Nur Jannah - Beef Noodles

So here I am out running errands for lunch and I decided to have a quick bite before I head back to the office because I was super-duper hungry.

My first choice of makan place was a bust because they weren't ready to start business for the day yet (weirdly) and I had actually decided to just skip lunch and head back on an empty stomach after all. But through some stroke of luck, I passed by Nur Jannah and they had something that tickled my fancy after all.

Vietnamese Beef Noodles ($7.50)

I'll be honest and say that I've never really had Vietnamese Beef Noodles aka Pho before. But I've always wanted to and here was my chance at last!

I actually went all out and ordered something that was technically not part of the menu. Instead of just the Beef Noodles or the Beef Ball Noodles, I ordered the Beef Noodles plus Beef Balls which explains the rather hefty price of the dish. If not, it's between $5-$6.

Double Trouble

 

As you all probably know, I'm 'The Meat Guy' so the more beef the merrier!
The glass noodles were also not bad in the sense that they were not too heavy but it was quite a large serving so you end up filling up nonetheless.

The beef slices were tender and had a nice bite and beefy flavour. The Beef Balls were also great and you could taste the beef and not just the fillers. A really hearty serving.

I think the biggest disappointment of this dish was the stock. No doubt it had a beefy flavour but I guess I was expecting a much richer flavour. Not bad but could be better. I'm not sure if this was normally how the stock should taste like? Since this was my first actual experience with Pho so I'm also not sure but I know that I've had beef stock with a much heartier beef flavour.

Adam's Verdict:
Vietnamese Beef Noodles 2.5/5

In the end, I ended up paying the price of the dish just for the beef slices and the beef balls.
Maybe I'll try Pho somewhere else so I can compare.

Noor Jannah's Kitchen

2 Jalan Masjid
Tel: 6848 4654

Operating Hours: 11.00am til 12 midnight
(Other stall within may operate different timings)

ROUSE

First heard about Rouse online when some people were buzzing about how cool and hip it was.
And when I saw Shamsydar Ani's post on Instagram about the food, we simply could not resist! But could the food live up to its reputation?

And when the HungryGoWhere Guest Instagrammer '5 Halal Pastas' project came along, it was a given because ROUSE had a pasta dish that a few people had recommended.

So one fine evening, we eagerly made our way down to Dunlop Street with great expectations.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup ($7.90)

First up for starters was the Roasted Butternut Squash Soup.
I'll be honest and say that I've had Butternut Squash before but never as a soup. For me, it tasted like a cross between pumpkin and sweet potato so I was interested to see how it would be.

I'd have to say I quite enjoyed it! The soup was creamy and was tasty. You could tastes the butternut squash and also the seasoning as well without it being overpowering.

A smooth start to our meal I'd say.

Quinoa Quake ($16.90)

First thing to note - I kept calling this the 'Quinoa Cake' but it's actually QUAKE! LOL.
And secondly - I'm not sure whether I should classify this as an appetizer or a main.
The menu places it under 'Savouries' which is a separate section from the 'Mains' so I guess I can classify this as an appetizer.

That being said, this is quite an expensive appetizer at $16.90!
(In fact, even a pasta main course costs the same on the menu)

What exactly is Quinoa anyways?
Well, it's actually a type of grain or a cereal that's so healthy that it's classified as a 'superfood'. Surely that means it's gotta be good for you right?

The Quinoa Quake at Rouse is served with Smoked Salmon (ZOMG), a poached egg, lemon dill yoghurt and some leafy greens to top off the whole healthy experience. I actually quite like the Quinoa patty itself. It has a nice breading and was especially good with the tasty lemon dill yoghurt.
And I am such a sucker for Smoked Salmon. I guess my biggest issue was the price because this dish was not enough to be filling on its own and yet had a price up there with the mains. Maybe quinoa is really expensive? I am really not sure.

Beef Wrapped Asparagus ($16.90)

I actually hadn't heard of this one but Mein Brudder says "a lot of people said this one is the bomb" so surely we had to try it right?

So there's 2 spears of asparagus which the wrap with a slice of beef. They lay invitingly on a bed of pumpkin mash while a poached egg awaits on a slice of toast. This would normally sounds like it was gonna be great to me but somehow the end result was not what we expected.

