Takagi Ramen Jurong West

Back here at Takagi Ramen in Jurong for their Chinese New Year menu, this 24-hour ramen spot has been around for a long time. Since I’m residing in the west, it’s always an easy and familiar place to satisfy a late-night or casual ramen craving.

Takagi Ramen 

The Golden Prosperity Pomelo Grapefruit Drink was light, citrusy and refreshing, with a pleasant balance of sweet and tangy notes. The pomelo bits added a nice texture, making it a very uplifting drink to cut through the richness of the meal. The Prosperity Pineapple Drink leaned sweeter, with a tropical fruity profile that felt festive and thirst-quenching, pairing well with the fried items on the table.

The Fortune Danggui Shoyu Ramen soup base was delightfully herbal yet not overpowering, blending well with Takagi’s signature ramen without masking its flavour.

Golden Prosperity Pomelo Grapefruit Drink & Prosperity Pineapple Drink, 
Fortune Danggui Shoyu Ramen

The Prosperity Golden Deep Fried Danggui Duck Drumstick was served in a mini rattan basket with shredded cabbage drenched in roasted sesame sauce. The duck drumstick was impressively large and dusted with edible gold glitter for the festive touch. However, we found the meat quite tough and ended up not finishing it.

Prosperity Golden Deep Fried Danggui Duck Drumstick

The Abundance Snacker Box comprised gyoza, golden fried ebi, tender chicken karaage, and hearty yasai croquette, a platter dominated by crispy, fried delights.

Abundance Snacker box

Overall, the meal leaned heavily towards fried items. If you enjoy snackable bites and Takagi’s Danggui soup base ramen, this festive menu would suit you well.

The Set We Had

Takagi Ramen has numerous outlets across Singapore, with several of them operating 24 hours, making it a convenient go-to spot for ramen cravings at any time of the day.

Do you want to try it too?

Takagi Ramen
Location: Blk 492 Jurong West St 41, #01-74 Singapore 640492
Website

Fu Yuan Teochew Dining Greenwood 小馥苑

 A visit to Yu Yuan for their Teochew cuisine and Chinese New Year menu brought us to their second outlet, located in Bukit Timah. Having previously dined at Fu Yuan at Clarke Quay, I already had a good impression of their service and dining atmosphere.

Xiao Fu Yuan @ Greenwood Avenue

Upon entering this outlet, the warmly lit space and modern furnishings created a welcoming and comfortable environment. 

Dining Settings

They also offer private dining rooms for those who prefer a more intimate setting.

Private Room Dining

Like many Chinese restaurants during the festive season, Yu Yuan presents its own Lunar New Year set menu.

Fu Yuan Lunar New Year Set Menu

We began our Teochew-style dining with the Pan-Fried Oyster Omelette, enjoying its delightful texture paired with generously plump oysters.

Teochew Style Pan-Fried Oyster Omelette 潮州蚝煎

Fu Yuan also celebrates Cantonese flavours with their Grilled Black Char Siew. Expertly charcoal-grilled, it had a smoky caramelised crust with tender, flavourful meat inside, a true delight for lovers of classic Cantonese cuisine.

Grilled Kurobuta Black Char Siew 秘制黑豚猪叉烧 - $22

For live prawns, we had the Typhoon Shelter style, generously covered with fragrant garlic that was simply irresistible.

Live Prawn Typhoon Shelter 避风塘炒虾 - $38

There are several cooking styles available for the lobster, and we had the Creamy Pumpkin Boston Lobster. 

Creamy Pumpkin Boston Lobster 金瓜奶油波士顿龙虾 - $16 / 100g

The sauce was rich, creamy and addictive, so good that we found ourselves going back for more even without the lobster.

Must Eat!

The Crispy ‘Bing Chuan’ Brinjal is made using brinjals sourced from high-altitude, cool-climate regions, resulting in a firmer and lower-moisture texture. This gave the dish an extra crispy crunch while retaining the brinjal’s natural sweetness.

Cripsy 'Bing Chuan' Brinjal 脆皮冰川茄子 - $20

The Live Marble Goby Pan-Fried with Teochew-style Shark Cartilage Soup was cooked fresh to order. The fish was crispy on the outside and tender within, paired beautifully with the clean, delicate umami flavours of the rich soup, a true showcase of freshness.

