Ah Tan Wings - Crispy Chicken Har Cheong Gai (Yishun Park Hawker Centre)

Atas Wing Meal $5.20

Ah Tan Wings located at Yishun Park Hawker Centre probably needs no further introduction since its food and even the background of how the owner created the dish is in many articles online.

To keep things short, the owner of the stall is 27 years old and he had experienced hundreds of variation and methods, ranging from seasoning, heat control to frying techniques. He participated in events to get feedback and learn about cooking techniques as cooking as a business entity is different from cooking as an individual since different equipment are used and you need to fry more at any one time. Kudos to him for his endurance and perseverance.

Today, he is selling as many as 900 chicken wings every day! Naturally, after knowing all these, I was so hyped up to try the chicken wings.

I visited on a weekday lunch time. Surprisingly, the hawker centre was not crowded. I wonder how the stall owners survive on weekdays. Even a popular stall like Ah Tan Wings, had just 1 person in the queue.

Ah Tan Wings basically sells prawn paste chicken wings, prawn paste cutlet, rice and egg. Since there was no queue, I received my order within 5 minutes after ordering.

Atas Wing Meal $5.20

Atas Wing Meal $5.20 consists of 2 shrimp paste wings, aromatic rice and egg. Yes, you read this correctly, aromatic rice! It is essentially plain rice.

The prawn paste chicken wings are very crisp and well marinated. Even the meat nearer to the bones has prawn paste flavour. Definitely, one of the tastiest prawn paste chicken wings I have tried. As for the downside, I felt that it was greasy, i.e. on the oily end. As for the rest of the ingredients, they were just average.

Atas Cutlet Meal $6.50

Atas Cutlet Meal $6.50 consists of a big chunk of prawn paste cutlet, aromatic rice and egg. Again, the cutlet was very well marinated and crisp on the exterior. However, it was very greasy. I am not sure what when wrong, whether it was the heat technique or the marination mix. All I know was that I was extremely disappointed by the dish. Needless to say, we did not manage to finish it.

Overall, I do not understand the hype. I like the wings for its taste. But for $1.70 and considering that it is on the oily end, I will give it a skip. As the saying goes, one man's meat is another man's poison.

Ah Tan Wings - Crispy Chicken Har Cheong Gai (Yishun Park Hawker Centre) 

#01-40 Yishun Park Hawker Centre 

51 Yishun Avenue 11 

Singapore 768867 

Opening Hours: Tue to Fri, 11am – 2pm & 5pm – 9pm 

                           Sat to Sun, 11.30am – 2pm & 5pm – 8.30pm 

                           Closed on Sun

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Wow Wow West Genuine (ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre)

Chicken Chop $7

I have always wanted to try out this western stall called Wow Wow West for the longest time ever. I still remember that I read about this stall in 2011 from Daniel Food Dairy blog and made a mental note to visit the stall when I was in the area. It was notable for its generous portion and delicious food then. Fast forward to 2018, I am glad that I have the opportunity to visit the stall at last!

A brief background about the stall. It started with Mr Eric Ng who started a western stall in the canteen of Raffles Institution. He moved out of the school environment to the hawker centre as the earnings were low during school holidays. Today, his son-in-law, Mr Jayden Cheong, helps to run the stall. In fact, he is the main chef at the stall and it is essentially a family business as Mr Eric Ng and his wife are also at the stall.

I visited the stall on several occasions and each time I am there, there is a perpetual crowd of people in front of the stall, either queuing up to order the food or waiting to collect their orders. I must say that I am most impressed with their system and processes, from ordering to collection of food. Despite the crowd, I have always waited for less than 20 minutes for my food. This is not an easy feat considering the crowd and number of orders. Unlike most western stalls, Wow Wow West does not churn out dishes one at a time. Instead, they churn out nearly 5 dishes at a time and different type of dishes too! At any one time, they are frying chicken chop and fish and chips, and cooking beef steak, pork chop and chicken chop, all at the same time! In addition, sometimes, they are frying fries too! I have always tried to observe how they do this, but never figured it out.

Chicken Cutlet $7

Look at the size of the piece of chicken given for the Chicken Cutlet $7. It was huge, nearly as big as my face. For someone who could eat a lot, I was very full after I finished the whole dish. The chicken cutlet was well-marinated and fried perfectly, which is not easily achieved considering the size. The exterior was so crisp and not over fried while the interior was tender and juicy.

