You may not have imagined that there is a cake café hidden in stretch of shophouses, flanked by zi char and steamboat restaurants.

Voyage Patisserie is located along Outram Road, in between my favourite Crab Beehoon place of Long Ji Zi Char and Tiong Bahru Pau. (So while the address is Outram Road, it is actually not that far a walk from the Tiong Bahru hipster area.)

And if you have sudden cake cravings late at night, the patisserie is opened till 12am from Fridays to Sundays.

When you talk about cakes, some of my favourite places to get them continue to be Mad About Sucre (Teo Hong Road), Antoinette (Penhas Road), A Summer In Paris (Vivocity), and Keong Saik Bakery (Keong Saik Road).

I visited the café anonymously and spotted a familiar looking face – I remember Chef Jonathan who was previously from the now-defunct OCF at The Arts House.

With years of experience at several fine dining restaurants, Chef Jonathan hopes to present quality plated desserts and cakes to people without having them to worry about the cost.

The name “Voyage” represents both his passion for travelling, and for customers to “journey” through a delectable food experience with the team.

The signature cake is the Cynthia ($9), a petite gateau featuring rose chantilly cream, lychee bits, raspberry compote and genoise sponge shaped like a rose.

Interesting note: Chef created and named this cake after his girlfriend, as it is the first “rose” that he has given to her. So sweet…

The good-looker looks like a shoo-in to the best-seller of the café.

While I thought that the texture was beautifully soft, I wished that it was slightly less sweet, and also with a stronger perfumed whiff of the rose element.

The other cake which I preferred was the Louis XV ($9.00), of bitter chocolate mousse, praline feuilletine and hazelnut dacquoise.

For chocolate lovers, I think the balance between being sweet and bitter, and the texture was done quite right.

The other recommended cakes include the Sphere Rouge ($15) – homemade rose cream and raspberry sorbet enclosed in a red chocolate sphere accompanied by drizzles of warm raspberry sauce; and Apple Mille-Feuille – ($14) – a twist on the traditional French mille-feuille made from layers of thinly sliced Granny Smith apple served with apple genoise, caramel cream and homemade Tahitian vanilla ice cream.

The coffee though, was unfortunately not its strongest area.

Some of my friends returned and tried a variety of different cakes, coming back with mixed reviews. So I reckon give them some time to settle in, and fine-tune some of their weaker links.

Voyage Patisserie
249 Outram Road Singapore 169048
Tel: +65 6223 2490
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Tue – Thu), 10am – 1am (Fri – Sun), Closed Mon

Other Related Entries
Mad About Sucre (Teo Hong Road)
Antoinette (Penhas Road)
A Summer In Paris (Vivocity)
Keong Saik Bakery (Keong Saik Road)
Sugar Thieves (Kreta Ayer Road)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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It was only when I visited Nam Sing Hokkien Mee at the back of Old Airport Road Food Centre, then I realised a long queue forming at Ru Ji Kitchen.

The Singaporean in me (with a bit of extra time) went to join the line, and left fully satisfied with serving Fishball Noodles warm in my belly.

Ru Ji Kitchen first started at Holland Drive, Blk 44 #02-28, and now 3 other outlets in Singapore – Old Airport Rd, Blk 51 #01-37, Redhill Lane, Blk 85 #01-25, and Toa Payoh Lor 7, Blk 22 #01-58.

I read that there are quite differing qualities among the 4 stalls; and I tried both the original Holland Drive and Old Airport Road outlets.

The Holland Drive outlet is listed in the Singapore Michelin Plate guide.

The stalls at Holland Drive is helmed by Uncle David Ng; while his daughter Joanne runs the Old Airport Road branch.

@ieatishootipost wrote that Mr Ng learnt his skills from his brother who is a fish ball noodle-seller at Ghim Moh Food Centre (which got me curious at how all these famous fishball stalls are related).

You get many Fishball Noodles in Singapore, but not many serve hand-made fishballs and fishcakes anymore, with (no-offence to the factories) many serving generic-tasting ones. (So Stall A, Stall B and Stall C not much difference, especially when even the noodle supplier is from the same few places.)

Ru Ji’s Fishball Noodle ($3.00, $4.00, $5.00) features these popular hand-made fishballs and fishcake in a light, clear broth, with dry mee pok or mee kia served separately with sambal chili, crisp pork lard, sprinkled with chopped spring onions.

Given the choice, I say go for the mee pok which was cooked just right with a delicious you can say al-dente bite.

Springy, and neither too dry nor too soft.

If you are not up to too much spice, order ”少辣” (Shao La, less chilli) so that the spicy, savoury sauce at the bottom of the noodles are just enough to coat the noodles once mixed.

The pork lard also provides that pleasant crunch.

Ordered the “normal” before and found that the chilli sauce overpowered everything else.

Being freshly made, the fishballs and fishcake are of great quality.

The famed fishballs begin as a beaten mixture of fish paste, using only pure fish meat with no flour extenders added.

They were imperfectly shaped (ah, good old hand-made ones), bouncy, juicy, and reminded me of the old-school childhood taste. (A Taiwanese TV host would have went, “怎麼這麼有彈性，這麼Q啊？”)

Tip: You can also order Meatballs for additional $1 for 2.

Over at Ru Ji Kitchen Holland Drive, take note there are two long lines – the one on the left sells Fishball Noodles, the other Bak Chor Mee.

Ru Ji Kitchen – Holland Drive
44 Holland Drive #02-28/29, Singapore 270044
Tel: +65 9435 0820
Opening Hours: 7am – 1pm (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon

Ru Ji Kitchen – Old Airport Road
Old Airport Road Food Centre #01-37, 51 Old Airport Road, Singapore 390051
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 2pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Other Related Entries
A Noodle Story (Amoy Street Food Centre)
Fishball Story (Geylang)
Song Kee Fishball Noodles (Upper Thomson)
Song Kee (Tembeling Road)
Fresh Taste Big Prawn Noodle (Zion Road)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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[Gurgaon, India] If you look at the big picture, Hawker Street is nothing more than an open-air food court.

However, it comes with a selection of some unique and new outlets in addition to an ambience that works wonderfully with Delhi winters.

Hawker Street is the place to be for a quick, relatively cheap, and tasty bite of food.

All the outlets at Hawker Street are in ship containers, giving it an exclusive appeal. It is similar to a line-up of food-trucks, only immobile.

Situated outside Gate No. 5 of the Ambience Mall, the atmosphere at Hawker Street is very much picnic like with the evenings giving out a semi-romantic vibe thanks to twinkling lights hanging all around.

There is a separate covered area for rainy days. Outdoor heaters are placed at regular intervals to keep diners warm. It’s perfect for a college date or a night out with the family.

With around 20 stalls in total, including some makeshift ones, depending on the time and day you visit, some are closed for business.

Nevertheless, these following 10 restaurants provide a nice variety of food that is sure to satisfy the most ardent of food lovers.

Game of Grills
The owners of the Malayali-Arabian food selling Game of Grills must be real fans of Game of Thrones to name their business after it.

There are Funko Pop figurines from the show at the cash register to welcome guests, and the restaurant boasts that their chicken, fish, mutton and seafood are fresh, anti-biotic, organic and halal.

Although there is a nice selection of Arabian and South Indian dishes on offer, I went ahead with the classic Chicken Shawarma Roll (Rs 199, SGD3.75). The bread, warmed over a coal grill, was soft, and the shawarma had a lovely cook on it from being on the rotisserie.

Delicious and a good quantity of filling make this a must eat.

Live Wok
A lot is going on at Live Wok that serves Pan-Asian cuisine through its shutters. There’s sushi, soups, dim sums, and a wide variety of starters and main course dishes ranging from noodles to Thai curries.

I do believe that they can get away with cutting down quite a few items off their menu. How they handle all this from such a small kitchen is beyond me.

Having said that, the Tofu Mix Veg (Rs 395, SGD7.50) was tasty. Although, a few more tofu chunks would have made it better.

Kathi Nation
I’ve grown eating kathi rolls. Often a part of school lunches, a good kathi can bring back some beautiful memories.

Kathi Nation captures nostalgia with their Paneer Tikka Roomali Roll (Rs 129, SGD2.45) that has large chunks of well-marinated paneer in it.

For the adventurous eaters, they also have noodles and pizza rolls. But I’m old-school and would personally avoid those.

The Salad Story
The biggest revelation for me at Hawker Street was The Salad Story.

I do enjoy a good salad, but would I go to a speciality salad shop for dinner? I will, from now onwards.

The Salad Story serves a range of healthy vegetarian and non-vegetarian salads, wraps, and meals. The ingredients are quite diverse and feature quinoa, beetroot, noodles, and a few comfort additions like bacon and cheese.

Now, their Asian Vegetable Salad (Rs 275, SGD5.25) might sound ordinary but came with a delightful array of well-cooked vegetables and crispy rice noodles. Lots of texture and a nice zing to it all.

Best of all, even though there is a very casual laid-back aura to Hawker Street, the food was presented nicely, on non-plastic plates.

Frozen Bottle
The craze for milkshakes is at an all-time high in the country. The famous Keventers brought about the trend of takeaway glass bottles, now being followed by other brands.

Frozen Bottle is the same, offering a mix of unique flavours bottled up to drink at your leisure. In addition to this, they also have waffles and ice-cream jars.

The Kesar Badam Shake (Rs 132, SGD2.50) at Frozen Bottle was spot-on in terms of flavours, but the Nutella Kit Kat Fashion waffle was nothing to write home about.

Moets Curry Leaf
Moets has a culinary legacy in Delhi that is hard to replicate.

Their outlet at Hawker Street captures the essence of the legendary restaurant and serves up some delicious North Indian food.

The Non-vegetarian Kebab Sampler (Rs 395, SGD7.50) has fish tikka, chicken tikka, and mutton seekh along with dal makhani and naan.

I don’t have any qualms in saying that this is the ultimate comfort food done perfectly.

The Belgian Fries Co.
Surprisingly, it was the burgers from The Belgian Fries Co. that impressed me more than their fires.

Consisting of a variety of burgers, waffles, dips, and loaded fries, the menu plays around with different tastes but keeps the essential ingredients the same.

The staff is amicable and helped me with menu selection based on my preferences.

The Veggie Delight Burger (Rs 89, SGD1.70) turned out to be enjoyable with a nice crunch from the single patty. Customers can opt for an extra patty at an added price.

