ToMo Cafe @ Upper Thomson - Popular Joo Chiat Cafe with Insta-Worthy Specialty Drinks Opens New Outlet in Upper Thomson

ToMo Cafe opened its third outlet at Upper Thomson on 8 October 2024, following its success in Joo Chiat and Neil Road with popular, Instagram-worthy drinks and hearty, Japanese-style food.

This new location will introduce outlet-exclusive dishes, including rice bowls and handcrafted burgers.

To celebrate its opening, the first 100 customers in October will receive a free cloud drink, with November offering free ‘chuffles’ to the first 100 diners. Both promotions are valid with any purchase made.

Iced Houjicha Goma Cloud Latte 4.2/5

From their list of speciality drinks, I was immediately attracted to the Iced Houjicha Goma Cloud Latte ($8), which combines a slightly nutty base of houjicha and a creamy, rich layer of black sesame cloud cream. I thoroughly enjoyed this combination, but it's best enjoyed quickly.

Iced Matcha Strawberry Cloud Latte 4/5

The Iced Matcha Strawberry Cloud Latte ($8) is another crowd favourite, combining matcha and a base of strawberry bits, topped with dairy-free strawberry cream. This was earthy and sweet. Other matcha options include the Iced Matcha Cloud Latte ($8) with sea salt dairy-free cream and the Kagoshima Matcha Latte ($7).

Yuzuri Apple Fresca 3.8/5

For a refreshing non-coffee option, try the sparkling Yuzuri Apple Fresca ($7), made with Aomori apple, yuzu, and cherry blossom extract.

Tako Karaage 4/5

Starting with the Tako Karaage ($12), we enjoyed crunchy, battered octopus chunks paired with a tangy yuzu kosho mayo. Though the chunks could be more evenly battered, we still found it pretty addictive. The substantial portion is also great for sharing.

Grilled Tiger Prawn Capellini 4/5

The cafe staff highly recommended the Grilled Tiger Prawn Capellini ($22). The hefty portion of capellini was tossed in a savoury mentaiko mayo sauce and topped with grilled prawns, ebiko and seaweed. I would recommend this as a sharing dish as the richness may get too heavy for one.

Fish and Chip Burger 3.5/5

The Fish and Chip Burger offered a crispy tempura dory fillet with sour cream tartar, lettuce, and tomato. Unfortunately, the shoestring fries were undercooked during our visit, but we understand it was an issue with the fryer, which will be quickly fixed.

Homemade Tiramisu 3.8/5

For sweets, we decided on ToMo's Homemade Tiramisu ($9), which has a jar of espresso-infused ladyfingers layered with homemade mascarpone cream. You can enhance it with a shot of Baileys or Kahlua for an extra $4.

We appreciated the openness of the kitchen staff to feedback and look forward to seeing improvements once the cafe officially opens its doors.

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.


ToMo Cafe
185 Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574333
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Website
Nearest MRT: Upper Thomson (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 9am - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Upper Thomson MRT station. Take Exit 5. Turn left and walk down Upper Thomson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

SOD Cafe @ Upper Thomson Road - Launches New Night Concept With A Focus On Freshly Made Pasta

Nestled within the Upper Thomson vicinity, SOD Cafe has launched a new night concept focusing on freshly made pasta. There are a total of 7 pasta dishes to choose from, with the bases all made with either linguine or fettuccine. They make their pasta from scratch daily, with portions only limited to 30 per night for now, though they have hoped to increase the daily portions to 50 in the near future!

Taro Milk Tea 4/5, Green Milk Tea 4/5

We started off the meal with their signature bubble tea drinks, such as the Taro Milk Tea and Green Milk Tea with pearls. The drinks were aromatic, creamy and not too sweet, while the black pearls were soft and chewy, providing a great bite to the drinks.

Aglio Olio with Prawns 4.2/5

We opted for their Aglio Olio with Prawns, cooked with fragrant butter garlic and topped with ebiko, and tiger prawns cooked to plump juicy perfection. The addition of ebiko added a nice bite, and the fettuccine pasta was cooked to a nice al dente texture.

Cream Mushroom 4/5

The Cream Mushroom comprises button mushrooms cooked in mixed herbs and cream. It is perfect for pasta lovers who love creamy pasta, and the shrooms' aroma was strong without being too overwhelming. The fettuccine pasta was similarly cooked to a nice al dente texture.

