Annyeong Chicken @ Clementi West Street 2 - Korean Cuisine In Coffeeshop Cooked By Korean Chef

Near my hood, there is a Korean stall in a nondescript coffee shop by a Korean-Singapore couple. I am aware of Annyeong Chicken's opening since last year. Still, I procrastinated the visit as the stall has caught the media's attention and attracted long queues every day. The main person behind the cooking is Mr Hong, a Korean who has worked in several Korean restaurants. Unfortunately, the one-person show cannot handle the crowd. As a result, the stall reduced from the original 10 items on the menu to 5 to reduce the waiting time.

Spicy Seafood Noodles 3.5/5

The Spicy Seafood Noodles ($7) comes brimming with seafood such as prawns, mussels and clams in a fiery looking gochujang-based soup. Unfortunately, the soup base is a bit too light for my liking, lacking depth to justify the chewy Korean egg noodles.

Jajangmyeon 4.5/5

Compare to the Spicy Seafood Noodles, the Noodles in Black Bean Sauce ($7) fares much better. The bowl of noodles is loaded with sweet onions and minced meat. Each mouthful is slurping goodness. The addition of julienne cucumber gives it a refreshing and delightful texture bite.

Seafood Pancake 4.5/5

I usually do not order pancakes from Korean restaurants because they are huge. I probably only have a slice or two. Most versions are doughy, but the Seafood Pancake ($12) here is light and crispy. I applauded the chef for adding an egg to the pancake; the enhanced aroma felt like have our local carrot cake. Surprisingly, I finished the whole plate.

Overall, I have enjoyed the food at Annyeong Chicken. I would go back to try its Tornado Kimchi Fried Rice as it was sold out during my visit. I should also try its Korean Fried Chicken which seems quite popular among the diners. As it is a one-person show cooking behind the stall, diners have to be prepared to wait.


Annyeong Chicken
Rong Fa Coffeeshop
Blk 710 Clementi West Street 2
#01-247
Singapore 120710
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Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 11am - 4pm, 5pm - 8pm

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 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Clementi Bus Interchange. (Stop ID 17009). Take bus number 285. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Yakiniku Like @ The Clementi Mall - Authentic Japanese-style BBQ Experience As Cheap As $8.80 Per Set

With the opening of its first outlet at Paya Lebar Quarter back on 03 February 2020, Yakiniku Like has opened another two more outlets at Clementi Mall and Vivocity. Yakiniku Like is known for authentic Japanese-style BBQ experience with good quality meats at affordable pricing starting from $8.80 for a set.

A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Set

The premium A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Set ($32.80) consists of three delectable cuts - zabuton, chunk and brisket. In addition, you get a bowl of rice, seaweed soup, and kimchi or salad to complete the set. You can see the beautiful marbling on the beef from the photo, giving it an intense flavour and tenderness.

Pork & Chicken Set

The cheapest set among the 11 available on the menu is the Pork & Chicken Set ($8.80). Like all the other sets, it comes with rice, seaweed soup, and kimchi or salad. It is not the best cut, but the wallet-friendly price offers a satisfying meal.

Prime Karubi

If you feel the set meal itself is not enough, you can also order the different beef cuts separately as ala carte. Among the available cuts, my favourite is the Prime Karubi. I like its sweetness and tender texture.

Unfortunately, the restaurant is hit by the Phase 2 Heighten Alert, whereby no dine-in is allowed during this period. Worried that you can order online for both takeaway and delivery during this period at https://yakinikulike.oddle.me/en_SG/

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yakiniku Like
The Clementi Mall
3155 Commonwealth Avenue West
#05-35
Singapore 129588
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Happiness Healthy Fish Meat Soup @ West Coast Market Square - New Fish Soup Stall Worth Going Back Again And Again

Happiness Healthy Fish Meat Soup is a new stall at West Coast Market Square that opened earlier in the year. I enjoyed their fish soup and have packet a few times for lunch and dinner. I didn't eat at the stall until now as I fractured my foot, followed by phrase two heightened alert that does not allow dine-in.

