Audience: Couple

From Alt Rock To Hip-Hop: Here Are 5 Local Acts You Should Check Out At Baybeats 2018

Music lovers rejoice: the 2018 edition of Baybeats is upon us, which means that you can look forward to three days of free performances from some of the best that the local music scene has to offer.

With more than 30 artists set to take the stage this weekend, it can be an understandably daunting task to pick which ones to watch. To help you out, here are five that we think you should totally check out:

Kin Leonn

https://soundcloud.com/kin-leonn/searching_v3

As the founding member of acclaimed electronic band Midst, Kin Leonn has been honing his craft as an ambient musician for years, and his solo material is both a culmination and evolution of those efforts.

A talented multi-instrumentalist, Kin Leonn is a master of creating haunting soundscapes that transport you to a state of pure calm and introspection. His music might not feature lyrics, but the tracks speak volumes on their own.

He’ll be playing two half-hour sets at the Chillout Stage / Esplanade Concourse on Friday at 6:30pm and 8:00pm, and is the perfect act to ease you into the Baybeats mood.

Annette

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmPUpehiwuc

If Annette Lee looks somewhat familiar to you, it’s probably because you recognise her as “Sue Ann” from SGAG (yeah, we’re just as surprised as you).

Don’t let the goofiness of her day job fool you, though — Lee shows a completely different side of herself when she picks up a mic, exuding a confidence we didn’t know she had as she sings her self-written songs “about the human condition”.

Her repertoire ranges from upbeat dance anthems to dark, soulful ballads, and like Kin Leonn she’ll be playing two sets at The Chillout Stage / Esplanade Concourse on Friday at 7:15pm and 8:45pm.

Trust The Chaos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea2K6XrZSPE

If at first you don’t succeed, try again — after being eliminated in the final round of last year’s Baybeats Budding Bands initiative, the alternative rock quintet went on to earn a spot in NOISE Singapore’s music mentorship programme, and will finally be making their Baybeats debut this year.

Inspired by everything from One OK Rock to Avenged Sevenfold, the band’s energetic sound masterfully straddles the line between mainstream and underground. Frontman Li En’s voice in particular is a work of art, chock full of emotion and reminiscent of Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington.

Considering the lengths they had to go through to make it here, you can bet that they’ll tear the stage down on Friday at the Powerhouse / Waterfront Carpark at 7:30pm.

Falling Feathers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9abvNJNnUA

Falling Feathers is no stranger to the big stage — having opened for big international acts like Mayday Parade and Before You Exit in recent years, it’s obvious that his Owl City-esque vocals have struck a chord with Singaporeans.

With most of his songs revolving around the universal topic of romance, his tunes are unapologetically pop-inspired — whether its blaring guitar chords or a smooth electronic beat, you’re guaranteed to be tapping your feet throughout.

If you want to feel like a secondary school kid again, you can catch him on Saturday at the Arena / Esplanade Outdoor Theatre at 7:30pm.

Yung Raja x Fariz Jabba

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-SUfLna8Oo

This year’s Baybeats aims to shine a bigger spotlight on Singapore’s hip-hop and rap scene, and the inclusion of Yung Raja and Fariz Jabba in its lineup is definitely a step in the right direction.

Both artists — who also happen to be best friends — have amassed massive followings thanks to a strong social media game, and their signature style of rapping in both English and their mother tongues have helped to further set them apart from the rest.

It’s always a banger when these two come together, so it’s rather fitting that they’ll be closing out Saturday with a late-night performance at the Esplanade Annexe Studio at 11:30pm.

And if you’re not looking to play favourites and want to watch every act (props to you), here’s the full lineup for your reference:

Baybeats Festival 2018
When: 17 – 19 August 2018
Website | Facebook

Also read When You’re Broke But Still Want To Shop – Here Are 6 Of Our Favourite Thrift Shops In Singapore

(Header Image Source: Baybeats Festival Facebook)

Continue The National Day Celebrations With Good Makan, Music, And Movies This Weekend

Another National Day might have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean that the celebrations have to stop.

If you’re not ready to put away your red t-shirts and remove Home from your Spotify playlist just yet, here are some events that’ll help you scratch that patriotic itch over the weekend:

Independent Market National Day Fair 2018

Have the recent festivities spurred you to fill your home and / or wardrobe with locally-inspired merchandise? Then Independent Market’s National Day Fair is definitely the place to be.

