Specialising in Taiwanese-style hotpot and bubble tea, Coucou Hot Pot is opening two outlets in Singapore at Suntec City and Jewel Changi Airport.

Photo by Lynde Lim

Established in 2016, Coucou Hotpot has currently has outlets in China and Hong Kong and it is opening its first outlet in Singapore at level three of Suntec City’s North Wing will open in Dec 2021 while the second outlet at Jewel Changi Airport level 2 (next to Kam’s Roast) will open in Jan 2022.

While Coucou Hotpot Singapore has yet to announce the full menu for its Singapore outlet, it has revealed on Instagram that it will serving a selection of meat (Japanese wagyu, Iberico black pork slices USDA beef), seafood (abalone, live shrimps, Boston lobster) as well as the usual hotpot ingredients such as vegetables, mushrooms and meatballs.

Photos credit: Coucou Hotpot Singapore

Other than hotpot, Coucou Hotpot will also be offering a selection of Taiwanese tea and bubble tea.

Coucou Hotpot Singapore
Level three of Suntec City’s North Wing
3 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038983

Jewel Changi Airport level 2
78 Airport Blvd., Singapore 819666

Known for its Vietnamese pho and street food, Mrs Pho has opened a new Vietnamese Charcoal Hotpot and Barbecue concept, Mrs Pho House at Ngee Ann City.

Mrs Pho House specialises in traditional Vietnamese charcoal fired hotpot as well as grilled side items. All dishes—including broths, ingredients, and side dishes—are prepared by a third-generation female Chef Linh from Vietnam.

To celebrate their opening, Mrs Pho House will be offering 50% off soup bases from 8 Sep – 8 Oct 2021. Diners must a prior reservation to enjoy the promotion.

There are four soup bases available on Mrs Pho House’s menu and they are made with Vietnamese herbs, spices and ingredients:

• Collagen Pepper Pork (regular S$28, large S$28)
• Vietnamese Perilla Mutton (regular S$25, large S$30)
• Herbal Chicken and Mushroom (regular S$23, large S$28)
• Crab Bisque (regular S$38, large S$48)

You can get a variety of meats, seafoods, vegetables and mushrooms that are perfect for hotpot.

Meat options include:

• Japanese wagyu
• Pork belly
• Iberico pork shoulder shabu shabu
• Handmade meatballs
• Beef balls
• Lemongrass brine chicken

Seafood options include:

• Whole rainbow lobster
• Scallops
• Mussels
• Tiger prawns
• Baby octopus
• Fish fillet

The Pomelo Salad (S$18.90) might not sound like much, but it was our favourite dish from Mrs Pho House’s menu. The refreshing salad came with Vietnamese crystal pomelo, fresh tiger prawns and fresh herbs.

Another dish that we really loved was the Mrs Pho Iberico Pork Belly on Skewers ($5.90) featuring marinated juicy slices of Iberico pork belly on sticks.

There are also other side dishes such as the Five Spice Butter Quail (S$18.90), Lemongrass Chicken in Claypot (S$13.90), and Stuffed Squid (S$19.90).

Mrs Pho House
391 Orchard Road, #B2-36A, Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238872

A hotpot feast with gorgeous waterfront views? Little Sheep Hot Pot at One Fullerton is a popular hot pot restaurant chain which has almost 300 branches all over the world.

Founded 18 years ago in Inner Mongolia, you can be sure that the dishes served here have an authentic Mongolian taste. Standing out from the regular hot pot restaurant, Little Sheep Hot Pot is well-known to serve broths that do not require a separate dipping sauce.

Not only will you enjoy mouth-watering platters and soups, but you also get to dine with a picturesque view if you opt for outdoor seating.

Trust us, the rich, palatable broth base is just enough to satiate your tastebuds. Each broth base blends a harmony of flavours, spices, and ingredients such as goji berries, jujubes, black cardamon pods, ginseng, and herbs.

