Ming Fa Wanton Egg Noodle

Although I patronize Kovan Hawker Centre frequently, I wasn't aware of this stall until recently when I saw it being recommended on a Mediacorp programme, Where The Queue Starts 2. And when I went there for lunch today, the queue was indeed so long, I had to wait for half an hour.


The winning factor of Ming Fa Wanton Egg Noodles is its special noodles with a characteristic egg fragrance. The savory chilli is sweet and spicy and extremely complementary to the noodles. The char siew is well-roasted and the dumplings are tasty and flavorful. The soup is well-brewed with abundant anchovy sweetness.

To the delight of heartlanders in Kovan, this is indeed one of the most delicious neighbourhood wanton mee in Singapore.

7/10

Ming Fa Wanton Egg Noodle
Blk 209 Kovan Hawker Centre
Hougang Street 21 #01-51
8.00am to 3.00pm
Closed on Wednesdays & Thursdays

Tiong Bahru Lor Mee

This stall at Tiong Bahru Market has the original Tiong Bahru lor mee. Despite fierce competition from 178 Shark Meat Lor Mee, Tiong Bahru Lor Mee has its steady stream of customers who prefer its traditional lor mee than the unconventional lor mee from 178.


The first thing about Tiong Bahru Lor Mee that impresses me is the great variety of ingredients. A bowl of delicious lor mee, which costs $2 or $3, comes with ngor hiang, fish cake, fish nuggets, braised meat, braised egg, fried fish and fried dumplings, everything you would ever wish for in a bowl of lor mee. The savory gravy, though not as thick as 178's, is tasty and complementary to the noodles. The braised meat is lean and tender while the fried dumplings are sweet and crispy.

One thing for sure, those who prefer the traditional type of lor mee will certainly be delighted by Thong Bahru Lor Mee.

6.5/10

Tiong Bahru Lor Mee
Tiong Bahru Market
Seng Poh Road #02-79
Singapore 168897
Closed on Mondays

Ng Soon Kee Fish And Duck Porridge

I was never a fan of fish soup until I tried Ng Soon Kee Fish And Duck Porridge. This stall in Geylang East Food Centre has the BEST FISH SOUP IN SINGAPORE. It is so popular, the waiting time is hardly less than 30 minutes. But let me assure you, once you taste the delicious soup, you will agree that the long wait is worthwhile.

What differentiates this award-winning fish soup from other mediocre ones is the extraordinary freshness of the fish. Displayed in front of the stall are slices of mackerel and pomfret that appear so fresh as though they were just caught from the ocean.


A bowl of mackerel fish soup, which costs only $3, comes with generous slices of fresh mackerel which are extremely thick and meaty. The mouthwatering soup is exceptionally tasty with delightful sweetness of fish and subtle spiciness of szechuan vegetables that cleverly remove any slightest tinge of fishy odour.

Indeed after tasting this fantastic fish soup, I won't want to waste my money on other fish soup. If you don't believe me, come down to Geylang East Food Centre and try it for yourself today.

8/10

Ng Soon Kee Fish & Duck Porridge
Geylang East Food Centre
Blk 117 Aljunied Crescent Ave 2
#01-11
12pm to 9pm
Closed on Sundays

Renaldo's Apple Strudel & Pastries

I love going down to this beautiful cafe at Eastwood Centre for tea. The cosy ambience of the place, mixed with sweet fragrance of apple strudel, rekindles many sentimental memories of people whom I once met here.


I usually order a slice of Renaldo's apple strudel and a cup of hot Lipton tea. The subtle bitterness of tea complements the distinctive sweetness of apple strudel, accentuating the nostalgic feeling.

The apple strudel, which costs $3.60 per slice, comes with 3 decks of crispy pastry and 2 decks of crunchy apple surrounded with luxurious cream. Experience the toasted aroma of the sugar-coated pastry that breaks down gently with every bite and the saccharine flavour of the custard and cream that blends perfectly with the unique freshness of the apple.

