The “Circuit Breaker” made me realise that it would be beneficial to have some handy caffeine right in the fridge, especially when you are WFH (working from home).

Those of you who follow me on IG would know I am quite into Cold Brews.

Other than Cold Brews being refreshing given Singapore’s hot temperatures, they are usually less acidic, less bitter (not as siap siap), have a smooth and naturally sweet profile, and keep well refrigerated.

“Bootstrap Cold Brew” is a local specialty cold brew company started by coffee geeks in early 2015. Its debut was in Bali – where their coffee beans are sourced, and they quickly grew and set up another microbrewery in Singapore.

I first took note of the brand when Starter Lab (the famous bakery café from Bali) served it along with their aromatic bakes.

It is not difficult to see why the synergy. Bootstrap sources the finest 100% single-origin Arabica beans from family-run farms in Kintamani – a highland area in the north of East Bali.

For the purpose of this post, I dropped by for a visit at their microbrewery located in Mandai, and saw that all products are made fresh daily in Singapore. And they cold brew and bottle only in small batches.

Added benefit: Bootstrap’s Cold Brew which is never heated from brewing to bottled, can be enjoyed with a fridge-life of up to 30 days (for example, the Cold Brew Black), while still 100% free from preservatives or additives. (A typical bottled cold brew need to be consumed within 3-5 days.)

Most importantly during these times, they deliver from their microbrewery straight to your doorstep. Ah, the convenience.

For first timers looking for a variety, you can go for the Bootstrap Mix Pack which gives you 6 cold brew flavours: Signature Black Coffee, High-Performance Strong Black Coffee, Dairy-free Oat Milk Coffee, Fresh Milk and Manuka Honey Coffee, Rooibos Orange Tea and Hojicha Tea.

Here’s more about the brews:

Bootstrap Cold Brew Black ($5 per bottle, $3.56 per bottle / subscription with promo)
This is for the purists, with no added sugar or milk, keeping it simple with just 100% Arabica coffee. Plus, no added preservatives, no artificial flavouring, no refined sugars.

For maximum flavour extraction, the coffee beans are patiently steeped in room temperature water for over 15 hours.

The long steeping time rewards you with coffee that is smooth, refreshing and naturally-sweet. In terms of taste, you get notes of dark chocolate malt, with not much bitterness or acidity.

And the bonus is: you can keep it chilled for up to 30 days, apparently with no loss in freshness or profile. So you can always keep a ‘stash’ in your fridge.

Bootstrap Cold Brew Strong ($6 per bottle, $4.27 per bottle / subscription with promo)
For those who need an extra boost, go for the Cold Brew Strong, a popular choice amongst health buffs and those who are working long hours in front of the com.

I take this on my Monday mornings or when I have a long Zoom meeting ahead, as it is a powerful black coffee brewed double the strength.

Try this full-bodied drink on the rocks – pour over ice and enjoy its dark chocolate finish extra cold.

Like the black, this is good for a month at 30 days. You will need that emergency caffeine when you WFH.

Bootstrap Cold Brew Milk & Manuka Honey ($6.50 per bottle, $4.63 per bottle / subscription with promo)
If you prefer sweet coffee drinks, order the cold brew milk sweetened with 100% organic Manuka Honey sourced from New Zealand.

This classic white coffee is packed with natural healing properties of the honey, with no added preservatives, additives, and refined sugars as well.

This is my personal favourite. What I enjoyed was the creamy texture of the fresh milk as it blended with the floral sweetness of Manuka honey and coffee.

You can pour this nut-free brew over ice or drink straight up. Good up to 12 days (less than black due to the fresh milk) when chilled in the fridge.

Bootstrap Cold Brew Oat Milk ($6 per bottle, $4.27 per bottle / subscription with promo)
This dairy-free beverage combines Bootstrap’s signature cold brew coffee with 100% organic oat milk.

Ideal for vegans, followers of plant-based diets, and lactose-intolerant coffee drinkers.

Allergic to nuts? You are safe as this is totally nut-free. Don’t forget to shake well before drinking to taste its smooth and light creaminess.

Even with no preservatives, its shelf life is a good 12 days refrigerated.

Bootstrap Cold Brew Rooibos Orange Tea ($5.50 per bottle / subscription with promo)
Tea drinkers can experience the gently cold brewed rooibos, a South African herb with a unique honey earthy aroma.

When you combine Bootstrap’s cold brewing process and Kindred Teas’ artisanal blends, you get this fruity tea which is refreshing any time of the day.

Naturally-sweet and caffeine-free, this herbal tea is infused with juicy orange peel for a bright acidity. Sweetness is on the mellow side with a hint of wildflower honey.

Keeps up to 21 days refrigerated.

Bootstrap Cold Brew Hojicha Tea ($5.50 per bottle / $3.91 per bottle / subscription with promo)
Fans of green tea can try the cold brew Hojicha tea, with subtle hints of coffee, roasted barley and caramel of roasted green tea.

The caffeine content is on the lower end for this, so you can drink this zero-calorie, sugar-free drink at almost anytime of the day.

Fridge life is up to 26 days.

Bootstrap Subscription Program – Promo Code “SUBNOW”
Get your java stash conveniently delivered to you by signing up to Bootstrap’s Subscription Program.

It is a hassle-free way to order specialty coffee, which you can adjust and mix & match your favourite flavours.

No need to worry about a rigid schedule – you can pause and adjust shipment at any time.

Plus, free shipping island-wide. With a subscription, you will be saving more with 5% OFF.

If you use promo code SUBNOW at checkout, you can get an extra 25% discount for your first 8 payments.

On another note, all cold brews are bottled in 100% recyclable glass bottles and delivered in a reusable cooler bag. Upon your next order, delivery crew will collect your empty bottles for recycling.

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

Started off as a coffee cart business in 2018, Musketeers Coffee is founded by 3 friends who call themselves “Musketeers”.

(“The Three Musketeers” is also a well-known French historical adventure novel, with adapted into several movies and TV shows.)

They went from running events in a makeshift coffee cart, to a permanent brick-and-mortar space at the ground floor lobby of SoilBuild.

However, do note that this is more of a takeaway space, as the current seating area is limited to just 2 tables (plus remember to safe distance).

Their menu is short and concise, mainly focusing on their in-house artisanal coffee.

Using a 3-beans-blend (Ethiopia, Columbia, Costa Rica) roasted by Tad Coffee, the menu includes Espresso ($3.50), Black/ White ($4.50) and Mocha ($5).

For those coffee enthusiasts seeking Pourover Coffee, they are using coffee beans roasted by Anteroom Coffee Brewers with 2 variants: Daily brew ($4) and V60 ($6).

The Flat White ($4.50) is one of the most reasonably priced artisanal coffee I had.

It comes with a single shot of espresso, full bodied with a creamy and smooth texture, pretty well balanced without feeling the acidity.

Add-ons such as Oat Milk (+$0.50), espresso shot ($1) and Ice ($1) are also available.

Bottled drinks ($5.50) such as “Accident” White Coffee, Chilled Mocha, Mint Chocolate and Black Cold Brew are available in 200ml bottles.

I (accidentally) saw the “Accident” White Coffee on the menu and was curious what it means.

The preparation is different as they added extracted espresso to milk and let it sit overnight instead of steeping the coffee beans in cold water overnight before filtering it.

(Some people may feel it is essentially the same as accidentally putting a glass of latte in the fridge overnight…)

The result is more acidic with a more pronounced espresso taste in the “Accident” White Coffee.

Light bites are also available such as Overnight Oat ($5) and Toastie with Cheese ($3), Vegemite ($3) and Peanut Butter ($4).

I ordered the Tao Cheez Toastie ($3) that comes with melted cheddar and mozzarella cheese with butter in it.

The stretchy savoury cheese is on the saltier side and the toast is unfortunately a little too thick and dense, with dry edges.

Musketeers Coffee is a good alternative for artisanal coffee if you are in the vicinity as there’s no cafe nearby.

Simply head to the West Wing of Solaris@ Kallang 164 and you can easily locate them on the ground floor.

Musketeers Coffee
164 Kallang Way, #02-K1, Singapore 349248
Opening Hours: 8am – 4.30pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun, PH

Other Related Entries
Nylon Coffee Roasters (Everton Park)
Kizuna (Potong Pasir)
NOA Singapore (Stanley Street)
Coffee Plus (Queen’s Road)
PYROAST (Henderson Road)

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

Popular sushi restaurant Magic Touch has opened in Singapore at CityLink Mall.

Magic Touch known for its innovative ordering system and large selection of Japanese food items has expanded quickly overseas, with outlets in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, California, and now Singapore.

Just a ‘touch’ of ordering for a ‘magical’ experience.

Customers can order many items from sushi, fried or grilled dishes, appetisers, soups, and desserts at the table via an online ordering system.

Simply step in, scan a QR code and order more than 100 Japanese dishes from your handphone, and a “Shinkansen” bullet train will deliver the food to your table.

Items are affordable, with sushi items such as Prime Salmon Belly, Artic Surf Clam, and Boiled Scallop with Garlic Butter are priced at $1.80.

Getting your check is just as simple. After your meal, click the list of ordered items, press “bill”, and proceed to pay at the counter.

Inside, you will find rows of booth and counter seats. The space is designed to integrate with a double-decker beltway system coming out of the kitchen and into the dining area.

It is this rail-like system that delivers your order – everything from starters to desserts, directly to your table via mini Shinkansen bullet trains.

Ready to swipe and order? Here are the recommended Magic Touch items to try:

Assorted Shell Sashimi ($8.50)
Order this plate of assorted shell sashimi, ideal for sharing. This mini selection of fresh raw seafood includes Arctic Surf Clam, Ark Shell, and Scallops.

The soft yet firm-fleshed Akagai or Ark Shell Clam has a mild aroma and taste that develops as it is chewed, while the low-fat high-protein Hokkigai or Arctic Surf Clam has a fresh taste, very juicy texture, and a slight crunch.

Salmon Sashimi ($5.80)
You can’t go wrong with a simple order of Salmon Sashimi, as it gives you that direct taste experience. Fresh and silky thick slices of raw salmon need nothing else for it to stand out.

Seared Caramel Salmon ($2.50)
This features a large piece of fresh salmon, topped with sweet mayo then torched. What I liked was that there was a small piece of lemon included, for that touch of tanginess to balance out the sweetness.

Seared Beef ($4.00)
A pair of thin sliced beef strips resting on some sushi rice, with the quick sear on the meat resulting in a savoury grilled taste.

Seared Tamagoyaki ($2.00)
A piece of long Japanese rolled omelette on sushi, seared and topped with ebiko, with a balance between savoury and sweet.

Jumbo Scallop with Mentaiko ($2.00)
You get a pair of fresh scallops on top of sushi rice. Sharing the billing with the scallops is the luscious mentaiko slathered over them, adding a slight-spicy twist to the natural scallop taste.

Jumbo Crab Stick with Cheese ($2.50)
Kani surimi, the popular Japanese crab stick gets an upgrade as it joins forces with the much-loved cheese and mayo, then torched.

There is also a black pepper version.

Mentaiyaki Chicken Skewered ($4.50)
Mentaiko or marinated pollock roe sharpens the flavour of chicken in this dish. The chicken thigh pieces get that savoury, salty and somewhat-spicy flavour from the Japanese fish roe.

PPL Potato Cheese Croquette ($3.00)
Potato croquette with wonderfully melted cheese centre.

Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks ($3.50)
Sticks of mozzarella is coated with Panko bread crumbs and deep-fried to a crisp. Inside, the melted cheese is waiting to ooze out, ready to transform to a lovely cheese pull.

Fried Soft-Shell Crab ($7.50)
Treat yourself to this crustacean delicacy, a seasoned soft, moulted crab dunked and dredged with flour and dipped in beaten egg. The soft-shelled crab is flash-fried in hot oil to a light crisp.

As a bonus, you may find crab fat or tomalley in its cavities – an indulgent creamy, yellow paste.

Hiroshima Oyster ($2.50)
Enjoy these bivalves from Hiroshima, the largest producer of oysters in Japan. Raised with care, they are plump and juicy.

Available in both original and spicy version, the former can be enjoyed with natural sweetness; while the other is topped with Sriracha hot sauce.

Seared Beef Donburi ($5.50)
Add a bowl of fluffy Japanese steamed rice to your meal, included with beansprouts and topped with seared beef. This cooking process locks in the juices in the meat, making the sliced beef tender and succulent.

As a topping, it is simmered in a savoury glaze that goes well with the plain steamed rice. Break the oozy onsen egg and give it a good mix.

Sweet Potato Chestnut Croquette ($3.00)
This crunchy appetiser is made with mashed purple sweet potatoes and pureed chestnuts. The deep-frying process gives it that much-loved golden hue and exterior crispiness.

Due to its delicate sweetness, you can treat this almost like a dessert piece.

Flourless Chocolate Cake ($3.50)
This dense and fudgy semi-sweet chocolate cake as a sweet treat.

Brown Sugar Milk Pudding ($2.50)
The brown sugar added a distinctive caramelised sweetness to the wobbly pudding.

* Show this blogpost to the service staff, and get a FREE Brown Sugar Milk Pudding (with minimum spend of $50) for its opening special.

Magic Touch
1 Raffles Link, CityLink Mall #B1-23, Singapore 039393
Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

* This post is brought to you in partnership with Magic Touch.

Nothing to do with “Wing Chun” – the Southern Chinese Kungfu style, Yong Chun Wanton Noodle 永春云吞面 can be said to be putting on a good fight, and is enjoying a constant long queue at Bukit Merah View 115 Food Centre.

This particular Bukit Merah View Food Centre actually has quite a high proportion of wanton mee stalls – Depot Road Wanton Mee, Kim Huat Wanton Mee, R&D, and Yong Chun, and they all come with relatively long lines.

I have tried all of them, and they all have varied styles which will appeal to different fans: Depot Road Wanton Mee for it spinach and tomato-based noodles with plump dumplings; Kim Huat Wanton Mee (not related to Mr Brown) for its old-school flavours; R&D for springy noodles.

Yong Chun probably has the most buzz for now due to a viral video from SethLui’s team.

Worthy to take note that the stall opens before sunrise at 5:30am till about 1:30pm (or sold out) to cater to the workers and elderly in the vicinity who have early breakfast.

That also means the young hawkers also have to be at the stall from 2am plus to start preparation. It is very hard work and sacrifice.

The stall serves up Wanton Noodles ($3, $4, $5), Dumpling Noodles ($3, $4, $5), Shredded Chicken Noodles or Horfun ($3, $4, $5), and Chicken Feet Noodles ($3.50, $4.50).

