New Station Rice Bar

Came across an eatery that is named New Station Rice Bar when they were still undergoing renovations when walking around Fortune Centre quite a while ago — found out that they had finally opened their doors recently and made our way to check it out. For those whom find the name familiar; yes, New Station Rice Bar is a new concept by the same folks behind the famed New Station Snack Bar that is situated in Far East Plaza — they have occupied a shop unit at Level 3 of Fortune Centre, which some would likely recognise as the previous shop unit that housed the now-defunct Japanese Curry Express that had moved out of the same premises in the later part of 2023. Considering so, New Station Rice Bar has taken up both units that Japanese Curry Express used to have occupied; one unit being dedicated to the ordering counter and the kitchen, whilst another unit being dedicated for dine-in operations; patrons not only can find seats within the unit that houses the dining area, but also along the shopping mall’s aisles surrounding the shop unit itself. While the dine-in area attempts to be a little bit hipster and skewed towards providing patrons with a comfortable environment especially with the use of cushioned dining chairs, the entire design can still be considered functional to a certain degree. New Station Snack Bar’s original location at Far East Plaza can be described as more of a typical zi-char establishment; New Station Rice Bar at Fortune Centre can be described as New Station Snack Bar’s hippier cousin. The Mains section of the menu at New Station Rice Bar is the core focus here, with the items listed being individually-sized rice plates that are coupled with various types of meats / seafood / protein options that one can typically find in a zichar establishment. Also available at New Station Rice Bar would be a line-up of appetisers; beverages available at New Station Rice Bar largely comprises of usual, non-caffeinated suspects like the Fresh Barley Drink, Fresh Soy Milk with Gula Melaka and Fresh Honey Lemon; just to name a few.

We hadn’t been to New Station Snack Bar at Far East Plaza prior to our visit to New Station Rice Bar; that being said, one of the most notable items that is being served up at New Station Snack Bar often mentioned to be a must-try would be the Salted Egg Pork Chop / Chicken Cube Rice — something which we were rather tempted to get. That being said, we found ourselves skipping on that, considering how we have spotted the availability of the Chinchalok Fish Katsu on the menu which sounded more interesting and unique to say the least. New Station Rice Bar does not describe on the elements that are being featured in their Chinchalok Fish Katsu, though the physical appearance of the dish does seem to suggest the inclusion of a Chinchalok-infused sauce, julienned cucumbers and sliced onions, deep-fried fish chunks and white rice. Interesting to note would be how New Station Rice Bar offers patrons with a choice of either Onsen Egg or Sunny Side-Up for the egg that accompanies the dish; the availability of the former is being cited to provide patrons an alternative option for those whom find sunny side-ups being potentially greasy for their liking. Digging into the Chinchalok Fish Katsu, the Chinchalok-infused sauce did not come with a note of Chinchalok that would be a little too intimidating to some (especially considering how Chinchalok is a condiment that features fermented small shrimp); instead, the entire sauce carried a really zippy and tangy note — the Chinchalok likely being added just to give the sauce a little more depth for a punchier flavour. The cucumbers and onions included seemed to have also absorbed the flavours of the sauce; both providing the entire dish a soft crunch in terms of texture as well making it seemingly like an Asian-style relish that it was supposed to be.

These also work together well with the deep-fried fish chunks; we were initially a little worried about how these would turn out to be, but we must mention that we were left satisfied considering how these seem to be entirely prepared in-house instead of using commercially-produced, ready-to-cook products, and were pretty well-executed. The chunks of fish came well-sized; the exterior coated with panko crumbs and deep-fried to achieve the golden brown batter. We especially liked how the fish remain moist and soft; all that without being particularly greasy as well — the flavours of the Chinchalok-infused sauce helping to refresh the tastebuds from the nature of fried stuff on the plate. The sunny side-up was also well-executed here; flowy, molten egg yolk, while also does not feel in any way greasy nor reeked of any undesirable notes of overused oil. We had also paired our Chinchalok Fish Katsu with their Iced Honey Lemon; the drink does come with quite a fair bit of ice that seems to be filled to the brim — that being said, they do seem rather generous with the honey here that would provide a good balance for those whom have the habit of getting every ounce of lemon juice into their Honey Lemon. Overall, New Station Rjce Bar does serve up rather decently priced individually-sized zichar dishes with rice — the prices of the dishes listed in the Mains section of the menu range from $8 to $10; a little high-priced when compared to some other establishments in the neighbourhood, though still of a reasonable range for those used to seeing such prices for food in the Central Business District. New Station Rice Bar does seem like a spot that is likely to attract the likes of office workers and students around the neighbourhood; we are looking forward to giving their Salted Egg Pork Chop / Chicken Cube Rice a try when the opportunity prevails!