Swensen’s Unlimited @ Geneo - Halal-certified Buffet Offering Peranakan, Seafood, Hand-stretched Pizzas and Desserts

Swensen's popular buffet concept, Swensen's Unlimited, has launched its third outlet at the newly opened Geneo Mall in Singapore Science Park, following earlier openings at VivoCity and Changi Airport Terminal 2.

What sets this new branch apart is its spacious 200-seat layout, designed to host special events such as weddings or corporate gatherings. The space features a customisable LED backdrop and a private suite with an attached bathroom - ideal as a bridal room or multi-purpose event space.

Pricing starts at $35++ for weekday lunch and $38++ for weekday dinner (Monday to Thursday). On Fridays, weekends, public holidays, and special occasions (such as Mother's Day), the price is $50++ for lunch and $60++ for dinner. Lunch runs from 11am to 5pm, and dinner from 5pm to 10pm, with a 90-minute dining limit. Menus vary slightly depending on the day.

Swensen’s Unlimited Buffet 3.8/5

Begin at the Seafood on Ice section with free-flow tiger prawns, mussels, clams, and flower crabs. While reasonably fresh, it was a pity that the seafood lacked flavour.

Cold Cuts & Appetisers

Next to the Seafood on Ice are several cold cuts & appetisers, including salads and cheeses.

Hot Food

The Hot Food lineup consists of Indian, Asian, Western and Peranakan dishes, as well as soups such as Cream of Mushroom.

Mala Stir-Fry Pot

Mala Firecracker Chicken

The Hot Food spotlight shines on three outlet-exclusive dishes: Ayam Masak Merah, Mala Firecracker Chicken, and Mala Stir-Fry Pot, which packs a strong kick of spice.

Live Carving Station

There are also a couple of live food stations. First, the Live Carving Station featured fresh roast meats, including Roast Striploin and Roast Chicken.

Pizza Station: Trio Cheese Hand-stretched Pizza

Pasta Station Aglio Olio Spaghetti

Second, the Pizza and Pasta Stations offered Hand-stretched Pizzas and freshly prepared pasta with various sauces and pasta options.

Baked Rice and Noodles Station: Laksa

Lastly, the Baked Rice and Noodles Station offered Swensen's classic baked rice flavours (Curry Chicken, Chicken, and Fish) and two noodle options: Beef Noodles and Laksa.

Ice Cream and Gelato

Moving to the last and most popular sweets section, diners will be welcomed with Swensen's massive range of Ice Cream and Gelato on rotation from its book of 48 flavours. They are made up of a mix of classics and newer creations. Some flavours that caught our eye include Zero Sugar Sticky Chewy Chocolate, Berry Hibiscus, Smoked Oak Tiramisu, and Chrysanthemum with Choco Fudge.

Ice Cream and Gelato

The assortment of condiments allows you to customise your sundaes - do make sure to try their outlet-exclusive Pistachio Kunafa Sauce!

Croissants and Waffles

Chocolate Fountain

Assorted Kueh

Continuing with the options for sweets, diners can also indulge in a chocolate fountain, croissants, waffles, assorted kuehs, fruits, and more.

Please ensure you make a reservation before heading down, especially for meals on weekends and special occasions.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Swensen’s Unlimited
Geneo
#01-06
1 Science Park Drive
Singapore 118221
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Nearest MRT: Kent Ridge (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily 11am - 10pm

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

Great Nanyang (大南洋) @ Geneo - Nostalgic Buns, Rojak & Penang Flavours Near Kent Ridge MRT Station

Great Nanyang (大南洋) has unveiled its latest outlet at Geneo, conveniently located next to Kent Ridge MRT station. Staying true to its nostalgic charm, the new space is decked out in retro touches, evoking the warm familiarity of old-school kopitiams. What makes this outlet special? Not just the vintage aesthetics, but exclusive menu items and merchandise that give fans even more to explore.

Mashed Taro Steam Bun 4/5

We began our meal with a colourful array of steamed buns, each with a unique filling that pays tribute to both traditional and playful local flavours. The highlight among the buns was the Mashed Taro Steamed Bun ($4.80). The filling was creamy and smooth with a natural taro flavour that wasn't overly sweet. Encased in a soft, fluffy bun, it was comforting and nostalgic. It is a true crowd-pleaser.

