Tag: food series

Hai Di Lao Tips: Essential Hacks That Will Save You Time, Money, And More!

Hai Di Lao? Yes, you heard it. When it comes to this legendary hotpot establishment, tales abound. By now, you must have amassed your own encyclopaedia of “black market” Hai Di Lao tips to take your Hai Di Lao experience to greater heights.

To add to your plethora of knowledge, we have gone undercover and infiltrated the depths of the Hai Di Lao world, right down to unearthing their new outlet in VivoCity!

Today, we are proud to present our findings – Hai Di Lao tips that are 100% legit and guaranteed to work.

Queue-killing hack

To beat the queue, arrive very early… anytime before 5pm is fine. Preferably, call before you head down. Otherwise, you’ll be faced with a horrendous queue that’ll shock the living daylights out of you.

Anytime from 10 pm is good, as the dinner crowd would be gone by then and Hai Di Lao is open till 6 am.

To ensure that your table is ready by 10pm, call in early to take a queue number and let them know that you’ll arrive at 9pm.

If you come with wine or alcohol, Hai Di Lao will even open your bottle and serve it to you and your companions, free of charge!

Now, who’s up for a glass of spirits?

Mini pot hack

If you think germs and bacteria are creepy… or if your idea of fashion is a Hazmat suit, Hai Di Lao’s individual hot pots are perfect for you.

Credits: Credit: be the next Freddy Krueger try Hai Di Lao’s paper crane challenge.

[caption id="attachment_15563" align="aligncenter" width="1532"] Credits: wfenzz[/caption]

For every 30 paper cranes you fold, Hai Di Lao will reward you with a free $6 dish of your choice.

Fret not if you do not know how to fold these cranes, the staff will teach you how!

Health hack

Fats? *shudders* Coagulated fats? *fear intensifies* 

Congratulations, you have just discovered the hidden horror… and we’ll let you know how to overcome it. Not with a crucifix, but with your trusty ol’ ladle!

The longer you boil your soup, the more concentrated it becomes. This causes the soup to become loaded with nitrates, fats and excess protein.

[caption id="attachment_16186" align="aligncenter" width="1824"] Credit: butter believer[/caption]

That white film floating on the surface of your soup isn’t the trail left by the Loch Ness monster.

It’s actually coagulated fats, nitrates and protein, which is no good for you. So, ladles up, and scoop away the white stuff!

Redeemable manicure hack

Who would pass up the opportunity of a free manicure? Not me!

The good news is, Hai Di Lao’s renowned manicure services are redeemable. Should the long queue prevent you from getting your manicure before dining, all is not lost.

[caption id="attachment_16496" align="alignnone" width="640"]

credit: cdn-geo dayre[/caption]

Should you wish to celebrate your grandma’s birthday there, the restaurant also offers a free platter of longevity buns to senior citizens on their special day.

This is in addition to the small gift that Hai Di Lao will present to the birthday guest, and the birthday songs that they will croon in 3 different languages.

[caption id="attachment_16185" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] credit: c3.staticflickr[/caption]

Protect-your-phone hack

A cracked phone screen is the ultimate nightmare for every phone user. This is why Hai Di Lao offers free phone screen protectors to keep your phone screens shiny and spanking new.

[caption id="attachment_16198" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Credit: 1 Harbourfront Walk, #03-09, VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Telephone numbers: +65 6250 7557 (for reservations) +65 6250 7667 (for enquiries)
Opening hours: 10.30am – 6am

Header image credit: where to get Hai Di Lao soup base!

Korea Town In Singapore? Satisfy All Your Kimchi Cravings Near Beauty World MRT!

Do you know that there is a mini Korea Town near Beauty World MRT?

With Singapore Korean International School located in the vicinity, it is only understandable that there is a big Korean community in the area.

Nestled around Beauty World MRT (Downtown Line) are 6 Korean restaurants that will make your visit to this Korea town worth it!

1. Manbok BBQ & Seafood

Serving different varieties of meats, seafood and specially cooked Korean dishes, Manbok BBQ & Seafood whips up authentic Korean BBQ and Steamboat cuisine.

Enjoy BBQ-ing with the charcoal barbeque sets and indulge in a bottle of soju with a couple of friends at Manbok

You can also go easy with a set meal starting from just S$12. There’s an array of complimentary side dishes such as kimchi, rice cakes and pickles.

The majority of staff here is Korean, so it’ll be a proper Korean dining experience!

Manbok BBQ & Seafood
Address: 19 Cheong Chin Nam Rd
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 12pm – 1am; Sun: 12 – 11pm

2. Oven & Fried Chicken

KFC, KFC, we love you! No, we are not talking about Kentucky.

We are talking about crispy heavenly Korean Fried Chicken! Oven & Fried Chicken’s second outlet has opened in Beauty World.

If you need a KFC fix, this is the place to be!

Think non-greasy crispy fried chicken doused and seasoned in various appetising sauces such as Soy Sauce and Jambayala. Perfect for those who simply love licking sauces off their fingers!

Oven & Fried Chicken
Address: 16 Chun Tin Rd
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 12:00am; Fri – Sat: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 1:00am
Image Credit: Danielfooddiary[/caption]

Be sure to try their Dolsot Bibimbap (Hot Stone Rice) and Samgyetang (Ginseng chicken soup) to satisfy the inner Korean in you!

Three Meals a Day
Address: 12 Chun Tin Rd
Opening Hours: Tues – Sun: 12pm – 3:30pm, 6pm – 11pm; Closed on Mondays

4. Joo Mak Korean Restaurant

How do you know a Korean restaurant serves authentic Korean food?

Ask a Korean, of course.

Walk into Joo Mak and be greeted with the incessant chattering of Korean families, couples, and students.

Located at the fourth level of Beauty World Centre, Joo Mak is the natural choice for Koreans living in the neighbourhood

It is not hard to understand why once you have tried one of their Korean pancakes – crisp, golden-yellow, with a generous amount of leek and seafood, finished with a coating of egg.

