Tok Tok Indonesian Soup House @ Ann Siang - Bringing The Wonders of Warungs To Singapore

Experience the warungs of the sidewalks in Indonesia through the dishes of Tok Tok Indonesian Soup House. Serving you street-style soups and dishes representative of those served from push-cart stalls on the streets of Indonesia, Tok Tok takes you through the rich flavours of Warung.

Soto Betawi - Jakarta Beef Bowl 3.5/5

Soto Madura - Madura Beef Soup 2.8/5

We tried 2 of their signature soups, Soto Betawi - Jakarta Beef Bowl ($9.50) and Soto Madura - Madura Beef Soup ($8.80). I like the Jakarta Beef Bowl which carried the sweetness of tomato, hints of herbs and spices and a touch of milk that gave it a body. The Soto Madura is prepared using beef broth and lemongrass but somehow it had the flavour of instant mee soup which didn't resonate with the ingredients.

Nai Campur Bali 3.5/5

Nasi Campur Bali ($9.90) to me is a feast for both lunch and dinner, especially for people who love sambal which is delicious here. The platter consists Balinese style beef rendang, sambal shredded chicken, sliced beef tossed with sambal, sweet and spicy fried tempeh, Balinese stir fried long bean and beef skewers with basted homemade sambal. My favourite is the beef skewers with chunky beef cubes and the sliced beef. Though the latter were almost like beef jerky, they were moreish to chew on. On the other hand, the chicken and beef rendang were much drier than they should be.

Nasi Tumpeng 4/5

For a merry good time, Nasi Tumpeng is the dish to go for. Good for 10 pax or more, feast on Indonesian turmeric rice served with traditional galangal fried chicken, fried vermicelli, sliced omelette, fried potato cake, sweet and spicy fried tempe, garlic crackers and homemade sambal. I love its colors, the mood that it evokes and the hearty dishes. You will see the fried potato cakes flying off the plate the fastest, followed by the fried chicken, which was fragrant and crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. The rice was very pleasing too and remained so even after it got cold.

Ayam Bakar 4/5

Ayam Bakar ($8.80) the famous Indonesian grilled chicken is highly recommended. The sweet glaze on surface was caramelised to release strong hints of smokiness and the flavours stood out even more with the sambal.

Siomay Bandung 2.5/5

What didn't quite sit well with me is the Siomay Bandung ($8), a popular snack in Indonesia, especially in Bandung. With close resemblance with our Yong Tau Foo but the fish meat which is made by blending with flour and tapioca, was not as appetising - I find them to be just lumps of flour being stuffed into a variety of ingredients. The homemade peanut sauce, Kecap Manis was superb but failed to elevate the dish any further.

Es Cendo 3.5/5

Good for any weather is their Es Cendol ($3.80). The homemade pandan rice jelly was quite soft and the Javanese palm sugar had the fragrance and sweetness but not cloying. I like the diced jackfruit which provides crunch and natural sweetness to the dessert.

It is not difficult to spot Tok Tok when it is one of the few buzzing with life along the shophouses of Ann Siang Street. Apparently, Tok Tok has already gotten the stamp of approval from the Indonesians community in Singapore, as the go-to place for authentic Indonesian street food. Small but cosy, do experience it yourself.

Photos and words 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.


Tok Tok Indonesian Soup House
18 Ann Siang Road
#01-01
Singapore 069698
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Website
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (NE Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Directions:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Cross Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Continue to the end of Amoy Street. Climb the stairs beside Siang Cho Keong Temple, up Ann Siang Hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Maxwell Road towards Kadayanallur Street (beside URA building). Turn right onto Kadayanallur Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Pagoda Street to South Bridge Road. Cross the road and turn right. Walk down South Bridge Road. Turn left onto Ann Siang Hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Lynnette's Kitchen Private Dining - Taste Of Refinement In Peranakan Food.

Our private dining adventure continues with Lynnette' Kitchen at her HDB flat in Tiong Bahru area. Lynnette Seah is probably one of the pioneer in the private dining scene before the private dining scene starts booming. She may be better as an internationally acclaimed Singaporean violinist and the recipient of the Cultural Medallion for Music in 2006.

Keropok with Homemade Belachan

Before starting on our meal, we are served some Keropok and Homemade Belachan to snack with.

Bakwan Kepiting Soup 3.8/5

Dinner started with a bowl of Bakwan Kepiting Soup. The meatball is firmer with tougher texture. I would prefer it to be looser. The proportion of the meat and crab ratio has more pork than crab too. On the other hand, I like the bamboo shoot and radish in the soup for a light and refreshing finish.

Crab Beehoon 4.2/5

Catching my attention is the hugemonous Sri Lankan Crab that has been separated from the beehoon after cooking. The crab itself is fresh and sweet but the highlight has to be the bowl of slurping goodness packed with rich flavour of the crustacean. The beehoon is very delicious soaked with the richness.

Assam Pedas Snapper Fillet with Honey Pineapple 4.5/5

My favourite dish is the Assam Pedas Snapper Fillet with Honey Pineapple. Buried under the pool of redness is tender snapper fish fillet and honey pineapple. The clever recipe uses the sweetness of honey pineapple to create the harmony against the hot and fiery chilli. This dish sings for me.

Chap Chye 4.2/5

Another well cooked dish the Chap Chye that comes with cabbage, tofu, black fungus, tang hoon, carrot, lily stems and mushrooms. I appreciated that fact the vegetables still retained a crunch to it, not too soft. Lynnette's version also has a more distinct taste of the fermented beancurd which I enjoyed.

Buah Keluak Prime Pork Ribs Stew 4/5

Instead of the using chicken, Lynnette uses Prime Pork Ribs in her Buah Keluah dish. I am not a big fan of ayam buah keluah as I find the chicken always ended up being dry. Hence the prime pork ribs version is a good chance, with fall of the bone meat.

Beef Rendang 4.5/5

The soul of a good Beef Rendang has to be the rempah and this definitely stole my soul. Unknowingly, I was drenching my rice with the gravy and enjoying the tender beef with my plate of rice.

Sugee Cake with Gula Melaka Cream Cheese Frosting 4.5/5

Even before my visit, I have already heard some much about Lynnette's sugee cake. I understand that if it is not an easy cake to bake. If done wrong, it can be very dry and crumbly. For dessert, I am glad that I get to try her famous Sugee Cake with Gula Melaka Cream Cheese Frosting. It is another smart recipe to pair the sugee cake with the gula melaka cream cheese frosting, which lifted the whole enjoyment of the cake.

Diner at Lynnette's Kitchen is not cheap. It costs $120 per pax. In fact, most of the private dining places I have visited have increased their prices recently too. It now average around $100 per pax to dine at someone's home. Back to Lynnette's food, I find her dishes are more refine than the other peranakan private dining places I have visited, she has fine tuned her recipes until they are perfect. Unlike other places, she also has a wide selection of dishes which you can pick from her website. One difference from other private dining places is the host actually joins us for dinner, while others are busy in the kitchen cooking. But don't get me wrong, she is a great host and we enjoyed the conversation over the food and drink.

Lynnette's Kitchen
Jalan Membina
Website