Ebi Bar @ Cuppage Plaza - New Mod-Sin Noodle Bar

Ebi Bar at Cuppage serves up its modern take on Singaporean prawn noodles with its specially concocted prawn broth and handmade noodles. The menu includes some of our favourite side dishes, but with an added touch of fanciness to make it their own.

Signature “Chao Da” (Charred) Ebi Noodles 3.8/5

Ebi Bar's unique take on our local prawn noodles is this Signature “Chao Da” (Charred) Ebi Noodles ($14.90), served with a pair of charred prawns and slices of chicken roulade. As the main selling point of Ebi Bar, the broth didn't disappoint with its deep rich prawn flavour, and I love how savoury it tasted. The chicken roulade slices laced with charred skin were beautifully tender, and the noodles were springy with a nice bite. It was a pity that the prawns, however, were slightly overcooked and not appropriately deveined either.

Signature “Chao Da” (Charred) Ebi Pao Fan 3.8/5

There's a new item on the menu - Signature “Chao Da” (Charred) Ebi Pao Fan ($18.90), which I thought works even better with the flavourful prawn broth. The rice was plump with a bite, with added rice crisp for texture and crunch. The rice soaked up the broth well, and every mouthful of the rice and the broth was truly enjoyable.

Truffle Broth Booster, Mala Broth Booster, Miso Broth Booster

You can also amp up your dish with “Broth Boosters” - Mala ($1.90), Miso ($1.90) and Truffle ($2.50). The Mala Broth Booster adds a layer of peppery aroma to the broth. At the same time, the Miso Broth Booster enhanced the savouriness of the broth, akin to the ramen miso broth. I don't suggest going for the Truffle Broth Booster at all, which was too overpowering.

Crispy Fried Chicken in Salted Mackerel Marinate 4/5

There are a couple of interesting sides to complete your meal. Crispy Fried Chicken in Salted Mackerel Marinate ($6.90) is its take on Har Cheong Gai. Each morsel made from chicken thigh was pretty juicy, and the best bit was the crisped chicken skin.

Chilled Tofu with Homemade Sauce 3.5/5

Ah Ma’s Achar Gone Fancy 3.5/5

I enjoyed the simple dishes on the menu, such as the Ah Ma's Achar Gone Fancy ($5.90) and Chilled Toufu with Homemade Sauce ($4.90). The achar with jellyfish is exceptionally crunchy, while the chilled tofu with cold sweet and savoury sauce is very appetising. Unfortunately, the portion was a tad too little.

Ebi & Vege Crispy Fritter 2.5/5

As for the Ebi & Vege-Crispy Fritter ($5.90), I reckon the batter requires a bit of work to be less greasy and stay crisp for a longer period.

Photos and words 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.


Ebi Bar
Cuppage Plaza
5 Koek Rd
#B1-21
Singapore 228796
Tel: +65 89221284
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 11am - 1030pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B, C or D. Walk to Orchard Road. Cross the road and walk to Cuppage Road. Walk down Cuppage Road. Walk to Cuppage Plaza. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Birdfolks @ NEWest - American-inspired Fried Chicken With A Hint of Japanese Influence, Local Flavours And Casual Street Concept

Located within NEWest West Coast Drive, the inconspicuous cafe - Birdfolks serves up delicious American-inspired fried chicken with an Asian twist. You can now have your Nanyang kopi with fried chicken burgers or big breakfast platter. If you're craving for Japanese, they also offer mentaiko salmon bowl and tamago bowl.

Crispy Bun & Condensed Milk 3.8/5

To start the meal, we had their Crispy Bun & Condensed Milk ($4). While the brioche buns were soft and fluffy, they were barely toasted and lacked the crispiness that we had anticipated. However, we still enjoyed the pillowy soft brioche buns, with ample condensed milk to sweeten up the deal.

BF Eggs Benny 3.5/5

From the brunch menu, which is available only from 11am to 5pm, we had their BF Eggs Benny ($13), which features turkey ham, ikura and hollandaise sauce and eggs on soft brioche buns. We found that the eggs are cooked soft-boiled rather than poached, which is likely an interesting Asian twist to the classic egg bens. The combination of turkey ham and ikura also made the dish lean towards the salty side. We wished there were other elements to help balance the dish's flavours.