Joo Mak Korean Restaurant
Address: 144 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, #04-01 Beauty World Centre
Opening Hours: Mon: 6pm – 10pm; Tues – Sun: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm

5. Nunsongyee

The Korean bingsu craze is a long way from being over – famed 24-hour bingsu branch Nunsongyee opened yet another outlet here at Beauty World.

Their menu of delectable shaved ice with a wide variety of toppings available is certainly here to stay.

There are two types of bingsu available – Snowflake bingsu ($12.90 – $15.90) and Premium bingsu ($18.90). Also, you can pick from an assortment of flavours including Oreo, Choco-banana, Cheesecake or Black Sesame and Coffee.

You are not truly a Korean food connoisseur if you have not tried one of their bingsu!

Nunsongyee
Address: 9 Yuk Tong Ave
Opening Hours: 24 hours daily
Image Credit: Javintham[/caption]

With unique flavours like Milk and Red Bean ($11), Tomato and Green Tea ($11), these shaved ice dessert is the perfect solution to cool off with.

Bing Go Jung Korean Dessert House
Address: 1 Jalan Anak Bukit, Bukitt Timah Plaza
Opening Hours: 10am – 11pm daily
Click here for their other outlets and contact details.

If these don’t excite you, we don’t know what will. Korean heaven is right here, near Beauty World MRT, so feast away!

Header image credit: Danielfooddiary, words by editor.

Also, read Korean Food ‘Seoul’ Good That You’ll Visit All Day Every Day! Here Are The Best 8 Spots!

6 DIE DIE Must Visit Stalls For Lovers Of Seafood White Bee Hoon!

The seafood white bee hoon buzz is one of the latest food craze in our sunny island.

This unassuming tze-char dish has been around for ages in Singapore, with no one paying so much attention to it until now.

With so many wannabes in the market riding on the wave of the craze, it’s rare to come by stalls that genuinely know their stuff.

Here are some of the places we recommend for a good plate of our favourite local seafood white bee hoon!

1. Woon Woon Pek Beehoon

This small hawker stall at Changi Village Hawker Centre brings in long lines of customers every week.

Their speciality is the seafood that goes with its bee hoon. Choose from a top-up of fish, crab, prawn, crayfish or mussels. If you’re feeling hungry (or are in a group), you can try the seafood platter ($30 or $40).

Woon Woon Pek Bee Hoon
Address: Blk 2, Changi Village Road #01-52, Singapore 500002

2. East Seafood White Beehoon

Led by a chef with 30 years of culinary experience, East Seafood hawker chain prides itself on offering affordable seafood white bee hoon amidst rising seafood prices.

Image: facebook.com/eastseafood

With three hawker branches located in Toa Payoh, Hougang (Ciyuan CC) and Ang Mo Kio, they also offer great seafood add-ons with their bee hoon (crayfish, lala and crabs).

East Seafood White Bee Hoon
Address:
Blk 210 Toa Payoh Lorong 8, #01-06, Singapore 310210
Blk 407 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 #01-733, Singapore 560407
No.51 Hougang Ave Ci Yuan Hawker Centre, Singapore 538776

3. Jia Wei White Beehoon

Quietly tucked away in an HDB coffee shop in Jalan Bukit Merah (near ABC Brickworks hawker centre), Jia Wei brings a homey taste to its tze char specials.

Image: uncletehpeng.com

White Restaurant The Original White Beehoon is one of the pioneers of the famous Sembawang White Bee Hoon. Their version is dressed in thick sauce and copious ingredients (eggs, sotong, chai sim, and prawns – yum!). Beware of the long queues on the weekends!

White Restaurant The Original White Beehoon
Address: 22 Jalan Tampang (Opp Sembawang Shopping Centre) Singapore 758966

5. Hualong Fishhead Steamboat

Though not seafood white bee hoon specialists, Hualong manages to differentiate its rendition of the dish by making it drier than usual.

The seafood white bee hoon is served on an opeh leave, and topped with sliced cabbage, fried garlic and lime for flavour.

Complete your meal with one of their delicious dishes, such as fish maw soup, fried sotong and fuyong omelette.

Hua Long Fishhead Steamboat
Address: Block 347, #01-2142 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, Singapore 560347

6. Hong Yun Seafood

One of the more successful coffee shop stalls in Toa Payoh, Hong Yun is known for the crispy – and huge – pork lard that they generously scatter across several of their dishes. Same goes for their seafood white bee hoon dish!

Image: uniquelious.blogspot.sg

While you’re there, try out their sambal kangkong and potato leaves – shiok!

Hong Yun Seafood
Address: Block 124, Toa Payoh Lor 1, #01-459 Singapore 310124

What is it about seafood white bee hoon that keeps drawing customers – new and old – week after week?

Could it the salty rice noodles that make up the core of the dish? Is it the prawns and sotong that accompanies it? Or could it be the fragrant, hot gravy that tops it all off?

It’s pointless to think too much into it – just join the queue this weekend and find out!

Also, read Wanna Share? 7 Steakhouses With Portions So Huge, You Need To Call Your Entire Squad!

Wanna Share? 7 Steakhouses With Portions So Huge, You Need To Call Your Entire Squad!

Who can resist a good steak? Be it Wagyu or Angus, a seared chunk of peppered beef never fails to tickle our taste buds.

But not all of us are built to chow down 300g-portions effortlessly. For the light eaters, sharing a meal with friends is the perfect solution! Here are 7 steakhouses that offer some of the most generous sharing portions you can find in Singapore!

1. Morton’s The Steakhouse

Start off your steakhunt with one of the more atas spots: at Mandarin Oriental Hotel!

Swanky international restaurant Morton’s maintains its name by using the highest quality, US Department of Agriculture-designated ‘prime’ steak.

Image: pinkypiggu.com

We recommend the Double Porterhouse Steak (1.3kg at $250++), which can serve around four to five pax! If you’re still craving for more, get a ribeye (460g at $102) to share between two to three peeps.

Morton’s The Steakhouse
Address: 5 Raffles Avenue, Fourth Storey, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, Singapore 039797
Tel: 6339 3740

2. Badoque Café

Nothing beats a food joint with friendly service!

Not only does Badoque Café have warm and approachable service staff, but they also whip up a really good steak too.

