History & Origins of San Lou Bee Hoon 🥢 Johor Bahru Food Icon 三楼炒米粉

San Lou Bee Hoon or Mifen (三楼米粉 in Mandarin) is an iconic dish from Johor Bahru which is also served in a handful Singapore zi char restaurants. Why is this popular fried rice vermicelli dish known as San Lou bee hoon? What is San Lou?

Guest House @ Sheraton Hotel 🥢 One of Taipei's Best Chinese Restaurants 請客樓(台北喜來登大飯店)

Guest House clinched the Two Michelin Star award in the inaugural Taipei Michelin Guide in 2018. Guest House located on level 17 of Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel serve an eclectic range of Chinese cuisines from spicy Szechuan to savoury-sweet Suzhou and Hangzhou. Many classic dishes are given a contemporary twist by 30 year veteran head chef Lin Chiu Wei 林菊偉. Innovative cuisine, lovingly prepared, served in elegant (not opulent) ambiance make Guest House a preferred choice of government and business dignitaries for hosting guests.

Restaurant name: Guest House 請客樓(台北喜來登大飯店)

Address: 100, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District, Section 1, Zhongxiao East Road, No. 12, Level 17 ( Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel)

Nearest MRT station: NTU Hospital

Tel: +8862 2321 1818

Hours: Lunch 11:30am - 2:30pm | Dinner 6:00pm - 9:30pm

133 Mian Fen Guo Ban Mian @ 216 Bedok 💵 Best $2 Mee Hoon Kueh, Hard to Beat at Any Price

Humble, simple dish yet so satisfying. Just $2 a serving but if time is money, this dish is not cheap - waiting time is more than 30 minutes 😄 But, worth every minute.

Stall name: 133 Mian Fen Guo Ban Mian 133 面粉粿

Address: Stall #01-68,  216 Bedok North Street 1, Singapore 460216 (Pasar 216 Bedok Central Hawker Centre)

Hours: 6:00am - 10:00am (Tues off)

Hon Ni Kitchen Nasi Lemak @ 216 Bedok Hawker Centre. Good in Every Department & a Surprise 红泥小厨

Hon Ni Kitchen is not a big fame, high media profile stall but their nasi lemak ticks all the right boxes for an excellent rendition of the dish. Prices are very wallet friendly too.

Stall name: Hon Ni Kitchen 红泥小厨

Address: Stall #01-07, 216 Bedok North Street 1, Singapore 460216 (Pasar 216 Bedok Central)

Tel: +65 9655 8675

Hours: 6:00am - 1:00pm (Sun & Mon off)

Pasar 216 Bedok Central. Underrated Hawker Centre with Many Best Food Stalls

Pasar 216 Bedok Central hawker centre is off the tourist belt in a mature public housing area but it has many excellent food stalls - more than many famous, higher media profile hawker centres. It is highly accessible as it is just 5 minutes walk from Bedok MRT station. These are the most popular stalls.

Pasar 216 Bedok Central

Address: 216 Bedok North Street 1, Singapore 460216

Nearest MRT station: Bedok

Duke of Congee @ 704 Bedok Reservoir Rd. The Kosong Congee is Already Tasty Enough for Me 粥公

This new little congee stall in Bedok Reservoir Road BLK 704 coffee shop is quickly gathering a following for their flavour packed porridge. It's easy to see why, once we tasted it - delicious and good value for money.

Stall name: Duke of Congee 粥公

Address: 704 Bedok Reservoir Road, Singapore 470704 (C & T Cafe kopitiam)

Nearest MRT: 5 minute walk from Bedok North station

Hours: 7:30am - 3:00pm (Tues off)

Chai Chee Kway Chap. One of Two Tigers in the Kway Chap Mountain of 216 Bedok North

There are two kway chap tigers in the mountain of 216 Bedok North but both co-exist and thrive with their own fans. Some are diehard loyal while others switch depending on the day - like me lah 😄 This post is about Chai Chee Kway Chap - it tastes great and is excellent value 👍

Stall name: Chai Chee Kway Chap 菜市粿汁

Address: 216 Bedok North Street 1, stall #01-67, Singapore 460216 (Pasar 216 Bedok Central)

Hours: 6:00am - sold out around 1:00pm (Mon & Thurs off)

Chinatown Fried Rice 🥢 One mouthful.... and boomz

This humble fried rice stall is a hidden gem in Chinatown Complex Food Centre. Doesn't look like much but the fried rice is flavour packed, aromatic and has that coveted wok hei.

