Goldleaf Restaurant, a popular Taiwanese porridge restaurant which has been around since 1971, will be closing on 19 Sep 2022 as they cannot reach an agreement with their landlord at Katong Square over the lease renewal.

From braised pork belly, to three cup chicken, Steamed Pork Patty with Salted Egg Yolk and Chye Poh Omelette, Goldleaf Restaurant offers Taiwanese porridge with wide selection of delicious comfort food.

Their Chye Poh Omelette is the best that we’ve had in Singapore, while the Golden Seafood Porridge comes with a generous serving of seafood including lobster, prawns and clams.

The heritage restaurant has been at Katong for the past 6 years and it is currently in the midst of looking for a new location, but they have yet to find a suitable spot. We will keep you updated once they have announced their new location.

Meanwhile, you can satisfy your Taiwanese porridge craving at Goldleaf Restaurant before they close their current restaurant at Katong Square on 19 Sep.

Goldleaf Restaurant
88 E Coast Rd, #01-05/06/07 Katong Square
Singapore 423371

Taiwanese restaurant chain, Isshin Machi has opened a new outlet at Serangoon Gardens and it will be taking over the former space vacated by Nic & Tom Eatery.

Photo credit: Isshin Machi

Known for serving authentic Taiwanese dishes at reasonable prices, Isshin Machi has quickly expanded in Singapore with various outlets at East Coast Road, GR.ID, Holland Village, Greenwood Avenue, and Waterway Point.

Some of the popular dishes and drinks include Lu Rou Fan, Taiwanese Braised Beef Noodles, Spicy Wonton Noodles, Fried Rice with Pork Chop and Brown Sugar Caramel Milk Tea.

After the opening of JU Signatures, Isshin Machi is the next restaurant to open in Serangoon Gardens.

Which is your favourite Taiwanese restaurant in Singapore?

Isshin Machi
55 Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555951

Read our Serangoon Gardens Food Guide featuring 26 restaurants, cafes and eateries in the neighbourhood.

The Salted Plum pays tribute to hearty, comforting Taiwanese street food that is the hallmark of Taiwan’s ever-popular night markets.

Managed by the same people behind the former FIVE-TEN, The Salted Plum—located in Boat Quay—came to fruition after many months of intensive research while Chef Shawn Koh was travelling through Taiwan in hopes of replicating the same flavours but with an innovative twist back in Singapore.

The casual restaurant serves a medley of Taiwanese street food—from favourites such as Braised Pork Belly, Braised Pig Intestines and Taiwanese Sausage Patties to other interesting options including the likes of Salted Pork and Oyster Steamed Egg.

And just like what you would expect from the street food stalls at Taiwanese night markets, prices at The Salted Plum are kept affordable so you can indulge in Taiwanese-style meals, “tapas” and alcohol all day (and night) long without feeling the pinch.

THE SALTED PLUM CONCEPT

The humble establishment’s concept is one that is easy to grasp; prices are mostly set at S$5, S$10 and S$15 for most items and S$25 for the premium choices. Their S$10 lunch bowls are the top picks, with incredible options such as the Lu Rou Fan and Steak Rice.

As much as their lunch deals are insanely attractive, it is really the a la carte dishes you should be keeping a lookout for. Known as ‘xiao chi’, the small plates featured at the Salted Plum are essentially similar to those substantial snacks you will find at any traditional eatery in Taiwan.

Complement the delicious “tapas” with their selective range of drinks, from red tea to beers and wines.

S$5 DISHES

LU ROU

Even those who have not been to Taiwan would have heard about Lu Rou (braised pork belly) because it is THAT iconic.

But there is no need to get on a plane just to have taste of this street delicacy if you are short on cash/time; the recipe has been perfected by The Salted Plum and what you get at the humble establishment is two gorgeous slices of pork belly that are braised in savoury and sweet sauce. Have the melt-in-your-mouth pork belly with their Shiny Rice in one bite—you will be blown away by the sheer umami flavours.

