order it in a donburi, I would recommend ordering the Karaage as a side (add on $4.50) to complete the meal.

Other sides available include Boiled Gyoza, Grilled Gyoza, Big Ebi Fry, Hokkaido Butter Clams, and Chicken Wings.

Assorted Hokkaido Milk Ice Cream with Warabimochi and Red Beans ($4.90)
A meal is only complete with desserts, especially when Hokkaido is well-known for its quality dairy products.

Get the trio of Vanilla, Strawberry and Matcha ice cream made with 100% Hokkaido milk, with chewy jelly-like chilled warabi mochi and red beans.

One thing good about Ichikokuko Hokkaido Ramen is that it has quite a large space, to even accommodate families and big groups of friends.

There are also various seating arrangements, from the ramen counter bar where you can watch the chefs in action; the long tables behind; or in the Tatami corner to make you feel like you are in Japan – just remember to remove your shoes!

Ichikokuko Hokkaido Ramen
Suntec City Mall #B1-135 North Wing, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6273 0048
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm, Last Order 9pm (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Ichikokuko Hokkaido Ramen.

The post Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen – 1st Halal Hokkaido Ramen & Donburi Restaurant In Singapore, At Suntec City appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

So, I queued 2 HOURS for Wanton Noodles.

120 minutes. You can watch a movie, burn a few hundred calories from jogging, or reach Bangkok from Changi Airport.

But this was for Chef Kang’s Wanton Noodles.

I dropped everything to head over to Toa Payoh when I saw Dr Leslie Tay’s (@ieatishootipost) Facebook posting.

It was like a dream come true for me – one of my favourite Singapore Michelin chefs selling my favourite hawker food.

Close friends would know that I have been to the Michelin-starred Chef Kang’s at Mackenzie Road 5 times the last year; and I even celebrated my birthday there. Because he serves up dishes you cannot find anywhere else.

However, apparently too many people had the same idea as well.

When I reached about 11am during the weekends, there were already about 40 pax in front. In a queue, you would have nothing to do but surf endlessly on Facebook, or chat with the people around you. They all came after seeing Dr Leslie’s posting.

The power of food bloggers. *cough cough*

Jackson Square is not the most convenient place to find food. It comprises of light industrial complexes, with a canteen at Block A where Chef Kang’s Noodle House is located.

People around me estimated to be shortly below an hour’s wait, but it turned out be about 2 hours, as a couple of customers ended up ta-baoing many bowls. (4 pax in front of me abandoned ship.)

Chef Kang’s Noodle House serves up 3 items – Noodle with Char Siew and Wanton ($5), Noodle with Shredded Abalone, Char Siew, and Wanton ($10), and Pork Belly Char Siew ($10).

Here’s why the noodles earned positive reviews: the noodles used are specially imported bamboo pole ”jook sing” type, similar to those used in many eateries in Hong Kong, without the strong alkaline taste.

Pork belly roasted in a charcoal oven is used for the char siew, and naturally brewed soy sauce makes up the main part of the base.

I personally found many components working well together – the thin, springy noodles coated in a flavourful, rich sauce accompanies with pieces of crispy lard (yums); the wantons even had shrimps in them; and the cloudy soup was not the “MSG-flavoured” type and tasty.

The tender Char Siew itself had that delicious caramelised-sweetness, not the shrivelled, thinly-cut ones.

All-in-all, worth it for $5.

Is this the best Wanton Mee in Singapore? I won’t declare it YET, but I would say top 5.

Some Singaporeans would prefer the plainer old-school type (like Kok Kee), while this has a mix of Hong Kong-Malaysian flavours. I thought that the sauce could be on the heavier side.

As for the 2 hours queue, I don’t think it was worth it. Perhaps go during weekdays or when the hype subsides. (I am the type of food blogger who would go queue for his food, really to have that fuller experience to write.)

Also to share, I saw a kinder side to Singaporeans as I was in the line. When the cooks announced they were running out of Char Siew, those who intended to ta-bao or order plates of roasted pork decided to abandon the thought, so that customers behind can also get to try the Char Siew Noodles.

The neighbouring zhi-char stall also offered free Hai Cheong Kai to those waiting hungry in the line. So nice.

Chef Kang’s Noodle House
Block A, Jackson Square, 11 Toa Payoh Lorong 3 Singapore 319579
Opening Hours: 8am – 4pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 2pm (Sat – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Lee Fun Nam Kee (Toa Payoh)
Yan Kee Noodle House (Circular Road)
Ah Ter Teochew Fishball Noodle Bar (Lor Telok)
Eng’s Char Siew Wantan Mee (Tanjong Katong Road)
Wanton Fu (Jalan Besar)

* 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.

The post Chef Kang’s Noodle House – Michelin Starred Chef Sells Wanton Noodles At Toa Payoh, And I Waited 2 Hours For A Bowl appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

From KOI, LiHo, Gong Cha, TenRen Tea to TP-Tea 茶湯會, all of their openings met with superbly long queues which shows Singaporeans’ insatiable appetite for more bubble tea.

So Tiger Sugar 老虎堂 has also arrived in Singapore, at the basement of Capitol Piazza. (Also read: 12 Brown Sugar Milk Tea In Singapore)

Less than a year since opening of first store in November 2017, Tiger Sugar has already garnered a large fanbase from Taiwan to Hong Kong.

Many are willing to queue up even before the shop opens, in which the waiting time can be more than an hour.

The “Tiger Sugar” name came about from the ‘tiger stripes’ formed when the dark brown sugar syrup interacts with the thick milk in the cup. In fact, the word “tiger” has been used by many other tea brands to name their Brown Sugar Milk drinks. No other more creative ways, ah?

The story of my life: I spent a good deal of time queuing (again) for bubble team, this time slightly more 60 minutes. Gosh.

As for the consolation, the line was within air-conditioned premises (connected to the City Hall MRT basement exit) so it didn’t get THAT unbearable queuing.

(The funny thing is: there is a LiHo right beside Tiger Sugar, the contrast is obvious, and the staff did look quite amused at the long queue.)

The Tiger Sugar brand do not prefer a complicated menu but rather focus making each drink by a series of quality controls in the process to bring out the taste of each ingredient.

Therefore, you cannot customise the sugar level, amount of ice or toppings, compared to all the other bubble tea brands. (You won’t get people holding up the queue because they cannot decide for their life how much sugar they want.)

The main best sellers are the Brown Sugar Boba Milk with Cream Mousse ($5.30), Brown Sugar Boba with Pearls with Cream Mousse ($5.30) and Brown Sugar Pearl Milk with Cream Mousse ($5.30).

There are also Black Tea Latte ($4.30) and Green Tea Latte ($4.30) available.

”So what’s the difference between Boba and Pearls ah?”

Boba are the bigger tapioca pearls, while pearls are the smaller ones. If you want to try both, get the mixture.

For instagrammers, when you get your cups, shoot them IMMEDIATELY as the tiger stripes would disappear within a minute. For those who take eternity for your selfies, then good luck.

Shake the cup for a total of 15 times to get the brown sugar mixed in properly. Why 15? Because Tiger Sugar said so.

To me, the best part of the drink was the caramelised sugar, the distinct fragrance hitting you before you even start drinking. It was as if gula melaka has been bottled up into aromatherapy fragrance.

Four types of Taiwanese brown sugar are incorporated to make the syrup. And for that amount of syrup included, it was surprisingly not THAT sweet, such that you won’t feel jelak (rich) finishing the whole cup.

The milk was creamier than usual, as higher fat content Meiji Milk was included. Also, the ice used is special whiskey-grade cubes so that they do not melt that easily and dilute the drink.

As for the pearls, get the boba ones which had a chewier mouthful compared to the pearls. However, we thought they were cooked too soft, and lacked that QQ springy bite.

I thought that the Tiger Sugar Brown Sugar Milk was a fairly decent cup, definitely one of the best versions you can find in Singapore

As to whether I would queue this long again, maybe not. You know lah, as with all the other bubble tea shops, the queue will subside in time to come – it is just when.

By the way, Tiger Sugar will open another branch next month. Look out here for updates.

Tiger Sugar
Capitol Piazza #B2-32, 13 Stamford Road, Singapore 178905
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
10 Best Fruit Tea In Singapore
10 Must-Try Bubble Teas In Taipei
12 Refreshing Cold Brews In Singapore
10 Foamy Milk Tea & Macchiato Drinks In Singapore
10 Best Matcha Latte In Singapore

* 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.

The post Tiger Sugar Singapore – Popular Brown Sugar Milk Shop Opens At Capitol Piazza, And I Braved The One Hour Queue appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

One of the latest addition to myVillage at Serangoon Garden is East Bistro 東小馆, this is for those who are craving for Cantonese and Teochew dishes, wholesome zhi-char style food and a variety of dim sum.

(Click PLAY for food highlights of East Bistro.)

The Chinese restaurant is helmed by acclaimed head Chef Tony Wong, who spearheaded well-known Michelin-starred Cantonese Restaurant Lei Garden.

The dishes are created through three main criteria – freshness, fragrance and flavour.

Recommended items include Salted Garoupa Slices ($36, $54, $72), Signature Baked Chicken with Salt ($20, $40), “Waxed Meat Claypot Rice” (seasonal price), and an intriguing Sweet and Sour Pork on Ice ($18, $27, $36).

For dim sum, go for the “Mushroom” Char Siew Bao, Egg Yolk Custard Croissant, Rice Rolls with Prawns, Chilled Mango Sago Cream with Pomelo – served with a generous amount of freshly cut pomelo and mango for that sweet pleasure.

A must-order is the unique Crispy Rice with Crab in Superior Soup ($55).

Tip: Keep your eyes peeled (or phone cameras focused for a video) for the crackling of the golden fried rice crisps when they are tossed into the porridge.

This made a very comforting dish, warming to the belly, and I thoroughly enjoyed the sweetness of the seafood absorbed within the grains and stock.

There is also a Clam, and Prawn & Clams version.

East Bistro 东小馆
1 Maju Ave, #02-01, myVillage @ Serangoon Gardens, Singapore 556679
Tel: +65 6634 2998
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 10:00pm

myVillage at Serangoon Gardens is located at 1 Maju Avenue Singapore 556679, a short walk away from Chomp Chomp Food Centre.

To get here, simply take bus 73, 136, 315 or 317.

Or if you work nearby, go for the Lunch Shuttle Service AMK Industrial Park 2 Route (from ST Microelectronics, North Star, Seagate, to myVillage). Available every 15 minutes from 11:45 am to 2:40 pm, Monday to Friday only (excluding Public Holidays).

For those driving, enjoy free valet service every Friday evening from 6 pm to 10.30 pm and weekends and Public Holidays from 10 am to 10.30 pm. (First 1 hour: $ 2.00* incl. GST)

Other Related Entries
myVillage at Serangoon Garden

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

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Like, finally.

HEYTEA 喜茶 which is China’s most popular tea brand, is set to launch its 1st overseas shop in Singapore, right at ION Orchard basement 4 on the 10th of November.

So they are THE original creators of the iconic “cheese tea” (not anyone else), which has gained fame around the world.

7 hours. That is the record time someone queued to get their hands on a cup.

