[Taipei] Linjang Street Night Market 臨江夜市 (or Tonghua Night Market 通化夜市) may not be the default Number 1 choice for tourists in Taipei, but it is certainly one of the locals’ favourite.

Some of the popular street food shops and stalls there are Liang Chi Lu Wei 梁記滷味, Lo Chi Hsiao Chao 駱記小炒, Tien Hsiang Stinky Tofu 天香臭豆腐 , Golden Fried Chicken 格登炸雞 (they spelt as “Golden Fired Chicken”), Lin Shanghai Sheng Jiang Bao 林記上海生煎包, and Yu Pin Yuan Iced and Hot Tangyuan 御品元冰火湯圓 .

This Bib Gourmand stall of Yu Pin at the Linjang Street Night Market offers a unique version of Tangyuan (literally “soup ball”).

Tangyuan is a traditional Chinese sweet snack or dessert made of small, sweet glutinous filled rice balls.

While it is an auspicious dish served during festivals like Chinese New Year, Spring Lantern Festival and Winter Solstice, you can have these delectable balls all year round.

You would notice almost every table ordering a “bing huo” 冰火 Tangyuan, literally meaning “ice fire”.

Aside from the presentation, what makes Yu Pin Yuan’s Tangyuan (NT$80, SGD3.70) unique is the interplay of hot and cold.

The glutinous balls, 6 of them, are filled with sesame or peanut, then served atop a bowl of shaved ice.

It is finished off with tang gui hua – a jelly-like syrup made from fresh Osmanthus flowers and white sugar.

It will be presented to your table with ‘smoke’ coming out from the dessert.

And I would recommend eating the dumplings while there are hot and skin supple, otherwise the outer layer may turn harder due to long contact with the ice.

Other than the thrilling hot-cold sensation, the fillings were delicious – molten also lava-like, and quite packed full.

Between the black sesame and peanut, I enjoyed the former better for its aromatic and earthy flavours.

Customers can also get more drizzle of the Osmanthus syrup and lemon sauce near the counter, to add more sweetness and tanginess.

Another popular is the 酒酿加蛋综合汤圆 (NT$100, SGD4.70), a bowl of rice dumplings soaked in fermented rice wine with egg.

This is commonly consumed during winter days, as the sweet rice wine savour would give a comforting feeling. Though it needs getting used to with the incorporation of eggs.

One of the most delicious and chewy glutinous rice dumplings I ever had, and would recommend this if you are at Tonghua Night Market. There is another outlet at Raohe.

Yu Pin Yuan Iced and Hot Tangyuan 御品元冰火湯圓
No. 31, Alley 50, Lane 39, Tonghua Street, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
臨江夜市, 106台北市大安區通化街39巷50弄31號
Tel: +886 955 861 816
Opening Hours: 6pm – 12am (Mon – Fri), 5:30pm – 12am (Sat – Sun)
Google Maps – Yu Pin Yuan Iced and Hot Tangyuan

Yu Pin Yuan Iced and Hot Tangyuan – Raohe Branch 御品元冰火汤圆-台北饶河店
No. 142, Raohe Street, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Opening Hours: 5pm – 12am (Mon – Fri), 5pm – 12:30pm (Sat – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Man Fu Tang 滿福堂餅行 (Zhongzheng District, Taipei)
Kai Kai Dessert 佳佳甜品台灣 (Xinyi District, Taipei)
Liu Yu Zai 劉芋仔芋餅 (Ning Xia, Taipei)
Tian Jin Flaky Scallion Pancake 天津蔥抓餅 (Yong Kang St, Taipei)
Smoothie House 思慕昔 (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.

After DFD’s last ice cream post on 12 Must-Try Ice Cream Cafes In Singapore, I realised that there are no less than 15 NEW gelato cafes that opened in Singapore the last year.

This could partly be the love of a cooling gelato in hot and humid Singapore, and such cafes make a great place to hang out for waffles and dessert after meal-times.

One thing for sure, these gelato cafes (many of them indie players) are churning out exciting flavours, anything from Chicken Rice, Mala, Burnt White Chocolate to Osmanthus.

Here are 10 NEW Gelato Cafes that opened in Singapore within the last year:

Butterknife Folk
Funan #02-02, 107 North Bridge Road Singapore 179105
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Gelato Shop With Creative Flavours At Funan
Butterknife Folk has been slowly building its fanbase through its wacky, creative flavours.

The one unique thing is the gelato shop changes its flavours ALL THE TIME.

So if you really enjoy something, better get a tub back or come back the next day, or you may never get to try it again. It happened to me before

This is one of those gelato shops I would head back once in a while, just to be surprised. And my recommendation is, be very open in trying out new things and not just stick to the tried-and-tested.

Scoops are priced at $5 single and $9 for double. Some of the previously introduced flavours launched include Ondeh Ondeh, Goma, Citrus Bitters, Blueberry Lavender, Dulce & Banana, Jasmine Tea Amarena, Madagascan Vanilla, Roasted Pistachio, and Brown Butter Pecan.

And the once-in-a-while Chicken Rice Gelato and Mala. Yes. Butterknife Folk (Funan)

Carmen’s Best Ice Cream
13 Stamford Rd, #B1-32 Capitol Singapore
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Fri, Sun), 11am – 10pm (Sat)

Famous Premium Ice Cream Brand From The Philippines
Premium ice cream brand Carmen’s Best from The Philippines has opened its first overseas store, setting camp at Capitol Singapore (previously known as “Capitol Piazza”).

Every flavour is inspired by real stories from Paco’s global travels, from the signature flavour “He’s Not Worth It” to seasonal ones like Cheese, Strawberry, Ube, and Brazilian Coffee.

Other popular must-taste flavours include Pistachio, Dark Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Butter Pecan, Cookies & Cream, and Cookie Dough.

Start with a single flavour at $4.90 per scoop, or go for 2 scoops at $5.90 (pick two flavours).

Want a freshly-made waffle cone to go with your ice cream? Just add $0.60 and you’re good to go. Eating on the go? Get a pint for $16.00, enough for a satisfying binge.

Try the Pistachio flavour, a barometer for quality artisanal ice cream. You can tell from its taste and texture there’s no cutting corners when it comes to using premium quality ingredients.

Made with pistachios sourced from Sicily, Italy, known for their bolder, more intense flavour, this ice cream incorporates 100% pure pistachio with whole pistachio bits for that extra crunch. Carmen’s Best (Capitol Singapore)

Monarchs & Milkweed Gelato
802 North Bridge Road, #01-01, Singapore 198770
Tel: +65 9665 7534
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10:30pm (Sun – Thurs), 12pm – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

Gelato Cafe With Unique Flavours Such As Burnt White Chocolate
“Monarchs & Milkweed Gelato” does not have the conventional name, and may take a while for people to remember.

The name came about as the owners fell in love with the Milkweed flower. Upon research, they learnt that the flower is integral to the existence of the Monarch butterfly species.

The gelato is made in small batches, with interesting and unique flavours such as Brown Butter Sage, Burnt White Chocolate, Soursop Mint, Ispahan, Roasted Sesame, Sea Salt Gula Jawa, Rhubarb Buttermilk, Soursop Mint to Lavender.

They also offer the more ‘conventional’ flavours such as Match, Tahitian Vanilla, Lavender, Chocolate Sorbet, and Pistachio.

When I tried the Brown Butter Sage, it had a delightful, creamy texture, and the flavours were pronounced but not overwhelming.

Just right on the sweetness level that you feel like you could have more. Monarchs & Milkweed Gelato (North Bridge Road)

Denzy
506 Bishan Street 11, #01-404, Singapore 570506 (Bishan MRT)
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10.30pm (Mon – Sun)

Gelato Cafe Found At Bishan Bus Interchange Offering Unique Flavours
Located in the Bishan heartland right beside the bus interchange, Denzy offers a cozy and fuss-free space with about 20 seats.

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

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

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

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

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

Sweet Cheeks Gelato
37 Tai Thong Crescent Singapore 347862 (Potong Pasir MRT)
Opening Hours: 12pm – 11pm (Sun – Thurs), 12pm – 1am (Fri – Sat)

Gelato Cafe Has Delicious Crispy Waffles And Interesting Flavours
Started by 3 fresh graduates from SMU and with an Italy-trained chef handcrafting fresh gelato flavours daily, I think Sweet Cheeks Gelato does have some differentiating factors.

Sweet Cheeks Gelato offer a number of classic favourites such as Hazelnut with Nutella Swirl and Honeycomb, Sweet Cheeks, and also stocks less conventional options like Cinnamon Brown Bread, Coconut Mango Sorbet, Ricotta with Pistachio as well as Honey Chrysanthemum with Cacao Nibs.

Well, Chrysanthemum with Cacao Nibs may just remind you of … Birds Of Paradise?

For people who love some added textures and crunch in your ice cream (well Ben & Jerry’s style), then you could enjoy ingredients such as honeycomb biscuits, fresh coconut milk, house-made toasted brown bread, and roasted pistachio bits added within varied flavours. Sweet Cheeks Gelato (Tai Thong)

Wishes Cafe
Block 36 Circuit Road, #01-414, Singapore 370036
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Undiscovered Ice Cream Parlour With ‘Sakura Tree’
Located right opposite Circuit Road Market & Food Centre and underneath a HDB block, Wishes Cafe is a relatively cosy cafe with a 20-seaters space.

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

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

With a total of 12 flavours available at any one time, all ice cream are freshly churned in-house. A single scoop of ice cream will cost $3.50, and double scoops is priced at $6.

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

I particularly enjoyed the texture of the ice cream which is non-icy and more creamy. Wishes Café (Macpherson)

Gather the Misfits
217 Rangoon Road Singapore 218457 (near to Farrer Park MRT Station)
Tel: +65 9298 7291
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (Wed – Mon), Closed Tues

Hidden Cozy Café At Rangoon Road
The location may be slightly hard to find, near Mrs Pho House and (Old) Lai Huat Seafood Restaurant, diagonally opposite Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh.

The highlight of Gather the Misfits is Earl Grey Waffle with Pandan Ice Cream ($9.50).

What was kind of special was that the waffles being round and flat looked like one of those old-school ones sold at the neighbourhood shops (I don’t mean this in a bad way), with a pleasant chewy bite in the middle.

The house-made pandan ice cream added a delicate sweetness and fragrance, though the earl grey could have been quite over-shadowed in this case.

One Stone Three Birds
443 Clementi Avenue 3, #01-71, Singapore 120443
Opening Hours: 1pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Gelato Cafe At Clementi With Osmanthus & Chrysanthemum Flavour
Located right beside Clementi Mall, One Stone Three Birds or “onestonethreebirds” is a small, cozy space offer takeout gelato that is made in-house.

As for the name One Stone Three Birds, unfortunately there is no fancy story behind this. The one stone represents a common goal, while the three birds refer to the three investors behind the store.

The owners listen to their customers’ opinions and suggestions. A flavour – Yinn’s Osmanthus & Chrysanthemum was actually named after their customer, and it was one of the flavours that stood out the most.

The Black Sesame Gelato ($3.80 for single scoop, $7.00 for double scoop) was one of my favourites.

The sesame seeds were roasted in house before gelato production, hence the intense sesame fragrance.

You can also taste the texture of the sesame seeds in this, which provides an elevated gelato experience. One Stone Three Birds (Clementi)

Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee
Blk 131 Toa Payoh Lorong 1 #01-02, Singapore 310131
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Popular Ice Cream Shop Reopens At Toa Payoh
So Creamier Toa Payoh has closed and has reopened at Toa Payoh again. (Actually, we all kind of suspected this would happen.), located Blk 131 Toa Payoh Lorong 1.

Known for its creamy, rich and larger than average scoops of ice cream on crispy waffles, it has done well enough to open up branches at Gillman Barracks and Tiong Bahru; along with its sister-café Sunday Folks at Holland Village.

Popular flavours they have been selling include Thai Milk Tea, Black Glutinous Rice aka Pulut Hitam, Black Charcoal Sesame, Earl Grey Lavender and Sea Salt Gula Melaka.

The thick Belgian style waffle is known to be buttery and fragrant, imparted from using market fresh local eggs, fresh cream and pure butter.

