Burger Frites @ Joo Chiat Road - Get Your Hands Dirty For Good Ol' Classic Burgers At New Gourmet Burger Joint Opened By French Chef

Following his first Steakhouse success at Braseiro, close to 5 years later, Founder Alexandre Pini opens his new gourmet burger joint, Burger Frites just right across the road along the shophouses of Joo Chiat Road. This cosy restaurant serves up gourmet burgers and homemade fries and has been a popular hangout spot for burger lovers living in the area.

Aiming to break the stereotype of burgers as junk fast food, Burger Frites is a casual burger joint unlike any other by focusing on quality ingredients, sourcing the best U.S. Angus beef patties from the butchery and bread from artisan bakery in Singapore. This is to ensure quality and freshness. They make their own french fries from scratch, and also offers a variety of sauces for a personal touch.

The menu is straightforward and simple, with only beef, chicken, and brie to choose from (each burger at $16++). Customisation is provided on the next step of selection for the addition of cheese at $1++, turkey bacon at $2++, and both cheese and bacon at $3++. There's an option of doubling the patty at $8++ or change your bun to a gluten-free one at $3++. You can choose the sauces to add to the burger as well, at no extra costs!

180G Angus Beef Burger 4.5/5

We went for the Beef Burger with Cheese and Bacon (with added cheese and bacon $19++) which looked sinfully good with its huge 180g Angus beef patty, layered with melted cheddar and bacon slices, tomatoes, lettuce and pickles in between perfectly fluffy and soft brioche buns. Done medium rare, the beef patty was nicely cooked with the right amount of fattiness in it and boasts a superb tenderness and juiciness. Even though the accompanying flavours didn't stand out as much with the main star being the 180g Angus beef patty stealing the show with loads of its juicy beef flavours, overall, I was impressed with their excellent rendition of the beef burger. Definitely one of the best beef burgers if you're looking for something classic and unpretentious.

Crispy Chicken Burger 3.8/5

Different from what you might expect for a Chicken burger, the Crispy Chicken Burger (with added cheese $17++) here is served with four strips of crispy chicken tenders stacked on top of each other. While we loved the crispiness of the meat that goes well with the fluffy milky buns, we felt that the chicken tenders were too dry for our liking. Add on some fries ($4++) on the side to go with your burgers. Those homemade hand-cut potato strips were twice-fried - fluffy, but not as crispy as we hoped. It's still a joy pairing them with the different sauces available, such as the flavourful black pepper cream.

Coconut Milkshake 4/5, Homemade Ice Lemon Tea 4/5

From the drinks menu, we had the Coconut Milkshake ($9++) and Homemade Ice Lemon Tea ($5++). For something more indulgent, go for the milkshake option. They have 6 different milkshake flavours (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coconut, speculoos and pistachio). Thick and creamy, the milkshake was flavourful with the fragrant taste of coconut yet not too overwhelming.

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.


Burger Frites
340 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427592
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Website
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 5 - 11pm
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Block 99 (Stop ID 81181). Take bus number 16. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Jimoto Dining @ Joo Chiat - Authentic And Great Value Omakase Experience In The Eastern Neighbourhood

Nestled in the quaint neighbourhood of Joo Chiat is an authentic Japanese omakase restaurant - Jimoto Dining with Tokyo-born head chef Takahiro Sato at its helm. Opening its doors to eager diners from March 2019 onwards, Jimoto Dining rolls out a well-curated menu which goes beyond the sushi counter to showcase a variety of traditional Japanese cooking styles. Diners can expect four great value Omakase options from as low as $55+ per person, as well as a daily rotating selection of a la carte dishes, which includes a limited serving of A4 Miyazaki Wagyu Ribeye (from $98+).

All Omakase courses will consist of an appetiser, sushi and dish of the day from the hot kitchen. While the affordable five-course Toki ($55+) offers a quick dinner fix for those seeking a light meal and is served only from 6 to 7pm, the other three options are available for seven-courses - the introductory Sanpuru ($68+), innovative Kakushin ($98+) and the premium Zeitaku ($128+). We got an opportunity to try the premium Zeitaku, which will include a sashimi course.

Century Egg Tofu 4/5

The appetiser - Century Egg Tofu comes in soft tofu served in a homemade sauce of sake, mirin and shoyu. The delicate serving is then topped with chopped up century egg, ebiko and spring onions for an added crunch. Pair the dish with the Saito Yuzu Hikari (7% ABV) - a sweet sparkling sake made from Koshihikari rice in Kyoto, with delicate citrus notes.

Sashimi course 4.5/5

The Sashimi course changes daily depending on the type of fish Chef Takahiro sources from the market. We got to try the Tai (Snapper), Shime Saba (marinated mackerel), and Yellow Tail (Hamachi) for the sashimi course. Pair the fresh sashimi with the Saito Super Premium Junmai Daiginjo (14.5% ABV), a premium sake made with Yamada-Nishiki rice in Kyoto, with rich flavours and an elegant fruity aroma.

