Burgs 'n' Rolls

Burgs 'n' Rolls

Lobster Rolls, Hotdog buns, Burgers of all sorts. You name it, I have it!
Xing Wei Chua
Xing Wei Chua

There definitely seems to be quite a fair bit going on around the Maxwell neighbourhood recently; whilst The URA Centre has recently seen the opening of a new outlet of The Caffeine Experience in the past couple of months, it does seem that yet another F&B establishment had also opened its doors in the same building. Occupying a shop unit that is located right across from The Caffeine Experience, The URA Centre now sees the opening of Les Mains Deli. For those whom find the “Les Mains” branding rather familiar; yes, these are the same folks behind Les Mains Bakehouse which have first established their presence in the local F&B scene some time back in Jalan Tua Kong. Unlike Les Mains Bakehouse where the space was initially positioned more towards being a takeaway spot during the initial days of its operations, Les Mains Deli is set up as a dining establishment with a dine-in element. With a space that offers a triple-facade that faces out to the walkway into The URA Centre, Kadayanallur Street and Maxwell Road, much of the space has been decked to include counter seating that allows diners to face out of the window — that being said, there are some dining tables and benches situated in the middle of the space that better caters to larger groups whom intend to dine-in. The interior space is brightly lit, with the space being adorned with furniture and fittings with wooden accents matched with elements of white and green around its walls — quite a clean look overall. With the distinction of the brand here being Les Mains Deli instead of Les Mains Bakehouse, the menu of Les Mains Deli seems to be focused around its Protein / Salad Menu which replicates the concept of Build-Your-Own salad bars elsewhere. Apart from the Protein / Salad Menu, there is a limited selection of bakes that one can also find at Les Mains Bakehouse being offered at Les Mains Deli as well. Les Mains Deli also serves up a line-up of gelatos churned by microcreamery — the same is also being offered at Les Mains Bakehouse at Jalan Tua Kong as well. Beverages available at Les Mains Deli includes cold brew coffee, espresso-based specialty coffee, tea, juices and drinking chocolate — just to name a few.

Having had a number of grain / salad bowls for the past number of weeks, we weren’t quite into ordering the items from the Protein / Salad Menu section of the menu at Les Mains Deli. Considering so, our attention turned towards the Petit Sandwiches which we are part of the Bakes menu that is available from opening till 5:00pm during its operational days from Monday to Saturday. The line-up of Petit Sandwiches would suit smaller palates whom aren’t looking into having something quite as substantial as a full grain / salad bowl — these being around half the size of a usual sandwich elsewhere. Despite the portion size, one could tell that these sandwiches are offerings that Les Mains Deli had made themselves — the menu does not describe on the elements that are featured in the various bakes; that being said, it could be observed from our order that the Turkey Ham Petit Sandwich comes with elements such as raisins, arugula, cream cheese and turkey ham. Taking a first bite into the Turkey Ham Petit Sandwich, this is pretty unlike the uninspiring, commercially-made sandwiches that some takeaway specialty coffee stands in the Central Business District serves up; we are already in love with how the bread comes with a crisp exterior — all that whilst being light, airy and fluffy with a slight tension to chew apart from within. The bread alone was already enough to get us excited with the sandwich, despite the sandwich sounding pretty much of a generic offering going by its namesake. The sandwich does feel like an offering which is very well thought-out; the use of cream cheese provides a smooth and creamy mouthfeel that gels the other elements such as the bread, the arugula and the turkey ham together — the turkey ham itself wasn’t overly savoury and provided just the meaty touch that it needs, while the inherent bitterness of the arugula was well managed by the richness and creaminess of the cream cheese that provided a dull tang that cuts across all of that nicely. We had also went for the Vanilla Madelines (3 pieces) which were served warmed up by default; these were decent in a way that they came with crisp edges — soft and fluffy with an evident Vanilla aroma and being just sufficiently sweet, whilst also not being too greasy as well.