There is an option to include optional toppings at an additional $1, similar to its sister outlet, Sunday Folks. Creamier (Toa Payoh)

Obsessive Chocolat Desire (OCD) Cafe
529 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, #01-2353, Singapore 560529
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon – Thu), 12pm – 1am (Fri – Sat), 2pm – 10pm (Sun)

OCD Cafe Opens Till 1AM Fri & Sat
Not Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, but Obsessive Chocolat Desire – for the love of both chocolates and ice cream.

The pricing is wallet-friendly, plus their ice creams are not categorised into normal and premium flavours like many other ice cream parlours.

Ice cream is priced at $3.60 for a single scoop, $7 for double scoops, additional $1 for cone and $4 for a normal or sesame waffle.

16 flavours are available at any one time ranging from their signature chocolate flavours (as their name implies) to classic ones such as Vanilla and Strawberry Cheesecake.

The highlight is definitely their five choices of chocolate ice cream from different origins: Madagascar 33% Milk, Ecuador 40% Milk, Belgium Dark 60%, Brazil 72% Dark, Africa 85% Dark.

The Sesame Waffle ($4) was an interesting find since it is not common to find one in Singapore.

Made with a crispy exterior contrasted with fluffy interior, the sesame waffle was fragrant on its own and complemented well with the richer ice cream flavours. OCD Café (Ang Mo Kio)

Other Related Entries
12 Best Soft Serve Ice Cream Shops In Singapore
12 Must-Try Ice Cream Cafes In Singapore
10 Must Try Chendol in Singapore
12 Delicious Pancake Places In Singapore
10 Underrated Bakery Cafes In Singapore

* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary, Nicholas Tan @stormscape and Song Yu @__sy_g.

It is interesting to see how Peranakan restaurants in Singapore have evolved over the last few years.

On one end of the spectrum, there are traditional and family-oriented ones (some can be slightly on the pricey side); while there are others which are modern and casual.

I would say Godmama somehow managed to strike a balance between the two. It was also voted ”Best New Restaurant of the Year In Singapore” last year by Chope.

Godmama is a modern Peranakan restaurant delivering both authentic Nyonya cuisine and innovative Peranakan food creations.

Co-owner Christina Keilthy left her corporate job to join the F&B industry, because she wanted to preserve the delicious legacy of her Godma’s and Ma’s Egg Skin Popiah, a dish she had the fortune of enjoying since childhood.

Godmama’s extensive menu of Peranakan heirloom recipes, cocktails and mod-Peranakan brunch offerings aims to make the cuisine approachable and accessible to the masses.

The food is served in a contemporary setting with indoor and al fresco dining options.

It is located next to Wildrice Theatre at Funan, so sometimes you may spot your favourite drama actors and actresses dining or walking past there.

A recommended dish for those looking for traditional Peranakan flavours is the Babi Assam ($18.90++), a slow-braised pork belly in a mildly spicy and tangy tamarind sauce.

While I still have fond memories of my grandma’s buah keluak (a type of black nut which requires days of preparation), Godmama’s version of Ayam Buah Keluak ($19.90) was actually quite decent.

There were three black nuts included, with the ‘flesh’ within soft and easy to dig out.

The chicken was stewed till fork-tender, with delicious aroma from the fresh root spices of lengkuas (blue ginger) and turmeric, complete with spicy and tangy flavours.

Loads of gravy, good to pair with some rice.

The Nyonya Chap Chye ($13.90) didn’t come with the typical sweet taste, but instead had an unusual base as the mixed vegetables, beancurd skin and mushrooms were braised in rich prawn bisque.

Might need some time getting used to the seafood savour. The purists may frown about the new take, while I was fine and grew to enjoy it after a few spoonfuls.

The Godmama Nasi Ulam ($8.90) was a herb rice dish served with 8 types of Peranakan classic herbs and spices include mackerel strips.

It looked better (great for Instagram) than what it tasted though, as I wished there was more fragrance in the rice and mix somehow.

If you do visit on a weekend, get some of the brunch items.

They include the Babi Assam Baked Eggs ($17.90), Ayam Buah Keluak Burger ($21.90), Durian Pengat Buttermilk Pancakes ($18.90), and Otak Otak Benedict ($19.90) – a patty topped with poached eggs on a slice of sourdough bread.

Compared to some modern Peranakan restaurants which can be overly fanciful or steep in price, I thought Godmama managed to present comforting food without losing too much of tradition, matched with friendly service.

Godmama
Funan, #04-07, 107 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179097
Opening Hours: Lunch 11am – 3:30pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri)
Brunch 10:30am – 4pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm (Sat – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Candlenut (Dempsey)
Tingkat PeraMakan (Owen Road)
True Blue Cuisine (Armenian Street)
Indigo Blue Kitchen (Shaw Centre)
The Blue Ginger (Great World)

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

Nope, the men don’t get it.

In conjunction with the “International Women’s Day” celebration in March, HSBC is offering amazing credit card dining offers with the theme “All About The Ladies”.

Ladies who love to enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea and sumptuous hotel meals can now ask more female friends to join along. Many renowned hotels are having 1-for-1 specials and other wonderful dining promotions in conjunction with HSBC credit cards.

Get your cameras ready as many of these are instagrammable treats, in spacious and elegant settings.

You must be fast though, as the promotion is only happening in March.

Alley on 25, Andaz Singapore
Level 25, 5 Fraser Street, Singapore, Singapore 189354
Tel: +65 6408 1288
Afternoon Tea Timings: 3pm – 5pm (Mon – Sun)

Located on the 25th level of Andaz Singapore, Alley on 25 is all about “dining in the sky”, housing different restaurants in one place, boosting stunning city views.

The newly introduced afternoon tea will certainly get some cameras clicking, with a locally inspired, picnic themed afternoon tea. Perfect for enjoying a lazy afternoon while taking in the Singapore skyline views.

Instagrammable Moment:
What is included in the afternoon tea is a picnic basket, with quirky and pretty tiffin cans contained within.

For $48++ per person (now with 1 for 1 for ladies), you get to enjoy a selection of savoury and sweet treats, including the luxurious Lobster Croissant, Parma Ham Toast with truffle brie cheese, Mini Pandan Chiffon Cake, and Passionfruit Curd Tartlet.

What better way to complete your afternoon tea picnic than with a cool and creamy soft serve ice cream.

That is not all. Each diner gets to enjoy a glass of refreshing Moroccan mint cooler; and free-flow beverages which include Andaz Iced Tea, Homemade Lemonade, Coffee and Teas by TWG.

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
1 for 1 High Tea for Ladies (U.P. $48++ per pax)

T&C:
– Valid from Monday to Sunday.
– Valid from 1 to 31 March 2020.
– Advanced reservations are required.
– Payment has to be made with a HSBC credit card.
– Offer is not valid of eve of public holidays and public holidays in Singapore.
– Offer is not valid in conjunction with other discounts, offers, promotions, privileges and vouchers.

Man Fu Yuan, InterContinental Singapore
80 Middle Rd, Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 6825 1008
Opening Hours: Lunch 12pm – 3pm (Tues- Sat), 11:30am – 3pm (Sun & PH)
Dinner: 6pm – 10pm (Tues – Sun)

Lauded by Singapore Tatler as of Singapore’s best Chinese restaurants and recipient of the Michelin Plate, Man Fu Yuan is known for its Cantonese dishes artfully presented in a modern way.

All in a refined ambience complete with premium tea pairings.

Instagrammable Moment:
Look out for the visually appealing Roma Tomatoes 番茄蟹肉鱼子酱 which sits on a basket of dramatic tea-infused smoke, resembling floating clouds when being served.

Within the fresh and sweet tomatoes are fillings of crab meat, ikura with yuzu dressing, for that balance of savoury-sweet flavours with a tinge of tanginess.

The quintessential Char Siew is also a dish to look out for, elevated using duroc pork which is highly-prized for its fine marbling and superior tenderness.

The meat is then glazed with honey before smoking and caramelisation, resulting in a sweetness that is contrasted with a slight smoky aftertaste.

Both dishes are part of a special Set Menu priced at $70++ per diner; now made more affordable as two guests dine for the price of one.

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
1-for-1 Set Menu.

T&C:
– Valid only for lunch and dinner from 1 to 31 March 2020, subject to availability.

Crossroads Bar, Swissôtel Merchant Court, Singapore
20 Merchant Road, Singapore 058281
Tel: +65 6238 1847 / 1848
Afternoon Tea Timings: 3pm – 5pm (Mon – Sun)

Crossroads Bar, located by the Singapore River, invites diners with grand floor to ceiling windows, a sophisticated vibe and charming high-tea offerings.

Their daily Afternoon Tea Set gives you a choice of English, Nyonya, or ‘Spring in Tokyo’ and a delightful assortment of savoury treats and dainty sweet confections.

Seven kinds of TWG teas are available including English Breakfast, French Earl Grey, Jasmine, Vanilla Bourbon, Moroccan Mint, Emperor Sencha and Chamomile.

Instagrammable Moment:
From March to May 2020, discover the delicate flavours of “Spring in Tokyo” ($42++ per person, price before 1-for-1) in a curated high-tea menu set featuring Sakura-inspired creations such as Yuzu Salmon Rillettes Éclair, Truffle Sōmen Noodles with Scallop and Ikura, Unagi Kabayaki and Tamagoyaki and more.

The inclusion of truffle and Japanese salmon caviar (ikura) make this an extra special accompaniment to your tea.

Of course, on the sweet side you can expect quintessential Japanese treats of Sakura Chiffon Cake, Strawberry Shortcake and Mizu Yōkan (Azuki Bean Jelly) – delicately-created to be photographed well.

Complete this elegant high-tea experience with a pot of exquisite TWG tea or coffee.

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
1-for-1 Afternoon Tea.

T&C:
– Valid from 1 March to 30 April 2020.
– Valid up to a maximum of 10 diners.
– Not valid on eve of Public Holidays in Singapore, Public Holidays in Singapore and special occasions.
– Advance reservation is required at least one day in advance.

1864 – The Lobby Bar, Sofitel Singapore City Centre
Level 5, 9 Wallich Street, Singapore 078885
Tel: +65 6428 5000
Afternoon Tea Timings: 2pm – 5pm (Mon – Sun)

In the middle of the CBD and need a respite? 1864 – The Lobby Bar at Sofitel Singapore City Centre is the place to go for mid-afternoon treats.

The High Tea served in a stand, offers a selection of savoury and sweets such as Mini Croissant Waffle with Truffled Camembert, Kueh Pie Tee with Crab Meat and Caviar Créme, Baked Frittata with Octopus and Smoked Cayenne Aioli.

The set also includes freshly squeezed juice, and a selection of TWG Fine Tea or Nespresso Coffee. Enjoy sumptuous cakes and desserts which complements fine blends of tea from around the world in the stylish lobby.

Each three-tiered High Tea stand is priced at $88++ (Serves 2 persons).

Instagrammable Moment:
Executive Pastry Chef Sam Leong’s indulgent Topinambour (Jerusalem artichoke) and Jivara Chocolate Tarts are made with smooth Valhrona Jivara 40% blend for that rich-chocolatey feel.

The tart further imbued with Jerusalem artichoke for heightened flavour that melts in your mouth.

Pricing of Afternoon Tea:
With Choice of Nespresso Coffee or TWG Tea: $88++
With Handcrafted Cocktails: $108++
With Duval-Leroy Champagne: $124++

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
1-for-1 High Tea stand worth $88++ (Each High Tea stand serves 2 diners.)

T&C:
– Not valid with any other offer or promotions.
– Not valid on public holidays and black-out dates as determined by the hotel.
– Each afternoon tea set serves 2 diners.
– Payment must be made with HSBC credit/debit cards.

Escape Restaurant & Lounge, One Farrer Hotel
One Farrer Park Station Road Singapore 217562
Tel: +65 6363 0101
Afternoon Tea Timings: 3pm – 5pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

Savour a feast at Escape Restaurant & Lounge, with an open format interactive kitchen in which diners can ‘tour’ the various food stations to check out the day’s highlights.

The restaurant has also introduced a Peranakan-themed afternoon tea ($38++ per person, before 1-for-1) to experience the rich flavours of Nyonya food.

You can start with the regular favourites Nyonya Mee Siam and Kueh Pie Tee, followed by tummy fillers such as Ayam Bakar Madu, Spicy Fried Fish Balado, and Wagyu Oxtail Rendang.

Instagrammable Moment:
Do not miss out on the Chef to Table serving of the Shredded Filo Prawn with Passion Fruit Sauce.