We ordered their famous broth, the Mushroom Soup (S$9++), which is arguably one of their richest broths, with an earthy flavour that complements the superb meats perfectly.

We recommend pairing this broth with their signature meats, the Kurobuta Pork (S$10++), Signature Lamb Rolls (S$9++), or the USA Beef (S$14++). The meats are thinly sliced, tender, and juicy.

Enjoy a hearty meal with your friends and family while you take in the views of the spectacular Marina Bay waterfront. Feast your tastebuds on the wide array of meat platters offered, paired with equally delicious broth, and feast your eyes on the lovely view of the bayfront. Enjoy!

Little Sheep Hot Pot
One Fullerton
1 Fullerton Rd, #01-05
Singapore 049213

Beauty In The Pot (BITP) is opening its 7th outlet at nex in October 2020. Beauty In The Pot rose to fame with its beauty collagen broth and it has firmly established itself as one of the most popular hotpot restaurants in Singapore.

Beauty In The Pot will be taking over the spot vacated by the now-defunct MOF @ My Izakaya. The Paradise Group—the parent company of Beauty In The Pot—will also be opening Canton Paradise next to Beauty In The Pot.

Photo credit: Beauty In The Pot

We are definitely hoping that the new outlet at nex will open until 3am like the other the Beauty In The Pot outlets. Can’t wait to have steamboat supper at the new outlet!

Beauty In The Pot nex
23 Serangoon Central
#02-01 nex
Singapore 556083
Nearest station: Serangoon

For all their mind-boggling dishes and ground-breaking creations, it comes as a shocker that Spice World Hotpot has ceased its operations in Singapore. There has been no reason provided yet for their closure.

This hotpot establishment in Clarke Quay shot to popularity for their wild innovation that saw dishes such as teddy bear broths and metre-long meat platters. Some skeptics may have seen them as being over-the-top and gimmicky, but Spice World Hotpot proved them wrong with their dedication to quality and service.

Spicy World Hotpot arrived in Singapore in 2018 and served up authentic Sichuan flavours.  Flying their ingredients and soup bases in from Sichuan, they were certainly not messing around with their robust broths and fresh ingredients.

Their Teddy Bear Spicy Butter Soup Base was well-loved for more than just its theatrical value while their Barbie Australian Wagyu Beef Slices promised marbled cuts of excellent quality.

We can only hope that Spice World Hotpot will re-open soon. Till then, Hai Di Lao and Beauty In A Pot will have one less competitor.

Whenever we’re craving something a little more special, all it takes is a couple of taps on our mobile devices to get us there.

Come CapitaStar—CapitaLand Malls’ Loyalty Programme—you can now earn more, save more and dine more, more conveniently than ever.

CapitaStar rewards you for your daily shopping on top of any existing rewards and credit card programmes. Enjoy discounts on discounts as your rewards stack up to make your dining experience absolutely worth it. Exchange for attractive e-Deals on the CapitaStar App easily in one-tap with your STAR$®, which are easily earned just by snapping a picture of your CapitaLand mall receipts! This means the more you dine, the more you save, and we can’t see any downside to that really.

To make things even sweeter, when you sign up as a CapitaStar member through the app, enter our code <LICSC> to kick-start your journey with bonus 1,000 STAR$®. If you’re spoilt for choices (which we know you are), here are 8 of our top recommendations to start your journey with.

WIN S$10,000 WITH CAPITASTAR

That’s not all! Considering we’re entering the final quarter of the year, it’s also the season for giving. CapitaStar is offering everyone a once-in-a-lifetime chance to win S$10,000, in their CapitaStar #SuperStarShopper Challenge taking place on 10th November, Saturday at Bugis+, where participants will battle it out in a game of strategy and wits.

In order to stand a chance to take part in this challenge, all you have to do is follow the instructions on this FaceBook post on CapitaLand’s page. 20 finalists will be selected and given S$1,000 to go on a shopping spree!  

It sounds too good to be true, so seize this opportunity while you can! This is one loyalty programme you really have to sign up for immediately.

