And now for the final act at @fattchoyeatinghouse, we finish with some noods.⠀
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Welcome back my beloved Original Roxy Laksa, but ultra sized this time for four to share ($38++). It’s still the same scintillatingly spicy and savoury broth that’s made luxuriously rich & thick with the addition of a generous amount of coconut milk, but just served in a plant pot sized vessel. Topped with fresh tiger prawns, lots of fishcake & tofu puffs, this luscious laksa is definitely a strong contender for being one of the best laksas in Singapore.⠀
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Thank you so much for the hospitality, @fattchoyeatinghouse & @kevin._.ngan!

And now for the final act at @fattchoyeatinghouse, we finish with some noods. The off menu Not Your Singapore Hokkien Mee with Abalone ($48++), which I prefer to call the 3.5x Hokkien Mee. It’s essentially a KL Hokkien Mee that’s been made posh with the inclusion of abalone. The sauce is the familiar sinfully rich sweet & salty soy sauce based concoction that has imparted both colour & flavour to the thick noodles. The sauce has also been fortified by a generous amount of wok hei from the cooking process, making this pot of noodles even more delicious.⠀
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Abalone on its own is rather flavourless and is almost totally reliant on the sauce it is cooked in, and the sweet & salty sauce is a dream pairing for the mollusk. Better yet, the abalone is cooked just right with just the right amount of chewiness, and the texture fits in with the bouncy qualities of the noodles seamlessly. And of course, who can forget all that crispy, perfectly fried pork lard chunks that garnish the 3.5x Hokkien Mee. It provides the much needed texture contrast in a sea of soft & chewy elements, and ratchets the sinfulness of this noodle dish to heart stopping levels.⠀

Thank you so much for the hospitality, @fattchoyeatinghouse & @kevin._.ngan!⠀

Now, this might strike some as a weird pairing, but trust me when I say that ordering Fatt Choy’s Teochew BKT with Mala XO Fried Rice ($12++) is an outstanding move. The Mala XO fried rice on its own is enjoyably numbing and sufficiently savoury thanks to the Sichuan peppercorn & XO sauce, but adding a few splashes of the collagen rich bak kut teh and mixing it in with the rice elevates the fried rice into a supremely sumptuous & scrumptious affair.⠀
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Thanks for having us, @fattchoyeatinghouse & @kevin._.ngan!

While Singaporeans and Malaysians wage cyber warfare over who does bak kut teh better, @fattchoyeatinghouse is quietly doing their own thing and coming up with this beast of a BKT. The Teochew Style Pork Trotter Bak Kut Teh costs forty eight bucks a serving, but it serves four folks and it comes in a vessel the size of a large flowerpot. When you do the math, it’s only twelve bucks a person, which is cheaper than quite a few famous BKT merchants out there.⠀
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As you may have already noticed, the big difference here is the pork trotter that’s been slowly simmered in that peppery soup for hours. It isn’t particularly peppery, but that’s due to all the richness of the collagen that’s seeped out of the trotter while simmering. This is the absolute thickest and richest soup I have ever sipped on bar none! It’s ludicrously luscious, ridiculously rich broth and unbelievably umami thanks to the spice mix fusing with the jumbo pork trotter. Speaking of the trotter, it’s tremendously tender as expected, and the skin is such a supple delicacy that is just begging for the kiss of some dark soya sauce & chili.⠀
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Thanks for having us, @fattchoyeatinghouse & @kevin._.ngan!

