[Osaka] There are many famous and popular Takoyaki shops at found at Dotonbori, from Kukuru くくる, Wanaka たこ焼道楽　わなか, Otako 大たこ, Hanadako はなだこ, to Kogaryu 甲賀流.

What makes Takoyaki Juhachiban たこ焼十八番 worth trying is how they combine materials and technology to create a soulful takoyaki.

Takoyaki たこ焼きthe ball-shaped Japanese street food is considered one of Osaka’s “must-eats”, made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan.

The flour dough is typically filled diced octopus (or prawns, bacon and other ingredients), tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion; and watching the street food vendors do their craft can be a great joy.

Each takoyaki ball starts with the best ingredients, blending the dough with milk and sprinkling it with octopus, red ginger and shrimp.

The batter is poured to a copper plate mould that allows good thermal conductivity for even, controlled grilling.

Ten minutes is all it takes to transform the batter, one by one, into a crisp exterior ball that encases a creamy texture inside with chewy bits of octopus.

“One ball, one soul” (Ikkou ikkon)

Order 8 pieces for ¥650 (SGD8.20), or get 12 pieces for ¥1000 (SGD12.70) via the vending machine. Prices have gotten higher since the ‘good old days’ though.

Enjoy them with an okonomiyaki sauce, or mayonnaise with aonori (green dried seaweed) and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes). It is possible to order all 3 types at ¥1000 for 12 pieces as well.

If you are used to Takoyaki with a crispy outer layer, Juhachiban’s version is slightly chewy and softer, but what makes it pleasurable are the tenkatsu or crunchy tempura batter bits which make every bite a delightful mouthfeel.

Also, sakura shrimp powder and red pickled ginger are added with burst of umami flavours in each takoyaki – a heavenly Japanese masterpiece.

Find this takoyaki joint just a 5-minute walk away from the municipal subway line Namba Station.

Be ready to squeeze yourself in as the place is small with just a few seats available. Or better yet, make it to-go.

Takoyaki Juhachiban たこ焼十八番
3-17-17 Nishinakajima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Tel: +81 6 6211 3118
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Ichiran Porkless Ramen (Chuo-ku, Osaka)
Machi Machi Osaka (Kita, Osaka)
Naruto Taiyaki Honpo 鳴門鯛焼本舗 (Kita Ward, Osaka)
World’s Second Best Freshly Baked Melonpan Ice-Cream (Osaka)

* 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 can be quite ambitious to name a café “Singapore Coffee”, with the objective of being the “purveyors of Asia’s finest coffee”.

But after knowing its background, then you realise there is a reason.

Singapore Coffee is helmed by Group MMM which is also behind investing in two well-known homegrown brands – Violet Oon Singapore and Janice Wong.

Founder Manoj Murjani is also co-founder and former CEO of luxury tea brand TWG Tea, and it is perhaps of no coincidence you get similar vibes.

Set within Singapore’s iconic Raffles Hotel (right next to new French crepe shop Gather), the interior of Singapore Coffee is likely leave an impression – blending between the classic colonial history, yet with local elements incorporated.

From the mechanical straw fans on the ceiling, ‘rattan’ chairs with modern design to the tiles, loads of details are placed on design.

The coffee place specialises in the finest selection of coffee beans sourced from selected plantations across Asia.

It offers ways in which customers can experience Singapore’s Kopi and seasonal Asian coffees by way of Siphon, Pour-over and Espresso extractions.

Signature coffee drinks to get include the Singapore Coffee Kopi ($7), Kopi Shake ($9), Iced Chico – cold brew with chicory ($12), and Grand Asia Collection by Siphon.

Be prepared to pay more here, with an Iced Long Black at $9 and Iced Latte priced at $10.

Customers may also question the price of the local coffee and tea, such as the Iced Kopi O at $6 and Iced Teh Tarik at $7.

Some may find paying that much for Iced Kopi ($7) not that worthwhile, and may choose an ‘upgrade’ with its Kopi Shake ($9) which is more foamy, served in a cocktail, and has rich-chocolaty aftertaste.

Fancy stuff, worth a try amongst other things in the menu.

To compliment the beverages, there are hand-baked pastries on offer which foodies may find familiar. (A full menu will commence from Summer 2020.)

I spotted the Kaya Swiss roll from Rich and Good Cake Shop as it was all rolled up in those familiar plastic sheets, with a piece sold at $6.

It is of no surprise that you would find regular bakes from Violet Oon here, since both are under the same group.

Other than the Pineapple Tarts with Portuguese-inspired pastry and Peranakan-style jam, the star dessert should be the Gula Melaka Cake with Cashew Crumble. But they also gave it a twist here.

The Gula Melaka Cake is a rich butter cake infused with gula melaka, coconut milk and rum, then topped with cashew nuts.

The dessert is also served with a creamy scoop of ice cream, which you can drizzle espresso over.

Singapore Coffee may soon be known to be a place to have ‘atas’ coffee, and likely to appeal to visitors to Raffles Hotel.

While the OTT décor may remind some of Bacha Coffee, there are distinct differences as this has a more local slant in both drinks and pastries.

Singapore Coffee
Raffles Hotel #01-13, 328 North Bridge Road Singapore 188719 (City Hall MRT)
Tel: +65 8878 7093
Opening Hours: 9am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Bacha Coffee (ION Orchard)
Gather (Raffles Hotel)
FLOR Capitol (Capitol Piazza)
Narrative Coffee Stand (Bras Basah Complex)
Merci Marcel (Orchard)

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

[Osaka] If you are looking for the best kushikatsu in Dotonbori, look no further than Daruma located north of Namba station.

Considered an Osaka specialty, kushikatsu 串カツ (also known as also known as kushiage 串揚げ) are deep-fried breaded food such as meat and vegetables on skewers. (“Kushi” refers to the skewers used, while “katsu” means a deep-fried cutlet of meat.

Kushikatsu Daruma has a history since 1929, and you would see shops peppered around Osaka. The other prominent place to find this is at Shinsekai near Tennoji Zoo.

To spot the restaurant, look out for the mascot of an angry-looking man holding kushikatsu skewers in the shape of an “X”. That refers to strict rule “no double-dipping” of the skewer into the sauce.

This non-smoking restaurant can accommodate up to 96 persons, ie 24 seats at the counter, 50 seats at the tables, and 20 seats at the floor. Prepare to spend around ¥1,500 – ¥2,500 for a meal. Credit cards are accepted.

Batter, their original sauce, and fresh-tasting good oil form the trinity of taste at Kushikatsu Daruma.

What makes their kushikatsu special is their use of oils from prawn heads to make their skewers flavourful.

For convenience (as a tourist), there are three combinations you can choose from – the Combo Shinsekai (¥1,400 for 9 pieces), Combo Dotonbori (¥1,800 for 15 pieces), and Shinosaka (¥2,200 for 14 pieces).

 
I ordered the Dotonbori Set (¥1,800, SGD22.80) which includes Ganso Kushikatsu, Pork Cutlet, Tsukune, Mochi, Shrimp, Asparagus, Quail Eggs, Weiner, Cheese Chikuwa, and a choice of Dodeyaki, Green Soybeans or special Kimchi. You can also top up pieces ala carte.

What really drew me was the contrast between that light, crispy batter with a touch of fluffiness, with the juicy meat or fresh-tasting vegetables inside.

Slight warning though, they come out piping hot, so be careful of your tongue throat as you take that first bite.

 
In terms of sequence, you may want to start with the plainer tasting items first, then moving on to the meats and stronger-flavoured ones.

There were a few pieces I had without the sauce, and allowed me to savour the natural flavours, such as the sweet tomato.

Back to the sauce – no double dipping.

When you take a bite of your kushikatsu, NEVER dip it into the sauce again. That is because it is provided in a steel container meant for communal sharing.

If you need to get more sauce, slices of cabbage are provided so that you can scoop it up.

Daruma is probably one of those iconic kushikatsu restaurants you got to try in Osaka.

Kushikatsu Daruma Dotonbori 元祖串かつ だるま
542-0071 Osaka‎ Chuo-Ku, Osaka Dotonbori 1-6-3 Japan
Tel: +81 6 6213 8101
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Kushikatsu Daruma Shinsekai Sohonten
2 Chome-3-9 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0002, Japan
Tel: +81 6 6645 7056
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

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Ichiran Porkless Ramen (Chuo-ku, Osaka)
Machi Machi Osaka (Kita, Osaka)
Naruto Taiyaki Honpo 鳴門鯛焼本舗 (Kita Ward, Osaka)
World’s Second Best Freshly Baked Melonpan Ice-Cream (Osaka)

* 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 is something about this fish soup stall. Even if you go during an ‘off-peak’ time at 11am, there would already be a long queue sometimes forming a L-shape around the corner of the coffeeshop.

First Street Teochew Fish Soup is a family stall hugely popular for their deliciously sweet fish soup.

It was founded by the father William Lim during the 1980s, but now largely run by his two sons Desmond and Aaron Lim.

The sons have also been described as “hot hawker”, “eye candy”, though both brothers have different styles (and reported to be “taken”). Okay, that’s beside the point.

As the focus of Teochew fish soup is on the freshness and flavours of the fish, they are dedicated and hardworking, getting their fish fresh and preparing for the soup as early as 3 to 4am every day (except Monday which is their off-day).

It is a tough commitment to keep up with, but it greatly pays off as the stall is packings with customers throughout their opening hours.

My advice is to go as early as possible, say early morning, to avoid waiting too long. I queued for about 50 to 55 minutes (and this is despite the COVID-19 scare).

The varieties of fish soup offered include Batang Sliced Fish Soup ($6, $8, $10), Red Garoupa ($9, $11), Pomfret ($11, $15), and Mixed Soup with Seafood ($5, $7, $10).

Do not overlook on the additional ingredients you can add on, such as minced meat ($0.50), bitter gourd ($0.50), fish cake ($0.50) to even fish maw ($1.50) and fish row ($1.50).

When I had the first sip of the Batang (Spanish Mackeral) Fish Soup, there was a beautiful clear sweetness to it, with hints of ginger in a light but flavourful soup.

Comparing to some of the other usual Teochew fish soup which is typically more bland-tasting, the soup is on the slightly saltier side, but that is what some people would love about the broth.

There was something warm and comforting about it, and I have the feeling this would not work as much if you tabao back home.

As for the fish slices, they were succulent and fresh, with none of that fishy aftertaste. Lovely.

I also had the Pomfret Sliced Fish Soup ($11) which was a generous portion of its price, though be careful as this would inevitably have more bones on the sides.

Would recommend adding the minced pork for just 50 cents, which gives an overall boost to the flavours.

One of the best Teochew sliced fish soups you can find in Singapore.

First Street Teochew Fish Soup
1014 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534752
Tel: +65 8161 9552
Opening Hours: 8:15am – 3pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Other Related Entries
Beach Road Fish Head Bee Hoon (Whampoa Food Centre)
Han Kee (Amoy Street 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.

Dark Chocolate Soufflé, Signature Dark Chocolate Cake, Very Dark Chocolate Milkshake, and how about some High Tea with chocolates?

The Dark Gallery has pioneered crafting artisanal dark chocolate desserts, becoming Singapore’s first dark choco-centric café and boutique concept.

It has launched its first triple concept at the revamped Great World, which is worth a visit.

Salon by The Dark Gallery is an expansion on the brand’s philosophy, and the new concept combines dedicated dine-in salon, café, retail.

What’s welcomed is that there is spacious dining space for a relaxing day out, a takeaway counter and sit-down cafe area for a quick coffee or ice cream, and retail section for Ice Cream Cakes, Single Origin Chocolate Tablets, Bonbons and Macarons.

Also included is a new dine-in menu crafted by Brand Chef Kimberly Tan, with exclusive plated desserts and savoury dishes – after customers have requested for more brunch food. Here’s more on their offerings for you to “discover the dark”:

All Day High Tea Set for 2 ($65)
Experience the rhapsody of High Tea anytime of the day with the All Day High Tea Set for 2, complete with an individual assorted sweets and savouries stand for each diner.

The high tea set is considered quite value for its money, as it includes assorted mini chocolate pastries and savouries, plus a Classic Ice Cream Waffle plate freshly made-to-order, and a choice of beverage (pick any drink below $9) for you and your partner.

For the beverage choice, I would recommend the rich Signature 66% Blend using Valrhona chocolate (if you are still in the chocolate mood), or bright and uplifting tea using quality loose tea leaves from premium tea brand JING.

Dessert Dégustation Set ($39)
If you are the sort that could have desserts for a full meal, the highlight of the Salon is the Dessert Dégustation Set ($39), a 3-course menu that showcases an interplay of gourmet dark chocolate textures.

This set comes with a dessert for first course (but of course) and I had a light ‘Choco-misu’.

For the mid-course, you can select from either The Chocolate Soufflé, made with 66% dark chocolate and baked a la minute, or The French Toast.

