Great Nanyang (大南洋) @ Geneo - Nostalgic Buns, Rojak & Penang Flavours Near Kent Ridge MRT Station

Great Nanyang (大南洋) has unveiled its latest outlet at Geneo, conveniently located next to Kent Ridge MRT station. Staying true to its nostalgic charm, the new space is decked out in retro touches, evoking the warm familiarity of old-school kopitiams. What makes this outlet special? Not just the vintage aesthetics, but exclusive menu items and merchandise that give fans even more to explore.

Mashed Taro Steam Bun 4/5

We began our meal with a colourful array of steamed buns, each with a unique filling that pays tribute to both traditional and playful local flavours. The highlight among the buns was the Mashed Taro Steamed Bun ($4.80). The filling was creamy and smooth with a natural taro flavour that wasn't overly sweet. Encased in a soft, fluffy bun, it was comforting and nostalgic. It is a true crowd-pleaser.

Bak Kwa Chicken Floss Steam Bun 3.8/5

Bak Kwa Chicken Floss Steam Bun ($5.80) is an inventive bun that combines two festive favourites: bak kwa and chicken floss. Reminiscent of Chinese New Year snack pairings, this creative take worked surprisingly well. The smoky sweetness of the bak kwa paired nicely with the savoury floss, delivering a delicious umami bite.

Peanut Butter Steamed Bun 4/5

Otak-Otak Steam Bun 4/5

The Peanut Butter ($3.50) and Otak-Otak ($4.80) versions are excellent choices for those who prefer something more classic. The peanut butter bun was rich and gooey, while the otak-otak version had just the right level of spice and fishiness to satisfy without overwhelming.

Traditional Kaya Butter Toast 4/5

A staple of local breakfasts, the Traditional Kaya Butter Toast ($2.70) didn't disappoint. The bread was crisp on the outside, slathered with fragrant house-made kaya and thick, cold slabs of butter that melted slightly on contact. It was simple, nostalgic, and perfect.

French Toast 4/5

The French Toast ($4.50) offered a slightly richer take, with slices dipped in egg before being pan-fried to golden perfection. Paired with a sweet kaya dipping sauce, it made for a satisfying midday snack or light breakfast.

Fresh Fruit Rojak 3/5

One of the unique offerings at this outlet is the Fresh Fruit Rojak cart, where diners can handpick fruit skewers at $1.50 per stick. Once assembled, the fruits are tossed in a bold, punchy rojak sauce that balances sweetness, tartness, and spice. It's light, refreshing, and great for sharing.

Penang White Curry Noodle 3.5/5

The hearty bowl of Penang White Curry Noodles ($8.90) comes with a combination of yellow noodles and beehoon, swimming in a creamy, coconut-based broth. Topped with taupok, fishballs, and prawns, the dish was satisfying on its own, but really came alive with the addition of their in-house chilli paste, which brought out the full complexity of the curry.

Chicken Berempah Leg Nasi Lemak Kukus 4/5

Served with steamed nasi lemak rice, the Chicken Berempah Leg Nasi Lemak Kukus ($8.90) featured boneless chunks of chicken leg marinated in a fragrant blend of Malay spices, then deep-fried until crispy on the outside and tender within. Accompanied by peanuts, sambal, and a fried egg, this was a fulfilling one-plate meal with bold, aromatic flavours.

Nanyang Style Dry Curry Prawns 4.8/5

If you're dining in a group, there’s an extensive selection of cooked dishes perfect for communal feasting. We tried a few standouts:

Served with five large prawns, the Nanyang Style Dry Curry Prawns ($18) was a flavour bomb. The dry curry was aromatic, thick, and spicy, coating each prawn in a fragrant gravy that demanded extra rice. It was deeply satisfying. This is a must-order.

Sambal Kang Kong 4.2/5

Classic and well-executed, the Sambal Kang Kong ($8.80) was stir-fried in a robust sambal belacan, giving it a spicy and savoury kick while maintaining its fresh crunch.

Penang Asam Curry Fish Head 4.5/5

The Penang Asam Curry Fish Head ($32.80) is an impressive claypot dish brimming with flavour. The asam curry was wonderfully tangy, with a gentle heat that teased the palate. The fish head was fresh and meaty, surrounded by a medley of lady fingers, brinjal, long beans, and tomatoes. Every bite was hearty, bold, and comforting—the kind of dish that makes you reach for extra rice just to mop up the sauce.

Great Nanyang at Geneo is more than just a place to eat. It's a nostalgic trip down memory lane with creative modern twists. From playful steamed buns and toast sets to flavourful nasi lemak and claypot fish head curry, there's something for every appetite. Whether you're popping in for breakfast or gathering with friends for a full meal, this outlet delivers warmth, flavour, and a delightful dose of nostalgia.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Great Nanyang (大南洋)
Geneo
1B Science Park Drive
#B1-32
Singapore 119315
Facebook
Instagram
Nearest MRT: Kent Ridge (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 830pm

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

White Rose Cafe @ York Hotel Singapore - Malaysia Street Food Fiesta 21 June To 7 July 2019

If you are a fan of Malaysia street food, head down to White Rose Cafe at York Hotel Singapore for its Malaysia Street Food Fiesta promotion. Taking place from 21 June to 7 July 2019, the Fiesta will feature a range of Malaysian street food, all prepared a la minute by the hawkers from Malaysia.

