Noodles House Ken: late night ramen, but be careful of drunks

The first time I visited this ramen shop was way past midnight after a tiresome day in school a couple months back and my friend brought four of us here for supper. It's rare to find a authentic ramen shop that is opened till this late at night and I was certainly quite happy to have some delicious ramen for comfort food.

My friend ordered Miso Ramen for all of us, gyozas and some Asahi. The soup was very thick and fragrant, not too salty nor oily. The ramen was thick and springy. The only misgiving was the slice of char siew which was a little on the tough side. As for the gyozas, they tasted average on its own but after dipping it in the mixture of sauces which my friend prepared, they tasted really nice!

Certainly comfort food especially in the late night when you are hungry and tired and simply have had enough of a terrible day, Noodles House Ken provided the solace that I needed. However, if you are heading here at night, do be careful especially if you are female and going about alone. When I entered the lift of Orchard Plaza to get to the car park with my friends, the lift was packed with drunk males from the many KTVs in Orchard Plaza.

To get there is a little tricky unless you are familiar with the place. As mentioned above, you could park in the carpark of Orchard Plaza (which uses the old-fashioned machines at the gantry so dont expect the EPS machine to detect your cash card). If you are walking over from Somerset MRT, after you reach OG cross the road and turn left along all the tailor shops. Walk straight and you will see Noodles House Ken on your right in a small corridor.

150 Orchard Road, #01-17/18 Orchard Plaza, Singapore

Small food finds in Hong Kong

I love the wanton mee in Hong Kong because their noodles are springy and the wantons are huge, about the size of a golf ball. I wasn't able to patronize a shop famous for their wanton mee but I did manage to try something pretty decent in Mongkok across from where we were staying. The wanton mee was possibly average by HK standards but by Singapore standards, I was quite happy!

The other surprise find is Mido Cafe along Temple Street. I ordered rice with shrimp and vegetables which was a comfort and a couple of my friends ordered Pork Rib Baked Rice which was a recommendation by the waiter. I tried my friend's baked rice and was quite impressed. The rice was sufficiently fragrant and the sauce was very tasty. However my friends pointed out that the pork ribs didn't have much meat.

The location was good because after our extremely filling dinner, we could take a stroll along Temple Street Market where there were many stalls selling various quirky little items. My good friend and I each bought a set of Monopoly Deal (which I'm positively dying to open to play). We didn't walk through the whole Temple Street Market though and I think it would be interesting to see what other little vintage finds could be found there.

Tim Ho Wan at Mongkok: totally worth the long wait (closed)

This small little unassuming dim sum cafe deserves the one michelin star bestowed upon it. The long snaking queue even before it opens for business is probably the best testimony to the quality of dim sum served inside.

I learnt about this cafe from a friend in school and I thought it was definitely worth a trip. And boy, was I right! We reached shortly before 10am which is supposedly when their first seating takes place but the queue in front of the cafe had already extended down the 4 shops beside it. Just look at the crowd above!


The procedure to get a seat is kind of confusing. First you stand in line, as seen above, to get a number from the lady. Apparently there is a limit to the number of customers they would take for the first seating so once the number runs out, good luck to you. While standing in line, you can take the paper menu from the podium and tick the dim sum you would wish to order. If you finish ordering before its your turn to get your number, you can hand your orders to her and the dim sum will be prepared. She will then give you a number and write it on a piece of paper for you and tell you when to return. We were told to return 30 minutes later.

30 minutes later, this was what greeted us! MAYHEM. It took us a while to realize that everyone was just crowded around, waiting for the lady to call the number assigned to you earlier. When she finally calls your number, you can hand her your order if you hadn't done so earlier, and she will usher you in if the table is available. This took roughly one and a half hour.


So! After the long wait and immense anticipation, I'm so so thankful that the dimsum tasted so awesome!! I was way too hungry by then so I couldn't stop to take pictures. I just concentrated fully on savouring every bit of my food. We ordered ha kow (shrimp dumpling), gor zeng zhong (huge rice dumpling with meat filling), siew mai (pork dumpling), chee cheong fun with char siew and prawns (rice rolls), cui pei juan (crispy fried rolls with prawns inside) and their famous deep fried char siew bun. I recommend all of the above!!


