Showing posts with label Ramen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ramen. Show all posts

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Yishun Park Hawker Centre - A Modernized Concept Food Centre


  • Operating Hours: 6 AM - 10 PM
  • Operating Days: Daily
  • Address: 51 Yishun Avenue 11, S 768867
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  • Yishun Park Hawker Centre is the latest hawker centre which comprises of a three-storey complex managed by Timbre Group, located at the junction of Yishun Ring Road and Yishun Avenue 11.
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    Above the hawker centre are two level of parking space. Do take note that they do not have free parking on Sundays and public holidays.
    They have even pinball machines just beside the drinks shop, at $1 per game.

    You can top-up using cash to your the Tuck Shop app account via the machines located at the center of the Hawker Centre. The only way of topping-up is by cash at the moment (which kind of defeat the purpose of going cashless).
    You can choose to scan the QR code on the Tuck Shop app to pay for your purchases, or you can also use the traditional way via cash. When you purchase food at Yishun Park Hawker Centre, you will have to put an extra $1 deposit for the food tray. The deposit will be returned when diners leave their trays at the return station. The purpose of this is to encourage diners to clear their own table by returning the trays for the next diner to use the table.
    By using app credit, you will enjoy 10% off food purchases within Yishun Park Hawker Centre.

    Enough of all the administrative information, let's get the food!

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    Ajisai Japanese Ramen (#01-42)
    Operating Hours: 10 AM - 9 PM
    Operating Days: Daily

    Opened by real Japanese chef, Saito Hiroki, who is 74 this year.
    The decoration of their menu looks like you are at an authentic stall in Japan, and what's more attractive is their ramen priced as low as $3.50. 
    Their signature dish is the Pork Chashu Ramen ($3.50) as recommended by the owner, look at all the items that were sold out just in the afternoon.

    It looked very simple, the broth was made up with the combination of pork and chicken bone. As for the tastewise, for the price, there was a hint taste of the Japanese ramen, but do not expect the standard to be like anything near the usual restaurant style. Well, at least they are not using Maggi mee to cook it. 

    Laying on top of the noodles was a slice of pork char siew with alternating layers of fat and meat. The meat was tasteful, but the texture was similar to any other pork, however, a bit overcooked and not that tender.

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    Hua Hua Cooking & Eating 花花 (#01-41)
    Operating Hours: 6 AM - 10 PM

    Operating Days: Daily

    The Hokkien Mee and Char Kway Teow stall is opened by a Vietnamese living in Singapore since 2005. And she speaks very fluent Mandarin!
    I was attracted by some patrons who order her Char Kway Teow, so I went ahead to order it as well. This stall is located just beside the Ajisai Japanese stall.
    Unlike other hawkers who fry up their noodles ahead in big batches, they cook each plate individually.
    The taste of their Char Kway Teow is undoubtedly different from most of the other Char Kway Teow I've tasted. From the first bite, I can taste Fish sauce, and they are very generous with the amount of fish cake, cockle and dark sauce used. All the ingredients were also very fresh!
    I would personally recommend you to try this stall.

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    Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang (#01-33)
    Operating Hours: 7.30 AM - 8.30 PM
    Operating Days: Closed on Mondays

    It is a halal stall where Rice is served with Indonesian-style grilled chicken opened by a couple. Some interesting fact is that they have worked as Cabin Crew at the same airline before this, and that makes me wonder why they have decided to venture into the food industry.
    This stall offered their signature dish, a fusion of Malay and Indonesian dish name Ayam Taliwang, where the chicken thigh is marinated before being grilled.
    This stall has constant queue which we didn't want to miss out as well.
    You get to choose to have either sweet chili or spicy chili. The sweet chili was well-balanced, not very spicy, the spicy chili which was very good and additively spiky to my tongue.
    Coconut fragrant rice, fried chicken, egg, tempeh, peanuts and ikan bilis - all on the plate. Although all the items are pretty standard, I enjoyed the coconut fragrance that the rice carries and their marinated chicken thigh, which is marinated before being grilled. One of the dishes not to miss when you are in this hawker centre.

