Penang is Malaysia’s undisputed street food capital, offering an array of scrumptious eats at every corner. One of their famous street food dishes is Char Kway Teow! As compared to our Singaporean version which is covered in black sauce, Penang’s iconic white char kway teow tends to be lighter, with a good balance of savoury, sweet and spicy flavours. We visited Penang’s best-known street vendors, and bring you the best char kway teow here.

Siam Road Char Kway Teow

Labelled as Penang’s “Char Kway Teow King”, this old uncle whips up aromatic plates of char kway teow (6.50RM) from a pushcart located at the corner of Siam Road and Anson Road. His son helps to take orders. We reached exactly at 3pm, and the coffee shop was already full house. Do expect at a waiting time of at least an hour.

The old uncle mastered the art of imparting wok hei into each plate of char kway teow. He cooks the noodles over hot coals to achieve maximum wok hei. The rice noodles are smooth, while the cockles are large and juicy. The seasoning and spice levels are just right. Moreover, each crispy cube of pork lard added layer after layer of flavours to the dish. This is one of the best, or perhaps, the best plate of char kway teow in Penang! I’m hoping that the old uncle won’t retire soon.

Sisters Char Kway Teow

Sisters char kway teow is a stall that’s frequented by many Singaporeans. The original sisters who used to run this stall have passed the reins over to their younger family members. They top delicious plates of wok-fried noodles with shreds of fresh crabmeat. This gives the dish a unique sweetness. The hawker is very generous with the ingredients, and you can find fresh prawns, cockles, waxed Chinese sausages, and bits of crunchy pork lard too. If you love chilli, you will love the spicy punch from the freshly ground chilli paste. A plate of medium char kway teow here costs 6RM.

Ah Leng Char Kway Teow

There are a number of outlets for “Famous Ah Leng Char Kway Teow” in Penang, and the one we patronised at Tong Hooi Cafe is run by Ah Leng’s children. A regular-sized plate costs 8.50RM, and we recommend going for the one with duck egg (top up 1RM). The creaminess of the duck egg gives this plate of char kway teow a unique edge. The kway teow here is also “wetter”, with water added in towards the end of the frying process. Don’t worry, the water doesn’t dilute it at all. It’s still a very flavourful plate of noodles.

Red Hat Aunty’s Char Kway Teow

This stall has been around since the mid-70s. Madam Soon, the woman in the red hat, is the one handling the wok. While watching her cook, we were astonished by how low she actually holds the metal spatula. Perhaps, her hand is already immune to the heat, but we can imagine how painful it actually is. She controls the heat really well, and each plate consists of beautifully balanced flavours and textures. Be warned though – the sambal chilli will make you perspire through your meal. Each plate starts from 9.50RM.

Chulia Street Night Hawkers Char Kway Teow Stall

There’s a ton of good food along Chulia Street in the evening, but one of the stalls with high human traffic is the char kway teow stall. The price ranges from 4.50RM to 6.50RM per plate, and you can choose to have it cooked with chicken egg or duck egg. The latter accentuates the flavours of the dish, and makes it more aromatic. What’s more, this stall is conveniently located at the heart of Georgetown. So, if you’re craving char kway teow and don’t want to travel too far, just head to Chulia Street.

We’ve also heard about other well-known char kway teow stalls such as Sin Wah Char Koay Teow at Pulau Tikus night market and the stall helmed by the man with black goggles. We didn’t get to try those this time round, but we definitely will in the future. Do share your favourite char kway teow stall in Penang with us, so we can update this list!

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! 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 5 Popular Char Kway Teow Stalls in Penang (We Love Siam Road CKT!) appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Established in October last year, Jenny’s Laksa is Nonya laksa stall in Ang Mo Kio. Opened by Glen Liang, a former crane operator from PSA, Glen wanted to pay homage to his mother’s culinary skills.

The recipe was passed down from his grandmother. Glen started cooking at the age of 15, and finally mastered the art of cooking laksa at 21 years old. He cooks at the stall, while his mother prepares the ingredients, and his elder sister, Sabrina, takes orders and serves.

As compared to laksa that you commonly find in Singapore, the rempah at Jenny’s Laksa is lighter on the palate, yet still aromatic and flavourful. Glen adheres strictly to his grandmother’s recipe, so as to keep the taste as authentic as possible to what Nonya Laksa is supposed to taste like. Coconut milk is added to accentuate the fragrance, but the amount is controlled to ensure that the rempah isn’t too overwhelming.

You can either pick laksa with shredded chicken ($2.80), or cockles ($2.80), and each bowl is served with beansprouts, quail eggs, tau pok, and slices of fishcake. There’s also the mixed option where you get both shredded chicken and cockles at an affordable price of $3.30.

Everything is prepared from scratch, and there are two options for the sambal here – manageable level of spiciness, and super spicy. Glen closes the shop at 3pm daily, and will start preparing the rempah for the following day. No MSG is added in the process.

Despite being located at a coffeeshop that’s not eye-catching, and a little tough to find, we feel that the Nonya Laksa here is worth traveling for! There isn’t many Nonya hawker stalls in Singapore which is priced so affordably as well. Hope Jenny’s Laksa will continue whipping up delicious bowls of authentic Nonya Laksa and carry on the Peranakan heritage!

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 Jenny’s Laksa. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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It was 4pm in the afternoon and I was desperately looking for a place to chill and get my caffeine fix.

Stepping into Monument Lifestyle, I found myself greeted by cheery smiles from the staff.

This shop-cum-café has a cool décor, cozy with a neutral colour palette (except for the back of the store). I knew in an instant that I will be back again.

The loving couple behind this 3 week-old space aims to bring their love for California and the simplicity of life to Duxton Road. You can get your hands on various menswear classic essentials, quirky socks, and custom surfboards from different Californian brands.

Their love for simplicity is evident in their menu – simple, no-frills. Think coffee, tea, toast, and pastries sourced from a local bakery.

Drinks are taken seriously here at Monument Lifestyle. Coffee beans are sourced from Four Barrel, a cafe and roaster touted to serve the best coffee in San Francisco, while teas are sourced from Samovar Tea, a well-known tea company for having the most robust, aromatic and delicious teas in San Fran.

Indeed, my espresso was well-extracted and my cappuccino ($6) was creamy. I am not an expert in the world of coffee and its flavour wheel, but my cup of Joe was smooth and had hints dark chocolate notes. If you would prefer your coffee brewed differently, pourover and cold brews are offered here too.

All selection of toasts available at Monument Lifestyle are served with a thick slice of toasted Artisanal sourdough bread with a crusty edge.

With only the classics to choose from, you can be sure to find a toast that suits your palate best.

