Long-Lost Malay Dish ‘Nasi Beringin’ Revived At Yishun: It Was Once Served To Royalty In The 1890s

One would typically associate Malay food with Nasi Lemak, Mee Rebus, Nasi Padang etc.

However growing up as a Malay in Singapore, most of us would probably have never heard of this Malay dish called Nasi Beringin.

This Malay dish was once sold in Singapore for a short period of time in the 1950s but gradually disappeared from the local Malay food scene.

Chef Fahmi Rahaman decided to revive this long lost Malay dish that was once served to the Johor Royalties in the late 1890s.

[caption id="attachment_37556" align="aligncenter" width="5588"]nasi beringin (L) Khairul Afnan (R) Fahmi Rahaman | Image Credit: Discover SG[/caption]

Reviving A Long Lost Dish

Introduced in the late 1890s, Nasi Beringin was first popularised within the compounds of the Johor Royalties. Sultan Sir Ibrahim, then the 2nd Sultan of Johor in the modern era, regularly had this dish in his feasts especially when guests were invited to dine in the palace.

Nasi Beringin, was also called the “Nasi Bering Harum” (Fragrant Beringin Rice), as the scent from the dish never fails to invigorate one’s palate.

[caption id="attachment_37554" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]nasi beringin Image Credit: Discover SG[/caption]

Owner of Fifty50 Empire, Fahmi Rahaman who was an ex Assistant Head Chef with Timbre Group recently set up stall at Yishun Park Hawker Centre together with his partner, Khairul Afnan selling Nasi Beringin.

Nasi Beringin is served with traditional favourites such as the Ayam Kurma, Rendang, and Achar which combines all the sweet, sour, spicy and savoury elements into a harmonious unity within a plate.

At Fifty50 Empire, you are given a wide range of meat to choose from – Fried Chicken Wing (Signature), Fried Fish, Beef Rendang, Tiger Prawn, Fried Squid which comes in various portion size (lite, double, triple).

[caption id="attachment_37549" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]nasi beringin Image Credit: Discover SG[/caption]

They also provide three different sauces – rendang, kurma and masak merah. The sauces are really unique as they were taught to him by his mother.

If you’re wondering how Nasi Beringin tastes like, its basically a cross between Nasi Lemak and Nasi Briyani. Fahmi uses short grain basmati rice that is cooked with a variety of spices and oil resulting in rice that’s temptingly fragrant. Delicate hints of cardamom, cloves, star anise and fenugreek can be discerned in the rice.

[caption id="attachment_37551" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]nasi beringin Image Credit: Discover SG[/caption]

The prawns were definitely the star of the entIre dish. The prawns were fresh and battered to give it a slight crunch. We recommend pairing the Prawns with Masak Merah Sauce.

[caption id="attachment_37553" align="aligncenter" width="5531"]nasi beringin Image Credit: Discover SG[/caption]

The chicken wing was as impressive as the prawns. Instead of coating the chicken in a thick batter, the wings are lightly coated with flour and his blend of spices before frying. This makes a lot of difference to the chicken as the batter won’t soak up the oil and this also keeps it crispy.

[caption id="attachment_37555" align="aligncenter" width="5358"]nasi beringin (L) Kurma Sauce (R) Masak Merah Sauce | Image Credit: Discover SG[/caption]

If you’re looking for a traditional way of eating Nasi Beringin, we highly recommend pairing the Chicken with Kurma Sauce which is made from coriander, cumin, coconut, curry and chili.

[caption id="attachment_37552" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]nasi beringin Image Credit: Discover SG[/caption]

The Beef Rendang is another favourite of Fahmi’s. The beef was tender and tore apart easily. I also liked the fact that the rendang was the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

Each plate of Nasi Beringin comes with sambal belacan for the extra kick, achar to cut the acidity of the dish as well as a crispy piece of papadum.

