Audience: Foodies

From Bak Kut Teh To Bak Chor Mee – 9 Places In S’pore With Halal Chinese Fare

If you’re like me, you’ve always been listening to your Chinese friends go on and on about their Bak Kut Teh and Bak Chor Mee without any way of relating to their experiences.

It’s no great secret that Singapore is a food obsessive’s paradise. Over the years, the halal food scene has grown and now our Muslim friends can enjoy halal versions of authentic Chinese fare.

As much as I love my nasi padang and mee soto, having halal options to authentic Chinese hawker food makes me really happy.

Rejoice my Muslim friends, here’s a list of halal chinese food you can finally enjoy!

1. Bak Kut Teh (Habib Family Restaurant)

Yes, you read that right. There’s halal Bak Kut Teh in Singapore and you’re going to love it.

For the uninitiated, Bak Kut Teh directly translates to “meat bone tea” in Hokkien but it doesn’t actually have tea in it. Instead of pork ribs, the Bak Kut Teh is served with beef or lamb meat in a rich herbal broth.

The Malaysian-style Bak Kut Teh served at Habib Family Restaurant is made with a rich herbal broth and they’ve been making it for over 15 years now!

The restaurant’s Chinese chef keeps the flavours authentic by using traditional bak kut teh herbs, but substitutes the traditional pork with beef and lamb to keep it halal.

You can choose from either Beef ($6) or Lamb ($8.50) meat or opt for the set ($16) which comes with a plate of white rice, omelette, kang kong and sambal belacan.

Habib Famliy Restaurant
Address: 374 Bukit Batok Street 31, Singapore 650374
Opening Hours: 6am – 1am, Daily
Contact No.: 6561 6976
Website

2. Prawn Noodles (Deanna’s Kitchen)

Deanna’s Kitchen is one of my go-to place for real good comfort food.The owner is a Chinese convert who decided to make her own prawn mee when she couldn’t find anywhere to satisfy her cravings.

Halal prawn noodles in Singapore is not as common yet as they traditionally use pork bones to cook the broth.

This stall serves up real good halal prawn mee with luxurious add ons such as crayfish and giant prawns at relatively affordable prices.

The rich broth is made from boiling prawn shells, anchovies and other essentials for hours, which results in a decadent soup base that is briny with a natural sweetness.

Their Regular Prawn Noodles starts from $3.50. It comes with a generous amount of noodles, broth and peeled prawns.

If you’re feeling a little more fancy, get their most expensive item which is the Prawn Noodles With Crayfish ($12.50). This one comes with four crayfish halves and three regular prawns.

The amount of seafood in this bowl definitely does not lack.

Deanna’s Kitchen
Address: Block 127 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh #02-25 Singapore 310127
Opening Hours: Wed – Fri: 10am to 2pm, 5pm to 8pm, Sat: 9am – 5pm, Sun: 9am – 2pm. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Contact No.: 9424 5496
Website

3. Mala (Paya Lebar Square Cantine)

Mala hot pot has been all the rage for awhile now. Just like yong tau foo, you get to pick your own choice of ingredients –  except that instead of clear soup, your taste buds will be met with spicy and numbing Szechuan sauce.

As with many other mala hot pot places, you get to choose from their range of ingredients – from meats to seafood, greens and mushrooms.

Inform the makcik your preferred spice level – mildly spicy, spicy, and extra spicy and you’re good to go!

Be warned, the mala is seasoned with a fiery mala paste that is bound to set your tastebuds on fire after a few mouthfuls.

Mala Hot Pot Stall
Address: 60 Paya Lebar Road, #B1-51 Paya Lebar Square, Singapore 409051
Opening Hours: 7am – 10pm, Daily
Contact No.: 6702 1877

4. Roasted Duck Rice (Selera Restaurant)

If there’s one dish i’ve always wanted to try, it would be roasted duck rice. Halal Duck Rice in Singapore is not common at all however Selera Restaurant serves up one of the best in town.

[caption id="attachment_34252" align="aligncenter" width="765"] Image Credit: HereNow[/caption]

The duck meat is seasoned and well-caramelised with the sauce enveloping all over the thick duck meat and the skin. The end result: It gives your duck meat a charred, alluring look.

[caption id="attachment_34253" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Image Credit: Theosofie Mashon Facebook[/caption]

Best part, the duck meat is completely succulent, tender and juicy.

Selera Restaurant
Address: 15 Mackenzie Road, Singapore 228677
Contact No.: 6338 5687

5. Dim Sum (The Dim Sum Place)

Dim Sum lovers rejoice! If you’re longing for halal dim sum, then head on down to The Dim Sum Place that is conveniently located around Bugis.