The beef was... well... I'm not quite sure how to describe it.
The outside was tough (maybe a bit overcooked?) but the inside part closer to the asparagus was... very underdone to say the least. We didn't finish the beef.

But we did finish the pumpkin mash and the egg and the toast though. Such a pity about the beef.
Mein Brudder did quite like the flavour though.

Spicy Asian Penne Crab Pasta ($16.90)

And we finally got to the dish that we came for. The pasta dish to be featured on HungryGoWhere's Guest Instagrammer feature! Surely this had to be worth it right?

Thankfully, this one hit the spot.
It kinda had a Thai accent to it with the chilli and the lemongrass (there plenty of small slices of lemongrass you cannot miss them). If you're worried about it being too spicy, don't worry.

The serving of crab meat was really generous and as with most pasta dishes, this was really filling.
But just to confirm for you, this one does not have any sauce to go with it okay.

And what did we have to drink?

Iced Chocolate ($6.50)

Nice and rich with chocolate flavour, this is an obvious must have for all your choco-holics.
Refreshing but still not too heavy to have with your meal. I'm guessing this is (and will be) quite a firm favourite with a lot of people!

Iced Peppermint Cucumber Tea ($6.50)

If I said the Iced Chocolate was refreshing, this is 10x more refreshing!
I decided to go a slightly different route with my beverage choice and saw this rather unique option.

I'm quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this. It was nice and tasty and even though I could taste the cucumber, it was not weird at all. Maybe I'm a jakun and I don't try enough healthy drinks or juices but if they all taste like this then I don't mind!

Adam's Verdict:
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup 3/5 -- Quinoa Quake 4/5 -- Beef Wrapped Asparagus 1/5
Spicy Asian Penne Crab Pasta 3.5/5 -- Iced Peppermint Cucumber Tea 4.5/5

Azlan's Verdict:
Quinoa Quake 4/5 -- Beef Wrapped Asparagus 3/5 -- Spicy Asian Penne Crab Pasta 4/5
Iced Chocolate 3.5/5

 I guess one of the reasons Rouse is making a name for itself is because it's quite a simple and laidback spot where you can chill with some friends. The decor itself is very simple as you can see.

But be sure to get a good table by going early. We made our plans a little bit too late and ended up sitting in the middle of the walkway in front of the door and on small crates no less.
That's right. We sat on crates. you can see an example in that picture above. See the crate?

Well, there are still a few things on the menu that we'd like to try so I guess we'll visit again soon.

ROUSE

36 Dunlop Street
Tel: 6292 2642
www.facebook.com/rouseondunlop

Operating Hours
Mondays, Wednesdays, Thurdays 12:00 - 22:00
Fridays and Saturdays 12:00 - 23:00
Sundays 11:00 - 19:00
Closed on Tuesdays  

  

S.K. Connection - Bakso

Is it finally time for the review on the S.K. Connection Ayam Penyet?
Errr... sorry folks. Gotta wait a little longer.

Last time I covered the Lontong and now I'm moving on to the Bakso.

The Bakso isn't actually even a permanent item on the menu. It's actually a daily special which sometimes appears on the menu like some of their other daily specials like Nasi Briyani and Kachang Phool.
In fact, I chanced upon it when I headed there to have Ayam Penyet but seeing it on the menu kinda tickled my fancy. Kinda reminded me of having Bakso in Jakarta, Bali and Bandung.

I couldn't resist!

Bakso ($3.00)

Hmmmmm... maybe I should have stuck to my guns with the Ayam Penyet.

It actually looks pretty nice in the picture doesn't it?
Unfortunately I was not expecting the yellow noodles there. I was actually expecting those instant noodle type deals which you'd normally get with Bakso.

The soup was kinda bland and not much taste at all.
The beef balls were actually not bad and probably the only thing in the bowl that I finished.
That and the green leafy vegetable.

Adam's Verdict:
Bakso 1.5/5

And that's completely for the beef balls. I guess the idea is there but execution not quite. Maybe because I was expecting too much?

Remember when I said "I couldn't resist!"? I think I need to work a bit more on my resistance power.

S.K. Connection

Blk 36 Chai Chee Avenue
#01-169

Tel: 9824 7500

Operating Hours:
6.30am til 5.00pm Mondays til Saturdays
Closed on Sunday

Fish & Co

I remember the big fuss when Fish & Co opened in Singapore all those years ago.
Seems like not so long ago but that was 1998! About 15 years ago! Well it wasn't always certified Halal because they did serve alcoholic beverages along with their famous seafood but no worries about that now!

