When living in a food cosmopolis like Singapore, finding a meal is no difficult feat. With a plethora of affordable food options at every turn, coupled with hectic lifestyles, eating out becomes a convenient (and often desirable) alternative. However, this convenience comes at a price.

All too often, temptingly sinful options abound, and even if you wish to eat healthier, it can be quite difficult to identify the “healthier” options from the myriad of choices in our food paradise. The result? An increased risk of health problems courtesy of a high-calorie diet and over-eating. A plate or two of char kway teow may not seem like much now, but multiply that over the years and the results won’t be as innocuous.

Thankfully for us, even if we continue to eat out, there is a way to discern which dishes are worthy of a spot at your table. In hopes of promoting a healthier lifestyle for Singaporeans, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) has been expanding its Healthier Dining Programme (HDP) to make healthier food alternatives more widespread and accessible.

If you think this is going to be another spiel about eating your greens and avoiding all indulgences, think again. Instead, consider this: what if we told you that you could have equally healthier food without compromising on taste?

Regardless of your taste preferences, with your favourite brands now offering delectable dishes, each at 500 calories or less – yes, you can enjoy laksa within this range too! – healthier options are becoming increasingly easy to get your hands on! A familiar sight for most, just keep an eye out for Healthier Dining Programme identifiers when you’re next perusing your food options. This way, not only are you treating your body (and taste buds) right, you are also retaking the reins of meal planning without giving up the convenience of dining out. A win-win solution!

Photo credit: Jack’s Place

JACK’S PLACE

Since 1966, homegrown brand, Jack’s Place has been plating up hearty Western fare centred around its core offerings of steaks. Expanding its menu beyond beef cuts, the brand has been pivoting to a healthier angle over the recent years, and has included an assortment of HPB-endorsed healthier dishes in its menu.

There is more to Jack’s Place than just its steaks. Just as appetising an option, salmon steaks have enough heftiness to allow for an equally satisfying mouthfeel. What is more, salmon is lower in calories and saturated fat content, and can improve your heart health with its intrinsic omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well.

In addition, courtesy of the kitchen’s team expertise on the grill, their meticulous heat control mean that Jack’s Place Grilled Salmon Steaks are served with wonderfully seared exteriors complemented with juicy and tender cores.

50 Jurong Gateway Road
JEM, #04-15
Singapore 608549
Tel: +65 6734 8812
Daily: 11am – 10.30pm
Website: www.jacksplace.com.sg
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

MCDONALD’S

Can fast food really be made healthier? As counterintuitive as it may seem, McDonald’s has done just that. Together with HPB’s Healthier Dining Programme, McDonald’s has refined its menu to offer numerous healthier dining options to consumers in Singapore which are healthier, yet still as tasty.

What this means for you as a consumer is that you can now order an entire set meal at McDonald’s that is endorsed as a healthier dining option! For those looking for a fuss-free yet nourishing breakfast, consider going for the Egg McMuffn Meal. Easy on your palate and stomach yet teeming with protein, this wholegrain-based breakfast sandwich contains egg and chicken ham held together with a savoury, melted layer of cheese for a hearty morning pick-me-up.

That’s not all – complete your meal with a warm serving of fresh corn and a steaming hot cup of your preferred source of caffeine. A wholesome meal that fulfils all necessary food groups, who would have thought that a McDonald’s meal could be a healthier option than many traditional breakfast alternatives!

107 North Bridge Road
Funan, #01-16/17/21
Singapore 179105
Tel: +65 6952 0352
Sun to Thu: 7am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 7am – 12am
Website: www.mcdonalds.com.sg
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

Photo credit: Penang Culture

PENANG CULTURE

Penang food tends to conjure up images of rich street food with intense bursts of flavours – items far removed from the minds of the health-conscious. Looking to bring about a confluence between the healthy crowd and authentic Penang street food, the culinary team has refined their recipes to reduce calories in their popular crowd favourites, highlighting that satisfying street food cravings need not be divergent from a healthier diet.

Delightfully tart, the Penang Assam Laksa is a mouth-wateringly fragrant number that sets our palates alight with its complex taste. Unlike the more common (and high-calorie) iteration with a broth built on coconut milk, the exciting flavours from the assam variant are instead obtained through prolonged simmering of a curated blend of spices and herbs.

