Sin Kee Seafood Soup (Woodlands)

Seafood Soup (Dory Fish) $5

Sin Kee Seafood Soup is a fish soup stall located at Teo Chap Bee Eating House (coffeeshop) in Woodlands. This stall is located at Blk 19 Marsiling Lane a distance away from Admiralty Park and Republic Polytechnic.

Arriving on a weekday afternoon for lunch at 1215pm, the coffeeshop was bustled with people. Although all tables were occupied, it was a breeze finding an empty table as the coffeeshop was large and the cleaners were so efficient. I noticed that most patron mainly ordered from just two stall; Sin Kee Seafood Soup and Hong Ji Claypot Pork Rib Soup (Bak Kut Teh).

Menu

The prices at Sin Kee Seafood Soup are clearly displayed in front of the stall. This stall specialises in seafood soup consisting of Dory Fish, Batang Fish or Pomfret Fish. There is also an option to add Crayfish. After placing my order, I was given a number plate for displaying at the table. I was told then that the wait would be half an hour long.

Their business was so good that we waited for nearly an hour before our food was served. We ordered the Seafood Soup (Dory Fish) $5 and Batang Fish with Crayfish $10.50 with 2 bowls of plain rice. Each bowl of plain rice cost $0.50.

Seafood Soup (Dory Fish) $5

The partner ordered the Seafood Soup (Dory Fish) $5 which was delicious! The stall owners were so generous with the ingredients! There were several thick chunks of dory fish, two prawns, chunks of minced meat and tomatoes. The dory fish was incredibly fresh, soft and sweet! The prawns did not disappoint too. Fresh, firm and sweet tasting. The chunk of minced meat, a mixture lean meat, fats and mushrooms was well marinated and was delicious. The amount of minced meat given was more than what I had ever gotten in a bak chor mee or homemade noodles dish.

The soup was tasty; slight salty with hint of sweetness and sourness (probably due to the tomato). At $5, this Seafood Soup (Dory Fish) is so value for money considering the freshness and amount of ingredients.

Batang Fish with Crayfish $10.50

I ordered the Batang Fish with Crayfish $10.50 which consisted of several thick slices of Batang Fish, three half crayfish, chunks of minced meat and tomatoes, The soup was nowhere as good the Seafood Soup (Dory Fish). This soup had a strong fishy - crayfish after taste which spoiled the taste of the soup. The crayfish was just average and did not taste as fresh as I hoped. On the other hand, the batang fish was fresh and sweet.

Overall, Sin Kee Seafood Soup serves pretty decent seafood soup. If you are keen to give this a try, I would suggest avoiding lunch time and ordering their crayfish. In fact, I would recommend the Seafood Soup (Dory Fish) which was value for money and delicious! 

Sin Kee Seafood Soup (Woodlands)

Teo Chap Bee Eating House

Blk 19 Marsiling Lane

Singapore 730019

View FoodieFC's Singapore Food Map in a larger map

161 板面 Ban Mian (Bukit Merah Central)

Minced Pork You Mian (Dry) $3.20

When we visited Dong Fong Fatt Coffee Shop, we had only one intention which was to try the Double Boiled Old Coconut Chicken at Lim Soup. But when we were at the coffeeshop, the 3 customers at the table besides us ordered 3 bowls of dry handmade noodles. I caught a sniff of the aroma of the handmade noodles as they were tossing the noodles and I commented to my partner that it smelled delicious!

Since the Double Boiled Old Coconut Chicken at Lim Soup was sold out, I decided to check out the handmade noodles stall. I found it hidden behind a pillar, next to Lim Soup, The stall is called 161 板面 Ban Mian. I stood in front of the stall, in a dilemma whether to order this or the soup from Lim Soup.

In the end, I took the leap and chose the handmade noodles. 161 板面 Ban Mian is essentially a handmade noodles stall. I ordered You Mian dry version since this was what I caught my attention (literally my sense of smell). While waiting for my food to be cooked, I understand that the stall has been around for 19 years and that the owner makes the noodles himself ensuring that they are smooth and QQ (i.e. springy).

