Located right at the back of Food Republic Orchard Isetan Shaw House where the old Japanese food town is, Ju Fu Mala Kitchen is a new Sichuan concept stall selling 麻辣香锅 and other fried Chuan dishes. The selection is rather wide, with vegetables pricing at $1 each, mushroom at $2, meat at $3 and seafood at $4. The base pot is charged at $2.50.
We waited quite long for the food to be cooked. It took about 20mins before it was served but it was well worth the wait. The dish was very fragrantly fried with the ingredients chopped nicely. The base is not too wet or dry and the noodles retained its QQness. Love its 香麻 taste. The only negative point is that its really expensive. For such a small portion, it costs $15.50.
Despite not value for money, we think that it's still worth a try. So do drop by if you are around the area this weekend.
My overall ratings:
Food: 4/5
Price: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Ambience: 3/5
You can locate them here:
Ju Fu Mala Kitchen
350 Orchard Road, Shaw House, #B1 - 02, Singapore 238868
BaGuo Grilled Fish is opened by local restaurant Lao Sichuan. Despite located in a food court, it opted to maintain the same standard as the original restaurant at an affordable price.
We were there for the very first time to try their grilled fish. We opted for the grilled fish with double green pepper chilli and it comes with 2 free sides. We chose our favourite golden mushroom and beancurd skin. After Passion Card and Fave discount, the grilled fish cost $33.10.
They recommended their Qing fish as there is less bones. We had to wait about 15mins before the fish was served. The portion is sufficient for 2 persons and can opt to add in other toppings if required at $3.80 each.
As we requested for less spicy, the fish was really not spicy at all. Frankly, both of us did not like the fish as it was rather fishy in taste. The fish was not well grilled and the flesh was a little soggy for our liking especially at the stomach area. We were rather disappointed with the dish.
Maybe we should opt for their mala version instead.... nevertheless think it would be sometime before we might return to try their fish again.
My overall ratings:
Food: 3/5
Price: 3.5/5
Service: N.A
Ambience: N.A
You can locate them here:
BaGuo Grilled Fish
Level 5, 313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238895
Ah Ter Teochew Fishball Noodle had its first stall at Amoy Street Food Center, second one at Boat Quay and with its recent opening of a new stall within Food Republic itself at Somerset 313. Ah Ter is currently run by Gilbert, trader turned hawker who took over his father's business.
The price range in Food Republic is much higher than any of the other 2 stalls, starting from $6.50 for the basic fishball bak chor mee as compared to $3 at Amoy Street Food Center. Listed within The Michelin Guide, Ah Ter noodle is definitely one of the must try Teochew noodles. With it's new opening, the stall is running a promo of $5.50 for their fishball bak chor mee. I opted for their mee kia, which was springy and smooth and well coated with chilli. The fried lard was generous and it gave the noodle an awesome taste. The mince pork, springy fishball was just an awesome combination with the noodles.
We love the bak chor mee and will definitely be back for more!! But maybe this round we will go to their Amoy Street or Boat Quay branch for a value for money portion.
My overall ratings:
Food: 4.2/5
Price: 3.5/5
Service: N.A
Ambience: N.A
You can locate them here:
Ah Ter Teochew Fishball Noodle
Level 5, 313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238895
Another new mala stall popped up in Clementi. This time it's located at Kopitiam Blk 450, just beside the very popular Banana Leaf BBQ Seafood.
Ingredient choices are great and they look very fresh. The stall provides free hot pot base and charges a very affordable price for the rest of the ingredients as below:
$0.80 per 100g vegetable
$1 per 100g mushroom
$1.80 per 100g meat
$2.80 per 100g seafood
Choices of spiciness is common and we opted for their mild spicy version. The vegetables and meat are all nice chopped before frying and the base pot is very fragrant with the right spiciness. We love the dish as it was not too dry nor wet. I would say that it is simply awesome!! We love the taste of the fragrant pot. This is one of the best stalls we have eaten so far in Clementi other than the all popular stall in the coffee shop near Phoon Huat.
We simply enjoy the food lots and lots and will definitely be back to patronize it whenever we have a craving for mala.
