Places to Dine near City Hall

 Singapore has so much to offer when it comes to dining selection, from eateries, to cafes, restaurants and bistro bars, the selection is endless. With the restrictions finally easing with more dining pax, it's time to reunite with long-lost friends or had a big group family gathering, and support local businesses. I have compiled a list of dining places that I have tried near City Hall for your reference.

1. Cafe Kuriko (Closed)

Cafe Kuriko is a Japanese cafe in Funan Mall specializes in sweet potato mont blanc dessert. I was attracted by their dessert and decided to pay a visit.

One of the popular dessert choice was Purple Sweet Potato Mont Blanc Parfait which made up of purple strings of sweet potato puree, mont blanc, jelly, mochi, rice puffs, cake and vanilla ice cream. Immense in the sweet potato flavour taste with just one bite, followed by the sweet vanilla ice cream. The mochi was very chewy and soft in texture.

107 North Bridge Rd, #01-11 Funan Mall

Operating hours: 11am to 9pm daily

2. Rolling Rice

Rolling Rice is a Korean restaurant known for their gimbap. The restaurant does not collect service charge, so we have to place our order at the counter and collect our food when ready.

I had Soft Tofu Stew with rice and Traditional Gimbap. I was surprised by the size of tofu stew because the portion was quite small. Despite the size, the tofu stew was a savoury one with fair amount of spice and flavours in it. There was an egg added to enrich the soup together with clam, tofu and minced pork. 

For the Traditional Gimbap, I chose Fried Chicken as the meat for the gimbap. Filled with many ingredients, the gimbap was full of flavours. A must order dish for me whenever I come here.

6 Raffles Blvd, #02-105A Marina Square, Singapore 039594

Operating hours: 11.30am to 8.30pm from Sun to Thu, 11.30am to 9pm on Fri and Sat

3. Kei Kaisendon

Kei Kaisendon is a Japanese restaurant that serves delicious rice bowls topped with fresh ingredients from the seas of Japan! The restaurant was small but a comfortable one with their wooden furniture. We opt for the set which came with miso soup, salad and ice green tea. The dressing has enhanced the taste of the salad, making it a great appetizer.

The Salmon Mentaiyaki Don was one of the best don that I had. The salmon was lightly torched till perfection with a nice char texture between buttery and soft, it was extremely flavourful with the mentaiko sauce coated. Burst the egg yolk for a richer taste to the rice.

Last but not least was gyoza, dip it with the special chili sauce for an appetizing bite. It was a delicious mid day lunch.

6 Raffles Blvd, Marina Square #02-226A B, Singapore 039594

Operating hours: 11am to 10pm daily

4. Treasures Yi Dian Xin

Treasures Yi Dian Xin is a new casual dining concept serving classic Chinese cuisine in a contemporary setting that appeal to the younger crowds. 

The black custard bun was filled with salted egg yolk molten lava, provided a sweet and savoury rush when the custard filling burst out.

I love the crispy golden brown exterior of  the Deep Fried Yam Puff, on the inside was punctuated with the soft texture yam and mushroom. This dish was a filling one and did not result in greasy after taste.

Next was Deep Fried Prawn Dumpling with Mayonnaise Dip ($7.80++). This was one of my all time favourite, there was a nice contrast between the crunchy skin and soft fresh prawn.

Last but not least was Steamed Rice Roll with Dough Fritter ($8.30++). It was amazed how the silky and thin rice rolls can withhold the weight of the dough fritters. It was so addictive to consume even without dipping in the sauce. This was the opposite of the others where the exterior was smooth and interior was crispy.

Raffles City Shopping Centre, #B1-37, 252 North Bridge Rd, 179103

Operating hours: 11am to 10pm from Mon to Fri, 10.30am to 10pm on Sat and Sun

**

Exploring The City With Singapore Duck Tours

After all the activities and walking, we were totally drained out and need a place to just sit and relax. Hence, we headed over to Suntec City and had an hour rest at KOI.

It has been a long time since I last have bubble tea, I went for my all-time favourite classic Earl Grey Milk Tea With Pearl ($5.60). We just laze around while waiting for the kids to come.

The one hour long adventure began with a city tour before splashing into the water and swimming off like a duck. The amphibious vehicle was filled with excitement when we embarked on the water adventure.

It was raining earlier and drizzling when we boarded the vehicle, now a rainbow was formed after the rain, casting a magical charm where the sky was painted with different colours, with waves crashing against our vehicle and bringing a casual breeze as we cruised along Marina Bay. It was so enjoyable.

We cruised past Gardens by the Bay and the super trees, where we were at in the afternoon. The changing scenery made me feel like I have been to many places in that short ride.

 As the sun began to set, we watched the sun slowly disappearing from the bustling urban city's skyline while we relaxed in our seat and took in the surrounding scenery. Make sure to come for this timing if you want to enjoy the stunning sunset view.

Passing by the iconic landmark lotus inspired ArtScience Museum while the guide shared with us the history behind some of the sites and the upcoming development as we passed by.

