Category: Uniquely Singapore

This Bar Is Serving Yakitori With A Mala Twist That’s Sure To Make You Chikin Out

Have you ever tried mala yakitori? Probably not. Because CHIKIN is the first place in Singapore to serve up Szechuan-style yakitori!

Besides bar bites, CHIKIN has also curated an extensive selection of sake and created an exciting cocktail menu that will make you want to keep coming back until you’ve tried everything.

Pop art vibes

When you first step into CHIKIN, you’ll be greeted by neon signs and walls covered in pop icons, especially everyone’s favourite mouthless kitty. There’s even a wall covered with tuna cans.

Sit at the bar to soak in the bustling atmosphere of the open bar and kitchen, or head to the second floor for a more relaxed and quieter lounge area.

The third floor, vibing hard with the same pop art furnishings, opens up to a cosy attic that also comes with karaoke machine, so you can sing a few tunes with your friends. The room is open from 8pm onwards, although you need to make a reservation for it. The space can also be rented out for an intimate event.

Sticks and chikin parts

CHIKIN is not your typical yakitori joint. Instead of using the typical tare sauce to season their meats, they use a mala – a Szechuan peppercorn – sauce for a spicier kick.

Other kushiyaki like vegetables and other meats are also available. Must-tries include their Quail Egg, Iberico Pork Collar With Leek and Shiitake Mushrooms.

If you like various body parts, you can try the Beef Tongue or Foie Gras skewers.

The yakitori and kushiyaki sticks are all grilled over Binchotan flames to order, before being transferred onto a super cute plate designed to look like a square in a Japanese action comic.

Skewers are priced individually, starting from $3 a stick. Alternatively, grab a tasting platter at $30 for 10 sticks or 15 sticks for $40.

If you need your carbs, load up on their rice. Chikin makes a delicious Plentiful Ikura Garlic Rice and Unagi Garlic Fried Rice With Fish Roe to pair with your yakitori. The rice is seasoned with their homemade garlic and tare sauce, which means you cannot get the same taste anywhere else!

Other popular bar bites like Umami Fries, Chikin Karaage and even a Chikin Collagen Onsen Soup are also available.

Tip: Add some homemade miso into your food, which is mixed with their Szechuan peppercorns if you just cannot get enough of mala.

Cocktails for everyone

No matter how diverse your tastes are, we’re sure there is something for everyone on the cocktail menu.

The cocktails are created by Sam Wong, who has won various bartending awards in and around Singapore, and is quite well known in the bartending scene for his creative cocktails.

You might even have tasted his creations at Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall and Nutmeg and Clove. For CHIKIN, Wong recreated a range of classic cocktails with a twist, inspired by Japanese flavors.

A large part of the cocktail menu is made up of whisky and sake infusions, although there are also gin and cognac infusions. The cocktails are usually left aside for a few days to infuse with the alcohol, before they are served. The result is a more blended, smooth concoction.

Sweet-tooths will love the Sake Sangria, a fruity infusion of sake and gin. Those who do not like the taste of alcohol can give the Boba Kori a go, as it is similar to a bubble-tea-slash-slushie drink which masks the taste of gin (unfortunately, there isn’t actually boba inside).

Whisky fans are in for a treat, with an Oolong-inspired Oold Fashioned on the menu. The Sumoki Raisin is a smoky whisky and sherry infusion that leaves behind a strong aftertaste, and comes topped with raisins that were left to soak in the whisky infusion for three days – they are sure to pack a punch!

If the Sumoki Raisin doesn’t give you enough of a kick, then CHIKIN challenges you to the ultimate cocktail spice challenge – the Szechuan Bloody Mary.

The vodka cocktail is mixed with Szechuan peppercorn, tomato, chilli oil, and comes in 5 different spicy levels: Novice, Hungover, Expert, Hao Lian, and WTF.

How daredevil are you?

CHIKIN
Address: 6 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore 089820
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 5pm – 12am; Sat: 6pm – 12am
Contact no.: 6634 2916
Website

Also read No Holds Bar-ed – 5 Bars That Let You Take On Karaoke, Arcade Games And More

We Want S’more Marshmello After That Imposter – He’s Set To Spin For Real At Zoukout 2017

Zoukout 2017‘s first headliners are out! Aussie DJ Flume and Marshmello will be headlining this year’s beach party, which will be happening on 8 and 9 December.

Zoukout is like every Singaporean clubber’s rite of passage, and for a long time, had been many Singaporeans’ only option for a rave. Of course Ultra Singapore looks set to be a permanent fixture on the festival circuit, but you won’t be able to get  a beach rave experience at Ultra Singapore!

