LiXin Teochew Fishball Noodle

A visit to LiXin Teochew Fishball Noodles at VivoCity’s Food Republic brought me back to one of Singapore’s earliest fishball noodle brands. With a proud 58-year heritage and a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition for four consecutive years since 2022, LiXin continues to hold its ground as a well-loved name in the local food scene.

What sets LiXin apart lies in its commitment to quality and consistency. Their fishballs are freshly made daily using 100% yellowtail fish, delivering a firm yet bouncy texture with natural sweetness. Paired with noodles tossed in their iconic sweet and spicy signature chilli, the flavours are well-balanced. The chilli adds a gentle heat that lifts the savoury notes without overpowering the freshness of the fish. The addition of freshly fried lard further enhances the dish, giving it a fragrant richness that ties everything together beautifully.

LiXin Teochew Fishball Noodles

Beyond their 19 physical stalls islandwide, LiXin has also expanded into an online store, offering their Michelin Bib Gourmand–recognised fish products. These are perfect for hotpot, soups, or even as a convenient addition to elevate your home-cooked meals.

Michelin Bib Gourmand

The dry Mee Pok, dressed in LiXin’s signature sweet-spicy chilli, delivers a well-calibrated balance of heat and savoury depth without overwhelming the palate. The noodles retain a pleasing bite, while the addition of crispy pork lard and fresh spring onions lends both textural contrast and aromatic lift. Served alongside, the fishballs impress with their clean, natural sweetness and distinctly bouncy texture, a testament to their freshness, making this a surprisingly compelling bowl even for those who are not typically drawn to fishball noodles.

Fish Ball Noodle (Dry/Soup) - $6.50

The Signature Noodle, available in both soup and dry options, was also ordered with Mee Pok. The accompanying soup showcased a comforting bowl filled with bouncy fishballs, tender slices of fishcake, and two fish dumplings, each delivering a clean, subtly sweet flavour that reflects the quality of the fish. Light yet flavourful, the broth ties the elements together, offering a balanced and satisfying counterpart to the richer, chilli-laced dry noodles.

Signature Noodle (Dry / Soup) - $8.50

The fishball and fishcake reveal a delicate natural sweetness in the light broth, offering a clean and quietly satisfying finish.

Fishballs and Fish Cakes in Soup

The fish dumpling, often affectionately known as the “UFO,” is tender and delicate, with a well-seasoned filling that adds a satisfying depth of flavour.

Fish Dumpling 

A squeeze of lime over the fishcake brightens its natural sweetness, adding a refreshing citrus lift that enhances each bite.

Fish Cake - $4.20

The fried jumbo wanton delivers a satisfying crackle with every bite, its crisp golden skin offering a light yet addictive crunch.

Fried Jumbo Wanton - $1.50 Each

Overall, this meal delivers a comforting and satisfying experience, where each component comes together harmoniously without unnecessary complexity. From the well-balanced noodles to the fresh, bouncy fish products, it is a simple yet thoughtfully executed spread that truly satiates the taste buds. Sometimes, it is these unpretentious, familiar flavours that leave the most lasting impression.

My Order

LiXin Teochew Fishball Noodle (Food Republic @ VivoCity)
Location: 1 HarbourFront Walk, #03-01 Vivo City, Singapore 098585

Yappari Steak Singapore (VivoCity)

I finally joined the queue at Yappari Steak, a place I’ve been eager to try since its opening. Each time I passed by, the long line had always put me off, but this time the crowd was manageable. With about eight groups ahead of me, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to see what the buzz was all about.

Yappari Steak

The interior features simple, no-frills furnishings with wooden tables and chairs neatly arranged in rows. 

Interior

Warm lighting and orange accents give the space a cosy, casual feel. It was already buzzing with diners when I arrived, no surprise given the mealtime rush, which added to the lively, canteen-style atmosphere.

