Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Orchard Cuppage Terrace)

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka is a Japanese ramen chain, started by Hitoshi Hatanaka in 1988, in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. It all began because Hitoshi Hatanaka was not satisfied with the taste of a ramen he had at a ramen shop. Hence, he used his own recipe and started off small with only 9 seats and one item on the menu. Today, almost 25 years later, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka operates 54 ramen restaurants worldwide in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Canada as well as United States of America. 

So what made them so successful? Read on to find out.

Visited the outlet at Orchard Cuppage Terrace, next to OG Orchard Point and Centrepoint. Although it was a weekend afternoon, the restaurant was only half full, with plenty of seats available. There were more seats available outdoors compared to indoors (where it is air-conditioned). 

Chawanmushi $3.50

The Chawanmushi; steamed egg pudding with salmon roe was impressive. It was very smooth and wobbly. In terms of taste, it was amazingly aromatic and tasty! One of the better Chawanmushi I have had. Reminds me of the one from Shin Yuu Japanese Restaurant.

Shin-Aji Shoyu Ramen $3.50

I ordered the Shin-Aji Shoyu Ramen. The ramen (noodle) was quite good. Thin, curly and chewy with a smooth texture. More the ramen was springy (QQ) springy and not soggy. The broth was clear, rich and robust. Light brown in colour because soy sauce was used (hence the word 'Shoyu'). It was so aromatic with sweetness and saltiness well-balanced.

Three big pieces of Char Siew were given. They sliced at the ideal thickness for me to get a good bite on it; not too thinly sliced. The Char Siew was incredibly tender with the right ratio of meat and fats that provided it with a melt in the mouth sensation. The bamboo shoots were crunchy providing a good texture to this bowl of ramen.

The Flavored Egg / Ajitsuke (Hanjuku) Tamago / Japanese Runny Egg was perfectly cooked. Firm on the outside and yet inside, it was so soft with almost all its yolk (molten) oozing out. One of the best I around here in Singapore. If you are wondering how you can make this on your own, click here for the recipe.

All in all, the Shin-Aji Shoyu Ramen was well executed  All the ingredients used in it were superb! It was a joy savouring and slurping this bowl of ramen.

Awase-Aji (Mixed Soup Ramen) $14

Awase-Aji (Mixed Soup Ramen) $14

The partner ordered the Awase-Aji; a mixed soup ramen, served with a bowl of Japanese rice topped with crunchy fried bits had a combination of salt, soy sauce and soybean in its broth. After finishing the ramen, the Japanese rice can be added into the soup. 

After this meal, I know why there has been so many rave reviews of Ramen Santouka. It's ramen is truly outstanding. Looks like this is the Best Ramen in Singapore thus far. It overtakes Nantsuttei (Parco Marina Bay) as my favourite Japanese Ramen restaurant. Forget about Ippudo and the Ramen stalls at Bugis+ Ramen Champion in the meantime. Ramen Santouka is the place for a decent bowl of Japanese ramen!

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Orchard Cuppage Terrace)

21 Cuppage Road

Cuppage Terrace

Tel: 6235 1059

Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 12pm - 3pm, 530pm - 12am

                         Sat 12pm - 12am

                         Sun 12pm - 930pm

Website

Location

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (The Central)

6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#02-76 The Central

Tel: 6224 0668

Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 1030pm

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Susan Chan Food 家乐小厨 (Far East Plaza)

Susan Chan Food a cze char store is located at the top level (level 5) of Far East Plaza. There seems to be many food outlets located at level 5. I am sure there are bound to be hidden gems in here. (anyone has any recommendations?)

I arrived at 615pm on a Friday and there were still lots of empty seats. But by the time I left at 7pm, the place was full and a couple was queuing outside.

Menu Cove

Part of Menu

I wanted to order the Stired Fried Hor Fun. However, I was told that the Hor Fun has been fully sold. Hence, I ordered the Yang Chow Fried Rice.

Yang Chow Fried Rice $4

The sambal chilli at the side resembles that of the chilli given for nasi lemak.

