Simei Penang Laksa Speciality @ Yuhua Food Centre - Healthy Penang Laksa and Penang Fried Kway Teow Using Whole Grain Noodle

My attention was drawn to the Simei Penang Laksa Speciality when I was at Yuhua Food Centre the other day. The word Simei stood out for me. It is a neighbourhood in the East. Why did it move all the way from the East to the West? The other thing that caught my eyes is the calories information for their dishs. 290 Kcal for the Penang Laksa and 500 Kcal for the Penang Char Kway Teow.

Penang Fried Kway Teow 3/5

For a healthier option, the stall uses whole grain noodle for their noodle dishes. It is great to see even with the higher cost in using whole grain noodle, the pricing has been reasonable. I can't say that the Penang Fried Kway Teow ($3.50) is the best I have eaten but credit to the well executed frying, infused with wok hei. Digging in the plate of kway teow, I can find pork lard, prawn, cockles, bean sprout and egg. It is a bit spicy too.

Penang Laksa 2/5

The Penang Laksa ($3) brimming with the various ingredients, looked promising when I received it from the stall owner. Unfortunately the broth lacked depth and robustness for a good bowl of Penang laksa. I was disappointed and I didn't finish it.  In addition, while the thick rice noodle has a good firm texture, I was not the authentic noodle used for Penang laksa.

The healthier version of Penang Laksa and Fried Kway Teow is not for me. However for those that prefer to eat healthy, I am sure you will find these a delicious option.


Simei Penang Laksa Speciality
Yuhua Food Centre
Blk 347 Jurong East Avenue 1
#01-199
Singapore 600347
Nearest MRT: Chinese Garden (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 8am - 230pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinese Garden MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Boon Lay Way. Turn left and walk to the overhead bridge. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Meng Kee Fried Kway Teow @ Havelock Road - Passed The Baton From Father to Daughter

My previous visit to Meng Kee Fried Kway Teow was unsuccessful and I ended up have Shan Braised Duck Noodles And Rice at the same coffeeshop. This time round, I was lucky and I finally got to try the Char Kway Teow. My memory of the char kway teow here dated back to my schooling days when the stall was still run by the father. Now his daughter has taken over the stall dong the frying.

Fried Kway Teow 4/5

The plate of Fried Kway Teow ($3/$4/$5) comes with lap cheong, bean sprouts, fish cakes, egg and cockles, fried in a savoury sweet dark sauce. I could not remember how the dad's version taste anymore but I still find this above average. Much better than a lot of places. The first reaction of the char kway teow was that it actually tasted sweet. The other highlight I enjoyed about the plate of fried kway teow was the aroma of the fried egg with each bite of the noodle.

The stall is actually hidden right in a corner of the coffeeshop. If you don't pay attention, you probably would just walk passed the stall. Do listen out to the sound of wok spatula hitting against the wok, frying plate after plate of order.


Meng Kee Fried Kway Teow
Blk 22 Havelock Road
#01-669
Singapore 160022
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1030am - 7pm
Sun: 1030am - 4pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Bukit Ho Swee Link. At Bukut Ho Swee Link, turn left and walk to Jalan Bukit Ho Swee. At Jalan Bukit Ho Swee turn right and walk to Jalan Klink. Walk down Jalan Klink and look out for a staircase that goes down the slope. Take the staircase to the bottom. Turn left and follow the covered walkway to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Island Penang Kitchen @ Clementi West Street 2 - Good Penang Food In The West

Just like life, you probably have to give a restaurant a second chance. I remembered when I first moved to the West Coast about 3 years ago, I tried Island Penang Kitchen which has moved from Chinatown to Clementi West Street 2. I did not enjoy the food and hence I did not write about it. However, recently I have been hearing good  reviews about the place from my friends, so I made a trip back to find out for myself.

Penang Fried Kway Teow 4/5

Our plate of Penang Fried Kway Teow ($6) comes with Chinese sausage, pork lard, egg, beansprouts, prawn and fishcake. The savoury plate of rice noodle has a hint of smokiness and I like how the egg is still a bit runny coating the noodles. The beansprout provided the extra crunchy texture while the Chinese sausage and pork lard accentuated the flavours.

