Guang Fa Laksa 叻沙 (Havelock Road Hawker Centre) - Big, Fresh Cockles!

$5 Laksa

I have heard so much about this laksa but have never ate it due to its location. After all these years, I was glad that work brought me nearby, and I decided to walk over to Havelock Road Hawker Centre for lunch. 

Although I reached just before 12pm, there was already a queue of around 10 pax in front of the stall. It has the longest queue at the hawker centre. The queue moved very slowly because the uncle was the only one taking order, cooking and collecting the payments. 

I ordered the $5 Laksa (with cockles), which is the biggest portion available. May as well right since I had to queue more than 30 minutes and had been waiting to try this for years. 

$5 Laksa

The laksa came with thick bee hoon, hard boiled egg, beansprouts, fishcake, tau pok, cockles, laksa leaves and sambal chilli. The laksa broth is rich, only a little spicy and more on the savoury end, with a slight hint of hae bee hiam. You will need to mix the sambal chilli in or even ask for more chilli if you want a spicy and stronger hae bee hiam taste. 

The star here was the cockles. The cockles were so fresh and oh so big, plump and juicy!! Shiok lah. It is hard to get such big cockles these days. 

Really glad that I got to try this laksa at last after so many years! Do give it a try if you are around the area! 

Guang Fa Laksa 叻沙 (Havelock Road Hawker Centre)
22A Havelock Rd, #01-08, Singapore 161022
Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 7.30am to 1.30pm
Closed on Sunday

View FoodieFC's Singapore Food Map in a larger map

Min Ji Laksa 民记叻沙 (Bendemeer Market and Food Centre)

 

Min Ji Laksa 民记叻沙 is a stall located in Bendemeer Market and Food Centre selling only 2 items, Laksa and Mee Rebus. 

Both dishes are highly raved about in the internet sphere. 

Since I seldom come to this area, I went straight for the most expensive, $5 laksa. I arrived at around 11.45 and there was already a queue at the stall. 

The Laksa was packed with ingredients; hard boiled egg, shredded chicken meat, cockles, slices of fish cake and tau pok with a handful of beansprouts. My default choice of noodles for laksa is always thick beehoon. 

Look at the big fat juicy cockles.

The laksa gravy was light yet so flavourful with a strong coconut fragrance. Once you start slurping the noodles with the laksa gravy, you cannot stop. That is how good it was.

If I live around the area, I will probably be eating this every couple of weeks! Wish that they would move to Yishun!

Min Ji Laksa 民记叻沙 (Bendemeer Market and Food Centre)
#01-31 Bendemeer Market and Food Centre
29 Bendemeer Road
Singapore 330029
Opening Hours: Thu to Mon, 7.30am to 3pm
                          Closed on Tue and Wed

View FoodieFC's Singapore Food Map in a larger map

Sungei Road Laksa 结霜桥叻沙 (Jalan Besar)

Laksa $2

Sungei Road Laksa 结霜桥叻沙 (Jalan Besar) is a famous Laksa stall located at a coffee shop in Jalan Besar. It is around 10 minutes walk away from Lavendar MRT station and is located opposite Jalan Besar Food Centre.

Unlike most laksa stalls, Sungei Road Laksa occupies a large unit of the coffee shop. It was manned by 4 persons. 1 person took the orders and collect the money, 1 person cooks the Laksa while the remaining 2 persons prepare the ingredients.

Look at how systematic they are. Everything is arranged neatly.

Interestingly, the Laksa gravy is cooked using charcoal stove. Each bowl of Laksa cost $2. The version with more ngredients cost $3. Most people would order a few bowls of the $2 version. There would typically be a long queue at this stall. When I visited recently, there was 3 persons in front.

Laksa $2

The Laksa $2 is served with thick rice noodles, beansprouts, slices fish cakes and cockles. The cost of Laksa may seems cheap, but well, to me it was not value for money. The bowl is small and the ingredients are far from generous. 

Worst of all, the laksa gravy was thin and lacking in flavour, especially the shrimp flavour. Frankly, I do not know why this is so popular. 928 Yishun Laksa tastes way nicer and at $2.80 comes with more than double the amount of ingredients.

