Tony Johor Kaki Travels for Food · Heritage · Culture · History

Adventurous Culinary Traveler's Blog with 65 million+ reads 📧 johorkaki@gmail.com

What is Chaoshan Teochew Pig Head Dumpling? 猪头粽

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.

Cat & The Fiddle Famous Singapore Cheesecakes now in Kuala Lumpur Sunway Velocity Mall

Cat_&_The_Fiddle_Famous_Singapore_Cheesecakes

I have long wanted to taste Cat & The Fiddle Cheesecakes after hearing so much good things about them. I finally did today, and they are really delicious! 😋 Every good thing they say about Cat & The Fiddle Cheesecakes is true 😄

Holland Drive Market & Food Centre. Top Choices of Regulars & Hawker Stalkers

Holland_Drive_Market_Food_Centre

Holland Drive Market & Food Centre is popular and very busy during the lunch peak as it is near to several office blocks within walking distance. It is the canteen or cafeteria of sorts for office workers attracted by the convenience and a few famous stalls here.

This was my favourite lunch place when I attended courses at the Civil Service College in my previous life. I still come here regularly for lunch when I have medical appointments at nearby NUH (National University Hospital).

Holland Drive Market & Food Centre


Address: 44 Holland Drive, Singapore 270044

Teochew Restaurant Huat Kee Food Review 🦞 Lobster Paradise 潮州發記

Teochew_Restaurant_Huat_Kee_潮州發記

For lovers of Chaoshan cuisine, Teochew Restaurant Huat Kee really needs no introduction. Huat Kee is one of the very top places for traditional Teochew fare in Singapore. In this lobster season, Huat Kee has "dragon prawn" dishes done the Teochew way - arguably, the best way to prepare this prized crustacean 🦞

Restaurant name: Teochew Restaurant Huat Kee 潮州發記


Address: Level 2, #02-01 RELC Building, 30 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258352 (next to Shangri-La Hotel)


Tel: +65 6423 4747


Hours: 11:00am - 2:30pm | 6:00pm - 10:00pm

Kin Hoi Eat Shellfish Jumbo Cockles @ 6 Holland Close. See Hum Even Kiasi People Can Eat!

Kin_Hoi_Best_Shellfish_Seafood_Jumbo_Cockles

Kin Hoi Best Shellfish & Seafood Jumbo Cockles & More serve well cleaned, delicious see hum which even kiasi health conscious folks can enjoy. Kin Hoi means Eat Shellfish in Thai.


Stall name: Kin Hoi Best Shellfish & Seafood


Address: Holland Close, 6 @ Coffee Shop, Block 6, Singapore 271006


Hours: 4:00pm - 10:00pm

Tai Ke Meat Congee in Taichung. It's Like Visiting Taiwan Grandma's Hometown Kitchen 台客燒肉粥

Tai Ke Meat Congee 台客燒肉粥 is a nice little eatery serving homely Taiwanese comfort food centred on their signature porridge with fried pork eaten with small plate side dishes.

Restaurant name: Tai Ke Meat Congee 台客燒肉粥


Address: No. 722-1, Section 2, Wuquan West Road, Nantun District, Taichung City, Taiwan 408


Tel: +886 4 2389 0880


Hours: 11:30am - 1:00am

Ji Xiang Everton Ang Ku Kueh. Best of Red Tortoise Cakes in Singapore 吉祥食品

Ji_Xiang_Everton_Ang_Ku_Kueh_吉祥食品

Ji Xiang Confectionary at Everton Park is one of the most famous ang ku kueh shops in Singapore - they really need no further introduction. They make only 6 types of ang ku kueh - all handmade, all traditional flavours.

Shop name: Ji Xiang Confectionary 吉祥食品


Address: #01-33 Everton Park, BLK 1, Singapore 081001


Nearest MRT station: Outram Park (exit at Cantonment Police Station)


Tel: ☎ +65 6223 1631 ✆ WhatsApp 9270 0510


Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm (Sun & Public Hols off)

Honest Review of Grand Shanghai @ King's Centre Havelock Road 大上海

Grand_Shanghai_King's_Centre_Havelock_Road

Exquisite dim sum in a grandiose luxurious ambiance inspired by the heydays of grand Shanghai. We also had a few mains which were equally impressive.

Restaurant name: Grand Shanghai 大上海


Address: 390 Havelock Road Level 1 King's Centre, Singapore 169662


Tel: 9830 8590 (Ms Huang Ru)


Hours: 11:00am - 2:30pm | 6:00pm - 10:00pm

Yijiazi 一甲子餐飲 Famous for Taiwanese Burger & Stewed Pork over Rice


Simple staples of stewed pork over rice, stewed pork belly in a bun and fishball soup all done the quintessentially Taiwanese way. Cannot leave Taiwan without trying these dishes and Yijiazi 一甲子餐飲 is one of the best places in Taipei to get them.

