Palate Pleasers N Tummy Teasers
Oodles of yummy noodles at Waraku
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Being a lover of all noodles Japanese, I’ve professed my love for Waraku countless times on this blog; it’s range of slurp-worthy udon and ramen just keeps me coming back for more 
Marketing itself as a place for “Japanese Casual Dining” helps make these return visits possible, as it means less exorbitant prices for food of above-average standards.
(Chanpon Udon - $14.80)
Usually, a perfectionist like myself would take issue with the presentation of food in such worn-out bowls complete with paint-chipped edges. This time however, I felt such details lent a rustic touch to what appeared and tasted like a very homely preparation of udon. Chanpon Udon consists of seafood and pork slices in a thickened udon soup served in a stone bowl. There’s something about stone and clay cutlery that make food taste just that bit better. Think much hyped-about claypots - everything from rice to porridge gets an instant ’upgrade’ just being served in one.
The udon at Waraku never disappoints. Chewy, smooth and oh-so-slippery, they serve one of the best udons around. If you like your food rich like I do, their range of cream and curry udons would be a good bet. Certain udon/soba varieties come in a choice of mini or regular sizes. Go for the regular only if you’re a really big eater. The size of their regular bowls will leave you looking like this 
The first time I saw one, I thought it resembled a potty used in the olden days especially since it came complete with a wooden cover. Not the best analogy, I know 
(Katsu Curry Don - $12.80)
That’s the size (and price) of a regular Katsu Curry Don. Remember how I sang praises about this very same dish by Sushi Tei? Well, Waraku’s is every bit better. The curry was creamy and smooth, and the breaded pork crispy, tender and fragrant. X gave Sushi Tei’s a 4/5 and this a 4.5/5; at only $0.80 more, Waraku’s is a clear winner 
All dons (rice) are served with a bowl of soup and pickles.
It’s rainy today. And a piping hot bowl of ramen/udon or some delectable curry sounds like the perfect way to keep warm 
Waraku
Locate your nearest outlet here.
Where to find cheap Japanese cuisine
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And we’re not just talking cheap food, it has to be decent-tasting stuff at the very least. Craving a Jap bento set or some curry udon yet holding back cos’ of the dreaded +++ that raise your bill beyond belief? Well, now you can satisfy those cravings and still be light on your wallet If you happen to live near the western side of this sunny isle, there’s the option of hopping over to the canteen at the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences at NUS; the Japanese food sold there is tasty and at student-friendly prices naturally. If a “journey to the West” sounds best to you only when it’s with reference to a book title, sit up and keep the following name in memory - Mansaku. I’m not too sure what this means in Japanese or if it’s even Japanese, but I do know that it works out to be somewhere along the lines of “cheap & good Jap food” for me
Their popular Salmon Set. And I can see why too - The salmon fillets were fresh and pan-fried just right, doused with a sweet-salty sauce. The side of freshly shredded cabbage provided an added crunch. My only complaint was that the rice was a bit lumpy that day, but that is a minor gripe. With a meal like this costing under $7, they really don’t leave you much room to nit-pick
Business is so brisk that the owners, who used to operate both lunch and dinner shifts, need only open for lunch now. That means the stall is open from 11.30am till everything’s sold out (which usually doesn’t stretch beyond late afternoon) Check out their Teriyaki Chicken set as well. The chicken is well-marinated, and the sauce fragrant without being overly salty like most teriyaki sauces used everywhere else.
Mansaku
#01-93 Golden Mile Food Centre (Beach Road)
Dim Sum at the heart of Chinatown
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Probably the place where most tourists head to try out Dim Sum when in SG. I mean, if I were in a foreign land and wanted to try some Chinese delicacies, a place named “Chinatown” would be a no-brainer pick, don’t you think?
