Song Fa Bak Kut Teh

"Bak Kut Teh literally translates as "meat bone tea". It consists of meaty pork ribs in a broth of herbs and spices boiled together with pork bones for hours. Bak kut teh is usually eaten with rice or vermicelli, and often served with youtiao (strips of fried dough) for dipping into the soup. Dark soya sauce is referred as a condiment, with which chopped chilli padi and minced garlic is taken together. Chinese tea of various kinds is also usually served in the belief that it dilutes or dissolves the copious amount of fat consumed in this pork-laden dish." - Song Fa Bak Kut Teh


Occupying 2 shopfronts

The air-conditioned side

Nice decor and ambience

Makan Boy and I visited Song Fa for supper and even though it was near the closing hour, there were still a few customers coming in. I like the nolstagic decor, the old photos they hang up in the restaurant, the display of really old kettles, the restaurant name painted on the pillar because all these injects a warm and cozy feeling for the restaurant.

Also, the food arrives in a jiffy so no worries if you are in a rush!


Have no idea how the tea pot thing works cause no one around is drinking tea.

Pork Ribs Soup ($6.50)

A compulsory dish to order at Song Fa, the pork ribs soup is abit costly for only 3 pork ribs in such a small bowl. The meat however falls off easily, is tender to the bite and the rib is still of a reasonably good size. The soup is tasty and does not have too much pepper. They do sell the soup's herb and spices in a box of 10 packets at $20 if you want to create the same taste at home.

Braised Beancurd Skin with Chicken Feet ($3.50)

The Braised Beancurd Skin and chicken feet was a disappointment. Their beancurd skin could be cooked longer as the texture should be soft and smooth instead of being chewy. There are only 2 chicken feet and it wasn't soft enough as well.

Overall, Song Fa has slightly better than average Bak Kut Teh but I would continue the search for other stalls and hopefully enjoy even better value-for-money Bak Kut Teh!

When my family still had a car, my dad would always drive us during the weekends to Johor Bahru for Bak Kut Teh and thinking back, the Bak Kut Teh there is still my favourite..

Song Fa Bak Kut Teh
11 New Bridge Road (last order 9.30pm)
17 New Bridge Road (last order 10pm)
#01-01
Singapore 059383
Tel: 65336128 / 64382858
Tues - Sun: 7am - 10pm
Closed on Mondays
http://www.songfa.com.sg/

Victor's Kitchen

Victor's Kitchen is another cafe that serves dim sum all day long. It can be especially crowded during peak hours so it would be best to go in the morning when they start business or afternoon because you don't want to face them saying: "Custard bun don't have already." Arrggghhhhh!!

It was our second visit at Victor's Kitchen and yet on both rounds, we weren't able to get our hands on any of their Yummy Milky Custard Bun!! *Pulls hair*

Very crowded!!

During the first visit, we went in the evening at around 7pm and the restaurant was so packed and their staff were all too busy to attend to us. We quickly found 2 seats and had to wait a while before getting our orders taken.

A picture speaks a thousand words. =/ ($3.50 each)

As usual, I must order the 3 dim sum dishes - Har Gao, Siew Mai and Chicken Claw since it was my first visit! Sadly, only their Har Gao can make it. The Siew Mai and Chicken Claw was.. frankly speaking a waste of money. Makan boy ordered Char Siew Chee Cheong Fun as well (at the very top right corner of picture above) and it was nothing special too.

- 2nd Visit -

Scallop, Sausage Carrot Cake with XO sauce ($4)

Very mushy texture

I still prefer carrot cake that is firm and of dried shrimps and sweet sauce. Their XO sauce didn't really taste of XO and their carrot cake was too soft. Plus.. where's the scallop?

Dried shrimp and radish i think.

Golden Egg Yolk Lava Bun ($4)

SO YUMMY AND FULL OF GOODNESS.

We wanted to try their Yummy Milky Custard Bun really badly but to our dismay, we were too late again. (We went in the afternoon at around 3)

So.... we ordered another of their popular bun, The Golden Egg Yolk Lava Bun and just look at the photos above!!! This is one of the TASTIEST bun I've ever had! Hot, fluffy and full of golden lava that is saltish and full of buttery fragrance! Makes it worth our trip down despite not getting any custard bun!

Looking at the photo I feel like having one right now!! *dreams*

H.K Summer Iced Tea ($2.50)

Normally, the iced tea we drink is very sweet thanks to the ice cubes thrown in. But at Victor's Kitchen, they chill it in a bowl of ice cubes which I believe helps retain the original flavour of the tea better. Sweet, fragrant with no sharp or bitter after-taste and I don't feel thirsty even after drinking it. =D

I want to go back for the buns. Now.

Update: Read about my next visit to Victor's Kitchen here.

Victor's Kitchen
Sunshine Plaza
91 Bencoolen St
#01-21
Singapore 189652
Tel: 98382851
Open daily: 10.30am - 8pm

Aroy-Dee Thai Cafe

The last time after we visited Sunshine Plaza for dim sum at Victor's Kitchen (review coming up in next post), it was already dinner time and super packed at Aroy-Dee Thai Cafe so we came back this time round in the afternoon to try out their food! Facing NAFA, Aroy-Dee Thai Cafe attracts mainly the office crowd during lunch and dinner time.


