Tag: Bedok

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)

Facebook

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

(Header Image Source: Discover SG)

Golden Village Cinema Is Bringing Movies Back To Bedok After 10 Years

While Bedok might be one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in Singapore, it’s strange that the area does not have a cinema of its own.

One would have to go to Eunos, Tampines or further to catch a movie. The last movie theatre that served Bedok residents, was the iconic Princess Theatre, which closed 10 years ago.

Today, Golden Village Multiplex, Singapore’ leading cinema exhibitor, has opened its doors at Bedok with a new 576-seater multiplex at DjitSun Mall Bedok.

It’s somewhat serendipitous for the new Golden Village Bedok multiplex to be standing where the Princess Theatre once stood. It’s almost as if the Princess Theatre is passing on the baton to Golden Village.

Bringing Movie Magic To Bedok

This new cineplex will house 6 screens and can seat up to 576 people.

That’s not all. In line with the opening, Golden Village is launching a NEW curry-flavoured gourmet popcorn. This new popcorn is exclusive to Golden Village Bedok and will only be available for the first 3 months after the opening.

Golden Village will also be introducing 3 other popcorn flavours to all its cinemas islandwide – Seaweed Wasabi, Caramel, and Cheese.

If you’re living in Bedok, dry your tears because you no longer have to head to another neighbourhood to catch a movie!

Golden Village Bedok
Address: 445 Bedok North Street 1, #04-01 DjitSun Mall Bedok, Singapore 469661
Contact no.: 6653 8100
Website

Also read This New Arcade Is Supposedly The Biggest In The East Side – Tokens Go For As Low As 16 Cents

(Header Image Source: Golden Village)

This Is Home Truly – S’porean Millennials On Growing Up In Local Neighbourhoods

We all grew up in Singapore. Right? Most of us. Well, after considering the concentration of Singaporeans to foreigners in the country, SOME of us grew up in Singapore.

But anyway, my point is we all grew up in a neighbourhood and have lots of memories tied to a certain area in Singapore.

Since my colleagues hail from different parts of Singapore, I decided to do a little investigation to find out where they grew up.

Bedok

Melissa

“I grew up in Bedok North, Fengshan. It was the quieter side of Bedok because the people living there were mainly elderly. Time moved slowly in the area, which made it very homely and cosy. This was before the trend of food bloggers hyping food in neighbourhoods.

You know how they have the ice cream uncles who would sell ice cream downstairs? Yeah, mine wasn’t an ice cream uncle. It was the kacang putih man.

I moved to Yew Tee in my early Primary years, but to be honest, Marine Parade was more exciting. Don’t put that in.”

Pasir Ris

Farhanah

“I grew up in Pasir Ris all my life. Though I shifted from Pasir Ris East to Pasir Ris West.

But I remember that the area was like a ghost town, because nothing was really developed yet. And the only mall we had at the time was White Sands Shopping Mall, that’s still around today.

There was also West Plaza and Elias Mall. Every outing with friends was always at Downtown East. This was before Downtown East expanded into e!Avenue today.

My Sports Days were a little more special because ours wasn’t conducted in-school, rather the school put up a huge tent and held Sports Day at Pasir Ris Park.

Also, I think every Pasir Ris kid will remember that we had our very own theme park in our neighbourhood. Yes, Escape Theme Park was ICONIC.

I liked that everyone living in Yishun had each other’s backs. The neighbourhood spirit was palpable. Can feel one. There was this sense of unspoken security in the neighbourhood. So actually no need to build wall because we already feel secure.

Even though Northpoint wasn’t much, it was great because it had Toys ‘R’ Us. For a kid, any place that had a Toys ‘R’ Us was a wonderland.

[caption id="attachment_35288" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Image Credit: SRX Property[/caption]

That’s not all, we were near Tuas, so factory smog and weird smells were common. Not to mention the presence of Tengah Air Base, which ensured that the 2 or 3 months leading up to National Day was filled with daily sonic booms of passing aircrafts.