Yang Chow Fried Rice $4

The Yang Chow Fried Rice was decently fried. Flavourful and tasty. The fact that this stall is located in Orchard gives it a more positive brownie points. Where else can you find such cze char stall in Orchard (a prime area) selling these dishes at this type of price. The price is totally comparable to our heartland coffeeshop prices. 

Susan Chan Food 家乐小厨 (Far East Plaza)

4 Scotts Road 

#05-100 Far East Plaza

Tel: 6733 5953

Opening Hours: Daily 1030am to 830pm 

Location

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Tung Lok Seafood 同乐酒家 (Orchard Central)

Tung Lok Seafood 同乐酒家 is part of the TungLok Group which has manages more than 40 restaurants specialising in different types of cuisines under its portfolio. The Tung Lok Seafood restaurant specialises in Singapore style seafood. 

Refillable hot Chinese Tea at $1.50 each

Appetiser - Pickle Radish $3

Crispy Fish Skin with Salted Egg Yolk $8

Crispy Fish Skin with Salted Egg Yolk is a must try! The salted egg yolk well mixed with fish skin was fried with curry leaves and slices of chilli padi. So crunchy, tasty and savoury. Sinfully Delicious and addicitive! 

Braised House Special Beancurd with Nameko Mushrooms and Vegetables $18

The Braised House Special Beancurd with Nameko Mushrooms and Vegetables was surprisingly good. A  well-executed dish all the way from the cooking to the presentation of the dish. The tofu was smooth, soft and flavourful. Moreover, the sauce was just right as it did not overwhelm the different flavours of the ingredients and yet provided sufficient flavour to the vegetables. 

Oven-baked Pork Rib with Chef's Special Sauce $10

The Oven-baked Pork Rib with Chef's Special Sauce was average. Nothing great to shout about except that the meat came off easily. 

Deep Fried Prawns with Wasabi-Mayo Sauce $26

The prawns in the Deep Fried Prawns with Wasabi-Mayo Sauce were huge, firm and fresh. However, I thought that the wasabi-mayo sauce coating the prawn was forgettable and the wasabi intensity (spiciness) seemed to have been toned down. I did not find myself longing for another piece of the prawn.  

Sambal Kang Kong $14

The Sambal Kang Kong was outstanding and well-fried. The sambal belacan with hae bee hiam (spicy  dried shrimp) was spicy, fragrant and not oily. In additional, it was extremely addictive. Even though the Kang Kong was finished, I could not resist using getting whatever sambal belacan that was left on the plate.  

Yam Paste with Gingko Nuts served in Young Coconut $8

Yam Paste with Gingko Nuts served in Young Coconut $8

When we ordered the Yam Paste (Orh Nee) with Gingko Nuts served in Young Coconut, we were informed that we would need to wait at last 15 minutes as it is prepared and steamed upon order. It was well worth the wait.

This is unlike the traditional teochew style yam paste. Thick fragrant yam paste with gingko. Surprisingly, the coconut flavour did not overwhelm the taste of this dish. The coconut flesh could be easily can be easily scrapped.

Tung Lok Seafood 同乐酒家 (Orchard Central)

181 Orchard Road

#11-05 Orchard Central

Tel: 6834 4888

Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm

                        Sun 10am - 3pm, 6pm -1030pm

Website

Location 

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Goodwood Park Hotel Assorted Snowskin Mooncakes 2012

Every year at this time of the year, Chinese normally enjoy the Mid Autumn Festival with Mooncakes.

Over the years, the way this festival has evolved is quite interesting. In the olden days, people used to savour mooncakes and tea while gazing at the (round) moon. In addition, tradition Mooncakes itself has also evolved The filling inside used to be made from lotus paste with an egg yolk in the middle.

Today, even the crust has changed. There are Snowskin Mooncakes that comes in different flavours and must be chilled. The fillings made from paste from durian, banana, mango, chocolate, green tea and many others. There are also deep fried flaky Mooncakes with yam fillings, ice cream Mooncakes and more. We are so spoilt for choices on the type of Mooncakes to buy.

