Ghim Guan Fried Oyster @ Circuit Road Food Centre - Messy But Crispy Plate of Goodness

With the opening of the Downtime Line 3, we can now easily visit Circuit Road Food Centre which is just around 5 minutes walk from Mattar MRT station. One of the many stalls I visited was Ghim Guan Fried Oyster. The stall only operates in the evening, selling fried oyster, oyster omelette and fried carrot cake.

Fried Oyster 3.8/5

Run by an old couple probably in their late 50s to 60s, the uncle does the cooking while the auntie is responsible for taking the orders. Placed your order and inform the auntie your table number, and the food will be served to you.

The fried oyster here is priced from $4 to $10. I order the $6 portion. The version here is the very crispy type. When you bite into the fried batter, you can hear the biscuity sound ringing in your ears. Because it is fried until so crispy, you also don't get that greasiness on the palate.

A good plate of fried oyster or orh luak requires a good chilli sauce to go with it. It has to be spicy and tangy to provide that punch and zestiness to the whole enjoyment of the fried goodness. While it meets the requirement but I think it can be more piquant.

I personally am not a big fan of the crispy type fried oyster but I am sure there are fans who will enjoy it. However I must admit this is probably the most crispy fried oyster I have ever eaten. Do note that the stall only opens in the evening.


Ghim Guan Fried Oyster
Circuit Road Food Centre
Blk 79 Circuit Road
#01-60
Singapore 370079
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Nearest MRT: Mattar (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun: 6pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Mattar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight to towards the canal. Cross the canal. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Edge @ Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel - Refreshed Gourmet Makan Makan Dining Experience

Buffet lovers will be rejoice to know that the popular Edge at Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel has refreshed its Makan Makan heritage lunch buffet with a refreshed selection of nostalgic presentations. The refreshed Makan Makan dining experience has twelve live Asian heritage stations; Seafood on Ice, Nihon Bites, Mamak Stall, Balinese Island, The Little Nonya, Teochew Classics, The Malayan Straits, Singapore Heritage Favourites, Asian-inspired pizza, Nostalgic Carving, Claypot Station and Asian Sweets.

Traditional Roti Bakar with Hot Spring Egg 4.2/5

I was delighted to find our beloved breakfast selections among the buffet spread. One of them is the Traditional Roti Bakar with Hot Spring Egg. Crispy toasts with sweet kaya spread, plus soft boiled egg, this indeed is something that is close to our heart. You can even order a cup of Teh Tarik to complete your breakfast set.

Chwee Kueh, Soon Kueh, Peng Kueh 3/5

You can also find traditional Teochew classic such as Chwee Kueh, Soon Kueh and Peng Kueh. It brings back memories of the time I would have breakfast in the hawker centre with my grandparent. While I did not quite enjoyed the chwee kueh, the soon kueh and peng kueh are actually pretty decent considering this is a buffet.

Fried Carrot Cake 4/5

Fried Oyster 3.5/5

Talking about hawker centre, you can also find Fried Carrot Cake and Fried Oyster at one of the live stations. These are classic hawker dishes that you will find in almost hawker centres. This is definitely a buffet that that showcases a lot of the local food.

Bak Kut Teh 3.8/5

For those that enjoys a good of Bak Kut Teh, the version at Edge is an in between of the peppery and klang style. It is sweet and without the overpowering herbal taste with a tad of pepper.

 Kueh Pai Tee 3/5

Mee Siam, Nonya Chicken Curry, Achar, Chap Chye 4/5

A highlight at the refreshed Makan Makan lunch buffet is the "Little Nonya" spread by resident Nonya chef Nancy Teo. I started with some Kueh Pai Tee which whetted up the appetite. Many other delectable selections include Babi Assam, Mee Siam Goreng, Nonya Chicken Curry, Achar, Chap Chye etc, showcasing the Malayan Straits cuisine.

Rickshaw Noodle 4/5

KL Tai Lok Mee 4.2/5

From the noodle station, we can savour dishes such as Rickshaw Noodle and KL Tai Lok Mee prepared a la minute by the chef at the live station. You will need to try these noodle dishes as they are not readily available elsewhere in Singapore.

