Tastings

Last but certainly not least, tantilize your tastebuds & noses with the Truffle Beef Ying Yang Udon ($15.80++). The sauce, made from XO sauce, truffle & bean paste, is umami & thick though not overwhelming. The truffle smell is pretty strong though 😉

I didn't expect the interesting double-texture of the udon noodles to work so well. Half of the udon is flattened & fried such that it is slightly crispy, even after soaking in the sauce for a while.

Thanks Amanda for the invite & Brand Cellar + Udon Kamon for the hospitality! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope & Quandoo

The Ipoh Style Chicken Udon ($10.80++) is my personal favourite, subtly reminiscent of Ipoh-style hor fun. Imagine their signature sanuki udon in a delicious soy-based gravy that is light on the palate & fragrant, with plump mushrooms providing that earthy flavour, & juicy texture. The silky smooth sliced chicken thigh is steamed with ginger & Japanese leek, & thereafter drizzled with light soy sauce & black sesame oil.

Are you salivating already? The multi-dimensional layers of flavours are why this was my favourite dish of the night 😍

Thanks Amanda for the invite & Brand Cellar + Udon Kamon for the hospitality! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope & Quandoo

The Dark Sauce Dry Udon ($10.80++) has such a simple name that doesn't fully capture how delicious it is. This was a hot favourite amongst everyone at the table, quite closely following its inspiration of KL chilli ban mee.

The spicy & sweet dark sauce coats the udon very well. With ingredients like with minced pork, crispy anchovies, vegetables & half an ajitsuke tamago - dare I say this is a pretty dang balanced dish!

Thanks Amanda for the invite & Brand Cellar + Udon Kamon for the hospitality! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope & Quandoo

Udon has grown on me in recent years - especially when I'm craving for something carby. The new menu at Eat At Seven's Udon Kamon is right up my alley, with hawker-inspired udon dishes.

Walking that fine balance with the innovativeness of local cuisine, yet staying true to its Japanese roots, diners have 3 specialty dishes to indulge in:
- Dark Sauce Dry Udon
- Ipoh Style Chicken Udon
- Truffle Beef Ying Yang Udon

Local twists on 3 different udon dishes - each one is distinctly different, but one thing holds true to them all: Udon Kamon's addictively bouncy udon noodles.

Thanks Amanda for the invite & Brand Cellar + Udon Kamon for the hospitality! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope & Quandoo

Speaking of the elderly, I can't wait to bring my grandpa here! Glad that it's logistically feasible & elderly-friendly; I can drop him at the road right outside the coffeeshop, park my car & walk a short distance to sit down with him.

It'll have to be for breakfast or lunch though, as they open at 7AM daily until sold out, which is usually mid-afternoon.

Thanks Amanda for the invite & Jon for the hospitality! 💕

📍 Tong Luo Wan 铜锣湾 @ Jin Biao Coffee Shop 锦标咖啡店, Block 136 Potong Pasir Ave 3

Funny story - we asked chef why the Char Siew is sliced so thinly, as we'd rather it slightly thicker for greater meatiness. He explained he has tried it before, but the elderly folks gave him feedback that it was difficult to chew. Ha! Really sounds like something my grandpa would say ("咬不动"), & with the surrounding neighbourhood having a strong elderly representation I'm not too surprised.

So yes, this Char Siew is sliced a little thinner than I'd like, but it IS easy to chew. As someone who has had many a tough Char Siew in her life, I appreciate this.

Thanks Amanda for the invite & Jon for the hospitality! 💕

📍 Tong Luo Wan 铜锣湾 @ Jin Biao Coffee Shop 锦标咖啡店, Block 136 Potong Pasir Ave 3

I was surprised that the Soy Sauce Chicken 油鸡 was one of my favourites, actually. (Then again, pork is my least favourite meat!) The ones I've had before were truly 油/oily, but this one wasn't. Yet somehow, the meat itself managed to remain somewhat silky, & so smooth that it slid down my throat.

Thanks Amanda for the invite & Jon for the hospitality! 💕

📍 Tong Luo Wan 铜锣湾 @ Jin Biao Coffee Shop 锦标咖啡店, Block 136 Potong Pasir Ave 3

My favourites were the Roast Duck 当归烤鸭 & Soy Sauce Chicken 油鸡 because of how juicy they were. Don't be intimidated by the Dang Gui (apparently called Female Ginseng, according to Google) used in the preparation of the duck. While I'm someone who loves herbal gao gao flavours, I appreciated the subtleness of the Dang Gui in this one.

The duck meat also isn't gamey, which some people fear. So I believe this would be pleasing to the palates of the masses, without compromising on quality or the essence of this dish.

Thanks Amanda for the invite & Jon for the hospitality! 💕

📍 Tong Luo Wan 铜锣湾 @ Jin Biao Coffee Shop 锦标咖啡店, Block 136 Potong Pasir Ave 3

With the option of mixing & matching the meats with Noodles 面 or White Rice 白饭, your options are plenty. Being a #noodles4eva girl, I opted for the mee kia. It was still springy even after sitting in the braised sauce for a minute, while we took photos. An added plus point is that it's not tossed in chilli so you can go ahead & add your own to your liking - be warned, the chilli packs a punch!

Thanks Amanda for the invite & Jon for the hospitality! 💕

📍 Tong Luo Wan 铜锣湾 @ Jin Biao Coffee Shop 锦标咖啡店, Block 136 Potong Pasir Ave 3

Ai seh. Hawker cuisine offers some of the most comforting yet simple dishes. I don't mean simple in that the food is easy to prepare - but rather, no frills attached. To me, the payoff is tremendous when hawker food is simple & delicious.

Tong Luo Wan 铜锣湾 is a stall within Jin Biao Coffeeshop 锦标咖啡店. A quick 5 minute walk from Potong Pasir MRT, it's located in a corner of Potong Pasir that I've never explored before.

Look up at their signboard & you'll see Roast Duck 当归烤鸭, Soy Sauce Chicken 油鸡, Roast Pork 烧肉, Char Siew 叉烧. All meats at Tong Luo Wan are charcoal roasted; chef explained to us that he learnt his skills from someone who honed his craft in Hong Kong.

Thanks Amanda for the invite & Jon for the hospitality! 💕

📍 Tong Luo Wan 铜锣湾 @ Jin Biao Coffee Shop 锦标咖啡店, Block 136 Potong Pasir Ave 3

The last dish in this tasting menu - the Sweet. I was worried this would actually be too sweet, but my fears were unfounded. I surprisingly enjoyed it! It wasn't too sweet.

The pistachio mousse was smooth & light; the 2 little cherry cubes & 2 meringues on the side provide good variety between sour & sweet that you can alternate between.

Thank you Fat Belly for the hospitality, & Burpple for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on their website
📱 Accepts GrabPay
🍽 Burpple Beyond partner

We waited a while for the Tri Tip Wagyu to be served. The timing in between courses was quite inconsistent, but it might not matter to you if you're dining with someone you can make good conversation with.

Back to the beef - just look at that beauty. AusKobe F1 Wagyu Marble Score 4-5. If none of that matters to you, just know that this was hunky juicy tasty. The smoked king oyster mushrooms were also juicy, but had an unusual tangyness to them which raised an eyebrow or two.

I will preface this that it isn't the best steak I've ever had. But I was fairly happy at the end. It paired nicely with the pomme puree - super creamy mashed potatoes, & the fragrance of the sprinkle of burnt shallots on top.

Thank you Fat Belly for the hospitality, & Burpple for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on their website
📱 Accepts GrabPay
🍽 Burpple Beyond partner