Mei Heong Yuen Dessert 味香园甜品 (ION Orchard)

Mei Heong Yuen Dessert is a famous dessert stall in Chinatown and has opened a branch in ION Orchard. Not many will know that it is owned by the boss of Farmer Brand groundnuts 农夫牌花生.

Mei Heong Yuen Dessert is famous for their smooth peanut, walnut, almond and black sesame paste. They are also recently famous for their shaved ice (ice kachang).

Their outlet in ION Orchard has few seating capacity and it is likely that you need to wait a while before getting a seat. If you are in a group bigger than 5, I think you can forget about coming here. Go to their Chinatown outlet which has much bigger capacity.

Menu

Dried Beancurd with Ginko & Barley $3.00  

There is no queue when I ordered the Dried Beancurd with Ginko & Barley. This is because their bottleneck is really their sitting capacity. And our order got served to our table immediately, no waiting required, other than the waiting for a table.

The Dried Beancurd with Ginko & Barley was average. Thought that it could be better as it was diluted and with too few beancurd skins. Compared to Ji De Chi, thought that Ji De Chi one was better.

To conclude, I would not write off this place yet. Try it's peanut, walnut, almond and black sesame paste and shaved ice (ice kachang) that has garnered good reviews online. If you are coming in a big group, go to their main outlet in Chinatown. Of course, if you happen to see this post, let me know what is the must try!

Mei Heong Yuen Dessert 味香园甜品 (ION Orchard)
2 Orchard Turn
#B4-34 ION Orchard
Tel: 6509 3301
Opening hours: Daily 1030am to 10pm
Website

Mei Heong Yuen Dessert 味香园甜品 (Chinatown)
65-67 Temple Street
Kreta Ayer Conservation Area
Tel: 6221 1156
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 1030am to 8pm
                         Sat - Sun 1030am to 10pm

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Sour Sally (Wisma Atria)

As mentioned in my first post on Sour Sally in my wordpress blog, Sour Sally  has arrived at the shores of our sunny island, Singapore! Sour Sally has branded itself as US Premium Non-Fat Frozen Yogurt. Sour Sally has come to Singapore and is located at Wisma Atria.

Made a second trip down as we bought Groupon vouchers that would allow us to purchase 1 Shaved Ice Escapade Froyo with Any Choice of Flavour. Usual price for this is $9.80. With the Voucher it is $4.90. We purchased 2 vouchers.

Connect the words in black and see what you will get.

Sour Sally Menu (Price) (a)

Sour Sally Menu (Price) (b)

Sour Sally Menu (Price) (c)

Sour Sally Menu

Sour Sally Menu (Toppings)

Shaved Ice Escapade (Green Tea Flavour) $9.30 $4.90

The Shaved Ice Escapade was huge! It is ideal for sharing with a group of friends. Even sharing among 2 person is a feat. As we could not get any seats, as we stand and eat, noticed that many people were staring at us as they were walking pass.

Ordered the green tea flavour. It comes with 3 toppings. It was not as sour as the Candy Mix Yoghurt that we had previously. We had a hard task of eating it as there was too much and guess what? ....

When were were halfway there, we came to the shaved ice! I had totally forgot about the shaved ice. Overall, this is a delicious dessert and helps to quench the thirst. And for $4.90, it was worth it. But if you want to order this, try to get more than  2 people to share or it will be an uphill task finishing it. If you are curious if the two of us finished it... well we did not could not finish it!

Sour Sally  (Wisma Atria)
435 Orchard Road
#B1-47 Wisma Atria
Operating hours: Daily 1130am to 930pm 
Website

Ippudo (Mandarin Gallery)

Ippudo Singapore at Mandarin Gallery was the 2nd overseas outlet to be opened outside of Japan. When the outlet opened in Dec 2009, there were long queues resulting in a minimum queuing time of 40minutes. Close to 1 and a half year later, I thought this would be a good time to try this place.

Went there on a Saturday for dinner. Just in case, there was still a queue, went there early at 6pm. Well, I guess several other people had the same idea. As it was full and there was already a queue outside. At least 10 people in front.

At last, it was our turn to enter the restaurant. Well, inside, there is another round of queuing!

As you queue inside, there are menus present so that you can decide what to eat.

At last, it was our turn to be seated. we decided to share table so that we do not need to wait longer. Noticed that seating capacity is quite small inside.

Menu (A La Carte)

Menu (Meat)

Ippudo Original Gyoza $6

The Ippudo Original Gyoza consist of 5 pieces of pan fried Gyoza. The Gyozas are quite small. On the outside, it was golden brown and crispy. Inside, it was flavourful. Small but delicious!

