Opened by the folks behind The Dark Gallery known for their artisanal dark chocolate desserts, Amuse Dessert Co. has opened at 73 Duxton Road Tanjong Pagar.

Just 2 doors away from Monument Lifestyle at Duxton, right opposite Rappu Handroll Bar.

Instead of taking the “dark side”, Amuse Dessert Co. is comparatively bright, fun and cheery, using blue and pink in the branding.

The seats in their cafe are arranged in an elongated manner and able to accommodate 20 people max, with 3 individual booth seats for a more private setting.

Focusing on artisanal desserts created through their own encounters and longing for new experiences, their selection of pastries changes on a rotational basis.

The most eye-catching selection will be the Macarons (Single $3.50, Box of 6 for $21) with 8 different colours that are aesthetically inspired by nature’s colours.

Flavours include Lemon Yogurt, Rose Raspberry Chocolate, Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch, Earl Grey Milk Chocolate, Lavender Caramel, 85& Valrhona Dark Chocolate, Mango passionfruit and Silicon Pistachio.

Other pastries include Canele ($4), Madeleine ($4), Mini Pound ($4.50), Loaf Pound ($5.50), Chunky Cookie ($4.50) and Brownie Squares ($6).

The Lemon Basil Mini Pound ($4.50) was my favourite, with a soft and moist texture and refreshing lemon flavour and herbaceous basil notes.

Both the Black Pink S’mores Cookie ($4.50) and Butterscotch Pecan Cookie ($4.50) were crumbly on the outside and chewy on the inside without being too dry.

I was actually looking forward to the Matcha Chocolate Pound Slice ($5.50) since I am a huge fan of matcha.

While the matcha notes were distinctive, the texture was a tad too dry, also with too much cream cheese on the top layer.

Fans of The Dark Gallery should not be unfamiliar with their Ice Cream, with with a different selection here.

Inspired by places that the owners had been, cuisine that they enjoyed, and moments they shared with loved ones, the Ice Cream are served in different forms: Cups (Single Scoop $5.50, Double Scoops $9.80), Affogato ($10.50), Waffle ($16), Parfait ($24), Pint ($17) and Shortbread ($9).

Classic flavours (Single $5.50, Double $9.80) include Injeolmi Bingsu, Strawberry Tart, Butterscotch Almond Chip, Cookies After Midnight, Earl Grey Caramel Milk Tea and Vanilla Bean.

Premium flavours (+$1) are Manuka Genmaicha, Finca La Amistad Java Chip, Meet Joe Black Cold Brew Sorbet, Acai Banana Sorbet, Passionfruit Mango Sorbet, Truffle Basque Cheesecake.

I had the Strawberry Tart ($5.50) that comes with a strawberry ice cream base with cookie crumble blended within it for the extra crunch, topped with a single piece of butter cookie.

I liked that the ice cream wasn’t too sweet, with distinctive detectable fruity flavours from the strawberry and a smooth and non-icy texture.

Check out their specially customised La Marzocco espresso machine in a beautiful blue colour, with blue and pink ceramics coffee cups used for dine-in.

Using Browns Mill Organic from Allpress Espresso, a 2-beans-blend of Honduras and Peru for their espresso-based drinks, both Black ($5) and White ($6) are available.

Placed in an aesthetic-looking coffee sleeve for their takeaway cups, my Flat White ($6) was medium boded, smooth with toffee, milk chocolate and fruity notes.

Other drinks include Matcha Latte ($8), Chai Latte ($8), Valrhona Chocolate ($8), Cold-Pressed Juice by HICJuice ($8) and single origin Sencha by Senchado Tokyo ($10).

With a wide selection of pastries, ice cream and drinks, Amuse Dessert Co. hopes to amuse everyone with their creative and innovative creations.

Amuse Dessert Co
73 Duxton Road, Singapore 089532
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9pm (Tues – Thurs), 12pm – 10pm (Fri – Sat), 12pm – 6pm (Sun), Closed Mon

Other Related Entries
Hvala (Craig Road)
The New and Old Café (Tanjong Pagar)
Summer Lab (Erskine Road)
Champion Bolo Bun (Tanjong Pagar)
Roji Monster Ice Cream (Tanjong Pagar)

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

The Outram Park area near Chinatown is another place where café lovers can find many hipster cafes, located at Neil Road, Keong Saik, Bt Pasoh, Kampong Bahru, to Kreta Ayer.

Some of the well-known places include The Populus, The Lokal, Keong Saik Bakery, Baker’s Bench Bakery, to Bao Makers.

Here are 10 new Outram cafes you can head to, many along the Kampong Bahru stretch for easier navigation:

Chez Suzette
5 Teck Lim Road, Singapore 088383
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 10pm (Mon, Wed – Sat), 8:30am – 5pm (Sun), Closed Tues

Gorgeous French-Style Double-Storey Cafe With Crepes and Pancakes
This new French-style café is nestled near the popular street of Keong Saik with wide selection of cafes and restaurants, Chez Suzette has opened along Teck Lim Road, diagonally across the popular Burnt Ends.

My favourite corner is their alfresco dining space, the patio which is the paved outdoor area with tall ceilings, hanging fans, huge plants and ample sunlight shining through in the morning that create the lush space.

Their menu starts from 8.30am with All-Day Breakfast such as Egg Mayo Croissant ($8), Avocado Toast ($14), Eggs Benedict with Parma Ham or Salmon ($16), Croque Monsieur ($14), Beetroot Burrata Salad (2 pax $32), Dippy Eggs with Toast Soldiers ($7), Pancakes with Berries ($16) and Homemade Granola Bowls with Yogurt ($13).

I particularly enjoyed the Eggs Benedict ($16) that comes with a choice of Parma Ham or Salmon, which is considered a staple in most brunch places. Chez Suzette (Teck Lim Road)

Acoustics Coffee Bar
61 Neil Road, Singapore 088895
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5:30pm (Mon – Thurs), 8:30am – 9:30pm (Fri – Sun)

Pet-Friendly Botanical Themed Cafe With All-Day-Brunch
Acoustics Coffee Bar, previously known as Acoustic Cafe at Ang Mo Kio , has shifted to Neil Road (right opposite Apiary).

Natural elements are incorporated using green plants, wooden flooring and rattan seats, with the space at the entrance being pet-friendly.

Using fresh produce for all their dishes, expect All-Day-Brunch With Breakfast At Acoustics ($24), Acoustics’ Fluffy Pancakes ($12), Brie & Mushroom Croissant ($13), and Egg in A Hole ($14).

The Breakfast At Acoustics ($24) comes with a choice of Egg (Ramen Egg/ Scrambled/ Sunny Side Up), Cheese Sausage, Slow Baked Tomato, Maple Glaze Bacon, Roasted mushroom, Kale salad on a slice of sourdough.

The Mains menu starts from 11:30am with recommended dishes such as Roasted Chicken Pita Pouch ($14), Arrabiata ($16) and Laksa Cream ($20).

The crowd’s favourite was the Laksa Cream ($20), a dry version of our heritage local food, using spaghetti instead, topped with prawns and crispy tofu puffs. Acoustics Coffee Bar (Neil Road)

Plain Vanilla
167 Neil Road, Singapore 088888
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)

Popular Bakery Cafe Opens From 7:30AM
Plain Vanilla Bakery is no stranger to many people, known for its cupcakes and bakes, and has 4 outlets at Tiong Bahru, Cluny Court, Telok Ayer and In Good Company within ION Orchard.

There are currently no new outlet-exclusive dishes at the time of visit, with a menu comprising of best sellers from their other outlets.

For the breakfast menu, there are House/ Chocolate. Maple Granola Bowl (Small $8, Regular $12), Banana Nutella Toast ($9) and “PBJ” ($7).

Their Brunch & Lunch menu consisted of the usual selections such as Eggs Benedict ($22), Eggs Hemingway ($24), Scrambled Eggs on Sourdough with Avocado ($20), French Toast with Mixed Berries ($20) and Pappardelle with Spicy Beef Ragu ($22).

The Scrambled Eggs on Sourdough with Avocado ($20) comes with smooth, creamy and buttery scrambled egg with pepper sprinkled on the buttered granary sourdough

The sourdough was lightly toasted till golden brown before serving to give it a light crisp, topped with watercress salad for the crunch in contrast to the tangy salad.
Plain Vanilla (Neil Road)

Nuage Patisserie & Boulangerie
47 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169361
Opening Hours: 11am – 6pm (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri), 8:30am – 5pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Wed

French Pastry Cafe With Instagrammable Elmo Cupcakes, Daisy Tarts & Boba Swiss Roll
Nuage, pronounced as “nu-age”, means “cloud” in French and is a representation of the owners ideology in being carefree without restrictions in their bakes and pastries.

Classic French pastries can be found here, namely Croissant ($4), Pain Au Chocolate ($4.50), Ham & Cheese Croissant ($6.90), Kouign Amann ($5.50), Plain Bagel ($3.50) and Bacon Onion Cheese Focaccia ($8.90).

Their cakes menu is on a rotating basis and there were Pistachio Strawberry ($9.20), Strawberry Popcorn ($9.80), Brown Sugar Boba ($9.60), Blueberry Cheesecake ($8.50) and Elmo/ Cookie Monster Cupcake ($6.50).

My favourite was the Brown Sugar Boba ($9.60) with a brown sugar Swiss roll sandwiched between 2 butter cookies.

Remove the butter cookies to reveal the soft and fluffy brown sugar sponge, generously piped with brown sugar Chantilly and brown sugar boba that gives it a nice contrast in textures. Nuage Patisserie & Boulangerie (Kampong Bahru)

HaengBok CakeYo
41 Kampong Bahru Rd, Singapore 168358
Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm (Thurs – Mon), Closed Tues, Wed

Korean-Style Dessert Shop With Orh Nee & Ondeh Ondeh Fat Macarons
HaengBok CakeYo 행복해요 means “Happiness” in Korean, and is a dessert takeaway shop located at Kampong Bahru near Outram.

Opened under the same roof by the folks behind baking studio Nanatang, HaengBok CakeYo focuses on Korean-inspired bakes such as supersized macarons (Also known as FatFatCarons or ddung-carons).

Unlike the French-style macaron that is usually piped with a layer of buttercream, a Korean ddung-caron is stuffed with all sorts of ingredients from whole berries to multi-layered buttercream and even jellies and mochis.

The K-style Fatfatcarons (priced at $5.80, or 4 pieces for $19.80) has interesting classic flavours such as Blueberry, Matcha, Double Citron, Strawberry and Oreo Cheesecake.

The Ondeh-Ondeh Fatfatcaron was my favourite flavour, made of a single pandan sponge, cream cheese with gula melaka and desiccated coconut flakes. HaengBok CakeYo (Kampong Bahru)

Three Point Two
85 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169380
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon – Thurs, Sun), 12pm – 2am (Fri – Sat)

Bubblegum Pink & Blue Gelato Cafe By Pang Zi Durian
Opened by Pang Zi Durian located at Jurong West, Three Point Two is their latest brainchild located directly opposite Singapore General Hospital.

The vibrant cafe offers both gelato and durian desserts. Don’t worry, it is not strong-smelling, yet.

Unlike most cafes that are styled in minimalist, Scandinavian, Kinfolk or MUJI-like style of like, Three Point Two uses 2 bold colours, blue and bubblegum pink that is indeed eye-catching once you enter the space.

All their gelato are made in-house with 18 different flavours (Single $4, Double $7.50, Premium +$1, Mao Shan Wang +$2) displayed on their sleek blue counter.

Interesting classic flavours (Single $4, Double $7.50) include Honey Lavender, Blue Vanilla, Chrysanthemum, Watermelon Mint and Soursop Mint.

For durian lovers, there are also desserts from D24 Durian Puffs (10pcs $10.90. 30pcs $30), D24 Durian Mochi (4pcs $10, 24pcs $55), Durian Mousse ($5.50) and Mao Shan Wang Craquelin Puffs (6pcs $13.80, 18pcs $39). Three Point Two (Kampong Bahru)

At3 (@3)
63 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169369
Opening Hours: 8am – 4pm (Mon, Thurs), 8am – 6pm (Wed, Fri – Sun), Closed Tues

Nordic-Style Cafe With Swedish Daim Cake And Orh Nee Cake
As unique as their name sounds, At3 is a Nordic style cafe serving Nordic cuisine, not commonly seen in Singapore.

Their interior can be described Scandinavian-themed with simplicity, minimalism and functionality, which includes usage of natural materials such as leather and wood.

Food menu consists of Nordic cuisines, which include Smoked Salmon Salad ($17), Kale Salad ($17), Avo Shrimp Sandwich ($24), Skagen Toast ($18), Smoked Salmon Sandwich ($20) and Viking Breakfast ($21).

I noted that their (not-very-Nordic) dessert prices are on the higher side though, which include Earl Grey Lavender Tea Cake ($8), Pistachio Lemon Tea Cup ($9, Sliced Daim Cake ($4), Mini Tart ($7), Orh Nee Cake ($10) and Ondeh Ondeh Cake ($10). At3 (Kampong Bahru)

Dolc Patisserie
67 Kampong Bahru Road, #01-00, Singapore 169371
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm (Mon, Wed – Sat), 10:30am – 5pm (Sun), Closed Tues

French Desserts And Pastry Cafe With Influences from Spain
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.

