Tag: food series

The Ultimate Guide For Supper At Siglap – 6 Places You Can’t Miss

Walk around the neighbourhood of Siglap and you’ll notice rows of bars, cafes and restaurants along both sides of the road. Well, we dare say this is the place to go for a night to chill out with friends or even for a date night at one of its many great restaurants.

In this pristine, quaint neighourhood, you’ll see locals flock to their favourite pubs for a soccer screening, group of teens meeting their friends for some ice cream time, and even expats chilling out at the restaurants. As a certified east-sider who grew up in the east, here’s our ultimate guide to supper at Siglap. Yes, only the best of the best gets on our list!

1. LTN 936 Food Village

This la mian dumpling stall is opened by a quiet couple from Xi’an, China. Their dumplings are all handmade on the spot, freshness at its best. Each dumpling is soft and tender, with its skin not too thick, filled with a nice amount of meat and doused with vinegar and chilli oil. You can get these guilty pleasures at $4 for 10 pieces. Xiao Long Baos are also available at $4 for 6 pieces.

If you are in for some Zi Char, do check out the Thow Yen Seafood stall too. They serve up great Beef Hor Fun and Fried Rice for your hungry tummy!

LTN 936 Food Village
Address: 936 East Coast Road, Singapore 459129
Opening Hours: Daily till late

2. Mas-Ayu Restaurant

How about some Seafood Kway Teow Goreng Pattaya and Teh Tarik for supper? Reputed to be one of the best Malay food you can find around the area, this homely restaurant serves up the best Seafood Kway Teow Goreng Pattaya and Nasi Pattaya! Its noodles are nice, springy, wrapped around with egg and drenched in tomato ketchup. Each plate is at $6.50. Another recommendation would be their Mee Bundung ($5.50). Its sour, sweet and spicy gravy are well balanced with fish cakes, prawns, vegetables, tender beef pieces and an egg to top it off! It is a good soupy bowl for a rainy cold night!

If you have trouble sleeping at night or feel hungry after a midnight movie, do drop by for some homely malaysian kampong cuisine at Ayu-Mas. This food outlet is open 24 hours, thus taxi uncles like to frequent this place and it gets crowded from early evenings till the early mornings.

Mas-Ayu Restaurant
Address: 55 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 455215
Tel: 65 6449 2844
Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours

3. Springleaf Prata Place (Jalan Tua Kong)

Open till 11pm or 12am depending on the day, this prata place is a 3 to 5 mins walk from Upper East Coast Road at Siglap. They offer an innovative array of prata, thosai and murtabak in unusual must-try flavours! Eggs Benedict Prata? Yes, you saw that right! Crispy prata, poached egg, turkey ham and hollandaise sauce all in one dish, priced at $5. Another must not miss item is their Umani 50. One of their newest item on their menu, this prata is stuff with chicken luncheon meat, chicken floss, mozzarella cheese, mayonnaise and egg. Their menu is quite extensive which means there is always something new to try!

This prata place has not only become popular for diners at night but residents flock to this place for a good brunch which serves up a fresh spin to your usual prata!

Springleaf Prata Place
Address: 57B Jalan Tua Kong, Singapore 457251
Tel: 8693 5393
Opening Hours: Sun-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri-Sat 7am-12am

4. FLAVA Asia Bistro and Grill

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBCVLmQHsIP/?taken-at=1025782518

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFSswWlDs22/?taken-at=1025782518

Opened by the team behind the former Cafe Mondo at Orchard Central, FLAVA is the new kid at the estate which serves up contemporary Asian grill. If you’re in for some late night chow or some cakes and ice cream to satisfy your craving, head down to FLAVA. With their Kapiti New Zealand range of ice cream to choose from, you will love all the flavours and end up ordering their 12 mini putts. Perfect for a couple’s sharing or with some friends with 12 flavours of mini ice cream. Select your own ice cream flavours at $20, or let the house decide for you at $17. Do check out their menu
Address: 907 East coast Road, #01-03 Springvale, Singapore 459107
Tel: 65 6702 0302
Opening Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat/Eve of PH 11am-2am, Sun/PH 9.30am-11pm

5. Udders and Kook

If waffles and ice cream are your supper eats, Udders and Kook will never fail! From liqueur based to the all time favourite flavours such as Thai Milk Tea, chocolatey, to choose from, we must say Udders do know their customers’ taste palates well. Order their waffles to go along with your favourite ice cream! Imagine, crispy waffles on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, topped with a scoop or 2 of ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. Heavenly!