Complete the afternoon tea with a sweet note from the treats of Kaya and Caramelized Banana Crumble, Grilled Pineapple Panna Cotta & Gula Malacca, Pandan Crème Brulee and Pulut Hitam with Coconut Milk.

Then, end with a cooling WoW Mocktail of Soya Bean Milk with Grass Jelly with your girl friends.

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
1-for-1 Afternoon Tea (valid Sat, Sun, PH from 3pm – 5pm)
1-for-1 Supper (valid Fri, Sat, eve of PH from 11pm – 3am)

T&C:
– Offer is subjected to prevailing GST.
– From 3 Feb to 31 Mar 2020.
– Payment must be made with an HSBC Card.
– Promotions are valid on PH and eve of PH accordingly.
– Not valid in conjunction with other discount, membership privileges, promotions or vouchers.
– Merchant’s terms and conditions apply. Please contact the merchant directly for full details.
– Promotion is limited to 8 persons per card.

Porta, Park Hotel Clarke Quay
1 Unity Street, Singapore 237983
Tel: +65 6593 8855
Opening Hours: 11am – 10:30 pm (Mon – Sun)

Cosy and inviting, the bistro-style Porta specialises in dishes using fresh and seasonal produce, cooking up savoury wholesome dishes.

Something to look forward to as well. A NEW Porta ala carte menu will be launched on 2 March, featuring tantalising mains such as Poulet Confit ($24), Iberian Pork Secreto ($26), Black Cod ($29), Venus Clam Capellini with Sakura Ebi ($24), and Mushroom & Basil Linguine ($24).

One of the standout-favourites is the Porta Burger ($28) containing succulent angus beef patty with bacon, cheese and caramelised onions, accompanied with fries.

In addition, children are welcomed at Porta – a special menu and child-friendly cutlery are available upon request.

Instagrammable Moment:
The stand-out dish will be the Confit Lamb ($19) – not quite what you would expect, as it is beautifully topped with aubergine and salsa on crispy butter puffs.

More reason to head down and try out a variety of food since the 3-course set is 1-for-1.

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
1-for-1 3-course set menu

T&C:
– Valid only for lunch à la carte and brunch menus from Friday to Sunday.
– Advance reservation, quote “HSBC Weekend Porta”.
– Complimentary set must be equal or lower in value than purchased set.
– Max 5 free redemptions per bill.
– Not valid in conjunction with other promos, offers, discounts, privileges, vouchers, event nights, special theme menu like Green Monday.
– Not applicable on eves of and PH, special occasion.

Crossroads, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Road, Level 1, Singapore 238865
Tel: +65 6831 4605
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 12am (Sat & Sun)

Aptly called for its location, Crossroads Cafe is right smack at the busiest crossroad of Orchard Road. If you like being in the centre of action, here is a good place to wine and dine and celebrate International Women Day.

Talk about modern chic, with ambient lighting, express set lunch and daily specials. This is one popular venue where you can relax and unwind with family and friends.

Offering local and international dishes that cater to your extensive globe-trotting palate. The all-time favourite 100% Waygu Beef Burger and Seafood Hor Fun are always a hit, so be sure to check out these well-loved dishes.

Instagrammable Moment:
Burgers are always great for the Instagram gallery. Go Western and try their signature Marriott Burger ($28++), which boasts of premium quality 100% ground Angus beef, crispy bacon, cheddar, dill pickle and fresh tomato slice.

The hearty Buttermilk Fried Chicken ($26++) with red cabbage slaw, gherkins, and spicy mayonnaise is also a popular choice.

Looking for non-meat alternatives? Order Crossroads’ Impossible Burger with a plant-based patty that looks and tastes like real meat.

The “Impossible Burger” ($28++) is just that – a juicy and flavourful non-meat patty with crisp tomato, refreshing cucumber salsa, creamy raita, red onion and arugula – all snuggled inside a soft sesame bun.

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
Complimentary glass of Lychee Martini / Strawberry Basil Lemonade (choice of one) for every main course ordered. Ladies only.

T&C:
– Valid only for full-priced main course items, applicable to the “Local”, “Signatures”, “Mains”, “Sandwiches & Burgers”, “Pastas” and “Risotto” sections of the menu.
– Valid up to a maximum of 8 adults per table.
– Only for walk-in, and subject to availability.

SKAI Restaurant, Swissôtel The Stamford
2 Stamford Road, Swissôtel The Stamford Level 70, Singapore 178882
Tel: +65 6431 6156
Lunch: 12pm – 3pm, Last Seating 2:30pm (Sun – Fri)
Dinner: 6pm – 10pm, Last Seating 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Afternoon Tea Timing: 3pm – 5pm, Last Seating 4pm (Sun – Fri)
A La Carte Saturday Brunch: 12pm – 3pm, Last Seating 4pm (Sat)

SKAI is located on the 70th floor of the iconic Swissôtel The Stamford, the go-to sky-dining establishment in Singapore.

Expect a curated selection of prime beef cuts and fresh seafood infused with delicate Japanese accents, all in a contemporary and casually inviting setting.

Instagrammable Moment:
How about an afternoon tea stand that resembles a Japanese tree with cherry blossoms, with a panoramic city view on the 70th floor?

SKAI Restaurant presents dainty savoury and sweet creations with delightful accents of Japanese and Asian inspirations in an artful way.

To get you very tempted, the highlight is the scrumptious Lobster Roll which features a house-made charcoal bun filled with Canadian lobster, celery, apple, then topped with ikura roe.

Another indulgent treat is the Foie Gras Polo Bun, filled with foie gras and topped with a tangy raspberry gel, is the definitive indulgent treat.

Also included in the SKAI High Tea Set are freshly baked Madagascar Vanilla Scones. Soft and buttery, they are served with Strawberry Marmalade; Oriental Orange Jam made in-house and Cream from Devonshire. Complete with choice of TWG tea or Suzuki Coffee.

The SKAI High Tea is available from Sunday to Friday, 3pm – 5pm.
$60++ per person for a high tea set with premium TWG tea and Suzuki coffee
$15++ top up for a glass of Taittinger
$70++ to add caviar per 10 grams
$30++ per child, 6-12yo

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
20% off total bill

T&C:
– 20% off total bill at SKAI with HSBC credit or debit Card payment from 17th Feb 2020 to 31st May.
– Promotion is valid for dine-in only and for a maximum of 8 diners per visit.
– Promotion is valid for ala carte/ usual menu items, Skai High Tea and Saturday Brunch.
– Not valid with other promotions, artisanal beef, set menu and membership offers.
– Valid on eve of public holidays and public holidays.
– The management reserves the right to amend any T&Cs without prior notice
– Reservations made through 3rd party online platforms (eg. Chope, HungryGoWhere, Quandoo & Open Table) will not be applicable for discounts.

The Landing Point, The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore
80 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049326
Tel: +65 6877 8911 / 8912
Afternoon Tea Timings: 3pm – 5:30pm (Mon – Fri),
1st seating 12pm – 2pm or 2nd seating 3pm – 5pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

If you and your female friends find yourselves at The Landing Point, why not join a delicious rendezvous – the “Afternoon Tea by The Bay”.

Not only will you treat yourself to an afternoon filled with gourmet food, lush setting, and impeccable service, but also impressive waterfront views of Marina Bay.

Instagrammable Moment:
Make The Fullerton Bay Hotel your choice for Afternoon Tea (Weekdays at $50++ per adult, $25++ per child; Weekends and PH at $55++ per adult, $28++ per child), showcasing 10 varieties of TWG teas, freshly baked scones, and scrumptious sweets and savouries in a refillable three-tiered tray.

Try the signature Fullerton Express Tea, a white tea infused with aromatic wildflowers.

The tea would perfectly go well with decadent savouries like Boston Lobster Cornet A L’Oriental, Duck Rillettes in Sesame Bun, Smoked Salmon Mille-Feuille with Caviar, and Mini Prosciutto on Bagel.

Complete with delightful desserts like Graham Cracker Key Lime Pie, Ondeh-Ondeh Macarons, Pecan Maple Tart, and the signature Fullerton Fruit Cake.

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
Lady dines free with every 2 paying adults on Weekday Afternoon Tea.

T&C:
– Valid only for dine-in from Monday to Friday, with a min. of 3 diners and up to a maximum of 9 diners per bill.

For more details on the latest #HSBCDining promotions, hop on over to www.hsbc.com.sg/dining. Terms and conditions apply for all promotions herein.

* This post was brought to you in partnership with HSBC Credit Cards.

[Taipei] When we talk about the “best” Xiao Long Bao in Taipei, Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 will certainly come to mind, and perhaps Hangzhou Xiao Long Bao 杭州小籠湯包 and Kao Chi 高記.

One place that many may overlook is “Hao Kung Tao Chin Chi Yuan” 好公道金雞園 which literally means “Good Justice Golden Rooster Park”.

All these four restaurants are located not far from one another.

This two-storey, cash-only restaurant has been offering Shanghainese fare for more than 40 years.

It is also listed in the Taipei Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand.

I was walking along Yong Kang Street, and a woman was waving along inviting customers to go upstairs. Behind her were bamboo baskets filled with steamed dim sum, and workers making pastries to be baked.

It didn’t look too impressive from appearance to be honest, but when I went upstairs, it was a whole different world all together.

So, don’t judge a restaurant by its ‘cover’ too.

The restaurant was packed to the brim, with several groups and tourists ordering table full of items. I am sure during peak periods, customers would have to wait long for a seat.

With its simple and austere look, it attracts diners not for its ambiance but for its food. Since the beginning, everything on the menu has been made by hand.

Popular at Jin Ji Yuan are steamed dumplings, with offerings of Shrimp Shumai (NT$160 for 8 pieces in a basket), Crab Roe Dumpling (NT$200), Vegetable & Meat Dumplings (NT$140), and Shrimp Dumplings (NT$160).

Decisions, decisions.

I decided to go for the Xiao Long Bao (NT$140, SGD6.45) since I wanted to do some form of comparison. Surprisingly, I loved them for its smooth-thin skin and juicy fillings.

Perhaps they do not have as a refined and sweet taste as Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐’s, but this had a more rustic, savoury flavour.

The dumplings boasting 18 pleats on each were meaty with tender pork, and fantastically moist with flavourful broth.

They taste more ‘hand-made’ than those you get from the other restaurants, if you get what I mean.

Certainly top 3 Xiao Long Bao in Taipei I tried so far.

There were other side dishes such as Boiled Vegetables (NT$50), Fried Pork Chop (NT$70), and Braised Mushroom (NT$80), and I couldn’t leave without ordering that Fried Chicken Leg (NT$80).

This was as good as it looked, crisp, large, and very tender and juicy.

Jin Jin Yuan is also known for its pastries, with the ground floor offering a full display and many customers ordering takeaways.

What you can expect include Taro Pudding, Onion Cakes, Rice Pudding, Silver Thread Roll, Sesame Cake and Red Bean Cake.

Faced with a tough decision, I asked the waitress for recommendation, and she went, ”Pork Roll. Recommended by Michelin inspectors.”

Unfortunately, this Pork Roll (NT$50 for 2 pieces) turned out to be the weakest link among all items ordered – with dry pastry and drier meat within.

She came and asked, ”How was it?” I told her the truth, and that look of disappointment was unforgettable.

To ‘redeem’ from that experience, I had another dessert of Glutinous Rice Cake (NT$50) which reminded me of the sponge cake available in many dim sum restaurants.

It was a texture I never quite experienced before, but with its honeyed-sweetness with bits of red beans, this is something I would actually recommend getting.

You can easily spot this non-smoking restaurant by the bamboo steamers stacked up high at the entrance. Go for the Xiao Long Bao.

Hao Kung Tao Chin Chi Yuan or Jin Ji Yuan 好公道金雞園
28-1, Yong Kang Street, Da’an District, Taipei, 110, Taiwan
106台北市大安區永康街28-1號
Tel: +886 2 341 6980
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sun)
Google Maps – Jin Ji Yuan

Other Related Entries
Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 (Xinyi Road, Taipei)
Hangzhou Xiao Long Bao 杭州小籠湯包 (Da’an District, Taipei)
Kao Chi 高記 (Yong Kang Street, Taipei)
Shanghai Master Shao 上海邵師傅湯包 (Da’an District, 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.

We all know that Starbucks is famous for coffee and drinks, and may not pay that much attention to its food menu offerings.

