How was your weekend? 🌈 I’m here to share a really wallet-friendly place for delicious, authentic thai food right in the heart of East Coast. The name @jaisiam rings a bell for that yummy thai food at Dhoby Gaut Exchange. Good news for easties—they have an outlet in the east too! Start your meal with their Mixed Platter ($12) filled with a nice mix of Thai Fish Cake, Thai Prawn Cake, Tofu, and Crispy Spring Rolls. Tuck into a piping hot bowl of Seafood Tom Yum Soup ($10) that has the right balance of tangy and zest (it’d be better if they had more seafood in the broth!). We also had their Fried Chicken Pepper & Garlic ($10) which was a bit too soggy and dry. Their Fried Prawns with Basil Leaf ($14) was decent but prawns were a bit too small for a medium portion. We chose Tilapia Sweet Sour fish ($20) and the sweet sour sauce had a diluted consistency but the freshness of the fish made up for it. We paired the meal with some Stir Fried Kailan Salted Fish ($10) and Prawn Meat Omelette ($7). Both were decent but I’ve had better thai omelettes (thai omelettes are usually very light, fluffy, and crispy). With all these indulgent food on the table, I’m glad they offered brown rice ($1.80) and white rice ($1) to appeal to all customers. Definitely value for money and super affordable! 😋

I finally found the time to try out Taufik Batisah’s new f&b venture: @chixhotchicken! Helmed as the go-to place for unique Nashville fried chicken, do satisfy your fried chicken craving right here in Bugis! A must-try is their Soul Sliders ($12.90) that comes with 2 buns and the most crispy, juicy, and tender boneless fried chicken ever😫 They topped the sliders with some pickles (that surprisingly went really well with the sliders!), slaw, and pink mayo. Awesome combination! We also tried their Nashville fried chicken wings ($10.90 for 3 wings) and since I’m a wuss, I chose the Mild Hotness spicy level. It was not spicy at all so it’s great for people who can’t really stand spicy food. The chicken was really fresh and the wings were decently seasoned though I would recommend getting their Quarter size for a more worth-it meal. Perhaps a more spicy level would give that additional kick! Pair your meal with their extra thick and creamy Vanilla milkshake ($5.90). Perfect combination 😋

All-day breakfast is always a good idea 😋 best known for their Lemon Blueberry Scones & Gula Melaka Scones (MUST ORDER!), they also offer lunch menu too. Check out their lunch sets that come with free soup or dessert of the day & $2 off in-house drinks! Although I wished they had informed me earlier the $2 off is not applicable for drinks in the fridge compartment(the cashier initially said it was!); I had happily sipped on my orange snapple only to be informed that drink is not part of the promo 😫 We had the Crab Aioli Hot-Pressed Sandwich ($13.90) and it came a tad burnt. The seafood after-taste is strong so do try this dish if you’re a real fan of crab. Their Salmon Cream Spaghetti ($18.90) was decent though a bit pricey but hey, they’re at a central location so it’s understandable that the prices will be a bit steep. The Lamb Rice Bowl ($15.90) came with fresh avocado so it made the dish pretty healthy and fulfilling. The lamb patties were sadly a little dry. The star of the show has to be the Wholesome Breakfast (not applicable for lunch set) $18.90 that was essentially a satisfying english breakfast with a generous portion of smoked salmon. Overall, it was a decently average lunch and it certainly pays to come here for their desserts (Scones!!!) 😋 but do come early as their baked goods run out very fast cus they’re THAT delicious!

