Queenstown Lontong @ Margaret Drive Hawker Centre - Unveiling the Hidden Gem at the Hawker Centre

On a bustling weekend afternoon, we went to Margaret Drive Hawker Centre, eager to explore the food offerings garnering rave reviews — our destination of choice – the Queenstown Lontong stall. Intrigued by the positive buzz from fellow food enthusiasts, we set our sights on a bowl of Mee Rebus.

Mee Rebus 4.5/5

The star from the stall was the Mee Rebus, a dish that left an indelible mark on our taste buds. For a modest $4, a heaping portion of yellow noodles bathed in a luscious, thick, and savoury sauce awaited us. Each slurp was a revelation, the noodles coated generously with the delectable sauce. Adding a whole egg and a substantial piece of tofu elevated this dish to a complete and satisfying meal in a bowl. For an extra burst of flavour, biting into the green chilli provided a delightful contrast that heightened the overall experience.

Begedil

What surprised me was the Begedil, a potato patty that surpassed our expectations. Infused with Chinese celery and cumin, the Begedil presented a mashy and creamy texture, offering a flavour profile that danced on the palate. The unexpected twist came in the form of crispy ikan bilis, adding a delightful crunch to the ensemble.

The unpretentious stall, marked only by a modest signboard, was a hidden gem at Margaret Drive Hawker Centre. Its unassuming exterior belied the food within, particularly the Mee Rebus that left a lasting impression. Despite the absence of the Lontong on this visit, the experience piqued our curiosity, leaving us eager to return and explore more offerings from this humble yet exceptional stall.


Queenstown Lontong
Margaret Drive Hawker Centre
#01-27
38A Margaret Drive
Singapore 142038
Nearest MRT: Queenstown (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat: 7am - 2pm
(Closed on Thu & Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Queenstown MRT station. Take Exit B or C. Walk down Commonwealth Avenue and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

The Matriarchs Kitchen X Buttercup Mixes Private Dining @ Bartley Road - Private Dining With Cocktails/Mocktails Pairing

The booming private dining scene in Singapore came to a standstill when the COVID-19 pandemic hits Singapore. While the pandemic is not over yet, the government has relaxed the COVID measures, allowing some form of business to restart. With the relaxation, I have noticed some private dining places have started taking reservation in smaller session accordingly to the COVID measures put in place by the government.

We visited The Matriarchs Kitchen, which is new to the private dining scene. Jazmyn is an amazing cook who is well-versed in many cuisines, partly due to her rich family roots. Hence there is not really a fixed menu but different cuisine theme for each session. In fact, Jazmyn has done private dining eight years ago but took a 3 years break. Now she is back collaborating with Melissa from Buttercup Mixes, the resident mixologist pairing the meal with cocktails. Mocktails are available too.

We started with Kueh Pai Tee to kick start the dinner. The host has made some for us, and if you want more, you can make them yourself too, having some hands-on fun piecing the snack together.

Next is a refreshing Fruit Salad paired with homemade rojak sauce. I have not been an attentive listener during the meal as I was enjoying the food more than paying attention to the host explaining the ingredients that go into the rojak sauce. If I am not wrong, plum sauce is added to balance the saltiness of the prawn paste, complementing the sweetness of the fruit.

There are also some mid-wings for us to nibble before moving to dinner proper.

The dish that wows me most is an assuming soup dish which I have never come across before. This is the first time I have Mee Soto Soup paired with Begedil. Unlike the begedil we get outside, which only consists of potato, the version here is a mixture of potato and mutton.

Next, we have the Beef Rendang and Sambal Chilli Eggplant that are cooked with rempah and sambal homemade by Jazmyn. The host indeed makes an impression with the aromatic rempah and sambal.

Our main is the Udon Laksa that comes with prawn, squid and quail egg. The laksa broth is thick and creamy, pack with flavours. It is quite interesting in the choice of noodle, using the Japanese udon instead of the usual thick beehoon noodle. The similarity is like having a bowl of Japanese curry udon with a local twist. We felt the laksa can be spicier too.

Wrapping up our dinner, our dessert is Yam Paste. Jazmyn's version is healthier without the use of lard or shallot oil. It is lighter in taste and smoother in texture. We thought the addition of a contrasting texture will make the dessert more enjoyable.


