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.

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 @ 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.

3 Best Food @ 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.

A Taste of Hainanese Heritage at The Hainan Colony @ 18 Tai Seng mall - Tai Seng MRT

 Singapore - Today, I discovered another interesting little eatery near the Tai Seng MRT exit C — The Hainan Colony, located at Tai Seng 18, a nine-storey mixed-use commercial and retail building.

This was my first visit to The Hainan Colony, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The restaurant is a simple, no-frills diner, but its story is what makes it interesting.

The menu features classic dishes prepared using family recipes, celebrating the unique fusion cuisine created by early Hainanese immigrants who came to Singapore and worked as chefs for British colonial families.

Over time, these Hainanese chefs adapted Western dishes using local ingredients and their own cooking techniques, creating a distinctive style of Singaporean Hainanese cuisine that many of us have grown up enjoying.

Looking through the menu, there were quite a number of tempting choices. After some consideration, I decided to try the Beef Stew Baguette.

And what a good choice it turned out to be!

The beef stew was rich and comforting, with tender pieces of beef braised together with carrots, potatoes and a blend of spices. The beef was soft and flavourful, and the sauce had that wonderful hearty taste you expect from a good slow-cooked stew.

But what really completed the dish was the baguette.

It was served warm, with a wonderfully crispy exterior and soft, fluffy interior. Dipping the crispy bread into the beef stew and soaking up the delicious gravy made every bite even more enjoyable.

It was a simple meal, but sometimes simple is exactly what you want.

My first visit to The Hainan Colony turned out to be a very pleasant discovery. Good food, interesting heritage and a relaxed, no-frills atmosphere — all at one small diner in Tai Seng.

I had a very good meal here, and I would definitely come back to try some of their other Hainanese-inspired dishes

Tora-San @ Grantral Mall - Tai Seng MRT

 Singapore - Today’s food adventure brought me to Tora-San, located at Grantral Mall @ MacPherson. Getting there was easy and it was just a short five-minute walk from Tai Seng MRT Station exit B.

Tora-San offers around eight different set meals, ranging from sashimi selections to cooked dishes. After looking through the choices, I decided to try the Bara-Chirashi Don.

The bowl came generously topped with fresh sashimi, including salmon, tuna and yellowtail, all cut into small cubes. The sashimi tasted fresh and delicious, and the combination of different fish gave every mouthful a nice variety of flavours and textures.

What made the meal even more worthwhile was the set that came with it. Besides the Bara-Chirashi Don, I also received miso soup, sesame tofu, hot green tea and mochi ice cream for dessert.

The total came to $26.13, which I thought was quite reasonable considering the amount of food included in the set. It was a satisfying Japanese meal without feeling overly expensive.

After lunch, I decided to explore the mall, which was my first visit to Grantral Mall @ MacPherson. The mall opened in late 2024 and is a relatively mid-sized neighbourhood shopping mall.

The 1st floor has various restaurants and eateries, while the 2nd floor houses Scarlett Supermarket, which focuses mainly on Chinese groceries, fresh vegetables, snacks and other food products. The 3rd floor is largely dedicated to children's enrichment centres, while the 4th floor consists mainly of offices.

It was also interesting to learn more about the ownership behind the mall. Grantral Mall @ MacPherson is part of the Grantral portfolio under Elegant Group, which is associated with Guangzhou-based Grantral Group. The group has been expanding its presence in Singapore's retail property scene.

Its Singapore mall portfolio includes The Clementi Mall, Grantral Mall @ Clementi, Grantral Mall @ MacPherson, Changi City Point, KINEX and Tanjong Katong Complex.

All in all, it was a worthwhile trip — good sashimi, a value-for-money Japanese set meal, and a new Singapore mall discovered!

2 Best food @ Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre

 Singapore - My food adventures around Singapore’s hawker centres continue!

Today, I decided to visit Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre, taking the Circle Line MRT to Caldecott MRT Station. From the station, it was about a 10-minute walk to the food centre.

I arrived around 11am, and the heat was already scorching!  Thankfully, most of the walk was sheltered, so I didn’t have to battle the full force of the Singapore sun. By the time I reached the food centre, I was definitely ready for something to eat.

Interestingly, this was my second day exploring hawker food in the area. 

1.  Yesterday, I had tried the Bak Chor Mee at MacPherson Teochew Minced Meat Noodles, and that bowl left quite an impression on me.

I really appreciated the traditional Teochew-style bak chor mee. The noodles were cooked beautifully and tossed in a savoury mixture of chilli and vinegar, giving every bite that wonderful combination of tangy, slightly spicy and savoury flavours. The crispy wanton was another highlight, adding a lovely crunch to the noodles.

Today, however, I was at Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre again and fortunately, many of the stalls were opened. 

2.   The pork ball and century egg porridge with youtiao from Congee88 (#02-29).

At $6.50, I found the porridge rather expensive for what I received. Perhaps I was expecting something more memorable, but honestly, nothing really stood out about this bowl of porridge. 

The pork balls and century egg were alright, and the youtiao added the familiar crispy texture, but overall, it was just an ordinary bowl of porridge — especially considering the price.

3.  Uggli Muffins (#02-34) - But thankfully, the day got much better when I discovered Uggli muffins.

This is an award-winning muffin stall, and the owner was having a promotion — 10 + 2 free for $16. I wasn't looking to buy 12 muffins, though. I simply wanted to try a couple.

I ordered two muffins for $3.20, but the friendly owner gave me three! What a pleasant surprise. I tried three flavours: hazelnut, chocolate and cranberry.  And I have to say — they were really delicious! 