And I know that a lot of people would label Fish & Co as one of those restaurants that is overrated and would rather avoid but I guess it's not so bad in my books and I quite like it to be honest.

Well we are visiting their flagship store at Glass House in Dhoby Ghaut and hoping for a good hearty meal! I remember all the fanfare when they first opened at Glass House and would make regular visits there with family and colleagues especially since we were all working in the area!

Well, that was a pretty long time ago and plenty of people have given feedback about Fish & Co over the years. Some good. Some bad. But hey that's the same with a lot of places right?

Well I'm hungry so let's start with some appetizers shall we?

Mushroom Soup ($4.50)

I know that doesn't look very spectacular but hey I have to include the soup right?
We actually ordered the Soup of the Day and it happened to be Mushroom Soup today.

Despite it's rather pale colour, it actually tasted okay. There were bits of mushroom here and there with a nice earthy and warming taste. I guess if they would only do something to improve the look of it.
But having said that, it's definitely an improvement from the time when they used to serve their soup in teacups. (Does anyone else remember that?)

Anyways, I personally prefer their Chowder (either fish or clam or seafood)

Fried Calamari ($9.95)

Now this is a MUST HAVE especially if my Brother is around!
I think this might actually be one of the best things that they serve at Fish & Co because it's deep fried, tasty and simple enough for everyone to just pick up and enjoy!

The coating is seasoned really well and makes it really tasty with a really crisp bite when you chomp down.
The calamari itself is succulent and not at all rubbery. Goes great with the accompanying mayonnaise!
 And if you're not a fan of the deep fried, they also have Grilled Calamari!

Soft Shell Crab Salad ($11.95)

Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken ($9.95)

We also decided to try some salads to make it a complete meal.
After all, we're supposed have 2 servings of vegetables a day right? :P

The Soft Shell Crab Salad was err... interesting to say the least.
As you can see from the picture, the batter coating on the soft shell crab was really really thick. No doubt it was crispy but you end up having to bite into more batter than crab. I guess some might like it but I guess I personally prefer a little less batter. And as you can see, besides the soft shell crab, the salad itself it pretty basic.

And as for the Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken, sigh.
Yeah sure you get a rel nice big serving of the grilled chicken but because of the hot chicken, the salad below kinda gets.... disappointing. And it's so oily!

Look at how the lettuce leaves have wilted because of the heat from the grilled chicken!
I'm definitely all for a nice hot meal but this might be the first time that I've had a salad where the accompanying meat was so hot that the salad leaves wilted. I'm not sure if this is how it is at all their outlets but this is good if you're going more for the chicken but not if you're hoping for a nice crisp salad.

Crispy Whole Line Fish ($19.95)

This has recently become one of my favourite things to have when I visit Fish & Co.
(It used to be the Swordfish Collar everytime in the past by the way)

Imagine a whole barramundi (which is pretty much like a seabass aka siakap) coated and depp fried til it gets super crispy on the outside but still remains nice and tender and flaky on the inside. You then get to choose if you want to top it off with Sambal OR Lemon Butter Sauce!

I really love the crisp on this fish and when they serve it hot and you peel the flesh back your appetite really gets going! I normally choose the Sambal because I think it goes well. The Sambal itself is not super spicy nor is it the sweet type so it goes well with the fish overall.

When you order, you also get to choose 2 sides to go along.
Either rice, chips, coleslaw, mashed potatoes or stewed vegetables. I always choose the rice (so-called makan nasi with ikan lah konon) and then add it up with either some potatoes or coleslaw. Perfecto!

Adam's Verdict:
Mushroom Soup 2/5 -- Fried Calamari 4/5 -- Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken 2.5/5
Crispy Whole Line Fish with Sambal 4.5/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Fried Calamari 3.5/5 -- Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken 1/5

Unfortunately it seems like the standards (including the service at Fish & Co Glass House seem to be on the down and down.
There's actually so much more to the Fish & Co menu since they recently revamped it. So look forward to more posts including some sole-ly (geddit geddit) dedicated to the different types of Fish & Chips!

And here's a tip - Top-up $5.50 when you order your main to "Complete Your Meal" with the Soup of the Day and also a choice of drink!

Fish & Co.

