|
Dim Sum Haus
If taking a page off the Hong Kong counterparts such as One Dim Sum or the original Tim Ho Wan was anything to come by, then the local versions of budget crack-in-the-wall Dim Sum houses should not be overlooked. outside the major restaurant groups that provide impeccable Dim Sum here, these alternative options are also generating quite a following with a more SE Asian interpretation of Hong Kong's favourite brunch food.
Dim Sum Haus is located off Jalan Besar and prides itself for having every dish going under $5. based on the crowds since the few months it has opened, the shop seems to be stealing the thunder from a more illustrious local Dim Sum joint that has been the limelight for eons. the shop space is fully air-conditioned, though pretty small and probably houses slightly over 15 tables. the wait on weekends are fairly long, underlining its increasing popularity, good quality and affordable offering. 
all the key essentials of Dim Sum can be found on the menu, however, the dishes tend to add somewhat of a slight highlight to make the visit a little bit more memorable, without taking away the original taste that most Dim Sum lovers crave for. we tried this steamed crispy cheong fun with shrimp, which carries the smooth elements of traditional cheong fun rice rolls, wrapping shrimps that are packed within crispy dough. its not often that this dish is served with the crispy element, which makes the experience unique and tasty. another notable dish was the pan-fried mushroom bun. the bun itself was designed like a mushroom, and served with a generous filling of actual mushrooms. very eye-catching and flavourful at the same time. 
the other buns that we enjoyed included this salted egg custard bun, the external texture of the bun was slightly crispy and flaky, akin to the now famous char siew buns of Tim Ho Wan. the salted egg custard flowed out generously when we bit into the buns, so be warned that having this dish could be a slightly messy affair. on top of that, we thoroughly enjoyed the baked Hong Kong egg tarts which were aromatic, buttery and sweet. not exactly the best tart crust, but certainly enjoyable nonetheless. 
of course, Dim Sum Haus couldn't have been complete without the other staples such as Har Gao and Siew Mai. the baskets of these dishes are all served in 3s so do be mindful of this when ordering in groups. it is interesting to note that the Siew Mai served here is actually wrapped in a "charcoal" skin and comes with chicken and shrimp (instead of pork). another special one for the cameras if you're into food photography. in all, we found the quality at Dim Sum Haus really good for its price and would recommend this new kid on the block to anyone craving for the next Dim Sum fix. 
Dim Sum Haus 57 Jalan Besar Singapore 208809 Opening Hours Tuesdays to Fridays: 11.30 am to 3 pm; 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm Saturdays & Sundays: 10.30 am to 3 pm; 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm (closed on Mondays) quality dim sums at an affordable price.. Labels: #affordabledimsum, #cheongfun, #dimsum, #dimsumhaus, #jalanbesar, #saltedeggcustardbun, #singaporedimsum Birdfolks
with the nation somewhat overwhelmed by the influx of various (mostly Korean styled) fried chicken joints, we found a (literally) hidden gem at West Coast that provided a different interpretation to the serving of one of our favourite poultry dish. located inside NEWest, a very quiet mixed development beside the AYE, Birdfolks serves American-inspired fried chicken dishes with an Asian twist. the first challenge was to locate the building and the store. Operated by some budding entrepreneurs making their foray into the F&B business, the restaurant has taken a unit inside the mall where almost all their neighbouring units are still available for rent. the place was in fact so quiet that during our visit, the carpark gantry was up and parking charges were waived.
however, beyond the challenges of starting out in a slightly more obscure location, there is absolutely nothing rookie about the Birdfolks' delivery of American-Asian fusion fried chicken. the meat are infused with an interesting blend of Asian herbs and spices, with dishes being served with different types of chicken rice or fries. their signature chicken pieces are all brined boneless, which takes finger-lickin-good to an all new level. given the quality we experienced, the fact that this eatery remains largely anonymous is indeed quite perplexing.. 
we went for their Signature Chicken Rice, which was essentially their fried chicken thigh strip infused with Asian spices. The chicken was totally boneless and made absolutely easy for all of us to chew down everything. the dish is served with a specialty flavoured rice that comes in 4 choices, a sous vide egg and some assorted greens. we picked the cilantro lime flavoured rice which turned out to be a somewhat acquired taste and made us curious to try out the other rice flavours next time. there was alot of rich tastes in the rice dishes and the chicken was crispy and juicy at the same time. 
the more conventional patrons can go for the Thigh & Drum dish, which is practically a 2-piece chicken meal served with fries. the boneless chicken thigh ensures that we'd get more bang for our buck, and the blend of Asian herbs and spices together with the caramelized crust and oregano fries makes this one of the most enjoyable fried chicken meals that we have had. the meals are all reasonably priced and given the size of the portions, certainly good value for money. if you're coming in a bigger group, you can try the different types of chicken wings that Birdfolks offer as well. 
the menu actually carries other types of chicken rice, such as teriyaki style chicken and also a variety of chicken sandwiches, various flavours of fries and even chicken nuggets. Gourmet chicken fast food indeed. the drinks selection offer a variety of local coffees and teas, though we felt that given their menu, cold drinks would likely be more well received. we went for a cup of ice lime tea to quench our thirst after whacking on the fried chicken. All in all, we felt that the version of chicken dished up at Birdfolks makes them serious contenders amongst the fried chicken players. we hope that they obtain the recognition they deserve and that they could gain a strong enough following, from their hidden location. 
Birdfolks 1 West Coast Drive #01-75 NEWest Singapore 128020 Opening Hours Daily: 12 pm to 9 pm (closed on Tuesdays) fried chicken made with tender loving care using a special in-house brine.. Labels: #2piecechicken, #americanasian, #birdfolks, #chicken, #friedchicken, #fusionfood, #westcoast, #westcoastdrive |
..ThE lEgEnD..
Last Movie: Ad Astra
Golden Village, Singpost Centre 
|