What I enjoyed was the springiness of the noodles that had a good eggy (can say al dente) bite to it, matched with soft char siew that is cooked in a wok rather than roasted.

I would have personally preferred the roasted type with the caramelised slightly-charred exterior, but this somehow worked and also came across as less greasy and easier to bite (for the older folks).

The base sauce was also on the slightly sweeter side, with a particular old-school savour.

Special mention goes to the dumplings (I ordered on a separate occasion) that were plump and meaty with minced pork and water chestnuts.

Special tip for you: The sister actually owns a Bak Chor Mee stall at ABC Food Centre called “Chun Seng” (noticed the similarity in signboards and styles and asked). 春 symbolising “spring” is their mother’s name.

Yong Chun Wanton Noodle
115 Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre #01-56, Singapore 151115
Tel: +65 9028 1285
Opening Hours: 5:30am – 1:30pm (Mon – Wed, Fri – Sun), Closed Tues

Other Related Entries
Foong Kee (Keong Saik Street)
Fatty Cheong 肥仔详 (ABC Food Centre)
Koung’s Wantan Mee (Geylang)
Ji Ji Noodle House (Hong Lim Food Centre)
Kok Kee Wanton Noodle (Foch Road)

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

The Mid-Autumn Festival which falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, will be on the 1st of October (Thurs) this year.

Looks like the welcoming of the festivities have already started, with shops pushing out mooncakes earlier than expected and consumers grabbing hold of the various early-bird deals.

While the traditional big mooncake fairs for us to sample different treats are a no-go in 2020, many brands are going online and offering various delivery options and promotions.

If you are looking at some of the best mooncakes in Singapore for 2020, look no further. (I really styled, photographed and ate my way through all of them and more…)

Here are 12 must-have mooncakes, and also included are details such as the new flavours, box design, purchase venue and corresponding promotions. So, enjoy!

Awfully Chocolate
Exquisite Classic Baked Mooncakes and Chocolate Truffle Mooncakes

The Awfully Chocolate Mid-Autumn Collection 2020 comprises two distinct styles of mooncakes of Classic Baked Mooncakes and Chocolate Truffle Mooncakes.

Each chest of Classic Baked Mooncakes boasts four different flavours, baked in either light golden Shanghai pastry or signature dark chocolate pastry ($88 per box of 4 mix flavours).

You can look forward to the NEW flavour of Six Treasure with White Lotus, which is inspired by the traditional “Five Nut” mooncake. Enjoy velvety white lotus lavished with supple cranberries and golden fruit, hand-roasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds, cashews and almonds encased in their signature dark cocoa mooncake pastry.

The Must-Have Mooncakes:
The Chocolate Truffle Mooncakes series comes in four different luxury cacao flavours – Chocolate Autumn Berries, Matcha Dark Chocolate, Dark Milk Espresso and Caramel Calamansi.

Priced at $88 per box of 8, with 2 pieces of each.

The Dark Milk Espresso remains as one of Awfully Chocolate’s classic, with a beautiful combination of rich dark milk chocolate ganache and a velvety double espresso yolk.

The Box:
Awfully Chocolate has designed a matching set of bespoke wooden chests meant for more than just a single-use.

Each hand-painted chest is one-of-a-kind and comes with reusable gold fork-knives. Their Classic Baked Mooncakes come individually packaged in brushed gold tins with engraved wooden lids, that doubles as a plate. These elegant keepsake chests are good as an accessory box.

Available at:
Website: Awfullychocolate.com or Mooncakefair.com
Pre-orders are available at all Awfully Chocolate stores. Walk-in purchases will be available 1 Sep onwards at selected stores.

Promotion:
25% OFF Early Bird Special (Till 31 Aug)

The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
Mini Snowskin Lychee Rose, Durian Mao Shan Wang, Plantation 1840 and Tiramisu

The Capitol Kempinski Hotel has introduced six exciting flavours of Mini Snowskin Mooncakes.

The highlight would be the rum-based Mini Snowskin Plantation 1840 ($78 for 8 pieces) which transformed from the hotel’s signature cocktail to an edible form, a sweet treat with an alcoholic kick.

Other indulgent Snowskin flavours are the Tiramisu ($78 for 8 pieces), Valrhona 70% ($78 for 8 pieces), Salted Caramel ($74 for 8 pieces), Lychee Rose ($74 for 8 pieces) and Mao Shan Wang Durian ($86 for 8 pieces).

Assorted mini Snowskin flavours are also available at $78 for 8 pieces.

If you are looking for the traditional baked mooncakes, the ones offered here come in bite-sized pieces and are good to pair with tea.

They include Pandan Paste with Melon Seeds ($70 for 8 pieces), citrusy Red Bean Paste with Orange Peel ($74 for 8 pieces), classic White Lotus Seed with Egg Yolk and reduced sugar ($78 for 8 pieces) or with Macadamia Nuts and reduced sugar ($74 for 8 pieces).

Want to try it all? Then go for the Assorted Mini Baked Mooncake box ($74 for 8 pcs).

The Must-Have Mooncake:
Will be tough to choose from the Mini Lychee Rose and Mini Mao Shan Wang Durian. The former has light and floral notes with delicate-fruity sweetness; whereas the latter is stuffed with real creamy Mao Shan Wang durian flesh for a powerful punch.

The Box:
A visually stunning, intricately designed and multi-functional wooden jewelry box dressed in a vibrant crimson colour of Kempinski’s iconic Lady in Red.

The design draws inspiration from two key landmarks of Singapore’s Civic District – Capitol Singapore and CHIJMES, the stained glass windows in CHIJMES Hall is crafted onto the top of the mooncake box.

Available at:
Website: www.shop-capitolkempinski.com (till 1 Oct 2020)
Whatsapp: +65 9817 2750 or https://wa.me/6598172750

Promotion:
– 20% Early Bird Discount is available until 31 Aug 2020 for orders made through the hotel’s online store at www.shop-capitolkempinski.com
– 20% privilege on all mooncakes for AMEX, and 15% privilege for UOB, OCBC and DBS card members. Not applicable in conjunction with bulk purchase privileges and online orders.

Goodwood Park Hotel
Orange with Grape Snowskin Mooncake, and Japanese Sweet Potato with Pumpkin-Coconut Centre Snowskin Mooncake

Widely known for its delectable Durian Snowskin Mooncakes, durian fans can look forward to the return of Goodwood Park Hotel’s signature D24 Durian, Mao Shan Wang, and Black Thorn Durian Snowskin Mooncakes with their luscious bittersweet fillings.

To mark 120 years of legacy, Goodwood Park Hotel has also introduced the ultimate 16.5cm wide 120th Anniversary Mooncake ($108) filled with white lotus seed paste and 12 salted egg yolks, bound to make a striking impression. Available in limited quantity.

The Must-Have Mooncake:
If you are looking out for something new, there are two which may just capture your heart – the Orange with Grape ($37 for 2 pcs, $58 for 4 pcs) and Japanese Sweet Potato with Pumpkin-Coconut Centre ($41 for 2 pcs, $66 for 4 pcs).

The Orange with Grape Snowskin Mooncake is light and refreshing (plus full of Vitamin C) that comes from the red grapes slices embedded within a fruity mousse, complete with bright notes from fresh orange juice.

The Japanese Sweet Potato with Pumpkin-Coconut Centre Snowskin Mooncake is almost akin to eating the real Japanese Sweet Potato fruit itself, with a mix of smooth and earthy flesh and rich centre packed with pumpkin puree and desiccated coconut.

Its appearance is also dazzling, with a cross-section that resembles the root with its vibrant reddish-purple outer layer and golden yellow and orange luscious filling.

Available at:
Website: goodwoodparkfestive.oddle.me (Last pre-order date 24 Sep 2020, 5pm)
Minimum $100 purchase is required for online pre-orders (delivery or self-collection) 5 days advance order is required from order date for delivery or self-collection. Delivery fees apply
Tel: +65 6730 1868

Promotion:
– Legacy Bundle price of $120 (U.P $177, till 11 Sep 2020)
Bundle comprises 1 box of Baked Combo, 1 box of Snowskin Combo, 2 pieces of Japanese Sweet
Potato with Pumpkin-Coconut Centre Snowskin
– 20% OFF selected mooncakes for Healthcare Workers (only available at The Deli till 1 Oct 2020)
– 20% OFF selected mooncakes for Citi, DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB Cardmembers (on 12 – 13 Sep 2020 at The Deli, walk-in purchases only)
– 15% OFF selected mooncakes for Citi, DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB Cardmembers (till 1 Oct 2020)

InterContinental Singapore
Peranakan-Inspired Chendol, Pulut Hitam, Durian Pengat, and Pandan & Coconut Kaya Snow Skin Mooncakes

InterContinental Singapore has introduced snow skin mooncakes with Peranakan flavours, inspired by the hotel’s rich heritage along with the geographic location within the historic and cultural streets of Bugis.

Crafted in Man Fu Yuan’s iconic shape of the blooming rose, unique and interesting flavours include Chendol – Gula Melaka with Red Bean, Coconut & Pandan Jelly, Pulut Hitam – Dark Glutinous Rice with Candied Longan & Coconut, Durian Pengat – Durian with Gula Melaka & Butterfly-pea, and Pandan and Coconut Kaya.

These are part of the Heritage Collection which goes for $84 nett for a box of 4.

The flavours this year are bold and distinctive, infusing the fragrant coconut – a key ingredient used in Peranakan cuisine, within most of their snow skin mooncakes.

Worthy of mention is that the texture of the snow skin mooncake is delicately light and soft, almost mochi-like.

The Must-Have Mooncake:
The Durian Pengat Snow Skin mooncake, generously packed with durian pulp with slight bitterness, complemented well by the sweetness from the Gula Melaka.

The Box:
Not exactly a box, but a tingkat carrier (which is also known as the traditional tiered lunch box) which is modernised with pastel-like blush and turquoise hues and Peranakan design motifs using architectural elements within the hotel. Gorgeous.

Available at:
Website: InterContinentalShoppe.sg (till 28 Sep 2020)
Man Fu Yuan Shoppe (Entrance of InterContinental Singapore from Bugis Junction), till 1 Oct 2020

Promotion:
DFD Readers can get 35% OFF InterContinental Singapore’s mooncakes with promo code: ICSDFD35 Head over to this link.

Kam’s Roast
Red Dates Longan Mooncake, Almond Egg Custard Mooncake, Coconut Egg Yolk Mooncake

While travelling to Hong Kong may not be that possible now, one-Michelin-starred Kam’s Roast Goose will be offering its three delectable Hong Kong-style mooncakes to the Singapore market.

Created by Executive Chef Wong Kwan Sang, they include Red Dates Longan Mooncake ($68+ for 6 pieces in a box), Almond Egg Custard Mooncake ($68+ for 6 pieces), and Coconut Egg Yolk Mooncake ($68+ for 6 pieces) with a balance of sweet fresh coconut and savoury premium salted duck egg yolk.

Regular favourites such as Kam’s Roast Red Bean Orange Peel Mooncake ($68+ for 6 pieces in a box) and Kam’s Roast Assorted Nuts with Roast Duck Mooncake ($68+ for 6 pieces in a box) are also making a return.

All mooncakes are also available at $10.80+ per piece.

The Must-Have Mooncake:
I am always a fan of the HK style Egg Custard Mooncake, so this brings it a level up. The Almond Egg Custard Mooncake contains lusciously-smooth golden egg custard, enhanced with fragrant almond paste made with premium hand-ground almonds.

Bonus: the mooncakes are made with reduced portions of sugar and oil.

The Box:
A Chinese imperial inspired gift box in royal colours of red, gold and purple that symbolise prosperity and luck. Look for a surprise within the box – a unique repurposed porcelain coaster.

Available at:
Website: https://kamsroast.oddle.me
Kam’s Roast at Pacific Plaza (#01-04) and Jewel Changi Airport (#02-210)

Promotion:
– 15% OFF exclusive pre-order on YQueue (1 Aug – 1 Oct 2020)
– 20% OFF for corporate orders of 20 boxes and above
– 20% OFF Kam’s Roast Mooncakes with Joy Luck receipt (Joy Luck store located at ION Orchard B4) within 2 days of purchase, or 15% OFF when purchase is made by 30 Sep 2020

Mandarin Orchard Singapore
Yam and White Chocolate Snow Skin, Green Tea and Azuki Red Bean Snow Skin Mooncake

The perennial favourite of Mandarin Orchard Singapore’s mooncake selection is the Double Yolk and White Lotus Paste Baked Mooncake ($76 nett for 4 pieces), with creamy-smooth white lotus paste and flavourful dual of salted egg yolks.

For gifting, consider getting the Mandarin Collection ($74 nett for 4 pieces) comprising four assorted baked mooncakes – Mixed Nuts and Jamón Ibérico, Double Yolk and White Lotus Paste, Macadamia Nuts and Low Sugar White Lotus Paste, and Azuki Red Bean Paste and Pine Nuts.

Special mention goes to the Baked Mooncake with Macadamia Nuts and Low Sugar Lotus Paste which comes with the same pleasure and less of the guilt.

The Must-Have Mooncake:
Ever popular is the Hotel’s range of pastel-hued mini snow skin creations including Yam and White Chocolate, Red Wine Cranberry with Japanese Yuzu and Lemongrass, Lychee Martini and Chocolate, and Red Wine Cranberry Paste with Japanese Yuzu and Green Tea and Azuki Red Bean Snow Skin Mooncakes.

Get a box of Assorted Mini Snow Skin Selection ($70 nett for 8 pieces) which will include two pieces of each flavour.

Being a Japanese dessert lover, my pick would be the Japanese-inspired creation of Green Tea and Azuki Red Bean Snow Skin, which showcases sweet and earthy azuki red bean in a creamy decadent matcha-infused paste.

The Box:
A glossy medium-blue gift box, embellished with a lattice-patterned crest and a customisable leather patch in rose gold.

Available at
Website: shop-orchard.meritushotels.com
Mandarin Orchard Singapore, at Level 5 Coffee & Crust

Promotion:
– 30% OFF for DBS/POSB card holders. till 1 Sep. 25% OFF thereafter
– 20% OFF for UOB and Citibank card holders, till 1 Sep. 15% OFF thereafter.

Pan Pacific Singapore
Raspberry Chocolate and Matcha Black Sesame Snowskin Mooncakes

The chefs from Hai Tien Lo at the Pan Pacific Singapore has hand-crafted an ensemble of eleven mooncakes, including the Four Treasures Snowskin Mooncakes with vibrant flavours.