Zooming in on its “Mornings Made Better” items, I noted more than 10 offerings, including Breakfast Pancakes, Egg Mayo & Cheese Multigrain Croissant, Chicken Ham & Cheddar Cheese Toast, to Egg White, Roasted Pepper, Mushroom & Cheddar Wrap.

They have gone beyond sandwiches and croissants, making choosing a little harder with their bagels, panini, pita bread, and healthy wraps. Items are available from breakfast, for all-day enjoyment. Great as lunch options too.

Plus, if you are a Starbucks® Rewards member, you are in for a treat.

Get $1 OFF for your food item from their wide menu selection.

Pair the food up with your fave Starbucks drink or try something entirely unexpected so that the choices don’t end there.

If you do not know what to have, here are 5 Starbucks food items and recommended drink pairings:

1. Turkey Bacon, Spinach & Egg Panini
Start your busy day with a savoury trio of crispy turkey bacon, blanched spinach, and poached eggs, laden with a bright and buttery rich hollandaise sauce.

Everything’s snug within a panini fold over – complete with soft, fluffy texture, ready for a coffee pairing.

Why not pair it with a classic cup of Latte?

Take personalisation to the next level as you switch up regular milk with Soy, Coconut, and now, Oat Milk – Starbucks latest non-dairy substitute.

This is for those who love the milky semblance in your drink without the actual dairy. The oat milk doesn’t add extra flavours to your coffee, and makes the latte creamy and rich.

Tweak as much as you like by adding espresso shots, syrups, or adjusting the level of sweetness to your preferred taste or none at all. I usually go for no sugar, to enjoy the coffee on its own.

2. Truffle Scrambled Egg, Chicken, Kale & Cheese Wrap
Experience an explosion of flavours when you combine scrambled eggs infused with the heady aroma of truffle, tender slices of chicken breast, super food kale and shredded cheeses – all embraced by a warm and toasty soft whole wheat tortilla.

Make it a perfect match with an order of Pure Matcha Latte, a smooth and creamy drink made with premium micro ground green tea.

Now you can customise your drink even further.

Customers can actually control how much sweetness you want in your drink (yes, even for Matcha Latte), or make it totally sugar-free.

While the Matcha Latte without sugar could taste earthy, some would enjoy that unadulterated flavour.

Love Soy Milk? Tell the barista to replace the steamed milk to soy dairy alternative, and available hot and iced too. It’s your call.

3. Chicken Ham, Egg White & Tomato Wholemeal Bagel
Have a meal on-the-go with a wholemeal bagel filled with a healthy mix of lean chicken ham, egg white, and sliced white cheese, made healthier and crunchier with cherry tomatoes and fresh lettuce.

For your drink, get from the refreshing Teavana drinks range, such as a glass of Iced Shaken Hibiscus Tea, lightly sweetened and hand-shaken with ice.

Be rejuvenated at the same time with the bright floral notes of hibiscus, and lush pearls that are bursting with pomegranate juice.

You can also add those pomegranate pearls to other drinks for that additional bite.

4. Chicken Ham & Cheese Panwich
My personal favourite of the breakfast items. Panwich = pancakes + sandwich.

A cross between a pancake and sandwich, this panwich features two breakfast favourites in one delicious plate.

Get two soft and fluffy buttery pancakes sandwiching black pepper-flavoured chicken ham and egg.

The pancakes were slightly on the sweet side, which complemented well with the savoury fillings.

Take a leisurely breakfast and pair your panwich with Starbucks Cold Brew, slow-steeped in cool water for more than 10 hours to extract the full flavour of African and Latin American coffees.

Handcrafted in small batches, this type of brew never comes in contact with hot water and heightens the naturally sweet flavour developed during cold brewing

A recommended topping is the velvety smooth cold foam, or the house-made vanilla sweet cream for extra smoothness.

5. Scrambled Egg & Turkey Ham Pita
This soft and chewy Middle Eastern and Mediterranean bread encapsulates a mix of fluffy and cheesy scrambled eggs and slices of lean turkey ham, creamy mayo, and power boosted with kale.

Complement this pita sandwich with Cocoa Oat Macchiato, a spanking new and dairy-free rendition of the popular Macchiato made with Oatly (the original Swedish oat drink company) oat drink.

Sip this drink hot or iced, sporting its trademark crosshatch design with a handcrafted drizzling of caramel sauce.

There is a slightly chocolatey flavour and if you love Mocha, this could be your new-found favourite too.

Enjoy $1 OFF Your Favourite Starbucks Food (from now till 8 March 2020)
Starbucks® Rewards members can now enjoy $1 OFF any food items, making it more affordable to have a meal there.

If you are not a member yet, head over this link for an easy sign-up.

T&C:
– Valid till 08 March 2029 (Sat).
– Valid for single food item, for one-time use only.
– Not valid for cream cheese, bananas, nor with any promotions or privileges.
– Not valid at stores located at Changi Airport include Jewel, on Mobile Order & Pay, and delivery orders.

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

I start March’s cafe guide by encouraging readers to support local food businesses you love and new establishments. Many of them are finding themselves in challenging situations in a time of opening.

Once things have become more ‘normalise’, head out and have a good meal. Here are 10 NEW Cafes in Singapore you can go to:

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)

Dark Chocolate Heaven With All-Day High Tea and Savouries
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.

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.

This French-style Toasted Egg Brioche ($15) is coated 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. The Dark Gallery (Great World)

Brown Butter
583 Orchard Road, #01-18-19, Forum The Shopping Mall, Singapore 238884
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 8:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Avocado And Beetroot-Centric Cafe With Pink And Teal Colours
From the folks behind the Over-The-Top Milkshakes at Benjamin Browns and Flying Noodles at Hana restaurant, one would expect their newest venture would be another Instagram hit.

True enough, the entire space at Brown Butter is full of Instagram spots; from a wall full of pink roses to an entire pink shelf, pink fridge and a dual tone wall decked in pink and teal for the perfect #OOTD shot.

A wide selection of Toasties (15 in total), are available on the menu, such as Beet Toastie ($15) and Shine Toastie ($15) topped with hummus and a beautiful avocado “flower” on a sourdough.

If cheesecakes are too mainstream as a dessert, check out their version which is literals shaped like a “Cheese”!

Coming in 3 different flavours: Lemon, Beetroot and Avocado at $8.90 each, each cheesecake is beautifully crafted to create the exact shape. Brown Butter (Orchard Road)

Gather
Raffles Hotel Arcade #01-12, 328 North Bridge Road Singapore 188719
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Tues – Sat), 8am – 6pm (Sun, Mon)

French Crepe Café With Kinfolk Vibes Opens At Raffles Hotel
Ronin at Hong Kong Street has said its surprise “Goodbye”, though fans may not be that sad as its owners has opened a brand-new café Gather at Raffles Hotel.

Gather is one of the more unusual French crepe specialty cafes, and also has a retail boutique section with a colour palette that is very “Kinfolk”.

The focus here is on the savoury galette, sweet crepes, though you can also find ciabatta sandwiches here.

The signature to get is called “Off The Bone” ($16) included with class ham, gruyere, cheddar and egg; and Parma Ham ($18) with Italian parma ham, gruyere, cheddar and egg ($18).

The outer layer was beautifully thin, wrapping within savoury and flavourful fillings that wasn’t overly cheesy.

On the sweet side, you get the Plain Crepe made with Bordier butter ($14), Burnt Caramel ($14) and Fig & Camembert ($16). Gather (Raffles Hotel)

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
Fans who were sad due to Stateland Café’s ‘closure’ need not be too disappointed, as the team has reopened with a two-storey “Brotherbird 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.

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. Brotherbird Coffeehouse (Bali Lane)

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
The latest addition to Bukit Pasoh Road is Baker’s Bench Bakery, (well, kind of opposite Shake Shack Neil Road), positioned as a “neighbourhood bakery” with an open-concept bakery.

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.

I was naturally drawn to the display of pastries of loaf cakes, scones, muffins, brownies, cookies, and quiches. They include sourdough breads: humble ($8), milk loaf ($8), fruit ($10), multi-seeds($10), 100% rye ($9) and pumpernickel ($8).

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. Baker’s Bench Bakery (Bt Pasoh)

Canteen Bistro
80 Stamford Road, #B1-61, Singapore 178902
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm Last orders 2:30pm, 5pm – 1am Last Order 10pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Hidden Cafe In SMU Serving $8 Omurice With Crispy Chicken
Canteen Bistro is a casual western styled cafe right in the heart of the university. Besides a simple lunch menu, it is also a pub at night which opens until 1am.

Great for students who looking for a place to chill and need a break from all those projects and tutorials.

The Lunch Menu is basically an Omurice as a base, with a choice of main such as crispy chicken, crispy fish, meatball, mushroom or beef stroganoff. Also offered is a soup of the day.

You can also choose from either cream, marinara or demi-glace sauce to be drizzled over your Omurice.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the Crispy Chicken Omurice ($8) served with a generous portion of chicken.

While the chicken was juicy and lightly battered (and decent-tasting), it didn’t have that “wow” effect. But I can’t complain for this price. Canteen Bistro (Stamford Road)

Burnt Rum & Raisin Cheesecake And Spice-Inspired Menu
Local brand PS.Cafe has launched its latest addition at River Valley’s newly refurbished Great World (previously known as Great World City).

Spanning over 4,300 sq ft, the space can accommodate up to 125 guests, offering a comfortable space in the prime spot of the revamped shopping centre – loads of NEW F&B outlets there.

If you are a regular, you can look forward to a “Spice Route” menu special, with dishes added with house-blended Indian spices and herbs.

Exclusive items to this PS.Cafe at Great World include the Spiced Biryani Salad ($26), Masala Roast Chicken ($33), Lamb Pilaf Pie ($36), and Impossible Bombay Koftas ($28) featuring the Impossible plant-based meat.

PS.Cafe has also brought back its Burnt Rum & Raisin Cheesecake ($12), comprising of the quintessential burnt cheesecake recipe topped with macerated raisins, drizzled with burnt rum sauce. PS.Cafe (Great World)

Double Up Coffee
7 Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199319
Opening Hours: 9am – 5:30pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues

New Minimalist Cafe With A Touch Of Funkiness
It is of no coincidence that three coffee places with minimalist-industrial vibes have opened within two weeks from one another – Lucid, Brother Bird Coffeehouse, and Double Up Coffee.

There are two halves of Double Up Coffee. Outside, you would spot three chairs of solid colours of red, yellow and blue, along with a table repurposed from a skateboard. It suggests funkiness and young vibes.

The menu is lean, divided into “business” (coffee drinks), “pleasure” (non-coffee drinks), and “chow” (rotational pastry).

You sense that element of playfulness when coffee drinks are not named the conventional latte or flat white, but Spro with Milk ($5) and Double Up ($7).

“Spro” is actually a slang term for an “espresso”. (You can use it like, ”Bro, let’s grab a Spro”); while a Double Up is a piccolo with espresso.

Beans are sourced from Bearded Bella which they call the “Kuku Bududa” with milk-chocolaty notes. Double Up Coffee (Jalan Klapa)

Chow Zan Dessert
801 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198769
Opening Hours: 12pm – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

Local Dessert Cafe With White Chendol
Chow Zan Dessert is newly opened at North Bridge Road, located near Heng Long Teochew Porridge and opposite Monarchs & Milkweed Gelato.

The name “Chow Zan” is a colloquial term which means “extremely good”.

The humble-looking dessert shop brings about a selection of traditional hot and cold desserts – some with modern twists, ranging from White Chendol ($4.00), Mango Sago, ($4.20), Black Sesame Paste ($3.50), and Peach Gum with Milk ($4.50).

I was recommended the White Chendol ($4.00), also available in Red Bean and Durian versions ($4.50, $5.50). Fairly interesting with a differentiating factor.

What you get are these white coconut strips with a firmer bite instead of the usual pandan ones. But they would also mean there won’t be that particular pandan fragrance and may not photograph as striking as the typical Chendol.

The shaved ice was quite smooth, topped coconut cream fresh-tasting with mildly-sweet red bean. Even though there was some gula melaka added, the dessert was thankfully not too sweet. Chow Zan Dessert (North Bridge Road)

Professor Brawn Bistro
Enabling Village, 20 Lengkok Bahru, Academy #01-17, Singapore 159053 (Redhill MRT 10-15 min walk)
Tel: +65 8321 2204
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 9pm (Sat), Closed Sun

Professor Brawn Officially Opens Largest Outlet At Enabling Village
Professor Brawn Café is a social enterprise by the Autism Resource Centre (ARC) which provides job and social integration opportunities to people with special needs and the disadvantaged in society.