It also hopes to provide a familiar taste of hometown to the Spanish expats residing in Singapore.

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 ended up with the velvety red Charlotte ($8.50+) made of Strawberry, Basil and Mascarpone.

Slice the Charlotte into halves and you will see layers of basil sponge cake with a strawberry core on top of a butter cookie.

I was intrigued with the first bite, mainly due to the basil sponge that resembled the savoury pesto pasta.

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)

Kream & Kensho
33/35 Kampung Bahru Road Singapore 169354
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (Mon – Thurs), 10am – 10pm (Fri), 9am – 10pm (Sat), 9am – 6pm (Sun)

Japanese-Inspired Cafe With Instagrammable Drinks And Chio Interior
Kream & Kensho aims to have a brunch café and coffee place by day; dining with beer at night. (“Kenshō” is a Japanese term which implies “initial insight or awakening”.)

In terms of its interior and décor, they managed to hit the spot right with something contemporary with soft pastel finishes and a touch of Japanese here and there.

On its menu include Donburi, Salad, Sides and Dessert. Brunch items featureSteak & Eggs ($26.50), Sakura Ebi Capellini ($19.80), KNK Big Plate ($22), Maddy San Shokupan ($17.60), Mushroom on Toast ($17.60) and Chicken Salad & Avo Toast ($17.60).

Sides include Kombu Truffle Fries ($13.20), Crab Croquette ($6.60) and Spiced Corn ($8.80).

The Kombu Truffle Fries ($15) though not new in the trending-market, was a promising start to the meal.

The fries were crisp and light, the kombu adding a briny and earthy almost mushroom-like flavour Kream & Kensho (Kampung Bahru).

Strangers’ Reunion
37 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169356
Tel: +65 6238 1068
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm (Mon – Sun)

Makes A Return Next Door
Strangers’ Reunion is probably one of ‘pioneer’ hipster cafes in Singapore, but adding this here because they have moved (to next door) with a revamped menu.

What you can expect include an Ancient Grain Salad ($14.90), Roasted Cauliflower Salad ($14.90), Avocado on Sourdough ($16.90), and Roast Beef Melt ($18.90)

A popular favourite is the Strange Breakfast ($16.90) with poached eggs with homemade puff pastry, hollandaise and seasonal green.

The Father’s Favourite Sandwich ($16.90) should be well-liked by mums as well, coming looking like a sandwich made of croissant.

Filled within were oven-baked eggs, bacon and mustard slaw.

While it didn’t scream anything much out of the ordinary, the combination worked with interplay of textures – crispy pastry layer, supple Edam (a type of semi-hard cheese), and soft baked eggs. Strangers’ Reunion (Kampong Bahru)

Other Related Entries
20 Katong & East Coast Cafes
16 UPPER THOMSON Cafes
10 SIGLAP Cafes In The East Coast
10 Clementi & West Coast Cafes
10 TAMPINES Cafes

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

Established in Taiwan in 2006, Gong cha remains one of Singapore’s most popular bubble tea and tea brands.

The essence of Gong cha, or “Tribute Tea”, originated from the provision of the most premium and refined teas to the Emperor of China.

Therefore, this season it has launched the Taiwan Premium Extracted Tea Series.

This is a special collection curating only the finest teas brewed and extracted using a special temperature control technique.

What makes theses teas extra special is that they only use top grade tea leaves grown in the top plantations of Taiwan – the source of the some of the best teas globally.

If you are an iced tea lover, this exclusive and premium line up will delight you with their aromatic fragrance and rich flavour.

Try each one and discover their floral, fruity and aromatic notes, presented in convenient cup holders with a handle.

Here are 6 specially prepared Gong cha Premium Tea Extracted Series drinks with remarkable flavour profiles:

Osmanthus Honey Oolong Tea ($3.20)
Enjoy this smooth and fragrant tea featuring dark notes of fruit and subtle hints of floral throughout. Osmanthus Oolong.

There is an underlying sweet flavour with the incorporated honey and you will feel a medium body on your palate. An elegant tea best for an afternoon tea.

One of the most popular choices for its delicate perk-me-up-aroma.

Cherry Blossom Wild Berry Black Tea ($3.20)
Known for being rich in nutrients and antioxidants, wild berries are small yet sweet, juicy and intensely colourful.

Together with bits of cherry blossoms, they flavour this fully oxidised and robust black tea with earthy and smoky notes.

Peach Oolong Tea ($3.20)
Go sweet and fruity with the Peach Oolong Tea, made with highly beneficial oolong tea blended with natural peach flavour.

The sweet and juicy peach combines with the light tea to create a smooth drink with hints of astringency and a lingering floral aroma.

Lychee Black Tea ($3.20)
The distinct aroma and flavour of lychee when combined with a premium extracted black tea delivers a powerful drink.

A kind of scented tea, lychee black tea is sweet, mildly fruity and full-bodied. Sip and harness the power of this tea, including promoting healthy smoother skin, improved digestion, and many more.

Tie Guan Yin Tea ($3.20)
Classic charcoal roasted Tie Guan Yin, an aromatic oolong tea with a robust yet floral fragrance. Its flowery aroma is reminiscent of orchids, but you may also notice some fruity or berry notes in there.

As this type of premium oolong tea is lightly oxidized, it leans more toward green than black tea.

You should feel energised after sipping a cup of this polyphenol-rich tea.

Buckwheat Green Tea ($3.20)
Dive deep into the alluring flavour of buckwheat tea, possibly the best alternative if you are cutting down on caffeine.

Offering the same benefits of green tea but minus the caffeine, buckwheat tea or soba-cha is brewed from roasted buckwheat grains. Its mild scent complements its dry, nutty and earthy taste.

Whether you prefer herbal infusions or pure teas, you should find the perfect drink for yourself. For a more satisfying drink, make them creamy by adding milk.

Or include toppings such as Pearl, White Pearl, Coconut Jelly, Aiyu Jelly, Pudding Jelly, Herbal Jelly, Aloe Vera, 3J, Milk Foam, Strawberry Milk Foam, Rainbow Jelly, Red Bean and more for that extra bite.

Feelin’ like you need a refreshing slushie during this hot weather?

Don’t miss Gong cha’s signature Coconut Slush, a concoction that sure to tickle your taste buds with its tropical vibe and creamy texture. Enjoy its original version or infused with Gong cha’s signature earl grey tea.

Original Coconut Slush ($4.50)
Quench your thirst with a cup of the original coconut slush, a smooth blended drink generously packed with coconut flesh, fresh coconut juice, and ice cream.

Indulgent enough to satisfy your tropical fantasy.

Earl Grey Coconut Slush ($4.90)
Make it an unforgettable taste fusion with Earl Grey Coconut Slush, where the smooth and creamy blended coconut slush is infused with a black tea blend.

Sip this brown-coloured slurry and discover sharp but not overpowering flavours from the popular Earl Grey tea from Gong cha. You get the best of both in one cup.

Gong cha
SingPost Centre #01-141A 141B, 10 Eunos Road 8, Singapore 408600
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Gong cha outlets:
313 Somerset, Ang Mo Kio, Bugis Junction, Causeway Point, Century Square, Changi Hospital, Compass One, Eunos MRT, Funan Mall, Hougang Mall, Lot One, One Raffles Place, Mapletree Business City, Marina Square, NEX, Northpoint, NUS Frontier, NUS UTown, Paya Lebar Quarter, Pasir Ris, Plaza Singapura, Simei MRT, SMU, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Takashimaya, Telok Aer, Toa Payoh, Westgate, Woodlands MRT.

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Gong cha.

Tanglin Halt Food Centre is one of those hawker centres that have a few Halal stalls selling sedap Muslim food, but not so often talked about on social media.

Queenstown Lontong is one stall I would recommended.

Located at the quieter side of Tanglin Halt Food Centre, its line early mornings does not lie though.

Boasting a business since the 1960s, Queenstown Lontong won’t disappoint with its delicious recipe passed down through 3 generations.

While the stall says “Lontong”, they also serve up Nasi Lemak ($3), Mee Rebus ($3), Mee Siam ($3), Laksa ($3), Mee Soto ($3), and Soto Ayam ($3).

The presentation of its noodle dishes such as the Mee Rebus ($3) was not quite like the others.

The gravy was rich, robust, and came piping hot. Another plus point was their home-made sambal with ikan billis that added a beautiful touch of sweetness.

I also need to talk about its Bergedil. Instead of the typical flat round shape, you get two deep-fried potato balls with fluffy fillings. How lovely.

Queenstown Lontong
Tanglin Halt Food Centre #01-21, 1A Commonwealth Drive, Singapore 141001
Tel: +65 9182 2189
Opening Hours: 7am – 2pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun

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

One of the surprise new entrants to the Michelin Plate Singapore is Loong Kee Yong Tau Fu 龍記釀豆腐 located at Jurong West 505 Food Centre.

Two stalls were awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand in this food centre – Soh Kee Cooked Food and Jian Bo Shui Kueh.

I have tried many famous Yong Tau Foo stalls in Singapore, but I suppose Loong Kee belongs to one of the more unheard ones to the general public.

The Yong Tau Fu goes for 60c per piece with a minimum order of 5 pieces, which is pretty reasonable.

Other than the typical dry and soup versions, customer can order it with Laksa and Chee Cheong Fun. The stall also sells Laksa and Lor Mee, which are quite many things for a small place.

There are quite a number of items of display, but those that stand out are the Deep-Fried Tau Kwa and Fried Meatballs. (I base this on observations on what other customers pick, what the hawkers were busy refilling.)

A slight feedback I have is that the utensils (chopsticks and spoons), saucers and sauces (sweet and chilli) are placed at various places and heights, so a non-regular customer may need some time to assemble everything, causing a slight ‘jam’ at the back.

The Deep-Fried Tau Kwa were indeed not bad, slightly crispy on the outside while maintaining its softness on the inside, and made tastier with some stuffed meat on the top.

As for the Fried Meatballs I had high expectation for due to its appearance and size, was slightly disappointing as they were more starchy and floury than meaty.

Plus point is Leong Kee will separate the fried and soup items, so that the crispiness of some items would retain.

Loong Kee Yong Tau Fu 龍記釀豆腐
Hong Kah Point, 505 Jurong West Street 52, #01-31, Singapore 640505
Opening Hours: 6:30am – 8pm (Mon – Wed, Fri – Sun), Closed Thurs

Other Related Entries
10 Must-Try YONG TAU FOO In Singapore
Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu 永祥興豆腐 (People’s Park Food Centre)
Rong Xing Yong Tau Fu (Tanjong Pagar Food Centre)
Xi Xiang Feng Yong Tau Foo 喜相逢 (Ang Mo Kio)
Bai Nian Niang Dou Foo (Albert 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.

Among the restaurants under the “Imperial Treasure” umbrella, I find that the Imperial Treasure Fine Shanghai Cuisine at Ngee Ann City presents quality Chinese dishes (many Shanghainese) not commonly found elsewhere.

Other more known upper-tier Shanghainese restaurants in Singapore are Yan’s Dining Fine Shanghai Cuisine at Mandarin Gallery and Grand Shanghai Restaurant.

As it is included in the Singapore Michelin Plate listing, I have decided to make a return visit.

Its Chinese name is called “Yu Yuan”, also the name of the famous garden at the old city of Shanghai.

You won’t miss the cocoon-like booth seats from afar, looking rather classy and elegant. I got to sit in one of the booths. It provides a rather private dining experience.

Some of the recommended dishes include Stewed Pork with Steamed Buns, Pan-fried Shanghai Pork Dumpling, Smoked Duck with Tea Leaves, Sauteed Shrimp with Honey Pea in Black Truffle Oil, Deep-fried Beancurd Skin Roll Stuffed with Mushroom, Minced Spinach Salad, and Marinated Jellyfish Head.

Of a dish more indulgent, there is the Sautéed Yellow Cream Crab with Glutinous Rice ($15 per 100g) in which the glutinous rice would absorbs the freshness and flavours of the yellow cream crab.

In most Chinese restaurants, you may get one or two mediocre or average dishes at least if you order a spread. I happened to find that all the dishes ordered here were of reasonable quality.

The Shanghai Steamed Pork Dumpling ($12.60 for 6 pieces) was wrapped, with hot abundant flavoursome soup, fresh meat without the strong ‘porky-ness’, and it did not break easily.

The skin was really delicate, suggesting the chefs were highly skilled.

Since the cuisine is primary Shanghai, try some of their culturally authentic dishes such as Braised Meat Ball ($30) otherwise known as “Lion’s Head”.

These are large pork meatballs that are typically steamed or braised and served with vegetables. The name is due to the large size, and vegetables cooked with that looks like the lion’s mane.

I had the Double Boiled Pork Meat Ball Soup ($15 per person) which boosted tender and juicy meatball, in a light yet flavourful soup with extra sweetness coming from the Napa cabbage.

Another recommended dish I had was the Crispy Sesame Pastry Stuffed with Stir-fried Minced Pork ($28).

