Fish & Chicks @ Clementi West Street 2 - Salted Egg And Chilli Crab Fish & Chips

Fish & Chicks has recently opened a new outlet in Clementi West Street 2. It has eleven outlets around the island. The western food stall is known for its array of Asian-infused western food, pairing Asian spices with classic western dishes, served in generous portions.

Salted Egg Fish & Chips 3.8/5

I had the Salted Egg Fish & Chips ($11.80). It comes in an enormous piece of moist fish fillet coated in a crispy and light batter. I was sceptical whether the salt egg yolk sauce complements the fried fish, and it turned out the sauce was legit yummy, which goes very well with the fried fish. For the sides, we have coleslaw and french fries.

Chilli Crab Fish & Chips 3.5/5

My partner has the Chilli Crab Fish & Chips ($11.80), which comes with the same coleslaw and french fries for the sides. However, the chilli crab sauce fell short of my expectation. It lacks the punchy taste profile that makes the chilli crab a national dish both locals and foreigners love.

Besides Fish and Chips, the stall sells many other western fares such as steak, pasta and even Japanese donburi. Fish & Chicks is a hawker stall; hence I can't expect restaurant quality for its fish and chips. However, it is affordable, and serving is generous. I don't mind going back to try the other items on the menu.


Fish & Chicks
Blk 713 Clementi West Street 2
#01-115
Singapore 120713
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 201. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the road. Walk straight across the housing blocks to Clementi West Street 2. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Clementi Bus Interchange (Stop ID 17009). Take bus number 282. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Coexist Coffee Co @ Hillview Terrace - New Hidden Cafe In The West On The Rooftop Of An Industrial Building

Who would ever guess someone will open a cafe located on the rooftop of an industrial building in the West of Singapore? Coexist Coffee Co is located at Hillview Terrace. Take the lift to the seventh floor and take the staircase to the eighth floor to reach the cafe.

DDeck in white and red tiles, the interior is quite bare and straightforward, giving the cafe a spacious feel. The eye-catching piece of furniture would be the suspending stone table extending out from the counter.

White with Oat Milk

At a glance at the cups for our White With Oat Milk ($6), you may think the cafe uses plastic cups for the coffee. I don't blame you; that was my initial impression until I lift the cup to sip my coffee. Oh, it is heavy. It is not plastic but porcelain.

Steak & Eggs 3/5

The menu at Coexist Coffee Co is quite extensive. We tried both the Steak & Eggs ($26) and Sambal Fish and Chips ($20) from the menu. Both dishes were served about half an hour apart, with many tables checking on their orders and staff going around apologising for the wait. The kitchen is slow in dishing out the food. Hopefully, they can sort out the operation as the delay is ready too long.

Back to the food, the Steak & Eggs is quite average. While it is cooked to the correct doneness, the meat is rather tough in texture. There are no sauces, lightly seasoned to enjoy the beef's natural flavour. While we manage to finish the steak, we didn't touch the salad because the dressing is too sour and acidic.

Sambal Fish and Chips 3.8/5

The same very sour and acidic dressing is used in the salad for the Sambal Fish and Chips ($20). The fish tasted much better than the steak. The batter is light and crispy. The fish itself is fresh, not those frozen types, complemented by the sambal, which is not spicy.

As the cafe is only on its second day during my visit, we have to excuse the operation. I think the concept has potential, but they need time to fine-tune and smooth out their operations.


Coexist Coffee Co
Hillview Building
48 Hillview Terrace
#08-00
Singapore 669269
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line), Hillview (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 7pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Hillview MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to the traffic junction of Hillview Road and Upper Bukit Timah Road. Cross the road. Walk to bus stop opposite Glendale Park Condominium (Stop ID 43279).Take bus number 176, 177, 653 or 963. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road to Hillview Terrace. Walk down Hillview Terrace. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus number 177. Alight 3 stops later. Walk down Hillview Ave to Hillview Terrace. Turn right onto Hillview Terrace. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

El Carbon Grill House @ Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 - Halal Western Food Stall With An Authentic Charcoal Grill Concept

Situated within a coffee shop in Ang Mo Kio, western hawker food stall El Carbon delivers quality western food at wallet-friendly prices. The storefront has a unique aesthetic appearance and gives off fancier vibes which made it different from other stalls in the coffee shop. They also have 2 other outlets opening daily at Yishun and Tampines as well.

