SgCafeHopping

Junction 8...

Father’s Day is just around the corner and it’s time to show some appreciation to your dad who has been slogging hard to provide the best for you. Since my dad doesn’t really like fanciful surprises, I’ll be treating him to his favourite cuisines but where? If you have been following me closely on my Mother’s Day post, you will know that I’ve celebrated it with my mum at Junction 8 because of its accessibility and variety. Same goes for my dad, we will be celebrating Father’s Day at Junction 8 but I will be featuring five new places according to my dad’s preference.

My dad is very particular about the food he eats (because he’s a chef himself), and so I had to pick the restaurants very carefully. For this Father’s Day, I have decided to plan a food trail for him at Junction 8 where he gets to eat his favourite Chinese and Japanese food, as well as others that he has never come across. If you have yet to make any plans, this Junction 8 Food Guide might give you some inspiration!

Junction 8 has a variety of food options and you’ll bound to find one that your father likes!

1) Osaka Ohsho

Many of you might have already heard about the popular Osaka Ohsho who is known for their causal ambience and irresistible dumplings. Established in 1969, Osaka Ohsho has since added and modified many Japanese-Chinese dishes, garnering them a steady following of not only Japanese diners but locals as well. If you are looking for decent and affordable Japanese food, this is the place to go! My dad was singing praises of the gyoza at Osaka Ohsho.

Where to find them at Junction 8: 9 Bishan Place #02-34/35/35A

My dad really likes the Char Siew Ramen! The broth was rich, flavourful and sweet. The noodles were very springy. Egg was melty and the char siew was tender. For the price you are paying, the portion is huge and very value-for-money!

My parents didn’t quite like this because they felt it was too salty. Honestly, I beg to differ. The fried tofu wasn’t over-fried (not too oily) and it was very crispy. The teriyaki and mayonnaise sauce complemented the fried tofu very well. I ate all of them in no time!

This is my dad’s first time trying a Japanese Curry Omelette Rice and you know what, he likes it a lot! The curry was aromatic, flavourful and not overly sweet. Omelette was soft and fluffy and it goes so well with the Japanese curry. Chicken was well-marinated with teriyaki sauce but I thought it was a little too tough for me. Other than that, full points for this delicious Japanese Curry Omelette Rice! A must-try!

Always leave the best for the last! The gyoza is definitely the reason why so many people visit Osaka Ohsho and why they are named by many as a gyoza specialist. When we walked into the restaurant, I noticed that every single table has at least one serving of their gyoza. We ordered and was very impressed. The gyoza was so good that the whole family was fighting over for it. We ordered another portion to satisfy our cravings. The skin wasn’t too thick and the fillings were well-proportioned. I love the slightly burnt texture of the gyoza. Very addictive! You will definitely regret if you never order this!

2) Nando's

If your dad is a big meat eater, Nando’s is the place you need to bring him to. I am always shocked about the portion they serve here. Also, Nando’s has recently introduced a brand new flavour – Mango & Lime which complemented very well with each other. The sweet-sour combination will definitely open up your appetite!

Where to find them at Junction 8: 9 Bishan Place, #01-51 Singapore 579837

Just look at the sumptuous spread we had at Nando’s the other day. We all had a good food coma. My parents aren’t exactly into Western food but they were impressed with some of the dishes. In frame, 3 Chicken Wings, Sweet Potato Chips, Caesar Side Salad, Meat Platter, Grilled Chicken Cataplana and Chicken Wrap. Our favourites were the Meat Platter (which my parents went back for it again without me) and the Sweet Potato Fries.

Mango & Lime Espetada

The meat was well-marinated, with a balanced flavour of mango and lime. It was tender and very juicy. They also have a range of different types of sauces for you to choose from. If you can take spicy, go straight for the hot sauce. I’ll probably stick to the mild one! The portion was also huge (as you can see in the picture) and I could hardly finish half of it!