Marshmello was just here last year, causing a huge commotion when he allegedly turned up at Zouk on 10 September 2016 after his set at Ultra Singapore 2016 despite being scheduled to spin at Ce La Vi afterparty. Turns out, it was a guest wearing Marshmello’s trademark helmet!

This time, the real Marshmello will be at Zoukout, alongside Flume, who has just won a Grammy for his album, Skin, this year. It’s going to be a blast with these DJs bringing their explosive live sets to Zoukout for the first time ever.

Here is last year’s recap video, just to give you a glimpse of what to expect!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY5LIWIvxk0

Early bird tickets can be purchased on Also read This Year’s Halloween Horror Nights Brings Your L4D Fantasies To Life And Lets You Shoot Zombies

Rumor Has It The Nasi Lemak Burger Is Coming Back, And We’re Keeping Our Fingers Crossed

Word on the street is that McDonald’s will be bringing back its Nasi Lemak Burger!

A burger that received plenty of hype from the moment it was announced – and that shut down disbelievers with its tasty mixture of flavours once released – the burger sold out a short 2 weeks after it hit McDonald’s outlets across the island.

Not everyone managed to get a taste of the locally inspired burger, and despite queuing for hours to try the burger, many had to leave empty-handed.

It’s not just those who didn’t get to try it that were left devastated; many of us who did manage to get our hands on the burger were saddened when news hit that McDonald’s had run out of them.

Sure, there are alternatives to the Nasi Lemak Burger, with eateries like Marie Antoinette, The Beast and Makansutra Gluttons Bay selling their own versions – some even with actual nasi – but they just aren’t quite the same. 

Word is that we can expect the reappearance of the Nasi Lemak Burger at the end of August. There is no official confirmation as yet, but we’ll be sure to let you know once we receive any information on these burgers!

Also read These Epic Aerial Photos Of S’pore Will Show You How Beautiful Our Country Really Is

(Header Image Source: Coconuts)

Andsoforth’s Unique Dining Experience Serves Up Dinner With A Side Of Theatre

Bored of cafes and hawker food?

Here’s one for those who love the mystery of surprise!

Andsoforth, who previously brought us The Experiment, The Hideaway and The Heist, are up to more eccentric fun! The Imaginarium of David is their latest creation where they take dining literally out-of-this-world into realms that we could previously only dream about.

The Imaginarium of David takes inspiration in from the Biblical story of David and Goliath. If you’re not familiar with the story; a young David duels and bests a giant, Goliath, despite being at a huge disadvantage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzsXGdzi0PM

Andsoforth reinterprets David and Goliath in a modern setting – or more specifically, a disco setting. Disco David brings you into his psychedelic world to meet his eccentric friends: a Shaolin Lifeguard, the Swan Ballerinas, The Cunning Cabaret, and B-boy Goliath. Make friends with the mystical characters in a secret disco!

Be sure to go with an empty stomach as the night will culminate in a four-course meal served in the most conspicuous way possible. Psst, we also heard that there will be a sneaky cocktail as well!

Get ready to be immersed in a virtual world like no other. The venue will not be disclosed until the day of the performance itself, so keep a tight leash on your phone so as to not miss out on the details.

Here’s what went down at their last themed show, Dinner in Wonderland:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wam9Iq6eSvM

Once it’s over, you will never get a chance to experience it again! Tickets cost $98 for Friday shows, and $108 for Saturday shows. Head to the Andsoforth website for more details!

Also read We Tried Glamping For The First Time And It Was As Awesome As It Looks

(Header Image Source: Andsoforth Facebook)

Because Working Out Is A Pain, These 6 Unconventional Gyms Are Making It Fun To Burn Calories

Tired of going to the gym or need a change from your usual HIIT sessions?

Keeping fit can be a dud, and sometimes, switching things up can be a big help, especially when you’re losing steam keeping up with your fitness routine.

If you’ve hit this point, here are some other fitness classes you can sign up for. Not only will you have a blast, you’ll also burn some major calories! Don’t settle for the mundane, because there is a world of exciting fitness alternatives out there!

1. WeBarre

WeBarre is the first boutique barre studio in Singapore. With a range of  dynamic programmes such as WeBarre Fundamentals, WeBarre Signature Multi-Level and WeBarre HITT, these sessions will help you find your inner poise and grace.

[caption id="attachment_29016" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Image Credit: Price: $35 per class

3. Aquaspin

If regular spin class is not challenging enough for you, Aqua Spinning may be the way to go.

[caption id="attachment_29017" align="aligncenter" width="610"] Image Credit:

Aquaspin has revolutionised aquatic training by adapting land-based exercise programs for the water. They have combined regular sports such as running, cycling, body weight training, and aerobics with the benefits of water resistance training.