 

[caption id="attachment_34255" align="aligncenter" width="1312"] Image Credit: @sg_explorer[/caption]

This establishment serves up their rendition of Cantonese style cuisine with a localised twist to suit the locals.

[caption id="attachment_34254" align="aligncenter" width="1042"] Image Credit: @where.is.karl[/caption]

You can find the usual “yum cha” staples such as Har Kow, Siew Mai, Chee Cheong Fan. While pork has been a key ingredient in mainstream Cantonese cuisine, The Dim Sum Place does not disappoint with their halal take on dim sum.

The Dim Sum Place
Address: 791 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198759
Opening Hours: 11am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm, daily
Contact No.: 6655 8787
Website

6. Zi Char (GLC Restaurant)

Some people have compared this eatery to the former Tong Seng.

The food at GLC will most definitely leave you feeling satisfied and happy. Do be warned that this place gets really packed during lunch hour and slightly stuffy especially on hotter days.

Pro-tip: If you don’t know what to get at GLC, the Chicken Rice ($3.50) never disappoints.

GLC Restaurant
Address: 121 Upper Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 534836
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 8am – 9pm, Sat: 9am – 9pm
Contact No.: 6581 9338
Website

7. Char Kway Teow (786 Char Kway Teow)

Halal char kway teow can be slightly tough to find because it usually has lard in it. The owner, Anis, is a Muslim convert and has been selling char kway teow for close to 6 years now.

You can expect a good amount of egg, chye sim and cockles thrown into this dish as well. You will definitely love his homemade chilli as well if you can take the heat.

786 Char Kway Teow
Address: 115 Bukit Merah View, #01-28, Singapore 151115
Opening Hours: 2.30pm – 10pm, daily. Closed on Thursdays.

8. Bak Chor Mee (Noodlelicious)

Bak Chor Mee, or minced meat noodle are blanched egg noodles tossed in oil, black vinegar, oyster sauce, fish sauce and chili paste.

The noodles are served with a variety of ingredients such as minced meat, meat balls, dumplings, stewed mushrooms, bean sprouts, and chopped spring onions.

I never really had bak chor mee in a typical hawker setting until Noodlelicious came by.

Noodlelicious serves familiar items such as Fishball Noodles and Minced Chicken Noodle.

The springy mee pok is served with a good amount of chilli and a generous serving of meat. This meal makes for the perfect filling lunch.

Noodlelicious
Address: Berseh Food Centre Stall 13, 166 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208877
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 9.30am — 9.30pm

9. Hand Pulled Beef Noodles (Yi Zun Noodle)

Rainy weather calls for a piping hot bowl of noodles for lunch. This quaint noodle place serves hand-pulled noodles by a Chinese-Muslim couple from China.

For just $7.80, you can expect a bowl of Hand Pulled Beef Noodles with generous servings of noodles and sliced beef.

The fresh handmade noodles are so fresh and light, you wont start to feel full until more than halfway through your bowl.

This eatery serves comfort Chinese food that’s not only halal but delicious too!

Yi Zun Noodle
Address: 45 Sam Leong Road Singapore 207935
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm
Contact No.:  6291 6616
Website

Also Read 10 Best Places To Get Ice Cream And Waffles Because CRAVINGS

(Header Image Source: @where.is.karl, HalalFoodBlog Facebook, Deanna’s Kitchen Facebook )

‘Udon’ Know Good Udon Until You’ve Tried Inaniwa Yosuke

I don’t think that there are official ‘sides’ to the Udon VS. Ramen argument. If it is even an argument in the first place. But if I had to pick sides, I’m a Ramen fan.

There’s just something about thin yellow noodles that seems so much more appealing than the thick strand of udon. Udon just seems so…much.

Looking at Udon makes me feel like it’s going to be jelak before I even order.

So this weekend, I did something (relatively) brave. My Udon-loving friend found a particular Udon restaurant in Wisma Atria and she wanted to try it.

So off we went on a lazy Sunday afternoon for Udon.

A Hidden Gem

Hidden in plain sight on Level 4 of Wisma Atria, next to FoodRepublic, is the Japan Food Town. If you think this is another “Shokutsu Ten” at Nex or Jurong Point, you’re wrong.

The restaurants here are next level. Deep within the Japan Food Town was our destination, Inaniwa Yosuke.

The restaurant looked unassuming. Like a run-of-the-mill Japanese restaurant with limited seating and fancy-ish decor.

