Yakizakana Ramen at Mashi no Mashi Singapore

Mashi no Mashi's new location at Nankin Row (3 Pickering Street #01-42) had a sign that caught my eye: grilled fish ramen. But when I got closer, it looked a little dubious, being on a separate menu from a brand called Yakizakana Ramen. Presumably the local operator created that as its own brand using the same facility, and indeed, the staff said that this other menu featured "local ramen," whatever that meant.

I was surprised by how much I liked it. Sure, the broth tasted like a peppery mix that one would get from an instant noodle packet, but that was part of the appeal. More importantly, the noodles were kept firm, and the fish was delicately laced with a bit of citrus and grilled aroma. And it was less than ten bucks too. I don't know if I'd try the fried version, but the grilled fish on its own is something that I'd be happy to eat again.

Uoharu Singapore at IOI Central Boulevard Towers

I finally made it over to Uoharu today, in part because I only recently realized that they did reasonably priced lunch sets (2 Central Boulevard #01-16). The daily special featuring oden and sashimi above was better than I thought it would be, as it used decent ingredients...and perhaps most importantly, featured rice that wasn't overcooked. I had previously assumed that this place would be rather commercialized given that it's a small chain across a few countries. But now that I've tasted the food, I'd be willing to go back for a proper izakaya session in the evening.

Golden Coin Beef Phở from Super Ngon

See how those cuts of beef above alternate in lines between meat and connective tissue? I'm only realizing now that this is a cut from the leg referred to as "golden coin" here, and Super Ngon serves that cut in their phở for a couple bucks more. Yep, they made it impressively tender, and I was happy to eat it along with that salty minimalist broth and thin but sour chili sauce. Next time I should remember to opt for a side of quay given the northern style used here.

The Pyongyang Naengmyeon from Joong San

Something occurred to me when walking through Singapore's blazing heat in the past week: I had yet to try the naengmyeon at Joong San, even though I've been there more than a handful of times. I thus got the Pyongyang version above, and I was quite happy with it. It was all about the subtle taste of the beef coming through in the broth. The sliced beef itself was similarly delicate, as were those textured buckwheat noodles. They still gave their usual array of banchan and rice, including that killer sesame oil, which just makes me like this place so much, especially since it's so healthy too. Sadly, the gomtang is no longer on the menu though.

Kalam Restaurant in Singapore's Little India

I liked this place a lot more than I thought I would (2 Veerasamy Road). See, on the surface it didn't look like much. A bunch of us had never heard of it, and the signage suggested that they were trying to be all things to all people. But it turns out they actually specialize in food from Mangalore and the city of Udupi, so that meant a softer coastal cuisine.

There were not only some rather notable dishes that one typically doesn't find at other shops, but they also they executed well with good quality ingredients and techniques. There was even decent ambience and service to boot.

Some of the unique things included some puffy buns that looked like many other flatbreads, but were actually mildly sweet and came with a coconut chutney. The prawn ghee roast as well as a mutton sukka were nice in that they didn't sit in a thick gravy, but was seemingly more like a stir-fry. And I liked how the portions weren't outrageous here, which let us try quite a few things. This place is worth returning to.

The Curry Paitan from Enishi Singapore

Enishi is doing this curry paitan special now. If I heard them correctly, they secured some kind of special curry powder from a shop in Japan, and I guess that's what gets added to their toripaitan bowl. I was very happy with how sophisticated and earthy the powder was; it really lit up the bowl and yet was also restrained enough not to overpower it. I hope they keep this on the menu.

Moutarde at Resorts World Sentosa

A Michelin-starred chef from Shanghai opened up a bistro in the basement level of WEAVE (26 Sentosa Gateway #B1-219). There were a few things that I wanted to get, including his steak tartare as well as steak frites. But they weren't cheap, and I wasn't in the mood to spend that kind of money.

Fortunately, he had a duck confit that was more reasonably priced, even if it was a rather small plate without any carbs. The ingredients were good though, including not just the duck but also the mushrooms underneath, which I was particularly happy with. I won't go back unless someone else is paying though.

