Interesting Indo

Fangko Coffee had been one of those places that we have been wanting to check out yet been holding back for a while for quite some time — the establishment had already been in operations at their Hongkong Street outlet around the Clarke Quay area for quite a while, though we have never been there since we had been quite distracted with the opening of other F&B establishments that came after it. These folks had recently opened a new outlet within Margaret Market — also one of the last tenants to have moved into the premises after the initial wave of establishments such as Bowen’s, The Homme Baker etc. had first started their operations. Named Petit Fangko, Petit Fangko occupies the stall space that is sandwiched in between The Homme Baker and the outlet of Emart24 there. As with most stalls at Margaret Market, Petit Fangko does come with a small dine-in space that is situated within the stall that it occupies — that being said, patrons can still occupy the communal seating space being located in the middle of the compound if they so intend to dine from different establishments within Margaret Market. Fangko Coffee has always been known as an establishment with a bit of an Indonesian influence; the menu comprising of items like their signature Chimken, some brunch fare as well as Nasi Lemak and Fried Rice. As the name suggests, Petit Fangko serves up a smaller selection of dishes than that which is available at Fangko Coffee — the menu itself is being split into Food (which itself comprises of its Nasi Lemak, toast and sandwich offerings), Chimken, Savoury, Sides and Baked Goods, while the beverages which are offered at Petit Fangko ranges from espresso-based specialty coffee and cold brews, to special concoctions of shakes and sodas, as well as a selection of teas.

While their brunch-y selection of dishes did capture our attention, we made our visit to Petit Fangko during dinner service on a weekend — this was also our first time giving the Petit Fangko / Fangko Coffee brand a visit, and we thought it would be better for us to give their Indonesian-style dishes a go since that were also dishes which got us pretty interested in Fangko Coffee in the first place. One of the dishes which got us really intrigued with Fangko Coffee was the Smashed Chimken — an item that was once raved on social media quite some time ago when Fangko Coffee was still a fresh opening back in those days. At Petit Fangko, patrons are able to opt for the Smashed Chimken to come with different carbs / starch options — the Blue Pea Rice being the default option here, though patrons have the flexibility to go for Indomee (which in itself, consists of a regular-sized and an XL-sized option), fries, or a mix of both Indomee and fries; all of which coming at their own add-on price tags. Patrons also are allowed with a flexibility to opt for the Spicy Level of which they prefer their Chimken to be served at — “Baby” being the non-spicy rendition, with incremental levels of spiciness starting from Level 1 all the way up to Level 6 (side note: the level for “Extremely Hot” is marked as Level 5 on the menu). For our order of the Smashed Chimken, we went with the Indomee XL with the level of spiciness being at Level 2. It is also noted that all Smashed Chimken orders does come with a side of Keropok (i.e. prawn crackers), sunny side-up, and slices of cucumbers.

Going for the Indomee first, it is noted that the Indomee on its own does not come with any hint of spiciness; it does carry that usual sweet-savouriness from the sauce pack that often accompanied instant packs of Mee Goreng, while the noodles were also savoury with bits of soft crunchiness from the bits of onions added. The Chimken does seem like shredded pieces of fried chicken pulled out from a chicken leg; all mixed with Sambal Belado of the preferred level of spiciness by the patron specified in their order. We liked that there is some crispness that one can find in those strips of meat that has the skin and fried batter still on, while the flesh still remains moist and easy to chew. As for the level of spiciness that we have opted for, Level Two on their scale did feel like something that was close to that of the authentic Indonesian dishes that we had tried during our trip to Bali several months back — definitely one which gives quite a spicy kick and tickles the tastebuds even for those whom are more accustomed to moderate levels of spiciness at other establishments usually. Their other elements such as the sunny side-up was executed well; the egg yolk being molten and eagerly oozes out with the poke of a fork. Overall, quite a satisfying affair especially since it is priced at $10 (original price $9.50, with $0.50 for top-up to Indomee XL). During our visit to Petit Fangko, we had also given their Nasi Lemak Ayam Berempah a go; what really stood out for us in the Nasi Lemak Ayam Berempah was how the blue pea rice was executed — it does seem that they have use long-grain rice here and the rice was distinguishable to the grain; all this whilst carrying an evident fragrance of coconut. It is needless to say that Petit Fangko does hit the spot for an establishment that is branded as Indomee Bar, though it is remained to be seen if such an establishment would appeal to the residents around Queenstown. That being said, Petit Fangko is an establishment which we would revisit again wholeheartedly to sort those cravings for Indonesian fare out!

