The Gyu Bar @ Stevens Road - Celebrates 6-year Milestone With An Extended Menu

This March, The Gyu Bar, situated on Stevens Road, celebrated its 6-year milestone by introducing its first menu extension. The new dishes draw inspiration from cuisines across Asia, seamlessly combining the restaurant's signature quality beef with familiar flavours from the region.

Wagyu & Mizuna ‘Salad’ 4.5/5

Inspired by the Thai Beef Salad, the Wagyu & Mizuna 'Salad' ($38) features luscious marbled Miyazaki Wagyu sirloin, lightly seared and wrapped around fresh mizuna greens. The Wagyu imparted richness to the palate, perfectly balanced by the sharp, peppery notes of the mizuna greens. What elevated this starter was the savoury and zesty salad dressing, concocted with lime, chilli, dashi, fish sauce, onion, and basil, making each bite even more mouthwatering.

Deep-fried Wagyu Cha Gio 4/5

Deep-fried Wagyu Cha Gio ($18) was inspired by Vietnamese spring roll. A layer of Kumamoto seaweed enveloping minced Kagoshima Wagyu and chopped prawns was encased within the crispy skin. The filling was juicy and flavoursome with rich, beefy notes. While it was undoubtedly tasty, using Vietnamese rice paper instead would have improved the experience.

Spicy Pumpkin Wagyu Nabe 5/5

Spicy Pumpkin Wagyu Nabe ($48) is The Gyu Bar's take on Chinese sauerkraut fish. While it lacked the piquant and spicy notes of the classic version, I thoroughly enjoyed the hotpot, which offers two indulgent pieces of wagyu slices. The broth, comforting sweet with mashed Japanese pumpkin and a slight hint of heat, was also wholesome with a combination of fresh produce, which included cabbage, enoki mushrooms and Hokkaido milk corn.

Braised Wagyu Lu Rou Fan 3/5

Braised Wagyu Lu Rou Fan ($28) is a beef rendition of Taiwanese Lu Rou Fan. The Gyu Bar replicates the dish by simmering finely chopped Miyazaki Wagyu in a fragrant herbal mix and serving it atop a bed of Hokkaido rice alongside an Okinawan onsen egg. I appreciate the blend of chewy tendons and minced meat, which gave the dish an excellent textural bite. However, while the beef topping was decadent and morish, it is not a dish that allows you to appreciate fine quality wagyu. I reckoned this dish could be made with any beef.

Stir Fried Wagyu Konnyaku Noodles 3.5/5

We also tried a healthier version of Korean Japchae - Stir Fried Wagyu Konnyaku Noodles ($28). Replacing glass noodles with springy konnyaku noodles, slices of Kagoshima Wagyu were sautéed alongside julienned carrots and shimeji mushrooms. The execution was decent, but I prefer it to be less sweet and have a more savoury profile

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


The Gyu Bar
30 Stevens Road
#01-08
Singapore 257840
Tel: +65 67320702
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Stevens (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Stevens MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to bus stop at Stevens Court (Stop ID 40229). Take bus number 105, 132, 190 or 972. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Abundance @ Redhill - Popular Taiwanese Restaurant Rolled Out New Dishes

Nestled in the heart of Redhill, Abundance stands tall as a popular Taiwanese restaurant, beckoning food enthusiasts to savour the rich tapestry of Taiwanese flavours. Intrigued by the restaurant's reputation, I ventured to Abundance to explore its offerings, specifically diving into its latest creations.

Gua Bao 3.8/5

I commenced with the timeless classic, the Gua Bao ($7.90). A tender slab of pork belly embraced by soft, fluffy buns adorned with salted vegetables and crusted peanuts. While the amalgamation of textures was commendable, I found the flavour profile slightly leaning towards sweetness, longing for a more pronounced savoury note.

Herbal Braised Pork Rice 4/5

Transitioning to the new dishes, I delved into the Herbal Braised Pork Rice ($12.90) — an ingenious fusion of Lu Rou Fan and traditional Herbal Pork Ribs Soup. Succulent pork belly, simmered in a harmonious blend of herbs, graced the dish. The accompaniments, including pickled cucumber, Taiwanese garlic sausage, and a fried sesame egg, elevated the experience. The bed of Japanese pearl rice served as a canvas for this delicious bowl of rice.

Stir-Fried Emperor Sprouts 3.5/5

Another new dish is the Stir-Fried Emperor Sprouts ($11.90). Bathed in flavourful chicken stock and crowned with crispy garlic, the dish promised a crunchy texture and aromatic finish. While the crunch was delightful, a slightly heavier hand with seasoning would enhance the overall taste.

