[TAIPEI, TAIWAN] Singaporeans love night markets, and it’s always a must to visit one, if not all, of the night markets in Taipei. Be it the heady summer heat or wintry cold, the changing seasons cannot deny our pursuit of delicious snacks. Nicknamed the stomach of Taipei, Ningxia Night Market (寧夏觀光夜市) is one market that you definitely must visit.

You know the market must be awesome when you see tons of locals there. A good part of the market is usually closed when it rains. This time, the market was unfazed by the constant drizzle and remained operational when we were there. That’s because a shelter has been built permanently over the whole stretch of Ningxia Night Market. Now, you can savour all the Taiwanese delicacies without having to worry about wet weather conditions.

One way to get to Ningxia is via the reliable Taipei metro. You can take the red line to Shuanglian (雙連), locate exit 1 and head west after you find Minsheng West Road (民生西路). The night market will be on the left side. You can’t miss it!

新社烧烤杏鲍菇 King Oyster Mushroom

Who can resist these firm and crunchy babies? The thick and stumpy mushrooms are grilled to perfection, before being brushed with a thin layer of sweet sauce. Also known as King Trumpet Mushroom, the mushroom is available in eight different flavours – from cumin to rose mineral salt. Each serving costs 100 NTD, which amounts to about $4.

青草茶 Bitter Tea

From a tender age, I have been convinced by loved ones to gulp down a cup of 青草茶 bitter tea whenever we chance upon it. The tea is believed to boast several health benefits, such as dispelling heatiness from the body. I’m sorry to report that its taste is unbearable (for me at least). After the first sip, the herb taste that you might have detected is quickly overshadowed by an unpleasant bitterness. Luckily, the hawker presents you a sweet upon your purchase. So keep it and pop it in your mouth if you need to. 

牛妈妈

What I love about night markets is that you get to watch your food being prepared right in front of your eyes. Witness how 牛妈妈 herself skilfully manoeuvres her way through large braising pots and prepares drool-worthy dishes that are loved by the locals. We tried the 沙茶牛肉面 (NTD 90) Beef Noodles with Sha Cha Sauce. Think yellow noodles and beef slices drenched in thick sha cha sauce. The first thing that caught my eye is its HUGE portion. I felt that it would have been more enjoyable, if the noodles did not carry such a strong alkaline taste. You might like to share a bowl of 焢肉饭 (NTD 60) too.

方家

There’s something comforting about tucking into a bowl of rice when I’m in Taiwan. If you agree, then you need to pay 方家 a visit. Although they serve up a number of dishes, they are apparently best known for their 鸡肉饭 Rice with Chicken (NTD 30) and their 卤肉饭 Rice with Braised Pork (NTD 30). The former comes with shredded chicken, and a bowl of hot steaming rice with light soya sauce. I prefer the latter though. The sweet and savoury braised pork bits were tender, and paired excellently with the rice. 

Liu Yu Zi Taro Fried Balls

If you haven’t had taro fried balls, you’re in for a real treat. Encased within these crispy yam balls (NTD 20) is a pork floss filling. Careful, for you might become addicted to its earthy, sweet and chewy insides. On the other hand, the Fried Yam Ball with Salted Egg Yolk (NTD 25) offers a lot more texture and taste. The sweet yam and savoury egg yolk tasted decent at first, but it became more jelak with every bite. The taro fried balls without the salted egg yolk are still the ideal snack!

紫米牛奶

For the Taiwanese, milk tea isn’t just a beverage. It’s a way of life. Flavoured pearl milk tea has invaded every part of the world, and has made Taiwan a popular travel destination. However, few are aware of the nutritious purple rice milk. Beyond its range of health benefits, the purple rice milk is very delicious. Its taste is akin to our pulau hitam, but less sweet. Purple glutinous rice sits at the bottom of the drink. Warm your belly, and hands, with a cup, if it’s cold out there!

Peanut and Sesame Mochi

What better way to end off this entry than to introduce my favourite snack in Ningxia? For NTD 40, you get two palm-sized homemade mochi slapped on a plate of ground peanut and sesame seeds. For the first mouthful, we were advised to dip the mochi into the ground peanuts only. It’s super yummy! Before you know it, you might have ordered another to go.

There are also tons of food stalls that lie adjacent to Ningxia Night Market. With more than ample delicious street food at affordable prices, Ningxia will definitely please both your tummy and wallet.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the cafes/stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Ningxia Night Market (寧夏觀光夜市) – 7 Delicious Snacks To Try in Taiwan appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

For many Singaporeans, hawker centres are the go-to places for a quick and satisfying meal. Hawker centres have a huge variety of food that are both affordable and delicious. However, thanks to Singapore’s all-year-round summer, the hawker centres aren’t the most comfortable places to dine at as they are not air-conditioned.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could enjoy your favourite hawker food in the comfort of your own home or office? No more hustling with other diners, or even queuing in the sweltering heat.

Rejoice, as honestbee FOOD has come up with a new on-demand hawker food delivery service to Singaporeans! On top of delivery from your regular restaurants,  you  can now have your favourite hawker delights delivered right to your doorstep.

We’re not just talking about ordering from ONE hawker stall in the hawker centre, but from multiple stores! Customers can select from multiple stalls within a hawker centre and check out in one single basket!

honestbee sweetens the deal by offering FREE DELIVERY for hawker fares. No other on-demand food delivery platform does this at present.

 What’s more, sign up for honestbee FOOD using the promo code “TAMCHIAK12” to get $12 off your purchase (minimum spend of $24)! Don’t say bo jio!

Say hello to comfort and bliss as you savour your favourite hawker fare while catching up on your favourite show.

The ordering process is really simple, and honestbee FOOD is the first ever on-demand delivery service that allows diners to order from multiple stalls within a single hawker centre, and checkout with just ONE basket with NO DELIVERY FEE! Hurry up and get clicking! 

honestbee FOOD currently delivers delicious hawker fare from the following hawker centres in Singapore:

• CBD
  • Maxwell Food Centre: Mon – Fri, 11am – 2pm
  • Hong Lim Food Centre: Mon – Fri, 11am – 2pm
  • Amoy Street Food Centre: Mon – Fri, 11am – 2pm
• East
  • Bedok 85 (85 Fengshan Centre): Daily, 6pm – 9pm
  • Old Airport Road Food Centre: Daily, 11am – 2pm
  • Chomp Chomp: Daily, 6pm – 9pm
• West
  • Bukit Timah Food Centre: Daily, 11am – 2pm
  • Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre: Daily, 11am – 2pm, 6pm – 9pm
• North
  • Toa Payoh Lor 1 West Market & Food Centre: Tues – Sun, 11am – 2pm
  • Toa Payoh Lor 5 Hawker Centre: Daily, 6pm – 9pm
• Central
  • Newton Food Centre: Daily, 6pm – 9pm
  • ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre: Daily, 11am – 2pm
  • Golden Mile Food Centre: Daily, 10am – 10pm (dependent on stall)

Although the coverage is already pretty wide, honestbee FOOD is adding even more hawkers centres on a weekly basis, so that everyone living in Singapore will have convenient access to great hawker food without stepping out the door. How cool and convenient is that!

How to order:

– Log on to www.honestbee.sg or download the honestbee app from the Google Play Store/Apple store. Once you have set up your details, select the FOOD service, and tap on the “Hawker Food” category under “Top Categories”.

