Located at Mandarin Orchard Singapore, Chatterbox is perhaps one of the most famous—and expensive—chicken rice restaurants in Singapore.

Helmed by executive sous chef Liew Tian Heong, Chatterbox’s Hainanese Chicken Rice is its most popular dish and propelled the restaurant to fame. People from all over the world flock to the restaurant for a taste of this signature dish.

Is Chatterbox’s Hainanese Chicken Rice really that good? Is it worth paying S$27++ for a plate of chicken rice?

Chatterbox has quite a variety of local snacks on its menu. From the Rojak (S$17), to Satay (S$18 for 6 sticks), and Ngoh Hiang (S$18), you can find all the popular local snacks here.

And don’t miss out on the Salted Egg Chicken Wings (S$20 for 8 pieces)—it is certainly the best appetizer on the menu, and the best way to start your meal!

Nobody comes to Chatterbox without ordering the legendary Mandarin Chicken Rice (S$27++).

It comes with tender-boiled free-range chicken that is so juicy and succulent. Paired with fragrant rice—every grain is evenly coated with chicken oil and perfumed with pandan leaves. The homemade chilli sauce is really good and kickass.

Other than the Mandarin Chicken Rice, we also love Chatterbox’s Lobster Laksa (S$38).

There’s simply no turning back once you’ve tasted their Lobster Laksa—a wondrous bowl of goodness that looks and tastes amazing. A whole fresh lobster is used in every bowl. The soup is thick with the layered taste of quality coconut milk and fresh lobster. It is as luxurious as laksa can get.

This is probably one of the most, if not the most expensive, chicken rice in Singapore. And let’s be frank, not everyone will want to pay so much for a plate of chicken rice, especially when you can get really good chicken rice at S$3-5 from the other famous chicken rice stalls in Singapore.

If you are willing to pay S$27 for pasta or risotto from an Italian restaurant, why not the same amount for a plate of chicken rice?

Chatterbox is where you can get a taste of Singapore’s local food, elevated with premium ingredients and precise cooking techniques. It’s certainly the ideal place to bring your overseas friends to have a taste of the most popular Singaporean local food in a comfortable setting.

Chatterbox
333 Orchard Road
Level 5, Mandarin Orchard
Singapore 238867

With swanky malls like ION and 313 Somerset, who even goes to the older drabby ones such as Far East Plaza? Unless you’re thinking of getting a piercing or tattoo, you’d probably not set foot in there.

Well, then you’re missing out. As shabby as Far East Plaza looks in comparison to its glammed-up neighbours, this shopping centre is an absolute gem for affordable eats in the town area.

Whether you’re in the mood for a spicy Thai dinner or hearty zi-char feast, you can always fall back on this mall. We’ve put together a list of budget-friendly eateries at Far East Plaza for budget days.

CAHAYA MUSLIM RESTAURANT

Cahaya Muslim Restaurant is an eatery on the level 5 of Far East Plaza which offers an impressive range of halal Chinese cuisine, with the likes of claypot rice, wanton noodles and even zi-char-style dishes.

Go for their Cereal Prawns (S$15/S$21) if you’re craving something fried and buttery and pair it with their Seafood Fried Rice with Chicken Topping (S$7.50) for a hearty meal.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-91/92
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6734 8434
Daily: 11.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/jyynius.eats/

CROSS STRAITS RESTAURANT

If you’re bent on getting a fix of comforting fish soup in Orchard, you’d better head down to Cross Straits Restaurants early. This popular, modest eatery does a pretty solid bowl of Sliced Fish Soup (S$5.80), which draws in sizable crowds during lunchtime.

They also do a mean Fried Tofu with Thai Chili Sauce (S$4.80). Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, these golden cubes shockingly good.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-91/92
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6735 2779
Daily: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

GREENVIEW CAFE

Ban mian stalls are a dime a dozen, but those that make their own noodles are rare gems — Greenview Cafe is one of them. This hidden eatery does some of the best handmade mee hoon kueh we’ve ever tried.

