Hinata Japanese Dining: Very Value-For-Money Omakase at Robertson Walk

Hinata Japanese Dining...

The joy of having Omakase is that you’ll never know what the Chef will surprise you with. You probably won’t get sick of it even if you visit the same restaurant since it is largely dependent on the Chef’s creativity and seasonality. It’s also the best solution for indecisive people who can’t seem to decide on where and what to eat. The only problem with Omakase is that they are extremely expensive in Singapore. So, where can we find affordable and decent Omakase in Singapore?

Located at the charming Robertson Walk, Hinata Japanese Dining is one of the few places in Singapore that offers value-for-money Omakase experience. Since it is hidden in a corner at Robertson Walk, it is also the best place to dine in if you prefer quiet places. So, the next time you have an Omakase craving, head to Hinata Japanese Dining without straining your wallet!

I had a 5 course Omakase at Hinata and it was only $80. It was very satisfying and filling (serious food coma).

Appetiser
The Omakase kick-started with a beautifully plated appetiser that consists of Shishito Belly Yaki, Shimeji Goma Age (mushroom mixed with goma dressing and tomatoes), Nasu Bengaku (miso glazed eggplant) and unagi tamago. Personally, I love the Nasu Bengaku which was well-marinated and extremely flavourful. It might be salty to some people but it was fine for me!

Sashimi
After sampling the flavourful appetiser, we were in for another good treat – Fresh Sashimi (Chutoro & Shimaji) flown all the way from Japan. Chutoro has always been one of my favourite Chutoro because of its texture and sweetness. Very pleasurable to the taste bud!

3rd Course
The fish was nicely-grilled, with a subtle sweet aftertaste. It was very soft and be extremely careful because there are small bones in the fish. Secretly wished the portion was bigger!

Salad
The salad came at the right time and it was well-mixed. Actually, it was kinda addictive!

4th Course
This Uni Chawanmushi was legit delicious! The uni was very fresh and they were very generous with the uni servings. Chawanmushi was very soft and melty. Combination was so freaking good!

5th Course
The Omakase just gets better and better. To be honest, I was already stuffed before there served the sushi platter. The platter comes with my all-time favourite Californian Maki, Akami, Hirame, Salmon and a bowl of miso soup. Are you kidding me? There is really a lot of food in this Omakase.

Dessert
I could die for the dessert! Definitely ended my Omakase experience on a very bright note. They have the Yukimi Daifuku (mocha texture with super nice cream filling), Ume Jelly (Plum flavoured jelly that makes you happy instantly) and Hokkaido Cheesecake (nothing can go wrong with this. Also love the subtle salted caramel flavour).




Nearest Mrt Station: Clarke Quay
Location: 11 Unity Street, #01-07, Robertson Walk, Singapore 237995
What To Order: Omakase
Restaurant Rating: 3.5/5
Food Ratings: 8/10

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

(NEW) The Bird Southern Table & Bar: New Laid-Back Restaurant Opens at Marina Bay Sands with Stellar Chicken 'N' Watermelon 'N' Waffles

The Bird Southern Table & Bar...


Marina Bay Sands (MBS) is home to several impressive F&B establishments, a wide array of dining options and essentially a food paradise. It is also one of the few places in Singapore that I’m more than willing to splurge and reward myself once in a while. 

Headed by John Kunkel, the award-winning Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, operating under the name The Southern Table & Bar opens its doors at MBS last month, offering delectable American Southern cuisine at a reasonable price. My personal favourite was their stellar Chicken ‘N’ Watermelon ‘N’ Waffle which until now is still deeply ingrained in my memory. The restaurant is also beautifully designed with a modern and rustic concept, with a outdoor seating for people who loves to bask in the sun. So, if you are looking for a new restaurant to visit, The Bird Southern Table & Bar is one you shouldn't miss! 

These mouth-watering treats from The Bird Southern Table & Bar were undeniably impressive! If you want to impress your spouse or family, this is the place to go! 

Deviled Eggs // $14
Similar to its name, this Deviled Eggs was devilish delicious! The egg yolk was well-mixed with dill and chives, topped with smoked trout roe which added an extra saltiness to the egg. I was shocked by how good it was! Seems simple but it was extraordinary! 

