Jiak Bar @ Far East Square - A Day-to-Night Taiwanese Eatery Bringing the Spirit of “Re Chao” to China Street

Tucked away on China Street, Jiak Bar is a charming dual-concept eatery that effortlessly morphs from a casual Taiwanese lunch spot by day into a vibey izakaya-style bar by night. Inspired by Taiwan's beloved "Re Chao" culture – where small, wok-fried dishes are served at bustling local joints – Jiak Bar introduces Singapore to its take on "Xiao Chao," with comforting street-style plates and a solid lineup of cocktails and Taiwan beers perfect for winding down.

Braised Pig's Ears 3.5/5

We started with a few small bites to warm up the palate. The Braised Pig's Ears ($5.80) offered that signature crunch from the marinated and tender cartilage, a classic Taiwanese snack done well.

Golden Kimchi 4/5

Unlike its spicier Korean cousin, the Golden Kimchi ($5.80) has a refreshing balance of sweet and tangy flavours that nicely whet the appetite.

Mala Soft Bone 3/5

Another crunchy option was the Mala Soft Bone ($6.80), mildly spicy with an addictive, numbing hint of mala, offering a textural contrast from the soft cartilage.

Oyster Popcorn 3.5/5

The Oyster Popcorn ($9.80) came golden and crispy on the outside, hiding juicy, briny oysters within. Accompanied by keropok and crispy basil, it was a playful and aromatic dish, though it could use just a touch more seasoning.

Taiwanese Stir-fried Pork 4/5

One of the more comforting dishes on the menu is the Taiwanese Stir-fried Pork ($9.80), which felt like something straight out of a home kitchen. Pork belly, tofu, and greens come together in a familiar stir-fry, with a touch of heat from red chillies rounding out the dish.

Three Cup Century Egg 3.8/5

The Three Cup Century Egg ($7.80) was a standout for those who love century eggs. Deep-fried for a crispy edge, then cooked in the classic Taiwanese "three cup" style — soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine — this dish also featured basil and peanuts for added texture and aroma.

Naked Pepper Chicken Soup 4/5

A personal favourite was the Naked Pepper Chicken Soup ($12.80), a unique offering in the Taiwanese repertoire. The addition of clams gave the broth an oceanic sweetness, while green peppercorns added a vibrant, peppery zing. It was comforting yet bold in flavour.

Claypot Mala Tofu Stew 2.8/5

Not every dish was a hit, though. The Claypot Mala Tofu Stew ($12.80) was a miss for me. While inspired by Taiwan's classic duck blood mala stew, the tofu substitute here didn't quite capture the essence. It lacked both the expected heat and the numbing intensity of real mala.

Hsinchu Fried Vermicelli Meal 4/5

For something more filling, the Hsinchu Fried Vermicelli Meal ($7.80) was satisfying and hearty. Springy, chewy rice vermicelli came paired with a fried egg and wu xiang, making this an affordable and complete one-dish meal

Crispy Chicken Braised Meat Rice 4.2/5

Another crowd-pleaser was the Crispy Chicken Braised Meat Rice ($10.80), which arrived as a generously loaded bowl. The braised pork had the right fat-to-meat ratio for richness, paired with a whole slab of crispy chicken cutlet, braised egg, pickled cucumber, and stewed cabbage. This dish really delivered on flavour and satisfaction.

Whether you're swinging by for a comforting Taiwanese lunch or settling in for a night of drinks and nibbles, Jiak Bar manages to channel the spirit of a true Taiwanese "Re Chao" joint with a contemporary twist. While not every dish was a knockout, the playful flavours, casual vibes, and thoughtful touches throughout the menu make this a spot worth checking out — especially if you're craving a taste of Taiwan in the heart of Singapore.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Jiak Bar
Far East Square
22 China Street
#01-01
Singapore 049564
Tel: +65 9733 9157
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT:

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 830pm
Fri-Sun: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Cross Street to China Street. Turn right onto China Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Monki (台灣小吃部) @ The Star Vista - Homely And Comforting Taiwan Cuisine

Monki (台灣小吃部) is a Taiwanese restaurant that has moved into Star Vista, located just beside the taxi stand. I remembered visiting the cafe previously at Holland Drive, but I was only there for desserts. I will try out some of their snacks and mains this time.

Taiwan Century Egg Tofu 3.8/5

We started with the chilled Taiwan Century Egg Tofu ($8), generously topped with pork floss and bonito flakes. While it is an appetising starter, I felt the century egg lacked that pungent I was looking for.

Double Mix Mee Sua 4.2/5

There are a few combinations for the Mee Sua, and I went for the Double Mix Mee Sua ($11), picking the big intestine and oyster. The big intestine was not gamey. I recommend adding more vinegar and a dash of chilli to elevate the taste profile to enjoy the thick, smooth, and slurping goodness.

Taiwan Braised Pork Rice 4.2/5

The Taiwan Braised Pork Rice ($9) comes with fragrant and fluffy rice topped with fatty braised pork. I like that it is very saucy, allowing the rice to soak up the delicious sauce for a delightful mouthfeel. It even comes with a braised egg and tau pok.

