Was craving braised duck kway chap so bad so I went early to Golden Mile Food Centre for Ah Xiao’s braised duck. It did not disappoint, but it must have been bad luck because the queue, seemingly not long, had people before us ordering for a whole village!!! Though that might also be a testament to how loyal their customers are and how good their food might be. Their kway itself was nothing special, but the duck was soft and tender, braised in a dark sauce that was just lightly herbaceous. With the amount of ingredients, I thought the price was pretty worth it!
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Peak hour on a weekend especially in the weekend does not guarantee you’ll try their famous beef bowls. So I went for their pork cheek bowl which was so amazingly melt in your mouth tender. 5 stars for the texture, but I thought overall the flavour was a bit bland despite the slight smokiness. Still, a pretty nice meal to have with the atmosphere at Bedok marketplace.
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I’ve been wanting to try this for so long and finally!!! Noodles spelt with the most complicated Chinese character. Didn’t disappoint, loved the the chewy texture of the noodle, and the flavours in this were just delightful. I thought it would be too oily, but the sauce and the spice was delicious, and the flavour and texture of the pork was just right. Personally, the noodles were too big and wide for my mouth which made it a hassle to it but it really made it an experience to eat. I would come back to try all their other handmade noodles because I really loved the bouncy texture! Also really affordable :)
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Not sure if they still have this on the menu but the Curry Sando was pretty decent. I liked the soft fluffy texture of the Hokkaido milk bun that’s toasted just right. There was a nice curry spread, though it seemed slightly sweet and tangy also. Topped up for tater tots and it was worth it. Pretty decent coffee here too! Going there on a weekend would definitely mean some crowd and noise.
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A lovely bowl of ramen that was rich and so delightful to eat. Just slightly creamy, the Godfire broth was made even better with the huge kick of spiciness. The chashu was also very tender. Worth the queue (but only if you’re not starving).
Also, shout out to the gyoza - one of the better ones I’ve tried. Soft skin with yet still a nice bite. Amazing flavour.
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Stumbled along this pretty and quaint Peranakan designed cafe that sold local delights - from laksa to tiny kuehs. Went for the curry chicken rice which was a sizeable portion, with one huge chicken drumstick, potatoes, and a side of Nyonya chap Chye. The curry was rich in lemak - that aroma and flavour of coconut milk really came through. The gravy was also on the sweeter side, and I wished it had a much spicier kick. And that was easily solved after I requested for a side of sambal and added it to the gravy, which really elevated the experience and the spice of the entire curry. A nice homely meal!
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A small restaurant located along the busy street opposite i12 Katong, Stirling Steaks served up one mean steak. Went for the tenderloin which was executed well, a nice sear that was delicately marinated, and unsurprisingly, very tender. The side of truffle fries were a tad too oily, but still delicious. Would definitely come back here with the Burpple 1-for-1 deal - so worth it!
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This was a dollar more expensive than the birria, but I’d get this any day over the latter. Though not the kind of cheesy goodness you’ll get with a birria taco, this was refreshing and delightful. The Argentinian garlic prawns was grilled to perfection to give that slight Smokey flavour, not withstanding them being huge and fresh. The combination of Thai mango salad and cilantro gave an appetising boost to every bite. The chipotle mayonnaise added that slight creaminess and light spice to it, and they all the elements added up together very well. That being said, it’s more worth it at Lavi Taco’s if you use the burpple deal since it guarantees you some discount, though it also presents some limitations in flavours - such as not being able to go for this dish, and timings that you can eat there.
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For 2 pieces and pretty little stew by the side my first thought was how unaffordable it was. The masala lamb deep fried taco was not as oily as I’d expected, but the gaminess of the lamb was much more overpowering, to the point the masala felt like a little tingle. In fact, when you dip the taco into the birria, it’s unlikely that you’d get much masala flavour. Cheesy with a decent amount of meat, but, I would go for the other tacos instead.
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Finally tried Korat Thai cafe, well known for being taken over by the Muttons just last year and their dedication to keep the menu as delicious as it was previously. I was pretty satisfied with this fun bowl of Tom Yum Mama that’s a simple crowd pleaser. Because who doesn’t like gathering around a hot pot and slurping up instant noodles? The sauce was on the creamier and tangy side, and it was not as spicy as I wish it could’ve been. The ingredients were pretty good - thick and meaty roast pork, bouncy meat balls, fresh prawns, sotong, and a dash of crab meat. If you’re sharing between 2, this is guaranteed to fill you, but if among 3, you would probably have some space to get other sides to share😛 Ambience is exactly what you’d expect from Orchard towers, literally just a space with plastic chairs and foldable tables that can allow for more flexible group arrangements. Staff are all pretty attentive!
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Thi was one sinful meal with roast paradise. Chose the three types of roasted meat so that I could try all at once, but realised that the char siew sio bak combination would’ve sufficed considering the normal tasting roasted duck. The char siew on the other hand, blew my mind. It has the perfect char and fat to meat ratio, and flavourful bite to it. I personally don’t like the normal sweet char siew with rice lathered in the sauce, so this was different and way better. The roast pork was juicy, though I was hoping its skin would be crispier. Tried their lava egg as an add on but it wasn’t anything unexpected, would just focus my energy on the char siew and roast pork in the future😍
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Patronised the market on a Saturday morning when it was bustling with queues at multiple famous stalls, but there did not seem to be a queue for this. But don’t be tricked!! There’s a long hidden queue because they distribute buzzers, and this bowl of noodles necessitates at least a 20 minutes wait. And the wait is ultimately worth it with this classic bowl of fishball + minced meat noodles, that was so saucy, full of flavour, with noodles perfectly coated with chilli. While it looks and perhaps even tastes simple to some, I thought it was a well executed traditional flavour.
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