Fried Green Tomato BLT // $18
This was worth every penny! The fried green tomato at the bottom had a similar texture to a croquette (I mistook it initially), and it was crispy and not oily. The pork belly was well-marinated and tender which literally melts in the mouth. These two complemented each other so well that my friend who doesn’t eat pork belly succumb to eating it in the end! 


Butter Lettuce & Grilled Mango Salad // $14
The salad was refreshing. It was well-mixed, and I fell in love with the char-grilled mangoes which was extremely soft and sweet.  They also added smoked pecan nuts for the crunchiness!


Macaroni & Cheese // $14
The Bird Southern Table & Bar’s rendition of Mac & Cheese was cheesier as compared to the usual ones you can find elsewhere. If you are a cheese-lover, you will be going over the top! Some of you might think that too much cheese will make you very jelat but fret not, the Mac & Cheese is still creamy and the portion was just nice.   



Chicken 'N' Watermelon 'N' Waffle // $45
Here comes the main highlight of the day - Chicken ‘N’ Watermelon ‘N’ Waffle! Trust me, if you don’t order this, you are going to regret it. Portion was huge, definitely good for two! Waffle was crispy on the outside, with melted cheddar cheese and soft and fluffy on the inside! Drizzle their special bourbon-maple syrup on the waffle for maximum pleasure. I could drink the entire bottle down! Chicken was well-marinated, well-seasoned and well-fried. It wasn’t oily and the meat was super juicy. They have a special chilli sauce to go with the chicken but I thought the chicken alone was amazing. Also, in order to save you from getting jelat, they added fresh watermelon to balance the entire dish! What an awesome combination! 


Cafe Creme Brulee // $18
This was the best dessert to wrap up my dining experience at the restaurant. The crème brulee was crispy, and it was actually infused with coffee. The orange gremolata also adds a citrusy flavour to the dessert. Very pleasurable to the taste bud! 





Nearest Mrt Station: Bayfront
Location: #01-82 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956
What To Order: Fried Green Tomato BLT, Chicken N Watermelon N Waffle and Mac & Cheese
Restaurant Rating: 4.5/5
Food Ratings: 8.5/10

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

Advocado: The Loyalty App Bags Home Most Innovative Techonology & Best Commercial Team at Spark Awards 2017

Advocado...

Some of you might have already heard about Advocado – a cloud app which generates real cash flow for business owners, big & small. If you have been following me very closely, I’ve also shared about some of the F&B establishments (Tin Hill Social, Beast & Butterflies, Hook on Steamboat and the list goes on) that are using Advocado as a platform to reach out to more consumers. Consumers like us also stand to gain perks from utilizing the Advocado app. For instance, you can share your unique link from the app to your friends and enjoy a special discount. In short, Advocado emphasises the ease and flexibility of enrolling a customer within 20 seconds, without the need of issuing physical cards or even getting consumers to download apps.

Last night, Advocado celebrates its 1 year anniversary by bagging home the prestigious “Most Innovative Technology” & flattering “Best Commercial Team” honours at Spark Awards 2017 at Intercontinental Hotel Singapore! A heartfelt congratulations to the Advocado team as they have come such a long way since they have started in 2016. Now, they have more than 400 merchants signing up with them and I can’t wait to see more because that also means more perks for us when we dine at the F&B establishments associated with them.
From Left to Right (Ron Lee - Chief Technology Officer, Joval Gan - Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Office and Eric Chia - CEO)

“Our merchants’ success is very important to us. What’s coming up next is that we will dive
deeper into leveraging technology to help our merchants & brands be even more engaging

using loyalty automation. We have something in the tech pipeline, and we call it Advocade. It’s like a smart and relentless bot that helps your businesses on consumer engagement. And we are really excited to see the lives of our merchants being made a whole lot easier with Advocade in the later part of the year. Internally as a company, for the remaining of the year, we shall focus on solidifying the foundations of the new markets we’ve entered, to prepare for the explosion in growth in those markets next year.” Said CEO Eric Chia on the future plans of Advocado.

