Sembawang Confectionery is a humble old-school bakery tucked away at the ground floor of a HDB estate at Beach Road, not Sembawang. This bakery has been rolling out freshly baked bread and cakes since the 1960s. Best of all, their goods are free from preservatives.

During the short time we spent at Sembawang Confectionery, the bakery was visited by plenty of regulars which only goes to show how well-loved their bakes are. So take this as your sign to drop by Sembawang Confectionery if you haven’t visited them before.

Sembawang Confectionery carries a wide array of baked goods for your picking. From individually wrapped buns, loaves of bread, kueh, pastries and nostalgic Western cakes, there is something for everyone here.

To top it off, customers can take their time to select their favourites because Sembawang Confectionery is known for their friendly staff who are patient and customer-centric.

When we asked their staff to recommend us some items, she shared that the Cream Horn (S$2) was one of their top-sellers and we witnessed this in person too. Just as we ordered the Cream Horn, someone dropped by to pick up an order and there just wasn’t enough left on the shelf to pack for them. Say what?

Whilst we found the pastry of the Cream Horn decently flaky, the cream filling leaned towards being more of a butter-based cream rather than fresh cream. So if you’re intending to purchase some Cream Horns for yourself, do note that the Cream Horn is best enjoyed fresh instead of being kept in the fridge for later occasion.

Another interesting find at Sembawang Confectionery is the Pineapple Leaf Pie (S$1.50), a twist on the well-loved pineapple tart. Put simply, the Pineapple Leaf Pie shares the same concept as the Bunny Shaped Pineapple Tarts that you’d see during Chinese New Year i.e., a crumbly buttery shell filled with pineapple paste.

Whilst the taste of the Pineapple Leaf Pie was decent for the price, we’d have liked the pastry to be slightly saltier for a deeper flavour.

The best part about all these traditional bakeries is their range of nostalgic old-school Western Heritage Cakes (S$1.80 per slice), especially the “Traffic Light” cake. Sembawang Confectionery’s Heritage Cakes come in chocolate and vanilla flavours, and each slice of cake is carefully decorated with different designs.

Taste-wise, the Heritage Cakes were moist and the buttercream was fresh and light. But if we were asked about what would make the cakes better, we would have liked the cakes to have a slightly fluffier texture. 

Some other treats that you can pick up at Sembawang Confectionery include the Egg Tarts (S$1.50) and Custard Cream Puff (S$1.50). Although they weren’t outstanding, they would make a lovely and affordable afternoon snack for the family.

Sembawang Confectionery
6 Beach Rd, #01-4869,
Singapore 190006
Tel: +65 6295 3965

For those who are working in the Bukit Merah and Alexandra neighbourhoods, you’d definitely know how difficult it is to find a spot to dine at (and one which serves up good food) during the lunch hour. With the eatery’s roots dating back to 2006, Joe’s Thai Kitchen at Alexandra Village has received much praise for their authentic Thai dishes over the years.

Drop by Joe’s Thai Kitchen for authentic and legit Thai food with no additional GST charges.

Joe’s Thai Kitchen is a casual Thai eatery at Alexandra Village headed by a Thai Chef and his Singaporean wife.

Joe’s Thai Kitchen keeps things simple and easy so you won’t find any sort of extravagant decor in this eatery. Their walls are kept largely bare, and their tablecloths are reminiscent of the old-school tablecloths that we grew up with. Given this, you know that this eatery focuses their attention on what’s important — the food.

When we visited, we had to order one of our favourite Thai dishes — the Rice with Basil Leaf Minced Pork & Egg (S$8.90). Although the minced pork was on the salty side, this was balanced by the sweetness of the basil leaves. However, if you’re someone who isn’t fond of spicy food, we’d recommend you to proceed with caution as the Rice with Basil Leaf Minced Pork & Egg was spicier than we expected.

How can you dine at a Thai restaurant without ordering some green curry? As compared to the other green curries in Singapore which feature quite a fair bit of coconut milk to suit the Singaporean palate, Joe’s Thai Kitchen kept their version of the green curry closer to what you’d find in Thailand. Their Green Curry Chicken (S$8.80) featured significantly lesser coconut milk which allowed the spices of the green curry to shine. This is authentic Thai food at its best.

You can’t go wrong with ordering Tom Yum soup, and Joe’s Thai Kitchen’s rendition of this dish met our expectations The Tom Yum Nam Kone (Original Orange Soup Base) with Seafood (S$8.50).

Whilst Joe’s Thai Kitchen served a decent portion of soup, we would have liked for the soup to have come with slightly more ingredients. As compared to some other local Thai restaurants, the flavours of fish sauce featured more prominently in the broth so don’t be surprised when you have your first taste of the soup.

Joe’s Thai Kitchen
Blk 125 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-182,
Singapore 150125
Tel: +65 6270 8484

Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake is a classic Japanese bakery located within Alexandra Village which specialises in baking fluffy and creamy Japanese cheesecakes. Helmed by Donald and Joanne, a couple who left their full-time jobs in search of a livelihood that would better support their passion for volunteer work, Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake’s cheesecakes are free of additives and preservatives.

If you’re considering dropping by to purchase their cheesecakes, you are encouraged to place a pre-order with this bakery as Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake operates on a bake-to-order system. With this, you know that you’re only going to get the freshest and fluffiest cheesecake.

As Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake is situated within the enclave of eateries at Alexandra Village, we would advise you to avoid the lunch hour if you intend to drive down to the bakery. Parking is extremely limited during the lunch hour, so you’d be better off making arrangements to collect your order outside the lunch hour.

Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake bakes their cheesecakes with the “water bath” method. Donald and Joanne steam the cheesecakes for about an hour, which allows the cheesecakes to rise and develop that perfect fluffy texture we all love Japanese cheesecakes for.

Whilst Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake has a decent selection of cheesecake flavours, customers should note that not all flavours are available every day. We decided to order the Original Cheesecake (S$10) and the Cranberry Cheesecake (S$12). Considering their price tags, the cheesecakes did not disappoint.

Although the cheesecakes are made with less sugar and cream, this didn’t have any implications on its texture. The cheesecakes were creamy and adequately sweet. We also liked the idea of being able to indulge in more slices without worrying about the calories.

Other flavours you can look forward to at Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake include the Raisin Cheesecake (S$11), Rainbow Cheesecake (S$14) and Black Cookie Cheesecake (S$11). 

Apart from their selection of baked cheesecakes, you can also pick up some Butter Cookies (Less Sweet) (S$12 per bottle) from Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake. We are pleased to report that these cookies are so addictive. On top of tasting like homemade cookies, the cookies are not overly buttery and has just the right amount of sugar.

Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake
123 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-118,
Singapore 150123
Tel: +65 9845 9845

For those who live in Clementi, Balmoral Bakery is an old-school bakery that would be no stranger to you. With roots dating back to the mid-1960s, Balmoral Bakery is well-loved for their baked pastries and fluffy cakes.

If you’re not sure where Balmoral Bakery is, all you’ll need to do is use your sense of smell to guide you. We kid you not — that’s how amazing their bakes smell even from a distance away. Here’s what you can expect at this traditional bakery.

Balmoral Bakery is located at the edge of the rows of shops at Sunset Way Residence. However, what makes this humble bakery stand out is its brick walls and tiled flooring. Given that the logo of Balmoral Bakery bears resemblance to the Balmoral Castle in Scotland, the choice of red brick walls for the bakery’s was definitely an appropriate choice.

Although Balmoral Bakery doesn’t occupy a very large store space, customers would be impressed by the range of baked goods that they carry within the store. We were drawn in by the rows of freshly baked pastries which made a feast for the eyes.

The pastries at Balmoral Bakery are priced affordably and most are below S$2 each. Our picks were the Chicken Pie (S$1.80), Char Siew Soh (S$1.60) and the Beef Pie (S$2.50). Other options that you can choose include the Chicken Curry Puff (S$1.60), Beef Curry Puff (S$1.60) and Sausage Roll (S$1.60).

Our thoughts? We were big fans of the Chicken Pie and Beef Pie. Each pastry was filled with large chunks of meat, and the flavours were rich and slightly peppery. Best of all? The pastry crust was crispy and flaky even after keeping the pies in the fridge and reheating them the next day. That means you can order more pies and freeze them for future consumption.

As for the Char Siew Soh, whilst the pastry had a pleasing appearance, we weren’t impressed by its flavour. So if you’re visiting Balmoral Bakery for the first time, we’d recommend giving this a miss.

The Bacon & Onion Quiche (S$2.50) was a pretty decent option. The quiche was filled with a generous portion of bacon and white onions, and the saltiness of the bacon was a beautiful contrast to the sweetness of the white onions. The egg custard of the Bacon & Onion Quiche was also pretty tasty and the layer of melted cheese atop the pastry brought all the flavours together.

It would be a crime to leave a traditional bakery without ordering some of their traditional western cakes. We selected Coconut, Vanilla, Kaya Pandan, Chocolate and Coffee Chocolate, all of which were priced at S$1.80 per slice. The buttercream of each slice of cake was light and not overly sweet, and the texture of the cakes was soft and sufficiently fluffy.

Balmoral Bakery
105 Clementi Street 12,
#01-06, Singapore 120105
Tel: 6779 2064

Plump, juicy and tender meat which comes with the crispiest skin with a layer of delicious fats and served with an addictive plum sauce, roast goose is a dish which has been perfected over generations.

Numerous roast goose restaurants in Hong Kong serve the traditional dish, but only a select few are truly top-notch.

Hidden just a short journey from Tuen Mun Road in Sham Tseng, you’ll find Yue Kee Roast Goose Restaurant which has been around since 1958 and it is one of the oldest roast goose restaurants in Hong Kong.

You can get a whole roast goose at HK$660 or a regular portion with the prized roast goose drumstick at HK$195. Other than roast goose, Yue Kee Roast Goose also offers a selection of Chinese stir-fried dishes.

Yue Kee Roast Goose offers excellent traditional charcoal-grilled roast goose and they have their own farm in Qingyuan city in Guangdong.

The roast goose is super fatty, tender and juicy with a distinctive smokiness, while the skin is crispy and incredibly delicious.

The far-flung location in Sham Tseng (Northwestern New Territories) is difficult to get to if you don’t have a car, but the amazing roast goose is definitely worth travelling for!

P.S. It is only 15 mins away from Disneyland by car.