Glass House Park Mall
9 Penang Road #01-24

Tel: 6334 1858
www.fish-co.com

Operating Hours:
11.30am til 10.00pm Daily

Bagus Changi City Point: Seafood Ramen and Chicken Char Siew Noodles

So here we were at Changi City Point and we wanted to have some dinner before going to a fair at the nearby Singapore Expo. Gasp! Forgot to bring camera! How to review food!

Well, our readers responded that they wouldn't mind if the pics were snapped from a camera phone hence this post was born! Just please pardon the pics though...

Seafood Ramen ($5.00)

My darling wife actually really loves Korean food. She's the one who brought me to my first ever Chicken Bulgogi and Saba Fish Set when were still dating so it's no surprise that she's probably going to head to the Korean stall once in awhile.

Surprisingly, she passed on the Bulgogi and instead went for another Korean/Japanese fave - Ramen!

The Ramen here is basically instant noodles served in a Kimchi broth. Not really what I expected to be honest. I thought they'd at least use some Ramen you know what I mean. And of course, as you can see, it comes packed with all kinds of seafood goodies like prawns and squid and a whole load of veggies too.

The broth itself was not too bad I guess. Nice and hearty especially on a cold day and you can taste the kimchi flavour although it's not that spicy. My darling wife thought it was actually pretty tasteless. But we both agreed on one thing - the noodles really let us down.

Side serving of anchovies and kimchi was a bit of a letdown too.
Stingy!!

But there was still a saving grace...


ZOMG NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A YOLK OF YOLKS!
And trust me... it was divinely runny...

Oh well. I guess overall it was still pretty disappointing.

Chicken Char Siew Noodles ($4.80)

 As always, I'm a sucker for Chicken Char Siew so I had some noodles.

It was pretty standard but didn't really look anything like the picture. The Chicken Char Siew was tender but was pretty much just roasted chicken. Didn't really have much of the sweet glaze it's supposed to have...
But at least the dish wasn't tasteless I guess.

Oh and by the way, the dumplings come are not included in the price of the dish.
I felt like some dumplings so I added some for $0.80 a piece.

I guess it was actually pretty worth it. Nice and packed with chicken meat and mushrooms.
Added some bite to the dish and also a good add-on for those who might be a little bit extra hungry.

I gave the soup a miss though (thank goodness). It had kind of a funny taste to it.
Or was it just me?

Adam's Verdict:
Seafood Ramen 2/5 -- Chicken Char Siew Noodles 3/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Seafood Ramen 2/5

Still plenty of stalls to try at this place. Heard some of the readers say it's the bomb but some say it's really not worth it to eat there. Well, I guess we'll see!

And one of our readers mentioned Nasi Kelate. Couldn't find the stall though.
Any ideas?

Bagus Foodcourt (Changi City Point)

Changi City Point
5 Changi Business Park Central 1

Operating Hours:
11.00am til 9.30pm Daily

Delifrance: Les Sandwichs, Les Soups and Fruit Tarts

Delifrance is a name that I'm sure most people are familiar with.
It's been around for the longest time and everyone has had a taste of their famous sandwiches (and even their widely available baguettes) at least once before.

We've eaten there on quite a few occasions but only officially reviewed it one before.
Remember the special sandwich they released awhile back?

Well maybe we should stick to the classic... or should I say.. classique choices.

Chicken D'light on Croissant ($6.80)

Delifrance actually has 2 different of ranges for the sandwiches.
One (and more recently added) is the 'Les Sandwichs Signature' series which is a specific set of specialty sandwiches with fancy names.

The ones that I normally order are from the 'Les Sandwichs Classique' range which has some of your favourite sandwiches. One of them being the good and trusted Chicken Mayo.

Well they've named it the Chicken D'light and you get to choose your type of bread of course.
My darling wife almost always opts for the croissant because Delifrance definitely has one of the best croissants around. Buttery and crisp on the outside.

The chicken mayo itself is delicious. Nice chunks of chicken mixed in with creamy mayonnaise. And the mayonnaise is not overly sour and does not overpower the chicken flavour.

Chicken D'light on Ciabatta ($7.50)

We love the Chicken D'light so much I actually ordered one for myself. :P

I actually wanted it served on a baguette but apparently they were all out. I then opted for their newer Rustic Baguette but for some reason, they kept pushing me to take Ciabatta instead... :\
Oh well... Ciabatta it was I guess.