I’m pretty sure my hearing is damaged thanks to the RSAF. Patriotism, I guess.

But to be honest, I grew to love Jurong West.

I love that the neighbourhood is quiet, even in the day. I love that we don’t have a huge amount of traffic passing through. I love that I don’t have to deal with crowd when I take the MRT, unlike Jurong East.

I guess there are benefits to living in the corner of Singapore after all.

Where did you grow up in Singapore?

Also read Bishan’s Carnival This Weekend Offers Food, FREE Workshops, And Black Panther Screening

(Header Image Source: Melissa Chan)

The Game Plan – Explore The Best Of Bedok Cafes With This Trail!

Ever wanted to Cafe Hop without going through the hassle of planning your route and researching on cafes? Those nightmares are officially a thing of the past with our Bedok Cafes Trail!

We’ve combined all the directions and must-try menu items from 4 of our favourite Bedok Cafes in this post. That’s right; all you need to do is grab a friend (or two) and embark on this extraordinary food adventure!

The Game Plan

Firstly, let’s take a look at the route. The map above illustrates the entire trail which covers all 4 Bedok Cafes, as highlighted in red by Google Maps. It starts and ends at Bedok MRT and Bedok Interchange which are side by side. The best part is that you’ll only need to take one bus (222) throughout the entire journey! How great is that?

First Stop: To-gather Cafe

Directions: Upon alighting from Bedok MRT, take exit A and board 222 at the bus stop. Get off at the 5th stop (Opp Blk 85).

We’re starting off with an east side favourite. To-gather Cafe is the perfect place to well, gather. Its gorgeous interior and spacious tables make for an ideal dining option for families and friends. To-gather is also celebrated for its pocket-friendly prices. All its mains (only excluding the Grilled Ribeye Steak- $17.90) don’t exceed a modest $12.90; certainly, a steal when it comes to cafe prices!

Cafe highlights

Be sure to try out their exotic Grilled Pandan Chicken Chop ($9.90) drizzled with Coconut and Pineapple Salsa. Also, don’t forget the crowd pleasers: Pork Cordon Bleu ($11.90) and To-Gather Breezers ($3.80) which come in Passionfruit, Strawberry and Green Apple. Lastly, the one must-try is definitely the highly-raved Matcha Lava Cake with Vanilla Gelato ($7.20). This warm and cold dessert also comes in a decadent chocolate flavour that will definitely leave you craving for more!

Second Stop: Milk and Honey

Directions: take a 5-minute walk from To-Gather to this cafe located just beside 85 Market!

There’s a saying that goes, “you’re never too full to have another helping of dessert”. This takes us to Milk and Honey, a cosy cafe loved for its flavourful gelato topped waffles. Seats are known to be virtually unattainable here which simply pays testimony to their quality desserts!

Cafe Highlights

We recommend their Quaffles Set which gives you a bit of everything and is ideal for sharing. A Buddy Meal Quaffles Set takes you back $14.50 and includes 2 scoops of creamy gelato, 1 quarrel (waffle!) and 1 lemonade. They even serve up savoury ice cream flavours for the bold and adventurous! In addition, Milk and Honey also makes Cakes which can be collected at their store with a pre-order. We personally recommend the divine Cookie Monster Gelato Cake ($68) pictured below!

Third Stop: Nakhon Kitchen

Directions: Go back to the bus stop you came from (Blk 85). Next, take 222 and alight at the 3rd stop (Bedok Ctrl Po). Finally, cross the road to Nakhon Kitchen.

Thirdly, we introduce Nakhon Kitchen. While we know this isn’t exactly a cafe, Nikon does serve up mouth-watering Thai dishes that capture beautifully in a flat lay. Its delicious cuisine and photogenic dishes definitely qualify in our Bedok food trail!