With a rich broth made from sardines, ginger flowers, tamarind and fragrant herbs, the Penang Assam Laksa is a healthier and colourful dish that will placate any yearning for the vibrant flavours of Penang street food. And all that without sacrificing the kick of a hot steaming bowl of Nyonya laksa, while being lower in calories.

NEX, #B1-76
Changi Airport T2, Level 3
Compass One, #03-13
JEM, #04-27
VivoCity, #B2-23E
Website: www.gdgroup.com.sg/locations#penang-culture-locations
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

Photo credit: Pizza Hut

PIZZA HUT

Another surprising inclusion for many, feasting on Italian food need not mean putting your day’s calorie intake at peril. When you’re next at Pizza Hut, look past the array of pizzas and you will be met with a titillating collection of Italian mains with multiple healthier options that are no less rich in flavours.

Capitalising on the expertise of its kitchen team, Pizza Hut concocted an HPB-approved healthier pasta dish with fresh and lively flavours at a more conservative calorie count. Instead of subsisting on a surplus of sauce to create a semblance of dimension, the chefs instead rely on natural ingredients to enliven the dish.

The fresh garlic and chilli padi make up the base of the dish’s taste profile, imparting a savoury base that is overlaid with an undertone of spicy zest. Containing less fat and more protein, the dish is flourished with succulent prawns for a light and refreshing finish. Now you can treat your taste buds to the flavours of Italy while maintaining a healthier lifestyle!

4 Tampines Central 5
Tampines Mall, #02-02
Singapore 529510
Tel: +65 6781 3413
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Website: www.pizzahut.com.sg
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

SAYBONS

Looking for affordable, tasty French food without subjecting yourself to exorbitant prices and the stuffiness of up-market establishments? Headed by Le Cordon Bleu-trained executive chef, Daphane Loke, Saybons seeks to subvert the intimidation and luxury factor typically associated with the cuisine by providing affordable, authentic French fare to all.

A staple in French cuisine, bisque is a luscious number normally served as an entrée, where its opulent flavours whet the appetites of the hungry in preparation for the rest of the meal. Typically, cream is added to the broth to produce its characteristic smooth thickness; unfortunately, this adds calories to the dish and makes it a heavy meal option.

Circumventing the calorie inflation from the use of cream, Saybons’ version adopts a mixture of stock and fresh tomato puree to bestow a similar texture to the bisque. Using only natural ingredients with no preservatives, the distinct notes of prawns induce an intense aroma of seafood with every mouthful. All in all, Saybons’ Seafood Bisque Soup is a sumptuous affair without the downside of being calorie-laden – it truly is a dish that offers the best of both worlds!

9 Bishan Place
Junction 8, #02-43
Singapore 579837
Tel: +65 6258 3138
Mon to Fri: 9.30am – 9.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 9.30pm
Website: www.saybons.com
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

Photo credit: Swensen’s

SWENSEN’S

More than just an ice-cream parlour, Swensen’s has become a household name for all Singaporeans as a family restaurant that caters to everyone. Bolstering its restaurant offerings over the years, the chain now includes over twenty full-service restaurants that provide American-styled diner fare evocative of retro nostalgia.

As part of the HDP initiative together with HPB, one of Swensen’s healthier culinary inventions is the BBQ Chicken. By choosing a protein that is congruent with American fare and yet familiar to the local palate, Swensen’s has updated its menu with healthier options without losing its signature old-school American charm.

The BBQ Chicken dish is a tender and juicy number, with the chicken brushed with an in-house guava BBQ sauce that gives a sweet yet tangy taste that is popular on the island of Hawaii. For those wanting more fibre, vitamins and minerals, why not order an extra helping of seasonal greens? Not only do their crispness provide textural contrast, their garden freshness cleanses your palate as well.

200 Victoria Street
Bugis Junction, #01-68
Singapore 188024
Tel: +65 6255 2052
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 8am – 10.30pm
Website: www.swensens.com.sg
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

The next time you plan on eating out, keep an eye out for HPB’s Healthier Dining Programme (HDP) identifiers when perusing food options. With over 2,400 HDP partners across 9,000 locations in Singapore, you will be amazed by the sheer variety of healthier food choices at your fingertips. Gone are the days of picking health over taste – take control of your diets today by choosing food that is both good in taste and better for your health. Tasty food can be healthier too!

