Tonkichi, by the Pokka Food group, has been making news for its fried pork set meals. And with several outlets at Lido, Takashimaya, Orchard Central, Tampines Mall and Suntec City among others, we found ourselves conveniently having lunch at its Suntec City branch. Here's our take on the slightly above average Japanese restaurant.

THE FOOD:
First came the restaurant's signature dish: a delicious and freshly-fried hire and rosu (pork) set ($24.90), which comes with miso soup, rice and a small salad. The breadcrumbs-coated meat looked real thick but was tender and soft in the inside – easy to chew and cut into smaller pieces.

But we discovered something even better: the fried oyster equivalent is just excellent. Crispy on the outside and soft (or partially raw) in the inside; oyster-lovers should really try this.

We were also craving for curry so we ordered an ala carte curry ($6.90) as well as a chawanmushi ($3.50 with a set, $5.50 without a set). The curry and chawanmushi wasn't spectacular but neither were they bad.

Ramen is also available but I would advise diners against it. Tonkichi's ramen was too oily, its ni-tamago (soft boiled egg) was over cooked and the pork broth was way too salty with a strange pungent pork taste.

What would make a typical male return is this: unknown to many, the Japanese rice and salad with sesame dressing comes free flow! Ideal for the big eaters. But in all, the fried stuff is great but anything else is best left for other Japanese restaurants.

THE MOOD:

Tonkichi is a great lunch choice for busy office workers. There was no need for queuing during lunch hours as the restaurant – part of the roundabout basement – occupies a pretty large area. The decor is simple and looks as if it's catered for the mass. Service is fairly fast and attentive as well.

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On a lazy afternoon, we were attracted by the adorable cartoons of ramen monsters by this little shop at the corner of Velocity, Novena Square. We dropped in Ramen Monster without much expectations and, fortunately, we were pleasantly surprised…

THE FOOD:

With a choice between thin and thick noodles, we chose thin for the char siew ramen and thick for the tonkotsu ramen. Both types of noodles were al dente and pretty springy.

First came the char siew ramen ($10.90) with pretty lean meat soaked in thick broth is nonetheless succulently delicious. On the other hand, the tonkotsu ramen ($7.90) was a tad disappointing – the meat was slightly too tough and not fatty enough.

Portion wise, the dishes at Ramen Monster are a tad smaller than usual but just right for us girls. Guys may need to upsize ($3) for gyoza and a drink.

We later heard that the Spicy Ramen is good from the table next to us and that there's no MSG in the broth – a rare treat dining outside.

In all, the ramen at Ramen Monster wouldn't be the best or comparable to that of ramen masters at Santouka or Ippudo. However, it is good enough as an affordable lunch nearby office.

THE MOOD:

The bright and colourful shop is peddled by the cute cartoon ramen monsters donned on the wall. Tables and chairs are basic, and easily moved to accommodate big groups by the helpful staff.

Say hello to US premium non-fat frozen yogurt, Sour Sally, which boasts to be 100 per cent fat free.

THE FOOD:

The latest kid on the block offers four basic flavours for its fro-yo, shaved ice and smoothies: original or plain, pinkilicious strawberry, melon mint and green tea. The smallest cup of its tart yogurt with subtle flavourings range from SGD3.50 to SGD4. Compared to Yami, it is more tart but less creamy, and with Frolick, it is more firm but less natural in its flavours.

Pre-mixed selections are available but, like at other fro-yo offerings on our sunny island, you can also mix and match toppings like mango, kiwi, almonds, chocolate balls and many more. The little cubes of mochi and nata de coco with the exotic melon mint intertwined with plain yogurt are our personal favourites and go well with the fruity yogurts.

THE MOOD:

A worthy opponent for bright and funky Frolick, Sour Sally eludes a whimiscally charming and cheery mood. Its interactive website, created by Kinetic Singapore, is just as fun too. Its outlet at Wisma Atria is decked in black and lime green and hard to miss, so give it a try!

