[Taipei] The Taipei Michelin Guide has announced their Bib Gourmand awardees, with 24 street food stalls found in night markets included, of which 15 of them are new entries.

Interestingly, the guide chose to announce the Bib Gourmand restaurant/eateries and street food listees separately this year.

9 of last year’s awardees held their spots, which include A Nan Sesame Chicken 阿男麻油雞, Stinky Tofu Boss 臭老闆 現蒸臭豆腐, Liu Yu Zai 劉芋仔芋餅, Rong’s Pork Liver 豬肝榮仔, Chen Dong Pork Ribs Medicinal Herbs Soup 陳董藥燉排骨, Fu Zhou Shi Zu Pepper Bun 福州世祖胡椒, Hai You Pork Ribs 海友十全排骨, Liang Ji Lu Wei 梁記滷味, and Luo Ji Xiao Chao 駱記小炒.

The one name missing in action is Shi Boss Spicy Tofu 施老闆麻辣臭豆腐 from Raohe Night Market 饒河夜市.

Of all the new entries, the more familiar names should include Fang Chia Shredded Chicken on the Rice 方家雞肉飯 from Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市, Chung Chia Sheng Jian Bao 鍾家原上海生煎包 from Shilin Night Market 士林夜市, and Lan Chia Guabao 藍家割包 from Gong Guan Night Market. (I am one of the unfortunate few who been to Gong Guan several times, always to find Lan Jia closed.)

The listing remains controversial, as several worthy stalls and night markets such as Shi Da Night Market 師大夜市 remain excluded.

Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市
Fang Chia Shredded Chicken on the Rice 方家雞肉飯 (New entry)
Liu Yu Zai 劉芋仔
Rong’s Pork Liver 豬肝榮仔

Raohe Night Market 饒河夜市
A Kuo Lu Wei (New entry)
Beef Noodles and Beef Entrails Soup (New entry)
Chen Tung Pork Ribs Medicinal Herbs Soup 陳董藥燉排骨
Fu Zhou Shi Zu Pepper Bun 福州世祖胡椒

Shilin Night Market 士林夜市
Chung Chia Sheng Jian Bao 鍾家原上海生煎包 (New entry)
Good Friend Cold Noodles (New entry)
Hai Yu Pork Ribs 海友十全排骨

Linjiang Street Night Market 通化夜市
Liang Chi Lu Wei 梁記滷味
Lo Chi Hsiao Chao 駱記小炒
Tien Hsiang Stinky Tofu (New entry)
Yu Pin Yuan Iced and Hot Tangyuan (New entry)

Nanjichang Night Market 南機場夜市
A Nan Sesame Oil Chicken 阿男麻油雞
Stinky Tofu Boss 臭老闆 現蒸臭豆腐
Sung Ching Taiwanese Burrito (New entry)
Unnamed Clay Oven Roll (New entry)

Gongguan Night Market 公館夜市
Hsiung Chi Scallion Pancake (New entry)
Lan Chia Guabao 藍家割包 (New entry)

Yansan Night Market 延三夜市
Cabbage Rice and Pork Rib Soup (New entry)
Da-Qiao-Tou Tube Rice Pudding (New entry)
Shih Chia Big Rice Ball (New entry)

Huaxi Street Night Market
Hsiao Wang Steamed Minced Pork with Pickles in Broth (New entry)

Other Related Entries
Raohe Night Market 饒河夜市 (Taipei)
Shilin Night Market 士林夜市 (Shilin, Taipei)
Shi Da Night Market 師大夜市 (Da’an District, Taipei)
Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市 (Taipei)

Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

Located in Forum The Shopping Mall along Orchard Road, Cosmo Restaurant and Wine Bar is a relatively new dining venue that foodies say is a “hidden gem”.

This under-the-radar space located right in town is suitable for all occasions whether with family, friends or work colleagues. Guests have a choice of indoor, al fresco or private dining rooms

As for the food at Cosmo, it caters to the daily lunch crowd, the evening wine-and-dine goers, the tired/hungry shoppers, and now, even to brunch ‘practitioners’.

Helmed by Chef de Cuisine Michele Ow, whose signatures include Porcini Cappuccino and BBQ Pork Ribs, Cosmo Restaurant and Wine Bar has expanded its dinner menu, and has introduced new menus – All Day Breakfast and Brunch, and Local Delights.

The All-Day Breakfast Menu starts from 11:30am all the way till 5pm, serving up comforting items such as Eggs Done Any Style (scrambled, sunny side up, benedict) with toasted foccacia and salad ($12); Omelette with 3 fillings ($12), Croissant with smoked ham and Gruyère cheese; to Sweet Crepe with Bananas ($12)

Read on and discover your next new favourite at Cosmo.

All Day Breakfast – Eggs Benedict served with toasted Focaccia & salad ($12)
Start off your indulgent day with a decadent breakfast dish, Eggs Benedict. This traditional American breakfast or brunch fare is typically made with two halves of an English muffin, a poached egg, ham or bacon, and hollandaise sauce.

Instead of a muffin, Cosmo’s version is served on a toasted focaccia, a rustic Italian flat bread similar to pizza dough.

The hallmark of this dish is the poached egg cooked with precision to achieve that anticipated ooze once broken. This brekkie essential comes with a serving of a side salad.

All Day Breakfast – Crepes with smoked ham and sunny side up ($12)
Go French with a savoury galette for brunch, using very thin pancakes made with wheat flour, milk and eggs.

These crepes are served with sliced smoked ham, a cured pork leg meat with a deep, smoky aroma. And for the ultimate mark of breakfast, a sunny side up.

Enjoy this dish as a complete filling breakfast item, best with coffee and orange juice, or add to your sandwich for a heavier brunch if your hunger ensues.

All Day Breakfast – Brioche French Toast with Berries ($12)
Brioche, a type of bread with high egg and butter content, is perfect for French Toast for its rich, silky, tender crumb and paper-thin crust.

Dipped in a batter consisting of beaten eggs, cream, and sugar, the sliced brioche is heated in a skillet over medium heat to achieve a beautiful brown toast.

To complement the toasts’ sweet taste, this dish comes with some fresh sweet-tart berries.

All Day Breakfast – CROQUE Monsieur / Madame ($12)
Another classic French item in the brunch menu is Croque Monsieur (literally, “mister crunch”), a ham sandwich topped with cheese and béchamel sauce, then baked in an oven ‘til the cheese melts and forms a crunchy crust.

Turn your sandwich into Croque Madame (“missus crunch”), the same Croque Monsieur but with a poached egg on top to add a silky texture to the bite.

Local Delights – Fish noodles ($12)
It may come as a surprise that a European restaurant like Cosmo Restaurant & Wine Bar is serving up local delights. These new items are to cater to corporate diners who arrive for a quick lunch fix,

So as a tribute to local flavours, this Fish Noodle finds its way to Cosmo’s menu.

It uses bee hoon noodles in a rich fish broth, served with cuts of soft tofu and quartered tomatoes.

Featuring deep-fried snakehead fish – dubbed as “Frankenfish” for its long sharp teeth, and aggressive and reptile-like behaviour, this is a mild tasting fish with a dense, meaty, white flesh.

What I also liked was the that fried dish is served separately, so that the pieces remain crisp which you can choose to dip in the variety of condiments, or submerge into the flavourful soup.

Local Delights – Hor Fun ($12)
This local dish highlights hor fun, the thin strip Chinese rice noodle stir-fried with fish, prawns, and a rich gravy.

Add the intense heat from the wok and you get a dish with a hint of that complex charred aroma aka wok hei.

Because of how hor fun is made, this type of noodle has some porous areas which absorb the gravy and all the seafood flavours.

Oyster Monay ($8 per piece, Min 2 piece order)
Made with large Hokkaido oysters – notable for their depth of flavour and plump, juicy flesh, the Oyster Monay is a hot appetiser baked in béchamel sauce, one of the 5 mother sauces of French cuisine.

These plump and juicy Japanese oysters are made creamy and velvety with the addition of béchamel, making this dish a deliciously smooth transition to your entrée.

Other hot appetisers in the menu include Escargot with Herb Butter ($16), Foie Gras ($20), Beignets de crabe ($20) and Seared Hokkaido Scallop ($28).

Moving on to the mains, highlights include Chef Signature BBQ Pork Ribs ($28), Confit de Canard – French duck leg slow-cooked in duck fat ($32), Black Angus Grain Fed Rib Eye ($38), and King Prawns ($24).

Magret de Canard ($32)
Savour the appealing combination of flavour and textures of this main, featuring Southwestern France specialty magret de canard (duck breast), specifically the breast of a Mulard or Muscovy (a.k.a. Barbary) duck.

Oven-roasted, the thick fat between duck breast and skin is rendered out without overcooking the meat.

The lean and dark-coloured duck meat achieves a deep flavour contrasting the crisp, golden skin carrying a rich flavour.

Served with deep-friend Brussel sprouts and a red wine berry sauce.

Rack of Lamb ($38)
Crusted with a blended mixture of salt, black pepper, bread crumbs, finely chopped herbs (mint, parsley, rosemary), and olive oil, the ribs are seasoned and oven roasted until tender.

Served with carrot puree and gratin Dauphinoise, a south-eastern French dish of sliced potatoes baked in cream.

Vegan’s Heaven ($22)
This next main dish will appeal to vegans, vegetarians, and everyone else who wants to skip meat but not skimp on flavours.

Featuring fresh trimmed asparagus, seasoned and roasted, with bright and clean flavours with earthy undertones.

These veggie spears are accompanied with sautéed Idaho potatoes and onions to serve as starch. Finally, pieces of Swiss brown mushrooms are thrown in to add a bold, robust flavour to the dish.

A melange of flavours sans meat.

Pan-fried Coral Trout ($38)
If you prefer fish for your main, try the Coral Trout, a colourful reef fish sought after for its fine, white flakes with a delicate sweet flavour.

