Located at B2 of Westgate, Suparakki Ramen is a popular spot for its more affordable than average ramen served in a casual environment. With a simple menu, diners can choose between soup-based ramen such as Tonkutsu or their only dry ramen - the truffle ramen.

The ramen came with black fungus, minced pork belly, seaweed, spring onions and also half of a ramen egg. The noodles were cooked to the perfect texture - chewy and al dente. While the meat was flavorful, I would have preferred less fatty cuts served but that is just a personal preference. The ramen egg was also rather well done. Although the yolk could have been more runny, the egg was thankfully not over cooked. As a contrasting texture, the crunchy black fungus mushrooms were a delightful addition to the dish but could be a bit bland if not mixed with the sauce.

We could smell the truffle oil from this dish when served but it wasn’t too strong after mixing the ingredients with the noodles. Not sure if it’s from the truffle oil or the sauce of the ramen but the taste of the noodles did remind me of Chinese-style braised mushrooms.

While it wasn’t extraordinary, this place is worth considering for its affordability and decent quality ramen. You can add on noodles and other sides too, especially if you’re hungry as the standard serving does run a bit small.

Note that you need to order your ramen before getting your seat and do look out for the number displayed near the kitchen as you do have to personally collect your ramen when it is ready. One can also take bottles of chili oil and chili powder available near the collection point to add some spice to the noodles. Food was also served really quickly as our order was prepared immediately after we ordered at the counter.

Housed in the same coffee shop as Ponggol Nasi Lemak, Yi Ji Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee serves a dryer than usual version of our comforting dish. Using a mix of thin beehoon and thick yellow noodles, we felt that this dish offered a nicer contrast in textures compared to hokkien Mee served with thick beehoon. The dish was well-flavored and one could taste the rich seafood umami flavors when slurping the the delightful noodles. For this $8 portion, about 4 or 5 prawns were given. There were also chewy mock abalone pieces that went surprisingly well with the noodles.

What spice lovers would really appreciate is the spice level of the chili given at the side. With “super spicy” written on the banner of this stall, one could be certain to satisfy their desire for the mouth numbing sensation that comes alongside their bright red chili sauce.

Do check it out if you’re at the coffee shop! It’s certainly an above average plate of hokkien Mee that is sure to leave your tummy (and soul) satisfied.

Was at Cherki on a Friday night for dinner and the place was really packed. Thankfully, we already made reservations on Chope.

As we previously tried the lobster linguine and really liked it, both of us ordered the same dish again. The linguine was cooked to an al dente texture, and the laksa flavors were infused nicely as the gravy (which wasn’t too watery) coated each strand of pasta. The addition of tau pok pieces that soaked up the rich coconut-based sauce made this dish reminiscent of the hearty traditional laksa we’re familiar with.

Other than the half lobster that was served in the shell on the side, lobster pieces were also hidden in the linguine. The lobster was on the smaller side, understandably so because of the price. I found mine to be a bit fishy that day but the partner found his to be fine.

We also shared a side dish - chicken satay in peanut sauce encased in pappadom shells. While the name suggests that the chicken pieces are wrapped in regular tortilla found in Mexican dishes, the use of crispy crackers we enjoy in our Nasi Briyani was rather ingenious. The chicken pieces were coated in a slightly sweet peanut-based sauce, which was a bit sweet for my liking but would remind you of the traditional satay sauce. While novel, the price is a bit on the high side for the portion given. However, it can be something interesting to try in a group, where one can experience Indian and peranakan flavors all in one dish.

Visited Cherki on a weekday evening and it was quite crowded so it’s advisable to make a reservation before heading down. In this dish, the rice was fried with foie gras fat and shredded duck, which gave each mouthful a delightful fragrance. One can also taste the wok hei in every bite. The piece of foie gras served above the fried rice was also nicely executed, with a rich mouthfeel that somehow complimented well with the Asian flavors of this dish. The chili on the side was also delicious, offering a decent level of spice. While the serving of dish may be on the small side for bigger eaters, it is highly recommended for a taste of Peranakan flavors with a modern twist that is not easily found elsewhere. Overall, the standard at Cherki is pretty high despite its steeper than average prices but being able to use your Burpple vouchers would surely help!