Menu (Ramen)

When ordering ramen, you will be asked how would you want your noodle. Soft, hard or medium (between soft and hard)? Your choice will determine the cooking duration.

Shiromaru Motoaji $15

The Shiromaru Motoaji is their original recipe tongkotsu soup served with thin noodles rosu chashu (pork loin), cabbage, kikurage, pickled ginger and spring onion. For this bowl, we requested for the soft noodles. Which means it is cooked longer till the noodle become soft. The noodles was soft, flavourful and smooth! The broth has been cooked using pork for many hours till it become this creamy colour. It was light and flavourful. Towards the end, felt that it was on the salty end. 

Akamaru Tamago $17

The Akamaru Tamago is their original recipe with their blended miso paste (a round brown paste next to the egg) and fragrant garlic oil.

After mixing the miso paste

After mixing the miso paste, the colour of the broth turns brown. It was on the salty end and with a slight taste garlic after taste. If you prefer a more intense garlic after tase, you can get fresh garlic to be pressed in the broth. I ordered the 'hard' noodles. It was springy and firm.

Tamago

Adding a Tamago (egg) cost $2 more! And I was not disappointed. Inside, the yolk is not runny nor is it fully cooked. It was still semi solid. I would have expected the egg to be hard as it seems to be slightly overcooked. To my surprise, the tamago had a melt in the mouth sensation and the egg white was soft as if it was a semi-solid too.

Overall, there is still a long queue at the outlet. Ramen wise, it was better than what I have eaten at Iluma's Ramen Champion. But the star was really the tamago! Even better than Tampopo's.

ps: this place might not be suitable on a first date. (sharing of table, noisy environment)


Ippudo Singapore (Mandarin Gallery)
Blk 333A Orchard Road
#04-02/03/04 Mandarin Gallery
Tel: 6235 2797
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm
                        Sun 11am-10pm
Website

Ippudo Tao (UE Square)
207 River Valley Road
#01-55/56 UE Square
Tel: 6887 5315
Opening Hours: Mon-Thur 11am-3pm, 5pm-12am
                         Fri-Sat 11am-3pm, 5pm-2am
                         Sun 11am-11pm

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Paradise Dynasty (ION Orchard)

A trip down to Paradise Dynasty on a weekday for lunch. We arrive before 12 noon. Do not be mistaken by the queue. They are waiting for either their friends or waiting to be seated. Still lots of space available inside at this time. Do note, you will only be brought inside when all your guest have arrived. 

The World's First 8 Flavoured Xiao Long Bao

The World’s First 8 Flavoured Xiao Long Bao which created lots of publicity online and in the media for this restaurant.

Tables near the entrance. This photo was taken as we were leaving at around 130pm. By then, the place was full. Not an easy accomplishment as it was a weekday and the place was huge!

We were seated inside. Here you can spot more empty tables as these photos were taken when we arrived. Huge place with large sitting capacity. Amazing, it was full by 1245pm. Look at setting of this restaurant. Moreover, waiters and waitress were in uniform that makes you feel as if they are serving a prince/princess (you).

he cLighting on teiling

What drinks to order? Water or tea when the price is the same.

Tea

Well, we ordered tea, which was refillable.

Legend of Xiao Long Bao

How to eat your Xiao Long Bao?

Signature Dynasty Dumplings (8 flavours) $13.80

Needless to say, we ordered the Signature Dynasty Dumplings. Appearance wise, I would have given a perfect 10. Taste wise, it was a disappointment. Even the original flavour one was so-so. I would still prefer Crystal Jade’s.

Part of La Mian Menu

La Mian with Sliced Pork in Signature Pork Bone Soup $9.80

I ordered the La Mian with Sliced Pork in Signature Pork Bone Soup. The la mian was good,  each strand was thin, soft and fragrant. Each piece of pork was thinly sliced. The half an egg was nicely cooked too with its runny yolk. The only down side was that the soup base was quite salty.

Part of La Mian Menu

La Mian in Hot and Sour Soup $8.50

The La Mian in Hot and Sour Soup was supposed to be spicy and sour. But it was way too sour.

Making Xiao Long Bao

Overall, in terms of food, Paradise Dynasty reminds me of Crystal Jade. After tasting the food, I would prefer Crystal Jade’s Xiao Long Bao and La Mian. In terms of service, Paradise Dynasty’s service was prompt and efficient. Felt that Paradise Dynasty’s Xiao Long Bao was over-hyped. Nothing special. But overall, is still a decent place to come for lunch if you are in town especially for its la mian.

Paradise Dynasty (ION Orchard)
2 Orchard Turn
#04-12A ION Orchard
Tel: 6509 9118 
Opening Hours: Mon–Fri  11am – 10pm
                                 Sat–Sun & PH10.30am – 10pm
Website
  

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