The fries though were run-of-the-mill, but maybe one of their specials like the loaded Bacon and Cheese fries would be more indulging?

Wow! Momo
No Delhi winter is complete without a few rounds of momos, even if they are not part of your regular diet.

Wow! Momo has a variety of options consisting of unique offerings like the tandoori and sizzler momos.

In a slightly adventurous mood, I went ahead with their latest experiment, the Butter Chicken Tandoori Momo (Rs 255, SGD4.85).

I don’t believe fusion food can get any weirder than this, but surprisingly the gravy was rich and creamy and quite impressive, as was the texture of the momos in it.

Kaffa Cerrado
Artisanal coffee is the latest trend not just in India, but across the world. Sadly, Kaffa Cerrado failed to impress.

To begin with, their font is so confusing that it took me a while to figure out their name.

Then, after all the fuss created around the type of coffees they offer and the blends, their Cold Kaffacino (Rs 210, SGD4.00) was fairly basic.

I do acknowledge that it is supposed to be a “traditional cold coffee”, but I also expect it to be better than what I can make at home.

Chai Point
A meal, out in the open, during the highpoint of Delhi’s winter must end with a hot cup of tea. It is as simple as that.

Chai Point is among the many “tea shops” that have sprung up lately, each one looking similar to some extent.

The outlet at Hawker Street serves some basic eats like Maggi and poha to accompany the chai, but in the end, it is the tea itself that comforts the soul.

Chai Point’s garma-garam (hot) Classic Milk Tea (Rs 55, SGD1.05) was faultless.

Simple execution, done right.

In the end, that is all I need to leave Hawker Street with a smile on my face.

Hawker Street, Gurgaon
Ambience Mall, Ground Floor, Near Gate No. 5
Opening Hours: 12:00pm – 11:30pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/ hawkerstreetindiaGoogle Maps

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.

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[Hong Kong] There are only a handful of places in Hong Kong that still maintain the push-cart style of serving dim sum, and Lin Heung Kui 蓮香居 is one of them.

This is not to be confused with Lin Heung Tea House 蓮香樓 – which was threatened with closure recently but managed to renew their lease at the last minute.

A forgivable mistake since the names are so similar, and both are located in the Central/Sheung Wan area.

An interesting thing to not is that Lin Heung Kui is actually awarded with a Michelin Bib Gourmand, despite being the newer outlet.

The first time I visited Hong Kong as a tourist, I envisioned myself having piping hot dim sum from push trolleys, an experience right out of a Lonely Planet guidebook.

However, it was not to be, since these trolley-style dim sums are apparently a dying art.

The main dining hall is located on the second floor, with a flow-over floor on the third.

I took the lift up to the third floor to have a look and it was a much more subdued environment.

Looking for the authentic “yum cha” experience, I headed back down to the bustling second floor which was full of hungry patrons waiting on the next trolley to come by their table.

Unlike the usual dim sum restaurants that have a menu for you to tick off what you want, at Lin Heung Kui, little old ladies in trolleys are serving the dim sum here.

So it is really a game of chance what is being served out from the kitchen.

If you cannot understand Cantonese, it will be tricky since the servers are shouting out what’s available but that makes the experience authentic.

The first trolley that whirled by had the Leaf Wrapped Glutinous Rice (HKD30, SGD5.20), which I quickly grabbed.

The sticky glutinous rice was flavourful and filled with nice bits of chicken and mushroom.

My friend chased down (yes, chased) a plate of Steamed Rice Flour Roll With Prawn (HKD32, SGD5.60).

Alas, the hesitant-us took too long trying to decide, and the trolley has passed us by.

And so, the rice roll was on the thicker side, quite average tasting.

I also tried the Steamed Beancurd Sheet Roll With Meat and Vegetable Stuffing (HKD30, SGD5.20), which was really good.

Then an interesting trolley came by which had an attached pan for frying the Radish Cake and Taro Cake on the go.

First you let the lady know which item you would like and she would pan fry a plate of them for you.

I ordered the classic Radish Cake (HKD26, SGD4.50), which was not too starchy and nicely done with the texture of shredded radish in every bite.

Service here was nice (surprisingly!), with friendly trolley ladies who gladly slowed down to accommodate you if you can’t quite figure out what’s being served.

Basically, expect a very spontaneous dining experience here since you have to “go with the flow”.

Do decide on your food choices quickly since it is kind of hard to know what’s going to be served.

Compared with Lin Heung Tea House 蓮香樓, which has a reputation for “dim sum death match” whereby you have to fight for your dim sum, Lin Heung Kui is a milder, friendly version.

Definitely a recommended local experience if you would like to try authentic dim sum without getting into a brawl.

Lin Heung Kui 蓮香居
2/3F 46-50 Des Voeux Rd West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong (Sai Ying Pun MTR Exit A2)
上環德輔道西46-50號2-3樓
Tel: +852 2156 9328
Opening Hours: 6:00am – 11:00pm (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps – Lin Heung Kui

Other Related Entries
Lin Heung Tea House 蓮香樓 (Central, Hong Kong)
One Dim Sum 一點心 (Prince Edward, Hong Kong)
Famous Dim Sum 名點心 (Prince Edward, Hong Kong)
Dim Dim Sum 點點心 (Mongkok, Hong Kong)
Tim Ho Wan 添好運 (Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong)

Click HERE for other HONG KONG Food Entries

* Written by DFD’s Hong Kong Correspondent @kara_the_explorer, who is the Singaporean “tai tai” living the foodie dream in Hong Kong. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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The thing about Pancakes, especially Japanese Souffle Pancake, are that Singaporeans have little patience to wait for them.

Well, some are worth the wait, but not all are.

Looking at the trend of 2019, you do not need a crystal ball to know that more pancake places are opening up in Singapore. Here are 12 Pancakes Places in Singapore, in case you are searching for these sweet treats to ease your soul. Bye bye, diet plans.

Belle-Ville Pancake Café – Tanjong Pagar
100AM Mall 01-14b, 100 Tras Street, Singapore 079027
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 9pm Last Order 8.30pm (Mon – Sun)

Belle-Ville Pancake Cafe – Bugis
Bugis Junction #01-01B, Towers 230 Victoria Street Singapore 188024
Tel: +65 6255 5456
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

The pancake café is known for its meringue made-to-order mille-feuille (French for “thousand layers”) pancakes, included with homemade whipped Hokkaido cream, stacked from 2 to 8 layers.

Offerings include Strawberry and Mixed Berry Pancake, Mango Pancake, Grilled Apple with Homemade Caramel Pancake, Matcha with Rice Ball and Red Bean Pancake, and Chocolate with Grilled Banana Pancake, priced from $11.90 to $16.20.

What makes their pancakes so fluffy include the usage of fresh milk, and they are made fresh-to-order.

I had the Chocolate and Grilled Banana Pancakes ($12.20 for 4 pieces, $16.20 for 8 pieces), topped with light torched bananas and chocolate sauce.

Great stuff, fluffy with a molten (half-cooked centre). However, take note of the long waiting times which can train your patience. Belle-Ville Pancake Cafe

Riz Labo Kitchen – Singapore
Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, Japan Food Town, 04-49, 435 Orchard Road Singapore 238877 (at Bar Nippon)
Opening Hours: 11am – 5pm (Mon – Sun)

Riz Labo Kitchen from Omotesando Tokyo has opened at Japan Food Town Wisma Atria.

Not for long though, as this is a pop-up concept, 11am till 5pm daily. Darn for those working.

The menu is very concise, with only 4 pancakes available: Plain ($15), Matcha ($18), Premium Chocolate ($18) and a limited edition (only 10 per day) Strawberry Berry Ice-cream Kawaii Riz Labo Style ($20).

Unlike other pancakes, Japanese do it quite differently with a jiggly (cue Boomerang moment), fluffy, melt-in-the-mouth texture.

A distinguishing factor for Riz Labo Kitchen’s pancakes is that they are gluten free using self-cultivated rice flour (instead of wheat flour), light brown sugar, organic soy milk and rice oil.

While I generally enjoyed the pancakes, can’t say the same about its service. Opps. Riz Labo Kitchen Singapore (Wisma Atria)

Clinton Street Baking Company & Restaurant
31 Purvis Street Singapore 188608 (in between City Hall and Bugis MRT)
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 6:00pm (Mon – Thu), 8:00am – 9:00pm (Fri & Sat), 8:00am – 6:00pm (Sun)
Last Orders 30mins before closing

The choice here is the Clinton St’s famed Pancakes with warm maple butter ($18), being voted “Best In the City” twice by New York Magazine.

True to its reputation, the pancakes were fluffy and fat, topped with wild blueberries, banana walnut or chocolate chunk toppings, which you can drizzle over with awesome homemade maple butter.

Soft, airy, and perfect to its texture that could bring you to pancake paradise. This portion was huge for a table of 4 us, and you should get some other pals to share those calories.

Something to know: The warm maple butter is made with just 2 quality ingredients – 100% pure organic Grade ‘A’ dark maple syrup directly imported from a North American farm and unsalted butter made from 100% fresh cream from free-range cows. Clinton St Baking Company & Restaurant (Purvis St)

Eggs N’ Things
Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road, #03-79/83 Singapore 238839 (Dhoby Ghaut MRT)
Tel: +65 6835 9988
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm, Last order at 9pm (Mon – Sun)

The recommended dessert is the Pancakes with fresh strawberries, whipped cream and macadamia nuts ($19.90).

The iconic whipped cream was extremely smooth, light and delicately sweet, topped on fluffy buttermilk pancakes. Best whipped cream I had in a while.

Those who are taking photos, take note that the hill of cream would melt within a minute or two.

Each plate contained 5 pieces of pancakes, in which you could drizzle sauces of grava, coconut (my favourite) or maple, and I already felt guilty after having 1 and a half. The table of 3 Japanese ladies next to me with chuckles of ”oishii…”, kept to sharing 2 pieces.

Thankfully, these pancakes were much better than many mediocre ones in Singapore, though the cafe is surprisingly quiet compared to its Japanese counterpart. Eggs N’ Things (Plaza Singapura)

Atlas Coffeehouse
6 Duke’s Road, Singapore 268886 (Botanic Gardens MRT)
Opening Hours: 8am – 7pm (Tue-Sun), Closed Mon

The ATLAS Butterscotch Banana Pancake ($18) was freshly made upon ordering, and that required a minimum 20 minutes wait.