For a list of F&B outlets dishing out healthier options, check out the Healthier Dining Programme website at www.hpb.gov.sg/hdp.

This post was brought to you by Health Promotion Board Singapore.

It is no secret that food plays an intrinsic part in the lives of many Singaporeans. We are a nation built upon the love of food – be it planning for an elaborate celebratory meal, or looking for a quick bite, the plethora of choices has allowed the average citizen to develop a more discerning palate.

The crux of the issue for most of us lies in the importance we place in the taste of the food above all else. Would you rather indulge in some good ol’ char kway teow or have a bowl of salad? If you picked the former, you are not alone. It is this incessant struggle between tasty and healthy food that the Health Promotion Board (HPB) seeks to address with its latest initiative: The Healthy Bowl Campaign.

Over the following months, more than 30 selected F&B outlets in Singapore will be rolling out healthy wholegrain rice bowls in four appetising flavours: salmon, chicken, turkey, and vegetarian. It doesn’t matter if you are a fitness junkie, a working professional, or a self-proclaimed junk food connoisseur – as long as you are a fan of yummy and honest food, these healthy bowls are perfect for you!

Some of you may be curious as to why this initiative is centred around wholegrain rice. Much healthier than white rice, wholegrain options contain higher dietary fibre, iron, and zinc. Consuming a diet rich in wholegrains, such as brown rice, is beneficial to health as it may lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. It can also help in weight management. With all these benefits, it is no wonder that an increasing number of Singaporeans are swapping over to this more nutritious variant!

Naturel brand wholegrain rice, in particular, is naturally cholesterol-free and gluten-free. One serving of rice (150g) provides 300 percent daily wholegrain requirement (source: Lam Soon Group). Wholegrain rice has lower GI compared to white rice too, meaning that these Healthy Bowls can help those with diabetes to control blood glucose level as well.

The following healthy wholegrain bowls are the result of a careful and thorough creation process by Chef Johnathan. The main takeaway of these bowls is simple: to create visually appealing food that is equally tantalising in taste, and made available to all at an affordable price. By cooking them simply, the hope is to familiarise locals with the natural flavours of quality ingredients.

Each bowl contains a satisfying serving of your protein of choice, a generous helping of garden-plucked vegetables in a variety of vivid hues, topped with a luscious sous vide-styled egg atop light and fragrant wholegrain rice. As the recipes have been pre-analysed by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) under the Healthier Dining Programme (HDP) guidelines, the bowls contain sufficient nutritional benefit while remaining less than 600 calories. With such salubrious options available at affordable prices, eating healthier has never been this easy!

Salmon

The reigning favourite according to customers surveyed, the Salmon Healthy Bowl is the ideal choice for many with its more intense flavour and textural contrast. Available in both cooked and raw forms, this wholegrain bowl evokes flavours reminiscent of its Scandinavian and Japanese counterparts.

For the latter, you can expect a light, refreshing, almost salad-like bowl that is an excellent meal option during hot and humid days. Conversely, the cooked alternative has a lush slab of salmon as its centrepiece, and is complemented by a drizzle of creamy miso sauce.

US Chicken

Featuring a cut of lean US-imported chicken, this recipe ensures that you are still able to savour the tenderness of the protein without incurring extra calories from fattier bits. If you are worried about your palate being unaccustomed to the taste profile of these bowls, try this bowl first: the specific vegetable and spice complements are selected as a loose homage to the local delicacy, chicken rice.

US Turkey

A leaner cut than chicken, turkey gets a bad reputation for being a bland and dry alternative. However, thanks to the recipe created by Chef Johnathan, the protein maintains a moist suppleness that pairs wonderfully with the crunch from the greens and bite of the wholegrain base. For those already on a clean eating lifestyle or have a more sensitive disposition, this is the pick for you!

Vegetarian

It is easy to dismiss vegetarian options as being uninspired secondary substitutes, but thanks to Chef Johnathan’s diligence, the result is a convergence of striking flavours that unequivocally rivals non-vegetarian alternatives. Each bite of the wholegrain rice with vegetables such as red cabbage, bell pepper and iceburg lettuce brings about a meticulously curated taste profile meant to reinvigorate you; as an added twist, a pinch of paprika is added for that extra spicy bite.

