Good news for those of you staying in the East of Singapore, the famous Hjh Maimunah has opened a new stall at Tampines Mall’s Kopitiam.

If you are a fan of Malaysian and Indonesian Nasi Padang fare, or a food lover who appreciates a restaurant’s commitment to its food tradition and heritage, Hjh Maimunah is a great choice for your next meal!

The original Hjh Maimunah sits along a narrow lane in Bugis behind the Masjid Sultan mosque and has been dishing out its famous Nasi Padang to its regulars for years.

What makes Hjh Maimunah stand out is how there is an innate love and care put into the food created. To preserve traditional recipes, ingredients are sourced locally and regionally, and no shortcuts are taken even for the most labour-intensive dishes.

As a result, the quality of food delivered is heads and shoulders above most of the competition, and their customers know it.

The new Hjh Maimunah Mini at Tampines Mall’s Kopitiam has officially opened today on 21 Oct and it is available from 10am to 10pm daily.

Hjh Maimunah Mini
4 Tampines Central 5
Tampines Mall
Singapore 529510
Daily: 10am – 10pm

Jiggly, airy and soft, soufflé pancakes are one of the most legendary hybrids in the history of desserts. It doesn’t matter if you can barely stand after your meal — you’ll always have space for this lightweight indulgence.

Singapore has seen many cafes serving up these cloud-soft pancakes. People just can’t seem to get enough of them. But, just when you thought you’ve seen them all, another cafe strikes again. 19 Tea, a popular chain in South Korea known for its soufflé pancakes and tea has opened at Our Tampines Hub.

Their souffle pancakes are some of the most wallet-friendly ones we’ve seen — any one of them will set you back at less than $5!

19 Tea is a dainty little cafe offering a range of soufflé pancakes and milk tea drinks. Their interior is dressed in vibrant pinks and minimalistic touches, providing customers with a youthful, bright atmosphere.

We tried the signature Soufflé Pancakes in three flavours — Original (S$3.90), Matcha (S$4.20) and Tiramisu (S$4.20).

The Original Pancake was slathered in thick, milky cream and finished with a strawberry garnish that could have been a little bigger. The pancake itself was light and airy, but the cream sauce was a little too sweet for us.

Their matcha rendition was underwhelming, with the only thing setting it apart from the Original being a sprinkle of matcha powder atop. It would have been even better if the matcha powder was incorporated into the pancake batter itself.

As for their Tiramisu Pancake, there was nothing distinctively “tiramisu” about it, apart from the cocoa powder dusting. Nevertheless, it was still pretty delicious.

Of course, we couldn’t leave without getting one of their milk teas. We ordered their Signature Milk Tea (S$5.10), a classic brown sugar boba milk tea. Sadly, it missed the mark. The milk tea was too thin and the pearls were too dense.

Overall, we can’t see ourselves making a trip to Tampines just for 19Tea. But, if you’re looking for an aesthetic backdrop for an Instagrammable photo, this is the place to hit up.

1 Tampines Walk, Tampines Hub, #01-82
Singapore 528523
Sun – Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Tampines

Century Square’s renovations are finally about done and the malls spanking new look is definitely well worth the wait. Apart from that, the mall is packed with a whole bunch of new food options that have got out bellies rumbling.

Amongst them is FrapasBar by the renowned Saveur. This new restaurant serves up delectable, authentic French fare and tapas with modern twists here and there—all while keeping prices affordable. Craving French? FrapasBar will not disappoint, especially not their S$15 lunch deals that feature both a fancy starter and a hearty main.

Beautifully furnished with marble tables, plush chairs and a gorgeous circular bar decked out in wooden textures to match, this restaurant exudes vibes of a classic French cafe.

Posh as the establishment might appear, rest assured that prices here are kept consistent with that of Saveur. Their lunch deals are especially enticing—for just S$15++, you get an appetiser and a main.

We started off with a plate of their Crabmeat Croquette (S$9), which featured crab meat that was mixed with fennel, cucumber, red chilli, spring onion, mayo and coconut.

