@miskacafe is located in the posh enclave of Sentosa Cove, and despite its inaccessibility from mainland Singapore, is worth a visit if you’re already on Sentosa. They serve satisfying sustenance along with cold tall pints of Paulaner fresh from the tap along with wines & ten buck cocktails, all enjoyed while gazing at the yachts moored at dock. Their cuisine is predominantly Greek with a smattering of Turkish and Western, and it’s all rather fetching.⠀
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I’ve had a soft spot for doner kebabs ever since my uni days in Newcastle, where I’d grab a kebab at three in the morning while shitfaced drunk. So when I saw that Miska offers a Lamb Kofta Doner Wrap ($19++), I knew I HAD to have it. While it is a lot healthier by virtue of being a lot less greasy than my 3am kebabs, it’s still delicious and quite a hearty meal. The lamb kofta was well spiced & concealed most of the gaminess, and the tangy & refreshing tzatziki added lubrication & richness to this tastefully toasted doner kebab. My only complaints about this Doner Wrap are that the tzatziki wasn’t applied evenly, resulting in dry patches, and it could’ve used some more strips of lamb kofta.⠀
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Overall, Miska’s got a good thing going with a view that many restaurants would kill for, and the food’s simple yet decent. Thanks for the invite @burpple & @miskacafe!

@miskacafe is located in the posh enclave of Sentosa Cove, and despite its inaccessibility from mainland Singapore, is worth a visit if you’re already on Sentosa. They serve satisfying sustenance along with cold tall pints of Paulaner fresh from the tap along with wines & ten buck cocktails, all enjoyed while gazing at the yachts moored at dock. Their cuisine is predominantly Greek with a smattering of Turkish and Western, and it’s all rather fetching.⠀
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First up is the Greek Grilled Chicken ($24++), which surprised me with their excellence. The only breasts I don’t care for are chicken breasts, but Miska did a marvellous job at grilling these cuts of chicken. They were remarkably juicy, and each moist morsel truly impressed me. Miska was rather generous with their chicken portions, which is complemented by a smooth, savoury hummus, lots of salad and a grilled corn cob. Definitely one of the healthiest options on the menu.
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Overall, Miska’s got a good thing going with a view that many restaurants would kill for, and the food’s simple yet decent. Thanks for the invite @burpple & @miskacafe!

I’ve never cared for tofu, so I can’t explain why I ended up at @chensmapotofu. Maybe I got swayed by the Michelin Bib Gourmand, or maybe I just decided to walk into the first restaurant I saw and hope for the best. My luck was in and my hope was not in vain, as my choice of the Signature Combo ($15++) was an inspired one.⠀
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Featuring a half portion of the Mapo Don that got Chen’s on the Bib Gourmand and a half portion of Dan Dan Mian, this double combo combines to make a truly filling meal. The sauce of the mapo tofu was downright delightful, with its supreme savouriness spiced up with Sichuan peppercorns for that trademark numbing. The intensity of the peppercorns was quite tame, with a subtle but unmistakable numbness & a hit of spicy heat. The sauce was thick, going against the norm of a thin watery sauce, and the mapo tofu felt considerably more substantial as a result. The silky soft tofu was enriched by an abundance of minced pork, and when combined with the sapid spicy sauce & steamed rice, made me reconsider my indifference towards mapo tofu.⠀
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As for the Dan Dan Mian, it was simple but satisfyingly savoury. Bouncy, QQ ramen is topped with a saucy minced pork sauce, and normally that would be all she wrote. However, here at Chen’s, that meat sauce is upgraded with a splash of Sichuan chili oil for that trademark tongue numbing sensation and the kick of spicy heat. This simple noodle dish is elevated with just a little tweak, and it was so supremely satisfying to savour. Enjoy the noodles first though, as the noodles get cold real quick and clump up.

When it comes to the booze, @truecostsingapore is my new true love. All of their astoundingly affordable alcoholic libations are priced so inexpensively, from their $7.50++ glasses of wine to this $11.50++ Manhattan. And no, this ain’t some cheap watered down cocktail, this comely concoction is almost as strong as Brian Shaw.⠀
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Although I’m not sure what bourbon they used, I do know they used a copious amount of it due to the cocktail being quite spirit forward and sweet. Even though there’s a more generous pour than usual, the overall balance of flavours & aromas was unbroken. The sweet vermouth added a velvety mouthfeel and extra weight to the cocktail, while the herbal bitterness of the angostura rebalanced the sweetness, and the aroma made the Manhattan even more appealing.⠀
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If you’re craving a punchy cocktail that won’t burn a hole in your pocket, True Cost is truly unbeatable.