Curry Fish Head 4.5/5

One of my favourite item is the Curry Fish Head. I am actually quite surprised to find it among the spread. I could not help going over to the Mamak Stall section to grab some naan and prata to soak up the delicious curry gravy.

Lastly do save some stomach space for the dessert. There are a variety of local treats such as Gula Melaka Sago Mousse, Chendol Panna Cotta, Ice Kachang, Durian Pengat, Durian Puff and a selection of local kuehs. There are even hot local desserts such as Bubur Cha Cha and Pulat Hitam. The dessert selection section is basically a feast by itself.

Prices
Date: Every Sat 12pm - 230pm
$58 per adult
$29 per child (6-11 years old
Inclusive of unlimited local beverages, coffee and tea

Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Edge
Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore
Level 3
7 Raffles Boulevard
Singapore 039595
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm
Sun: 12pm - 4pm, 630pm - 1030pm

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

Atrium Restaurant @ Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore - Hawkerlicious Buffet + Durian Bazaar

While fashion trends, bloom and wither as our love for them diminishes, our attachment towards durians only seems to get deeper - the more the merrier. This almost 'unconditional love' for the King of Fruits is even more pronounced during this time of the year, evident in social media posts. To celebrate the advent of the Durian season, Atrium Restaurant at Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore has designed a Hawkerlicious Buffet, catering to your palate.

Started off the evening with my own plated Gado Gado. I was quite sceptical initially in dressing my ingredients with the peanut sauce as usually they can be quite heavy, oily or salty in taste, but how wrong I was! Their peanut sauce was robust with a fine balance of flavours, whetting my appetite instantly.  With such a good sauce, I had no doubt that the satay would satisfy me just as well. Indeed, the satay meat was tender with a sweet, smoky taste, and the peanut sauce simply makes them even more moreish.

Next up is their mouth watering Laksa. I love the fact that I get to cook it myself, hence I can have a huge portion of beansprouts and a heap of the Laksa leaves. Writing about it makes me crave for it instantly. I don't order Laksa when dining out honest, but for theirs, I actually need to make a conscious effort not to drink up the gravy.

Another must try local delight is Oyster Omelette. I like the chewy starch, which is a perfect contrast to the crisp omelette. The portion of oysters can be more though. Another key ingredient is the chilli sauce, and their did manage to up the taste a notch. It would have been a better experience, I feel, if the Oyster Omelette can be made a la minute. Imagine it on your plate hot and piping. Hence,if you have the patience, perhaps, it is worth waiting for a fresh batch.

Their Chilli Crayfish is also one of their signatures. Don't forget to grab some of the crispy fried Man Tou for the sauce.

One of the dishes that I would recommend is their Nonya Chap Chye, which sits quietly among the rest.  It is full of my favourite crunchy black fungus, with very soft and flavourful Tau Kee and cabbages. Stir-fry vegetables is seldom my choice in a buffet as they are usually soggy with sauces, but somehow, this dish works for me much better than I thought it would.

Apart from the traditional pastries such as chiffon cakes and nonya kuehs, you may also DIY your own Ice Kachang, which is always a fun thing to do.

After all these 'works' to get your appetite going, it is time for the real work! Durians time! From $15 nett per durian, you get to choose one type of durians D1, D13 or Red Prawn. The best thing is that, you get to enjoy it with a bunch of your loved ones under the moonlight and shining stars out in their terrace.

Indeed, as one brilliantly pointed out, eating durians is a communal ritual.  I recalled moments of such occasions, some were filled with infectious laughter, while in some, only the sound of individual drawing every bit of the durian flesh off the seed could be heard. Missing such moments? This Hawkerlicious Buffet may be one of the options for you to experience it again.