Their Dry Mee Hoon Kueh (S$4.80) is a must-try. The irregularly-shaped kueh is excellently bouncy with a nice resistant bite. Tossed in a savoury, mildly spicy sauce, the doughy morsels are insanely addictive.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #04-96
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6734 2312
Mon to Sat: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

HAINANESE DELICACY

Mention “Far East Plaza chicken rice” to any foodie and they’ll immediately know what you’re talking about. Hailed as one of the best places for chicken rice in Singapore, Hainanese Delicacy has been tossing out impeccable plates of chicken rice for decades.

Whether you get their roasted or steamed chicken, expect only the most tender and silken meat. Heck, even the breast meat tastes almost as soft as fish. Their Half Chicken (S$20) is good for sharing among three to four pax.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-116
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6734 0639
Tues to Sun: 10.15am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/eatwhatah/

HONG HU EXPRESS

Hong Hu Express is a great option for those weekend nights when you’re out with friends looking for dinner but all the budget-friendly spots seem to have a full house. Modestly dressed with plain tables and empty walls, this place’s interior certainly doesn’t match up to the quality of their food.

Their comforting Chinese fare ranges from You Mian (S$3.50) in robust broth to a tom yum rendition, which really packs a punch. Add on some Pan-fried Dumplings (S$6) for an appetiser you won’t regret.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-98
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6732 5089
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/foodlovesme0315/

KRAPOW THAI STREET FOOD

Kra Pow Thai Street Food sits on the third level of Far East Plaza as a hotspot for dedicated Thai food lovers. This places dishes out solid Thai rice and noodle dishes, as well as a plethora of delicious sides at reasonable prices.

One of their more well-known dishes is the Drunkard Noodles (S$7.80) which features dry kway teow coated in a piquant mix of ingredients such as soy sauce, fish sauce, holy basil and garlic.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #03-26/27
Singapore 228217
Tel: +65 6734 1946
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Photo Credit: https://facebook.com/kitchenmaddies/

MADDIE’S KITCHEN

Yes, you’ve had Hainanese pork chop curry rice, but have you seen pork chops as huge as the ones from Maddie’s Kitchen? This humble-looking eatery in Far East Plaza serves up not-so-humble dishes, from zi-char-style fare to curry rice.

Apart from their fantastic Hainanese Curry Pork Chop Rice (S$4.80), they also do an outstanding Oyster Omelette (S$10.80/small, S$15.80/medium, S$20.80). Be sure to get there early because the wait can stretch beyond 45 minutes during peak periods.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #02-10/11/12/13
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6365 0501
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

NEW STATION SNACK BAR

Fans of Salted Egg dishes have probably heard or been to New Station Snack Bar. This name has become inextricably tied to their famed Salted Egg Pork Ribs Rice (S$6.50), which commands snaking queues during meal times.

While their star dish is undeniably good, their renditions of claypot rice will steal the spotlight. Dangerously smoky, their Claypot Rice — Chicken (S$6) has an excellently charred aroma and is downright delicious.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-95
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6734 2862
Sun to Fri: 11.30am – 9pm
Sat: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

PUNCAK HALAL RESTAURANT

One of the most popular Halal eateries in Orchard Road, Puncak Halal Restaurant certainly makes its presence known with its bustling lunch crowds. Hungry diners flock here for their popular — wait for it — Honeydew Roasted Chicken Noodles.

As bewildering as it sounds and looks, this traditional dish surprisingly works. But for the less adventurous, they offer a steady range of noodles and rice dishes. Their crispy wantons make for a great appetiser too.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-94
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6738 4348
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

WOK WEI KITCHEN

For a comfortable, unpretentious zi char meal that won’t burn your wallet in town, hit up Wok Wei Kitchen. Their homely fare is well-executed, ranging from fantastic Imperial Pork Ribs to mouthwatering Sambal Kang Kong.

Get spoilt by their S$18 Zi Char Set which comes with three decently-portioned dishes and rice, great for sharing between two or three people!

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-100/101
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6909 7854
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Before the trend of hipster and thematic eateries, there were the old-school ones, just simple family-run establishments that serve up good grub. These are the original spots where our parents and even grandparents used to eat at during their youth.

Sure, they may not dish out fancy culinary skills or possess any aesthetic qualities worthy of the ‘gram’, but what you can expect are honest food and a homely atmosphere. Here are 9 old-school eateries that you should visit before they officially become history.

