Audience: Foodies

PSA: Salted Egg Indomie Is Finally Available In Singapore At All Fairprice Finest Outlets For Just $1 A Packet

Indomie is a physical manifestation of instant deliciousness. I’m pretty sure it has to be made with something terrible for your body because it’s like crack. One packet is never enough.

Indomie is not just any instant ramen, it’s a religious experience.

If you eat Indomie on a regular basis, then you’ll know that they launched a Salted Egg Flavour back in August. It went instantly viral and Singaporeans being Singaporeans, we went absolutely nuts because it was only available in Indonesia.

This Is Premium Indomie

Now, I’m sure half of us are sick and tired of anything Salted Egg but you can’t say no to Indomie.

On its packaging, the product is described as a ‘Curly Fried Noodle’. A gold foil label earnestly proclaims: “Mi keriting dengan rasa lebih mantap lengkap dengan bumbu pasta dan daun kari” (that’s Bahasa Indonesia for curly noodles with stronger flavour, complete with pasta spices and curry leaves).

After months of waiting (and crying), you can finally get your hands on these amazing noodles right here in our supermarkets!

Take note that they are only available at all Fairprice Finest outlets, and not in normal NTUC Fairprice or Fairprice Xtra outlets.

The only possible way to get your hands on the Salted Egg Indomie then was to ship it in, but even then, you had to buy it in sets of 10 packets. Now, you can get 1 packet for just $1 or 5 packets for $4.50!

This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. If you’re looking for a speedy, fuss-free meal tonight, you know where to go.

Pro-tip: Always add a good sunny side up to your noodles.

I love you Indomie. Thanks for bringing in your Salted Egg Noodles to Singapore.

You’re our true hero.

Indomie Salted Egg Flavour
Where to buy: All Fairprice Finest Outlets
Price: 1 for $1, 5 for $4.50

Also Read Kampai! This Joint In Dhoby Ghaut Serves “Beer Ramen” And Classic Japanese Dishes

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Kampai! This Joint In Dhoby Ghaut Serves “Beer Ramen” And Classic Japanese Dishes

Considering how ubiquitous ramen has become in Singapore, it’s no surprise that some restaurants are to switching things up to set themselves apart from the rest.

Hawker heroes A Noodle Story, for example, add special ingredients like wanton to their recipe, while the folks at Ramen Champion have turned their chefs into bona fide celebrities.

Probably the most memorable ramen we’ve seen in recent memory, however, is En Sushi’s Beer Ramen.

Not As Crazy As It Sounds

Located in a discreet corner along Prinsep Street, En Sushi is a cozy Japanese restaurant that’s probably best known for their affordable Bara Chirashi Dons.

The new hotness on their menu, however, is the aforementioned Beer Ramen, which — as its name suggests — serves the Japanese noodles in a mug and employs other forms of visual trickery to make the dish look like an ice-cold pint.

The “beer” for example, actually consists of the restaurant’s in-house broth, while the “foam” is made out of egg whites.

Thankfully, aesthetics are where the similarities end, but the dish still has one more trick up its sleeve.

While ramen is more often than not a warm dish, this rendition is served cold, making it feel more like soba than ramen.

The taste is very soba-esque as well, with the broth giving off a strong umami flavour and sweet aftertaste.

According to provided “instructions”, you can chug the ramen like an actual beer, or use chopsticks and imagine that you’re eating out of a very narrow bowl.

For $22.90, you’ll get one mug of noodles, along with an assortment of fried dishes (Tori Karaage, Kaisen Tofu, and Kakiage Tempura) and Tsukenomo (Japanese Pickles).

You’re supposed to dip the fried dishes in the broth, but they’re tasty enough to be eaten on their own too.

Not A One-Trick Pony

While Beer Ramen is definitely something you should try at least once, you shouldn’t sleep on the rest of En Sushi’s menu either.

The Pitan Tofu ($4.90), for example, is something I wish I had discovered earlier in my life. The strong taste of century egg creates a perfect balance with the lighter tofu, and is a great way to kick off your meal.

Seafood lovers, on the other hand, can opt for the Hotate Mentai Aburi ($13.90) as an appetiser as well — while these thin slices of scallop might not look like much, they’re actually packing a decent amount of sweet (the scallop) and savoury (the mentaiko), and the inclusion of fish roe means that it’s quite literally bursting with flavour.

