Established in 1963, this brand serves up an unconventional cloudy broth that sits in the middle of the spectrum, with savoury salty peppery spice garlicky herbal earthy sweet flavour.
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The pork ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender and soft, with meaty savoury sweet flavour. The crunchy preserved mustard greens / meigan cai / mei cai carry vegetal sour salty earthy spice flavour, pairing well with the fluffy soft steamed white rice with grainy sweet flavour.
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While they could be more generous with the crisp fried dough fritters / you tiao, I liked the soft soy braised hard-boiled egg with eggy sweet flavour, and the spongy soft soy braised tau pok / dried tofu puff with grainy salty sweet herbal flavour.
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A star here is their soy braised pork trotter, equal parts lean and fatty, coming easily off the bone. With chewy gelatinous wobbly texture and bold meaty salty herbal sweet savoury fatty flavour, this was incredibly satisfying.
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Bak Kut Teh
Han Jia Bak Kut Teh Pork Leg
@ East Coast Lagoon Food Village, 1220 East Coast Parkway 01-42
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More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2021/11/best-of-singapore-hawkers-bak-kut-teh.html
The Pumpkin Ravioli (SGD $28) has a lovely golden yellow hue from creamy pureed pumpkin, with tender handmade packets of ravioli stuffed with soft cacioricotta cheese, garnished with sage leaves. The result is a delicious vegetal sweet earthy cheesy herbal savoury flavour, yum.
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The Pici (SGD $28) features thick chewy al-dente strands of hand-rolled pasta noodles, coated in a luscious Tuscan francesina braised beef and tomato gravy, garnished with pecorino romano cheese and chili oil. This results in a robust meaty savoury salty grainy vegetal sweet cheesy spicy flavour, enticing the palate.
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The Grilled Stockyard 200-Day Grain-Fed Beef Ribeye (SGD $88 for 300g) features a large cut of Australian black angus beef ribeye, dry-rubbed with the house signature 'Profumo Del Chianti', an Italian herb blend that includes sea salt, bay leaf, thyme, sage, fennel pollen, juniper, rosemary, and lavender.
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Grilled to your choice of doneness (we opted for medium rare), the beef is succulent, tender, and juicy, with bold meaty savoury salty herbal flavour. Served with a side of grilled eggplant, which is soft with vegetal earthy herbal salty sweet flavour.
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Bottega Di Carna
More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2024/01/bottega-di-carna.html
The Focaccia Bread (SGD $Complimentary) is soft and warm and fluffy, with bready earthy sweet herbal flavour. Dip into some olive oil and black vinegar for added earthy sour kick.
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Chef treated us with the dainty Artichoke Tart (SGD $Complimentary) to sample. Within the crisp open pastry shell is piped creamy artichoke heart puree, crumbly parmigiano and goat cheese, juicy caramelised pear, and crunchy artichoke chips. This tasty morsel carries lovely vegetal earthy fruity sweet cheesy milky flavour, though its unique profile is an acquired taste.
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The Calamari (SGD $20) was well received, with the crisp outside bouncy inside battered squid rings carrying addictive grainy savoury salty flavour. Paired with a creamy lemon aioli for added milky herbal zesty tangy sour kick.
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The Puglia Burrata (SGD $26) has a base of juicy cherry tomatoes and crisp spinach leaves, lending combined vegetal herbal sweet flavour. The salad is drizzled with balsamic vinegar, lending an earthy sour kick. In the center sits a soft creamy burrata cheese, carrying milky cheesy sweet flavour. Nice.
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The Varlhona Chocolate Fondant (SGD $22) features a base of soft crumbly chocolate fondant with a gooey chocolate center, topped with a crunchy cocoa nib tuile, and a creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream. The fondant and tuile carries bold chocolatey bitter sweet earthy flavour, complemented by the milky floral earthy sweet notes of the ice cream.
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Bottega Di Carna
More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2024/01/bottega-di-carna.html
Operating from November 2020 till May 2023, Jumbadog was a casual American style diner eatery specialising in foot-long 'jumbo' hot dogs.