Minced Pork You Mian (Dry) $3.20

This bowl of Minced Pork You Mian (dry) $3.20 was excellent! It was so good that we regretted not ordering one each!

Minced Pork You Mian (Dry) $3.20

The ingredients in this Minced Pork You Mian (dry) were the same as those used in the soup version. The difference was the sauce at the bottom of the bowl. The sauce was the bomb! SHIOK! It was just right, so fragrant and flavourful with a hint of black vinegar (reminds me of Teochew style Bak Chor Mee suace). Mixing the noodles well with the sauce, each strand of You Mian (noodle) was just so addictive and tasty. We were literally over the last few strands of noodles. Although a generous amount of sauce was given, the sauce was not salty.

Minced Pork You Mian (Dry) $3.20

The bonus was that the egg was not overcooked and the yolk was still oozing out. If you prefer the dish to be creamier, give it a good mix with the runny egg yolk. 

I can't help but emphasis again how delicious this bowl of dry version You Mian is! We were glad that we gave this a try and wished that we ordered 2 bowls instead. This is a must try! What an unexpected find! Wonder if they would one day add fried crispy flat fish (扁鱼).

161 板面 Ban Mian (Bukit Merah Central)

Dong Fong Fatt Coffee Shop

Stall 4, Block 161 Bukit Merah Central

Singapore 150161

View FoodieFC's Singapore Food Map in a larger map

Bedok Point: 1 For 1 Weekdays Promotion (till 7 Nov 2014)

Source: Bedok Point Facebook

Bedok Point: 1 For 1 Weekdays Promotion (till 7 Nov 2014)

- Valid till 7 Nov 2014 on weekdays only except eve of public holidays and public holidays
- Copy of original cut-out coupon must be presented (the original coupon can be obtained from Level 3 customer service counter)
- While stocks last
- The management reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions without prior notice

The Bakery Chef (Bukit Merah Central)

Chocolate Rainbow Cake $5.80

The Bakery Chef is a bakery cafe located the the heartlands of Bukit Merah, at Blk 161 Bukit Merah Central which is just a stone throw away from the Bukit Merah Bus Interchange.

Visiting the cafe on a Friday evening, we were pleasantly surprise that there was no need to queue up and wait for a table.

As its name suggests, The Bakery Chef specialises in baking a variety of pastries, pies, cakes, cupcakes and macarons.

Like most other cafes, the furnishing was simple and modern. There was even a cozy corner with rainbow cushion.

Chocolate Rainbow Cake $5.80

The Chocolate Rainbow Cake $5.80 was a cake full of happiness! With its contrast in colours, it was beautifully presented. The rainbow cake consists of six layers of squarish sponge cakes with different colours ranging from red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. In between each layer was a thin layer of chocolate cream cheese with chocolate chips. The crunchy chocolate chips provided a contrast to the soft, light and slightly moist sponge cake. The glittering yummy chocolate cream with a good balance of sweetness at the top goes well with the cake.

Strawberry Shortcake $5.60

The Strawberry Shortcake $5.60 did not disappoint too.

Strawberry Shortcake $5.60

It consist of three layers of pillowy soft sponge cake with slices of strawberry and cream in between the layers. It was well balanced in terms of taste and sweetness.

The quality of the two cakes were surprisingly good. Both cakes were well executed; soft and fluffy with great balance in taste. The rainbow cake is one of the best I have had.

If you are a fan of rainbow cakes, The Bakery Chef is the place to visit! 

The Bakery Chef (Bukit Merah Central)

#01-3711

161 Bukit Merah Central

Singapore 150161

Tel: 6273 9211
Opening Hours: Tue to Thu 10am - 7pm 

                          Fri to Mon 10am - 9pm

View FoodieFC's Singapore Food Map in a larger map

Subway Singapore: Buy 1 Get 1 Free Promotion (10 Oct 2014)

Source: Subway Singapore

Subway Singapore: Buy 1 Get 1 Free Promotion (10 Oct 2014)

- Valid on 10 Oct 2014 from 9am to 9pm
- Valid only when 6-inch sub is purchased
- Valid at all outlets island wide
- Maximum purchase of 2 Subs per customer per transaction.

