Rong Hua Teh Cino

Otherwise known as the tea version of cappuccino, teh cino is best described as milk with a layer of tea on top. I decided to try this drink out of curiosity a few months ago and fell in love with it since then.

Having tried the teh cino from several places, my favourite is the one from Rong Hua Hot And Cold Drinks located in the basement of Golden Mile Food Centre.


I usually order the hot teh cino which costs $1.20. What makes this teh cino outstanding is how the thick saccharine milk layer below blends so well with the distinctive fragrant tea layer above, creating a memorable bitter-sweet interface.

So do remember to try this special teh cino from Rong Hua the next time you dine at Golden Mile Food Centre.

7.5/10

Rong Hua Hot And Cold Drinks
Golden Mile Food Centre
505 Beach Road #B1-08
S199583

Western Barbeque Mixed Grill

Having blogged about its chicken chop previously, I decided to try the mixed grill from Western Barbeque at Old Airport Road Food Centre today and it was simply extraordinary.


For only $7.50, the sumptuous mixed grill comes with an enormous piece of chicken chop, a juicy slab of pork chop and a tasty chunk of lamb chop. Enjoy this wholesome combo meal with French fries, a fried egg and a butter bun.

Other than the expensive meaty buffet dinner at Carnivore, I cannot think of any other meal that is as sinful as this mixed grill. If you are a meat lover like me, you must not miss Western Barbeque's mixed grill which will certainly leave you feeling very satisfied and wanting to return for more.

8/10

Western Barbeque
Old Airport Road Food Centre
51 Old Airport Road #01-53

Lai Heng Fried Kway Teow

Surrounded by ERP gantries and expensive parking rates, Lau Pa Sat Festival Market is one of the last places that I would patronise for dinner. Until recently when I went there, did I realise the wonderful variety of foodstuff and their affordable prices, even though it is located in the heart of Shenton Way.


I ordered a plate of Lai Heng fried kway teow which costs only $3 ($2.70 if you pay by the Kopitiam card), cheaper than in most foodcourts. Expertly fried with a distinctive charred aroma, the flavorful kway teow is served in a semi-moist consistency and coated with sweet gravy. Topped with fresh cockles and slices of Taiwan sausage, Lai Heng fried kway teow comes in a reasonable portion that is certainly satisfactory for dinner.

Besides local foodfare, Lau Pa Sat also has a wide range of International cuisine eg Taiwanese, Korean, Italian etc. I would certainly come back here for dinner again soon.

7.5/10

Lai Heng Fried Kway Teow
Lau Pa Sat Festival Market
18 Raffles Quay
Stall 77

Mellben Seafood

So famous that it needs no introduction, Mellben Seafood at Ang Mo Kio is well-known for its outstanding crab dishes. Despite intense competition from Uncle Leong Seafood located just diagonally opposite, Mellben always emerged the winner with its longer queues.

Having dinner with a friend there some Fridays ago, we ordered a chilli crab, a claypot crab beehoon and a plate of fried kang kong with abalone mushroom, which cost close to $100 inclusive of drinks.


Living up to every bit of its reputation, the claypot crab beehoon is undoubtedly one of the best in Singapore. Filled with the concentrated sweetness of crab and the delightful fragrance of milk and spices, the mouthwatering gravy is creamy and flavorful.


The irresistable chilli crab with its luscious spicy gravy, goes very well with the fried man tou (Chinese buns).


Having dined at both Mellben and Uncle Leong on several occasions, I still could not tell the difference between the quality of their crab dishes.


Although more people seem to like Mellben as evident by its longer queues, I prefer Uncle Leong simply because I find that its prices are less expensive and its service faster. Try the two and decide for yourself too.

7.5/10

Mellben Seafood
Blk 232 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3
#01-1222

Bao Ma Economic Rice

Frequently patronising Golden Mile Food Centre for dinner, I wondered how I could have missed this delicious economic rice located on its basement. With a wide variety of dishes including its famous curry fish head, I decided to try its fried brocolli, fried egg omelette and braised chicken after much hesitation.