Came across the new Smashed SG that had just recently opened their doors when scrolling through social media the other day. Located in the Food Loft coffeeshop at Blk 717 Yishun Street 71, Smashed SG is a stall that is situated in the same coffeeshop as where the outlet of El Carbon and Daily Green at Khatib are also at — just a short walking distance away from Khatib Camp. Smashed SG takes over the former stall that was vacated by Ho Yeah Nasi Lemak in the coffeeshop, being at the corner just adjacent to the stall serving mixed economic rice stall. Smashed SG is a stall that focuses on serving up Indonesian cuisine — the menu comprising of various types of Penyet / Bakar dishes that feature different meat / seafood / vegetable options; some examples of the types of Penyet / Bakar dishes served up at Smashed SG includes Ayam Penyet, Udang Penyet and Eggplant Bakar. Patrons would also be able to choose between four levels of spiciness for their Penyet / Bakar items by going for one of the four types of sambal chili which they have to offer. For those looking for something other than rice dishes to go for, Smashed SG also carries a Beef Bakso Beehoon on its menu as well — they also do serve up quite a variety of sides including a Munch Combo comprising of Fried Beancurd, Tempeh and Eggplant, as well as Keropok that works well as items to share around the table if dining in a group.

It has been quite a while since the last time where we have had Ayam Bakar — it was needless to say that it was the item that we gravitated towards when making our order at Smashed SG. For the choice of sambal chili, we asked the staff behind the counter for recommendations — she mentioned that the Sambal Penyet would be her personal favourite which also comes at the maximum spiciness rating at four chillies based on what is being illustrated on the menu, though she did also present us with the option of going for the Signature Kecap Manis that is rated at one chili in terms of spiciness. We found ourselves going for the former since the Ayam Bakar already consisted of Kecap Manis anyway. Smashed SG does not list down the elements that come with their Ayam Bakar — that being said, the Ayam Bakar at Smashed SG comes with the usual suspects; think fried beancurd, tempeh, leafy greens, and cherry tomato on the side whilst accompanied with flavoured rice that comes with fried shallots on the top. The bowl of beef bakso soup on the side was complimentary from the stall — they were giving out free bowls of the beef bakso soup as part of their opening promotion.

Going straight for the Ayam Bakar itself, we note that the grilled chicken was pretty tender; the flesh falls off the bone without much effort. The skin is coated in a thick and dense Kecap Manis glaze; we suspect that this would be the same as the Signature Kecap Manis sambal option, considering how we observed bits of chili padi with the Ayam Bakar coming with a light hint of spiciness amidst the sweetness of the Kecap Manis as well. The bed of rice comes with in a slightly yellowish hue; we do suspect that there might be some use of chicken stock and ginger in the cooking process that gives it a sufficiently moist texture whilst giving it a very mildly savoury note. The Sambal Penyet was probably their own terminology to describe Sambal Terasi; there is a bright hint of raw chilis that gave the sambal its spicy kick that should tickle the tastebuds of those whom are tolerable to moderate levels of spiciness, though we would say their rendition of it was way more manageable than what other similar establishments might serve up. The other elements are pretty decent too; the tempeh provided a soft and firm bite with an evidently bean-y note, while the fried beancurd was soft with a somewhat crisp exterior without feeling “old”. With its Penyet / Bakar dishes broth priced between $7.90 and $9.90 (the priciest being the Sotong Bakar), the food at Smashed SG does seem to be priced at the higher side as compared to the other stalls surrounding it. That being said, Smashed SG is a dining option which we would consider having if around the area.