Image: thehalalfoodblog.com

Feast like royalty with their “King & Queen” promotion, which unites 1.2kg worth of ribeye with a 1.3kg king crab for $298. The set also comes with two starters (blue oyster and Greek salad), four soups and four drinks. This serves about five to six pax!

Badoque Café
Address: 246 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574370
Tel: 6552 1646

3. iSTEAKS Diner

This grill-specialist has gathered a sizable fan following since its conception as a humble hawker stall in Serangoon Gardens years ago.

Having evolved into a modern diner, the long queues at both its current branches at MyVillage (Serangoon) and Holland Village are no doubt due to the superb and affordable grilled meats that iSTEAKS whips up.

Share a 1.2kg Australian Wagyu D-Rump amongst four pax at $85 (includes four complementary sides), or a 600g Australian Porterhouse T-bone for $49. They make fantastic burgers too! Yummeh!

iSTEAKS Diner
Address: MyVillage, 1 Maju Ave, Singapore 556679
Tel: 6285 8839

4. Bedrock Bar & Grill

Think chic dark wood, plush leather and dim lights on a hot date night. We like!

Tucked in the middle of Somerset Road, Bedrock Bar & Grill was named Singapore’s top restaurant in 2015 by Wine & Dine.

Image: facebook.com/BedrockBarAndGrill

The must-try F1 Tomahawk Steak serves up to three persons at 1.4kg (market price), while the double cut dry-aged Porterhouse feeds two (1kg at $180).

Complete your meal with a side of bedrock mac n’ cheese. Ooh. La. La.

Bedrock Bar & Grill
Address: 96 Somerset Road, #01-05 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard, Singapore 238163
Tel: 6238 0054

5. Pepper Steakhouse & Bistro

When all else in life fails us, we need a no-frills, value-for-money diner we can fall back on.

Look no further than Pepper Steakhouse & Bistro! The Australian Tomahawk is available here with an 800g option at $98, that comes with crushed green peppercorn and feeds around two pax.

Image: peppersteak.com.sg

Light-eating duos can try the 500g Chateaubriand tenderloin fillet at $74 (each sharing option also comes with thick-cut fries, sautéed spinach and a sauce of your choice). Apart from the meats, Pepper also offers an affordable lunch special that comes with five main-course items (at $15-18 each) and a buffet for salads and soups!

Pepper Steakhouse & Bistro
Address: Great World City, #01-66/67, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Singapore 237994
Tel: 6887 3229

6. Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse

Italian restaurants don’t just serve pasta and meatballs okay!

Bistecca Tuscan is one of the best fine-dining steakhouses in Singapore, using only organic-fed Australian F1 Wagyu for their steaks (with an impressive marbling score of 6+). Their Florentine-style cooking method produces steaks with juicy cores and charred crusts.

Image: facebook.com/BisteccaTuscanSteakhouse

Dig into a sumptuous 1.1kg Bistecca alla Fiorentina T-bone or Bistecca alla Costata ribeye ($188++ each) with one or two other friends. Don’t forget to take a wefie in the breezy al fresco area.

Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse
Address: 25 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238969
Tel: 6735 6739

7. Cocotte

Nestled on the ground floor of the quaint Wanderlust hotel along Jalan Besar is the snug French restaurant-bar Cocette.

They serve up family-esque rustic French cuisine inspired by homemade meals enjoyed by the entire kampong (or the French-countryside equivalent).

Image: facebook.com/restaurantcocotte

Order a Tasmanian grass-fed Prime rib Côte de Boeuf to share in a group ($18++ per 100g), or the Truffle Wagyu for one (250g at $69++).

Still got space? Top your meal off with a helping of mussels and clams (350-400g at $35).

Cocotte
Address: 2 Dickson Road, Singapore 209494
Tel: 6298 1188

Steaks come from different sources, in various cuts, and the taste varies based on individual cooking styles.

Depending on the number of people you are eating with (and how much you can eat) you should try out different types of steak, as they all have unique experiences to offer.

If the quantitiy is too much for you, it’s okay! You can always share with your friends! Bon appetite!

Also, read We Hopped On The Makan Bus And Didn’t Wanna Get Off – Here’s Why!

We Hopped On The Makan Bus And Didn’t Wanna Get Off – Here’s Why!

Yup. Finally the first one-of-its-kind hop-on-hop-off Makan Bus tour has arrived in Singapore. Don’t dismiss this food tour as a tourist thingy yet. Otherwise, you are missing out on fun even locals can enjoy!

We all know Singapore is a food paradise, but the best local food are usually not near MRTs or in town.

Makan Bus

It can be pretty hard to enjoy good food if you don’t have a car. With the launch of the Makan Bus on 26 August 2016, reaching out to these great local food is now so much more convenient for everyone.

Recently, I was fortunate to be invited for a free MakanBus tour. Getting on the tour meant I had the opportunity to taste some of the highly acclaimed local food along the 10 specially-curated stops.

What I did not know was it is more than a mere foodie bus bringing us from the central to northern heartlands in Singapore.

Our Makan Bus Journey

We received a warm welcome from the guide upon boarding the cheery yellow bus at Orchard Gateway. After an introduction, we set off!

Besides recommending good eats near each stop, he would share insights of noteworthy buildings throughout the journey too.

Interesting history that we never knew about our sunny island

We thought we knew Singapore so well since we grew up here.

But we did not know that the Burma Chinese settled in Singapore as early as the 19th century!

In fact, I highly recommend you to alight at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial stop, where the Sun Yat Sen Memorial and Burmese Buddhist Temple are.

In the main worship hall of the Maha Sasana Ramsi (Burmese Buddhist Temple) sits the majestic 11-foot marble Buddha statue. This religious landmark is the only Burmese Buddhist temple of its kind in Singapore.

The statue was carved from a 10-tonne slab of marble found in Burma’s Saygin Hill and transported here in 1925.

Bond with your family over nostalgic hawker food settings

The 10 stops on the tour will bring you through buzzing town areas to the old shophouses in Balestier and Thomson, and finally into the HDB heartlands.