Whats more, Udders and Kook recently upgraded itself to serving you not only your favourite ice-cream, but burgers and snack bites also! Feast on their delightful Mario Mushroom Burger ($15.90) or their Angmoh Burger ($15.90) filled with scrumptious cheddar, bacon, onions, tomato, rocket leaves and a well-grilled beef patty. These calories are well worth it! Juicy burgers and ice creams are a great combination for a satisfying supper.

Udders and Kook  
Address: 81 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 455220    
Tel: 65 6448 8732
Opening Hours: Sun-Thu 12pm-11pm, Fri-Sat/eve of PH 12pm-1am

6. Mikawa Yakitori Bar

If you enjoy Japanese Tapas, you’re going to like this one. Opened recently at Siglap, Mikawa Yakitori Bar is a cosy place offering traditional Yakitori. This small Yakitori Bar has a wide range of almost 50 items of kushiyaki skewers on its 53 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 455214
Tel: 6444 8484
Opening Hours: Tue-Thu 6pm-10.30pm, Fri-Sun 12-2.30pm, 6pm-12am, Closed on Mon

If you are driving to this area, free parking is available at the big open space carpark after 10pm. So, it’s time to make your way to Siglap. Chill to your heart’s content and start feasting away! With all these late night spots for supper at Siglap, you’ll never have to go to sleep with a growling stomach ever again.

(Header image by Instagram user, _rimiroo, edited by writer)

 Also read: Go Ga-Ga Over Geylang With These Seriously Good Eats Under $15

Go Ga-Ga Over Geylang With These Seriously Good Eats Under $15

Geylang Sipaku Geylang!

The atmospheric district of Geylang is known for many things (if you know what I mean…), but do you know that it is also home to a huge selection of food at penny-pinching prices? Well, now you do. We’ll be happy to take the credit!

Let us take you on a trip down the streets, past whimsical shophouses and great period architecture to get your fill of some of the best local food in the country. On offer is a greedy grab of choices that will make you go gaga with glee!

1. Penang Seafood Restaurant

Craving for authentic Penang dishes but don’t want to travel across the causeway? Don’t pout, leave your passports at home and opt for the popular Penang Seafood Restaurant instead, a worthy alternative. Aside from traditional favourites, they also serve a wide array of local zi char dishes.

Penang Seafood Restaurant
Address: 76 Lorong 25A Geylang, S 388258
Opening Hours: Daily: 11am – 12mn
Tel: 6841 3002

2. Geylang Claypot Rice

A specialist at their craft, Geylang Claypot Rice takes an estimated 30 minutes – an hour (during peak hours), to serve the food. Good food must wait. For interested diners, it’s advisable to call them in advance. Served with an array of wholesome ingredients, kick up the taste with the recommended two rounds of dark sauce. Believe me, the wait is well worth it.

Geylang Claypot Rice
Address: No. 639, Lorong 33 Geylang, S 389570
Opening Hours: Tues – Sun: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 12am
Tel: 6744 4574

3. Hong Qin Fish & Duck Porridge

This stall offers a variety of Teochew fare such as braised duck and pig trotter platters (in other words, Kway Chap side dishes) to go with their signature porridge. Of course, their best would be the sliced Batang fish, which is often sold out a few hours into business (there’s the fried fish option too). The early bird catches the fish!

