Giraffa

 Giraffa, hailed as “Japan’s most popular cheese curry bread,” has clinched the Japanese Golden Award three years running. Their signature curry bread is packed with spiced meat curry and gooey cheese, all wrapped in a light, sweet milk-flavored batter and deep-fried to golden, irresistible crispiness.

Giraffa

Good news for curry lovers! Famous Japanese snack chain Giraffa, known for its popular Kamakura-style curry buns, is making its Singapore debut this year at Westgate Mall. 

About Giraffa

Crispy on the outside, savory on the inside, it’s set to be a must-try for fans of warm, comforting bites.

Menu

Giraffa’s curry buns are no ordinary snack, the curry filling is crafted with 30 different spices, delivering a savory, rich, and aromatic flavor in every bite. With reasonable prices, it’s a tasty treat that won’t break the bank.

Freshly Deep Fried

The Japanese Curry Bun comes in a presentable box that fits 4 buns, making it perfect for gifting.

A box of 4 

Just look at that cheese pull, it’s absolutely enticing! The filling of ground beef, pork, and seasoned vegetables draws out deep flavours. 

Cheese Pull

Balanced with honey, apples, tomatoes, and wine, the mix of freshness, sweetness, sourness, and richness makes every bite so enjoyable.

Freshly Prepared Curry Bun

Giraffa
Location: Westgate, 3 Gateway Drive, #02-05A , Singapore 608532
Nearest Station: Jurong East (EW24 / NS1)

Next Shikaku

 Located at the basement of Westgate Mall, Next Shikaku is taking Singapore’s ramen scene to the next level.

Hailing from Osaka, their unique concept revolves around oysters, the soul of their broth. The clear soup is made from 100% pure oyster broth, carrying a natural richness with a subtle, pleasant bitterness.

To complete the experience, the noodles are hand-kneaded with a 45% hydration ratio, giving each strand a perfect, satisfying bite.

Menu

The eatery greets diners with a futuristic illuminated screen right at the entrance, a bold contrast from the usual Japanese ramen shop vibe. The restaurant itself is long and narrow, with limited seating, making the experience feel a little more exclusive.

Dining

Their broiled meat sushi strikes a perfect balance, searing just enough to unlock the umami of raw meat, making it comparable to speciality sushi houses.

Meat Sushi - $4.90

Plump, large oysters are freshly fried to golden perfection and served simply with lemon and salt for a clean, briny indulgence.

Fried Oysters - $11.90

The Oyster Tsukemen “Asobu” is another standout on the menu, crafted in collaboration with the renowned Kyoto noodle maker Teigaku. Instead of the usual slender strands, this version features wider, rectangular flat noodles that deliver a more satisfying, chewy bite, almost reminiscent of mee hoon kueh.

Oyster Tsukemen (Asobu) - $22.90

These noodles are designed to soak up the full-bodied dipping broth, which is made from a blend of shrimp kombu water and oysters. The result is a rich, ocean-sweet umami that clings to every strand, making each dip an indulgent, slurp-worthy experience.

Hand Kneaded Flat Noodles

The Oyster Broth “Koeru”, a creation that redefines the ramen experience. Unlike conventional bases, Koeru is built on the pure essence of oysters, blended seamlessly with pork and chicken to achieve a broth that is both bold and refined.

Slow-cooked Oyster Broth (Koeru) - $20.90

The result is a soup with natural oceanic richness, layered with savory depth and a gentle, lingering umami. Paired with hand-kneaded, low-hydration noodles, every mouthful balances silky broth and perfect bite.

The chashu comes as a generous thick-cut slice, thoughtfully balanced with both lean and fatty sections. The lean part is juicy and firm, while the fatty portion ranges from a delicate, jelly-like texture to fully melt-in-your-mouth richness. Lightly seasoned, it allows the natural pork flavor to shine, making each bite deeply satisfying without overpowering the ramen.

Chashu

Next Shikaku
Location: Westgate, 3 Gateway Dr, #B1-28 Singapore 608532

Flyboy

While many have talked about Flyboy Yong Tau Foo at NeWest, we made a trip down to explore the eatery ourselves. As expected, it was packed with the lunch crowd, and we were lucky to snag a table.

Flyboy Yong Tau Foo

The menu is straightforward, offering five different sets, with the option to upgrade your steamed rice to bee hoon soup or braised pork bee hoon.

Menu

The cover page itself was eye-catching, illustrated with mouth-watering pictures of Yong Tau Foo that instantly set the appetite.

Menu

I went with their classic Handmade YTF set, one of the top sellers. Instead of the default rice, I upgraded to Bee Hoon Soup for an additional $1.50.