No Japanese restaurant is complete without some sushi, and the Salmon Aburi Mentai Maki ($15.90) certainly does not disappoint. Drizzled with a very generous amount of mentaiko and fish roe, you might not even need soy sauce for this one.

And finally on the dessert side of things, the Tofu Cheesecake ($8.90) is a light-but-flavourful way to end off your meal. It isn’t available just yet, but you should order it when it to the menu soon.

Whether you’re going for the Bara Chirashi Don or the culinary anomaly that is Beer Ramen, En Sushi ticks all our boxes for a good Japanese meal.

The Beer Ramen might not sit too well with those looking for a more “traditional” ramen experience, but even without that there’s more than enough here to warrant a visit.

En Sushi
Address: Income@Prinsep: 30 Prinsep Street #01-02, Singapore 188647
Opening Hours: 11:30am-3pm, 5:30pm-10pm

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Also Read This Hawker Stall In Bedok Run By 3 Young Dudes Serves Ume-Zing Japanese Fusion Food For Under $7

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Got Balls? Fight The IKEA Crowd And Grab A Plate Of Meatballs For Just $0.75 This Weekend

There’s an unofficial rule in life that if you go to IKEA, you buy their meatballs.

They might not be of the highest quality (there are other places for that), but at the affordable price of $6 for a plate of 8, they are hands-down the easiest to satisfy your meatball cravings.

And if you have been craving the nostalgia-inducing dish lately, this weekend might be the time to scratch that itch, because the Swedish furniture company will be selling their meatballs for less than a dollar.

Wait, How Much?!

Yup, you heard us right — in celebration of their 75th anniversary, IKEA will be selling a plate of 8 meatballs for 75 cents on the 6th and 7th of October.

If the calculator on our phones are working correctly, that’s an unbelievable 9(.375) cents per meatball, which means that your meal will probably be cheaper than the transport costs to get there.

There are a few things to take note of though: this promotion will only be happening at IKEA Tampines (sorry, north/south/west siders), and you have to be IKEA FAMILY member to be eligible as well.

Only 750 plates will be sold at this price (limited to one plate per member, thankfully), and judging by how Kiasu Singaporeans can be you’ll most likely have to wake up reaaal early to take advantage of this offer.

More Than Just Meatballs

If you can’t be bothered with going up against what is sure to be a chaotic crowd, IKEA is having pretty massive discounts on their furniture as well (because they’re…y’know, a furniture company).

To save you a trip to the their website, Here’s a list what’s on offer:

May the odds be ever in your favour, folks.

IKEA Tampines
Address: 60 Tampines North Drive 2, Singapore 528764
Opening Hours: 10am-10pm

Website I Facebook

Also Read McDonald’s Samurai Burger And Shaker Fries Returns To Macs On Oct 4 Along With A New Savoury Pie

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This Hawker Stall In Bedok Run By 3 Young Dudes Serves Ume-zing Japanese Fusion Food For Under $7

Fusion food is a rather ingenious concept that gives us the best of both worlds, but it more often than not comes with a premium price tag as well.

The much-hyped Lobster Nasi Lemak, for example, costs a whopping $22 — a price point higher than some restaurants, mind you — while hawker chain Fish & Chicks charges $12.90 for their chilli crab and salted egg fish & chips.

The folks at Plum & Rice, however, have flipped that idea on its head, and the result is an incredibly satisfying meal at an even more satisfying price.

Small Menu, Big Flavours

Occupying a humble corner stall at Bedok North Street 1 Market and Food Centre, Plum & Rice serves Japanese-inspired rice with Singaporean-inspired dishes.

The concept is the brainchild of three friends who graduated from the Culinary Institute of America (Singapore) — they discovered the titular combination of Umeboshi and rice while searching for inspiration in Japan, and decided to adopt the fusion angle to better suit the Singaporean palate.

The menu, while small, is all about choices — right from the get go you can choose between rice or porridge, both of which are infused with an Umeboshi paste.

Unfortunately, the porridge was sold out by the time we got there (a testament to how popular it is, perhaps), but the rice is definitely something to write home about.