And I totally didn't like the bread. Maybe I'm not a Ciabatta kinda guy.
The chicken mayo was still delicious but I guess they bread obviously makes a big difference.

Tomato Bouillon

Mushroom Duxelle

If you're having a sandwich, you can opt to add $4.50 for a serving of the Soup of the Day or you could also order the soup ala carte for $4.00.

Pssssttt... here's a tip - take the set for $4.50 :)

You have 2 choices for the soup so depending on the outlet (and your luck), it's a choice of either the Tomato Bouillon or the Mushroom Duxelle.

The Tomato Bouillon has a very strong tomato flavour and a sure choice for those who enjoy a good summer soup to warm you up. The Mushroom Duxelle is a more hearty choice for you mushroom lovers. Very earthy and strong mushroom flavour here.

Mixed Fruit Tart / Peach Tart ($3.80 each)

Strawberry Tart ($3.80)

One of my favourite things to get is the Fruit Tart.
Great for a pick-me-up or as a gift if you're visiting someone! (In fact I brought a dozen as a gift when I met my darling wife's parents for the first time!)

A good assortment of Mixed Fruit, Strawberry and Peach Tarts to choose from.
My favourite used to be the Blueberry but I seldom see it nowadays... Maybe stopped?
Well all of that rests on a nice bed of custard which is a winner with all my fellow sweet-toothed readers.
The pastry shell has a good flavour and makes a satisfying mouthful with the fruit and custard.

I guess some might say it's a little on the sweet side (well it is a tart what do you expect) but they also have mini versions for those who want smaller doses.

Adam's Verdict:
Chicken D'light on Ciabatta 2.5/5 -- Tomato Bouillon 3/5 -- Mushroom Duxelle 4/5
Fruit Tarts 4.5/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Chicken D'light on Croissant 3.5/5 -- Mushroom Duxelle 3.5/5 -- Fruit Tarts 3/5

So many new things to try on Delifrance's revamped menu! But I guess one thing we expect to have when we visit will be a good Les Sandwich am I les right or les what?

Delifrance

Tampines Mall #01-38
Tel: 62608552
www.delifrance.com.sg

Operating Hours:
8.00am til 10.00pm Daily

Abdul Basith - Mee Kuah

Here's another one from my lunchtime adventures in Chai Chee.

So I've tried the Mutton Steak and the Mutton Chop from this stall (and officially reviewed it) so here's the next installment - Mee Kuah.

I know a lot of people are very particular about how they like their Mee Kuah to be.
Some expect it to be spicy or a certain consistency. Some expect a special kind of flavour to be present with every mouthful of noodles and that fiery gravy.

I've heard stories about some really nice ones but I've only had a few different versions and only officially reviewed one - Saffron's Mee Kuah. So here's the Abdul Basith version.

Mee Kuah ($3.50)

Now that doesn't look that bad right? Well it doesn't taste that bad either!

A nice consistency for the gravy. Not too watery and definitely full of flavour.
I understand that Mee Kuah is basically a peppery spice soup and this definitely lives up to that reputation. And in this case, I even asked for extra spicy so it definitely packed a punch.

Adam's Verdict:
Mee Kuah 3.5/5

But as always, the problem with the food at Abdul Basith is the consistency.
Had this three times at this stall to be honest and it was different every single time.
A general tip - it's gonna be good if the Mamak Mullet is the one cooking.

Who's the Mamak Mullet? Well, look for the mullet. You'll know what I mean.

Abdul Basith

FOODHUB @ Chai Chee aka T1
Blk 26A Chai Chee Road

Operating Hours:
5.30am - 10pm Daily

Swensen's - Soups & Salad

Don't ask us why but this post is all about soup and salad at Swensen's

Caesar Salad with Smoked Salmon ($12.50)

I guess it all started when I felt like having, of all things, a Caesar Salad.
It's not that I don't like salad or veggies. I guess that for a meat eater like me, salad is normally on the side and not really the main dish.

Well the Caesar Salad at Swensen's can definitely be the main dish on its own.
The dish it comes in is enormous with extra large utensils for tossing too!

The lettuce was extra crisp and the egg, cheese and croutons really go well together. Plus we all know what a sucker I am for smoked salmon so that was definitely a winner.

