Hungry Ang Mo

Vegan Burg - Raffles Place

2012-02-12T12:45:00.002+08:00

Success for a new eatery in the competitive Singaporean market is not an easy feat. Without a doubt, Vegan Burg has emerged as one of the most successful newcomers to the vegetarian scene of all time. The original Eunos branch was talked about endlessly, and attracted thousands of curious customers. Due to this success, a second outlet has now been opened in Golden Shoe Complex. I arrived to the new outlet on their opening night, and was expecting it to be packed with to the brim with customers (especially due to their one buy get two free burger promotion). To my surprise, the place was virtually empty.

Vegan Burg
Location: Golden Shoe Carpark
Contact: 68446868
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-8.30pm. Sat 11am-4.30pm. Closed on Sunday.

The burgers, hotdogs and fries are all certainly delicious from Vegan Burg. But one issue that needs to be addressed is the drinks on offer. The 'fruit' drinks taste quite diluted and artificial. Moreover, the cup size is incredibly small. Western fast food always needs a tasty drink to accompany the food, and this aspect is completely void in Vegan Burg. There are tons of options, such as soy milkshakes or fruit juice that is freshly juiced - Which would suit Vegan Burg's style much better than this artificially flavoured nonsense.

As you can see by the picture, I partook in the (one day only) special promotion offer, which represented really smashing value for money. Nothing much has changed in terms of the quality of the burger. However, this outlet now has a self-service style, where customers pick up the burger they want from a heated tray, next to the cashier. I have no qualms about this method, as long as the burgers haven't been sitting there for too long. Over time, there have been a number of new burgers released, their latest offering is a tom yam burger. This 'luxury' burger is more expensive than the typical burgers on offer, though.

Having been to Vegan Burg on several occasions, I have sampled almost every burger they have to offer. However, one that slipped away from my radar was this Cracked Pepper Mayo. One problem with eating burgers is they can be extremely messy (not somewhere to go on a first date). This is especially so when they are pre-wrapped, as the sauce (in this case mayonesse) tends to ooze out all over the wrapping. This problem is made all the more irritating due to the fact this eatery has no sink inside the vicinity. Flavour wise the burger tasted great, though.

Price: $5.85. 7/10

Conclusion - This is only the beginning of Vegan Burg's expansion in Singapore. In July 2012 they will be opening their third outlet in Singapore, this time located in Marina Bay Boulevard. This is also coupled with a rumored launch in Australia too. Therefore, it is safe to say that the future is looking bright for the Vegan Burg franchise, and rightfully so, their concept is fresh and unique, and their food tastes great!

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 7/10

Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant - Little India

2012-02-04T11:09:00.000+08:00

I am always curious which of my reviews are most viewed. Gokul (no doubt due to it being ranked number 1 on my Top 10 Vegetarian Places list) is always one that gets a lot of readers. What is so special about Gokul is not only their Indian food. In fact, Gokul is an extremely diverse restaurant - Selling authentic Chinese, Western, Malay, Indonesian and Indian food. The key emphasis is on the word authentic, as these other cuisines are not 'Indian versions' of the dishes. They stay true to the origins of the authentic dish. It is these 'other' cuisines that will be the focus of my review on Gokul this time around. If you wish to read about just the Indian food Gokul offers, then my other review (HERE) is where you'll want to click next.

Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 19 Upper Dickson Road
Contact: 63967769
Opening Hours: Daily 10.30am-10.30pm.

Although the price tag for this Islamic Dhum Briyani may seem a little hefty, please bare in mind this dish can be an entire meal in itself. The rice and curry were both sensational in this meal. Starting with the rice, this light briyani rice was a bundle of unexpected treats - Items such as raisins, cashews, mock meat can be found lurking inside. This gave the rice a lot of additional flavours and textures, which kept me captivated. Accompanying this rice, was a thick daal-esque curry, which was flavourful, non-spicy, and could be eaten on its own. Eggplant was the prominent ingredient in the curry. Superb dish.

Price: $7.50. 9/10

Ayam Masak Merah can basically be described as chicken in tomato chilli sauce. It's origins are said to be from Malaysia. However, the Indonesian dish named ayam masak habang is virtually identical. Many Malay curries follow a principle of having four main spices used (green cardamom, star anis, cloves, cinnamon). However, the main distinguishing flavour in this curry is the zestfulness of the lemongrass. Typically Malay/Indo curries put me off due to the high spice levels, but this curry was spiced perfectly. Overall it was absolutely delicious. The mock chicken was quite different to the type usually used at Gokul, instead it was gluten derived. This curry would rank among one of the best I've sampled at Gokul. Finding a vegetarian version of ayam masak merah in Singapore is virtually impossible, so seize this opportunity and order it!

Price: $7.50. 10/10

As mentioned at the start of the review, Chinese dishes can also be found on the Gokul menu, and surely the most synonymous Chinese dishes of all time is Chicken Rice. Again, the flavours and look of this dish are completely authentic, there are no Indian spices lurking inside. The rice was textured well, and flavoured. The mock chicken was derived from gluten, and although the texture was acceptable, I have tried better elsewhere. In addition to chicken and rice, there is also a mock chicken wrapped in pandan leaf, which was a welcome addition. The chilli sauce had perfect bite. Visually the dish looked incredible, with all the ingredients sitting on the banana leaf, which also adds to the overall flavour.

Price: $6.00. 8/10

Conclusion - What can I say about Gokul that I haven't already said before? There are many people who read my reviews, and surely think that I am being overly positive or biased towards Gokul - But believe me I am not. There is a reason why I consider this to be the best vegetarian eatery in Singapore, and that is because almost every dish I have sampled from this restaurant has been outstanding. This achievement is extremely difficult to obtain, and must be commended. Whether you order Indian food, or other cuisines at Gokul - You will not be disappointed!

Overall Rating
Food - 9/10
Ambiance- 9/10
Service - 9/10
Value - 8/10

Choo Zai Zhai Vegetarian Food - MacPherson

2012-01-28T16:13:00.003+08:00

It is safe to say, out of the myriad of vegetarian stalls that frequent 79a Circuit Road - Choo Zai Zhai has the most significant following. I was scowering the internet to find any customer feedback about Choo Zai Zhai and was pleased to see a new vegetarian food blogger, titled 'ieatgrass' has reviewed this eatery late last year. You can check out her review (and her site in general) - Here. Grass was certainly not something my stomach was itching for on this particular evening, so I was looking forward to sampling the many dishes that this eatery had on offer.

Choo Zai Zhai Vegetarian Food
Location: 79A, Circuit Road, #01-89
Contact: 67457934
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 11pm

Unlike many of the stalls at 79a, which sometimes close without reason, Choo Zai Zhai can usually be quite reliable with its opening and closing times. Another key difference that distinguishes this eatery from most stalls in the area is that - Choo Zai Zhai actually has quite a detailed menu, with there being countless Chinese dishes for the customer to deliberate over ordering. These include more economical dishes, such as hokkien mee, mui fan and fried bee hoon (all $3.00). These cheaper dishes are mixed with others that can double in price, such as claypot tofu, hot plate meat and sweet & sour porks ribs. The menu definitely could benefit from more accurate English definitions of the dishes, as dishes simply called 'celery' barely gives away any information about the contents of the dish (apart from that it will certainly have celery in it).

Needless to say, I wasn't tempted by the 'celery', and instead, begun this dining experience with the Oyster Omelet. Those that have had vegetarian oyster omelet before, will know that the mock oyster in this dish is actually a species of mushroom. An essential ingredient to a good (or even acceptable) oyster omelet is the use of sweet potato starch, which I sensed was missing from this. Texture wise, was an additional disappointment, as it was not chewy. Instead, this resembled carrot cake more than an omelet. The only savoir was the chilli sauce, which had superb aroma and a welcoming amount of sweetness.

Price: $3.00. 4/10

Second dish of the evening came in the form of the Beef Hor Fun. Again, this was another below average dish. I don't like poorly cooked hor fun, which is unfortunately what I was served here. The noodles had a very gluey and sticky texture, which I found off-putting. Moreover, the noodles were attached to each other, thus render the dish having clumps of noodle. The mock 'beef' was derived from gluten - For health sake, I would have been happier to see mushroom stem mock meat. All in all, this was more like a kway teow soup, than a hor fun dish. Another one you'd be sensible to avoid.

Price: $5.00. 5/10

Conclusion - If you'd made it this far through my review, then you will obviously sense that I wasn't very impressed overall at the quality of the food at Choo Zai Zhai. This eatery really falls in the same category as the rest of the vegetarian stalls in the food centre. Yes, it is fantastic to have a food centre which has such a wide array of vegetarian options to choose from. However, if I was hoping to display to someone how delicious vegetarian food can be, I definitely wouldn't bring them to Blk 79a - Where the food will either be average, or well below average.

Overall Rating
Food - 5/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 5/10
Value - 5/10

Honzen Cafe - Bugis

2012-01-21T11:27:00.000+08:00

I'm a little late getting to Honzen Cafe, but better late than never. I was recently approached by Straights Times who were running an article on the increase in vegetarian places in Singapore, and the reasons why. The answer to that is simple - There is a new breed of strictly health influenced vegetarians/vegans who have converted due to the exposure of health consequences attributed to meat consumption. Which is why, eateries that put health as their prerogative are on the increase in Singapore - An example of one of these restaurants, which have embarked down this path will be the focus of today's review. Honzen Cafe is away from the epicenter of vegetarian eateries in Bugis, instead, it is around a 10 minute walk from Fortune Centre (vegetarian mecca). Upon entering customers are greeted by friendly (mainly Myanmarese) waitresses, with wide smiles.

Honzen Cafe
Location: 470 North Bridge Road, #01-01 North Bridge Commercial Complex
Contact: 63330478
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 11am to 9.30pm

The most optimum healthy eatery should fit into two criteria - Organic and vegan. Although a high majority of the dishes at Honzen Cafe are vegan, unfortunately it is not 100%. Moreover, there is no mention of the food being organic, so I think we can safely assume it is not. The menu looked beautiful, with there being a compact yet diverse selection of dishes to choose from. At the time of writing this, Honzen Cafe has a promotion for Chinese New Year where you must upgrade main course meals to include tea/coffee and dessert (for $12.90). Nothing should even be forced onto customers - This should be something that is optional. Nevertheless, with a small amount of restraint, they will be happy to revert back to the original price - So no real damage done.

I decided to kick off this food sampling bonanza with one of the cheaper side dishes. This is the Salted Bites. To translate this title into something a little more coherent, this dish is basically dry Taiwanese style fried mock chicken. In total there were six pieces. Presentation wise, the dish looked nice, with cherry tomatoes, lettuce and thousand island dressing all occupying room on the plate. Flavour wise, the mock chicken was not too greasy and had the ideal texture balance of crunchy, yet still maintaining a salivating level of juiciness. Some might argue that for merely a side dish the price is a little high, but there can be no complaints about the quality.

Price: $3.90. 7/10

Next we have one of Honzen Cafe's real flagship dishes, the Honzen Special. This dish, along with the honzen paradise meal (which was not available) are assorted mixed rice dishes. It comes with brown rice in the centre, and several small tidbit dishes circling around it. In addition, there is also clear tofu seaweed soup. The essence of this style of dish is simple, uncomplicated and natural flavours - Which is something I am encouraging of. For those who are used to heavy salt, oil and sugar in their diet, however, this will be a largely bland experience. One aspect of the dish that was unquestionably packed with flavour was the black fungus, which was stewed in vinegar - Fantastic flavour, which resembles the famous Cantonese dish zhu jiao cu.

Price: $8.90. 7/10

To diversifying this review, I also ordered one of the Western offerings. Here we have the Hamburger Set. The fries were soft and crunchy and sinfully delicious, but again chilli sauce was the accompaniment instead of ketchup (I can never understand that). The hamburger had a tasty mock chicken patty, but the let down was the hamburger bun. The bottom of the bun absorbed a lot of moisture from the heat of the patty - Thus, it was soggy. Who likes soggy bread? Well, if you do, you have serious palate problems. I would have preferred the bun to be toasted slightly.

Price: $7.90. 6/10

The final treat for this evening was the Rendang Rice. Rendang, which was believed to have been created by the Minangkabau tribe of Indonesia, is a largely dry lemongrass infused meat curry. Its origins date back all the way to the 1500s. The traditional version of this dish is very heavy on salt and oil. It was pleasing to taste this rendang, as it was not too salty - But there was still a hefty amount of oil used. I must confess, I was disappointed by how little pieces of mock meat were found lurking in the curry. Flavour wise, it was certainly spicy, so perhaps not a dish for those with fragile stomachs.

Price: $7.90. 6/10

Conclusion - While Honzen Cafe is not going to drop any jaws in regards to its originality or menu, this is nevertheless a solid inclusion to the vegetarian scene in Singapore. Honzen Cafe seems to be trying to find the middle ground between healthy food and sinful food - As it seems to display characteristics of both. Value wise, the food certainly doesn't come cheap, but the ambiance of the eatery is clean and fresh. Although recently opened, Honzen Cafe seems to be successfully attracting a diverse range of customers, so overall it seems this place will continue to thrive.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 6/10

Meng Heng Vegetarian Food - MacPherson

2012-01-17T07:35:00.000+08:00

Although there is a myriad of vegetarian places located within the 79a hawker centre, often the stalls specialise in only a couple of dishes. This is certainly the case for Meng Heng Vegetarian Food, which has gained a heady reputation for its wanton mee. There are other dishes available though, such as laksa and hokkien mee. However, seen as though the focal dish of this stall is the wanton mee, it seems only fitting that I dedicate this review to this dish that has the most feverish following among customers. Customers (like myself) visiting later at night should expect only wanton mee to be sold, they are not likely to have any other dishes available.

Meng Heng Vegetarian Food
Location: 79A, Circuit Road, #01-81
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Unknown

I was itching to see if the Wanton Noodle was really as delicious as the whispers I've heard. The short answer is - It is only slightly above average. The noodles in the dish were a tad overcooked and didn't have the bouncy texture, that good wanton mee should have. The wantons appeared in a bowl of soup, and sadly the skin of the wanton was too thick. It was not all negative though, the filling of the wanton had delicious flavour, although some might find it to be too pasty. The char siew is the high quality kind, which trumps the typical doughy kind, one usually finds in hawker centres. Some good flavours can be found in this dish, but all in all, I didn't see anything outstanding that would induce me to order it again.

Price: $3.00. 6/10

Conclusion - Certainly not the worst wanton mee I've ever tried, but I failed to grasp what was so unique and special about the Meng Heng version of this classic dish. While the flavours were good, especially in the wanton filling, there were other aspects that were clearly flawed. Customers certainly seem to be flocking to this stall, though, so perhaps others are tasting something outstanding, that I am missing.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 6/10

Tang Leng Chay Vegetarian Food - MacPherson

2012-01-14T15:09:00.002+08:00

Back to block 79A, on Circuit Road. As I have mentioned previously, this particular block (which is within walking distance of MacPherson MRT) is packed to the brim with Chinese vegetarian stalls - So customers who visit will be spoilt for choice on what to order. Luckily I visited with a bunch of people, so was able to order from many of the stalls all at once. The auntie running this stall was very happy to see I was taking pictures of the stall and the food, and was eager to have me share news of her food. This stall has been around for over 30 years, and has a variety of dirt cheap food.

Tang Leng Chay Vegetarian Food
Location: 79A, Circuit Road, #01-716
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Unknown

Our food journey at Tang Leng Chay begins with the Fried Kway Teow Mee. Visually the dish look fine upon arrival, however, I was quite disappointed with the flavours in the dish overall. Firstly, the flavour which I adore so much is completely absent from this dish - Wok hei. This is not the only flavour missing, the undertone of sweetness that is to be expected from char kway teow is also not there. Instead, this tastes merely like kway teow with black sauce. An additional disappointment came with the texture of the kway teow, which was quite clumped together.

Price: $3.00. 5/10

We move onto the next dish, which is Chicken Rice. Price wise, there can be no complaints about this dish, which is superb value. Quality wise though, there are distinct areas for improvement. To begin with, the rice is virtually flavourless, texture wise it is clumpy too. The mock chicken is derived from beancurd, which is more healthier than the traditional gluten type. The one and only highlight came in the form of the chilli sauce, which was sweet and packed with flavour. It was not overwhelmingly spicy like conventional chicken rice chilli sauce, which was a welcome change for me.

Price: $2.00. 5/10

The final offering was Carrot Cake (Black), which was unfortunately even more disappointing than the previous two dishes. Flavour again was an issue with this dish, with there simply not being enough taste packed into the ingredients. Wok hei was practically non-existent, and it was also lacking the salted turnips flavour, which is a prerequisite for a good carrot cake. Similarly to the char kway teow, it tastes just like carrot cake with dark sauce - Too simplistic. The final downside was that the chunks of carrot cake were too big, which added an additional hindrance to the flavour.

Price: $3.00. 4/10

Conclusion - If you're looking for good quality Chinese food, then this is a place that certainly shouldn't be on your radar. The food is simply below average, with the flavour of all the dishes being poorly done. If you are, however, looking for a cheap and quick stomach fill, then this might tick the box. Not a place I would consider visiting again, though.

Overall Rating
Food - 5/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 6/10

Victor's Vegetarian Food - MacPherson

2012-01-06T21:57:00.000+08:00

Singapore without a doubt is one of the greatest countries in the world, in terms of abundance of vegetarian food. Block 79A on Circuit Road is a perfect example of just how much vegetarian food one can find in this country. 79A is a large sized hawker centre, which is around 40% vegetarian. Needless to say, one is literally spoilt for choice in this area. Victor's has a basic menu, which chiefly specializes in Western burgers (which sadly were not available on the evening I visited), satay, and otah. Hopefully when I visit next time the burgers will be available to order, as I was certainly curious to sample them.

Victor's Vegetarian Food
Location: 79A, Circuit Road, #01-83
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 4pm - 12am. Closed Monday.

The Satay at Victor's comes available in many different styles of mock meat - Pork, mutton and chicken. Unfortunately the pork variety was not available. Contrary to most, I am not a big fan of the peanut sauce, which accompanies satay. Satay sauce is heavily dependent on personal preference - Some like it smooth, some like it chunky - This sauce belongs to the former. The satay sticks were delicious, they were heavily charred (just how I like them). Definitely one of the most juicy and flavourful satays that I have had the pleasure of sampling so far.

