Nakiryu @ Plaza Singapura - One Star Michelin Ramen Restaurant From Tokyo Famous For Their Tan Tan Men Opens In Singapore

Another Michelin-starred ramen restaurant from Tokyo has landed on our shore. Nakiryu, famed for its Tan Tan Men has been awarded One Michelin Star since 2017 for seven years in a row. I have yet to try Nakiryu in Otsuka, Tokyo; hence I am excited to check out the place.

Tan Tan Men 3.8/5

We started with the famous Tan Tan Men ($15.90), known for its sesame-based broth that differs from the usual Japanese ramen. It comes with a hint of spiciness from the chilli oil. The slurping goodness is topped with minced pork. It is definitely very different from the usual ramen we have been eating in Singapore. I am not sure whether it was a bad day for the kitchen, as the broth was a bit salty for me to appreciate the delicious broth.

Shoyu Ramen 3.5/5

For a lighter option and something more familiar to Singapore is the Shoyu Ramen ($14.90). The broth is a concoction of a few blends of soya sauces. I don't usually have shoyu ramen, but I thought it should be richer in taste.

Hot & Sour Soup Ramen 3.5/5

If you are looking for something piquant, then the Hot & Sour Soup Ramen ($15.90) would be your preference. Similar to the Tan Tan Men, it comes with minced pork. However, I was expecting something more robust for the broth.

Prawn Wonton Cha Shu Shio Ramen 4/5

Surprisingly my favourite of the four different soup bases is the shio ramen. I had the Prawn Wonton Cha Shu Shio Ramen ($18.90). It felt like having a bowl of Hong Kong style wonton noodles with the clear and sweet soup, served with plump and juicy wontons.

Yodare Dori 3/5

Besides the ramen, there are a number of side dishes to accompany the ramen to make it a complete meal. A delectable choice is the Yodare Dori ($5.90), whereby tender steamed chicken is paired with a spicy sauce and sesame. It is similar to the Chinese Kou Shui Ji.

Prawn Wonton Spicy Garlic Sauce 3.5/5

The Prawn Wonton Spicy Garlic Sauce ($8.90) is another Sichuan similar dish on the menu which Singaporeans will enjoy. However, it made me puzzle why a ramen restaurant has it on the menu. I wonder if it is offered in Japan or only in Singapore to cater for the locals.

Fried Chicken 4.2/5

Deep-fried to perfection is the Fried Chicken ($7.90). The juicy and chunky chicken pieces are coated with crispy rice puffs for extra textural enjoyment.

Teba Gyoza 4/5

I always thought stuffed chicken wings were a Thai thing, but now I know even the Japanese has this dish on the menu as Teba Gyoza ($8.90). Crispy on the outside, the inside is stuffed with pork-based gyoza filling. It is achieved by replacing the dumpling skin with chicken skin.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Nakiryu
Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road
#02-35
Singapore 238839
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Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC, NE, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit D or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes [Map]

Brotzeit @ Westgate - Everyday's A Fest This Oktoberfest At Brotzeit

For this Oktoberfest, Brotzeit outlets at Raffles City, VivoCity, Westgate and Katong have put together a collection of scrumptious festival dishes and specially imported limited-edition Erdinger Oktoberfest beer from Germany to celebrate the annual event from 31 August to 24 October 2022.

Brotzeit has also organised Party Days across its outlets, held over brunch and evening sessions.
Brotzeit Katong: Sunday, 9 October, 11am - 3pm
Brotzeit Westgate: Sunday, 23 October, 11am - 3pm (Closing Party)
Brotzeit Vivocity: Sunday, 23 October, 6pm - 12midnight (Closing Party)

Munchner Weisswurst 4.8/5

Not to be missed is the Munchenr Weisswurst ($15), better known as the white sausage. The traditional Bavarian sausage is made from minced veal and pork, flavoured with parsley, lemon, onion, ginger and spices. By the way, unlike other sausages, weisswurst is never consumed with its skin on. The most popular way to enjoy this sausage is by cutting it lengthwise, folding it open in the middle and "rolling" the meat out to the side with a knife.

Pretzel 4.5/5

Traditionally, weisswurst is eaten with pretzels and sweet mustard. Hence, how not to order some Pretzels ($17) to go along with the weisswurst.

