Esarn Thai Corner Pasir Panjang

We only realised Pasir Panjang Hawker Centre was closed for renovation when we arrived at the location. With lunch plans disrupted, we crossed the road and decided to try E-Sarn Thai Food, located at the corner of the shophouses opposite.

E-Sarn Thai Corner

During lunchtime, they offer a value set menu priced at $9.90++ which includes a main course and a drink. We ordered two sets — the Green Curry Chicken with Rice and the Pineapple Rice — and added a few sides and desserts to complete the meal.

Menu

The interior reflects a typical Thai restaurant setting, decorated with pictures of the Thai King and cultural ornaments that give off a homely Thai vibe.

Interior

For drinks, we had Iced Lemon Tea and Sprite. The iced lemon tea tasted rather localised despite being served in a Thai restaurant.

Choice of Drink - Ice Lemon Tea & Sprite

We topped up our meal with a Seafood Tom Yum Soup. The soup was not very spicy but was appetising, with the refreshing fragrance of lemongrass and lime leaves. Pieces of chilli could be seen “swimming” in the soup, along with tofu cubes and assorted seafood.

Seafood Tom Yum Soup - $2.50

The Pineapple Rice came topped with chicken floss and four pieces of split mini wings. We added two pieces of homemade Thai fish cake for an additional $4. The pineapple rice was fragrant and satisfying.

Pineapple Rice with Thai Fish Cakes

The Green Curry Chicken with Rice was served with a fried egg. The curry gravy was rich and luscious, pairing perfectly with the white rice. We also added two sticks of Moo Ping for another $4.

Green Curry with Moo Ping 

With the set meal, we enjoyed a 20% discount on desserts. We tried the Red Ruby Delight, beautifully served in a Thai bowl filled with red rubies and topped with ice cream.

Red Ruby Delight - $5.60

We also ordered the Thai Ruom Mit Delight, a colourful mix of ingredients in pandan-infused coconut milk, including red ruby and jackfruit.

Thai Ruom Mmit Delight - $5.60

Overall, the set meal was value-for-money and satisfying. The desserts stood out the most, and it’s a place I wouldn’t mind returning to try other items on their set menu.

Esarn Thai Corner Pasir Panjang
Location: 130 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore 118548

Basil King (Clementi)

I have heard quite a bit about Basil King, and after a strong recommendation from a colleague, I decided to give it a try.

Basil King (Clementi)

Basil King essentially serves rice topped with a sunny side up egg and your choice of meat, chicken, beef, pork, prawns, or pork belly. You can also select your preferred spice level, ranging from Level 1 (non-spicy) to Level 5. On top of that, diners can choose anywhere from a single egg to a rather eye-catching quadruple egg option, which definitely stands out.

Menu

I went with the double egg meal with basil pork at Level 1, playing it safe on the spice level. The eggs were skillfully done and aesthetically pleasing, with runny yolks that paired well with the white rice.

However, the disappointment came from the basil pork. It lacked the distinct fragrance and taste of basil, tasting more like stir-fried minced pork served with rice and egg rather than a basil dish.

Basil Pork - Double Eggs - $7.90

My friend also ordered the basil pork with a single egg, but the yolk had already slipped out of the egg white. This made the overall presentation look inconsistent, suggesting that the standard and consistency might not be well maintained.

Basil Pork - Double Eggs - $6.90

All in all, the flavours did not quite meet my expectations, though it still makes for a filling meal. If you prefer a lighter basil fragrance, this might suit your taste.

Basil King (Clementi)
Location: 352 Clementi Ave 2, Singapore 120352

Eden | Chinese Garden | Halal-Certified

We have heard quite a bit about the café located in Chinese Garden, but little did we know that Eden Café sits just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Cloud Pagoda, directly in front of Pagoda Plaza.

Getting there by MRT is simple and convenient. Just alight at Chinese Garden station, cross the Chinese Garden Bridge, and turn right. For those who are driving, the walk is slightly longer as the recommended parking spot is the MSCP at Blk 354 Jurong East Ave 1.

Cloud Pagoda 

We arrived at Eden Café during sunset, and it turned out to be the perfect time to visit. A gentle breeze, warm sunlight, and the surrounding greenery created a very relaxing garden atmosphere. The exterior blends naturally with the park setting, while the interior of the café is kept modern, clean, and simple.

Eden at Sunset

As the sky gradually darkened, the ambience transformed into something equally charming. With the Cloud Pagoda lit up in the background, the café offered a completely different yet equally pleasant evening vibe.

Eden in the Night

To cool ourselves down, we started with two refreshing drinks, the Lychee Pink Splash and Honey Grapefruit. The Lychee Pink Splash was a delightful mix of lychee fruit, strawberry, and calamansi, giving it a sweet yet tangy profile. The Honey Grapefruit was light, citrusy, and equally refreshing.

