For this Chinese New Year, we have hunted down a number of restaurants/eateries that are open to satisfy those growling tummies. We know that most shopping malls and restaurants will be closed, especially on day one and day two of Chinese New Year. However, you don’t have to worry about that, because we’ve got your back! If you are planning on heading out, please read on to find out where you can go.

Badoque Cafe

Badoque (Malay slang for eat) has developed a loyal following because of the café’s cozy vibe and good food. The cafe features an internationally inspired menu – Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian Fusion. The bestseller is the Badoque Ribs ($36). Each rib is 5cm thick and almost as long as our arm. The meat is grilled well and served hot to your table with potatoes and greens. Do note that the portions are very generous.

Brothers in Fine Food

We applaud BFF for their creativity in coming up with beverages such as the Jaffa Orange Mocha ($6), Spiked Muddy Espresso with Gula Melaka ($6.50) and Red Velvet Hot Chocolate ($5.50). BFF treats all their food with tender, loving care. The Beef Steak ($15) is first marinated in salt and pepper, before being vacuum-packed and cooked in a monitored water bath for 1.5 hours at 56 degrees. Instead of the usual mushroom or black pepper gravy, BFF has created a beetroot thyme puree. The beetroot is processed in a thermomix at 70 degrees to bring out the natural sweetness of it without the addition of sugar.

Flock Cafe

This indie cafe has indoor and outdoor seats so take your pick. Fish & Pancakes ($16.80) sounded unique to us so we had to give it a try. 2 tiny fillets of crumbed dory fish are served atop 2 pieces of savoury pancakes, with a side of mesclun salad and French fries. The fish fillets are fried to a crisp golden brown and the meat was fork-tender. Our only complaint about the fillets was that the portion was too small. As for the pancakes, we felt that they were mediocre, nothing to shout about.

I AM Cafe

Located at the junction of North Bridge Road and Haji Lane, I AM cafe is inspired by the city of Amsterdam. Owned by 3 Muslim friends, all preparation and ingredients are done in accordance to the Islamic way of guidance. Their Charcoal-grilled Juicy Beef Burger ($13.90), which comes with a charcoal-grilled beef patty, is topped with pineapple, onions and melted cheese. The patties are all painstakingly grilled over a charcoal-fuelled fire.

Penny University

Penny University is a term that originated from 18th century coffeehouses in London, England. Instead of paying for drinks, people were charged a penny to enter a coffeehouse. But here in Katong, you don’t have to pay a penny to enter the cafe. The place is bustling with cafe-goers, especially on weekends. They source their beans from local roasters, serve unique cakes and freshly-baked bread . We had a plate of Turkish Eggs ($8.60) which is served with lightly whipped yoghurt, homemade spicy moroccan harissa sauce and sourdough.

Shrove Tuesday

This cafe is famous for their waffles as they use a yeast-raised batter. Their Signature Nonya Chendol Waffle ($12.90) includes two scoops of Chendol gelato and vanilla soft serve topped with azuki red beans, green chendol jelly, gula Melaka and coconut flakes. The Chendol flavour was spot on! Coupled with such a fantastic waffle, we can have this dessert any time, any day!

The Coffee Academics

Launched in 2012, The Coffee Academics has made quite a name for itself in Hong Kong. “The Mess” ($20) is a food item that’s exclusive to the new outlet at Raffles City. It consists of a 63 degrees egg served atop sautéed spicy chicken sausages, crispy baby potatoes, pencil asparagus and buttered corn kernels. To end our meal, we got the Academics Pancake Tower ($19). Not only was it beautifully presented, but the piping hot, thick and fluffy pancake totally satisfied our palettes. The delectable pancake tower goes really well with their ice cold berry sorbet, which was sweet and slightly sour. 

Casuarina Curry Restaurant

Prata enthusiasts would flock here for their signature mushroom cheese prata. The plain prata goes for a dollar a piece. For $2, you get to enjoy a gratifying meal with simple, tasty curry. The list of prata flavours is extensive, ranging from chicken floss prata, to sausage cheese prata to chocolate prata. Casuarina also has very delicious chicken and mutton briyani, as well as, curry fish head.

Club July

Club July serves Zi Char and Western food under one roof at an affordable price in the heartland of Toa Payoh North. With only 2 CNY menus available, choose between $388.80 (5-6pax) and $688.80 (10-12pax). A must try is the Chef’s Signature Herbal Chicken Soup. The cloudy broth has a velvety blend of herbs and spices, with a splash of aromatic Chinese wine. Other dishes in the menu include Double Bliss Shrooms with Fortune Noodles, Steamed “Soon Hock”, Pan Fried Prawns with Special Sauce etc.

Good Chance Popiah

Good Chance Popiah Eating House brings back the joy of wrapping Popiah yourself, which evokes nostalgia. Condiments include ribbons of omelette, beansprouts, lettuce, coriander, chopped peanuts, sweet soy sauce, and garlic-chilli paste. You can add prawns and crab meat as well. 

Founder Bak Kut Teh

Since 1978, Founder Bak Kut Teh has been consistently dishing out bowls of  delectable Teochew-style pork ribs soup. From a small Bak Kut Teh eatery in Choa Chu Kang in 1978, Founder Bak Kut Teh expanded into their first restaurant space in 1988. Now, Founder regularly ranks as one of Singapore’s top Bak Kut Teh restaurants, and is poised to expand to neighbouring countries.

Kampong Chicken Rice

Chicken rice is a local favourite but, have you heard of kampong chicken rice? The yellow skin kampong chickens are different as they have skinnier legs and leaner bodies. They are allowed to run free and are corn-fed, hence they have less fat. So, what makes kampong chicken better than our usual chicken rice? Well, the meat is definitely not as fatty. It is leaner, but very tender. It feels a lot healthier since there is less fat. What seals the deal is the chilli sauce, which is thick and spicy.

Mellben Signature

Singapore raves about MELLBEN’s heavenly crab dishes, hence this place needs no further introduction. Good news! They are opened during CNY as well! Located at Tanjong Pagar Plaza, Mellben Signature has got all the sensational seafood recipes that have diners clamouring for more. Renowned for their Claypot Crab Beehoon, the milky soup is so flavourful and the broth is infused with a rich crustacean sweetness. Other crab dishes include Chili Crab, Butter Crab, Golden Sand Crab etc.

Wang Dae Bak Korean BBQ

Wang Dae Bak is one of the few Korean BBQ restaurants in Singapore that only uses charcoal and not gas. This would be a place that we’ll pick for gatherings as the atmosphere is very lively. Buffet is not available but they have BBQ sets. We tried BBQ Set B ($48) which consisted of marinated prime ribs, pork belly, spicy chicken and marinated shoulder. The beef is tender and marinated to perfection. 

Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak

Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak at Adam Food Centre has been labelled as one of the best Nasi Lemak in Singapore. Food comes in sets, with prices ranging from $2.50 to $5.50, depending on the ingredients you order. We ordered their “Royal Rumble” ($5.50) which consisted of Potato Croquette, Fried Egg, Deep-fried fish, Ikan Bilis, Otah and Deep-fried chicken wing. Our verdict? We have to agree that the rice was fragrant and well-enriched by the coconut milk. Expect a queue at this stall, but it’s worth the wait!

Ah Dong Teh House

Ah Dong Teh House is a good place for people who prefer kopi and teh to flat whites and cappuccinos. Lunch specials are available on weekdays from 11am to 5pm and all main courses come with a free soup and a free drink. We had the Ah Dong Curry Chicken ($9.90) which you can pair with rice or bread. The curry wasn’t too spicy. It’s on the milkier side and boasts a strong coconut flavour. The chicken was well-cooked too. This was one of the more generous portions of curry chicken that we have had at such a good price.

Tanjong Beach Club

Situated on Singapore’s finest stretch of sand and graced with panoramic views of the sea, Tanjong Beach Club is a premier coastal retreat from the bustle of the city. Mains include Tanjong Beach Club’s no-frills take on the Lobster Bun ($38), The Market Fresh Fish of the Day ($35) and Orecchiette Chorizo ($33).

Diamond Kitchen

The Diamond Sauna Treasures ($188++ / $368++) which is filled with lobster, snow crabs, red prawns, scallops, mussels, squid and clams, is perfect for a CNY gathering.  Do note that this dish is only available at Diamond Kitchen Science Park Drive.

Mondo Mio

Looking for pizzas and pastas? Mondo Mio’s menu is curated to showcase the vibrant flavours of Southern Italy. The Pizza con Rucola Pesto ($22) is an inimitable standout, where a piquant spread of homemade rocket and roasted pine nut pesto sits beneath discs of salami, ricotta, melted mozzarella and fresh cherry tomatoes. Mondo Mio’s pizza dough is made in-house, using a straightforward traditional mix of only water, flour and natural yeast. 

Niqqi’s – The Cheese Prata Shop

As its name suggests, this Indian-Muslim supper spot is famous for its cheese prata. We ordered a Double Cheese ($4.50) prata and was impressed by the creamy richness of the melted cheese enveloped within the crispy prata skin. Each bite was gratifying, especially when you’re a cheese lover! Niqqi’s also serves up a plate of superb maggie goreng ($3) that’s not too spicy. 

G7 Sin Ma Claypot Live Bull Frog Porridge

It’s the perfect time to have frog porridge when the monsoon season hits. This is an unforgettable dish for both locals and tourists alike. The Frog Porridge here is priced very reasonably and what you get is a combination of hot and smooth porridge, and succulent frog meat that has soaked up the thick and sweet sauce really well.