I went in with a sense of trepidation because I’m a person of habit and tend to stick to what’s familiar and good. I’m really not an udon person.

I ordered the Beef Udon ($16.80) because that was the most familiar flavour besides the Carbonara Udon that was sadly, out of stock. My friend ordered the Wagyu Steak Don Set ($24.80) as well as the Agedashi Tofu ($6.80) and Salmon Sashimi ($10.80) to share.

The first dish to arrive was the Agedashi Tofu. Four large pieces of perfectly tempura fried tofu sitting in a light soy sauce.

This was a delight to eat. The biggest gripe I have with Agedashi Tofu is that their batter becomes soggy very quickly but this one was soft yet crispy with its delicate batter and the soy sauce was not too salty. Basically, AMAZING.

Next was the Salmon Sashimi and each piece was fresh and sliced thick.

Not that it’s a bad thing, but the broth was definitely better than I expected. Next, the udon noodles.

The udon noodles here are thinner than the usual thick variety that we’re all familiar with. The restaurant uses Inaniwa-style udon noodles which are thinner and smoother and is handmade every step of the way.

[caption id="attachment_34232" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Image Credit: here.

I’m definitely going back for more and I recommend that you give it a shot.

Inaniwa Yosuke
Address: 435 Orchard Road, #04-45 Wisma Atria, Japan Food Town, Singapore 238877
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11.30am – 11pm, Sat – Sun: 11am – 11pm
Contact no.: 6262 3279
Website

Also read Sorry, No Bags Provided – First Zero Waste Grocery Store Wants You To BYOB

(Header Image Source: FourSquare User Janie Chua)

10 Best Places To Get Ice Cream And Waffles Because CRAVINGS

There’s always time and place for ice cream and waffles. Honestly, is there anything not to love about waffles?

Trust the perfect waffle and ice cream combination to perk up your dreary week. Here’s a list of the best waffles in Singapore.

1. Twenty Grammes

A sweet aroma of vanilla and milky goodness greets you as you step into Twenty Grammes, reminiscent of late Sunday mornings when a scrumptious brunch of homemade waffles was in order.

Enjoy your crisp waffles and sit back in a comfortable and relaxed environment.

Their S’mores Waffle ($15) has got to be one of their best creations yet. The waffles are infused with graham crackers to give it that crispy exterior. Chocolate hazelnut sauce is drizzled all over the waffle along with crushed graham crackers.

Pair it with a scoop of gelato of your choice. Top it off with torched marshmallows and whipped cream. This S’mores Waffle definitely hits the spot after a long week at work!

Twenty Grammes
Address: 753 North Bridge Road, #01-01, Singapore 198721
Opening Hours: Sun – Thurs: 12pm – 10pm, Fri – Sat: 12pm – 1am
Contact No.: 67171733
Website

2. Creamier

This next place hardly needs an introduction. Creamier is everyone’s go-to for great and affordable ice cream and waffles.

Creamier definitely trumps in the number of ice cream flavours offered. Not forgetting their waffles that are well executed – crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. You’ll never get jelak of their waffles and ice cream!

Their freshly churned ice cream is consistently good, and they often introduce seasonal flavours to keep things fresh. We highly recommend their two best sellers – Earl Grey Lavender and Sea Salt Gula Melaka.

Ice cream here starts from $3.50 a scoop, with premium flavours going at $4.50 a scoop.

Creamier Toa Payoh
Address: Find your nearest location here
Website

3. Wimbly Lu

Wimbly Lu is practically synonymous with waffles as it was one of the pioneers behind the waffles craze in Singapore a few years ago.

There’s just something about the waffles here that feels so right. You feel instantly warm and comforted once you take a bite of their waffles.

While the waffles may look ordinary at first glance, you know what they say – do not judge a book by its cover. The waffles here are fluffy and light.

We do love their waffle paired with Salted Caramel and Honey Cinnamon Ice Cream – best for a treat yo’self day. You can choose either a single scoop ($8.50) or a double scoop ($11.50) of ice cream to go with the waffle.

Wimbly Lu
Address: Find your nearest location 4. Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday fully embodies its name with their extensive menu which you can’t help but devour.

One of the popular items on their menu would be the Nonya Chendol Waffle ($13.90), which consists of 2 scoops of chendol gelato and vanilla soft serve, topped with Azuki beans, chendol jelly, desiccated coconut flakes before drizzled with Gula Melaka.