Yue Kee Roast Goose
9 Sham Hong Rd, Ting Kau, Hong KongDaily: 11.30am – 10pm
Tel: +852 2491 0105

Established in 1965, Kelim Dakdoritang is a famous Korean spicy chicken hotpot chain with more than 50 outlets in South Korea and it has opened its first outlet in Singapore at Serangoon Gardens.

The speciality spicy chicken stew restaurant is brought in to Singapore by Lee Seongmin is the son of Kelim Dakdoritang’s founder.

Dakdoritang, or Korean spicy chicken stew, is a traditional Korean dish made by boiling chunks of chicken with potatoes, rice cakes vegetables, spices and gochujang. What makes Kelim Dakdoritang’s rendition different is the additional of a copious amount of chopped garlic and leek.

Kelim Dakdoritang serves their Korean spicy chicken stew in the form of a hotpot and you can choose to add on more toppings including rice cake, sausage, mushrooms, and quail eggs.

The Korean spicy chicken stew was actually not as spicy as it looked; it had the right amount of spice with a strong garlicky taste.

For carbs, you can choose from Kalguksu (Korean knife cut noodles), Udon, or Ramyeon.

End your meal with their Fried Rice (S$8), a typical Korean ‘dessert’. The staff will fry rice, seaweed, sesame oil, and kimchi with the remaining stew in the hotpot at your table.

This is definitely not the place to go on a first date. But if you love spicy Korean stews, check out Kelim Dakdoritang the next time you are in Serangoon Gardens.

Kelim Dakdoritang
14B Kensington Park Rd
Singapore 557265
Tel: +65 6241 4241

Bored & Hungry is a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) themed restaurant which is inspired by the world famous NFT project, Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC). The restaurant was established by founder Andy Nguyen in March 2022 in Long Beach, California.

Bored & Hungry—Bored Ape Yacht Club-Themed Restaurant—will be having its first pop-up in Singapore for a week from 11 to 19 Aug 2023.

Since its opening in 2022, the Bored & Hungry franchise has gained a devoted and passionate fan base, thanks to its delicious signature smashburgers.

The Parlour Singapore—a pioneer NFT lounge in Singapore—has hosted a wide array of innovative ventures and gatherings related to NFTs, such as BAYC (SG), Goblintown, Azuki, and others.

Within The Parlour Singapore, you can find Mirage, a bar & restaurant, where patrons can enjoy a diverse range of craft beers and savor a distinct fusion of Mediterranean and Japanese culinary influences.

Bored & Hungry Singapore Pop-Up
Dates: 11 -19 August 2023
5:00-10:30pm (last orders for food 9:30pm)
The Parlour Singapore (Mirage)
140 Owen Road, Singapore 218940

Popular French bakery, The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie is opening a new cafe in Tanjong Katong to serve the residents in the East of Singapore.

Known for its rich cultural heritage, diverse community, and a thriving food scene with popular food spots including Supernova, Little Rogue Coffee, Punggol Nasi Lemak, Tanjong Katong is a charming neighborhood on the eastern side of Singapore.

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie is the latest addition to the enclave and it is located at 350 Tanjong Katong Road, along the same stretch as Little Rogue Coffee. It will be soft opening to the public on 22 Jul 2023 at 11am.

Established at 16 Hamilton Road in May 2022, The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie just celebrated her first anniversary not long ago.

Unlike their original location which is just a takeaway space, the new outlet in Tanjong Katong will be a full-fledged cafe with a capacity of 40 pax and it will be offering hot dishes, drinks, pastries and desserts.

Specialising in viennoiserie—the ‘bridge’ between pâtisserie and French bread—The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie dishes out amazing bakes fresh from the oven every day.

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie’s Classic French Croissant is excellent. It is light and airy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Definitely one of the best croissants we’ve had in Singapore. We also love their Almond Croissant and Kouign-amann.

The Lunar, a crescent-shaped croissant, is The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie’s iconic pastry and a must-try when you are here. Filled with Masarpone mousse and chocolate ganache made of Valrhona Manjari Dark 64% Cocoa, The Lunar tastes as good as it looks.

The little ones will definitely love the Bunny Madeline (S$5) which comes in the form of a cute bunny.

Salt bread is all the rage in Japan and South Korea right now and we are thrilled to see it here. Topped with truffle salt, the Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie’s rendition is as soft as it should be, and it comes with a generous helping of truffle paste and butter.

On to the hot dishes that you can find at The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie. The Croissant with Turkey Ham and Scrambled Eggs (S$16.80) was disappointing as the scrambled eggs were overcooked, but we would definitely recommend the Croque Madame (S$13.80) which came with a cube pastry as the base for this dish.

The hot dishes include a regular hot drink.

An exclusive item to the new outlet, the Croissant Ice Cream is definitely one for the gram and perfect for the hot weather.

If you love cinnamon buns, you have to get your hands on these beauties.

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie
350 Tanjong Katong Road
Singapore 437116
Operational hours: 8.30am – 5pm

Located along 107 Owen Rd, Heng Heng Bak Kwa Teh is an old-school eatery known for its traditional Bak Kwa Teh and steamed fish.

The famous eatery has been around for more than 30 years and it has garnered a loyal following over the years.

