The Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN) has recently launched its first social enterprise – the Mystical Café for All. This café is established with the aim to provide trainees with special needs an avenue to gain exposure, and equip them with skills.

We visited the cafe for lunch one afternoon. The café is run by 5 ASPN trainees and an instructor. Though the menu is limited at the moment, offering only 2 mains, with a selection of sides and an assortment of cakes, tarts and beverages, the prices are very attractive, with each item priced below $7. According to the instructor, they are still working on increasing the number of food items at the café, as soon as the ASPN trainees are ready.

Mains are served from 11am to 3pm. We had Grains of Singapura ($5) which is basically Nasi Lemak, as well as Spaghetti Ala Melayu ($4), a mee rebus inspired pasta dish. You can choose either fish or chicken to go with your Nasi Lemak, and it is accompanied by a glorious sunny side up egg, ikan billis, and peanuts. Don’t forget the chilli too!

The Mee Rebus Spaghetti is an interesting creation. Little cubes of tofu, slices of capsicum, and cherry tomatoes gave each bite different textures and flavours. The dish also consists of a hard-boiled egg. The sauce isn’t very spicy, nor too thick unlike the usual mee rebus.

There are cakes ranging from Chocolate Chiffon cake, to New York Cheese cake, and others to complete your meal on a sweet note. The Lemon Meringue ($5) is refreshing and zesty. An ideal afternoon snack if you’re feeling a tad sleepy. It’s quite light too, so one can easily finish it.

APSN Mystical Café for All has a Pay-It-Forward initiative for patrons to buy a meal voucher for others, and the profits will be used to sustain the café. Let’s all play a part in creating a caring society!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the café 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 APSN Mystical Café for All. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post APSN Mystical Café for All – Providing Special-Needs Trainees with Skills appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Do you remember Face To Face, a popular Sarawak noodle brand from Malaysia, which opened its first overseas franchise set-up in Singapore last year? They have just introduced a new foodcourt concept at Cookhouse@Jem on 13 March 2017. Get ready to shake it up and slurp it down with freshly-made noodles and delicious ingredients!

Serving Pan Mee and Kolo Mee in Japanese bowls, their serving size starts from “on diet” portion at $3.90 each. Our favourite is the Chilli Pan Mee served with mince meat, anchovies, kai lan, onsen egg, and house special dry chilli. The noodles have a good bite, while the chilli knocked our socks off. The anchovies accentuated the savouriness of this dish. Being one who favours salty food, the chilli pan mee definitely won me over.

You can also choose interesting flavours such as the Creation Pork Pan Mee, Curry Pan Mee, Mala Pan Mee, and others. Consisting of braised egg, kai lan, crackers and pork, the Creation Pork Pan Mee reminded us of Taiwan’s braised pork rice. The pork is succulent and flavoursome, and we liked the crunchiness from the crackers in each bite.

Mala Pan Mee contains shredded pork, pickled tuber mustard, peanut, roasted seaweed and sesame. It’s more numbing than it is spicy. 

The Kolo Mee is also a bestseller and you can choose to order it in white (traditional), black (dark soy sauce), red (chilli sauce) or mix (black + chilli). This bowl of wriggly, al dente egg noodles served with minced pork, char siew, fried wonton, and kai lan is very enjoyable. The noodles are handmade daily without any preservatives. Check out the takeaway version which is very nicely packaged. This stall uses “chork”, giving you the option to choose from using chopsticks or fork for the noodles.

Shake Mee also offers Chicky Pops ($3 each) which make a really good afternoon snack! They come in two flavours, namely Sea-Yo-Later and K-Pops. The former is drenched in mayonnaise with seaweed and sesame. We already found the little chicken pieces addictive, so we believe that kids will love them too! K-pops is drizzled with Korean spicy sauce with sesame. The taste is quite unusual, and we’re not sure if this will appeal to the local tastebuds.

Have fun shaking it up before slurping it down (that’s why it’s called shake mee)! If you need a meal that isn’t too heavy to perk you up, Shake Mee is here to satisfy.

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 Shake Mee. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Shake Mee – Start your day with Mee, but don’t get Mee crazy! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Looking for something quick, healthy and affordable to feed your ravaging stomachs during lunch hours? Get your healthy dose of omega-3 at Salmon Samurai, a newly opened shop at 100AM mall. Salmon Samurai is opened by the same guys behind Tanuki Raw, Standing Sushi Bar and The Secret Mermaid! Adopting a kiosk concept, Salmon Samurai especially targets those who are in a rush but would like to have a healthy grab-and-go meal.

For a mere $9.90, you can build your own bowl of salmon donburi with any of the 5 flavours of salmon available. Starting with any of your desired base (mixed grain brown rice, udon noodles, salad), followed by a generous serving of salmon of your choice (sashimi, salmon mentaiko, garlic shoyu, salmon poke or spicy salmon poke). Feel free to add other toppings such as an onsen egg ($1), half an avocado ($1.50), or ebiko ($1).

The mixed grain brown rice is a mix of both white rice and brown rice, yuzu ume is added to give it a zesty kick. The udon noodles were thick and pleasantly chewy, while the salad was fresh.

Every day, fresh salmon sashimi is sliced in-house and served to customers.

Both the salmon poke and spicy salmon poke are marinated with their own homemade sauce. We had the spicy poke, which came with a creamy dressing that had a mild kick to it. If it was spicier, less creamy and less sweet, it would be better.

The garlic shoyu salmon with mixed grain brown rice was quite a letdown, unfortunately. The taste of the garlic shoyu did not come through enough – it was just like eating slightly salted cooked salmon. However, this dish would be great if you prefer to have your food lightly seasoned and prefer cooked salmon over salmon sashimi.

Fans of salmon aburi and mentaiko would love the salmon mentaiko, which had 5 slices of fatty salmon sashimi and torched mentaiko cream. We wished it was sliced thicker for us to truly enjoy the richness of mentaiko cream. Neverthless, mentaiko wins the game and it was gone after a few slurps!

Our favourite has got to be the Warrior Maki ($9.90), which had a crunch from the cucumber, a subtle sweetness from the crabmeat, and savoury notes from the torched garlic mayo. The chicken floss was sweet, an interesting addition which elevated the taste of the whole dish.

Salmon Samurai has an obsession with salmon (duh). There is salmon in every dish, even in their miso soup! $2 may seem a tad too expensive for a small bowl of miso soup, but it is totally worth it. Again, they were generous with the amount of salmon given. The soup did not have an unpleasant fishy taste to it, and was more sweet than savoury. It kinda reminded me of the fish soup that my mum always makes, just that this has a slight hint of miso in the soup. Comforting indeed.

Off-the-menu: Shinkansen’s most popular bowl!

