Yak Kin Yakiniku @ Jalan Riang - Thai-Japanese Yakiniku With Premium Meat Cuts And Fresh Seafood

Yak Kin Yakiniku located at Jalan Riang is a Thai-Japanese yakiniku restaurant. The Japanese-style yakiniku offers quality meats and seafood married with Thai spices, marinated meats and Thai dipping sauces.

Meat Platter 4.2/5

Moo Ping 4.2/5

We kickstart our yakiniku with a meat platter that consists of Rosu (Wagyu A5 Yakiniku), Karubi (Short-Rib Bone-In), Thai Style Pork Neck, Thick Bacon Steak and Moo Ping. I need help pinpointing my favourites as they are all quality meat with their own merits. How fitting it is to have Moo Ping on the menu for the Thai side of things, a staple in Thai cuisine.

Pork Tomahawk 4.5/5

A highlight is the Pork Tomahawk. The beautiful piece of pork after grilling has a delightful crunch.

Scallop with Miso Butter, Surume Ika 4.2/5

Besides the meats, there is a fresh selection of seafood, such as the plump Scallop with Miso Butter, a whole Surume Ika (Japanese flying squid), and even Fresh Oyster.

Vegetable & Mushroom Platter 4/5

Complete the grilling experience with a vegetable and mushroom platter such as Enoki Mushroom with Soy Butter in Foil, King Oyster Mushroom, Butter Corn Cup and Coral Lettuce.

Kawaebi Karaage 4/5

Kaki Fry 4/5

Fitting for a few glasses of beer, highballs, or sake is an array of delightful starters such as the Kawaebi Karaage and Kaki Fry. These deep-fried snacks are ideal bar bites. The kawaebi karaage is sweet and plump, while the deep-fried oysters are bursting with briny juiciness.

Yak Kin! Tako Wasabi 4/5

Yak Kin! Potato Salad 4.2/5

The Yak Kin! Tako Wasabi is an appetising side dish in which the raw octopus is flavoured with Japanese horseradish. If you can get over the octopus's slimy texture, this is very addictive. As for the Yak Kin! Potato Salad, the smooth and creamy texture is further accentuated in flavour with bonito flakes topping.

Ice Plant with Goma Dressing 4.2/5

Yam Mamuang 4/5

The Ice Plant with Goma Dressing and Yam Mamuang showcases the best of both worlds. From Japan, we have the crunchy ice plant dressed in a delicious goma sauce, while we have the piquant yam mamuang that comes with a spicy kick.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yak Kin Yakiniku
15 Jalan Riang
Singapore 358987
Tel: +65 87693788
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Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to Serangoon Bus Interchange (Stop ID 66009). Take bus number 105. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to Jalan Girang. Turn right onto Jalan Girang. At the junction of Jalan Girang, turn left and walk down Jalan Girang towards Jalan Riang. Turn right onto Jalan Riang. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Eixt A. Walk to bus stop at Serangoon MRT station (Stop ID 62139). Take bus number 100, 107, 147, 153 or 853. Alight 1 stop later. Cross the road to Wolskel Road. Walk down Wolskel Road to Jalan Riang. Turn right onto Jalan Riang. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Amika Cafe & Bar @ Teck Chye Terrace – Aesthetic Café In Serangoon Serving Asian Western Fusion Food, All-Day Brunches, Mains And Sides

Located just a stone's throw away from Serangoon MRT is Amika Cafe & Bar. They have opened since last year, serving a wide range of all-day classic brunches, pasta, donburis and desserts.

Big Breakfast 3.5/5

The Big Breakfast ($20) features a colourful platter of scrambled eggs, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, sausages, hash brown, bacon, mixed salad and toasted sourdough. All the components were executed decently, except for the scrambled eggs, which had a nice fluffy texture but felt slightly under-seasoned. However, the bacon was a tad salty, and the hash brown was overly crispy, lacking fluffiness.

Amika French Toast 3/5

The Amika French Toast ($18) comes with crispy bacon, sausage, caramelised banana, strawberries and maple syrup. While the dish was aesthetically pleasing, the french toast was dry in the middle as the egg batter was not soaked thoroughly, lacking the soft custardy texture a french toast should have.

Mentaiko Prawn Pasta 3.5/5

They have quite a huge selection of pasta available with interesting fusion options such as the Prawn Laksa Pasta, Spicy Tamarind Pork Pasta, and Clam Pasta with Thai Chilli Jam. The Mentaiko Prawn Pasta ($17.80) is a mentaiko creamy-based prawn spaghetti topped with tobiko prawn roe, seaweed and grated cheese. While the spaghetti is al dente and the prawns are well cooked, the mentaiko flavour was not rich enough, rendering the pasta dish a tad bland.

Sweet Potato Fries 3.8/5

You can't go wrong with the Sweet Potato Fries ($11) paired with a side of sriracha mayo. They were nicely crisp on the outside, though it could be fluffier on the inside.

Taro Toast 4/5

My favourite dish was the Taro Toast ($11.90), paired with a taro gelato, crispy, fluffy thick toast, crumbles and whipped cream. The taro gelato is creamy and mildly sweet, with a hint of nuttiness. In addition, a small jug of taro sauce was provided to drizzle on the toast, which elevated the taro flavour.