Ju Shin Jung

For the price that we’re paying for the BBQ buffet, the quality and quantity have exceeded our expectations. The quality of meat and freshness of their prawns are commendable. Also, the BBQ buffet comes with a main dish for every diner. You can choose from fried saba fish, clear beef rib soup, spicy soft tofu soup, hot stone bowl rice, soya bean paste soup and cold noodle. 

Ming Tang Jiu Gong Ge Hotpot

Deviating from the normal round pot, the 9-grid Hot Pot is divided into 9 sectors. Using the same soup base, you can segregate the cooking of your favourite side dishes. The heat varies from sector to sector, with the centre being the hottest. You’ll find plenty of fresh hot pot ingredients, ranging from meats like kurobuta pork, frogs, mala chicken, to seafood like spicy baby lobster. Go for the seafood set which is priced at $118 (2-3pax), $148 (4-5pax) and $198 (6-7pax).

Diandin Leluk

A specialty of Diandin Leluk, the Tom Yam Soup ($12 small) packs a good punch. The sour-spicy broth is flavoured with lemongrass, lime juice, lime leaves and chilli. It contains seafood such as squids, prawns and fish. The menu here is quite extensive and they are open for 24 hours. The next time you’re craving a feast in the middle of the night, you know where to go.

Teng Bespoke Vegetarian Dining

Teng Bespoke made a lasting impression when their Three-kind Sashimi ($19) set was served. Featuring mock salmon, mock squid and mock tuna, we thought these make-believe replications of sashimi were very well executed. They have a fishcake-like texture and a smooth exterior. You can look forward to vegetarian sushi and other Japanese vegetarian dishes as well.

Kwan Inn Vegetarian Restaurant

Kwan Inn’s extensive menu includes Vegetarian Suckling Pig, Specialty Vegetarian Goose, and many more. The Si-Chuan Spicy Soup ($15 small) acts as a good appetiser, boasting a good consistency of well-balanced sourness and spiciness. This is perfect, especially on cold nights, and it really whets your appetite. The Spicy Stir-Fried Vegetarian Diced Chicken ($16 small) consists of mock chicken, peanuts, vegetables and chilli peppers. The succulent meat, which was very addictive, goes very well with rice and the level of spiciness was manageable.

Pepper Jade Thai Vegetarian Cuisine

There is an extensive offering of Thai vegetarian dishes here, from appetisers to desserts. We shared a plate of Deep Fried Chicken wrapped in Pandan ($12 for 6 pieces). If no one mentioned that this is a vegetarian dish, we would’ve thought that the “chicken” was authentic. The tender texture is similar to the actual pandan chicken and even the taste was alike. The Tom Yum Soup in Claypot ($14) explodes with flavours as soon as it reaches our tastebuds. 

Whole Earth

This Peranakan vegetarian restaurant has been awarded the Bib Gourmand Award in the Michelin Guide Singapore 2016. Although their menu is huge, there’s only one page dedicated to true-blue Peranakan cuisine such as Nonya Curry, Nutty Buah Keluak and Assam Pedas Vegetables. Huge crowds can go for the 5-spice Ngor Hiang Roll ($13.90) which is Whole Earth’s rendition of the Peranakan roll, served with traditional sweet sauce. It actually tasted like the real ngor hiang roll. It’s best to dine here in a big group so you can try more delicious dishes.

Gokul Vegetarian

This restaurant offers a huge variety of vegetarian Indian food so, if you want to try many items, you either have to dine here with a big group or head back many times. The Masala Dosa ($5) was stuffed with lightly cooked potatoes and green peas, and is served with two chutneys and sambar. The potatoes were slightly mashed, resulting in a creamy texture which goes very well with the dosa. Scoop the potato-filled dosa and dip it into the chutneys or sambar and you’ll get to taste different flavours and textures.

Loving Hut (Vegan)

Loving Hut is a vegan restaurant chain serving gourmet cuisine made with wholesome vegan ingredients. Enjoy sides such as Royal Satay, 5-Spice Roll, Bali Bliss Soba Salad or California Mango & Orange Salad. For mains, go for the Banana Leaf Nasi Campur which features a scrumptious Indo-style mixed rice dish topped with fruit achar, spicy eggplant, seasonal green veggie, scrambled tofu and nyonya rendang. Other mains include Aglio Olio, Tandoori Flame Burger, Almond Crumb Fillet, Nyonya Laksa, Nasi Campur, Tomyam Ocean Hotpot Set, Char Kway Teow Set and Lor Ark Noodle. Don’t forget to end your meal with their signature authentic teochew oh-nee (because the owner’s father used to run Mong Hing Teochew Restaurant).

If your Chinese New Year is already packed with visitations back-to-back, you can always bookmark our list down for future reference! These eateries and restaurants will continue providing you with quality food and high levels of service. Satisfaction guaranteed! Well, days are getting busier but there’s always time for us to wish you a very HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR once again! HUAT AHH!!!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the eateries listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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The East has Mr and Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata, while the central area has Sin Ming Roti Prata. Now, we’re adding one more delicious roti prata stall, Enaq, to our list of favourites! The popular prata stall is a hidden gem in the West and has just opened their second outlet at Ghim Moh a week ago.

The dough is made in the Ghim Moh outlet before it is sent to the outlet in Jurong East.

How do you know if the prata is good? Eat the kosong (plain) one! Each piece of plain prata costs $1 at Enaq. The dough is made daily before being pan-fried till a golden brown. Moderately thick, the prata carries a buttery aroma. The prata is wonderfully crisp on the outside, and fluffy inside. It’s not as oily as the prata(s) you get elsewhere.The prata tastes even more heavenly when you dip it into the special sambal chilli and curry.

The egg prata ($1.70) is well executed too! The dough has generous portions of eggs spread out nicely within. Every bite is full of eggy goodness! The prata is fluffy and chewy at the same time. We had such a satisfying breakfast that we’re planning to return for more.

Enaq also serves Thosai, Murtabak, Biryani, Chapati set meals and more. We shared a plate of Maggie Goreng ($3.50) on top of our pratas. The springy maggie noodles are cooked with just the right amount of spice, and stir-fried with eggs and vegetables. It’s such a simple dish but when the cooking is done well, there’s nothing to complain about.

Oh, and you have to get their Teh Tarik ($1) – it’s super shiok! Next time your prata craving kicks in, you know where to go! 

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to ENAQ. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Opened two years ago, Takagi Ramen is run by Yang Kaiheng and his Australian-Japanese wife, Ai Takagi. Kaiheng specialised in science while Takagi majored in law, but they decided to fly to Australia to master the skills and techniques of ramen preparation from Takagi’s father. Her father brought over Japan’s Hakata Ramen to Melbourne, Australia, so the couple learnt everything from scratch before setting up the first Takagi Ramen in NUS.

Kaiheng and Takagi spend approximately 12 hours daily to prepare their soup. They recently increased the amount of meat and bones placed into the broth for simmering to make the broth richer and creamier than before. According to them, the toughest part about making ramen broth in a coffee shop is the issue of hygiene. Freshly-made pork broth spoils very easily, especially in Singapore’s humid conditions. While some places use preserved soup concentrate for ramen broth, the couple insists on making it fresh from bones and meat. The broth was indeed robust and flavoursome, with hints of porcine sweetness.

The eggs and chashu are also freshly prepared in-house, while the noodles are ordered from their Japanese food product supplier. The couple meticulously peels each and every egg before marinating them overnight. This process is as simple as ABC but can be a very time-consuming chore. The chashu is gently simmered and marinated for over 6 hours to ensure its tenderness, allowing it to have a melt-in-the-mouth texture.

We had the Miso Ramen ($6.50) and Black Tonkotsu ($6.90). The former features a miso-flavoured Tonkotsu noodle soup with corn while the latter boasts a Tonkotsu noodle soup with charred garlic oil, black fungus and bamboo shoots. The noodles are well-cooked and slightly springy. The broth for the Black Tonkotsu fared better as the flavours are stronger and more full-bodied. The savoury eggs with a runny centre and fork-tender chashu are great accompaniments to the bowl of ramen. There’s also an added crunch thanks to the black fungus and bamboo shoots. Every mouthful leaves you feeling satisfied.

We also shared a plate of Deep-Fried Gyoza ($3.50). You can opt for the steamed version as well. A blend of minced chicken and vegetables are enveloped within a thin layer of gyoza skin and fried to a crisp golden brown. It wasn’t entirely crispy, but sightly chewy. We would’ve preferred the gyoza to be juicier, with stronger flavours.

Although running a hawker stall is exhausting, and requires long hours of standing in the crazy heat, the couple feels that it is less stressful than when they were in their previous jobs. We felt that the standard of Takagi Ramen is quite good, given that they’re a hawker stall and their dishes are priced so affordably. Taste is very personal and subjective so you’ll have to try it and pass your own verdict. 

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Takagi Ramen. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Some of you might be familiar with Stamping Ground Coffee which was located on Club Street. The cafe has found a new home in Siglap last July, and has blossomed with a floral-themed interior. The cafe shares the space with Dawn Q (florist) and East Mezzanine (venue space). Due to its proximity to East Coast Park, Stamping Ground is an ideal place to kick-start the morning with coffee and brunch, before you laze the weekend away at the park with your loved ones.

Beans from local brand Papa Palheta, as well as Melbourne’s Rumble Coffee Roasters are used at Stamping Ground Coffee. The blends are rotated from time to time, so don’t be surprised if your coffee tastes different from your previous visit. Begin with a cuppa Mocha ($5.50) or chase the heat away with a glass of Iced Latte ($5.50). The mocha fares better with a good amount of chocolatey flavours.

