5 Favorites Stalls Worth Queuing For At Chinatown's Hong Lim Food Centre!

My overseas friends often ask me about the best local food they must try whenever they visit Singapore. For me personally, I always think hawker centre has its own local charm, hence I usually suggest them to visit at least one if they have never before. 

8 NEW Instagram-Worthy Cafe and Beach Club to Visit in Bali!

Time flies and we're now at the end of 2017! Sometimes I wonder where'd all the time go, what have I done this year, and most importantly, where shall I go to celebrate Christmas and New Year? 

TOP 10 Places for MATCHA GREEN TEA Lovers in KYOTO!

I always have a soft spot for Kyoto, no matter how many times I've been there - this big city always excites me with its "small-town" feel! Here is where you can experience the rich old history and the modern feel of a city as you walk around. Not to mention, all beautiful striking Temples, the stunning Senbon Torii, the peaceful Bambo Forest, and last but not least, the divine taste of MATCHA!

Kyoto is home to Uji, a small city that is famous for producing Matcha - Uji Matcha is considered as the highest quality of Japanese green tea. While drinking Matcha straight (usually dissolved in water or milk) is highly recommended, Matcha is also used to flavor a variety of confectioneries and desserts!

RAMEN NAGI - The Best Ramen in SINGAPORE at Suntec City!

Ramen has always been a favorite comfort food of mine! Talking about Ramen Nagi, although they started from Japan, my first encounter with theirs was actually in Hong Kong. Soon after a sip of their broth, I instantly fell in love and now couldn't be more happy to celebrate their opening at Suntec City. 

A Full Day of Eating in Melaka (Malacca City) - Let's Nomnom Guide!

Melaka, about 3-4 hours drive from Singapore, is a popular destination for tourists who want to catch a glimpse of Malaysia's unique heritage. Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 and home of the well-known Nyonya (Peranakan) cuisine, here you can find Chinese shops and Malay kampongs - all in lost-in-time feel and laid back atmosphere! 

Explore Beyond The Usual Bangkok - Things to DO and EAT in Khao Yai!

Which destination usually comes into your mind when thinking about short holiday? I guess most of you will mention Bangkok! Talking about the shopping spree, food galore, massage, and so on - who doesn't like it?! But if you are bored with the same traffic jam, the hustle and bustle in the city - how about a short getaway outside of Bangkok?

7 Anti-or-Less-Mainstream HAWKER Food You Must Try in Singapore!

Hawker centre, it's actually part of Singapore heritage and identity where you can find the best of multi-ethnic cuisines. With that said, hawker centre is a must visit, especially for tourists, if they truly want to eat local delicacies in unique casual eating environment. 

Talking about wide variety of local delicacies, one can easily find chicken rice, fried kway teow, hokkien mee, bak kut teh, satay, laksa, yong tau fu, and so on in one place. If you keen to try something new, how about stepping up your hawker game with some of these innovative delicacies? 

So without further ado, here are my 7 anti-mainstream hawker food you must try in Singapore:

1. Singapore-style Ramen: A Noodle Story - Tanjong Pagar

The queue at this first and only Singapore-style Ramen stall has started even before they open at 11.15am. Bringing the usual bowl of Wanton Mee to the next level, A Noodle Story incorporates modern European techniques with Japanese elements and as a result, their version of perfect Wanton Mee!

Their QQ noodle is thin and springy and has a great flavour when mixed with their garlicky oil (infused with lemongrass and pandan leaves) as well as their special sauce. The chashu topping is tender, juicy, sweet and yet salty. The wantons are plump and remains intact as you bite them. 

But what I like the most is their Potato-wrapped Prawn Fritter! Crispy shredded potato, fried till golden brown with prawn on the inside - tasty, delicious, and don't forget to order some extras!

