Love Korean chicken and fast food? Well if you do, we have great news for you because No Signboard Holdings is bringing in eateries under the South Korea-based Mom’s Touch Chicken and Burger brand to Singapore and Malaysia.

For those of you who are not familar with the brand, Mom’s Touch Chicken and Burger is a popular fast food chain with around 650 stores in South Korea.

The company’s adorable name stems from their belief that food made the same way as a mother would for her family is always the best.

Photo Credit: Mom’s Touch

Mom’s Touch mainly specialises in fried chicken wings, chicken burgers and hamburgers. Their all-time popular wings come in a variety of mouthwatering flavours such as spicy, chilli pepper, honey, garlic, onion cheese and curry.

What makes Mom’s Touch great is also the fact that they do not use trans fat oils or monosodium glutamate in any of their products, so you know that you are getting some great quality food.

The first of these stores will be opened in Malaysia in 2019, with another seven stores to be opened in different parts of both Singapore and Malaysia within the first three years of the agreement.

So, for all our fried chicken fans out there, get ready to sink your teeth in some solid Korean fried chicken real soon!

There have been more and more halal eateries popping up all around Singapore in recent months, which is great because that means more places to eat out with our Muslim friends!

A relatively new addition to that list, a must-try if you’re a fan of beef and Japanese food, is Gyunion. This humble hole-in-the-wall Japanese eatery sells authentic, Halal-Certified Japanese cuisine with ingredients that are directly sourced from Japan. So, if you’re looking for somewhere new to feast on some hearty Japanese food, this is definitely a place to consider.

Gyunion is the brainchild of 3 good friends who wanted to provide Halal Japanese food for the Muslim community.

This tiny restaurant was almost impossible to spot given its small size and there are literally only a few seats available, making it not the most ideal for big groups.

The first thing that we tried was their Gyu-men (S$8.90), which featured thinly sliced beef and onions with thin noodles soaked in a warm beef broth. We absolutely love the beef here! The beef slices were nice and thin, which helped it to soak up all the sauce as well as made it easier to chew. 

We were also advised to dress up the noodles with condiments such as shoyu sauce and Japanese chilli flakes according to our taste preference. Upon first taste, we understood why we were asked to do so because the noodles were a tad bit bland. 

We also tried their Gyu-don (S$7.90), which is a beef rice bowl. The portions were generous and we loved how the onsen egg gave the don a much creamier consistency.

For lunch, you can also pay $9.90 for a meal that comes with a drink as well as an onsen egg.

Gyunion is definitely a must-try recommendation from us if you’re looking for a no-frills, minimalistic place that serves up solid, authentic Japanese food. They are however only available on weekdays, so don’t go down on a weekend to avoid disappointment!

Gyunion
91 Bencoolen Street, #01-23
Bencoolen Plaza
Singapore 189652
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Mon – Fri: 12pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Bencoolen

Our favourite Fresh Fruits Lab (FFL) is back at it again. They have opened a second cafe—Fresh Fruits Lab Z Edition—in Clementi just behind NUS.

The new outlet is nothing short of amazing. Just like their previous branch, they stick to the core of incorporating fruits into their menu as much as possible, being kid-friendly, and serving up absolutely delicious food at even more reasonable prices than before.

We already know what’s great at their first branch, so what is it about The Z Edition that makes it fantastic? A bouncy castle for kids during the weekends! And on top of that, there are some tweaks to the menu and here is everything we love.

From now until 30 Nov 2018, kids below 8 dine for free during weekends at Fresh Fruits Lab Z when you quote ‘ladyironchef’. Every order of a main course comes with a complimentary kid’s main (from the kids’ menu).

Calling all mommies: this is also the next brunch spot you must bring your kids to for a jolly good time!

BANGING APPETISERS

Just like before, FFL serves their signature cold-pressed juices in a small test tube for you to sample, and in an adorable beaker should you order the full-size ones (averagely S$5 per glass).

We ordered the Spam Fries (S$8) as well as the Golden Brown Chicken Wings (S$8)—both served with homemade sweet chilli sauce.

The chicken wings had a lovely crispy skin that readily soaked up sweet garlic taste of the chilli. It was well seasoned down to the bone, and juicy without being oily. The light batter coating the spam fries also had an interesting texture to it, that provided a pleasant contrast between it and the soft spam inside. Despite being deep fried, it wasn’t greasy at all.

VALUE-FOR-MONEY MAINS

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. The Classic British Fish and Chips (S$12) is our all-time favourite main at FFL.

As plain and boring as it sounds, the portion size is massive, and the fish remains firm, flaky and delicately soft, encrusted by a thin layer of white ale batter. Their homemade tartar sauce boasts a slight spice to it that made the whole dish even more enjoyable. As if the generous serving is not filling enough, it comes with a side of fruit salad and truffle fries.

Another main to try is the FFL Baked Rice (S$9). The rice is cooked in buttermilk before being baked with a layer of mozzarella cheese, and it is pleasantly cheesy without being cloying or heavy. With bacon, chicken ham and mushrooms in it, kids are bound to love this dish of baked rice for sure!