Priced more reasonably than most economic rice, a plate of plain rice with the 3 dishes above cost only $2.50. Well-marinated with a subtle tinge of ginger spiciness, the braised chicken is remarkably tasty and succulent. The fried brocolli is fresh and crunchy while the egg omelette is fragrant and flavorful.

Having dishes with quality so close to home-cooked standard and yet prices so affordable, Bao Ma certainly has one of the best economic rice in Singapore.

8/10

Bao Ma Curry Fish Head
Golden Mile Food Centre
505 Beach Road
#B1-01/07
S199583

Hai Tang Lor Mee

I have read about this lor mee since 2 years ago but when I was there last year, Mei Chin Market and Food Centre was closed for renovation. After it had re-opened, I was hesitant to go down as I heard that many of the old stalls were no longer around. Until recently when I stumbled upon a thread on Hardwarezone forums did I remember that I have not tried Hai Tang Lor Mee yet.

When I went there this morning, the queue was relatively short and the service was fast, so I got my lor mee within five minutes. Hai Tang lor mee comes in 3 sizes: $2.20 for small, $2.50 for medium and $3 for large. I ordered the $3 lor mee and it came in such a huge serving with plenty of ingredients that I could hardly finish.


Just right in terms of thickness, the special gravy is delightfully savory and sweet with the subtle fragrance of spices. The outstanding lor mee comes with a generous variety of ingredients ranging from braised meat, fish nuggets, chicken, you tiao, ngor hiang, fish cake and braised egg.

Definitely comparable with famous lor mee like Lorong Ah Soo, Tiong Bahru etc, Hai Tang lor mee is not only delicious but value for money. It is certainly worthwhile making a trip down to Mei Chin Food Centre just to try this lor mee.

7.5/10

Hai Tang Lor Mee
Mei Chin Market and Food Centre
159 Mei Chin Road #02-14
Singapore 140159

Xin Heng Feng Minced Meat Noodle

The first thing that caught my attention about this noodle stall in Whampoa Food Centre is that it has two counters taking orders simultaneously, similar to the express service in fastfood restaurants eg Mac Donalds. Thus even though the queue appeared long, I was served in a relatively short while.


The second thing that caught my attention about Xin Heng Feng is the amazing prices of its noodles. A bowl of minced meat noodle which costs only $2.20, comes with two Teochew dumplings, two meatballs, minced meat and sliced jean meat. Despite its affordable price, there is absolutely no compromise in the quality of the noodles. Well-cooked with a slightly springy consistency, the noodles go very well with the special sauce that is savory and spicy.

Because of its outstanding culinary standard and its value for money, Xin Heng Feng noodles are very popular among the residents in Whampoa and are usually sold out by lunch time. Do remember to try it when you visit Whampoa Market for breakfast.

7.5/10

Xin Heng Feng Guo Tiao Tan
Blk 91 Whampoa Drive #01-15
Whampoa Drive Food Centre

132 Mini Steamboat

Of the many mini steamboats and hotpots that I have tried and blogged about in Singapore, the one I like most is 132 Mini Steamboat at Old Airport Road Food Centre, simply because of its irresistable herbal soup.


132 comes with a variety of mini steamboat sets ranging from chicken to pork, mutton, beef, prawn and fish, priced at only $5 inclusive of rice. Choose to enjoy your steamboat with one of the following soup bases: normal, spicy, tom yam or herbal.

My favorite combination is chicken steamboat set with herbal soup base. The chicken steamboat set comes with a generous serving of fresh sliced chicken with vegetables, meatballs, crabmeat, hotdog, vermicelli and egg. Served piping hot in a mini hotpot, the mouthwatering soup is concentrated with the distinctive aroma of ginseng and traditional herbs. Enjoy the cooked dishes by dipping them into the sweet and sour chilli sauce.

