For me, har cheong gai is a quintessential order at any zi char establishment. Not doing so is akin to walking out of a theme park without having been on a single ride. This would’ve simply been one of those easily dismissible family meals on a Saturday evening, if not for a plate of what I believe to be one of the best har cheong gai dishes that I’ve tasted to date.
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📍THE PLACE
Glance right while you’re senselessly staring into the abyss wondering what to have at Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre, and you’ll notice a signboard. It says “Master Crab”. Hanging lanterns and red on gold on red on gold remind you of a glorious Chinese New Year, and all the money you’ve lost playing Ban Luck and In-Between.
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🍽 THE FOOD
1️⃣ Salted Egg Crab (seasonal price) - Placed an order for this as it happens to be the most popular preparation of crab available at Master Crab. It was alright, but to their credit, the golden salted egg sauce was not overpowering and played well with the mild sweetness of the more-than-subpar crab
2️⃣ Shrimp Paste Chicken ($9/$13/$17/$21) - The showstopper, this was har cheong gai done right. Executed to fundamental perfection with a crispy, thin batter that shattered with every bite to reveal the tender flesh underneath glistening with flavours of shrimp and chicken. Fantastic stuff.
3️⃣ Claypot Frog with Dried Chilli ($16/$24/$32/$40) - very similar to dried chilli chicken, taste and texture wise
4️⃣ Fried Asparagus with Fresh Scallops ($16/$22/$28/$32) - a disappointing handful of 3 or 4 morsels of scallops in a classic mix of fried asparagus, mushrooms and carrots
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🤔 THE VERDICT
For a zi char joint selling zi char food at a zi char price point, their signature dishes could use a breath of life and more wok hei. Granted, the har cheong gai here remains to be hidden gem of sorts.

This was one of those experiences that changed my life. At that time a few months back, I was at a crossroads paved into ennui. A depravity of inspiration, of novelty and whimsy in gastronomy. Then came along Eli. Then came along Pita Bakery. It was love at first sight and love at first bite, respectively of course. Enchanté, I was never happier.
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📍 THE PLACE
Bordered on the outskirts of eclectic Kampong Glam on Bali Lane, Pita Bakery is a cozy shack with just 5 tables (3 inside, 2 outside), but makes up for its unassuming tiny space with its moreish Mediterranean food that keeps a loyal band of falafanatics (falafel and fanatics get it hah) coming back for weekly takeaways and outsiders into the fold.
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🍽 THE FOOD
1️⃣ Fill Free ($9) - the holy grail, a beatific combination of Middle Eastern flavours stuffed into a pillowy, fresh-baked pita. We’re talking bountiful balls of scrumptious falafels and crisp turshi topped with a tantalizing blend of tahini, harissa and amba
2️⃣ Hummus ($4) - , thoughts?
3️⃣ Take It Easy ($8) - while the naming conventions may seem like something straight out of a comic book café, make no mistake, this is a place that gets their Middle Eastern food right. 8 balls of warm, crunchy and seductive falafel nestle in a perfectly shaped wooden tube, fresh for the picking to be dipped into either the hummus or harissa that these eight little dwarves come with
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🤔 THE VERDICT
If you’re like me and find yourself falling in love with a Jew with no idea how to get around Kosher laws on food by the third date, look no further than Pita Bakery, which happens to be Halal, Vegan AND Kosher. On god do I dream of the pitas from there at times.

Say it with me: Kürtőskalács. Koort. Tú. Shka. Lech. That’s Hungarian chimney cakes, a jolly old spit pastry that well, resembles a chimney. Hailing from the capital of the Czech Republic (go figure), Good Food Coffee & Bakery serves up some interesting takes on the traditionally festive snack. Now say it with me again: KOORT. TÚ. SHKA. LECH. Kürtőskalács!
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📍THE PLACE
Situated where the classic ice-cream shop named after a certain Benjamin and a mouse who engages in an eternal tussle with a cat called Tom. Brick walls and domino colour scheme gives the place a clean barbershop sheen.
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🍽 THE FOOD
1️⃣ Chimney Paris ($7.50) - robust dark chocolate whipped cream with slices of strawberry, perfectly balanced as all things should be
2️⃣ Chimney Devil ($7.50) - this was weird, sometimes getting one for the gram doesn’t come through when the product is a devilishly confusing mix of activated carbon yoghurt ice cream and coconut shavings
3️⃣ Chimney Blizzard ($6.90) - simple bliss: chocolate & vanilla and biscuit shaped like a teddy
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🤔 THE VERDICT
If you can pronounce Kürtőskalács you can do anything in the universe. Also you can give this place a pass, it really isn’t worth the moolah

