Ai Xin Lor Mee

On a day when I had the sudden craving for lor mee, I coincidentally found this new stall in Bendemeer Food Centre named Ai Xin Lor Mee.


A bowl of lor mee which costs $3 comes with braised meat, ngor hiang, braised egg and fried fish. Pleasantly thick and savory with the subtle fragrance of herbs and spices, the tasty gravy goes very well with the noodles. The use of traditional ingredients like braised egg and braised meat accentuates the old school flavour of this lor mee, something which is missing in most lor mee nowadays.

A simple lor mee, like what it was in the good old days, warms my heart more than any other. Perhaps this is where Ai Xin lor mee derives its name from.

7.5/10

Ai Xin Lor Mee
Bendemeer Market And Food Centre,
29 Bendemeer Road
#01-39

Dunman Duck Rice

Having read great reviews of this duck rice on the first storey of Dunman Food Centre, I went with high expectations to try it.


I ordered a plate of $3 braised duck rice and a braised egg which cost $3.50 in total. Thinking that the dark colored rice was traditional yam rice, I was rather disappointed to find out that it was actually plain rice coated with braised gravy . However, Dunman duck rice makes it up with its well-marinated braised duck which is remarkably tender and tasty. The herbal soup is fragrant and savory.

Besides duck rice, Dunman Duck Rice also has duck porridge and duck kway chap which I will return to try someday.

7/10

Dunman Duck Rice
Dunman Food Centre
271 Onan Road
#01-10
S424768

Zhong Hua Mian Zhuang Stewed Beef Noodle

I recently discovered that People's Park Food Center in Chinatown has a number of stalls selling traditional cuisine from Mainland China. After much hesitation, I decided to try the stall with the longest queue - Zhong Hua Mian Zhuang which has cuisine from the Henan province.


I ordered a bowl of stewed beef noodle which costs $4. What immediately impressed me was the huge chunks of stewed beef which are fleshy and tasty. Filled with the delightful sweetness of meat and spices, the flavorful soup goes very well with the handmade noodle which is soft and silky.

Zhong Hua Mian Zhuang certainly has one of the more impressive Chinese beef noodle in Singapore, comparable in terms of standard to those in restaurants like Crystal Jade yet available at coffee shop prices.

7.5/10

Zhong Hua Mian Zhuang
People's Park Food Centre
32 New Market Road
#01-1052

88 Mixed Vegetables Curry Rice

Located inside an inconspicuous Kopitiam in Kovan, just beside Eddy Western Delights which I frequently patronize, I did not have a lasting impression of 88 mixed vegetables rice when I first tried it some years back. Nevertheless when I had the craving for vegetables and curry last week, I decided to try it again and this time, I was very impressed.


A plate of plain rice with fried beansprouts, cabbage and curry chicken drumstick cost only $3.50. Concentrated with the delightful sweetness of coconut milk and the subtle aroma of spices, the curry gravy is extremely thick and savory. The fried beansprouts and cabbage are juicy and tasty and the chicken drumstick is huge and fleshy.

What I enjoyed most about 88 mixed vegetables curry rice is the traditional home-cooked flavour of the dishes which is missing in most economic rice in Singapore.

7.5/10

88 Curry Fish Head
Kopitiam
Blk 210 Hougang St 21

9-11 Teochew Fish Soup

While having dinner at Toa Payoh Lorong 4 Food Centre last week, I discovered 3 things.
(1) Chi Hao Liao which is famous for its $10 signature hor fun has closed down.
(2) Ocean economic rice which was previously located at Toa Payoh Lorong 8 has shifted to Toa Payoh Lorong 4.
(3) There is a kway chap stall in the food centre with an extremely long queue.
Not a fan of kway chap, I decided to try the seafood soup from 9-11 Teochew Fish Soup instead.


A bowl of seafood soup which costs $3 comes with a generous variety of ingredients including 2 medium sized prawns, sotong, sliced fish, vegetables, tomato, seaweed and bittergourd. Filled with the natural sweetness of fish, the mouthwatering soup is very flavorful even without the addition of evaporated milk. What distinguishes this fish soup from the others is the remarkable freshness of its ingredients.

