Zai Shun Curry Fish Head @ Jurong East Street 24 - Michelin Bib Gourmand Awardee 2017

The second edition of Michelin Guide 2017, Bib Gourmand winners have been announced on 22 June 2017. Among the 38 eateries that has been listed in the 2017 Michelin Bib Gourmand is Zai Shun Curry Fish Head at Yuhua Village, Jurong East Street 24. Great to know that the Michelin inspectors have ventured into the far West of Singapore to seek out good food.

Curry Fish Head 3.5/5

Before the award, Zai Shun Curry Fish Head is already well known to the locals for their steamed fish and medley of cooked dishes to go with a bowl of pipping hot porridge or steamed rice. Try to avoid the lunch crowd as the coffeeshop is always packed and it may take sometime to find a seat.

Curry Fish Head 3.5/5

Making my trip down to the newly awarded bib gourmand awardee, I just have to order their Curry Fish Head. The curry gravy is the tangy assam type which is indeed very appetizing and goes well with the rice. The fish head we had was huge, meaty and fresh. Unfortunately the fish meat failed to absorb the essence of the curry. I suspect they just steamed the fish head and drenched the curry gravy over instead of cooking the whole fish head together with the curry.

Steamed Red Garoupa Hong Kong Style 4.5/5

I can't help noticing almost every table at the coffeeshop orders their different styles and types of steamed fish. It is a tell tale signs that they are more popular with the steamed fish. Hence we placed an extra order of fish and had their Steamed Red Garoupa Hong Kong Style. Great that we ordered it because this is indeed cooked to perfection in a flavourful soya sauce. During my visit, I noticed other fishes such as promfret, song fish head etc.

Actually Zai Shun is also know to offer some exotic fish on their menu such as the expensive Empura which can cost up to a few thousand dollars in restaurant but at Zai Shun, you can have it from $200 onwards.

Bitter Gourd with Fried Egg 4.5/5

We asked the stall to recommend a vegetable dish and they suggested the Bitter Gourd with Fried Egg. It was a hearty dish that surprised me. The bitter gourd was not overcooked, crunchy and not bitter at all. The highlight is the fried egg which still retained a fluffy and moist texture.

Minced Meat with Salted Egg 3/5

Lastly we had the Minced Meat with Salted Egg. It was firm and meaty but I thought the taste can be more robust and the salted egg flavour was lacking.

Actually I find Zai Shun Curry Fish Head rather interesting. It is like a 3-in-1 eatery offering Teochew porridge, mix vegetable rice (cai fan) and cze char dishes. The highlight for me at Zai Shun is not their curry fish head but their steamed fish.


Zai Shun Curry Fish Head
Blk 253 Jurong East Street 24
#01-205
Singapore 600253
Tel: +65 65608594
Nearest MRT: Chinese Garden (EW Line), Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Thu-Tue: 7am - 3pm
(Closed on Wed)

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinese Garden. Take Exit C. Walk to traffic junction of Boon Lay Way and Jurong Town Hall Road. Cross the traffic junction and turn left onto Jurong Town Hall Road. Continue on Jurong Town Hall Road to the next junction of Jurong East Ave 1 and Jurong Town Hall Road. Cross the traffic junction and walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East bus interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 160 or 506. Alight 7 stops later. Cross the overhead bridge and walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East bus interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 66. Alight 7 stops later. Cross the overhead bridge and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

KEK Seafood @ Pandan Gardens - Innovative Oriental Burgers That Is Better Than McDonald's Burgers

Recently I was back at KEK Seafood Pandan Gardens with my mother-in-law. This is her first time visiting the place so I ordered a few classic dishes as well as new creations by Chef Wayne for his new outlet.

Moonlight Horfun 4.2/5

The Moonlight Horfun ($6/$10) is a dish that I never failed to order at Keng Eng Kee (KEK). The dish get its name for the egg yolk symbolizing the moon. The richness of the dark sauce infused with the wok hei aroma, coated with the egg yolk for a smooth and silky finish.

Thai Style Tofu 4/5

This is my first time ordering the Thai Style Tofu ($8/$12) and we all enjoyed it. Especially the crispy exterior and silky smooth interior. For the extra texture enjoyment, it is topped with cucumber and crispy baked cod fish strips.

Lotus Heaven Macadamia 4/5

For something light and crunchy, you can try the Lotus Heaven Macadamia ($10/$20). The used of cashew and macadamia nuts provided the extra crunch on top of the greens, mushroom and lotus roots.

Coffee Pork Ribs 4.5/5

Not to be missed at KEK Seafood is the Coffee Pork Ribs ($12/$18) which is both tender and juicy. An excellent dish bursting with rich flavours with the chemistry of the caramelized sweetness and coffee aroma coming together. I have ordered the dish regularly and the consistency is always there.