Besides its famous apple strudel, Renaldo's Apple Strudel & Pastries also has other irresistable flavours of strudel, eclairs, homemade pies and cheese cakes. So what are you waiting for? Come down to Eastwood Centre and succumb to the temptation of Renaldo's apple strudel today.

8/10

Renaldo's Apple Strudel & Pastries
20 Eastwood Road
Eastwood Centre
#01-14B
Tel: 68760780
Opening Hours: 10am-1030pm

Geylang Lorong 9 Beef Kway Teow

If there is one word that can best describe my euphoric experience of eating Geylang Lorong 9 Beef Kway Teow, it will be HEAVENLY. Although I did not have a lasting impression when I tasted it more than 10 years ago, I decided to try it a second time after I read the recommendations on local food blogs and forums. And this time round, I was so impressed by its excellent quality, I have to declare it as the BEST BEEF HOR FUN in Singapore.

Wait a second, let me clarify before my readers get confused. Although the prominent signboard reads Geylang Lor 9 Beef Kway Teow, this famous restaurant actually sells beef hor fun. Sometimes the terms beef hor fun and beef kway teow are used interchangeably but they can also refer to different dishes. Beef hor fun refers to hor fun fried with beef whereas beef kway teow refers to the kway teow version of beef noodles.


I ordered a plate of sumptuous beef hor fun which costs $5. The tasty hor fun is so thoroughly and expertly fried with a distinctive charcoal aroma and an unforgettable soya sauce taste. The mouthwatering gravy is absolutely flavorful with fiery essence of bean paste, black pepper and chilli and complements the hor fun perfectly well. The appetizing beef is well-marinated and exceptionally tender.

This hor fun is so fantastic that I finished the whole plate before I knew it and still longed for more. So to all beef lovers out there, don't miss THE BEST BEEF HOR FUN IN SINGAPORE if you haven't tried this. Come down to Geylang Lorong 9 Beef Kway Teow today.

9/10

Geylang Lor 9 Beef Kway Teow
237 Geylang Lor 9

Koung's Wanton Mee

Koung's Wanton Mee is recommended by a friend who lives near Tembeling Road and finds this much better than Hong Mao Wanton Mee. For a wanton noodle enthusiast like me, this is great news and I just can't wait to try it for myself.


I went there for dinner and although it was only 5.45pm, the place was already quite crowded. I ordered the $3.50 version which comes with extra noodles. When I took my first bite of those noodles, I finally understood why it is so greatly publicised by the media. The magic of Koung's wanton mee lies in its impressive noodles which are exceptionally tasty. Smooth and springy in consistency, these noodles have a distinct egg fragrance that distinguishes it from other wanton noodles. The unique chilli sauce blends very well with the noodles, giving every strand a sweet and spicy flavour. The char siew is fresh and tender and the dumplings are simply delicious.

Overall, Koung's Wanton Mee is definitely one of the best wanton noodles in Singapore. But in comparison with Hong Mao Wanton Mee, I have to disagree with my friend as I personally feel Hong Mao is much better.

7.5/10

Koung's Wanton Mee
Geylang Road
No 1 Lor 13

178 Shark Meat Lor Mee

Tiong Bahru Food Centre is famous for its lor mee. But unfortunately, there are 3 stalls selling lor mee, hence it is very difficult to tell which is the one everybody is talking about. To complicate things further, the stall selling the original Tiong Bahru lor mee is not the one with the longest queue. When I went there for lunch today, I decided to try the stall with the longest queue, 178 Lor Mee, which is well-known for its shark meat nuggets.


For only $3, you get a big bowl of delicious lor mee with generous servings of fish cake, braised meat, meat fritters and of course, shark meat nuggets. The outstanding gravy is savory and flavorful but not overly thick or starchy. The deep fried shark meat nuggets are fresh and tender but taste remarkably similar to ordinary fish nuggets.

Overall, 178 Lor Mee is definitely one of the best lor mee in Singapore, although some lor mee lovers who prefer the authentic lor mee with braised egg, braised meat and ngor hiang might be disappointed. But with shark meat nuggets as its distinguishing factor, it is self-explanatory why it is so well sought after.