The Chocolate Soufflé (also available for ala carte order at $18) was intense but not too sweet in flavour.

With a light and custardy texture, the individual-serving chocolate soufflé is the perfect dessert to wind down the afternoon.

Complete the ‘dessert meal’ with a Omakase Dessert Box, their interpretation of the flavours and colours of the finest chocolates and ingredients, into a balanced palette of mini desserts.

The set also comes with a beverage of your choice (any below $9).

The French Toast ($18 for ala carte order, $39 as part of Dessert Dégustation Set)
This second mid-course option for the Dessert Dégustation Set features a French-style toast served a la mode with a scoop of sea salt butterscotch-flavoured ice cream.

The freshly baked brioche is fluffy and slightly custardy, paired with a medley of fresh fruits to balance out the richness.

Single Origin Chocolate Tart ($9)
Dig in to this tart’s crust filled with 70% Cuba dark chocolate ganache. If you don’t want your desserts too sweet, this is a good option.

Consider pairing the intense chocolate dessert with coffee done pourover style which will accentuate the intricate flavours of the single origin beans.

Ice Cream S’mores ($14)
This plated rendition of a camping fave is constructed with a base of graham crumble with a smooth and velvety chocolate ganache.

It is topped with the must-be-there marshmallow (then torched) and finished off with a scoop of its Signature 80% Dark Chocolate Ice Cream.

Do have the S’mores warm so that you can better appreciate the perfect amount of chocolate ooey-gooeyness and softness of the marshmallows.

Then experience the alluring hot-cold contrast by scooping just some ice cream over and take that single bite.

Toasted Egg Brioche ($15)
If you are seeking more savoury options, the Toasted Egg Brioche served with a side salad is highly recommended.

This French-style bread is washed with egg for a glossy appearance, and bathed with rich, golden butter to give it that distinct fragrance.

Then it is stuffed with creamy scrambled eggs, sliced ham and of course cheddar cheese for that satisfying brunch meal.

Other savoury plates to try are the Avocado Toast with Sunny-side Egg ($15) and Mushroom & Bacon Quiche ($15), which also comes with a side salad.

Want a full meal? Order the Savoury Course Set ($30), a more indulgent luncheon that already includes an Ice Cream Sundae for dessert, your choice of beverage (any below $9) and complimentary Petit Fours.

Single Origin Hot Chocolate ($7 – $9.50 for hot, $8 – $10.50 for iced)
You cannot miss The Dark Gallery’s specialty dark chocolate drinks made from its range of single origin and blend chocolates.

Try the fan-favourite 88% Sur Del Lago featuring powerful notes of cacao and oak. Or taste rare cacao from Original Beans with the 70% East Congo.

Drinks range from $8.50-$10.50 for the single origin chocolates and $7.00-$8.00 for the signature 66% blend.

Artisanal Bonbons ($3.50 per piece)
Discover the art of taste behind these jewel-shaped bonbons in 8 exciting flavours. Each 15g piece is a ganache-filled shell made from 66% dark chocolate.

For chocoholics, the Single Origin Chocolate Mocha (Brown) is a must-try with its signature 70% Dominican Republic dark chocolate and espresso ganache.

The popular Earl Grey, with its black tea base, is mixed with peppermint to create the ganache for Earl Grey Peppermint (Blue).

For a smoky, nutty flavour, try the Toasted Almond (Black) with toasted almond bits in a black and gold shell.

As for white chocolate lovers, the Matcha Strawberry (Green) melds the flavours of white chocolate and green tea powder with strawberry ganache. Similarly, Rose Tea (Pink) has white chocolate but paired up with rose tea-infused ganache in a pink and gold shell.

For chocolate lovers, Salon by The Dark Gallery is a welcoming space to experience top grade single origin chocolates from around the world.

Not only will you find a wide variety of decadent dark chocolate treats, but also discover and learn about the origin of the chocolates used.

The team is constantly expanding their savoury and afternoon tea options, so keep a lookout at what this new Great World outlet has to offer.

The Dark Gallery – Great World
Great World #01-117/118, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Singapore 237994
Tel: +65 6235 4582
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/discoverthedark/

The Dark Gallery – Millenia Walk
Millenia Walk #01-K5 9 Raffles Boulevard Singapore 039596
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/discoverthedark/

The Dark Gallery – Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Ngee Ann City #B2-29, 391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238873
Tel: +65 6935 2603
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

The Dark Gallery – Funan
Funan #01-14 107 North Bridge Road Singapore 179105
Tel: +65 6908 4086
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with The Dark Gallery.

[Taipei] Despite having a rather ‘short’ history of slightly more than 10 years, Niu Dian Beef Noodles 牛店精燉牛肉麵 (some spell as “Niou Dien” or “Niu Tien Beef Noodles”) 牛店 has won quite a number of accolades, including the Michelin Bib Gourmand.

This is when many of the well-known Taiwanese Beef Noodles shop in Taipei come with long histories of say more than 40 – 50 years.

It is not difficult to find a long queue outside the shop during peak periods, also because it is a short walk away from the well-visited Xi Men Ding and Red House.

Niu Dian Beef Noodles serves up the regular Beef Noodles starting with NT$200 (SGD9.25) for a small bowl and NT$250 for a large (SGD11.60) serving.

However, take note that there is no English menu provided. For your reference, they serve up noodles with beef tendon (牛筋), tripe (牛肚) and beef slices (牛肉); or the regularly ordered half tendon and beef (半筋半肉).

One of the most popular bowl is its Man Han Beef Noodles 滿漢牛肉麵 (NT$280, SGD12.90) which includes the three different cuts of beef shin, tendon and tripe all together.

The winning element has to be its stock, a consommé like broth cooked from beef bones, mirepoix and herbs.

While the soup is clear and clean-tasting, I was surprised to find it both flavourful and with depth. The appeal is in its subtle flavours, and I found myself taking spoonful after spoonful, letting that warm feeling trickle down the belly.

It was unlike any other beef noodles soup I had in Taiwan.

The noodles are like thin udon, with a chewy bite – would prefer a more QQ bite though. This complements well with the quality beef from Australia and New Zealand superbly tender without any strong aftertaste.

If you are up to it, get the Red Braised Beef Noodles otherwise known as ”Hong Shao”.

Unlike other eateries which serve it as a whole bowl of noodle soup, this is separated into three components with three steps of enjoying.

Firstly, you drink the beef stock on its own; after which you add two to three tablespoons of the braised sauce into the soup which adds spiciness and flavours; the last step is to mix the noodles, preserved vegetables and braised sauce together in an empty bowl like tossed noodles.

A lot on how ‘delicious’ this combination would depend on how much braised soup you add to the soup. I figure that two tablespoons would be more than enough, adding that kick without interfering too much from the mellow taste of the golden soup.

While price is slightly on the higher side than the average shop, I think Niu Dian delivers on quality.

Niu Dian Beef Noodles 牛店
No. 91, Kunming Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
108台北市萬華區昆明街91號
Tel: +886 2 2389 5577
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 8pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Google Maps – Niou Dien Beef Noodles

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Best Taiwanese Beef Noodles In Taipei
Halal Chinese Beef Noodles 清真中國牛肉麵食館 (Xinyi District, Taipei)
Liu Shandong Beef Noodles 劉山東牛肉麵 (Zhongzheng District, Taipei)
Jian Hong Beef Noodles 建宏牛肉麵 (Wanhua District, Taipei)
Lin Dong Fang Beef Noodles 林東芳牛肉麵 (Zhongshan District, Taipei)
Yong Kang Beef Noodles 永康牛肉麺館 (Yong Kang St, Taipei)

Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

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

Talk about the best prata shops in Singapore and Mr and Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata, Sin Ming Roti Prata, Springleaf Prata Place, Rahmath Cheese Prata, and perhaps Casuarina Curry Restaurant is likely to come to mind.

Y.R.A Rasool Fatimah at ABC Brickworks Food Centre may appear to be an unknown name.

(Note that ABC Food Centre will be closed for Redecoration/Renovation (R&R) Works from 16 Mar 2020 (Mon) to 15 May 2020 (Fri).)

Few customers would have known this “YR Ahmad” stall is actually listed in the Michelin Guide with a “Michelin Plate” for a consecutive number of years.

There are no conspicuous red round decals around indicating that, but buy the red book and you would find it.

The stall serves up a wide variety of Indian-Muslim food from Mee Goreng ($3.50), Nasi Goreng Merah ($3.50), Mee Hoon Goreng Puteh Ikan Billis ($4.00), Tulang Merah ($6 onwards), Mutton Chop ($5.50) and Mutton Soup ($5.00).

Its signature Murtabak ($6, $8, $10) is not displayed prominently on the main menu, but as a printed laminated sheet handing from the stall lights.

For foreigners, the Murtabak can be described as a pan-fried spicy ‘pancake’ filled with eggs, minced meat and bits of vegetables and onions. They are often folded than cut into rectangular shapes.

The locals may see it as like a much-bigger roti prata filled with more substantial ingredients.

While there was no customers during time of ordering, I needed to wait for slightly more than 10 minutes for the Murtabak, as I noted uncle leaving the piece on the grill for a long while even though the colour already looked right.

That had the effect of keep the fillings inside almost piping hot, and stayed warm throughout as I was consuming the piece.

Compared to the usual Murtabak which had a crispier outer layer, the texture of this piece was on the doughy, softer and eggier side. It almost felt like I was having a pancake.

Big portion, good enough for two to share.

Y.R.A Rasool Fatimah also sells prata without too many fanciful options, such as plain ($1.00), onion ($1.20), egg ($1.50), egg and onion ($1.70), cheese ($2), cheese with egg ($2.50) and chocolate.

Similarly, the egg prata I had did not have that distinct crispiness with much layered fluffiness, but was towards the chewier side.

Its fried noodle and rice dishes are worth a try, such as the Nasi Goreng Puteh Ikan Billis ($4.00) and Maggie Goreng ($3.50.)

The plate of noodles came hot almost like it had wok-hei (wok heat), and also hot with fiery heat that may cause you to break out in sweat.

Y.R.A Rasool Fatimah
ABC Brickworks Food Centre #01-10, 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 150006
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (Mon – Wed, Fri – Sun), Closed Thurs

Other Related Entries
ABC Brickworks Food Centre Hawker Guide

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

Omakase お任せ is a Japanese term meaning “I’ll leave it up to you”.

It has been commonly used to describe a style of “menu” in Japanese restaurants in which the chef will prepare a the meal in accordance to seasonal specialties, at a specified price.

Here are 10 of the best Japanese Omakase restaurants you can find in Singapore:

Sushi Kimura
390 Orchard Road, #01-07 Palais Renaissance Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 6734 3520
Opening Hours: Lunch 12:30pm – 3pm; Dinner 7pm – 10pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Sushi Kimura 鮨来村 is a one Michelin starred fine dining sushi-ya located at Palais Renaissance, an exclusive shopping destination at Orchard Road.

Known for its seasonally curated Edomae-style delicacies, it sources 100% of its ingredients from Japan (including personally sourced organic staples) and offers a meticulously paired sake and wine list.

Owned by Master Chef Tomoo Kimura, a graduate of Hattri Nutrition College in 1997, Sushi Kimura aims to provide its guests the true taste of nature using unadulterated ingredients and time-honoured traditions.

The focus is on premium and seasonal ingredients, with fresh seafood flown in from Tsukiji market 4 times a week. He even travels to various prefectures in Japan cultivating direct relationships with organic producers.

There are three sets for dinner: Enshu, Oribe, and Rikyu.

Enshu ($280++) includes Seasonal Starters, Appetiser, Seasonal and Traditional Sushi, Signature Rice Bowl, Soup, and Dessert. Like Karatsu, this is only available at the Sushi Counter. Upgrade to Oribe ($330++) which has all Enshu item plus Seasonal Sashimi, Grilled Fish, and Refresher.

Known for its fresh, wild caught seafood and special attention given to basic ingredients like rice, vinegar, nori and water.

An abalone dish cooked for eight hours in sake deserves a special mention – it’s what the Michelin inspectors took note of as one of the most remarkable creations of this establishment.

The Signature Rice Bowl uses a special A-grade Tsuya-hime organic rice imported from a family farm in Yamagata prefecture.

Omakase Pricing
Enshu: $300++
Oribe: $330++
Rikyu: $400++

Ki-sho 葵匠
29 Scotts Road Singapore 228224
Tel: +65 6733 5251
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2pm (Mon – Fri), 6:30pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun), Closed Sun

Ki-sho is helmed by an affable Chef Kazuhiro Hamamoto, bringing with him a wealth of experience and creativity amassed from his apprenticeship days in Kyoto’s top culinary restaurants and one of Singapore’s top restaurants Waku Ghin.