One of the highlights is that they use a Mibrasa oven (Carbon’ is Spanish for coal, and Mibrasa Oven uses only charcoal as fuel), which employs all the great taste and rustic techniques of traditional charcoal cooking - which means a hands-on versatile process that allows the chef to push the limits of a menu. This also allows the chef to closely monitor the temperature and fire to keep different batches of food consistent in taste.

Signature Roasted Half Chicken 4.2/5

First, we had their most popular dish - the Signature Roasted Half Chicken ($9.50). It is of little wonder why as their chicken is extremely crispy and juicy inside.

Haddock Fish 'N' Chips 4/5

Haddock Fish 'N' Chips ($7.50) - Different from other stalls, they use Haddock Fish for their version of Fish 'N' Chips. Crispy, and tender yet still firm on the inside, I was pleasantly surprised that the Haddock Fish did not fall apart when cut and picked up by the fork. Dip it in to the cheese sauce or mayo for either a savoury or tangy-sweet taste which paired well with the seafood sweetness. At just $7.50, it's definitely a steal.

Angus Ribeye 3.8/5

Done medium rare, the Angus Ribeye ($13) is tender with a rich beefy flavour. Furthermore, it's only priced at $13 for such a huge portion of beef, so there is nothing to complain about.

Grilled Japanese Squid with Kicap Manis Sauce 4/5

One of the starters we had was the Grilled Japanese Squid with Kicap Manis Sauce ($9.50). An interesting dish - the kicap manis sauce used is an Indonesian sweet soy sauce which gave the tender and smoky charcoal-grilled squid a delicious spicy sweet flavour.

Cheesy Tater Totes 4.2/5

My favourite goes to the Cheesy Tater Totes ($5). The mini hash browns are crispy and fluffy inside, layered with melted cheese and mayo which gave an extra boost in flavour without being too cloying. It definitely makes for an addictive side to the meal.

Forest Mushroom Soup 4.2/5, Garlic Bread 3.8/5

Another of our favourite starter is the Forest Mushroom Soup ($3) which is thick, creamy and loaded with a rich mushroom earthiness.

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.


El Carbon
Blk 721 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8
#01-2823, Food Loft
Singapore 560721
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Ang Mo Kio (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Ang Mo Kio MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn right and walk to traffic junction. Cross the road. Turn right and walk down Ang Mo Kio Ave 8. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Ryan's Grocery and Ryan's Kitchen @ Great World City - Grocery And Restaurant Under One Roof

This January saw the opening of the flagship concept of Ryan's Grocery at the newly revamped Great World. Occupying a space of 4,000 square feet, this second outlet includes Ryan's Kitchen, its first cafe in Singapore. Perhaps better known among cooking enthusiasts who are well acquainted with its retail store at Binjai Park, Ryan's Kitchen now invites all to have a taste of its eco-friendly produce imported from trusted partners, along with its housemade nitrate-free hams and bacon, sausages and dry-aged meats. The menu also showcases the expanded variety of its retail store - organic, gluten-, preservative-, and allergen-free products from Australia, Singapore, Europe and the U.S.

All mains are served with thick fries from U.S. made with 100% potatoes, mesclun salad and choice of sauces including Jamworks Beetroot Relish, Jamworks Spanish Onion Jam, Artigiani del Tartufo Truffle Mustard and Artigiani del Tartufo Truffle Parmigiano Cream, all of which can also be purchased at the grocery. Butcher's Grill offers different cuts of beef and pork.

OP Rib 4.5/5

The highly acclaimed Five Founders Carbon Neutral Certified Beef (70 days grain-fed) OP Rib ($148 for 1Kg) is nothing short of spectacular. A feast for the eyes, the 1kg slab of bone-in ribeye was simply grilled to medium-rare, the recommended doneness for this cut. The accompanying beetroot relish and truffle mustard were both ideal counterpoints to the richness of the meat.

Pork Collar 4/5

Winner of Australia's Best Pork National Award 2018, Borrowdale Free Range Pork is prized for its clean flavours and texture. Similarly to that of beef, to allow one to appreciate the natural flavours of the meat, the Borrowdale Free Range Pork Collar ($28 for 250g) is grilled and finished with a touch of tantalizing sticky apple balsamic.