Stall name: Chinatown Fried Rice (formerly Chinatown Special Yang Chow Fried Rice)

Address: Stall #02-010, 335 Smith Street, Singapore 050335 (Chinatown Complex Food Centre)

Hours: 10:00am - 1:00pm (unspecified off days but weekends and public holidays definitely closed 😅 )

Adam Road Food Centre 🍽️ Good Hawker Stalls that Keep Bringing the Crowds Back

Adam Food Centre is a relatively small hawker centre with just some 40 stalls but it is famous and popular. Strategically located near the Singapore Botanic Gardens, MacRitchie Reservoir, National University of Singapore etc., Adam Food Centre is always packed. Here are the good food stalls that keep bringing the crowds back to Adam Road.

Adam Food Centre

Address: 2 Adam Road, Singapore 289877

Nearest MRT station: Three minute walk from Botanic Gardens (walk across a long pedestrian bridge over Bukit Timah Road & Dunearn Road)

Selamat Datang Warong Pak Sapari @ Adam Road Food Centre 🐔 As Good as Any Soto Ayam I've Tasted

I am a fan of soto ayam, so I am always on the look out for good places to get this quintessentially Indonesian style spicy chicken soup. Selamat Datang Warong Pak Sapari stall at Adam Road Food Centre serves a very good one.

Stall name: Selamat Datang Warong Pak Sapari 

Address: Stall #01-09, 2 Adam Road, Singapore 289876 (Adam Road Food Centre)

Hours: 7:45am - 9:00pm (Mon off)

No.1 Adam's Nasi Lemak vs Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak

The two side by side nasi lemak stalls at Adam Food Centre are among the most famous and popular in Singapore. No.1 Adam's Nasi Lemak and Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak both enjoy long queues throughout the day. Thirty minute waits are normal. Both stalls have been around for decades - Selera Rasa count Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei and Prime Minister Lee of Singapore among their fans. How do their nasi lemak taste today (in 2021)?

Stall name: No.1 Adam's Nasi Lemak

Stall name: Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak

Address: 2 Adam Rd, Singapore 289877 (Adam Road Food Centre)

Hours:  No.1 Adam's Nasi Lemak 🕐 8am - 10pm (Mon off)

Hours: Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak 🕥 7am - 3pm (Fri off)

My Introduction to Jiangsu Cuisine. One of the Eight Great Cuisines of China

During my week long visit to Jiangsu, my eyes were opened to the breathtaking beauty, rich history and fascinating cuisine of the Chinese province. Jiangsu cuisine is one of the Eight Great Culinary Traditions of China.

Majapahit Gold. Gold Armlet & Earring of Fort Canning Hill

This is the Majapahit Gold, a gold armlet excavated from Fort Canning Hill. It is one of the most fascinating exhibits at the National Museum of Singapore. It tells us a lot about Singapore's past, 700 years ago.

Mystery of the Headless Horseman of Singapore

National Museum of Singapore is one of my favourite hangouts since childhood and this 700 year old headless horseman is one of the most fascinating exhibits. This little statuette connects our megapolis of today with the heyday of Singapura, the ancient Lion City of the 14th century.

National Museum of Singapore

Address: 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897

Nearest MRT station: Dhoby Ghaut & Bencoolen

Tel: +65 6332 3659

Hours: 10:00am - 7:00pm

Canned Fried Dace Fish 🐟 Humble Global Cantonese Food Icon 豆豉鯪魚

I first tasted canned fried dace fish in the 1980s. Canned fried dace fish in that iconic long oval tin is something I picked up from my Hong Kong schoolmates in Canada besides cooking HK soya sauce chicken.