HK Fei Guo Rice Noodle on Cross Street

This shop on the corner of South Bridge has big signage that surely gets lots of visibility from passers-by, and I finally tried it today (6 Upper Cross Street). As the name suggests, it's doing mixian in the same vein as TamJai SamGor. But the customization options weren't as obvious from the menu, which was trying to pitch other things like jigongbao. Well, the bowl above did the job, but also wasn't anything so special that I'd go back for it. I should go back to Fei Zap Mai Laan one of these days.

Smash Street in Singapore

The Scarpetta folks opened up a smashburger place a few doors down, and it's pretty good (50 Amoy Street). The beef patties were nicely charred for both texture and taste, and yet they were still juicy and accentuated with a mildly spicy yet rich mayo. The fries carried a decent potato taste despite my initial apprehension about them being shoestrings that were borderline dry.

The venue is just a sliver of a shophouse with maybe only ten bar stools. If you miss out on one of those, then you're standing at the counter or leaning against the padded wall. This isn't somewhere to have big group conversations; loud hip-hop blares overhead and your clothes come out smelling like grease. But that's what made it fun. It is actually what I thought New York's Burger Joint would be like. But this was better.

The Special Omurice from Fukusuke in Singapore

It's been a while since I've been here so I don't know when they started doing this, but Fukusuke is doing omurice for lunch now. And I probably should've read the menu a little more carefully rather than just ordering the first thing that I saw at the top of the list. See, the "special" configuration above came with heaps of protein, including a giant tsukune meatball covered in cheese, as well as a crab croquette and karaage. It was excessive and I regretted ordering it. At least the croquette and karaage were piping hot from the fryer.

Wendy's (Perhaps Only My Second Time?)

Something occurred to me as I was walking through the food court at San Francisco's international terminal: I've hardly ever eaten at Wendy's, despite its long-standing national presence. I mean, I'm pretty sure I've eaten it once at least, but I really don't remember it at all. So I grabbed a quick burger from them tonight, which they made fresh to order.

I'm not sure what makes them different though. Visually, you get a distinctive square patty, which they say is made with fresh beef rather than frozen. But I couldn't taste the beef when it was covered by the cheese that covered it. The things that stood out more were the pillowy (and almost creamy) yellow bun as well as the generous amount of lettuce in there. I must be missing something though.

The Lobster Roll at California Fish Grill

California Fish Grill has started doing lobster rolls. The bun was buttery and the lobster meat was savory, but it was also a bit dried out in a few places. To that end, I'm a little concerned that this place seems to be getting less consistent over time. Indeed, the shrimp and avocado Caesar salad in the background featured not just overly salty shrimp and lousy dressing, but the croutons sprinked onto it were crumbs, as if they dumped what was remaining at the bottom of the bag or something. I should probably stick to my usual rockfish or grilled shrimp next time.

Soong Soong Restaurant (Xiaoer Youyijia) in San Jose

I'm only putting that photo up there because I was amused by the little silver pastry cups that these xiaolongbao arrived in. This was from an old-school Chinese place called Xiaoer Youyijia (3680 Stevens Creek Boulevard, 408-243-8868); the little cups were effective in managing the broth inside, but it wasn't anything that I particularly liked given that it was fatty and sweet. I was happier with their doufunao, which was a bit like hot and sour soup with silky douhua tofu inside. They also sold soybean milk alongside the dumplings here.

The "SRC Bibimbop" from SGD Tofu House San Jose

It turns out that the Blossom Hill outlet of SGD Tofu House has some menu items that the other outlets don't have. One of those is this "SRC Bibimbop" above. I should have asked what SRC stood for, but presumably it is a Special Recipe Chili yangnyeom sauce that they pre-mixed into your bibimbap before throwing it onto a flat hot plate.

The pre-mixing wasn't the notable thing for me, nor was that "SRC" sauce, which didn't seem that unique to me either. But leaving the rice on the Pepper Lunch-style flat plate for more than five minutes did provide a pleasurably scorched nurungji rice texture. That made up for all of those crudely sliced carrots and such that they tossed on top.

