Punggol Seafood @ The Punggol Settlement

Punggol end has always been a part of my childhood memory. It is where my dad brought us for dinner during special occasions when young. We thought it was appropriate to bring our dad but to the re-developed punggol end, renamed as The Punggol Settlement, to celebrate our dad's birthday. Together with the re-developed, Hock Kee Punggol Seafood has also moved back to where they all started.

Baby Squid 3.5/5

The Deep Fried Baby Squid ($24) seems to be a delight for young and ladies. The enjoyed the crispiness of the deep fried baby squid coated with a layer of sweet sauce.

Fish Maw Soup 3/5

I find the the Fish Maw Soup ($30) was rather expensive with the sort of quality. The fish maw was rather dry and did not have that spongy texture. The soup was quite starchy too.

Asparagus with Scallop 3/5

The Asparagus with Scallop ($40) was quite bland in the sense that it lacked the garlicky aroma of stir frying. The consolation was that the greens were sweet and cooked to a nice crunch.

La La Bee Hoon 4/5

I am actually quite excited when I saw that the restaurant offers the La La Bee Hoon ($28.80). The version at Punggol Seafood is different from the one I had at Diamond Kitchen. The la la been hoon here used a different type of bee hoon which is brown in colour and has a more firmer texture. The gravy itself is more cloudy. If I am not wrong milk is added, quite similar to those fish soup stall.

Mee Goreng 2/5

The other noodle dish on the menu, Mee Goreng ($12) was unfortunately very disappointing. The whole dish simply lacked any wok hei or flavours. It was so bad that the whole table of us left it untouched after just a mouth bite.

Gong Gong 4.5/5

Another dish that is very well executed is the Gong Gong ($12). The dish is actually flamed at table side, allowing the Chinese wine to be infused. What made this event more enjoyable is the gravy that tasted of a mixture of butter and chinese wine that is used to cook the sea snail. I was so good that I actually gone back for a couple more sips of the gravy.

Steamed Soon Hock 4.2/5

Punggol Seafood serves live seafood which is quite in their fish tanks. My dad actually chose and catch the Steamed Soon Hock ($38.50) himself. Timed perfectly in steaming the fish, I like the simplicity of just using salted vegetables and sour plums, allowing the freshness of the fish to shine.

Chilli Crab 4.2/5

The mud crab used at Punggol seafood is really huge. It should be more than 2.5kg per crab. The freshness of the Chilli Crab ($88) can be tasted in its firmness and sweetness. For the gravy, I thought it can be more robust and spicier. It is actually not bad, it is just that it felt slightly short of my expectation.

Overall there were some hits and misses at Punggol Seafood. It seems that they are better on their seafood dishes. The la la bee hoon is recommendable too.


Punggol Seafood
The Punggol Settlement
3 Punggol Point Road
#01-08/09
Singapore 828694
Tel: +65 64488511
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PonggolSeafoodHockKee
Website: http://www.ponggolseafood.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Punggol (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm
Sat-Sun & PH: 1130am - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Punggol MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Punggol temporary Bus Interchange (Stop ID 65009). Take bus number 84. Alight 6 stops later. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

Pondok Jawa Timur @ North Bridge Road

My visit to Pondok Jawa Timur was back in March 2014 and I have heard that they have relocated to their new location at 737 North Bridge Road. Together with Maureen and Kimberley, we stopped by Pondok Jawa Timur on a weekday night for dinner.

Avocado Juice 3.5/5

A must order drink for me whether I have Indonesian food is the Avocado Juice ($5.80). I have always enjoyed the nutty and creamy drink,

Soto Madura 3.5/5

The Soto Madura with Beef ($6.50) reminds me of Mee Soto. It seems rather similar except it comes with pieces of beef. Squeezed a dash of the lime or add some chilli to alter the flavour for an accentuated enjoyment.