The Grilled Pork Loin (S$15) is also a chef’s recommendation. Tender, thick and juicy, each morsel was a delight in itself to eat.

Served with mashed potatoes, eggplant pesto and green zucchini, the flavours intermingled with one another to highlight and emphasize the natural sweetness of the meat. It also comes along with pesto mayo sauce and apple chutney that helped to change up the flavour profile as we ate it.

Cafes are usually not known for their steaks, but FFL’s Angus Rib Eye (S$22) is definitely worth its price. It is a genuine 250gm of Angus ribeye that’s tender and soft, with the perfect amount of chew before easily sliding down your throat.

We loved how with every chew it released more of that beef flavour we all know and love, which melded well with their brown sauce that was slightly sweeter than the typical chargrill or mushroom sauce.

We also enjoyed their Cajun Chicken (S$10), which is really a simple yet comforting roasted cajun chicken served with grilled vegetables, sweet corn and mashed potatoes.

BITE-SIZED FUN FOR THE KIDS

Just like their first branch, FFL aims to cater to the entire family. Treat your kids to deliciously adorable meals such as FFL’s Teddy The Daddy (S$8), Little Miss Koala (S$8) or Chicken Little (S$10).

Their kids’ menu is prepared with less salt, without compromising on any of the other flavours for the children to enjoy. That is, if they’re willing to cut into something so cute.

From now until 30 Nov 2018, kids below 8 dine for free during weekends at Fresh Fruits Lab Z when you quote ‘ladyironchef’. Every order of a main course comes with a complimentary kid’s main (from the kids’ menu).

They also offer cake decorating to allow your kids to have a hand at crafting their own desserts. Choose from a range of their signature and have your children’s creativity flow from the tip of their chocolate pens.

For those kids that just can’t sit still, there’s a bouncy castle out in their backyard—set up at Fresh Fruits Lab Z on weekends. Boy, won’t the kids get so excited about this!

Your kids will absolutely love the bouncy castle where they can bounce and run back and forth. Fresh Fruits Lab Z Edition is the perfect place for parents to kick back and relax with good food while their children entertain themselves.

During lunch hours from 12pm to 3pm (except on public holidays), FFL offers a set menu consisting of a drink, salad and main for only S$10.90++.

For the alcoholics, you’d also be glad to know they have daily beer promotions. The most bang for the buck ones being Wednesdays for students, with beer towers at only S$39 (U.p. S$49–53), and Fridays with two towers going for S$89! Worth it!

Fresh Fruits Lab – The Z Edition
28 Clementi Road
Singapore 129754
Tel: +65 6803 7472
(Closed on Mondays)
Tues to Fri: 12pm – 12am
Sat & Sun: 11am – 12am
Nearest Station: Kent Ridge

Fresh Fruits Lab
351 Changi Rd, Singapore 419818
Tel: +65 6677 6741
Tue to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Kembangan

This post was brought to you by Fresh Fruits Lab.

New to the slew of cafés and restaurants that have been sprouting up all over South Bridge Road is a small artisanal ice gelato café.

Whether it is an ice gelato for a refreshing treat in the middle of the day or an indulgent dessert to end off the night on a sweet note, Dopa Dopa Creamery will likely please you with their selective yet impressive range of ice cream.

Churning out ice cream so incredibly delicious that they were sold out on their first day, here is why you need to pay Dopa Dopa Creamery a visit if you are craving some sweet treats.

They only have 8 flavours on their menu—all of which are curated and made by an Italian chef. The standard flavours (S$3.90/ single scoop) include Apple Ginger Sorbet and Banana while premium flavours (S$4.60/ single scoop) include Home Roasted Pistachio and Green Tea Toasted Rice.

Coffee-lovers can look forward to getting a cuppa to complement the sweetness of their ice-cold desserts!

Rather than having our ice cream in a mainstream cup or cone, we opted to get our scoop of Green Tea Toasted Rice (S$4.60) in a buttery, flaky croissant (S$5.50).

Boasting a thick consistency that gives the gelato a slight chewiness, the Green Tea Toasted Rice flavour is one that any green tea lover must get. Mildly sweet with a hint of bitterness at the end just the way we prefer it to be, we highly recommend to try this flavour.

The Speculoos with Lotus Biscuit (S$4.60/ single scoop) features bits and pieces of crushed caramel biscuits mixed into a creamy and milky base, giving it an extra crunchy texture.

Otherwise, you can opt to get your ice cream in a cone for an additional S$1. Topping off our cone was Hojicha (S$4.60/ single scoop).

You can bet that the distinct smoky, toasty flavour will blow you away upon your first mouthful. Other popular flavours that Dopa Dopa Creamery offers are Hazelnut and Home Roasted Pistachio.

Dopa Dopa Creamery
29 South Bridge Road, #01-01
Singapore 058665
Tel: +65 6535 3539
Mon to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

Replacing the now defunct Jimoto-Ya along Pickering Street is Mister Wu, a casual dining eatery serving up Chinese far with a modern twist.

