Han's Cafe

Last visited: 1 May 2007

Came here to have lunch with mum. We ordered the Chicken Chop with Mushroom Sauce and Grilled Dory Fish set meals. We both like their ambience as well as the affordable prices they offer for a set meal. It makes me feel so comfortable to eat at this place. :)

Comments: The chicken chop is nice, tender and juicy. It comes with boiled baby carrots and hashbrown as sides. However, there is slightly pink colour in the meat as I ate, indicating that it was not thoroughly cooked. As for the grilled dory, the meat is so soft that it comes off automatical even before you cut it. The meat is firm and fresh. Yet maybe the seasoning to get off fishy taste (鱼腥味) is not strong enough, I can still feel the natural stinky taste of the fish. But I am also glad that they have provided us with the lemon that makes the fish smell pleasant once again after you squeeze the lemon juice on it.

Location

Han's Cafe (Century Square)

2 Tampines Central

Singapore 529509

Ratings (Total of 5 points)

Taste: 3.5

Quality: 4.0

Presentation: 4.0

Ingredients: 4.0

Price: $$$ (S$7.80-S$13.80 nett for a set meal--soup of the day, coffee/tea or orange juice, fruits)

OVERALL: 4.0

Other remarks: There are many Han's Cafe all over Singapore and they all offer reasonable prices for a good quality western meal. I have scanned through their menu and I realise their best bargain seemed to be on their breakfasts, which comes with a toast and drink at only S$4.80...even cheaper than Mac for a true English breakfast like scrambled egg and omelete. Sounds good isn't it? *wink* ;) Hahaha...think I will have it soon some day... :P

Lai Lai Family Restaurant

Last visited: 28 April 2007

I like beef as you don't feel the fattening taste that you would get from eating the pork or chicken. It always makes me feel slim with his lean read meat. And I like Taiwanese food as they come with lots of new, unusual unique variety, changing the traditional Chinese cuisines in a modern yet fun way.

Location

Lai Lai Family Restaurant

20 Liang Seah Street

Singapore 189041

Tel: 68371556

Last order at 10.30 pm everyday except Sunday which closes at 3pm.

Lai Lai Stewed Beef Noodles

As seen on its menu and even its signboard along the street, you can tell that the shop is promoting its signature stewed beef noodles. Thus, why would I want to miss it? :P

Comments: The soup is strong with its beef and herbal taste and the noodles are just right and not soggy at all. However, the whole beef noodles overall is super spicy. Maybe I someone who is oversensitive with chilli and I cannot take spicy food at all, I could understand why such a normal beef noodle soup can become so spicy (with probably just one slice of red chilli as shown in the picture).

Well, that's not until I found a Szechuan pepper inside my soup. I recognise this pepper as the special ones from Szechuan because I have seen it on the herbal chocolate at Vivo before (Read my previous entries). Those pepper are really spicy and hence make the soup untolerable for me. However, for those spicy and chilli lovers, I bet you guys are excited and smiling away at the thought of this beef noodles by now...hahaha...lol

Ratings (Total of 5 points)

Taste: 4.5

Tenderness: 3.5

Quality: 3.5

Presentation: 4.0
Price: $$$ (S$12.20 nett for a meal of noodles, drink, and one side order; S$7.90 for alar carte)

OVERALL: 4.0

Chicken Cutlet with Rice

It looks kinda like a Western Chicken Chop Rice to me when the waitress serve it in front of me, except it looks nicer with the black sesame on top of the rice. :)

Comments: I quite like the crispy chicken as it remains me of the famous Taiwanese deep-fried salted chicken pieces (盐酥鸡). The skin is really very crispy but slightly thick with the corn flour used. You might want to order a drink to go along with this rice dish as your mouth may go dry eating it.

Ratings

Taste: 4.0
Ingredients: 3.5
Quality: 4.0
Presentation: 4.0

Price: $$$ (S$6.90)
OVERALL: 4.0

Lychee Freeze

Their menu seems to be promoting their freezes as well. Looks like the stall owner has total confidence in their freezes...do you wanna get one? :D

Comments: The Lychee Freeze is marked as a recommended drink in their menu. Placed on top of the drink is one big lychee meat and a few colourful chewy jelly pieces. The lychee blended ice is very fresh and has a strong lychee fruit smell and taste. The presence of the jelly and the fruit enhances the chewing sensation. I really appreciate this drink. They have lots of other fruit freezes like pineapple, peach, kiwi. Maybe I will try them some other day ba...lol

Ratings

Taste: 4.5

Ingredients: 3.5

Freshness: 3.5

Presentation: 4.0

Price: $$ (S$3.80)

OVERALL: 4.0

Fried Beancurd

Beancurd is good as it is a healthy food with low calories. Hence, for any ladies who are on diet, you won't have to worry to eat lots of beancurds.