Hong Qin Fish & Duck Porridge
Address: #01-127, 134 Geylang East Avenue 1, S 380134
Opening Hours: Daily: 5.45am – 3.30pm
Tel: 9061 4988

4. L32 Kopitiam Ban Mian

When it comes to handmade noodles, the phrase “one of the best” often gets thrown around a lot. But this time, we’re going to make an exception. On the surface, L32 Kopitiam may look ordinary, until you take a glance at the queue at this stall. Such is the power of their Ban Mian, which comes equally slurp worthy, dry or soup.

L32 Kopitiam Ban Mian
Address: 558 Geylang Road, S 389509
Opening Hours: Tue – Sun: 11am – 9pm
Tel: 9770 2829

5. 126 Dim Sum

Also featured in best 24-7 food places, it’s impossible not to include Wan Dou Sek in this list too. Head down for a no-frills dining experience of value for money dim sum. Nevertheless, be wary of the quality inconsistency of some of their dishes (sometimes good, sometimes bad). At their prime however, this eatery deserves to be on everyone’s list.

126 Dim Sum
Address: 126 Sims Avenue, S 387449
Opening Hours: Daily: 24 hours
Tel: 6746 4757

6. Lorong 9 Beef Kway Teow

When you plaster the word “famous” in bold white front at your eatery, you are either arrogant or your food really is damn good. Fortunately, it’s the latter. Arguably one of the best Hor Funs in Singapore, the thick sauce is irresistibly shiok. Although I’ve heard that standards have dropped, it still remains somewhere along the pinnacle.

Must try: Beef Hor Fun ($6)

Lorong 9 Beef Kway Teow
Address: 237 Geylang Lorong 9, S 388756
Opening Hours: Daily: 4.30pm – 2.30am
Tel: 9388 0723

7. The Ranch Cafe

Astons? Chargrill Bar? Collins Grille? With all of them offering affordable Western delights and much to the chagrin of our tummies, we can only be at one place at one time. Well, when in Geylang, add The Ranch to that list, which is also same same, but different. Their economical set lunches and dinners on menu are to die for.

The Ranch Cafe
Address: 71 Lorong 27 Geylang, S 388198
Opening Hours: Daily: 11.30am – 11pm
Tel: 6747 0788

8. Little Vietnam Café

Little Vietnam is quite literally, a little Vietnamese-run eatery that serves an extensive menu of Vietnamese staples. You’ve got your phos, banh mis, spring rolls and the likes. Not forgetting to mention, this place is uber popular because prices are middling cheap. Add to that a chill atmosphere and you’ve got yourself a winner.

Little Vietnam Café
Address: #01-25, Grandlink Square, 511 Guillemard Road, S 399849
Opening Hours: Daily: 5pm – 3am
Tel: 6547 8587

9. Brawn & Brains Café

We’ve now headed into café territory so how can we neglect Brawn & Brains, one of the best cafes Singapore has to offer? Brawn & Brains ticks all the boxes. Instagram-worthy food? Check. Artisanal drinks? Check. Good vibes? Triple check. For a genuine wholesome dining experience, make this place your next destination.

Brawn & Brains Café
Address: #01-02, Singapore Badminton Hall, 100 Guillemard Road, S 399718
Opening Hours:
Tue – Fri: 9am – 7pm
Sat – Sun: 9.30am – 7pm
Tel: 6348 0501

10. The Real Hut

Need a break from the meat fare? Head down to this Asian-Western fusion inspired vegetarian café, a relatively new player in the culinary scene. The Real Hut’s dishes are eloquently presented and they look outstanding, giving our favourite greens the extra zing (you have to admit it’s hard to make veggies look appetizing). Psst, there is no service charge and GST too.

The Real Hut
Address: #01-197, Blk 46 Sims Place, S 380046
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 11am – 8.30pm
Tel: 6846 9976

There you have it! A world of delectable food for you to explore. So, when in Geylang, you know what to do… Oei! You know what I meant!

Are these places worthy of this list? Did we miss out anything in our food series? Let us know!

Also read: 8 Best Laksa In Singapore For Thick, Flavourful & Spicy Broth

8 Local Dishes Modified To Look Modern, Can You Recognise Them?

Modern Singaporean cuisine (local dishes modified to look modern), or mod-sin in short, amalgamates our familiar Singaporean hawker flavours with international dishes of the world. Very much like our Singaporean culture, mod-sin cuisine takes inspiration from various food cultures and adapts it into an experimental new dish that’s both bold and unique in taste.  