It is often served whole to show off its impressive appearance.

Pan-fried to a golden brown, this dish comes with grilled King Oyster mushrooms, wilted spinach leaves, and a fennel-infused broth.

Prime Ribs ($350 for 2 ribs, $500 for 3 ribs, advance order of minimum one day is required.)
Steak lovers often obsess over a prime rib roast, also known as standing rib roast, because of both its tenderness and rich flavour. This item debuted during Christmas, became popular enough and a mainstay.

Cut from the primal cow’s rib, it’s one of the prized meat-cuts out there, quite high in fat content –do reserve for a special meal.

These ribs (come in 2-ribs and 3-ribs options) are slow roasted to maximize its tenderness and preserve its succulence.

An order comes with sidings of potato gratin, asparagus and sautéed buttered greens. This premium main is available only with an advanced 24-hour order.

Chocolate Moelleux ($8)
Every good meal must come to an end, and Cosmo’s Chocolate Moelleaux is a fitting finish.

The moelleaux au chocolat is a small, hot French-style chocolate pudding filled with liquid chocolate that floods your plate once the cake is broken into.

Soft like a soufflé, the luscious dessert (moelleaux is French for soft) is served a la mode with a mix of berry and vanilla ice cream.

For a sweet ending, you can also choose the Crème Brûlée ($8) of vanilla flavoured custard base with caramelised top.

Cosmo X DanielFoodDiary.com Exclusive Promotion (April 2019)
Receive 18% OFF the total bill, applicable to Cosmo Restaurant & Wine Bar’s A la Carte items and Set Menus.

Terms and conditions:
– Applicable only to A la Carte items and Set Menus. Not to be used in conjunction with other promo codes.
– 18% OFF total bill, excluding Fine Wines
– Promotion valid from 3rd April 2019 (Wed) to 30th April (Tues). Offer excludes eve of PH, PH and special occasions.
– Please quote “DanielFoodDiary” upon reservation to enjoy the promotion.
– Reservation via Email info@cosmowinebar.com, OR Tel +65 6365 2789
– Not valid in conjunction with other promotions, discount cards, and promotional vouchers.
– Prices quoted are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing Goods & Services tax, unless otherwise stated.

Cosmo Restaurant & Wine Bar
Orchard Road #01-22/23 Forum The Shopping Mall Singapore 238884
Tel: +65 6365 2789
Email: info@cosmowinebar.com
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 12am (Mon – Sun), Last Order For Mains 9:30pm, Bar Bites 11:30pm
http://www.cosmowinebar.com

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

Interesting. This pop-up café will feature two popular and well-loved characters – Precious Moments and Care Bears.

This is the first of its kind co-branded, cross over pop-up café in Singapore, and also the first co-branded Precious Moments and Care Bears pop-up café in the world.

I must have one of those Precious Moments figurines around.

Precious Moments was created by Sam Butcher whose passion was to make the world a better place by helping others share the gift of love.

The pop-up café will be located at Kumoya, a Japanese-French café which offers food with no pork and lard, and no alcohol. Kumoya is no stranger to character cafes, also behind Miffy Café, Cinnamoroll Café, Tokidoki, to Pusheen Cafe pop-up concepts.

The menu will also feature Precious Moments + Care Bears inspired mains, desserts and beverages, specially designed by @LittleMissBento (Shirley Wong) together with the Kumoya kitchen team.

Shirley is also behind the menu design of several Character Cafes in Singapore, including Gudetama Café and My Melody Café Singapore at Suntec City.

The café is not Halal-certified, though it has no pork, no lard and no alcohol served.

There will be a total of 6 snacks, 4 mains, 4 desserts and 8 beverages served. Some of the highlights include:

Fun-in-the-Sun Chicken Katsu Burger ($22.90)
Chicken Katsu burger with teriyaki sauce, accompanied by crispy curly fries, fresh garden salad, cute cheese hearts and mushroom cream soup with cute prints.

Spread the Love Seafood Tempura rice with butterfly pea flower cream sauce ($28.90)
Japanese rice with soft egg crepe, butterfly pea flower cream sauce, breaded ebi, calamari, scallop, fresh tempura salmon, fresh garden salads, cute cheese and chicken ham hearts.

Chicken Spam Fries ($12.90)
Addictive chicken Spam “fries”, deep-fried to golden goodness.

Grumpy Bear’s Big Caring Hug Breakfast “High-Tea” set ($32.90 for 1-2 pax)
3-tiered breakfast of Grumpy Bear blue berry buttermilk pancakes, sauteed mushroom tart, baked bean tart, mini scrambled egg cup, cute hearts chicken ham and cheese roll, chicken cocktail sausage and chicken patty.

Follow your Heart Caramel Waffles ($21.90)
Homemade buttery waffles with fresh-churned Hokkaido soft serve, cute printed macaron shell, mini maple madeleines, cute marshmallow hearts, granola crunch, fresh berries and caramelised bananas.

Perfect Harmony Iced Latte ($10.90)
Brewed with mild Japanese coffee beans, topped with cute Harmony bear butter cookie, fresh cream, strawberry wafer stick, magic sprinkles and cute straw design.

Hug with Care Hot Latte ($9.90)
Handcrafted latte made with UCC Japanese coffee beans, strawberry wafer stirrer, cute Precious Moments and Care Bears limited-edition Grumpy bear prints.

Note: There is a minimum spend of $10.00 per person. Also, the dining time may be limited to 90 minutes during peak periods.

Precious Moments and Care Bears Pop-Up Café
Kumoya @ 8 Jalan Klapa Singapore 199320
Opening Hours: 12.00pm – 9.30pm (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sun), 12.00pm – 10.30pm (Fri, Sat), Last Order 30 minutes before closing, Closed Mon
Duration: 18 April 2019 (Thurs) to 30 June 2019 (Sun)

Other Related Entries
8 Character Cafes In Singapore
My Melody Café Singapore (Suntec City)
DC Super Heroes Café (Takashimaya)
Gudetama Café Singapore (Suntec City)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Photos provided by Kumoya Cafe.

I generally find Tanjong Pagar Food Centre under-rated compared to other CBD food centres such as Maxwell Food Centre and Amoy Street Food Centre, and there are still some gems to be discovered.

Although modest in size, Tanjong Pagar Food Centre is a bustling weekday lunch venue.

It offers diners a great choice of inexpensive and aroy Thai food via the Issan Thai Food stall, located on the second level.

Tip: Heading there for an early dinner would mean less of a crowd, and you can have their Thai food at a much cooler environment.

The stall is also listed in Singapore’s Michelin Guide, considering not bad as there are only 2 other Thai establishments on the list – Yhingthai Palace (Bib Gourmand) and Long Chim (Michelin Plate).

While it is a 2-women show (1 cook, 1 cashier) at the stall, they serve up quite a repertoire of dishes, some wok-fried on the spot, from Thai Fried Rice ($5.00), Basil Rice ($5.00), Hor Fun ($5.00), Pineapple Fried Rice ($4.80), Tom Yum Fried Rice ($4.80), Fried Kang Kang ($5.50), Fried Omelette ($4.50), to Fried Kai Lan ($5.50).

Alongside other Thai staples of Tom Yum Soup with Rice ($6.00), Phai Thai ($5.00), and Green Curry with Rice ($6.00).

There were some not bad dishes, while a couple were more ordinary.

Given a choice, I would recommend their Pad Thai noodles ($4.50) served with rice noodles, 2 tail-on prawns, bean curd, egg, bean sprouts, and a wedge of lime on the side.

Like any Thai dish that balances all the flavours, this noodle dish tastes sweet, sour, spicy and savoury all at the same time.

The distinguishing factor was that it had wok-hei and was deliciously-moist.

Their Basil Chicken Rice ($5), also a bestseller, is made with minced chicken cooked in oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and basil, and served with steamed rice topped with a fried egg.

Another popular Thai dish is their version of Fried Rice ($4.50, $5.00 with egg), made with slivers of green mango, onion, crispy ikan bilis, and chunks of chicken.

Some of their other dishes were more average-tasting, say the Green Curry ($6.00) and Tom Yum ($6.00) which had fishballs within.

If you come looking for “Michelin” standards in these dishes, I would say that Soi 47 and Nakhon are about there.

But I enjoyed the Pad Thai I had, which was a cut above the rest.

While the taste may not be the most authentic around (probably tamed down on the spice levels to suit the office workers), it is worth a visit if you have Thai-food cravings in the vicinity.

Issan Thai Food 泰国东北美食
6 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #02-13 Tanjong Pagar Market and Food Centre, Singapore 081006
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 8pm (Mon-Sat), Closed on Sun

Other Related Entries
10 Best Inexpensive Thai Restaurants In Singapore
Soi 47 Thai Food (King George’s Avenue)
Siam Square Mookata (Punggol Settlement)
Kra Pow Thai Restaurant (Far East Plaza)
Ob Woon (Bedok)

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

It’s all about the sauce, sauce, sauce.

Located along the Upper Thomson “foodie” stretch and nearby MRT stations Marymount, Bishan, and Caldecott, Molten Diners is an under-the-radar café-eatery waiting to be discovered.

One of the reasons why this is called Molten Diners are the unique combination of sauces concocted by the chefs.

You will find anything from Gorgonzola Blue Cheese, Yuzu Butter, Pumpkin Salted Egg, Harisa Chilli Salsa, Karala Creamy White Pepper, Mushroom Swiss, to Japanese Katsu Curry sauces in the menu.

Accordingly, they go the extra mile to use high-quality meats in their specials, such as grass-fed Australian ribeye and Wagyu beef, so expect to find good textures and flavours.

Aside from its meat and seafood specials, Molten Diners also includes a wide selection of appetisers, pasta, and desserts. For fries alone, I found at least 8 types. More on that later.