Set B - Classic Handmade Yong Tau Foo - $9.90

The YTF ingredients were served separately from the Bee Hoon Soup on a plate, featuring bittergourd, eggplant, tau kwa, tau pok, meatball, fishball, and beancurd skin. They were well-prepared and tasty, no complaints at all.

YTF Ingrediens of Set B

Set E turned out to be a bit of a disappointment, as we had high hopes for the Braised Pork Fried Bee Hoon. The taste was rather lacklustre and lacked the traditional braised pork flavor we were looking for. Nonetheless, the bee hoon and ingredients were neatly served on a plate, which included ngoh hiang, fried wonton, tau kwa, tau pok, and meatball. A small bowl of soup was also served on the side to pair along.

Set E - Braised Pork Fried Bee Hoon - $9.90

Overall, the taste was decent, but when factoring in the prices—with no GST but a 10% service charge, the simple YTF lunch may not feel entirely pocket-friendly.

FLYBOY Yong Tau Foo
Location: 1 W Coast Dr, #01-75 NEWest Mall, Singapore 128020
Website

Flips N Dips

Visiting Flips N Dips, a Muslim-owned Western food stall at Boon Lay Drive. Previously at Jurong Point’s food court, they’ve since expanded with several outlets across Singapore.

Besides the usual Western fare like Fish & Chips, Chicken Chop, and Crispy Chicken Cutlet (served with fries and coleslaw), their menu also features Pasta, Bagel, and Sedap Mie categories—each offering a variety of choices.

For just $1 more, you can add on their sauce dipper, with unique flavors such as Cheese, Masak Merah, Chilli Crab, Black Pepper, and more.

Flips N Dips

For sides, we went with their fries, choosing the FND Special, topped generously with mentaiko and spicy mayo sauce.

Curly Fries 

For fried rice, we opted for the Chili Crab Fried Rice (mildly spicy) over the Kicap version. It came paired with our chosen Tempura Squid, selected from options like chicken chop, cutlet, dory fish, grilled salmon, or beef patty. The dish was completed with sides of coleslaw and crispy papadum.

Chilli Crab Fried Rice with Tempura Squid - $12.90

The Sedap Mie set includes four items on the plate: a sunny-side-up egg, creamy coleslaw, chicken chop cut into bite-sized pieces, and springy mie noodles topped with a slice of melted cheese.

Sedap Mie (Chicken Chop) - $8.50

What caught my interest was the inclusion of bagels on the menu, each with a few tempting variations. We went for the Truffle Beef Bagel, paired with loaded fries.

Truffle Beef Bagel with Loaded Fries -$11.50

Overall, I found the variety to be ample. Diners are definitely spoilt for choice here. It's an enjoyable spot to explore different flavors!

Our Orders

Flips N Dips

Location: 239 Boon Lay Dr, #01-01,Singapore 640239

Tasty Hotpot 回味锅

 A visit to Johor Bahru’s Taman Eko Botani for Tasty Hotpot – a hearty meal and a perfect spot for our gathering.

Tasty Hotpot

The restaurant exudes a modern yet cozy vibe with clean wooden lines, warm pendant lights, and marble finishes. 

Interior Furnishing

Booth seating adds comfort, while calligraphy on the walls brings a touch of tradition to the stylish space.

Diner's Seating

Like most hotpot restaurants, there’s a sauce station where diners can mix their own dips. What’s helpful here is the recommended sauce guide, neatly plastered on the wall for easy reference.

Sauce Station 

Here are the sauce mixtures we put together following the sauce guide: a vibrant mix of spice, aromatics, and nutty flavours that perfectly complement the hotpot.

Sauce Mixture

The restaurant uses a service robot to deliver dishes, stacking them neatly on its four-tier trays and gliding straight to the designated table.

Robot Helper

The dried sticks of Dao Xiao Mian were quite interesting. It was my first time trying noodles in stick form!

Dao Xiao Mian - RM 8

We also had Ee Mian and Soybean Rolls to go along with the hotpot.

Soybean Roll

Alongside our hotpot, we had a platter filled with tofu, meatballs, sausage slices, black fungus, vegetables, and mushrooms.

Platter with Mushrooms & Others

For seafood, we enjoyed a plate of fresh prawns as well as scallops served in their shells.

Prawns

Scallops 

We also savored their juicy pork cheese balls, which added a rich and flavorful bite to the meal.

Pork Cheese Balls

For the soup bases, we went with Garlic Chicken Soup, Pork Stomach Soup, Red Mala Soup, and Pork Bone Soup, a comforting variety to suit every taste.