Featuring wares from an assortment of homegrown brands, you’ll find everything from notebooks to cushion covers — all of which feature local icons such as the Merlion, chilli crab and the famous Toa Payoh dragon playground, to name a few.

This is one of the rare occasions that so many local brands will be in one place at the same time, so you best head down unless you’re cool with scouring the island to find them again.

Independent Market National Day Fair 2018
Venue: VivoCity Southeast Boulevard
Date: 10th-13th Aug 2018
Time: 10am-10pm
Admission: Free
Website

RWS Street Eats 2018

What better way to celebrate Singapore than to indulge in its favourite activity?

Following its highly successful debut in 2017, Resorts World Sentosa’s Street Eats event is back for a second year, featuring a curated collection of over 20 street food stalls from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and of course, Singapore.

This year’s special guests include Chef Steven Long from Vietnam, who’ll be serving his signature Pho and Vietnamese Summer Rolls. while Chefs Zainal Abidin and Mohd Fairus, on the other hand, are set to satisfy both your eyes and mouth with their Flying Roti Canai preparation / performance hybrid.

Entertainment has never tasted this good.

RWS Street Eats 2018
Venue: Resorts World Sentosa, Malaysian Food Street (Waterfront Level 1)
Date: 10th-19th Aug 2018
Time: 11am-9pm (Monday-Thursday) 9am-10pm (Friday-Sunday)
Admission: Free
Website

Garden Rhapsody: Singapore Edition

If you’re looking for a place to just sit back and relax, head on over to the Supertrees at Gardens By The Bay, where there’ll be a special National Day edition of the Garden Rhapsody light and sound show.

The light show’s hypnotic visuals should be reason enough to head down, but the real attraction is the star-studded group of Benjamin Kheng, Nathan Hartono, Rani Singam and iNCH, who will be performing a collection of local tunes to keep you in the National Day mood.

Some of Singapore’s best musicians performing some of Singapore’s best songs at one of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks…for free? Yeah, there really isn’t any reason for you not to go.

Garden Rhapsody: Singapore Edition
Venue: Gardens By The Bay, Supertree Grove
Date: 10th-12th Aug 2018
Time: 7:45pm, 8:45pm
Admission: Free
Website

Films At The Fort

Okay, this one isn’t exactly National Day themed, but paying a little too much for a hipster experience has become so commonplace in Singapore that it could be considered a national pastime.

At $30 a ticket, Films At The Fort isn’t exactly the cheapest date idea, but you’ll be hard pressed to find another event that allows you to watch a classic movie in an open-air setting under the stars. It’s a unique concept for sure, and one you should experience at least once in your life.

Romance Classic The Notebook and sex comedy Blockers will be screening on Saturday and Sunday respectively, so there’s something for everyone. The organisers are also expecting “a strong demand for tickets”, so be sure to get yours quick.

Films At The Fort
Venue: Fort Canning Park
Date: 11th August 2018 (The Notebook), 12th Aug 2018 (Blockers)
Time: 7:30pm
Admission: $29.80
Website

Also read Want To Feel Like You’re In Mission Impossible? You Can Now Abseil Off A HDB Block

(Header Image Source: Films By The Fort)

Finding The Perfect Perfume Is Tough, So I Crafted My Own At This Workshop

It’s kind of crazy how certain scents can instantly evoke memories you’d completely forgotten about.

The smell of warm chocolate cookies can transport you to that night you slept underneath the Christmas tree because your dad told you Santa and his reindeers will show up. Sunscreen and coconut oil can remind you of sunny days in Bali. And Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin cologne might make you recall your ex-boyfriend’s….mom?

There is a plethora of brands out there offering fragrances but the downside is there’s always the chance you may end up wearing the same scent as someone else–especially if you wear a classic fragrance like Chanel No. 5.

This is where Oo La Lab comes in. Established in 2016, this fragrance lab allows you to customise your fragrance with a mixologist to come up with your ideal perfume – from picking all the notes to choosing a name.

Craft Your Own Scent

You’ll smell it before you see Oo La Lab’s workshop, their counters are lined with bottles of essential oils and perfumes. Located in Delta House, Oo La Lab lets you customise your own fragrance in a 60-minute perfume making session ($88/pax, $176/two pax).

Starting with a quick theory lesson on the Oo Fragrance Table which has a total of 25 core scent and 2 complex scent available, we set out to start our perfume making process.

The first step required us to take a whiff of every scent and narrow down our favourite ones. The scents were split up to 3 different categories (bottom, middle, top notes).