The concept behind the shop is simple staple food with little platters to share with colleagues and friends, with old-school Chinese and Cantonese music adding to the easy-going vibe of the place.

Catering to the lunch and dinner crowd with a specific menu to both, Mister Wu serves up la mian and rice bowls at affordable prices.

The main dishes start at just S$8, and with an additional S$4 you can get a lunch set inclusive of a side dish and tea.

We ordered Mr Su’s Braised Pork Rice (S$8), Revenge on Marco Polo (S$8) and Mahjong La Mian (S$8), along with a side of Fried Ping Pong Wanton (S$3 a la carte) and Brown Butter Oolong (S$3 a la carte).

We were told that the teas at Mister Wu are their own special blend, offering tea cocktails and tea ice creams made from the same blend.

The Brown Butter Oolong had a very subtle and light taste to it and was just perfect for cleansing our palate between each dish.

The Revenge of Marco Polo is a truffle mushroom dry la mian. The smell of truffles greeted us before we saw the dish, and piled at the side of the noodles were a mix of Enoki and Shimeji mushrooms, crunchy greens and a soft-yolk egg.

The Mahjong La Mian, on the other hand, had much stronger flavours. The spicy sesame sauce gave the creamy noodles a nice kick, while the shredded chicken and sliced cucumber helped to combat the heat and add texture to the bowl. Though the noodles were nice, we found the chicken a tad bit too dry.

Mr Su’s Braised Pork Rice is essentially a bowl of rice with braised pork on the side, with the same greens and egg as the previous two dishes. The braised pork was a good mix of fat and lean mean—not too dry, not too fatty, and just melts in your mouth.

The braising sauce was also rich, which accent the flavour of the pork. Though the rice had a bit of sauce on it, we did wish that the pork and rice were not served separately, as that would have allowed the sauce to soak into the rice more.

For just S$12, Mister Wu offers value-for-money meals in the CBD and is a place that would have you returning after trying their lunch menu to see what’s different in their dinner menu.

As they’ve only opened for about 2 weeks, Mister Wu is still currently undergoing their soft launch. Their full menu with pictures will be available from the 18th of this month onwards.

Mister Wu
3 Pickering Street, #01-44/45
China Square Central
Singapore 048660
Tel: +65 6781 3833
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm to 10pm
(Closed on Sundays & PH)
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

Aqua S—Sydney’s famous soft serve shop—is opening in Singapore. For all the dessert fans out there with an incurable sweet tooth, be prepared to get the sugar rush of your lifetime.

Aqua S’ famous blue-hued soft serve has taken the internet by storm and stunning pictures of this dessert have flooded our Instagram feeds ever since it was founded in 2016.

The mastermind behind these whimsical desserts, Aqua S, will be opening their first outlet in Singapore at Orchard Xchange. Here’s what you can expect besides insanely long queues.

Aqua S is most famous for their pastel blue sea salt-flavoured swirls that are often accompanied with toppings including toasted marshmallows, caramel popcorn, popping candy and of course, their signature dreamy fairy floss.

But that’s not all—Aqua S boasts over 130 rotational different flavours, all of which are pastel-coloured. This includes flavours such as D24 durian, apple cinnamon pie, tiramisu, grapefruit and taro.

Make sure to try their signature sea salt flavour, which was inspired by the famous sea salt ice-cream from Okinawa, Japan. This flavour will be permanent on the menu.

Like their outlet in Sydney, Singapore’s Aqua S will offer ever-changing flavours. Their soft serve flavours will rotate on the 1st and 16th of every month, so you may look forward to something new and exciting every fortnight! Prices start from S$5.70 for a plain cone and an additional S$0.80 for each topping.

Aqua S Singapore
437 Orchard Road, #B1-01
Orchard Xchange
Singapore 238878
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Red Holic is where lovers of Korean food can settle in for some of the tastiest tteokbokki around. Helmed by the same folks behind Super Star K, this cosy joint boasts a myriad of home-style Korean stews, dumplings and other tasty delights that go well with beer or soju.

Red Holic specialises in comforting Korean food in the likes of classic tteokbokki, ramyeon and Korean street snacks. While their menu is pretty selective, this Korean eatery does make for a nice pit stop for a quick snack on the go or for your friends and yourself to retire to over drinks after a hard day’s work.

Kick start your meal with one of Red Holic’s Giant Mandus (Korean dumplings). Red Holic serves a selective variety of this classic Korean street snack at a relatively affordable price per piece.

We opted for the Giant Kimchi Mandu (S$1.80++ per piece) and each piece came steaming hot and stuffed with generous amounts of kimchi, minced pork and glass noodles.

While the variety of textures, flavours and tongue-tingling heat surprised us in some way, we would have much preferred if it was less dry.

If you are tired of drooling over the Jjajangmyeon you often see in Korean dramas, hop over to Red Holic and order up a portion of Jjajang Tteokbokki that will satisfy any of such cravings.