As for me, it is becoming a habit for me to go to Goodwood Park to buy its Snowskin Mooncakes.

Assorted Snowskin Mooncakes $52

Assorted Snowskin Mooncakes $52 - (Clockwise from Top Left: Cempedak, Blood Orange with Banana, D24 Durian, Mango with Pomelo)

There are different types of mooncakes to choose from. As usual, I ordered the Assorted Snowskin Mooncakes. 

Blood Orange with Banana Snowskin Mooncake

The Blood Orange with Banana Snowskin Mooncake is one of the two new creation by Goodwood Park Hotel. It is made from red orange pulp with banana. If you are wondering, the other creation is the Mao Shang Wang Snowskin Mooncake.

Mango with Pomelo Snowskin Moocake

D24 Durian Snowskin Mooncake

Cempedak Snowskin Mooncake

The Mango with Pomelo, D24 Durian and Cempedak Snowskin Mooncakes are a yearly feature due to their popularity. 

Overall, I still like Goodwood Park Hotel's Snowskin Mooncakes. Their Mooncakes are filled with not just rich creamy paste of the respective fruits but also chunks of the fruits to enhance the flavour and texture with each  bite. The different combination of fruity flavours provided a balance in taste, was refreshing. In addition, the snowskins (crust) are so soft.

Furthermore, the Snowskin Mooncakes are made with no preservatives and will need to be consumed within 3 days after purchase. They will need to be stored in the freezer after purchase.

Tote Thermal bag

Tote Thermal bag (interior)

This year, Goodwood Park Hotel has changed the tote thermal bag. It is still yellow colour as yellow has been the signature colour for the hotel's mooncake packaging since 2007. With this Tote Thermal Bag, the mooncakes will be kept cool for an hour after purchase. This is to ensure freshness and allow customers to bring it back home to store in their freezer. Also, these bags are re-usable. 

For more details on the different flavours, prices and discounts for the mooncakes, please refer to their website.

Goodwood Park Hotel, The Deli

22 Scotts Road

Tel: 6730 1867

Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 9pm 

Website

Location

Goodwood Park Hotel Durian Fiesta 2012 - Dessert Buffet

The Goodwood Park Hotel Durian Fiesta is back again. The dessert buffet is available from 26 May to 31 July 2012 at the Coffee Lounge during lunch and dinner time. Over the past few years, during this period, I would buy their Durian Puffs from their booths in shopping centres. 

This time round, I decided to try out the dessert buffet. There were a variety of durian and non-durian items available.

Durian Cappuccino Cake, Durian Mousse Cake, Durian Puff

Durian Cappuccino Cake, Mini Chocolate or Vanilla Waffle Cones filled with Durian Mousse

Durian Pancake, Durian Mousse Cake, Durian Pengat with Glutinous Rice and Gula Melaka

Here comes the non-durian part.

Raspberry Mascarpone Cake, Caramel Vanilla Cream Puff

Chocolate Tart with Mixed Fruits

Bread & Butter Pudding

Kueh Lapis, Nonya Kueh

Fruits, Movenpick Ice Cream

Clockwise from top left: Durian Pengat with Glutinous Rice with Gula Melaka,  Durian Mousse Cake, Durian Cappuccino Cake, Durian Puff

The new item; Durian Pengat with Glutinous Rice was disappointing as the rice was dry and hard. The Durian Mousse Cake which has been their signature item since 1983 did not disappoint. Soft, fluffy cake with lots of durian mousse on it. It was just right, rich yet not overly sweet nor heavy. The Durian Cappuccino Cake introduced last year (2011), was equally good. Coffee lovers will like this. The Durian Puff continue to be one of my favourites, had several helping of it. 

