grain bowls 🥙

The Norwegian salmon bowl ($14) fell a little short of expectations - the brown rice was hard and the salmon dry. Otherwise, the combination of ingredients and flavours is rather pleasant!

The burpple beyond set ($32++) comes with 2 tapas - nachos and quinoa salad! The warm corn chips were paired with sour cream and guacamole. The salad features fried quinoa, mixed with tangy tomatoes, sharp onions and sweet beans. It was topped with crumbs of cotija cheese, which really packed a punch. It was a really delightful mix of flavours and textures!

Came by earlier this year! Each bowl ($11+, regular) comprises a base, 1 protein, 2 sides, 1 topping and 1 sauce. The bases are nothing to shout about as the choices are limited and rather basic - we opted for penne pasta, with brown rice/ lettuce/ potato cucumber salad as the other options. I much preferred the baked dory over the Cajun chicken - the fish was moist with a crisp flavourful exterior! The chicken was tender but it’s marinade didn’t quite hit the mark. Amongst the sides, the curried cauliflower was my favourite as it packed lots of flavour! The crispy chickpeas were a surprise hit. Both dressings we picked were a tad strange but sufficed. The place is good for a quiet afternoon once the lunch crowd clears!

A meal with incredible value, given the hefty portion! Built this bowl ($12, regular) with barley quinoa, which we enjoyed immensely. Definitely not the usual run of the mill grains! Paired it with tender pieces of Cajun chicken, flavoured delectably. Picked roasted pumpkin, cherry tomatoes and kimchi for my sides - loved the herb glaze, but found the kimchi rather unconventional with its use of beans and carrots. Topped of off with furikake and italian dressing!

Colour of this bowl ($12, regular) is rather pale, but it’s flavour did not disappoint! The barley quinoa base wowed us with its light, slightly salty marinade. The snapper (+$1) was fresh and sweet. The hummus was rather grainy and lacked the usual spices, but the mushrooms and onsen egg were great additions :-) topped it all off with furikake! The basil yoghurt, served on the side, was tangy and refreshing.

The Glowing Bowl ($18+) features multigrain rice topped with a copious serving of seed mix. A vegan option, it also comes with boiled vegetables and half an avocado. The mix of ingredients is certainly innovative and adds variety, but the bowl was a little too dry!

The zen spread ($18+) appears to be a popular dish! The multigrain rice and clear soup made it a healthy meal. I wasn’t fond of the pickles, and found the tamago a tad sweet. But the salmon was moist and well seasoned, and I particularly enjoyed the pumpkin.

The rice bowls here certainly add to the healthy options available in the CBD! The teriyaki salmon bowl ($15) features brown rice topped with sprouts. The salmon was a sizeable portion but rather dry. Would prefer it to be a more authentic japanese donburi!

Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by other bowl joints, but the salmon furikake bowl ($14) fell flat for me. The brown rice base was hard and dry, with a small portion of tomatoes, mushrooms and broccoli. The salmon was well seasoned but a little over cooked and thus hard, not at all moist like you’d expect salmon to be!

Was immediately drawn to the Taco Mexx Chicken ($14+) when I saw it on the menu! I opted for garlic japanese rice for my base. The chicken was a little bit dry, but the salsa and cilantro cream were really authentic and it ended up tasting like a burrito bowl! Loved the addition of Mexican elements like corn, avocado and jalapeño :-)

Tried the roasted sesame salmon salad ($14.50)! The bowl was well balanced with mixed greens and quinoa. Drizzled with Japanese sesame sauce, it was topped with nuts, olives and egg. My favourite part was definitely the Atlantic salmon fillet, which was baked beautifully - super moist and flavourful, literally melt in your mouth goodness! Salads can get pretty expensive, but this one is a steal with burpple beyond. The set also comes with a small bottle of kombucha!

Had high expectations for this item ($24+), which comes highly recommended. The base was an interesting medley of textures and flavours as it comprised a variety of grains, such as quinoa/ barley/ wheat. The wagyu itself was rather disappointing - it was dry and lacking flavour. Thankfully, the zucchini, tomatoes, mushroom and furikake added dimension to the dish.