Location: Central

Cycle Up A 7-Storey Carpark In This Race – Don’t Say You’re ‘Two-Tyred’ For It

If you’ve participated in the OCBC Cycle, then you might want to test yourself with this upcoming cycling event, the Downtown Race 2018.

Happening on 19 August 2018, the Downtown Race will take place in a carpark! That’s right, it’s uphill all the way, sweetie.

Do You Have What It Takes?

There are a total of 9 race categories to choose from – Juniors M&F, Men’s Open Elite, Men’s Masters, Men’s Supermasters, Men’s Sport/Weekend Warrior, Women’s Open, Women’s Sport/Weekend Warrior, MTB Open, and Fixed Gear Open.

The race will pit Singapore’s best cyclists from road, mountain and fixed gear biking against each other for the Men and Women’s Open category, where the top 10 cyclists will battle it out for the title of King or Queen of the Downtown Race!

You begin in Basement 2 of the carpark, and cycle as quickly as possible to the top of the carpark.

Winners of each category will receive a medal and a limited edition jersey specially designed for Downtown Race 2018!

Registration for Downtown Race 2018 is $50, and it comes with a sign up pack with $50 worth of Downtown Gallery Cash vouchers and other gifts.

Of course, the kids won’t be left out.

There will be fun family activities like kid’s races and watt bike races. For those of you looking to improve your timing, there will also be talks on how to improve your performance.

There are limited spots for each category, so hurry and register here!

For a glimpse at what the Downtown Race 2018 will be like, here’s a video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=_4oRuLo9pUk

Do you have what it takes to take on the Downtown Race 2018?

Downtown Race 2018
Venue: Downtown Gallery, 6A Shenton Way
Date: 19 Aug 2018
Website

Also read Old Chang Kee And Its Sister Brands Are Serving A Chilli Crab-Filled Menu From Now Till Aug 31

(Header Image Source: Cycling Tips)

P.S Cafe Launches Jypsy – New Japanese Dining Concept Featuring Sushi, Sashimi, And Unagi Fried Rice

P.S Cafe has long been a prime brunch spot for Singaporeans.

With various dining concepts, each housed in a beautifully decorated interior, there’s something for everybody when it comes to dining at P.S Cafe.

Recently, P.S Cafe launched a new concept, Jypsy.

Japanese Cuisine By P.S Cafe

Located at 38A Martin Road, this new concept by P.S Cafe is a casual and vibrant restaurant that’s stunning yet not intimidating.

Because sometimes if a place is too atas, I’m not stepping in.

Now unlike the other P.S Cafes, this one serves contemporary Japanese cuisine.

On their rather extensive menu, you’ll find grilled skewers, fresh sashimi, sushi rolls, cold and hot plates, as well as rice and noodle bowls.

For mains, try the Unagi Fried Rice, which comes with grilled unagi, tofu, pickles, omelette, and slaw.

Don’t miss out on the Tonkatsu Curry Rice, which has breaded Iberico pork cutlet, Japanese curry, a pile of shredded cabbage, and grilled shishito peppers.

Some of the items on the menu can also be tweaked for vegetarians, like the Smokey Nasu sushi roll – robata Japanese eggplant, roasted peppers, tofu, miso aioli, and pickled radish.

If you’re looking for sides, be sure to get the Nest of Fries, crispy shredded potato is drizzled with white truffle oil, wasabi mayo, and teriyaki balsamic sauce to become what’s possibly the most fragrant “nest” we’ve ever smelled.

If that doesn’t look appetising to you, I don’t know what does.

Jypsy’s menu is extensive, with many sharing plates available if you’re in a large group.

Check out their full menu here.

Jypsy is casual yet elegantly refined and the food is great! So if you’re planning a dinner date, this is it.

Jypsy
Address: 38A Martin Road, #01-02, Singapore 239072
Opening Hours: Tue – Sun: 11.30am – 11pm, Mon: Closed
Contact no.: 6708 9288
Website

Also read Escape Reality At These 5 VR Gaming Places In S’pore – Prices From As Low As $12/Hour

(Header Image Source: @pscafe)

Escape Reality At These 5 VR Gaming Places In S’pore – Prices From As Low As $12/Hour

The gaming scene is ever-changing, with new gimmicks and gadgets trying their best to immerse us in the game as much as possible.