These Healthy Bowls are just the beginning of HPB’s efforts to encourage Singaporeans to adopt healthier lifestyles. In 2020, the Healthier Dining Programme will work with partners to explore additional pre-analysed recipes incorporating healthier ingredients such as wholegrain bread and noodles, and lower-sugar beverages and desserts. Together with the HPB’s Healthier Ingredient Development Scheme (HIDS) suppliers’ lower-sugar desserts by Woah! Protein and Udders Ice Cream, we already have access to healthier ice creams that are as delectable as their normal variants but with less calories!

Where to find these healthy and wholesome rice bowls in Singapore

1. Sunray Café – 1 outlet (www.sunray.sg)
Address: 79 Brighton Crescent, Singapore 559218

2. Caffe Pralet – 1 outlet (www.caffepralet.com.sg)
Address: 17 Eng Hoon St, #01-04 Eng Hoon Mansions, Singapore 169767

3. Deja Brew – 1 outlet (www.dejabrew.com.sg )
Address: 1 Straits Boulevard, #01-02 Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Singapore 018906

4. Huggs Epigram @ URA (www.huggscoffee.com)
Address: 45 Maxwell Rd, #01-01 The URA Centre, Singapore 069118

5. Huggs @ OUE Downtown (www.huggscoffee.com)
Address: 6 Shenton Way, Level 30 OUE Downtown Two, Singapore 068809

Coming in 2020:

1. Asia Food Cafeteria – 7 outlets

2. Gim Tim – 1 outlet (www.gimtim.com.sg)
Address: Blk 157, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 #01-546 Singapore 560157

3. Imperial Court – 1 outlet
Address: 190 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, #03-01 The Grassroots’ Club, Singapore 568046

4. Tim Delight – 1 outlet (www.timdelight.com)

5. Qian Xi Restaurant – 10 outlets (www.qianxi.com.sg/contact-us)

6. Kei Kaisendon – 5 outlets (www.keikaisendon.com/#findus)

7. Ahmad Power Nasi Ayam – 1 outlet
Address: Blk 285 Yishun Ave 6 #01-02, Singapore 760285

Where to find Woah! Protein Lower Sugar Ice Cream in Singapore

Outlets

Marina One, 5 Straits View #B2-17 (Marina One The Heart)

Raffles Place, 5 Raffles Place, #B1-19 (Raffles Place MRT Xchange)

Also available at

Supermarkets – Ecellente at Capitol Piazza, RedMan at Bedok Heartbeat

Online – WoahGroup, Redmart, Shopee & Qoo10

How to Participate in the Healthy Bowl Campaign for F&B Operators

Contact

Ambassador – Healthy Bowl Campaign
Tel: +65 6372 8825 | 8826 | 8827
WhatsApp: +65 8588 7808

Say goodbye to the days of monotonous meal planning. With each Healthy Bowl featuring a deliberate mix of protein, vegetables, and a wholegrain carb base, whether you are Team Salmon or Team Turkey, you will still get your daily nutritional intake for well within your daily calorie limit.

The next time you’re too busy or tired to cook, just on head down to any participating F&B outlet to grab a Healthy Bowl. It is a quick and fuss-free way to satiate your hunger, and better yet, you get a delicious meal while keeping to a healthy lifestyle; a definite win-win situation. Tasty food can be healthier too!

Check out the list of HPB’s Healthier Dining Programme Partners at www.hpb.gov.sg/hdp.

This post was brought to you by Health Promotion Board Singapore.

A fit, well-balanced lifestyle is all the rage right now — as we become increasingly particular about consuming healthier food options, hawker stalls have also doled out more nutritious dining choices in their menus to encourage us to eat healthily.

Gone are the days of salt-laden or greasy hawker food, as these hawkers are serving low-calorie food choices and using healthier ingredients such as healthier cooking oils, wholegrains as well as lower-sugar drinks.

For the uninitiated, eating more wholegrains are full of nutrients and aids in reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes and certain cancers. Those who have been feasting during the festive season will be happy to know that wholegrains may help you to manage your weight as they provide bulk to the diet. This promotes the feeling of fullness and helps reduce the risk of overeating!