A Noodle Story
Address: 
Amoy Street Food Centre #01-39 (MRT: Tanjong Pagar)
Opening Hours: 
Monday - Friday 11.15am - 2.30pm and 5.30pm - 7.30pm
Saturday 10.30am - 13.30pm
Closed on Sunday

2. Coffee Break - Tanjong Pagar, Ascent

Bored with the same Kaya Toast for breakfast? Head to Coffee Break and try their Wholemeal Toasts with various spreads! Tried their Tiramisu, Pistachio, and Black Sesame flavor - the latter is actually my favorite! Served with thin slab of butter, it has that rich nutty flavor, sweet and yet savory. 

Coffee Break also offers the Traditional Kopi as well as Latte with different flavors, all sock-brewed in traditional way. They told me to try Sea Salt Caramel Latte and to my surprise I actually liked it (I'm not fond of caramel flavored drinks usually). The latte still has that rich and full-bodied coffee flavor, but at the same time you taste the sea salt and wonderful taste of caramel.

Coffee Break

Tanjong Pagar Outlet:

Address: Amoy Street Food Centre, #02-78 (MRT: Tanjong Pagar)

Opening Hours: 7.30am - 2.30pm on weekdays, closed on the weekend

Ascent Outlet:

Address: 2 Science Park Drive, #01-28 (MRT: Kent Ridge)

Opening Hours: 7.30am - 5.30pm on weekdays, closed on the weekend

3. Bee Kee Truffle Wanton Noodle - Food Park, Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar

Who doesn't love the beautiful aroma of truffle? Bee Kee adds a touch of truffle-infused oil by spraying it into their bowl of Wanton Noodle. I might be biased because of the truffle smell, but the this version tastes better than their original bowl. Served with generous toppings, the noodle is springy but the roast pork feels a little tough and dry unfortunately. 

Bee Kee Wanton Noodle

Serangoon Outlet:

Address: Blk 2 Lorong Lew Lian, Food Park (MRT: Serangoon)

Opening Hours: 7am - 3pm on weekdays and 7am - 4pm on the weekend

Raffles Place Outlet:

Address: 50 Market Street, #03-01 Golden Shoe Hawker Centre (MRT: Raffles Place)

Opening Hours: 7am - 3pm on weekdays, closed on the weekend

Tanjong Pagar Outlet:

Address: Amoy Street Food Centre, #02-130 (MRT: Tanjong Pagar)

4. Ah Hoe Mee Pok - Clementi

Japanese man selling Bak Chor Mee (BCM)? Yes! You read it right! 
Learnt how to make BCM from his co-partner, Naoji Kuribara and his family, started their food venture in Singapore selling BCM and Japanese Fusion Mee Pok! As for their fusion version, you can choose either Miso or Shoyu based sauce, as well as Char Siew Mee Pok. 

Tried their Dry Mee Pok with Miso, and it was served with generous toppings like meatballs, minced pork, sliced canned abalone, and crispy Pork Lard! The noodle was cooked and coated perfectly in sweet savory miso sauce upon serving. To accompany every delightful bite was their thick sliced Japanese Char Siew that was tender, fatty, and definitely satisfying.

Ah Hoe Mee Pok
Address:
Blk 710 Clementi West Street 2 (MRT: Clementi)
Opening Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday 7am - 4pm

5. Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa - Hong Lim Food Centre

Listed on the list of Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand 2016, the queue has even started before the stall opens. Their signature dish, Fruit Juice Mee Siam, as the name suggests, is made from fresh fruit juices instead of the usual tamarind paste. I must say this is the best mee siam I've ever tasted so far and so addictive with its refreshing tangy, citrusy and yet some sweetness aftertaste. You can also add crayfish if you prefer mee siam with many ingredients.

Another popular choice is their one-of-a-kind-Laksa made with fresh coconut juice instead of coconut milk! Heard that the soup base was made by simmering scallop, dried oysters, and dried prawns - the texture is not as thick as the usual one we always see but the taste is definitely flavorful and not compromised.

Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa

Address: 

531A Upper Cross Street, Hong Lim Food Centre #02-66 (MRT: Chinatown)

Opening Hours:

Monday - Saturday 11.30am - 5.30pm

Closed on Sunday

Ps: Please do come early to avoid disappointment as they tend to sold out pretty quickly. 