This is a specially curated route to showcase the evolution and development of Singapore over the past 51 years.

Bring your whole family, including your parents onboard, so they can reminisce about the good old days.

They will certainly be able to resonate with traditional eateries such as Boon Tong Kee and Original Herbal Shop at Balestier, and Hua Nam Restaurant at Thomson.

Image Credit: Makan Bus

It’s easier to strike conversations as you enjoy the food and nostalgic ambience with your family.

Who knows if these used to be their favourite haunts during their “paktor” days!

Discover yummy novel hawker food delights

While it’s obvious Makan Bus will bring you to yummy food places, you may be surprised at hidden gems within the heartlands.

Ang Mo Kio was the place I grew up in, and I thought I knew everything there. But I did not even know that there is a hawker stall selling sedap Mee Rebus Tarik for over 2 decades!

In case you are wondering, Mee Rebus Tarik is not prepared by simply “pulling” the noodles as the Malay word “tarik” implies.

Instead, the mee rebus is laden with satay gravy and served together with either chicken or mutton satay. Such an innovative twist to the signature mee rebus!

I have tasted different versions of our favourite Indian roti prata, with egg, cheese etc for enhanced flavour.

However, it was my first time trying out some Roti Tissue along Upper Thomson Road. The prata looked like an interesting thin piece of tissue (hence its name) as seen in the image above. This is a sweet crispy prata seasoned with sugar.

Hop on and off the bus whenever you wish, wherever you fancy

There is no limit to the number of times you can hop on and off the Makan Bus.

Your $28 ticket is valid throughout the day when the bus runs from 11am to 7.30pm.

Indeed, there were times when we were engaged in such interesting conversations with the guide that we missed alighting at the designated stop.

Just continue on the looped journey and alight where you wish to tuck into the good food in the desired area.

Furthermore, you do not need to alight if you don’t find anything you fancy. Unlike other expensive food tours where you don’t get to choose the food, this is a truly flexible tour!

Makan Bus definitely changes the way we can explore the hidden food joints and other untold stories of Singapore.

Bring your foreign friends on the Makan Bus tour and introduce them to life in the heartlands.

After all, this is a uniquely Singapore experience that they will not find at the usual tourist attractions. Besides, it is definitely more economical if you are travelling together in a group of 5 or more. Check out more details of this one-of-a-kind experience at Makan Bus!

(Featured image: Makan Bus)

Also, read 9 New Desserts So Wacky, You Need To Try Them At Least Once!

9 New Desserts So Wacky, You Need To Try Them At Least Once!

Desserts are sinful because they pile excess calories on you and make you fat. Hence, you’ve been trying to shun these sweet “harmful” delights because you seriously need to diet.

But wait, desserts is STRESSED spelled backwards. With so much stress everyday, surely you need some relief from it all? After all, a bite into your favourite dessert will make you happy.

Check out these top 9 best new desserts that are not only very instagrammable, but also amazingly delish. They’re so incredibly tempting, you just have to shelf your diet plans till you try them all!

TOWN/ CENTRAL

1. Matchaya

Singaporeans love Japanese matcha and hence, the number of matcha-themed cafes proliferate. Operating as a pop-up concept store previously, Matchaya now occupies an oh-so-Japanese wooden shopfront at Icon Village.

Riding on the success of their matcha and houjicha milk teas, Matchaya has recently introduced the uber-pretty Cha Cha Pop to its desserts menu. This Magnum lookalike popiscle is first dipped in black honey and houjicha feuilletine, followed by a matcha dip topped with toasted sesame. Every bite of the popiscle is not just crunchy, but also heavenly!

Matchaya
Address: 12 Gopeng Street #01-72 Icon Village
Open: 9 am to 9 pm (Mon to Fri); 10 am to 7 pm (Sat to Sun)
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/matchayasg

2. Niceday Taiwan Snow & Grass Jelly Desserts

No, I’m not recommending you any Korean Bingsu. I know you’ve seen enough of the Kimchi-Land dessert.

This lovely Purple Sweet Potato Milky Snow Mountain is the proud creation of Niceday Taiwan Snow & Grass Jelly Desserts. The base is made using silky smooth grass jelly all the way from Taiwan, covered with a mountain of fluffy ice shavings and chewy balls.

Imagine yourself in Taipei as you enjoy the pleasant bowl of dessert. Notice a small bowl of Taro Q mix and mochi balls in a separate bowl? Add in the balls to your dessert when you wish, otherwise the balls may become stiff in the icy bowl if they are put together.

So thoughtful of the owner to make sure the dessert is served in the best condition!

Niceday Taiwan Snow & Grass Jelly Desserts
Address: 302 Tiong Bahru Road #02-111A Tiong Bahru Plaza (Food Street)
Open: 11 am to 10.30 pm
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/NicedayDessert/

3. Sugar Lips

Sugar Lips the latest addition to the myriad of dessert cafes in Singapore. In fact, they are currently in their soft launch opening week 1-for-1 promotion from 9 to 16 September.

Enjoy the visual feast of the gorgeous dessert platters, and sink your teeth into sweet favourites such as Rainbow Fantasy and Chocolate Seduction Truffle Cake. Life’s short, so eat dessert first and enjoy. 🙂

Sugar Lips
Address: 277 Orchard Road #02-01, Orchard Gateway
Open: 11 am to 10 pm
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/eatsugarlips

4. Meet & Melt

*NEW* Curry Lava Toast

*NEW* Mentaiko Lava Toast

Who says desserts can only be sweet? Visit Meet & Melt and you will be delighted to find novel savoury creations of their toasts. Previously located in ulu Tampines, they have just opened a second outlet near Somerset MRT at *SCAPE.

To celebrate their new outlet opening, the folks at Meet & Melt have introduced 2 new desserts – the Curry Lava Toast, as well as the Mentaiko Lava Toast!

Singaporeans love their curry with bread, and the Curry Lava Toast is an amazingly yummy delight you can eat anytime of the day. The Mentaiko Lava Toast is another remarkable creation that not only smells delicious, but also tastes great with the Sea Salt Gula Melaka ice cream. We wonder why no one thought about such divine concoctions earlier!