These healthier meal options will be here to stay, as they are part of the stall’s permanent core menu offerings. Diners can expect various hawker stalls serving different items — from savoury snacks such as toasts or Min Jiang Kueh to the well-loved Hainanese Chicken Rice — to be actively participating in the Healthier Dining Programme.

Here are five different hawker stalls in Singapore that have rolled out wholegrain options in their menu!

XIANG JI HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

Fans of chicken rice rejoice! You will be happy to know that the renowned Xiang Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice at Haig Road Market & Food Centre has included wholegrains in their rice. Not only will you be opting for a healthier alternative as compared to the usual, white rice chicken rice, but you will also still be able to enjoy this classic Singaporean favourite with less guilt.

The owners behind Xiang Ji have subtly mixed both brown and white rice together, while still managing to retain the familiar, gingery savouriness in the rice. Taste-wise, we were not able to tell much of a difference. Their grains were slightly more chewy, but remain light on the palate!

It was not oily either, and together with their tender chicken, the chicken rice was truly a delightful and filling meal.

Xiang Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice
14 Haig Road
#01-34 Haig Road Market & Cooked Food Centre
Singapore 430014
Tel: +65 9753 5837
Tues to Sun: 8am – 7pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

CONGEE DELIGHTS

Serving comfort food, Congee Delights is yet another hawker stall incorporating healthier ingredients in their porridge. The friendly aunty serves two different crowds each day: the health-conscious office crowd who opt for more nutritious brown rice in their porridge and those who go for the normal white rice.

She faithfully cooks up two huge pots of porridge in the morning, one being wholegrain rice, while the other is the usual white rice. This is because she wanted to cater to her growing pool of consumers who are looking for a healthier version of the popular comfort food.  

The best thing about Congee Delights is that you get to order any of her porridges on the menu and opt for your choice of rice base! We preferred the mixture of wholegrain and white rice, as it gave the porridge a much fluffier, nutty taste. It was also thicker and gave us a textural contrast of both different types of grains.

If you’re looking to start incorporating wholegrains into your meals but don’t know how, do give aunty’s mixed porridge a try!

Congee Delights
6 Jalan Bukit Merah
#01-45 ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre
Singapore 150006
Tel: +65 9423 3120
Nearest Station: Queenstown

TIONG BAHRU TEOCHEW KUEH

The famed Tiong Bahru Teochew Kueh should be your next place to visit if you are looking for kuehs that are flavourful, yet healthy. The folks behind this 45-year-old stall meticulously hand make each and every kueh in the morning, making sure to use wholegrains in all of their traditional treats.

Their Png Kueh, Black Bean Kueh and Glutinous Rice are the best sellers. Among all their kuehs, these three kuehs use Temasek Grain fragrant brown rice in their recipes. Temasek Rice is a special breed of wholegrain rice that Tiong Bahru Teochew Kueh uses; not only is it fragrant and sticky, it is also high in dietary fibre – 1 serving of Temasek Rice is said to contain 92 percent of daily wholegrain requirement (source: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory Limited).

The star of the show is their Glutinous Rice, which among the three speciality kuehs, has the highest percentage of Temasek brown rice used. This allowed the dish to be naturally fragrant, while its savouriness was further enhanced by the use of hae bee (spicy dried shrimps) and pepper. The peanuts were also crunchy, pairing well with the soft rice.

The well-seasoned Png Kueh was also extremely toothsome, as the skin was soft and chewy with just the right amount of thickness. It also contains a generous filling of peanuts and fluffy Temasek brown rice, and the latter stood out — it had a natural fragrance that enhanced the seasoning and flavours in the kueh.

Tiong Bahru Teochew Kueh
30 Seng Poh Road
#02-02 Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre
Singapore 168898
Tel: +65 9150 9076
Daily: 7:30 – 2pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

RED BAKE

Introducing Red Bake, a tiny bakery nestled in the bustling Geylang Bahru Market & Food Centre. Here, they serve affordable buns and toasts, and have also adopted the healthy dining programme initiative and included the use of wholegrain flour in a selected range of breads.

