Why is Singapore Called Lion City? Singapura is Not Named after the King of the Jungle nor Chinese Lion Dance but the 4th Avatar of Vishnu

It is generally accepted that the name Singapura came about when Sang Nila Utama, a Srivijavan empire prince from Palembang (in today's South Sumatra) spotted a fierce looking animal when he landed on the island of Temasek in 1299. The prince asked his grandfather Demang Lebar Daun what animal it was and was told that the creature was a lion or singha (in Sanskrit).

Hua Yu Wee Seafood • Singapore Easties Old Favourite • Menu & Food Review 华友园

Most food lovers in Singapore's east seemed to have eaten at or at least know about Hua Yu Wee Seafood. It's the last grand old lady standing from a row of bungalow restaurants that the ruled Singapore seafood scene during their 1970s heyday. Today, Hua Yu Wee remains popular but is not much mentioned in social media.

Restaurant name: Hua Yu Wee Seafood  华友园

Address: 462 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 466508

Tel: 6442 9313

Hours: 5:00pm - 11:00pm

Yak Kin! Yakiniku @ Serangoon • Japan - Thai Fusion BBQ

Buddy back from USA for a short break and we met up at Yak Kin! at Jalan Riang in Serangoon. I love everything here - it was a great experience 🕺

Restaurant name: Yak Kin Thai - Japanese Yakiniku

Address: 15 Jalan Riang, Singapore 358987

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Lorong Chuan station or Serangoon station

Tel: 8769 3788

Hours: 12:00 noon - 11:00pm

Bublik.sg • Boutique Grocer of Fine Food from Eastern Europe

Dropped by with a friend to browse the newly opened Eastern European fine food shop Bublik.sg at Sam Leong Road off Jalan Besar. 

Yeah, I am a grocery shop browser since childhood because the food labels can tell me so much about faraway places 😬 You know the packaging can teach us so much, like the reason why we used to encourage children to collect postage stamps (who does this anymore 😂 ). When I travel, local grocers are one of the places I love to visit. I used to spend so much time as a child browsing the NTUC shop at Toa Payoh Central (the first NTUC shop in Singapore is still there after 50 years 😯 ).

Stall name: Bublik.sg

Address: 11 Sam Leong Road, #01-01, Singapore 207903

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Farrer Park or Jalan Besar station

Tel: 8184 1575

Hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm

Teck Heng Leong Kway Chap @ Toa Payoh Lor 8 • Early Birds Only • Sold Out By 8:45AM 德兴隆粿汁

Buddy Ray alerted me to Teck Heng Leong Kway Chup at Toa Payoh Lor 8 which is always sold out before 9am. Wow! I must try this early bird challenge 🐛🐥😅

Stall name: Teck Heng Leong Kway Chap 德兴隆粿汁

Address: 210 Lor 8 Toa Payoh, stall #01-63, Singapore 310210 (stall inside Toa Payoh Lor 8 Market & Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Braddell station

Hours: 6:00am - 8:30am (Mon & Tues off)

Traditional Charcoal Roasted Char Siew & Roast Pork Belly @ Tampoi 傳統炭烤燒腩

Saw Johor foodies Andy Tan and Aus Pe share about a "new" char siew and siew yok stall in Tampoi at the cluster of coffee shops and restaurants near the Cycle and Carriage showroom / workshop off Jalan Skudai.

Stall name: 傳統炭烤燒腩

Address: Coffee shop at the intersection of Lorong Betik and Jalan Dato Mohammed Seth (next door to Restoran Onn Kee Jaya)

Hours: 9:00am - 2:00pm (alternate Thurs off)

Sin Wan Delight Rojak Miri Sarawak • It's All about their Gula Apong & Hae Ko Sauce

Sin Wan Delight Rojak & Cold Drinks Centre in Miri is a very popular place. The first time I was brought here, I haven't started blogging yet, so I never paid attention to exactly where I was. Holiday just relak mah. Only remembered that the rojak was good.

Stall name: Sin Wan Delight & Cold Drink

Address: 809, 806, Jalan Bintang Jaya 2, Bintang Jaya, 98000 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

Hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm

63 Cafe Sarawak Laksa • Miri 古晉叻沙

When in Sarawak must taste a Sarawak style laksa which is unique from any other laksa in Singapore or Malaysia 😋 Buddy brought us to 63 Cafe in the heart of Miri city. It is such a regular Sawarak laksa haunt for him that his 8 year son "pleaded" not to go there again 😅 (Sarawak laksa is often referred to as Kuching laksa.)