Skimming through the various flavours of gelato that they have to offer here, we found ourselves opting for the Bailey’s and Cookies which does sound like a twist from the usual Cookies and Cream ice-cream which we are used to seeing an other establishments. Available in both cup and cone formats, we found ourselves going for the latter which turns out to be a cone bigger than that of the usual that we come across at other ice-cream / gelato parlours. There were not only nibs of chocolate cookies that provided a crunch factor, but also chunks of chocolate within that provided a crunch and gave a bitter sweet note to the gelato; the base of the gelato being boozy enough to provide an adequate punch of alcoholic notes that one would be seeking for in such flavours — a very well-rounded gelato flavour for sure. During our visit, we also went for the Piccolo; patrons get to choose between two (2) different types of coffee beans and our choice for our order of the Piccolo would be the Sumatra Mandheling. This is described to come with tasting notes of Macadamia, Milk Chocolate and Red Fruits — a cuppa which we found to be really well-pulled being creamy and smooth with a nutty body and a fruity finish; one that packed a caffeinated kick that makes for a good mid-day perk-me-up. Les Mains Bakehouse was a spot that we recalled having been fairly impressed with their bakes when we made our visit when they had first opened their doors — the only qualm we have had with is their location which is a tad inaccessible; one that most would consider as requiring quite a fair bit of effort to get to even for those whom stay in the East. Whilst we had not managed to give their Protein / Salad menu a go yet, we did find the Turkey Ham Petit Sandwich, Piccolo and the Bailey’s & Cookies gelato hitting the same standards that Les Mains Bakehouse and microcreamery had left us with back then. With their offerings being priced from $7 for the Petit-sized Protein / Salad menu that features one (1) base and two (2) supplements to $17 for the Large-sized Protein / Salas menu that features two (2) bases, two (2) proteins, three (3) supplements, one (1) crunch and one (1) sauce, the prices of the offerings at Les Mains Deli is pretty competitively priced against similar establishments located in the heart of the Central Business District. Considering how Les Mains Deli does carry some of Les Mains Bakehouse and microcreamery’s offerings, Les Mains Deli is definitely a more convenient location for those whom are interested to give Les Mains Bakehouse and microcreamery a go but found their locations to be a little inconvenient; also an establishment that those working in the area would likely appreciate having to their convenience.

Was pretty surprised that MOS Burger had since moved out of their former premises at 51 Telok Ayer Street — was going around the area for lunch whilst being back at the office on a weekday and found a “Biang Biang Noodles • Xi An Famous Food” taking over the same spot where MOS Burger was located. For those who find the name familiar, this is the same Biang Biang Noodles • Xi An Famous Food that has been operating within the Food Alley at Blk 190 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh for a while now. While their Toa Payoh space seems more like a mom-and-pop sort of eatery with an open-air seating area that is not air conditioned, the Telok Ayer location does seem to be a lot more presentable — possibly due to the fact that they have reused much of the furnishings and fittings left behind by the former tenant, whilst including some new paintings and decor to spruce up the space. The menu at Biang Biang Noodles • Xi An Famous Food at Telok Ayer mainly comprises of noodle dishes, though there is also a variety of cold dishes that seems good to share at the table. Value meals that include a choice of noodles, a side dish and a drink are also available — likely something that would appeal to the lunchtime office crowd.

Wanted to go for the Biang Biang Noodles initially but was really tempted by their Rougamou offerings instead that are listed in the “Shaanxi Specials” section of the menu instead. The Rougamou offerings here are translated into “Burger” in the menu here — Biang Biang Noodles • Xi An Famous Food does offer two different types of burgers here; one being the Braised Pork Belly Burger, and the other being the Cumin Burger. For the Cumin Burger, patrons can choose from either a chicken or pork rendition — we opted for the latter. Probably closer to a Chinese rendition of a pita bread that is sliced all the way through and stuffed with sliced meat in the middle rather than a burger, the Cumin Burger comes with a bread that is rather close to pita bread in terms of texture — something that is quite as crusty, though we did find it a little bit more on the drier side as compared to pita bread. In between, the cumin pork filling does feature chunky slices of pork— all of which being marinated with cumin thus carrying a hint of the said spice in terms of flavour. The meat also comes with quite a bit of oil that one would usually associate with Chinese dishes — this also helps to add some moisture to the entire “burger”, considering how we did find that the chunks of pork could be more tender as well.

Hadn’t tried their Biang Biang Noodles here yet, but we do find that the prices of the food at Biang Biang Noodles • Xi An Famous Food to be rather competitively priced to other establishments within the vicinity — the noodles are priced rather affordably from $6.80 to $11.80 ala-carte, while all the value meals that sees a choice of noodles being paired up with a side dish and drink are priced below $15. Whilst we had the Cumin Burger, the establishment does seem like a popular haunt for office folks during lunch for noodles despite its newness; the establishment was at its maximum capacity for the most part during our visit on a weekday lunch. Yet another establishment that is definitely worth considering to dine at in the Central Business District.

