Mains (Western)

𝔾𝕣𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝔽𝕚𝕤𝕙 ℍ𝕠𝕥𝕡𝕠𝕥 [𝕄𝕒𝕝𝕒/𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕪 𝔽𝕣𝕒𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕥] 🌶🐟🥵
📝: Limbo/Basa Fish, mala mix, mungbean sprouts, potato slices, cabbage, beancurd skin
~$18.80~
by: @whatthefishsg

Decided to try @whatthefishsg after my partner said it was nubbad for the price ($18.80) since we didn’t know what to eat at J8 for dinner 😅😅 Thankfully the foodcourt wasn’t that packed albeit it being dinner time so we found an empty table relatively fast but for the dish to arrive, not relatively so (~30min). We were okay with it because the staff already preempt us that the wait would take about 20min.

We got the Whole Fish combo which came with 2 pearl rice and 4 side dishes and I added luncheon meat cuz why not (which costed $0.70 extra). After an excruciatingly long 30min, what greeted my nose was the fragrance of Szechuan pepper!! The (oily) broth was decently spicy (mala 大辣) but it was the gradual kind of spice; not the straight up stab-your-soul kinda spice so 👍👍. Also, it was mouthwateringly good— unlike those usual “mala” flavour you get at your run-off-the-mill mala stalls as the broth had a full bodied aroma of different spices such as black cardamom, cumin, star anise etc 🤤 However, the side dishes were kinda pathetic 😤😤 They were less than a handful each and only had 4 quarter slices of luncheon meat lol BUT the fish was tender yet had a substantial bite to it!! It’s okay though, cuz we were quite satiated after the meal.

All in all, if you are in the area, I think you can give @whatthefishsg a try! It’s very aromatic and it’s a less expensive option to Chong Qing Grilled Fish / Tanyu but of course, you get what you pay for.

ⓇⒶⓉⒾⓃⒼ: 𝟾.𝟹/𝟷𝟶

Follow my Instagram for more reviews!! :) @iexercisetoeatt

𝕆𝕣𝕙 ℕ𝕖𝕖 ℂ𝕒𝕜𝕖 💜🥥🍰
📝 Yam, ginkgo nut, coconut whipped cream
~$8~

I actually had this a few months back after seeing the hype about it but was left disappointed and didn’t have the mood to review it. This time, I gave it a second chance and tried it again but sadly, my opinion of it is still the same 😞
The portion was quite big— comparable to Cake Spade and really pretty too (heck, their entire cafe aesthetic is to die for). The cake was actually delightfully light and fluffy. The vanilla sponge was lightly scented, just enough to complement the yam paste that had chunks of yam and ginkgo(!) in it. First time I’ve had any yam related food that includes ginkgo 🤩 I love ginkgo btw!! I love it’s subtle nutty flavour that’s accompanied by a touch of sweetness and creaminess. Anyway, I expected more from the yam paste flavour-wise but it was a very nuanced and muted flavour that I had to consciously be aware of it to taste it 😕 The frosting I suspect is made of coconut cream as it’s wonderfully scented with coconut that melds well with the vanilla+yam flavour profile (duh it’s Orh nee lol). However, because of the nature of coconut cream, it’s quite unstable in tropical weather so I understand their decision to add gelatine to stabilise the frosting BUT to me it was kinda too jelly-ish/slimy. Yikes, that texture is a no-go for me rip.
Lastly, their coffee imo was over roasted and left an unpleasant sour/bitter aftertaste in conjunction with the oat milk. Maybe it would’ve been better to order it with regular milk but then again, good coffee should be able to work with both dairy and non-dairy milk 🤷‍♂️
Would go back again cuz I’m a sucker for aesthetic chill spots + I wanna try out their yuzu meringue (which my friend really liked) and their vanilla cheddar as well hehe

