Known for their array of beautiful croissants, Brotherbird Bakehouse has opened its 4th outlet at Raffles City on 8 Sep 2023.

Brotherbird Bakehouse currently has three other outlets at CT Hub 2, CIMB Plaza and Hillion Mall.

Unlike the other locations, Brotherbird Bakehouse’s latest outlet at Raffles City will be a bake-on-site space where customers can get their popular croissants fresh out of the oven.

Some of their signature croissants include:

Original Croissant
Pain Au Chocolat
Earl Grey Milk Chocolate Croissant
Matcha Almond Twice-Baked
Rocher Croissant
Honey Seasalt Croissant

Read our guide to the best croissants in Singapore here.

Brotherbird Bakehouse
Raffles City Shopping Centre
252 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 179103
#B1-67
Daily: 11am – 9pm

Famous American Cinnamon Roll Chain, Cinnabon has opened in Singapore at Raffles City basement.

Known for its sticky, gooey cinnamon buns with cream cheese frosting and Makara® cinnamon from the mountains of West Sumatra, Cinnabon will soft launch to the public on 7 & 8 Feb 2023 from 11am – 2pm, before their official opening on 9 Feb 2023.

Established in 1985 in Seattle, Cinnabon has more than 1,500 outlets across 50 countries today. Cinnabon Singapore is brought in by master franchisee Alvin Ng, who is also the master franchisee of popular Hong Kong bakery Hang Heung as well as Japanese brands Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory and LeTao.

All the cinnamon rolls at Cinnabon Singapore are made from scratch at the store by the staff who trained at Cinnabon’s training centre in Manila, Philippines.

The ingredients used for their iconic cinnamon rolls are halal-certified and there are plans to get the official halal certification.

Cinnabon Singapore
Raffles City #B1-60

Popular modern Japanese fusion restaurant, Omoté is opening a new outlet at Raffles City in Nov 2022.

Formerly known as Sushiro, Omoté is famous for their value-for-money Bara Chirashi Don.

Stacked high, and generously with thick cubes of raw fish, there is no reason why you should give this a miss if you truly love sashimi—or Japanese food for that matter.

Photo credit: Omoté

Do not be fooled by its unbelievably affordable price tag because what you get are insanely thick cubes of fish and a generous amount of Japanese rice.

Photo credit: Omoté

Other than the signature Bara Chirashi Don, Omoté also offers a selection of modern Japanese dishes with an Asian influence and you can find items such as sushi rolls, sashimi, and donburi on the menu.

Omoté
Raffles City
252 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 179103

Taste of Japan group—the company behind Itacho Sushi—is opening a new concept in Singapore.

Sushi Raku is a sushi chain with 4 outlets in Hong Kong and it is opening its first overseas outlet in Singapore at Raffles City on this Sunday 12 Sep 2021.

Located at Raffles City #B1-63/64, Sushi Raku is a Sushi & Sake dining restaurant which offers Izakaya dishes, as well as sake & draft beer.

Some of the dishes that you can order at the Izakaya:

• Sushi
• Sashimi
• Yakitori
• Tempura
• Grilled seafood and meat

Photos credit: Sushi Raku

Sushi Raku also has a selection of seasonal specials that are air-flown from Tokyosu Market in Japan.

Sushi Raku
Raffles City #B1-63/64
252 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 179103

Tenjin is opening a second outlet at Raffles City on 1 Dec 2020.

Tenjin is a Japanese restaurant by the Les Amis Group that specialises in Tempura Donburi and the first outlet is located on the third floor of Shaw Centre.

Photos credit: Tenjin

Tenjin serves a variety of tendons and tempura and the prices start from S$12.80 for the Vegetable Tendon to S$24.80 for the Tempura Moriwase Set.

The menu at Tenjin Raffles City will be similar to that of their original outlet but with one new addition. The Hot Inaniwa Udon comes with crisp tempura and it will be exclusive to the Raffles City outlet.

Tenjin
Raffles City #B1-46
Daily: 11am – 9pm

Read our guide on the best tendon restaurants in Singapore.

If you have a soft spot for Japanese pastries, you’re in for a treat. Japan’s number one cheese cookie confectionery, Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory, has made its way to our sunny island and opened its very first outlet at Raffles City Shopping Centre.

Hailing all the way from Tokyo, Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory is widely known for their luxurious Salt & Camembert Cookies made from the finest ingredients—Hokkaido milk and rare French Guérande salt. The combination of sweet and savoury tones in this melt-in-your-mouth cookie would get you hooked in no time.