The exquisite box includes Hazelnut Yuzu, Raspberry Chocolate, Matcha Black Sesame, and Soursop Lychee – different from the typical offerings.

Instead of the usual fruits puree and ice cream, the snowskin mooncakes have a mousse-like texture, almost akin to that of a decadent dessert.

My favourite is the Soursop Lychee – citrusy and refreshing with a fruity punch; and the Raspberry Chocolate with raspberry crunchy pearls and delicious ruby chocolate.

The Must-Have Mooncake:
For those seeking traditional mooncakes, go for the Four Treasures Snowskin Mooncakes ($68.80+ for a box of 4) which features the signature White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk, Charcoal Black Sesame Seed Paste with Melon Seeds, Assorted Nuts with Chicken Ham, and low-sugar Jade Paste with Melon Seeds for the health-conscious.

The Box:
Decked in a strikingly red which symbolises overflowing luck and happiness in the Chinese culture, this satin-covered crimson box is adorned with intricate florals and a wooden lattice centrepiece.

Available at:
Website: ppsinshop.com (till 1 Oct 2020)
Tel: +65 9009 5936
Self-collection and delivery available from 11:30am – 9:30pm via drive-through at the hotel’s main entrance driveway. Enjoy complimentary delivery for orders above $100.

Promotion:
– Advanced orders with eligible credit cards (till 31 Aug 2020) will enjoy an exclusive early bird deal of 25% savings on all prepaid orders.
– Up to 15% savings on orders placed between 1 Sep – 1 Oct 2020.

Paradise Group
Japanese Yuzu with Sake, Passionfruit with Choya, White Peach Crème de Peche, and Red Cherry Griottine

Handcrafted and freshly made upon order with no preservatives, Paradise Group has introduced new Fruity Liqueur Snow Skin Mooncakes this year with an elegant floral print appearance, synonymous with the design on their mooncake boxes.

Expect each mooncake to be filled with silky smooth white lotus seed paste and a chocolate truffle core infused with different liqueurs.

Not just any ordinary chocolate, but chocolate from the world-leading chocolate company Valrhona’s Inspiration series is used for the truffle centre.

By popular demand, the Mini Baked Custard with Molten Salted Egg Yolk ($56 per box of 8 pieces) and Traditional Teochew Yam Pastry Mooncake ($54 per box of 4 pieces) are back this year. Note that a pre-order of 3 days in advance is required for the Traditional Teochew Yam Pastry Mooncake as they are freshly made.

The Must-Have Mooncake:
Paradise Group’s Gems of the Full Moon line-up include citrusy and fruity flavours such as Japanese Yuzu with Sake, Passionfruit with Choya, White Peach Crème de Peche, and Red Cherry Griottine.

My vote will go to the Japanese Yuzu with Sake featuring bright-citrusy yuzu puree and mildly-sweet Japanese sake encased within the white Valrhona chocolate truffle shell.

The Box:
Gold-plated acrylic box with intricate floral motifs, which can be reused to serve snacks during festive occasions.

Available at:
At all Paradise Group of restaurants (excluding Canton Paradise Noodle & Congee, Le Shrimp Ramen and LeNu outlets), till 30 Sep 2020. Collection of mooncakes is available from 25 Aug – 30 Sep 2020, at participating outlets. Visit https://www.paradisegp.com/restaurant-locator/ to view outlet locations and details.

Promotion:
– 20% OFF for Citi, Maybank and PGR Cardmembers. Till 31 Aug 2020
– 15% OFF for Citi, Maybank and PGR Cardmembers. From 1- 30 Sep 2020
– Public will enjoy 25% discount for orders above 10 boxes of mooncakes

Raffles Hotel Singapore
Handcrafted Apricot and Sourplum Snow-skin and Yuzu and Osmanthus Truffle Snow-Skin Mooncake

The signature Raffles Hotel Champagne Truffle Snow-Skin Mooncakes ($78) need little introduction, well-received for its velvety-smooth white lotus paste, also known to sell out every year.

Two fan-favourites are also making a return this year, which are the Earl Grey Tea and Pearl Snow-Skin Mooncake ($76), and Cognac Truffle Snow-Skin Mooncake ($76) which features a blend of brandy and dark chocolate ganache.

If you are looking for something new, then look out for the two latest creations of Apricot
and Sourplum Snow-skin Mooncake ($76), and Yuzu and Osmanthus Truffle Snow-Skin Mooncake ($76).

The Must-Have Mooncake:
The Yuzu and Osmanthus Truffle Snow-Skin Mooncake is a perfect balance of the sweetness of the lousy along with light tart flavour from the citrusy yuzu.

The Osmanthus tea leaves also add that alluring floral fragrance as you take a bite.

The Box:
The Raffles Mooncakes are presented in a beautiful cream-coloured ivory box designed with gold lotus flowers and palm leaves, inspired by the lush greenery and pristine shades of white of the restored Raffles Hotel Singapore.

Available at:
Website: rafflescelebrations.com.sg
At the Raffles Mooncake Booth located at the North Bridge Road Atrium of Raffles Arcade. Till 1 Oct, 9am – 8pm daily

Promotion:
25% OFF all online mooncake purchases with selected bank partners (till 31 Aug 2020)
20% OFF all online mooncake purchases with selected bank partners (1 Sep – 25 Sep 2020)

Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
Hennessy X.O. Chocolate Mini Snowskin Mooncakes, Mini Baked Custard with Bird’s Nest

Highlights from Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore would be the Shang Palace Mini Snowskin Mooncakes ($88 for 8 pieces) which include the Hennessy X.O. Chocolate Mini Snowskin Mooncakes and Yuzu Sake Mini Snowskin Mooncakes, both available as part of a set of eight.

The first includes alluring cognac with rich, dark cocoa notes; while the other comprises white lotus paste complemented by bright citrus fragrance and sweetness of sake.

The Must-Have Mooncake:
Making a comeback this year is the Signature Mini Baked Custard with Bird’s Nest ($120 for 8 pieces), created by Shang Palace’s Executive Chef Mok Kit Keung.

What you get are Hong Kong-style baked custard mooncakes, with tempting egg custard wrapped in golden pastry and baked. Chef Mok brings up the luxurious factor by incorporating quality bird’s nest within – also for the added beauty and health benefits.

The Box:
The classic Baked Mooncakes are packed in a box in elegant turquoise (pictured) or nostalgic red, patterned with flowers in full bloom to represent the bountiful harvest.

In addition, look out for the Limited Edition Peranakan-Inspired Gift Box Set by fashion designer and artist Benny Ong, with printed motifs similar to those found on the heritage blue-and-white plates commonly used in Peranakan homes.

Available at:
Delivery and self-collect options at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore are available, till 1 Oct 2020.

Promotion:
20% OFF Classic Baked Mooncakes for online orders bit.ly/SLSMooncake20

Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
Red Date Baked Mooncake with Wolfberries & Pumpkin Seeds

Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel’s mooncakes has a well-preserved tradition of sourcing for the finest ingredients to deliver mooncakes with no added preservatives or artificial flavouring.

You can look forward to a total of 10 signatures and new favourites, specially handcrafted by chefs from the award-winning Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant.

These include the Golden Black Truffle Baked Mooncake with Bayonne Ham & Single Yolk ($82 nett); Red Date Baked Mooncake with Wolfberries & Pumpkin Seeds ($74 nett); Rose Tea Snowskin Mooncake with Champagne Truffle ($74 nett); Almond Custard Snowskin Mooncake with Osmanthus Truffle ($72 nett); Mandarin Orange Snowskin Mooncake with Caramel Sea Salt Truffle ($72 nett).

Or take your celebration up a notch with a luxurious take on their specially-curated Mid-Autumn Premium Gift Set ($238 nett for a box of 4) that features 4 gold dusted Black Truffle Baked Mooncakes with Bayonne Ham & Single Yolk. The bonus? A bottle of 375ml Laurent-Perrier Brut Champagne.

The Must-Have Mooncake:
The Red Date Baked Mooncake with Wolfberries & Pumpkin Seeds ($74 nett) incorporates superfoods, resulting in a satisfying texture and well-rounded flavour.

This is one of the more few mooncakes that incorporate wolfberries, which medicinal properties have recently gained popularity due to their high dosage of vitamins A & C and antioxidants which aid in immunity.

The Box:
A timeless piece of elegance and Oriental charm, the red-hued, two-tier box that can be recycled to contain your trinklets, signifies luck and prosperity. It is decorated gold ornate floral motifs symbolises love; sparrows that represent joy and unity; a gold helix clasp.

For a more luxurious indulgence, their Limited Edition Premium Mid-Autumn Gift Set comes in a gold, regal chest that unveils 4 gold-dusted baked mooncakes as well as a bottle of Laurent-Perrier Brut Champagne, and doubles up as a makeup box, complete with 2 side mirrors and 4 individual drawers.

Available at:
Website: www.celebratorydelights.com/mooncakes
Booth: Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel’s Mid-Autumn Booth, Level 1, Hotel Lobby
Tel: +65 6831 4708
Email: singaporemarriott.festive@marriotthotels.com

Promotion:
– 25% early bird discount on purchases made from 27 Aug to 11 Sep 2020 with the promo code: PUBLIC25 on website www.celebratorydelights.com/mooncakes
– 20% discount for purchases made between 12 Sep – 1 Oct 2020 with the promo code: PUBLIC20 on their website.
– Marriott Bonvoy, Club Marriott and TANGS Preferred/ Classic Card members enjoy 30% OFF till 1 Oct 2020.
– Online orders have to be made at least 48 hours prior to date of collection.

Yan Ting, The St. Regis Singapore
Tea-Infused Snowskin Gems In A Glass Mooncake Box

Tea lovers will rejoice as Yan Ting at The St. Regis Singapore has introduced an all new selection of snowskin mooncakes showcasing unique tea infusions.

A total of 4 different snowskin mooncakes are available, from Royal Milk Tea Paste with Honey Osmanthus Truffle ($78+ for a box of 8), Green Tea Paste with Oolong Tea Truffle ($76+ for a box of 8), Honey Purple Sweet Potato Paste with Orange Yuzu Truffle ($78+ for a box of 8), to Black Sesame Paste with Caramel Sea Salt Truffle ($78+ for a box of 8).

If you miss Yan Ting’s Pure “Mao Shan Wang” Mini Snowskin Mooncake ($118+ per box of 8), it is making a return this year, featuring yellow delicate snowskin with hints of gold, enveloping pure Mao Shan Wang of bittersweet goodness.

For those seeking traditional mooncakes, do not miss out on White Lotus Paste with Single Yolk ($79+ per box of 4) or Double Yolks ($82+ per box of 4), White Lotus Paste with Assorted Nuts and Yunnan Ham ($82+ per box of 4), White Lotus Paste with Four Yolks ($111+ per box of 4) or Reduced Sugar White Lotus Paste with Macadamia Nuts ($75+ per box of 4).

The Must-Have Mooncake:
My favourite is the Green Tea Paste with Oolong Tea Truffle ($76+ for box of 8) which combines Japanese matcha in the paste with Oriental Oolong tea within the truffle.

Other than the buttery creaminess, I loved the delicate tea fragrance – and Oolong is also packed with theanine that can reduce stress and aids in mind relaxation.

The Box:
A custom-designed solid and sturdy glass box offering a luxurious touch of floral motifs and pastel colours, can double as a jewelry chest.

Built with an eco- friendly exterior, each intricate mooncake is encased within a limited-edition box in your preferred choice of colour – pastel pink or blue

Looking to order a smaller portion of mooncakes this year? Delight in their new and exclusive bright orange-hued boxes that can house two pieces of baked mooncakes or four mini snowskin mooncakes.

Available at:
Website: yantingrestaurant.com/midautumn2020 (till 1 Oct 2020)
Yan Ting (Level 1U) (till 1 Oct 2020, 10.30am – 10pm daily)
Tel: +65 6506 6887
Email: festive.midautumn@stregis.com

Promotion:
– 20% early bird discount for Citibank, UOB and OCBC credit card holders (till 6 Sep 2020)
– 15% OFF for purchases made between 7 Sep – 1 Oct 2020 for Citibank, UOB and OCBC credit card holders

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape and @DanielFoodDiary. This post is brought to you in partnership with Awfully Chocolate, The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, Goodwood Park Hotel, InterContinental Singapore, Kam’s Roast, Mandarin Orchard Singapore, Pan Pacific Singapore, Paradise Group, Raffles Hotel Singapore, Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, The St. Regis Singapore

Cafe hopping should definitely part of your East Coast Plan, with the newest addition C Café at 477 Joo Chiat Road.

The café is located right next to Homeground Coffee Roasters, opposite Sinpopo Brand at Katong).

At C Cafe, the “C” refers to Cards, Choices and Connections, but I find their story too cheem and shall refer to it as Cardistry, Chill and Coffee instead.

The 40-seater space is white and minimalist, with a Magic Table in the middle of the cafe for the magic-enthusiast owners to pull a magic trick or two to interact with the diners.

Their menu is specially designed to look like a deck of cards, with brunch items such as Avocado on Sourdough Toast ($18), Breakfast for Champions ($24), Toasties – Chicken/ Leg Ham/ Smoked Salmon ($18) and Chicken on Waffle ($18).

I had the vegan-friendly Avocado on Sourdough Toast ($18) that comes with options such as Honey Baked Leg Ham (+$3), Sous Vide Chicken (+$3), Smoked Salmon (+$3) and 2 Poached Eggs (+$3).

The Avocado on Sourdough Toast was considered well-made, and came with pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds for the extra crunch and feta cheese for additional flavours.

The highlight was the smooth and savoury hummus, which was made using cooked and mashed chickpeas, blended with garlic and lemon juice for dipping with the crunchy sourdough toast.

The poached eggs (+$3) was unfortunately overcooked and not as runny as expected. Perhaps opening-jitters.

For those seeking small bites instead of a full meal, Salad ($15 – $17), Chicken Wings (6pcs for $8, 10pcs for $12), Spam Slam ($10) and Truffle Shuffle ($12) are available.

Unlike most dessert menu featuring cakes and ice cream, C Cafe offers healthier options such as Chia Seed Pudini ($8), Greek Yogurt ($8) and Tropical Acai Bowl ($12).

I decided to go with the only “less-healthy” dessert which is the Hot Waffle ($14) that comes with a single scoop of vanilla ice cream, strawberries, blueberries and sliced banana as toppings, sprinkled with icing sugar and drizzled with maple syrup.