Just now we saw the side view of Marina Bay Sands, now we had the front view. It was still as impressive as ever. It was enjoyable to watch the structure from far, get lost in the beauty rather than standing close to the structure with many crowds.

The rainbow was still there when we were approaching the Esplanade Theatre. We were about to pass the half mark where we will cruise back the route we passed by again. I love evening spent like this, watching the sunset and passing scenery.

Catch another iconic landmark of Singapore, Merlion Park. Another Duck Tour vehicle was behind us too.

Cruise past the Singapore Flyer and making the way back on land into the Civic District. In this one hour ride, I have came across many attractions of Singapore. For tourists who only have a short trip in Singapore, this is one of the must do activity which will cover a good amount of the city.

We ended our long outing with dinner at Shake Shack. My first time trying Shake Shack and I had Chicken Burger ($9.90). 

Though it was tiring, I have lots of fun today. Thanks to the lovely companions, look forward to the next one.

Authentic Turkish Cuisine at Sofra Turkish Cafe & Restaurant

 With so many different types of cuisine found in Singapore, it is difficult to say which is my favourite because each cuisine has their own specialty. I was introduced to Sofra Turkish Cafe & Restaurant, located at Marina Square and I fall in love with Turkish cuisine since then.

Sofra Turkish Cafe & Restaurant transported us to Morocco with the tribal rug, Middle Eastern design pillow and folksy furniture. The restaurant was spacious and suitable for people who are dining in a group like us.

We started off with Salad Plate ($21.90++). This was the most unique salad that I ever had which made up of Sofra Salad, Eggplant Salad, Hummus, Red Cabbage Salad and Vine Leave Roll. The presentation of the dish was beautifully done.

Next was Chicken Shish Kebab ($19.50++), something you should not miss out in ordering. Each cube of chicken was perfectly grilled over the charcoal fire with tantalising flavour. Even the salad was delicious too with crunchy bite.

Another delight was Chicken Pide ($16.50++), the Turkish pizza in a boat-shaped flatbread with gooey cheese, tomato and chicken. A bite brought out the savoury flavour from the various ingredients, the taste just seem different from the normal pizza.

I had Turkish Chamomile Tea ($3++) to complete the Turkish experience and cleanse my palate with the soothing aroma.

We had Kunefe with Ice Cream ($12.90++) and Baklava ($7.50++ for 2 pieces). Kunefe is a sweet pastry that is popular in Turkey made from Kadeyif noodles and unsalted melting cheese, while Baklava is made up of layers of filo pastry filled with chopped pistachios and slightly to the sweet side.

Ended off with Turkish Rice Pudding ($7.50++) which was the best dessert among the those I tried. I enjoyed the sweet notes from the caramelised top while the baked pudding remained soft and contained subtle sweetness.

I have officially become a fan of Turkish food, any other nice Turkish food to recommend?

Singapore

I had Chicken Cordon Bleu for my main course, something different from what I normally order. The portion of the chicken was quite generous.

Places to Dine at CHIJMES

CHIJMES is a gothic-style 19th century church located in the heart of Singapore. This Singapore Icon houses plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars within the block that will make you spoilt for choices. You can even hop around one place to another. It took me so long to discover this perfect place for a meal or drink with friends or colleagues. Here is the list I have tried:

1. Hakata Ikkousha Ramen (#F1-07)

Hakata Ikkousha Ramen is originated from Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, and Tonkotsu ramen is their specialty. The pig bones were boiled over long period of time to create the thick and creamy texture of Tonkotsu soup.

It is a small eatery that can house less than 20 pax with the current safe distancing. We were lucky to get a seat immediately. Perhaps because it was a weekday, I don't think will have such luck on weekend.

I had Tonkotsu Standard with egg added. I have been craving for ramen for awhile as I missed the comfort tonkotsu broth and the springy noodles. Nothing beats a bowl of ramen for lunch.

Gyoza is a must order whenever I had ramen, so I chose Hakata Specialty Hitokuchi Gyoza. The gyoza was enclosed with generous portion of meat.

2. Hvala (#01-04/05)

Situated along the same stretch as Hakata Ikkousha Ramen, Hvala is a modern teahouse that specializes in Japanese teas and matcha dessert, a great place to gather after your meal for tea and dessert lovers.

We were being assigned to Japanese tatami mat seating where we have to remove our shoes before entering the zone. The area made me feel like I have escaped into a traditional Japanese house, which has a relaxing ambience that has the ability to allow me to sit back and laze the afternoon away.

I had Yuki Matcha Latte where silky shot of freshly-whisked matcha was layered onto fresh milk. Give it a good stir before drinking. It was one of the best matcha latte that I had where the sweetness was just right and very smooth.

I was attracted by their Matcha Mont Blanc Tart which looked aesthetically pretty. The buttery crust swirled with a fragrant mix of matcha chestnut paste, chantilly cream, toasted genmai and almond frangipane. A complete meal definitely has to include dessert for me.

3. Konjiki Hototogisu (#01-17)

Tokyo Michelin Star Bib Gourmand, Konjiki Hototogisu, won the crown of “No.1 Ramen in Japan” with their premium ingredients. Visited during weekdays lunch hour which explained the lesser crowds.