Over the largest outlet at Enabling Village (near Redhill), the bistro employs staff with intellectual and hearing disabilities.

The space may be slightly hard to find, but do be patient and you will get to this cosy space with natural daylight, and warm, friendly service.

If you are looking for a fuller meal, some mains you can expect include Prof’s Signature Fish n Chips ($13.90), Pan Seared Norwegian Salmon ($18.90), Grilled Chicken with Truffle Sauce ($12.90), Pan Grilled Striploin Steak ($20.90), and Spaghetti Vongole ($14.90).

If not, a selection of desserts, waffles, cakes, croissants, and muffins are also available.

Also look out for The Art Faculty (TRF) which retails art and merchandise created by special talents with autism and related challenges. Royalties from proceeds from the sale of the merchandise will also go to the artists. Do show them some support!

Other Related Entries
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Jan 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Feb 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Dec 2019
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Nov 2019
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Oct 2019

* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary, Nicholas Tan @stormscape and Song Yu @__sy_g.

[Taipei] For ex-students of National Taiwan University, having a Lan Jia Guobao 藍家割包 (sometimes spelt as “Lan Chia Guabao”) and a boba milk drink at Chen San Ding 陳三鼎青蛙鮮奶 together at Gongguan Night Market should bring back a whole lot of memories. (Unfortunately, Chen San Ding has closed recently.)

Lan Jia Guabao, located near the University of Taiwan, is an eatery in Zhongzheng District popular for serving one of the best Guabao in Taipei.

Guabao 刈包 aka the “Taiwanese hamburger”, is a white Chinese-style bread sandwiching braised pork belly, pickled greens, peanut, and coriander.

With a texture similar to mantou, the white bread is soft & fluffy, steamed, but shaped like pita bread.

And unlike the burgers of the West, the Guabao is more pocket-filled with the bread folded in half.

At the heart of this burger are shredded pieces of braised pork, which you can choose between the fatty or the lean, or a half-and-half mixture of both.

Joining the pork belly meat are some pickled greens (also braised in a dark, savoury sauce), crushed sweet peanut powder, and sprigs of fresh coriander.

This “Taiwanese hamburger” has gained fame in various parts of the world, from David Chang’s Momofuku, to BAO at Soho London. (And to be fair, after trying all three, Lan Jia is the version I would to have again, and again.)

The shop is located at Gongguan Night Market 公館夜市, which is a quick 5 minutes’ walk from the Gongguan Station. Due to the proximity to the university, this night market is popular with youths.

A piece of Gua Bao comes with five options of fatty meat, lean meat, half-and-half, moderately fatty, and moderately lean. Each is priced at NT$60 (SGD2.80).

When I took the first bite, I knew why it was so well-loved.

With hands holding the soft fluffy bun, take time to savour tender melt-in-the-mouth pork belly within, and the peanut powder added that tinge of surprise and sweetness.

The overall combination didn’t feel greasy, or there was neither too much or little sauce so that the bun didn’t go soggy.

The blend of rich savoury and sweetness, various textures all in that single bite. Like it was the perfect Gua Bao.

There are numerous steps in getting the bun right. The freshest pork is used, wok-fried with a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, shallots, sugar and rice wine, then braised for two hours.

They get their pork fresh from the butcher. The meat is wok-fried (with garlic, shallot, sugar, soy sauce and rice wine) and braised for two hours.

The peanut powder is from a 100-year-old shop.

Lan Jia is also known for its “Si Shen Tang” 四神汤 (NT$70, SGD3.20) – pork intestine soup, and Pork Rib Sweet Corn Soup (NT$70).

I also ordered other sides such as the Meat Dumpling (NT$60) and Mee Sua with Intestines (NT$50) and both proved to be no second fiddle and worthy to be on the menu.

Lan Chia Guabao 藍家割包
Gongguan Night Market, No. 3, Alley 8, Lane 316, Section 3, Roosevelt Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
100台北市中正區羅斯福路三段316巷8弄3號
Tel: +886 2 2362 9538
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 12:00am (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon
Google Maps – Lan Jia Traditional Taiwanese Snack

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Hangzhou Xiao Long Bao 杭州小籠湯包 (Da’an District, Taipei)
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First things first, Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist 基记面家 located at Hong Lim Food Centre may not be like your average Singapore-style Wanton Noodles.

Other than the more usual ingredients of char siew and soup wanton, you get ingredients such as braised mushrooms, deep-fried wanton and vegetables. All at an inexpensive price $4.50.

You would also realise that the mee kia noodles, whether in terms of texture or bite, is not quite what you ever had before.

That is because the noodles are specially sourced and made without ghee, so that customers don’t feel overly-full or bloated after the meal, and is a healthier alternative.

Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist 基记面家 was set up in 1965 by Madam Lai Yau Kiew’s parents, and she has handed over operations to her two daughters Kristen and Jill – who have both maintained their family’s recipe and legacy.

It won the “Favourite Hawker” in the wanton noodles category organised by Straits Times, and is also listed in the Michelin Guide with a Michelin Plate.

The Ji Ji Signature Char Siew Wanton Noodle continue to be the best-selling noodle item, and it is priced at an affordable $4.50, with other options at $5.50, $6.50, and $8.50 if you want the bowl piled with ingredients.

In a bid to help with the lunchtime crowd, the stall has implemented a number of technologies, such as a cash-collecting payment system.

As previously mentioned, you would find the noodles slightly on the chewy side (not the thin springy type typically used in the Hong Kong style), with a thickness between the average mee kia and ramen.

I know there are varying opinions about this, but I think the noodles works well when the sauce is tossed and coated evenly around.

Talking about the base sauce, it is made in-house from a combination of sauces, deliciously savoury and fragrant with a sweet tinge. I feel it works better with a dollop of chilli.

I think what really draws customer is that you really get good value-for-money for so much going on it a single bowl.

If you are up for other noodles offerings, they include Dumpling Noodles, Braised Soya Sauce Chicken Noodles, Chicken Cutlet Noodles, Braised Chicken Feet Noodles, Mom’s Curry Chicken Noodles, Shredded Chicken and Ipoh Hor Fun.

The Braised Soya Sauce Chicken Noodles is my next favourite order, with easy-to-eat tender pieces of wings and drumlettes stewed in dark soy sauce till they are soft and flavourful.

The Chicken Cutlet Noodles with a chunky and juicy piece of chicken is always a draw, and the outer batter does stay crisp even after you take away and eat say half an hour later.

Ji Ji Noodle House 基记面家
Hong Lim Food Centre #02-48/49, 531A Upper Cross Street Singapore 051531
Opening Hours: 7am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist – Since 1965 基记面家
41 Kreta Ayer Road Singapore 089003
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

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[Taipei] While I often eat zi-char in Singapore, I never quite experienced it in Taipei’s night market till this stall.

Lo Chi Hsiao Chao 駱記小炒is known for its lamb, beef and clams prepared traditionally re chao (熱炒) style or stir-fried.

You might miss this Michelin Gourmand stall tucked away in an alley within the Linjiang Night Market 臨江夜市 (more popularly known as Tonghua Night Market 通化夜市). However, when you find it, it is worth it.

While you are there at Linjiang, other popular street food shops and stalls there are Liang Chi Lu Wei 梁記滷味, Tien Hsiang Stinky Tofu 天香臭豆腐 , Golden Fried Chicken 格登炸雞 (they spelt as “Golden Fired Chicken”), Lin Shanghai Sheng Jiang Bao 林記上海生煎包, and Yu Pin Yuan Iced and Hot Tangyuan 御品元冰火湯圓 .

Outside you will spot the food cart with a long line, displaying platters of lamb, beef and clams, but behind it is a dine-in area with around 8 tables.

The waiting time in the line can be about 30 minutes or more, so I would recommend avoid peak dinner hours. I overheard that customers who intend to buy takeaways have to wait about 20 minutes at least as well.

This is where you can taste some of Taiwan’s most beloved comfort stir-fries, priced inexpensively from NT$100 – 120 (SGD4.60 – 5.60) per plate.

On the menu are Fried Beef, Lamb, Clams, and Beansprouts, to be accompanied with white rice.

The Stir-fried Beef (NT$150) is an aromatic dish with a mildly sweet taste. For the price, there is generous amount of meat in there, combined with fresh water spinach (better known as kang kong in our part of the world).

You can choose your level of spiciness which would indicate how much chillies they would add in, and I would think medium-spicy (zhong lai) would work well with most Singaporeans.

The Stir-fried Shellfish (NT$120) use medium sized clams or snails cooked to the right texture and has a predominant ginger taste. The base sauce is slightly on the sweet side.

I enjoy the Beansprouts (NT$40) which were fresh and crunchy, reeking with wok-hei (wok heat).

To be fair, while I enjoyed the meal, I didn’t think the individual dishes were very much out of the ordinary. The winning elements are that comforting home-cooked taste matched with strong wok-heat.

Some of the local Taiwanese have commented that portions have decreased over the years, making it less value for its money.

Add in a small bowl of white rice for (NT$15). A bowl of light and refreshing clear soup of the day is served complimentary – you can to scoop from a container found near the entrance of the shop.

Lo Chi Hsiao Chao 駱記小炒
Linjang Street Night Market, 27, Alley 50, Lane 39, Tonghua Street, Da’an, Taipei, 110, Taiwan
106台北市大安區通化街39巷50弄27號
Tel: +886 2 2708 1027
Opening Hours: 5pm – 12am (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues
Google Maps – Lo Chi Hsiao Chao 駱記小炒

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Jin Feng Braised Pork Rice 金峰魯肉飯 (Zhongzheng District, Taipei)
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While bar food has commonly taken the likes of burgers, buffalo wings and fries, Moonstone at 103 Amoy Street has taken a different and unusual approach – offering comfort food with an Indonesian twist.

What you can expect include Indomie with Braised Chicken, Bakmi Ayam Mason, Nasi Ayam Mason, to even Bakmi Szechuan.

Moonstone was formerly known as “21Moonstone”, a coworking space and dive bar located at 21 Moonstone Lane.

Due to noise complaints from nearby residences, the bar has moved its operations to downtown Singapore at Amoy Street.

Besides serving a range of spirits and wines, you can also expect specialty cocktails like the Moonstone classic “Liang Teh” ($18), To The Moon & Back ($20), and Uptown Funk You Up ($21).

For its return, they have launched both lunch and dinner menus with the food prepared by Mason Kitchen which is known for preparing Asian comfort food.

Fun fact: “Mason” used here is derived from the words “ma” (mother) and “son”.

For CBD folks who want to escape the heat, the lunch items are priced at a wallet-friendly $8 onwards for noodles, with offerings of Bakmi Ayam Mason (braised chicken), Bakmi Sehat (braised shiitake), Bakmi Szechuan (spicy braised chicken) and Nasi Ayam Mason (braised chicken with fragrant rice).

I went during dinner time and had the Bakmi Ayam Mason. This is Moonstone’s version of the Bakmi – a street food staple in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The noodle dish served with braised chicken, onsen egg, shitake mushroom, poached greens and tofu crisps.

The long and straight fresh noodles reminded me of ramen with its chewy and slightly doughy bite, and mixing all up was like having another version of mazesoba or bak chor mee.

The components worked well together, with well-marinated chicken and mixture of textures coming from both the crisps and oozy egg.

Do add some of the kick-ass sambal chilli for the extra oomph. It made a lot of difference.

I also had the Supremee ($12) included with the familiar Indomie with braised chicken, chicharron (fried pork rinds), onsen tamago and a secret seasoning.

The flavours were stronger on this one and would appeal to those who prefer richer food, and I was glad it didn’t lean over too much to the saltier side.

Well, I know this is instant noodles, but the texture was cooked just right with springy bite. (To be honest, this was more memorable than another hipster Indomie I had recently.)

If you are up for sides, recommendations include the Bon Joe ($14) – their take on Mcdonald’s Sausage McMuffin, K.F.C Sliders ($14) which cheekily means “Kena Fried Chicken Sliders”, and Brown Cauliflower with miso butter glaze ($7).