They have a new offer on weekdays: Bento Sets for just $13.80+! I chose the Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Set and it comes with tangy tom yum soup, rice, sunny side up, and sago gula melaka. Add $1 for a refreshing iced lemon tea;) The salted egg yolk chicken tasted decent with the very mild salted egg yolk taste. I enjoyed the sago gula melaka (kinda tastes like Kuih Lopes)-what a refreshing treat! We also had the Chilli Prawn Pasta (12.80+) and IT WAS SOOO GOOD! So creamy and indulgent. Not at all overwhelming because of the spicyness. Still, it would be better if they had peeled the prawns too haha. Looks like STREATS’ revamped menu is looking promising!😉

Perhaps the saving grace was the Beef Rendang ($7.50) with fragrant gravy and relatively tender beef. Do note that you have to order Steamed Rice ($0.90) separately but feel free to take as much fragrant soup for your meal as you wish!

The Grilled Ayam Penyet (wanted to be a little healthier hehe) ($6.90) was a letdown because it was too burnt (hence, bitter) and dry. At first I couldn’t find the usual Tahu and Tempe complementing the typical Ayam Penyet dish but they were smothered—camouflaged—with the sauce. Alas, the Tempe was too burnt it tasted bitter.

The Tahu Telur ($6.50) is one of the cheapest in Singapore and the most indulgent too. I love the Tahu Telur ‘tall’ drenched in the sweet, spicy peanut sauce and this dish was just perfect.

For dessert, a trip to Penang Culture is never complete without a bowl of Cendol right? We had the King of Cendol ($6.95): the basic cendol with a scoop of durian. Unsurprisingly, it was too sweet but I like that they had kidney beans instead of red beans—it gave the dessert a ‘lighter’, more balanced taste. Always a delight to dine here!🍜😋

What’s the perfect food to eat on a rainy day? For me, it has to be something soupy! I needed a little pick-me-up because I’ve been feeling under the weather lately and I found myself with a piping hot bowl of Penang Assam Laksa ($7.95) at @penangculturesg. I’ve always wanted to try Assam Laksa and it certainly did not disappoint—although I just found out Assam Laksa’s only meat consists of Sardines which I’m not a huge fan of. Still, the broth was flavourful and palatable. Note that it’s pretty spicy! The White Curry Mee with Seafood ($8.95) was simply amazing and tasted almost similar to a bowl of Singaporean Laksa. I couldn’t help slurping the soup cus it was just SO good! We requested for no cockles and were substituted with chicken instead (how nice!).

Don’t you just love western food at affordable prices? We had their Tender Steak ($10!!!) and Cajun Chicken ($6.90). Each set comes complete with seasoned cajun fries (not the crispy kind), coleslaw, and a fried buttery bun (similar to those at Arnold’s). The steak was seasoned nicely although they don’t offer options to your preferred level of doneness. The cajun chicken, however, tasted very burnt and bitter—not sure if it’s from the chicken itself or the hotplate that wasn’t cleaned thoroughly cus it still had remnants of bitter char from previous use. This definitely made every bite end with a bitter aftertaste. Great prices though in a comfortable aircon setting! Location is pretty accessible by buses too but I would recommend having your own vehicle😋

Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to have a taste of fine dining food at affordable prices? At @brothersinfinefood, that is a reality! Known for their tasty brunch selections, you should definitely check out their Lunch&Dinner menu too! Their concept is simple: bring fine dining standard food accessible to the community (that’s why they’re situated at Tampines West community club!)😇 For desserts, we had the Nagasari ($8) which consists of steamed coconut flour, caramelised bananas, gula melaka foam, sauteed coconut shavings. I fell in love with the dish after that first bite—the coconut shavings truly accentuate the taste of this traditional-inspired dessert. Plus points: the service was impeccable with friendly and knowledgeable staff all ready to assist you😉 do note that waiting time for food can be awhile because they really want you to experience fine dining where people eat at a leisurely pace and that involves taking the time and effort to truly prepare your orders to perfection. Can’t wait to try their brunch soon! 😋

For Mains, we tried their Squid Ink Rice with Soft Shell Crab ($17). The squid ink tasted like a mix of lemak cili padi and nasi rawon —spicy though! A bigger portion of the soft shell crab would be great to balance the generous portion of the rice.