Aussie 'The Lot' Burger 4/5

The burgers here are made with 180g patties from the butchery counter. Aussie' The Lot' Burger ($28) hits all the right spots with its combination of flavours - juicy and flavourful patty paired with piquant beetroot relish, tangy cured beetroot, sharp cheddar, smoky bacon; enrich with contrasting sweet and creamy mayonnaise. Not to forget the joy of biting into the oozy egg yolk of the skillfully done sunny-side-up egg.

Mushroom Swiss Burger 3.8/5

For a slightly milder, comforting flavour, Mushroom Swiss Burger ($25) deeply satisfies with the mouth-filling combination of beef with warm, creamy mushroom ragout and milky swiss cheese.

The Australian grain-fed patty can be upgraded to Organic (+$3) or Waygu (+$5). For the buns, you can choose between Brioche and Ciabatta, or top up $3 for a gluten-free, Keto or Organic Bun. The keto bun we tried had a brown and nutty crust and was amazingly airy. Compared to a brioche which can be overly buttery at times, or a gluten-free bun that tends to be relatively greasier, based on my experience, this fluffy keto bun not only holds the ingredients better, it balances the richness of it all. As for the ciabatta, I find it a little stiff for burgers.

Assorted Housemade Sausages 3.5/5

You can even design your own meat platter with the Pick & Grill service from the Butchery, select your preferred cuts or housemade cured meats and sausages like Pork Cumberland Sausage ($2.80/ 100g) and Herb Garlic Beef ($2.80/100g), and they will be prepared at a nominal fee at the cafe.

Crispy Pork Belly Nuggets 3.8/5

Sides are also available, which are ideal for wine pairing. Such as the thinly sliced Crispy Pork Belly Nuggets ($12) with Jamworks' BBQ relish which is a must-try. They were crispy with a slightly chewy texture at the fats portion, and didn't leave much grease on my fingers!

You can also try Noosa's Whiting Fillet at Ryan's Kitchen, which is served as Breaded Wild Caught Whiting ($16), paired with a tangy tartar sauce. I find the crust slightly tough, which doesn't showcase the beauty of the fish.

Anything that you fancy after your meal, the ingredients are all available for purchase at Ryan's Grocery. Beyond that, there are also new and outlet-exclusive brands such as Carrara Beef, Woodward Lamb and Kilcoy Beef. You can also select your preferred cut and request to be aged at their facility with a nominal fee. The frozen foods and products section also offers a range of frozen meats and seafood from outlet-exclusive Noosa Seafood Market. Available both fresh and frozen, products include Australian-made fresh frozen burger buns, as well as freshly baked raisin toast, miso sourdough, and a variety of pastries and bagels. At the back of the store, you will find a cold room that is stock up with a wide range of fresh organic and seasonal vegetables from Australia, UK and other parts of the world, including my favourite brussels sprouts but on the stalk!

Written and photography 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.


Ryan's Grocery and Ryan's Kitchen
Great World City
1 Kim Seng Promenade
#B1-144/146
Singapore 237994
Tel: +65 67673393 (Ryan's Grocery) / +65 67670118 (Ryan's Kitchen)
Ryan's Grocery Facebook
Ryan's Kitchen Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Great World (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Ryan's Grocery
Daily: 9am - 9pm
Ryan's Kitchen
Mon-Fri: 9am - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 8am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Great World MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes.[Map]

Ash & Char @ McCallum Street - Relaunched and Revamped Into A Chic Gastrobar

Ash & Char at McCallum Street has officially joined the family WEROC Group, who owns and manages a portfolio of lifestyle and entertainment brand. Formally a cafe, Ash & Char has been revamped into a Gastro Bar. With 2 large lightbulbs "chandaliers" mounted on the ceiling as centrepieces, luminating the tuxedo black tables that are matched with sleek black, gold and silver high stools, Ash & Char eases between a cosy venue for lunch during day time and a chill out place as the sun sets.

Crispy Cauliflower 3.8/5

Grill and char cooking methods lie at the core of Ash & Char's concept and I thought this Crispy Cauliflower showcases that fully. Dressed with gremolata, an Italian sauce concocted using lemon zest, garlic, soy and parsley, its sweet, bitter and tangy notes bind well with the slight smokiness of the crisp exteriors of cauliflowers, transforming these humble stalks into addictive bites.

Crispy Kalemari 3.8/5

Crispy Kalemari was ingenious. The rather skinny fried calamari would have otherwise been a rather mediocre cafe side if not for the crisp baked Kale. The color juxtaposition is refreshing, the batter of the calamari was light and flavourful and if there was any bits of greasiness, the crackly kale balanced that out.