3) Polar Puffs & Cakes

How can you celebrate Father’s Day without a cake? With so many different cake stores around, which one should you go to? You can try Polar Puffs & Cakes because they have a healthier range of “Lesser Sugar” cakes which are equally tasty. You can almost find Polar Puffs & Cakes anywhere in Singapore. Known as a familiar and well-loved presence in food-appreciating Singapore, Polar Puffs & Cakes has 30 outlets and bistros, along with over 80 expanding distribution through petrol stations and convenience stores.

Where to find them at Junction 8: 9 Bishan Place, Basement 2 Singapore 579837

The “Lesser Sugar Cakes” were launched during Christmas last year and has since been a very popular choice among consumer, especially the Mango Fruit Cake at the back of the picture. Since my dad loves the Mango Fruit Cake, I bought him the same one this Father’s Day. It wasn’t overly sweet and the fruits were really fresh. You can eat a few more slices because it wasn't jelat! If you are looking for a healthier cake, you can go to Polar Puffs & Cakes!

4) Ding Tai Fung

Ding Tai Fung has definitely made a name for itself internationally, with so many different franchise all around the world. It is also a very popular establishment in the eyes of many people (one of them is my dad). The queue outside Ding Tai Fung is always so long that you have to wait almost a good 30-40 minutes before you can get a seat inside. I waited for almost half an hour the other day with my parents and the wait was definitely worthwhile. My dad was super happy! We tried a lot of dishes that day but I have selected a few 'Must-try' dishes at Ding Tai Fung below. If your dad loves Chinese food, this is the place to go!

Where to find them at Junction 8: 9 Bishan Place, #01-41 Singapore 579837

Fried Prawn Dumplings

The Fried Prawn Dumplings were really tasty. It was crispy and they were very generous with the prawn fillings inside it. It goes very with the home-made sauce.

Fried Rice with Pork Chop

Finally got my hands on the highly raved-about Fried Rice with Pork Chop from Ding Tai Fung. Many people were singing praises of this dish. The fried rice has a strong wok hei and egg flavour. Very aromatic. The pork chop was well-marinated and tender.

Steamed Pork Buns

Similar taste and flavour to their Xiao Long Bao except that the skin is harder. The pork fillings are still on point!

Xiao Long Bao

The reason why we ate at Ding Tai Fung! No wonder so many people are willing to queue just to taste their Xiao Long Bao. The skin was not too thick and the proportion of the meat inside the bun was just right. The broth or juice inside the Xiao Long Bao is to die for. Just order the bigger portion (10 pieces) and you won’t regret it.

Prawn Siew Mai

This is not the usual Siew Mai you find outside. Below the prawn lies a pork ball that tasted exactly the same as their Xiao Long Bao. Prawns were fresh and crunchy!

5) The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

One of the few places I rely on to get my coffee and tea cravings fixed. This is also one place my dad loves to visit. Recently, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf has launched two new sparkling teas – Swedish Berries and Mint Lime, along with the existing Passion Fruit flavour till 9 August 2017 to combat against the scorching hot weather in Singapore. My dad tried one and immediately fall in love with it. They were very refreshing! #choosetosparkle #CoffeeBeanSG

Where to find them in Junction 8: 9 Bishan Place, #01-34, Singapore 579837

Don't they look very pretty? Especially refreshing in hot weather like this!

We all unanimously agreed that the Swedish Berries was the nicest out of the three! It was not as sweet as the other two and the flavour lingers in the mouth. I believe your parents will like this! So, chill and spend some quality time together over some good teas this Father’s Day!

Written by: Yong Wei Kai (Follow me on Instagram @yongweikai or @sgcafehopping)

Bowl Thai...

Office people are always looking for quick, filling and affordable meal during their lunch break. If the meal is too expensive (they have a tight budget) or the portion is too small, they would most probably skip it. They would rather queue for a cheaper meal than to spend a bomb for lunch.

If you are working near Chinatown Point, you are in for a good treat. Located at the basement of Chinatown Point, Bowl Thai is a new restaurant under the Select Group that serves very value-for-money Thai dishes bound to satisfy both your taste buds and tummy. So, bid goodbye to squeezing with the insane crowd at Hong Lim Market during lunch while you enjoy affordable yet delicious Thai cuisine at Bowl Thai without burning a huge hole in your pocket.