Clockwise from top left: Bread & Butter Pudding with Vanilla Sauce,  Mini Chocolate and Vanilla Waffle Cones filled with Durian Mousse, Chocolate Tart with Mixed Fruits, Durian Pancake

I am not a big fan of Bread & Butter Pudding, but Goodwood Park's version was good! Give the Mini Chocolate and Vanilla Waffle Cone filled with Durian Mousse a skip. The cones were not crispy having been left out there for too long. Besides, the durian mousse is similar to those on other items. The Chocolate Tart with Mixed Fruits was hard and dry. The Durian Pancake was freshly made on the spot. 

Pulut Hitam

Barley with Ginko Nut & Quail Egg

There were also 2 traditional hot desserts available; the Pulut Hitam and Barley with Ginko Nut & Quail Egg. The Pulut Hitam was normal. Whereas the Barley with Ginko Nut & Quail Egg was unique as it came with Quail Egg!

Mango with Pomelo and Sago

Besides fruits and ice cream, there was Mango with Pomelo and Sago too. 

I did not enjoy the buffet as much as what I would have expected. The main reason was because after trying out several items I felt sick of the food as the filling were the same (durian mousse). It was a case of durian overdose. To think that I had only one helping of the items except for the durian puffs which I took 3. I will just stick back to the buying of the durian puffs when they setup shop in shopping centres.

As you can see read from this post, I am not such a big fan of durian. If you are a durian lover, you will love this dessert buffet!

The prices for the Durian Fiesta are:
- $32.80++ (Dessert Buffet)

- $26.80++ (Top-up with any a la carte main course order)

- $48.80++ (Taiwan Porridge a la carte buffet with dessert buffet)

Note, this is only available during lunch and dinner timings daily.

Goodwood Park Hotel Durian Fiesta 2012 - Dessert Buffet

22 Scotts Road

Coffee Lounge, Goodwood Park Hotel

Tel: 6730 1786

Opening Hours: Breakfast: 6am to 1030am

                         Lunch: 12pm to 230pm

                         Tea: 3pm to 530pm

                         Dinner: 6pm to 1030pm

Website

Location

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The Triple Three (Meritus Mandarin)

*image intensive post*

This post is almost 3 months overdue. Went to The Triple Three at Meritus Mandarin for it's International Buffet during December (Christmas Period). With Groupon voucher, it cost just $34 per person.

Just outside The Triple Three, we spotted this!

Made of real Ginger Bread!

Part of the restaurant. We came in at 1205pm, as it was still early, it was not very crowded. This place has a very large sitting capacity.

Customers can leave their table to get food being assured that the table is reserved.

Ok, now I shall let the food do the talking! Some images might be unclear.

Bread

Sashimi - Salmon & Salmon Belly

Sushi

Sashimi - Salmon (top) & Salmon Belly (bottom)

Seafood - Prawns and Mussels

Seafood - Prawns and Mussels

Prawns were not fresh.

Duck

The duck was tough and hard.

Salad, Potato Salad

Turkey

Turkey

Crab Meat Soup

The Crab Meat Soup taste like Shark's Fin Soup. Starchy, crab meat, egg white. Taste good!

Black Pepper Crab Claws, Broccoli, Slow Oven Baked Pork Ribs in Coffee Sauce

The first batch of Black Pepper Crab Claws was delicious! Fresh, firm crab meat that can be easily pulled out of the shell. But after that, the next few batches the Crab Claws was not that fresh and the meat was stuck to the shell.

Tempura

Cold Soba

Tempura (Sweet Potato, Cucumber, Sliver Fish)

Western

Teppanyaki

Western & Teppanyaki

Indian (Naan, Prata, Mahi Tikka) 

Desserts - Fruits

Desserts - Ice Cream

Desserts

Desserts

Lots of variety of food as seen in the picture. You are basically spoilt for choice. There are also Dim Sum, Pasta sections. Despite the variety, I felt that the quality was lacking.

The Triple Three (Meritus Mandarin)
333 Orchard Road
Level 5 Meritus Mandarin
Tel: 6831 6271
Opening Hours: Breakfast: 630am - 1030am
                         Lunch 12pm - 230pm
                         Dinner 630pm - 10pm

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