– By clicking on the Hawker Food category, you will see the hawker centres available in your location (by the postal code you have entered at the start). honestbee is hard at work getting you more hawker centres across the island, so if you’re currently out of the area, don’t fret and check back soon!

– Select all your items, add them to your cart and remember to use the first time promo code TAMCHIAK12 for $12 off a minimum spend of $24 before checking out!

– Sit back, relax and wait for the doorbell to ring!

This post was brought to you by honestbee FOOD.

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According to google, an ‘-aholic’ denotes someone who is addicted to something. I’ve heard of shopaholic, workaholic and even sleepaholic. But, prawnaholic? That’s a first for me.

Located on the 2nd floor of the newly opened Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre, Fareground, Prawnaholic sells hae mee with a modern twist.

The chef-owner, Mr Alan Choong, started his job in the food and beverage industry five years ago, working in different hotels and restaurants before carving out his career as a hawker.

He shared that during his tenure as an apprentice, he would visit different hawker centres to source for inspiration. One of his favourite dishes to order would be, you guessed it, prawn noodles. Now that he has his own shop, he has decided to pay homage to the local delight by creating a modern version of the hawker classic.

When asked if he preferred working as a hotel line cook or a hawker, the 24-year-old shared that the job as a hawker is definitely tougher, but the sense of satisfaction he gets is worth it. He enjoys the daily interaction with other stall owners and customers and getting to know them better.

At the time of writing, there are only six dishes on the menu. Two dishes are sides while the other four are different variations of hae mee. Diners can look forward to Special Prawn Noodle ($6.50), Lala Prawn Noodles ($4) and the King Prawn Udon ($12.50).

A bowl of Special Prawn Noodle(dry/soup) comes with your choice of noodles, and a variety of ingredients, such as a fresh large prawn, torched Kurobuta pork and homemade prawn ball. I felt that the bowl($6.50) was reasonably priced. 

The prawns used were fresh, sweet and juicy, and the prawn ball was chewy and not too floury. The star, for me, was the thick cuts of torched Kurobuta pork, which sported a nice char. Alan shared that he made the decision to change the traditional accompaniment, pork ribs, to Kurobuta pork belly to elevate the luxuriousness of the dish.

We had our prawn noodles dry, and was coated with a homemade chilli sauce. The sauce is a special concoction that Alan created from a mixture of dried shrimps and other aromatics.

The noodles come with a small bowl of soup that’s dark, sweet, and very flavourful. Don’t fear about the thirst that usually kicks in after drinking a bowl of MSG-laden soup. Alan shares that he does not use MSG in his soup, and the flavours you get are all natural. We’re definitely going back for a second helping!

If $6.50 for a bowl of prawn noodles is a little too high for you, you can opt for the Lala Prawn Noodles ($4), which come with a fresh prawn, a piece of Kurobuta pork and some clams. This is a great option for people on a tighter budget. The broth and sauces are the same, so you wouldn’t be missing out on much.

Prawnaholic does two appetisers as well — Prawn Balls & Salted Egg Mayo ($6.50), and Salmon Skin & Salted Egg Mayo ($6.50). We were told that the prawn balls are made in limited quantities, and are usually the first time that gets sold out. We had the latter, which was very ordinary, and not really worth the money in our opinion.

It is always heartwarming to see the younger generations starting out as hawkers. Even though it is hard work, at the end of the day, their passion for hawker food still triumphs. Prawnaholic does serve up a decent modern rendition of hae mee. The broth and sauce are both tasty, so we’re sure that you’ll enjoy your hearty bowl of prawn noodles either way (dry or soup). 

<em>MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.</em>

The post Prawnaholic – The New Generation of Our Classic Hae Mee! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Although there isn’t an MRT station nearby, Balestier, which is known for good food, is still very convenient to get to. So, there’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t visit this little food haven. 

You might miss this roast meat stall because of its inconspicuous signboard. Located in a small corner coffee shop, Zhen Cheng specialises in Cantonese-style roast meats.

We tried three out of the four types of meat(roast duck, char siew, siew yoke and soy sauce chicken)  available — roast duck, char siew and siew yoke.

For the Char Siew Siew Yoke Fan ($4), a generous amount of thick and gooey zhap was slapped on the meat. The zhap was flavourful, and complemented the different roast meats. The char siew had a nice char and a good ratio of lean meat to fat.

However, I felt that the siew yoke was quite a letdown. It was too crumbly — just picking it up and dipping it in the chilli sauce caused it to break apart. Also, the golden brown skin wasn’t crunchy, or crisp.

Thankfully, the Duck Noodle ($4) saved the day. The duck meat was firm, and was perfumed with the aroma of cinnamon, star anise and cloves. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sometimes, we get roast duck that  don’t carry the aroma of any herbs and spices. It certainly isn’t the case here at Zhen Cheng. The noodles were also springy and QQ — just the way I like it.

I was lucky enough to witness one of the stall owners making the chilli sauce. He filled a large wok with oil, chilli paste, and other aromatics, and stirred the mix slowly. 

Zhen Cheng currently has an outlet in Balestier and another along Cantonment Road. 

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Zhen Cheng Roast Meat – Delicious Roast Duck & Other Delights! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Bangkok is a city that never sleeps. There is really so much to do here! From cafe-hopping and dining at road side stalls, to shopping at wholesale markets and checking out cool bars, Bangkok promises a food-filling holiday. 

A friend told us to visit Huamum Night Market, so we popped by when we visited Bangkok in December. This night market isn’t near the city. In fact, it’s about a 40-minute drive from the city center, but you’ll be glad to know that it isn’t saturated with tourists. 

Here are 8 items to try at Huamum Night Market!

Rainbow Cheese Toast

E-PED Cheese Toast in Hua Mum Night Market sells cheesy toasts! Customise your cheese toast by choosing your preferred toast(charcoal or white), and desired cheese colours. We ordered the rainbow cheese toast just for the psychedelic hues! Lastly, pick a sauce. Options include Italian, garlic or chili. Just like that, you’re ready for a cheesy adventure!

Fried Fish Cake

This has got to be my favourite find. Retailing at 25B per piece, these fried fish cakes are fried on the spot, and you can decide how you’ll like them cut up. Don’t expect the fish cakes to be springy though! There’s more flour mixed into them, hence, they’re chewier and doughier. 

You can have your fishcake cut into chunks, or thin slices. The two versions have different textures. I preferred the thinly sliced ones as they are crispier. If you prefer something chewier, opt for the chunky version. Don’t forget to drizzle, or drown, your fish cakes with the sweet and sour chili sauce.

Squid Eggs & Tentacles

These milky white lumps of squid eggs are pan fried till golden brown, before they are doused in a spicy green chili mixture. It might take a while to get used to the idea that you’re eating squid eggs, but trust me, they’re good! These golden nuggets are creamy, buttery and springy — a combination that I’ve never experienced before. If squid eggs are too exotic for you, you can get the deep fried squid tentacles, which are tasty too!

Dragon’s Breath

If you can’t get enough of this instaworthy dessert, you can get your fix here at Huamum Night Market. There is a stall that sells Dragon’s Breath Ice Cream, which is basically ice cream that is tossed in liquid nitrogen prior to serving. Just a bite of it will send smoke out of your mouth and nose. Remember to take a boomerang and show off your dragon’s fury when you exhale the smoke!