Classic Buttermilk Pancakes 4/5

When you're at Birdfolks, a must-try is their signature fried chicken. The Classic Buttermilk Pancakes ($11) features fluffy buttermilk pancakes with fried chicken, crushed pistachios, cranberries and served with maple and butter. The chicken pieces were well-marinated, prepared and fried upon order, making it even juicier and tender while being perfectly crispy and crunchy on the outside.

Potato Wonderland 4/5

The Potato Wonderland ($15) is an ultimate platter of oregano fries, sweet potato fries, curly fries, tater tots and croquette, paired with mayo. The perfect side to share with your friends, as the huge platter has a bit of everything fried, so there is simply no lack of choices. We recommend sharing it with at least 4 friends or more.

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.


Birdfolks
NEWest
1 West Coast Drive
#01-75
Singapore 128020
Tel: +65 69240876
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 9pm
Fri-Sun: 11am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17171). Take bus number 201 or 154. Alight 3 stops later. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice @ Veerasamy Road (Little India) - Rediscover The Childhood Memories Of Carona Fried Chicken

Have you heard of Carona Fried Chicken? It is a local household name in the 1980s where customers can savour the delicious fried chicken in almost every corner of Singapore. Though the brand is no longer in Singapore, the recipe still lives on at Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing at Veersamy Road in Little India.

Fried Chicken Wings

There is always a constant queue at the stall; hence it is advisable to avoid the peak lunch and dinner time. We only ordered two pieces of the Fried Chicken Wings ($1.20 per pc) to try as our initial plan is to have the bak chor mee from Jin Xi Lai (Mui Siong) Minced Meat Noodles.

The chicken wings may look rather plain but it is well marinated with hints of spices. They even come in a coat of crispiness. I would highly recommend to have it together with the chilli sauce. The acidity from the chilli sauce amplifies the shokiness; this is simply finger-licking good.

The fried chicken was so addictive that I went back to queue a plate of the Fried Chicken Wing Rice ($3). It comes with fragrant chicken rice and two deep-fried chicken wings.

I have heard of Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing for many years but I have been procrastinating my visit. I finally get to taste my childhood memories of Carona Fried Chicken. Lesson learnt! Two is not enough, so do get more or you have to re-join the long line again.


Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing
Yi He Eating House
Blk 638 Veerasamy Road
#01-101
Singapore 200638
Nearest MRT: Jalan Besar MRT (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 8pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Jalan Besar MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walkd down Jalan Besar Road. Turn left onto Veersamy Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Monga Fried Chicken @ Jurong East Mall (JEM) - Fried Chicken Brand By Famous Taiwanese Celebrity Nono

The famous Taiwanese Celebrity Nono's Fried Chicken brand, Monga Fried Chicken, has opened its first Singapore outlet at Jurong East Mall (JEM). Monga Fried Chicken prides itself for using only fresh and not frozen chicken, and its huge juicy thick-cut chicken fillets.

The tender chicken breast meat comes in three flavours. The King ($6.90) which is dusted with original salt and pepper seasoning; Hot Chick ($6.90) which is dusted with chilli paprika powder hand-made from Anaheim peppers; and The Taiker ($6.90) which is dusted with Japanese sauce and seaweed powder imported from Okinawa.

The King 3.5/5

You will get your money's worth as one whole fresh chicken can only make two pieces of Monga fried chicken cutlets. Each cut is also kept to a minimum of 2cm thick. That is why it is so huge. Unlike other fried chicken brand, it uses honey instead of granulated sugar to marinate the chicken breast meat. The amylase in honey tenderise the meat and elevates the taste of the chicken fillet. While the meat is juicy and tender, I didn't quite like the batter. I find the batter is not crispy enough and slightly on the thick side.

Hot Chick 3.8/5, The Taiker 3/5

Apart from the fried chicken cutlets, it also offers a variety of sides to munch on. There are Monga Nuggets ($5.90 for 6pc / $7.90 for 9pc), Fried Chicken Skin ($3.90), Signature Fries ($2.90), Seaweed Fries ($3.50), Sweet Potato Fries with Plum Powder ($3.50), Fried Broccoli ($3.50) and Fried King Oyster Mushrooms ($3.90). My favourite is the nugget, sweet potato fries and fried chicken skin.