#1 ANANDA BHAVAN RESTAURANT

Established in 1924, Ananda Bhavan Restaurant is the oldest Indian vegetarian restaurant in Singapore. The very first restaurant that opened was located along Selegie Road, at the rim of Little India and is a popular spot among locals.

Ananda Bhavan has many traditional snacks and tiffin dishes on its menu with their thosai, thali sets and bhatura being crowd favourites.

58 Serangoon Road
Singapore 217964
Tel: +65 6396 5464
Daily: 7.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Little India

#2 BISCUIT KING

If you happen to be an avid fan of nostalgia and all things authentically Singaporean, then Biscuit King is a place you most definitely have to check out. Stepping into this humble snack shop will transport you back to your beloved childhood days—that is if you happen to be born before the late 90s.

Biscuit King is an old-school tidbit and toy wonderland that brims with nostalgia. From iconic past-times such as ‘pick-up sticks’ and ‘snakes and ladders’ that we used to indulge in back in primary school, to childhood snack time favourites such as iced gems to pineapple jam biscuits, this is a place worth checking out no matter which generation you belong to.

130 Casuarina Road
Singapore 579518
Tel: +65 6458 0925
Tue to Sun: 11am – 10pm
(Closed on Monday)
Nearest Station: Yio Chu Kang

#3 GUAN HOE SOON

Guan Hoe Soon is a hidden gem in Joo Chiat that has dedicated itself to Peranakan cuisine ever since 1953. The restaurant might be a little bit of a hassle to get to unless you drive, but the food speaks of something worth the effort of getting to.

Here is where you can get proper Peranakan food as good as the ones your Nonya grandparents used to whip up (if you ever had any). Expect the classics such as their Ayam Buah Keluak, Assam Fish and Babi Panggang.

40 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427764
Tel: +65 6344 2761
Mon to Fri: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Sat to Sun: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Eunos

#4 KENG ENG KEE SEAFOOD

Starting out as a Hainanese chicken rice stall and progressively transforming itself into a zi char stall in the 1970s, Keng Eng Kee Seafood (KEK) is one of the more prominent standouts in the sea of zi char stalls in Singapore.

Dishes that come highly recommended include the Salted Egg Crab, Fried Hor Fun and Coffee Pork Ribs, but as much as those items are our all-time must-haves whenever we go there, most, if not all their dishes are pretty spot on as well.

KEK is very popular and

124 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-136
Singapore 150124
Tel: +65 6272 1038
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown

#5 LOVE CONFECTIONERY

When it comes to traditional confectioneries done right, nothing beats a good-old vintage bakery or confectionery. One such confectionery that still stands and is still a perennial favourite among many Singaporeans, is Love Confectionery.

At this neighbourhood bakery located in Alexandra Village, you won’t find dainty designs or out-of-this-world flavour pairings. Instead, what you can be sure of, are rich, sweet and intensely flavoured cakes that will no doubt have you yearning for the gym after—from their oh-so-decadent buttercream cake and their ever-popular, pandan chiffon cake.

122 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-60
Singapore 150122
Tel: +65 6278 2385
Daily: 12pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown

#6 RED STAR RESTAURANT

Perhaps one of the few remaining authentic, old-school dim sum restaurants in Singapore—that comes with middle-aged ladies pushing food carts around with a myriad of edible dim sum treats—is Red Star Restaurant.

Red Star is nowhere near any of the finer dining dim sum concepts around, in fact, far from it. But what it can promise you, is an exceptional dim sum meal that will leave you full and happy.

54 Chin Swee Road #07-23
Singapore 160054
Tel: +65 6532 5266
Mon to Sat: 8am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: 7am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

#7 SINGAPORE ZAM ZAM

Serving up delicious murtabak since 1908, Singapore Zam Zam is a humble restaurant located along North Bridge Road that is no stranger to locals—especially the meat lovers. Our personal favourites include the mutton murtabak that sees generous amounts of minced mutton, egg and onions as well as the chicken murtabak that uses shreds of chicken instead. But of course, mixing your meats is an option as well so go right ahead and ask the staff.

697-699 North Bridge Road
Singapore 198675
Tel: +65 6298 6320
Daily: 7am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

#8 TONG AH EATING HOUSE

Previously located in an iconic red and white building, Tong Ah Eating House is a traditional coffee shop that has been around since 1939 and has gained recognition for both its charcoal-toasted and steamed kaya toast.