Chili's Singapore: Free Main Course At Clarke Quay Central (On 9 Oct 2014)

Source: Chili's Singapore

Chili's Singapore: Free Main Course At Clarke Quay Central (On 9 Oct 2014)

- On 9 Oct 2014
- Valid for dine in at Clarke Quay Central
- Minimum purchase of one main course + appetiser + 2 drinks
- Free main course must be of lower value
- Limited to 3 redemptions per table only
- No splitting of bills or tables
- Not valid with other promotions & discounts
- The management reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions without prior notice

Starbucks Singapore: 1 For 1 Venti-sized Dark Caramel or French Vanilla Latte (8 Oct 2014)

Source: Starbucks Singapore

Starbucks Singapore: 1 For 1 Venti-sized Dark Caramel or French Vanilla Latte (8 Oct 2014)

- Valid on 8 Oct 2014 from 3pm to 7pm

New Ubin Seafood (Sin Ming Road)

Soft Boiled Egg Special $9

New Ubin Seafood is a restaurant which first established in 1986 on Pulau Ubin before to mainland; Singapore. The restaurant has relocated to several locations before settling itself down at a quiet corner of Sin Ming Industrial Estate where several car workshops are located. With its location, parking at New Ubin Seafood was a breeze as there was lots of carpark lots with free parking. 

New Ubin Seafood as its name suggests, specialises in seafood and zi char. In additon, it also offer several localise international cuisines such as the US Black Angus Ribeye Steak, Soft Boiled Egg Special (with truffle salt and foie gras) and German Pork Knuckle.

We made reservations and visited on a Sunday. There was a air-conditioned room with around 5 tables. The rest of the tables were located in the restaurant or at its facade without air-conditioner. 

3 different types of chilli for the meal. 

Soft Boiled Egg Special $9

We ordered the Soft Boiled Egg Special $9 (per portion) which consisted of soft boiled egg (60 minute slow cooked egg) with truffle salt and foie gras. The mixture of the 3 ingredients caused a harmony of flavours when it was all mixed up - runny egg yolk with foie gras. A unique experience. But being a typical Singaporean, I still prefer my soft boiled eggs mixed with pepper and soy sauce (aka the Ya Kun style). This was the second most expensive dish if you calculate the orders by per person. 

Har Cheong Kai $18

The Har Cheong Kai (Prawn Paste Chicken Wings) was the best dish of the night. It was well marinated with prawn paste and well fried. Great flavour and tender and juicy. 

Hot Plate Beancurd $16

This was the Hot Plate Beancurd $16. 

Oyster Sauce Baby Kai Lan $12

The Oyster Sauce Baby Kai Lan $12 was a too oily. 

Angus Ribeye Steak served with Potato Wedges, Caramelised Onions and Fried Rice $72 for 600g

This was their signature US Angus Ribeye Steak served with Potato Wedges, Caramelised Onions and Fried Rice $72 for 600g at $12 per 100 gram.

Angus Ribeye Steak served with Potato Wedges, Caramelised Onions and Fried Rice (600g) $72

The Potato Wedges were average. Personally, I preferred the Caramelised Onions. 

 Angus Ribeye Steak served with Potato Wedges, Caramelised Onions and Fried Rice (600g) $72

We requested for the US Angus Ribeye Steak to be well-done as some in our group may not like it if it was medium-rare or medium-well. The beef was cooked with just salt and pepper. We all thought that this was just average and not fantastic. 

Black Angus Ribeye Steak served with Potato Wedges, Caramelised Onions and Fried Rice (600g) $72

The Fried Rice; rice fried with charred fat and burnt ends from the steak which was highly raved about was a disappointed. Such a waste of calories. The fried rice was oily, hard and not fragrant.

Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle $24

As we were still hungry and not satisfied, we ordered a plate of Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle $24 (the biggest size). The fried hokkien mee was served with prawns, baby squids, clams, pork belly and lots and lots of pork lard. It came with a lots of soup stock rich in seafood and lard flavour. It may not be the best, but it was one of the better dishes at New Ubin Seafood.