Comments: The fried beancurd taste just like many other stalls selling this dish as well because you can't really change the natural taste of the beancurd. So the key thing to look out for here is their sauce for dipping the beancurd, as well as the tenderness and freshness of the beancurd used.

Their sauce was pretty average to me but it has a unique taste. The beancurd used are soft, and the crispy skin on the outside makes it firm overall so you won't have a hard time picking it up using your chopstick. However, for me, I would still prefer the Japanese fried tofu (at Sakae) the most. This one is good if you want to have a healthier meal or if you just simply love beancurd.

Ratings

Taste: 4.0

Tenderness: 4.0
Quality: 4.5
Presentation: 4.0
Price: $$ (Less than S$5)

OVERALL: 4.0

Fried Squid

I would simply named this side order as "Chinese style calamari". So I guess everything is simply well-said and direct? :P

Comments: My friend recommend me to try the fried squid without the special tomato sauce given. It tastes great even without the sauce! The sauce, when dipped, will provide you with a little sour taste so that you won't have the usual oily feeling after eating all the deep-fried food. The squid used is very tender, soft and chewy too. It is a very good hot snack if you intend to just sit down with your friends for a chat...and probably over some fruit freezes as well...hahaha...lol

Ratings

Taste: 5.0

Tenderness: 4.0

Quality: 4.5
Presentation: 4.5
Price: $$
OVERALL: 4.5

Braised Three Pork Slices

It is the usual 3 layers of the pork that is most popular among the Chinese. Yet because they contains lots of fats, some people would reject this dish for healthy reasons. Our mums would probably always cooked it once in a while, so sometimes I actually wonder if I should try something less common instead. But then, if they can't even make a simply dish tastes good, then what else can they cook better as a restaurant standard?!

Comments: I like their sticky sauce on top of the pork slices. Maybe the chef cut the pork meat into really very thin layers, you don't feel that fattening even if you eat the fats on the meat as well. The pork meat is firm and their bone is so soft that I am actually able to crush it into tiny pieces with my teeth and swallow it down. Worth ordering! :D

Ratings

Taste: 4.5
Tenderness: 4.5

Quality: 4.5
Presentation: 4.0
Price: $$
OVERALL: 4.5

Grilled Eel

It is just like the unagi you get at other Japanese restaurant. Even the sauce used is the same!

Comments: Well, nothing much to say about it if you have tried the unagi dishes at the Japanese restaurants. They are really all the same to me. Even the sauce they used are pretty identical. The only thing I guess that people still ordered this Grilled Eel is that we just LOVE eating unagi! :D Especially when you go with rice, it makes the taste even more stand out. Hahaha...lol

Ratings

Taste: 3.5

Tenderness: 4.0

Quality: 3.5

Presentation: 3.5

Price: $$

OVERALL: 3.5

Other remarks: It is a 2-level restaurant and so there should be quite sufficient of seats around. Their meals are quite good bargains with a maincourse, a side order and a drink at $12.20 nett. I mean, if you dine out at other restaurants, the price may probably come higher with all the service and GST charges. :)) Liang Seah Street is a street that I really love manz...lol

Rockery Bubble Tea Shop -- Mango Tango

Last drank: 25 April 2007

Even though the bubble tea bubble is already gone, I still love to drink it once in a while. My most favourite bubble tea is stall is here -- Rockery at Bugis Junction. And as always, I will order the same old drink, Mango Tango. I have tried a few other places selling the same thing, but they are just not the same. THIS is still the best to me... :)

So ready for a tango...with Mr Mango? *bleah* :P

Comments: Love the freshness of the mango inside this drink. The owner gives quite a thick layer of chunks of the mango fruit on top of the drink. The ice blended mango smoothie below is pleasantly sweet and refreshing. However, this drink is just a little more costly (S$3.50) than the other bubble tea as well. There are also other Tango drinks such as Kiwi Tango, Watermelon Tango...I have yet to try them though...maybe till I get sick and tired of this mango first ba... :P

