Popular sushi chain Sen-Ryo has opened its first outlet in Singapore at Ion Orchard.

Originating from the Tochigi prefecture in Japan, Sen-Ryo has 13 outlets in Hong Kong and it is brought in by Maxim’s Caterers, the Hong Kong-based F&B group that also runs the Genki Sushi chain in Singapore.

Unlike the original Sen-Ryo in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Japan, Sen-Ryo Singapore will not be offering sushi on a conveyor belt. Instead, it will be offering full table service with dishes prepared a la minute.

The Japanese restaurant prides itself on serving “shokunin” (Japanese for artisanal) Edomae-style sushi.

On the menu, you can find a selection of Sashimi Platter, Sushi Platter, Kushiyaki, Tempura, and Donburi.

To celebrate its opening in Singapore, it is offering 5% off total net spend from now until 30 April 2021.

Sen-ryo Singapore
#03-14 Ion Orchard
2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6974 6782

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Established in 2008, Bedrock Bar & Grill—one of the best steak restaurants in Singapore—is a modern steakhouse by The Refinery Concepts which exudes a rustic, almost roughed up, vibe with its many granite and wooden elements.

The homegrown steakhouse has been recently awarded ‘Best Steakhouse in Asia’ by Haute Grandeur Global Restaurants Award 2020, including ‘Best Grill in Asia’, ‘Best Wine Selection in Singapore’ and ‘Best Restaurant Manager on a Global Level’. Look forward to high-quality steaks specially sourced from the farms in the USA and Australia by Executive Chef Isaac Tan and his team.

Dining at Bedrock Bar & Grill is always a memorable experience with perfectly cooked steaks paired with the globes’ finest whiskies.

Enjoy 15% off à la carte Lunch Menu when you pay with your Mastercard® at Bedrock Bar & Grill.

TOMAHAWK STEAK

Probably the first restaurant in Singapore to introduce the Tomahawk steak in 2009, Bedrock Bar & Grill’s Tomahawk Steak (subject to market price) is best for sharing amongst a big group.

Savour the flavours of a tender grain-fed wagyu long bone-in ribeye, imparted with the smoky, charred flavours and subtle sweetness from an applewood-fire grill. Not all steaks are created equal, Bedrock Bar & Grill’s Tomahawk Steak is definitely in a league of its own.

The giant Tomahawk Steak is paired perfectly with four homemade sauces — Bedrock chilli oil, wholegrain whisky mustard, red wine sauce, and classic béarnaise. In our opinion, though, you don’t really need any sauces when the steak is that good.

DOUBLE CUT DRY AGED PORTERHOUSE

Other than the Tomahawk, Bedrock is also known for its Double Cut Dry Aged Porterhouse (S$180++), with two beloved steaks on bone – tenderloin and striploin.

Each porterhouse is specially prepared through the dry aging process in Bedrock’s in-house customised dry aging fridge, which enhances the unique beef flavour and tenderness.

BEDROCK MAC N’ CHEESE

Served as an accompaniment to their mains, Bedrock Mac N’ Cheese (S$22++) is a scrumptious dish that is extremely rich and cheesy. Topped with a crispy melted cheese crust, the macaroni is slathered in four different cheeses and drizzled with a copious amount of truffle oil.

We will go out on a limb to say that this is one of the best, if not the best, Mac & Cheese in Singapore.

Photo credit: Bedrock Bar & Grill

SIGNATURE BLACK PEPPER STEAK RICE BOWL

The newest addition to Bedrock Bar & Grill’s menu, the Signature Black Pepper Steak Rice Bowl (from S$58++) features Wagyu petit fillet, a portion of rich and buttery foie gras, topped on a bed of fragrant beef drippings garlic rice, with grilled onion, pickled pumpkin, soft boiled egg, and Bedrock black pepper sauce.

This is available as part of the 3-course Executive Set Lunch Menu (daily from 12pm to 3pm), as well as island-wide delivery.

