One of the places that we had managed to come across on social media is Peko Peko — Peko Peko is a relatively new addition to the Telok Kurau neighbourhood. Itself being more of a stall situated within a coffeeshop, Peko Peko can be found within the dining establishment named mooney mooney that is located right across from Parkway Hospital East at the junction between Telok Kurau Road and Joo Chiat Place. mooney mooney itself is also a recent addition to the neighbourhood; itself being a watering hole occupying a space that was previously run as a coffeeshop prior to the its current setup; the coffeeshop is segregated into two sections and Peko Peko can be found around the area that is considered to be the more open air space of the two, being neighbours with a Thai food stall named im Siamese Food. What captured our attention about Peko Peko is how they have described themselves as an establishment serving up “hearty Japanese-style stews” which distinguishes themselves from the typical Japanese food court / coffeeshop / hawker stall that can be found all over Singapore. The menu at Peko Peko is split into sections dedicated to Japanese-style Stew Sets, Cold Appetisers, Just Sides, and Desserts — their desserts also being stocked in a display fridge beside the counter which patrons can view the items offered as well.

Amongst the items that they have to offer on the Japanese-style Stew Sets section of the menu, the 8 Hour Braised Pork Belly was an item that captured our attention whilst skimming through the menu. The menu at Peko Peko describes the 8 Hour Braised Pork Belly as an item that includes Daikon and Shiitake Mushroom — it is also noted that the sets would also generally include the bowl of rice on the side. The 8 Hour Braised Pork Belly does seem to bear some likeness to the Japanese Buta Kakuni (i.e. Japanese braised pork), though with a slight local twist as it seems considering how the tagline of Peko Peko highlights their offerings as “Japanese-style stews”. Coming with three pieces of pork belly, the pork belly does come in chunky slices; having been braised for 8 hours, the effort does really show as one sinks their teeth into the pork belly — the pork belly being all tender and melt-in-the-mouth without much of a need to chew through. The flavours of the braising liquid have also been absorbed into the pork belly; the pork belly being void of any undesirable porky stench, whilst carrying a lightly savoury note to the tastebuds. The stew itself felt rather hearty; one that isn’t too heavy-handed and opens up the palate — really comforting with its light savoury notes while once can detect the hints of sweetness from the addition of daikon and a light earthiness coming from the addition of Shiitake Mushrooms into the stew. The pieces of Daikon also come all soft, yet without having become too mushy nor having disintegrated into the stew — gives an extra sweetness while the mushrooms provided a good bite. The bowl of rice on the side comes sprinkled with Furikake (i.e. Japanese Rice Seasoning) over the top to that makes the rice more tasty, adding a hint of umami to the Japanese short-grain rice that is aptly sticky.

During our visit, we had also given the Creme Brulee Tart a go; we do suspect that the dessert offerings at Peko Peko are supplied though it is a welcomed addition considering how it gives our meal a good end — the Creme Brulee Tart comes rather hefty, and the tart base is closer to that of a softer version of the cookie crust that accompanies some egg tart offerings out there. Around the edges, there is this interesting hint of saltish notes and sweetness that one would usually find from butter sugar toast, but one would find the layer of crystalised sugar layer in the middle of the tart — all that sitting atop a cheesecake mousse layer that seems to be in style of a New York-style cheesecake; pretty interesting and surprisingly not too heavy as well. Prices of their Japanese-style Stew Sets range between $7.90 to $11.90; the lowest priced item being the Slow Braised Eggplant & Tofu Set, while the highest-priced item would be the Cinnamon-Spiced Beef Set and the Miso Salmon Set — pretty decently priced when considering how mooney mooney is primarily a watering hole but with a coffeeshop-style concept. A rather interesting dining option for the residents in the area.