These came with all minced pork stuffed into puff pastry so that you can experience the contrast between crispy outer layer and moist meat. You can request for the server to help stuff the puffs.

Some people may find the pricing on the expensive though due to the portion given.

Among the carb dishes, there are Fried Rice with Shrimp ($26), Fried Rice in Yangzhou style ($26), Riced with Salted Pork, Mushroom & Vegetable in Soup ($15), Sauteed Rice Cake with Salted Pork & Preserved ‘Xue Cai’ Vegetable ($28)

Their Fried Rice in Shanghai Style ($26) came mixed with meat, vegetables with the special sauce giving it a sweetish-soy touch that made it different from the usual egg fried rice.

This is what I would call ”li li xiang” in which every grain was fragrant with no clumps. To me, fried rice is one of the hardest Chinese dishes to perfect.

In terms of Chinese and Shanghainese cuisine, would say that Imperial Treasure Shanghai Cuisine is indeed a cut above the rest.

Imperial Treasure Shanghai Cuisine
Takashimaya S.C., #04-22, 391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6836 6909
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm (Mon – Fri),
11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm (Sat), 10:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm (Sun)

Other Related Entries
Dian Xiao Er (NEX)
TungLok Heen (Resorts World Sentosa)
Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant (PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road)
Paradise Teochew (Takashimaya)
YUN NANS (NEX)

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

If you have missed the famous Chin Mee Chin Confectionery 真美珍茶室 at East Coast Road, it has made a return with a refurnished look and revamped menu.

Another to add to your East Coast Plan.

The opening date has been pushed back several times (from the original March) due to the “P2HA”, and the team needed additional time for increased research and development of recipes.

They are determined to ensure traditional techniques and tastes are retained, all while working closely with the family behind the business to do so.

It has been more than 2 years that Chin Mee Chin has closed (time flies), and yes, it is back at its original location at 204 East Coast Road.

It has found a new business partner in Ebb & Flow Group, which is behind restaurants such as The Dragon Chamber, Sommer Dining, and 8ASH at Ann Siang Hill, and the popular Tigerlily Patisserie at Joo Chiat.

Residents of Katong and of a certain generation should be familiar with Chin Mee Chin Confectionery, otherwise known as CMC.

This is where you can get a taste of the old-styled coffee and bakes, and to take a step down the memory lane.

The Hainanese coffeeshop 真美珍茶室 along East Coast Road was founded by Mr Tan Hui Dong in 1925.

There was a certain nostalgic charm in this little shop, with mosaic blue and white tiles, marble top tables, a mixture of wooden chairs and ceiling fans.

We went there relatively early during opening day, at 7:30am (the café opens at 8am daily except Mondays), 8th in the queue. But when we received all the food ordered, it was slightly after 9am.

Expect major teething in the operations (similar to Tigerlily Patisserie when it first opened), and would recommend going down say months later when they finally settle down.

It won’t be too exaggerating to say that the average wait could be about 1-2 hours (for now).

Overheard: ”Isn’t it just toast, coffee and ready-bakes?”

We kind of concur that this is nowhere near to Yakun / Killiney / Toast Box speed, but would like to be more understanding to the operations team. Perhaps people were expecting the processes to be more ironed-out after the long delay.

On the breakfast menu are Kaya Toast ($2.20), Eggs ($1.60), or get the set with a drink ($4.90).

Other breads available include Luncheon Meat Bun ($2), Brown Bun ($2), Hae Bee Hiam Bun ($2.20), Otah Bun ($2.20), Sausage Bun ($2).

The Kaya Toast with the thick slab of butter remained my favourite item of the lot, with sweet aromatic kaya hand-made in traditional style on charcoal-roasted bun. In fact, the bun was soft and more delectable than how I remember it to be. Opps.

The soft-boil eggs were unfortunately quite run-of-the-mill average; while the kopi lacked the robust body and aroma you would have expected from a Nanyang-style coffee.

A disappointment was in the Luncheon Meat Bun ($2) which I was looking forward to after seeing photos of thick slab of luncheon meat in another online review.

In reality, it looked like it was half in thickness – either they have decided to scale back, or that was specially prepared only for photos. A pity really, as the buns’ texture was fluffy and tasty.

New additions or updates to previous bakes include pastries of Chocolate Cupcake ($1.80), Cream Horn ($2), Sugee Cake ($2.30), Cheesecake Brownie ($2.6), Gula Melaka Coffee Chiffon Cake ($2.20), and Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart ($2.20).

Many items were “sold out” when we made our orders at 8:30am (really? really.).

My vote would go to the Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart ($2.20) which came in an easier-to-consume petite size, satisfying with rich chocolate with tinge of saltiness from the peanut butter.

Regulars would certainly miss that familiar smell of kaya, butter and coffee prominent in the air; and the sight of aunties at the back-kitchen rattle in Hainanese as they prepare the daily fix.

Not quite the same vibes anymore, but at least the charcoal-grilled Kaya Toast was delicious.

Chin Mee Chin
204 East Coast Road, Singapore 428903
Opening Hours: 8am – 4pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Other Related Entries
10 Kaya Toast & Kopi Places In Singapore
10 NASI LEMAK In Singapore
10 Best Hainanese Curry Rice In Singapore
10 Refreshing CHENG TNG 清汤 In Singapore
10 Must-Try KAMPONG GELAM Halal Restaurants

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights.

The Japanese dish breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet or Tonkatsu has always been a favourite among many Singaporeans, and one of the recommended places to get it is from Hajime Tonkatsu & Ramen.

There are two outlets – one at Serangoon Garden myVillage and the other at Thomson Plaza.

Owner Chef Tan-San started Hajime Tonkatsu & Ramen out of his passion for Japanese cuisine, and is often called “Singapore’s first Tonkatsu Chef” after mastering the art of Tonkatsu in Japan.

Hajime is Japanese for “beginning” and the short form for “Hajimemashite” which means “nice to meet you!”.

He returned to Singapore to lead the kitchen of Tonkichi and later on became the Pioneer Chef of the famous Tampopo.

Experience his 25+ years culinary mastership through signature dishes at affordable prices.

Tonkatsu dishes available on the menu include Premium Pork Loin ($22.90), Nagoya Miso Fillet ($19.90), Nagoya Miso Loin ($19.90), Pork Loin ($18.90), Pork Fillet ($18.90), Ebi & Pork Fillet ($19.90), Ebi Fry ($18.90) and Chicken Katsu ($17.50).

I have tried both the Premium Pork Loin ($22.90) and more ‘normal’ Pork Loin ($18.80) before, and you would prefer something more exquisitely juicy and tender, go for the Premium set using air-flown Japanese pork.

It is coated with freshly made breadcrumbs for that extra crunch, served with miso sauce from Nagoya and some finely shredded refreshing cabbage.

Each order comes with a bowl of Niigata rice, Tonjiru soup, and ground roasted sesame.

To be honest, I found the usual and cheaper Pork Loin not bad a choice too – certainly succulent and better than the average, the meat would be more fibrous with less fatty parts compared to the Premium.

But both were good, which also had a good crunch without being oily.

In terms of ramen dishes, there are the Ebi Fry Ramen ($17.50), Tonkatsu Ramen ($15.90), Kurobuta Shabu Ramen ($15.90), Kyushu Ramen ($13.50), Miso Ramen ($12.50), Shoyu Ramen ($12.50) and Chashu Ramen ($13.50).

The Ebi Fry Ramen ($17.50) is a one-of-a-kind ramen developed and perfected after months of R&D.

Its 12-hour Tonkotsu broth is infused with a secret Sakura ebi paste made in-house.

Paired with a flavourful Loin Rib Chasu and Chef Tan-San’s famous crunchy Ebi Fry, it is topped with Japanese seasoning menma, bean sprouts, greens, a dash of Japanese chili oil (la-yu), and a sprinkle of crispy Sakura ebi.

Hajime uses fresh Nama ramen noodles which are slightly thicker and chewier, compared to the usual Kyushu or Hakata-style ramen noodles which are long and straight.

Some may find the noodles too ‘limpy’, though they reminded me of the more ‘old-school’ type of Japanese ramen which was still not bad.

The soup which that distinct sweetness coming from the prawns, was the clear winner.

Hajime Tonkatsu & Ramen
1 Maju Avenue, #02-07/8/9, myVillage @ Serangoon Garden, Singapore 556679
Tel: +65 6509 9952
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3:15pm, 5pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Hajime Tonkatsu & Ramen
Thomson Plaza #01-110, 301 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574408
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3:15pm, 5pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Gaku Sushi Bar (Pasir Ris)
Miso Salmon (Tanjong Pagar)
Tsuta Japanese Dining (313@somerset)
Ichiban Sushi (Ang Mo Kio)
SENSHI (Dorsett Singapore)

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

Opened by the folks behind popular Malaysian ice cream cafe Inside Scoop, The Ice Cream Bar is their sister brand, focusing on alcoholic ice cream flavours.

Inside Scoop has 26 outlets in Malaysia and 1 other branch here near Bugis.

With 3 outlets in Malaysia since 2016, The Ice Cream Bar has opened their first outlet right here in Kampong Bahru, alongside French pastry cafe Nuage Patisserie & Boulangerie, gelato shop Three Point Two, HaengBok CakeYo, Nordic-style cafe At3, cake cafe Dolc Patisserie, Kream & Kensho, Strangers’ Reunion and Plain Vanilla Bakery.

Their interior is completely different from their sister cafe at Inside Scoop which exudes a younger and vibrant vibe, predominantly yellow in colour with lots of greenery.

Here at The Ice Cream Bar, the 37 seaters space has a clean and modern design, accentuated by sharp blacks and clean lines with modern material finishing.

The predominant structures are the arches, inspired by the old railway station with a railway network previously owned by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) running through it that had ceased operations in 2011.

Prices starts from $4.90 for a single scoop, $8.50 for double and $11.60 for triple, with additional $1 for premium flavours and $2 for double premium flavours.

Most of the alcoholic flavours are either premium (+ $1) or double premium (+$2), such as Guinness Brownies, Bacardi Choc Crunch, Whiskey Red Velvet, Crunchy Choc Whiskey, Choc Baileys, Kahlua Cheesecake, Whiskey & Nuts and Smoked Cognac.

The 2 double premium flavours on the shelf are Silician Pistachio and Guinness Pistachio.

Pints are available for takeaway at $16, with additional $2 for premium flavours and $5 for double premium flavours.

Similar to Inside Scoop, diners can expect both Buttermilk and Charcoal Waffles ($6) there.

The Buttermilk Waffle was unfortunately too soft and limpy, quite a far cry from the ones I had over at Inside Scoop.

The saving grace was the smooth textures of the ice cream, with the crowd’s favourite Rose Lychee Raspberry that is aromatic and pleasant.

The Marbled Sesame flavour (premium) comes with a blend of black sesame and peanut ice cream, mixed with peanut sesame brittle for the added crunch.

Robust and earthy in flavours that resembles tang yuan (glutinous rice balls), the smooth texture is a nice contrast to the crunchiness of the brittles.

Using Weekdays Only blend (Brazil, and India) from PPP Coffee for their espresso-based drinks, Espresso ($4), Long Black ($4.20), Latte/ Cappuccino ($4.80), Mocha ($5) can be found.

The Affogato ($7.80) and Iced Latte Float ($8.20) caught my attention, with a choice of any ice cream on display.

The service crew recommended a flavour without any toppings in it as the toppings may get soggy after immersing in the coffee.

The alcoholic taste in the scoop of Baileys Brownies is quite distinctive even when added to the Iced Latte Float ($8.20), pleasant and not overwhelming.

Opened till 12am on Fridays and Saturdays, The Ice Cream Bar will be an ideal place to hangout for alcoholic desserts as supper.

The Ice Cream Bar
59 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169367
Opening Hours: 12:30pm – 10:30pm (Sun – Thurs), 12:30pm – 12am (Fri – Sat)

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

Jalan Besar has to be the cafe hipster area to look out for with many new F&B entrants lately.

Located few doors away from Apartment Coffee, Glacier has joined include Lola Faye Cafe, Once Upon A Time (opened by actress Jeanette Aw), For The People, Sweets Craftsman, to Café Monochrome in the hood.

Other recent café openings at Jalan Besar include Pacto 忆缘 by Parchmen, Habitat Coffee, Sweet Cheeks Gelato and Asylum Coffehouse.

Here’s a look at 10 NEW cafes to head to at Jalan Besar:

Glacier
161 Lavender St, #01-09, Singapore 338750
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 10am – 1am (Fri – Sat)

Minimalist Botanical-Themed Cafe With Pandan Mochi Waffle
Opened by the folks behind Onalu – a bagel house located at SMU, Glacier is their new concept cafe with a botanical theme, offering an-almost ‘farm-to-table’ concept.

As their name implies, glacier refers to a moving piece of ice reflected in their space which is completely white, from the white furniture pieces to the coffee bar counter, espresso machine and coffee beans grinder.

Their menu is concise with 6 items on their brunch menu: Glacier Big Breakfast ($24), Smoked Salmon & Avocado Toast ($19), Seafood Vongole Pasta ($23), Basil Pesto Pasta ($18), Salmon Mentaiko Truffle Grain Bowl ($20) and Glacier French Toast ($16).