Hawkerlicious Buffet (Book now to enjoy 1-for-1 offer)
Date: 15 July to 31 August 2016
Time: 630pm - 1030pm
Price:
Sun-Thu: $78++ adult | $25++ child
Fri-Sat: $88++ adult | $25++ child

Durian Bazaar
Date: 15 July to 31 August 2016
Time: 630pm - 1030pm
Price: From $15 nett per whole durian

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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Atrium Restaurant
Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
317 Outram Road
Singapore 169075
Tel: +65 67317172
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiatrium
Website: http://holidayinn.com/sinatrium
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Operating Hours:
Daily: 6am - 1230am

Direction:
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10169). Take bus number 123. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes.  [Map]

Lim's Fried Oyster @ Berseh Food Centre - The Traditional "Tang Shan Chao", Wet Version Fried Oyster

Lim's Fried Oyster at Berseh Food Centre has been in my radar for the longest time after seeing so many postings from my foodie friends. Thanks to Tony Tee for introducing this stall, we are able to discover yet another great makan place. Hidden in the corner of the food centre, the stall has been around for almost 40 years starting as roadside stall before moving into the food centre. Currently the stall is man by second generation Mr Lim and his wife.

Fried Oyster 4.2/5

What stood out at Lim's Fried Oyster is the used of Korean oyster which is plump and juicy. Compare to other stalls, this is like giant oysters. The Fried Oyster ($5/$8/$10) is fried to a good crispiness with a lot of eggs. The homemade chilli that is used to fry the batter and egg mixture enhanced the whole flavours even more.

Fried Oyster (Tang Shan Chao) 4.5/5

What surprised me is the other style of fried oyster known as 唐山炒 (Tang Shan Chao), a wet version that is hardly seen nowadays. Instead of the crispy egg batter, the egg is fried to a delectable runny texture. I actually prefer this more than the crispy version.

Each plate of the fried oyster by default is fried with the chilli sauce so do let the stall owner know if you can't take spicy. However I would recommend having it with the chilli sauce for the extra kick.

Lim's Fried Oyster
Berseh Food Centre
166 Jalan Besar
#01-32
Singapore 208877
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line), Lavender (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6pm - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit B. Cut across the HDB estate to King George's Ave. Turn left on King George's Ave and walk to the end. Turn right onto Syed Alwi Road. Continue straight on Syed Alwi Road until Jalan Berseh Road. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Cross the road and walk towards Mustafa at Syed Alwi Road. Continue walking down Syed Alwi Road until Jalan Beseh Road. Cross the road and turn right. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Sakura International Buffet @ Clementi Woods

Sakura International Buffet at Clementi Woods has undergone an interior revamp exuding a chic and modern city vibe. Located at the hill top of the Clementi Woods Park, Sakura has also introduced its latest offering, Seafood in a Bucket.

Sashimi and Cold Seafood 4/5

Sushi 3/5

The name of the restaurant already suggests that customers will get to enjoy a feast of Japanese food. Indeed on the buffet spread, customer has a wide variety of sushi, sashimi and even cold seafood to choose from.

Seafood In a Bucket 4/5

Seafood In a Bucket 4/5

In recent years, Louisiana style seafood restaurants have been opening one after another in Singapore. To be frank it is not cheap to dine at these restaurants. If you enjoy seafood, then not to be missed is Sakura's Seafood in a Bucket, with Boston Lobster cooked a la minute and it is unlimited servicing! It comes in two dipping sauce, Spicy Saucy and Class Garlic Herb Butter.

Grilled Prawn 2.5/5

Grilled Beef Steak 2.5/5

The grilled section at Sakura probably is the weakest link of all. I tried both the Grilled Prawn and Grilled Beef Steak. The grilled prawn was mushy although the flavour was there. The grilled beef steak was rather dry and tasteless.

Oyster Omelette 4/5

Laksa 4.2/5

Hainanese Chicken Rice 4/5

Catering for the local palate, Sakaura has a local section among the buffet spread. Not surprise, this is my favourite session. I tried the Oyster Omelette, Laksa and Hainanese Chicken Rice. All of them turned out pretty good. For those that missed our local hawker fare. you can find a decent offering at Sakura.

Dim Sum 3/5

For Dim Sum lovers, there is also a small selection of delectable bites to satisfy the diners too.

Bird Nest Egg Tarts 4.2/5

A must try is the Bird Nest Egg Tarts. Understandable you can't find a lot of bird nest in the egg tart, but the flaky and eggy tart is so good that you simply can't stop at one.