Now, if you’re like me and you suffer from the butter finger syndrome, you’ll find yourself fumbling with the glass beakers, funnels and the bottles.

Please don’t break anything. Please don’t break anything. PLEASE don’t break anything.

The entire set up felt like a complete throwback to chemistry lessons in secondary school. All that’s left was a lab coat, goggles and gloves to complete my look.

While I was halfway through smelling the different scents, I started getting a little giddy or perhaps high from all the different smells. The lab also carries “edible” scents such as Vanilla and Gourmande which honestly got my tummy rumbling. The aromas were so sweet that I was almost tempted to taste them. They also carry a limited edition synthetic scent called “Chocolate” which will remind you of a chocolate fondue.

From Fresh and Floral notes to deeper Oriental and Wood fragrances, I had a tough time picking out the scents that would fit my personality.

Once I’ve decided on my scents, it was time to do the math.

I was allowed a total of 20 drops for each round (there are 2 rounds), which must include 10 drops of bottom and 10 drops of middle and top notes (5 from middle, 5 from top).

Here’s the slightly tedious part: Mark down the scents that you want to combine and decide how many drops of each scent will go into your trial mixture.

This requires quite a bit of trial and error because you don’t want to leave the workshop smelling like a Funfetti Cake or the Amazon Rainforest.

Now here’s where you get to feel like a chemist.

Based on your prior selection, it was time to translate 20 drops into 20ml which is the amount needed to fill your perfume bottles! This step was important because an extra drop might change the entire formula of your perfume.

The mixture in the bottle will then be iodised and topped up with alcohol, before being professionally sealed with a spray nozzle and cap. To make it even more personalised, you can name your perfume.

Once that’s done, you’ll receive your 20ml eau de parfum packaged nicely in plastic wrappers with a card indicating your mixture so you can re-order on the website if you ever run out!

If you’re ever looking at doing something out of the ordinary in Singapore, this workshop is perfect for a date or even as a birthday gift. You’d be surprised to find out how everyone’s preferences are so different. Who knows, you might just be able to recreate a perfume you love.

Oo La Lab
Address: The Lab, ​DELTA HOUSE #02-04 2 Alexandra Road 159919 Singapore
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $88/pax
Book your workshop here
Website

Also Read I Paid $400 To Make My Own Watch From Scratch – And It Was Totally Worth The Price Tag

(Header Image Source: Discover SG)

Want To Feel Like You’re In Mission Impossible? You Can Now Abseil Off A HDB Block

What if we tell you that you could abseil off a block of HDB flats safely and without breaking any laws?

Don’t believe? Come, we show you.

https://www.facebook.com/PAFrenz/videos/10156256711493766/

Abseiling In The Heartlands

Abseiling off a block of HDB flats is a real thing in Singapore. Gone were those days where bungee jumping and bar top dancing weren’t allowed in Singapore as authorities, who for years have kept a tight rein on fun, show gradual signs of loosening up.

Not for the faint hearted, this newfangled activity is organised by the abseiling interest group at West Coast CC Youth Club.

They folks at West Coast CC Youth Club are bringing abseiling to the residents instead of you coming to them. The abseiling activities are held every second Sunday of the month. Best part, you get to abseil off a different HDB block every month.

If you’re thinking, “Siao ah?!”

This activity is completely safe and fun for all ages. If you’re deathly afraid of heights, rest assured that you’ll be in the safe hands of professionals.

If you’re looking forward to some butt-clenching excitement, all you have to do is sign up and all equipments will be provided by the West Coast CC Youth Club themselves.

Who knows, you might just overcome your fear of heights after attending their abseiling sessions! Keep a look out on their Facebook page for their next event.

Urban Abseiling By West Coast CC Youth Club
When: Every Second Sunday of the month
Sign up: 
Facebook

Also Read Get Boozy With Fellow Singaporeans While Watching NDP Live At The Projector

(Header Image Source: West Coast CC Youth Club)

Get Boozy With Fellow Singaporeans While Watching NDP Live At The Projector

The National Day Parade is a quintessential Singaporean event that brings our country together (for a few hours, at least), but we think it’s safe to say that originality isn’t exactly their strong suit.

Yes, there’s bound to be some new offerings — in this year’s case, a 10-minute film directed by Boo Junfeng — but for the most part you can count on seeing mainstays like the Red Lions, marching contingents and costumed primary school kids taking up the majority of the parade’s screen time.

Exciting as these are, there’s a sense of deja vu watching the same thing year after year, and If you’re looking to switch up your NDP viewing experience you might want to check out Watch It Wet: NDP 2018.

