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Manna Story
In preparation for an upcoming visit to Seoul, we decided to get into the mood by having some Korean fare. Manna Story is considerably one of the more authentic versions to be found in a shopping mall setting, and is known to be good value-for-money too. The outlet at JCube actually brings a pretty unique dining experience, not exactly busy, brightly decorated, and over-looking the ice-rink. shades of the wintry feel in Seoul.
Originating from the shop-houses of Telok Ayer Street, the Manna brand till today attracts a steady clientele of Koreans and locals alike. K-Pop artistes such as Rain and Shinhwa have also supposedly visited the main branch, according to pictures found on the walls. Since moving to malls such as Plaza Singapura and JCube, the mainstream version of Manna Story have been bringing authentic Korean dishes to the masses. 
i recall a hearty serving of 12 types of Banchan, or side dishes, the last time i visted Manna Story. so i guess the modest serving of 4 is a sign of current economic times. undaunted, we went ahead to order some of the Korean favourites. for someone like me with a more delicate tolerance for spicy Korean food, this was good training for the days ahead in Seoul. 
we went for this Budae Chigae, which was a scrumptious mix of ham, sausages, tofu, vegetables and ramyeon immersed in a well-flavoured kimchi soup. it was quite a generous serving, suitable for 2 people and certainly no less satisfying than an army-stew hotpot. on top of that, we had a serving of pork bulgogi delivered on a hotplate and a dish of traditional Korean rice cakes or Topokki. the meats were well-marinated with the right kick of spice, although the Topokki tended to get a little drab after awhile (maybe too big portions of the same thing). 
i'd always have a soft spot for Korean noodles and this ramyeon dish warrants some mention. nothing too fancy, just Korean ramen in kimchi with egg, seaweed and chicken. the spices within the broth and the texture of the noodles somehow makes this dish real comfort food. strangely, our much anticipiated Korean steamed-egg turned out to be the disappointment of the evening, overly soft and absolutely bland. what happened? nonetheless, Manna Story remains a popular family restaurant at various shopping centres. the outlets are often packed and attracts people of all ages. though it may have lost abit of the hype that it started with, we'd still come back here the next time there's craving for a simple Korean fix. 
Manna Story 2 Jurong East Central 1, JCube #04-19, Singapore 609731 Opening Hours 10 am to 10 pm (daily) Manna means delicious food from heaven.. fyi KL Eats
another road trip up to Kuala Lumpur for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, tried a few more eateries so we're adding on to this ever-building host of food. the Malaysian capital has no lack of Street offerings and we thought it'd be a good idea to share some local delights as we strike off more from our bucket list..
Restoran Yup Hup Kee 
we actually found this place by accident while looking for something else. attracted by the huge crowds outside the shophouse, our curiosity got the better of us. Yap Hup Kee is predominantly a Hakka Yong Tau Foo stall selling assorted pieces of yong tau foo. They do their fried selection wonderfully and these dishes are often accompanied by Chee Cheong Fun (either with curry or sweet sauce) and Lao Shu Fen 老鼠粉.. Restoran Yap Hup Kee 45 Jalan Brunei Barat 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Operating Hours: 9 a.m - 5 p.m, 5.30 p.m - 11.00 p.m (closed on alternate Tuesdays) Restoran Wong Ah Wah (W.A.W Restaurant) 
Jalan Alor is a famous night food street in KL which is home to several seafood and tse char restaurants. one of the more prominent ones that we were recommended to try was Wong Ah Wah, even though more specifically, we were told that they did their grilled chicken wings very well.. they offered a variety of seafood and chinese dishes, with their fried Hokkien mee, salted egg sotong, bamboo clamshells and roasted pork noodles amongst their popular dishes. Their chicken wings were okay alright, portions are showing signs of economic inflation but what could you expect when you are still very much getting value for money? we thought the hokkien mee lacked the "wok hei" that Kim Lian Kee (see below) brings, but we'd somehow always enjoy eating here each time we come.. Restoran Wong Ah Wah 1, 5 & 7 Jalan Alor 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Operating Hours: 7 p.m till late Lot 10 Hutong 十号胡同 
