Craving for ayam penyet and not sure where you can get a solid one? Well, Pondok Pantai Timur is the answer.

Originally located in Changi Village, Pondok Pantai Timur is run by a tight-knit Malay family. They are known for their ayam & ikan penyets which many patrons come for during lunch time. They also serve other Malay fare that is sure to make you say “sedap” with every bite. I’m not even exaggerating.

I ordered the Ayam Penyet ($5.50) & Ikan Penyet ($6-6.50. Depends on size of fish).

Let me just say that the presentation was simply superb. Sambal is spread evenly across the circular wooden plate. They sure know how to make their dishes look good! I really applaud the attention to details, it’s a nice touch! The ayam penyet is deep fried without any batter. While it looks dry, I assure you that it is every bit tender.

You know the rice that is served alongside the penyets? It’s actually chicken rice! I really like how the moist chicken rice complemented the penyets so very well. But the most important thing was definitely the sambal. The sambal really got kick one, no joke!

Similar to the ayam penyet, the ikan penyet was enjoyable. It was especially crispy on the outside, as it was coated with batter before it was fried. However, there was a slight fishiness to it. That is not a deal breaker though.

We also tried the Soto Ayam ($3) & Mee Reebus ($3).

<

The soto ayam comes with lontong, beansprouts and strips of chicken. The broth was flavourful and spicy, and I found myself reaching for more incessantly. The mee reebus was also great. The gravy which was sweet and savoury was thick and sufficiently spiced.

Pondok Pantai Timur is one of those stalls that place emphasis on not just the taste of its food, but on the presentation as well. This will definitely go into my book of recommendations!

The post Pondok Pantai Timur – Glorious Penyet in Ubi That Will Wow Your Tastebuds! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Golden Mile Food Centre is really the birthplace of all things nice. There is a new kid on the block that’s ready to whip up a storm: Chef Choo Signature!

Mind you, the title is not a clickbait! Choo Siew Leong, the 32-year-old behind the newly opened Chef Choo Signature, used to cook in a 5-star hotel restaurant before striking it out on his own. Chef Choo Signature serves up a rather lean Western menu that boasts 11 mouthwatering items.

The first dish that we ordered was the Sizzling Seafood Spaghetti ($12.90; serves 2) and I must say that it has the ‘WOW’ factor. It’s served on a sizzling hot cast iron skillet which is placed on a wooden coaster. A tantalising fragrance hit us before the dish even arrived, and our stomachs growled in response.

The Sizzling Seafood Spaghetti contained a good portion of prawns, mussels and clams. The seafood was cooked just right, and the spaghetti was al dente. I liked how the tomato sauce bound the spaghetti and seafood together beautifully, but I thought that the sauce could have been slightly thinner

We also had the Norwegian Salmon ($5.90) & Porkchop ($5.90). Each dish comes with rice and a glorious sunny side up egg! While the Norwegian Salmon was slightly overcooked, I loved the sauces that accompanied the dish. The salmon is topped with teriyaki sauce & garlic cream sauce which was a stunning combination.

Between the two, the Porkchop is definitely my favourite. It’s doused in mushroom cream sauce and it was oh so tender! A small chunk of pork chop, some rice and some runny yolk is all it takes to bring you to cloud nine.

Finding restaurant-worthy food in a hawker centre, at crazy affordable prices, seems unbelievable, but Chef Choo Signature has made the impossible a reality.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Chef Choo Signature – Restaurant-Quality Food by Ex-Hotel Chef at Hawker Prices! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Not only is Geylang Road home to the yearly Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar, but it’s also home to Haig Road Market & Food Centre! If you don’t already know, Haig Road Market & Food Centre hides some of the best eats. From putu piring to mee rebus, let me share with you a few of the stalls that you have to try here!

• Afandi Hawa & Family
• V2 Claypot Corner
• Warong Sudi Mampir
• 林玉梅 Lin Yu Mei Kolo Mee
• HJ Waliti HJ Mazuki
• 正光云吞面 Zhenguang Wantan Noodles
• Traditional Haig Road Putu Piring
• Chin Heng Desserts
• Tong Kee Traditional Braised Duck Rice

1. Afandi Hawa & Family

If you’ve never had the Mee Rebus ($3) at Afandi Hawa & Family, you have to try it ASAP. With springy yellow noodles, extremely thick and robust gravy and green chilli, this is no doubt one of the best mee rebus I’ve had!

2. V2 Claypot Corner

V2 Claypot Corner will not disappoint claypot rice lovers.

At $4 a portion, the claypot rice consists of chicken morsels, vegetables, and thin slices of Chinese sausage. On the first bite, a subtle smokiness hit my sense. The smokiness was not only present in the rice, but in the morsels of chicken as well! Note that there isn’t the usual thick layer of burnt rice at the bottom of the pot.

V2 Claypot Rice serves other claypot dishes as well.

3. Warong Sudi Mampir

If satay is on your mind, then let satay specialist Warong Sudi Mampir wow you.

I ordered 5 sticks ($0.60/stick) of beef satay and 5 sticks of mutton satay. I had to wait for a while (20 minutes, to be exact) to have my order fulfilled because there was a queue! Let me tell you, the satay was worth ALL the wait. The satay was smoky, tender and not one bit tough nor dry. The satay also had this perfect charred caramelised exterior which I loved.

And what would satay be without some peanut gravy? The peanut gravy was thick and super SHIOK! It was also mildly spicy which I thought complemented the sweet and savoury satay.

Apart from chicken, mutton and beef satays, Warong Sudi Mampir also sells babat (tripe) & hati (beef heart) satay, which are very popular as well.

4. 林玉梅 Lin Yu Mei Kolo Mee

林玉梅 Lin Yu Mei Kolo Mee serves two dishes: Kolo Mee ($4/small and $5/large) & Sarawak Laksa ($6). But let’s focus on the kolo mee.

The Kolo Mee is different from the one I usually have back in Sibu. Apart from the usual meaty char siew, the bowl has crispy pork lard and simmered minced meat!

Of course, the heart of a bowl of kolo mee is its noodles. At first glance, the noodles may look plain and dry, but looks are indeed deceiving! The fragrant lard used made the bowl of noodles incredibly aromatic.

5. HJ Waliti HJ Mazuki

Among all the dishes served at HJ Waliti HJ Mazuki, the Soto Ayam ($3) is most worthy of a mention.

The Soto Ayam, which was light and flavourful, was garnished with chicken shreds and chunks of lontong. I’m a big eater, so the Soto Ayam was not enough for me. I added a bergedil (fried potato cutlet) to carb up my meal, and I’ll definitely recommend that you do that too.

6. 正光云吞面 Zhenguang Wantan Noodles

The first time that I queued for Zhenguang’s wanton noodles was on a weekday afternoon, and the wantons were sold out. Hence, I decided to come back earlier the next day to get a plate of wanton noodles!

The meaty char siew was darker and more “porky” that what I’m used to but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The dark sauce coated the springy noodles well, and every bite was satisfying.

While the wanton was small, the well-marinated minced pork in the wanton made the wanton very addictive!

7. Traditional Haig Road Putu Piring

I’ve never tried putu piring before but the queue that formed during lunchtime and the orders by some of the customers spoke volumes about the putt piring here. A guy in front of me bought 7 packets of putu piring — that’s 35 pieces of kueh!

Feature on Netflix’s “Street Food“, Traditional Haig Road Putu Piring sells its putu piring at $2.50 (5pcs). Made of rice flour, gulu melaka, grated coconut & “garnished” with strips of pandan, the putu piring was simple, yet very delicious!

