Full Banana Tree (Cafe) review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/05/banana-tree-cafe.html

A popular franchise from South Korea, Banana Tree (Cafe) is known for their garden and banana themed decor, pretty presentation of traditional South Korean desserts, and clean, inviting, cheery atmosphere. Opening their 1st outlet in Singapore, along Keong Saik Road within the Outram Park area, in April 2015, Banana Tree (Cafe) immediately drew crowds eager to check out their fabulous desserts.Ambience at Banana Tree (Cafe) is garden themed. The interior is so pretty and photogenic, with small corners filled with trinkets or pictures, making for great pictures. Clean white walls, solid wooden furniture, cozy and inviting atmosphere, with touches that reference gardens and the banana fruit. However, this 'beautification' comes at the cost of seating space, which is not fully maximised, and thus, only limited seats are available. Queues tend to form at Banana Tree (Cafe), with waiting time up to 20 minutes, and you'll be standing while waiting at the cramped, crowded entrance.Service at Banana Tree (Cafe) is partially self-service, where you order and make payment over the counter, but orders will be served to your table. Staff are pretty friendly and cheery (as befits the bright, welcoming atmosphere), and knowledgeable enough to describe the ingredients in each dessert / beverage. They also clear empty / dirty tables efficiently, and then quickly seat the people who were waiting in the queue. As a bonus, the Korean owners are also easy on the eye! However, I do wish they could put some thought into a structured queue system, or at least make guests comfortable while waiting, as it was an unpleasant experience.Food at Banana Tree (Cafe) is focused on Korean desserts, presented in a novel, modern way. There is no main course whatsoever on the menu, so Banana Tree (Cafe) is a pure desserts cafe. Their take on popular Korean desserts is refeshing, and pretty well done, plating them in garden themed arrangements, great for photography. Taste is good, true to their Korean origins, and portions are mostly designed either for individuals, or for communal sharing of 4 or more people. Prices at typical of most affordable desserts places, budget about SGD $8 per person for a dessert here.The Flower Paap Pudding Banana (SGD $6.50) is said to be inspired by a flower cupcake creation from Magnolia Bakery in New York, United States Of America. Luscious, light home made cream that is made fresh daily, layered in a small flower pot, on top of a soft sponge cake base, alternating with slices of fresh, sweet banana. Topped with a layer of oreo cookie crumbs resembling soil, candy rock pebbles, and a fake flower inserted into a straw, this heavenly dessert is creamy yet light, not too sweet, and simply a joy to eat. Divine, highly recommended!

Full Togi review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/05/togi.html

Togi is a Korean BBQ restaurant that has been operating for well over a decade, serving authentic, down to earth Korean cuisine, in a comfortable, modern setting. While Togi may not have the tastiest, most premium Korean food around, you're assured of at least getting a great tasting meal each time.

Ambience at Togi appears, at first glance, clean and pristine, with natural touches as as a green wall of plants against colour themes of white and black. Only on closer inspection does Togi shows signs of aging, the walls are slightly off-white to grey, with holes pockmarking its surface. Decor, aside from the green wall, is minimalist. Furniture is semi-comfortable, large wooden tables fit for communal dining, and they also offer both indoor and outdoor al-fresco dining. I notice that ventilation here is above average, the smell of cooking doesn't cling too strongly to your clothes.

Service at Togi is friendly, with several Singaporean and Korean staff present. They'll able to converse in English pretty well, and able to make good recommendations from the menu, as well as provide basic descriptions on the dishes. Food is served pretty quickly, usually within 10 minutes. However, payment is self-service over the counter. I notice staff can assist with the initial cooking if you choose to order the barbecue items, and they do provide tips on how best to consume a dish if asked. Good service!

