A Quiet Matcha Experience at KLARRA Cafe with Edmund

Singapore -  Edmund introduced me to a rather interesting little spot for a matcha break — KLARRA Cafe, tucked quietly inside a homegrown fashion boutique. It is not the kind of café that you would necessarily notice from the outside, but once you step inside, you discover a quaint and comfortable space that feels quite different from the usual busy cafés.

The atmosphere was one of the things I enjoyed most. It was quiet, cosy and relaxed, with the fashion boutique giving the café an unusual setting. It felt like a little hidden corner where you could slow down, enjoy a drink and have a conversation without the noise and bustle of a typical café.

KLARRA focuses on quality matcha and specialty coffee, with its matcha prepared using a traditional hand-whisking method and ceremonial-grade matcha. Naturally, I had to try their recommended Matcha Latte with Honey Cream, served over ice at $10.50.

The iced matcha latte had a rich, smooth and distinctly umami character. The honey cream added another layer of sweetness and creaminess, balancing the natural earthiness of the matcha. I enjoyed the contrast between the slightly bitter matcha and the sweet honey cream, making the drink quite indulgent without being overly sweet.

What I particularly liked about KLARRA Cafe was that it wasn't just about the drink. The experience of sitting quietly inside a fashion boutique made the nice visit quaint. It is a nice place to escape from the usual café crowd and enjoy a quality matcha in a comfortable setting.

At $10.50, the Matcha Latte with Honey Cream is certainly not the cheapest matcha drink around, but for those who appreciate good matcha and enjoy discovering unique café spaces, KLARRA Cafe is an interesting place to put on the list.

A Fun Mexican Lunch with Edmund at Chimichanga, Raffles City

 Singapore - Today, I had lunch with my good friend Edmund at Chimichanga in Raffles City, looking for something a little different from our usual Singaporean hawker food. 

The moment we stepped into the restaurant, we were greeted by a friendly atmosphere and plenty of Mexican character. The décor was colourful and, I have to say, a little fun Mexican way — but somehow, it added to the experience and made the place feel lively and casual.

We decided to try a couple of the lunch specials and share the experience.

Vegetarian Jungle Jack Chimichanga

First up was the Vegetarian Jungle Jack Chimichanga. The chimichanga was nicely wrapped and fried until crispy on the outside, while the inside was piping hot. I was expecting to get more of the taste of the spiced jackfruit, but it wasn't particularly noticeable to me. Nevertheless, the filling was flavourful, satisfying and surprisingly filling. The crispy exterior combined with the warm filling made it an enjoyable lunch option.

Borracho Fish Tacos

We also ordered the Borracho Fish Tacos, featuring beer-battered fish. This was probably my favourite of the two. The fish tacos had a distinctive and rather unique taste that felt quite different from the usual tacos I've tried. The beer-battered fish added a nice texture and flavour, and every bite was enjoyable. It was an original combination that worked well for me.

Another nice touch was that each lunch special came with a glass of juice, making the meal feel quite complete.

Overall, it was a fun lunch with Edmund at Chimichanga. The food was hearty, the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed, and the Borracho Fish Tacos were a real highlight. Sometimes it's nice to step away from the usual lunch routine and try something completely different — especially when good food is accompanied by good company.

A Delicious Cantonese Dinner at East Bistro, Serangoon Gardens

 Singapore - I recently had dinner at East Bistro, located at Serangoon Gardens Village, and it turned out to be a very enjoyable Cantonese dining experience. The food was genuinely good, with each dish prepared with care and packed with flavour although I have to say, the prices are on the expensive side for a neighbourhood restaurant.

Fish Curd with Luffa

We started with the fish curd with luffa in soup, which was essentially fresh and fluffy fishballs served together with luffa in a clear soup. The soup had a lovely ginger fragrance and flavour, while the fishballs were soft, fresh and bouncy. It was a comforting dish and a very good way to start the meal.

Mongolian Pork Ribs

The Mongolian pork ribs were another highlight. The ribs were tender and delicious, with a rich savoury flavour that made them very easy to enjoy. The meat came away nicely from the bone and was one of the dishes that everyone at the table kept going back to.