Their freshly baked wholegrain breads are usually sold out by early morning, but we managed to snag the last wholegrain piece in their bakery: The Egg Mayo and Ham Toast! We enjoyed how the bread, paired together with the soft mayo, had a comforting, textural mouthfeel. It also had a pleasant, fragrant wheat flavour.

Red Bake
69 Geylang Bahru
#01-56 Geylang Bahru Market & Food Centre
Singapore 330069
Tel: +65 6364 3669
Daily: 6am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Geylang Bahru

TIONG BAHRU MIAN JIAN KUEH

Last but not least, we tried out a crowd-favourite pancake stall, Tiong Bahru Min Jiang Kueh. Here, they serve a variety of different-flavoured pancakes, such as peanut and coconut. The stall owner has also been using wholegrain flour to bake her pancakes, which gives the wholegrain pancake a distinctive colour compared to pancakes baked with normal flour.

We chose the Peanut Min Jiang Kueh with wholegrain flour, which came in a slightly purplish hue. Filled with self-roasted ground peanuts, the pancake was thick and fluffy. It has a crispy crust, while the middle was soft and slightly chewy; it felt as if we were biting into a pillow full of goodness!

We particularly enjoyed her pancakes, which also came in a satisfying portion. Not to mention, her prices were affordable as well! This is definitely a min jiang kueh stall we will be back to visit.

Tiong Bahru Mian Jian Kueh
30 Seng Poh Road
#02-34 Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre
Singapore 168898
Tel: +65 9834 6495
Weds to Sun: 6am – 2pm
(Closed on Mon & Tues)
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

In collaboration with Health Promotion Board, many hawker stalls island-wide have participated in the Healthier Dining Programme: an initiative that encourages store owners to incorporate nutritional ingredients in their menu, so that it becomes much more accessible and pervasive for everyone to consume a healthy meal while dining out.

So, the next time you decide to opt for a healthier option, definitely check these hawker stalls out with these Healthier Dining Programme labels. Tasty food can be healthier too!

This post was brought to you by Health Promotion Board Singapore.

TungLok Group has added a new establishment to its ever-flourishing list of restaurants – TASTE by TungLok.

TASTE by TungLok intends on revolutionising the way many view healthy Chinese dishes by serving everyday dishes with quality and organic ingredients with a refined twist. It is TungLok’s belief that through good food and good taste, family bonds are strengthened and friendships are forged.

Their meticulously-curated menu boasts over 70 heart-warming dishes that will bring many for a trip down memory lane, featuring Chinese-cuisine classics such as their Double-Boiled Fish Maw with Chicken, Australian Barramundi Fish Head and Crisp-Fried Tiger Prawn with Sichuan Spice.

Feel the nostalgia and taste the goodness of traditional recipes with the new TASTE by TungLok. Check out what we had and our thoughts on this new Chinese restaurant.

APPETISERS

We started the meal with TASTE by TungLok’s Shredded Kampong Chicken with Jellyfish and Shredded Cucumber (S$20++), and their Deep-fried Prawn Paste & Chinese Cabbage wrapped with Beancurd Skin (S$22++).

The combination of cold chicken and jellyfish may be an odd combination to many, but they paired together seamlessly in a ginger-sesame dressing. The slices of cucumber also added to the freshness and texture of the dish.

Another appetiser that you should order is the classic Chinese Deep-Fried Prawn Paste and Chinese Cabbage wrapped in Beancurd Skin. Each bite is flavourful yet not at all greasy. Dip these crispy morsels into a bit of soya sauce and you’ll be diving in for seconds.

DOUBLE-BOILED FISH MAW WITH ORGANIC CHICKEN

In Chinese cuisine, hearty soups are a must at the dinner table. TASTE by TungLok has concocted a hearty Double-Boiled Fish Maw soup with tender chunks of Organic Chicken. The flavourful soup is a chock-full of wolfberries, traditional Chinese herbs and of course, Fish Maw and Organic Chicken (S$55++ for 2 pax, S$98++ for 4 pax).

TASTE by TungLok uses Santori MD2 Kampung Chicken – the first and only Healthier Choice Kampung Chicken in Singapore. Paired with fresh fish maw from locally-bred Barramundi, the soup is double-boiled for over 5 hours. It is nutritious yet delicious and will definitely whet your tastebuds for the rest of the meal.

