Ah Er Soup (阿2汤) @ Yuan Ching Road - The Real Master Behind Michelin Bib Gourmand Award 2017

With the announcement of the Michelin Bib Gourmand list for 2017, I was left puzzled with the new entrant Ah Er Soup (阿2汤) at ABC Brickworks Market. What is the judging criteria of the Michelin inspectors? The outlet at ABC Brickworks Food Centre is a franchise stall and not the original stall. Did Michelin even know that the original recipe comes from Mr Ma Pit San and Mr Nong Gan who started the original and main stall at Yuan Ching Road?

Buddha Jumps Over The Wall 4.5/5

Feeling injustice for the duo that come up with the recipe, I decided to visit the original stall at Yuan Ching Road. During my visit, I saw Mr Ma busy at the back of the stall, preparing the soup. I ordered my favourite Buddha Jumps Over The Wall ($7) which comes with generous ingredients such as fish maw, mushroom, abalone and chicken. The soup which has been boiled for at least 2 hours, was very intense and rich in flavour.

Peanuts with Lotus Roots & Pork Ribs Soup 4.5/5

Among the other soups on the menu, I had the Peanuts with Lotus Roots & Pork Ribs Soup ($4.50). The pork ribs were cooked until so soft that it literally fell apart with ease. The lotus roots were also sweet and crunchy. I can once again taste the effort behind each bowl of soup in the richness, and this comes with a subtle nutty finishing from the peanuts.

Pumpkin Rice 3.5/5 and Oliver Rice 4/5

Olive Rice 4/5

Ah Er Soup at Yuan Ching Road offers 4 types of rice to go with their soups. They are the normal Steamed Rice, Brown Rice, Pumpkin Rice and Olive Rice. I understand the ABC Brickworks Food Centre stall does not offer the olive rice. I would highly recommend the olive rice which is much more fragrant compared to the others. On top of that, you don't usually get to have it elsewhere.

Preserved Vegetable with Braised Meat 3.8/5

Different from the other franchise stalls across the islands, the main stall offers other braised items such as the Preserved Vegetable with Braised Meat ($6), Braised Pig Trotter, Braised Pig Skin, Braised Beancurd, Braised Egg, Salted Vegetable, Tau Kee and Handmade Fish Roll to go with the nourishing soups.

Ah Er Soup (阿2汤)
3 Yuan Ching Road
Singapore 618642
Nearest MRT: Lakeside (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Lakeside MRT station. Cross the road. Walk to bus stop opposite Lakeside MRT station (Stop ID 28099). Take bus number 154. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

Nadai Fujisoba Ni-Hachi @ 100AM Mall - Handmade Soba From Japan Tokyo Shibuya Since 1966

Nadai Fujisoba Ni-Hachi is a soba specialist restaurant within the Japanese precinct of 100AM mall. Tucked at a corner, its quiet demeanour seems to have obscured its reputation as Japan’s number one soba restaurant. Noodles are freshly made daily using buckwheat flour specially imported from a well-established milling factory in Japan in 2:8 ratio͟ - the perceived golden combination of wheat flour (20%) and buckwheat flour (80%) and hence the name Ni-Hachi. You can enjoy four types of soba: warm soba; cold soba; maze (mixed) soba; and mori (dipping) soba.

Mori Soba

Thick ribbons of noodles are used for the Mori Soba which comes with grated wasabi as well as chopped leeks that can be added to the cold dipping sauce. This is simplest way to enjoy the original taste of a good soba.

Special Truffles Dashi ki Tamago 2.5/5

We had two appetizers which are created specially to entice the locals - Special Truffles Dashi ki Tamago ($15) with club Japanese sauce and Sauteed Sobagaki and Foie Gras ($17) with kaeshi sauce. The two key ingredients which you might have spotted, are truffles and foie gras.

Sauteed Sobagaki and Foie Gras 2.8/5

The tamago itself was decent, soft and fluffy. The truffles part for me is rather redundant as I couldn't taste or smell it at all. Like most extremely truffle dishes, perhaps a dash of the truffle potion may help to wire my tastebuds to taste the truffle. As for the Sobagaki, I probably won't see it anywhere else. Traditionally served on its own, an extravagant piece of foie gras is piled on it. I was really surprised to see buckwheat being served like mashed potato and I do like the taste of the buckwheat. Adding foie gras to it will certainly attract locals to order this dish, which may otherwise be too rustic for some.

Hot Sukiyaki Soba 4.2/5

Hot Sukiyaki Soba ($18) is one of my favourites. The warm soba’s tsuyu (noodle soup base) comes from the dried bonito flakes and kaeshi (concentrated soup base). This warm soba uses a black kaeshi, which is made with a special recipe of the restaurant. The soup is a balance of sweet and savoury, with the onsen egg to give it abit of creaminess. The beef was tender and soft, and everything comes together like a comforting hotpot.

Crispy Sakura Ebi Tempura & Soba 3.8/5

Crispy Sakura Ebi Tempura & Soba ($19.50) drizzled with truffle oil was beautiful with reddish tempura prawns which inherited their colour from crushed Sakura Ebi. The Shrimp soup base is enhanced with truffle oil, which exudes an appetising aroma. Both are prawns and chicken slices were well done, prawns being plump and succulent while the latter was tender.

Dry Kamo Maze Soba 4.5/5

Two brand-new soba dishes have been introduced - Dry Kamo Maze Soba ($16) and Deep-fried Soba with Savoury Spicy Seafood Sauce ($18.50). The dry version which is a duck noodle-inspired soba, is brilliantly executed with its handmade duck meatballs and smoked duck. The duck meatballs were juicy and flavourful while the smoked duck was fatty, rich but not gamey or salty. The braised sauce coated the soba neatly with the help of the onsen egg. I'm rather impressed with the presentation and the execution of the dish. I wouldn't see this as a soba dish but an extremely delicious Japanese duck noodles.

Deep-fried Soba with Savoury Spicy Seafood Sauce 2.5/5

As for the Deep-fried Soba, I find the spicy seafood sauce a bit too salty. However, if you are an Ee Mee fan, you may like it.

Nadai Fujisoba Ni-Hachi has an extensive menu of soba and side dishes, and with creative local-inspired dishes, there's no lack of choices here even for non-soba fans. If you are a small eater, beware of the serving here as it can be really huge!

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.


Nadai Fujisoba Ni-Hachi
100AM Mall
100 Tras Street
#03-14
Singapore 079027
Tel: +65 64438827
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 3pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Gopeng Street and turn into Tras Street. Walk to Amara Hotel. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]