Nestled in one of Singapore's most happening night-spots, the multi-level Hansang's layout was a fusion of Western and native Korean, equipped with a sleek series of wooden furnitures and inviting ambience lights, with the real barbeque actions cooking up at the second storey.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love pork belly meat, despite all the high fats content and health risks and what's not, I mean, come on, life's too short not to enjoy. By that, self-control is definitely recommended when in Hansang, with all the high-grade wagyu beefs and pork slices, one would find it hard, but salivate constantly.

Well, it's not wrong to pamper your taste buds with some Samgyupsal (S$25.00) once a while. These lightly seasoned pork belly slices sizzle at the touch of the grill. There are probably a hundred and one ways to savour the meat, but my prefered way of eating is none other than wrapping one or two slices with some garlic in the crispy lettuce, dipped it into chilli sauce and pop them into the mouth!If you are looking for something more fulfilling, why not try their classic Bibimbab (S$18.00), which consists of generous portions of meat slices, mushrooms and assorted vegetables, not forgetting the glorious egg. Jumble them up with your prefered sauce and you're good to go. Nothing special though.
A good bowl of beef stew is set to warm one's body during the cold season. Although not usually the case in all-year-summer Singapore, beef stew with savoury broth and heaps of japchae (glass noodle) is still one of my favourite dishes when it comes to Korean cuisine.
Smoke might be difficult to avoid as Hansang is not equipped with retractable pipes that suck in the barbeque smoke, prices are quite steep (spent about $50 per pax), other than that, Hansang is a good place to go if you're craving quality korean barbeque in a relaxing environment.

It was indeed an honour to be invited by online dining guide, Openrice.com for a food tasting session at Ambush, Plaza Singapura. Perhaps you might have seen the grafitti-styled logo, paired with a couple of tomatoes elsewhere, it is because they have offered diners a convenient and casual European fix at other major shopping malls - Junction8, Jurong Point, Ngee Ann City and Jurong's new Jem (Opening in April 2013) as well.

What's on the food tasting menu?

Negra paella (S$14.50) rises up as one of my Ambush favourites, the reason for my love towards this Valencian classic is simple - the rice was sticky enough, flavours were robust and I liked how the bright orange roes contributed an additional crunch to the overall texture. Just like any squid ink dishes, make sure you have checked your teeth before grinning!Roasted Pork Knuckle (S$28.00 for whole) impressed me with its perfect crispy skin, yet the juicy tenderness of the meat was sufficiently retained. You could have seen how good this was when it disappeared off the table after a few minutes. The sauerkraut and mashed potato that comes along with the pork knuckle was nothing to rave about, but I do strongly recommend to savour the pieces of meat by pairing it with the gravy sauce.Huge? Definitely. Juicy? Yup. Flavorful? Checked. Mussel Pot Large (S$17.60) is something not to be missed. We had them doned in Aglio Olio style - semi-sweet, which is so full on sauteed onions and garlicky flavour, and classic Vin Blanc - aromatic with white wine. Both, which proved to be too good to compare against each other.Decorated with home-made tomato and orange sauce, while the Duck confit (S$18.00) sits comfortabley on a bed of mashed potatoes. It actually looks better than it tasted. It was well-seasoned and marinated, but a tad dry for my liking.Crispy Chicken and Seaweed Pasta (S$13.00) was what I have chosen for my main course. The pasta itself was cooked slightly less than the al-dente standard, while the crispy chicken reminds me of KFC's popcorn chicken. Although this dish was an interesting fusion of Asian and Western, it was not exactly a winner for my palate.All in all, I thought that the starters/appetizers fared better than the main courses. But hey, guess what, "everyone gets a little taste of Europe", Ambush is a great option for a simple gathering over a wide variety of European dishes.

Talking about technology, Genki Sushi has one of the most innovative ordering methods. Each table is equipped with one iPad preloaded with their very own application, which you order your food directly from the device. Your dishes will be delivered promptly right to you in a mini shinkansen (bullet train) on it's "railway track". After unloading your food, one then pressed a button to send the carrier back to the kitchen. How cool is that, I have to admit that I was pretty amused and mesmerized by the cute trains.Don't know how to use their "GenkiPad"? Do not hesitate to approach one of their staff.