As compared to Malay dishes such as Nasi Lemak and Nasi Padang which can be pretty heavy as a lunch option, the Nasi Beringin did not leave me with a food coma.

If you’re ever in Yishun, and looking for a change from your typical Malay fare, you know where to go for a good meal.

Fifty50 Empire Nasi Beringin
Address: 51 Yishun Avenue 11, Singapore, 768867
Opening Hours: 11am to 9pm daily. Closed for Friday Prayers from 1pm- 2pm
Website

Also Read [REVIEW] We Spent $5.90 On LiHo’s New Salted Egg Bubble Tea So You Don’t Have To

(Header Image Source: Discover SG)

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

Singapore

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.

[caption id="attachment_35283" align="aligncenter" width="680"]Singapore Image Credit: Singapore Image Credit: Sportify Cities[/caption]

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.

[caption id="attachment_35281" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]Singapore Image Credit: Wikipedia[/caption]

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.

[caption id="attachment_35280" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]singapore Image Credit: Singapore Image Credit: meme generator[/caption]

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_35285" align="aligncenter" width="350"]Singapore Image Credit: Choa Chu Kang

Janielson

“I grew up in Choa Chu Kang. I lived in Teck Whye until I was 3 or 4, but to be honest, the areas are just next to each other.

I remember taking the feeder bus to the MRT, because LRTs weren’t created at the time. There was also Choa Chu Kang Park. I mean, it’s still around today, but back then it was really an empty park with sand playgrounds.

There was a bicycle shop at Choa Chu Kang MRT interchange. My first bike was bought there. Sadly, the shop is gone now.

Lot 1 Shopper’s Mall was the only mall we had in the area. It was quite….limited, in the past. Now they’re trying to expand the MRT so it’s cool.”

Jurong West

Ian

Finally, there’s me. I live in Jurong West, the armpit of Singapore. Left or right? It’s up to your perspective.

I used to hate living in Jurong West. As if Jurong wasn’t already “West” enough, I had to live in Jurong WEST. Everything was far. Can you imagine what my life was like when I had to book in every Sunday night during NS?

The only shopping we had was Jurong Point and it was boring. I mean, it was fine for a while when they decided to open a Toys ‘R’ Us there. But it eventually closed.

[caption id="attachment_35288" align="aligncenter" width="700"]Singapore 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)

This Instagram Account Proves Why Yishun Has Always, And Will Always, Be Great

Yishun Singapore

Tucked away in the northern region of Singapore, Yishun makes news headlines regularly. From drug ring busts and cat murders to civilians trying to attack policemen with stun guns, Yishun has developed a reputation for bad news.

“Build a wall around Yishun”, they said.

What’s up with Yishun? Could it be something in the air or perhaps the water? Is the temperature different in Yishun?

But it turns out, after multiple visits to Yishun, that the problem with Yishun is simple. There’s no problem. Nothing. Zero. Zilch.

Recently, I came across an Instagram (@makeyishungreatagain2018) that aims to make Yishun the greatest neighbourhood in Singapore. And here’s why I believe that Yishun is a pretty damn cool neighbourhood.

Contrary to popular belief, Yishun is a great place to raise your kids. Don’t believe? Come, I show you.

1. Yishun Has President Halimah, Your Neighbourhood Got What?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjtW9HPnsWj/?taken-by=makeyishungreatagain2018

Remember when everyone went crazy about President Halimah living in a flat in Yishun. After being declared President on September 13, President Halimah continued to live in her flat, making her Singapore’s first head of state to live in public housing while in office.

In her Facebook post, she mentioned: “Therefore, as much as I would like to continue living in my current home in Yishun, I have accepted MHA’s recommendation and will make arrangements to move to a new place soon.”

She’s so chill and down to earth. She’s the kind of President we all need!

Who knows, living in Yishun might inspire your kid to be the next President of Singapore.