Stamping Ground Coffee’s breakfast menu is limited to 3 items, yet you’ll find satisfaction in the simplicity of each dish. The all-day menu features 10 dishes and each dish costs no more than S$15 nett. Their signature Bacon Jam ($14) consists of a thick fluffy brioche covered generously with sweet caramelised bacon bits, mozzarella, arugula, and balsamic glaze. The bacon tasted similar to bak kwa – probably ‘cause we had too much bak kwa recently. Pulling the brioche apart unveils a baked egg hidden in the middle. What a surprise! It’d have been better if the yolk was runny though.

Sweeten your day with Belgian Waffles ($13) which is served with cinnamon caramel ice cream, and sprinkled with kinako powder (roasted soybean flour) and crunchy cornflakes. As the taste of cinnamon is super strong, it unfortunately covers up the sweetness of the caramel in the icecream. You either love or hate this unique combination. The waffles were light and fluffy, with crisp sides, but we would’ve preferred a different ice cream.

We wouldn’t travel all the way to the East for Stamping Ground Coffee, but this cafe might be packed with residents living around the area on weekends. If you need a mobile coffee cart service for your next event, you can engage them too.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Stamping Ground Coffee. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Tino’s Pizza Cafe, which has already made Resorts World Sentosa and Tiong Bahru Plaza their homes, is the new kid on the block at The Centrepoint. We were surprised to learn that Tino’s Pizza Cafe is actually a brand from Taiwan. The cosy interior at The Centrepoint outlet makes it a good place to chill out, or to rest your legs after an exhausting day of shopping along Orchard Road.

Choose between the Neapolitan (thick crust) or Roman (thin crust) pizza, before you customise it with your choice of toppings. There are more than 10 types of toppings available. The Neapolitan Pizza will be divided into 6 slices while the Roman Pizza will be divided into 8 slices – more to go around! Mr. Tino ($15.90 Neapolitan / $21.90 Roman) consists of your choice of chicken or beef bacon and pepperoni, oyster mushrooms, capsicums, shredded onions, oregano and black olives.

Our order of Mr. Tino (roman) pizza arrived piping hot, and was topped generously with ingredients. The thin crust was crispy, with a commendable chewiness. The buttery fragrance and cheesiness of the dough were both perfect. 

Tino’s Pizza Cafe also serves paella and spaghetti, and we tried the Seafood Paella ($17.90). The overly-charred paella rice was topped with shrimps, calamari, clams, oyster mushrooms, capsicums and shredded onions, and sprinkled with basil, turmeric and bonito powder. Unfortunately, this item was a disappointment – a far cry from the authentic Spanish paella. Perhaps, Tino’s Pizza Cafe should just stick to their expertise in making pizza dough as our dessert pizza was as amazing as the savoury pizzas.

There are three Dessert Crustar – Fruity Delight, Berry Lemon and Banana Oreo – all priced at $10.90 each. The beautifully star-shaped Fruity Delight pizza contains peach, kiwi, tapioca pearls and Tino’s milk tea mousse, all drizzled with condensed milk and sprinkled with icing powder. They must have ran out of cranberries as we didn’t get any on ours. This dessert pizza dough had a texture similar to Focaccia bread, and was light, with just the right amount of sweetness!  Tino Pizza Cafe is a Taiwanese brand and they surely displayed their love for bubble tea by adding tapioca pearls to the pizza. However, we felt that the pizza would have tasted better without the pearls.

There are a couple of pizza chains in Singapore but Tino’s Pizza Cafe stood out a little more due to their wonderful pizza dough. There are also reasonably priced set meals and family feasts available at Tino’s Pizza Cafe.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Tino’s Pizza Cafe. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Muslim-owned cafe, Brothers in Fine Food (BFF), is a venture by the people behind Penny University. BFF, which was established in September last year, is truly a diamond in the rough. Although their food menu isn’t extensive, the quality manages to outshine that of most of the cafes we have tried. The ingenious brains helming the kitchen have come up with creative interpretations of drinks and dishes at affordable prices. The menu changes every couple of months to excite your tastebuds.

Are you an adventurous “drinker”? We challenge you to try the Jaffa Orange Mocha ($6) or Spiked Muddy Espresso with Gula Melaka ($6.50). Unfortunately, we could only have the former as BFF ran out of gula melaka. Mixing orange peels with chocolate and coffee, the blend reminds us of Lindt Orange Intense Dark Chocolate. If we didn’t know what we were drinking, we would’ve mistaken this mocha for an interesting cocktail. Well done BFF!

Scene-snatcher Red Velvet Hot Chocolate ($5.50) was in a pretty shade of pink, making it super instagrammable! Featuring the right creaminess and thickness, it wasn’t too much to handle.

While deciding on which dish to order, we glanced at the table beside ours and the Soft-shell Crab ($10) caught our eyes. The crab is lightly battered and fried to a crisp golden brown, while retaining its natural sweetness. The spices in the Thai red curry, which the crab was dressed with, enhanced the flavour of the crab. The accompanying compressed basil-infused watermelons kinda cleanse your palates before you move on to the next dish.

Beef Steak ($15) arrived medium rare, as requested. BFF treats all their food with tender, loving care. The steak is first marinated in salt and pepper, to allow the natural flavours to emerge, before being vacuum-packed and cooked in a monitored water bath for 1.5 hours at 56 degrees. Each slice was tender and juicy, and the tendons added a “crunchiness” to the mix. Instead of the usual mushroom or black pepper gravy, BFF created a beetroot thyme puree. The beetroot is processed in a thermomix at 70 degrees to bring out its sweetness without the addition of any sugar.

To satisfy our sweet tooth, we had the Churros with Liquid Cheesecake Dip ($4.80). You have a choice of chocolate ganache or salted caramel dip too. The churros had a crisp exterior but the interior was a tad too doughy. We prefer those with a light and airy interior. As for the dip, it wasn’t as cheesy as we expected. It was a little milky, but still paired up with the churros nicely.

Like their sister cafe, BFF seems to be doing a good job. We’re looking forward to trying other items on their menu as this cafe certainly warrants another visit.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Brothers in Fine Food. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Yentafo, our equivalent of Yong Tau Foo, is a pink noodle soup, originating from Thailand. Kruengsonge refers to a selection of the best ingredients in one big bowl. So, when you put these two words together, you get a Thai noodle dish comprising rice noodles crowned with a myriad of ingredients in a light broth tinted pink with a mildly-sweet ‘yentafo’ sauce. Besides yentafo, this stall also serves other Thai favourites.

Yentafo is “same same but different” when compared to our version of yong tau foo. Both the flat rice noodles and pink broth are imported directly from Thailand. There isn’t any soya bean in the broth. Instead, it is prepared by simmering pork bones, radish and coriander root, then tinged with a pink sauce that the owner, Madam Mallika, makes. She uses natural ingredients such as fermented red tofu and cooked Thai red rice in her recipe.

The ingredients in a bowl of Yentafo Kruengsonge Soup ($8.50) include fish ball, fried tofu, fried seasoned taro, and fungus mushroom, to name a few. Although these ingredients are locally sourced, the Thai founders have personally made a trip here to try many suppliers, choosing the ones most similar to Bangkok’s. You can choose the level of spiciness – “Dek-Dek” (not spicy), “Jai-Soh (spicy) or “Rod-Jeb” (screaming spicy). We didn’t want the natural flavours of the broth to be too overwhelmed by extremely spicy flavours so we tried the Jai-Soh version. It’s a great bowl to have on rainy days! Our only gripe though, is the sticking together of the rice noodles.

Yum Crispy Salmon Skin ($7) is a good appetiser for sharing. The right way to enjoy it is to pour the entire bowl of “yum” sauce onto the salmon skin, and give it a good toss. The salmon skin will soak up the flavours of the sauce, without losing its crispiness. So addictive!

Other savoury dishes include Crab Yellow Curry with Rice ($12.90). The shreds of crab meat were very sweet and juicy. The serving was alright but we would have loved for more. What enhanced the sweetness of the curry was the crab roe (well, the portion of this was generous), which makes the curry stand out from the usual chicken curry. Yentafo’s curry is also creamy, with a good coconut-y aroma.

The pricing might be slightly steep for a bowl of “yong tau foo” but the ingredients justify the price. If you’re one who loves spicy food and prefers food with stronger flavours, you’ll prefer “yentafo” to yong tau foo.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

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Owned by the children of Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh, Tuan Yuan unites “reunion” and “fate”, and this is exactly what they are about. They hope that customers will enjoy a special dining experience, that promotes togetherness as they savour authentic Teochew Bak Kut Teh. The restaurant interior and friendly service staff made us feel very welcomed. The menu includes Tuan Yuan pork ribs soup, pork liver soup, pork kidney soup, steamed fish, an array of vegetables and side dishes.

Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup ($7) packs a good peppery punch, with flavours enhanced by the large cloves of old garlic. Only quality ingredients like fresh pork from Indonesia, Sarawak white pepper and old garlic are used. Pork bones are boiled for hours, resulting in the full-bodied broth. Do you know, a light-coloured pork flesh means the pork is fresh, as compared to those that are dark or reddish? The ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender, hence very easy to eat.

For a complete, hearty bak kut teh meal, order the Classic Tri-Mix ($6) which consists of braised peanuts, braised soy knots (tau kee) and salted vegetables. These go very well with rice! Also, don’t forget to order the Fried Dough Stick ($1.50) which is superb when dunked into the heartwarming broth.

As Tuan Yuan is about reunion and gatherings, bigger groups can go for Tuan Yuan’s steamed fishes. Diners can choose from steamed threadfin fish tail (teochew style), grey mullet, and baby grey threadfin. We shared a Steamed Threadfin Body ($15) prepared in Teochew style. The meat is very fresh, with a tinge of sweetness. The gravy complements the fish, while the tomatoes accentuate its sweetness.

Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup is not just a good place for rainy days. We will patronise whenever we have a gathering with friends and family to enjoy comforting bowls of peppery broth in a homely environment.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Lady luck is finally on our side! We visited Foon’s Thai Recipe twice in the past two weeks but they were closed. We finally got the chance to try their Thai style wanton mee yesterday. Foon’s family used to run a wanton mee stall in Hatyai so Foon learnt the recipe from them. Having moved to Singapore for more than a decade, she decided to open a hawker stall to sell wanton noodles.

We ordered both the dry and soup version of wanton noodles, which is priced at $4 per bowl. For the dry version, normal mee kia is accompanied with char siew, wanton and chilli flakes. Sauces such as fish sauce, chilli sauce and char siew sauce have also been added in. Foon gets all her sauces from Thailand and makes her own chilli sauce, lard oil and char siew sauce. You can toss some green chilli in as well, for that zesty finish.

The noodle is springy with a nice bite, while the char siew is tender and not too dry. The size of wantons are slightly bigger than what we get in a plate of local wanton mee. They are generously stuffed with minced meat. Just give the bowl a good toss, and you’ll be enjoying mouthfuls of flavourful wanton mee. We found it tastier than our local version.

While Foon’s dry wanton noodle is decent, the soup version didn’t impress. The noodles and char siew are too bland while the soup is too peppery for our liking. We only realised later on, that we have to mix and match all the Thai condiments placed on the counter of Foon’s hawker stall before savouring this dish.

Besides going for the two famous wanton mee stalls at Old Airport Road Food Centre, you can consider trying Foon’s Thai Recipe the next time you’re there.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Foon’s Thai Recipe. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Opened by the brother-in-law of the owner of Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh, Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh was started more than 3 decades ago. In 2015, they relocated from Yuhua hawker centre to a coffee shop just two blocks away. It was also then, that the second-generation took over the stall. As compared to other bak kut teh stalls in Singapore, Joo Siah’s broth is very peppery, perhaps one of the most peppery ones around.

The Spare Ribs Soup ($7.50) arrived piping hot, with an intense peppery aroma. The broth is steeped with flavours and the tender lean meat detaches easily from the ribs. Dunking the you tiao ($1) into the peppery broth makes these fried dough sticks very addictive. We also had preserved vegetables ($2) to accompany our bak kut teh but it didn’t fare well. We suggest that you skip it.

You should also forget your diet and sink your teeth into the Pig’s Trotter ($5.50). After going through hours of marinating, boiling and simmering, this herbal pig’s trotter is exceptionally tender and well-braised. It contains a substantial amount of lean meat enveloped within a gelatinous layer. Mix your rice with the dark gravy and you’ll get a match made in heaven.

Do go hungry so you’ll not be torn between finishing the pig’s trotter and slurping down the peppery bak kut teh broth. We always leave this stall feeling very satisfied!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Bak Kut Teh is a pork rib dish cooked in broth, commonly found in Singapore and Malaysia. Bak kut teh comes in either a peppery broth or a herbal-based broth. This heavenly bowl is very comforting, especially during the rainy season. We bring you a list of 19 eateries serving piping hot bak kut teh. Let us know which type of broth you prefer!

Ah Hak Bak Kut Teh

Ah Hak Bak Kut Teh in Kai Juan Coffeeshop (or some called it Kai Juan BKT) captured our attention with their old-school interior. The rusty gates, granite floor, patterned bowls and wooden tables, made us feel like we are living in the 70s. A bowl of bak kut teh for 1 person, together with a bowl of rice and preserved vegetables, cost $7.50 in total. The bak kut teh has a clear broth and is moderately peppery. The pork ribs are not very tender, but the older generation prolly loves it.

Eng Kee Bak Kut Teh

Even though Eng Kee sells bak kut teh, the star of our lunch is actually the huge plate of pig’s trotters ($5) which were tender and very well-braised with dark soy sauce. Just give us a bowl of white rice to pair with the pig’s trotters, and we’ll be very happy. As for the bak kut teh ($6), there was nothing much to shout about. The soup was slightly peppery and sweet, but the meat was tough. We had to kinda rip the meat off the bone.

Founder Bak Kut Teh

Since 1978, Founder Bak Kut Teh has been consistently dishing out bowls of delectable Teochew-style pork rib soup to legions of fans. You may ask, what is their formula for success? Well, we think it’s the soup that is made using the freshest pork and a blend of pepper and spices from a recipe created by owner Mr Chua. Using only superior cuts of meaty long ribs or premium short ribs in a clear soup, the peppery bak kut teh isn’t too intense but still gives a decently spicy kick that will jolt us awake.

Hong Ji Claypot Bak Kut Teh

Herbal-based broth in a claypot? That’s special. Usually, it’s the peppery version that comes in claypots. The herbal and flavoursome soup is cooked with more than 10 herbs such as dang gui and dang shen. The owner learnt the recipe from a Malaysian hawker and improved the formula to its current adaptation. The herbs are cooked for 6 hours in the broth and the tender pork ribs are also cut into smaller and more manageable pieces.

Hwa Ji Bak Kut Teh

It all started in Jurong Point’s food court where owner Mr Ong was selling mixed organ soup. A bak kut teh stall at Boon Tat street was his next project. After 3 years, he moved to a coffeeshop in Cecil Street. It’s not easy to locate the stall but it’s worth the effort. Like all other BKT stalls, their pork ribs are cooked with garlic and peppercorns. The result is an unassumingly clear bowl of peppery and garlicky soup that armed with a subtle sweetness that stems from the incorporation of fresh pork ribs.

Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh

The Spare Ribs Soup ($7.50) arrived piping hot, with an intense peppery aroma. The broth is steeped with flavours, and the lean meat is tender and can be easily detached from the bones. Dunking the you tiao ($1) into the peppery broth makes these fried dough sticks even more addictive.

Kam Hiang Food Stall

Don’t be deceived by the name of the stall, Kam Hiang doesn’t sell chap chye peng! Instead, expect decent bowls of bak kut teh and pig’s trotters. The broth is made with a formidable assortment of ingredients and each order is individually prepared in a claypot. For us, a piping hot bowl of peppery broth with mee sua is most heartwarming.

Klang (Jln Meru Lim Kee) Bak Kut Teh

Lim Kee serves their bak kut teh in a claypot, as is commonly done in Malaysia. Inside, there are pork ribs, bean curd skin and tau pok. The pork ribs were very tender. The soup was mildly-infused with flavours from the herbs and balanced with a light sweetness. This definitely calls for a copious amount of steamed white rice to go along with!

Leong Kee (Klang) Bak Kut Teh

Like the ones in Malaysia, this has a herbal aroma and there was a generous portion of pork ribs in the claypot. The meat was so soft that you can pry it off the bones just by using your chopsticks. However, the broth suffered from a lack of oomph. Despite appearing dark and promising, we felt that it was too thin and light. You can choose to have bak kut teh with pork ribs ($6) or bak kut teh with pork ribs and intestines ($6).

Ng Ah Sio Pork Ribs Soup Eating House

Mr Ng Ah Sio’s father started selling this Teochew-style peppery herbal soup in the 1950s, in the present-day River Valley and Hill Street vicinity. The Bak Kut Teh was accompanied by Chinese donuts (You tiao) and a strong brew of Chinese tea. Mr Ng Ah Sio took over the business in 1977, after his father’s retirement and began serving crowds at New World Amusement Park (current Kitchener Road) with 7 staff. In my opinion, this is one of the most peppery bak kut teh soup in Singapore. However, we just can’t stop at one sip. The good combination of pepper, garlic and fresh pork ribs makes the soup really fragrant and tasty.

Old Street Bak Kut Teh

Besides traditional soupy bak kut teh, Old Street created a dry bak kut teh. The Pork Ribs Soup ($6.80 small) has a nice aroma, enhanced by huge amounts of garlic. It isn’t as peppery as the likes of Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh or Founder Bak Kut Teh, but the subtle herbal flavour is pleasant. The Dry Bak Kut Teh ($8 small) could use a more generous serving of the gravy as it dries up very quickly. The gravy is spiced up by chilli padi and goes very well with a bowl of plain rice. Unfortunately, the meat of the pork ribs is too tough.

Old Tiong Bahru Bak Kut Teh

The flavoursome pork ribs served are tender and pair beautifully with the velvety peppery broth. It totally floored us, giving a satisfying punch right from the first sip. Old Tiong Bahru Bak Kut Teh also offers vermicelli with their broth, and a variety of other dishes such as pig’s trotters.

Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh

Rong Cheng has been faithfully serving Singaporeans traditional Teochew Bak Kut Teh since 1976. The first outlet at 22 Sin Ming Road is started by Uncle Lim, while the one at Midview City is managed by his son, Lionel. The bak kut teh soup is prepared daily by cooking fresh pork ribs in water with just garlic and pepper. The clear soup is medium-bodied and peppery, and you can taste the sweetness of the meat in the soup. Do you know that they are the first to introduce loin ribs (dragon ribs), also known as 龙骨?

Rong Hua Bak Kut Teh

This is a typical bowl of clear peppery pork ribs soup ($7). The garlic and pepper provide just enough kick without overpowering the sweet and tasty broth. The broth is best drunk steaming hot. Remember to pair some gongfu tea ($4.50) with the bak kut teh. If the gong fu tea is too strong, you can go for the floral tea ($7) which is more delicate.

Rong Shu Xia Bak Kut Teh

Rong Shu Xia Rou Gu Cha serves cantonese-style bak kut teh, which is also known as Malaysian Bak Kut Teh. Unlike our peppery version, spices and herbs are added into their broth. The Pork Ribs Soup ($5.90) reminded us of Restoran Shoon Huat BKT in Taman Sentosa. The soup is a lot lighter on herbal notes as compared to Klang-style bak kut teh. So if you are looking for a kick in the soup, this would be a little mild. The good thing is, the light soup does not snatch the limelight from the sweetness of the pork ribs. It’s quite tender and falls off the bone easily.