Lychee Pink Splash & Honey Yuzu Graphe Fruit - $8.50 & $8

From the All Day Brunch menu, we tried the Singapore Har Cheong Gai Waffles. The crispy shrimp paste fried chicken paired surprisingly well with waffles, garnished with fresh parsley. A drizzle of maple syrup tied the flavours together, making this a bold yet enjoyable and shareable dish.

Singapore Har Cheong Gai Waffles - $22 

It was hard to ignore the local delights section of the menu, especially after spotting curry chicken and nasi lemak. We eventually decided on the Eden Nasi Lemak with Curry Chicken. The fragrant coconut rice was served warm, accompanied by tender curry chicken in a separate bowl, along with sliced cucumber, hard-boiled egg, sambal chilli, peanuts, and fried anchovies. It was comforting, satisfying, and flavourful.

Eden Nasi Lemak with Curry Chicken - $8.90 

Sticking to the brunch selections, we also ordered the Creamy Avocado Buttermilk Fried Cod Fish Pasta. The fried cod fish sat atop pasta coated in a creamy avocado sauce, complemented by cherry tomatoes, yellow onions, salsa, and pea sprouts. The result was a rich and well-balanced pasta dish.

Creamy Avocado Buttermilk Fried Cod Fish Pasta - $24 

Our Orders before Dessert was served

Before leaving the café, we made sure to try their unique Coconut Ice Cream. Served in an actual coconut shell imprinted with “Eden,” the coconut ice cream was drizzled with gula melaka and sprinkled with crushed peanuts. On the side, fresh coconut juice from the fruit was served in a small glass, making the experience even more memorable.

Coconut Ice Cream - $12.90

Overall, beyond its pleasant garden setting and scenic view of the Cloud Pagoda, the food at Eden Café was above average. It’s definitely a place I wouldn’t mind bringing friends to. The café is also halal-certified, making it a welcoming spot for many diners.

Eden | Chinese Garden | Halal-Certified
Location: 70B Yuan Ching Rd, #01-04 Beside Cloud Pagoda, Singapore 619629
Nearest MRT: Chinese Garden (EW25)

57 Nasi Lovemak

Finally visited Timbre+ at Hillview after talking about it for so long. The place is easily accessible via Cashew MRT Station, and there are ample parking lots if you’re driving.

Timbre+ Hillview

There was a live band during our visit, and that area was quite crowded. However, the section of the food court where 57 Nasi Lemak is located was much quieter.

We came here especially for the nasi lemak, as it had been widely advertised on social media.

57 Nasi Lovemak

Besides the usual chicken wing nasi lemak, they also offer versions with BBQ chicken, half a fried chicken, and chicken cutlet, along with local favourites like lontong, mee siam, curry chai tow kway, and wings.

Menu

I don’t often see a BBQ chicken leg option for nasi lemak, so I decided to give it a try. The menu described it as a juicy chicken leg, grilled to perfection. The nasi lemak came with a sunny-side-up egg, ikan bilis, peanuts, sambal, and pickles.

Unfortunately, the BBQ chicken leg turned out a tad dry and tough. The quality of the utensils was also disappointing, they bent while I was trying to cut through the chicken.

BBQ Chicken Leg - $8.90

The Salmon Steak Nasi Lemak was what first caught our attention on social media. The salmon was nicely grilled and felt premium, though it was slightly on the dry side.

Overall, we found the nasi lemak to be rather average. The rice could have been served hotter, and the sambal, being a key component of the dish, could definitely be improved.

For the base, you can choose between nasi lemak rice or fried mee siam. There’s also an option to add on a homemade lemongrass drink for $1.20.

Salmon Steak - $12.50

We added wings as a side, but there was nothing much to shout about. They weren’t oily, yet they didn’t stand out either.

For nasi lemak in that area, I believe there are better options around. If I return to Timbre+ at Hillview, I would be keen to try the other stalls instead.

Wings - $3.80 for 2

57 Nasi Lemak
Location: 91 Hillview Link, #02-K10, Singapore 669723
Nearest MRT: Cashew (DT2)

Lo Hey HK Seafood

At the beginning of the month, my friend mentioned going to Lo Hey HK Seafood and I had mistakenly thought we were heading there for a Lo Hei session at a Hong Kong seafood restaurant. I only realised my misunderstanding when I reconfirmed the location!

Lo Hey

The interior turned out to be pleasantly unique, filled with strong Hong Kong vibes and colourful neon lights as part of the décor.

Chinese New Year Decor

They also have private rooms that can be divided using partitions, making the space flexible for gatherings of different group sizes.