If you are interested in crabs, New Ubin Seafood (Sin Ming Road) is having a promotion where you can order two crabs and get the 3rd crab free.

Overall, we were not particularly impressed with our dinner at New Ubin Seafood. The service could be improved. On both occasions when we were ordering our food, we had to repeat it twice. One to the staff taking the order and next to another more experience staff who came over with clarifications. In addition, when we had queries on certain dishes or for recommendations, we had to wait for a more experience staff to come over. Food wise, we were disappointed with some of them. The better ones were the Har Cheong Kai Chicken Wings and Soft Boiled Egg Special.

New Ubin Seafood (Sin Ming Road)
#01-174 Block 27 Sin Ming Road
Sin Ming Industrial Estate Sector A 
Singapore 575680
Tel: 6466 9558
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 11am – 2pm, 530pm – 1030pm 
                         Sat & Sun 11.30am to 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Website 

View FoodieFC's Singapore Food Map in a larger map

10 Food Places To Try In Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam)

My picks for the food places to try in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) are appended below. If you are wondering what and where to eat in Ho Chi Minh, hopefully, this list of 10 Food Places To Try In Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) would get you started. Happy Eating! 

1) Fanny Ice Cream
Fanny Ice Cream an ice cream parlor is located along Ton That Thiep Street, a 5 minutes walk away from Saigon Centre. Established in Vietnam in 1994 by Jean-Marc Bruno, a pastry specialist graduated from the renowned Le Nôtre Paris school, it manufactures and distributes its premium ice cream to over 1000 restaurants and hotels, and has 7 ice cream parlors in Vietnam. The beautifully presented Demi Bol consisted of a mix of sorbet and ice cream, chocolate sauce, almonds, caramel sauce, whipped cream and fruit salad.

Its franchise outlet recently opened in Singapore earlier this year. The Demi Bol in Singapore costs S$25.

Demi Bol 149,000 VND (S$8.95)

2) Kem Cong Truong (Kem Công Trường)
Kem Cong Truong, an eatery located next to Turtle Lake (Hồ Con Rùa) around 15 minutes walk from the Reunification Palace sells mainly small snacks, desserts and drinks. Established before the 70s with its neon signboard, it is well-known among the locals for its Coconut Ice Cream (Kem Trái Dừa); an authentic Vietnamese-style Coconut Ice Cream. True enough during our visit, we were the only tourist. Unlike the Thai Coconut Ice Cream, this came with traditional toppings; crushed peanuts, pineapple, and dried bananas and plums adding complexity to the taste and texture.

Coconut Ice Cream (Kem Trái Dừa) 

3) Nghi Xuan Restaurant (Nghi Xuân)
Nghi Xuan Restaurant is a boutique restaurant that specialises in traditional Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurant is located at the end of an alley opposite the Saigon Opera House. The Tiny Steamed Rice Cakes (Bánh bèo tôm chấy) which consisted of Shredded shrimp, pork lard and spring onions added on top of the rice cake is highly recommended.

Tiny steamed rice cakes (Bánh bèo tôm chấy) 68,000 VND (S$4.10)

4) Banh Xeo 46A (Quán Bánh Xèo 46A)
Banh Xeo 46A an eatery located along a small narrow road between shop houses is famous for its authentic Vietnamese Pancake known as Bánh Xèo. The Vietnamese Pancake was crisp, thin and slightly sweet with a hint of coconut fragrant. Its interior was filled with beansprouts, shrimps, onion, pork and mung beans. This is a must try! While you are there, you should also try their Spring Rolls (Chả Giò) 20,000 VND (S$1.20).

Vietnamese Pancake (Bánh Xèo) 60,000 VND (S$3.60)

5) 3T Quan Nuong (3T Quán Nướng)
3T Quan Nuong located next to Fanny Ice Cream, is an open air roof top Vietnamese Barbecue (BBQ) / Grilled restaurant. It is popular for its Roasted Prawn with Salt and Chilli (Tôm nướng muối ớt) which was consisted of grilling live prawns on wooden skewers. The prawns were fresh and dipping them into the lime, salt and chilli dipping sauce added a different dimension to the taste.