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Their innovative range of international ingredients and flavours, along with the option to build-your-own hot dog, gets them an honourable mention here.
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The base is a fluffy soft long brioche bread with buttery bready sweet flavour, and your choice of foot-long sausage (chicken, beef, pork, chicken cheese, or mixed) with smoky meaty salty savoury sweet flavour.
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First has toppings of crisp red onions, juicy pickled gherkins, thick tomato ketchup, and creamy mustard, with vegetal tangy sour sweet earthy spice flavour.
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Second has tender minced beef chili con carne, crisp red onions, and thick cheese sauce, with vegetal sweet meaty savoury salty spice herbal cheesy flavour.
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Third has juicy sauerkraut pickled cabbage, and creamy mustard, with vegetal sour tangy sweet spice flavour.
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Fourth has thin truffle oil, tender sautéed button mushrooms, crumbly minced hard boiled chicken eggs, and rich cream cheese, with vegetal earthy savoury eggy sweet milky flavour.
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Fifth has flaky mala peppercorn spice powder, juicy sauerkraut pickled cabbage, juicy pickled jalapenos, crisp spring onions, and creamy sesame sauce, with spicy salty vegetal sour tangy sweet nutty flavour.
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Sixth has tender sautéed caramelised white onions, juicy pickled gherkins, thick sour cream, crisp spring onions, and thick cheese sauce, with vegetal earthy sweet sour milky herbal cheesy flavour.
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Seventh has crisp dried seaweed flakes, juicy corn kernels, wispy bonito skipjack tuna fish flakes, juicy flying fish roe, creamy mayonnaise, and sticky octopus sauce, with vegetal earthy fishy salty briny milky savoury flavour.
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Hot Dog
Jumbadog
@ NEWest, 1 West Coast Drive #01-107
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More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2023/12/best-of-singapore-hawkers-hot-dog.html
Opened in June 2014, this place is operated under the Potato Head Folk (officially the PTT Family) group, the lifestyle brand founded by Ronald Akili.
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The base is a soft toasted buttered bun with smoky bready buttery sweet flavour, and your choice of either chicken or beef sausage, snappy juicy long with smoky meaty salty savoury flavour.
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Then creamy miso paste infused mustard, thick tomato ketchup, and crispy fried white onions, lend a burst of vegetal sweet sour earthy savoury salty flavour.
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Or, chunky hot minced beef chili con carne, thick sour cream, soft smoked cheddar cheese, thin hot pepper sauce, and juicy watermelon relish, resulting in meaty savoury salty spice milky sour cheesy fruity sweet flavour.
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A lot going on, but it's delicious.
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Hot Dog
Three Buns
@ 36 Keong Saik Road
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More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2023/12/best-of-singapore-hawkers-hot-dog.html
Established in September 2019 and operated under the iSteaks brand, this casual diner offers a good range of customisation options.
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The base is a fluffy bun, juicy chicken and cheese sausage, crisp lettuce, and toppings of grated cheddar cheese. Combined, this has bready sweet vegetal smoky meaty savoury cheesy salty flavour.
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To this is added crisp fried white onions with vegetal salty sweet flavour.
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Or, a chunky minced beef chili con carne with meaty savoury salty sweet flavour.
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Or any of the other toppings you like.
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Hot Dog
SIMPLEburger Inc.
@ National Aerated Water Co., 1177 Serangoon Road #02-01
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More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2023/12/best-of-singapore-hawkers-hot-dog.html
Named after the initials for "Mountain, Ocean, Sun", this fast food brand was founded in Narimasu, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan, in June 1972. It first opened in Singapore in May 1993.
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Likely the most accessible option for hot dogs, their rendition has a decent soft bun with bready sweet flavour and a snappy crunchy chicken sausage with meaty smoky savoury salty flavour.
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The original version is garnished with crisp white onions, thick tomato ketchup, and grainy mustard, for vegetal sweet tangy sour spice flavour.