Meet & Melt
Address: 2 Orchard Link #02-33/34, *SCAPE; Blk 915 Tampines St 91 #01-49
Open: 1 pm to 10 pm (*SCAPE outlet); 2 pm to 10 pm (Tampines outlet)
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/meetandmelt

5. Epicurious Cafe

First it was rainbow cake making the Insta-rounds. Then earlier in the year, videos of rainbow-coloured cheeses stretching in various postures went viral, thanks to Kala Toast in Hong Kong. And now, our own Epicurious Cafe has also created the first Rainbow Cheese Toastie in Singapore.

The rainbow is made up of 5 different colours and flavours: Pink (beetroot), Orange (carrot), Green (Spinach), Blue (potato and garlic with butterfly pea) and Violet (eggplant and red cabbage).

Great to know that it’s made using natural ingredients and minimal colouring. At least we can eat this appealing cheese toastie at ease! Have fun stretching your rainbow for the best shots before you tuck in to the crispy and buttery toast!

Epicurious Cafe
Address: 81 Clemenceau Ave #01-13 UE Square Shopping Mall
Open: Lunch – 11.30 am to 2.30 pm (Tue to Fri), Dinner – 6 pm to 10 pm (Tue to Sun), Brunch – 9 am to 5 pm (Weekend/ Public Holiday)
Official website: 

Located in a shop unit of the first floor in the old commercial Sultan Plaza building, The Pound‘s classier decor makes it stand out from the rest of the shops. The Pound is a small cafe specializing in premium Dutch Iced Coffees and homemade cakes. Unlike other Korean-owned cafes, they do not sell the Korean Bingsu.

What you will find here is roll cakes that look so delicately tasteful. Leave some stomach space after a satisfying kopitiam meal nearby for their Earl Grey Roll Cake. Light with a chiffon-like texture, the earl grey flavour was subtle and a perfect dessert for a complete meal.

The Pound
Address: 100 Jalan Sultan, #01-17B Sultan Plaza
Open: 9.30 am to 6.30 pm (Mon to Sat)

HEARTLANDS

7. Birds Of Paradise Gelato Boutique

Located opposite the Roxy Square, Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique is a sleek and tastefully furbished boutique in a restored shophouse along East Coast Road. The unique point of Birds Of Paradise lies in its 9 gelato flavours inspired by botanical flavours.

Think fruits, flowers, pods, herbs, and spices. Instead of your usual chocolate and strawberry flavours, get the garden taste on their special homemade thyme ice cream cones! Exquisite flavours include Basil, Lychee Raspberry, Spiced Pear, Mint Cacao, Strawberry Basil, Pandan and White Chrysanthemum.

Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique
Address: 63 East Coast Road #01-05
Open: 4.30 pm to 10 pm (Tue to Fri), 12 pm to 10 pm (Sat to Sun)
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/bopgelato/

8. KOOKS Creamery

KOOKS Creamery is not just your ordinary ice cream cafe in the heartlands. They specialise in molten lava cookies (or KOOKS as the folks call them) and ice cream.

KOOKS may be just a small cosy 20-seater cafe, but they whip up a total of 18 ice cream flavours. Some of the unique flavours include Lemon Curd, Milk Cereal, Nougat and Brown Butter.

Top the smooth and creamy ice cream on the thin yet crispy lava cookie, and ta-da! Here’s your oozing sweet Molten Lava Kooks treat!

KOOKS Creamery
Address: 211 Serangoon Ave 4 #01-02
Open: 12 pm to 10 pm (Tue to Thu, Sun), 12 pm to 11 pm (Fri to Sat)
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/kookscreamery/

9. The Workbench Bistro

*NEW* Red & Blue Velvet S’morffles

*NEW* Purple Japanese Sweet Potato Waffles

Located in a quiet part of Ang Mo Kio at least 10 minutes’ walk away from the MRT, The Workbench Bistro (TWB) is an unassuming neighbourhood cafe that has recently gone through a menu overhaul. Its latest original dessert creation – the Blue & Red Velvet S’moreffles seems to be flooding all the Instagram feeds.

In case you still do not know what s’moreffles is, it’s actually s’mores baked in waffles. How cool and sinful is that?! Sandwiched between two quarters of the crisp waffles are melted fluffy marshallows, drizzled with graham cracker crumbs within the waffles. Topped with big scoop of ice cream and generous chocolate sauce, this insanely awesome dessert is worth every penny and calorie!

As if the Blue & Red Velvet S’moreffles isn’t sinful enough, TWB has also introduced another irresistible dessert to their menu – the Purple Japanese Sweet Potato Waffles.

This pretty waffles is made using fresh purple sweet potato with no additional colourings. Savour the sweet potato bits in this yummy waffles drizzled with homemade Gula Melaka sauce and topped with ice cream. Don’t count the carbs, just enjoy first!

The Workbench Bistro
Address: Blk 332 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 #01-1881
Open: 12 pm to 10 pm (Mon to Thu), 12 pm to 11 pm (Fri), 10 am to 11 pm (Sat) and 10 am to 10 pm (Sun)
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/theworkbenchbistro/

Don’t you agree these 9 new dessert creations are so tempting and irresistible? Not only do they look wonderful on the pictures, they are also incredibly palatable!

Don’t just drool over your phone, iPad or laptop. Make a move to these cool cafes right now to taste the real stuff. You can always resume your diet plan after you have try them all!

Also, read K.F Seetoh Is Bringing Singaporean Favourites To A Brand New Destination – Manila!

Header image credit: Danielfooddiary.com

16 Insanely Awesome Eats In Yishun That You’ll Brave The MRT Red Line For

Yishun is probably not one of the first few places we’ll think of when we wanna look for great yummy food in Singapore. But don’t dismiss this new town up north quickly as a pathetic and boring place for foodies yet.

Let the hidden yummy food in Yishun make you relook at this suburban neighbourhood. Read on to discover the top 16 yummylicious all time best eats and new eats so good, you wish you could have them now!