Each main comes with a choice of 2 sides, from Mac & Cheese, Baked Country Beans, Onion Rings, Curly Fries, Mash Potatoes to Baked Raisin Rice. (Also, check out our recommended pairings below.)

Here are some of the saucy-specials you can find at Molten Diners:

”The Twist” Lava Golden Crispy Fish Fillet ($14.90)
Did you grow up eating Twisties or Fish and Chips? Now you can have them here… together!

This unique and creative dish features a golden-fried breaded fish fillet slathered with a cheese sauce then topped with mortar-pounded cheese-flavoured (real) Twisties.

This iconic Aussie snack brand has been around for more than 50 years, who would’ve thought you’d eat these curls powdered on your plate? Plus a wedge of lemon for some zing.

For those who want something different.

Recommended to be served with Ratatouille and Mash Potatoes on the side. While I thought the Ratatouille may not be the strongest, the Mash were softer, saucier (of course) and not-as-artificial as what may expect. A must-get side for your mains.

Kerala Creamy White Pepper AUS Grain-fed Ribeye 120 Days ($26.90, for 250g)
This Molten special is Singapore’s first, using a sauce popular in Kerala, a state in south India.

Made Kerala-style with milk, butter, white flour, chili flakes and pepper, this white sauce achieves a creamy consistency and a very slight-spicy taste.

The sauce is then laden over a generous 250g-slice of Australian grain-fed beef from cattle finished on grain for 120 days. A flavourful slab of meat, and one of our favourite mains.

You can choose to go with sides of small bowl of Creamy Corn kernels, and mixed Baby Mesclun Salad.

Harissa Chilli Salsa Chicken Steak ($13.90)
If you prefer white meat, go for the chicken steak smothered with a bright red harissa-based sauce.

Harissa, popularly used in Northern African and Middle Eastern cuisine, is a spicy and aromatic Tunisian condiment made with smoked red chili peppers, garlic, olive oil and spices like cumin, coriander, caraway and mint.

This spicy sauce goes well with the mild taste of chicken, accompanied with Creamy Broccoli and Curly Fries.

Katsu Curry Chicken Schnitzel ($13.90) with Edamame and Fusilli Pasta
This special is a marriage of Japanese flavours and Austrian-original technique, where you get a schnitzel, a thin piece of meat, in this case chicken, breaded then deep-fried.

Similar to a tonkatsu, the chicken schnitzel is served with a splash of katsu curry sauce and a few pieces of carrots and peppers.

Compared to the typical chicken cutlets or tonkatsu, this chicken slab is thinner and thus it is easier to cut through, and you may appreciate the light crispiness better.

To complement the flavours, get a small side of fusilli pasta (I suspect there is truffle oil drizzled inside) and edamame.

Yuzu Butter Char Grilled Scottish Salmon ($21.90)
Scottish Salmon is also one of the milder-flavoured salmon available. Because of the frigid waters and strong currents in the coasts of Scotland, this salmon has a high fat-content lending to a buttery texture mouth-feel.

Cooked by simply grilling, the salmon remains naturally sweet, juicy and tender, drizzled over with citrusy velvety yuzu butter sauce which adds a refreshing kick.

One of the most popular dishes in the line-up, complement this with crunchy deep-fried Onion Rings and your choice of Baked Raisin Rice or Soba Noodles.

Mushroom Swiss Classic Cheese Wagyu Burger ($18.90)
The classic mushroom and cheese burger combo is “Wagyufied” in this heavyweight beef sandwich made for those who want something filling.

Imagine a juicy Wagyu beef patty drenched in melted (or should I say, molten?) Swiss cheese interspersed with soft pieces of mushrooms.

IG this special burger served in a trendy seeded charcoal burger bun, made black with the addition of activated charcoal into a mix of wheat and soy flours, canola oil, iodised salt, sesame seeds, and honey.

Get some sides of Shoestring Fries, Baked Country Beans or Mac & Cheese to pair along.

House Special Chicken Wings ($7.90 for 5 pieces)
Moving on to the appetisers, offerings include Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup ($3.90), Jalapeno Cheese Croquettes ($4.90), Calamari ($5.90), Chicken Gyoza ($5.90), Wasabi Shrimp ($7.90) , Crispy Golden Oysters ($8.90), to the House Special Chicken Wings ($7.90).

With a mild har cheong (prawn paste) taste, these chicken wings are deep-fried to achieve a balance of outside crispness and juiciness inside.

It has that signature aroma that makes this dish truly one of a kind. Although it comes in 2-pieces ($2.90) or 5-pieces ($7.90) per order options, go for the 5.

Those who have tasted this house special appetiser have nothing but praise for it.

If you come in a pair or group, can be a good choice to get the Appetiser Platter ($18.90) which includes these Chicken Wings, Calamari, Gyoza and Truffle Fries.

House Special Foie Gras with Raisin Sauce ($12.90)
The house special, a slice of pan seared duck foie gras, paired with a sweet sauce using wine-soaked raisins to contrast its taste and texture.

“The Twist” Curry Fries ($4.90)
Another appetiser, perhaps found only here, are deep-fried curry-flavoured crispy potatoes coated in powdered Twisties (yes, the snack curls).

As they say, “We shake it for you!”, enjoy the wonderful crunch of Twisties shaken along with the hot-off-the-fryer fries upon order.

And so I earlier mentioned there are at least 8 types of fries… you can also get your hands on Shoestring, Parmesan Cheese, Seaweed, Pumpkin Salted Egg, Sweet Potato (do they count), Truffle and Curly Fries.

Valhrona Chocolate Fondant with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream ($8.90)
Any day is worth celebrating and this dessert is a satisfying way to culminate that celebration.

The cake is baked using premium gourmet French chocolate brand. A hot-cold type of dessert composed of warm chocolate cake filled with liquid chocolate side-by-side with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

Watch how the molten chocolate flows when you cut it apart.

Molten Speciality Chocolate Lava Mud Pie ($12.90)
If you are feeling indulgent, there is also the 3-layered Mud Pie, drizzled over with chocolate lava. Would need to share the calories.

Enjoy all of these dishes from Molten Diners as you refresh yourself with their special cooler, Molten Signature ($3.20 regular/$4.90 large) available in lychee, passionfruit or lime.

Or go for their Homemade Ice Lemon Tea ($2.20 regular/$3.80 large) using calamansi instead of the usual lemon as the main citrus flavouring.

A family and kid friendly place, Molten Diners is designed counter-style where you line-up to a cashier to order and pay. Tables are perfect for groups, and outdoor seating is also available.

Open ‘til 11pm on weekdays and 2am on Friday and Saturday, it’s where you can hang out with friends over affordable dishes – there is no service charge, no GST here. You can call for a reservation, but walk-ins are welcomed.

Molten Diners
246 Upper Thomson Road Singapore 574370
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm Last Order 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 2am Last Order 1am (Fri – Sat)
https://www.facebook.com/moltendiners/

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Molten Diners.

After writing about some of the more popular hawker centres in Singapore, I thought I should move on to the more under-rated and less talked about ones.

Redhill Food Centre at 85 Redhill Lane is just a few minutes away from the Redhill MRT Station, and is lined up with a wide assortment of food stalls.

I usually come here at night, where just a couple of stalls are opened and you would find uncles hanging around for supper and beer, complaining about what else… the G.

Morning is a different story, bustling with energy. Tip: Look out for those stalls with moderately long queues and opened for just that few hours a day.

This is really where you can find “cheap and good” stalls.

Like Lan Xing Delight which serves up cai peng with one meat and two vegetables for an astonishing $2.50. And it can be pretty filling.

Okay, whenever I write such hawker food guides, I get ‘scolded’ for leaving out this and that stall. Need to say I only have that amount of stomach space, but have stalls such as Ali Fatimah, Shi Le Yuan Teochew Porridge, Ru Ji Kitchen (fishballs), Hock Shun Traditional Home-made Curry, and Rong Xing La Mian Xiao Long Bao bookmarked.

(And so to clarify, whenever I write such food guides, I go to the hawker centre about 5-10 times, try out one by one.) Here are the 10 must-try stalls at Redhill Food Centre:

Bak Kee Teochew Satay Bee Hoon
#01-40 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 8pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sun), Closed Wed

Satay Bee Hoon is a fast-disappearing dish in Singapore, and you cannot find it in many food centres already.

Bak Kee Teochew Satay Bee Hoon is worthy of mention for its warm and comforting peanut sauce which got the consistency just right.

The stalls serves up Satay Bee Hoon, Cuttle Fish Kang Kong and Cuttle Fish Kang Kong Bee Hoon.

Even if you are not a big fan of this dish, you may be a convert after trying their version, with many customers queuing up to 15 to 20 minutes to get their hands on a plate.

Their Satay Bee Hoon ($3, $4, $5) peanut sauce was fresh and fragrant with the aroma of peanuts, sweetness not overpowering with just a tad of spiciness. While some of the other stalls have sauces that have that nuttier texture, this feels just right and coats the thin vermicelli evenly.

The portion size is quite generous with cuttlefish, liver, tender pork slices, tau pok, blood clams and strands of kang kong.

Hua Kee Chicken Rice
#01-72 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 12:30pm (Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun), Closed Mon, Tues, Thurs

Funny that there are so many “best chicken rice in Singapore” but not many actually listed Hua Kee. I would reckon its fans would rate this as the Number 1 stall, above those highly raved and famous ones.

Hua Kee Chicken Rice stall has been running successfully for over 30 years with their special family recipe made with a lot of heart and attention. The stall is always packed with people and the queue is long if you come in peak afternoon hours.

I got my plate of chicken rice after queuing for about half an hour.

The Chicken Rice (starts at $3) was quite tasty with chunks of tender, succulent chicken with fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock. The poached chicken was not overly greasy or saucy, in fact still tasted slightly ‘cold’, but had this smoothness which was quite alluring.