Corn Batter with Prawn 4/5

During my previous visit, I did not get to try the Corn Batter with Prawn ($5.70 for 3pc). I am glad that I got to try it this time round. It is really a delightfully snack to kick start the meal.

Tahu Telor 4/5

The peanut sauce at Pondok Jawa Timur is freshly made daily. There are 3 different types of peanut sauces at the restaurant for the various dishes. The one used for the Tahu Telor ($6.90) is richer and bolder in flavour which goes well with the fried tofu and egg.

Gado Gado 4.2/5

The other peanut sauce is used for the Gado Gado ($6.90). The sauce is lighter but creamier with a subtle sweetness that paired excellently with the vegetables.

Sate Ayam 3.8/5

Lastly the peanut sauce which is more coarse and nutty is the perfect marriage for the delectable Sate Ayam ($8.90). I thought the sate ayam was not as well marinated compared to my previous visit. It was also missing that charred smokey flavour I was looking for.

Mie Goreng Jawa 4/5

If you want to just have a quick meal and you do not want to over order, I would recommend the Mie Goreng Jawa ($6.90). I like the fact that the stir fried noodles is the wet kind, flavourful and with hints of wok hei aroma.

Ayam Penyet 4.5/5

Probably a Singaporean favourite is the Ayam Penyet ($6.90) that is served with freshly made sambal. The ayam penyet is another dish I would order. The chicken is cooked to a nice exterior crisp while retaining the tenderness inside.

Rice

Over at Pondok Jawa Timur, customers have a choice of 3 different types of rice. Namely the normal white rice, pandan rice and yellow rice.

Fish Head Curry 3.8/5

I did not really enjoy the Fish Head Curry ($32.9) during my previous visit as I thought it was too watery. However, the fish head curry was more palatable this time round. According to the owner instead of using coconut milk, they used fresh milk to cook their curry. The gravy will go well with a plate of rice or even bread.

Es Teler 3.5/5

Wrapping up the dinner, I have the Es Teler ($4.50) which is a sweet dessert of fresh fruits, shaved ice and condensed milk. I was introduced to the dessert during a Jakarta trip and this has become my favourite Indonesia dessert. I simply love the taste of condensed milk with the shaved ice. However I think the presentation could be better and the shaved ice can be finer. It was a bit coarse on the palate.

After moving from Selegie to the new location at North Bridge Road, Pondok Jawa Timur exactly dropped their prices. I was actually quite surprise but it is a great news to the customers. On top of that, there is no service and GST. With the type of pricing and good food, it is definitely a wallet friendly place for a meal.


Pondok Jawa Timur
737 North Bridge Road
Singapore 198705
Tel: +65 68845853
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pondok-Jawa-Timur-Javanese-Cuisine/484078558340235
Website: http://www.pondokjawatimur.com/
Nearest MRT: Bugis (DT Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Victoria Street towards Golden Landmark Shopping Complex. Turn right onto Arab Street. At the junction of Arab Street and North Bridge Road, turn left onto North Bridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

House of Seafood (螃蟹之家) @ The Punggol Settlement

The end of Punggol Road where Punggol Jetty is located has fond memories for me. This is where my parents used to bring me to have a feast for family gathering or special occasions during my childhood days. Many years have passed and the new development at the end of Punggol Road has taken shape. It has transformed into a beautiful waterfront for both food and leisure, perfect for a family day out. The idea location  has also seen many seafood restaurants opened along the coastal line at The Punggol Settlement. One such restaurants is the popular House of Seafood (螃蟹之家) popular for their black pepper crab.

Pan Fried Chicken Cutlet with Special Sauce 4.2/5

I probably would not have ordered the Pan Fried Chicken Cutlet with Special Sauce ($12/$16/$20) at a seafood restaurant if not for the recommendation of the staff. It was really an excellent recommendation. The chicken cutlet coated in a special sauce was so tender and succulent, getting praises around the table. Garnished with quail egg which is an interesting pairing, is a dish to try at House of Seafood.