This. This bowl is salmon galore; a hearty, nourishing bowl of goodness. The Omega Samurai ($15.90) is a huge bowl of salad filled with huge chunks of salmon poke, fresh salmon sashimi, plump juicy cherry tomatoes, onsen egg, brown rice and a handful of mentaiko roe, cashew and almond nuts atop fresh, crisp iceberg lettuce. It was light and refreshing – no wonder this is a hot favourite at Shinkansen, Salmon Samurai’s sister outlet! Great for both the indecisive (who can’t choose between salmon sashimi or poke), and those who can never get enough of salmon sashimi (like me).

Just request for this at the counter, and the enthusiastic team at Salmon Samurai will gladly prepare this for you!

Salmon Samurai is definitely a great place to visit if you are craving for salmon, or if you are looking for affordable eats around the CBD area. Their bowls will definitely be enough to fuel you and keep you full till night time, so say good-bye to those pesky mid-day hunger pangs!

MissTamChiak.com 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 the shop. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Salmon Samurai – $9.90 Customizable Salmon Donburi in CBD (PLUS secret bowl)! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Located in a relatively quiet neighbourhood, where you’d have given this nondescript coffee shop a miss, lies a carrot cake stall which has been rated as one of the “Top 10 Carrot Cake” in Singapore. While queuing, the aromatic, smokey, and slightly greasy smell of carrot cake whets your appetite for a huge plate. This elderly uncle used to hand-make his own carrot cake, but is now outsourcing due to his age catching up with him.

Both white and black versions are available at either $3 or $4. We decided to have the $3 portion for both versions. What arrived were moist-looking plates of carrot cake. Though the carrot cake has been outsourced, the texture is still soft and nice. The elderly uncle is not stingy when it comes to adding cai pok (preserved radish) and eggs. Hence, there’s a good crunch in each bite, and the flavours are brought out by stir-frying his carrot cake with garlic.

We prefer the black carrot cake as it is very fragrant and moist. Each piece of carrot cake is so soft with aromatic charred edges. This elderly uncle is also very generous with the thick and rich black sauce, therefore giving the dish an extra umami. The sweetness and savouriness of this dish is also well-balanced.

Well, who says carrot cakes are only for breakfast? You can have it for supper too! Ang Mo Kio 107 Carrot Cake is certainly worth revisiting.

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 Ang Mo Kio 107 Carrot Cake. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Ang Mo Kio 107 Carrot Cake – Delightful Carrot Cake Off The Beaten Path appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

If you think it’s hard to find good food in the West, here’s a stall that might change your mind. Run by a bunch of ladies, the kitchen is busy all through the day. There are two lines forming at this stall – the one on the right side is mainly for Nasi Lemak orders, while the one on the left allows you to order everything on their menu (including Nasi Lemak). Expect the waiting time to be between 30 to 45 minutes.

Since their Nasi Lemak is so raved about, we had to check it out. A plate of Nasi Lemak, with an additional Otah costs $4.80. The Nasi Lemak consists of a chicken wing that’s fried to a crisp golden brown, ikan kuning, an omelette, cucumber and their sambal chilli. The rice boasts a coconut aroma, and the texture of each grain of rice is consistent. Coupled with the shiok sambal chilli, this nasi lemak is so satisfying!

Other hot-selling items on Latiffa Huri’s menu are Mee Rebus ($2.50) and Mee Soto / Soto Ayam ($2.50). The Mee Rebus comes with a well-balanced thick gravy, half an egg, green chilli, and lime. It’s tasty and delicious, with a crunchy finish from the beansprouts.

The Soto Ayam on the other hand, features a clear, turmeric-enhanced soup. A handful of shredded chicken and beansprouts lay atop. The star is the ketupat (rice cakes) that has absorbed the flavours from the soup. It has a nice soft texture, but is not mushy. Don’t be deceived by the clear soup though. It actually packs quite a fiery punch!

We’re pretty sure some residents living nearby are already loyal fans, but if you happen to be in the West next time, you might wanna give this place a shot!

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 Latiffa Huri. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Latiffa Huri – Hidden Gem in the West (besides Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak) appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Singaporeans whine about the scorching hot weather almost every day. And one great way to beat the heat is to have a cooling dessert. Chendol is the perfect solution! Makan Melaka’s chendol will satisfy all cravings for shaved ice with sugar syrup. You can get a bowl of icy goodness for less than $3!

Makan Melaka has a relatively new outlet in Jurong West since late last year, and the stall has seen many chendol lovers popping by to seek refuge from the sweltering afternoon. The hawker’s day begins as early as 5am. The Chendol here is made from scratch daily, and soaked in water throughout the day to maintain its freshness. It’s no surprise that the chendol here boasts a nice texture – each strand is tender, with a subtle pandan flavour.

The hawker is very generous with the Gula Melaka and coconut milk here. He makes a trip up to Malacca every fortnight just to purchase his supply of Gula Melaka, ensuring that the quality meets his expectations. Furthermore, the coconut milk is sourced from suppliers who squeeze it fresh daily. If you’re not a fan of desserts that are too sweet or too rich, you can request for the hawker to adjust accordingly.

Besides the traditional Chendol Melaka ($1.50), you can also get red bean, corn, glutinous rice, and durian, or a mixture of the ingredients. Chendol Melaka with Red Bean & Corn ($2.10) contains sweet mung beans that are plump, yet soft. It’s good enough without the corn, so next time we’ll just stick to chendol melaka with red bean. The taste of the chendol is not too sweet, and we like the contrasting texture of the mushy mung beans and slimy chendol strips. Chendol Melaka with Glutinous Rice ($1.80) has well-balanced ingredients and a refreshing aftertaste. It’s quite light and thirst-quenching.

So, if you’re living in the West and complaining that there’s nothing good in your area, think again! On days when the heat becomes unbearable, you can check out Makan Melaka.

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 Makan Melaka. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Makan Melaka – Freshly Made Chendol to Beat the Heat appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

88-year-old Madam Leong Yuet Meng has been whipping up plates of scrumptious venison hor fun and wanton mee for more than half a century. She started as a canteen vendor at a school, before she set up her stall at the former Stamford Road National Library. For the past 20 odd years, she has been serving many white-collared workers in the CBD.

The Wanton Noodle ($4/$5) here evokes a sense of nostalgia. The egg noodles are cooked to a very springy texture and have a good bite. Char siew here is the old-school kind, mostly lean meat, with a tinge of sweet tasting marinade. Remember to add some green chilli for that tanginess. Each plate of noodles is accompanied by a bowl of wanton soup, and the wantons are generously stuffed with meat.

However, the highlight of our meal is, of course, Nam Seng’s Venison Hor Fun ($5)! Honestly speaking, this is one of the best hor fun we’ve tried – velvety smooth and very soft. The venison meat is tender, and has soaked up the thick, savoury gravy really well. It’s almost impossible not to finish slurping down the last mouthful of gravy.

We heard the queue during lunch hour can be crazy, so it’s best to arrive earlier. Nam Seng also offers soy sauce chicken noodle, seafood hor fun, and another hot favourite, fried rice.

