Epok Epok Central (Eunos)

Nasi Lemak $3.50

It has been ages since I last visited Epok Epok Central. I used to visit Epok Epok Central in 2009 when I was working at Paya Lebar. Epok Epok Central is located at Eunos Crescent Market & Food Centre which is just next to Eunos MRT station. Back then, I still remember its Potato, Sardine and Egg Epok Epok (i.e. curry puff) was priced at a dollar for 3 pieces. 

During a recent visit, besides selling Epok Epok, Epok Epok Central was also selling Nasi Lemak. There was a long queue for the Nasi Lemak and their Epok Epok was sold out.

Nasi Lemak $3.50

I decided to try the Nasi Lemak. Although the queue was short, the service was very slow... I waited for more than 20 minutes despite the short queue. I ordered ikan (fish), ikan bilis, telur (egg) and chicken wings. This plate of Nasi Lemak cost $3.50! That's quite pricey!

Nasi Lemak $3.50

The best part of the Nasi Lemak was the rice which was so fragrant with coconut milk taste. While the rest of the ingredients were average, the most disappointing ingredient was the chicken wings. The marination was on the salty end with no hint of any other flavour.

They seems to be concentrating on selling Nasi Lemak as the Epok Epok was sold out. Instead of preparing more Epok Epok, the stove with oil was being used to fry chicken wings instead. Judging from the prices, the profit margin for Nasi Lemak and specifically the Chicken Wings was higher than the Epok Epok (which would also require more preparation).

I have heard on forums about the owners being arrogant and closing whenever they felt like it. Well, I am not sure about the arrogant part. But what is true would be the part on them closing whenever they felt like it. I went back to the stall three hours later at 5pm to try my luck on getting the Epok Epok and saw that the stall was closed.  

Epok Epok Central (Eunos)
#01-09 Eunos Crescent Market & Food Centre
Blk 4A Eunos Crescent  
Singapore 402004
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 9am -10pm 
                          Closed on Monday

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Alright Cafeteria (Peace Centre)

Alright Cafeteria located at level 3 (top floor) of Peace Centre serves Malay cuisine. There are no signs directing customers to the shop. You will be able to see this eatery in front of you when you take the escalator up to level 3. Most people know of this place through word of mouth (e.g their friends, colleagues).

The eatery offers daily specials during weekdays.
Monday: :Laksa $3.50
Tuesday: Black Pepper Chicken Rice $4.00, Chicken Rice $3.50, Seafood Horfun $4.00
Wednesday: Roti Jala with Curry Chicken $4.00, Prawn Mee $3.50
Thursday: Nasi Briyani (Chicken / Beef) $4.50, Nasi Briyani (Mutton) $5.00
Friday: Ayam Penyet $5.00

Chicken Rice $3.50, Begedil $0.50 

During one of the occasion during my visit, I ordered the Tuesday daily special - Chicken Rice. I also added a Begedil.

Chicken Rice $3.50, Begedil $0.50 

This is the Malay style chicken rice. Unlike our Chinese Hainanese chicke rice, the rice in this case is plain white rice. The chicken is neither steam or roasted. Instead it was fried. The chicken rice was not too bad. I also requested for sambal chilli to be added to go along with the plain steamed rice. 

One another occasion, I ordered Nasi Padang (which is a concept similar to our economic rice stalls). It essentially meant customers choose the items they want.  I chose white plan rice, along with fried egg omelette, tauhu goreng, fried chicken wings and sambal kang kong. It costed $4.80.The food was was quite good. Depending on which aunty you order from, the generousity differs. In this case, my plate was full of ingredients! Almost spilling out =).

ps: If you like Malay food especially Nasi Padang, there is this place called Warong Nasi Pariaman that serves authentic and delicious Nasi Padang. A must try!

