Xin Peng La Mian Xiao Long Bao @ Blk 442 Clementi Ave 3

Ask anyone for food suggestions at Clementi and chances are, the majority would direct you towards Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre. 

However, apart from the food centre, there are quite a number of coffee shops in the vicinity which are worthy of a visit too.

Bgain 442 Eating House - the coffee shop within the closest proximity, is located just across the food centre at blk 442. 

Xin Peng La Mian Xiao Long Bao is one of the more notable stall here and as its name imply, offers a variety of la mian and xiao long bao.

For la mian, they have:

• fried bean sauce la mian (aka zha jiang mian)
• dumpling la mian (soup/dry)
• five spices beef la mian soup
• chicken chop/pork chop la mian (soup/dry)
• vegetable meat wanton la mian (soup/dry)
• preserved vegetable shredded meat la mian (soup/dry)
• vegetable meat wanton soup
• spicy shredded chicken la mian soup

As for dumplings, they have:

• Shanghai xiao long bao
• Shandong dumpling
• Shandong fried dumpling
• red oil wanton

Frozen dumplings are also available at $12 for 30 pieces. That is good news for your hotpot party!

After a quick scan of the menu, I was impressed by how affordably priced the food here are.

I got greedy and decided to order the dumpling la mian dry ($4.50) and a steamer of xiao long bao ($4.50 for 6 pieces). 

Tiong Bahru Hainanese Chicken Rice @ Blk 177 Bukit Batok West Ave 8

On my third visit to Get Together Coffee Shop at block 177 Bukit Batok West Ave 8, I headed straight for the chicken rice stall called Tiong Bahru Hainanese Chicken Rice.

I must admit that I have never heard of them before but from what I found out prior to my visit, they have been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for six consecutive years and the owner, Mr Cheong Weng Wah, learned the craft from a Mandarin Hotel chef.

While reading up about them, I also found out something very interesting; they have been aggressively opening one new outlet every month since last November.

It first started with Tampines (11/11/21) followed by Marsiling (12/12/21), then Ang Mo Kio (6/1/22), and now, Bukit Batok (10/2/22). By the time you read this review, they would have already opened their fifth outlet at Clementi (9/3/22)!

Jiak Song Mee Hoon Kway @ Blk 177 Bukit Batok West Ave 8

Another stall that I so desperately wanted to patronize from Get Together Coffee Shop at block 177 Bukit Batok West Ave 8 is Jiak Song Mee Hoon Kway.

The person behind the stall needs no further introduction. He is non other than Aaron Wong of MasterChef Singapore fame.

A professional photographer and diver, Aaron decided to venture into the hawker scene by selling his favorite hawker food - mee hoon kway!

Since opening his flagship stall at Telok Blangah two years ago, you can now find more outlets at Bedok, Toa Payoh, Tampines, Queen Street (Bugis), Jurong West, and now, Bukit Batok.

Chef Kin HK Wanton Noodle @ Blk 177 Bukit Batok West Ave 8

From this month (10 February 2022) onwards, residents of Bukit Batok will have more food options to explore following the opening of a new coffee shop at block 177 Bukit Batok West Ave 8.

What makes this coffee shop stand out among the others in the neighborhood is that several 'branded' hawker stalls can all be found under one roof here.

Some of the big names that took up space in this coffee shop named Get Together Coffee Shop included:

• Chef Kin HK Wanton Noodle,
• Chef Wei HK Cheong Fun,
• Jiak Song,
• Rong Cheng Rou Gu Cha,
• Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee, and
• Tiong Bahru Hainanese Chicken Rice

There is also a nasi lemak stall, a western food stall, a vegetarian stall, and the beverage stall.

As I googled for the location, I realized it is the old site of the coffee shop where I used to have vegetarian food with my classmates after school when we need to stay back for ECA. 

Of course, it is not the same dingy coffee shop anymore but one that is newly renovated and probably under new management.

The very first stall that caught my interest is Chef Kin HK Wanton Noodle.

Eng Kee Chicken Wings @ Beauty World Food Centre

Eng Kee Chicken Wings has recently opened their fourth outlet at Beauty World Food Centre. Needless to say, I had to go check it out for I am a fan of their fried chicken wings.