Thanks to the addition of house-made furikake, cereal, curry leaves, dried shrimp and seaweed, everything comes together to form an extremely flavourful bite, and I could have seriously ate a bowl of it on its own. The owners have also recently added red rice into the mix, making it as healthy as it is tasty.

On the meat side of things, you have three choices: braised pork belly, braised pork shoulder, and fish. Both pork dishes are prepared in the same dark soy sauce and are therefore rather similar in taste, but the belly is ultimately is the one to get thanks to its silky smooth texture.

Breaking apart at the slightest touch, every slice quite literally melts in your mouth. There’s also a rather…homely feel to the taste, which forms a nice juxtaposition with the Japanese rice.

The fish was also sold out (pro-tip: go early), but co-owner Raphael tells us that it’s cooked sous-vide style, which makes it very, very tender. Judging by how smooth the pork belly was, we wouldn’t doubt it.

Each meal also comes with a side and (refillable!) soup, both of which change every two weeks. We were served bean sprouts and peanut soup, and their lighter tastes balanced out with the savoury meat and rice perfectly.

One personal recommendation I have to make is the house-made chilli —it provides a decent kick of spice without going overboard, and adds a whole new dimension of to an already-flavourful meal.

Cheaper Than You Think

You might think that all this would be pretty expensive, but a meal at Plum & Rice will actually cost you less than $7.

Yup, that’s right — you’re getting rice, meat, a side and free-flow soup for the unbelievable price of $4.90 ($6.90 if you’re going for the fish, which is still very reasonable), which honestly might be the best deal we’ve seen in recent history.

One caveat, however, is that the stall closes at 2pm, which might be a problem for office workers and those not living in the east.

Those willing to put in the effort to try them out, however (there’s always the weekend), will not be disappointed.

Plum & Rice
Address: 216 Bedok North Street 1, #01-45, Singapore 460216
Opening Hours: 8am – 2pm (Closed on Mondays)

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Also Read Tsukiji Fish Market Restaurant Is Pretty Close To The Real Deal — Serves Fish, Ramen, Yakiniku All In One Place

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McDonald’s Samurai Burger And Shaker Fries Returns To Macs On Oct 4 Along With A New Savoury Pie

A year ago, a treasure was taken away from us.

Back after a year long absence, the Samurai Burgers from McDonald’s will be available from 4th October onwards for a limited time only.

Accompanying these burgers on their return trip is an assortment of old and new sides like the Dinosaur McFlurry, a savoury pie and our favourite seaweed shaker fries that got a whole new upgrade!

They’re Back!

The Samurai Burger is among the cult favourites of McDonald’s fans in Singapore. 

If you’ve never had a Samurai Burger (why?!), you can expect to sink your teeth into a juicy quarter pound beef or chicken patty dipped in teriyaki sauce and lettuce sandwiched between sesame buns.

No words can possibly describe our love for the Samurai Burger and we’re just really glad it’s finally back in stores. Available from $6.10 a la carte, you better hurry and get your hands on the Samurai Burgers before they’re gone again.

If you’ve been craving for McDonald’s famous seaweed shaker fries, then you’ll be pleased to know that they got a whole new upgrade. The Roasted Sesame & Sesame Shaker Fries ($3.40 a la carte) is bound to be an addictive snack.

A couple of days ago, McDonald’s announced that they will be revealing their first ever savoury pie on the menu.

And they delivered. The all-new Creamy Herb Chicken Pie ($1.80), the first of its kind at McDonald’s, is a burst of creaminess that packs all the goodness of chicken, carrots, potatoes, peas and mushrooms.

It’s different from the usual McDonald’s pie as the exterior is a flakier spiral crust – think Old Chang Kee Chicken Mushroom’O curry puff.

Finally, end off your meal with the indulgent Dinosaur McFlurry ($3) which comes with a generous amount of Milo powder and cocoa puffs.

Mark your calendars, set your alarm clock and camp in front of McDonald’s because you’re about to indulge in one of McDonald’s best creations. All items are available after breakfast hours in all restaurants island-wide and via McDelivery from 4 October, while stocks last.

Also Read Taiwan’s Famous ‘Tiger Sugar’ Bubble Tea Is Coming To The Lion City This November

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Subway, Your Way – Here Are 6 Menu Hacks To Take Your Sandwich To The Next Level

Subway is one of the world’s greatest treasures.