“When my tech team & I made a decision to takeover Advocado's development when it was still a Minimal ViavIle Product (M.V.P), we started believing the fact that we have chosen to develop a clever, innovative and user-friendly technology. And we worked hard to overhaul it! It was definitely a proud dad's moment when the awards were announced - a result of my boldness to embrace new & elegant technology without the fear.” Said Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Ron Lee about the company’s success. 

“Collectively, our team has more than 40 years of experience in customer service and in
understanding merchants’ needs. All these experiences have been fused into building
Advocado’s technology and in creating a system that ensures our merchant’s success. For
example, we created a Customer Success Department (CSD) to ensure that Merchants are able to get onboard and implement Advocado with great success. We also have a Marketing
Strategies Department (MSD) to help our merchant to market their brand with the aim of
bringing in new businesses.” shared Co-founder & Chief Revenue Officer, Mr. Joval Gan.

To find out more about Advocado, head to www.advocadoapp.com




Tocha Bistro: New Drinking Spot in Lavender with All Day Crazy Happy Hour on Monday with Beers as Low as $7.80

Tocha Bistro...


We, Millennials, are always on the constant lookout for new drinking spot to chill with our friends and colleagues. Personally, I prefer a place that is quieter (makes talking easier) and of course with good Happy Hour deals. Located within Hotel Boss, Tocha Bistro is a modern Western restaurant/bistro that not only has an extensive menu selection but also crazy Happy Hour promotions. They have an insane All Day Happy Hour on Monday where bottled beers are as low as $7.80++. So, if you want to chase your Monday blues away, you know where to go!

Usually, I don’t have a high expectation of the food from a bistro because they focuses mainly on their drinks and maybe their appetisers but Tocha Bistro proved me wrong. I was pleasantly surprised by how well executed their dishes were. There were definitely rooms for improvement but I was generally impressed with their dishes, especially their addictive Top Shells.
In frame, Smoked Duck Roll, Top Shells, Mushroom Soup, Chicken Wings, Lamb Rack, Grilled Cod Fish and Tiger Prawn with White Wine Sauce.

Cocktails were not too bad but I’m more of a beer person!

Mushroom Soup
When you need some warm food before you hit all the alcoholic drinks, you can start with this comforting bowl of Mushroom Soup. It is rich, flavourful and creamy.


Chicken Wings with Belachan Sauce
Chicken wings are an essential if you are drinking with friends or colleagues. The wings were well-marinated and crispy. Dip it into the in-house belachan sauce for more flavour and spice. P/s: It is very spicy yet addictive at the same time.


Smoked Duck Roll 
The tortilla wraps were not too thick or doughy, and the duck was tender and flavourful. Combination was not too bad but it would be good if they had some sauce (maybe XO sauce on the duck) because it was a tad dry for me.

Top Shells
All of us were going crazy over this dish! It’s really rare to find places in Singapore that serves Top Shells, and even more difficult to find a place that is able to cook this dish so well. It was flavourful and deadly addictive! All I need now is an iced cold beer! A MUST-TRY!

Lamb Rack
Thank GOD! The lamb rack did not have any game smell or taste! It was well-marinated, flavourful and very tender (literally melts in my mouth).


Grilled Cod Fish
Cod fish was well-seasoned and well-cooked, with the skin very crispy and the fish very flavourful and melty.


Tiger Prawn with White Wine Sauce Pasta
Pasta was decent, with a balanced white wine flavour. Tiger prawns were fresh and sweet. If you don’t know what to order, you can stick with this safe pasta! Hard to go wrong!

So, mark your calendar because you would love to visit Tocha Bistro on Monday because of their insane All Day Happy Hour Promotion! See you there!





Nearest Mrt Station: Lavender
Location: 500 Jalan Sultan, #01-20 Hotel Boss, Singapore 199020
What To Order: Top Shells, Chicken Wings, Cod Fish and Lamb Rack
Restaurant Rating: 3.5/5
Food Ratings: 7.5/10

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

Toby's The Dessert Asylum: Hidden Space in the West with So Many Attractive Promotions (50% on All Mains)

Toby's The Dessert Asylum... 

Back when they were still in Parkway Parade, this casual American restaurant was known for its mouth-watering desserts. After moving to the West for about two years now, Toby’s The Dessert Asylum has raised their bar with several impressive American dishes, moving away from the general perception that they are only good with their desserts.

