Yaki Yaki Bo @ NEX – Revamped Grand Menu, Value-for-money Weekdays Set Lunches

Teppanyaki enthusiasts, rejoice! Yaki Yaki Bo has unveiled a revamped grand menu featuring teppan combos and affordable weekday set lunches starting from just $14.90.

Sliced Beef Set Lunch 4/5

We tried the Sliced Beef ($16.90) and Chicken Steak ($14.90) lunch sets, with a choice of either black pepper or garlic shoyu sauce for the meats. Each set is accompanied by moyashi (bean sprouts), Japanese steamed rice, miso soup, salad, and homemade pickles. For a small additional fee of $2, you can upgrade to tamago or garlic rice.

Chicken Steak Set Lunch 4/5

The Sliced Beef Set Lunch offers tender, juicy cuts of beef, perfectly cooked to your preferred doneness. The Chicken Steak Set Lunch is another solid choice, with tender, succulent pieces of chicken that are pan-seared to perfection. Other set lunch options include Sliced Pork and Shiromi Fish, both priced at $14.90, offering the same value and delicious combinations.

Mentaiko Takana Fried Rice 3.5/5

We ventured into the grand menu with the Mentaiko Takana Fried Rice ($5.90), a smoky fried rice dish infused with the prized umami of mentaiko and Japanese pickled mustard greens. While flavourful, the mentaiko taste was more subtle than we had hoped.

Gindara Tsutsumi Yaki 4.2/5

Highly recommended by the staff, the Gindara Tsutsumi Yaki ($19.90) features a generous portion of black cod simmered with mushrooms in a citrusy, flavourful broth. This dish was a standout, and we would definitely return for it.

Tenderloin Steak 4/5

One of the must-try new dishes is the Tenderloin Steak ($30.90). It boasts a tender and flavourful prime cut of meat, making it a perfect choice for beef lovers.

Camembert Cheese Lava Okonomiyaki 3.5/5

The Camembert Cheese Lava Okonomiyaki ($18.90) elevates this classic dish with melted camembert at its centre. Unfortunately, our experience didn't achieve the full "lava" effect, as the cheese wasn't as molten as expected.

However, the combination of flavours remained delightful. The pancake is packed with crunchy vegetables like cabbage, which gives it a satisfying bite, while the exterior is crispy and well-grilled. If the cheese melted more thoroughly, it could elevate the dish to another level of indulgence. Still, even without it, this unique take on okonomiyaki is a flavourful treat worth trying for cheese lovers.

Hanpen Cheese Yaki 4/5

To satisfy our cheese cravings, we tried the Hanpen Cheese Yaki ($8.90), a delightful Japanese fish cake filled with gooey, melty cheese and grilled to perfection with a crispy exterior.

The soft texture of the hanpen paired with its crispy exterior made this a perfect shareable dish.

For seating, you can opt for counter seats to watch the skilled teppanyaki chefs in action or choose a side table if you prefer a more relaxed dining experience. For those seeking variety, the Teppan Combos start at $23.90, featuring a choice of beef, chicken, or pork paired with seafood such as buttery Shiromi or fresh Ebi.

At both Nex and Jurong Point outlets, weekday set lunches are available from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm, excluding public holidays. Enjoy special Purchase-With-Purchase promotions until 30 November 2024 to celebrate the new menu. With any main dish, you can add on a glass of Hanzo Kaminoho Junmai Daiginjo (60ml) or a Crème Brûlée with Matcha Gelato for just $5.00.

Photos and words by Jaslyn. An avid cook who lives to eat and travel for food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yaki Yaki Bo
NEX
23 Serangoon Central
#B1-79
Singaore 556083
Tel: +65 6634 0015
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

YUN NANS (云海肴) @ NEX - 50% Off Selected Dishes From 24 May to 1 August 2024

YUN NANS, a familiar name among Singaporeans, has introduced an innovative concept with YUN NANS Home at three of their heartland outlets. This new venture showcases authentic home recipes from Yunnan, featuring affordable prices and a delightful array of new dishes. One of the standout features of YUN NANS Home is its inviting and cosy atmosphere, reminiscent of a warm family dining experience. It's an ideal setting for enjoying hearty meals with loved ones. We tried an array of new and best-selling signature dishes. Let's start with the new ones.