And the Caesar Salad dressing comes separately so you can choose how much you want to add. Awwww... Swensen's is so considerate!
By the way, the sauce was delicious so you'll probably end up using all of it anyways.


You can also have the version with Breaded Chicken or Fish ($12.00) or if you're feeling like a rabbit that day, you can always have the plain Caesar Salad ($10.00). No prizes for guessing which one I strongly recommend (Pssst it's the ssssmoked ssssalmon...)

Clam Chowder ($9.40)

Something I order often (more often than the salad) at Swensen's is the Clam Chowder.

I just find it so hearty and warm plus I really like Clam Chowder. Just so happens that they make a pretty good one at Swensen's! Doesn't that look so inviting or is it just me??

The chowder is nice and thick and creamy. The clam flavour is just right and it's not too overwhelming but if you'd like you can always add a nice big dash of pepper no problem. I've a feeling that once you take your first spoon, you're going to keep going until it's all gone.

The Clam Chowder is served in a Sourdough bread bowl. This means that you have some bread to dip into your chowder and you can even EAT THE BOWL too!

SERIOUSLY!! NO JOKE!!!

Well, I'm gonna stop talking about the Clam Chowder because it's making me feel like having one right now.
Let's move along shall we?

Creamy Mushroom Soup ($9.40)

Looking for something a little bit more classic?
Well, you can't get more classic than a creamy mushroom soup am I right?

This isn't exactly the stuff you get out of a Campbell's can I confirm that for you first of all.
This is a really good tasting soup which is nice and rich and has a very strong mushroom flavour.
It's served in a Sourdough bread bowl just like the Clam Chowder so you're all set to get filled up!

My Sister-In-Law even goes as far as to say this is the "best mushroom soup" she's ever had!

Adam's Verdict:
Caesar Salad with Smoked Salmon 4.5/5 -- Clam Chowder 4/5

Azlan's Verdict:
Creamy Mushroom Soup 3/5

Eriyana's Verdict:
Creamy Mushroom Soup 5/5

So this post is only about a salad and some soups but you can see that even without the main dish, it could very well be more than enough to fill you up!

Swensen's

Changi Airport Terminal 2
Mezzanine Level, Arrival Hall North,

Tel: 6542 8219
http://www.swensens.com.sg

Operating Hours: 24 Hours Daily

Farewell Tong Seng Coffeeshop - Chicken Feet Noodles

So I'm sure you've heard by now. And if you haven't heard before this then I'm guessing it's too late...
Tong Seng Coffeeshop in Bugis will officially close its doors on 15th October 2013.
After more than a decade of being a crowd favourite, Tong Seng will finally be calling it a day.

Apparently, the boss has decided it was time to retire. We hear the building has been sold to new owners which is the current hawkers have to vacate the premises. No news yet on any plans for relocation or even if the premises will be used for a new makan place in future.

I remember first going to Tong Seng in my teens. I'd say some time probably around 2003 maybe? And acoording to some people, I joined the party pretty late!

I didn't know much back then but I knew that Tong Seng was already popular by then most probably it was one of the few places which offered Chinese-style hawker food like Wanton Noodles and was certified Halal. We are talking about a time when it was actually pretty tough to find such stalls around compared to today where you can find Halal-certified eateries for any style of cuisine around any corner.

And since my first visit, I found myself visiting more and more often most of the time with friends or classmates because Tong Seng was one of those places people loved to go to for hang-out sessions.
The food was affordable and the location in Bugis was pretty central so it was a win-win for everyone.

You'll probably hear some mixed reviews about Tong Seng. Some will say the food is so-so and the service below standard. Some will say it was great back in the day but the standards have really dropped over the years. Some will tell you that they have the some of the best Chicken Rice and Fish Soup Noodles on the island while others may say that it's just a convenient lunchtime place. Or maybe like me, you go back and have the same dish over and over again.

Well, whatever you may have heard about Tong Seng, one thing is for sure - Tong Seng remains a favourite to many many people and judging for the reaction to the news we posted about Tong Seng closing, it's very obvious that a lot of people feel the same way about Tong Seng as we do.

Well, all things must pass and good food will come and go. And whether you hate them of love them, let's give credit where credit is due to an icon.


Many a makan session with friends and family over the years.
Thanks for the memories and the food, Tong Seng.

Chicken Feet Noodles ($3.50)

For one of my last meals at Tong Seng, I decided to break away from my normal routine.