Pandan Kueh

These sweet and fluffy pandan kuehs are made in hot moulds. We loved the strong pandan aroma that each morsel carried. Every bite was delightful. Do eat them immediately, when they’re warm and toasty!

Gingko Nut Dessert

If you are a fan of tang yuan, like me, you’re bound to love this Thai gingko nut dessert. The dessert is an ensemble of hardboiled egg, gingko nuts, tang yuan, and a sweet and creamy coconut soup. The yellow and white balls reminded us of the pearls in bubble tea, and the powdery egg yolk just melted in our mouths. This dish seems to be very popular with the locals.

Sunnyside Quail Eggs

I’m sure you know what these are! A skewer of sunny side up quail eggs got us really excited. Diners can drizzle their favourite sauces(barbecue, mustard, mayonnaise, chili sauce, or tabasco) over the eggs for extra flavour. Definitely a great snack on a cold night in Bangkok!

Coconut Milk Kueh

You might be surprised, but there’s a whole stall at the night market that is dedicated to selling just these coconut kuehs. They come in an assortment of flavours and colours, such as pandan (green) and yam (lilac), but they all have a white coconut milk top. The kueh is cooked in a small metal bowl, hence its dome appearance. The wobbly kuehs are not too sweet, and will satisfy those looking for a small treat. Note that the kuehs are sold in boxes of six.

Similar to other night markets studded throughout Thailand, Huamum Night Market has a good mix of food, fashion and quirky gadgets. Even though it’s not located near the city centre, it definitely warrants a visit!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stalls featured here.

The post 8 Delicious Finds That You Must Try at Hua Mum Night Market appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Online reviews raved about the mee goreng at Hass Bawa. Apparently, the mee goreng here is the best in the whole of Singapore. We rushed to Marine Parade Central, where the supposedly “power” mee goreng is. I was a little shocked to find that there wasn’t any queue when we arrived. However, I realised that everyone was just sitting around, waiting for their food to be ready. 

I’ve always enjoyed the bright red Mee Goreng ($3.50), which Hass Bawa offers too. The mee had a subtle charred aroma, possibly imparted from the ferocious stir frying that the mee was subjected to. Although the first mouthful was pretty mediocre, there was just something about the mee that kept me going for more. The grease made the mee goreng very appetizing. A decent amount of egg, beef and cabbage bits were also added. Other than that, the taste of the mee goreng resembled your oh-so average mee that you can find elsewhere.

Pair the mee goreng with a bowl of Soup Kambing ($5 – $7), if you like. As delicious as it sounds, the soup was quite disappointed.

The broth was bland, and lacked the taste of mutton and spices. The mutton was soft, but carried a slight gaminess.

I guess the mee goreng is really the best dish offered at Hass Bawa. Despite the lacklustre food, Hass Bawa has been around for 40 over years. There must be some beauty that we have yet to discover, so let us know if we’ve missed out on something delicious!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Hass Bawa. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Hass Bawa – Do They Really Have The Best Mee Goreng in Singapore? appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Wanton noodles originated in Guangzhou. This delicious bowl which is made up of springy egg noodles, pork parcels, and barbecue pork gained popularity. Different versions can now be found in many Asian countries.

Our love for wanton noodles brought us to Hoe Kee Wanton Noodles, which sits in a 24-hour coffee shop in Serangoon North.

Besides wanton noodles, the stall sells other dishes such as Dumpling Noodle ($3/$4/$5), Chicken Feet Noodle ($3.50/$4.50) and Shredded Chicken Noodle ($3.50/$4.50).

I enjoyed the Dumpling Noodle, or shui jiao mian. The shui jiao was plump and juicy, and was filled with a mixture of pork, prawns and chives. Although it was a little under seasoned, the earthiness of the chives really stood out. 

The wantons that came with the Wanton Noodle ($3/$4/$5) were understuffed — I definitely ate more skin than filling. The char siew was the only saving grace. Each slice of char siew has a good balance of lean meat and fat, a nicely charred exterior, and just enough smokiness. 

Because it’s situated in a 24/7 coffee shop, diners can get their wanton mee fix whenever hunger pangs call. Do take note of the operating hours, as the stall is not open daily.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Hoe Kee Wanton Mee – One Tonne of Wantons, Please? appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Riiiiing! Class dismissed. Do you remember the days when you so eagerly counted down to the end of a school day? I know of a skool in Tampines where students genuinely want to stay back. You don’t have to be a straight-A student to attend Ice Cream Skool. All you need is a big appetite and a sweet tooth.

Patrons are greeted with a simple, yet cosy, interior, that’s complete with spots that are perfect for OOTDs. Hidden in every corner are charging outlets as well — perfect for those armed with laptops for study sessions or project meetings. If Ice Cream Skool still doesn’t sound attractive to you, their prices will definitely change that. I mean, have you even had a scoop of ice cream for only $2?!

Remember that one teacher in school who was always patient and helpful when you messed up? Co-founder, Yihui, is that teacher. As we struggled to decipher the menu, Yihui walked us through the menu. When we were undecided on our ice cream flavour, she encouraged us to try ALL the ice cream flavours before making a decision.

We ordered one of their super affordable set meals which comprised the best of everything. Set meal 2 ($22.50) consists of a pasta of your choice, a waffle with two scoops of ice cream, and a refillable pot of tea. If you’re dropping by for just desserts, go for set menu 1 ($11.90), which promises a waffle with two scoops of ice-cream, and a refillable pot of tea. Now, that’s really a bang for the buck.

For the pasta, we chose the Spicy Tom Yum Pasta. Strands of tagliatelle are covered in a hot and sour tom yum paste. What hits you first is a brief fire, before an enduring sour sensation kicks in. Taste-wise, it’s pretty mediocre because it does lack that distinct aroma present in tom yum.
The pasta is topped with a handful of prawns as well. However, one might find the dish incomplete. Perhaps, the addition of more ingredients would complete the experience.

As part of the set, we had the butterchip waffles which we paired with Hazelnut Chocolate and Durian ice cream. Butterchip waffles? Yes, you saw that right. Chocolate chips are embedded in the snowflake-shaped buttermilk waffles! Their waffles were airy and crunchy, and tasted so good especially with lashings of chocolate sauce. The butterchip waffle is also available as an a la Carte item ($3.80).

Given its price point, the ice cream (prices range from $2 – $8.40) was pretty well-executed. The hazelnut chocolate was smooth, nutty, and creamy. As for the durian ice cream, its pungent aroma captured my attention for a while but I thought that the texture can be improved.

Let the sour notes of the Lemon Ginger Tea ($4.90 ala Carte) cleanse your palate while you finish up your set.

What’s most unique at Ice Cream Skool is actually available in set menu 3 ($7.90). Diners can look forward to Chicken-in-a-Waffle and a Rootbeer float. Instead of the usual fried chicken served on waffles, what you get is a lean piece of fried chicken encased within the airy and crispy waffle.

The flavoursome combination is best eaten with copious amounts of maple syrup!

The snowflake-shaped waffles also come in other unique flavours. The Sweet Berries($4.20) features homemade waffles that are infused with strawberries, and drizzled with strawberry jam.

If there’s an ice cream flavour that you should pick to complement the Sweet Berries. it is the Coconut icecream. It is an unorthodox combination, but undoubtedly a refreshing one!