While there is no lack of kaya toast sets in Singapore, Tong Ah Eating House is one of those eateries that keeps customers going back for more. Everything is kept simple—from the modest wall decorations to their humble kaya toast and coffeeshop-style coffee.

35 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089142
Tel: +65 6223 5083
Daily: 7am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Photo Credit: Go-Ang Chicken Rice Singapore

Move aside all other lunch plans you have because Bangkok’s Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice is set to open in Singapore on 20 October 2018.

With it might be a bit mind-boggling why anyone would queue for so long for a dish easily found anywhere else, a devoted fan base of locals and visitors alike would tell you otherwise.

Take what you already know about our typical Singaporean-style Hainanese Chicken Rice and dig into their Khao Man Gai, which is essentially a Thai-style Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Photo Credit: Juneunicorn

Where’s the difference you ask? Apart from being less oily, the chicken is so delightfully soft and tender and goes so well with the flavourful fluffy aromatic rice and is simply aroi mak mak!

There’s also no need to be shy when it comes to drizzling your sauce of choice. As they say, go big or go home. With a harmony of flavours from the sweet soy sauce, black sauce, black vinegar, ginger and chopped chilli, we guarantee it’ll be an addictive mix.

Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice will be opening at NEX on 20 October 2018. Watch this space as we keep you updated on the opening of Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice in Singapore.

Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice Singapore
Nex #B1-0506
Singapore 556083
Nearest Station: Serangoon

Hainanese chicken rice is Singapore’s national dish, it is a must-eat food when you are here. When you ask locals for recommendations, it is impossible to agree on which is the best chicken rice in Singapore as everyone has their own favourites.

However, no one will deny that Tian Tian Chicken Rice is one of the most famous chicken rice stalls. It even gained the approval of Anthony Bourdain when he was in Singapore.

Tian Tian has expanded from a humble hawker stall in Maxwell Road into a restaurant at Joo Chiat Road. Instead of eating at the hawker centre, you can now choose to dine in comfort, and it also offers a relatively big menu that includes zi char dishes such as Sambal Kangkong ($6), Hainanese Pork Chop ($8), and Assam Fish Slices ($10).

We all have our favourite joints and the truth about which one reigns supreme varies. For me, Tian Tian is one of my favourite chicken rice in Singapore, and I always bring my overseas guests here to try this famous local dish.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
443 Joo Chiat Road
Tel: +65 6345 9443
Daily: 10.30am – 10.30pm

Maxwell Road
#01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre
Tel: +65 9691 4852
Tue to Sun: 11am – 8pm

Nowadays, it is quite impossible to find a decent place to eat in Orchard Road. The cost of a meal in a food court in town is easily at least SGD$4-6. So when my friends told me about this famous chicken rice stall at Far East Plaza which serves relatively-affordable and good chicken rice, I decided to go there for lunch to see what’s the hype about.

Hainanese Delicacy Chicken Rice is located on level five of Far East Plaza, just a five minutes walk from the main shopping belt. The run down coffee shop has several tables within a long narrow space; there’s always a queue throughout the day – a testimony of their popularity.

So is the chicken rice really that good? Is it worth queuing up for? Let’s find out.

In addition to chicken rice, the shop also has the usual side dishes like boiled soup, and vegetables. We skipped the sides and went straight for the chicken.

The rice is nice and fragrant, and most importantly, not too oily. If you don’t like chicken rice because it is too oily, this will most likely change your impression. I found that their chill sauce was very well-balanced; not too spicy, not too mild. The chicken, too, was tasty. But somehow, I wasn’t blown away by it. I mean, the chicken rice that we had was definitely better than average, but it wasn’t stunning.

I don’t think it is the best chicken rice I’ve ever had. But I like the feeling of eating in a hole-in-a-wall place; sharing a table with strangers and eating with your elbows tucked to prevent knocking into someone.

Moreover, Hainanese Delicacy Chicken Rice is conveniently located in town; it is a good place to go if you want a reasonably-priced and fuss-free lunch. Where do you eat when you are meeting your friends in Orchard Road?

