Café Barco @ Kaki Bukit - New Japanese-Western Fusion Cafe by Wunderfolks

Wunderfolks, which started as a home-based business in 2020, gained popularity for its tarts in various flavours.

Building on its success, the brand expanded beyond its physical stores and ventured into a new concept with the opening of Café Barco, a Japanese-Western fusion café in Kaki Bukit. It is conveniently situated within the Techview Building and just a short walk from Kaki Bukit MRT Station.

Iced Matcha Latte 3/5

Our meal began with the Iced Matcha Latte. We wished it had a stronger matcha flavour, as the drink leaned much more towards the milky side.

Cold Tofu 3/5

We had the Cold Tofu ($6), which is on the light side. It is served with a Japanese sesame dressing and topped with spring onions, nori, and sesame seeds.

Corn Croquette 3.5/5

Next, we tried the Corn Croquette ($8), which had a crunchy exterior and creamy interior. It was served with a sweet-tasting Barco brown sauce.

Tater Tots 3.5/5

The Tater Tots ($7) were well-fried and crispy but felt a bit plain. A bit of seasoning or a dipping sauce would have elevated this dish.

Mentaiko Egg Mayo Sando 4.2/5

The Mentaiko Egg Mayo Sando ($8.80) was a delightful treat. The creamy mentaiko egg mayo mix was nicely balanced and not overly rich. It was sandwiched between lightly toasted, fluffy bread. The tobiko sprinkled on top added a nice savoury pop to each bite.

Big Breakfast 4/5

A crowd favourite at Café Barco is the Big Breakfast ($14), a classic brunch dish featuring scrambled eggs, sautéed mushrooms, vine tomatoes, a hash brown, mesclun salad, and bread. While it didn't break any new ground, it was decently executed.

Curry Chicken Katsu Don 4.2/5

Among the mains, our top pick was the Curry Chicken Katsu Don ($14.80). The dish featured slices of crunchy, well-seasoned chicken katsu served on a bed of Japanese rice and a flavourful Japanese curry with potato and carrot chunks. The katsu remained tender.

Mentaiko Pasta with Salmon 3.5/5

On the other hand, despite its popularity, the Mentaiko Pasta with Salmon ($18.80) fell short of expectations. We found the dish to be more creamy than mentaiko-flavoured, leaving us wishing for a stronger mentaiko presence to better complement the linguine, grilled salmon, onsen egg, and tobiko.

For dessert, Café Barco offers an array of their signature Tarts alongside other pastries. Additionally, the café stocks canelés from Flourcrafts, which you can pre-order for pickup or purchase on the spot.

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.


Café Barco
Techview
#01-02
1 Kaki Bukit View
Singapore 415941
Tel: +65 9749 7940
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Nearest MRT: Kaki Bukit (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 8pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Kaki Bukit MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes [Map]

Tomahawk King & Omookase @ Changi Road - Halal Steakhouse with Japanese A5 Wagyu Yakiniku, Western-style Steaks and Tomahawk

Tomahawk King & Omookase, located on Changi Road, offers a unique halal-certified dining experience that combines the best of two worlds: Western-style steaks and premium Japanese A5 yakiniku, all thoughtfully curated under one roof. Their menu showcases a wide range of beef cuts, including both prime and prized-off cuts. This diversity ensures that it caters to every discerning meat lover's palate, whether you're craving the tenderness of a perfectly cooked steak or the rich flavours of yakiniku.

A5 Wagyu Couple Set 4.2/5

The A5 Wagyu Couple Set ($99) boasts a delightful spread featuring 200g Mie A5 Kuroge Wagyu, 100g Premium Australian Grain-fed Ribeye, 4 pcs Tiger Prawns, an assorted Vegetables Platter, and unlimited servings of Japanese wagyu rice. The star of the show is the Mie A5 Kuroge Wagyu, renowned for its exceptional marbling and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. At the same time, the Premium Australian Grain-fed Ribeye has a rich, beefy flavour and is superbly tender after being cooked over the flames. This set is a true celebration of premium ingredients and flavours, making it an ideal choice for couples seeking a memorable and indulgent dining experience at the restaurant.

Tomahawk Set 4/5

The Tomahawk Set ($148) is an indulgent feast designed for those who appreciate a hearty meal. The set takes centre stage with a substantial 1.2-kilogram Tomahawk steak, a bone-in ribeye known for its impressive size and rich, flavourful meat. The Tomahawk steak has a beautifully charred crust on the outside, which adds a delightful smokiness and texture contrast to the tender interior. The meat is tender and boasts a robust and beefy flavour.