7.5/10

178 Lor Mee
Tiong Bahru Market
Seng Poh Road #02-58
Singapore 168897
Closed on Wednesdays

Astons Specialties

Whenever I walked past Astons Specialties, I always felt so tempted to try its famous steaks but more often than not, I was discouraged by the perpetual long queue outside. Even though I have recommended and blogged about Astons Prime, a neighboring restaurant recently set up by the same owner, I have never dined at Astons Specialties before. The golden opportunity finally came when I went there for lunch yesterday, soon after it opened at 11.30am, when the crowd was still not overwhelming.


I ordered a Prime Ribeye Extra Cut, with coleslaw and tasty rice as my two complementary side-dishes. The service was prompt and commendable and I was served within 15 mins after placing my order. Even before I sink my teeth into the mouthwatering steak, I was already impressed by the generous portions of coleslaw and tasty rice. The delicious coleslaw was flavorful with well-blended sweetness and subtle sourness. The tasty rice was delightful with unmistakable butter fragrance and lived up to every bit of its name.


The highlight of the lunch, the prime ribeye steak, was simply a masterpiece. Thoroughly and splendidly grilled, the steak exudes a distinct smoky aroma and an exceptional sizzling taste. The meat is extremely tender and juicy, every bite is simply irresistable. The special sauce accentuates the meaty flavour and leaves an unforgetable aftertaste on the taste buds.


The sumptuous Prime Ribeye Extra Cut (with two free side dishes) costs only $15.90 with no service charge and no GST. It is almost impossible to find such excellent steaks at such incredible prices in other Western restaurants. Indeed Astons Specialties has the BEST STEAKS IN SINGAPORE AT THE MOST AFFORDABLE PRICES.

8.5/10

Astons Specialties
119 East Coast Road
Singapore 428806
Tel: 91474627 / 62477857
Closed on Mondays

Whitley Road Big Prawn Mee

This was one prawn noodle in Singapore which I used to love so much when I was working in Novena many years ago. It was located in a coffee shop opposite Novena Square at that time and after it moved to its new premises at Novena Ville, there were rumours that its standards have dropped. Plus there is another stall at Old Airport Road with the same name, it makes us wonder which is the original one. However, when I tasted Whitley Road Big Prawn Mee again yesterday, I felt that it is still as good as before.


The concentrated soup, brimming with the irresistable flavour of prawns and pork ribs, complements the delicious noodles. The medium half-prawns are fresh and sweet while the pork ribs are tasty and tender.

For prawn mee enthusiasts who are impatient, the service is prompt with minimal waiting time. Indeed one of the best in Singapore, Whitley Road Big Prawn Mee is definitely worth trying.

7/10

Whitley Road Big Prawn Mee
Novena Food Court
275 Thomson Road
#01-01/02
Closed on Mondays

Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

Located at Amara Hotel, within walking distance from Tanjong Pagar MRT, this Japanese restaurant, which serves sumptuous buffet dinner, is recommended by a friend of mine. Not a fan of Japanese food because of my phobia of raw seafood, I was surprisingly impressed by the supreme quality and generous variety of cooked dishes available at the buffet. Leaving the sushi and sashimi to my friends, I helped myself to the mouthwatering teriyaki and tempura.


The pan fried salmon was fresh and tasty while the pan fried beef (yaki niku) was tender and well-marinated. The salmon teriyaki (shake teriyaki) was absolutely irresistable while the skewer chicken (yaki tori) was sweet and flavourful. The soft shell crab (kani karaage) was crispy and delicious while the fried prawn tempura (ebi fry) was succulent and finger-licking good. The fried rice (yaki meshi) was exceptionally fragrant and the paper steamboat (kami nabe) was savory and complimentary to the fried rice. Food aside, the authentic ambience of the restaurant was simply breathtaking.


Even for a non-lover of Japanese food like me, I must admit it was a very memorable dining experience. And at $32 per person, it is quite affordable and certainly value for money. So all Japanese food enthusiasts out there, do not hesitate any longer. Bring your family down to Tokyo Japanese Restaurant today.