So, visit Bowl Thai for lunch next week! It's cheap and filling!

If you have a sweet tooth, you would probably like the Thai Green Tea which was a lot sweeter than the Thai Iced Tea.

Green Mango Salad (Yum Mamuang) // $7.90++

If you are looking for a dish to open up your appetite, this is the dish to go for. The salad was crunchy and refreshing, and the dressing was aromatic and flavourful. I took a bite and I can’t stop myself from finishing it. Very addictive!

Secret Recipe Chicken Wings (Peek Gai Tod) // $7.90++

Homemade Prawn Roll (Hae Chor) // $6.90++

Thai Fried Wanton (Kaio Tod) // $4.90++

This platter is only for illustration purposes because it’s too much for my stomach to handle if I was served the actual portion of each dish. My personal favourites were the Fried Wanton and Hae Chor. The Fried Wanton was well-fried, not too oily and it was very crispy. The skin wasn’t too thick and the proportion of meat added in the wanton was just right. Dipping it into the chilli sauce makes it even tastier. The Hae Chor was very flavourful. They were very generous with the fillings they stuffed inside. A must-order! The Chicken Wings were not too bad, but I thought it was too small for me. The flavour could also be a little stronger.

Thai Braised Pork Belly Rice with Preserved Vegetables (Moo Parlaow) // $8.90++

Personally, I thought the portion was huge. If you like fatty pork bellies, you would probably love this. The pork bellies were well-marinated and very tender. I was a little disappointed with the preserved vegetables because it was too bland for me. I thought they could also drizzle more sauce onto the rice to give it more flavour. The eggs were not bad!

Green Curry Chicken (Gaeng Keow Wan Gai) // $8.90++

This was my favourite dish at Bowl Thai. The curry was fragrant, aromatic and sweet. The meats were tender and it was heavily soaked with the flavour of the green curry. If I wasn’t on a diet, I would easily order two bowls of rice to go with the curry.

Bangkok Wanton Noodle (Baa Mee Moo Dang) // $7.90++

The Wanton Mee was not too bad. The noodles were springy and the char siew was flavourful. Definitely very value-for-money! They were also very generous with the pork lard servings!

Thai Tapioca with Coconut Cream // $4.90++

The perfect way to end off your meal is to have a dessert that is not too sweet. The dessert wasn’t very sweet and it had a strong and rich coconut flavour. The tapioca was also very soft. I love this!

Nearest Mrt Station: Chinatown

Location:

What To Order: Mango Salad, Hae Chor, Green Curry and Tapioca

Restaurant Rating: 3/5

Food Ratinga: 7/10

Written by: Yong Wei Kai (Follow me on Instagram @yongweikai or @sgcafehopping)

Craft Feeds...

Are you looking for a new drinking spot to chill with your friends or colleagues? Nestled in a hidden corner at Duxton, Craft Feeds is a new restaurant & bar that offers interesting craft beers around the world paired with their exquisite tapas-style food. You can book your reservation at Craft Feeds via the Quandoo app!

It’s definitely a great hangout place for you and your friends, especially with their unique craft beers and delectable tapas dishes.

They also serve draft beers, ranging from light to heavy which you will definitely find one that suits your preference. It feels especially refreshing gulping down a freshly pumped iced cold beer during hot weather like this.

Kona Longboard Lager ($10) & Lost Coast Indice IPA ($11)

Out of these two, I preferred the IPA beer because the flavour was heavier and stronger. It has a subtle bitterness at the end which I really liked. The beer was also very smooth. On the other hand, the flavour was lighter for the lager, good for people who dislike strong beers. It was relatively sweet for me. The staff told me it was a popular drink among the ladies.

Chicken Breast, Lemon Aioli, Tabbouleh, Pine Nuts, Parmesan & Soft Centred Egg // $17

The combination was great. It had so many flavours in it – sweet, sour and salty which makes the dish very appetising. The egg was soft and melty – egg yolk melts in the mouth. The chicken breast wasn’t tough and it was very juicy. I like how the pine nuts were added to enhance the flavour and texture (crunchiness).