Restaurant name: Yijiazi 一甲子餐飲


Address: No. 79, Kangding Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108


Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Longshan Temple station


Tel: +886 2 2311 5241


Hours: 9:00am - 7:00pm (Sun off)

Lao Gu Ban Noodle @ 243 Cantoment Road 老古板. New Take on Singapore Bak Chor Mee by Legend Ah Hoe

Lao_Gu_Ban_Noodle_Cantoment_Road_老古板

A tasty new rendition of Singapore food icon bak chor mee, that I hope will take root, grow and spread.

Stall name: Lao Gu Ban 老古板


Address: 243 Cantonment Road, Singapore 089770 (5 minutes walk from Outram Park MRT station)


Hours: 10:30am - 9:00pm (Sun off)

Nikkei Gastrobar FLNT @ 1-Atico ION Orchard. Menu & Honest Review

FLNT_1-Atico_ION_Orchard

FLNT at 1-Atico on the 55th floor of ION Orchard is the only Nikkei Gastrobar in Singapore now. Two of us, we had a great time enjoying specialty cocktails by mixologist Wan and tasty sharing plates by head chef Lamley Chua from his binchotan fired (Japanese oak charcoal) grill.

Restaurant name: FLNT


Address: 2 Orchard Turn, #55-01 ION Orchard, Singapore 238801


Tel: +65 8028 1489


Reservations: enquiry@1-atico.sg


Hours: 11:00am - 11:00pm

Kiasu Singaporean Guide to the Best Hawker Stalls @ Amoy Street Food Centre

Best_Amoy_Street_Food_Centre_Guide

Amoy Street Food Centre is smack in Singapore's Central Business District, so it is sort of a canteen or cafeteria of bankers and financial industry workers. And, what a "canteen" - Amoy Street Food Centre has many famous stalls that draw foodies from across the island and tourists from around the world. Here, there's a good mix of traditional street hawker fare and New Age hawker dishes by new generation hawkerpreneurs.

Amoy Street Food Centre


Address: 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111


Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Tanjong Pagar station and 5 minutes walk from Telok Ayer station 

Honest Review Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Meat Mee @ BLK 359 Bukit Batok. A Legend in its Third Generation

Ah_Kow_Mushroom_Minced_Meat_Mee

The legendary Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Meat Mee is now in its third generation in a coffee shop stall in Meng Soon Huat Food Centre in BLK 359 Bukit Batok (which is around 5 minutes walk from Bukit Gombak MRT station).

Stall name: Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee 亚九香菇肉脞麺


Address: Stall in Meng Soon Huat Food Centre, 359 Bukit Batok Street 31, Singapore 650359


Tel: +65 9846 0941


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

Fu Juang Yuan King of Stewed Pork Trotter & Knuckle in Taichung 富狀元豬腳


One of Taichung City's top tradition braised pork trotter and knuckle shops with long queues every day. The trotters and knuckles are slow stewed with soy sauce, spices, ginger, onion, chili pepper etc., without any medicinal herbs.

Restaurant name: Fu Juang Yuan Pig Trotter 富狀元豬腳


Address: No. 203, Section 1, Meicun Road, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403


Tel: +886 4 2301 3588


Hours: 11:00am - 8:30pm (Monday off)

Fu Kuei Ting Smoked & Herbal Goose & Duck Soup in Taichung City 富貴亭飲食店

Over eighty year old restaurant in Taichung City famed for their herbal goose soup and smoked goose. They also have the same dishes made with duck. Full house every morning with loyal multigenerational fans.

Restaurant name: Fu Kuei Ting 富貴亭飲食店 


Address: No. 31, Lane 18, Section 2, Sanmin Road, Central District, Taichung City, Taiwan 400


Tel: +886 422 273 001


Hours: 11:00am - 9:00pm (Sunday off)

Eat Wanton Mee with Big Mushrooms @ Wah Kee Noodle of Amoy Street Food Centre

Wah_Kee_Wanton_Amoy_Food_Centre

An old school comforting drippy sauce type wanton mee with unique char siew and stewed big mushroom combo.

Stall name: Wah Kee Noodle 华记面食品


Address: #02-125 Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111


Hours: 7:30am - 2:00pm (Sunday off)

Ang Mo Kio 453 Wanton Mee @ Mayflower Food Centre. Secret is in the Lapok 宏茂桥453雲吞麺

Ang_Mo_Kio_453_Wanton_Mee_Mayflower_Food_Centre

This is the most popular stall at this little hawker centre frequented mostly by folks who live nearby. But, this wanton mee stall has foodies come from across the island for their old school spicy lardy noodles.