Let us explore the creativity and culinary concept behind some of these innovative creations that are only made possible thanks to our bustling local culture.

1. Hainanese Chicken Rice + Sushi

Image credit: Lepark

Picture a plate of steamed chicken rice served in bite-sized tapas portions. The Poached Chicken Sushi is unique to Lepark, a rooftop bar that’s situated on the roof of People’s Park Complex. A thin strip of nori sheet wraps around a tender poached chicken and Hainanese chicken sushi rice. Each morsel is topped with some garlic chilli. It ticks all the elements that goes into making a traditional chicken rice dish, but made more portable as side to some beer.

Lepark
Address: 1 Park Road, People’s Park Complex Level 6
Opening hours: Tue – Thu: 4pm – 11pm; Fri: 4pm – 12am; Sat: 12pm – 12am; Sun: 12pm – 11pm

2. Buah Keluak + Pasta

Image credit: Violet Oon Singapore

The distinctive ingredient used in traditional Nonya cuisine has now found its way into a marriage with Italian spaghetti. Admittedly, the fruit’s nutty and earthy profile makes it an acquired taste, but those who enjoy the rich and slightly bitter profile will appreciate Violet Oon’s take on Buah Keluak Noodle. This aromatic dish is tossed with chilli padi to lend a subtle kick, along with coconut milk and minced prawn.

Violet Oon Singapore
Address: 881 Bukit Timah Road
Opening hours: Tue – Sun: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10:30am

3. Ondeh Ondeh + French Toast

Image credit: Crystalwee

Deconstructing an ondeh ondeh and infusing the sweet flavours into a classic breakfast dish makes the Ondeh Ondeh French Toast at Hyde & Co. a great dish that doubles as both dessert and tea break. The egg-washed brioche slices come loaded with grated pandan coconut and drizzled with gula melaka sauce. Topped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for good measure and you have for yourself an oozing cold dessert with all the reminiscent flavours of an ondeh ondeh.

Hyde & Co.
Address: 785 North Bridge Road
Opening hours: Sun – Mon: 11am – 6pm; Wed – Sat: 11am – 10:30pm

4. Chilli Crab + Bun

Image credit: Baomakers

The thought of having a chilli crab bun might sound off putting initially, but they actually make sense if you think about how Singaporeans like to soak up the leftover chilli crab sauce with deep fried mantous. Making this Chilli Crab Bao possible is Bao Makers. They take deep fried crab meat and slather it with chilli sauce and top it off with coriander and fried shallots. Essentially a combination of various Asian flavours, think of it as our version of a slider with a local twist.

Bao Makers
Address: 78 Horne Road
Opening hours: Mon – Fri: 12pm – 10pm; Sat: 11am – 10pm; Sun: 11am – 6pm

5. Charsiew + Fries

Image credit: Redpan

Give the standard truffle fries a miss the next time you’re hit with a fries craving. At Redpan, they top their Char Siew Chilli Fries with a charsiew ragout and dolloped with sour cream and some jalapeno salsa. The seemingly contrasting ingredients come together nice to form an addictive starter that you’ll polish off in no time.

Redpan
Address: 6 Raffles Boulevard, #02-03/04
Opening hours: Mon – Fri: 9am – 10pm; Sat – Sun: 11am – 10pm

6. Roasted Pork Belly + Pasta

Image credit: @cayceemeows

Not for the health-conscious, this Sio Bak Aglio Olio from Froth serves up chunks of roasted pork belly that sits on a bed of aglio olio, topped with a slice of their homemade bak kwa. The salty and crispy pieces of fats serve as a good contrast to the al dente pasta, creating a decadent dish that’ll fill you up with satisfaction.