My overall ratings:
Food: 4.2/5
Price: 4/5
Service: 3.8/5
Ambience: 3/5
You can locate them here:
Holy Flavour Palace
450, Clementi Ave 3, Singapore 120450
This humble looking stall is located in Kin Seng Coffeeshop at Thai Thong Cres and started in the 1990s by Mdm Hong Siew Fong and her son. The beef broth, soup and gravy are all prepared way beforehand but the ingredients are freshly cooked on the spot upon ordering. There are only 2 prices to the noodles, $7 for small bowl and $10 for big bowl of dry or soup noodles.
Customers can opt for mix or just pure sliced beef. The mix can be brisket, innards, tendons with sliced beef. Beef balls can also be ordered at $1 for 2 balls. We went for a bowl of dry version with brisket and sliced beef and another pure slice beef with beef balls. The gravy was thick and glossy and topped with fried shallots, salted vegetables and crushed peanuts. Unlike the usual beef noodle chain, the gravy of the noodles is simply awesome together with the soup.
The ingredients are simply generous and the beef slices and brisket are cooked to the right texture. The beef balls are simply bouncy and crunchy as well. Though the noodles are little pricey, I would still think it's worth it. For a bowl of authentic Hainanese beef noodle, I would strongly reccomend Zheng Yi. Do note it closes at 4pm daily.
My overall ratings:
Food: 4.1/5
Price: 3.5/5
Service: NA
Ambience: 3/5
You can locate them here:
Zheng Yi Hainanese Beef Noodles
2 Tai Thong Cres, Singapore 347838
Located in the coffee shop at the junction of Serangoon Road & Opal Crescent, Macpherson Minced Meat Noodles stall is managed by Uncle Yap who starts work as early as 3am in the morning to boil the soup so that it has been broiled till it's best. The opening hours are from 7am to 2pm daily and they could be sold out as early as during lunch time especially during the weekends.
We ordered 4 bowls of their dried minced meat noodles, 3 with mee kia and 1 mee pok. Both noodles are cooked to the right texture and it soaks up the broth of the soup which made the noodles extremely tasty. The crispy pork lard accompanying the noodles were simply awesome! Couldn't stop at 1!
Overall, we are in love with it's old school flavour. Do give this stall a try while it's still going strong.
A summary of what we had:
Dried minced meat noodles
My overall rating:
Food: 4.2/5
Price: 4/5
Service: NA
Ambience: 3.2/5
You can locate them here:
Macpherson Minced Meat Noodles
1 Opal Cres, Singapore 328396
Piao Xiang Mala is located at one corner of Food Republic on the 5th floor of Somerset 313. With lots of seating capacity available, many flocked to Piao Xiang Mala to enjoy their delicious food in comfortable environment. Prices at Piao Xiang is above average, ranging from $1.50 per 100g for vegetables to $3.20 per 100g for meat and mushroom.
We opted for the slightly spicy version. 1 ingredient that we enjoyed most was their springy maggi noodles. Very well good to the right texture. The base pot was very fragrantly fried and tossed in fried nuts and spices. Average price per pax is about $10 to $12. Rating: 4/5
Another stall to mention is Yoshinoya. Yoshinoya is usually known for their sliced beef and salmon dons but this stall offers Yaki soba and hot plate dishes. They even offer hot plate soba dishes with rice set. Prices range from $6.90 onwards. The black pepper chicken hot plate is rather delicious and goes very well with a bowl of plain rice. For different Japanese dinner concept, try Yoshinoya at Food Republic Somerset 313. Rating: 3.8/5
A summary of what we had:
Mala
Black pepper chicken hot plate
My overall rating:
Food: 3.9/5
Price: 3.6/5
Service: NA
Ambience: 3.5/5
Food court/stalls
You can locate them here:
05-01/03 FOOD REPUBLIC @ 313@SOMERSET, 313 ORCHARD ROAD, Singapore 238895
Located at 49A Serangoon Garden Way, Serangoon Garden Market & Food Center is well known for many good food stalls that are opened for breakfast and lunch. After late afternoon all the stalls would have been closed and many would divert their attention to Chomp Chomp for more food during dinner.
We were there for brunch this very morning to try out a few of the recommended stalls.