It also comes with a sizable portion of cheesy fries and onion rings and a trio of delectable sauces: Black Pepper, Mushroom, and Brown sauce. These sauces provide a range of flavours to complement the Tomahawk steak, from the peppery kick of the Black Pepper sauce to the earthy richness of the Mushroom sauce and the classic depth of the Brown sauce.

Blue Lychee Cooler 4/5, Lychee Berries Cooler 4/5

Choose from their mocktails, such as the Lychee Berries Cooler ($9) and Blue Lychee Cooler ($9), which are refreshing and sweet – the perfect accompaniment to the savoury meat feasts.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Tomahawk King & Omookase
324 Changi Road
Singapore 419799
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Nearest MRT: Eunos (EW Line), Kembangan (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 11am - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Eunos MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to traffic junction of Jalan Eunos and Sims Ave. Cross the road and walk towards Changi Road. Turn left onto Changi Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Kembangan MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk down the canal to Changi Road. Cross the road, turn right and walk down Changi Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Lee Do Restaurant @ Automobile Megamart (Ubi) - Keeping Traditions Alive While Serving 50 year Old Recipes

Lee Do Restaurant at Automobile Megamart Ubi is one of the oldest restaurants in Singapore, serving traditional Fuzhou (Hockchew) dishes. The late Mr Tan Seng Eng set up the restaurant in 1964 at a small HDB coffee shop off Bendemeer Road before moving to its current location. Currently, the restaurant is run by the third generation, keeping the traditional food scene alive.

Fu Zhou Fried Noodles 4/5

The Fu Zhou Fried Noodles ($12/$24) is a delightful plate of thick, chewy wheat noodles stir-fried to perfection with pork slices, prawns, clams and vegetables. The soy sauce added a savoury richness that permeates every strand of noodle, further elevated with the addition of pork lards.

Fuzhou Fishball Soup 3.8/5

The Fuzhou Fishball Soup ($10/$18) is a light and flavoursome broth, brightened with the addition of shallot, seaweed and spring onions. Unlike the usual fishball, the bouncy Fuzhou fishball stuffed with marinated pork gives the bite-size treat an elevated burst of flavour and satisfying textural enjoyment.

Steam White Cabbage with Scallop Sauce 3.8/5

The Steam White Cabbage with Scallop Sauce ($20) is delicately steamed to a lovely softness, retaining its sweetness and allowing the natural flavours of the cabbage to shine. However, the scallop sauce was lacking, failing to enliven the dish. It could be more prominent to enhance the sweetness of the cabbage.

Claypot Red Wine Chicken Soup 4.2/5

The Claypot Red Wine Chicken Soup ($16/$30), cooked in aromatic red rice wine, comprises tender chicken infused with the distinctive sweetness of the red rice wine. It even comes with silky Tang Hoon that soaks up the delicious broth for comforting enjoyment.

Yam Paste with Ginko Nuts 4/5

Lastly, we had the Yam Paste with Gink Nuts ($4.50) to wrap up our dinner on a sweet note. The restaurant may specialise in Fuzhou cuisine, but the yam paste, traditionally a Teochew dish, was well done, having the right creamy consistency and subtle sweetness.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Lee Do Restaurant
Automobile Megamart
61 Ubi Avenue 2
#01-13
Singapore 408898
Tel: +65 67422181
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Nearest MRT: Ubi (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Ubi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to traffic light junction. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Charr'd @ Changi Road - Singapore's First Halal Restaurant Serving A5 Kuroge Wagyu From Mie Prefecture

Charr'd is a new halal steakhouse by the same team behind Tomahawk King. It is the first halal restaurant in Singapore to buy and import whole A5 Wagyu Kuroge cows from Japan.

Salmon Cube Tare

We started our meal with the Salmon Cube Tare ($14) with snow pea shoots, caramelized onion, and a house bearnaise sauce. The charred salmon belly nuggets are glazed with yakiniku no tare giving it a nice sweet and fruity finish on top of the smoky char.

Great for sharing and gets to enjoy the different A5 Wagyu Kuroge's cuts is the Heavenly Meat Board ($198) that comes with 100gm A5 Mie Sirloin, 100gm A5 Mie Ribeye, 100gm A5 Mie Tenderloin and 400gm Australian Hangar Steak. The meat board is suitable for 3-4 pax. It also comes with two complimentary sauces of choice. (house bearnaise, chimichurri, wasabi mayo, yakiniku no tare, ghost peppercorn mayo). Between the cuts, my preferred is the ribeye for its meat and fats ratio.

Cream'd Moonlight Spinach

We had the Cream'd Moonlight Spinach ($13), and Charr'd Broccoli ($12) for sides to go along with the beef. I am a fan of creamy spinach, and at Charr'd, it elevated the creaminess by adding an onsen egg on top of the rich Parmigiano-Reggiano cream.