You can get a sandwich, salad, wraps and some of the best cookies in the world. Best part, you can customise your sandwiches if you’re a picky eater as well.

But after years of dining at Subway, you start to get a little bored of your usual Subway Melt^TM and Italian B.M.T.^TM and you start to wonder,

“What else can I order at Subway?”

So, we asked around the office for suggestions on how to change up your Subway orders to make it exciting again. Here’s what we found.

1. Supreme Pizza Hack

We all love a good slice of pizza every now and then but what if I tell you that you could have your favourite pizza in a sub?

If you love pizza as much as we do then you’ll love this crazy amazing combination.

Here’s what you should get to make your very own pizza-sandwich:

Parmesan Oregano/Flatbread + Chicken Ham + Pepperoni + Salami + Marinara Sauce + American or shredded cheese + Onion + Bell Peppers + Olives

Trust me, this will change your mind about Subway forever. Listen up, Subway, if you don’t sell this item, then you’re playing yourself.

2. Add Potato Chips To Your Sandwich

I was dining at Subway with a friend once and she tore open her bag of chips and proceeded to stuff them carefully into her sandwich.

I stared at her and she said,

“You try first. Trust me, it’s okay one.”

I did and my life has changed forever. It’s the same satisfaction you get when you dip your fries in ice cream. Adding chips to your sandwich gives it a whole new flavour.

You get that extra bit of crunch and saltiness which makes it all so good.

3. The Egg Mayo Special

Everyone LOVES their egg mayo sandwich. But you know what makes it better?

Bacon.

If you’re bored of the typical egg mayo order, then add 4 pieces of chicken bacon to it because it makes a whole new difference to your sandwich! It’s like enjoying a breakfast sandwich for lunch.

4. Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich

Who says your Subway sandwich cannot be “atas”?

You don’t need to be Gordon Ramsay to make yourself a Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich.

This is one of the fanciest chicken meals you can eat and now you can take fancy to a whole new level when your taste buds devour this ultimate feast.

Order this and you’ll get a yummy concoction with your choice of bread along with roasted chicken breast, chicken ham, tomatoes, olives, ranch sauce and cheese. Make sure you get your sandwich toasted for the full cordon bleu experience.

This sandwich is so good and cheap that its worthy of a Michelin Star.

5. Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

You really can’t go wrong with a Chicken Parmesan Sandwich. Just like a Chicken Cordon Bleu sub, this sandwich is packed with chicken and marinara sauce.

When ordering this, just ask for a sandwich with roasted chicken breast, marinara sauce and cheese. If you want an extra special gooey goodness, ask them to toast it so your cheese is melted down and your bread has a lovely crunch to it.

Pro-tip: Get the shredded cheese.

Sounds delightful right?

6. The Meat Lover

Also known as “The Carnivore” by many Subway enthusiasts, this Subway secret menu sandwich piles on the meat.

What meat you ask? How about 4 slices of roast beef, 4 slices of chicken bacon and a handful of pepperoni.

Throw on all your other favourite toppings and you have a sandwich made for a hungry lumberjack.

So go on and forage my fellow Subway fans. Now that you know the different secret menus and hacks to up your Subway game, your meals will never be the same again.

Let us know if you have your own Subway hacks or secret menus that we missed out on!

Subway Singapore
Location: Find your nearest Subway here!

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Tsukiji Fish Market Restaurant In S’pore Is Pretty Close To The Real Deal – Serves Fish, Ramen, Yakiniku All In One Place

Considering how many Japanese restaurants there are in Singapore (seriously, there’s like at least one in every mall), it’s no secret that we love our Japanese food.

Anyone who’s actually been to Japan, however, can tell you that our food court Katsudons and conveyor belt sushis are a pretty poor representation of how good Japanese food can actually be.

Obviously, the best place to eat authentic Japanese food would be in…well, Japan, but for the 90% of us who can’t book a flight at a moment’s notice, the next best thing to do when the cravings strike might be to head over to Tsukiji Fish Market Restaurant.

One Restaurant, Five Concepts

Located at the top floor of Orchard Central, Tsukiji Fish Market Restaurant is named after the iconic wholesale market in Tokyo of the same name.

