HungryBytes's Profile

Sometimes, I come across something so good, that every bite felt soul shining and that I momentarily lose myself in my food. Lunch at Sumiya Charcoal Grill Izakaya @ Orchard Central is just that and perhaps abit more.Hidden in a little loft at Orchard Central, this gem of a restaurant is one of Orchard’s best kept secret that I almost didn’t feel like sharing.Sumiya is offering an awesome lunch set deal where you can get a Mix Bara Kaisen Don set for a steal of $18.80 and other equally irresistible options.The delectable set is food-coma inducing, with a generous bowl full of assorted sashimi cubes, avocado and blanketed with toboki and salmon roe. It comes with sesame sauce should you need that additional umami kick but its hardly required here. Completing the set are other side kicks like chawanmushi, an appetizer, miso soup, salad and mochi. This set is a force to be reckoned with.Less belly bursting but still delicious is the Ni Anago Don Set (Simmered Conger Eel) with delicately simmered conger eel. Look Ma! I can’t see my rice!A hearty choice would be the Teriyaki Chicken Don set. Tender morsels of teriyaki chicken makes a satisfying lunch. I’m not sure how long the lunch set promotion would last, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be visiting Sumiya again and again.…

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and the same goes for The Beast.The Beast, Southern Kitchen and Bourbon Bar is a dimly lit, 2 storey restaurant located along Jalan Klapa. I got there during opening time on a Saturday but only managed to snag myself bar seats because most of the tables have been reserved. First tell tale sign how popular this place has become.The wide variety of bourbon and whisky is a welcoming sight indeed for the thirsty. I decided on Mama June’s Sweet Tea. I would have expected it to be at least a tad similar to sweet lemon tea but its a rather bland (or diluted) mix of Redemption High Rye Bourbon and House-made Honey Sweet Tea. The beer is good, as expected of draught beer. Crisp and refreshing.Drinks aside, the food was much better. In fact so good it made me forget about ‘em crappy drinks.The pulled pork sliders were the first to arrive at the table and sure as hell didn’t disappoint. The pulled pork was juicy, tender and the crispy, fresh slaw gave the whole thing a welcoming texture. Gone in 60 seconds.Next came the The Jack and the Beast Stalk. Give me these battered, fried green beans over truffle fries any day. I would share my fries any day but I’ll need to think twice about these. Its addictive. The batter is airy and lightly fried and finally coated with their ‘secret seasoning’. I occasionally still crave for these.. thats how good I think it is.The Southern Fried Chicken is good but not memorable though. Exactly what you would expect of fried chicken, very tender and juicy, probably due to its purported 24 hr brine. I also realise they left out our house-made buttermilk biscuits too. =(The Bacon Waffle Sundae for me, is the highlight of the entire meal. You get a choice of ice-cream between Fig & Honey or Vanilla Bean. We picked the Fig & Honey. Crispy, fluffy waffles with candied bacon, pecan brittle and drizzled with butter scotch. Its like a celebration on a plate. I would definitely order this again.Overall, I had a good meal there. The prices are perhaps on the steep side but as a treat, I’ve already mentally worked out my next trip to The Beast. I’m all game to try their Chicken & Waffles ($20) with bourbon maple butter sauce. Also, I’m going to gather some fellow gluttons and go for their Beast Burger ($125), the mother of all burgers. …

After much convincing, I agreed to give PapaRich @ OneKM a try and lets just put it out there that it would probably be the last time I step into another restaurant by that name.Sad food makes one sad. The interior of the restaurant is lavish but does nothing to elevate the food.As advertised, The Super Rich Combo includes aromatic nasi rich, served with fried chicken drumstick, aromatic braised beef, sweet & spicy squid, potato, hard boiled egg, lady finger, papadum and sambal. With all the haphazard mishmash of ingredients, the dish just doesn’t add up. The nasi is flat and dry, the braised beef is fibrous and tough, egg (as you can see with the grey ring) is over cooked, sambal is spicy and not aromatic at all… Granted, having tried really good nasi in a foodcourt at half this price didn’t help either. Lets just skip this altogether.On a slightly better note is the Ipoh Kuay Teow Soup with Steamed Chicken. The soup base is average and abit on the sweet side. The first few mouthfuls were enjoyable but it went straight downhill the more you eat. I’m guessing there’s too much msg in it but I could be wrong.The saving grace of the mains we ordered is the Steamed Chicken that is has a silky and tender texture. However, the sauce again is over cloyingly sweet. Its more like a sugar gravy instead of one that includes soy sauce.The chendol is so ordinary, I have problems describing it.…