Penang Hokkien Prawn Noodle with Pork Rib 4.2/5

My favourite among the 3 mains we ordered is the Penang Hokkien Prawn Noodle with Pork Rib ($7). The robustness of the prawn broth, with a hint of spiciness was balanced and work harmoniously with the different ingredients and noodles. In the bowl, you will get half an egg, kang kong, prawns, lean pork slices, pork ribs and pig skins. The pork rib was so soft that it literally melted in your mouth. What surprises me is the addition of pig skin in the bowl of noodle, this is a bonus to me.

Penang Assam Laksa 4/5

Island Penang Kitchen serves a decent bowl of Penang Assam Laksa ($5) too. It has a nice balance of sour, sweet and spicy, topped with onions, cucumbers, pineapple and greens I also applauded the effort of using the authentic type of noodle served in Penang and not those thick beehoon. My only disappointment was that I could not find much minced fish in the assam laksa, another characteristic of assam laka.

Chendol 3.8/5

Last but not least, we wrapped up or lunch with a bowl of Chendol ($3). It didn't seen that the restaurant uses fresh coconut milk but I can make do will it. It was still a refreshing bowl of dessert to wash down a satisfying meal.


Island Penang Kitchen
Blk 721 Clementi West Street 2
#01-126
Singapore 120721
Tel: +65 68730163
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 230pm, 5pm - 930pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 11am - 930pm
(Closed on alternate Tue)

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 2 stops later. Cross the road. Walk towards West Coast Community Centre. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

White Rose Cafe @ York Hotel Singapore - Popular Penang Hawkers' Fare Buffet Is Back To Delight Gourmands From 10 March to 26 March 2017

The popular Penang Hawkers' Fare buffet at York Hotel Singapore is back for another edition from 10 March to 26 March 2017. Diners will get to savour unlimited helpings of the street food specially prepared by 12 hawkers specially flown in from Penang to recreate their dishes.

Char Kway Teow 4.2/5

My advice is to hit straight to the Char Kway Teow station because the queue is the longest here. Fried under high intense heat, the plate of thin rice noodles imparted a smoky wok hei to the dish. Do note each person is only allow 2 plates each time so get more people to queue if you have a big group.

Penang Prawn Mee 4/5

The soup of the Penang Prawn Mee is painstaking made from prawn heads, shells and pork ribs boiled for hours to achieve the robustness and rich flavours.

Kway Teow Soup 4/5

The Kway Teow Soup comes with smooth rice noodles and bouncy fish cakes and fish balls. What I enjoy most is the light but yet flavourful soup. It comes in both soup and dry version.

Penang Laksa 4/5

A sip of the tangy tamarind fish based broth woke up my sensitives, hitting the right spot. Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed that the Penang Laksa uses the thick rice noodles instead of authentic type used in Penang. If the serving has more of the fish meat, it would be better.

Lor Bak 3/5

The plate of fried snack comprises of five spice meat rolls, prawn fritters, deep fried beancurd and more. The highlight has to be meaty and tender Lor Bak which is well marinated and painstakingly hand rolled into shape.

Cuttlefish Kang Kong 3.5/5

A dish not commonly seen nowadays is the Cuttlefish Kang Kong. Although it is a simple dish, the quality prawn paste sauce has elevated the enjoyment of the crunchy cuttlefishand water convolvulus.

Oyster Omelette 4.2/5

The combination of rice flour batter, eggs and oysters are fried to wok fragrant crispiness. For a more fulfilling enjoyment, have it together with the tangy spicy sauce.

Duck Porridge 4.5/5

The star of the latest edition of Penang Hawkers' Fare is the Duck Porridge. The porridge comes with braised duck meat, pig's innards, ginger strips and spring onions. What makes me gone back for a second bowl is the fragrant and flavourful braising sauce that is drizzled over the comforting bowl of duck porridge.

Chendol and Ice Kachang 4/5

For a sweet ending to the hawker fare, there is the Chendol and Ice Kachang. However the not to be missed item is the Ban Chang Kueh which is made freshly on the spot. The crispy pancake is topped with ground peanuts and sugar for a sweet and nutty finish.