Stir Fried Asparagus with XO Sauce 4/5

I always find that XO Sauce is a wonder sauce that goes well with almost any ingredients. The Stir Fried Asparagus ($12/$16/$20) beautifully coated with XO Sauce was sweet and crunchy. The XO sauce gave the dish the extra lift of spiciness and aroma that will be well received by the locals.

La La 3/5

The La La ($12/$16/$22) has its hits and misses. The broth that cooked the la la was lackluster but the freshness of the shellfish with its sweet and plump flesh redeemed the dish.

Crispy Beancurd with Chef Special Sauce 3/5

The Crispy Beancurd with Chef Special Sauce ($15/$20/$25) was crispy on the exterior and silky smooth inside. The presentation topped with pork floss looked somewhat like the Addias logo to our amusement. The so called chef special sauce is non other than a familiar Thai sweet spicy sauce which was a bit old school in my opinion.

Pork Ribs with Special Sauce 3.5/5

The Pork Ribs with Special Sauce ($15/$20/$25) received mixed opinions around the table. I actually quite like the flavour of the special sauce enhancing the enjoying in tearing the meat off from the bone.

Mee Goreng 3.5/5

Fried White Bee Hoon with XO Sauce 4.2/5

Moving on to the noodle dishes, I tried the Mee Goreng ($8/$12/$16) and Fried White Bee Hoon with Xo Sauce. I thought both were very well executed. For the mee goreng I have always preferred the Chinese style wetter version and I managed to get my satisfaction at House of Seafood. The Fried White Bee Hoon with XO sauce was really outstanding with its wok hei aromatic complemented by a superior stock.

Black Pepper Crab 3.8/5

Salted Egg Crab 4/5

Next up is the crowning of the dinner with the Black Pepper Crab (market price) and Salted Egg Crab (market price). Voted the best Black Pepper Crab in Singapore, the crustacean did come with a peppery kick. However the black pepper sauce was too pasty for my liking. The Salted Egg Crab fares better with its finger licking good creamy salted egg sauce. How I wish there were some fried mantou to wipe clean the plate.

During my visit which is a Saturday evening, the restaurant is packed. Singaporean loves of seafood and the location although far but along the waterfront proves to be a winning formula similar to East Coast Seafood Village. The Punggol Settlement probably will be the next seafood village of the North East.


House of Seafood
The Punggol Settlement
3 Punggol Point Road
#01-01/02
Singapore 828694
Tel: +65 64669000
Website: http://www.houseofseafood.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Punggol (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 5pm - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Punggol MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Punggol temporary Bus Interchange (Stop ID 65009). Take bus number 84. Alight 6 stops later. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

Pondok Jawa Timur @ Wilkie Edge (Selegie)

Driven by the passion to offer authentic Javanese cuisine to Singapore, Mdm Indah opened her first eatery house at Indonesia Embassay in 2007 before moving to Atrium Orchard 3 years later. The popular Indonesian Javanese restaurant, Pondok Jawa Timur at Dhoby Ghaut area has since relocated to Wilkie Edge at Selegie area. Fans of their Indonesian Javanese food will be glad to know the platoon of Indonesian chefs in the kitchen has remained the same all these years. Meaning you can expect the same quality and standard at Pondok Jawa Timur in their current premise.

Ayam Penyet 4.5/5

Upon sighting the smashed fried chicken that looked as if it has just been run over by a car, I knew I am into something good. Deep fried to a crispy exterior, the chicken was tender and moist. This is definitely one of the best Ayam Penyet ($7.90) I had for a long time.

Tahu Telor 4/5

I have mixed feeling towards the Tahu Telor ($9.90). I prefer my tahu telor to be the tower form so that every bite has a good mix of the beancurd and fried egg. Saying that I like the robustness of the prawn paste that complemented the fried tofu in egg.

Rendang Jawa Timur 3.8/5

The Rendang Jawa Timur ($8.90) was pretty flavourful and fragrant with all the spices. It felt that the beef redang needed a couple more hours to be more tender.