The croquette was nice and crisp on the outside, yet still managed to remain tender and juicy on the inside. The crab meat lent a subtle, sweet flavour to the croquettes which went well with the other components. We recommend adding a dash of lemon to it before you eat it — it really makes quite a difference!

Next up, we had the Saveur Pasta (S$6) which consisted of angel hair pasta mixed with chilli oil, kombu, pork sauce and sakura ebi.

The varying tastes and textures of all the ingredients came together to create a fragrant medley of flavours. The pasta was also cooked to a perfect al dente giving it a nice, slightly chewy texture.

Moving on to the mains, we tried their Duck Confit (S$15), served on a bed of creamy mash and cooked to a lovely, golden crisp. Served alongside are a grilled orange round and a handful of fresh watercress.

The confit of duck, was immensely crunchy while remaining tender and juicy on the inside. The mash, on the other hand, was in another league of its own and was lusciously creamy and delicious.

Finally, we had a plate of their Seafood Bouillabaisse Pasta (S$16), which we have to admit is our favourite. This lip-smacking pasta dish consisted of angel hair pasta topped with fresh and juicy seafood such as mussels, squid, prawns and sea bass.

The varying flavours of the seafood added a great depth of flavour and texture to the overall dish. We also like how generous they were with the amount of seafood they gave. Taking inspiration from the classic French stew, we’d say that they nailed the recipe down perfectly.

FrapasBar by Saveur
2 Tampines Central 5, #01-35
Singapore 529509
Tel: +65 6789 1121
Daily: 11.30am – 12pm
Nearest Station: Tampines

Put together a list of the best dining establishments in Singapore and you will find that many of them are located in the East. Just in Tampines alone, you are spoil for choice with the wide array of food options.

When it comes to desserts, there are also a handful of ice cream cafes that delight with their assortment of interesting flavours, excellent quality and cosy atmosphere. For those who reside in the East, these are the best places to hang out after work or school for some sweet treats!

Here are 4 Ice Cream Cafes In Tampines with Great Ice Cream & Waffles!

Photo Credit: Three’s A Crowd

THREE’S A CROWD

Three’s A Crowd is well known for their handcrafted ice cream, oven baked cakes and milkshakes. There is Kris Grey, a must-order for Earl Grey tea lovers and Coco Bailey for the liquor lovers.

Like any other ice cream parlours, Three’s A Crowd serves their ice cream in either a cup or cone. However, should you choose the latter, you are in for a treat! Their ice cream cones are sprinkled with tiny marshmallows, almond flakes or rainbow bits.

Blk 802 Tampines Ave 4, #01-11
Singapore 520802
Tel: +65 6702 0700
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Tampines West

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Photo Credit: Ice Cream Skool

ICE CREAM SKOOL

As one of the first few ice cream shops in Tampines, residents of the East be familiar with them! The cafe is extremely popular with students so you can expect the cafe to be packed after school hours.

A single scoop of their ice cream costs S$3 while double scoops are going at S$5.80. Ice Cream Skool also rotates their ice cream flavours and come up with new creations on a frequent basis.

Now, we can see why they have been attracting those students after all!

Blk 445 Tampines Street 42, #01-10,
Singapore 520445
Tel: +65 6260 0842
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 9.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tampines East

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Photo Credit: Merely Ice Cream

MERELY ICE CREAM

Nestled within Our Tampines Hub, Merely Ice Cream is another ice cream parlour where you can satisfy your sweet cravings. For people familiar with the brand, yes, they are the same folks from the popular Merely Ice Cream at Sunshine Plaza.

Over there, their ice cream is made using natural ingredients. Known for their innovative creations, you shouldn’t be too surprised to see a spread of unique flavours on display.

51 Tampines Avenue 4, #B1-52
Our Tampines Hub
Singapore 529684
Tel: +65 6238 0890
Daily: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tampines

Photo Credit: Laundry Gallery

LAUNDRY GALLEY

Started off as a 24-hour laundromat, Laundry Galley is the first laundry-themed cafe in Singapore that opened in September last year.