The Crispy Chicken Jjajang Tteokbokki (S$27.80++) comes with Korean ramyeon noodles, quail eggs, 2 pieces of fried mandu, tteokbokki and pieces of diced up chicken thighs that are deep-fried to a nice golden brown.

The Jjajang sauce was mildly sweet and savoury with a slight spicy kick to it, which we felt went pleasantly well with the tteokbokki and ramyeon. The fried chicken arrives tender on the inside and crisp on the outside but we suggest you finish them up quickly before they turn soggy.

If you’re a fan of spicy food, don’t beat around the bush and head straight for the Red Holic Tteokbokki which comes with a broth that is equally as sweet as the Jjajang sauce, but with a fiery element that will impress.

The Red Holic Beef Brisket Tteokbokki (S$28.80++) can feed 2 to 3 people nicely given its size. Similar to the Crispy Chicken Jjajang Ttekbokki, this dish gives you the best of both worlds as it comprises both ramyeon as well as their signature Tteokbokki. Carbs aside, this dish will fill you up with the beef brisket, fried mandu as well as glass noodles too!

Tanjong Pagar may be home to plenty of Korean restaurants—this area is known to be Singapore’s ‘Little Korea’ after all—but what makes Red Holic stand out is their exceptional tteokbokki which are undeniably one of the best that we tried.

And while Red Holic’s menu is rather limited, they definitely deliver when it comes to quality. Should you wish to indulge in inexpensive and hearty Korean fare that is not overly pretentious, Red Holic is a great place to consider.

Red Holic
88 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088509
Tel: +65 6224 1064
Daily: 11.30am – 2am
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

It’s only been a few weeks since Isaac Toast announced its plans to open in Singapore but the wait has been agonising. But all’s good now because Isaac Toast will begin operations at Plaza Singapura from tomorrow (15 July 2018) onwards!

This popular Korean toast chain is famous for their breakfast toasts that come in an assortment of flavours which include the likes of ham & cheese, bulgogi and more. Locals and tourists alike love their sandwiches for the over-the-top fillings and crisp bread slices.

We had a sneak peek of their menu before they officially open so carry on reading to find out more!

From their MVP Series, patrons are treated to savoury gourmet sandwiches such as Double Spicy Cutlet, Hot Chicken MVP, Bulgogi MVP, Shrimp MVP and Hot Tteokgalbi MVP.

We came to a consensus that the Double Spicy Cutlet stole the limelight. Comprising a thick chunk of chicken cutlet, barbecue sauce and shredded cabbage for that added crunch, every bite of this decadent sandwich was flavourful.

One of our other favourite at Isaac Toast is their Ham & Cheese, which comes with ham, savoury omelette and cheese in between two slices of toasted bread.

Other flavours you can find include the Steak Ham, Ham Special and Ham & Cheese—simple recipes that will leave your tummy and taste buds satisfied.

Coffee, tea and fruit smoothies make up Isaac Toast’s beverage menu; you can go for an Americano, Cappuccino, Earl Grey Tea or cold drinks such as Strawberry & Banana Smoothie and Iced Tea.

Isaac Toast Singapore
68 Orchard Road
B2-42, Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

Five Oars Coffee Roasters is a Melbourne-style café which opened just a week ago in Tanjong Pagar. This newest addition to the slew of cafés around the area makes for an excellent choice for coffee-goers as they get their coffee beans sourced from Ethiopia and Brazil.

Their extensive menu features value-for-money brunch fare and substantial meals at night—from sumptuous rice bowls in the day to hearty mains for a filling dinner, Five Oars Coffee Roasters surely has something for everyone. They also serve craft beers on tap, including Stone & Wood Pacific Ale and Tuatara Helluva Helles Lager.

Besides their stunning instagrammable interior, here is why Five Oars is be somewhere café-hoppers should be adding to their list of brunch spots for the next hang out.

This brand new addition to the café scene in Tanjong Pagar strikes all the right chords in terms of aesthetics. The coffee shop is divided into two areas—an air-conditioned indoor area and an outdoor space with beautiful flora adorning the walls.

For our White Coffee (S$5 for 5oz), we opted for the blend roasted from a mix of Brazilian and Ethiopian beans. The result? A nutty, bittersweet and fragrant roast that will be enough to win over the discerning coffee-goers who frequent the district.

Otherwise, Five Oars Coffee Roasters also serves juices (S$5.5) and Craft Sodas (S$6.50) for non-caffeinated beverages. Should you be looking for some booze to have with your meal, they also offer craft beers on tap!

Five Oars offers a wide myriad of brunch fare ranging from interesting spins such as the Mentaiko Royale (S$21) and Valrhona Chocolate Pancakes (S$19.5) if you are craving for sweeter treats.

We opted for the Five Oars Breakfast (S$24), which indubitably is their signature breakfast item. Mixed salad, a sausage, a slice of thick cut bacon, portobello mushrooms, grilled tomato and half an avocado sits beside a piece of crispy hashbrown nestled atop a thick slice of sourdough toast.

Even with so many things going on in a single dish, every element on the plate was executed nicely—we would recommend getting this dish if you are looking for a substantial brunch affair.