Although their outlets are all located in the West, this stall is by far, the nearest and most convenient for me. 

I have not been to Beauty World Food Centre for a short while and I am taken aback by the sudden influx of new stalls during this visit. I will write about them in my subsequent posts.

Blanco Court Fresh Fish Soup @ Beauty World Food Centre

I am not gonna lie but the reason why I went to try out this Blanco Court Fresh Fish Soup is due to its pretty bowls which I see on almost every other table.

It seems like a hot favourite for the hikers who have finished their workout at the nearby Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

This fish soup stall at Beauty World Food Centre serves fried fish head soup, sliced fish soup, fried fish soup, seafood soup and tom yum soup with either rice, thin bee hoon or thick bee hoon. You can request for more rice, bee hoon and evaporated milk at no additional charge.

Guan Yin Vegetarian - Mui Fan @ Beauty World Food Centre

I am just a casual vegetarian who goes meatless on the first and fifteenth of every lunar month or when a major Buddhist event come up (e.g who's who birthday/enlightenment day, etc).

Guan Yin Vegetarian at Beauty World Food Centre basically offers two menu - the noodle soup menu (mee hoon kueh soup, dumpling noodle soup) and the rice & noodle aka tze char menu (hor fun, mui fun, ee-mian). All the dishes here are reasonably priced at just $4 and $5.

I was there during lunch time with a sizeable crowd. I initially wanted to try the mee hoon kueh but was told that there is a 30 minutes wait. However, the wait would be shorter if I order from the tze char menu instead.

As there is only one chef working within the confines of that limited stall space, it is understandably more efficient to focus on one menu instead of alternating between the two during peak hours. 

Chef Wei HK Cheong Fun @ Blk 352 Clementi Ave 2

Have you heard?

There is a new Hong Kong-styled chee cheong fun stall in town but alas, it is located all the way at Bedok. Having been a Westie all my life, that is pretty far by my standards therefore I have not been there yet. 

If you are my faithful follower, you would have noticed that there are hardly any food reviews from the East side on this blog because I am too lazy to travel!

The stall in question is Chef Wei HK Cheong Fun, headed by Chef Wei, a former dim sum chef from Peach Garden. At the point of writing (two months after opening his Bedok stall), he has already opened two more outlets at Blk 352 Clementi Ave 2 and Blk 257 Bangkit Road - both in the West!

Despite Bangkit being nearer, I decided to visit the Clementi outlet instead because that is where I lived and spent a greater part of my childhood. I have not been back for eons and it is a great opportunity for me to to do so.

Wen Ji HK Roasted Delights - Poached Chicken Curry Noodle @ Blk 359 Bukit Batok Street 31

Update: Wen Ji HK Roasted Delights has permanently closed.

I tried to Google for this roast stall called 文记港式烧腊 at Blk 359 Bukit Batok Street 31 but nothing relevant turns up in the search engine as the stall does not have a full English name. 

Underneath the Chinese stall name on the signboard are simply the words "HK Roasted Delights" but with a generic name like that, how to stand out among the sea of "HK Roasted Delights" out there? 

When I Googled the Chinese name, it leads to a "Man Kee Hong Kong Style Roasted" at 710 Clementi West Street 2 which I doubt the two are even related.

I guess the lack of a anglicized name does make it harder to appear in search results.

Anyway, this roast stall is located in the same coffee shop as Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee at Bukit Gombak (yes, that Ah Kow previously from Hong Lim).

Nameless Economical Fried Bee Hoon @ Blk 359 Bukit Batok Street 31

I stay a couple of bus stops away from Meng Soon Huat Food Centre but I have no idea that there is actually a economical bee hoon stall at this coffee shop.

To begin with, this nameless stall does not have a signboard and it operates out of a rojak stall (there is a A4-sized paper on the glass printed with the word rojak in Chinese). All evidence that leads to the existence of a economical bee hoon stall is wiped out the moment they pack up for the day.

And the most crucial part is, they begin business daily (except Mondays) at the ungodly hour of 4.30am till 9am. 

So you see, I have a legit explanation for not knowing. I only found out about this by chance when I Googled the coffee shop 'for fun'. 

The coffee shop is located at Blk 359 Bukit Batok Street 31 - a stone's throw away from Bukit Gombak MRT Station.