9-11 Teochew fish soup is the perfect example of a healthy yet delicious fish soup. I will certainly return for more whenever I come to Toa Payoh for sunset photography.

7.5/10

9-11 Teochew Fish Soup
Blk 93 Food Centre
Toa Payoh Lorong 4
#01-44

Chai Chee Prawn Noodle

Previously whenever I had the craving for delicious prawn mee soup, I would travel all the way to the Eastern part of Singapore as there is none in the Northeast region where I live. Until I found Chai Chee Prawn Noodle in Kovan Food Centre located just beside Kovan MRT station.


A bowl of Chai Chee prawn mee soup, which is reasonably priced at $3, comes with fresh prawns, lean meat and fish cake. The flavorful soup is filled with the sweet essence of prawn and pork rib and with the addition of pork lard, further accentuates its remarkable fragrance.

Besides prawn noodle, Chai Chee also has pork rib prawn noodle at $4. This is certainly one of the more outstanding prawn mee soup in the heartlands.

7/10

Chai Chee Prawn Noodle
Kovan Food Centre
209 Hougang Street 21
#01-03

Dunman 28 Fried Kway Teow

Better known as Stall No 28 on the second storey of Dunman Food Centre, this stall with no signboard has won several culinary awards for its fried kway teow. Ironically I only tried it this evening because the prawn mee soup stall was closed, the duck rice was sold out and I just had the wanton mee yesterday.


A plate of fried kway teow which costs $2.50 comes in a reasonable portion. Superbly fried with a rich wok hei flavour, the delicious kway teow is remarkably savory and sweet. While some other hawkers cut costs by using small cockles, this fried kway teow is served with large juicy cockles.

Certainly praiseworthy for its outstanding culinary standards, this stall also sells a variety of local cooked food eg fried hokkien mee, fried carrot cake, fried oyster, oyster omelette etc. Come down to Dunman Food Centre and try.

7.5/10

28 Fried Kway Teow
Dunman Food Centre
271 Onan Road
#02-28
Singapore 424768

Paradise Inn Braised Hor Fun With Venison In Black Bean Sauce

Reminscent of the famous Geylang Lorong 9 beef hor fun, the braised hor fun with venison in black bean sauce from Paradise Inn Restaurant left me a lasting impression when I had dinner there.


A small plate of braised venison hor fun which costs $12++ comes in a satisfactory portion for 2 persons. Extraordinarily thick and flavorful, the savory black bean sauce gravy complements the well-fried hor fun with an irresistable wok hei fragrance. The marinated venison is extremely tender and tasty.

Beside braised venison hor fun, we also tried the coffee pork ribs and sambal kang kong which were also very impressive. Come down to Paradise Inn Restaurant and try for yourself.

7.5/10

Paradise Inn Restaurant
http://www.paradisegroup.com.sg/inn/index.html

Fei Kee Claypot Chicken Rice

Inside an old coffee shop along Beach Road lies an insconspicuous claypot chicken rice stall whose sign read "waiting time at least 15 minutes". I'm glad that I didn't give it a miss when I walked past because it was indeed worthwhile waiting for.


I ordered a bowl of claypot chicken rice for one which costs only $4. Unlike other traditional claypot rice, Fei Kee claypot rice is topped with generous pieces of fresh and crunchy cabbage which add a delightful sweetness to the distinctive charred flavour of the fragrant rice. If you dislike removing pieces of bones when having claypot rice, you will be happy to know that Fei Kee claypot rice uses boneless grade A chicken thigh meat which is remarkably fleshy and tasty.

With the use of superior quality ingredients eg boneless chicken meat, Fei Kee claypot chicken rice certainly impressed me as one of the best in Singapore. Open until 730pm daily except on Sunday, this will definitely make a satisfactory dinner for you and your family.

7.5/10

Fei Kee Claypot Chicken Rice
Luk Lu Eating House
341 Beach Road
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

Todai International Seafood And Sushi Buffet

Newly opened at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, I did not expect Todai Restaurant to be so crowded on a weekday evening when I was there to try its international buffet dinner. Fortunately, the service was remarkably efficient and we were able to start eating without much waiting.