Next up, we had the Spaghetti Granchio (S$18.50), which is essentially crabmeat pasta tossed in a tomato sauce. It is indeed a fairly simple dish, but it impressed us entirely nevertheless.

The pasta was cooked al dente and had a pleasant bite to it—but the star of the show goes to the generous helpings of crabmeat that topped the pasta which we were glad the café did not skimp on. 

Boasting an aesthetically-pleasing botanical interior, impeccable service, amazing coffee and plenteous food offerings, Five Oars Coffee Roasters is definitely a new café in Singapore worth checking out.

Five Oars Coffee Roasters
39 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088462
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

The wait is finally over—famous Hong Kong cha chaan teng, Tsui Wah, opens its doors to the public on 15 June 2018, 1pm!

Known for their Swiss Sauce Chicken Wings, King Prawns in XO Sauce with Tossed Noodles and Hong Kong-style milk tea, Tsui Wah Singapore will take over the space of former Attica Club at Clarke Quay which faces the Singapore River.

Fans will be delighted to know that the culinary team has been trained by chefs from Hong Kong to ensure that standards are kept high. So if you are ready to find out what Tsui Wah has to offer, continue reading on.

With its reputation in the Hong Kong food scene, it is little wonder why many Singaporeans (including us) are excited about the opening of this popular Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng in our city.

Tsui Wah’s flagship restaurant at Hong Kong Central is a popular spot for party-goers at Lan Kwai Fong as it opens for 24 hours daily. So we are not surprised to know that Tsui Wah Singapore has chosen Clarke Quay as its first location.

Similar to what you will find in their Hong Kong outlets, Tsui Wah Singapore will be offering their signature dishes including Crispy Bun with Sweet Condensed Milk (S$4), Pork Chop Bun (S$7.50), King Prawns in XO Sauce with Tossed Noodles (S$11), Malaysian Beef Brisket Curry with rice as well as their legendary Swiss Sauce  Chicken Wings (S$11).

Enjoy your food with the iconic Hong Kong-style Milk Tea (S$3.50), of course. However, you might have to wait a little longer for their iconic Bo Luo Buns and Chicken Rice as Tsui Wah will be slowly rolling out the full menu in Singapore.

The King Prawns in XO Sauce with Tossed Noodles (S$11) is fragrant and prawns served are plump and juicy. The noodles are cooked to a great al dente texture which we enjoyed thoroughly.

The Kagoshima-style Pork Cartilage in Fish Soup with Mixian features tender and delicious pork with a generous amount of smooth cartilage. You can also have it dry with instant noodles–the true Hong Kong-style.

Tsui Wah’s Signature Pork Chop Bun is a Hong Kong staple and it comes highly recommended. Simple but oh-so-satisfying!

The Crispy Bun with Condensed Milk is one those with a sweet tooth must not miss out on. The condensed milk adds texture and so much flavour to every bite. Ultra-addictive!

If you are looking for more sweet options, the Savoury French Toast Bites Served With Vanilla Ice Cream is a great way to end a hearty meal at Tsui Wah.

Tsui Wah Singapore’s new operating hours are from 11am to 1.30am daily and there are four new menu items especially for supper which will start from 10.30pm with the last order at 1am.

For quality Cha Chaan Teng fare at really affordable prices, head down to Tsui Wah Singapore to truly have a taste of authentic Hong Kong food.

Tsui Wah Singapore
3A River Valley Road, Clarke Quay #01-03
Singapore 179020
Daily: 11am – 1.30am
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

Read: 17 Best Cha Chaan Teng in Hong Kong you must dine at.

Photo credit: Japan Foods Holding

Konjiki Hototogisu—famous ramen shop from Tokyo—is opening in Singapore at Chijmes on 20 June 2018. Founded by Head Chef Atsushi Yamamoto in 1996, Konjiki Hototogisu started with humble origins in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Konjiki Hototogisu’s signature clam-flavoured broth ramen has won numerous awards and it has been listed on Tokyo’s Michelin Bib Gourmand list 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

This famous ramen shop from Tokyo will be having its soft opening on 20 June from 6pm to 8pm. The official opening is on 21 June.

Konjiki Hototogisu Singapore
#01-17 Chijmes
30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

Isaac Toast—popular Korean toast chain—is opening in Singapore at Plaza Singapura level B2 in mid-July 2018.

For those of you who are not familiar with Isaac Toast, it is known for its breakfast toast—savoury toasted sandwiches with fillings that include ham & cheese and bulgogi. There are different variations of toasts, of course.

Every toast is prepared upon order. You pick your preferred fillings, and the slices of bread will be toasted to a right level of crisp before the fresh fillings are piled on.

Photos credit: Isaac Toast Malaysia

Long queues are evident at almost every Isaac Toast outlet in Seoul daily. Despite its origins of being a breakfast item, Isaac Toasts are eaten throughout the day now; the queues do not simply stop once breakfast hours are over. Today, Isaac Toast is arguably one of the most famous all-day street snacks in Seoul.