Funan has recently been seeing quite a bit of movement of its F&B tenants; with former tenants such as that of Carl’s Junior, Yu Kee Braised Duck and Hawkerman which have all moved out of the mall recently, new entrants such as GyoGyo (a establishment focusing of Japanese grilled fish by Minor Food Singapore) and Five Foot Lane has established their presence in the mall. Taking over the former premises of the now-defunct Hawkerman outlet within Funan, Five Foot Lane is a new concept that focuses on serving up Indonesian dishes inspired by the street hawkers of Jakarta; the establishment is non-halal however, considering that they do serve dishes that contains pork. Whilst the layout of the space has not seen much changes the days which it was occupied by Hawkerman, there are some slight changes made to the furnishing and fittings overall; the space now sporting a slightly more colourful interior with splashes of pastel pink, green and bright yellow against wooden furniture and fittings — all that for a fun look that would attract the target audience which usually frequents the mall. We visited Five Foot Lane during their soft launch phase where they are serving a soft launch menu; the menu comprises of what one would typically expect out of an Indonesian eatery — think Fish, Beef, Pork and Chicken dishes such as that of Grilled Pomfret Fish with Rice, Signature Beef Rendang with Rice, Pork Satay, and Smashed Fried Chicken with Rice. The Noodles section features Indomie dishes served with different meat options, while there is also the Vegetables and Sides sections that would work well as a communal item to share across the table. Choice of beverages were rather limited during our visit; these were mainly restricted to canned beverages, as well as bottled drinks such as Tehbotol — all displayed at the counter and not listed anywhere on their printed or online menu.

Having skimmed through the menu, we found ourselves going for the Indomie with Pork Belly Sambal Rica; the item featuring elements such as Sambal Rica marinated pork belly, assorted vegetables, thinly sliced egg omelette and prawn cracker as per the printed menu. It is noted that both the Pork Belly Sambal Rica and Indomie came in separate bowls, with the bowl of Indomie coming with the all the other elements mentioned in the menu description of the item. Being a rather safe bet on its own, the Indomie is pretty comforting as one would have expected it to be — the noodles being springy, while also just savoury enough and lightly spicy (the noodles come spicy by default) that should work just fine for those with lower levels of tolerance to spiciness. The assorted vegetables included with the Indomie also seems to have featured cubes of pickled cucumbers and carrots; these provided a light tanginess which we found to be quite refreshing when had together after all the spicy elements in the item — the egg omelette itself was nothing much to shout about, though we were not too big of a fan with how the prawn cracker felt a little limp on some parts as though it has been placed in the open for a little too long. Moving on to the Pork Belly Sambal Rica, the Sambal Rica is described as a special sort of sambal that is known for being hot and spicy. The chunks of pork belly served up with their Indomie with Pork Belly Sambal Rica were pretty chunky; though there are some bits that felt more gelatinous from all the fatty parts, we liked how there are also quite a fair bit of leaner meat that gave a good chew. The sambal rica didn’t come with much of the ingredients that went into the making of it (i.e. the chili, shallots, garlic etc.), but the oil that came with it does provide quite a piquant kick on its own that tingles the tastebuds for those who are tolerant to moderate levels of spiciness — would have went absolutely well with a bowl of rice on the side to drizzle the oil with.

Indonesian fare is something that seem to be a niche that very few eateries would dabble into — whilst that is a market for such cuisine in Singapore, there just isn’t quite the same appeal for such food as compared to Korean, Japanese or even Malaysian fare to begin with. Five Foot Lane does seem to be a daring move to provide the masses an option of Indonesian fare within the mall that isn’t a mass-market brand that one would be able to easily find in other locations. Having tried also the Signature Beef Rendang with Rice and the Fried Tofu Inside-Out (i.e. Tofu with chicken and carrot filling), we found their offerings to be relatively decent, though there were definitely parts where it could certainly be more refined for more impact. Perhaps it is the lack of familiarity to Indonesian fare in general for us and us not having tried authentic Indonesian fare for the most part — the food just seemed a little difficult to relate to; probably just something that stuck out with us. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to wait out till they have officially launched for a more complete experience of what they have to offer.

Checking off yet another one of those spots that I had wanted to check out in the list — had came across Mrs. Hen previously at East Village; that outlet being a standalone eatery on its own, but they do actually have another location at Telok Ayer that is situated in the same coffeeshop where Uptown Nasi Lemak is at. With a focus on Ayam Geprek (Crispy Smashed Chicken), Mrs Hen serves up their Ayam Geprek with different choices of sambal — some options available on the menu include the Ayam Geprek Sambal Hijau (Green Chili) and Ayam Geprek Sambal Signature (Red Chili; also available in varying levels of spiciness); patrons who are looking for non-spicy options do also have the Ayam Geprek Salted Egg to go for. Aside for Ayam Geprek, Mrs Hen also offers Ikan Geprek, patrons also can go also for various forms of carbs such as that of the Nasi Kuning (Yellow Rice) or Indomie at an extra cost should they opt for those instead of the standard Nasi (White Rice) served by default.