Chargrilled Zucchini, Sweetcorn, Avocado & Mint, Chile-Lime Dressing & Creme Fraiche // $12

Never judge a book by its cover! I was very sceptical about this dish initially but it turned out to be one of my favourite dish at Craft Feeds. It was sour, but a good kind of sour that opens up your appetite immediately. The sweet corn actually neutralises the sourness, making the dish very enjoyable. One bite and you can’t stop! Very addictive. A must-try!

Duck Fat Potatoes, Bacon, Sour Cream & Chives // $12

Nothing can go wrong with potatoes and bacon! The potatoes were well-cooked – not too tough or soggy. The bacon was thick and juicy.

Wagyu Rump, Watercress Pomegranate, Pomelo & Green Papaya // $21

The beef was tender and juicy, and it paired well with the sour-sweet combination from the salad. Very appetising!

Pork Cheeks, Marmite Butter, Parsnip, Charred Baby Corn & Mustard Mayo // $19

If you really like strong and savoury flavours, you will definitely like the pork cheeks. It was well-marinated and flavourful.

Flame-seared Salmon // $8

This was another favourite dish of mine! The salmon tasted like Bah Kwa! It was well-seared, very flavourful. The inner layer was so soft and melty.

Poached Pear, Hazelnut Prune Soil & Frozen Lime Candy // $14

Isn’t this deconstructed dessert very pretty? Is it only pleasing to the eyes? No, it was very pleasurable to the tastebuds. The hazelnut flavour was strong and it matches the poached pear very well. Not overly sweet!

Chocolate, Lime Mascarpone, Pistachio & Black Olive Salt // $14

This was so good that I was so tempted to order another one again! The chocolate was super rich and creamy, yet it wasn’t very sweet and jelat. I like how the olives contrasted with the chocolate – salty and sweet combination works perfectly for me.

Doesn’t Craft Feeds sounds like the perfect place to chill after work? So, TGIF next week at Craft Feeds and unwind all your stress away! Remember that you can book via the Quandoo App!

Nearest Mrt Station: Tanjong Pagar/Outram

Location: 13 Duxton Hill Singapore 089597

What To Order: Beers & Tapas

Restaurant Rating: 4/10

Food Ratings: 7.5/10

Written by: Yong Wei Kai (Follow me on Instagram @yongweikai or @sgcafehopping)

Shokutsu Ten Japanese Food Street...

I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook. On one hand, I really appreciate Facebook for reliving my old memories but it is also, at the same time, very frustrating to be reminded of the happy memories I have once enjoyed. Recently, Facebook reminded me of my graduation trip to Japan a year ago and that’s when I realised I really miss the food in Japan. I miss the comforting ramen in Tokyo, the amazing soba in Kyoto and the crispy & flavourful tempuras in Osaka. So, where can I satisfy these cravings in Singapore?

On 2^nd May 2017, Shokutsu Ten Japanese Food Street has opened its third outlet in Great World City, featuring a total of five dining and retail venues which includes the familiar Ichiban Boshi, Shimbashi Soba, Kuriya Japanese Market as well as new brands Men-ichi Sapporo Ramen and Ami Ami which I will be sharing more on my blog. Remember to bring an empty stomach with you when you head to the mini Japanese heaven in Great World City! Ikimashou!

See Japan, Taste Japan & Feel Japan at the newly opened Shokutsu Ten Japanese Food Street!

1) Ami Ami by Kuriya Dining

At Ami Ami, you can choose to dine at the Tempura counter, where seasonal produce is battered and deep-fried by the order, or at the Robatayaki counter, where it is slow-grilled over charcoal for a distinctive, smoky flavour. Helmed by award-winning Master Chef Naoki Tsuzuki, Ami Ami showcases the freshest seafood from Japan and around the world. Aside from an extensive selection of seafood from fish to live scallops on the a la carte menu, guests can also indulge in affordable Set Meals, Seafood Platters, Sashimi Platters and Tempura Platters that are great for sharing.