It took me about 45 minutes to get my cups when I first tried it at Beijing’s Sanlitun outlet, despite the shop being around for a couple of months.

I know some people are still rather skeptical about Cheese Tea. Perhaps it is because you have yet to try the really-good ones. Back then in China, I thoroughly enjoyed the King Fone (金凤茶王) and Ever Spring (四季春), and thought that the cheese foam which was not artificial-tasting complemented the tea beautifully.

You have probably seen other tea brands with similar drinking-boy logos, but THIS is the real McCoy; THIS is the first overseas outlet.

Part of the reason why HEYTEA continue to be popular all these years is due to the high standards and quality raw ingredients used to making every cup.

The element that left an impression most was the quality of the tea. You could taste that lingering depth and fragrance the moment you take that first sip.

The tea leaves are said to be gathered from different regions from their places of origin. The company also exercises quality control across all aspects of the tea-leaf productions, from soil inspection to taste of the tea.

The other ingredients also play a major part, for example only the freshest fruits, natural rock sugar which are lower in calorie, and natural cheese produced from imported New Zealand Anchor cheese are used.

There is no vegetable butter or milk powder used in the cheese toppings.

As for the menu in HEYTEA Singapore, they will offer a wide range of offerings catering to different palates: Cheezo Tea, Pure Tea, Berry Mango Family, and Fruity Boom. There will also be desserts in the form of tea ice cream, and two items exclusive for the Singapore market (Check out the rest of the post.)

Here are some of the HEYTEA drinks and dessert products that have won the hearts of tea lovers:

1. King Fone Cheezo Tea 金凤茶王 ($5.50)
One of the signature tea you MUST get. The King Fone Cheezo Tea which you can recognise by the enticing yellowish hue, uses premium oolong tea leaves that have been specially harvested for HEYTEA.

As you drink the tea, you could taste that lingering oolong with some of that unique smokiness, as the tea leaves have undergone a special smoking process that brings out the fragrance.

If this is your first time having HEYTEA’s Cheezo Tea, the one main recommendation is that the drink should be tipped and not stirred. The 4 steps are:
1）步骤一，扭开旋转盖Turn cover to open
2）如需品尝更多茶香，则旋转至小口Keep opening small to enjoy more tea
3）如需品尝更多芝士，则旋转至大口Turn opening wider to enjoy more Cheezo
4）最后，大口喝下芝士和茶Relish in gulps of Cheezo Tea

There will be that layer of cheese foam on top, so tilting and sipping from the cup’s opening would allow the cheese and tea to “have a party” in your mouth. If you stir the entire drink, you only get that one taste every sip.

The one way to know that you got the correct way, is when you have the ‘cheese moustache’. Don’t be afraid to go unglam!

2. Jade Matcha Cheezo Tea 翠玉抹茶 ($5.90)
For the Japanese tea lovers, this drink with matcha and even seaweed notes, is rich and full bodied; while the cheese cap helps to enliven the slightly-bitter notes of the tea. There is also the option of adding Oreo (additional 90 cents)

3. Ever Spring Cheezo Tea 四季春 ($5.50)
This is one of my favourites from HEYTEA due to the delightful floral fragrance and taste from the Oolong tea.

This earthy tea is also known as “Si Ji Chun” or Four Seasons, because it is one of the few teas refreshing enough to drink all year round (all four seasons).

4. Grapefruit Boom Tea 满杯红柚 ($5.90)
Of the fruit tea range, I suspect this would end up to be one of the most popular.

The jasmine green tea (Aqua Green) has subtly sweet and fragrant notes, and the slices of grapefruit added shines through with that burst of sharp-fruitiness.

Good to know that all HEYTEA’s Fruity Boom tea are created using 100% natural fresh fruit juices only, with no additional fruit syrup or flavouring.

5. Orange Boom Tea 满杯橙橙 ($6.80)
A refreshing tea full of colourful fruits of oranges and lemons incorporated with quality jasmine green tea (Aqua Green) which flavour unfolds into delicately tropical and sweet notes.

6. Very Strawberry Cheezo 多肉草莓 ($8.70)
A marriage of specially selected strawberries and green tea base (Aqua Green), prepared à la minute to ensure freshness.

7. Mango Cheezo Tea 芝芝芒芒 ($7.90)
Big, fresh and sweet mangoes are paired with jasmine green tea (Aqua Green), known for its strong flowery flavour with a mellow feeling.

8. Durian Ice Cream – Singapore Exclusive 榴莲冰淇淋 ($4.80)
Other than tea drinks many do not know that HEYTEA actually offers ice cream as well. And the Cheezo in the tea drinks can be replace with Ice Cream for free.

The Singapore-exclusive flavour is the Durian Ice Cream, made with real D24 fruits with that bitter-sweetness and full-creamy texture.

9. Salted Egg Yolk Ice Cream – Singapore 咸蛋黄冰淇淋 ($4.80)
Wacky combination of savoury salted egg yolk and sweet milky ice cream.

The other two classic ice cream flavours include the signature Tea King Ice Cream and the flavourful Mango Ice Cream。

HEYTEA Singapore Opening Promotions:
Buy 1 Get 1 FREE
For the first 3 days only, there is a buy 1 free 1 beverage promotion. Limited to 1 redemption per receipt.

Welcome gift
For the first 7 days only, like & follow HEYTEA on Instagram and Facebook (heyteaofficial), upload a post regarding HEYTEA on either platform, present it together with a receipt to the staff to receive a welcome gift.

Limited to 1 customer per receipt, and limited to 300 redemptions per day, while stock lasts.

HEYTEA Singapore
ION Orchard Mall, 2 Orchard Turn, #B4-29, Singapore 238801 (Orchard MRT)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Official Opening: 10th November 2018 Saturday, 10am)
https://www.facebook.com/heyteaofficial
https://www.instagram.com/heyteaofficial

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

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[Hong Kong] With the brown sugar bubble milk going on in Hong Kong, even cafes are tapping in to the trend.

Tearapy 茶聊, a spacious café that opened in busy Mongkok’s Portland Street is doing just that by serving a level-up version of the drink.

Catering to the more youthful crowd with their attempt at slick interior and marbled tabletops, Tearapy is capturing interest with the trending cheese-capped tea drinks, fresh fruit teas as well as the brown sugar boba pearl milk.

Unlike the usual takeaway bubble tea stores, Tearapy is more of a full fledge café serving western-fusion food as well.

So you can actually sit down and enjoy your tea slowly while having a nice meal.

Located on the 2nd level in a building along Portland Street, you can sit by the window seats and gaze down at the cluttered street and feel the contrast.

The café also has a neon signboard partition for aspiring Victoria Secret models to take selfies against.

The most instagrammable item offered is their Dirty Brown Sugar Pearl Milk 髒髒黑糖珍珠鮮奶 (HKD43, SGD7.50).

Brown sugar pearls topped with milk and dusted with a thick layer of cocoa powder, this is a must-order there.

Using Meiji Milk, their version was smoothly-nice but not at competition level with Tiger Sugar or Jen Judan.

While the distinct brown sugar caramelized taste was there, it did not seem to be as strong as the popular bubble tea players.

They also have the non-dirty versions that do not have the cocoa powder, photo-worthy effect. Therefore, to avoid ordering the wrong drink, it is best to point to the photo when ordering.

I also ordered the Soft Shell Crab Submarine (HKD98, SGD17.50), which was 2 soft buttered buns with deep fried soft shell crab drizzled with avocado sauce and served with wedges.

Taste-wise, it wasn’t particularly tasty and portion was quite small.

The Smoked Salmon Carbonara (HKD88, SGD15.50) and Blue Mussel Angel hair pasta (HKD78, SGD13.50) were quite average tasting, so I am guessing their strong suit is in their teas.

The Kiwi Cloud Tea (HKD42, SGD7.50) was really refreshing and tasted like a fresh fruit smoothie and not the syrupy teas.

A perfect drink on a warm day.

I noticed the place was packed with mostly ladies. Not sure what it was in particular that attracted them more, could be the design of the café or the food offering.

Tearapy could be reached via lift access and you will be greeted by an entrance that looks like a high end karaoke lounge. But don’t be misled by their entrance and walk right into the café.

Tearapy 茶聊
1/F, 189 Portland Street, Mong Kok Hong Kong (Mongkok MTR, Exit E1)
旺角砵蘭街189號1樓
Tel: +852 29891707
Opening Hours: 12:00pm – 11:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Best Brown Sugar Bubble Milk In Hong Kong
Pause It Café (Mongkok, Hong Kong)
The Alley 鹿角巷 (Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong)
Mrs Tang Café 華嫂冰室 (Wanchai, Hong Kong)
Mamaday Café (Causeway Bay, Hong Kong)

Click HERE for other HONG KONG Food Entries

* 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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You would notice Sik Bao Sin (Desmond’s Creation) at Geylang is very different from other zhi char (cooked food) places.

There are only 13 items on the menu, dishes are either wok-fried or steamed. All menu items (except 1, find out below which one) are originally from Sik Wai Sin – which should be a familiar one to zhi char lovers.

Plus, no prices on the menu.

Famed for having just one man behind the wok serving up home-cooked meals from the heart, Sik Bao Sin has a Singaporean as its cook (while many zhi char eateries are run by Malaysian chefs).

The restaurant name “Sik Bao Sin” is Cantonese for “eat your fill first” while “Desmond” is Desmond Chia, the chef-owner.

The younger of two sons, he hails from a family of cooks who migrated from China. His father, Chia Kok Hoong, moved to Singapore from Guandong, China in the 1960s, armed with nothing but a certificate issued by the Chinese government to recognise accomplished chefs.

Mr Chia Kok Hoong opened the restaurant Sik Wai Sin (“food comes first”) in 1968, becoming one of the first few eateries in that district.

Desmond practically grew up in the kitchen of Sik Wai Sin, playing while his father cooked and following him in the market. When their father retired, he and his brother Steve took over the kitchen. He manned and mastered the wok while his brother focused on in the steaming station.

Today, supported by his wife Joanna and his son, Desmond Chia continues his father’s tradition of being the only cook in the kitchen, with his own personal, home-cooked touch.

Yes, he is a one-man show and because of this, the wait is longer than usual. During peak hours, waiting time could reach 45 to 90 minutes.

Sik Bao Sin has also received the Bib Gourmand distinction from Michelin Guide.

You won’t find fried rice or horfun, but only dishes that go with rice. Just a note: the menu here doesn’t indicate any pricing. That may make a new diner slightly anxious, enquire and you would find out that prices are mostly either $19 or $26 per dish. (Prices here are indicative, so do ask.)

Among the 13 items, 10 are listed as all-time favourites, with 4 named as main stars: Steamed Fish Head, Tofu Prawns, Ginger Chicken, and Steamed Pork with Salted Fish.

So, what’s the bestseller here?

It is the legendary Steamed Fish Head ($26).

The carp’s white flesh was sweet and smooth, contrasting the salty fermented taste of bean paste, served with plentiful amounts of crispy lard, shallots and chilies.

The Tofu Prawns ($19) was a well-executed dish that comes with large chunky prawns and blocks of deep-fried tofu in a peculiarly sour gravy with silky beaten egg strands. Perfect to spoon over a steaming bowl of rice. Or two.