Occupying the former space of the now-defunct Santap at The Daulat by Hotel Calmo located along Madras Street is Flip Bistro & Bar. Being a situated within a pretty tight space within the boutique hotel, the space at Flip Bistro & Bar follows closely to what was done by the former tenant — whilst they are able to squeeze in a two-seater dining space within the hotel for an indoor dining space, most of the dine-in seats are located outside the hotel under a permanent shelter. Focusing on their offerings of burgers and wings, other mains available at Flip Bistro & Bar includes Fish & Chips and Mac & Cheese. There are also items good to be shared around the table; think different forms of fries, as well as Risole (a deep fried pastry with fillings) for a start, while the Mochi Waffles and Ice-Cream is the only dessert offerings here. Beverage options include coffee and Lipton tea apart from canned drinks, while there are also beer, hard liquor and a Homemade Sour Plum alcoholic drink that is listed on the menu.

The menu isn’t particularly descriptive here, but the FLIP Burger is essentially their take on the classic cheeseburger — comprises of elements such as caramalised onions, cheese, beef patty and lettuce sandwiched in between two buns. We quite liked how attention to detail has been placed in the presentation of the burgers here — the stamping of the burger buns with their logo is something which we really appreciated. Sinking our teeth into the burger, we found that the FLIP burger was a pretty well-designed burger; the soft, fluffy buns made the burger feel light and not too carb-y — all that while the patty feels pretty handmade here. Being done to a default level of doneness that the folks here deem fit (we weren’t asked of the preferred level of doneness for our order), the meat is nicely bribed and the patty didn’t carry any parts that were too fatty to chew — savoury without being particularly gamey and easy to have. The melted cheese did gave the burger that extra hint of savouriness that adds on to the beef patty, while we liked how there was ample caramalised onions added for that additional touch of sweetness that provided a contrast of flavours here. Not all cheeseburgers include a slice of lettuce; the addition of the lettuce here does give it a nice colour, whilst also being an attempt to give the burger a more wholesome feel.

With the burgers here being priced between $9.90 to $12.90, it goes without a doubt that Flip Bistro & Bar does serve up pretty good burgers that are value-for-money; we do have a preference of going for the beef burgers here rather than the chicken burgers though — at least from the FLIP Burger and the Fried Chicken Burger + Sweet & Spicy sauce that we tried. Also equally well-executed is the Truffle Fries (we opted for the add-on to the burger at $2 extra) — fries with some skin-on that are crisp yet considerably thick and comes with a drizzle of truffle oil and a sprinkle of parmesan powder that was able to scratch any cravings for truffle fries pretty adequately. Being a spot that seems to put more emphasis on being a drinking hole, Flip Bistro & Bar does surpass our expectations when it comes to their food; a spot that is would work well as a place to gather with some friends so long as the lack of air-conditioning here is not of a big concern.

Seen a handful of posts on the relatively-new Wicked Good — opened for around two months, Wicked Good is located within Ascent@456; the same building also houses Jiang 蔣先生 Cantonese Tapas which we had visited some time back. As with most of the ground floor units at Ascent@456, Wicked Good’s unit comprises of two levels, with the stairs leading to the basement. On first look, Wicked Good does look like an ice-cream parlour with an American diner-style set up; checkered floors and flashy walls with a display chiller that carries the flavours of gelato available for the day. Move on towards the basement level and a hidden bar with an underground vibe occupies the space. The menu at Wicked Good is fairly limited when it comes to mains — they only serve three different burgers here, though they do carry a wider variety of sides. Being an bar, do expect a decent variety of craft beers being served here — the selection of craft beers are being constantly updated, and one can check out what they are serving via the display fridge; non-alcoholics can also pick between the Coke Float or Root Beer Float here.