For those looking for something sweet, the apple toast ($6.50) and lemon toast ($6.50) are good options. The former comes with thin green apple slices placed on top of a layer of salted caramel sauce.

The lemon toast, on the other hand, comes with a thin layer of lemon curd slathered on top of cream cheese. The sweet tang of the lemon curd helps cut through the richness of the cream cheese nicely.

For something more savoury, go for the avocado toast ($9.50).
With just smashed avocado, olive oil, and salt, this is the simplest yet the heartiest.

Yes, they have the classics done right here at Monument Lifestyle.

The vibe is great here and I would certainly be back for more coffee and the teas they have to offer.

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

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

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Hidden at a quiet corner in Katong Plaza is KL Shao Roast, a stand-alone store famous for their roast meats! It started in June 2016, when the owner Pearl left the corporate sector and decided to pursue her calling as a hawker.

The title KL – Kuala Lumpur – Shao Roast was inspired by Pearl’s stay in Kuala Lumpur, where she first learnt the craft of roasting char siew! After various attempts to refine the recipe along with other roast meats, we now see on our plates the roast meats that is the result of Pearl’s hard work.

On our day of visit, we ordered the 3 meats with noodles ($6.50), which came with egg noodles, vegetables, bite-sized portions of glistening roast pork char siew and soy sauce chicken, as well as a small bowl of soup with wantons.

There was a slight crunch on the roast pork before giving way to the slightly dry meat. Personally, I’d prefer the roast meat to have a bit more fats, but my health conscious friend like that the layers of meat are leaner and good with chilli.

While we are all too familiar with the taste of char siew, KL Shao Roast delivers a uniquely tasting char siew which may surprise diners. Underlying this simple-looking Char Siew is a complexity of flavours – an initial overly sweet and flowery sensation which is preceded by a subtle charred taste.

The chicken was pretty decent and pairs well with the chilli with a strong garlic aftertaste. Slurp on their perfectly al-dente noodles tossed in their homemade sambal chilli and lard for a combustion of flavours, the noodles retain a firm bite and springy texture!

The meat filling in the wanton was nicely moist and slightly peppery.

Because of the recent video post on KL Shao Roast, queues are expected and each customer is only limited to 200g of meat as they want to serve more customers to avoid disappointment.

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Photos by Nathanael Chan

Weekends are a time for feasting after a long week of eating sub-par takeaway lunches at your workstation. If you’ve been racking your brains over where to bring your parents or partner for breakfast on weekends, check out this list of 7 yummy hawker stores at Tampines Round Market that will leave your tummies satisfied on a weekend morning. 

While the queue may get a little long for these stores, we promise they’re worth the wait!

Xing Ji 星记

A traditional wanton mee stall, Xing Ji’s Wanton Mee ($3/$4/$5/$6) includes two wantons, a few stalks of vegetables, and slices of char siew. The egg noodles are springy and a mixture of ketchup and chilli are tossed with the noodles. When eaten hot, the gravy accentuates the fragrance of the noodles and it feels somewhat similar to Kok Kee Wanton Mee. The skin of the wantons were thin enough for the fillings to spill into my mouth on the very first bite, which was satisfying.

Chai Chee Pork Porridge 菜市猪肉粥

A few stores down from Xing Ji is Chai Chee Pork Porridge. Cantonese-style porridge is known to be gooey and smooth. While I could still discern the individual rice grains from this bowl of porridge, it still felt silky and all so satisfying to slurp down.

We tried the sliced fish porridge ($4), which arrived with a sprinkling of youtiao (fried dough). They could have been more generous with the portion of sliced fish, but I liked that their porridge was flavourful even on its own. Pork or chicken porridge ($3) is available as well.

Sarawak Kolo Mee 云吞面。砂劳越哥捞面

Perhaps one of the most well known stores in Tampines Round Market is the Sarawak Kolo Mee. The infamously long queue moves pretty quickly though, so no worries about your dining partners having to wait an eternity for you to return.

Their Signature Sarawak Kuching Kolo Mee Set Meal ($4/$5/$6/$7) comes with boiled and crispy fried wantons, char siew, vegetable and pork ribs. Nope, those aren’t maggi mee noodles. These noodles are prepared in the same way as wanton noodles, but without the use of alkaline water.

The springy noodles, made with only egg-white, are lighter in colour and supposedly healthier. It is dry-tossed with an array of sauces, leaving it tasty and palatable. I liked that their wantons came with crunchy water chestnuts as it added an interesting texture and an unexpected crunch to the wantons. Sweet caramelised char siew goes perfectly with the qq texture of the noodles. 

137 Lor Mee Prawn Noodles 卤面虾面

A bowl of Traditional Lor Mee ($3/$4) comes with an extremely generous portion of pork belly, ngoh hiang, fish cake and eggs. Unlike other hawkers, 137 Lor Mee Prawn Noodles serves up a mean fried fish along with their noodles. The fried fish remained crispy despite being submerged in the savory sauce. I liked that the sauce remained appetizing and didn’t feel too jelat, despite being thick in nature. Note that they usually sell out by 10.30am, so go early to get your Lor Mee fix!

Yi Le Shu Shi 伊乐熟食

This insanely popular store, known for their Nasi Lemak ($2.50-$2.80), frequently runs out of their signature dish by 8am, one hour after they open. We were there at 10am, and they had already run out of sambal chilli! If you can’t peel yourself off bed on a weekend morning, fret not. They still sell various dishes, making a quick switch to a caifan store. 

We tried the spicy green beans with a fried chicken wing and stir-fry potatoes. The chicken wing was smaller than I expected, but had a satisfying crunch without being too oily. Will try to come back earlier to get a plate of their elusive Nasi Lemak!

Pig’s Viscera Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle 老李猪什排骨虾面

Made out of a mixture of yellow noodles with bee hoon, the Pig’s Viscera Noodle (Zhu Zha Mian) ($3.50) comes with a large selection of viscera, ranging from pig tail, handmade meatballs, pig kidney, or even intestines and liver.

Having the bee hoon mixed in with the yellow noodles ensures that the alkaline taste of the yellow noodles does not overwhelm your tastebuds. 

Rajarani Thosai

I always get excited whenever I see places selling the elusive appam ($1.50 for egg appam). It might take awhile for you to get your hands on your breakfast, but trust me, its worth waiting for. Note that their egg is cooked through fully, instead of the runny egg that some stores do. Orange coloured palm sugar, commonly used in the Indian style of cooking, was sprinkled liberally on the top. The heat of the freshly cooked appam left it half-melted, helping to blend the neutral base of the appam with the sweet sugar.

