Good BBQ Seafood @ 526 Jurong West

This was a word of mouth recommendation from my army buddy.

And Terry is always right on the mark.

Two descriptives: Fragrant food at good prices

Went with the family yesterday to have dinner on Mother’s day. It was the first time there for my sis, second time there for the parents, third time there for me. We ordered fried rice (a must-have with the sambal belachan), grilled prawns (my fav dish of the night), grilled fish (solid), belachan sotong (nice juicy texture of the squid) and la la (clams were real fresh).

Must remember that the stall is in the middle, name something BBQ Seafood. See pic:

Bill for four pax: $59.

Nuff said.

Cheap and Good Fish Head Curry (4.5/5 stars)

Browsing through a fantastic local food guide website, I typed in my criteria for food near my place and also cheap and good.

Ended up at 89 Zion Road, #01-137.

It’s a really decrepit coffee shop, and the main stall selling tze char (hokkien for stir fry) is called Siang Hee Restaurant. Pic below:

Mum, Dad and I ordered an Asam Fish Head Curry, Sambal Belachan Kangkong, and Coffee Pork Ribs.

I like the sour asam, the brinjals and ladies fingers, and of course the fish. Ordered extra rice just for the curry.

Total bill for the food: $33

To market, to market

Since I love food – eating and cooking, then must also learn how to select the best ingredients.

Twice weekly, I go marketing with my mum in the morning at 730am.

There are several wet markets nearby. Some we go there for the fish, some the meat and vegetables.

Quite an experience watching housewives, old aunties and uncles making their rounds selecting their choice produce. Whenever, there’s a good deal, there will be a swarm of women crowding the stall, like that day when the small Groupa fish was really cheap, I think my mum bought about 8 for $5.

Steamboat and BBQ buffet (4/5 stars)

Went for dinner with a friend and thought of this place in Sunset Way.

It’s a mini village, but not to the scale of Holland V or others. Just some restaraunts, cafes amidst the lush greenery and tranquility of the sunset way housing estate.

And Fortune Cuisine is on my regulars list.

It has both elements of steamboat (choice of two soups: non spicy soup- chicken or seafood, and spicy- mala or tom yam) and bbq (your own charcoal stove if outdoors alfresco or they will cook the bbq in the kitchen for you if inside air-conditioned table).

I love the fresh seafood spread – crayfish, salmon, prawns, scallops on shells, flower crab, shishamo fish. Meats include different cuts and marinades of chicken, pork, beef, mutton. There is sashimi, tempura, cooked food, and other delights.

Staff are very attentive and clear your plates regularly.

In such a setting, I love just slowly eating out in the serene greenery, watching the BBQ slowly sizzle, and taking the time for good food and good conversation.

Quite opposite to the regular hustle and bustle, a mad rush of city living and eating.

Only remembered adult prices- Dinner: $22.80++, Lunch: $16.80++

Please call and book, else come early or be prepared to be on the waiting list.

Oh yeah, you may like to go to www.hungrygowhere.com to search for exact address and telephone numbers. It’s a great website for food lovers.

Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice (Food rating 4/5)

Was driving back home for lunch. Got a call, mum’s not cooking, so I picked her up and wondered where to go.

Weather was real hot, so “air-con” rang aloud in my mind. Then drove west, along bukit merah, then alexandra, then decided that there’s not much good stuff in the west. So made a turn back. Was thinking Katong, but it’s darn hot there, and parking not so convenient.

As we approached tiong bahru, mum suggested Hainanese Curry Rice. Ok, let’s go for it.

Loo’s is situated diagonally across Tiong Bahru Wet Market (from the corner where the escalators go up to the 2nd floor hawker centre).

Its a shophouse coffee shop stall, so let’s set aside things like ambience (yeah, I was willing to sacrifice air-con), service (better not make the auntie taking orders angry), food presentation.

For hawker/coffee shop food, we just aim for the Food.

Meatball is lip-smacking solid, with bits of onion, chye poh, and I suppose fatty meat all blended into a very tasty ball. It’s fragrant, without being overindulging in any aspect, compared to others I’ve tried which were too “gerak”(malay for filling, rich food).

Pork chop is thick enough ( I have issues with stalls like that one in Maxwell market which does pork chop with lots of flour and non-existent pork).

Sotong (malay for squid) is sliced proportionately, thick enough and juicy.

Curry sauce is thick enough.

Do ask for the food on your plate of rice, it’s cheaper that way instead of separating the food on individual small plates. My meal cost around $4.50.

I reckon it’ll be the one place I’ll go when I think of eating curry rice. Oh yeah, be prepared to queue, probably about 15 minute’s wait.

Enjoy!

Great lunch place for execs and business people (4/5 stars)

I like to share with people food places, since I’m a foodie myself and travel all around Singapore for breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper.

Just had lunch with my friend Tim in Raffles Place.

He brought me to a joint that a friend set up. It’s located along Market Street, opposite Golden Shoe carpark.

Called Geek Terminal. Odd but will explain shortly later.

I helped myself to the buffet lunch, good variety of salads, raw and broiled, greens, lentils, fruits as well as some hams, smoked salmon and free flow of nice breads. I liked the mushroom soup, good standard. Chicken curry is tasty as well.

Ambiance is modern, chic, and spacious for a place in the heart of CBD. Serving staff are attentive to your needs and friendly.

Price was reasonable. $11 thereabouts per pax.

Now why geek? I heard that you can actually borrow laptops from them, the place is wireless-enabled, and there’s even a copier/fax machine, plus a phone to make international calls should you wanna do some business in midst of lunch outside your office.

My rating system is based on service, ambiance, food, price, and overall feel.

Stars scoring system is as such:

1/5 stars – Forgettable. It’s type of place that I’ll say “been there, done that”.

2/5 stars – Can improve on areas lacking and I’m game to try again.

3/5 stars – Not bad. Worth recommending.

4/5 stars – Good experience. Will put on my list of places to go regularly.

5/5 stars – Solid. Will want to be the owner’s godson or sworn-brother.