It was difficult to pick which burger to go for but we found ourselves ordering the Spam-kin Good’; a breakfast burger that features elements such as spam, chipotle aioli, soft scramble eggs, American cheddar, spring onions and brioche bun. Replicating that messy and sloppy American burger experience, the scrambled eggs here are done deliberately runny to the extent that it barely keeps in its place. Together with the melted American cheddar, both elements provided a savoury egginess that makes for quite the sinful experience together with the slab of luncheon meat in the middle. We liked how the spam used here wasn’t overly salty — provided a decent meatiness to the burger itself; all that in between soft and fluffy brioche buns which is well-toasted for that slightly crisp exterior. A burger that attempts to recreate that messy, sinful nature of American burger-eating culture that is pretty much comforting to the soul.

Wicked Good’s strongest suit does seem to be in their burgers and fried items — was equally impressed by their Dredged Onion Rings which sees the use of a buttermilk batter that only leaves us to wonder how good their Ez Chick Sandwich was likely to be. Given what they have to offer at the price, we would say that Wicked Good had delivered more than what we have expected — pretty good burgers and bar snacks that would have worked really well with the selection of craft beers they carry. With the bar being hidden away from the ground level, perhaps time will tell whether potential patrons will notice that little secret of a underground bar they are hiding in the basement — but we will likely be making a return to Wicked Good to try out the Ez Chick Sandwich just to see how it matches up against that Dredged Onion Rings that we have had!

GRUB shouldn’t be a name that is unfamiliar to those whom have been following the F&B scene in Singapore since a number of years ago. Previously located at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, the neighbourhood-ly bistro had since moved out of its former location and does have an outlet at CT Hub 2 that acts as a collection point for their cake orders. GRUB has since found itself a new location for its dine-in operations at Stevens Road — located within the same grounds as Novotel Singapore on Stevens and Mercure Singapore on Stevens; the location also houses other dining establishments such as Enjoy Eating House and Bar, Omakase, Winestone, and In Piazza Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria. Best known for their burgers during their initial days at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, GRUB also does offer a line-up of mains, which includes items such as a Truffle Tomato Fish Stew, as well as a section that is dedicated to pasta (which were unavailable during our visit). Desserts include a Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart, as well as the Churros which they were known for way back in the days when they had first started out at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park; though the highlight would be their Basque Burnt Cheesecake that was introduced some time later — their rendition being voted as the winner of the Straits Times Taste Test for Basque Burnt Cheesecakes.

Featuring elements such as shrimp paste- marinated fried chicken, lettuce, and tomatoes, the Har Cheong Kai Burger may be a burger that offers no surprises from what is namesake and description, but is also a burger that delivers on what it is expected — also an item which reminds us of a similar offering from the now-defunct EwF — Everything with Fries that is pretty much where it started for us when it comes to burgers featuring shrimp paste-marinated fried chicken. All burgers at GRUB do come with fries, and patrons are able to make an upgrade for $3 to opt for the Truffle Floss Fries, Mentaiko Fries or the Poutine Fries. The Har Cheong Kai Burger is reasonably portioned here; going through all the elements in the whole burger, we note that the burger buns have been lightly buttered and toasted here for a slight crispness. Beneath, the shrimp paste-marinated fried chicken is undeniably the highlight here — crisp on the exterior, the slab of chicken within was tender and juicy; the umami note of the shrimp paste marination is evident, but not overwhelming, all that with the slice of tomato providing a refreshing, zingy note that cuts through the meat and carbs with the lettuce being crisp and provides for a wholesome touch. Whilst we went with the Poutine Fries for the Har Cheong Kai which was more of a brown sauce with mushrooms that was sprinkled with cheese powder, we preferred the Mentaiko Fries that came with our Truffle Angus Cheeseburger instead which was creamy and umami without being particularly salty — something that we found more satiating.

Whilst it is a little regrettable that GRUB had to move out from its former premises away from the neighbourhood and lush greenery that was surrounding it, they have still found a place that pretty much feels like a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. No doubt it’s location is now within the premises of a hotel, but there is still a sense of tranquility here somehow with its quieter surroundings. While a trip to GRUB does feel a little out of the way considering a bus ride is required from the train station, we do feel that GRUB has maintained its consistency with their burgers — pretty much fuss-free, and also being very much items that are well-made that goes in accordance to their descriptions on the menu. Also consistent would be the Basque Burnt Cheesecake — especially creamy, smooth and luscious without being particularly heavy. With that, GRUB is a spot that is certainly worth making the time out for; a chill spot that would work for quality catch-up with a group of friends, or even as somewhere good for intimate dates as well.