Here’s what you can expect from this popular Japanese confectionery’s first outlet in Singapore.

Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory’s cookie range features well-balanced flavours and ingredients that are sourced from different countries.

There are Salt & Camembert Cookies made with rare sea salt from France (S$12.80 for  10 and S$24 for 20); Honey & Gorgonzola made with Rosemary Honey from Spain and veined Italian blue cheese from Gorgonzola Italy (S$14 for 10 and S$26 for 20); and Porcini & Gouda Cookies made with Porcini mushrooms from Italy (S$14 for 10).

Alternatively, if you’re a die-hard milk lover, The Milk Cheese Cake (S$29.50) is another treat to go for. The moist fluffy cake is made with cream cheese from France and blended with Hokkaido fresh cream, along with premium cheese and milk mousse that gives it that rich, luscious flavour and soft texture.

The Milk Cheese Cake is only sold as a whole but one slice is never enough, right?!

Here’s another one of their bestsellers—Strawberry Milk Roll Cake filled with milk and strawberry cream made from sweet and juicy Amaou strawberries and a touch of strawberry jam. This fluffy sponge cake is a perfect teatime snack to share with your friends and family.

Photos Credit: Tokyo Milk Cheese Singapore

Looking for something different? Try their Cow Cow Sundae (S$8.50). This velvety soft serve ice cream is made with the finest ingredients such as cream cheese, rich Jersey milk and gouda cheese from Hokkaido.

The sundae is served in a cup (S$4.50) or a cone (S$5.50) with a piece of Salt & Camembert Cookie and a slice of Milk Cheesecake—the best of Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory all gathered in a cup. What more can we ask for?

Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-73, Raffles City Shopping Center
Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 9248 8476
Mon to Sun: 11am - 9.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

Raffles City has many exciting events and activities all year round, but July is the month we always look forward to because of its annual Food Festival. From 11 to 27 July 2014, a series of fun-filled events and promotions awaits you foodies out there.

Raffles City started its Instagram account @RafflesCitySG, and you should follow them not just for the latest feeds, but also because fans of Raffles City get to win 10 prizes daily when you upload a photo on Instagram of your favourite eats at the mall and hashtag #RafflesCityEats together with a geotag of the restaurant.

Wondering where to bring your kids over the weekends? Raffles City may just be your answer. From now till 31 Dec 2014, kids dine for free at participating restaurants on weekends.

Last Saturday, we spent the day at Raffles City with many food enthusiasts on a food trail and had a ball of a time at many good restaurants and eateries in the mall. Raffles City is budding with flavours this July, and here are some restaurants to look out for when you next dine at Raffles City.

BANGKOK JAM

Thai food is something that we can eat all the time. Jam-packed with flavours, Thai food is satisfying and never fails to make our tummies happy. Bangkok Jam, a bistro-styled Thai restaurant, dishes out contemporary Thai cuisine that sets your taste buds in drool.

Some of the must-try dishes include Tom Yum Kung (S$10.50), Phad Thai Talay (S$12.50) and Yang Ruam (S$25) – mixed Grill of chicken, beef short ribs, squid and prawns. If you are meeting your pals at Raffles City and craving for Thai food, Bangkok Jam is the place to head to!

#B1-44C
Tel: +65 6336 2118

KOPITIAM AT SWISSOTEL

Good ol’ comfort dishes in a cosy seating that overlooks the bustling city; how to not love Kopi Tiam at Swissotel? It is the perfect place to bring overseas guests to try the best of Singapore’s hawker food in a nostalgic and air-conditioned ambience. We recommend the Grilled Stingray in sambal belachan, and Golden Butter Prawn.

Level 2, Swissotel The Stamford
Tel: +65 6431 6156

MARCHÉ BAR & BISTRO

Marché Bar & Bistro is an all-purpose venue that is probably the closest to alfresco dining you can get in the city. Sitting at the fringe of the mall, Marché Bar & Bistro is a lovely space to enjoy some good pizza and drinks while enjoying the caress of the soft breeze. Yes, the pizzas that are fresh from the oven and served very warm. The marriage of thin crust with generous toppings makes us linger for more.

#01-17A
Tel: +65 6337 9433

PODI

Managed by the folks behind Cedele, PODI serves all-day breakfast and grills; simple, earnest and hearty comfort food you can always rely on. Our picks are the Creamy Prawn & Poached Egg Pasta (S$18) that is not overly rich unlike most cream pasta, and the signature Duck Berry Waffle (S$18) – something so rare in Singapore that everyone should give it a try. PODI is like Cedele, reliable and a joint you can go to regularly for a good meal.