While it retained its shape when picked up, the putu piring was crumbly and fell apart immediately in my mouth! The pandan leaves imparted a lovely fragrance and sweetness to the kueh.

8. Chin Heng Desserts

If you are looking for a comforting bowl of dessert after your meal, head to Chin Heng Desserts.

There’s a good variety of hot and cold desserts here. I went for the Red Ruby ($2) and Green Bean Soup with Coconut Milk ($1.50).

Made with shaved ice, coconut cream, coconut milk and “red rubies”, the Red Ruby is perfect for a hot day.

I really felt that the auntie was quite generous with the portion. The “rubies”, which are actually water chestnuts soaked in red food colouring, were crunchy and great with the coconut cream.

If the Red Ruby is perfect for a hot day, then the Green Bean Soup with Coconut Milk is perfect for a cold day.

Made with green bean (obviously), sago, and a touch of coconut cream, the great bean soup was creamy and rich. So comforting and heartwarming, especially on a rainy day.

9. Tong Kee Traditional Braised Duck Rice

The duck rice at Tong Kee Traditional Braised Duck Rice is superbly good! The duck carried light herbal flavours and was not too heavily braised.

The irresistible fatty skin soaked in the chup had me hooked. The duck is just so delicious! This is definitely the one stall that I’ll visit every time I’m here!

Was your favourite stall featured? What do you like about Haig Road Market & Food Centre? Share with us your favourite stalls!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the cafes/stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

For more food videos, check out and subscribe to our official YouTube channel!

Join us on our Telegram channel!

The post Haig Road Market & Food Centre – 9 Stalls that will Blow You Away! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Most hawker stalls are self-service stalls, but there’s one particular stall which takes it to the next level by letting you cook your own order. And that’s none other than Hum Jin Pang at Maxwell Food Centre!

A short little story about how Hum Jin Pang decided to adopt the DIY approach. When orders are mounting on busy days, customers will offer to help the previous stall owner of Hum Jin Pang fry the dough fritters. What originally started out as a gesture of kindness turned into a time-honoured tradition that still lives on. Li Shu Hui, the daughter of the previous stall owner, ensures that it stays that way.

Hum Jin Pang serves fried dough fritters in 2 variations — Five Spice Salt and Sweet Red Bean ($1/6 pieces).

If you don’t know when is the right time to take out your dough fritters, fret not! You can ask the aunty and uncle if your dough fritters are ready to be bagged.

We had both variations of the Hum Jin Pang. They were soft and chewy, just how I like it! The savoury red bean hum jin peng was coated in sugar and filled with a red bean filling that was not overly sweet. I noticed that the aunty rolled the dough in sesame seeds before frying it. This gave the dough fritter a toasty aroma and flavour!

The Sweet Red Bean version was great, but the Five Spice Salt flavour was even more alluring. As its name implies, five spice is incorporated into the dough before it is fried. It is then salted after coming out of the fryer. Because it has no filling, the five spice and salt is all there is to flavour the dough. This is really what they call simple goodness! It’s a taste that I can’t get enough of!

Hum Jin Pang serves dough fritters at more-than-affordable prices. Seriously, where else can you find a stall selling 6 pieces of dough fritters for $1? Nowhere else! If you crave a little excitement and want to cook your own dough fritters, then it’s a must to pop by Hum Jin Pang.

MissTamChiak.com made an anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

For more food videos, check out and subscribe to our official YouTube channel!

Join us on our Telegram channel!

The post Hum Jin Pang – Fry-It-Yourself Hum Jin Pang at Maxwell Food Centre appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

What are some things synonymous with Singapore?  You may think of the Merlion, Gardens By The Bay, and, of course, hawker food. And when we think of hawker food, a couple of popular food centres will naturally pop into mind — Maxwell Food Centre is definitely one of them.

Maxwell Food Centre is home to some of Singapore’s best hawker stalls. It’s lauded by both locals and tourists as THE hawker centre to go to if you want to savour true blue Singaporean food. We don’t have to say much, because the queues at some of these stalls speak volumes! Follow us as we show you 11 stalls in Maxwell Food Centre you should not miss!

Jin Hua Fish Soup

A long-time tenant in Maxwell Food Centre, Jin Hua has been serving up hot bowls of fish soup for over 20 years. While you are here, why not order the Grouper Fish Head Noodles ($8)?

The Grouper Fish Head is naturally more flavourful. The soup was fishier but I  could really taste the goodness of the grouper! The sharp punch of ginger cut through the fishiness. Even without the addition of milk, the soup was still rather cloudy, thick and rich!

Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake

This simple looking piece of oyster cake ($2 a piece) is by no means easy to make! One of the last remaining Fuzhou Oyster Cake stalls which still makes it the traditional way, Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cakes sends out some of the best oyster cakes.

Each oyster cake is painstakingly made by hand. In each oyster cake, you can find cilantro, minced meat, fresh prawns and oysters studded in a rice batter. The oyster cake was crispy on the outside, yet soft on the inside. Don’t forget to add some chilli sauce to it!

Xing Xing Ondeh-Ondeh Tapioca Cake

Xing Xing Ondeh-Ondeh Tapioca Cake only sells Ondeh-Ondeh ($3/box) and Tapioca Cake ($6/box).

On first bite, the steamed tapioca cake was absolutely delightful and lovely! Made by hand, and definitely from scratch, the tapioca cakes are steamed, and served with grated coconut. The cakes had an amazing texture and were not very sticky, as compared to the ones you might find elsewhere.

Popo & Nana’s Delights

I guarantee that if you visit Popo & Nana’s Delight, you will be returning for more.

The food served here is particularly homey. At Popo & Nana’s Delight, each set comes with white or brown rice, your choice of vegetables and meat, and soup of the day. I especially loved the Chicken Rendang ($6/set)! The well-marinated chicken was moist and tender, and the thick rendang sauce was very addictive. Mind you, the stallowner purchases her meats daily so no frozen meats are ever used!

China Street Fritters

Traditional handmade ngoh hiang is a rare find these days. That’s why I am so glad there is a stall like China Street Fritters!

I love the super crispy ngoh hiang ($0.80) from China Street Fritters. The stallowners of China Street Fritters follow time-tested recipes to produce their super ngoh hiang, so you know that you are getting the real deal. I tried the ngoh hiang after dipping it into the starchy sweet sauce and watery chilli sauce and oh my, it was perfect. This is a must-order when you’re here!

Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue

The Chicken Cutlet ($8) at Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue was pretty remarkable. For $8, you get a huge slab of crunchy and fragrant chicken cutlet, a side of mixed vegetables, crinkle-cut fries and a fluffy sweet bun. You will definitely be getting your money’s worth!

The sweet house-made sauce that came with the fried cutlet complemented the dish flawlessly, it was so irresistible that I went back for more. I absolutely adored the soft and chewy bun, which I also used to wipe up any remaining sauce!

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

No Maxwell Food Centre listicle is ever complete without the award-winning Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. Seriously, the fact that it spans across the space of 2 stalls bears testament to its popularity.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice chicken rice comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large. I enjoyed digging into the succulent and moist pieces of chicken breast meat that were doused in a savoury sauce. The chicken, together with the perfectly-cooked fragrant rice, and thick and spicy chilli, screams “SHIOK”.

P.S. There’s always a queue at Tian Tian so try to avoid the peak lunch hour if you can!

Hainanese Curry Rice

If you crave a comforting plate of curry png, allow 中国街咖喱饭 Hainanese Curry Rice to curry your favour.

The pork chop that came with the Hainanese Curry Rice with Chap Chye ($3) was crispy, tender and not too oily. The curry that covered every inch of the plate had a mild spiciness and was not overpowering. Get a little of everything in a spoonful, and you’ll have yourself a little party in your mouth.

Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia

Looking for great roast meats at affordable prices? Then you better join the line at Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia!

Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia’s forte is roast meats. I ordered the 叉火面, or Mixed Meat Noodles ($3.50), and I was quite blown away by not just the price, but by how generous the portion was. The sio bak’s skin possessed the perfect crunch and had just the right amount of saltiness, and the meat was moist and tender — it’s tough to find a sio bak done this flawlessly. Honestly, this is the best sio bak I’ve ever had! I also have to give credit to the char siew because it carried a bit of that delightful char, and was more on the savoury side.

Ah-Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice

Starting at $2.50 a plate, Ah-Tai Chicken Rice’s chicken is unbelievably tender, juicy and smooth! The rice was grainy and fragrant, though it was a little on the dry side. The most important aspect, the chilli, was thick and spicy which is definitely a bonus!

一家潮州鱼粥鱼汤 Yi Jia Chao Zhou Yu Zhou Yu Tang

When it comes to fish soup, or fish porridge, Yi Jia Chao Zhou Yu Zhou Yu Tang is the expert. This is one of the few stalls which commands a snaking queue during lunch time. They serve Teochew-style porridge ($3/small) and fish soup with batang fish or pomfret (the latter being slightly more expensive, of course).

For $3, I got a bowl of fish porridge that was filled with slices of fresh sweet batang fish. The soup was murky and every bit flavourful. There was no hint of fishiness! As the porridge is Teochew-style, you can expect firm grainy rice steeped in the soup. The inclusion of cilantro and fried shallots definitely enhanced the flavours of the porridge.

Hum Jin Pang

Feeling peckish and want to fry your own dough fritters? You can pop by Hum Jin Pang to do just that!

Hum Jin Pang serves fried dough fritters in 2 variations — Five Spice Salt and Sweet Red Bean ($1/6 pieces). We had both variations of the Hum Jin Pang. They were soft and chewy, just how I like it! The savoury red bean hum jin peng was coated in sugar and filled with a red bean filling that was not overly sweet. I noticed that the aunty rolled the dough in sesame seeds before frying it. This gave the dough fritter a toasty aroma and flavour!

Special Shanghai Tim Sum

Regular patrons of the now defunct Queenstown Magaret Drive Food Centre will be glad that to know that Special Shanghai Tim Sum still lives on in Maxwell Food Centre!

Run by a fourth-generation hawker, Special Shanghai Tim Sum prides itself on making its own dumplings fresh daily. Sink your teeth into the Guo Tie, or Fried Dumplings ($4 for 8pcs) for yourselves and see what I mean! The dumplings are fried to order so ready yourselves to a mix of well-marinated minced meat and chopped chives encased within a crispy crackling exterior. Pair that with the vinegar sauce that it’s served with and it’s a match made in heaven!

This list is just the tip of the iceberg. Maxwell Food Centre is home to so much more! Was your favourite stall listed here? What do you like about Maxwell Food Centre? Let us know in the comments!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

The post Brace Yourself for Maxwell Food Centre’s 13 Finest Hawker Stalls! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Just a stone’s throw away from Tai Seng MRT is GLC Restaurant, a popular lunch spot which serves tze char-style dishes. Best part? It’s Halal, so it’s perfect for everyone and anyone!

As it is situated in an office area, GLC Restaurant welcomes throngs of patrons during lunch hours. The menu is extensive but here are a few dishes which stood out.

I had the highly recommended Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Dice Rice ($5.80) which comprises rice, a fried egg and salted egg yolk chicken!

This goes onto my list of Best Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Rice. The sauce is packed with all the salted egg yolk goodness and yet was not one bit cloying! My guess is that they must have used evaporated milk in the concoction. Grab yourself a small piece of egg, some rice, and a chunk of chicken coated in the decadent sauce, and you have yourself a piece of heaven!

I also had the Prawn Hokkien Mee ($5.50). It was on the drier side, but every inch of this plate of Hokkien mee was so flavourful! There were pieces of sotong, sliced fish cake, and prawns in the mix. My only gripe was that there were more yellow noodles than rice noodles, hence resulting in a pretty strong alkaline taste present in the dish.

I tried the San Lou Horfun ($6.30) and KL Dai Lok Mee ($6.30) as well.

The San Lou Horfun came with a generous portion of sliced fish, beansprouts, and fried horfun drenched in a viscous gravy. I enjoyed every spoonful of the horfun! I would have loved for the wok hei to be stronger though.

I never had dai lok mee so this is a first! Compared to the Prawn Hokkien Mee, the KL Dai Lok Mee uses a flatter version of egg noodles. The dish has an interesting mix of sweet and savoury flavours. Similar, to the San Lou Horfun, the wok hei was a tad too weak for my liking.

While there were hits and misses, GLC Restaurant still makes an excellent lunch spot! If you are here, I highly recommend the Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Dice Rice!

The post GLC Hao Yun Lai Restaurant – Scrumptious HALAL Tze Char in Tai Seng! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Selamat Hari Raya Haji! The month of Ramadan is upon our Muslim friends, and here are 18 Halal eateries where you can take them to after they break their fast.

Pondok Pantai Timur

Originally located in Changi Village, Pondok Pantai Timur is known for their ayam and ikan penyets which many patrons come for during lunch time. They also serve other Malay fare that is sure to make you say “sedap” with every bite.

The Ayam Penyet ($5.50) is definitely the star of the show here. It is deep fried without any batter. While it looks dry, I assure you that it is every bit tender. Something to note is that Pondok Pantai Timur focuses on the presentation of its penyet dishes! It is certainly a nice touch.

Lawa Bintang

Why break fast with boring old nasi lemak when you can have Lobster Nasi Lemak ($22) from Lawa Bintang?

Each Lobster Nasi Lemak features a whole lobster coated with ground herbs and cheese, a bed of puffy basmati rice, a fried egg, sambal peanuts and anchovies, and a generous dollop of sambal chilli. The lobster meat is sweet and succulent, and the herb blend lends a herbaceous dimension to the flesh. This is definitely a pleasant fusion take on a traditional dish.

Brothers in Fine Food

Brothers in Fine Food (BFF) is truly a diamond in the rough. While their food menu is by no means extensive, BFF boasts creative interpretations of drinks and dishes at affordable prices.

Take, for instance, the Beef Steak ($15). First marinated in salt and pepper to allow the natural flavours of the beef to emerge, the steak is vacuum-packed and cooked sous vide until medium rare. Each slice was tender and juicy, and the steak is served with a beetroot thyme puree instead of the usual mushroom or black pepper gravy.

Chix Hot Chicken

Want authentic Nashville-style fried chicken that is Halal? Then head over to Chix Hot Chicken!

At Chix Hot Chicken, you can choose from 3 levels of spice for your chicken — mild, extra and insane. We got a set of Wings that comprises 3 whole wings ($10.90) at extra level spice along with a side of slaw. The wings were armed with a good crunch, and the crisp skin broke apart to reveal juicy chicken flesh. My only gripe was that the wings were a little small.

Yes! Nasi Kukus

As the name implies, Yes! Nasi Kukus specialises in nasi kukus and nasi dagang, which is red rice steamed with coconut milk.

The Set A Spiced Fried Chicken ($5) comes with a killer fried chicken thigh that is cooked in small batches to ensure that the skin stays mouth-shatteringly crispy. The stall also uses only fresh chicken thighs, which remains juicy and tender on the inside. The lingering flavours of a turmeric, lemongrass and ginger spice mix steeped into the meat itself. However, what stole our breaths was the special chilli sauce. It has hints of Assam which paired well with the fried chicken!