Looking at the generous selection of mouthwatering dishes ranging from seafood on ice, sushi and sashimi to churrasco, pizza and pasta, salads, tempura, cold cuts, Korean snacks, desserts and cakes etc, I had a really hard time deciding what to try first.


A big fan of Brazilian churrasco, I was most impressed with the outstanding grilled steak that is exceptionally flavorful and succulent.


My partner enjoyed the special snow crabs which are sweet and fleshy as well as the fresh oysters which are huge and juicy.


She was also delighted by the assortment of sushi and sashimi available.


The cooked food section, on the other side of the spacious restaurant, greeted us with a wide variety of Chinese and Western cuisine which included dory fish with cream Mornay sauce, roast beef with Jalapeno Demi sauce, mushroom with Demi cheese sauce, clam stew, teriyaki parrot fish and local favorites like fried rice and our signature chilli crab with its irresistable gravy. The tempura prawns are cripsy and tasty.


We completed our sumptuous dinner with delectable cakes, pastries and Korean strawberries from the dessert section.


Although the prices of Todai International Buffet may seem rather exorbitant, the spectacular spread of food, sushi and dessert, as well as the excellent culinary standard, make every single dollar worthwhile. It was a very memorable dining experience and I will definitely return to try the other dishes that I have missed out.

8/10

Todai International Seafood And Sushi Buffet
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
2 Bayfront Avenue B2-001
Singapore 018972

Lunch: 11.30am to 4.30pm (last order at 4.00pm)
Mondays to Thursdays – S$42++ (adult), S$22++ (child)
Fridays to Sundays, Public Holidays, Eve of Public Holidays – S$58++ (adult), S$26++ (child)

Dinner: 5.30pm to 11.00pm (last order at 10.30pm)
Mondays to Thursdays – S$54++ (adult), S$26++ (child)
Fridays to Sundays, Public Holidays, Eve of Public Holidays – S$58++ (adult), S$26++(child)

Blanco Court Fish Soup

Many foodies in Singapore have been searching for the original Blanco Court fish soup that was previously located at Blanco Court Food Centre but failed. I thought I found the answer when I saw a long queue in front of this stall along Beach Road but I was sadly mistaken.


I ordered a bowl of Blanco Court mixed fish soup and plain rice which cost $5.50 in total. Topped with spinach and fried egg, the tasty soup is served with numerous pieces of battered fried fish and thick slices of fresh fish. I was however disappointed that the flavours of the fish, evaporated milk and spinach somehow fail to blend with one another in the soup. Moreover, I felt that the fried egg could have been fresher and the chilli sauce less mediocre.

Looking at the long queues during lunch time despite its higher prices, I guess many will disagree with me that this Blanco Court fish soup is a far cry from the original. Come down to Beach Road and try it for yourself.

7/10

Blanco Court Sliced Fish Bee Hoon
Luk Lu Eating House
341 Beach Road
Closed on Sundays

Coffee Hut Coffee

Located in Jalan Berseh Food Centre just beside the famous black & white fish soup, Coffee Hut has the reputation of having one of the best coffee in Singapore. Hence I decided to kill two birds with one stone when I was there to have the sumptuous fish soup for lunch last week.


I ordered a cup of coffee which costs $1.10. Rich with the distinctive aroma of coffee beans, the outstanding coffee is delightfully thick and flavorful.

Certainly more impressive than most coffee from franchises and food centres, Coffee Hut's coffee gave me an unexpected caffeine boost, keeping me incredibly awake for the entire afternoon and evening.

7.5/10

Coffee Hut
Jalan Berseh Food Centre
#02-43
166 Jalan Besar
S208877

Rong Hua Milk Corn Shake

Previously blogged about its special teh cino, I decided, for a change, to try the milk corn shake from Rong Hua Hot and Cold Drinks at Golden Mile Food Centre last weekend.

Highly addictive with plenty of saccharine goodness, the milk corn shake, which costs $2.50, comes with smooth blended milk ice topped with fragrant cream and sweet corn.

If you have a sweet tooth, you must try Rong Hua's milk corn shake which will certainly keep you coming back for more.