Tian Tian Lai Lor Mee @ Blk 359 Bukit Batok Street 31

Update: Tian Tian Lai Lor Mee has permanently closed.

Lor mee is one of my favoritest thing to eat but regrettably, non of the ones from my neighborhood can meet my expectation. As a result, it is a ongoing mission of mine to always be on the lookout for a nice bowl.

When I found out about Tian Tian Lai Lor Mee at Blk 359 Bukit Batok Street 31, I was thrilled since it is not too far from my place.

Changi Nasi Lemak - Mala Fried Bee Hoon @ Blk 323 Bukit Batok Street 33

Update: Changi Nasi Lemak has permanently closed.

Previously, I mentioned that Gorilla Curry is the rebranding of Lao Cai Curry. 

In this post, I am going to share about Changi Nasi Lemak which is located right next to Gorilla Curry in the same coffee shop at Blk 323 Bukit Batok Street 33. 

Both stalls are actually run by the same family under the same management. The caricature of Lao Cai on the signboard from the previous location now graced the front of the new stall.

Although Changi Nasi Lemak is known for their nasi lemak, I am more interested in their mala fried bee hoon which is something totally new to me.

Gorilla Curry @ Blk 323 Bukit Batok Street 33

Update: Gorilla Curry has moved out of the coffee shop due to rental issues. Follow their Facebook page for their next location.

I have been following Lao Cai Curry on social media for a while now when they were still at Blk 537 Bukit Batok Street 52. They have since rebranded as Gorilla Curry and moved to Blk 323 Bukit Batok Street 33. 

Their interesting menu of curry chicken, braised pork and mala fish are what caught my attention but even though they are located very near me, I have not found the opportunity to visit them until now. 

I arrived at about 8.30am, feeling extremely excited to order their signature chicken drumstick curry rice ($4.50) but was informed that they had no drumsticks at the moment and if I would accept two chicken wings as replacement instead. 

I could not remember the exact reason given for the lack of drumsticks but I agreed to the change nonetheless.

Mian Wang 1971 - Salted Egg Yolk Calamari Hokkien Noodle @ Blk 537 Bukit Batok Street 52

There used to be two brothers running their respective food stalls in a coffee shop at Blk 537 Bukit Batok Street 52. 

The brother managing Mian Wang 1971, specializes in fried Hokkien noodle while the one managing Lao Cai Curry, specializes in curry rice. 

The latter has since moved out to another coffee shop in the vicinity while the former remains at the humble coffee shop near Little Guilin at Bukit Gombak.

What makes the Hokkien noodle here interesting, is that you have the option to pair it with salted egg yolk calamari, mala calamari, sambal belacan pork belly, flamed red braised pork, chicken cutlet and sambal lala.

I decided to drop by one late Friday morning to pick up brunch while on my way home after my physio. 

Char Siu Lang - Tantalizing Char Siu & Siu Yuk Rice @ Blk 2 Jalan Bukit Merah

 

Update: Char Siu Lang has relocated. It's new address has been updated at the bottom of this post.

If you had been keeping yourself updated with the news, you should have more or less read about Char Siu Lang.

Yes, it is that roast stall from Blk 2 Jalan Bukit Merah whose lucky owner had previously won $1M in a TOTO draw.

With all the media hype about it, I decided to check out the stall which is located within a coffee shop just across the street from ABC Market & Food Centre. Perhaps I could rub off some luck from the owner and be the next $1M prize winner?

Here, you can find the usual offerings of char siu (bbq pork), siu yuk (roasted pork) and siu gai (roasted chicken). Prices for a plate of rice with one type of roast start from $4.50, $5.50 for two types and $7.50 for all three.

Do take note that they do not do roasted duck.

From fatty to lean or in-between, you are welcome to request for your preferred cut of meat. I ordered a 半肥瘦 plate of char siu and siu yuk rice ($5.50). 

Mei Xi's Kitchen Hakka Yong Tau Foo @ Blk 28 Jalan Bukit Merah

Meixi's Kitchen Hakka Yong Tau Foo has been around since 1986 with more than 14 outlets scattered around the country. I went to the outlet at Blk 28 Jalan Bukit Merah, which is a stone's throw from ABC Market & Food Centre.