While some bars serve up food items that are either run-on-the-mill or cost an arm and a leg, Moonstone managed to present a menu with fun and character, yet all at rather-friendly pricing.

Moonstone
103 Amoy Street, Singapore 069923 (Telok Ayer MRT)
Tel: +65 6610 3029
Opening Hours: 12pm – 12am (Mon – Fri), 5pm – 12am (Sat), Closed Sun

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Many cafes serving the usual shoestring fries would include Truffle Fries somewhere in the menu. But what makes one Truffle Fries different from the other?

Most people would judge by the ‘aroma’ and flavour, though this usually comes from truffle oil (Shall leave the debate of the synthetically or authentically of it all elsewhere). Some restaurants do use real shaved truffle though.

Good Truffle Fries are fried to a beautiful hue of golden brown, fresh-tasting with perfect crispiness. Here are 9 places in Singapore that differentiates from the average:

Opus Bar & Grill
Lobby Level, Hilton Singapore, 581 Orchard Road Singapore 238883
Tel: +65 6730 3390
Opening Hours: Dinner 6:30pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Bar 10am – 12am Midnight (Mon – Sun)

This potentially-addictive signature Opus Over-The-Top Fries ($15) is made with crisp-fried thick-cut Idaho potatoes, drizzled with foie gras fat and black truffle puree for sheer decadence.

And that’s not all.

These fries come with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan for that over-the-top umami flavour.

A must-have no matter even if you are originally heading just for steaks at Opus. Opus Bar & Grill (Hilton Singapore)

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)

The crisp indulgent Truffle Fries ($9.80 for regular, $12.80 for large) are peppered with truffle powder, REAL truffle shavings (and not just truffle oil), and a duo of cheese-parmesan & cheddar.

To further amplify the truffle-ness, it is finished with a drizzling of truffle oil with chopped English parsley, then served with home-made truffle mayo as a dip.

I think one of the best real Truffle Fries you can find in Singapore at this price. Burger+ (Clarke Quay Central)

Three Buns Quayside
60 Robertson Quay, #01-01, Singapore 238252
Tel: +65 6909 7838
Opening Hours: 5pm – 12am, Last Order 11pm (Tue – Fri), 11am – 12am, Last Order 11pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon

There are several versions of Truffle Fries available in Singapore, but I really don’t think many serve up Truffle Fries with SHAVED TRUFFLES.

These Truffle Cheese Fries JNR ($14) house fries are double-cooked to make them extra crisp.

The golden potato batonnets are served with a special truffle-infused cheese sauce, truffle aioli and with shaved truffles.

To balance the intense flavour of truffle, the fries are finished off with a sprinkling of chives for a delicate onion flavour. Worth every buck. Three Buns Quayside (Robertson Quay)

PS.Cafe
Raffles City S.C, 252 North Bridge Road, #03-37 Singapore 179103 (City Hall MRT)
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 10:00pm, Last Order 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

It is not quite right if we talk about Truffle Fries in Singapore, without a mention of PS.Cafe.

The ‘star’ of PS.Cafe is the Truffle Shoestring Fries ($16), given in generous portion (like a mini-hill), though price has moved up through the years.

The quality can be inconsistent depending on the branch you head to. If it is good, you get lightly crisp shoe-strings with that consistent ‘aroma’. However, sometimes it can be either not crisp enough, or lacked the truffle aroma. A pity, really.

Or perhaps the other brunch places and cafes have caught up and offered pretty-decent versions. PS.Cafe (Great World)

SPRMRKT at STPI
41 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238236
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

SPRMRKT’s Truffle Fries ($16) with shaved parmesan and kombu are probably quite under-rated, but they have been highly rated by many online reviews as the best you can find in Singapore.

The thin-layer of crisp was just nice, and didn’t feel oily on the touch. Beautifully scented as well.

The shaved kombu dust added this element of interesting-saltiness that made it super addictive. (Plus river view)

Columbus Coffee Co.
220 Upper Thomson Rd, Thomson Garden Estate, Singapore 574352
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm

While many (famous) truffle fries are in the above $10 range, Columbus Coffee Co.’s Shoe String Truffle Fries at $9 felt just right for its price.

While they do not heavily market this item, or there is anything particularly outstanding about its components, it has won fans over for its simplicity – just good-old crisp and freshly fried fries.

If you find Apollo Coffee Bar’s version (at Serangoon Garden) pretty delicious too, that is because they are owned by the same team.

Eleven Strands
66 Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore 545568
Tel: +65 9487 1398
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9:30pm (Tue – Fri), 10am – 9:30pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon

The Truffle Kombu Fries ($15) at Eleven Strands may not come with a heavy aroma, however its fragrance is quite subtle yet stay throughout.

Other than the generous specks of kombu, what diners like is the additional truffle kombu sauce which you can further dip into for more creaminess. Eleven Strands (Serangoon)

Free the Robot
118 Telok Ayer Street Singapore 068587 (Telok Ayer MRT)
Opening Hours: 8.30am – 4.30pm (Tues – Fri), 9:30am – 4:30pm (Sat), Closed Mon, Sun

Truffle fries at $5?

Quite surprised by its price tag; a serving of truffle fries can cost up to double or triple its price at the usual cafe.

To be fair, the fries served to us did not come with a generous amount of truffle in them, but the truffle was distinct enough.

We say: worth it.

Redpan
6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square #02-03/04 Singapore 039593 (City Hall MRT)
Tel: +65 6255 5850
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri)

Floss and sweet mayonnaise made a particular brand’s signature bread very famous. This Truffle Floss Fries ($8) had sweet-mayonnaise like drizzled over, which was adequately coated by chicken floss.

Wait, there was also truffle aioli which would satisfy truffle-fries fan.

Truffle fries? This is one level up.

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[Taipei] Scallion pancake stalls are ubiquitous in Taiwan, but make sure to try Hsiung Chi 雄記蔥抓餅, a new entry to the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand.

Unlike the pancake of the West made from batter, the Chinese chong zhua bing (蔥油餅) is a savoury flatbread made from dough.

This iconic Taiwanese snack begins with dough that is rolled and flattened to create layers upon layers, with seasonings and fresh Chinese green onions or scallions laden in between.

Then the dough is shallow pan-fried and fluffed right in front of you on a large, oiled skillet until light golden brown. A popular place to get this is from Tian Jin Flaky Scallion Pancake 天津蔥抓餅 at Yong Kang Street.

Hsiung Chi Scallion Pancake is located within an alley of Gongguan Night Market 公館夜市, which is near the National Taiwan University. This explains the popularity with students.

The stall is about a 5 minutes’ walk from Gongguan station, and 8-10 minutes’ walk away from the popular Lan Jia Guabao 藍家割包.

Hsiung Chi’s Scallion Pancakes starts from the basic original at NT$30 (SGD1.40), offering various combinations with additions of egg, cheese, ham, bacon, and corn.

Your snack budget at Hsiung Chi is anywhere between NT$30 and NT$70 (SGD3.25). The popular combinations include pancake with egg and cheese (NT$40) and with egg, cheese, ham and bacon (NT$65).

I was lucky that I didn’t meet too long a queue, as the line quickly formed later. The friendly couple were sincere in explaining their product, and additions you can include.

”Feel free to customise!”

She asked if I wanted to add “九層塔” which literally meant “9 storey tower” – it took me a long time to figure what it was.

As I said ”why not”, she threw in a handful of leaves. Ah… basil leaves.

Customers can also require to add on the specially made honey mustard and spicy sauce – these two sauces made a lot of difference.

Their rendition of this popular Taiwanese snack is soft inside, crispy on the outside, and goes really well with the honey mustard and basil.

The texture may be softer and not as crisp as the other well-known stalls, but I was fine with it.

The basil leaves added this distinct flavour which I would describe as between sharp and delicate, and light fragrance. Interesting, and I think it worked.

A bite through, and you get a mixture of flavours from sweet mustard, spicy sauce, the saltiness from the cheese and ham, and herby basil all at the same time. Worth a visit.

Hsiung Chi Scallion Pancake 雄記蔥抓餅
Gongguan Night Market, 2, Lane 108, Section 4, Luosifu Road, Zhongzheng, Taipei, 110, Taiwan
100台北市中正區羅斯福路四段108巷2號
Tel: +81 6 6213 6110
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 11pm (Sat – Sun, PH)
Google Maps – 雄記蔥抓餅

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Tian Jin Flaky Scallion Pancake 天津蔥抓餅 (Yong Kang St, Taipei)
Jin Feng Braised Pork Rice 金峰魯肉飯 (Zhongzheng District, Taipei)

Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

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Funny how time seems to fly. I remember when I first spoke to Jerome and Jereborne from Two Men Bagel House which first opened at Icon Village way back in 2014.

7 years.

After Two Men Bagel House 2.0 at Novena, the pair has opened its 3rd outlet at Holland Village at Lor Liput. (Right next to Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap and Kota Zheng Zong Bak Kut Teh).

Like fine wine, the two buddies which I described as “from two cute boys” in that first write-up, has matured in looks and with more creativity in their bagel offerings.

(They were break-dancing friends since teenagers, saw the bagel craze in other countries and believed it would take off in Singapore.)

They probably found the right spot, as Holland Village has always been popular with the hipster crowd, expats, and gym goers at next door Ritual probably won’t mind a delicious bagel as a guilt-treat.

This outlet should pull in the crowd.

Interesting to know that a bagel is historically spelled “beigel”, and is a bread product originating in the Jewish communities of Poland. They have become popular subsequently in the US especially in the East Coast and New York.

Bagels are first boiled and then baked, resulting in a dense, chewy, doughy interior, with a donut-like exterior.

The guy at the cashier explained the menu here is entirely different from the other branches, though regulars would spot some similarities.

For early risers (it opens at 8am during weekdays), there is a “Morning Gems” menu including delicious-sounding Lean Jean ($12) included with scrambled egg whites, smashed avo, turkey sausage and more; and Mademoiselle Chantal ($14) with corned beef, honey baked ham, swiss bechamel and Carolina mustard sauce ($14).

The K-Town Gim ($15) from the “Trail Blazers” menu caught my attention, filled with braised short ribs, Asian pickles, Swiss gochugara (Korean hot peppers) sauerkraut, and mojo sauce.

But I went on with the cashier’s recommendation and got a Porchetta ($15), which is filled with roasted pork, tomatillo salsa verde, and Carolina mustard sauce.

For bagels, you can choose from their plain, or more fanciful ones from seeded, cheddar, olive, garlic, choco chip and gluten free.

Even if some are feeling that price can be on the higher side, the portion that came along was substantial.

The bagels had a pleasantly-soft and chewy texture (like a mid-hard pillow?), wrapping within what people would call crunchy pieces of sio bak with a mixture of sweet-tangy and earthy sauces.

The crackling was tasty, though there were some parts that were too fatty. Otherwise, good stuff.

I actually preferred the Sausage Fest ($12) with house maple sausage, sunny egg, cheddar and Carolina mustard sauce.

Yes, it seems like a safe choice, but I thought the portion, presentation and sizing all worked together well.

You get a little honeyed-sweetness, a little tanginess, and just mildly hot.

One thing though, dining gets warm and perhaps stuffy (especially with drilling works outside), music can be loud, but you do get those New York vibes right here.

Two Men Bagel House – Holland Village
17D Lor Liput Singapore 277731
Opening Hours: 8am – 4pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 4pm (Sat – Sun)

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Another bites the dust.

Noodle Place Restaurant located at Orchard Gateway known for serving authentic Hong Kong cuisine, will be ending operations at the end of March.

Even though the restaurant is conveniently situated along the Discovery Walk which connects to 313@Somerset (only a few steps away from the entrance to the MRT station), its business has been further affected by the COVID-19 situation, dropping by up to 70%.

It is also facing challenges due to high rental in a prime Orchard Road spot.

Noodle Place Restaurant has been around for 30 years, offering mainly Hong Kong style noodles and congee.

However, its fame seemed to have diminished these few years, especially after its move out of Centrepoint in 2014.

Its very open concept may not be as conducive for Chinese cuisine dining when compared to the old location as well.

Helmed by Executive Chef Chui Chuen Lai, the restaurant has close to 30 dishes to its menu which has been refined over the past three decades, offering a combination of signature Hong Kong dishes along with other regional Chinese flavours.

One of its all-time favourite is the Shrimp Wanton Noodle 鲜虾云吞面, with full-bodied soup broth, freshly-made shrimp wantons paired with handmade egg wheat noodles.