Had been to the coffeeshop at 218 Sumang Walk previously for the now-defunct Big Brother 台湾盐水鸡; didn’t forsee myself returning again for yet another stall but was pretty intrigued by what this new Western cuisine stall named The Backyard Cookery has to offer. Taking a space beside Ming Xiang Seafood Zi Char, the western stall serves up appetisers, fries (think Okonomiyaki Fries) chops and grills, as well as burgers and pasta, they are an establishment that looks to serve up modern bistro-style fare in a neighbourhood setting. Prices are relatively pocket-friendly here, with the highest-priced item being at $15.90 for the Grilled Grass-Fed Ribeye Steak.

What got us especially intrigued to make a special trip down to try them out is their Cookery’s Beef Burger; the burger features a Laugen Brioche Bun, Caramalised Onion, Tomato Relish, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayonnaise, Homemade Beef Patty. Was initially quite concerned with how it didn’t seem to suggest that it includes cheese in its description, but we did find that they do serve a slice of proceeded cheese melted over the beef patty for the burger as well. The Cookery’s Beef Burger also comes default with a side of fries that accompanies the burger as well. On first look, the Cookery’s Beef Burger does carry an aesthetic almost familiar to that of the burgers served with a Pretzel Bun from HANS IM GLÜCK German Burgergrill, which operates multiple locations islandwide. This is pretty much due to the Laugen Brioche Bun that they use here — a very interesting choice for an establishment of its type. The burger buns come lightly buttered and grilled; pretty crisp on the outside, whilst having a firm bite to it texturally. Beneath the top bun, one would be able to find the caramelised onions just sitting in between the bun and the beef patty; the folks here seemed to have snuck in some raisins that provided an extra hint of sweetness and a bit more texture that actually goes quite well with the homemade beef patty. We also really enjoyed the homemade beef patty here; its beautifully crusted on the exterior from the grilling process — savoury yet locking in all the juices without being particularly gamey nor greasy (we have had quite a disappointing beef burger from a hyped-up new establishment just a week before; this was wayyy better) and while the melted cheese wasn’t something too artisanal, it was a great touch nonetheless. Beneath the patty, we were pretty surprised with how the lettuce and tomatoes were especially fresh; the former retaining a crunch while the latter comes with a juicy bite — all that without the bottom bun being all soggy from the elements above. While the fries did carry a rather plain aesthetic, we felt that these were decent; it’s sufficiently crisp on the exterior and fluffy inside — slightly more thick cut than the standard shoestring fries and probably a commercial product, though well-salted without being excessively so. No doubt a little more of an artisanal creation at the price of $11.90, but one that is seriously as competent as the variants that some cafes/bistros attempt to serve at higher price points both in terms of portion and execution.

Felt that it was quite a pity that we didn’t get to try the other menu items that they have here since we didn’t have that much of a stomach for them, considering that items such as the Okonomiyakk Fries and Cream of Mussels (blue cheese and whole blue mussels) were also items that seem to interest us, and are not something that can be commonly found in Western cuisine stalls in coffeeshops. Having tried the Cookery’s Beef Burger though, we are pretty certain that we are likely to return to try more of their items; no doubt a short travel is required from Punggol MRT Station/Bus Interchange to reach here, but its pretty worthy especially when one is already in the area. A spot that residents should be glad about having in the the neighbourhood; also somewhere that they would most likely be splurging on to treat themselves every once in a while!

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Visited this new butchery-cum-bistro concept; the bistro arm being named as The Butcher’s Dining. They had taken over the former premises of EVERY at Havelock Road, and is situated right beside Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh. Being a Korean-run establishment, the butchery-cum-grocer wing retails marinated meats, chilled ready-to-eat fare, condiments and lifestyle products, while the bistro wing offers an all-day dining menu for patrons to dine-in. The bistro comes decked in a modern and sleek industrial style — featuring marble-esque tables and furnishings with wood accents, whilst also adorned with plants for a touch of nature.