When I do visit Tong Seng, I normally order one particular dish - Wanton Noodles.
Don't ask me why but it's just a given. (Maybe something to do with my fave Ajinomoto Soup?)

A friend of mine, Amimah, has been hounding me for years and year to try the Chicken Feet Noodles at Tong Seng and I have never ever tried it there not even once in 10 years of visiting. Most likely because the best Chicken Feet I've ever had (and will probably ever have) is cooked by my Dad at home. It's a special homemade recipe which always hits the spot for me and I guess I just find it hard to believe that anything is going to beat my Dad's version.

Well since it's already the end of the road, I decided to have it once and for all before the chance goes away.

The noodles is pretty much the same as if you were to order any of the other noodle dishes (i.e. Wanton Noodles, Shredded Chicken Noodles etc) which means you can have it as spicy as you like (they'll just add more chili base for you).

I expected the noodles to have some of the herbal broth from the chicken feet but there was none of that except for some mushrooms. The chicken feet were actually really quite big so you'll definitely get your fill if you're a fan of chicken feet.

Fried Wanton ($3.00)

And as always, I had an order of Fried Wanton (so much for breaking from routine).

Since the last time I had Fried Wantons, I can really see and feel the difference. The chicken meat filling has definitely gotten lesser and the wantons were a tad over-fried so they had a slightly burnt taste.
No doubt they were still deep-fried crispy goodness but I guess it's this kind of thing that make people say that the standards have dropped over the years.

But hey, I still got my Ajinomoto Soup!

Adam's Verdict:
Chicken Feet Noodles 3/5 -- Fried Wanton 2/5

If you haven't had your last plate of Chicken Rice (whatever it is you fancy at Tong Seng) yet, make your way down this weekend because Monday 14th October 2013 is the last day of operations!

Good prices. Good location. Good times with Good people. Good soup. Goodbye.
May Tong Seng Coffeeshop lives on in our hearts and our stomachs!

 Tong Seng Coffeshop

496 North Beach Road
Tel: 6338 0163

Operating Hours: 6.00am til 11.00pm Daily

Tong Seng Coffeeshop - Wanton Noodles

Now I'm sure many of you have gone to Tong Seng before.
This makan corner just across the road from Bugis Junction has been churning out Halal Chinese-style food for years upon years and people still flock there.

They've got quite a few things to offer actually but the different food items available are basically from different stalls which make up the 'Tong Seng Family' so to speak. From Chicken Rice to Lor Mee to breakfast items like Nasi Lemak and Epok-Epok. Apparently Tong Seng has 'em all.

So my old buddies Joseph & Rita and I frequent Tong Seng for one thing and one thing only.
We fondly refer to it as 'Halal Wanton'. But the truth it... it's something else that draws us back...

Wanton Noodles ($3.50)

Some noodles, some veggies and some Halal Wanton.
Can't get any simpler than that.

But then again, with something so simple I guess you can't really expect much.
Sure there's some flavour but with most noodle dishes, it's the side offerings that are supposed to give you a little bit of kick to keep you coming back for more.

And in this case, I guess it's supposed to be the wantons.

Fried Wanton ($3.00)

So you can also order the wantons as a side dish if you'd like.

They do have a nice crispy crunch to it and the the filling is pretty flavourful.
Everyone loves a nice crackle when you bite into something fried and this wanton definitely dies that.
And don't worry, that white stuff isn't salt. It's probably flour.

Speaking of salt...

This is the soup that comes with your order of noodles.
That's right.

We always joke and call it 'Ajinomoto Soup' because that's what we get.
A nice bowl of teeth-chattering, salty-goodness soup. I remember there was one time when we probably got the last scrapes at the bottom of the pot and that soup was salt-eeeeeeeeee to the max.
Not that I'm complaining.

As Joseph says "That'll put hair on your balls!".
And if you have no balls? Well, then maybe this will grow you some balls!
Kidding.

But I am glad to report that the soup has definitely mellowed down over the years...
It's not salty to a point that it's inedible. In fact, I think it goes very well with the noodled you'll order.
I drop a wanton or 3 to let them soak in the soupy goodness before chomping down.
Yummy.

