One Kueh At A Time @ Pandan Loop - Reopens With An Expanded Menu With Unique Bak Kwa & Haebi Hiam Soon Kueh

I had heard of One Kueh At A Time when it first started in Berseh Food Centre. I wanted to check out their handmade soon kueh back then but didn't find the time to do. Out of the blue, it closed its stall, and I was left regretting. After two years of closing its stall, the good news is that it is back in operations and it even relocated to Pandan Loop so much nearer to my home.

Their new place is hidden inside the Pandan Loop industrial estate. If it is your first time visiting the place, you probably would be doubting yourself whether you are at the right place, surrounded by industrial buildings. Once you walked passed the glass door, it opens to a totally new world.

Since moving to the new location, One Kueh At A Time has expanded its variety of Soon Kueh. During my visit, there are eight different varieties on the menu. They have Classic ($1.60), Ku Chai ($2), Carrot ($1.60), Beetroot ($1.80), Sah Nia's Haebi Hiam ($2.50), Bak Kwa ($2.50), Cabbage ($1.80) and Smoked Chicken ($3).

We ordered the Classic, Smoked Chicken, Haebi Hiam and Ku Chai to try. Different from the other soon kueh is the thin translucent skin with a delightfully chewy texture. As for the fillings, they are substantial and stir-fried to fragrant. The haebi hiam and smoked chicken soon kueh are really unique. I didn't expect them to complement the shredded jicama so well. It gives the traditional snack a new interpretation.

One Kueh At A Time has probably found the right formula to introduce something new but not divert from the traditional soon kueh. With both classic and contemporary creations, the traditional snack now caters for both the old and young generations.


One Kueh At A Time
230 Pandan Loop
#01-K1
Singapore 128415
Tel: +65 97956119
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 10am - 6pm
Sun: 10am - 4pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Clementi Bus Interchange (Stop ID 17009). Take bus number 285. Alight 8 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes.[Map]

Joo Chiat Prawn Mee @ Ayer Rajah Food Centre - Popular Prawn Mee Stall Makes A Comeback In The West

Thanks to Ruifang of 545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles posting on facebook, I got to know that the popular Joo Chiat Prawn Mee has reopened near my home at Ayer Rajah Food Centre. Mdm Lee Xiu Chun together with her son-in-law runs the new stall now.

Apparently, Mdm Lee's father who is from Xiamen, made a living selling prawn noodles when he came to Singapore. He even taught Ruifang's late grandfather who started 545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles. Not only that, they are also relatives of the popular prawn mee stalls at Beach Road, Jalan Sultan and Blanco Court. With the family ties, that could probably mean Mdm Lee's father is like the grandmaster of all these popular prawn mee stalls in Singapore.

Pork Rib Prawn Mee Soup 4.5/5

We ordered both the dry and soup version to try, with a mix of yellow noodles and bee hoon.
The Pork Rib Prawn Mee Soup ($5) comes with 3 mid-size prawns that have been de-shelled. I took a sip of the soup and was wow by the depth of the rich crustacean flavour. I would recommend adding the chilli powder to change the profile for even better enjoyment.

Pork Rib Prawn Mee Dry 4.2/5

While I enjoyed the soup version, my friend felt that the Pork Rib Prawn Mee Dry ($5) fares better with the chilli sauce. Indeed the chilli sauce complements the noodles excellently, giving it a nice spicy kick. While it is good, I still think the spirit in a good bowl of prawn mee has to be the soup, hence my vote still goes to the soup version.

Is there rooms for improvement? The stall has opened less than a month and I suspect there may be still some minor issue to sort out. I think the prawn used can be of better quality but that is subject to the cost. The pork ribs can also be more tender. Nevertheless, that unami prawn stock will get you going back again and again.

I am glad that Mdm Lee has decided to come out of retirement and even set up a stall near my place.
With its rich heritage as well as the delicious bowl of prawn mee, I am proud to announce that we in the West also has good Prawn Mee!