Fried Fish Thick Beehoon Soup 4.5/5

The menu is quite extensive, with more than ten different options. I decided to have the Fried Fish Thick Beehoon Soup ($5). 

The bowl of piping hot fish soup comes with chunky fried fish. For five dollars, there are five pieces of it. The fried fish is seasoned with a hint of pepper. 

You will discover other ingredients in the soup such as egg floss, beancurd roll and bitter gourd. I applauded the addition of these ingredients, giving the fish soup a multifaceted enjoyment.

I even found clams in the soup. It is probably the reason behind the sweetness of the soup. I opted to add milk to it hence the milky colour. 


Happiness Healthy Fish Meat Soup
West Coast Market Square Food Centre
Blk 726 Clementi West Street 2
Stall 01-150
Singapore 120726
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 8pm

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]

Laifaba @ Prestige Centre - New Location, Expanded Menu With Even Tastier Wanton Mee

Laifaba first opened its door at Scarlet hotel and has made a name for itself in offering superb Wanton Mee. It has now relocated to Prestige Centre at Bukit Batok with an expanded menu that comprises rice and other roast meats.

Though located in an industrial area, the interior was made very charming, adorned with retro homewares, posters, a table fan and a radio that work!

Signature Char Siew Wanton Mee 4.5/5

When I first tried Laifaba last year, its Char Siew and Crispy Pork left a deep impression. I have a newfound liking for its Signature Char Siew Wanton Mee ($5.00 Small) this time round. Working closely with suppliers, both the wanton skin and noodle are made with improved recipes. One very noticeable difference is the reduction in alkaline, and I very much prefer this lighter and tastier version. Even the wanton seemed much juicer. I recommend topping up $2 to upgrade the regular char siew to its signature Bu Jian Tian Char Siew. Given the amount of fats in there, I felt the meat had been roasted with much precision to attain the beautiful caramelisation on the exterior and rendering just enough fats for flavours while keeping the meat portion tender.

Meat Platter 4/5

Adding two more roast meats into their menu, we had a platter of Soy Sauce Chicken, Roast Duck and Crispy Roasted Pork ($16 Small). The Soy Sauce Chicken was commendable. The meat was very tender, and the skin was flavourful without being too sweet. The pork was still as good as I remember how it was to be with its succulent meat and crackling skin. The Roast Duck paled a little in comparison but was decent. This portion is good for two people as rice or noodles are available as add-ons.

Shrimp Dumpling Soup (tasting portion) 4.5/5

I like the soup as well. The dry wanton mee does come with a small bowl of soup but try the Shrimp Dumpling Soup ($8) that comes with four large and juicy shrimp dumplings. The soup had a good depth of sweetness and umami flavour, which surpassed most that I had tried so far. I had a go at its Fried Shrimp Dumplings ($8) too, but they weren't as impressive. The skin turned quite soggy and greasy after a while.

Other elements that might draw you back to Laifaba are perhaps the various chilli concoction for the different dishes. There is a special orangey chilli sauce that is very fiery, a red sauce for a regular spicy dry noodle dish, and a refreshing and tangy chilli paste for the roast meats.

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.


Laifaba
Prestige Centre
71 Bukit Batok Crescent
#02-02
Singapore 658071
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon- Sun: 8am - 330pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17171). Take bus number 106. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Bukit Batok Crescent. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Birdfolks @ NEWest - American-inspired Fried Chicken With A Hint of Japanese Influence, Local Flavours And Casual Street Concept

Located within NEWest West Coast Drive, the inconspicuous cafe - Birdfolks serves up delicious American-inspired fried chicken with an Asian twist. You can now have your Nanyang kopi with fried chicken burgers or big breakfast platter. If you're craving for Japanese, they also offer mentaiko salmon bowl and tamago bowl.

Crispy Bun & Condensed Milk 3.8/5

To start the meal, we had their Crispy Bun & Condensed Milk ($4). While the brioche buns were soft and fluffy, they were barely toasted and lacked the crispiness that we had anticipated. However, we still enjoyed the pillowy soft brioche buns, with ample condensed milk to sweeten up the deal.