Song Fa Bak Kut Teh

Owner Yeo Eng Song used to serve these mouthwatering bowls of bak kut teh at tables set up beside his pushcart stall in 1969. Fast forward to today, Song Fa bak kut teh has become a household name in Singapore. Each bowl boasts a good balance of garlicky and peppery flavours, with a hint of porcine sweetness from the ribs. The lean meat on the ribs are tender and juicy. We will always slurp up even the last drop of broth, shiok!

Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh

While the usual bak kut teh is served with a few pieces of pork ribs and soup, Soon Huat’s Bak Kut Teh ($5.90 for 1 pax, $11.90 for 2-3 pax, $22.90 for 4-5 pax) comes with pig innards. Kinda similar to the Malaysian version of Klang bak kut teh, Soon Huat’s version is milder to cater to local palates. Don’t get us wrong, the broth is milder but still full-bodied with a slight sweetness. The pork used has also been switched to Argentinian pork which is firm but soft at the same time. 

Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup

Owned by the children of the folks behind Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh, Tuan Yuan hopes that customers will have a special dining experience that cultivates togetherness as they savour authentic Teochew Bak Kut Teh. Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup ($7) is not as peppery and salty as Ya Hua’s and we couldn’t stop refilling the broth. 

Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh

Together with her sister, Gwee Guek Hua, founder Madam Gwee Peck Hua has worked tirelessly to perfect the recipe for the finest bowl of Teochew-style Bak Kut Teh, since 1973. In 2006, due to overwhelming demand, Madam Gwee and her sister opened another branch at Keppel Road. This is where we frequent, especially for supper on cold nights. The peppery soup, with tender pork ribs, hits all the right spots.

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Doesn’t sipping a cup of freshly-brewed Chinese tea sound good on a weekend morning? So does dipping you tiao in the bak kut teh broth! If you’re already salivating, it’s time to tick off the places from the list of bak kut teh options we’ve just listed. Enjoy!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 19 Soul-Warming and Unforgettable Bak Kut Teh in Singapore appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

I chanced upon Old Street Bak Kut Teh as it’s just a stone’s throw away from where I stay. Founded in 2010, Old Street created the dry bak kut teh which is a marriage of east and west approaches. It started off as an eatery located along Upper Paya Lebar Road, and has expanded into shopping malls. It has also introduced a unique pairing of soy milk with bak kut teh.

It was pouring heavily last Saturday, causing us to crave for something warm and comforting. Hence, we decided to visit the original Upper Paya Lebar eatery. The Pork Ribs Soup($6.80 for a small bowl) contains huge amounts of garlic, contributing to its aroma. It isn’t as peppery as the likes of Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh or Founder Bak Kut Teh, but the subtle herbal flavour is pleasant. However, the pork ribs were not as tender as we expected. The you tiao ($1.70) remains slightly crispy, even after being dunked into the broth.

We had vermicelli ($1.70) to go with our pork ribs. The vermicelli served in Old Street bak kut teh’s broth is good enough to be eaten alone. However, eat it as soon as possible or the vermicelli would become too soft and mushy.

The Dry Bak Kut Teh ($8 small) could use a more generous serving of gravy as it dries up very quickly. The gravy is spiced with chilli padi, and is very savoury. It goes very well with a bowl of rice. Unfortunately, the meat was too tough. This dish is also served with lady’s fingers. Overall, the seasoning is good, but it would have been better if the meat was more tender.

As it was raining very heavily when we were there, we requested for a few rounds of refill of the piping hot broth. So shiok! Next time you’re here, order a cup of soy milk to go with your meal too – it’s really good!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Old Street Bak Kut Teh. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Old Street Bak Kut Teh – Special Dry Bak Kut Teh appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Located on the ground floor of Innotel Hotel, this coffee house & bar prides themselves on infusing Asian flavours into Western dishes. You’ll find squid ink mee tai bak, Mentaiko mac and cheese and Japanese-style tortilla pizza among other interesting items. On breezy evenings, you can dine al fresco and relax with a pint of beer. However, if you prefer the comfort of dining indoors, the dimly-lit interior will make you feel welcomed.

WTF stands for “We Talk Food” so let’s talk Gyu Don ($13.90). Grilled beef (medium or well done) and onsen tamago sits atop Japanese rice. The beef is grilled well, such that it still retains its juiciness and tenderness. The marinade for the beef is also palatable. Our favourite is the runny egg yolk that oozes out so seductively, shiok! However, even after a good toss, the rice was still bland and too mushy. We had to request for some sauce in order to make the dish more flavoursome.

WTF Coffee House & Bar ran out of squid ink mee tai bak, so we ordered Mentaiko Mac & Cheese ($13.90). Perhaps our expectations were too high, but this dish is a tad too salty for our liking. However, unlike mac & cheese that are extremely creamy and “gelat”, this isn’t too heavy.

The Smoked Duck Hoisin sauce Tortilla Pizza ($12.90) is the highlight of our meal. Of course, you can’t compare this to Timbre’s but the portion is perfect for one, and it tastes quite decent too. The thin tortilla wrap entices with chunky pieces of smoked duck, mozzarella cheese, crispy wanton skins, and generous drizzles of homemade Hoisin sauce. Each bite boasts a mix of textures, and a fine balance between both sweet and savoury flavours.

To cater to the hotel guests, WTF Coffee House & Bar serves buffet breakfast as well. Tucked in a quiet lane off the bustling Orchard Road, this eatery is a great escape from the city, and the food is priced reasonably. We were looking forward to trying their squid ink mee tai bak, so we’ll prolly return just for this next time.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to WTF Coffee House & Bar. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post WTF Coffee House & Bar – Affordable Culinary Delights in Town appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

We’re pretty sure everyone had an amazing time catching up with friends and family over the Chinese New Year festive season, but gatherings shouldn’t only take place during festive occasions. “Say It With Love” at Gardens by the Bay is inviting everyone to enjoy an evening picnic at The Meadow on 24 and 25 February 2017 with their loved ones. Participate in an assortment of fun-filled activities with your friends and family and experience a delightful picnic set amidst the enchanting gardens. Here are 10 things to look forward to at “Say It With Love”.

#01 – Picnic @ The Meadow

Save the hassle of preparing your own picnic bag by purchasing a unique picnic bag filled with a selection of scrumptious bite. Each picnic bag (worth over $80) consists of a special redemption (choice of wine, finger food platter or sandwich box), exclusive picnic mat, snacks and drinks, and exciting goodies from the sponsors. Simply collect your picnic bags and immerse yourselves in an unforgettable evening under the stars.

“Say It With Love” picnic bags can be purchased at www.chimes.sg/sayitwithlove. Use the promo code “SIWL10” to get your picnic bag at only $50! Limited picnic bags are available so get yours now.

#02 – Oodles of Love Doodles

Work your creativity and have a whale of a time art jamming with artists from the Band of Doodlers. Colour the wall of love and art with vibrant hues, and take a photo with your masterpiece. This moment, captured in frame, will remind you of the fun times at “Say It With Love” when you look back at the photo ten, twenty, or even thirty years later.

#03 – Field of Dreams

Pen your wishes on glow-in-the-dark windmills and plant them on a stretch of green space, and create a luminous field of dreams. We’re pretty sure the illuminated area will look spectacular!

#04 – Gifts with Heart Booths

Purchase unique handcrafted gifts at the “Gifts with Heart” booths run by social enterprises, and do your part for the less fortunate. Don’t just reserve your love for those close to you, feel good spreading your love to the community too!

#05 – Love at First Bite

If you’re still hungry for more, head over to the food truck and food stalls run by social enterprises to get some tasty nosh. Proceeds will contribute to empowering the less fortunate as well. By joining the “Say It With Love” event, you’ll be killing two birds with one stone – bringing happiness to your loved ones, as well as, the less fortunate.

#06 – Love Beats

Dance to the catchy rhythm of cajon players, who will drum their percussions in sync with DJ Natalie Pixiedub. Armed with musical knowledge well beyond her years, Natalie never fails to impress fans at every gig with her trademark blend of happy and eclectic sets that span across genres and decades.

#07 – Made with Love Workshops

Gather your loved ones and get hands-on by spending quality time together learning how to make a gift for someone special. This interactive activity is bound to stir up everyone’s inner artsy-fartsy side.

#08 – LED Stilt-walkers

Look out for amazing stilt-walkers who shine and glow-in-the-dark. Be sure to pose for pictures with them too!

#09 – LED Violin Performance

Enjoy sweet melodies at this performance while savouring delicious picnic grub!

#10 – Movie Screening

Conclude your evening of good food and fun times by chilling out to a movie under the stars.

“Say it with Love” at Gardens by the Bay is held on 24 and 25 February 2017 at The Meadow from 6.30pm to 10.30pm. For more information, visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/sayitwithlove.

Want to win a free “Say It With Love” picnic bag to indulge in with your family and friends? Simply tag who you will like to bring to the picnic and express your heartfelt thoughts to them on Miss Tam Chiak’s Instagram photo and stand a chance to be one of 2 lucky winners.

Closing date: 12 February 2017, Sunday. Good luck!

This post is brought to you in conjunction with SFBA.

The post 10 Things To Look Forward To At “Say It With Love” (Plus GIVEAWAY) appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Monday?! Seriously?! We’re not sure why this night market opens only on Monday, but if you’re ever on leave on a Monday and visiting Johor Bahru, you might want to check this place out. Pasar Malam in JB is priced so affordably for us, due to the exchange rate. Stretching from KSL Shopping Centre to the Grand Paragon Hotel, you’ll find stalls selling a variety of fresh produce, as well as, cooked food. Not sure where to begin? Here’s a list of foods you might want to try here.