Touched down at Changi in the afternoon and decided to head for an early dinner at Jewel. Having tried Lenu at multiple outlets (Funan, Jem, RWS), we can say that it is one of the chains with pretty consistent standards cross its outlets and a safe choice to go for when you’re craving a bowl of Chinese style noodles. With noodles cooked to a chewy texture (we actually still prefer Tongue Tip’s noodles though), the chili oil vinaigrette provided each mouthful with a delicate balance of spice, acidity and umami. The dumplings were also nicely wrapped with a generous chunk of minced pork. For fans of coriander or spring onions, you may request for an additional serving of these herbs to go with your noodles. The servings at Lenu tend to be quite big and you’re sure to leave the establishment with your tummies satisfied. There is also the ability to top-up your mains with a drink (with options such as green tea and soft drinks) and a side (such as black fungus and braised tofu).

Service was also efficient - our food came shortly after we placed our orders online.

Visited Gong He Guan after a dinner at Chinatown Point, which was located a short walk away from Chinatown MRT. It was a popular spot but we thankfully didn’t have to queue for our seats. One of their staff was also really kind, and offered us extra chairs for our bags. The deco of the place reminded us of Hong Kong, with traditional wooden chairs and tables.

We ordered two of their cold desserts to share. The rock melon with sago was refreshing, with a milky base beneath shaved ice. We believe that some coconut milk was also added to give it extra fragrance. The partner really enjoyed the milky taste of this dish. The other dessert we got was the mango gui ling gao, which similarly came with shaved ice. The gui ling gao cubes were bitter and contrasted well with the sweet mango cubes.

Do give this place a try if you’re looking for a lighter dessert as the servings aren’t too big and won’t leave you feeling overly full even if you had a meal before. Prices aren’t exactly cheap though but the taste is authentic and the ingredients are fresh. For those who prefer warm Chinese desserts, they also have items like sesame paste and tang yuan.

Located a few minutes walk away from Yishun MRT, this Chinese restaurant offers Heng Hua cuisine at an affordable price when compared to higher end establishments like Putien.

For $4.50, the serving of the Heng Hua beehoon was generous - one can find clams, prawns, pork belly, peanuts, tau pok, mushrooms and vegetables to accompany the chewy ultra-thin strands of bee hoon. We also enjoyed the chili served at every table, which was slightly sour, garlicky and does pack a punch.

On top of our mains, we also ordered the deep fried fish that came in three huge pieces. The pieces were well-fried, with crunchy sides and were not overly greasy when one bites into the meat. That said, it can be a bit dry for those who prefer tender and more juicy cuts of fish.

This place is also rather popular so it is advisable to visit during non-peak hours, especially if you’re coming in bigger groups. Other dishes we tried but not pictured were the fried mee sua, oyster omelette and lor mee.

The Burpple set consists of 2 small-sized dons, 3 chicken skewers, 2 green tea, 2 miso soup and 2 salad. The chicken skewers were doused with sweet teriyaki sauce and were nothing to shout about. The salad, served with sweet sesame sauce (presumably from Kewpie), was nothing special too. The miso soup on the other hand had salmon pieces, kelp and tofu.

For the unagi don, the grilled eel was tender and the sauce offered a hint of sweetness that complimented the dish well. Would say that for the amount of unagi given, the price of the Burpple set was pretty worth! Apart from the fish, chewy wakame seaweed and pickled daikon pieces were also served on the side to cleanse your palette from the richness of the other ingredients. I also enjoyed breaking the onsen egg apart to have the egg yolk coat the rice grains, which offered a nice creaminess that went well with the chewy sushi rice. Apart from the onsen egg, the don also came with a small piece of tamagoyaki topped with a generous serving of mentaiko sauce. For lovers of mentaiko, consider getting the grilled salmon don in which the salmon slice would also be similarly topped with the mentaiko sauce. On the other hand, if you enjoy sashimi, the signature don is the one to go for, where a generous serving of salmon and tuna cubes, clams and fish roe would be sitting above the sushi rice served with a slice of seaweed that you can use to make a hand roll for yourself.

Have visited several Kei Kaisendon outlets lately and they did not disappoint! We also realize that they’re expanding rather quickly, with an outlet at Jewel too.

Located at B2 of Jewel, The Hainan Story offers a wide range of Hainanese delicacies, including chicken rice, pork cutlet and curry rice. It was a popular spot and we had to wait awhile for a seat on a Friday evening. Food was however served quickly upon ordering through our phones.

For the curry rice dishes, one could select between a sunny side-up or the long bean omelette (pictured), as well as between spicy lady’s finger or chap chye (pictured). While decent, the omelette was nothing special. I felt the same way about the chap chye, which included pieces of fish maw, mushrooms, carrot and cabbage drowning in a thick viscous sauce. The tempeh pieces and koropok were more special. For the protein, the dory fish was fried well, with a crunchy surface and tender meat beneath the breading. The curry sauce coating the rice grains was flavorful and the chili sauce given at the side gave the dish an extra hint of spiciness desired for spice lovers.

