Banh Mi Sai Gon @ Block 505 Ang Mo Kio · Cure for Vietnamese Sandwich Cravings in Singapore

I am a banh mi lover and when buddy Aaron declared that his Singapore favourite is from Banh Mi Sai Gon at block 505, Ang Mo Kio, I gladly jumped on the bandwagon (after he did all the hard work of tasting and filtering 😄 ). I tried Banh Mi Sai Gon today and it was the best that I had ever tasted so far. Disclaimer: I haven't eaten that many banh mi but have eaten them in Vietnam, Singapore, Canada, USA and Australia (both store and home made).

Stall name: Bánh Mì Sai Gon

Address: 505 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, Singapore 560505

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Ang Mo Kio station

Hours: 9:00am - 8:00pm

Tian Tian Porridge in Chinatown Since 1952 · A Blast from the Past 天天粥品猪

I enjoyed this simple, no frills old school Cantonese porridge in Chinatown Complex. It's a blast from the past.

Stall name: Tian Tian Porridge  天天粥品

Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-185 Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Singapore 050335

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Chinatown station

Hours: 6:00am - 2:00pm (Mon off)

Sun Seng Gourmet's Corner Zhi Char Stall in Chinatown Complex · I was Still Burping Serious Wok Hei when I Got Home 🤭

The thing about Chinatown Complex is there are simply too many good Cantonese zhi char stalls, so much so that some great stalls remained under the radar as undiscovered gems. If you Google for Sun Seng now, there is hardly any mention of this little zhi char stall with at least 50 years of history. After tasting their food for the first time today, we all fell in love with it. Their food is delicious and prices very affordable.

Stall name: Sun Seng Gourmet's Corner 生成

Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-61 Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Singapore 050335

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Chinatown station

Hours: 11:30am - 4:00pm (Mon, Thurs, Sun off)

Kacang Pool Mustafa @ Geylang Serai Hawker Centre · Since 1952

This morning, I gave Kacang Pool Mustafa a try as I wanted something light to tide me over before my lunch appointment. Kacang pool is an acquired taste as it is still a relatively unfamiliar dish even though this stall have been around since 1952 (that's 68 years ago 😱 ). It is a good alternative to roti prata, roti John or kaya toast, if you want a change.

Stall name: Kacang Pool Mustafa

Address: 1 Geylang Serai, #02-142, Singapore 402001 (Geylang Serai Market & Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Paya Lebar station

Hours: 7:00am - 1:00pm

That Corner of Trengganu & Sago Street in Chinatown · Painting by Hugo Vilred Pederson

While researching about the history of street hawkers in Singapore Chinatown, I came across this fascinating oil painting done by Hugo Vilred Pederson in 1897 (124 years ago). Since then, this street corner has a special place in my mind and I am curious about how it changed over the decades.

Florian Italian Restaurant & Bar @ Naumi Hotel · Home of Puglia Cuisine in Singapore

The first time we were at Florian, it was a rush as we were just having a quick pit stop before dashing off to an event nearby (in Raffles City). But, we liked Florian's food so much that we decided to come back again for a leisurely lunch to appreciate their food better.

Restaurant name: Florian Italian Restaurant & Bar

Address: 41 Seah Street, Singapore 188396 (at Naumi Hotel lobby)

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from City Hall station

Tel: 9863 6361

Hours: 8:00am - 10:30pm

Song Fa Kway Chap, Braised Duck & Claypot @ Northshore Plaza 1 in Ponggol 松發粿汁

Song Fa, one of Singapore's top bak kut teh brands just opened a kway chap and braised duck shop in Northshore Plaza 1 in Ponggol. From the heart of the city serving peppery Teochew bak kut teh, Song Fa now ventured to the heartlands serving other traditional Teochew icons in a modern, comfortable environment. Braised offal and duck - Ponggol residents are responding warmly to it.

Stall name: Song Fa Kway Chap 松發粿汁

Address: Northshore Plaza 1, unit #02-22, 407 Northshore Drive, 820407

Nearest LRT: Samudera station

Hours: 10:00am - 3:00pm | 4:30pm - 8:30pm

Youtiao @ You Zha Kueh in 216 Bedok Central Hawker Centre · Look Ma! No Grease You Char Kway!