Other popular choices are the Beef Brisket Noodles with Special Sauce, and Shredded Chilli Pork Noodle 京都炸酱面.

The latter is made following a 35 year old recipe from Hong Kong. In order to suit to the taste buds of Singaporeans, Chef Chui melds the heat of red chillis with his house sweet-and-sour sauce and stir-fry it with shredded pork.

Chef Chui mentioned that one of the saddest things about its closure, is that many of the staff members have been working in the same restaurant for up to 3 decades.

They are like family, and it would be hard for the elderly workers to find a job during this difficult climate.

If you miss their food, go support them before they close.

Noodle Place Restaurant
Orchard Gateway #01-17, 227 Orchard Road Singapore 238858
Tel: +65 6733 3171
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm, last order 9.30pm (Mon – Sun)

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[Jakarta] Ask the Jakarta people what their favourite Chinese Hakka restaurant in town is, and the likelihood of them answering the legendary “Angke” restaurant would be quite high.

Restoran Angke was established in 1965 and specialises in Hakka cuisine, still using the same original recipes, to ensure the quality of the dishes.

Hakka is a particular style of cooking in Chinese cuisine, known for ‘texturised’ dishes which are stewed, braised, and roasted, characterised as salty, fragrant with umami.

As of today, Angke has three outlets in the city (Jl. Raya Boulevard Barat Kelapa Gading Square, Arcade Business Center).

I have always visited the main branch in Ketapang, Central Jakarta (Jl. Zaenal Arifin, Komplek Ketapang Indah).

Step inside and you will be transported back to the 80s, as if time have stopped right there.

Despite the traditional interior, Angke has always been packed with loyal customers from one generation to another.

It is quite a common sight to see an extended family with 2-3 generations dine in here.

For starters, recommended dishes are Lumpia Goreng (IDR198k, SGD19.80) deep fried prawn roll or if you prefer more atas version, then order Cingkong Kepiting Goreng (IDR330k, SGD33) deep fried crab roll.

If you have stomach room for more or come in a group or family, you can try ordering other dishes such as Udang Rebus Minyak Jahe (IDR 425k, SGD42.50), fresh prawns boiled with ginger sauce; Kodok Goreng Mentega (IDR 240k, SGD24) fried frog legs with margarine sauce; and Bakut Goreng Kering (IDR 340k, SGD34) of deep-fried pork ribs.

Note that prices are slightly on the expensive side.

Head straight for some of their famous dishes which include the Ayam Garam (IDR 230k, SGD23), Ayam Rebus (IDR 230k, SGD23), and Babi Hong (IDR 352k, SGD 35.20).

I thought that the Ayam Garam (Salted Chicken) would taste pretty salty like most in other restaurants, turned out it was light, matched with tender and moist meat.

I actually prefereed the Ayam Rebus aka Pee Cam Khee (白斬雞) over the salted chicken, which somehow reminded me of poached Hainanese chicken from Singapore.

One of their signature pork dishes is none other than Babi Hong (IDR 352k, SGD 35.20)

Their braised pork belly was definitely one of the best I had ever tried – silky smooth, marinated well, had a proportional ratio of meat and fat.

Also, do not miss their preserved mustard, which complemented well with the braised pork belly.

A must order dish for me is definitely the Gurame Tahu Tausi (IDR215k, SGD21.50), of deep-fried carp fish with smoked tofu served in black bean sauce.

Just look at the generous amount of tofu.

The tofu had a slight smoky taste, right consistency from the black bean sauce – not too thick or watery.

One other popular dish is their Lindung Cah Fumak (IDR278, SGD27.80), stir fried eel with Chinese lettuce.

The crispy eel is best paired with hot bowl of steamed rice.

Just like a letter with stamp, one shall order Babat Hitam Cah Tauge (IDR 196k, SGD 19.60) when ordering the Lindung.

A dish of stir-fry beef tripe with bean sprout served with gravy, the beef tripe had the right texture without being too thick or rubbery. The gravy also scored with a hint of sweetness.

Another Angke’s signature dish is their Bakmi Goreng (IDR168k, SGD16.80), easily one of the best in town.

The noodle was aromatic with a hint of wok hei, had chewy texture and generous fillings.

After numerous visit here, I could understand why many regards Angke as their favourite or best chinese restaurant in the city, they keep the menu simple, staying true to its original recipes.

Through times, Angke has proven itself to be considered probably the best Chinese Hakka restaurant in the city, thanks to its consistency.

Restoran Angke
Komplek Ketapang Indah, Blok B1 No. 1
Jl. KH Zainul Arifin, Gajah Mada, Jakarta Pusat 10130
Tel: +6221 634 3030
Opening Hours: 10am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps – Restoran Angke

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* 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.

You would have seen videos of Menbaka’s Fire Ramen over social media, in which diners sit around the counter in anticipation, with their bowls lighted up with big flames.

Ah, that shocked expressions on their faces. (And eye brows remaining intact.)

Its original outlet is at Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto.

For diners who want to have a go at that, you do not need to wait too long for this ‘spectacular’ ramen experience as Menbaka Fire Ramen will open its 2nd branch… right here in Singapore.

The location will be at Cineleisure Orchard Level 5.

The signature from Menbaka is the Fire Ramen, an original take with light shoyu broth (cooked with a combination of chicken, pork, and fish), then topped with abundant portion of green onions.

Pouring the burning oil just before eating, apparently helps to bring out the aroma and flavour of the green onions.

Customers have the option to pass over the mobile photos, to capture that special moment when the burning oil is poured in, with big flames and even bigger facial expressions.

Menbaka Fire Ramen is anticipated to open on the 8th of April 2020. Look out here for more details.

Menbaka Fire Ramen
8 Grange Road #05-03 Cineleisure Orchard, Singapore 239695

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(Photo credit: Menbaka Fire Ramen Facebook)

Are you looking forward to having some Lychee Rose Cake, Basque Burnt Cheese Cake, and Earl Grey White Chocolate Cake?

Toa Payoh residents have a new cafe in their hood (Lorong 4, Blk 85C to be exact) to get their sweet tooth cravings satisfied.

The Twisted Trio was started by three friends that have known each other since young, serving a range of cakes and coffee.

However, do note that this is a space that is more catered towards takeaways. What I heard is, best-sellers have been flying off their shelves like hot keks.

However, there is a small corner at the cafe that can accommodate 3 customers. So don’t bring your entire class here.

Walking in, you could be enticed with a display of cakes in both the display chiller and counter-top.

Let me see… Orange Yogurt, 70% Callebaut Chocolate Cake, Earl Grey Pound Cake, Banana Pound Cake, Matcha Pound Cake and Banana Muffins. Okay, enticed already.

The dessert table set up did remind me of the other humble set-up, The Better Half at Everton Park.

Besides cakes, The Twisted Trio also sells freshly bakes and packaged items such as Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies ($14) and Biscotti ($18).

If you are a fan of brownies, you may be glad to know that they sell a Dark & Milk Chocolate Brownie ($4) here as well.

The first item that caught my eye was the Watermelon Rose Cake ($8).

You can see a distinct layer of watermelon sandwiched right in between, topped with a generous number of grapes and strawberries.

Add a couple of sprinkles of pistachios and you have a dessert that is worthy to be put on your Instagram feed.

First bite in and you can taste the distinct floral notes of the rose. The watermelon added a nice texture to the entire cake. Do not worry about the calories because this cake is one of the less sweet ones I have had in a while.

The Blue Pea Passionfruit Cake ($5.50) was another interesting item that caught my attention.

While the cake itself is more on the crumbly side, the light fragrance of the passionfruit cream made it easy to enjoy. The cake had a nice balance of sweet and citrus-sourness.

Noticed a lot of elderly customers visiting when I was there, and I think they made the right decision to make their bakes less sweet.

Drinks-wise, I ordered the Espresso Tonic ($5.5) which had a refreshing kick to it. I really think it is a perfect drink for Singapore’s hot weather.

The owner said that the Espresso Tonic tastes different drinking it with and without a straw, but highly suggested drinking without a straw because it tastes better. The Twisted Trio serves coffee using beans from Brawn & Brains Coffee.

The Iced Dirty Matcha ($7) is basically a matcha latte with an espresso shot. Nice balance of matcha and coffee, with the matcha bitter aftertaste being the highlight for me.

A nice new addition to the Toa Payoh neighbourhood, and perfect for people who love to grab some chio, less-sweet desserts.

The Twisted Trio
Blk 85C Lorong 4 Toa Payoh #01-384 Singapore 313085
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 6:30pm (Mon – Fri), 9:30am – 6:30pm (Sat – Sun)

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* Written by DFD’s Café Correspondent @__sy_g. Songyu is a food and travel blogger whose hobby is uncovering hidden hipster cafes. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

In a short span of two months, we have seen a couple of exciting new café openings in Singapore. This is showing no signs of stopping, yet.

Situated along Purvis Street which has a few other classic names such as Clinton St Baking Company, Salted & Hung and Saveur, SLATE. (or branded as “S L A T E .”) is a new Aussie-styled café by day and an Asian contemporary tapas bar by night.

Am not sure if the space in between the name would work to their advantage, especially when it comes to branding and online searches. Also, do not confuse this with “SLAKE” which is located at Swan Lake.

The trend of serving brunch food during the day and transforming into a bar at night has become quite common of late, with Communal Coffee at Prinsep Street and Canteen Bistro at Stamford Road being a few examples.

S L A T E . reminds me of a prim and proper Aussie neighbourhood café with hints of fun and funkiness, thanks to the medium-blue coloured furniture, energetic vibes and upbeat music.

There are different menus you can expect here, from fuss-free lunch sets, more elaborate dinner, light nibbles, to brunch menu during the weekends.

Food-wise, some of the signature items include Oxtail Ragout Rigatoni ($16), Avo Toast ($13) and Pork Burger with Fries ($15). Take note items may differ depending on what time and when you head down.

The Brunch menu that is only available on weekends does look more interesting.

There are some items that I would be keen to try, such as the G&G Sandwich ($16) with black truffle gruyere sauce, and the Mid-East ($15) featuring a Beetroot Tahini Spread, Turmeric Egg Salad and Roasted Butternut Squash.

The recommendation from the server during lunch was the S L A T E . Chicken Rice ($14), included with Kopa grilled (a type of oven) chicken thigh, sunny side up, house made atchara and garlic rice.

Considering this brunch place is surrounded by many renowned Hainanese Chicken Rice shops, I did think that their version was worthy of mention.

Succulent chicken pieces, the atchara (a type of pickled green papaya) balancing out some of the savouriness, and generally tasty yet not overly garlicy rice.

However, do take not NOT to arrive too late for lunch, as they only serve small bites after 2.30pm.

Tip: If you wish to indulge in their mains, make sure to visit before 2.30pm.

The friendly server recommended to me the Bun Set ($7) that’s only available on weekdays from 2.30pm to 6pm.

Their house made soft bun is served with salted cultured butter, guava and sour plum jam and a tea or coffee. Only 20 pieces are available daily.

I really enjoyed the guava jam. One bite and the fragrance of the guava fills your mouth. I couldn’t really taste the sour plum, but the tanginess of the entire jam makes you go back for more.

The bun itself was very fluffy and airy. Together with the guava jam, it was gone within seconds.

I chose the Flat White which came with the Bun Set and it was served in a beautiful blue cup.

You can choose any tea or coffee from their menu if you order the bun set but do note that it’s an additional $1.50 for Iced, Mocha and Chocolate drinks.

The coffee beans are sourced from the famous Industry Beans Coffee Roasters from Sydney, and it was smooth and well-balanced but if I found it slightly milky.

The server kindly explained to me that in terms of small bites, the Edamame ($8) and Chicken Meatballs ($12) were crowd favourites.

The chicken meatballs reminded me of Takoyaki balls when served, as it was topped with generous amounts of bonito flakes and nori.

Paired with their house made tare sauce and garlic mayonnaise, the dish had a nice Japanese twist to it. However, I did find the taste of mustard to be slightly overwhelming.

I loved how the meatball contained some pieces of chicken cartilage which elevated the entire meatball in terms of texture.

I also tried their Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Brownie ($6) which was quite fudgy.

What I enjoyed was the slightly burnt chocolate aftertaste. This might be quite heavy as a dessert, so I suggest sharing it with a friend.