Singapore Food Blog Review
Hainanese Delicacy Chicken Rice
14 Scotts Road
Far East Plaza #05-116
Tel: +65 734 0639

One of the best food in Singapore is definitely Chicken Rice. For the uninitiated, chicken rice is basically steamed/roasted chicken and white rice, served with chilli sauce, ginger, and dark soy sauce.

Every time I have chicken rice, I wonder why I don’t eat it more often. Especially when there are so many good ones around. Everyone has their favourites, Singaporeans always like to debate on where is the best chicken rice in Singapore.

Of course, I have my own favourite chicken rice stalls, but I’m always on the lookout for new places to try. Chin Chin Eating House at Purvis Street has always been known for their chicken rice, so when I happened to be in the area, I suggested going there for lunch.

For some reason, I was craving for Hainanese Pork Chop, and as soon as I saw it on their menu, I ordered a portion.

I liked Chin Chin Chicken Rice well enough to go back again, although I don’t think they are the best chicken rice I’ve had. Don’t get me wrong, though. The chicken, the rice, the chilli, they are all good. But it just didn’t wow me. The Pork Chop too, was decent, but not life-changing.

If you are thinking of where to eat in the City Hall/Bugis area, Chin Chin Eating House at Purvis Street might just be the place to go.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Chin Chin Eating House
19 Purvis Street
Beach Road Conservation Area
Tel: +65 6337 4640
Daily: 7am – 9pm

Singapore is a foodie paradise. It is not exaggerating to say that eating is part of the Singapore Spirit. Since we will be celebrating National day in a month’s time, I thought it would be nice to write about some of the must-eats in Singapore.

Here’s my list of 10 Things to Eat in Singapore.

For first time visitors, it is a must to try all the popular hawker food from places like Chomp Chomp Hawker Centre and Old Airport Road Market. If you are willing to spend more on food, Singapore has many excellent fine dining restaurants, like Les Amis and Iggy’s. And of course, we mustn’t forget about the Celebrity Chefs Restaurants like Waku Ghin, Santi, CUT at the swanky Marina Bay Sands; Osia and L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon at Resorts World Sentosa.

However, I’ll not be including Singapore’s best restaurants in this post. Instead, I want to share about some of the food that I miss whenever I am out of town. For non-food recommendations, please read my list of 10 Things to do in Singapore.

Chicken Rice

If you ask around which is the most famous Singapore food, chances are, people will reply with either chilli crab or chicken rice.

Amongst the many good chicken rice stalls in Singapore, I’d suggest going to either Tian Tian Hainanese chicken rice or Boon Tong Kee. I like Tian Tian’s chicken rice, but I hate the queue. If you are lazy to queue like me, go to Maxwell market before or after lunch hour. Tian Tian is definitely one of the best chicken rice in Singapore.

Boon Tong Kee, on the other hand, is a tricky one. Many people would argue that it is a commercialised restaurant, and there are probably lots of places that have better chicken rice. Let me explain. With six branches around the island, Boon Tong Kee is much more accessible, and you can have your chicken rice in a clean environment (not everyone is willing to brave the heat in hawker centre). It is a relatively safe option to bring your overseas visitors there for their first taste of our famous Singapore chicken rice.

Boon Tong Kee
425 River Valley Road
Tel: +65 6736 3213

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
Maxwell Road #01-10 Maxwell Food Centre

Chilli Crab

As mentioned, Chilli Crab is probably the most famous Singapore food. It is the face of Singapore Cuisine, the must-try food for tourists. You cannot visit Singapore without having Chili Crab. There are many Chinese seafood restaurants in Singapore serving this popular dish, but my favourite is No Signboard at Geylang.

Fresh meaty crabs in a spicy-sweet chili sauce with deep-fried mantou – this is one of the most satisfying experiences in life.

No Signboard Seafood
414 Geylang Road
Tel: +65 6842 3415

Kaya Toast

Kaya is a coconut jam made from coconut milk, eggs which are flavoured by pandan leaf and sweetened with sugar. It is easily one of the best jam spread ever created.

Spread the kaya on the toast with a generous slab of butter – this is a very delicious thing for breakfast, tea, or supper. All you need is kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs and a cup of coffee. This is the best local breakfast.