#B1-45
Tel: +65 6336 5648

PUTIEN

This local homegrown eatery serves Chinese dishes that are simple yet close to the heart. Families will love its familiarity, and regulars of Putien always go for their signature dishes like the Iced Bitter Gourd and Shredded Meat with Bun. For us, the absolute favourite is their Sweet & Sour Pork with lychee, which is one of the better renditions in town. Else, the Stir-fried Yam is a crowd pleaser too!

#02-18
Tel: +65 6336 2184

ST MARC CAFE

For a quick bite, the Chococro and Little Fuji from St Marc Cafe will do the trick. The former is a crispy croissant filled with chocolate on the inside – we can easily gobble down several croissants on our own – while the latter is a hot buttery Danish served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Only one word to describe it: heavenly!

Gulp down with a Matcha Latte, the Japanese way! St Marc Café originated from Japan and has more than 300 outlets in Japan! Yes, it is that popular and good, we are lucky to have them at Raffles City as another option of choice for quality tea-time snack.

#B1-44M
Tel: +65 6338 8043

SUFOOD

Taiwan’s largest vegetarian restaurant chain, SuFood offers a refreshing take on vegetarian food. It is a meat-free concept inspired by Italian cuisine, from the quality of ingredients to the dish presentation.

First-timers to SuFood should try the Star Pizza – a star-shaped pizza filled with oyster mushrooms, cream cheese and mustard sauce – which is tasty and very instagram-worthy.

It has always been a challenge to find a good vegetarian restaurant in Singapore that serves delicious and healthy food, but SuFood truly redefines vegetarian dining with their impressive menu.

#02-19
Tel: +65 6333 5338

INSTAGRAM WITH #RAFFLESCITYEATS AND WIN 10 PRIZES DAILY

If you are a fan of Instagram, why not take more Instagram photos and win yourself some prizes? Upload a photo of your favourite eats at Raffles City, and win prizes like 1 million STAR$® ($1000 worth of CapitaVouchers), NESCAFE® Dolce Gusto® machines and exclusive dining experiences! Simply tag @RafflesCitySG, hashtag #RafflesCityEats, geotag the name of your eat-out and tell us what you like about the places you have checked out here!

MASTERCARD EXCLUSIVES

- S$10 shopping rebates for the first 500 MasterCard cardholders who charge S$100 (minimum one F&B receipt required).

- S$2 parking rebate for the first 50 MasterCard cardholders daily who charge S$50.

KIDS DINE FOR FREE ON WEEKENDS

Enjoy a complimentary kid’s meal at participating outlets: Marché Mövenpick, PUTIEN, Salt Tapas & Bar by Luke Mangan, Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant, Sho Teppan, and SUFOOD. Valid till 31 Dec 2014.

This feature is brought to you by Raffles City Singapore.

NamNam Noodle Bar, a relatively new dining concept by the Les Amis Group, features iconic street favourites of Vietnam. It is not uncommon to see long queues at its two branches at Raffles City and Wheelock during meal times.

The idea of the noodle bar is simple, but very clever. I have always lamented that Singapore lacks good Vietnamese eateries, and NamNam managed to fill a gap in the market at the right time.

NamNam Noodle Bar’s pho is delicious – in fact, it is easily the best I have had in Singapore. For me, a good pho is nothing more complicated than a hearty serving of freshly boiled rice noodles with generous slices of beef, all submerged in a bowl of rich and warm broth. The Banh Mi is equally good. The French inspired baguettes are chock-ful of ingredients, and very satisfying.

Vietnamese street food such as pho and banh mi are meant to be cheap, and I am glad that NamNam Noodle Bar has kept the prices very competitive – a bowl of pho is less than S$10, while the Banh Mi is only S$5.90.

In a word: It is a chic quick dining concept.

NamNam Noodle Bar
252 North Bridge Road, #B1-46/47
Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6336 0500
Nearest Station: Raffles City

501 Orchard Road #B2-02
Wheelock Place
Tel: +65 6735 1488
Nearest Station: Orchard

Spanish food has been making big waves on the food radar, with new tapas bars popping up every month. If you are a fan of tapas, Salt Tapas & Bar at Raffles City by celebrity chef Luke Mangan is one place that you should check out. It serves Aussie-style tapas with the freshest ingredients.

Many people have the perception that Salt Tapas & Bar is very expensive. This is true. Most of the tapas are in the $20 to $30 range, and you can easily spend at least $100 for a meal here. But what you might not know that it has a fantastic lunch set for just $33.50++/pax. It includes a flat bread to share, and 3 tapas per person. When you consider the fact that most of the dishes on the set lunch menu are from the ala carte menu, you will agree that it is a very good deal.