7.5/10

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

Nan Hwa Chong Fish Head Steamboat

Having tried the various famous fish head steamboats in Singapore, I still like the one from Nan Hwa Chong along North Bridge Road most.


Reasonably priced at only $20, a small pomfret steamboat for two comes with satisfactory portions of fresh and tasty pomfret, vegetables and yam pieces. Filled with the concentrated sweetness of fish and the subtle aroma of herbs and spices, the mouthwatering soup is definitely the distinguishing factor for this fish head steamboat. However, please refrain from asking for a refill of the soup unless necessary as the refill is considerably diluted compared with the original.

Nan Hwa Chong fish head steamboat is certainly one of the best in Singapore. To beat the crowd which can be overwhelming during weekends, do try to reach there before 630pm.

7.5/10

Nan Hwa Chong Fish Head Steamboat Corner
814 North Bridge Road

Dunman Road Char Siew Wanton Mee

What makes an outstanding wanton mee? I found the answer last weekend when I had Dunman Road Char Siew wanton mee at Dunman Food Centre.


A big plate of wanton mee which costs only $3 comes with a generous portion of handmade noodles topped with char siew (marinated roast pork) and wanton (meat dumplings). Unlike other wanton noodles, the special egg-flavoured noodle is so fragrant and tasty that you can eat it on its own. Not forgetting the extraordinary chilli sauce that is so unbelievably spicy that it actually burns inside the mouth, leaving an unforgettable aftertaste. Fortunately the owner never fails to oblige me whenever I ask for a bigger bowl of the anchovy-flavoured soup.

The interesting story behind Dunman Road Char Siew Wanton Mee is that it was started by a fellow worker of another wanton noodle stall in the same hawker centre. I shall not mention the name as the disciple has clearly surpassed the master, yet remaining humble and providing good service to customers. Come down and try Dunman Road Char Siew Wanton Mee if you haven't. It's definitely one of the best in Singapore.

8/10

Dunman Road Char Siew Wanton Mee
Dunman Food Centre
271 Onan Road
#02-19
S424768
Closed on Thursday

Mei Xiang Black & White Fish Soup

When I tasted the best fish soup that I ever had in my life, the first thought that came to my mind was to buy it back for my family. Unfortunately the sign in front of the stall read "Dine in only". It didn't take me long to figure out why. With an extraordinary fish soup like this, this stall can certainly afford to set its eccentric rules eg open at 10.12am, $0.30 for extra chilli, only mixed black and white fish soup etc and still keep its customers coming back for more.

Mei Xiang black & white fish soup comes in two sets: $7 for big and $5 for small, inclusive of rice and chilli. In case you wonder why this fish soup is so expensive, let me assure you that the amount of fish you find inside is worth every dollar you spend, if not more.



The fresh slices of "white" fish are remarkably thick and fleshy while the generous chunks of battered "black" fish are delightfully fragrant and flavorful. Filled with the concentrated sweetness of fish and spices, the mouthwatering soup is so irresistable that I could hardly stop drinking after having my first spoonful.

Undoubtedly the best fish soup in Singapore, Mei Xiang certainly lives up to every bit of its reputation. If you are looking for a special fish soup that will blow you off your feet, you must not miss Mei Xiang at Jalan Berseh Food Centre.

8.5/10

Mei Xiang Black & White Fish Soup
Jalan Berseh Food Centre
#02-44
166 Jalan Besar
S208877
Closed on weekends & public holidays

N&B Soya Bean Milk

Located at Hougang Green Shopping Mall directly opposite Arnolds Fried Chicken, I did not know that N&B Snacks has fantastic soya bean milk until I tried it last week.


Thick and fragrant with the delightful goodness of soya beans, N&B soya bean milk is remarkably creamy and sweet.

Although slightly more expensive than most soya bean milk at $1.30 a cup, N&B soya bean milk is more concentrated and tasty. I certainly wouldn't hesitate paying the slight difference in price to enjoy better quality soya bean milk from N&B Snacks.