Soup Base

Watermelon Grape Juice

While waiting for the food to cook in the soup base, we tried the Mala Fried Rice. It had a fiery kick, was fragrant with seasonings, and came with simple yet satisfying ingredients like eggs.

Mala Fried Rice - RM 10

Fried Golden Tofu - RM 8

The Fried Yam Balls were crispy on the outside, soft inside, and paired perfectly with a sweet condensed milk dip.

Fried Yam Ball - RM 12

Everything ended on a sweet note with a plate of fresh fruits, watermelon and guava slices, accompanied by traditional ice cream sticks.

Ending the Meal

Tasty Hotpot 回味锅 
Location: 51&51A, Jalan Eko Botani 3/4 Taman Eko Botani Iskandar Puteri, 79100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia

Sun Kimchi

If you have ever craved authentic Korean flavours without splurging, Sun Kimchi at Fook Hai Building might just be your next go-to spot. Tucked away in the heart of the city, this humble eatery serves up comforting Korean dishes that are mostly priced under $10. From hearty stews to sizzling plates, it’s a place where you can indulge in your Korean food fix without breaking the bank.

Sun Kimchi

When I was in Korea for two weeks a few months back, I quickly grew fond of their food and drinks  and I have been missing them ever since. Thankfully, in Singapore, we are spoiled with endless choices of cuisines, and even something as simple as a Korean barley rice drink can instantly quench my thirst and bring back those memories.

Korean Drink

I have been missing Sikhye, the traditional sweet Korean rice beverage and what will be a better way to kickstart my Korean meal than with this refreshing drink?

Korean Drink 韩国饮料 - $2.50

Above all the cravings, what makes Sun Kimchi even more attractive is its straightforward pricing, no GST, no service charge, just honest and affordable Korean food.

No Hidden Cost

To be honest, during my two weeks in Korea, I only managed to try corn cheese once, so I was pretty excited to spot it on Sun Kimchi’s menu. The golden corn kernels came sizzling on a hot plate, blanketed in melted cheese and of course, we couldn’t resist having a little fun with the satisfying cheese pull before digging in.

Corn Cheese 芝士玉米 - $5.90 

Korean steamed egg, or Gyeran-jjim, is the ultimate comfort side dish. Served piping hot in a stone bowl, the eggs are whisked until fluffy and gently steamed, creating a soft, custard-like texture. Often garnished with chopped spring onions and vegetables, it’s light yet satisfying — the kind of dish that warms you from the inside out.

Korean Steamed Eggs 韩式蒸蛋 - $4.90

The Chive Pancake caught our attention at first sight! Unlike the usual large, round serving, these came in petite portions almost the size of a sauce dish. Bite-sized, crispy, and flavorful, they were undeniably addictive.

Chive Pancake 韭菜煎饼 - $6.90

The Smoked Duck Rice Bowl is beautifully presented with slices of succulent smoked duck fanned around a perfectly soft poached egg. Vibrant vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots add a fresh pop of color, while a generous sprinkle of roasted sesame seeds and shredded seaweed on top enhances both texture and visual appeal. A feast for both the eyes and the palate!

Smoked Duck Rice Bowl - $11.90

Kimchi Chicken Soup is a hearty and fiery Korean classic, simmered to perfection with tender chicken pieces, soft tofu, and crunchy vegetables.

Kimchi Soup with Chicken 泡菜鸡肉汤饭 - $7.90

The tangy, spicy kick of fermented kimchi blends harmoniously with the rich broth, creating a bold and soul-warming flavor. Topped with fresh green onions, chili slices, and enoki mushrooms, this dish is perfect for those who love a good balance of spice, umami, and comfort in every spoonful.

Appetizing

he Beef Bulgogi Hot Plate was absolutely delicious. These tender beef slices infused with a flavorful marinade and paired with sweet, caramelized onions. A true comfort dish!

Hot Plate Beef with Rice 铁板牛肉饭 - $12.90

Another dish I miss is their Ramyeon. We had the Kimchi Ramyeon with pork, and it was so appetizing! The noodles were springy and delicious. Cravings satisfied!

Kimchi Ramyeon with Pork 泡菜牛肉拉面 - $8.90

Cravings Satisfied

Though the eatery isn’t big, the menu is more than adequate with comforting simple Korean dishes. Plus, it’s pocket-friendly and, most importantly, a pretty good eat!

Our Orders

Sun Kimchi
Location: Fook Hai Building, 150 South Bridge Road, #01-11 Singapore 058727