Umami 10

When I first heard about Umami 10, it immediately piqued my interest as I thought it might be another gem along Telok Ayer. Located in the bustling central area, Umami 10 stands out with its concept of European-influenced Japanese cuisine, offering a unique twist that blends refined flavors with a modern dining experience. The name itself already hinted at depth and richness, setting the stage for a meal I was curious to explore.

Umami 10

The seating area isn’t very large. At the entrance, diners are greeted with a counter bar setup, while further inside, customers are seated at high tables with stools, giving the space a modern yet cozy vibe.

Counter Bar

Truffle fries came in a basket, generously topped with grated cheese flakes. Fragrant, crispy, and addictive, a snack that’s simply hard to resist.

Truffle Fries - $12

Soft Shell Prawn Tempura, made with air-flown glass prawns were lightly dusted with gold, was visually stunning and appetising. Crispy on the outside with plump, juicy prawns inside, it paired well with the creamy salad sauce for an indulgent bite.

Soft Shell Prawn Tempura - $25

The Wagyu Boneless Short Ribs were simply irresistible, tender from 12 hours of braising and elevated by the rich Sangiovese veal jus.

Wagyu Boneless Short Ribs - $38

We indulged in the premium Hyogo Oysters, silky smooth and creamy with a refreshing flavor, a true highlight that made the meal unforgettable.

 Premium Hyogo Oyster - $7 Each

Writing about the premium Hyogo Oysters makes me salivate all over again, that silky, creamy freshness is simply unforgettable.

Hyogo Oysters

Salmon Sashimi Don, anyone? Mixing the rice with the runny egg lifted the flavors, while six fresh, beautiful slices of salmon crowned the bowl.

Salmon Sashimi Don - $14

It was a good experience visiting Umami 10, a cozy spot with unique European-Japanese creations that made the meal memorable.

Umami 10
Location: 163 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068616
Website

Burma Social Tras

When my friend suggested Burma Social, I was instantly excited ,  Burmese cuisine has long been on my list to explore. Located at Tras, Burma Social presents a tapestry of flavors, blending historical influences from Chinese, Laotian, Thai, Bangladeshi, and Indian cuisines.

Entrance of Burma Social

Even before stepping in, the experience begins at the entrance where this elaborate, intricate artwork greets you. Rich in color and detail, it felt almost symbolic of the cultural crossroads Burma represents  a mosaic of traditions beautifully interwoven, much like the food that awaited us inside.

Display

Near the entrance, the seating area is open-air, creating a breezy and casual vibe. It leads seamlessly to the bar, while a flight of stairs takes you to the upper deck dining area for a more elevated experience.

Bar

he upper deck dining area was a picture of warmth and sophistication. Wooden tones, rattan lampshades, and geometric wall panels came together in an elaborate yet cozy setup. 

Upper Deck Dining Area

The soft glow of pendant lights created an inviting ambiance, while the mix of leather banquettes and cushioned chairs made the space feel both modern and homely. It struck a balance between elegance and comfort, setting the stage perfectly for a leisurely dining experience.

Upper Deck Dining Area

Even the dining utensils at Burma Social carried a touch of thoughtfulness and charm. Each setting came neatly tucked in a suede-like sleeve embossed with the restaurant’s golden logo, adding a sense of refinement right from the start. The golden-hued fork, knife, and spoon gleamed under the warm lighting, paired with wooden chopsticks, a subtle nod to the cultural blend the restaurant embodies. It was a small but striking detail that set the tone for the dining experience.

Utensils

We started off with some tea, and even before the food arrived, the little details stood out. 

Since we weren’t in the mood for alcohol that day, we went with mocktails instead. I ordered the Zesty Pleasure, a refreshing mid-day pick-me-up crafted from their house lemongrass reduction, calamansi, Thai basil, fresh ginger juice, and topped with house lemongrass soda. Light yet aromatic, it struck a nice balance between citrusy brightness and warm spice. The only downside? The lime seeds tended to get stuck in the straw midway through the drink.

Zesty Pleasure - $15++

We also tried the Wulong, a creative non-alcoholic take on the classic Whiskey Sour. This version was layered with the delicate floral aroma of oolong tea, topped with a silky egg white foam and a dried orange slice for garnish. Made with fresh mandarin orange juice, oolong tea reduction, lemon juice, and egg white, it offered a refreshing balance of citrusy brightness and tea-infused depth without the alcohol.

