Curry Cafe at Canberra Community Club (Sembawang)

Curry Cafe located at Canberra Community Club, a 10 minutes walk from Sembawang MRT station is a small humble family run cafe. If some of you have found the name familiar, its because they were previously located at the basement of The Central (Clark Quay).

Teh C Siew Dai $1 each

The Teh C Siew Dai was strong, fragrant, not bitter and not too sweet. Priced at $1 each, it was cheaper when compared to the likes of Breadtalk, Yakun or Killiney. The addition, it was wonderfully executed as a whole and came in a way bigger cup. 

Fried Chicken Wings $1.50 each

The Fried Chicken Wings ($1.50 each) was quite decent (though not a die die must try).

Fried Rice $3.50

Fried Rice $3.50

The Fried Rice $3.50 was fried with chicken hot dog, mixed beans, carrots, egg and spring onions. This dish was delicious. Although there was no wok-hei, it was tasty and had great consistency. Moreover, it was not oily. A simple dish which reminds me of home comfort food.

Curry Chicken $3.50 with French Loaf $0.50

We ordered the Curry Chicken $3.50 with French Loaf $0.50. I was impressed that the French Loaf was toasted prior to serving such that it was served warm and the exterior was crisp (the little things that matter).

Curry Chicken $3.50

One cannot not order the Curry Chicken $3.50 at Curry Cafe! After all, the Curry Chicken is their signature dish! The Curry Chicken hit all the right note in terms of taste. Fragrant, spicy and it was so delectable that we actually polish off all the curry. Terrific! The icing on the cake was that even the chicken was cooked perfectly - folk tender. The potatoes did not disappoint too (I suspect they had cooked the chicken in the curry and then take it out so that it was not overcooked. Likewise for the potatoes too). The Chicken Curry is one of the best I have tasted, they certainly did a good job blending all spices and chilli powder together and cooking this curry. This is a must try over at Curry Cafe! We liked it so much that we ordered another Curry Chicken to pack back home for dinner!

Curry Cafe is a hidden gem with lots of potential. The food was good and value for money. The downside is that its a small cafe with around 20 seats. We visited on Saturday during lunch hours and the cafe was full. Do note that it is self service. After ordering and making the payment. You can go back and take seat. However, you would need to collect the food from the counter once your food is ready (they will call you). I will be back for more! For those staying in the North, this is one place to consider to satisfy your makan / curry cravings.

Curry Cafe at Canberra Community Club (Sembawang) 
2 Sembawang Crescent
​#01-03 Canberra Community Club
Singapore 757632
Tel: 6966 0832 
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 9am - 9pm
                        Sat & Sun 8am - 8pm
                        Public Holiday 8am - 5pm
Website
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Good Morning Nanyang Cafe 早安南洋 (Sembawang) 2nd Post

*Edited on Aug 2013: Good Morning Nanyang Cafe at Sembawang Shopping Centre has closed*

It has been almost one and a half years since I came back to Good Morning Nanyang Cafe. Good Morning Nanyang Cafe has a similar business model to Toast Box, Killiney and Ya kun, specialising in breakfast sets such as kaya toast, coffee, tea and half-boiled eggs. In addition, they also ventured into serving Local Delights such as Laksa, Mee Siam, Egg Noodles and Mee Rebus. A smart move as they not only capture the breakfast crowd but also ensure that they capture the lunch and dinner crowd with these piping hot dishes. 

As usual we visited its branch at Sembawang Shopping Centre on Saturday at 9am in the morning. The cafe was full of customers. We had to wait a short while before we could get a table. Although Good Morning Nanyang Cafe was not big in terms of floor area, they had many tables and chairs position systematically in rows. Coupled with the fact that the turnover was fast, I noticed that most customers did not have to wait more than 5 minutes for a table. 

The process to order and collect orders are similiar to their competitors (i.e. Ya Kun, Toast Box). Customers will be required to proceed to the counter to queue and make their orders. After that they would be required to collect their drinks, half boiled eggs and a queue tag number. The queue tag number is used by the serving staff to identify the customers who have ordered toasts and/or local delights items (items that would require sometime to prepare). 

Good Morning Nanyang Cafe decoration is simple with a rustic feel.

The Toast Sets.

Local Delights.

I ordered Set C - Orange Ciabatta Toast which is priced at $5.20. I was served with two half-boiled eggs, Orange Ciabatta Toast and a cup of coffee or tea. 

2 Half-Boiled Eggs 

Ya Kun's half boiled eggs are still the best. They are always big and perfectly cooked. In this case, I felt that Good Morning Nanyang Cafe's version is slightly undercooked as some of the egg white were still transparent. Nevertheless, this was still quite well-executed and delicious. I have encountered much worse off half boiled eggs. The main issue I have with Good Morning Nanyang Cafe's eggs were that I wish the staff would crack the eggs for us like Ya Kun instead of requiring customers to do it themselves. 

