Invited Tastings

[BUGIS, SINGAPORE] With a wide variety of dishes from different provinces, @suhanggourmet do their savoury dishes quite well, at least from the ones I've had.

The Hunan Pepper Stir Fried Pork 🐷 ($22.80) was the perfect rice stealer, due to its garlicky savoury profile. The pepper had a slight sweetness that was inviting too! Give me a plate of this and rice and I'm happy.

The Hand Shredded Cabbage 🥬 ($13.80) was also well executed, as it was crisp yet well flavoured. Not too spicy, it wasn't too salty as well and I can have this on its own!

Thank you @burpple and @suhanggourmet for the invite and food 😁

[JALAN BESAR, SINGAPORE] Everyone, I think I have found another great hidden zichar restaurant in the heart of the Jalan Besar region! Even though this was a tasting, I enjoyed the food alot and I will be back again 😍

If @dynasty_fried_porridge calls themselves this way, their Dynasty Famous Fried Porridge 🍲 ($8.50 for small portion) should be good. True enough, it was very smoky and had a strong umami. It wasn't too salty either, and I appreciated the little bits of yam within that added texture to this dish!

What's even better is their Hong Shao Braised Pork Stir Fried Bee Hoon 🍜 ($11) which was so flavourful. It had a good wok hei, and they managed to not make the noodles soggy! The meat was very tender as well.

For sides, their Prawns Paste Wings 🍗 ($13 for smal portion) was really a great accomplishment. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, I liked how it wasn't too salty and yet delivered the umami we expect from prawn paste. What's even better was their Salted Egg Sotong 🦑, as it was so crispy, and yet the squid within wasn't overcooked! The squid pieces tasted very fresh and didn't seem frozen.

When all dishes are hits, you know their chef really has the skills. I can't wait to bring my friends and family here! Thank you @dynasty_fried_porridge for the invite 😁

[CLARKE QUAY, SINGAPORE] When the waitress genuinely recommended the special chilli that she loves from the restaurant, you know they love the food here too 😍 we had a feast at @juwei.sg and we loved so many of their dishes!

The Pork Knuckle Nasi Lemak 🐷 ($18.90) had such a plethora of small dishes and I loved the crackling of the pork knuckle! It was so crispy and the meat was quite tender, definitely a good complement to the special chilli sauce that you need to ask from them. The chilli wasn't too spicy, and had a good sweet savoury profile.

My next favourite got to be their Pig Trotter Bee Hoon 🐖 ($17.90). I don't usually eat this as it's too rich and oily, but this one is just nice. The broth itself isn't too salty and was very comforting. The trotter was so darn soft 😍

For sides, please do yourself a favour and get the Truffle Salad Youtiao 🥖 ($6.90)! Crispy on the outside and well stuffed with a meat filling, it was so satisfying with the truffle sauce which had a strong aroma!

For dessert, their Durian Chendol 🍧 can't go wrong, especially when you can order the less sweet version. Refreshing!

Thank you so much @juwei.sg for the invite and @foodiecouplecm for joining us! Big yum yum to my tum tum!

[LAVENDER, SINGAPORE] Don't be mistaken by their speciality Coriander Fried Chicken 🍗 ($8.90), as these wholesome pieces were instead marinated with coriander seeds, not leaves. The batter may be slightly too thick in some areas, but it was crunchy and very flavourful. The marinade has penetrated the meat well, and I love how juicy the meat was 😍 each rice set also comes with veggie fritters and tempeh, which were very well fried. Do have their rice with sambal, as not only the former has citrus flavours from the lime leaves, the latter had such a good spicy kick!

You can change out the rice for their indomie ($1.50), and they did it very well as well due to its al dente texture. The other rice set variations were decent as well, especially the Grilled Lamb 🥩 ($9.90) which had little to no odour! But all in all, their coriander fried chicken still appeals to me the most.

This is one food place to visit if you are working nearby!