The beautiful Ki-sho is housed in a grand colonial bungalow along Scotts Road, containing a main dining room of an intimate 10-seater sushi bar, and several other VIP rooms all furnished with distinctly artistic Japanese elements such as hand-laid flooring and gold leaf wallpaper.

The outstanding Japanese restaurant offers a selection of two different Omakase set menus priced at $300++ and $450++ per person.

This may not be the most affordable pricing around. But in comparison with the other top-tier Japanese restaurants available locally, we can see why it stands out.

The most aesthetically pleasing and perhaps indulgent dish was the Uni and Cavier – a beautiful ensemble of creamy Hokkaido sea urchin, luxurious Italian caviar, shiso flower and corn on a wasabi leaf, resembling the jubilant blossoming of flowers in Japan during spring time.

Omakase Pricing:
AOI Menu: $300++ per person
KAI Menu: $450++ per person

Shoukouwa
1 Fullerton Road #02-02A One Fullerton Singapore 049213
Tel: +65 6423 9939
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 6 – 11pm (Tues – Sat), 6 – 11pm (Sun), Closed Mon

While there is no official verification, Japanese restaurant Shoukouwa could jolly well be the fastest restaurant around to be awarded 2 stars after opening. Just 4 months into operation.

The sushi restaurant at One Fullerton is a venture between the founder of Hong Kong’s 3-star Michelin Sushi Shikon and the Emmanuel Stroobant restaurant group (which is behind Saint Pierre).

A Mio Lunch Menu ($180++ per person) of 16 courses includes appetiser, nigiri sushi, miso soup, Japanese Omelette and dessert. Also available is the Miyabi ($320++) of 20 courses and Hana ($480++) of 25 courses.

The Omakase of Miyabi ($320++) and Hana ($480++) are also available during dinner, from Tuesday to Sunday, 6pm to 11pm (last seating 8.30pm)

For the most expensive set, what you get is a number of appetisers, four cooked dishes, sashimi, 13 pieces of sushi, miso soup, Japanese omelette, and dessert.

Do not be surprised at the space. It is an 8-seater sushi restaurant. Three chefs helm the restaurant. Much attention is paid on execution and details.

Sashimi is flown in fresh daily from Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market. The market is closed on Mondays, and so does the restaurant.

Some standout dishes: Monkfish liver with Uni made an thrilling blend of both types of creaminess, and a crab meat croquette which bursted with bechamel-robustness.

Dinner Omakase
Miyabi: $380++ per person
Hana: $480++ per person

Shinji by Kanesaka すし道真次 – Carlton Hotel
76 Bras Basah Rd, Lobby Floor, Singapore 189558
Tel: +65 6338 6131
Opening Hours: Lunch 12pm – 3pm Last Order at 2pm; Dinner: 6pm – 10.30pm Last Order 9pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Shinji by Kanesaka すし道真次 – St Regis Singapore
29 Tanglin Road, Lobby Floor, Singapore 247911
Tel: +65 6884 8239
Opening Hours: Lunch 12pm – 3pm Last Order at 2pm; Dinner: 6pm – 10.30pm Last Order 9pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Shinji by Kanesaka すし道真次 is commonly known to be the one of the best Japanese sushi restaurants in Singapore, and also considered by many as one of the finest outside of Japan.

The Michelin-starred restaurant used to be tucked away at the iconic Raffles Hotel, and has since moved to Carlton Hotel.

The highest tier is the Omakase Shin ($450) which includes appetiser, assorted premium sashimi, assorted cooked dishes, sushi, soup and Japanese fruit.

The next level Omakase Wa ($300) serves ‘normal’ sashimi without the ‘premium’. If splurging is an issue, there is an Edomae Sushi set ($220) comes with 15 pieces of nigiri.

Needless to say, the sushi is world-class, especially its tuna.

The pinkish Chutoro (medium fatty tuna) was so fresh it can literally slide down the throat, Otoro (tuna belly) rich creamy with amazing sirloin feel, and Akami (red meat) where you could almost feel the tuna melting in your mouth.

Takayama Japanese Restaurant
6 Shenton Way #01-09/10 OUE Downtown Gallery Singapore 068815 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Tel: +65 6224 0864
Opening Hours: Lunch 12pm – 2:30pm, Dinner 6:30pm – 10pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Located at Downtown Gallery, Takayama Japanese Restaurant is where you can savour a medley of authentic Japanese flavours in its multi-course menu.

This is a “kappo-style” restaurant, similar to a Keiseki meal where elaborately prepared dishes which look like pieces of art, are served.

Chef Takayama is formerly chef de cuisine at Mandarin Orchard Singapore, and began his career at three-Michelin-starred restaurants Kashiwaya and Koryu in Osaka.

Takayama’s signature dish is the Abalone + Uni which can be found in the dinner omakase menu.

The other dish to look forward to is the “Otsukuri”. While it essentially means sashimi, I got a combination of Hokkaido uni, Toyama baby squid, Nagasaki Otoro and Chutoro and a couple of surprises – each item there elaborately presented and even paired with different soy sauces to bring out the best of the flavours.

Seasonal Lunch Sets: $68++ or $98++
Includes Homemade Tofu, Seasonal Otsukuri, Seasonal Cold Appetiser, Pickled Vegetables, One Seasonal Main, Hokkaido Rice, Miso Soup, and Fruit Jelly.

Dinner Omakase: $280++
Includes Appetisers, Otsukuri, Monaka, Signature dish of Abalone + Uni, Charcoal Grilled Sish, Oshokuji, Fruits and Confection.

Fat Cow
Camden Medical Centre #01-01/02, 1 Orchard Boulevard Singapore 248649
Tel: +65 6735 0308
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10:30pm (Sun – Thurs), 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

The luxurious Japanese restaurant is best known to serve the finest Wagyu from reputable farms across the globe.

Its name will probably catch your end, in which “Fat” represents luxury and indulgence, and a play on the word “Fatt” which means “prosperity” in Cantonese.

The kitchen is helmed by Chef Shigeru Kasajima, who draws from his background in French cuisine, employing French influences in Japanese cuisine to create unexpected dishes.

You can often see him at the intimate omakase dining room, in which you can watch his skilful preparation and make interactions and conversations with regards to the food prepared.

In terms of food, diners can enjoy their choice of beef prepared in different Japanese methods, from Shabu-Shabu, Sukiyaki, Hobayaki or the ever-popular Sumibiyaki (Charcoal-grill).

Omakase Pricing:
Sumire Lunch Menu: $120++ per person
Nagoyaka Dinner Menu: $250++ per person

Teppei Japanese Restaurant
1 Tras Link, 01-18 Orchid Hotel, Singapore 078867
Tel: +65 222 7363
Opening Hours: 11:45am – 2:30pm, 6:30pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Teppei Japanese Restaurant is well-known for its affordable Omakase, priced at $80++ for a 17-course Omakase.

It is recommended to book a month in advance (you can do so online), as the space is small and can accommodate only 22 diners.

If you are thinking quality is comprised because of its price,

No. Some of the dishes beats those served in more respectable restaurants, especially the crisp deep-fried king prawn which makes all other tempura ebi look insignificant.

Chef Yamashita Teppei always comes with something different, according to the season and his mood. That makes every visit to Teppei worthwhile and memorable.

Hashida Sushi Singapore
25 Mohamed Sultan Rd, Singapore 238969
Tel: +65 8428 8787
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 7pm – 10pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Served luxuriously in Omakase style, Hashida Sushi brings premium grade sushi to its diners.

Hashida Sushi first opened its door in Tokyo in 1966 helmed by Master Sushi Chef, Tokio Hashida. His son Kenjiro “Hatch” Hashida who is a graduate of Japan’s top culinary school, L’Ecole Tsuji Tokyo, followed his father’s footsteps and brought the culinary venture to Singapore.

It used to be a Mandarin Gallery, but reopened at Mohamed Sultan Road.

Fresh ingredients combined with experienced hands make the quality sushi.

For lunch, you may want to go for the Hiiragi menu ($250++) which includes appetisers, chawanmushi, supreme sashimi, omakase dish, sushi, uni & ikura rice bowl, signature ootoro sushi, sushi roll, soup, and dessert.

As for dinner, you can choose from a range between $300++ to $500++ and leave it to the chef to craft the menu.

The presentation is a visionary delight that complemented the taste.

Chef’s Omakase: $300++ – $500++

Ginza Sushi Ichi
320 Orchard Road, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel #01-04, Singapore 238865 (5 min walk from Orchard MRT)
Tel: +65 6235 5514
Opening Hours: Lunch 12:00pm – 2.30pm Last order at 2:00pm (Tue – Sun)
Dinner 6:00pm – 11:00pm Last order at 9.30pm (Tues – Sat)
Dinner from 6pm to 10pm Last order at 8.30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Ginza Sushi Ichi propelled further into the limelight after it won a Michelin star in Singapore.

The intimate 23-seater restaurant is a branch of the award-winning Tokyo based Ginza Sushi Ichi, helmed by 34-year-old executive Head Chef Masakazu Ishibashi, more affectionately known as Masa.

He comes from a line of sushi restaurant owners, and takes great pride in preparing sushi with an artful flair for his guests.

The interior is like a typical high-end sushi restaurant, with the sushi masters preparing food in full view of the patrons, with a counter made from a 200 year-old cypress trees.

Tuna and sea-urchin are the restaurant’s specialty. Ingredients are purchased directly from Japan and flown in 4 to 5 times a week so only the freshest picks of the season are served to the guests.

Lunch would generally be the cheaper option, which includes Tubaki at $100++ (appetizer, 10 pc nigiri sushi, roll sushi, miso soup, and desert), Botan at $150++ (similar to tubaki except 1 extra side, assorted sashimi and nigiri sushi is 8 pc), and lunch omakase at $240++ (appetizer, 2 assorted sashimi, 2 dishes, 8 pc nigiri sushi, roll sushi, miso soup and desert). Dinner options can also be selected for lunch.

For dinner, you can opt for the omakase nigiri at $220++ (appetizer, nigiri sushi, small dish, roll sushi, miso soup and desert), sushi ichi course at $300++ (appetizer, assorted sashimi, assorted dishes, nigiri sushi, roll sushi, miso soup and desert) and Omakase at $430++ (no fixed menu).

Syun
Resorts World Sentosa, 26 Sentosa Gateway Crockfords Tower, #02-135 &, 135A, Singapore 098138
Tel: +65 6577 6688
Opening Hours: Lunch 11am – 2:30pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Syun helmed by Japanese Chef Hal Yamashita located at the Resorts World Sentosa RWS at Festive Walk, is part of their line-up of celebrity chef restaurants.

This is one of those restaurants that I liked immediately upon stepping in, warm and professional Japanese service, Japanese Wabi-sabi concept for its décor, and natural wood used for its furniture, beaming with rustic elegance.

A more ‘affordable’ 5-course dinner tasting menu is available, offering Sea Urchin Rolled By Kagoshima A4 Wagyu Beef Topped with Smoked Caviar, 3 Kinds of Fish Carpaccio, Grilled Cod with Saikyo Miso, Yuzu Miso Sauce, Dried Mullet Powder and Parmesan, Assorted Sushi (Tuna, Salmon & Unagi ) Served with Miso Soup, and Matcha Monaka Ice Cream.

Pricing
Tasting 5 Course: $118++
Premium 8 Course: $178++

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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.

Do you know that Thomson Road is also known as ”Chia Chui Kang” meaning “fresh water stream”

Other than the ‘iconic’ Thomson Plaza where parents sent their children to tuition and music classes, the Upper Thomson Road stretch is peppered with eateries from The Roti Prata House, Nam Kee Chicken Rice, Meng’s Kitchen, and Thai Hao Chi Mookata.

Not forgetting that Sin Ming’s popular kopitiams are just a short walk away.

There are also many brunch and coffee places where hipsters can literally café-hop an entire afternoon away. Or parents can choose want to have desserts, while waiting for your children to finish those never-ending enrichment classes.

Here are 13 cafes to visit at Upper Thomson Singapore:

Woodlands Sourdough
183 Upper Thomson Road, The Longhaus #01-03 Singapore 574429
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5pm (Thurs – Sun), Closed Mon – Wed

Woodlands Sourdough is known for their sourdough bread and brownies, which we argue may probably be one of the best in Singapore.

The new outlet bears some resemblance to their previous outlet, with racks of bread and display trays full of bakes.

With the white walls and the interior decorations, it felt like a bakery-café in San Francisco for that split second.

Apart from the usual brownies such as the Rye Hazelnut Almond Brownie ($5.50), some new items include the Tartine ($8) which is essentially a slice of their signature sourdough bread topped with fresh mozzarella, pesto and salad greens served alongside some roasted tomatoes.

Molten Diners
246 Upper Thomson Road Singapore 574370
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm Last Order 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 2am Last Order 1am (Fri – Sat)

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.

Aside from its meat and seafood specials, Molten Diners also includes a wide selection of appetisers, pasta, and desserts.