As mentioned above, all dishes in Sik Bao Sun are from the original recipe repertoire of Sik Wai Sin EXCEPT for 1 dish, the Prawns with special sauce ($40).

Let’s just say this is Desmond’s own signature dish, as he would always cook this for his son at home, emphasizing that this is genuinely home-cooked food.

One of my personal favourites was the Steamed Pork with Salted Fish ($17), neither overpoweringly salty nor oil, and went well with steamed white rice.

Although the younger generation now probably have less contact with salted fish type dishes, it was so comforting-good.

At the end of the day, it was the humble-looking vegetable dish – the Kailan with Beef that left me the deepest impression.

It was fresh, crisp, sweet (thankfully not THAT bitter) green kailan that was stir-fried with wok-hei to achieve its texture, just so the stems snap between your teeth while the leaves remained tender.

With all that said, some of the dishes could be on the saltier side.

Just a note, as Desmond is the main chef in the entire kitchen, the dishes you order may not arrive all at once, but with time-gaps in between. Be prepared for that, especially during peak hours.

Zhi Char is all about variety so dining alone might mean you have to finish an entire platter all by yourself (or saved as a takeaway). Get a squad of 4 to 6 to share the calories and joy.

Make a reservation for big groups (and you MUST be on time) or schedule an early dinner at Sik Bao Sin to secure yourself a seat. If not, be prepared to queue, especially on weekend nights.

Sik Bao Sin (Desmond’s Creation)
592 Geylang Road, Singapore 389531 (Between Lor 34 & 36)
Tel: +65 6744 3757
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:45am – 2:30pm, Dinner 5:45pm – 9:30pm (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon
Google Maps – Sik Bao Sin (Desmond’s Creation)

Other Related Entries
JB Ah Meng (Geylang)
Kok Sen Restaurant (Keong Saik Road)
Sin Huat Eating House (Geylang)
New Ubin Seafood (Hillview Ave)
Zai Shun Curry Fish Head (Jurong East)

* 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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[Noida, India] A name that is meant to defy gravity and encourage patrons to get high on good food and drinks, I Sacked Newton is among the best restaurants in the city of Noida.

Spend an enticing evening full of fun and frolic or a laid-back afternoon enjoying its many offerings; the restaurant is the epitome of international gastronomic delights.

An experiment gone right by ex-cricket player Utkarsh Chandra, I Sacked Newton has a façade that is English in design, but with a more worldwide appeal when it comes to the food they serve.

Chef Cecil Raj, taking control of the kitchen, brings military-like precision to the operations of the restaurant that reflects beautifully through the dishes presented subtly.

Because of its grand size, I Sacked Newton can fit in a lot of activity in the area beside food and drinks.

There is a small section reserved for dancing with an in-house DJ, sporting competitions are often telecasted live on TVs, and they even have a private dining area.

However, it is their extensive bar and food menu that is mindboggling, to be honest. How the chef manages cuisines that cover the length and width of the planet is beyond me.

Aiming at the British pub experience, the vast room of I Sacked Newton has large tables and comfortable cushioned chairs and sofas.

The setting evokes a relaxed aura, and even though I found the tables to be quite large, it was nice to eat with lots of space to move the plates around.

The décor is simple with wallpapers that represent a rainy London day. Colour to the scene comes in the form of green French windows and the red and jade sofas.

There is the occasional oddity hanging here and there, which I like, as the idea of less is more works perfectly in this setting.

As for the bar, it is quite large, imposing and because of the darkened windows, and lights up nicely during daytime as well.

I am always wary of places that serve too many different cuisines from the same kitchen.

However, I Sacked Newton somehow managed to keep it all together; and while the food was nothing exceptional, it was satisfying and heartening.

The Mini Butter Chicken Samosas (Rs 275, SGD5.15) were a fantastic way to start the meal.

Funnily shaped like a little chicken that is ready for carving, the filling of the samosa was delicious while the thin outer layer had the perfect crunch to it.

On the vegetarian side, the Mumbaia Pav Sliders (Rs 245, SGD4.50) looked bready but were light to eat.

Thankfully, the spice levels were not too high making this a great way to enjoy the famous street food.

The highlight of any meal at I Sacked Newton has to be their wood-fired pizzas.

While there was no dreamy woody smell to the final product, not that there should be, but the thin crust had an excellent cook to it, and the flavours were all there.

One little feedback with regards to the Veggie Delight Pizza (Rs 385, SGD7.15) that I had would be to spread out the toppings evenly and not keep them more towards the centre.

I Sacked Newton is reasonably priced, and the food along with the ambience elicits a repeat visit.

It is quite a large property especially when you consider the outside seating, ideal for the winter months.

The restaurant takes pride in their cocktails, and for the adventurous soul, there are quite a few concoctions like the Beer Raita that are worth a try.

I also appreciate the fact that the restaurant allows kids, especially during the daytime as similar establishments usually prefer to stay open for adults only.

Even though the aim behind I Sacked Newton is to resemble an English pub, the food is much more refined than the average pub-grub in terms of variety and tastes.

The ambience in the evening is a lot more electric, but weekday afternoons are ideal for savouring some of their offerings in a somewhat quieter environment.

I Sacked Newton remains one of the most popular and hip destinations to have a casual culinary experience in all of Noida.

I Sacked Newton, Noida
5th Floor, Logix City Centre Mall, Sector 32, Noida
Tel: 097735 04999
Opening Hours: 12:00pm – 1:00am (Mon-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/isackednewton
Google Maps – I Sacked Newton

Click HERE for other Indian 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.

The post I Sacked Newton, Noida – Quirky Name With Multi-Cultural Hip Food At Logix Mall, India appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Ban Mian is the kind of food that would send you loads of comfort and warmth in the belly, especially when taken during the rainy days.

I remember during growing up years, Ban Mian stalls were less commonly seen, though I think you should be able to find one stall in most hawker centres now.

It is considered a fairly simple dish, of handmade noodles (usually rolled over a pasta maker), cooked in soup typically, and added with ingredients such as minced pork, anchovies, mushrooms and spinach.

There are You Mian and Mee Hoon Kway fans – one’s thinner, while the other is squarish and flat.

The dry versions are gaining popularity. To be honest, I think a reason why is people can get ‘tired’ of generic-tasting noodles, and dry Ban Mian reminds many of us of pasta, yet come at a fraction of its price. (Name me one hand-made pasta place that sells it below $10.)

To come out with this list, I did a poll on IG Stories and visited the top 10 most recommended places. (There are usually people who would go ”Why you never include this, this, this…?” I may PERHAPS do that in my next run. I just ate 10 bowls, I need a break from all these carbs.)

Here are 10 places where you can enjoy hearty bowls of Ban Mian:

China Whampoa Home Made Noodles
Blk #01-24, 91 Whampoa Dr, Singapore 320091
Tel: +65 9625 6692
Opening Hours: 7am – 2pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

This Whampoa Ban Mian came up most highly recommended among many DFD’s readers.

The signature bowl is the Home-Made Noodles with Prawns ($4, $5), but if you are lazy to pluck off the shells, there are choices of abalone clams, sliced fish, fish maw, and pig’s kidneys.

The wait is said to be long, but fortunately you do not have to wait in line under the mad-heat as a buzzer would be provider. The wait wasn’t longer than 20 minutes when I visited them early afternoon, and they were quite efficient in getting orders out.

The hawkers make their noodles within the stall in little batches, with a range of delicious ingredients like fish slices, clams, abalone or prawns.

It is then added to the light and clear broth with mani cai to give it a tangible sweetness. I tried the Abalone Clams Hand Made You Mian ($4) and enjoyed how “qing” (light and sweet) the soup base was.

Egg lovers may be disappointed as it came without it, but I reckon that is about the style so that you can appreciate the soup better.

L32 Hand Made Noodles
558 Geylang Road (Lor 32), Singapore 389509
Tel: +65 9770 2829
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

In terms of Dry Ban Mian, I think this famous stall at Geylang can easily be ranked as Top 3 in Singapore (1st for many, I would assume.)

This little stall is owned by a couple who make Ban Mian out of their love for cooking and excellent culinary skills. One of their ‘formulas’ is to leave the soup to simmer for over 10 hours a night before.

Coupled with their handmade noodles and star ingredients of anchovies and meat or seafood ingredients, the Ban Mian is a considered a bowl of heaven to many. There are choices of pork, chicken, fishball, meatballs, prawn, sliced fish, abalone clam, fish head, and prawn with sliced fish.

A bowl is priced from $4 to $7.

It was the Dry Bee Hoon Kway, tossed in a sweetish black sauce that stole my heart. I would recommend adding some of the chilli sauce in to balance out the sweetness. All their ingredients are said to be fresh and soup MSG free.

Qiu Lian Ban Mian
100 Beach Road #01-38/39/40 Shaw Tower, Singapore 189702
Opening Hours: 8am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Maybe I am impartial towards Qiu Lian, because theirs was the very FIRST Ban Mian I ever eaten (and I remember having it at Bishan, Marina Square and Changi Airport.)

Of course, they are very famous now and even have their own packets of ready-to-cook noodles sold in super markets.

The signature is the Qiu Lian Ban Mee of freshly made handmade noodles in rich soup. There are also other options such as Ban Mee with Prawns, Fried Fish Fillets, Tom Yam Ban Mee, Ah Ma Mee Hoon Kuay, Wa Wa Clam-shells Soup, Dry Braised Pork Ban Mee, Dry Pork Balls Ban Mee and Qiu Lian Dumplings Soup.

There are three elements which I thought made it work – the handmade noodles with the right thickness and springy texture, soup that is very flavourful on its own without any toppings, and the crispy anchovies. Though I wish they could be more generous with their serving of crispy ikan billis. Their Mee Hoon Kway is also usually towards the thicker side.

Qiu Rong Ban Mian
51 Old Airport Rd, #01-30, Singapore 390051
Tel: +65 9739 8618
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Surprisingly, their soup base turned out to be one of my favourites – quite under-rated I thought.

Qiu Rong Ban Mian has changed locations over the years (previously from Roxy Square), but the stall still has the same friendly couple serving their piping hot bowls.

Uncle and auntie have been successfully running the stall for over 20 years now.

However, a first-time customer may just miss out on their Ban Mian offerings, as the signage is more prominently featuring their Pork Ribs Soup and Chicken Mee Suah in Red Wine ($4.00).

Offerings include Sliced Fish Ban Mian ($4.50), Tom Yam Seafood Noodles ($5.00), Mee Hoon Kway + Prawn ($3, $5) or You Mian ($3.00).

While I thought that their Mee Hoon Kway’s texture was pretty ‘standard’ and decent, it was their rich, flavourful soup with fried ikan bilis that gave a salty kick and crunch that made a difference.

Comforting homemade noodles to warm you up and satiate your cravings.

Top 1 Home Made Noodle
Beauty World, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, #04-44, Singapore 588177
Tel: +65 8448 8450
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 8:30pm (Thurs – Tues), Closed Wed

This handmade Ban Mian which has been around since 1989, the stall is located at a corner unit of the top floor food centre of Beauty World.

This is one of the few stalls where you can have rather varied permutations, to have your own personalized bowl by picking out the type of noodles and soup with a choice from many delectable ingredients.