The waffle is not as crispy and fluffy as I expected, with a softer and chewier texture akin to that of a pancake.

Drinks-wise, expect the prices to be slightly more expensive as they only serve in 8oz cup for their Latte ($6.50) and Flat White ($6.50).

Using a 2-beans-blend (Brazil and Ethiopian) roasted locally, I chose the more uncommon Honey Latte (Hot $7/ Iced $7.50) which has a sweet and floral scent.

Suitable for those who prefer a less acidic coffee, the honey added balanced well with the acidity in the espresso without being overwhelming sweet.

Frankly speaking, I was quite excited to visit C Cafe because of the magic tricks that supposedly would be performed, but unfortunately, me and my friends went on separate occasions and did not witness the magic in action.

Maybe wrong time.

C Cafe
477 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427683
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
10 Brunch & Dessert Cafes In The EAST
Sinpopo Brand (Katong)
Homeground Coffee Roasters (Katong)
Brawn & Brains Coffee (East Coast Road)
Forty Hands (East Coast)

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

Missing Hong Kong too?

Perhaps having some authentic HK cha chaan teng food of Egg Tarts, Pineapple Buns, Hong Kong-style Milk Tea and Curry Fishballs can help bring back those joys.

Joy Luck Teahouse 歡樂冰室 has brought 3 iconic F&B brands from Hong Kong to Singapore at ION Orchard #B4-61.

A 2nd sit-down concept is already in the works, anticipated to open at Bugis Junction next month.

The person behind this concept is none other than veteran Singapore-born TV producer Robert Chua, who has persuaded over a year for the long-standing brands of Hoover Cake Shop, Kam Kee Café and Tak Hing Fishball Company to bring their signature items overseas.

A little trivia: He was also the producer of Hong Kong’s popular TVB variety show “Enjoy Yourself Tonight” 歡樂今宵, and therefore the similarity in the names – both representing joy and happiness.

While an air ticket to Hong Kong is not quite possible now, you can also satisfy those cravings for Hong Kong Curry Fish Balls aka Gah-Lei Yu-Dan by Tak Hing Fishball Company right at Joy Luck Teahouse. Here’s more:

Hoover Cake Shop 豪華餅店
The Egg Tarts from Hoover Cake Shop has been listed by The Guardian as the “Top 10 dishes to try in Hong Kong”. The bakery shop is also famed for being Chow Yun-Fat’s and Liza Wang Ming-Chuen’s favourite.

Founded in 1975 by Chow Ping-kuan, you could always spot a line around the block with its unmissable buttery aroma at Nga Tsin Wai Road, Kowloon City.

There are two styles of Egg Tarts offered here, one with a puff pastry shell and the other with sweet shortbread crust almost like butter cookie.

Both are filled with rich custard made with high-quality eggs and butter, resulting in a rich yellow hue, and creamy-smooth texture.

Hoover Egg Tart Cookie Skin ($2.30)
Between the two, I found the shortcrust with a distinct butter fragrance leaving the deeper impression, as the firmer base also complemented the custard’s silky flavour better.

I loved that the fillings had a rich and wobbly egg-iness, and would highly recommend you to eat this warm.

Hoover Egg Tart with Pastry Skin ($2.30)
There are also many fans of the flaky puff pastry.

The good thing is: this is not the super-crumbly kind where pastry bits would likely fly all over, but I could imagine some may prefer that more-airy and light version.

Even so, easily one of best Hong Kong style Egg Tarts you can find on our island.

Kam Kee Café 金記冰室
Kam Kee Café started more than 50 years ago, originally as a dai pai dong at Shau Kei Wan which grew to a famous cha chaan teng at Sheung Wan (Sai Ying Pung). You may have also spotted a modern version of it at Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1 Arrival Hall.

Popular for its Pineapple Butter Buns aka Boh Loh Bao and Hong Kong Milk Tea, and has remained true to its recipes from the 60s.

Kam Kee Pineapple Bun Butter ($2.80)
The classic cha chaan teng staple which is baked fresh within the store itself, and comes with sweet, crumbly golden crust.

Available in original, butter, luncheon meat and kaya versions.

Get the Bo Lo Yau which has fragrant premium butter in the middle that melts within the soft warm bread.

The exterior still had a light crisp, and thankfully didn’t fall flat even though I dabao to have at home.

Kam Kee Pineapple Bun Luncheon Meat ($2.80) and Kam Kee Pineapple Bun Kaya ($2.50)
Exclusive to the Singapore market are the Luncheon Meat and Kaya buns – the former if you prefer something sweet-savoury like a sandwich.

While still good on its own, I would personally prefer a thin slab of butter which should go very well together.

Kam Kee HK Milk Tea ($3.80 for hot, $3.50 for cold)
This is the one drink that would instantly bring me back to Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong-style milk tea also follows Kam Kee’s secret recipe that calls for a blend of many types of superior-quality tea leaves imported from Sri Lanka.

European full cream evaporated milk is added to the brew to lend a moderately sweet flavour. I did find mine slightly on the sweet side, and an option for half-sugar would have been great (because I am trying to cut down on sugar).

The criterion of a good cup of HK milk tea is how fragrantly-smooth (香滑) it is, and this was indeed creamy, fully-bodied – even after much of the ice melted (as I brought the cup home).

And yes, it also had that lingering distinctive siap-siap bitterness that was alluring.

HK Bubble Milk Tea ($4.80, $5.80 with collagen)
Exclusive to Singapore will be this Hong Kong-style bubble tea – Joy Luck Teahouse’s milk tea complemented with a chewy brown sugar tapioca balls.

Wait, there is a collagen version. It didn’t really add much to the taste, but I suppose you would feel prettier after. You decide if you want that included.

Tak Hing Fishball Company 德興魚蛋公司 HK Curry Fish Balls ($4.80)
A popular Hong Kong street snack, but quite hard to find around here. The Curry Fish Balls are from the famed Tak Hing Fishball Company, served in a cup of six.

If you are wondering, the fish paste is freshly-made by a local supplier using yellowtail fish, and they use 50% more fish than the regular fish balls in the market for more softness and bounce.

These are first fried to make them more flavourful and with a golden coating, then drizzled in a curry sauce before serving.

I can’t say that the sauce was what I was used to having while in Hong Kong, but I liked that spicy tinge at the end that was quite addictive – and actually drank the last bits down.

Joy Luck Opening Specials
– 10% OFF regular items with no minimum spending for all walk-in customers
– 20% OFF regular items with $10 minimum spending with membership signup in the 1st 2 weeks of ION opening
– Buy 1 get 1 Free Hong Kong Milk Tea (Hot/Cold) or Pearl of the Orient (Hong Kong Milk Tea with Bubble) with membership signup in the 1st 2 weeks of ION opening. The free item will be the lower priced item.

Also, remember to keep your Joy Luck Teahouse receipt as customers can get 20% OFF Kam’s Roast Mooncakes with the receipt 2 days of purchase, or 15% OFF when purchase is made by 30 Sep 2020.

Joy Luck Teahouse – ION Orchard
#B4-61 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/joyluck.teahouse

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Joy Luck Teahouse.

Kyushu Pancake which used to be at Novena Regency, has reopened again at a different location – Holland Village.

It is on the same stretch as Kota Zheng Zong Bak Kut Teh, Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap, Two Men Bagel House, and where Nakhon Kitchen used to be.

You may wonder what the fuss is about: Kyushu Pancake is rather popular in Taiwan (ie long queues), and it is not often that we see Japanese style pancakes in Singapore.

The Kyushu Pancake Mix is made from 7 different finely selected grains including wheat from Oita Prefecture and Pressed barley from Saga Prefecture, 100% homegrown in Kyushu Japan, free of emulsifier, artificial fragrance, additives or processed starch.

Therefore, the texture may not be the usual souffle and wobbly that many Singaporeans are more used to.

Some of the top-sellers include Berry-licious Pancake ($16.90), Matcha Tiramisu ($16.00), and Matcha MontBlanc ($18.00), and Annou Imo Pancakes (16.00).

There are also savoury options of Eggs Benedict ($18.00), Croque Madame Pancake ($19.00), and American Big Breakfast ($22.00).

If pancakes are not your thing, there are also offerings of Waffles such as Banana Chocolate ($18.90), Matcha & Azuki Waffles ($18.90); and a selection of French Toast ($10.90 – $16.90).

This time I had the Hoji-cha Tiramisu Pancakes ($16.00), served with mascarpone cheese, hojicha sauce and jelly, with a side of vanilla ice cream.

Starting with the pancakes, it was soft and not too sweet (without adding the sauces and ice cream), though there was a certain denseness to it that perhaps some may find too filling.

Was there a strong Houjicha or even Tiramisu flavour?

There was some in the jelly, but it was not obvious enough from the powdered layered, which to me was a waste.

I previously had the Matcha Montblanc Pancake ($18.00 because it probably combines three of my favourite things in a single dish.

The fresh cream was light (and didn’t make me feel fat), pancakes more doughy and grainy, and not entirely super sweet.

More guilt-free; but on the flipside lacking that buttery-appeal.

Similarly, the green tea component was not ‘matcha’ enough, and the piping could do with stronger chestnut flavour.

These were not too-bad pancakes, for those who would like a different and healthier take. Plus, one more café to head to at Holland Village.

Kyushu Pancake Singapore – Holland Village
25 Lor Liput, Singapore 277735
Tel: +65 6352 6265
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Other Related Entries
10 Best Holland Village Cafes
Kota Zheng Zong Bak Kut Teh Singapore (Holland Village)
Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap (Holland Village)
Two Men Bagel House (Holland Village)

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

Some of you may have come across Kings Cart Coffee during corporate, weddings and pop-up events as a mobile coffee cart. Which I did – good coffee, by the way.

Their latest venture is a Kings Cart Coffee Factory which features a speciality coffee café, product showroom and roastery by day; coffee bar on weekend nights.

The location is at 328 Joo Chiat Road, joining other cafes such as C Café, Sinpopo Brand, The Communal Place, and Homeground Coffee Roasters for their East Coast Plan.

Showcasing a series of coffee-centric food, bakes and desserts, they focus on specially crafted recipes using coffee as a key ingredient.

Customers may also find food pairings which can further complement or enhance the taste profile of specialty coffee.

Apart from standard coffee offerings such as Flat White ($5), Long Black ($4) and Cold Brew ($6), they serve coffee concoctions such as Salted Caramel Latte ($8), Coconut Latte ($8) and Cold Brew & Tonic ($9).

I was recommended to their Coconut Cold Brew ($9) which features an espresso shot into fresh coconut juice with chunky coconut flesh.

The concoction came light and refreshing, which coupled well with occasional fruity and floral notes from the dosage of Ethiopia Yirgacheffe single origin beans espresso.

Some of the bakes and desserts available were such as Devilish Chocolate Cake ($15), Coconut Affogato ($7) and Thyme Buttermilk Scones ($5).

I took a liking to their Coconut Affogato – its espresso shot with coconut ice cream provided a bitter-sweet blend of flavour, with toasted coconut flakes for an additional bite texture.

The Thyme Buttermilk Scones came dense and moist, infused with distinctive thyme herb and buttery aroma, served with a portion of home-made seasonal jam.

While its taste profile was quite interesting, I reckoned not everyone would be a fan of thyme. To each his own.

On Friday & Saturday night, the space is converted to a coffee bar which serves a range of handcrafted coffee cocktails such as Coffee Mojito ($18), Espresso Martini ($20) and Gin & Tonic ($18).

What caught my attention was the Rum Pum Pum ($20) which was concocted using Dark Rum, Gula Melaka and a shot of espresso.

Before serving, the bartender will flame-torch the rosemary which you get to inhale a smoked aromatic rosemary scent before tasting the intense bitter-sweet concoction.

For those who are not so good with alcohol, go for the Espresso Martini concocted using vodka, coffee liqueur and cream which promises sweeter note and more acceptable as a dessert cocktail.

They also offer sleek bottled beverages such as Black Cold Brew, White, Mocha and Matcha ($36 for Bundle of 6), available for pre-order via their website for delivery or self-collection at store.

While food offerings are limited at point of visit, brunch mains and souffle menu will be subsequently added in the near future.

Kings Cart Coffee Factory
328 Joo Chiat Road #01-05, Singapore 427585
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm (Sun – Thu), 9am – 10:30pm (Fri, Sat)

Other Related Entries
10 Brunch & Dessert Cafes In The EAST
C Café (Joo Chiat)
Sinpopo Brand (Katong)
Homeground Coffee Roasters (Katong)
Brawn & Brains Coffee (East Coast Road)

* Written by Lewis Tan @juicyfingers, a self-proclaimed coffee addict. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

DFD has written about quite a good number of new and hidden cafes in Singapore, but this should probably take the cake of being out-of-sight.

Little WOLA Café is located at Jalan Kukoh, kind of near Clarke Quay and Outram (about a 15 minutes’ walk?).

There is a Jalan Kukoh Hawker Centre (or Kukoh 21 Food Centre) nearby known for its Handmade Teochew Kueh and Ri Tao Fu Pig Organ Soup.

The café is not the easiest to get to with no MRT stations nearby, located underneath flats which is a short climb up.

For Singapore’s standard, this is considered a sizable space, kids’ friendly and good for families to take a breather.

The place is also tastefully done up, as the café is related to “Wola” – a collective of brands and spaces for designers.

The menu was lean when I visited. Depending on the time of the day you visit, you may expect to have Carbonara ($14.90) with bacon, brussel sprouts and crispy lychee, Sanuki Udon ($9.90), a selection of Sandwiches, Chicken & Mushroom Pie, Smoked Salmon Quiche, and Waffles with Ice Cream.

As I visited during teatime, most of the hot food were not available.

I decided to go for their best-selling Ondeh Ondeh Cake with an additional scoop of ice cream.

It was a decent rendition with fragrant coconut flakes and pleasant gula melaka sweetness, though the texture could be slightly on the dry side. Strange because according to the server it was “freshly out”, so I suspect it had something to do with the chiller and storage.

And so unfortunately the rustic Carrot Cake with walnuts did turn out to be crumbly, lacking in the moisture one would expect.

A selection of coffee such as Vanilla Latte, Hazelnut Latte, Butterscotch Latte, Caramel Latte,and Mocha Latte are available, affordably priced at $4.50. Do not expect latte art though.

Hard to get to, but it had a quaint, welcoming environment.