There are many very good food stalls at 216 Bedok hawker centre, and this You Zha Kueh stall has the longest queue - this should tell us something 🤔 This you char kway stall in 216 Bedok market & food centre opens only on Tuesdays and Fridays - yes, only two days a week.

Stall name: You Zha Kueh 油炸粿

Address: 216 Bedok North Street 1, stall #01-43, Singapore 460216

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Bedok station

Tel: 9878 0143

Hours: 3:30am - 12:00 noon (Tues & Fri only)

Sixteen Storey Hong Kee Porridge @ Commonwealth Crescent · Old School Cantonese Congee 鸿记粥

Ben introduced me to Hong Kee Porridge, he said William our mutual friend thinks this porridge stall has the best pork liver - can fight with the legendary Mui Siong of Veerasamy Road 😮

Stall name: Hong Kee Porridge 鸿记

Address: 31 Commonwealth Crescent, stall #02-89, Singapore 149644

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Commonwealth station

Tel: 9067 5755

Hours: 6:00am - 2:30pm

Singapore Hawker Centres as the Third Place · The Heart of our Heartlands

Most people know that Singapore hawker centres are treasure troves of delicious food. Beyond being the nation's communal kitchen, Singapore's hawker centres play the important role of the "Third Place" where the Singaporean identity is forged from a diverse and dynamic mix of cultures.

Orange & Teal Café @ Rochester Mall · Food Review

Five of us met up for pre-Christmas lunch at Orange & Teal Café at Rochester Mall which is just a short walk from Buona Vista MRT station.

Restaurant name: Orange & Teal Café

Address: 35 Rochester Drive, #02-12 Rochester Mall, Singapore 138639

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Buona Vista station

Tel: 6993 1006

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

Han Jia Bak Kut Teh · Pork Leg @ East Coast Lagoon · I got Quite a Kick from this Pork Knuckle 韩家肉骨茶·猪脚

The guys went cycling at East Coast Park and we met for bak kut teh & pork knuckle at East Coast Lagoon Food Village hawker centre. I was quite blown away by Han Jia's braised pork knuckle (though it's obviously not for everyone).

Stall name: Han Jia Bak Kut Teh · Pork Leg 韩家肉骨茶·猪脚

Address: 1220 ECP, stall #01-42 East Coast Lagoon Food Village, Singapore 468960

Tel: 6242 9808

Hours: 10:00am - 8:30pm (opens at 9am on Sat & Sun)

Liang Liang Fried Carrot Cake @ Commonwealth Crescent · An Exceptional Chai Tow Kway 亮亮

I like the texture and taste of Liang Liang's fried carrot cake. Thanks to Ben's recommendation and treat 🙏

Stall name: Liang Liang Fried Carrot Cake 亮亮

Address: Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre, stall #02-69, Singapore 149644

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Commonwealth station

Hours: 9:00am - 1:00pm (Mon & Tues off)

Lin Da Qiang Zhi Char Stall · A Hidden Gem @ Chinatown Complex 林大强

It took me years to uncover this gem, and it was by chance.

The thing about Chinatown Complex is, there are too many good food stalls crowded together in the hawker centre. In the rather obscure Green Zone alone, there are five zhi char or Cantonese dai chow stalls - all are good and have their own loyal following. (Chinatown Complex is divided into four zones - Green, Yellow, Red and Blue.)

One of my current favourites is Lin Da Qiang 林大强.

Stall name: Lin Da Qiang 林大强 

Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-72 Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Singapore 050335

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Chinatown station

Hours: 12:00 noon - 8:00pm

Commonwealth Crescent Ah Mah Cheng Tng · Xi Le Ting 喜乐亭

When you come to Commonwealth Crescent hawker centre, whatever you may eat, do wash it down with a bowl of $1 Ah Mah cheng tng. It doesn't require much tummy space, taste good, and gives you that warm fuzzy feeling.

