Returning to Under Bridge Spicy Crab in Hong Kong

It turns out that my hotel in Hong Kong is very close to Under Bridge Spicy Crab in Wan Chai. So I hopped on over, this time opting for the "very spicy" (four of five chilies) version of their typhoon shelter crab. And it turned out to be just right: spicy enough to be fun without being distracting.

The thing that they do right here is frying the garlic just long enough that it becomes more earthy than pungent, all while refraining from burning and excessive grease, yet balancing with just the right amount of salt (and no flour, yay!).

That mixture pairs well with the mildly sweet crab meat, but also makes for a fantastic porridge (basically, ask for plain porridge afterwards, and mix in some garlic, peanuts, and back fat, and you've got a wonderfully savory thing in a bowl). It was too expensive at HK$488 (US$62) though.

My First Taste of Fried Papaya Salad in Thailand

Thankfully I saw my old post about Suvarnabhumi's Magic Food Point, as it reminded me to give this fried papaya salad a try (yes, the stall was still there after all of these years). To be clear, this wasn't served hot from the fryer. These were pre-fried slivers of papaya sitting at room temperature, waiting to be dressed with a mixture of freshly shaved corn and other goodies in the usual mortar and pestle. Yes, it was good. It was almost like a spicy Thai corn salsa on top of shoestring potatoes. I'm surprised that this isn't more common.

An Outlet of Laem Charoen Seafood in Bangkok, Thailand

When I suggested that we head out to dinner tonight, the team decided on an outlet of this local seafood chain that has been around since 1979. Their signature dish was some kind of deep fried fish, but it ended up being rather dry and tasteless. Instead, what got me excited was their crab, which came in a variety of forms, including that very conveniently cracked one above, as well as a crab roe chili dipping paste, not to mention a curry form that reminded me of something that my grandma used to make.



They were all highlights of the evening until this thing came out: raw crab covered in raw garlic, chili peppers, and mint leaves. And it was fantastic. Granted, some parts of the crab were still frozen, but the parts that weren't were naturally sweet and tender, even if difficult to separate from the fragments of shell. The best part of course was the roe, which provided a nice stanky oomph. It couldn't beat Korean ganjang gejang, but I was still happy.

The Basement Food Court, Day 2: Southern Thai Food

Off to another meeting this afternoon, we went back to the basement food court at the office today. When I asked for something that locals would eat (instead of tourists), the team suggested this stall of pre-cooked dishes, kinda like a nasi padang. Most of it tasted like it looked, but the item at the top was rather interesting as it was fried candied pork fat or something. It was so sinfully oily that I only ate a portion of it, even if it was quite tasty.

Boat Noodle Alley Near Victory Monument in Bangkok

Today wasn't meant to be a day of boat noodles. But after finishing our meeting, I realized that Boat Noodle Alley was just a few train stations away. So I headed up to Ratchawithi 10 Alley and started with the innermost shop, humbly named The Best of Noodle Boat. Their bowls went for 12 THB (US$0.40) each, so I grabbed one each of the first four on the menu (one of which was already in my belly when I shot this pic). The pink yentafo one was the most unique as it included little bits of fermented tofu in there for some extra stank.



Of course, four bowls is not enough, so I went on down to the next shop, Ruathong Noodle, and grabbed these four bowls at 12 THB each too. The brown broth here made the biggest impression on me, as it was deep and earthy yet still smooth and refreshing without being overpowering. Basically, it was nicely balanced, and a hit of the dried chili powder gave it a nice spike too. At this point, I could've gone back to the hotel, but there were still two more shops along this strip, so I had to go check those out too.



Fortunately for my waistline, one of those two remaining shops was closed on Tuesdays, but the last one, Pranakorn Noodle, was open. This one seemed the most commercialized of them all, with a more limited selection of bowls (albeit with the flexibility of choosing your noodle types) and a bigger array of side dishes. I went for these four bowls at 12 THB each, all of which were fine but not as distinctive as the stuff from the other two shops. My tummy was exploding from these twelve bowls either way; I need to stop doing these food marathons.

Boat Noodles from a Food Court in Bangkok

My local teammate and I were off to a meeting this afternoon, and figured that we'd stop in the basement food court of our office tower for a quick refueling before heading out. I had no idea what was good, but something soupy sounded interesting, so I got this bowl, which turned out to be boat noodles (a large portion, that is). Somehow my request for rice noodles got lost in translation, and they gave me a plate of rice instead. But I slurped it all down quickly, especially when assisted by some fresh bean sprouts and basil, not to mention the kick provided by a scoop of chili powder.