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 Nam Seng Noodles. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Nam Seng Noodles – Superb Venison Hor Fun by an 88 year old Aunty appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is, but don’t you just love having a crispy, fluffy piece of prata? The best way to find out if the prata is good is to eat the kosong (plain) one! There are many factors that affect the quality of prata. From the dough, to the flipping, to the introduction of oil and even to the temperature of the frying pan. We’ve tracked down 15 popular prata stalls in Singapore for you!

Mr and Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata

Mr Mohgan has been making prata for more than 30 years. He makes his own dough, cooks the curry and flips the prata all by himself. Moderately thick and pan fried till a beautiful brown, the pratas here are fresh and SUPER CRISPY. They have 3 types of curry – mutton, fish and dhal. Let them know in advance which curry you will like to have, upon ordering. If not, you will be given dhal which has the right consistency.

ENAQ

Each piece of plain prata costs $1 at Enaq. The dough is made daily before being pan-fried till a golden brown. The prata carries a buttery aroma, is wonderfully crisp on the outside, and fluffy inside. It’s not as oily as the prata(s) you get elsewhere. The prata tastes even more heavenly when you dip it into the special sambal chilli and curry.

R K Eating House

This humongous and value-for-money Tissue Prata ($5.50) is good for 3-4 people. You can choose to top it with strawberry or chocolate sauce, maple syrup or honey. The tissue prata is really crispy. The prata dough is kneaded to perfection before it was cooked to a perfect golden brown.

Sin Ming Roti Prata (Faisal & Aziz Curry)

Owner Haj Mohammed used to run his stall at Cluny Court in the 80s before making Sin Ming his new home. As age is catching up, Haj is now assisted by his son, Almali Faisal. Using a secret recipe passed down from Haj’s father, the prata recipe has been tweaked a little by reducing the amount of sugar used. This makes his prata crispier.

Rahmath Cheese Prata

The owner, Mr Ali, learnt the art of prata-making from a friend many years ago and opened his first shop in Ang Mo Kio. He moved to Toa Payoh 11 years ago. Rahmath is the name of his grandfather. From the signboard, we know that cheese prata is their signature item but we prefer their plain and egg prata. The portion is generous and the outer layer is more doughy and soft.

Al-Ameen Eating Corner

We ordered a whole load of prata for breakfast, including prata kosong, egg prata and prata with egg and onion. The prata is not super crispy, but more on the doughy side. What we enjoyed is the coin prata with mutton curry. The prata dough is shaped into a circle and pan fried till it is crispy. The mutton cubes were tender, not gamey and accompanied by a shiok curry sauce.

The Prata Place @ Springleaf

Springleaf has a tranquil vibe, and sitting here with a plate, or many plates, of prata and a cup of teh tarik from The Prata Place may just be the perfect start to a nice morning. The Plain (Kosong) Prata is absolutely delicious! It arrived piping hot and is crispy on the outside, while fluffy on the inside. Plus, it is not oily at all. They certainly managed the heat well. 

Sixth Avenue Briyani Specialist

With more than 28 years of history, this stall still lives up to its reputation for serving very good Nasi Briyani. However, you’ll have to make do with their prata in the mornings as briyani is only sold after 10.30am. We tried their plain prata and egg prata ($2.70 in total). Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, the prata here hits all the right spots.

Casuarina Curry Restaurant

Prata enthusiasts would flock here for their signature mushroom cheese prata. Casuarina is located near the Lower Pierce Reservoir, so you may occasionally stumble upon monkeys playing along the perimeter of the reservoir. The plain prata goes for a dollar a piece. For $2, you get to enjoy a gratifying meal with simple, tasty curry.

The Roti Prata House

There are many supper spots along Upper Thomson, and this prata stall is always packed on weekends. Instead of the usual savoury prata, we opted for a dessert prata featuring two contrasting flavours – sweet and savoury. Their usual plain prata is crispy, but the Milo Cheese Prata ($4) is a tad soggy and too soft.

Niqqi’s – The Cheese Prata Shop

As its name suggests, this Indian-Muslim supper spot is famous for its cheese prata. We ordered a Double Cheese ($4.50) prata and was impressed by the creamy richness of the melted cheese enveloped within the crispy prata skin. Each bite was gratifying, especially when you’re a cheese lover! The egg prata ($1.50) was prepared very well too. Each mouthful was filled with eggy goodness.

Mr. Prata

The Italian prata ($8) was generously filled with mutton, mushroom, capsicum, onion and cheese. Some bites were creamier while others gave a good crunch. We actually thought we were having pizza instead. Those with a sweet tooth can go for the French & Ice Cream Prata ($5) where the traditional prata is filled with banana slices and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Thasevi Food – Famous Jalan Kayu Prata Restaurant

The Paper Prata ($1.80) and Prata Bom ($3.30) are rumoured to be famous, so we decided to go for these. The former was super crispy and as thin as paper, no kidding! The latter, on the other hand, was thicker and less crispy but we enjoyed its fluffiness and the sweetness from condensed milk and butter.

Thohirah Cafeela Restaurant

Looking for a 24hours eatery around the North/North-East area? Thohirah Cafeela is here to satisfy that hunger pang of yours no matter what time of the day it is. Their extensive menu features Halal items with Chinese, Thai, Indian and even Seafood flavours. We had a fluffy egg prata ($2) which contained a super generous portion of egg.

Al-Azhar

There are many eateries along Cheong Chin Nam Road which open till the wee hours, and Al-Azhar is the one that’s always bustling. We had the plain prata at $1.10 per piece, egg prata ($1.80), and cheese prata ($3.20). The prata is alright, but we guess the quantity of items offered by Al-Azhar makes up for its quality. However, the curry accompanying the prata is good and well-packed with Indian spices.

After trying so many pratas, our favourites are Mr and Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata, and ENAQ. Time to work it off in the gym. Enjoy!

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 stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 15 Pratas Worth the Weight Gain – Forget about that Diet! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Recently, the famous Ang Mo Kio 107 carrot cake brought us to the coffee shop located at Block 107 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4. Besides the carrot cake, the other star of this coffee shop is the Indian Muslim stall. We heard they’re famous for murtabak and Indian rojak. So, our curious palates wanted to know how these fare.

The Chicken murtabak took us by surprise, as the portion is quite huge, and they are very generous with the ingredients. The Indian uncle mixes the egg with curry, before pouring it over the murtabak during the preparation process. Instead of tasting the usual eggy goodness where you can get elsewhere, the murtabak here is more flavourful, and finishes with a hint of curry spices. This item is really good for sharing!

It’s hard to resist the Indian rojak if you notice the ingredients piled up nicely in rows displayed on the food shelves. We selected a mixture of little prawn fritters, fishcakes, potatoes, Indian ngoh hiong, and fried tofu. The uncle topped the dish off with freshly sliced cucumbers and onions, and served the gravy separately. Dipping the savoury items into the thick and rich gravy gives a burst of flavours in your mouth.

The only disappointment is the prata kosong. It tasted a tad too dry and bland. We prefer ours to be more buttery and greasy. However, the pricing is very attractive! Guess what? Our total bill only came up to $10.80!