BOMBE ALASKA

End off your meal with the Bombe Alaska (S$22++) which comes with layers of raspberry white chocolate ice cream and butter cookies, enrobed in meringue, and flambéed with rum. Get your phones and cameras ready as the service staff torch the dessert in flame. Blink and you’ll miss it.

A SELECTION OF SINGLE MALT WHISKIES, AND WHISKY TRAILS

Bedrock Bar & Grill also offers an extensive collection of over 70 rare & old whiskies from Scottish isles and rural Japan. You can sip on their classic concoctions such as the Bedrock Whisky Sour (S$18++) – a Redbreast 12-year-old Irish whisky concocted with refreshing lemon juice and simple syrup.

If you are a whisky lover, you can also sample some of the best picks with their specially curated Whisky Trails such as the Taste of Scotland (S$38++), each offering the distinctive taste of whiskies from different regions.

Other than the fantastic steaks, the restaurant also has other options including Barramundi (S$42++), Brick Pressed Chicken (S$38++), Lobster Béarnaise Burger (S$68++), and Spicy Lobster Linguine (S$48++).

Don’t forget to pay with your Mastercard® at Bedrock Bar & Grill to enjoy 15% off à la carte Lunch Menu.

Bedrock Bar & Grill
96, #01-05 Somerset Rd
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard
Singapore 238163
Website: https://www.bedrock.com.sg
Delivery website:http://delivery.bedrock.com.sg
Facebook: @BedrockBarandgrill
Instagram: Bedrocksg
Nearest Station: Somerset

This post was brought to you by Bedrock Bar & Grill.

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

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

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

CAHAYA MUSLIM RESTAURANT

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

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

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

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

CROSS STRAITS RESTAURANT

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

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

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

GREENVIEW CAFE

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

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

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

HAINANESE DELICACY

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

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

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

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

HONG HU EXPRESS

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

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

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

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

KRAPOW THAI STREET FOOD

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

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

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

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

MADDIE’S KITCHEN

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

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

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

NEW STATION SNACK BAR

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

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

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

PUNCAK HALAL RESTAURANT

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

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

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

WOK WEI KITCHEN

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

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

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

Fans of CROQUANT CHOU ZAKUZAKU’s luscious cream-filled puffs and desserts now have a reason to rejoice! The famous Japanese brand will be setting up shop in Singapore at ION Orchard on 30th of November 2019!

They will be taking over the current spot of BAKE Cheese Tart which will be exiting the Singapore market by end October 2019..

Here’s a sneak preview of what they will be offering! You can expect their signature Croquant pastry filled with a creamy custard (S$2.80 for 1 pc, S$10.50 for 4 pcs), their ZAKUZAKU Soft Hokkaido Milk Ice Cream (S$6) and their HIYAZAKU which is a crispy puff filled with ice cream (S$3.80).

They will also have some Singapore-exclusive goodies, so keep an eye out for those!

2 Orchard Turn
#B4-33, ION Orchard
Singapore 238801
Nearest Station: Orchard

Located at 313 Somerset is LaLune Croissant. With the current craze over bubble tea and pretty pastries, LaLune is set to wow you with their colourful array of drinks and croissants full of delicious fillings.

LaLune’s drinks have zero preservatives and artificial flavouring, only using freshly-brewed teas and all-natural fruits. Their little tea bottles also add a wonderful touch being so compact.

Did we mention LaLune was opened by a local NTU graduate? It’s a great time to #SupportLocal with so many big franchises from overseas popping up in Singapore.

LaLune serves up many varieties of croissants – from classics such as their Custard Croissant (S$3.90) and Honey Croissant (S$3.90) to the unique Cinammon Apple Croissant (S$3.90).

They are all freshly baked and delightfully crisp, while not being too heavy on the palate.

LaLune also has an extensive drink menu featuring various types of tea. The signature drink is the brown sugar tapioca pearl milk tea, coined the “Dirty Milk Tea” (S$4).

If you prefer lighter drinks, they have a plethora of fruity brews as well! These include the tropical Dragon Royale (S$5) – a dragonfruit and oolong blend – as well as their Lime Royale (S$4.50), which is a mix of lemon, lime and green tea with crystal pearls.