7/10

Tokyo Japanese Restaurant
The Amara
165 Tanjong Pager Road #01-17
Singapore 088539
Tel: 62262303

Eng's Char Siew Wanton Noodles

I used to patronize Dunman Food Centre frequently for supper many years ago and my favorite stall is Eng's Char Siew Wanton Noodles. Well-known for its fiery hot chilli that is believed to be made from ground pepper, Eng's noodles is so popular, the waiting time can be as long as 45 minutes. I usually order a small packet of nasi lemak to partially satisfy my hunger while waiting.


The unique chilli is extremely spicy with a strong tinge of pepper, it bursts into flames inside the mouth and stings the taste buds mercilessly. The delicious noodles are tasty with a distinct egg fragrance. The dumplings are tender and savory. The wanton soup is sweet and readily extinguishes the residual spiciness in the throat.

Indeed Eng's Char Siew Wanton Noodles is one of the more impressive wanton noodles in Singapore.

7/10

Eng's Char Siew Wanton Noodles
Dunman Food Centre
#02-19
Onan Road
Singapore 424768
Closed on Wednesdays

12/4/09

This stall has been relocated to:
Dunman Food Centre
Basement, Stall 02
Closed on Mondays

10/2/11

However, one thing that lets this stall down is its poor service. If you haven't seen how the owners take their own sweet time to cook the noodles, serve the soup to the customers long before the noodles arrive, refusing to take extra orders when the queue is long, serve soup to you first but noodles to customers who ordered later etc, go down and try it for yourself. In recent years, I certainly ran out of patience and started having Dunman wanton mee on the second storey instead.

Grill Manna

A picture tells a thousand words. If you don't believe me, take a look at the picture above. An enormous chicken thigh that is splendidly grilled and thoroughly marinated. Need I say anything more?

It really does not matter how the rest of the dish tastes. The enormous chicken thigh has already made my day. Expertly grilled to exude a soft smoky aroma and sufficiently marinated with honey and char siew sauce, the meat is sweet and tender, every bite is finger-licking good. The fragrance of the green pandan rice is unmistakable and is accentuated by the coconut-scented curry gravy. The sweet-and-spicy sambal chilli complements the pandan rice very well while the tasty soup is soothing to the throat.


Best of all, the original grilled chicken set costs only $4.50. So come down to Causeway Point and enjoy Grill Manna today.

7/10

Grill Manna
Causeway Point Food Court

Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee

Of all the famous prawn noodles in Singapore, Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee is the most accessible. Located in a small coffee shop just opposite Kallang MRT station, it is always packed with customers during lunch that finding an empty table can be difficult.And the pay-when-you-order system means that you have to find a table before placing your order or risk not getting the noodles that you paid for.


I ordered a bowl of $5 prawn mee and it was quite impressive. Enjoy the appetizing noodles immersed in mouthwatering soup that is brimming with sweetness of prawns and pork ribs. The prawns, although medium sized, are nevertheless fresh and tasty.

Overall, Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee is indeed one of the best prawn noodles in Singapore.

7/10

Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee
No 2 Jalan Ayer
Opposite Kallang MRT
Closed on Tuesdays

Jack's Place

Whenever I have to think of a romantic and affordable Western restaurant to bring my loved one for dinner, Mariners' Corner Restaurant comes to my mind. Similarly, when I have to think of an equivalent restaurant for lunch, Jack's Place comes to my mind. No other restaurant provides sumptuous Western set lunch at such affordable prices than Jack's Place. And as there are so many outlets in Singapore, there is almost always one near your workplace.

The set lunch menu differs from day to day and outlet to outlet. Hence you don't have to worry about lack of variety. And if you are not a steak lover, you can always go for chicken or fish. The value-for-money set lunch costs $8 (chicken or fish) or $9.50 (steak) and comes with the main course, soup of the day, garlic bread, pastry and coffee or tea. With service charge and GST, it adds up to only around $12 per person.