Perhaps, if we’re catching a late night movie at Ang Mo Kio Hub next time, we would pop by for a sinful supper! It only means we’ll have to put in more hours at the gym the following day, but the scrumptious murtabak makes it so worth it.

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 the stall listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Sinfully Good Murtabak at Ang Mo Kio Blk 107 appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Located along Upper Serangoon Road, Song Kee Fishball Noodle closed its door out of the blue last year. Well, good news folks! It has just reopened in a coffeeshop at Tembeling Road last Friday. Due to limited lots, parking can be a hassle. After settling down at a table, walk towards the end of the coffeeshop to place your orders. You’ll be given a queue number, and payment will be made when the food is served to your table.

The menu is very straightforward. As its name suggests, Song Kee only serves fishball noodles. You can either pick the dry or soup version, and each bowl is priced at $4 (small), $6 (medium), and $8 (large). We got the medium size for both dry and soup versions. Go for the dry version with chilli, it’s tastier!

The texture of both mee pok and mee kia noodles is springy, but we prefer the latter as it has a nicer bite. You can also add your desired amount of vinegar to enhance the taste.

Many have complimented Song Kee for their superb fishballs, so our expectations were very high. Unfortunately, the fishballs are mediocre. They do feature a reasonably soft, bouncy texture, but are a little on the bland side.

To our amazement, the best ingredient in the bowl of noodle is Song Kee’s handmade her-keow (鱼鲛 / fish dumplings). They aren’t stingy with the minced pork filling. Each her-keow, made with fish skin, boasts a smooth texture, with a generous amount of well-marinated minced pork enveloped within. We regretted not ordering additional servings of her-keow.

Song Kee’s current location might not be easily accessible but we’re pretty sure the coffeeshop is packed with their loyal customers during meal times. Furthermore, they rented out a space within the coffeeshop to their relative who serves ice cream. It’s not such a bad idea to end your meal on a sweet note!

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 Song Kee Fishball Noodle. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Song Kee Fishball Noodle(Tembeling Road) – Their Her-Keow is the Best! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Opened last December, Plum & Rice is run by 3 young and friendly guys, Gladwin, Eric, and Raphael. All of them graduated from The Culinary Institute of America, and felt that the hawker scene in Singapore is disappearing gradually. By setting up this stall, they hope to carry on our hawker trend, and the only way to stand out from others is to be different by offering fusion food.

To be honest, the two most Japanese things at Plum & Rice are the eye-catching Japanese-furnished storefront, and using Umeboshi in their rice and porridge. Other than that, the dishes and soup lean toward local palates.

Imported from Japan, Umeboshi is a kind of salted Japanese plum which has quite a number of health benefits. This plum aids digestion and counters fatigue. What’s more, the hawkerpreneurs realised that local food are on the heavier side, so Umeboshi actually cuts through with its acidity and hints of floral notes. At Plum & Rice, you get either Umeboshi rice or porridge with each set ordered.

Set meals are priced as low as $4, and consists of a bowl of Umeboshi rice or porridge, a small side dish, a serving of meat, and a bowl of soup. If you’d rather have the sous-vide cod fish, each set will cost $6. We tried both the Umeboshi rice and porridge, and preferred the latter as it is sweeter. It really cleans your palate for heavier dishes like the meat and fish. Moreover, this appetising bowl of Umeboshi porridge is perfect on days when you aren’t feeling very well, as it is tasty enough to be eaten on its own.

The Umeboshi rice, on the other hand, is quite special as it’s topped with house-made Furikake that contains cereal, curry leaves, dried shrimps, and seaweed. It is a Japanese-inspired Furikake with a local twist! This gives the slightly sticky Japanese rice a nice fragrance and umami. 

There are two options for the meat – braised pork belly and braised pork shoulder. We love the glistening fatty layers so we opted for the former. These pork belly are sliced, blanched, and braised for approximately 2 hours. No wonder it was love at first bite for us. Each piece is tender, and well-infused with the braised dark soy sauce gravy. There’s a good balance of fats and lean meat for each slice. If you prefer only lean meat, go for the braised pork shoulder.

As for the cod fish, it is cooked using the sous-vide method, and drenched in ginger soy sauce. On other days, you can get toman fish with black bean sauce, and more. The cod fish is fresh and fork-tender. It is well prepared in the sense that there’s no fishy taste to it. This fish goes very well with the Umeboshi porridge.

Soup lovers will rejoice upon hearing that the soup is free-flow with every order of their set meal. The soup of the day changes once every few days, and features homecooked soups such as corn soup and old wintermelon soup. The small dish also changes once in awhile.

Plum & Rice really amazed us with their value-for-money set meals. We would definitely return for their Umeboshi porridge. If you’re in a rush, take-away is available as well.

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 Plum & Rice. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Plum & Rice – Delightful Japanese Fusion Food by 3 Young Hawkerpreneurs appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Satay, or meat skewers, is a favourite hawker food among locals. As long as the meat is tender and boasts a little smokiness without being too greasy, we’re happily chomping down stick after stick. Here are 7 best satay stalls in Singapore to tickle your tastebuds!

Charcoal Grilled

This hawker’s satay is highly sought after. You can opt for pork, chicken or mutton satay. Pork and chicken satay cost 50 cents per stick while mutton satay cost 60 cents per stick. We shared 15 sticks of chicken satay and 2 ketupat for $8.60. The sticks arrived glistening, with a slightly charred exterior, and each bite is full of flavour. The meat is tender and goes very well with the soft ketupat that has a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Rahim Muslim Food

Opened since the 1960s, the secret recipes for Rahim Muslim Food’s mouthwatering dishes have been passed down through two generations. The signature item here is their special Power Mee Rebus. However, our favourite is the satay (60 cents each, min 10 sticks)! It is BBQ-ed over charcoal and served with their sweet peanut gravy.

Haron Satay

There are plenty of stalls selling satay at East Coast Lagoon Food Village but this particular one has been in the business for 38 years. The satay, rice cakes and satay sauce here are all handmade. Also, the portion is quite generous. We enjoyed dipping the succulent meats into their homemade satay sauce, which contained quite a generous amount of peanuts. Simply delicious!

Chai Ho Satay

Chai Ho Satay always has a snaking queue mainly because of their super cheap satay($0.42 per stick). They serve both chicken and pork satay, with an amazing gravy, and crunchy cucumber slices. The meat is well-marinated and barbecued over charcoal fire till slightly charred. The standard is consistent and none of our satay was overcooked. We prefer the pork satay due to the good mix of lean meat and fats, which makes the package more enticing and satisfying.

Yong Seng Satay

This stall sells chicken, pork and mutton satay but we prefer the pork satay. Imagine chewing chunks of well-marinated lean pork with bits of sinful fats  in between. It’s more than just heavenly! The owner explains that slightly over-ripe pineapples are mashed and added to the peanut sauce. This results in a sweet and fruity tanginess in the mildly spicy peanut sauce.