The set lunch menu is essentially a scaled down version of the main menu. Both are divided into different categories: ‘Nibbles’, ‘Butcher’, ‘Garden’, ‘Sea’, ‘Paddock’ and ‘Sweets’, Below are some of the dishes that we ordered from the set lunch menu. I have also included the ala carte portion prices.

Salt Tapas & Bar has several options under their ‘Garden’ menu which include Heirloom Tomato Salad ($11), Beetroot & Red Capscium ($12) and a Rocket & Pear Salad ($9).

We started off with a superb Tuna Tartare ($19 for small, $27 for large) with wasabi mayo and ruby grapefruit from the ‘Sea’ menu.

We also had the Crispy Soft Shell Prawns ($15) with chilli and garlic aioli, and while it was not a scene stealer, it did not disappoint with its crisp and crunchy texture.

Another dish that was even more addictive than the Soft Shell Prawns is the Salt & Pepper Squid ($20) with lime mayo. The crunch squid was well-seasoned with salt and pepper, and it was perfect with lime mayo. Simply put, I’d not leave Salt Tapas & Bar without trying this.

From the ‘Paddock’ menu, we had the Wagyu Sausage, Sumac Spiced Veal and Confit Pork Belly. The Confit Pork Belly ($27) with lentils and chorizo was a let-down. It was a tad too tough and not as tender as I’d hope it would be.

The Wagyu Sausage ($14 for small, $25 for large) with polenta, capers and tomato was good, but what stood out was the accompanying polenta. We suspect they added in a lot of cream and butter to give the polenta a creamy and smooth and velvety texture. Also good was the Sumac Spiced Veal & Meatballs ($14 for small, $22 for large) which came with a very yummy fontina mash.

Desserts are also worth a mention. Not many places serve good churros in Singapore, and if you have been looking for it, you must try Salt Tapas & Bar’s Churros & Chocolate ($11). It is one of the few that has managed to impress me so far.

You also cannot go wrong with the Gooey Hot Chocolate Tart with caramelised banana and white chocolate ice cream ($14).

Salt Tapas & Bar
252 North Bridge Road
#01-22A Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6837 0995
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

Out of the Pan at the basement of Raffles City is one of those places that I’ve always walked past, but never thought of trying. I finally went there one day, and the food was surprisingly good. The Banana Spilt Waffles ($14), in particular, was outstanding and one of the best I’ve had on our little island. The Chocolate Mania Crepe ($14) and Peking Duck Crepe ($15.50) were also very good.

The good news is DBS credit/debit card holders get to enjoy 1-for-1 promotion for waffles and crepes. The offer is available all day from Sunday to Thursday (10am – 10pm).

Out of the Pan
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-45 Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6431 6103

I am a fan of the Spa Esprit group. To me, they are one of the best F&B groups in Singapore. From their first food outlet Barracks Cafe, to the crowd’s favourites Forty Hands Cafe, and Open Door Policy at Yong Siak Street – every concept that they have created become popular almost instantly. One of their latest ventures, Tiong Bahru Bakery is no exception.

Tiong Bahru Bakery is opened in collaboration with celebrity baker, Gontran Cherrier. It started with much fanfare in the now-hip Tiong Bahru neighbourhood (Eng Hoon Street), and added a second shop at Raffles City shortly after.

During a recent tasting at the artisan bakery, we tried most of the signature items on the menu. Below are some of the highlights from Tiong Bahru Bakery.

We started with Tiong Bahru Bakery’s Croissant ($3.20), which has been getting lots of attention. Some people go to the extent of calling it the best croissant in Singapore, while there are others who beg to differ. Does Tiong Bahru Bakery’s croissant really live up to the hype?

To me, a good croissant is light, flaky and buttery. While the croissants here are tasty, I thought they were not so great. I’ve had much better ones in France before. That said, it is still one of the better versions you can find in Singapore. Moreover, taste is subjective, so it all boils down to personal preferences.

In all fairness, I am not against their croissants. I’ve had mixed experiences (having tried them on several occasions), hence undecided about them being the best.

The Almond Croissant ($3.20), on the other hand, won me overly completely. Unlike the normal croissants, these were dense and moist, and tasted slightly more like a cake than a bread. But what I loved most was the hint of almond in the bread. I am not sure if purists would like it, but I loved it.

