Food

From 3-5 pm weekdays, there's noodle and congee options, three appetisers (4 mini spring rolls, black fungus, tau kwa cubes) and three drinks (some tea, barley, lemon tea). Can't use additional promos including Paradise membership. Mushroom and chicken congee was smooth but salty, and not enough mushroom slices. Both this and the spicy minced meat noodle were pleasant but not amazing. Black fungus was awesome but too much for one person unless you ate it with the porridge. The spring rolls were nothing special. Ice lemon tea was too sweet, the hot teabag tea was great and refillable with hot water. Great service from the sole server.

Newly opened and running ads on Google maps, 168 is currently open for just 9 hours a week, 6-9 pm Thu-Sat. Only the cheese (7) and premium cheese (10, adds burrata) are pork free. We tried a Hawaiian and a pepperoni pizza (15 each) and enjoyed it, though the pepperoni was rather salty. The pizzas were chewy and doughy but not particularly puffy. It was enough for the three of us. We aren't particularly lactose intolerant but two of us did have some looser output the next day. Is this a lactose bomb on others too?

Pizzas are 9-10 inches and there's also ham and cheese (10). Chili flakes are available but no cutlery (the toilets are clean and around the corner for easy handwashing). Paynow and cash accepted. Not enrolled in DBS Friday hawker cashback.

The alcoholic drinks here start at 6 IIRC, which is incredible.

Until 31 Dec there is 50% off tea set (available only from 3-5 pm, main courses unavailable during tea time) for 9++ consisting three each of sweet and savouries, which is great value for one pax. The baos were both great, as well as the siew mai. One of us said the (oversized) yuzu macaron was too sweet and the kaarage too salty, but I liked them. The other liked the matcha cake while I felt it was average. The amazake or sweet fermented rice drink (non-alcoholic here but do ask if it's totally alcohol free if you need to) is a treat for the new year. The long steaming time fukamashi green tea (pictured and recommended) was smooth and sweet while the black tea was slightly too astringent for my company but it was fine for me. Here's to a better 2023.

Pasta rebus is 5.70+ (pleasant, though tweaked) on national day for the first 57 orders. I was the 17th order at 1.30 pm so there should be ample for you if the other cafe queue is unbearable. Almond croissant (4.7+) was good but I haven't had many others. Chicken burger is fine, eggs royale and latte (very foamy!) slightly better, asparagus mushroom pasta unspectacular. Only four tables inside, but there's fans al fresco. Would come back for weekday sets. Only gst charged, consider tipping.