Kwong Satay

This is the juiciest and most sinful satay we have eaten! Each stick of pork belly is so smoky, has charred edges and is dripping with juices. The satay is about 2 times the normal portion of a pork loin satay, so no complaints about having to pay a dollar for each stick. Kwong Satay marinades the meat using saffron, hence it’s more aromatic than the skewers you get elsewhere. The satay gravy comes with mashed pineapple too.

Victor Veggie

This one’s for the vegetarians, but honestly, the sticks of satay here taste superb! Satay here cost 80cents per skewer. The charred black segments give the satay a nice smoky flavour and the mock meat is surprisingly tender. Not to mention, the peanut satay sauce is such a good complement. Featuring a creamy texture, it is neither too spicy nor too oily. Be prepared to wait for about 15-20 minutes during busy periods.

For both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, we hope that you’ll be able to satisfy your cravings for satay at the places we have recommended above. Do remember to indulge moderately though!

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 stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 7 Best Satay in Singapore for a Fantastic End to your Hawker Feast appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Wanton noodles, or wanton mee, is a Cantonese dish commonly found in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. In Hong Kong, the dish is usually served in a hot broth, accompanied by leafy greens and shrimp or meat wanton dumplings. Our Singaporean version is somewhat similar to Malaysia’s, where noodles are served dry with a bowl of wanton soup. Char siew is also added to the noodles, and sometimes, you get fried wantons. As for Thai wanton noodles, it is usually garnished with dried chilli flakes, sugar, and fish sauce. Sometimes, you get crab meat toppings too. We’ve rounded up a variety of 17 of the best wanton noodles in Singapore.

Da Jie Famous Wanton Noodle

This queen of wanton mee at Jalan Besar is a hot favourite amongst many foodies. Lady boss Linda Heng is very friendly, and has been serving up tasty wanton noodles for years. The special egg noodles are soft and springy! Cooked al dente with a distinct egg flavour, they are tossed with sambal and black sauce. We piled on a spoonful of lard and just couldn’t stop eating them. The wantons are filled with a generous portion of meat. SHIOK!

CCK 190 Wanton Mee

Uncle Danny & Aunty Yvonne took a one-year break and they are now back in action – not at Choa Chu Kang anymore, but they have opened their brand new outlet at Circuit Road! They leave the house at 3am almost everyday to go to the stall to prepare ingredients. They roast the char siew in the shop, cook the soup and wrap their own dumplings.

Nam Seng Noodles

The Wanton Noodle ($4/$5) here, by an 88 year old hawker, evokes a sense of nostalgia. The egg noodles are cooked to a very springy texture and are armed with a good bite. The char siew here is the old-school kind, mostly lean meat, with a tinge of sweet tasting marinade. Remember to add some green chilli for that tanginess. Each plate of noodles is accompanied by a bowl of wanton soup, and the wantons are generously stuffed with meat.

Wong Kee Wanton Noodles

This isn’t your typical plate of wanton noodles, as mee pok is used. These mee pok are specially created and imported from a factory in JB and infused with special homemade spinach and tomato flavours. The Char Siew Dumpling Tomato Noodles ($4.50) has a refreshingly sweet aftertaste, but the highlight of Wong Kee is actually their wantons, made with tomato and spinach puree, which are only available during Chinese New Year.

Eng’s Noodles House

Eng’s Noodles House is definitely not a stranger to wanton noodles lovers. It all began in the 1950s when a China cantonese immigrant called “Panjang” started peddling wanton mee in the Joo Chiat neighbourhood on his tricycle-converted pushcart. Besides making his own noodles, Panjang gave the recipe a little twist by creating a different chilli paste to suit the tastebuds of chilli-loving Peranakans.

Guan Kee Wanton Noodle

Guan Kee has been around for more than 20 years. The couple is friendly and pretty efficient. The char siew here is old school and bright red. The egg noodles, ahhhh… it’s cooked just right – al dente and comes with a good bite. The homemade chilli that’s tossed with the noodles is really yummy too!

Master Tang Wanton Mee

Still feisty at 82-year-old, Mr Tang was a former head chef at Crystal Jade kitchens. He still does the cooking while his wife takes the orders. The wanton noodles ($3.50) comes with 4 small dumplings which goes well with the chilli paste and sweet sauce. The noodles are thin and refined, and possess an alkaline taste and a springy texture. Mr Tang has truly perfected his noodles.

Zheng Guang Wanton Noodles

Why the name Zheng Guang (正光)? Because the owner is true to the honest ways of food preparation – no shortcuts, no missing ingredients in his wanton. That’s why his wanton mee has won the hearts of many foodies over the last 50 years. Even though age is catching up with the owner, and preparation is tedious, ingredients are not and will not be removed.

Fei Fei Roasted Noodle

This popular wanton mee stall is run by Tommy and his wife for more than 40 years. As age caught up, their 25-year-old handsome son now helps out with the roasting and cooking. The meat is roasted at 3am every morning using charcoal. It has a good proportion of fats and lean meat. Every bite is sooooo juicy. The noodles are tossed with the char siew sauce making it extra tasty. Note that this Fei Fei is NOT that Fei Fei, if you get what we mean.

36 M.S Homemade Yun Tun Noodle

Their superb homemade egg noodles take centrestage, which is different from the usual mee-kia. The uncle will first blanch the noodles in boiling water, before ladling out for a cold water bath to give them a springy texture. They are then dipped into hot water again and quickly tossed in the sauce to give them a silky texture.

Wanton Seng’s Noodle Bar

The Char Siew Mee ($6.50) was slightly different from the usual wanton mee. They serve Japanese-style slow cooked pork belly instead of roasted Char Siew. That explains the heftier price tag. Though sinful, it was impossible to not take a bite of that succulent pork. Along with the springy noodles and spicy chilli, this dish does satisfy one’s palate.

Koung’s Wanton Mee

Previously located at Geylang Lorong 13, Koung’s Wanton Mee has made a coffeeshop at Geylang Lorong 21A their current home. They get their noodles from a supplier, but all other items are done in-house. The sweet-tasting char siew is grilled over charcoal, and they make their own special blend of chilli sauce. The soup is also very tasty, with hints of pepper.

Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee

No, they are not connected to SabX2 Wanton Noodles. The owner learnt the art of Thai wanton mee from his Thai god brother in Bangkok. The noodles are cooked al dente with a prominent eggy texture, and complemented with fried wanton, char siew and greens. This wanton noodle has no sauce, no gravy and no chilli sauce. But don’t be deceived by its simplicity.

Foon’s Thai Recipe

Foon’s family used to run a wanton mee stall in Hatyai so Foon learnt the recipe from them. She gets all her sauces from Thailand and makes her own chilli sauce, lard oil and char siew sauce. You can toss some green chilli in as well, for a zesty finish. The wantons are slightly bigger than what we get in a plate of local wanton mee, and they are generously stuffed with minced meat.

