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)

GyoGyo Japanese Grilled Fish & Sukiyaki - Plaza Singapura

Looking for Halal Japanese comfort food? Head to GyoGyo for grilled fish, hearty Japanese curry, and wholesome meals that warm both heart and soul.

GyoGyo Japanese Grilled Fish & Sukiyaki at Plaza Singapura

We visited their Plaza Singapura outlet, conveniently located on the 6th floor, for a comforting Japanese meal that truly satisfied our cravings.

Enviroment 

Along with the Japanese food, we had their handcrafted drinks, refreshing and well-balanced, perfect to wash down the hearty and flavourful meal.

Ice Yakult Cucumber Mix & Ice Lychee Mixed Berries

The Chicken Karaage Curry Udon was a satisfying bowl of comfort, generously portioned and packed with flavour. The thick, rich Japanese curry clung beautifully to the chewy udon noodles, while the golden-fried karaage pieces were crispy on the outside and juicy within.

Chicken Karaage Curry Udon

Each bite offered a hearty balance of textures, making it a fulfilling and warming dish that truly hit the spot.

Beef Sukiyaki (Free Flow Rice)

Chicken Karaage

The Beef Hamburg Curry Rice was hearty and satisfying, a comforting dish where melted cheese crowned the juicy beef patty, while a soft egg blanketed the rice beneath. Surrounded by rich, flavourful Japanese curry, every bite was savoury and indulgent, making it a wholesome meal worth savouring.

Beef Hamburg Curry Rice

The Unagi Roll was beautifully presented, topped with green onions and a sprinkle of roasted sesame seeds for an appetizing finish.

Unagi Roll

A long slice of tender unagi draped elegantly over the neatly cut rolls, each encasing egg, crab stick, and refreshing cucumber. 

Yummy

Such a combination offers a perfect balance of sweetness, texture, and flavour in every bite.

Cross-Section of the Unagi ROll

Simply loved the style and execution of the Tempura Moriawase, a delightful mix of prawns, lady’s finger, mushroom, brinjal, and sweet potato, all lightly battered and deep-fried to golden perfection. The tempura wasn’t greasy at all, and the clear dipping sauce complemented each crisp bite beautifully.

Tempura Moriawase

The Kakiage with Truffle Kabayaki Sauce was a delightful surprise, a tower of mixed vegetable tempura, light and crisp, drizzled generously with aromatic truffle kabayaki sauce. The sauce added a rich umami depth that perfectly complemented the crunchy texture, making it both indulgent and satisfying.

Kakiage with Truffle Kabayaki Sauce

Gyo Gyo is a great spot for gatherings, especially when cravings for comforting Halal Japanese food strike. With hearty dishes like curry udon, grilled fish, and sushi rolls, it’s perfect for sharing a satisfying meal with friends and family in a cosy setting.

Our Meal

GyoGyo Japanese Grilled Fish & Sukiyaki - Plaza Singapura
Location: Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Rd, #06-08/09/10, Singapore 238839

Queenstown Lontong

I have always heard about the famous Queenstown Lontong, and each time I pass by, the sight of the snaking long queue never fails to catch my eye. This time, I finally decided to join the line and give it a try.

Queenstown Lontong

The lontong was fairly standard yet satisfying, with generous rice cakes, egg, and tofu. The soft sayur lodeh, ikan bilis, and grated coconut flakes added depth and lifted the dish beautifully.

Lontong - $4

For sides, we added a serving of begedil, soft, hearty, and flavorful. It was filling and tasty, making a nice complement to the lontong.

Bagedil

We also ordered onion rings, which came uniquely paired with crispy fried ikan bilis — adding an extra crunch and a savory touch to the snack.

Onion Rings

To be honest, I preferred their Mee Rebus, the fragrant peanut-based gravy really hit the spot for me. Overall, while the stall has a rich heritage spanning generations and consistently draws long queues, I personally found the dishes rather standard. Perhaps on my next visit, I’ll give their Mee Soto a try instead.