Joo Chiat Prawn Mee
Ayer Rajah Food Centre
Blk 503 West Coast Drive
#01-35
Singapore 120503
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun: 730am - 3pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17171). Take bus number 78. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Clementi Bus Interchange. (Stop ID 17009). Take bus number 285. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

La Pizzeria @ Republic of Singapore Yacht Club (RSYC) - Catching The Sunset Over Classic Wood Fried Pizza and Pasta

Tucked away in the western coast of Singapore, La Pizzeria at the Bridge & Beacon Bar is a newly opened Italian restaurant set within the premises of Republic of Singapore Yacht Club. With the guidance of Italian Chef Francesco Romano who runs a cheese factory in Italy and currently the corporate Chef of Thunder Road Group in Dubai, the team dish out the classics - namely wood fired pizzas and pastas, coupled with sides and desserts. Speaking of which, we were told that the menu is put together with recipes passed down from the Italian's grandmother!

Fried Seafood Platter 3.5/5

We started our lunch with Fried Seafood Platter ($29). I really like how thin and crisp the batter was, while the squid and Tiger Prawns remained succulent within the thin coat. I would usually avoid fried food but I had quite a portion of this as I could hardly taste much grease in the batter.

Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli 4.2/5

For Pastas, we chose the highly recommended Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli ($25) and indeed, it is one of the most memorable ravioli I ever had. Covered with a bread over the huge bowl, the pasta was served piping hot onto our table. With anticipation, we watched as the bread cover was being sliced open, revealing the treasure hidden. Mouthwatering aroma from the truffle mushroom cream sauce set out in waves, exciting our appetite. The pasta was thin with a texture spot on. Each golden pouch was aptly filled with spinach and ricotta, and every bite there was always a right amount of everything - pasta, filling, mushroom, sauce.

Primavera 3/5

The Pizza we had was Primavera ($22). The combination of the ingredients was tasty - melted mozzarella topped with large slices of prosciutto, a heap of rocket lettuce and shaved parmesan cheese. I like how the sharp rocket leaves cuts the richness of the cheese and meat. What fell short of our expectation was the crust, as we felt that the dough was slightly under baked.

Tiramisu 3/5

Summing up of meal was a beautiful piece of Tiramisu ($9). The sweetness was just right, if only there could be some liqueur added in. That would be perfect.

With such great view, atmosphere and spaciousness, I really enjoyed my lunch over here at La Pizzeria at the Bridge & Beacon Bar. If you are here for the dinner, try to be here slightly earlier to catch the sunset!

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.


Republic of Singapore Yacht Club (RSYC) 
Level 2
52 West Coast Ferry Road
Singapore 126887
Tel: +65 67689443
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line), Haw Par Villa (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Thu & Sun: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 10pm
Fri-Sat, Eve of PH & PH: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to taxi stand. Take RSYC Shuttle bus. Shuttle bus schedule. [Map]

2) Alight at Haw Par Villa MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite station. Take RSYC Shuttle bus. Shuttle bus schedule. [Map]

San Yuan Vegetarian @ West Coast Market Square - My Favourite Vegetarian Beehoon Near Home

A very popular vegetarian stall near my home is San Yuan Vegetarian at West Coast Market Square Food Centre. A long queue is always spotted at the stall whenever I visit the food centre in the weekend for breakfast.

Vegetarian Beehoon 4.2/5

The stall sells a variety of items such as vegetarian Kway Chap, Nasi Lemak, Laksa and Lor Mee. However my favourite item at the stall is their Vegetarian Beehoon ($3). If you order the standard vegetarian beehoon, it comes with some stir fried french beans, fried beancurd and vegetarian char siew. For my recent visit, I decided to add a tofu for an extra $2.

Whenever you order the vegetarian beehoon, the staff will ask whether you want to have the sauce drenched over the noodles. I prefer to have the sauce so that the noodle is not dry. However my wife finds the sauce too gooey and she doesn't like it.

Some of my friends commented that three dollars for a plate of vegetarian beehoon at San Yuan Vegetarian is rather expensive. I have not done a survey to compare the prices with other vegetarian stalls. What do you think? Is it expensive?


San Yuan Vegetarian
West Coast Market Square
Blk 726 Clementi West Street 2
#01-149
Singapore 120726
Tel: +65 67759083
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Thu-Tue: 7am - 2pm
(Closed on Wed)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station. (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 201. Alight 2 stops later. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Thonglor Thai Cuisine & Seafood @ West Coast Plaza - Lacklustre Thai Food Which I Would Give A Miss

The restaurants at West Coast Plaza has been changing so often that I kind of lost tracked who was the previous occupant that the current Thonglor Thai Cuisine & Seafood occupies. If I am not wrong, this is their second outlet after the their flagship restaurant at Ang Mo Kio. Since its new in the neighbourhood, I decided to drop by for dinner.