Just when I thought foodcourt fare has reached the point of hopelessness, that it compromises taste for profitability, I came across Red Ring Treasures @ Wisma Atria Food Republic. Its relatively new an outlet, having just opened sometime mid 2014. Prices are very reasonable for a stall situated in the heart of town and the taste… I’m won.The highlight of the meal to me is their Onion Blossom. I ordered it out of curiosity. I seen it at restaurants, pubs but being adverse to onion, it never justified me ordering it. First of all, the onion blossom served resembled a gorgeous golden flower. Fried perfectly, not a single burnt spot. Unlike some under cooked onion rings, these are timed just right such that the onion is sweet yet retaining some crunch.The noodles had a good bite to it. Not too dry or soggy. I like that the pork cutlet doesn’t taste too greasy, or smell like stale oil. On hindsight, I probably should have added some chili to the noodles as the taste, though good, tends to plateau after afew bites.A huge bowlful of soup, the dumplings were well made. Its pillowy and soft to the bite, the thinly skinned dumpling encased a robust core which falls apart when you eat it.I eat my words. Foodcourts does indeed have restaurant quality food at very reasonable prices. When I come across a gem like this, I feel excited about sharing it.…

Since we found out that Mr & Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Prata stall is within comfortable walking distance from our house (read: 10 minutes), our lives changed. Every weekend, I would ask Mr what would he like for breakfast and its always, “Prata!” Even though my usual response would start with some eye rolling, I would oblige. Its so good, it has become our gold standard for roti pratas.Fair bit of warning though: Be patient as there is bound to be a queue and go early because I heard they usually sell out by noon.The quaint little shop resides in a coffee shop tucked away at the junction of Crane Rd and Onan Rd somewhere along sleepy Joo Chiat. The entire coffeeshop has a rustic feel to it, which adds to the dining atmosphere.Poh Ho Restaurant is also home to very old school style of wanton mee, Hock Thye Noodle House that serves up some really good wanton mee and dumpling soup. There’s also a stall called Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak but is always closed in the mornings when we visit.But we digress, let’s go back to our Prata.Mr & Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Prata Shop is a family run business. Mrs Mohgan expedites and serves, Mr Mohgan and son makes the pratas. The family is soft-spoken and very friendly. Why, Mrs Mohgan happened to walk past our table and noticed our diminishing plate of curry and cheerfully offered to top up,”Do you want more curry?”There are three different types of curry to choose from: Dhal, Mutton and Fish. I got a low threshold for spice so I didn’t try, but I do observe that there are also some avid fans of their sambal ikan bilis with the frequent top ups and quickly emptied container.There are other variations of Roti Prata, egg, mushroom and cheese but my favourite is still the kosong prata. Everything is made fresh and as the name entails, its super crispy on the outside but soft inside. Such is its appeal, that I was transformed into a glutton and inhaled 3 slices at one sitting.For those who likes mutton curry, do not miss out on Mr & Mrs Mohgan’s version. Its $3 for a generous plate of super tender, flaky mutton pieces swimming in rich, savoury curry.Whenever people discuss about best Roti Prata places, I always rave about Mr and Mrs Mohgan’s and I believe rightly so. With their commitment to the quality of their food, you’ll bet these artisanal roti pratas will continue to have their cult following.…

This year, I wish for everyone to eat better.What a better way to start on this resolution than to have some good ramen at Keisuke Tonkotsu King! I’m chuffed to bits that this new outlet is a stone’s throw from where I stay. I sense more Ramen goodness in the days ahead.Like its store at Orchid Hotel, the restaurant is small and seats about 22, albeit rather cramp.The interiors are decorated similar too. The quirky wall posters and signages transports its patrons to good ol’Japan. Tables space is precious commodity as its already crowded with condiments and the free flow eggs and bean sprouts the restaurant provides.I’ve never helped myself to the eggs before as I’m not a fan of hard boiled eggs but I do know that some consider that as a bonus selling point for the restaurant. On the other hand, I love the spiced beansprouts. Crunchy and just a tiny bit spicy, it freshens up the palate and balances out the super rich ramen broth really well.Just a few simple ticks and your order is whisked away by one of their super efficient staff and very soon you’ll have your meal ready. Japanese standard of effiency. Impressive!Made specially for the restaurant, Japanese Green Tea Cola. We just had to order this. Rather addictive for me. I like that its not super sweet like most soft drinks and yet is refreshingly sparkly. Also, I’m a sucker for green tea items.Honestly I wasn’t expecting much from the Gyoza. I came for the ramen anyway. However, these babies were well fried. Very crispy on one side and with the tender steamed dumpling skin on the other. The tiny morsel burst with juicy broth from the minced meat. I love gyoza and I do love their version of it.You got to earn your dinner. Before you start digging into your prize ramen, start working those muscles and grind those sesame seeds. By breaking them, it releases the fragrant sesame seed flavour and elevates the ramen. Grind it, break it, then blanket your ramen with it.Take a sip of the luxuriously rich tonkotsu broth and let out a satisfied sigh. I could bask in this richness all day long. I’ve opted for the flavoured soft boiled egg as a topping. Its so good. Gone in 30 seconds.This sexy, spicy ramen has a broth that’s not as creamy as that of the Tonkotsu King (above) probably to balance the spicy oil. Look at that. Drool.If food is an art, Keisuke Tonkotsu King has perfected the ballet of Ramen.…