Froth
Address: 2 Finlayson Green
Opening hours: Mon – Sun: 11:30am – 10pm

7. Rendang + Lasagna

Image credit: Makankaki

Replace the tomato sauce in a plain old lasagna with some authentic rendang gravy and what you’ll find yourself with is an explosion of taste comprising of Italian and Malay cuisine. Alternating layers of pasta sheets, beef briskets and bechamel make for the perfect Ren Dang! Lasagna. But top it with a scoop of rendang gravy and you get a savoury spicy kick in this updated dish. Regular lasagna will never cut it for you again.

Sunday Market
Address: 22 Lim Tua Tow Road
Opening hours: Mon – Fri: 11am – 11pm; Sat: 9am – 11pm; Sun: 9am – 9pm

8. Bandung + Latte

Image credit: Infuse your cuppa with floral accents of rose with Bandung Latte. Getting your caffeine fix just got a whole lot sweeter, with a drink that comes in a pretty pastel shade of pink. The rose floral notes mask the bitterness of the coffee, making this a delicious drink that even non-coffee fans will enjoy.

(Header image from Bao Makers, words by writer)

Also read: 9 Of SG’s Best Local Street Snack, How Many Have You Tried?

12 Best Breakfasts To Start Your Day Like A Typical Local

The concept of brunch –  sipping a cuppa in between mouthfuls of “insta-worthy” eggs benedict in a café ornamented with wooden furniture – has evolved into a millennial lifestyle. Brunch is now everyone’s favourite meal of the day, and our city is abuzz with an abundance of cafés serving beautifully plated food. While we wholly embrace this global trend, it should not keep us away from our local breakfast spread.

From good ol’ kaya toast to a fluffy egg prata, these are some humble and familiar food options that are authentically Singaporean. Take a step back from the hype of fancy cafés and fusion cuisines, we’ve compiled 12 of our favourite places for your local brekkie fix. One more thing: they are all open before 11 am. Sometimes breakfast is better than brunch.

1. Keng Wah Sung

[caption id="attachment_8446" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: slurploveforfood[/caption]

The pudding-like beancurd (think Lao Ban) craze once hit our shores and drove Singaporeans to queue for hours on end. However, it couldn’t stand the test of time in the end.

At the end of the day, we will always go back to our traditional tau huay. Tau huay is the ultimate comfort food and there’s no better way to start your day than with a warm bowl of velvety goodness dosed in sugar syrup. This traditional offering at Chen Shun Mei has an impeccably silky texture and a homely taste to match.

Chen Shun Mei Tau Huay
Address: Serangoon Gardens Market & Food Centre, 49A Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 550267
Operating Hours: 08:00 – 20:00 (Tue-Sun)

3. Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak

[caption id="attachment_8474" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: eatingsumo[/caption]

There’s something about steamed rice cakes and chye poh (preserved radish) eaten together that makes it so divine. This unassuming local delight deserves more love than it gets, and Ghim Moh is a long-time bigwig in the chwee kueh scene.

Helmed by the original owner who has 37 years of experience under his belt, rest assured that the quality of this traditional treat will always be top notch – the saltiness of their chye poh complements the supple rice cakes perfectly.

Ghim Moh Chwee Kueh
Address: Ghim Moh Road Market and Food Centre, Blk 20 Ghim Moh Road #01-31, Singapore 270020
Operating hours: 06:00 – 19:00 (Daily)

5. Zhen Zhen Porridge

[caption id="attachment_8456" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: therantingpanda[/caption]

Needless to say, a staple in our local food culture. Think fluffy-on-the-inside-crispy-on-the-outside prata dipped in a tangy curry sauce. The dough is made in house, and Mr Mohgan has over 30 years of prata-making experience.

They have the standard plain, egg, mushroom and cheese variations, but we recommend the kosong prata which is the crispiest out of the lot. Their freshly made pratas and fragrant curry have won the hearts of prata lovers all over Singapore.

Mr & Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata
Address: Poh Ho Restaurant, 7 Crane Road, Singapore 429356
Operating Hours: 06:30 – 13:30 (Closed Tue & Wed)

7. Tian Tian Lai (Come Daily) Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee

[caption id="attachment_8457" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: thick yellow noodles and bee hoon is perfect to soak up the fragrant gravy at Tian Tian Lai. Forget chopsticks, scoop your noodles up with a soup spoon for a mouthful of rich, flavourful gooiness.