Often when there is an attempt to evolve the traditional fare, be it by upscaling it or infusing it with other existent concepts in cuisine, a grey area forms. Therein lies the risk where a concept can become dismissible without care, which was one that FrapasBar took boldly with its re-imagined French tapas selection and profound risottos.
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📍THE PLACE
Located just along the seams of The Cathay where the original Saveur used to be, a centerstage bar display, dim lighting and black marble tabletops make for a casual evening dinner with a flair
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🍽 THE FOOD
1️⃣ Sophia’s Risotto ($24) - I gotta tell you, when two of my favourite things to eat in the world coalesce, I might just fall prey to the old biased routine that judges simply based on whether its a standalone winner or a complete fucking disaster. In the case of Sophia’s Risotto combing otah-otah and risotto along with generous chunks of crab meat and mackerel, I’m proud to qualify it in the former category
2️⃣ Saveur Pasta ($9) - for a namesake dish hiding comfortably in the corners of the menu, this minimal serving of dry capellini wasn’t exactly a contender for a signature
3️⃣ Seafood Bouillabaisse ($16) - traditionalist fare made compact might have some setbacks, just saying
4️⃣ Salmon Tartare ($9) - this classic combination of salmon and avocado was made surprising with the addition of pickled ginger and honey
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🤔 THE VERDICT
The tapas are not an essential order despite the place having “Tapas” in its name, but do come here for the Sophia’s Risotto.

I’m a modernist, my philosophies in life are heavily dictated by maintaining relevance and relinquishing the obsolete, which has rewarded me with glimpses of the future, consequentially making me the god I am today. That being said, my reverence for the oldest of establishments that pioneer a generation of culinary feats knows no bounds; practice makes perfect, and a place like Toh Kee which happens to be Singapore’s oldest roast meat stall (since 1926) exemplifies that.
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📍THE PLACE
Located on the first storey of the famous People’s Park Complex, the stall is instantly recognisable with its bold black and gold calligraphic letterings, as well as roasted ducks on display that are actually darker on the surface than most, due to the fact that they are charcoal grilled
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🍽 THE FOOD
1️⃣ 3 Types of Roasted Meat (烧味三拼) ($24/28) - one can hope to test the waters of the stall’s prowess by ordering this, a platter of the famous trifecta of roast duck, roast pork and char siew. Their roast duck is marked by the charcoal grilling, lending a crisp skin and a subtle smokiness that most roast ducks lose in the process of service.
2️⃣ Roast Duck with Rice($6/9) - if you’re looking for a meal for one at this quintessential spot for roast meat, this would be the prime choice
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🤔 THE VERDICT
Excellent meats, fast and efficient service that is no doubt proof that practice indeed makes perfect after 93 years of consistent effort.

Past four days was basically life without Spotify Premium where MyBody.exe © had ad interruptions in the form of slumber every 30 minutes. Now here’s some food.
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📍THE PLACE
With over a hundred outlets located in its locale of origin, Heytea is China’s leading house of craft teas that features the exoticism of cheese teas and fruit teas. Their first overseas venture took shape in the form of a basement outlet in ION Orchard where queues mirror that of a an anaconda larger than anything Nicki Minaj could handle.
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🍽 THE FOOD
1️⃣ Brown Sugar Bobo ($4.50) - the litmus test to determine the economical trade-off between the current Portrait series of notes featuring the face of Yusof bin Ishak and bubble tea, resultant in a borderline pass of flying colours
2️⃣ King Fone Cheezo ($5.50) - being the OG innovators of the cheese foam madness, Heytea does cheese foam right in its rich yet balanced take on it
3️⃣ Salted Egg Yolk Crispy Cone ($2.50/$4.50) - I mean,
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🤔 THE VERDICT
One of the better milk tea shacks in the island brimming with an overabundance of boba balls and tea-infused milk beverages, albeit a little on the high side of the budget spectrum

