Ah Er Soup (阿2汤) @ Yuan Ching Road - The Real Master Behind Michelin Bib Gourmand Award 2017

With the announcement of the Michelin Bib Gourmand list for 2017, I was left puzzled with the new entrant Ah Er Soup (阿2汤) at ABC Brickworks Market. What is the judging criteria of the Michelin inspectors? The outlet at ABC Brickworks Food Centre is a franchise stall and not the original stall. Did Michelin even know that the original recipe comes from Mr Ma Pit San and Mr Nong Gan who started the original and main stall at Yuan Ching Road?

Buddha Jumps Over The Wall 4.5/5

Feeling injustice for the duo that come up with the recipe, I decided to visit the original stall at Yuan Ching Road. During my visit, I saw Mr Ma busy at the back of the stall, preparing the soup. I ordered my favourite Buddha Jumps Over The Wall ($7) which comes with generous ingredients such as fish maw, mushroom, abalone and chicken. The soup which has been boiled for at least 2 hours, was very intense and rich in flavour.

Peanuts with Lotus Roots & Pork Ribs Soup 4.5/5

Among the other soups on the menu, I had the Peanuts with Lotus Roots & Pork Ribs Soup ($4.50). The pork ribs were cooked until so soft that it literally fell apart with ease. The lotus roots were also sweet and crunchy. I can once again taste the effort behind each bowl of soup in the richness, and this comes with a subtle nutty finishing from the peanuts.

Pumpkin Rice 3.5/5 and Oliver Rice 4/5

Olive Rice 4/5

Ah Er Soup at Yuan Ching Road offers 4 types of rice to go with their soups. They are the normal Steamed Rice, Brown Rice, Pumpkin Rice and Olive Rice. I understand the ABC Brickworks Food Centre stall does not offer the olive rice. I would highly recommend the olive rice which is much more fragrant compared to the others. On top of that, you don't usually get to have it elsewhere.

Preserved Vegetable with Braised Meat 3.8/5

Different from the other franchise stalls across the islands, the main stall offers other braised items such as the Preserved Vegetable with Braised Meat ($6), Braised Pig Trotter, Braised Pig Skin, Braised Beancurd, Braised Egg, Salted Vegetable, Tau Kee and Handmade Fish Roll to go with the nourishing soups.

Ah Er Soup (阿2汤)
3 Yuan Ching Road
Singapore 618642
Nearest MRT: Lakeside (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Lakeside MRT station. Cross the road. Walk to bus stop opposite Lakeside MRT station (Stop ID 28099). Take bus number 154. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

One More (来一客) Steamboat & Teppanyaki Buffet @ HillV2 - Healthy, Delicious & Convenient Taiwanese Steamboat

I love steamboat and have tried numerous steamboat restaurants but Taiwanese steamboat is a new to me. Together with two other Westies friends, we visited One More (来一客) Steamboat & Teppanyaki Buffet at HillV2 for dinner. The steamboat restaurant offers over 100 different steamboat ingredients, cooked food, desserts and drink for the steamboat buffet. Besides the steamboat, it also offers bento set and Taiwan La Mian.

There are a total of seven different soup bases for the steamboat. We find some of them quite interesting such as the German Sauerkraut Soup and Indian Curry Soup. The other soup bases available on the menu are the Superior Soup, Korean Kimchi Soup, Italian Tomato Soup, Taiwan Mala Soup and Thai Tom Yum Soup.

In the end, we decided to try the Superior Soup, Italian Tomato Soup, Indian Curry Soup and Taiwan Mala Soup. We thought that Taiwan Mala Soup lacked the spicy fragrant but the other three soups are really good. You may wonder how the Indian Curry soup tastes like? It is like your fish head curry which we surprisingly enjoyed it a lot.

For the meat lovers, there is a good variety of different beef cuts, pork, lamb and chicken. Among the spread, you can also find an eclectic selections of vegetables, mushrooms and different type of balls. The dumpling which is plump and juicy is not to be missed. If you are a seafood person, you will be slightly disappointed as the menu focuses more on meat and vegetables.

What is Taiwanese cuisine without the staple Lu Rou Fan or braised pork belly rice right? This is definitely a bonus at One More Steamboat where you can have free flow lu rou fan with the steamboat.

Another unique steamboat ingredient we discovered is the Black Sesame Mochi and Cheese Mochi. The owner has specially imported this from Taiwan. The mochi is supposed to be cooked and eaten in the steamboat.

After feasting to your content, do not forget to save some space for the desserts. Among the dessert spreads, there are cream puff, cheese tarts, fruits, different variety of mochi and ice creams.

Overall we have enjoyed our dining experience at One More Steamboat. Besides the wide selection of ingredients, I thought the have some unique and delicious soup bases. I will definitely return for their superior, tomato and curry soup bases.

Price
Lunch
Mon-Fri: $25.80 adult / $15.80 child
Sat-Sun: $27.80 adult / $17.80 child
Hi-Tea
Mon-Fri: $19.80 adult / $11.80 child
Sat-Sun: $21.80 adult / $13.80 child
Dinner
Mon-Fri: $30.80 adult / $18.80 child
Sat-Sun: $32.80 adult / $20.80 child

Note: This is an invited tasting.


[CLOSED]
One More (来一客) Steamboat & Teppanyaki Buffet
HillV2
4 Hillview Rise
#01-14/15
Singapore 667979
Tel: +65 6710 7478
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Hillview (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Hillview MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn right onto Hillview Road. Continue on Hillview Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Red House Seafood (小红楼) Chinese New Year 2016

Red House Seafood a household name since 1976, will be offering for the first time in this Lunar New Year a Reunion Takeaway Tiffin Set (六六大顺套餐外卖) at $188 for 6 pax. The six courses set comes in a three tiered custom make tingkat. The Reunion Takeaway Tiffin Set is available from 25 January to 22 February 2016 at both its Prinsep Street and Robertson Quay outlets.

The six dishes in the Reunion Takeaway Tiffin Set (六六大顺套餐外卖) are,

- Wok Fried Sauteed Fresh Lily Bulbs, Wild Mushrooms with Asparagus,
- Sauteed Trio of Seafood with Pineapple in Chef's Spicy Sauce
- Braised Pork Belly with Special Sauce
- Prosperity Raw Salmon Yu Sheng
- Steamed Fried Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf
- Mandarin Oranges

Prosperity Raw Salmon Yu Sheng 3/5

Nowadays Lo Hei has become part and parcel of any Lunar New Year celebration in Singapore. Hence it is very thoughtful of Red House Seafood to include the Yu Sheng in the Reunion Takeaway Tiffin Set. Tossing to a new year of abundance and prosperity.

Sauteed Trio of Seafood with Pineapple in Chef's Spicy Sauce 4/5

If you think that the portion of the Reunion Takeaway Tiffin Set will be small, worry not as what you see in my picture is the exact portion you will get for the takeaway. The Sauteed Trio of Seafood with Pineapple in Chef's Spicy Sauce will delight diners with its myriad of seafood (whole scallops, grouper fillet and prawns). The seafood is tossed in a Peranakan inspired spicy sauce together with fresh pineapples, seasonal greens and red peppers.

Braised Pork Belly with Special Sauce 3.8/5

Weight a good 600gram, the Braised Pork Belly with Special Sauce is first deep fried and then slow cooked for another 3 hours. It is beautifully braised in a tangy sweet sauce reduced from lemon juice, fresh oranges and Chinese herbs. The marriage of the special sauce with the pork belly is an excellent choice. However, I was hoping that the meat can be more tender.

Steamed Fried Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf 3.5/5

Rounding off the takeaway dinner is the Steamed Fried Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf. A parcel of fragrance fried rice to complete a satisfying meal.

Signature Scottish Blue Lobster with Creamy Custard Sauce 4/5

During the Chinese New Year, customers at Red House Seafood will be able to savour sustainable seafood imported from the pristine waters in Scotland. One of the dishes is the Signature Scottish Blue Lobster with Creamy Custard Sauce. The bouncy lobster flesh with its exterior deep fried crispiness coupled with the creamy custard sauce, is finger licking goodness.

Stewed Ginseng Chicken Wrapped with Cabbage 4.8/5

A new creation at Red House Seafood is the Stewed Ginseng Chicken Wrapped with Cabbage which will be available on the Reunion Dinner Set Menus. Marinated overnight with a blend of Chinese rice wine, ginseng and Chef's secret combination of herbs, the whole chicken is then wrapped with cabbages leaves and steamed for an hour. The result is an extremely soft and silky texture will pull apart meat.

Stewed Ginseng Chicken Wrapped with Cabbage 4.8/5

For guests planning to celebrate the festive period, the Annual Dinner Set Menus are available from 01 January till 22 February 2016. There are 3 annual dinner set menus available for both lunch and dinner, ranging from $588 to $988 for 10 pax. Those we plan to eat out for Chinese New Year eve, Red House Seafood offers diners a choice of 3 Reunion Dinner Set Menus ranging from $288 for 4 pax to $888 for 10 pax.


Red House Seafood (小红楼)
68 Prinsep Street
Singapore 188661
Tel: +65 6336 6080
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedHouseSeafood
Website: http://www.redhouseseafood.com
Nearest MRT: Bras Basah (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am -230pm, 5pm - 1030pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bra Basah MRT station. Take Exit D or E. Walk to junction of Bras Basah Road and Prinsep Street. Turn right onto Prinsep Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes.

AS Seafood Soup (安盛海鲜汤) @ Depot Road

Many people may have heard of the famous Yan Ji Seafood Soup stall at Woodlands. However not many knows about this humble little stall, AS Seafood Soup (安盛海鲜汤) at Depot Road. It actually moved from Bedok to the current location. According to my brief conversation with the cook that was preparing the seafood soup, I am told that he learnt how to cook the seafood soup from a famous stall in Woodlands. I would suspect it is Yan Ji since the style is very similar.

Crayfish Seafood Soup 4.2/5

At AS Seafood Soup, they basically sells three type of soup. They are Crayfish Seafood Soup ($10/$12), Seafood Soup ($5.50/$7.50) and Promfret Seafood Soup ($10). We had the most expensive crayfish seafood soup at $12 since we have travelled all the way to try it. The soup is cooked with old hen, dried scallop and pork ribs for a good 4 hours to get the rich flavours.

Crayfish Seafood Soup 4.2/5

The luxurious bowl of seafood soup comes with crayfish, prawns, fish slices and chunks of minced pork. I have not tried Yan Ji before but accordingly to Maureen, the soup still falls short of the intensive she had at Yan Ji. Nevertheless, this is still a delicious bowl of seafood soup if are not willing to travel all the way to Woodlands.

Braised Pig Trotter 3/5

The stall also sells Braised Pig Trotter ($5/$7). The braising sauce was actually quite good. However the braised pork trotter was a bit tough and on the dry side.

Good news to the people staying in the East. As I draft this blog post, I am glad to tell you they are back in Bedok, with the opening of the 2nd outlet at block 412, Bedok North.


AS Seafood Soup (安盛海鲜汤)
Yue Hua Food Court
Blk 108 Depot Road
#02-22
Singapore 100108
Tel: +65 83987155
Facebook
Nearest MRT: LAbrador Park (CC Line), Telok Blangah (CC Line), Harbourfront (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 9pm
Sat: 11am - 3pm
Sun: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Labrador Park MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite furniture warehouse (Stop ID 14401). Take bus number 408. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Telok Blangah MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Telok Blangah MRT station (Stop ID 14161). Take bus number 57. Alight 6 stops later. Cross the Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at HarbourFront MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to HarbourFront Bus interchange (Stop ID 14009). Take bus number 408. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 21 minutes. [Map]

Good Chance Popiah (好彩薄饼) @ Jalan Berseh

Good Chance Popiah (好彩薄饼) a heritage brand since 1977, now oversee by the third generation has opened its 2nd restaurant at Jalan Berseh. The 28 years wait has finally been over as Mr Boon Kaichun or also known as Ah Boy, invested and expanded the the family business. Good Chance Popiah now not only offers their signature Do-It-Yourself popiah but also has since expanded their menu offering many delectable cooked dishes.

Popiah 4.5/5

A visit to Good Chance Popiah definitely has to try their signature Do-It-Yourself popiah. I remembered trying their popiah many years ago but I did not enjoy it. However I have changed my mind after re-visiting them last year. It seems like they have fine-tuned the recipe since and it tasted so much better. If you like spicy, the chilli sauce really kick ass. I am told that a total of 7 different ingredients are used to make this pot of flavourful turnip for the popiah.

Salted Egg Yolk Fried Fish Skin 4.2/5

How to resist anything salted egg yolk right? The addictive starter. Salted Egg Yolk Fried Fish Skin with hints of spiciness is a good starter to the dinner.

Special Tofu 4.8/5

The Special Tofu is a must try at Good Chance Popiah, You will be blown away by Ah Boy's latest creation. The cube shaped like special tofu is actually made from the turnip gravy and egg mixture and then deep fried to golden brown. The result is a smooth silky texture that tasted even better than tofu.

Prawn Roll 4/5

Another delectable starter is the Prawn Roll that is stuffed with fresh prawn, minced meat and chestnut. It is really hard to stop at one.

Prawn Paste Chicken 4.2/5

Shrimp paste maybe smelly to some but it is aroma to me. Prawn Paste Chicken has to be one of my favourite zi char dishes and I am glad that this is available in Good Chance Popiah's menu. Crispy on the exterior with the distinct shrimp paste, this is nicely executed with the interior still tender and juicy.

Fish Head Yam Soup 4.5/5

A traditional Hokkien dish, the Fish Head Yam Soup is simmered over slow fire to extract the natural essence of the fish head, yam and cabbage to the pot of comforting and hearty soup. After I tried this dish last year, this is a must order whenever I visit the restaurant.

Salted Egg Yolk Lobster 4.2/5

I called this the dry version of Salted Egg Yolk Lobster. Coated around the bouncy lobster, the savoury and sweetness combination is just simply delicious.

Kong Bak Pau 4.2/5

The Kong Bak Pau or Stewed Pork Belly with Steamed Bun is another traditional dish that Good Chance Popiah has done well too. The flavourful melted in the mouth pork belly paired with the steamed bun is irresistible goodness not to eat it. Dieting can leave to another day.

Braised Pork Trotter Beehoon 4.5/5

Wrapping up our dinner is this bowl of Braised Pork Trotter Beehoon. The beehoon well infused with the pork trotter gravy, was slurping good. This dish may not be of any expensive ingredients but has a comforting and hearty home cooked memories.

I personally find that the food at Good Chance Popiah has improved a lot since I tried them many years ago. If you have not been back to Good Chance Popiah, I would encourage you to do so and give it a try.


Good Chance Popiah (好彩薄饼)
New World Centre
1 Jalan Berseh
#01-15
Singapore 209037
Tel: +65 96229445
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Lavender (EW Line), Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit B. Cut across the HDB estate to King George's Ave. Turn left on King George's Ave and walk to the end. Turn right onto Syed Alwi Road. Continue straight on Syed Alwi Road until Jalan Berseh Road. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Cross the road and walk towards Mustafa at Syed Alwi Road. Continue walking down Syed Alwi Road until Jalan Beseh Road. Cross the road and turn right. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Lee's Taiwanese @ JEM

Celebrating its 3rd anniversary, Lee's Taiwanese has refreshed its menu with the returning of old favourites and new delights. On top of that it has also introduced an a la carte buffet with a selection of over 20 dishes. The a la carte buffet is available on weekday only with free dessert and drinks. Do note that the buffet is available at JEM outlet ($16.90) from 1130am to 5pm while Star Vista outlet ($19.90) is from 3pm to 10pm.

Pig Intestines & Meat Ball Mee Sua 4/5

Probably the very first dish that I am introduce to Taiwanese cuisine is the Pig Intestines & Meat Ball Mee Sua ($10). The version at Lee's Taiwanese is as close as the one I had in Taiwan topped with garlic, chilli and vinegar. The rice vermicelli which comes with a nice silky bite is imported from Taiwan.

Sweet Potato Fries 3.5/5

Instead of buying an air ticket to fly to Taiwan, Lee's Taiwanese has brought the popular Taiwan street food dishes to their menu. I tried some of the street snacks such as Sweet Potato Fries ($6.90), Salt & Pepper Chicken ($6.90), Pig Intestines with Scallion ($7.50) and Crispy Chicken Chop ($7.80).

The Sweet Potato Fries has a nice thin batter coated around it, giving it a nice crispy bite. The sweet potato itself thickly cut, allowing one to appreciate its sweetness to the fullest.

Salt & Pepper Chicken 4/5

A very enjoyable snack delight is the Salt & Pepper Chicken ($6.90). These crispy and juicy chunks of chicken meat are popping goodness that is perfect with a a glass of beer.

Pig Intestines with Scallion 3.5/5

The Pig Intestines with Scallion ($7.50) was fried to a nice crunchy bite. The scallion stuffed into the pig intestines is a clever idea to mask the gamey taste of the innard.

Crispy Chicken Chop 3/5

Another popular Taiwan street food dish is the Crispy Chicken Chop ($7.80). This is really a huge piece of offering on the plate. While the meat still retained the juiciness, I thought the batter was a pale shadow compare to the other Taiwanese restaurants or stalls.

Crispy Bean Curd Rolls 3/5

Golden Tofu with Taiwan Kimchi 3/5

Some other dishes I tried on the menu are the Crispy Bean Curd Rolls ($4.80) and Golden Tofu with Taiwan Kimchi ($4.80). Nothing much to shout about but a nice complement to the meal at Lee's Taiwanese.

Century Egg Tofu 3/5

I am a big fan for Century Egg Tofu ($4.80) but this at Lee's Taiwanese did not manage to excite me. The whole execution felt very individual. I still miss the authentic century egg cold tofu I had in Taiwan years back.

Signature Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup 4/5

Not to miss is the Signature Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup ($13.80) which comes with a hint of spiciness in the soup base. Severed with tender beef, salted vegetables and handmade noodles, this is a good slurping bowl of springy noodles dish.

Braised Minced Pork Rice 4/5

Shredded Chicken Rice 3/5

For those that needs their daily intake of rice, there are the Braised Minced Pork Rice ($9.80) and Shredded Chicken Rice ($7.80). The braised minced pork rice is really flavoured which I don't mind polishing it off. The shredded chicken rice which is so called the Taiwanese version of hainanese chicken rice will find it hard to win the palate of the local who are already used to their own authentic version in locally. However I must applauded the shallot oil that perfumed the bowl of plain looking rice which surprisingly is very fragrant and aromatic.

Mala Spicy Stir Fry 4.2/5

It seems like Mala Guo is the latest trend and craze in Singapore. Despite the fiery spiciness of the dish, Singaporean seems to enjoy it. With that, Lee's Taiwanese has also come up with its own Taiwanese style Mala Spicy Fry (from $12.80). It also has a Mala Guo Set ($28) with appetizers and drinks that is good for 2 pax. With three different spicy levels to choose from, this is one of the most memorable new dishes that I tried.

Signature Red Bean Ice with Yam Balls 3/5

Last but not least, the Signature Red Bean Ice with Yam Balls ($5.80) to cool off that fiery tongue after the Mala Spicy Fry. The portion is quite huge. It is perfect for sharing.

Lee's Taiwanese is one of the few Taiwan restaurant I would go to if I am looking for some authentic Taiwanese food. The quality has been pretty consistent. The new dishes look promising and the a la carte buffet is very value for money.


Lee's Taiwanese
JEM
50 Jurong Gateway Road
#03-05/06
Singapore 608549
Tel: +65 66941588
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leestaiwanese
Website: http://www.leestaiwanese.com/
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

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