Other than its signature Bak Kut Teh (S$8), Heng Heng Bak Kut Teh also serves other dishes such as Pig’s Organs, Braised Intestines and Trotter, as well as vegetable soups in claypot.

You can also choose to add on abalones to your Bak Kut Teh.

They have a selection of fishes such as threadfin, pomfret and seabass, with prices ranging from S$20-S$50.

While the pork ribs were tender, the Bak Kut Teh broth was too light and mild for our liking.

The steamed fish, on the other hand, was the star with a tangy and flavourful sauce from the sour plum, tomato, sliced ginger, chilli, fermented soybeans and coriander.

There are not many such places left in Singapore and you should dine here to support them before they are gone forever.

Heng Heng Bak Kwa Teh
107 Owen Rd, Singapore 218914
7.30am – 2.30pm (except Tuesdays)

Located within Djitsun Mall in Ang Mo Kio, Khao Hom by Rung Mama is a hidden gem opened by a Thai lady with the recipes from her mother, Rung Mama.

It will be opening a second outlet at Katong Square by end October 2022, taking over the former premise that is vacated by Goldleaf Restaurant.

Khao Hom by Rung Mama offers an array of authentic Thai dishes at reasonable prices and some of the popular options include Grilled Moo Ping, Thai-style Steamed Seabass with lime sauce, Tom Yum Seafood and Thai Papaya Salad.

The robust-tasting Crab Meat with yellow curry and Thai Noodles, also known as Ke Nom Jin Kaeng Pu, is super fiery, hot and spicy.

The Seafood & Crab in Thai Curry Powder (Talay Phad Phong Karee) is is less spicy but no less flavourful, and it goes super well with a iced cold Chang beer!

Khao Hom by Rung Mama’s new location at Katong Square is much bigger than their original outlet and the bigger kitchen will allow them to come up with new additions for the menu.

East-siders have another new Thai food option to dine at for solid Thai food!

Khao Hom by Rung Mama
88 E Coast Rd, #01-05/06/07 Katong Square
Singapore 423371

Popular Korean BBQ restaurant, Wang Dae Bak has opened a new outlet in Holland Village. Located at level 2 of Holland Piazza, Wang Dae Bak Grill is the restaurant’s first outlet out of the central business district. They have three other outlets at Amoy Street and Cross Street.

For a quick and casual lunch, Wang Dae Bak Grill offers several set lunches starting from S$15. Options include Grilled Saba Set, Spicy Pork Belly with Vegetables Set and Pork Katsu Set.

We do recommend going for a good mixture of marinated and non-marinated meats to get a taste of their best offerings. If you cannot decide on the meats to get, go for their meat sets which come with a variety of meats. The KBBQ Prime Set (S$98) consists of US Prime Ribeye, Marinated Bone-in Prime Ribs, and Pork Tomohawk.

You can also get Wang Dae Bak’s signature dishes such as Spicy Pork Ribs Soup, Spicy Tofu Soup, Kimchi Stew with Pork Belly, Half Half Pancake.

Wang Dae Bak Grill
Holland Piazza #02-01, Singapore 277725

Cafe Rui has the best Nutella tarts in Singapore, hands down. There is no fight, and there are no better contenders.

Trust us when it comes to Nutella tarts because we are so particular about our Nutella desserts and we’ve tried so many Nutella tarts over the years that we know what a good one should be. And Cafe Rui has nailed it, making them our go-to home baker whenever our cravings for Nutella tarts kicks in.

Cafe Rui is a small home-based business founded by Jess Puan, a very passionate baker who’s also a mom to two beautiful girls. She started out baking for her daughters, and with that simple hobby, Cafe Rui was born with the humble intention of sharing her bakes.

Today, Jess sees a long waitlist for her famous Nutella tarts and she doesn’t rest on her laurels. She is constantly pushing herself and launching new creations that never fail to impress us.

Cafe Rui’s menu is small but concise, because Jess only wants to serve what she knows is the best that she can present. Being ever strict to herself and always persisting for perfection, Jess puts her heart and soul into every single cookie and tart that Cafe Rui dishes out, and we have never once been disappointed.

Cafe Ruihas the best Nutella tarts in Singapore; every single element is perfect. The tart base is a buttery and crumbly, and she bakes them with only premium French butter, so you know her tarts will never come with that distinct cheap taste that most nutella tart places in Singapore unfortunately offer. The Nutella filling is more than generous, and piped with precision so that every bite of the tart is accompanied with a good ratio of Nutella filling.

And you know what is the most amazing part? Even after opening the tin and the tarts being exposed constantly, the Nutella filling doesn’t harden. This is something that happened to all the Nutella tarts we’ve tried; they don’t hold well and almost always tastes lousy the very next day. We don’t know how Jess did it but her tarts are life-changing.

As if this isn’t good enough, Cafe Rui has a Nutella Biscoff version that is even more kickass and this has truly spoilt our taste buds. We can’t go back to eating any other Nutella tarts. The Nutella Biscoff version is a marriage of two very wonderful ingredients – well, Nutella and Biscoff. The difference lies in the tart base. Biscoff cookies are crushed and mixed into the batter to create the tart, giving it a nice, salty dimension. And the piped Nutella filling is topped with more Biscoff crumbs for a textural variety. Lovely. Very, very addictive. This is our guilty pleasure – any time of the day, any day of the week.