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    Ah Tan Wings Har Cheong Gai & Chicken Wings (#01-40)
    Operating Hours: 11 AM - 1 PM & 6 PM - 9 PM
    Operating Days: Closed on Wednesdays

    This stall has the longest queue I've seen so far in this hawker centre. It was operated by a pair of brother and sister aged 28 and 25 years old respectively. They are indeed the young hawkers of the new generation! They mainly serve prawn paste chicken, and Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) as the selling items on their menu.
    They are open only at 6 PM, however, when we were there at 7 PM the queue was very long! 
    When it was my turn, I saw that the shrimp paste wings, Okonomiyaki were all sold out! So we were left with Atas Har Cheong Gai cutlet.
    The cutlet was made up with 2 pieces of fried prawn paste chicken, with shaker fries and salad.
    The fries and salad were good, but what  amazed us was the cutlet! Their cutlet was very crispy with every cut, just cutting it can be a satisfaction to one. The meat was tender and really have full taste of the prawn paste! Each bite was a pleasure to my tongue!
    While their Atas cutlet is priced at $7, it is worth it for the taste and texture. I will definitely come back for their Okonomiyaki and their shrimp paste chicken wing alongside with the cutlet.
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    Tuck Shop
    Operating Hours: 6 AM - 10 PM
    Operating Days: Daily

    The Hawker Centre’s only drink stall. It is actually a combination of a self-service retail store and gastro bar! Not only they sell kopi and toasts, they also offer cappuccinos, lattes and even beer!

    Most of items were self service, including ice.

    They even have beer on tap counter!

    So once you have ordered everything, you will have many trays on your table. You cannot give your tray to cleaners to clear up as they will cost you $1. You will need to return the trays to the return counter for your $1. Now, they only have 1 tray return location near the entrance, which you might need to walk a distance to return the trays if you are seated at the far end of the hawker centre. You are only able to put 1 tray at a time at their tray return counter, else they might recognize it as just 1 tray and return you just a dollar. During peak hours, what we've encountered was the "Tray Jam", as we have to queue just to return our trays. At the end of the day, I have 6 $1 coins back into my pocket. 

    All in all, Yishun Park Hawker Centre is a modernized hawker centre trying out a cashless concept. However, we felt that they have still defeat the purpose of going cashless as you will still need to use your cash to top up for the credits. You will also end up having many coins with you when you leave the place from all the tray returns. 

    As all the hype of this new hawker centre right now, crowd will definitely be expected. Do try to avoid visiting during weekend dinner time.

    Monday, July 31, 2017

    Wok Hey! - The flaunting Wok Hei skill in shopping mall

    Wok Hey, which pronounced same as “Wok Hei”, mean 锅气, directly translates as the gas of the wok. And now you could catch a glimpse of the how zi char stall operate!
    Fried rice ramen udon Shanghai egg best top up
    Located in the basement of Bugis Junction, it is not difficult to miss the stall from its huge yellow signboard, if you come by train once you come up from the escalator, it's the first stall right in front of your sight.
    Fried rice ramen udon Shanghai egg best top up
    "Pictures are for illustration purposes only" the pictures shown on the board might look too little but the portion is actually pretty big, enough to totally fill up my hungry stomach!

    There are four items to choose from, egg fried rice, Shanghai fried rice, udon, and ramen.
    Fried rice ramen udon Shanghai egg best top up
    Additional toppings are also available at $1 top-up.
    There's a big range of toppings available including Sous Vide Egg, Thai Asparagus, Brussel Sprouts, Tobiko to even "Lap Cheong” Chicken Chinese sausage.
    Fried rice ramen udon Shanghai egg best top up
    In the front of ordering counter, you could see how green and fresh were the toppings.
    Fried rice ramen udon Shanghai egg best top up
    Something in my mind while waiting - Usually Wok hei achieved in restaurants and zi char stall under conditions of big intense heat. Can they do this within a small amount of space?
    Was told to wait around 30 mins for my dish, so it better be worth it! So once you ordered, you can walk over to the left and look at 3 chefs cooking your dish in clear view.
    So while waiting for your order, you can also find entertainment in observing the wok masters doing their simple yet skillful stir-fry tricks.
    Fried rice ramen udon Shanghai egg best top up
    After a 30mins long wait, "Enjoy your wok hey!"
    Fried rice ramen udon Shanghai egg best top up