Issac Toast current has over 700 retail stores in South Korea as well as overseas outlets in Macau, Taiwan and Malaysia. Issac Toast Singapore is brought in by local company Altitude Holdings—which is also behind Yoogane Singapore.

Issac Toast Singapore
Plaza Singapura B2
68 Orchard Road, Singapore 238839

Inspired by their Melbourne travels, owners Januver and Chomel started Scissors Paper Stove to celebrate the diversity of Asian culinary techniques and our communal dining culture.

Their menu focuses on a neat range of tapas that are great for sharing among friends and family, as well as other homemade recipes and a small selection of desserts. The cheerful space is perfect for any occasion—whether you are in the mood for a morning pick-me-up or some booze to unwind after a long day.

While some may say that Asian fusion tapas served in colourful tingkats and Asian-inspired cocktails—think vodka with amaretto, milo and condensed milk—sound too much like a marketing gimmick, we applaud the team’s creativity in using familiar Asian flavours to create something new.

Scissors Paper Stove impresses at first sight with its funky outlook; the cafe has pastel chairs, a rainbow zig zag wall and neon lights that spell out the cafe’s name.

Since tapas (2 for S$20, 4 for S$36, 6 for S$48) is what the cafe is known for, we decided to pick two that caught our immediate attention—the Pork Belly and Beef Burger.

The cafe’s Pork Belly tapas dish is indeed unusual; what you get is chilled slow roasted pork belly that is paired with coriander, ginger sauce and caramelised shallots.

The Beef Burger is made up of a savoury beef patty, melted cheddar cheese and fresh vegetables which are sandwiched in between two hot buttered buns. The mini beef burgers came in perfect tapas sizes that make it easy for consumption and the patties had a great bite to them.

Other Asian fusion tapas include Beef Skewers, Chorizo Sausage, Pineapple Chicken, Baby Portobello Mushroom and Bruschetta.

If you happen to drop by in the afternoon, their affordable lunch sets are worth every penny. For S$12, you get the soup of the day, a main of your choice and a hot drink. We opted for the Baby Pork Rib which came with sweet and sticky barbecue sauce and coriander on the top for that umami explosion in your mouth.

Scissors Paper Stove is more selective when it comes to their array of desserts, with only four options on the menu. The Pandan Churros (S$5) had a crispy exterior that is coated with a thin layer of sugar for a nice crunch. The only downside was that the insides of the pandan-infused pastry was too soft for our liking. Dip it into gula melaka syrup for added sweetness and flavour.

Scissors Paper Stove
9 Teck Chye Terrace
Singapore 545720
Tel: +65 6242 0021
Daily: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Serangoon

Situated along Jalan Pinang and taking over the space of the now-defunct Artistry Café is Earlybird Café, a gorgeous bird-themed café which whips up unpretentious dishes as well as a variety of beverages.

Although the area around Jalan Pinang already has plenty of cafés and coffee shops, this brand new addition to Singapore’s local café scene is one you have to add to your bucket list. Here’s what we loved about the place.

Earlybird Café is just a stone’s throw away from Bugis MRT station and it is difficult to miss the brightly-lit ‘earlybird’ signage.

The café is currently still in its soft-launch phase so their food menu is quite limited, although they have a wide range of beverages to offer including coffee by Allpress Espresso, cold-pressed juices, smoothies and milkshakes.

Forget about chicken and waffles, Chicken and Pancakes (S$19) is the way to go when you are at Earlybird Café. It was extremely well-executed and it is a must to order.

The tender and juicy fried chicken was well-coated with a light and crispy batter and we loved how the fried chicken was not overly greasy. What truly impressed us was the stack of house-made buttermilk pancakes that sat beneath the fried chicken; they came with a pleasant melt-on-your-tongue texture. The magic happens when you have the chicken and the pancakes together with the chilli maple sauce.

Featuring 3 huge pieces of fried chicken atop 2 fluffy pancakes, it can be pretty filling if you are a small eater. One thing is for sure—this is one ineffable serving of Chicken and Pancakes we would come back for.

One of the two options that Earlybird Café currently offers for pasta is the Tom Yum Prawn Pasta (S$20), which is essentially linguine tossed in Thai-style tom yum gravy topped with prawns.

We felt that the tomato sauce overpowered the tom yum flavour of the dish.

Earlybird Café also has a range of desserts to love. We opted for the Flower Pot Tiramisu (S$8.50) and it is definitely one dessert that will charm you not just with the looks of it. The smooth cream went well with the sponge fingers and the hint of alcohol gave it a luxurious touch.

Other options for desserts would be Earlybird Café’s rendition of hotcakes, including Hotcake Bling (S$18), Coco Espresso (S$18) and Going Bananas (S$17).

Earlybird Café
17 Jalan Pinang
Singapore 199149
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Tel: 9788 6858
Nearest Station: Bugis

Photo Credit: http://goinjapanesque.com/

My Melody Café is coming to Singapore really soon and it is going to be at Suntec City! My Melody, commonly known as My Melo, is a white rabbit from the Japanese characterisation company Sanrio. She is a well-loved rabbit and is a good friend of Hello Kitty.