One of the show-stoppers at Tiong Bahru Bakery is the Kouign Amann ($3.50), which is a Breton cake with similar characteristics to that of a puff pastry. It is a round crusty cake, made with bread dough, containing layers of butter and sugar. Lots of butter, sugar and caramel. Sinful, but so damn good. I didn’t manage to get a picture of it, but trust me when I say you must not leave Tiong Bahru Bakery without trying this. This is my favourite item and I will go back again and again for it.

The Pain Au Chocolat ($3.20), while good, could have done with a more generous amount of chocolate.

Much has been raved about Tiong Bahru Bakery’s Squid Ink Sandwich ($8.50). In my opinion, it was nothing fantastic, as the squid ink taste was not as distinct as I had hoped it would be. If you have never had it before, it is worth trying once, but I’d suggest saving room for the other sandwiches.

Tiong Bahru Bakery also has pretty decent brioche (available in plain, sugar, almond and chocolate). It’s something that I would have for afternoon tea everyday.

After having the savoury bites, we moved on to the sweet stuff.

The Pandan Flan ($6) is like a giant egg tart, only that the chef chose to use pandan instead of the usual custard filling. I wasn’t too keen on this, but go ahead and order it if you have a thing for pandan.

The Mixed Berry Crumble ($6) was also decent, but it would have been perfect if they had served it with a scoop of ice cream.

Tarte au citron is one of my favourite desserts, so I was really looking forward to trying Tiong Bahru Bakery’s rendition. The Round Lemon Tart ($6) was good, but not what I had in mind. It was more like a short bread than a butter tart. If you love the usual tarte au citron like me, this is probably not for you.

Also worth mentioning is the Pineapple Coconut Cake ($6), which is rustic, and tastes somewhat nostalgic – exactly the kind that you would find in your grandma’s kitchen. It was enough to gain my adoration.

We also had a Chocolate Tart ($6), which had layers of fruits (orange, apricot and fig) in between. It was sticky and chewy, and again, quite unlike the standard chocolate tarts.

Most of the creations at Tiong Bahru bakery are infused with Asian flavours and ingredients like curry, pandan, pineapple and tamarind skin. In other words, you either love or hate the unique flavors.

Not everyone will love Tiong Bahru Bakery on their first visit, but if you get the chance to sample more of their offerings, you will discover more favourites along the way that will then keep you coming back for more.

Tiong Bahru Bakery
56 Eng Hoon Street
#01-70 Singapore 160056
Tel: +65 6220 3430
Daily: 8am – 8pm

252 North Bridge Road
#B1-11/12 Raffles City Shopping Centre
Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 6333 4160
Daily: 9am – 10pm

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Wooloomooloo steakhouse, a popular steakhouse chain in Hong Kong, has started their first restaurant at Swissotel the Stamford. When we talk about F&B outlets in a shopping mall, they are always predictable, mainstream or boring. Wooloomooloo, on the other hand, has a sleek and sexy interior, and most importantly, it offers top-quality Aussie beef. Moreover, it has a fantastic view of the F1 racetrack from the third level of Raffles City.

If you are looking for a nice restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, and your partner likes steak, this is the place to go.

On the menu, there are the classic starters such as tuna & spanner crab tartare ($29), lobster bisque ($20), beef carpaccio ($24) and colossal crab lumps ($30).

We started our meal with the steak tartare ($28). Wooloomooloo does an Australian inspired steak tartare – with a hard boiled egg, cavier, sourcream – so it’s not your typical French version. It looked very appealing, but the taste did not really pack a punch; it somewhat lacked a certain flavour.

Following that, we had a pan seared foie gras and jumbo crabcake. Paired with apple chutney, the pan seared foie gras is very well executed. If you like foie gras, you must order it here.

Next, we had the jumbo crabcake. The use of simple everyday ingredients such as parsley, egg, bread crumb, garlic, shallot brings out the natural taste of the crabcake. After tasting it, I could feel the flavours mingling in my mouth: the tanginess of the tartar sauce, the bite of the crab cake, and the crunch of the coleslaw.

For main courses, we shared two steaks. The 12 ounce USDA Ribeye ($74) was good, but we preferred the Australian cut, which Wooloomooloo steakhouse is known for.

There are so many adjectives that one can use to describe steak: tender, succulent, juicy and flavourful – all of which can be used to describe Wooloomooloo’s 12 ounce Australian Ribeye ($62). This is a very fine piece of meat, and at the price, I think it is excellent value.

If you are in a big group, I’d suggest getting the monster 1.3kg tomahawk ($125) with a few sides – like the hash brown ($12), creamy spinach ($12), and sauteed onions ($12) – to share.