I knew I loved @fattchoyeatinghouse Signature Pork Lard Fried Rice ($12++) before I met it, but it always did seem quite lonely. Some best sellers were made specifically to complement existing bestsellers, kind of like Ken being created for Barbie. In this case, Fatt Choy has whipped up the Iberico Pork Belly With Garlic Sauce ($15++) to pair with the pork lard fried rice, and it’s a match made in heaven.⠀
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Iberico pork belly is shaven into thin strips and poached, then amply flavoured with an abundance of crispy chili garlic bits and some black bean paste. The garnish of julienned cucumbers doesn’t look like much, but they function surprisingly well as palate cleansers. This is a simple side, but it pairs so well with the pork lard fried rice as it ameliorates a couple of shortcomings. The pork lard fried rice isn’t notably salty, and it does get a bit monotonous after the fifth mouthful. ⠀
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The Iberico Pork Belly adds that delectable umami and just a smidge of spice, as well as the enhanced satisfaction from the inclusion of meat into the rice bowl. It transforms the Pork Lard Fried Rice from a heart attack in a bowl into a sinfully stellar full course, and it is the epitome of the saying “we here for a good time not a long time”.⠀
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Thank you so much for the hospitality, @kevin._.ngan & @fattchoyeatinghouse!

@fattchoyeatinghouse has put a couple of new appetisers on the menu since my last visit, but it was the currently off menu Salted Egg Cereal Calamari ($ priceless) that truly thrilled all of us. Sure, the Mala Kaarage ($12++) was a touch salty but still absolutely addictive, the Pitan with Ice Plant ($15++) was truly unique, and the numbing & spicy Lava Egg With Chili Oil Dressing pairs perfectly with the Mala Knife Cut Noodles ($10++), but the Calamari was the undisputed champion.⠀
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The rich, superbly savoury flavours of the salted egg sauce were accentuated excellently by the natural sweetness of the crunchy cereal that the calamari is buried in. The squid itself was flawlessly fresh and deep fried for just long enough, boasting that much coveted spring & snap to each bite. There was still an abundance of delicious cereal bits left after all that sublime squid has been devoured, and we happily scarfed down spoonfuls of that satisfyingly sweet & crunchy cereal in between swigs of beer.⠀
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Thank you so much for inviting us @fattchoyeatinghouse & @kevin._.ngan!

@sukiya.singapore is now my go to beef bowl place not just because their gyudon is cheap and comes in gigantic portions, I also dine there because of their limited time specials. Take for example this Yangnyeom Cheese Beef Yakiniku Bowl, which clocks in at $13.80 nett for the XL bowl. The XL boasts double meat and twenty five percent more rice, making this a beefy bowl for the turbobulkers.
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The normal gyudon is upgraded by grilling the thinly sliced beef in a teriyaki glaze, resulting in even more flavour from that majestic Maillard reaction browning the beef and caramelising the sugars in the teriyaki. The beef is already fantastically flavourful, but the yangnyeom sauce adds a truckload more flavour. The deep umami from the gochujang is mixed with garlic & sugar, adding extra savouriness & sweetness to the already delicious beef. Truth be told, the flavours can get a little too intense sometimes, but all you gotta do is take a swig of the complimentary tea to reset your palate.⠀
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I do wish that the cheese on top of the beef & yangnyeom sauce was at least partially melted, but if you move fast enough, you can get it to melt slightly if you swiftly mix the cheese in with the hot rice. Still, this XL beef bowl gave me XL satisfaction.

The artist formerly known as You Fu Fried Hokkien Mee has undergone an identity change, becoming @shiokhokkienmee. They also do live up to their name, as they dish out hearty Hokkien mee that’s plenty piquant. Shiok Hokkien Mee solves the age old debate of dry vs wet by doing a version that’s right smack dab in the middle, and my small plate was big on flavour but only cost me five bucks.⠀
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There’s a fair bit of seafood broth in the noodles, but it isn’t swimming in the broth. Speaking of the broth, it’s undisputedly umami and fairly robust, and it flavours everything on the plate pretty well. The seafood, which would be the prawns and bits of squid, is fresh and competently cooked. The prawns were bouncy yet tender, while the prawns had a nice snappiness to them. And of course, the crazy crunchy deep fried pork lard just sends this dish straight into Flavortown. Fat equals flavour, so you best believe these crunchy cubes of pure sin were flavour bombs that were arguably the best part of the Hokkien Mee. Cholesterol schmelesterol, say it with me folks: WE HERE FOR A GOOD TIME NOT A LONG TIME!!!!!