CHUAN.GRILL NOODLE & BAR

An outdoor eatery specialising in delectable Sichuan cuisine, Chuan. Grill Noodle & Bar caters to meat-lovers with their Northern-style grilled meat and vegetable skewers, but we felt the real star of the shop was definitely their la mian.

With over 10 different varieties of noodles to choose from, all of which are customisable to your own liking, you’d be hard pressed to find something that doesn’t match your tastes. While the signature dish is their Signature Beef Combination Noodle (S$16.50) that comes with ribeye, tendon and shank, the underdog is definitely the owner’s favourite Pork Rib Noodle (S$12.50) with just how delicious the broth alone was.

Deal available on CapitaStar App: 30% Off Ala-Carte Noodle Dish at 500 STAR$®!

3A River Valley Road
#01-01
Singapore 179020
Daily: 11.30am – 4am
Nearest Station: Fort Canning

CRYSTAL JADE

Crystal Jade is a household name and one that familiies can always turn to for a good meal. With a menu stuffed with crowd pleasures such as dim sum bites, congee and roast meats, there’s always something for everyone in the family.

Of course, you can’t go without the classic Har Gau Siew Mai, but do give their Salted Egg Shrimp with Cheong Fun a try too! With layers of rice roll delicately wrapped around salted egg roe and shrimp, you’d feel like a king feasting on this. As for the kids, they’d love the Assorted Lotus Paste buns made to look like adorable animals.

Deal available on CapitaStar App: S$5 off at 2,000 STAR$®!

200 Victoria Street
Bugis Junction #B1-04a
Singapore 188021
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

HAIDILAO

Yes! Even the king of hotpot Haidilao is also available under CapitaStar’s App! Time for a hotpot party!

While we’d recommend their Black Angus Beef, Mutton Slices and Fresh Seafood, we all know their hand-pulled noodles is one of the biggest stars of the show there. Witexemplaryry services and equally if not even better food, what’s not to love?

Deal available on CapitaStar App: S$6 off with min $20 spend at 500 STAR$®!

Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road #04-01/20
Singapore 238839
Daily: 10.30am – 6am
Nearest Station: Dhouby Gaut

ISURAMUYA JAPANESE RESTAURANT & MARKETPLACE

Isuramuya Japanese Restaurant & Marketplace is Singapore’s first Halal Certified restaurant that uses only the freshest and the best ingredients imported from Japan. It provides a completely new experience to Japanese Cuisine from the usual fare, allowing you to savour the true taste of Japan.

They also have an on-site marketplace for you to shop for ingredients too. Just a few minutes away from the station, Isuramuya is the perfect weekend spot to chill at with friends and family to share and enjoy the best of the best in a comfortable setting.

Deal available on CapitaStar App: 1-for-1 mains for 1,000 STAR$®!

2 Jurong East Central 1
#04-19 JCube Jurong
Singapore 609731
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Jurong East

KUSHIKATSU TANAKA

If you’re looking for something a little different from the usual ramen or sushi grub, look no further as Kushikatsu Tanaka offers the finest and most authentic kushikatsu experience in Singapore. For the uninitiated, kushikatsu refers to the Japanese style of deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables.

They offer assorted skewer sets for those indecisive about which ones to choose. Their Recommended 5 (S$8.20) comes with Asparagus, Lotus Root, Beef, Pork and Onion that are nothing short of delicious, with the natural flavour retained within a thin crisp breading layer. If you’d prefer something a bit more hands-on, the DIY Potato Salad Mentaiko (S$10) is sure to please.

What’s better? CapitaStar is now offering to top up your dining experience with 1-for-1 Beer!

Deal available on CapitaStar App: 1-for-1 Suntory Premium Malt’s Beer with order of 5 Kinds Assorted Skewers Platter for 500 STAR$®!