2. Cheap, Good Food For The Soul

Living in Singapore may be expensive but food doesn’t have to be.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj3rlNPAdRU/?taken-by=makeyishungreatagain2018

You’ll be surprised but Yishun Hawker Centre is home to some pretty darn good and cheap food.

Ah Tan Wings (Yishun Park Hawker Centre)

They’ve managed to perfect Har Cheong Gai that is crispy yet juicy, perfectly cooked, smells like heaven and tastes like an umami bomb.

For just $1.70, you can get a bomb Har Cheong Gai that will keep you coming back for more. Their wings are so good that they sell out quite quickly, so if you’re feeling brave and want to venture into Yishun, don’t waste the trip and stop by Ah Tan’s because where else can you get Har Cheong Gai to die for?

You can read more about Ah Tan Wings here!

$1 Carnival – Reunion @ Yishun Park Hawker Centre

For the longest time, Singaporeans have complained about the increasing prices of food and housing.

But for a day in the month of June, Yishun Park Hawker Centre is taking things back to the old days, when food was still cheap, and a crisp $10 note made you seem like a rich man.

For ONE DAY ONLY, 26 stallholders in Yishun Park Hawker Centre will be showcasing food from its traditional and young hawkers and you get to try the signature dishes from the participating stalls, for just ONE DOLLAR.

You can find out more about the $1 Carnival here.

Raising your kids in Yishun is a great idea if they eat WAY too much. Beats paying $7 for a McDonald’s meal any day.

3. Coolest Playground That’ll Put Other Playgrounds To Shame

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkJZNzZAra8/?taken-by=makeyishungreatagain2018

Your neighbourhood got playground like this? Don’t have right?

[caption id="attachment_35279" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Image Credit: Young Parents[/caption]

Created by US-based light sculptor, Mini Pool consists of 16 pads on the ground that light up and change colour when they are stepped on, according to a Straits Times report.

Complementing the playground’s whimsical theme are three crooked houses that seem to have been plucked straight out of a Dr Seuss book. There is also a kinetic hammock trellis – a swing set with nine seats installed at different heights.

Your kid will thank you for this. This playground is definitely not #basic.

Yishun River Green Playground
Where: Block 330 Yishun Ring Road

4. Home To The Largest Mall in the Northern Part of Singapore

Can we please talk about Northpoint City’s glo-up?

[caption id="attachment_35282" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Northpoint City Image Credit: SAA Group[/caption]

If you’re both busy working parents, figuring out where to bring your kids to over the weekends can be quite a headache.

Well, you won’t have that problem living in Yishun. Northpoint City recently opened their new South Wing and the options are endless.

There are over 100 food and dining concepts so if you have a kid who is a picky eater, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. If you need a quick retail therapy, there’s even Uniqlo in Northpoint City now.

Fun fact, Northpoint City has all major bubble tea brands in one mall. Gong Cha, Liho, Koi, Share Tea, Hi Tea, Teafolia, Yuan Cha etc. Your neighbourhood can beat anot?

Who needs Vivocity when you have Northpoint?

Good things do come to Yishun.

5. HDB Prices Are Considerably Cheaper Than Mature Estates

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkETq4rAQ80/?taken-by=makeyishungreatagain2018

If you work in the northern region of Singapore, or would prefer your abode to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city, then this location might make sense. With prices being correspondingly lower, a unit here could offer great value in the long-term.

[caption id="attachment_35287" align="aligncenter" width="898"] Image Credit: Stacked Homes[/caption]

If cost of living in Singapore is a major concern of yours, you can consider buying a house in Yishun to start a family.

Not only that, you don’t have to leave Yishun to access markets, schools, parks and even Khoo Teck Phuat Hospital. Everything you need is in one location.

There are also buses to almost everywhere from Yishun. Which makes travelling from place to place a whole lot more convenient.

6. Bowling, Prawning, Paintball, What Else You Want?

There’s no such thing as “nothing to do” in Yishun.