7.5/10

N&B Snacks
Hougang Green Shopping Mall
21 Hougang Street 51, #01-01

Sinar Murni Mee Soto

When I was at Changi Jetty for photography last weekend, I was hesitant about what to have for dinner at Changi Village until I saw two customers having mee soto. Tempted by the appearance of the mouthwatering mee soto, I decided to give it a try.


Served in a big bowl topped with piping hot soup, Sinar Murni mee soto, which costs only $2.50, is served with a satisfactory portion of shredded chicken and a begedil (deep fried potato patty). The savory soup is filled with the delightful aroma of spices and the sweet essence of chicken.

Being a fan of mee soto, I really cannot stand those which are served in a small plate filled with miserable amount of lukewarm soup. On the other hand, Sinar Murni mee soto is the exact opposite, generous and impressive. Come down to Changi Village and try it today.

7.5/10

Sinar Murni Muslim Food
Changi Village Market and Food Centre
Blk 3 Changi Village Road #01-39
S500003

Robert Mee Siam

Popular mee siam stalls in Singapore seem to have some things in common. Somehow their mee siam are less costly than others and they only open in the morning. Robert mee siam at Whampoa Market is no exception.


Inexpensively priced at $2 a plate, it is not surprising to see a queue in front of Robert Mee Siam especially on weekends. The queue was even longer previously when they used to sell lontong too but had stopped in recent months.

Spicy and sweet with a sourish tinge of tamarind (assam), the savory gravy complements the fine bee hoon very well. Topped with egg and bean curd, this mee siam is definitely value for money.

7.5/10

Robert Mee Siam
Whampoa Drive Food Centre
Blk 91 Whampoa Drive
#01-43

Chong Pang Nasi Lemak

Hidden in the far corner of a row of shophouses along Sembawang Road, Chong Pang Nasi Lemak is one of the more famous nasi lemak in Singapore.


Yet, in spite of its popularity, the prices of its dishes are very reasonable. A plate of nasi lemak with fried egg, curry vegetables, fried ngor hiang (Hokkien meat roll) and curry potato cost only $3.20. Fragrant with the delightful essence of coconut milk, the flavorful rice goes very well with the spicy-sweet chilli paste. Very worthy of mention is the curry vegetables that is exceptionally savory.

Chong Pang nasi lemak certainly lives up to its reputation as one of Singapore's best. With an impressive array of dishes available for mix and match, this is one nasi lemak that you must not miss.

8/10

Chong Pang Nasi Lemak
447 Sembawang Road
Opening hours: 5pm – 7am

Jaan West Coast Mee Kuah

Even though there are so many Indian Muslim food stalls in Tekka Market, I wondered why I had to wait close to half an hour for my dinner from Jaan West Coast stall. I found the answer when I tasted the delicious mee kuah which costs only S3.


Topped with thick and spicy gravy that is pleasantly savory, the tasty mee kuah comes with egg, mutton, beans and vegetables. What I like about Jaan West Coast mee kuah is the delightful pieces of mutton that makes it "non-vegetarian", unlike some of the less impressive but more expensive mee kuah in Singapore that are devoid of meat.

If you are a fan of mee kuah like me, you must not miss this stall at Tekka Food Centre. Complete your meal with a glass of hot teh cino, which I will introduce someday.

7.5/10

Jaan West Coast
Tekka Food Centre
Blk 665 Buffalo Road
#01-249

Arnold's Fried Chicken

Strongly recommended by some listeners on a popular radio show recently as having the best fried chicken in Singapore, I decided to try Arnold's soon after hearing about it.


Conveniently located at Hougang Green Shopping Mall not too far away from my home, I ordered Arnold's two piece chicken set which costs $6.40. Served with fries and coleslaw, the fried chicken was indeed hot and crispy on the outside while fleshy and tender on the inside. What I found lacking in Arnold's chicken, however, was the "eleven herbs and spices" that make KFC's chicken "finger-licking good".

In terms of freshness and crispiness, Arnold's chicken certainly has the advantage over other fried chicken. But when it comes to flavour and value for money, I still prefer KFC over Arnold's. Come and try for yourself if you haven't.

7/10

Arnold's Fried Chicken
21 Hougang Street 51, #01-49
Hougang Green Shopping Mall
Singapore 538719