Beef Up

Stop by Beef Up if you are craving for some Halal Taiwanese food.

The signature here is the Beef Noodles ($6.50/$8) which features a thicker variety of u-mian, six decent chunks of beef brisket, some greens and a spoonful of salted vegetables. The aroma of the rich beefy broth was strong and every piece of the meaty beef brisket was tender!

Lemaq

As much as you may not believe it, “delicious” and “affordable” can exist in a nasi padang. And you can get it at Lemaq.

Lemaq serves Sambal Paru Balado Padang (Padang Sambal Beef Lungs) and Daging Balado Hijau Padang (Padang Green Chilli Beef) that cost just $4! Innards are usually infamous for being pungent, but the one served at Lemaq is devoid of that pungency. Instead, the decadent beef lungs in the Sambal Paru Balado Padang were creamy, spicy and had a clear fatty flavour that just shone throughout the dish. The intensely flavourful beef in the Daging Balado Hijau Padang was also a stunner.

Pu3 Restaurant

Nasi ambeng is the perfect dish for sharing. The sets are sold for 1 person ($7.50), 2 people ($29.90) or for 4 people ($50.80). Each set comes on a humongous plate that has up to ten side dishes! Think beef rendang, bergedil, chicken curry and more. The nasi ambeng at Pu3 Restaurant will quell those hunger pangs!

GLC Hao Yun Lai Restaurant

What’s a Chinese restaurant doing here? Ah yes! GLC Restaurant is a HALAL-certified restaurant that is sure to delight your tastebuds!

The Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Dice Rice ($5.80) is one of the best I have ever had! The sauce was packed with all the salted egg yolk goodness and yet it was not one bit cloying. Grab yourself a piece of fried egg, some rice, and a morsel of chicken coated in the decadent sauce, and you have yourself a small piece of heaven!

Che’ Rose Nasi Padang

Che’ Rose, the owner and chef who has more than 40 years of experience in cooking nasi padang, is known for her rendang. She inherited the secret recipe from her grandparents.

The chicken rendang ($3.50/piece) got me hooked with its spicy, sweet and savoury notes. Also, don’t miss the asam squid curry ($4). The tangy curry is so addictive!

Asam Pedas Claypot Super

4-month-old Asam Pedas Claypot Super offers only a handful of items, and the star here is the Asam Pedas Claypot (fish-head or steak).

The Asam Pedas Claypot (with anggoli fish-head, $18) was huge! The fish-head was fresh and fleshy, and we enjoyed it very much. Next, we had the fried chicken ($10). The slightly oily chicken, which was marinated with turmeric and other spices, was aromatic and flavourful. Don’t miss these two dishes when you’re here!

Niu Zou La Mian Muslim Food

If Muslims travel all the way from Woodlands to the ulu Ubi just for this Halal Chinese noodles, you know the noodles must be good. Almost every dish at this stall is worth a try! Note that they only serve beef or mutton noodle dishes.

The Beef Noodle Soup ($5) was pretty fantastic. I’m not a fan of ma la dishes, because of the numbing sensation, so when I saw that chilli oil was ladled in, I was a tad hesitant to try the dish. Thankfully, I gave the dish a go, and I was surprised that the chilli oil didn’t overpower the flavourful and sweet broth.

Each batch of noodles is pulled upon order, and you can watch the chef pull the noodles expertly here.

Yi Zun Beef Noodle 伊尊老字号拉面

Talking about halal Chinese noodles, how can I forget Yi Zun Beef Noodle? The small version ($7.80) was quite sizeable. I love the smooth handmade noodles and the savoury broth!

Another dish worthy of a mention is Xinjiang Big Plate Chicken ($14.80), which is also known as “Da Pan Ji”. This dish is especially famous in Xinjiang, China. I like that it carries both herbal and ma la flavours.

It is quite difficult to find halal Chinese dishes in Singapore, let alone authentic ones. So, be sure to head down to Yi Zun Beef Noodle to try it for yourself!

Burgernomics

A relatively new halal burger stall is Burgernomics, which is managed by a trio of good friends! Burgernomics’ simple burgers come with an Asian twist. Many of the burgers are inspired by the chefs’ childhood dining experiences at fast food restaurants. The soft buns are made fresh daily by an artisanal bakery in Joo Chiat.

The Deluxe Burger ($6.50) is a simple and good burger, with a captivating truffle aroma. The patty was delectably juicy and fragrant. Did you guess that the Deluxe Burger was inspired by the Mushroom and Swiss burger from Burger King?

Another burger you MUST try is the locally-inspired Rendang Burger ($7.50). Burgernomics sears and cooks the Australian brisket for 48 hours. Their patience sure paid off as the beef was incredibly soft, and melted in my mouth. Refreshing cucumber and onion slices provided the extra crunch to the near-perfect burger.

Sedap Thai

As a mookata-lover, I used to be sad that I couldn’t share my love for mookata with my Muslim friends. However, ever since I discovered Sedap Thai, I’ve been bringing my Muslim kakis here for Thai-style steamboat!

Instead of pork lard, chicken oil is used, and mutton and beef take the place of pork. Doesn’t it sound awesome already? There should be more mookata stalls that are halal!

Hurray to finally having a mookata stall suitable for my Muslim pals!

Burgs by Project Warung

Shah, Ridz and Syafiq opened their first outlet last year, and a second one they at Viva Business Park, Centuries Food Court, this year! You can expect top-notch burgers at hawker prices at Burgs.

You can change your thick cut fries to onion rings for $1. Of all the burgers we tried, the Teriyaki Chicken Burger ($5.50) stood out the most. The grilled chicken thigh was juicy, and I liked that there was a sunny side up, and bonito flakes in the burger. The teriyaki sauce complemented the charred fragrant patty really well!

If you’re visiting them in the month of Ramadan, do note their evening shift runs from 5pm to 9.30pm.

Muk-Bang Korean Restaurant

Also located in Viva Business Park, Muk-Bang Korean Restaurant was certified Halal on 31 March 2017. The Budae Jjigae ($36) is good for 2 to 3 persons. Each pot comes with generous helpings of chicken, chicken ham, chicken sausage, Korean rice cakes, baked beans, an assortment of mushrooms, tofu, kimchi, ramen, and a slice of cheese.

For people who love spicy food, this is just shiok! However, the restaurant had received feedbacks that kids aren’t able to handle the level of spiciness, so it has actually offered a non-spicy version of Budae Jjigae. How thoughtful!

Other favourites include Sundubu Jjigae (tofu soup), Samgaetang (ginseng chicken soup) and Bibimbap. It’s best to come here to break fast with a big group of people as most of the dishes are designed for sharing.

Koothurar Nasi Briyani

I kid you not when I say that the stall does not have a signboard. You can identify the stall from the stacks of aromatic basmati rice, meat, and fish sitting near the front of the stall.

I had nasi briyani with mutton tulang ($6) because I knew that the meat nearer to the bone tends to be more tender. And true enough, the meat was fork-tender and I earned myself a flavourful tulang. A pleasant surprise was the tendon-like soft marrow! Loveeeeee it!

The dalcha curry (an Hyderabadi Indian curry made from mutton, tamarind and split chickpeas) served on the side was watery, grainy, and not spicy at all. I actually preferred the mutton gravy with my basmati rice as it was thicker and more savoury.

I love that pandan leaves are used in the basmati rice as it makes the rice mildly sweet, and so fragrant! Head here early to avoid disappointment!

If you happen to bring your friends and family to any of these 18 eateries, do let us know what you think. Also, please share with us your favourite go-to places to break fast this Ramadan!