Here the highlight is the Pandan Mochi Waffle ($8) with a sticky mochi layer in addition to the crispy-ness and fluffiness.

Topped with desiccated coconut for the added crunch and aroma, drizzled with maple syrup and Gula Melaka sauce on the side, the overall taste is similar to that of Ondeh Ondeh, the mini green, round glutinous rice balls. Glacier (Jalan Besar)

Pacto 忆缘 by Parchmen
Jalan Besar Community Centre, 69 Jellicoe Road #01-05, Singapore 208737
Tel: +65 9833 0858
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Cafe Hidden Within Jalan Besar CC With $2 Espresso
The cafe is opened by the same team behind pet-friendly Sun Ray Cafe at Serangoon Garden and Parched at Ubi. One of the key differences is that Pacto has a stronger tea focus.

The one thing to note is their coffee is more on the wallet-friendly side, with an espresso priced at $2.

A Long Black is at $3.50, with no additional charges for an iced version.

Other coffee-based drinks include Flat White ($4), Latte ($4), Cappuccino ($4) and Mocha ($5).

There was a small selection of cakes available, from Sourcream Cheesecake ($6), Hazelnut Royaltine ($7), Green Tea Azuki ($6), Matcha Swiss Roll ($4.50) and Houjicha Swiss Roll ($4.50).

The Yuzu Osmanthus Cake ($6) was a not-bad choice, of soft and fluffy layers of yuzu-soaked sponge cake, layered with fresh osmanthus whipped cream. Pacto 忆缘 by Parchmen (Jalan Besar)

Habitat Coffee
803 King George’s Ave, #01-242/244, Singapore 200803
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Tues – Sat), 9am – 9pm (Sun), Closed Mon

Industrial-Themed Brunch Cafe Shifted From Upper Thomson To Jalan Besar
One of the main-stayers at Upper Thomson since 2011 (yes, that’s a full decade ago), Habitat Coffee has shifted out of their home ground and into the Jalan Besar neighbourhood.

This new space now accommodates 3 long communal tables and 8 tables nicely spaced apart.

It is decked in a similar style as their defunct outlet at Upper Thomson with shades of white and black, cemented floorings and wooden furnitures.

All-Day Brunch is available till 8pm, with signature brunch items such as Big Ben ($18), Pulled Pork Benedict ($17), Avocado & Eggs ($17) and Stuffed Berries Hotcake ($16).

Do not be confused with the name of Big Ben ($18) – which is a plate of ‘big breakfast’ rather than Eggs Benedict, containing scrambled eggs, maple glazed bacon, toast, pork sausage, grilled tomato, and sauteed mushrooms.

For a more substantial meal, 3 different Rice Bowls are offered on the menu: Veggie Bowl ($13), Honey Garlic Prawn ($17) and Beef Yakiniku ($13), Pasta with Mushroom Truffle ($17), Chilli Crab Linguine ($18) and Grilled Teriyaki Salmon ($14). Habitat Coffee (Jalan Besar)

Lola Faye Café
35 Hamilton Road, Singapore 209204
Opening Hours: 10am – 12am (Tues, Sun), 10pm – 2am (Wed – Sat), Closed Mon

Tropical-Themed Muslim-Owned Dessert Cafe With Gelato Croissant
Lola Faye Café is a brand-new tropical themed café at Hamilton Road, and also is Muslim-owned which uses 100% Halal ingredients.

It joins neighbours such as Lucid, For The People, Once Upon A Time by Jeanette Aw, and SCALED by Ah Hua Kelong along the same stretch at the hot Jalan Besar district.

While many tropical-themed cafes usually pick a bright and vibrant look, or Bali-style decor, Lola Faye Café has gone for a darker look which is still photogenic.

The main highlights are the gelato desserts, presented in the forms of Gelato Croissant ($9.90), Buttermilk Belgium Waffles ($6, additional $5 for single scoop, $9 for double scoop), and Fudgy Brownies with Gelato ($10.90) – moist brownies filled with chocolate chunks, topped with shaved chocolate and whipped cream. Lola Faye Café (Hamilton Road)

Sweet Cheeks Gelato – Jalan Besar
147 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207561
Opening Hours: 12pm – 11pm (Sun – Thurs), 12pm – 1am (Fri – Sat)

Pretty Gelato Shop At Jalan Besar Opens Till 1AM (Fri & Sat)
Sweet Cheeks Gelato first started in 2019 at Potong Pasir by 3 SMU graduates together with an Italy-trained chef handcrafting fresh gelato daily.

To be better in the art of gelato-making, their co-founder travelled to Bologna, Italy to train for a month.

Their 3rd outlet located directly opposite Chye Seng Huat Hardware and few doors away from Creamery Boutique Ice Creams, is their largest branch to date.

18 gelato flavours are available at any one time, priced at $4 for single scoop, $7.50 for double scoops, additional $1 for premium flavour and additional $2 for gourmet flavours.

For more indulgence, there are add-ons such as Waffle ($6), Chocolate Lava Cake ($5), Brownie ($5). Gelato flavours were inspired by their co-founder’s overseas travels. For example, Ricotta with Pistachio & Lemoncurd with Speculoos by travels to Italy, Cinnamon Brown Bread from the streets of Ireland and Coconut Mango, and Mango Sticky rice in Thailand.

Normal flavours (Single $4, Double $7.50) include Marshmallow Oreo, Earl Grey, Cereal Milk, Hojicha, Honeycomb, Biscoff Cookie Brunch, Hazelnut with Nutella Swirl and Peanut Butter Banana.

The Premium flavours (Single $5) are more unique and interesting: Ricotta with Pistachio bits, Cinnamon Brown Bread, Lemon curd with Speculoos bits, Honey Chrysanthemum with Cacao nibs, Lychee with Raspberry bits and vegan Fleur de Cao dark Chocolate. Sweet Cheeks Gelato (Jalan Besar)

Cafe Monochrome
216 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207749
Tel: +65 9239 1240
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Instagrammable 2D Black & White Café With Brunch & Ice Cream
While a 2D café isn’t exactly a fresh concept, you can tell that the team behind Café Monochrome did spend significant amount of time doing up the painting works, while paying attention to details.

The other one thing I noted is, the café space is rather big considering Singapore’s concept, so you may just find a suitable spot for #OOTD pics.
In terms of food, mains offered include Truffle Cream Pasta ($16), Monochrome’s Angel Hair ($14), Mentaiko Pasta ($13), Spicy Baked Fish ($12), Garlic Pepper Fish ($12), and Monochrome’s Brunch ($15).

There are also a couple of donburi bowls such as Wagyu Donburi ($18), Smoked Duck Donburi ($12), Smoked Bacon Donburi ($12), and Yakitori Donburi ($12).

I had the Monochrome’s Brunch ($15) which was considered okay-priced as many similar big-breakfast-plates are edging towards or have gone beyond the $20 price tag.

This plate included grilled sausage, bacon and a sunny side up on waffles made with their in-house recipe, topped with pure English maple syrup. Café Monochrome (Jalan Besar)

Asylum Coffeehouse
311 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208970
Opening Hours: 8am – 4:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Minimalist-Chic Cafe With Sandwiches From Hambaobao
Asylum Coffeehouse is nestled in a blue and red heritage shophouse along Jalan Besar (near Petain Road), though the inside is designed with the typical white and woody (well, MUJI like) interior, with natural daylight cast in.

Drinks-wise, there are choices of Black ($4), White ($5, $5.5), Filters and Pour Overs ($6), Mocha ($6), and Hot Chocolate ($5.50). $1 extra for iced, and switch to oat or macadamia milk.

The café serves up its very own Espresso blend, Keluak which has dominant chocolate, nutty and earthy notes. This Keluak coffee is inspired by the Peranakan dish Buah Keluak and its characteristics.

In terms of food, you can look out for two sandwiches, the Cubano ($16) and the Turfoieken ($19). Interesting to note that they are both created by the now-defunct burger hawker stall Hambaobao – previously located at Beauty World Food Centre.

If you are questioning why a sandwich would be priced at the upper-tier of $19, that is because it includes turkey, chicken AND foie gras, with aioli and apple chutney. Asylum Coffeehouse (Jalan Besar)

Steep
32 Dunlop Street, Singapore 209360
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm (Mon – Sun)

Muslim-Owned Cafe In Monochromatic Colours Offering Brunch Food
Steep is one of the newest Muslim-owned cafes opened at Jalan Besar, not to be confused with Steeped Tea Bar at Bugis.

The interior is clean and minimalist, simply decked in black and muted colours (not to be confused with Café Monochrome a walk away.)

To accentuate the monotone colour scheme, their espresso machine, coffee cups and saucers, stools and photos hanging on the wall are all dark grey or black in colour.

Offering Melbourne-inspired brunch food on their menu, café hoppers can expect Granola ($9), Steep’s Breakfast ($17), French Toast ($15), Grilled Cheese ($9) and Ham & Cheese Croissant ($7). Options seem to be on the safe side though.

The remaining menu consisted of 6 other mains such as Egg on Toast ($6), Eggs Royale ($14), Aglio Olio ($14) and Truffle Cream Pasta ($12).

The Steep’s Breakfast ($17) came with an assortment of colourful components in a single plate.

The components included tater tots, roasted tomato, herb sausage, sautéed mushrooms, sourdough, turkey bacon, mixed greens salad and a choice of egg – poached, scrambled, sunny side up. Steep (Jalan Besar)

LA VIE
204 Jalan Besar Singapore 208890
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 8:30pm (Tues – Thurs), 11:30am – 10:30pm (Fri – Sun), Closed Mon

Minimalist French-Style Patisserie Café
LA VIE is conceptualised on the idea of providing people with a place to enjoy fine pastries, drinks, art appreciations – you will see hanging paintings of rotating local artists on sale.

The business was previously known as Reverie Patisserie, an online patisserie shop specialising in various French pastries and butter cookies.

Some of the signature dessert items include Chloe ($8.50) – a lychee rose entremet, Kaiser ($9) – a mango and passionfruit entremes, Alfie ($9) – a chocolate banana entremet, and Trio Chocolate Cake ($10) – the other one without the fancy name.

If you like something cute, there is the Épic which is a porcupine-shaped trio chocolate entremet. This is actually inspired by their little porcupine potted plantlet.

I went with the pretty-looking Watermelon Strawberry Cake ($9.50), with fresh sliced watermelon sandwiched between layers of rose chantilly and nutty almond dacquoise.

The cake was further decorated with fresh strawberries, blueberries and grapes. La Vie (Jalan Besar)

Sweets Craftsman
11 Cavan Rd, #01-06, Cavan Suites, Singapore 209848
Opening Hours: 12pm – 8pm (Thurs – Tue), Closed Wed

Desserts Cafe With Japanese-Style Matcha And TieGuanYin Swiss Rolls
Located along the same stretch of units as Gelato Labo at Cavan Road (Jalan Besar), Sweets Craftsman is a new dessert cafe that focuses on artisanal bakes and pastries.

With more than a decade of experience in the confectionery industry and has previously worked at Raffles Hotel and TCC, the pastry chef has decided to open his very own bakery cafe in Jalan Besar.

Served mainly as a takeaway shop, the menu features Swiss Roll ($7.80), Meringue Rolls (Summer Berries $6, Yuzu Orange $6.80), Cakes ($6.80), Tarts (Strawberry, Blueberry $6.80), Croissants (Butter $3, Almond $4), Madeleine ($2.80) and Brownie (Sea salt $3.50, Pecan $3.50).

All the Swiss roll were so kawaii, crafted with a Mt. Fuji in the middle with different flavours such as Matcha, Tie Guan Yin and Chocolate Raspberry.

As the Swiss rolls are all Japanese inspired, and thus tend to be on the lighter side in terms of texture and flavour. Sweets Craftsman (Jalan Besar)

Other Related Entries
10 Wobbly Soufflé Pancakes & Japanese Pancakes In Singapore
10 Wonderful Chicken Waffles In Singapore
20 Cafes & Brunch Places At Orchard Road
10 Alexandra & Redhill Cafes
10 BEDOK Cafes And Ice Cream Shops

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

Best known for its signature All Chocolate Cake with a dark roast flavour, Awfully Chocolate is a familiar name to many Singaporeans.

The brand first started in 1998 and has expanded with different concepts over the years, with both retails space and cafes across the island.

Their flagship store Ninethirty by Awfully Chocolate was at this exact spot along East Coast Road, which has since closed down and undergone a revamp to the current Awfully Chocolate Bakery & Cafe.

Compared to their previous interior which is more bistro-like with black, white and grey tones, the new interior has a more cafe vibe to it, with wooden floorings and bespoke furnitures, complemented by hanging and potted plants.

Exclusive to this #EastCoastPlan outlet is the Chocolate From The Tap, with a choice of Dark Milk (45%), 60% or 70% Cocoa flowing through the cool metallic taps in store.

Instead of the conventional way of preparing hot chocolate using cocoa powder, Chocolate From The Tap uses melted chocolate bars continuously maintained in the molten state and eliminates the possibility of cocoa powder lumping together.

The result is a smoother texture with a consistent flavour.