This one-pot wonder was definitely the highlight of the meal as the soup was so flavourful and rich without being too cloying. The savoury taste of the soup was balanced with a mild sweetness from the wolfberries and fish maw. This soup is the perfect heart-warming dish for sharing with your family and loved ones.

CURRY AUSTRALIAN BARRAMUNDI FISH HEAD

Up next on the table was TASTE by TungLok’s Australian Barramundi Fish Head cooked in spicy Curry Sauce (S$48++). Their rendition of a classic Curry Fish Head dish is bound to please families that like having this crowd-favourite often at home with their loved ones.

The sustainable barramundi (locally-farmed) is impeccably tender and pairs deliciously well with the spicy yet tangy curry gravy. Besides the fresh barramundi, the curry is full of other delectable ingredients such as tomatoes, beancurd skin and slices of lady’s finger.

STEAMED AUSTRALIAN BARRABUMNDI DISH HEAD WITH GARDEN PEA SAUCE

Another way to have the sweet Barramundi Fish Head is to have it steamed with savoury Garden Pea Sauce (S$48++). TASTE by TungLok dresses this signature fish dish with deep-fried lard bits and spring onions.

This plate was one that we could not help but go for seconds and thirds. The Garden Pea sauce was so indulgent and addictive, pairing with the sweet fish wonderfully well. The best part of the dish was eating the lard bits, that had absorbed the gravy, complementing the fish.

CRISPY AROMATIC DUCK

Half Irish Duck (S$38++) is fried till golden-brown and shredded, to be put in delicate wraps. The crispy duck comes with julienned carrots, cucumbers and cabbage, along with a sweet bean-paste sauce. Add a little of everything to make your perfect wrap!

We loved how the duck was almost bursting with flavour from the succulent meat to the crispy skin. Despite being fried, the duck was not overly-greasy and was super addictive.

CRISPY FRIED TIGER PRAWN WITH SICHUAN SPICE

Springy, succulent and spicy, this dish was a delight to eat. The Tiger Prawns are fried with a Sichuan Spice that packs both flavour and heat, making the seemingly-simple dish extra delicious (S$38++).

The prawns were so fresh and had a mild sweetness that contrasted the spiciness of the Sichuan spice. Puffed rice topping is also generously sprinkled over the dish, allowing for textural contrast.

CHILLI CRAB WITH DEEP-FRIED MINI BUNS

We also savoured TASTE by TungLok’s signature Chilli Crab (S$68++ for 700 grams) that was served with a basket of fluffy deep-fried mini buns. The gravy was sweet, savoury and spicy all at once, made richer with the slurries of egg added to it. Each bite of sweet crab meat that was coated in the gravy was heavenly.

Such a delicious sauce definitely should not go to waste, so dip your deep-fried mantou into the decadent gravy once you are done with the crab to fully savour this dish.

BARBEQUED COMBINATION PLATTER

TASTE by TungLok’s Barbequed Combination Platter features tender Roast Duck, Roast Pork and sweet slices of Char Siew (S$38++).

The Roast Pork’s crisp crackling skin contrasted the melt-in-your-mouth meat. Pair this with a bit of spicy mustard to fully enjoy the smoky flavour of the pork. The char siew was coated in a sweet-and-savoury glaze, making every single piece worth the battle of chopsticks to get to it.

We especially loved the roast duck and how fresh and tender the meat was. The skin was nicely crisp and had that lingering aroma of smokiness.

POACHED ORGANIC CABBAGE WITH BEANCURD ROLL

This light dish may seem simple, but it was packed with the clean flavours and sweetness of wolfberries, cabbage and tofu skins. It was a welcome treat to cut through the intense flavours of the previous dishes (S$28++).

WOK-FRIED ORGANIC FRENCH BEAN WITH EGGPLANT

Tender slices of eggplant are fried together with crunchy french beans for this savoury dish, tossed with garlic and an aromatic sauce. We liked how the two main components of this dish contrasted texturally yet came together superbly. The wok-hei was strong and added that extra edge to this simple plate (S$28++).

TASTE by TungLok
23 Merchant Road
Park Regis Singapore, Level 1
Singapore 058268
Tel: +65 6721 9118

This post was brought to you by TASTE by TungLok.