Located in a coffee shop in Hougang, literally across the bus interchange, near the xin wang cafe is Tian Wai Tian Fish Head Steamboat. I normally frequent the tian wai tian at ang mo kio, but since I was going bowling at jForte my friends decided to grab dinner here on a rainy sunday night.

At around 730pm, the place was packed. there was a queue to place zichar orders. All the tables were occupied and you would've to wait quite a while for an empty table. Even when we got a table, it took another 10-20 minutes before the table got cleared and cleaned. My recommendation is make a reservation, so that you have a clean table and the reserved tables are on the other side of the coffee shop which is more airy and windy. I say at the side facing the bus interchange, there wasn't much air crossflow.

1. Fish head steamboat

 

We ordered a medium and my friends complained that they coudln't find much fish in the steamboat. There were 5 of us and yes some pieces were miniscule and some were half the size of an iphone 6S. The fish was decent, it wasn't MSG ladden as I didn't feel too thirsty after the meal. The soup was served with vegetables and seaweed. I loved the seasweed. The soup was refillable, but it is self-service.

2. Prawn Paste Chicken

 

Their prawn paste chicken never fail to meet my expectations. I love them! They are so crispy on the exterior and juicy and tender on the inside. They aren't too oily but they sure are sinful! The chicken wings are also pretty plump.

3. Egg FuyongThe egg was pretty oily but they were generous with the ingredients, lots of prawns, carrots and some meat in the egg. The aroma of the egg was pleasant and even though we ordered a small portion, it was more than enough for the 5 of us.

4. Salted egg pork

 

This was the only disappointing dish we ordered. The pork was dry and I could barely taste the salted egg. The salted egg was also barely visible on the pork. Skip this dish

5. Sambal Kang Kong

 

This was drenched in oil! I ended up washing the kang kong in a bowl of fish soup before eating it as there was just too much sambal oil on the vegetables.
For 5 of us, we paid $79, at $16 per pax, our tummies are filled with zi char food and we were all satisfied. But I'll definitely go for sweet and sour pork rather than salted egg pork the next time round.

Overall : don't expect any service, since you're not pay any service charge or GST, make a reservation before heading down, and do give the fish head steamboat a try.

Located at Irving Place is Carol Mel. It has gone through a revamp and gone are the local food fare and refreshed with western delights. It is a mere 5 minute walk from Tai Seng MRT. It has a very cosy ambience, with red bricks lining the white walls and mellow lighting in the air-conditioned cafe.Peeking at the new menu, you will notice interesting items like Signature Italian Braised Lamb Shank ($26), United's French Onion Soup ($12) and Buttermilk waffle with curry chicken katsu and melted cheese ($17). These items definitely stood out to me in comparison to your typical hipster cafe offerings.

1. Luncheon Fries *highly recommended*Luncheon meat fries seems to be the new norm since truffle fries are now served in almost every cafe islandwide. But the trick to good luncheon (spam) fries is the thickness of the fries and how they are cooked. Carol Mel seems to have gotten a winning recipe with a slightly crisp and thick batter covering the outer layer of the spam fry.On the inside of the spam fry, it is moist and it almost melts in your mouth. It is not oily, soggy or dry. The inside of the spam fry is of the best texture I've tried.

2. Buttermilk waffle curry chicken katsu with melted cheese $17Crispy butter milk waffle, with breaded chicken katsu layered with melted cheese. Served on the side is japanese curry with cubed carrots and potatoes. This was a first for me, to have japanese curry with a waffle. This is definitely an Eastern version of the "Chicken and waffles" popularized by the Southern North-American culture.The breaded chicken tasted savoury and was well complimented with the salty and gooey melted cheese. The buttermilk waffle was light and airy. The Japanese curry wasn't too spicy and was a great way to bring out the taste of the breaded chicken cutlet.

3. Porto Fungi $13 *highly recommended*Chunks of assorted fresh mushrooms. The key word here is "Fresh" mushrooms which were truly juicy and brought out so much flavour into the pasta. Served with Italian herbs, garlic and cooked in a supreme Italian cream sauce. On first sight, I definitely noticed way more mushrooms than pasta! Not to mention the pasta was al dente and the sauce wasn't gerlat. I could definitely devour this entire plate of pasta without thinking about the carbs in this dish. It's that yummy! Oh yes! I'm a mushroom lover so grab this if you're like me!