Price: $0.60 (pc). 8/10

Vegetarian Otah can be tricky to come across in Singapore, so whenever I see it, I usually leap at such a rare opportunity. Traditional otah is typically three for one dollar, so some might find this vegetarian version a little unreasonably priced. Flavour wise, their certainly can be no complaints, it has a sensational lemongrass punch, with the fragrance of pandan. This is coupled by a fine tuning of chili to add a much needed bite. The let down, however, is in the texture, which is lacking the firmness a conventional otah should have, this version is simply too mushy.

Price: $0.50 (pc). 6/10

Conclusion - It would be interesting to visit this stall again, when a more extensive menu is available. The burgers particularly looked very inviting. For what they do sell though, the satays are incredibly moreish, I could quite happily eat a big bowl of them. Vegetarian food fanatics will certainly be spoilt for choice in this vegetarian heaven location, and whilst Victor's isn't a huge standout, their satays would certainly make as a perfect side dish.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 6/10

Loving Heart Cafe - Aljunied

2011-12-31T10:45:00.000+08:00

For those that don't know, Geylang is an area well know for its abundance of vegetarian eateries (as well as other things). It is an area I have only really scratched the surface of, and in the future I will certainly increase the amount of reviews I do in this area. For today though, we have Loving Heart Cafe, which is owned by the infamous Loving Hut brand - This brand offers strictly vegan food in all its eateries. It was unfortunate to hear that their Selegie Road outlet had recently closed. Nevertheless, you can still find them at their International Plaza outlet. The Loving Hut brand has expanded exponentially with there being outlets all over the world - Including USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand....Even Mongolia!

Loving Heart Cafe
Location: Blk 134 Geylang East Ave 1, #01-219
Contact: 67442029
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 10am - 10pm. Sunday 7am - 10pm

The logo, decor and ambiance of the place resembles the Loving Hut restaurants. However, this is not an air conditioned eatery. Menu wise, the dishes are listed behind the counter. The menu is quite varied, with there being Western, Japanese and Chinese dishes on offer. They also have vegan roti prata, which I was tempted to try, but unfortunately stomach space didn't allow. Moreover, they have an Indian chef to make the prata, so it would be interesting to see what the quality is like. The place was somewhat quiet and subdued when I was there, but perhaps on weekends the customer traffic becomes higher.

Speaking of the Indian chef, he was the one who cooked this Black Pepper Burger for me. The first thing to highlight, that was done very well for this burger, was the charring of the bread. He used the Indian tava (famously used for making breads, such as prata and chapati) to toast the bun. Although toasting bread may seem like something a child can do, there is still skill required to get it perfect. The black pepper sauce was strong and complimented the mock meat patty soundly - Making the patty all the more juicy and succulent. The other ingredients were a little cliched for my liking, with there being only tomato and lettuce. Price wise, this was a real standout as well, probably the best value burger in Singapore.

Price: $2.50. 8/10

Final dish of this eventful lunch, was the Hainanese Fragrant Rice (Set) - Which can be more conveniently translated to chicken rice. One of the key components to chicken rice is the chilli sauce, rather unconventionally this sauce didn't have the biting sharp spice one would usually expect. Instead, it was verging on sweet - I must say, this was a welcome difference. The mock chicken was derived from beancurd, which is not my favourite type - However, it is certainly more healthy than using gluten. The rice had good flavour, and the coriander soup complimented the food nicely. Another plus point is the food arrived almost instantaneously, and was good value for money.

Price: $4.00. 7/10

Conclusion - If I lived nearer to the geylang area, there is no doubt that this would be an eatery that I would keep returning to. This statement is more impressive than it sounds, as there are simply countless vegetarian eateries submerged within the geylang streets to choose from. But so far, this may rank as the one I enjoyed the most. I do plan to return one day to experiment with more items on their menu, lets hope that they are just as tasty as the ones I tried during this review.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 8/10

Bamboo House - Kovan

2011-12-24T11:11:00.002+08:00

This new outlet was brought to my attention from the Vegetarian Society Forum. It interested me as I know how little vegetarian food is available in the Kovan area, so certainly I was pleased to see a new restaurant opening its doors. More so, when I discovered it was an organic eatery. Location wise, this place can really be horrendous to find. It is conceivable to walk from Kovan MRT, but expect a 15-20 walk through bamboozling HDB's (GPS recommended). If walking isn't your thing, then be prepared to take train then bus. This is a family run restaurant, with the teenage children helping out with waiting of tables. There is no Chinese or English 'vegetarian' sign anywhere on the inside or outside of this eatery - This is a problem, which needs addressing.

Bamboo House
Location: Blk 121, Hougang Ave 1, #01-1348
Contact: 63832100
Opening Hours: Daily 1.30pm - 9.00pm

Immediately after opening the menu, I did feel a tinge of disappointment wave over me. The menu is incredibly thin on content, with there only being a handful of items in total being sold. I did ask the waiter if this menu will be expanded in the future, he responded that the menu was still being worked on. If a restaurant is to open for business, then there should at least be a respectable menu available to the customers, so lets hope they start developing this menu quickly. On a side note, the price of the tea at Bamboo House is incredibly expensive, with one pot of osthmanthus tea costing $15.00. Not sure who is able to afford that price, just for tea.

Currently on promotional offer, this is the Organic Soya Milk. As soya milk is not really popular in England, I remember the first time I really drank a lot of it was in Asia. Over time, it has grown on me, and now I use soy milk to replace cows milk whenever possible, and I urge everyone reading this to do the same. This warm soy milk tasted good. I specifically requested less sugar, to suit my preference. The only thing that I found irritating was the high amount of foam at the top of the drink. About one quarter of the cup was filled with foam. Nevertheless, it was a comforting drink, on a cool evening.

Price: $1.50. 6/10

One of the few main courses that was on the menu was the Golden Rice (Organic). I have a few issues with this rice, starting with the most obvious - There is not enough ingredients in this rice. In fact, there is only one significant ingredient inside, which is sweetcorn. If a restaurant is to sell such bland rice, then there must be flavourful side dishes available to order, which can accompany the rice. But there were none. Subsequently, I am completely puzzled as to what role this rice is supposed to play. It is too bland and lacking in any creativity to be a meal on its own. Confusing dish, which didn't do anything for me.

Price: $3.50. 4/10

Although already losing the will to live after the rice debacle. I picked up the pieces of my life, and moved on with the Miso Ramen. Once again, this dish was incredibly simple. It consisted of miso soup, noodles, seaweed and cashew nuts. For me, at a restaurant level (or even food court level) this is lacking in ingredients. This is something I can quite easily and quickly make at home. Therefore, when I visit eateries, I want them to do something slightly more special. For this dish, although the taste was fine, it was too basic. Perhaps simple is a good thing, but there is a level where I expect the chef to exhibit at least a semblance of skill and creativity - I saw none in this dish.

Price: $5.00. 5/10

Conclusion - The owners of Bamboo House has some serious self-reflection to be done. Hopefully as their experience in owning a restaurant matures, then we will see a drastic change in the menu and quality of the dishes available at this eatery. If this level persists, then in all honesty, I don't see this eatery surviving long at all. Apart from the quality, this place is also incredibly difficult to find geographically, which won't help their clause. But for now, they might benefit from staying hidden.

Overall Rating
Food - 4/10
Ambiance- 5/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 4/10

Komala Vilas Vegetarian Restaurant - Little India

2011-12-21T09:52:00.001+08:00

In total, there are three Komala Vilas outlets in Singapore, all located quite close together, in the Little India area. Just a few months ago, I reviewed their most long standing outlet, on Serangoon Road (review here). I was inspired to promptly review their Buffalo Road outlet, due to the influx of comments I received from my readers - Mainly Deepak and Rama - Who suggested for me to try other drinks and dishes. Therefore, it seemed only polite to oblige. Little India MRT is where you will need to alight, taking Exit E, will lead you to emerge conveniently just outside Buffalo Road.

Komala Vilas Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 12 Buffalo Road
Contact: 62933664
Opening Hours: Mon–Sun: 7am – 10.30pm

One thing which certainly appeals to me about this Buffalo Road outlet is that it remains out of the limelight from tourists, unlike the Serangoon Road outlet, which is regularly feature in Lonely Planet, and other Singapore travel books. This lack of exposure gives this outlet a more authentic and genuine feel. Menu wise, the food is almost identical to Serangoon Road, with all the food being reasonably priced South Indian delights. Komala Vilas could have easily gone down the same road as Ananda Bhavan, and use their success to increase the menu pricing to a ridiculous extent - However, even throughout their success, they continue to provide extremely affordable food - This must be commended.

One item Rama was very keen on me to try, was the Filter Coffee. Before even drinking this coffee, I was impressed by how it arrived, the waiter literally 'pulls' the coffee (a process of flinging the liquid from cup to saucer to generate air within the drink) right next the customer. I have seen this done many times in the cooking area, but never before right next to the customer. Frankly, for myself, this was a wonderful experience. Taste wise, the coffee was very fragrant, and went perfectly with the bhattura (discussed below). It was not too creamy, and the sugar level was just right. Those looking for a nice warm drink to go with the food, I would certainly recommend this, or the masala tea.

Price: $1.30. 7/10

Kothu Parotta, originating from the Tamil Nadu state of India, was a refreshing and new experience for me. The term 'parotta' relates to our well known Singapore prata. However, the twist in this dish, is the parotta is chopped into pieces and cooked in spices. The term 'kothu' literally means 'minced'. The traditional version of this dish will include meat and egg, these two ingredients are not present in this version, though. The flavours were delicious, and I just couldn't stop eating it. Not only was the parotta delicious, but this dish came with the best vegetable kurma I have ever tried.

Price: $2.90. 9/10

Although this looks like some paranormal blob from the planet Jupiter, I can assure you this is a food item. The Bhattura could barely be contained in the metal tray, which it was sitting in - It was absolutely huge! Having previously eaten the bhattura from Serangoon Road, I was taken aback by how much bigger this version was, it is at least 1/3 bigger. Not only is it a huge portion, it tasted absolutely delicious. The only downside to bhattura is that for many people, it will be too oily. Underneath this behemoth, is channa (chickpea) curry, and fresh onion and lime. A dish eaten best with the right hand, if not, using cutlery will be a troublesome task.

Price: $4.20. 9/10

We move on to a popular South Indian snack, the Onion Uttappum. For those wondering how uttapum is created, the batter is identical to that of dosai, only difference being, the batter is not spread as thinly on the tava. When cooking on the tava, ingredients and spices are added to it. For this dish, we have green chilli and onion added. Personally, the green chilli added too much heat, and ultimately I found myself picking them out. That aside, it was an enjoyable snack, especially with the delicious sambar and chutneys that accompanied it.

Price: $3.00. 7/10

Certainly the best value dish on the menu is the Rice Meal. This thali style dish has a numerous selection of curries, curd, vegetables, dessert and rice. What stood out in particular, was the bhindi (ladyfingers) dry dish, which was flavoured beautifully. What is special about this thali meal, is that it is effectively a sit-down buffet. The customer may request for more curries, more dessert, more sauces, and more rice - Until their needs (or stomachs) are satisfied. This really makes the price tag for this dish great value, as you can simply eat as much as you desire for that price. The food being served on a banana leaf enhances the flavor of the food, and adds to the authenticity of the dish.

Price: $6.55. 8/10

Conclusion - Komala Vilas are a chain of restaurants that have undoubtedly grown on me. The first time I visited one of their restaurants was over four years ago, since that time, my love for Komala Vilas has manifested to what it is today. Although I am a North Indian food addict, I can appreciate the value and quality of the food here. The Buffalo Road outlet, which I reviewed here, was just as great as the Serangoon Road outlet - If not better. The bhattura, kothu parotta, and rice meal are all must try dishes. But more important than the food, it is an enjoyable cultural experience for any non-Indian customers.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 9/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 8/10

Cafe Salivation - Farrer Park

2011-12-17T09:53:00.001+08:00

As I recently informed my twitter followers (@hungryangmo), I was craving to do a follow up on Cafe Salivation, since my first post, over two years ago. It was pleasing for me to see that nothing much has changed in all those years. The menu, interior design and vibe has remained virtually identical, since my last visit. As I have mentioned before, Cafe Salivation is owned by the same person as Raj Restaurant - Which is just next door. If you are eating at Raj, you are able to order things from the Cafe Salivation menu, but not vice versa. I've mentioned this countless times, but I'll say it once more - Syed Alwi road is truly one of the best vegetarian areas in Singapore, it is a crime not to visit and enjoy.

Cafe Salivation
Location: 75 Syed Alwi Road
Contact: 62981712
Opening Hours: Daily 10am-10:30pm

This time around, I wanted to order completely new dishes, starting with the Spicy Scrambled Paneer with Toast. This dish is under the breakfast section, and the customer can ask for the spice level and bread type to be modified to their liking. Scrambled paneer quite accurately mimics scrambled eggs. This variety of paneer is something used in several other Indian dishes, such as badhal gobi. The paneer in this dish was juicy and moreish, with strong peppercorn and green capsicum flavours. I intentionally requested less spice in this dish, as I was fearful of how spicy it would be - Unless you can take very spicy, you might want to follow the same tactic as me. Nice dish overall, that reminded me of my breakfast eating days back in England.

Price: $5.00. 7/10

In my first review, I sampled the feta cheese burger, which overall was a pretty tasty burger. Second time around, I gave the Soya Burger a go. Although two dollars cheaper, I found the standard to be just as food as the feta cheese burger. Although the burger is small in size, it has a nice patty and isn't too soggy. If one was to compare this burger with Vegan Burg, then this would not be able to compete. But of course, it is an unfair comparison, as Vegan Burg specialize in burgers. Overall, the burgers are above average, and is always something I find myself ordering when visiting Cafe Salivation.

Price: $5.00. 7/10

Pasta is something I hardly ever order in Singapore, as my experience is that Asia chefs simply don't know how to cook pasta properly. I decided to put my skepticism aside temporarily during this meal, and in the end, I was pleased that I did. This Linguine A La Fungi was a deliciously creamy pasta dish, which I couldn't stop eating. The main ingredients were mushroom and green capsicum. Although this is certainly not a healthy pasta, as there is a lot of cream added, it is nevertheless delicious. A dish you should certainly order, if you wish to experience top quality pasta in Singapore.

Price: $8.00. 8/10

One of the most expensive dishes on the menu is the Mexican Casserole. My mind was conjuring up many outcomes of what this dish might look like upon arrival. Much to my disappointment, this dish is merely baked rice. There is a thick and oozing layer on cheese, which rendered the future vegan inside of me screaming with terror. Underneath this layer, is tomato infused rice, with a variety of ingredients inside. Although taste wise, it was fine - I was hoping for something a little more original and unique, especially considering the lofty price tag. If you're a baked rice fanatic, then you might want to consider ordering this. If not, there are certainly more captivating dishes on the menu.

Price: $8.50. 6/10

Pizza is probably my most beloved food item, and due to this passion for pizza, I tend to be somewhat picky on what makes a good or bad pizza. The quality of the pizza at Cafe Salivation is nothing outstanding, however, dishes like the paneer pizza, offer a unique twist on this classic Italian dish. On this particular evening, I went with the Neopolitan Pizza. The pizzas are a little on the small side, in terms of size. This particular pizza had mushrooms, diced tomatoes and green capsicum as its toppings. The base had good texture, and the tomato sauce was rich and tangy. Something I would order again, but mainly as I'm a pizza nut!

Price: $7.50. 7/10

Conclusion - Looking at Cafe Salivation overall, I find myself struggling to think of anything overwhelmingly negative to say about it. The interior decor is absolutely beautiful, the staff are endlessly helpful, the prices are reasonable, the food which is being offered is unique and special, the portion size is acceptable, and most importantly - The food is delicious! Cafe Salivation made its way onto my Top 10 list a long time ago, and I don't see its position being in danger anytime soon. A superb restaurant, which anyone and everyone can enjoy.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 10/10
Service - 10/10
Value - 7/10

Shui Xian Su Shi Yuan Vegetarian Food - Malacca

2011-12-13T11:00:00.003+08:00

As most people who visit Malacca tend to stay in the Jonker Walk area, the vegetarian restaurant, which I am reviewing today will undoubtedly represented the closest geographical meat-free eatery people can visit. Although this humble restaurant is the closest, be warned about their awkward opening times. Moreover, as is the case with most small restaurantsoverseas, they are also likely to just close randomly - Even they they're supposed to be open. An additional warning, this restaurant has a lot of mosquitoes hovering around, so prepare to donate blood as well as money, at the end of your meal.

Shui Xian Su Shi Yuan Vegetarian Food
Location: Jalan Hang Lekiu
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 7.30am-2.30pm. Closed Sunday.

What I found intriguing about the menu at this restaurant, is the inclusion of some of the traditional Malacca dishes, which I was itching to try (but inhibited by them always having meat in them). Along with the local specialty dishes, there are also more familiar faces. Price wise, the dishes are dirt cheap, especially after making the conversion back into Singapore currency.

One of those unique and special Malacca dishes is the Chicken Rice Balls. This is an extraordinarily unusual twist on the classic chicken rice dish. The key difference comes in the rice, which instead is made into golf ball sized shapes. The chicken comes separately, on the side, with the other usual accompaniments, such as cucumber. The mock chicken was derived from beancurd sheets. Perhaps I am more of a traditionalist, but the rice balls didn't seem to have enough flavour in them, and most importantly, didn't have the same enjoyment factor, compared to authentic rice. This dish is certainly a nice novelty, but I'd take the classic version instead.

Price: RM3.00. 5/10

Moving on to a more conventional dish, here we have the Wan Tan Mee. Customers can choose between three different sizes for this dish, all varying in price. Dry/fried wan tans are one of the things I love the most - Therefore, I was dismayed to see no actual wan tans in this dish! Instead, they were replaced with just the wan tan skin, without any filling. Obviously this was an immense disappointment. The noodles and other components were solid, but without real wan tan, how can this be wan tan mee?