The all-day dining menu features a rather limited menu during the time we made our visit; comprises of two types of burgers and gimbap, they were also serving a special dish of Spicy Pork Rice to cater to those who prefers having rice for their meal. We settled for the Spicy Pulled Pork Burger, which featured elements such as Korean spicy pulled pork, carrot rafe, cabbage slaw, red onion. Patrons also get to choose between mesclun salad or sweet potato chips to come alongside their burger — we opted for the latter. We found the burger to be very well done; pretty fitting to be an offering from a butchery. For one, we really loved the pulled pork here; the fibrous meats were especially meaty and sufficiently moist, well-marinated in a Korean sauce (Ssamjang?) that brings a note of sweetness and manageable spiciness that makes it so flavourful — a notch above the usual pulled pork that features BBQ sauce as a marinade. When coupled with the carrot (grated carrot salad), there is this tangy hint akin to that of pickled julienned vegetables found in Banh Mi; juicy, crunchy with a slight tang that cuts through all that meatiness. Here, the bottom bun seems buttered while the top bun seems to be smeared with mustard for an earthy note. The buns were also light and pillowy soft; a very wholesome package when had altogether.

Apart from the burger, we were equally impressed with the MIMC Iced Korean Plum Tea and the MIMC Jeju Tangerine Pound Cake that we had tried — the former being a very refreshing tea option that lightly tangy that cleanses the palate, while the latter carried a light but prominent hint of citrus-y zing that kept us going. Always a fan of concepts like these, where the butchery is able to showcase their meats through their dine-in operations — a great way to educate the masses on the various cuts and types of meats out there. A space that meat lovers should most certainly check out!

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Pretty stoked to have heard that 2280 Burger had recently opened their doors at 213 Henderson Road; the building is just located a short distance away from Bukit Merah Bus Interchange, and is opened by the same folks behind Burger Labo at Malan Road within Gillman Baracks — also the same folks that had brought us The Naked Finn. Service is pretty much self-service here, with burgers being made to order; order through the self-order kiosk and collect the order at the window once your order number has been called. Currently there is only the 2280 Burger available on the menu, with a choice of a single or double patty variant whilst the only sides here are the standard fries. Folks can opt for house-brewed tea, milkshakes churned using ice-creams from Apiary, while specialty coffee is brewed using beans roasted by Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee.

Opting for the single patty variant of the 2280 Burger, the 2280 Burger may look like a very basic cheeseburger, but it does its job especially well — beef patty, sliced cheese, pickled onions all sandwiches in between the two buns; really liked how well the patty is being executed here. The beef patty may not be the same as what Burger Labo offers in terms of size, but the 100gm patty is just the right size for those who aren’t looking to get overly stuffed here. It’s beautifully brined and marinated; the texture being more on the lean side but still provide a good bite — all savoury, chunky and slightly crusted from the grilling process. The melted cheese atop seals the deal, and the pickled onions seems to have been mixed with bits of pickles for that tangy, refreshing crunch that cuts through the meat, while the buns are sufficiently light and fluffy. A very well put-together cheeseburger that ranks high up in the charts for me.

Burger Labo has been known for their stellar burgers which are of a gourmet nature — the burgers there featuring fancier composition and elements, but 2280 Burger is an establishment that seems to be catered towards the masses; more of a fuss-free spot that makes for artisanal offering pitched against the upmarket fast food options that had made their entry into the F&B scene in recent years. Hoping that they are able to add on more variation of meats for their burgers soon — perhaps a chicken, pork, or fish option that would cater to non-beef eaters so that more can get to enjoy their stellar creations in time to come!

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Have been wanting to give Empyrosis a go ever since I had heard about their existence — took me a while to get to them; they have since moved from Tampines to the air-conditioned food court at Blk 279 Sengkang East Avenue; a location that is indeed more convenient for me to head down. While the stall looks like your typical Western food stall in an air-conditioned food court serving up chops and grills, pasta and burgers, Empyrosis actually focuses on charcoal-grilled Western fare, and is also a “no pork, no lard” establishment that caters to the Muslim crowd.

Between the two items we had, the Signature Charcoal Grilled Chicken Burger was undoubtedly our favourite; it costs $8, but is one that has been thoughtfully put together and a fairly good burger that is being served up in a food court setting. Coming with a sunny side-up, tomatoes, lettuce and a charcoal-grilled boneless chicken thigh sandwiched between two buns, the buns were lightly grilled but were sufficiently light and fluffy. As one takes a bite further into the burger, the charcoal grilled boneless chicken thigh gives a savoury and meaty bite; chunky and reasonably tender, whilst hinting of a slight smokiness from the charcoal grilling process. Personally would prefer a stronger, smokier note to that, though it could be likely that they probably had concerns of it being too heavy for some; also possible that they couldn’t overdo the charcoal grilling to a point where it smogs up the whole air-conditioned food court given the environment it is in. The slice of tomato provide a refreshing burst and juicy bite, while the lettuce provides a wholesomeness to the burger to balance things out a little; the sunny side-up gives the extra “oomph” with its molten egg yolk that eagerly bursts as one takes a bite into the burger; all that while the fluffy whites and a crisp bottom provides for an nice textural touch — extra brownie points awarded for that. The fries here are also pretty well-executed; crisp and well-seasoned — enough to put some renditions served in cafes to shame.

