Gullible Travels

Chir Chir

POSTED ON Sunday, July 19, 2015 AT 12:28 PM \ leave a comment (0)

just when we thought that the Korean fried chicken wave has kinda settled, with the key players taking their places in our city, a bunch of young local entrepreneurs joined the fray with a bang. Calling themselves the 'fusion chicken factory', Chir Chir (pronounced chi-rae chi-rae) has seen scores of people flocking to 313 @ Somerset. we joined the queue recently to understand what fusion chicken is all about.

throngs of young hispter crowds on a Friday night, and we used to think that Llao Llao or Hai Di Lao were the only things people would queue for in 313 @ Somerset. replacing a space previously owned by a local ramen chain, Chir Chir has transformed this corner of the mall with unbelievable scenes like what you see above. earning the franchisee rights to a popular Korean chain, the owners currently have 2 stores in Singapore.

for the first visit, we went for the most original and specialty serving of crispy fried chicken. it comes in a huge plate of at least 10 pieces, and while some ravenous friends may find this ample, we felt that it would have served 3 people just right. the chicken didn't feel pre-fried as it was served piping hot and with a fine tinge of oil. the dish comes with some honey mustard sauce and some salsa.

i guess the true test for how this tastes will come from the meat itself. the texture was indeed very crispy, tender and more importantly hot on both the inside and outside. the chicken was very juicy, probably one of the better fried chickens we've tasted, in the leagues of Arnold's chicken. call me naive but i truly felt that this chicken felt alot more organic than the KFC ones. the only drawback i guess was the very dry nature of this dish and you'd start to get weary after 3 to 4 pieces. the next time we visit, the Korean Nest Snow dish of fried chicken with cream, cheese and vegetables could be a better option.

another signature of this place would be their Chir Cream Beer. the korean beer comes in two sizes, half or full pint, and is topped with a shaving of sweet whipped cream. a perfect accompaniment for fried food. there's also lots of other interesting cocktails and soju-magaritas to choose from, bringing out the fun element of this concept. reservations here are not allowed, so come early, pick up a menu and select some sides to go with your chicken while you wait in line. the queue is certainly worth the experience.

Chir Chir Fusion Chicken Factory
313 Orchard Road, 313 @ Somerset
#B3-04/05/06
Singapore 238895

Opening Hours
Sundays to Thursdays: 10 am to 10 pm
Fridays & Saturdays: 10 am to 11 pm

You'll find cold beer and hot chicks here..

White Restaurant

POSTED ON Sunday, July 05, 2015 AT 12:56 AM \ leave a comment (0)

Inspired by a recent discussion with our CEO, i recalled a trip to the furthest north-eastern reaches of Punggol Settlement. for those less familiar with the area, Punggol Settlement is located at the deepest tip of Punggol. it is a coastal cycling area, that has a supermarket, bicycle rental, cafes, pubs and some Chinese restaurants. just the most usual unlikely place where you'd find White Restaurant, a spin-off branch of the equally hard-to-access famous Sembawang white beehoon.

as their name suggests, White Restaurant is a branch of the original You Huat Restaurant located at Jalan Tampang, off Sembawang road. for both their remote locations, each restaurant draws a respectable lunch crowd and a strong weekend clientele. moving a slight notch higher than the coffeshop setup at Sembawang, the outlet at Punggol Settlement is fully air-conditioned with some al-fresco seats overlooking the Punggol Point Coastal Walk.

their signature dish is their white beehoon, a fried vermicelli dish with seafood, eggs, vegetables and typically sprinkled with lime juice. its practically like a beehoon version of Hokkien mee, served moist and extremely aromatic. i guess when a signature dish is practically how people remember and make reference to the eatery, that dish surely has to leave a lasting memory.

to prove that they are not just a one-trick-pony, this restaurant not only specializes in the white beehoon, but also their signature home-made fried beancurd. it's crispy and battered, and for some strange reason, tastes pretty much like fish from fish-and-chips. notwithstanding, it's all pure beancurd and goes very well with the mayonnaise that accompanies this dish.

White Restaurant is essentially a zi char restaurant, so we took the opportunity to try other dishes. a couple of notable ones include the prawn paste chicken and hay cho. in particular, the hay cho was very rich in flavour, crispy and served with a generous portion of meat. the combinations for the day was a tad too salty though, and we found ourselves pretty thirsty after our meal. perhaps thats why the watering-holes in the vicinity seems to be enjoying brisk business as well. in all, White Restaurant is a decent weekend hangout for a unique local delight - just a word of advice, the place is so deep that it's best to drive or cab there.

White Restaurant
3 Punggol Point Road
The Punggol Settlement
Singapore 828694

Opening Hours
11.30 am to 10 pm (daily)

From the makers of the original Sembawang White Beehoon