Salted Egg Yolk Crab Spaghetti 4.2/5

A one pot dish that is worth having is the Salted Egg Yolk Crab Spaghetti ($12). Unlike many other places that just tossed the spaghetti with the sauce, the spaghetti is given a toss in the wok infusing the wok hei aroma and coating it evenly with the salted egg yolk sauce.

Pai Gu Wong Burger 4.5/5

One of the latest creation at KEK Seafood is their Oriental Burger, giving the western fare an Asian twist. A total of seven different burgers are created incorporating Asian techniques into the burger. I had the Pai Gu Wong Burger ($9) which comes with a huge piece of tender and juicy pork in a sweet sauce, sandwiched between 2 toasted buns. It turned out surprisingly good. Other burgers available on the menu are Salted Egg Chicken Burger, Marmite Chicken Burger, Coffee Pork Burger, Salted Egg Pork Burger, Sambal Beef Burger, Salted Egg Sotong Burger. For a mere $9, it comes with pickles and a drink.


Keng Eng Kee Seafood
200 Pandan Gardens
#01-12
Singapore 609336
Tel: +65 66943044
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East Bus Interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 51. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

Chicken Up @ Jurong East - Voted The Best Korean Fried Chicken

I actually did not know that Chicken Up has been around since 2010. What surprises me more is that there is a Chicken Up outlet at Jurong East MRT station itself. It is actually located on the ground floor of the station.

Watermelon Soju 4.5/5

Something that I have always wanted to try at Chicken Up after seeing numerous photo of it on social media platforms is their Watermelon Soju. The cocktail blend of soju and watermelon juice makes it a very easy and happy drink to enjoy with friends and families.

Ganjang (Soya) Chicken Wings 4.5/5

One of Chicken Up's bestseller is their Ganjang Chicken Wings ($12). It was even declared as the best korean fried chicken conducted in a blind taste with 8 different brands. This is my first time having it and I can understand why. The freshly deep fried chicken wings which are dipped in Chicken Up's special soya sauce blend, is very crispy on the outside, tender and juicy inside.

Bulgogi Fries 3.5/5

I was told that the Bulgogi Fries ($18) is very popular with the diners. The shoestring fries is topped with thin slices of beef marinated in soy sauce and drizzled over with white garlic sauce and garnished with springs of coriander.

UFO Toppoki 4.2/5

New on the menu is the UFO Toppoki ($35.10) which comprises of rice cake, fish cake and deep fried breaded squid in a spicy chilli paste sauce (gochujang). I have tried many gochujang before but this version is really spicy, it sets my tongue burning. The dish got its name because it is served in an UFO pan. On the side includes other stuff such as caramelized kimchi, cheese, corn cheese, kimchi fried rice, steamed egg and some grinded padano cheese as garnish.

For those that has a big appetite, Chicken Up has a All Day Ala Carte Buffet for both lunch and dinner. It comes with unlimited serving of mega half chicken (spicy, crispy, yangnyum, spicy yangnyum, ganjang), wings/popcorn (ganjang, yangnyum, spicy yangnyum) and side dishes such as fries (kimchi, bulgogi, truffle), topoki, jabchae and fried dumpling.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Chicken Up
Jurong East MRT Station
10 Jurong East Street 12
#01-01
Singaopore 609690
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 10pm
Fri-Sun: 11am - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Take the escalator to level 1. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Shake Mee @ JEM - Diet Noodle Bowl Which Needs A Good Shake

Face to Face Noodle House which brought the popular Sarawak noodles to Singapore has opened a new noodle concept at JEM. The new stall is called Shake Mee, located at Cookhoue@JEM on the top floor of JEM.

Shake Mee offers a variety of small noodle bowls at $3.90 each. The noodles comes in a Japanese cover with a plastic lid cover. Before eating, customers are supposed to give the bowl a good shake to toss the noodle with the sauce.

Mala Pan Mee 4/5

The Mala Pan Mee ($3.90) comes with shredded pork, pickled tuber mustard, peanut, roasted seaweed and sesame. If you can take spicy, the mala is really tongue numbing and fragrant. In local term, this is damn shiok.

Creation Pork Pan Mee 3/5

I suspect the Creation Pork Pan Mee ($3.90) is influenced from the Taiwanese braised pork rice. Instead of rice it is substituted with noodle, braised pork, braised egg, kai lan and cracker. It is a delightful bowl but I did not find the wow factor, exciting me.

House Specialty Pan Mee 4/5

The House Specialty Pan Mee ($3.90) comes in both spicy and non spicy version. We have the spicy version which has a good kick to it. The bowl comes with other ingredients such as anchovies, kai lan, minced meat and onsen egg. Its like having a dry ban mian with the different components coming together for a delectable finish.