While I wasn’t quite impressed with the Lemak Chili Padi Pasta with Mussels, it is probably correct that Empyrosis does emphasise on their charcoal-grilled items, which they do pretty well with. Other interesting menu items include the Unagi Burger with Kabayaki Mayo — the last time I ever heard of a Unagi Burger being served in a coffeeshop setting was from The Social Outcast; coincidentally also started from a coffeeshop in Tampines and moved on to do dish out even greater food at The Grandstand in its most recent move out of The Bedok Marketplace. Will definitely check that out when I do eventually make my return; a spot that residents around would appreciate having as a dining option in the neighbourhood!

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Since a trip back to the office is needed; decided to check out the new OOTB (Out Of The Bun) that had just recently opened its doors at the revamped GRiD — the shopping mall is also home to other F&B outlets such as an outlet of Isshin Machi, Smile Desserts, Shinsho Ramen, Chops! Grill & Sides and more. OOTB serves up burgers; carrying only small selection of 5 to choose from, patrons will also be able to opt for a set by adding $3 — includes fries and drinks.

We found ourselves settling for the ThicChick Burger Set — one of the two chicken burger options available here with the other one featuring pulled chicken (think pulled pork, but a poultry version). The ThicChick Burger features elements such as brined and battered fried chicken thigh, chipotle sauce, sweet tangy slaw and in-house dill pickles; we also opted for a side of Waffle Fries for the set, and went for Ayataka (not pictured) for our choice of soft drinks. Going straight for the burger, the burger comes with pretty light and fluffy grilled buns; most will probably be drawn to the generously-sized fried chicken thigh here — one that seemingly protrudes out of the buns, with a crispy golden brown batter. Liked how the batter of the fried chicken thigh being not too thick here; it’s pretty crisp, yet sufficiently flavourful and savoury from the brining process within — the meat being tender and juicy. The burger is thoughtfully put together; the slaw provides for that refreshing crunch that is also aptly creamy — cuts through the meatiness and carbs of the burger, while the in-house dill pickles provides the crunch and a zing that provides a good break from the heavier elements. The Waffle Fries here are actually well-executed; comes with quite the bite without being overly-seasoned — sufficiently saltish whilst well-filled with potato, and most pieces being served in full (you know, some fast food establishments do serve theirs quite crumbly and broken when they serve this up seasonally).

Being priced at $9.90, the ThicChick Burger is actually pretty substantial and well-executed for its price — a burger that is suitable for sharing for those with a smaller appetite and is a good alternative for those who are looking at burger options within this area. That being said, there are some teething issues considering that we made our visit on the first day that they had officially started operations; they were rather slammed with takeaway orders, and that they did miss some orders as well. That being said, hopefully they will be able to refine their operations as time passes — a spot that is worth considering dining at for burger lovers within the area that office workers and students around will appreciate having.

Was intending to head somewhere else for dinner but didn’t really check on the operating hours of the place and ending up needing to find another spot; call it lucky or whatsoever it may be, but we were especially glad how we found ourselves at this humble diner at one-north within Galaxis that serves up a variety of beef burgers which they prepare all the ingredients from scratch — from the buns to the beef patties; a show of dedication to serve up the very best for their patrons.

We asked for recommendations from their staff, and the OFC Butterburger is one that truly stood out for us — the burger comes with elements such as a 150g beef patty made from New Zealand premium grassfed beef, charred onions, red onions, house-made pickles and grassfed butter; all in between freshly-baked and toasted potato buns. Patrons can opt for their burgers to come with a combo which includes the OFC Fries (i.e. standard fries) and a drink — also available as an option to upgrade to are the OFC Truffle Fries and OFC Cheese Fries which comes at an additional top-up, which we opted for the former.

