Known for its Nasi Padang, I tried the humble dish of lontong which consists of curry vegetables and rice cakes that were topped with sambal chilli and coconut shavings. The one I had was overly salty which even covered the taste of the curry itself. The sodium level was off the charts and made me really thirsty and I will not order again.

Price: $4.50
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Founded in the 60s, Koung’s Wanton Noodle is distinctively old school - one that uses ketchup as a component of its gravy base. This is one ultimate comfort food of mine. All ingredients except for the noodles are made in house. The noodles are slightly soggy but much less so than in the past which enables it to soak up much of the gravy. The made in-house char siew is wonderfully tender yet umami with its rim slightly charred. There’s also a good fat meat ratio. Of special mention is the wanton which are packed full of meaty goodness. Will be perfect if there’s some sole fish in it as well. I am not a fan of lard but the ones here are freshly fried and do not have any rancid smell, add some and elevate your dish to the next level.

Price: from $4 to $7 (pictured is the $6 more ingredients portion)
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Thick, rich and quite dense, with a subtle yogurt like taste to it. Not the best I have tried but decent enough. The cheese cake get a little heavy after a few bites and it becomes pretty monotonous. The saving grace is the biscuit base which adds a different texture to the cheese cake.

Price: $38.90 for whole cake
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One of my favourite cafe for coffee, and their cold brew white is my go-to drink to seek temporary respite from the unrelenting heat. More milky than other similar cold brew, it’s very easy to drink and tastes so refreshing and light on the palate. Made in-house, the freshness is also guarantee. The cafe has also a very chillax, unpretentious vibe to it which makes it a nice place just to hang out and relax.

Price: $6.50
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Located within a nondescript foodcourt at Bras Basah complex, it’s one of the better minced meat noodle of recent memory. Soup was robust and savoury. The noodles were springy throughout, while the gravy has a good balance of vinegar and salty which makes it not overly heavy on the palate.

The star of the dish is the dumpling (only 1 though). It’s full of meaty goodness yet relatively light and making you want for more. Also, do add the roasted garlic and pork lard as they elevate the dish to the next level. My top 5.

Price: $4.50 / $5.50
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A signage at the entrance promoted this dish: Eggstastic Brioche - Home made brioche and creamy scrambled egg. Our expectations were raised, we ordered, and we were not disappointed. In fact, we were mind blown, how can such a simple dish taste so good! Served warm and lightly toasted, the brioche was fluffy soft and it is so buttery! The free range organic eggs were also soft, light and fluffy and it goes so well with the broiche. Feel free to add on other ingredients such as bacon and cheese.

Price: $6
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In this quaint hideaway located within the Kum Yan Methodist Church, this is a wonderful place to rest tired feet and soul. The decor is cosy and tastefully decorated. The coffee (from Prodigal Roasters) is balanced, smooth and has a nice mellow rounded taste.

What a hideaway and a hidden gem

Price: $4.50 (hot flat white) add $0.50 for cold beverage
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Never had the opportunity to try this famed wanton noodle previously and finally got my hands on a plate (or 1.5) today. I can understand the lure, and it’s unlike any wanton noodle that I’ve tried previously. At $5, it comes with 2 wanton, about 2-3 mouthful of noodles, some shreds of cardboard like char siew, a few strands of token veg and a splash of the chilli sauce. It’s definitely not sufficient for a meal! We bought 3 plates to share upon 2.

The gravy was a mix between sweet and savory and I can’t quite put a finger to what goes into it but pretty sure, there’s lard which gives its umami. The noodles were springy but there’s so little of it. The chilli weren’t spicy at all and tasted a little like those used at ngoh hiang stalls. The magic is when all of these are mixed together and they seem to complement each other. Worth a try once at least but it’s unlikely I’ll be here regularly. A little overrated I feel.

Go at around 1130 am before the queue builds up and forget about going in the evening as it closes very early

A star of this place is the fried wanton. A must have as it’s crispy and meaty

Price: $5 a plate
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Located at #01-15 whampoa makan place (the night hawker centre), I've been ordering for at least the last 25 years from this stall run by a father-mother-son team. Pure unadulterated sugar cane goodness at just $1.80 for this huge cup. You can also choose to add lemon.

Fried hokkien mee simmered to a thick gooey consistency, this is a longstanding popular stall with a constant queue at the Whampoa food centre. Not bad but doesn't come with pork belly. Ingredients are not abundant - 2 small prawns and a couple of sotong pieces. (Pictured here is the $4 portion.) Not in my top 3 favourite stalls for hokkien mee but okay if craving for a quick fix.

This Hainanese kopi stall started at Lau Pa Sat in 1964 before relocating to its current premise at Amoy Street Food Centre in 1997. Made of robusta beans that were ground in-house, the coffee is thick and robust. Would be perfect if the coffee is a tad sweeter to bring out the full flavors, on the bitter side. Try their kaya French Toast that’s toasted over charcoal!

Price: $1
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Go for their weekday set lunch at $10/$11 where you there’s a wide selection of mains to choose from. In addition, there’s a barley tea and side dishes to go with your main meal as well.

The Bibimbap beef bulgogi comes pipping hot which is a must for hot stone as it gives a nice crisp to the rice. The ingredients were plentiful and complemented each other perfectly. Stir in the gochuchang and wala a nice pipping hot bowl of bibimbap to satisfy your Korean food craving. A steal!

Price: $10/$11
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