Kolo Mee 4.2/5

Among the different noodle bowls I tried, my favourite is the Kolo Mee ($3.90). The kolo mee comes with 4 choices of sauce. You can have the white (traditional), black (dark soy sauce), mix (dark soy sauce + chilli sauce) or red (chilli sauce). We tried the one with the dark soy sauce which comes with fried wanton, kai lan, minced meat and char siew. While the char siew was on the dry side, the dark sauce married with the springy noodle excellently. If it can improve on the char siew, this would be perfect.

Sea-Yo-Later 2.8/5 and K-Pops 3/5

Besides the different variety of noodle bowls, Shake Mee also offers chicken pops on their menu. There are the K-Pops ($3) which is korean spicy sauce with sesame and Sea-Yo-Later ($3) which is mayo with seasweed and sesame. I personally prefer the K-pops over the later. I thought the spicy sauce was not spicy at all and the sauce was somewhat acquire.

Overall I enjoy the quality of the freshly made noodles and sauce. While the concept is diet bowl or small bowl, it can be quite competitive in a food court where you can find bigger quantity food with the same price. I like the concept but the location maybe challenging for the it to kick off.


Shake Mee
JEM
Cookhouse@JEM
50 Jurong Gateway Road
#05-01
Singapore 608549
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

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

Pocoloco @ Snow City - Heartland Italian Restaurant With Microbrewery

Being a westerner in my entire life, I have only visited the Snow City at Jurong East once. Pocoloco, located at Level 2 of Snow City, gave me the reason to visit this place again. Already has a branch at Ang Mo Kio, what's different about this branch is that it comes along with a microbrewery! Yes, right in our heartland Jurong.

Pocoloco is conceptualised as a casual and affordable Italian restaurant. Do not associate it with any of your pasta/pizza joints. What they serve to your table are genuine recipes crafted from chefs' culinary experiences in the Italian dining scene. They do not do course by course service but instead sharing. Hence, in no time, our table was filled with all the food that we had ordered, from appetisers, to pasta to mains, except our dessert. Such no frill local way of service also helps to lower the cost, which enable them to charge just heartland prices.

Funghi 3.5/5

Capesante 3.5/5

Our evening had a good start with their well sautéed Mushroom ($6) and Baked Scallops ($12). The sliced mushroom is way better than any fries if you would like something to go along with beer. Just hints of herbs and garlic, its meaty texture and inherent savouriness make it even more delectable. Shielded under a robust layer of capsicum puree with flavoured butter, the baked scallops were flavoursome, juicy with a firm bite.

Burrata 3.5/5

Burrata is a quintessential dish in Italian restaurant. I'm surprise to see it on their menu. At $16, by far perhaps the most affordable which I have seen. Served with rocket salad, tomato & parma ham, albeit a classic combination, their homemade dressing makes the difference. Tangy and refreshing, it hits the right note. Although the cheese was not as fluffy and pillowy as I would like it to be, the dressing makes up for it.

Since it is a microbrewery, you must try their locally brewed beers. They have a nice alfresco area for you to chill with your favourite pick. An interesting choice would be their Verde, which is brewed using seaweed barley malt. ($7 a glass)

Zuppa di Pesce 3/5

We were expecting more from their Tomato Seafood Soup ($6) after 3 good appetisers. No doubt the seafood was fresh but it lacks that bit of tang which might help to lift the flavour.

Caesar 3/5

Their Caesar ($7) was ok but what's notable is their homemade Caesar dressing freshly made with anchovies. It is not at all creamy and oily like the commercial type.

The menu offers quite a selection of pasta, priced between $9 to $12, as well as risotto that cost a couple of dollars more. Mains are dishes of chicken and beef, together with a Catch of the Day, priced between $15 to $20. We decided to try their Chef Specials, enticed by their handmade tagliatelle and the fact that I'm not so into chicken or beef towards the end of the day.

Lobster with Handmade Tagliatelle Black & Green Pasta 3/5

The so called pasta special of the restaurant is the Lobster served with Handmade Tagliatelle Black & Green Pasta ($22). Instead of flavouring their pasta with spinach, their was done with Nori. The pasta was slightly thicker than usual but was light and al dente, which impressed me. However, I couldn't really detect the seaweed taste. The lobster might be a little overcooked as I was struggling to remove the meat from its shell which is a tad disappointing. Perhaps best to stick to their regular menu which cost me only half the price but better in taste. I was told their crabmeat pasta is really popular.

