Hawker Fare

Possibly the best dumplings I’ve had in Singapore, with soft, thin, silky skins swathed around nuggets of finely minced pork. Doused in vinegar and chilli oil, topped off with dollops of Sichuan chilli paste, you’d expect a blast of sharp, piquant flavour, but the reality is hardly that. Rather, the sauce is surprisingly light and mildly spicy, with just a slight tang such that it complements instead of overpowering the taste of the meat itself.

A set of 10 of dumplings costs only $4.50. You’ll find the stall located in the middle row of Alexandra Village Food Centre.

I’m definitely willing to go back and brave the (well-deserved) queue to try their xiao long bao and guo tie!

Finally tried this “expensive” yong tau foo bar near my office and while I did like the thick vermicelli in minced meat sauce, everything else was kinda bland. Much prefer the cheaper albeit even more crowded yong tau foo joint at the other end of Circular Road.

Open only from about 11pm to 10am, this supper haunt isn't easy to catch unless you're a night owl. But staying up past your bedtime is well worth the effort, because this lor mee is nothing short of superb.

Beneath the impenetrable darkness of the goopy braised gravy are coils of yellow noodles, beansprouts and fishcake, while poised above are chunks of the most amazing fried fish I've ever had – crispy, meaty and succulent, with none of that sickening grease that so often ails deep-fried foods.

Be sure to mix in the spoonful of chilli and minced garlic, as they do serve to bring the dish's overall flavour to blow-your-mind levels.

Cloudy skies and cool weather have me craving for these slippery threads of wok-fried bee hoon bathed in a seafood broth so flavourful and umami, you won't be able to stop slurping until the dish is dry. Top that with oceanic treasures of scallops, crayfish, clams and prawns, plus a liberal helping of crispy lard, and we've got a phenomenal plate of comfort food.

It's been a long week rounded off with an even longer weekend. Hope everyone gets some good rest tonight – myself included – and wakes up refreshed and energised and ready to take on the new week!

One of my favourite mood-lifters when on a budget: this ruby-coloured red tea jelly softly draped over shaved ice in evaporated milk.

Lunch some months ago with the #foodiepaikia gang at Old Airport Road. I could eat pasta all day, every day!!!

Best things on the table were the fries, IMO.

Singaporean breakfast goals.

Will never say no to salted egg anything, although sharing is recommended because the sauce here is pretty satiating.
Also, I wish more zichar places offered 月光河粉! I love how the raw egg yolk moistens the wok hei-kissed noodles and just adds another layer of irresistibility to the entire dish.

A whopping huge ass serving of penne coated with dry curry sauce, garnished with chilli padi and spring onion.

Fragrant, but not as robust in flavour as I'd hoped.

Too many things in one frame to name. But my picks at this super duper value-for-money canteen are the $2 pumpkin cake and the Assam curry Maggi noodles.

Now...if only there was air-conditioning here 🤔 .

One of the hot favourites at the Penang Hawkers' Fare buffet at @yorkhotel, where pancake batter is griddled in custom pans, drizzled with liquid margarine, sprinkled with chopped peanuts, and deftly folded into crisp cases of pure deliciousness.