Food at Togi is distinctly Korean. They offer both Korean barbecue / BBQ, as well as ala-carte dishes, all of which are accompanied by 6 Banchan / side dishes. The menu is extensive, with portions designed for communal dining, so visiting with 2 or more people is strongly recommended. Taste of food is decent, but not the best, so Togi probably classifies as middle of the pack for me. Prices are reasonable for a restaurant, budget about SGD $27 per person for a meal here, though it's more economical and wallet friendly if you dine in larger groups of 4 or more.The Samgae-Tang / Ginseng Chicken Soup (SGD $25 Whole / $16 Half) has a tasty, refreshing soup / broth that is incredibly addictive, so tasty! The chicken meat is tender, pulling away from the bone easily, and fragrant with the infusion of herbs. The glutinous rice within is so soft, almost like porridge, and just delightful to eat. And yes, I couldn't get enough of the clear, tasty soup / broth! Highly recommended!The Dak-Galbi / Stir Fried Chicken & Rice Cakes (SGD $16) is served piping hot on a sizzling hot plate, and is packed with tender, super tasty Dak-Bulgogi / marinated chicken, soft and chewy Ddukbokki / Tteokbokki / rice cakes, and a generous helping of vegetables, including cabbage, onions, and lettuce. Sufficient for 2 people to share, this dish is incredibly tasty, the chicken meat is sweet, savoury, smoky, and still moist. Good!

Full Yogiyo Chicken review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/05/yogiyo-chicken.html

Yogiyo Chicken, located at the basement of MyVillage mall in Serangoon Gardens, opened for business in November 2014. Run by a Korean lady boss, Yogiyo Chicken naturally specialises in Korean sauced fried chicken, along with offering a small selection of Korean noodle and rice dishes. Yogiyo Chicken is actually a popular franchise from the Hongdae district, in Seoul, South Korea, and the owner actually trained there before opening her 1st outlet in Singapore.

Ambience at Yogiyo Chicken is totally open concept. The open nature of the store makes the layout seem much more spacious than it really is, though seating is limited. But at least the tables are large and spacious, and thumbs up for the idea to plaster the tabletops with their menu! Chairs are functional, but not very comfortable, but the bright lighting around Yogiyo Chicken adds to the welcoming atmosphere.Service at Yogiyo Chicken is completely self-service. Ordering, payment, and collection of orders is done over the counter, but at least the staff and owner, are friendly. They're able to make recommendations, and advise on the food. As they prepared each order from scratch, there is normally a 5 - 10 minute waiting time, but at least the food is piping hot. But due to the limited manpower, dirty tables normally aren't cleared quickly, I recommend clearing your own tables for the convenience of others.

Food at Yogiyo Chicken is all about Korean fried chicken, with some rice and noodle options. The menu is limited and small, but at least they offer 5 different styles / sauces for their chicken; crispy, sweet, sweet soy, hot soy, and fire hot. While portions are rather small, I like that the food is freshly prepared and hot. The chicken batter is light, not too greasy, and wonderfully crisp, even after being glazed with sauce! Prices at Yogiyo Chicken are the equivalent of fast food prices, budget about SGD $10 per person for a meal here.

Full In The Brickyard review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/05/in-brickyard.html

Founded back in April 2014 by 3 enterprising artisan bakers (affectionately known as D, K, and J), In The Brickyard started as a home kitchen / bakery, churning out tasty, artfully done cakes and cupcakes from the founder's homes. In The Brickyard finally opened their 1st permanent store in Salute Coffee Shop / Salut Kopitiam, in March 2015, bringing more of their creative cakes to the public.Ambience at In The Brickyard is shared with every other stall in Salute Coffee Shop / Salut Kopitiam. Functional, decent furniture, bright lighting, and the garish, iconic, blue checkered tablecloth. Service at In The Brickyard is partial self-service, where ordering and payment is done over the counter, but orders are served to your table. The owners are pretty friendly and chatty, and will engage you in conversation. As all their cakes / pastries are made by them in-house, they're extremely knowledgable about their products, able to make solid recommendations, as well as share tips for takeaway orders. They also accept special customized cake orders, though you'll have to order in advance!Food at In The Brickyard primarily consists of Western / American style, sweet dessert cakes and cupcakes, with some elements of Southeast Asian cuisine, resulting in modern fusion creations. Their cakes and cupcakes generally have good flavour, and feature unique flavours. While their cupcake flavours are more or less consistent, their cake flavours are changed on a daily basis, and I've never seen the same flavour twice! Portions are nicely sized, and best shared amongst friends. Prices are reasonable as well, budget about SGD $7 - $9 per person for a dessert here.It's always exciting to pay a visit to In The Brickyard, because you never know what sort of creative flavours they'll have that day! I do wish that I could have more of the flavours I like, but at least the menu is fresh and exciting. In The Brickyard is definitely worth a visit for me, even though it's out of the way!