An Evening of Pad Thai in Bangkok, Thailand

I haven't been to Bangkok in a while. And even when I did come here quite a bit, I somehow never made it to some of the famous pad thai shops. So I went on a hunt tonight, initially going to the famous Thipsamai. But there was a huge line of tourists in front, so I diverted to this nearby shop called Baan Pad Thai (105 Thanon Mahannop). It was fast, hot, and cheap at only THB 55 (US$1.75), but only afterwards did I realize that this wasn't the Michelin Bib Gourmand that I thought it was; it just happened to have the same name.



I was thus a bit frustrated and decided to walk to Eat Pad Thai By Chef Andy Yang (115/5 Dinso Road, +66-89-811-1888). This one was a Bib Gourmand, and it was clear why: they used Berkshire pigs, tossing everything in a fiery wok downstairs. It came up super fast, and was punchier than the previous one, all while staying surprisingly cheap at just THB 75 (US$2.40). I should've called it a night by then, but I was still curious about the real Baan Phadthai that I missed. It turned out that it wasn't too far away, so I figured that I'd get a ride down there for a taste.



It turned to be more upscale (21-23 Soi Charoen Krung 44, +66-0-2060-5553-4), with prices about three or four times more expensive than those other two, and a nice décor to match. The menu was pretty extensive too, including a crab-based version that I really wanted to try. But I was so stuffed from the previous two plates that I just stuck with the basic pork plate, which actually I couldn't finish either. Surprisingly, it wasn't as piping hot as the other two plates, but it was still tasty.

Rethinking Hong Sheng Restaurant in Toa Payoh

These Hong Sheng guys seem to be known for several dishes, particularly a claypot fish head. But I can't quite figure that dish out, as it's not the tastiest choice of fish in there, and the gravy doesn't really pick up much flavor either. Instead, what impresses me is their har cheong gai with its light, crispy, and piping hot batter, all packed with the punch of a edgy shrimp paste. I should just stick to this from now on, and maybe pass on the fried rice too since it's a bit dry. These guys seem to be known for their hor fun anyway.

Teppan Kappou Kenji in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore

A former Nadaman chef has opened up a teppanyaki place (99 Tanjong Pagar Road #01-01, 9152-3118), right in between Keisuke's Itsuki and the original outlet of Hokkaido Izakaya. One could go the omakase or a la carte route, neither of which was cheap despite the menu saying that one shouldn't have "to pay exorbitant prices." But they did have an Express Lunch menu featuring that teppan chicken above for only S$15 (US$11), inclusive of teishoku components like rice, soup, pickles, and salad. And it was indeed very good quality chicken that went down my throat with ease. I'd happily pay for that again, but I need to remember not to order the beef nor unagi, as that is when it starts to get pricey.

Hokkaido's Naganuma Icenoie at the Carlton City Hotel

This Japanese ice cream shop has opened an outlet in Singapore (1 Gopeng Street #01-01, 6749-3928). They have multiple flavors available, but the purist in me went for the milk version, which was rich like one would expect. The soft serve wasn't cheap, but it was huge...so huge that it melted more quickly than I could eat it in the burning sun, thus making my hand a sticky mess, not to mention leaving a trail of dripping ice cream as I walked along the pavement. So on my second visit, I went for a cheaper and smaller gelato in a cup, which served me just fine.

Guo Se Tian Xiang at 100 AM, Singapore

I'm not sure if this is a chain from China, but I've always been very curious about this little Hunan restaurant that has taken over Na Na Curry's former spot at 100 AM (100 Tras Street #02-14, 6538-3371). I once had a small lunch set here that was fine, but I wanted to come back today for their signature fish head above.

Unfortunately, it didn't quite look like the pictures in the menu. The fish head was huge, and wasn't a particularly tasty one at that. I guess that didn't matter when it was supposed to be covered in chili, but there wasn't as much chili was depicted on the menu either.

Well, it was still decently spicy, but I prefer the punchiness of Chongqing grilled fish instead, even if this steamed one was clearly healthier. I'll come back to try some kind of sour noodle that I saw on the menu either way.