Mayura Choco Wagyu 3.5/5 and Signature Char Siu 3.5/5

Two notable items in Ash & Char are their Signature Char Siu and Mayura Choco Wagyu ($18). Rewinding to more than a year ago when I first tasted this Char Siu, it was good but I felt it had a lot of potential to be even better. The honey and soy glaze was moreish yet easy on the palette. As for the meat, those slices with charred edges were extra delicious as the burnt fats tend to melt away with ease, releasing to the meat most of its flavour. If only there were more of such pieces on the plate. However, it seems that nothing has quite changed after trying it for the second time. As for the famed Mayura Choco Wagyu, coming from herds raised with chocolates in their diet, I believe the legendary chocolate flavour would be more pronounced should the meat be treated differently instead of being cut into cubes.

Mentaiko Salmon Aburi bowl 3.5/5

Meant to serve up as a cosy venue for lunch as well, there are a range of pastas and rice bowls to choose from. Mentaiko Salmon Aburi Rice Bowl ($16) is a crowd-pleaser with the layer of torched mentaiko atop the salmon fillet. As much as I love aburi half-cooked style, the salmon fillet is meant to be fully cooked. It gets a bit dry at the skinnier ends but the creamy mentaiko helps to add some fattiness to it.

Tom Yum Seafood Pasta 3.5/5

Tom Yum Seafood Pasta ($16) is one of the mainstayers in the menu. The tangy and fiery Tom Yum sauce is what makes it so popular among their customers. Pairing seafood with it is like a bowl of Tom Yum Gong with flavours being concentrated into a pasta dish.

Creamy Smoked Duck Pasta 2.5/5

As for the Creamy Smoked Duck Pasta ($16), I feel more can be done to elevate this dish that is worthy of their new modern Gastro Pub image. The seemingly dehydrated duck slices can definitely be thicker to begin with.

Char-grilled Waygu Burger 3/5

For classic gastro bar food, we had AC Char-grilled Wagyu Burger ($22) and Fish & Chips ($18). The Waygu patty wasn't as juicy as expected, if not, the light charcoal bun would have been perfect to balance a rich patty. As for the Fish & Chips, what makes it different is the herbs embedded within the batter that seasons the fish naturally.

Fish & Chips 3/5

If you can't make up your mind on what to order, simply go for the WEROC Wings and create a wings platter. One look at the plump chicken wings is enough to whet your appetite. On our platter were Har Cheong Gai ($12/4pc), US Buffalo ($14/4pc), Japanese Teriyaki ($12/4pcs), with side dips at $2 each. They were indeed as juicy as they appeared and the sauces made each finger licking good.

WEROC Wings 4/5

If you have seen or heard about blue wine, here is the chance to try it yourself. Please don't mistaken it as your blue pea flower drink! WEROC exclusive blue wine - Santa Cruz de Alpera Blue Frizzante is an easy to drink wine with tropical notes which makes it suitable for an afternoon tipper, perhaps like 3pm on a Friday? What gives it the deep blue color is simply a food grade colorant. A stronger option would be the Whisky Sour. This chilled and sour concoction is a much needed remedy to wake up the dull taste buds after a long day and I like how the egg white gives it its creamy body and texture.

Blue Wine and Whisky Sour

It is easy to be allured by its grand curve wide frontage where the outdoor bar is, especially when the Tapas and Cocktails Happy Hour promotion starts early, from 3pm to 8pm daily.

Words and photos 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.


Ash & Char
21 McCallum Street
Singapore 069047
Tel: +65 91328880
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 1130am - 11pm
Fri: 1130am - 12midnight

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Turn left and walk to junction of Telok Ayer Street and McCallum Street. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Two Hana @ Century Square - Bringing Two Cultures, Korean And Western Together

There are quite a number of restaurants and eateries to check out at the newly re-opened Century Square mall. One of these restaurants and eateries is Two Hana which is located near the mall's taxi stand. It is a Korea meets West cafe concept offering a eclectic menu featuring all-day dining, light bites, hearty mains, alluring dessert, refreshing drinks and specialty coffee from All Press.