Regardless of whether you are a steamboat fan or not, $5 is certainly a worthwhile price to pay for a sumptuous mini steamboat dinner that must not be missed.

7.5/10

132 Mini Steamboat
Old Airport Road Food Centre
51 Old Airport Road
#01-132
S390051

Market Street Nasi Lemak

Providing strong competition against the famous Golden Shoe Nasi Lemak at Golden Shoe Food Centre, Market Street Nasi Lemak has delicious nasi lemak sets at incredible prices.


For only $2.50, you get a plate of nasi lemak with a fried chicken drumstick, a piece of fish fillet, a fried fish and a serving of ikan bilis. Wow, that is almost everything I would have asked for in a plate of nasi lemak. In spite of its value of money, the flavorful rice is exceptionally tasty with the satisfying aroma of coconut milk and pandan leaf.

Compared with Golden Shoe Nasi Lemak, the spread of dishes at Market Street Nasi Lemak is certainly more outstanding. However Golden Shoe Nasi Lemak impresses with its fried chicken drumstick which is more fleshy and juicy. Come down to Golden Shoe Food Centre and try both to judge for yourself.

7.5/10

Market Street Nasi Lemak
Golden Shoe Carpark
50 Market Street #02-24
Singapore 048940

Wang Wang Crispy Curry Puff

I am not a fan of curry puff but when I was still hungry after having dinner at Old Airport Road Food Centre last weekend, I decided to try Wang Wang crispy curry puff.


Priced at $1.10 each, I was immediately impressed when I took my first bite of the curry puff. Stuffed with pieces of tasty potato and fleshy curry chicken, the mouthwatering filling is warm and spicy, like it is fresh from the oven. The fragrant crust is sufficiently thick and crispy.

As I have not tasted many curry puffs before, I hesitate to call Wang Wang Crispy Curry Puff the best in Singapore. Nevertheless it has left me such a favorable impression that I will certainly return for more.

7.5/10

Wang Wang Crispy Curry Puff
Old Airport Road Food Centre
51 Old Airport Road
#01-126
Closed on Mondays

People's Park Hakka Yong Tau Fu

Walking along the streets of Jalan Besar famous for its curry rice, I stumbled upon this stall with an impressive array of exotic Hakka yong tau fu on display. Equally exorbitant are its prices which range from 40 cents to $1 for each piece of yong tau fu and from $1 to $3.50 for a piece of cuttlefish.


I ordered a bowl of bee hoon with 5 pieces of yong tau fu, a piece of cuttlefish and laksa gravy which cost $6.50 in total. Concentrated with the sinful thickness of coconut milk, the laksa gravy is fragrant and flavorful. I was very impressed with the exquisite Hakka yong tau fu I ordered eg meat patty stuffed with Shiitake mushroom, traditional ngor hiang, minced meat and fish cakes with salted fish etc.

Although more pricey than other yong tau fu, People's Park Hakka yong tau fu is certainly worthwhile paying for its innovativeness. Come down to try it for yourself and be convinced.

7.5/10

People's Park Hakka Yong Tau Fu
290 Jalan Besar
Singapore 208953

Western Barbeque Chicken Chop

The recent opening of Dakota MRT station of the Circle Line has greatly increased the accessibility of Old Airport Road Food Centre which is well-known for many delicious food eg fried kway teow, fried Hokkien mee, Western food, lor mee, wanton mee and cze char, just to name a few.


When I was there for dinner last night, I decided to try this stall named Western Barbeque which features several awards from Makansutra, Channel U and I Weekly etc. I ordered the chicken chop which costs $5 and comes with French fries, bread and baked beans. Fabulously grilled with a crispy charred outer layer, the chicken chop is remarkably tender and fleshy and tastes great even without any sauce.

No special flavors like teriyaki or black pepper, no side dishes like corn or coleslaw, Western Barbeque has the traditional old style chicken chop which impresses with its simplicity. If you crave to sink your teeth into a thick and fleshy piece of chicken chop, come down to try Western Barbeque today.