The post 18 Best Halal Eateries to Go During Iftar appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

We love chicken rice. When I need a quick lunch at a hawker centre, I will have a plate of chicken rice.

I have read a lot about Fook Seng GoldenHill Chicken Rice (负成金山鸡饭) online and I finally made it there. Located in the quiet Jalan Rumah Tinggi, Fook Seng is a standalone eatery in the residential estate (there is even an abolished bus terminal there).

The menu here is very simple. A plate of chicken rice starts from $2, but you can order the superior and premium version at $3 and $5 respectively.

The chicken here is kinda prepared medium well. The firm chicken is juicy, very tender and smooth. The chicken is topped with a slight drizzle of sesame oil and soy sauce. I don’t quite like having sesame oil in my chicken because it will mask the natural sweetness of the meat so I asked the aunty not to be too generous with the oil.

The husband loves the rice but I thought it didn’t have enough flavour. It wasn’t too oily, so that’s good. Each plate of chicken rice comes with a small bowl of chicken soup with sliced cabbage.

The chilli, which is made fresh with a combination of red chillies and small chillies, packed a spicy kick. I like it because it has the right amount of tang. Sadly, I find their ginger sauce too watery.

I also ordered a portion of baby bak choy which left me a very happy girl. They used to be popular for their raw fish, which unfortunately is no longer available.

It was an enjoyable lunch, I must say. I’ll come back if I am in the area, and craving for chicken rice.

The post Fook Seng Goldenhill Chicken Rice – Hole-in-the-Wall Eatery that Serves Tender Chicken Rice appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

I used to be an early bird but because I have been working late almost everyday,  so breakfast isn’t really my thing anymore. But if I do wake up early enough, I make sure I have a good breakfast.

It’s a shame that I didn’t have the time to explore Queenstown more. Most of the flats are already half a century old, and the atmosphere can only be best described as being filled with the original kampong spirit. Following the recommendation of Chef Shen Tan, I popped by Maria’s Corner Nasi Lemak, and the stall is now my go-to breakfast spot if I am around Tanglin Halt.

Located in a quiet and retro coffeeshop, Maria’s Corner is a quaint little stall run by a cute Makcik. So, expect rustic, good, home-style cooking. You can order a mountain of fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk, and pile it with toppings such as beef rendang, seronding, sambal goreng, beef lungs, fried tempeh, fried fish, egg and more. The rice is not too heavily scented so it doesn’t overpower the delicious dishes.

The sambal goreng didn’t leave an impression, but the flavours were robust and intense. The chicken wings are fried in small batches so to ensure that that they remain crisp. Don’t forget to add a spoonful of serunding to your rice.

The other crucial component of nasi lemak is the sambal. Maria’s version is especially memorable, as it was sufficiently spicy with the right balance of sweet and tangy notes. If you want to eat the Nasi Lemak here, you should come before 10am so that there is still a wide range of choices. They also serve longtong, mee siam and mee rebus for breakfast.

The post Maria’s Corner – Good Ol’ Home-Style Nasi Lemak in Tanglin Halt appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Regular patrons of the now defunct Queenstown Magaret Drive Food Centre will be glad to know that Tong Xin Ju Special Shanghai Tim Sum still lives on in Maxwell Food Centre!

Run by fourth-generation hawker Sebastian Hu, Tong Xin Ju Special Shanghai Tim Sum serves a limited mix of Shanghai-style dishes. What makes this stall so interesting is that it prides itself on making its own dumplings fresh daily!

Sink your teeth into the Guo Tie, or Fried Dumplings ($4 for 8pcs) and see what I mean for yourself! The dumplings are fried on order, so ready yourselves for a crispy parcel of juicy well-marinated minced meat and chopped chives. Pair the guo tie with the homemade vinegar and you have a match made in heaven!

If you’re feeling a little healthy, you should go for the Steamed Dumplings ($4 for 8pcs). It’s essentially the same as the fried dumplings, just steamed.

If you want authentic Chinese soup, then you need to try the Hot and Sour Soup ($3/4/5). Viscous and loaded with slivers of sliced pork and fish cake, the soup has a consistency that is reminiscent of an egg drop soup. While I found the Hot and Sour Soup palatable and appreciated its especially sour taste, it might be a hit or miss for you, due to its particularly strong sourness.

Tong Xin Ju Special Shanghai Tim Sum also serves Shanghai Rice Cakes ($3/4/5) which I thought was a nice surprise! It’s rare to have rice cakes in a hawker setting. However, that surprise is shortlived when I realised that it was bland.

There must be a reason why regulars still frequent the stall even after its relocation to Maxwell Food Centre. I applaud their strict adherence to making limited batches of fresh dumplings daily. If you are at Maxwell Food Centre, do give Tong Xin Ju Special Shanghai Tim Sum a try.

<em>MissTamChiak.com made an anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.</em>

The post Tong Xin Ju Special Shanghai Tim Sum – Fresh Handmade Dumplings in Maxwell Food Centre! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Asam Pedas Claypot Super is only 5 months old. The owners, Shukri and Harlina, partnered up to create a relatively unique menu. There are ala carte options for lone diners, and set meals for bigger groups. Don’t say I didn’t warn you — it is really PEDAS (spicy)!

Instead of transferring cooked Asam Pedas into a claypot, the dish is cooked in the same claypot throughout! I love how the staff patiently stirred the content consistently. The fish was well-cooked, and even after a while, the dish was still piping hot because the claypot maintained the temperature and kept the dish hot throughout our meal.

We chose angoli fish for our fish head and it was really fresh and firm! The amount of flesh on the fish head was more than enough for 3 persons! The dish would be even better if they had simmered the lady’s fingers longer to soften it further. We would have loved for a bigger variety of vegetables to accompany the asam. The Asam Pedas Claypot ($18) was tantalisingly sour, and way spicier than I expected. Drenching the asam on white rice helped to mellow out the spiciness, so be sure to do that if you can’t handle too much spice!

Another star is the Fried Chicken ($10)! Both my friend and I couldn’t stop reaching for the fried chicken as it was extraordinarily addictive! It’s a pity that the size of the chicken was rather small, if not it would have been more shiok!

All of the options available are loaded with spices and chilli. You know this stall is serious about its “pedas-ness”! The soft eggplant ($6) was not too potent, and it was very sweet surprisingly!

This is very unlike the typical Chinese curry or asam fish head I’ve had before. The dish was sour and spicy, and helped me to appreciate Malay cuisine even more. The sourness and spiciness worked hand and hand and was extremely gratifying! Remember to give them a call to order your Asam Pedas Claypot (only available after 11am) in advance to avoid disappointment!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Asam Pedas Claypot Super. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Asam Pedas Claypot Super – Super Pedas Claypot Asam Fish Head! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

When the owner-cum-chef of a dim sum establishment is from Hong Kong, you know that the dim sum is the real deal. Ho Yun (Hong Kong) Tim Sum’s friendly owner has been a PR in Singapore for more than 20 years. His humble dim sum truly did not disappoint.

I had multiple food hunts lined up after this so I told myself to just get a sufficient taste of everything. However, I wasn’t able to heed my own advice. From the very first dish, I couldn’t help but finish everything! Ho Yun’s flavoursome Century Egg with Lean Pork Porridge ($2.70) was thick, and had the right gooeyness. The crispy crackers made the whole dish even more irresistible! Indeed, an unassuming bowl of goodness!

This Cantonese version of Siew Mai ($2.70) has no shrimps within but it was still delicious. Don’t forget to pair the plump siew mai with the sweet chilli sauce!

The Pork Spare Ribs in black bean sauce was above average too! The meat absorbed the fermented black soybeans thoroughly so it was packed with umami. The meat wasn’t the most tender but I polished the entire dish off in minutes.