Of the various types of sambal served with their Ayam Geprek available, the Ayam Geprek Sambal Matah was the one that stood out the most to us when we skimmed through the menu here — listed as Balinese Lemongrass Chilli, the Sambal Matah is best described as a Raw Onion Sambal according to some online sources. Whilst we initially wanted to go for Indomie, we had to end up with the default Nasi option since they were already out of Indomie when we made our visit during weekday lunch hours. Going straight for the slab of crispy smashed chicken, we were already impressed with this one — it’s tender, juicy and crisp; fried to a golden brown batter, it it is nothing short on being especially delicious. Topped off with the Sambal Matah, the chili is especially zingy yet umami — a very refreshing flavour that cuts through the fried nature of the dish and takes most of the heaviness of the dish away. There is not only some crunch from the raw shallots, but it is subtly spicy — nothing too distinctively hot at the start, but it does build up fast; yet addictively so especially with other elements like lemongrass which sets it apart from the usual red or green sambal that other stalls serve up. Each order also does come served with a side of Acar (Indonesian pickles)— juicy, crunchy cubes of pickled vegetables that resets the taste buds with a zing if all gets a little too spicy to handle.

Given its price tag of $7.90 for the Ayam Geprek Sambal Tambah, Mrs Hen does seem like one of the more affordable options to dine at within the Central Business District — no doubt still more considerably higher-priced than other spots like Market Street Food Centre (i.e. CapitaSpring) or certain stalls at Amoy Street Food Centre, it does seem much of a reasonable choice to go for on a weekly basis. We liked how Mrs Hen does serve up a good variety of sambal with their Ayam Geprek — there are plenty of spots doing Sambal Signature and Sambal Hijau but items like Sambal Mangga (Mango Chili) is difficult to come by. Portions are also on the larger side — definitely filling for those who have slightly bigger appetites even. Crowd management at the coffeeshop may be a little haphazard now that most folks have started to return to office (expect people who find themselves queueing up at the wrong spot, coffeeshop staff moving tables around when patrons are dining since they are too close by the queues etc.), but I guess Mrs Hen is a spot I would consider dining at again when there is a table available; also a good alternative to Uptown Nasi Lemak when the queue for that is a little too long.

Checked out the new Kulon over the previous weekend; a new Muslim-run establishment run by the same folks behind of the now-defunct Indo Java. Situated along Bali Lane, Kulon serves up Indonesian Bakmi, alongside rice dishes (think Nasi Ayam Geprek) and burgers in their menu here.

The Bakmi Spesial is essentially seasoned Indonesian-style dry noodles, served with braised sweet soy sauce chicken, Bakso beef balls and blanched bak choy. It’s the first time I am actually having Bakmi (yes, I know), but this was something I would certainly not mind having again — the noodles are akin to that of Chinese U-Mian 悠面, tossed in a savoury yet sweet sauce that gives it plenty of flavour; the noodles carrying a good bite as well in terms of texture. The minced chicken bits helped to further enhance those notes, whilst giving a meaty bite to the bowl considering how it laced around the strands of noodles — all that without being too dry, while the Bakso beef balls gave a substantial bite and some chew without being particularly gamey.

Given how Kulon is just a 17-seater establishment, this is very a much an eat-and-go spot despite its slightly cafe-esque setting considering how the food was served fast and also how the queue was forming up pretty quickly when we were there. That being said, it’s a pretty decent choice to consider if dining in the area, considering how it’s definitely a refreshing change over the various cafes which are operating within the Kampong Glam neighbourhood.

From Kira Kira; a new concept by the folks behind Yoi Group which are also the people who brought us Chikuwatei, located right beside Kira Kira. While the menu focuses on Nasi Padang served in both sets with pre-determined condiments as well as in a mix-and-match style; the only non-Nasi Padang offering would be the Nasi Lemak Tradisional, which comes with Ayam Goreng, Telur Goreng, Ikan Bilis and Peanuts, served with rice.

While the rice lacks that full-on coconut-y punch especially when compared to that of more artisanal joints, the rice comes pretty moist and fluffy and pairs well with the zippy and moderately spicy sambal that is drenched above the egg which tingles the taste buds. The Ikan Bilis maintains sufficient crunchiness to provide a texture, whilst giving the dish a slight saltishness, though the chicken felt like it was out in the display for a while — a little dried out, though still was relatively tender and came with a hint of spiciness; wished they would serve a chicken leg for more meat though!