For the spread that we ordered, the bill came out to be a major surprise. We would never have been able to eat such a large amount of food for that kind of price in Singapore! It cost us slightly more than 200 HKD for 4 people which is roughly... 34 SGD?


To get there,
Take Exit A2 at Yau Ma Tei MTR station.
When you exit the station at street level, turn backwards to Pitt Street, which is like a few steps away. Turn right on Nathan Road. Landmark:, you will see  KFC/7-11 at this turn.
Walk until you see Bee Cheng Hiang on your right, then turn right into Dundas Street.
Walk down this road until almost the end of the road. You will come to a fork somewhere opposite this brown building which is actually a hospital. Take left fork onto Kwong Fa Street. Tim Ho Wan is just a few doors away on your right. Opposite it is a carpark entrance.


(directions courtesy of http://squ33z3.wordpress.com which is what I followed during my HK trip.)


G/F, Phase 2, Tsui Yuen Mansion,
2-20 Kwong Wa Street,
Mongkok

Note: Visited the Tim Ho Wan Mongkok outlet in October 2013 and realised that it was closed.

Fuk Kee Congee

This congee stall in the Mongkok area is close to where we were staying so we tried this on our first night there. It took awhile to find this small cafe because the bustling crowds along Mongkok certainly unsettled us. Look out for this big signboard which lights up at night just like all its colourful counterparts around Mongkok!

Since they were famous for congee, that was what I went for. I ordered a bowl of Century Egg and Pork Congee. You can say I'm fussy about my congee. I seldom eat porridge back at home because I think it simply taste too bland. The porridge we have back in Singapore is mostly the watery Teochew kind, in which you can still see the distinct grains in your porridge floating in a bowl of water. If you are lucky, you may find a stall which sells real congee, the kind which has been over the fire for the entire day and the grains have all disintegrated and you get this white mushy bowl of congee. But few in Singapore taste sweet and fragrant like the ones in Fuk Kee.

I love the sweetness of this smooth congee, the generous amount of pork and century egg slices and yes the pork is fresh!! The most important part of a Century Egg and Pork Porridge lies in the pork because the entire bowl is doomed if its laced with the distinctive taste of stale pork.

104-106 Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok

Hatched: Eggs, eggs and more eggs

I went to Hatched for brunch earlier this month and the first thing that hit me was, omg the walk to Evans Lodge from the bus stop in front of NUS Law was pretty unbearable under the crazy heat. That was around the time when Singapore was heating up and the 10 minute walk into Evans Lodge was quite a feat in itself.

But anyway we reached Evan's Lodge quickly and it was an old brick building that reminded me of an old hospital. The narrow street in front of Evan's Lodge was lined with posh cars picking up kids from the kindergarten inside Evan's Lodge and I don't think parking looked very ideal during that period of time.

We went into Hatched and it was a really small and cozy little cafe. Very quaint and quiet, the kind you would expect to find tucked away in a little corner in town. The menu looked super cute so I took a picture of it.

Yes there you have it. All eggs. All the different ways you would expect an egg to be cooked, they have it here! I ordered Eggs Royale which is poached egg with smoked salmon and mashed potato and I liked it pretty much!

However, the serving was a bit small and I was left feeling halfway between hungry and full so we headed over to Island Creamery. The pints of ice cream at Island Creamery always make me happy!

26 Evans Road, #01-06 Evans Lodge

Marina Bay Sands

I have been wanting to take a dip in the infinity pool of Marina Bay Sands since it opened last year. But the pool is only open to hotel guests so I was stuck looking up at it from the Helix Bridge until this chance came along!

My friend booked a room for a night and invited us over so we took the opportunity to go up to the infinity pool and enjoy an evening soak. The pool is situated on the 57th floor of the Tower and provided a magnificent view of the skyline of Singapore.