Want more? Yes, we don’t just stop here. Let’s just make our calories worth while. Cafe Rui has a fabulous selection of butter cookies too and no, we are not going to talk about their regular butter cookies. Because while they are good, what’s even better and life-changing is the Truffle Cheese Butter Cookie. Holy, we don’t know what Jess did here but these are SO. DAMN. GOOD.

Extremely melty in texture, these Truffle Cheese Butter Cookies are like little bites of heaven. A variety of hard cheese is used to create the dimensional cheese flavour, and quality truffle oil is used lavishly to elevate the taste of the batter. The end result is a savoury cookie that is quite unlike any other, and you will never be able to stop at just one piece. This is one of the best butter cookies that we’ve ever had.

Do support this passionate home baker for she is truly talented and she bakes with her heart. We are ardent fans of her Nutella tarts and now, her butter cookies too. The long waiting time is worth it.

Located at Customs House overlooking the Marina Bay waterfront, Sabai Fine Thai offers mouth-watering, flavourful Thai dishes and it comes with a magnificent panorama view of Singapore’s city skyline.

The prices of the food are on the heftier side, but it’s not surprising to us, given the prime location. Nonetheless, this waterfront restaurant is a nice place to celebrate a special occasion, especially if you are craving for Thai food.

You have the choice to enjoy your food inside and admire the intricate decor of the Thai restaurant, or dine outside to enjoy the scenic bayfront view.

We started off with the Khao Dtang Nar Dtang (S$20.50), which are crispy rice crackers served with simmered minced chicken and minced prawns in coconut milk. The rice crackers had a good crunch, and coupled with the delicious dip, it makes for a delectable appetiser.

The restaurant leads up to an equally delicious main dish, the Pla Neung Manao (S$48). It consists of steamed seabass; and seasoned with bird’s eye chilli, garlic and fresh lime juice.

Wash the food down with their refreshing, classic Sabai Mojito, made with lemongrass, lime, homemade ginger and lime syrup, crushed ice, and topped off with ginger ale. The best drink to battle the heat.

End off your meal with the Kao Niew Mamuang (S$23). The mangoes were sweet, ripe and juicy, and paired with sweetened sticky rice, this dessert was devoured within minutes.

Sabai Fine Thai
70 Collyer Quay
#01-02 Customs House
Singapore 049323
Tel: +65 6535 3718

Located along the same stretch as Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap, Punggol Nasi Lemak, Ding Te Le and Qi Wei Chicken Claypot, Naked Ice Cream is a new waffle and ice cream cafe in Kovan which opens until 2am daily.

Kovan is home to many eateries and food places and Naked Ice Cream is the latest addition to the neighbourhood.

Naked Ice Cream has officially opened to the public on 25 June 2021.

Like most ice cream cafes in Singapore, you can have your ice cream in a cup, cone or with a waffle. There are two waffles to choose from—Plain Waffle (S$3.80), or Charcoal Waffle (S$4.80). For drinks, you can choose from coffee, tea and house special fizzies.

Some of the ice cream flavours at Naked Ice Cream include:

• MSW Durian
• Pistachio
• Earl Grey Tea
• Cookie Monster
• Hokkaido Milk
• Hojicha Green Tea

Photos credit: Naked Ice Cream

Drop by Naked Ice Cream for ice cream and waffles after having supper in Kovan. Do note that there are only limited tables available for dine-in.

You can also get their pints to go (S$16 for classic flavours and S$19 for premium flavours).

Naked Ice Cream
957 Upper Serangoon Rd
Singapore 534717
2pm – 2am

Tow Kay Neo is a new project by Maureen (Miss Tam Chiak) and Chef Cao Yong and it strives to provide high quality broths with no MSG and preservatives that are slow-cooked in small batches for more than 12 hours.

Made in small batches to ensure the quality, these soup pouches are something every family needs in their freezer.

Between the Premium Lobster Broth, Giant Grouper Fish Broth and Pork Collagen Broth, there is surely something for the whole family.

Tow Kay Neo currently has stocks in three flavours, and they are available as a la carte and as a bundle with ingredients. Whichever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.

Premium Lobster Broth (1kg) – S$28

Making Lobster Pao Fun at home has never been easier with Tow Kay Neo’s Premium Lobster Broth.

The Lobster Pao Fun Bundle Kit (good for 2 pax) comes with a pack of Premium Lobster Broth, one fresh Boston Lobster and crispy rice puffs. And this kit is so reasonably priced at S$45.90. Yes! The price is inclusive of one lobster, and you can also get additional Boston Lobsters at S$19.90 each.

Follow Tow Kay Neo’s recipe and add ginger slices, hua diao wine, sesame oil, white pepper, chopped spring onions and a bowl of cooked rice to complete the Lobster Pao Fun. A flavourful, hearty bowl of pao fan awaits!

Giant Grouper Fish Broth (1kg) – S$26

Tow Kay Neo’s Giant Grouper Fish Broth is perfect as a soup base for hot pot or as a soup to drink on its own. It tastes milky and is very fragrant. You can also use this as a base for seafood porridge.