Apart from seafood, pork lard is also fried together with the mee for added depth in flavour. They serve $4, $5 and $10 portions so you can slurp to your heart’s content!

Tian Tian Lai Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee
Address: 127 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #02-27 Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre, Singapore 310127
Operating Hours: 09:30 – 21:00 (Daily)

8. Ghim Moh Carrot Cake

[caption id="attachment_8458" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Ghim Moh Carrot Cake
Address: #01-16, Blk 20 Ghim Moh Road Market & Cooked Food Centre, 20 Ghim Moh Road, Singapore 270020
Operating Hours: 06:30 – 12:00 (Tue-Sun)

9. Serangoon Gardens Bakery and Confectionery

[caption id="attachment_8459" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Chomp Chomp.

This traditional bakery kneads and prepares their own dough, and bakes over ten variations of old school buns and cakes everyday. Do drop by early to try their best-sellers; the potato curry buns and luncheon meat buns! These hot favourites are usually sold out by noon.

Serangoon Gardens Bakery and Confectionery
Address: #01-45, Serangoon Garden Market and Food Centre, 49A Serangoon Garden Way
Operating Hours: 0700 – 1200 (or when buns are sold out, closed on Mon)

10. Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle

[caption id="attachment_8460" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source:

[caption id="attachment_8461" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source:

[caption id="attachment_8462" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: churros and we Singaporeans have our you tiao, a local equivalent. You tiao (fried dough fritter) has been a breakfast staple for as long as we can remember.

Best savoured with kopi or a warm cup of soya milk, the handmade you tiao at Xin Xin has a crispy exterior and also comes with a generous spread of kaya on the side. Truly is the epitome of shiok.

Xin Xin You Tiao
Address: Hainanese Village Food Centre, Blk 105 Hougang Ave 1 #02-19, Singapore 530105
Operating Hours: 06:00 – 11:00 (Closed on Mon)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so do it right with these delish, time-tested local treats. No one deserves to stomach a mouthful of disappointment first thing in the morning!

(Header image source: foreword)

Also read: Hipster Hawkers: 5 Stalls That Are Redefining Hawker Culture

8 Best Laksa In Singapore For Thick, Flavourful & Spicy Broth

When you hear the words “Singaporean Food”, what comes to mind? Chilli crab, curry fish head, prawn noodles or chicken rice? Well, for all of you out there who thought of laksa, we’re sure you’ve already eaten at a good number of laksa stalls in Singapore. But with that signature coconut aroma, thick spicy broth, and delicious noodles, there’s no hum having more right?

Here are the 8 must-try laksa stalls in Singapore that you’ll never get tired of.

1. 328 Katong Laksa

328 Katong Laksa has been around for as long as all of us can remember. Their signature short noodles that can be scooped with just a spoon and delicious laksa fragrance are just 2 reasons why they’re so famous. What’s the real reason for 328 Katong Laksa’s long queues? Well, they have nailed the most important aspect of laksa. The broth.

328 Katong Laksa has found the perfect balance of coconut and milk. This is what brought success to the store. It even led them to beat world renowned chef Gordon Ramsay in the Singtel Hawker Heroes Challenge back in 2013. You can’t call yourself a true laksa lover if you haven’t had the laksa here before.

328 Katong Laksa
Address: 53 East Coast Road Singapore 428771
Opening Hours: Daily 10am-10pm
Price: Small $5, Large $7

2. Roxy Laksa

Another famous Katong Laksa in Singapore is Roxy Laksa, which started as a little stall at Roxy Cinema. Back in those days, instead of popcorn or nachos, movie goers would grab a bowl of laksa before they went to catch their movies. What makes Roxy Laksa different from the crowd? They do not add cockles. Yup, that’s right. No cockles but still a delightful bowl of laksa. With their fresh prawns, fish cakes and thick noodles, Roxy Laksa is definitely a must-try!