Reminding us of some other ricotta hotcakes served in other hipster cafes, this came topped with caramelised bananas, housemade Butterscotch & Honeycomb ice cream.

A whiff of buttery fragrance emerged as we sliced through this atas pancake.

Texture and taste wise, reminded us of a light and moist banana cake. Atlas Coffeehouse (Duke’s Road)

Paddy Hills
38 South Buona Vista Road, Singapore 118164 (10-15 min walk from Haw Par Villa MRT)
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 5pm, 6pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 5pm, 6pm – 9:30pm (Sat-Sun)

The Orange Ricotta Pillows ($18) was completely orange and we still remember the Red Velvet Pancakes from Pacamara which were completely red.

Instagram-worthy checked.

Despite looking thick and chunky, the consistency and texture were actually quite well done, with a touch of citrusy with orange peels within. Orange pancake paired with coconut ice cream was also a very workable combination. Paddy HIlls (South Buona Vista Road)

Kyushu Pancake Singapore
275 Thomson Road Novena Regency #01-08 Singapore 307645
Tel: +65 6352 6265
Opening Hours: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

The popular Kyushu Pancake is known for their pancakes made with a proprietary flour base, combined with fresh fruits and dairy products. ‘Healthier’ pancakes?

The Kyushu Pancake Mix is made from 7 different finely selected grains, 100% homegrown in Kyushu Japan, free of emulsifier, artificial fragrance, additives or processed starch.

The fresh cream was light (and didn’t make me feel fat), the pancakes were ‘Asian’-tasting and less buttery, more doughy and grainy, and not entirely super sweet. So it was a more guilt-free dessert. Kyushu Pancake (Novena)

Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters
185 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574333 (corner shophouse opp Shell station)
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Pacamara’s Red Velvet Pancakes ($16) served with mascarpone and fresh berries. Slightly inconsistent in textures, sometimes fluffy, sometimes more doughy and dry. Jelat.

Think I should try the Lemongrass or Stick Date versions the next time. Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters (Upper Thomson)

Dutch Baby Café
The Paragon, B1-13, 290 Orchard Road, Singapore 238859 (Orchard MRT)
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Their signature Dutch Baby Pancakes ($11.80 – $13.80), available in both Sweet and Savoury versions, are made with eggs, flour, sugar and milk on hot cast iron pans straight from the oven.

While all the “babies” looked aesthetically cute, I preferred the sweet Dutch Baby Pancake to the savoury versions.

There were some parts I liked – the egg and crispy edges, the slightly doughy bottom layer, and sweet mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries) which also added a fruity touch.

I didn’t quite like the whipped cream, which we thought was redundant. Perhaps a bigger scoop of ice cream would make the dessert a lot more enjoyable. Dutch Baby Café (Orchard Paragon)

The Coffee Academics Singapore
Level 2, Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, Singapore 228209 (Orchard MRT)
Opening Hours: 9am – 8:30pm (Mon – Thurs), 9am – 9pm (Fri – Sat), 9am – 8pm (Sun)

The Academics Pancake Tower ($19) while a photogenic piece, didn’t fare as well in terms of taste.

The texture was doughy and starchy. Ingredients such as whipped cream could have been spread more to prevent the combination from being too dry.

Paddington House of Pancakes
City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road #02-35/36 Singapore 208539
Tel: +65 6612 9029
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10:30pm

100 pancakes! This is how many Paddington House of Pancakes offers. Anything from the light American style ones, skinny crepes, to small round golden pancakes. (Featured photo is a Christmas stack.)

PHOP’s recommended is the Big Treasure Box ($15) is like what its name suggests, a mountain of ice cream, fruits, strawberry jam, and maple syrup. As you dig further into the ‘treasure chest’, you would find round fluffy golden dollar pancakes. Warning, eating this can get pretty messy.

JAB Coffee Co.
252 North Bridge Road, Raffles City #B2-16 Singapore 179103
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 9:00pm (Mon – Fri), 9:00am – 9:00pm

It is a rather inconspicuous coffee place, that you may just walk past without noticing, but they do serve up coffee and food at rather inexpensive prices.

The real draw to me was the Souffle Pancakes ($4.50, or $6.00 with strawberry preserves) made from egg white, almost as light as the Japanese pancake style. An usual, non-pricy find in the City Hall area.

Other Related Entries
20 Japanese Cafes In Singapore
11 Themed Cafes In Singapore
10 Most Instagrammable NEW Cafes In Singapore 2018
12 Must-Try Ice Cream Cafes In Singapore
20 Brown Sugar Milk Tea In Singapore

* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary and Nicholas Tan @stormscape.

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If you are looking for Curry Chicken Noodles, your best bet is at Hong Lim Food Centre.

There is Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee downstairs – said to be the original, and oh that chilli sauce; and Ah Heng Chicken Curry Bee Hoon Mee which now comes with a Michelin recommendation. (It is listed in the “Michelin Plate” or L’Assiette Michelin which is a new designation worldwide, a symbol that indicates “restaurants where the inspectors have discovered quality food.”)

Cantonese Delights (#02-03) also serves up Curry Noodles with crispy chicken cutlet, but theirs is a different style all together.

Built in 1978, renovated in 2009 and 2018, Hong Lim Market and Food Centre is the first hawker centre in the Chinatown area.

Some of the other popular stalls that can be found there include Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist 基记面家, High Street Tai Wah Pork Noodle, Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee, and Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa.

After the recent renovations of the food centre, I noted that Ah Heng Chicken Curry Bee Hoon Mee has taken over another stall space (there are 3 now), increased prices slightly by 50 cents, with a more prominent feature of “Michelin” that would attract curious tourists.

The lone item in Ah Heng’s stall is Chicken Curry Bee Hoon Mee ($5, $6, $7) available in different sizes.

This dish is made with bee hoon (rice noodles) or yellow-noodles in a laksa-resembling curry broth, topped with ingredients like chunks of potato, spongy tau pok (fried bean curd), slices of fish cake, bean sprouts, and the main protein of Hainanese chicken.

The poached chicken reminded me chopped Hainanese chicken which was tender, substantial in size, and still moist

My personal favourite part are usually the potatoes – soft, delicate, yet does not disintegrate within.

The noodles have a smooth, slippery texture so it is best to eat them with a soup spoon. Served with a saucer of special sambal chili on the side.

Typically, I would think that the yellow noodles would go better with the gravy, though bee hoon does not feel as heavy.

While the base was OILY, it was not too heavy or rich as the usual curries, so it is actually possible to finish drinking. You can spot almost empty bowls arounds, a testament to their deliciousness. (I only said it is possible, but do go easy on them for the sake of your cholesterol level.)

in terms of consistency, some diners may think that the gravy is more on the soupy side (or well, diluted) and can be more lemak (coconutty).

Expect long queues during lunch hours, but they are quite fast.

There is also another branch at 269B Queen Street, Singapore 182269.

Ah Heng Chicken Curry Bee Hoon Mee 亚王咖喱鸡米粉麵
Blk 531A, Upper Cross Street #02-57/58, Hong Lim Market and Food Centre, Singapore 051531
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 8am – 9pm (Sat – Sun)

269B Queen Street #01-236 QS269 Food House Singapore 182269
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 4pm (Mon – Wed, Fri – Sun), Closed Thurs

Other Related Entries
Hong Lim Food Centre Hawker Guide
Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist 基记面家 (Kreta Ayer)
High Street Tai Wah Pork Noodle (Hong Lim Food Centre)
Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee (Hong Lim Food Centre)
Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa (Hong Lim Food Centre)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Ah Heng Chicken Curry Bee Hoon Mee – Satisfying Curry Noodles At Hong Lim, With Michelin Recommendation appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Clarke Quay may be your go-to venue for a late-night dining rendezvous, but lunch at the Quay is just as exciting with its brand-new set of meal deals.

With many of the restaurants offering lunch at $15++ and below, this is the next best thing to a free lunch.

Most are available from 12pm to 3pm DAILY, and not just the weekdays.

Some of the highlights include Tsui Wah’s meal for 2 which includes 2 mains, a side and 2 drinks inexpensively priced at $25++; The RANCH 2-course set lunch menu at $15++; and the Hooter’s Set Lunch (get the Wings & Fries) at only $10++.

Here are 10 Clarke Quay restaurants you can get your affordable lunches:

Tsui Wah 翠華
Clarke Quay #01-03 Blk A Singapore 179020
Tel: +65 6250 9270

The Fish Paste Puffs in Fish Soup with Mixian is a dish that pleases those who miss that authentic taste from Hong Kong.

The fish soup features fresh rice noodles, and Fish Paste Puffs – freshly handmade daily, doesn’t contain any additives nor preservative, and are succulently-delicious.

The Kagoshima-Style Braised Pork Cartilage with Tossed Instant Noodles is a homage dish to a Japanese chef who shared this recipe with Tsui Wah. Stewed for many hours daily, the pork cartilage is tender, chewy and gelatinous, with a good savoury aroma.

The chunks of pork are served over Hong Kong’s famed instant noodles, coated in a luscious gravy.

Each set for 2 comes with a choice of side dish (get the crispy Deep-Fried Wontons) and 2 drinks. Of course, you cannot give the signature Hong Kong Milk Tea a miss.

Clarke Quay Lunch Promotion 2019
$25++ Weekday Set Lunch Menu for 2 pax
Choice of any 2 Noodles (Add $2++ for switching to Tossed Noodles), 1 Side Dish and 2 Beverages (Add $0.50++ to switch to Cold Drink).

Kushikatsu Tanaka
Clarke Quay #01-01B Blk A
Tel: +65 6258 3789

Famous for its Osaka-style deep-fried cutlet skewers and signature dipping sauce, Kushikatsu Tanaka is the no. 1 and biggest Kushikatsu restaurant chain in Japan.

The ambiance is similar to that of a traditional Izakaya, with dim yellow lighting to set the mood.

Troop to Clarke Quay and experience the authentic taste of breaded cutlet skewers in 5 variants: pork, beef, lotus root, onion, and asparagus.

While the skewers may taste good on their own, try dousing them in their signature dipping sauce to boost the flavours. After all, that famous dipping sauce is a Tanaka family recipe.