Now, do you want to attend this skool? Ice Cream Skool also helps to organize corporate events and birthday parties. I’m sure your guests will walk away happy, like we did!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Ice Cream Skool. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Ice Cream Skool – A School You’ll Never Want To Be Dismissed From! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

If you’re a big fan of ‘fast food’ dining concept restaurants such as Aston’s or iSteaks, you might fall in love with Wild Olives as well.

Located on the 2nd floor of the newly opened Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre, Fareground, Wild Olives isn’t just ‘one of the other’ stalls at Fareground that sells Western food.

During my two visits, I noticed that there was always a queue at Wild Olives. The menu is split into three categories — Western Food, Pasta and Side Orders. Each dish from the “Western Food” selection comes with a choice of two sides. We tried an item from every category, and we were quite pleased with what we had.

From the Western Food selection, we had the Grilled Chicken ($5.90), and the Chilled NZ Sirloin Steak ($10.90). The portions were pretty huge, making the dishes quite a bang for the buck.

Although the exterior of the chicken was a tad overcooked, the meat was tender.

The sirloin steak was a little on the tough side as well. Nevertheless, it still tasted decent when paired with the garlic sauce, which gave a tangy and garlicky flavour in every bite.

There are quite a number of sides offered at Wild Olives. Popular choices include Wild Olives’ Signature Mushroom Rice, Grilled Herb Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables and Homemade Coleslaw.

To accompany our two mains, we had the mushroom rice, grilled herb potatoes and seasonal vegetables. We loved the flavours of the mushroom rice. Other than having slices of mushrooms, the rice had a sweetness that came from the addition of fried onions. The grilled herb potatoes were also pretty good. They were neither mushy, nor hard, and had a good flavour. 

We also tried the Fusilli di Bosco with Smoked Duck ($6.20). It features al dente fusilli pasta drenched in a creamy mushroom sauce, and topped with slices of smoked duck. Although the duck had a strong smoky aroma, I didn’t enjoy the texture.

A good side dish to share with friends and family would be the Homemade Meatballs with Marinara Sauce ($5.80). The tart and tangy marinara sauce coated the savoury meatballs well. The meatballs were flavourful and slightly garlicky, and were chewy and springy.

The spread at Wild Olives definitely is good value for money. I wouldn’t mind queueing again just for a taste of the stall’s signature mushroom rice. Yummy! 

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Wild Olives – Affordable Western Delights that will Make You Go Yeeha! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

The name of the stall says it all — good old lor mee that’s prepared according to a recipe that has been passed down through generations can be found here. While one might be under the impression that Ah Ma Lor Mee is a stand-alone stall, it is actually helmed by the same owners of Feng Zhen Lor Mee. The recipe used here, which is acquired from the owners’ grandmother, is the same as Feng Zhen’s. If you’re in the West and crave good lor mee, you must pay Ah Ma Lor Mee a visit. 

I absolutely love fish, so I was pretty much set on the Fish Lor Mee ($3.50). Similar to Feng Zhen, the lor mee here consists of a good amount of lor bak, white fish flakes, egg and fried meat ball! Beyond just a myriad of ingredients, what makes a delicious lor mee is the gravy which must be viscous and flavourful. As it turns out, the lor did not disappoint. Packed in the gravy is a savouriness that can be made either more sour or spicy with a doze of vinegar or chilli. You can do what I always do, and add a big spoonful of garlic to give the gravy extra punch!

You’re definitely getting quality ingredients for its price point. The fish flakes definitely stole the show with its white succulent flesh. Having the usual ngoh xiang replaced with fried meat balls is a breath of fresh air. The fried meat ball is crispy on the outside, and tender inside. The lor definitely elevates the taste of the meat ball.

Another noodle variant you might want to try is the Prawn Mee that comes in two versions — soup or dry ($3). I opted for the dry version, which is topped with prawns, lean pork slices and fish cake. Served separately is a bowl of prawn broth. The prawn mee was successful at whetting my appetite. The broth carried sweet notes that are enhanced by the tang of prawn essence. I like the prawn noodles but I guess its taste cannot match up to the lor mee.

Tucked away in Clementi are many hidden gems, one of which is Ah Ma Lor Mee. Come here if you desire a taste of tradition, or if you just want to fill up that tummy!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Ah Ma Lor Mee. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Ah Ma Lor Mee – Traditional Lor Mee That’s Ah-Ma-Gosh Delicious! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Chicken rice is my go-to dish whenever I’m unsure of what to have for lunch. It’s delicious, the waiting time is usually quite short, and there isn’t much decision making to be done. It’s just either roasted or poached chicken, and your choice of meat(breast, thigh, drumstick). I’m easily contented and will settle for whatever is given to me.

Located at Bukit Merah Central Food Centre, Nan Heng Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice always sees a queue during lunch hour. The stall sells both poached and roasted chicken, as well as ‘you cai’, a typical accompaniment to Hainanese chicken rice.

We had both the roasted and poached chicken rice ($3/$4/$5), as well as a plate of oil vegetables (You Cai) ($2/$3/$4). I preferred the poached variation as the skin had a gelatinous texture that I adored, and the breast meat was plump and tender.

The chilli sauce was great as well. It’s garlicky, and possesses a slight tartness and strong heat, just like how chicken rice chilli sauce should be. 

The chicken rice was fluffy, and flavourful, but was a tad too salty for my liking. I felt that since the chicken was served in a plate of soy sauce, the stall should’ve gone easier on the salt in the chicken rice.

Although the chicken rice was pretty tasty, the You Cai was rather lacklustre. Instead of being drowned in the gravy, the vegetables had the gravy “applied” on them. 

All in all, I think Nan Heng whips up flavourful chicken rice that’s worth queueing for. It’s no surprise that this stall has garnered a huge loyal following. 

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Nan Heng Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice – Cheap & Good! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Fried chicken is amazing. So is curry. Fried chicken and curry together? Now, that is an irresistible combination.

It is no wonder the stall selling this magic combination is known as “Cantonese Delights”. Fried chicken and curry sauce sit atop egg noodles which trap the fragrant and slightly sweet curry — a delight it surely is. 

Cantonese delights (#02-03) is a stall located on the second floor of Hong Lim Market and Food Centre. Take the stairs up, and simply head towards the stall with a snaking queue. 

Their famous Curry Chicken Cutlet Noodles ($4) is a must-order. You can choose between fried chicken cutlet or curry chicken drumstick. For those who do not appreciate spicy food, you are in for a treat. The fragrant and thick curry is slightly sweet, not very spicy, and rather “lemak”, which may be attributed to the copious amount of coconut milk added.

We also ordered the Chicken Feet Noodles ($3.50) which came with a huge chicken feet. In fact, huge is an understatement. It was GIGANTIC. What made the chicken feet different from what you get elsewhere was the generous amount of meat clinging onto the chicken claw! This is pretty rare — I haven’t seen such a meaty chicken feet before! For just $3,50, the portion is pretty value for money. However, the noodles and sauce had a slightly floury aftertaste, which I did not fancy.

For those looking to add extra flavour to their noodles, condiments such as green chilli, red chilli and pork lard are available at the stall front. While the pork lard looks inviting, it was a little “lou feng”(not very crispy).

In conclusion, Cantonese Delights is worth a try if you are in the vicinity. The affordable and hearty options are great for those looking for a little sinful indulgence. 