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ⓇⒶⓉⒾⓃⒼ: 𝟼.𝟻/𝟷𝟶

Follow my Instagram for more reviews!! :) @iexercisetoeatt

𝕊𝕙-𝕜𝕖𝕟 𝔻𝕠𝕟𝕓𝕦𝕣𝕚 🍯🐓🐟🥚🍚⠀⠀⠀
📝 honey miso chicken thigh, crispy fish skin, short-grain rice, onsen egg⠀⠀⠀
~$16.90~⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Bought this 1-for-1 voucher during Chope’s birthday so is actually $8.45 per pax!! The store itself is really small, with only 6 seats so when I arrived (at lunch hour, no less 🤭) there was already a queue and I could not get any seats but I was able to seat at the establishment located beside it selling Korean stews (which actl looks 🤤)⠀⠀⠀
Anyway, I had to wait ~15-20min for the food and when it first came, the plating made the donburi look so appetising but I was doubtful of the portion. However my concerns were for naught. I couldn’t even finish the entire thing OMG it was sneakily so filling!! ⠀⠀
The donburi was intriguing— juicy and succulent chicken thighs smothered in honey miso sauce accompanied with a side of lightly spiced crispy fish skin (!) and topped with a perfect onsen egg on a generous serving of fluffy short-grain rice with some seaweed furikake. The chicken was amazing— every bite of the succulent thigh exploded with sweet and umami (thanks to the miso) notes which paired really well with the grassy, earthy seaweed rice. However, the crispy fish skin— even though amazing on its own— completely overwhelmed the entire dish and I could only taste the Cajun seasoning. If only it was less dominant, it would’ve been perfect. It’s crunchy and umami, providing a spectacular textural contrast to the creamy rice (cuz I mixed the onsen egg in hehe). ⠀⠀⠀
Honestly, even though it was not bad, I can’t justify paying $16.90 for this especially when my tastebuds got overwhelmed by the Cajun fish skin (the dealbreaker). However, if there was another BOGO (buy one get one) promotion, I would definitely visit again.⠀⠀⠀
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*EDIT: okay I found out the dish is actually $9.90 instead which I feel is not bad esp arnd the CBD area!!⠀
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ⓇⒶⓉⒾⓃⒼ: 𝟼.𝟿/𝟷𝟶

ℍ𝕒𝕨𝕥 ℂ𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕜𝕤 𝕨/ ℂ𝕙𝕖𝕕𝕕𝕒𝕣 𝔹𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕝 🔥🐓🥓🥯
📝 Sriracha Chicken Thigh, Bacon, Chilli Aioli, Greens

~$13~
*went at ~1045 weekday; no crowd but started to get busy at about 1130*

TL;DR— Thick-ass bagel, amazingly seared chicken thigh (though quite salty), awesome spicy aioli that works in harmony with thigh. Very filling so 2 people can share 1 if y’all not big eaters!! (Continued in comments section cuz this post sb long HAHAHAH)

I expected a normal sized bagel ~3.5in but this chonky wonky boy that’s filled with a generous serving of juicy, herby thigh, bacon, veggies and chilli aioli was T H I C C. It’s about 4in and almost 3in tall wth!! Half of the bagel was already quite filling 😩😩😩
The shredded cheddar on top was so crispy and fragrant that every bite of this dense and chewy goodness is akin to a supporting dancer. It’s always at the background funking around (haha get it cuz cheeses have this funky smell and funk is a genre of dance), supporting the main filling with its umami-ness. The cheddar crisps on top worked well the succulent chicken thigh that had an amazing sear, juicy skin and bursts of aromatic herbs and worked synergistically well with the chilli aioli, supplementing it with some sharpness, rounding out the “fatty” qualities. However, it was quite salty. I found it to be too salty for my liking (even though I usually have a saltier palate). Don’t eat the thigh by itself, you have been warned!!

HERE COMES THE STAR OF THE SHOW IMO. The sauce is a m a z i n g. It’s like a kinky lover— a little spicy while loving you with a passion. The spice sometimes hits you on the tongue, teasing you which leaves you searching and wanting for more while still treats you lovingly— letting you sleep on it belly (fatty creamy emulsion 🙈) haha. As there’s so much amazingness going on, the usual amazing stuff (bacon) faded into the background, demoted into being a backstage crew. The bacon was honestly just a salty piece of meat in the bagel. Nothing more, nothing less. If only it was waaaay crispier though which would’ve provided more textural contrast haiz.

All in all, amazing bagel. The flavours don’t overpower each other and is not “jelat”. Might order again. If only the bacon was crispier :’)

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