Price: RM2.80 (S). 5/10

Conclusion - Location wise, this place is very convenient for most tourists, and it is certainly pleasing to see a vegetarian restaurant, which is so easily accessible. Quality wise, however, I found this place was below average. Price wise it was certainly good value, and it did make me happy to get to try chicken rice balls. Perhaps this is the pampered Englishman in me speaking, but having mosquitoes take their meal from me, while I take my meal, was a little off-putting too.

Overall Rating
Food - 5/10
Ambiance- 3/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 8/10

Man Yuan Fang Vegetarian Restaurant - Malacca

2011-12-10T12:39:00.000+08:00

I recently spent a long weekend in Malacca, mainly just to kick back and relax after a stressful few weeks at work. The other reason being, I was curious to unearth some new and exciting vegetarian food in this previously unexplored area of Malaysia. Malacca is a popular weekend getaway for Singaporeans, and therefore I came to the conclusion blogging about this would be quite relevant to local Singaporeans. Man Yuan Fang is about 15 minutes walk from the famous Jonker Walk stretch. It can easily be found next to Plaza Mahkota, which is also a stones throw away from the grande Mahkota Parade shopping centre.

Man Yuan Fang Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: No. G5, Jalan PM 3,Plaza Mahkota, Malacca
Contact: 06-288 1110, 017-315 0990
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 12.00pm-9.30pm; Sat-Sun 10.00am-9.30pm. Closed Tuesday

I was immediately taken aback by the vast amount of dishes available at Man Yuan Fang. There was literally pages and pages of unique and interesting dishes to choose from. It was the back page of the menu that caught my eye the most - Dishes such as duck rice, chicken rice, and bak kut teh. What took me even more by surprise is that everything I ordered was available. A common undesirable trait of restaurants with a large menu is inevitably half the menu never seems to be available - Therefore, it was good to see Man Yuan Fang didn't fall into that trap.

Perhaps even more intriguing than their menu, is their selection of teas. For those that recently browsed through my Water Drop Tea House review, you will know I certainly have a soft spot for various types of tea. Man Yuan Fang has one of the most interesting arrays of tea that I've come across so far. The one I opted for was their most well know, which was the Jasmine Tea. All the teas on offer are completely natural, using no tea bags. The teapot looked beautiful with the various flowers glistening in the golden brown liquid. Flavour wise, it was slightly sweet (from the chrysanthemum) and had mild and mellow flavours. A nice calming drink, which matched well with the meal.

Price: RM10.00. 7/10

To start the meal off, I decided to go with a simple Crabmeat Omelette. The omelettes come in three different sizes, I went with the small. I am always apprehensious about ordering omelettes at restaurants, as they never seem to achieve the texture and flavour that I am looking for. The texture which I aim to avoid is the slimy and gooey undercooked style. To my delight, the omelette at this restaurant was not cooked that way. In fact, it was exactly the texture I was longing for. The mock crabmeat doesn't have enough noticeable flavour, and subsequently gets lost in the omelette. With that being said, this probably ranks as the best omelette I've ordered in a restaurant to date.

Price: RM6.00. 8/10

Onto the Roasted Duck Special with Rice. This was the dish I immediately ordered from the menu, and was sincerely looking forward to seeing what arrived. Starting with the mock duck, texture wise I really liked this soy derived mock meat, with its moreish crusty outer skin. It certainly made a refreshing change to the soggy gluten mock duck from Singapore. Taste wise, however, it bizarrely resembled sausage or pork - Certainly not duck. The dish comes with a variety of side components, one of those is boiled eggs quartered. For those that don't take eggs you can request not to have them included. A very satisfying dish overall.

Price: RM7.90. 8/10

It seems a crime to visit Malaysia and not sample this famous local dish. Here we have the Man Yuan Nasi Lemak with Fried Chicken (KFC). As the name suggests, the chicken is indeed KFC style, and probably was one of the best mock fried chicken concoctions that I have tried, even better than the famous DFC from Deli-Vege. The texture is chewy and juicy, and more importantly it doesn't leave the customer with that greasy queasy feeling after eating it. The only downside to this dish was the rice, which didn't have enough coconut flavour for my liking. A small grey cloud in an otherwise bright blue sky, though.

Price: RM7.90. 8/10

All good things have to come to an end, and unfortunately the final dish I ordered - The Spare Rib A La Peking - Left a bitter taste in my mouth. Being one of the most expensive dishes on the menu, I was expecting great things from this dish. Unfortunately, this dish was a monumental disappointment. The first problem was in the portion size. In total, there were only six pieces of mock meat, which should have probably been doubled to justify the price. Secondly, the taste of the peking sauce was way too sweet. The sauce tasted merely like sugar sauce, and lacked the depth and complexity that a good rib sauce should have. A dish I really regretted ordering.

Price: RM10.00. 4/10

Conclusion - This would have been a sparkling and almost flawless review, if not for the last dish, which brought a real downer to the meal. Even though the spare ribs were a disaster, the rest of the dishes were incredibly impressive. Whenever I eat at vegetarian restaurants outside of Singapore, I am quite skeptical as to the level of quality of the food. Man Yuan Fang has proved that there is some fantastic vegetarian restaurant in other parts of Asia. Be careful of the opening hours when visiting, often they just seem to randomly close whenever they feeling like it - Perhaps wise to call ahead.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 8/10

Udipi Ganesh Vilas Pure Vegetarian - Marine Parade

2011-12-07T15:31:00.001+08:00

As we near the end of the year, I tend to look back on all the new vegetarian restaurants/stalls that I visited in 2011. During this moment of reminiscing, one place which definitely leaped out at me was Udipi Ganesh Vilas. For those who read my first review of this restaurant, you will be aware that a renovation was taking place recently - I was concerned about this renovation, mainly as I was nervous the prices would increase considerably. This review is a post-renovation look at Ganesh Vilas, to see if there has been any marked changes, as well as to sample more of their dishes.

Udipi Ganesh Vilas Pure Vegetarian
Location: 10 Ceylon Road
Contact: 63454405/63487708
Opening Hours: Daily 7.30am - 9.30pm

To my relief, the look and feel of Ganesh Vilas has remained almost identical. Even more vitally, the prices have also remained the same. This second time around I wanted to try completely new dishes, starting with the Garlic Masala Pulav. Garlic is probably my most beloved single ingredient, therefore items like garlic naan and garlic rice immediately catch my attention. This rice was well flavoured,and the portion size was quite reasonable for the price. The texture of the rice was a little too soft and mushy, but overall it made for a good accompaniment to the rest of the food, which I ordered.

Price: $3.50. 6/10

Next up we have the Aloo Gobi Masala. The literal translation of this dish is potato and cauliflower curry. This dish is traditionally served dry (without sauce), however, the menu did have both options available, so I decided to try the sauce version. Overall, the curries at Ganesh Vilas are all very similar, with there being only slight tweaks to the dishes to set them apart. The curry is certainly delicious though, with there being less oil and salt, compared to the typical restaurant style curries. The cauliflower and potato were cooked well, and the fresh coriander on top was warmly welcomed. Good dish overall.

Price: $3.50. 7/10

Aloo Palak is a dish, which is practically identical to the famous North Indian dish palak paneer. Instead, for this dish, the paneer (cheese) has been substituted with potato. Visually, the beautiful glistening green curry looked divine, and taste wise I was not disappointed also. Although I am someone who prefers paneer, I did find that the potato matched well with the spinach curry. Flavour wise the curry was good, and had strong garlic flavours. One of the more expensive dishes on the menu, but still good value overall.

Price: $4.00. 7/10

This time around I decided to stray from my traditional curry eating frenzy, and go with one of the set meals. This is the North Indian Meal, which consists of of selection of curries, sambar, daal and curd. In addition to this, there is two chapatis and one poppadum. Lastly, there is one small (and extremely sugar-filled) dessert. For the price, I found that the set meal was good value. Perhaps this set meal would appeal most to those who are not too familiar with Indian cuisine, or simply can't decide what to order. As this dish has so small small components, it gives the customer a chance to sample multiple dishes all combined into one meal.

Price: $6.00. 7/10

Conclusion - I breathed a sigh of relief when I walked into Ganesh Vilas to find that the place (except from a fresh lick of paint) has remained practically unchanged after the renovation. This restaurant represents real authentic Indian food that is offered at prices, which won't hit the customers hard. Whether you're a fan of Indian food or not, I would recommend visiting this unique restaurant.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 10/10

Jin Shun Zhai Vegetarian - Kovan

2011-12-03T00:00:00.001+08:00

Since starting this blog over two years ago, one thing I tried to always take pride in doing, was visiting every and any place that my beloved readers recommend to me. Therefore, a few months ago I received a comment urging me to try out this simple and humble hawker centre stall in Kovan Food Centre. I did try on a couple of occasions to visit this place, only for it to be closed, but eventually on the third time of trying, I visited and it was open. Enough small talk, it is time to find out whether this small little stall has delicious or mouth-watering food or not.

Jin Shun Zhai Vegetarian
Location: Block 206, Kovan Food Centre, #01-46
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Closed on weekends

The amount of variety at Jin Shun Zhai is not very vast. In fact, there is only a handful of food items available. These are only rice and dishes options. First of all, I got the Brown Rice with Dishes. For this, I went with the bittergourd (one of my personal favourite vegetables), mock duck, and mock goose. I was particularly keen to try the duck and goose as this is known to be a signature from this stall. Overall the texture of the duck was most satisfying for me, the goose was also not too bad, but was a little chewy for my liking. The bittergourd was cooked well.

Price: $2.50. 6/10

For my next helping, I decided to go for the White Rice with Dishes instead. To accompany the white rice, I went with cauliflower, egg and more mock duck. The egg was the highlight of this dish. It was flavourful, and packed with awesome charred taste. The other dishes were all mediocre, with there being nothing that really struck me as being great or terrible about them. Overall a satisfying meal, which one would expect from a typical hawker centre stall.

Price: $2.50. 7/10

Conclusion - It is a simple vegetarian stall, with little options for customers overall. Perhaps on other days of the week there is a greater variety of options available, but when I visited, there was only a handful of dishes to choose from. However, the dishes that were available did taste good. In particular, the mock duck and egg were delicious.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 6/10

Water Drop Tea House - Punggol

2011-11-19T11:51:00.003+08:00

My mother recently made the long journey to Singapore to visit me. One huge cultural difference is the high stress level and countless hoards of people in Singapore. Therefore, during her trip, I took her to the most calming and peaceful eatery that I could think of, which is Water Drop Tea House. Not only did this provide a good escape for my mum, but it was also interesting for me to return to a place, which I had not visited/reviewed in almost two years. For those curious to see my first review - Click Here. Peace and serenity are what you can experience in this area of Punggol, appreciate it, before it is ruined by construction - Like everywhere else in Singapore.

Water Drop Teahouse
Location: Fo Guang Shan, 1 Punggol Place
Contact: 64110590
Opening Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-6pm. Sun+Public Hol 10am-5pm. Closed Monday.

Since my first visit, over two years ago, the menu has remained almost the same, yet some small changes have been made. This time around I captured it in a photo for my beloved readers to view. The menu, in essence, is very simple, with there being only a handful of main course meals. The rest of the menu consists of drinks (their variety of teas are especially unique and delightful) and side dishes. The dish which this tea house is most synonymous for is the crispy ginger side dish, I will get to that shortly, but first, lets start with the tea...

The different types of tea at Water Drop always captivate my attention. I was sad to see that the gui hua tea, which I remember so fondly from my first visit was now no longer available. With that being said, there are still many other unique teas to try. For example, here we have the Mixed Fruits Tea. There is no actual solid fruits in this tea, which was a bit of a disappointment. Nevertheless the flavour had popping fruit flavours, which closely resembled ribena, but without the overwhelming sugar content. A different, and certainly positive experience.

Price: $5.00 (pot). 8/10

For all the teas at Water Drop, there is the option of having a cup or a pot. For myself, I always choose the pot. Personally ordering a pot visually is much nicer to me. But for the purpose of informing you all, the cup price is $3. The next tea I sampled was the Longan Tea. A noticeable difference in this tea is the addition of various berries, such as goji and gooseberries into the pot. Not only does this enhance the flavour, they were also lots of fun to eat, once the teapot was empty. Flavour wise, the berries gave it sweetness, and the longan flavour is derived from dried longan, hence the golden brown colour.

Price: $5.00 (pot). 8/10

The signature dish of Water Drop is the Crispy Ginger. Since the last time I tried this dish, the ginger seems to have been made less burning (perhaps a switch from old to young ginger). This certainly makes it easy to eat in large quantities. Texture wise, the pieces of ginger are light and extremely chewy. Along with the ginger, there are also pieces of soy mock meat inside, flavour wise they don't have the burn of the ginger, and are more juicy. The flavour, of course, is predominantly of ginger - Yet there is also a distinct sweetness, which counteracts the ginger, to make it less overpowering. A dish that you will not be able to find anywhere else in Singapore, so seize your opportunity and order it!

Price: $5.00. 9/10

For my second visit at Water Drop, I was curious to explore more of the side dishes available. I started this exploration off with the Potato Wedges. Presentation wise, they arrived in beautiful condition, lined up in a straight row, with slashes of sauce coating them. Taste wise, they tasted as good as they looked. The potato was soft and fluffy inside, which was a relief as wedges can sometimes be undercooked. Although the sauce appears to be cheese, it is actually mayo and sweet chili combined. There is egg in the mayo, so this unfortunately is not a dish for vegans. Size wise, it may appear a little small, but price wise is pretty low, so I didn't feel too aggrieved. Certainly a side dish that I would order again.

Price: $3.00. 7/10

Probably the side dish I enjoyed the most from my first visit was the Veg Crispy Chicken, therefore I was curious to order again, to see if the standard was still the same - Thankfully it was. The batter of this chicken is hard and crunchy, however it is still nice and juicy, and not dry like some might expect. Not only was it juicy, but the flavour of the batter was sensational. Portion wise, I was pleased to see that they made this side dish slightly bigger, compared to the first time I visited. Great tasting snack, that I guarantee you will not be able to stop eating!

Price: $3.00. 8/10

The final dish in this review will be the Braised Rice, this is another one of the main meal dishes. Unlike the minced meat mushroom rice, this dish is served with white rice, instead of brown. The focal point of the dish is the various types of mushrooms, which sit next to the rice. As well as mushrooms there was also one or two pieces of gluten mock meat, which I'd rather not be there at all. The sauce that was poured over the mushrooms and rice tasted fine, and overall I was satisfied with this dish as a main meal. Price wise, it is extremely reasonable too.

Price: $4.00. 7/10

Conclusion - Water Drop Tea House offers one of the most peaceful and calming eating environments in Singapore. One of the few things that irks me about food reviewing is having to enter stressful restaurants, endure screaming babies and k-po people. At Water Drop, customers can truly relax while they enjoy their meal, for me, this is something extremely precious. Food wise, I was more impressed the second time, than I was the first. I enjoyed every dish I ordered, and thought at the end of my meal 'why has it been over two years since I've visited here!?'. I won't be waiting two years again, this is a eatery where you'll want to keep coming back again and again.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 10/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 7/10

Zen Fut Sai Kai Vegetarian Restaurant - Farrer Park

2011-11-14T10:00:00.001+08:00

I have to offer a gracious thank you to Amanda, one my readers, for bringing this place to my attention. Farrer Park has been explored extensively on my website, however, perhaps I have neglected the myriad of Chinese establishments, which can also be found in that area. An example of one of these is Zen Fut Sai Kai. Immediately upon entering this restaurant, the customer can get a olden time feel, which is like stepping back in time. Enough chit chatting, lets find out how good this traditional Chinese restaurant is...

Zen Fut Sai Kai Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 147 Kitchener Road
Contact: 62980336
Opening Hours: Tue-Sat 10.00am - 9.30pm

Before we discuss the menu, one positive I would like to mention is Zen Fut Sai Kai (unlike most traditional Chinese eateries) doesn't have the irritating extra charges, such as hand towel, pickles etc. This is a relief, as it really lessens the weight load of the end bill. The menu itself may be quite foreign to non-Chinese eaters, with many bizarre sounding names that have no explanation. However, if you're like me, it becomes a lot of fun ordering unfamiliar dishes and anticipating what will arrive. Price wise the menu is reasonable, and as I will explain later, the portion sizes are very big.

First dish of the day was the Yong Chow Fried Rice. For $6, I found that the sizing of this dish was more than reasonable. Not only do you get the plate of rice, but there is also two cups of sweet and sour sauce, which accompany it. Quality wise, the mushrooms and fresh coriander add good flavour depth. This is coupled by well textured rice, which has been flavoured wisely. In particular, the vegetables have the splendid black charring on them, which is something that I personally adore.

Price: $6.00. 8/10

Every dish from Zen Fut Sai Kai that I ordered was outstanding, but the Kum Loo Wanton was by far my most favourite. Having tried several varieties of fried wan ton, this version is by certainly my most favourite. Portion size wise, again it was quite large, and therefore was great value, in my eyes. The skin of the wan ton was flavourful and light. I am not someone who likes a lot of fried food, but these were incredibly addictive. Not only was the outer skin divine, but the wanton filling, consisting mainly of minced mushrooms, had sensational flavour. Light, delicious and fun to eat - Incredible!

Price: $6.00. 9/10

For the final dish, I wanted to try something that was really foreign to me - I went for the Sap Kum Sugar Cane Flower Soup. I am someone who as drunk sugar cane juice countless times, but this is the first time I have seen it in the form of a soup. Before I talk about the sugar cane, lets discuss the other ingredients. The main focal ingredient of this soup is certainly mushrooms. There is a total of three varieties of mushroom/fungus used. The soup stock has a mild taste, with an undertone of ginger. The sugar cane element consists of the unusual looking (and tasting) sugar cane flower. I am unsure what exactly was done to it, but it was soft, and had the flavour of corn. Very fascinating dish.

Price: $6.00. 8/10

Conclusion - Visiting Zen Fut Sai Kai really makes me realise just how much fantastic vegetarian food is located in the Farrer Park area. This meal would rank as one of my most enjoyable, since starting my food reviewing website many years ago. Portion size wise I was impressed, and the quality was exceptional also. It was a shame I couldn't get to try more of the dishes, but if they're as delicious as the three I did try, then this would probably rank as one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Singapore.