Ban Chang Kueh 4.5/5

Dine at White Rose Cafe during the Penang Hawkers' Fare to stand a chance to win a complimentary two-night’s weekend stay in a Premier Room inclusive of a $100 dining voucher for use at White Rose Cafe; one-night weekend stay in a Deluxe Room inclusive of a $50 dining voucher for use at White Rose Cafe for two persons; ‘Treasured Flavours of Singapore’ daily à la carte Buffet Lunch at White Rose Cafe for six persons.

Price
Mon-Fri: $29 adult, $20 child (aged 12 yrs and below)
Sat-Sun, PH: $33 adult, $23 child (aged 12 yrs and below)


White Rose Cafe
York Hotel
21 Mount Elizabeth
Singapore 228516
Tel: +65 68301156
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
Dinner: 630pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Scotts Road towards Goodwood Park Hotel. At Goodwood Park, turn right and walk to the end of the carpark. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Di Wei Teo Chew Restaurant @ Food Canopy Singapore Botanic Gardens - Food Court In A Garden

My curiosity brought me to Singapore Botanic Gardens but it is not to admire the scenic beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. I heard that there is a food court at the park. The food court is run by Food Canopy and there are 7 stalls in it.

What caught my attention is Di Wei Teo Chew Restaurant. I am surprise to find a stall selling Teochew cuisine in a food court. According to the information online, the restaurant is helmed by Head Chef Chew which has 30 years of experience servicing classic favourites prepared using time honoured recipes that has been handed down through generations.

Cai Po Kway Teow 3.8/5

After browsing through the 43 items on the menu, I decided to order some staple Teochew food items. We started with the Cai Po Kway Teow ($7 for 2 pax). I have tried the dish before but the chye poh or Chinese dried radish are usually not noticeable. The rendition here comes with crunchy chye poh that is cut into short strips which is well infused with the wok hei smokiness.

Braised Duck 4/5

Sliced to generous thin slices, the Braised Duck ($10 small) was tender and well infused with the fragrant braising sauce. It is not overly sweet and comes with a subtle aroma of the spices. Dip the duck meat with the accompanying sweet and tangy dipping sauce for an elevated enjoyment of the duck meat.

Cold Crab 4.2/5

I thought we can only eat Cold Crab (seasonal price) in restaurant but I am surprise to be able to have it in a food court. I paid around $24 for quite a reasonable size crab which was sweet and meaty with a lot of roes.


Di Wei Teo Chew Restaurant 
Food Canopy
1J Cluny Road
Singapore 259607
Tel: +65 67636578
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1030am - 9pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Botanic Gardens MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn right onto Bukit Timah Road. Walk down Bukit Timah Road to Evans Road. Turn right onto Evans Road. Walk down Evan Roads. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Choon Hiang (春香) @ East Coast Lagoon Food Village - An Unexpected Find

During the Singapore Food Festival in July 2016, I took part in a food tour at East Coast Lagoon Food Village, Hawker Spotlight and was introduced to the stall Choon Hiang (春香). The stall used to be in Macpherson before relocating to its current place in 1979.

Fried Kway Teow 4/5

Actually during our food tour, we were introduced to the Fried Kway Teow ($3/$4/$5/$8). After taking a bite of the fried kway teow, the aroma of the wok hei hit me and I instantly gone for more. The version is neither too dry nor wet, the texture that I enjoy. The sauce was also not overly sweet, coating the noodles evenly and accompanied with generous ingredients such as cockles, fish cake, Chinese sausage, bean sprouts and egg.

Fried Hokkien Mee 4.2/5

With the distinction showing of the fried kway teow, I went back to the stall to order a plate of Fried Hokkien Mee ($4/$5/$8). I am glad that I did so as the plate of fried hokkien mee turned out to be even better than the fried kway teow. The sweet and flavourful stock was well infused into the noodles. The fact that the stall uses more beehoon, it helps to absorb the beautiful stock even more.

I have to say Choon Hiang has been rather under the radar all these years. If not for the food tour, I would not have noticed the stall. Probably it has been over shadowed by the more popular stalls in the food village. Now I have another option to choose from when I visit the food village. Well it is a good problem.