Mee Rebus - $4

 

Rating: 3 / 5 

Queenstown Lontong
Location: Margaret Drive Hawker Centre, Blk 38A Margaret Dr, #01-27, Singapore 142038

Vary.Sg

Dropped by Vary.sg at Arab Street to check out their viral Monster Fries. Riding the Gen Z wave, they cheekily describe their food as "Vary Halal, Vary Mindful, and Vary Demure."

Shop of Vary.Sg

Looking at the menu, besides their star Monster Fries, Vary.sg also offers a playful and hearty lineup like Varispuds (loaded baked potatoes with toppings such as chili jack and Swedish meatballs) and Varichos (nacho platters loaded with cheesy, chili, or guac goodness). There’s even a refreshing Lichi Mojito and familiar iced teas to wash it all down. 

Menu

There are a few seasoning flavours to choose from, and we went with the Snow Cheese Fries. They are crispy, golden, and dusted with a cheesy snow-like coating that makes each bite addictively savory.

Snow Cheese Fries - $9

To elevate the taste, we paired our Monster Fries with mentai mayo and honey mustard, a perfect blend of creamy, savoury, and tangy that amped up every bite.

Mentai Mayo & Honey Mustard

The Lichi Mojito was cooling and refreshing, light, fruity, and a great palate cleanser after the savory fries.

Lichi Mojito - $5 Each

The Beef Chili Jack was hearty and satisfying, loaded with flavorful chili over a bed of spuds, making it a fulfilling comfort dish with every bite.

Beef Chicken  Chili Jack - $14

Sour Cream

A savory shepherd’s pie with a cheesy top and hearty filling sounds like proper comfort food, especially if the meat layer was well-seasoned. From the image, it looks like it had a creamy mashed potato top with those slightly crisped cheese patches, which add a nice texture contrast.

Shepard Pie

That's always a pleasant surprise when a humble-looking or small unit spot delivers food that’s genuinely delicious. It sounds like they really put care into the preparation, especially with a well-executed savory shepherd’s pie like that.

Vary.Sg
Location: 60 Arab St, #01-02, Singapore 199757

SpringLeaf Prata Place (Sunset Way)

While my habit of having Roti Prata usually stick to having breakfast, we made a slight change to have it for lunch. Springleaf Prata Place is a chained restaurant for Indian Food. They are also halal caterers who can make prata at the venue for all occasions. They offer a variety of food like thosai, prata, noodles, murtabak and set meals. 

Prata Set

Prata Set comes with 1 plain & 1 egg prata with 1 mini chicken (Masala/Curry) and a large hot Teh Tarik. The golden-brown and slightly cripsy exterior of the prata was served with fragrant curry that can be of free-flow servings from their self service counter. 

Prata Set - $8

Chicken Briyani Set

The Chicken Briyani Set comes with 1 Masala Chicken Briyani, 1 Large Teh Tarik or Regular Teh Tarik Cold with 2 pieces of Pappadum. The fluffy long grain basmati rice was infused with a symphony of spices, including cumin, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. The Malasa Chicken is tender and succulent, perfecting the marriage between itself and the fluffy aromatic rice, making each bite a delightful blend of texture.

Chicken Briyani Set - $9.70

The Hot Cup of  Teh Tarik rounds up everything in the meal. The harmonious blend of strong black tea with the fragrance of sweetened condensed milk was noteworthy. The art of "pulling" the tea contributed to its smooth and frothy texture, perking up its overall taste. 

Teh Tarik

Goreng Set 

Comes with 1 choice of Goreng, 1 Large Hot Teh Tarik and 1 Mini Masala or Curry Chicken 

• Maggi Goreng, 
• Mee Goreng, 
• Kuey Teow Goreng, 
• Mee Hoon Goreng, 
• Nasi Goreng

We had Mee Goreng and topped up another $1 for a sunny-side-up egg.