Little WOLA Café
8 Jalan Kukoh, #01-37, Singapore 162008
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
10 Must-Visit TIONG BAHRU Cafes
Thong Aik Coffee (Indus Road)
Brew’ Kopibar (Havelock II Mall)
Coffee Plus (Queen’s Road)
PYROAST (Henderson Road)

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

Talk about one of the ‘must-try’ Hainanese Curry Rice in Singapore, and fans at Hougang should vote for Sin Chie Toke Huan.

Sin Chie Toke Huan 新聚樂歡 is all about home-cooked style Hainanese curry rice and an array of side dishes.

Located just a short walk from Kovan MRT Station, this eatery sits along a row of shop houses along busy Upper Serangoon Road.

Come here during peak evening hours, and you would find a long line (remember to social distance) and waiting time can be about half an hour or slightly more.

Limited outdoor seats are available and has a vibe that brings back memories of family home-cooked dinners.

Since everything is on display, it is easy to pick and point your orders.

Their Traditional Hainanese Curry Rice is coated in a well-flavoured mildly-spiced curry, and carry the aroma of curry leaves.

Something to note that it is not the usual thick, rich and gooey type associated with Hainanese Curry Rice but has a thinner consistency, lighting coating the rice grains. So some people would find the curry gravy average at best.

Among the veggies, the braised cabbage is a staple side-kick for the fragrant curry rice. Soft texture, fiber-rich with a naturally sweet taste accentuated with a mild garlic flavour.

Going to the seafood, squids cooked in curry sauce is quite popular, tender in texture with a slight chewiness. Especially tasty when mixed together with the rice. The Sweet & Sour Fish is also a good choice.

For meats, uncle may ask if you want a “wet or dry” pork. The “wet” would be tender Sliced Pork Belly braised in dark soya sauce, sesame oil and shredded ginger. Goes well with plain rice as it is savoury on its own.

While quite a number of people recommended me the Fried Pork Chop, the pieces I had were disappointing as it seemed left there for a while, therefore room-temperature-tasting.

 
At least the Har Cheong Gai or Prawn Paste Chicken was a good redeeming item.

Made with crisp-fried chicken wing with a mildly pungent taste from the prawn paste, its crunchy exterior encases the juicy meat inside. Best when served hot.

I also spotted a thick slab of Otah Otah which I didn’t regret ordering, filled with thick chucks of fish.

For desserts, there are options of Cheng Tng; Ice Jelly, made from cold-pressed limes, topped with fruit cocktail; or the Ice Kacang with a base of red beans, grass jelly, and attap chee, topped with sweet corn and crushed peanuts.

They also offer 2 types of green handmade Chendol: the Original version with coconut milk, gula melaka and shaved ice; and a Teochew version with additional red beans and grass jelly.

Some also recommended me the Pork Porridge stall at the same coffeeshop, which I have not got to try yet.

A popular spot for after-work, late night suppers and very-early breakfast meals, Sin Chie Toke Huan offers delivery and take-away via Grab Food and Deliveroo.

Sin Chie Toke Huan
1018 Upper Serangoon Road, Tai Peng Gardens, Singapore 534756
Tel: +65 9003 5337
Opening Hours: 5pm – 3:30am (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
10 Best Hainanese Curry Rice In Singapore
Maddie’s Kitchen (Far East Plaza)
Cheng’s 27 (Tiong Bahru)
Two Chefs Eating Place (Commonwealth Crescent)
Sin Hoi Sai (Tiong Bahru)

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

Depending on perspective, this is seen as the $55 pizza place, or where you can get the famed 18-inch pizzas from Brooklyn pizzeria Lucali.

Lucali BYGB is a collaboration between Mark Lacono of Lucali (also featured in Netflix’s Ugly Delicious) and Gibran Baydoun of BYGB Hospitality.

It is not called “the hottest restaurant in Singapore” for no reason, as seats are booked weeks ahead. Remember to make prior reservations. You cannot just walk in like that and expect a table.

I waited for 3 weeks as I wanted a lunch-slot for daylight photos, and that left me with limited weekend choices. The restaurant is mainly opened during the nights from Wednesdays to Sundays.

Finding the restaurant itself can be slightly tricky, located on Level M of 66 Kampong Bugis (near Lavender) and above Club Kilo Charcoal Club. Drivers can park nearby at a public carpark, though the birds in the vicinity can be happy leaving their marks on your precious automobile.

Let’s talk about its vibes: it is cool and stylish, while managing to achieve that white minimalist look. It is amazing how it can be tuck-shop and industrial grey style, while channelling rather classy vibes.

Perhaps it is the servers’ white and black effortlessly-smart uniforms while wearing “Black Lives Matter” masks; or details such as the framed photo of Judge Judy in front of the kitchen with wood-fired brick oven.

The menu is concise, with salads, starters, pasta, pizza, calzone and desserts.

Do note that water is chargeable at $2 per pax, but at least it is Dordaq and free-flow.

Choices of pasta are limited to Cacio e Pepe, Spicy Rigatoni, and Lasagna, priced at $35 each.

I was recommended the tomato-based Spicy Rigatoni ($35), cooked with chilli oil and peppers, infused with vodka.

Even though it is priced considerably dearly, do not expect to find loaded with toppings of meat, but instead fresh basil leaves – which is widely used in this menu.

The pasta dish hits the good notes of being rich, saucy and had a reasonably spicy kick at the end that didn’t overpower.

Singaporeans may be spoilt by endless choices of the pizza shops around, but there is only one choice here – the original 18-inch Pizza ($55). This can feed 3 to 4 on the average.

Additional toppings such as pepperoni, anchovies, onions, sweet peppers, mushrooms and olives are at $5 each. And I would recommend adding at least one or two, or it could be too plain for some.

What I loved was its pizza base which had a good about of crisp and chewiness, not being too heavy (even though I cleared half the pizza myself).

While smoky, I found that several parts of the edges were overly burnt and affected the overall pizza experience.

If you love cheese, there is a trinity of buffalo mozzarella, low-moisture mozzarella, and shaved-nutty Grana Padano. Once again, the fresh basil is a star though I acknowledge not everyone would love it.

The chill vibes and over-sized pizzas make Lucali BYGB a great place to hang out with a small group of friends. Plus, not pretentious. I loved it.

Considering the taste of the pizzas alone, it was good but not out-of-this-world, and be glad that there are also worthy places around our small island.

Lucali BYGB
66 Kampong Bugis, Level M, Singapore 338987
Tel: +65 8284 1325
Opening Hours: 5pm – 10pm (Wed – Fri), 11am – 2pm, 5pm – 10pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon, Tues

Other Related Entries
Braci (Boat Quay)
il Cielo (Hilton Singapore)
Prego (Fairmont Singapore)
Tipo Pasta Bar (North Bridge Road)
PocoLoco (Upper Thomson)

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

Kogane Yama is shaking up the donburi scene with its new rice bowl offerings, and that includes tantalising Wagyu Truffle Don and Negitoro Salmon Ikura Don.

The modern Japanese eatery with outlets at Bugis Junction and JEM, specialises in affordable Japanese tendon (tempura rice bowls) and donburi.

For those who prefer to stay at the comfort of your homes, Islandwide delivery is also available via https://koganeyama.beepit.com. (Min order $35, Delivery fee starting from $8 based on distance from nearest outlet.)

Kogane Yama (literally “golden mountain” in Japanese) is known for serving hearty heaps of tempura over steamed rice. Each bowl is custom-made, depending on your choice of carb base, toppings, and sauce.

The menu has expanded to offer a larger selection of donburi, including Original Wagyu Don, Wagyu Mentai Don, Duroc Pork Kakuni Don, Grilled Unagi Don and Pan-fried Salmon Mentai Don.

All tendon and donburi can be made into a set by topping up just $3 for homemade Chawanmushi and a bowl of Miso Soup.

Ready to try their new dishes? Here’s more:

Negitoro Salmon Ikura Don ($16.90)
Power fish tuna and salmon join forces in this donburi, combining negitoro (minced tuna belly) with cubes of salmon and its ikura (salmon roe).

Together, they offer a burst of umami and savoury flavours and a smooth mouthfeel. You can see this as an ‘upgrade’ of the usual Bara Chirashi.

Additional toppings – crunchy cucumber, soft tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette), and crispy tempura flakes – provide interesting textures in the bowl.

Original Wagyu Don ($19.90), Wagyu Mentai Don ($21.90)
Taste Kogane Yama’s special in-house shoyu blend in this don, featuring US Wagyu short beef ribs.

Grilled only upon order, the meat promises a rousing juiciness and a smoky char once it gets to your bowl.

Dig in and bite into the robust yet tender beef, complemented with Shimeji mushrooms sautéed in teriyaki sauce. Also comes with Hanjuku egg and pickles.

Choose the Original version or make it richer with the addition of blow-torched Mentai (cod roe) mayonnaise sauce with a touch of spiciness.

Wagyu Truffle Don ($22.90)
Probably one of my new favourties. Indulge yourself with this top-of-the-line don, elevating your don experience even further.

Wagyu beef gets a splash of truffle flavours.

Not only will you be sinking your teeth into tender cuts of premium beef – you are in for a treat with an aromatic truffle whipping cream sauce and real black truffle shavings.

Kakuni Don ($16.90)
Meet Kogane Yama’s two-hour braised pork belly, cooked with Duroc pork specially bred from chestnut-fed pigs (Duroc is known for its all natural, mouthwatering, rich flavored pork with more superior tenderness and juiciness.)

This melt-in-your-mouth fattiness is meant for those who fancy pork in all its glory.

Savour this succulent meat marinated in a special shoyu blend made in-house.

The result is a deep flavour, with light caramelisation from a blow-torch finish. Served over rice with jelly-yolk Hanjuku egg, teriyaki shimeji mushrooms and pickles to complete the bowl.

Grilled Unagi Don ($18.90)
A well cooked eel is hard to resist, teasing you with its smoky aroma, dark sweet teriyaki sauce glaze, and tender grilled meat.

Enjoy your unagi topped over a bowl of Japanese steamed rice, together with tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette) and diced cucumber.

Pan-Fried Salmon Mentai Don ($16.90)
For the protein lovers who just had a gym workout, Kogane Yama also offers their rendition of salmon mentai, prepared with salmon fillet seared on a hot pan.

Creamy mentaiko sauce is spread over it, then blow-torched for that toasty flavour.

As a finishing stroke, it is topped with fish roe for a savoury touch.

Other than the NEW Donburi, here’s a revisit of some of Kogane Yama’s classic favourites:

Tendon – Mixed Bowl ($15.90), Chicken Bowl ($12.80), Prawn Bowl ($13.80), Vegetable Bowl ($11.90)
Kogane Yama’s signature bowl of Tendon offers options of Mixed, Chicken, Prawn and Vegetable.

All options include an identical assortment of vegetable tempura; lotus root, long beans, carrot, shiitake and enoki mushrooms, sweet potato and seaweed – deep fried in an aromatic mix of deep-soybean and sesame oil.

I would say just go for the Mixed Bowl, which includes chicken, prawn, along with the vegetables. Customise the bowl with a choice of house-made blend, available in non-spicy and spicy options.

Bara Chirashi Don – Assorted ($16.90), Salmon only ($13.90)
The classic Bara Chirashi don with diced raw salmon, tuna, swordfish, scallops, steamed prawn, ikura (salmon roe), tobiko (flying fish roe), cucumber and tamago (Japanese omelette) on a bed of sushi rice.

The base used is of premium Koshihikari short-grain rice, fluffy and has a natural sweet taste.

There is also a Salmon-only version with cucumber and tamago.

Aburi Salmon Mentai Don ($14.90)
Compared to the Bara Chirashi, this will appeal to those who love more flavours such as the spiciness of cod roe, along with that creamy mouth-feel.

What you get include cubed salmon pieces which would be ‘aburi-ed’ (flame seared), added with torched mentaiko-mayonnaise sauce, added with tobiko, cucumber and tamago.

Pork Belly Shogayaki Don ($12.90)
“Shoga” means ginger, while yaki refers to grilling or frying. Do you know that “shogayaki” is the second most popular pork dish in Japan after Tonkatsu?

This consists of thin slices of pork belly browned in the pan, then stir-fried with enoki mushrooms and ginger sauce.

Served simply with rice and onsen egg, this makes a flavourful, comforting dish that may just remind you of (a Japanese) mum’s cooking.

Tori Karaage Don ($11.90)
The bowl popular with youths and children. The karaage chicken chunks are rather large and succulent, tastier when it has absorbed some of the sauce.

To add more variety to the rice bowls, pair with sides of Pork Mentai Gyoza ($8.90 for 6 pcs), Fresh Sashimi ($6.90 for 6 pcs), Salmon Salad ($10.90), and Chawanmushi ($2.00).

Kogane Yama – Bugis Junction
Bugis Junction #02-50, 200 Victoria Street, Singapore 188021
Opening Hours: 11am – 9.30pm Last Order 9pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Fri – Sat)
FB: https://www.facebook.com/koganeyamasingapore
Islandwide Delivery: https://koganeyama.beepit.com

Kogane Yama – Jem
Jem #01-16, 50 Jurong Gateway Road, Singapore 608549
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm Last Order 9pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Fri – Sat)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Kogane Yama.

Jajangmyeon 자장면 is a popular Chinese-style Korean noodle dish topped with thick black fermented sauce, diced pork, and vegetables.

When it comes to Jajangmyeon in Singapore, perhaps the more familiar names include O.BBa Jjajang, Hong Jjajang and Noodle Star K – all along Tanjong Pagar Road.

There are also the more established Korean-Chinese speciality stores like Dong Fang Hong, Hwang Sil and Joo Mak Korean Restaurant, all have been around for years and quietly serving up authentic food to the community.

There is one particular OG store that deserves a mention which is Tae Woo Restaurant. It used to be located in a corner of Clarke Quay Central Level 3.

When they shut down in early 2019, my friends and I were close to devastated as we swear by the authentic flavours of their noodles.

I could still vividly remember how their Jajangmyeon is supposed to taste like till present.

Good news is, the original owners are back in action and have set up Mukjja Korean Chinese Restaurant at Novena. *Dance with joy*

From their noodles menu, some of the familiar items including Jajangmyeon ($11), Jjamppong ($14), Seafood Udon Soup ($18) and Spicy Oyster Noodle Soup ($20) make a return.

I remembered every time opting for their Jjamjameyon ($19), which comes with half black bean paste noodles and half spicy seafood noodle soup.

The perfect choice for fickle-minded diners like me who wants the best of both (noodle) world.

Took my first mouthful and like hitting the jackpot, this is THE flavour.

What makes their Jajangmyeon memorable is their black bean paste as well as with occasional bits of shredded meat mixed in.

The paste is probably cooked in fried shallot oil to derive a distinctive aromatic fragrance.