Roasted Prawn with Salt and Chilli (Tôm nướng muối ớt) (100g) 58,000 VND (S$3.50)

6) Pho Nho (Phố Nhỏ)
Pho Nho located along Nguyễn Đình Chiểu road, near War Remnant Museum serves Northern (Hanoi) style pho (beef noodles). Its interior was nicely designed to resemble the streets of Hanoi with its murals on the walls and traditional street lights and foot paths.

The Saute Beef Noodles Soup with Slices of Round Steak (Phở Áp Chảo) did not disappoint. Dipping the Crispy Chinese Roller (dough fritters) into the pho, reminded me of a particular dish back home. While you are there, you should also try the Yogurt mixed with Coconut Milk and Sweet Sticky Rice (Sữa chua nếp cẩm).

Saute Beef Noodles Soup with Slices of Round Steak (Phở Áp Chảo) 55,000 VND (S$3.30), Crispy Chinese Roller 30,000 VND per piece (S$1.80)

7) Hoa Dong (Quán Hoa Đông)
Hoa Dong is a small eatery located 5 minutes walk away from the North Gate (Cửa Bắc) of Ben Thanh Market. While Pho is a more commonly known food associated with Vietnam, you should not leave the country without trying the Glass Udon Soup with Crabmeat (Bánh Canh Cua) and Grilled Pork served with Rice Noodle (Bún Chả Thịt Nướng). Both dishes are a must try at Hoa Dong.

Grilled Pork served with Rice Noodle (Bún Chả Thịt Nướng) 60,000 VND (S$3.60), Glass Udon Soup with Crabmeat (Bánh Canh Cua) 65,000 VND (S$3.90)

8) BeefSteak Nam Son (BeefSteak Nam Sơn)

BeefSteak Nam Son located along Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai at the end of  a long alley is popular among the locals for its Vietnamese style western food; beefsteak (Bít tết). The eatery opens as early as 6am as the locals love eating this for breakfast. The Nam Son Specialty Combination of Steak, Sunny Side Up Egg, Meatball and Pate (Beefsteak Thập Cẩm) is served on a sizzling hotplate. Shred the Baguette (Bánh Mì) into small pieces, dipped it into the sauce in the plate and spread the pate (minced pork liver) on it to experience how the locals eat it.

Nam Son Specialty Combination of Steak, Sunny Side Up Egg, Meatball and Pate (Beefsteak Thập Cẩm) 60,000 VND (S$3.60)

9) Ngoc Suong Marina (Ngọc Sương Sài Gòn)
Ngoc Suong Marina also known as Marina Saigon Seafood Cuisine is a Vietnamese seafood restaurant located along Nguyen Dinh Chieu road (near Pho Nho). The recommended dishes to order are the Ngoc Suong Fish Salad (Gỏi cá Ngọc Sương), Deep Fried Prawns With Salt and Pepper (Tôm sú chiên giòn rang muối tiêu), Crab with Tamarind Sauce (Cua rang me) and Seafood Fried Spring Roll (Chả giò hải sản).

Deep Fried Prawns With Salt and Pepper (Tôm sú chiên giòn rang muối tiêu) 205,000 VND (S$12.30), Crab with Tamarind Sauce (Cua rang me) 55,000 VND (S$3.30) per 100 gram

10) 3G Trois Gourmands 

3G Trois Gourmands located in District 2 is around 20 to 40 minutes drive away from the city centre depending on traffic conditions. The restaurant located in a traditional colonial house with its interior beautifully furnished specialises in serving French cuisine. Their Set Menu offers a choice of 5, 6 or 7 Course meal at a nett price of USD40, USD45, USD50 respectively. Although the prices seems expensive, the food here was excellent and value for money considering the quality and quantity. You would have to pay much more to enjoy such food in Singapore.