Here at @truecostsingapore, it’s a tale of two steaks. For the special occasion enjoyer or the baller, True Cost offers a Wagyu Tenderloin A5 for $45.90++. If you’re looking for a more modest but no less beefy steak, they have you covered with a two hundred & fifty gram cut of Grass-fed Ribeye for $32++. Although the tenderloin is much more luxe than the ribeye, both steaks are pretty MOOvelous in their own right.⠀

As for the Grass-fed Ribeye of undisclosed origin, it was quite under-seasoned for our tastes. Just a little more salt, and this felicitously fatty and truly tender steak would’ve been world class, but felicitously fatty & truly tender is a compromise we were more than willing to take that evening. However, the demi-glacé that was served with both steaks was certainly the most lacklustre component of both steaks. It was banally bland, and urgently requires serious beefing up.⠀
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Still, at under fifty bucks for a cut of Wagyu A5 tenderloin and thirty five for a sizeable slab of ribeye, True Cost is truly MOOving to give consumers a cut of the good life for less cost.

Here at @truecostsingapore, it’s a tale of two steaks. For the special occasion enjoyer or the baller, True Cost offers a Wagyu Tenderloin A5 for $45.90++. If you’re looking for a more modest but no less beefy steak, they have you covered with a two hundred & fifty gram cut of Grass-fed Ribeye for $32++. Although the tenderloin is much more luxe than the ribeye, both steaks are pretty MOOvelous in their own right.⠀
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True Cost’s Wagyu Tenderloin A5 does not suffer from the problem of lacking intramuscular fat that most tenderloins do, as this Wagyu A5 cow is PHAT and has incredible intramuscular fat running through the steak. Fat is flavour, and this tenderloin was fabulously flavourful and tremendously tender. All that was needed to fully flesh out the breathtaking beefiness was salt and pepper, and this A5 Wagyu tenderloin will get your loins quaking. The roasted potatoes were equally exquisite, with moist and fluffy potato innards that were adequately herbed & seasoned. The baba ganoush, while tasty, was a little out of place on this plate.⠀

Still, at under fifty bucks for a cut of Wagyu A5 tenderloin and thirty five for a sizeable slab of ribeye, True Cost is truly MOOving to give consumers a cut of the good life for less cost.

@truecostsingapore Hokkaido Scallop Ceviche ($13.50++) was undoubtedly the most unique dish of the night. Chopped up raw scallops were tossed with chopped up mango, avocado, thinly sliced pickled onions, ponzu sauce and what looked a whole lot like chili oil. Even though the scallops had been chopped up, they still retained most of their original firm texture, proving their fantastic freshness.⠀
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The avocado added a creamy luxuriousness not normally associated with scallops, but it worked wonders here, while the sweet & tangy mangoes added their appealing qualities to the ceviche, and the crunch & sourness of the pickled onions kept everything back from getting cloying. However, the combo of the piquant ponzu & chili oil was the truly inspired element in the dish.⠀
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The ponzu supplies the bold umami flavour that binds everything in the plate together, and the chili oil is what sets this dish aflame with its slight spiciness. With the chili oil and the sour & salty ponzu sauce operating in concert, the ceviche hits every major flavour profile: sweet, salty, sour, spicy and umami. Well, maybe not all since there was no bitterness. ⠀
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Thanks to the sauces, True Cost’s Hokkaido Scallop Ceviche is certainly one of the most ambrosial appetisers I’ve had this year. And to think it’s less than twenty bucks even with tax & service charge! A true steal from True Cost, and you’d truly be robbing yourself if you didn’t try True Cost at least thrice.

Hello fresh oysters my beloved. I was fretting over where to celebrate my birthday a few weeks ago, when google’s search algorithm decided to do good instead of evil for once and recommended @truecostsingapore to me. True Cost had me hooked by posting their entire menu on their website, prices and all, but what sold me were those prices. Note to all restaurants: post your full menu with prices online if you don’t wanna go bust. Thank me later.
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This ponderous platter of a full dozen Japan Emperor Oysters was only forty four dollars before additional GST & service charge, roughly coming in at about four bucks an oyster. It ain’t the absolute cheapest in town, but the stunning freshness & magnitude of these Japanese oysters justified the price several times over. These stellar shellfish were humongous, barely able to fit into one slurp, and most importantly, fresh. They were briny, creamy, smooth and absolutely perfect with a squeeze of lemon and a dash of Tabasco. Even though I like my oysters the traditional Tabasco way, the mouthwatering mignonette was superb enough to lure me away from the Tabasco. The sweetness of the shallots harmonised with the sourness of the red wine vinegar, making this sweet & sour sauce a capable complement to the luxurious oysters.⠀
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Sure, you pay a cover charge of ten bucks per diner at dinner to dine at True Cost, but the savings you stack on food and especially drinks makes that cover charge a measly afterthought. When it comes to dinner & drinks, True Cost might just be my true love.

Authentic Korean fare in Fortune Centre? That’s right, The Asia 2019 Korean Food exists, and it’s run by an elderly couple in their sixties. Expect all the Korean staples like kimchi ramen and kimchi stew along with some other slightly less Korean dishes, like curry rice & udon. Their main calling seems to be grilled meat on a hotplate, and I got the Pork Belly Set ($15 nett).⠀
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A decent portion of thinly sliced pork belly is stir fried with thinly sliced onions & leeks, served on a sizzling hotplate with the sauce served separately. The banchan (side dishes) are pretty decent, encompassing kimchi, beansprouts, pickled ginger and a fluffy omelette roll, and the set is completed with a bowl of white rice & soup. The pork & onions are competently caramelised, but the sauce on the side was the one that provided most of the flavour.⠀
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The sauce was an interesting cross between black bean sauce and gochujang, resulting in a deeply savoury flavour, but had a touch of unpleasant bitterness. I can’t fathom why The Asia 2019 didn’t just stir fry the pork, leeks & onions in that superb sauce, as it would’ve resulted in much better flavour assimilation into the meat & veg, plus the bitter edge of the sauce would’ve been cooked out.⠀
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The banchan was pretty decent, with the omelette roll being notably airy & bouncy. Although I’m not entirely convinced that this Pork Belly Set was fully worth fifteen bucks, my belly & hunger were fully satisfied.