BAMBOO SHOOTS

While bamboo shoots is hardly anyone’s idea of a signature dish at a restaurant, The Salted Plum seeks to prove that notion wrong. Fresh chunks of bamboo shoots are simmered in aromatic pork broth to allow the decadent porky flavours to penetrate into the crunchy vegetables.

By the way, this is a great snack if you are drinking beer. The Taiwanese could call that ‘xia jiu cai’.

SMASHED BABY POTATOES

One of the most memorable dishes on the menu during our previous trip was the Smashed Baby Potatoes with salted plum powder—and is still, by far, a dish we would highly recommend to diners.

Think smashed potatoes deep-fried to perfection so you get that crispy texture with every bite. It was so good, it may very well be the only way we want to have potatoes for finger food from now on!

S$10 DISHES

TAIWANESE SAUSAGE PATTIES

Inspired by his experience with Taiwanese sausages and Taiwanese-style cured bacon during his travels, Chef Koh’s version of Taiwanese Sausage Patties has been modified to suit our local palates, using less rice wine and sugar but throwing in more five spice powder.

Made in their kitchen daily, fresh ground pork belly is first marinated with fragrant spices before they are moulded into small patties and stir-fried in a pan. We thoroughly enjoyed the layer of char on the outside for that smoky flavour while the meat remains tender and juicy.

BRAISED PIG INTESTINES

Those who do not take innards won’t be inclined to try this dish but trust us when we say, this is the place that will change your perception of pig offal.

The fresh large intestines are braised in a piquant dark sauce that strikes out any pungent smell you would usually taste in poorly done pork innards dishes.

OYSTER STEAMED EGG

To be honest, the Oyster Steamed Egg did not look like much when we first saw it. You really have to dig into it to find the treasure hidden within the steamed egg—a generous serving of baby oysters so plump and they provided great textures when eaten with the silky smooth steamed egg.

MUSSELS

Steamed mussels with wine is not a new recipe but the one at The Salted Plum stays true to traditional Chinese culinary techniques by using only Shaoxing wine, a type of yellow wine that is commonly used for Chinese cooking to elevate flavours.

This mouthwatering bowl of mussels is then topped off with sliced ginger for that additional kick.

STEAMED PRAWNS

Enjoy a piping hot bowl of prawns that follows the classic, healthy Chinese method of steaming and is served with garlic, chilli, fish sauce and soy sauce.

The freshness of these juicy prawns is complemented with a hint of heat from the chilli padi and garlic—just the way Asians love their spicy food.

MORE TAIWANESE-INSPIRED FOOD ON THE MENU

The list doesn’t end here. Apart from our favourites, The Salted Plum also has other choices that make for great tapas or filling meals when you have them with rice. Some other options to consider are the Haus Bacon (S$10) which are made in-house, Brussels Sprouts (S$10) and Corn (S$5).

For something even fancier, the Hamachi Collar (S$15) and Slipper Lobster (S$25) will do the trick.

FREE-FLOW DRINKS FOR S$5 AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Complete your meals with iced teas at S$5 for groups of four. Served in a decanter, the iced teas are free-flow so you can have as much as you desire for just a one time charge. What a steal, we know!

Beyond that, The Salted Plum is also the perfect place for after-work drinks with your friends and colleagues because of the chill ambience and selection of reasonably-priced alcoholic beverages which include Taiwan Beer (S$10/ bottle) and wines.

STAY TUNED FOR A NEW SUPPER SPOT AT BOAT QUAY

For night owls who are looking for a supper spot in Boat Quay, you will be delighted to know that The Salted Plum will be opened till late on Fridays and Saturdays, offering Taiwanese porridge from 11pm to 3pm on these two nights. Imagine having a bowl of warm porridge with sweet potatoes after a night of drinks—how comforting!

Diners can also have their porridge with other sides such as Fried Frog Legs with Haus Chilli Mayo, Dough Fritters with Minced Pork and Haus Sauce, Crispy Duck Leg and Golden King Mushroom and Plum Powder. Signature items from their main menu including Braised Intestines, Burnt Chilli Chicken and House-made Taiwanese Sausage Patties can also be enjoyed.