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The chili version is garnished with chunky minced beef chili con carne, and juicy sliced jalapeno peppers, for meaty savoury spicy flavour.
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Hot Dog
MOS Burger
@ Junction 8, 9 Bishan Place #01-19
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More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2023/12/best-of-singapore-hawkers-hot-dog.html
Established by Tony Tan Caktiong in January 1978 in Quezon City, Philippines, this fast food brand returned to Singapore in March 2013.
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This popular Filipino American comfort staple has a tender mildly seasoned beef sausage within soft buns, dressed with soft grated chedder cheese, creamy tomato ketchup, and thick house special sauce.
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Carries a decent bready sweet meaty savoury cheesy salty flavour, with a tad of tangy zesty sour spice notes.
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Hot Dog
Jollibee
@ Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Road #06-48A
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More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2023/12/best-of-singapore-hawkers-hot-dog.html
This American styled diner opened in March 2021, and are known for their over-the-top dishes served in large hearty portions.
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Their chili dog star is the snappy juicy pork sausage, sandwiched between fluffy brioche hotdog buns.
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Generously covered with tender juicy minced beef chili con carne, crisp diced white onions, crunchy diced pickled gherkins, creamy yellow mustard, and black pepper.
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Bite into this messy hotdog, and you get a satisfying burst of smoky meaty savoury salty sour peppery spicy vegetal sweet flavour.
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Served with medium cut potato fries, thick and fluffy soft with good starchy salty sweet flavour.
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Hot Dog
Joji’s Diner
@ 534 Upper Serangoon Road
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More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2023/12/best-of-singapore-hawkers-hot-dog.html
Founded by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943 in Agunnaryd village, Ljungby municipality, Kronoberg county, Småland province, Sweden, this furniture retail giant opened in Singapore in 1978.
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True to their philosophy of decent quality at lower prices, their rendition is the cheapest snack you can find, holding at SGD $1 for a good number of years.
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It's not premium or gourmet, but the frankfurter chicken sausage has a gentle spingy tender texture with mild meaty sweet savoury flavour, sandwiched within soft buns with bready sweet flavour.
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Complete with tomato ketchup and mustard for vegetal spicy sour sweet flavour.
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Crucially, this 'hot dog' mentality of pricing to create good value, would carry over to how the brand designs other small household goods, from mugs to lamps.
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Hot Dog
IKEA
@ 60 Tampines North Drive 2
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More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2023/12/best-of-singapore-hawkers-hot-dog.html
Some may not know that Brotzeit is a Singaporean brand, opening its 1st outlet in July 2006, and since then has grown to 10 outlets in 5 countries.
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Their German Bavarian rendition has a crisp toasted sourdough bun with bready sour earthy flavour, and a long snappy juicy käsekrainer pork and cheese sausage with meaty savoury spice cheesy salty flavour.
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A light pickled gherkin relish with vegetal sour sweet flavour, creamy mayonnaise with milky sweet notes, and crispy fried shallots with vegetal earthy salty sweet flavour, complete this.
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Sliced red chili lend an Asian twist and a mild spicy kick.
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Hot Dog
Brotzeit
@ VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk #01-149
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More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2023/12/best-of-singapore-hawkers-hot-dog.html
Founded in 2003 by Bernard 'Botak' Allen Utchenik, this casual western chain has made several comebacks from their peak in 2009.
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Served within fluffy soft buns with bready sweet flavour, their 22 centimetre chicken sausage is snappy and juicy with meaty salty sweet flavour and no fillers.
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Dressed with crisp white onions with vegetal sweet flavour, and creamy mustard for a sharp spicy sour kick.
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Or, dressed with chunky minced beef chili with crisp diced white onions, carrying meaty salty savoury vegetal sweet spice flavour.
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Served with crunchy chilled coleslaw with vegetal milky sweet flavour, and hot crisp cajun spiced potato fries with starchy sweet spice salty flavour.
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Hot Dog
Botak Jones / Original Botak Jones
@ 118 Depot Lane
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More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2023/12/best-of-singapore-hawkers-hot-dog.html