Choon Hiang (春香)
East Coast Lagoon Food Village
1220 East Coast Parkway
#01-46
Singapore 468960
Nearest MRT: Mountbatten (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Mountbatten MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at block 2 along Mountbatten Road (Stop ID 80279). Take bus 401*. Alight 10 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 35 minutes. [Map]

* Note this bus service is only available on weekends and PH. The operating timing on Sat and Sun varies too. Please check SBS Transit website.

Marriott Cafe @ Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel

The popular high tea buffet at Marriott Cafe, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel has up a notch with the introduction of the king of fruits among the spread. The Love for Durians High Tea Buffet will be available at Marriott Cafe from 1 June to 31 July 2016.

The excellent spread at Marriott Cafe's high tea buffet includes a plethora of Singapore's classics and international fare. I can understand why it is so popular after experiencing the spread of local delights myself, which will satisfy both the local and foreigners' palate.

Satay 3.5/5

While the Satay may lacked the charcoal charred aroma, it was still quite delicious and tender accompanied with the nutty peanut sauce dip.

Fried Carrot Cake 4.2/5

I was rather surprise to find the local Fried Carrot Cake being offered among the high tea buffet spread. The generous amount of eggs coated around the soft radish cake, made this dish extremely enjoyable.

Nasi Lemak 4/5

I have been to buffet that offers Nasi Lemak which only comes with the coconut rice, chilli and ikan bilis. At Marriott Cafe, you get even more for a full set meal with the chicken wings and otah.

Char Kway Teow 3/5

Hokkien Mee 3/5

From the stir fried noodle dishes, we have the local Char Kway Teow and Hokkien Mee. Unfortunately, the execution did not quite meet the hawker standard that I am used to. It still need some work to bring out the authentic taste of a good plate of char kway teow and hokkien mee.

Prawn Mee 3.5/5

Laksa 4/5

The other noodle dishes, Prawn Mee and Laksa fares much better compared to the stir fried noodle dishes. The prawn mee still has room for improvement as the broth lacked the robustness and depth of a good soup base. If you can take spicy, then I would recommend the laksa. The thick and creamy laksa broth is so good that I drunk up the last drop of it.

Rojak 4/5

Comes with crunchy fruit and crispy youtiao, the Rojak tossed in a savory shrimp paste has a zesty kick to it, rounded off with nutty peanut. A delightful dish to whet up the appetite.

Durian Crepe 4/5

The highlight of the high tea has to be the spread of durian desserts to indulge in, Among the many, there are durian puff, durian mochi, durian strudel durian trifles, mini durian mousse in cup, durian swiss roll, , fried durian ball. A perfect ending to the high tea buffet on a high tea with the various durian goodies treats in different textures, styles and taste.

Durian Pastries 4/5

Love for Durians High Tea Buffet
Time: 3pm - 530pm
Price
Mon-Fri: $42++ (Adult), $25++ (Child)
Sat-Sun: $45++ (Adult), $28++ (Child)


Marriott Cafe
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Road
Singapore 238865
Tel: +65 68314605

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 10pm

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

10 at Claymore @ Pan Pacific Orchard Hotel - Pearl of Orient Penang Fiesta

For the month of April and May 2016, 10 at Claymore, Pan Pacific Orchard Hotel will be bringing to you the Pearl of Orient Penang Fiesta. Executive Chef Andy Oh, a Penang boy himself will be serving an ensemble of dishes which the Malaysian town is famous for.

Besides the Penang feast, the restaurant has also put together some timeless favourite beverages such as the Milo XL, Bandung and Calamansi Juice at $6 nett each.

XO Popiah 3/5

The spread at the buffet line is quite extensive. I started with some light bite in the XO Popiah. An interesting twist to the normal roll but I thought the XO sauce was a bit heavy throwing the balance off.

Penang Rojak 4/5

The light and refreshing Penang Rojak tossed in a savoury prawn paste is a delightful starter to whet up the appetite.

Penang Prawn Noodle 4/5

Moving on to the noodle section, I tried the Penang Prawn Noodle. The broth is robust and packed with flavour. It also comes with an hint of spiciness.