Location

Rockery Shop

230 Victoria Street

#01-61 Bugis Junction

Singapore 188024

Ratings (Total of 5 points)

Taste: 3.5

Quality: 4.0

Freshness: 4.5

Presentation: 4.0

OVERALL: 4.0

Other remarks: Ever since the bubble tea bubble has gone, those stalls that are still surviving are actually the really good bubble tea stalls around. Hence, this stall has been standing for quite many years already. Thus, their drinks are all pretty up to the good standards. :)

Causeway Bay Cafe

Last visited: 25 April 2007

Went to eat dinner again before cell. This is pretty popular and they sell really traditional Hong Kong Cafe food. Even their shop design, furnitures are pretty close to the Hong Kong Cafe style. It makes me feel like I am not in Singapore but back in Hong Kong.

Location

铜锣湾茶餐厅 Causeway Bay Cafe
32 Liang Seah Street

Tel: 6338 4148

Beef Brisket Noodle Dry

Beef brisket is a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest of the cow. It is considered to be one of the eight beef primal cuts. Most of the tenderness from this normally tougher cut of meat comes from the fat cap often left attached to the brisket. The brisket is almost always placed with the fat on top so that it slowly dissolves down into the meat as it cooks, turning the toughness into juiciness and tenderness rivaling all other cuts. (quoted from Wikipedia on Beef Brisket)

Comments: As you can see from the picture, this beef brisket does not have much fat on top, hence it becomes tougher and not so tender. The meat becomes quite hard to chew. Yet beef brisket normally comes with soup, but this stall choose to have it dry. The sauce used compliments the beef well and the noodles is springy. Overall, the beef brisket noodle dry is still good and unique. Worth trying... :)

Ratings (Total of 5 points)

Taste: 4.0

Quality: 4.0

Tenderness: 3.5

Gravy: 3.5

Price: $$$ (S$6.50)

OVERALL: 3.5

HK Cafe Instant Noodles (Luncheon Meat, Vegetables, Fried Egg)

In Hong Kong, instant noodles taste really good at all these cafes. It is always one of the most popular dishes there. In Singapore, however, there is a stereotype of mindset that eating instant noodles outside is not worth our money since we can get it at home. This is probably due to the pricing for such food which are normally only available at slightly more expensive cafes. But, if you really want to have the true Hong Kong feeling, you should try order one next time.

Comments: There is nothing much to comment on an instant noodles. Hahaha...lol So what is the usual style of a true Hong Kong Cafe Noodles? Well, fried egg is a MUST ingredient to make up this instant noodles as Hong Kong people generally loves to eat eggs. Second, the other ingredient (luncheon meat or hot dog) must also be fried before they were put into the soup. It will taste different from just boil luncheon meat or hot dog.

Because there is a thin crispy layer of the meat after you fried, along with some oil and the unique fried smell. Yet when you put it back to the soup, the water body will wash away the oil on the meat and neutralise with the natural fried smell. Hence, you won't feel so heaty when you eat these fried food and the soup taste is enhance as well.

Ratings

Taste: 3.5
Quality: 3.5
Ingredients: 3.5
Price: $$ (S$4.50)
OVERALL: 3.5

Chicken Chop Mushroom Baked Rice

The presentation of this dish is like "Wow!". It has no bowl, but a bowl-like container that is totally made from aluminium foil. Hence, very easy to dispose it after used. The rice is covered with garlic, spring onions and other chinese spices and vegetables instead of the usual thick layer of cheese we get for baked rice. Very unique indeed... :)

Comments: The presence of the garlic, spring onions and other chinese spices make the baked rice very "Chin-na" (Chinese feeling). It tastes very much like the traditional Chinese rice.