If you love your chendol, then we highly recommend you trying it in waffle form from Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday
Address: Block 94 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, #01-32, Singapore 310094
Opening Hours: Sun – Thurs: 10am – 10pm, Fri – Sat: 10am – 11pm
Contact No.: 62582254
Image Credit: Burpple User Ashley Sim[/caption]

The magical Unicorn Whoaffle ($14) comes with with a scoop of Lavender White Chocolate and Toasted Marshmallow ice cream atop their chewy Whoaffle.

The horns were all meringue and certainly added to the cute factor of this dish. Whip out your phones because this set is great for the gram’.

Hatter Street
Address: Block 212 Hougang Street 21 #01-333, Singapore 530212
Opening Hours: Tues – Sun: 1pm – 10pm
Image Credit: Strangers’ Reunion Facebook[/caption]

This amazing concoction comes with vanilla bean ice-cream, caramelised bananas, milo crumble and drizzled with a healthy amount of milo sauce – a recipe for happiness!

Strangers’ Reunion
Address: 33/35/37 Kampong Bahru Rd, Singapore 169355
Opening Hours: Sun – Thurs: 9am – 10pm, Fri – Sat: 9am – 12am, Closed on Tuesdays
Contact No.: 6222 4869
Website

7. Lickety 

With its mint green storefront and matching pastel furnishing, it comes as no surprise that Lickety stands out from the row of souvenir shops and Middle Eastern restaurants.

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The star of the show is definitely their Egglet Ice Cream Bouquet (from $8.90). The egglets comes in two flavours – buttermilk and red velvet. You can choose either of these flavours or go ‘half-and-half” if you want the best of both worlds.

[caption id="attachment_34191" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Image Credit: Lickety SG Facebook[/caption]

Lickety carries a wide assortment of flavours ranging from my personal favourite Honey Lavender and Earl Grey and Fig to more localised flavours such as Taro Yam.

This dessert is definitely best shared between two people!

Lickety
Address: 34 Bussorah St, Singapore 199452
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm, daily
Contact No.: 6291 7670
Website

8. Sunday Folks

If you’re in need of a laid back, messy hair, lazy kind of Sunday, then Sunday Folks is right up your alley.

The folks behind this cafe takes pride in concocting their own original recipes and paying homage to the freshness and tastefulness of their desserts.

Their desserts don’t just look good – they taste good too!

[caption id="attachment_34192" align="aligncenter" width="1290"] Image Credit: Burpple User Alan Tan[/caption]

I’ve always loved their Sea Salt Gula Melaka Ice Cream Waffles ($11.80) . You can expect a freshly baked Belgian waffle paired with strawberries and drizzled with maple syrup and chocolate hazelnut sauce.

Trust me, the amazing waffles at Sunday Folks won’t disappoint!

Sunday Folks
Address: 44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-52 Chip Bee Gardens, Singapore 278116
Opening Hours: Tues – Thurs: 1pm – 10pm, Fri – Sat: 12pm – 11pm, Sun: 12pm – 10pm, Closed on Mondays
Contact No.: 64799166
Image Credit: Burpple User Cafehoppingkids[/caption]

Their Chocolate Rootbeer Waffle with Charcoal Vanilla Soft Serve ($12) is definitely a hit among customers.

The rectangular waffle comes with a chocolate chip cookie, and an ash grey charcoal vanilla soft serve to top it all off. The charcoal soft serve had a hint of root beer in every mouthful, which does not overwhelm the original vanilla taste.

The Cold Pantry
Address: 88 Rangoon Road #01-01, Singapore 218374
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 4pm – 10pm, Sat – Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Website

10. Holy Cow

Nestled amidst the quiet, laid-back charms of the old Yishun town, Holy Cow Creamery is a great chill-out spot.

Escape to Yishun (can’t believe we’re saying this) for your dose of Ice Cream & good times.

[caption id="attachment_34194" align="aligncenter" width="1290"] Image Credit: Burpple User Nursharina Roslan[/caption]

Enjoy their delicious ice cream concocted in their very own kitchen, paired with crisp waffles. We highly recommend their charcoal waffles if you’re looking for something different from the plain ol’ waffle.

Holy Cow
Address: 44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-52 Chip Bee Gardens, Singapore 278116
Opening Hours: Tues – Thurs: 1pm – 10pm, Fri – Sat: 12pm – 11pm, Sun: 12pm – 10pm, Closed on Mondays
Contact No.: 64799166
Celebrate Cinco De Mayo With Chimichanga’s $8 Deals On Tacos And Beer

(Header Image Source: @twentygrammes)