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

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Poke bowls in a hawker centre? That’s a first!

If you work in the Central Business District, you are in luck. Big Bowls Project, which sells halal poke bowls and is 100% Muslim-owned, has recently opened its shutters in the busy Amoy Street Food Centre. Smart move, I must say, for the lunch crowd at Amoy Street Food Centre is crazy.

When we visited Amoy Street Food Centre around 12pm on a weekday, the hawker centre was already swarming with working adults clad in office wear. I reckon that this place is popular with the working crowd. Thus, if you are unrestricted by lunch hours, I’ll suggest that you make a visit earlier in order to find a seat in this bustling hawker centre. Big Bowls Project opens at 11.30am, and closes at 2.30 pm on weekdays.

As we visited Big Bowls Project during their pre-launch period, only 4 cooked salmon bowls were available. These include Big Bowl’s Homemade Recipe ($7.90). Szechuan Black Bean Salmon ($7.90), Mentaiko Salmon ($8.90) and Truffle Oil salmon ($8.90). Sadly, the Truffle Oil Salmon was sold out on the day of our visit. Note that the prices listed in brackets are accurate at the time of writing (during their pre-launch period). The young owner at Big Bowls Project mentions that plans to introduce a greater variety of rice bowls, and expand their range of products, are underway. 

We ordered the Mentaiko Salmon, which at $8.90 was pretty much a steal, considering that the portion of salmon was rather substantial. The mentaiko sauce was impressive. The breath of the blowtorch added a smokey char to the tender fish. And, despite the tendency for mentaiko sauce to get a tad too salty, I was glad that their version of mentaiko salmon was done just right. While the salmon was not of the “perfect doneness” (which, in my opinion, should sport a slightly pink middle), it was still tender with a nice bite. However, I was a little surprised at the evidently broken onsen egg, which wasn’t replaced. Perhaps it was too busy a period for them, so I shall give them the benefit of doubt.

We also tried the Szechuan Black Bean Salmon ($7.90), which is reminiscent of the sauce smeared atop traditional Chinese-style steamed fish. According to the young owner of Big Bowls Project, the black bean salmon is her favourite. Although the black bean paste was not as salty as a typical black bean sauce, it still embodied the characteristic aroma and taste of black beans. The salmon in this rice bowl was cooked well too, with a consistency similar to that of the salmon in the mentaiko bowl. However, I must let you know that the salmon skin is not the crispy type, even though the salmon flesh itself was delicious.

In conclusion, Big Bowls Project has done a pretty stellar job with its salmon bowls, considering it is still their pre-launch period — a time where stalls typically tend to encounter some teething issues. Big Bowls Project is a great and affordable option if you plan to indulge in Japanese bowls in the CBD.  I am really looking forward to their actual poke bowls. For those with Muslim friends and colleagues, why not introduce them to Big Bowls Project at Amoy Street Food Centre?

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

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Rosti in a coffeeshop? What a rarity! Originally a breakfast dish commonly eaten by farmers in the canton of Bern (which is Switzerland’s capital), the popularity of rosti has soared and rosti is now eaten all over the world.

For those who do not live in Woodlands, you will need lots of help finding this place. The coffeeshop is situated in the middle of a block of flats (Block 354/355). For those who alight at Woodlands MRT station, make your way to the Woodlands Temp Bus interchange, and board any bus that goes to a stop called “Rosewood”. Upon alighting at Rosewood Condominium, cross the road to get to Block 354/355. You are very welcome, just doing my part for fellow foodies!

After getting lost for 1.5 hours because Google Maps failed us, we trudged with hunger to Ivan’s Carbina and ordered 2 dishes. Tons of choices are available, and we eventually settled with the Rosti with Cheese sausage ($7.20) and Fried Chicken Cutlet ($6.50). The mains come with 2 sides — choose from garden salad, french fries, butter rice etc. We chose the butter rice and fries as accompaniments to the chicken cutlet.

The Rosti with Cheese Sausage ($7.20) came with a rosti that was crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. However, the seasoning was a little inconsistent —  some parts were well-seasoned, but other areas were a tad bland. On the other hand, the cheese sausage was pretty tasty, but I wished that the sausage skin had a better “snap”. The sausage was slightly cheesy, but I would not describe it as “exploding with cheese”. 

The sour cream on the side was a cold and creamy contrast to the rosti, and the hints of lemon helping perked up the heavy dish. The touch of mushroom cream sauce was toothsome too. However, the egg atop the rosti was slightly overcooked. The lack of a runny yolk was slightly disappointing. I would recommend eating all the elements together in one bite, as it is a pretty flavourful experience. Considering the price, Ivan Carbina’s rosti with cheese sausage is a rather viable and affordable substitute for rosti from higher-end establishments.

The Fried Chicken Cutlet ($6.50) had a crispy breaded exterior, and tender chicken meat encased within. I was glad to discover that the chicken skin did not turn soggy, even after awhile. In essence, this dish tasted like good ol’ comfort western food. I felt that the stall owners could be a little more heavy-handed with the seasoning, as the chicken cutlet was underseasoned. The accompanying butter rice was quite unique. Both my friend and I concurred that it actually tasted exactly like chicken rice, would you believe that? Our other side dish, the fries, were crispy and great.

In conclusion, Ivan’s Carbina does serve affordable and unique Western food in a coffeeshop setting. I mean, how often do you see rosti in coffeeshops? Nonetheless, while the food is pretty decent, it is not mindblowingly-good, and I probably will only visit again if I happen to be in Woodlands.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Ivan’s Carbina – Affordable Rosti (<$10) in a Coffeeshop appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Bubble tea has consumed our sunny little island by the storm. When Gong Cha re-entered the market, we’ve seen some die-hard fans queueing overnight just to get a cup. Big names such as Koi and Li Ho see constant queues during the lunch hour.

With the growing number of bubble tea shops in Singapore, competition is fierce. Which brand has the yummiest signature drink? Or the chewiest pearls?

The writers at Miss Tam Chiak put over 15 different brands of bubble tea to the test, and selected our favourites. For this bubble tea extravaganza, we focused on the classic milk tea with pearls, and each brand’s signature drink.

For the classic milk teas, we standardised every order to be the same — classic milk tea with standard pearls, 100% sugar (if the option is available), and no ice. I know I know, you must be thinking “who drinks bubble tea with 100% sugar?” Nevertheless, in order to make a proper comparison across all the brands, sine some do not have the option to customise sugar levels, we stuck to 100% in the name of fairness.

Blackball

Many of us would associate Blackball with shaved ice desserts. However, the Taiwanese dessert brand offers bubble tea too. The classic milk tea, “BOBA” Milk Tea ($2.60) comes with either black or green tea. We opted for the black tea. We felt that the pearls tasted like plastic, and had a medicinal pungency to it.

As for the signature item, the Fresh Black Milk Tea with Pearls ($3) had a strong tea taste, but that’s about it. 

Bobii Frutii

Bobii Frutii is one of the newest bubble tea brands to enter the Singapore market. This popular Taiwanese bubble tea haunt is known for its gorgeous looking instagrammable drinks.

If you’re craving for a classic milk tea, go for the Extraordinary Bubble Milk Tea ($4.50), which comes with brown sugar bobii pearls. You can’t choose the sugar level, but the drink wasn’t overly sweet. The pearls were chewy but a tad too soft for our liking.