And while it might look like just another Japanese restaurant at first glance, what sets this restaurant apart from the rest is the fact that it’s home to not one, not two, but five dining concepts under one roof.

Ranging from fish (duh) to Ramen to Yakiniku, each concept specialises in a particular type of Japanese cuisine, and you can order from their respective menus to create the perfect meal.

Spoilt For Choice

With the collective menu being so extensive, there’s really no wrong way to kick off your meal.

Sushi lovers can start with the 7 Kinds Sashimi Boat, which — as it name implies — serves seven types of sashimi in a miniature wooden boat. Considering that the restaurant receives fish from the actual Tsukiji Fish Market four times a week, it’s no surprise that every slice was incredibly fresh and smooth.

Meat lovers, on the other hand, can consider the Chicken Yakitori Moriawase, which consists of 8 skewers that each use a different part of the chicken. We were initially squeamish at the thought of eating a chicken’s heart, but its unique taste and springy consistency made it one of the more memorable selections on the plate.

If you’re feeling particularly luxurious, you might want to spring for the Fresh Oysters, which definitely live up to their name. There wasn’t a trace of fishiness in its taste, and the addition of soy sauce makes for an explosion of flavour that effortlessly slides down your mouth.

On the mains side of things, there’s no shortage of choices either. The Bara Chrisashi Don comes with a generous assortment of sashimi, and while favourites like salmon and tuna make an expected appearance, the dish includes more premium pieces like swordfish and Uni (sea urchin) as well.

For a heartier alternative, you might want to try the Wagyu Roast Beef Don instead. As expected the wagyu beef is good enough to eat on its own, but the simple, yet impactful inclusion of a soft boiled egg truly take this dish’s flavour to a whole other level.

If you happen to be eating in a group (or are just really hungry, we won’t judge), we’d recommend getting a few extra dishes to share. The Soft Shell Crab and Premium Beef Cutlet With Ponzu Sauce are both deep fried to perfection, and add some crunchy goodness to your meal without being too heavy.

The standout sides, however, are those from the Hamayaki menu, which are grilled right at the comfort of your table. From squid to scallops to crab risotto, everything is extremely juicy and tender thanks to being cooked on the spot. If you’re committed to only getting one side, it’s got to be from here.

Considering how extensive the menu is (we’ve barely scratched the surface, really), it’s no surprise that there’s a pretty varied dessert menu as well. Whether its the Yuzu Cheesecake, Mango Puree or Matcha Fondant, any choice cleanses your palate without being overly sweet, and is the perfect way to close out your meal.

Tsukiji Fish Market Restaurant might not be the cheapest place to scratch your Japanese food itch, but it’s very much a “you get what you pay for” situation. If you love Japanese food and want to treat yo self, this is definitely one place to consider.

Tsukiji Fish Market Restaurant
Address: Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road #12-02, Singapore 238896
Opening Hours: 12pm-2:30pm, 6pm-10pm (Monday to Sunday), 3pm-5pm (Saturday, Sunday)

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Also Read Travelling Soon? Try Over 70 Different Kinds Of Alcohol At Changi Airport From Now To 31 October

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Taiwan’s Famous ‘Tiger Sugar’ Bubble Tea Is Coming To The Lion City This November

As though we don’t already have enough bubble tea stores in Singapore, Taiwan’s famous bubble tea brand, Tiger Sugar, is coming to Singapore this November.

Those who have had a sip of this drink have claimed that the hype is very real, dubbing it as the most popular milk tea in Taipei.

Bubble Tea Craze

Taiwan is known to be a milk-tea crazed nation with stalls and shops lining the streets with some of their brands crossing over to our shores.

Since its opening late last year, Tiger Sugar has been getting all the hype from hard core milk tea lovers in Taipei. They got their name from the ‘tiger stripes’ it forms when the caramalised syrup mixes with the thick milk tea mixture.

Tiger Sugar will be opening their first flagship store in Singapore this November at City Hall. The exact date and location has not been revealed.

If you’re wondering whether you should hop on the bubble tea craze train, we can vouch for Tiger Sugar as people are willing to queue for up to an hour for the Tiger Sugar Boba Fresh Milk (NTD50/S$2.20~) in Taipei. The queues are always snaking long despite the abundance of bubble tea shops nearby.