Just imagine lazing in the pool which seems to flow infinitely, basking in the evening glow of dusk, watching the sun setting in the distance and enjoying the fantastic view of the city! There are two rows of deck chairs at the side of the pool where everyone lie back and generally people watch. A couple of pool beds separate the two pools and there is a ledge between the two pools. I stood on top of the ledge and looked down and OMG i swear at the moment, it seriously feels like I'm standing at the top of the world.

The night view is splendid as the Helix Bridge lights up and the night starts to cool. It started getting a little chilly around 8 pm and that was when I fnally pulled myself out of the pool.

To get to Marina Bay Sands, you can take a bus which was what my good friend did. Or you can take the Circle Line to Promenade and walk, which was what I did. And boy, was it a long walk. But if you would like to cross the Helix Bridge and simply look at the scenery, then take the Circle Line, alight at Promenade and exit from Exit A. You will reach MBS after a 10 minute walk.

Never Let Me Go

It's kind of sad how I only manage to scrap together enough time to finish a novel when term ends. Anyway Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro was the first book I read this holiday and it was a good read.

The book is just about the simple story of how a couple of clones grew up and generally accepted the world they lived in. But it keeps you thinking. I can't stop wondering why Kathy, Ruth and Tommy didn't run away! Wouldn't that be the first thought in your mind if someone told you you are going to grow up to donate your vital organs away and eventually die? I would run, definitely. Even if I couldn't, I would try. I can't tolerate the quiet resignation they have for the lives meant for them.

The friendships among them makes me think too. Like how Kathy just left the Cottages, leaving everything hanging among them, how Ruth continuously tried to keep Kathy and Tommy apart. Yet in the end, they came back together as friends because they shared something deeper which nobody else was a part of. I guess, after many years, the lies, betrayal and rifts kind of just fade away from your memories and all that is left is the recognition that all of them shared a bond that runs deep.

I don't know if that is the case for me. Whether I will forget all the betrayals, all the rocks thrown at me while I was at my lowest, all the backs turned. I guess I will know twenty years later and maybe, just maybe, all I would remember is the deep bond that runs between friends and all the good memories shared.

Prive: nice scenery, average food

I went to Prive Bakery Cafe on Vesak Day with my best friend and I was totally thankful that she made a reservation because the place was brimming with people and there were a couple of large families around.

So we were ushered to a table in the outdoor seating area near the water front with a very good view of all the yatchs right by our sides. The weather was rather unforgiving that day and in the heat, everyone had on their shades and were starting to turn red. I guess the nice sunny view of the bay more than made up for the heat all of us went through!

Both of us ordered omelettes but we waited a very very long time for the omelettes to be served. However Prive's service was commendable as the waiter came by after awhile to offer us some complimentary toast, possibly to stave off our hunger before the omelettes could be served. Still, that didn't explain why we had to wait so long for a couple of eggs. I guess it could be the immense crowd. Or the heat.

My omelette came with ham and button mushrooms. You had a choice between ham, mushrooms, cheese and a couple other fillings that I can't remember anymore. Honestly speaking, the omelette tasted pretty average. It wasn't completely awesome but there wasn't much you could pick on either.

Prive is definitely a nice place to lounge over brunch on a lazy Sunday morning with the nice view and the peace around the cafe. However, if the weather is hot, do opt for indoor seating because the fans outside didn't do much to alleviate the heat. I went via public transport that day but took a cab from vivocity which was an incredibly wise choice because the nearest bus stop wasn't that near after all.

2 Keppel Bay Vista

Tai Hwa Bak Chor Mee

This bak chor mee is situated right behind my primary school which has since relocated. But despite the fact that I've graduated from primary school more than a decade ago, I still come back here frequently for my favourite tai hwa bak chor mee.

The thing that keeps me coming back time and again is the fresh pork which they use. I'm super particular about pork and I loathe that distinctive porky taste that comes with pork that has been residing inside the freezer for too long. Other than the fresh pork, the soup at Tai Hwa is full of flavour and has a lot of "body" which makes it really addictive after awhile. The noodles are super springy and as I like my noodles sour, I always ask for more vinegar and the uncle is always  generous with it.