At Laundry Galley, they offer a Half-Half Waffle Set, consisting of classic & charcoal flavoured waffle. They even installed a live laundry tracking service in the cafe for customers to know the status of their washer in the laundromat.

Blk 201E Tampines Street 23, #01-118
Tampines New Town
Singapore 527201
Tel: +65 8700 7622
Tue to Sun: 12pm – 9pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Tampines East

Read: The ultimate guide to cafes in the east of Singapore – 31 cafes to explore.

There is a new travel-lifestyle concept cafe in Singapore and it is none other than HyfeCafe—which just opened its doors in Tampines 1 this March 2018.

Ever wanted a conducive place to plan your trips with your friends? HyfeCafe it shall be. This cafe by Changi Recommends is a one-stop place for you and your travel buddies to plan your travels, book your attraction tickets and passes, purchase travel insurance and more—all while enjoying casual Asian-fusion fare!

HyfeCafe is Singapore’s first ever travel-lifestyle concept cafe where all your unanswered questions and/or planning woes will be solved. Cafe-hoppers and travel-lovers, this cafe has to be on your list.

TRAVEL CONCIERGE COUNTER

There is a travel concierge to make your trip-planning experience truly hassle-free. The staff will be glad to answer all your enquiries and guide you through your travel plans and provide you with more information!

Solve all your pre-travel needs at one go! On top of planning your trip, HyfeCafe also allows you to make bookings for products and services—including overseas attraction tickets, day tour packages, transport passes such as the Japan Rail Pass, and of course, their ChangiWiFi router.

But that’s not all. Besides the information counters and flyer wall, trip-planning just got a whole lot easier as HyfeCafe provides free tablet usage embedded with their booking system and it is free for all diners to use.

Be it a solo backpack trip, family holiday or a short getaway with your other half, all you have to do is to pick your favourite itinerary, key the code into the system, and you are halfway through planning!

Also, fret not if their curated itineraries are not to your liking. Select your preferred destination and customise your itinerary by replacing existing activities with those you are interested in and voilà, your dream-trip just came true.

TRAVEL PLANNING FLYER WALL

In addition to their incredibly easy-to-use TripPlanner device, diners can also feel free to refer to the cafe’s travel planning flyer wall that is filled with several travel brochures of which diners are free to grab and even take home.

Who knows? With such comprehensive tools to further aid you in your itinerary planning, planning your next trip will be a breeze!

PLAN YOUR TRIPS WHILE EATING

And you think you are going to sit down for hours to plan your trips without some perk-me-ups? That is not going to happen at HyfeCafe.

The travel cafe gives off the same cosy vibe you would typically derive from a cafe but make no mistake that their food speaks of a quality that goes far beyond your usual cafe fare. There is a menu with affordable restaurant fare from a fusion-focused array of offerings from hearty sides, mains, and decadent desserts worthy of the ‘gram’.

On the drinks menu, there is wide range of coffees, juices and tea by the pot at affordable prices. And we must say that coffee is pretty decent here! Pair your drinks with their wide range of Asian-fusion dishes. Cafe-hoppers will be glad to know that their menu is pretty reasonably priced.

TROPICAL FROGURT

You definitely have to try this house special. HyfeCafe created this concoction using their housemade yogurt. Flavoured with mango and passionfruit, this pretty much tastes like a Korean-style Calpis and it is the perfect summer drink!

WINGS OF THE EAST

These chicken wings—Wings Of The East (S$6.90)—absolutely stole our hearts. They were so flavourful that we just couldn’t stop at one! Choose from 3 different Asian-inspired sauces and spice—such as teriyaki soy, salted egg yolk sauce and curry honey.

SHARING PLATTERS

Can’t decide what appetisers to start with? The Sharing Platter (S$13.50 for 2, S$21.50 for 4) has a little of everything—from deep-fried calamari and popcorn chicken to tomato bruschetta and chicken sausages.