[JOO CHIAT, SINGAPORE] Among the many Vietnamese stalls along the stretch of road lies @thevietrotisg, where they offer a huge selection of Banh Mi varieties. From grilled chicken to grilled beef to tuna mayo, they have it all! Among the myriad of flavours, I actually enjoyed Truffle Tuna Mayo 🐟 ($7.80) the best! Although the truffle taste was faint, they gave a heaping amount of tuna mayo which was so satisfying with each bite! The bread itself was also so crispy on the outside and fluffy inside 😍

To pair with their Banh Mi, nothing beats having the Signature Vietnamese Drip Coffee ☕ ($4.50 for Iced). It was intense, very aromatic and best of all, you can adjust your sweetness level with the amount of condensed milk you put!

Do consider getting one yourself while you're here in the Katong area!

[BOON KENG, SINGAPORE] Their dim sum just shouts old school flavours! From Fried Yam Cake 🍠 to Beancurd with Mango Salad 🥭, their food items were decent and had a unique nostalgic flavour. One of our favourites definitely has to be their Fried Yam Cake, as it was so addictive with its crispy exterior and fluffy inside.

They also sell crab dishes too! We tried their Chilli Crabs 🦀 and it was pretty fantastic. The meat was fresh and really sweet, and the sauce had a good tang, although it wasn't spicy.

One more place to try out if you're near! Thank you @sg126dimsum for the food and @wantwoeatsg for the invite!

[BEDOK, SINGAPORE] Another good hokkien mee to add to the list! Shiok Hokkien Mee has multiple outlets in SG and we visited the Bedok branch (yay eastside!). Their Hokkien Mee 🦐($5 for small, $8 for medium) was well executed, with a prominent wok hei flavour and good enough prawn umami flavour. I would call this a well balanced version, as it wasn't overly flavoured and it's easy to finish the plate quickly! For more flavour, their fresh pork lard adds another dimension 😍

You can add scrambled eggs on top as well, and it's interesting as it was fluffy and added extra richness to the dish! The prawns were also fresh and snappy. If you are around their area, do check them out! I really appreciate that all their staff are young and hustling so much.

Thank you @shiokhokkienmee for inviting!

[TANJONG PAGAR, SINGAPORE] Among the many Korean restaurants in the area, you will find @sodamkbbq which serves up a variety of Korean dishes to satisfy your cravings!

From the many different kbbq sets to choose from, the pork and beef set for 3-4 people 🥩 ($148) had alot of varieties of food! From the different cuts of beef and pork, to the soup and pancake, the amount of food is definitely enough. Among the different cuts of meat, the beef short ribs trumped with its marbling and juicy tender bites. The pork belly and collar were decent but they might have been abit overcooked.

We had an additional order of Naengmyeon 🍜 ($18) and Popcorn Chicken 🍗 ($18) and the popcorn chicken reminded me alot of the street fried chicken I've had in a cup in Korea. The batter stayed crispy throughout the meal and the tteok was satisfyingly chewy! The Naengmyeon's noodle was chewy but soup could have been deeper!

Thank you @sodamkbbq for the invite! Food is decent and we liked how the staff will help to cook the meats on another grill!

Everyone, @fook.kin hands down has the best char siew I've had. Be prepared to be treated with delicious roasted meats and local dishes that will make you come back for more! We had a variety of their top sellers and new dishes and all of us had nothing but praises for them 😍

While you're here, you have to get their Mixed Meat Platter ($30.50 for medium). Their char siew was so tender and succulent, and it was very well marinated with the perfect blend of sweet and savoury. With a slight smokiness, you have to dip in their sauce for extra oomph! The roasted pork was also very well executed, with a very light crispy crackling and succulent tender meat.

Their new menu consists of a variety of curry bee hoon, and I liked their Treasure Wok Hei Curry Bee Hoon ($13.80) the best. Nothing like their excellent roasted meats in a thick aromatic curry. You can also taste the wok hei in the noodles! For the price, the portion is really generous too. Be warned, it has quite a chilli kick!