Chicken Chop $7

The Chicken Chop $7 was huge too. It was marinated with herbs and pepper and was served with brown sauce. I particularly liked the bits of crisp skin at the sides as they provided a different texture with each mouthful. Surprisingly, the chicken chop was not as juicy as the chicken cutlet.

Pork Chop $7

The Pork Chop $7 was average. Maybe I had too high an expectation considering the quality of the other 2 dishes. I felt that the pork chop was dry and tough. Although the portion was big, I got too tired of chewing the meat.

All their dishes were served with fries, coleslaw and baked beans. Though these lost limelight compared to the mains, I must highlight that the portion of fries and coleslaw given was huge!

If you are looking for a big serving of western cuisine, look no further! This is the place to be at. And make sure that you are hungry. Very hungry! Try their Chicken Cutlet and Chicken Chop! If you are in a rush, you should refrain from eating this western food. Not because of the less than 20 minutes waiting time, but because you will likely need some time to polish off the whole dish considering the portion.

Wow Wow West Genuine (ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre)

#01-133 ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre

6 Jalan Bukit Merah

Singapore 150006

Tel: +65 9380 8571

Opening Hours: Tue to Sat 10.30am - 2pm, 4.30pm - 8pm

                           Closed on Sun & Mon

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No. 1 Western Food 驰名西餐 (Tanglin Halt Food Centre)

No. 1 Western Food 驰名西餐  is a popular stall which serves Chinese old-school style western food. This stall is located at Tanglin Halt Food Centre, a relatively ulu place (for me). I did not know about this stall until I read it about it on The Hungry Bunny, who highly recommend this stall (Thanks for the recommendation!).

No. 1 Western Food is operated by Mr Ong Choon Chiang, who is now 68 years old, with his wife (it is no mean feat to stand for hours and cook at the age of 68 in front of the hot grills and wok of oil). He first started selling western food more than 40 years ago before the days of McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).  In 1981, he shifted to Tanglin Halt Food Centre and has continued to ply his trade at this food centre till today. No. 1 Western Food is one of the more popular stall in this food centre and is well-known among residents in Tanglin Halt for its crispy Chicken Cutlets. A key differentiation / USP (unique selling point) is his very own special (secret) sauce which I shall elaborate on further below.

Special Sauce

This unique tomato-based barbecue special sauce, whipped by Mr Ong is added onto all the food served. Whether it is Chicken Cutlet, Chicken Chop, Pork Chop, Lamp Chop, Beef Steak or Fish & Chips, this special sauce is added on top! This special sauce is what made it stand out among other western stalls. It is no surprise that the recipe for this sauce remains a secret (During past interviews with The Straits Times interview, Mr Ong did not divulge any details of the ingredients other than the fact that it was made of tomato.).

Pork Chop and Chicken Chop

On certain days, they can sell as many as 100 plates of Chicken Cutlet. This explains why there are so many pieces of Pork Chop and Chicken Chop at the side of the gas griddle.

I ordered Pork Chop and Chicken Cutlet on two different occasions. In the photo above, you can see that my pork chops are being cooked on the gas griddle.

After a while, taken out from the gas griddle and grilled over an electric grill before being served.

Pork Chop $5

The Pork Chop $5 consisted of 2 pieces of pork chop served with baked beans, slices of cucumber and tomato, and fries. The special sauce was added on top of the pork chop.

Pork Chop $5

Pork Chop $5

Although the two slices of Pork Chop were quite thin, they were quite well executed. The exterior of the pork chop was slightly crisp and had a slight hint of smokey aroma (probably both were achieved because the pork chops were put onto the electric grill just before being served). The pork chop was not tough and was well marinated (you have to try the part of the pork chop without the sauce to taste the original flavour).

As for the special sauce, it was addictive and well...special. It had a fine balance of delicately sweet and salty with a hint of tomato flavour. It made a whole world of difference to the taste if you were to add it on the pork chop. The sauce goes very well with the fries and cucumber too! I had a great time dipping them into the sauce.

The Pork Chop was quite decent and worth a try.

On another occasion, I ordered the famous Chicken Cutlet. My chicken cutlet was deep fried in the wok filled with oil at the extreme right of the above photo.

