Hidden Gems

Opened by a trio of sisters from Indonesia, @threebygaramika is an unassuming cafe deep in the heartlands of Toa Payoh, serving traditional albeit subtly refined classic Indonesian dishes such as oxtail and gado gado.
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I tried their Ayam Bakar set, and thought it was good if abit small for the price. Obviously the star is the smoky grilled chicken, which was marinated in a sweet and savoury kecap manis-based marinade that was cooked till deliciously charred in places. The meat itself was still moist and tender. It came with rice, emping crackers, a few pieces of fried tofu, half a hard boiled egg, a tiny dab of green sambal and a rather tasty and delicate chicken broth. I don’t think enough chilli was given though.

I hold fond memories of Steeples when I used to go to Tanglin Shopping Centre for my weekly doctor's appointments as a kid in the 80's and usually ended up here for lunch. This place hasn't changed in decades and I'm glad it's frozen in time because it's been a piece of my past.
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They say this is the home of the Reuben so of course I had to order it. I can't say I've much experience as to what constitutes a good one, but I rather enjoyed mine. Layers of corned beef and sauerkraut topped with melted cheese and mustard, then squished between crusty buttered rye bread made for a hearty sandwich. I've seen reviews saying the portion is not worth the cost and better can be found elsewhere, and I do agree price-wise, but I was pretty satisfied.
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Taste: 3.5/5

Lin's Braised is as new stall at Dunman Food Centre that has an intriguing combination of braised pork rice and fish soup on their menu. I tried the former and it was an immensely comforting bowl of home-cooked style food from the heart.

Made from 16 spices, the braising sauce is aromatic and savoury, imbuing the pork, tau pok and tau kwa with its essence. Along with a hardboiled egg, preserved vegetables and a pile of steaming, sauce drenched rice, this is more than a complete meal on its own.

#BurppleTakeaways

271 Onan Road #02-29
Singapore 424768

Taste: 3.5/5

Thanks @sonja_jeanine for bringing these delish begedils from @shuhbakes! Made from a blend of tauhu and potato, these bite-sized fuffy balls have all the flavour of traditional begedil without the heaviness. The beef version has bits of minced meat in its core, adding an extra savoury note. Even better, it’s served with a tongue scorching yet addictive chilli sauce. Apply with caution as a little goes a long way!

Taste: 4/5

No number of adjectives could do justice to these crackin' crackling beauties. The fatty, tender hunks of tasty pork are good enough on their own, but more importantly are capped with an incredibly crunchy layer of shatteringly crisp skin. What's even more surprising was the pig liver sauce, with a flavour that reminded me immediately of pork floss. Genius.

#BurppleTakeaways

Taste: 4.5/5

Chopped pork and chicken liver with onions and pepper topped with a raw egg on a hotplate. Simple and rustic, especially so when there's bits of crunchy cartilage nestled within, but still enjoyable when seasoned with vinegar and a squeeze of fresh calamansi.

#BurppleTakeaways

Taste: 3/5

Even more enjoyable the second time round I had it, Leggy Business’ new bowl features a mild and piquant housemade red citrus curry imbued with the fragrance of lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, slathered over a large yet tender grilled chicken thigh. Juicy longans and cherry tomatoes punctuated the spiciness with bursts of sweetness, whilst elsewhere, thinly sliced red onion and crisp wanton skins added textural dimension. The savoury flavours are lifted even further with a squeeze of fresh lime, making this on the whole a very delicious eat.

Taste: 3.5/5

There’s always a niggling doubt at the back of my mind about the quality of Western fare to be found at casual foodcourt stalls, but I should have taken the plunge sooner at Smoke House at Platform M (MOF’s slightly more upscale foodcourt offering) because it serves up a lip-smacking variety of meats.

My bowl was laden with fork-tender roast pork with the stringy, moreish consistency of pulled pork, as well as crispy pork belly with alternating layers of fat and meat. To top it off, there was a smoky mixed bean stew shot through with bits of bacon, as well as lightly pickled carrots and cucumbers whose crunchy acidity served to cut through the heaviness of the meal. Wash it down with an absolutely refreshing cucumber lemonade, one of the drink options that comes with every set meal.

Taste: 3.5/5

The buta gods have blessed this bowl with heavenly slices of torched, succulent pork coated in a most umami soy glaze. Sitting below was quality short grain rice eagerly awaiting to soak up the sauce and the eventual overflow of onsen egg yolk dribble from above. Very satisfying.

Taste: 3.5/5

Chef Jovan has created something unique here at Leggy Business. Having earned his chops at such luminaries as Nahm, Bo.lan and Long Chim, he has ventured out with his own food stall serving unique Southeast Asian inspired rice bowls. This monster of a bowl is packed with a formidable amount of moist meatballs smothered in thick coconut curry, flavoured egg(add-on) and a flurry of fried wonton skins for texture. Throw in 2 large enoki tempura and you’re well on your way toward a food coma with this slightly too rich dish.

Taste: 3.5/5

No surprises here, only a perfectly grilled, blushing pink steak served with glistening cubes of bone marrow nestled amongst confit potatoes.

Thank you @burpple for the invite and @auranationalgallery for hosting!

Taste: 3.5/5

This is not a famous hokkien mee by a long shot but definitely deserving of your attention. Located in a sleepy neighbourhood of MacPherson at the very old school Circuit Road Food Market, this is a hidden gem that’s worth a try if you’re in the vicinity. Although there are only 2 prawns, you won’t even notice as the noodles are saucy, umami-laden and great with the slightly sweet and spicy sambal chilli.
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01-102, Kim Hai Fried Hokkien Mee

Taste: 3.5/5