Tres Sombreros @ Upper East Coast Road - New Mexican Eatery On Upper East Coast Road Serving Vibrant Mexican Feast

Opened late last year along Upper East Coast Road, Tres Sombreros is a vibrant Mexican restaurant offering various Mexican dishes, from tacos and burritos to chimichangas and quesadillas, as well as Mexican coffee and cocktails. The restaurant is spacious, with colourful murals and decorations, perfect for a casual dinner or a festive celebration.

Sangria 4.2/5, Virgin Mojito 4/5

We started off the meal with their signature Margaritas, cocktails or mocktails. I had a huge glass of their signature Sangria ($18), which is available in a jug for sharing, and a Virgin Mojito ($8), a refreshing beverage for the flavour-intense mains later on.

Nachos 3.8/5

The Nachos ($18) come with crispy corn chips, topped with a myriad of ingredients such as cheese, black olives, black olives, Jalapeno, sour cream, tomatoes, guacamole, and salsa sauce. If you're with a group of friends, you may also upgrade to the Ultimate Nachos with a choice of lamb or beef, which is fit for 3 to 4 pax.

Grilled Fish 3.5/5, Spicy Chipotle Shrimp 4/5

For the tacos, we opted for the Grilled Fish ($10) and Spicy Chipotle Shrimp ($10). Our favourite is Spicy Chipotle, and I enjoyed the juicy shrimp wrapped in the warm flour tortilla. Other options include the Pollo Asado (chicken), Birria Quesa (beef) and Carnitas (pork).

Birria Sliders 3.8/5

The Birria Sliders ($16) are pulled beef sliders served with Birria consomme to dunk it in. The meat is very soft and tender, with the Birria consomme adding more beefy flavours to the sliders.

Quesadilla 4.2/5

The Quesadilla ($19) comes packed with melted cheese and spiced lamb meat in a soft tortilla skin. These little pockets of spice and cheesiness are easy to pick up and dip into the salsa sauce.

Chimichanga 4/5

The Chimichanga ($26) consists of a fried crispy flour tortilla stuffed with chicken, cheese, black beans, and jalapeños. It is then topped with sour cream and pico de gallo. It also comes with sides of homemade salsa verde and guacamole. The portion size is huge, suitable for sharing between 2 pax.

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.


Tres Sombreros
77 Upper East Coast Road
#01-02
Singapore 455218
Tel: +65 86463571
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Website
Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 10am - 2pm, 5pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Walk to Bedok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 84009). Take bus number 16. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Blu Kouzina @ Siglap - Greek-style Breakfast In An Idyllic Setting

Blu Kouzina at Dempsey has been known for its authentic Greek cuisine for the past decade. Its latest outlet at Siglap now even includes a breakfast menu, allowing customers to enjoy a full-fledged Greek dining experience any time of the day. It opens as early as 730am on the weekend!

It is such a great place to be before the day begins with its idyllic island-inspired setting. I was lucky to visit on a weekday morning, where I got to enjoy its serenity before it got disturbed by the buzz of chatter from the afternoon crowd.

Greek Breakfast 4.5/5

The biggest drawn of its Breakfast Menu is its Greek Selection. We had the Greek Breakfast ($22) that comes with a choice of coffee or tea, alongside a Spinach Pie ($9.50) and Lamb Sausage Roll ($11.50). The Greek Breakfast was wholesome with a slab of feta cheese, two perfectly done hardboiled eggs with a slight oozy yolk, tomatoes, fried bread, olives, a generous portion of yoghurt, a handful of walnuts and a serving of honey.

I amped up my Greek Breakfast with a few Add ons - Crispy Kale ($2), Roasted Potatoes ($3), and Spinach ($2). The Roasted Potatoes is not your usual kind but are marinated with lemon before roasting to give it a touch of tanginess.

Spinach Pie 4.2/5

Rarely you will get a good Spinach Pie loaded with spinach and feta cheese filling. The pie is incredibly yummy with a thin, buttery and flaky crust made with phyllo pastry.

Lamb Sausage Roll 3.8/5

The highly recommended Lamb Sausage Roll ($11.50) comes with homemade sausage. The lamb sausage was tender and juicy, and the rich tomato sauce complemented it excellently.

Homemade Granola 4/5

Every place has its recipe for homemade granola. You will probably crave its Homemade Granola ($8) if it is your kind of breakfast. The granola wasn't too sweet, and the generous portion of yoghurt and honey dolloped over the granola was pleasingly satiable.

Lemon Verbena Tea

Greek Coffee

The regular coffees are great but do try the specialities such as the Greek Coffee and a range of tea imported from Greece.

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.


Blu Kouzina Siglap
907 East Coast Road
#01-01
Singapore 459107
Tel: +65 91010681/ 91010682
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Website
Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed - Mon: 830am - 10pm
(Closed on Tue)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Bedok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 84009). Take bus number 16. Alight 6 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

SHAO @ Frankel Avenue - Discovery Of Some Unique Dishes Such Crispy Baby Pomfret, Sotong Sausage And More

After seeing some interesting food pictures on social media, I gathered my foodie friends to check out SHAO at Frankel Avenue on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. The restaurant is located at the very end of the row of shophouses along Frankel Avenue. Interestingly for a Chinese restaurant, there are only square tables. The 11 of us have to sit in 2 rows which is quite awkward for sharing Chinese communal dishes.