The Clementi Branch of Bedok Chwee Kueh, Singapore

For some reason, there are quite a few chwee kueh shops out here at 448 Clementi Avenue 3. It seemed fitting for a small afternoon snack, so we grabbed a set from #01-32, which presumably has its roots out in Bedok and has since expanded out here to the other side of the island. I was surprised by how abnormally large these things were: they were the diameter of a softball. The topping and chili sauce were fine, but rather mild too. I still like the Ghim Moh guy the best given how he makes his topping nice and salty.

An Afternoon of Food Kiosks at Clementi Mall, Singapore

We spent a good part of the afternoon at Clementi Mall today, nibbling at a few kiosks along the way. That started with this local Egg Stop place (3155 Commonwealth Avenue West #B1-K7), which is apparently based on some kind of Korean sandwich shop. It tasted like it looked: soft buttery bread with scrambled eggs and various other items of your choosing. In some ways it was like an Egg McMuffin, but much more tender. It was better than I thought it would be.



That sandwich alone wasn't enough food, but conveniently enough, this sign at Old Chang Kee piqued my interest (#B1-K11). I wasn't quite sure how they'd pack chicken rice into a curry puff, but it worked. Yes, it did taste like chicken rice, primarily because of a heavy punch of ginger in there. But the pastry was a far cry from the wonderfully flaky stuff at J2 at Amoy Street.



Finally, I needed a beverage, and a bubble tea shop called Bobii Frutii (#04-K4) caught my eye because they were doing one of those brown sugar drinks that have been getting some attention lately. And yes, it tasted like brown sugar and milk, in a good way. But clearly I've had enough unhealthy food for one day.

Warung Cobain at Nagoya Hill Food Street in Batam, Indonesia

I could be wrong about this, but I believe that this is a small chain in Batam. We had heard good things about it last year, thus making it an obvious choice for lunch after having stumbled past it this afternoon. It's a fish shop, and the food was delicious, particularly that bandeng bojo above, or milk fish with green chili. It was deliciously crisp, greasy, and spicy all at the same time, making it a delight to eat with some rice, head and all. We also shared an ikan bakar millenium, which was rubbed with some mildly sweet herbs and wrapped in foil before grilling. Repeat visits are a must; just remember that the a la carte portions are small (almost tapas-size) so it's imperative to order rice and sambal on the side.

Golden Life Prawn Seafood Restaurant in Batam, Indonesia

It's places like this that make Batam fun: open air restaurants on wooden stilts in the water with big tanks of live seafood in front, reachable by dirt road (555 Bengkokng Laut, +62-778-411138). Now, we weren't very hungry, and thus our only protein selection was the plate of baby squid in the center (in retrospect, I should've asked for them grilled or sautéed rather than battered). But we cleared the smoky bee hoon and sambal kangkong quickly. And it was all just 214,000 Rupiah, or US$15. Next time we should get some ikan bakar.

A&W Restaurants in Indonesia

After getting off the ferry in Indonesia today, A&W was requested. Yep, this chain is very common here, but localized too, like steamed rice to go with your fried chicken. The chicken was a little dry in some parts, but still had some tasty greasy parts when they brought it out piping hot from the fryer.

Konjiki Hototogisu at Great World City, Singapore

The Hototogisu folks (who recently have been promoted from a mere Bib Gourmand to a Michelin star BTW) have opened a second outlet in Singapore, with this outlet doing an oyster-based broth (1 Kim Seng Promenade #01-143). Actually, they do two oyster-based broths, one shio and one paitan. The former was more upfront, hitting you with an awesome punch of shellfish in your first spoonful, while the latter was creamier but still good. The ingredients inside were naturally all of very high quality (including a savory oyster paste), making these bowls go down with ease.

Hokkaido Curry Buns from Pullman Bakery

I'm normally not much for soft bread, but I'm also a sucker for limited quantity stuff, especially if such a "best seller" helps to epitomize the shop for me in just one bite. So I've occasionally grabbed one of these Hokkaido curry buns when I've seen them available. They're both crunchy and soft on the outside, which is rather neat. But that imported curry inside is a bit of a bore. I'd rather go to Amoy Street for some J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff.

Satsuma Shimuja is Now Called Hayato Singapore

This is my second visit to Shimuja this week to satiate an unexpected ramen craving. For some reason, they've renamed themselves to Hayato, but the broth and noodles are still just as good (and it turns out that the reason why the thin chashu is kinda crispy is because they pan fry it first). The toppings have changed a little too, but there are little tabletop tubs of decently spicy takana that are an awesome complement to these bowls.

