Labrador Nasi Lemak & Nasi Padang

Back here at Telok Blangah Hawker by chance with my friend for breakfast on a weekend. We initially planned to have Wanton Mee, but the stall was closed that day. So, we decided to go for some Muslim food instead, exploring a different side of the hawker's offerings.

Labrado Nasi Lemak.Nasi Padang

I decided to try the Lontong since I hadn’t had it from this stall before. The gravy was fragrant, with subtle hints of coconut milk that added a nice richness without being too spicy. It made for a comforting and warm bowl of breakfast—a satisfying way to start the day.

Lontong

The Lontong came with a whole egg, softened cabbages, and a delightful shrimp fragrance that added an extra layer of flavor. It was a comforting bowl with a nice balance of textures and aromas—perfect for a warm breakfast.

Lontong

The Mee Siam was quite straightforward, with bee hoon soaking up the tangy and mildly spicy soup. It came with simple yet flavorful ingredients like Tau Pok and chives. For those who prefer a more tangy kick, a squeeze of the given lime does the trick, enhancing the sourness to your liking.

Mee Siam

Overall, it was a comforting meal that filled the stomach nicely. The familiar flavors and warm dishes made for a satisfying breakfast experience.

Rating: 3 / 5 

Labrador Nasi Lemak & Nasi Padang
Location: 79 Telok Blangah Dr, #01-39, Singapore 100079

Ristorante Palermo

While the Makan Kaki saw an advertisement online with Pasta going 1 for 1 from Ristorante Palermo, a reservation was made for our dinner at Keppel Bay.

Ristorante Palermo

The atmosphere is quiet and charming with glass panels, overlooking the Docking Bay.

Interior 

 If you are dating or celebrating any special occasions,  this serves as a good place to romance your date.

Keppel Bay

We thought that the Olive Oil and Vinegar were contained in a unique glass, as well as the salt and pepper. 

Condiments

Like most Italian restaurants, we were served with some toast while waiting for the orders. 

Bread / Toast

I'm always a fan of pappardelle and since this particular pasta was served there, we ordered and had a try. The broad pasta was of the right thickness and cooked to perfection served with tender chunks of Angus Beef, Porcini Mushrooms and shaved parmesan flakes. The ratio of Pasta Sauce to Pappardelle was well managed to the right portion.

Pappardelle Angus Beef - $38 

Tiger Prawns Aglio Olio was cooked to Al Dente Perfection too with Bell Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes, prawns, garlic and chilli flakes. Though grilled, Tiger Prawns were huge and succulent. 

Grilled Tiger Prawns Aglio Olio - $38

We ordered their Speciality Pizza and it is also suitable for vegetarians. The fragrance lingers along the hallway in the restaurant while it is being served. The crust was crispy and addictive topped with Porcini Mushroom, black truffle pesto and soft egg as well as truffle caviar, not forgetting the pulling mozzarella cheese.

Palermo Speciale (Vegetarian) - $32

Overall, its a complimentary of great ambience and quality food that you may want to unwind and spoil yourself for some moments.

Rating: 3.5 / 5 

Ristorante Palermo
Location: Marina at Keppel Bay, 2 Keppel Bay Vista, #02-03, 098382

Yuan Cheng Fried Carrot Cake 源成菜头粿

Yuan Cheng Fried Carrot Cake is hidden at almost a corner of the corner of the Hawker Center with a half lighted up signboard that I would have mistakenly think that its not in business for the day if not for its long queue and aroma of the frying.

The stall is run by a lady whom has been serving Chai Tow Kway for over 30 years.

Yuan Cheng Fried Carrot Cake

Good value for money considering its portion. We ordered the black version of Fried Carrot cake for the 1sst time to try and it was yummy. While Vegetable Oil for frying is known to be a healthier option, they are using it to whip up plates of yummy fried Carrot Cake. Other ingredients such as Chye Poh (preserved radish) and garlic were used.

There were generous amounts of eggs in each serving and the carrot cakes were cut into pieces, each coated with dark sweet soy sauce and chopped green onions. These carrot cakes are on the fluffier side and  caramelised at the exterior, adding a depth the dish. 

Fried Carrot Cake (Black)

We had a mixed version of carrot cake at other visits and found that this version suits us most as it has the best of both worlds, black and white. Each serving was placed on disposable plates and served with disposable utensils.

Fried Carrot Cake (Black & White) 

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Yuan Cheng Fried Carrot Cake 源成菜头粿
Location: Telok Blangah Food Centre, 79 Telok Blangah Dr, #01-33, Singapore 100079

G Meal

For those who love fried chicken and roast chicken, you may want to try out G Meal if you are in Seah Im Food Center. While trying to secure a table during the peak hours, we had ourselves seated in from of G Meal and decided to go for their chicken Rice.

Stall of G Meal

G Meal is not the conventional Chinese Chicken Rice Stall where we get our roasted or poached chicken rice, instead, they are into fried or smoked chicken paired with fries or fragrant rice. They served 2 kinds of chilli, Hainanese chicken rice garlic chili and the usual chilli sauce.