Welcome to the world of ORTO, where fun never sleeps.

[caption id="attachment_35294" align="aligncenter" width="1082"]orto singapore Image Credit: @makeyishungreatagain2018

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

(Header Image Source: @makeyishungreatagain2018 )

There’s A Sushi Joint At Yishun Town Square With Prices From $1/Plate

One Sushi

Growing up, my first introduction to the world of Japanese cuisine was at the first Genki Sushi outlet at FORUM The Shopping Mall. It was quite an experience, because the food comes (and goes) on a conveyor belt right next to your table. Don’t even get me started on the tabletop hot water dispenser.

[caption id="attachment_35056" align="aligncenter" width="4288"]One Sushi Image Credit: Man Abroad[/caption]

Genki Sushi might have been one of the first sushi restaurants to bring the conveyor belt concept to Singapore, but it has since been adopted by many other sushi restaurants to the point where it has almost become a sushi-specific concept.

Now, this new sushi restaurant in Yishun Town Square combines 2 of the sushi dining concepts we’ve seen before, into 1 sushi restaurant.

[caption id="attachment_35052" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]One Sushi Image Credit: One Sushi[/caption]

Introducing One Sushi.

Home-grown Sushi Restaurant

Their two-tiered conveyor belt features a regular sushi conveyor belt on the bottom, while the top tier is a “track” for “sushi cars” to deliver the sushi that you order à la carte via the iPad.

[caption id="attachment_35053" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]One Sushi Image Credit: One Sushi[/caption]

You know the way your food comes to you at Genki Sushi? In the trains? One Sushi uses “cars” instead. It’s quite fun to see your food zoom towards you.

That’s not all, the sushi conveyor belt allows diners to choose from 50 different yellow-plated sushi at just $1.50 per plate! (That’s Sushi Express’ price OMG)

If you love Ikura (salmon roe), One Sushi’s Ikura Gunkan is permanently available at $1. Another value-for-money item on the menu is the Uni Sushi at just $1.50. $1.50 for Uni (Sea Urchin) is unheard of.

[caption id="attachment_35054" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]One Sushi Image Credit: One Sushi[/caption]

Planning to order from their à la carte menu? Go for the Hamachi Kama ($13.80). One Sushi uses fresh Hamachi Kama from Japan. Hamachi Kama is the collar of Yellowtail fish. Each fish has 2 and it is usually the most fatty part of the fish.

Don’t like fish? (Why are you at a SUSHI restaurant?) Try the Hotate Mentai ($4.80) which sees scallops served in-shell, topped with a generous dollop of mentaiko that’s been blowtorched for that charred savoury finish.

One Sushi looks promising for a new and upcoming sushi restaurant. For the aunties and mothers out there, the green tea and wet tissue are free of charge. Just saying.

[caption id="attachment_35055" align="aligncenter" width="480"]One Sushi GIF Credit: giphy[/caption]

Lastly, every month, they will select and feature 1 sushi in the $1 category so be sure to check with the staff!

So….sushi for dinner anyone?

One Sushi
Address: Northpoint City Town Square, Yishun New Town, #01-04, Singapore 760925
Opening Hours: Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6481 9331
Website

Also read Catch The LoL Grand Finals And 2NE1’s CL, The Sam Willows At ASEAN’s 1st E-Sports & Music Festival

(Header Image Source: One Sushi)

What’s In A Year: We Rounded Up 10 Trending Moments In S’pore That Defined 2017

This has been quite a year for the world. For Singapore. Trains broke down, Presidents took office, and students flashed the middle finger on national television.

Oh, and the nation gushed over a 50 year old man.

But that’s not all that happened. We’ve rounded up the most Singaporean things that made our 2017.

Singapore’s 2017 In A Nutshell

1. Racial Harmony Exemplified

In January, there was a Malay wedding that was in the vicinity of the path of an ongoing funeral procession and the guests at the Malay wedding stood still out of respect for the procession.