Noodles wise, choose from mee hoon kway, you mian (thin noodles), ban mian (flat noodles), mee suah, bee hoon, Hong Kong mee, and cintan mee (egg noodles).

Four choices of bases are available – soup, tom yum, hot & spicy, and dry; to be paired with ingredients of fresh prawn, meat balls, sliced fish, fish maw or abalone. A bowl without the luxurious ingredients is priced at $4 or $5.

Most people would opt for the dry version which is dribbled with a generous serving of dark sauce.

I had the soup version, which I found to be in between – not too rich or mild, but still flavourful. BUT, the real magic to me, is that killer chilli sauce which is very shiok to have. Just a little can make a whole lot of difference.

Poon Nah City Home Made Noodles
810 Geylang Road, #05-02 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Tel: +65 6741 4221
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon – Sat), 10am – 7pm (Sun)

City Plaza is known for their clothing stores, Arnold’s Fried Chicken and Poon Nah City Home Made Noodles.

Finding this place may be tricky for first timers, especially if the escalator is down and you would feel like you are caught in 1990s Singapore.

Located at City Plaza’s food center on the 5th level, they have over 8 different varieties of noodles ranging from mee sua, mian and ban mian, bean flour and egg noodle.

You can pair it with your choice of ingredients such as abalone clams, kidney, sliced fish, fish maw, or prawns ($3.50, $4.50).

They add wolfberry leaves for that earthy-mellow taste in the soup. Noodles were on the soft side, so views can be divided as some of prefer something chewier.

Of all the stalls I tried, I would say I am quite indifferent to this as I thought it didn’t have that one distinctive factor that stood out – whether it was the noodles or soup or ingredients. But overall, a not-too-bad bowl.

Madam Leong Ban Mian
#01-241, Holland Cl, Block 31, Singapore 270031
Tel: +65 9221 7303
Opening Hours: 10am – 3:30pm, 5:30pm – 8pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 6pm (Sat), Closed Sun

Where you can relish Hakka-style ban mian made with love.

The business was set up when single-mum Vivian (Madam Leong) needed to find a means to support her teenage daughter. So this is a stall with both heart and soul.

Other than Mee Hoon Kway ($4, $5), Ban Mian ($4, $5) and Tom Yum Ban Mian ($5.50, $6.50), the dish that came highly recommended was the Dry Chilli Ban Mian ($4.50, $5.50).

The eggy Ban Mian came with an agreeable, almost al-dente-like bite that it reminded me of pasta.

The sauce tasted like the typical sweet-savoury type similar to many stalls, but it was when the dry chilli part was mixed in when it lifted the overall taste. The mushrooms, cooked soft as though it was in a bowl of tasty Bak Chor Mee, were a worthy accompaniment.

456 Mian Fen Guo
59 Food Court, 59 Upper Changi Road Singapore 461059
Opening Hours: 9am – 3pm (Fri – Tues), Closed Wed, Thur

(Google stated it is “permanently closed” but I just went last week!) Those who stay Bedok told me this is a ”die die must try” Ban Mian.

Helming the stall is the young Sebastian Kwek who took over the stall from this grandmother. The draw is in the handmade noodles, prepared using Australian imported flour which would provide a springier texture.

You would notice that the helpers only start churning out the noodles fresh upon ordering.

Business is always brisk, and most are there for the Mian Fen Guo ($3.50, $4) available in both dry and soup versions.

While the soup looked light, it actually packed in quite a bit of flavours with sweetness coming from corns and ikan billis. The type of rainy weather food.

Seletar Sheng Mian
210 Lor 8 Toa Payoh Singapore 310210
Opening Hours: 6am – 2pm (Mon – Tues, Fri – Sun), Closed Wed, Thurs
(Another outlet at Blk 226H Ang Mo Kio Street 22, Kebun Baru Food Centre)

Compared with other stalls with various combinations of topping, this stall came with more straight-forward choice of Mee Hoon Kway ($3.50, $4, $5) and Sheng Mian ($3.50, $4, $5), both available in soup and dry versions.

While you can supposedly add anchovies or vegetables, I was told ”not enough” even though I was there early in the morning.

Honestly, I think part of the reason why the stall attracts a constant queue is due to its affordability – a $3.50 bowl with prawns.

The Mee Hoon Kway had moderate ‘thinness’ with good bite; while the soup might not be as rich and flavourful as some would have expected. Slightly above the average bowl in terms of taste, but generous for its price.

Greenview Café
Far East Plaza #04-06 14 Scotts Road Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6734 2312
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Located at one other end of Orchard Road, Level 4 of Far East Plaza has a lot to offer in terms of inexpensive fuss-free eateries, but this particular food stall tucked on corner is the food fix you need.

It has limited seating so you may consider taking-away.

In terms of noodles alone, there are choices of Minced Pork Mee Hoon Kuey ($4.50), Herbal Soup Mee Hoon Kway ($5.50), Fried Mee Hoon Kuey ($5.00), Prawn Mee Hoon Kuey ($4.50), Fishball Mee Hoon Kuey ($4.50), Sliced Fish Mee Hoon Kuey ($5.00), and Tom Yum Mee Hoon Kuey ($5.50).

Their Mee Hoon Kueh ($4.50) is probably the version that came with the most irregularly shaped pieces – confirmed hand-made. The soup that came without egg, was slightly on the mild side for me.

Shall have the dry version next time, as most every other table had a bowl with it.

Other Related Entries
10 Must-Try Congee In Singapore
10 Hong Kong Cafes In Singapore
12 Best Gyudon In Singapore
10 Best Inexpensive Thai Restaurants In Singapore
10 Durian Desserts in Singapore

* 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.

The post 10 Must-Try Ban Mian In Singapore – From China Whampoa, L32 Geylang To Qiu Lian Ban Mian appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

One of China’s most famous Lanzhou Lamian restaurants Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles 舌尖尖兰州牛肉面 has arrived to Singapore, right at Tiong Bahru Plaza Level 2.

A 2nd branch is in the works, to be opened at Chinatown Point.

(Click PLAY for video highlights of Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles 舌尖尖兰州牛肉面.)

Isn’t this just the perfect weather to have some hot, piping Lanzhou Beef Noodles with a burst of spices?

While Lanzhou Lamian is probably one of China’s most iconic noodle styles, it has only started to slowly gain popularity in Singapore.

So how is Lanzhou Lamian different from the rest?

It originated from the Lanzhou, Gansu province in China, first created by the Muslim Chinese (Hui) people with the recipe passed on for generations since the Tang Dynasty.

The Chinese-Muslim style of beef noodles is typically known for incorporating halal-meat and clear beef broth flavoured with herbs and salt.

The other key feature is the hand-pulled Lamian noodles with long strands. Symbolising longevity, these noodles are a popular choice for birthday meals as well.

To spot an authentic Lanzhou noodle dish, it must include 一清、二白、三红、四绿、五黄, meaning “one clear (soup), two white (radish), three red (chili oil), four green (leek) and five yellow (noodle).”

The well-loved Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles includes all 5 signature elements, easily identifiable with the blob of vibrant red special chilli oil and fresh cuts of green coriander, green leeks and radish.

The noodle chain has a strong presence of over 300 outlets across China, won multiple food awards and, is an accredited member of the official Lanzhou Lamian Association.

Now you can have it right near home. Here are 10 special features of Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles:

1. 4 different beef noodles
The menu is kept focused with 4 different styles of Beef Noodles – Signature Beef Noodles 招牌兰州牛肉面 ($8.90, $10.90), Sauerkraut (Suan Cai) Beef Noodles 兰州酸菜牛肉面 ($9.90, $11.90), Mala Spicy Beef Noodles 兰州麻辣牛肉面 ($9.50, $11.50), and Dry Beef Noodles 干拌面 ($8.90, $10.90).

If you do not take beef, the restaurant also offers a non-beef version ($7.50, $9.50), and newly launched Chicken Fillet Noodles.

For first timers, it is recommended to take the original Signature Beef Noodles to savour the most basic and authentic flavours, before trying out some of the variants.

The “Suan Cai” bowl is also popular with the addition of Chinese pickled vegetables, providing that piquant and zesty taste.

The good news if you order a large-sized portion, there will be FREE top up of noodles for a more fulling meal.

2. Customize your Lanzhou noodle bowl
Get a selection from 3 soup bases or 1 dry noodle, with 8 different noodle types to choose from.

You can further customise your noodle bowl from spice level, noodle type, extra beef and garnish.

3. Make it a set
Top up $4 for a braised egg, side dish and drink.

The other side dishes include braised beancurd (my favourite), peanuts, chilled cucumber, long beans or black fungus. Tip: you can add some of that special vinegar to have that extra “zing”.

4. 15-spice blend premium stock
Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles uses a soup base that is added with more than 15 spices and cooked for at least 10 hours every day. No additional oils included.

While the soup looked clearer and less dark than many beef noodles we are used to, it is no less flavourful.

When you take a sip, you could really feel all the “jing hua” (essence) within, which makes a comforting treat especially during the cooler days. Plus point, there is NO added MSG.

Some diners may not like beef soup in the first place due to a slight-gamey taste or smell. Surprisingly, this clear soup had very little of that, and was robust and hearty.

5. Hand-stretched noodles made from finest high protein flour
While there are many Lamian restaurants in Singapore, there are not many which allows you to see the chefs at work.

Over here, the chefs would hand-pull the noodles upon order, and can be watched from behind a window.

This is no easy work as the dough is worked upon aggressively – pulled straight with quick tugs and regular slap of the noodles against the prep board to ensure more uniform thickness.

I enjoyed the chewy-QQ texture of the noodles, which uses a custom blend of flour with a higher protein ratio to give the noodles more bite.

6. 8 different noodle types
Not just one or two, but 8 different types of hand-pulled noodles.

The styles range from normal, thin, thick, thicker, leek leave, small flat, flat, triangle. The first four are round-shaped, next three are flat, while the last is a special ‘triangle’. Confused yet?

I generally find that the thinner noodles pair better with the dry style, while you can opt for thicker strands to go with the soup-based ones.

For example, the Mala Spicy Beef Noodles are best recommended to go with flat noodles.

7. Made using only Halal meats
Meats used are thinly sliced fresh beef shank and brisket.

While the shank is normally considered a tougher cut of meat, braising them over a long period of time, makes this meat tender with rich flavour.

8. Chicken noodles
The local outlet understands that not every diner takes beef, and has introduced Chicken Noodles which can be ordered dry. Usually I would find chicken fillets on the dry side, but this was surprisingly tender and mosit.

9. Imported Lanzhou chillies for maximum punch
As earlier mentioned, the soup comes with 一清、二白、三红、四绿、五黄, a reference to clear soup, white daikon radish, red chili oil, green Chinese leeks and yellow noodles.

The chilli and vinegar used are home made using a traditional recipe.

I would recommend having the soup on its own first, then mix in some of the bright red chilli oil to savour the difference.

While it looked intimidating at first, the spiciness was actually manageable with just that slight amount of ma-la that would cause that kick and numbness to the tongue.

10. Fresh and fragrant coriander
Love or hate your vegetables, I thought that the generous portion of chopped coriander, green Chinese leeks and radish gave it that refreshing taste and pleasant crunch with the soup. Makes a healthier bowl as well.

