The Naked Fish Shoppe (Yio Chu Kang)

I have recently purchase a Groupon deal that allows me to buy $30 worth of food from The Naked Fish Shoppe for just $15. I have been there several years ago and recall that the food was not bad. Hence, I purchased the voucher. If you are keen to find out more about this deal, you can click here. (but do note that the deal is over)

The Naked Fish Shoppe is a western style fish casual restaurant serving many types of fish cuisines cooked in different styles. Besides that, they also serve other type of western cuisines such as Oxtail Stew, chicken and steaks combos. This place is also halal certified!

The Naked Fish Shoppe is located right smack in the heartland at level 1 of The Grassroot's Club, 5 minutes away from the Yio Chu Kang MRT station. It is fairly easy to walk over from the station to the club. In addition, its a shelter walkway. 

Brightly lit with a fish theme, the walls were bright blue in colour. A cozy environment

The table although small was nicely decorated with real orchid. What a nice gesture. However, the chair was very uncomfortable especially if one was to lean back. 

We wanted to order the Austrailan Flounder and Australian Barramundi Fillet as this was after all a place that specialises in fish. However, both these fishes were not available that day. As such we had to change our orders to Baked Crayfish Thermidor & Fish, Mediterranean Seafood Platter (For One Person) and a bowl of New England Clam Chowder Soup.

Salad

The Mediterranean Seafood Platter was served with a bowl of salad. The vegetables and tomatoes were fresh. However, they were too generous with the sauce. 

New England Clam Chowder Soup $4

The New England Clam Chowder Soup was served with a piece of Garlic Bread. The Garlic Bread was cold and hard. 

New England Clam Chowder Soup $4

New England Clam Chowder Soup $4

The New England Clam Chowder Soup was not any better. It had a sour after-taste and certainly lack any flavour/essence of clam(s). There were no clams in the soup, only small pieces of potatoes and carrots. What a let down.

Baked Crayfish Thermidor & Fish $17.50

The Baked Crayfish Thermidor & Fish was served with Tartar sauce. Crayfish Thermidor consisted of a creamy mixture of crayfish meat, carrots, mushrooms, onions egg yolk and cheese stuffed into the crayfish shell which will then be baked. The amount of crayfish meat given was pathetic. This dish was saved by the fish which was fresh and complemented well with the tartar sauce.  

Mediterranean Seafood Platter (For One Person $16.80)

After shifting the fries to another plate

The Mediterranean Seafood Platter consisted of a combination of Prawn, Mussel, Calamari, Capelin, White Bait and Fish Finger Baked with Cheese. In addition, French Fries was added on top while Garlic Butter Rice was at the bottom. It was also served with a bowl of salad (as shown earlier).

As I ordered this dish, I could not help but notice the similarity between Manhattan Fish Market's and this. Manhattan Fish Market's version was certainly better (tastier, fresher). For The Naked Fish Shoppe's version, its prawn were not fresh (meat stuck to the shells) and the fries were hard. The Capelin was fishy, Calamari was overcook and the Garlic Butter Rice was not fragrant enough (tasted like plain rice). Need I say more?

Overall, this was a very disappointing meal. I had expected much better food. Even though I had purchased the Groupon voucher, I still had to top up $14.15 on top of the $15 I had paid for the voucher. (total bill amount was $44.15) I would have been better off visiting Manhattan Fish Market. 

The Naked Fish Shoppe (Yio Chu Kang)

The Grassroots' Club

190 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, #01-02

Tel: 6457 8223

Website

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Location

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Yilmaz Western (Ang Mo Kio) - CLOSED

Edited: Closed. If you know where the owner has setup his shop can you pl let me know via foodiefc@gmail.com. 

Yilmaz Western is a stall specialising in western cuisine located in Coffee City Coffee Shop at Ang Mo Kio Ave 6. Normally, when I am in the area, I would order herbal soup from Xu Yang Tonic Soup. However, during my last visit, Yilmaz Western caught my attention.

Yilmaz Western serves some of its western dishes on hotplates (not every western stall in a coffee shop does that). On that specific occasion as I was enjoying my herbal soup, I heard a loud sizzling sound. Turning around, I saw a man carrying the sizzling hotplate with ingredients piled high up to a customer on the table next to me. Well, from that point in time, I knew that I had to try this the next time I am in the area. 