3A River Valley Road
Merchant Court Clarke Quay Block A #01-01B
Singapore 179020
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 5pm – 12am
Sat: 12pm – 1am
Sun: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Fort Canning

MARUGAME UDON

Marugame Udon & Tempura is a Japanese restaurant that offers freshly made Sanuki-style Udon at affordable prices. Operating in a self-service manner, you get to choose your preferred tempura to go along with your udon, before slathering as many toppings at the seasoning bar to your hearts’ content.

Mentaiko lovers watch out because they’re seriously heavy handed on the mentaiko. A bowl full of perfectly chewy udon covered in pollack roe makes for an extremely sinful meal that you know you’d be back for over and over again.

Deal available on CapitaStar App: 1-for-1 Udon and Don for 1000 STAR$®!

252 North Bridge Rd
Raffles City Shopping Centre B1-14/15
Singapore 179103
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

RODIZIO DO BRAZIL CHURRASCARIA & BAR

Something further from the norm, Rodizio Do Brazil is an authentic Brazilian steakhouse and bar, where on top of their Asian and Western buffet spread, their chefs come over with giant skewers of meat to carve it right in front of you, on your table.

The meat ranges from lamb to beef and even more varieties and less-commonly eaten cuts such as Chicken Hearts and Beef Hump—in which their pride lies in that their beef and lamb are grass-fed instead of grain-fed, resulting in a lower fat to meat ratio without sacrificing any of the flavours. Not to worry about the meat-fiesta being too overwhelming, their grilled pineapples are the perfect accompaniment to it.

We can’t get enough of the cuts and buffet is definitely the go-to option in this case!

Deal available on CapitaStar App: 20% Off Dinner Buffet for 500 STAR$®! 

3E River Valley Road
#01-07
Singapore 179024
Sun to Thurs: 6pm – 11pm
Fri to Sat: 6pm – 3am
Nearest Station: Fort Canning

SPICE WORLD HOTPOT

Take what you know and love about the regular hot pot and bring them a few levels up—that’s what Spice World Hotpot is, serving up authentic Sichuan flavour. Both the interior and the dishes themselves are incredibly ornate, almost overwhelmingly so, but whether for a dinner occasion or to settle some post-clubbing cravings, we could always use that touch of extra.

Widely known for their adorable Teddy Bear Spicy Butter (S$9.90) soup base, you get to begin your meal by watching the cute little mascot disintegrate into its own juices. What people normally come in for, too, is their Premium Barbie Wagyu Beef (S$38.90) — a Barbie doll wrapped in thin slices of beef akin to Lady Gaga’s meat dress. Our favourite definitely has to be their One Meter Mutton Slices (S$28.90), its heady game meat flavour complementing the umami of the broth. While it seems rather gimmicky at first, the quality of the ingredients and dishes served makes the presentation just the cherry on top.

Deal available on CapitaStar App: $20 Off With Min. $100 Spend for 500 STAR$®!

Clarke Quay #01-06/07 3B
River Valley Road
Singapore 179021
Sun to Thurs: 10.30am – 4am
Fri to Sat: 10.30am – 6am
Nearest Station: Fort Canning

All these restaurants are available on the CapitaStar App waiting for you to dine and save with. If you’re not already a member, sign up now with our code <LICSC> and stand a chance to enter the CapitaStar #SuperStarShopper Challenge to win S$10,000 here!

So what are you waiting for? Sign up today to dine more, save more, earn more!

This post is brought to you by CapitaStar.

This unique moniker—Captain. K—can be interpreted in two ways. You can analyse it as K for anything Korean or K for Kenneth, the down-to-earth former Marine Chief Engineer turned F&B owner of this speciality seafood eatery.

Fit for all sorts of communal gatherings, corporate events and special occasions, the ambience of Captain K is rather cosy with the ever-ready staff always at hand to tend to your needs and requests.

Everyone knows Captain K for its multi-tiered Seafood Tower and you bet we love that too. But the humble eating—famed for its extremely fresh seafood—is introducing hotpot in its menu at its Middle Road outlet on 01 November 2017 and the prices are very reasonable for the quality!