Sungei Road Laksa 结霜桥叻沙 (Jalan Besar)
#01-100 Jin Shui Kopitiam
Block 27 Jalan Berseh 
Singapore 200027
Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 5.30pm
                         Closed on 1st and 3rd Wed of the month

View FoodieFC's Singapore Food Map in a larger map

928 Yishun Laksa (Yishun Central) 3rd Post

Laksa $2.80

Posting about this well-known laksa outlet in Yishun for the 3rd time. I have been eating this laksa since I was in Secondary School (that is more than  17 years ago)! You will not see any shop name but you will be able to know that you are at the right stall when u spot everyone eating the Laksa in a red bowl! Also, at the stall menu statues "Laksa" clearly. Over the years, this stall gained a following through word of mouth among those living in the north (Yishun). Gradually, everyone started calling this laksa stall as '928 Yishun Laksa' as the stall is located under Blk 928 in Yishun. This laksa stall is located just behind the Yishun Interchange, a stone throw away from Yishun MRT station.

I visited on a Sunday afternoon at 330pm. I normally visit at this timing as this is normally the timing with the least people; I can escape squeezing/queuing with the lunch/dinner crowd. But I was wrong that day. There was a long queue of more than 9 persons in front of me! Amazing how popular this stall gets through word of mouth!

 It was a 20 minutes wait.

The price of the Laksa has increased recently to $2.80 or $3.30 (for a bigger portion). Used to be $2.20 and $2.50 for the smaller bowl of laksa.

Dessert Menu

There also offer dessert. But I have never try their dessert before. If you want any dessert, you should just pop over to the next shop as the dessert stall there is more popular. Most people would have their laksa at this stall and then go over to the next shop for dessert. In the past, both the laksa and dessert stalls were located in the same shop.

Laksa $2.80

This is my bowl of Laksa which cost $2.80. It consists of fish cakes, crab sticks, dried toufu, hum (cockles), beansprouts, hard boiled eggs and thick bee hoon. The laksa gravy was light and rich. With fresh coconut milk, chilli and lots of dried shrimps that made the gravy so tasty and fragrant yet spicy. Also, the gravy was not oily. Despite the spiciness, the more gravy you savour, the more you will love it. It was so addictive that I would always finish the whole bowl of laksa gravy (not something which I normally do as its not healthy).

Do note that this eatery is not air-conditioned. Also, there are few fans. You will likely sweat, so wear something comfortable! This is worth sweating for! Still the best Laksa in Yishun.

Laksa $3

I also packed a bowl of laksa back home. The good news is that you can request for the gravy to be packed separately!

928 Yishun Laksa (Yishun Central) 

Blk 928 Yishun Central 1 

#01-155

Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 11am - 7pm

                         Closed on Mon

View FoodieFC's Singapore Food Map in a larger map

Vanda Terrace (Orchid Country Club) 2nd Post

Hainanese Chicken Rice $8.50

This is my second post on Vanda Terrace at Orchid Country Club. The first post can be found here. In a few words, Vanda Terrace is essentially an Alfresco dining outlet serving local cuisines. 

A notification system for calling the staff or asking for the bill. This is becoming common in F&B outlets with the tightening of the foreign labor employment. If you take a look around you whenever you eat out, you would likely have noticed the after effects of such a policy. Many F&B outlets have close down because of labour or rental issues. Well.. lets go back to the food. 

Hainanese Chicken Rice $8.50

Since I was here for lunch, I had to order the Hainanese Chicken Rice $8.50. It has been years since I ate this chicken rice. The reasons being that it would normally be sold out after lunch time and I visit during dinner time. The Hainanese Chicken Rice consisted of chicken rice, steamed chicken, soup and garlic-chilli dip served in individual bowls/plates. 

Hainanese Chicken Rice $8.50

Vanda Terrace does not serve roasted chicken. They serve only steamed chicken. The steamed chicken was cooked perfectly; so succulent and delicious. In addition, the portion given was so generous and meaty (not layered). As for the chicken rice, it was fragrant and not overly oily. The Hainanese Chicken Rice did not disappoint. Yummy! 