Remember to wash down all the fried food with some refreshing beverages. There are the refreshing fruit-infused green teas - Orange Green Tea ($4.50) and Grapefruit Green Tea ($4.50). My preferred choice would be the classic and fragrant Osmanthus Oolong Tea ($3.30).

To celebrate its grand opening in Singapore, Monga Fried Chicken will be giving out free limited-edition Monga merchandise to the first 40 customers daily on the first 7 days of operations from 28 September to 4 October 2019.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Monga Fried Chicken
Jurong East Mall (JEM)
50 Jurong Gateway Road
#B1-K10
Singapore 608549
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 930pm

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

Sky 22 @ Courtyard By Marriott Singapore Novena - Flavours Of Korea Buffet

For a limited period from 15 March to 28 April 2019, Sky22 at Courtyard By Marriott Singapore Novena will be offering the Flavours of Korea buffet during the weekends. The Korean themed buffed is specially curated by their new South Korea Chef Hwang In Yong (Ian) and Executive Chef John Chye. Guests will be in for a feast of Korean classics as well as popular Korean street foods.

Cabbage Kimchi

Not to be missed is the housemade Cabbage Kimchi, they are so good. It has the right balance of sourish and spiciness on top of the crunchy texture. I was hoping that I can buy some of these to take home.

Spicy Seafood Tofu Soup 3/5

While my group of diners love the Spicy Seafood Tofu Soup, I have different view. The flavour is there but I felt that it lacked the heat to match its description. I really hope it can be spicier.

Braised Short Ribs 4/5

The Braised Short Ribs on the other hand was spot on. They were well infused in the sweet sauce with fall of the bone meat. A very delightful dish to go with some steamed rice.

Kimchi Fried Rice 3/5

Unfortunately I could not taste the robustness of kimchi in the Kimchi Fried Rice. The chef definitely need to improve on the dish or it will be passed off as normal fried rice.

Braised Kimchi Pork 3.5/5

Contradicting to the kimchi fried rice, the Braised Kimchi Pork Ribs came across more flavourful with the distinct kimchi flavour. As for the braised pork, it can be more tender.

Sweet and Spicy Deep Fried Chicken Cube 4/5

I actually enjoyed snacking the Sweet and Spicy Deep Fried Chicken Cube. The chicken pieces are well coated with the sticky sweet and spicy sauce, fragrant with sesame seeds. Some of the diners felt that it is a bit dry but I actually like the slightly tough texture for that bite to chew on.

Bibimbap 4.2/5

Diners at the Korean themed buffet can also have a little fun creating their own Bibimbap at the DIY  Bibim Bar. Have some fun putting the bibimbap together. The food will always taste better when you make it yourself.

Vegetable Pancake 3.5/5

I find the Vegetable Pancake will be subjective to individual liking. If you are not into greens than you will not like it. As for me I like the fact that there was not a lot of batter on the pancake, allowing me to appreciate the greens.

Korean Sweet Pancake 4/5

Complete the feast on a sweet note with Korean desserts such as Rice Cakes, Chestnut Balls and Sweet Pancakes. For the buffet spread, on top of the Korean delights, there are also a myriad of seafood from the steam & grill seafood bar to complement the spread.

Flavours Of Korea
Date: 15 March to 28 April 2019
Time: 12pm - 230pm (Sat-Sun, except Easter), 6pm - 10pm (Fri-Sat)
Price: $56++ adult, $28++ child (6 to 12 years old)
- Add $28++ per pax for free flow house pour red & white wine, prosecco, soft drinks.
- Add $12+ per pax for free flow soft drinks and juices.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Sky 22
Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena
Level 22
99 Irrawaddy Road
Singapore 329568
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Novena (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily:
630am - 1030am (breakfast)
12pm - 230pm (lunch)
3pm - 5pm (Tea)
6pm - 10pm (Dinner)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take A or B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Dean & Deluca @ Orchard Central - Offers An Exclusive Seasonal Menu Of Savoury-Sweet Waffle Dishes

Dean & Deluca, a multi-channel retailer in gourmet and specialty foods also houses a cafe concept specialising in a wide selection of gourmet fare that have excite tastebuds with an international array of artisanal products and offerings at three of its outlets islandwide. The flagship store at Orchard Central opened its doors to the public in June 2012, followed by its second outlet at Far East Square, and third outlet at HillV2, nestled in a quaint neighbourhood at Upper Bukit Timah.