The cafe is going to have a cute indoor al fresco garden setting. You can also look forward to a floral arch, garden-themed mural wall and a cottage house. It will be a dream come true for fans of My Melody.

Photo Credit: Kore.am

Look forward to very adorably-styled dishes including 5 mains, 6 desserts and 7 character-customised drinks. They are certainly going to get a lot of attention on social media; but of course, with all these thematic cafes and styled dishes, let’s just not have so many expectations of the standard of the food, yet.

On a side note, we are certainly hoping that My Melody Café will be having almond pound cake—My Melody’s favourite food—on the dessert menu.

Who else is excited about this cafe? My Melody Café has yet to announce the official opening date. Watch this space as we bring you the latest news on My Melody Café Singapore.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

My Melody Café Singapore
Tel: +65 6677 6195

https://www.facebook.com/pg/mymelodycafesg

Little Creatures—famous brewing company based in Fremantle, Western Australia—is opening a brewpub in Singapore at Mohamed Ali Lane on 30 May 2018.

Beer lovers will be familiar with Little Creatures, which is one of the most popular brewing companies in Perth, Australia. Little Creatures Singapore will be serving beers freshly brewed on site, along with a curated food menu.

There will be six permanent beers on tap—Pale Ale, Bright Ale, Pilsner, IPA, and Rogers Beer. As for the food, there will be mostly sharing plates as well as a selection of pizzas and pastas that will complement the beers.

For those of you who have been to Little Creatures’ brewery tour of their flagship outlet in Fremantle, you will be pleased to know that you can also go on a tour of their brewery and beer tasting at the Singapore outpost.

You can even join Little Creatures’ beer school to learn more about beer from their staff.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

Little Creatures Singapore
36 Club Street (entrance on Mohamed Ali Lane)
Singapore 069469
Tel: +65 6239 0350
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 11pm
Weekends & PHs: 8am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

Situated just a stone’s throw away from the ever-so-popular Blk 85 Fengshan Food Centre at Bedok North is a newly-opened carnival-themed café, Sir Stamford Waffles, which serves waffles, ice cream, coffee and more.

Do not be confused by the name of this café—Sir Stamford Raffles did not open this café—but rather, the people behind Hatter Street Bakehouse and Café did.

Essentially a carnival-themed café, Sir Stamford Waffles is well-furnished and boasts a bright and colourful interior with huge posters with whimsical illustrations on their walls. The space in the café was small and can fit just 4-5 groups of people, but they have seats outside too.

Sir Stamford Waffles bear great similarity to their sister café in terms of their range of desserts and coffee, but with a twist of local flavours, as their name suggests. Specialising in waffles, they offered several noteworthy signature waffle sets such as The Miraculous Merlion (S$15.90) and the Kopi Kusu (S$15.90).

They serve coffee and tea too, perfect for those just looking for something to sip on in Sir Stamford Waffles whilst escaping the glaring heat!

We opted for the Pulau Unikorn Signature Waffle Set (S$14 nett), which came with 2 signature waffles, 1 scoop of Lavender Blackberry Ice Cream, 1 scoop of Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream and of course, unicorn accessories.

As they were out of the Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream on our visit, we opted for the Strawberry Cheesecake flavour instead. Both the lavender blackberry and strawberry cheesecake flavours were delightful to have with the waffles, as they were neither overwhelmingly sweet nor sour.

The waffles were extremely crispy and light, but we would have preferred if the waffles had a more fluffy texture to it. However, the waffles were not too sweet, making it a great complement to the ice cream.

With plenty of cafés serving waffles with ice cream coming forth in Singapore, Sir Stamford Waffles does not stand out in any particular way.

We wouldn’t go all the way to Bedok for Sir Stamford Waffles, but should you be around the east of Singapore and looking for somewhere to curb your waffle and ice cream cravings, you can consider dropping by.

Sir Stamford Waffles
Blk 89 Bedok North Street 4 #01-91
Singapore 460089
Mon to Thu: 1pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 1pm – 12am
Tel: 97428895
Nearest Station: Bedok/ Bedok Reservoir

Filled with chunks of tender sweet lobster meat and coated with a blend of mouthwatering sauces such as mayonnaise in between a soft, top-split brioche bread, there is nothing not to love about lobster rolls. If you are on a hunt for the best lobster rolls in Singapore, you would know that the good ones come with heavy price tags that are not for all to digest.

Chunky Lobsters is a new lobster roll restaurant that has opened its doors at Oxley Tower that aims to make seafood affordable for the mass market. Think lobster rolls served in three ways (Chunky’s Original, Chunky’s Connecticut and Chunky’s Cheezy) —all priced at only S$16 nett per roll!

CHUNKY LOBSTERS CONCEPT

Chunky Lobsters is more of a takeaway counter than an actual dining restaurant as seats are pretty limited and would probably be filled during peak hours, especially when the lunch crowd starts filing in on weekdays.