Situated within Tradehub21, Toby’s The Dessert Asylum is a laid-back restaurant that serves an extensive range of affordable American eats. Away from the hustle and bustle, it is also a good space for you to spend some time with your family or friends over a meal. The warm hospitality from the friendly staffs further makes the dining experience a wonderful one!

On top of that, Toby’s The Dessert Asylum has rolled out a series of attractive promotions from Monday to Sunday! Tell me, how not to visit this hidden gem in the West? Read on to find out more about the promotions!

Like what I’ve mentioned earlier, other than their desserts, Toby’s The Dessert Asylum has definitely outshined themselves in their Western dishes. I was impressed with most of them! In frame, Smoked Duck Pizza, BBQ Pork Ribs, Toby’s Deluxe Burger, “New” Taco Fried Chicken Wings and Battered Button Mushroom.

Lychee Lust
If you a fan of lychee, you will probably like this! One thing for sure, the lychee flavour is really strong! A tad too sweet for me! 

Dark Vortex
I prefer this than to the Lychee Lust. Chocolate flavour was strong but not too overpowering and jelat! 


Battered Button Mushroom
The button mushroom was well-seasoned with paprika powder and well-fried (not too oily). It was very crispy. Actually, I don’t really need to dip it into the tartar sauce because its already flavourful. Very addictive!


"New" Taco Fried Chicken Wings
Similar to the Battered Button Mushroom, the wings were well-marinated and crispy. It wasn’t dry and goes well with a bottle of beer. Four is definitely not enough! Also, don't worry the wings aren't spicy at all!


Smoked Duck Pizza
The first thing I thought when I saw this was to compare it with the one at Timbre Substation! Toby’s rendition was not too bad, portion was undeniably big and the pizza was very flavourful. The only thing that I thought could have been improved would be the crust. If the crust was thinner, it would have been great! Nonetheless, still a dish worth trying here!


BBQ Pork Ribs
From the picture, you can see the pork ribs are beautiful glazed (damn shiny). The BBQ flavour was strong and it was a little sweet. I enjoyed the top layer of the pork ribs because it was soaked with the BBQ flavour. The bottom layer was a little too dry for me though. 



Toby's Deluxe Burger
If you are a burger-lover, you will go crazy for this! Hidden within the patty lies an explosive melted cheese which ooze out once you slice the patty. This oozing cheese lava burger is really very pleasurable to the taste bud, and I highly recommend you to eat this while it’s hot. Snap your photos quick because you wouldn’t want your cheese to harden inside the patty! 


Split Personality
Thank God, this wasn’t as sweet as it looks! I really enjoyed it, and literally couldn’t stop myself from finishing it. Chendol-inspired, this is a Must-Try! Damn worth the calories gained! 


Leaning Tower of Toby's
Don’t say I never warn you ah! This has to be shared! I had a hard time trying to finish it alone! The pastries were crispy but a tad too dry if you eat it alone without the ice cream!

PROMOTIONS

#One Nation Together
TOBY'S Celebrate 52 years of Nation Building!
 Pasta will be @ 52% off
Terms and condition applies
 *upgrade to set meal @$6.90 for soup & drink
 *dine in only
 *not valid with other promotion or privilege card
 Valid after 3pm daily till 31th Aug 2017


Tea Time Specials to satisfy any sweet cravings! Have a slice with a hot cuppa for just $6.90+.
Available daily from 2pm - 6pm.


TGIF at TOBY'S!
Enjoy 50% off your 2nd Main Course.
Valid 3pm-10pm.
Available with all our Pasta dishes, Burgers, Sandwiches, Baked Rice, Pizzas, Salads and House Specials!




Nearest Mrt Station: Clementi
Location: 8 Boon Lay Way, #01-35, Tradehub21, Singapore 609964
What To Order: Mushroom, Burger, Pork Ribs and Split Personality
Restaurant Rating: 3.5/5
Food Ratings: 8/10

Written by: Yong Wei Kai (Follow me on Instagram @yongweikai or @sgcafehopping)
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Yong Wei Kai Founder of SgCafeHopping Promoting Singapore's food scene has always been my dream.

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