Savour in a waffle feast this March with three specially curated savoury-sweet waffle dishes, which is available for a limited time period only from 1 March to 31 March.

Fried Chicken & Waffle with Smoky Cheese Sauce 4.2/5

The Fried Chicken & Waffle with Smoky Cheese Sauce ($18) features 2 large pieces of fried chicken with waffle, and a side of cheese sauce and maple syrup. The fried chicken boasts an extremely crispy skin and succulent meat, which exudes out a lush juiciness with every bite. The waffle leans towards the denser, stodgier side, lacking in the crispiness and fluffiness of the usual suspects. While rather bland on its own, drizzle the maple syrup on the waffle for a sweeter rendition, which pairs well with the savoury elements on the plate.

Duck Confit Waffle with Onion-Raisins Marmalade & Sunny Side Up 4/5

The Duck Confit Waffle with Onion-Raisins Marmalade & Sunny Side Up ($19) features a duck confit with waffles and sunny side up. The duck meat is soft and tender with a thin crispy skin. While the waffle fares similarly as the one from the Fried Chicken & Waffle and requires an additional drizzle of the maple syrup for a richer taste, the homemade caramelised onions and raisins marmalade contributes a subtle tangy-sweet flavour to the dish. The end result is great marriage of sweet and savouriness on a plate.

Peanut Butter Jelly Waffle with Thick Cut Bacon & Banana 4/5

Relive your childhood of peanut butter jelly decadence with the Peanut Butter Jelly Waffle with Thick Cut Bacon & Banana ($18). The waffle is slathered with generous amounts of peanut butter and jelly which adds an earthy nutty tone to the waffle with a subtle tanginess. The maple syrup and caramelised banana play out well in sweetening the experience. The huge slab of thick cut bacon proves to be the highlight of the dish with its balanced ratio of firmer meats and softer fats. Well seasoned and juicy, the bacon complemented the rest of the elements well, bringing satisfaction with every bite.

Note: The Sweet-savoury waffle series is only available from 1 March to 31 March 2018, at all DEAN & DELUCA outlets.

Words and photos 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.


Dean & Deluca 
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
#01-09/10
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 65097708
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 10am - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 10am - 12midnight

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

Hawkerman @ Singpost Centre (Paya Lebar) - Union of 3 Hawker Brands

The recent opening of the revamped Singpost Centre at Paya Lebar sees the union of 3 local hawker brands coming together to open up a new concept called Hawkerman. The restaurant brings together Tenderfresh, Warong Kim's (Kim's Hokkien Mee) and Ah Boy Popiah (from Good Chance Popiah) to offer patrons their fried and grilled chicken, hokkien mee and popiah under one roof.

Maki Popiah

Maki Popiah 3.5/5

The menu here is rather extensive. I decided to settle for an item each from each brand. I started with the Maki Popiah ($6.90) from Ah Boy Popiah. This is a modern take of the traditional popiah. Besides the usually stuffing of turnips, the popiah is given a coat of seaweed with chicken floss topping and dressed in mayo sauce. This rendition will probably re-introduction the traditional dish to the younger generation.

Fried Chicken Wings 4/5

If you didn't know, Tenderfresh started off as 可爱鸡 selling roasted/fried spring chicken and chicken wings in neighbourhood food court and coffeeshops before expanding the brand. I love their fried chicken wings since young. Inevitable I just have to order them from the menu. The Fried Chicken Wings ($4.50 for 2pc), I think is a bit pricier compared to their coffeeshops' stall but this probably has to make up for the rental difference at the mall. Anyway, still the same recipe, still the great old taste. Crispy on the outside and juicy inside.

Spicy X.O. Hokkien Mee $12.90

From Warong Kim's, I tried their Spicy X.O. Hokkien Mee ($12.90). Using the recipe famed by Mr Yong Tan's dad, also known as the man who fried hokkien mee in his long sleeve shirt donning a Rolex watch. The hokkien mee is fried in a robust stock with the noodles soaking up the flavoursome broth. The addition of the spicy x.o. sauce provided the extra kick to the dish.

Over at Hawkerman, customers not only can savour the tradition recipes, they can also find modern take of the tradition dishes on the menu. In short, the restaurant has an extensive menu take caters for both old and young.