Cafe Highlights

We love their Tom Yum Soup ($6) which is served with either prawn, chicken or seafood in a clear or coconut milk base. Further, their Green Curry ($8) is the bomb dot com and the Stir-fried Kang Kong Belachan ($6) is as good as it gets. And, as with all Thai places, refresh yourself with a glass of Thai Iced Tea ($3)!

Last Stop: Percolate

Directions: Take a 1-minute walk to Percolate Cafe from Nakhon Kitchen.

Finally, let’s end the Cafe trail with a coffee and dessert place! Percolate is full of those chill vibes everyone looks for in a cafe. Its classy interior features lots of wooden panelling, robin-egg blue accents and even fairy lights. Group photos are therefore best taken in this picturesque cafe – preferably with a table of dainty desserts in front of your squad!

Cafe Highlights

Percolate Cafe serves up a plethora of drinks. You’ll be spoilt for choice with regulars like the Iced Black Coffee ($4.50) and the Hot Tea ($6 per pot). For a walk on the wild side, we’ll recommend the Mexican Sodas ($5) and Bananut Smoothie ($6.50). Furthermore, Percolate also serves up a varying selection of baked cakes and pastries every day to keep things fresh and unique!

Heading Home

Directions: Cross the road and board 222 at the bus stop you came from. The next stop will drop you off at Bedok Interchange which is right beside Bedok MRT.

To End it Off

In conclusion, while this trail doesn’t cover ALL the Bedok cafes, we’re convinced that the tasty food you’ll enjoy will leave you grinning from ear to ear. Happy Cafe-hopping, Cafe lovers!

Also, read Under $15 Best Food Places That Make Our Hearts Go Bedok Bedok!

Under $15 Best Food Places That Make Our Hearts Go Bedok Bedok!

Damn, Discover SG! Back at it again with the food lists!

Take our hands cos we’re taking you on a journey through Bedok, a residential heartland in the East filled with amazing food at very affordable prices. Known for several famous hawker stalls, Bedok has also seen a rise in cafes shooting up like beansprouts.

So instead of listless (pun intended) scrolling/swiping through random listicles, we’ve carefully curated the 10 places you should definitely check out in the area. Be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner, there is certainly no shortage of options! Thank us later.

1. Nakhon Kitchen

The Nakhon Kitchen chain and Thai food has been synonymous. You just can’t separate the two. Offering killer prices with consistently good authentic food, it’s hardly any wonder why there are long queues almost every day. The best part, no GST and service charge!

Nakhon Kitchen
Address: #01-166, 136 Bedok North Avenue 3, S 460136
Opening Hours: Daily: 12 – 3pm; 5.30pm – 10pm
Tel: 6245 5548

2. Syed Restaurant

Simpang Bedok is home to an entire stretch of halal restaurants, but none of them can beat Syed Restaurant for “best late-night prata”. Aside from crispy flatbreads, this eatery also serves a full slate of Indian-Muslim dishes. Open 24 hours, your supper cravings will not go unsatisfied.

Syed Restaurant
Address: 326 Bedok Road, S 469496
Opening Hours: Daily: 24 hours
Tel: 6242 5412

3. The Burning Oak

The Bedok Marketplace is a very “atas” hawker center, so there are no surprises here that the food would also get the same pharaonic treatment. Follow the aroma of searing meat to the Burning Oak, a rustic yet modern food joint serving charcoal grilled Yakitori. Mouth-wateringly delicious, you’ll never go back to Tori-Q again.

The Burning Oak
Address: #02-16, Bedok Marketplace, 348 Bedok Road, S 469560
Opening Hours:
Tue – Thurs: 12 – 1.30pm; 6pm – 9.30pm
Fri – Sun: 12 – 1.30pm; 6pm – 10pm
Contact: 9873 6093

4. Percolate

Unlike the many many slew of cafes here in our tiny island, Percolate’s menu is friendly. Wallet friendly, that is. Despite food items being relatively cheap, food quality isn’t compromised. An awesome place for a light chill brunch or to grab a quick hot Papa Pahelta!