Gilan Persian Kitchen & Grill in San Jose

This Persian place is across the street from Cambrian Park Plaza, and it was respectably packed on a late Saturday afternoon (2041 Woodard Road, 408-628-4171). The koobideh above was tender and grilled just right, while the chicken alongside it was decently moist and smoky too. The rice was fluffy but more moist than I was expecting. I'm not sure if that was intentional or not, but we still wolfed it down easily after melting some butter in there.

Mar y Tierra Mexican Restaurant in San Jose

That might look like a tray of chips and salsa, but it's actually a rather generous serving of ceviche. And best of all, it was free during happy hour as long as one ordered a drink at this unassuming little place (1373 Kooser Road Suite B, 408-613-2534). What particularly excited me was how their menu specialized in food from Mazatlan, which meant that it was very seafood-centric: fish, shrimp, oysters, scallops, and octopus in all sorts of grilled, fried, raw, and cured forms. Admittedly, the freebie above filled me to the point where I couldn't eat anymore. But I'm definitely heading back, preferably with others to hit up one of those gigantic aguachile platters. I'm so excited!

Pho Luc Lac at Branham Center, San Jose

I didn't realize the meaning of this shop until afterwards (1705 Branham Lane B3, 408-622-8115). See, they have the usual Vietnamese dishes that you'd find at a strip mall in San Jose. But they also had their namesake phở lúc lắc above, which the menu said was served in a house special soy sauce-based broth that is different from the normal phở broth. Only later did I realize that this is basically a marriage of bò lúc lắc shaking beef and phở, thus explaining the very tender cuts of filet mignon in there. But it also ended up putting minced garlic in the bottom of the bowl, which I wasn't a fan of despite the depth of the broth. I don't need to get it again.

Mountain View’s Casa Mia Restaurant

I grabbed those chilaquiles above this morning. Admittedly, it was from a slightly dressed-up breakfast place whose menu even included a Cobb salad and patty melt, so I wasn't getting my hopes up. But the quality of the chips was pretty good, and I ate this easily. I was also able to get a spiced coffee called café de olla, which was served in a cute little clay vessel.

Blue Line Pizza in Campbell, California

Hey this place was pretty good (415 East Campbell Avenue, 408-378-2800). That's a deep dish pizza above, but it wasn't Chicago style. They used cornmeal, which gave it a wonderfully gritty texture that made the thick buttery crust fun to eat. Their namesake version above featured spinach and ricotta underneath those tangy tomatoes. Sure, the roasted garlic was a tad pronounced, but I was still happy to eat it, especially when washed down with suds from their impressive array of taps. I should spend more time exploring this downtown Campbell area by the way.

Brittania Arms Almaden in San Jose, California

From what I could tell, not every outlet of Brittania Arms serves corned beef and cabbage. The one at Robertson Square does though (5027 Almaden Expressway, 408-266-0550). It didn't look like much when it came out, but I was happy with the crumbly yet savory texture of the meat as well as the soft cabbage that it came with. These guys have a decent selection of beers on tap too. We originally came here for nostalgic amusement, but I might actually go back regularly for this, especially since the service is super friendly.

La Playita at Redwood Plaza in San Jose

I originally thought this was a small taco counter that I could grab a quick bite at (1169 Redmond Avenue, 408-997-7201). Instead, it turned out to be a family-run sit-down restaurant serving old school plates of things like burritos and chile relleno. It was still pretty fast though, and I cleared the food quickly despite the fact that the carnitas inside that enchilada above was a bit dry and thick. Still, it was neat that the sauce on top was a little creamy, and that the meat was a little citrusy. The super thin chips and fresh salsa were nice as well.

Chalateco in San Jose, California

I think the only thing that I know about Salvadoran food is pupusas. So when I went to an outlet of this small San Jose chain, that's what I was looking for. And in particular, I wanted to try one featuring loroco flower buds, which sounded interesting. But then I noticed that they also did loroco with eggs, saying that it was a Salvadoran breakfast staple. I quickly changed my mind and got that plate above instead.