it's abit odd that we're talking about a foodcourt within a shopping mall, however, the foodcourt located at the basement of Lot 10 - mall off Bukit Bintang, comes with some history. Or so they claim, to have taken famous hawkers that survived past 2 to 3 generations off the streets, to ply their trade in this foodcourt. all the brands are supposedly heritage brands and you'd have the best of KL hawker fare under one roof. Lot 10 Hutong 十号胡同 Lot 10 Shopping Centre, LG floor 50 Jalan Sultan Ismail 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Operating Hours: 10 a.m to 10 p.m Restoran Yut Kee 
this classic Hainanese eating house has been here for the longest time. located on the fringe of Dang Wangi, this place attracts regulars and tourists alike to savour their culinary delicacies of traditional Hainanese origin. its quite a standard menu, but everyone who tries their Hailam Mee, Roasted Pork with stuffing and apple sauce, Belacan fried rice and pork chop would certainly agree that this is a must-visit stop whenever you come to KL.. Don't forget to pick up some marble cakes and kaya swiss rolls as you leave, they make a great after-meal snack! Restoran Yut Kee 1 Jalan Kamunting 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Operating Hours: 7.30 a.m to 4.30 p.m Hong Kee Claypot Chicken Rice 
street food located at the end of KL Chinatown (Petaling Street) was as we expected, crowded and not the best in terms of sanitation. but judging from the crowds that gather at every stall, nobody really minds.. Hong Kee's claypot chicken rice were given some good reviews so we picked them amongst others. the orders were surprisingly fast moving and the rice was what you'd expect from claypot rice, waxed chinese sausages with soy-sauce chicken and salted fish to give the rice its flavour.. nothing fantastic though, and judging by the speed of preparation as well as the electric fans to replace traditional fanning of the charcoal stoves (see picture), we think standards have dropped. Komugi Cafe 
nothing like an afternoon tea at upmarket shopping mall Pavilion to chillax and people-watch. we found this chic Japanese cafe which offered a wide selection of cakes, coffee and other pastries. They even carry the millicrepe, which is all the rage these days, didn't see red velvet cake though. They also have their own selection of mixed fruit/vegetable juices that are freshly blended and bottled in-house. and oh, do bring home their hazelnut cookies and check out their coffee art... Komugi Cafe Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur Lot 24/1A, Tokyo Street, Level 6 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Operating Hours: 10 a.m to 10 p.m Wong Mee Kee 
after many failed attempts to try this unsuspectingly great roast meat (failure due to their erratic opening schedule), we finally managed to try this. as testified by many who have visited this roadside stall, their roast pork is absolutely fantastic. the skin is crackling crispy while the meat is fresh and tender. the chicken and char siew are normal but everyone who visits this place raves about the roast pork. though they only start selling at 12.30 pm, be sure to arrive early to ensure that you'd get a seat... Wong Mee Kee 30, Jalan Nyonya 55100 Kuala Lumpur Operating Hours: 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm RA Nasi Lemak 
this nasi lemak is touted as one of the best in KL. located on the roadside of Jalan Raja Abdullah in the Wang Dangi area, this malay version of economical rice draws hordes of locals daily. the beauty of nasi lemak is the fragrance of their rice and RA does their rice superbly well. it is not sticky, fragrant and served in a traditional wooden barrel. the chilli that goes with the rice is sweet, and has a sedap kick that comes shortly after. many patrons go for their selection of dishes including spicy sotong, chicken drumstick and rendang... RA Nasi Lemak 15 Jalan Raja Abdullah 50300 Kuala Lumpur Operating Hours: 6.30 am to 10 pm (daily) Kim Lian Kee 