The restaurant does enjoy brisk business during lunch hours, due to its heaty broth and tasty noodles, matched with affordable pricing.

Many reviews have commented that this is an authentic bowl of Lanzhou Beef Noodles you can find in Singapore.

For all students and seniors, you can now also enjoy the signature noodles with a side dish and homemade Herbal Tea at only $9.90. Timing between 2pm and 5:30pm on weekdays.

Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles in Singapore is pending Halal-certification.

Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles 舌尖尖兰州牛肉面
Tiong Bahru Plaza, 302 Tiong Bahru Rd, #02-107/187
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/Tonguetipbeefnoodles
https://www.instagram.com/Tonguetipbeefnoodles

Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Rd, #01-43 Singapore 059413 (opening end Dec/early Jan)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles.

The post Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles – Popular Lanzhou Lamian Restaurant Has Arrived In Singapore, At Tiong Bahru Plaza appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[Seoul] Located in Seongsu-dong, also known as the Brooklyn of Seoul, Grandmother’s Recipe 할머니의 레시피 aims to serve food reminds diners of home-style cooking.

Koreans have this saying known as ‘손맛’ (son-mat) where it is used to express something that tastes homemade.

I could definitely taste the element손맛in the dishes here especially with the sauces, which makes it a worthy visit.

Grandmother’s Recipe, or as the locals call it, “Halmeoni’s Recipe” , is one of the many South Korean restaurants that is recommended in the Michelin Guide.

It was founded by a couple who worked many years overseas, whose aim is to provide a taste of home to their customers.

Entering the restaurant, it felt warm and inviting.

It wasn’t a huge place, could probably fit roughly 40 diners, and already cosier compared to huge, more commercialised restaurants.

I could see two female chefs through the serving window, probably in their 50s or 60s, working inside the kitchen.

“Are they the halmeonis for this place?” The place already felt authentic, now that I know that Korean ‘grandmothers’ are preparing my food.

The decorations here are said to be passed down from the mom to the current owners. Even the sauces are hand-prepared by the owner’s mom, served alongside the dishes you order.

Do not be taken aback by the all-Korean menu at first, as the staff would be able to pass you a copy of an English menu.

Some of their bestsellers include the Bibimbap set (15,000 Won, SGD18.30); and the “Ssambab” set (13,000 Won, SGD15.80), where you get a plate of stir-fried pork, lettuce, rice and sauces to be wrapped up together to eat. Just like what you would do during a Korean BBQ.

The dishes are served with rice and banchan, which included broccoli, fish cake and kimchi. Like all restaurants in Korea, the banchan is refillable.

What attracted me most in the Ssambab set was definitely the sauces.

You get 4 different sauces to wrap your rice in. One of the sauces had a slight fishy aftertaste of ikan bilis, which came really unexpected, unlike any others I tried before.

The sauces definitely taste homemade, something I could not taste from the Ssamjang sauces that other modern Korean restaurants provide.

The Hamburger Steak, 한우떡갈비 (17,000 Won, SGD20.70), is made from the highly coveted Hanwoo beef, and looked really juicy and tender.

However, while there was a good mixture of flavours, the tteokgalbi steak didn’t work for me as it was actually slightly tough and dry.

The scene stealer at this restaurant is definitely the Bibimbap Set.

Unlike your typical hot stone rice bowls outside, this contained loads of mushroom, deep-fried garlic chips and spring onions.

The garlic chips really helped to improve the texture, and gave it some earthy flavours. Plus point: the set also came with a plate of stir-fried bulgogi beef.

I came to the restaurant as a waegukin (foreigner), and Grandmother’s Recipe provided an insight to how Korean homemade dining could taste like.

Come slightly early before peak lunch time, as the place is packed during lunch time on weekdays and there is always a queue during weekends. Note: They bring you to your table only when your entire party is there.

Grandmother’s Recipe 할머니의 레시피
15-1 Seoulsup 6-gil, Seongdong-gu
서울 성동구 서울숲6길 15-1
Tel: +82 02-467-5101
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am – 3:00pm Last Order 2:30pm, Dinner 5:00pm – 10:00pm Last Order 9pm (Wed – Mon), Closed Tues
Google Maps – Grandmother’s Recipe

Other Related Entries
MiGaBon 味加本 (Myeongdong, Seoul)
Sinseon Seolleongtang 神仙雪濃湯 (Myeongdong, Seoul)
Hanilkwan 한일관 (Times Square, Seoul)
Myeongdong Kyoja (Myeongdong, Seoul)
Geumgang Bogeul Bogeul (Myeongdong, Seoul)

Click HERE for other SEOUL Food Entries

* Written by DFD’s Seoul Correspondent @__sy_g. Songyu is a food and travel blogger who is an exchange student at Seoul National University. You can usually find him in one of Seoul’s hipster cafes. DFD pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Grandmother’s Recipe – Experience Homemade Korean Food At Seongsu-dong Seoul, Michelin-Recommended appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

As the Christmas and New Year festivity period is approaching, it is also time for those all-important year-end gatherings with family, friends and colleagues.

Of course you will also be searching for trusty-worthy buffet caterers in Singapore, for a fuss-free occasion with good food to liven up the spirits.

To me, here are some of the criteria of a good caterer: reasonably quality food, prompt setup, organised service, and most importantly providing the one-stop service to settle all those details.

Here are 5 Buffet Caterers in Singapore which have designed special Christmas menus. The icing on the cake is, all of them now come with attractive promotions from FREE logcake, FREE Christmas turkey, 10% OFF, to complimentary vouchers.

(Click PLAY for highlights of Neo Garden Catering’s Christmas Party Pack)

Neo Garden Catering
Tel: +65 68967757
Website: http://neogarden.com.sg

When you talk about prominent caterers in Singapore, Neo Garden Catering will be one of the first few to be mentioned.

I have friends who use them from various occasions, from corporate events, house-warming, weddings to baby showers. Part of the reason is that they are known for their food quality, reliable service, speed of service and organised buffet setups.

During this Christmas festive period, Neo Garden has designed a number of seasonal buffet menus, suitable for potlucks for groups of 10, to parties with 30 and more people.

These include:
Christmas Gala @ $29.88/pax (min 30pax)
13-course Christmas spread, which includes Christmas favourites, Roasted Turkey Breast with traditional chestnut stuffing, Honey Glazed Chicken Ham and French Conchiglie Pasta with Ground Beef.

Christmas Feast @ $25.88/pax (min 30pax)
11-course Christmas menu with festive delights such as Roasted Beef Strip Loin, Rosemary Roasted Chicken & Honey Glazed Ham.

Christmas Treat @ $19.88/pax (min 40pax)
Classic 10-course Christmas menu that makes a great treat for Christmas parties.

Christmas Party Pack @ $289
Christmas Party Set for cosy festive celebration, great for 8 – 10 guests.

Check out the rest of their Christmas Menus here: http://neogarden.com.sg/menus/xmas2018.html

The setup comes with everything too, from microwavable containers, disposable cutleries and napkins. Great for a fuss free celebration. You can also add on their NEW limited edition Christmas Party Decor Kit for to spice up your Christmas.

HSBC Festive Catering Specials (Early Bird Special Order by 7 Dec)
– FREE 1kg Chocolate Fudge Yule Log Cake (worth $46.80) with purchase of Christmas Buffet Menus (Christmas Gala, Christmas Feast & Christmas Treat Buffet Menus)
– FREE 600g Chocolate Fudge Yule Log Cake with purchase of Mini Christmas Package (Mini Christmas Package A & B)
– Enjoy limited edition Christmas Party Decor Kit @ $20 (U.P. $35.90) with purchase of Christmas Party Pack

HSBC Festive Catering Specials (Order after 8 Dec)
– 50% off Chocolate Fudge Yule Log Cake (worth $46.80) with purchase of Christmas Buffet Menus or Mini Christmas Package

Other T&C:
– Valid from 15 November 2018 to 1 January 2019.
– Promotions are not valid for orders delivered on 24th December 2018 & not valid for use with other ongoing promotions, limited to 1 redemption per customer.

Orange Clove
Tel: +65 6515 0991
Website: https://www.orangeclove.com.sg

Known to be the leading corporate caterer, Orange Clove offers distinctive International cuisine with an Asian flair.

It is best if you are looking for a caterer which provides a one-stop solution for event needs, as they can provide food with consistent quality and prompt services.

This year, Orange Clove is offering various Christmas Buffet menus, ranging from “Jolly Jingle” ($20 per pax), Jubilant Soiree ($25 per pax), Mirthful Reunions ($32 per pax) and Holiday Splendour ($42 per pax).

The Holiday Splendour set (min 30 guests) provides a dazzling spread including Honey Orange Glazed Chicken Ham with Pineapple Compote, Ocean’s Catch Grilled Salmon Fillet with Pomegranate Salsa, Traditional Roasted Turkey Breast with Honshimeji Jus, Chestnut Stuffing & Cranberry Compote, Sweet & Savoury Potato Al Formaggio, Crispy Brussels Sprout with Feta Cheese Crumble & Honey, Irish Lamb Stew with Vegetables Medley, to Penne Pasta with Sweet Onion in Parmesan Rosa Sauce.

Also look out for the exciting desserts of Avocado Milk Pudding with Gula Melaka, Mixed Berries Crumble Shooters, Almond Raspberry Linzer Tart Cake, and Toblerone Chocolate Cake.

HSBC Festive Catering Specials (Early Bird Special, Order before 7th December 2018)
– 10% off Christmas Buffet Menus
– For orders placed after 7th December 2018, HSBC cardholders will be entitled to a complimentary Salmon Wellington with Cheesy Spinach (worth $120)

Other T&C:
– Promotions are not valid for orders delivered on 24th December 2018.
– Promotions valid from 7th November 2018 to 1 January 2019.
– Promotion is only valid with order of Christmas Buffet Menus.
– Limited to 100pax per catering order, with minimum spend of $1,000/order.
– Promotions are not valid with ongoing promotions.

Select Catering Services Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 6852 3333
Website: https://www.selectcatering.com.sg

Select Catering Services which has been around since 1991, has been providing one-stop catering solutions for more than 25 years.

It is well-liked by many households, and has been one of the preferred caterers for hearty occasions and family affairs.

Festive sets they are offering include the Savoury Feast ($15.00+, min 40 pax), Frosty Feast ($18.00, min 35 pax), Jovial Feast ($22.00+, min 30 pax), and Yuletide Feast ($28.00+, min 25 pax).

The Yuletide Feast for example, offers tantalising choices of Gangnam Style Lamb Leg with Garlic Soya Glaze OR Crock Pot Beef Stew with Mushroom, Orange-Honey Glazed Roasted Turkey Breast with Stuffing, Baked Salmon Fillet with Gremolata & Creamy Spinach, Dynamite Prawn with Salted Egg Sauce, Italian Baked Cheese Scallops, Seafood Paella Rice, and Tagliatelle with Prawn in cream sauce.

Their Frosty Takeaway, Jovial Takeaway and Yule Takeaway are priced at wallet-friendly prices between $201.16 (with GST) and $265.36 (with GST) and serves up to 10 persons. To save the hassle from messing up your kitchen.

TIP: There is be an Early Bird discount of 10% OFF when you place your Christmas buffet orders before 30 Nov 2018.