Note that only the hot beverages are freshly prepared using fresh chocolate flowing through the taps, namely Hot Chocolate ($8), Chocolate Espresso ($8) and Caramel Mocha Latte ($8).

My 45% Hot Chocolate ($8) is indeed smoother without a powdery sensation and a fuller body with a creamier texture.

Words of cautions, 45% cocoa can be a little sweet though.

Another outlet-exclusive is their selection of viennoiserie that are freshly prepared in house and available from 8am daily.

This is in addition to their repertoire of chocolate desserts that we are familiar with, prepared from a central kitchen with a full selection only available from 1pm onwards.

Chocolate lovers can look forward to Chocolate Madeleine (1 for $3, 3 for $8), Chocolate Croissant ($6), Chocolate Danish ($5) and Chocolate Canelé ($5) on the menu.

Non-chocolate pastries include Cauliflower Tart ($7), Chicken Laksa Pie ($7), Wild Mushroom Pie ($8), Beef brisket Pie ($9), Butter Croissant ($4) and Pear & Polenta Tart ($8).

My favourite was the Chocolate Madeleine (1 for $3, 3 for $8) with a layer of molten chocolate in it, giving it an extra chocolatey taste.

Sea salt is also added to cut through the richness from the chocolate, giving it a more refreshing take.

The Chocolate Canelé ($5) is also worth a mention, with a nice textural contrast between the crunchy caramelised layer on the surface and the moist core on the inside infused with rum, which adds more complexity to the dessert.

The Chocolate Danish ($5) is prepared by dipping into the 45% chocolate from the tap.

With a nice crispy and buttery surface layer beneath the sweet, molten chocolate, it balances well with the soft and fluffy texture of the bread.

Their take on the Kouign Amann ($5) didn’t really work for me, with the caramelised layer being a tad too sweet.

Moving on to 21 September, Awfully Chocolate Bakery & Cafe will be launching their Bakery Club Brunch which is a curated menu for 2pax and includes 2 glasses of Really Fresh Chocolate Milk, make using their premium chocolate and Hokkaido milk.

Awfully Chocolate Bakery & Cafe
131 East Coast Road, Singapore 428816
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 8am – 12am (Fri – Sat)

Other Related Entries
10 SIGLAP Cafes In The East Coast
Tigerlily Patisserie (Joo Chiat)
Little Rogue Coffee (Tanjong Katong)
Patisserie CLÉ (Siglap)
Ambling Turtle (Katong)

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

Cafe Do Nicole’s Flower is not unfamiliar to many who stayed in the East, a cafe which opened in 2019 with an ambience that is unlike many cafes.

Their interior focuses mainly on a garden concept, decorated with fresh flowers from their in-house florist section.

Thus, expectations are high for its sister concept – Le Jardin Restaurant.

Nestled at the Fort Canning Arts Centre, their focuses on French and European cuisine with both indoors and alfresco dining areas.

The 120 seater space has a garden theme outdoors which is pets-friendly, equipped with marble table tops and vintage, retro-style rattan chairs and vase of fresh flowers on each table.

Stepping inside, the interior has a Victorian vibe, with a centrepiece showcasing all the fresh flowers available for purchase at their florist section.

From the hanging and crawling plants on the ceiling beams to the specially curated flower bed on each table, the team are attentive to the details that will give diners a full dining-in-the-woods experience.

Their Breakfast and Brunch menu starts from opening till 4.30pm, whereas Lunch menu is available from 12pm to 3.30pm and Dinner is available from 5.30pm to 9.30pm.

Brunch items featured are Croissant Waffle ($23.90), Potato Rosti ($18.90), Portobello Mushroom ($16.90), and Fig & Salted Caramel French Toast ($21.90).

Some mains include Forest Mushroom Tagliatelle ($20), Argentinian Red Shrimp Tagliatelle ($22), Ora King Salmon ($30), Kurabuta Pork Loin ($34), and Margaret River Black Angus Ribeye ($42). It wasn’t immediately clear how ‘French’ these dishes were though.

And if you happened to drop by between 4.30pm and 5.30pm (like me), note that only drinks and pastries are available.

Outlet exclusive espresso-based items include the Coffee Sunshine ($8.90) and Sea Salt Caramel Latte ($10.90) whereas the non-espresso items include Chamomile Dream ($9.90), Floral Cucumber ($9.90), Emerald ($11.90), Purple Fntasy ($11.90) and Peanut Butter ($11.90).

The Purple Fntasy ($11.90) stole the limelight with its colour, a sweet potato smoothie sprinkled with sweet potato powder and desiccated coconut.

Smooth the rich in flavours, it had a contrast in textures due to the desiccated coconut added whereas the sweetness level was just right.

Though, I wished there was a bigger volume of smoothie considering the price tag of $11.90.

The Sea Salt Caramel Latte ($10.90) came in a tall glassware drizzled with caramel sauce on the surface, topped with a single stalk of plant as a garnish.

There was a good balance from the sea salt and the espresso flavours, which served a thirst quencher if you choose to sit in the alfresco dining space.

4 new desserts are exclusively available here, namely: Royal Chocolate ($14.90), Pistachio Entremet ($10.90), Lemon Meringue tart ($11.90) and Fig & Raspberry Tart ($12.90).

My favourite was the Pistachio Entremet ($10.90) that comes with pistachio mousse on a cookie base, topped with a single vanilla chop and freeze dried raspberry.

The pistachio mousse was smooth and nutty, an earth profile well balanced by the citrus ness from the freeze dried raspberry.

The addition of coconut flakes on the side gives it a nice subtle sweetness and a flaky cookie base that complements well with the overall textures.

The Fig & Raspberry Tart ($12.90) was probably the prettiest, topped with fresh fig and raspberry which gave a sweet-citrus flavour whereas the cream cheese was light and refreshing.

Le Jardin Restaurant has continued to impress diners with their overall experience with floral elements incorporated within all their dishes.

I believed this can be a chill-out spot for cafe hoppers and parents (including paw-parents) to enjoy both food and scenery.

Le Jardin Restaurant
5 Cox Terrace, Level 2, Fort Canning Arts Centre, Singapore 179620
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Thurs), 8:30am – 9:30pm (Fri – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Merci Marcel (Tiong Bahru)
Rhubarb Le Restaurant (Duxton Hill)
Fleur De Sel (Tras Street)
Chez Suzette (Teck Lim Road)
French Fold (Telok Ayer Street)

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

Yishun is getting more and more ‘happening’ with a number of gelato cafes, from Bloom Artisan, No Horse Run Gelato, Holy Cow Creamery, Overscoop, Hyogaki, to the recently opened Moin Moin Gelato. (Is it can write Yishun café listicle already?)

“Moin” means “Hi”, “Hello”, “Good morning”, “Good night” and everything in between in German.

This gelato café decked in minimalist-white is found at 930 Yishun, a short 8 to 10 minutes’ walk from Northpoint City and Yishun MRT.

In fact, the famous ”No Name” 928 Yishun Laksa is just 2 blocks away.

Other than the usual gelato and waffles, the café also serves up bakes such as Brownies ($5.50), Chocolate Cake ($7.50) and drinks such as hot tea, hot chocolate, and ice brewed tea ($4.50 – $6).

However, note that there is NO coffee sold here, which is quite unusual for a ‘café’.

Anyway, classic scoops go for $3.90, superior for $4.70, and there is the premium at $5.40 – slightly on the expensive side for the “premium”.

Additional waffles is at an extra $5.00.

Classic gelato flavours include Black Sesame, Blue Pea Vanilla, Cookie & Cream, London Fog (Ear Grey Lavender), Salted Caramel and Yakult Vanilla.

The more expensive “Superior” flavours are Chocolate Stout, Matcha Azuki, Oolong Tea, Osmanthus Lychee, Peanut Butter Banana, Strawberry Biscoff, Valrhona Dark Chocolate, and White Chrysanthemum with Cocoa Nibs.

Premium are the Pistachio and Rum and Raisin.

I was told the most popular flavours are Pistachio, Osmanthus Lychee, and Rum and Raisin. Ah, server knows how to up-sell. lol

The Osmanthus Lychee was a more impressionable flavour due to fruity sweetness and delicate floral flavour.

Not that the Pistachio was any bad, the gelato was still rich and smooth (better than the average), but I had more nutty, earthy, aromatic pistachio flavours elsewhere.

The waffles had an enjoyable, crispy outside layer, while the inner was on the slight doughy side. Not bad.

Moin Moin Gelato
930 Yishun Central 1 #01-125, Singapore 760930
Opening Hours: 2pm – 10pm (Tues – Thurs), 2pm – 12am (Fri), 12pm – 12am (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon

Other Related Entries
Bloom Artisan (Yishun)
Play Gelato (Orchard)
La Creamery (Chai Chee Drive)
Naked Ice Cream (Upper Serangoon Road)
CakeArtelier Gelato Café (Bukit Timah)

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

Looking for food in the West of Singapore?

The Clementi Mall connected right next to Clementi MRT station is a six-storey shopping mall, home to several popular restaurants, cafes and food kiosks.

Some of the food highlights include Boleh Boleh! – a Halal-certified food concept offering Southeast Asian delights, JINJJA Chicken, Sushi Express, Ha Jun, and Ichiban Sushi.

Head down to the basement and you can find popular kiosks such as Shake Shake In A Tub, Stuff’d, Just Dough, Lao 2 Soup, Mr. Coconut, and more.

Here are 10 more tantalising food choices at The Clementi Mall:

Ramen Ichiro
The Clementi Mall #B1-34
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Ramen Ichiro, located at the basement of The Clementi Mall, offers a variety of ramen selection at affordable pricing.

You are looking at $12.90 value sets which include a 5-Pc Cha Shu Ramen with Gyoza (4 pcs) and Houji Tea; or Chicken Karaage Tsukemen with Gyoza (4 pcs) and Houji Tea.

Their specialty is the Cha Shu Ramen ($10.90) served in light milky tonkotsu soup, paired with long and thin Hakata style noodles, further topped with seasoned Cha Shu marinated in-house.

If you prefer other toppings, there are always options of pork chop, corn, spicy meat, pork shabu, scallops, yakibuta, and more.

Don’t miss their complimentary special: Umami Tare is provided for diners to add to their ramen. This Umami Tare concocted by the Japanese head chef enhances the soup with a spicy and savoury taste profile.

Go for the Yakibuta Pot Pie Tsukemen ($13.90)
Also notable is the Tsukemen with a creative twist which features the dipping broth served in a pot-pie featuring a light crispy pastry dome over the bowl.

This is like European-meets-Japanese style of eating. (This quirky way of presentation once won the title of “New Wave Ramen” on a famous Japanese TV programme.)

Choose from original rich tonkotsu soup or spicy tonkotsu soup served pot-pie style. Note that the dipping sauce is not meant to be drank, but for dipping of the housemade noodles.

Oh yes, the noodles can be upsized up to 3 times, for free.

Soup Restaurant
The Clementi Mall #03-62
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), Sat – Sun/PH- 11:30am – 10pm (Sat – Sun), Last order 30mins before closing

The 30-year-old home-grown brand Soup Restaurant is known for its repertoire of homespun dishes as well as double-boiled soups.

The must-have signature dish is the familiar Samsui Ginger Chicken (from $20.90), traditionally consumed by nation-building Samsui women in Chinatown.

You get a platter of beautifully arranged steamed chicken with minimal seasoning along with sliced cucumber. All you need to do is to dip those succulent chicken pieces into the fragrant ginger sauce to appreciate the savoury flavours.

The other step is to wrap the chicken in lettuce, to savour the contrast between the moist chicken and crunchy vegetables.

Go for the Hometown Tofu ($11.90)
One of the other popular dishes to try at Soup Restaurant is the Hometown Tofu – handmade till smooth and silky and freshly prepared daily.

Other favourites include the Traditional Boiled Soup of the Day. Prepared with a medley of the freshest ingredients, each bowl of soup is boiled and simmered over low heat, making this a nourishing accompaniment on any day.

Comforting options include Lotus Roots with Pork Ribs Soup, Trio Carrot with Pork Ribs Soup, Sweet Corn with Pork Ribs Soup and more.

Promotion:
$10 OFF when you pay with Citibank credit/ debit card with min spend $80. Valid till 30 Sep 2021.

Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen
The Clementi Mall #03-54
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last order 9:30pm (Mon – Fri), 10:30am – 10pm Last order 9:30pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

A name that needs little further introduction – Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen is well-loved for its extensive repertoire of classic and inventive Cantonese dim sum, roast meats, noodles and congee, wok-fried specialities, as well as comforting home-style dishes.

Some of the best-selling dishes here include Crystal Jade Signature Pork Belly ($18.80 for regular), Chilled Marinated Turnip with Plum ($5.30), Crispy Homemade Organic Tofu with Preserved Vegetable & Prawn ($16.80 for regular), Poached ‘Long Hu’ Garoupa Fillet with ‘Yunnan’ Ham in Thick Soup ($30.80 for regular), Fried Brown Rice with Black Bean Dace Fish & Egg White ($16.80 for regular), and Classic Hong Kong Egg Noodle with Shredded Char Siew & Superior Soya Sauce ($9.80 per person).

