Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee📍Tiong Bahru Market • Michelin Fried Hokkien Noodle 鸿興炒蘇東蝦麵

Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee 鸿興炒蘇東蝦麵 has been in the Singapore Michelin guide Bib Gourmand list since its inception in 2016. Staying on the Bib Gourmand list is no mean feat - the Michelin guide adds and drops stalls from their list with every annual edition.

This was my first time tasting Hong Heng Fried Hokkien Mee ever 🫢

Wok Hei Hor Fun Redhill Market & Food Centre 镬气河粉 ☎ 81747088

镬气 Wok Hei is an elusive thing in Singapore today. So when I heard about Wok Hei Hor Fun in Redhill food centre, I was eager to try it.

Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge📍Newton Food Centre 光记潮州鱼糜

Came to Newton Food Centre to enjoy Kwang Kee, one of the most famous Teochew fish soup / noodle / porridge in Singapore.

Hup Kee Fried Oyster Omelette📍Newton Food Centre 合記73炒蚝煎

After tasting Do Rae Mee's fried oyster omelette at Makansutra Gluttons Bay, I was eager to try Hup Kee Fried Oyster Omelette at Newton Food Centre.

Hup Kee boss was Do Rae Mee boss' sifu (master).

Kwee Heng Teochew Braised Duck Noodle📍Stall #01-13 Newton Food Centre • Gluttons Square Original 贵興卤鸭面 ☎ 96927959

I am on a personal project to document as many old Singapore hawker stalls as possible before they bow out of the Singapore hawker scene. Today, I am at Kwee Heng 贵興卤鸭面 Teochew Braised Duck at Newton Food Centre.

Do Rae Mee Oyster Omelette📍Makansutra Gluttons Bay Esplanade

We met up at Makansutra Gluttons Bay at the Esplanade. We shared many beers, good laughs and dishes from a few food stalls.

Tsukiji Sushi Dai Honkan • Excellent Sushi at Good Value 築地すし大本館 ☎️ 03-3541-3738

Tsukiji Fish Market is a tourist trap hotspot. The fish auction market has moved to Toyusu in 2018, now leaving only the "Outer Market" which are retail shops and restaurants.

Piki Pops & Drool Ice Cream, Smoothies, Cold Desserts • Jalan Tan Hiok Nee Johor Bahru Old Town ☏ +60167654224

A cold dessert is definitely a life saver in today's heat wave 🥵

Marutamagoya Russian Cafe 📍 Motomachi Hakodate Hokkaido まるたま小屋 ロシア料理店 ☎ +81138763749

When Japan opened to foreign trade in 1859 (after over 220 years of self isolation policy), only three ports were accessible to traders - Nagasaki in the south, Yokohama in central Japan, and Hakodate in the north.

Many Chinese, Russians, Americans, and Europeans set up businesses in Hakodate. Foreign traders left their marks which are still visible and felt today.

Jia Xiang Mee Siam📍Redhill #01-35 • Old School Tuckshop Flavours 红山佳香米暹

Kaki kaki's office is just steps from Redhill market & hawker centre. He has been raving about Jia Xiang Mee Siam. Finally made the trip today as I was running an errand nearby.

History of Johor • Primer for Foodies

The history of a country or place is usually told in its buildings, monuments, durable artefacts, documents, legends, stories of its key personalities, etc. In this article, I try to tell the history of Johor with food as the protagonist in the Johor story. I believe that the stories behind dishes add flavour to its taste and our enjoyment.

Hokkaido Soup Curry • GARAKU, Tiger, 高陣 Takajin Review • Origin Theory

Ben suggested Japanese curry when we arrived in Sapporo, Hokkaido - my first reaction was it was alright though I wasn't overly eager. 

Super Rich Chicken Soup Ramen • Menya Tori no Keiji Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi 麺や鳥の鶏次 KYOTO 四条河原町店 ☎ +81757085620

Trying to recommend ramen in Japan is like recommending chicken rice places in Singapore - bad ones are harder to find than good ones.

There are so, so many good ramen places everywhere in Japan, I hesitate to write up and recommend any but this one in Kyoto I really like and would go back again.

But, I have to forewarn you that it is not for everyone as it is very rich and on the sweet savoury side.

It's the feel and flavour profile I like for ramen.

SHUKOU Home Style Dishes📍Near Hakodate JR Station 函館おばんざい 酒肴 (しゅこう) • 函馆家常菜• 下酒菜 ☎ 07052847786

We stayed two nights in Hakodate, Hokkaido. This cluster of more than twenty tiny eateries and bars at 大門横丁 Daimon Alley was just 5 minutes walk from our hotel, which was 5 minutes walk from Hakodate JR train station.

Koyasan Must Eat Sesame Tofu • Kadohama Goma-tofu Honpo 胡麻豆腐 • 角濱ごまとうふ総本舗飲食部 • 高野山 ☎ 0736268700

First time in Koyasan 高野山, one of the three holiest mountains of Buddhism in Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Doris's Devilishly Delicious Curry📍 Greenhouse Dusit Thani Laguna • Hawkers Omakase by Maybank & Makansutra

I have been following Hawkers Omakase by Maybank & Makansutra 2026 with excitement and anticipation - the selected stalls are carefully curated and showcase the best of Singapore hawkers. Many countries still have hawkers but only Singapore has hawkers Omakase.

The next instalment is with Doris's Devilishly Delicious Curry by Justin (launching on 17 Aug and on till 16 Oct).

Kuan's Table Private Dining • Malayalee Kerala Malabar Food in Singapore ✆ Whatsapp 9139 7488

Kuan is a talented and passionate home chef who cooks Chinese, Paranakan, Western (Spanish, Italian, etc), and Indian (Malayalee) too.

Kemuri Warayaki Straw Fire Grill Omakase & Izakaya 📍 Cuppage Plaza Little Japan Orchard Singapore ☎ 9772 4300

Kerumi is a "hidden gem" nestled at level 4 of Cuppage Plaza in the "Little Japan" of Singapore Orchard Road.

Kerumi showcases warayaki or rice straw fire grilling - an ancient high heat cooking technique that is rarely seen today even in Japan. We are so lucky to experience it right here in Singapore.

Candi Bumi Ayu • Links with Kingdom of Singapura

Candi Bumi Ayu is a Hindu temple from the 9th century during the time of the powerful Sri Vijaya empire (7th to 13th century) which, based in Palembang (South Sumatra), controlled both the Malacca and Sunda Straits i.e. all east west access between China and India / Arabia.

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 😬

Origin of Nasi Tumpeng • Telling the History of Indonesia with One Dish

Nasi tumpeng is a unique Indonesian dish with a distinctive presentation - a cone of rice in the middle with a variety of side dishes arranged around its base and served on a round tray. No utensils, nasi tumpeng is best enjoyed by hand.

The dish has deep spiritual roots and significance. In my opinion, it is the most Indonesian dish - not due to its pervasiveness as it is mostly found in Java, but because it has been around for the longest time in Indonesian history. 

(Indonesia's Tourism Ministry in 2014, named nasi tumpeng a national dish along with soto, rendang, satay, nasi goreng, and gado-gado.) 

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).