History of Buddha Jumps over the Wall. Most Extravagant Soup from Fujian China 佛跳牆

Buddha Jumps over the Wall is a luxurious soup from Fujian province of China. (Image credit Wikipedia)

History of Hakka Poon Choi from Village Feast to Global Chinese New Year Dish 客家盆菜

Poon Choi 盆菜 literally "basin dish" is a Hakka Chinese custom that is now a well established Chinese New Year celebration tradition in Chinese communities around the world. (It is known as Pen Cai in Mandarin Chinese.)

History of Chopsticks 🥢 10 Things Most People Don't Know About Them

Like fork, spoon and knife, chopsticks are everyday things we take for granted. Two simple sticks, chopsticks have a long and rich history loaded with symbolism and meaning in Chinese culture.

Chenpi Cantonese Dried Tangerine Peel Worth More than Gold 🍊 新会陈皮

Dried tangerine peel or chenpi 陈皮 is an important ingredient in Cantonese Chinese cuisine and traditional medicine. It is ubiquitous in Cantonese recipes. Because of its wide applications, Chenpi are often gifted among Cantonese as an expression of love and care. Chenpi thus have a special place among Cantonese Chinese beyond food and medicine.

Nanyang Sauce Brewery. One of Singapore's Last Traditional Soy Sauce Makers

When chef Daniel Tay said we are visiting a soy sauce factory, I expected it to be interesting but it turned out to be totally mind blowing fascinating for me. You see, I expected to see gleaming tanks, shiny plumbing and white coats but never thought I'll see artisanal soy sauce brewing in modern Singapore.

Nanyang Sauce Brewery

Address: 18 Chin Bee Avenue, Singapore 619940

Tel: +65 6289 9288

Hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm (Sat & Sun closed)

There is No Rice in Fish Rice (Chaoshan Yufan) 🐟 Disappearing Teochew Cuisine in Singapore 潮汕鱼饭

Chaoshan Fish Rice 潮汕鱼饭 is a quintessentially Teochew staple dish of fish but non Teochew people may be surprised to hear that there is no rice in Fish Rice (herr png in Teochew) 🤔 😄

Albert Centre Market & Food Centre @ Bugis > 💯 Hawker Stalls Johor Kaki Pick the Most Popular for You

When I need to go to Sim Lim Tower for computer or camera gear, Albert Centre food centre is one of the options for a good hawker breakfast or lunch. Albert Centre is a popular choice for folks who come to the Bugis - Rochor area for shopping. The food centre is also a magnet for worshippers from the Kuan Im & Sri Krishnan temples, mosque and churches near by. The age profile of diners here tend to be older as the younger set understandably gravitate towards the trendy F & B concepts over at the Bugis side. There are some 100 food stalls at Albert Centre. These are some of the popular stalls.

Albert Centre Market & Food Centre

Address: 270 Queen Street, Singapore 180270

Nearest MRT: Between Bugis & Rochor stations

Albert Centre Hock Lee Fishball Noodle 🐟 "Handmade, tenderly springy, pops to gentle bites, bursts soft sweetness of fresh fish"

Hock Lee Fishball Noodle is one of the most popular food stalls at Albert Centre Market & Food Centre. I like everything about Hock Lee's fishball noodles - tender chewy noodles, robust lardy spicy sauce, handmade fishballs and tasty soup.

Stall name: Hock Lee Fishball Noodle 福利鱼圆面

Address: 270 Queen Street, #01-102 Albert Centre Market and Food Centre, Singapore 180270

Hours: 6:30am - 12:00 noon (often sold out by 10am) Mondays off

Singapore Water Sommelier Sam Wu Taught Me that I am Drinking Water Wrong All My Life 🤔

Today, I attended a water seminar by Sam Wu, Singapore's only water sommelier which changed my way of drinking water forever. I had to change because I was drinking water wrong since I was born 😮

NEW Makansutra Gluttons Bay $29 Buffet with Chili Crab 🦀 Pepper Crab Every Weds ☏ 8710 0511

Makansutra Gluttons Bay recently launched a hugely successful $19 nett all-you-can-eat zhi char buffet. Now, they have outdone themselves with a new $29 nett ten dish buffet menu that includes chili crab or pepper crab, "guitar" chicken, Hong Kong steamed sea bass, white boiled prawns, and more.