Do dip it just once for hygiene reasons, but if you really, really want more of that sauce, simply scoop up some more with the complimentary cabbage served alongside the Kushikatsu.

If you are still craving for more, you can add noodles to your lunch set, such as the Beef Udon at just an additional $1, that is packed with rich, umami flavour.

Have these lunch sets with side dishes of sliced beef soup and/or macaroni salad, and Japanese Green Tea.

Clarke Quay Lunch Promotion 2019
Kushikatsu Set Lunch (5 Kinds) at $12.50++, or Beef Udon with Kushikatsu (5 Kinds) at $13.50++

T&C:
– The set lunch menu is available on weekdays (Monday – Friday) and eve of Public Holiday from 12pm – 3pm only.

The RANCH Steakhouse by ASTONS
Clarke Quay #01-15 Blk B
Tel: +65 6256 0334

Offering steaks dry-aged right at the restaurant, The RANCH by ASTONS is a classic steakhouse concept that boasts of quality set meals at affordable prices.

First up for their lunch set is its signature item of RANCH Open Burger.

Have a working lunch with this open-faced burger, using a deliciously juicy premium beef patty with grilled bacon, truffle aioli, and onion marmalade on a toasted brioche bun, accompanied with steak fries on the side.

The Beef Stew Puff is another house special, using tender chunks of beef stewed in a rich sauce and served with delicate pastry puff.

For a non-meat option, try the Seafood Lasagne using an assortment of fresh seafood with béchamel and cheese.

More premium items included in the lunch set menus (at $18.80++ or $25++) include the NZ Striploin Steak and the Pepper-Crusted Japanese Wagyu.

Clarke Quay Lunch Promotion 2019
The RANCH 2-course set lunch menu at $15++, $18.80++, or $25++

T&C:
– Set lunch promotion is only valid for dine in from Monday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm.

East Treasure Chinese Restaurant東寶之東方明珠
Clarke Quay #01-17 Blk B

Head off to East Treasure Chinese Restaurant for a casual business lunch or a cosy meal with family, friends or colleagues.

Another value-for-money concept by ASTONS, East Treasure offers affordable Chinese cuisine. Using fresh ingredients and modest cooking styles, this restaurant can please even the most discerning diners with its specially-priced Executive Lunch Sets.

The Prawn Noodle Soup, prepared Penang-Style is a signature dish that is guaranteed to satisfy your midday cravings for comforting noodles.

Much of its flavours lie in the soup stock made with prawn head and shells, dried shrimps, soy sauce, garlic, shallots, and other seasonings. The noodles are topped with halved large prawns and hard-boiled egg.

Another chef special, Braised Soya Chicken in Chinese Rose Wine with Rice, is also available as a set paired with a drink (lemongrass jelly or barley pumpkin) and soup of the day.

Clarke Quay Lunch Promotion 2019
Executive set lunch from $12.80++

T&C:
– Set lunch promotion is only valid during lunch hours from 11:30am to 2:30pm.

Hutong
Clarke Quay #01-07 Blk D
Tel: +65 6336 0212

Turn your humdrum lunch into a specialty Northern Chinese meal at Hutong, with its nostalgic feel and distinctive character.

Experience the charm of old Beijing against the vibrant background of the Clarke Quay riverside in this 110-seater restaurant, adorned with carefully selected antique fixtures, bright red lanterns, and Chinese silk drapes.

Try their signature Seafood Fried Rice with Caviar, a savoury stir-fried rice dish shrimps, beaten egg, and green onions, in a beautiful heart-shaped presentation topped with orange caviar salt-cured roe.

For something more filling, go for the Sweet Sour Pork with Fresh Fruit, made with fried pork balls, cuts of fresh pineapple, red and green bell peppers, and onions stir-fried in a sweet tangy sauce.

Hutong’s Set Lunch includes a couple of starters and a choice of beverage.

Clarke Quay Lunch Promotion 2019
3-Course Set Lunch at $15.00++

Chuan Grill and Noodle Bar 川。串。面
Clarke Quay #01-01 Blk A
Tel: +65 6253 8849

Chuan Grill and Noodle Bar is the place to indulge in shao kao skewers and authentic Sichuan noodles this side of the city. The skewers are available at night (all the way till 4am) with unique imported beers, prepared authentically by chefs from Sichuan.

True to the cuisine it represents, the grilled meats and noodles are prepared with Sichuan spices to give you fiery intense flavours.

Take a midday journey and add zing to your lunch with Chuan’s wide selection of Sichuan noodles, reasonably priced and richly topped with quality meats and vegetables.

For the soup, you can choose between braised beef soup and pork bone soup, or go dry and soup-less with just noodles and toppings. You can also decide whether to take it spicy or not.

Among the many choices, go for the signature Beef Shank Noodles in a savoury brown braised beef soup, topped with thin slices of tender beef shank and sprinkled with chopped green onions. It’s hearty and filling

The Dan Dan Noodles, another staple of Sichuan cuisine, is made with the traditional red-chili oil sauce, minced pork and finely chopped scallions. Combining heat, spice and savoury flavours with wheat noodles with a bite.

Clarke Quay Lunch Promotion 2019
Complimentary Beverage (Non-alcoholic) for every Authentic Sichuan Noodles (四川拉面) purchase. *Top up $5.00++ for choice of half-pint Tiger Beer or Carlsberg Beer

T&C:
– Promotion is valid for Noodles valued at $12.50++ and above.
– Authentic Sichuan Skewers (四川烧烤) will not be available during lunch hours and will be available from 5.30pm onwards.

Talay Thai
Clarke Quay #01-05-Blk E
Tel: +65 6337 1838

With over 50 Thai-inspired items in its menu, Talay Thai will spoil you with choices for lunch.

Though popular as an avant-garde drinking hole, it offers various traditional Thai dishes with contemporary twists, including a line-up of modern seafood tapas.

Best picks for lunch are the noodles like Pad Thai (with seafood or chicken) and rice meals like Tom Yum Fried Rice, also available in seafood or chicken.

A chef recommended rice dish is Basil Chicken with Rice, which is stir-fried minced chicken meat enhanced with the flavour and aroma of Thai basil.

Green Curry Chicken, another signature main course, is also served with steamed rice. As the most pungent and spiciest of traditional Thai curries, this green curry is made with diced chicken meat and a bevy of aromatic ingredients: green hot chilies, shallots, garlic, coriander seeds, cumin, lemon grass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, shrimp paste, fish sauce, palm sugar, and coconut cream.

“Talay” means seafood in Thai, and yes, you may substitute chicken with seafood in some of the dishes.

Clarke Quay Lunch Promotion 2019
Hot Lunch Specials at $15++
Soup of the Day, Main Course, and One Beverage. Top up $7.00++ for Dessert of the Day
Addition: Sunday Special – Kid eats for Free with every two paying adults. For kids 7 and below.

T&C:
– Valid only for dine-in customers on weekdays from 12pm – 3pm excluding special occasions (eg. Valentine’s Day), the eve of and Public Holidays.

Muchos
Clarke Quay #01-04-Blk D
Tel: +65 6338 4748

Experience a fiesta at Muchos Mexican Bar & Restaurant anytime of the week with its Modern Mexican cuisine offerings in a fun, vibrant environment.

Its full menu spans from aperitivos to postres, with a sopa de dia and comes with the 3-Course Set Lunch. Chef recommended items include the Taco Salad, Fajitas Supreme, and Fajitas Trio.

Get into a Mexican vibe during lunch with the Crispy Roll Taquitos, cigar-like flour tortillas filled with either shredded chicken or pan-fried vegetables, deep-fried to a crisp, and served with your sauce of choice.

Or go light with a Mexican Chicken Salad, accompanied with a spicy tart Chipotle Mango Dressing.

If extreme hunger is beckoning, order the more satisfying Fajitas, with a sizzling plate of either chicken, beef or vegetables. Served with spinach rice, warm tortillas, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and salsa roja.

Clarke Quay Lunch Promotion 2019
3-Course Set Lunch at $15.00++

Hooters
Clarke Quay #01-03-Blk D
Tel: +65 6332 1090

Known for its casual, laid-back, sport-themed ambiance and live sports screening, Hooters is a fun and friendly place to combine food and entertainment. Do you know it has been in Clarke Quay for more than 20 years (from way back in 1996).

Enjoy Midwest comfort food, with a menu that features American-style burgers, salads, sandwiches, and its signature Hooters Wings, served breaded tossed with sauce or naked on request.

Discover a new way to liven up your lunch with Hooters Wings & Fries, which has 7 pieces of Hooters Nearly World Famous Chicken Wings, served with Curley Fries.

Let the lovely Hooters’ staff toss your wings in your preferred sauce, from the “Samurai” to Medium, Hot-, “3-Mile Island”, and all the way up to “911”.

If you can’t handle the heat, Hooters offer more than 20 brews to cool you down. Or better yet, take advantage of their lunch promo where you get a free soft drink and ice cream with your main course.

Now isn’t that a cool deal?

Clarke Quay Lunch Promotion 2019
Set Lunch at $10++
Choice of Main Course, Soft Drink, and Ice Cream

T&C:
– Applicable for dine-in only.
– The set lunch menu will be available from opening till 3pm daily, including eve of Public Holiday & Public Holiday.
– Prices quoted are subject to prevailing government taxes and service charge.
– Promotion is not applicable with any other offers, discounts, vouchers and/or privileges.
– Management reserves rights to amend and/or remove offers without prior notice.

McGettigan’s
Clarke Quay #01-01C/D Blk A
Tel: +65 6837 0577

Experience an authentic Irish welcome and hospitality at McGettigan’s, a classic Irish pub where you can enjoy live music, comedy and entertainment acts over European pub fare.

Your options for lunch at McGettigan’s are quite aplenty, and they have rotating menus depending on the week you come.

Recommended McGettigan’s mains include the Pan-Fried Salmon, with carrot and zucchini julienne, red onion and Vietnamese chilli caramel dressing; Sous Vide Beef Fillet; or a comforting treat of Carbonara Pasta.

On another day, you may get Pasta with Prawns; 16-Hour Smoked Beef Brisket; or the interesting east-meets-west dish of Asian Style Wok Fried Ground Pork.

Clarke Quay Lunch Promotion 2019
Choice of One Main Course and one Soft Drink for $15.00++ per pax
Addition: Sunday Special – Kid eats for free with every paying adults every Sunday.