Many have praised their Brown Sugar Fresh Milk for its undiluted taste, a mistake often made by most bubble tea stores who scrimp on flavour affecting the overall taste and experience of milk tea addicts.

Skip the flight to Taiwan because you can finally get Tiger Sugar’s famous Brown Sugar Fresh Milk right here in Singapore!

Also Read [REVIEW] We Spent $5.90 On LiHo’s New Salted Egg Bubble Tea So You Don’t Have To

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Picking Things Up At Army Market? Here Are 5 Underrated Food You Need To Try At Golden Mile Food Centre

When you think of what to eat in the Beach Road area, the Thai food haven that is Golden Mile Complex is usually the first place that comes to people’s minds.

The similarly-named Golden Mile Food Centre across the road, however, is a lesser-known-but-equally-satisfying hawker centre that has its fair share of good food as well.

So if you’re in the area but aren’t in the mood for Pad Thai, here are five dishes at Golden Mile Food Centre that are definitely worth your consideration.

Chung Cheng Chilli Mee

We’ll say it right now: Chung Cheng Chilli Mee is unlike anything you’ve ever tried before.

You’d think that covering a bowl of noodles in what seems like a comical amount of chilli would result in an overwhelmingly spicy dish, but it actually has a surprisingly amount of flavour to it.

This is actually thanks to the titular chilli itself — it somehow manages to provide a strong, sambal-esque taste without being overly spicy, and adds an extra kick of savoury goodness to its ingredients (fish cake, egg and tau pok, to name a few) to create a truly unique dish.

$3 will get you a decent serving with prawns, and if you’re feeling hungry you can add another dollar for pork ribs (add $2 for additional servings of both). With a seemingly endless queue at any given time of day, however, be prepared to wait for this one.

Chung Cheng Chilli Mee
Unit: #01-59
Opening Hours: 9:30am to 6:30pm (Closed On Tuesdays)

Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles

With the fragrant smell of beef filling the air, chances are that you’ll smell Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles before finding the stall itself.

And while it might look like any other bowl of beef noodles, the taste of these is anything but — the sauce isn’t as heavy but still retains its savoury goodness, and the noodles have a slightly milky taste that adds another dimension to the flavour as well.

Of course, you’re probably eating beef noodles for…well, the beef, and fortunately that’s the best part of this dish. The meat slices are extremely tender, and the meat balls were bursting with so much flavour that we wish there was a buffet for them.

Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles
Unit: #01-89
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 7:30pm (Closed on Wednesdays)

Burgs By Project Warung

Burgers found in hawker centres are more often that not a little…meh (we’re looking at you, generic western food stalls), but the ones served at Burgs By Project Warung are an exception to that rule.

Even though it was left out in the open for awhile (these photos don’t take themselves, y’know), the Burgs’ Bacon & Cheese Burger ($7) that we got was still incredibly juicy, and had that distinctive beef taste that you’d expect from a pricier restaurant or cafe.

Throw a slice of smoked turkey bacon and American cheese on top of that, and you have yourself an extremely flavourful burger that punches way above its weight.

Other burger options include Truffle Mushroom ($8) and Nacho Fish & Chips ($5.90), but don’t sleep on their wide selection of fries either — ranging from the standard Truffle ($4.50) to the more experimental Okonomi (Okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise and Bonito flakes, $4), you’re bound to find something to like here.

Burgs By Project Warung
Unit: #B1-24
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 8:30pm

Nasi Lemak And Chicken Rice Hipster by Adimann

Nasi lemak is such a ubiquitous dish that you really have to switch things up to get noticed, and that’s exactly what the folks at Adimann have done.

For starters, the key ingredients of rice and chilli have a rather different flavour, giving off a slightly sweet taste instead of the savoury that we’ve come to expect from nasi lemak. The use of hard-boiled quail eggs instead of fried ones — topped in thousand island dressing, no less — further sets it apart from the rest.

And then there’s the chicken — using cutlets instead of wings and draping them in a generous amount of salted egg sauce, the dish starts to feel more western than Malay, which might be a good or bad thing depending on your tastes.

