Butakin Jiro Style Ramen @ Umeda Osaka 东梅田店 ☎ +81668093238

There's a Butakin Ramen outlet steps from our hotel in Umeda, Osaka. For days, every time we walked past the little restaurant we felt and smelled the porcine aroma blown out into the street. But, I hesitated to try it - there's something about human nature - not valuing or taking for granted what is right in front of us 😬

Rolls Handroll Izakaya Bar Menu & Review • Rolls that Rock @ Mercure ICON Singapore 卷卷吧 ☎ 8056 9595

Rolls Handroll Izakaya.

Cool cosy new place to enjoy sake and other spirits with delicious freshly handcrafted handrolls at Club Street in Singapore's Central Business District.

Mount Meru Abode of Gods to Bukit Seguntang to Bukit Langaran Singapura • Fort Canning Hill

Snow capped Mount Kailash in the Himalayas is the mythical Mount Meru - the centre of the universe, home of the gods in Hinduism (as well as Buddhism, Jainism and Tibetan Bon).

Ayam Gepuk Story 📍 Molek Johor Bahru ☏ +6018 770 7193

Continuing my ayam gepuk journey, this time at Ayam Gepuk Story at Taman Molek. It's located right across Jalan Masai Baru from Johor Jaya Police Station.

Kushikatsu Yaekatsu Fried Skewers📍Shinsekai Osaka 新世界 串かつ 八重勝 ☏ +816 6643 6332

One of my bucket list dishes to try in Osaka was kushikatsu which are deep fried battered meats and vegetables on skinny wooden skewers.

Prevent Gout with Right Foods • Don't Let Flare Ups Ruin Your Trips

I love travelling for food - fitness and good health are vital to enjoy such overseas trips. So far, I had two bouts of gout flare ups during my trips, once in Sarawak and in Japan.

Mr Grumpy by Fiie's Cafe Nasi Ayam Goreng Fried Chicken Rice Marsiling Woodlands Outlet

After running an errand near Marsiling MRT station, I walked around looking for lunch. Spotted this Mr Grumpy by Fiie's Cafe Nasi Ayam Goreng stall.

Fiie's Cafe at Lucky Plaza had extensive viral media coverage a few years ago. I have never had it before and since I am already here 来都来了, I decided to give Fiie's a try.

Brief History of Japan • Primer for Foodies • 5 Minute Read

This is a very condensed history of Japan from prehistory to the Meiji Restoration in the mid-1800s.

My purpose is to put the history of Japanese cuisine I encounter in context, along the timeline of Japanese history. No particular reason, I just enjoy eating and letting the food open windows for me on understanding a place and its people better through their history. Knowing Japanese history is a good foundation for deeper appreciation of Japanese cuisine. I feel food tastes better that way.

Monday Omakase Party @ Singapore Chinatown Food Centre Hawker Stall • Weng Kiang Porridge ☎️ 9850 3529

Among Singapore hawkers, there are some hidden dragons 卧虎藏龙 - chefs with Michelin star restaurant or top international hotel credentials lurking in hawker centres.

Smallest Takoyaki Place in the World • Takoyaki Shioya Octopus Ball Stall in a Closet📍Umeda JR Station ☏ +81663647101

Okay.... this takoyaki place doesn't need another introduction, it has been visited and broadcasted by many influencers.

But, I still want to record my own take on this quaint little stall as I am a takoyaki fan and this stall is a last stand (literally) of Japanese hawker culture / heritage.

Ramen Sou Rekishi wo Kizame Osaka Nipponbashi • Jirorian Cult Noodle ラーメン荘 歴史を刻め 大阪日本橋店 ☎ +81666957576

After spending the day at Tsutenkaku 通天閣, we roamed slightly out of the tourist belt to look for a hyperlocal ramenya (ramen restaurant).

Endō Sushi📍Osaka Central Market Branch ゑんどう寿司 中央市場店 ☎ +81664697108

Was supposed to visit Osaka Municipal Central Market but most of the market was closed when we got there 🙄

No Limits Mugen Ramen Osaka • Extreme Rich Beef Soup & Charsiu 無限ラーメン難波中本店 ☎ +81666848605

After visiting Osaka Kizu Wholesale Market 木津卸売市場, our next check point was Namba Yasaka Jinja 難波八阪神社.

ICHIRAN Umeda Osaka • Guide to Enjoying Fuss Free Top Ramen Chain in Japan ☏ +815018082490

Every ramen fan knows the chain Ichiran but I haven't tried it so far 🫢😝

Grandma Uotoyo Unagi📍Kuromon Market 鮮魚 魚豊 黒門市場 ☎️ +816 6631 4279

Second time lucky to catch the iconic grandma unagi stall at Kuromon Market - two years ago, we missed the chance as she was sold out of eels when we were here.