There are no lack of options when it comes to desserts. We were torn between the bread and butter pudding ($16), lemon & lime pie ($16) and creme brulee ($16). But there was no way I could resist my favourite hot chocolate cake ($25) and souffle ($20).

For the souffle, Wooloomooloo does four different flavours – chocolate, raspberry, passionfruit and Grand Marnier – and since we were having the hot chocolate cake, we decided to go for something different.

The Grand Marnier souffle that we had was very good – in fact, one of the better ones that I’ve had lately – but it did not get as much attention as the chocolate lava cake.

I call this the sore throat inducing dessert. Definitely one of the top five chocolate lava cakes in Singapore.

Wooloomooloo, for me, is one of the top mid-range steak houses in Singapore. I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes one of your favourite places too.

Wooloomooloo Steakhouse
2 Stamford Road
Level 3 Swissotel the Stamford
Tel: +65 6338 0261
Daily: 12:00 – 15:00
Daily: 15:00 – 23:00
Nearest Station: City Hall
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

// The first giveaway of 2 X $50 Old Hong Kong Legend vouchers has ended. Thank you for participating. The winners are #31 and #44.

The winners of the second giveaway are: #325, #153, #237, #359, #376, #402, #21, #15, and #425.

I do not frequent restaurants in malls because most of the time, you can only find restaurant chains. However, Raffles City is an exception that I would gladly welcome. It is nice to see that they are actively approaching good F&B tenants to provide new options for the consumers.

Salt Tapas & Bar, Tiong Bahru Bakery, Wooloomooloo Steakhouse are just some of the big names at Raffles City. And from what I have heard, there are more interesting concepts (one of which is a casual Vietnamese noodle bar by the Les Amis group) opening soon. Check out Raffles City food guide if you are looking for dining options this weekend.

Here’s part two of my Raffles City food trail – where we visited Old Hong Kong Legend, Bibigo, and Canele Patisserie Patisserie. We are also giving away $100 worth of dining vouchers, read more to find out how you join the giveaway.

We began our adventure at Old Hong Kong Legend at Level two of Raffles City.

Everything on the menu sounded delicious. There were so many dishes I wanted to try, and luckily, we did not have to choose as the restaurant had pre-arranged four of their signature dishes.

The double-boiled shark’s bone cartilage soup ($18/pax) came first. Served in a whole “shark’s fin” melon, the soup – prepared with yellow fungus and wolfberry – was rich and soulful. I could drink this everyday!

Next up, we had the ‘typhoon shelter’ crab. For the uninitiated, it is a dish served in many Hong Kong Chinese restaurants, and believes to have originated from the typhoon shelter – hence the name. Fried with garlic, chili, onion, and black bean sauce, the ‘typhoon shelter’ crab ($68/kg) is quite a sight to behold.

The crab, while good, was not something that I appreciate. I kept staring at the salted egg yolk crabs on the menu; I must come back again for them.

We also had a seared codfish on egg white with truffle sauce ($14.88/pax), and a pot of braised seafood and meat ($28) which I felt was a steal for the price, as it was filled with yummy ingredients like baby abalone, mushroom, pork belly, bean curd skin, and fish (as seen on the first picture of the post).

All in all, Old Hong Kong Legend is a place where you can get well-executed Chinese food at reasonable prices. I also learnt that they offer dim sum till 5pm on weekdays – definitely the place to go if I am meeting my friends for a late lunch.

Old Hong Kong Legend
252 North Bridge Road
#02-18/19 Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6336 3038

For the second stop of the Raffles City food trail, we went to Bibigo.

The Korean restaurant currently has 16 branches worldwide, which includes China, United States, London, and Singapore. The concept is pretty simple. They want to introduce good and healthy Korean food to the world, and while prices are not exactly cheap (average spending is around $21/pax), it is not too exorbitant either.

We had quite a spread: seafood pancake ($13), hot stone bibimbap ($16), ginseng orange salad ($12), sweet & spicy rice cake ($14), char-grilled bulgogi ($22), and spicy soft tofu stew ($14).

I thought that the sweet & spicy rice cake was not too bad, but I probably would not pay so much – given that it is a cheap Korean street food.

And if you look at the menu, you would notice that their bibimbap is quite different from the usual ones as you get to customise it. First, you choose the rice: white, black, brown & white, and barley & white. Then, you select the topping from options like bulgogi, grilled spicy pork, chicken teriyaki, tofu, and shrimp. And finally, the sauce: kohot, ssam, sesame, and citron soy. The result? You get tasty bibimbap in a sizzling hot stone pot.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the seafood pancake. As for the spicy tofu stew, it was nothing crazy in terms of flavour combination but just done well enough to hit the comfort note for me.