The Salted Plum
10 Circular Road
Singapore 049366
Tel: +65 9181 6265
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

This post is brought to you by The Salted Plum.

FIVE-TEN is the latest addition to the developing restaurant scene located along South Bridge Road. If there is any way to describe their food, it is total comfort inspired by the dynamic street food scene of Taipei.

During lunchtime, they offer a spectacular array of innovative dishes such as their take on the popular Taiwanese street food, Lu Rou Fan, and at night, the humble and seemingly innocent establishment transforms into a bar where you can enjoy a tipple.

At FIVE-TEN, you can expect quality Taiwanese-style comfort food at super affordable prices.

The interior is dark yet sophisticated, similar to the kind you would expect to find at a speakeasy bar. The brick wall by the bar adds to the ambiance by giving this eatery a rustic feel.

FIVE-TEN has an array innovative tipples like gaoliang slushies as well as a curated selection of beers, wines, and spirits—priced between $5++ and $10++—to cater to the after-work drinking crowd and late night revelers.

For starters, we ordered a sharing plate of their Fried Chicken (S$5++). A mixture of chicken thigh and breast meat are thinly coated with flour and are deep fried till crispy. The dish comes with a seaweed mayonnaise which the chef makes in-house.

The fried chicken pieces were super crisp and surprisingly juicy on the inside. The seaweed mayonnaise added a refreshing umami touch to the dish, creating a new dimension of savouriness which worked exceptionally well with the crispy chicken.

Fans of Taiwanese food fare will be impressed with their version of the iconic Lu Rou Fan
(S$10++).

A bowl filled with a generous scoop of Japanese short-grain rice doused in a sweet and savoury sauce is topped with thick cuts of braised pork belly, boiled kai lan and a sous-vide egg.

Each individual element was executed perfectly; the braised pork belly was tender, juicy and beautifully infused with the braising liquid, while the kai lan added a nice crunch to the dish. The runny egg yolk provided an added richness to the dish which we felt was what made the whole dish such a joy to eat.

One of their popular mains at FIVE-TEN is the Steak, Rice, and Egg (S$10++). As its name suggests, it is essentially a rice bowl with seared sirloin steak topped with a sous-vide egg.

A generous portion of beautifully cooked steak is neatly displayed to showcase its glorious pink shade. It was tender and the few sprinkles of sea salt really helped to bring out the beefy flavours.

The dish comes with pickled Chinese cabbage on the side. We felt that the tartness added a whole new flavour dimension. It really helped to cut through the richness of the steak and the egg.

If tasty innovative Taiwanese-style eats at affordable prices are what you are after, then you need to make a trip down to FIVE-TEN today!

Five Ten
237 South Bridge Road
Tel: +65 6924 7352
(Closed on Mondays)
Tues to Sat: 10am – 10pm
Sun: 10am – 2.30pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Shihlin Night Market is a must-visit “attraction” for anyone visiting Taipei for the first time and this bustling night market is home to some of the best of Taiwanese street food.

Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks is a food chain in Asia Pacific that offers authentic Taiwanese snacks with more than 150 outlets throughout the region and there is a total of 14 outlets here in Singapore.

You must have had a taste of their famous XXL Crispy Chicken, a popular snack that you can find in the actual Shihlin Night Market. This is probably the closest you can get to the real deal. Now, Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks has introduced a spanking new rendition of this snack—Salted Egg Yolk Crispy Chicken.

We already know how great fried chicken tastes like, but when coated with salted egg yolk sauce, it is pure genius! Here is what we loved about the all-new Salted Egg Yolk Crispy Chicken and other signature snacks from Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks.

SUPER ADDICTIVE SALTED EGG YOLK CRISPY CHICKEN

Introducing the new Salted Egg Yolk Crispy Chicken, something that you really must try.

It is true that there have been a lot of salted egg yolk dishes introduced over the last year. And we are adding this rendition to our list of favourites. Imagine your favourite XXL crispy chicken, without the seasoning powders, but slathered with generous amounts of golden and creamy salted egg yolk sauce. It is truly heaven on earth.

We liked that the sauce is not too potent and that it did not overwhelm each bite. The crispy chicken is the same good old chicken that we have always loved—huge so it would be good to share, or even alone as a light meal.

To make it a full meal, you can choose from one of Shihlin’s new milk blended drinks.

NEW MILK BLENDED DRINKS

Taro Milk Blended and Papaya Milk Blended are the two new drinks offered alongside the Salted Egg Yolk Crispy Chicken.

Both drinks are extremely rich and creamy, almost like a dessert. They come in adorable plastic bottles that you can reuse.

SIGNATURE ORIGINAL XXL CRISPY CHICKEN

This is a classic order at Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks and you can never go wrong with it.

The XXL Crispy Chicken is the most popular order, and you can even have it as a complete meal in a rice box. The chicken is always deep-fried upon order, then coated with seasoning powders. Once the flavouring is done, the chicken cutlet will be cut up into bite-sized pieces for easier consumption.

The chicken cutlet is skinless and has no fat on it so you get an even, tender bite in each piece. The XXL Crispy Chicken is best eaten immediately when served to enjoy its crispiness and tenderness at best.

SLURP UP THE HANDMADE OYSTER MEE SUA

Of course, you have to try the Handmade Oyster Mee Sua as it is one of the quintessential Taiwanese street snacks.

The stock is made in-house with five core ingredients over a small flame; the end result is an intense and tasty broth. The mee sua is imported and huge plump oysters are added in every bowl. We also enjoyed the added serving of shredded chicken.

SAVOURY CREPES (AND SOME CHEESE PORN)

Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks also offers savoury crepes such as Sausage Cheese Egg Crepe and Mushroom Cheese Egg Crepe.

Every crepe is filled generously with the ingredients and is wrapped up in handmade spring onion crepe skin. These crepes are also best eaten hot, and the cheese pull is an immense satisfaction to watch.

NIBBLE ON SWEET PLUM POTATO FRIES

The Sweet Plum Potato Fries are painstakingly hand-cut in store to maintain its freshness. The fries are deep-fried upon order, then coated with their special in-house plum powder.

Just a heads up—these fries are extremely addictive. You will find yourself munching on these non-stop until you are done with the bag. They are that delicious!

Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks
1 Sengkang Square
#B1-51 Compass One
Singapore 545078
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Sengkang

This post is brought to you by Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks.

If you have been to Taipei, you would probably be familiar Smoothie House, one of Taiwan’s most popular and bestselling shaved ice stores that sits along Yong Kang Street.

Now,  now. Smoothie House is finally in Singapore and we cannot be more excited to celebrate their opening. They are currently at only two locations, Paya Lebar Square and One Raffles Place (both together with Greendot Fast Casual), but come 2016, Smoothie House will be branching out to more locations island-wide.

The daily snaking queues over at Taipei is gonna bother us no more, for we now have Smoothie House serving the same bowls of goodness here in sunny Singapore. Smoothie House in Singapore imports the blocks of ice directly from Taiwan, and you can be sure that the quality and taste is far from being compromised on.

Also, readers of ladyironchef will enjoy a 1-for-1 promotion on Snowflake Ice at Smoothie House (Paya Lebar Square) from now till 31 December 2015 when you flash this post! More details at the end of this post.

SNOWFLAKE ICE BOWLS WITH FRESH FRUITS

What first caught our eyes was the Mix Strawberry Snowflake Ice with Panna Cotta (S$15.90) because of its colourful assorted fruit toppings. The strawberry-flavoured snowflake ice is also served with panna cotta.

We recommend having the snowflake ice together with the panna cotta and fruits in one bite to balance out the flavours. Each bowl is good for two people to share (or for one really hungry person)!