Thai Stir Fried Kang Kong 3.5/5

The Thai Stir Fried Kang Kong ($6.90) was pretty well executed with the right note of spiciness, lifted by the fragrant dried shrimp in the sambal. The greens also retains a delectable crunchy texture.

Tom Yum Seafood Soup 2.8/5

For the price of the Tom Yum Seafood Soup ($8,90). the portion is pretty generous with a variety of seafoods. The size of the prawns are quite big too. Where that is the up side, the soup is lacklustre. It lacked depth and the characteristic flavours of an authentic tom yum soup.

Steamed Seabass with Lemon Sauce 2.8/5

The Steamed Seabass with Lemon Sauce ($19.90) is a favourite dish that I always order when I dine at Thai restaurant. While the seabass was fresh and sweet, I was let down by the lemon sauce. I can only taste the lemon flavour. It is missing the spiciness and sweetness in it that makes me fall in love with this dish.

Sad to say I am not impressed with the food at Thonglor Thai Cuisine. With competition in the vicinity such as Nakhon Kitchen and Na Na Original Thai Food, I would rather give Thonglor a miss. If the jinx at West Coast Plaza continues, I suspect I would see another new tenant soon.


Thonglor Thai Cuisine & Seafood
West Coast Plaza
154 West Coast Road
#02-25
Singapore 127371
Tel: +65 62522552
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clementi MRT (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station. (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 201. Alight 2 stops later. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Tanjong Rhu Wanton Noodle @ West Coast Plaza - A New Wanton Mee Stall At West Coast Plaza

Level 2 of West Coast Plaza has undergone some renovation. Gone is Country Manna and replacing it is Food Scholar Food Court with a number of new stalls. One of them is Tanjong Rhu Wanton Noodle. Even though new, it already attracts a long queue for its wanton noodle.

Wanton Mee 3.8/5

I am not sure but I suspect this is a franchise stall as I have seen a number of Tanjong Rhu Wanton Noodle around the island, in fact there is already another one just across the road of West Coast Plaza, located inside the coffeeshop at block 722 Clementi West Street 2.

The highlight for the bowl of Wanton Noodle ($4.50) is actually the thin and springy noodles. It has a slight, almost untraceable alkaline taste, masked by the garlicky chilli. The chilli needs more character to complement the springy noodle. The char siew is decent but not great. I also feel that they are a bit too stingy with the char siew. Last the wanton itself. It is meaty and wrapped in a thin translucent sheet, however the stuffing is under seasoned.

Dumpling Soup 4/5

To go along with the Wanton Noodle, I also ordered a bowl of Dumpling Soup ($5). Compared to the wanton, the dumpling really stands out more. The well seasoning of minced pork, shrimp and black fungus is packed with flavours and textures.

If I am not wrong, the original stall should be in Jalan Batu. I have not tried it so I can't compare the different. Based on my visit, I find the noodle has a good texture to it. I prefer the dumpling more than the wanton, so I probably order the dumpling noodle instead of the wanton noodle in my next visit.


Tanjong Rhu Wanton Noodle
West Coast Plaza
Food Scholar Food Court
Level 2
154 West Coast Road
Singapore 127371
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: TBC

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station. (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 201. Alight 2 stops later. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Yon Yan (永焱) Fried Chicken Wings @ West Coast Market Square - The Fried Chicken Wing Stall That PM Lee Queued For 30 Minutes Is Back

Do you still remember the fried chicken wing stall at Redhill hawker centre which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long has queued for 30 minutes for it? If you have been back to the stall at Redhill hawker centre, you will probably noticed that the uncle selling the chicken wings is no longer there, and it has changed hand. Apparently the uncle is forced to quit due to illness, and after half a year of treatment and resting, it has decided to make a come back at West Coast Market Square, naming his new stall Yon Yan (永焱) .

Fried Chicken Wing 4.2/5

The Fried Chicken Wing ($1.40 each) here is definitely the hot seller and the stall uncle only fried a small batch one at a time. While that increases the queue time, it ensures that the chicken wings are hot and fresh. The batter that coats the chicken wings are flavourful and crispy too. While the chicken wing was juicy, i thought it didn't quite absorb the marination. The meat tasted a little bland compared to the skin.

Bee Hoon 3/5

A plate of Bee Hoon at Yon Yan is priced at only 60 cents. This has not change for more than 10 years. Taste wise, I find it rather bland and texture was a bit too soft and wet for my liking.