Brotzeit Oktoberfestplatte 4.2/5

Great for sharing is the new Brotzeit Oktoberfestplatte ($145). The festive platter is filled with goodies and great for four to six persons who can tuck into the Signature Pork Knuckle, Nürnberger Stadtwurst, Thüringer Sausages, Fried Chicken and Meatloaf. Complete and enjoy the platter with a 3L Erdinger Oktoberfest beer in a barrel for $228++, only available for dine-in.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Brotzeit
Westgate
3 Gateway Drive
#01-04
Singapore 608532
Tel: +65 64659874
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Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

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

Shang Palace @ Shangri-La Hotel Singapore - New Chef At The Helm With A Revitalised Menu Comprising His Signature Creations

Shang Palace, the one Michelin-starred restaurant at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, welcomes new Executive Chinese Chef Daniel Cheung from Hong Kong. With 37 years in top-level Cantonese cooking, Chef Daniel Cheng combines traditional Cantonese cuisine with contemporary creativity. His latest stint was at Shang Palace Kowloon, another Michelin-starred restaurant within the group, with bags of experience working at Spring Moon and The Jockey Club..

We are given a glimpse of the new menu, starting with a quad of small bites. We had Chilled Fresh Abalone marinated with Japanese Sake, Chilled Tomato with Plum, Barbecued Pork Pastry and Scallop Siew Mai on the plate.

Applewood Smoked Beancurd Rolls 4.5/5

With Chef Daniel on the helm, he also brought some of his signature dishes from Hong Kong and introduced them to the new menu. One of them is the Apple Smoked Beancurd Rolls ($18) stuffed with Shitake Mushroom, Carrot and Green Mustard. Meticulously wrapped together, the vegetarian dish is packed with delightful textural enjoyment infused with applewood aroma.

Fried Rice with Kagoshima Wagyu Beef served in Whole Tomato 4.8/5

A favourite of his signature dishes is the Fried Rice with Kagoshima Wagyu served in Whole Tomato ($28). A whole tomato is used as a bowl for the fragrant fried rice. The chef advised us to have the fried rice together with the tomato. The highlight and what holds the dish together for a lovely finish is the sweet and vinegary sauce.

Steamed Spotted Garoupa fillet in Egg White Sauce 4/5

Another of Chef Daniel's signature dishes is the Steamed Spotted Garoupa fillet in Egg White Sauce ($48) topped with crispy parma ham. It is a light and hearty dish with a drinkable egg white sauce that comprises broccoli and carrot in superior broth.

Cantonese Style Crispy Chicken served with Spicy Salt 4.2/5

The Cantonese Style Crispy Chicken served with Spicy Salt is another dish on the signature menu. The air-dried chicken is slow cooked in lukewarm oil for 25-40 minutes, drip-dry and then bathed in very hot oil to achieve the crispy skin.

Baked Live Prawns with Garlic and Sarawak White Pepper 4.5/5

Another highlight of Chef Daniel's signature dishes is the Baked Live Prawns with Garlic and Sarawak White Pepper ($58). Chef Daniel used to make this in Hong Kong and brought it to Singapore with a little tweak to localise it by using local prawns and Sarawak peppercorn.

Boneless Quail filled with Bird's Nest in Superior Broth 4.5/5

A time-honoured dish on Shang Palace's menu is the Boneless Quail filled with Bird's Nest in Superior Broth ($98). Traditionally it used to be stuffed with shark's fin but now is replaced with bird's nest. I enjoyed this version, as the bird's nest give it an extra crunch.

Stewed Shrimp Pomelo Peel 3.5/5

The Stewed Shrimp Pomelo Peel ($28) is an uncommon nostalgic dish. I never knew we could eat pomelo peel. It is cooked to a soft spongy texture. It tasted bland on its own, lifted by the shrimp roe sauce, which is very delicious.

Double-boiled Snow Pear with Peach Resin, Mandarin Peel and Chuanbei 4.2/5

Wrapping up our dinner is the Double-boiled Snow Pear with Peach Resin, Mandarin Peel and Chuanbei. A light and refreshing dessert after all the richly flavoured dishes.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Shang Palace
Shangri-La Hotel
22 Orange Grove Road
Lobby Level
Singapore 258350
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Nearest MRT: Orchard Road (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1000pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 1000pm

Direction: 
Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Continue onwards to Forum Shopping Mall. Walk further down to Orchard Parade Hotel. At Orchard Parade Hotel traffic junction, cross the road. Walk towards Orchard Hotel. Continue walking on Orange Grove Road until destination. Journey time about 30 minutes. [Map]

Working Title Riverside @ Kampong Bugis - Halal Cafe Offering Delicious Gourmet Burgers, Brunch And Coffee

Nestled beside Singapore's longest river, Working Title Riverside is surrounded by luscious greeneries, natural lighting, bicycle-friendly al fresco seating, with child and pet-friendly amenities. It was opened earlier this year at Kallang Riverside Condominium and has already garnered quite a following for its quality food and lovely ambience. The place was packed in the late afternoon, even on the weekend.