Apom Manis 4/5

With the sides as thin as tuile and the middle soft and fluffy, these freshly made Apom Manis will have you gobbling a few in one sitting. It will be wiser to start off your buffet with this before the queue gets longer towards the end of the buffet.

Klang Bak Kut Teh 4.5/5

I had 2 bowls of Klang Bak Kut Teh, and I regretted not going for a third serving! The soup was similar to a clear and deep-coloured herbal consomme that was richly flavoured by Chinese herbs, spices and pork bones. The pork ribs were tender, and the addition of pig's skins was a bonus.

Char Koay Kat 4/5

Char Koay Kat is a crowd pleaser with its dark, caramelised sauce that flavoured each and every element on the plate. The charred bits of chye poh and garlic were dangerously addictive, and especially so when fish sauce and garlic were added to boost its flavours. Lots of eggs in each plate, which made it even more satisfying.

Penang White Curry Mee 4/5

It was quite a rare opportunity to be able to try this Penang White Curry Mee. The coconut broth on its own surprised me with its depth of flavour. The chilli paste at the side was meant to be mixed in to complete the curry, but it was loaded with so much oomph that I used it as a dip for the ingredients instead, to enjoy it thoroughly.

Nasi Kandar 3.5/5

Nasi Kandar is a northern Malaysian staple originating from Penang, and my favourite element in this dish was the blend of fish and squid curry that was served over the perfectly steamed rice. From the look of it, I knew it would not be overly creamy, and I like how robust it was, with a gentle fieriness only kicking in at the end.

Ipoh Yong Tau Foo 3/5

Ipoh Yong Tau Foo is usually a simple dish that speaks volume with a broth that one craves every now and then. But the chilli here is quite different from the flavour that we are more familiar with. I reckon having the dry version with the soup at the side will give you the best of both worlds.

KL Hokkien Mee 2.8/5

Another dish that we are more familiar with is KL Hokkien Mee. It didn't have that alluring black coat of dark soy sauce, perhaps that was why it wasn't as satisfying as expected. But the chilli was superb.

Ipoh Chee Cheong Fun 3/5

I was elated to find Ipoh Chee Cheong Fun because I wanted to try it again after my visit to Ipoh. You could have it 2 ways - either with minced meat mushroom sauce or curry sauce. But I feel the best way to appreciate the lovely steamed rice noodle rolls is to have it with just the fried shallots and sesame.

Burbur Chacha 2.8/5

Nonya Kueh 2.8/5

For desserts, there are Burbur Chacha, Iced Jelly, an assortment of Nonya Kueh and Fruit Skewers. But nothing beats the freshly made Apom Manis!

Malaysia Street Food Fiesta
Date: 21 June to 7 July 2019
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 630pm - 10pm

Price
Weekdays (lunch and dinner): S$25 per adult | S$15 per child
Weekends (lunch and dinner): S$28 per adult | S$18 per child

Words and photos 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.


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

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

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]

Ah Lipp Famous Penang Prawn Noodles @ Bukit Batok Street 11 - A Slurping Good Bowl Of Penang Prawn Noodle

Ah Lipp is a new stall that has recently opened at Bukit Batok Street 11, selling Penang hawker fare such as Penang Prawn Noodles, Assam Laksa and White Curry Mee. The stall adopts a queue system whereby customers place their orders, pay up and wait for their queue number to be displayed. A similar concept like clinic or hospital.

Prawn Noodles 4.5/5

Initially I wanted to order the big prawn noodle but it was not available. Hence I settled on the normal size prawn, Prawn Noodle ($6). The bowl of noodle comes with 3 pieces of prawn, tender pork ribs, pork slices and slices of fish cake, topped with fried shallots. The noodle is held together by a rich and robustly prawn shell flavoured soup base, which also has a hint of spiciness.

Assam Laksa 2.8/5

While I applaud the used of the thick beehoon for the Assam Laksa ($3.50) with cucumber and pineapple, I felt that the assam broth lacked of depth and it tasted rather diluted. While I understand the part on cost saving but it felt it is not assam laksa if I could not really find mackerel in the bowl of noodle.

White Curry Noodle 4.2/5

The other noodle dish on the menu is the White Curry Noodle ($4.20) which comes with sotong, fish cake, cockles, chicken and tau pok. I was excited to find cockles in the noodle. Just like how I enjoy my bowl of laksa. The broth is not as lemak as our nyonya but it is packed with robustness. Add the chilli sauce into the soup for the extra oomph.

Overall I am quite impressed with the prawn noodle and white curry noodle. It is worth the calories. However, the assam laksa still has rooms for improvement.


Ah Lipp Famous Penang Prawn Noodles
Yong Xing Mian Jia Coffeeshop
Blk 155 Bukit Batok Street 11
Singapore 650155
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 730am - 8pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus number 941. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]