Taste as legit as what I have had before in Seoul.

Their Jjamppong while not as memorable, was still generally decent. Though I felt that the spicy seafood soup could use a little more depth in flavour.

From the sharing dish menu, there are items such Tangsuyuk ($24), Kkanpunggi (Fried Chicken in Garlic Sauce) ($32) and Kansosaewoo aka Fried Shrimp in Chilli Sauce ($35).

If you watch a lot of Korean variety shows, the number one dish to have along with Jajangmyeon no doubt goes to Tangsuyuk which is Korean version of sweet and sour pork.

Generously coated with sweet and sour sauce, they use lean pork strips which the meat texture could be slightly tough for some.

While some other places separate the sauce with deep fried pork when being served, over here the sauce is already mixed in when served.

Hence, it is advised to eat while still hot before the pork strips turn too soggy.

Decided to order another sharing dish to try, Yoolingi ($35) and was pleasantly surprised.

I was served with a large slab of deep-fried boneless chicken sitting in a puddle of soy sauce dressing, topped with chopped onion, red and green chilies.

A robust combination of spiciness, sourish and savoury, which the crispy tender chicken would soak up all the flavours. An extremely appetizing dish to go along with any mains and is my type of food.

Other sharing sides such as Fried or Boiled Dumplings ($10), Japchae ($17) and Ginseng Chicken Soup ($26) are also available.

Lesson learnt – maybe I need to patronize them more often to prevent losing them again.

MukJja is located at Novena Regency, the row of shophouses diagonally opposite Novena Square.

Mukjja Korean Chinese Restaurant
275 Thomson Road, #01-07, Singapore 307645
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 4:30pm – 9:30pm (Mon, Wed – Fri), 11:30am – 9:30pm (Sat, Sun), Closed Tues

Other Related Entries
Noodle Star K (Tanjong Pagar)
O.BBa Jjajang (Tanjong Pagar)
Hong Jjajang (Tanjong Pagar)
Goobne Chicken (Great World)
Nipong Naepong (JEM)

* Written by Lewis Tan @juicyfingers, a self-proclaimed coffee addict. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Chicken-based ramen full of collagen? Kure Menya is a modern Japanese noodle joint specialising in inexpensive chicken ramen and more.

A Tori Paitan-style Chashu Ramen is priced at only $11.90 Nett. No GST or service charge.

You may have spotted the eatery previously at I12 Katong, and it has relocated to Fraser Towers Level 2 in the heart of the CBD. To find it, it is just across the road from Amoy Street Food Centre, a few minutes’ walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT station.

Using only Halal-certified ingredients, this no-pork, no-lard restaurant offers a line-up of specialty ramen dishes, along with rice, noodle and side dishes.

Follow Kure Menya’s Facebook or Instagram and get a FREE Ajitama Egg (worth $2) for dine-in orders. Valid till end Sep 2020.

Due to the “Circuit Breaker”, they have also developed an online ordering platform at https://www.kuremenya.com/delivery-pickup.

If you prefer to stay indoors and have your ramen delivered, there is islandwide delivery fee available at $9 (FREE delivery for orders $55 and above.) They are also on foodpanda for residents in the Tanjong Pagar vicinity.

Tori Fest Ramen – Original or Spicy ($17.50 Nett)
At the heart of each bowl of ramen is a collagen-rich chicken broth, meticulously prepared with attention, knowledge and precision for more than 8 hours.

The cloudiness in the soup is achieved from cooking chicken bones at a higher temperature with more robust boiling – no additional milk is included.

To bring out the true flavour of fresh ingredients, Kure Menya never uses MSG to season its cooking. Instead, it focuses on using ingredients to deliver unique taste profiles and umami.

This nutritious-tasting broth is the foundation of a signature Kure Menya ramen. I found the soup semi-rich (compared to the usual tonkotsu), surprisingly not salty, and therefore drinkable to the last drop.

Enjoy a festival of yummy toppings with Tori Fest Ramen, a starred item in the menu.

Compared to the regular ramen, this comes with way more meat – chicken chashu and chicken braised sukiyaki style. Served with Ajitama egg and fresh chopped spring onions.

Tori Chashu Ramen – Original or Spicy ($11.90 Nett)
This is Kure Menya’s classic chashu ramen featuring two thin slices of meat so tender you would think twice if they are chicken. Because they are purposefully shaped this way as well.

A to-try for first timers at Kure Menya.

Steeped in the signature collagen-rich broth are soft yet springy ramen noodles topped with thin strips of black fungus and lots of chopped spring onions.

Ratio of noodles to broth is just right, though I would personally prefer the noodles to have more springiness as it was cooked too soft.

If you like things spicy, this is also available in spicy version for an extra dose of Kure Menya’s In-house Sichuan-style chili (they also sell the chilli oil for $5.00 for a bottle of 200ml).

Tori Sukiyaki Ramen – Original or Spicy ($11.90 Nett)
Don’t miss this specialty ramen featuring braised chicken prepared sukiyaki-style – part sweet and savoury.

An order gives you 4-5 pieces of large, juicy chunks of chicken cubes, along with thin strips of black fungus and chopped spring onions.

All these are served atop a bowl of ramen noodles in a light, tasty milky broth.

Maze-men – Original or Spicy ($11.90 Nett)
Don’t feel like slurping hot broth? Go for a dry ramen. Instead of the collagen-rich broth, maze-men (Japanese for “mix” + “noodles”) puts together ramen noodles, toppings and a homemade black sauce.

This no-broth ramen is topped with a couple of tori chashu, black fungus strips, spring onions, and a sprinkling of roasted sesame seeds.

Mala Abalone Ramen ($29.90 Nett)
Do you know they have an off-menu ramen? Order this fiery ramen made with superior ingredient and delicacy abalone.

While the bowl looked pricy, there were quite a number of pieces of abalone. There were five?

Some people may not like the chewiness of abalone, but this was surprisingly soft in texture.

Instead of coming in a soup-based, the noodles were tossed in a Sichuan-style rich sauce fused with spices and peppercorns for that numbing flavour.

It turned out that the chef used to be from a popular Sichuan restaurant in Singapore, and decided to put his skills and experience to good use.

Slurp your way to a deliciously hot ramen, served with tender chicken chashu slices.

Fried Rice ($8.80 Nett)
A classic fried rice dish served with slices of chicken, bits of scrambled egg and spring onions.

Despite its simplicity, it was packed with wok-hei from stir-frying in intense heat.

You can tell that each grain of rice is tossed well so that they have that eggy-ness yet do not clump or stick.

Available in original and spicy.

Cheesy Gyoza ($6.80 Nett for 4pcs)
Complement your ramen with deep-fried gyoza, a recommended side dish with a crunchy exterior and tender minced filling.

Served with melted nacho cheese on top, these plump handmade Japanese dumplings give you a crisp bite mellowed by a smooth mouthfeel.

The gyozas are all handmade in-house, and if you like to bring some home, they are available in frozen packs of chicken ($10 for 10 pieces) or beef ($10 for 8 pieces).

Tori Nacho Bomb ($6.80 Nett for 3 pcs)
These homemade Tori Nacho Bombs are breaded meatballs stuffed with nacho cheese.

Bite into its crunchy-fried exterior to reveal a tender, moist chicken filling and an explosion of melted cheese. A party in the mouth for cheese lovers.

Other side dishes available include Deep-Fried Gyoza ($5.50 for 4pcs), Chicken Karaage ($5.50 for 4pcs), and Tori Sukiyaki ($5.50).

Remember to follow Kure Menya’s Facebook or Instagram and get a FREE Ajitama Egg (worth $2) for dine-in orders. Valid till end Sep 2020.

Islandwide Delivery
Available via online ordering platform https://www.kuremenya.com/delivery-pickup.
– $9 islandwide delivery
– FREE islandwide delivery for orders $55 and above

Also available on BYSGFORSG App:
– $5 Islandwide delivery + $3 Small order fee for orders below $20
– $5 Islandwide delivery for orders between $20 to $55
– FREE islandwide delivery for orders $55 and above

Kure Menya
182 Cecil Street Frasers Tower #02-11, Singapore 069547 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Delivery: https://www.kuremenya.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/kuremenya/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/kuremenya/

* This post is brought to you in partnership with Kure Menya.

Singaporeans can travel the distance for food, even all the way far-west to Taman Jurong Food Centre for this one stall – Feng Zhen Lor Mee. (Also read: 10 Best LOR MEE In Singapore)

I will leave you to decide if it is worth trip, especially if you stay say at Tampines or Pasir Ris (or further).

Taman Jurong Food Centre located at 3 Yung Sheng Road, not near to any MRT stations. However, there are stalls foodies head for including 58 Minced Meat Noodle, Tien Lai Rice Stall (for roast meats), Tom’s Kitchen (for Western food), Sikkander’s Briyani, Butternut, Xin Sheng Gor Hiang Prawn Cracker, and BBQ Seafood.

Long queues are a common sight at Feng Zhen Lor Mee, opened from 5am in the morning. While the efficient service is commendable, try to avoid peak lunch time though as the line does go a loop to the back.

There are both the basic Lor Mee ($3) and Fish Lor Mee ($4, $5) available included with fish flakes.

In terms of presentation, there were so many toppings such as scrumptious deep-fried meatballs that the noodles weren’t even visible.

Here’s what I liked about the Lor Mee: the gravy had good consistency, moreish with well-balanced flavours that went amazingly well with the tender meatballs.

If there was one thing I needed to nit-pick, some parts of the ’lor’ was not well stirred, so could be clumpy at parts. Perhaps people who prefer something richer (”zhong kou wei”) would feel it needs more ‘oomph’ and have to add more vinegar.

But amazing flavours hitting most of the right notes and arriving suitably warm, it is no wonder this stall has all the great elements to attract Lor Mee fans to the stall.

However, some people may feel it is “over-rated” because the difference would be subtle, and not far better than say the above-average ones in the neighbourhood.

Besides Lor Mee, they also serve fried prawn rolls which make for tasty appetizers to go with your meal.

Feng Zhen has another outlet at 787B Choa Chu Kang Dr; while they have relatives sell Ah Ma Lor Mee at 328 Clementi Ave 2.

Feng Zhen Lor Mee 鳳珍鹵麵
Taman Jurong Food Centre, #03-146, 3 Yung Seng Road, S 618499, Singapore
Opening Hours: 5am – 3pm (Tues – Sat), Closed Sun, Mon

Other Related Entries
10 Best LOR MEE In Singapore
58 Minced Meat Noodle (Suntec City)
Lor Mee 178 (Tiong Bahru Food Centre)
Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee (Old Airport Road Food Centre)
Yuan Chun Famous Lor Mee 驰名源春卤面 (Amoy Street Food Centre)

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

The number of new cafes in Singapore is booming once again – I counted about 20 these two months, but downed in to a nice number of 10.

As for the “theme” of the month, it has to be “hidden cafes”.

We went from Yishun, Yio Chu Kang, Kallang Way, to Chang Airport Terminal 2 to suss out cafes that nobody else have written about. Even took a short climb up Jalan Kukoh to find a cake and ice cream place quite out-of-sight.

Do also look out for LR Boulangerie (River Valley), C Café (Joo Chiat), Kings Cart Coffee Factory (Joo Chiat), Joy Luck Teahouse (ION Orchard), MAXX Coffee (JEM), Butter Bean (Funan), and LUX Restaurant (Beach Road). Or DFD’s Aug 2020 and July 2020 Cafe Guide – in case what you are finding is there.

Hub And Spoke Cafe
60 Airport Boulevard #01-T2S-02 Kampong Changi, Singapore 819643
Opening Hours: 7.30am – 8pm (Mon – Thurs), 7:30am – 9:30pm (Fri – Sun)

Hidden Glasshouse Cafe Surrounded By Lush Greeneries At Changi Airport
There are many hidden cafes in Singapore, but this… a glasshouse cafe surrounded by with greenery at Changi Airport.

Linking the East Coast Park connector and Changi Airport, Hub and Spoke is a pit stop for cyclists to park their bicycles and rejuvenate.

The entire glasshouse setting is a 30 seaters space (24 indoors, 6 outdoors) decked in black and white colonial style with ample natural sunlight pouring in during daytime.

Opened at 7:30am daily, Hub and Spoke Cafe offers a menu ranging from local Breakfast Toast ($3.20 – $4.50) and Kopi/ Teh ($1.30 – $2.10) to cafe-style Brunch ($6.80 – $15.90), Pasta ($11.90 – $12.90) and Sandwich ($7.80 – $14.80).

I enjoyed the ambience, space and the natural sunlight here, especially when the food here is reasonably priced, tasty and not too fancy.

The only problem now is probably the location, which is not that accessible via public transport. Hup and Spoke Café (Changi Airport T2)

Dolc Patisserie
67 Kampong Bahru Road, #01-00, Singapore 169371
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm (Mon – Sat), 10am – 4pm (Sun)

French Desserts And Pastry Cafe With Influences from Spain
Dolc Patisserie is the newest kid on the block located along the stretch of shophouses at Kampong Bahru Road (somewhere near where Strangers’ Reunion was).

Specialising in French techniques with modern flavours and incorporating influences from Spain, Dolc Patisserie wants to introduce a piece of Barcelona in their pastries to the locals.

The desserts display features their current selection of the day, ranging from Fruit Tart ($8+) to Bananier ($8+) made from chocolate and banana, Elsie ($8.50+), Passionfruit Meringue ($7.50+), Charlotte ($8.50+), chocolate with coffee Royale ($8.50+) and Mango Shortcake ($8+).

I got the velvety-red Charlotte ($8.50+) which was love at first bite (or sight).

The basil taste was distinctive yet not overwhelming, pleasantly balanced with the sweet strawberry coulis with a touch of creaminess from the mascarpone layer. Dolc Patisserie (Kampong Bahru)

Daizu Cafe
129 Rangoon Road, Singapore 218407
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon with coffee and cakes only), 10am – 10pm (Tue – Thu), 9am – 10pm (Fri – Sun)

Minimalist Japanese-Style Cafe With Chilli Soft Shell Crab Rice Bowl
Daizu Cafe is the newest addition to the cafe scene along Rangoon Road.

Their brunch menu featuring Daizu Brunch ($22) and Lemon Miso Egg Benedict ($24) is available daily from 11am to 3pm; whereas Rice Bowls ($14 – $17) and Udon ($16) are available from 11am till 3pm and 5pm onwards.