Two Hana Drumlets 3.5/5

Since it is a Korean inspired cafe, then we can do without the Korean fried chicken. The Two Hana Drumlets ($9) comes in 2 flavours - Honey Butter and Spicy Yangnyeom. It is a sweet and spicy combination with deep fried crispy skin. The honey butter sauce drumlets are topped with popcorn and almond while the spicy yangnyeom comes with sesame seeds.

Korean Cauliflower Fritters 4/5

Kimchi Mac & Cheese Bites 3.5/5

For some light bites on the menu, there are the Korean Cauliflower Fritters ($8) and Kimchi Mac & Cheese Bites ($9). The cauliflower is coated in a light crispy tempura batter and glazed in a sweet and spicy sauce. Up a notch with the kimchi mac & cheese whereby the cheesy filling is spiced up with kimchi chucks enveloped by crispy breadcrumbs.

Bulgogi Sidewinders 3.5/5

If you find having fries alone is rather boring, then the Bulgogi Sidewinders ($9) will be a nice change with its abundance of toppings such as beef bulgogi, creamy bulgogi sauce, kimchi bits, onions and parmeson cheese. It may sounds and looks messy but the combination actually comes together quite well.

Korean Slaw & Rocket Salad 3/5

If you want something light and healthy, there is the Korean Slaw & Rocket Salad ($9). The green consists of an assortment of rockets, cabbage and red cabbage. It is topped with pear, parmesan, mandarin orange, citron jam, yogurt and raisins. I enjoyed how the fruits and jam lend a citrus touch to the earthy greens.

Kimchi Bibimwrap 3/5

A staple Korean dish is the bibimap which is usually served in a bowl. How about the Kimchi Bibimwarp ($12), bibimap in a wrap? The wrap is stuffed with kimgaru rice, spinach, namul, shiitake mushrooms, fried garlic, egg, lettuce, cabbage, toasted sesame dressing and fried garlic. This is a meal on its own. You can also opt not to have rice in the wrap.

Striploin Bap 4/5

Rice bowl has been one the latest food trends in Singapore. Jumping on the bandwagon is the Striploin Bap ($13), its Korean interpretation of the rice bowl. Beautifully seared striploin slices, together with servings of kimchi, spinach, beansprout namul, caramelised onions and poached egg rest on top of the kimgarou rice. In fact, I find the bowl a bit small for the generous servings.

Crisp-Battered Pacific Cod 3/5

The Crisp-Battered Pacific Cod ($14) is served on a bed of doenjang mashed potatoes and comes with a choice of kimchi veloute or honey soy mayonnaise sauce. Unfortunately the highlight of the dish is the doenjang mashed potatoes, made from 60% potatoes, 40% butter and doenjang sauce. The bland tasting pacific cod is overshadowed by the creamy mashed potatoes with chunky bites.

Korean Seafood Cioppino 4.5/5

The dining group's favourite has to be the Korean Seafood Cioppino ($12), brimming with a medley of mussels, clams, prawns, mushroom and carrots stewed in tomatoes cream base. Diners can have a choice of tofu or soft rolls to go with the rich and creamy soup. It's like have a bowl of lobster bisque.

Gochujang Braised Lamb Shank 3.8/5

I thought the Gochujang Braised Lamb Shank ($24) is rather special. Unlike the usual, it is braised in a gochujang tomato sauce. While the braised sauce was delish, I was lacked down by the texture of the lamb shank. I was expecting it to be more tender. It seems that the lamb shank needs more hours in the pot.

Apple Caramel Waffles with Doenjang Caramel Ice Cream 3.5/5

As for dessert, I tried both the Apple Caramel Waffles with Doenjang Caramel Ice Cream ($9) and Strawberry Waffles with Honey Citron Ice Cream ($9). The waffles are crispy and dense. The addition of fruits help to cut those density with the yummy ice cream providing the home run.

Strawberry Waffles with Honey Citron Ice Cream 3.5/5

Overall, I feel that Two Hana serves some interesting Korean meets Western dishes but some are not at that level yet. There is potential in the dishes but probably needed more refinement to reach to excellent. Putting the food aside, the cafe serves great coffee using beans from All Press. So don't forget to get your caffeine fix whenever you drop by the cafe.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Two Hana
Century Square
2 Tampines Central 5
#01-21
Singapore 529509
Tel: +65 62604339
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Tampines (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tampines MRT station. Take Exit C. Turn left and walk to traffic light junction. Cross the road and walk down Tampines Central 5. Walk to Century Square. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]