The sides of the thosai ($1.50) were crisp and cooked evenly. It came with 2 different dipping curries and coconut chutney.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal 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 Favourite Hawker Stalls for Breakfast at Tampines Round Market appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Fishball noodles – the food of every Singaporean’s childhood. The highlight of every bowl of noodles is definitely the fishballs. I used to be fine with having pre-made fishballs but after trying those of the handmade variety, I’m never going back. Fresh and bouncy fishballs are the way to go!

Hailing from Kuantan, Malaysia, are the two brothers who run HupKee Fishball at Ang Mo Kio. The recipe for this bowl of noodles was passed down by their father who worked on a fish farm. This is their first outlet in Singapore after first starting operations in Malaysia.

Mr Tan and his brother are famous in the area for their handmade fishballs. Instead of ordering pre-made fishballs which contain flour, he scrapes the meat off the yellowtail fish by hand daily. The fishballs contain no preservatives and cannot be kept for long.

Odd and unevenly shaped fishballs pay testament to their handcrafted nature. None of them look exactly the same! Since the fishballs contain absolutely no flour, its no surprise that their fishballs are so bouncy.

We tried their dry ($3.50/$4.50) and soup ($3.50/$4.50) fishball noodles. According to Mr Tan, the noodles that they use are currently sourced locally. However, he is considering importing the noodles from Malaysia in the future, due to the difference in the texture of the noodles.

The dry version comes with a bowl of soup, containing a few slices of fishcake, seaweed, tau pok and 2 fishballs. It also comes topped with the classic fried shallot and chopped spring onions combination. It helps to add extra flavour to the noodles, and we like their fishcakes as well, it’s soft and tender on the inside.

The noodles are dunked in a tub of ice cold water after being cooked in boiling water, in order to stop the cooking process and prevent the noodles from sticking to each other. They make their own sambal chilli too, which coated the noodles well and comes with a spicy kick.

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 Hup Kee Fishball Noodles. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Think breakfast and one of the first things that comes to mind is a flavoursome plate of nasi lemak. Two brothers Kenneth and Shawn are nasi lemak lovers. They have been reminiscing about eating their Grandma’s homemade nasi lemak back in Northwest Malaysia Kedah. As a way of paying homage to their Grandma, the brothers decided to share this uniquely tasting recipe with fellow Singaporeans by opening Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak.

“We love the nasi lemak made by our Grandma and we hope to bring this unique taste to Singapore. My grandma is very good in cooking especially in Malay and Nyonya foods. We were born in a small Malay village and we have a lot of Malay neighbours and friends who inspired us. My brother was a chef. He is very passionate about his work and learnt the recipe from our Grandma.”

While learning, the brothers added their own touch and improvise the recipe further until they achieve the results they wanted. We ordered the Pandan infused Set A2 ($3.50) as well as the picturesque Blue Rice Set B3 ($4). Both sets also had an egg, chicken drumstick or 3 joint wing, sambal chilli, achar as well as anchovies and nuts.

Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak uses less coconut milk and 100% natural pandan juice to give it the aroma. The sunny side up egg was nicely cooked, with the yolk golden and runny. It sure feels oddly satisfying watching that yolk break over the light and fluffy rice. Munch on their tender fried chicken, which was well-seasoned with garlic, onion, pepper and their self-mixed marinate. Fancy that added sourness? Each meal comes with their signature Achar, which I found to be pretty decent.

I was captivated by the gorgeous mix of white and Persian blue rice cooked using butterfly pea. Their grandmother often uses this flower to cook rice and to make Butterfly Pea Flower Tea.

“This flower is very common in my village and we have plenty of it in our garden. However, it is pretty rare in Singapore, and we hardly see people add such flower into the rice. Many customers have no idea what butterfly pea flower about, they thought we use coloring for our rice, but once we explained to them that we use 100% natural butterfly pea flower for our rice.”

Who doesn’t love a good, fragrant sambal chilli? Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak’s homemade sambal is robust in flavours, slightly spicy with a strong presence of shallots and a perfect balance of sweet and savoury. Be sure to check out their weekly special Rendang Chicken set, only available every Tuesday.

Located in a canteen of an industrial warehouse, it wasn’t an easy find for first-timers. But if you come from Tampines MRT or Tampines Avenue 10, there is a free Shuttle bus service to the building. Plus, it’s just opposite IKEA, so you can take a 5 minutes walk over.

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With the popularity of vegetarian and vegan diets, lots of hawker food options have been closed off to our vegetable loving friends. Fret not, you can now bring your vegetarian AND vegan friends to Xuan Miao Vegetarian for hawker favourites such as chicken rice, banmian and even bat kut teh!

We tried the U-Mian Dry ($6.50), Banmian Soup ($6) and the Bat Kut Teh Soup ($7). All of the items here come with fried vegetarian fish maw, mock meat slices, and a generous portion of chinese spinach (amaranth). 

The U-Mian Dry ($6.50) has its noodles separated from the ingredients and comes with a blob of xiang chun sauce, a type sauce made with Chinese toon leaves. It coated the noodles evenly after a few tosses and has a strong garlicky taste, which some may find too overwhelming. Black sauce which had more savoury than sweet notes sealed the deal the for us, complementing the xiang chun perfectly. 

If you can take a slight spice, do request for chilli oil to be added to your bowl of dry noodles as the noodles can get a little dry after being left out for some time. *Note that it contains garlic*

While the soup may taste a little bland for some, rest assured that you’re getting in your five a day with the amount of chinese spinach (amaranth) in the bowl! Filled to the brim with vegetables and accompanying ingredients, you’d wonder if you’re ordering noodles with a side of vegetables, or vegetables with a side of noodles. Hmm… No complaints though!

The Banmian soup ($6) surprised us as the noodles texture is similar to kuay teow. Instead of being opaque like our usual banmian noodles, these were ever so slightly translucent.

The portion honestly looks rather intimidating. It comes in a larger bowl since the load of veggies are included in the same bowl as the noodles. This wasn’t as satisfying as the dry version, since the xiang chun and black sauce were absent, leaving the flavours almost bland with none of the tasty goodness to cut through the soup.

Bak Kut Teh ($7) is one of those dishes that two camps of people can never seem to agree on. We have the Teochew camp that prefers the clear peppery soup, and the Hokkien camp that lives for the darker herbal broth. Its surprising to find a vegetarian version of bak kut teh, as the name translates directly into ‘meat bone tea’.

The herbal camp will rejoice in this case, as the bak kut teh here had no peppery taste whatsoever. While we found it disconcerting to drink bak kut teh without huge chunks of pork bones floating in the soup, the absence of jelat-ness from the fat-laden soup that usually kicks in after half a bowl was a welcome change.