All Time Best Eats

1. Hojiak Black & White Rojak

As the name of this stall implies, they sell real “ho-jiak” (“delicious” in Hokkien) rojak, a popular local delight.

Hojiak Black & White Rojak has been faithfully serving the palatable delight to residents around Khatib MRT for a long time. While it has moved from one coffee shop to another within the same neighbourhood, it is always strategically located next to the drinks stall.

Rojak served with the black shrimp paste (“hae ko”) is considered a sinfully unhealthy food. But who can resist the plate of crisp tofu and dough fritters, with crunchy cucumber and turnip slices drizzled with lots of diced peanuts? I can’t!

If you prefer a healthier version, try the white rojak which is served with sour plum sauce, a refreshing tangy taste that is equally yummy too!

Hojiak Black & White Rojak
Address: Blk 846 Yishun Ring Road
Open: 1.30 pm till sold out
Price: From $3

2. Yishun 925 Hainanese Chicken Rice

Shami Banana Leaf Delights is a popular Indian food stall that started operations at Northpoint Shopping Centre food court since 1993. There were crazy queues in front of the stall during meal times back in the good old days.

Their signature dish has to be the nasi briyani set that comes with flavourful meat served on fluffy briyani rice. With the expansion of 2 outlets at Food Republic Causeway Point and Sembawang Road, it’s now more convenient to get your briyani fix!

Shami Banana Leaf Delights
Address:
Northpoint Shopping Centre, 930 Yishun Ave 2 #B2-10;
349 Sembawang Road;
Causeway Point, 1 Woodlands Square #04-01
Open: 10 am to 10 pm (Northpoint & Causeway Point); 7 am to 10 pm (Sembawang Road)
Price: $7 for the chicken briyani set

4. Chuan Kee Braised Duck Rice

Enough of chicken, folks in Yishun love duck meat too! And so, we love Chuan Kee Braised Duck Rice in Chong Pang Food Centre. The boneless braised duck meat here comes in a generous serving doused with thick dark gravy, accompanied by slices of soft braised tofu and flavourful peanuts.

No wonder there is always a queue at the stall!

Chuan Kee Braised Duck Rice
Address: Chong Pang Food Centre, 105 Yishun Ring Road, #01-159
Open: Tue to Sun 10 am to 8 pm
Price: From $3

5. 928 Yishun Laksa

Yet another perennial favourite of the northlanders, Chong Pang Nasi Lemak started as a humble stall in the Chong Pang Village Hawker Centre in 1973. Over the years, it has gained such a huge following with its freshly cooked dishes that it has since relocated to a coffee shop along Sembawang Road to cater to a larger crowd.

The coconut rice is aromatic but not overpowering. Popular dishes include the specially marinated chicken wings fried to perfection, spicy long beans and sambal brinjal. For a really satisfying meal with a kick, don’t forget to add their signature chilli sauce!

Chong Pang Nasi Lemak
Address: 447 Sembawang Road
Open: 5 pm to 7 am the following day
Price: varies based on the dishes you order
Official website:  Image Credit: Johor Kaki[/caption]

Also found in Chong Pang Food Centre, Xiang Xiang Fishball Noodles is one of my favourite comfort food. This is a familiar name to many of those who grew up in the old kampung days in Nee Soon.

As one of the rare hawker stalls that still serves food to your table, Xiang Xiang’s fishballs are big and springy, made with fresh yellowtail fish or ikan parang. Try the dry spicy version for a savoury bowl of noodles tossed with a generous mix of lard, chilli paste and soy sauce. The accompanying soup is lightly flavoured with “chye poh” (preserved turnip) which adds to the fragrance!

Xiang Xiang Fishball Noodles
Address: Chong Pang Food Centre, 105 Yishun Ring Road, #01-177
Open: Tue to Sun 6 am to 4 pm
Price: $3 (small), $3.50 (big)

8. 618 Sim Carrot Cake

Nestled within the quiet Nee Soon South district at Fujo Eating House, 618 Sim Carrot Cake is the place to satisfy your cravings early in the morning! Located about 10 min away from Khatib MRT station, count your lucky stars if you manage to tuck into a yummy plate of fried radish cake mixed with a plentiful amount of “chye poh”.

On weekdays till 9.30 am, you can ask for either black (fried in dark sweet sauce) or white carrot cake. However, only the white carrot cake is available on weekends. Be prepared to wait around 10 minutes or so on weekdays, and up to 30 minutes on weekends!

618 Sim Carrot Cake
Address: Fujo Eating House, Blk 618 Yishun Ring Road #01-3230
Open: Wed to Sun 6.30 am to 3 pm. Closed on Tue
Price: From $2.80

9. Heng Hua Restaurant

Do you know that there is a Heng Hua Restaurant tucked in a quiet corner of Yishun, serving heartwarming Fujian Henghua cuisine? It is a homely zi-char style eating house serving a variety of authentic dishes at reasonable prices. Classic dishes include the Heng Hua Style Lor Mee and Fried Bee Hoon. Who needs Putien when we have such a nice cosy eatery in Yishun?

Heng Hua Restaurant
Address: Blk 748 Yishun Street 72 #01-212
Open: 11 am to 11 pm
Price: From $4.50

10. Bei Sheng Taste of Thailand Restaurant

For a taste of Thailand, Yishun residents can find comfort at Bei Sheng Taste of Thailand Restaurant in Chong Pang City. Tuck into your favourite zi-char dishes with Thai influence. A must-have at this restaurant is the Tom Yam Soup, with plenty of seafood cooked in the aromatic broth. As its name implies, enjoy a variety of fresh and yummy seafood here, such as the signature Thai Deep Fried Fish Delight.

There’s also another outlet, Taste of Thailand, run by the same family, at 1001 Yishun Industrial Park A.

Bei Sheng Taste of Thailand Restaurant
Address: Blk 701A Yishun Ave 5 #01-01, 1001 Yishun Industrial Park A, 18 Sin Ming Lane (new outlet)
Open: 11.30 am to 2 pm (lunch) and 5.30 pm to 10 pm (dinner)
Price: From $4

11. Zi Zai Vegetarian

Vegetarians in Yishun are not left out. Zi Zai Vegetarian is a popular vegetarian eatery in the community. With a myriad of vegetarian dishes available, you’ll never be done trying them all! Must-try dishes include the signature crispy yam ring filled with lots of yam, cereal vegetarian prawns and claypot tofu. If you think vegetarian food is boring, you haven’t been to Zi Zai Vegetarian!