Yet, there is a layer of cream on top of the rice as well. This layer contribute a slight western taste, and it feels a little like a substitute for the usual cheesy layer for the baked rice. It gives the rice and the other food ingredients a sticky feeling, yet doesn't interupt with the original Chinese taste of the whole dish. Hence, to me, it appears to be quite a well-balanced Western-Chinese baked rice...love it! :D

Ratings

Taste: 4.5
Quality: 4.0
Ingredients: 4.5

Presentation: 4.0
Price: $$$ (S$8.00)
OVERALL: 4.0

Deep-Fried Glutinous Rice Ball (Hot)

Who could have the idea to fried the glutinous rice ball, a traditional Chinese dessert in which a sweet paste (usually sesame, red bean, peanuts) wrapped in a layer of glutinous rice! It feels like Muah Chee to me...hahaha...lol Maybe I will try to do some myself at home some day... :)

Comments: The glutinous rice ball is as chewy as it normally used to be. Except because of the deep-fried layer on the outside, it feel crispy. The deep-fried layer also add in a strong aromatic taste of the sweet glutinous rice, making the whole rice ball overall more delicious. The paste inside feels soft and hot as it flows out from the opening that you bite off. Yummy! :)

Ratings

Taste: 4.0
Quality: 3.5
Feeling: 3.5
Presentation: 3.5
Price: $$ (S$3.00)
OVERALL: 3.5

7-Up Ribena

The container is just cute. Hahaha...lol They put the drink in an air-tight container...it actually looks nice with the lighting effect!

Comments: It is really 7-Up mixed with Ribena. Somehow, I don't like the 7-Up taset in it. It taste a little strange as it is not totally sweet. Maybe, the drink will be better off with Sprite and Ribena instead. *shrug*

Ratings

Taste: 2.5
Presentation: 3.5
Price: $$ (S$3.50)
OVERALL: 3.0

Blended Fresh Green Fruit (Plum, Vegetables, Pineapple)

This drink is really TOTALLY GREEN! It looks a little scary, and erm not say very appetizing. Hahaha...well, that is, unless you like green! :P

Comments: the taste is unique for this drink because of its ingredients used: Plum, Vegetables, and Pineapples. It tastes like normal vegetable drink, yet there is a slight sour and sweet taste (contributed by the plum and the pineapple). It makes you feel very refreshing and healthy. It would also be quite a good appetizer for a start!

Ratings

Taste: 3.0
Presentaion: 3.0
Price: $$ (S$4.50)
OVERALL: 3.0

Other remarks: Liang Seah Street is certainly a place with lots of great food. Love this stretch of cafes and restaurants! Causeway Bay Cafe overall is still good...and makes me feel like in Hong Kong too... *grinz* :)

Ah Chew Desserts

Last visited: 24 April 2007

I had came here when they just started business in Singapore. My impression of the desserts is just average or even slightly below because I grew up eating the Cantonese desserts back in Hong Kong. Seriously, even now, no stall can be compared to those there.

Yet the second time I came here was right after I finished examinations in the last semester with my hall friends. Their standards of desserts have improved significantly. I tried the Hong Kong Ice Red Bean because of my nostalgic craving for the dessert that I ate as a child. To many others, it taste normal. Yet to me, it taste very close to the true Hong Kong Ice Red Bean style, which amazingly not many dessert stalls so far can follow.

Today I came here again after cell group meetings, and certainly I still recall how good it taste for the mango sago my friend ordered the other day. Hence, I give it a second try for my favourite mango sago this time. :P

Location

阿秋甜品 Ah Chew Desserts

1 Liang Seah Street (Bugis)

#01-11 Liang Seah Place

Singapore 189022

Tel: 6339 8198

Closed on mondays

Mango Sago with Pomelo

What makes this stall stands out in its mango sago is the pomelo meat inside. A signature dessert that you should not miss out.

Comments: The pomelo meat inside the mango sago enhances the feel of eating it (口感). The slight sour taste of the pomelo neutralises with the strong sweet taste of the mango. Hence, you won't feel sick of too much of the sweetening. The mango used is fresh and juicy. The sago used by the stall is of good quality as well in which the sago are slightly larger than most other dessert stalls or at restaurant. It gives the QQ feeling -- a chewing sensation like those of the black pearls used in the bubble tea. Love it! :)

Ratings (Total of 5 points)

Taste: 4.5
Quality: 4.5
Variety: 4.5
Cleaniness: 4.0
Price: $$ (S$3.80)
OVERALL: 4.5

Other remarks: It is a small shop yet it has many customers. You cannot really stay long at the place after you finished your dessert. Hence, if you intend to get a place to catch up with your friends and stay longer for chats, this is not a food place for you.