4. Signature Italian Braised Lamb Shank ($26) *highly recommended*Slow braised lamb shank (450gm) in red wine sauce, served with a side of seasonal vegetables and pasta aglio olio. I was extremely excited to try this. I haven't had a good lamb shank in awhile and the price tag was attractive too! The meat was so tender you could just use a fork or spoon to gently push the meat off the bone. The meat was extremely flavourful on its own but if you are someone who likes stronger flavour, dunk the meat into the red wine sauce and you will not be disappointed. The aglio olio was also great and perfect for the very hungry. I'm totally ordering this again, but I would need to drag someone out to polish this off with me, because you would also need to save space for the desserts at Carol Mel!

5. Signature Whimsical waffle *highly recommended*Crispy waffles just the way I like it with caramel gelato, melted cheddar cheese (similar to the chicken katsu), grilled marshmallows, berries and topped off with salted caramel sauce and maple syrup!The aromatic whiff of the melted cheddar cheese was distinct and yet not too overwhelming, which turned out great in a dessert. The waffles had a light and slightly hollow interior which I adored. This sweet waffle definitely satisfied my cravings with its cripness and fragrances of the batter, as well as the cheddar cheese scent. The ice cream served was creamy, milky and smooth in texture. The ice crea had a lingering sweetness that was emphasized with the salted caramel sauce and maple syrup. The grilled marshmallows also brought an extra sweetness factor to the dessert. The berries were visually appealing and gave a contrasting sour flavour to the variety of sweet items on the plate.

6. Tiramisu in a potI'm a huge fan of tiramisu and I'm an even huger fan when it is served in a pot! Because you get the fun of "digging for treasure" lol! The mascarpone cream came with a smooth, melt-in-the-mouth texture. The fragrance and aroma lingers in the palate, coupled with a spongy and airy chiffon-like mascarpone fingers. I would have certainly yearned for a higher intensity of the alcoholic flavour. The portion was rather huge for 1, hence sharing is recommended.

Overall : A great chill out place in tai seng. It has a lot of interesting menu items which are both promising and definitely delivers a "wow" factor to your palate.  

Located along the bustling stretch of Holland Village, where nightlight is alot more vibrant than the day time is Queen's Cat that opened late last year. The Queen's Cats cafe is a place of many things. Aside from serving a wide range of mouth watering delights, they also provide you with a relaxing atmosphere while you get your tea and coffee fix. From unique savoury waffles to premium grade tea.Check out their menu of drinks and food. They serve a huge range of tea in comparison to their food offerings. But with that said, the Queen's cat is more of a high-tea location for tai-tais and expats to hang out.As you enter the Queen's cats you will notice cake displays on both your right and left. All the cakes look well-decorated and they start at $8 each.The interior was very elegantly design, with white washed interior and pale coloured walls. The cafe was well lit with chandeliers.

1. Latte $6.90Instead of getting their fancy sounding teas which started around $8, I decided to get a coffee instead. Their latte tasted weak and didn't really have enough caffeine to awake my rather lethargic brain that night.

2. Matcha ice cream and Waffles $11.90I loved the presentation of this dish, along with a small double-walled cup filled with matcha syrup. The green tea ice cream wasn't too sweet but it also didn't have the bitterness of authentic green tea that I was craving for. The red beans set atop the matcha ice cream was rather sweet, but the waffle itself was rather light and had a buttermilk fragrance. The waffle was crispy on the outside and had air pockets inside. You can never be full from eating this waffle. Definitely a great tea time option after having a heavy meal.

3. Waffles with Smoked Salmon $17.90The cheese melted on top of the waffle was heavely. It had the right texture and taste. The waffle itself was more cakey and denser in comparison to the matcha ice cream waffle. The waffle batter itself also tasted sweet and together with the provided maple syrup, it was sweetness galore.They were very generous with the smoked salmon and the sliced tomatoes were sweet. If you are the king that goes for crispness, this would unfortunately not be suited for your liking. The waffles here were soft, fluffy, cakey and I attribute this to process of added the melted cheese, which in my opinion was the highlight of this savoury dish. Paired with the smoked salmon, this was the main course of my choice, should I return back.

