Known for their coastal cuisine, Tanjong Beach Club serves up pretty decent surf & beach bites great sharing or for yourself!
Their Crusted Portobello Burger ($27) is a great example of that! Two thick & juicy portobello slices are breaded & deep fried to create that perfect crust & sandwiches between fluffy buns, smoked cheese, tomatoes, lettuce & with some slight heat from their chipotle mayo + huge portion of fries. This satisfying burger will make you forget that you need meat cause it's just as juicy!
First up was their Breakfast Sando ($19). Think big breakfast in a sandwich-smoked bacon, scrambled eggs, avo, cheddar cheese & chipotle mayo. The combination was simple but hit all the right notes. The creaminess from the eggs & avo paired with the saltiness of the bacon & cheddar was well-balanced with the chipotle cutting through it, making it easy to go in for the next time.
On the heavier side, we had the Truffle Mushroom Sando ($18). The basic brunch person in me wanted the truffle mushrooms with hash & that's what I got-hash browns, mushrooms, truffle aioli, Mozz & scrambled eggs. Instead of a full on truffle oil drizzle, the truffle aioli added a nice touch, making the sandwich light yet flavourful without the overpowering truffle smell or taste. Overall, it was a decent sandwich which hit all the right spots for me.
On the side, we ordered their Dirty Tater Tots ($12) to share, thinking the sandos were small (huge regret). Their version of dirty comes with a topping of chicken floss, preserved radish (cai poh) & sambal mayo. While it sounds like a strange combination, the flavours goes surprisingly well together!
Probably one of the cheapest black coffee (cafe style) around, Balance Coffee is tucked on the first floor of VIIO Balestier, next to Zhongshan Mall.
Serving up beans roasted in-house, their americano was well-balanced with a nutty finish, without being too acidic, pretty easy on the palate.
It's probably one of the hidden gems in the Balastier area as there's not many cafes around.
Perfect for big group gatherings, the Grilled Seafood set is a great sharing platter to have.
With their own seasoning, the seafood items are fresh & succulent, paired with their in-house spicy sauce.
From scallops, to grilled oysters, clams, cockles & grilled vegetables-this indulgent platter must be shared, lest you get a heart thumbing experience.
If you're looking for authentic Vietnamese food, you should check out An Là Ghien. A must order would be their Bánh Xèo, Vietnamese pancake that is fried & grilled with sliced pork, prawns, bean sprouts & an assortment of vegetables.
For the uninitiated, this comes with rice paper which you'd use as a skin, somewhat like a popiah skin to wrap the pancake, lettuce and/or mint leaves & sauce together. In order to use the rice paper, you'd have to spray water on it first to often it into something more flimsy & foldable.
On its own, the pancake is super flavourful! Perfectly crisp along the edges, the ingredients are well-balanced & complements each other so well.
Newly opened at Raffles City is Kanshoku Ramen! They got popular thanks to their Signature Truffle Ramen & boy did they do it right!
It's been years since I tried it the first time & they have been so consistent. It tasted exactly the same as when I first had it. The creaminess of the onsen egg paired with the fragrant truffle oil, perfectly cooked ramen, and sweet charred slices of chashu-it's no wonder this is their signature bowl!
Their new outlet is located at B1, right next to Tokyo Cheesecake store. With limited seats of about 20 pax, expect to see long queues during peak periods!
Located along Lorong Kilat, Kim's Family Food is well known for their kbbq & extensive korean food options within the area!
Perfect for the rainy weather, their Sundubu Jiggae definitely hits the spot. This tofu stew comes with a base of kimchi stew, giving you that spicy tangy kick while it's broth is absorbed like the slices of silky tofu.
Pair it with their hot pipping bowl of pearl grain rice, this comforting bowl of soup is coming to order whenever I visit!
With multiple outlets across the island, Foreword Coffee can also be found at BakerX.
Located on level 4 of Orchard Central, BakerX is Far East Organisation's capsule space to allow homegrown F&B businesses trial having their own physical store & allow for their business to grow.
They currently hold both Foreword Coffee and a Guiltfree Desserts store. By the time I reached, the desserts were out of stock, so it was just coffee for me!
Their beans were Ou Yang, from Jiangchen, Yunnan, China. As a white, the flavour profile of cherries, dark chocolate & molasses came through distinctively, making it a super comforting cup of coffee.
As a social enterprise, they hire individuals from all walks of life, so please do be patient when you visit! Do also note that payment is via cash or paynow (the latter is preferred).
With the original store in Toa Payoh receiving the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022, LiXin Teochew Fishball Noodles has multiple outlets/franchise all across our island. If travelling to Toa Payoh is a trouble, you can get the same bowl of noodles in the west at Bukit Batok!
The same springy fishballs are available and perfectly cooked kway teow with chilli! They have the option of Bak Chor too but I love just plain ol' fishballs that bounces it's way into your mouth.