HSBC Festive Catering Specials
– From 15 Nov – 31 Dec 2018, spend a min. of $500 and Get $80 Catering Voucher.
– From 1 Jan – 28 Feb 2019, spend a min. of $500 and Get $30 Shopping Voucher

Four Seasons Catering
Tel: +65 6383 3003
Website: https://www.fourseasons.com.sg

Four Seasons Catering is one of the pioneers in Corporate Buffet Catering in Singapore, having established since 1994.

The good news is, they are Halal-certified with diverse menus to include cuisine from different parts of the world from local, Asian, Western, Indian to fusion food.

Another key feature if their Signature Party Box, with food kept in attractively designed packaging which can be delivered to anywhere in Singapore within 3 hours of ordering. You can also purchase it and deliver it to the venue as a gift set to a house gathering.

Their current Partybox includes dishes of Oven Baked Ayam Pangang or Baked Teriyaki Glazed Chicken; Fried Fish Fillet with Hainanese Sauce or Pineapple Glazed Fish Fillet; Seaweed Oat Fried Prawn or Salted Egg Prawn (both deshelled) and many other choices. .

They are offering an affordably-priced Winter Menu, priced at $20.90+ (min 25pax) for a 10 Course catering meal which offers choices of Salted Egg Chicken, Baked Fish in Peperonata Sauce, Saffron Seafood Stew to Pumpkin Pilaf Rice.

HSBC Festive Catering Specials
– 10% Off Asian Menu (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter), valid from 15th November 2018 to 28 February 2019
– 10% Off Party Box (Self Collection), valid from 1st January 2019 to 31st January 2019

Other T&C:
– Blackout Dates for Asian Menu offer: From 18 December to 24 December 2018; and 5 February to 20 February 2019.

Rasel Catering Singapore
Tel: +65 6777 7183
Website: https://www.rasel.com.sg

Halal-Certified Rasel Catering’s strengths include live stations, customisation, variety of canapes, and themed set-ups.

They also pride themselves in serving more unexpected Halal dishes, in the likes of Satay Bee Hoon, Shepherd’s Pie and Assam Penang Laksa.

For those of you looking at healthier options, Rasel Catering has received the Health Promotion Board’s endorsement for using wholegrain and healthier oil in their dishes. In addition, there is the option to include a maximum of 1 fried item for a menu of 8 items, and provide water instead of sweetened drinks.

Various Christmas Menus are available at varied pricings, from $22 (min 40 pax), $28 (min 50 pax), $31 (min 30 max), $38 (min 50 pax), $41 (min 30 pax), to $50 (min 30 pax).

The sumptuous Christmas menus featuring specially recreated dishes from Classic Waldorf Salad, Sous Vide Beef Sirloin, Truffle Mushroom Ragout, to desserts of Yule Chocolate Praline Feuilletine Log Cake and British Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Creme.

HSBC Festive Catering Specials
– Early Bird Promotion: Complimentary Turkey for order with min purchase of $1000 confirmed before 30 November 2018.

Other T&C:
– Limited to one turkey per catering-customer per location.
– Valid for online Christmas buffet menus only with a minimum purchase of S$1,000 excluding transportation and GST.

* For more details on the latest #FestiveCatering promotions, hop on over to https://cardpromotions.hsbc.com.sg/dining#festive-catering. Terms and conditions apply for all promotions herein. This post was brought to you by HSBC Credit Cards.

The post 5 Best Buffet Caterers In Singapore With Attractive Promotions, To Satisfy Your Christmas Festive Catering Needs appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[New Delhi] Chef Hana Ho’s Little Saigon is a tiny place with a big heart.

It serves some the most delicious Vietnamese food available at New Delhi, highlighting her culinary heritage and respect for the right ingredients.

Situated in Hauz Khas Market, the humble interiors of Little Saigon place a spotlight on the food, which might look ordinary but packs a solid punch with regards to various textures and myriad flavours.

Because the restaurant only opens for lunch and dinner, with limited seating, and it is quite popular, thus reservation is a must.

Starting her own restaurant had always been a dream of Chef Ho even while working in top hotels like the now-closed Blue Ginger at Taj Palace in New Delhi.

With a background that is steeped in culinary brilliance and included helping her parents run a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, Chef Ho has tremendous affection and appreciation for her home country’s food.

It is with this emotion that she worked towards making the idea that was Little Saigon a reality. This allowed her to share a part of her culture with the people of Delhi.

Little Saigon stands out in the city for being the only authentic Vietnamese restaurant here.

Even though South East Asian cuisine is trendy in India on the whole, Vietnamese food often gets overlooked.

Through its food, it tries to educate people about the culinary delights of Vietnam.

The interiors of Little Saigon are as simple as it can get. Three partially separated Vietnamese leaf hats make for much of the décor along with bright green coloured walls.

The furniture consists of glass on top of old sewing machine tables which adds a bit of quirk to the place. The plastic chairs, comfortable and straightforward, are responsible for a dash of colour in the room.

A small partition divides the eating area and the kitchen from where Chef Ho comes and goes inquiring and recommending dishes to her patrons.

It has a very street food like setting, albeit you get to sit inside in an air-conditioned room.

The menu of Little Saigon might be limited in the number of dishes they serve, but certainly not the flavours.

Because of a ban on beef in India, the meats primarily include pork, chicken, and seafood.

The food is a combination of quick bites and mains which are moderately priced and have adequate quantities.

The Banh Cuon Nhan Thit – Steamed Rice Cake with stuffed Chicken – (Rs 320, SGD6.35) had many different textures to it and was so soft that it just melted in the mouth.

For a warm summer afternoon, this was a refreshing starter.

Thit Heo Quay – Roasted Pork Belly – (Rs 540, SGD10.75) is one of the restaurant’s signature dishes, highly recommended for its finger-licking meatiness.

As for the main dish, the Cari Ga (Rs 280, SGD5.60) was just divine.

Chicken in yellow curry with onions and sweet potato might sound like a simple dish, but the burst of flavours in the curry and tenderness of the chicken was exceptional.

It was so good, I actually ordered a second round.

I do recommend having Little Saigon’s special Milk Coffee with Jelly (Rs 160, SGD3.20) that goes well with the food and is equally refreshing.

It is the humility with which the restaurant operates that won my heart.

Being the first customers of the day, a family member of the chef sat on the table next to us reading a newspaper, nonchalantly, until more guests arrived.

There is a very homely feel to it all.

Chef Ho is almost like a mother hen, but without too much interference. She sat next to the kids and asked for their preference while recommending dishes, always ending her sentences with “Whatever you want, aunty will make it for you, okay?”

It is this kind of service and affection that adds to the dining experience and certainly makes for a memorable meal.

So encouraging to see someone live it up and achieve their dream.

While lavish restaurants open and close every day in the city, Little Saigon is an actual labour of love for Chef Hana Ho and her team.

Their passion towards traditional Vietnamese food along with the welcoming nature they display towards all their customers has made Little Saigon one my favourite places to eat in the city.

Little Saigon
E 16, Market Lane, Block D, Main Hauz Khas Market, New Delhi – 110016
Tel: 09643273460
Opening Hours: 12:00pm – 3:00pm, 7:00pm – 10pm (Mon-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/little.saigon.delhi
Google Maps – Little Saigon

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* 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.

The post Little Saigon, New Delhi – Hole In A Wall Eatery Serving Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine, At Hauz Khas Market appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Chinatown Point has always been a place for family meals and gatherings.

There are Peach Garden known for its dim sum and wide spread of dishes; China Classic for Cantonese cuisine; Hainan Street Steamboat which has unique offerings of Hainanese style hotpot with chicken rice; and Lotus Kitchen which serves up vegetarian dishes that even meat-lovers would crave for.

Of course that is not all. Tsukada Nojo is my go-to place for Japanese collagen hotpot; Segar Restaurant for inexpensive Halal zhi char fare; and the under-the-radar BBQ Hyang Yeon Korean Restaurant which is one of the most authentic Korean restaurants found in Singapore.

(Click PLAY for food highlights of Chinatown Point.)

With choices aplenty, the good news is all of these restaurants are offering attractive dinner dining promotions. Best for the year-end festive gatherings. Check out these 15 Restaurants & Cafes from Chinatown Point:

Haikee Brothers
Chinatown Point #02-39
Tel: +65 6244 4408
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

Craving for good-old Soy Chicken Noodles? Head over to Haikee Brothers, which is owned and run by 3rd generation hawker siblings Joseph and James Wang.

The Wang brothers are committed to keep Haikee’s traditional flavours genuine, while they explore fresh new ideas to continue innovating. The duo partnered with the culinary team behind Tenderfresh, Hawkerman & Good Chance Restaurant to develop a more extensive menu for their Chinatown Point restaurant.

Ranging from classic delights to modern recipes to suit the palate of all ages, the menu is a blend of old and new.

Haikee’s popular Soy Chicken goes through a continual braising process in their special sauce. This allows it to absorb it all the flavours, making it soft and moist with the skin almost translucently thin.

Signature dishes include HKB Soy Chicken Ramen ($6.50++) which uses their trademark Haikee Soy Sauce. The light shoyu broth, blended with mirin, carries a strong umami aroma of braised mushrooms. The dish comes with chewy noodles, half a runny egg a.k.a. lava egg, kailan, seaweed, and a generous portion of the star of the dish, soy chicken.

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
Soy Delicious Set for 2 pax, includes 2 Soy Delicious Bowls and 1 Kailan in HK Soy Oyster Sauce.
Promo Price: $19.90++ (U.P. $23.40). For dine-in only.

Kazo
Chinatown Point #01-30
Tel: +65 6444 0188 / +65 8877 7783
Opening Hours: 8am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Kazo is a famous Taiwanese bakery and confectionery store that arrived in Singapore, right at Chinatown Point.

To maintain the standards and taste of the products from its parent store Nichifu, ingredients used in their store in Singapore are specially flown in from Taiwan regularly.

The shop offers delectable pastries such as crispy cream puffs, kazu kazu, croissants, and cheese tarts – all of which are available in different sweet and savoury variants. Early risers and brekkie lovers will be delighted to know they can find a couple of breakfast sets and all day buns here too.

Signature items include the Kazo Polo, available in original or special variants (golden lava, Hokkaido, chocolate, caramel, raspberry, “kopi”, chicken pork floss, and spicy pork floss).

Another house special is the Kazo Burger, using the original baked-fresh-daily Kazo Polo filled with either the signature katsudon chicken or the classic fish filler. The crisp meat fillet is complemented with a slaw of thinly-sliced lettuce in a special homemade blended sauce.

The Kazo Burger is available a la carte for $4.80 while the bento set is at $6.80 and comes with sweet potato fries and a drink.

Don’t forget the intriguingly-shaped bottle of their Kazoman Organic Soya Bean drink or Matcha Latte. They’re abs-olutely sexy!

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
1 FOR 1 Bento Sets of Kazo Polo Burgers Signature Katsu Chicken and Classic Fish Fillet Bento Sets worth $6.80/set.

Hainan Street Steamboat
Chinatown Point #B1-16
Tel: +65 6935 1389
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Since 1950, Hainan Street Steamboat has been serving traditional Hainanese cuisine such as authentic Chinese steamboats, pork chop, satay, and the iconic Hainanese Chicken Rice. It is known for their fresh ingredients that are flavourful and varied.