Soybean powder is used to make the batter in some of their Japanese dishes such as the Kitsune Udon with Tempura Prawn ($16) and Chilli Soft Shell Crab Rice Bowl ($17).
The Chilli Soft Shell Crab Rice Bowl ($17) came with edamame, soy beans, mushroom, soft shell crab, sous vide egg and sprinkled with curry leaves.

The soft-shell crab had a golden-brown crispy texture on the surface and tender on the inside.

Unlike the usual chilli crab sauce that we are familiar with, their sauce has a spicier punch with minimal sweetness. Daizu Café (Rangoon Road)

Durian Lab Cafe
Blk 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-22 Singapore, Singapore 151119
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Ah Seng Durian Opens Cafe With MSW Burnt Cheesecake And Cruffins
Ah Seng Durian has expanded with a 2nd outlet at 119 Bukit Merah, and this comes with their very first Durian Lab café next door (The shop is near Alexandra Village Food Centre.)

Over at Durian Lab, the cakes and pastries are supplied by 2 homegrown bakeries: Flor Patisserie and Keong Saik Bakery.

The MSW durian desserts include Durian Tart ($8.50), Roll Cake ($8), Mille-Feuille ($11.50) and Short Cake ($8); while Keong Saik Bakery is also supplying Burnt Cheesecake ($11) and Burnt Cruffin ($6.50).

The MSW Burnt Cheesecake ($11) which is the most expensive item on their menu, came in three different layers.

The top layer of burnt cream cheese, pure MSW durian puree with some durian pulp in the middle layer, and MSW cream cheese at the base.

The burnt cheesecake was well-executed with a texture of smooth, velvety cream with some durian flesh for an extra bite, and an ice cream-like sensation when served. Durian Lab Café (Bukit Merah Lane)

Musketeers Coffee
164 Kallang Way, #02-K1, Singapore 349248
Opening Hours: 8am – 4:30pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun, PH

Hidden NEW Cafe At Geylang Bahru
Started off as a coffee cart business in 2018, Musketeers Coffee is founded by 3 friends who call themselves “Musketeers”.

Their menu is short and concise, mainly focusing on their in-house artisanal coffee.

Using a 3-beans-blend (Ethiopia, Columbia, Costa Rica) roasted by Tad Coffee, the menu includes Espresso ($3.50), Black/ White ($4.50) and Mocha ($5).

For those coffee enthusiasts seeking Pourover Coffee, they are using coffee beans roasted by Anteroom Coffee Brewers with 2 variants: Daily brew ($4) and V60 ($6). Musketeers Coffee (Geylang Bahru)

Kyushu Pancake Singapore – Holland Village
25 Lor Liput, Singapore 277735
Tel: +65 6352 6265
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Japanese Pancake Cafe At Holland Village
Kyushu Pancake which used to be at Novena Regency, has reopened again at a different location – Holland Village.

Wondering what to get? Some of the top-sellers include Berry-licious Pancake ($16.90), Matcha Tiramisu ($16.00), and Matcha MontBlanc ($18.00), and Annou Imo Pancakes (16.00).

There are also savoury options of Eggs Benedict ($18.00), Croque Madame Pancake ($19.00), and American Big Breakfast ($22.00).

The Kyushu Pancake Mix is made from 7 different finely selected grains including wheat from Oita Prefecture and Pressed barley from Saga Prefecture, 100% homegrown in Kyushu Japan, free of emulsifier, artificial fragrance, additives or processed starch.

Therefore, the texture may not be the usual souffle and wobbly that many Singaporeans are more used to. Kyushu Pancake (Holland Village)

Little WOLA Café
8 Jalan Kukoh, #01-37, Singapore 162008
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Hidden & Quaint Cafe With Stylish Decor At Jalan Kukoh
Little WOLA Café is located at Jalan Kukoh, and is considered under-the-radar. The place is also tastefully done up, as the café is related to “Wola” – a collective of brands and spaces for designers.

Depending on the time of the day you visit, you may expect to have Carbonara ($14.90) with bacon, brussel sprouts and crispy lychee, Sanuki Udon ($9.90), a selection of Sandwiches, Chicken & Mushroom Pie, Smoked Salmon Quiche, and Waffles with Ice Cream.

A selection of coffee such as Vanilla Latte, Hazelnut Latte, Butterscotch Latte, Caramel Latte,and Mocha Latte are available, affordably priced at $4.50. Do not expect latte art though.

Hard to get to, but it had a quaint, welcoming environment. Little WOLA Café (Jalan Kudoh)

Urban Table
10A-E Yio Chu Kang Rd, ICB Shopping Centre, Singapore 545524
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Tue – Sat), 9am – 6pm (Sun), Closed Mon

Korean-Inspired Minimalist Bakery & Speciality Coffee Cafe At Yio Chu Kang
Urban Table is located at ICB Shopping Centre, slightly further down from iconic eateries such as Song Kee Eating House and Eleven Strands.

The open coffee bar counter which you can view the barista at work, pastries on display and neatly arranged tables, and minor details immediately took my soul for a joyride in South Korea.

The only mains available was an All-Day Breakfast plate ($14.90) made up of ham & cheese croissant, scrambled eggs, and a serving of greens.

Also available is a range of pastries and cakes such as Apple Strudel ($4.50), Pain Au Chocolate ($3.90), Onion Quiche ($6.90) and Strawberry Shortcake ($6.80).

I generally liked their pastries such as buttery croissant which came with soft and fluffy insides, coupled with flaky golden exterior. Urban Table (Yio Chu Kang)

Bloom Artisan
645 Yishun Street 61, #01-322, Singapore 760645
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Gelato Cafe At Yishun, With Whiskey Cran-cherry Flavour And Sourdough Waffle
Bloom Artisan Cafe is the newest gelato shop opened in Yishun within the housing estates.

Their menu features 12 gelato flavours (Single scoop $3.50/ Double Scoops $6/ Premium +$0.70) at any one time.

Flavours range from the more basic Chocolate Mousse and Cool Choco Chip Mint, to interesting ones such as Wheatmilk, Whiskey Crancherry, Apple & Mint Sherbet and Hojicha & Red Bean.

Available in Cups, Cones (+$0.70) and Brown Butter Sourdough Waffle ($4), the gelato are also available for takeaways in 2 sizes: 16oz ($12) and 26oz ($18).

Recommended is the Whiskey Crancherry (Single Premium $4.20) in a Waffle Cone ($0.70) with distinctive alcoholic smell and taste, coupled with tiny bits of cran-cherry (cranberry and cherry) that added some textural contrast to the smooth and creamy gelato. Bloom Artisan (Yishun)

Rilakkuma – The Relax Café
Kumoya @ Orchard Central #04-08, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm, Last Order 30 minutes before closing (Mon – Sun)

Rilakkuma Pop-Up Café In Singapore At Orchard Central
While many character cafes in Singapore have short life spans, Kumoya known for its numerous pop-up cafes has opened a new outlet at Orchard Central #04-08.

This Kumoya @ Orchard Central is bigger at 2000 sq ft (more space for social distancing), brighter, overlooking Singapore’s Orchard Road.

This pop-up “Rilakkuma -The Relax Café” will be the first semi-permanent San-X characters pop-up café in South East Asia, as it will be a year-long collaboration with various San-X characters making their appearance.

Items available include Relaxy Rilakkuma Chicken Cordon Bleu ($29.90), Rest & Relax Rilakkuma Chicken Stew Rice ($25.90), Chill-out Rilakkuma Yuzu Carbonara Pasta ($23.90) and Rilakkuma Chill-out Tendon Rice Set ($27.90). Rilakkuma Café (Orchard Central)

Other Related Entries
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Aug 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore July 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore April 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore March 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Feb 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Jan 2020

* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary, Nicholas Tan @stormscape and Lewis Tan @juicyfingers,

Rising above Tanjong Pagar MRT Station, Guoco Tower (formerly known as “Tanjong Pagar Centre”) is where you can find international dishes from Spanish Paella, Korean Soontofu, Japanese Tonkotsu Ramen, to inexpensive classic Italian Pasta.

The good news: Guoco Tower offers a consolidated food delivery service via www.GuocoFood.com so you can enjoy delicious and healthy meals safely and conveniently.

Simply combine items from up to 3 different tenants in one order, and you get FREE delivery for orders worth $50 and up. For smaller orders, the delivery fee is still at an inexpensive $5 (min spent $30), and you get orders to your doorstep.

If you are working within the CBD especially around the Tanjong Pagar area, simply use their Preorder and Pickup service to skip the line and redeem a $5 GT voucher with $20 spend (till 30 Sept 2020).

Participating F&B tenants include Aburi-EN, Ah Lock, Chalong, Choco Express, City Hotpot, Crave, Guzman y Gomez, Imakatsu, Imperial Treasure, IndoChili, JAPAN RAIL CAFE, Kipos, Kiwami, La Mensa, Makai Poké, Proofer Boulangerie, Pura Brasa, Randy Indulgence Acai Bar, Real Thai, SBCD Korean Tofu House, Souperstar, The Daily Cut, Ya Lor, and Yu Tang Clan.

Hungry already? Here’s more:

Pura Brasa
Guoco Tower #01-16

For authentic Spanish food lovers, wood charcoal-grill resto Pura Brasa began in Barcelona and is created by Josper – the renowned international brand of charcoal ovens.

The flagship restaurant at Guoco Tower is the brand’s first and only outlet in Asia.

No wonder the wide variety of dishes in its menu is all about original recipes and sumptuous grilled dishes. From tapas to salads, from burgers to fish and meat, discover the characteristic flavour of grilled cooking with light smokiness.

Vegetarian dishes and set menus for families and group are also available.

Go For The Charcoal Seafood Paella and Grilled Octopus Leg
This iconic Spanish dish of Charcoal Seafood Paella ($58.85 for 3-4 pax) is topped with Australian mussels and tiger prawns grilled using the signature Josper oven.

The paella base combines rice grains and prawns with aromatics like garlic, onion, red capsicum and seasoned with tomato, and olive oil.

Together, they are added to a flavourful prawn stock to simmer until the rice is cooked.

Complement your food with Grilled Octopus Leg ($38.52), made with a large and tender octopus leg marinated in olive oil and garlic.

Also grilled over charcoals in the Josper oven, the leg’s outer part turns smoky charred and a bit crispy. Served with a potato truffle puree for added aroma and a dash of smoked paprika powder.

Available on GuocoFood.com
Spanish Omelette ($17.12), Grilled Chicken Wings ($19.26 for 4 pcs), Prawn Casserole ($21.40), Spanish Charcoal Fideua ($26.75), Homemade Spanish Croquettes ($12.84), Big Charcoal Seafood Paella ($58.85 for 3-4 pax), Big Squid Ink Paella ($64.20 for 3-4 pax), Big Salmon Paella ($62.06 for 3-4 pax), Tagliatelle All’aglio ($24.61), Burrata Pizza ($23.54), Iberico Pizza ($25.68), Grilled Octopus Leg ($38.52), Grilled Iberico Pork Secreto ($32.10), Full portion of Spanish Pork Ribs ($48.15), Set for 2 pax ($95.10), Set for 4 pax ($171), Special Tapas Set for 4-5 pax ($139).

SBCD Korean Tofu House
Guoco Tower #B1-01/02

Known for its traditional Korean stewed tofu or Soontofu (more commonly known as Sundubu Jjigae), SBCD Korean Tofu House offers a bevy of wholesome dishes and an organic tofu centric-menu.

As the brand’s flagship in Singapore, it is the first Korean restaurant on the island specialising in Soontofu.

Go for The Soontofu Soup And LA Galbi
This signature tofu stew features SBCD’s silky, melt-in-your-mouth soft tofu.

Hand-made fresh daily in the morning, SBCD tofu uses mature white soybeans specially imported from Paju, South Korea.

Fun fact: Due to its proximity to Korea’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), Paju produces the freshest-tasting produce due to the untouched nature.

Enjoy a combo meal of your choice of Soontofu Soup with their specialty LA Galbi aka Grilled Beef Short Ribs.

The LA Galbi is made with laterally sliced beef short ribs. Marinated in a special sauce and barbecued over charcoals, the meat develops an irresistible smoky flavour. For dine-in orders, the meat dish is served on a hot plate with hot stone rice and side dishes.

Available on GuocoFood.com
Spicy Pork Bento ($14.00), Bulgogi Bento ($14.00), Orange Chicken Bento ($14.00), Spicy Pork Combo ($25.60), Bulgogi Combo ($25.60), Orange Chicken Combo ($23.90).

IndoChili
Guoco Tower #B1-03

Craving for authentic yet reasonably priced Indonesian food? Order from IndoChili, a highly-rated family-friendly Indonesian Restaurant.

House specialties are as diverse as the Indonesian culture, offering Java, Padang, and Bali dishes. Pastes and spices are made from scratch.

They do not use MSG and all dishes are based on traditional family recipes. Only the right amount of herbs, pastes and spices are used for more authentic flavours.

Go For The Fried Chicken Set and Nasi Kuning Rendang Set
Take comfort in IndoChili’s Fried Chicken Set ($12.86) cooked “Ayam Penyet” style, an East Javanese dish of fried chicken leg and thigh smashed ‘til soft and served with fried tofu blocks, coconut veggies, sliced cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, keropuk and sambal.

If you fancy beef, try the Nasi Kuning Rendang Set ($19.26) featuring a mix of Indonesian stewed beef, yellow rice, egg omelette, stir-fried long beans cooked in shrimp chili paste, cucumber, tomato and lettuce.

Enjoy the dish with begedil (deep-fried potato patty), pickled veggies, keropuk and not forgetting the power sambal.

Available on GuocoFood.com
Fried Chicken Set ($12.86), Nasi Kuning Rendang Set ($19.26), Nasi Kuning Sate Set ($19.26), Seafood Fried Rice Set ($12.86), Soy Chicken Set ($8.56).

Kiwami
Guoco Tower #B2-10

Get your comforting bowl of ramen from Kiwami, a popular ramen and gyoza bar that uses only quality ingredients.

It takes pride in its Original Tonkotsu, laboriously simmered over 10 hours using 100% Japanese pork bones. This broth, brimming with umami flavour, forms the perfect base for its ramen dishes.

For meat, they offer no less than Japan’s No. 1 beef – A4/A5-grade Miyazaki wagyu in selected dishes. Seafood is sourced from Hokkaido, while fresh eggs are imported from Okinawa. Ramen noodles are crafted from Hokkaido wheat using an original recipe.

Go For The Premium Black Tonkotsu Ramen and Beef Cube Steak Fried Rice
Taste the recommended Premium Black Tonkotsu Ramen ($15.84), made with the original pork bone broth.