Today, we even have virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) gaming. For reference, Pokemon Go uses AR technology so it looks like you’re catching that Pidgey in your living room.

While augmented reality gaming is popular, virtual reality is by far the more exciting of the 2.

I personally enjoy virtual reality gaming much more than augmented reality. So here’s a list of the places in Singapore that you and your friends can try virtual reality gaming.

1. V-Room Singapore VR Arcade

V-Room Singapore has the widest range of games I’ve seen so far, for a virtual reality gaming arcade.

Most VR game centres only have 1 or 2 games but V-Room has an entire library, with various genres to choose from.

From puzzle games, to horror games and shooter games, V-Room has it all.

Every newcomer will have to sign up as a member. It’s mandatory, and there’s a $5 fee to register. But the good news is, the membership is lifetime and the $5 is a one-time charge.

It’s $12 per person per hour on weekdays, and $15 per person per hour on weekends. You can also book a private room though it has to have a minimum of 2 people.

It’s by far the cheapest VR game centre in Singapore, and for a maximum of $15, you have a whole library of games to choose from.

V-Room Singapore VR Arcade
Address: 2 Jurong East Central 1, JCube #02-11, Singapore 609731
Opening Hours: Daily: 11am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6904 4045
Website

2. Clique Gaming

While Clique Gaming is primarily a LAN gaming shop, it also provides many other gaming facilities.

And Virtual Reality gaming is one of them. At Clique Gaming, you can book the VR Room that accommodates a maximum of 4 people from $20 per person per hour.

They use the PS4 for VR gaming, so you might even be familiar with some of the games if you own a PS4 console at home.

If you’re playing alone, it’ll be $25 per person per hour on weekdays.

The best part about this is, Clique Gaming operates 24 hours a day, meaning it NEVER CLOSES.

Clique Gaming
Address: 35 Selegie Road, ParkLane Shopping Mall #B1-16, Singapore 188307
Contact no.: 9009 3707
Website

3. Sandbox VR

Located at level 5 of Orchard Central, Sandbox VR is a great place to go if you’re wandering Orchard/Somerset without a plan.

It uses movie quality, real-time motion capture rigs, which means, every movement of your limbs will be captured in-game.

https://www.facebook.com/discover.sg.official/videos/2547647328794287/

There are 2 games for you to choose from – Deadwood Mansion and Curse Of Davy Jones.

If you like your zombie first-person shooters, Deadwood Mansion is the one for you, with increasingly overwhelming hordes of zombies.

Each session is about 30 to 45 minutes and will set you back $29 per person off peak, or $40 per person during peak.

Sandbox VR
Address: 181 Orchard Road, Orchard Central #05-31, Singapore 238896
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 11.15am – 10.30pm, Fri – Sat: 11.15am – 12am, Sun: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Contact no.: 9832 5988
Website

4. Virtual Room

Unlike the previous VR gaming spots, Virtual Room is more like a VR escape room, in the sense that it’s team-based rather than solo play.

https://www.facebook.com/singapore.virtualroom/videos/501994736827925/

You and 3 other players will join forces to save the world by travelling back in time to solve puzzles and challenges.

However, the twist here is, each player will be in a different room. So it will take all your skills to cooperate and complete your mission.

The Virtual Room can accommodate up to 22 players at one time.

It’ll cost $44 per person during off peak timings (Mon – Thu until 5pm), if you book online. It will be $49 per person for walk-ins, email, and phone bookings.

Peak hour prices will be $49 for online bookings, and $54 for walk-ins, email, and phone bookings.

Virtual Room
Address: Basement 3, Lucky Chinatown, 211 New Bridge Road, Singapore 059432
Opening Hours: Daily: 10am – 11pm
Contact no.: 6966 8060
Website

5. Zero Latency

If you’ve been to Suntec City recently, you might’ve seen Zero Latency.

Zero Latency is the largest free-roaming, multiplayer virtual reality gaming arena in Singapore.

With 4,200 square feet of space for you to roam as you play, Zero Latency increases the immersion in their VR games.

You can literally walk to another point in the map in the game, and even use the “lift”.

