Dong Fang Hong Sotong Ball Seafood Soup

When I was at Hong Lim Food Centre last time, I didn't even realize that there were stalls downstairs. But there is one down there at stall #01-47 that does a nifty bowl filled with a generous variety of meatballs, fishballs, squidballs, and even herh keow fish dumplings in a bowl of soup. I liked most of them, even if the broth was a tad garlicky. Note though that Google Maps has their operating hours listed incorrectly; at the moment, they are open four days a week from Mondays to Thursdays.

My Awesome Cafe on Telok Ayer Street

I was always kinda curious about this place. On the outside, it looks like an old Traditional Chinese Medicine shophouse called the Chung Hwa Free Clinic, retaining all of the original - and boldly written - signage outside. But it's actually a café that's usually packed with people; I didn't even realize that its name was My Awesome Cafe until I looked it up on Google Maps (202 Telok Ayer Street, 8798-1783).

The retro theme continued inside with old school wooden and steel pipe-based furniture from around the island, as well as brown glass tableware from Malaysia. The menu was mostly café food like that salad-meets-open-faced-sandwich thing above. I didn't like it enough to come back for it, but there were some duck-based items that sounded like they might be fun to wash down with all of the booze that they had available.

Hai Kee Soy Sauce Chicken Rice in Singapore

This soy sauce chicken stall has expanded to several outlets lately, and I gave it a try tonight. The chicken was very tender and moist, and I cleared everything on that tray tonight. But that flame-torched mentaiko char siew on the left was a bit unnecessary, and none of it was so exciting that I'll get cravings for it either. If anything, I keep thinking of Nanyang instead.

The Smoked Pomfret from the 1925 Brewing Company

I was so miffed by the lack of booze at 800° that I made a hike down to Joo Chiat afterwards to get some suds. Fortunately, the folks at 1925 still had portions of their smoked pomfret available, and it was awesome with all of its crispy fat. I gobbled this thing down to the bones, and then some. The head was surprisingly the best part with all of its tasty fatty bits, washed down with a range of their draft beers. This place is really underrated in my opinion.

LA’s 800° Woodfired Kitchen has Opened in Singapore

800° is a pizza chain from Westwood that has opened an outlet at KINEX in Paya Lebar (11 Tanjong Katong Road #01-52). I was expecting it to be more upscale given all of the high-profile names that they were dropping, but it turned out to be more like MOD Pizza or Blaze. OK, the dough was a couple of notches better than those two, but it was still more dry than L'Operetta, which meant that I didn't bother to finish the crust. I don't need to come back here, especially since they don't serve alcohol here either.

The Beolgyo Kkomag Bibimbap from Magal BBQ

It's been a while since I've been to Magal. What drew me back here was a sign for this gorgeous plate of cockles from Beolgyo in the southern part of Korea. It was served cold but dressed up in a light sauce that I then threw into a big bowl of rice to make bibimbap. I wish it were a little saltier and spicier, but it was still deliciously briny and refreshing enough for me to devour completely. And yeah, those green onions were basically raw, so it sure is good that business meetings are largely done virtually these days.

Song Kee Fish Ball Noodle in Toa Payoh

I didn't even realize it until I looked it up just now, but the new fishball noodle stall near Uno Beef House at the Nghee Huat Eating House (51 Toa Payoh Lorong 6 #01-62) is apparently quite famous, especially for their herh keow fish dumplings. So I'm not the only one that liked those so much then! The smooth bouncy skin was the best part; apparently it's made from a combination of fish and tapioca flour. The shallot-accentuated filling made it tasty too. Indeed, the entire bowl was rather earthy from those shallots. It wasn't salty, spicy, nor vinegary enough, but I should take a closer look at the condiment station next time and make my own adjustments.

Making Onsen Tamago at Sembawang Hot Spring Park

Singapore is hardly a place to expect onsen, but there is a little one up in Sembawang along Gambas Avenue. It's not big enough for one to soak one's body in, but the National Parks Board has done a really nice job of building up some decent-sized foot baths, complete with cascading pools of three different temperatures, as well as a separate egg coooking station on the other side. Cool!

I left before dawn today so that I could snag a spot under one of the five taps. In retrospect, I probably should've kept my eggs under there for ten more minutes, but they still turned out decent after the 20 minutes or so that they were in there. I slurped that thing down on the spot, all while getting some relaxing onsen time in for my feet too.

The Shrimp Roll from Luke’s Lobster

I finally got the shrimp roll at Luke's today. I didn't even realize until it came out that they were talking about little shrimp from Québec rather than the big prawns that I had imagined being chopped up in here. Either way, they were deliciously delicate and briny, with a portion exceeding that of the pillowy buttered bun, making it the perfect little top-up that I needed this afternoon.

Kotteri Se Abura Ramen from Sanpoutei

This was the se abura ramen from Sanpoutei, a place that I really should go to more often due to not just their sardine and shoyu-based broth plus noodles made on-site, but also since they offer a decently affordable flight of sake too. I wasn't even hungry tonight, but that deeply savory broth and pork fat topping just hit the spot. I crushed the bowl and then some.