With a huge variety of dishes and drinks on the menu, Amika Cafe & bar has one of the most aesthetically pleasing food and drinks I've encountered. Remember to order one of their vibrant, colourful drinks too. We opted for the Taro Latte ($6.50), which has a gorgeous purple hue. It is not too sweet and has a nice milky taro flavour.

Words and photos 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.


AMIKA Café & Bar
9 Teck Chye Terrace
Singapore 545720
Tel: +65 62416393
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Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Thu: 11am - 9pm
Fri: 11am - 11pm
Sat: 10am - 11pm
Sun & PH: 10am - 9pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit B, C & H. Walk to Upper Serangoon Road. Turn left onto Upper Serangoon Road. Walk down Upper Serangoon Road Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Nan Yang Dao (南洋岛) @ Serangoon Central - Authentic And Affordable Malaysian-Style Dishes In Serangoon

Nan Yang Dao (南洋岛), a vibrant eatery offering Malaysian-style dishes, opened earlier this year. It is located within Serangoon Central and just a short walk away from Serangoon MRT. The popular eatery has seen crowds throughout the year, especially during meal times to get a taste of their extensive variety of authentic Malaysian classics.

3 Layers Coffee 4/5

We kickstarted the meal with a cup of 3 Layers Coffee ($3). This layered drink was initially inspired by Sarawak's famous '3 Layer Tea. As for the coffee version, the drink consists of three layers of black coffee, palm sugar, and evaporated unsweetened milk. Perfectly milky without being overly sweet, it is great for coffee drinkers who prefer their coffee to be milkier and sweeter.

Penang Fried Kway Teow 4.2/5

The Penang Fried Kway Teow ($6.80) is one of their signatures. The Penang's rendition has lesser soy sauce and boasts a nice wok hei aroma. The pork lard gave the dish an extra oomph and comes with essential ingredients like Chinese sausages, bean sprouts, fish cakes and prawns.

Selayang Big Bowl Curry Noodle 4.2/5

Another signature is their Selayang Big Bowl Curry Noodle ($9.90). It arrives in a giant bowl of curry mee while a plate contains the excess curry broth at the bottom to depict the overflowing goodness. The rich curry broth is fragrant and slightly spicy and comes loaded with pork belly, prawns, beancurd skin, meatball, and fishball.

Dry Curry Mee 4/5

We also tried the Dry Curry Mee ($6.90), where yellow noodles are doused in a robust and creamy curry sauce and topped with char siu slices and french beans, along with tau pok and shredded chicken. Like the Selayang Big Bowl Curry Noodle, the spiciness was slightly tamer, but the dishes were still very satisfying.

Hometown Prawn Paste Fried Chicken 4.2/5

The Prawn Paste Fried Chicken ($10.80), better known as 'Har Cheong Gai', is crisp on the outside and succulent on the inside, with a pleasant prawn paste aroma. The wings packed a punch full of flavours from its special shrimp paste batter.

Chendol 4.5/5

To end off the meal on a sweet note, we had the Chendol ($3.50). It has a good amount of gula melaka without being overly sweet and has a nice brown sugar and coconut fragrance. The generous amount of red beans and chewy green jelly toppings also added a nice textural contrast to the dessert.

Words and photos 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.


Nan Yang Dao (南洋岛)
Blk 262 Serangoon Central
#01-85
Singapore: 550262
Tel: +65 65131750
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Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 10am - 9pm
Sat-Sun: 9am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit E.Turn left and walk down Serangoon Central. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 mintues. [Map]

Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh (嘉宾 巴生肉骨茶) @ Rangoon Road - Family Restaurant From Seremban, Malaysia Opens Outlet In Singapore

Are you a fan of white or black bak kut teh? More accurately peppery or herbal style bak kut teh? If you are the latter, then you probably should check out Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh (嘉宾 巴生肉骨茶) at Rangoon Road. It originated from Seremban, Malaysia and now the family has brought the klang style bak kut teh to Singapore.

Jia Bin Bak Kut Teh 4/5

The signature here has to be the Jia Bin Bak Kut Teh ($8.80 small / $17.50 Large). The pot of dark coloured herbal soup comes with items such as pork belly, tau pok, pig stomach and pig intestine. The soup itself has a mild herbal taste while not too overpowering. I dislike those that has the strong "干甜 (Gan Tian)" taste, hence I find this has the right balance which will be more acceptable to most diners in Singapore/

You Tiao 4.2/5

Salted Vegetable 3/5

To complete the enjoyment of the bak kut teh, one can also order some sides like the You Tiao ($2.50) and Salted Vegetable ($3.50) to go along. I definitely recommend the you tiao to soak up the delicious soup.

Jia Bin Dry Bak Kut Teh 4/5

Besides the soup version, it also offers a dry version on the menu. The Jia Bin Dry Bak Kut Teh ($8.80) comes in a sweet reduced dark sauce. It is pretty good but we could help comparing it with Soon Huat's dry verson which is more flavourful because of the addition of chilli and dry cuttlefish.