There are 4 games for you to choose from, with 2 being zombie outbreak first-person shooters, a space shooter adventure, and an adventure puzzle.

It is recommended that you come in a bigger group for a better experience. There are 4 packages to choose from and prices per person go from $59 to $69, depending on the package selected.

You can check out their packages here.

Zero Latency
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, #03-346, Suntec City Mall, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 11am – 10pm, Fri: 11am – 11pm, Sat: 10am – 11pm, Sun: 10am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6931 0331
Website

Also read Seoul Garden’s New Takeaway Kiosk Offers Korean-Inspired Sandwiches For Under $9

(Header Image Source: DiscoverSG)

This Authentic Mexican Joint In Tanjong Pagar Serves Tacos From $8 – And It’s Vegetarian-Friendly Too

One of the most enjoyable foods to eat, has got to be the taco.

It’s so simple yet so good, which probably explains why it’s considered to be one of the best foods to eat when drunk.

Is this why they serve alcohol with tacos?

In Singapore, there’s an increasing number of Mexican restaurants and a crowd favourite is Lucha Loco.

Going Loco For Tacos

Located on 15 Duxton Hill, Lucha Loco is a casual Mexican cocina (kitchen) and bar, serving up great Mexican food and tequilas (of course).

It first opened in 2012 and today, it is known as one of the few places in Singapore for great Mexican fare.

The coolest part of this restaurant has got to be the outdoor garden seating.

Beautifully decorated, yet still spacious enough to accomodate large groups, it’s almost as if you’re dining with fairies.

Now, for the food.

They serve up tacos and quesadillas, as well as a wide variety of other authentic Mexican snacks and sides.

Some of the favourites are the Baja Fish Tacos ($10), the vegetarian Corn & Artichoke Tacos ($8), and the Cangrejo Tacos ($16), which uses buttermilk fried soft-shell crab.

Lucha Loco has seasonal flavours for their tacos too, so do check their Facebook page for any updates on exclusive taco creations.

Their most recent creations were for the Trump-Kim summit.

If you’re looking for something easier to munch on, try their Crab Tostadas ($17), which uses blue swimmer crab meat, salted egg sauce, and crispy chicken skin. Mmm….

The good thing about Lucha Loco is that they’re also vegetarian-friendly, with many vegetarian options available on the menu.

For dessert, if you’re not getting the Churros ($14), were you really at Lucha Loco?

For drinks, Happy Hour takes place from 5pm to 7pm on weekdays, with discounts on their frozen lime, piña margarita, kirin draught, corona, cava, house wines, gin, rum, and house vodka.

Lucha Loco is a must-visit if you’re looking for an authentic Mexican dining experience.

Here are their Also read This German Restaurant In Joo Chiat Has Been Serving Handmade Breads And Wursts Since 1988

(Header Image Source: Lucha Loco)

Stuff Your Face With Cake At This Bake Sale Pop-Up – Happens Every Weekend Till August

I love cake. It’s one of the most comforting desserts we’ve ever invented.

Growing up, cake was always something that was only available or bought for birthdays and special occasions. I always envied westerners and their bake sales, where pastries and bakes were made and sold within a community.

Bake sales weren’t a thing in Singapore back then, and till today, it’s still uncommon. But now, my dreams of going to a bake sale is about to come true.

Enter Cake Club.

Cakes, Bakes, And Pastries Galore

Every weekend for the month of July and August (14 July – 26 August 2018), Marina Square Glasshouse will play host to the Cake Club.

Cake Club is a pop-up retail market featuring some of Singapore’s best bakeries and cake shops, and they’re not kidding when they say they brought the best.

In July, Cake Club visitors will be able to find and purchase pastries and cakes from Bloomsbury Bakers, Inthebrickyard, My Sister Bakes, Milk Moons, and more!

August will see the roster shuffle to feature our favourite Edith Patisserie, Boufe Boutique Cafe, Creme Maison Bakery and many more!

That’s not all, you might even find some guest bakeries such as Non Entrée Desserts, who are known for presenting their desserts as savoury dishes, and Konditori, appearing at the Cake Club!