Salt-baked half chicken

We also tried their signature salt-baked half chicken, which was beautifully tender and nicely seasoned. The salt and spices penetrated the chicken well without overwhelming the natural flavour of the meat. It was simple but very satisfying.

For vegetables, we had kale with garlic and fried broccoli with garlic. Both were cooked very well, retaining a pleasant texture while carrying the fragrant flavour of fried garlic. Sometimes vegetable dishes can be an afterthought in a Chinese meal, but these two were definitely not; both were delicious and complemented the heavier meat dishes nicely.

East Bistro is also associated with Chef Tony Wong, who was previously the head chef of the Michelin-starred Lei Garden in Hong Kong and Singapore. That background certainly adds some credibility to the restaurant's Cantonese cooking.

Overall, I enjoyed my dinner at East Bistro. The fishball and luffa soup, Mongolian pork ribs and salted-baked chicken were particularly memorable, while the two vegetable dishes were equally well executed. The only drawback for me was the price; good food, but not a cheap dinner. 

A Simple but Delicious Lunch at Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Hawker Centre

 Singapore - Today’s food adventure brought me to Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Hawker Centre, located at Block 210 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh. Like many of Singapore’s neighbourhood hawker centres, the biggest challenge is not finding food; it is deciding what to eat! There was a wide selection of stalls offering everything from noodles and rice to snacks and desserts.

After walking around and looking at the different choices, I finally decided on the beef noodles from Sheng Tai Beef Noodle #01-12.

What arrived was a very generous portion. This $5 bowl came with plenty of tender beef shank, thick white noodles and a delicious beef sauce that coated the noodles nicely. The beef was especially tender, and the sauce had a wonderful umami flavour that made every mouthful satisfying. It was a simple bowl of noodles, but the generous serving and tasty beef made it a very enjoyable lunch.

Just nearby was another stall that immediately caught my attention — not because of its food display, but because of the snaking queue that seemed to never end at Wang Mei Soya Bean @ #01-27.

This stall has been operating at the food centre for more than 30 years and is now run by an elderly man together with his young daughter. Watching the constant stream of customers lining up made me curious, so naturally, I had to join the queue and find out what the attraction was.

I ordered a soya bean drink for $1.40 and a soya beancurd for $1.20. Both were wonderfully smooth and had a clean, gentle soya flavour. Nothing overly complicated — just simple, fresh and comforting. I can understand why this little stall continues to attract such a loyal following after so many years.

It was another reminder that sometimes the best hawker food doesn't need to be fancy or expensive. At Toa Payoh Lorong 8, a bowl of beef noodles and a cup of traditional soya bean drink were enough to make a very satisfying lunch.

A Hawker Lunch at Shunfu Market & Hawker Centre

Singapore - Updated September 2026

I recently returned to Shunfu Market & Hawker Centre after my original visit in 2023. This time I tried Leong Hainanese Chicken Rice, Mei Zhen Hakka Delicacies and several other stalls.  Shunfu Market & Hawker Centre, also known as Shunfu Mart Food Centre, is a neighbourhood hawker centre near Marymount MRT in Singapore. I took the Circle Line to Marymount MRT Exit A and walked about 10 minutes to explore some of the popular food stalls at Shunfu.

Leong Hainanese Chicken Rice at Shunfu Mart #02-22

My first stop was the highly regarded Leong Hainanese Chicken Rice #02-22. I was lucky to get the chance to try this popular stall, which has received attention from The Straits Times and well-known food bloggers including Miss Tam Chiak and Daniel Food Diary. The stall has also appeared on television, with owner Mr Neo Cheng Leong featured as a hawker mentor in a Mediacorp/CNA Insider documentary series.

So, was the chicken rice worth the attention? For me, absolutely. The chicken was very tender, and the rice was particularly delicious, cooked and soaked in rich chicken broth that gave every mouthful a wonderful flavour. At $4.50, it was a very satisfying plate of chicken rice and easily became the highlight of my lunch.

Next, I headed to Mei Zhen Hakka Delicacies #02-26 for their famous Hakka abacus seeds. These chewy, indented yam paste balls are becoming increasingly rare because making them traditionally requires a tremendous amount of manual work — steaming, mashing and shaping the yam paste by hand.

