Men-ichi Kyoto located at Yishun's Northpoint serves one of the best ramen I have ever had. Other great Japanese cuisine on the menu includes a la carte items such as fried gyoza, sashimi and soft shell crab, and promotion bentos and value-for-money sets, which oftenly include a main, side, together with either chawanmushi or miso soup.The queue is a testimony for its popularity. Highly recommended.

The eastern side of Singapore is somewhere that I would rarely head to. Firstly, I reside in the west and secondly, I barely see a reason why should I travel to the other side less for a good reason. Well, they say good thigns are worth travelling for, I guess good ice cream is one valid reason.

Located at Simpang Bedok, somewhere about a short 5-minute walk away from Tanah Merah MRT, BLIC Ice Cream Cafe is well-known for its good service it has done for the residence at Tampines, serving authentic homemade ice-cream and sorbets of various creative flavours, such as SCaM (Soursop, calamansi and martini), Seasalt Malt, Dino Milo, Mao Shan Wang (Durian King) and the list goes on, reaching unimaginable flavours with a local twist, take for example - Sambal Sorbet and Chocolate Chip Chicken Rice.

Prices are affordable as well, with a scoop of classic flavour and premium flavour going as low as S$3.20 and S$5.20 respectively. Diners can also opt for BLIC's speciaility milkshakes, waffle or brownie combination as well, dosed with a lethal satisfaction for your sweet tooth.All in all, BLIC proves to be a hidden gem in the east (and I bet that there are many more for myself to discover), as well as a great hangout place to chill-out after a dinner at the nearby Simpang.

Established by the owners of Awfully Chocolate, EwF is slightly different from its origins, or rather a spin-off from the main branches of Everything with Fries. Nestled at the ground floor of Orchard Central, EwF is a conceptualised fast-food outlet decorated with the simple elegance of pink and white furnitures. As I was saying, EwF is a fast-food outlet, like MacDonalds or MOS Burger, hence it is all free sitting. Having said that, EwF is usually packed especially during meal times, so do expect hungry people waiting to occupy your table when you are more than halfway done.

The thing I like about Everything with Fries (as well as EwF) is that they make their food and sauces from scratch, using only the freshest ingredients. Besides their burger classics (S$6.90 - S$7.90), such as Battered Fish Burger and Slider, EwF also serves unique creations such as my personal favourite Har Jeong Kai, which is whole boneless chicken thigh marinated with Cantonese prawn paste, as well as the newest addition of Pork Belly Burger.Thick, juicy marinated pork belly served between two caramelised burger buns. Oh, what good gracious! I wouldn't admit that I'm a health conscious person, but for health's sake, I decided to remove the fatty layer. Okay, I admit that I stole a bite... just a bite. I mean who could ever resist the succulent bite of the best portion.

Bacon Cheese Omelette Burger (S$6.90) is a popular choice for people who adores brunch. Good ol bacon and eggs complemented with the melted cheese, again - this is not exactly healthy, but oh well. Everything with Fries is not called Everything with Fries for no reason, at here, pairing the burger with your favourite flavour of fries (together with a regular drink, meal for S$9.90) is the most sensible thing to do. Choose from five variety of fries, such as garlic, curry and sour cream & onion.As a sister company of Awfully Chocolate, expect a decent selection of desserts, like the nutella tart and vanilla crepe. All in all, EwF is a fuss-free fast-food place, great for gatherings, or perhaps a quick meal in between office hours.

The recent addition of Poulet to Bugis+ (formerly known as Illuma) was a welcoming one, with long queues expected during lunch and dinner hours. Under the Thai Express Group which houses several household brands such as Xin Wang, New York New York and Kiseki, Poulet is a contemporary French-themed bistro which offers casual dining at much affordable prices. Nestled at the mall's fourth floor, Poulet features a 60-seat open dining area inspired by modern alfresco setting in France, furnished with classic wooden tables and chairs. Diners can also catch the chefs in action through the open kitchen.

On their 2-page menu, expect to find a variety of appetisers, main courses such as Braise de Carnard and Oxtail de Bourguignon ($15.80), as well as classic French desserts. And of course, as the name itself suggests, Poulet Roti (roast chicken) is their star dish, which well, makes it a must try for starters.

The house signature of Poulet, their roast chicken (S$28.80 for whole) which was marinated and slow roasted until golden brown using a traditional recipe, was very well savoury and flavourful, while the chicken meat in itself was tender and moist. The best (and addictive) part was probably the home-made mushroom sauce. Prior to this, didn't i thought that creamy sauce and roasted chicken complements one another so well. But now I do. It's obvious, if you are here at Poulet, don't miss out their star dish.

Before that, we ordered their Country Side Mushroom Soup (S$5.80) which proves to be the best I have ever tasted. The cream of wild mushrooms, together with Idaho potato was so flavourful and incredibly creamy, you wouldn't want to waste a single drop.What is French cuisine without the company of the prized Escargot de Bourgogne ($8.80)? Served with tomato fondue and almond garlic butter, these 6 Burgundy snails did not die in vain. Well.. sadistically speaking. Unlike the previous escargots I have had, their rendition of the garden mollusks did not leave a strong aftertaste which was very well enjoyable.Mediterranean Stewed Lamb Shank (S$15.80) was delightful with soft, tender meat infused with flavours derived from its own jus and orange. It is completed with root veggies such as onions and carrots. Portion-wise, my girlfriend can barely finish three quarters of it.Slow cooked to ensure that the intense flavours of onions, garlics and potatoes are captured into the tender white meat, Braise de Poulet (S$13.80) might be just another option for you if you prefer a healthier alternative to the roasted version. Only thumbs down is probably the sheer size who might not satisfy a grown man's stomach completely.What is a good meal without desserts? Truthfully speaking, there aren't a lot of choices for desserts at Poulet. Hence we chose the one that seems the most appetising to us - and yes, that's Tiramisu (S$7.80)! I wouldn't qualify this as the better ones out there, as the sponge fingers layer was so drenched in espresso and had an overpowering taste of rum syrup, resulting in the whole dish being too soggy. The top layer of mascarpone cheese dusted with espresso powder was delightful nonetheless.All in all, Poulet proves to be a good place to have decent French cuisine without having to burn a big hole in the pocket. Thumbs up, I will definitely be back.

What's a good meal without desserts? More often than not, when I am around Clementi central for a dinner, Lao Ban is always the "after meal place" that I head to for desserts. You see, the only place months ago to have Lao Ban is Old Changi Road, but after new outlets emerged all over the city, Lao Ban Soya Beancurd is much easier to get.

Different from the traditional soya beancurd (where they serve with sugar syrup), newer renditions like Lao Ban's served it pre-mixed, and using a special recipe to ensure that their soya beancurd is smooth and silky, so much you probably just put it in your mouth and swallow.

All in all, Lao Ban proves to be a more favourable choice for the younger crowds in Singapore.