Stall name: Ang Mo Kio 453 Wanton Mee 宏茂桥453雲吞麺


Address:162 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4, #01-28, Singapore 560162 (stall inside Mayflower Market & Food Centre)


Tel: +65 9758 7562


Hours: 7:00am - 2:00pm (Weds off)

Hottest Hawker Stalls @ Yuhua Village Market & Food Centre in Jurong East

Yuhua_Village_Market_Food_Centre_Jurong_East

Yuhua Village Market & Food Centre is in a public housing residential neighbourhood in Jurong East far off the tourist track and even for Singapore Eastsiders. Still, there are a few gems in this quieter side of Singapore worth the proverbial journey to the west. Most of the food are inexpensive.

Yuhua Village Market & Food Centre


Address: 254 Jurong East Street 24, Singapore 600254


Nearest MRT station: Chinese Garden

Honest Review Downstairs SG Cafe Suntec City. Got My Malaysia Style Dark Sauce Wanton Mee Fix in Singapore

Downstairs_SG_Cafe_Suntec_City

If you miss Malaysia style dark sauce wanton mee, get it here at Downstairs SG Cafe @ Suntec City (just beside Song Fa Bak Kut Teh).

Restaurant name: Downstairs_SG Cafe


Address:  3 Temasek Boulevard #B1-132 Singapore, Singapore 038983


Hours: 8:00am - 8:30pm

Honest Review of Song Fa Bak Kut Teh • Reliable Consistent Quality & Taste Across Outlets in Singapore

Honest_Review_Song_Fa_Bak_Kut_Teh

Song Fa Bak Kut Teh has 13 outlets in Singapore and really doesn't need any further introduction. Song Fa serves the peppery style of Singapore Teochew bak kut teh. I like their mild, well balanced flavours and consistency across their outlets.

Guests from overseas always ask to taste Singapore bak kut teh. Song Fa is one of my preferred choices to bring foreign guests as they can be relied upon to showcase Singapore bak kut teh in the best light, anytime, any day.

Restaurant name: Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (Suntec City outlet)


Address: 3 Temasek Blvd, #B1-132, Singapore 038983


Hours: 11:00am - 9:00pm

Hup Hong Chicken Rice. A Hidden Gem @ Yuhua Village Market & Food Centre 合豐记鸡饭

Hup_Hong_Chicken_Rice_Yuhua_Village_Market_合豐记鸡饭

Hup Hong Chicken Rice serves delicious succulent tender chicken. All the other elements like rice, soup and chili, I also like.

Stall name: Hup Hong Chicken Rice 合豐记鸡


Address: #01-51 Yuhua Village Market and Food Centre, 254 Jurong East Street 24, Singapore 600254


Hours: 11:30am - 5:00pm (Mon off)

Get Ready to Visit Jiangsu Culture & Tourism Promotion Conference in Singapore 江苏文化旅游推介暨交流会

Jiangsu_Culture_Tourism_Promotion_Conference_Singapore

Even though tourism came to a standstill in 2020 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, Jiangsu Province Culture and Tourism Office in Singapore started 2021 on a high note with a conference of industry experts, travel trade and media to share ideas on promoting the attractions of Jiangsu province 👏👏👏

What to Eat @ YuHua Place Market & Hawker Centre. Some of the Best Food of Jurong East & Singapore West

Yuhua_Place_Market_Hawker_Centre

Yuhua Place Market & Food Centre serves residents of Jurong East near to Chinese Garden MRT station. Of the some 50 - 60 food stalls here, these are the most popular.

Yuhua Place Market & Hawker Centre


Address: 347 Jurong East Ave 1, Singapore 600347


Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Chinese Garden station

Honest Review of Lai Heng Handmade Teochew Kueh @ Yu Hua Place Market 莱兴手工潮州粿

Lai_Heng_Handmade_Teochew_Kueh_莱兴手工潮州粿

Lai Heng Handmade Teochew Kueh is the food stall with the longest queue at Yu Hua Place hawker centre in Jurong East. 