If I am in the Raffles City area, I can see myself coming back to Bibigo for a quick meal. For two people, I would suggest getting a stew, bibimbap, and seafood pancake to share.

Bibigo
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-74 Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6336 4745
Daily: 11am – 10pm

For desserts, we went to everyone’s favourite Canele Patisserie Chocolaterie. Chef Christophe Grilo has definitely stamped his mark with a new menu comprising popular desserts like tarte au citron, triple chocolate cheesecake, forêt noire, and strawberry shortcake.

I felt like a kid in Disneyland when I saw all the cakes on the table. Everything looked so delicious. Where do we start? How does anyone choose between cheesecake or the very popular le royale? Or favourites like strawberry shortcake and mille-feuille?

Out of all the cakes that we tried, my favourites were the la noisette, le royale, mango passion chocolat blanc, and gateau au fromage.

At Canele, they name this as la noisette ($7.50). But I prefer to call the hazelnut cream puff ‘a dream come true’. That’s right folks: praline, lemon, and choux pastry. Three things I adore all put together.

The mango passion chocolat blanc ($7.50) tastes as good as it looks. The combination of white chocolate mousse, zesty mango passion fruit cream, mango marmalade, and coconut crumble base was perfect. My heart beats faster as I recalled how effortless the flavours and textures blended in every taste.

Also not to be missed is the le royale ($8). The heavenly pairing of dark chocolate and hazelnut makes this one of the most popular desserts at Canele Patisserie. The gateau au fromage ($6.50) is also worth a mention. Light, smooth, and creamy – it is perhaps, one of the best cheesecakes I have had in recent times.

Here is one thing that not many people know: Canele has very good bread. Since Chef Christophe Grilo took over the kitchen, he has been constantly testing new recipes to create better bread. I think his croissant and pain au chocolate are good, so the next time you are there for tea, remember to have the bread too.

They have also just launched their summer macarons collection for 2012. You can find interesting flavours like vanilla banana, mint chocolate, lemon lime, violet berries, and rice krispie chocolate.

Canele Patisserie Chocolaterie
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-46/47 Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6334 7377

To find out more about Raffles City’s food festival, please visit Raffles City Epicurean Society where you can read about the restaurants, promotions and food reviews.

How to enter Raffles City’s Dining Vouchers Giveaway

1. Giving away 6 X $50 The Handburger and 3 X $50 Watami dining vouchers.

2. Leave a comment and tell us: ‘Which restaurant do you want to try in Raffles City?’ OR ‘your favourite restaurant in Raffles City?’

3. A random generator will be used, everyone has an equal chance of winning.

4. Giveaway ends on 16th Aug 2012 Thursday 2359. Winners will be notified by email.

5. If you have submitted previously, you automatically qualify for the second giveaway.

Whenever my friends meet for gatherings, one of our favourite places is Raffles City Shopping Centre as City Hall is convenient for everyone.

Other than the location, another reason why I love Raffles City is because of the dining options – there are more than 50 restaurants in the mall. From restaurants like Salt Tapas & Bar, Skinny Pizza, Sushi Tei, and Canele; to eateries like Thai Express, The Soup Spoon, and Cedele – it offers a diverse range of food offerings.

Raffles City is organising a Mastercard mall-wide F&B promotion (6th to 29th July) in conjunction with Singapore Food Festival 2012. There will be lucky draw with exclusive $5,000 worth of hotel stay by Fairmont and Swissotel, and dining deals to be won during this period. You can visit Raffles City Epicurean Society for more details.

I met up with the folks from Raffles City to find out more about the promotion, and they brought me on a food trail to try three restaurants at Raffles City – Salt Tapas & Bar, Menya Musashi, and Soup Broth Asia.

If you always have problem trying to choose a place for dinner in the City Hall area, here’s a quick guide on where you can go.

Food trail, here we go!

Our first stop was at Salt Tapas & Bar by Australian celebrity chef Luke Mangan.

We started with the roasted garlic flat bread with romesco ($6). Then, we had the baked bone marrow ($16) with shiitake, Parmesan, & air-dried olive.

I was really excited when I saw it on the menu. I tasted a good bone marrow in New York, but so far, I haven’t been able to find a good rendition in Singapore. I thought Salt’s bone marrow was fantastic; it will have me returning over and over again.