I am not going to lie but I was attracted by its attractive neon signage (see last photo below) outside the stall.

Heng Kee Hainanese Curry Rice @ Blk 28 Hoy Fatt Road

Update: Heng Kee Hainanese Curry Rice has permanently closed.

I have walked past this coffee shop at the foot of Blk 28 Hoy Fatt Road several times before when I walked from Redhill MRT to IKEA Alexandra, while cutting through Lengkok Bahru. However, I have never thought of checking this place out as ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre is just round the corner.

That is, until someone recently posted a photo of a plate of delicious looking Hainanese curry rice on Facebook linking to Heng Kee Hainanese Curry Rice which, according to Google map, is located inside this very coffee shop. When I Googled further, results revealed that it is permanently closed. 

That got me confused but I decided to go anyway, despite not knowing whether we are talking about the same location? Fortunately, I did not make a wasted trip and found what I came for - the Hainanese curry stall is still in business!

Chicken House - Succulent Yellow Skinned Kampong Chicken @ Kilat Court

I have always been intrigued by the yellow skinned poached chickens from Hong Kong that I often see on tv and I am glad to have found one not too far from my place. 

Located in a coffee shop called Chicken House at Kilat Court along Lorong Kilat, I am not sure if the chickens here are the same or even comparable to the ones from Hong Kong. Nevertheless, compared to the pale looking ones which we have been enjoying for years, this felt like a breathe of fresh air. 

I ordered to takeaway a ji wei fan (鸡尾饭) which is basic[ally the part from the butt to the thigh area. This portion is generally smoother and juicier than say, the breast. 

However, I was told that they have run out of ji wei and if drumstick is okay. Well, I am more than happy to oblige but the price seems a little steep at $4.70. 

A mini tub of garlic chili and dark soya sauce were included alongside my pack of chicken rice.

Zhen Wang Family Restaurant - Nameless Braised Duck Rice @ Bukit Timah Plaza

Update: Zhen Wang Family Restaurant has permanently closed.

I cannot believe what a dork I have been, letting such a gem of a braised duck rice slipping by under my nose all these years! 

Bukit Timah Plaza has been my childhood playground since the Yaohan era but I have never noticed this Zhen Wang Family Restaurant before. 

It was not until recently that I learned of this nameless duck rice stall located inside the eatery on a social media post. I was scratching my head over the existence of this place wondering why I have never seen it before despite claims that it has been there for over twenty years?

I went down to take a look and I found out why.

I have always entered the building through the entrance under Anak Bukit Flyover and would head straight for the escalator to go down to B2 where Yaohan, Wishbone and Waffle Town are. 

The eatery is located at the far end near the escalator side on B1 where I admittedly have never ever turned to look in that direction before. 

My habit upon reaching Bukit Timah Plaza is to head to B2 because that is where all my favorite shops are.

Come to think of it, I hardly go to the other floors where the maid agencies, tuition centre, music school and other specialty shops are. 

This explains why I have not seen or even heard of Zhen Wang Family Restaurant.

Waffletown USA - Bowing Out After 20 Years @ Balmoral Plaza

Update: Waffletown USA has relocated. The new address has been updated at the bottom of this post.

The problem with people is that we tend to take things for granted. We started feeling sorry for ourselves when we realized we are going to lose something dear to our hearts.

When news broke earlier this week that Waffletown USA is going to shutter their doors for good sometime this month (18th May), a piece of me died inside.

I kind of agree with this line that I read somewhere: "We whine about a favorite place closing. When it is finally closed, we clamor to have it back but the moment it does, we visit only once and never return again". 

I am quite guilty of this myself. My last visit to Waffletown USA was in fact five years back and I have not done so since then.

However, to prove that I am still a die-hard fan, I decided to have one last meal here for memory's sake.

I thought I was being smart by coming early to beat the queue but what I did not expect was that opening hour has been delayed by sixty minutes later than usual. By then, more people have arrived and I had to stand in line for almost an hour before it reached my turn to order.

I ordered three items: two piece chicken meal ($8.30), waffle ala-mode with blueberries and rum & raisin ice cream ($6.50) and fish burger ($3.50).

There is table service here so take a seat after placing your order and someone will send the order to your table.