The Matriarchs Kitchen X Buttercup Mixes
Bartley Road
Instagram
Reservation

Warung Kampung @ The Central (Clarke Quay)

Warung Kampong is a Nasi Padang eatery located at the basement of Central Clarke Quay. To my surprise, it is actually opened by an Indonesian Chinese couple, in which the husband picked up the art of Indonesian nasi padang in Medan. Humble and simple furnishing, which will set you up in the mood for an authentic Indonesian cuisine any time of the day.

Sambal Prawn 3.5/5

Sambal Sotong 4/5

I started off with the Sambal Prawns and the Sambal Sotong (They ran out of fish, sad to say). I think both the sambal used are the same. I like the fact that both are not too chilli-hot, which might otherwise overpower the taste of the spices and sweetness of the seafood. Between these two, I would prefer the Sambal Sotong more. It stands out in terms of its crunchiness, which was quite satisfying when I chewed at it.

Honestly speaking, I haven't had my rice with Sambal Belachan for quite some time. I find most of them slightly too spicy and I hate it when I couldn't taste anything but the chilli. Hence, for theirs, I started off with just a tiny bit, to go with my food. And wow... I couldn't help but took a much bigger portion of it. Its level of spiciness is just right for me and I feel its robustness comes from the right mix of proportion of its base ingredients. It simply brings the taste of my food to another level.

Sambal Egg Plant 3/5

Sambal Long Beans 4.2/5

For the vegetables, the Sambal Egg Plant was slightly too greasy for me. The Sambal Long Beans was much better. It was crunchy, unlike the usual Chinese style. The Sambal on top of both vegetables was very flavourful, which reminds me of a good Dried Shrimps Chilli.

Egg Balado 4.5/5

What I really can't forget is their Egg Balado. Basically, it is just fried hard boiled egg, simmered in balado. Somehow, the combination of the sauce and the springy egg works for me. The sauce was sweet and tangy, bursting with flavours as it touched my tongue.

BBQ Chicken Ayam Panggang 4.8/5

Crispy Chicken 4.2/5

I then moved on to the meat - BBQ Chicken Ayam Panggang (grilled chicken), Beef & Chicken Rendang. I must say the BBQ chicken was quite impressive. The chicken was well grilled till thinned skin, and the meat remained as tender. The sweet sauce which glazed over the chicken, made it so appetising that I almost devoured the entire skin on it's on.

Chicken Rendang 3/5

As for the rendang dishes, both the beef and chicken were tender, but I wish the taste can be more robust. Fortunately, the Sambal Baclachan made up for it!

Beef Rendang 3/5

You may also like their Begedil (fried mashed potato). To many, I believe it is like a childhood comfort food. The Chef has mixed some Chinese Parsley to flavour the potatoes, which I think has helped a lot in lifting the taste. Reminds me of how my mum will add water chestnut, carrot, or the same herbs to her Yong Tau Fu. A little thought that goes into cooking your food does make a whole lot of difference.

Begedil 4.5/5

We came in the later part of the day hence we didn't manage to try some of the dishes. Nonetheless, we were in time for the popular dishes - bbq chicken ayam panggang (grilled chicken), beef & chicken rendang, sambal prawns & sotong etc. You have the choice of ordering their sets, which is $6.40 to $7.40 with a choice of meat/seafood and 2 vegetables. A la Carte is also available if you are greedy for more!

Sambal Belachan is free flow but Chilli Lovers, please refrain from taking more than you need, as it is painstakingly made from their hands. (My mum makes her own chilli, hence I do know how much hardwork and sweat are involved.). After all the sambal and rendang, you might want to clear your palate with their homemade honey lemon. Just top up 80 cents of your set meal to enjoy it.

Warung Kampong is definitely another great dining option for the shoppers at The Central Clarke Quay amongst the different eateries which have sprouted over time. Do try their Sambal Balachan!

Written 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. 


Warung Kampung
The Central
6 En Tong Sen Street
#B1-56
Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 86666699
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarungKampungCentral
Nearest MRT: Clark Quay

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 730am - 830pm
Sat-Sun: 1130am - 830pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit F. Journey time about 2 minute. [Map]