This spacious and well-ventilated restaurant is quite popular among diners looking for that comforting taste of home.

Each Hainanese Steamboat Set ($38/$48/$58 for Set for 2/3/4 persons) comes with a pot of chicken broth surrounded by plates of mixed seafood (cockles, prawns, sliced fish, squid, sea cucumber, fish maw, fish balls) and meats (sliced pork, cow louver, pig liver), vegetables and eggs.

Their Hainanese Chicken is served with fragrant not-too-oily rice and some unique chili that’s mildly sweet and sour. The chicken is precisely tender through and through, with that signature layer of clear jelly under its skin. Their Pork Chop is pleasantly crisp you’ll want to drench it in gravy. Their Satay is flavourful and well-cooked.

People usually come here to experience casual communal dining over some hotpot, but if you need some “me-time”, you still have this option: a special steamboat set for one.

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
Hainan Steamboat set for 1 person @ $20+ with one FREE ala-carte dish. Choose from options of Satay, Pork Chop or Chicken Rice.

Tsukada Nojo
Chinatown Point #02-37
Tel: +65 6444 8840
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am –3:30pm, Dinner 5:00pm – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)
Reserve Online – Tsukada Nojo

When in Tsukada Nojo, you must try their signature dish Bijin Nabe which literally means “beauty hotpot”.

The bijin nabe’s power lies in its broth made from melted collagen. This protein helps rebuild dead cells to recreate a youthful, health glow, hence the moniker “beauty hotpot”.

Tsukada Nojo sources its collagen from the highly-prized Jidori chicken, the counterpart of Wagyu beef and kurouta pork. This pure white protein is transformed into a pudding, which is melted over a stove built into the table until it turns into a cloudy soup. The collagen soup is available in 3 flavours: original, curry and spicy.

Hidden under the collage pudding, you will find barely seasoned fork-tender chicken. You can season it with either shoyu (light soy sauce), leek oil, yuzukosho (a citrusy Japanese spice), or chili layu sauce.

The beauty in bijin nabe goes beyond its health benefits – it extends to how it is presented, with the vegetables arranged in a certain order on top of the steaming broth. The closest thing to the fountain of youth, bijin nabe is both a gustatory and visual delight.

All ingredients are farm-to-table. The collagen and even the side dishes are mainly from local sources in Miyazaki. One of its side dishes is Chicken Nanban, served with tartar sauce made rich with generous portions of diced egg, available in both original and spicy versions.

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
First 10 groups will get dish of Chicken Nanban for FREE.
T&C: Dine in only. First-come, first-served basis.

Hoshino Coffee
Chinatown Point #02-47/48
Tel: +65 6244 2028
Opening Hours: 11.30 am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Hoshino Coffee takes pride in its hand-drip coffees, made with roasted 100% premium Arabica coffee beans. These beans are carefully selected by Hoshino Coffee’s very own coffee blend specialist Master Kanno.

To pair with your coffees, you may order any of their popular soufflé-style pancakes – baked fresh upon order (allot 20 minutes waiting time) and served with whipped butter and your choice of syrup (maple or honey).

Their signature Pancakes Souffle Style is priced $9.80 for single and $12.00 and double. The special matcha variant is at $13.50 for single and $16.80 for double.

Aside the hand-drip coffee and pancakes, Hoshino offers spaghetti with various toppings (its signature is Hoshino Spaghetti with Eggplant, Bacon, Shimeji & Sausage, $14.00), rice dishes (the Fuwa-Fuwa Hoshino Souffle on Porcini Cream Rice with Bacon is a must-try), meat plates (go for the Hoshino Angus Beef Steak Plate, $21.80), and side dishes (Hoshino French Fries with Wasabi Mayo, $6.00).

If not, get a wobbly “Omu” Souffle Curry ($17.80).

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
– $57 set for 2 pax, includes 2 mains, 2 drinks, 1 dessert (Chose any from the menu)
– $77 set for 3 pax, includes 3 mains, 3 drinks. 1 dessert (Chose any from the menu)
– $98 set for 4 pax, includes 4 mains, 4 drinks, 1 dessert (Chose any from the menu)

Rice Hut
Chinatown Point #02-41/42
Tel: +65 6441 3800
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Rice Hut is a new concept by Thai Village Restaurant.

Its signature dish, Braised Abalone Rice, is the expanded version of Abalone Rice, one of the popular dishes from Thai Village Menu. It is a delectable wok-fried rice doused in rich, aromatic superior sauce and chicken broth. Its version of this umami-flavoured sauce combines mushroom, oyster sauce, chicken stock, and other premium ingredients.

Rice Hut’s rice dishes are served with different premium toppings such as braised abalone, prawns, fish maw, grilled eel, chicken cutlet, Wagyu beef, and vegetables.

Try the Braised Fish Maw & Seafood Rice, where the fish maws are carefully prepared to maintain their original flavour and good texture. You can have it with either the Grilled Eel ($16.50) or Wagyu Beef Meal ($24.50).

Other rice dishes highlight the combination of salted egg yolk and fish skin, such as the Salted Egg Yolk Prawn Rice with Fish Skin ($11.50), Creamy Salted Egg Yolk Prawn Rice with Fish Skin ($11.50), and Creamy Salted Egg Yolk Pork Rice + Fish Skin ($12.50)

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
Braised Fish Maw and Seafood Rice with Chicken Cutlet at $9.50. (U.P $11.50)

Peach Garden
Chinatown Point #02-36
Tel: +65 6702 0603
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 10:30 pm (Mon – Fri), 10:30 am – 10:30pm (Sat, Sun, PH), Last Order 9:30pm

The Peach Garden restaurants specialize in Cantonese cuisine, serving valued diners a scrumptious range of traditional classics and innovative modern creations.

You should captivated by the charming ambiance at the Peach Garden in Chinatown Point. Dine here and savour your favourite Cantonese dishes in a relaxing pace.

Its signature dish is the two-some Crisp-Fried Prawn with Wasabi Salad Cream + Crisp-Fried Prawn with Salted Egg Yolk ($26.00, small). Order this and you get the best of both worlds: crunchy, plump prawns are coated in 2 popular sauces: a vibrant wasabi salad cream sauce and a creamy salted egg yolk sauce.

The Double-Boiled Shark’s Bone Cartilage Soup with Fish Maw ($26.00 per person) is another signature dish you shouldn’t miss.

Other house specials include Fried Carrot Cake with X.O Chili Sauce ($12.00) and Stewed Fish Paste Noodle with Diced Seafood and Minced Meat Sauce ($24.00, small).

End your meal on a sweet note with Chilled Jelly Royale in Young Coconut ($8.80).

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
Lobster Steak Noodle Burger Deluxe Set @ $50++ (UOB Cards: $38++), which includes lobster Steak Noodle Burger, Signature Double-boiled Shark’s Bone Cartilage Soup with Fish Maw accompanied with Roasted Crispy London Duck.

China Classic
Chinatown Point #01-41/42
Tel: +65 6262 1717
Opening Hours: Lunch & High Tea 11am – 5pm, Dinner 6pm-10pm (Mon – Fri),
Lunch & High Tea 10am – 5pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

China Classic aims to showcase the best taste of Cantonese cuisine, extracting the most original flavours out of the freshest ingredients.

Using a wide repertoire of cooking methods – including double-boiling, simmering, poaching, steaming, braising, sautéing, stir-frying and deep-frying – the chefs are able to create dishes with flavours that are well-balanced and never too greasy.

Signature dishes include the Doubled-boiled Fish Maw with Herbal in Shark’s Bone Soup ($28.80/person), Sautéed Live Crab with Chili Sauce Singapore Style (Seasonal Price), and Deep-fried Prawn coated with Mayonnaise served with Dragon Fruit ($22.80, regular).

For dim sum, try their Baked Honey BBQ Pork Pastry ($5.80 for 3 pcs) or the Deep-fried Curry Taro Puff with Scallop ($5.80 per 3 pcs)

If you can’t pick and want a sampler dish, order the Roasted BBQ Trio Combination ($28.80, regular) which features a medley of Roasted Crispy Pork, Honey BBQ Pork, and Soya Sauce Chicken.

When you visit, don’t leave without trying their Rice with Scallop, Spinach & Egg White ($18.80, regular), exclusively available in China Classic. The rice is wrapped with spinach sauce, adding a certain aroma to the dish. It’s stir-fried in a wok, adding the scallop and the egg white towards the end of the cooking process.

A venue for group meals with family and friends who love classic Cantonese cuisine.

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
Complementary one can of Abalone, for purchase of Dinner Set Menu for 8 and 10 person, at $498 onwards.

Menya Musashi
Chinatown Point #02-43/44
Tel: +65 6244 0081
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Menya Musashi is one of the most popular ramen shops credited as the pioneer of a new ramen culture in Japan. It is named after the legendary Edo-era samurai Miyamoto Musashi, who was famed for his distinctive “double sword style”.

What makes its ramen special is their broth that uniquely combines chicken, pork and bonito and boiled for more than 9 hours, stirred every 30 minutes.

That is the deep aromatic savoury rich broth used as base for 3 types of ramen: White, Black, and Red. White is the classic ramen, a hearty bowl of springy noodles in a thick and rich tonkatsu broth. Black includes garlic and onions, while Red is the spicy broth.

Signature dishes include Ippon Yakibuta Ramen ($19.90) topped with braised pork that’s so tender and juicy customers love it, and the Cha Shu Ramen ($10.90) which includes chasu a.k.a. nibuta or pork simmered in soy sauce, sake and sugar at a low temperature.

They have also just launched a Singapore-exclusive Chilli Crab Ramen topped with soft-shell crab tempura poured over with sweet and slightly spicy sauce.

Should you decide to skip the ramen, go for The Original Hamburg Steak Set ($13.90), served with sweet corn and comes with a bowl of soup, rice, and gravy.

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
Chili Crab Ramen + Gyoza (4pcs) + Drink + Houji Tea Pudding with Azuki Sauce at $20+.

Soon Huat Dining House
Chinatown Point #02-38
Tel: +65 6677 6286
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Soon Huat Dining House is founded by Jabez Tan, an ex-offender-turned-chef who learned how to cook while in Changi prison serving his last term.

He then developed and perfected his recipe of Bak Kut Teh, a luxurious soup that combines the best of Malaysian and Singaporean styles.

The dish uses high quality pork ribs tenderly simmered in a complex broth, layered with tastes of herbs, spices, golden mushrooms and tow kee.

Other recommended items include Bak Kut Teh Soup ($7.90), Dried Bak Kut Teh ($8.90), Seafood White Mee Hoon ($9.90), and Curry/Assam Fish Head (promotion price $19.90, U.P. $26.90).

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
Bak Kut Teh Soup, Dough Fritters, Rice and Drink at $9.90+ (U.P. $13.50+).

Chicken Hotpot
Chinatown Point #01-44
Tel: +65 6443 0978
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun), Last Order 9:15pm (Mon – Thurs) & 9:30pm (Fri – Sun)

Chicken Hotpot is a casual hot pot concept that originated from Shanghai in 69 Wujiang Road and franchised by Chicken Hot Pot Shanghai.

