Da Si Xi (大四喜) @ Sims Way

Local celebrity Chef Eric Teo opens another new restaurant at Sims Way, this time partnering with Da Si Xi (大四喜), a popular dim sum chain in Johor Bahru. However Da Si Xi in Singapore is not selling dim sum. It will be offering zi char style dishes, Malaysian style. Although the non air-conditioned restaurant is located along Sims Way, it is advised to go via Geylang Lorong 3 if you are driving and walk over from the multi-storey carpark beside it.

Claypot Crab Rice 4.5/5

Claypot Crab Rice 4.5/5

The reason for coming to Da Si Xi is for the Claypot Crab Rice ($45/1crab, $80/2crab). I was seated just beside the kitchen and I could already smelled the aroma while the kitchen was preparing our dish. I have heard so much about how this dish was prepared such as the rice grains were fried with bacon before being boiled in a superior stock. They also added sole fish and crabs into the claypot to further allow the rice to absorb all the beautiful flavours. End result, a very flavourful pot of rice that is infused with all the essences. I noticed that the claypot rice is not cooked over charcoal fire but I could taste a nice hint of smokiness in the rice that made it even more enjoyable.

Deep Fried Pork Belly Hakka Style 4/5

While browsing through the menu, I noticed the Deep Fried Pork Belly Hakka Style ($12) which is not a common zi char dish in Singapore. I decided to order it and I am glad I did so. Marinated with fermented red beancurd, the pork belly was succulent and tender with a nice crispy coating over it.

braised trotter with pumpkin sauce 3.8/5

The Braised Trotter with Pumpkin sauce ($28) is slightly different to the Singapore version. The local version is usually more herbal while Da Si XI's version comes with a velvety sweet pumpkin sauce that surprisingly complemented the pig trotter. It is understand that the pig trotter is first fried before being braised, giving the meat a folk tender texture.

Chilli Crayfish 3.8/5

Last but not least we had the Chilli Crayfish ($28/3pc, $48/5pc) that was cooked in a delicious chilli sauce. The sauce was good but can be spicier. We ended up ordering fried mantou to wipe up the delicious chilli sauce.

Overall the food at Da Si Xi is above average. The menu is not extensive with about 20 items. One should not set the expectation too high as it is run like a zi char stall. Will I go back again? Yes I will as I think the price is reasonable and I want to try the Curry Fish Head and Muar Otah.


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Da Si Xi (大四喜)
19 Sims Way
Singapore 388831
Tel: +65 67446728
Nearest MRT: Kallang (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 5pm - 11pm
(closed on Wed)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Kallang MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Sims Ave. At the traffic junction of Sims Ave and Geylang Lorong 3, turn right into Geylang Lorong 3. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Three Hands Coffee @ Binjai Park (Bukit Timah)

Can you catch up with the cafe scene in Singapore? It seems like there is a new cafe popping out somewhere on every other days at some corner of Singapore. I decided to check out Three Hands Coffee at Binjai Park, Bukit Timah. Open by three partners and hence the name of the cafe, the premises is a coffee joint by day and a wine academy by night. Three Hands Coffee shares the space with Taberna Wine Academy that operates from 6pm onwards. It also seems like this is a new trend in Singapore where the same place is run by different business concept in the day and night. Is this a way to relief the high rental cost in Singapore?

Three Hands Coffee is not like any of the hipster cafes. Those brick walls are replaced with empty wine bottles displayed around the cafe.

Mocha and Caffe Latte 4/5

I read that they used Papa Palheta coffee beans for their coffee but during my visit I noticed that they have switched to oriole coffee beans. I am actually glad that they changed their coffee beans because I am not a fan of Papa Palheta. We tried both the Mocha ($6) and Caffe Latte ($5). The coffee was smooth with a bittersweet finishing towards the end. Considering their location I am surprised that their coffee is about fifty cents more expensive than more other cafes.

Lava Cake 4/5

Lava Cake 4/5

We also tried their Lava Cake ($8.90) which turned out to be pretty good. The lave cake was rich but not overly sweet, a well balanced execution.

Among my friends, there are a couple of us that has started to avoid visiting cafes on the weekends as they are always so crowded that it is hard to get a seat. These hipster cafes have been so popular that it has turned cafe into a crowded and noisy place, not a place for one to read a book over a cup of coffee anymore. If you are one who wants to have your own time in a quiet ambience over a cup of good coffee, Three Hands Coffee is one of such cafes.


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Three Hands Coffee
17 Binjai Park
Singapore 589825
Tel: +65 67625570
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/threehandscoffee
Website: http://www.threehandscoffee.com/
Nearest MRT: King Albert Park (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 5pm

Direction:
1) Alight at King Albert Park MRT station. Take Exit A. Take the overhead bridge connection to Exit B. Walk down Dunearn Road towards Binjai Park. Turn left onto Binjai Park. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]