Overall Rating
Food - 9/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 9/10

Su Man Yuen Vegetarian - City Hall

2011-11-10T11:00:00.001+08:00

Western vegetarian food is always something I am particularly eager to find in Singapore, so after one of my readers, named Lilian, recommended this stall in Fountain Food Terrace, City Hall - Then I simply had to try. This is a typical run of the mill Chinese food court stall, however, their Western dishes are more unique (especially the meat sandwich dish). I personally find City Hall/Suntec to be like a maze, so in order to avoid getting lost, just head for the Fountain of Wealth, from there it is a stones throw away. Thank you once again to the reader who recommended this place to me, without further adieu, lets see how it went...

Su Man Yuen Vegetarian
Location: Level B1, #04, Fountain Food Terrace, Suntec City Mall
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Unknown

Without a doubt the dish that leaps out as the most unique and captivating is this Black Pepper Chicken Chop Sandwich. I always applaud stalls that try to offer the customer something special, which they will not find at many (or any) other stalls of this nature. The second thing that attracted me, was the price. I found $5 very reasonable. The dish itself I would label more of a fusion dish. Instead of making a typical Western style sandwich, they are actually using Chinese bun - Therefore the dish more closely resembles kou rou bao, rather than a Western sandwich. Accompanying these 'sandwiches' are coleslaw, tomato, cucumber and fries. Certainly an enjoyable dish overall, however personally, I feel if you are going to serve a Western dish, just go 100% Western - Instead of playing it safe and conglomerating it with Chinese cuisine.

Price: $5.00. 7/10

Sticking with the theme of Western food, the next dish to my tasting table was the Veg Chicken Chop. Another attractive looking dish, with similar components of cucumber, tomato and coleslaw. This time in addition, there is white rice and baked beans to accompany the chop. I find in general, the matching of mock chicken chop and rice is fine - However for some, this may run the risk of being too dry. Portion wise, I found it incredibly good value, with there being three large sized chicken chops on the plate. I would have preferred the chops to have been sliced a little, as the crunchy batter made the cutting (especially with no knife) a real hassle. A flavourful mock chicken chop, with good side dishes and an attractive price - A success overall!

Price: $5.00. 7/10

Conclusion - Su Man Yuen is certainly a great places to find affordable and tasty Western food, and if I was in the area, I wouldn't hesitate to pay this place another visit. However, while the Western food was great value, the other dishes are awful value. For dishes like laksa, expect to pay $4, and even simple rice and dishes will cost $3 plus. Another draw back of this stall is the waiting time, I understand that Western food is definitely something which takes longer to prepare, yet even after making that exception, I still found it took too long. Those who are having a craving for Western cuisine, I certainly would recommend visiting here!

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 5/10
Value - 8/10

Fu Xiang Vegetarian Food - Harbourfront

2011-11-07T10:00:00.002+08:00

Vegetarians living in Singapore should be well aware of the woeful meat-free options available at Vivo City/Harbourfront. It is really disappointing that such a huge shopping centre doesn't have one single vegetarian eatery. With that being said, there is a vegetarian stall close by the shopping centre, which could provide a viable option for those who are finding themselves desperately looking for anything vegetarian in that area. Therefore, Fu Xiang Vegetarian Food, which is located in Seah Im Food Centre, will be my focus for this review. You can get to this hawker centre by taking Exit A, from Harbourfront MRT. From there it is only a 2 minute walk.

Fu Xiang Vegetarian Food
Location: #01-25, Seah Im Food Centre
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Unknown

Honestly speaking, Fu Xiang doesn't really have a whole lot to chose from, and really, it is just a typical vegetarian hawker centre stall. But, the dishes are very cheap - Such as this White Rice & Dishes. The dishes I opted for was mock meat and beansprouts. No complaints on the rice or the dishes, although there really was not many dishes to choose from. The black pepper mock meat was particularly juicy and flavourful. As I mentioned, price wise Fu Xiang certainly does offer dirt cheap dishes, which is great for those not wanting to pay the exorbitant food prices in Vivo.

Price: $2.00. 6/10

Fu Xiang is also offering a couple of freshly cooked dishes. The one which tantalized me the most was the Fried Hor Fun. Overall, I found the soup/gravy to be quite tasty, with welcome additions of mushrooms and beancurd. Unfortunately, what I felt the dish was lacking was the aroma of the wok, which I so desperate long for whenever eating dishes such as hor fun. Therefore, with this crucial flavour being missing, I did feel like the dish was simply incomplete. The texture of the noodles also felt a little tough and rubbery.

Price: $2.50. 5/10

Conclusion - Harbourfront is truly a sorry place for vegetarian food, all we can do is keep our fingers crossed that more options will spring up in the near future. For now, Fu Xiang represents the closest geographical vegetarian eatery to Vivo City, and therefore is the best option for those wanting a 100% vegetarian eatery. For those wanting places with a very strong amount of vegetarian dishes (but not 100%), then I would recommend Pangat Authentic Indian Cuisine, which can be found in the Vivo City Kopitiam (#B2-39).

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 5/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 7/10

Sagar Ratna Vegetarian's Paradise - Farrer Park

2011-11-05T10:00:00.000+08:00

In my opinion, probably one of the most underrated vegetarian eateries in Singapore must be Sagar Ratna. Not only is their a la carte strong, but they have one of the best value Indian buffets around. Unfortunately, since my last visit, the price of the buffet increased from $10pax to $12pax. Although this increase in price is disgruntling, I still find that the price is reasonable. Not only are there several dishes to choose from, but there is also unlimited allowance of naan (butter, garlic or plain) or dosai. Finding Sagar Ratna is easy, just go down the bustling Syed Alwi Road, located a few minutes away from Farrer Park MRT.

Sagar Ratna Vegetarian's Paradise
Location: 103 Syed Alwi Road
Contact: 63417797
Opening Hours: Buffet begins at 7:30pm (Daily)

Total Buffet Price = $12.00 per person

Over the years, the concept and style of the Sagar Ratna buffet has remained the same. There is a blend of Chinese/Fusion dishes, such as rice, noodles and manchurian. There is also soup available on the far left hand side (although this, in my opinion, is a waste of stomach space). The types of dishes don't tend to vary too greatly. Each night, the types of curries may differ, but generally the Chinese dishes are always the same. Honestly, I can't really comment on the Chinese dishes - As an Indian food fanatic, I don't really see the point of eating Chinese food when I am attending an Indian buffet.

Onto the Indian dishes. On this particular evening, the focal dish (at least in my eyes) was the Kadhai Paneer. This rich and creamy curry was dark yellow in colour, and wonderfully spiced. One common disappointment with the buffet is that the paneer dishes often have very little paneer inside. Hopefully the chef becomes more generous in the future. It is an even greater shame, as the paneer is beautifully soft and silky, some of the best I have tried throughout my eating adventures. The white coloured dish nearest the camera is Kheer. This is an Indian dessert, which obviously should be taken at the end of the meal. It is sweet and contains cashew nuts and raisins typically. Although I found this version a little too diluted.

If my pictures of this delicious buffet didn't compel you to pay Sagar Ratna a visit, then I must also tell you that this restaurant has certainly the best naan I have tried so far in Singapore. The Garlic Naan and Butter Naan in particular have delightful black charring on the outskirts of the naan. This crucial element is what gives this naan its distinctive aroma. Texture wise, the naan has the balance of layers, coupled with a crispness, yet chewiness - The exact combination of how a naan should be. Forget curry and rice, I could happily enjoy these naan's by themselves!

9/10

Conclusion - On a personal level, this buffet is probably one of the meals I have eaten the most during my whole time in Singapore. I must admit, I did feel a little heart-broken when I heard about the price increase. However, putting things into perspective, I do find that the new price of $12 is also reasonable. I don't foresee that I will be returning for this buffet as frequently as I did in the past (partially price and partially health reasons). But, the increase in price certainly won't stop me going completely. If you do visit Sagar Ratna (for the buffet or a la carte) it is imperative that you sample the naan - It is incredible!

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 8/10

Hong Yi Vegetarian - Chinese Gardens

2011-11-02T09:52:00.001+08:00

I am aware that Hungry Ang Mo has certainly been lacking in vegetarian reviews in the West of Singapore, and that is something I aim to improve upon in the future. This stall was graciously recommended to me by one of my readers. They were particularly enthusiastic about the chicken rice on offer here. MRT wise, this stall is within walking distance of Chinese Gardens. The menu operates in the style of offering breakfast/lunch items (7am-3pm) and more ample dinner items. The breakfast/lunch offerings are typically chicken rice, laksa, lor mee. While the dinner menu (starting at 5pm) has several options, you can enlarge the photo to view them all.

Hong Yi Vegetarian
Location: Blk 347, #01-195, Jurong East Avenue 1
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Daily 7am - 3pm & 5pm - 10pm

As I arrived at Hong Yi for lunch, it meant I was unable to partake in the various evening meals. Nevertheless, Laksa is one of my all time favourite Singapore dishes, so I wasn't complaining. I found this particular version to be a mixture of highs and lows. The soup base is creamy, not too spicy and flavourful, with the perfect blend of coconut cream and curry. Ingredients wise, the beancurd, beansprouts and laksa leaves were good additions. However, there were several weird gluten/jelly worm-like objects inside, which really didn't do anything for me. If they got rid of these bizarre items and replaced it with char siew or mock goose (zhai er) then it would have been a much greater success.

Price: $2.50. 6/10

As my devoted reader was so keen on me trying the Chicken Rice, I simply had to oblige. The clear winner in this dish is the mock chicken. I am always pleased when the chicken arrives with the delicious golden brown beancurd 'skin' on the outside. Although the chicken was a success, I found the rice to be a little lacking in flavour, and moreover, a bit too soft. The chili was spiced well, and coriander on top of the dish added beautiful extra flavour, I was a little sad to see the absence of dark soy sauce. Definitely an above average mock chicken rice variation, however it doesn't quite beat the chicken rice I tried at Shen Wei Xun Su Shi, still the number #1 for chicken rice, in my opinion.

Price: $2.50. 8/10

Conclusion - As my exploration to the West of Singapore continues, it is pleasing to encounter stalls like Hong Yi, which offer really delicious dishes at low prices. It was a pity that I couldn't try the evening dishes. Nevertheless, the lunch time menu was great, especially the chicken rice. I only wish there was a stall like this close to where I live.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 9/10

Ananda Bhavan Vegetarian Restaurant - Farrer Park

2011-10-30T11:00:00.002+08:00

Those that wander down the famous Syed Alwi stretch will undoubtedly notice the giant Ananda Bhavan restaurant, which is probably three times the size of any other restaurant on the street. Keen readers of my site will know I have already reviewed their Changi Airport outlet on a couple of occasions (review 1 & review 2). Aside from Komala Vilas, Ananda Bhavan must surely be the most recognisable vegetarian franchise in Singapore. So what is the secret to their undiminished popularity? Hopefully this review will get to the bottom of it.

Ananda Bhavan Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 95 Syed Alwi Road
Contact: 63980837
Opening Hours: Daily: 24 Hours

As Ananda Bhavan is typically a South Indian establishment, it seemed to make sense to try arguably the most well-known South Indian offering - The Masala Dosai. What struck me straight away was the exorbitant prices for almost every item. Paying over $4 for a simple dosai strikes me as quite odd. Especially as there was nothing particularly special or unique about this offering. In fact, I found the masala in the centre of the dosai to be a little too moist and lacking flavour. The coriander chutney was a welcome addition, and the dosai itself was coloured a pleasing golden brown. But I still have to question why I am paying so much for such a dish.

Price: $4.20. 4/10

When venturing to South Indian eateries, perhaps the thing I most look forward to ordering is the set meals. On this evening, I went with the Briyani Set Meal. The dish comes with a myriad of mini curries, daal, yoghurt and vegetables. Coupled with vadai, poppadom and a puri (mini bhattura). The highlights of the dish were the vegetable kurma, which had extraordinary flavour. The briyani rice was also a good attraction. What I thought could have been improved on was the amount of spice used. The sambar in particular was recklessly spiced. An enjoyable meal certainly, and the only thing on the menu which even vaguely represents value for money.

Price: $9.60. 7/10

Conclusion - The biggest set-back was the huge price tags on almost every dish at Ananda Bhavan. Comparatively speaking, this restaurant is more expensive than high end Indian establishment, and I'm confused as to why? Additionally, why is this place still getting so many customers? For me, Ananda Bhavan is a low/middle end eatery charging high end pricing, which doesn't work in my world. Therefore, in summary, I feel the pricing is a huge injustice. To top things off, a 10% service charge is also given. For what I am not sure, as half the food you have to collect yourself. If the prices for everything was slashed in half, then I would be a lot more excited about this outlet. But as they are not, I find it to be a disappointment.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 2/10

Vegelicious - Paya Lebar

2011-10-27T10:00:00.001+08:00

Over the last few weeks, I received a number of emails and comments urging me to try out this new 100% vegetarian restaurant, which opened its doors around one month ago, in the Geylang area. Geylang has a great abundance of vegetarian eateries, therefore competition may be stiff for Vegelicious. The owner of the restaurant is a chap named Mr Tan. Since the opening, a Facebook page has also been created - Here - This page can help give additional information that you might require, prior to visiting. Distance wise, it is a short walk from Exit D of Payar Lebar station. A few minutes walk down the street from the famous smelly tofu restaurant.

Vegelicious
Location: 733 Geylang Road
Contact: 67471927
Opening Hours: Tue–Sun: 11:30am to 3:00pm & 5:30pm to 10:00pm. Closed Monday.

CLOSED DOWN AS OF 12/12/2011 (Owner will be opening a new stall in Yishun in the future)

With so much competition in the vegetarian restaurant world these days, it is important to find a unique niche market. One way to go about doing this is a creative interior design. Vegelicious certainly ticks this box. It has an captivating and colourful artsy theme. All of which has a new and fresh feel to it.

Another way to create a niche market for yourself is to have a unique and exciting menu. Although the menu at Vegelicious is not very vast, it does have unique dishes, which are native to Taiwan. As well as Taiwanese dishes, there is a variety of soup pots (pictured) to choose from. Customers firstly are able to choose the ingredients, followed by the soup type, and then whether they would like noodles or rice to accompany it. Western dishes are also on offer, which I will explore later in this review.

The highlight of my dining experience at Vegelicious surprisingly came within the first few seconds of taking my seat. One of the signature ingredients used in this restaurants cooking is Xiang Chun. This is also commonly known as Chinese toon. This paste (pictured) is given complimentary at the start of the meal. The main ingredient of the paste is derived from the toona sinensis tree, which is a synonymous tree in Chinese culture, used for medicinal uses also. The flavour of this paste is simply outstanding. It is difficult to capture how it tastes in words, so I can only urge you to pay a visit and try for yourself!

This signature paste is also conglomerated into many of the dishes at Vegelicious. For example, here we have the 'Xiang Chun' Tofu. Inevitably, the hero of this side dish was the xiang chun paste, which was dolloped on top of each block of soft tofu. Although soft tofu is not something I usually order, this dish did provide a cool and refreshing addition to the meal. Although tofu is often labelled as bland and tasteless - This dish did help to prove that adding other components to tofu can make it exceedingly enjoyable.

Price: $2.00. 7/10

Immediately after seeing this Minced Meat Rice on the menu, my eyes opened brightly and a wide smile became etched on my face. Those that are reading this and have been to Taiwan, will be vividly familiar with this dish already. It can be found in practically every Taiwanese restaurant, however, in Singapore, unearthing this dish can be difficult. I was even more pleased when I tasted this dish and found the authenticity to be high. The mock minced meat (derived from mushrooms) was moist, yet dry enough not to render the rice soggy. While the texture and consistency was a success, what I thought it was lacking was a prominent basil flavour, which the traditional Taiwan dish is renowned for.

Price: $3.00. 8/10

As Vegelicious places so much emphasis on the soup pots, I certainly had to order one. The pot I opted for was the Mock Meat Pot. I chose the kelp soup and noodles. Starting with the soup ingredients, I found that the black fungus and leafy vegetables were welcome additions to the dish. The mock meat consisted of prawns, fish balls, ham etc. For me, it was too gluten heavy, and preferably I'd would have liked to have seen a variation of different styles of mock meat (such as soy/seaweed mock fish). The soup base didn't have a very strong kelp flavour, but the noodles were cooked superbly and were seasoned well.

Price: $5.80. 6/10

To add variety to this review, I thought it fitting to sample one of the handful of Western dishes that Vegelicious is offering. This is the Chicken Chop Rice. The most attractive aspect of this dish is certainly the price, which represents incredible value. Quality wise, the mock chicken chop was not as dry as I was expecting it to be, which was a relief. The batter also tasted great. A surprise inclusion was a small portion of cubed potato salad. As a Westerner, potatoes always warm my heart, so I was pleased to see this on the plate. Moreover, it is good to see restaurant try to add something new to the typical trite Singapore Western dish.

Price: $4.00. 7/10

Conclusion - I am certainly pleased that we have a restaurant like Vegelicious now in Singapore. I can foresee that I will be regularly visiting this restaurant, to order the dishes that I miss so dearly from Taiwan. I just hope that word gets around about this new vegetarian restaurant, so that more people can visit and enjoy. The food quality is very good, but what really caught my eye was how affordable it was. Considering the fact that this is an air conditioned restaurant, I found the pricing really good value.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 9/10

Miao Yi Vegetarian Restaurant - Botanic Gardens

2011-10-24T12:00:00.000+08:00

After doing my first review of Miao Yi at the end of 2010 - I received tons of comments and emails pleading with me to try the suckling pig from Miao Yi. I must admit, when I receive all that feedback, I certainly did regret not ordering it. This regret has been plaguing me for almost a year! Therefore, recently, I decided to end this torment, and head to Miao Yi for the sole purpose of sampling this famous dish. Recently, with the completion of the circle line, Miao Yi (Coronation Plaza) has become much more accessible. It is now merely a 8-10 minute walk from the new Botanic Gardens MRT.