The rice while fluffy, was not that greasy as well, and some people may find the need to drizzle more chilli sauce and dark sauce over. Simple but worth queueing for.

Hong Seng Curry Rice
#01-74 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

This cheap and good food stall is run by 2nd gen hawker whose family has been in the same business for over 20 years.

The choices at this stall make it stand out, as there are 20 plus different dishes cooked on a daily basis.

Recommended dishes include Pork Chop, Char Siew, Braised Pig’s Trotters, Dong Po Pork, Boneless Curry Chicken, Curry Sotong, and Prawn Fritters. Pork Chop – must get.

If you are hungry for more, there are also the Pork Meatballs, Ikan Billis, Cabbage, Stir-Fried Long Bean, and Chye Poh Omelette. Prices go from $0.70 per portion to say $4 – $6 for the fish.

Come in a group, order a small variety, and when you add everything up, you really this rice stall is really quite economical.

Yan Fried Bee Hoon 焱
#01-09 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 8pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 6pm (Sat), Closed Sun

This was the famous chicken wings that PM Lee Hsien Loong stood in queue for.

However, on that note, it is said that the original owner has moved to 726 Clementi West Street 2 (West Coast Market), while the new owners changed the name of the stall slightly (not many will discover the difference).

While standard may not be quite the same as before, these crisp and somewhat oily chicken wings ($1.20) are still worth it for an indulgent supper treat.

Pair this up with some Bee Hoon ($0.60), which I would always pour some sweet chilli sauce over, added with other deep fried items of luncheon meat, fish cakes and sausages ($0.50 – $1).

Fei Zai Xiang Roasted Meat
#01-91 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Their Char Siew is quite the bomb.

When you are in the mood for roasted meat, the Fei Zai Xiang is the stall you should head, located facing the side road.

Even though there is usually a short queue, the stall is quite fast and get your orders out quick. They serve up a variety of Hong Kong roast rice and noodle dishes, such as Char Siew Rice, Roasted Duck Rice, Roasted Meat Rice, Wanton Noodles and Dumpling Noodles. Priced between $3 to $5.

The Wanton Noodles ($3.50) had noodles that were the thin, springy Hong Kong style, topped with caramelized char siew slices that were quite thick, rich and fatty.

Not super famous, but worth a mention for its portion and well-charred meats.

Seng Heng Braised Duck Noodles
#01-28 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 11:30am (Mon – Sun)

This is one of those breakfast places only, and I would suggest going early as they usually run out by 10plus 11am.

The Hokkien-style braised duck has a very authentic taste and flavor, with just the right blend of spices.

The meat while slightly on the lean side with a bit of gaminess, still had tender texture and succulent flavor. The chili really spikes up the taste of noodles and compliments the whole dish quite well.

As for the soup, it had the essence of the duck bones and some herbals which gave it added richness.

Shi Le Yuan
#01-82 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

I really think this is one of the best Kway Chap you can find in Singapore – the kway (rice noodles) was so smooth. (Note: There is also a Shi Le Yuan Teochew Muay in the same food centre.)

This stall was once listed in the Michelin Guide Singapore in 2017.

The Kway Chap is priced at $3 or $4 for individual portion, $6 or $7 if you intend to share.

It is accompanied with an assortment of ingredients like pig’s intestine and skin, fish cake, hard-boiled eggs, tau pok, and tofu, all braised together in the sauce. I enjoyed that the intestines were soft and without that wonky after-taste.

Also available are Pig’s Organ Soup and Meat Ball Soup. The couple-hawkers were friendly and sincere as well.

Fu Ming Carrot Cake
#01-49 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
Phone: +65 9641 0565
Opening Hours: 3pm – 1am (Mon – Sat), 6am – 1am (Sun)

I usually head over here for supper, and when not worried about counting calories. To look out for the stall, find the “Mickey Mouse” on their signboard.

Fu Ming Cooked Food is quite popular as a supper treat for its Fried Carrot Cakes ($3, $4, $5), available in both white or black versions.

Good to know that this stall still steams their own carrot cake, and thus you would find it softer and more watery, compared to many others who simply get their supply from factories.

Usually I would go for the white versions in most stall, but somehow I prefer the black here.

There is this soft texture and flavor along with hint of radishes, some pieces of eggs, dribbled with sweet black sauce which was added twice for extra sweetness. You may find it slightly sweet and greasy though.

Jia Xiang Mee Siam
#01-35 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm (Mon – Fri, Sun), 11:30am – 5pm (Sat)

Two words – old school!

There is usually a steady queue for the Mee Siam ($3), Lontong ($3) and Nasi Lemak ($3). All of which were reasonably priced considering the portion size.

The owner has been serving up Mee Siam for more than 50 years, having learnt the recipe from her mother. Don’t be fooled by the faded signboard, because it is the food that really matters.

You get a myriad of ingredients spread atop the orange bee hoon such as hard boiled eggs, tau pork, tiny fried croutons, a thin piece eggs, fried ikan billis, and finished with a dollop of chilli.

Once you taste the gravy, you know where the magic is – the right proportion of sourness with that zing. Very addictive.

Qing Tian Desserts 青天冷热甜品
#01-60 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
Opening Hours: 4pm – 11pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon – Tues

The stall got enough more famous when PM Lee Hsien Loong was spotted queuing for it, with special note of the “dancing uncle” and techno music. (He said he would do an Instagram video thenext time, which I think didn’t happen.)

While uncle didn’t dance when I was there, he was still very jovial and ‘moving around’.

This stall serves up quite a variety of both hot and cold desserts, from Cendol, Sea Coconut Iced Jelly, Ice Kachang, Cheng Tng, Red Bean Sauce To Mango Pudding Cocktail.

Redhill Food Centre
85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085 (Redhill MRT Station

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

There are basically three main types of Bak Kut Teh (pork rib soup) that can be found in Singapore.

The Teochew style which is lighter with more pepper and garlic – probably most commonly found here; the Cantonese with stronger flavoured soup and herbal taste; and the Hokkien with darker soup with usage of soy sauce and herbs.

Leon Kee Claypot Pork Rib Soup 諒記砂鍋當歸肉骨茶 at Alexandra Village Food Centre is home to Hokkien style of Bak Kuh Teh (pork rib soup) served in a traditional claypot – similar to the typical Malaysian versions.

The menu is quite wide-ranging from Pork Rib Soup ($5, $5 $10), Pig Tail Soup ($5, $6, $10), Pig Trotter ($5, $6, $10), to Claypot Prawn Noodles ($5, $8), Meat Ball Soup ($5, $8), and Claypot Liver ($10, $12).

As there are other items added on to the menu board pasted by paper, it can look pretty confusing to a first-time visitor.

You would find other food such as Omelette Rice ($3.50), Claypot Oyster Omelette ($10, $12) to Braised Pork Rice ($4.00).

While most claypot stalls can take a while to serve, I would say I waited at most about 10 to 15 minutes.

Available in different portion sizes, Leon Kee’s signature Pork Rib Soup ($5, $6, $10) is prepared using a flavourful, not-too-thick broth cooked with different Chinese herbs.

While there are fans who say this is possibly close to what you can find in Malaysia, I thought in comparison there wasn’t that strong herbal taste and full-bodied flavours.

I would say the broth was somewhere in the middle, in terms of heartiness, intensity and how hot it was. It won’t make you sweat like the usual peppery ones.

Well, at least the pork ribs were slide-off-the-bone tender.

Some of the other items, such as Pig Stomach Soup ($5, $6, $10) and Meat Ball Soup ($5, $8) were cooked in the same broth.

You can also go for the Braised Pork version ($4, $8, $10), best paired with some rice or vermicelli.

Unlike many other stalls, the pork belly, liver and intestines here are well-prepared leaving little trace of the usual offal smell.

There were some other dishes which didn’t work as well. For example, you may have certain expectations of Prawn Noodles ($5, $8) imagining some rich seafood flavours, but do keep in mind the base is a light pork broth.

So, you may feel there is something missing there.

I was intrigued by the Oyster Mee Sua ($5) with the menu photo looking like those thick and gooey variants sold in Taiwanese street markets.

Photo vs reality. That was probably a wrong stock photo used, as what I was served was Mee Sua in the soupy herbal pork broth. Not quite the same.

On the menu is also Claypot Omelette ($3, $5) with the eggs cooked direct in the pot. Interesting.

By the way, Leon Kee Claypot Pork Rib Soup is recommended by the Michelin Guide Singapore, listed under “Michelin Plate”.

Leon Kee Claypot Pork Rib Soup 諒記砂鍋當歸肉骨茶
120 Bukit Merah Lane, #01-18 Alexandra Village Food Centre, Singapore 150120
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sun), Closed Wed

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Ah Er Soup (ABC 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.

Pek Kio Food Centre has its own legion of fans for its old school charm, and offers a lot of pocket-friendly stalls with local specialties.

Okay, I have been to Pek Kio Food Centre quite a number of times, but never really took note of this Hokkien Mee stall.

Perhaps it is due to its opening hours of 11:30am to 5pm – opened too late for breakfast, closed too early for dinner.

Talk about Hokkien Mee and we have our favourites from Tiong Bahru Yi Sheng Fried Hokkien Mee at ABC Food Centre, Come Daily Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee at Toa Payoh to Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Mee at Serangoon Garden.

I would reckon that Sheng Seng Fried Prawn Noodles 生成炒虾麵 has a certain nostalgic taste that its regulars like.

The stall is also 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.”)

Popular for its value-for-money Hokkien mee, Sheng Seng Fried Prawn Noodles offers its specialty starting at $3.00. Also available at $4, $5, $6.

For the price, you get a decent heap of noodles with prawns and squid with an old-school flair.