Overall :  Great atmosphere to hang out, not alot of choices for main courses, but lots of high-tea options.

Located in the heart of Chinatown is Yum Cha, a well known chinese restaurant for thei dim sum and other heart-warming chinese delicacies. Yum Cha also sells seafood dishes like signature salted egg prawns and even chilli crabs. They've been at this location for the past 16 years, and they also provide delivery services.

For the upcoming Mother's Day in May, Yum Cha has created a new concept that will be avaialble from 1st-14th May at Yum Cha Chinatown and Yum Cha Changi outlets. Their goal is to re-create the long-lost taste of traditional Chinese dishes that mother and grandmothers would remember with nostalgia of their hometowns.

1. Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetable Bun $2/BunA nostalgic classic dish, this delicious bun, which was eaten for days while our ancestors were fleeing the war in China before settling down in different parts of Asia. The quality tender pork belly is braised in Yum Cha's secret recipe sauce for hours to create a sweet and succulent taste that is balanced by a soft and fluffy steamed bun.

This is quite a different kind of bun as it is pillowy and has a slight fragance to it. The meat was indeed juicy, tasty and I can imagine getting about 3 of these in a go. Definitely don't miss this!

2. Fish Maw with Shrimp PasteThis was an interesting dish that I had never tried before. The shrimp paste itself was a huge generous serving and it was extremely tasty going with the sauce on the dish. The fish maw was soft and jelly like, adding a light texture to the meaty shrimp paste.

3. Pan Fried Salted Fish Bun $5 for 3 piecesYet another traditional chinese dish originating from the Guangdong provnice, this salted fish bun used to be a favourite of the Emperor Kang Xi  of the Qing Dynasty. The bottom bun is seared to a golden brown, with a flavourful filling made from salted fish paste and minced meat. To enhance its flavour, Yum Cha has added a secret seasoning for a more savoury experience.

This was one of my favourites of the night. The bun was soft and pillow but yet had a slight crisp on the edges. The salted fish wasn't too salty and was perfect for my taste buds.

4. Pumpkin, Yam, and Golden Cake $4.80 for 3 pieces *highly recommended*A very pretty dish was served with this flower. The exterior of the golden cake was definitely beyong my expectations. It was extremely crispy, biscuit-like and biting into it, you will taste the moist yam and the sweet pumpkin in the center. A pretty ingenious sweet dish in my opinion. Definitely don't miss this. It's not that sweet, it was more of a savoury dish.

5. Signature Salted Egg PrawnsI was waiting all night to try this. This was a huge serving of fresh and crunchy prawns. In the center, was a salad that had the salted egg sauce. This was a very different presentation than what we normally see, whereby the prawns are deshellled and cooked in salted egg sauce.

6. Black Pepper Lotus Beef (Large, $48)I loved the presentation of this dish, delicate and beautifully plated. The lotus were thinly sliced and were crisp like a potato chip. The vegetables added some colour to the black pepper beef. The Black pepper beef wasn't spicy at all, which is great for non-spicy eaters such as myself. The beef itself was extremely tender, soft and juicy.  The beef itself is imported from Brazil!

7. Crab Meat Xiao Long BaoMy personal favourite dim sum is xiao long bao and Yum Cha's rendition of this delicacy is pimped up with crab meat. Picking it up with chopsticks usually requires some skill so as to not burst the delicate xiao long bao skin. But I could pick it up with ease and even hold it up for a period of photo taking. The skin itself isn't paper thin, but when biting into the xiao long bao, you can enjoy the soft texture of the skin and behind it, you find a very savoury soup and chunk of meat embedded in the xiao long bao. 

8. 7 Flavour TofuThis was a very interesting tofu. Everyone at the table tasted different flavours. The tofu itself was soft, almost like a steamed egg. With a light crisp tofu skin with sweet, salty and even spicy flavours from the seasoning on top of the tofu.

9. Fried Vermicelli SeafoodThe vermicelli had tons of wok-hei which made this a favourite at the table. Yum Cha was extremely generous with the ingredients that it only took us moments to devour this entire plate of goodness. The noodles were stir fried in prawns, scallops, vegetables and fish slices.