Bak Kwa Chicken Floss Steam Bun 3.8/5

Bak Kwa Chicken Floss Steam Bun ($5.80) is an inventive bun that combines two festive favourites: bak kwa and chicken floss. Reminiscent of Chinese New Year snack pairings, this creative take worked surprisingly well. The smoky sweetness of the bak kwa paired nicely with the savoury floss, delivering a delicious umami bite.

Peanut Butter Steamed Bun 4/5

Otak-Otak Steam Bun 4/5

The Peanut Butter ($3.50) and Otak-Otak ($4.80) versions are excellent choices for those who prefer something more classic. The peanut butter bun was rich and gooey, while the otak-otak version had just the right level of spice and fishiness to satisfy without overwhelming.

Traditional Kaya Butter Toast 4/5

A staple of local breakfasts, the Traditional Kaya Butter Toast ($2.70) didn't disappoint. The bread was crisp on the outside, slathered with fragrant house-made kaya and thick, cold slabs of butter that melted slightly on contact. It was simple, nostalgic, and perfect.

French Toast 4/5

The French Toast ($4.50) offered a slightly richer take, with slices dipped in egg before being pan-fried to golden perfection. Paired with a sweet kaya dipping sauce, it made for a satisfying midday snack or light breakfast.

Fresh Fruit Rojak 3/5

One of the unique offerings at this outlet is the Fresh Fruit Rojak cart, where diners can handpick fruit skewers at $1.50 per stick. Once assembled, the fruits are tossed in a bold, punchy rojak sauce that balances sweetness, tartness, and spice. It's light, refreshing, and great for sharing.

Penang White Curry Noodle 3.5/5

The hearty bowl of Penang White Curry Noodles ($8.90) comes with a combination of yellow noodles and beehoon, swimming in a creamy, coconut-based broth. Topped with taupok, fishballs, and prawns, the dish was satisfying on its own, but really came alive with the addition of their in-house chilli paste, which brought out the full complexity of the curry.

Chicken Berempah Leg Nasi Lemak Kukus 4/5

Served with steamed nasi lemak rice, the Chicken Berempah Leg Nasi Lemak Kukus ($8.90) featured boneless chunks of chicken leg marinated in a fragrant blend of Malay spices, then deep-fried until crispy on the outside and tender within. Accompanied by peanuts, sambal, and a fried egg, this was a fulfilling one-plate meal with bold, aromatic flavours.

Nanyang Style Dry Curry Prawns 4.8/5

If you're dining in a group, there’s an extensive selection of cooked dishes perfect for communal feasting. We tried a few standouts:

Served with five large prawns, the Nanyang Style Dry Curry Prawns ($18) was a flavour bomb. The dry curry was aromatic, thick, and spicy, coating each prawn in a fragrant gravy that demanded extra rice. It was deeply satisfying. This is a must-order.

Sambal Kang Kong 4.2/5

Classic and well-executed, the Sambal Kang Kong ($8.80) was stir-fried in a robust sambal belacan, giving it a spicy and savoury kick while maintaining its fresh crunch.

Penang Asam Curry Fish Head 4.5/5

The Penang Asam Curry Fish Head ($32.80) is an impressive claypot dish brimming with flavour. The asam curry was wonderfully tangy, with a gentle heat that teased the palate. The fish head was fresh and meaty, surrounded by a medley of lady fingers, brinjal, long beans, and tomatoes. Every bite was hearty, bold, and comforting—the kind of dish that makes you reach for extra rice just to mop up the sauce.

Great Nanyang at Geneo is more than just a place to eat. It's a nostalgic trip down memory lane with creative modern twists. From playful steamed buns and toast sets to flavourful nasi lemak and claypot fish head curry, there's something for every appetite. Whether you're popping in for breakfast or gathering with friends for a full meal, this outlet delivers warmth, flavour, and a delightful dose of nostalgia.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Great Nanyang (大南洋)
Geneo
1B Science Park Drive
#B1-32
Singapore 119315
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Nearest MRT: Kent Ridge (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 830pm

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

MAM MAM @ NUHS - A Hidden Gem At National University Hospital

One of my most ordered delivery during these three years of Covid is MAM MAM. However, I only recently visited the casual eatery hidden in National University Health System (NUHS) Tower Block at National University Hospital. MAM MAM is the brainchild between Chef Sebastian Ng of VENUE by Sebastian, and Edmund Ang, the third-generation owner of Punggol Nasi Lemak. The casual eatery serves affordable Asian Rice Bowl and hearty local food.