IPPUDO Singapore's Ebi Shio Wanton Men

IPPUDO Singapore is offering this special bowl right now. To be clear, the broth is chicken-based, not prawn-based. But the two wantons in here are filled with chopped shrimp, and the bowl was ultimately crisp, savory, and of high quality. Actually, it seemed like something that one would get from Din Tai Fung, but with a punchier IPPUDO flair, not to mention IPPUDO's high prices (S$19 or US$14 for that bowl above).

"Bamboo Caterpillars" from Thailand

A colleague was walking around the office with a jar of these "bamboo caterpillars" today, presumably in part for the shock value. They weren't that weird though; as with most fried bugs, they were basically just salt and grease with a bit of nuttiness. If I were blindfolded, I probably would've thought that they were some kind of fried beans or something. Are these basically the same mealworms that you feed to pet birds and reptiles?

Omurice Keisuke at Bugis+, Singapore

I know that I can be a bit of a nerd about such things, but I assure you that I didn't plan to come to the grand opening of Keisuke's new omurice shop at Bugis+ today (201 Victoria Street #04-01, 6634-4558). In fact, I didn't even know about it until just an hour prior; it just so happened that my nearby appointment ran over time, making it an obvious choice for lunch before heading into the office.

Anyway, it's an omurice shop, and they also do some pasta too, so I got this mentaiko spaghetti combo plate. It was all fine, but there was nothing really that distinctive about it either (if no one had told me that it was from Keisuke then I wouldn't have even known). Then again, I guess it's not surprising for a guy who has a fascination with eggs to eventually do an omurice shop, yeah?

Thye Hong Prawn Noodles at 313@Somerset, Singapore

I was watching a video this morning about Yi Sheng at ABC Brickworks, which then planted a thought in my head about how delicious a plate of Hokkien Mee would be for lunch today. But instead of waiting in line over there, we went to the Food Republic at 313@Somerset where this stall has always seemed pretty popular every time I pass by (160 Orchard Road, 6733-3474). Yes, it was tasty, but not as much as Yi Sheng (and the prawns here weren't very fresh either). But I still ate it all, and at least I didn't have to wait an hour for my food.

Spam Summer Rolls From Lee's Sandwiches

When I saw these lying on the counter at Lee's Sandwiches, I had to do a double take. Whoa, is that Spam in those summer rolls? They were. I got some for a quick bite tonight. The problem was, I don't think it was actually the brand Spam, as it wasn't salty nor greasy enough. In fact, it tasted like the sausage rolls that I had at Pho 90 Degree the other day, even if it wasn't as sweet. It was still refreshing enough to finish easily, but I can't help but wonder what it would be like if it were real Spam.

Isfahan Kabob on Union Avenue in San Jose

I was craving rice tonight, so I asked Google where the closest Persian restaurant was, and this little place came up (3014 Union Avenue, 408-559-1555). Their koobideh options were limited to chicken or beef without any lamb, but the beef still went down well with some raw onions (and it's good that I got a double since they weren't too big). The rice wasn't as fluffy as I would've liked, but I still ate it all, especially when assisted by butter, grilled tomato, and sumac. Most notably though, the prices here were surprisingly low, which was a big relief given how expensive everything is getting in the Bay Area.

The Smoked Veal at Pho 90 Degree in San Jose

I came back to Pho 90 Degree today to try their their special phở đặc biệt bê thui, which came with a little plate of smoked veal on the side. I'm not sure if I ate it correctly or not, but I dipped it into the broth. It turned out fine, but it also wasn't anything so striking that I'm going to want to get again (I wouldn't have known that it was smoked had they not told me, although the stanky brown sauce that came with it was pretty good). I finished the entire bowl either way, and still want to come back to this place to try their other cuts of meat, like oxtail and short rib.

Happy Hour at the Bywater in Los Gatos

I had to go to the DMV in Los Gatos this afternoon. Interestingly enough, the Bywater was running ads on the TVs at the DMV, as it was just 1-2 minute walk away. So I hopped over; the kitchen was closed during happy hour, but they were still serving oysters, fries, and red beans and rice. I got a cup of the beans and rice, which like last time was fine, although this time I paid more attention to its smokiness, not to mention the spiciness that creeps up on you. More importantly though, these were all at happy hour prices, which made me happy indeed. (BTW, they had a Pappy and beer combo that was reasonably priced; hopefully it's still available next time so that I can finally try it.)

