So Pho @ JEM

I got to know about So Pho when it opened an outlet at Nex Shopping Mall. I did know that they have another outlet at JEM in the West until my recent visit. The Vietnamese restaurant occupies quite a big space at the basement of JEM. The spacious place with its causal ambience and affordable pricing will be a welcome choice for shoppers at JEM.

Mixed Appertiser 4/5

The Mixed Appertiser ($10.80) consists of prawn cake, summer roll and fried spring roll. A good starter to whet up the appetite allowing one to try a bit of everything. I am not quite a fan of summer roll or Vietnamese roll because I usually find them too bland for my liking. However the execution of the Vietnamese roll here was quite good and flavourful.

Vietnamese Drip Coffee with Condense Milk 4/5

I got myself a cup of Vietnamese Drip Coffee with Condense Milk ($3.80) for my daily needed caffeine dosage. The coffee is on the sweet side due to the condense milk, you can request to have just black coffee too.

Cha Ca La Vong 3.5/5

Apparently this is quite a famous Hanoi street food known as Cha Ca La Vong ($10.80). It is fish fillet with lemongrass and dill served in a hotplate with rice vermicelli. I am not too sure how to eat this. I just take a bit of everything and ate them together like a wrap. It was nice but missing the wow factor for me. Saying that, this is the first time I am introduced to this Vietnamese dish.

Ga Bam Xuc Banh Da 3.8/5

Another interesting dish I tried is the Sesame Rice Crackers served with Basil Leaves Chicken ($10.80). To enjoy the dish, cracked a piece of the rice cracker and topped with some minced chicken. I felt that the rice cracker and minced chicken somewhat did not complement each other to make it a complete dish.

Pho Dac Biet 4.5/5

The Mixed Vietnamese Pho ($9.80) at So Pho is definitely one of the better ones I had in Singapore. The soup scented with cinnamon star anise, ginger and spices is robust and rich. The noodle is also silky smooth. Together with the slice beef, brisket and beef balls, the bowl of noodle soup is packed with beautiful flavours. This is one dish I will order again.

Overall I think So Pho offers pretty good Vietnamese food at wallet friendly prices. What is interesting in So Pho is that they have other interesting items in the menu that is not commonly offer at other Vietnamese eateries. Vietnamese cuisine is not just about their spring rolls and pho but beyond that.


So Pho
JEM
50 Jurong Gateway Road
#B1-08
Singapore 608549
Tel: +65 63390938
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

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

Rumah Sayang @ JEM

When I was told that there is a popular Peranakan cafe at the basement of JEM, I was a bit puzzled because I didn't release I have seen one during my previous visits. Fortunately a food trail lead me to Rumah Sayang, a Peranakan theme cafe solving the mystery. No wonder I have missed it because the name of the Halal restaurant did not suggest that it is a Peranakan cafe. Moreover the cafe sells a mixed of Nasi Padang, local cooked dishes, local snacks and kuehs on top of some signature Nyonya dishes. Nevertheless, the cafe is extremely popular with the shoppers. It is one of the busiest eatery at the shopping mall constantly streaming in with diners.

Tahu Goreng 4/5

Upon being seated, we started with a plate of Tahu Goreng ($3.50). Crispy on the outside and smooth inside, the texture enjoyed to the fullest with the delectable sweet and spicy nutty sauce.

Curry Fish Head 4.5/5

A must order at Rumah Sayang is their Curry Fish Head ($18.90). The fresh fish head is accompanied with a delicious curry gravy that is rich and creamy while the spice level could be accepted by majority. I like that it is also served with a lot of vegetables so my meal would not be very boring with just one choice. The only disappointment is that the claypot comes with only half a fish head instead of whole.

Salted Egg Yolk Chicken 4.2/5

To have a more complete meal, you may want to throw in another local favourite Salted Egg Yolk Chicken. I am a big fan of salted egg yolk so this is a winner for me. The chicken was tender and juicy complemented  by the salted egg yolk sauce. The flavour of salted egg yolk sauce was enhanced further with the curry leaves aroma and a hint spiciness.

Prawn Fritter 4.5/5

You can also dropped by Rumah Sayang to have either your breakfast and tea if you are not looking for a full meal. They also have local delights like mee siam, mee rebus, mee soto, lakaa, prata, lotong and nyonya kuehs on their menu. Among them my favourite is the Prawn Fritter ($1.60 for 2pc). Hardly get to find this delicious prawny snack elsewhere. Deep fried to golden brown, crispy and not too oily. This is must eaten with the homemade chilli dip.


Rumah Sayang
JEM
50 Jurong Gateway Road
#B1-41
Singapore 608549
Tel: +65 63390938
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

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