another stall found within Petaling street in Chinatown. Kim Lian Kee specializes in KL hokkien mee similar to the one served at W.A.W, however, this one has more flavour as it is stir fried in more black sauce and lard (unhealthy dishes tend to be tastier). the stall has since ventured to other dishes and many branches, but the one along Petaling street maintains its very traditional outlook. we tried their hotplate deer meat and kai lan during the visit there, safe to say, this tze char stall is recommended for a simple dinner feast... Kim Lian Kee 49 Jalan Petaling 50000 Kuala Lumpur Operating Hours: 5 pm to 4 am (daily) The ones that got away.. Sze Ngan Chye (85 Jalan Petaling) a legendary stall selling salted roast duck that seems to be very well-known amongst virtually everyone in Petaling Street. everyone claims it is there but we seemed to have missed it. online reviews say that are closed on Mondays, maybe thats why.. Koon Kee Wanton Mee (Petaling Street, Chinatown) We chose claypot chicken rice over this, thinking it was just wanton mee. On hindsight, this seemed the more popular option and probably would have delivered more satisfaction. something to try next time! Tim Ho Wan (Singapore)
my experiences with Tim Ho Wan had always been in Hong Kong. from the original stall at Mong Kok to the current flagship at Sham Shui Po, we loved their dim sum because it lived up to its name as the cheapest michelin star restaurant, delicious and value-for-money. nonetheless, we've moved on to other dim sum joints when we visited Hong Kong since, as local names such as One Dim Sum and Dim Dim Sum proved to be equally good.. as for the local version, the long queues when the first few outlets opened kinda put us off, and somehow, we didn't bring ourselves to try it.. until now.
it was only during a recent trip to Hong Kong when a friend, between mouthfuls of cheong fun, congee, mala-ko and har-gao, kept proclaiming.. "this one, Singapore better; that one, Singapore also better". curious, we decided to give Tim Ho Wan (Singapore) a try when we got back. Plaza Singapura is like the proxy for their flagship store here, so we went to pay that outlet a visit. 
the local version comes with most of the standard offerings that Hong Kong has, albeit prepared with a slightly local twist to adjust to our palette. and hence you'd have dishes that are a tad saltier, and accompanied with chilli sauce that has alot more kick. we tried their cheong fun with pig's liver, braised chicken feet with abalone sauce, the must-try baked bolo-buns with BBQ pork, steamed egg cake, har gao, siew mai and a few special dishes that we didn't find in Hong Kong.. we're still quizzical about the "Singapore better" part to date.. 
on to the special dishes, and we liked this shrimp dumpling with mushroom & century egg. we don't really see this in our local reviews, so it could have been for a limited period only. another interesting one was this dace fish-balls with Chinese sausage. they all come in small quantities of two or three, so they become very convenient add-ons. 
even more recently, the fifth Tim Ho Wan outlet opened at Aperia Kallang, and it is a 24-hour joint to boot! they've came up with a supper menu (served between 10 pm till 6 am daily) with a few interesting selections which we liked very much. i guess it was not only us, because there was seriously a queue even at 11.30 pm. this lobster congee with prawn and scallop looks very photogenic, the porridge is indeed very smooth and well-cooked, however beneath that lobster shell was a not-so-generous serving of lobster meat. on the contrary, we thought that the sliced fish congee with garlic fried fish skin and century egg was alot better. 
special mention to this steamed egg-cake or mala-ko, because many people just love it. quite amazing certainly that a caramelized sponge cake makes the list for the "4 Heavenly Kings" on Tim Ho Wan's menu. Another supper dish that we enjoyed was this dumpling in spicy sauce, very much like sichuan dim sum. in all, i'd say that Tim Ho Wan's dim sum is good, and its a wonderful thing that this Hong Kong favourite is brought over for us to enjoy. however, just like Abercrombie and many other imports, things somehow gets a whole lot pricer when they come to Singapore, so do be prepared to pay quite abit more to have the same dim sum here.. if you ask us, Hong Kong is still better and certainly more value-for-money. 