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery
204 East Coast Road Singapore

Ya Kun Kaya Toast Singapore
18 China Street #01-01
Far East Square Singapore
Tel: +65 6438 3638

Tropical Fruits

There are plenty of tropical fruits to eat in Singapore, so it is a good idea to head to the markets if you are not from the region. Some of the must-try fruits are: rambutans, mangosteen, longan, lychee, durian, and mango.

Even though I hate durian, I think it’s a pretty cool experience to visit Geylang and sit by the roadside to try the king of fruits.

Fish Head Curry

Fish Head Curry is a dish created by Singapore’s Malayalee. Cooked in a hot and spicy Indian curry, the large fish head is usually eaten with white rice or bread. Try the one from Muthu’s Curry at Race Course road.

Muthu’s Curry
138 Race Course Road #01-01 Singapore
Tel: +65 6392 1722

Laksa

Laksa has a rich coconut-based curry soup with rice noodles alongside ingredients like cockles, shrimp, tau pok and fish cake.

The first time I had a bowl of laksa (many years ago) was a total revelation. It was like taking a plane for the first time; the first sip of champagne, or having the first ever taste of foie gras. It was something very special.

Without a doubt, Laksa is one of the Singapore’s must-eats.

328 Katong Laksa
51 East Coast Road Singapore
Tel: +65 9732 8163

Zi Char

Zi Char (also known as Zhi Char/Cze Char/Tze Char) is a Chinese stall (in a coffee shop) that serves a variety of ala carte dishes at affordable prices. Different ‘restaurants’ have their own unique signature dishes, but a typical zi char place will usually has the following: meat items – pork ribs, har cheong gai ($8 – $20); vegetables – sambal kangkong, kailan ($6 – $12), side dishes – beancurd, noodles, rice ($4 – $20) ; and seafood – prawn, fish, crabs ($15 upwards).

There are many good zi char places in Singapore, but I’d recommend Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hoon (for har cheong gai), Keng Eng Kee Seafood and for a slightly more upmarket option, Ming Kee Live Seafood.

Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hoon
Jumbo Coffee Hub
Blk 19A Dover Crescent

Keng Eng Kee Seafood
Blk 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1
#01-136 Alexandra Village Singapore
Tel: +65 6272 1038

Ming kee Live Seafood
556 Macpherson Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6747 4075

Peranakan Cuisine

Peranakan Cuisine, also known as Nyonya food, is the result of blending Chinese ingredients and wok cooking techniques with spices used by the Malay/Indonesian community. There are plenty of Peranakan restaurants in Singapore serving fantastic nyonya food, you can check out the fairly new Candlenut Kitchen by Malcolm lee – one of the up and coming chefs in Singapore; and Ivin’s – a popular and no frills place for families to have dinner.

Candlenut Kitchen
25 Neil Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6226 2506

Ivin’s
19 Binjai Park Singapore
Tel: +65 6468 3060

Dim Sum

Hong Kong might be the land of dim sum, but I feel that some restaurants in Singapore serve very good dim sum too. I’m sure everyone knows by now: my favourite dim sum restaurants in Singapore are Royal China at Raffles Hotel, Yanting Restaurant at St Regis, and Taste Paradise at Ion Orchard.

Royal China
1 Beach Road
#03-09 Raffles Hotel
Tel: +65 6338 3363

Taste Paradise Ion Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
#04-07 ION Orchard
Tel: +65 6509 9660

Yan Ting Restaurant
29 Tanglin Road
The St Regis
Tel: +65 6506 6888

Char Kway Teow

“What food do you miss the most when you are away from Singapore?”

This is a simple question. My answer is definitely Char Kway Teow. The stir-fried noodle is artery clogging, but it is very, very tasty! For me, the best char kway teow in Singapore will be the one from Zion Road. You MUST EAT it!

No 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow
Zion Road Riverside Food Centre

I wrote this list of 10 Things to eat in Singapore for the NDP 2011 Official Website, but this is not a sponsored blog post and I have not received any monetary benefits in return. That said, I got two tickets to the NDP preview and I’ll be writing a second post to share more about the Singapore spirit during the parade.

Besides all the good food, what do you think defines the Singapore spirit? Share your thoughts at the NDP website and NDPeeps Facebook page!