Beef Stew 4.2/5

The Beef Stew comes with tender 8-hour cooked beef shank cubes and cream demi-glaze. The perfectly done fettuccine was smothered in a robust beef gravy, not too heavy yet sufficiently flavourful. Other pasta options are available such as the Spicy Tomato with Wagyu Beef Balls and Salmon Pesto.

Sweet Potato Fries 3.8/5

We also tried their sides, such as the Sweet Potato Fries, which are fluffy and retain a thin layer of crispiness around them.

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.


SOD Cafe
183 Longhaus
183 Upper Thomson Road
#01-05
Singapore 574332
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Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Marymount (CC Line), Upper Thomson (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1030am – 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Marymount MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to junction of Marymount Lane and Thomson Road. Cross the road and turn right. Walk down Thomson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Upper Thomson MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk down Upper Thomson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Ah Ching Claypot Delights @ Midview City (Sin Ming) - Former Head Chef Of Geylang Claypot Rice Is Back Selling His Famous Claypot Rice

I first got to know Ah Ching when he was at East Village. He was the former Head Chef at Geylang Claypot Rice before venturing on its own. Ah Ching had gone missing for a while when he left the food establishment at East Village. He has opened a new stall - Ah Ching Claypot Delights, selling his signature claypot rice at Midview City.

Charcoal Claypot Rice 4.2/5

Ah Ching still cooks his Claypot Rice ($8/ $20) over charcoal fire from scratch using old rice grains. It takes about 20 minutes for him to cook each claypot. Ah Ching will constantly tilt the claypot at a different angle over the fire so that the rice is evenly cooked and not burnt. Add dark sauce to the rice to eat and give it a good toss. Besides the fragrant rice, Ah Ching makes an effort to marinate the chunky and tender chicken pieces too. The addition of salted fish and Chinese sausages accentuated the taste profile and aroma.

Claypot Wine Chicken Soup 3.8/5

I usually like to have my claypot rice with a bowl of soup, so we had the Claypot Wine Chicken Soup ($10). It is a comforting and hearty bowl of soup with a distinct aroma from the Chinese yellow wine. While the accompanying chicken pieces are tender, I wish for more ingredients.

Claypot Chicken in Sesame Oil 4.2/5

Lastly, we complete our meal with the Claypot Chicken in Sesame Oil ($8). I really find Ah Ching knows how to handle his chicken. They are well-marinated and extremely tender, just like the other two claypot dishes. Cooking the chicken in sesame oil gives the poultry a delicious lift in enjoyment.


[MOVED]
Ah Ching Claypot Delights
Midview City
18 Sin Ming Lane
Stall No 4
Singapore 573960
Tel: +65 88796850
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Upper Thomson (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Upper Thomson Road. Take Exit 2. Turn left and walk down Bright Hill Drive. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Nummun Thai Kitchen @ Upper Thomson Road - Don't Miss Ordering The Crab Meat Omelette

I have been wanting to visit Nummun Thai Kitchen at Upper Thomson Road after hearing numerous good reviews of the Thai restaurant. I finally got my chance to check out the place recently with a friend. Mainly because of the Thomson East MRT line opening, it is much more accessible to get there now.

Thai Prawn Cake 4/5

We started our dinner with the Thai Prawn Cake ($9). It is a delightful starter with crispy exterior to munch on while waiting for the rest of the dishes to be served. It is paired with a sweet dipping sauce.

Pad Thai 4/5

For the carbo item, we decide to go for the Pad Thai ($8). Unlike most places, I find the version here is less sweet, and the noodles are not as chewy, which is what I prefer. Give the rice noodles a squeeze of the lime and a sprinkle of the chilli flakes to elevate the whole enjoyment.

Stir Fried Kai Lan with Roasted Pork 4/5

For the vegetable dish, I ordered the Stir Fried Kai Lan with Roasted Pork ($12). I always enjoyed the addition of roasted pork to the stir-fried vegetable. I find that it will enhance the flavour. Furthermore, it is like having two dishes in one. Maybe that is the greedy me at play.

Crab Meat Omelette 4.2/5

Many customers come for the Crab Meat Omelette ($28). The Thai dish that got famous after Jay Fai Bangkok got a Michelin Star brought the dish onto the world map. I have not tried Jay Fai, so I can't compare the difference. I only can say I enjoyed the crab meat omelette here. It was fluffy with generous servicing of crab meat in it. It is also not as oily as some that I have eaten.

Making a reservation before going down is advisable as the restaurant can get pretty crowded.