The queue can get quite long during lunch hours and when I reached at 11 am on a Sunday, the queue was already snaking past the coffee shop beside Tai Hwa. So come either earlier or later, or be prepared to queue. Parking is convenient though as the carpark is just right beside Tai Hwa.

 Blk 466 Crawford Lane, #01-12 Tai Hwa Eating House, Singapore





Togi Korean Restaurant, Mosque Street

Since I'm on a blogging high, I might as well share more foodie goodie! Togi is one of the few restaurants that I go back to religiously every month. Yes, I kid you not. I head down to Chinatown just for Togi at least once every month. I've tried practically everything there is to try on the menu and while I love almost all of them, the following two are my personal favourites.

The top picture is the Spicy Silken Tofu Seafood Soup. I absolutely love to order this with a bowl of rice and simply scoop the soup into my rice. The second picture is the Barbecued Pork Belly. Even though there are obvious lumps of fat, it never taste too oily and when you wrap it within the lettuce, the pork simply melts in your mouth!

(Update: the third picture shows the fixed grill which Togi now uses instead of the portable grill you see in the second picture. Personally I prefer the fixed grill as it reduces the hassle to shift the portable grill around each time someone orders a grilled dish.)

I've also tried their Seafood Steamboat which is pretty good if you have a group of friends to share with. Their Ginseng Chicken Soup is also fantastic and if you love the soup, remember, you can always ask them for a refill. Their ramen and bibimbap is tasty but not absolutely terrific. So stick with the few recommendations above!

Parking in that area is a nightmare and it is mostly parallel parking lots so if you aren't exactly an expert in parallel parking, park either opposite at People's Park or further down nearer to the Chinatown Market and walk over. If you are coming via public transport, you can take the Northeast Line to Chinatown and exit from Exit A. Walk out, after Bee Cheng Hiang and a string of Chinese restaurants with aggressive touting, you will reach a zebra crossing and turn right here. Walk down and you will see Togi on your right.

Furthermore, the crowd can get quite huge around dinner time especially over the weekend and as far as I know, they don't take reservations so be prepared to wait. But oh well, good food is worth waiting for!


11 Mosque Street

Arteastiq

This is my second time to this place. It's definitely a divine little cafe for a chat over tea with your good friend. I went on a weekday afternoon and it was relatively crowded with a few other small groups of friends catching up over tea as well.

Previously we had to wait almost half an hour before we had our seat. Thankfully this time we managed to get seats immediately by the large windows which gave us a clear view of the bustling Orchard Road beneath. This side of the cafe has large comfy candy-coloured arm chairs which are super cute to sit in and of course, to take pictures of.

So I ordered a crab salad wrap which is one of the chef's recommendation and my good friend ordered a lychee tea. The crab salad wrap was pretty average, nothing much to rave about. For $7.90 I couldn't help thinking that the wrap was really small but for the location of Arteastiq, I guess its reasonable. As for my friend's lychee tea she said it was pretty sweet.

This place is good for an afternoon chat over tea but the food's really pretty normal so don't visit this cafe in hopes of fantastic food fare.


333A Orchard Road, #04-14/15 Mandarin Gallery, Singapore

First

I am setting up this blog to remind myself that the world is huge, that there is something exciting in every corner waiting for us to discover and time runs out fast.

I love to eat. I will travel long distances in search of good food and if it's cheap, all the better! I believe that nice places must be shared so I look forward to doing that here. I love to read and if I come across something worth the time and effort to squint in the nights after work, I will post it here as well. I started running weekly since university started and I've kept up with that habit since. I'm quite a health freak so I might post some tips about my weekly workouts too. As for traveling, I believe it opens our eyes to many new and different experiences and it's definitely useful to know that the world is big and we should stop being holed up in our small mere existence.

Last but not least, I want this blog to remind myself that while big things happen in cities, meaningful things happen everywhere.