Alright Cafeteria (Peace Centre)

Level 3 Peace Centre
1 Sophia Road (Selegie Road)
Location 

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Warong Nasi Pariaman

Warong Nasi Pariaman is located at the junction of North Bridge Road and Kandahar Street, at a shopouse at 738 North Bridge Road. It is near the Sultan Mosque. It is one of the oldest nasi padang stall in Singapore, starting its busines in 1948! (thats way way older than me).Nasi Padang is similar to what the chinese know as zi char or economic rice. In addition, Nasi Padang food are know for being cooked with lots of spices, lemon grass, coconut, lime and chilli.

Having such a long history, the stall has a huge loyal customer base. Although there was limited sitting capacity, most people also order takeaway. Judge the queue for yourself this is the takeaway queue. The place was packed when we went over during lunch time.

First visit

This was what we ate during our first visit here.

Second visit

Third visit

The food was so delicious that we ate here for the 2nd consecutive working day.

Begedils

Begedil

Begedils is the malay name for potato patties. One begedil  for each of us. Can’t help that I am crazy about potato, the begedil was delicious and spring onion is a must for this. The Little Teochew Blog has a post on how to cook this.

Ayam Bakar

Ayam Bakar is a must eat at this stall. Ayam Bakar consist of grilled chicken served in a mildly spicy thick coconut milk gravy also know as korma gravy. The chicken is first cooked in the gravy. It is then grilled. Just before serving, gravy is poured over the chicken.

The ayam bakar was sedap(delicious in Malay)! The meat was soft and tender despite being grilled. And the grilling gave different textures to the chicken, crispy on the outside and soft inside. The gravy packed a punch of oomph compliment the chicken and even with rice.

Sambal Goreng

Another signature dish of Warong Nasi Pariaman is the Sambal Goreng. Sambal Goreng is a mixture of long bean, tempeh and fried beancurb. Almost every table had this! Very addictive!

Egg Omelette

Egg Omelette was delicious but it was quite oily.

Mutton Redang

Mutton Redang was soft and tender. Although it was not a signature dish, it would still have been a hit at any other shops. The food here is just too good that the limelight has been cannibalised by other dishes.

Curry Gravy

Add caption

Teh Tarik

Nothing like a cup of Teh Tarik to end the meal on a good note.

If you are looking for authentic Malay food that packs a punch, Warong Nasi Pariaman is the place to go. Sedap! Their signature dishes are  Ayam Bakar, Sambal Goreng, Ikan Bakar and Beef Redang. Besides being delicious, it is relatively cheap. Cheap and delicious, what more can anyone ask for. Clearly, it is a die die must try place.

Warong Nasi Pariaman 
738 North Bridge Road
Tel: 6292 5958
Opening hours: 7.30am to 3pm; closed on Sundays and PH

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Syiok Café

*Edited Aug 2012: Syiok Cafe has closed.*

Syiok Cafe previously from Beach Road, is a small and cozy eating outlet specialising in dishing out Nasi Ayam Penyet. Nasi Ayam Penyet is an Indonesian/Malay cuisine of smashed fried chicken with steam white rice.

Syiok Cafe

Signature dishes

Nasi Ayam Penyet ($4) and Nasi Ikan Penyet ($5). Do note there is a price increase. The poster prices above are not updated.

Syiok Cafe Menu

Crackers

While waiting for your food, you can snack on these complimentary crackers. Its very addictive, once you start, you can’t stop.

Rice

Nasi Ayam Penyet

The Ayam Penyet came separately from the rice. It is very crispy on the outside. Inside, the meat is soft and tender. The chicken meat is quite fresh. It was not very oily too. The sambal chilli is spicy, wish that more sambal chilli was given. This is my 2nd time eating here, the first time, I felt that the chicken was too small and it was on the oily side. This 2nd time, I felt that it was actually quite nice, in fact was syiok(shiok)!

Certainty a place to recommend to your friends to come and try. The location is quite ulu, but despite that, it can get crowded at times (during lunchtime).

Syiok Cafe (Arab Street)
No.6 Jalan Kledek
Singapore 199528
Tel:84043395/84514350