Crispy Baby Pomfret 3/5

An exciting dish on the menu is the Crispy Baby Pomfret ($16). Deep-fried until crispy, it can be eaten whole without the worry of fish bones. Of course, you can't expect a lot of meat from the tiny pomfret. This dish is simply executed to enjoy the crispiness.

Salted Egg Yolk Yam 4/5

The Salted Egg Yolk Yam ($12) is drenched in a delicious and addictive salted egg yolk sauce. The delightful bite has a slight crunch which I enjoyed, and I still can taste the yam flavour.

Sotong Sausage 4.5/5

Another unique dish that I don't get to see at Chinese restaurants is the Sotong Sausage ($22). Unlike the usual pork sausage, the sotong sausage has a more textural bite from its bouncy texture. It is almost like having a piece of fish cake.

Stir-Fried Luffa with Egg & Seafood 4/5

I am not sure you are a fan of luffa, but I like its softness that comes with a little crunch. The Stir-Fried Luffa with Egg & Seafood ($28) at Shao is well-executed absorbing the sweetness of the seafood. What I find it weird is the fried egg which seems out of place. I thought it would be more enjoyable if the egg is cooked with the stock into an eggy gravy.

Gai Choy with Roast Pork Belly Claypot 4.5/5

A dish that my dining friends have mix opinions is the Gai Choy with Roast Pork Belly Claypot ($38). Gai Choy is also known as Chinese mustard greens. It has a bitter taste or some called it mustardy that is not well received by many. However, I love this acquire taste which is a flavour I have grown up with. The pairing with roast pork belly further flavoured the mustardy greens.

Steamed Crab with Vermicelli 3.8/5

Another dish the dining group has mix opinions is the Steamed Crab with Vermicelli ($78). Due to the size of the crab used, there is very little crab meat. Hence some felt it is not worth the cost. Others thought that the sauce is too garlicky, overpowering the sweetness of the crustacean. I actually like the strong garlic flavour which gives the dish a beautiful aroma, with the vermicelli soaking up the richness.

Wok Fried Hor Fun 2.8/5

Among the dishes we tried, the Wok-Fried Hor Fun ($12) was probably the least favourite. It lacked the wok hei that gives life to the rice noodle.

Sliced Fish Claypot "Pao Fan" Porridge 3.8/5

Last but not least, we wrapped up our dinner with the Sliced Fish Claypot "Pao Fan" Porridge ($28/$48). The portion is good for 2-6 pax. The porridge consists of both fluffy and crispy rice bathing in a hot pipping, delicious chicken-based soup with fish slices. It is a comforting dish for a cold, raining day.


SHAO
117 Frankel Ave
Singapore 458232
Tel: +65 66109233
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Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 3pm, 5 - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 10am - 3pm, 5pm - 12midnight
Sun: 10am - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bedok MRT. Take Exit B or C. Walk to Bedok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 84009). Take bus number 32. Alight 8 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes later. [Map]

Tasty Court by Chef Pung (尝鲜阁) @ Opera Estate - Taste of Nanyang In The Vicinity Of Siglap

For my father's birthday celebration this year, we decided to go to Tasty Court by Chef Pung (尝鲜阁) in Siglap. The restaurant has been very crowded since it opens about a year back. During our visit, the place was so packed that there was hardly space to walk, with the chairs touching each other from the next table.

Braised Fish Maw with Chicken Stock Soup 3.5/5

It was drizzling outside and the Braised Fish Maw with Chicken Stock Soup ($28) was just perfect for the weather. The pot of soup is pale yellow in colour, briming with vegetables, mushrooms and fish maw. I am not sure whether you can really call this fish maw soup as I find the chicken stock and vegetable flavour come across stronger. Putting that aside, its actually a comforting and hearty pot of soup.

Trio Eggs Spinach 4.2/5

A common vegetable dish on most Chinese restaurants' menu is the Trio Eggs Spinach ($14). What stands out is the superior stock, sweetened by the clams which heightened the flavour.

Crispy Dong Tok Roasted Chicken 4.5/5

A must try dish at Tasty Court is the Crispy Dong Tok Roasted Chicken ($28). Served hanging, it is cooked to a delectable crispiness on the skin while the meat is tender. Lucky the kitchen will help to chop it up and I no need to get my hands dirty tearing it apart. 

Salted Egg Yolk Prawn 4.2/5

The Salted Egg Yolk Prawn ($22) is coated in a lush salted egg yolk sauce, with a bit of heat from the chilli and aroma from the curry leaves. The prawns were also huge and crunchy.

Steamed Giant Grouper Fish Tail 3.8/5

Last but not least we had the Steamed Giant Grouper Fish Tail ($40) done in Hong Kong style. The skin of the Long Dan fish has a layer of firmness underneath it. The fish itself is firm and slight tough.

Tasty Court is really packed during dinner time, so it is best to call and make a reservation before going down. If you are driving, parking is also quite challenging in the small private estate.


Tasty Court (尝鲜阁)
1 Figaro Street
Singapore 458322
Tel: +65 65383533
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri, Sun: 1130am - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm
Sat: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Bedok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 84009). Take bus number 40 or 401. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Elite Park Ave. Turn right onto Elite Park Ave and walk to Jalan Tua Kong. Turn left onto Jalan Tua Kong. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]