Yes, we know there’s nothing wrong with eating Butter Chicken or Garlic Naan from Al-Amaan all the time (God knows why we call it Ameens), but here we set out to list some of our favourite food that you can get outside of campus, only about 15 minutes away from the nearest MRT stations (be it Kent Ridge or Haw Par Villa).
Harbourfront
You probably already know that the variety at Harbourfront will leave you spoilt for choice, be it at VivoCity or Harbourfront Centre. Here's what we have shortlisted:
1. 呷三碗（Eat 3 Bowls)
Address: Seah Im Food Centre #1-21, Singapore 099114 Opening Hours: 8.30am-7.30pm Hotline: 9154 8191
Seah Im Food Centre is filled with many popular stalls to choose from. One of them would be Eat 3 Bowls that specialises in Taiwanese cuisine, pretty special for a stall at a Hawker Centre. It stands out for its authentic take on some of the well-loved favourites. Unlike the usual Oyster Mee Sua you get from Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks, they do a rendition of the dish with pork innards.
The Taiwanese Mee Sua ($4) comes with chewy pieces of intestines, cleaned well without any unpleasant aftertaste and a thick and savoury broth that is perfectly seasoned. You can turn it up with vinegar and minced garlic for more kick. It would be a stretch to say that this is equivalent to Ah Zong’s insanely intense version in Taiwan, but it’s definitely decent enough to remind you of its flavours.
They also do a good Braised Pork Rice ($3) that comes with soft and fatty braised pork belly instead of the usual dried out minced meat, with just enough sauce to coat the rice to ensure it wasn’t too dry. The portion might be a tad small for big eaters, but you’d have no trouble downing two of these if necessary.
Their Salted Crispy Chicken ($4) however, do not do much to invoke the memories of the large XXL chicken thighs you’d get at Taiwan’s night markets. However, these pieces of fried chicken can be a little something to complete your meal. They usually sell out before closing time, so it's a good idea to give them a call before heading down if you’re unsure. We don't want you making a wasted trip.
2. Hai Di Lao
Address: 1 HarbourFront Walk #03-09 VivoCity, Singapore 098585 Opening Hours: 10:30am – 6.30am Hotline: 6250 7557
With customer service rivalled only by Singapore Airlines, and enough hot towels to clean a newborn baby, we promise you’ll keep coming back.
Order as much or as little as you want, depending on how full your wallet is, or how empty your stomach is. For the soup bases, you can't go wrong with chicken and mala, although tomato is also a popular choice. They charge sauces per head, so go crazy with the condiments if you wish. Be it at 6pm or 1am, this comforting hot-pot spot is bound to make any meal a joyous occasion—just make sure to brush up on your Mandarin so you can communicate your orders without difficulty (we clearly didn't).
Pro-tip: When ordering their chicken soup, make sure you select the strongest flavour option, for maximum chicken taste.
3. Ramen Hitoyoshi
Address: #01-99 HarbourFront Centre, Singapore 099253
Opening Hours:11:30am - 10:00pm Hotline: 6250 8518
There are a few ramen options in VivoCity, but we suggest you skip those and head for Ramen Hitoyoshi that serves up pretty quality ramen. They recently opened another branch in Seletar Mall, and the quality remains consistent at both branches.
The Garlic Tonkotsu with All Toppings ($15.90) has a rich broth, thick and creamy (this may be too intense and cloying for some), with additional garlic oil that gives another dimension of flavour to the dish. The pork is done in 3 ways: Lean chashu, Charred aburi belly chashu, and thin pieces of buta shoga (ginger pork). The best part is, this place offers free bean sprouts.
Should you be craving for other types of ramen, try visiting…
Holland Village
1. Ginza Kamo Soba Kyudaime Keisuke
Address: 16A Lorong Mambong, Singapore 277677 Opening Hours: 11:30am - 02:30pm 05:00pm - 10:00pm Hotline: 6463 4344
Another concept by Chef Keisuke, this newly opened duck ramen speciality restaurant can provide you with a different option to the usual pork-based broths. The lunchtime queue gets pretty long, so we'd suggest you head down at the start of lunch or dinner service.
You’ll enjoy the intense duck flavour in their Hybrid Duck Broth Ramen (rich soup all toppings $19.90), yet the broth’s thick and creamy consistency (almost that of a viscous gravy) may feel quite heavy on the palate and cloying as you near the end of the bowl. The Clear Soup would be a lighter alternative if you don’t mind a slight herbal taste. The duck slices are cut thin, which sadly robs it of a nicer bite. But, it is still tender with a slight chew and comes with yuzu duck balls which sadly lacked seasoning and did not add much excitement to the proceedings. Nonetheless, an interesting and delicious bowl of ramen for your consideration.
Botanic Gardens
The furthest station away, yet one can still get there in about 15 minutes (though it is one bus stop away), but for food this good, you’ll surely not mind.
1. Atlas Coffeehouse
Address: 6 Duke's Road Singapore 268886 Opening Hours: 8am-7pm (Closed Mondays) Hotline: 6314 2674
Great for breakfast, brunch, or a late-afternoon coffee break, this place serves up some great nosh.
Their Butterscotch Banana Pancakes ($18.50) offers a brilliant combination of textures with the fluffiest pancake you’ll taste — warm and airy, with crunchy honey corn flakes, the soft mushiness of caramelised bananas, topped with cold honeycomb ice-cream and butterscotch sauce. The batter also doesn't overpower the dish with sweetness.
If you prefer something fruitier and slightly tart, the Breakfast Strawberry Maple Pancake ($16.50) is a tasty option. You could lie to yourself that it’s healthier because it contains fruits but who’re we kidding here)
Coffee lovers will also enjoy their Smooth, creamy white cold brew, which can be a tad sweet with a slight cocoa and nutty flavour. ($7)
These are just a few places we wouldn’t mind making the trip out of school for. Tell us what are your personal favourite food spots you'd travel out of school for!
-A.T.
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