This is their signature and probably the most ordered item in their Taiwan stores – Mango Snowflake Ice with Panna Cotta (S$12.90). Many reasons to love this bowl, indeed. Why, just look at the generous chunks of fresh mango atop the powdery snowflake ice. And a panna cotta to top, too!

A little fun fact: every piece of mango is sliced with precision to ensure a consistency in the size for the best dining experience, and the number of mango chunks is even on each side! Also, every bowl of Mango Snowflake Ice actually comprises almost a whole mango fruit.

We matcha addicts sure couldn’t resist this one – Matcha and Red Bean Snowflake Ice with Panna Cotta (S$12.90). Matcha with azuki (red beans) is a always stellar combination.

What pleased us the most was the fact that the matcha ice did not taste artificial nor was it too overpowering. And yes, that’s a lot of azuki. Talk about value for money!

While you might gravitate towards the signature fruit options, don’t dismiss the very unique Tiramisu Snowflake Ice with Panna Cotta (S$15.90) just yet. We were just slightly obsessed with the textures of this bowl, from the chewy mochi bits to the lady fingers, and yes, the same creamy panna cotta (we lost count of the number we ate!).

You might be keen to know that this version is alcohol-free. Unfortunately, no Baileys for our tiramisu because Smoothie House caters to vegetarians and our Muslim friends too, but be rest assured that the taste is in no way lacklustre.

Need your yogurt fix? Yes, you can have it in the form of a bowl of snowflake ice with the Yogurt-Berry Snowflake Ice (S$15.90). This is certainly something unique and different from the regular fruity snowflake ice.

Of course, we love the tartness of this rendition and the addition of berries couldn’t be a better complement to the bowl of smooth ice.

SMOOTHIES

If you are looking for something simpler to something to quench your thirst, the Smoothies (S$6.50) at Smoothie House are actually really good and do not pale in comparison with the signature snowflake ice.

Pick from flavours such as Strawberry, Mango and Yogurt. It is freshness in every sip in these huge cups of smoothies.

MINI ICE CUPS FOR TAKEAWAY

Besides just bowls of shaved ice, Smoothie House in Singapore also offers individual portions in adorable takeaway cups – we reckon they will look so good on your social media feeds!

These takeaway cups are genius, because we all love dessert cups on the go. Priced at S$6.90 each, we still recommend the signature Mango Snowflake Ice – the chunks of mango are no less generous and fresh.

The one true thing that we appreciate most about here at Smoothie House is the fact that everything is not overly sweet nor tastes artificial. Fresh fruit, original ice blocks from Taipei, and huge portions for sharing; what’s not not love, right? Even more so for the month of December with the 1-for-1 promotion!

1-FOR-1 SNOWFLAKE ICE FROM NOW TILL 31 DECEMBER 2015

Simply flash this post upon ordering and you are entitled to a complimentary Mango Snowflake Ice with Panna Cotta worth S$12.90 when you order any of the 3 regular snowflake ice bowl (Mix Strawberry Snowflake Ice with Panna Cotta, Yogurt Berry Snowflake Ice, or Tiramisu & Red Beans Snowflake Ice with Panna Cotta). The 1-for-1 promotion is only valid at Smoothie House’s Paya Lebar Square outlet from now till 31 December 2015.

Smoothie House
60 Paya Lebar Road
#02-15/16/17, Paya Lebar Square
Singapore 409051
Tel: +65 6702 2221
Daily: 11am – 10pm
(Last Order: 9pm)
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

One Raffles Place #03-25
Singapore 048616
Tel: +65 6532 1025
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

This post is brought to you by Smoothie House Singapore.

Authentic, well-cooked and delicious Taiwanese food is hard to come by in our tiny nation. But thankfully, we have restaurants such as Shin Yeh to fill the void and to satisfy our cravings. This month, Shin Yeh introduces 24 new dim sum items to their lunch menu and 3 new main menu items that are sure to excite your tastebuds.

A renowned and established name worldwide, Shin Yeh has been gracing Singapore with authentic and refined Taiwanese cuisine since their partnership with the TungLok Group began back in 2008. Shin Yeh at Liang Court occupies a large space that is big enough to host event and parties.