Jia Bin Hua Diao Wine Chicken 4.2/5

Stepping into the restaurant, I could already smell the fragrant Hua Diao Wine in the air. It actually comes from the Jia Bin Hua Diao Wine Chicken ($8.80). It definitely allured us to order one to try. All of us enjoyed the tender chicken cooked in the sweet dark sauce, perfumed by the aromatic Chinese wine.

Jia Bin Spicy Pork Belly 3.5/5

After all the sweetness, maybe you want to try the Jia Bin Spicy Pork Belly ($8.80) to spice up the meal a little. It uses pork belly slices cooked in a spicy sweet sauce instead. I thought the cut was a bit thin which did not feel quite satisfying and substantial compared to the chunky pork belly cuts used in the bak kut teh.

Choy Sim With Oyster Sauce 3.5/5

With all the meats, the Choy Sim With Oyster Sauce ($5) is a good choice to complement the meal for a balanced diet.

Pig's Hock 4.2/5

Not to be missed is the Pig's Hock ($10). I simply could not resist the seduction of the wobbly gelatin skin and tender meat in braising sauce. It definitely hits the soft spot of me for the dish, done right. This is one dish I will go back for.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh (嘉宾 巴生肉骨茶)
62 Rangoon Road
Singapore 218352
Tel: +65 69007708
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Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Fri: 10am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit B. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time 3 minutes. [Map]

Go-Ang Kaomunkai Pratunam @ NEX Shopping Mall - Bangkok Michelin Bib Gourmand Chicken Rice Opens In Singapore

Some said we learn cultural similarity and diversity through food and this sentiment headlined my experience with Thailand’s Go-Ang Kaomunkai Pratunam, which has recently opened its door at NEX Shopping Mall. Established in 1960 as a food stall specialising in Hainanese chicken rice in the Pratunam district of Bangkok and awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2018. This Thai Hainanese chicken rice may or may not make it to your top list but it will change your perception of how this iconic dish can be consumed.

Chicken Rice 3.5/5

Go Ang Chicken Rice comes with either Thigh ($5.50) or Breast ($4.50) meat. As expected, the thigh meat is naturally more tender than the breast meat, and the layer of plump skin was certainly not those to be chucked at one side. The grainy and firm rice worked well to bring out its pleasing texture. That said, the breast meat fared well too if you like firmer meat. The rice, however, didn't manage to captivate my taste buds. I feel it lacked a certain fragrance and aromatics, which make the chicken rice itself addictive.

But ultimately, what gives this Go Ang Chicken Rice its unique identity is the chilli sauce that comes with it. Based with fermented chilli, fermented soy beans, coarsely chopped ginger, this piquant sauce is a tapestry of Thais' flavours in another perspective.

Omelette 3.5/5

Like what they always say "same same but different", this goes the same for their Omelette. Its accompanying sauce again, has all the elements to whet your appetite. Chye Pok version ($6.50) is available as well.

Braised pork 3.5/5

In Bangkok, the locals not only love their chicken rice but also their braised pork and surprisingly soups too. The Bitter Melon & Pork Rib Soup ($6.50) wowed us with its tender pork ribs and the depth of flavour. As for the Signature Braised Pork ($8/$12), considered that lean meat is used, its fork tender meat was impressed. I like the braising sauce too, which was relatively much lighter compared to our version but packed with flavours. Love it with the omelette's dip sauce!

Steamed Sea Bass 4.5/5

Among all the dishes, I enjoyed the Steamed Sea Bass with Chilli, Lime & Garlic the most. I had this dish a couple of times but theirs by far is the most memorable. Judging by the what was left on the plate, it just showed how tasty this dish was. We were fighting for the last drop of the lemony and spicy gravy.

Basil Chicken with Kai Lan 3.8/5

To ensure the authenticity and quality of the cuisine, all kitchen staff were trained by Go-Ang founder Mr. Sombat Pruekpaiboon at the original restaurant in Bangkok. Hence, even simple dishes like Stir Fried Basil Chicken with Kai Lan seemed to exude a taste that was much elevated than what are available elsewhere.

Chendol 3.8/5

Red Ruby 3/5, Steamed Tapioca 3.5/5

For desserts, we tried Homemade Red Ruby with Coconut Ice Cream ($5.00) and Steamed Tapioca with Coconut Cream ($4.50). Homemade red ruby is a rare gem these days and these gems can also be found in their Thai Chendol ($5), which I highly recommend you to order it over your usual Thai Milk Tea. The strands of chendols were soft with a bite and so yummy to chew on when I seeped them with the milky concoction. Nothing was overly sweet, except for the red ruby but these are the gems that make them so delicious for the dessert. I like the steamed tapioca too, which was warm and comforting to end a meal.

Go-Ang Chicken Rice may not replace that sense of comfort and familiarity given by your favourite plate of chicken rice but it sure stirs up some excitement when you need it.

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.


Go-Ang Chicken Rice
Nex Shopping Mall
23 Serangoon Central
#B1-05/06
Singapore 556083
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Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours: 
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit B, E, G & H. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]