If you have a penchant for stronger flavours, and if you fancy Suan Cai Yu (Sichuan Fish with Pickled Mustard), you can get their Sichuan Poached Fish Bundle Kit (good for 3 – 4 pax) which includes the following:

• 1 x 1kg Giant Grouper Fish Broth
• 1 x 250g Preserved Mustard
• 1 x 300g Fresh Giant Grouper Slices

This is definitely our favourite of the lot!

Pork Collagen Broth (1kg) – S$22

Pork Collagen Broth is perhaps the most versatile soup base and a must-have item when you want to whip up a simple and yummy meal at home.

Use the Pork Collagen Broth for your steamboat parties, or as a soup base for you noodles. So many possibilities with one packet of broth; now you know why you need to stock up on these for convenient, flavourful meals?

First-timers can go for Tow Kay Neo’s Trio Broth Deal (S$69.90) to try all three broths. Tow Kay Neo is offering free delivery for orders above S$90. Get your favourite soup from their website.

Nothing beats a good ol’ slice of traditional kaya butter toast and a cup of coffee for breakfast. For the uninitiated, kaya is a custard essentially derived from a mix of pandan, coconut milk, eggs and sugar to give it a creamy texture.

Toast Hut at Old Airport Road Food Centre is a stall you should make a point to travel to. Melvin Soh, the owner of Toast Hut, has been perfecting his craft of making the best kaya toast and traditional kopi since he was 23 years old.

Melvin used to work part-time in coffee shops back in his secondary school days, and through that, he slowly took interest in these traditional delights. After which, he took a leap of faith and ventured into the hawker scene right after his National Service.

He wakes up at 3.30am in the morning daily to assiduously prepare for the opening of his stall at 4.15am so that his regulars can get their coffee as early as 6.30am in the morning!

Toast Hut has their own take on Kaya Butter Toast and we definitely are not complaining.

What sets Toast Hut’s Kaya apart from the usual is that Melvin adopts a less sweet approach as Melvin thought that a kaya spread that is less sweet would complement the taste of traditional coffee better.

The result? A win-win outcome that provides customers with a healthier option whilst getting the best taste of the kaya toast and coffee pairing.

Unique to Toast Hut is the Giant Bun, which has an interesting take on traditional breakfast. It features a crispy grilled layer at the top of the bun and a fluffy interior with just the appropriate amount of kaya and butter inside.

Coffee is serious business at Toast Hut—it is only after countless step-by-step attempts by Melvin over the years before he managed to nail the traditional taste of coffee. The superbly aromatic and fragrant kopi at Toast Hut is so good we’d choose this over gourmet coffee any time.

Toast Hut is not on any food delivery apps as they want to keep the prices of the kaya toasts and kopi affordable. Please support this hawker stall when you are around the Old Airport Road Food Centre.

Toast Hut
51 Old Airport Road #01-52
Old Airport Road Food Centre
Singapore 390051

When it comes to Chinese food, every one of us has a soft spot for dim sum—or yum cha as it is commonly referred to in Hong Kong. A classic  Cantonese delight that is commonly enjoyed with hot tea—hence the term ‘yum cha’ which translates to ‘drinking tea’ in Cantonese—who can resist waking up to likes of steaming hot, meat and seafood-stuffed morsels of goodness.

Many folks may argue that the best (and most affordable) dim sum can only be found in Hong Kong or Guangzhou but we beg to differ. In fact, you can just as easily find some of the best and cheapest dim sum delights right here in Singapore.

As much as we love our cafe-style brunches, there is just something about dim sum that still makes it our ultimate go-to comfort food. Here is our list of 12 dim sum places in Singapore that will not hurt your wallet but will have you thoroughly satisfied nonetheless.

Photo Credit: charbao

JOHORE YE ZHI MEI HANDMADE BAO

Situated just a stone’s throw away from the esteemed Swee Choon Dim Sum is Johore Ye Zhi Mei Handmade Bao, which serves a wide array of tasty and affordably priced dim sum, 24 hours a day from Tuesdays to Sundays.

Besides their signature giant handmade bao, Ye Zhi Mei, that they are best known for, they also offer interesting spins on dim sum such as Bean Curd Dumpling, Salted Egg Siew Mai and Century Egg Siew Mai.

208 Jalan Besar
Singapore 208894
Tel: +65 6294 2210

Photo Credit: chillingsaint

LAI KEE

Lai Kee has 5 outlets in Singapore, and they are all traditional, old-school dim sum stalls located in nondescript coffee shops. They offer endless dim sum options, including your typical Siew Mai and Har Gow.

Though portions are relatively small, most items are affordably priced, so rest assured that you can feast on dim sum without burning a hole in your wallet at Lai Kee.

126 Lor 1 Toa Payoh
Singapore 310126

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Photo Credit: qqingg

SHI WEI XIAN HONG KONG DIM SUM

Shi Wei Xian Hong Kong Dim Sum is a place where east-siders flock to for unpretentious and delectable dim sum. Their traditional handmade dim sum is priced at an average of just S$3, and this includes the classics such as the humble char siew bao, chee cheong fun and siew mai.

Oddly, they are only open on weekends and they usually sell out pretty early so be sure to head over earlier to beat the crowd!

