Fork & Spoon Toa Payoh - HK Beef Noodles

My mum used to work around the area of the HDB Hub in Toa Payoh once upon a many years ago.
And she told me about 2 things that were absolutely a MUST to makan there.
One was a Rojak shop that was so popular that it had a 'queue number' system and the other was a Beef Noodle stall at Fork Spoon.

And since my first taste all those years ago, I always seem to go back for the same thing.
Even though I may order something different, the basics are the same - noodles, beef & gravy.

 (Dry) Beef & Tendon Noodles ($5.50)

(Dry) Beef Noodles ($4.50)

Oh boy just looking at it whets my appetite.
Yum yum yum.

Tender Beef

Okay so I USED to order just the normal Beef Noodles but I've upgraded to have some tendon in the mix as well!!

You actually have a few choices to make when you step up the stall...

Firstly - do you want the Dry (with a thick soy and beefy gravy as seen above) or the Soup. I've never really had the Soup version before so I can't really help you there. Obviously I prefer the Dry.

Secondly - what type of noodles do you want? They have 3 options for you namely kway teow, the wantan-type of noodles and also the thick bee hoon which is the actual default noodle when you order Beef Noodles at most places I guess.

Thirdly - what you want with your noodles. Beef? Beef with Tendon? Beef with Tripe?
Choices choices choices!!!

So depending on your taste I guess some of you might choose something different but it's probably going to include the beef right... And you can see from the picture above, that's one tender piece of beef.
I understand from asking around that most the Beef Noodle stalls elsewhere actually have thinly slice beef strips which are quickly blanched so this is obviously something different. If you ask me, this is technically more of a Stewed Beef Noodle. But stewed or blanched or whatever it's still delicious lah.

Beef Tendon

I don't know when exactly I became a fan of tendon to be honest. Must be something I picked up from my Mum & Dad.

But not just ANY tendon will do.
This particular tendon is so soft that I had to pierce it with my chopstick to hold it up for the picture because it kept sliding off like a piece of jelly. That's how soft it is.

So for you fans of tendon - REJOICE!!

Sorry I can't tell you guys anything about the Tripe version of the noodles though. Maybe some tripe fans can try it out and let me know how it is... Err.. is there anyone out there that likes tripe in the first place???

Well I don't know it this is considered an "authentic" Beef Noodle dish... but it sure as hell is a delicious one in my books and I'd have it over and over again for sure.

Adam's Verdict:
Beef & Tendon (Dry) Noodles 4/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Beef  (Dry) Noodles 3/5

Things have definitely changed over the years though.
Price has gone up by $0.50 across the board . They used to put Kai Lan instead of cabbage.
But... the beef is still the bomb.

Fork & Spoon Foodcourt (Toa Payoh)

Blk 470 Toa Payoh Lorong 6 (Above Courts)
#02-70

Operating Hours: 10.00am til 10.00pm Daily

Sri Kamala Vilas Restaurant Part II

So you guys remember the first visit to Sri Kamala Vilas?

Well we found out that the thosai was absolutely the bomb there but people kept insisting that we tyr the supposedly delicious Chicken Masala. Sure or not??? Well obviously gotta go back and try right?
And this time I brought the family.

So my darling wife and I brought Mum, Dad and my brother to try it out.
(Don't worry Yana we will go back again okay!)

Well anyways I'm not gonna be posting much about the thosai because we already went that route in the first review of Sri Kamala Vilas.

I had the Ghee Masala Paper Thosai again of course. Mum had a Paper Masala Thosai and she says it was "nice" and she agreed with the original review that the Masala in the thosai is really good cos its creamy. Dad had a normal Thosai and says that "all Thosai tastes the same lah" (but I saw him take second helping of the sambar!) and my brother had a Ghee Masala Thosai. He actually seems the most enthusiastic and said that "it rocks". Safe to say - they all enjoyed the Thosai too.