Golden Chicken Mee Sua 4.2/5

The aromatic Golden Chicken Mee Sua ($13.90) is the other new creation, featuring mee sua directly imported from Taiwan. These delicate wheat noodles boast a silky texture that is both smooth and tender. Complementing this delightful base is a succulent pan-fried chicken thigh, expertly cooked to juicy perfection. The dish is further enriched with a fragrant blend of sesame oil and premium Shaoxing Hua Diao Jiu, creating a flavourful symphony that invites you to savour each mouthful. Immerse yourself in the delightful essence of yellow wine that permeates this exquisite creation, making it a truly aromatic and satisfying dish.


Abundance
Blk 63A Lengkok Bahru
#01-378
Singapore 151063
Tel: +65 80321880
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Redhill (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Tiong Bahru Road. Cross the road and turn right onto Tiong Bahru Road. Walk down Tiong Bahru Road to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Gourmet Park @ Resorts World Sentosa - Gourmet Food Truck Park Featuring Exciting Michelin-Starred Names

Gourmet Park is conveniently located just outside the main entrance of Universal Studios Singapore in Resorts World Sentosa.

This innovative food truck park concept was created to offer visitors, whether tourists or locals, a carefully curated selection of emerging food brands and Michelin-starred cuisine to savour.

The food trucks are lined on the circumference, each serving their usual signatures and/or dishes specially prepared only to be enjoyed at the park.

Other notable park highlights include the alfresco dining area, live DJ sets on weekend evenings, the intentional inclusion of vegetarian options at three trucks, and free entry for all.

Blue Lotus - Signature Chilli Pomelo Crab Meat Rice Bowl 4/5

Blue Lotus is most known for its modern Chinese creations. The first we had from them was their Signature Chilli Pomelo Crab Meat Rice Bowl ($19). Although a tad pricey, it was great to enjoy the crab meat without needing to peel, and we particularly enjoyed the heat and variety of spices packed in its chilli crab sauce.

Blue Lotus - Five Spices "Lu Rou" Kurobuta Pork Belly Rice Bowl 3.8/5

The second dish, the Five Spices "Lu Rou" Kurobuta Pork Belly Rice Bowl ($17), was decent, with chunky and well-braised pork belly on white rice.

The Kathi Roll Co - Butter Chicken Roll 4/5

At The Kathi Roll Co, dig into their range of Indian street food consisting of wraps, rolls and bowls. Our Butter Chicken Roll ($18) came with nicely spiced and tender chicken chunks, but we also found it quite pricey.

Kotuwa - Chicken Kottu 4.5/5

Kotuwa is a Michelin-starred name that focuses on traditional Sri Lankan cuisine. It was a unanimous nod of approval from all of us for their Chicken Kottu ($16). This elevated rendition of a Sri Lankan street classic features a mix of chopped roti, vegetables, chicken and a curry-like gravy. It was hearty with the perfect spice, richness and textures.

Chun Noodle Bar - Truffle Char Siu Noodle 4/5

The wanton noodles from Chun Noodle Bar are available in various renditions. We had the Truffle Char Siu Noodle ($13) that had egg noodles tossed in their housemade sauce, tender Iberico char siew and wantons.

Lavi Taco - Pulled Mushroom Taco 4.2/5

If you want a vegetarian option, check out Lavi Taco's Pulled Mushroom Taco (3 for $20 / 2 for $26). The tacos were generously filled with its well-textured mushroom filling, so much so that one of my dining companions didn't realise it was vegetarian till the end!

Luke’s Lobster - Lobster Roll 4/5

Luke's Lober's Lobster Roll ($27.60) uses lobsters from Maine, USA. Most would be familiar with them and their buttered rolls stuffed with your choice of lightly seasoned seafood.

QUEIC & Olivia Market - Olivia Cheesecake 4.8/5

Moving to desserts, I was so excited to spot QUEIC & Olivia Market's truck as they made my favourite cheesecakes! The prized Olivia Cheesecake ($14) has this amazingly oozy filling made of cream cheese and blue cheese, sat on a crunchy almond sable crust. It is so intense yet so well-balanced. I highly recommend this to all cheese lovers.

Spank My Dough - Artisanal Brioche Doughnuts 4.2/5

Grab more desserts from Spank My Dough, which specialises in Artisanal Brioche Doughnuts ($4.50 - $6.80/piece) produced in small batches daily and with piped fillings. The fluffy bombolonis are available in various flavours, including Vanilla Bean, Raspberry Cheesecake, Pistachio Cream, Blueberry Lavender Lemon and more.