One People, One Nation, One Drink-A-Pore

Organised by everyone’s favourite hipster cinema The Projector, the event is the first of a “new occasional series of communal drinking”, and aims to unite everyone as “one people, one nation, one drink-a-pore”. They’ll be broadcasting the parade on one of their big screens, alongside a dedicated bar for all your alcoholic needs.

This isn’t just going to be a mere screening, however — the event will also be hosted by drag queen Becca D’Bus, who’ll provide commentary throughout with the things you want to say but are too afraid to.

The best part? Admission is pay as you wish, so you won’t have to break the bank to attend. The Projector suggests a minimum of $15 though, which is still reasonable.

Doors open at 5:15pm on August 9th (duh) with free seating, so you’d better head there early if you want to experience an NDP in a totally different way this year.

Watch It Wet: NDP 2018
Venue: Intermission Bar at The Projector
Date: 9th Aug 2018
Admission: Pay As You Wish
Website

Also read Singapore Night Festival Returns On Aug 17 With Luminous Horses, Lightning Duels And More 

(Header Image Source: Intermission Bar at The Projector)

Is Everything Really Better With Chilli? We Tried Krispy Kreme’s New Chilli Donuts And Found Out

Krispy Kreme Singapore has unveiled 2 new flavours in their range of donuts, for National Day.

Introducing the White Chocolate Chilli Donut and the Caramel Chilli Donut.

While it’s new in Singapore, it’s not the first time Krispy Kreme has released chilli-flavoured donuts. Back in April, Krispy Kreme Malaysia released Caramel Chilli Donut as an April Fool’s joke.

However, the question here is, “is EVERYTHING really better with chilli?”

So, we bought and tried it.

Chilli On Donuts

The donuts might seem intimidating for those of you who cannot handle your spice, but they’re actually quite decent.

The White Chocolate Chilli Donut ($2.95) is basically a standard white chocolate donut with dried chilli flakes (like the ones you get at Pizza Hut).

We can barely taste the chilli, though the warmth of the spice does show up in the aftertaste.

The Caramel Chilli Donut ($2.95) was less sweet, compared to the White Chocolate variant, and had a stronger chilli taste.

Of the 2 chilli flavours, White Chocolate Chilli was the crowd favourite.

These 2 chilli donuts are available from now till 31 August 2018 at all Krispy Kreme outlets islandwide.

There’s another SG Donut ($3.30) that’s also a National Day special.

It’s a dense custard donut with frosting on the top. It tastes good and they’re very generous with the custard. However, it is quite saccharine after a few bites.

All in all, these new flavours aren’t as bad as we thought they’d be. But if you’re intent on trying the chilli ones, go for the White Chocolate Chilli.

Turns out, most things are really better with chilli, donuts included. Just maybe not caramel.

Find your nearest Krispy Kreme outlet Aqua S Brings Their Famous Sea Salt Soft Serve To S’pore This Aug, And It Looks Like A Dream!

(Header Image Source: DiscoverSG)

Aqua S Is Bringing Their Famous Sea Salt Soft Serve To S’pore, And It Looks Like A Dream!

For all of you with a sweet tooth, your blood sugar levels are about to go through the roof.

Sydney’s famous turquoise Sea Salt Soft Serve (say it quickly 10 times) brand, Aqua S, will be opening their first outlet in Singapore soon!

While many foods have claimed to be Instagrammable, this is by far the prettiest we’ve seen, judging from their Instagram posts.

But that’s not why we’re excited – they have some really interesting soft serve flavours!

Sydney Sea Salt Soft Serve

While Aqua S is known for their Sea Salt soft serve, they have over 100 flavours back home in Sydney.

Some of the interesting flavours include Egg Pudding, Tofu, Baileys, and Manuka Honey.

As you can see, each flavour comes in their own delightful hue, with their signature Sea Salt flavour in turquoise.

Every ice cream cone is black, which makes the colours of their soft serve look more vibrant by contrast.

You can also choose to mix 2 flavours in a swirl, because let’s be honest, with over 100 flavours, you want to try as many flavours as possible.

After choosing the flavours for your soft serve, next comes the toppings.

Aqua S didn’t neglect this aspect because popcorn and an cotton candy are available as toppings and a freaking TOASTED MARSHMALLOW ON A STICK.

If you want to get your hands on this stunning soft serve, Aqua S will be opening at Orchard Xchange, 11 September 2018!