Stall name: Xi Le Ting 喜乐亭

Address: 31 Commonwealth Crescent, stall #02-70, Singapore 149644

Nearest MRT: 10 Minutes walk from Commonwealth station

Hours: 10:00am - 2:00pm (Mon, Tues, Weds off)

Hammee's · Gourmet Quality Hawker Centre Burger @ Commonwealth Crescent

Most burger lovers in Singapore would have eaten, if not at least heard of Hammee's Burger, one of the hottest hawker centre burgers in Singapore now. Indeed, I love this unpretentious but very high quality and delicious street burger.

I have only three words for it 🍔 Soft, Juicy, Flavourful!

Stall name: Hammee's Burgers

Address: 31 Commonwealth Crescent, stall #02-93, Singapore 149644

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Commonwealth station

Tel: 9818 8014

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

Bukit Merah View Yong Chun Wan Ton Noodle 永春云吞面

As a mutton lover, I came to Bukit Merah View hawker centre because of the famous mutton soup here. I got here at 8am, three hours before the mutton soup stall open for business (to avoid the crazy queue). After placing my order with the friendly mutton soup boss, I had three full hours to roam around explore the hawker centre 😄 😂

That's how I stumbled upon Yong Chun Wan Ton Noodle 永春云吞面.

Stall name: Yong Chun Wan Ton Noodle 永春云吞面

Address: 115 Bukit Merah View Hawker Centre, stall #01-56 Henderson, Singapore 151115

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Tiong Bahru station

Tel: 9028 1285

Hours: 5:30am - 12:30pm

Bukit Merah View Michelin Mutton Soup · Chai Chuan Tou Yang Rou Tang 柴船头羊肉汤

Today's foodie target was the legendary Chai Chuan Tou Yang Rou Tang 柴船头羊肉汤 Teochew mutton soup at Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre.

Stall name: Chai Chuan Tou Yang Rou Tang 柴船头羊肉汤

Address: 115 Bukit Merah View, stall #01-51, Singapore 151115

Tel: 9109 5631

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Tiong Bahru station

Hours: 11:00am - 1:30pm (Sun & Mon off)

Lin Da Qiang & Mr. Fish · Why Chinatown Complex is a Foodie Paradise 林大强 & 魚

Life is like that 🤔 The day didn't start as planned but everything turned out better than expected in the end. Just stay calm and eat on!

Our original plan was to eat at the legendary Cooked Food & Claypot Kitchen stall in Chinatown Complex. The plan was simple - whoever arrived first, order for our party of 5 (CF&CK don't take phone in orders).

I arrived one hour ahead and promptly joined the queue. When I was 5 pax from the front of the queue, it suddenly dispersed. Lady boss announced, "Booked out for the day!" 😱

That's that 😓 🤷

Stall name: 林大强酱蒸鱼头 | Mr. Fish 魚

Address: 335 Smith Street, stall #02-072 (林大强) | stall #02-073 (Mr. Fish 魚), Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Singapore 050335

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Chinatown station

Hours: 11:00am - 3:00pm (Sun off Mr. Fish 魚) |  12:00 noon - 8:30pm (daily 林大强酱蒸鱼头)

Guangxi Nanning Hand Pressed Rice Noodle · The Mother of Rice Vermicelli 南寧·生榨粉

生榨粉 is a kind of rice vermicelli found in Nanning city in Guangxi province in south China. It is a most rudimentary method of making rice noodles by hand pressing rice batter through a piping bag (perforated sieve) into boiling water.

Yishun Wanton Mee @ 630 Brew Kopi Coffee Shop near Khatib MRT

When Yishun people talk about wanton mee, they mean Yishun 630 Wanton Noodle and no others. Yet, this stall have almost zero social media mention (unlike its social media famous competitor steps away at Blk 632).

Stall name: Yishun Wanton Mee

Address: 630 Yishun Street 61, Singapore 760630 (630 Brew Kopi coffee shop)

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Khatib station

Hours: 5:00am - 10:00am

Tel: 8952 9549

What to Eat @ Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre

Spent two weeks eating and mingling with Clementi residents at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre. Of some fifty stalls here, the townsfolk favourites are the wanton mee, Hainanese porridge, fried carrot cake and lor mee stalls. 

Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre

Address: 448 Clementi Ave 3, Singapore 120448

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Clementi station

History of Appam · Singapore Hawker Heritage

Appam is an Indian rice cake made with batter of fermented rice flour and coconut milk. There are numerous variations of appam.

One of the simplest form of appam is Vella Appam from Kerala, on the Malabar Coast of southwest India. Cooked on a flat griddle, the rice pancake is spongy and flat. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)

CLOSED Jin Li Satay Bee Hoon @ Beauty World · Not the Usual Satay Sauce 錦利沙爹米粉

You know, I am not really a big fan of satay bee hoon. I don't really fancy splashing nutty satay sauce over blanched bee hoon and call it a dish. Jin Ji is the first satay bee hoon I've tried in Singapore that doesn't taste totally like satay sauce.  (Update: This stall has closed as owner has retired 😔 )

Stall name: Jin Li Satay Bee Hoon 錦利沙爹米粉

Address: 144 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, stall #04-40, Singapore 588177 (Beauty World Centre Food Court)

Nearest MRT: Doorstep of Beauty World station

Hours: 11:00am - 8:00pm (Weds off)

Fried Porridge @ Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh · Beauty World Centre 豐香肉骨茶

You know..., I lived a few years in Kuala Lumpur and Klang was one of my favourite foodie hunting grounds. So, I have an unhealthy skepticism about eateries in Singapore that tout themselves as "Klang-style". My bad 🙇‍♂️

Stall name: Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh 豐香肉骨茶

Address: 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road stall #04-65 Beauty World Centre, Singapore 588177

Nearest MRT: Doorstep of Beauty World station

Hours: 10:30am - 3:00pm | 4:30pm - 8:00pm

Clementi 448 Soon Lee Hainanese Porridge 顺利粥

You know..., I don't have any special way of looking for good eats in hawker centres. I just walk up to the nearest unker (same pattern, pudgy, middle age type like me) and say in an earnest but nonchalant manner, "这里有什么好吃? Here got what nice food to eat?". "Lor mee, fried carrot cake, wanton mee, porridge" rolled off the tongue of the first unker I asked at Clementi 448 food centre. Usually, it is double confirmed by long queues at the stalls. So easy. But, of course, the ultimate test is in the eating.

Stall name: Soon Lee Porridge 顺利粥

Address: 448 Clementi Ave 3=, stall #01-50, Singapore 120448 (Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Clementi station

Hours: 6:00am - 7:00pm (close at 4pm on Sat | Sun off)

Clementi 448 Boon Kee Wanton Noodle · A Popular Wanton Mee wth Ketchup in the Sauce

Boon Kee is one of the people's favourites at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre. I think the key here is their old school sauce with ketchup.

Stall name: Boon Kee Wanton Noodle 文記雲吞麺

Address: 448 Clementi Ave 3, stall #01-40, Singapore 120448 (Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Clementi station

Hours: 6:00am - 2:00pm (Sun off)

Clementi 448 Kian Seng Lor Mee · A Hearty Bowl of Tradition

This lor mee is one of top four food stalls in Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre, judging by the queues everyday. It's a hearty bowl of tradition for $3.50.

Stall name: Kian Seng Lor Mee Prawn Mee Laksa

Address: 448 Clementi Ave 3, stall #01-28, Singapore 120448 (Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Clementi station

Hours: 6:00am - 2:00pm

HEAVENS @ Ghim Moh · Singapore's Most Famous Appam

Heavens is the most famous appam and thosai stall in Singapore, going by media coverage and rave reviews.

Stall name: HEAVENS

Address: 20 Ghim Moh Road, stall #01-26, Singapore 270020 (Ghim Moh Market & Hawker Centre)

Nearest MRT: Buona Vista station

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

Famous Clementi 448 Fried Carrot Cake

Stalking Clementi Central 448 Hawker Centre, it was obvious that the chai tow kway or fried carrot cake stall here is the king of the hill.