[caption id="attachment_32605" align="aligncenter" width="498"] Image Credit: Facebook User Maidin Packer[/caption]

If that isn’t the most textbook representation of our racial harmony, we don’t know what is.

2. Uber Brings People Together

Singapore is a small country. The fact that we have so many people condensed into a small space, forces us to interact with strangers in various situations.

[caption id="attachment_32607" align="aligncenter" width="816"] Image Credit: Vulcan Post[/caption]

And in this cluster of people, 2 strangers managed to find love in an Uber. A part-time UberPool driver picked up an Air Stewardess while he was working, where they had a casual conversation about her occupation.

Following that encounter, he found her again through the power of social media and now they’re attached. Sometimes, love happens where and when you least expect it.

3. NSF Is STOMPed For The Right Reasons

NSFs receive a lot of flak from the public. Most of the time because they’re sitting on seats in the MRT. It got so bad to the point where commanders were actively telling their recruits NOT to sit when they’re taking public transport.

But that’s not what this NSF was STOMPed for. In March this year, this NSF was seen sheltering an elderly lady in a wheelchair at Pasir Laba Camp.

Is that not the sweetest gesture ever? It’s very heart-warming to see such scenarios.

4. Cow In Yishun

Given how urbanised Singapore is, we don’t see farm animals around housing estates at all (not anymore, that is).

Then there’s this cow in Yishun. No we’re talking about a mean lady. We’re talking about a literal cow. The kind that goes “Moo” and is stereotypically white with black patches (or black with white patches).

[caption id="attachment_32608" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Image Credit: Image Credit: Image Credit: Pinterest[/caption]

Long story short, the court denies the return of the phone to the parent.

The moral of the story here, is that privilege will not save you from rule-breaking.

7. The Man Who Drank The Elixir Of Life

In July, the nation was shook by the sudden discovery of the Man Who Never Ages.

Yes we’re talking about ChuanDo Tan. The 50 year old that looks way younger than his age allows.

[caption id="attachment_32611" align="aligncenter" width="652"] Image Credit: @chuando_chuandoandfrey[/caption]

The former model-turned-photographer’s secret to staying young and buff AF, is working out religiously.

Not forgetting really good genes too.

We’ve never seen the nation come together for something positive, since National Day 2016.

8. The Kid Who Flipped The Nation Off

National Day this year was brilliant, as usual. But the icing on the cake wasn’t the fireworks.

It came at the end of the live broadcast of the National Day Parade.

A student from Henry Park Primary School (bless his heart) was seen flashing his middle finger at the camera at the end of the parade, when the performers were gathered for the finale.

[caption id="attachment_32612" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Image Credit: Youtube[/caption]

The nation gasped, processed what happened, and laughed. Well, most of us laughed anyway. Parents were shaking their heads and teachers were scrambling to find the boy.

Long story short, he was found, reprimanded and counselled. But it was still a good laugh.

9. A New President

In September this year, there was a lot of controversy regarding the reserved election, but eventually the nation moved on and a new President was elected.

[caption id="attachment_32613" align="aligncenter" width="1026"] Image Credit: @halimahyacob[/caption]

Mdm Halimah Yacob, previously the MP of Jurong GRC, is Singapore’ first female President. She was declared President-elect on 13 September this year and inaugurated the day after.

10. Flowers For Patients

In November, volunteers at BloomBack, a social enterprise, recycled wedding flowers and turned them into 300 bouquets that were handed out to patients at St. Andrew’s Community Hospital, Banyan Home, and the Salvation Army.

[caption id="attachment_32615" align="aligncenter" width="687"] Image Credit: BloomBack[/caption]

The flowers, worth more than $10,000, were collected from a wedding dinner the night before. Not wanting the fresh flowers to be tossed in the bin, BloomBack decided to give these flowers a new purpose.

Sometimes, small gestures can really make one’s day.