The egg tarts, while served cold, were also pretty decent. The buttery base was fragrant and the eggy centre was tender.

For a place like Jewel, we feel that the prices are acceptable and the standards are pretty good too.

Visited Elixir on a Tuesday morning and it was a chill place to enjoy brunch with a cup of coffee. We had two cups of white coffee to go with our brunch items and it was nice that the place wasn’t too crowded such that we could chat without any pressure to leave after we were done with our food.

The Sausage and Tomatoes on Sourdough Toast was a simple but satisfying dish, with two links or savory and peppery sausages grilled to a crispy outside and juicy inside. The sourdough slice was also toasted well, offering a crisp outside and fluffier inside. Apart from butter, we were also given honey and a mixture of nuts and herbs (dukkah) for those who desire either some hint of sweetness or herby fragrance to go with the savory notes from the sausage.

As for Beet and Eggs, the eggs were poached well but the partner found it a bit too sour for his liking, most likely due to the addition of white vinegar into the water used to poach the eggs. The falafel pieces were nice but not extremely crunchy, which could be dipped with the beetroot hummus beneath the poached eggs. The crunchy and fresh kale salad on the side was also nicely executed.

Prices at this cafe were on the high side but the portions were decent and the service was good too. Free flow water was also available. For who prefer Al fresco dining, outdoor seats were also available.

Nestled along Tanjong Pagar Road, Red Holic is a short walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT. Visiting on a Saturday afternoon, the place was not overly crowded but the seats were quickly filled as we ate. The lady (presumably the boss) was really nice, offering chairs to customers for their bags.

We ordered a set of 2 pax tteokbokki, which came with a serving of instant noodles, glass noodles, a hard-boiled egg, 2 deep-fried dumplings, fish cakes, cabbage and rice cakes that came in different forms - long thin strands, thicker but shorter cuts, and some that had mozzarella or sweet potato fillings. While we initially told the lady boss we wanted level 3 spicy level, she was afraid that it’d be too spicy for us and suggested that we first opt for level 2. She gave us another serving of chili flakes in a saucer for us to add to the broth if we didn’t find level 2 spicy enough. (We didn’t use it though hahaha) She also shared that the chili sauce for the broth was imported from Korea and can’t be found here.

Having seen reviews online for this place, we were excited to add on the cheese fall (+$8.9), where molten mozzarella cheese was poured over our ingredients. The cheesiness went well with the sweet and spicy flavors of the broth.

While we did enjoy the ingredients, we somehow wish there were more items apart from the carbs. Perhaps it might be a good idea to get the pork cutlet, beef brisket or crispy chicken instead of the plain tteokbokki, but we were also afraid that the serving would be too large for the two of us. We couldn’t finish most of the tteokbokki because of how filling these dense rice cakes were. Maybe the portion size would be much better for 3 pax.

Take note that the place doesn’t provide complimentary water and mineral water is chargeable.

Was around the Hougang area and decided to take a bus down to this coffee shop where a Ponggol Nasi Lemak outlet was at. We were there around 7pm on a Monday evening and while the queue was long, often with at least 10 pax in line to order, the staff were really efficient in completing the orders. A lady would ask those waiting in line how many packets of Nasi Lemak they’re ordering and if you want to dine in or takeaway. Thereafter, when you’re reaching the cashier, you can order the sides to go along the rice.

The Nasi Lemak was fragrant, with the rice grains nicely separated and cooked to the right texture - not too mushy nor undercooked. We also liked that the egg yolk remained runny and would be drizzled over the coconut rice to provide extra creaminess. The otah was flavorful and not too spicy, and it came in a larger than expected serving compared to the otah one would get elsewhere. However, it doesn’t have that char that otah found in hawker centres have that some might desire. The fish was also fried to a crispy texture but might not be the easiest to eat due to the tiny bones. The lady’s finger was slightly spicy and retained its crunch.

While I didn’t order the chicken drumstick or chicken wings, these two items were hot favorites at this stall. My dining partner who ordered the chicken drumstick was amazed by its huge portion (it was bigger than the drumstick we got from KFC recently. It was also really crunchy and would give a satisfying addition of protein to one’s enjoyable local delicacy.

Lastly, the amount of chili given was sufficient and it wasn’t too sweet. However, it was a bit oily and the oil was coating our rice grains towards the end of the meal. We didn’t find the chili very special but the fragrance of the coconut rice and well executed accompaniments made this meal a truly satisfying one.