Snow Crab in Dashi Broth 4/5

For the simmered dish course, we were served the Snow Crab in Dashi Broth. It is blanched and then soaked in cold water to retain the natural sweetness and texture. It is simmered shortly in a dashi stock that has been boiled way for 3-4 hours with white radish to bring out a subtle refreshing sweetness. The light touch of yuzu zest adds a tang to the dish. Pair it with the Saito Dry Sake (13.5% ABV) - a light bodied sake made from Koshihikari rice in Kyoto, with a clean, dry and moderate umami flavour.

Grilled Salmon 4.2/5

The butter shoyu, Mirin sauce and lemon add a salty, sweet and sour combination of taste to the nicely Grilled Salmon. The tender grilled salmon was particularly enjoyable with a melt-in-the-mouth-consistency. The dish is paired with enoki mushroom and cherry tomatoes. Pair it with the Gansanryu Kisaragi Daigingo (17.5% ABV) - made from Dewa-sansan varietal rice in Yamagata Prefecture, with fresh pear, melon and peach aroma.

Sushi course 4.2/5

The sushi course is served with different sushi, depending on what Chef Takahiro sources from the market daily as well. Apart from the freshly marinated and sliced seafood, the rice used is a highlight as well. Specially made with akazu (red vinegar), it brings a rich umami flavour to the edomae-style sushi. Pair the fresh sashimi with the Saito Super Premium Junmai Daiginjo (14.5% ABV), a premium sake made with Yamada-Nishiki rice in Kyoto, with rich flavours and an elegant fruity aroma.

Meticulously scored by Chef Takhiro before serving, the Sumi ika (squid) has a fresh, chewy texture. A shiso (perilla) leaf sits between the sumi ika and the sushi rice, which presents a creamy mouthfeel.

The Maguro (bluefin) is blanched on the side and served with a smear of shoyu and mustard for flavour.

The Aji (Horse Mackerel) is served with ginger mirin to bring out the delicate, sweet flavours of the fish.

The Hamachi (Yellowtail) is paired with yuzu kosho, made from fermented chilli, peppers, yuzu peel and salt, which complements the rich, buttery flavour of the Hamachi well.

Ikura, Uni and Tonburi Rice Bowl 4.2/5

Arriving in a mini Ikura, Uni and Tonburi Rice Bowl, the smooth, creamy uni is particularly enjoyable with a briny ocean taste. The globules of ikura and tonburi present a popping sensation like caviar and tang to the dish. Mix it all in with the pearly sushi rice for an umami bowl of freshness.

Blueberry Cheesecake 4/5

End the omakase experience on a sweet note with a light dessert - Blueberry Cheesecake, which goes well with a luscious sweet wine, Château de Fayolle Saussignac.

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.


Jimoto Dining
325 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427582
Tel: +65 62233397
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 6pm – 11pm
Sunday: 6pm – 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Directions: 
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Block 99 (Stop ID 81181). Take bus number 16. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Wah Eng Beef House @ British Hainan (Joo Chiat) - Bringing The Old Flavour Of Odean Beef Noodles To Joo Chiat

For fans of Wah Eng Hainanese Beef Noodles, you will be great to know that they have collaborated with British Hainan to bring the old flavour of old Odean beef noodles, with a history of 77 years to Joo Chiat. The joint venture sees British Hainan bringing the traditional flavours to the restaurant's menu.

Mixed Beef with Tendon Noodles Dry 4/5

I tried both the dry and soup versions at Wah Eng. First is the Mixed Beef with Tendon Noodles Dry ($8.50). It comes with lean meat slices, tendon, tripe and beef balls. The bowl of thick rice vermicelli is drenched in a thick dark sauce, which I find it a bit too starchy. Putting that aside, I like the addition of the fragrant peanuts and salted vegetables which provided the extra boost in flavour to the bowl of slurping goodness.

Mixed Beef Soup 4.5/5

My favourite is actually the soup version. The Mixed Beef Soup ($7.50) comes in a light but yet robust beefy broth that has been cooked for a good 3 hours with beef bones and spices. The salted vegetables played an even prominent part in the soup version, providing the additional zest to the delicious broth. This is so tasty that I finished it to the last drop.

Wah Eng Beef House
British Hainan
75 Carpmael Road
Singapore 429812
Tel: +65 63368122
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Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line), Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun: 11am - 530pm
(Closed on Tues)

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at block 99 (Stop ID 81181). Take bus number 33. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to Carpmael Road. Turn left onto Carpmael Road. Walk down Carpmael Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes.

2) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT statioin. Take Exit A. Walk to Sim Ave. Cross the road. Continuing walking towards Geylang Road. Cross the road and walk to Onan Road. Walk down Onan Road. Turn right onto Crane Road. Walk to Carpmael Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]