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.

Go for ”The Twist” Lava Golden Crispy Fish Fillet ($14.90). 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.

Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters Singapore
185 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574333
Tel: +65 6397 5564
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Talk about Upper Thomson’s cafes, and Pacamara may just be that most famous name that people talk about.

Part of it is due to its vibes, primary white interior (especially with natural daylight), the barista bar, relatively good coffee, and cool little people. Okay, except that it can get rather noisy and echo-y.

Pacamara Coffee was first established in Changmai, finding more fame after opening its boutique café at Bangkok. As for its name, “Pacamara” came from El Salvadorean Pacamara Arabica coffee bean.

You will find this casual café at a few minutes’ walk from the Marymount MRT station. It has a minimalist set up, with hearty servings of Western fusion cuisine. They serve a full day breakfast and coffee menu, along with lunch and dinner special entrées.

For the Brunch which lasts till 5pm, go for the Breakfast Platter ($23), Avocado & Eggs ($16.50), and Mushroom & Cheese Omelette ($17.50).

Do leave some space for the Salted Caramel Banana French Toast ($18.50), or the Blueberry Pancake ($17.50) served with fresh berries, vanilla sauce and berry compote – a dessert that satiates the sweet tooth. Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters (Upper Thomson)

Thus Coffee
4 Jalan Kuras Singapore 577723
Tel: +65 8411 7565
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Its location is not the most accessible, at 4 Jalan Kuras at Upper Thomson, of walking distance from Sembawang Hills Food Centre.

There are a few elements that would draw people to this humble establishment.

They micro-roast their own coffee, and the owners and staff sound very sincere and down-to-earth (hope they can remain that way!) I cannot vouch for its entire menu as it changes regularly, but online feedback has been positive.

Its main offerings include Hearty Chicken Stew ($16), Baked Eggs & Toast ($14), THUS Breakfast ($19), Salmon & Kale Toast ($17), Salmon Grain Bowl ($18), and Wagyu Beef Grain Bowl ($20).

The Creamy Chicken Leg Stew with herbed potatoes, carrots and zesty lime, served with toasted multigrain bread has been a crowd favourite.

This is not your everyday instagram-favourites, but should appeal to a certain generation who would like your soft potatoes and carrots with fall-off-the-bone drumstick. Thus Coffee (Jalan Kuras)

Columbus Coffee Co.
220 Upper Thomson Rd Thomson Garden Estate, Singapore 574352
Tel: +65 6253 6024
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Tues – Sat), 9am – 7pm (Sun), Closed Mon

By the team behind Atlas Coffeehouse at Bukit Timah and Lunar Coffee Brewers at Downtown Gallery, Columbus Coffee Co is relatively new but very well received.

It is a bold step to open a new café in an area already swarming with a dozen others, but it definitely stands out. You should find yourself liking the general vibe as soon as you step in. It has a spacious seating area, looking chic and neat.

There are no so-called recommended items, but some dishes that appealed included Mushrooms on Sourdough ($14), Buttermilk Fried Chicken ($14.50), Mussels with Coconut Lemongrass & Ale ($17), Heart Meatballs On Toast ($18), Brown Butter Sardine Crumb Pasta ($18), to sweets of Butterscotch Banana Pancake ($18.50), Peanut Butter & Berries ($14) and Earl Grey Caramel Waffle ($12.50).

The Summer Chicken Stew ($18) seemed like an obvious choice.

This dish had a slight Asian-take as it reminded me of a home-cooked meal with roasted potatoes and carrots, except that the gravy was not as creamy as I imagined. Columbus Coffee Co. (Upper Thomson)

PocoLoco – Upper Thomson
215F Upper Thomson Road Singapore 574349
Tel: +65 8436 3363
Opening Hours: Lunch 12pm – 3pm Last Order 2:30pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Mon – Fri),
12pm – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

Tucked away in the Upper Thomson neighbourhood, you could easily miss it if you don’t pay attention.

PocoLoco is known to take quality Italian-sourced ingredients and transform them into affordably-priced dishes.

A must-try pasta is PocoLoco’s Mentaiko ($14.90).Enjoy this pasta with a Japanese-inspired cream sauce with mentaiko (marinated cod roe) from the Chubu region of Japan.

The spicy cod roe which imparts that orange-pink colour, giving it slight spiciness which complements the buttery, creamy sauce.

Habitat Coffee
223 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574355
Tel: +65 6456 2567
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Habitat Coffee is one of the main-stayers along Upper Thomson Road.

If you are looking for hearty food servings with fresh roasted coffee, artisanal cakes and desserts, this should be for you.

It is a quaint little place just right for warm brunches and regular caffeine fixes. You will find a variety of Asian cuisines from Japanese fusion rice bowls to the Asian infused desserts and pastas.

For brunch, go for the Pulled Pork Benedict ($16) with 8 hours slow cooked pork shoulder and homemade citrus hollandaise sauce, Scrambled Chilli Eggs, Cajun Prawn Melted Toasties or Truffle Salmon Scrambled Eggs.

Apart from this, they have authentic Arabica coffee beans roasted locally and freshly grinded on demand, best paired with their home baked Matcha Molten green tea lava cake with green tea gelato.

One Man Coffee
215R Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574349
Tel: +65 9658 1685
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm (Mon – Sun)

Simple and classy, One Man Coffee specializes in artisanal coffee.

One Man Coffee shares the same space with Garçons, operating in the prime working hours and bringing wholesome food items.

The café is simple with minimalistic, with classy furnishing and antique display cabinet with a variety of cakes and pastries.

They serve their specialty coffee with Nylon Coffee Roasters and their chocolate beverages are made with rich premium African Cocoa from Grounded Pleasures from Australia.

For their All-Day Brunch, go for the Croissant with Scrambled Eggs with Mixed Greens or Sweet Potato Fries ($10), Baked Eggs Cocotte ($12), Ham & Truffle Cream Cheese Coirssant ($10), or Furikake Mushroom Pasta topped with Onsen Egg ($12).

Belo Café
222 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574354
Tel: +65 9744 0504
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Thurs), 11am – 11pm (Fri), 9am – 11pm (Sat), 9am – 10pm (Sun)

Cafe by day, bistro bar by night, Belo Café is collaboration between Les Patisseries and PizzaFace, a 60-seater area which is great for individual hang outs as well as gatherings and events.

While it is known for its pastries, tarts, cakes and waffles, there is actually quite an extensive all-day savoury menu which serves up Chicken Parmigiana ($17), Fish and Chips ($19), Duck Confit ($21), Lamb Shank (23).

Its two best-selling Waffles include the Thai Milk Tea Ice Cream on Earl Grey Waffles ($17) and Horffles($14) – vanilla waffles with Horlick ice cream, powder and sauce.

Their Waffle Ispahan ($15) is also like a work of art, essentially rose waffle topped with double scoops of rose and lychee sorbet, fresh and pureed lychees, and raspberries along with edible rose petals and macarons.

Nook & Cranny Café
9 Sin Ming Road #01-03, Thomson V One, Singapore 575630
Phone: +65 6452 7449
Opening Hours: 4pm – 10pm (Wed – Fri), 10am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)

Nook & Cranny Café is hidden along the Thomson V One, and if you do not look closely you may completely miss it out.

Filled with natural daylight and wafting with the aroma of freshly prepared food, it is small but considered cosy.

Its menu though small, still includes no-nonsense classic comfort food from Truffled Mac & Cheese ($14.50), Truffle Fries ($8.50), Chicken Bleu served with Orzo Rice Pasta, and Portobello Beef Burger served with chips and salad.

Thrive
215B Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574349
Phone: +65 9688 9211
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 11pm (Fri), 12am – 11pm (Sat)

Thrive is a concept by Boxgreen and An Acai Affair, and serves up signature acai bowls, smoothies, and toasts.

It is a slightly quiet place, and students seem to love to ‘park’ here to do their revisions.

Three types of toasts are available – Berry Crunchy ($5.90), You Butter Believe ($5.90), and Bravocado ($6.90) served on toasted sourdough bread.

The Triple A Acai ($5.90, $8.90, $13.90) come served with fresh fruits, granola, chia seeds, cacao nibs, coconut shavings, pumpkin seeds, almond flakes and goji berries.

All bowls come with a drizzle of honey, cookie butter, peanut butter, almond butter or cashew butter.

Its acai bowls is said to be undiluted with liquids such as apple juice or coconut water, and therefore contains a higher concentration of acai pulp.

Windowsill Pies
95 Soo Chow Walk, Singapore 575382
Phone: +65 9004 7827
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Tues – Thurs), 12pm – 11pm (Fri), 10am – 11pm (Sat), 10am – 10pm (Sun), Closed Mon

There are many decent cake and bread shops in Singapore, but I dare say few bake a decent pie. Especially one that is not too crumbly, stays firm without being hard, fruity yet not artificial tasting.

In which every taste is a surprise. Windowsill Pies got all the right ticks.

However, somehow people still think they are at Jalan Besar, or are gone, but they have actually moved to Soo Chow Walk (There is another outlet at 17 Haji Lane.)

They have a variety of more than 10 pies, from Grasshopper (dark chocolate ganache with fresh mint cream), Morello Cherry, Pecan & Pumpkin, Strawberry Lemon, Rum & Apple, Honey Macadeamia, to Sparkling Yuzu.

Each slice cost about $7 to $8.

The S’mores pie ($8.00 per slice, $68 for whole), filled with gooey milk chocolate pudding and sticky dark chocolate fudge, is one of my favourites for being smoothly-chocolaty yet not being overpowering rich.

The Coffee Roaster Cafe & Academy
205 Upper Thomson Road, Yew Lian Park, Singapore 574345
Tel: +65 8661 1035
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 6pm (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon

The Coffee Roaster is a specialty coffee company, and has opened a new outlet at Upper Thomson.

What is noteworthy that it was founded back in 2014 by Ang Swee Heng when he was 20 years old.

The Upper Thomson outlet also houses its production centre for handcrafted cookies by The Baker’s Gallery – baked with 60% less butter and sugar.

For coffee, go for the Honey Latte ($5.50 got hot, $6 for iced) which accentuates the chocolate notes of their house-blend coffee; or Pourover Coffee ($6.50).

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Is this a case of seeing double?

This Curry Chicken Noodles stall called “Fu Hai Curry Chicken Noodles” located at Albert Food Centre Queen Street puts up a sign indicating “只此一家，别无分号” which means “no other branches”.

Since it is called “Fu Hai” or “Hock Hai”, one would wonder about its relation to the other “Fu Hai”or Hock Hai (Hong Lim) Curry Chicken Noodle at Bedok Interchange Food Centre.

To add more to the possible complication, while the Michelin Guide Singapore previously announced that the Bedok curry chicken noodles was awarded the Bib Gourmand, its website and printed copy reflected that it was actually this Queen Street stall “Hock Hai Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Noodle”.

Ah…? (A misprint?)

I asked the auntie cooking up my bowl, and she said she wasn’t clear about it as well, and added a couple of customers also asked about its relation.

After some digging, I realised that there were three “Fu Hai” stalls in the past, at Old Airport Road Food Centre, Bedok Interchange Food Centre, and Albert Food Centre. The owner was also behind Chai Chee Minced Meat Noodle.

As to what happened subsequently, I would not know.

Fu Hai Curry Chicken Noodles at Queen Street serves up bowls priced at $5.

One of the reasons why the curry gravy is flavourful is that it is cooked using chicken stock, then added with Indian spices, curry powder, coconut milk and shrimps.

Only fresh chickens between 1.9 and 2kg are picked, poached then iced so that the chicken meat remains tender and succulent.

My favourite component were the soft potatoes, followed by the tau pok which soaked up the greasy gravy.

As for the chicken, it happened to be quite bland-tasting and I wished there was more natural flavours locked within.

I thought that the gravy was on the lighter side, and not as intense and full-flavoured as some of the others.

However, if you prefer something not too heavy, this could be a suitable choice.

Fu Hai Curry Chicken Noodles
Albert Centre Market & Food Centre #01-104, 270 Queen Street, Singapore 180270
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
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Hock Hai (Hong Lim) Curry Chicken Noodle (Bedok Interchange Food Centre)
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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] Simple Kaffa Flagship 興波咖啡 is easily Taipei’s current IN coffee place to visit, where both foreign and local instagrammers would want to “check-in” (打卡).

There used to be The Lobby of Simple Kaffa located within the East District 東區. That has been converted to a shop where customers can buy coffee beans; while this flagship café is at Zhongxiao East Road (a short walking distance from Huashan 1914 Creative Park.

Even though there is the current COVID-19 scare, it is not stopping from a line of people (most wearing masks) queueing outside for a seat in the two-storey space.

Here’s why: the café is founded by 2016’s World Barista Champion Berg Wu – the first person from Taiwan to win the World Barista Championship.