For Dim sum lovers, there is a range of tempting Hong Kong dim sum and pastries available for lunch, from Steamed Siew Mai with Fish Roe ($6.30 for 4 pcs), Baked Egg Tart ($5.30 for 3 pcs), to Steamed Salted Egg Yolk Custard Bun ($5.80 for 3pcs) which envelopes luscious sweet and savoury salted egg yolk fillings.

Go for the Live Prawn Congee with Salted Egg served in Claypot ($23.80, good for 2 persons)
This is one of the latest additions to the current range of Cantonese style-congee, and has quickly landed to be one of my favourites at Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen.

The velvety-smooth congee is laboriously slow cooked with top quality grain rice, served in a claypot that keeps every mouthful warm and comforting.

The pot is also brimming with quality ingredients of live prawns and salted egg which adds that touch of savouriness to the nourishing mix.

Ideal for sharing among two to three diners.

The Clementi Mall Promotion: 10% OFF Total Bill on Ala Carte Items For DFD Readers
– Discount is applicable to all a la carte menu items and for dine-in and takeaway only.
– Promotion valid daily till 30 September 2021.
– Valid at Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen (The Clementi Mall outlet only).
– Not valid with other promotions, discounts, vouchers or loyalty programmes unless stated otherwise.
– Earning and redemption of Crystal Jade’s JPoints is not allowed.
– The management reserves the right to change the terms and conditions without prior notice.
– Article must be presented at point of billing to enjoy the promotion.

OOTOYA
The Clementi Mall #03-53
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm Last order 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Ootoya 大戸屋 is known to serve up family-favourites Teishoku 定食 or set meal in the menu. Teishoku is a standard for the Japanese eating experience, which includes a main item, bowl of rice, miso soup and some Japanese pickles, usually served all together on a rectangular platter.

Their home-style food is cooked without added preservatives and flavourings, which also taste healthier and lighter on the palate.

Some of the recommended main dishes include Steamed Pork & Vegetables, Tori Kurozu (Chicken), Tara Kurozu (Fish), Grilled Chicken, Grilled Pork Belly, Saba, and Salmon.

I enjoyed the Crispy Fried Chicken and Ample Vegetables with Black Vinegar Sauce ($12.50 ala carte, $17.50 for set) with the set featuring generous portion with rice, miso soup, pickles and even chawanmushi. Value-for-money indeed.

Special mention goes to Ootoya’s black vinegar, which is made by fermenting pure brown rice over a long period, which gives an appealing sweet and sour taste when mixed together with ingredients.

Go for the Simmered Thinly Sliced Vegetables (Japanese Sukiyaki) in a Hot Pot ($21.00 ala carte, $26.00 for set)
A wholesome treat especially during cold weather days, the cooking broth is prepared using natural flavours of meats and vegetables.

The set comes with generous slices of beef, accompanied by vegetables and various other ingredients, all cooked in a rich, sweet broth.

Pick up the tender slices of beef to dip into the onsen egg for a further delicious sticky coating.

So Pho
The Clementi Mall #04-34
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last order 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

At So Pho, you can savour a medley of authentic and traditional Vietnamese street food that are also Halal-certified.

The casual restaurant offers classics from Vietnamese pho, Banh Mi, Summer Rolls, Spring Rolls, to Banh Xeo, so that you can enjoy inexpensive Vietnamese cuisine right here in sunny Singapore.

The Pho Noodle Soup with Slice Beef, Beef Ball, Brisket and Tendon ($12.50) is a complete meal in itself with its flavourful soup, smooth rice noodles, thin slices of beefs, bouncy beef balls, brisket, soft tendon, and fresh greens.

The deep flavour of the broth comes from long hours of simmering bones with a mixture of herbs for more than 10 hours. Available in spicy and non-spicy versions.

There are also condiments such as beansprouts, lime wedges, mint and chilli padi which you can add to taste.

Go for the Mixed Appetisers ($13.50)
This plate comes with 3 classic Vietnamese street food – Prawn Cake with Sugar Cane, Summer Roll with Prawn & Chicken, and Fried Spring Rolls.

Great for those who want to savour the taste of Vietnam all-in-one dish.

The Clementi Mall Promotion:
Weekday Bundle Deals at $14.80. Choice of one main dish (differs every day) + appetiser (Summer Roll & Spring Roll) + 1 Drink (Iced Lemongrass Tea or Lychee Iced Tea)

ENG’s Heritage
The Clementi Mall #04-33A
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

ENG’s Heritage is where you can get many local favourites and beverages at one space, featuring the specialty Wantan Noodle, Ngoh Hiang with Bee Hoon, Local Coffee and Tea.

Talking about local kopi, look out for their 50 cents tea-time special from 3pm to 5pm. The iced versions are also affordably priced at a dollar.

ENG’s Wantan Noodle ($4.50, $5.50) should be a recognisable plate to many, known for its springy noodles ($4.80) tossed in fiery-spicy sauce, along with nicely-charred char siew, wantan and free-flow crackling fried pork lard.

Go for Zhong Zhong Ngoh Hiang
Zhong Zhong Ngoh Hiang serves a wide variety of freshly prepared ngoh hiang items to go along old-school style fried bee hoon.

Popular items to get include Prawn Fritter, Ngoh Hiang Roll, Beansprout Fritter, Pork Sausage, Liver Roll, Vegetable Spring Fritter, Spring Roll, Seafood Roll and Chestnut Pancake.

The Ngoh Hiang is prepared using the traditional five spice-powder (cinnamon, clove, peppercorns, ground fennel seeds, 8-star anise) to season, that helps retain that familiar heritage flavour.

The Clementi Mall Promotion (Weekday Special):
10am – 12pm: $1 for second cup of coffee/tea onwards (per cup)
3pm – 5pm: $0.50 per cup of coffee/tea

Mei Heong Yuen Dessert
The Clementi Mall #04-19
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Always leave some room for desserts and sweet treats. Mei Heong Yuen Dessert味香园甜品 which was founded in 2002 at Temple Street in Chinatown, has another outlet at The Clementi Mall.

If you love desserts, then there is a huge variety from Yam Paste aka Orh Nee ($3.50), Almond Paste ($3.50), Egg Pudding with Ginger ($3.50), Milk Pudding ($4), Herbal Jelly ($3.50), Almond Paste ($3.50) to Walnut Paste ($3.50).

A refreshing popular choice will be the Mango Pomelo Sago aka Yang Zhi Gan Lu ($5.50) with a tangy blend of cool mango puree, pomelo and sago – just right for the warm day.

Mei Heong Yuen Dessert is also known for its melt-in-your-mouth Taiwanese style snow-ice desserts, with huge range of delectable offerings from Mango Ice ($5.50), Sesame Ice ($4.50), Chocolate Ice ($5.50) to Chendol Ice ($6.50).

Go for the Peanut Paste ($3.50)
The brand’s roots can be traced back to the iconic Farmer Brand Peanuts which is used to prepare this signature dessert bowl.

Its peanut paste is fragrant and delicately grounded to give a smooth texture such that you won’t find any presence of any peanut bits.

Eighteen Chefs
The Clementi Mall #05-16
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm Last order 9pm (Sun – Thurs, PH), 11:30am – 10pm Last order 9:30pm (Fri, Sat, Eve of PH)

It is not wrong to say that Eighteen Chefs have been part of many Singaporeans’ growing up and student years.

Customers go for their extensive range of western food at affordable prices, from Prawn Aglio Olio ($15.80), Truffle Cheese Fusilli ($12.80), Tom Yum Seafood Fusilli ($13.80), Striploin ($16.80) to BBQ Chicken ($10.80).

The best-selling dishes includes their Legendary Burgers, Be Your Own Chef series, and Heart Attack Fried Rice.

Their famed Heart Attack Fried Rice can be included with ingredients of Grilled Chicken ($12.80), Tempura Fish Fillet ($16.20), Striploin ($17.80), Striploin Steak with Black Pepper Chicken Sausage ($18.80), to Ribeye Steak with Black Pepper Sausage ($20.80).

Go for the “BYOC” Be Your Own Chef
This is where you can customise your own meal with oozy goodness of melted cheese paired with your favourite choice of carbs, a selection of 7 sauces and 13 ingredients.

Starting from $9.20, first pick the choice of Baked Rice or Pasta, sauces (including black pepper, spicy garlic, Japanese curry, creamy white), and ingredients from grilled chicken, grilled fish, sliced beef steak, salmon, seafood and more.

Student Meals are available from $8.80 under the Be Your Own Chef category – all-day weekdays and from 11:30am to 5pm weekends.

HotPot by Seoul Garden Group
The Clementi Mall #05-18
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)

HotPot by Seoul Garden Group features an array Korean Personal Hot Pots served piping-hot in generous portions, fulfilling a well-balanced diet with many other Korean dishes such as Bibimbap, Korean Juk (Congee) and Banchan (sides).

Need something for the cold weather?

Then their Soon Dubu Seafood Hot Pot ($17), Braised Beef Army Stew Hot Pot ($16), and Kimchi Seafood Hot Pot ($16) should comfort. There is even a Chaeshik IMPOSSIBLE Beef Hot Pot ($20) for a meat-free option.

The must-try signature item in HotPot by Seoul Garden Group is their Ginseng Chicken Hot Pot ($18). This includes a scrumptious serving of a fresh quarter chicken thigh double-boiled up to 5 hours using fresh ginseng roots.

The ginseng is said to be an anti-ageing and energy boosting ingredient which helps to boost the immune system. Note that there is limited serving of 30 portions daily.

Go for the NEW Juk Series (Korean Congee)
The Korean Juk or congee here is simmered in a dried scallops congee base, for a rich and flavourful finish.

On top of that, each pot of Juk is topped with premium ingredients along with wolfberry, sliced ginger, seaweed and dough fritters. This is further paired with kimchi pickle for a tangy and savoury balance.

There are options of Collagen Umami Juk ($18) with sea cucumber and fish maw, Scallop Umami Juk ($18), Abalone Umami Juk ($18), and IMPOSSIBLE Beef Umami Juk ($15).

The Clementi Mall Promotion: Exclusive Set at $45++ (U.P. $55+)
Includes 1x Scallop Umami Juk, 1x Ginseng Chicken Hot Pot, 1x Prawn Japchae and 2x Korean Barley Tea (free flow, hot/cold)
– Customers must flash this post to enjoy promotion.
– Promotion is valid for dine-in only at HotPot By Seoul Garden Group The Clementi Mall outlet till 30 September 2021.
– Not valid in conjunction with other discounts, promotion or vouchers.
– Seoul Garden Group reserves the right to change the terms and conditions without prior notice.

Yakiniku Like
The Clementi Mall #05-35
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Known as the first ‘Fast-Food Style’ Japanese Yakiniku BBQ restaurant in Singapore, Yakiniku Like has opened at The Clementi Mall.

What you get are individual electric smokeless grills or “hitori yakiniku” (one-person barbecue), in which diners can grill good quality meats at reasonable prices.

A quick-service concept, the restaurant can serve each order within three minutes. Also, you won’t get that lingering ‘fragrance’ on your clothes.

There are 10 set meals (including promotion sets) to choose from, with the all-time favourite Karubi Set ($9.80 for 100g) being the most popular. The beef short plate set comes with tender slices of beef, a bowl of soup, rice and a choice of salad or kimchi.

Also go for their Wagyu Set ($19.80 for 120g, $29.80 for 180g) with meats imported from Australia – the beautifully marbled steak that promises a depth of flavour and tenderness.

This is to be dipped in their proprietary in-house sauces such as LIKE Original BBQ Sauce, Garlic Soy Sauce, Sea Salt Sauce, and Spicy Miso Sauce.

Go for the Yakiniku Like’s Garlic Butter
The restaurant’s famed Garlic Butter dipping sauce is back by popular demand, heat up the fragrant dipping sauce on the grill, wait for the butter to melt and dip the tender meats in to enjoy.

Available till 30 September 2021 or while stocks last.

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with The Clementi Mall.

Hui Ji Fishball Noodles & Yong Tau Foo 輝記魚圓面 at the famous Tiong Bahru Food Centre is not only one of those widely-publicised stalls, but it has many regulars as its fans. I can be considered one of them.

If you have eaten fishball noodles in Singapore, there are some distinguishable similarities, including bouncy fishballs in a vinegary sauce with pork lard.

They are often sold together with Minced Pork Noodles aka Bak Chor Mee.

However, Hui Ji has a slightly different take. This stall also serves up Yong Tau Foo, and the sauce has a sweetish and also fish-sauce like tinge within.

They are one of the original hawkers from the old Seng Poh Market. It is considered old-school and no-frills, yet not alike your conventional fishball noodles.

There used to be a long line in the morning which easily beats many of the other well-known stalls in the same food centre, but the queue has diminished in the last recent few years.

With pricing at $3 and $4, it is now more possible to march forward and face with a much shorter line.

What I like about this stall: One word – the sauce.

The old uncle whips on a bowl of QQ noodles basking in a tasty and unique-tasting sweet and salty sauce with crunchy pork lards.

The bowl includes ingredients of handmade fishballs, fish dumplings (her kiao), sliced fish cake and tender pork slices.