6. Wong Kee Wanton Noodle

At Wong Kee, everything is made in-house from noodles, wanton skin, meat, and so on. They have 3 different types of noodle all made using natural ingredients. The usual yellow egg noodle, spinach for their green noodle, and tomato for their orangey-red noodle. 

One of their signature dishes is Beef Brisket Noodle. Cooked with more than 15 different spices and stewed for hours, the brisket was so tender, richly flavored, and generously placed on top of the QQ spinach noodle. Add extra tasty dumplings on the side filled with minced meat, crunchy black fungus, and chestnuts.

Wong Kee Wanton Noodle

Address:

73A Ayer Rajah Crescent, Timbre+ #01-06 (MRT: one-north)

Opening Hours:

Monday - Friday 7.30am - 6pm

Saturday 8am - 2pm

Closed on Sunday

7. Hambaobao - Beauty World Centre

Just in case you missed it, Hambaobao has re-opened on the 3rd May 2017! Located on the 4th floor at Beauty World Centre, the couple serves hand-crafted burgers with a homemade touch. They have 5 burgers on the menu, with their Crispy Pork Belly Burger usually is the first to sell out. 

If you feel like something different, try their Ayam Buah Keluak Burger. I think Buah Keluak is a native to Indonesia and also used in Peranakan cuisine - it's black with an unique earthy taste. Here, they make the patty from minced chicken marinated with rempah (spices) and buah keluak sauce. I think the taste is either you love it or hate it for some people. Usually I like it especially when buah keluak is used in making "rawon (Indonesian Beef Black Soup)" but I find Hambaobao's version is quite bitter for my liking. The overall patty itself was juicy and went well with the chap chye cabbage and black fungus. 

Hambaobao

Address:

Beauty World Centre, #04-49 (MRT: Beauty World)

Opening Hours:

Wednesday - Sunday 12pm - 8pm

Macau Food Guide: 8 Must Eat From The City That Is Not All About Gambling!

Macau, a city that never sleeps that is also known globally as "The Vegas of China", actually has so much more to offer than casinos. Enriched with Portuguese colonial history for more than 300 years, this is a city where you can hear people speaking Cantonese inside Portuguese-named restaurants. Located at around 30-mins-ferry-ride makes Macau a great stop-over away from the hectic Hong Kong. Be it for sight-seeing or food-hunting or even gambling, Macau simply has everything you might be looking for. 

Calabur Cafe by DAY and by NIGHT! - Bondi

If anyone asks me about brunch and/or dinner around Bondi Junction area, I usually tell them to try Calabur - the new kid on the block and the fact that it might not be really visible from the main road doesn't hinder their chances of being a hidden gem!

Inspired by Calabur plant in front of their house, 4 friends decided to open this lovely place - not that big but feel so homey and warm upon entering. Serving Western menu with Asian touch during the day and the other way round with additional bar at night, this place has embraced the "sous vide" cooking style - sort of like poaching the meat in its own juice in the plastic bag to get a precise succulent, noticeable juicier and definitely more tender meat. 

Winter at Cuckoo Callay - Newtown

Well, tell me how did you spend your last weekend? The weather was so wild all of a sudden with severe storms and heavy rain! But it didn't hinder me together with the homies, Isaac, Michael, and Natalie, from coming to Cuckoo Callay for their new menu. 

After a successful Bacon Festival with all-bacon-inspired menu following right after for 3 months, my anticipation has built up when I first heard about their WINTER MENU. So, without further ado let's talk more about their dishes~

Top 5 Places for MATCHA LOVERS in MELBOURNE!

Well.. I've said it many times to many people before but I'll keep on saying my love for MATCHA is unbeatable and it'll always be my no 1 over a good cup of coffee! 

