When it comes to food, Westies are often scoffed at by the Easties, who seem to have no shortage of cafes, restaurants and bars that come with optional sea breeze. Hot spot Jurong East is probably where you and your west-side friends routinely venture to for gatherings, so here’s the good news! More eateries have been sprouting out in nooks away from the congested cluster of those three malls. In fact, it’s a meat-tastic array starring a Brazilian Churrascaria and a new carvery you need to know about. Check out more than 10 new food places in Jurong, Clementi, Alexandra and West Coast, perfect for your quieter food escapes and chill-out sessions (with meat in mind).

Boon Lay/ Tuas/ Jurong East

1. Third Place

From noon to 5pm, Third Place acts as your regular staff canteen with 12 food stalls for the Jurong working crowd at Medtech industrial area. But when night falls, so do specially designed blinds on each stall, transforming this eating house into a tapas and zi char bar perfect for communal dining lovers. Expect cheap craft beers and ciders (priced from $5 to $10.50) to go with their Signature Salted Egg Cheese Crab, Pork Rib with Honey Peach ($15 to $30) and fork-tender Roasted Beef Rib ($14). Note: Third Place also has two more outlets at Cleantech and Tuas 7. Third Place @ Medtech, 2 Tukang Innovation Grove, JTC Medtech One #01-01, Singapore 618305

2. The Usual Place

A café outburst hasn’t happened in Jurong yet, so give the existing ones a chance to impress you. The Usual Place, located near Chinese Garden MRT Station, offers a good selection of your quintessential Western dishes at very affordable prices. The crowd pleasers: Crispy Calamari Rings ($6.50), Salted Egg Prawn Pasta ($12.90) – plus points for juicy de-shelled prawns, and possibly a contender to these 10 steaks under $20, the Prime Sirloin Steak ($16.90). The Usual Place, Blk 346 Jurong East Street 31 #01-73, Singapore 600346 (Image: The Usual Place Facebook Page)

3. Sabai Sabai Mookata

The best hot meals come on grills (and/or steamboat pots) and this new mookata stall gives Joo Koon residents a good option for cold and rainy days. Your choice starts between two set menus at $22.80 and $32.80 respectively with items like sliced pork collar, squid, tang hoon and tom yum maggie. A la carte dishes are priced from $1.80 onwards. Tip: Like their Facebook page for a 10% discount on your total bill. Sabai Sabai Mookata, 511 Upper Jurong Road #01-12, The Arena Country Club, Singapore 638366 (Image: Sabai Sabai Mookata Facebook Page)

Clementi

4. Carne & Caipirinha

New to the hood at Sunset Way, is Singapore’s first charcoal-fired Brazilian churrascaria, Carne & Caipirinha, helmed by Chef Brito, who is a traditional cowboy himself. Think unlimited servings of premium-quality roasted meats brought to your table, as long as the disc on your table is shown as green. Go early for “Happy Hour” where adults will save $10 each, while children pay just $18 per head. Read our full review here. Happy Hour When: Mon to Sat, 5.30pm – 7pm and Sun & PH, 5pm – 6pm Prices: $39.90 per adult, $18 per child (5 to 12 years old) Regular When: Mon to Sat, 7pm – 11pm and Sun & PH, 6pm – 11pm Prices: $49.90 per adult, $24 per child (5 to 12 years old) Carne & Caipirinha, Sunset Way, Blk 106 Clementi Street 12 #01-50, Singapore 120106

5. Kowloon Express

From a home delivery specializing in salted egg pau, to a takeaway kiosk in Chinatown Point, halal dim sum brand Kowloon Express now boasts a proper dine-in space with a fuller menu in Clementi’s newest mall. While their all-famous salted egg pau remains a must-try, the pumped up selection includes seafood porridge, wanton noodles, chilli crab pau and other dim sum dishes served in traditional baskets. Here, instead of pork, chicken is used as a substitute. Kowloon Express, 321 Clementi Avenue 3 #01-01, Singapore 129905 (Image: Kowloon Express Facebook Page)

6. Vons Chicken

In addition to 4Fingers at Westgate, Westies can now get hands on more Korean fried chicken at Vons Chicken, a franchise from Korea. Also located in 321 Clementi, this fast food outlet is known to get extra busy on weekends, possibly due to the cinema crown from upstairs. Have your chicken fried or oven-baked as wings, drumsticks or boneless for convenience. You won’t go wrong with garlic soy and for the spicy-takers; the heat range goes from mild to volcano. Vons Chicken, 321 Clementi Ave 3 #02-09, Singapore 129905 (Image: Vons Chicken Facebook Page)