The plate cost $5.50, and I could understand why they are so sought after. The abacus seeds were beautifully stir-fried with plenty of dried shrimp or hae bee, mushrooms and turnip, then generously covered with fragrant fried shallots. There were so many layers of flavour — savoury, aromatic and slightly chewy — making this another dish I thoroughly enjoyed.

Then came my biggest disappointment of the day: the popiah from Heng Heng #02-25. Unfortunately, the preparation looked quite unappetising to me, and the chilli was simply chilli sauce rather than the kind of chilli accompaniment I was hoping for. The taste was ordinary, and at $2, it was easily the worst dish of my lunch.

To end the meal on a sweeter note, I tried the chocolate éclair from Chocolate N' Spice #02-12. At $2.50, it was packed with rich chocolate flavour and plenty of chocolate — a delicious little treat to finish the afternoon.

Overall, Shunfu gave me a great hawker experience, with the chicken rice and Hakka abacus seeds standing out as the stars of my visit. Sometimes, exploring a neighbourhood hawker centre is like opening a treasure box — you never know what delicious discovery awaits you.

Morning walk @ Fort Canning Park with sister

 Singapore -  My sister and I started our walk around Fort Canning Park at 7am, and it turned out to be a lovely morning. The haze had subsided considerably, and the weather was much more comfortable for walking. The cooler morning air and greenery made the early start worthwhile.

Fort Canning is one of those places in Singapore where you can enjoy nature while walking through layers of history. The park itself is 22 hectares and has nine historical gardens, making every visit feel like there is something new to discover.

One of the highlights was the newly renovated Spice Garden, which reminded us of how closely Singapore's early history was connected to spices, plants and trade.

We also stopped to admire Scholars in Conversation: Sir Stamford Raffles and Dr Nathaniel Wallich, two life-size bronze statues unveiled in May 2024. Rather than standing formally on pedestals, the two figures are depicted having a natural conversation. The sculpture commemorates their contributions to Singapore's early botanical heritage and stands at the site of Singapore's first botanical garden.

As we continued walking, we passed the old lighthouse site, reminders of Fort Canning's role as an important communication centre during the colonial period. The hill once had a flagstaff, time ball, lighthouse and telegraph office.

We also walked past the Fire Director's House, before heading towards the Singapore River and the rapidly changing Clarke Quay area. The former Liang Court site is now part of the major CanningHill development, with Moxy Singapore Clarke Quay, CanningHill Piers, CanningHill Square and Somerset Clarke Quay taking shape. Moxy is expected to receive its TOP around the end of 2026 and open in 2027.

Moxy (left) Somerset (foreground) and Condo (background)

We ended our walk at Sang Nila Utama Garden, where we spotted a squirrel, and an archaeological excavation site. Archaeological evidence shows Fort Canning Hill was inhabited as far back as the 14th century.

Sang Nila Utama garden

Spot the squirrel

A beautiful morning walk, exercise, nature and Singapore history all in one. Sometimes the best way to rediscover Singapore is simply to walk

Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles – @ Grantral Mall - Tai Seng MRT

 Singapore - I recently found myself craving a comforting bowl of Lanzhou beef noodles, so I decided to give Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles a try. There is something satisfying about watching a bowl of hand-pulled noodles come together, especially when you can customise the type of noodles to suit your preference.

For my lunch, I ordered the Lanzhou Beef Noodles with small flat noodles. I like having the choice of noodle types, as the texture can make quite a difference to the eating experience. I also requested less chilli oil, as I prefer some spice but don't want the chilli to overpower the soup.

The bowl arrived looking simple but inviting, with tender slices of beef, plenty of coriander and leek, and a fragrant soup. The beef was nicely cooked and tender, while the soup was flavourful and comforting. Despite asking for less chilli oil, there was still a small kick of spice, which was actually perfect for me.

I particularly enjoyed the balance. The chilli added warmth without taking over the natural flavour of the beef and soup. The coriander and leek also added a nice freshness to every mouthful. With the small flat noodles soaking up the delicious broth, it made for a very satisfying lunch.

Sometimes, a good bowl of noodles doesn't need to be complicated. Good noodles, tender beef, a flavourful broth and the right amount of chilli can make a very enjoyable meal.

Overall, I had a nice and satisfying lunch at Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles, and I think it is worth another visit. Next time, I would like to try a different noodle style and perhaps another item from the menu.