Other than its quality coffee, the cakes and desserts regularly appear on the Instagram feed of foodies, propelling it to further fame.

After about a 30 minutes’ or so wait, I was lead inside and drawn by the hipster industrial-chic space.

There are various combinations of seating arrangements and possible Instagrammable corners, and place large enough for customers to just chill and unwind.

This place is HUGE, and going around felt like I was intruding into different rooms of a family – Parasite style.

The coffee place was vibrant yet calming at the same time, that people forget about the troubles (virus) momentarily while chatting over cakes and drinks.

Simple Kaffa’s specialty is their hand pour coffee, ranging from the most affordable of Ethiopia Washed Heirloom (NT$200, SGD9.30) to the ‘upper level’ of Panama Washed Geisha (NT$600, SGD28.80).

For milk-based espresso, Brown Sugar Latte (NT$200, SGD9.30), Taiwanese Tea Infused Latte (N$200), Smoky Southern Taiwan (NT$200) and Go Nuts Latte (NT$200) are available.

The Brown Sugar Latte is easily one of their most popular, which was smooth, rich with distinct caramel notes.

The top layer was caramelised to perfection, cracked upon the first sip.

I also had the Smoky Southern Taiwan (NT$200, SGD9.30), an interesting cold drink with espresso added with Taiwanese jelly, white gourd syrup and Osmanthus.

It also felt like a dessert drink or one of the bubble-tea jelly drinks in a way, but they got the coffee proportion right that the bitter notes didn’t taste out of place.

The highlight was definitely the Matcha Swiss Roll (NT$150, SGD7) made using Morihan Kyoto Uji Matcha powder known for its premium grade quality.

It was light and airy, with loved that soft oozy cream in the middle.

The other to-get cake would be the Zhou Zhou or Honey Castella Cake (NT$150, SGD7).

Available in limited quantities, the Castella Cake baked Hanjuku style (half-baked) is a must-order, where you can that incredibly soft and even slightly gooey texture. It also has that honey-sweetness which made it ultra-delightful.

Simple Kaffa Flagship 興波咖啡
No. 27, Section 2, Zhongxiao East Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
台北市忠孝東路二段27號
Tel: +886 2 3322 1888
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps – Simple Kaffa Flagship

Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

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

If there is one trend for Singapore cafes, it would be that more and more bakery cafes have opened up.

Just the last couple of months, we have seen more than 10 new-to-market bakery shops opening up, from Wu Pao Chun Bakery, The Bakehaus, and Bakery Brera & Fine Foods.

Here are 10 more:

Starter Lab Bakery
721 Havelock Road Singapore 169645 (Tiong Bahru Station)
Tel: +65 9839 0408
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5pm (Mon – Sun)

Famous Bakery From Bali At Havelock Road
From hipster area of Canggu in Bali to Havelock Road, Starter Lab Bakery has opened its 2nd outpost (in the world) right here in Singapore.

Baker-consultant Emerson Manibo has worked at New York’s Per Se, trained at famed Tartine and Della Fattoria bakeries in California.

The bakery café essentially offers a wholesome menu of posh toast (so much so they have been reviewed to serve the “Gucci Of Bread”), sandwiches and build your own bread boards.

All the loaves and pastries served (other than the scones) contain sourdough/starter, and loaves are fermented over 36 hours before being baked.

If you are lost at what to order, some recommendations include House-Made Mascarpone, sustainable honey, bee pollen and crushed walnuts ($14); Salmon, pickle, house-made creme fraiche on Danish Rye ($14), Country Loaf ($11 for half, $18 for whole, estimated 1.2kg), and Miso Baguette. Starter Lab (Havelock Road)

Petit Pain
315 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427566
Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm (Tues – Fri), 10am – 8pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon

Humble Artisanal Bakery Found At Joo Chiat
A small, humble bakery has been making wave with the Katong community, with several of their bakes sold out before 2pm.

Breads and pastries are only available in small batches, free of improvers, preservatives and artificial flavours.

The Classic Croissant ($3) requires a 3-day process to produce.

I decided to have it fresh because the buttery fragrance was just too alluring. And there was that ”wow” moment upon taking that first bite.

Must say that Petit Pain’s take probably ranks top as the crispiest version I had in Singapore. Note: Many of the items are sold out by about noon or even earlier. Petit Pain (Joo Chiat)

Baker’s Bench Bakery
6 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089820
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5pm (Wed – Mon, Closed Tues)

Bakery Cafe With Tasty Breads And Scandinavian Vibes
Baker’s Bench Bakery at Bukit Pasoh Road (well, kind of opposite Shake Shack Neil Road), positioned as a “neighbourhood bakery” with an open-concept bakery.

Its objective is to remove the barrier between staff and customers, and therefore you feel like you walking into a home kitchen and can make conversations easily.

I liked how the interior felt cozy with Scandinavian vibes, along with a mouth-watering display of bakes.

All breads and puff pastries naturally leavened by sourdough are baked freshly in the morning, and even many of the ingredients are made in-house such as kimchi, pickles, sauces, jams and butter.

But what first caught my eye was the Sticky Bun ($5) which was majestic-looking compared to all the rest, with all that gloss from caramel and pecan.

It turned out to be better than I expected, with a delightful contrast of sticky, brown-sugary and walnutty toppings with soft and pillowy texture.
 

Brotherbird Coffeehouse
32 Bali Lane Singapore 189868
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9:30pm (Wed – Mon), 6pm – 9:30pm (Tues)

Creative Croissant And Brunch Cafe With Minimalist Décor
The Brotherbird team has re-opened this outlet with a new “coffeehouse” concept. The lower level contained an industrial-grey minimalist look (reminding me of Lucid at Hamilton Road) of two sections – the pastry counter and the coffee side, with a small seating area.

The display contained more than 10 different types of pastries.

There are basically four different groups you can expect – Twice-baked croissant, the regular croissants (some pumped with fillings), chocolate series, and Danish pastries.

Brother Bird continues to introduce seasonal bakes, such as the current Hae Bee Hiam & Cheese Danish ($5), “Tang Yuan” Pastry ($5) with coconut mochi and adzuki bean, “Nian Gao” & Yam ($5) with yam fillings, Mandarin Orange Meringue Croissant ($4), and Mango Sticky Rice ($5) with fresh mango fillings, coconut mochi in a croissant topped with coconut flakes.

If you are heading for the staples, available are Earl Grey Tea Croissant ($5), Churros Croissant ($4), and Double Chocolate Roll ($4) topped with cocoa powder.

Woodlands Sourdough
183 Upper Thomson Road, The Longhaus #01-03 Singapore 574429
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5pm (Thurs – Sun), Closed Mon – Wed

Popular Bakery Cafe Well-Missed Makes Its Return At Upper Thomson
Fans of Woodlands Sourdough were probably devastated upon hearing the closure of the previous outlet located in Serene Centre. (That shop has been replaced by Microbakery Bakery & Kitchen.)

But good news, owners Chalith and Nur are back at a brand-new location in Upper Thomson.

Woodlands Sourdough is known for their sourdough bread and brownies, which we argue may probably be one of the best in Singapore.

Apart from the usual brownies such as the Rye Hazelnut Almond Brownie ($5.50), some new items include the Tartine ($8) which is essentially a slice of their signature sourdough bread topped with fresh mozzarella, pesto and salad greens served alongside some roasted tomatoes. Woodlands Sourdough (Upper Thomson)

Micro Bakery & Kitchen – Red House
63 East Coast Road #01-06 Singapore 428776
Opening Hours: 8:30pm – 5pm Last Order 3pm (Wed – Fri), 8:30pm – 5pm, Last Order 4:30pm (Sat – Sun)

Bakery Café With Delicious Breads Hidden Within The Iconic Red House
The Red House is an iconic fixture along East Coast Building, now housed by Micro Bakery & Kitchen.

Their breads are naturally leavened using organic and sustainable flour, using natural ingredients and no additives.

Its brunch menu includes Big Breakfast ($18), Granola ($8), Smoked Salmon on Sourdough English Muffin ($18), Micro Club Sandwich ($14), Grilled 3 Cheese Sandwich ($12), Ricotta Tartine ($12), Smashed Avocado Tartine ($14) and Scrambled Free Range Egg Tartine ($14).

The Brownies ($5, $6 each) here are not to be missed – chocolatey, dense and moist, sometimes coming with interesting flavours such as cookies and cream, Bischof, and even miso with coconut flakes suitable for vegans. Micro Bakery & Kitchen Red House (East Coast)

The Better Half
1 Everton Park, #01-43, Singapore 081001
Tel: 9248 7088
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5:30pm (Tues – Fri), 9:30am – 5:30pm (Sat – Sun), Closed on Mon

Bakery Café With Korean Vibes And Delicious Cakes
Established by two passionate individuals who also happens to be each other’s better half, the café aims to serve honest and real fare to everyone who visits.

The bakes are placed in the shop exudes a certain Korean bakery vibe – kind of what you see in Layered 레이어드 or Cafe Highwaist.

All the bakes you see in The Better Half all made from scratch in-house. Even if you order a toast, the bread is made within the store and not from a supplier.

While I was thinking of what to get, the owners kindly suggested a slice of Rose Raspberry Cake ($8) which they were just about to display.

Essentially a rose sponge cake with raspberry cream cheese, the cake was fluffy in texture and not dry at all. The Better Half (Everton Park)

Kamome Bakery かもめベーカリー
Goldhill Shopping Centre, 169 Thomson Road Singapore 307621
Opening Hours: 8am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)

Japanese Bakery-Café At Novena
Kamome Bakery is a new Japanese bakery-café at Goldhill Shopping Centre, located near Novena MRT Station.

There are a couple of varied sandwich choices of Meat Loaf ($5.80), Croquette ($5.20), Tonkatsu ($5.60).

Breads are quite uniquely-Japanese, with the offering of Red Bean & Butter, Teriyaki Chicken Pizza, Yuzu Chestnut, Dark Cherry Tart, Cinnamon Roll, Banana Brown Sugar – all priced from $3 to $5 thereabout.

The Japanese Red Bean with salted butter bun was a moderate delight with its smooth paste and thick slab of butter. Kamome Bakery (Goldhill Shopping Centre)

Fine Dining Bakery
207 River Valley Road, 01-59 UE Square, 238275
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5pm (Mon, Wed – Sun)

French-trained Baker with quality European-style Breads
You would find many Japanese expats and ladies hanging around the café, and find that some of the recommended breads are quickly snapped up.

The head baker Chef Maekochi’s or “Akira” used to work at La Boutique de Joël Robuchon in Roppongi, Joël Robuchon at Resorts World Sentosa, and béni Singapore. That’s why the name of “fine dining bakery” due to his experience.

The bakery café specialises in handcrafted breads using Hokkaido flours, and baked throughout the day in small quantities so that the goods stay fresh.

Its signature is the Shokupan White Bread – deliciously soft and fluffy that may just transport you to Japan. You would also find the bread used for sandwiches such as the Fluffy Egg Salad Sandwich ($8.50).

Au Croissant
12 Kallang Ave, #01-35, Singapore 339509
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 7:30pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat
(Other outlets at The Centrepoint and Waterway Point)

As the name implies, this is a croissant-specialty cafe that somehow has gone under the radar. Other than the main outlet at Aperia Mall (Kallang), you can find it at The Centrepoint basement and Waterway Point.

Do not expect just the conventional Croissant, but with fanciful flavours such as peanut butter, gula melaka, purple sweet potato and yuzu apple. Each is priced at about $4.80.

There are also offerings of Croissant Sandwich, though that didn’t work that well for me due to the discrepancy of the temperatures – the fillings were still slightly cold when served.

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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.

[Osaka] Isomaru Suisan 磯丸水産 is a popular Japanese style izakaya known for its reasonably-priced seafood with downtown beach vibes.

Over in Osaka, there are branches at Umeda, Kita-Shinsaibashi, Sannomiya, Namba and Dontonbori. You may have also walked past one of its chain stores at Tokyo, found at many touristy places such Asakusa, Roppongi and Shinjuku.

To be honest, this wasn’t my first choice of a meal as I tend not to visit too many chain or touristy restaurants. But the vibrant ambience and not-bad food actually won me over.

The plus point is that most branches are opened 24/7, so you don’t have to worry about going hungry. Especially when you need sashimi or seafood in the middle of the night.

There is a distinctive look for Isomaru Suisan. Its old-fashioned decoration with giant flags often flown from fishing boats of Japan, and smoky smell may make you feel as if you are in a fishing port.

This Izakaya restaurant has lively atmosphere (especially at night) and layout that makes for a great dining experience.

You will find colourful fishes swimming around playfully in the water tank, and a lovely nautical setup with retro posters, shipping boxes of seafood, paper lanterns and fishermen’s flags.

The vibes are generally laid back and casual, and you can enjoy your meal with alcoholic beverages.