Besides being an ideal place for large-group dinners, Shin Yeh makes a great place for you to kick back for an hour or so for lunch with your friends or family. Here’s introducing our 11 favourite items from their all-new dim sum lunch and all-day a la carte menu that will surely tempt you to try them all.

[ GIVEAWAY ] We are giving away S$250 Shin Yeh cash vouchers. Leave a comment below, and share this post on your Facebook timeline to win. More details on the giveaway at the end of this post.

#1 EIGHT IMMORTALS DIM SUM PLATTER

Shin Yeh’s new “Eight Immortals” Dim Sum platter (S$12++) is extremely value-for-money and good for sharing. It comes with Steamed Chives Dumpling with Pork, Crystal Mixed Vegetables Dumpling, Steamed Shrimp Dumpling, and Steamed Chicken Dumpling with Egg Plant, Turnip and Dried Shrimps.

Shin Yeh’s rendition of the classic steamed chive dumpling (S$4.20++ for 3, a la carte) surprised us with a tasty filling and perfectly steamed ‘skin’ outer layer. The taste of the stir-fried vegetables inside the Crystal Mixed Vegetables Dumpling (S$4.20++ for 3) was distinct and a delight.

We were also impressed with the Steamed Shrimp Dumpling ($4.80++ for 4) – generous portion of minced shrimp dumpling encased inside the flour ‘skin’ of the dumpling. It is true that eggplant is an unusual filling inside the dish but we liked how it was the star of the Steamed Chicken Dumpling (S$4.20++ for 3) with its taste and texture.

#2 SIX LUCKY STARS DIM SUM PLATTER

The Six Lucky Stars platter, on the other hand, comes with Steamed Scallops Dumpling with Chicken and Shrimp, Taiwan-style Siew Mai, and the Steamed Soupy Pork Dumpling

The star of the platter is without a doubt the Xiao Long Bao (S$4.80++). It brought back memories of bursting open perfectly made and cooked dumplings back in Taiwan. The dumpling features rich broth that is made better with some sliced ginger and vinegar and a tantalising minced pork filling.

#3 CHARCOAL GRILLED PORK RIBS

The fragrant charcoal flavour is distinct in these pork ribs. Each serving features a big piece of pork ribs that are so tasty on its own, you might end up finishing the whole plate in minutes. The Charcoal Grilled Pork Ribs (S$10++) remains as one of our favourites from the menu.

#4 STIR-FRIED POMFRET FILLET WITH XO SAUCE

For just S$48++ with a serving good enough for 3-4 people, this beautifully plated dish of stir-fried pomfret slices almost melts in your mouth and will satisfy you with its rich wok aroma. We loved that this dish was so good, and it is definitely one you’ll come back again and again for more. For rice lovers, good news because this dish is perfect with a bowl of warm rice.

#5 STEAMED BUN WITH LEAN PORK AND PICKLES

When eaten warm, this dish is the perfect representation of two contrasting flavours that complement each other. The Steamed Bun with Lean Pork and Pickles (S$12++ for 4) first kick-starts our tastebuds with the salty and sour pickle flavour which slowly blends in with the tasty lean pork like a perfect pair. To tone down the fillings’ intense flavours, the freshly steamed and fluffy buns on the outside holds the whole dish together.

#6 BRAISED GOOSE WEBS WITH ABALONE AND MUSHROOM

This exotic item is braised until soft and tender before it is being dished out with abalone and mushroom. The Braised Goose Webs with Abalone & Mushroom (S$22.80++) is a treat on its own with every component cooked perfectly. We liked that the goose webs are more tender and smooth to chew compared to the typical chicken feet served at dim sum restaurants.

#7 SAUTÉED PRAWNS WITH PINEAPPLE

This dish is not a new one but we felt that it deserves its own feature because of how tremendously and surprisingly delicious it is. The Sautéed Prawns with Pineapple ($20++) features deep-fried pineapple chunks with deep-fried crunchy prawns, drizzled all over with a mild pineapple sauce.