With the food here having to shoulder the heavy responsibility of being a major representative, and possibly one which will make or break a foreign 1st-timer’s impression of the local dim sum scene, papilles had to find out just what these standards were. And so it was off to Yum Cha Restaurant…
Business must have been so good they didn’t have time to wait for their mangoes to ripen, for the mangoes in their Sesame Prawn & Mango Roll ($3.50) were lip-puckeringly sour which greatly lessened by enjoyment of them. The Steamed Chicken Claw ($3) which is a standard dim sum order of mine, was pretty good - tender, well-marinated and with just the right touch of spiciness. Their Century Egg & Lean Meat Congee ($2.50) was meagre, a composition of 90% water and 10% rice grains 
X liked that the Steamed Pork Ribs with Bean Sauce ($3) were juicy and flavourful, but found their Charsiew Baos ($2) a tad dry. Oh, plus “they could be fluffier too” I decided to try their Steamed Asparagus with Prawn Dumpling ($3) over the usual Har Gow, and found it average. Just like every other item here actually - Average. Nothing that calls out for attention, but nothing that make you gag as well.
Yum Cha’s okay for tourists trying dim sum for the 1st time, but the rest of us know better stuff can be found here. Of course, as with all things in SG, you get what you pay and you pay what you get
P.S. For bigger eaters, they offer a dim sum buffet from 3-6pm on weekdays at a price of $16.80 You can see the items available here.
Yum Cha Restaurant
20 Trengganu Street (off Temple Street)
#02-01 (Chinatown)
Not your average instant mee
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I’m sure you’ve noticed the slew of Hong Kong char chan tengs mushrooming all over the island, the result of yet another food fad here. Everytime I browse through their menus of thick toasts, luncheon meat and egg sandwiches, bo lo buns and instant noodles, I get the sense that these are all dishes I could whip up at home. If I didn’t hate the washing up after that much
But food that can be easily prepared at home also means they most probably fall into the category of comfort food - food that warms your heart with the memories of home. And that is what’s offered at HK KimGary, the only char chan teng I know in Singapore which doesn’t have like 20 other outlets at every other mall. In fact, it is the only outlet here.
I never thought I’d be impressed with instant mee, but I sure was with theirs. Using Korean brands of instant noodles that can be easily found in your local supermarket, their addition of ingredients such as corn kernels, ham and a sunny-side egg made this a wholesome, satisfying bowl of noodles. I especially liked how the corn gave the otherwise spicy soup base, a tinge of sweetness. The noodles had a surprisingly springy texture too. Like I said, something I could whip up at home if I really wanted to, but the idea of washing a greasy pan after frying some ham and egg just doesn’t appeal to me Plus I can get a good meal here for under $10, so why not?
Hong Kong KimGary
#02-128 Vivocity
Customise your ice-cream flavours with the help of Ice Cream Chefs!
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Been wanting to check out Ice Cream Chefs for some time now, and the opportunity finally presented itself on our way back from Werner’s Oven (only cos’ I remembered to save some space for dessert ). What’s special about this ice-cream parlour, besides their made in-store ice-cream, is the additional option of customising your chosen ice-cream flavour. Don’t get it? Here’s what happens:
1) Choose your ice-cream as you normally would from the flavours available.
2) Decide on whether you want a single, double or ‘you’re-overspending on calories’ scoop
3) Select your mix-ins from an assortment of everything from Oreos, Lotus Caramelised Biscuits to Cereals and M&Ms
4) Watch them smash your choice of mix-ins ($0.70 each) into your ice-cream on a cold slab.
And there you have it - your very own, personalised ice-cream flavour
(HD = Honeydew, Hor = Horlicks)
X went for the less exciting option of a single scoop of Horlicks ($3.10). That means the task of trying out the mix-ins would fall on my petite shoulders (not that I wasn’t the willing guinea pig ). After quite some time had passed with me staring at the various jars of candies, chocolates, cereals, biscuits, etc, Kinder Bueno emerged as the chosen one for my Honeydew ice-cream. And they didn’t disappoint - smooth, creamy ice-cream with bits of honeydew interspersed with crunchy, hazelnut-chocolate wafer crumbs…Mmmm…Now you don’t need a fondue fountain to enjoy both fruit and chocolate in one mouthful.
If only they had a greater selection of ice-cream flavours…hey, I’m used to being spoilt for choice 
One more home-made ice-cream place to add to my list and one more reason to visit East Coast more often!
Ice Cream Chefs
520 East Coast Road #01-06 (Ocean Park Building)
Lost? View the street map here.