It doesn’t take long for one to actually notice how much work goes into the burger; the burger is wrapped in a rather unique way that actually secures the juices of the burger within, yet allows patrons to consume the burger neatly without staining their hands. Taking a bite into the burger, one can actually notice how all the elements are pretty proportional, and it’s pretty easy to consume considering how it is compact enough to fit all the elements in a single mouthful. One would notice how soft, pillowy and fluffy the potato buns are; nicely toasted with a crisp edge, but it is the beef patty that truly impresses — it’s not particularly gamey, but I like how there is a chew and slight crisp from being on the grill apart from how juicy this was; savoury but not overly-brined and didn’t feel like it dominated the other elements. In fact, there was a balance of sweetness from the charred onions and a slight zing of the pickles as well against the bun and meat. The addition of butter here seals the deal — butter and steak goes together like cheese and wine and this combination, though rather unique to One Fattened Calf, works pretty much the same. Not only does it add a bit of savouriness to the entire burger, but it helps to ante up the flavours of the patty especially; a pretty genius addition to the entire burger. The truffle fries were also pretty on-point; hints of a light aroma of truffle, whilst coming with bits of parmesan to help enhance the flavours of the fries — the fries nothing short of being crisp and pretty free from grease, whilst sized about right as well.

One Fattened Calf pretty much reminded me of a now-defunct local establishment on its pursuit of creating the perfect burger, approaching the craft much like a science experiment — there are a lot of details that went into the OFC Butterburger from the texture, to the size and the ingredients used, as well as the flavour; something that only can be achieved with passion and dedication to the craft. Liked how the establishment still feels particularly down-to-earth, with the staff actively gathering feedback whilst also happy to introduce their products extensively for patrons to get to know them better. I would go further to say that One Fattened Calf is a spot for the serious burger connoisseurs; a hidden gem in the one-north area that is worth making that special trip for!

5 Likes

It just took a moment for Hambaobao to disappear from the F&B scene in Singapore after they had moved out of their stall at Beauty World Centre — but the same folks are now back with the crowd favourites, now located within the Trio mixed-development along Sam Leong Road just a short walk away from Farrer Park MRT Station. Now operating as a standalone eatery, Hambaobao still offers the all-familiar The Classic Beef, What The Fish, Crispy Pork Belly, Spicy Pulled Pork and Ayam Buah Keluak burgers, but also do serve up bakes which they did not offer previously. Patrons can pick between various soft drinks, though the only house-made beverage available at the time of writing is only the Pot O’ 20 Yr Old Pu’Er.

Everyone has their favourite burger at Hambaobao and mine is the Crispy Pork Belly Burger — best to be ordered when they have just opened for the day, this was also the one burger that I insistently must order whenever I am here. I have also opted for the Hand-cut Fries; a simplified name for what they used to call the Fairy Fries previously, as a separate ala-carte order as there is no option of adding on fries here (the same was also true previously). The Crispy Pork Belly Burger is essentially what I had remembered it to be — consisting of English Mustard, Hoi Sin Sauce and Japanese Cucumbers alongside Crispy Pork Belly in-between the grilled burger buns, the buns carry a firm bite without being particularly dense, while the hoisin sauce provides much of the savoury note that gels up all the elements of the burger together; the pork belly provides a good crunch with the super crispy skin, yet gelatinous meat that is all tender and juicy without carrying porky stench, while the cucumber provides a refreshing crunch. The English Mustard here attempts to cut through the carbs and meatiness of the burger; provides an evident, wasabi-esque numbness to the tastebuds that makes the burger especially shiok to have. The hand-cut fries are somewhat improved over the “Fairy Fries” they used to carry in the past; it’s noticeably of a thicker cut, and would appeal to those who like soft, fluffier fries without all that salt going on.

While the Crispy Pork Belly Burger isn’t quite the easiest burger to handle without cutlery given how the pork belly slices tend to slide off and out of the burger buns, and the sauces are going to be a mess for the hands, there is always something so satisfying with having this one from them — brings me back to those days in school where I would decidedly go for one if there isn’t a queue or if I ain’t rushing for class. Glad to see them back in the F&B scene and back to the hot grill flipping burger buns and patties — challenging times for F&B these days but here’s wishing them all the best for what is to come!

2 Likes

Up, down and everywhere around for food.

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