We were recommended the Uji Snow ($6.50), which is a blend of hand whisked matcha, milk and original bobii pearls. The green hue was very pretty, but the drink was very bitter.

Cup Walker

The brand still has an outlet in Heartland Mall, which is located near Kovan MRT station. The bubble tea offerings at Cup Walker are quite affordable — a basic cup of milk tea with pearls costs just $1.80. However, we felt that the milk tea at Cup Walker had a strong milk powder flavour and tasted like Lao Ban Beancurd.

The Caramel Milk Tea ($2.30), the store’s signature drink, did have a caramalised brown sugar aroma, but also smelled a little like Nespresso coffee at the same time.

Each A Cup

There are many different types of drinks offered at Each A Cup. We tried the Milk Tea with Pearl (Medium: $3.10/ Large: $4.40), which wasn’t a very enjoyable classic. Some comments were that the drink tasted like cardboard or soup, and developed a weird aftertaste with every mouthful.

We were supposed to do a review on their signature drink, the Yakult Apple Jelly Green Tea (Medium: $3.90 / Large: $4.90), but the drink started to separate into two layers after sitting out in the open for a bit. Hence, due to safety reasons, we decided to give it a miss.

Gong Cha

After its hiatus for close to six months, the brand finally returned last December. Many bubble tea lovers swear by the brand. 

The classic Pearl Milk Tea ($3.20) has both cold and hot versions, so if ever a time our erratic weather decides to become chilly, you would still be able to get a warm cup of milk tea with pearls. Most of us could identify the brand from the distinct sugar taste. We liked the rich aroma of the milk tea, and a good balance of tea and milk flavours.

As for the signature drink, we got the Milk Foam Alisan Tea ($3), which was a disaster in a cup. The milk tea was pale looking, and oddly, had hints of cheese in it. It’s definitely not the most aesthetically pleasing, or tasty, drink.

HeeTea

Don’t confuse HeeTea with the famous HeyTea from China. These two brands may sport a similar logo but they are not affiliated.

The brand currently has two outlets in Singapore, one in Chinatown Point and the other at Singpost Centre. During our time of visit, the milk tea wasn’t ready, hence we were not able to get a cup.

However, we did manage to get their signature drink, which is the Peach Oolong Tea ($4.50). The drink tasted like diluted peach water, and definitely wasn’t up to the standards of a “signature drink”. The creamy tea had crushed oreo sitting atop, and that warranted a big “NO!” from all of us.

I Love Taimei

This homegrown brand launched its first outlet in Bugis in 2009. I Love Taimei claims to offer the “Best Pearl Milk Tea in Singapore”.

The Milk Tea (Naked: $2.80, 1 Topping: $3.40, 2 Topping: $3.80) came with white pearls instead of the traditional black tapioca pearls. The white pearls were springier and less chewy. We felt that the milk tea was thick but didn’t have a robust tea aroma.

The Sunny Island ($4.90) is one of the prettiest drinks that we had. The layered drink has an alluring sky blue layer that sits above a bright pineapple-yellow layer. However, when mixed thoroughly, the colour was a little off-putting. The drink is an ensemble of mango, fresh milk and butterfly-pea flower tea. Taste wise, it tasted like canned fruits, which wasn’t very appetising. However, the Mango Popz pearls were a hit!

Koi

Koi first landed on our shores in 2007 and has garnered a strong fan base. Many believe that Koi offers the best bubble tea.

The classic Milk Tea (Medium: $2.90 / Large: $4.10) was too sweet. Maybe it’s because we opted for 100% sugar, but the sweetness of the drink masked the robust flavours of the tea. Instead of black tapioca pearls, Koi uses Golden Bubbles. These chewy golden spheres had a springy bite.

As for their signature drink, we tried the Green Tea Macchiato (Medium: $2.80/ Large: $3.90). The drink had equally rich tea and milk flavours but it carried a rather artificial aroma.

LiHo

LiHo first entered our market with a cheese milk tea series that caused much commotion.

The LiHo Milk Tea costs only $2, which is one of the cheapest in the market. An additional $0.50 is required for its chewy tapioca pearls, which we felt turned very clumpy after it sat out for a while. The milk tea also had a weird cardboard taste, which wasn’t very delightful to gulp down.

As for the signature drink, we tried the Cheese Jing Syuan Tea ($3.40), which came out looking very pale. Instead of a cheese aroma, we were greeted with tropical flavours of coconut milk. Guess we aren’t really fans of the cheese milk tea series!

Nine Fresh

Nine Fresh is a local brand that specialises in affordable Taiwanese desserts. The brand claims that most of the desserts are inspired by the Jiufen town in Taiwan.

Although they specialise in Taiwanese desserts, Nine Fresh has a small range of freshly brewed tea. That includes the classic Milk Tea with Pearl ($3), which was a bit too thin for our liking. It also had an overpowering milky taste, and the pearls were also too soft and mushy.

As for the signature milk tea, we had the Earl Grey Milk Tea with Pearl ($3), which is one of the cheapest signature drinks. We enjoyed the robust earl grey flavour, but the tea wasn’t sweet enough even though we opted for 100% sugar. 

PARTEA

The Amber Tea + Pearl (500cc: $2.90 / 700cc: $3.90) has a fixed sugar level, but the brewed milk tea wasn’t overly sweet. Although it’s considered a milk tea, we tasted hints of cocoa powder and Horlicks. A team member described the tea as “the student that wrote out of topic”, which is indeed a good summary for what we felt about the drink.

The signature drink, Sijichun Tea + Fruits, is priced at quite a hefty $6.90. The tea is infused with a blend of fresh fruits, such as apples, lime and watermelon, so it has a zesty refreshing flavour. It is palatable, but not delicious.

Playmade

Playmade’s pearls come in unique flavours. Think pink cactus, burnt caramel and even black sesame!

We tried the Milk Tea with Pink Cactus Pearls (Medium: $3.70 / Large: $5.40) and all of us enjoyed the chewy pink globules that had a floral aroma. However, the tea didn’t really sit well with us.

As for their signature drink, we had the Burnt Caramel Milk Tea (Medium: $3.60 / Large: $4.90). We expected a toasty, nutty flavour, but was greeted with saltiness, and most of us agreed that the tea tasted like miso soup.

R&B Tea

R&B Tea, which hails from Taiwan, currently has only one outlet in Marina Square. 

Their Golden Milk Tea ($3.50) was overly milky, with no tea aroma at all. Nevertheless, it was quite decent.

We tried the Brown Sugar Boba Milk ($3.80), which combines a unique brown sugar recipe with chilled fresh milk and warm, soft pearls. It really lived up to its name with its rich taste of brown sugar, and subtle pandan notes. The chewy pearls were a little too sweet for us.

Share Tea

Share Tea has 6 outlets in Singapore, and over 450 stores worldwide. 

The Classic Pearl Milk Tea ($2.90) had a nice roasted aroma, but the tea tasted quite peculiar. Some commented that the drink tasted like plastic, others said that the tea had a seaweed taste.

As for their signature drink, we tried the Wintermelon Milk Tea ($3.20), which was easily identifiable due to the distinct taste of winter melon. The fragrance was delicate and sweet.

Teafolia

Besides milk teas, Teafolia also offers fruit teas which are colourful and pretty.