Also, we heard that there’ll be a surprise appearance by a special dessert chef. No clues given at the moment. Hmmm…

For those of you who need something to wash down all that cake, The 1872 Clipper Tea Co. will be serving their freshly brewed signature teas at the Cake Club.

Of course, Cake Club isn’t just a retail market. There will also be workshops for budding bakers to learn a thing or 2 from the pros.

Yume Patisserie will be conducting Buttercream Flower Cream Piping workshop on 11 and 12 August 2018 while Once Upon A Table will have Cookie Painting workshops on 25 and 26 August.

Don’t forget to register for the workshops here.

So, if you’re looking to get your cake fix or you’ve just had a bad week, Cake Club is the place to go because let’s be honest, good cake makes everything better.

Cake Club
Venue: Marina Square, The Rooftop Garden, Glasshouse, #03-03, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594
Date: 14 Jul – 26 Aug 2018 (Weekends only)
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9pm
Website

Also read A Poke Theory Is Now S’pore’s First Halal Poke Place – Customise Your Bowls From $9.90

(Header Image Source: Edith Patisserie and Inthebrickyard)

Men In S’pore Blessed With Facial Hair, Here’s Where You Can Groom It For Under $30

For the gifted few men in our society that have the capacity to grow a full beard, this one is for you. In the recent decade, we’ve had many metrosexuals and “gentlemen” popping up.

I don’t mean “gentlemen” sarcastically. I’m referring to the term that dapper men who groom themselves with a fervent passion, use to address themselves and others like them.

You know, men like that.

Along with the emergence of this particular group of people, there have been modern barbershops appearing all over the island, catered specifically for men’s grooming.

However, not all are good and they’re always rather pricey, depending on the size of your beard. So we’ve compiled a short list of tried and tested barbershops that are affordable and good.

Grooming Is A Basic Human Right

1. We Need A Hero

We Need A Hero (cue song), is a grooming centre that provides haircuts, beard trimming, brow grooming, and even waxing services.

The name comes from their belief that there is a hero, buried within every man – he just needs proper grooming to emerge.

We Need A Hero provides beard trimming services starting from $15 and waxing from $22. For a full list of their services and prices, check 2. Paul’s Barbershop/Barbershop Pauls’

Paul’s Barbershop is a humble barbershop in Bedok offering haircuts and beard trimming services.

A haircut will set you back $20, while a haircut and beard trimming session will cost $25.

There has been issues with inconsistency in the quality of the haircuts in the past few months, but haircuts are usually good.

Paul’s Barbershop
Address: Blk 202 Bedok North St. 1, #01-477, Singapore 540202
Opening Hours: Sat – Thu: 10am – 9pm, Sun: 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Contact no.: 8104 9577
Website

3. Limpeh Barbershop

For a more consistent and affordable grooming experience, Limpeh Barbershop is your “man”.

An adult haircut here will set you back $20 and beard sculpting alone (it’s basically beard trimming) only goes for $10!

That’s extremely affordable to be honest. For a solid beard sculpt at just $10, it’s hard to beat.

For a full list of their services and prices, check here.

You can also book an appointment on their website here. Do note that customers are given a 15 minutes grace period. Any latecomers will be rescheduled to the next available slot.

Limpeh Barbershop
Address: Blk 537 Bedok North Street 3, #01-511, Singapore 460537
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11am – 9pm, Sat: 11am – 6pm, Sun: 12pm – 6pm
Contact no.: 9422 5895
Website

4. Barber Point

Barber Point might seem like another random neighbourhood barbershop, with no social media or website, but don’t let that fool you.

Because it really doesn’t have any social media or website.

All we know is that the haircuts only cost $15. So a beard trim wouldn’t be that far off. In fact, it might be even less.

If you’re expecting young, dapper men, the barbers here are all veteran barbers who know their stuff.

Sometimes, you just need a good and simple, unpretentious haircut to look good.

Barber Point
Address: Blk 118 Rivervale Drive, #01-12, Singapore 540118

5. The Black Tie Barbershop

The Black Tie Barbershop is by far the most proper barbershop on this list. The barbers are dressed to the nines, in formal shoes, pants, suspenders, and a combover so smooth you’d slip.

A haircut will cost you from $20 to $30, depending on your age, while a beard trim will be $25.