Logo

We placed our orders quickly and, almost as soon as we were seated, were served with refillable salad, soup and rice. Along one side of the table sat a wide variety of seasonings you could help yourself to and pour onto the small sauce plate provided. The basics are classic salt and pepper, but if you are after something more refreshing, do give the onion sauce a try. It’s worth experimenting to find your favourite combination.

Japanese Green Tea - $1.30 (Refillable)

Yappari Steak is known for its quality and diligent preparation. Originating from Japan, the restaurant has built a reputation for serving thick yet tender cuts of steak, presented plump and juicy on a sizzling lava stone plate. Each piece arrives rare, exceptionally juicy inside, and you get the added pleasure of grilling the steak yourself to your preferred doneness right at the table.

Yappari Steak Top Blade (150g) with additional Foie Gras - $19.80 + $8 

While the steak is wonderfully juicy, the sizzling hot plate can cause splatters. It’s a good idea to put on the disposable apron provided to protect your clothes and keep your hands at a safe distance from the hot stone while cooking.

Nakaochi Karubi Rib Finger with Foie Gras - $27.80  (200g)

We also topped up our meal with the medium-sized foie gras, and absolutely loved its creamy, melt-in-the-mouth texture. Rich yet delicate, it paired beautifully with the steak and made the whole experience feel extra indulgent.

Foie Gras

Overall, I truly enjoyed the food at Yappari Steak from the quality cuts of meat to the thoughtful sides and seasonings. The experience felt hearty yet fuss-free, and I’ll definitely be back to try more on their menu.

Yappari Steak Singapore (VivoCity)
Location: 1 HarbourFront Walk, #02-110 VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Website

Bulgogi Syo

Bulgogi Syo is a Korean BBQ Hotstone chain which lends an interesting dining concept where they basically flambe and provide a fire show at the diners' table. They stand up with their 3-step hot-stone grilling process from Korea, the first ever in Singapore.  There are 3 store locations currently, namely Bugis Junction, The Woodleigh Mall and the latest in Vivocity.

Makgeolli Alcohol Mix Tower 

While enjoying the first ever 3-Step Hotstone Grilling from Korea, we had Lychee Makgeolli as our beverages. It was refreshing and a good choice accompanying the meal.

Our Tower of Lychee Makgeolli

Don't miss out on this Father's Day Special, their flaming Jeju Pork Ribs, which gave us an introduction of their New 3-Step Process, Simmer, Torch and Flambe. These pork ribs were stacking up each other accompanied by broccoli and drenched with sauce. 

Flaming Jeju Pork Ribs - $69

A good sight of gushing flame in front of our eyes in seconds set the perfect dramatic scene.

Flaming Jeju Pork Ribs

It was simmered with slices of potatoes, cabbages and ttekboki.

In the Broth

Every item in the pot was well soaked in the broth.

Soaked Up the Goodness

Not forgetting that every piece of ribs was so bone-falling tender. 

Pork Rib

The Flaming Jeju Pork Ribs come with Free Flow Rice, Broth and Banchan. Here are some of the Banchan we had, Kimchi Tomatoes, pickled radish, Kimchi and Mayo Macaroni. 

Banchan & Sauce

Pair the flaming pork ribs with these bowls of fragrant pearl rice topped with crispy seaweed.

Rice

Among the usual pancakes, we had chosen something not so common, the Bacon Kongnamul Pancake which is also their new creation. Besides the crispiness of the pancake that captivates diners with every bite, its well complemented by the savory accompany sauce. 

Bacon Kongnamul Pancake - $17.90

Enhancing the diner's experience, Bulgogi Syo added another series of flaming Sotbap aka the Korean Pot Rice with Flames. In fact, the way of preparing the meal with a flame enhanced the meat's flavour as well as the fragrance of the food. Be prepared to indulge in their 4 different kinds of Sotbap, namely:

(1) Hangari Marinated Chicken Sotbap

(2) Pork Jowl Sotbap

(3) Scallop Mentai Mayo Sotbap

(4) Wagyu Tteokgalbi Sotbap 

We enjoyed the Hangari Marinated Chicken Sotbap. It comes with kimchi radish, spring onions, pajuri sauce decked up with white rice.