Garlic Vermicelli Shrimp Casserole 4.5/5

The Garlic Vermicelli Shrimp Casserole ($26.90) is an absolute delight! Bursting with the aroma of fragrant garlic, fresh shrimp, and perfectly cooked vermicelli. This dish evokes memories of the classic Thai Goong Ob Woosen with a distinct Chinese twist. What sets it apart is the innovative use of a casserole, which keeps the dish warm without risking burnt vermicelli at the bottom, a common issue with traditional claypot serving. Every strand of vermicelli is lovingly coated in a flavourful sauce that harmonises the essence of garlic throughout. It is a perfect balance of flavours and textures that is simply irresistible.

Surprise Crispy Rice Stir-Fry 4.5/5

Intrigued by the promise of a 'surprise,' we were eager to try the Surprise Crispy Rice Stir-Fry ($11.90) and were pleasantly surprised by its delightful blend of crunchy puffed rice and the added texture of tobiko. Each grain of rice is evenly coated in a savoury soy sauce, enhancing its crunchiness and flavour profile. The dish also boasts a beautiful wok-hei aroma that leaves a lingering desire for more bites.

Dried Scallop and Seafood with Loofah Gourd 3.8/5

We were told that this dish uses only young loofah gourd imported directly from Yunnan for its tender texture, paired with dried scallop, dried shrimps and clams. Dried Scallop and Seafood with Loofah Gourd ($15.90) is a comforting home-style dish that evokes memories of a dish prepared by one's mother at home. However, we found the flavour profile to be a touch too subtle for our palates. While the dish showcases fresh ingredients and a comforting texture, we wished for a more robust depth of flavours.

Sichuan Boiled Fish 3.8/5

Bringing Sichuan classics to the table is the Sichuan Boiled Fish ($34.90), which features tender fish slices, crunchy bean sprouts, and black fungus immersed in a numbingly spicy broth. Nestled beneath is vermicelli that absorbs the aromatic broth, adding an extra dimension to the dish's texture. While we appreciated the dish's nuanced flavours and textures, our rating reflects a preference among hardcore Sichuan flavour enthusiasts for a more robust, spicier profile. However, it's worth noting that one of our parties, who typically avoid spicy foods, found this dish surprisingly enjoyable and ranked it among their top three favourites from our tasting session.

Boneless Spicy Chicken with Sichuan Peppercorns 4/5

Another Sichuan favourite, the Boneless Spicy Chicken with Sichuan Peppercorns ($16.90), showcases bite-sized pieces of boneless chicken thigh deep-fried to a perfect crispness. The chicken is generously coated with fragrant dried chillies and Sichuan peppercorns, delivering a balanced blend of heat and numbing spice. This dish disappeared from our table quickly, leaving us digging for more pieces of chicken that might be hidden underneath the mountain of dried chilli.

Steam Pot Chicken Soup 4/5

One of YUN NANS' signature dishes is the Steam Pot Chicken Soup ($29.90), prepared in a traditional handmade Jianshui claypot. This exquisite dish is made without a single drop of water, preserving the pure essence of its ingredients to deliver a light yet flavourful chicken soup. The broth is remarkably clean and free from any greasiness. Crunchy bean sprouts with chilli, peppercorn and an appetising spicy sauce accompany this delightful soup. This clever addition allows diners to create a unique cold dish by mixing the tender chicken pieces from the soup, elevating the dining experience.

Poached Pork Collar with Pickled Chilli 4.2/5

Lastly, we savoured another signature dish, the Poached Pork Collar with Pickled Chilli ($21.90-S/$27.90-L), a dish that had us reaching for more rice than usual. The broth was exceptionally flavourful with a slight spiciness, and tender pork collar slices were swimming in it. Accompanying the dish were slivers of fried potato that retained their texture and didn't become mushy. The pickled mustard greens elevated the broth, reminiscent of the vibrant flavours of another Sichuan favourite - Suan Cai Yu. This hearty dish delighted our taste buds and warmed our hearts.

As part of this new concept, Yunnan has released 20 new home recipes, and selected dishes will be 50% off from 24 May to 1 August 2024. YUN NANS Home is available at its heartland outlets, Nex, Northpoint City, and Westgate.

Other new dishes include the Pork Belly with String Beans Shoots, Home-style Minced Pork with Eggplant Casserole, Spare Ribs Braised with Bitter Melon in Fermented Black Bean Sauce, Shanghai Stir-fried Rice Cake, Mom's Braised Pig's Feet and more.

Photos and words by Jaslyn. An avid cook who lives to eat and travel for food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


YUN NANS (云海肴)
NEX
23 Serangoon Central
Bl-15
Singapore 556083
Tel: +65 69707883
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Website
Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 11am - 10pm

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

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.


[CLOSED]
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
Facebook
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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]