This wetter than usual version consists a good portion of a mix of thick and thin bee hoon and yellow noodles, served with thin slices of sotong, halved prawns, pieces of fishcake, egg, home-made sambal chili and some lime on the side.

Fishcakes are not that commonly incorporated, and some people may find this reminding them of Char Kway Teow.

The noodles are on soft and on cooked on the soggy side which some people may like.

In terms of flavours, I thought it lacked that strong ‘seafoody’ and prawn stock base, that customers with 重口味 (who generally prefer something more flavourful) may not fancy.

The sweet chilli sauce was delicious though.

There’s always a queue at this stall but it does clear up fast. Given the price, this dish will fill up your tummy affordably.

Sheng Seng Fried Prawn Noodles 生成炒虾麵
41A Cambridge Road, #01-40 Pek Kio Market and Food Centre, Singapore 211041
Tel: +65 6299 3981
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 5pm (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon

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

When is the last time you read a book?

Or can you name a book published by a Singapore author?

Singapore’s largest independent publisher, Epigram Books has opened a 980 square feet brick-and-mortar bookstore right at URA Centre, with 90% of the books on display written by Singaporean authors, published locally or all about Singapore.

Their slogan “Hold Singapore In Your Hands” supports the notion of picking up a book alongside a cup of local-styled coffee.

This is a major step forward in the local literature scene and a place to showcase local talents (more than just Russell Lee known for his True Singapore Ghost Stories).

Over here, you can see many uniquely Singapore’s titles such as “Let’s Give It Up for Gimme Lao!”, “The Good, the Bad and the PSLE” and “9th of August”.

As I sit down and enjoy my cup of caffeine from Huggs Coffee in the 40-seaters space, the most eye-catching and alluring part of this place is the 11-metres long bookshelf.

This spans all the way from the ceiling to the floor, housing 11 rows and 38 columns – which means more than 400 titles.

Don’t worry about the books falling from the top rows even though they are really placed quite high up above the ground (because that’s one of the concerns from my neighbouring table).

The aesthetically-presented bookshelf is easy to spot from a distance, especially when the walls are made of glass with ample natural sunlight shining through.

Cue the Instagrammers, who may love this place for a different reason.

Something different from other bookstores is that there will be an Author-in-Attendance almost everyday in the bookstore.

This is specially arranged such that the local author can share inspirations behind the writing, and you may be able to get a signature on the spot too.

In collaboration with Huggs Coffee to provide a space for quick bite and drinks while books browsing, there are interesting local items on the menu.

This includes beverages of Tumeric Latte ($5), Latte Gula ($5), Sumatra Kopi/ Kopi Si/ Kopi O ($1.80/ $2/ $1.60), Milk Teh Si ($2) and Masala Tea ($2.20).

I had the Latte Gula ($5) with double shots of espresso and gula melaka which is quite unique with coconut taste in it derived from palm sugar.

A refreshing treat on a hot day.

Savoury bites include Black Pepper or Thai Chicken Wrap ($5), Masala Vegetarian Wrap ($5), Red Velvet or Ondeh Gula Melaka, Earl Grey Hazelnut, and Choco Truffle Cake ($6.80)

Even though the Red Velvet Cake ($6.80) might seem artificial with that shade of red, it was surprisingly soft and moist, with moist layers of cream cheese frosting in between that added some creaminess.

It is heartwarming to see a local publisher taking the initiative to support local authors by providing a space for their voice to be heard and their talent to be appreciated.

This step forward may encourage more people to pick up a book to read while chilling and café-hopping.

Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop
The URA Centre, 45 Maxwell Road, #01-01, Singapore 069118
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 2pm (Sat), Closed Sun

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

After CNN named “Cendol from Singapore” as one of the 50 world’s best desserts, there was an uproar on social media about the dessert’s origin.

Let’s not dwell further on that.

Cendol (or “Chendol”) is a sweet iced dessert known for its mixture of ingredients from the signature green rice flour jelly, to coconut milk and palm sugar (Gula Melaka).

Some add in other ingredients such as red bean, sweet corn and attap chee.

Most stalls in Singapore serve Chendol as part of their huge dessert repertoire; and some may choose to add in ingredients that lang-ga (clash) from glass jelly to agar agar cubes. One word – No.

With the increasingly HOT weather, this makes such a refreshing treat in the staggering heat. After recommendations from readers, I went around to try some of the most fragrant and delicious Cendol in Singapore:

Jin Jin Hot / Cold Dessert
6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-21 ABC Brickworks Market Food Centre, Singapore 150006
Tel: +65 9093 2018
Opening Hours: 12:30pm – 10pm (Tues, Thurs – Sun), Closed Mon, Wed

Other than the signature Gangster Ice (Liu Mang Durian + Mango dessert), Jin Jin at ABC Brickworks Food Centre Hawker enjoys a steady line of customers waiting to get a taste of the Power Chendol. (Tip: Have it after the Tiong Bahru Yi Sheng Fried Hokkien Mee, which is located just opposite.)

The stall is helmed by Calvin and Ewan, two friends who originally did not know anything about making desserts but proceeded to revive the stall when the original owner wanted to close it down.

Prices of the desserts still remain about $1.50 and $2.00 on average.

The stall received top votes at the Singapore Food Festival, and their fame lies in their delicious bowl of Power Chendol.

Priced at $2, you get generous servings of ingredients, drizzled with thick Gula Melaka syrup imported from Indonesia and cooked daily by the stall owners.

It is called ‘Power Chendol’ for a reason. The Gula Melaka was thick, flavourful and mildly sticky, almost like glue sticking on top of the mini-hill. The gooey and heavy palm sugar imparted an intense and rich flavor.

The ice is rather compact, so may need some ‘knocking’ from the spoon to hit it apart and mix the syrup all in, which otherwise may be too sweet. Otherwise, very shiok.

Four Seasons Chendol 四季煎蕊
210 #01-07 Lor 8 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310210
Tel: +65 8720 1124
Opening Hours: 11am – 12:30am (Mon – Sun)
New branch at 724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6.

Four Seasons Cendol is commonly recognized by many to serve the best cendol in Singapore. Other than an outlet at Toa Payoh Lor 8, I just discovered a branch at Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 Food Centre.

Keep your expectations high when you visit this place for a rich and creamy bowl of sugary delight.

Every bowl is prepared on order and swiftly put together within a minute so you don’t have to wait too long. It is exceptionally tasty and the presentation is also Instagram worthy (shoot your photos fast in this hot weather though).

I got myself a bowl of Cendol for $2.20. The bowls already have attap seeds and red beans, filled up with thick green jelly and ice shavings in a perfect dome of deliciousness.

The gooey Gula Melaka topping gave the cendol an appeasing, sweet lingering aroma. Special mention goes to the big red beans which were very soft (there are no small red beans by the way.)

The stall opens till 12:30am by the way. Chendol for supper? No problem.

Dove Desserts
22 Lor 7 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310022
Tel: +65 9272 5712
Opening Hours: 11am – 6pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Seems like the famous Cendol stalls are found at Toa Payoh.

Dove Desserts probably serves up one the cheapest bowl of Chendol at $1.80, although you can pay 70 cents extra for durian puree topping. (The Cheng Tng is only $1.20 by the way.)

The Chendol at Dove Desserts is freshly prepared, with generous ingredients.

I loved the springy and mildly fragrant jade green ‘worms’. While there is no one component that stand out, I thought that all ingredients balanced well, and complimented the Gula Melaka and creamy coconut milk. Ice was not too coarse as well.

Note: Sometimes they are sold out way before closing hours.

Old Amoy Chendol (Used to be at 335 Smith St, Chinatown Point Food Centre)
F&B12 Trengganu Street, Singapore 058466
Tel: +65 8748 7590
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun) (Monitor their Facebook as they may close from time to time)

Run by young hawkers, I would say that Old Amoy Chendol is one of the best versions I had in Singapore, with rich and thick Gula Melaka.

It used to be located at Chinatown Food Centre, and has moved to F&B12 Trengganu Street as the hawker centre is undergoing renovations.

Get a delicious bowl of the famous cold dessert at only $2 for a bowl, and this stall with 4 seats is dedicated to just this one dessert.

From Gula Melaka to the green jelly, everything is prepared fresh from scratch every single day

It was light with a lovely coconut taste, smoky and fragrant Gula Melaka to complement the soft and sweet red beans.

The surprisingly element was the soft green jelly which had a distinct pandan fragrance. However, I tried it again recently and thought the ingredients weren’t as ‘full’ as before.

The Coconut Club
6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787
Tel: +65 6635 2999
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Sat), 11am – 3pm (Sun)

The Coconut Club at Ann Siang Hill which received the Michelin Bib Gourmand, is actually famous not only for the Nasi Lemak, but Cendol as well.

A bowl of Cendol ($3.80) at The Coconut Club is definitely more inclined towards the rich and creamy, with dense coconut milk that gives the bowl its most dominant flavor.

If you want to enjoy it with red beans, you will have to pay $1.20 more. Would be happier if it was a bigger portion.

Nyonya Chendol
51 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, #02-147, Singapore 588215
Tel: +65 9827 4818
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 8:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Where did Nyonya Chendol come from? Out of the ‘sudden’, you see outlets popping all around the island with its distinctive white and green signboard, and menu of 4 Chendol items.

You can find the stalls at Bukit Timah Food Centre, Old Airport Road Food Centre (#01-115), Whampoa Food Centre (#01-17), Blk 85 Redhill Food Centre (#01-57), Albert Street Food Centre (#01-69), and Boon Lay Food Centre (#01-130).

Nyonya Chendol specializes in the sweet icy and milky dessert of Chendol, serving the traditional, plain Chendol ($1.50), Red Beans Chendol ($2), Sweet Corn Chendol ($2) and XO Durian Chendol ($3).

The first noticeable thing was the big mound of shaved ice, which suggested that they aren’t stingy with their ingredients.