The mock meat was different from the ones in the U-mian and Ban Mian, and looked unsettlingly like the real deal. However, it tastes worlds apart from actual pork meat. I would recommend if you’re looking for a healthier choice, but you’re better off getting some non-vegetarian bak kut teh if you’re craving for something heavier.

With long queues during peak hours, Xuan Miao Vegetarian has proven that Vegan food need not be boring and bland. While it might not taste anything like their non-vegetarian originals, you can rest assured that you’re taking one step in the right direction for your health and the environment. Your food might take between 10-15mins to arrive, so grab a seat and keep waiting for the buzzer to beep!

*Other branches in Tampines Mall and Sengkang Compass One.

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 Xuan Miao Vegetarian. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Xuan Miao Vegetarian – Vegetarian Ban Mian in a Food Court appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

This hidden gem situated at a corner coffeeshop along Tai Thong Crescent is easily missed out on, as people usually head to the area for River South (Hoe Nam) Prawn Noodles and Lao Zhong Zhong Ngor Hiang. Well, it’s time you try Zheng Yi’s slurp-worthy beef noodles!

You can either choose the dry or soup version, which comes in different sizes. We had the Dry Mixed Beef Noodle ($8 large), which isn’t well presented, as all that you’ll see is a thick, gooey gravy drenched over the noodles, with toppings like spring onions, peanuts, and fried shallots. But, don’t be deceived by its unappetising appearance! Just give the bowl a good toss, let the savoury gravy coat the strands of noodles totally, and you’ll enjoy a flavoursome bowl of noodles with a nutty finish from the peanuts. Moreover, you’ll find generous servings of beef slices, beef tripe, beef tendons, and beef balls buried underneath which give the dish some textures!

Mixed Beef Noodle Soup ($8 large), on the other hand, is a must on rainy days. The broth is light, and flavoured with the sweetness of the beef. As compared to the dry version where the flavour of the beef is overwhelmed by the rich and thick gravy, you’ll get to savour the flavour of the beef more for the soup version. However, we still prefer the dry mixed beef noodle for its stronger flavours.

Zheng Yi’s beef noodles certainly warrant a second, or even third visit. Next time you’re in the vicinity, do give this a try.

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 Zheng Yi Hainanese Beef Noodles. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Zheng Yi Hainanese Beef Noodles – We Love The Dry Mixed Beef Noodles appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

A good ol’ bowl of handmade noodles is comfort food for most of us Singaporeans. Despite the swelteringly hot weather, I’ve conquered many a bowl of ban mian in humid hawker centres. Here, I bring to you 10 Ban Mian Places which are worth the sweat stains that you’ll earn from slurping down those delicious egg noodles.

Grandma Ban Mee

Expect super long queue during lunch time at Grandma Ban Mee! While I have not tried Kin Kin to make a comparison, the noodles here are springy with a moderately spicy chilli paste, egg, ikan bilis and minced meat. You could feel a little heat, but it keeps you going, perhaps due to the fragrance from shrimps. Before you know it, the bowl of noodles is gone!

Grandma Ban Mee’s clear soup version was lighter than many other ban mee stalls but it’s filled with ingredients like mushrooms, black fungus, ikan bilis and vegetables. My dining partner finds it lack of depth, which is understand-able. But for me, it is probably a similar taste to what I eat at home. I call it “comfort”.

L32 Geylang Handmade Noodles

Okay this is IT. This is officially my new favourite banmian store. 

The Dry Pork Banmian ($4.30) contains both sliced pork and minced pork, a nice touch which justifies the (slightly) higher price of their noodles. The pork slices used here was of the leaner variety, making it a bit tough. Perfect for the more health conscious crowd though. I liked the addictive savoury-sweet dark sauce that coated the noodles. It might not be as strong as the one at Greenview, but it showcases the quality of the noodles better, since it is not as overwhelming. The homemade noodles, and broth which is boiled for more than 10 hours is definitely worth sweating for. Be prepared to wait, especially during the dinner rush!

J99 Coffeeshop Toa Payoh Ban Mian

Despite staying a fair distance away, this might be one of my new favourites and I’ll be sure to make another visit to try their famed dry version. We got the soup Ban Mian ($3.50) from this popular store at Toa Payoh. Situated in a coffee shop, we spotted most of the patrons slurping down noodles from their iconic red bowl. The noodles are done just right, with a nice bite.

Unlike some places have a cloudy soup base, the soup here is extremely clear. With the generous serving of lettuce, we felt healthier just by eating this bowl of goodness.

Greenview Cafe @ Far East Plaza

Looks can be deceiving. Don’t judge a bowl of noodles by its appearance! Made to order, the thick and chewy Dry Mee Hoon Kueh ($4.50) here is to die for. The dark sauce that coats each chunk of noodles is deliciously sweet, with a tinge of saltiness. It is also tossed together with chilli, bringing you an explosion of flavours with just one bite. The sauce comes mixed in with the noodles, instead of like how other places let you mix in the sauce yourself. Well, that just means we can dig in even sooner!

I like that the clumps of minced pork were well seasoned, especially fragrant after being coated in the sauce. However, if seafood is more up your alley, opt for the version which comes with prawns instead. 

Top 1 Home Made Noodles

This place gets a little confusing for first timers. You start by choosing your type of noodles, followed by your soup base and finally, the type of ingredients you want to top your noodles with. Their special black sauce is more savoury than sweet, but is nothing much to shout about. The real kick comes in after you add in their killer chilli sauce and toss your noodles again. Their mee hoon kueh is thinner than usual and not too starchy. Makes for easy slurping! Nicely seasoned minced pork and meat balls are included as well. 

Do try their mala mee, which comes with flat noodles, fresh prawns and well seasoned minced meat. The heat will kill you but it might just turn out to be a love-hate relationship.

China Whampoa Homemade Noodles

A clear and light broth that is only cooked with ikan bilis and soya beans instead of pork bones is served here at China Whaompoa. Unlike other ban mian stalls, no eggs are added. In addition, they add the old-school mani cai (马尼菜 or sweet leaf) into the soup which helps to give a little sweetness to the soup. 

Their more popular dry version is tossed with their premium dark soy sauce and homemade chilli sauce. The texture of the noodles stand out much more when you order the dry version. The sauce used is flavourful, but some may find it a tad too sweet. 

They have two variations of chilli for you to pick from. One is sweet with pineapple, while the other is a more savoury one. Do ask for the chilli to be placed separately because it sure packs a punch!