The other desserts like Steamed Milk and Steamed Egg taste as good too, with the importance that the steamed milk and egg doesn't give the consumer a very filling feeling. The desserts taste just alright, not too sweet and not too plain. Good. :)

Tong Shui Hong Kong Cafe

Last visited: 20 April 2007

Went here with my friends for some chats before my cell meeting. This is the 3rd branch (the other two are at Zion Road and West Coast) and the newest addition to the food places along the Liang Seah Stree, a street famous for its numerous good dinning places. I saw this cafe online and what interested me are their weird combination of food. And I really mean WEIRD. Even their food prices are all ended with S$0.88. What a weird concept! :P

The three of us tried to order the weirdest combination of food that we can find on the menu. There are really lots of variety for us to choose from. Here is a few food that we ate and either we recommend it or...well...there is nothing special about it. So be my guest and read on if you are interested... :))

Location

Tong Shui Hong Kong Cafe

1 Liang Seah Street

#01-05/06 (Opp. Mos Burger at Bugis Junction, and along the Phin's Restaurant side)

Official Website: http://www.tongshuicafe.com/

Ice Cappuccino with Coke （冻咖啡可乐）

The name of the drink really attracts our attention -- Can coffee mixed with coke??? It is just odd as they seem to be just two different beverages in most people eyes. Yet the owner can come up with this idea...zai! :P

Comments: The drink is really drink-able and so far I don't have any upset stomach yet...Praise the Lord! :P Hahaha...juz kidding...lol Well, have anyone tried making Coke float at home by putting ice cream in your coke or anywhere else outside? To me, this drink taste very much like a Coke float with Coffee flavoured ice cream already totally melted into the coke. Hence, you can't really taste the coke taste at all, but a strong, very milky coffee taste. It doesn't sound too bad to me though...so give it a try yourself! *wink* ;)

Ratings (Total of 5 points)

Taste: 3.5 (I quite like it actually... :P)

Presentation: 3.5 (it looks normal in the big glass container)

Price: $$ (S$3.88)

OVERALL: 3.5

Ice Milk Tea with Grass Jelly（冻凉粉奶茶）

There is no more weirder drink other than the Ice Cappuccino with Coke. Hence, I choose what the waiter recommended as a popular drink in the shop -- its Ice Milk Tea. Well, I decided to try the one that goes with Ching Chow, the grass jelly, which just sounds slightly different than the common ice milk tea I guess...hahaha...lol

Comments: Their Ice Milk Tea taste really good. The portion of milk and tea is just nice, in which you can have a balance taste of both. It may taste slightly sweeter with the Ching Chow though. Yet, the presence of the grass jelly enhance the feeling of the milk tea, kind of like drinking the bubble tea with pearl. I like it! :)

Ratings

Taste: 4.0

Presentation: 4.0

Price: $$ (S$3.88)

OVERALL: 4.0

Fried Rice with Wolfberries and Salted Fish （咸鱼枸杞子炒饭）

We ordered this because of the less common food ingredients used in fried rice -- Wolfberries, a traditional Chinese herbs and salted fish, a Chinese style preserved fish that is super salty. It sounds like a very Chinese traditional fried rice to us...kinda interesting...lol

Comments: It tastes like any other Chinese fried rice. The wolfberries don't really carry a very strong taste anyway. Unless you put a piece of the salted fish into your mouth, the rice won't really taste THAT salty at all.

Ratings

Taste: 3.0

Presentation: 3.5

Price: $$$ (S$7.88)

OVERALL: 3.0

Macaroni with Gingko and Sunset Egg （银杏鸡蛋通心粉）

The only that interest me is that it uses Gingko, another traditional Chinese herbs that is normally used on desserts, in its macaroni. Sounds like a Chinese-Western mixed cuisine to me. :P

Comments: The macaroni tastes very normal, like the macaroni soup that most of us can cook back at home. The special thing about it is the presence of Gingko wrapped inside a lump of pork meat. The pork meat tastes a little fattening and oily to me and the Gingko is tasteless. Other ingredients used in the macaroni are winter mushrooms, and the house special fish cake with crabmeat and vegetables in it.

Ratings

Taste: 3.0

Presentation: 3.0

Price: $$ (S$5.88)

OVERALL: 3.0

CCF (Chee Cheong Fun) with Traditional Sauce and Sunset Egg （甜酱蛋肠粉）

This is another funny dish we find -- Egg on the Chee Cheong Fun! :P I mean, you don't really see that in other places, especially when the CCF comes with sweet sauce! They just don't sound right to me. *shrug*

Comments: Either the three of us are quite full, or the CCF is not really very appetising, I found this dish so-so only. The CCF, probably left on the table for some time, taste cold and the sauce has sort of 'solidified'. I guess if you eat it hot or warm, it would taste like any other normal CCF you get at any other places in Singapore. There is actually nothing special about the egg because they serve it serve aside. It's just like you get to choose to eat a fried egg besides your CCF.