Also read Here Are All The Concerts To Look Forward To In 2018 So Far

Seletar Aerospace Is Where The Hipsters Are Now Hanging Out At

North-east residents rejoice! The new kid on the block – Seletar Aerospace – is currently where all the hipsters are now hanging out at!

The recently redeveloped area at Seletar Aerospace Park is also known as The Oval. This sprawling plot of land boasts a cluster of 32 black and white colonial bungalows. Gazetted for conservation, these stunning bungalows now house various restaurants for that ultimate dining experience.

We’d say, forget Tiong Bahru and Holland Village. Seletar Aerospace is the next foodie enclave that you should be heading to!

1. Youngs Bar & Restaurant

Housed in one of the numerous colonial bungalows at Seletar Aerospace Park is Youngs Bar & Restaurant.

[caption id="attachment_21805" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Credit: Credit: Credit: Instagram[/caption]

If you happen to be here at night, you will certainly be spoilt for choice with their extensive selection of drinks. Choose from draft and bottled beers, single malt whiskies, cocktails to red and white wine!

Youngs Bar & Restaurant
Address: 
3 Hyde Park Gate, The Oval @ SAP, Singapore 799531
Opening hours: Mon to Thu 11am – 1am, Fri & Eve of PH 11am – 2am, Sat 8am – 2am, Sun and PH 8am – 1am
Credit: Credit: Credit: Website

3. Wildseed

Similar to most of the restaurants here at Seletar Aerospace Park, Wildseed is a cafe by day and transforms into a bar at night.

[caption id="attachment_21809" align="aligncenter" width="901"] Credit: Credit: Credit: 4. The Summerhouse Dining Room

Sharing the same bungalow space as Wildseed, The Summerhouse Dining Room is located at the upper floor of the colonial bungalow.

[caption id="attachment_21813" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Credit: Facebook, The Summerhouse Dining Room[/caption]

The restaurant overlooks its in-house garden and farming collective. Expect a plethora of nature-inspired cuisines using their very own fresh seasonal produce!

[caption id="attachment_21814" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Credit: Facebook, The Summerhouse Dining Room[/caption]

Here at The Summerhouse Dining Room, you can expect nothing short of inventive flavours. They have a unique collective farming set menu as well as a la carte dishes available. Some of their highlights include Iberico Pork, Beetroot as well as Uni Pasta.

[caption id="attachment_21812" align="aligncenter" width="329"] Credit: 5. Di Wei Teo Chew Restaurant

If modern Western cuisines do not suit your palate for the day, fret not! There is still the reliable Chinese restaurant to fall back on at Di Wei Teo Chew Restaurant.

[caption id="attachment_21816" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Credit: Credit: Website

The once-secluded area of Seletar just got more hip. All because of the onslaught of chichi restaurants and cafes that serve up fancy food, fancy cocktails and fancy coffee. Away from the bustling city roads, this place provides a serene and almost country-like atmosphere rarely found in our cosmopolitan Singapore.

While Seletar Aerospace might be slightly inaccessible (though Punggol and Yishun residents might beg to differ), it is no doubt a trip worth making. So head down to this new foodie enclave and savour some delectable food fare while enjoying the quiet setting. At the rate of its increasing popularity, this place might start getting more crowded in time to come!

(Header image credit: www.silverkris.com)

Also, read 6 Best Places For A Customised Burger So You Can Really Have It Your Way

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

[caption id="attachment_14006" align="alignnone" width="1600"]hojiak-rojak-khatib Image Credit: Cavin Teo[/caption]

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

[caption id="attachment_14191" align="aligncenter" width="640"]Credit: Alex Chua Credit: chicken-briyani-set-yishun Image Credit: Ellena Guan[/caption]

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

[caption id="attachment_13995" align="alignnone" width="1600"]yummy-duck-rice-chong-pang Image Credit: The Burnt Fork[/caption]