Xuan Miao Vegetarian @ Paya Lebar Square

Labelled simply as ‘Vegetarian Food’, this unassuming store in Cantine Food Court at Paya Lebar Square has its own crowd of healthy fans. We tried the U-Mian Dry ($6.50), Banmian Soup ($6) and Bak Kut Teh Soup ($7). I would recommend the Dry U-Mian, which comes with a blob of xiang chun sauce, a type sauce made with Chinese toon leaves. Grainy and green in colour, it reminded us of pesto sauce and coats the noodles evenly after a few tosses. It has a strong garlicky taste, which some may find too overwhelming. Black sauce which had more savoury than sweet notes sealed the deal the for us, complementing the xiang chun perfectly. 

The other dishes taste a little too bland for most, and would be best reserved for when you’re feeling a little under the weather.

Poon Nah City Home Made Noodle

Located at the food court of City Plaza, Poon Nah serves 8 different kinds of noodles. From ban mian to you mian, mee sua, bean flour noodle etc, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Furthermore, there are so many permutations. You can either pair it with prawns, fish, kidney, clams etc. Its kinda like ‘DIY Banmian’ if you think about it. Poon Nah serves chewy and soft noodles. Along with the tasty clear soup that contains wolfberry leaves in their dishes, the combination is mouthwatering! Their chilli sauce gives a punch to the entire flavour of the dish, as it may get a bit plain for some.

Seletar Sheng Mian & Mian Fen Guo

In the dry version of this dish, the owner mixes in the sauces before pouring it to the noodles. The umami flavour that hits you after the chilli sauce is mixed with the mee hoon kueh is irresistible! While the savoury sauce is tasty, the chilli does not carry much heat. The fried shallots and crispy ikan bilis makes for a satisfying bowl of handmade noodles. Do add an extra 50 cents for some extra ikan bilis crunch. The minced pork in the soup makes it extra tasty. This place is extremely popular with the elderly and a perfect spot to dine with your grandparents! His brother owns another outlet in Blk 210 Lor 8 Toa Payoh.

Marsiling Handmade Mee Hoon Kueh

At $2.80, this is definitely one of the cheapest bowls of Banmian you can find in Singapore. With extremely early opening hours, starting from 3am daily, you can be sure of getting a hearty bowl of noodles for breakfast, if the craving ever arises. However, we thought that the soup was too salty and the noodles were overcooked. While the portion was generous (we even spotted a lone fishball in our bowl of noodles!), this place is best left as a cheap fix instead of a regular haunt. 

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I was introduced by my Jin Hua to visit Tony Cafe. This unassuming chap chye peng eatery is located at a corner of The Adelphi. I am surprised by the crowd, considering that the mall is relatively quiet. He then told me,”They have chicken wings on Wednesday!”

Right, so the place serves fried chicken wings every Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and apparently many diners come here specially for it. The Fried Chicken Rice scored on every aspect. Nicely seasoned, the wings were immensely tender and juicy! Adapted from corona chicken recipe, the skin was beautifully golden and addictively tasty. No wonder almost every table ordered it.

The owner of Tony Cafe, Shirley, was working upstairs and heard this cafe was letting out so she took over the whole space in 2002. So why doesn’t Tony Cafe sell their Fried Chicken Rice everyday? “We don’t want to do it everyday, otherwise people will get so sick of it.” That’s such a great marketing idea. It reminds me how I would always queue for nasi briyani at this particular Indian stall because they only cook it once a week!

I added some curry vegetables and achar to go with the wings. Don’t forget to dip the wings with their homemade chilli sauce. Similar to what you get in chicken rice stall, but definitely tastier because of the chicken wings.

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Hawker centres these days are teeming with third generation hawker-preneurs who innovate dishes with a grandiose façade that might sometimes be off-putting. Keeping it real is Burgs, the pioneering outlet by Project Warung which is helmed by three budding chefs Ridz, Syafiq and Shah. I was lucky enough to have stumbled upon the newly opened Halal eatery within Golden Mile Food Centre. To accommodate the growing needs of Halal burgers in Singapore, Burgs serves up quality gourmet burgers at extremely affordable prices.

First seared with Burgs’ logo, the buns were so satisfyingly warm and soft when eaten immediately. Each burger set comes with thick cut fries that, to my delight, can be swop to onion rings for a mere buck!

Delicious burger sets for less than $10? You better believe it. For less than 6 bucks, the Mushroom Burger ($5.50) comes with a beef patty, caramelized onions, american cheese, crispy oyster mushroom, tomato sauce and nacho cheese sauce. I thought the patty was slightly overdone on that day, but it was still palatable when enjoyed with the combination of savoury cheese, tangy ketchup and sweet caramelized onions.

Like it’s name suggests, Burgs deliver a literal rendition of sandwiching a perfectly fried portion of fish and chips between their soft buns. The Fish & Chips Burger ($4.50) has a pollack fillet fried in their homemade batter, which was tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. What stood out was Burgs’s ingenious use of nacho cheese and their homemade tartar sauce which enhanced the taste of the fish. Their homemade coleslaw sure added a crunchy texture to the burger too.

My personal favourite was the Terriyaki Chicken Burger ($5.50), which came with a char grilled marinated chicken thigh, sesame coleslaw and sunny side up egg with bonito flakes. The lingering barbeque aroma had me digging into the best-seller without hesitation. The grill on the chicken was almost perfect, with the skin slightly charred and the meat inside still juicy. The terriyaki sauce was lightly sweetened to compliment the charred aroma of both the bun and patty. Quickly break the still-runny yolk of the egg over the chicken thigh for an egg-cellent time!

Having the burgers alone just wouldn’t be enough for your family and friends. Burgs also offers various sides, such as the Honey Soy Chicken Wings ($4.90 for standard, $9.90 for large). The honey soy adds a touch of sweetness to their moist chicken wings to guarantee a mouthwatering experience.

Big eaters like me can also choose to upgrade their burgers with Burg’s add ons, such as the American Cheese ($0.50), Scrambled Eggs ($1.00) and Beef Bacon ($1.00).

Burgs’s take on their comfort western style food is indeed unassuming, what with their affordable prices and range of burger options. If you’re visiting them during the month of Ramadan, do take note of their change in operating hours in the evening which starts from 5pm to 9.30pm.

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Good loaves of bread are hard to come by – more so if they are all made individually with love and care, without any added preservatives nor artificial ingredients.

The couple, Chalith and Nur, began kneading doughs 3 years ago and hasn’t stopped since. Both had started out as engineers, but found their true love and passion in making bread instead. Till now, they have yet to look back.