The muffins were moist, flavourful and satisfying. Sometimes, the best discoveries on a food trip are the unexpected ones, and Uggli Muffins certainly turned out to be one of mine.

4.   A hot soya bean drink from Pure Soya Bean (#02-28) for $1.90.

I have to admit, $1.90 for a small bowl of hot soya bean felt like one of the more expensive soya bean drinks I've had at a hawker centre. It was pleasant enough, but at that price and portion, I wasn't particularly impressed.

Another hawker centre explored, another few dishes tasted, and another Singapore food adventure added to the memories.

Food Reviews @ Kebun Bahru Hawker Centre - AMK 7th Hawker Centre

 Singapore - Another day, another heartland food adventure!

Today, I made my way to Kebun Bahru Hawker Centre @ AMK, just about a 30-minute bus ride followed by a short walk into this quiet heartland precinct in Ang Mo Kio. I always enjoy exploring these neighbourhood hawker centres because you never quite know what delicious discovery is waiting for you.

As soon as I arrived, one stall caught my attention

1.   Hong Heng Beef Noodle Soup & Laksa at #01-16. I saw their beef noodles and thought, I have to try this! 

I ordered their $5.50 beef noodle, and what a good decision it turned out to be. The bowl came with a generous combination of sliced beef, beef balls and beef tendon, together with mustard vegetables and a sprinkling of Chinese celery. 

I opted for the thick bee hoon, which was quite different from the usual bee hoon. It was smoother and slightly thinner, almost resembling spaghetti. The savoury dark gravy was not as thick as I expected, but it complemented the tender beef nicely. The mustard vegetables added a subtle tang, while the chilli with cincalok gave the dish an extra punch.

The accompanying beef broth was clean-tasting and comforting. Overall, this was one of the better beef noodles I have tried, and at $5.50, I thought it was excellent value. Definitely a bowl that hit the spot!

2.   226 Boneless Chicken Rice - Unfortunately, this was where my food adventure took a wrong turn. 

The only thing I really liked was that the chicken was boneless. The chicken itself wasn't particularly tender, and the rice had a rather hard texture. With two chicken rice stalls available, I had chosen this one — and unfortunately, I made the wrong choice this time!

Still, that's part of the fun of exploring Singapore's hawker centres. Not every dish will be a winner, but discovering a great bowl of beef noodles makes the journey worthwhile.

Godmama @ Funan Centre - One of Top Peranakan restaurant

 Singapore - Today’s food adventure brought me to Godmama at Funan, a modern Peranakan restaurant known for giving traditional flavours a contemporary twist. Located on the 4th floor of Funan, Godmama celebrates Peranakan heritage through both its food and its warm, modern setting.

I was seated outdoor and in Singapore's hot weather it was very warm and uncomfortable. For my meal, I decided to try something a little different — the Hae Bee Hiam Aglio Olio.

This is not your usual Italian-style aglio olio. The spaghetti is tossed with fragrant hae bee hiam (spicy dried shrimp), garlic and olive oil, creating a wonderful combination of Italian pasta and bold Peranakan flavours. The dish is finished with savoury dried shrimp, giving it an extra layer of umami and a lovely seafood fragrance.

The spaghetti was nicely al dente, just the way I like it, with a pleasant bite. The hae bee hiam brought a spicy, savoury kick that worked surprisingly well with the pasta.

My only reservation was that I found the dish a little too salty for my taste. Perhaps slightly less salt would allow the hae bee hiam and garlic flavours to shine even more.

Overall, it was an enjoyable and interesting dish — a great example of how Peranakan flavours can be creatively incorporated into modern cuisine.

Ci Yuan Hawker Centre @ Hougang

 Singapore - Sometimes, visiting a hawker centre is not just about finding something delicious to eat. It is also about discovering the story behind the place.

Today, I made my way to Ci Yuan Hawker Centre, located within Ci Yuan Community Club at 51 Hougang Avenue 9.  This is the 3rd hawker centre in Hougang and was quite a unique place in Singapore because the hawker centre is actually integrated into a community club; one of those interesting co-location concepts that makes Singapore's community spaces so distinctive.

Ci Yuan Hawker Centre opened on 4 August 2015 and was the first new hawker centre built by the government since 1985. More interestingly, it was the first hawker centre to be co-located within a community club. The idea was to bring affordable food and community facilities together under one roof.

My first stop was HK Wanton Noodle at #01-06, where I ordered their Mushroom Chicken Feet Noodles for $4.50.   I have always enjoyed chicken feet, especially when they are braised until they become tender and absorb all that wonderful savoury sauce. This bowl did not disappoint.

The noodles had a nice texture, the mushrooms were flavourful, and the chicken feet were soft and delicious. It was a simple bowl of noodles, but one that really hit the spot. For just $4.50, I thought it was a very satisfying meal.

For my second meal, I headed over to Man Man Chi 慢慢吃 at #01-38 to try their handmade salty glutinous rice.

This was another pleasant surprise. The glutinous rice was nicely cooked with a good texture, and the savoury flavour made it a very enjoyable dish. There is something comforting about traditional handmade food with simple, filling and full of character.

By then, I was happily satisfied with my two meals.

Unfortunately, Singapore's weather had other plans for me. Just as I was getting ready to head home, it started to rain!  So, instead of rushing off, I had to find a sheltered spot and wait for the rain to stop. Eventually, the weather eased, and I made my way to the bus stop to catch the bus home.

Another food adventure completed!

What I enjoyed most about this visit to Ci Yuan was not only the food but also discovering another interesting corner of Singapore. From a unique community club and hawker centre combination to affordable and delicious local food, Ci Yuan is a reminder of what makes Singapore's neighbourhoods so special.