2 good food choice @ Anchorvale Village Hawker Centre – Next to Farmway LRT

 Singapore - Anchorvale Village Hawker Centre is an interesting addition to the Sengkang food scene, conveniently located on the second floor of Anchorvale Village, right next to Farmway LRT station. The hawker centre officially opened on 19 June 2024, making it a relatively new destination for residents and food hunters exploring the north-east.

There is quite a lot happening within the building. The first floor houses a variety of familiar fast-food outlets and restaurants, including Jollibee, Burger King, A&W and Subway. Down in the basement, you will find a FairPrice supermarket together with several smaller food stalls. The hawker centre itself occupies the second floor, offering a more traditional Singaporean dining experience.

My first stop was Hakka Leipopo (#02-05), an establishment known for its popular thunder tea rice (Lei Cha). I ordered the Let Cha Set for $5.30, which comes with white rice, finely chopped vegetables and the signature green thunder tea soup.

I found the meal very tasty and appetising. The green soup had a wonderfully umami-rich flavour, complementing the rice and finely chopped vegetables. It was a simple yet wholesome meal that felt both satisfying and refreshing.

I also tried the Thai fried banana from Thai Khanom, priced at $5 for eight pieces. The bananas were sweet and ripe, wrapped in a thick, crispy batter generously sprinkled with sesame seeds. The combination reminded me of the old-school butterfly fritter, with a light and crunchy exterior.

My only complaint was that the fried bananas were rather oily. I think Thai Khanom could improve this by placing the freshly fried bananas on a rack to allow excess oil to drain.

Overall, Anchorvale Village is worth exploring, especially if you are looking for a convenient new hawker centre in Sengkang.

XLX Modern Tze Char at Jalan Sultan Plaza

 Singapore - After the Cyber Security Exhibition at MBS,  together with Joseph we dropped by XLX Modern Tze Char at Jalan Sultan Plaza to try a couple of dishes, and the experience turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag.

First up was the Hokkien Fried Mee at $8.50, which I found quite enjoyable. The dish came with generous, fresh ingredients, including plump prawns and fresh clams, all sitting in a gooey, savoury gravy packed with umami. The seafood was definitely the highlight — the prawns were juicy and the clams fresh, giving the noodles a natural sweetness.

However, compared with some of the famous Hokkien mee stalls around Singapore, I felt the dish was missing that unmistakable “wok hei”. There was less of that smoky, charred aroma and flavour that you get when the noodles are fried over high heat in a well-seasoned wok. Nevertheless, the combination of fresh seafood and the rich gravy made this a decent and satisfying plate of Hokkien mee. At $8.50, it is not the cheapest, but the quality of the ingredients helped justify the price.

Unfortunately, the Salted Egg Chicken Cube Rice was a completely different story. I would suggest giving this one a miss. The chicken cubes were hard and noticeably tough, seemingly because they had been refried. Instead of the tender, juicy chicken I was expecting, the meat had lost much of its moisture and bite.

So, if you are visiting XLX Modern Tze Char, the Hokkien Fried Mee would be the dish I would consider ordering, especially if you enjoy seafood and a rich, savoury gravy. Just don't expect the strong wok hei of some of Singapore's famous Hokkien mee specialists.

As for the Salted Egg Chicken Cube Rice — skip it.

Toa Payoh Palm Spring Market – 3 delicious Hawker Finds at Lorong 4

I made a trip to Toa Payoh Palm Spring Market at 93 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, a relatively small and cosy neighbourhood food centre that often gets overshadowed by the more famous Toa Payoh hawker centres. But there are some interesting stalls here, and I decided to try three of them on this visit.

My first stop was Ping Xiang Wanton Mee (#01-46), run by a friendly husband-and-wife team from Ipoh. The lady was especially chatty and welcoming, happily chatting with customers while managing the stall. I arrived around 11am and was actually in the queue when they were down to the last few dishes they could cook.

I ordered the small Wanton Mee for $4.50. The springy noodles came with lean char siew, but because they were closing and had run out of wantons, the wife kindly asked whether can add mushrooms and shredded chicken. Together with a bowl of soup, I enjoyed the Malaysian-style darker soy sauce, which was robust without being overly salty. The noodles soaked up the sauce beautifully, making this a very satisfying bowl.

Next was Tea Inn Bak Kut Teh (#01-33), a young hawker's take on Malaysian-style herbal BKT. The $6.50 claypot herbal Bak Kut Teh came with pork ribs, enoki mushrooms and beancurd skin in a dark, aromatic herbal broth.