Chicken rice is one of the must-eat Singapore Food. Naturally, there are many places serving this popular dish around the island, you can find it in almost every coffee shop and hawker centre.

When it comes to the best chicken rice in Singapore, most people will definitely think of Wee Nan Kee, Tian Tian Hainanese chicken rice, and of course Boon Tong Kee chicken rice.

Is Boon Tong Kee Chicken rice as good as before? Or has the standard dropped since the rapid expansion of the chicken rice chain?

How do you define what is the best chicken rice? Everyone has different opinions on what is the deciding factor. For some, it is the chicken, while there are others who place a higher emphasis on the rice. For the rest, the chilli and garlic sauces are equally important, and will determine whether it is a plate of good chicken rice.

You can’t fault Boon Tong Kee on any of those factors: the chicken is tender and tasty, the rice is fragrant and the chilli sauce is good enough to accompany them. But is this the best chicken rice in Singapore? While Boon Tong Kee is competent, there are other stalls which have equally good, if not better chicken rice at a cheaper price.

There will be loyal supporters who have been eating Boon Tong Kee’s chicken rice for years, as well as critics who feel that the chicken rice chain is too commercialised.

But the fact is Boon Tong Kee indeed has good chicken rice, and it helps that they have six branches around Singapore. Being a well-established brand, it is safe to bring your overseas visitors to Boon Tong Kee for their first taste of our famous Singapore chicken rice.

Having said that, I probably will not think of Boon Tong Kee when I am craving for chicken rice – it is not a dining destination for me when it comes to this popular Singapore food.

I am not sure if the standard varies between branches, but most people seem to agree that their River Valley and Balestier road branches serve the best chicken rice.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Boon Tong Kee
425 River Valley Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6736 3213

401 Balestier Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6254 3937

The grass is always greener on the other side. I think this is very true as my food adventures totally reflect this. Even though I stay just 10 minutes away from Bukit Timah, I tend to go further in search of good food in Singapore. Come to think of it, I have never really explore the stretch of restaurants at Cheong Chin Nam road (directly opposite Beauty World).

As I was walking along there last week, I realized that there’s actually quite a few eateries that open till late night, and they are now officially my prime-targets for supper. The chicken rice craving gave us the choice between Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice and Boon Tong Kee since both of them are arguably famous chicken rice in Singapore.

There were mixed reactions on twitter when I asked which is the better chicken rice among the two, and we eventually went for Five Star since I had Boon Tong Kee chicken rice before.

Sinking your teeth into the Five Star Kampong chicken ($14 for half, and $28 for whole)… It was actually quite ordinary. But there’s this lingering after-taste which I found it hard to explain. As the teeth made contact with the chicken, it encountered first the roasted skin, then a layer of fat which disintegrated as your teeth moved on to the juicy chicken meat.

Was this the best chicken rice in Singapore? Probably not. Was it good enough? Yes.

DO NOT ORDER the Hainanese Pork Chops ($7)! You have been warned.

I LOVE Sweet and sour pork ($9). I can have it for dinner everyday and not get sick of it. After ordering half a chicken and the Hainanese pork chops, you would probably think that we won’t order any more meat. But I demanded to order the sweet and sour pork and it was surprisingly not too bad. Five Star Hainanese Chicken rice’s rendition of my favorite dish was definitely not the best, but it was actually much better than the usual ones that I had before. The meat retained the slightly crispy texture despite being drizzled with the sweet and sour sauce. Not too bad, not too bad at all.

We can probably also classify Boon Tong Kee and Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice under zi char stalls since both restaurants serve a good variety of Chinese food in the zi char style.

Have you tried both Boon Tong Kee and 5 Star Hainanese chicken rice before? Do share with us which one you preferred.

Restaurant Review
Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice
6/7 Cheong Chin Nam Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6466 3000

* * * Now closed * * *

My fourth, her third, another’s second, and many others first. Our common love for food. That’s how it all began. At the heart of East-Meet-West. Persimmon.

Kopitiam, the symbolic of our local heartlands. The place where everybody grew up sipping their milo & coffee, where everybody settled their three meals when their mother was on strike, and the gateway to many delicious heritage hawker food.