Orange Ciabatta Toast

Orange Ciabatta Toast

The Orange Ciabatta Toast was the highlight. This was the reason why we came back to Good Morning Nanyang Cafe.

Ciabatta is an Italian white bread made from yeast and flour, normally elongated in shape. In this case, it was flat and baked into a square shape. In addition, as it's name suggested, it was infused with orange flavour which is likely from to have come from orange peel. The Orange Ciabatta Toast was served with butter and kaya spread sandwiching two pieces of toast. The kaya is freshly made daily. It had a more aromatic compared to Ya Kun's with more coconut flavour. Shiok! This is a must try when you are at Good Morning Nanyang Cafe.

Coffee

The coffee was much better than the tea I had during my previous visit. In addition, it was aromatic.

If you are interested to read about my review on their Laksa and Mee Rebus, you may click here for my previous post.

I would strongly recommend Good Morning Nanyang Cafe's Orange Ciabatta Toast. It will be an entirely different foodie experience compared to Ya Kun's toast. 

Sembawang Shopping Centre Shuttle Bus 

Sembawang Shopping Centre Management has recently changed the free Sembawang Shopping Centre Shuttle Bus Service routes (effective date - 18 Feb 2013). Quite sad to note that the shuttle bus no longer ply the route near my house. It is now less convenient for my family and I to visit the shopping mall. Used to visit patronise Giant, Gong Cha, Daiso, Popular and of course Good Morning Nanyang Cafe quite often. With the change, I am unlikely to visit the shopping mall anytime soon. After all, I have another shopping mall 10 minutes walk away. I wish that the management will revert to the original bus route. But well, that's very unlikely..

Good Morning Nanyang Cafe 早安南洋 (Sembawang)
604 Sembawang Road
#01-01 Sembawang Shopping Centre
Tel: 8133 1882
Opening Hours: Mon–Fri 9am – 9pm
Sat–Sun & PH  8.30am – 9pm
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Good Morning Nanyang Cafe 早安南洋 ( Hong Lim Green Community Centre)

20, Upper Pickering Street Singapore

Tel: 8133 1882

Opening Hours: Mon–Fri 730am – 730pm 

                          Sat, Sun & PH 830am – 530pm

Good Morning Nanyang Cafe 早安南洋 (Turf City)
200 Turf Club Road
The Grandstand #01-34A
Tel: 8133 1882
Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 9pm

White Cake 白饼 at Gin Thye Cake Maker (Sembawang)

Gin Thye Cake Maker 锦泰西果饼家 is a traditional cake shop chain operating since 1964. The shop specialises in traditional cakes, wedding cakes, pastries, fruit cakes and mini-cakes for occasion such as wedding, baby showers, baby full month or even an elder birthday. I have even ordered from them before a big longevity bun with many smaller longevity buns in it for someone's birthday.

Moreover, when you are here, you are likely to see many parents along with their child coming here to make queries on the tradition items, cakes and pastries required for Guo Da Li 过大礼. (Guo Da Li 过大礼 aka Betrothal Gift Exchange is the day when the groom delivers the betrothal gifts to the bride's family.) In addition, seek advise from the staff on the procedures, what to do and what not to do. Seems to me they are more than a traditional bakery shop as they even sell betrothal gifts such as wedding lamps, tea pots, towels and many more of such items. They are just like the Chinese Wedding Shop in Ang Mo Kio, Jubilee. 

Back to the actual topic. When I was at the shop, I chanced upon something which I have been looking for a long time! I frequently ate it when I was young and tried finding it recently at our 'modern' bakery shops at shopping malls. But of course I did not find it. I was so glad to see it on the display along with other traditional items when I was at Gin Thye Cake Maker 锦泰西果饼家. YEAH! 

This is what I was looking for! Have you eaten this before?

It's called White cake 白饼 also known as Kong So Paeng 江苏饼. After looking for this for so long, I can come to the conclusion that very very few places now make and sell this! (If you know where else I can get this, do let me know. Thanks.) Nothing fanciful about the White Cake 白饼. It looks so simple, so ordinary and so dull. Yet to me it was so good! Nostalgic! 

White Cake 白饼 

There were 5 pieces of White Cakes 白饼, stack on top of one another in a bag. Each bag cost $2. I polished 2 pieces off immediately! 

White Cake 白饼 

The White Cake 白饼 is a white round flat sponge cake with flour powder sprinkled generously on the outside. It is soft and fluffy with a hint of sweet fragrance. No doubt my favourite traditional cake! 

Hopefully, Gin Thye Cake Maker 锦泰西果饼家 will continue making this for a long time! Now that I have found this, I can continue my White Cake 白饼 nostalgic 'gourmet' experience! 

Have you tried this before?