Nummum Thai Kitchen
Thomson Imperial Court
200 Upper Thomson Road
#01-03
Singapore 574424
Tel: +65 88868699
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Upper Thomson (TE Line), Marymount (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Upper Thomson MRT station. Take Exit 3. Walk straight down Upper Thomson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Marymount MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and cut through the housing estate towards Thomson Community Club. At Thomson Community Club, walk to Upper Thomson Road. Turn right onto Upper Thomson Road. Walk down Upper Thomson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

SOD Cafe @ Upper Thomson Road - Opens Second Outlet At Upper Thomson With Bubble Tea And All-Day Cafe Brunch

After their first outlet within Ci Yuan Community Centre in Hougang, SOD cafe has recently launched their second outlet in the bustling enclave of Upper Thomson. Besides being more accessible, the new space has experienced a new facelift with chic design and vibrant settings. Their menu has also expanded to include more outlet-exclusive items.

Taro Milk Tea 4/5, Tan Milk Tea 4/5

Having started as a bubble tea shop originally, you can expect the same boba tea options at SOD Cafe's second outlet here. Their Taro Milk Tea ($4.70) has a pleasant taro fragrance, while the Tan Milk Tea ($4.70) has a subtle charcoal oolong flavour to the smooth milk tea base. We added black pearls as well, and they were sufficiently soft and chewy, providing a great bite to the drinks.

Sourdough Big Breakfast 4/5

SOD offers an all-day brunch with a selection of breakfast essentials. We went with the Sourdough Big Breakfast ($15.90), which comes in a satisfying platter of scrambled eggs, ham, sausages, bacon, baked beans, garden greens, and crispy sourdough bread.

Waffles with Scrambled Eggs & Candied Bacon 3.5/5

The Waffles with Scrambled Eggs & Candied Bacon ($12.90) features perfectly cooked soft scrambled eggs and crispy bacon. However, we felt that the waffles were done overly brittle and a tad too dry, lacking the expected fluffiness.

French Toast with Salted Caramel Bananas 3.8/5

The French Toast with Salted Caramel Bananas ($12.90) is a pleasant salty-sweet combination of soft and fluffy brioche toast slices. However, we wished there would be some maple syrup provided, as the caramel sauce was on a slightly excessive side.

Sweet Potato Fries 4/5

The Sweet Potato Fries ($7.90) comes in a generous portion of well-done sweet potato strips, mostly fluffy and retains a thin layer of crispiness around it.

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.


SOD Cafe
183 Longhaus
183 Upper Thomson Road
#01-05
Singapore 574332
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Marymount (CC Line), Upper Thomson (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1030am – 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Marymount MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to junction of Marymount Lane and Thomson Road. Cross the road and turn right. Walk down Thomson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Upper Thomson MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk down Upper Thomson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Block 24 Hainanese Chicken Rice @ Sin Ming Road - A Great Plate of Chicken Rice By Young Hawker Couple

I have been wanting to check out Block 24 Hainanese Chicken Rice at Sin Ming Road for the longest time since I read about it on FINS and several social media posting from my foodie friends. By chance I was in the vicinity and decided to drop by Ghim Huat Coffeeshop for lunch.

Block 24 Hainanese Chicken Rice is run by a young couple, Kelvin and Dynn. The first thing I observed when queuing up to place my order is the top notch customer service from Dynn. The smile, the interaction and small little things like cleaning the plate before serving to the customer. This is restaurant standard service. Thumbs up!

A brief chat with the couple revealed that they used to have a stall nearby selling chicken rice before moving to China. They came back and decided to continue selling chicken rice and hence opened the current stall. As per every plate of chicken rice, the rice plays a part of the whole enjoyment. Their rice is nicely cooked to a grainy bite with a mild chicken stock flavour. The other element is the chilli sauce. While it has an aftertaste spicy kick , we felt it was slightly diluted.

Half Chicken 4.2/5

The stall sells both the poached chicken and roasted chicken. I decided to try the poached chicken and ordered Half Chicken ($12). I can taste the chicken has undergone a cold bath giving it the distinct jelly-like skin. The chicken was also juicy and tender. While the texture is good, my friend felt that it lacked that chicken flavour. Nevertheless, overall this is a good plate of poached chicken or even above average. I actually look forward to come back and try their roasted chicken as it seems to be more popular with the customers.