Now you have more options for communal dining at Captain K Seafood Tower. We share with you our favourites from the hotpot menu, as well as everything we love about its signature 9-tier Fresh Seafood Tower.

Supper goers will be delighted to know that Captain K’s Middle Road outlet opens until 4am every day, making it the perfect supper spot in town.

PS. For the month of November 2017, simply quote ‘Ladyironchef upon making your reservation to enjoy a whopping 30% off Captain K’s hotpot and an even better 40% for orders after 10pm—valid all day, every day. This promotion is not valid for soup bases as well as seafood.

Come 01 Nov 2017, Captain. K will introduce its exclusive hotpot, giving you even more variety now. After narrowing down your two soup bases (Kombu Dashi is the sixth available option), take your pick from a slew of over 97 steamboat ingredients that feature dumplings, homemade balls, signature pastes and of course the premium seafood list.

Soup bases are priced at one for S$16 and two for S$20, with a supplement of S$4 if either of your option includes Ginseng Chicken.

Half and full portions are available so that you do not over-order (or under order). The exhaustive list of ingredients sure drove us crazy! We were hooked on the Fried Beancurd Roll (S$4/half, S$8/full) that gave a lovely crisp—but the tip is to only dip it into the bubbling soup for 3 seconds. It was really addictive, to say the least!

The abalone (S$15/half, $30/full) was also stellar along with the Red Garoupa (seasonal price) that captured the essence of the hearty broth infused in its soft, flaky white meat.

For all the carnivores out there, let the tender Sliced Lamb (S$8/half, S$16/full) and the US Wagyu Beef Chuck Roll (S$12/half, S$24/full) leave you grinning from ear to ear. There is also a stellar variety of pork but we say you go straight for the US Kurobuta Pork Belly Shabu (S$7/half, S$14/full).

And the meat party doesn’t stop there. You must try Captain K’s Homemade Balls. Every meatball is huge and substantial, making it more filling than it looks. There is the Assorted Meat Balls Combo (S$11) for those who want the best of all worlds. We absolutely enjoyed the Beef Meat Ball (S$5/half, S$10/full)!

There is a range of Homemade Paste too; from Ebiko Prawn Paste (S$16) to our favourite Century Egg Fish Paste (S$10).

Captain. K certainly does not compromise on the quality of their seafood and meat; we were thoroughly impressed with our meal, to say the least.

A fuss-free seafood extravaganza awaits at Captain K and it is a location that is suitable for all occasions, be it for parties or a family dinner. As crowds peak during dinner, be sure to swiftly make reservations for your gastronomic seafood delight.

For the entire month of November 2017, quote ‘Ladyironchef’ upon making your reservations to enjoy a 30% discount off your hotpot meal, and a whopping 40% if you dine after 10pm. This promotion is not valid for soup bases as well as seafood.

The famed nine-tier Captain K Seafood Tower has indeed taken the food scene in Singapore by storm. Comprising nine staggering steamer trays stacked atop each other, each level is steamed to absolute perfection all thanks to a treasure trove of natural seafood juices and briny tang, in combination with the simmering hearty broth at the base.

From mussels, scallops, clams, crawfish, oysters, prawns, squid and Chilean King Crab, the key to what sets this seafood eatery apart lies in Captain K getting the freshest seafood from its suppliers at Senoko Fishery Port daily. Do note that the variety of seafood may vary according to the catch of the day.

You can choose from 5 distinct soup bases that best cater to your palate: Korean Kimchi, Tomato, Sze Chuan Mala, Tomyam Mushroom and Ginseng Chicken. All are priced at S$12 each except for Ginseng Chicken (S$18) with glutinous rice stuffing that represents a premium selection.

We highly recommend the made-from-scratch Tomato option for a novel yet tantalising experience. We were sceptical initially but realized that the soup boasts surreal hints of sweetness, which perfectly counters the strong tanginess that stems from the bold tomato flavour.