The Hokkaido wheat ramen noodles are topped with tender slices of cha shu cut of toroniku (pork cheek).

Infused with roasted black garlic oil for an alluring aroma, this ramen is topped with toasted garlic chips for that extra crunch.

If you prefer a rice dish, try their Beef Cube Steak Fried Rice ($13.70). Wok-fried with Japanese egg over high heat, the tossed rice is flanked with premium beef sautéed in oil and caramelised onions and served topped with crisp garlic chips.

Available on GuocoFood.com
Kiwami Tonkotsu Ramen ($11.56), Premium Red Tonkotsu Ramen ($15.84), Premium Black Tonkotsu Ramen ($15.84), Hokkaido Ebi Tonkotsu Tsuke-men ($14.77), Hokkaido Snow Crab Fried Rice on Tonkotsu Gravy ($14.77), Tantan Mazesoba ($11.56), Buta Hoho Black Mazesoba ($14.77), Cha Shu Fried Rice ($9.42), Miyazaki Garlic Fried Rice ($13.70), Beef Cube Steak Fried Rice ($13.70), Cheese Teppan Fondue Gyoza ($8.35), Hokkaido Organic Potato ($5.14), Grilled Gyoza Pork Dumplings ($6.21 for 5 pcs), Tebasaki Chicken Wings ($6.21 for 4 pieces).

La Mensa
Guoco Tower #B2-15

La Mensa (Italian for “The Canteen”), newly opened next to The Daily Cut, serves up simple pastas done right.

Here, pasta and sauces are only cooked upon order. Freshness trumps the limited number of ingredients used in the dishes.

If you love classic Italian pasta, La Mensa is for you because they are all priced affordably.

Go For The Ragù Alla Bolognese and Carbonara
Start off with a bowl of Ragù Alla Bolognese ($15.00), tossing wide al dente egg pappardelle in a tomato and beef sauce.

Decked with carrots, leeks and onions, the sauce develops a mild sweetness. A sprinkling of chopped Italian parsley adds freshness, while a splash of red wine creates a depth in flavour.

La Mensa’s version of the much-loved Carbonara ($13.50) is more traditional as it uses egg yolks instead of cream.

And instead of bacon, you get crispy-chewy bits of guanciale (salt-cured pork jowl). Strands of tagliatelle are wrapped in a silky creamy egg sauce, seasoned with ground black pepper and pecorino cheese.

Available on GuocoFood.com
Broccolini ($7.50), Polpette ($12), Burratina ($13.50), Impepata Di Cozze ($12), Insalata ($4.50), Calamari ($9), Aglio e Olio ($13.50), Alle Vongole ($12), Ragù Lasagna ($15), Alfredo ($13.50), Mushroom Risotto ($12), Carbonara ($13.50), Frutti di Mare with Squid Ink Spaghetti ($16.50), Pesto di Noce ($12.00), Ragù Alla Bolognese ($15).

Kipos Gourmet
Guoco Tower #B2-19

Kipos Gourmet offers an extensive menu of healthy dishes delicious enough like ‘regular’ food. They have thoughtfully designed their meals to make you feel like cheat day every day.

You can find specially developed protein bowls suited for your specific diet. Whether you follow a keto, paleo, vegan, or other diets, you’ll faithfully stay on it at Kipos Gourmet. #lifestylegoals

To address nutrient goals, all dressings are made in-house. From their truffle shoyu, spicy mayo, roasted sesame, wasabi ponzu, chipotle down to even the mala.

Go for The Grain Bowl And Lo-Cal Chicken Rice
Power up with the Grain Bowl made with brown rice ($12.90). This fibre-rich grain is topped with diced sous vide chicken breast, coupled with assorted veggies: purple & green cabbage, spinach, carrot, edamame, beetroot, kailan, seaweed salad.

Binding them all is roasted sesame dressing and a sprinkle of roasted almond and sesame seeds.

Counting your calorie intake? Go for the Lo-Cal Chicken Rice ($8.60). Still with brown rice, this dish includes a free-range chicken breast fillet – fresh, not frozen.

Cooked sous vide style for maximum tenderness, the chicken is served with homemade chilli, julienned carrot, and mixed greens.

Available on GuocoFood.com
Lo-Cal Chicken Rice ($8.60), Keto Bowl ($15.00), Grain Bowl ($12.90), Quinoa Lemak ($8.60), Vegan Bowl ($10.70), Paleo Bowl ($12.90), Gluten-free Bowl ($15.00), Chic-Quorn Rice ($10.70), Buddha Bowl ($10.70), Organic Ice Tea ($3.30).

Makai Poké
Guoco Tower #B1-08

Take a virtual dive into the ocean and taste its bountiful seafood harvest at Makai Poké. Inspired from the Hawaiian word “Makai”, ie “towards the ocean”, Makai Poké is an ocean-to-bowl type of seafood place.

They serve poké sourced from the highest grade sustainably-caught fish. Not only will they taste fresh, but will make you feel good for helping the environment.

Makai Poké keeps it simple and fuss-free, focusing on freshness with their sashimi-grade fishes and vegetables.

Go for The Yuzu Passionfruit Ahi Tuna Poké Bowl
Try their Yuzu Passionfruit Ahi Tuna Poké Bowl ($9.90), served with cubes of fresh ahi tuna as the main protein. Joining in for support are cuts of fresh pineapple, Japanese cucumber, shredded carrots, corn kernels, tomato salsa, microgreens, and pumpkin seeds.

A burst of sparkling acidity cuts through the bed of ingredients, thanks to the mix of yuzu and passionfruit in the in-house sauce.

Made from scratch, the sauce even reveals yuzu pulp and passionfruit seeds.

If you prefer a creamier sauce, choose the light mayo base. Or you can go for the light shoyu base or try salmon instead of tuna.

Available on GuocoFood.com
Makai Grilled Salmon Trout Poké Bowl, Makai Original Shoyu Salmon Poké Bowl, Roasted Sesame Ahi Tuna Poké Bowl, Seared Scallop Poké Bowl, Spicy Salmon Poké Bowl, Vegetarian Tofu Sesame Poké Bowl, Yuzu Passionfruit Soy Ahi Tuna Poké Bowl (All $9.90 each)

Randy Indulgence Acai Bar
Guoco Tower #B1-10

Randy Indulgence Acai Bar offers its line-up of visually-appealing acai bowls. They only use organic acai which is blended in-house daily in small batches to keep it fresh.

Putting together fresh fruits, nut butters, assorted nuts and seeds, and even basil seed pudding, Randy Indulgence provides you with fresh and flavourful options.

Enjoy these nutritious acai bowls as a meal on its own, a meal replacement, or make it your colourful dessert.

Go For The Signature Shiok Acai Bowl And Fruity Acai Bowl
Highly recommended is the Signature Shiok Acai Bowl ($14.90) showcasing their large bowl containing organic and freshly-blended acai with no added sugar.

You can find a combination of fruits (banana, grapes, mango, kiwi), nuts (peanuts, walnut, almond flakes), and seeds (pumpkin seed, flaxseed). It also has seasonal fruits, granola, coconut flakes, and a basil seed pudding.

If a large bowl sounds too heavy for you, order the Fruity Acai Bowl ($9.90). A medium bowl comes with a medley of fruits – banana, strawberries, blueberries, passion fruit, grapes, side-by-side with granola and coconut flakes.

Available on GuocoFood.com
Signature SHIOK Acai Bowl ($14.90), Hawaiian Acai Bowl ($11.90), Fruity Acai Bowl ($9.90), Protein Acai Bowl ($9.90), Smoothies and Ready-to-Eat Acai Pints.

Ya Lor
Guoco Tower #B2-32

If you love Sean Kee Duck Rice from Geylang Lorong 35, they have opened an eatery called Ya Lor at the air-conditioned basement 2 of Guoco Tower.

If you like your rice with a lot of lor aka dark braised sauce, then you would probably enjoy this Ya Lor’s take which is slightly on the sweetish side and sufficiently coats up most of the grains.

Go For The Signature Braised Duck Rice
The best-selling Original Sean Kee boneless braised duck rice comes with succulent duck meat, bean sprouts, braised peanuts, half a braised egg and braised beancurd.

Available on GuocoFood.com
Signature Braised Duck Rice ($7.10 for 1 pax), Braised Duck Platter ($50 good for 2 – 4 pax, $78 good for 4 – 8 pax)

Yu Tang Clan
Guoco Tower #B2-01

What happens when you playfully combine Wu-Tang Clan, an American hip hop group, and the Chinese word for fish soup?

You get Yu Tang Clan, a specialist in King Mackerel, offering Teochew-style fish soup.

Yu Tang Clan takes the classic hawker dish and elevates it with fresh herbs and aromatic spices.

Get a selection of freshly-made soups made from mackerel fish and other ingredients. You can have fish soup that’s clear, milky or spicy.

Go For The Original Batang Sliced with Rice and Mala Batang Fried with Purple Wheat Noodle
Start off with the Original Batang Sliced with Rice ($9.50), made with the finest grade of sliced king mackerel, cubes of silken tofu, shimeji mushrooms, cherry tomato in a creamy broth.

The milk-less soup is naturally made creamy by simmering shark cartilage for hours to create the broth.

Feeling peckish but want it spicy? Order the Mala Batang Fried with Purple Wheat Noodle ($12.00). Not for the faint-hearted, the soup is made from mala paste to give that tongue-numbing effect.

Available on GuocoFood.com
Mala Batang Fried with Purple Wheat Noodle ($12.00), Miso Batang Mixed with Koka Noodle ($13.00), Original Batang Mixed with Rice ($11.50), Original Batang Sliced with Rice ($9.50), Tomyum Batang Fried with YeeMee ($12.00).

Guoco Tower Food Ordering Platform
Order your favourite bites from the comfort of your home from www.GuocoFood.com and enjoy FREE islandwide delivery with the best eats from Guoco Tower.

Orders for delivery/pickup can be placed from a day in advance, or at least 2 hours before the preferred delivery or pickup time. Delivery/pickup is only available on Mon-Fri, 12.30pm – 7pm only unless otherwise stated, and not available on weekends and public holidays.

Promotions:
– Pre-order & Pick-up: Spend $20, Get $5 GT Voucher from now till 30 Sept 2020.
– FREE island-wide delivery with min. spend of $50 in a single order. $5 delivery fee applies to orders below $50 (minimum spend to deliver is $30).

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Guoco Tower.

Talk about some of the best Laksa in Singapore, and stalls such as Sungei Road Laksa, Janggut Laksa, Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa, Wei Yi Laksa & Prawn Noodle, and 328 Katong Laksa should come to mind.

Khoon’s Katong Laksa & Seafood Soup located at Sembawang Hills Food Centre serves up another variation of the “Katong Laksa”, though it may not be as in-the-radar as compared to the rest.

The “Katong Laksa” style is generally categorised with the thick vermicelli (cu mi fen) cut into rather short strands, so diners just need to scoop the noodles up with a spoon without the use of chopsticks.

The stall was recently featured in MediaCorp’s Hawker Academy 小贩学院. As I was a judge on the programme, I made it a point to try out the mentor’s version.

The Laksa is available in options of $3, $4, and $5; also offered are Fried Fish and Sliced Fish Soup.

Making the gravy rempah base is a laborious task, which includes more than 10 ingredients of candlenut (buah keras), belachan, dried shrimps, tumeric, ginger, minced garlic, shallots and more.

Compared to other styles of Laksa, they do not add that much coconut milk so you would find it easy to slurp without being too cloying.

But if you are used to the robust kind, you may find like the gravy to be richer-tasting. I would have personally preferred if it was slightly more aromatic overall.

There was a certain lightness and not too spicy, but even those who cannot take the heat would likely find this manageable.

Khoon’s Katong Laksa & Seafood Soup
Sembawang Hills Food Centre #01-26, 590 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574419
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Other Related Entries
928 Yishun Laksa (Yishun)
Janggut Laksa (Queensway)
Sungei Road Laksa (Jalan Berseh)
Wei Yi Laksa & Prawn Noodle 唯一辣沙 (Tanglin Halt Food Centre)
328 Katong Laksa (East Coast)

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

When it comes to the best Hainanese Curry Rice in Singapore, it is typically a toss-up between Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice at Tiong Bahru and No Name Curry Rice at Beo Crescent.

Operating since 1946, Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice has become an all-time favourite of families generations after generations.

The stall is housed in a coffee shop along a row of shop houses at Tiong Bahru opposite the food centre, and you would see a long line forming from 8am in the morning. (With that said, the Bak Chor Mee and Vegetarian Bee Hoon stalls in the same coffeeshop both have their ardent regulars as well.)

Mr Loo Kia Chee took the business from his father and has been running it since then, preserving his traditional Hainanese curry recipe.

The curry recipe is said to be created in 1947 by the founder, who blended the cooking style of Hainanese dishes (where he was from) and Nonya curries.

Each batch of curry is prepared for days, including a couple of days chopping ingredients and a day of machine grinding.

That process makes the curry smooth, creamy, and aromatic. Spice level is mild, and the creamy coconut and refreshing ginger flavours shine through.

Drenched over plain rice, it becomes a messy, hearty indulgence.

It was not the super gooey and sticky type (but I know some would prefer this style), but had an appetising spice aroma.

If you come early enough, you would get to choose from dishes such as Dark Soy Sauce Stewed Pork, Crispy Pork Chop, Sambal Sotong, Curry Chicken, Chap Chye (cabbage) and more.

Many of the popular food items generally get sold out by 1pm or so.

The Crispy Pork Chop is a meat-lover’s dream. Coated with a biscuit crust, it was thin, yet moist and succulent (if order by plate, I think it is actually okay to leave out the tomato-based sauce).

I liked how it is still done the old-school way, coated with pounded Khong Guan biscuit crumbs for deep-frying rather than bread-crumbs.

While some slices lost its crispiness after being drenched in sauces, those parts that weren’t remained crispy and hot.

But for fatty indulgence, go for the thick chunks of Pork Belly with creamy melt-in-your-mouth fat and a rich, smoky braised sauce.

Even the Fried Egg drizzled with some dark soy sauce was tasty, with those crispy edges and almost-soft centre.

Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice (Tiong Bahru)
71 Seng Poh Road, #01-49, Singapore 160071
Tel: +65 6225 3762
Opening Hours: 8am – 2:45pm (Fri – Wed), Closed Thurs

Other Related Entries
10 Best Hainanese Curry Rice In Singapore
Sin Chie Toke Huan (Hougang)
Cheng’s 27 (Tiong Bahru)

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