Naturally leavened using wild yeast – which requires more patience compared to commercial yeast in its slow development process – The Bakery’s rustic sourdough bread carries a range of sweet, earthy and nutty flavours that beautifully balanced out the subtle sour-ishness of the sourdough bread. Wonderfully moist and chewy, their bakes are probably one of the best artisanal breads I’ve ever come across.

With so many spreads and toppings you can choose to go on top of your sourdough slices, we recommend the Hummus and Za’atar ($4), Sage Cream Cheese and Berry Compote ($4) and the Nut Butter with Honey ($4). No Skippy’s or any other commercially-made toppings are used here, except homemade peanut butter made from real peanuts. What’s great about these homemade goodness is that the flavours are more complexed and nuanced – anyone would be pleased by their nutty fragrance which supersedes those you can easily get off the self.

Our favourite has got to be the Sage Cream Cheese and Berry Compote, which had a nice tang balanced out by the sweetness of the berry compote and the savouriness of the sage.

Indeed, the toppings did help to accentuate the beautifully baked sourdough slices. Although the choice of toppings are nothing crazy, nothing over the top, each are done exceptionally well; it’s just simplicity at its best.

Besides toasts, they also offer sweet desserts (cookies, brownies, teacakes, etc), muesli ($7), granola ($6), pizzas (only on Sundays!) and real awesome coffee sourced from Cata Coffee, a small local roastery. Prices for coffee starts from $3, with the most expensive on the menu priced at $6.

Making a good sourdough bread is a challenge and takes real commitment. Undoubtedly, The Bakery by Woodlands Sourdough has topped the bread game in Singapore. With each loaf beautifully handcrafted with love, this is the place you should add to your list for good quality toasts and coffee.

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Fishball Story isn’t just another ordinary hawker story. It is about a successful story of young hawkerpreneur Douglas who first ventured out from a small hawker stall to earning Michelin Bib Gourmand award and eventually owning a coffeeshop. After moving out from the cafeteria in National University of Singapore, Fishball Story is now operating (and co-owning) in a new coffeeshop in Geylang called Hungry Bee, together with Char Grill Bar and 818 Seafood.

Sucess doesn’t happen overnight. Using his grandmother’s fishball recipe, this 26-year-old hawker is serious about what he does.Over the years, I have followed Douglas through his journey of how he started from a small stall to growing his brand till where he is today.

His fishball recipe is simple – 100% yellow tail fish meat with no flour added. Douglas now has a central kitchen to make fishballs for the two outlets. He blends fish paste, hand press the fishballs and fishcakes, makes the sambal and lard… so much hard work! But it’s his never-give-up spirit to reach where he is today.

At $6 for a bowl of premium handmade fishball noodle, you get handmade fishballs, fishcakes, fried fish skin, and fried bean curd with fish paste. What you get is real fishballs that are firm, with mee pok cooked till al dente and tossed in sambal chilli and lard. The fishcakes are roughly textured and speckled with chilli and scallions, making them as attractive as well. As compared to the last time I had it, Douglas fishball noodles tastes better now and the chilli packs a punch. If this is too much for you, go for the standard bowl at $4.50.

At the new outlet in Geylang, Douglas will open from 10am to 2am. He has another outlet in Timbre+. Young hawkers like Douglas are what we need to preserve our Hawker culture. His insistence to make his own fishballs by hand shows his dedication and gives light to our vanishing hawker heritage. Thank you and all the best, Douglas!

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Nope – Chiak isn’t set up by Miss Tam Chiak, but by Cedele. Primarily a salad and noodle bar, they aim to embrace and elevate tradition, and thus there is a local spin to the dishes offered here. While they carry Asian-inspired salad bowls and grain bowls (suitable for the working crowd around here!), they have pretty interesting All-Day sets as well.

Chiak Toast set ($5.50) comes with a cup of Coffee or Tea. Choices range from Coffee Butter and Vanilla Custard to the traditional Pandan Kaya and Butter. Our toast which consists of two slices of oatbran bread came sliced in half, and was generously buttered with Black Sesame and Custard. The oatbran bread that they use contains more fiber, and helps to add to your daily protein requirements. The bread is more chewy compared to usual white bread, and it was well toasted without having an overly crispy, biscuit texture.

Personally, I’ve never tried Black Sesame paired with Custard before, much less on toast. The combination worked surprisingly well, with the black sesame butter helping to offset the sweetness of the custard. On the whole, it was not too sweet and makes for a satisfying breakfast.

We also tried the Sandwich Set ($7), another item on their All Day Set Menu. Tying in with their aim to connect us with our Asian roots, their sandwich fillings include items like Sesame Pulled Chicken, Belly Pork Char Siew and Teriyaki Chicken. Unlike the archetypal sandwich, the bread they use resembles those in the traditional Chinese ‘Kong Bak Bao’, where the filling is folded in the middle of a single piece of bread.

It was crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Our Prawn Otak Sandwich ($5.80) was very flaky and thicker than the usual kind of otah. Made daily, the patty contains lemongrass to give it extra fragrance. However, it was not overpowering and simply added a light flavour to the otah. I could taste prawn bits, but not chunks of prawn, unlike customary homemade fish otah.

Chiak also offers drinks you’d find in a Kopitiam and not a Cafe, such as Iced Yuan Yang ($2.90). Instead of the Kopitiam style coffee which is roasted with sugar and margarine, pure butter (free from trans fat!) is used here. The result is Yuan Yang that is significantly less sweet compared to the usual kind I would get from the hawker centre.

Located at Mapletree Business City, Chiak may be rather inaccessible for the rest of us who don’t work nearby. But if you happen to be there and wish for some healthy food fix, this is a good option.

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There is a certain dread long associated with snakes, especially the bright, poisonous ones. Yet, two young designer cum entrepreneurs, Victor and Dimas, have boldly re-portrayed the image of the feared reptile Black Mamba. BLACK MAMBA slithered into the heartlands of Toa Payoh earlier in January 2017, in an attempt to cater refreshing desserts for all with a sweet tooth. Diners can look forward to frosty black charcoal yogurt and delectable lava cakes. Revel in some old school games that you can find in a corner of BLACK MAMBA, which appear to be remnants of an archetypal millennial’s childhood.

BLACK MAMBA infuses their premium-frozen yogurt with charcoal to aid digestion and detoxification processes. Although the staff recommended the Signature Italian Black Charcoal Yogurt ($6.90) that comes with the highly raved pistachio sauce which is only available as an accompaniment to their signature, I opted otherwise as I wanted to choose my own toppings. After all, where’s the fun in eating yogurt if you can’t pick your favourite toppings, right?