I have always enjoyed Bak Kut Teh, but unfortunately, the pork ribs were not tender enough for my liking. They had a texture that reminded me of previously frozen and thawed pork, which took away some of the enjoyment despite the fragrant soup.

Finally, I tried the French loaf kaya toast set from 99 Coffee Roti (#01-41) for $3.60. This was a pleasant surprise — crispy on the outside, moist inside, and generously spread with delicious kaya and butter.

Three stalls, three different experiences, but together they made for an interesting morning exploring another corner of Toa Payoh's hawker scene.

Best Handmade Pau in Singapore

1.   Mei Kee Handmade Pau @ Lor 4 Toa Payoh, #01-301 Block 66, Singapore 310066.   The Char Siew Pau it turned out to be a simple but very satisfying treat.  The first thing I noticed was the texture of the pau itself. The skin was smooth, soft and nicely made, with a pleasant texture that was easy to bite through. There was no excessive sweetness or heaviness in the pau skin, allowing the filling to stand out.

Inside was a generous portion of char siew, which had a nice savoury-sweet flavour and complemented the soft pau perfectly. The char siew was tender enough to enjoy without being overly fatty, and the sauce gave the filling an additional depth of flavour. Every bite had a good balance between the fluffy pau and the tasty char siew inside.

What I liked most was its simplicity. There was nothing overly fancy about this char siew pau — just a well-made pau with a good filling, which is exactly what I look for when buying traditional handmade pau. 

2.  Ah Hao Handmade Dim Sum @ 47 Serangoon North Avenue 1 - This humble dim sum stall is run by an incredibly hardworking couple, and you can immediately taste the passion and dedication that goes into every piece they make. Unlike many commercial outlets, every dim sum here is handmade fresh, and the quality shines through in every bite.

I never miss their Siew Mai, which is juicy and flavourful. Their char siew pau is another favourite, but be warned—it sells out quickly, a testament to its popularity among regulars. My absolute favourite, however, is the Steamed Beancurd Skin Dumpling. Wrapped in delicate beancurd skin and filled with a delicious, well-seasoned filling, it is simply outstanding and one of the best I've tasted.

Another must-order is their Lor Mai Kai, featuring fragrant glutinous rice with tender chicken that is steamed to perfection.

If you're looking for authentic, handmade dim sum crafted with care rather than mass-produced offerings, this little stall is well worth visiting. Supporting passionate hawkers like this hardworking couple makes every meal even more enjoyable.

Top 3 Delicious Discoveries @ Toa Payoh Vista Market & Food Centre

Sometimes, you don't need a huge hawker centre with dozens of stalls to find good food. Toa Payoh Vista Market & Food Centre is one of the smallest food centres I have visited, with only around 10 stalls, but I discovered three dishes here that were really delicious and well worth trying.

Kar Sou Hakka Yong Tau Fu

My first stop was Kar Sou Hakka Yong Tau Fu #01-04, where I ordered the Bee Hoon Yong Tau Fu for $5. This is a traditional-style Hakka yong tau fu, featuring ingredients such as tofu, bitter gourd and brinjal stuffed with minced pork and herbs. The ingredients are deep-fried or braised before being served with a clear, comforting broth.

What I enjoyed was the simplicity of the dish. The stuffed pieces had a nice texture and savoury filling, while the clear broth brought everything together. Served with bee hoon, it made for a satisfying and comforting meal. It is the kind of traditional hawker food that doesn't need complicated presentation to be enjoyable.

Rahmath Cheese Prata

Next, I headed to Rahmath Cheese Prata #01-08, a stall that has been serving crispy prata for many years. I ordered their cheese prata, and it was a very enjoyable combination. The prata was crispy and golden on the outside, while the melted cheese inside added a rich and savoury flavour. 

The crispiness of the prata together with the soft, gooey cheese made every bite satisfying.

Finally, it was time for dessert — and this was something quite different. There is a stall dedicated to selling chendol, and that's pretty much what you will find there. No complicated menu, just one specialty done its own way.

The chendol came with fine shaved ice generously topped with rich gula melaka syrup. The sweetness of the gula melaka worked beautifully with the cold shaved ice, making it a refreshing and satisfying way to end my meal.

A Quiet Matcha Experience at KLARRA Cafe @ Raffles City

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.