Sin Lee Foods first piqued my interest when I found out that its a pet friendly establishment. I'm always looking for places to bring my cat. Their decor got my hipster senses tangling and their signature dish was Fried Chicken Waffles - named The One and Only.. So why not?Since then, I visited twice already and in my humble opinion, there were more hits than misses and I would definitely recommend it to a friend. On the plus side, the service standards and the food quality is consistently good and the constantly changing, creatively managed menu means there will never be a dull moment. Its adventure on a plate. Bring it on!(oh, and prices are nett. No GST / Svc charge)Getting there is a bit tricky because its neatly tucked away at a corner. Its a short walking distance from Tiong Bahru MRT station.Neatly tucked away along Bukit Ho Swee, just up a short flight of stairs, with the black and white striped blinds.Hipster styled decor with telling vintage signboardHipster Magazine RackThe staff is very friendly and I find that they are very knowledgeable about their dishes and recommendations. I love the coffee so much so that, I do not have a photograph of it. #truestory. Too impatient to drink it. Both iced latte and the hot version are good. Thumbs up. I can't say the same for so many other places though.Now on to the food....The One and Only - Fried Chicken on Waffles ($22.00)The One and Only, is touted as their signature dish. Its a daring combination of Fried Chicken and Waffles which attempts at balancing the sweet and the savoury but unfortunately didn't work at all for me. The fried chicken was done perfectly, crispy yet juicy and moist but the waffle base was a let down by being rather flaccid and bland. The sweet caramel sauce didn't help either. The dish comes across as confused and doesn't complement each other. Much better off eaten separately and perhaps without the coleslaw totally.Aburi Broccoli Salad - $10.00This dish isn't particularly attractive but I realise that once I start digging into it, I can't stop. I had some problems sharing this dish. Its simply not enough for me. Aburi here refers to the cooking style that is the partial grilling of the broccoli. The salad is tossed with white balsamic vinegar, garnished with smashed papadums, a dash of mayo and orange sugar. Its really very addictive and I can't recommend this enough.Soft Shell Crab Bun - $17.00The soft shell crab bun was another sinful favourite. Perfectly battered soft shell crab with the most amazing spicy, tangy sauce, lying seductively on a sinful bed of toasted, buttered buns. Only one request.. can we have much more of that sauce please??Beef & Grains - $23.00Orzo pasta, served with tender seared beef striplion, topped with a runny egg, pickled ginger slices and generously blanketed with furikake. Its western, japanese and local food rolled into one comforting dish. I was surprised how well the pickled ginger elevated the dish and I usually shun that thing. Resident catbossSin Lee Foods // Blk 4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee #01-164 Singapore 162004Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Tues-Sun), Closed Mon except PHPrices on the menu are nett. (no gst/ svc charge)…

Decided to treat ourselves to a nice dinner and decided to try Table Manners.The restaurant is a chic design and makes one feels like you're dining in a place that's a cross between a designer furniture store, a library and a cafe. We were seated in the corner of the place beside the bookshelf that was frightfully filled with huge cobwebs (which also explains the lack of a photo here). Nevertheless, we decided to plough on.We ordered two mains: King's Burger and Mary's Lamb.Mary's Lamb, as its name says, is braised lamb shank with mash potatoes. The dish itself is average and does not impress. The lamb itself is easily removed from the bone but texture is oddly bouncy and does not have much taste save for the gravy it came with. The mash potato fared better than the lamb, unfortunately. My guess is that the dish could do with a longer braising time and more gravy.The saving grace of the dinner is probably its King's Burger. We requested for medium doneness for the patty but it came out well done instead. The sunny side up was gorgeous, running over the burger when cut. I can't find fault with this main, save for the cold fries it came with.For dessert, we decided to share a Lemon & Lime Tart with Strawberry. The dessert is average though, with a dull crust and creamy filling that lacks that delectable tanginess associated with good lemon tarts. Edible though not entirely enjoyable.For drinks, we order a Chamomile Citron Tea and Brothers Toffee Apple Cider. You can probably never go wrong with Brothers Cider but I cannot understand why the tea is served with warm water instead of boiling water. Needless to say, the tea wasn't really well received.The restaurant was not crowded for a Saturday at 8pm but the waiter and waitresses seemed more interested to huddle in the corner talking amongst themselves then to serve, than collect my bill.Overall, I think the place scores for its gorgeous deco (minus the dust and cobwebs) but doesn't impress me with its food offerings and service quality.…

