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Joo Chiat. Long known as an area of vice, with raging KTV pubs and bars, and people from all walks of life, congregating in a street that’s probably no larger than three streets. Imagine the surprise I had when I was told of a hidden gem hidden within this grime. And believe me when I say, it was certainly an eye-opening culinary adventure!The Dragon Palace Restaurant, neatly tucked within small niches and situated across a brightly-lit pub, is certainly not invisible. With a new renovation that has added an additional air-conditioned dining room, I would say it comfortably sit several families. Note, service is basically “Sit Yourself, Grab a Menu, and Get Ready to Bark Your Orders When I Come Back”, but you know what, I appreciate that brute efficiency. These waitresses definitely appeared jaded as they probably deal with alcohol-stricken patrons on a daily basis.In my first visit to Dragon Palace, the waitress (it was around 9 pm, considered early for this establishment) recommended the Sizzling Hot Plate Tofu, the 2-for-$20 special crabs (I ordered a chili and a black pepper), and Coffee Ribs. The hotplate tofu was absolutely delicious, with the tofu yielding to a firm bite, and the eggs were a great complement to the saltiness of the pork sauce on it. Though at the end of the dish, my girlfriend and I continued to smear that flavorful gravy all over our rice, and it was definitely a winner in my book! It was definitely freshly made, and I bravely withstood the splattering oil to grab another bite.Now, for $20, you probably wouldn’t expect a lot out of the crabs, right? Well, it certainly exceeded my expectations. The chili crab was very generous with its spicy gravy, and be sure to grab some Dragon Palace mon-tou (deep-fried buns). The mon-tou is a perfect partner to the gravy, as it had a crispy exterior and a soft interior, which capably soaked up every pass in the gravy. The black pepper crab was also very well-seasoned, forcing a sneeze out of me when I inhaled the shell of the claw! If it weren’t for my approaching fullness, I would’ve definitely ordered me another pair of crustaceans. Be sure to try them both when you get a chance, but rumors have it that the salted eggs are also delicious. Please comment and follow up!In my second visit to the Dragon Palace, I had another special: the curry-fish head. It came in a silver pot, with a little flame underneath it, so I would definitely give it a 10 for presentation. For the taste, I would give it an 11! With a curry built from pineapples, fresh spices, tofu skin, and vegetables; every bite was a study in texture and opposing flavors. The fish was sizable for a family of six (though I only brought three), and we drank every drop of that heavenly concoction. Now, I’ve been to many places, but this certainly ranks as one of the best curry fish-head I’ve ever had.We also had the Coffee Ribs, which was one of the best I ever had! So there you go, Joo Chiat. Though its night-life may be well-renowned, it certainly reflects its food hidden within. With every bite, I started to appreciate the scene unfolding around me into the wee hours. My summary? From all walks of life and ethnicity, Joo Chiat certainly has something for everybody; and even if loudness is something you don’t appreciate, perhaps it’s not so bad to go a little wild sometimes, right? Although the ambiance is not very family-friendly, the dishes serve here do not lose out to popular seafood restaurants like Long Beach in East Coast or Ang Mo Kio crabs. Plus there is no queue during special occasions, something which popular eating establishments are infamous for!…查看更多

All right, all right, foodies, enough is enough! We all know that Swensen is a franchised-chain of Western restaurants, its prices are definitely out of reach for the average person, and it has no sense of individuality with its polymer-resin booths, tables and chairs. So why are we even bringing it up?To be fair, I had a red-eye flight out of Singapore at midnight, and the options at Changi Airport Terminal 2 at that time are quite simple: 1) Overpriced hawker center with only one or two vendors open 2) Waffles and frozen soy milk and 3) Your truly despised Swensen’s. Now I know that we started this article a little biased against Swensen’s, but let me just say, this is a POSITIVE review because at the end of the day, it’s all about the food right?On a Thursday night around 11:00 pm, with my girlfriend and her family (a delightful mother and a hungry brother), we were promptly seated at the bustling restaurant located in the basement of Terminal 2. Our orders consisted for a curry chicken for myself, a mee goreng for the girlfriend, mixed tempura vegetables for the mother, and a Double Chocolate Delight for the brother.Though I’d hate to say it, I truly loved the curry chicken. With a great contrast of flavors in the provided sweet chutney and the tart pickled vegetables, I could’ve had a meal with just the coconut rice and the aforementioned condiments. The rice was fluffy and fragrant, and capably soaked up the flavors integrated into it. However, let’s not forget about the main actor of the cast: the curry. With a drumstick, wing, and thigh in the curry; it definitely makes for a full meal. The gravy was intensely flavored, and the texture was both creamy and grainy, which I suspect is from the menagerie of spices in it; definitely a match for any renowned hawker.The mee goreng was also a treat for the palate; with both an intense but not overpowering heat that played well with the sourness associated with the rich-tomato sauce. It also had a hefty helping of shrimp and meat, so I never felt shorted of liao at any time. However, if you’re not a big fan of spiciness, I would ask for a milder version of this dish. Great finish to the dish with no tinge of the oiliness that’s often associated with the traditional dish, so it definitely didn’t leave me feeling lethargic.However, the tempura dish was definitely a failure in my books. It came out looking lifeless, limp from either 1) fried in oil that was not hot enough or 2) left seating under a heating lamp for too long. Each bite yielded a yogurt-like substance from within the shell, and the vegetable was largely indistinguishable. With a little deduction and fork-prodding, I determined that there were some egg-plants, pumpkins, and onions subjected to the deep-oil torture.Overall, the ambiance was above-average of what I’d expect of a Swensen’s located in such a bustling location. Though service was sluggish at times, it was understandable with the constant barrage of customers, and the servers were prompt with the orders and refills. If I could sum up my dining experience in a few words, let me set it as an analogy to the Double Chocolate Delight we had ordered: both familiar and satisfying, in a beautiful presentation with whipped-cream covered flaws.…查看更多