Taiwan Fried Chicken Cutlet 4/5

We also ordered the Taiwan Fried Chicken Cutlet ($8) to complete our meal. It is incredibly huge, tender and juicy with a crispy coat.

The dishes here felt homely and comforting. Maybe I have been missing Taiwan since the closure of the border due COVIID.


Monki (台灣小吃部)
The Star Vista
1 Vista Exchange Green
#01-41
Singapore 138617
Tel: +65 62588112
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Buona Vista (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 1030am - 9pm
Fri: 1030am - 930am
Sat: 9am - 930pm
Sun: 1030am - 830pm

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

Eat 3 Bowls Station (呷三碗車站) @ Pasir Panjang - Homecoming With Its 2nd Outlet In The West

I visited Eat 3 Bowls Station (呷三碗車站) when it first started as a hawker stall at Seah Im Food Centre back in 2017. However, the hawker stall is no longer around as the young hawkers have opened a dine-in restaurant at Crawford Lane. Sometime early this year, it opened its 2nd dine-in outlet at Pasir Panjang, nearer my home.

Braised Pork Rice 4.5/5

A must-have is the Braised Pork Rice ($5). I enjoyed their version of braised pork with a mix of fatty and lean cuts. What makes it even more delectable is the soft and pearly rice underneath, absorbing the delicious braising sauce.

Chicken Rice 4.2/5

The Chicken Rice ($5) may look plain, but the shredded chicken is well flavoured. The caramelised shallots lent a lovely fragrance to the tender chicken. Though the rice used is not those flavoured Hainanese chicken rice, the plain, soft and pearly rice complements the shredded chicken excellently.

Bittergourd Pork Rib Soup 4.2/5

I remembered having the Bittergourd Pork Rib Soup ($5.50) when I visited their hawker stall. Back then, it was so bad that I give it a score of one out of five. This time, it is much flavourful and refreshing. It has redeemed itself.

Braised Chinese Cabbage 4.2/5

I also remembered having the Braised Chinese Cabbage ($5.20) back then. It is stewed to a delightful softness. Compare to the previous version I had, this version is richer in taste with the pungent aroma of dried shrimp.

Oyster and Intestine Mee Sua 4.5/5

Another signature at Eat 3 Bowls Station is the Oyster and Intestine Mee Sua ($7.20). It is probably the most authentic Taiwan rendition I have eaten so far. It uses red mee sua, plump oyster and bouncy pig intestines for the bowl of slurping goodness. The addition of garlic and vinegar completed the full appreciation of the mee sua.

Though Eat 3 Bowls has an East outlet, I haven't visited it as it is pretty far from my home. I am glad it has returned to the area where it first started, nearer to my home. Now I can easily satisfy my craving for Taiwanese cuisine.


Eat 3 Bowls Station (呷三碗車站)
103 Pasir Panjang Road
Singapore 118531
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Pasir Panjang (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun: 11am - 8pm
(Closed on Tue)

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

Dining at Home During Circuit Breaker - The Salted Plum

With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have to shelve our travel plan until all the travel ban and restriction is lifted. If you have been to Taiwan and miss its cuisine, let The Salted Plum brings a piece of their Taiwanese Zichar rendition to your home during the circuit breaker period.

Lu Rou and 12-hr Eggs

The Family Value Set which comes with options for 3-4 pax and 5-6 pax. Customers can also choose to upgrade their rice to sweet potato congee. I had the regular family set which comes with Lu Rou, 12-hr Eggs, Cold Tofu, Oyster Mushrooms, Smashed Potatoes, Smashed Cucumber, Pork Chop, Burnt Chilli Chicken, Mei Cai and Red Tea Jelly Dessert.

Cold Tofu

Among the spread of dishes, I really enjoyed the fork-tender Braised Pork Belly and the soft, silky Cold Tofu.

Oyster Mushrooms, Smashed Potatoes, Pork Chop

The Oyster Mushrooms, Smashed Potatoes and Pork Chop are deep-fried to a delightful bite, but I just felt that there was too much fried stuff.

Burnt Chilli Chicken

Tender and juicy is the Burnt Chilli Chicken. I like the hint of smokiness on top of that spicy kick.

Mei Cai

I like my Mei Cai, but the seasoning was a bit heavy for my delivery. I am sure they can do better in standard and consistency.

Red Tea Jelly Dessert

Last but not least, wrapped up the meal with Red Tea Jelly Dessert. It even comes with chewy tapioca balls giving the dessert a pleasing textural contrast to the crunchy, gelatin jelly.

The Salted Plum offers both takeaway and island-wide delivery. To order visit https://www.saltedplum.co.


