Throwback to one of the BEST meat places I’ve been to in 2017. Not sure what took me so long to step in (could be just because I am not exactly a meat lover), but meatsmith is one of the best places to be for proteins. On the table we had braised beef, dry pork ribs and a serving of homemade fries and every single dish was superb. We especially loved the special seasoning on the dry pork ribs, and how it just fell off the bone with a gentle tug of a knife. The potatoes were so good too, so naturally sweetened.

One thing most chilli crab pastas lack is spicy but this fellow here sure packs a punch. As you dig into the pasta, you’ll find many little chilli padi bits which explains the heat. I also liked that the pasta isn’t overly sweet, a common mistake by most places. Just wish for the pasta to be slightly more al dente. Otherwise, all good.

This chicken breast is easily the healthiest thing I’be ever ordered at a restaurant (sans the chicken floss part). But I must say it is really well done. Unlike most chicken breasts that are tough and thick, this one breaks easily with the touch of the knife and was really tender. I loved the pairing of the stewed vegetables and chicken floss which added a twist to this.

This Ika Bangkar (beef ribs) just blew my mind! When it came, everyone’s jaw just dropped (just look at how huge the bone is). But the most mind blowing thing about this dish is how soft the ribs are. The meat fibers separated easily with the light touch of a knife and the entire piece came cleanly off the bone.

Each mouthful of beef was flavorful, melt-in-the-mouth and tender soft. Lightly caramelized with a little chilli paste, every mouthful also came with a small kick, which was nicely paired with the carbs below. $18 for a plate is sure worth every dollar.

The C&C pasta (crab & caviar) ($14) is a mighty interesting take on cold pasta. Drenched with lobster bisque (but didn’t really taste like it) and topped with crab shreds and caviar (again, couldn’t taste the caviar), not sure why everybody loved it, but I guess I came with too high an expectation, it kind of fell flat. Nevertheless, I must applaud The Masses for the super al dente angel hair.

This place obviously has some Japanese influence! The duck rice bento set is served here in a super instagrammable setting, with round balls of rice, onsen eggs, stewed radish and a soup served in miso bowl. The entire set was really yummy. I especially loved the stewed raffish and pickled vegetables which were so soft and melt in the mouth. The soup had a slight herbal taste profile which was so slurp worthy. #BurppleChinatown

Best crispy Prata can be found right here at Mr & Mrs Mohgan’s. A small stall it might be, but it boasts a super long queue and a 45 mins waiting time. So DO NOT come hungry, you may end up hangry 😂.

The wait is always worth it because the prata is so well executed. Just the right portions of crisp and dough, which gives it enough bite and crunch. The fish curry here is also great.

A great option at Chinatown Complex is this Japanese stall which sells $8 unagi set meals. Not sure how this unagi compares to Man Man (cause I’ve never had Man Man unagi before), but I will just say that it’s really good for a hawker centre standard.

The unagi is soft and sweet, breaking apart easily with every bite. The portion was slightly small, but that was more of an advantage for me because now I can try all the other food options here 🤣🤣

$4 for this HUGE plate of food. That’s insane. On the plate we had a fried chicken, chap chye and long beans. Every dish was generous and well cooked, especially the chap chye which was so soft and sweet. It must have been stewed for hours! We also loved the fried chicken which was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Do not forget about the SUPER TOKGONG CHILLI that complements every dish so well. #BurppleChinatown

Otah pockets are one of the most popular breakfast items up at Bundt and it’s really shiok. These girls make the otah filling themselves the day before, so expect the fillings to be really fresh. The pockets are stuffed to the brim, with otah bits threatening to spill out with every mouthful. Messy it may be, but that’s how it’s meant to be. A mouthful of spicy, lemak otah, paired with a Faema white for a great breakfast. $7.50 for both.

I knew PizzaExpress had to serve a great pizza for so many friends around me to rave about it. So my expectations here was sky high, and I left with a happy belly.

I loved how their thin crusts were light but still stable enough to hold the toppings together. We went for the Cavolo Verde - a tomato based pizza with smoked kale, harissa chicken, peppers and mozzarella. The combination was light with the right amount of sweet and savory. Especially loved the harissa chicken bits (note: not cubes), which has a nice sweet & sour profile.

That said, for $23 per pizza, the price tag isn’t the most consumer friendly. But it really is one of the better ones I’ve had.

Hands down the best bowl of beef noodles I’ve had. Trust me, I’ve been to the famous stores around Singapore and I dare say that this is really the best of the best.

I especially loved how savory the gravy is right here. Most beef noodles stores serve the noddles with a starchy base, which is just that. Little to no flavour, just thick and starchy. But the one here actually has a nice savory profile to it. Best stirred in with some of their kickass chilli sauce which helps to add a little bite to the base.

The beef slices and balls were tender and fresh. No funky beef smells detected, testimony to the sell out here at Hock Lam.

The soup on the side too was kickass. Not too herbal-ish, nor too bland. It was just the right mix of herbs, which acted as a nice side kick to the powerful noodles.

$7.80 per bowl may not be cheap. But it sure is worth every single cent.