I went during lunch, and one of the recommended is the 2-Type Tuna Bowl for ¥590, a steal for SGD7.40 equivalent.

The donburi was topped with sizable slices of the usual reddish maguro and albacore tune (longfin tuna). Won’t say it was exceptional, but the fish was still sweet and fresh-tasting.

Also available is an Overflowing Seafood Bowl (¥1,185, SGD14.80).

For some cooked food, Chinese Fried Rice with Crab (¥599 yen), with reasonable consistency and texture, a tantalisingly fresh taste of crabs that didn’t overpower other ingredients.

Some of the must-orders include the Famous Kani (crab) Miso (¥499, SGD6.20), Foil-Roasted Squid and Mushroom (¥499), Fresh Whole Scallop in Shell (¥699 for 2, SGD8.40), Kiwami Amberjack (¥699).

I was little surprised the waitress brought a tiny grill to the table, then placed the seafood ordered – scallops, squid, clams on the grill.

She came over periodically to help flip the pieces, but I would said do not be too dependent on the service staff as they would get busy and forget about your table.

Thus landing up with slightly burnt pieces, inviting smoke and stares.

The Famous Kani (crab) Miso was indeed the highlight. While the inside appearance was medium-grey in colour like melted cement or something, the creamy paste was absolutely delicious full of that brinny seafood taste and crab sweetness.

I wished I kept some of that rice so that I could mix the crab miso in.

Since this is 24 hours in operation, it is really somewhere you can fill your stomach and drink to heart’s content with a bunch of friends without burning a whole in your wallet.

Isomaru Suisan Namba 磯丸水産
542-0071 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Dotonbori, 1 Chome−9−13 1･2F
Tel: +81 6 6474 0770
Opening Hours: 24 Hours

Isomaru Suisan Nambanankaidorit
11-22 Nanbasennichimae, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0075, Japan
Tel: +81 6 6630 6801
Opening Hours: 24 Hours

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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.

Sliced Fish Soup 鱼片汤 has become a popular hawker dish to have especially during days when we want to eat healthier.

The dish with a Teochew origin, typically contains fresh or deep-fried sliced fish in steamy broth. It can be coupled with thick vermicelli (”cu mi fen”), kway teow noodles, or rice, and various assortment of veggies.

A bowl of sliced fish beehoon soup is also high in protein and about 349 kcal. BUT if you add deep-fried fish and milk, it’s a whole different story all together. (A good fish soup that is cooked for many hours will be cloudy in colour, but some stalls choose to add evaporated milk as it’s the faster way.)

Some of the known places for fish soup include Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hoon, Mr Fish (Chinatown Food Centre), Yi Jia Teochew Fish Soup (Maxwell Food Centre), Mr Batang Fish (Amoy Street Food Centre), Leng Kee Fish Soup (Bukit Timah Food Centre), Quan Xiang Fish Porridge 泉香鱼口粥 (Bukit Timah Food Centre), Ng Seng Heng 黄信兴 (Pek Kio Food Centre), Han Jiang Fish Soup 韩江鱼汤 (Teck Ghee Square Hawker Centre), Yong Lai Fa Ji Cooked Food (Circuit Road Food Centre),

Here’s a list of 10 places that serve some of the best Sliced Fish Soup in Singapore:

First Street Teochew Fish Soup
1014 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534752
Tel: +65 8161 9552
Opening Hours: 8:15am – 3pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

First Street Teochew Fish Soup is a family stall hugely popular for their deliciously sweet fish soup.

It was founded by the father William Lim during the 1980s, but now largely run by his two sons Desmond and Aaron Lim.

As the focus of Teochew fish soup is on the freshness and flavours of the fish, they are dedicated and hardworking, getting their fish fresh and preparing for the soup as early as 3 to 4am every day (except Monday which is their off-day).

The varieties of fish soup offered include Batang Sliced Fish Soup ($6, $8, $10), Red Garoupa ($9, $11), Pomfret ($11, $15), and Mixed Soup with Seafood ($5, $7, $10).

Do not overlook on the additional ingredients you can add on, such as minced meat ($0.50), bitter gourd ($0.50), fish cake ($0.50) to even fish maw ($1.50) and fish row ($1.50).

When I had the first sip of the Batang (Spanish Mackeral) Fish Soup, there was a beautiful clear sweetness to it, with hints of ginger in a light but flavourful soup.

As for the fish slices, they were succulent and fresh, with none of that fishy aftertaste. Lovely.

Beach Road Fish Head Bee Hoon 美芝路鱼头米粉
91 Whampoa Drive, #01-46 Whampoa Makan Place, Singapore 320090
Opening Hours: 9am – 2pm (Sun – Tues, Thurs – Fri), Closed Wed, Sat

Though this famous stall is named “Beach Road Fish Head Bee Hoon”, it is actually located at the morning market of Whampoa Food Centre (Whampoa Makan Place).

Long queue is a typical scene here, where they specialise in fish dishes, different soups, and sliced fish bee hoon.

The stall has also been listed in the Singapore Michelin Guide with a “Michelin Bib Gourmand“.

There are choices of Sliced Fish Bee Hoon, Sliced Fish Soup, Fish Porridge, Seafood Soup and Special Tom Yum Soup, all priced inexpensively at $4.50 per bowl.

Unlike other fried fish bee hoon with an overwhelming amount of evaporated milk in the soup, Beach Road’s Fried Fish Bee Hoon Soup ($4.50) comes in a flavourful fish stock that retains its original taste even with the addition of milk.

The added light creaminess isn’t overpowering and you can still enjoy the inherent fish-flavoured broth. Beach Road Fish Head Bee Hoon (Whampoa Food Centre)

Han Kee 漢記
7 Maxwell Road, #02-129 Amoy Street Food Centre, Singapore 069111
Tel: +65 6688 5665
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun (Note: stall may also close as and when.)

For non-CBD people, the queue during peak-hour lunch time, can be a sight to behold.

There could be at least 40-50 pax lining up at any one time, but at least the queue clears relatively fast.

The menu basically revolves on 2 types of fish: sliced fish and fish head. Each can be served as plain soup, with bee hoon, or as a porridge.

Bowls come in three sizes ($5, $7, $9) for the Sliced Fish Soup, Sliced Fish Bee Hoon, and Sliced Fish Porridge.

The versions with fish head, ie Fish Head Soup, Fish Head Bee Hoon, Fish Head Porridge, are more expensive by a dollar ($6, $8, $10). Add a serving of white rice for $0.50. (One bowl of rice max per fish order though.)

Try a medium-sized Sliced Fish Bee Hoon ($7.00), served in a light, clear, subtly sweet broth with bits of fried garlic. It has a natural, clean taste, you don’t taste any artificial flavouring.

First timers are often surprised they are getting that much fish for the price. More importantly, the freshness of this batang fish is evident in its taste and its firm yet tender flesh does not fall apart easily. Han Kee (Amoy Street Food Centre)

Piao Ji Fish Porridge
Maxwell Road, #02-100 Amoy Street Food Centre, Singapore 069111
Opening Hours: 11am – 3:30pm (Tues, Wed, Fri – Sun), Closed Mon, Thurs

The other popular fresh fish soup stall Amoy Street Food Centre, though the queue is shorter than Han Kee’s if both are opened together. (This stall is closed for a number of times, suka-suka open kind.)

Piao Ji’s signature dish is the Pomfret with fresh Prawns Soup ($10, 12, $15).

Both the fish and prawns used were very fresh, with sizable portion for its price. They also offer other fish soups which use batang or mackerel.

The stall also uses a unique chili that goes very well with their fish soups, made with chilli padi, fermented beans and pickled ginger that goes very well with their fish soups. Extra serving of the chili sauce is chargeable at $0.50.

Mei Xiang Black & White Fish Soup
Berseh Food Centre Stall 44, 166 Jln Besar, Singapore 208877
Tel: +65 9789 6686
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 8pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun

First things first. There are some interesting rules here.

Only Mixed Fish Soup is sold here, NO ta-bao (takeaway) only dine-in, yet the bowl is served in disposable plastic. haiz

A small portion is priced at $6, while the large bowl is at $8. Mei Xiang stall did lives up to expectations with their fried and sliced “black” (which is fried fish) and white (sliced) fish soup.

You may be surprised to learn that the cloudy soup had no milk added to it. It was just steamy, comforting goodness with fried chunks and fish slices.

The mild sweetness and fresh taste of fish balanced the strong flavors from ginger quite well.

The dish also had deep fried ribbons of fluffy eggs along with sweet napa cabbage that went well with the soup. One of my personal favourites which I do not mind having again.

Jin Hua Fish Head Bee Hoon
1 Kadayanallur Street, Maxwell Food Centre, #01-77, Singapore 069184
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 8:30pm (Mon – Wed, Fri – Sun), Closed Thurs

Jin Hua enjoys its precious spot at the Maxwell Food Centre, and is running successfully for over 20 years now.

Their cost effective, filling and healthy fish soup invites a swarm of hungry customers to the stall especially during peak hour lunch.

The menu is concise and focuses mainly on their signature dish. You have the option of adding milk to the soup, or a side of noodles or rice.

I ordered the Fried Fish Meat Noodles ($5), and there were also green veggies, tomatoes and a few pieces of tofu in the soup.

While it is not as healthy, I would recommend adding milk to the soup as it was not as tasty without that.

The star of the dish was the succulent and plump slices of crispy deep-fried fish with a thin yet delicious batter. The fish itself was quite flavourful without any added spices.

The soup was also soaked in the sweetness and taste of fish, with a rich milky base.

Angel Horse Teochew Fish Soup 仙马潮州鱼汤
270 Queen Street, Albert Food Centre, #01-95, Singapore 180270
Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

No matter what time you stop by this stall at Albert Food Centre Hawker Stalls, you will always find it swarming with hungry customers.

This is largely because their serving sizes of fish soup are huge and could leave you satisfied.

The Teochew-style Sliced Fish Soup ($5) was delightfully light and clear with a refreshing blend of spices, added with rather thick and juicy chunks of batang fish slices.

While it wasn’t as flavourful as I wished, the bowl was still a simple, tasty bowl of soup which as quite comforting.

I also enjoyed the accompanying fermented bean sauce with chilli padi, enhancing the ‘Teochew-flavours’ to the dish.

Xin Yuan Ji
31 Tan Quee Lan St, #01-01, Singapore 188117
Tel: +65 6334 4086
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 11pm (Sun – Thurs), 11:30am – 11:30pm (Fri, Sat)

Xin Yuan Ji is located in the heart of Bugis at Tan Quee Lan Street. This is not located at a hawker stall, but a coffeeshop-like eatery with spacious layout and air-conditioning.

It draws a lot of crowd during lunch hours, as it is THE place to eat in the area, especially amongst the working class.

The most famous dish on their menu is the Fried Snapper Fish Soup ($8.90) and the Sliced Fish Soup Bee Hoon ($5.80). You can also add a bowl of rice for an extra $0.50. There are also other zi-char style dishes that can be ordered here.

I would say get a both of the Mixed Fish Soup to experience the best of both worlds. There was a generous amount of fish slices with a firm and springy texture.

The soup was on the light side (not as ”gao” as say compared to Jin Hua’a version), with hints of sweetness from the fresh fish, along with ample amount of vegetables. With that said, I may not queue for a long time for this fish soup.

Blanco Court Fried Fish Noodles
325 Beach Road, Singapore 199566
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 8pm (Mon – Sat)

The Blanco Court Fried Fish Noodles take up the shop house of the area, and has a pretty decent setup that gives off a retro coffeehouse vibe.

It is more of a self-service stall, and even in peak hours you don’t have to wait too long for your order.

There are many options in their menu for fish soup lovers, such as Steam Fish Soup ($5/6/10), Mixed Fish Soup ($6), Fish Head Soup ($5/6), Steam Fish Yee Mee ($5/6) and the most famous item which is Fried Fish Soup ($5/6).

I got the regular serving of their Fried Fish Soup with Yee Mee ($5). At first glances, I was impressed by the consistency and color of the broth which appeared quite rich and slightly on the saltier side.

Along with the scrumptious fried fish slices, there were also ample amounts of fried anchovies and bitter gourd. The noodles were delightfully springy and carried some of the fishy taste, and complimented the soup well.

Ka-Soh Restaurant
Alumni Medical Centre 2 College Road, Singapore 169850
Tel: +65 6473 6686
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am – 2:30pm, Dinner 5:30pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Also known as Swee Kee Fish Head Noodle House at College Road, the restaurant still cooks its signature Fish Noodle Soup in a traditional style.

The kitchen would first deep fry the snake-head fish bones, cook the stock for hours till it forms a white, almost-milky base.

Many fish soup stalls now use the short cut by adding evaporated milk to give that creamy mouth feel, but Ka-Soh still use the labour-intensive way.

The soup is paired with simple ingredients of white rice noodles and crunchy vegetables, and you could taste traces of wine that made it more uplifting.