Usually, chefs will use mango or savoury sauces, but Shin Yeh’s ingenious idea to cook these prawns with pineapple was a resounding success. Many dub it as one of their all-time favourite dishes, with even celebrities regularly returning to Shin Yeh just to savour this gorgeous plate of gold.

#8 CRISP-FRIED FRESH OYSTER SERVED WITH DIP

A classic Taiwanese snack, the Crisp-fried Fresh Oyster (S$14++) is good for sharing among 2-3 people. It is something that you can’t stop eating, and to be honest, who would have thought that other than eating oysters raw or having them fried with eggs, oysters could be fried till crispy with a unique crunch-like texture?

#9 BRAISED CHICKEN WITH GARLIC AND BASIL IN CLAYPOT

Also known as Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken or San Bei Ji, the Braised Chicken with Garlic and Basil in Claypot (S$16++) is a classic Taiwanese item and one that goes well with porridge. This is simplicity at its best, and Shin Yeh’s rendition definitely did not let us down.

#10 TRADITIONAL TAIWAN-STYLE RICE AND NOODLES

Because what is a Taiwanese meal without the evergreen favourites, right? We have the Traditional Braised Mee Sua with Oysters and Pig’s Intestine (S$8++), Taiwan-style Rice with Soya Sauce Lean Pork (S$5++) and Taiwan-style Sweet Potato Porridge (S$1.80++ for free flow) to choose from. We don’t know about you, but we are honestly simple souls who can be easily satisfied with these traditional rice and noodles dishes. Then again, don’t you all agree that they are so comforting?

#11 TAIWAN-STYLE DESSERTS

Trends come and go, and there are all sorts of desserts in the world. But Taiwan-style desserts such as shaved ice and almond jelly will stay as perennial picks in our hearts. Here at Shin Yeh, indulge in the Mango and Milk over Shaved Ice (S$8++) and Handmade Almond Jelly with Peach (S$5++).

SHIN YEH CASH VOUCHERS GIVEAWAY

1. Shin Yeh is giving away 10 x S$25 Shin Yeh cash vouchers.
2. Leave a comment in this post and tell us which dish you would like to try from Shin Yeh.
3. ‘Like’ TungLok Group on Facebook.
4. Share the link of this post on your Facebook timeline.
5. The contest starts from now till 4 July 2015, 2359 hrs.
6. Winners will be notified by email.

// The winners are Carol Lim, Suzanna Lim, Janice Lim, Javier Lim, Pauline, Samantha Chong, Janson, Wen Qi, Sally Tang, and Allan Lin.

Shin Yeh
177 River Valley Road
Liang Court Shopping Centre, #02-19
Tel: +65 6338 7337
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun & Public Holidays: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

This post is brought to you by Shin Yeh, a joint venture between Taiwan’s Shin Yeh Group and Singapore’s TungLok Group.

I’ll be honest. My visit to Ximending Taiwanese Restaurant at Vivocity was a disappointment. The food that we had was pretty good, but the service from the manager was atrocious.

If you have been reading my blog, I’m sure you’d know that I only blog about restaurants that give a positive dining experience.  I always believe that bloggers must be responsible, and not publish any accusations which might potentially hurt somebody. Restaurants are running a business afterall, and it is difficult to please everyone since we all have different likings.

That said, I decided to blog about this because we enjoyed the food, though, it was a shame that we didn’t exactly had a great time overall.

Right from the start when we first took the menu, the manager persistently persuaded us to go for the pricier items though we had politely refused and specified we only wanted those that we ordered. After placing our order, we asked for ice water and he told us that they only serve it upon request. And again, he tried to convince us to order from the drinks menu. He reluctantly served us ice water after we told him repeatedly and firmly that we didn’t want any drinks from the menu.

Anyway, back to the food. Ximending restaurant’s menu (most dishes are under $20) has quite a few options, and it took us a while before deciding on what to order.