The ice was flavored with thick and glossy Gula Melaka and heavy coconut milk with a smooth and pleasing texture. The highlight of course, was the luscious red beans.

While standards may not be consistent among the various branches and it may not be the best-best, the dessert is generally a crowd pleaser.

Malaysia Boleh (Jurong Point)
1 Jurong West Central 2, 03-28, Singapore 648886
Tel: +65 6370 1155
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

When I asked for Cendol recommendations in Singapore, many actually commented Malaysia Boleh served up a cheap and good version.

You can also find similar versions by concepts under the same group, such as Malaysia Chiak! and Tangs Market – the basement food court.

The Penang Road Chendol ($2) is prepared Teochew style and comes with green jelly that is prepared fresh with pandan leaves.

While the red beans were plump and coconut milk creamy and heart, the serving size would be larger and ice less coarse.

Qing Tian Desserts 青天冷热甜品
#01-60 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
Opening Hours: 4pm – 11pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon – Tues

The stall got enough more famous when PM Lee Hsien Loong was spotted queuing for it, with special note of the “dancing uncle” and techno music. (PM Lee said he would do an Instagram video the next time, which I think didn’t happen.)

While uncle didn’t dance when I was there, he was still very jovial and ‘moving around’.

This stall serves up quite a variety of both hot and cold desserts, from Chendol, Sea Coconut Iced Jelly, Ice Kachang, Cheng Tng, Red Bean Sauce to Mango Pudding Cocktail.

The Chendol is very affordable at $1.50, with a Durian version at $2.50.

While the dessert was not the most aesthetically pleasing – all the ingredients were buried below, the ice was soft, coconut milk fragrant, and red beans delicious.

Cendol Geylang Serai
1 Geylang Serai, #02-107, Singapore 402001
Tel: +65 9485 5845
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 6pm (Mon – Sun)

This 50 year old Geylang Serai stall serves up traditional Indonesian-style Cendol.

This stall is one of a kind. They have been serving cendol for decades, tends to receive relatively long queues every single day.

They serve up 3 versions – Cup with Ice ($3), Cup without Ice ($3.50) and Bowl ($2.00) for dine in only.

One thing to note as well, they don’t include Red Beans in this rendition.

The green pandal flavored jelly has more rice flour in it than any other place, making it soft and flavorful. The coconut milk and Gula Melaka tasted fresh as well, though overall was slightly on the sweet side.

Some people may find it less value-for-its-money than others as it did not include other ingredients such as attap seeds, red bean or sweet corn.

Chendol Melaka
15 Upper East Coast Rd, Singapore 455207
Phone: +65 9630 1338
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

The bowl of icy Chendol ($2) is made from fresh and creamy coconut milk infused in shaved ice.

It is drizzled heartily with thick and sticky Gula Melaka, has soft and springy chendol strips and thick red beans.

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

I feel it is a waste for food stalls when customers ending up commenting more on the service, rather than the food itself.

Such is the case of Hup Hup Minced Meat Noodle located at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 Food Centre.

Reviews online ranged from ”1 star for service attitude”, “rude and arrogant”, “bad attitude”, to “extremely unpleasant”.

People I talked to have differing opinions: many feel that service IS a part of the dining experience – whether restaurant or hawker centre; but there are some who thinks we cannot expect too much from a $3 – $4 bowl.

”Hawker food still want Michelin standard, is it?

Talking about Michelin, this Bak Chor Mee stall DID get listed in the Singapore Michelin Guide under “Michelin Plate”. Which got me wondering – did the inspectors queue and experience this “service” as well?

Hup Hup Minced Meat Noodle is known for its old-school Bak Chor Mee topped with round-shaped crackers.

I combed through reviews, even those left in 2009, and found a disparity. It seemed that something happened along the way, and both food and service was not quite like in the past.

Being mentally prepared, I went ahead with a huge smile and ordered politely in precise measure, ”$4, mee kia, chilli, having here.”

Some of my readers told me that guys get the better treatment, but from my observation from customers in front and after me, the “service” seemed to be the same for everyone. So, do not take it too personally?

I get it that hawkers may have varied ways of dealing with the stress and heat. Some are more grumpy, straight-faced, or will snap if you order wrongly or not in the ‘correct’ procedure.

This particular server just didn’t smile, did little talking and pointed instead (example to the chilli sign), left trays down (and removed mine) in the most nonchalant way. Order wrongly and get a “killer stare”.
I see.

The modern consumer probably cannot tolerate this very much. The non-verbals in this case, can be interpreted as “with attitude”.

All right, back to the food.

If you are expecting the usual Bak Chor Mee with vinegar and all that, this is not quite the norm.

There was that strong ketchup taste beneath, which reminded me of noodles I had when I was still schooling. For purists who love your vinegar, then you are likely to frown upon this.

Noodles were slightly starchier and thicker than the usual mee kia, but that probably worked well with the sauces.

The savoury braised sliced mushrooms and four pieces of round crackers which added some crisp (somewhat like wanton skin) were the highlight.

A word of caution: there is just mee kia and mee pok here, so DON’T ask for bee hoon, kway teow and the etc.

If you do intend to head down to try, I guess just SMILE and order politely. No harm, right?

Hup Hup Minced Meat Noodle
724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6, Singapore 560724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6, Singapore 560724
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
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High Street Tai Wah Pork Noodle (Hong Lim Food Centre)
A Noodle Story (Amoy Street Food Centre)
Fishball Story (Geylang)

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

Wishes Cafe is another ice cream parlour that has joined the recent trend of opening within HDB residential estates, such as Denzy at Bishan, OCD Café at Ang Mo Kio, and Pobo Gelato at West Coast.

Located right opposite Circuit Road Market & Food Centre and underneath a HDB block, Wishes Cafe is a relatively cosy cafe with a 20-seaters space.

Even though the interior is less elaborated compared to both Denzy and OCD Cafe, there is an eye-catching component in its interior – a tall pink sakura tree which spans across the entire ceiling that creates a homely ambience.

Not real but from Taobao of course, but it makes some photographic moments.

With a total of 12 flavours available at any one time, all ice cream are freshly churned in-house.

A single scoop of ice cream will cost $3.50, and double scoops is priced at $6.

For a more substantial portion, buttermilk waffles (ala carte $5) are available with single (additional $3) or double (additional $5.50) scoops of ice cream.

Premium flavours and waffle cones are priced at an additional $1.

Classic flavours include Vanilla, Sesame, Rum & Raisin, Pistachio and Cookies & Cream whereas interesting ones are Japanese Sweet Potato and Kum Quat sorbet (a citrus fruit).

I particularly enjoyed the texture of the ice cream which is non-icy and more creamy compared to that of an ice cream.

The sesame ice cream was my favourite, with a texture that resembled to a gelato (but less sticky) and tasted like the traditional dessert of black sesame paste.

The Kum Quat sorbet was another interesting flavour that tasted like sour plum and was light and refreshing.

This flavour can probably resonate well with the older folks staying in the area which sparks a sense of nostalgia.

The Buttermilk Waffles (ala carte $5) on the other hand was denser and more-eggy in taste.

Not really my type of waffles, as I preferred something with crisp edges and an airy texture.

Apart from the ice cream selection, Wishes Cafe also offer savoury light bites options such as Ham & Cheese, truffle Egg Mayo, Tuna Mayo Croissant or Sandwiches ($5.90), French Fries ($5), Truffle Fries ($7) and Mala/ Sticky Orange Baked Mid Wings (6 pieces for $5.80).

The Mala Baked Wings (6 pieces for $5.80) caught my attention which is not commonly found in an ice cream cafe.

Reasonably priced at $5.80 for 6 pieces, don’t expect restaurant-style plating for the Mala wings, as each wing is generously coated with peppercorn and Sichuan chili.

Freshly prepared upon order, each dish will require 15 to 20 minutes of preparation time and was well-worth the wait.

The spiciness was not overwhelming but leaves a lingering and addictive feeling on the tongue whereas the numbing sensation was also bearable.

I actually enjoyed the combination and contrast of having something hot (mala wings) and cold (ice cream) at the same time, which makes eating spicy food more enjoyable.

Being a cafe, Wishes Cafe is one of the few that serves both artisanal coffee ($3 – $4.50) and traditional kopi ($1.50- 1.80) for those seeking a quick caffeine fix, probably to cater to the older folks there.

Quite an interesting find in the heartlands, but perhaps I WISH for more creative dessert selection and flavours. A Sakura flavour in future perhaps, since there is a ‘tree’ there.

Wishes Cafe
Block 36 Circuit Road, #01-414, Singapore 370036
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Tue – Fri), 11am – 11pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon
https://www.facebook.com/wishescafesg/

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Birds Of Paradise (Jewel Changi Airport)
Emack & Bolio’s (Jewel Changi Airport)
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Pobo Gelato (West Coast)

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

Lor Mee 卤面, the Hokkien-based gooey-gravy hawker food with thick-flat yellow noodles may not be everybody’s kind of dish.

Some say starchy, filling, and somewhat plain. But find a good bowl, and it can be a comforting and satisfying treat.

I am not that much a Lor Mee person as well, but after trying Xin Mei Xiang Zheng Zong Lor Mee 新美香卤面, I may just be a convert.

This popular stall along Old Airport Road is often lauded for its Lor Mee done right.

Located near MRT Mountbatten or Dakota MRT Station (Circle Line), Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee attracts queues of diners eager to taste and re-taste their famed Lor Mee.

Especially during peak hours, you could spot the line even from the main road.

Aside from the recognition it received from the Michelin Guide (it has a Michelin Plate), another feather in its cap is the Ctrip Gourmet List award. It was also awarded as People’s Choice for Local Food during the City Hawker Food Hunt in 2018.

I remember it winning (back in those days) the “Best Lor Mee” in the Kym Ng hosted “Just Noodles 面对面” on television.