But, the actual reason we came back was not for the Thosai...
After my last post, I received a few messages telling me to try the Chicken Masala there. I'll be honest and say that Chicken Masala is never even on my mind when I go and eat at this kind of place. Come to think I won't even mention Chicken Masala because... well... it's nothing special to me...
So my darling wife took the plunge.

 Chicken Masala Briyani ($6.70)

So that's a pretty big serving of briyani I can tell you. It's just nice for one if you're hungry but I reckon 2 could probably share it. And at first glance I guess you would probably assume it's your normal run-of-the-mill briyani. I mean, this place is known for its thosai and not its briyani right?

And I guess it wasn't so bad. Rice wasn't as tasty as some places I've been. The usual raita and pappadum.
The dalcha was okay as well but nothing special I'd say. I do however wish they'd use a different achar pickle. This one didn't really have any kick.

But I say again... we did not come back for the thosai. Nor the briyani...

Chicken Masala

Now THIS is what I'm talking about. This is what we came to try.
So many people recommended this exact dish here. So it must be damn good right...

Like I said, I'm not really the type to go crazy for Chicken Masala when we go out to eat.
I mean how good can it be right? Well.........

THIS WAS THE BOMB!!

Okay lah don't say the chicken or whatever lah (because everyone has their own preference on how they like their chicken) but I'm talking about the masala!! OMG!! It's damn nice lah. In fact it was so nice that even after we were done eating I was still dipping my fingers into the masala and eating it on its own. No more rice no more thosai no more chicken. I was just eating the Masala on its own!

It's got a very good taste. Super tasty.
And I think the best part is probably the fact that it's spicy but it doesn't burn your mouth or put you off the dish. It's the right amount of spice to make you keep going back for more and more and more.

Whoever recommended for me to go back and try this - THANK YOU!

Adam's Verdict:
Chicken Masala 5/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Chicken Masala Briyani 4/5

Azlan's Verdict:
Ghee Masala Thosai 5/5

Dad's Verdict:
Thosai 2/5

Mum's Verdict:
Paper Masala Thosai 3/5

So there you have it.
So many more things to have at Sri Kamala Vilas but I actually have a strong feeling that when we go back we will probably have the Thosai and Chicken Masala again!


Sri Kamala Vilas Restaurant

Blk 662 Buffalo Road
#01-16 (Opposite Tekka Market)

Operating Hours: 8.30am til 9.00pm daily






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Updated 7 May 2013

Well it's looks like Sri Kamala Vilas has undergone a slight makeover!

They have renamed themselves to a simpler 'Kamala Restaurant'.
Not to worry, it's still at the same location. They've just done some minor renovations to clean up the place and make it a little more roomy.

And in case you were wondering, it's still Halal and the prices are still the same :)
In fact, I had another Ghee Masala Paper Thosai today and it seemed a little bigger! An absolute monster!

So head down soon and don't be shocked to see the new decor!

Adam Road Food Centre - Adam's Indian Rojak

Okay so I've heard SO MUCH about the "delicious" Indian Rojak at the Adam Road Food Centre that might actually be the best Indian Rojak in town. Supposedly.

I remember seeing one of those makan shows on TV when I was younger and they featured this famous stall at Adam Road Food Centre. It had this giant pot of Indian Rojak gravy that was on constant heat so you get it piping hot and thus ensuring you have a great serving of Indian Rojak.

And after years and year and years of saying I've simply got to try it, the time finally arrived.

Indian Rojak ($8.00)

Okay let me start of by saying that my darling wife and I went there on a Saturday evening at about 6pm.
Now, I'm not sure if this is the prime time for Indian Rojak but the selection at the stall was not very impressive to be honest.

Was it because we went at the wrong time?
Or is it because this Indian Rojak is so damn nice that the good stuff was all sold out by the time we arrived?
Hmmmmm.....