Hangari Marinated Chicken - $16.90

Enjoy the Korean steamed eggs with cheese. If you love the cheese pull effect, eat while it's hot.

Cheesy Gyeran Jjim - $11.90

Register at https://syorewards.eber.co with sign-up bonus of a total $150, redeemable at a variety of restaurants - SEORAE, Bulgogi Syo, POCHA! and the soon-to-open Namu Bulgogi.

Each dollar spent at participating stores will earn k-won which can be used to redeem dishes and discounts from the rewards menu

Subject to Terms & Conditions.

Bulgogi Syo
Location: Vivocity, 1 Harbourfront Walk,  #B2-29 Singapore 098585
Website

DaXi

 Have been passing by DaXi several times everytime I'm in VivoCity but have never set a time to eat at this Asian fusion restaurant. By going through their menu, I realised that they offer several Taiwanese-style items such as Braised Pork Rice and Egg Crepe.

DaXi

I guess these Signature Dumplings were quite popular as many tables do have them ordered. They are handmade daily and come in 3 variations, Original Pork, Salted Egg Pork and Japanese Mushroom, served in 5 pieces per plate. They are cooked in different styles too, chicken broth, boiled or pan-fried. 

We had the Pan Fried version and the serving looked unique with its promising circular crispy base, sheltering the 5 pieces of Dumplings.

Pork Pan Fried Dumplings - $10.80

The dumplings were plump and encased with juicy minced meat fillings. They don't look very greasy and I'm glad that they tasted good.

Dumplings

Another Taiwanese Staple that we could not help but order was their Lu Rou Fan aka Braised Pork Belly Rice. We topped the bowl of rice with a braised egg at an additional dollar. The consistency of the braised sauce used for the pork belly was great. The meat and fats ratio from the pork belly was good too.

Taiwanese Lu Rou Fan 飘风卤肉饭 - $5.80 + $1

The Egg Roll is another item not to be missed. We had the Ham Cheese flavour and it was yummy. The roll was thin, wrapping up slice of ham and cheese together. Savoury taste with the sweet-tasting sauce drizzled on it.

Ham Cheese Egg Roll 火腿起司蛋饼 - $6.80

I was expecting Taro Taste but was quite shock as it tasted of sweet potato with grass jelly instead. Nevertheless, the drink still tasted good with Grass Jelly, refreshing and cooling.

Taro Milk with Grass Jelly 紫薯撞奶烧仙草 - $5.80

The Grilled Teriyaki Chicken was crispy and succulent. It was served in a long place with some pickles, rice and salad drizzled with roasted sesame sauce.

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken 日式照烧鸡排 - $12.80

With DaXi seen in quite a number of malls, I think it will not be my last time visiting them for we are a fan of Taiwanese Cuisine too.

Rating: 3.25 / 5

DaXi
Location: VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, #02-83/83A/84 Singapore 098585
Website

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

Marché Mövenpick Singapore (Vivocity)

I believe that Marché Mövenpick Singapore needs no introduction. This Swiss marketplace restaurant offers a wide selection of fresh and healthy products. If you enjoy the atmosphere where your food is being prepared or cooked in a warm and open kitchen, you will definitely enjoy the lively market there.

They pride themselves on honest, hand-prepared food made from fresh and local ingredients. Take a break and enjoy the moments when you see your food cook in front of your eyes.

Chicken Schnitzel is another classic dish of my favourite. It features the breaded fried chicken cutlet served with mashed potatoes and green salad. Completed with a squeeze of lemon juice over it.