When I went to Jack's Place last Friday, I upgraded my set lunch to rib eye steak for $13 and it was indeed worth every dollar spent. The succulent rib eye steak is tender and mouthwatering and comes with complementary side dishes of baked potato, salad and corn. The barbeque sauce accentuates the meaty flavour, making every bite seem irresistable. Last but not the least, the sweet dessert which consists of pastry and coffee or tea completes the satisfying lunch experience.


May Jack's Place continue to make delicious and affordable steaks available to everyone in every part of Singapore.

7.5/10

Jack's Place
http://www.jacksplace.com.sg/main.html

Mr Wong Seremban Beef Noodles

To all food enthusiasts out there, if you think that Singapore beef noodles is fantastic, wait till you taste Seremban beef noodles. I am not a big fan of beef noodles as I do not like the sensation of gravy sticking on my throat. But I was tempted to try Mr Wong Seremban Beef Noodles after I saw the excellent reviews and recommendations on Singapore's Best Food Online Directory. So I went down to Marine Parade Food Centre yesterday and tried it for myself. It was indeed very impressive and much better that my expectations.


While the typical Singapore beef noodles comes with thick savory gravy that blends well with kway teow, the tasty gravy of Seremban beef noodles is less starchy and goes better with thick rice noodles. Besides having the characteristic beef aroma, its special gravy also contains a rich authentic flavour with no tinge of monosodium glutamate. It blends so impeccably with the noodles, every strand is thoroughly coated with a layer of thick mouthwatering gravy. The generous slices of beef are tender and well-marinated. The unique chilli is extremely thick and spicy and complements the noodles and beef, making the whole dish simply irresistable. However Seremban beef noodles is never complete without its delicious beef broth that is brewed in a variety of ingredients including carrots and radish that confer the soup its natural sweetness.

So what are you waiting for? Come down to Marine Parade and experience Singapore's one and only Seremban beef noodles today.

7.5/10

Mr Wong Seremban Beef Noodles
Blk 84
Marine Parade Central
#01-184
Singapore 440084

Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles

As a prawn mee enthusiast, it is surprising to know that I have not heard of Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles until I read about it on Dr Leslie Tay's ieatishootipost blog. Being described as SINGAPORE'S BEST PRAWN NOODLES in the face of competition from other famous rivals eg Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee & Joo Chiat Prawn Mee, I knew I have to try it for myself. So I went down to Cambridge Road Hawker Centre today and ordered a bowl of $5 prawn noodles. Indeed it lives up to its recommendation & reputation.

I HAVE FOUND SINGAPORE'S BEST PRAWN NOODLES AND IT IS WAH KEE BIG PRAWN NOODLES.


The distinguishing factor in Wah Kee Prawn Noodles is its mouthwatering soup which is so concentrated, it resembles the highly-seasoned, thick and creamy soup in lobster bisque. Brewed in six seafood ingredients for several hours, the reddish-brown soup shimmers with natural crustacean sweetness that is rich and flavorful with no tinge of artificial seasoning. Every spoonful is heavenly and leaves an irresistable essense that lingers in the throat. The savory soup blends flawlessly with the appetizing noodles to give the scrumptious dish the winning advantage over other prawn noodles. The delightful prawns are extraordinarily gigantic and extremely tender and succulent with a characteristic freshness that can only be found in live seafood.

So enough said, come down to Cambridge Road Hawker Centre and try SINGAPORE'S BEST PRAWN NOODLES today.

9/10

Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles
Cambridge Road (Pek Kio) Hawker Centre
Blk 41A #01-15
7.30am to 2pm
Closed on Mondays

Astons Prime

Much has been blogged and discussed about Astons Specialities in our online food communities over the past year eg Dr Leslie Tay's ieatishootipost blog and Astons Specialities blog.


There is no doubt Astons' mouthwatering steaks are value for money but questions have surfaced about the inconsistencies of service and food quality which are aggravated by the perpetually long queue and setting up of franchises.