Adam's Verdict:
Wanton Noodles 2.5/5 -- Fried Wanton 3/5

Joseph's Verdict:
Wanton Noodles 3/5 -- Fried Wanton 3/5

Rita's Verdict:
Wanton Noodles 2/5 -- Fried Wanton 3/5

So if you're in the area and need a place to chomp and chat with friends.
Head down to Tong Seng and have some wanton. And soup.

PS please pardon the shoddy photography in this post..
There must have been a lunar eclipse or something. Better pics next time we go!

Tong Seng Coffeshop

496 North Beach Road
Tel: 6338 0163

Operating Hours: 6.00am til 11.00pm Daily

Streats Hong Kong Cafe

Quite a number of increasing choices for us to get Halal Hong Kong-Chinese cuisine and this of course includes something we all love - Dim Sum!!

So I discovered this place called Streats Hong Kong Cafe at Downtown East.
At first I didn't realize it was Halal but a closer look shows the Halal logo displayed proudly in the front.
And they seem to really be trying to keep to the kind of Hong Kong cafe we see elsewhere BUT this one is Halal of course.

Fried Pumpkin with Salted Egg Yolk ($3.80)

So for appetizers we started with the pumpkin.
We did this for one simple reason - anything with salted egg yolk MUST be good right?

As far as appetizers go, this is a winner.
The pumpkin is light and preps you for the meal ahead and you can taste the salted egg.
But in my opinion, there can never be enough salted egg yolk and this one seemed a little light on the yolk.

And now for the mains!

Famous HK Fried Beef Hor Fun ($8.50)

Firstly, it's not as oily as it looks...

You can have either the gravy version or the dry version. Above is the latter.
But I should also mention that we requested that we asked for it to be "extra black" with the intention of it having extra black sweet sauce added when cooking. And we also asked for it to be "extra spicy" but the server told us that this meant they would give us a side dish of sambal meaning they could not add the sambal when frying. Isn't that weird?

Anyways my darling wife didn't really like the kway teow used. It was kinda extra thin so it didn't really have a texture we were used to. Perhaps this is also the reason why the taste wasn't so strong.
It was as if either the sweet sauce they used wasn't that sweet OR the kway teow didn't really take the flavour in when cooking. In fact, the only specific taste we could identify was saltiness.

But on the plus side - the beef was actually pretty tender.
But I'm kinda questioning the high price though. I mean, it wasn't even that big of a serving...

Nissin Noodles with Chicken Luncheon Meat & Fried Egg ($7.20)

I have this thing about Hong Kong noodles ever since I saw those old Jackie Chan kung-fu movies and also the newer HK mahjong comedies. There would always be this big bowl of noodles with meat and sometimes soup and veggies. Love it.

Even though it's the instant Nissin noodles (which I guess is the HK style) it's actually a pretty decent noodle.
Top it off with chicken luncheon meat (my favourite!!) and we have a winner. I guess it's the salty edge of the luncheon meat which I (and others I suppose) love so much. Finish it off with some kai lan and a fried egg and we're all set. If you're lucky, the yolk of the egg is cooked just nicely that the yolk is fluid enough to mix in with your noodles... YUMMY!

But after all that, I face an obvious fact - you can just make this at home!
PS you can have the dry (above) or the soup version for this as well.

Salty Plum Soda & Iced Honey Lemon ($3.80 each)

In the true HK style, some of the drinks are served in those thick glasses you see above.
This includes the coffees and teas as well.

It's quite a nice touch actually. But unfortunately that's about all that's nice about them...
The sour plum was a little bit TOO sour even though it was just two sour plums in soda water.
And the Iced Honey Lemon? It's just some honey and two slices of lemon in iced water.
Tasteless.

Adam's Verdict:
Pumpkin with Salted Egg Yolk 2.5/5 --  Noodles with Chicken Luncheon Meat & Fried Egg 3/5
Iced Honey Lemon 1/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Pumpkin with Salted Egg Yolk 2/5 -- Famous HK Fried Beef Hor Fun 1/5 -- Sour Plum Soda 1/5

I actually like Streats. Most likely because it's so close my house.
You Korea-mania fans will be happy to know that they have a TV playing K-Pop music videos.
I'll probably go back there. For the Dim Sum menu. Not the K-Pop.

Streats Hong Kong Cafe

Downtown East
1 Pasir Ris Close
Tel: 6584 4001

Operating Hours: 11.00am til 10.00pm Daily (Closed on CNY)