Chicken Schnitzel - $19.90

Do not miss out on Marche's Rosti as it's a must-have and one of my dishes on the table for every visit without fail! The Rosti is done from scratch, from peeling and shredding the potato. We all love the crispy crust of the Original Swiss Rosti while having the inside soft and fluffy. We enjoyed the Rosti topped with sour cream and chicken cheese sausage.

Original Swiss Rosti & Chicken Cheese Sausage - $10.90 + $7.90

Their Mushroom soup is also one of my all-time favourites too. Pairing it with Garlic Bread gave you a very full and comforting fill. The bread was of a thick slice, tucked with some butter at the side of the plate.

Cream of Mushroom & Garlic Bread- $8.90 + $4.20

The Cream of Mushroom's texture is thick and creamy topped with croutons. I love the little mushroom bits and chunks from every scoop of my serving. 

Mushroom Soup & Croutons

Filling up our protein quota with Grilled Ribeye Steak. Doneness by default for their steak will be medium. Take a look at the charred grill lines and the glistering top layer, does it make you drool a bit?

Grilled Ribeye Steak - $28.90

Dipping the steak into the brown sauce provided. It's simply delicious!

Steak Dripping with Sauce

Pairing the Ribeye Steak with an additional side order of Sauteed Mushrooms. These mushrooms were not only soft but well seasoned with some herbs which perfected their taste!

Sauteed Mushrooms - $6.90 (Add On)

Why does their Pizza taste better? Besides using their own recipe, it's all-natural. Natural homemade dough with an Ultra-Thin Crispy base topped with cheese and fresh herbs.

Truffle Mushroom Pizza - $27.90

True to its name, the Truffle Mushroom Pizza combines the earthy truffle flavours with sauteed mushrooms and packs a great indulgence. Our table was filled with a strong hint of truffle aroma and besides having tomato slices as a base, the generous amounts of mushrooms, cheese slices, rocket and grated cheese powder simply gave this classic a great twist. 

Too heavy

There are many dishes to explore from their fresh market. We definitely would not just stop our visit here and we see more of it coming. Having said that, we were confident that their quality and standards will be good for they have given us good assurance over the years.

Rating: 4 / 5

Marché Mövenpick VivoCity
Location: VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, #03-14 Singapore 098585

Nearest Station: HarbourFront  (NE1/CC29)
Website

Waa Cow

Vicocity's newsletter recently landed in my mailbox mentioning the newly opened stores at Level 1 and the name of "Waa Cow" caught my attention. In fact, the outlet in Vicocity is their New Flagship with Family-centric Menu

Waa Cow in Vivocity

Our meal started off with Chawanmushi. We ordered the one with Yuzu flavour and no doubt it has a slight Yuzu fragrance. The Chawanmushi was wobbly and smooth, however, I still find that its lacking a good taste where we can normally find in the sushi place. 

Yuzu Chawanmushi - $5.40

The sashimi grade Hokkaido scallops were torched and topped with Mentaiko as well as spring onions. The texture was slimy and overall quite average for us.

Hokkaido Scallops - $15.90

The Original Wagyu Beef bowl was topped with an additional Onsen Egg at another $1.50. The Wagyu Beef was cooked sous-vide for 24 hours, with a golden brown color and served on a bed of rice with a soy-based beef sauce made in house.
 

Original Wagyu Beef with additional Onsen Egg - $24.40

 The beef was tender and well-marbled while The 62 °C eggs were simply addictive.

Wagyu Beef

Waa Cow's signature Wagyu beef is torched with their special beef sauce, drizzled with house-made Mentaiko Mayonnaise, a 62 °C egg, and a soy-based beef sauce made in-house. This yummy Mentaiko Wagyu Beef was served on a bed of rice.

Mentaiko Wagyu Beef - $24.90

The quality of our meals was good and I will like to be back for their Charashi Bowls.

Rating: 3.25 / 5

Waa Cow! Vivo City
Location: 1 Harborfront Walk #01-188C Singapore 098585
Website