Assam Laksa 4.5/5

One of the real deal at the Penang Fiesta is the Assam Laksa. All the components of a good bowl of assam laksa can be found in it. Definitely one of the best I have eaten for a long while. This is as close as we can get for the authentic flavour of Chef's hometown.

Bak Kut Teh 3/5

For those that like Malaysian style Bak Kut Teh, you can savour it at the Penang Fiesta too. The claypot comes with pork belly ribs, pork intestine, pig stomach, meatball, bean curd stick, dough fritter in a rich and intense flavoured broth. However it seems the kitchen was a bit heavy on the sodium chloride.

Cuttlefish Kangkong 3/5

Another dish that can be better is the Cuttlefish Kangkong. The most important component of the dish, the sauce was too sweet and lacked the prawny pungent taste. Sorry to say that but I thought it tasted more like the yong tau foo sweet sauce.

Chicken Lor Bak with Century Egg 2.8/5

Lor Bak is another staple of Penang cuisine. The version at the buffet is made using chicken instead of pork. If not for the saltiness, this would be a very enjoyable bite.

Penang Char Kway Teow 4.5/5

An all time favourite is the Penang Char Kway Teow. The smokey wok hei is an excellent showcase of the chef's control of the fire and wok. This is a dish not to be missed if you have the chance to dine at Pan Pacific Orchard Hotel.

Besides the spread of Penang fare, the buffet line also has many delectable cooked food that will satisfy your tummy as well as your wallet. The extensive choices make every dollar worthwhile. Among the spread, the other dishes I tried are Nonya Kerabu Fried Rice, Braised Pork Trotter with Black Rice Vinegar, Chicken Kapitan Perankan Style, Braised Duck with Preserved Salted Vegetables, Inchi Kabin Fried Chicken, Braised Lamb Shank, Slow Braised Beef Cheek, Baked Norweigian Salmon,

Banana Fritter and Gula Melaka Ice Cream 4/5

By the time for dessert, I was already too stuffed. Hence I just try only a few items from the dessert section. The Banana Fritter with its crispy exterior is worth trying. Furthermore, the sweet snack is seldom served in hotel buffet. To elevate the presentation and enjoyment, I told a scoop of the Gula Melaka Ice Cream and added some condiments.

Great to have my favourite shaved ice Chendol in the dessert section too. The sweetness of the dessert, coupled with the fragrant coconut milk and gula melaka, is the perfect ending to a delicious night of Penang fare.

Chendol 4.2/5

The Pearl of Orient Penang Fiesta will be available from April to May 2016. During the same period, the lobby lounge will be offering a three-course menu featuring chicken lor bak as appetiser, a choice of assam laksa with barramundi fillet, live king prawn noodle broth or Penang char kway teow for main course, ending with the chendol for dessert.

Lobby Lounge - Penang Set Lunch
Mon-Fri
Time: 12pm - 3pm
Price: $16 nett, $19 nett (with a choice of Milo XL, Bandung and Calamansi)

Buffet Price Details
Mon-Fri Lunch: $42
Sat-Sun Lunch: $48
Mon-Sun Dinner: $68


10 at Claymore
Pan Pacific Orchard
10 Claymore Road
Singapore 229540
Tel: +65 67370811
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PanPacificOrchard
Website: http://www.panpacific.com/en/Orchard/Overview.html
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 1030am (breakfast), 12pm - 230pm (lunch), 6pm -1030pm (dinner)
Sunday: 12pm - 3pm (brunch)

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk towards Wheellock Place via ION. Exit Wheellock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Cross the road at the traffic light junction and turn left towards Royal Thai Embassy. Walk to Palais Renaissance which is right after Royal Thai Embassy. Cut through Palais Renaissance to the other side of the building. Pan Pacific Orchard is opposite the building. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Shaw House via underpass. At the road level, walk along Orchard Road towards Royal Thai Embassy direction. Walk to Palais Renaissance which is right after Royal Thai Embassy. Cut through Palais Renaissance to the other side of the building. Pan Pacific Orchard is right opposite the building. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]