Live Marble Goby Pan-Fried with Shark Cartilage Soup Teochew Style 潮州半煎煮鲨鱼骨汤笋壳 

Wok-Fried Preserved Radish ‘Hor Fun’ is a staple in Teochew cuisine, and this rendition was both fragrant and well executed. The flat rice noodles were expertly tossed in the wok over high heat, giving them a slight char and that unmistakable wok hei aroma. Bits of preserved radish were evenly distributed throughout the dish, adding bursts of savoury sweetness and a gentle crunch that elevated the texture. Each strand of hor fun was coated in flavour without being overly oily, making it a comforting yet satisfying dish that perfectly reflects the essence of traditional Teochew home-style cooking.

Wok-Fried Preserved Radish 'Hor Fun' 潮州菜脯河粉 - $24 / $48

We also had a double-boiled soup featuring French Poulet, salted vegetables and pig’s stomach. 

Double-Boiled Salted Vegetable Pig's Stomach Soup Stuffed with French Poulet 
潮式咸菜猪肚炖安心鸡汤 - $108 / Sharing Pot 共享锅

The broth delivered a harmonious balance of savoury richness and subtle sweetness, with layered, complex flavours from the slow cooking process.

Served Individually 

Of course, we had the Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng and joyfully tossed it to usher in the Lunar New Year.

Prosperity Abalone Yusheng 发财鲍鱼捞起 - $68 / $108

To end the meal, we enjoyed the Mashed Taro Orh Nee, Teochew-style sweet soup with peach gum, and chilled herbal jelly Gui Ling Gao.

Desserts - Mashed Taro 'Orh Nee' 潮州芋泥, Teochew Style Sweet Soup with Peach Gum 潮州桃胶清汤, Chilled Herbal Jelly 'Gui Ling Gao' 潮州桃胶清汤. 

Overall, Fu Yuan’s standard of food quality remains consistently impressive. It is an ideal place to celebrate Chinese New Year with family and friends.

Fu Yuan Teochew Dining Greenwood 小馥苑
Location: 24 Greenwood Avenue Singapore 289221
Website

Nong Geng Ji (Orchard Gateway)

 A visit to Nong Geng Ji at Orchard Gateway felt like galloping into the Chinese New Year with their fragrant and hearty homestyle cooking, perfect for a reunion feast.

Follow The Signage to Nong Geng Ji

We visited the outlet at Basement 1 and were impressed by the crowd despite its rather tucked-away location in the mall.

Hunan Home-Style Cuisine Nong Geng Ji

As always, the restaurant stood out with its signature green neon lightings, with the business name flanking the auspicious red logo that symbolises the Chinese character “农” (Nong).

Entrance of Nong Geng Ji in Orchard Gateway

No Chinese meal is complete without steamed rice, and here they serve it in a unique way, cooked in a pressure cooker with sweet potato and red dates mixed in, adding a subtle sweetness and aroma to the staple carbs.

Steamed Rice with Sweet Potato and Dates 高压锅红薯米饭

Once we settled our orders, the staff promptly set up a gas-can operated stove for the Big Shrimp with Vermicelli and Garlic right at our table.

Big Shrimp with Vermicelli and Garlic 蒜容大虾仁

The vermicelli soaked up the savoury garlic sauce beautifully, delivering a well-balanced bite bursting with umami goodness.

Yums!

The Lotus Root with Superior Pork Broth was reminiscent of comforting home-cooked dishes. Each serving was thoughtfully presented on a wooden holder with a porcelain pot resting on it, allowing us to enjoy the soup without scalding our hands. The dish came with thick-cut lotus roots and a generous piece of pork.

Lotus Root with Superior Pork Broth 排骨莲藕汤

The Steamed Pork Ribs with Mixed Grains were flavourful, with added natural sweetness from the softened pumpkin. It paired wonderfully with the bowl of rice.

Steamed Pork Ribs with Mixed Grains 杂粮粉蒸排骨

The Dry-Fried Green Beans with Preserved Mustard Greens reminded us of yet another comforting home-style dish. It was non-spicy and paired very well with the rice.

Dry-Fried Green Beans with Preserved Mustard Greens 芽菜干煸四季豆

The Pressure-Cooked Pineapple Chicken was commendable. The chicken absorbed the sauce thoroughly and was so tender that the meat fell off the bone easily. We especially enjoyed drenching the flavourful sauce over our rice. While the pineapple note wasn’t very pronounced, it was still a delightful dish from the menu.

Pressure-Cooked Pineapple Chicken 凤梨酱香压锅鸡

As for the Braised Oxtail with Quail Eggs, everyone at the table gave their nods of approval. The oxtail was slow-braised to melting tenderness, while the quail eggs soaked up the rich, savoury sauce. It may feel indulgent, but if you enjoy oxtail, this is a dish worth trying.

