Lee Ta Fried Carrot Cake @ Toa Payoh Lorong 8

Time flies and it has been almost four and a half years since I last visited Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Food Centre. I could not believe it takes me so long to re-visit this hawker food haven. The last time I was here, it was in the evening and I managed to check out Hock Kee Lorong 8 Bak Kut Teh and B for Beancurd. As my visit this time is in the morning, I decided to try Lee Ta Fried Carrot Cake.

Carrot Cake 4/5

There are quite a few carrot cake stalls in the food centre. It seems this is the more popular one among the patrons so I joined in the queue. The stall sells both the white and black version of the fried carrot cake at $2, $2.50 and $3. I decided to go for the black carrot cake as this is my preferred version nowadays.

Carrot Cake 4/5

The radish cake is diced into small cubes and well coated with the dark sweet sauce with a generous topping of eggs. The fragrant fried carrot cake comes with bites of aromatic charred on the radish cake giving it a nice sweet bitterness. I also like the fact that there is still a bit wetness in the egg instead of overly dry.

Carrot Cake 4/5

Overall, I have enjoyed the plate of fried carrot cake by Lee Ta. The sweetness of the dark sauce and the charred edges complemented the radish cake. The texture was not mushy and still comes with a bite delectably served with a generous topping of egg.


Lee Ta Fried Carrot Cake
Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market and Food Centre
Blk 210 Toa Payoh Lorong 8
#01-67
Singapore 310210
Nearest MRT: Braddell (NS Line), Toa Payoh (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
TBA

Direction: 
1) Alight at Braddell MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Braddell MRT station (Stop ID 52171). Take bus no. 59. Alight 2 stops later. Cross the overhead bridge. Walk towards block 210. Journey time about 9 mins. [Map]

2) Alight at Braddell MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Braddell MRT station (Stop ID 52171). Take bus no. 232. Alight 2 stops later. Cut across Toa Payoh Lorong 7 Park. Walk towards block 210. Journey time about 10 mins. [Map]

3) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station Take Exit D. Walk to bus stop opposite Toa Payoh station (Stop ID 52181). Take bus no. 153 or 105. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the overhead bridge. Walk towards block 210. Journey time about 15 mins. [Map]

Comtam Vietnam @ Kitchener Road

Used to be in Geylang, Comtam Vietnam has recently moved into their new premises at Kitchener Road near City Square Mall. In conjunction with the new location, it has also expanded its menu offering other Asian cuisines besides Vietnamese to cater for the different customer profile in the area.

Handmade Spring Rolls 3/5

Dinner started with some healthy bites in the Handmade Spring Rolls ($4.20 for 2pc). Like the fact that it is thoughtfully sliced into half for easy consumption. Make sure to dip the spring roll with the accompanying sauce to enjoy it.

Green Mango Salad with Cashews & Prawns 4/5

Next to whet up the appetite, I had the Green Mango Salad with Cashews and Prawns ($10.90). This comes with a nice kick of the signature seasonings of sweet, salty and spicy in Thai cuisine on top of the crunchy shredded green mango.

Sliced Beef Noodle Soup 2.8/5

A staple in Vietnamese cuisine is the Sliced Beef Noodle Soup ($7.50). It is a flavourful bowl of noodle but far from being the best. The rice noodle was too thick, sort of the type used in Chinese hawker noodle stall. In addition, the broth tasted overly sweet lacking a body and robustness in it.

Dry Rice Vermicelli with BBQ Pork 3/5

Another noodle dish I tried is the Dry Rice Vermicelli with BBQ Pork ($6.90). The rice vermicelli was smooth and comes with a nice bite. It was quite a pleasant dish except for the lackluster BBQ Pork.

Claypot Lemongrass Chicken 4/5

The next dish I tried is the Claypot Lemongrass Chicken ($11.90). The lemongrass aroma permeated the air as the dish was served. The tender chicken was nicely coated and infused with the marination, making them delectably good.

Chef-made sauce Spare Ribs 3.5/5

The Chef-made sauce Spare Ribs ($15.90) comes with a sweet coating concoction which should include some orange peels in it. Both adult and children will enjoy the special sauce made by the chef. However if the meat can be more tender than that will be better.

Overall Comtam Vietnam offers an extensive menu with some comfort food. I understand it is a commercial decision to expand the menu but I still think that they should focus on one cuisine and make it great rather than master of none.


Comtam Vietnam 
159/161 Kitchener Road
Singapore 208530
Tel: +65 81882131
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comtam.vietnam
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 4am
Sun: 12pm - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit I. Cut across City Square Mall to the exit to Kitchener Road. Cross the traffic junction and turn left onto Kitchener Road. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]