Talking about caffeine boost in the morning, I still think matcha gives better benefits for a natural glowing skin (rejoice ladies!) and heaps of antioxidants linked to so many health benefits! Well, I'm not saying we need to give up coffee completely - since I also believe Mr. Nomnom doesnt plan to - but I guess give matcha a try (especially if you haven't) and you might be shifted to a worshipper in this whole new green tea world~ LOL!

When Haven Does Egg Waffles - Surry Hills

I’ve been following Haven since the first day they opened and surprised me with their fusion yet creative dishes. And now here I am updating my post with so much Egg-citement as Haven recently introduced a new menu series!

Barista and Cook: When Balanced Diet means Salads and Fried Chicken! -Waterloo

The current Waterloo is not the same as the previous one I've ever seen. Lots of apartments are being built plus the upcoming Sydney Metro - Barista and Cook sets its foot at just the right time on the 23rd January serving clean and healthy seasonal menu with good coffee using Gypsie coffee bean.

This place is quite spacious with simple yet stylish interior and plenty of natural light. They make everything they can in house and use local produces to create a simple clean eating but still full of taste and definitely healthy. 

Fresh Juice: Refresher - Watermelon, Apple, Mint, Lime

Everyone loves bacon and egg but I won't deny Char Grilled Pork Belly and Chili Fried Eggs pair excites me more! Let's get real here.. The inside is tender with sweet and salty flavor and the charred crust on the outside simply deepens the aroma. Topped with perfectly cooked fried egg (yes with the egg yolk oozing out!), crushed edamame and puffed black rice, life can't be more delightful when you have this for breakfast right?

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Burrata cheese, poached eggs, and herb toast

Smoked Trout Kedgeree - Spiced Rice, Boiled Eggs, Citrus Yoghurt, Corriander

If I need some clean eating in my life, this Heirloom Tomato Salad is exactly what I'm craving for. It takes only a few ingredients but this simple dish defines joy on a plate. Served with toasted herb bread, it's so DIY bruschetta-like if you want to enjoy it that way. Their Kedgeree is another dish to try - It's apparently a traditional British breakfast and has balance of flavors going on with combination of smoked trout, spiced rice, citrus yoghurt, corriander, lemon and boiled eggs! Every spoonful is so light, fresh and bursting with spice.

Roasted Broccoli Salad with Marinated Chickpeas, Toasted Almonds, Kale, Feta, Chili Flakes

Char Grilled Zucchini with Black Rice, Pickled Fennel, Radish and Pea Sprouts

Roasting or Char-grilling really brings the veggie flavor out! The Broccoli salad is just perfect if you prefer nutty and creamy salad as it has marinated chickpeas as well as toasted almonds and feta for extra creaminess. The Zucchini salad, on the other hand, has that sweet, fresh and tangy flavors with the combination of pickled fennel and radish! For sure, both salads are so delightful and perfect as light treats~

I hope you read till this part (especially if you are not into clean eating LOL~). As much as I love salads and light meals, I also need Cheese Burger and Chips in my life~ Well, that's what we call as balanced diet right? The beef patty is juicy and tender but their bacon jam steals my attention the most - sweet and savory deliciousness with the goodness of crispy bacon bits!

It's the fried chicken season and you can simply find it everywhere! Be it southern fried, korean style, taiwanese style - who doesn't love this crispy and so delicious on their own treats! A really great Southern Fried Chicken needs only two things from me - it has to has juicy and flavorful meat and a super crisp and crunchy crust - this place totally nails it! Served with chipotle mayo, it's an excellent sauce which added a tang, spicy, and nice extra layer of flavor. 

Grilled Mac 'n' Cheese Toastie with House Relish

Mac and Cheese as a toastie?! This should be included as one of the more amazing food on earth. This grilled sandwich is stuffed with creamy macaroni and melted cheese for double the gooey deliciousness. Pair it with salad so it's not considered as a cheat meal~

Coffee Ice Cream Slider 

Buckwheat Waffles

For sweet tooth, their Buckwheat Waffles are light and crisp with nice and soft texture on the inside. It has that nutty flavor which makes them more unique than the usual waffles. Served with butterscotch pear, raspberries, toasted poppy seeds, the creme fraiche ice cream is so smooth and creamy and exactly what you want it on top of your waffle. As for the Coffee Ice Cream Slider, the ice cream (they use Gypsie coffee) itself is nice and smooth but I personally find the brioche is a bit too dry and crumbly.