Highlights of the Captain K Seafood Tower (S$328.90) includes the luscious Prawns that are plump and sweet.

The oysters also lean away from the usual briny taste and offer a memorably sweet yet light flavour. We were pleasantly surprised by this!

However, the showstopper goes unanimously to the Chilean King Crab. The succulent pieces of crab meat are unparalleled and the taste is elevated when you pair it with the homemade Thai Mookata dip.

Whether you show up as a party of two or intend to have a mass family reunion, there is a tier for everyone. A three-tier option (S$59.90) with clams, mussels, prawns, oysters and scallops all in the crustacean mix is ideal for a pair.

If you upgrade to a five-tier tower (S$118.90), you get tiger prawns in addition to the three-tier seafood selection. The portion increases proportionally as well. Go jumbo with the seven-tier tower (S$198.90) and enjoy a serving of squid along with all the other aforementioned seafood.

Once you have massacred the tower and reached the soup base, you can also choose from an array of ingredients to add to your flavour-packed soup. The plates are colour-coded starting from S$2 for the yellow plate all the way to S$8 for the deluxe black plate.

And guys, can we just repeat how much we enjoyed the premium nine-tier tower? The price may sound shocking at first but if you go work out the sums and split it among eight people (because it is good for eight), you’d realize that you are getting a lot of value and premium seafood for the price you are paying. Just gather your best friends and go for an epic seafood party!

Captain K Seafood Tower – Middle Road
112 Middle Road, #01-00
Midland House
Singapore 188970
Tel: +65 6255 5744
Mon-Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Sat-Sun: 11.30am – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm
(Last order at 2.30pm and 10pm)
Website : https://www.captaink.sg/
Nearest Station: Bugis

This post is brought to you by Captain K Seafood Tower.

Jin Ho Mia—which means ‘a really good life’ in Hokkien—is the newest addition to the Alexandra Retail Centre that serves up rice and salad bowls for lunch and hot pots for dinner. It is the sister restaurant of Soi Thai Soi Nice—a Thai seafood hotpot restaurant in Alexandra.

Living up to its moniker, the restaurant revolves around the concept of keeping life good with fresh ingredients and quality service.

In the day, Jin Ho Mia caters to those who seek a quick and hearty lunch with their wholesome range of rice bowl choices and as the sun sets, this humble eatery transforms into a hotpot restaurant.

Do yourself a favour and take a trip down to savour some incredible Asian fare.

Photo Credit: Jin Ho Mia

For lunch on weekdays only, Jin Ho Mia offers a range of rice bowls and poke for busy executives working around the Alexandra area. Diners can build their own rice bowl or pick from a selection of bowls including Pao Fan, Salmon Poke and Protein.

Each set meal comes with different rice or salad bowl options as well as a drink and a side salad.

Photo Credit: Jin Ho Mia

As the day slowly turns to night, so does the restaurant with its stellar array of hotpot options which include flavours such as tom yum, chicken, cheese, tomato and fish.

Hotpot highlights include the Tok Kong Pot ($48.80++) which comes with Alaskan crab legs, flower clams, tiger prawns snow crab sticks and more; and Ah Boy Pot ($33.80++), which has Jin Ho Mia pork balls, lobster balls, bacon, roasted pork, luncheon meat, chicken chipolata and vegetables.

Photo Credit: Jin Ho Mia

Jin Ho Mia
460 Alexandra Rd,
#02-20 Alexandra Retail Centre,
Singapore 119963
Tel: +65 6352 7725
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3.30pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Labrador Park

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/10/jin-ho-mia/feed/ 0 https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/05/hai-di-lao-hot-pot-bedok-mall/ https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/05/hai-di-lao-hot-pot-bedok-mall/#comments Wed, 24 May 2017 09:39:43 +0000 ladyironchef http://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=133690 Continue reading →]]>

Hai Di Lao Hot Pot is finally opening a new outlet in the East of Singapore at Bedok Mall. Known for its Sichuan-style hot pot and exceptional services, Hai Di Lao has quickly established itself as one of the most popular hot pot restaurants in Singapore.