Old School Mee Chiam Kueh

Known as Apam Balik in JB, this snack is traditionally filled with crushed peanuts and sugar. However, with the influx of Japanese pancakes (Dorayaki) with fillings such as red beans, cream cheese, chocolate etc., the traditional mee chiam kueh is fast disappearing. We’re elated to find this stall still sticking to traditional fillings so we had ours with peanut and corn. The peanuts gave the soft kueh a nice nutty fragrance, and a good crunch while the corn gave this snack a sweet finish. Don’t forget to pair it with fresh soy milk – a match made in heaven!

Chwee Kueh & Chee Cheong Fan

The stall sells both chwee kueh and chee cheong fan. However, the taste and texture weren’t to our liking. The chwee kueh is more dense as compared to those we have in Singapore. The generous amount of chai po is not salty enough. This dish would’ve been better if it’s more savoury. On the other hand, this chee cheong fun outshone every dish we tried that particular Monday evening. It boasts a silky smooth texture, with a good balance of sweet and savoury flavours. It’s best to devour it while it’s hot.

White Carrot Cake

The white carrot cake here is a tad more mushy and not as flavoursome as we expected. It was a little bland, but we could taste the chai po and yam.

Black Carrot Cake

The constant clanking sound of those spatulas and aroma of this black carrot cake were what drew our attention to this stall. This black version fared better than the white one we tried just minutes earlier. We were observing the hawker while queuing for a packet and “WOW!” – the amount of eggs added in is ridiculous, in a good way. Although we simply love this eggy goodness, you might find yourselves eating more eggs than rice cake, which is supposed to be the key ingredient. The sweetness is just right though! Shiok!

Nasi Lemak

While the rice fell short on the coconut fragrance, the crispy and well-marinated chicken made up for it. We were warned that they serve killer chilli but it wasn’t THAT spicy. Oh man, we’re beginning to salivate just reminiscing the taste of the chicken. Next time, we would probably just feast on a huge drumstick!

Penang Assam Laksa & Chendol

Sad to say, this is one of the foods that we’ll rank last at this night market. The Assam Laksa is very diluted and bland. Where’s the sourish taste? The spice has zero kick. What a boring bowl! Moreover, the chendol has a strange taste. We suspect that artificial Gula Melaka has been used.

Besides the food that we have mentioned, Teochew kueh, Nonya kueh, fruits, roast meat, grilled meat, humongous buns and desserts are available as well. Our visit to KSL Monday Night Market marks a great end to our day trip to Johor Bahru.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

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Mondays have always been the most dreaded day of the week and what’s worse is that many of our favourite eateries are closed on this day too. However, did you know that there are actually quite a number of cafes open on Mondays? It’s time to kickstart the week with coffee, and spice up your Mondays with decent food. We have sussed out 37 cafes that are open on Mondays, so you will have a new place to explore each week. 

Baker & Cook

Be spoilt for choice by Baker & Cook’s extensive selection of freshly baked goods – from artisanal rolls to cakes. For a balanced meal, opt for their Salmon Quiche ($10.50) which comes with a side of salad. The Raw Energy salad was a mix of shredded beetroot and carrots tossed with maple vinaigrette.

Brothers in Fine Food

A venture by the people behind Penny University, the Jaffa Orange Mocha ($6) and Red Velvet Hot Chocolate ($5.50) will knock your socks off. We had the Beef Steak ($15), which arrived medium rare, as requested. It is first marinated in salt and pepper, to allow the natural flavours to emerge, before being vacuum-packed and cooked in a monitored water bath for 1.5 hours at 56 degrees.

Brother Bird

This artisanal ice cream parlour serves up a lean menu featuring their signature soft serve and mochi donut pairings. Their Matcha Burst ($15) comes with a swirl of cookie butter soft serve and three matcha mochi balls that are loaded with an oozing reservoir of matcha sauce. 

Chapter 55

Chapter 55 is a spacious café, with an extensive menu, in Tiong Bahru. They have an ongoing 1-for-1 lunch promotion that is available on weekdays from 11.30am to 3pm. We paid just $23++ for buffalo wings and a Bonito Thin Crust Pizza (Usual Price $23)!

Common Man Coffee Roasters

Using beans from Australian specialist roaster, Five Senses Coffee, Common Man serves up pretty great coffee. The menu boasts scrumptious bistro-quality nosh, but the food here is pricier than your usual cafes. The Organic Eggs Benedict ($24) features two poached eggs on top of tender braised ox cheeks and lightly toasted artisanal sourdough.

Curious Palette

The offerings include buttermilk waffles with gula melaka and coconut cream ($14.50), and buttermilk waffles with wine-poached pear and walnut crumble ($15.50). The popular picture-perfect Berry Ricotta Hotcake ($18.90) with fresh berries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and vanilla bean ice cream is a must-try. 

Dal.komm Coffee

If you’re an avid fan of Korean variety shows and dramas, you’d be familiar with Dal.komm Coffee. This cafe first made its appearance in episode 249 on Running Man before appearing a couple of times in the hit drama – Descendants of the Sun. Go for the Sweet Potato Mixtur ($8) which is a concoction of milk, sweet potato and ice, tailored to suit the health-conscious.

Dapper Coffee

Hidden within a shophouse along Amoy Street, Dapper Coffee serves unique “Unicorn Tears” and “Gold Brew”. These drinks sparkle when you give the bottles a little shake. Pair your drinks with unique cakes like Gula-Melaka Walnut Oat Cake, Salted Egg Black Sesame Cake and more.

Dessert Project

Dessert Project serves unique flavours of thick toast. The Gula Melaka Coconut thick toast ($14.90) comes with a buttered base, coconut ice cream, desiccated coconut and a drizzle of gula melaka syrup for good measure. This is a dish meant for sharing. We liked how the salted butter served as a nice contrast to the otherwise sweet dessert.

D’good Cafe

If you need to know what’s good over at D’Good Cafe, go for their cold brew coffee and Deutsch skillet pancake. We liked the air of mystery that accompanied the Unknown Cold Brew ($7.50), which was sweet and milky. The Classic Deutsch Skillet Pancake ($8) might take 20 minutes to arrive, but hang in there and you’ll be treated to a unique pancake that’s crispy, light and fluffy all at once.

Epiphyte Cafe

Entering this café is like stepping into a magical garden as the interior is filled with plants and terrariums. The Pink Risotto ($22) will please your palate. The chef mixes roasted beetroot with the risotto to produce a natural pink hue. End your meal with eye-catching desserts such as the Terrarium ($15) and Twilight ($12).

Forty Hands

The café is packed on weekends with people seeking a good brunch. Some of their desserts, like the Bacon Cheesecake ($8), are very unique. Purple sweet potato is incorporated into the cheesecake, and the mix is topped with roasted walnuts and caramelized bacon. 

Gudetama Cafe

Have an egg-joyable egg-perience lazing with an adorable egg at this cafe. “I’m Cold” Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict ($26.90) tucks Gudetama cozily into ‘smoked salmon blankets’. The blankets rest on a bed of mashed avocado and brioche toast, and are served with ebiko, yuzu hollandaise sauce, seasonal greens and tater-tots. 

Hyde & Co.

Hyde & Co.’s attempt at modernising ondeh-ondeh through their Ondeh Ondeh French Toast ($12) was certainly a successful one. The thick slices of brioche french toast was the perfect canvas for the grated pandan coconut and scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, but the glue that tied the whole dish together was the gula melaka drizzle that elevated the dish to another level.

Japan Rail Cafe

Japan Rail Café is a one-stop shop for food as well as products imported from Japan. Plus, you can even buy your rail passes here! Our favourite is the Watashino Curry Rice ($18). The curry is made from a black pepper base, a blend of various spices, vegetables and fruits. The Beauty Salad ($15) contains many anti-aging ingredients, and is great for both ladies and men.

Kombi Rocks

Kombi Rocks took over an old school kopitiam-style restaurant called Koon Kee which started in 1971. The furniture and posters perpetuate the vintage feel – retro coffee tables, barber chairs, old clocks etc. Go for the Kombi Nation Platter ($30/4pax, $50/8pax) which comes with handmade Thai fishcake, handmade prawn roll, pork ribs with lychee, Thai style vermicelli salad and crabmeat omelette.

Little Wimbly Lu

Fans of Wimbly Lu can now pop by their sister outlet at Serangoon Gardens, where they serve some of their star desserts and baked goods, including waffles and pancakes paired with a selection of their ice cream. Have a slice of Lemon Meringue Pie ($7.50) if you’re craving for something tart and zesty.

Montana Singapore

Step aside freakshakes, freak cakes have arrived in town. These cakes are called freak cakes for a reason, but in a good way of course. Montana Singapore has launched this new series in September, which drew everyone’s attention to their gorgeous looking cakes that includes the Matcha Black Sesame Freak Cake ($14.80).

Oblong

You’ll be greeted with the smell of freshly-baked waffles the moment you step into Oblong. We paired our Strawberry Shortcake Waffle with a cup of chamomile tea. A layer of strawberries and cream are sandwiched between crisp waffle squares, and the little tower is topped with a scoop of sea salt caramel with pistachio icecream.

One Man Coffee

We love the rustic wooden interior and we can really just sit here, read a book and let time pass us by. One Man Coffee sources its beans from Melbourne-based Axil Coffee Roasters.