Queues are DEFINITELY going to be long so be prepared.

Aqua S
Address: 437 Orchard Road, #B1-01, Orchard Xchange, Singapore 238878
Opening Hours: Daily: 10am – 10pm
Sip But Don’t Spill – Enjoy Blends From Local And International Brands At Singapore Tea Festival 2018

(Header Image Source: @aquas_au)

When You’re Broke But Still Want To Shop – Here Are 6 Of Our Favourite Thrift Shops In S’pore

Thanks to Macklemore, thrift shops got a boost in publicity and popularity.

I used to avoid thrift shop because I never understood why anyone would want to buy pre-owned items. After all, the thrill of shopping comes from obtaining new stuff.

But after I went to my first thrift store, my eyes are now open to the wonders of thrift shopping. It’s the same feeling as opening a blind packaged item. You never know what you’re going to find and it’s thrilling.

So here’re some of my favourite thrift shops around Singapore so you can have your very own thrift shop moment.

One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure

1. Shop@REDCROSS

The Red Cross Foundation has their very own thrift shops that you can visit at the Red Cross House or at the Red Cross Campsite.

With a wide range of pre-loved items, you can even find collectibles and electronic devices such as e-scooters, Samsung phones, and iPad Pro amongst other things!

If both of the outlets are out of the way or if your schedule doesn’t coincide with their opening hours, you can also find them on Carousell.

Red Cross Training Campsite
Address: 62 Jalan Khairuddin (Opera Estate), Singapore 457524
Opening Hours: Fri: 10.30am – 3.30pm

Red Cross House
Address: 15 Penang Lane, Singapore 238486
Opening Hours: Wed: 11am – 4pm
Website

2. Song & Song

Song & Song doesn’t exist. On the Internet, that is. They’re completely offline and the truth is, they don’t really need to be on social media.

Song & Song sells clothing for as low as $5.

Most of the clothes here are brandless, though if you spend enough time searching, you might find some gems from certain brands. These are usually rejected pieces due to slight defects that are usually negligible.

They even have baby clothes!

From coats and vests to tops and workout clothing, Song & Song is a fun place to trawl if you’re on a budget.

Song & Song
Address: Find your nearest outlet here

3. MINDS Shop

The Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) organisation runs 4 thrift shops across the island.

Each thrift shop carries a range of carefully-selected apparel, furniture, house wares, and other collectibles.

The items are affordable and value-for-money. And don’t worry, the inventory is constantly updated.

With a bit of time, who knows what you’ll find?

MINDS Shop
Address: Find your nearest store 4. Praisehaven Mega Family Store

From books and electronics to art pieces, antiques and even wedding dresses, the Praisehaven Mega Family Store is basically a department store for pre-loved items.

Anyone down for some thrift shopping?

Praisehaven Mega Family Store
Address: 500 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 678106
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 10am – 6pm, Fri – Sat: 10am – 9pm, Sun: Closed
Contact no.: 6349 5312
Website

5. New2U Thrift Shop

New2U Thrift Shop opened during the millennium selling pre-loved clothing, accessories, household goods, decorative ornaments, books and more.

You might even find branded goods at New2U! The best part? The prices start from as low as a dollar.

And they even have promotions! Every Tuesday is Student Half Price day and all items (except books, toys and jewellery) will go for half price on the last 2 working days of every month.

Do check their Instagram page for regular updates on upcoming promotions!

New2U Thrift Shop
Address: 96 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187967
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 10.30am – 2.30pm, Sat – Sun: Closed
Contact no.: 6837 0611
Website

6. Something Old, Something New

Something Old, Something New thrift shop started back in 1997, founded by 2 volunteers at the Singapore Anglican Community Services, Ms Anna Tsang and Ms Felicia Teo.

You can find a ton of apparel, from clothes, shoes and bags and many more.

If you’re lucky, you might even find some items from brands like adidas.

They also hold flea markets every now and then so keep checking their Facebook page to stay up-to-date!

Something Old, Something New
Address: Find your nearest outlet Also read Carouselland Is Back With Over 400 Popular Sellers, Entrepreneurship Talks, And An IG Photography Trail

(Header Image Source: Something Old, Something New and Red Shield Industries)

Takagi Ramen Now Offers Delivery For Under $10 A Bowl: But Is Dabao-ed Ramen Any Good?

When you’ve worked for more than a year in Tai Seng, lunch options quickly run out and nothing seems more appealing for lunch than a nap.

But today, the office decided to order in. We were sick of fast food options so we decided to get ourselves some ramen.