I have to admit, I didn't really taste the loroco. Granted, it's supposed to be pretty mild, and I should have slowed down to try to detect its allgedly nutty aroma. But in my haste to consume it, I could really only taste the eggs, with those little green loroco bits seemingly like nopales cactus in that it was more about bulk than bite. The more memorable thing for me was the mild-tasting blocks of queso fresco that it came with.

Walia Ethiopian Cuisine in San Jose, California

I'm finally getting around to checking out more of the Ethiopian restaurant corridor in San Jose, with this one being a restaurant on the other end of San Carlos Street at the intersection of Bascom Avenue (2208 Business Circle, 408-772-9113).

We went for this two person meat and veggie combo, featuring beef, chicken, and lamb done in a tibs wot style. If I understood it correctly, that means that the meat is pan-seared first before being put into the traditional stew-like sauce. It tasted a bit like an Indian curry, but thicker and deeper without as much breadth. I particularly liked how the chicken was seared, and suspect it would be even better had we opted to pay a few bucks more for the option to make it less saucy. I loved the presence of those collard greens, lentils, and cabbage, and could have used more of that injera flatbread to mop it all up (although my hand skills need more work).

Next time I want to try some of the dryer styles like the grilled and sauteed varieties. It looks like they also serve breakfast from 9 AM - 3 PM, and that breakfast menu includes ful. These guys even have some platters named after some famous tech executives who have visited.

Birria Phở from Pho Hoa + Jazen Tea in San Jose

Now here's a chain that I haven't seen in ages. I had to come to this specific dual-branded outlet at Lion Plaza today because they are one of the few shops around here doing that dish above (1834 Tully Road, 408-238-1481). Specifically, it's birria phở, or birria de consomé combined with rice noodles and the usual range of phở accompaniments. The combination of Mexican and Vietnamese ingredients sounds like the epitome of San Jose to me, and yet it's surprisingly not common at all, perhaps because birria ramen is simpler. Even Tacos y Birria el Chole didn't serve it anymore today despite my previous sighting.

Anyway, the bowl was an interesting break from typical phở, as The broth was not as spicy as its red hue made it out to be, but it was savory and fun to drink with things like bean sprouts. The meat was cut into gigantic cubes that were tough in some parts and yet fatty in others. Any meat that was attached to that bone was obviously the tastiest, but it required hands-on work. Either way, I wonder how Taqueria Azteca up in Dublin does it, as they would be approaching it from the perspective of a Mexican restaurant rather than a Vietnamese one.

Breaking Dawn Brunch in Los Gatos, California

Here's something rather unique: a Vietnamese-American brunch specialist in downtown Los Gatos that has apparently been quite popular on the weekend for its boozy parties complete with a DJ (160 West Main Street, 669-297-8888). I was rather concerned when I walked in though, especially given the gaudy gold-on-black decor and even some kind of a robotic hamburger machine in the back. It looked like this place was more glamour than gourmet.

So I was a bit surprised to find that I was rather happy with my "phở bánh mì dip" above. Yep, it was a bánh mì, but pressed flat like a panini or Cubano and filled with brisket. It came with a small bowl of phở broth on the side so that one could consume it like a French Dip. It sounded gimmicky, but it was actually decently enjoyable, especially since they did an impressive jalapeno puree sauce for it too. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did, atlhough I won't go back for it either unless a boozy lunch is the intention.

My Roast Beef and Chowder at Kelly's

I was craving some roast beef when I got to Logan Airport today, and fortunately there was an outlet of Kelly's at my terminal. I made sure NOT to get the "three way" this time and instead tried to keep it minimal with just a few veggies plus horseradish and au jus, the latter of which was so deliciously savory that I drank it out of the little plastic cup. I'm still missing something in my configuration though (mustard, perhaps?) so I'll have to fiddle with it more next time. And I'll be sure to get a cup of their clam chowder again, as I liked how it was thin and savory. Actually, I didn't even realize that Kelly's did seafood; they have lobster rolls on the menu too.