The shop is usually crowded, so book an appointment on their Also read McDonald’s Releases New ‘Har Cheong Gai’ Burger And Drumlets As Part Of National Day Menu

(Header Image Source: Unsplash)

A Poke Theory Is S’pore’s First Halal Poke Place – Customise Your Bowls From $9.90

If there’s one thing I’ve noticed growing up as a Muslim in Singapore would be the lack of healthy Halal-certified food options.

Most salad bars and poke bowl restaurants in Singapore aren’t halal so imagine my happiness when A Poke Theory finally announced that they finally got their Halal-certification.

Of course I had to head down and try it out for myself and finally understand what the hype surrounding poke bowls are all about.

Life’s Too Short To Eat Bad Food

If you have no idea what poke bowls are, it’s a traditional Hawaiian “salad” filled with rice, covered with chunks of raw, marinated fish (usually tuna) and topped with lots of vegetables and umami-packed sauces.

What you get is an Instagram-worthy poke bowl that looks good and tastes amazing as well!

In Hawaii, it’s often found everywhere, from gas stations to roadside stands. Diners get to pick out the kind of poke they want and get it to go in a Styrofoam container.

Stepping into A Poke Theory instantly brought me back to the time I first had my poke bowl in LA. It’s modern, minimal and even the music selection was a 10 out of 10. Definitely a great place to gather your friends or family for a healthy meal.

A Poke Theory has been around since July 2016 and it only made sense for them to move towards feeding a community even larger than what they they were already catering for.

There were several major changes that the owner, Joey Lee, and his head chef had to make to the recipes in order to maintain the same taste and quality. They spent over 3 weeks making changes to the soy sauce which was a major part of the marinade as well as coming up with their own furikake which took over a month and half.

Despite all the delays and challenges that they faced, they managed to re-engineer their prized marinades with Halal-certified ingredients to achieve the same taste as their original non-Halal marinades.

I spoke to one of the founders of A Poke Theory, Joey Lee, who is the mastermind behind all the recipe creations.

“Normally if you already have a winning formula, you wouldn’t want to change it. However, if we can make the Halal ingredients taste the same or even improve the recipe, it pushes us out of our comfort zone.”

In fact, they taste almost similar that regular customers could barely see the change in the recipes as adaptations to include Halal ingredients have already been incorporated to gradually over the last 4 months so as to keep quality control at its peak.

Ordering a Poke bowl here is simple. All you have to do is pick a size ($9.90, $12.90, $15.90), your choice of base, poke (up to 2 options), free toppings and additional premium toppings that are freshly made daily.

If it’s your first time ordering a poke bowl, we highly recommend you getting the Lemon Herb Quinoa which pairs really well with the poke. It’s definitely a lighter option as compared to the signature sushi rice.

Be adventurous and get both the tuna and salmon! Their two best-selling poke would be the Spicy Garlic Sesame Tuna and Avocado Miso Salmon. The Avocado Miso sauce is a hit at A Poke Theory as the sauce is thick and creamy from the combination of olive oil, fresh spinach leaves and greek yoghurt. No mayo is included which makes it completely healthy and guilt-free!

They’ll be releasing new seasonal special flavours as well. Diners can look forward to their Romesco Salmon soon which is a bold step away from their typical Asian flavours.

With the smallest bowl priced at $9.90, it’s definitely an affordable and healthy lunch option especially if you’re working around the CBD areas.

If you’re looking for a healthy sweet treat, A Poke Theory makes gorgeous looking Superfood smoothie bowls which makes for a great post-gym fuel or after-work tête-à-têtes.

Swap your morning coffee for their cold pressed juices which ais packed with lotsa wholesome goodness, all bottled and ready to go for you. Their juice recipes are improvised from whatever leftover ingredients which is in line with A Poke Theory’s aim to minimise food wastage and making the most out of anything salvageable.

For those can’t get enough of their premium toppings especially their highly raved ‘Spiced Roasted Cashews’, you can get them in to-go snack packs for $6 each.

Look no further when it comes to healthy lunch options, pop by A Poke Theory for affordable and fresh poke bowls that won’t leave you in a post-lunch food coma.