Dover Road Kai Kee Wanton Noodles

Dover Road Kai Kee Wanton Noodles has been around for about 3 decades. This unpretentious wanton noodles is cooked to perfection Tossed in excessive amounts of sauce, consisting of a blend of chilli, lard oil, sesame oil, oyster sauce, and other secret condiments, each mouthful is flavourful and palatable. 

Lucky Wanton Noodles

The star here has got to be the char siew that sits atop the plate of noodles which glistened in the daylight. The char siew is very well marinated, with burnt edges. Love the charred flavours so much!

Parklane Zha Yun Tun Mee

Parklane Zha Yun Tun Mee shifted from a stall along North Bridge Road to their current location at Sunshine Plaza. Unlike most wanton noodles stall that drench their noodles with either chilli sauce or ketchup, the wanton mee here is soaked in a sweet, dark sauce. Fried wanton here is a must-have. Though they are miserably stuffed, the crunch in each bite is highly addictive!

Hope you’ll find our wanton mee guide useful, especially in times when you’re craving for a plate!

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 stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 17 Wanton Noodles in Singapore (Where’s your favourite?) appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Here are 7 good hawker stalls in Serangoon Central that will please your palates, and keep you going back for more.

Dju Dju Indonesian Nasi Padang

Mdm Djudjurjati came from Semarang, Indonesia. There are more than 30 dishes for you to choose from here. In the morning, mee siam, mee rebus and sardine curry puff are sold. Their mee siam is a little different, as there is coconut milk in it. However, it was a little too mild for our liking. The mee rebus is quite solid though. The ayam masak merah is our favourite dish amongst all. Translated as “red cooked chicken”, the mildly spicy chicken is slowly braised in a sweet tomato sauce laced with spices like chilies and lemongrass. Very shiok!

Ah Seng Braised Duck Rice

Located just opposite Nex, this stall serves authentic Teochew-style braised duck. Its braising liquid is light but surprisingly tasty. Each slice of duck meat has a good bite and pairs brilliantly with the light and smooth kway chap that’s soaked in a flavoursome gravy.

Kim Heng Hong Kong Roasted Meat

Tucked in the corner of a coffee shop opposite Serangoon Stadium is this fantastic stall that serves delightfully fat and juicy roasted meat. You will be greeted with a row of glistening char siew, “sio bak” (pork roast) and roasted duck shouting “Look at me, LOOK!” These meats are specially broiled over a charcoal spit till they are moist and tender. The stall serves herbal soups as well.

Yishun 925 Chicken Rice

It started with just one hawker stall within Yishun but over the years, they have expanded and now, there are a few stalls around Singapore, one of which lies in the heart of Serangoon Central. Chicken meat here is cooked just right, making it smooth and palatable. We liked that it was served deboned, which makes it more convenient for consumption. The soya sauce which the chicken is drenched in is not overly salty, just perfect!

Lao Ban Niang Zhu Chao

This is an ideal place for a birthday celebration or family gathering if you aren’t looking to splurge. The Special Oyster Sauce Cuttlefish ($18 small, $28 big) consists of crunchy cuttlefish stir-fried with chilli padi and onions. A must-try! They make their own crispy Lao Ban Niang’s Yam Ring ($18) and we suggest that you go for this too.  On rainy days, you will definitely enjoy their Assam Fish Head or Fish Head Steamboat.

Lau Wang Claypot Delights

Don’t you just love it when your food arrives sizzling hot, and the best part is that it stays hot for the entire meal? Well, this eatery serves delicious claypot dishes such as spicy sambal sotong, frog legs cooked with ginger and onion, and their signature sesame oil chicken. Generous pieces of boneless chicken are soaked in a thick gravy of sesame oil and minced garlic. You can also opt for the version with dried chilli which really packs a good punch.

28 Noodles (Yi Fa Mian Shi)

Just a few stalls away from the popular Ah Seng Braised Duck Rice, this Bak Chor Mee hawker garners its own loyal supporters. Prices begin at $3 for a bowl of bak chor mee, and the stall also serves laksa and mee sua. Well, this isn’t the bak chor mee with lots of vinegar, nor does it boast strong savoury flavours like MacPherson’s. Here, Bak Chor Mee is prepared the traditional way, accompanied by chunks of crispy lard. Perhaps, we would try their laksa on our next visit.

Nex mall might have plenty of food choices, but we still love indulging in affordable hawker fare. So, the next time you’re annoyed with the crowd at Nex, you can consider these delectable options which are just a stone’s throw away!

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 stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 7 Hawker Stalls in Serangoon Central That Are Worth the Queue appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Just a 10 minutes’ walk from MacPherson MRT station lies a secluded coffeeshop, which is home to Easy Chatuchak Beef Noodle. The stall opened around September last year. Initially, we hesitated a little as the coffeeshop was packed, yet there wasn’t any queue at this stall. However, we are always up for trying new hawker stalls, so we went ahead and ordered.

The Beef Noodle ($6) consists of pieces of tender beef, a beef ball, a chunk of beef shank, radish and vegetables. You have a choice of Thai Glass Noodles, Full Egg Noodles or Thai Instant Noodles. For the most authentic Thai beef noodle experience, we picked the Thai Glass Noodles. They are soft but not mushy, and come with a nice bite. The best part about this bowl of beef noodle is the tasty broth. It isn’t too oily, but some might find this a tad salty. It’s good that the sweetness of the soft radish manages to balance out the flavours.

This stall started out serving only beef noodle, but there are a couple of new items such as Pad Mama with Egg ($5.50) now. Basically, this is the stall’s version of Pad Thai, using Thai Instant Noodle. They are very generous with the pork slices and chilli. Yes, the chilli from this dish is super power-packed, certainly not for the faint-hearted. It’s impossible not to break out in perspiration.

The Pasta with Basil Pork ($7) is a Thai-Western fusion dish. Fans of chilli will love this. If you think Pad Mama’s spicy, think again. You will soon have a steaming head and sexy sausage lips! The level of spiciness is too intense, and unfortunately, covered up the savouriness of the dish.

Our favourite is the beef noodle, and we recommend that you try this if you are craving some Thai noodles. It might be a little tough to locate the stall, as the coffeeshop is tucked in a corner, surrounded by blocks of flats, but your search will be worth it. 

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 Easy Chatuchak Beef Noodle. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Easy Chatuchak Beef Noodle – The Chilli will Knock Your Socks Off! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

There’s just so much satisfaction from eating anything off a stick.

Char Sticks and Grill insists on doing things the traditional way – grilling all skewered meats and vegetables on a bamboo stick over charcoal.

Sleek black high beer tables, open air concept, servers openly grilling the meat at the grill counter, Char Sticks & Grill is a stark contrast to surrounding eateries. Yet, it is easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled!

Whether you prefer poultry, red meat or seafood, Char Sticks and Grill has got you covered. Currently, there are 50 options to choose and they are all affordably priced at about $1.50 per stick. It is so tempting to order all of them!