Stall name: Fried Carrot Cake

Address: Blk 448 Clementi Ave 3, #01-45, Singapore 120448 (Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: Clementi station

Hours: 6:00am - 6:00pm (Mon off)

Ho Yeah! Festival · Reconnecting with my Roots with Toisan Cuisine @ Granny's Secret 好嘢节·台山美食

Last evening, together with pals Lynn and Victor we went to Granny's Secret at OG Albert Complex for Toisanese dishes. It was special to me because even though my grandfather came to Singapore from Toisan county in Guangdong, China, I have lost touch with Toisanese cuisine. Toisan is a coastal county located to the west and adjacent to Macau.

Restaurant name: Granny's Secret 阿嫲的私房菜

Address: 60 Albert Street, #02-07, Singapore 189969 (inside OG Albert Complex)

Tel: 6336 7785

Nearest MRT: Rochor station

Hours: 11:00am - 8:00pm (Weds off)

Folks Collective Thai Cuisine · Cool Chill Out, Meeting Place @ China Square Vintage Shophouse

If you are looking for a place to meet up friends in the city, you may consider Folks Collective. The Thai restaurant is conveniently located between Telok Ayer and Chinatown MRT station (5 minutes walk to either). The decor ambiance exults a sense of Oriental exotica. The service is truly Thai - friendly, accommodating and enthusiastic. The food is distinctly Thai but easily appreciated by all, including the uninitiated. The bar is well stocked with beer, wine and spirit. Pricing is moderate - the two times I am here, the bill came to $30 plus per pax.

Restaurant name: Folks Collective

Address: 20 Cross Street #01-25/26/27, Cross Street Exchange, Singapore 048422

Tel: 6536 6739

Hours: 11:30am - 11:00pm (Sun off)

Old School Seng Huat Prawn Mee @ 79 Telok Blangah Drive · 成發蝦麵

We met up at Telok Blangah Drive Food Centre, tried a few food stalls including the popular Seng Huat prawn mee. It's old school, generously portioned, tasty, and excellent value.

Stall name: Seng Huat Prawn Noodles 成發蝦麵 

Address: #01-38, 79 Telok Blangah Market & Food Centre, Singapore 100079

Nearest MRT: 5 - 7 minutes walk from Telok Blangah station

Hours: 6:00am - 2:00pm (Tues, Weds, Thurs off)

The Malayan Council Cafe TMC · Casual Western Cuisine with Malay Touches · HALAL

We had a great time at The Malayan Council - the food, place, vibes, all come together marvellously. Disclaimer: This food review might sound extra exuberant because we had hilarious company 😄😂

Restaurant name: The Malayan Council

Address: 71 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199484 (Kampong Glam)

Hours: 11:00am - 11:00pm

Tea Smoked Chicken @ Eastern House of Seafood Marymount MRT 茶熏鸡

You know, in restaurants or hawker stalls, we can easily get poached, fried, or soya sauce chicken. Sometimes, we can get roast chicken and salt baked chicken but tea smoked chicken, so far I know only Eastern House of Seafood serve it. (Please share, if you know of other places in Singapore or Johor.)

Restaurant name: Eastern House of Seafood

Address: 37 Jalan Pemimpin, MAPEX building, #B1-02, Singapore 577177 (doorstep of Marymount MRT station)

Tel: 9150 8172

Hours: 9:00am - 10:00pm (opens at 10am on Sat & Sun)

Original Ah Hoe Mee Pok · Legendary Master of Bak Chor Mee 阿和麺薄

I've tasted the mee pok (bak chor mee) of Ah Hoe's disciples at Li Yuan Mee Pok, Hosay Mee Pok, and his wife at Lao Gu Ban. But, I have not tasted mee pok by Eric Chia Seo Hoe, the master himself until today.

Stall name: Original Ah Hoe Mee Pok

Address: Blk 501 West Coast Drive, Food Loft Coffee Shop, Singapore 120501 (beside Ayer Rajah Food Centre)

Hours: 6:30am - 2:00pm (Mon off)