Miao Yi Vegetarian Restaurant

Location: Coronation Plaza, 587 Bukit Timah Road
Contact: 64671331

Opening Hours: Daily 11am-3pm, 6pm-10pm

The first thing that struck me about this dish was the extremely high price tag, which immediately sent my wallet into a coma. To avoid confusion, the suckling pig is under the name Double Flavour Broiled Mock Pig. Before discussing the suckling pig itself, lets first explore the other components of the dish. The dish comprises of cucumber, lettuce, sweet soy sauce and mock suckling pig. The concept of the dish is the wrap all the ingredients into the lettuce (wraps/parcels) and then eat. Although this can get a little messy, it is definitely an enjoyable eating experience.

Onto the focal point of the dish. There was a total of 16 pieces of mock pig, all coated in a light batter. The pink/red outer layer ('skin' layer) was crunchy, but lacked the chewy texture I was longing for. The next layer was mushroom stem mock meat, which was well flavoured. However, this layer broke apart too easily. This flimsiness made the wrapping and sauce dipping quite troublesome. When combined with the sauce and lettuce, it certainly came together as a nice tasting dish. However, my enjoyment didn't reach the levels I was hoping, for such an extravagant dish. Although my score below may seem a little harsh, if this dish was $15 cheaper then it would get a much higher score. But sadly, the price is a huge hindrance.

Price: $35.00 (M). 6/10

Conclusion - As I would certainly categorise myself as a thrifty foodie, the notion of paying $35 for one dish is something I struggle with comprehending. However, I am willing to tolerate such an astronomical price tag, providing the dish is astronomically excellent. In the case of the suckling pig, I certainly enjoyed it, but I simply didn't find it worthy of its price tag. Moreover, Miao Yi is notorious for hitting customers with countless extra charges, which adds usually $5 onto the total bill. If you've just got lucky on the Totto, then why not give this dish a try. If not, then I suggest spending this hefty sum elsewhere.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 4/10
Value - 4/10

North South East West Vegetarian Cuisine - Marine Parade

2011-10-22T11:44:00.001+08:00

North South East West quickly emerged as one of my favourite vegetarian eateries in Singapore, after visiting it numerous times (review 1 & review 2) I was overwhelmingly impressed by the consistent quality of all the dishes I tried. Admittedly, I was a little frustrated when I heard they had shifted their restaurant to further away from Parkway Parade, as it is a little more tricky for me to get to. Nevertheless, Tanjong Katong can be reached within a few bus stops from Parkway. Alternatively, the new Dakota station is also not too far away. So did the change of location result in a change in food quality? There is only one way to find out...

North South East West Vegetarian Cuisine
Location: 200 Tanjong Katong Road
Contact: 81000049
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Closed Mondays)

I was pleased to see that the location change did not effect the menu. North South East West has probably one of the most vast and detailed menus that you're likely to find in Singapore. Subsequently, customers can often be spoilt for choice, with there being simply too much to choose from. Of course, this is a good problem to have! One thing that has changed, however, is seemingly more dishes on the menu have a white sticker over them saying 'not available'. The interior design of the restaurant follows a similar theme to the old location.

Without a doubt, one of the highlights from my previous visits to North South East West was the Mustard Cheezy Balls. Although some people may feel a little aggrieved by only receiving five balls, I do find that the quality of this snack makes it worth it. I have received feedback on my site from people stating that they don't find these balls too appetising - So perhaps they would be categorised as an acquired taste. They are best eaten when freshly arrived to the table, so that the mustard filling will ooze out when you take that precious first bite.

Price: $3.00. 8/10

The signature dish of North South East West is without question the Hainanese Beef Noodle. When first visiting this restaurant, it was this dish which really blew me away. I am pleased to say that the quality has still remained the same after the location change. Portion size wise I find it to be a good size, and the thick brown broth is absolutely delicious - I could probably just drink the broth by itself. The turnips do a great job in absorbing the broth, so they taste great when you bite into one. The 'beef' is derived from mushroom stems, which again goes well with the rest of the ingredients.

Price: $5.50. 8/10

My past impression of North South East West was that they possess probably some of the best Western dishes in Singapore. Their hotdog set is particularly yummy. However, when receiving the Choppy Chicken Meal, I did feel a little underwhelmed. For me, the mock chicken patties are a little dry, and thus lets down the dish a little. With that being said, the batter tasted really fantastic, and overall I didn't have any problem greedily finishing the lot. Certainly the components on this dish were all credible. Yet, nothing really leaped out as being extraordinary. I recommend ordering the other Western dishes on the menu instead.

Price: $6.80. 6/10

Conclusion - I breathed a heavy sigh of relief, when I discovered that the menu quality, and the food quality were the same as the previous location. North South East West is a restaurant which I truly cherish in Singapore. For those who have not experienced the food from here, I urge you all to do so, as it is undoubtedly, in my mind, one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Singapore. Don't let the more awkward new location put you off from visiting!

Overall Rating
Food - 9/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 8/10

Komala Vilas Vegetarian Restaurant - Little India

2011-10-18T20:14:00.002+08:00

When people talk of Indian food in Singapore, almost instantaneously the first words that pops into most peoples heads will be Komala Vilas. This hugely successful South Indian chain of restaurants was first conceptualized back in 1947, by Indian immigrant Mr. Rajoo. This outlet, on 76 Serangoon was his first Komala Vilas restaurant, and therefore it stands out as the most classic. However, over time Komala Vilas has opened up countless outlets throughout the island. Upon entering the eatery, it definitely does feel like stepping back in time somewhat, almost like visiting a living food museum, which is a unique experience.

Komala Vilas Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 76 Serangoon Road
Contact: 62943294
Opening Hours: Mon–Sun: 7am – 10.30pm

If I was to describe my dream meal for Indian cuisine, then certainly a Masala Tea would be accompanying my food. The creaminess and wonderful flavours compliment Indian cuisine perfectly. Sticking with the classic Indian theme, I liked how this tea arrived in the tradition cup and saucer. The tea itself was creamy and not too sweet. The flavours of the spices used shimmered throughout the tea. A nice tea, but the best masala tea award still goes to Ananda Bhavan (Changi Aiport) for me. Other traditional Indian drinks, such as lassi are also available.

Price: $1.60. 7/10

A dish that is guaranteed to provide a shocked expression on an inexperienced Indian foodie is by ordering a Bhattura. This huge Indian bread best resembles an inflated puffer fish, with it being completely hollow on the inside. It is famed for having channa masala (chick pea curry) as its accompaniment. The downside of bhattura is that there will definitely be lots of oil on the bread. However, I found this particular dish very delicious, with the bhattura being light and not too weighed down with oil. This dish is best enjoyed using simply your hand and dipped into the curry. A welcome addition was the raw onion, which added another flavour and texture component to the dish.

Price: $4.20. 8/10

Perhaps the best value food in Komala Vilas can be found in the set meals. Here we have the Vegetable Briyani. I was pleasantly surprised upon arrival, when I saw a metal tray packed to the brim with various curries, breads, rice and yoghurt. In total there are eight main components - Yoghurt/curd, briyani rice, chapati, sambar, daal, vegetable kurma, poppadom, pickle and a dry vegetable dish. All of the aforementioned were cooked well, and to my delight, were not too salty or spicy. For those looking for an apt introduction to the cuisine at Komala Vilas, you can't go wrong with this set meal.

Price: $7.00. 8/10

For myself, the ideal way to summarize an Indian feast is with a extremely sweet and sinful Gulab Jamun. I always particularly appreciate consuming this high sugar dessert, mainly due to knowing how tricky it can be to perfect when making it. Although appearance wise it looks simple, a lot of skill is required to produce a successful gulab jamun. This particular dessert came with a delicious sweet rose syrup. The dough ball was perhaps a little too dense for my liking, but overall it satisfied my itch for something sinfully sweet.

Price: $1.20. 7/10

Conclusion - Often when restaurants become overwhelmingly popular, there is a tendency to see the standards ultimately drop. Thankfully, this outlet of Komala Vilas has stayed true to its roots, with the interior design and style of cooking remaining the same, even after 60 years. Those looking to experience Komala Vilas should definitely visit this outlet - Try to avoid the Komala fast food chains, which are dotted around Singapore, as these are a completely different owner and standards. The highlight of the meal was the bhattura, but everything ordered was delicious.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 9/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 7/10

Tulasi Vegetarian Restaurant - Little India

2011-10-15T12:10:00.002+08:00

A special thank you to a handful of my readers for recommending this new 100% vegetarian restaurant, which can be found on Race Course Road, in Little India. This vegetarian restaurant is a welcome addition to a road, which is surprisingly deprived of vegetarian eateries. However, I can't help but wonder how successful it will be on the less populated Race Course Road (compared with Serangoon Road). The design of the restaurant looks fresh and modern, and as soon as I saw it I couldn't wait to go inside and start a new culinary adventure....

Tulasi Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 74 Race Course Road
Contact: 62293809
Opening Hours: Tue-Fri: 11am-3.30pm, 5.30pm-11pm. Sat-Sun: 11am-11pm. Closed Monday

The menu is expertly designed. There is a heady amount of choices, ranging from traditional Indian delights, to Chinese and Malay dishes. Another honourable mention must go to the staff, who greet the customers with bright smiles and are eager to explain more about the menu and restaurant. For those who have visited Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant, you will notice a distinct similarity in the types of cuisines and dishes at Tulasi. Indeed, Tulasi seems to have taken great influence from Gokul's success.

As well as Indian dishes, Tulasi offers a wide array of dishes from other cultures - Such as, chicken rice, mee rebus, ayam mesak marah. Although, I did almost choke on my water when I saw the $10.90 price tag next to the chicken rice. Strangely enough, one of the most delicious things I sampled from Tulasi came for free. The complimentary poppadums came coupled with a beautifully creamy yoghurt curd, that I simply couldn't stop dipping in to. Could the rest of the meal be as delicious? Let's find out...

First dish up was the Garlic Naan. Readers will know I am notoriously picky when it comes to naan. With that being said, I found this naan was certainly above average overall. The only thing it was lacking was a more matured charring on the corners and bottom of the bread. The charring is what really helps blossom the flavour. The naan was well layered, though. Moreover, the flavour of the garlic was not too overpowering, and the thinness (coupled with the texture) was nailed perfectly. It should also be said that it looked visually excellent also upon arrival - Hopefully my photo did it justice.

Price: $3.00. 8/10

As mentioned, one unique aspect about Tulasi is the inclusion of local dishes into their menu. An example of one is this Mutton Murtabak. Murtabak can most easily be described as a prata, which has been stuffed with a filling. The filling in this dish was particularly scrumptious, with the onions and masala spices tasting delicious. One thing I didn't like about the dish was thick pieces of dough could be found in areas. This problem could be solved by spreading the dough more evenly. Overall the curry and mutton stuffing were incredibly moreish, and ultimately made the dish a success.

Price: $8.90. 7/10

Spinach Paneer (or palak paneer) is a dish that brings a smile to every North Indian's face, it is a favourite dish for literally millions of people. This particular rendition produced a delightfully smooth curry sauce, which was not too heavy in oil and salt (a mistake many veg/non-veg Indian eateries make). The paneer had a slight firmness, which I found perfect. The only down side would be the price - Comparing with other similar restaurants, paying almost $8 for one curry does hit the wallet a little hard. Decent dish overall.

Price: $8.90. 7/10

The last curry of the evening was the Chettinadu Chicken Curry. It arrived covered with a black lid, and was left to the customer to open it. For me, this is a great idea. As a customer, the curiosity of what was under the lid manifested within me. The curry itself was much more heavily spiced and seasoned compared to the previous dish. For myself, a reduction in oil and salt (especially the latter) would be welcome. The flavour of the curry was definitely moreish, though. The soy-based mock chicken tasted good and managed to absorb the curry flavour well.

Price: $9.90. 8/10

Conclusion - The dishes are certainly similar in style and concept to Gokul. However, one area in which I think Tulasi may stumble is including onions and garlic in their cooking. If they were to exclude them (or at least exclude them in many of their dishes) then it would ultimately attract, not only Indians, but also Buddhist Chinese and Jain vegetarians. This widening of the market is a key factor in Gokul's success. Nevertheless, Tulasi represents one of the most promising vegetarian restaurants to emerge in Singapore for a long time, and it is definitely a restaurant which you owe it to yourself to visit. Not only for the Indian food, but also for their myriad of other local and fusion cuisines.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 9/10
Service - 9/10
Value - 6/10

Graces Court Vegetarian Restaurant - Bras Basah

2011-10-05T23:20:00.001+08:00

Graces Court generates the bulk of its income from wedding functions and other such celebrations. During the week, the restaurant is pretty bare. This particular lunch time there were only three other tables in use. Those following the Hungry Ang Mo for some time will be aware that this is, in fact, my second visit (first review can be viewed here). I decided to visit again to try their a la carte buffet. It seemed to represent good value at only $14 per person. I must say, during first visit I found the cooking at Graces Court a little clumsy. Let's hope this second visit produces tastier dishes.

Graces Court Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: Hotel Royal, 12 Queen Street, #02-03
Contact: 62385085
Opening Hours: Daily: 11.30am–2.30pm, 5.30pm–9.30pm

So what do we mean by 'a la carte buffet'? It basically means there is a fixed price ($14), yet instead of taking food from containers, you order from a buffet menu (pictured). This has its benefits, as the food arrives fresh. With that being said, Graces Court does have some dishes that are laid out on a table - Such as, bao, dim sum, fruits, soup etc. A key difference to Chinese and Indian buffets is that, for the former you are strictly not allowed to reuse any cups or plates that you have eaten from, regardless of the circumstances.

Of course, it is unimaginable to have a variety of Chinese dishes, without rice or noodles accompanying it. For this meal, I went for the Fragrance Rice. Overall I thought it was a commendable dish. The rice was well cooked, with the grains separated well, and also not too mushy. As well as decent texture, the flavour components of the dish were reasonably solid. Although there was not a ton of wok hei flavour, I did find it was a good amount.

7/10

One of the better dishes of the evenings festivities was the Sambal Kang Kong. Although deceptively simple (as most Chinese cooking is), the positive qualities were ample. Firstly, the vegetable itself was cooked well, so that the leaf had a creamy texture (my favourite part). Secondly, the wok hei flavour shimmered throughout the vegetables, making me want to go back for a second helping. Seasoning wise, I was pleased to see not so much chili was used, however, perhaps it could have benefited from a little less salt - A common occurrence in these dishes.

7/10

The next dish that was selected was the Sliced Fish with Celery. I'll get straight to the point with this dish, it made my face wince due to the amount of salt used in this dish. It would probably rank as one of the saltiest dishes I've tried since beginning reviewing food back in 2009. Subsequently, it is somewhat alarming how this dish was even allowed to leave the kitchen. The chef would benefit highly from actually tasting his dishes before he releases them to the public. Perhaps at a hawker centre stall it is forgivable to make such a mistake, but at a restaurant it is quite embarrassing.

2/10

The next dish sampled was the Bailing Mushrooms. For those that have never tried this species of mushroom, the texture can be best described as slightly chewy and mild in flavour. They are most notorious for being used to make mock abalone. Personally, I find this species of mushroom quite delicious, and a more refreshing change to the usually powerfully tasting shitake mushrooms. The vegetables that accompanied the mushrooms went well together. However, I found the sauce a little starchy and thick.

6/10

Mock seafood, in particular the mock jelly is probably my most despised aspect of vegetarian cooking in Asia. Mock prawns, such as those used in this Salad Prawn dish, did have a better texture to the usual tough and rubbery texture, which one might usually associate with vegetarian hawker stall prawns. However, what let this dish down was the lack of flavour in the mock prawns. It was a pity as the batter crust was light and tasty. Unfortunately though, the focal point of the dish is the prawn, and for me it was too tasteless.

6/10

Although the dishes so far were hardly exceptional, I am pleased to say that this review will end on a quite positive note, in the form of these Sauteed Eggplants. My texture preference for eggplant is very soft (almost mushy), thankfully these eggplants were not too hard. However, slightly longer cooking time would have result in the eggplants being more creamy (which is what I look for). This nice texture was accompanied by a strong yet delicious sauce, which complimented the flavour of the eggplant very well. The best dish of the day without a doubt.

8/10

TOTAL BUFFET CHARGE (per person) = $14.00

Conclusion - Although I found that the price of this buffet was very reasonable, the main qualm I have is that the food in general was a tad uninspiring. Even I myself, as a food reviewer, was slightly bored writing this review. Nothing leaped out from any of the dishes as being remarkable, and often amateurish mistakes were made in the seasoning of the dishes. The eggplant represented a rare peak in a sea of mediocrity. The restaurant does suit special occasions and celebrations well, but don't expect the food to be anything other than average.

Overall Rating
Food - 5/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 5/10
Value - 7/10

Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant - Bugis

2011-09-27T00:20:00.003+08:00

When I encountered the news that Gokul was opening a second outlet, this time in the Fortune Centre - I reacted with both delight and pessimism. I was pessimistic due to the fact that, although Fortune Centre is a vegetarian mecca, it is not an Indian vegetarian mecca. The flow of individuals going through this shopping centre will be mostly Chinese, and Chinese are typically quite conservative in regards to trying different food. This pessimism seems to be justified as Gokul looked like ghost town on the evening I chose to visit. Hopefully business picks up, but I don't foresee any radical change. Please note, I asked the staff about the opening times, they claim they are open every day, however I have visited a couple of times and they were randomly closed. I advise calling ahead. I would also like to stress, no onions, garlic or egg are used in any of the dishes at Gokul.

Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: Fortune Centre, 190 Middle Road, #01-07
Contact: 63374811
Opening Hours: Daily 9am - 8.30pm

Seemingly this Gokul outlet has a tandoor in a constant coma, as they never seem to have naan or tandoori roti available. Therefore, I settled with Chapati. This did disgruntle me slightly, as chapati never really scratches my itch for Indian bread like naan does. With that being said, this chapati was light and provided an apt accompaniment to the rest of the dishes that were ordered. Although price wise, I find this new Gokul outlet very reasonable, I do find a sore spot is the breads, which are still a little too pricy for my liking. All the breads could benefit from a 50 cent reduction in price.

Price: $2.00 (pc). 7/10

Although Gokul is categorized as an 'Indian restaurant' - Sometimes I feel this is a misrepresentation of this establishment. On the menu are Western, Malay, Chinese and Indian dishes. An example of Malay cuisine is this Chicken Curry With Bread. Gokul stays true to the traditional style of this Malaysian curry, with the curry texture being less thick, and packed with a strong lemongrass flavour. Inside the curry was mock chicken and potato. The only low-light of this dish was the lack of potato (there was only one piece inside). The bread was toasted well, and was superbly fresh (even late at night, when I visited). As Malay food is traditionally very meat heavy, this meat-free version of this classic curry dish may offer a unique niche, for those curious to try the dish.

