Makanista @ Tampines Mall - Unique Range Of Local Delights With A Delicious Twist

The people behind Food Junction has opened a new concept called Makanista at Tampines Mall. The convivial dining space is located on the ground floor of Tampines Mall, with a chic cafe interior. Four different stalls - Chicken Rice, Yong Tau Foo, Western, and Prata & Desserts offers diners both classic hawker favourites as well as inventive creations with a little twist. There is no pork, no lard here. It is in the process of applying for their Halal certification to cater to a wider group of diners.

Beef Hamburg & Fries 3.5/5

We started our dinner from the Western station with the Beef Hamburg & Fries ($10.90). On top the mound of fries is a whole beef patty and a sunny side up egg. It is like having a full set meal in a dish less the buns. The fries are dressed in a decadent black pepper and truffle cheese sauce, that goes very well with the crispy fries. For those that don't take beef, there is a chicken hamburg verison at $8.90.

French Chicken Curry Pasta 4/5

Bored of the usual cream and tomato base pasta? How about a little local twist with the French Chicken Curry Pasta ($7.50). The curry sauce is a concoction of curry. chiili powders, turmeric. coconut milk and whipped cream. It is something familiar but unusual in a western pasta dish, which turns out pretty good. It was well received by my other dining friends too.

Spicy Honey Mustard Wings 4/5

You can also find Korean-style fried chicken at the Western station such as the Spicy Honey Mustard Wings ($7.50 for 6pc). The chicken wings are dipped in a batter and deep fried, before being tossed in the different sauces. They are crispy and juicy. Other flavours available include Pesto Cheese and Kicap Manis.

Bakwan Sayor 4/5

A great snack to share with friends and family is the Bakwan Sayor ($2.80) from the Yong Tau Foo station. It is fried vegetable fritter which consists of shredded cabbage, carrots, chilli, beansprouts and spring onions. This is best eaten with the Lingham chilli sauce.

Curry Yong Tau Foo 4/5

Yong Tau Foo is a common dish that we can find in any food centre or foodcourt but have you hear of Soto, Mee Siam, Satay and Curry Yong Tau Foo? Yes, besides the normal Yong Tau Foo whereby diners get to pick 7 items plus a choice of rice or noodles (yellow noodles, bee hoon, hor fun, rice roll, thick bee hoon) for $6.50, for an additional one dollar you can change the soup base. After sampling the 4 different soup flavours, my favourite goes to the Curry Yong Tau Foo while I think the satay will complement the dry version better.

Combo Meal - Duo 3/5

If you order the Combo Meal - Duo ($16.50) from the Chicken Rice station, it will be served on a ceramic rattan ' dulang' or tray. This way of serving is similar to how the traditional Nasi Ambeng is presented. Besides the normal Hainanese and roasted chicken, the stall offers both Thai and Mala style chicken rice too. I would recommend sticking to the traditional. The combo meal also comes with a soft drink, a Japanese inspired house special ramen egg and sides like bean sprouts, fresh vegetables in oyster sauce or tahu goreng.

Mutton Prata Burger 4/5

My favourite station at Makanista is the Prata station for its specialty pratas which are unique and delicious. We start with the Mutton Prata Burger ($8.50) which is their own rendition of Ramly burger in a murtabak. Besides the mutton patty, you can also find sauteed onions and fried egg with mayonnaise and black pepper sauce in it.

Okonomiyaki Prata 4.5/5

A must try is the Okonomiyaki Prata ($7). Inspired by the Japanese dish, the prata is wrapped with shredded carrots, purple and white cabbage, cheese and egg. It is then drizzled with mayonnaise and sweet okonomiyaki sauce, topped with bonito flakes. This is one of its kind prata, with textures and flavours that wins me over. This is like prata gone international. Other savoury prata include Chicken Luncheon & Floss and Special Tandoori Chicken.

Peanut Butter and Jam Prata 4/5

For the sweet take of the prata, there is the Peanut Butter and Jam Prata ($2.80). This is a brilliant combination of nuttiness and sweetness coming together. It brings the appreciation of the tradition prata to another level.

Overall I think the food at Makanista is really unique and interesting. However for some of the items, it still need more adjustment to get it right. For the time being, I would recommend going for the specialty pratas.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


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Makanista
Tampines Mall
4 Tampines Central 5
#01-42/43/44
Singapore 529510
Tel: +65 62606002
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Nearest MRT: Tampines (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tampines MRT station. Take Exit C. Turn left and walk to traffic light junction. Cross the right, walk along Tampines Central 5 towards Century Square direction. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Qi - House of Sichuan @ Marina Bay Financial Centre - Hong Kong One Michelin Starred Restaurant Opens In Singapore

I mentioned earlier that the month of May has been an exciting month with many new restaurants opening in Singapore. One of them is Qi - House of Sichuan at Marina Bay Financial Centre. For those not familiar with Qi, it is Hong Kong one Michelin starred restaurant for 2016 to 2018, winning the award for 3 consecutive years.