The House Favourite Stirring Milk ($4.50) is the brand’s rendition of the classic milk tea, and is packed with house-made pudding, finely-shaved ice and pearls with a drizzle of house-made sauce. We thoroughly enjoyed the pearls and pudding, but not so much of the tea.

The Signature Fruit Tea ($5.90) is really a sight to behold, and definitely is a contender for the prettiest drink award. Made with premium four seasons tea, fresh pineapple and assorted fresh fruits, this amber-coloured tea was not bad!

Tea Tree Cafe

Tea Tree Café has a total of 5 outlets in Singapore. The brand is known for its unique Roselle pearls.

The Signature Milk Tea with Roselle Pearl ($3.20) was overly perfumed by the roselle pearls. You can’t taste much of the milk and tea. 

The signature Peppermint Milk Tea ($3.70) was way too minty and reminded us of mouthwash and toothpaste. Maybe it’ll do better as a post-dinner drink, to freshen the breath?

Woobbee

Woobbee only uses natural raw sugar that is unbleached and free from chemicals in their teas. 

Their classic milk tea, also known as WB Milk Tea (Regular: $2.80 / Large: $4.20) was pretty good with a light fragrance of earl grey tea.

For their signature tea, we went for the unique Herbal Mint Pei Pa Kao Milk Tea with Grass Jelly (Regular: $3.90 / Large: $5.40). Similar to the Chinese cough and sore throat medicine, it has a strong minty medicinal aroma with a cooling effect. One or two gulps is okay, but consuming the whole cup could be an overkill. 

Yuan Cha

Yuan Cha is a growing bubble tea brand in Singapore. They don’t serve the typical black tapioca pearls. Instead, they have a unique chewy yam-flavoured QQ Yam.

They named their classic milk tea ‘Black Milk with QQ Yam. ($3.90). We really enjoyed the QQ Yam, which were chewy and had a great taro flavour. However, we didn’t really enjoy the drink itself. The tea was a bit too “siap”, and there wasn’t enough milk to help mask the “siapness”.

We were recommended the Milk Tie Guan Yin with QQ Yam ($4.30), and all of us felt that the drink was a disappointment. 

Here’s our top 3 for each category :

MILK TEA

1. PARTEA: Amber Tea + Pearl
2. I LOVE TAIMEI: Milk Tea
3. GONG CHA: Pearl Milk Tea

SIGNATURE DRINK

1. TEAFOLIA: Signature Fruit Tea
2. SHARE TEA: Winter Melon Milk Tea
3. PARTEA: Sijichun Tea + Fruit

From the sheer number of bubble tea brands that we’ve picked out for this review, you can tell that Singaporeans really love bubble tea. There are so many brands and varieties to choose from. One thing’s for sure, bubble tea is here to stay.

Share with us your favourite drinks, and let us know if we’ve missed our on any noteworthy ones!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own drinks at the stalls featured here.

The post The Ultimate Bubble Tea Extravaganza by Team Tam Chiak! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

The owner owns not one, but three stalls under the name “House of Li Xiang”.  We were here to visit the stall which sells ONLY mee rebus and mee siam. We hear it’s really cheap!

My favourite of the two dishes is the Mee Rebus (small $2.50, large $3). For starters, the gravy was seasoned adequately.  The lovely sweet and savoury notes won me over. There’s something about yellow noodles soaked in a viscous and lumpy gravy that makes me drool. Don’t expect the sauce to be out of this world though. 

The dish felt complete. I loved that there was a good amount of thinly sliced tau kwa, and not too much bean sprouts. Remember to sweeten the boiled egg with a drizzle of sweet dark sauce. If I were to state one complaint, it would be that the chilli paste could have been made spicier. For $2.50, I’ll say that the mee rebus was pretty good.

The Mee Siam (small $2.50, large $3), on the other hand, leaves much to be desired. My team found the dish satisfying, while I didn’t think too highly of it. The smooth gravy had a good sweetness and tanginess, but it lacked that oomph factor.

Perhaps, what was missing was that prominent sourness and spiciness that you get with good mee siam. Nevertheless, the flavour of the gravy paired nicely with the cut up white vermicelli. Sadly, the mee siam became jelak after a couple of mouthfuls.

If you’re a fan of hae bee hiam, you’ll probably swoon over this bowl of mee siam because the fragrance of  dried shrimp is very distinct.

It’s cheap and it’s tasty, so what’s not to like? House of Li Xiang is an excellent place to grab lunch, especially if you’re craving for good and unpretentious hawker fare. Come prepared with a huge appetite and empty stomach as the portions are huge. You can patronize their beverage stall for some soya bean too.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to House of Li Xiang. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post House of Li Xiang – Fancy Some Affordable Mee Rebus for Lunch? appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Yes! The coffee and cakes here are totally free. If you like, you can show your support through tipping or by purchasing their clothes. Tucked away in Holland Village, Our Second Home is a 2-month old cafe that shares the same space as its clothing brand, Our Second Nature. At the boutique area, women can browse collections of clothes that are curated by a London-based designer. Menswear is unavailable at the moment, but you boys can always relax with a cup of coffee and some pastries.

The interior features contemporary elements combined with Muji-inspired designs. Arm yourself with a wonderful read, and you might be tempted to stay here for hours. If you love to people watch, why not do that here as you sip on a cup of cappuccino?  The coffee was well-executed, with a bold coffee flavour. It’s a great pick-me-up. Based on the season and climate, you might be rewarded with a different coffee flavour profile because of the change in the type of coffee beans used.

Named after the area they are located in, the Chip Bee Cookies are to die for. These hard and crumbly cookies are made from potato chips, chocolate chips, pretzel bits, graham crackers and honey. The taste and texture of the cookie is remarkable. Each ingredient is discernible, and they all come together nicely without overpowering one another. Balance out the sweetness of the cookie with a refreshing cup of homemade iced tea that’s a concoction of chamomile tea, lemon, and honey. 

Currently, two types of cakes are served here. The moist Banana Walnut cake boasts a dense mouthfeel. I do appreciate that the cake wasn’t overly sweet. The Butter Cake with Lemon Drizzle, like its banana counterpart, is pretty moist. The fluffy, buttery insides make this cake an excellent pick. 

The chill out sesh here was nothing short of amazing. As attractive as it is, the foreign tipping system will take some time getting used to. I bet you’ll struggle to decide on the amount that you should give, like we did. 

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Our Second Home. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Our Second Home – Lovely Cafe Hideout with Free Cakes & Drinks appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

A year after the KL Shao Roast feature, I’m finally back here. It took me ages to get here from home (woodlands, mind you), but I’m glad Bei-ing was worth the trip. 35 years of tradition did not let us down. For those unfamiliar with the area, it might take a while to locate this place. Fortunately, Bei-ing Yun Tuen sits in the coffeeshop on the ground level of Roxy Square. That means aircon, yay! Oh, and it means higher prices too. The prices of the wanton noodles($4 regular, $5 large) and sides ($4~$6) are slightly on the higher end but the dishes are elegantly plated. Your day also gets a bit better as you’ll be greeted by this jolly old uncle when you place your order. 

Along with egg noodles, you get a few char siew, two small wantons, fried wanton skin and a handful of greens. In this day and age, it is uncommon to see hawkers preparing their own char siew. Bei-ing still roasts their meats, and they sure are moist and nicely charred. If only we were given more than just a few bite-sized pieces of char siew though.. As for the other toppings, they were pretty mediocre. But take a look at that beautiful smear on the plate. It’s actually black sweet sauce!