Enter Takagi Ramen.

https://www.facebook.com/TakagiRamenShop/videos/10160524102020317/

They’ve recently started offering islandwide delivery for their ramen, which is great news because Tai Seng is a ghost town and the queues at Takagi Ramen outlets are always long.

I managed to find 6 other like-minded colleagues who thought ramen makes for great comfort food on a rainy day.

Send Nood(le)s

Unlike food delivery services, what you find on the menu at Takagi Ramen outlets, is what you’ll find on their delivery menu as well.

And the thing about Takagi Ramen is that it’s really affordable, with their base ramen all below $10. You can check out their full delivery menu here.

We ordered a Miso Ramen, a Mazemen, a Takagi Ramen, 2 Karaka Ramen, and 2 Black Tonkotsu Ramen. The total came up to $63.60 with a delivery fee of $20.

The delivery fee wasn’t explicitly stated on their delivery site, so it was a bit of a shock. They do have free delivery for orders above $100 though.

Good luck trying to scrounge up enough orders to hit $100 with such affordable prices.

Ramen Reviews

Our ramen arrived in neat little tubs that resembled upsized ice cream tubs. Also, Takagi Ramen switched to this current all-paper, 100% biodegradable packaging since last year so, kudos to them.

They may seem small but they’re really not. Here’s a hand for comparison.

If you’re wondering why some orders have a ramen egg, it’s an add-on for $1.50 per egg.

Here’s a closer look at the different ramen.

What you’re looking at is the signature Takagi Ramen ($7.90), which is their most basic and standard ramen.

The tonkotsu broth here is surprisingly light, and not too rich, making it easier to finish. We’ve had broth that’s too rich and by the time we finish the noodles, more than half the soup remains. The noodles were clumped together even when it was placed into the broth.

We had to microwave the tub so the noodles would split. Thankfully, the taste remained the same.

This was by far the crowd favourite out of all the orders.

Verdict: 4/5

Up next is the Miso Ramen ($8.50).

The Miso Ramen didn’t fare as well as the Takagi Ramen. It’s pretty normal, with a light broth. If you prefer lighter broths for your ramen, then you might like this.

But the miso flavour wasn’t very prominent and we would prefer it to be a little stronger.

Verdict: 2.5/5

For the spice lovers, there’s the Karaka Ramen ($8.50).

The Karaka Ramen is great because the spice doesn’t overpower the tonkotsu broth, so you can still the underlying broth.

And it’s not too spicy either, so it’s great for those of you who like to add shichimi (chilli powder) to your ramen.

Verdict: 3/5

Next is the only dry ramen order we had – the Mazemen ($7.90).

The dry ramen is served with sweet corn, roasted nori strips, scallions, and sweet ginger-braised pulled pork.

While it sounds good, the flavours did not really translate properly, and the rest of ramen came across as a little bland. The only real flavour came from the ginger-braised pulled pork, and even that was relatively mild.

If you’re looking for something extremely light on the palate, get this.

Verdict: 2.5/5

Now, for my order, the Black Tonkotsu Ramen ($8.90).

The Black Tonkotsu Ramen comes with slow-roasted black garlic-infused tonkotsu broth and comes with menma (bamboo shoots) and black fungus strips for added crunch.

I like ramen with black garlic oil and it’s my usual order at my go-to ramen restaurants. So I decided to give this one a try.

Right off the bat, the noodles were surprisingly springy even after I microwaved it. The black garlic-infused broth wasn’t too salty, which is good for me I guess, though I personally prefer stronger flavour.

I felt that there wasn’t enough black garlic oil, so an option to ask for more black garlic oil would be good.

The lean chashu was a little tough, which is to be expected since it’s been left out of the broth for quite a while.

It wasn’t as shiok as other Black Tonkotsu ramen I’ve had, but it still does the job. Plus it’s affordable, so that’s a plus point.

Verdict: 3/5

Overall Verdict

Takagi Ramen markets themselves as “Ramen For The Average Singaporean”, and they stay true to that motto.

Their ramen, while it’s nothing to shout about, does its job and is incredibly affordable. Plus, now that they deliver islandwide, getting your hands on a comforting bowl of ramen is much easier than before.

But if you’re going for quality, you might fare better if you visit any of their outlets. After all, ramen was never meant to be a takeaway dish.

Also 8 Hawker Food Haunts That Are Tried, Tasted, And Recommended By True Blue S’poreans

(Header Image Source: DiscoverSG)