Chicken Cutlet $5

The Chicken Cutlet $5 consisted of a piece of crispy breaded chicken cutlet served with baked beans, slices of cucumber and tomato, and fries. The special sauce was added at the side. I was greedy and requested for more sauce.

Chicken Cutlet $5

Look at how thick the Chicken Cutlet is!

Chicken Cutlet $5

The Chicken Cutlet coated with a thin layer of bread crumbs on the outside was so crispy. The interior was incredibly juicy, tender and tasty (even without the special sauce)! I tried hard to recall, but can't remember when was the last time I tasted such a tasty chicken chop. The Chicken Cutlet was perfectly executed; the flavours and moisture were all locked in! I must emphasis that I have not eaten such a delicious piece of Chicken Cutlet before and this is really out of this world, in a league of its own. I was glad that the special sauce was not added on top of the Chicken Cutlet as it allowed me to savour the original flavour of this piece of Chicken Cutlet. This Chicken Cutlet is the best I ever had in a hawker centre! It is a must order! As for the sauce, it did not go wasted as I dipped all my fries into it! Shiok!

I can't believe that I have not heard of this stall before (so much for being a foodie. But well, its never too late!). Price wise, it was reasonable! If you have not tried this, I would highly recommend for you to try this soon. Do note, unlike most western stalls, this one is self-service. During peak hours, you can expect to wait (queue) for more than half an hour. During my visits, I noticed that some customers would order and come back later to collect their food.

ps: Tanglin Halt Food Centre is about 10 minutes walk away from Commonwealth MRT station.

No. 1 Western Food 驰名西餐 (Tanglin Halt Food Centre)

Blk 1A Commonwealth Drive

#01-13 Tanglin Halt Food Centre 

Singapore 141001

Opening Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Sataturday 4pm to 930pm

                         Sunday 1pm to 930pm

                         Closed on Tuesday

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Charly T's (112 Katong)

Charly T's second outlet is located at 112 Katong. It's first outlet is located at Nomu Building (next to The Cathay). At Charly T's, customer first order at the counter before entering the restaurant to choose their seats. Their orders will be served to them directly when it is ready. 

It has a unique concept as cuisines from different countries are put together and served at this restaurant. Essentially, your food journey can bring you from Europe to America to Asia (without the need to board a plane)!

Part of the wall in Charly T's showcase the drawings done by different children who have been to Charly T's. The restaurant will provide the colouring pencil and paper for children. Talk about family/kids friendly restaurant. This will keep the children busy while parents savour the food (peacefully).

Charly T's also have a Peranakan theme private room for six

Furthermore, there is an al fresco lounge area outside. Perfect for drinking, watching soccer matches and/or enjoying the view.

Charly T's Odysseys - Green Flash $6.50

Kick started the meal with Charly T's Odysseys - Green Flash; mix of green apple, orange and pineapple. Refreshing fruity thirst-quencher.

Rotisserie Chicken Original Recipe ($13 for quarter chicken + 2 additions, $24 for half chicken + 3 additions, $42 for whole chicken + 4 additions)

The signature Rotisserie Chicken (original recipe) was marinated for over 13 hours before being slow-cooked rotisserie-style.  It did not disappoint. Marinated with herbs and spices, the exterior was crisp while the interior was juicy and tender. Yummlicious.

When ordering, you can request for your favourite chicken part.

Rotisserie Chicken Kansas City BBQ ($15 for quarter chicken + 2 additions, $27 for half chicken + 3 additions, $46 for whole chicken + 4 additions

Rotisserie Chicken Black Pepper ($15 for quarter chicken + 2 additions, $27 for half chicken + 3 additions, $46 for whole chicken + 4 additions

The Rotisserie Chicken Kansas City BBQ was my favourite. Executed slightly different from the original recipe and black pepper, it was well marinated. It was more flavourful and tasty. In addition, the thigh meat was so soft, tender and juicy that I had to go for second serving to satisfy my palate.

(Left to right):  Kansas City BBQ  Sauce, Creamy Roasted Sesame Sauce, Chermoula Sauce, Charly T's Original Sauce 

Four different type of sauces to complement the Rotisserie Chicken. (I did not see a need for the sauces, as I like the original flavour (marination) of the chicken)

Clockwise from top left: Macaroni & Cheese, German Potato Salad, Fresh Vegetables, Butter Garlic Rice

Four additions (sides) available when you order the Rotisserie Chicken; namely Macaroni & Cheese, German Potato Salad, Fresh Vegetables and Butter Garlic Rice. 