Wulong - $15++

Feeling blessed with the drink Bless Me, a refreshing frozen blend that would be the perfect companion on sun-kissed days. Made with coconut water, fresh lime, and spearmint, it was light, cooling, and wonderfully uplifting.

Blessed Me - $15++

Among the cold plates and thoke was a refreshing medley of Burmese tea leaf salad, elevated with a creamy avocado twist that added richness to the traditional mix.

Avocado Lahpet Thoke - $22

A refreshing vegetarian roll that’s as colorful as it is flavorful. Each of the four rolls is packed with piquillo pepper, crisp asparagus, creamy avocado, cucumber, and tangy pickled radish, then finished with a lively chilli mango salsa that brightens every bite.

Piquillo Wild Roll - $14

Far from the typical Har Gao, this version takes refinement to the next level. The skin is delicate and almost translucent, encasing a generous filling of plump prawns, fresh chives, and crunchy bamboo shoots.

Gold-Dusted Prawn & Chives Har Gao - $24

What makes it stand out even more is the luxurious touch of gold dust, giving this classic dim sum a touch of elegance and surprise.

Gold-Dusted Prawn & Chives Har Gao - $24

An interesting twist on the classic Chinese steamed bun this version sandwiches a crispy soft-shell crab with tangy pickled vegetables and a fiery kick of sriracha, creating a bold East-meets-West bite.

Soft-Shell Crab Bao - $20

Three halved crispy soft-shell crabs arrive bathed in a rich, aromatic Malvani curry, paired with warm, fluffy house-made pav. 

Coastal Crab Curry & Pav - $38

Instead of the usual rolls, we were served mini toasted buns, perfect for scooping up and savoring the luscious curry. Every bite was indulgent, and it left me wanting more.

Bread

Bread & Gravy

This Burmese-styled 18-hour braised pork belly bears a comforting resemblance to the familiar Hokkien version. The cuts are noticeably thicker yet still melt-in-your-mouth soft, glazed in a sauce that leans sweeter and lighter, almost reminiscent of teriyaki. Served with a perfectly soy-cured egg, it’s a soulful dish that bridges cultures through flavor.

Braised Pork Belly - $28

The dessert turned out to be quite an interesting finale, the Velvety Rose Elixir, with its delicate floral notes, paired beautifully with Tangled Jewels in Chilled Ecstasy, a refreshing and playful creation that lived up to its poetic name.

Falooda - $21

Overall, it was a different yet casual dining experience, with food that offered both intrigue and variety. I found the flavours interesting, and with the vibrant ambience, I wouldn’t mind coming back again for another round.

Burma Social Tras
Location: 34 Tras Street, Singapore 
Website

The Chicken Rice Shop

Despite making countless trips to JB over the years, The Chicken Rice Shop had never been on my radar. But as fate would have it, my friend decided to shortlist it for dinner this time, giving me the perfect chance to finally try it out.

The Chicken Rice Shop

Each of us went for our own individual set meal for one, which conveniently came with a 12oz drink included.

Drinks and Dessert

A wholesome, all-in-one set perfect for one person. It includes 2 pcs Nyonya Pai Tee, your choice of chicken (Steamed, Roast, Soy Sauce or Hainanese Curry), Ipoh bean sprouts or pak choy with oyster sauce, a bowl of fragrant chicken rice, soup of the day, a 12oz soft drink and a Rainbow Delight dessert.

Hainanese Chicken Rice Meal (1 Pax) - RM 19.690

Although the chicken looked appealing with its savoury seasoning and bed of cucumbers, it appeared a little underdone for our liking, showing some pinkness despite its otherwise inviting presentation.

Hainanse Chicken 

Nyonya Pai Tee also known as Kueh Pie Tee in Singapore, this version was a little lacklustre. The filling lacked aroma, and the pastry cups were soft rather than crisp, which took away from the usual crunch.

Nyonya Pai Tee

A complete and wholesome healthy meal featuring a single portion of chicken breast (choice of Steamed, Roast or Soy Sauce), one braised tofu and one braised egg, plus Ipoh bean sprouts or pak choy with oyster sauce, a bowl of chicken rice and soup of the day. The set also includes a drink (soya milk, Chinese tea or mineral water). We topped up RM3.90 to enjoy soft drinks instead.