Roxy Laksa
Address: East Coast Lagoon Food Village, 1220 East Coast Parkway Singapore 468960
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 10:30am-9pm, Sat & Sun 8:30am-9pm
Price: $4

3. 928 Yishun Laksa

Laksa lovers who stay in Yishun would know this stall. Located just a short 5 minutes walk from Yishun MRT station, this famous laksa stall is not to be missed. At just $2.80 a bowl, 928 Yishun Laksa is one of the cheapest in Singapore. What’s better is that the ingredients used are not cheapo pre-packed fish cakes and toufu. The cockles, crab sticks, beansprouts and other ingredients you’ll find in the bowl are all fresh and cooked to yummy perfection. Talk about cheap and good!

928 Yishun Laksa
Address: 928 Yishun Central #01-155 Singapore 760928
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 11am-7pm
Price: Small $2.80, Large $3.30

4. Janggut Laksa

Yet another katong laksa on the list is the famous Janggut Laksa. Located beside an outlet of 328 Katong Laksa in Queensway Shopping Centre, it is definitely the clash of two titans. Janggut Laksa is a strong laksa contender at Queensway. Just like the original katong laksa, the bee hoon can be scooped with a spoon. The broth here is neither too rich nor overpowering and the level of spiciness can be adjusted based on the amount of chilli mixed. Overall, we feel that 328 Katong Laksa and Janggut Laksa are pretty evenly matched. Which one is better? You tell us!

Janggut Laksa
Address: Queensway Shopping Centre Singapore 149053
Opening Hours: Daily 11am-9pm
Price: Small $4, Medium $5, Large $6

5. Sungei Road Laksa

Probably the only stall in Singapore that cooks laksa the traditional way, over a charcoal flame, Sungei Road Laksa is well known among laksa lovers. Because it’s cooked traditionally, the laksa really brings a taste of the past. The gravy has a strong aroma of dried shrimp and is overall, not too spicy. One small bowl will only set you back $3. The queue can get pretty long so if you’re planning on heading down, get ready to wait. But for a bowl of such goodness, that wait is definitely worth it!

Sungei Road Laksa
Address: Jin Shui Kopitiam, 27 Jalan Berseh #01-100 Singapore 200027
Opening Hours: Daily 9:30am-5pm, Closed on Wednesdays
Price: $3

6. Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa

For a different kind of Laksa, this is definitely a must-try. Located along Depot Road, this laksa stall is frequented by many. What makes the laksa here stand out from the rest? It is served in a claypot! The hot claypot keeps the soup and noodles warm longer. The gravy is also thick and creamy, and is filled with delicious cockles, prawns and fish cakes. If you haven’t had laksa in a claypot before, you’ve got to try this one!

Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa
Address: Fine Taste Eating House, 119 Buket Merah Lane 1, #01-40 Singapore 151119
Opening Hours: Daily 9am-5pm
Price: Small $3.50, Medium $4.50, Large $5.50

7. Red Hornbill

Red Hornbill is famous in Singapore for a really different kind of laksa. Instead of the usual thick broth and cockles, Red Hornbill serves the Sarawak version of laksa. The laksa gives off an aroma of spices and herbs, and the broth is mixed with curry, chicken and prawn stock. It is then topped with beehoon, chicken chunks and prawns. The queue can get pretty long at Red Hornbill, but for a chance to try this hidden gem, it’s definitely worth the wait!

Red Hornbill
Address: 205 Bedok North Street 1 #01-357, Singapore 460205
Opening Hours: Tues-Sun 11am-2pm, 4pm-8:30pm, Closed on Mondays
Price: $5

8. Penang Kitchen

For a taste of Malaysia’s Penang Assam Laksa, Penang Kitchen is the best. It is a clash of 3 big flavours, sweet, sour and spicy, all in one bowl. The broth is made with fish stock and different fiery chillis are added. The main feature of Penang Kitchen’s laksa is also the prawn paste that is mixed into the broth, which brings an intensely sweet flavour to the dish. All in all, Penang Kitchen serves a mean bowl of Penang Assam Laksa and if you’re planning on heading down, get ready for a flavourful treat!