The Beyond Burger by Beyond Meat

I've eaten too much beef on this trip. So I figured, why not give Beyond Meat a try? It was better than I had expected. Granted, that might've been because my experience with Impossible Burger was disappointing, but they got the texture almost right, unlike the unnaturally tender feeling that I got from Impossible Burger. Well, OK, the patty was oddly crumbly when you picked at it with a fork, but who's checking?

How about the taste? It definitely wasn't beef, but it didn't taste like a veggie burger either. It was like a very mild form of pork and chicken with a slightly synthetic aftertaste. I didn't mind though, as it was moist (there's a lot of oil in this thing). Well, I should give Impossible Burger another try, hopefully without all the bun and condiments covering it up.

The Burger Pit in San Jose, California

This old school place always looked very promising whenever I passed by, and indeed, it was good (1349 Blossom Hill Road, 408-269-8062). It was actually more of a steak place than a burger place, and to be more specific, kinda like a Sizzler where you order at the counter and sit down in booths near an all-you-can-eat salad bar.

But the quality was much better than a Sizzler. I got their steerburger above, and it was grilled perfectly (the red stuff on top is not ketchup, but juices oozing out of the patty). Note to self: they have a 1/4 pound burger which is a little cheaper, but go for the 1/2 pound above, as it's not as excessive as it sounds, and it just means more beefy goodness in your tummy.

Pho 90 Degree in San Jose, California

That may look like a bowl of meatless phở, but I assure you that it was quite the opposite. Indeed, this #15 bowl was labeled on the menu as the "chef's favorite," and it is easily one of the best things that I've eaten on this trip. It all came down to that little plate of meat in the corner, which admittedly looked rather sad when it first arrived, not to mention puzzling that they served it on the side.

But one quick taste of that meat and I was totally floored by how smoky and tasty it was. It tasted like an aged steak that had been thrown on the grill, or even the beef tacos at Carnitas' Snack Shack in San Diego. If an American steakhouse got together with a phở restaurant, this is what it would taste like. Totally awesome; I wanted to slam my fist on the table and yell "F*CK YEAH!"

Indeed, I may have just found my new favorite phở place (999 Story Road #9090, 408-993-9090). The broth wasn't necessarily better than the exalted Pho Y #1, but they have so many unique ingredients that you don't find at other places, like oxtail, veal, and others (they even have a thick noodle option). I'll pass on their signature grilled pork paste spring rolls next time though, as they were a tad sweet.

Tacos El Porky's Mexican Food in San Jose, California

I randomly spotted this taco truck parked at a Valero gas station (14000 Blossom Hill Road, 408-854-0258), and figured that I'd better get something, seeing how I missed lunch. These two tacos came out piping hot, with the barbacoa in particular being very juicy. The asada was more dry, but I still wolfed these down quickly, especially with all of the garnishes they provided.

Tugboat Fish and Chips in San Jose, California

Fish and chips seemed fitting for dinner tonight, so we came to this little neighborhood shop at Sunrise Plaza Shopping Center (658 Blossom Hill Road, 408-225-8983). They were really friendly, and the food came out piping hot (including some gigantic onion rings), all with an impressively crispy batter. But the batter was also why I don't think I'll be returning, as it was too batter-centric instead of emphasizing the taste of the fish and potatoes themselves.

The Happy Hound in Los Gatos, California

I haven't had a burger at The Happy Hound in a long time. It has always been one of my favorites, in part because of the shredded cheddar cheese option, but also because of the thick cuts of tomato, onion, and lettuce. It's both freshness and grease together in one bite, coming together wonderfully, especially with a nice aroma emanating from the griddle too (get a counter seat!). Next time I should remember to order the onion rings instead of the McDonald's-like fries.

Returning to Great Khan's Mongolian BBQ

We haven't been to Great Khan's ever since they shut down their Oakridge stall. But they still have an outlet at Eastridge Mall (2200 Eastridge Loop, 408-238-1308), and thus we were eager to get some tonight. They didn't have any lamb available, but I was still able to build a respectable pile of ingredients in that bowl above. It's too bad then that the labels on the sauces were illegible or non-existent, thus leaving us to guess as to what each sauce was. In the process, my food ended up being not salty nor spicy enough and also a tad sweet.