Working Big Breakfast 4.2/5

From the brunch menu, we had the Working Big Breakfast ($24) consisting of toasted sourdough, scrambled eggs, baked beans, grilled sausage, mushroom ragu, roasted tomato and tater tots. Every ingredient on the plate was executed perfectly, and we absolutely loved the well-seasoned and fluffy scrambled eggs.

Jammy Chicken Waffle 4.2/5

One of their most popular items is the Jammy Chicken Waffle ($18) which features buttermilk waffles, fried chicken, jammy sunny side-up, and maple butter with hot sauce on the side. The fried chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender and juicy within. The buttermilk waffle was superbly fluffy and paired well with the maple butter.

Banana French Toast 4/5

The Banana French Toast ($18) came served with mocha granola, caramelised banana, chocolate ganache, lemon mascarpone and caramel sauce. The french toast has a slightly caramelised and toasted exterior while retaining a soft and fluffy texture within that we thoroughly enjoyed. Customers can opt to top up a scoop of gelato at an additional $3.

Truffle Tater Tots 4/5

The Truffle Tater Tots ($13) is definitely a safe choice for the less adventurous. The mini hash browns are perfectly crispy and drizzled with truffle oil and shaved parmesan.

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.


Working Title Riverside
Kampong Riverside Condominium
51 Kampong Bugis
#01-03
Singapore 338986
Tel: +65 87213153
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Nearest MRT: Lavender (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 6pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Crawford Street. Turn right onto Crawford Street and walk down Crawford Street. Cross the bridge at Kallang Riverside Park West across the canal. Turn left at Kampong Bugis. Walk down Kampong Bugis to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Waffletown @ NEWest - Old School Fried Chicken Eatery At Balmoral Plaza Reopens In West Coast (Clementi)

Waffletown, which used to be at Balmoral Plaza, pulled down its shuttle more than a year ago due to rental issue, has reopened the nostalgic fried chicken eatery at NEWest on 31 May 2022. I avoided visiting the eatery until recently to avoid the long queues like any new openings in Singapore, though it is near my home. Furthermore, the new place is half the size of its previous location.

During my visit, though there was no queue line, the place was crowded with diners. So I have to stand for around 20 minutes to get a seat.

Clucky Lucky 3 PC Fried Chicken Meal 4/5

I ordered the Clucky Lucky 3 PC Fried Chicken Meal ($12.20) with sides of potato mash, coleslaw and a soft drink. The chicken pieces are deep-fried to crispy, tender and juicy. It is lightly seasoned with a nostalgic taste, unlike those from the big fried chicken fast food chains. The chicken pieces are also smaller than those served in these fried chicken fast food chains.

Fried Chicken & Waffle 3/5

On top of that, I also ordered the Fried Chicken & Waffle ($7.20) served with butter and flavoured maple syrup. I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get the whole piece of chicken but chicken pieces instead. The waffle was airy, hollow in the middle but crispy on the outside. Taste-wise, I find it bland for my liking.


Waffletown
NEWest
1 West Coast Drive
#01-106
Singapore 128020
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Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 5pm - 9pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17171). Take bus 154 or 201. Alight 3 stop later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Orchid Live Seafood @ HomeTeamNS Khatib - Offers Indulgent Live Lobster Porridge And 1-For-1 Boston Lobster

Situated within Home Team NS Khatib is Orchid Live Seafood, known for offering a range of live Teochew-style seafood at family-friendly prices. With fresh seafood in large full-view tanks in the restaurant, diners can be sure that they are getting the freshest ingredients as the prized catches come straight from the tanks. They have four different types of lobsters, with the Southern Australian Lobster as the most prized lobster breed.

Live Lobster Porridge 4.5/5

Our first course is their Signature Live Lobster Porridge, cooked Teochew style with a watery but rich porridge base and rice still in grain form. Diners can take their pick from the four types of lobsters. For an indulgent experience, we had the most premium Southern Australian Lobster ($288). It comes in glorious red colour, with a firm, succulent meat texture and rich flavours.