Percolate
Address: #01-152, 136 Bedok North Avenue 3, S 460136
Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed – Fri: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Sat – Sun: 9am – 9.30pm
Tel: 8259 0316

5. Sarah’s The Pancake Café

Good news to the Muslim pancake-loving community, this is a halal pancake restaurant (wow!). Sarah’s is home to fluffy brown pancakes, tasty crepes, and delectable pastas. But what’s so special about this place? Well, cafe owner Alina spices up the menu with local flavours using ingredients such as Gula Melaka, Otah, and Red Bean Paste.

Sarah’s The Pancake Cafe
Address: #01-062, East Village, 430 Upper Changi Road, S 487048
Opening Hours:
Mon – Thurs: 11.15am – 10pm
Fri: 2.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat – Sun: 9am – 10.30pm
Tel: 9688 4163

6.To-gather Café

Don’t you just love it when cafes start springing up in our heartlands? As compared to the town area, rental prices are kept much lower at heartlands so cafes are able to charge lower prices (to the delight of foodies). Speaking of low prices, To-gather is a no GST (yes lah!) food joint serving foodgasmic Western delights and artisanal coffee. Hurray to penny pinchers!

To-gather Cafe
Address: #01-25/27, 84 Bedok North Street 4, S 460084
Opening Hours: Tues – Sun: 11am – 10pm
Tel: 6445 1011

7. Refuel Café

The last café in this list, Refuel boasts a casual vibe with plenty of natural sunlight for that perfect Instagram shot. I use ‘affordable’ a lot (hey, who can blame me when it’s true!), so I’ll change my tune by saying that the food menu is value-for-money. For a wholesome and hearty meal, look no further.

Must try: Full Tank ($13.90);

Refuel Cafe
Address: #01-3029, Blk 744 Bedok Reservoir Road, S 470744
Opening Hours: Mon, Wed – Sun: 11am – 10pm
Tel: 6448 0015

8. Pin Xiang Chicken Rice

It’s hard to miss this one, for this chicken rice stall generates a bustling long queue during lunch and dinner hours. The stall is true to its name (Pin Xiang means fragrant in Mandarin) with both the rice and chicken being extremely well prepared. I would consider this to be one of the best chicken rice stalls in Singapore.

Pin Xiang Chicken Rice
Address: #01-03, Blk 208B, Bedok Interchange Food Centre, New Upper Changi Road, S 460207
Opening Hours: Daily: 9am – 10pm

9. Xing Ji Rou Cuo Mian

The highlight of this humble list and one of my favourites of all-time, Xing Ji Bak Chor Mee is like seriously out of this world! The 30-45 minutes wait is well worth it. There’s only a soup version but the soup/broth is rich and immaculate. It outshines the meatballs and noodles by a mile. Tip: order more than 1 bowl.

Xing Ji Rou Cuo Mian
Address: #01-07, 85 Fengshan Food Centre, Blk 85 Bedok North Street 4, S 460085
Opening Hours: Mon – Wed, Fri – Sun: 2.30pm – 1.30am
Tel: 9835 7884

10. Inspirasi Stall

Inspirasi is a Muslim hawker stall that is well-known with Bedok residents. Here, you can find the legendary Soto Ayam dish, which according to word-of-mouth, is the best in Singapore. Despite winning many awards, prices are still kept low while the food remains scrupulously prepared. Inspirasi is truly inspiring (sorry, I had to).

Inspirasi Stall
Address: #01-11, Blk 207, Bedok Interchange Food Centre, New Upper Changi Road, S 460207
Opening Hours: Mon – Wed, Fri – Sun: 12pm – 12am
Tel: 6589 8494

Yup, that’s your heart going bedok bedok. With choices like these, is it any wonder?

Are there other eateries you think we should have included in the list? Let us know!

Also read: Here’s An Ingenious Way To Easily Save 10% Off Your Dining Bills