Singapore 2023: Tiong Bahru Bakery x Riverside Indonesian BBQ x Al Ameen Eating Corner
TIONG BAHRU BAKERY
I’m not a big fan of bread but somehow you can't help but gaze in awe of Tiong Bahru’s freshly baked bread display. I’m not certain how much they commit to the statement printed on their interiors – but they claim that their croissants are baked fresh every two hours- which is a definite plus!
Its Plaza Singapura branch has ample seating; but of course, most diners simply do take aways.
BRIE AND ROASTED MUSHROOM CROISSANT SANDWICH (SGD12.6) and ROAST BEEF CROISSANT (SGD 12.6)
We opted for a couple of their savory croissants – one was filled with brie cheese and roasted mushrooms; the other with roast beef and cherry tomatoes – and both were amazingly delicious. The croissants themselves were top-tier, from their quality ingredients to their fluffy interior and flaky exterior. Rest assured that you’d get your money’s worth with how extremely stuffed they are as well!
FLAT WHITE (SGD 6/SGD 8)
Its coffee selection is also pretty impressive – I opted for a classic cup of Flat White – and it can hold its own against what’s served in coffee chains.
Tiong Bahru Bakery
Date of Visit: June 19, 2023 with Lily Chua
RIVERSIDE INDONESIAN BBQ
One of my go-to meal options when I was studying in Singapore was Riverside Indonesian BBQ’s Ayam Panggang (Grilled Chicken). If I was feeling a little adventurous, I’d switch to the Ikan Panggang (Grilled Fish). Their bbq meals are immensely filling, their chili is to-die-for, and it’s simply fast and convenient - it also helps that its multiple branches are housed in food courts within walking distance from where I lived/studied.
AYAM PANGGANG AND IKAN PANGGANG (SGD 10)
I’ve tried a couple of Ayam Panggang dishes in Indonesian restaurants in Manila – and they’re simply too far from what Riverside Indonesian BBQ serves. The closest to it was served by the pop-up concept called Sambar (opened by the duo behind Café Aurora). I raved about it in a post years ago and I was ecstatic to hear from the restaurant that the dish was indeed inspired by the Riverside Indonesian BBQ. But sadly, Sambar isn't operational anymore - so it was definitely so hard to quench the craving for Panggang whenever it crept up.
So yes, I was pretty ecstatic when I finally went up to queue for it – I wasn’t hungry but I went a bit overboard and got myself the value set featuring both Ayam Panggang and Ikan Panggang (and yes, I told my mom I refused to share this with her – and that she should get her own) – which proved to be a wrong decision because I forgot how hefty it was – evident by the huge cup of rice swimming in fragrant curry sauce. I forgot that it also came with crunchy veggies and scrambled egg so to say that I was struggling to finish this is an understatement.
Word-of-advice, it would have been wiser to split this with another person and simply paired it with another dish from another stall. But boy, were all the flavors still as glorious as they were a decade ago – the smokiness from the grill, the sweet sticky sauce the meat came with, paired with the creamy coconut curry sauce – and yes, ASK FOR THE CHILI - and you're bound for an incredible flavor ride.
Riverside Indonesian BBQ
Branches: Plaza Singapura, Tampines Mall, 313 @Somerset, and VivoCity
Date of Visit: June 18, 2023 with Lily Chua
AL AMEEN EATING CORNER
Of course, no visit to Singapore is complete without sharing a meal with family friends-turned-family, Uncle Peter and Auntie Guat Wah. They know that mom and I enjoy a good Indian meal so they brought us to Al Ameen Eating Corner for lunch.
Al Ameen Eating Corner is set up the same way a typical hawker is set up – but just for Indian cuisine. Its selection can get a bit overwhelming as it features dishes from both Northern and Southern India – so we left the ordering to Uncle Peter’s expertise.
PRATA, DAHL and FISH CURRY
We started with the Roti Prata and had two options for our sauces – first was the Dahl (Lentil) Curry and their Fish Curry. The Roti Prata was freshly warm; which makes it absolutely a delight to dip in both curries. At first, the Dahl paled in terms of flavor when placed beside the fiery Fish Curry; but you’d appreciate its relatively muted and more typical curry flavor as you’d need to find respite in between bites of the fish curry.
NAAN, BUTTER CHICKEN AND MUTTON MASALA
Next, we paired our plain and garlic Naan with their Butter Chicken and Mutton Masala. Honestly, don’t be fooled by the serving size of the Butter Chicken and Mutton Masala as you’d be surprised with the amount of chicken and mutton respectively that you’d be able to unearth from both pots. The Butter Chicken – is hands down, the best I’ve ever tasted as the chicken they used would be tandoori chicken – barbecued so amazingly that it’s equal parts juicy and tasty. This 2-in-1 combo is a must-try! The Mutton Masala also deserves attention as the mutton it came with was amazingly tender.
BIRYANI WITH PAPADOM
We also had a platter of Biryani – to serve as an alternative to pair with our saucy dishes – personally, it’s the perfect pair for their Butter Chicken. Interestingly, it came topped with a pleasantly crisp papadom, which of course made for another interesting vessel for your curries.
TEH HALIA
To wash all the spices off (as well as the heat – as it’s not an airconditioned eatery) – I got myself a glass of Teh Halia – or ginger milk tea. Yes, it’s better tasting when served hot – but I doubt I’d survive the heat from the food and from the noontime sun if I didn’t get an iced version of it.
Al Ameen Eating Corner
35 Marsiling Industrial Estate Road 3 #01-11 Central Industrial Estate, Singapore 739257
Date of Visit: June 19, 2023 with Uncle Peter Soh, Auntie Guat Wah and Lily Chua
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