With the wide variety of cuisine available here, there is something for everyone. Other brands not featured here include Blue Smoke, Coolhaus, Dickson Nasi Lemak, JAMBA, Mad Roaster, Quattro Pizza and Seafood Bar by Bleu.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Gourmet Park
Resorts World Sentosa
The Bull Ring
8 Sentosa Gateway
Singapore 098269
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront MRT (CC, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 8pm
Sat-Sun: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbour Front MRT station. Exit station to Vivocity Shopping Mall. Go to Sentosa Express Station at Level 3 of Vivocity. Take Sentosa Express Train to Resorts World station. Alight at Resorts World station. Walk to destination. Jourrney time about 10 mins

Xiabu Xiabu @ Lazada One (Bras Basah Road) - Stress-free Dining Experience With Individual Hotpots And Bubble Tea

Chinese hotpot chain Xiabu Xiabu has recently opened its first overseas outpost in Singapore in Lazada One. With over one thousand outlets across China, Xiabu Xiabu is known for its personal hotpots serving delicious soups at affordable prices. You can also enjoy your favourite bubble tea from Tea Mi Tea and hotpot within the same premises.

Each customer is to choose one personal hotpot set; sharing a hot pot comes with a surcharge. Each set comes with a dual hotpot (Mushroom Soup Base + the choice of another soup base), vegetable platter, unlimited condiments at the buffet-style condiments bar, ice slushie bar, and tea (choice of either Da Hong Pao Tea or Aged Pu Er Tea). The dual hotpot is created for Xiabu Xiabu's first overseas outlet to cater to our preference. Unlike some mushroom soups with a very weak consistency and taste rather one dimensional, Xiabu Xiabu's carries depths of flavours from a combination of King Trumpet mushrooms, white button mushrooms, and Blaze mushrooms.

USDA Shortplate

Australian Oyster Blade

The choices for the hotpot set are Popular Beef Set ($28/$32), Classic Pork Collar Set ($28), Signature Chicken Set ($28), Beef and Seafood Set ($38) and Vegetarian Set ($25). The Beef set is a hot favourite, with three types of cuts (140g each) to choose from - USDA Shortplate, Australian Oyster Blade or Australian Thin Beef Flank. We went for USDA Shortplate and Australian Oyster Blade for their fattier cuts.

Stew Pork Tripe and Chicken Soup Base

We chose the much-raved Stew Pork Tripe and Chicken Soup Base (+ $2) and Golden Sauerkraut Soup Base. Enriched with Oatly milk and barley, this peppery pork tripe soup has a milky consistency that is deeply satisfying. It is slightly on the saltier side, but its creaminess goes very well with the thinly shaved meats, vegetables, and especially the noodles that soak up the milky broth.

Golden Sauerkraut Soup Base

The Golden Sauerkraut Soup Base was highly appetising with its tangy profile, created from a combination of sour vegetables, marinated mustard greens, golden apple, and rosemary. It's perfect if your dining companion has a rich soup base such as the stew pork tripe or other options such as Nanyang Curry Soup Base (+$2) and Hot and Spicy in Sichuan Style Soup Base (+$2).

Vegetable platter

The design of the hotpot set is thoughtful. It has a good assortment of ingredients to jazz up the hotpot for one person. The Vegetable Platter includes black fungus, greens, tofu, mushroom, meatball, mussels and a big lovely chunk of yam which is a bonus to me.

Prawn Paste 2.8/5

Lu Rou Fan 3/5

The rest of the meats, such as the Belgian Pork Collar, Chicken and Seafood, are also available on the ala carte menu, alongside other ingredients such as Prawn Paste ($10), Fuzhou Fishballs, Assorted Mushrooms etc. You can even have Lu Rou Fan ($2.50), but there was no braised egg which was disappointing. The Prawn Paste came frozen in the shape of a leaf and tasted average.

At the condiments counter, one of the highlights is the free flow of noodles - Udon, Spinach Noodles, Carrot Noodles, Prince Instant Noodle, and Bean Vermicelli. The various condiments include Xiabu Xiabu Sesame Dipping Sauce, their signature dipping sauce made from finely ground groundnuts blended with white sesame for an extra creamy texture.

Each set comes with Da Hong Pao Tea or Aged Pu Erh Tea, provided by Tea Me Tea. You can also top up for a choice of your favourite bubble teas.