Bang Bang Chicken in Peanut Sauce 3/5

One must be wondering why the name of the dish is called Bang Bang Chicken in Peanut Sauce ($13). It basically derived from the way the chicken is being tenderised with a stick or hammer striking the kitchen knife. Instead of the usual sesame sauce, Qi's version replaces it with a fragrant peanut sauce. It more like a cold appetiser with pulled chicken and shredded greens. I didn't really know how to appreciate the dish, as the combination tastes rather odd to me and I feel the chicken on the dry side.

Chilli Oil Wontons 4.2/5

I love Chilli Oil Wontons ($12) and this is probably one of the best I have eaten. The golf ball sized wontons are wrapped in a thin and silky wonton skin, floating in a pool of intense and aroma sauce of roasted chilli oil, garlic and vinegar. On top of that, the meat stuffing of the wontons have that melted in the mouth texture, which comes across quite different from those I have eaten. For the sauce, I thought it was too garlicky, which didn't quite strike the right balance for me. I would prefer the vinegar level to be up a notch.

Sugar Glazed Ginger and Scallion Beef 4/5

Sichuan cuisine is not just about spicy food. In fact it encompasses a wide spectrum of flavours such as sweet, aromatic, bitter, sour, peppery and salty. One such dishes on the menu that showcases the the sweet side of Sichuan cuisine is the Sugar Glazed Ginger and Scallion Beef ($25). I am more familiar with poached sliced beef in hot chilli oil but a sweet beef dish is a first for me in Sichuan cuisine. Apparently this is one of Qi's best selling dishes, probably because it is not spicy at all? It is a safe dish I would order among on the spicy dishes. Saying that, the meat is indeed tender and juicy, kind of similar to the sweet and sour pork, with a crispy sugar glazed coat.

Chilli Fried Sri Lanka Crab 4.2/5

Standing towering tall is the Chilli Fried Sri Lanka Crab ($115). Surprisingly I enjoyed this version of cooking the crab using 3-4 types of dried chilli and 6 different spices. Don't be scare by the amount of dried chillis on the plate, it is not as hot as you think. In fact, I thought it brings out the sweetness of the crab meat even more.

Slow Cooked Beef Short Ribs with Mala 4.5/5

Once again, don't be misled by the among of dry chillis on top of the Slow Cooked Beef Short Ribs with Mala ($75), It is not spicy at all. Just avoid biting into the Sichuan peppercorn. In fact it is really delicious and tender soft. This is achieved in marinating the black angus short ribs in black pepper and sea salt overnight. It is then stewed for 2-3 hours and grilled.

Crispy Diced Chongqing Style Chicken with Cashews 3/5

I have to admit I was looking forward to the Crispy Diced Chongqing Style Chicken with Cashews ($38) but it left me disappointed. Usually I get excited when having this dish, the crispiness and spiciness from the diced chicken, will get my tastebuds dancing in delight but I didn't get the same experience here. The execution is decent but it probably lacks the 2 factor I was looking for.

Braised Garoupa Fish Fillet in Chilli Oil Soup 4.2/5

The bowl for the Braised Garoupa Fish Fillet in Chilli Oil Soup ($40/$50) is huge! It comes brimming with dried chilli peppers, garlic and basil. The sliced garoupa swimming in the pool of chilli oil is fresh, firm and bouncy. Unlike the traditional version, the chilli oil soup at Qi is less oily and drinkable.

Vegetarian String Beans 4/5

For some greens to make it a complete meal, you can go for the Vegetarian String Beans ($18). It is cooked to a delightful crunch with a hint of spiciness, it is also not very oily too.

Red Bean Pancake 4/5

Wrapping up the meal, we have the Red Bean Pancake ($9). The paper thin crispy skin is stuffed with sweet red bean paste. A very pleasing dessert to end the dinner after all the spicy food.

I am told that the interior and menu is the same as their restaurant in Hong Kong. What took me by surprise is the lunch set menus starting from $40 for 9 course (minimum 2 pax), I thought it is a steal.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Qi - House of Sichuan
Marina Bay Financial Centre
Marina Bay Link Mall
Ground Plaza
8A Marina Boulevard
#02-01
Singapore 018984
Tel: +65 66348277
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Nearest MRT: Downtown (DT Line), Marina Bay (NS Line, CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Downtown Line MRT station. Take Exit C. Cross the road. Walk to Ground Plaza. Take lift to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Marina Bay MRT station. Take Exit B. Cross the road. Walk to Ground Plaza. Take lift to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]