    Fried rice ramen udon Shanghai egg best top up
    American-Chinese style box filled to the fullest in the box. It might look too little for you, but trust me it really does fill your stomach to the brim as well.
    Fried rice ramen udon Shanghai egg best top up
    Something to improve on might be the chili, they only put in the chili, not mixed. I have to mix the chili myself when I am having this fried rice, it would be better if they are able to fry the chili with the fried rice. Let's go to taste, I like how they use Japanese rice to give good bite texture to the fried rice. The rice was seasoned well with generous amount of prawns, spring onions, and eggs.

    It's good to say Wok Hey does have Wok Hei taste to their dishes.  
    The only cons I have is they are only available for taking away as they do not have seats around.

    Simple review for it - Tried, simply love it!

    Saturday, May 20, 2017

    Ramenplay (拉麵玩家) - First time having pork cheek

    • Operating Hours: 11 AM to 10 PM
    • Operating Days: Daily
    • Address: 30 Tai Seng Street #01-03 S(534013)
    • How to get there: Tai Seng MRT, take exit B and walk about 5 mins.
    • Food I had: Pork Yakiniku Tonkotsu Ramen, Toroniku Ramen, Chicken Gyoza
    Was going to Changi but we drove passed Breadtalk HQ and was thinking why not have our dinner there? So we went over without knowing what to eat. We reached the dining area and we saw RamenPlay that we have not tried yet, so why not? 
    Singapore best ramen
    It was 9.30PM and there were expectedly no crowds.
    There was an ongoing promotion where you order a ramen and top up additional $4 to have a side with a drink.
    Singapore Best Ramen
    Toroniku Ramen, Toroniku means pork cheek. This is one of RamenPlay’s recommended dish on the menu. I loved the firm texture of the ramen, it is very similar texture as wanton mee, hard yet chewy once bite.singapore best ramen

    Singapore best ramen
    The pork cheek in this dish was surprisingly very soft until it nearly melts in your mouth, but I do not like the slight burnt taste of the meat, and that burnt taste does blend into the soup which does not make the soup better. If there was no burnt taste, the broth would be much tasteful.
    Singapore best ramen
    I have always love Japanese soft boiled egg, and Ramenplay did not fail my expectation on the egg. The yoke was very juicy, gluey and full of taste, if you eat it with the soup it will taste much better.
    Singapore best ramen
    Next was Pork Yakiniku Ramen, Yakiniku means grilled meat. it reminds me of Yoshinoya, the taste was exactly it. The noodle having the constant texture, the difference is the soup, which does have a much sweeter in taste compared to Toroniku Ramen, but this soup does not have the burnt taste so I can conclude that its the burnt pork cheek that spoil the soup.
    Singapore best ramen
    We ordered a set and 3 gyoza presented to us, with sesame sauce at the side. If you love gyoza or any fried dumpling dim sum, you will love this. The minced chicken meat wrapped in crispy dumpling skin. The skin was fried to the point where the skin was crispy but preserved the juice and tenderness of the meat.

    RamenPlay has a lot of items offered on the menu even Shabu Shabu. There were so many other Japanese Ramen stores these days, you could give it a try with their ramen (hope their pork cheek is not burnt) especially their gyoza. After tried out their dishes here, I will return for their food over here to have an affordable Japanese cuisine as compared to others.


    Ramenplay does have other stores around Singapore, Bedok Mall, JEM, Novena Square, and Resorts World Sentosa. Do comment if they do really taste differently.