[CLOSED] Thrive Kitchen

Monkey Business ($12.9)-toasted banana loaf was a bit dry, peanut butter poppiah was incredible paired with the sweet loaf and ice cream 4/5

Serving some health concious food although not lacking on the naughty stuff as well.

Assam Fish Bowl ($17.9)-sour and spicy, not really a fan of the aroma, but taste wise was good 4/5

Believe it or not, this hole in the wall serves up pretty good and healthy dishes with vegan options! The cafe presents a quiet and comfortable ambience complemented with warm lighting and an open kitchen - perfect for a 1-to-1 meet up with your closest friends.

The Assam Fish Rice Bowl ($17.90, back) gave a good first impression with its rainbow colours and an assortment of ingredients. That blob of fish pieces coated in a thick red gravy may not seem appealing, but it sure packs a punch as the nonya spice slowly infuses your palate and kicks you with the chilli. A really impressive dish!

The Norway-inspired Open Sandwich ($12.90, front) comprised of a vegan patty made out of lentils, mushrooms and almonds, sitting atop one whole portebello mushroom and wholegrain toast. Once again, a good impression was given as the earthy fragrance of the mushrooms assailed my nostrils. The vegan patty and cashew mayonnaise were indeed flavourful, but I wasn't too pleased with the patty being crumbly - it kept breaking apart whenever I stick my fork and knife in. Perhaps a little binding agent to hold the patty together will be good! Also, the bread tasted a little stale and I found it hard for all the components to harmonise well together.

Nonetheless, I love this cafe for its extensive menu of wholesome dishes and chill vibes. Would definitely return to try other dishes, especially their desserts!

The griddlecakes played it like fragrant, buttery McDonald's hotcakes, whilst elsewhere the pistachio ice cream was a thick, nutty pleasure and the bitter coffee butter was a Sudoku puzzle to the tongue. 3.9/5

A dish that surpassed my expectation, with the flavourful prawn broth bearing a sweet unami note. Instead of the usual fried, dry style of Hokkien mee, this version is served in a soupy base, resulting in soft, wet vermicelli where every mouthful possessed the sweet, umami flavour and fragrance of the prawn broth. Due to my personal preference, I had requested for squid to be omitted in replacement for more prawns. Prawns could have been more plump and juicy IMO but the addition of generous amount of fried egg and tender, well marinated chicken chunks made the overall meal a satisfying and fulfilling one; every spoonful an enjoyment to my palate 😋. Also served alongside is a side of homemade chilli sauce that sure packs a punch with its tangy note of spiciness - not for the faint hearted! 🔥 My dining partner and I could not help but agree that this was indeed one of the better Hokkien mee out there. Though price is not that economical, the ambience, service and quality of food makes every $ worth it! 💖 .
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#burpple #smitteneats #smittenchoice

This pumpkin soup was creamy and leaned to the sweeter side. That said, its sweetness was not overwhelming and was very welcoming to my palate. I had it as part of the lunch set (+$7 for a drink and a soup), and the portion was just right - it might be too jelat if it was a normal serving/ ala carte size.

To enhance the experience, this bowl of soup would have been even better if it was paired with croutons to introduce a crunchy element to the otherwise smooth soup.