7. Casse-Croûte

Casse-Croûte (pronounced kas-kroot) – which means ’snack’ in French – is a small restaurant within Park West Condominium, owned by former chef of Au Petite Salut, Patrick Heuberger. Inside the humble space, the many fridges are stocked with European wines, German beers and ready-to-eat mains and desserts that are available for takeaway. Dishes include a wide charcuterie range of rillettes, pates, hams and sausages that are produced in-house, as well as house specialty mains like Cote de Boeuf that is caramelized with peppercorn. While seats are available for dining in, they are limited to just 16 so you might want to make a reservation before heading down. Casse-Croûte , Park West Condominium Clubhouse, 8 Jalan Lempeng #02-02, Singapore 128796 (Image: Casse-croûte Facebook Page)

West Coast

8. Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint (Opening Soon)

The famous Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint that was sold to Aztech Group for $4 million has found its way to the West Coast area and will be open for business soon. Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint, 15D Pandan Road, Singapore 609266 (Image: Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint Facebook Page)

Alexandra

On your next trip to IKEA Alexandra, take a look to your right and you’ll be greeted by a spiffy new 19-storey hotel/mall, Park Hotel Alexandra and Alexandra Central Mall. While most stores of the three-level retail shopping mall are still empty, here are a few highlights of what’s currently available in the building.

9. Alibabar Dining Café Bar

The hawker bar from Joo Chiat has branched out to the west and is currently in my opinion, the best option there for a casual night out with your chums. Start by choosing from a stunning range of ciders and craft beers ($9.80 onwards) – Happy Hour takes place from 3pm to 7pm with draught beer priced from $5 and up. Food wise, the Lamb Rack ($16) though measly in portion, was cooked well and the Satay Delight ($9 for 10 pcs) was surprisingly meaty and extra moreish with the accompanying peanut sauce. The Classic Beef & Bacon Burger comprised of a handmade 125gsm beef patty, bacon, cheese, tomatoes, gherkins and served with fries, is tagged at an affordable $11.70. Good to know: Set lunches (from $8.50) and high tea are available in the afternoons. Alibabar Dining Café Bar, Alexandra Central Mall #01-15, 321 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159971 (Image: Peh Yi Wen)

10. Otoko Ramen

Right next to Alibabar is the first ramen restaurant in the vicinity, Otoko Ramen. Otoko means ‘man’ in Japanese, so it is rather aptly named seeing that ramen shops in Japan are mostly male-dominated. Here, you can get a regular-sized ramen in tonkotsu-based broths like Shoyu ($12.90/ $14.90), Miso ($12.90/ $14.90) or the spicy Karamiso ($13.90/ $15.90). But for extra pork belly, get the Chashu ($16.90 - $18.90). For sides, the Aburi Chashu ($9.90) glazed in soy sauce comes highly recommended. And your “die-die-must-eat-rice” companions can either go for the Curry Rice ($5.90) or a simple Kaisendon ($9.90). Otoko Ramen, Alexandra Central Mall #01-16, 321 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159971 (Image: Peh Yi Wen)

11. The Carvery

Sitting pretty on the 7th level of the brand new Park Hotel Alexandra is Singapore’s first dedicated carvery, which features a three-metre long meat carving station and premium roasts including beef, lamb, pork and chicken. Let the experienced carvers know your preferred cuts, then move on to pair your selection with Pink Himalayan salt, the umami-packed Anchovy house-made butter or a delicate Red wine sauce amongst others. Meat aside, there is also an accompanying spread of seafood, hot dishes like Beef Bourguignon, a la minute pasta and desserts. Prices Sun – Thurs: $38++ for lunch and $52++ for dinner Fri & Sat: $62 for dinner (includes additional premium cuts in line-up) The Carvery, Park Hotel Alexandra, 323 Alexandra Road Level 7, Singapore 159972 Also open at Park Hotel Alexandra, The Coffee Belt, which uses Toby’s Estate coffee beans and serves simple café bites like muffins, wraps and sandwiches.

Hillview - Bonus!

12. IO Italian Osteria

Even though IO Italian Osteria has been around for almost a year, this personal favourite definitely deserves an introduction to the Westies yet to visit. If you’re hunting for an authentic and rustic Italian restaurant in the area, look no further, this is heaven. A staggering display and aroma of freshly baked breads greet you at the entrance before you see an open concept kitchen filled with mainly an Italian crew. Ask for recommendations – I’ve never been disappointed – or go for a selection of anti-pasti like Buratta with Parma Ham and Rucola ($19, “king-size” available), or their truffle scent heavy Bruschetta with sautéed mushrooms ($8). And if your table is up for it, the 1.2kg T-bone Steak. IO Italian Osteria, Hill V2, 4 Hillview Rise #02-01, Singapore 667979 (Image: Italian Osteria Facebook Page)

Written by Peh Yi Wen