Dessert

The most fun part of the entire Xiabu Xiabu experience is the Dessert station, where you can make your own Shaved Ice. I miss those I had in Taiwan. Here I had all my favourite toppings laid out in front of me - plump red beans, chunky yam paste, silky beancurd, brown sugar syrup, and less commonly seen topping such as watermelon jelly, cucumber jelly and chewy oatmeal. Nothing was overly sweetened.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Xiabu Xiabu
Lazada One
51 Bras Basah Road
#01-03/04
Singapore 189554
Tel: +65 85965752
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Bras Basah (CC Line), Bencoolen (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bras Basah MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bencoolen MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

NiuNiu Tea & DuDu Rice @ Whampoa Drive Food Centre - Taiwanese And Korean Street Food In Hawker Centre

I first get to know NiuNiu Tea & DuDu Rice during Covid when it is doing home delivery. Since then, it has moved on to opening a hawker stall at Whampoa Drive Food Centre selling Taiwanese-Korean street food cuisine. It is a combination that is unique to the local hawker scene.

You may wonder why Taiwanese and Korean street food. It is quite simple as these are food close to the heart of Ryan, the young hawker stall owner. Ryan's parents are from Taiwan, while his wife is Chinese-Korean. If I am right, the interesting stall name is named after his two daughters too.

Lu Ru Fan 4/5

The bowl of Lu Ru Fan ($4.70) comes with braised pork, a whole braised egg and pickled vegetables on top of fragrant pearl rice. The braised pork leaned towards more fatty parts, which is my preference for a bowl of braised pork rice. However, the braising sauce is a bit on the light side. I prefer it to be richer.

Oden 4.2/5

To go with my bowl of braised pork rice, I also ordered a bowl of Oden ($1.50 for 3pc) from the oden bar, whereby customers can pick their oden from a selection of assorted Eomuk, Daikon, Konjac, assorted Balls and assorted Sausage. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the unique pairing of braised pork rice with a bowl of soupy oden. It's like how Chinese usually like to have soup for their meal.

Besides what I had, the stall also sells other items like Taiwanese Mee Sua, Taiwanese Crispy Chicken Cutlet, Tteokbokki and Gimbap.


NiuNiu Tea & DuDu Rice
Whampoa Drive Food Centre
Blk 90 Whampoa Drive
#01-82
Singapore 320090
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line), Novena (NS Line), Toa Payoh (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 12pm - 830pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to bus stop at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (Stop ID 07211). Take bus 130. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road. Walk down Balestier road towards Whampoa Drive. Turn left onto Whampoa Drive. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take Exit B. Cross the road and walk to bus stop opposite Novena Church (Stop ID 50031). Take bus 21 or 131. Alight 6 stops later. Walk down Balestier road towards Whampoa Drive. Turn left onto Whampoa Drive. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (Stop ID 52009). Take bus 145. Alight 6 stops later. alk down Balestier road towards Whampoa Drive. Turn left onto Whampoa Drive. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Monki (台灣小吃部) @ The Star Vista - Homely And Comforting Taiwan Cuisine

Monki (台灣小吃部) is a Taiwanese restaurant that has moved into Star Vista, located just beside the taxi stand. I remembered visiting the cafe previously at Holland Drive, but I was only there for desserts. I will try out some of their snacks and mains this time.

Taiwan Century Egg Tofu 3.8/5

We started with the chilled Taiwan Century Egg Tofu ($8), generously topped with pork floss and bonito flakes. While it is an appetising starter, I felt the century egg lacked that pungent I was looking for.

Double Mix Mee Sua 4.2/5

There are a few combinations for the Mee Sua, and I went for the Double Mix Mee Sua ($11), picking the big intestine and oyster. The big intestine was not gamey. I recommend adding more vinegar and a dash of chilli to elevate the taste profile to enjoy the thick, smooth, and slurping goodness.

Taiwan Braised Pork Rice 4.2/5

The Taiwan Braised Pork Rice ($9) comes with fragrant and fluffy rice topped with fatty braised pork. I like that it is very saucy, allowing the rice to soak up the delicious sauce for a delightful mouthfeel. It even comes with a braised egg and tau pok.

Taiwan Fried Chicken Cutlet 4/5

We also ordered the Taiwan Fried Chicken Cutlet ($8) to complete our meal. It is incredibly huge, tender and juicy with a crispy coat.

The dishes here felt homely and comforting. Maybe I have been missing Taiwan since the closure of the border due COVIID.


Monki (台灣小吃部)
The Star Vista
1 Vista Exchange Green
#01-41
Singapore 138617
Tel: +65 62588112
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Buona Vista (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 1030am - 9pm
Fri: 1030am - 930am
Sat: 9am - 930pm
Sun: 1030am - 830pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Buona Vista MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes.[Map]