Tim Ho Wan (Singapore) 68 Orchard Road #01-29A Plaza Singapura Singapore 238839 Opening Hours: 10 am to 10 pm (daily) 12 Kallang Avenue #01-01/02/03 Aperia Singapore 339511 Breakfast Menu – Monday to Saturday, 6 am to 10 am Normal Menu – Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 10 pm / Sundays & PH, 6 am to 10 pm Supper Menu – Daily, 10 pm to 6 am (closed Mondays 5 am to 10 am for maintenance) In you come in a group, everyone has to be present before you can be seated.. Ishinomaki Grill & Sake
Located on the fringe of Orchard Road, Palais Renaissance is home to many popular cafes and restaurants. It's interesting to note that despite its low natural footfall to the building, many people somehow find their way there to patronize these eateries. the latest kid on the block is Ishinomaki Grill & Sake - located at the basement, the people who've brought you Kai Sushi & Grill (at Plaza Singapura), is attracting quite a following with this new concept..
specializing in fresh seafood, many of their dishes are either done Robatayaki style (grilled) or prepared as finely sliced sashimi. either way, the selling-point is the freshness of their catch, prepared only upon order by the house chef. Ishinomaki is also popular with the lunchtime crowd as they offer value-conscious set lunches and a wide ala-carte spread. we tried the Saba shio yaki above, essentially a saba fish marinated in sea-salt, grilled to perfection and served with lemon & radish. 
we have a thing for cold food and hence assorted sashimi would always be on the agenda. we ordered the Sashimi Ishinomaki, which is a selection of raw seafood hand-picked by the chef. on that day, we were served with salmon, tuna, swordtail, prawn and sea bream. good sashimi is not only fresh, but should also taste somewhat sweet and flavourful. those served here is of that standard, and we enjoyed it very much. 
these dishes go very well with japanese rice, so we specially ordered a bowl of Gohan, or japanese styled white-grain rice to accompany the food. another value-for-money offering at Ishinomaki is their yakitori or skewered dishes. we tried their Tsukune, Shiitake and the Jagaimo bacon maki amongst others. most of the skewered dishes are in bite-sized quantities, allowing you to go for greater variety. 
something a little different, some really minute squids called Hoshi Hotaruika, deep fried and immersed in a special teriyaki sauce. they are really small and probably equates to Japanese fine-dining perhaps? Nonetheless, this is overall a fine Japanese grill and sashimi place, with a wide selection of fresh seafood, good pick of sake (wine) and a great Japanese ambience. we'd certainly come back here for a good Japanese feast at a real affordable price soon. 
Ishinomaki Grill & Sake 390 Orchard Rd, B1-02/02A/03 Palais Renaissance, Singapore 238871 Opening Hours Daily: 11:30 am to 3:00 pm & 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm There's also a 7-course Omakase dinner set and Lunar New Year Yusheng for corporate dining.. Tolido's Expresso Nook
it's sometimes quite amazing how one can discover a new place with the help of Google. we were feeling hungry and had a craving for pasta so we searched for the best pasta in town - and it took us to this new cafe, which could just be the next big thing. tucked in the midst of HDB shops along Crawford Lane (it's a public housing estate really), this unassuming cafe whips up some excellent brunch and pasta dishes, with a good brew of coffee to boot.
Visitors to Tolido's can take heart that the cafe is opened by yet another aspiring Barista, who has won accolades in coffee-art competitions. there's indeed hope yet for Singapore (both for entrepreneurship and caffeine-lovers alike). it is also good to know there's free-parking on Sundays and public holidays, which you now may have to expect to wait before being seated.. 
it is quite surreal how these new cafes develop such a strong following in a matter of months, such is the power of social media. set next to a hardware store and a shop selling lunar new year decorations, you can't quite take Tolido seriously, especially when there are other gastronomic options along Haji Lane and North Bridge Road food centre nearby. but try it, and you'd find one of the better coffees, along with some of the best pasta's around. 
a little bit of fusion for their side dishes as we waited for the mains to arrive. the signature side dish would be the Tolido's Truffle Fries, served in a dim-sum container, sprinkled with truffle oil and cheese flakes. their lattes served up next and lived up to its expectation of a good brew. interestingly, Tolido's also whips up a mean Affogato and Bailey's. 
then comes the main-event. their specialty is this 462 Prawn Laksa Pasta, essentially spaghetti with a Singaporean influence from one of our famous spicy dishes. the gravy is flavourful, bringing out the richness of Laksa, while the prawns were really fresh. but i honestly think we are getting excited because it suits our local palette. their aglio olio and turkey ham mushroom cream pasta are also worth a shot. 