7.5/10

Western Barbeque
Old Airport Road Food Centre
51 Old Airport Road #01-53

Swee Ting Seafood Hor Fun

Hidden inside Maxwell Food Centre is a stall named Swee Ting which has seafood hor fun with the best wok hei that I have tasted. While most seafood hor fun costs only $3 or $3.50, Swee Ting's costs $4 but don't be tricked, what you get is worth more what you pay for.


Topped with every ingredient you can ever think of, ranging from prawns, sotong, lean meat, sliced fish, fish cake to mussel, pig intestine and chicken liver, a $4 plate of seafood hor fun comes in such a generous portion that even though I was hungry, could not finish all of it. Every piece of hor fun is marvellously fried with a irresistable wok hei flavour and coated with savory seafood gravy. What impressed me most was in spite of the excellent hor fun, the ingredients are all remarkably fresh and tasty.

Certainly praiseworthy for its outstanding culinary standards, Swee Ting seafood hor fun is undoubtedly one of the best that I have tasted in Singapore. I will definitely return to try its fried hokkien mee someday.

8.5/10

Swee Ting
#01-51 Maxwell Food Centre
Maxwell Road
Closed on Tuesdays

International Food Stall Nasi Lemak

Over the years, despite fierce competition from Mizzy's Corner and Sri Sujana, International Food Stall still retains its title of the most famous nasi lemak in Changi Village with the longest queue.


Similarly priced as its competitors, a plate of International nasi lemak which costs $3, comes with ikan bilis, fried egg and fried chicken wing. Sufficiently fragrant with the aroma of coconut milk, the flavorful rice goes very well with the sweet sambal chilli. The highlight of the nasi lemak is the fried chicken wing that is crispy and juicy.

Apart from their names, I honestly can't tell the difference between the three nasi lemak in Changi. Judging by the longer queue, there must be something special about International Food Stall's nasi lemak that distinguishes it from the other two and keeps its fans coming back for more. Perhaps readers who know can share it with me.

7/10

International Food Stall Nasi Lemak
Changi Village Hawker Centre
Blk 2 Changi Village Rd #01-57

Fu Kee Cartilage Ramen

Having tried several disappointing ramen from food centres and food courts, I finally found a praiseworthy ramen from Fu Kee at Kovan Food Centre.


I ordered the cartilage ramen which costs $4. Topped with juicy straw mushrooms and fleshy and tender pieces of well-marinated braised cartilage meat, the special ramen is indeed value-for-money. Concentrated with the delightful sweetness of pork ribs and carrot, the mouthwatering soup complements the smooth ramen really well.

One of the few ramen that leaves me wanting to return for more, Fu Kee also has delicious mutton soup which I will definitely try someday.

7.5/10

Fu Kee Ramen
Kovan Food Centre
Blk 209 Hougang St 21

Bishan 504 Boneless Chicken Rice

With stalls selling chicken rice for as cheap as $1.80 sprouting all across Singapore, it is no wonder why chicken rice sellers nowadays have to think of all kinds of gimmicks to woo their customers. Located in the S-11 coffee shop directly across Junction 8 in Bishan, this stall gives away free soup of the day with every purchase of chicken rice.


For $3.30, you get a bowl of rice, a satisfactory plate of chicken and a large bowl of chicken feet with groundnut soup. Fragrant and flavorful, the golden grains of rice are robust in consistency and go very well with the spicy chilli sauce. The steamed white chicken is fresh and tender and served with crispy beansprouts. The chicken feet with groundnut soup which is sweet and savory, certainly helps to quench one's thirst at the end of the sumptuous meal.

Although paler in comparison with the expensive chicken rice from the famous Five Star and Boon Tong Kee, Bishan 504 has affordable chicken rice that is certainly more delicious than that from many neighborhood stalls.