I must have hit the jackpot that day – I scored a trio of cheesy scallops ! (usual: 2 for $7.90).

I wished there was more cheese, but at least the mild sweetness of the scallops was not overwhelmed.

Sanma fish is known for its characteristic sword-like shape. This fish is traditionally grilled whole with the head and guts still intact. When it first arrived at the table, we were wowed by its size. And it only costs $4.90! Don’t worry about having any bitter bomb explosion in your mouth, because the staff here have them all well-cleaned with the guts removed. Add a squeeze of lime to zest up the flavours of this fish.

I must say that the Pork jowl ($1.50) stole the show that day.

Sticky from the sweet caramelized teriyaki glaze, the pork jowl had large chunks of fats. For $1.50, I cannot imagine anything more sensational than this.

I must say that Char Sticks and Grill has done a pretty great job with their food. Their marinades and sauces are not too overwhelmingly strong, and you can still taste the natural flavours of the ingredients. Pretty decent for its price, this place is worth a visit!

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

The post Char Sticks And Grill – Cheap and Good Kushiyaki appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Hands up if you’re willing to get up at 5am just for breakfast! We’re pretty sure many of us are not disciplined enough to leave our beds. However, if you’re staying in the neighbourhood, you would probably already know about this economical bee hoon stall located at Block 359. The stall caters mostly to cab drivers, market-goers, and those who stay up till the wee hours just to watch football matches. They are usually sold out by 8.30am.

We arrived at 7.30am, but they have already ran out of chicken wings. So, we made do with their remaining side items, and ordered two plates of bee hoon with sausages, fishcakes, fish fillet, and luncheon meat. The bill totalled up to $4.90, so affordable!

The economical bee hoon is prolly one of the best we’ve tried so far. The hawkers pre-marinade the bee hoon, which helps them cut down on their cooking time. Hence, you get moist and tasty bee hoon here. The texture is also softer than those you get elsewhere, and it’s not too oily. If you’re seated facing the stall, you’ll notice a guy constantly bringing out freshly prepared bee hoon in big containers, ensuring that your food is warm.

A pity we didn’t get to try their chicken wings, but we like the fish fillet and crispy luncheon meat. The taste of this economical bee hoon reminds us of our childhood days, when our parents packed bee hoon back for us as breakfast at home. We wouldn’t mind getting up early again just to sink our teeth into such homely food.

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 the stall listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Economical Bee Hoon – Delicious Hidden Neighbourhood Gem appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Foodies who visit Penang should not miss out on the hawker stalls located along Chulia Street. About a dozen or more hawkers will set up their push-cart stalls, with tables and chairs by the roadside in the evening. You can expect local favourites such as wanton mee, char kway teow, and lor bak, just to name a few. The food items are also affordably priced here. Grab a bigger group of friends or family members to try more dishes. Here are 8 delicious food commonly found in Penang.

Assam Laksa

Tamarind perks up the fish-based stock for this noodle dish, and the garnishes provide a contrast in taste and texture. The balance of sour, sweet and spicy flavours makes this a really appetising dish, which is great to kick-start the palate. The locals like topping their assam laksa with 2 fried spring rolls. You can give it a try too. Each bowl costs 4RM.

Popiah

A savoury filling of stewed julienned yam bean, diced beancurd, and spring onions is enveloped within a paper-thin ‘crepe’. These fresh spring rolls taste similar to the ones we have in Singapore, but local influence can be detected in the use of chilli sauce. Brown bean paste is also used to flavour the spring rolls. Compared to our version, Penang’s popiah (3.40RM for 2 pieces) is more moist.

Char Kway Teow

Don’t expect mantis prawns or crab meat in the char kway teow here. It’s just a simple noodle dish with two small prawns, eggs and cockles. Opt for the duck egg version! We were expecting each plate to be wok-fried individually to ensure that every strand of noodle is coated well with the sauce. However, the hawker wanted to serve the kway teow quickly, and it compromised the standard of it. A plate is priced between 4.50RM and 6.50RM.

Lor Bak

Our attention was drawn to the enticing spread of lor bak ingredients displayed at this push-cart stall. Personally, I like century egg, and the ones in Penang are surprisingly not as dense and creamy as what we have back home. The Lor Bak here is served with two dipping sauces – a thick, starchy dip flavoured with cinnamon and soy sauce, and a chilli sauce. Ingredients are priced from 1RM onwards.

Chee Cheong Fun

This dish totally brought us back to our childhood days. The unique combination of Chinese sweet sauce and Malay shrimp paste makes the steamed rice rolls very tasty. Fragrant shallot crisps and sesame seeds are the only garnishing. They give the dish some fragrance and a slight crunch. Each plate only costs 3RM.

Wanton Mee

There are 2 stalls serving wanton mee here, so we bought from the one with a longer queue. Each plate comes with springy noodles that blends well with the dark-coloured gravy. Topped with dumplings, slices of char siew and vegetables, just give the dish a toss and you’ll get mouthfuls of goodness. The small portion costs 4RM while the big portion costs 5.30RM.

Muah Chee

As we moved down Chulia Street, we came across a push-cart with a huge sign stating “Pandan Muah Chee”. We were skeptical initially but decided to try both the original, and the pandan-flavoured one. The hawker uncle meticulously stretch each rice dough before flattening it and coating it evenly with peanuts and sugar. The soft texture, and finely-ground peanuts took us by surprise. The pandan-flavoured muah chee tasted better than the original version. Each box costs 3RM.

Apom

The aunty is very friendly, and efficient in making apom. If you’re standing in front of her stall, you can watch her systematically pouring the batter in, flipping the ‘crepe’ and rolling it continuously. We paid 50cents RM for 1 apom.

There are other push-cart stalls too. You have to arrive hungry, or you wouldn’t be able to enjoy Penang’s local fare to the fullest!

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

The post 8 Local Eats at Penang’s Chulia Street for a Delightful Evening appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

High ceilings, spacious white-washed interior, dangling orange lights over the counter, neatly arranged crafts liven up by the natural light flooding through the windows, Groundstory is a highly-instagrammable beauty; a tranquil haven along the bustling streets of Kampong Glam.

Groundstory is a café and craft retail store, selling daily essentials and chic home decor.

Right now, Groundstory only serves coffee (sourced from CommonMan Coffee) and a small selection of desserts sourced from a local bakery). A cup of cappuccino here goes for $5. The food menu hasn’t been launched. In a few weeks, you can expect to find pastas and sandwiches on the menu.

The Chocolate cookie dough cake ($8.50) is a really sweet and dense chocolate cake, beautifully finished off with a thick layer of dark chocolate ganache. The cookie dough frosting that binds all 3 layers of the chocolatey cake adds a pleasant visual contrast to the rest of the cake, yet its flavour failed to stand out for it was overpowered by the richness of the ganache and the chocolate cake layers.

Nonetheless, this cake will not fail to satisfy those with a really sweet tooth or chocolate lovers.