Paddy Hills

Labelled as the hippest cafe in the West side of Singapore, Paddy Hills teases our tastebuds with out-of-the-world creations. Quench your thirst with photogenic drinks such as “Taste Like Purple” ($8) and Beer Slushie ($12). They have also introduced a Ramen Risotto ($25), which consists of Kurobuta Cha Shu, Tonkotsu snow-pickled saimeiji and raw quail’s egg yolk.

Patissez

For the uninitiated, Patissez is the brand (and brain) behind the original Freakshakes that sent the culinary world into a sugar frenzy with their ostentatious dessert creations. The famous Freakshake ($16 each) entourage has four members – the Muddy Pat, Pretzella, Mint Condition and Sneaky Freak. Our favourite is the Pretzella that came lined with crunchy salted pretzels.

Plain Vanilla Bakery

The cupcakes are baked fresh daily using top quality ingredients. Think French butter, pure Madagascan Bourbon vanilla, bittersweet Belgian chocolates and perfectly ripe bananas, just to name a few. The cupcakes are really popular and we can understand why. Their tarts and other pastries are worth a try too.

Populus

Populus is a gastro-cafe serving up contemporary progressive café nosh and specialty coffee. Their Lemon & White Chocolate Sundae ($14) is refreshing while the Dark Chocolate Sundae ($14) is the ultimate sinful indulgence. You can top up $5 for buttermilk waffles to go along with your sundae. 

Revolution Coffee

You’ll find Celebrity Mod Sin Chef Shen Tan’s famous Nasi Lemak here. The rice is steamed with fresh coconut every day, instead of being thrown into a rice cooker with coconut milk. Only the best Fragrant Jasmine rice is used and each grain of rice is distinct and fluffy. The rice is so well- flavoured that you will want to eat it on its own!

Shop Wonderland

Previously located along the quaint street of Haji Lane, this space which houses a cafe and florist have made Telok Ayer their new home. Escape the hustle and bustle of the CBD, have a coffee and treat yourself to cakes here.

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is famous for their waffles as they use a yeast-raised batter. Upon fermentation, the yeast releases carbon dioxide gas which fluffs up the batter to make it light yet crispy. Their Signature Nonya Chendol Waffle ($12.90) is a dessert that we can have any time, any day!

Sunday Market

Located at the corner of Lim Tua Tow road, Sunday Market is an industrial-themed cafe with quirky furniture. The cafe offers a more Asian approach to the regular brunch items. The dishes are adventurous and the ambience is great.

The Aftertaste Cafe

It’s easy to miss this hole-in-the-wall cafe which serves a small selection of caffeinated drinks, cakes and waffles. But if you do spot it, grab a cuppa and people-watch at their alfresco dining area, or grab a slice of their cakes like we did. 

The Bakery Chef

Tucked under a HDB block in Bukit Merah, this small cozy cafe sells a variety of pastries and cakes. We picked the Dessert Platter ($22.90) which offers us a choice of any three cakes, one cupcake, two macarons and a cup dessert of the day. This is one bakery that we will revisit. 

The Benjamins

As if Thai milk teas aren’t sweet enough, The Benjamins have rolled out their Thai Milk Tea Over-the-top Shake ($16) that builds on even more sugar. Rimmed with condensed milk, the shake comes loaded with a pale orange Thai tea infused milkshake, and is crowned with sugar biscuits, vanilla ice cream and marshmallows.

The Coffee Academics

The Coffee Academics has been labelled as one of the best cafes in Southeast Asia. The Mess ($20) is a dish exclusive to TCA at Raffles City. A 63-degree egg is buried in a mini well formed by crispy potatoes and sautéed spicy chicken sausages. 

The Monocle Cafe

There’s no better way to pass your time than to have a good read in one hand, and a good cuppa in the other. Hit up Monocle Cafe, which really feels more like your neighbour’s hipster backyard than a cafe. Grab an Iced Long Black ($5.50) like we did, and chill in their quaint garden.

The Plain Jane

You’ll find nothing plain about The Plain Jane – a quaint neighbourhood cafe that churns out a selection of swiss rolls. Don’t belittle their humble menu and offerings. The Thai Milk Tea Swiss Roll ($5.90) saw moist sponge cake slathered with luscious Thai milk tea-infused buttercream. This creamy dessert is anything but ordinary.

Tiong Bahru Bakery

Founded by master baker Gontran Cherrier and operating under the Spa Esprit Group, Tiong Bahru Bakery is an artisan bakery that serves coffee and a wide variety of freshly-baked premium quality breads and pastries. Their croissant, which is buttery and light, crisp and flaky, is definitely one of the best on our little red dot. 

Twenty Grammes

Located near Haji Lane, Twenty Grammes is a quiet and simple-looking café. The Yuan Yang Waffle ($15) is a combination of charcoal and original waffle. Drizzle some chocolate sauce over your waffle and vanilla soft serve and you’re in for a treat.

Working Title

If you’re a fan of Ribena, drop by Working Title cafe for their Ribena Wings ($12 for 8 pieces). The spiced and battered chicken drumlets are drizzled with a Ribena sauce, which is bound to please those with a sweet tooth. This dish should be named Ribena Drumlets instead of wings as we didn’t get any wings.

There you have it, the ultimate list of cafes open on Mondays! Life is already tough on its own, so why not take it easy and treat yourself to a cup of aromatic coffee or delicious pastries on the toughest day of the week? Enjoy!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the cafes featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the cafes listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post The Ultimate List of 37 Cafes to Chase Those Monday Blues Away appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Greyhound Cafe is one of Miss Tam Chiak’s favourite hang-outs in Bangkok, so we were pretty excited to check out the franchised outlet in Singapore. Located on the first floor of Paragon, the two-month old cafe marries Thai culture with art, in a space that reminds us of a “glasshouse”. You can enjoy both traditional and contemporary Thai delicacies while lazing the day away.

Adventurous palates can begin with the Poison Tea ($8). Instead of “killing” you, it brings you back to life with anti-stress and antioxidant powers. No artificial colouring has been used. The blue tint comes from butterfly pea. This Stevia tea is served with honey upon your request. Those who have a sweet tooth can stick to the Thai Tea. We recommend the Granita version ($9.50) which is sweeter and packs more flavours.

Greyhound Famous Fried Chicken Wings ($14) is one of the cafe’s best-sellers. Legend has it that someone dropped an entire batch on the beach but decided to brush the sand off and continue nibbling. Are these wings really THAT good? We think not. Although the mini wings are marinated very well in fish sauce, it is a little over-fried. It could have been more tender.

Complicated Noodles ($16) fares better. You get fresh lettuce leaves, noodle sheets with a texture that is somewhat similar to “chee cheong fan” and “kway chap”, minced pork sauce and chilli sauce. Lay a noodle sheet on top of a piece of lettuce before topping it off with the minced pork sauce and chilli sauce. Wrap it up and pop it into your mouth. You’ll experience an explosion of textures and flavours, but the chilli sauce could have been more tangy.

Phad Thai with Prawns ($18) consists of fried Thai rice noodles, tamarind sauce, prawns, crushed peanut and chilli powder. Possessing the right level of greasiness and flavours, this noodle dish comes quite close to the authentic version.

Greyhound Cafe Singapore also offers a variety of vegetarian options and Thai-fusion foods. The enticing menu will have you wanting to try everything, so head down with a bigger group!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Greyhound Cafe Singapore. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Greyhound Cafe Singapore – Bangkok’s Popular Cafe Comes to Singapore appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Gyudon is basically a beef bowl, consisting of thinly sliced beef, cooked in a slightly sweet mixture of mirin and soy sauce, and served over rice. Sometimes, sake is also added for extra flavour. Nowadays, there are different variations of Gyudon – while some places serve it piping hot with an egg yolk on top, others replace thinly sliced beef with wagyu steaks. Can’t decide which version you like best? Here are 15 places to satisfy your cravings.

1. Stray by Fatcat

With just 3 mains on the menu, the Black Pepper Wagyu Bowl ($22, $20 for lunch special) moooo-ed out to us. Cooked to a commendable tenderness, the beef was juicy and flavourful. We certainly looked forward to our favourite activity, which is bursting that sunshine of a yolk onto the fluffy rice ooooohhhh. The harmony of all the flavours, topped with gentle touches of Gari (ginger) espuma, shaped the dish into our favourite of the afternoon.

2. Ho-Jiak

Ho-Jiak, which means delicious in Hokkien, is a hipster cafe serving Japanese rice bowls. The menu is super simple – pick your proteins and you’re done! Beef Shabu ($10.90) consists of very lean meat, yet it is still satisfactorily tender. However, they are lacking in some seasoning, in our opinion. We could stir the curry in, but it isn’t sufficient to fully coat the rice. 

3. Tanuki Raw

Tanuki Raw is a great spot for gatherings with friends after work. You can choose to sit indoors or enjoy the night breeze in the alfresco area. You can even sit at the bar and observe the skillful bartenders create interesting cocktails while devouring the Foie Gras Truffle Yakiniku Donburi ($23) which hits all the right spots! It’s kind of impossible to stop at one bowl.

4. The Burning Oak

The Burning Oak is a Japanese yakitori stall at Bedok Marketplace. Unlike the typical food we see at hawker centres, The Burning Oak offers premium yet affordable donburi(s) such as Wagyu Beef Rump Cap Don ($13) and the succulent Wagyu Rump & Iberico Pork Combo Bento ($15). The well-marinated beef is sous vide for 72 hours, resulting in its tenderness.

5. Sandaime Bunji

Stepping into Sandaime Bunji makes you feel as though you’ve been transported to an authentic eatery in Japan. Whatt brought us here was their Wagyu Round Roast Beef Set ($19.90), a towering bowl with 250grams of beef slices stacked on top of rice. The beef is executed to perfection, but it might be too raw for some though. The set comes with salad, tofu and Ox Tail soup.

