Western Dining (Halal)

If you love Swensen's thick cut fries, you can order an upsized version that comes in a basket like this. You'll also get an additional dipping sauce, which is thousand island dressing.

I thought that Chic-a-boo was just another fast food place but boy was I wrong. The food is legit and the prices are reasonable. This meal with a good-sized fried chicken, battered fish, two sides of your choice, corn muffin and a drink was $7.90. You also get proper plates and metal cutlery when you dine in, really ~fancy~. I heard KFC used to be like this way back when.

I love it when you can choose your own side dishes, and there's so many options! The corn muffin is crisp outside and moist on the inside, and I could taste a bit of apple sauce. The fish is coated in batter that tastes similar to Long John Silver's but the size is much bigger and meatier than the ones at LJS. Not forgetting the well seasoned, perfectly fried piece of spicy chicken. A meal well worth the money.

A week later I went to the outlet at Sembawang shopping centre but the place and service was a hot mess. I definitely recommend the Marina Square outlet which is more spacious and clean.

I'm not really a steak person, but I do have a weakness for the super savoury garlic mushroom ribeye from Spize. Plus a double scoop of mashed potatoes? Yaaasss plz.

Ahh, the joy of stuffing your face with a big bowl of pasta, then calling it a night. This is usually served with Linguine pasta, but I always request for spaghetti.

Super fun, loud and fresh. When I'm not engrossed in my food or gossiping with my gals, my feet will be grooving to the awesome 90's and 00's hip-hop music. Next time I should just go full on concert mode and perform for everyone. I don't think you're ready for this hijabi!!! 😎

I wanted to try the Gula Melaka Milkshake so I made my gfs share one even though we're all in a food coma by then. The gula melaka flavour is reaaally sweet but I think we did finish it. It's really thick, that's why a spoon is provided. I'm not a fan of marshmallow, but when it's torched like that, even I can't resist.

Btw guys have you ever had a cheeseburger and strawberry milkshake together? It's a delicious, killer combo. Definitely gonna have that one day when I'm feeling yolo.

The Salmon on Greens is probably the lightest main course you can order, but there's nothing light about the flavour. Seriously good.

The Chicken Mac & Cheese uses large pieces of macaroni, covered in a nicely seasoned cheese sauce that won't make you feel jelak. The boneless chicken chunks make this really easy to eat, and the portion is manageable too.

I read in a newspaper article that this is co-owner Sheikh Haikel's favourite dish that sparked his desire to open Fatpapas. I chose this, hoping to have the same eureka moment that he had. I was totally blown away by the taste.

Who knew that a breaded and fried piece of steak could taste so good. Then there's that magical cheesy bechamel sauce. It makes everything it touches taste creamy and delicious. I drowned my salad in that sauce too. Yeah, underneath that massive slab is mashed potatoes and a salad. 😅

When you're eating this, start with the parts that are already drenched in sauce. Once you're done with that, don't be shy to ask for more sauce for the rest of your steak! You're welcome.

Spicy and cheesy meat sauce slathered over rustic, skin-on fries. Reminds me of the one from Wendy's (RIP). It's a great appetiser, though I would prefer to have the cheese separate from the beef chilli. There's also Disco Fries and Groovy Fries on the menu, which I'm really curious about!

I was still full from lunch earlier, but wanted to try something savoury from the menu. Most of the dishes had a lot going on, especially cause their focus is on Asian Fusion.

The simplest dish I could find was the Mac & Cheese which was pretty good. Macaroni pasta covered in a creamy but slightly bland cheese sauce. Not to worry, as the turkey bacon strips and green onion provided salty and spicy elements to the dish. A very warm and comforting meal overall.

This dish is one of two kids meal items which comes with a small glass of fruit juice. The juice I got tasted of pink guava and fruit punch. Refreshing and not too sweet.

I'm not a Harry Potter fan, but I couldn't resist getting myself a mug of Butterbeer, a special item that was introduced only last month.

The main part of the drink is a butterscotch flavoured soda, served in a chilled mug, then topped with vanilla cream with a hint of butterscotch. The topping actually tastes like soft ice-cream, which it probably is, judging by the way it bubbles up when mixed with the soda. To me it's just a butterscotch version of a root beer float.

Because of the portion and sweetness, it should be considered a dessert rather than a drink to accompany your meal.

It was a pretty good first visit, and I'm excited to come back and try the noodle dishes which look reaaally good.

Do I have any gripes? Well, the space is a little cramped and it was frustrating trying to get the attention of their wait staff. Be prepared to wait a while for your food too. But the lack of manpower is such a chronic issue for our local F&B scene, these problems don't surprise me anymore. Hence I always manage my expectations whenever I eat out.

I do want to say hats off to Ummi Abdullah, the founder of Noosh and popular nasi ambeng spot Dapur Ummi Abdullah (which I love!), for taking the brave step to set up shop at the Esplanade. Finally we have a nice halal restaurant to dine before catching a show or celebrate a special occasion at the iconic Bay area.

You can have a look at their full menu on www.dapurummiabdullah.com.sg.
Warning: it's page after page of droolworthy photos!