Mighty Meal (1 Pax) - RM 21.90

If I were to compare with the Hainanese chicken, I would definitely prefer the roast. Overall, this chain’s chicken rice just didn’t fit our style, we prefer hot rice and aromatic chicken, but it was a far cry from any of our makcik’s chicken rice stalls back in Singapore.

Roast Chicken

The Chicken Rice Shop
Location: Bandar Dato Onn, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia, Floor 2. AEON Mall Bandar Dato' Onn
Website

Ju Bao Xuan

Steamed seafood dishes have been trending lately, with more stalls focusing on serving steamed fish at attractive prices. In fact, there’s been a surge of such stalls everywhere. 

Menu

Menu

Even my favourite White Bee Hoon stall has transformed into a steamed fish stall after the coffeeshop’s renovation.

Stall of Ju Bao Xuan

We ordered two sets of fish, topped up with additional clams and prawns. Each set comes with one side dish by default. It’s great that they offer a variety of sides to choose from, including refreshing cucumber sticks, Hong Kong–style bean sprouts, Hong Kong–style baby bok choy, and steamed egg.

2 Set of Dishes

The Bean Paste Steamed Seabass was fairly average. We topped up the meal with a prawn at $1.50, only to realise it was just a single piece. While the sauce did complement the seabass, the portion felt rather meagre.

Bean Paste Steamed Seabass - $7.90 + $150

We also had the Teochew-Style Steamed Seabass Set, topped up with lala for an additional $1.50. The steamed fish came with the usual Teochew staples, salted vegetables, tofu, plum, and tomato. While the ingredients were classic, I found the dish overall to be on the saltier side. Unfortunately, the lala was rather disappointing, with sand and cracked shells throughout.

Teochew Style Steamed Seabass Set - $7.90 + $1.50

For our sides, we both chose steamed egg, unfortunately, another let-down. The eggs turned out hard rather than soft and silky, falling short of the texture we expected. Overall, it wasn’t a good experience compared with similar offerings from other competitors in the market.

Steamed Egg

Compared to what I’ve had from other stalls, this would be my least preferred so far. I don’t see myself returning anytime soon.

Ju Bao Xuan
Location: Happy Hawkers, 632 Bukit Batok Central, Singapore 650632

Le Gruyérien

 We settled at a restaurant near our hotel for dinner, and fortunately it could accommodate all 10 of us. The place is called Le Gruyérien. At first we thought the server wasn’t too pleased with our big table, as we were greeted with a rather stern, sulky expression. We were seated right beside the pizza-preparation counter, which gave us a good view of the action. For a small town, the number of diners in the eatery was actually quite good, creating a lively atmosphere.

In Le Gruyérien

We ordered the Funghi Pizza, made to order with a tomato sauce base, champignons, mozzarella and ham. The pizza turned out really tasty and satisfying. From our seats, we could watch the pizza chef busily taking orders and sliding pizzas in and out of the large oven, a nice touch that added to the experience.'

Funghi Pizza - 21 CHF

While cheese fondue is a must-try for anyone visiting Switzerland for the first time, I decided to tick it off my list. I ordered a Half Bread, Half Potatoes Fondue (230 g) and it was served in the traditional pot over a fondue burner to keep the cheese perfectly melted throughout the meal.

Half Bread Half Potatoes Fondue By J. Romanens 230g - 26 CHF

The cheese was served in a heavy pot set over the fondue burner. It was thick, luscious and wonderfully aromatic, just like a Swiss fondue should be.

Cheese

Looking at the half loaf of bread (I assumed) and the generous portion of potatoes served alongside, my Asian stomach was already hinting that I might be full. It felt like a lot of carbohydrates for one sitting. The bread came in a basket, neatly cut into slices, ready for dipping into the rich, cheesy fondue.

Bread

The boiled potatoes were baby-sized with clean skins, served in a basket lined with a cloth to keep them warm.

Potatoes 

With a gentle press of the fork, they pierced through easily, perfect for dipping straight into the pot of molten cheese.

Dipping in Cheese

It was a wonderful experience finally trying authentic cheese fondue, but the portion was definitely heavy for one person. Unless it’s for sharing, I don’t think I will order such a rich, hearty meal on my own again.

Le Gruyérien
Location: Grand-Rue 1, 1630 Bulle, Switzerland
Website