TERIYAKI SALMON UDON

Their Teriyaki Salmon Udon (S$14.90) is a crowd favourite. Accompanying the slightly sweet and chewy stir-fried udon is a huge slab of salmon that is cooked to perfection and generously doused in teriyaki sauce.

SALTED EGG FISH & CHIPS

Complementing the classic Fish & Chips is Singapore’s favourite golden salted egg yolk sauce. Nobody says no to this Salted Egg Fish & Chips (S$13.90) which goes well with their flavoursome salted egg yolk sauce and tangy mayonnaise served at the side.

SEAFOOD SQUID INK BAKED RICE

This is not your typical baked rice. The Seafood Squid Ink Baked Rice (S$10.90) sees a bed of fresh prawns, squid and mussels sitting atop squid ink rice. Baked with mozzarella, this value-for-money dish is a flavourful one that you must try.

GOLDEN WAFFLES 

And of course, no trip to a cafe is ever completed without desserts! HyfeCafe pairs their Golden Waffles (S$8.90) with a scoop of ice cream and we absolutely loved it.

Their waffles are super crispy on the outside which complements the fluffy interior, and together with their rich ice cream and fresh berries, this dessert will leave you satisfied and wanting to come back for more.

With HyfeCafe, both your trip planning and your travel journey will be an unforgettable experience. We all know that it takes a while to plan your dream trip, so do not worry if you can’t finish it all up in one sitting! There is an option for you save your itinerary, and send a PDF of it to your email. 

For those who are unable to find their ideal destinations or attraction places, HyfeCafe is constantly updating and adding new countries, cities and attractions to make your itinerary-planning experience better.

We reckon that we aren’t the only ones who find this travel-lifestyle concept cafe alluring, so why not head down to Tampines 1 today?

HyfeCafe
10 Tampines Central 1
#03-25 Tampines 1
Singapore 529536
Tel: +65 6572 5522
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tampines

This post is brought to you by HyfeCafe.

Le Castella, a famous Castella cake shop from Taiwan, opened in Singapore back in May 2017 and it kickstarted a new trend for castella cakes in Singapore.

For the uninitiated, a Castella cake is a sponge cake from Nagasaki, Japan, known for its pillow-like appearance and moist interior. Its ingredients comprise sugar, flour, eggs and starch syrup, however, the baking process remains a trade secret.

At Le Castella in Tampines One, people begin queuing for this jiggly, yummy sponge cakes literally an hour before the shop even opens.

The main draw at Le Castella is being able to witness the freshly baked Castella cakes being brought out from the back kitchen and cut in full view of the public eye every 10 to 15 minutes. Eager customers can feel free to snap photos of the amazing spectacle that is—the reveal of the moist and fluffy interior that oozes cheesy and eggy goodness once it is cut.

The Original Castella cake (S$9.90) boasts a fluffy and moist texture that is further accentuated by a strong aroma of freshly cooked eggs. The outer crust possesses a mildly toasted flavour that we thought complemented the richness of the eggy interior well.

The Cheese Castella cake (S$11.90) on the other hand is exactly the same except for a thin layer of cheese that adds a subtle saltiness and richness to the cake. This is one you have to enjoy hot in order to fully savour the melted cheese.

The overall taste is pretty similar to a steamed egg cake you would typically find in dim sum restaurants. It is light, moist and not overly sweet—this would probably go amazingly well with a cup of tea in the afternoon.

Le Castella’s cakes—or Castella cakes in general—should be enjoyed fresh out of the oven when it is still warm and fluffy. The textural experience transcends all other cakes out there but you would have to try it for yourself to understand why.

If you plan on getting your hands on these lovely bakes at Le Castella, we highly recommend that you begin queuing from 10.30am onwards. Each customer is only entitled to 2 boxes of Castella cakes per order.

Le Castella
#B1-32, 10 Tampines Central 1
Tampines One
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tampines

Read our Castella Cake Taste Test – Which is the best castella cake in Singapore?