The Salted Plum
10 Circular Road
Singapore 049366
Tel: +65 62600155
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 930pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road. Walk to Carpenter Street. Walk to the end of Carpenter Street to South Bridge Road. Cross the Road. Walk to junction of South Bridge Road and Circular Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight At Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to Circular Road. Walk down Circular Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 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]

The Salted Plum @ Circular Road (Boat Quay) - Homely Taiwanese Tapas Concept for $5 and $10 Per Dish

I have visited Five Ten when it was a pop-up at South Bridge Road and I was impressed with the Taiwanese tapas concept. I am glad that they have now found a permanent home at Circular Road. The team has also renamed it as The Salted Plum, a fitting name to the new restaurant as it makes reference to a common ingredient used in Taiwanese cuisine.

Taiwanese Sausages Patties 4.2/5

The Salted Plum has continued the concept of offering the dishes at $5 and $10. One of the many dishes we ordered is the Taiwanese Sausages Patties ($10). It has been grilled to a nice smoky charred on the exterior on top of the succulent patty.

Burnt Chilli Chicken 4/5

Another beautifully grilled dish is the Burnt Chilli Chicken ($10). Nicely charred on the exterior, the chicken thigh was tender and juicy. The menu description says it is cooked with loads of chilli but it was not spicy at all. Saying that, the chicken thigh pairs excellent with the accompanying chilli dipping sauce.

Brussels Sprouts with Shiitake Mushroom 3.5/5

The Brussels Sprouts with Shiitake Mushroom ($5) is stir-fried to a delectable crunch. There is also a bit of heat from the chilli padi.

Oyster Steamed Egg 3.5/5

Steamed egg probably is a common dish served on the dining table at home. Over here, it has been given a uplift with the used of dashi to heighten the flavour on top of its smooth texture. You can also find baby oysters in the Oyster Steamed Egg ($10) topped with chopped spring onions.

Grilled Squid 3.8/5

One of the dishes I remembered having at Five Ten is the Grilled Squid ($10). The squid is glazed with housemade five-spice BBQ marination and grilled to a nice tender bite.

Braised Pig Intestines with Fresh Garlic 4/5

If you think that The Salted Plum is only good at grilling, then you are wrong. Their braised items are even better. If you are afraid of having pig intestines, then you should try the Braised Pig Intestines with Fresh Garlic ($10). The large intestines are not gamey and well infused with the braising sauce.

Braised Pork Belly 4.5/5

Not to be missed is the Braised Pork Belly ($10) in special haus saus. The pork belly which has absorbed the flavourful braising sauce, literally melts in the mouth. This goes perfect with a bowl of Shiny Rice ($0.50). The rice here is also extra fragrant as it is drizzled with lard and garlic oil.

Besides the variety of dishes at The Salted Plum, it also offers 7 different type of rice bowls at only $10 for lunch. This caters for the office workers that just want to have a quick lunch.


The Salted Plum
10 Circular Road
Singapore 049366
Tel: +65 62600155
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 930pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road. Walk to Carpenter Street. Walk to the end of Carpenter Street to South Bridge Road. Cross the Road. Walk to junction of South Bridge Road and Circular Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight At Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to Circular Road. Walk down Circular Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Eat 3 Bowls (呷三碗) @ Seah Im Food Centre - Young Hawkers Serving A Great Bowl Of Mee Sua & Lu Rou Fang

Eat 3 Bowls (呷三碗) at Seah Im Food Centre is a new stall opened by 2 young men. During our visit for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, the place seems rather quiet. Great that I do not need to queue up to order my food. Since there is 2 of us, we decided to go for the set meal for two pax which costs $15. It comes with 2 soups, 2 bowl of braised pork rice, 1 vegetable and the salted crispy chicken.

Braised Pork Rice 4.5/5

I have to agree with many reviews that I have seem online that the Braised Pork Rice ($2.50) or also known as Lu Rou Fan is top notch. The braised sauce is not overly sweet with hints of spices such as star anise and cinnamon. The minced pork literally melted in the mouth which has absorbed the essence of the braising sauce which complemented the soft and pearly rice excellently.

Salted  Crispy Chicken 4.2/5

The Salted Crispy Chicken ($4) comes in spicy and non-spicy. Thinly coated with a crispy batter. The chunky pieces of chicken were tender, juicy and crispy. The chemistry of the sodium chloride and chilli powder provided the stimulation for taste buds to appreciate the dish.

Braised Chinese Cabbage 4/5

The Braised Chinese Cabbage ($3) was cooked to a delectable softness while still retaining the natural sweetness of the Chinese cabbage.

Bittergourd Pork Ribs Soup 1/5

The Bittergourd Pork Ribs Soup ($3) is way too healthy for me. It tasted really bland. There was no body to it and it felt like the stall has forgotten about the seasoning.

Intestine Mee Sua 4.5/5

Since I have made my way down to Seah Im Food centre, I have to order another signature item on the menu, their Intestine Mee Sua ($3.50). Using the red mee sua, the rendition by the 2 young gentlemen reminded me of my Taiwan trip. This is probably the best and closest I have eaten by far. Add some garlic and vinegar to complete the full appreciation of the mee sua.

Eat 3 Bowls (呷三碗)
Seah Im Food Centre
2 Seah Im Road
#01-21
Singapore 099114
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Harbour Front (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 830am-730pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbour Front MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]