The line does get very long during peak hours, with estimated wait of about 20 to 30 minutes, and bowls can be sold out before closing hour.

Ah yes, there is another similar-sounding Xiang Ji Lor Mee (#01-81) in the same food centre, if you happen to crave and Xin Mei Xiang is closed.

What’s noteworthy in their Xin Mei Xiang’s Lor Mee ($4, $5, $6) is its generous serving of ingredients – you get your money’s worth.

The sauce, a key element in a good Lor Mee, was quite unlike any others I had before – thick and flavourful as it was prepared with five-spice and other seasonings.

The balance of being vinegary and spicy was done just right.

I never intended to finish that sauce but I did anyway. While some customers may feel it is on the plain side, it was not as starchy and didn’t give me that uncomfortable-filling feeling.

Unlike the medium and large bowls, the small bowl is served without flaked fish.

If you like the pan-fried fish (I think it is red snapper) in your Lor Mee, for the bigger bowls.

This Lor Mee comes with hard boiled eggs, crunchy bean sprouts, as well as chopped red chillies, sambal chili and Chinese parsley for some heat and freshness. (Without the usual ngo hiang or meat dumplings.)

If you want to add noodles ($0.50) or ingredients ($6.00), you can. Pay a little extra for take away containers ($0.20 for small, $0.30 for big).

A word of caution though, if you are planning to visit this stall, do check out in advance its Facebook Page as their schedule could be erratic at times.

Xin Mei Xiang Zheng Zong Lor Mee 新美香卤面
51 Old Airport Road, #01-116 Old Airport Road Food Centre, Singapore 390051
Opening Hours: 6am – 2pm (Fri – Wed), Closed Thurs
https://www.facebook.com/xinmeixianglormee

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Yuan Chun Famous Lor Mee 驰名源春卤面 (Amoy Street Food Centre)
Hua Kee Hougang Famous Wanton Mee (Old Airport Road Food Centre)
Whitley Road Prawn Noodles (Old Airport Road Food Centre)
Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow (Old Airport 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.

The food area located at Levels 1 and 2 of TripleOne Somerset has reopened after a major revamp.

Other than returning tenants of NTUC Finest, Imperial Treasure Steamboat and Kyoaji, there is quite a number of new brands to be expected including Coney Donut, Pasta House, Maison Kayser, Kara-men Ajisen, 328 Katong Laksa, So Good Bakery, Sindy Durian and Meruto Cheesecake.

Glyph Supply Co. has been attracting quite a fair bit of customers, because it is an artisanal café with quite an “instagrammable” interior.

I can imagine quite a fair bit of instagrammers heading down, attracted by the minimalist white space, natural daylight – all within a walking distance from Somerset MRT.

Although Orchard Road is peppered with mass coffee and local kopi chains, we do not get many of such indie 3rd wave coffee shops down town.

Glyph Supply Co is a cafe-roastery concept space serving up specialty coffees, teas and bakes.

Having been there 3 times during its opening week, I have observed that it is enjoying a steady flow of customers.

Coffee is priced at $4.50 for the black, $5.50 for the white, Coldbrew at $6.00, while iced versions cost $1 extra. For non-coffee drinkers, there is also offering of Matcha ($6.00) and Chocolate ($6.00).

This is slightly pricier than what you find in other hipster cafes in the neighbourhoods, but I suppose they have high rentals to pay.

While the white was not as strong and robust as I would have liked, it had a smooth delicate texture, and not overly acidic. Overall, a decent coffee at this part of town that I won’t mind returning for.

Bakes are from Carpenter & Cook, and you get a rotational selection from Lemon Tart, Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Tart, Passionfruit Meringue Tart, Almond Croissant, Pain Au Chocolat, to savoury bites of Mushroom Quiche, and Ham and Cheese Croissant.

My personal favourite would go to the Carrot Cake, moist with light cream cheese frosting, with crunchy walnuts and strips of carrot for a more rustic bite.

While I generally liked the space and vibes, there are some areas I thought could have been fine-tuned.

For example, in terms of the finer details, the cutting of the cake and how it is displayed could have been more aesthetically pleasing. Not all the cakes ordered were of even, equal slices with straight cuts.

The café probably wanted a minimalist concept with more breathing space. However, the space didn’t seem well utilised enough. If you come along or in a pair, chances of you sharing space with others would be high.

Also seats at the benches seemed too high.

Give them some time to settle down, and you should probably love this café at Somerset with some quiet respite from the hustle and bustle.

Glyph Supply Co
111 Somerset Road, #01-06, Singapore 238164
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 8:30pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 8:30pm (Sat – Sun)

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

Durian lovers have another reason to rejoice.

Ms Durian, a new durian-specialty cafe specialising in durian desserts has opened at Potong Pasir, similar to Double Durian at Jalan Besar and Mao Shan Wang Café at Temple Street.

Differentiating themselves from the rest in terms of offerings, their primary focus is on durian-inspired desserts instead of the whole durian fruit.

Located in the extreme corner of the new mall The Poiz Centre right beside Potong Pasir MRT station, the entire space is brightly-lit with natural sunlight in the daytime

Tall ceiling, white walls, marble table with gold finishing and comfy cushioned seats eludes a dainty lady-like vibe (just like the name of this cafe).

While the indoors space is just limited to 11 seats and 2 tables, there are future plans to expand outdoors.

Ms Durian offers a small and refined selection of 6 items on their menu, focusing on durian desserts.

Some of the lighter options include Durian Coconut Milk Pudding ($6), Durian Mousse Cake (Slice $8.50, Whole $65) and Durian Craquelin ($2).

On the other hand, the heavier options are made using MSW – Mao Shan Wang (King of durians) include MSW Ice Cream Puff ($3), MSW Durian Cake (Slice $12, Whole $90) and MSW Ice Cream ($9).

Starting with Durian Coconut Milk Pudding ($6) which is the lightest among the lot, the dessert is made using MSW durian, fresh coconut milk and Meiji milk.

While the texture was relatively smooth, it was more like a mousse instead of a wobbling pudding.

The sweetness of the coconut milk kept it light and refreshing with non-overwhelming taste of the MSW durian.

Moving on to their bestseller, the Durian Craquelin ($2) is individually packed and ideal for gifting, though best eaten when chilled.

D24 durian cream is freshly piped into each choux puff, with a layer of craquelin brioche dough on the outer layer.

The process is done in the open kitchen for passerby to watch.

However, the Durian Craquelin lacked the crispy and textural crunch, and turned soft and soggy quickly.

Looking at the size of the sliced Durian Mousse Cake ($8.50) and MSW Durian Cake ($12), you would realise that it is slightly smaller than usual, making it suitable for an afternoon treat.

The Durian Mousse Cake ($8.50) was my favourite, with alternating layer of MSW durian mousse and vanilla sponge, topped with lightly salted macadamia nuts and gula melaka sauce.

The vanilla sponge was light, moist and fluffy and complemented well with the heavier flavour of the durian mousse.

Not only did the salted macadamia nuts added some textural crunch to the cake, there was a certain nutty tone to the combination and increased its complexity.

The MSW Durian Cake ($12) is catered to those who seeks a stronger punch in durian flavours, with visible durian flesh embedded in it.

While the taste is considered quite balance overall, hardcore durian lovers like me would find it muted and may not be as shiok.

With only one ice cream flavour available, a single cup of 120g MSW Ice Cream comes at a price of $9, which is on the pricier side.

Made using milk, vanilla and without eggs, the same ice cream can be found in the form of a MSW Ice Cream Puff ($3) kiaped in between a choux puff.

Ms Durian does have some promising treats on the menu that mainly targets the female crowd (as their name implies), from the dainty interior and the golden utensils to the light and guilt-free desserts.

If you are craving for durian desserts, you can head down to Ms Durian for a try. Don’t forget about your mints.

Ms Durian
51 Upper Serangoon Rd #01-70 The Poiz Centre, Singapore 347697
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

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

[Seoul] ”Did you visit Shake Shack in Seoul?”

”Like quite empty, so didn’t feel like it.” The same friend said he would queue for Shake Shack Singapore when it opens at Jewel Changi Airport.

Shake Shack is a fast-casual restaurant known for its 100% all-natural Angus beef burgers (no hormones or antibiotics), griddled flat-top beef hotdogs, crispy crinkle cut fries and fresh-made frozen custard (like a milkshake).

The Korean outlets is managed by the SPC Group, which is also behind bakery brand Paris Baguette, and known for introducing global brands to the Korean market including Baskin Robbins, Dunkin’ Donuts, Caffe Pascucci, LINA’s and Jamba Juice.

The chain has a number of branches in Seoul, from the flagship at Gangnam, to others at Cheongdam, Bundang, Starfield Goyang and Central.

One of the most convenient locations is at Doota Mall – the fashion mall known for its trendy clothing and accessories that opens till 5am on most days.

Unfortunately, Shake Shack there opens ‘only’ till 11pm.

For a touristy spot, I was surprised that the outlet wasn’t THAT crowded, with a relatively short queue and ample seats.

There are 5 main burgers available, the ShackBurger, SmokeShack, Shroom Burger, Shack Stack, and Hamburger.

There are priced between 6,900 Won to 9,400 Won for a single, and 10,900 Won to 12,900 Won for a double. (6,900 is SGD8.20 or USD6.05).

The menu special item is the Hot Chick’n (7,900 Won), of crispy chicken breast dusted with a guajillo and cayenne pepper blend. (I usually don’t bother about the chicken burgers at ShackShack because they have always been just pretty average.)

As I wanted to try something different from what I was used to, I had the Shack Stack (12,900 Won, SGD15.30), a burger which combined both cheese and shroom burger with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce.

It is not cheap in any sense, and makes me wonder of Singapore’s eventual pricings.