An aqua spin class will put you through various types of intensive pedalling exercises. Far from just splashing about in the water, just one session will allow you to burn up to 800 calories!

Aqua Spin
Address: Polo Club, 80 Mount Pleasant Rd, Singapore 298334
Opening Hours: Daily, 8.30am – 9pm
Image Credit: BBOUNCE Studio screams “Singapore’s Hottest Hybrid Workout!” on their website, and we can see why. They offer a range of comprehensive strength and cardio workouts on TRAMPOLINES. Unleash your inner kid as you take on their fitness classes. 

BBOUNCE Studio
Address: Polo Club, 80 Mount Pleasant Rd, Singapore 298334
Opening Hours: Daily, 8.30am – 9pm
5. Pulse by Virgin Active

[caption id="attachment_29019" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Image Credit: Picture a club with the lights out, where the club anthem is booming – except everyone is in activewear. That’s essentially what Virgin Active offers.

Pulse is a class that involves high energy dance moves, during which you can burn up to 500 calories. In addition, each participant will hold a bright fluorescent glow stick in each hand to illuminate the dimmed room.

[caption id="attachment_29021" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image Credit:

Virgin Active
Address: Tanjong Pagar Centre, 7 Wallich Street, #06-01, Singapore 078884
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 6.30am – 10.30pm; Sat – Sun & PH: 8am – 8pm
6. Bungee Dance Workout by Dancevault

You may or may not have seen this new workout popping up on your Facebook feed – Bungee Dance Workout offered only by Dancevault.

[caption id="attachment_29114" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Image Credit: Described as a full workout, this low-impact workout is recommended to anyone who’s looking for cardio and muscle toning movements, all in one session.

Fun fact: The insanely strong and durable bungee cords are able to support up to 2500kg, so people of any size and weight can be rest assured they’ll be safe during their workout.

Dancevault
Address: 135 East Coast Road, #02-01, Singapore 428820
Opening Hours: Daily, 9.30am – 10pm
Website 
Price: $22 per class

Consistency is key when it comes to maintaining an active lifestyle.

But of course, it’s only normal to get lazy and to lose motivation, especially when your workouts start to become routine and monotonous.

In these instances, switch things up with any one of the unique fitness classes available in Singapore! Not only are they fun, they’re also physically challenging – your body will surely thank you later for it!

Also read These Pretty Pink Drinks Are Bangkok’s Latest Tea Trend, Because Thai Milk Tea Is So 2015

(Header Image Source:

This Fry-It-Yourself Hum Chim Peng Stall Is Your Grown-up Masak Masak Dream Come True

Recently, a certain hum chim peng (deep fried dough fritters) stall has caught the attention of netizens in Singapore.

Located at Maxwell Food Centre, what’s unique about this humble fried dough fritter stall is that you get to fry your own dough fritters.

[caption id="attachment_29066" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Image Credit: Image Credit: Image Credit: Medium[/caption]

Smaller in size than what you might find elsewhere, Hum Jin Pang’s dough fritters come in two varieties – Five Spice Salt and Sweet Red Bean. At six pieces for $1, these fritters are incredibly cheap; you’d be hard pressed to find prices likes these anywhere these days.

Want to have a go at frying your own hum chim pengs? Make a trip to Maxwell Food Centre sometime for lunch, and fall in love with this simple snack all over again!

Hum Jin Pang
Address: Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur St., Singapore 069184
Opening Hours: Daily, 2.30pm – 8pm

Also read Creamier’s New Ice Cream BEER Floats Takes Alcoholic Ice Cream To A Whole New Level

(Header Image Source: )

Creamier’s New Ice Cream BEER Floats Takes Alcoholic Ice Cream To A Whole New Level

We’ve all heard of ice cream floats, but have you heard of an ice cream beer float?

It’s exactly as it sounds – a scoop of ice cream plopped into a glass of cold beer.

A marriage of two things we all love – ice cream and booze – that’s exactly what Creamier and Stark Craft Beer are bringing to the table at this year’s Beerfest Asia.

A Perfect Union

Huge fans of the ice cream brand (as are we), the guys behind Stark Craft Beer conceived of this unusual pairing on a hot and humid night in North Bali.

Craving a taste of Creamier’s Tahitian Vanilla ice cream to go with some of their freshly-brewed Dark Wheat Beer, they decided to combine the two into one outrageous dessert, and bring it to the masses.

They reached out, Creamier said yes, and now, we get to enjoy 3 inventive floats!