Gado Gado 3/5

After ordering all the food, we realised we did not have a vegetable dish. Hence the owner recommended us to try the Gado Gado ($8.90), mixed vegetable in peanut sauce. Some may think it is weird to have your vegetables with peanut sauce but in fact it is quite a staple dish in Indonesia. The nutty sauce actually goes very well with the natural sweetness of the mixed vegetables. Quite similar how goma sauce is used in Japanese cuisine.

Sop Buntut 3/5

My first introduction to Indonesian cuisine is Sop Buntut in Jakarta. Since then I have quite an high expectation of the oxtail soup. The Sop Buntun ($11.90) at Pondok Jawa Timur was hearty and comforting but fell short in the robustness to satisfy my expectation.

Gulai Kepala Ikan 3.5/5

One of the popular dishes here is te Gulai Kepala Ikan ($28.90). Served in a claypot, the fish head was fresh and succulent. While I can taste the aroma of the spices in the gulai sauce, the spicy scale is too mild for my palate and I prefer something more lemak. However, my dining partners did not agreed with me and they actually enjoyed the fish head curry. Hence it is down to one's preference.

Mie Goreng Jawa 4.5/5

We were already quite full from all the yummy dishes but since the owner has been raving about their popular Mie Goreng Jawa ($7.90), the curiosity in us just could not let this be missed without trying. The Javanese fried noodles was unlike the Malay style which is reddish in colour. The mie goreng jawa here is more inclined to the Chinese style, wetter with the noodles infused with the wok hei flavour.

Sate Ayam 5/5

The one dish that blown me away at Pondok Jawa Timur it the Sate Ayam ($9.90). Charcoal grilled to a nice smoky flavour, the tender chicken thigh meat satay was drenched in a very delish sauce that accentuated the whole flavour. For a more spicy kick, have a dip of the chilli sauce to further enjoy the chicken satay to the fullest.

I am glad that my food journey has brought me to Pondok Jawa Timur. The halal restaurant uses only fresh ingredients with their Indonesian chefs cooking up tasty and authentic Javanese cuisine since 2007 following closely at heart Mdm Indah's recipes. The wallet friendly restaurant with delicious Indonesian food offers an extensive menu that caters for both individual and families.


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Pondok Jawa Timur Indonesia Javanese Restaurant
Wilkie Edge
8 Wilkie Road
#01-21
Singapore 228095
Tel: +65 68845853
Website: http://www.pondokjawatimur.com
Nearest MRT: Bras Basah (CC Line), Dhoby Ghuat (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bras Basah MRT station. Take Exit D or E. Walk down Bras Basah Road to the junction of Bras Basah Road and Prinsep Steet. Cross the road and turn right onto Prinsep Street. Walk down Prinsep Street and continue onto Selegie Road. Continue walking down Selegie Road until destination. Journey time about 15 mins. [Map]

2) Alight at Dhoby Ghuat MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Orchard Road to the junction of Orchard Road and Prinsep Street. Turn left onto Prinsep Street. Walk down Prinsep Street and continue onto Selegie Road. Continue walking down Selegie Road until destination. Journey time about 15 mins. [Map]

The Boxing Crab Restaurant @ Sentosa

The newest food establishment by Food Junction, The Boxing Crab Restaurant is located at Sentosa behind the beautifully quaint stretch of Sentosa adjacent to Underwater World. Browsing through the eclectic menu, the restaurant relishes fresh seafood and ambrosial dishes inspired by a variety of culinary styles (Chinese, Balinese and Western) af affordable prices.

The 250 seater restaurant overlooks the panoramic sea with both indoor and al fresco seating. Sights of traversing cruise liners and ferries, sunset illuminating the sky with its deep orange hue paints a mesmersing and magnificent scenery.