119 Aljunied Avenue 2, #01-06
Singapore 380119

YI DIAN XIN HONG KONG DIM SUM

If you ask a resident of Kovan where you should head to for excellent dim sum without burning a hole in your pocket, Yi Dian Xin Hong Kong Dim Sum is the place to go. You are very likely to find a basket of their signature Liu Sha Bao on every table because no one leaves without a taste of that buttery salted egg yolk goodness.

If you are looking for more items to share, the humble stall also has other classic dim sum dishes such as har gao, xiao long bao, char siew rice roll and siew mai.

1012 Upper Serangoon Road,
Teo Seng Eating House
Singapore 534750
Tel: +65 9168 5587

TIONG BAHRU PAU

Offering value-for-money dim sum across a few outlets in Singapore, Tiong Bahru Pau is where you can get Cantonese-style buns and other dim sum items that range from S$0.80 to S$2 per piece.

Be sure to get the crowd-favourite char siew bao which is filled with large chunks of tender pork and a rich barbecue sauce that makes every mouthful ever so flavourful.

32 New Market Road
01-1038 People’s Park Food Centre
Singapore 050032
Tel: +65 6222 7656

KOW LOON HONG KONG DIM SUM

What makes Kow Loon Hong Kong Dim Sum stand out from their competitors—apart from the cheap prices (less than S$4 per serving)—is the fact that they offer dim sum with a twist.

Get started on Spicy Sour White Chicken Feet as a cold appetiser and continue your feast with Steamed Cheong Fun that is filled with prawns, char siew, Enoki mushroom and many more.

151 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5
#01-3030
Singapore 560151
Tel: +65 9685 9371

Photo Credit: Mongkok Dim Sum

MONGKOK DIM SUM

At Mongkok Dim Sum, you can have dim sum for breakfast, tea and even supper! Open throughout the day, the dim sum joint has a plethora of choices that mostly fall below S$5.

The Char Siew Chee Cheong Fun, Pan-Fried Carrot Cake and Yam Pastry with Meat Filling come highly recommended. 

214 Geylang Road
Singapore 389274
Tel: +65 8484 8829

VICTOR’S KITCHEN

Victor’s Kitchen is best known for its classic Liu Sha Bao, which features molten, creamy salted egg yolk lava oozing out upon your first bite into their fluffy white buns.

While their custard buns are hands-down the crowd-favourite, make sure to try out some of the other offerings while you are there, such as the Tasty Queen-Sized Siew Mai and Golden “Bo Lo” Char Siew Butter Buns.

91 Bencoolen Street
Sunshine Plaza, #01-49
*Singapore 189652
Tel: +65 9838 2851

(*Victor’s Kitchen has another outlet at Chinatown Point)

DIM SUM HAUS

This Dim Sum treasure place is located in the heart of the Jalan Besar neighbourhood. The unique dim sum served here is one of the reasons why customers keep coming back for more!

Their one-of-a-kind Charcoal Siew Mai, made fresh upon ordering, have already captured the attention of many. It comes in a set of 3, with each one encompassing a whole shrimp. Topped with prawn roe, the additional texture of the dish stands out from regular Siew Mai.

57 Jalan Besar
Singapore 208809
Tel: +65 6909 0777
Tues to Sun: 11.30am – 3 pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Jalan Besar

KUAI SAN DIAN XIN 

True to its name, every single dish here is priced at the unbelievable cost of S$1.30.

One of the cheapest dim sum places in Singapore, Kuai San Dian Xin is popular for their Custard Pau and Carrot Cake. The Custard Pau has a rich buttery filling and your teeth will literally sink into the soft skin of the pau. However, do not expect the custard to flow out of the bun like regular custard paus in the market, the filling is more solid than liquid.

However, the prices are consistent with the portion of the dishes and one can definitely eat up to seven or eight dishes alone! But considering that it will add up to only about S$10, it is still a great deal!

21 Woodlands Close, Level 1
Singapore 737854
Daily: 24 Hours
Nearest Station: Woodlands

Photo Credit: Hong Kong Zhai Dim Sum

HONG KONG ZHAI DIM SUM

Since Hong Kong Zhai Dim Sum was founded in 1988, it has offered Singaporeans a taste of Hong Kong with its wide array of authentic and affordably priced dim sum choices. Many customers go back for their signature Lo Mai Kai, Chee Cheong Fun and Beancurd Skin Rolls.

Out of the different Chee Cheong Fun that they offer, the shrimp-filling one is by far the best of them all. Not only can one taste the freshness of the shrimps, but it is also impossible to resist the silky rice roll that neatly ties the dish together. Splashed with a generous serving of savoury sauce, the dish is complete.

3017 Bedok North Street 5
Singapore 486121
Tel: +65 6748 4893

LEGENDARY HONG KONG

This place is the perfect replica of Hong Kong itself. A lot of effort has been made to give off a ‘Mongkok vibe’. This place is a hit for those who not only want dim sum, but also a feel of Hong Kong. Every detail from the paintings on the walls to the tiled flooring plays a role in transporting you from Singapore to Hong Kong in a split second.

The price is a steal for the amount of food that is served with each portion. Their Milk Tea and Red Bean Ice has just the right amount of sweetness to brighten up your day, but at the same time not overpower you with too much sugar. These drinks pair well with the eatery’s Pork Ribs in Black Bean Sauce. The ribs are soaked with flavours of the sauce and are best eaten with steaming hot rice or congee.