A Poke Theory (Telok Ayer)
Address: 27 Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069623
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11am – 8pm, Saturdays: 11am – 4pm, Closed Sundays & Public Holidays
Contact No.: 6904 8189

A Poke Theory (Bugis)
Address: #01-36/37, DUO Galleria, 7 Fraser St, Singapore 189356
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11am – 9pm,  Sat – Sun: 11am – 4pm, Closed on major Public Holidays

A Poke Theory (Kent Ridge)
Address: #02-12, One@KentRidge, 1 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119082
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11am – 8pm,  Sat – Sun: 11am – 3.30pm, Closed on Sundays & Public Holidays

A Poke Theory (Marina One)
Address: #B2-52, Marina One, The Heart, 5 Straits View, Singapore 018935
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11am – 8pm,  Closed on Weekends & Public Holidays
Contact No.: 6284 3100
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(Header Image Source: @apoketheory)

‘Don’ You Love A Good Rice Bowl? Get Them Delivered, Or Self-Collect Them From NTU, NUS and CBD

Singapore’s Japanese food scene has evolved a lot ever since we were introduced to the cuisine. From sushi to Ramen, Udon, Don, Teppanyaki, and Shabu Shabu steamboats, there are plenty of restaurants offering Japanese food all over Singapore.

However, not many have the option of delivery because the cuisine places emphasis on the freshness of the food as it is prepared and presented – and delivery directly contradicts this aspect of Japanese cuisine.

Enter Don Play Play.

As their name suggests, they don’t mess around when it comes to their dons.

Don’t Play With Don Play Play

Don Play Play is a new food delivery service that provides and delivers Japanese rice bowls (dons) at wallet-friendly prices to students and faculty of NUH and NTU, as well as workers in the CBD.

They have 6 items on their complete menu. While the menu seems limited, the demand is quite overwhelming.

You can choose from the Truffle Beef Yakiniku Don, Salmon Chirashi Don, Chicken Grain Bowl, Salmon Sashimi Salad, Unagi Don, and Salmon Mentaiko Don. Everything on the menu is $12.80.

Their bestsellers are the Salmon Chirashi Don that comes with fresh salmon sashimi, tamago cubes, ikura, vinegared sushi rice, wasabi and pink ginger, and the Unagi Don which comes with Teriyaki-glazed grilled unagi, 63-degree onsen egg, and Japanese garlic fried rice.

Look at the gorgeous glaze on that unagi. Mmmm…

The Salmon Mentaiko Don uses fresh Norwegian salmon and their own homemade spicy mentaiko sauce, and comes topped with a 63-degree onsen egg.

To be honest, everything on their menu sounds delicious.

Delivery And Pickup

So currently, you can choose to have your food delivered to you, or pickup your food from a fixed location.

For delivery, there is a $64 minimum order (5 rice bowls) and a $10 delivery fee on top of that. However, delivery is free for orders above $128.

Orders for NTU, NUS and the CBD can have their orders delivered at no minimum order amount and no delivery fee, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays respectively.

Now, if you choose to pick up your food, there are fixed pickup points in NUS, NTU, and the CBD.

Check out their pickup locations and timeslots here.

If you’re ordering from NUS, NTU or the CBD, better do so earlier because the rice bowls sell out FAST.

Don Play Play have also mentioned that they will be further expanding their menu in future, so keep a look out!

If you’re thinking of ordering from Don Play Play, it’s best to do so in a group so delivery is free. Now, who’s up for don?

Don Play Play
Website

Also read Hokkien 101 – Words And Phrases You Can Use Everyday Without Getting Slapped

(Header Image Source: Don Play Play)

Does It Taste Like Home? 2 Filipinos Found The Best Pinoy Fare In Singapore

One of the least prominent cuisines in Singapore is probably Filipino cuisine. I’ve personally never tried filipino cuisine, and my filipino colleagues haven’t had proper filipino food since they left their motherland (Jollibee doesn’t count).

So today I decided to take my filipino colleagues, Raymond and Ardhel, out to lunch, for REAL filipino food and at the same time, have them do a comparison of the standard of filipino food in Singapore to the ones they have back home.

I’ve already done a bit of research on 3 of the best, crowd-favourite places for filipino cuisine. It should come as no surprise that they’re all in Lucky Plaza.