T&C:
– Promotion is valid from Monday – Friday, 12pm – 3pm only.
– Valid on Main Course items from the promotional menu only.

For more details on Clarke Quay’s Lunch Deals, head over to https://www.capitaland.com/sg/malls/clarkequay/en/Lunch-by-the-Quay.html

Do not miss out on these attractive Clarke Quay Promotions:
– Free Lunchtime Parking for diners from Monday to Friday (excluding PH), 12.30pm to 1.30pm
– Receive 5,000 STAR$ ($5 CapitaVoucher) when you scan 2 lunch receipts (minimum spending of $20 per receipt from 12pm to 3pm) from 2 different restaurants within a month (receipt count will reset on the 1st day of every month)
– 2X STAR$ with CapitaStar from Monday to Sunday (including PH), 12pm to 3pm

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Clarke Quay.

The post 10 Unbelievable Lunch Deals At Clarke Quay, All Priced At $15++ Or Less appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Char Kway Teow is indeed one of those things you got to eat, because there are only THAT many good stalls left in Singapore.

Due to the skills and time involved (very hard to mass produce to do a good plate), there is a lack of apprentices taking over businesses.

So much so that Dr Leslie Tay of @ieatishootipost fame would title his book “The End of Char Kway Teow”.

If you are craving for some, the popular stalls in Singapore include Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee (Hong Lim Food Centre), Hill Street Fried Kway Teow (Bedok South Road Food Centre), Fried Kway Teow (Amoy Street Food Centre), Lao Fu Zi (Old Airport Road Food Centre), 91 Fried Kway Teow Mee (Golden Mile Food Centre), Guan Kee Char Kway Teow (Ghim Moh Food Centre), and of course No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow.

This vintage Char Kway Teow stall is located at the entrance of Zion Riverside Food Centre.

Although its name is “No. 18 Zion Road”, the stall is really No. 17. The uncle who runs the stall has mastered the skill through the years of operation.

Take note though, the queue and wait can be quite long. Even if you spot a ‘reasonably short’ line of say 5 to 10 customers, Uncle Ho fries up each plate with effort, so be prepared to wait.

Each dish is cooked-to-order by batches so you can enjoy it fresh and piping hot on your tables.

Their Char Kway Teow ($4, $5, $6, $8) is packed with robust flavours and a hint of spiciness with ladles crispy pork lard.

The kway teow (flat rice and egg noodles) is springy and full of wok hei, mingling with a medley of fresh juicy cockles, fish cake, crunchy bean sprouts, egg, and lup cheong (Chinese sausage) blended in a black sauce and topped with gu chai (Chinese chives).

If you love cockles, you will love the many pieces that are in your plate.

Some love the wetness of the noodles (or should I say dryness), though others thought it could be moister overall (compared to say Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee).

On the flipside, I found it slightly on the greasy side (but I guess cannot be avoided that much), and it could have more of that sweet-dark sauce flavour when I last visited recently. (Tasted slightly different from what I remembered it to be.)

With its generous servings, the small plate of $4 is enough for someone with a “standard” appetite.

This stall has even been patronised by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong before, and is also listed under the Michelin Guide Singapore with a “Michelin Plate”.

No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow
70 Zion Road #01-17 Zion Riverside Food Centre, Singapore 247792
Opening Hours: 12:30pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Zion Riverside Food Centre Hawker Guide
Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee (Hong Lim Food Centre)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow – Popular Zion Road Char Kway Teow With “Wok-Hei” And Michelin Plate appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Not many would know that Lao Jie Fang 老街坊 known for its Braised Beef Noodles, actually has an outpost in Hong Kong.

This is especially when Hong Kong is so known for its Cantonese style noodles, especially beef brisket varieties.

For the owners to bring the brand over, they must have a certain level of confidence.

A short introduction of Lao Jie Fang: since 2010, it has been operating at the Mei Chin Road Market & Food Centre, a two-storey building renovated in 2009 and now home to 40 plus stalls.

Some of the stalls were once at the Commonwealth Food Centre, contributing to the many quality hawker stalls in the market such as Sin Kee Famous Chicken Rice.

It is not the most accessible food centre though, at least a 10 minutes’ walk from Queenstown MRT station.

I first chanced upon Lao Jie Fang because I had intention to eat horfun from Shi Hui Yuan Hor Fun Specialty but it was unfortunately closed (again). It seemed like a good alternative then, and I landed up to be pleasantly surprised.

The basic bowls are priced at $4 and $5, while you can add to $5 or $8 to get the mixed version, which includes tendon.

Known for its Cantonese-style braised beef noodles, Lao Jie Fang stews the beef brisket for several hours in a preserved soya bean paste based stock until the meat is tender.

The tendon was indeed melt-in-your-mouth, with a quality that reminds me of Hong Kong’s.

As for the thin egg noodles, owner Mr. Chan blanches them while flicking vigorously to ensure each strand is cooked yet not soggy.

He would then toss the noodle in a specially made dark sauce before adding in the stew sauce.

Thin, springy, well-tossed.

Good Beef Brisket Noodles are few and far between in Singapore’s hawker centres, and this is one of them.

Apart from the Braised Beef noodles, Lao Jie Fang also Pork Rib Noodles ($4, $5) and Pig Trotter Noodle ($4, $5) which uses ter-kar (pork trotters) that is slow cooked without using a pressure cooker, so the bones remain hard while the meat becomes so tender.

I also tried Lao Jie Fang Noodles with Braised Beef Brisket and Tendon (HK72, SGD12.20) in Hong Kong before.

The flavours were there but the brisket was a little on the dry side and tendon wasn’t as soft as the local Hong Kong versions.

However, if you want something close to Hong Kong standard braised beef noodles found in a Singapore hawker centre, this is where you can head to.

Lao Jie Fang 老街坊
159 Mei Chin Road, #02-15 Mei Chin Road Market & Food Centre, Singapore 140159
Tel: +65 9680 3898
Opening Hours: 8am – 2pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Shi Hui Yuan Hor Fun Specialty (Mei Ling Food Centre)
Fresh Taste Big Prawn Noodle (Zion Road)
High Street Tai Wah Pork Noodle (Hong Lim Food Centre)
A Noodle Story (Amoy Street Food Centre)
Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle (Chinatown Food Complex)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Lao Jie Fang 老街坊 – Hong Kong Quality Beef Brisket Noodles Near Queentown, With Michelin Recommendation appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[Tokyo] While Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world, you still can find affordable eats, even in the heart of Shinjuku.

Let me direct you to Tatsuya, a hole-in-the-wall eatery specializing in Gyudon (¥350) which is simmered beef on rice, and Katsu Don (¥450) – pork cutlet with egg on rice.

¥350 is only about SGD4.30, or USD3.15.

To find Tatusya, it is a short 5 minutes’ walk or so from Shinjuku Sanchome, with an inconspicuous sign that wrote “たつ屋 since 1969”.

Items on the menu include Oyako Don (¥400) – Chicken and Egg Bowl with egg; Chicken Bowl (¥400) – deep fried chicken cooked with special soy sauce; and Beef and Pork Cutlet Bowl (¥550).

If you would like something simpler, you can choose and Egg Bowl (¥350) with deep fried tofu and naruto.

Ask for an English menu as there are no pictorial ones available.

When in doubt, get the Gyudon (“gyu” means cow”, while “don” is short for “donburi” or “rice bowl”) which consists of a bowl of steaming fluffy rice topped with beef and onions simmered in a mildly sweet sauce.

The staff strength is lean, but the friendly elderly cooks will whip up warm bowls of donburi, complete with tender slices of beef.

You would love it if you enjoying something slightly wet and comforting. The beef was not exactly superbly tender or of top-notch quality, but for the price, you are getting quite a substantial portion.

The other popular choice is the Katsu Don (¥450), in which you get deep-fried pork cutlet – it was not melt-in-mouth soft but still tender; runny egg and onions cooked in a savoury and sweet broth placed over steamed rice.

Again, this seems to be a saucier and wetter version, perhaps it is easier for diners to gulp down their food.

Tatsuya appears to be popular with salaried workers in the vicinity, who comes, completes the meal, and goes in quick succession.

Tatsuya たつ屋 新宿店 牛丼餐廳
35-2, 3chome, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿３丁目３５−2
Tel: +81 3 3354 0611
Opening hours: 10:00am – 9:00pm (Mon – Fri, Sun), 8:00am – 9:00pm (Sat)
Google Maps – Tatsuya たつ屋

Other Related Entries
10 Must Eats At Shinjuku Tokyo

Click HERE for other Tokyo Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Tatsuya, Tokyo – Hidden Gem Serving Gyudon At Only ¥350 (SGD4.30) In the Heart Of Shinjuku appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Jewel Changi Airport will officially open its doors on the 17th of April 2019 (Wed).

With more than 280 shops and F&B outlets, visitors can look forward to the largest Nike store in Southeast Asia, Pokémon Centre, and Shaw Theatres with IMAX.

In terms of dining places, other than the heavily promoted “star” brands of Shake Shack, Burger and Lobster and A&W, you can also look forward to other local brands such as Five Spice – the food court operated by Food Junction, Faai Di by Ka-Soh and Fu Lin Yong Tofu.

Here are 10 restaurants you can look forward to at Jewel Changi Airport: (Note: not all will open in April, and some will only start operations 3rd quarter of the year.)

Shack Shake
Shake Shack fans call this THE BEST burger in the world, and the fast food restaurant has become an institution of sorts to visit for foodies.

Not too bad for this used-to-be humble hot dog cart which started in Madison Square Park.

The burger chain was awarded licensing rights to Korean F&B conglomerate SPC Group to set up a Shake Shack in Singapore.

Popular items include ShackBurger, meat-free Shroom Burger, Hamburger, and Chick n Shack. (Though I think the chicken can be skipped, as it was just not as impressive.)

Their burgers are known to be made with freshly ground 100% Angus beef – prized for its delicate texture, great taste and no added hormones. Whether they can maintain the quality, is still a question mark. We shall find out. Shake Shack Singapore (Jewel Changi Airport)

Burger & Lobster
The brand of Burger & Lobsters, a UK chain, has been “wild and live” since 2011. It began with 4 schoolmates on a rooftop in London.

True to its founders’ original idea to limit the menu to a few items, there are only 3 main items available: Burgers, Lobsters, and Lobster Rolls.