If you’re craving a quick pick-me-up, LaLune’s teas and croissants would be your new favourite croissant go-to. They open pretty early, so you can grab these light bites just before you head off to work.

313 Orchard Road
313@Somerset, #B3-48A
Singapore 238895
Mon to Sat: 8am – 10pm
Sun: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

(All photos used were from LaLune’s official Facebook page.)

Eating cheap at Orchard Road can be quite a feat, seeing how even the prices at the food courts are significantly more expensive.

Tucked away on the second level of International Building, Hua Yi Kitchen serves a good selection of Shanghainese cuisine.

In fact, this cosy eatery has been serving authentic xiao long bao for 20 years – even before Din Tai Fung reached our shores!

We started off with the Steam Juicy Minced Pork Dumpling (S$6.80)—a basket of 6 plump and juicy xiao long bao. While the skin was a tad thick and the minced pork was on the rougher side, we liked the burst of flavour from the soup.

However, it was a pity that the little soup dumplings were stuck together and the skin tore when we tried to pick them up.

The Fried Rice with Eggs (S$6.80) was a decent plate of fried rice. Fragrant and full of eggy goodness, we wished it was more evenly seasoned.

Our favourite would have to be the Special Braised Beef Noodle Soup with Beef (S$9.80). The beef broth was hearty and even had a slight mala taste that warmed our bellies. It also came with tender beef chunks that were most likely stewed for hours. However, the dish would have been complete if the noodles were chewier.

360 Orchard Road
#02-11/12 International Building
Singapore 238869
Tel: +65 6235 3156
Daily: 9.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Fishball noodles and pork porridge are comfort foods for many. For us, ice cream is a go-to and an essential, especially with such merciless weather all-year-round.

Some may say that what sets good ice cream apart from subpar ones is the use of quality milk and cream, but we beg to differ.

Kind Kones is a new ice cream parlour in Orchard that serves vegan ice cream—yes, that means that no milk nor cream is being incorporated in its making and less guilt while consuming your ice cream! The best part? It doesn’t compromise the taste nor the quality of their desserts.

Originating from Malaysia, the brand’s philosophy is to use 100% all-natural, unprocessed ingredients without the use of any refined sugar, preservatives nor additives on top of keeping dairy products and eggs out of the production.

Kind Kones specialises in churning out creative flavours of vegan ice cream. Patrons can choose to pair their desserts with cones (+S$0.6/1), brownies (S$11.50), cookies (+S$1 each) or make it a banana split (S$10.50).

The cafe also serves a selective range of vegan cakes and light bites on top of the aforementioned treats—a healthier alternative to calorie-loaded cakes you’d get elsewhere.

Digging in to the Black Forest ice cream (S$6.90) with Wholemeal Cone (S$0.60), we were pleasantly surprised to find that the ice cream came with a superbly creamy texture—one we reckon was difficult to achieve without the use of dairy products.

Made using coconut milk, cashew milk, almond milk, vanilla, brownie chunks and cherry compote, the Black Forest ice cream got us hooked from our first mouthful. The sweet ice cream base went excellently with the tangy notes from the bright purple cherry compote and the brownie chunks gave the ice cream an added chewy texture.

Next up, we got ourselves an Ice Cream Sandwich (S$8). We paired an oatmeal almond crisp cookie and a dark chocolate chip cookie with Blue Planet, an ice cream flavour derived from coconut milk, cashew milk, butterfly peak flower, vanilla and matcha cake.

The ice cream came with a gorgeous blue hue and had a strong earthy flavour.

Similar to the Black Forest ice cream, the Blue Planet came with chunks of matcha cake to give it an elevated texture. We thought that it was a smart move to have chunks of matcha cake inside the ice cream as it made the large scoop of ice cream less cloying.

Kind Kones is certainly a good spot to head to if you’re looking for a place to unwind and treat yourself to an ice-cold, sweet dessert without having to worry excessively about the consumption of unhealthy refined sugar and preservatives.

Kind Kones
583 Orchard Road
Forum The Shopping Mall #B1-27
Singapore 238884
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard