Chen Mapo Tofu @ Star Vista - Michelin Bib Gourmand Eatery Chen’s Mapo Tofu Opens 2nd Outlet

Chen's Mapo Tofu, the affordable sister concept of Chen Kentaro's two-Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant Shisen Hanten opens its second outlet at Star Vista in the West. Chen's Mapo Tofu, with its first outlet at OUE Downtown Gallery, is known for its fuss-free dining option offering a unique fusion of Szechuan cuisine with Japanese influences.

Spicy Szechwan Dumpling 3/5, Szechwan Popcorn Chicken 4/5, Banbanji Chicken 4/5

Before moving to the mains, I started with some sides to whet up the appetite. I tried their Spicy Szechwan Dumpling ($5), Szechwan Popcorn Chicken ($5), and Banbanji Chicken ($4). I enjoyed the Szechwan Popcorn Chicken for its addictive crispiness and Banbanji Chicken for the delectable peanut sauce. As for the Szechwan Dumpling, I felt the sauce is not fragrant enough.

Mapo Don 4.5/5

One of Chef Chen Kentaro signature dishes at his two-Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant Shisen Hanten is his mapo tofu. It is great to know that you can savour the same recipe in the Mapo Don ($10.80) at Chen's Mapo Tofu. I like the mapo tofu here for the Dou Ban Jiang (broad bean paste) sauce packed with depth, coupled with minced meat in the sauce. It enlivens the whole enjoyment.

Dan Dan Mien 4.2/5

I had the dry version of the Dan Dan Mien when I visited the OUE Downtown Gallery outlet. I didn't enjoy it back then. However, I enjoyed the soup version of the Dan Dan Mien ($11.80). The sweet and nutty peanut sauce complement the noodle excellently for a slurping good time.

Diners can also go for the Signature Combo ($14), which you get to try both the mapo don and dan dan mien but half portion.

Kurozu Buta Don 4.2/5

A new dish on the menu is the Kurozu Buta Don ($15.30). The kurozu vinegar pork is crispy and chunky served on top steaming, fragrant rice with green and red capsicum.

Kaisen Katayaki 4/5

Another new item on the menu is the Kaisen Katayaki ($15.50). It will be familiar to Singapore palate, similar to the local zichar crispy noodle dish. Chen's Mapo Tofu's version comprises stir-fried seafood and vegetables with a rich gravy on crispy fried noodles. 

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Chen's Mapo Tofu 
Star Vista
1 Vista Exchange Green
#02-08
Singapore 138617
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Nearest MRT: Buona Vista (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Buona Vista MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Baristart Coffee @ Tras Street - Popular Hokkaido Cafe Using BIEI Jersey Milk Opens In Singapore

The popular Baristart Coffee from Hokkaido has opened its first-ever overseas cafe in Singapore, offering exceptional Hokkaido milk quality, BIEI Jersey Milk from the Brown Jersey cows which is left with around eight hundred such cattle, making up barely 1% of the cow population in Hokkaido.

Flat White 3.8/5

I started with the Flat White ($6.70) which offers 3 types of beans - Baristart Blend and 2 single origin beans that will change every month. Indeed the BIEI Jersey Milk gives the coffee a rich and creamy finishing with a tinge of sweetness. I like my coffee to showcase the characteristic of the coffee beans hence I am not sure I really like it. Don't get be wrong, it is still a good cup of coffee but I felt that the milk is more than a supporting role in this case.

BIEI Jersey Milk Coffee 4.2/5

The best way to appreciate the sweet and creamy BIEI Jersey Milk is to try the BIEI Jersey Milk Coffee ($7.50). It is like having a coffee flavoured milk.

Tuna & Avocado Salad with Wasabi Dressing 3/5

For those that like to have something clean and healthy, the Tuna & Avocado Salad with Wasabi Dressing ($14.80) will be a good option. It is a decent dish but it doesn't quite excite me.

Tonkatsu Sando 3.8/5

The Tonkatsu Sando ($16.80) which comes with tender pork cutlet and coleslaw, sandwiched between 2 slices of fluffy bread is pretty enjoyable. It even comes with french fries for a complete meal.

Hokkaido Carbonara 3.5/5

Spaghetti Seafood Shiso Pesto 3/5

The pasta at Baristart Coffee is quite decent too. I tried both the Hokkaido Carbonara ($17.80) and Spaghetti Seafood Shiso Pesto ($17.80). I preferred the carbonara more for its creaminess, partly for the fact that I am not a pesto lover. The creamy sauce is a result of the concoction of their signature BIEI Jersey Milk.

Obihiro Butadon 4/5

Perfect for the office workers in the area looking for a quick lunch is the Obihiro Butadon ($18.80). The comforting pork rick bowl comes with slices of sweet soy sauce Kurobuta pork belly on top of a bowl of fluffy white Japanese rice.

Cream Puff 4.5/5

A must try at Baristart Coffee is their Cream Puff ($4.50/one, $12/three). It may seems like just another cream puff but this is loaded with luscious Hokkaido BIEI Jersey Milk custard cream, that is both rich and creamy with delectable crisps and sugary bits on the pastry.

Shaved Ice (Shiro Kuma) 3/5

The bear shaped Shaved Ice - Shiro Kuma ($9.80) is drizzled with Hokkaido BIEI Jersey Milk and comes with vanilla ice cream. Underneath in the bowl is a plethora of colourful fruits such as orange, mango, white peach and strawberry. Guest can have a choice of coffee, strawberry, mango or green tea flavoured homemade syrup that is to be poured over the shaved ice and enjoyed together.

Chestnut & Mont Blanc 4/5

Served in a glass is the Chestnut & Mont Blanc ($8.80) which comes with layers of houji tea pudding, vanilla ice cream, chestnut cream, mont blanc cream, chestnut patisserie cream, chestnut bits, feuillantine and buttery cookies. Have everything together for a multi textural enjoyment with the different flavours coming together.

While the main focus of Baristart Coffee is to showcase the coffee with their Hokkaido BIEI Jersey Milk, guests are assumed of a complete dining experience here. Besides coffee, guests have a a full range of mains to desserts which makes is an all day cafe to visit.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Baristart Coffee
65 Tras Street
Singapore 079004
Tel: +65 69043169
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Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Tras Street. Turn right on Tras Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tokachi Tontaro @ OUE Downtown Gallery - Hearty Butadon Less Than $12 in The Heart Of CBD

Tokachi Tontaro at OUE Downtown Gallery specialises in Butadon, a well-loved pork rice bowl originated from Tokachi, Hokkaido, a place where pig farming started in the early 1900s. While each shop may use similar method of simply grilling the pork over charcoals, every shop owns its butadon by imprinting every bowl with their very own tare made with soy sauce and sugar. This special tare is used to steep the pork before grill, which also seeps deep into the rice in the bowl and flavouring each don, whetting the appetite of their customers.

At Tokachi Tontaro, the porks are from Kagoshima and US. As explained by the owner, as Kagoshima produces and exports a higher quantity of pork, there is a higher consistency compared to that of Hokkaido. Premium Butadon ($22.80R, $25.80L) features this better quality pork with the original tare. If you just want to experience what a Butadon is, you can just go for Regular Butadon ($11.80/$13.80/$16.80) which uses the US pork that will only cost half the price!

Premium Butadon 4.2/5

Looking forward to a bowl of Kagoshima pork that is lip smacking juicy and flavourful but ours seem to fall short of expectations.Perhaps due to the leaner type of pork that the owner has decided to use, mostly due to the feedback from the waistline of the conscious CBD crowd. The rice though, was yummy with the special tare and partly thanks to the state-of-the-art rice washing machine that was purchased to preserve the quality of the high grade Japanese rice right from the start.

Spicy Tomato 4/5

If you would like some heat, you can opt for the exclusive Spicy Tomato ($11.80/$13.80/$16.80) that comes with extra sauce should you need more of the kick. I would prefer it to be more tomatoey.  It uses the US Pork. While the US pork is tender, somehow the flavours that they exude lack the aroma and dimensions that I get from the Japanese counterpart.

Miso Butadon 3.8/5

Another variation is the Miso Butadon ($12.80/$14.80/$17.80) that uses the US Pork. Unfortunately the kitchen seems to be a bit heavy with he peppers, overwhelming the miso flavours. Nevertheless, the pork is still tender and juicy.

Salmon Don 2.5/5

Catering to the non-meat crowd is the Salmon Don ($17.80). I don't remember the last time when I had such a dry and overcooked salmon in a Japanese joint.

Hokkaido Imomochi Cheese 4/5

Hokkaido Crab Cream Croquette 4/5

We tried 2 sides - Hokkaido Imomochi Cheese ($6.50) and Hokkaido Crab Cream Croquette ($7). When they are all hot and oozy, you may derive greater pleasure from them than the mains.

All the dons can be upsize to include Onsen Egg, Tofu salad and drink. Adding the Onsen egg and mix it together with the rice, definitely up the satisfaction by a notch.

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.


Tokachi Tontaro 
OUE Downtown Gallery
6A Shenton Way
#03-20
Singapore 068815
Tel: +65 62241470
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11am - 930pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to traffic light junction. Cross the traffic light to Maxwell Road. Turn right and walk towards Shenton Way. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]