10. Almond Tart $3.20/3 pieces *highly recommended*Yum Cha's classic almond tart has a soft and flaky texture. In the center, you will find a smooth almond custard that is not too sweet and just right for it's size. It can served chilled and its sweet taste will be a hit with children!
I'm a pastry buff and I know it when I eat excellent pastry. The pastry shell has the perfect level of crisp to it and every bite was perfect. My only regret was that I did not get any of these Almond Tarts to-go to share with my family. The almond fillings absolutely melt in your mouth!

11. Liu Sha BaoLike a molten lava cake with a chocolate oozing out, the liu sha bao is a Chinese version in the form of a bun. And what lies beneath that seemingly innocent steamed white bun is an explosion of sweet custard and savoury salted egg yolk. The ones here are yellow in colour. Honestly, I can finish a basket each. The liu sha bao here never fail to flow, or rather they are guaranteed to flow.

Overall : While I really have nothing to nitpick on everything on the dim sum menu, my favourite to order when dining at Yum Cha is, without a doubt, the Custard Buns with salted egg yolk, almond tarts, Pumpkin, Yam, and Golden Cake and 7 Flavour Tofu

Located near Beauty World MRT (Downtown line) is a stretch of eateries facing the private estate of Lorong Kilat.  I visited on a monday night at 8pm and it was 3/4 full! I was surprised at how busy it was. There were school students from the nearby schools as well mostly youngsters grabbing a bite together with their friends.Their menu had a pretty interesting design, it was swivel menu with placards and both food and drink items were compacted into that one menu. I was quite impressed, was the level of details they had in their interior design and menu.There's both outdoor and indoor dining areas. The whole cafe has a circus theme.  The wall decorations were pretty colourful and eye-catching.

1. Cookie Monster $8It was a really hot and this cookie monster was the perfect saviour. I really loved the lingering aromatic cookie flavour and aftertaste without being overly milky or sweet. It was more of a "gao"/thick milkshake. And all that crumbled up cookie gives it a grainy feel. It was a sinful but calorie-worthy drink.

Revelry ovffers a range of milkshakes and depending on what you're game for, Revelry will have something for your sweet tooth!

2. Truffle Fries $8Truffle fries are French fries tossed with truffle oil, truffle salt and parmesan cheese. Truffle oil is used to impart the earthy flavour and aroma of truffles to fries; giving it a strong smoky after-taste. It is not hard to understand why people crave for it. There is just something appealing about the exotic truffle oil – you either love it or hate it.

It really is a huge portion so, as much as you hate to, you’re going to have to share.
The aroma of truffle oil is delightfully strong for this cafe. The fries were crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.

3. Chicken and Waffles $17 *highly recommended*After seeing tons of pictures of this dish, I finally made the trip down here . Featured here is their signature chicken and waffles, buttermilk waffles served with a crispy fried chicken cutlet that is huge and succulent. The waffles were cirps and light, with a fluffy and slightly soft interior. You couldn't get full eating these waffles at all. At no point did I felt gerlat either. The texture was one that I adored. The mapley syrup drizzled seemed to be less sweet than others that I've tried.

4. On Cloud Nine $15Another very instagrammable waffle, decorated with toasted mashmallows, lemon curd, vanilla ice cream, popping candy and cotton candy. The buttermilk waffle here was crispier than the waffle with chicken. It had a stronger aroma of sweetness, mainly from all the sweet toppings. Fortunately, the sweetness was just right for me to bear. The cotton candy managed to alleviate the subtle vanilla ice cream flavour a little. The ice cream with popping candy was surprisingly good, I really liked the feeling of the popping candy in my room. A cheap thrill!!

5. Mocha $5.50I ordered a takeaway mocha, just before I left the shop as I needed an energy booster for my long night ahead and it worked well. The mocha had the right tones of coffee bitterness and cocoa sweet notes. It definitely gave me a kick in my brain to empower me through the night.Overall : I love the decor of the cafe, the food was decent, not too expensive but service could've been improved. The staff mixed up my order of my drink initially but they apologized for the mix up.