Molten Lava Cake with Haagen Dazs Belgain Chocolate 3.5/5

For those that has a sweet tooth, the dessert corner as a humble selection to wrap up the buffet feast on a sweet note. The Molten Lava Cake with Haagen Dazs Belgain Chocolate, a classic combination that will delight all.

Price
Mon-Fri
Lunch: Adult $25.80, Kid $16.80

Mon-Thu
Dinner: Adult $39.80, Kid $18.80

Fri-Sun, Eve of PH and PH
Brunch: Adult $39.80, Kid 18.80
Dinner: Adult $42.80, Kid $19.80


Sakura International Buffet
93A Clementi Road
Singapore 129781
Tel: +65 64748197
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 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 4 stops later. Walk to the park. Take the stairs in the park to the top of the hill. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

White Rose Cafe @ York Hotel

If you can run the same Penang Hawkers' Fare buffet for the past 30 years, that means something isn't it? Yes the ever popular Penang Hawkers' Fare buffet at York Hotel's White Rose Cafe is back again from 04 September to 20 September 2015. 11 chefs from Penang has came all the way from Penang bring you the best of Penang's authentic street food.

During my visit, white rose cafe was fully booked with walk in customers forming a queue at the entrance. The different live stations around the restaurant has diners eagerly waiting for their food while chefs and cooks tirelessly prepared bowl after bowl, plate after plate of Penang's street food. Let me give you a quick tour of the different dishes presented by the 11 stations at the Penang Hawkers' Fare.

Penang Rojak 4/5

A combination of refreshing ingredients tossed in a robust prawn paste sauce and topped with nutty peanuts, the Penang Rojak is so addictive with a party of flavours, whetting up the appetite.

Oyster Omelette 4.2/5

The dishes were served in small portion which I do not mind because it allows me to pace myself and try all the different offerings. Starting with the Oyster Omelette that is fried to an exterior crisp with fluffy innard, this is one of my favourite dishes for the night which I gone back for a few more servicing.

Penang Char Kway Teow 4.2/5

One of the longest queue among the different stations is the Penang Char Kway Teow. A nice balance of wok hei and savoury with lots of prawns and cockles completes the indulgence.

Kway Teow Soup 4.5/5

A must try is the Kway Teow Soup that comes with silky smooth kway teow, delectable fish cake and bouncy fish balls. Besides the soup version, dry version is also available.

Cuttlefish Kang Kong 4/5

The Cuttlefish Kang Kong topped with peanuts and prawn paste allows the enjoyment of the crunchy kang kong and cuttlefish to the fullest.

Nonya Chicken Kapitan 4/5

For a substantial plate, the Nonya Chicken Kapitan will be a good choice with the nonya dry version curry filled with aromatic herbs and spices.

Penang Laksa 4.2/5

The slurping good Penang Laksa with its complex sourish and spicy broth with pieces of fish meat is just too good to stop with one bowl.

Penang Prawn Mee 3.5/5

The Penang Prawn Mee on the other hand felt a bit short of my expectation. I though the broth is not robust enough. Nevertheless it is still a good bowl to add on to the spread of indulgence.

Lor Bak 3/5

I actually welcome the break from all the carbohydrates with a plate of Lor Bak with a platter of other deep fried ingredients such as tofu, yam prawn.

Ban Chang Kueh 4.5/5

A must try at the buffet spread is the Ban Chang Kueh that is made freshly on the spot. The paper thin crepe, pancake or shell is filled with fragrant, nutty peanuts. This is definitely one of the best I have eaten.

Chendol 4/5

How can we not have the staple Penang Chendol with such a feast? This is the perfect dessert to end the night. The dessert station also offers Ice Kachang and Ice Ball.

The Penang Hawkers' Fare is definitely worth the money with the delicious spread of Penang street food. It is also reasonable priced at $25.80++ per adult on weekdays and $28.80 ++ per adult on weekends. Children below 12 years old is priced at $18.80++ on weekdays and $20.80++ on weekends.


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

Opening Hours:
All day dining: 6am - 1am

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]