@wildfireburgers.sg has been around for quite a while, and their burgers have consistently been in the elite tier of the burger rankings. I can’t even remember the last time I had Wildfire, and after devouring their Triple Bacon Cheeseburger ($24++ for double patties, making this a Triple Double) I’m wondering why I’ve been robbing myself of the pleasure. ⠀
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Wildfire gets its name from the flames that leap out of the Binchotan charcoal fired INKA grill, and if you peer into the kitchen you’ll get to see a fire show every few minutes or so. The intense heat sears the patty in a jiffy, locking all the meaty moisture of the beef within the patties, while still putting a charming char on the patties. Speaking of the patties, these thick, juicy beef patties are crafted out of fine Aussie grain fed Angus ground beef topped with cheddar cheese. That combo delivers a brilliant balance of fat that brings flavour and beef that delivers satisfying meatiness blanketed by creamy, delicious, salty melted cheese.⠀
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Perfect patties aside, the triple in the Triple Bacon Burger comes from the trifecta of crispy bacon bits, baconnaise (bacon mayonnaise) and bacon jam. The crispy bacon bits did well, but could’ve fared way better if they came as strips instead to maximise the crunch. The bacon jam & baconnaise, on the other hand, were absolutely awesome. The smokiness & savouriness of the bacon infused every morsel of burger with its porky smokiness, and every meaty mouthful was marvellous.⠀
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The brioche burger buns were flawless, being delightfully doughy yet airy and bouncy. However, since they had been toasted with butter on, this Triple Double of mine got too cloying too quickly. Perhaps Wildfire should look into providing a fresh contrast to all the meaty madness in the burger by way of a few crisp leaves of lettuce, or maybe even a few pickles. Still, this Triple Double Bacon Cheeseburger is putting up GOAT tier performances that earn it a spot in the hall of fame.

Here’s another recommendation from fellow @burpple #tastemaker @wobblethebui, who is an eminent expert on noods. Grandfather Food Empire Bak Chor Mee always has a long snaking line, partially due to its popularity, but mostly due to there only being one aunty cooking one order at a time. Despite turning into a grandfather while waiting for my bowl, the wait was worth it.⠀
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I ordered the medium option for six bucks and it’s easily the biggest and most satiating bowl of bak chor mee (minced pork noodles) ever. This bowl is like the deep end of a pool: it’s a lot deeper than it looks. The bowl was full of perfectly cooked mee pok (flat noodles), coated in a smashingly savoury & spicy sauce. It’s stunningly savoury, slightly sweet & sour, and unbelievably umami due to the inclusion of ti poh (dried, fermented sole fish) powder in the noodles. The sauce is undoubtedly the powerhouse of this bowl, and boy does it contain a lot of power.⠀
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Besides the mountain of springy noodles, Grandfather was equally generous with the minced pork, sliced lean pork, meatballs and sliced Chinese mushrooms. The soup on the side is equally exhilarating, with a rich, porky sapidity that’s clean and clear of any offensive odours, but somehow manages to maintain a noticeable tinge of sweetness with every sip.⠀
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While it isn’t the most legendary bowl of bak chor mee ever, you can definitely tell your grandkids stories about this one.

Weirdly enough, the older I get the more I appreciate the traditional sweets, especially Nyonya kuehs. I didn’t expect to find Nyonya kuehs in Bugis, but thanks to a tipoff from @wobblethebui, I found The Nyonya Kueh, a tiny little pushcart stall in the same coffee shop as the famous roast meat merchant.⠀
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I’ve only tried their ang ku kueh, pulut indi and kueh salat so far, but all of them have earned the most prestigious Asian accolade of ‘not too sweet’. The pulut indi’s (left) slightly crunchy coconut shavings are sweetened with gula Melaka for a molasses flavoured sweetness, and the blue pea coloured glutinous rice is fluffy & sticky, but not mushy. The ang ku kueh is a universal crowd pleaser with its marvellous mung bean filling and delicate, sticky skin that’s coloured red. ⠀
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However, my favourite is probably the kueh salat, with the same excellent glutinous rice as the pulut indi, but with a delightful kaya custard layer. I have no idea why the kaya custard layer on top is purple instead of green, but I do know that it’s sweet, creamy, chock full of pandan aroma, and an absolute winner.⠀
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With The Nyonya Kueh, the early bird gets the kueh, as these sweet treats sell way faster than hotcakes. And at an average price of a dollar & twenty cents apiece, these toothsome treats are an amazingly affordable indulgence.