Fried Chicken Cutlet Rice - $6.50

The rice was fragrant and the fried chicken cutlet had a different seasoning apart from the usual chicken cutlet we had. It was fragrant and the layer of batter was softer, not too much of a rough texture.

Fried Chicken Cutlet

There was a smoky taste in the half chicken. The outer layer of skin tasted yummy but the chicken meat was on a dry side. 

Half Smoke Chicken with Rice - $6.50

Overall, the menu was rather straightforward, having smoked/fried chicken paired with either fries or rice. The food was served on a big plate which makes the meal's portion look little. It will be completed if there are sides like vegetables to strike out a balanced meal or make the dish a little bit more interesting. 

Rating: 3 / 5

G Meal 
Location:

Yanan Ban Mian Noodles 亚男扳面，面粉粿

We were back here again at Yanan Ban Mian Noodles by chance for the other stalls were having too many patrons in the queue. It caught my surprise that a few of the nearby tables were having some Hor Fun Dishes and I had finally order something similar.

We had the Seafood Lala Bittergourd Hor Fun. It was scrumptious with Hor Fun carrying "Wok Hei" flavours drenched in savoury black bean seafood gravy. Although the shells of the Lala may had broken, the seafood freshness together with the thinly sliced bittergourd made a perfect combination.

Seafood Lala Bittergourd Hor Fun 鼓汁海鲜啦啦河粉 - $6.80

I guessed I'm in the mood for Seafood Lala and I ordered their Seafood Lala Clam Soup too. Seafood ingredients were Lala, prawns and sliced fish. You can pair them with noodles or a bowl of white rice. It tasted good by itself too.

Seafood Lala Clam Soup 海鲜啦啦汤 - $6

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Last posted 5th January 2024

While all the few stalls that we have been patronising were closed during our visit, we were kind of "pushed" to try new stalls. I decided to go for Fish Soup and noticed that the menu of the stall looks more interesting as compared to the other stall.

The stall is managed by a team of 2, with the lady preparing the food while the man taking the orders.

Stall of Yanan 

A nutritional bowl of Red Grouper Slice Fish Soup where you can opt to have cabbage or bitter groud as the vegetables in the bowl of soup. 

Red Grouper Slice Fish Soup 海红斑鱼片汤 - $9.50

The slices of Red Grouper were fresh and tender accompanied by the fragrant fried egg white and sweet-tasting soup.

Slices of Reg Grouper

We also ordered the Slice Fish Pork Ball Soup. The soup was as tasty with tomatoes, vegetables, minced pork ball, Batang fish and fried egg white too. 

Slice Fish Pork Ball Soup 鱼片肉丸汤 - $5.80

The minced meatball was tasty.

Meatball

I did not realise that they are selling Ban Mian too, perhaps I will be back again for their noodles if I get the chance.

Rating: 3 / 5

Yanan Ban Mian Noodles 亚男扳面，面粉粿
Location: 79 Telok Blangah Dr, #01-29, Singapore 100079

Tim Hortons

 After the news of the famous coffee house from Canada broke out, the queue in front of Tim Hortons seems to be neverending everytime I pass by the shop since November 2023. Coffee is core to the Tim Hortons brand. Where sustainability is a concern, Tims pride themselves with coffee responsibly source and 100% premium arabica beans.

Tim Hortons

We bought the Timbits at $1.50 each. Its a signature TIm Hortons' item, bite sized donut, addictive and popular item as a snack. We had the classic glaze Timbits. It was pillowy soft and sugar coated on the exterior but wasn't overly sweet.

Timbits - $1.50

We bought the 6 pack Assorted donut with Boston Cream Donut as the repeated flavour.

• Yuzu Lemon Cream Donut
• Belgian Dark Chocolate Donut
• Strawberry Belgian White Chocolate 
• Boston Cream Donut * 
• Maple Salted Caramel

To be frank, I'm not a donut lover but I'm amazed but the quality and softness from my bite, making me could not stop at the first bite.

Pack of 6 Donuts - $20 

Tim Hortons in VivoCity is one of the very first joints that the brand plans to open in Singapore. Nex will be launching their 2nd outlet, followed by Suntec City and One Raffles Place in April 2024. Tim Hortons aims to have 10 to 15 outlets by end of 2024

Rating: 3.25 / 5

Tim Hortons Singapore
Location: VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, #01-207,  Singapore 098585

Labrador Nasi Lemak & Nasi Padang

Having passed by the Hawker Centre in Telok Blangah Food Center a number of times, I noticed that Labrador Stall is always lined up with patrons without fail. As many may know, as a Singaporean, I cannot wait to find out what's going on here.

Labrador Nasi Lemak. Nasi Padang

Mee Siam is known for its inviting flavour that typically has a good balance of spiciness, sweetness and sourness. It has a good hint of dried shrimp and a tangy taste, contributing to the dish's unique taste.

Mee Siam - $3.50

Mee Soto is delightful and flavourful. This bowl of hearty noodle-based soups has a touch of spiciness. Its aromatic broth and combination of spices as ingredients made it a comforting meal.