I was a fan of the soup which wasn’t too intense or ‘fake-tasting’ (as they don’t add evaporated milk), like it was full of natural goodness. However, I thought that the fish slices could have been thicker and fresher?

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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] Other than the usual bubble tea shops peppered around Taipei’s Ximending, a fruit juice shop called “Lemon House 21” or 檸檬屋正宗苦瓜原汁 has been popular with tourists and locals alike.

White Bitter Gourd Juice? (Or sometimes known as “Bitter Melon”)

Some of you may shudder at what it is going to taste like. A White Bitter Melon doesn’t exactly have an enticing appearance, pale green in colour looking like a giant cucumber with ‘warty’ skin.

The fruit is a relative of squash and watermelon, and its juice from this stall was actually quite refreshing and not that bitter.

The cup has gone up to NT$95 (SGD4.35) per cup, from its previous NT$85 – more expensive (say 30% more?) than the average stall selling the same drink.

However, gone is the long line of tourists queuing for a cup, as the COVID-19 scare and travel restrictions have affected the business quite a bit.

The Hong Kongers, Japanese, Koreans and Singaporeans are big fans of my White Bitter Gourd juice, the friendly lady boss quipped.

After learning that I am Singaporean, she cheerily thank us for our support.

”This one boost immunity, buy one more cup.”. She is a good salesperson, as I find myself leaving with one more than I initially wanted.

The Bitter Gourd is supposed to pack several nutrients, has cancer-fighting properties, and can help reduce blood sugar.

I am not sure about a cup with honey added to it. With that said, the stall claims that there is no added sugar or water. Lady boss also further explained that the recipe will be tweaked depending on the season.

If you have previous qualms about having the Bitter Gourd, the cup is actually quite addictively refreshing and cooling, with mild sweetness and just a touch of the bitterness coming to the end.

It felt like the right drink to have, especially having some of those mee sua and ‘heaty’ fried chicken pieces from Hao Da and Ji Guang Xiang Xiang Ji nearby.

”Hope you all Singaporeans come back soon.”. We hope so too.

Lemon House White Bitter Gourd Juice 檸檬屋正宗苦瓜原汁
No. 21 Hanzhong Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
漢中街21號 台北市 108
Tel: +886 2 2383 2228
Opening hours: 9am – 12am (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps – 檸檬屋正宗苦瓜原汁

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Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

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All this viral “Asian Flat Croissant” talk was making me crave for Roti Prata even more.

Roti Prata is a well-loved hawker food in Singapore. Also known as “roti canai” in other parts of Southeast Asia, the Indian-influenced flatbread dish is usually served with curry or dal. However, you do find more creative savoury and sweet variations, filled with cheese, bananas, or even chocolate.

The prata is typically crispy outside and doughy inside, making it a flexible choice for breakfast, lunch, snack, or supper (I usually have it for breakfast or supper – it just tastes ‘better’.)

Springleaf Prata Place at Thong Soon Avenue is a one-stop air-conditioned family restaurant that is popular with families, with a number of branches all over Singapore (57B Jalan Tua Kong, The Rail Mall, JCube B1-11, Sunset Way 01-64, NeWest Condo.)

Being a Halal-certified caterer, it can cater to your different events and occasions, and they can make prata on-site.

Not many may know about this, but you can also find Springleaf’s prata as part of Shangri-La Hotel’s “The Lobby Lounge’s Heritage Breakfast” at The Lobby Lounge.

The eatery at Thong Soon Avenue is also listed in the Michelin Guide Singapore with a Michelin Plate, offering a variety of dishes including roti and specialty prata, murtabak, thosai, and goreng dishes such as Nasi Goreng, Mee Goreng, to even… yes, Prata Goreng.

Each order comes with a plate of chicken curry, but you can request for a fish or lentil-based curry instead. First-timers are recommended to try their famous “Chicken Floss Prata” ($3.80).

These pieces are fried on a hot griddle with ghee for a crisp toasted outer layer and fluffy centre.

I would usually get the Egg Prata for the basic choice ($2.30). Comparing to the average prata, theirs seem more rectangular in shape, with a nice thin crisp on the outside.

This is best complemented with two types of curry: Dhal Cha, a thick yellowish curry made from split pulses; and Fish Curry – slightly spicy with tasty, tangy flavours.

Other specialty prata include Mozzarella Cheese with Egg ($4.70), Portobello Mushroom with Mozzarella ($5.90), or go for the Combo of mushroom, egg, and tomato ($4.20).

A highlight would be their “Ultimate Hawkerfest” category. They first created the “Ultimate Murtabak” ($8.90, $13.90) in 2012 in conjunction with the special Hawkerfest event, but became so well-received they launched one new creative item every year.

A best-seller would be 2013’s “Murtaburger” ($8.50) which is a combination between the lamb-filled murtabak and Ramly burger. 2017’s Prata Alfredo ($10.90) of chunky rosemary smoked chicken tossed in a prata filled with creamy Alfredo sauce, sprinkled with fresh button mushrooms and mozzarella cheese also piqued my curiosity.

The Plaster Blaster ($5.90) made me recall the year of 2014 when eggs benedict and brunch items started flooding social media the first time, with Instagram pages filled with photos of oozy yolks. (Does anyone remember that period?)

You get prata topped with poached egg, ham and poured over with Hollandaise sauce.

While I applaud them for their innovation, I am not entirely sure this worked well after the crispy prata soaked in all that gooeyness.

I much enjoyed the Umami-50 ($9.90) which was included with a number of ‘comfort’ ingredients such as luncheon meat, egg, chicken floss, mozzarella cheese and MAYO within.

Luncheon meat in prata is not common, because it is harder to source for a halal-certified chicken luncheon meat (and halal Japanese mayonnaise as well).

Take a bite, and you get a variety of textures from the chewy cheese and fluffy floss, with a blast of savoury and sweet flavours. Intriguingly delicious.

For something more filling, order one of their “Goreng Goreng” choices ($5.00): nasi, mee, mee hoon, kway teow, maggi, and prata goreng. You can include additional toppings like sunny side up egg, ikan bilis, chicken and mutton.

Springleaf Prata Place
1 Thong Soon Avenue, Singapore 787431
Tel: +65 6459 5670, 8119 2297
Opening Hours: 8am – 12am (Mon – Sun), Closed every first Mon of the month
Other outlets at
57B Jalan Tua Kong, The Rail Mall, JCube B1-11, Sunset Way 01-64, NeWest Condo

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Y.R.A Rasool Fatimah (ABC Food Centre)

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[Taipei] When at Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市 in Taipei, make sure to check out Fang Chia 方家雞肉飯 (stall Number 60).

It offers two simple dishes done well – Shredded Chicken Rice (its top biller) and an equally excellent Braised Tofu. Order them separately or a combo as they do complement each other as a delectable meal.

You can reach Ningxia Night Market via Red Line 2 Shuanglian (雙連) station, Exit 1. Turn left onto Minsheng West Road (民生西路) heading west, then take a 6-8 minute walk ‘til you see the night market on the left side.

While you are there, other stalls to check out at Ningxia include Liu Yu Zai 劉芋仔芋餅, Yuan Huan Oyster Omelette 圓環邊蚵仔煎, Huan Ji Sesame Chicken 環記麻油雞, and Rong’s Pork Liver 豬肝榮仔.

A new Bib Gourmand entrant to the Taipei Michelin Guide, Fang Chia serves up its signature dish of Shredded Chicken Rice affordably at NT$35 (SGD1.60).

The chicken rice in Taiwan is quite different from those you experience in Singapore. Interesting to know that some places such as Chiayi (嘉義) is known for offering Turkey Rice (and in Mandarin, both all shorten as ”ji” 雞.)

A metal bowl comes with shredded chicken meat on fluffy short-grained rice, then drizzled with some special sauce and oil.

Be warned as this simple yet aromatic dish might lure you for seconds.
Pair your chicken rice with their light and velvety tofu cubes (NT$35 for 2 pieces), braised in a spiced marinade, and contrastingly topped with a thick soy sauce paste.

I couldn’t resist having the Lu Rou Fan aka Braised Pork Rice as well (NT$35, SGD1.60), and didn’t regret.

This had got to be one of the best three bowls I had in Taipei, with melt-in-the-mouth fatty pork belly, and that sauce that was seeped into the rice was both tasty and comforting.

For a more filling meal, you can order stir-fried dishes and soup, such as Eggs with Onion (NT$40), Pork Rib Soup (NT$55), Egg with Seaweed Soup (NT$55) and Winter Melon Pork Ribs with Clams Soup (NT$55).

Fang Chia Shredded Chicken on the Rice 方家雞肉飯
Ningxia Night Market Stall 60, 44-2, Ningxia Road, Datong, Taipei, 110, Taiwan
Tel: +886 2 3700 0008
Opening Hours: 5:30pm – 12am (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Google Maps – Ningxia Night Market

Other Related Entries
Liu Yu Zai 劉芋仔芋餅 (Ning Xia, Taipei)
Jin Feng Braised Pork Rice 金峰魯肉飯 (Zhongzheng District, Taipei)
Huang Ji Braised Pork Rice 黃記滷肉飯 (Zhongshan North Road, Taipei)

Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

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

You may be suffering from withdrawal of some sorts, after Korean hit drama “Crash Landing On You” played by Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin has come to an end. (Or you haven’t started yet??)

In the drama, South Korean heiress Yoon Se-ri (played by Son Ye-Jin) just loves their Korean Fried Chicken and can be seen delightfully crunching on them.

Yes, good endorsement from Genesis BBQ for its specialty Gold Olive Chicken. (Interestingly, this brand USED to be in Singapore – would they make a come back here?)

Perhaps it is time to jio some friends for some Korean Fried Chicken and talk about the drama and good-looking leads. Here are 10 Korean Fried Chicken Restaurants in Singapore you can head to:

Chir Chir – Bugis Junction
#02-50 Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street Singapore 188021
Tel: +65 251 0598
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last orders 9.30pm (Sun – Thu)
11am – 11pm Last orders 10.30pm (Fri – Sat)
Other outlets at 313@somerset and JEM

The Korean Fried Chicken restaurant offers over 20 variations of fried and roasted chicken, using only fresh chicken, never frozen ones.

To ensure flavour consistency across all its outlets, all proprietary sauces and marinades are imported from Seoul.

To keep up with the trends, the chain has introduced four brand-new chicken dishes to tantalise your tongue-buds, including Mala Chicken, Nacho Chicken, Cream Onion Chicken, and Yu-Ling Chicken.

The Mala Chicken ($25.90) contains chunky pieces of deep-fried chicken tenders wok-fried in a tongue-tingling mala sauce included with Szechuan peppercorn and dried chilli peppers.

Then served with sliced onions and creamy onion dipping sauce.

Perhaps the rendition could even remind you of the popular Szechuan dish of La Zi Ji, except that this comprises of bigger pieces of juicy chicken.

If you are the type who has ”wei la” (little spiciness) for your mala dishes, then this should be up your alley. Chir Chir (Bugis Junction)

Twins Korean Restaurant
7 Craig Rd Singapore 089667 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Tel: +65 6221 5205
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 12am (Mon – Sat), 5pm – 11pm (Sun)

Twins Korean Restaurant is known for its array of Korean Fried Chicken, cooked up by a pair of handsome (because the word is always subjective) Korean twins and their team.

Only fresh chicken is used at Twins, not frozen chicken so that the dishes can retain their flavour and juiciness. Even all the coating sauces used are homemade as well.

This is for those who enjoy having different chicken parts, as half or whole chicken is used. The KFC offerings include Original Fried Chicken, Yangnyum Spicy (with very spicy option), Soy & Garlic, Cheese with Garlic Powder, and Boneless with home-made onion sauce.

If you are new to Twins, I would actually recommend trying out the Original Korean Fried Chicken ($18 for half, $36 for whole – 12 pieces) with home-made batter without the sauces, so that you can experience that crisp matched with moist, flavourful meat.

Hongdae Oppa
68 Orchard Road #B2-47 Plaza Singapura Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 9181 3038
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm Last Order 9.30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11:30am – 10:30pm Last Order 10pm (Fri – Sat, Eve PH, PH)

Hongdae Oppa Korean Dining House serves a broad selection of Urban K-Food including its signature Sizzlers (Bokkeumbap), Korean Fried Chicken, Hot Stone Jjigae, Tteokbokki, Ramyeon and side dishes.

Hongdae Oppa’s Chix ($10.90 for 4 pieces, $19.90 for 8 pieces, $36.90 for whole chicken of 16 pieces) features 100% fresh chicken, with each part marinated for 12 hours for maximum flavour.

You cannot go wrong with the Original, seasoning the chicken using an original recipe before deep-frying it to crunchy perfection.

What I liked was that the $10.90 portion was indeed quite sizable, with 4 pieces that are good for two to share. So even if you have ordered other dishes, I would recommend just getting some of the Korean Fried Chicken.