The opening at Bedok Mall is certainly great news for East-siders who no longer have to travel all the way to town to satisfy the cravings for the awesome tomato soup.

Over at Hai Di Lao’s outlet at 313@Somerset, it is not uncommon to wait for at least 45 minutes for a table during dinner hours.

While Hai Di Lao has yet to announce an opening date for the Bedok outlet, the menu is expected to be the same as the other locations.

Other than the new location at Bedok Mall—which is located directly above UNIQLO and next to the entrance of Bedok MRT—Hai Di Lao Hot Pot currently has four other outlets at 313@Somerset, Clarke Quay, VivoCity and IMM. We wouldn’t bet against it opening the next outlet in the North of Singapore.

Hai Di Lao Hot Pot
311 New Upper Changi Rd
Singapore 467360

If you are thinking of having a meat-free food meal that is not only healthy but affordable, you might want to add GreenDot to your list of restaurants. The co-founder’s family has been in the meat-free food business for decades, and being a supplier themselves, they are ever proud of their high quality and stay true to keeping their prices competitive.

With the motto “Eat Green, Feel Good”, the people behind GreenDot are strong believers of eating green to stay healthy. In order to cater to their customer’s nutritional needs, they have teamed up with a group of nutritionists to serve food that contains only the most beneficial ingredients, and there is no added MSG.

This humble restaurant currently has three outlets (Westgate, Paya Lebar Square and Bedok Mall) in Singapore and it plans to open a few more outlets so that everyone can enjoy affordable meat-free meals.

The best thing about GreenDot is most dishes on the menu are priced under S$10 – you can have a well-balanced meal without burning a hole in your pocket.

GreenDot distinguishes themselves in serving home-cooked fares prepared down to the very last detail – much like how our moms do. Step into the restaurant, and you will be greeted by a welcoming interior and a group of passionate employees who will enhance your experience; good food that reminds of you dining at home, that is what we really love about GreenDot.

For the working crowd, their customised bento lunch sets allow you to grab a quick lunch at a pocket-friendly price of S$7.90. Customize your lunch, and pick only your favourites. You get to choose from 5 different types of rice choices – Beauty Rice, Emperor Rice, Five Treasure Rice, Fragrance Rice or even Sesame Rice.

Mix and match is the fun part here – opt for one main and two greens from their bento counter. Our favourite was definitely the Cereal Konnyaku, a high fibre and low-fat dish. The Konnyaku is coated with cereal, then tossed with bird’s eye chilli and curry leaves till golden brown. The taste barred close resemblance to that of Cereal Prawns, a hawker dish no stranger to any Singaporean.

Some other crowd pleasers include their Lion Mane Mushroom Rendang Bowl (S$9.50), Tom Yam Noodles (S$6.50) and Laksa Noodles (S$5.90). Now, trust us when we say the Lion Mane Mushroom Rendang Bowl can be really addictive. It comes with Lion Mane mushrooms and assorted mushrooms with signature rendang sauce atop sesame rice. Definitely not your usual vegetarian food, and it is one so flavourful that we really did not miss our meat at all.

Every ingredient used for the dishes at GreenDot is handpicked by their owners and is free of MSG. They believe in the philosophy of crafting their broth from scratch; mom will approve.

For burger fans, you will be surprised, but GreenDot serves a series of meat-free burgers that are so tantalizing, they are bound to whet your appetites. Their Lion Mane Mushroom Burger Set (S$11.80) comes with a patty fused with mashed Lion Mane mushrooms and soy. It is then smothered with feisty black pepper sauce, cheese, Green Coral lettuce and tomatoes for a complete experience. Complete with fries and salad served on the side, of course.

To be most honest, we were not expecting ourselves to love this meat-free burger. How exciting can a mushroom patty be, right? But you know what they say about “do not judge a book by its cover”? We finally grasped the meaning of this saying. Now, make a trip down to GreenDot and try the burger for yourself; you will sing praises of it too.