1. Serangoon Garden Confectionery & Bakery - this old school bread shop sells many of the old school bread at very affordable price. The buns are generally sold for less than a $1 each. The buns are soft with generous filling but still lacking the buttery taste of the buns. The bread are usually sold out by noon so do come early for more choices. Recommended ones include curry, luncheon meat, red bean and kaya. Rating: 3.8/5
2. Lao Song Fa Fishball and Teochew noodles - $4 for a very decent bowl of teochew minced pork noodles. The mee pok was springy and chilli was good. Rating: 3.8/5
3. Soon Huat pig organ soup - queue is long as well. We bought the kway chap dish with braised pig skin, intestines and egg. A little too porky for our liking. Rating: 3.4/5
4. Fried carrot cake - we went for the black version. Very fragrantly fried but a little too soggy. Rating: 3.6/5
5. Beancurd and grass jelly - priced at only $1 per bowl, this is certainly a very old school dessert worth trying. We love the grass jelly especially as it uses the atap chee syrup. Yummy. Rating: 3.9/5
There are many many more food stalls to try and do stay tune for more reviews for the rest of the other stalls.
A summary of what we had:
Serangoon Garden Confectionery & Bakery Bread
Lao Song Fa Fishball and Teochew noodles
Soon Huat pig organ soup
Fried carrot cake
Beancurd and grass jelly
My overall ratings:
Food: 3.7/5
Price: 3.9/5
Service: NA
Ambience: 3.2/5
You can locate them here:
Serangoon Garden Market & Food Center
49A Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555945
Top Seafood was first opened at Bt Timah Sixth Avenue. This tze char restaurant is popular with their prawn dishes. Their 2nd branch was opened in Bedok and now 3rd one in Clementi.
Located in 442 BGain Eating House coffee shop, the tze char stall was tended by a very friendly and cheery boss. His hospitality attracted many to try their dishes. Pre ordering can also be done via phone call.
Though they are good for their prawn dishes, we opted for 3 of the more common tze char dishes first to try since Kevin can't eat too much prawn.
1. Yangzhou fried rice ($4) - generous portion of fragrant fried rice with lots of ingredients. Loved the slightly charred taste and it's so far the best fried rice I have eaten among the tze char stalls in Clementi central. Rating: 4.2/5
2. Salted egg chicken ($12) - the salted egg sauce was excellent. Just a pity that the fried chicken cubes were a little tough and more flour than meat. Should have gone for their pork ribs instead. Rating: 3.8/5
3. Baby kailan with garlic ($8) - very fragrantly fried as well but a little salty and oily. Goes well with plain rice but can be a little too tasty to eat on it's own. Rating: 3.6/5
We still enjoyed the dishes overall and service was prompt. We would definitely be back to try the rest of their dishes, especially the prawn ones so do stay tune on my blog!
A summary of what we had:
Yangzhou fried rice
Salted egg chicken
Baby kailan with garlic
My overall ratings:
Food: 3.8/5
Price: 3.8/5
Service: 4/5
Ambience: 3.2/5
You can locate them here:
Top Seafood
442 Clementi Avenue 3, # 01-121, Singapore 120442
We first encountered Xiao Yang Guo Kui in Shanghai. It is a very popular China snack among the locals. Queue is extremely long and many would go for their salty flavors. This popular local snack chain is now in Singapore and has opened 4 kiosks mainly in the northwest area.
We are at their Jurong East kiosk at the bus interchange. It is actually crispy bread spread with a very thin layer of filling. We opted for their mei cai flavor ($2.50). Crispy as it looks, it is a very fragrant snack to munch away. Gotta eat while its hot.
The snack is prepared freshly and baked in a deep hot pot whereby the dough will stick to the sides of the pot. The snack would be good for sharing as its quite big and eating too much of it can be quite difficult.
If you are looking for desserts, could try their red bean flavor instead. Hopefully this China local snack kiosk will be able to sustain in the ever changing market in SG.
My overall rating:
Food: 3.9/5
Price: 3.5/5
Service: NA
Ambience: NA
You can locate them here:
Xiao Yang Guo Kui (小杨锅盔)
Jurong East Interchange, 60 Jurong Gateway Road, #01-10C, Singapore 608548