100-hour Duck Confit Rice Bowl

One of my favourite dishes at MAM MAM is its 100-hour Duck Confit Rice Bowl ($11.50). The confit duck leg is marinated with Asian spices for two days and slow-cooked for 24 hours. The result is extremely tender with flavoursome crispy skin. The rice bowl is served with delectable sides - seasonal vegetables, salted veggies and egg roll. Not forgetting the piquant green sambal that accentuated the enjoyment of the duck confit.

Spice-crusted Chicken Leg

The signature at MAM MAM is its Spice-crusted Chicken Leg ($8.50). The huge chicken leg is marinated in a special concoction comprising 16 different types of herbs and spices for an aromatic finish. The chicken leg is deep-fried to a delightful crunch on the skin but tender and juicy inside. It is served with a side of pickled cucumber and egg roll.

Besides the two Asian rice bowls, the menu offers four other ones, all below $10. They are Golden Fried Chicken in Signature Spicy Tomato Sauce ($7.50), Slow-roasted Norwegian Salmon Specialty ($9.50), Signature Minced Chicken with Basil and Egg Tofu ($5.90) and Wok-fried Sliced Beef with Ginger and Scallion ($5.80).

MAM MAM also offers congee on its menu. The congee has a consistent creaminess. It is a hearty and comforting bowl of congee. However, it is not the style I like. Being a Teochew, I prefer it to be more grainy.

Another item I usually order at MAM MAM is the Green Bean and Sago. It is a local dessert I like, and at MAM MAM, I can have a satisfying meal from mains to dessert.


MAM MAM
NUHS Tower Block
Level One
1E Kent Ridge Road
Singapore 119228
Tel: +65 62524320
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Nearest MRT: Kent Ridge (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 7am - 5pm
(Closed on Sat-Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Kent Ridge MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down South Buona Vista Road. Turn right onto Kent Ridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 mintues. [Map]

Diamond Kitchen (钻石小厨) @ Science Park I - Exclusive Dishes To Celebrate Both Mother's Day And Father's Day

For this coming Mother's Day and Father's Day, a table of home-style dishes that are rich with comforting Malaysian-Chinese flavours may be just what we are seeking for. Diamond Kitchen at both Marine Parade and their Science Park outlets have specially crafted five new menus and four exclusive dishes for these two occasions.

Crispy Fried Potato Slices with Salted Egg Yolk 4.2/5

Riding on the salted egg yolk trend is the Crispy Fried Potato Slices with Salted Egg Yolk ($12). Tossed in the restaurant's signature homemade salted egg sauce, each deep-fried potato slice was evenly coated with flavours that set your tongue tingling. A dish for both young and the old, this will definitely whet your appetite for what's about to come.

Homemade Yam Balls with Otah 3.8/5

These Homemade Yam Balls with Otah ($16) is an interesting take on familiar flavours. It's like your traditional yam ring but broken up and fried in individual portion and at the core of each yam ball is a slab of house-made otah, made with a combination of mackerel, spice blend and the restaurant's proprietary 'Gan Xiang' blend. If you are a fan of yam ring, this is even more moreish with all sides crisp golden brown. I would have liked it, even more, should the otah be less mellow, as the heat from the spices tends to overwhelm the delicate yam flavour.

5-Step Diamond Kitchen 'Duck Rice' 4.2/5

A must-order is definitely the 5-Step Diamond Kitchen 'Duck Rice' ($24/$48). What's on your plate is a result of a 3-day preparation work which involves roasting, air-drying, steaming, deep frying and then pan-frying. What you get eventually is slices of 'pancake' - a crisp layer of glutinous rice base topped with a layer of juicy roast duck shreds. What's brilliant I thought it is the addition of the sweet chilli sauce underneath that softens the crisp glutinous rice. Hence, when you bite into it, the crunchy rice pancake is actually slightly chewy with crisp edges, and the tenderness of the duck meat stands out even more.