Another side dish you have to get is their Sweet and Sour Pork Gems ($16.50). You can never go back to eating your usual sweet and sour pork again. The batter was still crispy and it was so meaty and tender within! I wished I had the whole plate to myself 😂

Definitely coming back here again with friends or my family. Thank you @fook.kin for the invite!

@panuozzo.sg may seem like an unassuming eatery, but the halal Italian fare here is pretty good 😍 we tried both their pizza and pasta and we loved both of them!

Their Truffle Pizza with Meatballs ($24) had so much truffle fragrance! Each bite had a bold flavour of truffle, mushroom and cheese that was really satisfying 😍 Do go for their meatball option, as the meatballs were quite meaty and juicy and complemented the white sauce well! As for their pizza dough, it was the chewy kind and I liked the crust. Do share this with more people as it can get surfeiting towards the end.

Their Pesto Pasta with Prawns ($16) was also another hit 😍 the fusilli pasta was al dente, and were well coated with the rich pesto sauce. The pesto sauce was so bold in flavour, with nutty aromatic notes coming through strongly! The basil within was strong and slightly minty as well. Prawns were snappy and fresh too.

The Onion Rings ($8) were decent and crispy, though it was nothing much to shout out about.

Definitely coming back for their pesto pasta as a pesto lover 😍 thank you @panuozzo.sg for inviting!

[1 FOR 1 BRUNCH FOR SEPTEMBER BABIES] A cafe right smack in the heart of the Clark Quay area, @homedawn.sg has an extensive menu full of brunch and Asian fusion options. We tried several of their dishes and some of them were pretty decent. They have an ongoing promotion till the end of Sep 2024 where if your birthday falls in Sep, the entire table can enjoy 1 for 1 brunch! Here's what we had:

Homie's Brekkie ($25) - this is a standard fare for most brunch places, and I'm glad that this place did the scrambled well. There's a variety of ingredients so this would definitely turn out to be filling!

Bulgogi Pizza ($32) - their pizza crust is completely crispy, and may work out for some people. I personally liked it, due to its contrast with the soft cheese and beef slices within. Quite beefy but definitely would be happier with more ingredients inside.

Black Pepper Crab Udon ($22) - Now for their Asian fare, this is good for the black pepper lovers. With a strong kick of black pepper flavour, the udon was slurp worthy with a slightly al dente texture. Soft Shell Crab was crispy but can be abit salty!

Iced Latte ($6.50) and Iced Coconut Latte ($7.50) - their coffee here was just lovely, especially the 2 mentioned here. Their Iced Latte was rich and nutty, very aromatic and was so satisfying! As for their Coconut Latte, I love how the coconut flavour was not artificial and did not overpower the coffee as well. Both complemented each other well 😍

With a spacious environment, it's a great place for couples as well as families. This is a duo concept too and this cafe will turn into a bar with live performances at night 😍 The live band performance will also happen on the 1st weekend of every month during brunch time! Hurry the 1 for 1 offer is ending this month!

Not new to their quality Taiwanese dishes, I tried more of @8degreesatsg 's options and I was wow-ed by some of them 😍

The Scallion Oil Chicken Rice ($6) got my friend looking at me in disbelief 😂 it was so flavourful and had so much umami flavours that I just couldn't stop! Honestly, I think I can eat another bowl as it was just that good! The chicken itself can be a little tough but not much of a concern.

The braised pork belly rice ($7) was the standard Taiwanese fare. Filled with tender fatty pork belly, this was not too salty and quite comforting.

Among the sides we got, the Marinated King Oyster Mushroom ($6) would be my go-to order. You really can't go wrong with such aromatic and flavourful chilli oil. So addictive!

To cool off the heat, the Wintermelon with Lemon ($4.90) would be a good choice due to its citrusy flavours. 0 sugar worked best for me as it was already slightly sweet!

Thank you @scalecollab.sg for inviting and @8degreesatsg for the food. Can't wait to be back!