Dining Snippets: The 2016 Singapore Special (Part 1 of 2)
FOOD COURT CRAWL: COMFORT MEETS HAWKER CENTERS
Singapore’s known for its hawker dining culture, where various food concepts are housed in a busy food court. There’s nothing quite like the experience of queuing up for a juicy plate of Hainanese Chicken from Tian Tian and droolworthy taho from Lao Ban in Maxwell Center; or guzzling a whole glass of sugarcane juice to quench the fiery trail of sensation left after a huge bite of Barbecued Stingray from Newton. However, these hawker centers mostly aren't air-conditioned; and require a bit of a walk from the nearest MRT stations. Thus, if you’re looking for places more convenient to go to or if you’re simply dodging the heat and sweat (like me); food courts in malls and commercial centers are the closest alternatives to your typical hawkers.
100AM’S KOUFU’s TAHU TELOR
Tahu Telor is an interesting Indonesian dish which is essentially crunchy beancurd wrapped in fried egg, on a plateful of sweet peanut sauce. The sight of this odd-looking dish is quite overwhelming to behold; but one bite of this dish is enough to win you over!
Date of Visit: May 12, 2016 with Peter Soh, Guat Hua Soh, and Lily Chua
VIVO CITY’S FOOD REPUBLIC’S RIVERSIDE INDONESIAN BBQ’S AYAM PANGGANG AND FISH PANGGANG SET (SGD 8.5)
A popular food court darling would be the Riverside Indonesian BBQ stall. It was thanks to my kabarkada Jessica Lee, that I learned about this amazing stall. Despite having a narrow menu of Ayam Panggang (Chicken), Fish Panggang, or Sotong Panggang (Squid); choosing from these viands can still be a tricky decision. Fortunately, the stall came out with combo sets for gluttonous people like me who aren’t satisfied with just one kind of protein. Regardless of your choice though, expect that it comes coated with its signature smoky and semi-sweet barbecue sauce. Also don’t forget to take a scoop (or two) of its chili sauce before going to your seat as this does wonders to your dish. Don’t worry though, its spice level is on the mild side.
Date of Visit: May 13, 2016 with Jayvee Fulgencio, Mina Tionloc, and KP Baltazar
RASAPURA’S KL HOKKIEN MEE (SGD 10.8)
Marina Bay Sands houses quite a lot of swanky restaurants that aim to tempt you to spend a fortune for a meal. If you don’t mind taking a walk to the far side of its shopping center though, you’d end up in a food mecca called Rasapura. This food court definitely spoils the diner with endless cuisine options. Don’t dare miss its KL Hokkien Mee, as it’s by far the tastiest that I’ve tried (it’s so flavorful that you’d be tempted to pair with plain rice)!. Have an authentic taste of Malay cuisine by ordering the Sakura Nyonya Chicken (SGD 7.80) or skip a trip to Newton and indulge in the Stingray BBQ (SGD 25 for sharing). For spice-averse tongues, proceed with caution when ordering the stingray as the delicious sauce it comes with is fiery hot!
Date of Visit: May 14, 2016 with Lily Chua and Guat Hua Soh
BREAKFAST RUN
Singaporeans seem to never skip breakfast judging from the queues most breakfast places have every morning. Most of these stalls offer the same array of options: thick toasts (floss, kaya, or peanut butter)+ two soft boiled eggs, mee siam, chong fun, siew pao, and siew mai; paired with a cup of Kopi/Teh (and their endless permutations).
RAFFLES PLACE’S FUN COFFEE’S CHONG FUN SET (SGD 5)
A breakfast favorite of mine would be the Chong Fun. This rice wrapping heavily relies on sweet soy sauce and chili for its flavor. One plate is guaranteed to fill you up for hours! Fun Coffee’s Kopi was mediocre, and its queuing system’s really messed up; but their chili sauce is to die for! They also toss in two pieces of siew mai to complete your meal.
Date of Visit: May 13, 2016 with Lily Chua
KOPI ALLEY’S MEE SIAM
You’ll definitely look forward to early mornings, if you’d be starting them with a cup of Kopi from Kopi Alley! It smells and tastes heavenly; and comes with a delightfully smooth finish! This tiny coffee shop is definitely worth the queue! If you’re looking for a hot breakfast, their Mee Siam strikes the perfect balance between sour and sweet. It may have a fiery red hot color, but its spice level is merely at a minimum. Do try to drop by the Kopi Alley across the back entrance of Amara Hotel as the auntie serving there is a spunky and warm ultimate cutie who’d definitely put a smile on your face!
Date of Visit: May 14, 2016 with Lily Chua