The Japanese phrase will tell you that you have three faces, the first one you show to the world, the second you show to your family, and the last you never show to anyone. The third one is often said to be the 'truest' reflection of who you are. In my case, the third face mirrors that of a simian ape on a cocaine and adrenaline overdose.
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📍 THE PLACE
A pleasant little joint on the ground floor of The Cathay building, dim lighting and an island-seating concept that is aptly shaped like a scaled-down Noah’s Ark, this time without the animals and with more sashimi.
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🍽 THE FOOD
1️⃣ Wagyu Truffle Beef Don ($23.90) - the staple of practically every mid-scaled donburi joint at the moment, this did not fall below nor exceed expectations
2️⃣ Truffle Cream Salmon ($15.90) - I have a personal bias for the flaky, clean maritime flavours of salmon paired with a cream-based sauce of any kind, so add truffle into the mix, and you’ve got yourself a winner of a donburi
3️⃣ Premium Kaisen Don ($25.90) - it comes in a miniature replica of the scaled-down Noah’s Ark previously mentioned. The entertainment value of that alone is worth half the price
4️⃣ Hotate Mentai ($8) - interesting take on a scallop carpaccio with the addition of cornflakes for a textural contrast
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🤔 THE VERDICT
It’s a sushi bar in a boat, that’s gotta be on your bucket list, right?

Significant decrease in the peripheral, nonchalance, acceptance of the inevitable, clocktowers under the sea. Guess the haze hasn’t (wait for it) *blown over* just yet. Haha. Haha. Haha. H
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📍THE PLACE
5 minutes walk from Sixth Avenue MRT, nearby landmarks include the sun, the clouds and the wind. One should also note the occasional sand shark rising from the depths to consume him/her whole.
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🍽 THE FOOD
1️⃣ Original Signature Pork Ribs ($22) - ribs weren’t as fork-tender as I’d expected them to be, but it was still delicious af
2️⃣ Cajun Fried Chicken ($18) - dry and bland, give it a pass
3️⃣ New York Strip Steak ($19) - one of the cheaper cuts on the menu, rather mediocre compared to other New York strips I’ve had
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🤔 THE VERDICT
Did not notice many customers at peak hour during my visit, which may be testament to the food, service and the location of the restaurant. Still worth coming down for their ribs, which are pretty damn good.

One of the greatest envies I possess would be that of having access to cheap and authentic ramen options to decompress, akin to the humble diners and izakayas settled along a Yokocho. In Singapore, ramen has been established as a dish that is served in specialty restaurants, so it was with an open mind and a vested interest that I decided to try out the self-proclaimed “Ramen for the Average Singaporean”.
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📍THE PLACE
Just a mere stone’s throw away from Ang Mo Kio MRT, situated along an inconspicuous corner, the incarnadine facade whelms your vision, tunnelling you into a bar seat or a booth while your mind fixates on the idea of yet another bowl of ramen.
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🍽 THE FOOD
1️⃣ Takagi Ramen ($6.90) - the namesake bowl features Hakata-style ramen served in a well-rounded tonkotsu broth, as well as subtle additions of shio, kombu and bonito
2️⃣ Black Tonkotsu ($7.90) - namely the most popular ramen sold here, the slow-roasted black garlic tonkotsu broth is sure to awaken one’s senses, as well as knock out any date foolish enough to enter your personal space
3️⃣ Butashoga Ramen ($7.90) - one of the more unique ramens, featuring hand-pulled pork sautéed with sweet soy sauce and fragrant ginger, sweet and umami with a supporting herbal quality
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🤔 THE VERDICT
Definitely the best ramen available at its price point in Singapore. Also, who wouldn’t want a free additional serving of noodles?