Laksa Paradise $7.90

Every time we visit, someone is bound to order the Laksa Paradise $7.90. 

Laksa Paradise $7.90

Consisting of thick beehoon, prawns, cockles, fish cake slices, chicken, quail eggs, bean sprouts and dried beancurd, this laksa was another dish that never disappoint. It may not be the best, but it was certainly above average. Worth the calories. 

 Javanese Chicken Curry $9.90

Another regular item which we frequently order is the Javanese Chicken Curry $9.90. 

 Javanese Chicken Curry $9.90

The main item in this dish is the Chicken Leg in cooked in Javanese curry. There are so many types of curry. This version is spicy, sweet with a hint of lemongrass and cinnamon spices. The curry itself is very addictive and it goes perfectly with plain rice. As for the chicken leg, it was cooked just right. So tender! 

Oriental-Style Chicken Wings

Oriental-Style Chicken Wings which was crispy and well marinated.  

A breathtaking view of the Golf Course from our table. =D 

Vanda Terrace (Orchid Country Club) 
1 Orchid Club Road
 Golf Clubhouse, Orchid Country Club 
Tel: 6750 2200 
Opening Hours: Mon to Tue 730am to 10pm 
                         Wed to Sun 730am to 11pm

View FoodieFC's Singapore Food Map in a larger map

Xi Xiang Feng Yong Tau Foo 喜相逢酿豆腐 (Ang Mo Kio)

Xi Xiang Feng Yong Tau Foo 喜相逢酿豆腐 is a popular Yong Tau Foo stall located at the Ang Mo Kio Central hawker centre. It has been featured on several food programs such as "Where The Queue Starts" / "排排站查查看" . 

When we visited on a Friday evening at 630pm (half an hour before its closing time), we were surprised to note that there was still several items available although some items were out of stock. There was a short queue of around 6 persons in front of us. We waited for slightly more than 15 minutes before we received our bowls of Yong Tau Foo. 

Menu

The menu showing the price of the Yong Tau Foo was clearly displayed. Yes, you did not read it wrongly, they sell Chee Cheong Fun too! Do note, you would need to choose your Yong Tau Foo ingredients before joining the queue.

The partner ordered this bowl of Yong Tau Foo. Her choice of noodles was bee hoon. Besides the fresh ingredients, what made customers keep patronisng this stall was its sweet sauce which was very fragrant and addictive!

 The soup was very flavourful and tasty. The result of cooking it with lots of soya bean and ikan bilis.

 I ordered the Laksa Yong Tau Foo with thick bee hoon.

The laksa gravy was very good. It was rich, flavourful and thick. It could be because, it was already the end of the day. It came with taupok which absorbed the laksa gravy. 

After trying out this stall, I knew why it was so popular. It was down to 3 main reasons:

- homely soup base which was not MSG laden

- laksa gravy

- fresh ingredients

I will be back for more! 

Xi Xiang Feng Yong Tau Foo 喜相逢酿豆腐 (Ang Mo Kio)

Blk 724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6

Ang Mo Kio Food Centre #01-23

Opening hours: Mon to Sat 7am – 7pm

                          Closed on Sunday

View FoodieFC's Singapore Food Map in a larger map

Café 2000 Seafood and Barbecue Buffet Dinner (M Hotel)

Café 2000, a restaurant located at M Hotel (Near Tanjong Pagar MRT Station) serves International Buffet Dinner at daily from 6pm to 11pm. On Fridays, Saturdays and Eve of Public Holidays, the restaurant serves Seafood and Barbecue Buffet Dinner.

We visited Café 2000 on a Saturday evening and tried out its Seafood and Barbecue Buffet Dinner. 

When we arrived at 630pm, the restaurant was around 70% full.  The first few rows of the tables near the entrance were not occupied. Whereas those inside the restaurants were all occupied, most probably because everyone wanted to be strategically near the food since it was a buffet.