Mee Goreng Set + Sunny Side Up - $10.20

The curry chicken spice level was acceptable and we were served with a large chunk of chicken meat.

Curry Chicken 

While a good cup of Teh Tarik is made up of the right ratio of tea-to milk, I would say that they have it in the right proportion, striking a perfect balance between the robustness of the tea and the creaminess of the milk.

Teh Tarik

Checking out their Ultimate Series in their Menu, we had the Mini Ultimate Murtabak for 1 pax. It was loaded with chunk tandoori chicken, portobello mushrooms and mozzarella cheese. What's more, with the free-flow self-service curry station, we can help ourselves with fish or chicken curry, which makes the entire session merrier. 

Mini Ultimate Murtabak (For 1 Pax) - $10

This is my first time having Barley in combination of lime and I find it quite special. We enjoyed the pearl barleys as well as the refreshing taste from the lime.

Barley Limau

While Springleaf Prata Place offers an extensive menu, especially with some speciality and Ultimate Series which are unique to me, it is definite that we will be back for more.

SpringLeaf Prata Place (Sunset Way)
Location: Sunset Way Residence, 106 Clementi Street 12, #01-64, Singapore 120106
Website

Kebabchi Biryani [Media Invite]

If you are craving for good Biryani, here's an introduction to the Halal Pakistani Biryani at Bedok Mall. It is located on level 1 of the mall beside McDonald's. 

Kebabchi Biryani

Kebabchi is known for serving plates of Authentic Pakistani Dum Biryanis. Ever heard of Pakistani Dum Biryani? What's so different from the usual ones we had? 

On the wall

Kebabchi Biryani is a perfect spot for takeout or even a good dine-in with friends. The environment is both comfortable and inviting. The design of the place are colorful with their cultural art pieces which add a little charm to the entire ambiance. On top of that, the Staff over the counter were friendly and accommodating.

Atmosphere

Mango Lassi hits the right spot. It was not too sweet and to my liking while Bundung Basil is a combination of Basil and our bundung drink. Roohafza Sharbat, is a popular thirst-quenching and energizing drink with cooling effects on a hot day.

Mango Lassi, Bundung Basil & Roohafza Sharbat - $5, $4, $3

Mutton Dum Biryani was packed with fragrance. The rice was steamed perfectly with aromatic spices and further enhanced with chopped celery and fried onions. The chunks of Mutton were perfectly seasoned, succulent and flavourful in every bite.

Mutton Dum Biryani - $14

Mutton does not have any gamey taste and is definitely worth ordering.

Mutton

Besides incorporating the usual spices like star anise and herbs, there was also dried prune among them, making up the unique biryani flavours with the medley of spices and adding a distinct tangy element to the dish. The lamb shank is a recommended dish on their menu and definitely deserves a mention. It was served on the fluffy rice bed and was delicious. The fork-tender and effortless pull of the lamb meat enhanced our dining experience, making us want more. 

Lamb Shank Biryani - $22

Creamy and luscious Butter Chicken had got our appetite too. It was tasty with generous chunks of chicken within. It paired best with the plain whole-meal Chapati.

Chapati & Butter Chicken - $2 + $18

Must Try!

Before bidding goodbye for the day, we had all 3 dessert items on the menu. The Gulab Jamun is a popular and sweet dessert made of fried dough balls soaked in flavoured syrup.

We had Kheer, a pudding or porridge popular in the Indian Subcontinent. It's topped and flavoured with nuts. Texture wise it is soft and reminds me of the oats.

While the cold dessert, Kulfi is a frozen dairy dessert often described as the Traditional Indian Ice Cream. They are part of the national cuisine of Pakistan too.

Gulab Jaman, Kulfi, Kheer - $2.50, $6, $5

Thank you Kebachi, Waqas & Zarrar for the Invitation and hospitality.

Kebabchi Biryani
Location: Bedok Mall, 311 New Upper Changi Rd, #01-12, Singapore 467360
Website