My Steak and Lobster from Del Frisco's

This chain was selected for our team dinner tonight. I figured that I might as well grab one of their steaks, not to mention indulge in one of the petite lobster tails that they offered as a side. I realize now though that the lobster wasn't local from New England, but instead centrally sourced from Australia for all outlets nationwide, if I understood it correctly.

I didn't care too much for the quality of the beef nor the service tonight, especially at the sky high prices that they charge. Well, I guess that it is in line with that "going large" type of image that they seem to be going for. If by chance we end up here again next time, then I should remember to ask them to slice the steak for me, not to mention see if other seafood like oysters and fish are locally sourced.

The Friendly Toast from New Hampshire

The flat disc-shaped thing at the top of the plate was a new one for me. At first glance, I thought it was a hashbrown. But it turned out to be the biscuit that I specified when the waiter asked me for my bread choice. It wasn't the tall and fluffy Southern version that I was expecting, as this was flat and then further sliced transversely to make it even thinner. The taste was fine, but I wonder if it was a function of this restaurant being a regional chain here in New England.

(Returning to) Select Oyster Bar in Boston

This place came up when I looked for a place serving local food nearby. But when I walked in, it looked very familiar. It turned out that I was here a few years ago, and I didn't realize it until I had arrived. Then when I sat down, the place setting and structure of the menu including the drink list looked a lot like Little Whale from earlier today. That's when I realized that this was from the same chef!

I would have chosen differently had I known this beforehand. Nonetheless, I was happy with his seafood and beverage-centered vibe. I grabbed his fluke crudo special as well as those clams above, and they were all fresh and delicately done with quality ingredients. It turns out that this place just got a Michelin listing not long ago.

Little Whale in Boston, Massachusetts

I headed down Newbury Street on my lunch break today and hit up this little seafood counter (314 Newbury Street). That Rhode Island calamari above was more tender in texture than I was expecting, both for the protein as well as the batter, but I still happily ate it with a glass of local cider. I'm not sure how other things fare here, but it's my kind of place being focused on local seafood and drinks.

OAK Long Bar & Kitchen In Boston, Massachusetts

Admittedly, baked beans are a bit of a touristy thing, as local Bostonians apparently don't really eat this stuff anymore...or at least not at restaurants, as they usually just get the canned version. But this dish has been eluding me every time I come to Boston, precisely because it's not that common. Fortunately, there was a more upscale version available at the Fairmont Copley Plaza (138 Saint James Avenue, 617-585-7222), which in and of itself is a bit of a destination given its ornate decor featured in a lot of movie sets. Their version of baked beans above had a lot going on in there, including strips of crispy pork, spinach, and a nicely done egg on top. And it wasn't syrupy either. I was happy with it.

A Maine Lobster Roll via Room Service

I had a ton of work to do tonight but also needed a meal after getting off such a long flight from Asia. So I fell back on room service at my hotel here in Boston, going for a lobster roll. I forgot though that Boston leans toward cold mayonnaise-based Maine-style ones rather than warm buttered Connecticut ones. It was dressed with a lot of greens, but it was nonetheless still savory and came in a nicely toasted soft bun along with some thick cut chips. I guess a cold one makes more practical sense from a room service perspective too.

To that end, the striking thing for me was the eco-friendly container and cardboard bag that this was delivered in. Granted, I haven't ordered room service in a long time, but I was expecting one of those big wheeled carts with porcelainware, salt and pepper shakers, and that glass of ice water sealed with cling wrap. This approach makes so much more sense, especially since one doesn't have to push that huge cart out into the hallway afterwards. It seems that this trend emerged in the post-pandemic years and I hope it continues.

Fu Man Ji Authentic Hainanese Chicken Rice

This chicken rice stall is apparently from Taman Jurong but with another stall at Singapore Expo (1 Expo Drive #01-106). The meat was very moist, and I liked how the chili sauce wasn't too garlicky. The sauce that they drizzled on top wasn't too sweet either. I was happy to eat this.