63 Jurong West Central 3, #03-80
Jurong Point Shopping Centre
Singapore 648331
Tel: +65 6794 1335

Read our guide on the best dim sum restaurants in Singapore.

Famous Chinese sauerkraut fish (Suan Cai Yu, or sour vegetables fish) restaurant from China, Tai Er Chinese SauerKraut Fish is opening its first outlet at Jewel Changi Airport.

Not to be confused with Tai Er Grilled Fish, Fragrant Spicy crab (which apparently is not from China) at Compass One which has the same name and spots a similar look and concept, Tai Er Chinese SauerKraut Fish is a massive chain with many restaurants in China.

Photo credit: Zara Zhang

It specialises in the Chinese sauerkraut fish—a traditional Sichuanese dish that is popular throughout China.

Other than its signature Suan Cai Yu, Tai Er Chinese SauerKraut Fish in China is also known for its rules:

• You can only have four people max at one table at a time, and no latecomers will be seated.
• The restaurant will not adjust the spiciness level of the grilled fish
• No takeout

We wonder if Tai Er Chinese SauerKraut Fish’s outpost in Singapore will maintain these rules.

Photo credit: Lynde Lim

Fans of Suan Cai Yu must visit them when they officially open at Jewel Changi Airport. The new outlet is located on level 3 next to Chun Yang Tea.

Tai Er Chinese SauerKraut Fish
78 Airport Blvd., Singapore 819666
#03-208 Jewel Changi Airport

Matsukiya at Paragon is a Japanese charcoal grill concept by Sushi Tei which offers traditional Kushiyaki that is grilled over binchotan. Other than Kushiyaki, the slightly upmarket Japanese restaurant also has Donburi and set lunches that start from S$25++.

The highlight of our meal was, however, not the Kushiyaki. While Matsukiya’s grilled skewers were decent, the Miyazaki A4 Ribeye Wagyu Donburi completely stole the show.

There is a selection of seafood and meat that are grilled over binchotan:

• Ise Prawn (market price)
• Gindara (S$26)
• Kagoshima Pork (S$22)
• Miyazaki A4 Wagyu (S$45)

Some of the dishes that you can Matsukiya’s Kushiyaki menu include:

• Thigh (S$4)
• Miyazaki A4 Wagyu (S$12)
• Bacon Enoki Mushroom (S$7)
• Chicken Ball (S$5)
• Pork Belly (S$5)

If you are there during lunch, there are three set lunch options that are available daily from 11.30am to 2pm and they start from S$25++.

The Wagyu Donburi set lunch (S$65++) features Miyazaki A4 Ribeye, onsen egg, foie gras and a generous serving of Ikura on the side. The set also includes an appetiser, salmon tataki, a prawn soup with a charcoal-grilled prawn and mushrooms, as well as a scoop of ice cream.

It is by far one of the most value-for-money Wagyu Donburi you can get in Singapore.

Charcoal-grilled Unagi set lunch (S$30++)

We wouldn’t go all the way to Matsukiya for the Kushiyaki but we definitely wouldn’t mind dropping by for the Miyazaki A4 Wagyu Donburi again.

Matsukiya
290 Orchard Rd, #05-04 Paragon, Singapore 238859
Tel: +65 6219 1771

NUDE Grill is our favourite pet-friendly restaurant in Singapore. It ticks all the boxes for us: a comfortable environment for the furkids to roam with water bowls provided for them, relaxing ambience and real, good food for humans, and it is sheltered!

The problem with most pet-friendly restaurants/ cafes in Singapore is that the food for humans is always shitty, and sometimes there is no shelter so there are no bad weather contingencies if it rains.

And all these make NUDE Grill even more ideal when you want a good meal at a nice seafood restaurant in Singapore but can’t bear to leave your furkid alone at home. They do not have a menu for pets but hey, that’s a small issue.

The centralized location makes it accessible to everyone. Conveniently sitting within Marina One, the popular seafood restaurant sits on the first level of the office-cum-residences building and has a big, airy space for you to walk your furkids.

NUDE Grill is able to serve quality seafood at reasonable prices as their family business is Hai Sia Seafood, a 3rd generation seafood wholesaler.

On their menu, expect honest good food from all-day brunch items to fresh seafood and Binchotan-grilled meats.

The ‘Bouillabaisse’ Seafood Stew (S$25.60) is our all-time favourite. A bowl of tiger prawns, seasonal fish, clams and cuttlefish simmered with watercress and potato, this hearty bowl of goodness is comforting as much as it is flavourful.

We also like the Grassfed NZ Wagyu ‘Bavette’ Steak (S$27.50). A slab of smoky steak prepared in your preferred doneness is served with a side of sweet corn (so good!) and scrambled eggs – simple and very filling. Oh, we sometimes cheat by letting our furkid have a piece of steak.

Some other popular items on the menu include the NUDE Breakfast (S$27.50), Fish & Chips (S$19.90), Fisherman’s Linguine (S$26.8) and Miso Halibut with Udon (S$22.9). They’ve got got a pretty comprehensive drinks menu, with reasonably-priced wines.

NUDE Grill
5 Straits View, #01-22 Marina One, Singapore 018935
Tel: +65 8726 1576