Yilmaz Western is essentially a 'one man show' (quoting the owner). Everything; from taking orders, marinating, preparing, defrosting, cooking, serving and collecting payment are all done by the owner himself (how does he cope? I am equally puzzled!). I ordered the Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop and was expecting to wait for a long time as it was peak period. To my surprised I just waited less than 15 minutes. An amazing feat considering that there were a few other customers in front of me.

Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop $6

The Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop was served sizzling hot! I had to wait a few seconds for the sizzling and smoke to lessen before taking the photos. The grilled chicken chop was stacked on top of a whole lot of fries, with mashed potato and steamed vegetables (broccoli, cherry tomato and corn) at the side. With the exception of the steamed vegetables, the ingredients were all drenched in a special sauce. 

Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop $6

A very generous amount of ingredients were given in addition, 3 sides were served; vegetable, mashed potato and fries. Mind you, its not bake beans, not coleslaw! Take a look at how much fries was given and how thick a cut the chicken chop was. The mashed potato was basically hidden behind these.

The sauce made a big difference. The more I dig into it, the more I love it. It seemed to be a kind of fusion of BBQ and Mushroom Sauce with herbal fragrant. Not too sweet, not too salty, the sauce was perfect; incredibly tasty and addictive.

As for the grilled chicken chop, it was well-marinated and had lots of pepper corns spread over it. With the sauce, it provided a refreshing flavour to the tender chicken chop unlike the norm; black pepper/mushroom sauce.

The fries were hard and seems to have been fried a second time (for those not covered in the sauce). But for the fries that were drenched in the sauce, there was a difference in texture. Crispy yet soft, tasty experience. (do give the fries at the bottom some 'stirring' as the hotplate might cause some of the fries to be charred) The mashed potato was normal, but again with the sauce, complemented it perfectly.

Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop $6

I like the fact that the the vegetables were steamed and were very fresh. Moreover serving corn, cherry tomato and broccoli was unique. A nice change from what other western stall normal gives; coleslaw.

Overall, I was very impressed by this one man show! Fresh vegetables, well-marinated meat, generous serving and incredible sauce! The sauce stole the show. You will either love or hate it as the sauce is spread over all the ingredients. In addition, it is so value for money. Highly recommended. You won't know what you are missing till you give this a try!

Yilmaz Western is a hidden gem. Watch this stall, it has great potential to be the best western stall! I hope that this one man show can survive as it is no mean feat managing one stall alone. Can't wait to try it again!

*Edited: Went a second time on a Friday evening for dinner. This time waited for nearly half an hour as he had high volume of orders. Food-wise, it was still as good! 

Yilmaz Western (Ang Mo Kio)

Blk 728 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6

Coffee City Coffee Shop

Tel: 9144 8248

Opening Hours: Daily 1230pm to 1030pm
Location

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Broadway Claypot Rice 百乐匯砂煲饭 (Ang Mo Kio)

Broadway Claypot Rice 百乐匯砂煲饭  has more than 30 years of history and as it's name suggest, it specialises in dishing out claypot rice. It is located at Coffee City, the same coffee shop as the Xu Yan Tonic Soup that sells great herbal soup.

Coffee City

Broadway Claypot Rice 百乐匯砂煲饭 

If you are observant, you will notice that although the sign says 'Claypot Rice', most of the items on the signboard are pig organ soup and bak kut teh.

As mentioned earlier, Broadway Claypot Rice over the years has built up its name by serving claypot chicken rice. But not just any normal claypot chicken rice. Customers have the choice of asking for the 'normal chicken' or 'kampong chicken'. And of course the kampong chicken claypot rice will cost more.

The prices of the 'normal chicken' and 'kampong chicken' claypot rice are at the bottom of this picture. As there was two of us, we ordered the Claypot Chicken Rice (normal chicken) for 2 person at $13. There has been an increase of price by $1 after this coffee shop was renovated. Takes about 20 minutes for it to be served after ordering.

Claypot Chicken Rice (normal chicken) $13.00

Do be careful not to touch the claypot as it is sizzling hot and steaming. Look at the smoke 'emitting' out.

Looks quite big and wide, but the claypot bowl is very shallow.

Here's how it looks like after stirring and mixing all the rice and ingredients. I have eaten the claypot rice at this stall before. This time I can't help but comment that it looks different. Way too much dark sauce was added.. and I was right. It was quite salty... and I was disappointed. Standard has dropped. This time the amount of dark sauce has masked the fragrant of the other ingredients except for the salted fish. Other ingredients include chinese sausage and spring onions.