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With Swensen's 1-for-1 Lunch Treats for all food items from its ala carte menu, we have more reason to step into the restaurant for the occasional slightly more expensive lunch.

THE FOOD:

The offer is available on weekdays from 11am to 2pm, excluding Public Holidays. Diners get to choose from a pretty extensive menu including an Asian section.

We begun with the signature Rodeo Wings, which was satisfyingly tossed in BBQ sauce and sprinkled with black pepper. For the free side, we went for the Deep Fried Mushrooms, essentially deep fried Shiitake served with tartar sauce. Sinful but delicious.

For the mains, my companion went for the Crayfish pasta, which was the most value for money being the most expensive item on the menu. The serving was extremely generous with large chunks of fish and a medium-sized crayfish doused in sweet tomato sauce. A bit more pepper would complete the package.

I went for my old favourite, the Salmon Baked Rice, and was sorely disappointed. The fish baked rice used to be good and a bit too salty but for the past three times we were there, the baked rice has been a consistent disappointment. Sure there were plenty of cheese but the fish and rice were strangely bland.

By the time we were done with our appetizers and mains, we were pretty full. Nonetheless, being the gluttons we were, we pressed on with desserts.

The Banana Crumble, served on a sizzling hot pan, is a must-try though desserts and drinks are not included in the 1-for-1 offer. If it was, I would have gone for the Sticky Chewy Chocolate sundae as well – another popular dessert item at Swensen's.

THE MOOD:

Queues start forming by 11.30am and diners should be prepared to wait 15 to 30 minutes for your food thanks to the crowds. Iced water is served but service is not the best here though still reasonable.

Most Swensen's outlets – many spread throughout the island – are spacious and hence good for big crowds. And if you work near a shopping mall, chances are there will be a Swensen's conveniently nearby. So the next time you crack your heads for a suitable, value-for-money place for a farewell lunch or a department bonding meal, you could consider Swensen's.

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Every neighbourhood can sure do with its own ice cream parlour, and Tampines is no exception. Ben and Larry's Ice Cream, or more popularly known as Blic, is a chirpy orange parlour found along Tampines avenue 4.

The Food:

There are just so many flavours to choose from! You name it, they (almost) certainly have it: Double Choc, Ferrero, Dino Milo, Lychee, Coffee, Rum & Raisin, Banana Peanut Crunch, Green Tea, Black Sesame, Seasalt Malt, Mentos Chocolate Ball, Baileys, Mango, Strawberry Chunk and the list goes on.

After much fuss, we settled on the Chunky Peanutella. The lethal "heaty" combination of peanut and nutella was so thick that it tasted like the real peanut butter stirred with nutella and accompanied by bits of peanut. We wondered how it would have tasted with some bread but was too distracted by the premium scoop of Mao Shan Wang ice cream.

The older folks would've given us a chiding: "What? Peanut, nutella then Durian? You want to fall sick is it?" But, but… the creamy rendition of Durian King here is my favourite – it is a must to get a scoop of this everytime I come here! Ultra rich and creamy, Blic's Mao Shan Wang is comparable to Udders, if not better.

Last but not the least, we found out that SCaM – soursop, calamansi and martini – is no scam. A very unique combination that seems popular with the fruit lovers and the girls, the concoction is sour, sweet, and dry all at once.

Like we said, there are just too many flavours to choose from. So ask for a sampling at the counter before you commit to the few precious scoops you can wolf down or pay for! The rather steep prices are divided into two: $5.20 per scoop for premium choices and $3.20 for the classics. Double scoops goes for $4.80 (classic), $7.80 (premium) and $6.30 (mix). They offer sidekicks such as waffles, brownies and milkshakes as well.

The Mood:

Expect plain but cheerful orange walls with very simple furniture. Powerpoints are also available, which adds another reason to why Blic is so popular among the students, especially those from nearby Temasek Poly. What's more, there's free flow of water and and napkins at the self-help station.

If you are driving, make sure that you park legally. The popularity of the coffeeshop nearby and of course Blic often causes congestions and frequent appearance of our favourite "Fatimah's".

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