However, I must add that the taste may not be that consistent all the time – sometimes the sauce seemed lacking (as I ordered from here quite frequently.) When it is good, it is very good.

The fishballs are on the smaller side, but they have a lovely springy texture but not as ‘watery’ as some may have preferred.

Though some people may find the soup on a tad sweet, I am okay with that.

As for the Yong Tau Foo, you can leave it to them to assign the ingredients of fried beancurd skin, tau pok, fish cake, fish ngoh hiang, tau kee, to green chilli.

The winning factor is again the sweet Yong Tau Foo sauce mixed together with the original fishball noodle sauce base which gives that winning savoury-fragrant combination.

Hui Ji Fishball Noodles & Yong Tau Foo
30 Seng Poh Road, Tiong Bahru Food Centre #02-44, Singapore 168898
Opening Hours: 5:30am – 2:30pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sun), Closed Wed

Other Related Entries
10 Must-Try FISHBALL MEEPOK In Singapore
Xin Lu Teo Chew Fishball Noodle 新路 (Mei Ling Food Centre)
Ah Ter Teochew Fishball Noodles (Amoy Street Food Centre)
Hock Seng Choon Fish Ball Kway Teow Mee (Bedok South Food Centre)
Ru Ji Kitchen (Holland Drive)

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

Another day, another new tempura and tendon shop in Singapore.

Tempura Makino is no stranger to the tempura-business, first established in 2006 with over 10 outlets in Japan.

The chain specialises in serving the “Tsudoage” style of tempura – made to order and served one by one. The same flour, dashi and dipping sauces used are all imported from Japan.

One cannot help but notice that it is first opened at Suntec City (the next at VivoCity), with Tendon Kohaku one of the ‘pioneer’ restaurants which started the tendon trend in Singapore a short walk away.

(Then again, Suntec City is also big many may not bother to walk to that end.) If you are lost, Tempura Makino is near the Convention Centre side, above H&M/Uniqlo, a few restaurants away from Din Tai Fung.

First impression, lovely environment with counter, booth and usual restaurant table seating arrangements giving some of those Japanese vibes.

While the restaurant has been marketed as serving tempura starting with $1.50 per piece, nobody is going to order just one Japanese Eggplant or Lotus Root Tempura and walk away, right?

If you add all that up, it may cost quite a bit on that bill.

For its ambience and setting, the prices are still considered reasonable, with sets such as Chicken Tempura ($14), Vegetables Tempura ($13), Prawn & Vegetable Tempura ($16), and Anago & Seafood Tempura ($23).

Of course you can order individual pieces from Prawn ($2.80), Kisu Fish ($2.80), Oyster ($3.80), Squid ($2.80), Anago ($6.80), Scallop ($6.80), to even Uni Ohba ($8.80).

I went straight for the Makino Special Tendon ($25) which is considered pricey than the average, but was at least filled with bountiful ingredients of 3 pieces of Prawns, Kisu Fish, Anago, Squid, Maitake, Butternut Pumpkin, French Bean and Egg served on Rice.

The verdict: the batter was light and appetisingly-crisp, more oishii than some of the recent tempura openings. It wasn’t particularly greasy as well.

The one feedback I had was the drizzling of the tendon sauce. A part of the bowl got heavily drenched. So pro-point: it made that area tastier yet some of the tempura pieces soggier.

A large half of the bowl (plus the bottom) ended up being rather plain.

Is this the best casual tempura you can find in Singapore?

I would think Kohaku (and some of the others) had a more delicious crunch, though I haven’t had that in a while and cannot vouch for its recent standard.

The item that was the highlight was none other than the Tempura Egg, oozing out with beautiful golden yolk outside its crispy exterior.

Tempura Makino
Suntec City Mall #02-305/308/311 Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
9 Tendon Specialty Restaurants In Singapore
Kogane Yama (Bugis Junction)
Kure Menya (Frasers Tower)
Donburi-Ya (CityLink Mall)
Tamoya Udon (Plaza Singapura)

* 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 creative and catchy name which means “burgers” in Mandarin, Hambaobao is known to serve interesting Asian-inspired artisanal burgers at an affordable pricing.

It first started off as a food stall located at Beauty World Food Centre in 2014 to relative popularity, and subsequently ended operations there during November 2019.

It is now back with a physical store at Sam Leong Road, Jalan Besar.

The news about the permanent closure of their stall in 2019 was sudden, as their business was brisk with their fair share of loyal customers.

However, Hambaobao wasn’t really gone for good as they could be seen at the various pop-ups such as the recent one at Yeast Side in July this year.

They are also behind the sandwiches serve at Asylum Coffeehouse – which happened to be just 5 minutes’ walk from this new location.

Located at Level 3 of Trio, Hambaobao is no longer a food stall but a full-fledged eatery with their own air-conditioned space.

The 30-seater space is decked in navy green, from the floor to the tables and chairs with an industrial look, equipped with a cemented bar counter and old-school white tiles.

Customers can choose to sit on the high stools along the bar counter (which can get a little smoky) or next to the floor-to-ceiling window seats with a nice birdie view of the area.

Their menu remains the same as their days at Beauty World Food Centre, with about $2.50 increase in price.

The increase in price is reasonable considering that diners can now eat in the comfort of an air-conditioned environment, without ended up becoming a sweaty ‘HanBaoBao’（汗宝宝）.

Bringing back their 5 signature burgers, they include The Classic Beef ($7.50), What The Fish! ($8), Crispy Pork Belly ($8), Spiced Pulled Pork, and Ayam Buah Keluak ($8).

Sides include their Hand-Cut Fries ($2.50) with optional add-ons Beef Patty ($2.50), Cheddar/ Mozzarella Cheese ($0.50) and Bacon ($0.70).

The What The Fish! ($8) came with 2 slices of dory fish topped with tartar sauce, zucchini and cheese.

Their buns are still as soft and pillowy as I remembered, giving a nice chewy texture in contrast to the firm and flavourful dory fish.

The grilled fish slices add a smokiness to the overall flavour, not too overwhelming yet adding complexity to this artisanal burger.

One thing to note, because of the sheer amount of fillings sandwiched between the soft buns, ingredients slipped out easily without cutlery provided.

Do prepare some wet tissue in advance when it can get a little messy.

The Hand-Cut Fries ($2.50) is worth a mention, made from real potatoes with the skin intact, deep-fried to a golden-brown shade that was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.

To complete the meal, Hambaobao has introduced an entire new dessert menu that comes with funky names.

Choose from a selection of homemade pastries such as Mama G’s Sugee ($4.50), DarkAngel_1992_ ($4.50), Not Cream Pie ($5) which is a key lime pie, Dee’z Booze Balls ($4.50), Apom Berkuah ($5) and Pineapple Cake ($5).

The Apom Berkuah is a traditional Peranakan dessert made of mini pancakes with blue swirls from butterfly pea flowers and served with a banana caramel sauce on the side.

Instead of going the traditional way, the Apom Berkuah ($5) here is made in the form of a Swiss roll with blue swirls which seems to look like Minions at a glance.

I enjoyed the smooth and velvety banana fillings in between the layers of sponge cake, which are light, moist and fluffy.

Considering that burgers and fries tend to be more greasy, the desserts are definitely a good add-ons to the menu.

It’s a nostalgic feeling to see familiar faces returning back to the F&B scene after a hiatus, offering the same affordable classic items, same flavours from the same culinary team. Welcome back, Hambaobao.

Hambaobao
Trio, 11 Sam Leong Rd, #03-08, Singapore 207903
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
22 Best Burgers In Singapore
Ashes Burnnit (Golden Mile Food Centre)
Carne Singapore (Amoy Street)
Creatr. (Stirling Road)
Burger Bench & Bar (Amoy Street)

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

Active Garden at Gardens By The Bay is the newest non-ticketed green outdoor space located near to the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, along the Waterfront Promenade.

Replacing where the defunct Fennel Cafe was, Mylo’s focuses on a wide range (read 23) of gelato flavours.

In addition, Fennel Cafe at Pollen within the Flower Dome has also ceased to exist, and is replaced by Hortus that serves wood-grilled dishes.

Their location is strategically located along the popular running and cycling track that connects Marina Bay Sands to Gardens by the Bay.

If you are taking public transport, head towards Exit B of Bayfront MRT station and walk along the Dragonfly Lake, past the Orient Express Pop-Up all the way to the end of the track and it is located right next to the Waterfront Plaza.

With the same layout as Fennel Cafe, the 90 seaters space is divided into both alfresco and indoors area, with a pet-friendly outdoors area for 50 pax.

Ample amount of sunlight can be seen pouring through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows on a sunny day, where diners will be surrounded by the greeneries in the Gardens that gives off a chill and relaxing vibe.

Brown elements are seen incorporated into the wooden ceiling, tables and stools and rattan chairs, which further enhances the tropical look.

As a pit stop for the exercise enthusiasts, their menu features light bites such as Pastries ($6), Tarts ($11), Toasted Panini ($11), Gelato (Single $5, Double $8), Affogato’s ($10), Coffee ($5 – $7), Chai ($5) and Booze ($8 – $16).

Generally the menu is similar to their previous concept at Cafe Fennel, with a change in emphasis on their gelato instead.

The gelato menu has expanded from the previous 8 flavours to the current 23 flavours, ranging from 2 alcoholic, 6 non-dairy options and classic flavours.

Non-dairy flavours include Alphonso Mango, Lemon, Jasmine Oolong, Coconut Pandan, Lychee Raspberry Rose and Pineapple Sichuan Pepper whereas alcoholic ones include Margarita and Gin Tonic.

Customers can choose to add a Waffle Cone at an additional $2 or a Brioche Bun at an additional $3.

Alternatively, they offer Affogato’s ($10) that are essentially Sundaes with various toppings.

My Affogato’s ($10) came with a scoop of Vanilla and Himalayan Pink Salt Gelato with seasonal fruit compote.

While the texture of the gelato is smooth and creamy, the combination somehow reminds me of commercial sundaes from a fast food chain, at a fraction of the price.

On the other hand, their strength still lies in the Lemon Tart ($11) which comes with dollops of meringue sprinkled with kaffir lime for the extra refreshing zest.

Definitely not the cheapest at $11 per tart, it was enjoyable and well-balanced, with a buttery tart crust that had a firm and crumbly texture, whereas the lemon curd was light, smooth and velvety with the right amount of tartness.

The unassuming slice of Carrot Cake ($6) is worth a mention, with a decrease in price and a very soft and moist texture, not too dense and well complemented by the butter cream above.

Furthermore, the walnuts embedded within it gave it a good contrasting texture without interfering with the overall taste.

Throwback blend, a 2-beans-blend of Brazil and Guatemala, roasted by PPP Coffee is used for their espresso-based drinks: Long Black ($5), Macchiato ($5), Cappuccino ($6), Latte ($6) and Mocha ($7).

My cup of Flat White ($7) had a medium body, non-acidic, smooth and robust with a dark chocolate with roasted nuts taste.

In addition, Mylo’s also offer dog treats such as Pumpkin & Oatmeal/ Peanut Butter & Whole Wheat Biscuits ($2) and Bone Broth/ Yogurt & Fruit Popsicles ($5) for the fur kids so they can enjoy something cooling after a stroll under the sun.

Mylo’s
18 Marina Gardens Drive, #01-01, Singapore 018953
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Wed – Thurs), 8am – 10pm (Fri – Sun), Closed Mon, Tues

Other Related Entries
Around (Tampines)
Sweet Cheeks Gelato (Jalan Besar)
Up in Smoke (West Coast)
Play Gelato (Orchard)
La Creamery (Chai Chee Drive)

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

Kovan 高文 located within the town of Hougang and situated east of Serangoon (and part of Aljunied GRC), is home to many popular eateries, supper spots, and of course Kovan Market and Food Centre.

There are also many hipster cafes such as Ice Edge Cafe, The Bread Shop, Flavour Flings, Tie Fun Wan and The Humble Scoop.

Check out the following 10 popular (and some new) cafes at Kovan:

Amber Ember
730 Upper Serangoon Road, #01-01, Singapore 534613
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm (Tues – Fri), 10am – 6pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon

Charming Chic Café With Breakfast Bowls, Pasta and Jaffles
Amber Ember is located off Serangoon Central, at a standalone building situated next to Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre.

They have recently expanded with a cleaner look and wider range of items.

On its menu are Jaffles, Sourdough, Breakfast Bowls, Pasta, Buttermilk Waffles, Snacks and Bakes.

Some of the pasta dishes offered include Miso Butter Prawn ($24), Beef Cheek Ragu ($23), and Truffle Mushroom Sage ($21).

There are four types of Jaffes – brioche sandwiches pressed in cast iron, served with side or rocket or tapioca chips. Choices include Cheesus Loves You ($12), Fowl Play ($12), Truffle Fun-Guy ($12), and Nice to Meat You 2.0 ($13).

For something more filling, have a go at their Sourdough options of Curried Mentaiko Egg Mayo ($14), Anti Smashed Avo ($15.50) and locally-inspired Sambal Scramble ($16.50) topped with sambal chorizo mince and chilli threads. Amber Ember (Upper Serangoon)

Lola’s Cafe
5 Simon Road, Singapore 545893
Tel: +65 6284 0349
Opening Hours: 10am – 10:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

One Of Kovan’s Most Popular Café For Comforting Brunch And Baked Treats
Residents staying near Kovan should be familiar with Lola’s Café, which is the to-go-to brunch place in that area.