One thing to take note of, however, is the price — $8.50 is admittedly a little steep for hawker centre food, but in its defence the serving is big enough that you can consider sharing it with a friend.

Nasi Lemak And Chicken Rice Hipster by Adimann
Unit: #B1-12
Opening Hours: 10am – 9:30pm

Zhao An Granny Grass Jelly

As its name might suggest, Zhao An Granny Grass Jelly has only one thing on their menu (no prizes for guessing what that is).

The good news, however, is that they do that one thing really, really well — available in both drink and desert versions, their grass jelly has an almost tau huay-like consistency to it, and might be the smoothest we’ve ever had.

Unlike the ones that you’d find in a food court, the jelly is light with the slightest hint of bitterness, which is probably how the desert should taste like to begin with. Sugar syrup, however, is still available for those looking for a more “mainstream” taste.

And as if that wasn’t enough to convince you, it’s extremely affordable as well — a standard bowl goes for a mere $1.50 (slightly more if you want to add extras like Longan or Nata De Coco), and is the perfect way to cleanse your palate after a heavy meal.

Zhao An Granny Grass Jelly
Unit: #01-58
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 7:30pm

Also Read This Stall In The CBD Serves ‘Thai Cai Png’ – Mix & Match Basil Pork, Green Curry For $5

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This Stall In The CBD Serves ‘Thai Cai Png’ – Mix And Match Basil Pork, Green Curry For $5

Apart from a few exceptions, Thai food is something that you pretty much have to eat in a group — with most eateries serving dishes à la carte, it’s not possible for one person to get everything they’d want without overordering and burning a hole in their wallet.

Order the green curry, for example, and you’ll wish you had some basil chicken to go with it. Order both, and you’ll soon realise that even the smallest portions weren’t meant for a party of one.

Basil & Mint, however, changes all that.

Thai Food Meets Cai Fan

Located conveniently at the first level of Amoy Street Food Centre (a mere three minute walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT), Basil & Mint is a small, unassuming stall that makes full use of its limited space — the storefront is lined from end to end with cooking pots, filled with an assortment of Thai-inspired meat and vegetables.

This isn’t the result of poor space management, though — unlike most eateries that make you commit to a single dish, Basil & Mint operates on a cai fan-esque system instead, where you can mix and match different dishes to create the perfect plate of Thai food.

And in true cai fan fashion, it’s incredibly affordable too, with prices starting from $5 for the classic order of one meat and two vegetables. If that isn’t enough, additional meat and vegetables go for a reasonable $2 and $1 respectively as well.

The mind (and hands, considering that she cooks and serves the food as well) behind Basil & Mint is a woman who goes by the name of “Vee”. She’s not Thai, but her previous job in the airline industry did allow her to make many Thai friends, who then taught her how to cook their native dishes in an authentic way.

Made With Love

Having ordered two plates, my team and I were able to sample pretty much everything that was available (considering that it’s a one-woman operation, it’s understandable that the selection isn’t as extensive as an actual cai fan stall).

While I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it’s better than the food I’ve had in Bangkok, there is a distinct, home-cooked feel to everything — the general taste is something I can best describe as “hearty”, and you can really tell that Vee makes every single dish with love.

While select dishes like the moo palo (AKA Five-Spice Pork) are packed with flavour, others like the basil chicken and bean sprouts are a little too light for my tastes.

That’s where the green curry comes in, though — providing a savoury kick without going overboard, the curry helps to unlock the flavour of other dishes, and everything comes together for an extremely satisfying bite. If there’s one thing that you have to order here, this is it.

Special mention also needs to be said about the portions — Vee is extremely generous when scooping from those cooking pots, and the standard $5 order is more than enough to get you into a food coma (whether that’s a good thing is a whole other thing altogether).

With a unique concept, wide selection and cheap prices, Thai food lovers owe it to themselves to give Basil & Mint a try. It takes all the hassle of choosing what to eat out of the equation, and provides a uniquely homely flavour that you won’t find in your average Thai eatery.

Basil & Mint — Thai Street Eats
Address: Amoy Street Food Centre – 7 Maxwell Road, #01-47
Opening Hours: 11:30AM – 2PM (Monday to Friday), 5PM – 8PM (Monday to Thursday)

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(Header Image Credit: Discover SG)