Charr'd Broccoli

A more textural option is the Charr'd Broccoli, whereby the crunchy broccoli is charred over an open fire and tossed with roasted pine nuts, chilli shavings, bonito flakes and an appetite-whetting miso vinegar.

You can also wash everything down with a selection of Mocktails from the bar. Unwind and chill in an unpretentious space serving up only good-cut meats, quality dishes and no-frill sides for an alternative way of enjoying meats and more. Grab a mocktail, a few friends and have dessert after dinner. Charr'd is here so you can chill out.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Charr'd
324F Changi Road
Singapore 419799
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Nearest MRT: Eunos (EW Line), Kembangan (EW Line)

Opening Hours
Tue-Sun: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Eunos MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to traffic junction of Jalan Eunos and Sims Ave. Cross the road and walk towards Changi Road. Turn left onto Changi Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Kembangan MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk down the canal to Changi Road. Cross the road, turn right and walk down Changi Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

George's Katong Laksa @ Changi Road - A Standalone Stall In A Coffeeshop That Sells One Of My Favourite Laksa

One of my favourite local food is Laksa, and I finally find time to check out George's Katong Laksa at Changi Road. It is understood George's father learnt the recipe from the legendary Janggut Laksa. The stall used to be at Telok Kurac before relocating to the current coffeeshop at Changi Road. There is only one stall in the coffeeshop, and it is non-other than George's Katong Laksa.

Laksa 4.5/5

The Laksa ($4.50/ $5/ $6) comes in a red-orangey lemak broth, accompanied by prawn, fish cake, and cockles. Though the broth looks rich, it is drinkable. I finished it to the last drop.

What I enjoyed most was the noodle. The stall uses the thick beehoon that comes with a delectable bite. It is the type of childhood taste I have been missing. Nowadays, most laksa stalls use the kind that is soft and slippery. The noodles are cut into short strands for easy consumption. You simply need a spoon to scoop up both the noodle and broth for the best enjoyment.

It seems not very people know abt George's Katong Laksa. Maybe it is because it is neither near nor far from the nearest MRT station. It is quite a walk from the nearest MRT station. Nevertheless, this is a good bowl of laksa that beats many stalls out there.


George's Katong Laksa
307 Changi Road
Singapore 419785
Tel: +65 90237360
Nearest MRT: Eunos (EW Line), Kembangan (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 3pm
(Closed on Alt TueS)

Direction:
1) Alight at Eunos MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Walk to traffic junction Sims Avenue and Jalan Eunos. Cross the road. Turn right onto Jalan Eunos. Walk towards Changi Road. Turn left onto Changi Road and walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Kembangan MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk along the canal to Changi Road. Turn right onto Changi Road. Walk down Changi Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Chao Yang Fishball Noodle (潮阳手工鱼丸粿条面汤) @ Eunos Food Centre - Huge And Slippery Her Kiao

If you have been to Eunos Food Centre, you will notice the ever snaking queue at Chao Yang Fishball Noodles (潮阳手工鱼丸粿条面汤). Together with my friends, we reached the stall at 9am and queued for an hour for our food.

Fishball Noodle 4/5

Do note that if you order the smallest portion at $3, it does not come with the Her Kiao (fish dumpling). However, you will still be satisfied with the well-cooked noodle tossed in a concoction of sambal, vinegar and seasoning. Though there is no fish dumpling, you always get slices of fishcakes and fishballs.

We have heard so much about the fish dumpling here, so we order a bowl of Fish Dumpling Soup to make our trip worthwhile. Great that we did. The fish dumpling is huge and slippery. You can tell it is handmade, not those doughy type from the factory.

I would highly recommend trying the Her Kiao here. If you order the small portion, then you should add a bowl of fish dumpling soup. If not, you can order the bigger bowl that comes with fish dumpling.


Chao Yang Fishball Noodle
Eunos Food Centre
4A Eunos Crescent
Stall #01-24
Singapore 402004
Nearest MRT: Eunos (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Tue, Fri-Sun: 530am - 1230pm
(Closed on Wed-Thu)

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

Eunos Famous Bak Chor Mee (友诺士肉脞面) @ Eunos Crescent - Probably The First Bak Chor Mee In Singapore Dated Back To 1920s

Bak Chor Mee is one of Singapore's iconic national dishes. It is a uniquely Singapore dish that you can't find elsewhere. Many of us have grown up having the dry version of Bak Chor Mee tossed in a concoction of vinegar, soy sauce, chilli sauce etc. However, the original version is the soup type with just noodle, dumpling and minced pork.