Block 24 Hainanese Chicken Rice
Blk 24 Sin Ming Road
Singapore 570024
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Upper Thomson (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1030am - 530pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Upper Thomson MRT station. Take Exit 3. Walk to Jalan Todak Road. Turn left onto Jalan Todak Road. Walk to the end and continue on Sin Ming Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Peach Garden @ Thomson Plaza - Return Of The Weekend Dim Sum Buffet

Dim Sum lovers will be rejoice to know that Peach Garden at Thomsom Plaza has brought back its popular Weekend Dim Sum Buffet. When I visited the restaurant a couple of weeks ago, it was almost fully. I was advised to make a reservation if I would like to come back again for their dim sum. The restaurant was really packed.

Steamed Dim Sum 3/5

The restaurant offers a variety of dim sum items which are being served around the restaurant by servers in pushcarts. Not many restaurants do this nowadays. Among the many dim sum items that I tried, I like their Siew Mai and Chicken Feet the most.

Fried Dim Sum 4/5

Besides the steamed dim sum selections, the fried dim sum selection is worth trying too. In fact, I find the fried items faring better than the steamed items. The Fried Dumpling, Fried Yam Dumpling and Spring Roll are not to be missed.

Noodle Soup 3/5

The great thing about the weekend dim sum buffet at Peach Garden is not just about their dim sum. It is about their eclectic menu that consists of other dishes such as the live noodle station, Drunken Prawns, Pig Trotter with Vinegar, Salmon Sashimi and Sushi, on top of the dim sum selections.

Drunken Prawns 4/5

I think it is damn worth it when you pay only $23.80++ and get to have unlimited serving of Drunken Prawns. The prawns are big in size and sweet. The restaurant did not hold back in quality even though it is a buffet.

Pig Trotter with Vinegar 4.5/5

To my surprise, Peach Garden offers an awesome bowl of Pig Trotter with Vinegar among their weekend dim sum spread. I simply could not resist helping myself to the well braised pig trotter, that has absorbed the acidity of the vinegar, for a good sharp finish.

Sashimi and Sushi 3.5/5

I cannot say that the Sashimi and Sushi is of the best quality but it definitely added more varieties and options to diners. I think it is a good idea for families with younger family members who may not be too keen with the traditional dim sum items.

Ice Cream with Waffle Biscuit 4/5

Don't forget to keep your ears open and listen for the ice cream bell around 4pm. That means Ice Cream is served. Do be quick to get up from your seat as a line will be quickly formed for the traditional ice cream with waffle biscuit. Other desserts available among the spread includes egg tart and fruits with chocolate fondue.

Price of Weekend Dim Sum Buffet, 3-5pm
Adult - $23.80++
Child - $16.80++

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Peach Garden
Thomson Plaza
301 Upper Thomson Road
#01-88
Singapore 574408
Tel: +65 64513233
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Upper Thomson (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 1030am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
Weekend High Tea Buffet: 3pm - 5pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Upper Thomson MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Sin Ming Roti Prata @ Sin Ming Road (Upper Thomson Road)

Roti prata is another popular local dish that can be eaten around the clock. For me roti prata is usually eaten for breakfast or supper. Of the many roti prata stalls around the island, one of the more popular one is Sin Ming Roti Prata.

Plain and Egg Roti Prata 4.2/5

My usual order is always a Plain and Egg Roti Prata to go with the curry sauce. The prata here is the fluffy type with a slight crispiness on the exterior where you get to enjoy chewing the dough. The accompanying curry gravy has a nice aroma of spices too.

Coin Prata 3.5/5

Coin Prata 3.5/5

Not commonly sold at other roti prata stalls is the Coin Prata. The round shaped coin prata is thicker and crispier. Unless you enjoy the chewiness of the dough, sort of like eating bread, then you would probably like it.

Beehoon Goreng 3/5

The stall does not only sell roti prata. It also sells a variety of other rice and cooked dishes. On top of the roti prata and coin prata, I also ordered an extra plate of BeeHoon Goreng with a fried egg to try. It was nice but did not wow me.

Overall I would recommend going back for their roti prata. For the coin prata, it is rather subjective. It depends whether you like a more doughy and chewy texture.


Sin Ming Roti Prata
Jin Fa Kopitiam
Blk 24 Sin Ming Road
#01-51
Singapore 570024
Tel: +65 64533893
Nearest MRT: Upper Thomson (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 7pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Upper Thomson MRT station. Take Exit 3. Walk to Jalan Todak Road. Turn left onto Jalan Todak Road. Walk to the end and continue on Sin Ming Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]