The good news is that there are lots of charred rice at the bottom of the claypot (to the disapproval of the partner). Crispy and crunchy.

Wonder if standard has really dropped or if it was a one off incident.

Broadway Claypot Rice 百乐匯砂煲饭
Blk 728 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6
Coffee City #01-4200
Tel: 9639 2589, 9369 0902
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm to 11pm

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Jack's Place (Ang Mo Kio)

I have been patronising Jack's Place for a long time. Jack's Place is started by a Chinese from Hainan who learnt how to cook by joining the British Army as a cookboy. Used to visit its first outlet at Sembawang, called Cola Restaurant. Today, it has evolved to include several concept restaurants such as Eatzi Gourmet, Seafood Harvest, Brewbaker's, Hoshigaoka and Jack's Place under the JP Pepperdine Group.

Jack's Place currently has 15 restaurants in Singapore and specialises in western cuisine such as steaks. Visited its outlet at Ang Mo Kio on a weekend lunch.

Entrance

Interior

Signature white and green checkered table cloth.

Menu

Daily Set Lunch Menu

I always come to Jack's Place during lunch to savour the Set Lunch which is valid daily from 11am to 230pm.  My favourites are both from the Executive Set Lunch; N.Z. Ribeye Steak with Brown Sauce ($16) and N.Z. T-Bone Steak with Brown Sauce ($22.50). The Executive Set Lunch comes along with Garlic Bread, Soup of the Day, Day's Dessert and Coffee / Tea.

I ordered the N.Z. Ribeye Steak with Brown Sauce.

Appetisers Menu

We also ordered the Mushrooms with Slipper Lobster & Crab Meat ($9.50).

Garlic Bread

Broccoli & Leek Soup with Crab Meat

The Soup of the Day was Broccoli & Leek Soup with Crab Meat! Generous portion of crab meat given. Delicious!

Mushrooms with Slipper Lobster & Crab Meat $9.50

Presenting the Mushrooms with Slipper Lobster & Crab Meat. Each piece of button mushroom was stuffed with a blend of slipper lobster and crabmeat, topped with cheese before baking. It was baked perfectly with melted cheese on top and at the bottom adding to the flavour. I wish that they were more generous with the slipper lobster and crabmeat. Be careful not to scald yourself as the metal parts are hot! 

Executive Set Lunch: N.Z. Ribeye Steak with Brown Sauce $16

The steak arrives on a sizzling hotplate along side with carrots, green beans, onions and baked potato. The brown sauce on top complement the steak well. I love the brown sauce! Customers can request for more brown sauce if required. Anyone knows how I can make the brown sauce?

The baked potato deserves a mention too. It was well baked, not dry not powdery. Topped with Sour Cream Sauce, Bacon bits and Spring Onions, it was yummy!

Day's Dessert and Coffee & Tea

A satisfied meal at Jack's Place. That is why I have been patronising this chain of restaurant all these years. Steak at affordable prices. In addition, service was good.

Jack's Place (Ang Mo Kio)
Blk 730 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6
#01-4274 (Between Ang Mo Kio Library and Courts)
Tel: 64549677
Opening Hours: Daily 11am - 1030pm
Website 
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Xu Yang Tonic Soup 旭阳敦品 (Ang Mo Kio)

Xu Yang Tonic Soup 旭阳敦品

Xu Yang Tonic Soup 旭阳敦品 has been serving herbal soup for the last 30 years since the 1980s. They have received several recognition from food shows, newspapers and magazines.

This stall is located in Coffee City at Ang Mo Kio Ave 6. This is within Ang Mo Kio Central, just 10 minutes walk from Ang Mo Kio MRT Station.

I have been patronising Xu Yang Tonic Soup 旭阳敦品 since young, upper primary in fact. As far as I can recall, this stall is very famous. Most people who visit this coffee shop patronise this stall. Some people of my age hates herbal soup (especially the smell). The very first time I tried herbal soup was at this stall. After some many years, I still come back specially for this and noticed that the owners still look the same, so young! (should be the herbal soup!)

Menu (a)

Menu (b)

Over 16 varieties of soup to choose from! Oh yes, patrons who frequent this stall will notice that they have a new look now. The coffee shop was renovated recently in October 2011. As expected, there was a price increase.