Price: $5.00. 7/10

Regular readers of my website will know I have creamy North Indian curries practically running through my veins now. Needless to say, we are now approaching my favourite part of the meal. This is the Moghlai Chicken. The mughlai category of Indian cooking is probably my most cherished, due to its style of subtle spices with slightly sweet and creamy curry. The high points to this dish was the lack of oil, which Indian food is usually notorious for being recklessly heavy with. Additionally, the mock chicken used is terribly authentic, and compliments the smooth texture of the curry ideally.

Price: $6.00. 8/10

I was slightly fearful of how much cream would be used in this Paneer Makhni, but there was a little devil on my shoulder screaming 'Order it!' and eventually I flicked the angel off my other shoulder and relented to purchase it. Daal makhni, a dish similar to this, is famed for practically a bucket load of cream being heaved into the pot. Thankfully, this paneer makhni was not too cream heavy, but it still may be too rich for those not calibrated to appreciate Indian cuisine. The curry was smooth and spiced perfectly, but be careful for whole cardamom pods and cloves inside the curry. A curry that tasted great, and looked beautiful upon arrival. A real winner!

Price: $6.00. 9/10

Conclusion - One of the really remarkable qualities about Gokul (both this outlet and their Little India outlet) is the quick service time. They prepare these beautiful looking dishes in a matter of mere minutes, which is praise worthy. Moreover, not only are they produced quickly, but the quality is almost always top notch. I can't even recall being served a dish at Gokul that was below-par. I am hoping that non-Indian individuals will give Gokul a try, and help keep this restaurant running successfully in the Fortune Centre. You have no risk of consuming onions and garlic, and there is a wealth of dishes from various cultures (not just Indian). So, I will finish this review with a question - What is stopping you?

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 9/10
Value - 9/10

Taiwan Vegetarian Food Guide

2011-09-21T16:09:00.002+08:00

Taiwan is a country which almost every Singaporean has laid claim to visiting. And it is a country that has a reputation of being very vegetarian friendly. Therefore, during my recent visit to the so-called sweet potato shaped country, I was eagerly anticipating sampling all the many vegetarian delights, along with the infamous street food from night markets. Below is a brief guide to some of the food you might want to look out for.

Firstly, those who are not confident in speaking and reading Chinese will have an extremely difficult time in Taiwan. The locals ability to understand English is probably the lowest I have seen in any country I have visited so far (even behind lesser developed countries, such as Cambodia and Vietnam). This language barrier is also coupled by perplexing street and road signs, which make finding even the most simple things virtually impossible. One of the best ways to locate vegetarian food, however, is to look out for the Buddhist 'swastika' symbol, as this always indicates that the establishment is 100% vegetarian. Alternatively, just note down/remember the Chinese character for vegetarian (素).

Every vegetarian establishment will be selling Minced Meat Rice. It is a simple dish of white rice, with mock minced meat, which is usually derived from mushroom stems. Although simple, it is also dish that can have errors. The best kind should have the rice slightly moistened by the sauce, but not drowned in the sauce. Additionally, the granules of mock meat should be firm and bouncy, and not mushy like a tried in a few establishments. It is an ideal dish that can accompany main dishes, or could simply be eaten alone.

Price: NTD25-35 (approximately). 7/10

A journey to Taiwan is simply not complete with trying the infamous Smelly Tofu (臭豆腐). Prior to this trip, I had tried this style of tofu in Singapore on a few occasions, and slowly grew to like it. The Taiwan version is really much more superior to Singapore's though, and my enjoyment evolved from liking the dish, to loving it. In Taipei, the most famous smelly tofu stall can be found within the hectic Shilin Night Market. I went on a Monday and it was closed, therefore I am unclear whether it is open only on weekends, or there are other days during the week it opens. But Monday is definitely closed.

On weekends, this stall has an extremely long queue, so be prepared to wait a while. So is this smelly tofu really far superior to the rest? In short, it is considerably better. The highlight may not even be the tofu itself, but rather the dark brown garlic sauce which is covered over it. The sauce is very strong of garlic, and just delicious. The tofu also cannot go without praise. The skin is crispy, and this stall uniquely chops the tofu into smaller pieces, which works to its advantage. Definitely somethings you must experience.

Price: NTD45 (S) NTD60 (L). 9/10

As Taiwan has developed as a country, it is natural that their cuisine has branched out to accept many different cultures. So Free Wood Fired Pizza & Cheese is mainly patronized by locals curious to try out authentic wood fire pizza for the first time. Within walking distance is also Shida Night Market. To follow with the frustrating theme of Taiwan, this restaurant is located down hopelessly winding side streets, and ultimately took me hours to find. There is little real seating areas for people to eat, so it might be advisable to take away and eat it in the nearby park area.

Here is a picture of the Smoked Cheese Pizza. All pizzas come in one size only (eight inches) and there are a number of unique and exciting styles to choose from. A generous amount of cheese was used on the toppings, and as the cheese was smoked, it gave beautifully strong flavour. The pizza base/crust was exceptional, with it being chewy and crunchy. The dessert style pizzas (such as Apple & Cinnamon) are not really my thing, but I fully recommend the savory varieties.

Price: NTD135. 8/10

So Free Wood Fired Pizza & Cheese
Address: No. 28, Lane 283, Roosevelt Rd., Sec. 3
Contact: (02) 2364-3351
Opening Hours: Daily 11:30 AM - 9 PM

Needless to say, another classic culinary hallmark of Taiwan is the Shaved Ice. It is important to mark the difference between Taiwan shaved ice, and the ice kachang, which we have available in Singapore. In Taiwan, the texture of the ice is much finer, to the point where it practically dissolves in your mouth when eating. The texture most closely resembles cotton or a fabric of such ilk (not that I regularly consume cotton). Added to the shaved ice is the typical fruits and milk. Other stalls may sell flavoured shaved ice, coming in flavours such as berry and green tea.

Price: NTD80. 8/10

Nutrihub Organic Vegetarian Cafe - Chinatown

2011-09-07T13:13:00.001+08:00

At the beginning of the year I visited Nutrihub for the first time, back when they were at the Cuppage Plaza location. As many will be aware, a few months ago this popular organic eatery shifted to Temple Street in Chinatown. This location is really a much more logical place to be, as it is more easily accessible, and will attracted both locals and foreign tourists. The head chef and owner of this establishment is Vinitha Ang, and she is readily open to share with you her wealthy of knowledge on organic and healthy living. In addition to the cafe, there is a number of shelves stacked with various grains, powders and health food products.

Nutrihub Organic Vegetarian Cafe
Location: 46 Temple Street
Contact: 67382746/92368402
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat: 11am to 8pm, Sun: Closed

We will get to the fixed menu shortly, but first I thought it would be useful to share with you the daily specials that are on offer at Nutrihub - All sounding mouth-watering. Another interesting component to Vinitha's work at Nutrihub is her cooking classes, which offer individuals a valuable insight in how to cook healthy and fresh foods at home. It is certainly something that is worth while experiencing. More information on Vinitha's cooking classes and Nutrihub cafe in general can be found on their website - Here. As well as their regular menu and these daily specials, there may occasionally be ad-hoc dishes available. On this particular day they were selling mock otah (made from mashed tofu), it was a probably the best vegetarian otah I have tried so far in Singapore (selling for $3.00/pc).

As well as their daily specials, there is a comprehensive menu, which is available everyday. Do take note that some of the more intricate dishes could take 15-20 minutes to complete, but usually the wait is worth it. The menu has not changed greatly from the one they were using at their old location, however Vinitha is working on new dishes, which will be introduced to the public shortly.

It seems almost compulsory that health and organic restaurants will be selling sushi. Although somewhat trite, this Spicy Almond Sushi (With Organic Almond & Apple Chilli) was scrumptious to consume. What is so rewarding about eating this dish is the flavour balance, but more importantly, the freshness of the ingredients. The filling of the sushi consists of carrots, turnip, beetroot, sprouts and lettuce - All these ingredients are crunchy and sweet (especially the carrots). The subtle spice, coupled with the sweetness of the apple provides a harmonious flavour balance. Additionally, shards of almond can be found in the sauce, which adds another textural element to the dish.

Price: $7.80. 7/10

Next to the table was the Chilli Miso Tofu Ramen. Miso is something I have learned to increasingly adore over time, therefore the soup base in this dish was delectable for me. The only criticism this dish may be vulnerable to is lacking flavour. However, I found that the ample flavour in the shitake mushrooms prevent this from being the case. The one thing that blew me away in this dish was the scrambled tofu on top. The texture strongly resembled scrambled eggs, and complimented the vegetables and noodles perfectly. Portion wise, it arrived it a large bowl, and overall I found it value for money.

Price: $7.00. 7/10

Probably the dish I was most intrigued by was the Asian Pizza Delight & Nut Cheese. The concept of making a raw vegan 'pizza' certainly fascinated me, but did it deliver? First, lets dissect what this dish actually is. The base of the 'pizza' is more like a thin cracker, which comprises of dehydrated flax seeds and vegetables. The toppings consist of tomato and kai lan (yes, raw kai lan). Finally sprinkled on top is nut 'cheese', which is derived from cashew nuts. The nut cheese does have the salty taste of real cheese, and the kai lan (marinated in plum dressing) tasted great. The real triumph of the dish was the dehydrated crackers though, I could have eaten them by themselves. They have superb flavour, and a welcome chewy texture. While this dish was a success in my eyes, I do question whether people who are not educated about raw and healthy cuisine, might just see this as crackers with vegetables on top, though.

Price: $10.80. 8/10

Something special for my readers now, a world exclusive! This Wholemeal Sandwich has not been released onto their menus yet, but it was offered it me to sample for feedback. A unique element of the cooking at Nutrihub is everything is fresh and made on the premises. This is the case with the bread from this sandwich. Fresh bread is always a delightful thing, but taste wise it was a little plain - Added rosemary or oregano in the bread would have introduced a welcome flavour enhancement. The patty (made from juice pulp) was spiced perfectly, and tasted outstanding. Also the tofu chips (dehydrated) were tasty, especially with the chilli apple sauce on the side.

Price: $7.80. 7/10

Finally dessert, colour wise this Dragon Fruit With Konyac Jelly & Chia Seeds certainly looks striking. The dish comprises of three main components. The white fleshed dragon fruit at the bottom, the red fermented dragon fruit on top, and pandan infused jelly around the edges. Usually for my Western palate, pandan is something that is too flavourless for my liking. The jelly in this dish, however, was packed with pandan flavour. Fermentation of fruits may be something that is new to a lot of people. A simple definition is that it is fruit left for a number of days to ferment, and subsequently at the end, it has a completely changed flavour. In the case of this dish, the dragon fruit enzyme develops a mild sweet red wine flavour.

Price: $5.00. 7/10

Conclusion - The foundation of Vinitha's cooking philosophy is simple, fresh and organic foods. It is important for visitors to adjust their way of thinking to these principles. I will concede that the dishes may not be as packed with flavour as typical hawker centre vegetarians food. However, this food is substantially more healthy, and not riddled with MSG, salt, oil and pesticides, and still tastes great. The popularity of organic and raw foods is something that will increase rapidly over the next decade, as people become more educated on the significance diet plays in dictating ones health. In Singapore, Nutrihub is one of the innovators in this movement, but they won't be alone for long!

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 7/10

Vegan Banana Ice Cream

2011-09-02T23:22:00.005+08:00

On the infrequent occasions that I post food recipes on Hungry Ang Mo, self-admittedly they are usually quite perplexing and challenging Indian recipes. Therefore, for this post, I wanted to change my habits and give you the most basic (yet delicious) recipe that I know.

Veganism, for me, is my next evolution step to live a more ethical and healthy life. Although I have not reached that goal yet, dairy is something I am consciously reducing - With the view of eliminating it entirely from my diet in the future.

Vegan Banana Ice Cream

How can ice cream be vegan I hear you gasp? No egg yolk? No milk? Indeed this recipe is completely vegan. It also has no sugar. In fact, it only really contains one ingredient - Bananas. Although if you want to spruce up this dessert - Adding cinnamon would work a treat, or you could easily turn it into milo banana ice cream or coffee banana ice cream. Can you use any other fruit? I have never tried with others, and I doubt it would work. It is the natural unique texture of banana, which makes it possible to be 'transformed' into ice cream. So how is this laughably simplistic dessert achieved, lets find out...

The first process is to freeze a bunch of bananas (peeled) over night. I have opted to choose the baby sized bananas. The only conceivable way this dessert could fail is by choosing lousy bananas. If they are too raw or have a starchy taste, then it will consequently make the ice cream unsatisfactory. So ripe (preferably organic) baby bananas is the ideal. Once frozen, place the bananas in a blender and add around four tablespoons of water. Continue to blend and watch simple bananas transform into this delicious dessert!

Voila! After making this dessert, I hope you will be astounded by the texture of the ice cream. In my eyes, it resembles real ice cream by about 95%. Additionally, it is surprising how sweet the ice cream is, even without any sugar added. No one has any excuse not to try this at home, it is so simple, yet so delicious!

Vegetarian Uncle Rojak - Hougang

2011-08-30T23:17:00.002+08:00

Although Hougang may be lacking in high end vegetarian restaurants, what it does have to offer is countless hidden gems lurking in the myriad of coffee shops. It is these humble coffee shop stalls that have built up their reputation for many decades, until like this stall, they receive nation wide notoriety. This famous rojak cooking uncle was brought to my attention by one of my readers named Louisa. Over the years, this uncle has received considerable attention, such as newspaper articles and television programmes featuring his stall. Even Adrian Pang (the Malaysian-born actor who seemingly appears in every Singaporean show ever created) popped by this stall to give his empty-headed view on the rojak quality.

Vegetarian Uncle Rojak
Location: Blk 805 Hougang Central, Foodpark Coffee Shop
Contact: 90299885
Opening Hours: Daily 9am - 10pm

Needless to say, it would be a injustice to this review if I didn't discuss and divulge in the dish that this stall is most synonymous for. The Rojak from this eatery comes in three size choices - Small, medium and large. I opted for the small size, and was startled by how big the portion was. Rojak (meaning 'mixture' in Malay) has many different variations and ingredients depending on the country and culture. For this dish, the prominent ingredients were pineapple, turnip and cucumber - All lathered in the famous thick and sweet rojak sauce. The sauce was thicker than usual, and lacking a little acidity from lime, in my opinion.

Price: $3.00 (S) $4.00 (M) $5.00 (L). 7/10

Other than his rojak, the uncle who runs this stall has also gained notoriety for his high quality Popiah. In particular, the popiah skin. He even sells the skin individually for $12 per kg - More information about those services can be found on his website. The popiah skin is certainly worth the hype, and was without question the best thing I ate from his stall that evening. The skin texture was chewy, yet light and having a thinness that didn't make it too heavy to consume. I could have eaten the skin alone! Inside was shredded vegetables and more of the rojak sauce. For reference, the image on the left is two pieces of popiah (total of $3.00).

Price: $1.50. 9/10

Moving on to the next dish, here we have the Tahu Goreng. Yet again, this dish was drowned in the sweet rojak sauce (the friendly uncle that owns this stall must have this sauce pumping through his veins by now). For those who are curious, rojak sauce mainly consists of palm sugar, tamarind, peanuts and chili. The sauce at this stall may or may not be to your liking. I foresee the contentious point being if the sauce is too thick or not. For me, this sauce consistency is fine, but others may wish for it to be more watered down. The notable trait of this dish is the fried tofu. The uncle fries the tofu fresh for each order. As a result the tofu tastes deliciously fresh.

Price: $2.00. 7/10

Moving onto the final dish, which was the Tau Kau Pau. I must admit, by this stage, I was sick of the sight of the sweet rojak sauce. This sandwich like dish had a great abundance of beansprouts in the center, which added a good crunch. Additionally, the lettuce leaves offered a slight rest-bite from overwhelming sauce. The theme of fresh uncooked ingredients, coupled with the sweet/tartness of the rojak sauce is basically the fundamentals of every dish offered at this stall. It is a formula that works successfully in this tau kau pau dish also.

Price: $1.50. 6/10

Conclusion - The menu at Uncle Rojak is not very large. In fact, I ordered every dish that the stall sells. They do also have a rojak mee rebus, which was not available on that particular evening. The standout highlight was certainly the popiah skin, probably the best I have tried so far in Singapore. In retrospect, eating four dishes covered in the sweet rojak sauce was probably not a good idea, and I will be staying away from that sauce for a long time now. All the dishes were delicious though, and would provide a fitting side dish to your main meal.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 7/10

Saravanaa Bhavan Indian Vegetarian Restaurant - Farrer Park

2011-08-22T23:08:00.003+08:00

I am aware that my Indian themed reviews are far from my most popular posts, however the purpose of the Hungry Ang Mo is to shine a light on all vegetarian food in Singapore (i.e. not just Chinese), regardless of cuisine genre - Therefore, I have another Indian eatery to share with you all, by the name of Saravanaa Bhavan. I actually visited this place over a year ago, but a review of it never materialized. Hence, I visited again, to finish what I started over a year ago. This is another of the 100% vegetarian eateries dotted along the infamous Syed Alwi Road (in my opinion, the number one meat free area in Singapore).

Saravanaa Bhavan Indian Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 84 Syed Alwi Road
Contact: 62977755
Opening Hours: Daily 8am - 11pm

Saravanaa Bhavan is hardly a humble local establishment. To the contrary, it has manifested a truly global franchise, with restaurants in USA, England, France, Canada and India (to name but a few). Focusing on our beloved Singapore, there are four outlets in total, more information can be found on their global website. The menu offers the customers all the wonderful North and South Indian dishes that Indian food fanatics would expect. A prior warning, it is better to go for a late dinner, as many dishes may not be available until after around 6pm.