Restaurant name: Makansutra Gluttons Bay

Address: #01-15, 8 Raffles Avenue (next to The Esplanade), Singapore 039802

Tel: ☏ 8710 0511 (need to call to reserve)

Hours: Afternoon slot 5:00pm - 7:00pm 🦀 Night slot 8:00pm - 10:30pm

Honest Review & Menu of Unaemon Unagi @ Gochi Church Street Japan Kitchen

Unaemon, a little unagiya tucked in a quiet nook of Capital Square in the heart of Singapore's Central Business District is a good hangout for traditional Japanese eel dishes.

Restaurant name: Unaemon うな衛門 (part of Gochi Church Street Japan Kitchen)

Address: Capital Square, 23 Church Street, #01-08, Singapore 049481 (5 minutes walk from Raffles MRT or Telok Ayer MRT)

Tel: +65 6226 1296

Hours: 11:30am - 3:00pm | 6:00pm - 10:00pm (Thurs & Sun off)

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar Shiok Maki 🍣 Orchard Road's Most Popular Kushiyaki & Sushi Joint

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar needs no introduction especially for Japanese food fans in Singapore. It's a fun and cheerful place to enjoy delicious sushi and Japanese style grills at wallet friendly (not cheap) prices. They are most famous for their Shiok Maki.

Restaurant name: Koh Grill & Sushi Bar

Address: 435 Orchard Road, #04-21 Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, Singapore 238877

Tel: +65 9180 3805

Hours: 11:30am - 10:00pm

Huat Kee Teochew Cuisine from Push Cart Stall to Premier Restaurant & Retort Gourmet Meals

Anyone who is a fan of Teochew cuisine in Singapore would know Teochew Restaurant Huat Kee in RELC building (beside Shangri-La Hotel). Huat Kee is one of the top Teochew restaurants in Singapore. Huat Kee is also an innovator and major producer of ready-to-eat Teochew food. One of the brightest stars of Singapore F & B industry, Huat Kee came from very humble roots.

Yum Cha-Cum-Tea @ The English House by Marco Pierre White 🥟 Hong Kong Dim Sum Menu & Review

Hong Kong Dim Sum at The English House by Marco Pierre White? 🤔 Yeah..., I was wondering too but after tasting the exquisite dim sum, I think it is a great idea to hang out here over drinks and delicious dainty dishes. The dim sum is an additional service that we can enjoy with our favourite English classics during our yum cha-cum-tea sessions. Yeah... yum cha-cum-tea @ The English House. So cool 🥟

Restaurant name: The English House by Marco Pierre White

Address: 28 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238972

Tel: +65 6545 4055

Dim Sum Hours: 11:30am - 8:30pm (Mon - Thurs) | 11:30am - 5:00pm (Fri) | 9:00am - 5:00pm (Sat) | (Sun off) 

The Singapore Treaty Banquet of 6 Feb 1819. What Might be on Sultan Hussein's Menu for Raffles & Farquhar?

The Singapore Treaty between the British East India Company and the Johor Sultanate on 6 Feb 1819 marked the beginning of Singapore's transformation from a fishing village to a metropolis. (Image courtesy of National Archives of Singapore.)

What is Chaoshan Teochew Pig Head Dumpling? 猪头粽

In old China, food is often scarce, so nothing is wasted. Almost every part of the pig is eaten or turned into a dish. Pig Head Dumpling 猪头粽 is one such dish from Chaoshan district in Guangdong province. Oh.. PHD it is not a rice dumpling.