7/10

Bishan 504 Boneless Chicken Rice
Blk 504 Bishan Street 11
S-11 Coffee Shop
#01-444 S(570504)

Liang Seah Street Prawn Mee

At Golden Shoe Food Centre where the famous nasi lemak and lor mee cost only $2, I was surprised to find out that a bowl of Liang Seah Street pork rib prawn mee costs $5. What made me even more skeptical was that the stall also sells laksa and lor mee, which makes me wonder if the prawn mee is indeed so delicious.

On a Thursday evening when the nasi lemak is sold out and the lor mee stall is closed, I finally decided to try the $5 pork rib prawn mee and it was certainly worth the price.


What I liked most about Liang Seah Street prawn mee is the special soup that is highly concentrated with the desirable sweetness of prawn and pork rib. Served with halved medium prawns, sliced small prawns and pork ribs, the noodles come in a generous portion that is definitely satisfactory for dinner.

Whether you are working in the CBD or not, do come down to Golden Shoe Food Centre and try Liang Seah Street prawn mee as it is open even after office hours.

7/10

Liang Seah Street Prawn Mee
Golden Shoe Food Centre
50 Market Street
S(048940)

Loy Kee Chicken Rice

Located in Whampoa Block 91 food centre which is well-known for its fish head steamboat, handmade noodles, mee siam etc, Loy Kee is one of the famous chicken rice in Singapore.


A chicken rice set for one person costs $4 and comes with a plate of steamed chicken, a bowl of rice and soup. Lightly coated with a layer of chicken essence and pandan fragrance, the rice is sufficiently tasty but not overly greasy or sticky. The steamed chicken is fresh and tender and goes very well with the unique chilli sauce that is salty and sour. I especially enjoyed the juicy preserved pickles that came with the chicken, adding a desirable tinge of sweetness to the dish.

Besides delicious chicken rice, Loy Kee also has seafood steamboat. Bring your family down to Whampoa and try it for dinner today.

7/10

Loy Kee Chicken Rice & Porridge
Whampoa Drive Food Centre
Blk 91 Whampoa Drive
#01-49/50

New World Mutton Soup

Located on the second storey of Jalan Berseh Food Centre, this must be the most potent mutton soup that I have ever tasted.


Very reasonably priced at $3.20 (add $0.50 for a bowl of rice), New World mutton soup is concentrated with the desirable sweetness of mutton and the distinctive bitterness of herbs and spices, certainly appealing to die-hard mutton soup fans but probably not for the faint-hearted. The numerous pieces of mutton are indeed fleshy and tasty.

If you are looking for a mutton soup that is mind-blowing, New World mutton soup is the one for you. Come down to Jalan Berseh and be overwhelmed.

7/10

New World Mutton Soup
Jalan Berseh Cooked Food Centre
Jalan Berseh #02-57
Singapore 209037

Ah Tat Kitchen Mini Hotpot

After Marina Square and Marine Parade, my new-found fascination with mini steamboat led me to Chinatown where I discovered Ah Tat Kitchen at Smith Street Food Centre. Here I found the cheapest mini hotpot set meals (inclusive of rice at $3.80) for chicken or pork and $4.20 for seafood.


What impressed me most about Ah Tat Kitchen mini hotpot is the superior quality of the soup base. With a subtle fragrance of ginseng, the mouthwatering soup is irresistably flavorful that you can have it on its own. The chicken mini hotpot set comes with slices of chicken, hotdog, beancurd, mushrooms and vegetables.

If you are a fan of mini steamboat like me, do come down to Smith Street Food Centre to try Ah Tat Kitchen mini hotpot today.

7.5/10

Ah Tat Kitchen
Smith Street Food Centre
#02-054
335 Smith Street Singapore 050335


Update 1/8/2010 - This stall has closed down.

Ji Xiang Ang Ku Kueh

Ang ku kueh, literally translated as red tortoise cake in Hokkien, is a Chinese pastry of steamed rice flour filled with green bean paste or roasted peanut. When I was at Everton Park recently to buy pineapple tarts for Chinese New Year, I came across Ji Xiang Confectionery which I read on the Internet has one of the best ang ku kueh in Singapore.