Fans love their Original Roll which is lobster with Japanese mayo & lemon, that come in a toasted brioche bun.

Served with chips and salad, the Lobster Avocado Roll includes lettuce, tomato, cucumber, mayo, and of course, avocado. A spicy version, the Chilli Roll is made of prawn and lobster combined with their homemade chilli sauce.

The new Burger & Lobster eatery in Singapore will be located at Canopy Park, Jewel’s topmost floor, where diners will be treated to spectacular views of the verdant landscaping, and the majestic 40-metre high Rain Vortex, set to be the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Burger and Lobster Singapore (Jewel, Changi Airport)

A&W Restaurants
Welcome back, A&W. The eatery will offer all-time international favourites, such as Coney Dogs and A&W Root Beer
floats, and a Jewel-exclusive menu curated from a list of best-selling items from around the world, such as A&W Cream Cheese Burger from Japan and Golden Aroma Chicken from Indonesia.

Kam’s Roast
Kam’s Roast’s flagship outlet in Hong Kong is a renowned one Michelin Star Restaurant which has been awarded Michelin Star by Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau within only 4 months of its opening in 2015.

A relatively new roast to get is the Pipa Duck. While most Singaporeans should be familiar with the usual Roast Duck and Peking Duck, the Pipa Duck is seldom seen.

The whole duck is typically split and flattened, looking like the Chinese musical instruction – therefore the name. While the cooking method adds to that layer of crunch to the skin, the succulence is not compromised.

Kam’s Roast’s offering should be considered Singapore’s first Pipa Duck marinated with 23-Year Aged Chenpi or Orange Peel.

The eatery will also offer Roast Ducks which are ready for takeaway to be brought on board.

Pink Fish
Making its entry into Singapore and Southeast Asia at Jewel, Pink Fish, the world’s first fastcasual seafood restaurant, will offer a different spin to the typical notion of fast food.

Premium quality salmon directly sourced from the Norwegian fjords will be creatively served in delicious salads, wraps, burgers, hotpots and poké bowls.

Beauty In The Pot
Savour the essence of health and beauty with every steaming pot of soup at Beauty In The Pot.

Inspired by the culture of food for health, the hotpot concept offers nourishing soup that promise rich flavours coupled with abundant benefits.

An extensive menu of fresh ingredients and homemade specialities are also specially selected by the culinary team for a heavenly match.

Some of recommended items at Beauty in The Pot include the Homemade Fish Tofu – made with yellowtail fish, soya bean and egg white; Ebiko Prawn Paste shaped out of 100% prawn meat; Fried Beancurd Skin – my favourite especially when dipped quickly in the collagen broth; and Soft Bone Pork Meatballs.

Violet Oon
Violet Oon’s largest restaurant to date. At more than 350 square metres the restaurant at Jewel will feature popular local delicacies such as Dry Laksa, Beef Rendang, Satays and Roti Jala.

Also available are food souvenirs such as Gula Melaka cake and pineapple tarts.

Sama Sama
Sama Sama by Tok-Tok is the latest restaurant concept conceived from Tok Tok Indonesian Soup House, offering mouth-watering varieties of authentic Indonesian cuisine in Singapore.

Tim Ho Wan
Tim Ho Wan was started by Chef Mak Kwai Pui, formerly of the prestigious three Michelin starred Lung King Heen restaurant in Hong Kong’s Four Seasons Hotel, alongside Chef Leung Fai Keung.

Look out for the Hong Kong Braised Beef Soup Noodle. This noodle soup dish may just ‘bring’ you back to Hong Kong. Made with thin and perfectly springy Hong Kong-style noodles, this soup is loaded with Chinese spices and deep beef flavours.

The dim sum ‘dessert’ to look forward to is the Sesame Balls with Molten Salted Egg.

Imagine sinking your teeth into a fragrant sesame-crusted ball until you feel the ooze of hot liquid egg yolk in your mouth.

Tonito
A brand-new Latin American concept that promises an authentic taste of countries like Mexico, Peru, Argentina, etc. Featuring a wide selection of Mexican Tacos and Quesadillas, Latin American Sandwiches like Argentinian choripanes and Peruvian Pan con Chicharron.

Signature items include Huevos Rancheros of 2 eggs, Black Beans, Salsa Roja, Cotija, Pico de Gallo, Tortilla Chips, Coriander; Mexican Esquites, Tacos, Quesadilla, Tacos, and Argentinian Choripan.

Singapore residents will get to have a sneak peek of Jewel Changi Airport before the public opening.

To be held from 11 to 16 April, the preview will be a ticketed event, run in four three-hour time blocks from 10am to 10pm, and is free of charge.

Registration will open online at jewelpreview.com on 12 March, 06:00 am.

Each member of the public can register for up to four participants. A total of about 500,000 tickets will be available.

The post Jewel Changi Airport – 10 Restaurants To Savour From Shake Shack, Burger & Lobster, A&W, Beauty In The Pot, Kam’s Roast appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Some food stalls have ‘competitors’ close by their side which may in fact help their both businesses to thrive, such as Xing Ji Rou Cuo Mian and Seng Hiang Bak Chor Mee at Bedok 85.

The other are the two Wanton Noodle stalls at Old Airport Road Food Centre.

The Hawker Centre is known for two competing Wanton Mee, both facing the road side.

Hua Kee Hougang Famous Wanton Mee 华记后港祖传驰名云吞面 is the one without the electronic queue display; while Cho Kee Noodle is located two stalls on its right.

Years back during the “Yummy King” programme voting for the favourite Wanton Mee, neighbouring Cho Kee won the taxi drivers’ hearts, but it was this Hua Kee who earned the viewers votes to be Number One in Singapore.

Some diners may just order a bowl each from each stall, for a side by side comparison.

Located in the front row near the left extreme end, Hua Kee Hougang Famous Wanton Mee has been serving in operation for 3 generations since the 1940s previously in the Hougang area.

It stands out with its bright red signboard, posted media citations, and a long line of customers.

Hua Kee serves up a variety of noodles, from Wanton Noodles, Dumpling Noodles, Fried Wanton Noodles, Chicken Feet Noodles, and Shredded Chicken Noodles with Mushrooms.

The signature Wanton Mee ($3.50, $.4.00, $5.00), has eggy noodles that are chewy yet smooth in texture.

There was an old school vibe in how they prepare their version of Wanton Mee, with pork lard, salty wantons and char siew.

These noodles come with an interesting gravy sauce, which leans more on the sweet side and goes well with the spicy-smoky chili sambal to balance off the sweetness.

What really gave it its edge and extra bite was its fried shallot, chilli sauce filled with seeds and oily crunchy pork lard.

The bowl was almost swimming in chill oil and sauce, such that each noodle thread was well-covered with the spiciness. Definitely not for the health-conscious.

Make sure to mix well to distribute the sauce evenly into the noodles, otherwise it may be too spicy on some parts.

The wanton were soft in texture, while the char siew is of the deep red roasted crisp-on-the-outside type – not overly fantastic.

The complementary soup, served piping hot, carried a very light essence of wanton flavour and pepper. Perfect in cleansing your palate from the fats and spices.

They do have a particular style of their own, which I haven’t experienced anyhow else. It is an either you like or not thing, as some diners may be used to other styles of Wanton Noodles.

With that said, they don’t have a fantastic review. Reading through, I realised it had to so with the arrogant service – which I have (thankfully) yet to experience.

Hua Kee Hougang Famous Wanton Mee is also listed in the Michelin Singapore Guide, under the “Michelin Plate”.

Hua Kee Hougang Famous Wanton Mee 華記后港祖傳馳名雲吞麵
51 Old Airport Road, #01-02 Old Airport Road Food Centre, Singapore 390051
Tel: +65 9620 1543
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues

Other Related Entries
Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist 基记面家 (Kreta Ayer)
Eng’s Char Siew Wantan Mee (Tanjong Katong Road)
Wanton Fu (Jalan Besar)
ENG’s Wantan Noodle (Tanjong Katong Road)
Tanjong Rhu Wanton Mee (North Bridge Road)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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[Tokyo] It is not uncommon to queue up for food, especially at the famous establishments.

But my experience for a bowl of Michelin-starred Soba at Tamawarai 玉笑 was one which stretched my patience (and perhaps friendship).

Tamawarai is a small 14-seater non-descript one Michelin starred Soba place located in Shibuya-ku of Tokyo.

Using only the freshest ingredients, the restaurant to known for making both hot and cold Japanese Soba in a traditional style using age-old grinding techniques.

This place is a little hard to find, as it is seriously buried in one of the small streets off Harajuku.

Google Maps does a pretty decent job of getting you there, just keep a lookout for a restaurant with a wooden exterior and white curtains billowing above it with 玉笑 written on it.

If you did not see a line outside, you might not have guessed that there is a restaurant within.

As I counted about 10 to 12 patrons waiting outside, I figured that soba would be more-or-less a quick meal, and shouldn’t take that long.

I was entirely wrong of course, and the entire process till I finally landed up inside the dining area (not inclusive of ordering and even more waiting), was no less than 2 hours. (Therefore, if you really intend to come for this, make sure that the people you come with can stand this test of friendship.)

That’s if the food is not sold out yet. Imagine that you are on your way in (after 2 hours), only to be told ”No more left.”

Another note: diners have to queue up on a flight of stairs. What they do not say is there is ANOTHER waiting room after you make it, and it a claustrophobic space with 6 people within. I was so bored I took their Japanese magazines to read, and it is bad manners to make loud conversations.

The sigh of relief when I finally made it in.

The interior is of minimalist design, with traditional Japanese décor and style. The main dining room is quite dim and small – 7 counter seats, a table for 4 and 2 tables for 2.

On the menu includes section of both cold and hot soba, with choices such as Cold Soba with Grated Daikon Radish (¥1300), Cold Soba with Herring and Grated Daikon Radish (¥2200), Cold/Hote Soba with Vegetable Tempura (¥2500, ¥2600), and Hot Soba in an Egg Soup (¥1300).

¥1300 is about SGD15.90 or USD11.70.

I could imagine anyone would be hungry after that wait, so you can get a couple of side dishes such as Tofu (¥700), Omelette (¥800), Baked Prawn (¥1200 for 2), or Boiled Fish Paste with Wasabi (¥900).