Get 1-for-1 Fried Chicken, Sizzlers, Tteokbokki, Ramyeon, Budae Jjigae (Army Stew) at Hongdae Oppa. Valid every weekday till 31 Mar 2020. T&C apply.
Head over this blogpost for more details.

Burger+ – Orchard Road
Wisma Atria Shopping Centre #01-37/38, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877
Tel: +65 6694 1226
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Sun – Thu), 8am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

Burger+ – Clarke Quay Central
#01-07, Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 6909 5684
Opening Hours: 8am – 1am (Sun – Thu), 8am – 3am (Fri – Sat)

Perhaps you do not know Korean Burger place Burger+ also serves up Korean Fried Chicken. Using chicken that is always fresh, never frozen, this dish is available in Mix Parts, Drumsticks, or Wingettes & Drumettes.

What I liked is there are variable options, depending if you come dine as an individual or with a group. Drumsticks are priced at $10.80 for 3pcs, $19.80 for 6pcs, $29.80 for 9pcs; while Wingettes & Drumettes go at $9.20 for 6pcs, $17.20 for 12pcs, $24.80 for 18pcs.

Order the all-time favourite Honey Chicken ($15.80 for half, $28.20 for whole) , glazed with the candy sweet honey sauce, another B+ signature sauce.

The Yangnyeom Fried Chicken is another favourite – sweet, tangy and tingly. What I enjoyed was the stickiness of the sauce, that did remind me of the ones I had in Seoul. Burger+ (Clarke Quay Central)

I personally preferred the Wingettes & Drumettes which are more manageable to eat, and also better marinated on the inside.

Mom’s Touch
10 Paya Lebar Quarter #01-37 Singapore 409057
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Popular Korean Fried Chicken brand Mom’s Touch Chicken and Burger has opened at Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ).

The brand is called “Mom’s Touch” because it is supposed to represent the way a mother prepares for a meal for her family.

The chicken is hand-battered, hand-breaded, and marinated with Mom’s Touch special blend of seasoning for a fuller, tender and juicier taste. No ajummas spotted at the Singapore store though.

The menu is divided into chicken and burgers, with fried chicken items including Mom’s Fried Chicken in Original or Spicy ($8.70 for 2 piece set, $11.70 for 3), Mom’s Spicy Sauce Chicken ($8.90 for 2 piece set, $12 for 3), Chicken Tenderloin ($7 for 3 piece set).

A bundle of 9 pieces is priced at $27, and 12 pieces for $35.80 for the Mom’s Fried Chicken.

The Original Mom’s Fried Chicken reminded me of some of the other familiar brands, except that this was much cruncher and crispy. Not greasy to the touch too. Slightly dry though. Mom’s Touch (Paya Lebar Quarter)

Jinjja Chicken
249 Victoria Street (Bugis Village), Singapore 188032 (Bugis MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Sun – Thu), 11am – 10pm (Fri – Sat)
Other outlets at Northpoint City, Jewel Changi Airport, Clementi Mall, Changi Airport T2

Jinjja (which is a colloquial way of saying “really?” in Korean) is found at the front part of Bugis Village (right opposite Bugis Junction, near the bus stop).

With the operational and cooking techniques sourced from a famous (but shall remain unnamed) fried chicken shop in Korea, some of the flavours such as the seasoning of the food are adapted to suit the local palates.

The signature food is the Jinjja Chicken that would come in the form of wings or drumlets, in portions of half or whole. Sauces available are Soy Garlic, Yangnyeom (spicy and sweet) and Monster (numbing chilli).

Crispy on the outside with tender flesh on the inside, I enjoyed the flavourful and well-sauced Soy Garlic Chicken.

The wings were evenly coated with a layer of savoury sauce with a touch of sweetness, yet did not ‘steal’ away the crisp of the outer skin. Also, you would realise that the chicken parts were moist yet not fatty.

Chicken Up
48 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore 088469 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Tel: +65 6327 1203
Opening Hour: 5:30pm – 2am (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun

Chicken Up has been commonly known as “The Best Korean Fried Chicken In Singapore” (Straits Time’s Hsueh chose it in a blind-taste), and their expansion doesn’t stop.

Their Spicy Up Chicken has batter crispy with a ccccrunch.

Though my personal favourite is the Soya Chicken Wings coated with Korean soy sauce, matched with quite juicy and moist meat. If only their quality is consistent between branches.

Kko Kko Nara 꼬꼬나라
68 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore 088489
Tel: +65 6224 7901
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 3am (Mon – Sat), 6pm to 3am (Sun)

Unlike the other restaurants where the focus is fried chicken, Kko Kko Nara is a typical Korean restaurant with the usual Korean fare, which happens to be very known for their Korean Fried Chicken.

Interesting to know: The self-taught Korean owner used to rummage through rubbish bins of restaurants back home to find out what was used to make these fried chicken.

For those who love variety, get the Combo Chicken Set which has 9 pieces with 3 different favours – original, sweet and special garlic soy sauce chicken.

I liked the garlic chicken best, which was evenly marinated and tasty on the outside. Tried on various occasions, and didn’t seem consistent enough.

Hoho Chimek
East Village, 430 Upper Changi Road #01-45 Singapore 487048
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues

Korean fried chicken of a different style. Smaller sized. The chicken Combo came in an individual friendly 6 pieces with fries set at $9.90. No GST or service charge.

When the chicken arrived, I thought they looked dry and small. Swiped them across the brown soy and garlic sauce, took a bit, thought, “Hmmm… so salty” and didn’t think much, initially.

Before I knew it, I kept repeating those actions, using those little drumlets to sweep across that sauce which I claimed to be salty just moments earlier.

There was a part of these chicken wings that were downright addictive. (HoHo Chimek (East Village))

4 Fingers Crispy Chicken
Ion Orchard B4, 2 Orchard Turn #B4-06A Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 10:30pm (Fri, Sat)

4 Fingers is easily the most popular Korean Fried Chicken brand among the youths.

Its specialty: the 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken Wings and Drummettes (6 pieces for $10.95 for combo) coming in flavours of soy garlic, spicy or mixed.

The seasoning was very tasty and you would want to slowly lick the sauces off the skin.

Note: quality between branches differ quite a bit so sometimes the chicken wings felt like they went for an extended sun-tan session, and were dry.

If you want something more moist and piping hot, then order the Chicken Drumsticks (3 pieces for $11.95 for combo).

Other Related Entries
Nipong Naepong (JEM)
Hongdae Oppa (Plaza Singapura)
Burger+ (Clarke Quay Central)
Chir Chir (Bugis Junction)
Dosirak (313@somerset)

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

[Bali, Indonesia] What if I told you that the “Best BBQ Ribs” in the world and the “best martini” outside New York City (as told by Anthony Bourdain) can be found in a little warung in Ubud?

Naughty Nuri’s was founded in 1995 by an American Expat, Brian Aldinger and his Indonesian wife Isnuri Suryatmi (Nuri).

As she was known as Nuri and her husband tend to be a “naughty” person, thus “Naughty Nuri’s” name was chosen.

Little did they know that their humble establishment, could go places. Naughty Nuri’s has opened in a cities throughout the world, from Jakarta, Melbourne, Macau, Phuket, to Kuala Lumpur. (They used to open 2 restaurants in Singapore, but both ended operations.)

I visited their original warung location in Ubud, which looked a simple street-side eatery from the front. (The other famous Bali outlet is Jl. Mertanadi No.62, Kerobokan, Seminyak.)

Therefore, there is nothing really fancy around (despite carrying two titles of “best”), with corrugated metal roof and interior filled with framed old photos, posters and ornaments.

You could feel the 90s vibes here.

The main show of the warung is definitely the live station located outside where the grilling happens.

Expect some ‘cloudiness’ during lunch/dinner hours, where smoke may get in your eyes.

The Signature St.Louis Spare Ribs (IDR 130k, SGD13.00) is known to be the amalgamation of sweet and savoury, marinated with authentic Balinese spices.

The special formula is the glazing with secret ‘Pangang’ sauce before grilling over charcoal flames for a wholesome smoky flavour.

I remembered visiting here back in 2010 and it was indeed the best pork ribs I ever tried. Will it still taste the same?

Visually, it looks as appetizing as always, thick succulent meat and nicely charred, meat was cooked perfectly it fall off the bone easily.

Thanks to their homemade secret BBQ sauce, the ribs had an appealing rich and sweet tanginess.

Do squeeze the sliced lime provided which balances out the flavour.

I also ordered Onion Rings (35k, SGD3.50) and Bratwurst (IDR 55k, SGD5.50) as side dishes.

While the Onion Rings were lightly battered and crisp, it could overall do with some seasoning as the outer batter tasted bland.

The Bratwurst came bigger and longer than expected, but the texture was slightly too soft and somewhat mushy for me.

Could be better if the sausage was grilled longer.

Since the martini cocktails has been famously vouched by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain as “the best martinis in the world”, one simply does not went to Nuri’s without ordering their notorious ‘shake, shake, shake’ Martini (IDR 120k, SGD12.00).

Be prepared to enjoy some live performance, staff will come up to your table and do the booty shaking while preparing.

I would recommend the Margarita (IDR 120k, SGD12.00) which also came with the dancing, a light and refreshing drink best paired with the heavy-tasting ribs.

Although Naughty Nuri’s specialises in grilled meats, they also offer an array of Indonesian classic dishes such as Wagyu Short Rib Rendang, Nasi Goreng an Ayam Lemak.

However, the ribs were not as impressive as the first time I tried, lacking in that magical ‘X’ factor. With that said, this is one of Bali’s most famous place to have good-old ribs.

Naughty Nuri’s Ubud
Jl. Raya Sanggingan No.88X, Kedewatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Tel: +62 361 977547
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps – Naughty Nuri’s Ubud

Other Related Entries
Menega Café (Jimbaran, Bali)
Sate Babi Bawah Pohon (Kuta, Bali
Crumb & Coasterm (Kuta, Bali)
Babi Guling Karya Rebo (Kuta, Bali)

* Written by DFD͛’s Jakarta Food Correspondent @iknowhowtoeat who loves exploring NEW food places in both Indonesia and Singapore. DFD pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Talk about Tiong Bahru Food Centre, and one of the must-visit stalls would be Jian Bo Shui Kueh.

For tourists, the “Shui Kueh” or more commonly known as “Chwee Kueh” is a hawker dish of steamed rice cakes topped with chye poh (preserved radish) and accompanying chilli sauce.

Other famous places selling it include Bedok Chwee Kueh and Ghim Moh Chwee Kueh.

All 3 stalls were Michelin recommended on the Singapore Michelin Guide, while Bedok Chwee Kueh is the only Chwee Kueh stall with a Bib Gourmand.

Interestingly that while many Singaporeans would be more or less familiar with “Jian Bo”, there are not many food blogs which have written about it. (I grew up eating Jian Bo myself, but never found an urge to write as well.)

Jian Bo Tiong Bahru Shui Kueh was founded by a Mr Wang in 1958, who sold his steamed rice cakes in a pushcart at the Tiong Bahru Market then.

Third-generation owner Eric Ang has taken over the business, and ingredients are now prepared in the central kitchen before they are delivered to outlets around the island.

You can now find Jian Bo as kiosks in malls such as Nex, Century Square, and Seletar Mall. But I still like to savour this at its original stall.

The one other major change is that pork lard has been switched to 100% vegetable oil, in case you found something missing.

The Shui Kueh here is sold for $2.50 for 5 pieces, $4.00 for 8, and $5 for 10. If you want the ingredients to be packed separately, there are ‘rules’ indicating that there must be a minimum order of 10 pieces, and there would be additional charge of 30cents.

You may find the aunties slightly more ‘snappy’ if the queue gets longer, but smile and be friendly to them and all will be well.

While that hot-piping, soft melt-in-your-mouth feeling from my childhood days is no longer around, I still find Jian Bo one of the best you can find around for its chye poh and chilli with hints of dried shrimps.

You may find an oily glob haphazardly presented on top, but the aroma and mildly-salty pickled taste can be addictive.

Jian Bo Shui Kueh
30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-05 Market, Singapore 168898
Opening Hours: 6:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Other outlets
Bishan St 24, Bukit Panjang Ring Road Blk 259, Choa Chu Kang Block 302, Kang Kar Mall Hougang Ave 10, Jurong West St 52 Block 505, Jurong West St 92 Block 959, Marine Parade Ctre Block 84, Pasir Ris Drive Blk 444, Albert Centre Market Block 270, Compass One, Tampines St 81 Block 823A, Toa Payoh Central Block 190, Chong Pang Market, Sixth Avenue 24, Seletar Mall, Nex, Century Square

Other Related Entries
Bedok Chwee Kueh (Bedok Interchange Food Centre)
Ghim Moh Chwee Kueh (Ghim Moh 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.