Private Dining

Live Catch

Every corner of the restaurant carries an unmistakable Hong Kong nostalgia, from a movie ticketing counter, a mock prawning shop with gold chains hanging on the wall, old-school letter boxes, nostalgic window grilles, to a retro tea ordering counter. 

It really felt like stepping into scenes from classic Hong Kong films.

Hong Kong Ticket Counter

Cinema Posters

Huat!

Kicking off the CNY feast, we went for the Success Set 万事捞成 priced at $698, suitable for 8–10 pax, featuring the following dishes:

• Abalone Yusheng 鲍鱼捞生

• Braised Dried Seafood Soup 蟹肉海味羹

• Steamed Marble Goby with Superior Soy Sauce 港蒸笋壳鱼

• Poached Duck with Superior Soy Sauce 古法鼓油鸭

• Typhoon Shelter Style Stir-Fried Boston Lobster 避风塘波士顿龙虾

• Stir-Fried Broccoli with Scallops & Abalone Sauce 鲍汁带子西兰花

• Lotus Leaf Rice with Eight Treasures 八宝荷叶饭

• Mango Pomelo Sago 杨枝甘露

Outdoor Dining

We started with the Abalone Yusheng, a vibrant plate of colourful ingredients, each carrying an auspicious meaning. 

Abalone Yusheng 鲍鱼捞生

A cute wooden horse figurine with money on its back was placed on the platter, symbolising “马上有钱” (wealth arriving immediately). The usual ingredients were all present: lime, shredded carrot and radish, red ginger, cabbage, baby abalone and a generous sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Wooden Horse Block

As tradition goes, all of us enthusiastically tossed the ingredients high into the air while chanting auspicious phrases for prosperity, wealth and good health. 

After Tossing

Once the tossing ritual was done, we happily tucked into this festive “Chinese salad”. Of course, I made sure to scoop up some baby abalone together with my share.

Abalone

The Braised Dried Seafood Soup came served in an earthen claypot, offering a comforting and rich texture. Inside were black fungus, fish maw, crab meat and prawn meat, creating a hearty bowl packed with ingredients. 

Braised Dried Seafood Soup 蟹肉海味羹

It was a flavourful and satisfying alternative to the usual Shark’s Fin Soup.

Ingredients in the Braised Dried Seafood Soup

Up next was the Steamed Marble Goby with Superior Soy Sauce. The fish was undeniably fresh and skilfully prepared, with the meat steamed to a delicate tenderness that had us nodding in approval. The superior soy sauce further enhanced the natural sweetness of the fish, making the dish exceptionally well executed.

Steamed Marble Goby with Superior Soy Sauce 港蒸笋壳鱼

The Poached Duck with Superior Soy Sauce was a pleasant surprise. Despite dining in a Hong Kong restaurant, this dish reminded us very much of a comforting Teochew-style braised duck. The soy sauce essence had fully permeated the meat, giving it a rich, savoury depth and consistency. 

Poached Duck with Superior Soy Sauce 古法鼓油鸭

A dip into their accompanying sauce elevated the taste further though honestly, the duck was already good enough on its own without any sauce.

Yummy

No, that’s not cereal on the Boston Lobster, it’s a generous blanket of crispy fried garlic, packed with fragrance. Freshly taken from the tank, the lobster was expertly prepared in classic Typhoon Shelter style with dried chilli, spring onions and aromatic crumbs that clung onto every crevice of the shell.

No worries about getting your hands messy handling the crustacean, disposable gloves and pincers were thoughtfully provided at the table, making the whole experience fuss-free and enjoyable.

Typhoon Shelter Style Stir Fried Boston Lobster 避风塘波士顿龙虾

Next on the menu was the Stir-Fried Broccoli with Scallops & Abalone Sauce. The presentation was eye-catching, with vibrant red tomatoes and plump scallops sitting neatly on a bed of bright green broccoli. A simple yet well-balanced vegetable dish that complemented the richer items on the table.

Stir Fried Broccoli with Scallops & Abalone Sauce 鲍汁带子西兰花

As we approached the end of the savoury dishes, the Lotus Leaf Rice with Eight Treasures arrived. True to its name, it was beautifully wrapped and served in lotus leaves. 

Lotus Leaf Rice with Eight Treasures 八宝荷叶饭 

The fragrant glutinous rice was packed with ingredients like pork and mushrooms, making every mouthful flavourful and addictive.

Utterly Delicious

Last but not least, we wrapped up the night with a bowl of Mango Pomelo Sago. Served chilled, it was refreshing and light, the perfect dessert to cool us down and end the meal on a sweet note.

Mango Pomelo Sago 杨枝甘露

An experience at Lo Hey HK Seafood tells us that we’ll definitely be back to try more of their popular dishes. 

Lo Hey HK Seafood

Location: One Holland Village, 7 Holland Vlg Wy, #03-22/23/24, Singapore 275748