Restaurant name: 63 Cafe

Address: Lot 755, Ground Floor, Blk 9, Jalan Calliandra, MCLD, 98000 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

Tel: +608 532 1481

Hours: 6:30am - 3:00pm

Thien Sin Prawn Mee • Foochow Prawn Noodle in Miri Sarawak 天星虾面 • 福州炒煮面 • 先炒后闷

We've got an early flight to catch at Miri Airport, so the plan was to breakfast at Thien Sin Prawn Mee on the way to the airport. It's a great way to taste one more iconic Miri dish and leaving with the longing to come back for more soon 😅

Restaurant name: Thien Sin Prawn Mee 天星虾面 

Address: Lot 2350, Jalan Cahaya, 98000 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

Tel: +6016 851 1861

Hours: 6:00am - 2:00pm

Toa Payoh Lor 8 Hand Made Fish Ball Noodle Yong Tau Foo • Hidden Gem 八巷手工鱼圆麵

Actually, we wanted to eat at another fish ball place but it happened to be closed 😅 So, we activated Plan B to go to Toa Payoh Lor 8 Market & Food Centre. Strange, I totally forgotten about this hawker centre even though I grew up in Toa Payoh 😬

Stall name: Lor 8 Hand Made Fish Ball Noodle 八巷手工鱼圆麵

Address: Blk 210 Toa Payoh Lor 8 Market & Food Centre, stall #01-01, Singapore 310210

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Braddell station

Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm (Fri & Sat off)

History of Ketchup • Magical Sauce from South China • Long Lost Cousin of Fish Sauce

Ketchup is a magical sauce though we tend to take it for granted in Singapore cuisine. It's often in our bak chor mee, wanton mee, chili crab, ku lou yuk, many sweet and sour dishes, etc. Its presence in Singapore cuisine is not often highlighted, sometimes unnoticed 😬 🤔

Kum Heong Unique Multicultural Flavour of Malaysia 甘香

Kum heong bamboo clam

Kum Heong 甘香 is a uniquely Malaysian sauce. It is an extremely versatile robust, pungent sauce used to flavour seafood like squid, prawns, clams and crab, chicken, pork, and even fried rice. Kum heong crab is still one of the most popular flavours of the crustacean dish in Malaysia. Kum heong crab is Malaysia's answer to Singapore's chili crab.

Review of Cai Ji Fishball Noodle • Local Favourite @ Toa Payoh Blk 93 Hawker Centre 財記

This was my second time having Cai Ji Fishball Noodle.

Cai Ji Fishball has been an institution here since 1967. That was also the year my family moved to Toa Payoh. The area around Blk 93 market & food centre was my playground but I only ate here after I retired 🤣 Life is funny like that but (one of my life mottos is) better late than never 😬

Stall name: Cai Ji Fishball Noodle 財記

Address: Block 93 Lor 4 Toa Payoh, stall #01-59, Singapore 310093

Blk 94 Lor 4 Toa Payoh, Yi Hao Coffee Shop, Singapore 310094

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Braddell station

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

Lai Hiang Pork Rib Prawn Noodle • People's Fav @ Pek Kio Hawker Centre 来香肉骨虾面

Going by the daily constant queue, Lai Hiang Pork Rib and Prawn Noodle is the undisputed king of prawn mee at Pek Kio Hawker Centre now 👑

Stall name: Lai Hiang Pork Rib Prawn Mee  来香肉骨虾面

Address: 41A Cambridge Rd, stall #01-41, Singapore 211041 (stall inside Pek Kio Market & Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Farrer Park station

Hours: 6:00am - 2:00pm (Tues & Fri off)

Ng Soon Kee Fish & Duck Porridge for the Soul @ Geylang East Hawker Centre 黄順記魚糜・鴨糜

I had this unique tasty duck porridge a few years back and always wanted to come back for it. Finally, made it today because I needed to come here for a medical appointment at Geylang East Polyclinic next door.

Stall name: Ng Soon Kee Fish & Duck Porridge 黄順記魚糜・鴨糜

Address: 117 Aljunied Ave 2, stall #01-11, Singapore 380117 (Geylang East Hawker Centre)

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Paya Lebar station

Tel: 6747 6014

Hours: 11:30am - 6:00pm (Mon & Tues off)

Spicy Sweet & Sour Crab • Ketchup & Bottled Chili Crab 甜酸螃蟹

Chili crab is the most famous crab dish of Singapore and also popular in Malaysia. But, there is a similar dish known as Sweet & Sour Crab which we still sometimes see in restaurant menus. 