This Channa Samosa certainly represented the most discussion worthy dish of the evening. Ever wonder what would happen if you merged a chaat with a curry? Well, me neither, but this dish certainly answers this question. A merging of two styles of Indian cooking is truly what it is. The attributes of a chaat are present in the form of mint chutney, raw red onions and the samosa. However, as you can visible see on the photo these ingredients are floating in a archetypal curry sauce. Channa translated into English is chickpeas, which are also floating in the dish. Does this fusion work? I must admit, I quite enjoyed the flavours, and would in all likelihood order it again.

Price: $5.50. 7/10

Apart roti prata (which I would be willing to argue is not even Indian food), dosa would probably be the most easily recognizable Indian dish. This is the Special Dosa. Although I didn't notice anything strikingly special or unique about this dosa, I was certainly thrilled by the superb flavour and texture. Another honorable mention goes to the yellow chutney (which I suspect is cashew chutney) which brought extra life into this dish.

Price: $3.50. 7/10

After my overwhelmingly positive experience of sampling bisebele bath at Ganesh Vilas, my curiosity was tickled to try this Bagalabath. Bagalabath is a vastly different dish, which can be broken down to basically mean curd rice. To an untrained palate, the flavour of this dish could closely resemble a sour rice pudding. While sour rice pudding would hardly be something I could envision drooling over in the future, it is a cooling dish, that would compliment the more richer Indian dishes. Inside the curd rice are diced carrots and raisins. Not a dish I would recommend non-Indian to order, as this is an acquired taste.

Price: $4.50. 5/10

As my faithful readers will be aware, North Indian food is my soft spot, the style of cuisine which I could eat religiously day after day. Therefore, a trip to an Indian restaurant is simply incomplete for me without a delicious thick curry. This emotional emptiness was filled by Aloo Paneer. The name translated simply means potato and cheese curry. I was taken aback by how rich and creamy this dish was. Those whose stomachs are not calibrated to appreciate Indian food might find this dish too heavy, as undoubtedly a reckless amount of cream was added. The paneer cheese had an almost perfect texture, and the potatoes held some welcome firmness to them. The sauce was delicious for me, but may not be to everyone's taste.

Price: $6.50. 8/10

Conclusion - GST and service charge were slammed into my face at the end of the meal, which did dissolve any thoughts of good value that I had in my mind. With that being said, the prices are not too bad. Especially for the aloo paneer curry, which was a pleasingly large portion size. Saravanaa Bhavan succeeded in producing good quality food, none of which I was displeased with. However, none of the foodssampled were really incredible either. Consequently, next time I'm trotting down Syed Alwi Road, I doubt this would be my first pick.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 6/10

Swensen's Ice Cream Buffet - Orchard

2011-08-17T15:44:00.001+08:00

Orchard to me represents the height of materialism in Singapore. With everyone striving to buy items to find some sense of fulfillment or happiness. Yet, neglecting any quest of inner peace. Needless to say, Orchard is not somewhere I like to find myself. However, I made an exception a few days ago to try out the notorious Swensen's ice cream buffet. The catalyst for this journey was a 50% discount voucher that I bought online, making the buffet far more affordable than usual - I would categorize myself as much more of a savory food lover, but perhaps this buffet can help unearth a hidden sweet tooth in me.

Swensen's
Location: 2 Orchard Turn, #B1-31, ION Orchard
Contact: 68845967
Opening Hours: Daily 11am-10pm (buffet timings)

The amount of ice cream and gelatos available was truly impressing. There were two more sections similar to this photo, that had more frozen delights. My personal favourites were the Apple Crumble Ice Cream and the Almond Pistachio Ice Cream. The latter ice cream is one of their most famous. On a cautionary note, the Filipino lady that serves the ice cream is acerbic and idle, and personally her inadequate service did taint my experience slightly. No qualms with the ice cream and the amount available though. There is also hot fudge on the side, which you can squirt onto it.

There was also a credible amount of cakes on offer, but I was disappointed that there were no cheese cakes available on that particular day. Most of the cakes were pretty ordinary. However, the Carrot Cake was moist and flavourful. The real standout cake was the Butter Cheese Pound Cake. The sponge on this cake was light and had perfect blend of salty and sweet flavour - For reference it is the cake with the chocolate balls on the top in the picture.

Price: $22.25 (per person). 7/10

Conclusion - As far as the quantity of the buffet spread, I would definitely say there are a lot of options and variety available. The quality is also not bad, although the waffles were too soggy, and most of the cakes were merely average. A dessert buffet is certainly something that will attract a lot of attention, and it is a lot of fun for the customers. However, before going, you should ask yourself a question - How much sweet desserts can I really eat? If the answer is a scoop of ice cream and a couple of cakes - Then you may not be getting your moneys worth. For those wondering how much I managed to eat - Eight scoops of ice cream and four cakes. I was carried out of the restaurant on a stretcher.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 6/10

Swaad Pure Vegetarian Restaurant - Farrer Park

2011-08-11T23:33:00.002+08:00

Just when I think that I have seen all the Indian vegetarian delights in Farrer Park/Little India, another one is brought to my attention - Once again, by my ever reliable Indian informant Shankar. This Indian restaurant prides itself in offering Gujarati cuisine. For those unaware Gujarat is a state in western India, it is unique for its high abundance of vegetarians (almost the entire population of Gujarat doesn't consume meat). All the more remarkable when you consider there are 60 million people living in Gujarat. Additionally all alcohol is also prohibited in this state - Sounds like heaven for me.

Swaad Pure Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 70 Deskar Road
Contact: 82856865
Opening Hours: Daily 11am-3pm, 4pm-10pm

Before we test the food, let's take a brief look at the menu. It arrives to the customer in the form of a nifty little booklet, which is easy to navigate. The vastness of choices is not huge, but sometimes that is a good thing, as too much choice can be overwhelming. Price wise, this would rank as a mid-range eatery, with the prices being quite affordable. Although, if you are really looking for a dirt cheap Indian eatery, it may be worth visiting Ganesh Vilas.

All great Indian food needs a good bread to accompany it. For this meal I opted for the Missi Roti. What differentiates this bread with others, is that it is made using besan (chick pea) flour. This gives this thin bread a more earthy flavour, it is also a more healthier alternative to most Indian breads. I say healthier not healthy, as this bread does have butter smeared over it. This bread is a perfect accompaniment to rice, daal and other scintillating Indian foods. The layering and thinness of this bread also made it light and fluffy to eat.

Price: $2.00. 7/10

After some deliberation, the rice I decided to pick was the Hyderabad Biriyani. As the name would suggest, this style of rice was spawned in Hyderabad, in Andhra Pradesh state. It is a dish synonymous for containing meat (namely goat meat). Of course, as Swaad is 100% vegetarian then no meat will be inside. To my surprise, the rice was coloured green, which I am presuming is a coriander infused style of cooking the biriyani. I have not had the fortune of sampling real Hyderabad biriyani, so I can't comment on this dishes authenticity. Taste wise though, it was a delicious and fluffy biriyani, which was incredibly moreish.

Price: $5.00. 8/10

For North Indian vegetarians, it is almost guaranteed that Palak Paneer will rank as one of their most beloved dishes. A unique difference to this dish, was the inclusion of scrambled paneer on the top of the curry. Flavour wise the spinach flavour was maintained well, and the seasoning and salt level was just perfect. The scrambled paneer was also a welcome addition to the dish. Unfortunately, as the dish was on its was to excellence, it limped to a halt due to the poor quality of the paneer cubes inside. The cheese was strained for too long, rendering the cubes to be too hard and dry. Good paneer cubes should be soft and silky in texture. A shame, as everything else in the dish was great.

Price: $7.00. 7/10

For a new comer to Indian cuisine, a thali, such as this Swaad Fixed Thali is an ideal dish choice. Mainly because you get small samples of many different foods. Taste wise, it also gives a wide variety of flavours, such as sour, sweet, salty, spicy. In this particular thali the main dishes were a dry cabbage fry, a watery potato curry, and sambar. The sambar had an overwhelming sourness to it, and the potato curry was a little too oily. The cabbage, however, had good texture, and a fine balance of flavours. The bright green coriander chutney was also a high point on the plate. The kind waiter would constantly add more chapati to your thali if you finish it also. Some good points, but I found it could have done with one or two more curries on the plate.

Price: $7.00. 5/10

Conclusion - I like it when restaurants spruce up dishes and take them to another level, and ultimately spark my interest in a dish I might have seen hundreds of times. The palak paneer with the scrambled paneer on top was the highlight of the meal, and it could have been so much better if only for the lackluster paneer cubes. None of the food was below par from Swaad, then again nothing leaped out as being phenomenal either. Swwad also produces a daily buffet, which I am curious to try. As for the a la carte, it was good, but better can be found elsewhere in the area.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 6/10

Forest Dew Vegetarian Restaurant - Boon Keng

2011-08-08T20:21:00.001+08:00

Back when my Hungry Ang Mo website was still in its infancy stages - Late 2009 more specifically - Forest Dew was one of my first few posts. I wanted to make a return visit, to see how things had changed in the almost two year gap. For reference, avid readers can catch up with my first post here. I remember my first experience being a largely positive one, especially due to their delectable mushroom meat balls. Boon Keng is hardly a vegetarian paradise, and it is a testament to the restaurant, that they have successfully survived for so long, in such a culinary barren area of Singapore.

Forest Dew Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: Blk 23 Bendemeer Road, #01-523
Contact: 62939579
Opening Hours: Daily 10.30am-10pm

For this second visit, I wanted to focus more on their several varieties of set meals. But first, I should point out (to my horror) that the mushroom meat balls that I adored so much from the past, have inexplicably been removed from the menu. From the feedback I have had, it seems this dish was universally popular with all the customers, so I'm quite clueless as to why they decided to remove it. The menu does have a new look, and therefore customers can expect new and innovative dishes from Forest Dew - But no more meat balls, I can feel my eyes welling up with tears.

There are several variations of Set Meals to choose from, but the one I went for was the soup, rice, and two savory dishes option. Another set meals are available that include a Thai dessert. Starting with the Tom Yum Sharks Fin Soup - Tom yum has always been something I've struggled to appreciate. Nevertheless the texture of this soup was well done, and I was relieved to taste that the red chili of the tom yum didn't dominate this dish. What could have improved this soup would have been a more generous quantity of the mock shark jelly.

6/10

The next section of this set meal was the Cheese Eggplant. It was a relief to find the texture of the eggplant was firm, but not undercooked (see below). The dish comprises of three layers - A tomato based sauce at the bottom, followed by the eggplants, and lastly a generous smothering of melted cheese on the top. I still cling onto the flawed Western philosophy that anything dunked, filled or coated in cheese tastes great. With that being said, objectively looking at this dish, it was a success to me. The elements all blended well together. Moreover, the offering of a Western fusion dish did offer a bit more personality to the set meal

7/10

The set meal culminated in the 'Hong Xiu' Pork Ribs. While this mock meat was not up to the standard of the delicious pork ribs from Loke Woh Yuen (which sadly closed down a few months back). They certainly did have a successful sweet and sour sauce, and the texture of the mock meat was acceptable - However, the texture was a little too soggy and might have been more appetizing if there was a slight thin crunchy textural element on the surface of the mock meat.

7/10

Set Meal Total Price: $12.00. 7/10

As well as the set meal, I also went for the Fry Black Kuay Teow. What sparked my interested in this dish was fellow food blogger Sunny's high praise for this dish. After consuming this dish, I would certainly echo Sunny's sentiments that this is a high quality dish, that had wise ingredient choices and top quality flavour. Inside the dish lurks mock meat, beansprouts, mushrooms, carrots and taupok. My only gripe would be my personal preference on kuay teow. I am someone who likes them more softer and gooey, instead of firm and bouncy - Which is what this kind was.

Price: $4.00. 8/10

One of the new dishes to emerge from the menu change was the Green Curry Seaweed Fish. Visually on the plate, as you can see, it looks impressive, with the fish 'tail' swimming majestically in the pale green sauce. The fish texture was soft and mushy, which suited the curry sauce well. The sauce had good flavour, with just the right amount of spice, but a lack of tartness made it a little one dimensional. The big let down of this dish were the other ingredients - Namely the eggplant and long beans. Eggplant would probably rank as the vegetable I adore the most, however, I despise it when it is undercooked. Sadly, the eggplants in this dish were way too hard. Ironically, the long beans, which were swimming next to them were overcooked - Rendering the center of this dish to be quite wonky.

Price: $8.00. 6/10

Conclusion - Since I last visited, almost two years ago, the restaurant has changed its running style slightly. The new menu does offer a few interesting new dishes, and it is good to see that the restaurant has made efforts to reinvent itself and offer new dishes to the customers. However, choosing to omit the mushroom meat balls from the menu is an unpardonable mistake in my eyes. Another gripe I had with the restaurant was the owners (I'm assuming) children were frolicking around the restaurant and generally being a nuisance. I am not a hater of children, but as paid customers they should be in the back, not in the front of the restaurant bouncing on the seats.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 6/10

Herbivore Japanese & Western Vegetarian Restaurant - Bugis

2011-08-01T00:16:00.003+08:00

There is a new vegetarian restaurant on the block, and its name is Herbivore. This restaurant has been open for a few weeks, and has generated a lot of buzz among the vegetarian community. I myself was a little cautious of going, after hearing a couple of fairly negative reviews online. But, as a food reviewer it is my duty to visit, and let my loyal and beloved readers know how it is. Many will remember this slot in the Fortune Centre used to be occupied by Luo Han, a restaurant which I really liked. Herbivore is a much higher end restaurant than its predecessor, so expect higher prices. No onions, garlic or egg are used in any of the food.

Herbivore Japanese & Western Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 190 Middle Rd, Fortune Centre, #01-13/14
Contact: 63331612
Opening Hours: Daily 10am-11pm

The creator of Herbivore, is in fact, the owner of the successful Zen Japanese Restaurant. Therefore the interior design, and aspects of the menu are similar to the aforementioned restaurant. Particularly so in regards to the Japanese section of the menu, which has Zen signature dishes, such as sashimi and sushi. The Western section of the menu represents the most expensive dishes, however, style wise they are quite unique, and portion wise they are large. On the weekends this place is extremely busy, I waited around 20 minutes for the food to arrive. Contrary to what I heard in other reviews, the staff were all friendly and patient, regardless of how overwhelmingly busy they were.

First dish of the evening was the Chicken Cheese Burger, the dish comprises of three elements - Fries, salad, and finally the centrepiece being the burger. The fries immediately tantalized my taste buds, they were fluffy, light and packed with flavour - I struggled to stop eating them! The burger also had many laudable traits. Firstly, the decision to toast the buns was wise, as it added a welcome textural crunch to the burger. Inside was typical trite burger ingredients - Such as tomato, lettuce and cucumber, as well as sliced cheese on top of the patty. The patty had a fine tasting crunchy batter, which worked harmoniously with the other ingredients in the burger.

Price: $9.90. 8/10

The price of this Beef Steak (Creamy Spaghetti Pasta) Set is enough to turn a customers hunger into queasiness. If a dish costs almost $20, then it has to be of a very high level in quality. To my surprise, this was. Again in this dish, those deliciously fluffy fries were present, which reduced me to giggling like a schoolgirl with delight. The focal points of the dish were the mock beef steak and creamy pasta. For me, these two dishes didn't quite gel together. The beef steak was packed with flavour. I would argue the wrong genre of flavour, as its sweet chili sauce is certainly not something you would find in authentic Western cuisine. Combatting this flavour packed steak, was a quite bland spaghetti pasta. The omission of onions and garlic really impacted this spaghetti, as garlic is really an indispensable ingredient in this style of cooking. Unexpectedly, the hero of this dish was the creamy tomato soup. This was an unbelievably delicious soup, which I found myself constantly returning to. The balance of the acidic/sharpness of the tomato, the amount of cream and the seasoning was absolutely perfect. The dessert aspect of this set meal was a orange flavoured jelly.

Price: $18.90. 8/10

Conclusion - Despite what I read online, I had a largely positive experience at Herbivore. Although the prices may appear a little unreasonable, rest assured that the portions are larger than normal. Additionally, there is no GST or service charge, which cushions the blow of the high prices. Presentation wise, the dishes looked fantastic, and flavour wise overall I was pleased. Some areas of the cooking could certainly be improved on, then again, other areas were absolutely perfect. Both Herbivore, and the sister restaurant Zen are worthwhile visits for food lovers in Singapore.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 6/10

Hong Nian Vegetarian Food - Hougang

2011-07-31T14:40:00.002+08:00

To say that this modest stall has a considerable reputation would be an understatement. Hong Nian has developed a huge following, and is famed for having the best vegetarian bee hoon in Singapore. This place came to my attention from a reader named Shu. It is within walking distance of Hougang MRT, and there are also direct buses from places like Sengkang. Although almost everyone orders the bee hoon, there are also other dishes, such as hor fun and chicken rice. On a side note, this place had one of the largest cues I have ever seen for a vegetarian stall. I was waiting for a long time, but was it worth it?

Hong Nian Vegetarian Food
Location: Block 327, Hougang Avenue 5, #01-156
Contact: 94131730
Opening Hours: Daily until 3pm

So here it is, the notorious Bee Hoon. For this dishes, I opted for the mock luncheon meat, a spring roll and mock shrimp. Before we get to the bee hoon, lets talk about the side dishes - The spring roll was beautifully light and flaky, and was probably the best thing on the plate. The mock shrimp was quite unique and had a good crunchy granule style texture. However, the mock shrimp certainly isn't shy on spice, and therefore might be too overwhelming for some. The luncheon meat was tasty also. Price wise, for such a simple dish it is certainly not cheap. But, due to the bee hoon's huge reputation, I suppose the owners are in the enviable position of being able to charge whatever they like.

Price: $3.40. 7/10

So was the Bee Hoon really as spectacular as everyone has been saying? In my eyes, it was certainly a light and fluffy bee hoon, which without question was pleasurable to eat. However, I didn't finding it anything stunningly amazing, and flawed in the sense that it wasn't packed with flavour like I imagined prior to eating. Texture wise, it was a success. But flavour wise it didn't do anything to woo me. For this second plate of bee hoon, I went for the char siew, which looked visually great. Sadly, the char siew was again lacking a little flavour, and had a doughy texture to it. The salted vegetables were cooked well.