Penang Kitchen
Address: 5 Coronation Road, #01-05 Coronation Arcade, Singapore 437066
Opening Hours: Daily 10:30am-9:30pm
Price: $8.30

Have a yummier laksa stall in your neighbouthood? Let us know! There’s nothing more comforting that a warm good bowl of laksa on a rainy or bad day.

(Header image from sbs.com.au, words by author)

Also read: Do It Yourself! 6 Eateries Where You Can Customise Your Own Food

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

Do It Yourself! 6 Eateries Where You Can Customise Your Own Food

Whenever we eat out, there would be certain expectations we’d hold the restaurant to. Besides the usual service standards of being shown to our tables and keeping our drinking glasses full, we would also expect the food to be served piping hot in front of us, all ready for consumption.

But interestingly, there seems to be a growing interest in working for your own food. Trading in some elbow grease and getting your hands dirty for your own food creations.

Instead of making the consumer buck worth and enjoying the service rendered, here are some places that are embracing this shift. Customers serve themselves instead of being served.

1. Mix & match your own juice drink

You’ll never revert to the plain old apple juice once you’ve experienced the customisability and immersive experience of Credit: These capsules represent the ingredients that go into your own original juice, and you go around the store like a worker bee filling your honeycomb basket with ingredients to create your ultimate original juice drink. How fun is that?

By the end of the meal, you and your friends would have become professional popiah wrappers. The DIY popiah set from Good Chance Popiah Eating House deconstructs all the ingredients that go into making a good roll and have you wrapping them for yourself instead.

You’re in full control over the proportions of what goes into your own popiah. The trick to achieving that perfect popiah is to not over-stuff them with the restaurant’s seven ingredient filling – more than the standard medley.

Good Chance Popiah Eating House
Address: 149 Silat Avenue, #01-58
Opening hours: Tue – Sun: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 6pm – 9:30pm

3. Customise your very own breakfast bowl

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/s1H8ElFKz8/[/embed]

Start your day right with this breakfast bar that’s located in the heart of Singapore’s business district area. Load up on your very own breakfast bowl filled with Whole & Hearty‘s homemade yogurt, organic oatmeal and top it off with a selection of fruits and nuts.

[caption id="attachment_8636" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Credit: Whole & Hearty[/caption]

Pay for the price of a cup and go nuts trying to stuff your bowl full. No need to feel guilty here – everything offered are great healthy options from flax seeds, granola and other superfood that are on daily rotation.

Whole & Hearty
Address: 12 Gopeng Street, #01-84
Opening hours: Mon – Fri: 8am – 1pm

4. Design your own pancake

It’s now a lot more fun to have everyone’s favourite breakfast food. Nook Cafe & Bar offers a DIY pancake set where you cook your own pancakes on a hot griddle. Conveniently stored in squeezy bottles, have a go at creating masterful pancake art pieces and gobble down your own creation.

Edible art is now made possible (and more delicious) with various pancake batter flavours and toppings. So get ready to create a unique pancake like no other!

Nook Cafe & Bar
Address: 21 Lorong Kilat, #01-03
Opening hours: Mon – Thu: 12pm – 11pm; Fri: 12pm – 12:30am; Sat: 10am – 12:30pm; Sun: 10am – 11pm

5. Watch your food sizzle to your preferred doneness

Freshness takes centerstage at Credit: Hot Stones[/caption]

You can now play your own teppanyaki chef to quality meats like wagyu beef and kurobuta pork.

Hot Stones
Address: 3D River Valley Road, #01-06
Opening hours: Sun – Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm; Fri – Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 2am

6. Create your own Tacos

[caption id="attachment_8640" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Credit: Super Loco[/caption]

Get ready to immerse in strong fun vibes when you step into Credit: Super Loco[/caption]

Fill those taco shells with your choice of pork or chicken and top it off with guacamole, salsa, some cotija cheese and a dash of hot sauce – super delicioso indeed.

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