We went for the Black Charcoal Yogurt in popular size ($5.90), which comes with 3 toppings of your choice. So, we added Nata De Coco, dried cranberries and popping mango balls. The charcoal yogurt wasn’t too sweet and had a surprisingly fruity taste given it’s metallic color. The dessert was smooth, with a strong consistent texture that is enhanced by fruity toppings. The mango popping balls had an interesting sensation to it. Sadly, the taste of the mango was overwhelmed by the flavor of the charcoal yogurt.

Like the Black Mamba snake, the elusive Lava cake seems to be always evading the crowd. It’s always out of stock! Lucky us, we managed to snag a set of the Lava Cake set ($7.90). The chocolate lava wasn’t too sweet, and had a velvety texture. The cake is topped with small cubes of watermelon and dragon fruit, and this made me wonder if BLACK MAMBA is going for a jungle-theme with the incorporation of tropical fruits.

BLACK MAMBA currently offers a 20% off your total bill from 2pm to 5pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

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Opened about a month ago, Gonpachi Ramen at Kovan serves delicious bowls of ramen priced affordably below $8. The flavours are unique, and you will also find a variety of side dishes and rice bowls here. Just place your order at the counter before finding a seat, and the staff will bring your order to the table once it is ready.

The Smoked Duck Chashu Ramen ($7.80 nett) comes with 3 slices of smoked duck, bamboo shoots, and half a seasoned egg. The noodles are cooked just right and the broth is light and tasty. It wasn’t difficult to clear the entire bowl. The tender smoked duck, a twist to what we usually see and get, complements the ramen well.

Want to have the best of everything? Go for the Seven Wonder Ramen ($7.80 nett) which comprises 7 types of toppings – a juicy prawn, half a seasoned egg, bamboo shoots, minced meat, corn, black fungus, and a Thai green chilli seafood sauce. Give the bowl a thorough mix before jumping into it! While the fiery punch from the green chilli is distinct, you will also taste a tinge of sweetness from the presence of corn.

Look forward to sinking your teeth into fatty layers of meat when you order the Miso Kakuni Ramen ($7.80 nett), or go for the healthier Shoyu “Pai Ling” Mushroom Ramen ($7 nett).

For side dishes, we recommend the Green Tea Smoked Duck with Passionfruit Vinaigrette ($4 nett for 5 pieces). Although the meat is a little tough, we like the tangy flavour which really whets our appetite. You might want to consider the Fried Tofu with Togarashi Crumbs ($4 nett) too. The soft and silky tofu is enveloped in a crispy exterior, and each bite-size piece will keep you craving for more.

For the price that we paid, we feel that the standard of food served at Gonpachi Ramen is really quite good. Furthermore, it’s conveniently located within walking distance from Kovan MRT. We will definitely return for their smoked duck chashu ramen!

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As a true heartlander within Woodlands, I am often envious of my friends who live within central spaces surrounded by trendy cafes and popular food hangouts. If I asked any of them to come over to Woodlands, they’ll most likely go “Huh, so ulu where got place to eat?” or “let’s go Johor Bahru instead”. Finally, the day has come when there is a café here in the northern part of Singapore that I can be proud of.

Citrus By The Pool is a Halal-certified café restaurant nestled at Woodlands Swimming Complex, which is really just a 10-minute walk or short drive from Woodlands or Marsiling MRT station. We stepped in and was greeted by retro-themed interior with cozy lights hanging from exposed wooden beams. Citrus By The Pool prides itself in its range of affordable food offerings, including Western food, Asian Fusion Cuisine and desserts. As a bonus, the café does not have a service charge built into your bills which provides for an even more pocket friendly dining experience.

Come on and grab a bowl of the Homemade Pumpkin Soup ($5.50) which is best enjoyed especially after a swim at Woodlands Swimming Complex. The soup is blended into a creamy, smooth consistency that is slightly sweet. I’d personally prefer my pumpkin soup to have a bit more spice, but you can easily add a pinch of pepper for a more flavorful experience. The Chilli Chicken Fries ($6.50) comes with crispy fries topped with minced chicken chunks in hot chilli and jalapenos. The tangy and spicy chilli chicken dressing makes it a great starter!

For a hearty quasi-western experience, you can opt for their new Sweet Potato Fries ($7.50) that comes with a choice of 2 homemade dips. Enjoy the tray chock-full of crispy sweet potato fries together with the wasabi and salted egg yolk dips, both of which were my absolute favorites. The wasabi dip was surprisingly sweet yet subtle, which differs from the usual horseradish mixture that stimulates your nasal system with a sudden hotness. The salted egg yolk is equally flavorful yet light on our palettes. If you’re a fan of mayonnaise, do have a go at their curry mayo and spicy mayo dips that are both rich in texture and flavour.

What distinguishes Citrus By The Pool is its offering of Asian fusion delights, such as their new Nyonya Style Fish Rice ($9.90). For less than 10 bucks, you’ll get a plate of steamed rice served with a sunny side up egg, deep fried fish pieces topped with a spicy and sour Nyonya concoction as well as sweet, crunchy vegetables on the side. The homemade Nyonya sauce is lightly spicy and citrusy, which pairs excellently with the crispy chunks of fried fish.

Craving for a sweet and savoury combination? The Fried Chicken and Waffle ($10.90) is definitely your go-to dish. The maple syrup – butter duo enhanced the palatability of the waffles, which were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. For the best of both worlds, drench the maple syrup on the fried chicken which has a lightly crispy exterior yet moist on the inside. We love this the most!

The Seafood Risotto ($16.90) displays an impressive mixture of seafood, such as scallops, squid, mussels and prawns, lying on a bed of white grains. I really enjoyed their personal take on the saffron-based cream which was creamy and piquant. The prawns in particular was succulent yet firm to the bite.

An all-time classic, Citrus By The Pool features their signature Tom Yum Seafood Pasta ($12.90) which is essentially a linguine dish swimming in their Tom Yum broth along with fresh clams, squid and prawn. The broth is characterised by its distinct hot and sour flavours that will be well sought after by fans of the Thai-inspired dish.

When life is uncertain, eat dessert first. Revel in the signature Molten Chocolate Lava Cake ($10.90), which is a chocolate cake topped with icing sugar served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and fresh strawberry. Cut into the lava cake to unveil a thick, runny liquid chocolate center encased with a slightly crumbly cake that screams guilty pleasure. I really loved the warm chocolate lava for its rich texture and subtle sweetness.

For events or celebrations, customers can now book the indoor or alfresco area with a view of the swimming pools. Takeaways, bentos and event catering are available as well. There is another sister joint, Citrus Bistro, which is now operating at Sengkang Sports Centre since December 2016. In addition to selling their signature dishes such as the Tom Yum Seafood Pasta, Citrus Bistro primarily focuses on light bites and comfort food such as Curry Chicken with Rice or Bread. With such value-for-money food treats, I hope you’ll come prepped with your sports gear and empty tummies. Citrus By The Pool gets really busy on weekend nights, so just remember to call and make a reservation for dine-ins!