Stall name: Lai Heng Handmade Teochew Kueh 莱兴手工潮州粿


Address: 347 Jurong East Ave 1, #01-218, Singapore 600347 ( @ Yu Hua Place Market & Hawker Centre, 5 minutes walk from Chinese Garden MRT station)


Hours: 6:30am - 2:30pm (sometimes unscheduled off day)

ENJOY Eating House & Bar @ Mercure Hotel on Stevens. Familiar Local Delights with New Twists

ENJOY_Eating_House&Bar_Mercure_Hotel_Stevens

ENJOY Eating House & Bar is a quaint little Singaporean eatery at the spanking new Mercure Hotel on Stevens Road. It's very Singaporean in that ENJOY's eclectic cuisine charms with colours and flavours from Singaporean owner chef Joel's experience of his grandma's kitchen and in Thailand.

Restaurant name: ENJOY Eating House & Bar @ Stevens


Address: Mercure on Stevens 30 Stevens Road #01-07 Singapore 257840


Tel: 8511 1478


Hours: 11:00am - 11:00pm


Pura Brasa. Singapore Spanish Restaurant by Josper Oven. Why Bojio?

Pura_Brasa_Spanish_Restaurant

Delightful Spanish cuisine done to the audited standards of the makers of world renown Spanish Josper Ovens in the heart of Singapore's Central Business District.

Restaurant name: Pura Brasa


Address: 5 Wallich Street, #01-16, Singapore 078883 (steps from Tanjong Pagar MRT station)


Tel: +65 6386 9678


Hours: 12:00 noon - 11:00pm

Old World Fried Porridge Braised Mee Sua @ Tampines. Menu & Food Review

Old_World_Fried_Porridge_Braised_Mee_Sua

Old World Fried Porridge's famous signature dish is equalled by its own Braised Mee Sua. The little stall at Happy Hawkers coffee shop opposite the huge GIANT supermarket in Tampines serves a wide range of delicious old school comfort dishes.

Stall name: Old World Fried Porridge . Fried Mee Sua . Mixed Pig Organ Soup


Address: 1 Tampines North Drive 1, #01-34 T-Space, Singapore 528559


Tel: +65 9388 5288


Hours: Lunch 10:30am - 2:00pm | Dinner 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Honest Review MeatHouse Home of Tomahawk Steak @ Century Square Tampines 🐮 Singapore's Top Halal Certified Steakhouse

MeatHouse_Tomahawk_Steak_Halal

MeatHouse is a popular Halal certified steakhouse and burger joint, famous for their competitively priced signature tomahawk steaks.

Restaurant name: MeatHouse by 18Chefs


Address: Century Square, 2 Tampines Central 5, #05-04, Singapore 529509


Tel: +65 6260 1752


Hours: 11:45 - 10:00pm


Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice 🐔 The Best in YuHua Place Jurong East, Singapore West? 幸运海南起骨鸡饭

Xing_Yun_Hainanese_Boneless_Chicken_Rice_YuHua_Place_幸运海南起骨鸡饭

The top chicken rice stall at Yuhua Place with long time fans who love their very tender, juicy birds and flavourful aromatic dressing sauce. 

Stall name: Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice 幸运海南起骨鸡饭

Address: 347 Jurong East Ave 1, stall #01-202, Singapore 600347 (Yuhua Place Market & Hawker Centre)

Hours: 7:00am - 2:00pm (Tues & Weds off)

Yuhua Place Hua Xing Bak Kut Teh is Equally Great for Steamed Fish & Asam Fish 華兴肉骨茶

Yuhua_Place_Hua_Xing_Bak_Kut_Teh_華兴肉骨茶

A hidden hawker gem in Jurong with a multi-generation following for their peppery bak kut teh, Teochew steam fish and asam fish enjoyed with Nanyang tea.

Stall name: Hua Xing Bak Kut Teh 華兴肉骨茶

Address347 Jurong East Ave 1, stall #01-171, Singapore 600347 (Yuhua Place Market & Hawker Centre)

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Chinese Garden station

Tel+65 9818 2588

Hours: 8:30am - 7:00pm (Monday off)

Why do Teochew Eat Rabbit Fish During Chinese New Year? 白肚鱼 🐟 拜年鱼 🐟 發財魚 🐟 泥鯭魚

Rabbitfish_Chinese_New_Year

Rabbit fish known as 白肚鱼 (peh tor her or white belly fish) or 
拜年鱼 (Chinese New Year fish) is in high demand during Chinese New Year. Eating rabbit fish during Chinese New Year is considered auspicious, especially in the Teochew community. 

Is Allauddin's Briyani the Best in Tekkka Centre Singapore?

Allauddin_Briyani_Tekkka_Centre

Tekka Centre in Singapore's Little India is the briyani central of the island as there are some 10 briyani stalls concentrated in this hawker centre. I am on a (self appointed 😛 ) mission to find the best briyani of Tekka Centre. I am only half way through, and is reporting on the best briyani stall so far.