What you get is a combination of crispy-fried portobello mushroom, the signature juicy Angus beef patty, and slice of of cheese, all in one bite.

It could be a mess to consume, but I did like the mushroom component for the contrast of crisp outer layer and juicy mushrooms.

As for the beef patty, something felt missing – it wasn’t as flavourful and greasy as those I tried in the US.

If you have yet to try Shake Shack before, there may be a part of you that feels it is overhyped.

Though I would still think it is still a decent, impressionable burger, though on the pricier side.

Shake Shack Seoul – Doota Mall 쉐이크쉑 두타점
Doota Mall 1F #001 Jangchungdanro 275 Jung-Gu, Seoul
Tel: +82 02 3398 4003
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 11:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Seoul branches:
Gangnam Avenue: Daeyeon Building 1F, Gangnamdaero 452, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul
Cheongdam: SGF Cheongdam Tower #1, Dosandaero 327, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul
Bundang: AK Plaza 1F Hwangsaeul-ro 360beon-gil 42, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do
Starfield Goyang: 1955 Goyang-daero Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do
Central City: 119ho 1F, 176, Sinbanpo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Click HERE for other SEOUL 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.

I do miss the good-old Tiong Bahru Food Centre, you know, that era even BEFORE the move.

That was when I would persuade my ah-ma to get some hot, steaming, fresh Crystal Dumplings (Shui Jing Bao) 水晶包. I loved that more than its ‘cousin’ of Soon Kway 笋粿 that just didn’t have that same elastic skin and crunchy fillings.

Today, Tiong Bahru Lien Fa Shui Jing Bao 中峇鲁聯發水晶包 is perhaps one of the few stalls that still make Crystal Dumplings chwee jia bao entirely hand-made.

In fact, it could be the only Crystal Dumpling specialty stall left in in Singapore.

It is one of the stalls that originated from the Seng Poh Road Market that opened in 1951. (Demolished in 2004, it was later renamed to Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre.)

The stall operated by two brothers, is now located at Alexandra Village Food Centre (and I was imagining that its fate would have been quite different if it stayed at Tiong Bahru Food Centre.)

Known for its steamed Crystal Dumplings, the stall attracts quite a number of regulars. The stall is also listed in the Michelin Guide with a “Michelin Plate” recommendation.

If you are ordering in bulk, then placing an advance order (by calling 62745561) is highly recommended. Order at least an hour before pickup, as the dumplings are made by batches.

Once a batch runs one, you will have to wait for an hour or so.

The dumplings comes in 3 kinds of filling – sweet yam, sweet red bean, and savoury turnip. The savoury is priced at $0.80 per piece, while the sweet ones are at $0.90 per piece.

Note that there is a requirement of minimum order of 4 pieces.

While the savoury turnip dumplings the most popular, and pairs really well with a dab of the stall’s home-made chili, the sweet-filled dumplings have their own followers.

Named for its translucent skin, the slippery bite-sized dumplings are encased in a thin, slightly chewy skin which is made by tapioca flour.

You could actually see the filling through the skin, which doesn’t break easily. All the dumplings are hand-made, which is perhaps going into obscurity in modern-day Singapore.

The turnip fillings are crunchy (cut by hand, not machine) with bits of savoury shrimps.

The skin is thicker than what I used to remember, but I am not complaining because it is so hard to find this taste of effort and nostalgia.

Tiong Bahru Lien Fa Shui Jing Pau 中峇鲁聯發水晶包
120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-10 Alexandra Village Food Centre, Singapore 150120
Tel: +65 6274 5561
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 3pm (Tue – Sat), Closed Sun, Mon
http://www.facebook.com/TiongBahruShuiJingPau

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

[Taipei] The Michelin Guide Taipei has just announced its results, with 24 restaurants awarded stars. (Also read: Taipei Michelin Guide 2019 – Bib Gourmand)

I guess it is fair to say there are no major surprises.

Cantonese Restaurant 君品酒店- 頤宮中餐廳 Le Palais located on the 17th floor of Palais de Chine (君品酒店), remains as the only 3 Stars recipient.

NEW 2-stars recipients include RAW by Chef Andre Chiang, Tairroir and Sushi Anomato. Japanese restaurant Sushi Amamoto debuted with 2 stars.

Four NEW 1-star restaurants are Impromptu by Paul Lee, Logy, Mountain and Sea House, and Tainan Tantsumien Seafood Restaurant. Mountain and Sea House山海樓 is probably the most familiar name, presenting an ode to Taiwanese family recipes presented banquet style.

French Contemporary restaurant La Cocotte by Fabien Verge loses its one star from the previous year.

Le Palais 頤宮

3 Stars – Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey
Le Palais 頤宮 (Cantonese)

RAW

2 Stars – Excellent cooking, worth a detour
RAW (Innovative)
Tairroir (Innovative)
Sushi Anomato (Sushi)
Shoun RyuGin 祥雲龍吟 (Japanese Contemporary)
The Guest House 請客樓 (Chinese)

Ming Fu 明福台菜海鮮

1 Star – High quality cooking, worth a stop
Impromptu by Paul Lee
Logy
Mountain and Sea House
Tainan Tantsumien Seafood Restaurant
Da-Wan 大腕 (Barbecue)
Danny’s Steakhouse 教父牛排 (Steakhouse)
Golden Formosa 金蓬萊遵古台菜 (Taiwanese)
Ken An Ho 謙安和 (Japanese)
Kitcho 吉兆割烹壽司 (Sushi)
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon 侯布雄 (French Contemporary)
Longtail (European Contemporary)
Ming Fu 明福台菜海鮮 (Taiwanese)
MUME (European Contemporary)
Sushi Nomura 鮨野村 (Sushi)
Sushi Ryu 鮨隆 (Sushi)
Three Coins 大三元 (Cantonese)
Tien Hsiang Lo 天香樓 (Hang Zhou)
Ya Ge 雅閣 (Cantonese)

Other Related Entries
Taipei Michelin Guide 2019 – Bib Gourmand
Le Palais 頤宮 (Datong District, Taipei)
Ming Fu 明福台菜海鮮 (Zhongshan District, Taipei)
RAW (Taipei)

Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

[Closing] Bye bye, Kenny’s Quarters, Chicken Pot Pie and Corn Muffin.

The last standing Kenny Rogers Roasters outlet in Singapore at Great World City, has announced its impending closure on the 14th of April (Sun).

The chain used to have branches at Novena Square and Century Square as well – both gone; and it is not clear if they will be making a return or opening elsewhere soon.

The American restaurant co-founded by country singer Kenny Rogers, has been part of the growing up era for many.

They were famed for comforting mains and sides such as Rotisserie Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese, Mash Potatoes, Home-style Baked Fish, Baby Back Ribs, and Honey Baked Beans.

Not forgetting the famous corn muffin.

However, I will be honest to say that I have stopped having Kenny Roger’s for a number of years, as the food standard was nowhere close to before, and its online visibility has been rather low.

They were part of my teenage growing up years (remember that Holland Village branch?), where Rotisserie Chicken and Mac & Cheese were still not THAT common. And we would consider a meal at Kenny Roger’s quite a treat.

With fast-casual restaurants such as Aston’s and Collins proliferating the market, consumers today have much more choices.

Bye Kenny Rogers, thank you for the memories.

Kenny Rogers Roasters
Great World City #01-06, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Singapore 237994
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm

(Photo credit: Kenny Rogers Roasters Facebook

After Hawker Chan’s Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle won the Michelin star, I felt that there was somewhat a renewed interest in the dish.

While many of the known places are located in the Chinatown area (eg Chiew Kee Noodle House, Original Chew Kee Eating House, Hai Kee Brothers, Maria Virgin Chicken), Xiang Jiang Soya Sauce Chicken 香江豉油鸡 at Alexandra is a worthy contender for one of the best Soya Sauce Chicken in Singapore.

It is listed within the Michelin Guide with a “Michelin Plate”, though I think it does deserve a Bib Gourmand.

Owned by a chef who used to work in Raffles Hotel, the stall first opened at Jit Poh Building at Keppel Road. Later on, it relocated to Alexandra Village Food Centre.

The stall’s specialty is the Soya Sauce Chicken, which you can enjoy as a whole ($18) with the family, or with either rice or noodles ($3.00, $3.50).

The Dry Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle ($3.50) comes with springy Hong Kong egg noodles, chopped chicken (50 cents more for drumstick), fresh kai lan, and the signature soya sauce.

$3.50 for this plate of goodness is really quite a steal.

The chicken has a beautiful gloss, smooth meat with good bite (though may not be the best or most tender I had).

I liked that the eggs noodles were thin and springy, evenly coated in a soya sauce base which imparts a layer of flavour on the noodles. The chilli was on the spicier side, but I did not mind that at all.

You can also add on sui gao to your order at just 70 cents each, each plump dumpling coming filled with minced pork, shrimps and black fungus.

You can see the “Hong Kongness” from the execution, from the whole long stem of kai lan to the plump wrapped dumplings with a full shrimp inside.

You may also order their Shrimp Wantons (90 cents for one), made fresh daily.

The soft wanton wrappers are filled with a generous blend of well-seasoned shrimps and minced pork, the type you would find in Hong Kong style restaurants.

Not saying that the chicken was any bad, but overall it was those swee gao that left me the deepest impression.

There is always a long line here in the morning, so be expected to queue if you come during peak hours.

Xiang Jiang Soya Sauce Chicken 香江豉油鸡
120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-77 Alexandra Village Food Centre, Singapore 150120
Tel: +65 9185 7756
Opening Hours: 7am – 2pm (Wed – Mon), Closed Tues

Other Related Entries
Alexandra Village Food Centre Hawker Guide
Hai Kee Brothers (Chinatown Point)
Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle (Chinatown Food Complex)
Hawker Chan Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle (Smith Street)
88 Hong Kong Roast (Tyrwhitt 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.