Sushi Matsuo at Goldhill Plaza Mall in Singapore

This cozy little unassuming sushi place usually commands some pretty long lines at lunchtime (1 Goldhill Plaza #01-17, 6356-2603). I couldn't figure out why, as the menu didn't look that interesting, and the prices weren't particularly cheap either. Presumably it was just a good location for nearby office workers? Nonetheless, I was able to walk in this afternoon to finally give it a shot.

I think it's the plentiful seafood that draws people here. Not only did I see other diners near me being served decent amounts of fish, but my miso soup came with two prawn heads. That maguro natto above came with big chunks of tuna, not to mention tororo and lots of seaweed too. But the quality of their tempura batter wasn't anything to get excited about, and I don't really plan to go back.

Monster Curry's Natto & Egg Curry

Here's the natto and onsen tamago curry from Monster Curry. It was kinda nasty, and it wasn't so much because of the natto, but because Monster Curry itself is lacking; today's was more sweet than it was spicy, and I didn't care for the quality of the ingredients here either. Granted, this is just a commercialized chain (and at least they provided pickles this time), but I would've rather gone to CoCo Ichibanya.

A Few Items from Don Don Donki

Here were just a few things from Don Don Donki that I've tried this past week, the first of which was labeled as being "the most addictive onigiri you've ever tasted," as it was interspersed with tempura bits and sauce. But I could hardly taste it, and honestly struggled to find it addictive. I'd much rather have my onigiri filled with the kick of some mentaiko or ume instead.



They're also doing a citrus promotion right now, featuring varieties like dekopon and also with handy labels about how they taste. I grabbed these amanatsu because it said that it was "very sour but rich in vitamins." It turned out to be like a grapefruit, with a thick skin and slightly bitter taste. But I like grapefruit, and was happy to gobble this down after a meal.



Finally, these huge bags of seaweed fried in tempura batter were conveniently placed just before heading to the cashiers. I balked at the S$9.90 (US$7.35) price at first, but am glad I still bought it, because these were deliciously salty. Really, the salt was the best part of these, as it propelled these savory crispy grease bombs. I just wish it didn't cost so much.

The Fight-Fight Salad from Orh Gao Taproom

I went to Orh Gao tonight and grabbed a plate of their gado-gado while I was there. It came in just the right portion and was seasoned nicely, making it fun to eat with a glass of suds. But I should avoid the kacang panjang next time given all of the minced garlic in there.

The Jiankang Shucai Mo from Qin Ji Rougamo

I've never liked the roujiamo at Qin Ji. Despite how awesome the crispy flaky carbs were, it was always ruined by the mucilagenous gravy that came with the meat. I wised up this time though, as I noticed a "healthy" vegetable option. And yay, it wasn't gooey! If anything, it was laced with a delightful touch of huajiao, making me gobble this thing down in seconds. I've finally figured out the right things to order at Qin Ji: the liangpi, along with this. But then it's no longer correct to call it roujiamo.

The Yuzu Shio Ramen from AFURI Singapore

I've had AFURI's shoyu ramen already, so this time I grabbed their shio version. I'd forgotten how citrusy the broth was; it was basically a bit sour. It was refreshing, but something that I'll need to be more mentally prepared for next time. I loved the skinny noodles either way, and it was much better than that tsukemen that I had last time.

Novena Fish Head Bee Hoon at United Square

The photo above probably doesn't look like much more than just your everyday fish soup from a random stall at an air-conditioned Food Republic (101 Thomson Road #B1-56). In many ways, that's what it was. But there's usually a dependable line here too, and I think I know why: everything in the bowl is of decent quality, from the noodles to the fish to the bittergourd, making this a bowl that is easy to eat. Sure, the batter on the fish is a bit tough, but that might also be by design. I have no qualms about eating here again.

Hong Jjajang in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore

We randomly came to this place (93 Tanjong Pagar Road, 6909-6171) for lunch yesterday, and my kimchi jjigae was totally forgettable. It was only upon reading about this place afterwards did I realize that I ordered the wrong thing; they specialize in things like jajeongmyeon instead. So I grabbed some on my way home tonight.

I've actually never been a fan of this dish in the first place, but this one was easy to eat, and I liked how they put lots of chopped onions in there...so much that I pretty much finished the entire thing. Now, I still won't go back for it, but I wonder how some of their other stuff fares, especially since I saw a sign for unlimited chadolbagi on the wall.

Summer Pavilion at the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

This is my first time back to Summer Pavilion in more than 15 years; they didn't even have their Michelin star back then. It was an excellent meal today either way, featuring not just high-quality seafood cooked delicately, but also attentive service and elaborate porcelainware.

My Amateur Olive Oil Tasting Today

We happened to have a few different varieties of olive oil in the house today, so here's a quick tasting via my amateur palate. The green-labeled one on the right was from Don Don Donki, meaning that it came in from Japan, although the label says that the oilves were from Spain. It was the smoothest of the bunch, carrying a soft and velvety richness. That contrasted with the one in the middle from Spain, which was very floral, with a punchy but aromatic touch. The last one was an Italian one from Saizeriya, of all places (yes, they sell bottles of olive oil there), and it was the spiciest of the bunch, with a surprisingly harsh aftertaste. I don't think I'll be buying that one again.