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

[caption id="attachment_14193" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]Credit: theburntfork Credit:chong-pang-nasi-lemak-yishun-sembawang Image Credit: Hawker Hunters[/caption]

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: yummy-fishball-noodles-yishun 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

[caption id="attachment_14002" align="alignnone" width="1600"]yummy-carrot-cake-khatib Image Credit: Foodie FC[/caption]

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

[caption id="attachment_14009" align="alignnone" width="1600"]yummy-heng-hua-bee-hoon Image Credit: Uniquelicious[/caption]

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

[caption id="attachment_14011" align="alignnone" width="1600"]bei-sheng-seafood-thai-yishun Image Credit: The Burnt Fork[/caption]

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

[caption id="attachment_14012" align="alignnone" width="1024"]yummy-yam-ring-zi-zai-vegetarian Image Credit: Gurkhason[/caption]

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

[caption id="attachment_14262" align="alignnone" width="1080"]hk-roast-meat-yishun Image Credit: Mr. & Mrs. Glutton[/caption]

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

[caption id="attachment_14020" align="alignnone" width="1024"]the-french-table-northpoint Image Credit: Food Hunting For Us[/caption]

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: nasi-padang-yishun 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

[caption id="attachment_14264" align="alignnone" width="960"]nakhon-kitchen-thai-yishun Image Credit: Wendy Huin[/caption]

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

Singaporeans Are Going Crazy Over Pokemon Go! Here’s The Evidence!

When baked cheese tart hit our shores, we thought the queue was crazy. But when Pokemon Go landed in Singapore, Singaporeans take crazy to a whole new level!

Day or night, shine or very hot sunshine, Singaporeans are all out Poke-hunting and we have the evidence!

1. Hougang is gungho…real gungho

[caption id="attachment_12166" align="alignnone" width="780"]Image source: @WEIXIANGLIMSG Image source: @WEIXIANGLIMSG[/caption]

When word about “rare” Pokemon such as Gyarados was spotted at Block 401 of Hougang Avenue, the precinct gained notorious reputation overnight.

2. ….doesn’t matter day or night

[caption id="attachment_12167" align="alignnone" width="593"]Image source: @plince83 Image source: @plince83[/caption]

Hot sun? What hot sun? Nothing is hotter than a Charizard that I’m about to catch!

3.  Punggol Park is not spared either

[caption id="attachment_12168" align="alignnone" width="690"]Image source: stomp Image source: Image source: Lim Zhuang Chen Image source: Lim Zhuang Chen[/caption]

It’s normal to see a park with people in sports attire but in flip flops and their smartphone on their hands? That’s the Pokemon effect!

5. Yishun Park at night

[caption id="attachment_12173" align="alignnone" width="850"]Image source: @amiehetfield Image source: @amiehetfield[/caption]

Dear, we’re not going to the movies tonight. Instead, let’s go catch some Pokemon! Pokemon Go – redefining date nights.

6. Orchard Road

[caption id="attachment_12170" align="alignnone" width="1179"]A Pokemon Go walk was held recently at Orchard Road during National Day Image source: Razergo[/caption]

How to get a bunch of youths going on a public holiday? Organise a Poke-crawl on National Day!

[caption id="attachment_12171" align="alignnone" width="690"]Image source: Razor Image source: Razor[/caption]

The event started at 1pm (read: hottest time of the day) and yet our Singaporean youths braved the heat to be the very best! In fact, the turnout was so massive that Poke-crawlers were chased away by the security staff of ION!

7. Orchard At Night

[caption id="attachment_12172" align="alignnone" width="960"]Image source: Pokemon GO SG Hunt Image source: Pokemon GO SG Hunt[/caption]

Just look at how everyone sits together so uniformly! It sure looks like they’re about to start a choir performance! Actually, they’re sticking as close as possible to leech from each other’s lure.