The only thing that is made by Groundstory is perhaps the Homemade Eggtart ($5). Made in a pie dish, this Homemade Eggtart has thin buttery crust with a smooth yet firm chilled custard. Not as heavy nor as dense as the previous chocolate cake; a tasty and light dessert for any time of the day!

While there is nothing much on offer at Groundstory right now, it is an ideal study spot or a perfect escape from the distractions of home.

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 Groundstory. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Groundstory – New Cafe and Craft Retail Store in Bugis! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how many of you find it difficult to drag yourself out of bed early in the morning? We experience the same “nua-in-bed” symptoms, but if someone’s willing to meet up for a scrumptious bowl of bak chor mee, or tasty prata, just to start the day right, we’ll definitely tag along! Here’s a list of breakfast spots in the West that will motivate you to get out of bed early.

Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee

The first Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee is in Ang Mo Kio, and this is their second outlet. The owner learnt the art of Thai wanton mee from his Thai god brother in Bangkok. If you’re wondering, they are not connected to SabX2 Wanton Noodles. Other than char siew, they make everything else on their own, including noodles, pork lard and dumplings. We took a peep into their kitchen and saw that they even set a timer while cooking their noodles to ensure a consistent standard.

Baba Melaka

Prices are kept low here. So, don’t set too high an expectation when you are having the Nonya Assam Laksa because you are only paying $3.50. The soup is quite watery and it consists of thick noodles with ingredients like onion and cucumber slices, mint and a mellow prawn paste. On the other hand, their Ayam Buah Keluak with steamed rice ($5.50) is pretty impressive.

ENAQ

The dough is made fresh daily before being pan-fried till a golden brown. Moderately thick, the prata carries a buttery aroma. The prata is wonderfully crisp on the outside, and fluffy inside. It’s not as oily as the prata you get elsewhere. The prata tastes even more heavenly when you dip it into the special sambal chilli and curry.

Four Seasons Ching Tng

Nothing works better than a bowl of chilled ching tng to cool us down, especially when we have to tackle the sweltering heat in Singapore almost everyday. Originating from Toa Payoh, Four Seasons Ching Teng serves a pretty good ching tng for $2. All the ingredients are already packed in plastic containers. Upon placing your order, they will fill the containers with longan soup. The level of sweetness was just right.

Latiffa Huri

A plate of Nasi Lemak, with an additional Otah costs $4.80. The Nasi Lemak consists of a chicken wing that’s fried to a crisp golden brown, ikan kuning, an omelette, cucumber and sambal chilli. The rice boasts a nice aroma of coconut. Coupled with the shiok sambal chilli, it’s so satisfying! Other hot-selling items on Latiffa Huri’s menu are Mee Rebus ($2.50) and Mee Soto / Soto Ayam ($2.50).

Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee

Their menu is kept simple with Bak Chor Mee ($4, $5, $6) and Teochew Dumpling Soup($4, $5, $6). We ordered a bowl of kway teow soup and dry minced pork noodles. The soup version has got quite a bit of “liao” in it, including lean pork, minced meat, braised mushrooms, dried sole fish and dumplings. The lady boss was seen busy wrapping the dumplings. 

Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh

Opened by the brother-in-law of the owner of Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh, Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh was started more than 3 decades ago. In 2015, they relocated from Yuhua hawker centre to a coffee shop just two blocks away. It was also then, that the second-generation took over the stall. As compared to other bak kut teh stalls in Singapore, Joo Siah’s broth is very peppery. It is, perhaps, one of the most peppery ones around.

Hup Choon Roast Meat

We had Char Siew and Roast Duck platter ($5) for two and immediately fell in love with the succulent meat. The duck used here is huge and fattier than most of the places that we have been to, making each bite more satisfying. The skin is crispy while the meat is tender and juicy.

Sixth Avenue Briyani Specialist

Although it opens as early as 6.30am, the briyani is only sold after 10.30am. You’ll have to make do with their roti prata in the morning. Our favourite is their signature Mutton Briyani ($7) but do note that they have very limited stock of mutton everyday so be there early, preferably before the lunch crowd. They serve Chicken Briyani ($6) too.

Makan Melaka

Woke up craving for something sweet? Chendol is the perfect solution! Makan Melaka’s chendol will satisfy all cravings for shaved ice with sugar syrup. You can get a bowl of icy goodness for less than $3! The hawker is very generous with the Gula Melaka and coconut milk here. He makes a trip up to Malacca every fortnight just to purchase his supply of Gula Melaka, ensuring that the quality meets his expectations.

Koka Noodles

It may look like a simple bowl of instant noodles but this particular Koka instant noodle is what makes this stall stand out! Koka instant noodle here is available in two flavours – original and seafood. With prices beginning from as low as $2.50, the ingredients that come with the Koka instant noodle soup are generous. Their broth, which did not consist of MSG, has a natural sweetness that stems from the inclusion of meat. 

Feng Zhen Lor Mee

A bowl of Lor Mee ($2.50/$3.00) consists of a generous amount of ingredients such as fish cake, egg, braised pork belly, ngo hiang and flaky fish meat. For the price, this is really value for money. The highlight is the thick gravy which is flavoursome and not too starchy. Together with garlic, vinegar and chilli, every bowl is simply delicious.

58 Minced Meat Noodle

It is hard to miss the stall as it is just beside the escalator and it always has a queue. The Bak Chor Mee ($2.50/$3/$3.50) contains minced pork, lean pork, pork lard, mushroom and pig liver. The bowl of noodles does not come with vinegar, but you can add the amount you desire yourself. The noodles have a nice bite, and is complemented by the chilli sauce which has a good spicy kick to it.

Fei Fei Roasted Noodle

This popular wanton mee stall is run by Tommy and his wife. It has been around  for more than 40 years. They are famous for their roasted meat which they still roast in the stall using charcoal fire. Each tender piece of char siew has enough charred bits to make you go for more. Every bite is so juicy. The roast duck is equally good too!

Seng Huat Homemade Fried Carrot Cake

This hawker fries up a plate of traditional carrot cake that’s not too oily to stomach, and is especially good for breakfast. Freshly prepared daily, the carrot cakes are cut into big chunks as compared to smaller and evenly cut cubes manufactured by factories. Fried with a generous amount of eggs, Seng Huat’s carrot cake features a soft but not overly mushy texture. Each plate costs between $2 to $3. We have zero complaints!

Economical Bee Hoon at Bukit Gombak

The economical bee hoon is prolly one of the best we’ve tried so far. The hawkers pre-marinade the bee hoon, which helps them cut down on the cooking time. Hence, you get moist and tasty bee hoon here. The texture is also softer than those you get elsewhere, and it’s not too oily. If you’re seated facing the stall, you’ll notice a guy constantly bringing out freshly prepared bee hoon in big containers, ensuring that your food is warm.

Hope you’ll find our list useful, and won’t think that the West has nothing to offer anymore!

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 stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 17 Wonderful Breakfast in the West Worth Waking Up Early for appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.