The haze is slowly turning Singapore into Silent Hill but hey, that just means we’re a step closer to global warming if everyone doesn’t get their shit together and start saving this god-forsaken planet. Also, pasta.
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📍THE PLACE
Situated somewhere far and deep within the labyrinth of a mall that is Suntec City, charming, pastel colour scheme and marble tabletops.
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🍽 THE FOOD
1️⃣ Supreme Porky Marinara ($14) - simple and hearty marinara, served with scrumptious meatballs stuffed with water chestnuts, pork croutons, house pork belly and grana padano
2️⃣ Prawn Olio Olio ($18) - subtle smokiness lent by the sichuan garlic oil plays with the garlic prawns and lap cheong crumble for an umami-rich dish
3️⃣ Spiced Supreme Chicken Skins ($6) - fried chicken skins are the single best beer snack, change my mind
4️⃣ Bak Kwa Jam on Bread ($5) - meme supreme
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🤔 THE VERDICT
One of the better midrange pasta joints on the island, albeit non-traditional. Don’t leave without getting their chicken skins.

It is time. The moment that you’ve all been waiting for. Or at least the moment that 3 or 4 of you have been waiting for. No more lines like “the soup coated my palate like silk wrapped around my tongue”. No more shenanigans involving rambles of passion and tales of bravado. No more lengthy introductory passages. No m
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Im doing it again aren’t I
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PLACE
Shophouse, coffee shop-ish, alley seatings when it gets crowded, very old school stuff
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FOOD
1️⃣ Shanghai Xiao Long Bao ($4.50/4 pieces) - one of the best xiao long baos in singapore don’t @ me
2️⃣ Beancurd Prawn Roll ($3/2 pieces) - I love this shit it’s savoury it’s salty it’s sweet and it’s bomb
3️⃣ Steamed Salted Egg Custard Bun ($4.50/3 pieces) - I don’t normally condone salted egg stuff especially if it’s super tacky but this product of novelty is actually not that bad at all
4️⃣ Drunken Chicken In Shao Xing Wine ($6.50) - one of the better drunken chicken dishes I’ve had in my time
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VERDICT
It’s swee choon you’ve all been there and if you haven’t, I

After a dramatically overextended, uninspired, illogical, gin-fuelled hiatus in writing any reviews over the last few weeks, @thintbites is seemingly back with an even greater gap in his writing than ever before, courtesy of procrastination and a forgettable sense of the word. It has been a long time coming but I suppose with the flow of things being ceaselessly inconsistent alongside the pretentiousness in my gourmet literature rising to an all time high, writing at a doable pace would be the most appropriate option in my personal opinion and decision.
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With that being said, let’s kick start this bad boy again with the one thing that I hold closest to my heart, that may very well ironically and eventually clog it up if I were to consume too much of it. We’re talking about ramen, and its myriad of possibilities and flavours shaped from decades of culinary endeavours. The place in mind is a very special place, being my favourite ramen shop in the entire world. Ginza Kamo Soba Kyudaime Keisuke is a humble little abode nestled in the heart of the village of beer towers and happy hours that is Holland Village. We’re talking about Keisuke Takeda here, who in my opinion is the most legendary ramen chef in the history of modern ramen culture. His ramen empire in Singapore is a majesty to behold with a total of 19 outlets worldwide, of which 14 of them are in Singapore.
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With numerous specialty ramen shops incorporating fresh new takes on the infinite joy and abundance of ramen, Ginza Kamo Soba Kyudaime Keisuke is just one of the geniuses of Keisuke Takeda, and stands to be my favourite ramen combining two of my favourite things: Ramen and Duck. Their Hybrid Duck Broth Ramen with Flavoured Egg in Rich Soup ($16.90++) is the crème de la crème in the world of ramen. This beauty features a robust, warm and sensational broth flavoured with duck bones and herbs, topped with two gorgeous slices of Irish hybrid duck with the perfect noodles to soak up every last drop of the quack.
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From wonderful customer service to the alluring charm of the complimentary hard-boiled eggs and toppings galore, this is the one place to be for ramen and ramen.