I ordered the Soba topped with Natto (fermented soybeans) and raw egg (¥1500), which was unlike any other soba I ever tried.

When I mixed everything up, there was that sticky texture of raw egg and musty taste of natto which was supposedly to complement the plainer flavour of the cold soba.

I could imagine this would be a love-or-hate thing: love for the intricacies and effort need to produce that ‘perfect’ soba with pleasant bite; hate for that acquired taste.

Therefore, the Hot Soba with Egg Soup (¥1300) was a safer choice, and I enjoyed most for the freshness and bite of the soba.

The unfortunately thing was, I remembered this meal more for everything else but the taste of the Soba.

Tamawarai 玉笑
5 Chome-23-3 Jingūmae, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0001, Japan (8min walk from Meiji-Jingumae station)
東京都 渋谷区 神宮前 5-23-3
Tel: +81 03 5485 0025
Opening Hours: 6:30pm – 9pm (Tues), 11.30pm – 3.30pm, 6:30pm – 9pm (Wed – Fri), 11:30am – 8pm (Sat), 11:30am – 5pm (Sun), Closed Mon
Google Maps – Tamawarai

Click HERE for other Tokyo Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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You may just dismiss this stall as yet another Prawn Noodle stall, but it is THE Chilli Mee that is the outstanding dish.

Located at the second level of Golden Mile Food Centre (otherwise known as Army Market Food Centre), Chung Cheng Chilli Mee崇正辣椒面is one of the stalls that almost always have a moderately-long queue.

(I nearly mistaken the name for my secondary school. LOL.)

Maybe its fame is not as striking as other stalls in the same food centre, such as Hainan Hokkien Mee, 91 Fried Kway Teow Mee, or Burgs by Project Warung, it is a worthy consideration if you need a light yet satisfying meal.

The stall is listed in the Singapore “Michelin Plate” guide. (The Michelin Plate or L’Assiette Michelin is a new designation worldwide, a symbol that indicates “restaurants where the inspectors have discovered quality food.”)

Selling Chilli Mee, Prawn Mee, and Laksa, priced at $3.00, $4.00 or $5.00 depending on the portion size, Chung Cheng is talked about its signature chili paste.

What makes this house-made chili paste special is the combination of belacan, dried shrimps, garlic, onion and some secret spices.

The signature chili paste is generously used in Chili Mee and Prawn Mee, with huge dollops of it scooped from a metal pot and added to the noodles.

The Chilli Mee consists of yellow noodles or bee hoon combined with ingredients, such as bean curd, bean sprouts, fish cakes, lean and tender pork ribs, prawns, and slices of hard-boiled egg, and comes with bowl of herbal soup on the side.

As it is covered in a nutty semi-thick sauce, the combination reminded me of a cross between satay beehoon and dried prawn noodles.

It was fragrant, flavourful, and not THAT spicy, and you can even buy a pack of this special chili sauce for only $3.00.

If you want a non-spicy version, go for the Prawn Mee which comes with the soup same as the Chili Mee’s, with its distinct herbal aroma.

The soup was not as robust and gao-gao thick as the famous prawn noodle brands, but with a light fragrance sweet (that I would describe as 清甜.) Though small, the prawns were fresh and firm.

To be honest, if you came here and just had the soup version, you would likely this there is nothing very special about this stall.

If you are into an unconventional prawn noodle dish, Chung Cheng is worthy of your visit. Though it may not be the fiery type, its flavour perfectly complements the noodles it serves.

Additional tip: its neighbor Zhao An Granny Grass Jelly serves up refreshing Chin-Chow drinks, which you can pair with these noodles.

Chung Cheng Chilli Mee 崇正辣椒面
505 Beach Road, #01-59 Golden Mile Food Centre, Singapore 199583
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 6:30pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues

Other Related Entries
Fresh Taste Big Prawn Noodle (Zion Road)
Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa (Alexandra Village Food Centre)
Tiong Bahru Yi Sheng Fried Hokkien Mee (ABC Food Centre)
High Street Tai Wah Pork Noodle (Hong Lim Food Centre)
Chef Kang’s Noodle House (Toa Payoh)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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There are a number of popular gelato cafes found within the HDB residential estates, such Creamier at Toa Payoh and Tiong Bahru, FatCat Ice Cream Bar at Bedok North, Cottontail Creamery at Serangoon and Double Scoops at Ang Mo Kio.

And now, finally an ice cream cafe in Bishan.

Located in the Bishan heartland right beside the bus interchange, Denzy offers a cozy and fuss-free space with about 20 seats.

The interior has a simple and classic industrial touch: cemented walls and flooring, a black ice cream counter and studio lightings.

All gelato is churned in-house, with ingredients made from scratch.

For example, the almond and macadamia nut pastes are created by stone grinding for 10 hours; while the yoghurt is sous-vide to make yoghurt based gelato. Interesting.

Similar to other ice cream and gelato bars, Gelato (Single $3.60/ Double $6.40/ Premium flavour additional $1), Waffles ($5), Cone (additional $0.50) and Coffee (Black $4, White $4.50) are offered on their menu.

What makes them different from other ice cream places is the variety of flavours here, some of which are quite less-commonly-seen and interesting.

Instead of classic flavours such as Vanilla, Thai Milk Tea and Rum & Raisin, signature flavours include Persian Prince made from almond and saffron; Blondie Beach using white chocolate, lime & salt; and Elderflower Mojito Sorbet which is actually non-alcoholic.

The staff was enthusiastic in explaining the flavours (probably because it is more complex), allowing free sampling of flavours.

Unlike more ice cream shops, metal spoons are given during sampling process, which I personally find it more environmental-friendly.

I had 2 scoops of Premium Gelato with Waffles (Waffle $5, 1 scoop of gelato $3, premium flavour +$1) which comes in a similar plating style as the ones in Creamier, except that the waffles are not stacked.

The waffle was well-made and was fragrant, light and airy with a crispy, golden-brown exterior.

Coupled with the smooth, creamy and non-icy texture, the Elderflower Mojito Sorbet was my favourite with bits of kaffir lime in it for the extra citrusy kick.

The Elderflower Mojito Sorbet was a refreshing contrast to the waffle base and was not overwhelming.

Other flavours that I enjoyed include Passionfruit Yogurt which is creamier compared to the usual, though the Passionfruit Sorbet and Basil reminded me of the savoury pesto sauce for pasta.

Matchaholics will probably rejoice at the idea of both Hojicha and Matcha available here, except that the latter is presented as Matcha Tofu which unfortunately tasted more like a soybean gelato.

The Hojicha was decent, with an earthy and roasted taste whereas the fragrance of the tea flavour can be improved on.

Denzy proved to be a promising gelato cafe with their interesting offerings and I believed that they will experiment and offer even more out-of-the-box flavours in the future.

Denzy
506 Bishan Street 11, #01-404, Singapore 570506 (Bishan MRT)
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 10.30pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Double Scoops (Ang Mo Kio)
Cottontail Creamery (Serangoon)
Creamier (Tiong Bahru)
FatCat Ice Cream Bar (Bedok North)
Dopa Dopa (South Bridge Road)

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand Jenjudan 珍煮丹 is set to open its first outlet in Singapore, on the 23rd of March (Saturday) at 11am.

The location will be at CityLink Mall, #B1-13. (Come come, how many of you haven’t shopped there in a while? Passing by doesn’t count.)

This follows hot-on-the-trails of other Brown Sugar Milk or Cheese Tea brands that opened in Singapore, such as HEYTEA, Tiger Sugar 老虎堂, Nayuki 奈雪の茶, Yifang Fruit Tea, and the coming The Alley 斜角巷. (HPB never knock on their doors?)

Of course not all brands met with resounding success in the Singapore market.

So the question is, did Jenjudan 珍煮丹 arrive a year too late?

I personally thought it would have been better if they were here before Tiger Sugar, as the trend has kind of tapered down and local consumers have more brands to compare with.

Jenjudan was born in the world-renowned Shilin Night Market 士林夜市 in Taipei during 2010.

Do not confuse its name “珍煮丹” with “曾祖母“ .

The first two characters is a play of the characters “珍珠”, which represents the boba or pearls in bubble tea.

Some of the menu’s signatures include Bubble Brown Sugar Milk, which features warm, soft brown sugar, and boba served with chilled fresh milk.

Other drinks to expect include the Bubble Milk with Oreo – a blend of fresh milk, chocolate wafers, and
sweet crème; as well as the Thai Style Milk Tea – which once upon a time was the IT drink in Singapore.

Compared to some other brands I tried in Taipei, the “brown-sugarness” was considered more mellow, not as strong and full-flavoured.

However, the milk was deliciously-smooth and creamy. This would be a question mark as the local store would likely use a different supplier.

We shall find out when Jenjudan 珍煮丹 officially opens in Singapore on the 23rd of March.

Jenjudan Singapore 珍煮丹
1 CityLink Mall #B1-13 Singapore 039393
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun) (Opening 23rd March, 11am)

Other Related Entries
HEYTEA Bobo Milk Tea (ION Orchard)
Nayuki 奈雪の茶 (Vivocity)
ARTEA (Vivocity)
TaiGai 台盖 (NEX)
MuYoo+ (Bedok Mall)

The post Jenjudan Singapore 珍煮丹 – Popular Brown Sugar Boba Milk Shop Opening In Singapore, At CityLink Mall 23rd March appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

The Bubble Tea and Brown Sugar Milk Tea wave is still going on strong.

One more bubble tea shop in Singapore?

BCC Tea Studio is located beside Bedok 85 Fengshan Market & Food Centre which is known for its steady stream of evening and supper crowd.

In addition, its location is near 4 schools: Anglican High School, St. Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School, Bedok Green Secondary School and Red Swastika School. And bubble tea typically appeals to youths.

Publicity was done right with professional studio photos of their signature drinks that proved to be eye-catching and Instagram-worthy.

In addition, there are discounts given to students in school uniforms, and a smartphone loyalty app (which big Bubble Tea players such as Koi took a few years to launch one for themselves).

Their menu is categorised into Pure Tea (Small $2.10/ Large $2.90), Milk Tea (Small $2.60/ Large $3.40), Fantasies with layered coloured drinks ($4.20), Fizzies ($3.50), Slushies ($3.90) and Hot drinks ($3.90).

Looks promising.

In terms of pricing, not THAT expensive as well.