Besides the fried chicken wing and bee hoon, the stall also sells other items such as Luncheon Meat, Fish Cake, Ngoh Hiang and Taiwan Sausage to along with the plate of bee hoon.

The stall facing the main road constantly has a queue, at the moment the waiting time probably is about 10 to 20 minutes. As words get around, I suspect the waiting time will be even longer.


Yon Yan (永焱) Fried Chicken Wings 
West Coast Market Square
Blk 726 Clementi West Street 2
#01-191
Singapore 120726
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 11am - 2pm, 5pm - 830pm
(Closed on Sun & Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station. (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 201. Alight 2 stops later. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Hup Heng Noodle House @ West Coast Market Square - If Only It Tastes As Good As Kok Kee

Having stay in the neighbourhood for 3 years, there are still many stalls at West Coast Market Square which I have not tried. One of them is Hup Heng Noodle House popular for their wanton mee. I decided to give it a try during my recent visit to the food centre.

Wanton Mee 3/5

The appearance of the Wanton Mee ($3) reminds me of the now defunct Kok Kee at Lavender. The wanton mee style is the more saucy type. For a three dollar portion, the char siew is rather generous. However it is a bit dry and too lean.

The noodle is actually quite springy with a good bite to it. However I think the auntie which blanched the noodle did not quite rinsed off the blanching water from the noodle, causing the sauce to be diluted with a tad of alkaline taste.  The chilli sauce was also mediocre.

Last but not least, the wanton to complete the dish. The wanton is actually quite plump. However the skin was a bit thick and the stuffing needs more marination to give it a lift in flavour.

Overall the wanton mee is decent but not the best I have eaten. If you do not like those saucy type of wanton mee, then you may want to give it a miss. Besides the wanton mee, the stall also sees chicken feet noodle, dumpling noodle, dumpling soup and popiah.


Hup Heng Noodle House
West Coast Market Square
Blk 726 Clementi West Street 2
#01-182
Singapore 120726
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station. (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 201. Alight 2 stops later. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Sheng Yi Fa Lor Mee (生益发卤面) @ West Coast Drive - The Popular Clementi Lor Mee Stall Is Back

For those who stay in the West, you probably will know about Sheng Yi Fa Lor Mee (生益发卤面) at Blk 443 Clementi Ave 3 (Clementi Central). There is always a snaking queue at the stall and they are sold out slightly after noon. It is with great joy to announce that the Lor Mee Uncle and Aunty has come out of retirement after almost a year and re-opened the stall at Blk 501 West Coast Drive. They are at the same coffeeshop where Ah Hoe Mee Pok is located.

Lor Mee 4.8/5

I have a brief chat with the stall uncle when he was taking a break. He told me that his son wanted to learn the recipe and skill and pursued him to come out of retirement. His son also rooted in a partner who helps out at the stall when I visited the stall. Uncle told me that his son still holds a day job. He will come in the early morning to help out in the prep work and cooking, leaving in the late morning for his day job.

A basic bowl of Lor Mee starts from $4 which comes with braised pork belly, deep fried dumpling, ngor hiang and fried fish nugget. I have the $5 bowl which comes with extra ingredients. The lor mee here does not come with fishcake or braised egg. You have to pay an additional $0.70 for a braised egg. I noticed a different in the bowl of lor mee now. Uncle has added the bowl of noodle with crunchy flour bits for that extra texture. Customers can help themselves to their liking of chilli, ginger and black vinegar.

Most lor mee gravy is brown in colour, gooey and at times even lumpy. However at Sheng Yi Fa Lor Mee, the gravy is actually dark coloured, almost black. It looks similar to those beef noodle gravy. The gravy is smooth and comes with a lot of depth. Another different compared to elsewhere is the used of braised pork belly which is beautiful cooked to a nice tender.

I am really glad that uncle has come out from retirement. Every slurp of the delicious noodle brought back that fond memories of the familiar taste which I have missed so much. I really hope his son and partner are able to pick up the skill and continue his legacy.


Sheng Yi Fa Lor Mee
Blk 501 West Coast Drive
Singapore 120501
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Tue: 7am - 2pm
Thu-Sun: 7am - 2pm
(Closed on Wed)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17171). Take bus number 78. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Clementi Bus Interchange. (Stop ID 17009). Take bus number 285. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]