6. Platypus Kitchen

This casual restaurant serves up contemporary cuisine in a fun, lively and convivial environment. The Ribeye & Truffle Gourmet Rice Bowl ($26.90) is a great option not to be missed. The char-grilled marbled ribeye with shaved truffles is delicious. It is served with a perfect onsen egg on a bed of Japonica rice, and drizzled with honey truffle soy sauce. 

7. GastroSmiths

The Hokubee Ribeye Don ($28.50) features Japanese rice seasoned with doses of furikake and sweet vinegar, topped with grilled Hokubee beef. The Hokubee beef is being injected with soluble oil to yield a more desired marbling and is often refered as “poor man’s Wagyu”. It is beefy enough, but it is the tenderness of the beef that is really enjoyable. It’s great if you wish to have an affordable plate of beef bowl without burning a hole in your pocket. For an additional $2, you get a runny 63 degrees celcius egg.

9. Kushiya Japanese Grilled House

Upon placing your order, the meat is grilled on the spot behind the counter. We had the Premium Steak Don ($10.80) and Kimchi Sliced Beef Don ($6.80). Both dishes come with a drink and miso soup. The former consists of half an egg, kimichi and beef steak. While the beef steak is a bit tough and may not be of the best quality, it is well marinated and flavourful. The latter, on the other hand, uses thinly sliced beef, which turns out to be more tender and enjoyable.

9. Kinsa Sushi

Kinsa Sushi moved from Ang Mo Kio to HillV2, bringing more excitement to those staying in the West. The price is reasonable for the quality of food. The highlight has to be the A4 Kagoshima Wagyu Don ($24.80) which comes with an onsen egg. The wagyu beef with its beautiful marbling, will melt in your mouth. 

10. IZY Dining and Bar

IZY is helmed by Chef Kazumasa Yazawa, who had stints in the kitchens of Waku Ghin and Tetsuya. The Wagyu Bowl ($38) features a generous amount of truffle shavings heaped atop succulent slices of wagyu beef. The wagyu beef is cooked using a Josper grill. Don’t forget to burst the onsen egg nestled within the warm rice!

11. Black Cow

Black Cow uses the freshest produce, straight from Japan’s finest farms. Nothing less than A3 marbled beef stars in their dishes, and their passionate team of chefs meticulously prepares every dish from scratch in their kitchen daily. The Signature Truffle Wagyu Don ($45) comes with fragrant slices of truffle and a runny egg. Just split the egg open and give the dish a good mix. We promise that every mouthful will be filled with a burst of savoury flavours!

12. Tamashii Robataya

The Saga Beef Donburi ($58++) is fantastic. Pink and tender Saga A4 beef striploin sits on a bed of marinated short-grain rice, and is topped with a runny onsen egg and drizzled with truffle oil. Break the yolk and mix it into the rice. It’s a pricey bowl but definitely worth the splurge.

13. Fat Cow

Fat Cow takes a contemporary approach to the Japanese “Wabi-Sabi” design concept, which is the art of finding beauty in things modest, simple and humble. Just like its interior, the beef adopts a basic and minimalistic Japanese cooking technique that brings out the best of the meat’s natural flavours. Only available during lunch, the Fat Foa-gura Don ($43) contains juicy medium rare wagyu beef and fatty foie gras. We love the flowy onsen egg as well!

14. WTF Coffee House & Bar

WTF stands for “We Talk Food” so let’s talk Gyu Don ($13.90). Grilled beef (medium or well done) and onsen tamago sit atop Japanese rice. The beef is grilled well, such that it still retains its juiciness and tenderness. The marinade for the beef is also palatable. Our favourite part is the runny egg that oozes out so seductively, shiok! However, even after a good toss, the rice was still bland and too mushy, and we had to request for some sauce in order to make the dish more flavoursome.

15. The Refinery

Gyuniku Donburi ($14) features tare marinated skirt steak with truffle hon shimeiji mushrooms and a lovely onsen egg over rice. This is perhaps one of the cheapest gyudon you can find in Singapore, but the price doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality is compromised. Though the truffle flavour is subtle, the tare marinated skirt steak made up for the savouriness of the dish. Moreover, the glorious runny egg gave this dish an “oomph” factor!

MOOOOOOO! Hope you’ll find this Gyudon guide useful the next time you’re craving some Japanese rice bowls.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 15 Places for Gyudon in Singapore (and that glorious runny egg!) appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Hands up if you’ve heard drinks stall vendors shouting out, “ji puay tak giu peng” at coffeshops. It simply means, “a cup of iced Milo”. The nickname, “tak giu” (“kick ball” in Hokkien) arose due to the football player image on the Milo can. This beverage is a local favourite, as many of us grew up drinking Milo. Therefore, we have hunted down 7 Milo desserts to show our love for this beverage that has been there for us through rain or shine. 

Milo Dinosaur Cheesecake

Milo Dinosaur is a drink unique to Singapore, even though it is simply our regular iced Milo with lots of milo powder on top. Because this iconic drink brings back so much memories, Chef Daniel Tay, founder of Cat & the Fiddle, has created a Milo Dinosaur ($32.90/kg, approx 7 inches in diameter) Cheesecake which is a huge hit among Singaporeans. The best part is, every time you order a Milo Dinosaur Cheesecake, you get a packet of milo powder to sprinkle on top of the cake! Shiok right!

Milo Bingsu

This is the cafe to go to if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Located at HillV2, Nunuiwangja serves a variety of Bingsu. The soft shaved ice has a good consistency. Its sweetness is accentuated by the use of milk and honey. The Milo Bingsu ($12.90) is topped with vanilla ice cream and sprinkled excessively with milo powder. As compared to other bingsu(s) we have tried elsewhere, this ranks as one of our top 5!

Milo Dinosaur Waffle

Shrove Tuesday is famous for their waffles as they use a yeast-raised batter. Upon fermentation, the yeast releases carbon dioxide gas which fluffs up the batter to make it light, yet crispy. The Milo Dinosaur waffle ($12.90) consists of 2 scoops of Chocolate gelato and vanilla soft serve topped with milo powder, sweetened milk, marshmallows and chocolate sauce. It sounds very rich, but its sweetness is actually manageable. However, we recommend sharing the calories with friends.

Milo Cheese Prata

This dessert prata features two contrasting flavours – sweet and savoury. Their usual plain prata is crispy, but the Milo Cheese Prata ($4) is a tad soggy and too soft. We will stick to the savoury items next time round. 

Milo Toast

Instead of your usual kaya or peanut butter toast in the mornings, wake up to Tuk Tuk Cha’s Milo Toast ($4.20). Their freshly prepared golden toast is overflowing with condensed milk and milo powder – definitely made for those with a sweet tooth. The toast slathered with condensed milk was alright, but the milo powder made it a tad too dry for our liking.

Milo Tiramisu

Tiramisu Hero’s mascot, Sir Antonio, is popular among café-goers and instagrammers. With a lovely and brightly-lit interior, Tiramisu Hero makes you want to spend your entire afternoon here. The Milo Tiramisu ($7.50 for MommaHero size) got us excited but the disappointment came when we couldn’t taste any milo flavours at all. However, the taste of coffee was strong. The melt-in-your-mouth texture of the Tiramisu was enjoyable as well.

Milo Brownie

Warning! Brownies from P.Osh are extremely sweet and rich – definitely not for the health-conscious. Om Nom Nom Brownie ($3.70) contains oreo, milo and nutella, with an oreo cookie presented on top of the brownie. It’s too much for us. The texture of the brownie is a little firm and dense, giving it a nice bite. It would’ve been better if it’s not so sweet and rich.

As good as some of the Milo desserts are, we still prefer the traditional Milo drink. However, they do make for a good indulgence every now and then. 

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 7 Milo Desserts in Singapore – Time to Bring Back the Milo Trend appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Mr Yap Eng Lam, also known affectionately as Ah Lam, began honing his craft as an apprentice at his uncle’s minced meat noodles stall. In 1975, he opened his first stall in a coffee shop in Race Course. Over the years, Ah Lam maintained the quality of his food, while innovating new flavours to suit tastebuds which have changed with time. He is the first person to introduce abalone dishes into coffee shops, and the abalone noodles is now the best-selling dish. The other crowd-pleaser is Ah Lam’s signature salt-baked chicken. So, here’s our verdict.

Ah Lam’s Signature Abalone Noodles ($7) isn’t your typical bowl of bak chor mee. There is no liver slices in it and no vinegar is added. Instead, you get noodles topped generously with two bite-sized abalones, a scallop, a fried fishball, minced meat, bits of pork lard and the best of all – half of a Ajitsuke Tamago (Japanese flavoured egg). The noodles are QQ and cooked just right. Each mouthful whets our appetite for more.

The other enticing dish is the Salt-baked Chicken Thigh ($5.80). The moist chicken thigh is freshly marinated with Australian coarse sea salt and herbs. It’s marinated overnight so that the flavours will be locked in. It is then baked till a beautiful golden brown. What you get is fork-tender meat that’s very palatable. Moreover, the Thai-style chilli brought the dish to another level. It’s made with coriander, fish sauce, sugar, chilli padi and other secret ingredients. This alone deserves another visit!

Although their abalone noodles might not win the hearts of bak chor mee purists, it has tickled our tastebuds. Perhaps, there are others who share the same preference as us. We were also very tempted to take away one whole salt-baked chicken to indulge in. The pricing at Lam’s Kitchen might be higher, as compared to your usual coffee shop pricing, but the quality well justifies it. SHIOK!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Lam’s Kitchen. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Lam’s Kitchen – Amazing Abalone Noodles at a Coffee Shop appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.