Ami Ami Tempura Set // $45.80++

If you can’t decide what to eat, I would highly recommend you their Ami Ami Tempura Set which was very value-for-money. At only $45.80++, you get to enjoy the Sashimi of the day, Charcoal grilled Live Scallop Robatayaki, Prawn, Chicken, Fish and Vegetable Tempuras as well as the egg-porn worthy Onsen Egg. Another thing worth mentioning was how the tempuras were served. They will serve you the tempura one by one so as to retain the crispiness and freshness of each tempura. Super delicious!

"Fuji" Sashimi 5 Kinds // $26.80++

The sashimi are subjected to change according to seasonality and availability. In this platter, there is Maguro, Salmon (Norway), Sawara Aburi (Spanish Mackerel), Kampachi (Amberjack) and Tai. My favourites were the Sawara Aburi and Kampachi.

Original Egg Tempura Rice // $6.50++

I thought the fried egg was going to be very oily but it wasn’t. It was crispy on the outside and soft & melty on the inside. You have got to try this!

Live Scallop Robayataki with 3 Toppings // $19.80++

Charcoal-grilled live scallop topped with crabmeat, sea urchin & salmon roe

Live Scallop Robayataki // $7.80++

I really love the Scallop Robatayaki at Ami Ami. The scallops were really fresh and sweet. The juice that was forming inside the scallop was really flavourful. A must-try!

Opening Special

Get the selected Sparkling Wine by glass (usual price: $15.80) at only $6.80++ with any food you order.

2) Men-ichi Sapporo Ramen

With a rich history dated back to the 1950s, Men-ichi Sapporo Ramen uses the traditional Sappora method of stir-frying bean sprouts, minced pork and leek together with a collagen-rich miso-infused tonkotsu broth to prepare their ramen. The rich broth is then served with signature thick, curly Nishiyama noodles specially imported from Hokkaido.

Tokusen Sapporo Miso Ramen // $19.50++

The pork broth was really fragrant, flavourful and sweet. It complemented the springy Sapporo noodles very well. They were also very generous with the portion of char-siew they gave (see how big the char-siew is in the picture). It was tender and juicy. The chef also added potato wedges to go with the ramen and the combination surprisingly works.

Sapporo Spicy Shio Ramen // $17.90++

If you like your ramen broth to be heavier and spicier, this is the one you should go for. Personally, I really like how salty and spicy the broth is, gives an extra kick when you gulp the ramen and broth down your throat. By the way, the egg was super melty and tasty.

3) Shimbashi Soba

At Shimbashi Soba, diners will enjoy buckwheat soba that is made fresh daily. The soba is made using pesticide-free buckwheat cultivated under perfect weather conditions in Tasmania, and put through a stringent three-step soba-making process. Diners can enjoy the soba two ways: seiro, where the noodle is dipped in chilled sauce, and tsukemen seiro, where the noodle is dipped in a warm broth. It is especially refreshing in this hot & humid weather!

Seiro // $11.80++

Out of the so many sobas that I’ve tried that night, I still prefer their original one. It was smooth and flavourful. What I need to curb the hot weather. Very refreshing.

Warigo Soba // $21.80++

5 small bowls of chilled noodles with 5 different toppings

Again, this is specially created for people who can’t decide to get and also for people who wants to eat everything. Items are subjected to availability.

Yoshi san's Special Pudding A La Mode // $12.80++

The best way to end off our Japanese feast – Chef’s Mum’s Pudding. The pudding was really soft, rich and flavourful. One bite and you can’t stop until you finish everything. It pairs well with the fruits and my favourite Matcha ice cream.

Written by: Yong Wei Kai (Follow me on Instagram @yongweikai or @sgcafehopping)

SgCafeHopping

Junction 8: Father's Day Food Guide

Junction 8...

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Bowl Thai...

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Craft Feeds...

Shokutsu Ten Japanese Food Street: Mini Japan Opens at Great World City

Shokutsu Ten Japanese Food Street...

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