Macaroni & Cheese

My favourite was the Macaroni & Cheese (it was tough choosing between German Potato Salad and this). You will either hate this or love this. To me, this was superbly executed. This uses a recipe from award-winning Chef Rozanne Gold's 'Eat Fresh Food' cookbook. It contains less cheese and includes fresh cauliflower.

Kalua Pork $16

Kalua Pork $16

A popular Hawaiian (Honolulu) dish, the Kalua Pork was marinated and slow-cooked for 48 hours! The top layer of fats and skin have been removed, leaving just the lean meat behind. It was so soft and tender that the meat could be easily pulled apart. If you prefer a healthier choice compared to Chinese-style pork belly, this is a good alternative as you can indulge guilt-free.

Jumbo Schnitzel Burger $14

An Austrian German dish, the Jumbo Schnitzel Burger consists of  a big piece of deep fried chicken cutlet and slices of bacon sandwiched by 2 buns served with fries. The chicken was coated with bread crumbs and deep fried till golden brown. It was incredibly crispy on the outside yet tender and moist on the inside. The fries deserve a mention too. Lightly salted, the fries were crispy on the outside and soft,fluffy on the inside. Exactly the way I like my fries to be. (I am sure this is a kid's favourite!  fried chicken and fries!)

CT's Beef Burger $10.50

CT's Beef Burger $10.50

CT's Beef Burger served with nachos. The beef patty was thick, meaty and tasty. However, it was on the a tad too chewy and dry.

I was impressed that Charly T's fried the bottom of each of the 2 buns before serving. Despite being full, (the usual practice will be just to skip having the bun) I found myself savouring the buns as on the bottom, it was crisp yet at the top it was soft (the little things that matters).

Kaiserchmarrn $14

Kaiserchmarrn $14 - Pancake

Kaiserchmarrn $14 - Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Talk about ending the meal with a bang. The Austrian German dessert;  Kaiserschmarrn totally blew me off. Shredded warm, fluffy caramelised pancake dusted with powder sugar and raisins complemented perfectly with the Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. The hot and cold combination along with the raisin and powder sugar were such a perfect match that I found myself indulging endlessly despite being full. A must order (tip: get the piece with the most powder sugar and pair it with the raisins and ice cream). 

Thank you Janice (FoodNews) for invite and hosting.

Charly T's (112 Katong)
112 East Coast Road
#03-15 112 Katong 
Tel: 6636 4701
Opening Hours: Mon - Thur 11am to 11pm
                         Fri 11am to 1am
                         Sat 9am to 1am
                         Sun 9am to 11pm
Website
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Location

Charly T's (Nomu Building)
20 Handy Road
Level 1 Nomu Building
Tel: 6336 7789
Opening Hours: Mon - Wed 11am to 11pm
                          Thur - Fri 11am to 1am
                          Sat 9am -to1am
                          Sun 9am to 11pm

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Long Ge Snack 龍哥小吃 (Sembawang Shopping Centre)

Some of us may have heard about Long Ge Snack 龍哥小吃  which serves crispy chicken cutlet. Long Ge Snack opened early this year in Sembawang Shopping Centre.

Menu (a)

Menu (b)

Menu (c) (fries)

Notice the many different choices of dipping sauce for the fries. I heard the special cheese sauce is a must try.

Although their signature dish is Grilled Crispy Chicken, we ordered the Crispy Chicken (non-spicy) as our throat was not too well. There was quite a number of people queuing up at the stall. We waited for close to 15 minutes for our Crispy Chicken. Not necessary a bad thing as the staff only start cooking the chicken when they received customers' orders.

The cover of the box containing the Crispy Chicken looks cool! Nice packaging.

Crispy Chicken $4.20

Weird that there is salad together with the chicken. Looks like a good way to make up for the 'sinfulness'. However, I am not impressed by the salad. The chicken was very crispy, tender and juicy. But somehow in terms of flavour and fragrant, I think it loses out to the likes of Shilin fried chicken.

Well, I have several people raving how good the Grilled Crispy Chicken is. I will have to try it one day to find out the powers of Long Ge.

Long Ge Snack 龍哥小吃 (Sembawang Shopping Centre)
604 Sembawang Road
#B1-01 Sembawang Shopping Centre
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
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