Zi Zai Vegetarian
Address: 236 Yishun Ring Rd #01-1000
Open: 7.30 am to 9.30 pm
Price: From $3

12. Jing Ma Che (H.K) Roasted Porridge Noodle House

Jin Ma Che (H.K) Roasted Porridge Noodle House is another mean foodie place where you can satisfy your craving for roast meat delights. Strategically located opposite Chong Pang Camp, be prepared to fight with army personnel for your steaming plate of fragrant rice topped with thick cuts of roasted meat.

What sets this apart from other roast meat stalls in Yishun is its rich and flavourful sauce. Their porridge, only available on weekend mornings, is worth the wait too. Try some yourself and you will know what I mean!

Jin Ma Che (H.K) Roasted Porridge Noodle House
Address: 101 Yishun Ave 5
Open: 7.30 am to 8.00 pm
Price: From $4

New Eats

13. The French Table

Yishun not only has yummy hawker delights to boast of, we are also able to savour cool French cuisine at The French Table. Sink your teeth into traditional French dishes like their signature Duck Confit, and Roasted Chicken. The best part of the deal, this casual dining restaurant is wallet friendly!

The French Table
Address: Northpoint Shopping Centre, 930 Yishun Ave 2 #01-44
Open: 10.30 am to 10.30 pm
Official website:  Credit: Image Credit: The Moose[/caption]

Coba Coba is a retro-looking cafe tucked in a quiet corner of a HDB block that serves traditional Nasi Padang. Tuck into favourite dishes such as Terung and Sayur Lodeh that taste just like homecooked food. No worries about the meal burning a big hole in your pocket though. A great meal with drink costs less than $10 in such a cosy ambience!

We recommend choosing your own sides as compared to ordering the Nasi Ambeng.

Coba Coba
Address: 156 Yishun Street 11 #01-106
Open: 7.00 am to 9.00 pm
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/cobacobasg/

16. Nakhon Kitchen

Nakhon Kitchen is a popular casual Thai eatery that started in the Kovan neighbourhood. Since last year, Yishun residents need not travel all the way to northeast Singapore just for a taste of authentic Thai food at wallet-friendly prices. Hooray!

Satisfy your Thai cravings with Nakhon’s affordable and quality eats. Best part of the deal? No GST and service charge to be paid here!

Nakhon Kitchen
Address: 233 Yishun Street 21 #01-03
Open: 12.00 pm to 3.00 pm (Lunch); 5.30 pm to 10.00 pm (Dinner). Closed on Wednesdays.

Instead of drooling over mouth-watering images of these yummylicious Yishun eats, make a move up north! Don’t just envy us northlanders. Discover these best food yourself for a satisfying culinary experience. Enjoy 🙂

Also, read 7 Insanely Cool Places To Chill At In Yishun That You’ve Not Heard Of

[NEW] A Poke Theory Serves Up Poke Bowls That Do Not Disappoint!

New kids on the block, A Poke Theory, strongly believes that healthy food does not equate to tasteless food. Sibling duo, Joey and Vannessa, have always dreamt of starting a business together. Therefore, as foodies themselves, opening a fast food-first concept was undoubtedly the perfect plan.

A Poke Theory

Situated right in the heart of the CBD, A Poke Theory was born out of Joey’s love for roasts, and Vannessa’s passion for wholesome grub. Take a peek into their personal Instagram accounts. You’ll notice the stark difference in food preferences. Joey (@buttergoggles) lives for meat. While Vannessa (@feedvannessa) swears by fruits, vegetables, and smoothie bowls.

However, everything converges nicely to create food that is healthy without compromising on taste or ingredients.

What are poke bowls?

Poke bowls originated in Hawaii. They were once served as snacks for the fishermen who seasoned and ate the cut-offs from their catch while out at sea. Poke bowls can be closely compared to the Japanese chirashi don, where fresh sashimi is served on top of a bed of sushi rice.

The concept

At A Poke Theory, the choice is yours.

1. Start by picking a base that best suits your dietary requirements – signature sushi rice, jasmine brown rice, lemon herb quinoa, or romaine lettuce.
2. Then, choose your star of the show – salmon or tuna, with either spicy or non-spicy options.
3. Complimentary toppings include Japanese cucumber, cherry tomato, pineapple, shredded carrot, edamame, tobiko, furikake and nori flakes.
4. It’s the premium toppings that shake things up in your poke bowl. Premium toppings include Barbequed corn, lime avocado, kale chips, crispy salmon skin and roasted honey and spice cashews. If you’re lucky, you might even catch Joey’s signature roasts before they sell out. These seasonal meats are roasted on the spot in limited quantities. Be sure to snag some before everyone else does. At $1 to $2 a pop for premium toppings, you can go crazy! A tiny splurge goes a long way for a party in your mouth.

My customised poke bowl

For the love of avocado, I very predictably picked the avocado miso salmon. My additional toppings? You guessed it – more avocado and cashews!

Two words describe my poke bowl: absolutely divine. Credits don’t go to my impeccable choice in toppings. Rather, it’s the thoughtful concoction of flavours that were infused into each ingredient. Of course, the freshness of the seafood made a big difference too!

The buttery salmon blended perfectly with the creaminess of the avocado dressing. The accompanying fruits and vegetables were refreshing, and cleansed the palette well. Even though my poke bowl was on the house (Joey is an old friend from Ngee Ann Poly!), it’s safe to say that the premium ingredients are well-worth every penny.

The premium ingredients all had a little twist to their flavours – a dash of spice or a zest of tang. For someone whose record is six bowls of rice in one sitting, I have to add that I really enjoyed A Poke Theory’s signature sushi rice. Infused with garlic, chillis and seasoned with sushi vinegar, the rice is sticky. The taste of vinegar, though not as strong as your typical sushi rice – which was exactly to my liking, but otherwise highly subjective.

