Taste Of Home

This is so super unique I've never seen waffles with coconut!! :O

Its such a tragedy that my gym is located at the top floor and I have to smell all the delicious food in Queensway Shopping Center just before I work out. But my curiosity was piqued by a coconut + waffle combination.

Freshly made to order, these pandan waffles were more of the thin and crispy type and was definitely less dense than I was used to. The shredded coconut flakes they used were the same as the one in their tutu kueh, infused with that sweet gula melaka which I am such a sucker for. They are super generous with it, perhaps justifying the $3 price point.

It worked surprisingly well; the pancake batter wasn't too sweet and allowed the gula melaka to sweeten up the waffle. The light pandan fragrance of the waffle and coconutty flavor went really well together. And the crispiness of it, in hindsight made the snack really light yet satiating without making me feel too bloated.

Looking for a pre-workout snack and my curiousity was piqued by this vegetarian restaurant. I ordered the popiah ($6.50) and artichoke tea ($4.60 for a small pot).

The popiah was quite large but not quite enough to justify that price tag. It was really good tho!! The braised veggies had just the right amount of saltiness. And the lettuce provided a really nice contrasting texture. The peanuts was the icing on the cake, adding that tiny little bit of saltiness and crunch. There was definitely cilantro or parsley somewhere in there. I personally didn't like that, but it is my own preference. (fyi: you can opt for chili but I didn't!)

The friendly shopkeeper informed me that they used molasses for the popiah which had higher nutritional value compared to sweet sauce. He was so nice and explained their specials to me and answering all my questions regarding the restaurant. Really good service.

The artichoke tea however, didn't taste of anything special. It was just a normal teabag tea to me. With a slight veggie-y aftertaste. I wouldn't go for that again, especially given the price.

7/10

Happy birthday Daddy <3

This humongous platter ($118) covered the entire table and was filled with a clear soup which was rich with the sweetness from the seafood. Swimming in this huge hotpot were three crabs, half a lobster, prawns, some crayfish-prawn crustacean, mussels, clams, oysters and scallops. There were also quail eggs, corn and cabbage as well as instant noodles.

My favorite were hands-down the prawns which were juicy and crunchy. The shell peeled easily away from the tender bright orange flesh, a sure sign of its freshness. The lobster was the biggest disappointment however, chewy and overcooked. :( The soup was an absolute delight to drink, brimming with seafoody goodness. I was thankful for that fact that we hadn't gone with the mala option; the refreshing soup base allowed the star of the dish, the seafood to shine through.

One of the rare times one can fill up on shellfish. :) and we were all very full!! This was a good rare treat and quite worth the high price tag on it.

8/10

I didn't know what to expect from a $9.90 fish dish but I was very happy with what I got!! This dish comes with two pieces of crispy halibut, two scoops of creamy mashed potatoes and a simple salad of lettuce, carrot and cucumber in a roasted sesame dressing. There was also a hollandaise-esque sauce for the fish.

The fish was really delicious!! It wasn't the freshest (the fishy taste was quite strong but honestly I don't mind that as I love fish) but it was cooked well, with firm flesh that flaked easily under the fork. It went quite well with the rich, creamy, buttery sauce (I was probably supposed to squeeze the lemon wedge over it to bump up the flavor but forgot oops). And the sides were simple and just filling enough to make it a satisfying meal. :)

I really appreciated that there was a wide variety of different cuisines, desserts and drinks to cater to every craving and appetites. And at really affordable prices too 👍

7.5/10

First of all, these are the most affordable dumplings I've seen in a long time ($6.50 for 10 XLBs/guo ties). The long queue attested to the popularity of this humble hawker stall, where the dumplings were freshly made to order, boiled and fried right in front of the customer.

The guo ties were the highlight of our dumpling feast. A generous squirt of juice hit my palate as I bit into the plump, pillowy dumpling. The meat to skin ratio was perfect (I prefer a slightly thicker skin) and the filling itself was a flavorful pork mince with crunchy bits of green onion inside. I loved how the dumpling was piping hot and crispy on the bottom; evidently a lot of skill and care had gone into making each dumpling.

The XLBs were delicious too, not as good as Din Tai Fung's but definitely with the price I cannot complain. The dumpling itself was quite tiny and not the bulging, steaming package I believe XLBs should be. And the skin was definitely a little too thick for my liking. Yet the soup was plentiful and there was a generous amount of pork filling within.

Altogether definitely worth the wait for those amazing, absolutely value-for-money guoties. It certainly beats any restaurant guo ties and I will definitely be hitting this place to satisfy those dumpling cravings in the future.

8/10

This was a lunch menu catered for some students we were hosting.

The tahu telur (bottom right corner) was definitely a major highlight. Cubes of egg tofu were deep fried to a crispy golden brown and topped with a halo of deep fried egg white. It was doused with some a thick, sweet and spicy dark sauce. The combination of silky tofu and deep fried batter was heavenly. The egg white halo soaked up the sauce and turned it into dripping strings of deliciousness which I ate like noodles. And that delightfully savory sauce coated everything with its perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess.

Another highlight was their signature fried chicken (top right corner). Served piping hot, the strong whiff of Indonesian spices shone through with every bite. The breast meat was not dry but instead tore apart easily, and the meat inside glistened with chicken juice. I was so impressed because it wasn't the least bit oily despite its delightful crispiness.

Finally, their chendol which (not pictured here) finished off our delicious meal with a bang. Served with coconut milk and gula melaka with bits of sago spooned into the bottom, it was sweet, rich and the perfect respite from Singapore's heat.

All in all, really delicious, authentic, well-executed Indonesian food with familiar, time-tested flavors. I loved the food here.

9.5/10

So this store used to be run by an ex-Chatterbox chef. My dining partner claimed it was his favorite chicken rice in the whole of Singapore (a huge claim since he goes through a plate a day on average) so I was quite excited to try this. We were exceptionally hungry so I ordered 1/2 chicken ($16.80), oyster vegetables ($4.50), their signature tofu ($4.50) and 2 plates of rice. It came with two bowls of clear cabbage soup (MSG loaded to be sure, but tasted good)

First bite of the chicken and I was blown away. It was tender, juicy and flavorful. The skin was silky soft. The dark meat was especially delightful, slipping down my throat easily while the breast meat soaked up the sauce the chicken was seasoned in, bursting with chicken flavor. I only wish I could say the same about the rice, which was definitely underseasoned and slightly dry. The chicken was definitely the highlight in this one.

The tofu side dish was delicious. Piping hot with a crispy outside and soft, silky center, it was paired with a sweet chili sauce. The oyster kailan was definitely overcooked without much crunch to it, but it provided much needed fiber and greens to the meal. And it was generously seasoned with oyster sauce, so no complaints about that.

Overall, a delicious, filling meal. While I don't know if I can agree with my dining partner whether this was the best chicken rice in Singapore, my chicken rice craving and hunger pangs have been satisfied at a very reasonable price.

7.5/10