Instead of dicing the lobster meat up into smaller pieces, which is typically what they do for lobster rolls, the entire hunk of lobster flesh is placed in between hot buttered brioche buns, confirming that what you’re getting is real-deal lobster meat—in addition to the pleasant chew.

CHUNKY’S ORIGINAL

We particularly liked how the grilled buns complemented the creamy mayo, zesty lemon juice and their own homemade herbs and spices sauce—which happens to be Chunky Lobster’s closely-guarded secret.

For those who prefer something simple, Chunky’s Original (S$16) allows you to savour the natural sweetness of the lobsters as the condiments are not overwhelming.

CHUNKY’S CHEEZY

This one is for the cheese lovers. Imagine the same fleshy lobster meat but this time round layered with different types of melted cheeses that flow right through the buttery buns.

Chunky’s Cheezy (S$16) leaves your fingers slippery with aromatic butter and one bite into the lobster roll will have the gooey folds of cheese oozing out at once. We highly recommend having this decadent roll with their Lobster Bisque (S$3.90) for the complete experience.

Chunky Lobsters
138 Robinson Road
#02-03 Oxley Tower
Singapore 068906
Tel: +65 9007 6467
Mon to Fri: 11am – 7.30pm
Sat: 11am – 3.30pm
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Downtown

OUE Downtown Gallery is one of our favourite hangout spots in the heart of town—there are endless dining options—such as The Autobus, Lunar Coffee Brewers and Omotesando Koffee—that leaves us spoilt for choice when we are feeling peckish.

Adding onto the long list of dining options is a relatively new vegan dining concept that has popped up in the mall—HRVST. Pronounced as ‘harvest’, this is one stylish cafe that will catch the fancy of all health and gym junkies.

The kitchen is helmed by a pair of partner chefs, Addis Tan and Dylan who have 20 years of experience working for established F&B names such as Tippling Club, Esquina and Cheek by Jowl.

Located just beside Kilter Avenue (a boutique gym), HRVST aims to redefine your expectations of vegan food—using only the freshest ingredients they can source and turning them into aesthetically pleasing dishes that do not compromise on taste at all.

While HRVST mainly gets their produce from reliable suppliers, they also make use of the edible garden outside the cafe for some of their dishes. Take a walk around the open rooftop garden where you can temporarily escape from the hustle of the city.

A favourite among their diners, the Sourdough with Orange-Glazed Grilled Tofu (S$16++) is a great brunch or lunch option that is appetising and wholesome.

Tuck into the dish and let your taste buds discover the layers of flavours and textures that come from the sourdough, nut spread, soft tofu, broccoli and cauliflower florets that are doused in kelp stock and pickled zucchini ribbons.

For those who are attempting vegan food for the first time, their BKT Barley Risotto (S$16++) will impress you it does replicate the original dish well—in terms of the oily texture (thanks to the garlic and coriander oil) and taste.

We were pleasantly surprised that all the spices of what you would expect from a regular bak kut teh were there sans the meat, of course. Instead, what diners can expect from this dish is diced fried daikon, pink radish, braised nuts and thin dough crisp that will remind you of you tiao.

We had the Matcha Ice Cream (S$8++) which was complemented with a touch of blood orange puree, poached plums and pistachio bits. To be completely frank, we still prefer our normal creamy matcha ice cream but the cafe’s vegan rendition wasn’t too lacklustre either as the ice cream was rich with matcha flavours.

On top of those that we have tried, HRVST’s straightforward menu also includes other dishes such as Pumpkin Fettucine (S$16++), Hay Salt Baked Celeriac (S$18++) and desserts including Caramelised Pineapple Ring (S$8++) and Blackforest Cake (S$8++).

HRVST
6A Shenton Way
#05-01, OUE Downtown Gallery
Singapore 068815
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm to 11pm
Sat: 10am – 3pm
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

Martin Zwerts—popular frites shop from Netherlands—is opening its first ever flagship store outside of Europe in Singapore in the last week of April 2018.

Established in 1948, Martin Zwerts Potato Daddy has been widely recognised for their incredible family signature recipe of frites (fries) and remains as a hotspot for tourists visiting Holland after 70 years.

Frying all the way from Holland to Holland Village, Martin Zwerts presents us the taste of Eindhoven and is set to open its first outlet in Singapore in Holland Village on the 27th of April, the same day as Netherlands King’s Day.

Photo Credit: Martin Zwerts Singapore

Forget about diet, we want our fries. Martin Zwerts Patat Frites (Fries) are thick cut and crispy, served in a piping hot cone, topped with signature Frite and Kerrie Onion sauce.

To cater to the locals’ taste buds, the Singapore outlet will feature toppings like Golden Salted Egg Yolk Sauce, BBQ sauce, Rendang Sauce, alongside favourite Dutch snacks such as Bitterballen, Frikandel and Lumpia.

Now we do not have to be in the Netherlands to get the taste of their award-winning frites, so be sure to mark your calendars!

Martin Zwerts
When: 27th April 2018
Where: No.3 Lor Liput #B1-07 Holland Piazza @ Holland Village