Taiwan's Spicy Noodle (Xiaohun Mianpu) in Singapore

That Xiaohun Mianpu chain opened up an outlet at Raffles City Shopping Centre last year, and we finally went today (252 North Bridge Road #B1-38). The menu was more complicated than it needed to be; basically, the combos all featured the same sliced beef soup and noodles on the side, and you had the option to adjust spiciness, garnish, and additional proteins, like my tofu-centered one above. The quality was still good, including not just the chewiness of the noodles, but also that earthy broth whose bouquet of spices (like star anise) brings you straight to the streets of Taiwan.

Tai Er's Sichuan Lettuce Wraps

If I understood it correctly, this dish is normally not served this way in Sichuan. It's supposed to be a roasted pork jowl dish, but for some reason, Tai Er makes theirs super crispy, and then serves it like Korean bossam with lettuce wraps and pickles. It suits the dish given how fatty it is, but it's just interesting that the English translation of the dish emphasizes the lettuce wraps whereas the original dish is about the pork jowl.

Adam's Delights Combo Specialist

I probably wouldn't have even noticed this stall at Adam Food Centre had it not been for that discussion a couple of weeks ago about Dee Mee Combo House Mutton Soup. It turns out that this stall does "combo" plates too (2 Adam Road #01-11)...and in the corner of the menu was mee kuah. I finally had a chance to try it, but was a bit surprised to find it covered in a sugary red sauce instead of the brown savory reduction that I had thought it would be. It was a bit sweet, but I still ate it all. I can't help but wonder what it would have been like if it were based on the kambing soup from Bahrakath next door.

Tokyo's Sushidan at Raffles City Shopping Centre

That was impressively good...and surprisingly affordable. I mean, I've been to Sushidan in Japan where it was also decently good and cheap, but their Singapore outlet (252 North Bridge Road #B1-44C) left me with a better impression on both of those points. The quality of the ingredients was very prominent here, including not just the various pieces of fish, but more importantly, the firm and properly seasoned rice. The service was attentive with pieces delivered individually while still being efficient. And to think that my entry-level set was only S$19.90 (US$15.50)! Yes, this was better than that Teppei set, and was easier to get seated at too.

Super Simple in Singapore

It seems like there are a bazillion shops in the city center doing healthy build-your-own bowls for office workers these days. But none of them have gotten me too excited, even if they are healthy, fast, and cheap. This small chain, on the other hand, was a recent discovery that resonated with me a lot more.

In particular, their chicken thigh is so tender and tasty that I occasionally get cravings for it. I think I saw a footnote that said it contained dairy, so I wonder if they use yogurt or cream to tenderize it like a murgh malai kebab. True to their name, they season everything so simply that I like it much better than their competitors, particularly since Grain Traders tends to overdo the acidity on many of their items. The Daily Cut is more restrained, but its rotating menu can be a bit hit-or-miss.

Heybo had been my go-to until I finally found these guys. The availability of romesco sauce here plus their convenient electric salt and pepper mills are right in line with my tastes. It's like my stomach feels seen by these guys, and they are now my favorite.

My Lunch in Ang Mo Kio Today

I haven't been up to Ang Mo Kio in a while, but I was up there today and had a minute during my lunch break to check out Ah Jie Hokkien Mee (721 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 #01-2811), which has gotten some attention for its young proprietors. The noodles were decently smoky with a potent chili sauce to boot. But the crackling was fried too long and that taste ended up being distracting for me. In that sense, I'd rather go to one of the Shiok outlets instead.



I still had enough time and stomach space after that to check out Heng Ji Traditional Teochew Noodles around the corner (722 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 #8). This bowl was served by a very friendly proprietor and had decently firm noodles. It was tossed in a sauce that was not as processed as places like the 85 Redhill chain, but it was also a bit sweet. So similar to the other stall above, I was happy to eat it all but would rather go elsewhere.