Peter, the restaurant manager, recommended the tagine of snapper and octopus ($32), which was created by Luke Mangan himself. The dish was prepared with chickpeas, silverbeet, date and lemon; it tasted slightly sourish-sweet – somewhat like an Assam fish head.

Equally good was the charcoal grilled baby chicken ($26) with rosemary & lemon. I was tempted to order more food; the charcoal grilled beef rib ($31) and iberico pork loin ($27) were calling out to me – but I figured that I shouldn’t be too greedy since this was only the first stop, so we proceeded with desserts.

Looking at the choices on the dessert menu, we were not sure where to even begin. In the end, we decided to go with something rich – gooey hot chocolate tart ($14) and churros with chocolate ($11), which after dipping our spoon into, we agreed was one of the best ways one could end the meal with.

The food at Salt Tapas & Bar is not exactly cheap; the nibbles are priced around $6 to $19, while the meat and seafood tapas range from $15 to $32. But this is a meal worth saving up for. For a more affordable alternative, I’d suggest going there for lunch. Salt Tapas & Bar has a lunch set at $33.50++; you get flat bread to share, and three tapas per person – which in my opinion, is a fantastic deal as the items on the lunch menu can be found on the ala carte menu.

Salt Tapas & Bar
252 North Bridge Road
#01-22A Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6837 0995
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm

Following our Aussie tapas adventure, we went to Menya Musashi, one of Japan’s most famous ramen shops. I think it’s great that they have chosen to open the first store at Raffles City, as it is very accessible. The opening of the Japanese ramen restaurant definitely adds to the wide variety of food available at the mall.

From what I’ve heard, the current queue during lunch and dinner is at least an hour long. Not too bad for a new restaurant that is barely a few months old.

After trying all the ramen on the menu, I can understand why people queue up for it. I would venture to say that it is one of the better tonkatsu-based ramens in Singapore.

Besides Tsukemen ($14.90) – where you dip dry noodles in a richer soup sauce; Menya Musashi serves three different types of ramen: white (original tonkatsu broth), red (spicy tonkatsu broth), and black (tonkatsu broth with fermented garlic and onion).

One of the reasons why Menya Musashi is so special is because of the broth. It is boiled for more than nine hours, and the chef has to stir it every half an hour to prevent the bottom from being burned. The result? An extremely thick and rich tonkatsu broth that is out-of-this-world good. I am not exaggerating when I use the word ‘extremely’; Menya Musashi’s broth is much thicker than the usual ramen places.

While the black and red Musashi are delicious, my favourite is the white Musashi, as I love the original taste of tonkatsu broth. Each ramen comes with the option of chashu ($12.90), or Kakuni ($14.90). The chashu is quite good, but the kakuni (braised pork belly) is even better.

Go during off-peak hours, or be prepared to queue up.

Menya Musashi
252 North Bridge Road
#01-16 Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6336 6500

Our third, and final stop of the day was Soup Broth Asia – located at the basement of Raffles City Shopping Centre where you can find many restaurants and eateries.

Soup Broth Asia is an Asian soup concept by everyone’s favourite The Soup Spoon, a leading soup chain in Singapore. For those who don’t cook at home, Soup Broth Asia gives them the chance to savour homemade Asian soups.

There are nine different types of comforting and hearty soups such as tori daikon nabe, Hainanese beef and tripe hotpot, as well as canton lotus root with pork rib.

We sampled three signature soups, and I loved the Hainanese festive fish maw ($10.40) – with fresh fish slices, fish maw, and cabbage – as it reminds me of my mom’s soups.

The sumo wrestle – a miso based soup which consist of chicken, beancurd, lotus root, poached eggs, and soya milk – is quite fascinating as it substitutes cream with soya milk for people who are allergic to dairy products.

If you are a beef stew lover, you will love the Hainanese beef and tripe hotpot ($7.90). It is an oriental version of beef stew, and comes with nicely marinated beef and beef tripe.

Soup Broth Asia also has side dishes like appetisers ($2.80 to $4.80), vegetables ($5.90 to $7.40) and meats ($6.50 to $10.50). In particular, the sweet & sour pork ($8.80) and garlic baby dou miao ($7.40) were very decent.

Soup Broth Asia
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-62 Rafffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6338 6909
Sun–Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri–Sat: 11am – 10.30pm

That’s all folks. I hope you enjoy reading my food trail at Raffles City. I will be going on another adventure to try three other restaurants; I will definitely share it with you soon!

To find out more about Raffles City’s food festival, please visit Raffles City Epicurean Society where you can read about the F&B tenants, promotions and food reviews.