Sweet endings

Remember to leave room for dessert – guilt-free superfood smoothie bowls. I was spoilt for choice. Part of me wanted a refreshing smoothie bowl as I was stuffed from my poke bowl. The other part knew that I had to get either the Cacaoholic or the Maca Nutter. That’s because I usually only eat dairy-based flavours for dessert

Cacaoholic did not disappoint. The texture was akin to ice cream without the bite, or a popsicle without the structure. I especially enjoyed the raw cacao nibs that added a nice crunch to the smoothie bowl. Just had to buy a bag of roasted honey and spice cashews for the road because they were way too addictive!

All in all, A Poke Theory is a great concept. It’ll suit anyone, from the busy professionals who are looking for a delicious, easy-to-eat meal to health-conscious individuals in search of tasty alternatives, and picky eaters like myself who love a highly customisable meal.

https://www.facebook.com/apoketheory/videos/1727934657461047/

A Poke Theory
Location: 27 Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069623
Website What Do You Get When You Put Burger And Japan Together? Burger King’s New Japanese Burger!

What Do You Get When You Put Burger And Japan Together? Burger King’s New Japanese Burger!

What does Pokemon Go, Japan Food Town and Teriyaki sauce have in common? You got that right. Japan! It’s no secret that us Singaporeans are obsessed with everything Japanese at the moment, and even our everyday burgers can’t seem to escape the Japanese wave. Hopping on the Japan-crazed bandwagon with their new TeriyaKing Japanese Burger is our favourite burger joint, Burger King!

King of the Grill

Launched just this week, the TeriyaKing burger draws inspiration for its name from the well-loved Japanese Teriyaki sauce. What most people do not know is that the Japanese word “Teriyaki” actually means “grill”. Ingeniously put together, TeriyaKing actually means King of the Grill! This is certainly an apt name since Burger King takes pride in flame-grilling all its burgers!

A Closer Look at the Burger

As the name suggests, Burger King’s lip-smacking teriyaki sauce will glaze both beef and chicken patty options. The sauce is not too sweet and full of flavour, covering the tender patties like a warm and oozy blanket.

Of course, a Burger King burger wouldn’t be complete without the iconic whopper patty! You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that the actual patty is a whole inch larger than the bun itself, so there’s more flame-grilled goodness to go around.

The patties are grilled to perfection – just look for those signature grill marks on the tender meat! A signature piece of crisp seaweed certainly adds the wow! factor. It brings with it the salty taste of the ocean, while a slice of tomato and lettuce keeps each bite crisp and refreshing. Oishii!

Together with a bun that’s perfectly toasted on the outside, and warm and comforting on the inside, TeriyaKing is sure to please.

Although this exquisite burger is available a la carte, we prefer to go big with the set meal option. It comes with thick cut fries and everyone’s favourite drink – iced green tea!

Burger King has truly outdone itself with this new TeriyaKing burger. No guesses for what we’ll be having for our meals for the next few days!

TeriyaKing is available islandwide at all Burger King outlets

The set meal with fries and an iced green tea is priced at $8.55, while the a la carte burger is $7.25.

This article is brought to you by Discover SG x Burger King

Also, read Here’s A Recommended Guide To Help You Conquer Singapore Night Festival!

Boat Noodles – How Many Bowls Can You Slurp Up? Here Are The Very Best Bowls!

What defines a good bowl of Thai boat noodles? Also known as kuai teow ruea, boat noodles are generally tasty, rich in flavour, and small in portion. Some foodies have slurped from 6 bowls, to up to 16 bowls of boat noodles!

Traditionally, mini bowls were used because the noodles were originally prepared and served on boats (and not because the Thais have a small appetite).

It’s past midnight, and you’re hungry. There may not be much food options, but just go to Gu Thai Noodle Cafe and order their palm-sized bowl Boat Noodles.

Priced at $1.90 per bowl, diners get to choose from 4 spiciness levels. One word of advice – you might want to check with the staff about the spiciness of the soup cause we heard even the ‘less spicy’ level comes with a kick!

Gu Thai Noodle Cafe
Address: 1 Selegie Road #01-04 PoMo Mall 188306 Singapore
Contact number: +65 3113 2003
Operating Hours: 11:00am-5:00am Daily
Facebook page: Gu Thai Noodle Cafe

3. Thai Boat Noodles (Bedok)

Priced at $1.00 per bowl, Thai Boat Noodles serves the cheapest Kuai Teow Ruea you can ever find in Singapore. The portion is quite small, like two gulps and you’re done kinda small.

But the good thing is you get to choose from dry or soup versions, or just top up an extra $0.50 for mini tom yum noodles. If you have some seriously competitive friends, you can end the ‘who has the biggest appetite’ feud here once and for all. Whoever loses will have to settle the bill!

Thai Boat Noodles
Address: 799 New Upper Changi Road, Bedok Point #02-32/34 Singapore 467351
Contact number: +65 64459932
Operating Hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm Daily
Facebook Page: Thai Boat Noodles

4. Thai Boat Noodles (Golden Mile Complex)

Noodle Cafe is a little bit of a hidden gem. To get to this place, you’ll need to take the stairs down towards a “Diva Disco”. It may seem a little dark and dodgy but the noodles might make you go “hey the journey isn’t thaaat bad”.

Noodle Cafe is a popular choice among boat noodle lovers and we can totally see why. Each $1.90 bowl may only a mouthful but it’s a mouthful of sweet, spicy, savoury, and smoky. It’s literally a flavour shot!

Noodle Cafe
Address: 5001 Beach Road Golden Mile Complex #B1-08 199588
Contact Number: +65 3113 2003
Operating Hours: 10:00am-05:00am Daily

6. Thai In Town

With 6 yummy Thai boat noodles to choose from, how about going on a boat noodle marathon and try ’em all? What are you waiting for? Go grab your friends for a Boat Noodle Challenge! Don’t forget to tell us how many bowls of noodles you can slurp up.

Header image source: Pexels

Also, read Makan All Day Long! Singapore’s First Vending Machine Cafe Opens In SengKang