'Tian Qi' Black Chicken $6.00

I always order the 'Tian Qi' Black Chicken every time I come here, with the exception of ordering the Herbal Turtle and 'Chong Cao' Herbal Black Chicken once or twice. I did not stop ordering them because they were lousy, but the reason was more that I like the 'Tian Qi' Black Chicken too much.

More herbals and chicken hidden below. Lucky me, I got the bowl with chicken leg! The black chicken is tender and tasty even though it has most likely been steamed for a long period of time. Moreover, the taste of herbals has sipped into the chicken. The soup is concentrated with herbals and is not salty. Nor is it diluted. No Salt, No MSG!

Over the years, I have noticed that the amount of herbals and black chicken being given has decreased. Despite this, this is still one of the best herbal stall. Most other herbal stall elsewhere serve worse herbal soup that seems to be added with salt.

Ginseng Frog $8.00 with Plain Rice $0.50 

 $8.00 

Had craving for frog legs, hence ordered the Gingseng Frog Soup. Generous portions of frog meat was given. Not too bad, but I would have prefer Frog Legs to be cooked with spring onion and ginger or dried chilli to give more flavour and fragrant to the frog meat.

Overall, I still find this stall provides soups that are quite value for money despite the increase in price. Hopefully, the standard does not deteriorate. I will definitely be back and I have no idea why I am interested in trying the Herbal Turtle Soup as I am typing this.

Xu Yang Tonic Soup 旭阳敦品 (Ang Mo Kio)
Blk 450 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10
#01-1747, S-11 (AMK 450) Food House
Singapore 560450
Blk 728 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6
Coffee City #01-4200
Tel: 9144 8248
Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 11am - 930pm
                          Closed on Sun
Website

Yong Heng Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle 永兴炒福建虾面 (Ang Mo Kio)

Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodles needs no introduction among Singaporeans. In almost every food court, coffeeshops and hawker centres, there is likely to be a stall selling this popular dish.

Yong Heng Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle is located at the hawker centre in Ang Mo Kio Central.

Look at the testimonials from newspapers and magazine displayed at the bottom of the signboard.

The Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle comes in $3/$4/$6 for dine in. For take away in Opeh leave, it comes in $4/$5/$6.

There was a queue of around 5 people. Hence while I was waiting for my prawn noodles, I took pictures of the chef whipping up the dish.

I am surprised that the man in the kitchen is so young. Not an easy job. To whip up a good Hokkien Prawn Noodle, the control of the heat and timing is essential.

Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle $4

The Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle has been cooked till the soup nearly dried up. The soup was flavourful, rich with pork and prawn flavours. In this dish besides the noodles, there was squids, pork belly slices and very fresh prawns. The ingredients and the noodles were cooked perfectly, and have absorded the flavour of the fragrant soup.

Overall, this dish of Fried Hokkien is quite decent, one of the better ones around.

Yong Heng Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle 永兴炒福建虾面 (Ang Mo Kio)
Blk 724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6
Ang Mo Kio Food Centre #01-38
Opening Hours: Daily 7am - 930pm

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Tip Top Curry Puff (2nd post)

My 2nd post! The first post can be found here. Tip top is my favourite curry puff. In fact, I rate it still as the best curry puff in Singapore. Used to eat Old Chang Kee’s curry puffs long ago. But in the past 2 years, Old Chang Kee’s curry puff lost its appeal to me. Seems to taste as though it was factory made, not made individually. Oh yes, did I mention that they were praised by PM Lee before and after that charged for under-declaring profit before. You can read more about this here.

The coffee shop has undergone a renovation. And tiptop has changed its outlook too. The sign board looks weird, maybe because I am too use to the old one. The whole place looks so white and bright. I prefer their old humble outlook.

The price of Tip Top Curry Puff has increased to $1.30 that is the same price as Old Chang Kee’s curry puff. But well, let see if its still as nice.

Tip Top Curry Puff $1.30

It seems that the curry puff has shrink sightly. When cost increase, the size and portion should remain the same and not smaller..  But well, the taste of it is still as delicious. Will not go into the details as I have already wrote about it in my first post. Still as good, still the best curry puff in Singapore. But please, if you increase the price, do not decrease the size.

Tip Top Curry Puff
Hiap Hua kopitiam(Right behind Jubilee)

Blk 722 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 #01-2843

Opening Hours: Daily 9.30am to 9.30pm
Website

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Tip Top The Puff Factory (Plaza Singapura) 
68 Orchard Road

#B2-02 Plaza Singapura

Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 10 pm

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