Ratings

Taste: 2.5

Presentation: 3.5 (it still looks interesting when it first arrives)

Price: $ (S$2.88; the serving is equivalent of that of a main course)

OVERALL: 3.0

French Toast with Mango, Strawberries, Kiwi and Maple Syrup （芒果草莓奇异果多士）

Well, the first look of it was like "How can fruits go with toasted bread!" But the picture and the food look very appetizing and nice. It is really colourful -- Yellow, Red and Green -- like what you would see on the traffic lights! :P Thank God we ordered this because it is the one that makes our day! :D

Comments: It really looks very attractive and appealing to all of us. The fruits look so fresh and delicious on top of the french toast. I actually tried the bread with each fruit separately. When I took it with mango, both compliments each other very well. Sweet and nice with the maple sauce. As for strawberry and kiwi fruit, probably because these two fruits are sour in nature, it taste not as good as that of the mango, but yet the sourness makes it more refreshing and probably neutralise the sweetness of the mango parts. The bread alone is delicious with the maple sauce. Both of my friends even like the slightly burnt bread, as they say it feels much more crispy. Hahaha...we love it and I think you should give it a try yourself too...thumbs up! :D

Ratings

Taste: 4.0

Presentation: 4.5

Price: $$ (S$6.88)

OVERALL: 4.0

Other remarks: I like the decorations of the cafe, carrying out a very rich Chinese traditional ambience. It is pretty spacious for a small cafe like that, making its customers feel very comfortable and cozy. There is also a plasma TV on the wall playing the old Hong Kong movies, and surrounded by many magazine articles, which are framed up, featured about the cafe. All the utensils used to present the food are made of clear glass. Well, it is quite a cool theme yet a little unsual. For example, it used a big clear glass bowl for my macaroni soup...and it looks just so much like those that used to breed goldfish inside. Hee hee...lol *dots*

Bedok Blk 85 Hawker Centre

Last visited: 6 December 2006

This entry is gonna be a super long one because I know this place way too well. I may not have frequent this place as much as last time, but one thing for sure, if it has no major change, I still know it as much as the back of my hand. Why so? I practically grew up here the first 10 years while I was in Singapore. Not only my house (Blk 78) is only 5 minutes away, my previous church (All Saints Church at Anglican High School; 2nd photo above) is located right next to it on top of a hill slope. So I almost have my meals here for everyday throughout that 10 years. And seriously, I never knew how blessed I was till I moved out from there. This entry you can certainly trust me with the food and the stall I recommend here. I just miss those days living there and patronizing that market everyday so so much...sigh... :/

[NB: Sorry I forgot most of the names of the stalls, so I can only try to describe you the location of the stall which are famous there. Will try my best to take pictures of the stalls again when I can go and visit it again next time, meaning that it would not be so soon...hahaha...lol]

Comments: For Blk 85, you practically have nice stuffs to eat throughout the whole day. The front part of the hawker operates mainly in the morning, while the back part, which is the main bulk of the whole hawker centre operates from evening till early morning. Hence, this hawker centre is basically 24-hours daily, in which most stalls will take their break only on Monday. So if you intend to go there, Wed or Thu nights will be the most ideal because from Fri-Sun night it will be super crowded. Since most of the tables are placed outside where there is no overhead cover, you can only come on the sunny days. Of course, you can still sit inside with those proper hawker centre tables and stools, but in general most people would rather choose to sit outside near the road, as it is much more cooler and truly the "Blk 85 hawker style". The food that this hawker is famous for: (Morning) Rojak; (Afternoon) Newton Hokkien Prawn Mee; (Night) BBQ Seafood, BBQ Chicken Wings, Porridge, and of course the best Bak Chor Mee in Singapore!!! :D

How To Get There

Block 85 Hawker Centre
Bedok North Road
Singapore 460085

Bus: Take 14 or 222 from Bedok interchange and alight at the bus-stop right after the Bedok Police Station (on the left side). The ride will only take about 10-15mins.