the brunch dishes are plain and simple, no fancy eggs and lotsa sunny side ups. they were actually pretty good. we tried The Ultimate Combo which had a mixture of pancakes, bacon, chipolatas and eggs. the pancakes were very well battered and served with a sprinkling of sugar and maple syrup. Many other people though, come here for their rosti - we tried one served with cheesy sausage, it wasn't too oily but well-fried to a level of crispy goodness. some reviews claimed that it is better than Marche's but we'll leave that for you to discern. in all, this is a cosy little cafe that gives you enough chill-out space, has good coffee and some very delectable mains. we're certainly coming back to try the desserts and array of interesting drinks. it's got everything it takes to be there amongst the hipster cafes in Singapore, and certainly one of our favourites. Plat0nic wishes all readers a Happy & Prosperous Lunar New Year, may there always be good food in the year ahead! 
Tolido's Expresso Nook Block 462 Crawford Lane, #01-63 Singapore 190462 Opening Hours Tuesdays to Thursdays: 9.30 am to 7 pm (closed on Mondays) Fridays & Saturdays: 9.30 am to 10 pm Sundays: 9 am to 6.30 pm Food are all individually prepared with no artificial flavourings, and nothing instant.. Shashlik Restaurant
haven't been writing for awhile as the flu bug hit and was taken rather ill. however, a rare trip to Far East Shopping Centre prompted us to try an age-old Russian restaurant that we've heard plenty and seen many reviews of. Shashlik restaurant takes a very quiet corner of the 6th storey of the building. the decor is plain with a slightly olde European setting. it hence felt weird to hear the loop of Chinese New Year songs in the background..
a Russian looking menu at least with a fusion selection of dishes to choose from. there's some Russian fare, the popular Shashliks, Borsch soup, beef stroganoff and some desserts. then there's also a selection of local-influenced western dishes to add to the mix. it was a tad surprising that amid the simple interior and Chinese styled setting, the staff practiced very standard table-side service; replacing your cutlery between dishes, performing the final preparation of each dish in front of you etc. okay, so you don't only get this at Morton's.. 
this appetizer is called Eggs Millionaire. it might take a little skill to crack an egg shell in half, the rest of the dish though, is simply scambled eggs, mayo and bacon filling the egg-shells. i'm not sure if the Russian millionaires like Roman Abromovich eat this for breakfast, but this dish does cost us $12.. there is a complimentary serving of soft bread and butter spread for starters as well, and the bread is surprisingly enjoyable. 
this is an example of the western dishes that the restaurant serves. we ordered a grilled salmon steak and it comes with seared potatoes, veggie and hollandaise sauce. of course, we had to try some of their signature Shashliks while we were here, so we ordered the Shashlik of Lamb. we found out later on that Shashliks are typically eastern European skewered meats and highly popular in Russia. the lamb we ordered was marinated in spices and served with potato wedges. the meat was grilled medium rare but was tender enough. another traditional Russian dish worth trying would be the Chicken Pozharsky, which is a fried chicken cutlet marinated in Russian spices. 
then comes this must try Russian dessert. the preparation itself was fun to watch, having the staff serve this creamy pastry flaming through the cocktail that comes with it. Baked Alaska is somewhat like an ice-cream cake served with flaming Russian cocktail. a little too creamy but very nice. overall, Shashlik Restaurant can be an interesting experience. the unassuming interior is backed by good table-side service and quality food. some dishes may be a little on the pricey side but i guess they costed for the service and preparation that goes into each dish. in times when you just want a little different dining experience, do give this place a try.. 
Shashlik Restaurant 545 Orchard Road, #06-19 Far East Shopping Centre Singapore 238882 Opening Hours Tuesdays to Sundays: 12 pm to 2.15 pm Tuesdays to Sundays: 6.30 pm to 9.15 pm Closed on Mondays Baked Alaska is not available on Wednesdays.. |
..ThE lEgEnD..
Last Movie: Ad Astra
Golden Village, Singpost Centre 
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