Price: $3.00. 6/10

Although the bee hoon was my main reason for venturing to Hong Nian, while I was there, I thought I might as well try another of their dishes. Therefore, I went with the Chicken Rice. The dish is certainly value for money, coming with a generous portion of rice, segmented mock chicken, char siew and cucumber. The standout was the mock chicken, which was made from beancurd sheets. The outer layer of the mock chicken gave a nice 'chicken skin' texture. I would have liked to have tasted a little more flavour in the rice, but overall it was a good dish.

Price: $2.50. 7/10

Conclusion - The middle-aged couple that run this stall have certainly not let the success of their stall get to their heads. They are very friendly and welcoming to all the customers, even though they are incredibly busy all the time. Everyone who has heard of Hong Nian and makes the journey to visit this humble stall will be going for one reason - The bee hoon. Personally, for me it was not something that struck me as tasting amazing. Moreover, for the price, I couldn't foresee myself ordering the bee hoon again. In fact, oddly enough, the chicken rice turned out to be the dish I enjoyed the most during the meal.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 7/10

Indian Cuisine - Tandoori Without A Tandoor!

2011-07-20T21:16:00.002+08:00

One of the aspects of Indian cuisine that is most universally popular is the infamous Tandoori cooked dishes. A tandoor is a giant clay oven, which is set at incredibly high temperatures (up to 480 °c/900 °f). It is these extreme temperatures, coupled with the delicious marinate, that makes the tandoori style of cooking so delicious.

Most famously in the West, tandoori chicken is the dish everyone associates with tandoori cooking. However, true authentic Indian tandoor cooking can produce wonderful vegetarian alternatives also. Potato (aloo), cauliflower (gobi) and cheese (paneer) are the most popular vegetarian tandoori dishes.

Most people go to Indian restaurant specifically for tandoori food, due to the fact they consider it impossible to cook this style of food at home. Hopefully my recipe today will show you that great tasting tandoori style food (with just a basic oven) is possible. So let us begin:-

Whether you cook tandoori dishes with meat or vegetarian, the marinate comprises of the same things. The foundation of this marinate is plain unsweetened yoghurt (Greek yoghurt would work aptly). To this yoghurt you add various spice and lime juice.

Marinate Recipe
unsweetened yoghurt (250ml)
salt (1.5tsp)
lime juice (half a medium sized lime or lemon)
coriander powder (2Tsp)
cumin powder (1.5Tsp)
turmeric (1tsp)
kastori methi leaves (2Tsp)
red chili powder (3Tsp) - this adds colour to the marinate, so be generous!
ginger garlic paste (1.5Tsp)
garam masala powder (2Tsp)
black pepper (2tsp)

As you can note, my marinate is dark orange in colour. Many may be used to tandoori food being bright red - This is not attainable by using natural ingredients, if you want that colour, you will need to use red food colouring.

Now that our marinate is complete, let's coat the ingredients:-

For this example I am using baby potatoes (boiled prior, I didn't remove the skin, but you can if you want) and paneer, but you can use whatever you wish. Coat the ingredients with the marinate that you made and place them on an oven tray. Crank up your oven as high as it will possibly go (for my oven it is 225°c). Add the marinated ingredients only when the oven has reached this heat. Once the oven is ready, add them on the top/highest shelf and cook for approximately 8-10 minutes.

When the ingredients are cooking in the oven, they release that beautiful tandoori smell, which I naturally associate with Indian restaurants. Here (pictured) is how my delicious 'tandoori' paneer and potato looked when finished. Tandoori food is loved by all nationalities and races, so why not give it a go at home? As this recipe has proved, it is fast and simple - But most importantly, delicious!

Bhojan ka anand!

Yuan Su Vegetarian Restaurant - Farrer Park

2011-07-17T10:20:00.002+08:00

The Farrer Park area is without a doubt the pinnacle for those looking for the best vegetarian Indian food in Singapore. However, due to the abundance of Indian food in the area, the Chinese vegetarian delights often get overlooked. Yuan Su is a stall inside Lavender Food Square. This establishment is in the middle of Farrer Park MRT and Lavender MRT. Therefore, it is possible to walk from either station. I chose Farrer Park, and it took me roughly 8 minutes to walk there. I must admit, it is a personal struggle for me to visit Farrer Park and not eat Indian food.

Yuan Su Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: Lavender Food Square, 380 Jalan Besar, #01-34
Contact: 62972848
Opening Hours: Daily 11am -10pm

Although this is merely a stall, it does offer a restaurant style menu, with both cheaper dish and more lavish dishes. Some of the more extravagant dishes include - mock fish with preserved radish, spicy mock chicken in a spicy sauce and vegetarian herbal mock chicken. The latter costs $20, and is only available upon special request. Yuan Su does have a few tables that are reserved at all times for this restaurant, so finding a seat won't be an issue.

First dish of the evening was the Veg. Sum Lor Hor Fun. It was an easy choice for me to make, as I seldom see this dish in other stalls or restaurants, so I had to try it here. Starting with the negatives first, I was disappointed to see that fried fish arrived with this dish. Although the mock fish had good flavour and texture, I found that it was straying away from the authenticity of the dish, as the original should have steamed fish. Also the sauce was too gluey and starchy in texture, to the point where it felt like I'm drinking a bowl of my own saliva. On the brighter side I like how the vegetables and noodles were cooked. However, those unaccustomed to subtlety of Chinese cooking will probably find this dish too bland.

Price: $5.00. 5/10

Sticking with the theme of noodles, the next dish ordered was the Hong Kong Noodles. A small lime accompanies this dish, and when squeezed on the noodles it adds a key acidic element to the food. What is immediately obvious is these noodles are packed with flavour, which I applaud. One important pot hole which the chef at Yuan Su managed to avoid was the texture of the noodles. This variety of noodles are often too soft for my liking. These noodles were cooked to perfection, having that bouncy/springy texture to them. Great tasting dish overall.

Price: $4.00. 8/10

Finally, I decided to order one of the more elaborate dishes from the menu. This is the Vegetarian Roasted Duck. Colour wise it looked fantastic, but for the price, I would have liked to have seen some vegetables laying around the edges of the plate. Without those, the plate did look a bit bare. This mock duck is made with bean curd sheets, inside the layers of these sheets are diced carrots and mushrooms. Flavour wise, these components work very well together. Particularly the 'skin' (outer layer) replicated the authentic roasted duck skin perfectly. The sauce was caramelized well, giving a nice sweet contrast. However, I would have liked the sauce to have different levels of flavour, more specifically, having some acidic/tangy element to it.

Price: $10.00. 7/10

Conclusion - Yuan Su offers good variety for the customer, depending on if you're looking for an extravagant meal, or merely looking for a cheap bowl of noodles. Food quality wise, nothing presented to me failed miserably, but there were areas for improvement. One noticeable aspect is the pictures on the menu look vastly different to what you actually receive. This may leave diners feeling misled or shortchanged. The Hong Kong noodles were the highlight for me, the flavours and textures were spot on.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 7/10

Indian Cuisine - Gutti Vankaya Kura Recipe

2011-07-13T19:47:00.004+08:00

With this being my second addition of the Indian Cuisine series - I wanted to share a recipe which is fun to make and will be a new experience for those cooking it.

Gutti vankaya kura is a notorious dish from Andhra state in India. To summarize the dish in just a few words, it is baby eggplants that are stuffed and then cooked in a curry. Although typically gutti vankaya is a dry dish, I have made it within a curry. I have also differed from tradition by using aloo masala stuffing, instead of the authentic Andhra spice stuffing.

Firstly, to make my stuffing, I combined mashed potatoes with a Indian spice mix. This spice mixture is several dry spices (I will list below) merged together with water until it forms a thick paste. The light brown powder on top is hing, I added this separately to show exactly how little to use. Hing has a very strong pungent smell, if you add too much, it will ruin the flavour of the stuffing.

Spice Mixture
coriander powder
cumin powder
garam masala powder
hing/asafoetida (pinch)
red chili powder
ginger garlic paste
kastoori methi
salt

Once you have added your spice paste in with your mashed potatoes, then merge them together. As with any cooking, it is important to continuously taste as you go along. Make sure to taste the potatoes once mixed together, to see if spice and salt levels are sufficient.

Once your stuffing has been made, you then need to slice your eggplants. It is essential that you buy the small baby eggplants for this dish, no other variety will work. Slice cross shapes through the eggplant, taking the incision all the way until the stem. Do not remove the stem. For those unsure where to purchase these eggplants, they are in great abundance in the Little India area, especially in the newly designed Mustafa Centre.

Now it is time to combine the stuffing with the eggplants. The eggplant itself is quite flexible, so you don't need to be too concerned about breaking it. Stuff each of the eggplants generously with the filling. Once that arduous process is complete, it is now time to cook them.

Once the eggplants have been made, they are traditionally meant to be fried. I have opted for a different cooking method, in order to make this dish a little more healthy (by using less oil). I cooked the eggplants in the oven, for approximately 20 minutes. This is a tricky point of the dish - Cooking it too little will give you raw eggplant, which I personally hate the texture of. On the other end, cook it too much and the eggplants structure will be too soft/weak, and ultimately the stuffing may fall out.

Once they have come out of the oven, you can place them into your curry (alternatively you can just eat them without the curry). If at this stage you are a little concerned for eggplant aren't fully cooked, then you can always leave them inside the curry to cook for longer.

Gutti Vankaya Kura
Here we have the finished dish, I have sprinkled some fresh coriander leaves on top for an extra layer of flavour. Although its quite a time consuming dish, the rewards are worth it. Try it out!

Bhojan ka anand!

Udipi Ganesh Vilas Pure Vegetarian - Marine Parade

2011-07-07T10:33:00.001+08:00

One of my regular readers (and reliable Indian food informant) Shankar kindly recommended this vegetarian eatery to me. One might envisage Marine Parade to be a hip, happening and trendy spot in Singapore - But for Ganesh Vilas, it sits at the back of Roxy Square, where everything has a slower pace and a more olden time feel to it. In mid-July Ganesh Vilas will be undergoing a renovation, which will see it closed for a few weeks, perhaps after this overhauling has taken place, I will do a second visit. I must say, I was feverishly excited about my visit to this eatery, lets find out if my exuberance was justified...

Udipi Ganesh Vilas Pure Vegetarian
Location: 10 Ceylon Road
Contact: 63454405/63487708
Opening Hours: Daily 7.30am - 9.30pm

The menu presented offers the usual North and South Indian delights, as well as a few dishes previously unknown to me. What is most striking about this menu though, is the incredibly low prices. I've been trampling up and down Little India to find the cheapest and best quality Indian food in Singapore, little did I know the cheapest was actually in Marine Parade. I can't say enough about what great value this eatery is, inevitably the upcoming renovation may result in these prices becoming steeper though - I am praying it won't.

Dosai can be quite a contentious topic with Indians. Some prefer it thick and pale in colour, others prefer it thinner and golden brown. I am definitely part of the latter group. Subsequently, this Rava Dosai is not the texture that is going to get me excited. To me, its too soft and lacking flavour that the golden brown charring would create. An additional qualm I have with this dosai is only curry leaves and cumin seeds are clinging to the crepe. For rava dosai I expect a wider diversity of ingredients such as peppercorns, carrots, onions. Perhaps this is indeed how an authentic rava dosai should look and taste, therefore I am cautious of damning this too heavily. In summary, it's not the style of dosai I prefer, price wise it's great though.

Price: $1.50. 5/10

After discovering naan was unavailable that evening, my second choice was Aloo Paratha. Paratha is, in many ways, the ancestor of the notorious roti prata, this thick tava cooked flat bread was spawned in the Punjab, but now is known worldwide. What I loved about this version was the potato masala inside. Typically the masala inside is dense and dry - The approach which Ganesh Vilas took was making the masala much more moist, this approach worked well. The potato masala had some sharp spice, but it was balanced enough not to ruin the bread. The texture and taste both hit the right buttons.

Price: $2.00. 8/10

This Bisebele Bath came as a new experience for my taste buds. This dish, which originates from Karnataka state, is almost like a porridge in texture, but with the flavour complexities one would expect from Indian food. I imagine this is a dish that can easily be prepared with whatever is remaining in the fridge, as it can potentially have anything inside. The core ingredients are daal (urad and chenna) and vegetables (carrots, radish). The dish title 'bisi bele bhaath' translates to 'hot lentil rice'. Not only is it incredibly delicious, but it is a rare Indian dish that is quite healthy. With there being little oil or salt inside, and lots of protein rich lentils. Those visiting must order this cheap and exquisite treat.

Price: $2.50. 9/10

Curry time! Regular readers will know that I was most likely a North Indian in a former life - Curry and naan is culinary ecstasy to me. First curry of this feast was the Shami Kofta. Recently I made kofta as part of my malai kofta recipe, which you can view to learn more about the essence of what a kofta is. In this dish, the aroma of fennel power was shimmering throughout the sauce, this gives the dish a flowery flavour, verging on sweet. The curry is mild, and contains little salt or oil. The kofta is soft, and practically melts in the mouth. Portion wise, the curries from Ganesh Vilas are on the small side. However, the prices are incredibly low, so I think they are good value overall.

Price: $4.00. 8/10

My curry experience continued, next was the Kheema Paneer. Flavour wise, the sauce for this curry was certainly my favourite. It had a rich texture and buttery flavour. Once again, this curry had a pleasingly limited amount of oil and salt, which meant I felt myself being able to eat more and more, without being parched for water or queasy. Instead of whole cubes of paneer, this dish had scrambled paneer, which worked harmoniously with the buttery curry. Another mild curry, which would have universal appeal, in my opinion.

Price: $4.00. 8/10

The final curry of the evening was the Stuffed Capsicum (Gravy). This did end the meal on a bit of a sour note, as the capsicum inside was a little underwhelming. The major let down is that the green capsicum is completely raw (bitter tasting), and thus not only gives an unwelcome texture, but also lacks that delicious cooked capsicum flavour. Inside the capsicum there is dry potato masala. The curry sauce is actually identical to the shami kofta, therefore it has a nice fennel flavour throughout. However, what makes or breaks this dish is the capsicum centerpiece, and regrettably it was a bit of a let down.

Price: $4.00. 6/10

After a highly satisfying meal, I rounded the evening off with a couple of Gulab Jamun. They may look simple, but making gulab jamun is difficult to master, so I always appreciate eating this incredibly sweet dessert. Unfortunately, where this dish fails is the texture of the balls. Upon penetrating them with my spoon, they offered too much resistance. The texture was a little too dense. Instead the balls should have been lighter, so that they melt in the mouth when eating. The syrup was good, and not overly sweet, and price wise they were reasonable. I recommend you limit yourself to one piece.

Price: $1.00 (per piece). 7/10

Conclusion - 'How didn't I discover this place soon?'. That is what I am asking myself. Ganesh Vilas is the cheapest Indian eatery that you will find in Singapore by far. This is an air conditioned establishment, with no GST or service charge also. What I enjoyed most was the food had a home cooked authentic feel about it, which is a refreshing change from the expensive high end Indian restaurants in Little India. I can't recommend this place enough, I will be going again this weekend!

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 10/10

Madras New Woodlands Restaurant - Little India

2011-07-04T11:47:00.003+08:00

Those with the memory of an elephant will know I reviewed one of the previous Woodlands restaurants (Woodlands Ganga) over a year ago. Contrary to Ganga, this restaurant has a huge following, and is extremely busy most of the day - Even notoriously visited by ministers and other important folk. Not only do locals frequent this eatery, it is also well known amongst visitors, as it is often feature in the Lonely Planet Singapore publications. The restaurant also sits on the same road (directly opposite, in fact) to Gokul, which serves the best vegetarian Indian food you are likely to find in Singapore.

Madras New Woodlands Restaurant
Location: 14 Upper Dickinson Road
Contact: 62971594
Opening Hours: Daily: 7.30am – 11.30pm

This restaurant has a wealth of history, dating back many decades. From what I have been told, the interior design, the vibe and the staff have not changed much at all over the years. Therefore, upon stepping inside, you do have a feeling of stepping back in time a little. This nostalgic feeling is increasingly rare in a country that has no memory and is constantly wanting to develop, more places that trap the past culture of Singapore should be protected - Such as this restaurant. As I eluded to at the beginning, this restaurant had a surprisingly diverse customer base. With a reasonable number of ang mo and Chinese dining here.

On the plate, this Chloe Bhatura looks like a giant deep fried puffer fish. Bhatura is a soft and thin deep fried bread, which is completely hollow on the inside. This dish must be eaten with the right hand, as it would be extremely difficult to eat with cutlery. The curries that accompany this oval shaped bread was chickpea curry and a vegetable korma. Both curries were exceptionally rich, which doesn't really fit well with the bread, it would have made more sense for sambar to replace the vegetable korma. The bread itself is slightly sweet and delicious, but extremely oily.

Price: $4.20. 7/10

One of the special meals they were offering on that day was the Mock Meat with Briyani Rice. Immediately when this arrived, I felt a little hard done by, as content wise there was not much. Not only that, the rice and curry were both incredibly spicy. Indian food is a delicate balance between amount of oil, salt and spice used, if one of those elements is in excess, then it ruins the dish. Unfortunately for this dish it was too spicy, and rendered me gasping for water.

Price: $7.50. 3/10

When I saw the name VIP Thali on the menu, in my mind I imagined a huge luxurious thali fit for a king. To be fair, when it arrive it did look big and grand. However upon inspection, it is clear a lot of the sauces and curries are replicated. Moreover, as I delved deeper into this thali, I found that all the components were quite forgettable, nothing leaped out from this dish as being memorable. The rice was cooked poorly and many of the curries were too spicy and salty for my palate. Visually it looked nice on the banana leaf, but I was far from impressed by the flavours.

Price: $8.50. 5/10

Conclusion - Inevitably, the problem with restaurants that have such a popular and large following, is they usually allow their standard to drop. For me, the food is nothing special at New Woodlands. If it was a new restaurant, without a paragraph in Lonely Planet or a generous local following, then it wouldn't survive. I think New Woodlands would have been a must-visit place a decade or so ago. But for 2011, my experience is their hay-day is over, and their food is now merely average. Still a worthy dining experience, but if you want real quality Indian food, then walk a little further to Syed Alwi Road, or better yet, just cross the road and visit Gokul.

Overall Rating
Food - 5/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 5/10