Detox 4/5

The Boxing Crab Restaurant has 4 interesting smoothies drink on the menu. They were Energy Enchancer, Super Smoothie, Stimulator and Detox. I had the Detox ($7) which is a mixture of apple juice, celery juice, beetroot and ginseng.

Otah Otah Cigar 4/5

Spring roll with spicy fish paste filling although is not new to me, the Otah Otah Cigar ($12) was definitely better than the one I have tried. The crispy golden brown skin with its otah fillling sure whet our appetites for more delectable dishes.

Steamed Bamboo Clam with Minced Garlic 4.5/5

The Steamed Bamboo Clam with Minced Garlic (market price) melded perfectly with the minced garlic and glass vermicelli. I really enjoyed it that I went for a second helping.

Charcoal Grilled Marinated Red Snapper 4.5/5

The Balinese style of the Charcoal Grilled Marinated Red Snapper ($28) left the table raving with acknowledgement and going back for more. The accompanying chilli dips were nice but we all preferred it to be a tab more spicy.

Seafood Mee Goreng 3/5

I always prefer the Chinese style of Mee Goreng which is wetter. I was glad that Boxing Crab serves the version I like. The Seafood Mee Goreng ($15/$25/$32) did not manage to tingle my appetite. I enjoyed the wetness but it lacked the robustness and spiciness I was seeking.

It is time to suit up for the restaurant's signature crabs.

Braised Claypot Crab with Superior Broth and Pumpkin 4.8/5

If you have the chance to visit The Boxing Crab, this is a MUST TRY. The Braised Claypot Crab with Superior Broth and Pumpkin (market price) visually looked like salt egg yolk but it tasted nothing near it. In fact it was much more superior, delicate and unique. It was a total new experience that got my taste buds dancing in excitement.

Caramelized Spices with Curry Leaf Crab 4.2/5

Another special crab dish available at the restaurant is the Caramelized Spices with Curry Leaf Crab (market price). If you do not like the peppery punch of the black pepper crab, this will be a good alternative. The caramelized spices came through with a tantalizing sweetness and aroma that was memerizing.

Yam Paste with Gingo Nuts 4/5

For dessert, the restaurant offers a selection of both Asian and Western desserts.

Being a Teochew,  I love my Yam Paste with Gingo Nuts ($5). Flavours were well balanced and I like the added corn kernels giving it another dimension in texture.

Tropic Pineapple Sorbet 4/5

The refreshing Tropice Pineapple Sorbet ($11.90) served in a pineapple was a welcome dessert for the hot and humid weather of Singapore.

Traditional Sicillian Cannoli with Sweetened Ricotta 4/5

The Traditional Sicillian Cannoli ($11.90) with its tube shaped shell filled with sweetened ricotta was a very delightful dessert. The contrasting texture of the crusty dough and smooth ricotta simply brought a smile to my face.

Meringue with Chantilly Cream 3.8/5

If you have a sweet tooth, the Meringue with Chantilly Cream ($8.90) will be for you. The heavily sugared combination of meringue and chantilly cream will guarantee you a sugar rush.

Overall I am quite impress with the food quality and standard at Boxing Crab. The crabs definitely will be their signature. There are many cooking styles on the menu that I would return to try such as Steamed Crab with Soya Bean Milk, Salted Baked Crab with Scallion, Charcoal Grilled Wasabi Crab, Sautted Swimmer Crab with Mushroom Ragout and many more.


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The Boxing Crab Restaurant
Sentosa
(Adjacent to Underwater World)
80 Siloso Road
Singapore 098969
Tel: +65 62747760
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBoxingCrab
Website: http://www.foodjunction.com/brands/restaurant/the-boxing-crab/
Nearest MRT: Harbour Front (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbour Front MRT station. Exit station to Vivocity Shopping Mall. Go to Sentosa Express Station at Level 3 of Vivocity. Take Sentosa Express Train to Beach station. Alight at Beach station and transfer to Sentosa shuttle bus (blue line). Alight 2 stops later at Underwater World. Journey time about 20 mins.