While the chicken feet was not the best in taste, the skin was adequately soft and  fell off the bone easily. The exterior of the fried shrimp dumpling was relatively crispy and savoury, while the content was sweet and chewy. I hoped that the mayonnaise accompanying the dumplings was less watery though.

Something unique about Ho Yun is that it offers dim sum rice bowls ($3.20 each), such as pork spare ribs with rice, in Hong Kong style metal bowls. Fried dim sum cost $0.90 each, and 4 pieces go for $3.50. All in all, the prices are extremely affordable. And you know for sure that you’ll be getting great dim sum here. I will be back for more!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Ho Yun (Hong Kong) Tim Sum. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Ho Yun (Hong Kong) Tim Sum – Affordable Authentic Hong Kong Dim Sum appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

For those who frequent Geylang for supper, you’ve probably heard of 126 Dim Sum Wen Dao Shi, and Yong He Eating House. Similar to 126 Dim Sum Wen Dao Shi, Mongkok Dim Sum has several unique and delicious fried dim sum!

The Steamed Rice Rolls with Shrimp ($4.20) sitting in a pool of flavoursome soya sauce were so irresistible! The folds of the rice rolls were slightly thicker than expected, but it didn’t really bother us. The rice rolls were coated thoroughly in the soya sauce, making every bite really tasty.

I noticed that Mongkok places fried items on oil-absorbing paper to soak up any excess oil lingering on them. I’m definitely thankful for this simple gesture.

Look forward to sinful fare such as Beancurd Roll with Shrimp & Pork ($4.20) and Butter Calamari ($4.20)! An entire sotong ring in a crisp batter dipped in mayonnaise? What a heavenly match! Do consume it once it’s served so that the batter is still hot and crisp.

Can I just say this is the best discovery at Mongkok thus far? If there’s only 1 thing you can try from Mongkok, it has got to be the Pan-fried Carrot Cake ($4.20)! The fragrant carrot cake was charred on the outside, and held a slight crisp on the edges. The white radish within was adequately soft!

The idea of croutons encasing prawns and fish paste was a splendid one! Effortlessly crunchy, this addictive Breaded Fish Cake ($4.20) paired with thick mayonnaise was the best combo! I can still remember clearly the entire experience, especially biting into the sweet prawns in the fish paste. I’m sure that both young and old will enjoy this!

Mongkok Dim Sum operates 24/7. Although the selection of steamed and fried dim sum is not as extensive as Wen Dao Shi’s, Mongkok offers plenty of appetisers including Cucumber Salad with Century Egg ($7.50) and tze char dishes such as Yangzhou Fried Rice ($5.50), Sambal Kangkong ($8/ $12), Hotplate Tofu ($12) and even Kong Pao Frogs ($22)! With such a vast variety of food suitable for any meal of the day, it’s no wonder Mongkok Dim Sum is always packed!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Mongkok Dim Sum. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Mongkok Dim Sum – Offering Unique Fried Dim Sums 24/7 appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Yishun Park Hawker Centre’s highly anticipated $1 carnival is back! Same as last year, there are 26 stalls participating in the carnival this year. Make sure you’re free on 29th June, from 11am to 5pm. Gather your friends and family to try the offerings from all 26 stalls. Pace yourself and go through as many $1 dishes as you can! Each customer can purchase up to 2 portions from the participating stall each time you join the queue.

Here are some of the new highlights and Team Tam Chiak’s top picks.

NEW DISHES THIS YEAR

Kalsom Kuih Muih (#01-01) – Potato Epok Epok
The Potato Epok Epok here is as authentic as it gets! I’m sure you wouldn’t stop at one but remember there are 25 other dishes to try!

Kintaro (#01-05) – Assorted Mochi
A traditional food for Japanese New Year, the assorted mochi is soft and chewy, and incredibly addictive!

Mo Mo Shi Guang (#01-09) – Sugar Cane
An underrated stall nestled in Yishun Park Hawker Centre, Mo Mo Shi Guang offers refreshing sugar cane juice that will definitely quench your thirst.

Ah Lock Tofu (#01-08) – Meatballs with Rice
Lock Teng took a break from his undergraduate studies to attend to his stall. The stall is known for its fried Hakka tofu and Hakka thunder tea rice, but be sure to try the meatballs with rice!

Yi Kou Mian (#01-12) – Fried Wanton
Handmade fried wantons are the perfect snack for both the young and old!

Chit Chaat Chai (#01-13) – Vadai
Infusing North Indian flavours into a Western snack-bar experience, Chit Chaat Chai recreates Indian street food. Don’t miss the vadai!

Da San Yuan (#01-15) – Fishball Soup
Have a simple bowl of fishball soup and let your hair down at the carnival.

Haji Osman and Jasmah Nasi Ayam (#01-19) – Thai Chilli Chicken Cutlet Rice
Look forward to Haji Osman and Jasmah Nasi Ayam’s Thai Chilli Chicken Cutlet Rice as it will satisfy all of your fried chicken cravings!

Xin Fa Ji (#01-23) – Fried Hokkien Mee
Relatively drier than others, the noodles absorbed all the essence of the stock really well. Mix the chilli in thoroughly and it becomes yummier!

Li Fang Congee (#01-25) – Pork Congee
The classic pork congee is simple, but satisfying!

Nanyang Curry (#01-26) – Chicken Curry
Now, $1 chicken curry? You absolutely can’t miss it!

51 Noodle House (#01-27) – Dry Mee Pok with Braised Pork
This rendition of bak chor mee with tender braised pork and dark sauce left quite an impression, and you should definitely try it.

The Outslider (#01-31)- Chocolate Youtiao
Crispy youtiao with chocolate sauce just can’t go wrong. Round off your feast here with this sweet treat!

Wee Kim Hainanese Chicken Rice (#01-32) – Chicken Rice (Roasted or Steamed)
If you’ve always wanted to try the chicken rice, but haven’t done so. This is the perfect opportunity.

Seafood Pirates (#01-35) – Mentaiko Omelette Rice
Seafood Pirates has upped its game by offering Mentaiko Omelette Rice this year! We loved the smokiness and umami in the torched mentaiko.

Jiao Cai Hotplate BBQ (#01-39) – Sambal Lala
Jiao Cai Hotplate BBQ only uses fresh seafood, so you can expect the sambal lala to be juicy and sweet. Don’t forget to dip the lala into the house-made sambal chilli and chinchalok. Shiok!

Tuck Shop (#01-44) – Iced Chocolate
Tuck Shop’s Iced Chocolate will be a huge hit with everyone. It’s not too sweet, and I believe that it’s a beverage that all will enjoy.

MISS TAM CHIAK’S TOP PICKS

XLX Modern Tze Char (#01-28) – La La White Bee Hoon *Miss Tam Chiak’s Pick*
Xin Long Xin’s white beehoon is immersed in a flavoursome broth that’s made with pork bones and chicken stock. The broth is simmered for 10 hours, so you can expect it to be really rich and robust.

Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang (#01-33) – Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang *Miss Tam Chiak’s Pick*
We were addicted to the ayam taliwang which Puti and Noorman marinate by hand. The chicken, which is loaded with their special marinade, is grilled to perfection.

Yap’s Noodle (#01-36) – Curry Chee Cheong Fun *Miss Tam Chiak’s Pick*
Yap’s Noodle’s curry chee cheong fun is a testimony to the existence of authentic Malaysian cuisine in Singapore. We enjoyed every bit of it!