8. Chinese Garden, Jurong

[caption id="attachment_12174" align="alignnone" width="960"]Image source: PokemonGO SG Image source: PokemonGO SG[/caption]

It may look less crowded in this picture but the Chinese Garden is a hot spot for Pokemon GO players as it houses 20 rest stops and 3 gyms. It’s very spacious so it’s great for people who don’t like crowd.

9. Vivo City

[caption id="attachment_12175" align="alignnone" width="960"]Image source: Pokemon GO SG Image source: Pokemon GO SG[/caption]

We Singaporeans are all about efficiency. If we can get our shopping done at Vivo and catch some Pokemon too, why not?

10. Bishan Park

[caption id="attachment_12176" align="alignnone" width="595"]Image source: @euniceleong Image source: @euniceleong[/caption]

Remember how people used to say that Bishan Park is really scary at night? This was taken at 1:30am and the park is still lively and buzzing!

11. East Coast Park

[caption id="attachment_12177" align="alignnone" width="595"]Image source: @camemberu Image source: @camemberu[/caption]

East Coast Park is home to one of Singapore’s most haunting ghost stories. It’s one of those places people try to avoid going to at night. But ever since the launch of Pokemon Go, we’ve seen some really brave Singaporeans. And it’s the Hungry Ghost Festival now…

Do you have evidence of the Pokemon Go craze in your neighbourhood? Drop us a comment and share with us!

Header image source: Straits Times

Also, read Pokemon Go Guide: How To Catch Pikachu & Where To Catch ‘Em All

$23.90++ For All You Can Eat Seafood Buffet At Aroy Jing Jing

How much seafood can you get for less than $30? Half a kilogram of crab? A full kilo of prawns? A handful of shellfish maybe? If you love seafood and you’re on a tight budget (just like us), April must be your lucky month because Thai restaurant Aroy Jing Jing is having an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet promotion that will keep you hooked!

[caption id="attachment_5457" align="alignnone" width="1022"] Image source: ORTO Yishun (formally known as Bottle Tree Park), Aroy Jing Jing is offering a seafood buffet at an all time low promotional price of $23.90++ (regular price $29.90++) for the month of April! The spread features servings of the freshest slipper lobsters, flower crabs, half shell scallops, white clams, blue mussels, tiger prawns, salmon, squid, as well as chicken, and pork belly meat skewers.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BD3GKeKwgAz/?tagged=aroyjingjing

This seafood goodness buffet is available from Tuesday to Sunday, 6pm onwards. You need to make a reservation to secure your table. They had to turn walk-in customers away due to the overwhelming response. This shows how much Singaporeans love a good buffet and seafood deal!

Reservation

To make your reservation, you can either email [email protected] or drop a message on their Facebook page. Reservations via phone is not encouraged as they might not be able to attend to their main lines during peak period.

[caption id="attachment_5461" align="alignnone" width="960"] Image Source: Aroy Jing Jing[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5476" align="alignnone" width="960"] Credit: Aroy Jing Jing[/caption]

How the buffet works

Aroy Jing Jing will provide a charcoal stove along with a BBQ wire mesh. Select your choice of fresh seafood, and enjoy the dinner chatting with friends and grilling your seafood!

[caption id="attachment_5781" align="aligncenter" width="1005"] Credit: ORTO[/caption]

Just imagine grilling succulent fresh seafood (at affordable prices) over a charcoal-fired stove surrounded by the serenity of greeneries… mmm that sure sounds like a catch!

Aroy Jing Jing
Address:  ORTO,  81 Lorong Chencharu #01-05 Singapore 769198
Contact: +65 6257 2328
Buffet Hours:
Tue – Sun from 6pm onwards

*Seafood buffet starts from 6pm
**Promotion only valid for month of April 2016

Also Read: Karaoke Manekineko Promo: Sing Your Heart Out For 2 Hours At Only $10!

(Header image credit: original image by Aroy Jing Jing, edited by editor)

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