Sauna Prawn 4.5/5

Aside from the exclusive dishes above, you may not want to miss some of the restaurant's signatures, such as the Sauna Prawn ($24/$36/$48). Live tiger prawns are laid on hot stones in a bamboo basket before a herbal stock is poured over the prawn and steam for several minutes with the lid closed. It was really fragrant the moment the dish was served to our table, and each prawn not only had that subtle herbal taste, but it also carried a hint of smokiness which further elevated its flavours.

Diamond Gan Xiang Crab 4.5/5

You might have heard of their legendary Gan Xiang sauce, in which you can experience it in various forms such as fried rice or bee hoon, but to fully appreciate it, perhaps it would be the Diamond Gan Xiang Crab (market price). A concoction of hae bee hiam, curry powder, lemongrass, dried chilli, taucheo along with a few other ingredients, it sounded assertive, akin to what a black pepper sauce would do to my taste buds. But surprisingly, it was a lot more well rounded than I imagined, so much so that I could polish the sauce off the crab claw before diving into it. Usually, I simply would just scrap the sauce off the flesh.

Superior Stock Clam Bee Hoon 3/5

We had their Superior Stock Clam Bee Hoon ($12/$18/$24) as well. I would prefer a stock that is more sweet-savoury, with a lighter consistency to highlight the flavours of the clams.

Rounding up of evening is a Mother's Day dessert, Heart of Gold Warm Pumpkin Dessert. I love how warm and comforting it smells, with the coconut cream laced on top of the pureed pumpkin. Each bite is satiated with yam bits, sweet corn and sago. It was so yummy!

Heart of Gold Warm Pumpkin Dessert 4.5/5

The special early bird discount of 30% for the Mother's Dat set menus are over, but you could still enjoy the promotion if you pre-order the Father's Day set from 8 to 31 May 2019 via Diamond Kitchen's website.

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.


Diamond Kitchen (钻石小厨)
Science Park 1
Oasis
87 Science Park Drive
#01-01
Singapore 118260
Tel: +65  64640410
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Nearest MRT: Kent Ridge (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Kent Ridge MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop opposite Kent Ridge MRT station (Stop ID 15139). Take bus number 92. Alight 5 stops later. Walk towards Technology Crescent. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Thrive Kitchen @ NeWest Condominium - Asian Inspired Rice Bowls

Thrive Kitchen is a new bistro that has recently opened at NeWest Condominium, a new property in West Coast. The place is still rather deserted with almost ninety percent of the shops still vacant. Nevertheless, it is a worthy place to check if you are looking for healthy and wholesome food

Nonya-Inspired Assam Fish Brown Rice Bowl 4.2/5

Thrive Kitchen has a big menu ranging from soup, salad, mains and your usual brunch items. What interests me is their Asian inspired rice bowls. We tried the Nonya-Inspired Assam Fish Brown Rice Bowl ($17.90). Diners have a choice of either brown rice or quinoa (extra $1.50). The plate comes with a poached egg, kale and haddock in a housemade assam broth. I am actually quite impressed with the tangy and spicy assam which complements the fish excellent.

Curry Whole Leg Brown Rice Bowl 4.2/5

The other rice bowl we tried is the Curry Whole Leg Brown Rice Bowl ($18.90). It comes with a huge chicken leg and potatoes in housemade curry sauce. The chicken leg was tender and the curry sauce tasted very comforting and homely. I not a big fan of brown rice because it quite tough and its tiring to chew on. However the brown rice here is pretty moist. Even your grandparents will not have problem eating it.

Initial when we look at the pricing, we felt that it was rather expensive for a rice bowl. However the portion is actually quite big, as you can see in the pictures. I am actually surprised that the western designed or looking bistro, actually served some pretty good Asian fares.


Thrive Kitchen
NeWest Condominium
1 West Coast Drive
#01-73
Singapore 128020
Tel: +65 62559030
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Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line), Kent Ridge (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 1030am - 9pm
Fri: 1030am - 10pm
Sat: 10am - 10pm
Sun: 10an - 9pn

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

1) Alight at Kent Ridge MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Buona Vista Flyover (Stop ID 18071). Take bus number 97 or 197. Alight 6 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]