Smokin’ Joe (#01-37) – 1/4 Wagyu Beef Burger *Miss Tam Chiak’s Pick*
Grab a quarter of Smokin’ Joe’s Wagyu Beef Burger for just $1! The juicy wagyu patty offers just a glimpse of Joseph’s affordable restaurant-standard fare.

Ah Tan Wings (#01-40) – Har Cheong Gai *Miss Tam Chiak’s Pick*
By now, most of you would have heard of Ah Tan Wings. Their irresistible har cheong gai (prawn paste chicken wing) is going for just $1! You may be tempted to have 10 but keep in mind that there’s plenty of food to try!

If you’re craving for prata, go to SJ Sickaner Ammal (#01-10) for some crispy yet fluffy Plain Prata with fish or mutton curry! JJ Prawn Noodle (#01-21)’s signature prawn noodles makes a return again this year. So if you’ve always been a fan, or have missed it very much, now’s the time to get a taste of it again.

$1 DURIAN

Yishun Park Hawker Centre is also offering different types (Mao Shan Wang, D13, D24 and Red Prawn) of durian at just $1! If this is not a deal to you, I don’t know what is!

So for durian-lovers out there, remember to collect your receipt from the hawkers when you purchase the $1 tasting portions. The number of durians you may redeem is based on the number of $1 food/drink item on the receipt from the participating hawker stalls. You can simply present the receipt(s) at the 3 designated durian stalls to purchase durians at just $1 each.

$1 WEEKEND PASAR EDITION

Look out for at least 4 stalls selling clothes, homeware, soft toys and many more. Prices start from $1!

PARK & PLAY $1 EDITION

Park & Play’s craft, face painting and highlight activities will run from 1pm to 5pm (complimentary). In addition, a BOUNCY CASTLE is making an appearance. And the entrance fee is just $1 for every 30 minutes. Aren’t kids now just so blessed?!

DRESS-LIKE-A-HAWKER PHOTOBOOTH

On 29th June, an actual hawker stall will be turned into a photobooth here! For those who have always dreamt about becoming a hawker since they were young (I’m low-key one of them), now’s the opportune time to dress like one. I’m very excited about this year’s photobooth because I’ll get to look like a hawker hero with props such as aprons and woks!

WIN TRAY-RETURN LUCKY DRAW

Ever since Yishun Park Hawker Centre started, it has been a self-tray returning food centre. On 29th June, stand a chance to win $1000 worth of dining credits ($2, $5, $20 or $100) through a lucky draw at tray-return stations. Beyond the dining credits, let us all also cultivate a habit of returning our trays whenever possible!

FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE

Complimentary to-and-fro shuttle bus services will be provided from 10.45am to 5:15pm at Sembawang, Yishun, Khatib MRT stations’ drop-off points, and Yishun Park Hawker Centre. Take note that durians are strictly not allowed onboard.

All $1 dishes and $1 durians (1000kg only) are limited in quantity, so head over early to avoid disappointment. Admission is free so bring your friends and families! Remember to come with an empty stomach because there’re so much to eat!

This post was brought to you by YISHUN PARK HAWKER CENTRE.

The post Yishun Park Hawker Centre $1 Carnival – NEW $1 Dishes and Even $1 Durian! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

In the old heartland estate of Jalan Besar, there sits a quaint cluster of hawker shophouses. The latest addition? The legendary Kok Kee Wanton Mee!

Being here on the afternoon of their grand opening, I was awe-struck by the stall which was exuding a commanding and strong aura that was fuelled by the clanging cymbals and banging drums of a lion dance troupe. The stall also had the support of friends, family, and loyal customers. Needless to say, it attracted the attention of the regular lunch crowd and curious passersby.

Fans will surely remember the nightly long queues for this famous wanton mee back at Lavender Food Square.

Everything on the menu is $5 now (a slight $0.50 mark up from before). To our pleasant surprise, every mouthful of Kok Kee’s soft and springy noodles  with their special homemade sauce still tasted splendid. And the noodles still sent us on a quick trip to food heaven… Yes, they may have been out of business for 2 years, but some things never change!

Apart from their noodles, Kok Kee Wanton Mee is renowned for their shui jiaos, and crispy wontons that explode like stardust. Needless to say, they were scrumptious! I was taken back to my childhood days — munching on bite-sized dumplings while my feet dangled above the ground from one of those red plastic kopitiam chairs.

The barbecued pork was tender and juicy, albeit lacking a deep reddish-brown hue and charred edges. The fresh leafy vegetables and mildly fragrant broth were comforting and soothed my soul. It is true, there is just something so special about the noodles here that makes it one of Singapore’s most beloved hawker dishes.

The post Kok Kee Wanton Mee – The Rebirth of Singapore’s Most Beloved Hawker Dish appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Toa Payoh has its fair share of delicious eats and we’ve found another spot to add to the list. Heading over at 9:30am on a Tuesday morning, I was expecting the coffee shop to be relatively quiet but boy, was I wrong. Every single table, but one, was occupied by aunties and uncles tucking into the very bowl of deliciousness that brought me all the way here.

While it didn’t have a snaking long queue, there was a constant and steady stream of people waiting to get their hands on this glorious bowl. Evidently, this stall was very popular with the local residents, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on my own. Unlike most fishball noodle places that offer more variety, their menu only has two things — Fishball Noodles(Dry or Soup). You can order the standard bowl which costs $4, or choose to get a smaller or larger portion for $3 and $5 respectively. Despite the slim menu, the stall has been operating since 1967 so they must be doing something right!

There’s only one person manning the entire stall and I was amazed at how he managed to churn out bowl after bowl without stopping. After about a 15-minute wait, we finally received our food. We went with both the soup and dry options, but opted for different noodles in each. For the dry version, we ordered the standard mee pok (flat yellow noodles), and for the soup version, we got a combination of kway teow (flat rice noodles) and yellow noodles.

I was expecting a bowl with the standard fishballs and fishcake, and maybe some minced pork on top, but I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of ingredients. While it definitely had all the standard accompaniments, there was also a meatball, deep-fried wanton, and even braised mushrooms! I love both fishball noodles and bak chor mee, but my gripe with the former was always the lack of mushrooms that bak chor mee has, so imagine my happiness when this bowl came with it!

I prefer dry noodles to soup noodles so, naturally, I was more inclined towards the dry noodles here. However, the soup was honestly pretty tasty as well. The surprise star of the show, though, was the meatball which looked unassuming but turned out to be really good! It even had bits of water chestnut which gave it a better texture.

While I would have preferred the noodles to be a tad spicier and more vinegar-y, this is definitely worth trying if you’re in the Toa Payoh area.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Cai Ji Fishball Noodle – Underrated Stall in Toa Payoh appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

What do you usually order when you have zi char? Salted egg pork ribs is one of the standard dishes I always order. However, I remember the countless times I was met with disappointment when I bit into dry and hard chunks of meat with barely enough sauce to go around. Well, I’m happy to report that I only have good things to say after dining at Yong Kwang Yummy Seafood that’s helmed by 24-year-old Chris Eng.

Chris’ passion for cooking started when he was just 10 years old. He was juggling his studies and helping out at his family’s stall, when he decided to leave school and take the path less travelled — he pursued a career in the hawker industry.

Together with his wife, Chris has been running his own hawker stall for 4 months now. Yong Kwang Yummy Seafood is a personal venture that he started after a 14-year long apprenticeship under his father at Star Yong Kwang BBQ Seafood, Alexandra.

 Chris recommended his signature dish — salted egg pork ribs! I kept my expectations low. However, the very first mouthful of the ribs were so good that I made a pact with myself to never settle for less again!