The Onde-Onde Cupcake (SGD $3.50), styled after the Malay Onde-Onde dessert kueh, is a true delight to eat. You get the fragrant essence of pandan / screwpine leaf from the light, spongy cupcake, followed by the sweet palm sugar / gula melaka dessicated coconut in the center. The luscious cream frosting on top lends a smooth, creamy texture to each mouthful. You know it's good when you automatically smile on putting the first bite into your mouth... Highly recommended!The Pulut Hitam Cake (SGD $6.50) may be among the best cakes I've ever eaten in my life! Inspired by Bubur Pulut Hitam, a sweet Indonesian rice pudding dessert, this cake has that thick, black glutinous rice and palm sugar paste, spread between layers of light vanilla sponge and pandan / screwpine leaf cream. The result is simply divine, each bite is so light, yet rich in flavour. Highly recommended!

Full Kinsa Sushi review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/05/kinsa-sushi-tasting-session.html

Founded in May 2012, the owners behinds Kinsa Sushi shared a passion for the cuisine of Japan, and wanted to offer a premium Japanese dining experience, without the exorbitant price tag. Formerly located in Jubliee Square in Ang Mo Kio, Kinsa Sushi has since shifted its operation in May 2015 to a new outlet in the quaint HillV2 shopping mall, located in the Bukit Gombak area.

Ambience at Kinsa Sushi is classical Japanese guest house, with wooden-esque decor and furniture. There is a minimalist approach here, the walls are mostly bare, with small focal points adorned with Japanese items such as fans. The main showpiece is the Magnetized Conveyor Belt for sushi plates, a new technology that is more visually appealing than the older metal conveyor belts due to coloured lighting, as well as being easier to clean.

Service at Kinsa Sushi is down-to-earth casual, but efficient. Staff are friendly, seating guests quickly, and also quick to clear away empty / dirty plates and tables. They're able to offer basic recommendations from the menu, but may not always be able to describe the creation of dishes.

Food at Kinsa Sushi is traditional, classic Japanese, prepared with fresh, good quality ingredients. Fresh seafood is imported from Japan, and delivered to Kinsa Sushi 3 - 4 times weekly. Individual portions are nicely sized and sufficient, although many dishes on the menu are designed for sharing. Recommended to visit Kinsa Sushi in groups! Prices here are described as 'heartland', and are affordable, comparable to a typical cafe, although the standards here are definitely restaurant worthy. Budget about SGD $28 per person for a meal.

Despite the modern cocktail glass presentation of the Shake Ikura Yamakake / Salmon And Roe With Japanese Yam (SGD $6.90), this cold appetizer retains the traditional Japanese spirit with the use of Yamakase. The slippery texture of the yam gravy pairs well with the smoothness of the fresh salmon slices, while the taste complements the salty, briny, burst of flavour from the fresh salmon roe. A unique dish, with an acquired taste, worth trying!Freshness is the key component of the Kaki Ponzu / Oyster With Ponzu Sauce (SGD $7.90). This cold appetizer has a lovely, tangy yuzu vinegar / ponzu sauce, freshened with spring onions, and a fresh, plump, meaty oyster. Utterly refreshing and clean, very satisfiying, I downed it in 1 mouthful!The signature Wagyu Don / Wagyu Beef Rice Bowl (SGD $24.80), from the regular menu, is a house special, and is not to be missed! Unbelievably tasty, they've used a high quality, grade A4 Wagyu beef from Kagoshima, serving 60g of these divine, pan-fried medium-thick slices in a rice bowl, alongside a perfectly wobbly tamago egg, garnished with umami sauce and spring onions. Highly recommended!