Cacio e Pepe Italian Restaurant in Bukit Batok

This was a little neighborhood pizza and pasta shop (3 Chu Lin Road, 6760-3534). And when I say neighborhood, I really mean neighborhood: it was in the middle of a suburban area without any hint of retail presence until one turned the corner. But the quality was decent, the service was fast, and the prices weren't as outrageous as they could've been.

Surprisingly though, the menu lacked their namesake dish. The closest that I could find was that carbonara above, which they offered in a traditional non-cream option. I would've prefered the spaghetti to be even firmer, but it was good enough. We demolished the calamari here quickly, as well as the pizza, even if I would've preferred a chewy Neapolitan crust rather than the thin crispy one served here.

iO Italian Osteria is not that far away, but I'm happy to eat here again. Being such a cozy neighborhood place, the service was warm and fast. Plus, their dried chili flakes were nice and potent. If I heard them correctly, they said that they made them from local chili padi. Maybe that's the secret to why Al Borgo's was so spicy too?

The Neba Neba from Shinjuku at Cuppage Plaza

Here's the neba neba from Shinjuku. It wasn't as slimy as I was hoping for, but it was still fun to eat with those small nori sheets, especially as little seaweed tacos. I was a bit disappointed in the rest of what we ordered though, especially the negima, gyoza, and soba. Granted, it'd be better to get those at dedicated shops, but I recall the food here being better in the past. I'm not sure if it's because my expectations have become distorted or if the quality has eroded over the years.

The Buttermilk Crispy Chicken from McDonald's Singapore

When this thing came out, I was so angry with myself for having ordered it. Why? Those huge pieces of pineapple. Somehow I didn't notice them on the menu when I ordered, as I thought that this sandwich was more of a response to Popeye's awesome creation. From what I can see now though, it doesn't seem like the same chicken sandwich that McDonald's does in the US. Well, I still ate it all, but with a lot of regret.

The Crab Roll from Luke's Lobster

Here's the crab roll from Luke's Lobster, which I grabbed not only because I've already had their lobster roll, but also since I love Jonah crab. The volume of meat exceeded the bread, even if the entire thing was pretty small; I literally ate it all within a minute or two. In retrospect, I wish that I had ordered the shrimp roll too, although none of this was cheap (the lemonade was quite a ripoff, actually). It's too bad that they dropped the grilled cheese from the menu either way.

Argentina’s CARNE Has Opened in Singapore

There is a small burger chain in Argentina that was opened by a Michelin-starred chef, and the ilLido folks opened an outlet over here (88 Amoy Street, 8868-4388). It wasn't cheap, but it all featured good quality ingredients, many of which were local. The fries in particular were my favorite due to not just their crispy yet creamy texture, but also because of the taste of those potatoes. Now, I'd still rather go to Shake Shack and Five Guys, as I prefer the taste of their beefy patties and greasy fries. But I wouldn't mind coming back here to try their chimichurri burger, which interestingly enough, is not served back in Argentina.

The 6ixs Rösti Fusion Grill in Singapore

This was an unplanned visit, but two stalls down from Mun's Seafood Pao Fan were these guys doing rösti, so I grabbed one. At first glance, there were a number of differences with Marché, in particular that the rösti was thinner, finer, and crispier. On paper, that sounded like a good thing. But in the process of getting it so crispy, it was also rather burnt...so much that all I could taste was burned potato, even if I tried covering it up with that sour cream. I don't think I'll get that again.

Mun's Seafood Pao Fan in Singapore

Here's another kopitiam stall doing pao fan (25 Ghim Moh Link #01-01). I grabbed a pork-based bowl. The nice thing was that they provided a good scoop of crispy rice without overwhelming it with that fried egg stuff. But I was also disappointed that the broth was so one-sided, being salty yet without much depth to it. My favorites are still Chao Ting and San Pin.

Original Chew Kee Eating House in Singapore

I nearly walked right past this place, but their tagline stopped me: "Singapore's First Soy Sauce Chicken." I was curious and went in to give it a try (8 Upper Cross Street, 6222-0507). It was all edible, but I probably should've ordered the yellow noodles that I saw everyone else getting. More importantly, they gave me a surprisingly dry peice of breast meat, making it a far cry from Liao Fan Hawker Chan. That reminds me: I should go back to the Nanyang Sauce Boutique one day.

Puteca Abate Italian Street Food and Deli Sandwich Bar

I finally went to that panini bar from the Abate folks (1 Keong Saik Road). I was a bit worried when that plate came out, as it didn't look very promising. Indeed, the bread wasn't anywhere as good as Paninoteca's, and it was rather disappointing to find iceberg lettuce in there too. So I won't be going back, even if I still ate the whole thing (it was pleasantly salty at least). I wonder what the new location for their pasta shop down the street will be like.