Hawkerman
Singpost Centre (Paya Lebar)
10 Eunos Road 8
#B1-128/129
Singapore 408600
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1100am - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

The Lime Truck @ PasarBella Suntec City - Yahoo!'s "Top 10 Trucks in America" For 3 Years Running

Intrigued by the bustling American's street food scene? The Lime Truck, winner of Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race", has driven its way from United States into PasarBella @ Suntec City. Founded by Celebrity Chef Daniel Shemtob, this is the brand's first overseas outpost.

There are 6 tacos to choose from, one of which is meat-friendly, as well as side dishes that are inspired by classic Latin American street food. What's notable here is that the tortillas are handmade daily. That rustic taste certainly stands out in the corn tortilla, in a good way, while the flour tortilla is soft and chewy.

Legendary Brussels Sprouts 4/5

Chef Daniel's signature Legendary Brussels Sprouts ($3.90) is a must-try here. The burnt roast brussels sprouts takes on a bittersweet caramelised flavour along with a hint of smokiness. The piquant dressing complements without overpowering such wonderful flavour. For an extra edge, Lap Cheong (Chinese sausage) replaces the original bacon bits, if that will piqué your interest even more. Chargrilled brussels sprouts hardly make into the menu of restaurants, not sure if it's just Singapore. Even if it exists, I reckon it's going to be real expensive.

Chips + Zesty Lime Guac 2.8/5

Fresh, crispy tortilla chips is always welcome, more so with homemade guacamole. Even if you don't intend to stay put at Pasarbella, Chips + Zesty Lime Guac ($3.90) makes a quick grab-and-go munchies. If only the dip can be much much more generous.

No. #1 Steak Taco 3.5/5

No. #1 Steak Taco ($4.60) is number one for a reason. The steak topping is compact with soy singer slaw atop to balance its meatiness and cilantro chimichurri, a traditional Argentinian condiment, to brighten up the taste.

The Gringo 4/5

I feel The Gringo ($4.50) surpasses my expectation of a steak taco. The shredded beef ribs is tender and the flavour of the beef remains pronounced. Juice trickled down my hands as I bit through the soft taco. With arugula and fried onion, it's almost like savouring a gourmet burger with a premium patty sandwiched in between a fluffy bun.

Slow Braised Pork Belly Taco 3/5

Slow Braised Pork Belly Taco ($4) was somehow disappointing. As I lift the diced pork belly into my mouth, half expecting the texture to be like my Asian style Kong Bak Pau, it just didn't go that way. A flour tortilla, with its softer texture could have been a better companion to this dried out pork belly than the firmer corn tortilla. The saving grace is the great salsa atop create a taste that's as vibrant as its colour.

Fried Chicky Taco 3.5/5

On the other hand, the Fried Chicky Taco ($4) receives a much better feedback with its buttermilk fried chicken, that is surprisingly quite juicy and tender in the inside, with a well seasoned crispy crust. The tangy lift given by the Dijon slaw and pickles completes the taco.

Grilled Barramundi Taco 2.8/5

The Grilled Barramundi Taco ($4.60) is forgettable but I will give credit to them for keeping the fish tender and not using deep-fried dory. The satisfaction just isn't there. Perhaps, a fatty fish may work, like salmon?

Churros 3.5/5

The Churros ($5.90/$6.90) is handmade here with Cinnamon and Green Tea variant. Judging from the consistency and colour of the green tea sauce, I reckon the green tea sauce is made in house too. The texture is really chewy with crispy edge. I feel it should be priced similar with the Tacos which would be more reasonable. Couple it with a cup of Sarnies' black coffee, that would sum up my meal really well.

Crowned in Yahoo!'s "Top 10 Trucks in America" for three years running, I do expect a little more from The Lime Truck. Perhaps it should be out running along the streets rather than being cooped up in the mall. Easier said than done but these tacos are indeed fun to have along with other dishes in Pasarbella, for a more complete street food experience in town.

#TacoTuesdays at The Lime Truck Singapore will be running for an indefinite time. As part of #TacoTuesdays, all tacos will be going for just S$3.50 a pop on Tuesdays.

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.


The Lime Truck
PasarBella Suntec City
3 Temasek Blvd
455-456 / 459-461
Singapore 038983
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line), Promenade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

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

2) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]