Eunos Famous Bak Chor Mee at Eunos Crescent has over 100 years of history. It started back in the 1920s when the late founder 陈联福 came to Singapore from China, selling bak chor mee, carrying his mobile kitchen over a bamboo pole. The good news is the fifth generation has continued his legacy allowing us to enjoy the century-old recipe.

Bak Chor Mee 3.8/5

The bowl of Bak Chor Mee comprises noodles, dumpling, minced pork, fried shallots and pork lard. The soup is sweet, further flavoured by the addition of minced pork, pork lard and fried shallot.

However, I didn't quite like the noodle's texture, which is the soft and soggy type. I guess this is the authentic traditional taste of bak chor mee. Still, it may not be receptive to the younger generation's palate. The dumpling is on the salty side too, though the skin is thin.

Eunos Famous Bak Chor Mee (友诺士肉脞面)
Hong Lee Coffee Shop
Blk 7 Eunos Crescent
Singapore 400007
Tel: +65 81006553
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Eunos (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 730pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Eunos MRT station. Take Exit C. Cut through the hawker centre and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Pig N Whistle Bistro & Bar @ Hexacube (Changi Road) - Great British Fare And Quality British Craft Beers & Ciders In The Heartland

Pig N Whistle recently opened at Hexacube, which is just around 5 minutes walk from Eunos MRT. It is really a nice place for you to have a drink at the bar and indulge in some delicious food at the same time. Even though there is no service charge here, the customer service is prompt, warm and friendly.

First of, the drinks serve here are really unique as they aren’t the typical beers or ciders that bars in Singapore serve. We are recommended the bottle ciders which was purely made out of apple juice and alcohol, no sugar is added. Ciders like Somersby usually has sugar added, and here at Pig N Whistle, they want it to be all natural for health reasons.

As I’m a sweet person, I would recommend the Sheppy’s Cloudy Cider ($12) with ribena (only upon request at the bar) or even the Sheppy’s Raspberry Cider, in which they add real raspberry juice in the drink. Another drink you should give a go is their Caramel Vodka ($10) which they make in-house by mixing salted caramel and vodka for 10 days. You’ll never get something like this elsewhere.

Vegan Burger 4/5

For burgers, they had a vegan option called the Vegan Burger ($16.90) which uses yellow beans, capsicum, spanish onions, swiss brown mushrooms, carrot and herbs in their patty. As you can tell, a lot of effort goes into making this burger an unforgettable experience for those who give it a go.

Fish & Chips 4/5

The Fish & Chips ($15.90) here has a really crispy and flavourful house made beer batter that has its own British twist. Something else that is really unique is the mushy peas at the side that is served in English cuisines. It is boiled till the skins fall out and then mashed to a certain consistency before being served.

Pork Chop 4.5/5

The star for me was the Pork Chop ($18.90) and I loved how they use free range pigs that have 10,000 acres to roam. It is well seasoned and served with a side of British gravy that I would die for. The British gravy also goes very well with the creamy mash potatoes.

Full Monty 4/5

If you’re planning to visit this place on weekends, you’ll love the Full Monty ($18.50) here which consisted of 2 eggs, 2 bacons, 2 sausages, 2 hash browns, black pudding, mushrooms, beans, and bread/toast. The fat and juicy sausages are made of 70% pork meat, 30% fat and 3 secret spices. It will have you wanting more of it with that robust flavours. You might also be wondering what is the black pudding? It’s actually an English name for blood sausage which had an acquired taste. If you think this portion is too much for you, they can have a Half Monty ($14.50).

Burrito 4/5

Under the snack section, there is the Burrito ($12.90). Honestly, it’s a full meal itself at 12-inch. It is stuffed with egg, bacon, potato, cheddar cheese, capsicum, lettuce, tomato, onion and a chili salsa, finished with a nicely grilled tortilla. The chili salsa was pretty spicy for me as I can’t really take spicy food but you might love this salsa as it is house-made too. Plus, for the size, it is super value for money.

If you come at Happy Hours, the House Wines & Spirits are 15% off and Snacks are 10% off. The Happy Hours are Saturday and Sunday,12pm to 7pm, and Monday to Friday, 5pm-8pm.

Photos and words by Vanessa Chia. A girl who has a passion for taking photos. Determined to always get better at what I am doing. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Pig N Whistle Bistro & Bar
Hexacube
160 Changi Road
#01-08
Singapore 419728
Tel: +65 67474367
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Eunos (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 5pm - 1am
Sat: 12pm - 1am
Sun: 10am - 1am

Direction:
1) Alight at Eunos MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to traffic light and across the road. Turn right and go around the estate to Changi Road. Cross Changi Road, turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]