With a fabulous variety of ang ku kueh ranging from sweet bean paste to savory bean paste, peanut, corn, coconut, sesame and durian, I decided to try the traditional sweet bean paste ang ku kueh which costs $0.60. The special rice flour skin is amazingly smooth and chewy yet does not stick onto the teeth at all. Just right in terms of sweetness, the fragrant bean paste filling is delightfully soft and melts gently in the mouth.

Although I am not a fan of ang ku kueh, I was certainly impressed by that from Ji Xiang Confectionery. Do also try its highly recommended pineapple tarts which make an excellent gift for Chinese New Year.

7.5/10

Ji Xiang Confectionery
Blk 1 Everton Park
#01-33
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

Katong (Peter) Fried Kway Teow

Formerly located at Jago Close along East Coast Road, Katong (Peter) Fried Kway Teow has shifted to Tanjong Pagar Food Centre, bringing competition to the already famous Tanjong Pagar Fried Kway Teow there.


I ordered the $3 plate of fried kway teow which is served on a banana leaf with a generous variety of ingredients such as prawns, cockles, fish cake and Taiwan sausage. Well-fried with a subtle charred flavour, the tasty kway teow is savory and fragrant, not overly wet or greasy.

Comparing the two fried kway teow, Katong (Peter)'s is the salty type whereas Tanjong Pagar's is the sweeter type. Also Katong (Peter) uses the normal thick kway teow whereas Tanjong Pagar uses thin kway teow. Come down and try both to decide which one you like better but be prepared to queue with the lunch time crowd.

7/10

Katong (Peter) Fried Kway Teow
Blk 6
Tanjong Pagar Plaza
#02-14
Singapore 081006

Marine Parade Ginseng Mini Steamboat

Located in the recently renovated G8 Food Court opposite Parkway Parade Shopping Centre, this new stall has 6 different mini steamboat sets (chicken, pork, mutton, beef, prawn and fish) priced at only $5.50 each ($6 with a bowl of rice). You get to choose from 3 types of soup bases (chicken, tom yam or spicy hot).


My favorite is the chicken mini steamboat set which comes with a plate of lean tender chicken and a plate of miscellaneous ingredients eg fishball, prawn ball, crabmeat, hotdog, beancurd, egg, vermicelli, vegetables etc. The chicken soup is clear and flavorful with a subtle tinge of ginseng.

Compared with Old Hong Kong Mini Steamboat at Marine Square Food Court, the ginseng chicken soup from Marine Parade Mini Steamboat seems to be less impressive but it easily makes up for the deficit with its fantastic sambal chilli sauce which goes so well with the fresh ingredients. Bring your family down to Marine Parade and try it for yourself today.

7.5/10

Marine Parade Ginseng Mini Steamboat
G8 Food Court
5 Marine Parade Central

House Of Tau Sar Piah

Having featured Loong Fatt as the most well-known tau sar piah in Singapore, I feel compelled to blog about House Of Tau Sar Piah in Balestier because I like the tau sar piah from the latter better.

As taste is often subjective, I shall first share some objective differences between the two.
1. Loong Fatt's tau sar piah costs $0.70 whereas House's costs $0.50 (sweet) or $0.60 (salty).
2. Loong Fatt is closed on Sundays but House is open.
3. Loong Fatt's tau sar piah is non-vegetarian whereas House's is made using pure vegetable oil hence suitable for vegetarians.


Now I shall share the subjective differences. Served in a smaller portion than Loong Fatt's, House's tau sar piah is just sufficient for a light snack. The fragrant crust is less thick and more robust and goes very well with the red bean filling which is soft and flavorful.

Just as I prefer Leung Sang's egg tarts to the famous Tong Heng's, I feel that House's tau sar piah tastes much better than Loong Fatt's. Come down to Balestier and try both to decide for yourself.

7.5/10

House Of Tau Sar Piah
529 Balestier Road