Interestingly, Kira Kira by Yoi Group serves up a variety of Japanese dishes, with a kitchen focusing on local cuisine also in the pipeline where patrons can also enjoy familiar local and Chinese dishes as well. Patrons can also choose to order items of Chikuwatei’s menu as well.

For those who wish to enjoy Kira Kira (or Chikuwatei even) at the comfort of their own home, they are taking orders through their website as well for delivery and self pick-ups.

Fresh Curly Noodles, Secret Seasoning, Onsen Tamago, Braised Chicken, Chicharron.

From Moonstone Bar; previously known as 21Moonstone, they had since moved out of their former premises and had moved into their own space at Amoy Street. This was an item which sounds simple, but absolutely flavourful and comforting that goes especially well with the drinks they have to offer; almost like a satisfying bowl of noodles that works great as hangover food. Essentially just their very own rendition of Indomie, the noodles were springy, tossed in a secret seasoning that is absolutely umami and coats the noodles perfectly; adding the Chili gives it a very apt spicy punch that tickles the taste buds, even for those who may have a higher tolerance of spiciness given the heat it provides. Braised chicken comes in the form of minced meat here; the minced meat giving it a savoury and meaty bite that bears a texture consistent to the noodles, while the Onsen Egg helps to provide a silkier touch to the noodles when mixed into it. Had never expected Indomie to be so flavourful; the dish being so addictive on its own and so satisfying — something which I would most certainly develop cravings for in the future.

Checked out the new Bebek Mas Ganteng at Jalan Kayu which had took over the former premises of the now-defunct Savoury, opened by the same folks behind Steak Me next door.

Had to give their Bebek Goreng Original a try; after all, a Bebek Goreng specialty shop is still considered a rare find in Singapore. Thought the Bebek Goreng was decent; relatively crisp skin on the exterior without being particularly greasy, whilst the savoury flesh within is pretty tender and succulent, coming off from the bones rather easily without much effort. Each set comes Tahu Tempe, Rice and Soup on the side; the Tahu Tempe providing a beany crunch, while the soup comes pretty clear yet flavourful. The chili on the side packs a fiery punch; definitely tingles the taste buds even for those who are tolerable to high levels of spiciness and definitely not for the faint-hearted. Still find Bebek Goreng Pak Ndut at Lucky Plaza/Tampines1 my go-to spot for Bebek Goreng, but a pretty interesting option up around the North-Eastern part of the island considering the lack of such options around.

Finally made the revisit here to try their signature item — the previous time being years ago before their renovation and with their old menu. Always had a soft spot for duck; the Bebek is fried with a golden brown exterior — crisp outside, whilst being savoury and tender inside without being dry with the juiciness of the flesh still locked in. So on point, and still my favourite Bebek in town, and a dish that is seemingly hard to find in Singapore.

There are many Indonesian eateries around Singapore, but not many serve Indonesian Chinese cuisine like what Kota88 Restaurant does. Serving up noodle and rice dishes as well as ala-carte sharing plates during lunch hours, one of their specialties is their Nasi Campur Babi; mixed pork rice that sees various components served with either white rice or chicken rice to the choice of the patrons. All the elements; Char Siew, Roast Pork, Sweet Pork Satay, Braised Pig Ear, Sio May (or more known as Siew Mai locally) and Ngo Hiang — each element well-executed to its own right to create a myriad of textures and flavours that is absolutely tasty. Would certainly see myself ordering this again!

Randomly ended up at Ayam Penyet President's new outlet at Northpoint for dinner and wasn't really impressed by the Ayam Bakar. Sure, the sweet sauce is thick and sticky while the chicken is decently tender, but serving this up within 5 mins after my order is made at the counter at a lukewarm temperature in a casual dining concept is certainly not something that is anywhere up my alley.

I like it when cafes try to serve their own versions of Asian flavours — this Iga Bakar is one good example where they serve a grilled beef rib (braised for 48 hours) with kecap manis reduction with polenta fries. I wasn't much of a fan of the polenta fries on the side for they tasted very much like salted tidbits but still decently crisp and fluffy, but the beef certainly was delicious with the sweet Kecap Manis despite it carrying just a slight gamey flavour profile; just that it could be more tender overall. What intrigued me the most was the crisp on the side; earthy yet spicy flavours like dried chili flakes in cracker form — very interesting indeed but felt isolated from the whole dish for there seem to be nothing else on the plate to pair the crackers with.