As for the chili, Shiok’s sambal is viciously violent and it will melt your tastebuds. The hotheads will utterly adore Shiok’s scintillatingly spicy yet savoury chili, but everyone else is going to have to proceed with cold pint of beer from the craft beer stall behind Shiok Hokkien Mee.

The only possible improvement I could think of is to cut the strips of pork belly bigger, so that it would provide a more satisfying chew & overall satisfaction.⠀
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Thank you so much for the invite, @shiokhokkienmee!

For the final dish of the night, we simply could not leave without the one pub classic that’s arguably the poster child for pub grub. Here at @harryssingapore, the fish & chips are now Drunken Fish & Chips ($21++), and it’s ideally paired with a pint of ice cold beer. A big, beautifully battered piece of white fish is served with Harry’s stellar spiced fries and some coleslaw for a little crunch.⠀
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For the life of me I can’t remember what fish they use, but it’s the firmest one ever used in fish and chips. Even after cutting and stabbing with a fork, the fish stays intact and doesn’t disintegrate, which makes eating a fuss free affair. The batter is delightfully crunchy thanks to the beer & vodka added in, and the fish itself is simply seasoned and benefits greatly from a dab or two of the tartar sauce on the side. I wish the coleslaw was least sweet and more savoury and sour to provide a little palate cleanser, but it’s fairly functional as it is. After a long day at work, a pint of beer and a serving of Harry’s Drunken Fish & Chips will get you feeling chipper.⠀
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Thank you for hosting us, @harryssingapore & @burpple!

Harry’s Jazz Burger ($22++) has been remastered yet again, and I have no idea which permutation this current one is. This time, however, the remastered version was a great success. I remember the patty of previous Jazz Burger being too densely packed and resulting in a tough chew, but this one has no such problems. Juicy buns sandwich a juicy, easy to chew patty with jalapeño cheese sauce, melted cheese & bacon with some mushrooms, lettuce & tomatoes, and this jazz solo is a hit. I couldn’t discern any jalapeño in here, but the cheese sauce and the slice of melted cheddar make this burger extra creamy & rich. The mushrooms add extra umami & weight to the burger, and it’s almost the perfect burger to hold in one hand while your other hand nurses a pint of beer. I’d definitely love to see a double patty option in the future, because double the patties double the fun.⠀
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Thank you for the invite, @harryssingapore & @burpple!

And now at long last, we finally get stuck into some proper pub grub at @harryssingapore, starting with the Argentinian Ribeye ($29++). Now this is a proper steak dinner, as the sizeable steak is backed up by Harry’s indecently irresistible spiced fries and a salad dressed in a balsamic reduction because we’re going healthy. The ribeye steak is tastefully tender and well marbled with intramuscular fat, and it’s done the only way steaks should be done: a majestic medium rare. It’s sufficiently seasoned, but there’s a savoury steak sauce that’s been muddled with a little chimichurri on the side if you want that extra flavour fiesta. The vegetables are fresh with a pleasing crispness to them, and those fries are crispy and seasoned sensationally.⠀
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Thank you for the invite, @harryssingapore & @burpple!

Most folks wouldn’t call pasta healthy, but @harryssingapore does spaghetti two ways that are incredibly healthy yet sufficiently savoury. First up is the Surfer’s Aglio Olio ($22++), featuring the timeless & trusty pairing of seared tiger prawns & al dente spaghetti tossed in olive oil, garlic, and chilies, but Harry’s goes a step further & adds furikake for extra umami. The tiger prawns are flawlessly fresh and seared to perfection, and the surprisingly spicy spaghetti was savoury & rich thanks to the olive oil & furikake, and there’s a lot of chili concealed within for a fiery surprise.⠀
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On the even healthier side of things, the vegan friendly Greens with Pesto ($20++) stars spaghetti in an aromatic & herbaceous pesto with a whole garden’s worth of fresh vegetables. Broccoli, green beans, pine nuts & sugar snap peas are lightly dusted with a touch of parmesan for your daily dose of greens. I thought it could do with a little more salt, but since we’re trying to keep it healthy, I think it’s just fine.⠀
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Thanks for having us, @harryssingapore & @burpple!