What is the difference between Chili Crab and Sweet & Sour Crab?

Kepiting Balado • Minangkabau Chili Crab

Kepiting Balado or Crab with Chili is a kampung dish of the Minangkabau people using resources available at their seaside villages. Other than crab, the main ingredient balado has been part of Minangkabau culinary tradition for centuries.

Pioneers of Singapore Chili Crab • Mdm Cher Yam Tian & Chef Hooi Kok Wah

The chili crab dish is synonymous with Singapore now and one of the must eat dishes of overseas visitors. Chili crab is found in specialist crab restaurants, zhi char (literally "cook and fry") restaurants and even hawker centre stalls. Along with Hainanese chicken rice, chili crab is often considered an unofficial national dish of Singapore. In 2011, CNN Go included chili crab in its list  of the "World's 50 most delicious foods".

Super Star Original Famous Penang Laksa @ People's Park Food Centre • Halal Certified

You know.... I am not really a big fan of Penang asam laksa because I don't like sour tasting things - most of the Penang laksa that I've had so far made me cringe. (I've had a few in Penang.) I've seen a lot of media coverage about Super Star Original Famous Penang Laksa before but that still doesn't move me 😬 But, when buddy Milton jio-ed (invited) me to join him there, I went along more to lim kopi (drink coffee) nia nia (only) 😬

Stall name: Super Star Original Famous Penang Laksa 

Address: 32 New Market Road, Singapore 050032 (stall #01-1002B inside People's Park Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Chinatown station

Tel: 9836 6616

Hours: 2:00pm - 11:00pm

Kepiting Saus Padang • Crab in Spicy Padang Sauce • Indonesia's Chili Crab

Kepiting Saus Padang means Crab in Padang Sauce or Padang Sauce Crab in Indonesian. It is Indonesia's equivalent of Singapore's chili crab. Padang sauce crab tastes savoury and spicy hot (from fresh chili pepper and chili padi). The spicy crabs are popular across Indonesia from Padang to Medan, Jakarta, Cirebon, Surabaya, Makassar, etc.

Sohai Fried Kway Teow @ Pah Li Ban Skudai • 八里半 Sohai 炒饭 • 炒果条

Saw and smelled the aromatic white plumes from the corner fried kway teow stall at Pah Li Ban a few times. But, there are many choices here at PLB. As I worked my way through the stalls, eating their food one by one, I finally got to taste Sohai fried kway teow only today.

Sohai fried kway teow was good 👍 Can come again.

Don't let the wacky name distract you from the food. ("Sohai" is a rude word meaning a dimwit in Malaysia 😂 )

Stall name: Sohai 炒饭 • 炒果条

Address: Jalan Kilang Nenas, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Skudai, Johor (stall at 昌发咖啡店 coffee shop @ Pah Li Ban)

Hours: 8:00am - 1:00pm (Mon off)

Minced Pork Bros Superior Soup Bak Chor Mee @ Old Airport Road

Dropped by Old Airport Road Hawker Centre after my medical appointment (doctor said my retina fix is holding up well, thank you 🙏 ). There are many food stalls here, some new, some old. Decided on Minced Pork Bros which is a relatively new stall with a new take on bak chor mee (minced pork noodle), one of Singapore's favourite classics.

Stall name: Minced Pork Bros

Address: 51 Old Airport Road, stall #01-113, Old Airport Road Food Centre, Singapore 390051

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Dakota station

Tel: 9786 7396

Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm (Tues off)

Tee Yok Coffee Klongthom • Street Coffee on Motor Bike • Only in Yaowarat Bangkok ตี๋หยกกาแฟโบราณ-คลองถม

Missed meeting buddies John and Joanne for nearly three years, no thanks to the Covid pandemic. So, we were glad to catch up in Bangkok. John and Joanne were extremely warm and hospitable, bringing us to many interesting places despite their busy schedule. One of the memorable places was this humble street side coffee stall where parked motorcycles double up as tables for the stall. I have never seen anything like this before 😁

Stall name: Tee Yok Coffee Klongthom ตี๋หยกกาแฟโบราณ-คลองถม

Address: F101 Golden Charoenkrung Plaza, Soi Si Thammathirat, Pom Prap, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100, Thailand

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Sam Yot or Wat Mangkon station

Tel: +669 7115 1666

Hours: 6:00am - 3:30pm (Sun off)

Roti Sai Mai Sweet • Ayutthaya Iconic Food

On our way to Ayutthaya from Bangkok, Wilbur was raving non stop about roti sai mai. His enthusiasm got me excited too, even though I had no idea what roti sai mai is.

