Bucket List: Overseas

At 1500jpy, this simple natto soba is a steal at this price. Beyond the Michelin guide, Tamawari is also the number one Soba restaurant on Tabelog, a Japanese food review site. I like to use tabelog as a reference point against the Michelin guide. You can trust the Japanese foodies here. Tamawari's signature Natto soba comes with a raw egg yolk, onions, bonito flakes, sea weed, hand made soba noodles and of course natto. Mix them together for a explosion of flavours and texture. This is hands down the best bowl of soba I've ever had!

Missing this umami-tastic bowl of special shoyu ramen at Ramen Yashichi. Loved the barbecued pork and green onions added on top of that creamy broth. I enjoyed every shade of flavor that is so distinct yet went so well with each other. So good that I feel they're doing no-look passes to each other. #burpple #tabelogtoprameninosaka #moreinlifethanichiran

The best in class for preparation of pork liver - succulent and tasty. The importance in the freshness of ingredient is without doubt. The marination is at the right level. I can only imagine it also takes the highest culinary skills to stir fry these slices of liver so that the doneness is not over not under. Like someone said, there is no need to try pork liver at any other place when you've tried 欣葉's

The tom yam is so guuuuud yet uber spicy 🔥 made creamier with those perfect egg yolks! #BurpKK #BeeKayKay #BurppleinBKK

Everyone coming to KL needs to come here. Noodles were so light and defined. Amazing!

Taken here by my local Thai friends, Jeed-Jard is a cosy eatery at JJ Market that serves up quality Isan (Northeastern Thai) dishes. My picks include the deep-fried papaya salad, grilled pork neck, deep-fried chicken hip with spicy dipping sauce, and sticky rice. Only soft drinks are available at this place – but feel free to get Thai iced tea or coffee from across the street and bring it over to enjoy with your food.

Thank you, Pumpim and Fa, for the awesome lunch treat!

Jeed-Jard is located at Section 8, Soi 17/1, Chatuchak Weekend Market.

4 munchies: Available only from 10.30pm onwards, the large bowl of Mama Tom Yum Noodles is the must-order item at this popular dinner and supper joint. Loaded with prawns, squid, well-marinated handmade meatballs, and roast pork, the tom yum goong was packed with spicy, sour and savoury flavours. I also loved the springy texture of the Mama instant noodles – best eaten after mixing the oozy egg yolks into the soup! The only thing I wished for was the broth to be a little spicier.

I'd also highly recommend the Crispy Roast Pork and Thai-style Salmon Sashimi from this lively local restaurant. And of course, everything goes well with a big bottle of Singha/Chang beer.

They call this Vietnamese udon, but it's so much tastier methinks. Just imagine a soft & slightly chewy mee tai mak in a thick crab soup with chunks of fresh crab meat and juicy prawns. Soooo satisfying I canh even.

It costs 40k VND here, but you can definitely get it cheaper at less touristy places in #Saigon. #CMinSaigon #burpple #streetfood

I think I must have had stars in my eyes when this magnificent creation appeared at my table. Encrusted with cereal and embellished with tart, jewel-hued berries, the fried brioche is a regal vision. I tear past its impeccably crunchy surfaces to find its innards pillowy and fluffy – these best soaked in dribbles of the vanilla ice cream leisurely melting overhead.

So gratifying in every sense, I found myself wolfing down the humongous slab of toast ALL BY MYSELF, one eager bite at a time until the plate was bare and lonely.

This was highly recommended to me by @therantingpanda, so there was no way I was leaving Bangkok without having a taste of this photogenic beauty – even though I nearly had to because no taxi or tuk tuk driver wanted to take me to Thong Lo, where this cafe is, at a reasonable fee. And I implore you not to miss this either.

It has everything that screams comfort food from instant noodles to tom yum broth and meatballs.

It's just so magically that for a tropical country that experiences high humidity, people are still willing to sweat it out just to enjoy a meal. Food truly transcends all boundaries.

Joke Perd Mho
Address: 348, Lat Ya Road, Kleng San, Bangkok, Thailand

Definitely a hidden gem with their signature Very Blueberry Cheese Tart (THB 230). The light cheese mixture with the abundance of fresh blueberries make it a very suitable after-meal dessert. The chocolate tart at the bottom is a surprise touch that's sure to please many.

If you are not feeling berry, have a go at the Matcha & White Chocolate Baked Cheese (THB 210).

Puritan Cafe
Address: 46/1, Sou Aree 5, Paholyothin Road, Samsennai, Phayathai, Bangkok, Thailand

This is just everything – this melty blend of liquid nitrogen-frozen Aussie and Italian cheeses set in a crisp, crumbly, buttery tart shell, then sprinkled with sugar and torched to achieve a thin, crackly caramelised top.

Best thing I've had in Hong Kong so far.