Inasal Restaurant

The first place we went to was the highly-acclaimed Inasal Restaurant.

A good part of the restaurant is hidden behind a tiny store-front. The actual entrance to the restaurant is down a corridor to the side of the store-front.

We ordered the Pork Kare-Kare ($8.25) and Sisig ($11)

A little background – Kare-Kare is a savoury peanut meat stew while Sisig is a dish made with diced parts of pig’s head, liver, and seasoned with lime and chilli peppers.

I was a little confused because as far as I know, beef was usually used in Kare-Kare, and not pork. But it was small issue.

The Pork Kare-Kare came with a side of Bagoong (fermented fish paste). Firstly, the gravy of the Kare-Kare was like a watery, savoury peanut sauce. While I’m not irked by it, it certainly was an unusual taste.

The pork, however, fared much better. It was so tender, it disintegrated the moment my jaws closed. And paired with the gravy, the dish finally made sense.

Now, I was informed that I should put a tiny bit of Bagoong on the pork and have it with the gravy, and so I did. All I can say is, mind-blowing.

The Bagoong is basically a pure force of salty umami, hence the tiny amount. Have this sparingly.

Next, the Pork Sisig. It was a little disappointing. Raymond and Ardhel were expecting to hear sizzling. But the only sound the Sisig made was when the hotplate hit the table.

“I mean, it’s called Sizzling Sisig for a reason.” – Ardhel, 6 July 2018.

So points off for the lack of sizzle.

Apparently, some Sisigs are also crispy because crispy pork crackling is added into it for texture. But this version uses diced parts of pig’s head and presented uniform textures. And it didn’t help that it was a little bland because there was no chilli or lime given.

However, the Sisig came with a small bowl of Bulalo Soup.

Bulalo is the filipino version of Soup Tulang and it’s a clear soup that packs so much umami, it’s almost unbelievable because it doesn’t look rich.

Overall, Ardhel rated the food at Inasal Restaurant a 3.5/5 and Raymond gave it a 3/5.

Points were taken off because the Sisig wasn’t sizzling, and the Kare-Kare was a little heavier on taste.

Inasal Restaurant
Address: 304 Orchard Road, #04-49/50/51 Lucky Plaza, Singapore, 238863
Opening Hours: Daily: 10am – 8.30pm
Contact no.: 6733 2752
Website

Kabayan Restaurant

Kabayan Restaurant is situated in a corner to the left of the escalator on the third level of Lucky Plaza.

The whole restaurant resembles a canteen of sorts, with 2 counters right inside, one of which is a huge glass display of all the dishes they’re serving.

Once again, we ordered the Kare-Kare ($4) and Sisig ($6.50).

The Kare-Kare here uses beef and comes served with a side of Alamang (fermented shrimp paste). Unfortunately, it was too dry and tough. The gravy was smoother and milder than the one we had at Inasal Restaurant though the portion leaves more to be desired.

The Alamang, though splendid, did nothing for the texture of the beef.

Next, the Sisig here is a feast for the stomach AND the eyes.

It was a beautiful sizzling plate of Sisig, and it was closer to authentic Sisig, served with chilli and lime and also more substantial, thanks to the addition of chopped pork belly for additional textures.

Ardhel and Raymond loved this Sisig and they even packed one more to go.

Finally, the Sisig was served with a bowl of Sinigang – a soup made with tamarind, either pork, beef, chicken or prawns, and fish sauce. It tastes exactly like Sze Chuan Vegetable soup to me.

Overall, both Ardhel and Raymond rated the food at Kabayan Restaurant, 4/5.

Kabayan Filipino Restaurant
Address: 304 Orchard Road, #03-25 Lucky Plaza, Singapore, 238863
Opening Hours: Daily: 9am – 9pm
Contact no.: 6738 0921
Website

Kamayan Pinoy

Kamayan Pinoy is a stall in the Asian Food Mall. It’s not an actual mall. It’s just the name of the food court in Lucky Plaza’s basement.

No prizes for guessing what we ordered, once again. It’s for fair comparison.

Right off the bat, the Sisig here is terrible. It’s pre-cooked and just scooped onto a plate upon order. There was no egg, chilli, lime or SIZZLE. The dish was chunky but extremely bland. Don’t order it.