How would you like your coffee? Espresso, Cold Drip, Aeropress, Pourover or by the Clever Drip?Nestled in the middle of busy Chinatown, CBD is Kaldi's Berry - The coffee connoisseurs' ideal hideout.Approach the nondescript outlet and immediately, my attention is drawn onto this gargantuan brewing apparatus on the right. It's the Korean-imported Cold Drip Maker, Ridge3.2 by Korean Coffee Drip machine makers, Coffeega. The interiors are also tastefully designed with coffee related paraphernalia, including upcycled V60 lampshades.To prepare cold drip coffee, the glass dome is filled with ice-cubes and ice water. It takes no less than 8hrs for the bottom flask to be filled with the extracted cold brew. Amazingly, due to the fermentation process during the cold drip extraction, the body of the coffee continues to deepen the longer you let it sit in the fridge. Coffee like fine wine indeed. Kaldi's Berry serves cold drip coffee that's at least 2 days old if supply permits.My personal favourite is the Ethopian Yirgacheffe (Grade 1) made with the Pour Over method. Kaldi's Berry uses the Kalita Wave Dripper for extraction and the resulting brew is a complex but very smooth cup. However, for the unforgiving tropical weather, I would opt for the smooth cold drip coffee which is perfect for drinking all day long.For espresso lovers, why not give the Aeropress coffee a shot. (pun not intended)This nifty gadget, is supposed to produce a rich flavoured brew with lower acidity and without bitterness. A nugget of interesting fact, this gadget is invented by AEROBIE, the designers of high performance sports toys like the Aerobie flying disc. First taste brings to mind an espresso, but cleaner, smooth, and without the crema. A very good morning coffee option for folks like me, who needs that extra caffeine kick to feel whole and ready to conquer the world.The beverage's equivalent of the comfort food is perhaps Kaldi's Berry's Cafe Latte, made with the Speciality Houseblend. I really enjoyed this cup of coffee, smooth, comforting and the latte art is an adorable bonus.Kaldi's Berry offers a wide array of pastries for you to pair with your selected brew. However, if you are looking for something more filling, I would recommend - Kaldi's Waffles or the All Day Breakfast.Fluffy scrambled eggs served with gently crisped bacon with toast and freshly tossed greens. Portion is huge too so you might want to share, or choose to indulge in entirety yourself!Kaldi's Berry got the texture of the waffles right. Just the right amount of chewy, though I would personally prefer the outer crust to be a tad crispier. However, the generous scoop of vanilla icecream with fresh fruits tips the scale in its favour. Thumbs up I say.Those with a sweet tooth might want to round up the meal with an Affogato - A scoop of vanilla ice-cream doused with a shot of espresso.Overall, Kaldi's Berry impresses with their impeccable knowledge of coffee brewing and the passion for serving the best brew for each individual customer's tastes. I would love to drop by for my caffeine fix or for some of those waffles again.…

Been hearing about the much hyped about Mille Crêpes from Lady M and decided to try it for ourselves.Personally, I am rather underwhelmed by their service and the desserts.Even though the restaurant was practically empty, with only 3 tables besides us, it took ages for our order of a slice each of the Vanilla Mille Crêpe, Green Tea Mille Crêpe and Gâteau aux Marron to be served.There's too much cream in the cakes which made the cakes mushy and overall everything was too sweet. Of the three we tried the Green Tea Mille Crêpe was probably the best as the matcha took down the sugary sweetness a notch. Not the best Mille Crêpes I've had definitely. I found the sponge layers in the Gâteau aux Marrons too dry.Coffee was normal.We ordered:Vanilla Mille Crêpe - $8 per sliceGreen Tea Mille Crêpe - $ 8.50 per sliceGâteau aux Marrons - $7.50 per sliceCafe Mocha - $5.00 per cupLady M Ice Cafe - $5.50Prices subject to 10% service charge and 7% GST.…