Gin Thye Cake Maker (Sembawang)

423 Sembawang Road

Tel: 6257 1566

Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 8am - 8pm

                        Sun 8am - 2pm

Website

Location

Gin Thye Cake Maker (Bishan)
Blk 513 Bishan Street 13 #01-504
Tel: 6255 6362

Gin Thye Cake Maker (Bukit Batok)

Blk 152 Bukit Batok Street 11 #01-264

Tel: 6899 6929

For other outlets please refer to their website

Gin Thye Cake Maker (Bukit Panjang)

Blk 260 Bangkit Road #01-21

Tel: 6760 1183

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Sembawang White Beehoon (Sembawang 白米粉) 3rd Post

Another visit to Sembawang White Beehoon at You Huak Restaurant along Jalan Tampang

Source: Sembawang White Beehoon Facebook Profile Picture)

Arriving at 12pm on a Tuesday afternoon, I was surprised that the restaurant was full. No empty tables. Luckily the queue was relatively short and we got a seat within minutes; sharing a table. Despite it's ulu location, people still make the effort to come here to satisfy their craving (bee hoon). Speaks volume of the food here.

Menu

Glad to know that there has not even any (upwards) revision in prices.

Lime Juice

Sambal Chilli

The Sambal Chilli which complements the Seafood White Beehoon perfectly with its spiciness and belacan flavour. They really should start selling this. 

Seafood White Beehoon $4

The signature Seafood White Beehoon that everyone orders. The must order over here. Bee Hoon simmered till soft in the gravy absorbing all its essence. A simple heart warming dish that is likely flavoured yet tasty enough for your to keep asking for more. Delish!

Indo-Style Fried Chicken Wing $6

The Indo-Style Fried Chicken Wing was average; nothing to shout about. Not meaty, a tad too dry and normal marination. The only positive comment I can give was that it was served hot and not oily. $6 for 3 pieces of Chicken Wings, well, I am definitely not impressed. There are cheaper ones elsewhere that are cheaper.

Judging from the queues on several attempts to patronise Sembawang White Beehoon on a weekend and this recent visit where there was a full house on a weekday lunch. There is no doubt that Sembawang White Beehoon has built up quite a reputation. And they truely deserve it. The White Beehoon here is simple yet delicious; a must try. Amazing. Let's hope the standard does not drop and they continue to serve such food. In the meantime, I am definitely still patronising Sembawang White Beehoon.

Sembawang Shuttle Bus Schedule

There is free shuttle bus service to Sembawang Shopping Centre extending into the Sembawang, Yishun and Woodlands residential areas, and even to Yishun and Sembawang MRT stations. The bus frequency is quite fast and operating hours are stated in the flyer above. From Sembawang Shopping Centre, the Sembawang White Beehoon is just a stone throw away. 

Sembawang White Beehoon (Sembawang 白米粉)
You Huak Restaurant
22 Jalan Tampang (opposite Sembawang Shopping Centre)
Tel: 9843 4699
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 11pm (Closed on Wednesday)
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Sawadee Thai Cuisine (Sembawang Road)

Sawadee Thai Cuisine is located along Jalan Legundi (opposite Sembawang Shopping Centre). In fact, it is just opposite Sembawang White Bee Hoon and next to Sum's Kitchen & Hong Kong Roasted Meat.

Pictures of celebrities and their latest promotion - Thai Style Steam Fish at $13.80 Nett (usual price $25). 

Quite and homely ambience.

Menu (a)

Menu (b)

Menu (c)

Sawadee Thai Cuisine Menu along with prices.

As there were not a lot of customers, we were served our food within 10 minutes of ordering.

Hot & Spicy Seafood Soup (Tom Yam Talay) $8

The Hot & Spicy Seafood Soup (Tom Yam Talay) was served in a claypot.

Hot & Spicy Seafood Soup (Tom Yum Talay) $8

The waitress served the Tom Yam Soup into small bowls. Nice gesture of good customer service.

The soup was clear, slightly cloudy and did not look spicy. It was not fiery red in colour nor was there any chilli oil. But upon tasting it, it was indeed spicy and sour with lemon-grass and galangal fragrant. Ingredients include prawns, fish and mushrooms. The prawns were firm and fresh! 

Pineapple Rice (Khao Ob Sup Pa Rot) $8

When this dish arrived, I was not convinced that it was the Pineapple Rice I ordered as it was different from the picture displayed in the menu. Had to ask the waitress twice to confirmed that it was Pineapple Rice. 

The Pineapple Rice (Khao Ob Sup Pa Rot) was fried with eggs and diced pineapples. After which, it was served with Pork Floss and Prawns. Prawns were again very fresh; bright pink and firm meat. There were very few pieces of diced pineapples, as a result the pineapple flavour was lacking. Despite that, I like this dish. It was well fried! It should be renamed fried rice =)

Rice Noodle Fried Thai Style with Seafood (Kuay Teow Phad Thai) $10

This is actually Phad Thai, Thai version of fried kway teow. It was fried with egg, bean sprouts, dried tuakwa and prawns. It was served with chilli powder, grounded peanut bits and lime. Tasty and fragrant dish. I suspect that they used salted fish and preserved vegetables as their ingredients too.