I am slightly divided over S L A T E. There are items here and there which are indeed promising, but overall it doesn’t have a clear direction in terms of cohesiveness and branding.

S L A T E . is still in the midst of expanding their menu, though I really think before that expansion, they can look at enhancing and highlighting which are their star dishes for clearer identity.

S L A T E .
24 Purvis Street, #01-00, Singapore 188601
Tel: +65 6261 1724
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10:30pm (Mon – Thurs), 10:30am – 11:30pm (Fri), 9am – 11:30pm (Sat), 9am – 4pm (Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/slate.singapore

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* Written by DFD’s Café Correspondent @__sy_g. Songyu is a food and travel blogger whose hobby is uncovering hidden hipster cafes. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Of all the iconic hawker food in Singapore, I find that Singaporeans feel most strongly for their Hokkien Mee, Char Kway Teow and definitely Yong Tau Foo 酿豆腐. (So, I am typing this with a bit of anxiousness in my heart.)

Like HOW COME you didn’t include my favourite Yong Tau Foo? (Wait, next round, okay? I am doing this alone.)

Actually, the thing about Yong Tau Foo depends on the ingredients you pick, and time of the day you head down (usually at night, some stalls’ offerings are not that fresh as compared to during daytime.)

Yong Tau Foo is a Hakka Chinese delight that is available in most of the hawker centres and food courts in Singapore, due to its variety and perceived healthiness (you don’t go pick all the deep-fried food and pour all the sauce within lah).

Traditional versions of Yong Tau Foo consist of tofu cubes stuffed with fish paste and minced meat, then braised or deep-fried.

The tofu-licious treats are rich and hearty, and loved by locals and tourists alike. You can get Yong Tau Foo with gravy or soup, as well as a dry variety with or without the fried ingredients.

Some of the more well-known Yong Tau Foo stalls include Xi Xiang Feng Yong Tau Foo 喜相逢 (Ang Mo Kio Ave 6), Da Jie (354 Clementi Ave 2), Koo Kee Yong Tow Foo (People’s Park Food Centre), Fatty Aunt Yong Tau Foo (147 Silat Ave), Orchard Yong Tau Fu (Cuppage Plaza), Fong Yong Tau Foo (Bukit Merah Central), 181 Yong Tau Fu, Cantonese Delights (Hong Lim Food Centre), Zhen Jie Hakka Yong Dou Fu (Amoy Street Food Centre), Lao Huang Hakka Yong Tau Fu (North Bridge Road Market and Food Centre), Haw Kee Yong Tau Foo (Geylang Bahru Market), Seng Kee Family Restaurant (Yishun Central 1 Block 925), Goldhill Hakka Restaurant (299A Changi Road), Hup Chong Hakka Yong Dau Foo (Toa Payoh Lor 1 Blk 124), 928 Ngee Fou Restaurant (Upper Thomson), 928 Ampang Yong Tau Foo, and Ampang Niang Tou Fu (East Coast).

Here are 10 more:

Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu
Blk 32 New Market Rd, People’s Park Complex Food Centre, #01-1084, Singapore 050032
Opening Hours: 1pm – 4pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

There are a couple of Yong Tau Foo hawker stalls that can be found at People’s Park Complex Food Centre, but Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu enjoys the longest queue and also the shortest opening hours.

It only opens for 3 hours a day, starting from 1pm (closed on Mondays).

You may already find a small queue forming even before its official opening hour.

They only have one choice on their menu and they do full justice with it, whether it is the freshness and generosity of ingredients or the delicate and perfect balance of flavours.

Their Yong Tau Foo with Soup ($4.50) comes served without any heavy carbs like noodles or bee hoon.

I found it a great option for those who are looking for something low carbs and low calories for lunch.

The soup while light, was surprisingly ”qing” and tasty.

There are a couple of fixed items within from fishballs, soft beancurd to deep-fried bean curd.

The deep-fried bean curd was my favourite ingredient, beautiful golden-brown, along with a great tasting tofu in silky consistency that melts in your mouth. Some may find this too ‘simple’ (especially if they are more zhong kou wei”), but its deliciousness is in its subtlety.

Poy Kee Yong Tau Foo
Blk 32 New Market Rd, People’s Park Complex Food Centre, #01-1066, Singapore 050032
Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)

This is the other popular Yong Tau Foo stall at People’s Park Complex Food Centre.

Flavorsome soup with the springiest fishballs and noodles.

This is a very famous stall for a number of reasons. Most people visit this particular stall to get one mean serving of Yong Tau Foo without having to stand in an overly long line (compared to Yong Xiang Xing).

Although their dish is in high demand, they work through a highly productive and efficient working system that cuts the waiting time short.

And it also comes with choices of mee kia or mee pok (Not all YTF stalls offer these two types.)

I got the dry version of Yong Tau Foo with mee pok noodles ($3.50, $4.50/$5.50). I was surprised at how generously filled and satiating for its price.

The delicious stock was complemented well by crispy ikan bilis with a nice savoury balance. Not that salty at all.

The soup carried tastes of anchovies and soybeans, but the star of the dish was definitely the springy and chewy fishballs, and the taupok with fresh fish paste. I was more indifferent towards the noodles.

Bai Nian Niang Dou Fu
270 Queen Street, Albert Food Centre, #01-106, Singapore 180270
Tel: +65 9692 6921
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Bian Nian Niang Dou Foo easily has the longest queue at Albert Food Centre Hawker Stalls. It used to be semi-popular, but line wasn’t this long. Well, its popularity was largely to food bloggers and instagrammers who raved about this ‘hidden’ place a few years back.

Now, it has a couple of branches in Singapore, and perhaps standard has not been as consistent as before.

Unless most other Yong Tau Foo stalls where you can pick and this, the bowl here ($4.50 – 5.50) comes with more or less fixed choices from bitter gourd, prawn paste, pork paste, beancurd, and a combination of “gold, white and black” rolls.

What draws customers would be its clean-tasting clear soup that is both light and flavourful, and said not to contain added MSG.

My favourite item is the prawn paste pieces (like prawn balls), which have that sweet taste and succulent bite.

Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu 秀記江魚仔釀豆腐
335 Smith St, #02-88, Singapore 050335
Opening Hours: 5:45am – 3pm (Mon – Sun)

Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu is one of those stalls that enjoy the longest queues at Chinatown Complex Food Centre.

Note: While its closing hours state 3pm, the food is sometimes sold out by 2pm.

Their Yong Tau Foo, priced at $3.00 with 6 pieces (cannot choose your own) with bee hoon or noodles is a class of its own.

Part of the fact is that they make their own special fish paste which adds that level of freshness of ‘genuine’ flavour, instead of using the factory-made varieties.

Those deep-fried anchovies also add some flavours and crunch.

You can also get a bitter gourd or eggplant included to your order for an additional $0.50. The soup while clear, was tasty and didn’t taste overly salty.

Rong Xing Yong Tau Fu
Tanjong Pagar Plaza, Block 6 #02-04, Singapore 081006
Opening Hours: 7am – 2.30pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

One of Tanjong Pagar Food Centre’s most popular stall, which is slightly under-rated.

Note: A family member also opened a Rong Xing Hakka Yong Tau Fu located at the Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre but let’s leave the family drama out of this.

A piece goes for 70 cents here, with a minimum order of $3.50.

The best part of this dish here would be the soup with umami, cooked with soya beans for that light sweetness. In fact, you would find quite a number of soft soya beans within the soup which I enjoyed.

If you are undecided at what pieces to choose from, the all-time favourite includes the meat balls (both deep-fried and soup versions – they are quite bouncy and juicy) and fried tau-kee.

Another winning aspect is the mixture of sweet dark sauce and chilli – added with dried shrimps.

Soon Li Yong Tau Foo
115 Bukit Merah View, #01-78 Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre, Singapore 151115
Opening Hours: 12am – 3am (Note: Hours vary and stall may open later than midnight, and close earlier than indicated.)

Where do I even start?

Contrary to its name “Soon Li” 顺利, which in Chinese means “smooth flowing”, there is nothing “shun li” about the whole buying process.

First things first, this Yong Tau Foo supposedly opens at midnight, and closes about 3am. HOWEVER, it can change its operating hours as and when.

It is best to go with at least one other person to command and conquer OR divide and conquer. There are supposedly 2 queues – one to pick items on the right, one to pay on the left.

An indicative pricing could be anything from $8 to $20 plus.

The star of the Yong Tau Foo to me was the soup base, cooked with deep fried ikan billis and pork belly. Tasty, full of flavours, surprisingly not overly salty or oily.

As for the items themselves, I say… go for the pork belly.

My Favourite Café
Lucky Plaza #06-047, 304 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238863
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 6pm (Mon – Sun)

Those who are in the know would be familiar with Lucky Plaza’s very popular My Favourite Café Yong Tau Foo stall, attracting long queues during lunch time.

Fans of this Yong Tau Foo stall would know they are known for TWO signature items – the handmade meatballs and Korean mushrooms.

All their items are at 60 cents each. The rest are the standard beancurd, chili, bitter gourd, seaweed wrapped chicken, mushroom ball, kang kong… nothing very special in that aspect.

The meatballs are slightly smaller than a ping pong ball, deep fried till crispy while the inner is filled with minced meat. Rather substantial and meaty.

Get the freshly fried batch, and you would be in cloud nine. Some if left in the open for too long, would taste ‘over-rated’.

My mee kia was surprisingly tasty, tossed in fragrant oil, flavoursome enough that you do not need to add too much of the sweet sauce. Avoid peak hours.

Tiong Bahru Yong Tao Hu
56 Eng Hoon Street, #01-46, Singapore 160056
Tel: +65 8833 2282
Opening Hours: 7am – 9pm (Mon – Sat), 7am – 9:30pm (Sun)

Homely and comforting handmade Yong Tau Ho that’ll make you keep coming back for more.

This old school food place is one of the top favourites of locals.

They are successfully operating since 1989, and are quite famous for their homemade fishballs and comforting bowls of soup to warm your bellies and heart. It used to be a stall, but now they have expanded to take over the entire coffeeshop.

Note that there are only 4 choices available, beehoon in soup or dry, or ingredients only in soup or dry. They are priced at $5 and $7. Additional vegetables at $1.

The soup version of Yong Tao Hu from this stall is the prefect comfort food for rainy days.

You can expect four fixed ingredients in the bowl. People like their bouncy homemade fishballs made from yellowtail and wolf herring, though I personally prefer the soft tau kee with succulent fish paste wrapped within.

The beehoon is not bad here as well. The only thing is I find the soup slightly on the saltier side sometimes, and it used to taste much better before expansion.

strong>Golden Mile Special Yong Tau Foo
#B1-44 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Rd, Singapore 199583
Opening Hours: 10:45am – 3pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

This food stall at Golden Mile Food Centre is family owned, established since 1958 with genuine and authentic recipe of Yong Tau Foo passed down from generations and improved to perfection.

They receive a swarm of loyal customers every day, and continue to brighten their day with one of the best Yong Tau Foo servings in town.

They have a Teochew fish-based variety of Yong Tau Foo ($0.50/piece with minimum of 8).

The dish is prepared with homemade ingredients and comforting and homely flavours. I loved the fresh taste of fishballs and fish paste, made with yellowtail dish meat with no additional flour or addictive.

Their pig intestines are also one of the most popular items you can add.

The soup to me was more average though, maybe because it lacked that soy bean sweetness. Maybe next time I would order the dry version as I found the deep-fried wanton and tau kee soaked within the soup as well. Bummer.

Fu Lin Bar
127 Telok Ayer Street Singapore 068596 (Tanjong Pagar, Telok Ayer MRT)
Opening Hours: 10am – 3pm (Mon – Sat), Yong Tau Foo in the day, Tapas Bar opens after 3pm, Closed Sun

Fu Lin’s style is a class of their own – a dry version where the items are covered in gooey brown minced chicken gravy made from a secret recipe.

A 6-piece set with Signature Noodles cost $6.00+. Another thing to note: all their items are DEEP-FRIED #caloriealert. (Unless there is a special request for them to be boiled instead.)

The ‘signature noodles’ turned out to be thick bee hoon in a starchy sauce similar to beef noodles.

I found the sauce both appetising and salty.

No wonder the wide selection of deep fried items such as you tiao and deep fried bean curd skin which would absorb the ‘zup’ (sauce) like a sponge.

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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.