Barista and Cook

Address:

834 Bourke Street, Waterloo

Opening Hours:

6am - 4pm on weekdays and 8am - 3pm on weekends


-Let's Nomnom dined as guests of Barista and Cook. Thanks Barista and Cook for the warm service and hospitality. All opinions here are our own and independent-

Paddock - Surry Hills

Talking about Surry Hills means endless food and drink options especially on the buzziest and hippest Crown Street. Just recently opened around 3 weeks ago, Paddock has get you covered if you simply can't decide where to dine among the endless options.

Taste of Shanghai - CBD

I love dumplings, Mr. Nomnom loves dumplings, and I certainly believe everyone loves dumplings! There's no reason not to like this soul-satisfying comfort food and they're easily found anywhere you go around the world. 

Showbox Coffee Brewers - Manly

Yes, summer is here and there are no reasons not to hit beaches and of course stuff yourself with selections of good food from the well known coastal cafes. Showbox Coffee Brewers is one of them if you are in Manly and need something fresh, healthy but also unique in its own way.

The cafe itself is quite small and packed with retro tables you'd see in a diner. The all-day menu is varied towards wholefoods with unusual touches you can't find it in other places.

Poke Poke (pronounced pok-eh) is described as Hawaiian style salmon tartare or think of it as Hawaiian style sushi. It's basically fresh salmon sashimi cut into cubes, mixed with green onion, chili and other veggies on a bed of wild rice with soft egg and pickled ginger. This dish is light and served cold, but unfortunately they put too much shoyu sauce as it was too salty for my liking and the egg came medium boiled instead.

This newcomer on their seasonal menu is called Southern Debris. The slow-cooked pork is flavourful, tender on the inside and get that sort of caramelized brown on the outside. The sauce gives you the fresh Mexican flavour with its generous use of fresh herbs. Served on a lightly toasted sourdough with fried egg, corn salsa, and southern biscuit crumbs, they make a vibrant and delicious combination of earthy, sweet and savoury tste

There's always room for dessert and this Strawberry and Cream Sourdough Pudding plays its role perfectly as a dessert for breakfast! It has crisp edges with soft textural contrast in the centre. Served with creamy custard sauce and topped with strawberry slices and pistachio, you pretty much can't go wrong choosing this bread pudding!


Showbox Coffee Brewers
Address:
19 Whistler Street, Manly
Opening Hours:
Monday - Saturday 7am - 4pm and Sunday 8am - 4pm

Brainwave - CBD

Brainwave Cafe is a new addition to Ultimo area tucked down an alley off Harris Street serving modern Australian dishes with some twists from Thai and Vietnamese flavours.

Kansas City Shuffle - CBD

Located in the old Cadbury Chocolate factory in a hidden corner of The Rocks, Kansas City Shuffle (KCS) is a new addition brought by Ben Sweeten and Chef Kayne (ex-Proud Mary) serving American diner-style favourites with a twist as well as superfood dishes.

White Taro - Surry Hills

White Taro, a newly opened cafe in Surry Hills, is joining the list of some of the famous dining spots in the neighborhood with its range of Vietnamese-fusion menu. They serve an all day menu and I can say taro is definitely not their signature dish. LOL!

A Full Day of Eating in Adelaide - Let's Nomnom Guide!

When I mention about Adelaide to most of my friends, they mostly say it has nothing to offer rather than their vineyards and wine tasting activities. Out of curiosity and having heard that there is Australia's first Hello Kitty Cafe there, I manage to use my love for Hello Kitty as a main excuse to persuade Mr. Nomnom to put Adelaide as out next getaway destination!

Happily doing my reading before going on a trip, now I'm gonna share our full day of eating in Adelaide..