Braised Oxtail with Quail Eggs 鹌鹑蛋烧牛尾

Overall, it was great to experience their festive offerings. We thoroughly enjoyed the Chinese New Year dishes and the lively dining atmosphere.

Nong Geng Ji (Orchard Gateway)
Location: 277 Orchard Rd, #B1-13, Singapore 238858

Nami Korean Grill House

Visiting Premium Korean Barbecue Singapore at Nami Korean Grill House by Hanjip along Greenwood Avenue felt like a quiet escape from the usual bustling malls and crowded eateries.

The Signboard

As we settled in, we were welcomed with a beautifully presented wooden box of banchan, neatly divided into four sections, kimchi, seaweed, candied fried lotus root, and pickles,  a pleasant and thoughtful start to the meal.

Banchan

To pair with our BBQ feast, we had the Lychee, Green Grape, and Peach Chorong Chorong soju, which added a light, fruity touch to the experience.

Chorong Chorong Soju

For appetisers, we began with the Hamachi Carpaccio. The thick cuts of hamachi were dressed in a zesty seasoning and topped with vibrant orange roe, instantly whetting our appetite.

Hamachi Carpaccio

We also had the Hanjip Kale Salad, tossed in a roasted sesame sauce with raisins, grapes, and almond flakes, offering a refreshing balance before the grilled meats.

Hanjip Kale Salad

The seafood pancake truly deserves a little more praise. Crisp and golden brown on the outside while remaining soft and fluffy within, it was pan-fried to near perfection. Each bite was generously packed with seafood and scallions, giving it a satisfying texture without being overly doughy or starchy. 

Seafood Pancake

Served sizzling on a hotplate with dipping sauce on the side, the slight char on the edges added an extra layer of aroma and flavour that made it hard to stop at just one slice.

Close up of the Seafood Pancake

The Oyster Blade showcased a striking web of marbling across the meat, indicating how flavourful this cut would be. Slightly firmer in bite compared to ribeye but equally enjoyable, it carried a deep beefy taste and remained succulent after grilling, making it a satisfying cut for those who enjoy a more robust texture.

Oyster Blade

Referring to the meat platter, the USDA Prime Ribeye immediately stood out with its beautiful, intricate marbling running evenly through the cut. The fat distribution promised tenderness, and once grilled, the beef turned incredibly juicy, buttery, and rich in flavour with a melt-in-the-mouth texture that premium ribeye lovers would appreciate.

Ribeye

The Pork Collar, the only marinated meat among the selection, was well-infused with seasoning that enhanced the natural sweetness of the pork. With a good balance of lean meat and fat, it grilled beautifully, developing a slight caramelisation on the surface while staying juicy and flavourful inside.

Pork Collar

USDA Prime Ribeye, USDA Prime Boneless Short Rib and Pork Collar

Look at its marbling

The beef short ribs soup was comforting and stomach-warming, especially between bites of grilled meat. Filled with onions and slices of beef, the broth was light yet flavourful, offering a soothing contrast to the richness of the barbecue.

Beef Short Ribs Soup

The marinated prawns were another delightful addition. Fresh and plump, they absorbed the marinade well and turned slightly smoky and sweet once grilled, adding a pleasant seafood element to the meal.

Marinated Prawns

What elevated the entire dining experience was the attentive service from the staff. 

Assistant at Work

They took charge of the grilling process, carefully monitoring the heat and doneness of each cut to ensure the meats were cooked to perfection. 

When Mouth gets into the Air

Once ready, they skillfully cut the meats into bite-sized pieces, allowing us to enjoy the barbecue at its best without worrying about overcooking.

Yummy

This thoughtful assistance not only ensured optimal taste and texture but also made the meal far more relaxing and enjoyable.

Well BBQ

Overall, dining at Nami Korean Grill House by Hanjip felt like a premium Korean BBQ experience that goes beyond just quality meats. From the thoughtfully presented banchan and well-executed appetisers to the beautifully marbled cuts of beef and attentive grilling service, every element came together seamlessly. Coupled with the peaceful Greenwood Avenue setting, it made for a relaxed yet indulgent meal that Korean barbecue lovers in Singapore would truly appreciate.

Nami Korean Grill House
Location: 18 Greenwood Avenue, Singapore 289212
Nearest Station: Tan Kah Kee (DT8)
Website