A union of two artisanal, premium brands, both Creamier and Stark Craft Beer use all-natural ingredients, with no preservatives added into their innovative, delicious products.

Beer + Ice Cream Pairings

The first beer-ice cream combo is Stark Lychee Ale with Creamier’s Raspberry Love. The ale is fruity, light, with the natural aroma and sweetness of lychee, while the Raspberry Love ice cream is a romantic combination of raspberry berries, rose and sweet cream.

The final result? A taste of summer in a cup that’s light, floral and sweet.

The next float flavour on the menu is Stark Indonesian Pale Ale with Creamier’s Sea Salt Gula Melaka. The IPA has a distinct hoppy flavour, is slightly bitter, with a sweet and malty aftertaste. This is paired with Sea Salt Gula Melaka ice cream, which gives you a hit of sweet, but not without a hit of savoury flavour. The two combine into a smooth butter beer.

The last drink is one for the chocaholics – the Stark Dark Wheat with Creamier’s Mochaccino. The Dark Wheat beer is thick, malty and chocolatey, with a hint of bitter roasted coffee. The Mochaccino ice cream amps up the chocolate flavour with its blend of chocolate and espresso, giving you a dessert that’s chocolatey, smoky, slightly bitter, and absolutely decadent.

And on to the most important question: How do you enjoy your ice cream beer float? Either sip the beer and eat the ice cream separately, or stir all that goodness together – both ways, you get to enjoy a tasty, delightful dessert.

These ice cream floats will be available at both of Creamier’s outlets at Toa Payoh and at Gillman Barracks. They will also be available at BeerFest 2017 (17 – 20 August) at the Stark Craft Beer booth.

Each float will set you back $14 and will only be available for the month of August. Make a date with Creamier and give these a spin – you’ll wish they weren’t a limited edition treat!

Creamier
Address: Blk 128, Toa Payoh Lorong 1, #01-835, Singapore 310128
Opening Hours: Tue – Thu: 12pm – 10pm; Fri – Sat: 12pm – 11pm; Sun: 12pm – 10pm; Closed on Mon
Contact no.: 6250 1476
Also read 7 Local Desserts So Good, They’ll Remind You Of Your Childhood Sweetheart

(Header Image Source: Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream & Coffee)

These Epic Aerial Photos Of S’pore Will Show You How Beautiful Our Country Really Is

Here at DiscoverSG, we love drone footage and drone shots as much as the next person.

Not only do they offer us a rare glimpse of the world from above, they have us looking at familiar things through new eyes. Sometimes, a fresh perspective is all we need to appreciate the art, architecture, and beauty that exists all around us.

With National Day just 1 day away, we decided to scour Instagram for some of the sickest shots of Singapore from up high, and we were not disappointed.

From common sights (and sites) like malls we grew up visiting to some of the newer landmarks that have sprouted up in more recent years, these epic drone-taken photos will show you another side of our nation’s beauty.

1. Fountain of Wealth by day

Suntec City and the Fountain of Wealth have been around for ages – since 1995, to be specific.

In 1998, the fountain made it on the Guinness Book of Records and was named the World’s Largest Fountain. While no longer the world’s largest fountain, to this day, many visitors still circle the fountain for good luck.

A symbol of wealth and life, its bronze ring was designed based on the Hindu Mandala. Meaning ‘universe’, the ring is symbolic of the oneness in spirit and unity, further symbolising the equality and harmony of all races and religions in Singapore.

2. Fountain of Wealth by night

Beautiful by day, the structure looks even better by night – at least in our opinion.

3. Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay

It’s probably safe to say that we’ve all seen the Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay.

One of the most intriguing additions to the Singapore skyline, the trees look even more eerie and fascinating from above. Measuring between 25 and 50m, these towering structures are connected by a 128-metre aerial walkway that adds to the futuristic quality of these vertical gardens.

4. ArtScience Museum

Another architectural masterpiece and favourite among museum-goers is the ArtScience Museum.

A structure that’s typically too large to see in full, this bird’s eye view lets you see the “The Welcoming Hand of Singapore” in all its ten-fingered glory.

5. Lau Pa Sat

A market wasn’t the first thing to come to mind when we first saw this photo.

Situated in the Central Business District, Lau Pa Sat, which translates into “old market” is home to plenty of scrumptious grub. A regular haunt for those working in the CBD, we bet you didn’t know it looked so pretty from up above.

6. Cargo

There’s just something so satisfying about seeing all these cargo containers lined up neatly, no?

7. Palawan Beach

When was the last time you went to Palawan Beach?

For us, it would be when we were teenagers. While splashing around at the beach isn’t a popular pastime here in Singapore, you’ve got to admit that this photo makes that little island off the beach look pretty cool.