Every time we passed a roti sai mai stall on the way to Ayutthaya, Wilbur would go, " 👉 there! 👉 there! 👉 there!" 😅

The road from Bangkok to Ayutthaya is sometimes referred to as the "Silk Road" as sai mai means silky thread in Thai and there are many roti sai mai stalls.

Origin and History of Chendol • CNN World's Best 50 Desserts

Chendol is commonly found in Singapore hawker centres. It is a well loved sweet, affordable cold dessert popular with both young and old. The young love its layers of sweetness and flexibility of fanciful toppings while the old have the added pleasure of enjoying it for nostalgia. Chendol is a 1,000 year old Southeast Asian dessert, a godsend for our repressive humid hot climate.

Two Fishball Noodle Stalls @ Cheng San Hawker Centre • Song Kee 松记鱼圆面 vs Xiang Kee 香记粿條麵湯

Came early to stalk Cheng San Market & Cooked Food Centre. Song Kee and Xiang Kee fishball stalls both enjoy long queues. I like them both - they are more alike than different.

Stall name: Xiang Kee Yu Yuan Mian Tang 香记粿條麵湯

Address: 527 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, stall #01-130, Singapore 560527 (stall inside Cheng San Market & Cooked Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Ang Mo Kio station

Hours: 8:00am - 7:00pm

The Cheapest Good Cronut in Singapore • Get it @ 50 年 Taste of Tradition Toa Payoh

It's almost 10 years since I last tried a cronut. It was a global craze then that started from Dominique Ansel's Bakery in New York City. I happened to be in NYC then, and naturally gave it a try.

Stall name: 50 Years Taste of Tradition

Address: 500 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310500 (ground floor Toa Payoh Mall)

Nearest MRT: At Toa Payoh station

Hours: 9:00am - 11:00pm

Thai Festival 2022 @ Royal Thai Embassy Orchard Road • Muay Thai, Food, Crafts, Dances • Free Entry 4 - 6 Nov

The popular annual Thai Festival is back at the Royal Thai Embassy at Orchard Road from today (4 Nov) till 6 Nov (Sun), 10am - 8pm. There are the well loved cultural shows, cooking demonstrations by Michelin awarded Thai chefs, food stalls, craft stalls, and for the first time, Muay Thai competitions.

Belly Shiok Chee Cheong Fun & Yam Cake • Tan Coffee in Toa Payoh Kim Keat Palm 食轩

Got up early to get to Kim Keat Palm hawker centre in Toa Payoh to avoid the queue at a famous stall. But, the semi retired couple took another few days of leave 😬 So, I went around the hawker centre looking for another stall to salvage my trip. Spotted Belly Shiok 食轩 with a 10 deep queue. Not sure what they sell, but lined up promptly anyway 😄

Stall name: Belly Shiok 食轩

Address: Stall #01-05, Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre, 22 Lor 7, Toa Payoh, Singapore 310022

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Braddell or Toa Payoh station

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

Amazing Yong Tau Foo @ Tong Yuen Coffee Shop, Taman Perling 东圆 • 新山柏伶花園

Last month (Oct 2022), while on 958FM Live broadcast comparing prawn mee in Singapore and Johor, a listener commented that Taman Perling (JB) has a very good prawn mee. She didn't provide the address, so I tried to find it by driving around Taman Perling. Then, I spotted a busy corner coffee shop at Jalan Simbang. Quickly parked the car to investigate - there were a couple of stalls. Almost everyone was having yong tau foo. So, I decided to give it a try i.e. changed target from prawn to tofu (Tony always like that one 😬 🤭 ).

Stall name: Yong Tau Foo (stall inside Tong Yuen coffee shop) 

Address: 314, Jalan Simbang, Taman Perling, 81200 Johor Bahru

Hours: 7:00am - 1:00pm (Tues off)

Chinatown Braised Duck Legend Mei Jie 牛车水之传奇妹姐 • 何五妹 • 润记熟食

Old Chinatown residents know about the legendary braised duck stall Run Ji Cooked Food 润记熟食 ran by Mdm Hor Ng Mei 何五妹, better known as Mei Jie 妹姐. Run Ji was The Braised Duck stall of Chinatown and one of the best in Singapore.