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. 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.

Yong Chun Wan Ton Noodle vs Kim Huat Wanton Mee 📍115 Bukit Merah View 永春 PK 金发云吞面

115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre has at least three wanton noodle stalls. The two more popular ones are Yong Chun 永春 and Kim Huat 金发. (I need to come back for the third stall R & D Wanton Noodles.)

Lucky Chicken Rice 📍 Lucky Plaza Unit #02-110 ☎ 6738 4175

Was in Lucky Plaza to run errands. Got reminded again that Lucky Plaza (and also nearby Far East Plaza) is full of affordable food gems in Singapore's tourist shopping core.

Nasi Dagang De Selera Pantai Timur • Larkin Sentral Bus Station • East Coast Flavours

Nasi dagang is a peninsula Malaysia east coast staple more commonly found in the states of Terengganu and Kelantan. It's one of my favourite dishes whenever I have an opportunity to visit these beautiful east coast states.

TPY KL Crystal Char Siew Wanton Noodle📍186 Toa Payoh Central 传统玻璃叉烧云吞面 ☎ 9391 5532

Came with kaki kaki to try the newly opened KL Glass Char Siew Wanton Noodle stall at 186 Toa Payoh Central (J99 coffeeshop).

Guangzhou Hand Torn Salt Baked Chicken📍Zuoxianju Liwan Traditional Cantonese Restaurant 醉贤居 ☎ +86 20 8172 3094

In Guangzhou, besides poached there are many other chicken preparations (roast, fried, etc), including salt baked. 醉贤居 is one of the most popular local places for salt baked chicken.

I was mind blown by my first taste of salt baked chicken as a child. The memory is still vivid in my mind, so I have a deep love of salt baked chicken.

Peranakan Club Singapore • Affordable Crazy Rich Asians Cuisine📍Orchard Towers Claymore Road ☎ 8988 0201

Catch up lunch with kaki kaki at The Peranakan Club Singapore at level 2 of Orchard Towers.