8. The Road Into Sentosa

Ever wonder how your drive into and out of Sentosa island looks? Probably not, but here’s how it looks anyway.

9. Sentosa Cove

Sentosa Cove – an area populated by the super-rich of Singapore. The houses here will cost you anything between $2,000,000 and $80,000,000. Can’t stomach those kinds of numbers? Then settle for this shot of Sentosa Cove from above.

10. NTU School of Art, Design and Media building

We did a double take when we realised this picture was taken of a university campus. Consisting of 3 intersecting arcs, this ‘Green Roof’at the NTU School of Art, Design and Media building is turfed and slopes at a nearly 45-degree angle, blurring the line between landscape and building.

11. Jetty

12. Pearl Bank Apartments

Google ‘best architecture singapore’ and many of the search results will have Pearl Bank Apartments on their list. Built in 1976, its unique horseshoe shape (or c-shape) was intended to provide residents cover from the sun, while allowing a view from the top of Pearl’s Hill.

13. Housing Estates

Of course, we can’t forget the housing estates we live in. The places we call home, grow up, build our families, and rest and recharge for the next day, these are perhaps the spaces that mean the most to us here in Singapore.

Tomorrow, we celebrate National Day.

We celebrate 52 years of independence, 52 years of progress, and we celebrate all that we have here in this beautiful country we call home – the people we are proud to call our friends, the opportunities that are out there for us, the security we feel as we go about our daily lives, and so much more.

We don’t know about you, but we’re so proud to be able to call Singapore our home.

Also read This Local Instagram Account Is Turning Dabao-ed Hawker Food Into Works Of Art

(Header Image Source: @_jjjoel_, @ucchow)

Here Are All The Singers From S’pore To Root For On This Season Of Sing! China (So Far)

[Update: The article title has been edited for accuracy. Information about Curley Gao has also been updated to reflect that she is a Chinese national who studies in Singapore, not a Singaporean.]

If you didn’t follow Sing! China last year, this may be the time to start.

After Nathan Hartono made it all the way to second place in last year’s Sing! China, more Singaporeans have joined and found success on the singing competition. This season, 4 singers from Singapore have made it onto the show so far, and with more spots on the judges teams to be filled, who knows if more will be added to the list!

Here are the ones to look out for in this season of Sing! China.

Team Jay Chou

Remember “steady pom pee pee?”

Those of you who watched Singapore Idol back in the day will surely recognise this name and face – after all, she did come in third in the first season of Singapore Idol back in 2004.

Like many contestants on The Voice (the singing competition Sing! China is modeled after), Olinda didn’t make it on the show on her first try; it was during her second try that she found success. This season, she took a huge risk, singing Jay Chou’s ‘Secret’, which paid off big time. It won her a three chair turn, as well as a spot on Jay Chou’s team.

Watch Olinda Cho’s full performance here:

2. Joanna Dong

The first Singaporean to make it on Sing! China this year – and on Team Jay Chou, no less – Joanna Dong won both the judges and audience alike with her sweet, joyful rendition of the technically challenging Love Song, 1990, throwing in a vocal trumpet for good measure.

The jazz singer’s dynamic performance also won her a three chair turn, as well as high praise from the judges.

Watch Joanna Dong’s full performance here:

Team Na Ying

Remember Campus Superstar?

If you caught its second season, you might find this 24 year old familiar. In 2007, she came in as a semi-finalist on the youth-centric singing competition. The graduate of LASALLE’s School of Contemporary Music is now one half of the duo ‘StellaVee’ with singer-songwriter Vee.

Currently signed under Ocean Butterflies Music, the singer got two of the judges to turn withe her sweet, pop vocals.

Watch Stella Seah’s full performance here:

2. Curley Gao

Another singer who only got her shot after her second try, Curley Gao is the youngest representative from Singapore to make it onto the Sing! China stage at 18 years old.

A Chinese national who has been studying in Singapore since the age of 9, she was likened to Singaporean singer Tanya Chua by superstar Jay Chou. This teenager’s soothing vocals got two judges vying to have her on their teams.

Watch Curley Gao’s full performance here:

With not just 1 but 4 singers from Singapore making it past the blind auditions this year, this will be an exciting season for Singaporeans! Make sure to tune in and show your support – we cannot wait to see how far they’ll go in the competition!

You can catch the live telecast of Sing! China Season 2 on Singtel TV’s Jia Le Channel or on Zhejiang TV Official Channel on YouTube.

Also read At The Affogato Bar, It’s Never Too Early To Get Drunk On Coffee And Ice Cream