We tried the Taiwanese Salt & Pepper Chicken – a popular Taiwanese street food; Radish & Egg Pancake ($10) – a must-try dish to go along with Taiwanese porridge; and the signature Taiwanese Three Cup (san bei) Chicken ($17.9). We also ordered the Stewed Pork Belly with Preserved Vegetables ($9.9), but they only informed us that it was sold-out after we’ve almost finished all our food.

All in all, Ximending restaurant has pretty good Taiwanese food at decent prices, but the service was a let-down. Given that we do not have many Taiwanese restaurants in Singapore, the only places to satisfy my cravings for Taiwanese food are Shin Yeh restaurant at Liang Court, I love Taimei, 4 Season Taiwanese Cuisine (formerly Peng Lai Ge), and Oasis Taiwan Porridge Restaurant.

I don’t think I will re-visit Ximending restaurant again. How about you? Would you go back to a restaurant (with good food) if the service was bad?

Singapore Food Blog
Ximending Taiwanese Restaurant
1 HarbourFront Walk
#01-51A VivoCity
Tel: +65 6376 8018

With the never-ending queues at KOI and Gong Cha bubble tea, my guess is that the bubble tea craze in Singapore will be here to stay for a little longer. Just that day, I was asking on twitter which is the first KOI outlet in Singapore, but no one was sure about the answer. Most people replied that Chinatown is the first KOI branch and apparently they have been there for a couple of years.

It’s funny how most people only come to know about it in the past two years. The same goes for I love Taimei, a small Taiwanese cafe located at 52 Queen Street at Bugis Village that sells Taiwanese street food in Singapore.

Even though I always pass by the area, I didn’t notice the place until recently. I heard that they are opened for a year (or maybe slightly longer), and they are getting popular with the crowd at Bugis Village.

A regular bubble tea is $2, while most of the Taiwanese street food like the fried chicken, burger, mee sua are around $3-4. A set meal consisting of a main, side and drink will cost around $6-7.

Interestingly, I love Taimei is just around the corner from KOI at Iluma. I am no expert when it comes to bubble tea, but I had I love Taimei’s bubble tea on a few occasions, and I definitely don’t think that it will lose out to KOI. As much as I enjoyed the KOI bubble tea, I still have no idea why people will queue up half an hour just for a cup of bubble tea.

On the first occasion, I had the BBQ Crispy Chicken ($3.90). It was crispy and drizzled with the spicy-sweet BBQ sauce. Obviously, this isn’t going to be as fantastic as the Ji Pa (deep-fried chicken) that you had in Taiwan. The grass will always be greener on the other side, and Taiwanese street food will definitely taste better when you have them at the Taiwanese night markets. Wake up people, we are in Singapore (not Taiwan), and we just have to make do with what we have. The portion of the chicken was considerably small for four dollars, but when craving call, you know there’s nothing you can do. I also had the cheese fries ($2), which was pretty decent. Coated with a layer of cheesy texture, it’s the ideal snack to munch the afternoon away.

It was raining heavily during my second trip there, and the Oyster Mee Sua ($3) was the perfect companion in the sleepy weather. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a strong hint of vinegar within the sticky and soupy mee sua, which had bits and pieces of tiny little oysters. It was very comforting to stand by the road side, and scoop the mee sua from a bowl. Suddenly, I felt that I was in Taiwan again.

* * *

Other than the Oasis and Gold Leaf Taiwanese porridge restaurants, Peng Lai Ge at Joo Chiat, Shin Yeh Taiwanese restaurant at Liang Court and the newly opened Ximending at Vivo city, there aren’t that many options for Taiwanese food in Singapore. Since I chanced upon I Love Taimei, I’m always tempted to order a snack whenever I am in the Bugis area.

Forget about everything that I just told you. Forget that you read this post on I love Taimei. I do not want to see any of you queuing up in front of me the next time I am there!

I <3 Taimei!

Taiwanese Food Review
I Love Taimei
52 Queen Street #ABFL-21 Singapore
Tel: +65 6336 5987