Tapu Tart · Creative Flavours Traditional Shell📍Jalan Tan Hiok Nee Johor Bahru 塔铺 陈旭年文化街

Stumbled upon 塔铺 Tapu Tart at the side wall beside popular Dona Bakeshop and famous Hiap Joo Bakery (the banana cake lah) along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee in old downtown Johor Bahru.

Ayam Gepuk Top Global Larkin ☎ +6012 252 0875

In the raging ayam gepuk craze now on, Ayam Gepuk Top Global (I went to the Larkin outlet) is one of the most popular among the numerous chains jumping on the bandwagon.

Lion City Chicken Rice & Hotpot 📍9 Townshend Road ☎ 8220 0329

Met up with kaki kaki at newly opened Lion City Chicken Rice & Hotpot at Townshend Road.

Beo Crescent Tu Tu Kueh • Kia Xiang Du Du Nyonya Kueh 佳香嘟嘟娘惹糕 ☎️ 9838 8194

Exploring Beo Crescent Market & Food Centre, we stumbled upon Kia Xiang Du Du Nyonya Kueh 佳香嘟嘟娘惹糕 stall which has tu tu kueh. 

East Bistro Serangoon myVillage • Hong Kong Flavours by Tony Wong Former Lei Garden HK Head Chef ☏ 6634 2998

We have been fans of chef Tony Wong's East Bistro Restaurant since his days at Jalan Tampang in Sembawang. My article on East Bistro Sembawang from ten years ago.

Sederhana Nasi Padang📍Kampong Glam Minangkabau Flavours in Singapore ☏ 82432542

When Warong Pariaman, the well loved 78 year old nasi padang institution at Kandahar Street in Kampong Glam closed on 31 Jan 2026, there was an outpouring of collective sadness among their multi-generational fans.

Roti Canai Prata 📍Double R Cafe 📍 Breakfast Larkin Bus Interchange

Heavy on carbs and nowadays almost exclusively fried with vegetable oil or margarine (Planta), I seldom indulge in roti canai / prata now. (I can't find any place in Singapore or Malaysia that fry their roti with ghee or clarified butter anymore.)

War Hero Wing Seong Fatty's • 100 Year Legend of Albert / Bencoolen Street • Closed on 27 Jun 2026 ☎ 6338 1087

Wing Seong Fatty's Restaurant originally of Albert Street Singapore, the legendary centenarian closes for good on 27 Jun 2026.

Eminent Frog Porridge 📍 Lor 19 Geylang • Frog in the Well Review 明辉田鸡粥 ☎ 98422941

I've eaten frog porridge in Geylang and Johor Bahru before, but couldn't remember which one in Geylang (there are at least four). So, as far as eating frog in Geylang is concerned, I am a frog in the well 🤭

History of Banh Mi • French Roots of Vietnamese Sandwich

Besides pho (rice noodle), banh mi is the icon of Vietnamese cuisine to the world.

Heng Huat Boon Lay Boneless Duck Noodles 📍 Boon Lay Place Food Village 興發文礼起骨鸭面

Ended up at Boon Lay Place Food Village hawker centre after my errands. Circled the huge, old food centre twice and settled for Heng Huat Boon Lay Boneless Duck Noodles. It was a good choice, tasty, worth the calories, fats and carbs.

The last time I was here, I had Ho Huat Fried Hokkien Mee.

Crispy Fried Duck Bebek Goreng Pak Ndut 📍 Level 1 #01-42 Lucky Plaza Orchard Road Singapore ☎ 6734 4787

Tried Bebek Goreng Pak Ndut after stumbling upon it while running errands at Lucky Plaza, Orchard Road.

Bebek Goreng Pak Ndut is a fast food style chain restaurant from Bandung, Indonesia.

Sheng Ki Fish & Seafood Soup Noodle 📍 Taman Sentosa 昇記美食•鱼海鲜汤•手工鱼圆 ☎ +6014 316 5768

First foodie trail stop this morning was Sheng Ki 昇記, a fish soup place at Taman Sentosa, just 10 minutes by car from JB CIQ.

Dian Xiao Er Chicken Rice📍Gelang Patah Johor 店小二鸡饭 振林山 乐心园 ☎️ +6014 910 0839

Got bitten by chicken rice envy after seeing kaki kaki post her lunch at Dian Xiao Er Chicken Rice 店小二鸡饭 in Gelang Patah a few times 🙄

Ayam Gepuk Pak Antok 📍 Larkin Johor Bahru ☎ +6010 658 5242

Continuing my ayam gepuk hunt, today's target is Ayam Gepuk Pak Antok at Larkin, Johor Bahru.

World's First Noodles • History of Lanzhou La Mian | Who Invented Noodles? 兰州拉面历史 · 喇家遗址 · 齊家文化

Many of us have seen Chinese chefs hand pull slender strands of noodles from a lump of dough like a magic trick.