The skin was great, and the meat was tender, but the sauce…was a show stopper. The sauce spilt over every piece of meat in lavish abundance, coating each morsel lavishly. The thick and robust sauce was extremely flavourful, but not too creamy. Overall, both the sauce and meat complemented one another to the T. It may get quite jelak though, so it’s best to be eaten with rice!

On a side note, maybe it’s just me, but I especially appreciated the effort Chris put into the presentation of the dish. I mean, how many hawker stalls put flowers in their dishes?!

Next, we dived into the san lou hor fun and baby kai lan! Being 90% carnivorous, I sometimes find it hard to eat vegetables on its own, but the baby kai lan was bright and fresh! It wasn’t till halfway through the meal that I realized I was munching on those little babies on their own.

There is nothing more comforting than the hot and silky gravy that accompanies hor fun! Although I would have preferred the kway teow noodles to be slightly thinner, the luscious gravy and large slices of fish saved the day!

If you happen to be looking for a place to dine at in Golden Mile Food Centre, do check out Yong Kwang Yummy Seafood at B1-55!

The post Yong Kwang Yummy Seafood – More Than Just Seafood appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Nestled within an unassuming residential coffeeshop is an old school Western food stall. The appearance of the stall and the prices may make you think twice about order from here initially, but you’ll definitely find that you’re getting your money’s worth. The portion is huge and the food is good!

Ubi 325’s classic Black Pepper Chicken Chop ($6.50) will never go wrong. The charcoal grill lent a lovely smokiness to the meat, and the black pepper sauce was not too overpowering. Its perfect for me because I don’t really like black pepper. I love the chicken thigh which was juicy and tender! The side were all pretty average, your standard Western stall side dishes, but the portions were more than adequate. Four sides and a huge slab of chicken chop for just $6.50? I’m sold.

If there is only one thing that will make me travel from my office to this Ubi coffeeshop, it will be Ubi 325’s chicken cutlet! The breaded exterior, which was golden brown and crisp, gave way with an audible crunch, when I cut into it. I do not know what was used to marinate the meat, but it was flavoursome!

Wow, codfish! This is my first time coming across a hawker Western food stall offering codfish, because the cost of codfish is much higher than a typical dory fish. Ubi 325’s Codfish Fillet, which consisted of 2 long fillets of sweet and soft cod, ($7) was super value-for-money! It has a better texture than dory, in my opinion, and I like that batter was not too thick.

There are actually quite a handful of old school Western food stalls all over Singapore, but it’s rare to find one that scores above average for most of its dishes. Ubi 325 would score even higher if the fries were crisp. So glad I manage to find this hidden gem, and I actually have cravings for at least once a fortnight! The stall offers an extensive amount of fried finger food on its menu too. If you’ve tried it, let us know which is your favourite dish!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Ubi 325 Fried Chicken & Western Food. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Ubi 325 Fried Chicken & Western Food – Rare Old School Chicken Cutlet & Codfish Fillet appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Before I get started, I’ll just like to say that if you’re looking for a healthy meal, this is definitely not the place for you. However, if you enjoy Yong Tau Foo because of the variety of ingredients you can pick from, you have to try this! The ytf here is priced extremely reasonably; our entire meal cost us $16.80. This included 11 ingredients, two bowls of noodles, and one otah. The otah was $6, so without it, the yong tau foo and two noodles would have cost only $10.80! There a minimum order of six pieces, and the price of each piece ranges from $0.40 to $2.

Unlike most yong tau foo places, this store does not blanch your ingredients in soup, or boiling water. Instead, they deep fry every ingredient before drizzling it with a delicious soy-based gravy which is wonderfully savoury with bits of minced meat and mushrooms. My first reaction to it was, “Wow!”. I’m used to the standard sweet sauce that’s offered at most yong tau foo stalls, so this was a pleasant change for my taste buds.

Another unique thing about Fu Lin is that they offer thick bee hoon noodles that are covered in the same delicious sauce. Not something you commonly see at a yong tau foo stall, right? I saw photos of the noodles before I got here, and it made me so excited. I couldn’t wait to dig in!

Just one bite was all it took to make the hour long journey here worth it. The moreish sauce paired perfectly with the noodles! I love all things spicy, so having a good chilli is essential for me. Once again, they didn’t disappoint. The chilli had a slight spicy kick, and a lovely acidity.

While the otah was not the main aim of our visit, it was actually pretty good as well. To be honest, when it first arrived on our table, I was not impressed by how it looked. It looked dull, and it wasn’t fragrant. However, after taking a bite, I changed my mind. The meat was nice and firm, and I could even see actual bits of fish meat in it! The spiciness was also not too strong. I’ll say it’s worth a try!

I will be back for more of this sinful goodness! We visited the original stall along East Coast Road but if don’t want to travel too far, you can have their ytf at six other locations.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

The post Fu Lin Tou Fu Yuen – Must-Try Yong Tau Foo in the East! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Singapore has seen a rise in the number of Chinese noodles stalls in recent years, and most of them are not halal-certified. Niu Zou La Mian Muslim Food does not just serve noodles; they serve handmade Halal noodles. Musa, the owner, actually owns a few other stalls in the same coffeeshop too, but it was really hard to catch him for a quick chat.

I’ve been here a few times and it seems like he has hired 2 right-hand men who have mastered the skill of hand-pulling the noodles. It was very evident that both of the staff took pride in what they are doing. One of them was really enthusiastic about showing me how it was done. I was beyond impressed by how he pulled a serving of noodles within just one minute. My photos definitely did not do justice to his “performance”. You just got to watch it live — the slamming of the initial dough, the twisting and trimming of the thick main dough, and the pulling and dividing of the strands!

Niu Zou La Mian’s handmade noodles are perfectly imperfect. The uneven strands proved that they are handmade, and every strand is springy and firm. Lan Zhou Beef Ramen ($5) is the signature dish and I can totally understand why. At just $5, the bowl consists of a decent portion of beef and a relatively huge portion of handmade noodles.

A flavoursome beefy broth laced with chilli oil coated every strand of noodle, making them even smoother. Surprisingly, the dish was not too spicy. So, don’t be fooled by its fiery appearance! It turned out to be extremely palatable and I downed the broth really quickly. SLURP!

I was curious about the mutton noodle dishes so I decided to give the Dry Noodles With Cumin Lamb ($8) a try. When I pointed to that on the menu, the staff nodded like I’ve made the right choice. I’ve never received so much affirmation for picking a dish. After I placed my order, two guys who ordered before I did commented: “Those two are good choices!” They then shared that they actually stay in Woodlands but frequently come to Niu Zou La Mian. Their love for Niu Zou La Mian just amplified my anticipation!

The moment this was dished out, a strong cumin fragrance hit my senses. The mutton slices and onions were stir-fried, before being laid on the handmade noodles. The dish seems to dry up easily so give it a good mix once you get it, so that the noodles don’t dry up.

The characteristic taste of mutton was pretty pronounced, and was a tad overwhelming, but it was acceptable when consumed with the noodles. The sweetness of the onions also helped to mitigate the gaminess. Maybe a bowl of soup would be the perfect accompaniment since the only issue that I had with it was the noodles getting dry as I was working my way through it.

I’ve introduced this stall to my colleagues and most of us came back again and again. Other must-tries include the Beef Stewed Noodles ($8) and Beef Cold Ramen ($7) which sometimes are sold out by early evening. If there are people who travel all the way from Woodlands to Ubi just for a bowl of noodles, you know your trip to this place will be worth it! Do come only after 12pm because that’s when the full menu will be available!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Niu Zou La Mian Muslim Food. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Niu Zou La Mian Muslim Food – Halal Chinese Handmade Noodles that’s Made Upon Order! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.