This post was brought to you by CITRUS BY THE POOL.

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I won’t lie, it was pretty tough finding good food within walking distance from Simei MRT(apart from the typical fast food outlets). Even my friends who stay at Simei were sceptical that I could do a write-up on good food in Simei. Let us know if we have missed out on any hidden gems.

J-Story

This casual Korean restaurant with another branch at Capitol Plaza specializes in Porridge. However, they ran out of porridge when we were there on a Sunday night, despite it being only 7.30pm. Undeterred, we tried the Cheese Dak Galbi Hotplate Set ($10.80) which comes with peach tea.

Our sizzling hotplate arrived promptly, with lettuce, slices of chicken, rice cakes and of course, cheese. The cheese was quite evenly spread over the top of the ingredients and was nicely melted (perfect for the #cheesepull shot). The cheese complements the meat instead of overpowering it. Save those rice cakes because there are only 2-3 on one hotplate.

Sakura Halal Thai Chinese Restaurant

This halal-certified Thai restaurant is more like a Muslim-friendly tze char place. It serves up a huge variety of dishes, which ranges from the popular Oyster Omelette ($12/$16/$20) to Chilli Crab (from $29).

We tried the Golden Oats Chicken ($10/$15/$20) which comes with a generous portion of fragrant smelling oats. The chicken comes in popcorn-sized chunks. They look tiny, but they weren’t coated with too much batter nor were they fatty. The curry leaves provide a subtle curry fragrance, but the amount of chilli padi was lacking. Could have been more spicy, in my opinion! 

三宝板面 (San Bao Ban Mian)

This stall in Hola Cafeteria, just beside Simei MRT, is rather popular. We tried their Dry You Mian ($3.80) which comes with a fragrant sauce with fried onions. While the noodles were too starchy and got dry quickly, I thought that the chilli was satisfying enough to make up for it. It would have been better if the egg wasn’t overcooked, to allow the creamy yolk to mix with the noodles. The fried anchovies stayed crispy despite having been tossed around in the noodles, and were extra savoury after soaking up the sauce at the bottom of the bowl. 

Snack Shop Chicken Rice

Come here if you’re on a tight budget, because their chicken rice is so affordable! At just $2.50, you get a decent portion of chicken on top of fragrant, savoury rice. Sure, there isn’t any free-flow cucumbers or achar here, but the yummy rice which can be eaten on its own sure makes up for it. While the ingredients are simple, this makes for a fuss-free meal that can be eaten in less than 15mins. If you’re craving for a more hearty meal to fill your tummy, you can add on extra dishes(they seem to be a cai png store as well). Also, get some of their chilli – its addictive!

Jiaxiang Pancake

This place has one of the most impressive min jiang kueh menus I’ve seen. They have Black Sesame ($1.40) and Corn ($1.10) for those with a sweet tooth and even Cai Po + Egg + Spring Onion + Carrot ($1.80) if you want a heavier snack or a quick meal replacement. We tried the classic Peanut ($1.10) because I wanted a clear taste of the chinese pancake without all the frills! The lady manning the store is extremely generous with the portion of peanuts. Do get a plate because its going to get really messy. I liked that the batter of the pancake was done just right, and it was made to order, making it crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The peanuts weren’t too sweet as well. If you’re eating this on the go, consider getting the Peanut Paste ($1.10) as it is a less messy option.

Cantonese Porridge @ Hola Cafeteria

You might spot a long queue at this store which sells Cantonese-style porridge. We tried the Sliced Fish Porridge ($4) which comes with a whole stick of youtiao (dough fritters)! The fish was well cooked and did not have a fishy smell and went well with the generous ginger slices that came on top of our bowl. The porridge could be smoother and creamier. Although it isn’t of the highest quality, it is still a bowl of comfort food that is almost perfect for a cold day. Add an egg($0.50) for extra happiness!

Metta Cafe

Established in 2014 by Metta Welfare Association, Metta Cafe aims to provide vocational training for students with mild intellectual disabilities and/or autism who have graduated from Metta School. The menu changes every four weeks and they have daily specials. With vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, dietary restrictions are well taken care off here. We tried their best-seller – the Olive Fried Rice ($4). It comes with carrots, peas, corn and mock meat. We thought that it was rather tasty, but lacked wok-hei and was too oily for us. They offer whole cakes and other bakes such as homemade eggless cookies as well! The public may access Metta Cafe via the main gate or the side gate near the bus stop.

The next time I’m around Simei, I’ll be sure to grab a min jiang kueh to munch on from Jiaxiang Pancake. The impressive range of toppings certainly sets them apart from the quintessential pancake store. Other than that, Sakura Halal Thai-Chinese restaurant is a good place to bring your Muslim friends for a hearty meal!

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

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We’ve wanted to try Chindamani Indian Restaurant’s prata ever since we came across rave reviews of their crispy prata. We were told that the queue on weekend mornings could get quite crazy, so we decided to have our breakfast here on a weekday morning. There was still a queue when we arrived around 9am, but it was manageable as the servers were quick and efficient.

We ordered 4 kosong, 1 egg, 1 plaster, 1 egg and onion prata, and their signature chicken curry. The bill cost around $12. After trying the different variations of prata, we understood why customers queuing in front of us only ordered the kosong prata. It is the best among all.

The prata dough had been kneaded well before it was cooked to a beautiful golden brown. It is thinner than the usual prata you get elsewhere, and very crispy indeed. The only downside is the lack of a buttery aroma. Remember to dip the prata into the curry that is moderately thick and consistent. The tinge of sweetness you get from the curry cuts the level of spiciness, making it very palatable.

We recommend their chicken curry which comes with a generous portion of chicken thigh. The meat is well prepared, and fork-tender. It soaks up the curry nicely, and you get to enjoy a mix of spices in every mouthful.

My personal favourite is the plaster prata, as it consists of a fried egg with an enticing runny yolk. The plaster prata is a little more doughy and thicker in texture as compared to the crispy kosong prata. It is also not as greasy as the prata you get elsewhere.

We’re pretty sure that this stall has many loyal supporters, especially those who stay around Serangoon North. The prata is decent, but it might not be worth traveling from the far east or west for. Moreover, if you prefer doughy prata, this wouldn’t be your cup of tea.

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

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The post Chindamani Indian Restaurant – Sinfully Crispy Prata in Singapore appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.