BF Eggs Benny 3.5/5

From the brunch menu, which is available only from 11am to 5pm, we had their BF Eggs Benny ($13), which features turkey ham, ikura and hollandaise sauce and eggs on soft brioche buns. We found that the eggs are cooked soft-boiled rather than poached, which is likely an interesting Asian twist to the classic egg bens. The combination of turkey ham and ikura also made the dish lean towards the salty side. We wished there were other elements to help balance the dish's flavours.

Classic Buttermilk Pancakes 4/5

When you're at Birdfolks, a must-try is their signature fried chicken. The Classic Buttermilk Pancakes ($11) features fluffy buttermilk pancakes with fried chicken, crushed pistachios, cranberries and served with maple and butter. The chicken pieces were well-marinated, prepared and fried upon order, making it even juicier and tender while being perfectly crispy and crunchy on the outside.

Potato Wonderland 4/5

The Potato Wonderland ($15) is an ultimate platter of oregano fries, sweet potato fries, curly fries, tater tots and croquette, paired with mayo. The perfect side to share with your friends, as the huge platter has a bit of everything fried, so there is simply no lack of choices. We recommend sharing it with at least 4 friends or more.

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.


Birdfolks
NEWest
1 West Coast Drive
#01-75
Singapore 128020
Tel: +65 69240876
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 9pm
Fri-Sun: 11am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17171). Take bus number 201 or 154. Alight 3 stops later. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

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]

Sheng Yi Fa Lor Mee @ Clementi Ave 3 (Clementi Central) - Great To Have My Favourite Lor Mee Back

The popular Lor Mee in Clementi is back again. After moving out from Blk 443 Clementi Ave 3, it was temporary re-located to West Coast Drive. Glad to inform you that Sheng Yi Fa Lor Mee is once again back at the same coffee shop at Blk 443 Clementi Ave 3.

The stall still maintains the same pricing of $4 and $5 for a bowl of Lor Mee. It comes with braised pork belly, deep fried dumpling, ngor hiang and fried fish nugget. I remembered back in West Coast Drive, they added crunchy flour bits but back at its root, it has decided to remove them. Customers still can help themselves to their preference of chilli, ginger and black vinegar.

Why I like Sheng Yi Fa's lor mee is because of its gravy. Unlike other stalls which is starchy and gooey, their version is more like a drinkable braising sauce, packet with depth and robustness.

I was lucky to be able to make some small talk with the stall uncle. Apparently the uncle is asked to come out of retirement (ya once again) by the coffeeshop owner. It is a collaboration between the coffeeshop owner and the uncle. He is imparting his skill to the coffeeshop staffs, hence you can see them preparing and cooking your bowl of lor mee. However uncle is still around for the time being to oversee the consistency.

Sheng Yi Fa Lor Mee
Blk 443 Clementi Ave 3
Singapore 120443
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

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

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards the end of block 443 facing Clementi Ave 3. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Mei Xi Kitchen @ Clementi Ave 3 - Selling Hakka Yong Tau Foo And Seafood Soups

I seldom dine at Bgain 442 Eating House at Clementi Ave 3 so I am not sure whether Mei Xi Kitchen is new or not. It is definitely new for me as I don't remember seeing it previously. At the front of the stall, it sells Hakka Yong Tau Foo but if you go to the side (inside the coffeeshop), it sells a variety of seafood soup (Crayfish Grouper, Batang, Dory Fish) while sharing the same place.

Batang Seafood Soup 3/5

I decided to order the Batang Seafood Soup which comes with slices of Batang fish, prawn, tomato,  mushroom and minced pork. I understand the soup base is from boiling old chicken and scallop. However it taste rather light, lacking depth and robustness.

While the soup was rather weak in terms of taste, the seafood was fresh and good. As for the minced pork, it is well marinated and flavourful. They have added dry sole fish to elevate the flavour. However, it has an unpleasant fibrous texture.

Overall I think the stall still has rooms for improvement. More effort is needed in the making the soup base to make it more flavourful. Currently it just taste like bowl of normal soup with ingredients thrown in.


Mei Xi Kitchen
Bgain 442 Eating House
Blk 442 Clementi Ave 3
#01-121
Singapore 120442
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]