Pandan Chicken (Kai Hor Bai Toey) $7.50

After having tried the Pandan Chicken at Ah Loy Thai, I was determined to order it over here.

The Pandan Chicken cost $2.50 each. Sawadee's version had its chicken mixed with corn and spices wrapped in pandan leaves and deep fried. I was disappointed as it was not as tasty as I hope. The chicken was not well marinated and the pandan flavour was not infused in the chicken. '

Overall, Sawadee Thai Cuisine serves quite good Thai Cuisine items. Moreover, the items are quite affordable (other than pandan chicken). In terms of ambience, it is quiet and cozy. Suitable for gatherings when one has craving for Thai food.

*Edited on Apr 2014*
Sawadee Thai Cuisine (Bugis)
9, Tan Quee Lan Street #01-01
Singapore 188098
Tel: 6238 6833
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 230pm 
                                  6pm to 1030pm

Sawadee Thai Cuisine (Sembawang Road)
5 Jalan Legundi (opposite Sembawang Shopping Centre)
Tel: 6756 2369
Opening Hours: Daily 1130am to 230pm
                                  530pm to 10pm

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Sembawang White Beehoon (Sembawang 白米粉) 2nd Post

Sembawang White Beehoon 白米粉 will need no introduction among foodies in the north. This eatery is very popular and there will be long queues formed during meal times especially during the weekends. The Sembawang White Beehoon 白米粉 is located at You Huak Restaurant along Jalan Tampang, opposite Sembawang Shopping Centre. Its signature dish is as its name suggest is White Beehoon.

We were quite lucky as we arrived at around 715pm on a Thursday night for our dinner. Why lucky? Well, there was no queue and several empty tables. After we sat down for about 15 minutes, the crowd arrived and a queue started forming outside. 

Menu

For close up of the menu, you can refer to my first post. 

Sambal Chilli

The Sambal Chilli was great! Very spicy, fragrant with belacan flavour. Very addictive and goes well with the White Bee Hoon.

Seafood White Beehoon

Their signature Seafood White Beehoon. Looks plain and boring. But give it a try, you will never know what you are missing! Generous serving of pawns, squid, vegetables, egg and beehoon. The beehoon was simmered till soft and has absorbed the essence of the thick, white gravy (broth). The gravy was lightly flavoured yet tasty. A simple dish, made of simple ingredients but when cooked properly, it is so amazingly delicious! A very heart warming dish which is a must order here. Delicious on its own. But if you want a spicy kick to this dish, add the sambal chilli! Furthermore, looks healthy too! (ignore the squid and prawns, think of the other aspect - not oily!)

Meat and Seafood Roll (Ngoh Hiang)

The Meat and Seafood Roll (Ngoh Hiang) also known as Prawn Roll which was recommended by many online.. was well just average. Taste normal and I am sure you can find this standard of Ngor Hiang at many other eateries. 

Bittergourd Omelette (Wet) 

Another dish which I always order is the Bittergourd Omelette (wet version). The bittergourds were sliced thinly and simmered till soft. The eggs were cooked quickly such that they were still soft. A very simple nice dish that suits me particularly well as I like bittergourd. 

Sambal La La

The Sambal La La sauce was slightly spicy. It was quite well fried, each piece of lala was well coated with the sambal sauce. Nothing special, average dish. 

Baby Kai Lan

Baby Kai Lan fried in oyster sauce with slices of carrot and mushroom. An average dish; tasty and crunchy vegetables.

Lime Juice

Drinks are charged separately as they are different entities.

The dish that is a must order at Sembawang White Beehoon is of course the Seafood White Beehoon. The other dish worth ordering is the Bittergourd Omelette and Stir Fry Fish Head. I can't help but emphasis that the Seafood White Beehoon is similar to a home-cook dish; simple and heart warming. In terms of prices, its not expensive too. Worth coming down for a try as it is hard to find such quality food at such prices now. Now, I find it harder to patronise the eatery. Main reason is because of the ridiculously long queues. 

Sembawang Shuttle Bus Schedule

There is free shuttle bus service to Sembawang Shopping Centre extending into the Sembawang, Yishun and Woodlands residential areas.  The bus frequency is quite fast and operating hours are stated in the flyer above.

Sembawang White Beehoon (Sembawang 白米粉) 2nd Post
You Huak Restaurant
22 Jalan Tampang (opposite Sembawang Shopping Centre)
Tel: 9843 4699
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 11pm (Closed on Wednesday)
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