Mee Soto - $3.50

There is no detail about shredded chicken but chunks like this were given do not be mistaken, I prefer this way as the portion seems more as compared to those finely shredded ones we had from other stalls. 

Mee Soto Chicken

While there are many of the patrons ordering their Nasi Padang, I will very much want to try out that during my next visit too.

Rating: 3 / 5 

Labrador Nasi Lemak & Nasi Padang
Location: 79 Telok Blangah Dr, #01-39, Singapore 100079

Hong Ji Mian Shi Jia

Have been wanting to head back here for their Wanton Noodles but did not get the chance over these 9 years. Despite the 9 years difference, the stall front of Hong Ji Mian Shi Jia looked similar as before just that the pricing of the food has been adjusted.

Hong Ji Mian Shi Jia

The "Bak Poh" lover screamed in joy when the serving was self-help. The standard of the Char Siew Wanton Mee tasted as good as our last visit about a decade ago.

Our Orders

 The noodles were fairly thinner than our usual Mee Pok and has a springy texture. Coupling in the mixture of sauce and lean pieces of Char Siew, they were absolutely satisfying. 

Char Siew Wanton Mee - $4 (Small)

Perhaps the noodle was so tasty that I had even forgotten about our bowl of wantons in soup. The soup was special to me and tasty with wantons. 

Wantons

We had a bowl of dumplings as a side order. Given a bowl of 5 dumplings in soup with some vegetables, I would say that they tasted above average!

Dumplings Soup - $4

Hong Ji Mian Shi Jia's Wanton Mee is still one of the few that has such traditional taste. I hope to be back quickly for other items on their menu and not another lapse of 9-10 years again!

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Posted on 6th September 2014

Many thanks to wonderful colleague who drive us all the way to Telok Blangah Food Centre to explore good food given a tight timing over our lunch hours. Even though we were slightly late abit for lunch time, we managed to join in the constant snaky queues and grab a table nearby.

Storefront of Hong Ji Mian Shi Jia

Recommended by Mr Seetoh of Makansunstra and with Mr Lesie Tay's writeup, it had already won my heart over for their Wantan Mee, not to mention even if their queue is long.
 

From the press

Presentation cant tell how good from these set of Wantan Mee. In fact, I was quite disappointed to the scattered Char Siew Meat on top of our plates as they were inconsistent but that was just mere first impression afterall.

Wantan Mee - $3 / $4

Uninteresting, it may seem but the noodles were good and the differences are distinctive. Thin and springy, a definite sign of authentic Hong Kong Noodles. Doused with sweet light soy sauce and chilli, it complemented well. It was good when the spiciness kicks in as I "chomp" them down with these lean pieces of BBQ pork. Yummy!

Close up on Wantan Mee

Not to mention that the wantans were different too, they had bites of chestnuts rolled up by the minced meat and wrapped by the smooth faint yellow wanton skin. The soup base was special too and pack with hints of prawn taste.

Close up on Wantan

If you still have room for dumplings, do try their prawn dumplings too. The Dumplings fillings were generous!

Prawn Dumplings Soup - $3

 Chicken Claw Mushroom Noodle as well as Oyster sauce vegetable noodles are available too.


Rating: 3.5 / 5

Hong Ji Mian Shi Jia
Location: Telok Blangah Market and Food Centre, Blk 79, Telok Blangah Road, #01-05 Singapore 100079

Zhan Yuan Pig Organ Soup 展源猪杂汤

We visited Zhan Yuan Pig Organ Soup as I'm craving for Pig Organ Soup. With a good number of selections on the menu, diners can get to choose either rice or noodles as well as dishes like their signature pork trotter rice. 

Zhan Yuan Pig Organ Soup 展源猪杂汤

Here's our order. We ordered the yam rice and it was kind of plain. Thus if you are looking for a stronger taste of yam rice, you may want to take up their plain rice instead.

Our Meal - $20.80

Sweet and yummy cabbage as well as carrot was softened. However, the pieces of cabbage were big and it would be better to have them served in smaller pieces.

Cabbage - $1.20

Saw these peanuts taken out from the canned food. They are a good side to our meal too.

Peanuts - $1.20

The Pig's Trotter was well-braised and tender. The braised sauce was simply good to go with our bowl of rice.

Pig's Trotter - $6

By tasting the Braised Large Intestine, one will know that a lot of effort has been given to ensure that it tastes clean without any gamey taste. It was well braised and there is no doubt about its cleanliness. 

Braised Large Intestine - $6

Pig organ soup has a good blend of flavours and tasted appetizing till the point I could not resist drinking that bowl of soup spoon after spoon. The broth serves as a canvas for a medley of ingredients, from tender slices of pork liver to the earthy chunks of pork stomach. Simply love it.

Pig Organ Soup - $5

Even though it was a one-man show during my visit, the uncle was friendly and he is a fast worker with queues cleared swiftly. We do not mind to be back again.

Rating: 3.25 / 5

Zhan Yuan Pig Organ Soup
Location: Seah Im Food Center, 2 Seah Im Rd, #01 27, Singapore 099114