MRT: The nearest MRT is Tanah Merah MRT but it will take about 20-minutes to walk there. You just walk back to the Bedok Stadium direction, and walk straight along the Bedok North Road till you see the hawker centre. This method is more troublesome and hence you may consider the bus as a better choice.

Car: You just need to get to Bedok North Road. However, parking lot is limited especially over the weekends. Hence, you might want to park your car at the back of the hawker center, which is the Blk 90 carpark there.

BBQ Seafood

The BBQ Stingray is usually the most popular dish among the others. The well-known stall there is The Chan's Seafood, located right in the middle of the hawker centre. However, I haven't tried this stall yet as their BBQ Seafood is famous because of its sambal sauce, a super spicy chili sauce that I cannot take. So normally, I would order the BBQ Seafood from the stall at the front (Forgot its name; 2nd row nearest to the bus-stop). To me, this stall is one of the few stalls in Singapore who knows how to cook bbq seafood WITHOUT chilli. The stall owner will use garlic to grill the stingray, which works to take away the stench on most seafood. The stingray meat is soft and the bones can be eaten too. Adding some lime juice will help to enhance the taste much better.

Ratings (Total of 5 points)

Taste: 4.5
Sauce: 4.0
Freshness: 4.0
Price: $$ (approx. S$10 for a normal stingray)

OVERALL: 4.0

Bak Chor Mee

The main reason Blk 85 Hawker Centre is famous for is its unique Bak Chor Mee (minced pork with meatballs soup noodle). The meat is so soft and shredded that you probably "drink" the soup and the meat together down your throat. Unlike most stalls in Singapore, it is absolutely different from those big, chewy minced pork you get. The soup is plain and is enhanced by the crispy onion and the spring onions sprinkled on top.

There are a total of 3 stalls there, with the stall right in the middle (next to the Porridge stall) the newest. The original one which started the fame all over Singapore is the stall right at the back, 2nd from the side. This stall wins for its springy noodles and its soup which is taste slightly stronger but yet not appear to have lots of MSG in it. The stall right next to it (the outermost stall in the last row) is very much the same too. I have make a comparison last time and realise the difference is only the noodle slightly soggy and the soup is milder in taste. But these are almost unnoticeable difference unless you purposely make such a comparison like me. It is faster than the 2nd stall with only 30mins of waiting time on weekend nights. The 2nd stall (the most famous one) will take close to 1 hour and 30mins on weekends and weekdays respectively. As for the newest stall (Ka Po Bak Chor Mee) in the middle, it is the fastest on all days. This DOES NOT mean it tastes the worst ya? In fact, I usually order from the stall just to save time. The Bak Chor Mee tastes about the same to me from all 3 stalls. Except that for those who came all the way from very far ends of Singapore, they still prefer to wait for a long time just for those two stalls that are famous -- for their stall names.

Ratings

Taste: 5.0
Soup: 4.5
Portion: 3.0 (Guys with big appetite can probably eat up 2-3 bowls; hence that's why you can eat many other side orders like chicken wings and stingray with it)
Ingredients: 3.5
Price: $ (Only S$2 per bowl!)
OVERALL: 4.0

BBQ Chicken Wings

It is a habit that Singaporeans like to add one or two pieces of BBQ chicken wings to their meals, especially for dinners when you are eating at the hawker centres. The BBQ Chicken Wings here is very much popular as well. If you are thinking of getting one, try to buy from the stall right behind the Western Food Stall (only have ONE western food there). The chicken wings is just tanned and nicely done. But if you rushing time and you happens to be there on the weekend nights, don't buy from this stall as you can take hours just to wait for it. There is one more stall right at the back of the hawker centre. However, it offers slightly burnt chicken wings. Yet because of its less competitive location compared to the other stall, sometimes it will offer Buy 5 Get 1 Free promotions. So if you come in big groups, maybe you can consider getting from them to save some money.

Ratings

Presentation: 3.5

Cooked: 4.0

Taste: 4.0

Price: $ (S$1 per piece)

OVERALL: 4.0

Porridge

The porridge stall is located right opposite of the Western stall in the middle section of the hawker centre. It sells Cantonese style porridge. The rice is boiled till it is in gravy form and hence it is soft when you eat it. The essence of its ingredients simply mixed with the porridge due to the long cooking time for the porridge. However, you may have to take some patience as it will take about 40 mins to be done after you have placed your order, even on normal weekdays.