I was recommended to try their bestselling Brown Sugar Boba with Fresh Milk ($3.50), which is the current trending drink.

Available in one size, there is a sense of familiarity in the first sip.

Unlike the usual brown sugar milk drinks trending in the market, this tasted so sweet, so familiar, so old-school… just like Sweet Talk?

The brown sugar syrup lacked a certain caramelised fragrance, whereas the chewiness of pearls evoked a sense of ‘old-school’ nostalgia.

The signature Fantasies ($4.20), splashed on several social media channels, come in pretty coloured layers and interesting names such as Purple Dream, Galaxy Blue and Milky Way,

I ordered the prettiest looking Galaxy Blue ($4.20).

Interesting, I was warned that it might “explode” if I don’t drink it immediately due to the pressure accumulated in the cup from the soda.

This was fizzy soda combined with minty syrup with an unfortunate strong aftertaste.

So, is this the real life or is it just “Fantasy”?

I reckon it would be a love or hate it beverage: love for the looks, but not when it reminded me of a particular brand of mouthwash.

I ended up buying a Black Milk Tea (Small $2.60/ Large $3.40) due to its colourful-appearance and floral packaging.

The Black Milk Tea was the best drink among the 3, though still a tad diluted and could do with stronger tea fragrance.

BCC Tea Studio stands out in terms of packaging and the concept.

With competition all around, and big brands descending into Singapore, perhaps working on achieving the right balance and quality could help it further.

BCC Tea Studio
Fengshan Market, Blk 84, Bedok North Street 4, #01-29, Singapore 460048
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Sun – Thu), 10am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

Other Related Entries
HEYTEA Singapore 喜茶 (ION Orchard)
Nayuki 奈雪の茶 (Vivocity)
ARTEA (Vivocity)
TP-Tea (Suntec City)
MuYoo+ (Bedok Mall)

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

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I start this post by saying that Pin Wei Hong Kong Style Chee Cheong Fun is probably the best Chee Cheong Fun that can be found in Singapore. Well, at least top 3.

Perhaps I will regret typing this post, as the queue is definitely going to get much, much longer once this post gets shared.

Usually it already takes me about 20 to 30 minutes to get my hands on a plate.

It is not usual to find fresh, hand-made Chee Cheong Fun in Singapore’s food centres, because of the required skills and dedication in making it.

Pin Wei Chee Cheong Fun is one of the few stalls that offer this dish Hong Kong-style. (Contrasted with the typical Singapore type which is thicker, dipped into a sweet, dark sauce.)

It is also listed in the “Michelin Plate” or L’Assiette Michelin which is a new designation worldwide, a symbol that indicates “restaurants where the inspectors have discovered quality food.”

The stall is located at Pek Kio Market & Food Centre.

It is not an in-the-radar hawker centre, but there are some note-worthy stalls such as Lai Hiang Pork Rib Prawn Noodles, Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles, Soon Kee Wanton Mee, and Sheng Seng Fried Hokkien Mee.

Chee Cheong Fun, which literally means “pig intestine noodle”, is a rice noodle sheet made from a rice-flour batter.

Owner Eddy Tan has been making it for more than 8 years, after learning the craft from his hawker father. (His father can sometimes be spotted at the back of the stall helping out.)

The flour is a mix of rice flour and tapioca flour, with the latter making the noodle elastic and springy.

Through a traditional method, the batter is poured on a cloth over a specially made flat steamer with holes to form a sheet.

Ingredients such as char siew, prawns and scallops are then added.

Once the rice noodle sheet is cooked, the cloth is used to transfer it to an oiled metal surface where it is deftly rolled up, cut, then removed.

Pin Wei offers 4 variants available: the plain Cheong Fun ($2.20), Char Siew ($3.00); Prawns ($4.00); and Scallop ($4.50).

Please eat this while it is hot, the Chee Cheong Fun is so silky-smooth and gives you a pleasant mouthfeel that may just bring you back to Hong Kong.

The Char Siew Cheong Pun was packed with small bits of char siew, which was to the sweeter side and added loads of flavours overall.

I initially thought that the Prawns would be a more ‘boring’ choice, but it turned out to be no-less-delicious with fresh prawns used.

Plus, it was evenly distributed and such that you get one prawn per piece scooped up.

The watery Hoisin-like sauce below coated the delicate rolls, that would be satisfying as you let it slip down the throat.

As Eddy makes them one by one, and each requires a thorough process of steaming, filling with ingredients, transferring and cutting, be prepared to wait.

Also, customers can call an hour in advance to order take-aways.

So even while you can be in the front of the line, you may need to ‘make way’ for takeaway orders or those in the front ordering for the entire clan. Go during off-peak hours.

Pin Wei Hong Kong Style Chee Cheong Fun
41A Cambridge Road #01-25 Pek Kio Market & Food Centre, Singapore 211041
Tel: +65 8180 2013
Opening Hours: 6:30am – 2pm (Thurs – Tues), Closed Wed

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Char Kway Teow, which is stir-fried noodles, is one of those local hawker food that I appreciate more as I get older.

One dish, different flavours, many styles.

You never get the same type of Char Kway Teow between stalls. And as most owners (typically older uncles of a certain age) fry them plate by plate, you may not even get that ‘same taste’ even as you go back to the same stall.

Sometimes, depends on uncle’s mood. That is what gives it character.

I have tried Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow 老夫子炒粿条 at Old Airport Road quite a number of times in the past. But it was never a stall I would purposely go, it was more like a ‘by-the-way’ “Let’s try CKT” kind of experience. There is also Dong Ji Fried Kway Teow (#01-138) in the same food centre that some of my friends preferred.

That was until it was listed in the Michelin Bib Gourmand list in Singapore.

The list is of course debatable, but what cannot be denied is that the queue gradually got longer throughout the months.

Named as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the famous comic character from Hong Kong, Lau Fu Zi is a Char Kway Teow stall owned and run by Mdm Kuah for more than 3 decades.

Up to now, you may see a pair of “Lau Fu Zi” or Old Master Q figurines placed at the entrance of her stall, a holiday souvenir from her friend.

Mdm Kuah learned how to fry Kway Teow from her master who once owned a stall at the Old Airport Road. Eventually, she put up her own stall. (However, I did not see her when I visited, maybe will check again the next time.)

Offering both the black or white versions, Lau Fu Zi’s Fried Kway Teow ($5.00, $8.00, $10.00), are all cooked-to-order, each plate fried individually.

The dish carried a well-balanced flavour, and surprisingly not very oily.

Its consistency was more on the dry side, which some diners may like or don’t like, depending on one’s preference.

Also, it lacked of the strong wok-hei (there was still same).

By default, it really doesn’t use pork lard unless you request for it.

It is a not-bad plate, though I think some customers may prefer the dark, wetter type with stronger flavours. Then again, everyone has their preferred style of Char Kway Teow.

Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow 老夫子炒粿条
51 Old Airport Road, #01-12 Old Airport Road Food Centre, Singapore
Tel: +65 83333 4828
Opening Hours: 11:45am – 10pm (Mon – Sun

Other Related Entries
Zion Riverside Food Centre Hawker Guide
Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee (Hong Lim Food Centre)
No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow (Zion Road Food Centre)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Tuk Tuk Cha is one of the most popular Thai Milk Tea kiosk in Singapore, with 10 outlets opened at various shopping malls.

The good news for our Muslim friends is, all 10 branches have obtained halal certification.

You can currently find them at Bugis Junction, 313@Somerset, Junction 8, Harbourfront Centre, Hillion Mall, Nex, Waterway Point, Tampines 1, Jurong Point and Bedok Point.

The Thai Iced Milk Tea wave started in Singapore about 3-4 years back, and the brand opened in good timing.

It has quite a comprehensive menu from mains (noodles) to desserts (Shibuya Toast) to drinks (Thai Milk Tea).

The formula worked. Right place, right time.

Most of the shops are categorised by the iconic Thai-transport tuk tuk parked in house, sometimes modified into a long communal table for dine-in.

Tuk Tuk Cha’s signature drink was the Thai Milk Tea (Cha-Yen) that came in both hot ($1.80) and cold ($3.20 for regular, $3.70 for large).

Toppings such as pearl, coconut jelly, caramel jelly and mango pearls were available at an additional $0.50. I tried both with and without toppings and preferred the latter for a more unadulterated taste.

The Thai Milk Tea had a distinct tea scent and not overly sweet.

Another signature drink was the Thai Green Milk Tea ($3.20 for regular, $3.70 for a large cup). I actually preferred this to the Thai Milk Tea as it was richer, smoother and sweeter.

Another popular choice is the Hojicha ($4.80).

The owners imported the ingredients from Japan, with strong tea savour, and less milkiness than what some commercial coffee chains offer.

In terms of mains, offerings include Tom Yum Noodles, Beef Boat Noodles, Thai Green Curry, Chicken Boat Noodles, Chicken Porridge, Tom Yum Chicken Ricebowl, and Garlic Chicken Ricebowl.

Mango Sticky Rice ($6.80), Golden Toast ($4.80 – $6.00) and Shibuya Toast ($6.80, $11.80) are available for those craving for sweet treats.

Their homemade pandan kaya dip was worth a mention, with coconut taste that reminded us of the old-school traditional morning breakfast at our coffee-shops.

Tuk Tuk Cha
Bugis Junction, 80 Middle Road #M01-K1, Singapore 188966
313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Road #B3-54, Singapore 238895
Junction 8, 9 Bishan Place #02-20A/21, Singapore 579837
Harbourfront Centre, 1 Maritime Square #02-01/02, Singapore 099253
Hillion Mall, 17 Petir Road #01-03/04, Singapore 678278
Nex, 23 Serangoon Central #02-12, Singapore 556083
Waterway Point, 83 Punggol Central #B1-K8, Singapore 828761
Tampines 1, 10 Tampines Central 1 #B1-K2, Singapore 529536
Jurong Point, 1 Jurong West Central 2 #02-K9/K10, Singapore 648886
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Tuk Tuk Cha Bistro
Bedok Point 799 New Upper Changi Road #02-32/34, Singapore 467351
Opening Hours: 11.30am to 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
10 Best Inexpensive Thai Restaurants In Singapore
COCA Restaurants (Ngee Ann City)
Soi 47 Thai Food (King George’s Avenue)
Siam Square Mookata (Punggol Settlement)
Ob Woon (Bedok)

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

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