The sauce helped to sweeten the slightly bland noodles. Texture-wise, the egg noodles were cooked perfectly. The noodles also remained springy throughout. I love myself a good bowl of spicy noodles, but I wasn’t prepared for Bei-ing’s chilli which was pretty fiery.

Fried dumpling usually comes with basic condiments such as chilli sauce or mayonnaise. However, the mayonnaise here is enhanced with a surprising tinge of truffle! The execution of the dumpling was top notch as well. The amount of filling to skin ratio is excellent. Encased in a thin yet crispy fried dumpling coat is a tantalizing mix of minced pork and prawn filling. You might forget that you’re in a coffee shop once you dip the fried dumpling into that delicious truffle mayonnaise.

The appeal of Bei-ing is undeniable. Although the wanton mee has room for improvement, I would definitely return for their delicious sides!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Bei-ing Yun Tuen. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Bei-ing Yun Tuen – Another Hidden Wanton Mee Spot appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

This is the same chicken wings that PM Lee queued up for 30 minutes for. That was when this stall was operating at Redhill. It has since relocated to West Coast Market Square and has been renamed Yon Yan. 

Well, you certainly have to be prepared to queue. We waited for about 20 minutes when we arrived at 6pm. If PM Lee could wait that long, I guess we all could.

We were lucky to receive a fresh batch of fried chicken wings. What differentiates them from other hawkers is that they fry the wings in small batches, so everyone can walk away happy with hot and crispy chicken wings. Every customer here sure had big appetites. All of them were walking away with plates piled high with chicken wings. This might explain the crazy queue.

Yon Yan has elevated good old fashioned comfort food to another level. How can you resist biting into perfectly crispy chicken wings ($1.40/pc)? The wings were shatteringly crisp, with a blistered paper–thin exterior that crackles with each bite. Inside, the meat was juicy and moist. The greasiness was present but not too overwhelming. I love it!

The texture is perfect. I wished the meat could have been more flavourful though. While it is pretty enjoyable, you might want to dip it in their watery sambal. The sweetness and mild heat from the sambal sure gave the chicken added depth. I wouldn’t mind putting on extra kilograms for wings this good.

Although fried bee hoon is one of my favourite items for breakfast, I’ll gladly eat Yon Yan’s version (60 cents/plate) any time of the day. It was cut up nicely, so we had a easy time chowing on it. The bee hoon  was neither too wet nor dry.

Unlike other stores, Yon Yan only has 4 other side dishes to choose from. The ngoh xiang ($1/pc) deserves a notable mention. It has a perfectly crispy exterior, while the meat remained flavourful. The other sides, including the fish cake(60 cents/pc), sausage ($1/pc) and luncheon meat (50 cents/pc), are your run-of-the-mill ingredients you can easily find anywhere. It would be great if they offer some greens to create a more balanced meal.

I’m hankering for their fried chicken wings as I’m typing this. The food options here are limited, but I am sold on the fried goodness that is Yon Yan’s chicken wings.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Yon Yan. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Old Airport Road Food Centre is one of Singapore’s oldest, largest and most iconic hawker centres. In fact, it has even been named the holy grail of hawker centres, with tons of international food vloggers including Mikey Chen (Strictly Dumpling), Mark Weins (Migrationology) and the Fung Brothers (Fung Bros) singing its praises in their Youtube videos. Strictly Dumpling’s Mikey Chen even describes Old Airport Road Food Centre as a “food heaven with a roof on top”.

Imagine our delight when we found yet another promising food stall here. A little stall named Salt, opened by 2 young hawkerpreneurs, completely blew me away with their mouth-watering Western grub.

Here’s how the menu works : you choose either fried chicken cutlet, or the sous vide grilled chicken. Then, pick either a pasta (carbonara, aglio olio or bolognese) or garlic fried rice to pair your chosen chicken with. We eventually decided on the Cutlet Carbonara ($6.80) and Sous Vide Grilled Chicken Soy Garlic Fried Rice ($7.30).

The Cutlet Carbonara ($6.80) looked absolutely tantalising, with its crispy skin fried to golden-brown perfection. I almost burst into tears when I cut into that piece of juicy goodness — my knife slid through the tender chicken and a melodious shatteringly-crisp crackle rang out from that crispy skin. I kid you not, the crispy skin tastes like a heavenly combination of Japanese tempura and karaage, and trumps any I have eaten at the typical fast food chains. I devoured the entire fried chicken, including its skin which did not seem to turn soggy at all even after we had left it untouched for awhile. The meat was delicious too. The salty-sweet soy garlic sauce perfumed both pieces of fried chicken. In essence, the chicken was “dripping in finesse” (Yes, I just dropped a Bruno Mars reference)!

The accompanying carbonara had a sauce with a rather watery consistency – a far cry from the usually thick and creamy carbonara sauce. According to Salt’s friendly owners, they are not fans of the typical starchy carbonara sauce, which explains the adaptation of their carbonara to a lighter Japanese cream-based style. While the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, I thought it could have used a tad more salt.

We also ordered the Sous Vide Grilled Chicken Soy Garlic Fried Rice ($7.30).

Salt’s sous vide grilled chicken was very tender, and deliciously savoury too. In fact, I would say it ranks among the better grilled chicken I have tasted. The garlic fried rice had deep flavours, with a buttery fragrance and a slightly bitter aftertaste. If I may hazard a guess, the slight bitter aftertaste could be due to the garlic bits or the heavy breath of the wok. My friend really enjoyed the garlic fried rice, while I thought it was just alright. However, I thought the cabbage slaw on the side added a refreshing touch to the otherwise heavy dish. I especially liked that the slaw was not doused in mayonnaise, but instead a pleasant goma sesame dressing.

After the yummy meal, I decided to talk to Salt’s young and friendly hawkerpreneurs, Naomi and Kenny, to find out more about Salt. According to them, the idea of Salt was borne when Naomi realised youngsters from other countries she had visited were willing to innovate for food. On the other hand, most Singaporeans, 3 to 4 years ago, were caught up with their 9-5 jobs. Furthermore, Naomi noticed that Singapore’s hawker scene, then, was burning out. In order to prevent “history from going down the drain”, Salt was set up in 2014.

Then, I dropped the million dollar question: How do you get your fried chicken so tasty? Apparently, Salt uses their very own mixture of flour to maintain the crispiness of the chicken, such that it does not become soggy at all! While the formula is a secret, it is slightly modelled after Korean Fried Chicken, and in my opinion tastes like a mix between tempura and karaage.

In conclusion, Salt sells some seriously amazing fried chicken at a really affordable price, and I would 100% make a return visit. It is no surprise most of their customers are repeat customers. The owners are lovely too. During our conversation, I learnt that the name “Salt” was derived from Matthew 5:13 (Salt of the Earth) in the Bible. Upon discovering that we shared the same religious faith, Naomi extended her hands and asked if she could pray for me — a request I gladly accepted. This certainly will live to be a day I will remember, long after my short stint as a food writer. After all, it is not everyday that someone holds your hands to pray for you, after a dreamy and super delicious meal.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Salt – Insanely Amazing Fried Chicken with Super Crispy Skin appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.