One of the few Thai eateries in the same building

Interior of cafe with their King's family photo

Outdoor seats facing NAFA

Their air-con seem to be spoilt so both of us changed to the outdoor seats for occasional rushes of wind (thanks to cars along the road).

Slightly redish Thai iced milk tea ($1.80)

I ordered their Thai iced milk tea hoping it would taste similar to the one I had in Phuket (which was super sweet and tasty) but theirs tasted quite awful to me.  I still prefer local Teh-tarik more as the taste of tea is not as strong as theirs.

Generous with bean sprouts

Their Pad-thai is $6 but the portion was very good for 2 to share. It tasted milder in terms of flavour and their version is more sticky with a sweeter sauce. Good thing is they are generous with their ingredients and vegetables!

Slightly pinkish beef!

The stir fried beef with spring onion is tasty but abit too oily. Nothing much to rave about except that the meat is very tender.

Overall, Aroy-dee serves decent local Thai food at a very affordable rate with a good team of efficient and friendly staff. For those working nearby, I'm sure this is a good place to go for lunch break.

Aroy-dee Thai Cafe
Sunshine Plaza
91 Bencoolen St
#01-12
Singapore 189652
Tel: 63368852
Open daily: 11am - 11.30pm
http://aroy-dee-thai-food.posterous.com/

Prata Wala

Located right outside of Boon Lay MRT at the main entrance of Jurong Point, Prata Wala serves North and South Indian food boasting a good crowd anytime round the clock. I like that their logo is of a naked indian chef throwing the prata around heheh.. very cute.


Watch me fling my prata!

Furnished with red couches and packed with tables very near to each other, the lively atmosphere and good mix of all races in the restaurant makes it a cozy place for a hearty chat and good laugh over indian food.

The crowd at around 10pm

Colours of the briyani so vibrant!

Always nice to watch the chef slap the prata all around muahahaha

Usually they give out these round pagers but I guess they were very well equipped with staff that night so we don't have to collect our food at the counter personally. Like the name of the restaurant suggest, you must try their PRATA! A decent size for the price and it is yummy!

Plain prata ($1.30)

Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside

Unlike certain prata places with saltish curry, Prata Wala's curry is packed with spicy power! With a low threshold for spiciness, I choked and teared after one mouthful of their curry!  =(


Chilli hot

Still better to enjoy my prata with shiny little crystals.

Enjoying a good prata with lotsa sugar = yummy.

A few months back when we were in Phuket, our Thai friend brought both of us to eat prata but Thais' prata is very very crispy served with condensed milk and their curry is more watery. Equally yummy too!

Back then in Phuket town, this is what we ate. Their egg is fried separately!

Okay back to Prata Wala Singapore! Still feeling hungry, Makan Boy and me ordered a Mutton Thosai to try! Don't laugh at us for being suaku but we were going "WA SO BIG LEH" when the Thosai arrived. SUCH A HUGE "PANCAKE"!


Mutton Thosai ($6.50)

Tasty minced mutton in every bite

If compared to a Mcdonald's pancake, their thosai is thinner and has a less fluffy texture. The saltish minced mutton goes really well with it and I'm not really sure what the 3 sauces they provided were but it goes well with the thosai too!


Sweet and Salty

Makan Boy even added sugar onto it to see how the combination would taste like but sugar did not accentuate the taste of the mutton thosai as well as of the prata! For $6.50, the huge thosai is very good for sharing!


Iced Teh-Tarik ($2)

Iced Teh-tarik is a tad expensive but for a restaurant... can't complain. At least it tasted good.

Washing area not for those with broad shoulders.

For late night supper at an air conditioned indian restaurant, Prata Wala is an especially good choice for those staying around!

Prata Wala
Jurong Point Shopping Mall
63 Jurong West Central 3
#01-71/72/73/74
Singapore 648331
Tel: 67952530
Open daily 24 hours
http://www.pratawala.com/

Everything with Fries

By the same people behind Awfully Chocolate, Everything with Fries is their new concept restaurant offering affordable western cuisine in a fresh and energetic atmosphere. I like that they painted their signboard on the wall. As simple as it is, you can't help but read it off the wall even if you are just passing by!

Craving for a little something after dinner around Joo Chiat, Makan Boy recommended EWF for some sugar fix! Since AC and EWF are cousins, I'm sure their dessert wouldn't be as "Awful!" hehehe.


How about painting your own signboard to cut cost? =)

Dessert Time!

Very awesome possum looking Nutella Tart

Their Nutella Tart was quite a disappointment not because it didn't taste good. If I tell you I am baking strawberry tart of course you would expect to taste strawberries... but their Nutella tart taste like chocolate tart with very little nutella giving only a faint taste of hazelnut. Dipping into a tub of Nutella is still the best! Muahaha!

Hot Banana Butterscotch Pudding with Ice Cream

Their Hot Banana Pudding did however, managed to convince me that they do make decent desserts that match the dish name. Hot caramelized banana and buttery pudding along with decent vanilla ice cream to enjoy in every mouthful! If you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, this might be it.

Overall, EWF at Joo Chiat provides a nice and good ambience for just anyone! Be it couple, family, kids and friends. Their staff is very casual, friendly and helpful in giving recommendations. Good pricing and service will bring me back again!

Everything with Fries
458 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427671
Tel: 63455034
Open daily: 12pm - 10pm
Closed on Monday
http://www.everythingwithfries.com/