Live Boston Lobster in Cream Cheese 4/5

We had the Live Boston Lobster in Cream Cheese starting from $78 per lobster. Superbly cheesy with some sweetness, the best way to have the dish is to use the lobster meat to sweep up the rich cheese sauce. Other styles of cooking include Garlic Steamed or Chilli.

Signature Steven Chicken 4.2/5

Another of our favourite dishes is the Signature Steven Chicken ($16 for 8 pcs | $24 for 12pcs | $30 for 16pcs). The deep-fried chicken is fried in a homemade marinade of marmite and honey sauce, resulting in a crispy exterior and a sweet and savoury flavour combination that we thoroughly enjoyed.

Seasoned Baby Squid 4.2/5

The Seasoned Baby Squid ($23) comes served in a sweet and spicy Thai sauce, red onions and cucumber strips. The baby squids were fried to a thin crisp on the exterior while retaining a tender bite. It also comes in another option - served with a trio sauce of wasabi mayo, sweet sauce and sriracha mayo sauce.

Udder's Ice Cream 4/5

Lastly, we ended the meal on a sweet note with Udder's Ice Cream, available in either dark chocolate or chendol flavours. The chendol ice cream is fragrant and sweet. However, I prefer the former for its rich chocolate bittersweetness and creamy texture.

As part of their August specials, Orchid Live Seafood is offering 1 For 1 Boston Lobster, 20% off per piece of Braised New Zealand Black Gold Abalone, and 50% off the Southern Australian Lobster (UP $288, now $144).

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.


Orchid Live Seafood
HomeTeamNS Khatib
2 Yishun Walk
#03-01
Singapore 767944
Tel: +65 67560311
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Nearest MRT: Khatib (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 230pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Khatib MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight down Yishun Avenue 2. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Basdban @ Telok Ayer - Rock & Roll Sichuanese Food

Basdban is the latest concept by the folks behind contemporary Sichuan-influenced restaurant Birds of a Feather. Taking over the space previously occupied by 51 Soho, Basdban is under the new stewardship of Chef Pang Kok Keong. Basdban strides to introduce the authentic and bold flavours of Sichuan cuisine with a touch of fun.

Roasted Eggplant 4.5/5

This is not an ordinary Roasted Eggplant ($14). Instead, the creative pairing of garlic sauce, smoked bacon, mixed cheeses and funky popcorn with the ordinary eggplant turns it into a unique and delicious dish. Now I understand what the restaurant meant by introducing Sichuan flavours with a touch of fun.

Whampoa Omelette 4.5/5

The dish's name - Whampoa Omelette ($20), caught my attention when browsing the menu. I was pleasantly surprised by the egg omelette's fluffiness, paired with spicy, tangy crab meat sauce and finished with nori dust. It is a beautiful dish both in taste and presentation.

Fried Crispy Pork Trotter 3.5/5

The Fried Crispy Pork Trotter ($14) is served in a paper bag of gentle spice mix. Give it a good shake to give the bite-sized chunks of braised trotter fried to crisp a delight coat of the spice mix. There is also a non-spicy option.

Lalalalalala Fried Chicken 4.8/5

Another interestingly named dish is the Lalalalalala Fried Chicken ($26 | $34). The plate of juicy chunks of fried chicken and tender clams are tossed in a gleaming heap of fragrant Er Jing Tiao green chilli chunks. It is addictive combination of meaty succulence and refreshing crunch in each bite.

B-52 4/5

For those who prefer the spicy version of fried chicken, you can go for the B-52 ($20 | $28). it is indeed packed with fiery spiciness, but I thought it lacked the dumbness from the mala.

Basdban Donabe 4.5/5

Great for sharing is the Basdban Donabe ($35 | $48). Lifting the claypot lid reveals an aroma pot of rice brimming with Sichuan waxed meat, spicy sausage, dried sole, morel mushrooms, special shoyu, edamame sakura ebi, crab and most importantly, pork lard. Infused with the ingredients' essences, each mouthful of the rice is filled with complex yet lovely flavours that will make you go back for more.

Cheesecake Ice Cream 4/5

We tried two different ice creams on the menu for dessert - Cheesecake Ice Cream ($14) and Fermented Rice Ice Cream ($12). The cheesecake ice cream with vanilla tuile and strawberry compote is light and refreshing. However, I prefer the fermented rice ice cream paired with osmanthus poached pear and charcoal coral. It has unique yet distinct rice fragrant, giving it a sweet and savoury finishing.

Fermented Rice Ice Cream 4.2/5

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Basdban
51 Telok Ayer Street
#01-01
Singapore 048441
Tel: +65 97551058
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Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]