I was surprised to see so many people at the restaurant as I thought that we were early. The spread available included Cold Seafood, Barbecue, Bread, Soup, Salad, Zi Char (which was the month special), Satay, Sashimi, Sushi, Dessert and Live Cooking Stations. To sum it up, the spread was reasonable, enough to keep me busy eating for 3 hours. 

Cold Seafood

The Cold Seafood Section was impressive. There were Oysters, Prawns, Scallops, Crabs and even Crab Claws! In addition, each of them were fresh. I particularly like the Oysters (plump and juicy), Prawns (sweet and firm) and Crab Claws. It would have been perfect if they were more prompt in refilling the Oysters.

(Clockwise from the top left) BBQ Section: Lamb, Beef, Chicken Wings and Salmon

The Barbecue (BBQ) Section was a unique differentiation that makes Café 2000 stand out compared to most other buffets. There was a variety of raw meat; Lamb, Beef, Chicken Wings and Salmon. 

BBQ Seafood Section

In addition, there were also BBQ seafood section with Jumbo Prawns, Scallops, Crayfish, Fish, and Fish and Squid Otak. All you have to do is to select the raw food you want on a plate, then peg your table clip to the plate. The BBQ food would be cooked and served to your table. 

(Clockwise from the top left) BBQ Meat: Lamb, Beef Chicken Wing and Salmon

BBQ Seafood 

The BBQ food was delish. I was most impressed with the Jumbo Prawns. Look at the size of it. It was fresh and the shells were easily taken out. In addition, the meat was firm. The otahs were quite good too, slightly spicy, there were fish chunks in it.

Scallop Au Gratin

The beautifully cooked Scallop Au Gratin did not disappoint. The warm melted cheese complemented the scallop well. 

Pork Ribs and Bratwurst

Pork Ribs and Bratwurst

The Bratwurst was a tad too salty for our liking. However, the partner loved the Pork Ribs which were folk tender and flavourful. 

Angus Beef

The Chef’s signature Angus Beef. 

The Angus Beef was well executed by the Chef. The natural flavour and juices in the beef was retained. I have seldom been impressed with pizza during a buffet. But Café 2000's thin crust pizza certainly made an impression on me. So much so that I had to tell the partner to try it.

Laksa

There was a live cooking station for the Laksa. All you have to do is to select the noodles and items you want for your Laksa on a plate, then peg your table clip to the plate. The Laksa would be delivered to your table.  There was an extensive variety of items including seafood (squid, prawns, mussel), yong tau foo and quail eggs.

The laksa gravy was fragrant and rich with the right amount of spiciness. It was so delectable that I finished the whole bowl by myself and quite full by the time I finish this.

Royal Chocolate Cake

Desserts

There was a wide variety of Desserts available ranging from Assorted Nonya Kueh, Cakes, Durian Puree, Chocolate Fondue to Shaved Ice. The Durian Puree stood out. Made from fresh durian, it was thick (not diluted) and bittersweet. Durian lovers will definitely love this.

It was a pity, I was just too full and did not manage to try every single items. I did not even manage try the chilli crab!

Although this was a tasting session, I was impressed with the quality of food. The spread was less than Todai Singapore, but Café 2000's quality was way well better (which makes it more value for money). Most people would 'spam' on the Cold Seafood section to make their money worth while. At, Café 2000 beside doing that you can also 'spam' on the BBQ section (Something I would do if I go back again =P). In addition, I would also go for more servings of the Laksa and Anges Beef.

Would I be back? Yes, I can forsee myself going back! I already know what I want to go for when I am back. 

Thank you Lindy for the invite and hosting us.

International Buffet Dinner
Sunday to Thursday from 6pm to 1030pm
 $50++ Adult, $28++ Child

Seafood and BBQ Buffet Dinner 
Friday, Saturday and eve of Public Holidays from 6pm to 1030pm 
$62++ Adult, $32++ Child

Café 2000 (M Hotel)

81 Anson Road, M Hotel

Singapore 079908

Tel: 6500 6112

Opening Hours: Daily from 630am to 11pm

View FoodieFC's Singapore Food Map in a larger map