Next, the Beef Kare-Kare here was a surprise. We were expecting a small bowl but it was a huge pan.

And the taste was even more surprising, maybe because our expectations were at a new low after tasting the Sisig, but the Beef Kare-Kare here was extremely tender and the gravy was smooth and mild, with a strong taste of peanut butter.

It was by far the best Kare-Kare we’ve had so far.

Overall, Ardhel rated the food at Kamayan Pinoy a 3.5/5 and Raymond gave it a 3/5. The salvation lies in their Beef Kare-Kare. It’s a must-try.

Kamayan Pinoy
Address: Lucky Plaza, Basement 2, Asian Food Mall, 304 Orchard Road, Singapore 238863

Overall Verdict

Singapore’s Filipino cuisine is pretty decent, with some establishments presenting dishes that makes filipinos feel at home.

If you’re looking for great Sisig, Kabayan Restaurant is your best bet, for just $6.50 a plate, it also comes with rice so you’re set for a filling lunch. Though we’ve heard of issues with freshness and consistency, it’s still one of the cheapest places offering filipino cuisine.

But if you’re with company and you’re craving Kare-Kare, Kamayan Pinoy serves up one of the best in Singapore.

But all in all, if you’re looking for great filipino food, Kabayan Restaurant is where you should go.

Also read 10 Budget-Friendly Karaoke Studios In S’pore From As Low As $1 For 2 Songs

(Header Image Source: DiscoverSG)

ZoukOut 2018 Returns This December For 1 Day Only – DVLM Among Headliners

Rally your squad and get ready for this year’s edition of ZoukOutSG!

After five years as a 2-day music festival, ZoukOut returns to Singapore this year as a 1-day festival.

Taking place on December 1 on the shores of Sentosa Siloso beach, this year’s event will feature a full-fledged festival site complete with a food village, custom installations, mind-blowing stage production as well as roving acts.

Are You Ready?

Headlined by the likes of Marshmello and DJ Snake last year, the ZoukOut 2018 line-up is set to be packed with a stellar and diverse line-up of international, regional and local acts across dance music genres.

Acclaimed DJ duo Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike also known as DVLM, will be making their Singapore debut. This will also be their only performance in Southeast Asia this year!

Known for their massive hits like “When I Grow Up” featuring Wiz Khalifa and “Tremor” with Martin Garrix, this duo can’t be missed. They were also awarded the second spot in DJ MAG’s 2017 Top 100 DJ list, arguably making them the biggest EDM duo in recent years.

https://www.facebook.com/ZoukOutOfficial/videos/1697669233660252/

Tickets for ZoukOut2018 will be sold in 3 phases.

Phase 1: Super Early Bird (6 July ONLY)

General Admission –  $98

*Only 300 tickets available. Exclusive for DBS Live Fresh cardmembers.

Phase 2: Early Bird (6 – 23 July)

General Admission – $128

*For DBS/POSB card members and Zouk members only

**First 100 tickets purchased with DBS LIVE FRESH cards receives Priority Entry access

Phase 3: Advanced (24 July – 14 Sept)

General Admission – $148

Bundle for 4 – $580

Standing VIP – $248

*10% discount for DBS/POSB card members (limited to first 500 tickets)

Regular (15 Sept – 30 Nov)

General Admission – $158

Bundle for 4 – $620

Standing VIP – $248

At The Door (1 Dec)

General Admission – $178

The limited super early bird tickets are now available on their site! Hurry and get your tickets to save yourselves some tears and regrets.

While no other details surrounding ZoukOut have been released, this year’s festival will be one partygoers definitely can’t miss!

In the mean time, here’s what went down at ZoukOut last year,

https://www.facebook.com/ZoukOutOfficial/videos/1734441353316373/?hc_ref=ARSGtWLOs5C7WR4xahimGG1FQY0lgtYHVcRn70ysCRpQ214SbWHgq2CvaN-3XOiZg3E&fref=nf

ZoukOut 2018
Date: 1 December 2018
Ticket Prices: From $98 – $178 (General Admission)
Website

Also Read All Aboard Asia’s Biggest Party At Sea – It’s The Ship 2018 Returns This November

(Header Image Source: ZoukOut Facebook)