One of the must orders are the Salmon Triple Flavor (S$3.80) and Shrimp Triple Flavor (S$3.80), which consists of the key ingredients done in different ways. My favourite among the three is the ones which are seared briefly and topped with black pepper, which adds an additional kick to the sushi. There is also a similar version for the crab as well (S$3.80). Seared Salmon with Pollack Roe (S$2.30) is nicely seared with a faint burnt fragrance, but Peiyi was complaining about the lack of roes (or it's either the roes got melted when it was seared.) The salmon meat is soft and melts slightly in your mouth.Their Steamed Egg Custard (S$2.30) is soft and silky, and packed with a reasonable amount of fish cakes, mushrooms and crab sticks. The downside is that the steamed egg lacks in flavour, it doesn't have the distinct eggy flavour.Japanese Chilli Pepper to the rescue!

Feeling a need to eat something more, we ordered the Oyaku Don (S$5.80) - deep fried chicken chunks with a nice layer of fat in thin batter, paired with strips of sweet onion and runny omelette, and served along with a good bowl of Koshihikari rice, planted by the Japanese in Vietnam. I could really do with more eggs though.One of my favourite is their free-flow of Japanese Green Tea (S$1.50), which you do-it-yourself, by mixing the green tea powder with hot water. Needless to say, you can adjust how strong is your cup of tea according to your preference.Genki Sushi adds on to my list of favourites, and I'll definitely be back for more economical, yet authentic and quality Japanese food.

Just a conclusion tip - be there early or skip the peak hours. We were there at about 8.45pm on a Saturday, and we had to wait for approximately 20 - 30 minutes.

Marché is probably one of my most frequented restaurants, especially their Vivocity branch, which sits on the roof top garden, overlooking the harbour front and Sentosa island.

What makes this restaurant so special is their attentiveness to the details of the authentic Swiss culture - service staff are dressed in traditional costumes, a dimly-lit dining area with wooden tables and chairs, balconies and barrels, and not to mention, their lovely cow mannequins.

If it's your first time here, do approach the service staff and familiarise yourself with their paying system because Marché uses "credit payment" - where you first make your purchases with a card (valued at S$100) and pay before you leave the restaurant. Do be warned though, that if you misplace your card, you'll be charged the maximum of $100.

Now, without further ado, this is what I usually spend my credits on:

Rosti w/ Smoked Salmon (S$14.50) is an all-time favourite at Marché. Their signature pan-fried potato strips are crispy on the outside, soft and firm on the inside, and topped with their smoked salmon and a wallop of sour cream, this is definitely a must-try.Crêpe with Blackforest Ham and Mushrooms (S$12++) was introduced to me by one of my mates when we had our little gathering some time back. How could I have missed this savoury treat! The skin of the crêpe is tender and firm, while the combination of thinly sliced mushroom and ham, dipped in their buttermilk sauce, just makes me want a second serving.
Grilled Salmon and Cream of Mushroom are two of Marché's many classics too. I highly recommend their mushroom soup as a starter to whet your appetite.
Do also grab a bottle of Bundaberg Root Beer (S$4.50) - Good Ol' Australian root beer, traditionally brewed to an old aunthentic recipe. Although overpriced (to be honest), it's one of the cheapest drinks at Marché.Marché is a perfect place for gatherings, meet-ups, or even a romantic date. Although I would admit that the bill burns a slight hole in your pocket, Marché is still a place which I would definitely frequent again and again for it's the experience that counts, isn't it?

Tips: Do leave some stomach space for their signature ice cream crêpes and other desserts too.

A dear aunt of mine introduced me to Shin Kushiya when it opened not long ago, I have frequented this Japanese restaurant quite a bit since then and till now, it has remained as one of my definite favourites.

Shin Kushiya is well-known for their authentic Kushiyaki, or skewers grilled with Bincho charcoal (aka King of White Charcoal) imported from Japan. One can truly taste the quality of the fresh ingredients used and the distinct smoky flavour. Paired with their homemade tare sauce, Kushiyaki is definitely a must-try. Perfect for quite bites before main course and sharing. Prices ranged from S$2.00 onwards per skewer.
Platters of mouth-watering Kushiyaki

Still craving for more small bites before your main? Why not try out their softshell crab temaki (S$3.40) or a plate of crispy, tasty whole crab for sharing? We ordered the Sanshoku Don (S$17.80), a delicious combination of fresh salmon, maguro and kaki on top of a bed of soft Japanese rice. Ever heard of sashimi melting in your mouth? This is it. Sanshoku (三色) actually means toppings with three different colours. They are not only limited to sashimi, but also to other ingredients (i.e. dango, eggs, vegetables) as well.
Their Pork Cutlet (S$16.80) is crispy on the outside and tender inside. Dipped in their spicy tare sauce and paired with the crunchy fresh salad, I bet you'll be begging for seconds.Good and authentic Japanese food, without burning your wallet. Shin Kushiya is the place to head to.