Clockwise from top left:  Scallops Mashed Potatoes Truffle, Homemade Smoked Salmon, Duck Breast with Orange Sauce, Gils Dessert

Two Important Tips
1) Change money at goldsmith shop
The two goldsmith shops opposite “Cua Tay” gate number 5 (west gate) of Ben Thanh market on Phan Chu Trinh Street offers the best exchange rate. Better than the rates in Singapore.

2) Get a Vinasun Taxi
We did our research and knew that getting a good taxi was important to avoid getting rip off. The two most reliable taxis are Vinasun and MaiLinh. However, do note that there are alot of copycats with varied names such as Ma Linh, Mei Linh Vinasune, Vinason or Vinasum.

Source: Hello Saigon!

After an incident (read the last 3 para if you are intersested) that happened to us, we took just Vinasun taxi. We really learnt it the hard way. Faith restore in taking taxis in Vietnam. Thank you Vinasun. We also ensure that the Vinasun taxi was
      - a big taxi (the first car in the photo above). Not those small ones as copycats normally use those                   smaller ones
      - window are not tinted
      - wear maroon tie

At the airport, if you want to get a Vinasun taxi, head left once you exit from the airport's arrival hall (where there are people waiting for their friends, family, or clients). Walk to the far left, end of the taxi stand, you will spot Vinasun wardens wearing dark green shirts with maroon ties. The airport is not far from the city and should cost about 150,000 VND around 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.

Rip Off Incident (sharing this to spread the awareness and help more people avoid such situations)
Despite our research, we were ripped off on our first night. We spotted a MaiLinh taxi and board it. The driver was wearing a tie, had his photo displayed on the dashboard and on the meter. Seems to be the right (genuine) taxi. The first sign that something was not right was that he was impatient; drove very fast and cut into the opposite lane of the road despite other vehicles honking. In addition, the meter jumped very quickly. It was at this moment I noticed that the side-windows for passengers were slightly tinted (oh shit..). It did not help that our destination was Cuc Gach Quan, located at a quiet private residential area.

The taxi driver drove us to the restaurant, showed us the restaurant and then move forward a little as there was a security guard there. We then paid him the meter fee of 350,000 VND which was ridiculously considering that it should be below 100,000 VND (S$21). He locked us in and demand more money (than what showed up in the meter) shouting and even throwing newspaper at us. Knowing that this was not a battle that we should fight, we slowly gave him more and more. But he kept asking for more.  The process repeated (i.e. shout, throw newspaper, give abit of money) several times. We kept asking for him to open the door but he turned even more aggressive. Lucky for us, another security guard in charge of a residential a few units ahead sensed that something was amissed and walked up. We kept waving at him as the front window was not tinted (at this time, a staff from Cuc Gach Quan also came over) and the driver quickly opened the door, told us to get out and drove off.

The security guard managed to record the number of the taxi and we explained the incident to them through a staff who understood English. The staff of the restaurant called up MaiLinh to lodge a case for us. Unfortunately, the company stated that they had no such taxi number and claimed that the driver did not belong to their company. In total, we paid slightly more than 450,000 VND (S$27) to the driver. But what matter was that we were safe..

Gelato Singapore: Buy 1 Get 1 Free Gelato (till end of 2014)

Source: Gelato Singapore

Gelato Singapore: Buy 1 Get 1 Free Gelato (till end of 2014)

- Valid till end of 2014
- Not valid for Rosa Gelato
- The management reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions without prior notice

So Pho: 1 For 1 Baguette (Banh Mi) (till 26 Sep 2014)

Source: So Pho

So Pho: 1 For 1 Baguette (Banh Mi) (till 26 Sep 2014)

- Valid till 26 Sep 2014 from 2pm to 6pm
- Valid for  Baguette with Grilled Chicken & Chicken Pate, Baguette with Grilled Beef or Vegetarian Baguette only
- Valid for dine-in
- Valid for one redemption per table per receipt
- Flash their facebook post on your mobile device to redeem
- Not valid with other promotion, discount, privilege and set menu
- The management reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions without any prior notice