Known for its unpretentious food, it is typically packed with groups of families and friends during the weekends, especially for the brunch hours from 10am to 3pm.

For brunch, offerings include comforting plates Pulled Pork & Avocado Eggs Benedict ($16), Miso Salmon Grain Bowl ($18), Basil Pesto Mushroom Toast ($14), Ultimate Croissant ($15), Angus Beef Burger ($18), and Bacon & Mushroom Truffle Cream Linguine ($16).

Head over for dinner and find Tomato Swimmer Crab Linguine ($18), Battered Fish & Chips ($16), Beef Cheeks with Barley Risotto ($20), Tuscan Seafood Stew ($19) and Garlic Soy Fried Chicken Burger ($16).

Go for the Crab Cake Benedict ($18) which consist of handmade crab cake on toasted English muffins, topped with miso hollandaise sauce and furikake.

Not forgetting the poached eggs as well. As you cut across, the combination of oozy egg yolk, moist crab cake and unique miso hollandaise may just create that mini explosion in your mouth.

Eleven Strands
66 Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore 545568
Tel: +65 9487 1398
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9:30pm (Tue – Thurs), 12pm – 10pm (Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat), 11am – 9pm (Sun), Closed Mon

Undiscovered Affordable Italian & French Dining At Serangoon
From the team which founded South Union Park at Kembangan, Elevens Strands is their Italian and French dining concept which have found themselves a home at Kovan.

New items on the menu include Seafood Risotto, Truffle Mushroom Cream Pasta, Chicken Burger, Honey Baked Ham & Eggs, Wagyu Beef & Sausage, Mushroom Risotto and NZ Angus Ribeye Steak.

They also serve up pasta offerings from garlicky Bacon Aglio Olio ($19), tomato-based Beef Bolognese ($21) to dairy-based Bacon Cream Pasta.

I had the Crab Meat Pasta ($25) that came tossed in tangy red tomato sauce and crab meat woven in between, which can be tasted with every mouthful.

The Vongole Pasta ($22) also left an impression with its plump juicy clams simmered in light aromatic white wine sauce and further scented with garlic & herb fragrance. Eleven Strands (Yio Chu Kang Road)

The Garden Slug Petite
37 Lowland Rd, Singapore 547440
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9pm (Mon, Wed, Thurs), 11:30am – 10pm (Fri), 9:30am – 10pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Tue

Pets-Friendly Cafe At Kovan Offering Bagels And Waffles
The Garden Slug has got to be one of the oldest-standing cafes around in Singapore, having been around at Lor L Telok Kurau since 2006.

After 15 years, they decided to expand with a “petite” concept to the central region at Kovan, just 3 minutes’ walk from the MRT station.

Plus point, pretty spacious for pets to roam around, so fur parents will have an additional option in the hood.

Their interior is vastly different from the previous outlet, with a brighter and a tropical touch, a potted plant on every table.

Focusing on brunch dishes at this outlet, offerings include Soup ($6.90), Starters ($12.90 – $13.90), Salad ($13.90 – $16.90), Pasta ($13.90), Bagels ($12.90 – $16.90), Waffles and Gelato (from $9.50).

Their selection of Bagels seems interesting, ranging from Double Eggs Benny ($12.90) to Chilli Con Carne ($16.90), Shrimp Avocado ($16.90), Chicken Alfafa ($16.90), Tuna Mentaiko Bagel Pizza ($16.90) and The Slug Garden Bagel Pizza ($16.90).

For a more substantial meal, their Waffles is served with various options of one scoop ($9.50), double ($13.50) or five scoops of gelato ($23.50) suitable for sharing or one hungry dessert lover. The Garden Slug Petite (Kovan)

Naked Ice Cream
957 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534717
Opening Hours: 2pm – 2am (Mon – Sun)

Ice Cream Cafe With Rock Melon Flavour, Opens Till 2AM Everyday
Naked Ice Cream is a new ice cream parlour in the hot foodie stretch of Kovan, lined with popular joints such as Breakfast Club, Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap, Ding Tele, Punggol Nasi Lemak, and Qi Xiang Chicken Pot.

The plus points of Naked Ice Cream other than the cheeky name: it is opened till 2AM every day for supper goers, and the plain waffles is priced at $3.80 – considered more affordable than many new cafes.

On its menu are classic ($3.80) and premium flavours ($4.80) such as Speculoos Cookies Butter, Mint Cookie Chip, Hojicha Green Tea, Strawberry Cheese Cake, Earl Grey Tea, Milo Dinosaur, Cookie Monster, Lychee Lime, and Hokkaido Milk.

So I went for the more interesting sounding Yubari Rock Melon with a delightful fruity sweetness, though I wished it was either creamier or more ‘sorbet-y’ while this was somewhere in middle.

Note that a number of the ice cream flavours are slightly on the sweet side. Naked Ice Cream (Upper Serangoon Road)

Two Cranes
Blk 211 Hougang Street 21 #01-291, Singapore 530211
Tel: +65 8166 0140
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Thurs, Sun), 9am – 9:30pm (Fri – Sat)

Korean Inspired Café With Bibimbap, Naengmyeon And Army Stew
Inspired by Korean Café Scene, Two Cranes is a neighbourhood café found in Kovan which serves a focused selection of Korean-themed food, bingsu dessert and hand-crafted beverages.

Brunch items available from 9am to 3pm include Two Cranes’ Big Breakfast ($18.90), Salmon Scrambled ($16.90), Simple Brekkie ($16.90), Beef Shakshuka ($14.90), and Spicy Dakgalbi Chicken Scrambled (15.90).

Some of the Korean-style mains available from 12pm to 9pm are Wonda Army Stew ($16.90), Fu Bibimbab ($13.90), Kimchi Fried Rice ($12.90) and Jjajangmyeon ($12.90).

I went for the Bibimbap ($13.90) which came with an assortment of ingredients such as spicy sliced chicken, carrots, golden corn, sauteed mushrooms topped with sous vide egg, gochujang dressing and sesame oil.

I liked the cosy ambience at Two Cranes and they have managed to leave an impression on their hand-crafted beverages. Two Cranes (Hougang)

See You Latte
988 Upper Serangoon Road #01-15, Stars of Kovan, Singapore 534733
Opening Hours: 8am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Off-The-Radar Café At Kovan, With Rendang Pasta, Matcha Burnt Cheesecake Nestled within the enclave of Stars at Kovan, See You Caffe serves a small menu of Asian & Western fusion delights, few a few options available on a daily rotating basis.

While their website menu promises a vast range of western offerings, the only food options available were such as Curry Chicken, Beef Rendang and Carbonara during my point of visit.

I opted for the Beef Rendang with Pasta Set ($11.90) which came with a choice of selected beverage like coffee or tea. Quite a good deal.

There was a rather wide selection of bakes and desserts available on the display cabinet like Butter Croissant ($4.50), Double Chocolate Muffin ($3.90) and Matcha Azuki Cake ($4.90), some of them supplier sourced.

SugarTree Gelato
988 Upper Serangoon Road #01-28, Stars of Kovan, Singapore 533734
Opening Hours: 2pm – 10pm (Tue – Fri), 12pm – 10pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon

Gelato Cafe With Banana Milk And Raspberry Rose Flavours
From the team that bought you Two Bakers, SugarTree Gelato is their latest venture and features an assortment of gelato made from scratch using all-natural premium ingredients.

This is a hole-in-a-wall mainly takeaway kiosk located within Stars of Kovan.

Some of the notable gelato flavours were Keylime Cheesecake, Passionfruit Mint and Lemongrass Ginger.

Single scoop retails for $4.20 and Double scoop going at $7.60, with a $0.80 top-up for Premium flavour gelato.

I was particularly intrigued by the Banana Milk, which reminded me of the famous Korean bottled beverage. The only difference is that real banana fruit goes into the gelato making process.

The owners shared that they use only ripened banana to achieve its natural sweetness, with no addition of artificial flavouring.

It was like having a real banana fruit, with a touch of creaminess. SugarTree Gelato (Hougang)

The Bread Rack
9, Yio Chu Kang Road, #01-55, Space@Kovan, Singapore 545523
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm (Mon, Thurs – Sun), Closed Tues, Wed

Artisan Bakery Cafe Serving Freshly Made Sourdoughs
Located near Hougang and Serangoon, The Bread Rack is at Yio Chu Kang Road within Space@Kovan is one of the newest bakery cafes opened in that area.

It is directly opposite Korean café Urban Table , and next to the famous Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee and Dim Sum House.

Stepping inside, I was pleasantly surprised by the huge industrial themed space with tall ceilings and a spacious compound with 20 seats.

Diners can choose between Baguette ($3.80), Country Loaf ($9), Seeded Sourdough ($10) and Honey Wholewheat ($10) from one rack and Butter Croissant ($4), Almond Croissant ($5), Pain Au Chocolate ($4.50) and Raisins Scroll ($4.80) on the other rack for either dine-in or takeaway.

My favourite was the Almond Croissant ($5) came with sliced almond and icing sugar as toppings, with smooth, velvety almond cream filling on the inside.

The outer layer of the croissant was crispy and flaky, whereas the inner layers and moist and creamy, giving it a good textural contrast. The Bread Rack (Yio Chu Kang)

Urban Table
10A-E Yio Chu Kang Rd, ICB Shopping Centre, Singapore 545524
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 6pm (Mon – Sat), 8:30am – 7pm (Sun)

Korean-Inspired Minimalist Bakery & Specialty Coffee Café
Urban Table is located at ICB Shopping Centre, slightly further down from iconic eateries such as Song Kee Eating House and Eleven Strands. (Right opposite, there is a humble dim sum eatery called Dim Sum House.)

Upon stepping into the Urban Table, I was welcomed by its cosy laid-back vibes and spacious minimalist store configuration.

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.

While not extensive, their food menu offers 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).

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

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)

Other Related Entries
12 Capitol Singapore & CHIJMES Restaurants
10 Pretty Pink Cafes In Singapore
6 Potong Pasir Cafes
16 UPPER THOMSON Cafes
10 SIGLAP Cafes In The East Coast

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

I remember first writing about Grub in 2013, and have recommended quite a number of friends to the place.

In fact, when MediaCorp wanted me to do up a special modern-local dish for a programme some time back, the Grub team was the first people I thought about.

Unfortunately, they will be closing by early next year as their lease at Bishan Park is not renewed.

Message from Grub’s Facebook: At the start of this week, we received the crushing news that our lease at Bishan Park would not be renewed next year. We will need to move out by January 2022.

After building this place up from an empty patch of land, and spending 9 years serving this community, we are still trying to come to terms with the shock that this space will no longer be our home.

But we worked hard on our tender proposal and prayed that God’s will be done. So we trust that as this door has closed, He has other plans for us. For now, we are uncertain what this may be. We are actively searching for places but our priority at this moment is making sure our crew are taken care of, especially as the timeline given for moving out is very short.

It has been our joy and pleasure being part of this community for almost a decade. Do come and have a meal with us before we leave in January (within safe limits). It would mean a lot to our crew to see you again.

Although it seems ulu for non-drivers, many families do not mind coming all the way here because the scenery is beautiful at this café-restaurant within Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.

After crossing a bridge from the carpark, you see families taking slow strolls, children playing with balloons, happy dogs being walked, and just an almost entire view of lush green.

Very refreshing and relaxing for a weekend visit.

Opened by Cookyn’s Mervyn Phan and team, Grub’s most popular mains include Har Cheong Fried Chicken with Waffles ($16), Miso-Glazed Salmon Steak ($18), Pan-Seared Atlantic Halibut ($18), Fish & Chips ($17), Ribeye Steak ($24), and Sakura Pork Chop ($26).

Inspired by the favourite local zi char favourite of Prawn Paste Chicken aka Har Cheong Gai, try Grub’s Har Cheong Fried Chicken and Waffles ($16).

Therefore, you could get the faint aroma of the shrimp paste as you bite into the juicy marinated fried chicken. For more of those local flavours, get the mildly-spicy sambal mayo that adds as a dip for the meat.

Also look out for burgers with local twist such as the Har Cheong Gai Burger ($15), White Pepper Crabcake Burger ($18), Mentaiko Pork Katsu Burger ($17), and Grilled Chicken Burger with terikyaki-glaze chicken thigh and enoki fritter ($15).

The one item I would recommend is definitely Mala Xiang Guo Burger ($17) which we (DFD and Grub) created for the Toggle programme “Foodie Makeover 美食大翻新” – it has become a permanent item on the burger menu.

Essentially, it includes many ‘essential’ ingredients of Mala Xiang Guo such as luncheon meat, sliced pork, lotus root slices, and spicy Szechuan pepper corn sauce.

The purplish-red bun is due to the beetroot included in the burger.

Thank you Grub team for the memories. Hope you find a new place soon and looking forward to the brand-new beginnings.

GRUB – Bishan Park
510 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 (Bishan Park 1) Singapore 569983
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 8am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)

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