Well we still managed to get some of the usual like Fish Cake, Paru (BeefLung), Hotdog, Prawn Wadeh, Potato and Flour with Egg. The individual item range between $0.70 to $1.50 (Minimum Order $3.00) which is pretty normal for Indian Rojak I guess... But the problem with Indian Rojak is... no matter whatever you choose, in the end you just pay the guy whatever price he mentions. Like in this case - I don't think that plate above costs $8.00...

One thing that was good about this place is that they will quickly fry your items in a giant kuali of boiling oil ensuring a nice crisp to the rojak. Butt if you're looking for anything more than that, sorry. That's it.

And now - the most important part of Indian Rojak (in my humble opinion)

The kuah is oh so the important lah!!

And in this case, this is what you will encounter...
First - Sweet. Second - Spicy. Third - Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
And it definitely helps that it's served piping hot! One of the best Indian Rojak gravy ever!

And in case you were wondering, the sweetness isn't because of sugar.
Interestingly, it's because of little sultanas that they add into the gravy... Smart!

Last but not least I simply have to mention this.
The first time the guys passed me our plate of Rojak, it turned out to be the wrong one. Meaning some other dude also got the wrong plate. So we had to go back and tell them "We didn't take any Tahu".

Adam's Verdict:
Indian Rojak 2.5/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Indian Rojak 3/5

Okay to be perfectly honest, I really wasn't impressed. So much for the Best Rojak in Town?
But then again, it really might have been bad timing. So many reviews saying it rocks must count for something right? Right?
So i reckon we might go back for a 2nd try. Plus I saw some other stuff I wanna try too.

Adam's Indian Rojak

Adam Road Food Centre
No 2 Adam Road Stall #01-05

Operating Hours:
9.00am til 10.30pm Daily

Asli Village - Fish Soup

When you're feeling under the weather... When your throat feels like it might get shredded if you swallow something solid... You look for soup.

Fish Soup is becoming increasing popular and it seems to getting easier and easier to find someone selling a Halal version nowadays. I remember when I was a kid, there was only one place we saw selling a Halal bowl of fish soup and that was at Bedok South. That stall is obviously long gone. But you can find this dish at most food courts now (eg Banquet, Mr Teh Tarik etc) but is it any good?

After all, the dish seems simple enough to make but will it taste good?

Sliced Fish Soup Noodles ($4.50)

So my darling wife ordered the most basic versions of this dish. Just some sliced fish with noodles in broth.
And of course it comes with all the trimmings like a little tofu, seaweed and veggies.

Now the thing about fish soup is you need to make sure of at least 2 things before you worry about anything else. 1) Ensure the fish does not taste fishy (aka hamching in my books) and 2) the broth is good (and by good I mean tasty with a good,hearty fish flavour).

Unfortunately in this case, neither was done.
The fish definitely has a hint of the hanmching-ness. I'm not sure what fish they are using or whether it was of a fresh enough quality to use for such a dish but it definitely failed the fish-taste test.

In terms of the both, I think you can see for yourself in the picture above.
A little too much oil and to be honest I wouldn't even consider it a fish broth. Not at all.

Fried and Sliced Fish Soup ($5.00)

I like a little bite in my fish soup so I normally go for the mix of fried fish and sliced fish.
And I know I shouldn't but I almost always add a little milk to it.

Okay so for the sliced fish, the challenge is giving a fresh and good quality of fish.
For the fried fish, the challenge is not just the fish but also (and just as importantly) - the batter coating.
The problem is sometimes they overdo the coating so you get very little fish and very odd-tasting batter.

And unfortunately that was the case here.
Not sure what that taste is though... The flour? Baking soda? Sure is weird.
But at least there was still some fish meat to enjoy.

Sliced vs Fried

Which would you choose eh?

Adam's Verdict:
Sliced and Fried Fish Soup 2/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Sliced Fish Soup 1/5

Well I guess the hunt for a good Fish Soup continues!

Asli Village - Fish Soup

1 Pasir Ris Close (Downtown East)
 www.downtowneast.com.sg/eat/food_court

Operating Hours:
10am - 10pm Daily