Roasted Canadian Pork Rack 2.8/5

For mains, we had Roasted Canadian Pork Rack ($20) coated in mustard and green herbs. I really like the mustardy coat which flavours the pork really well, especially at the charred edges. It tasted like a classic pesto but with tanginess. The best part is the meat by the rib. I felt that the rest of the meat too tough and dry, and a bit gamy.

For sweet ending, we had Tiramisu and Chocolate Lava Cake. Between the two, I would recommend their tiramisu. It is not easy to find a good tiramisu and Pocoloco does it pretty well. The cheese layer may still be a bit thick for me but I appreciated its sweetness. The liqueur seems to be added in situ, hence I could really taste the bitter sweetness. What seems to be missing is the shot of espresso.

For such pricings, usually it means dining with a huge crowd, with people sitting so close to you that you don't get to have good, private conversations with your loved ones. However, over at Pocoloco, you have almost all - the ambience, friendly service, decent food and fresh beers.

Written and photography 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.


Pocoloco
Snow City
21 Jurong Town Hall Road
Level 2
Singapore 609433
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line), Chinese Garden (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East Bus Interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 66 or 335. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

1) Alight at Chinese Garden MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Cross the road and walk to bus stop opposite Chinese Garden MRT station (Stop ID 28349). Take bus number 335. Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Tenderbest @ Ayer Rajah Community Club - Crispy Half Chicken At $7.90

With the re-opening of Ayer Rajah Community Centre, we also see a few food establishments moving into the venue. One such tenant is Tenderbest. Unlike their parent group Tenderfresh or better known to many as 可爱鸡, Tenderbest offers a variety of western fare and beverages on top of the sign fried and bbq chicken.

Bandung with Grass Jelly 4/5

I ordered the Bandung with Grass Jelly ($4.50) which I thought is rather interesting. This is a like a fusion of our Malay and Chinese culture, adding grass jelly into the bandung drink. A sweet and refreshing drink to kick start the lunch.

Laksa Prawn Spaghetti 3.5/5

Besides their fried chicken and bbq chicken, Tenderbest offers a variety of western fare such as pasta and steak. After browsing through the extensive menu, I decided to give the local flavour inspired Laksa Prawn Spaghetti ($8.50) a try. It turned out pretty decent with its modernized interpretation and we still can taste elements of the laksa flavour. I like the fact that it is very saucy. It felt like we are having a bowl of laksa, slurping the pasta that is well coated with the sauce.

Crispy Fried Half Spring Chicken 4/5

I could not visit Tenderbest without trying their chicken. I decided to go for the Crispy Fried Half Spring Chicken Rice. The huge portion is really value for money and it is only $7.90. It even comes with buttered rice and coleslaw. The restaurant never fails me with is well marinated and flavoured crispy skin while the interior is still tender and juicy.

Tenderfresh is like my childhood and it is glad to see the home grown brand expanding its business in recent years with up to 9 different brands under the group now. They have continued to provide consistency and quality food, spreading their brands to every corner of the island. With Tenderbest they have gone a bit up market providing a more comfortable and cozy bistro like environment for diners which is also more family friendly. In addition, they have kept the price quite affordable and it is halal.


Tenderbest
Ayer Rajah Community Centre
150 Pandan Gardens
#01-02
Singapore 609335
Tel: +65 90565366
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East Bus Interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 51. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

Quan Soon Wanton Noodle @ Teban Garden Food Centre - One Of The Cheapest Wanton Mee At $2

Further down the row of stalls of JH Fishball Noodle at Teban Garden Food Centre is Quan Soon Wanton Noodle. Quan Soon Wanton Noodle is owned by 62 years old Madam Wong who has been offering cheap and affordable food for the neighbourhood for the past 37 years. You can get a plate of wanton mee for $2 at her stall.

Wanton Mee 3.5/5

The stall sells a variety of noodle dishes such as Wanton Mee, Laksa and Prawn Noodle, all at a low price of $2. Madam Wong has continued to sell her noodles at $2 because there are many old people which do not have a lot of money in the estate and she wanted to provide affordable food which can help to fill their stomach.

Wanton Mee 3.5/5

My plate of wanton mee dry for a mere $2 comes with springy noodles, 2 wantons, slices of char siew  and some vegetables. I enjoyed the texture of the noodle as well as the wanton which is stuffed with minced pork and chestnut, I can even taste hints of dry sole fish in the wanton filling.

For those that is looking for something for substantial, you can also go for the larger portion at $2.50 or $3. The plate of wanton mee may not be the best but it does come with that old school flavours, bringing back my childhood memories.


Quan Soon Wanton Noodle
Teban Garden Food Centre
Blk 37A Teban Garden Road
#01-04
Singapore 601037
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 5am - 730pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East Bus Interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 143. Alight 6 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East Bus Interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 79. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]