Need your steamboat fix? Sure, this mini hotpot set at S$29.90 will do the trick. It is ridiculously affordable, because the set comes with a whole pot of green goodness and mushrooms that last a lifetime, together with free refills of soup, two bowls of brown rice and free refill of tea. A mini hot pot set for four is also available at S$49.90, with extra ingredients in the basket, four bowls of rice, and a mushroom platter.

The mini hotpot set comes with 3 variations of soup of your choice – Herb, Laksa and Tom Yam. And we say go straight for the herb broth. It is incredible beyond words. Prepared with ten different kinds of fresh herbs that boost blood circulation, reduce cholesterol and to expel heat from the body, this broth got us so hooked. There were many items on our table for lunch, and subconsciously, all of us kept reaching for more soup from the hotpot. We had thought we would drink this for good complexion, but heck, we will drink it because it tastes so damn hearty!

Of course, apart from your greens and mushrooms, the platter also comes with Konnyaku prawns, crispy beancurd skin (tau kee) and Green Corals.

We are carnivores and we are proud of it. But for this table of gorgeous greens and real food, we are more than happy to eat clean and eat green at GreenDot – which has rocketed to become our favourite vegetarian restaurant in Singapore. GreenDot is the best testament that having a healthy and meat-free meal need not be expensive.

P.S. We heard it is really popular with the executives and families in the area!

GreenDot
Paya Lebar Square
60 Paya Lebar Road, #02-15/16/17
Singapore 409051
Tel: +65 6702 2221
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar

This post is brought to you by GreenDot.

Speak about Arteastiq, and its tea lounge at Mandarin Gallery instantly comes to mind. Recently, the good people behind this one-of-its-kind art jamming cum studio café have gone traditional with its new restaurant Arteastiq Tea Bone China at Millenia Walk.

The décor was effortlessly classy, bringing a sense of nostalgia without the tackiness. We were especially fascinated by the birdcages that dangled from the ceiling, an attempt to recreate the experiences of olden-day Chinese merchants who’d bird-watch while sipping pots of tea.

The hotpot menu is limited, with a choice of 3 soup bases – Bak Kut Teh ($5.50), Pork Bone ($6.50) or Ginseng Chicken ($8.80), and a selection of ingredients such as Sliced Salmon ($14.80), Kampong Chicken ($11.80) and Vegetables ($6.80).

We went for the pork bone soup, which was comforting and flavourful, if just a tad heavy-handed on the salt. The Sliced Beef ($12.80) which a at first glance looked fresh and promising, turned out to be sinewy and lacking in flavour. Vegetables are, well, vegetables. But they made for a feel-good meal together with a bowl of brown rice ($2), which was cooked with a mish-mash of vegetables and beans.

Apart from the hotpots, Arteastiq dishes up a variety of communal dishes, from the ubiquitous pan-fried Silver Cod Fish ($16.80) to the intriguing Crispy Tofu with Chicken and Avocado Cream ($12.80).

We enjoyed the Siew Mai ($4.80) from the dim sum menu, but found the signature Xiao Long Baos ($6.80) unremarkable. If there is one dish we’d return to Tea Bone China for, it is the Wanton with hot chilli sauce ($5.80). Sitting in a pool of sourish, slightly spicy Chinese vinegar were 6 plump, juicy prawn and pork dumplings encased in a silky wanton skin. These were remarkably satisfying.

Arteastiq’s attempt to recreate the hotpot experience fine-dining style is commendable, but would probably not please traditionalists looking for a hearty hotpot meal since portions are small. While the experience is worth a visit, the food is not. With so many other dining options at Millenia Walk, we doubt we will be hurrying back any time soon.

Arteastiq Tea Bone China
9 Raffles Boulevard
#02-19/20 Millenia Walk
Tel: +65 6333 5117
Sun to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm

Words and photographs by Sarah Lim