I had Tokotsu Original Ramen where the broth was light and flavourful, while the ramen was silky and smooth when soaked up with the broth.

Apart from ramen, we also had Ice Hoji Tea, Fried Tofu with Bonito Flakes and Gyoza. I love the big cube of fried tofu that has thin crispy exterior drizzled with sauce and topped with bonito flakes. It was savoury good.

**

Birthday Celebration 2020: Omoomodon + The Coffee Academics + Cake Spade

Wednesday 22/7/20

Finally met up with Linda, we have been wanting to schedule a meet up since the start of July but I was just too busy with a major event. Hence, the meetup was delayed till now. As Linda was working from her workplace that day, I decided to choose a venue that is convenient for her and I fixed the venue at The Star Vista.

Since The Star Vista is the mall she is familiar with, I let her make the call for choosing the dining place. The first stop we went was Omoomodon and we settled for this.

Omoomodon is a halal eatery that serves Korean Japanese cuisine. One of the draw factors of the eatery is the affordable pricing of their food. Ordering of food was contactless as the order was placed on machine. We opt for alfresco dining.

Linda had Spicy Chicken Teppan ($6.50).

So happy to see her again, this was our first meetup of the year. I always enjoyed our talk, ranting about our work, stress and issues that we are facing everyday because we shared similar encounters. It made us feel lighter and relieving some stress just by saying it out. Though we are overwhelmed with piles of work, we are still hanging on because we know that what we do will contribute to a greater cause.

I had Teriyaki Chicken & Karaage Teppan ($6.90). The Teriyaki Chicken & Karaage were drizzled with sauce with sweet corns added as side. It was simple but delicious. Food always taste better when eating with friends.

After the dinner, we went to look for drinks and settled for Liho Tea. I had Jasmine Tea with pearl ($2.80) on the right. 

Due to the social distancing rule, we were unable to find any seat at outdoor so we just stand and chill while sipping our drinks. Thanks Linda for the dinner and drink treats. Though we don't meet up that often, I know you will always be there for me.

Friday 24/7/20

Yes, it's Friday. Today was the first time out of the 3 months that I ended work at 6 plus, that's not because I finished my work but because I was heading out to meet the girls for dinner. Time to catch a relief before clearing the work on weekend. We met up for dinner at The Coffee Academics @ Raffles City, a cosy cafe tucked in the basement level recommended by Tracy.

We ordered small bites to share before the main course arrived, Curly Fries with Dip Trio ($16++). The curly fries were served with 3 dip sauces - honey mustard, house-smoked ketchup and curry mayonnaise. Needless to say, curry sauce is always our favourite.

All-day Breakfast

We were drawn to their all-day breakfast selection and we chose 2 dishes. The first was Smoked Salmon & Hash ($24.50++). The homemade potato hash patty was served alongside with smoked salmon, baby spinach leaves, poached egg and other greens.

The Academics Breakfast ($28++) was the all-time favourite for breakfast selection. The presentation looked sumptuous from the maple bacon to homemade baked beans, sauteed mushroom, halloumi cheese, scrambled egg, brioche toast and seasonal green.

This was really delicious, my dream breakfast. However, the price is a little on the steep side.

For pasta selection, we tried Salted Egg Bacon Carbonara ($23.50++). The linguine pasta was tossed with bacon and doused in creamy salted egg sauce which enhanced the taste of the overall dish.

The last main course was Truffle Portobello Mushroom Pizza ($26++). The thin crust pizza was toppled with portobello mushroom, onion, mozzarella cheese and drizzled with truffle oil. This was another well loved dish by us because we loved the thin crust pizza which was crunchy like biscuit.

The gathering turned out to be a birthday celebration for me, so sweet of them to plan this celebration for me as I hit a new birthday milestone and join the club. Gonna start clocking a new milestone ahead.

Thanks GF for the photo, with the lovely girls - Meryl, Tracy, GF and Jas.

As the years passed by, one will find that the circle of friends are getting smaller and smaller. I so happy that I have the girls with me throughout these 6 to 9 years, we gave each other support physically and mentally, witnessed each other growing up journey and entering different phases of life. My heart feel so full with this celebrated where we spent time catching up and enjoyed the hearty full in a relaxing atmosphere.

Thanks girls for the dinner treat and the birthday gifts, you girls made my day.

Tuesday 28/7/20

I received a sweet surprise treat from G.

She got the 3 of us Strawberry and Peach Tofu Cheesecake from Cake Spade. I ate the strawberry cheesecake, it was super delicious especially the biscuit crust which was crunchy while the tofu was soft and literally melt in the mouth. I'm gonna save the peach tofu cheesecake for my birthday.

Wednesday 29/7/20

Met up with MI for lunch today.

Since it was raining and we don't want to go somewhere fast, we settled for Pizza Hut. We had BBQ Chicken Pizza and Cheese Fries. Thanks MI for the lunch treat and had a great afternoon chatting.

Before I end the post, happy birthday to myself. 

This year has been a of roller roaster ride, may peaceful and good days come to me soon.