On the contrary, little is known about Astons Prime that is recently set up in Joo Chiat near to Astons Specialties. With dark-colored glass windows and the absence of a queue outside, many food enthusiasts are curious about what is happening inside Astons Prime. Are the prices in Astons Prime similar to Astons Specialties? Is the quality of the food as remarkable?


So I decided to take the opportunity to have lunch there today. Glancing through the menu, I noticed that the prices of the food were slightly more expensive than Astons Specialties. I ordered the New Zealand Rib Eye Steak which was highly recommended in many forums & blogs. Indeed the service was quite slow and I waited impatiently for around 40 minutes for my steak to arrive.


When I took my first bite into the rib eye steak, I finally understood why the long wait was so worthwhile. It was unbelievably fabulous, more than words can say. The meat was extremely tender and succulent, every bite is wholesome and satisfying. In addition, it was well-grilled to the right extent, it exudes a characteristic smoky aroma and an irresistable meaty taste. The New Zealand Rib Eye Steak cost $18.90 and it was indeed one of the best steaks I have ever tasted.

Overall it was a memorable lunch experience and I certainly look forward to returning to Astons Prime for more.

8.5/10

Astons Prime
467 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427678
Open 11.30 to 11pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Call 63442447 for reservations

Ye Lai Xiang Cheng Tng

I am not a fan of cheng tng but I must admit that Ye Lai Xiang cheng tng is extremely cool and refreshing. Especially so after a stressful and busy day of work, when your lips are dry and you need something to desperately soothe your throat, Ye Lai Xiang cheng tng is the perfect choice.


What distinguishes this cheng tng is its unique ingredients eg dried winter melon, dried persimmon, sweet potato etc which give the soup its characteristic sweetness and coolness that are somewhat lacking in other cheng tng.

7.5/10

Ye Lai Xiang Cheng Tng
Bedok Corner Food Centre
1 Bedok Road
Stall No 31
Singapore 469572

Joo Chiat Prawn Mee

Eating Joo Chiat Prawn Mee certainly brings back plenty of heartwarming childhood memories. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my grandmother used to live in Joo Chiat and I was treated to delicious Joo Chiat Prawn Mee when I visited her every Saturday.

Twenty over years have passed and I still craved for those tasty noodles. But one thing I can be sure of, when I tasted Joo Chiat Prawn Mee today, it is still as mouthwatering as ever.


The magic lies in the dark brown soup that is concentrated and brimming with rich crustacean sweetness. It is indeed the best prawn soup I have ever tasted. In addition, Joo Chiat Prawn Mee uses rice vermicelli instead of rice noodles and it absorbs the fragrance of the soup so well, each mouthful is simply irresistable. The prawns are moderately in size and extremely fresh. The pork ribs are tender and savory.

So to all food enthusiasts out there, if you haven't tried Joo Chiat Prawn Mee, you don't know what you are missing. Come down to Carpmael Road and experience it for yourself today.

8/10

Joo Chiat Prawn Mee
75 Carpmael Road
Singapore 429812
Closed on Tuesdays

Misa Bedok Corner Chicken Fried Rice

I love chicken fried rice. Not to be mistaken for fried chicken rice which is fried chicken with rice, chicken fried rice is fried rice with chicken.And my favorite chicken fried rice can be found in a stall at Bedok Corner Food Centre called Misa Bedok Corner. I always order the spicy version which means that the rice is fried with chilli.


For only $4, I get a large plate of spicy fried rice, a huge roasted chicken drumstick and a bowl of soup. The rice is so thoroughly fried with chilli, tomato sauce, corn and green peas, every single grain is coated with a golden orange layer of sweetness and spiciness with overwhelming fragrance. The roasted chicken drumstick is extremely tender and juicy and complements the fried rice very well.

Other than fried rice, Misa Bedok Corner also has an impressive variety of Halal local cuisine eg char siew chicken rice, wanton noodles, lor mee, prawn noodles and chicken feet noodles. There is always something different to try.

7.5/10

Misa Bedok Corner
Bedok Corner Food Centre
1 Bedok Road
Stall No 11
Singapore 469572