Persimmon is quintessentially a swanky and upmarket kopitiam, retaining the traditional feel by using the classic kopitiam furnitures and floor tiles. The furnishings were a combination between comtemporary and rustic. And not to mention her location is right in the middle of Tiong Bahru, with the shophouses and kopitiam lining side by side.

Choices of desserts pick from a la carte buffet. Bread pudding, carrot cake, mango pudding, panna cotta, chocolate mousse. For the discerning us, perhaps only the carrot cake made the cut.

The kong ba bao (stewed pork belly) was way off my radar. The bun was hard and dry, the meat was not fatty enough, and lacked the delicious gravy. And oh ya, it wasn’t part of our menu, but was under the a la carte buffet offered.

Inspired by NoSignBoard white pepper crab, Persimmon white pepper Crabcake is all about that. Enjoyed the white pepper “crab”, no doubt in the form of crabcake, without any hassle. Under the sunny weather, the crab was toned prefectly brown, with a crisp-cross shell, and savoury meat within. Adiós

The crown of Persimmon. Hainanese Chicken Salad. Featured in almost all the media publications, there isn’t any excuse for you to miss this dish. The concept is simple, Singaporeans loved their chicken rice, but dreaded the calories. So what do you do? Remove the rice, throw in some greens, and voila! Singapore’s very own Hainanese chicken salad. Poach chicken, fresh local herbs & mesclun greens, rise crisps, and special dressing.

Tomato base pasta? Boring! How about our rich cream base instead? I hate cream! Right, why not try our Linguine laksa leaf Pesto? Specially created for your exquisite taste buds, the laksa infused linguine will definitely blow you away with its unique taste. Think laksa, but swop the thick rice noodles with pasta. Some felt that the laksa leaf was too heavy and overwhelm the whole dish. On the other hand, i thought the pasta was perfectly fine. Innovative with a big I.

Mixed blonds (fusion) are interesting in some ways, and the 8 treasures certainly roused my curiosity. Three mushrooms, two nuts, chinese sausage, parmesan cheese and risotto. What happens when Italian Risotto combine with the 8 treasures? You get the 8 treasure Risotto! The intial impression was Glutinous rice, but it was way better. I need to be honest, i couldn’t taste all of you. But in the end, it doesn’t really matter, you are all mine!

Staying true with the principle of fusion food, we have the European-style steak meeting heads on with our Asian carrot cake. The grilled ribeye with “chye tao kueh” carrot cake is bound to make your eyes popped out. The carrot cake was fried with XO and balsamic, with the latter providing a sour taste. A vast contrast with the steak. Not everyone could accepted sour carrot cake with steak though. Aspiring combination, but somehow failed to sizzle with the seemingly weird taste.

Eaten alone, the Slow poached salmon with zuchinni ribbons didn’t come as tender as we thought it will. But dipped in the green curry sauce, the fish went through a make-over in the taste department. There was cucumbers used in the green curry, which caught my attention. Like what one of our fellow friend say, when you don’t understand, just say “fusion!”

Our humble Otak is given a upmarket transformation by going créme brulée. With richly flavoured spicy kaffir lime & coconut used as the main ingredients, there was fish mousse hidden beneath the otak. The otak creme brulee is a very creative fusion dish indeed, but the experiement could perhaps be better. Some of us found the otak to be too watery, and maybe it’s meant to be this way. But is créme brulée ever so soggy?

There was a slight tweak to the menu compared to the one i previously shown. And the cost per person was 20 dollar nett, which everybody agreed was a reasonable price given we managed to try a variety of food. I hope everybody enjoyed their meal, and see you all at the next LIC food outing! We had 27 people for this outing, which was quite a healthy figure.

Well, like what some of you mentioned, it was a case of hits and misses, fusion food is pretty much an experiment between the Asian and Western cuisines, and it was certainly interesting to try some food which we’ll never get to try elsewhere.

And not to forget, LIC outing is all about the fun, joy and laughter during the event, and getting to know more friends. I’ll also like to take the opportunity to thank Helena and Sharon, the co-owners of Persimmon for having us there.

Do add me on facebook, if you missed the links earlier.

Read Jaime-la-nourriture chinese post on the outing here

For those who missed this Persimmon outing, you can get the best discounts when you mentioned ladyironchef while you are at Persimmon. So do go down and give the fusion food a try.