D'Laksa @ KSL City [Johor Bahru]

Recently I went to Johor Bahru with a group of friends to hunt for the delicious food across the causeway. After visiting You Kee XO Restaurant at KSL City, we proceeded into the mall to check out an assam laksa stall called D'Laksa.

Assam Laksa 3.8/5

I don't remember seeing D'Laksa when I last visited KSL City. After checking online, I realized they are dated back to 2012 and recently re-located to a bigger space at KSL City in May 2015. In fact, I have heard about the assam laksa even before this trip. Hence I am quite looking forward to check it out.

Assam Laksa 3.8/5

The first thing I noticed about the Assam Laksa is the rather generous servicing of shredded cucumber, onions, pineapple and mints. Second is the type of noodle used. This is not the normal thick beehoon that is commonly used in Singapore. It uses the thick rice noodle known as Lai Fun which has a more chewy bite to it.

Assam Laksa 3.8/5

For a good Assam Laksa, the most important is the soup that holds all the components. The soup does packed a punch with its sourish and tanginess, further lifted with the cut red chilli. My only request is to have more of the shredded fish.

You may have noticed that my bowl of assam laksa is served in takeaway bowl. The concept of D'Laksa is operate like a takeaway kisok. There is actually seating area beside the kiosk, like a food court. If you plan to bring some back to Singapore, they can pack the soup and noodle separately too.


D'Laksa
KSL City
LG-64
33, Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad,
80250 Johor Bahru,
Johor, Malaysia
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The Chop House @ I12 Katong

I first visited The Chop House at Vivocity when it first opened back in 2013. The Chop House is opened by the same people behind Wooloomooloo Steakhouse. Now a second outlet, The Chop House has opened at the heart of Katong at I12 Katong. I realized the gastro-bar seems to offer more varieties on the menu compared to their flagship

Thoo Japanese Yen

We started with some drinks from the bar before commencing our dinner. From the cocktail list, we tried the Thoo Japanese Yen ($16) and Lychee Mojito ($16). Both are very refreshing drinks to kick start the dinner.

Lychee Mojito

The bar also offers An All Day Happy Hour with 5 ice cold draught beers on tap such as the Australian Pure Blonde Lager and the award winning Weihenstepaner from the world's oldest brewery.

Burrata 4/5

Our dinner started with the classic Burrata ($16). The creamy burrata and sweet vine ripened tomato, dressed with basil pesto sauce is a classic combination that whets up the appetite.

Freshly Shucked Oysters 4.2/5

The Chop House is not just all about meat now. As I mentioned earlier, the menu has been expanded with the Freshly Shucked Oysters ($26 for half a dozen). It is served natural with lime and Japanese chive vinaigrette for the full appreciation of the creamy shell fish.

Crispy Pork Belly 3.5/5

Everyone loves a good crackling Crispy Pork Belly ($18). Unfortunately the skin was thick and hard that I have difficulty cutting through it. Saying that, the meat itself was flavoursome and succulent. The apple jam and the apple radish salad help to cut through the greasiness

Pan Fried Barramundi 3/5

From the sea, we tried the Pan Fried Barramundi ($26) served with green apple, fennel and rocket salad, steamed potatoes, baby beetroots and lemon aioli. The barramundi to my disappointment was slightly on the dry side while the star was actually the accompaniments.

Patty Melt 3.8/5

The perfect food to go with the selection of draft beers would be the Patty Melt ($24). The one half pound beef patty is smothered with sauteed onions and melted cheddar cheese. A delectable burger with moist patty covered with the saltiness of the melted cheddar cheese, ideal to wash down with a glass of beer.

Mixed Grill Platter 3/5

Good for sharing and to try a bit of everything is the Mixed Grill Platter ($68). Served in a pan, it comes with Australian grass fed feed tenderloin, lamb cutlets, pork sausages, lamb sausages, grilled tomato and red wine sauce. I have tried the grilled meat at The Chop House previously but this is rather ordinary compared to what I had before.

Truffle Potato Salad 4.5/5

Creamy Spinach 2.8/5

To go with your mains, The Chop House also offers a selection of side dishes. There are 8 choices on the menu. We had the Truffle Potato Salad ($7) and Creamy Spinach ($5). I would recommend going for the truffle potato salad while the creamy spinach is subjective to individual. I like spinach a lot but I don't quite enjoy the creamy execution.

Apple Strudel Tortillas 3.5/5

The Chop House has a small but delectable choices of desserts to complete the meal. The Apple Strudel Tortillas ($8) comes with stuffed seasoned apples and pastry cream with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed the light custard creme anglaise that complemented the crunchy tortillas while the chopped pistachios give it an extra nutty crunchiness.

Churros 3/5

I not a big fan for churros but the version is bit different from elsewhere. The Churros ($6) is fatter in size and coated with cinnamon sugar for a sweet and crumbling exterior.

While I mentioned earlier that the new outlet has an expanded menu offering more variety. Another thing I noticed about the new outlet is the decor. It is brighter compared to the flagship with a modern industrial decor, providing a casual, relaxed and cosy place for a meal or gathering. Diners can also enjoy a late night meal while watching their favourite sports match.


The Chop House
I12 Katong
112 East Coast Road
#01-13
Singapore 428802
Tel: +65 64431011
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Nearest MRT: Dakota MRT (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 16. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road and walk to 112 Katong. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 6 stops later. Walk to 112 Katong. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]