It is known for their unique concept of hot pot cum steamboat, using only the finest ingredients in all of their recipes.

What’s special in this restaurant is the versatility of its hot pot. Diners can savour both the original flavour of the hot pot and turning it into steamboat. For instance, you can start with a Szechuan-style flavoured pot and savour it all you want.

Or later on, should you prefer, you can change it into a soup base (simple add their free-flow soup) and then add a variety of meat/vegetables into their pots as steamboat add-ons.

Essentially you get two flavours in one pot.

The signature hotpot, Chicken Hotpot, is available in 3 sizes (small, medium, large) and 3 levels of spiciness (non-spicy, mild-spicy, spicy). It includes tender bone-in chicken and you can add as many fresh vegetables and additional meats as you like.

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
– Family Set at $68++, includes Chicken Hotpot (L) + Shrimp Hotpot (L) OR Fish in a Pot (L) + 4x Cold Drinks (Choice of Lime Juice/Fruit Punch/ Barley)
– Couple Set at $38++, includes Chicken Hotpot (S) + Shrimp Hotpot (S) OR Fish in a Pot (S) + 2x Cold Drinks (Choice of Lime Juice/ Fruit Punch/ Barley)
– T&C: Other discount or promotions cannot be used together with the Set Menu.

BBQ Hyang Yeon Korean Restaurant
Chinatown Point #02-35
Tel: +65 6694 9566
Opening Hours: Lunch 11.30am – 3pm, Dinner 5.30pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri)
Lunch 11.30am – 3pm, 5pm -10pm (Sat – Sun)

BBQ Hyang Yeon is known to serve some of the best Korean cuisine in Singapore. Its extensive collection of well-loved dishes from Beef Short Ribs to Sirloin reflects the restaurant’s effort to cater to every palate.

The food and service is suitable for families, large groups, and catching up with friends and colleagues.

As its name suggests, BBQ Hyang Yeon specializes in BBQ, Korean style. Their BBQ Buffet covers appetisers, free-flow meats, premium meats/seafood and comes with free stew. On weekdays, the buffet is available for $32++/adult and during weekends and public holidays it’s priced a bit higher at $35++. Kids get a special rate of $19++.

Aside from the BBQ buffet, it features the Yeongyang-dolsot-bap Set (Nutritious Hot Stone Pot Rice Set), a traditional Korean nutritious rice dish. What makes this so flavourful are the more than 10 ingredients that go with it, including chestnuts, mushroom, jujube, walnut and ginkgo nut.

A popular way of enjoying this dish it to scrape the crusted rice and make it into a nurungji, a fragrant crusted rice porridge, in the hot stone pot.

With this set, you can pick from various appetizers such as Seafood Pancake, Kimchi Pancake or Steam Egg, marinated BBQ dishes or grilled fish (Gulbi Gui or Mackerel), and hot piping stew or soup that are perfect match with the nutritious stone rice.

Plus, you get a complimentary unlimited trip to the fresh salad bar.

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
Yeongyang-dolsot-bap Set (Nutritious Hot Stone Pot Rice Set) for 2pax priced at $58.

Nanbantei Japanese Restaurant
Chinatown Point #02-40
Tel: +65 6443 5659
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:45am – 2:30pm Last Order 2:15pm, Dinner 5:45pm – 10:00pm Last Order 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

In business since 1983, Nanbantei is one of the longest-standing and possibly first Japanese yakitori restaurants around. Its core menu, while rooted in tradition, constantly changes with the season or the availability of unusual ingredients from Japan.

The simple art of yakitori cooking uses fresh ingredients grilled over flaming charcoals. The meat is seasoned with sea salt, while the special charcoals are imported from Japan. These give the yakitori its distinctive taste and texture, nicely charred on the outside while still retaining its flavourful juices.

Nanbantei offers a wide array of yakitori (a la carte 2 sticks) from skewered meats to seafood and vegetables.

Popular meats include negina (chicken with leek), tsukune (chicken meatballs), tebasaki (chicken wings), bonjuri (chicken buttocks), shiso maki (pork with shiso leaf), butabara yuzukosho (pork belly with yuzu citrus paste), wagyu maki (wagyu beef with salt & pepper), lamb yaki (lamb chop).

Aside from a la carte yakitori, Nanbantei also offers sashimi, sushi, hot pots, fried dishes, rice and noodles, desserts, course menus, and dinner sets.

Bento sets are also available. For rice bowl lovers, a popular choice is the Truffle Kurobuta Don トリュフ黒豚丼 of charcoal grilled black Iberico pork slices, onsen tamago and black truffle oil and paste over rice.

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
– Truffle Kurobuta Don (Charcoal grilled black lberico pork slices with onsen egg and black truffle oil & paste over rice.) Ala-carte at $19.20, Set meal at $26.20 (comes with assorted tempura).
T&C: Dine in only. Price quoted are subjected to 10% Service Charge & 7% GST.

Lotus Kitchen
Chinatown Point #01-01/02
Tel: +65 6538 1068
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Lotus Kitchen is a spinoff of the famous Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant that offers contemporary Chinese and local favourites with an innovative twist. The concept takes vegetarian dishes to new heights with natural premium ingredients.

Its menu features best-selling mainstays of its predecessor (such as the Double Boiled Tian Ma Soup and Crispy Soya Wrap with Passionfruit), as well as new creations by owner Ms Lee.

With modern minimalist interiors to match its contemporary philosophy in cuisine, the place is almost serene. The ambiance is cosy, attracting families and the younger market to unwind and dine in a laid-back manner.

What’s interesting here is the use of premium ingredients any non-vegetarian may not have heard before, but any gourmand would love to discover and taste. These ingredients, which are all natural, include lion’s mane mushrooms, agaricus blazei mushroom, tian ma, cordyceps flower, burdock and sugarcane sprout from Taiwan. All these and more provide a different spectrum of flavours and textures.

Discover the flavours of its best-selling signature dish Braised Mushroom in Hot Stone Pot ($18.80), It uses two types of mushrooms (lion’s mane and shiitake), combined with bamboo shoots stir-fried in ginger and chili. The basil leaves on the stone pot intermingle with these vegetables, their fragrance released to further enhance the dish.

Even if you are not a vegetarian, you may change your mind once you try Lotus Kitchen.

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
– Merry Lotus Kitchen Night Promotion: Dinner Set for 2 at $58 (U.P $80)
Set includes Starter, Soup, Main, Vegetable, Noodles or Rice and Dessert.
– Dinner Set for 4 – $128 (U.P $180)
Set includes Starter, Soup, Main, Vegetable, Local Delight, Noodles or Rice and Dessert.
T&C: Dine in only. Price quoted are subjected to 10% Service Charge and 7% GST.

Segar Restaurant
Chinatown Point #B2-39/40/41
Tel: +65 64441778
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Segar Restaurant is a zhi-char style establishment that serves Halal Chinese food.

Its menu basically revolves around zhi-char favourites and a small selection of desserts. If you love spicy food, then a visit to Segar Restaurant is a must. You can treat your taste buds to some of Singapore’s favourite and most-loved delicacies.

There is something for everyone here, as the extensive menu aims to cater to a wide range of palates.

The Curry Fish Head is a long-time bestseller at this dining destination. The curry gravy is wonderfully thick with an aroma that is a home run for curry lovers. The red snapper is fresh and its meat tender to the bite. Not scrimping on ingredients, the not overly-spicy dish is cooked with many vegetables such as brinjal and lady’s finger.

Other must-try dishes include the Prawn Paste Chicken which is juicy served with crispy bits, Creamy Lemon Sauce Prawns, Segar Claypot Golden Chicken, Steamed Tapioca, Sambal Kang Kong, Salted Egg Prawns, Tom Yum Seafood Food, Pandan Leaf Chicken, and Hong Kong Hor Fun.

This place is highly recommended for families, large groups, or catching up with friends and colleagues.

Chinatown Point Dinner Promotion
Dinner set for 4-6 pax at $118+ only.
Set includes Thai-sauce Crispy Seabass, Creamy Lemon Sauce Prawns (12pcs), Sichuan Sour Spicy Soup, Broccoli w/ Garlic, Golden Fried Rice and Prawn Paste Chicken (12pcs).
T&C: Price quoted subject to 7% GST

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Chinatown Point.

The post Chinatown Point Food Guide – 15 Restaurants & Cafes With The Ultimate Dinner Dining Promotions appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Michelin Guide has announced its awardees for Thailand, with 26 restaurants in Bangkok, and 1 in Phuket awarded with stars.

There are little surprises this year. As usual.

No restaurant has been given the coveted 3 stars; while 4 restaurants – Gaggan, Le Normandie, Mezzaluna and Restaurant Sühring awarded 2 stars.

Sühring moved up the ranks with one additional star this year.

The only Michelin-starred street food eatery from Thailand, Jay Fai known for its Drunken Noodles and Crab Omelette, retains its one star.

The 10 NEW restaurants with 1-star include Canvas, Gaa, Le Du, Methavalai Sorndaeng, PRU, R-Haan, Ruean Panya, Saawaan, Sorn and Suan Thip.

Gaggan by Chef Gaggan Anand awarded 2 Michelin stars again.

Restaurant Suhring, by twin chefs Mathias and Thomas Sühring, gets one more star this year.

Two Michelin Stars
– Gaggan (Innovative, Pathum Wan)
– Le Normandie (French contemporary, Bang Rak)
– Mezzaluna (Innovative, Bang Rak)
– Sühring (European contemporary, Yan Nawa) (Up from One Star)

Drunken Noodles from Jay Fai. Waiting time can be a few hours long after the awards.

Signature dish of Pomelo Salad of Char-Grilled Carabineros Asian Prawns from Paste, by Chef Bee Satongun.

One Michelin Star
– Bo.lan (Thai, Vadhana)
– Canvas (Innovative) (New)
– Chim by Siam Wisdom (Thai, Vadhana)
– Elements (French contemporary, Pathum Wan)
– Gaa (Innovative) (New)
– Ginza Sushi Ichi (Sushi, Pathum Wan)
– Jay Fai (Thai)
– J’AIME by Jean Michel Lorain (French contemporary, Sathon)
– L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (French contemporary, Bang Rak)
– Le Du (Thai Contemporary) (New)
– Methavalai Sorndaeng (Thai) (New)
– Nahm (Thai, Sathon)
– Paste (Thai, Pathum Wan)
– PRU (Innovative, Phuket) (New)
– R-Haan (Thai) (New)
– Ruean Panya (Thai) (New)
– Saneh Jaan (Thai, Pathum Wan)
– Saawaan (Thai Contemporary) (New)
– Sorn (Southern Thai) (New)
– Suan Thip (Thai) (New)
– Savelberg (French contemporary, Pathum Wan)
– Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin (Thai, Pathum Wan)
– Upstairs at Mikkeller (Innovative)

(Click PLAY for highlights of 1 Michelin Star Bangkok Street Hawker, Jay Fai.)

Click HERE for other BANGKOK 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. Photos partly provided by Gavin Chan @gavinchan

The post Michelin Guide Bangkok, Phuket and Phang-nga 2019 – Gaggan, Le Normandie, Mezzaluna and Sühring Get 2 Stars appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.