Ratings

Taste: 5.0 (Strongly recommended by my uncle when he came here to visit us from Hong Kong)

Variety: 3.5

Freshness: 4.0

Price: $ (S$2.50 per bowl)

OVERALL: 4.0

Other remarks: There are many other food such as Western Food, Ah Boling (Rice dumplings dessert), Wu Xiang, Oyster egg, Char Kway Teow and Otah which are nice and cheap. You will be amazed by the number of awards and certificates awarded by the TV food shows and media you get to see over there. It simply look like EVERY stall has been awarded or recommended. You certainly won't be able to find THAT many of stalls with awards elsewhere in Singapore in a single hawker centre.

And if you are confuse by my verbal instructions of the locations of the stalls, don't worry coz I will try my best to visit it again...and this time taking down photos of the different stalls as I have mentioned. :)

Changi Airport T2 Staff Canteen

Last visited: 7 April 2007

Went here with my cell group members after the Easter service from Expo. Thank God the canteen closes only at 9pm on the weekends and public holidays. For me, I ordered the Katsu curry (pork) bento set as shown in the picture above from the Japanese stall at the staff canteen. Hence, I can only comment on it in this entry.

Comments: Just the look at the bento set is pretty attractive and delicious. I like the japanese curry sauce, in which the stall owner set it aside for you to dip your food in. I didn't really drink the miso soup as I dislike miso soups in general. The pork cutlet is average and not really as crispy as it should have been too. Well, this I believe could be a reason that we came around 8pm in which the stall owner is probably preparing to close the stall. The salad tastes normal with the small amount of mayonaise given but still fresh. There is also a slice of the japanese appetizer (the yellow colour piece in the middle of the bento set). I never try it though as I don't like it. Overall, the bento set is pretty good with a good bargain at only S$5.90 (Airport staff price is S$4.90).

Location

Changi Airport Terminal 2

Staff Canteen at Level 3M

(you can take the lift from the carpark outside the departure hall level)

Ratings (Total of 5 points)

Presentation: 4.0

Taste: 3.5

Quality: 3.5

Variety: 3.5

Price: $$

Overall: 3.5

Other remarks: Most of the stalls at the Changi Airport Terminal 2 Staff Canteen sell great food at low prices. Even though it is located at the extreme east of the Singapore island, it has been a favourite makan place in Singapore. The place is usually packed with people during the meal times and especially on weekends. Hence, even though it appears to be big, there is not many seats during those peak periods. It is a place that is only more convenient to those public who stays in the east and owns a car.

Coffee Bean @ Changi Airport T2

Last visited: 31 March 2007

This is my very first entry so let me introduce you to the purpose of writing this blog ya? :)

This blog is purely created out of my passion to eating!!! Hahaha...lol And mainly for my own pleasure to reminisce on those wonderful delicacies that I have tasted. So I can be thankful to God and all the chefs for making our lives such a wonderful place to live in. :D

But always remember that these are juz my personal point of views. You are free to leave me comments or recommendations...but pls don't judge or criticize me for everyone differs in their appetites and likings for food .

So back to the topic, I have my first breakfast at Coffee Bean @ Changi Airport T2 last Saturday morning. I ordered the set meal with the sausage, scrambled egg, toast and a complimentary cup of coffee; while my friend ordered the salmon scrambled egg muffin. I haven't tried the salmon scrambled egg mufffin so I would not comment on it.

Comments: The sausage taste about the same compared to many other sausages that I have eaten before at outlets like Cold Storage. The scramble egg is slightly tasteless, if I don't add the salt and black pepper provided. The toast must have been left unattended for some time so it was no longer warm and cruchy when I had it. But I like the salad that comes along with it is FANTASTIC with its thousand island dressing, cherry tomatoes and the butterhead lettuce. The coffee tastes fresh and good...the trademark for coffee at Coffee Bean. :) So overall, the breakfast is healthy and can be considered above average, but for the price you pay (S$6.50), I think it is worth for this English breakfast.

Location

Changi Airport Terminal 2 Departure Hall Level

Coffee Bean Cafe

(Opposite Burger King)

Ratings (Total 5 points)

Sausage: 3.0

Scrambled egg: 2.5

Salad: 4

Toast: 2.5

Drinks: 4

Price: $$$

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Other remarks: The cushion seats are very comfortable and the environment still cozy despite of its open cafe concept right at the centre of the airport mall. It is enjoyable and relax to have your breakfast at such a place, giving you a good start for your day. :)