Wei Ji Noodle House

As I walked around Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre, I realise that a few shops were actually selling raw fish noodles which looked pretty "new stuff" to me and that includes Wei Ji Noodle House.
 

Wei Ji Noodle House

However, we still ordered a plate of Wanton Noodle to try it out. I was fooled by the outlook of plain looking noodles and the first impression of the Mee Kia did not look any appetizing. There wasnt any chiili added and it was just simply a dish with noodles, Wanton and Char Siew. I was astonished by the my first taste, the noodles was delicious! Then I came to realize that the stall helpers had pork lard and oil included which was why it was plain but flavourful. Another good note was that the little wanton given was great as well. Besides the minced meat filling, it was mixed with crunchy chestnuts which I thought only "Shui jiao" has such kind of combinations.

Wanton Noodle - $2.50

What a pleasant surprise I had, it seems like I had to make frequent visit to Chinatown Complex Market, enjoying and exploring more surprises from other stalls.

Rating: 3.5 / 5
Wei Ji Noodle House
Location: Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre, 335 Smith St #02-035 Singapore 050335

Hill Street Char Kway Teow

My eyes caught the words "Hill Street Char Kway Teow" while I'm on my food adventure in Chinatown Complex on Christmas Day. It somehow ringed the bell and I thought I had read somewhere that they were good. Though I was rather full after those breakfast meals I had, I decided to give the dish a try before I "closed" my stomach for breakfast.
 

Stall of Hill Street Fried Kway Teow

There were big "Hums" (cockles) on display, not the real ones but replica. Initially I thought that there were really such big cockles for my plate of CKT (Char Kway Teow) until I saw what was on my plate. Ha! Dream on, I told myself.

The shop is managed by a couple, probably with senior citizen status. The lady would take the order and serve the customers while the man did all the frying.

Hill Street Fried Kway Teow, is perhaps the plate of CKT which I had seen the most yellow noodle. The serving of noodle is close to the serving of kway teow. Consistently fried with a good taste and dark brown color, yummy! The "Hum" was bigger in size than the usual and ingredients like Chinese sausages were generously put in. Other than that, spring onions, eggs and beansprouts were used, matching the basic ingredients of CKT. Self service is expected but it would be exceptional if you are sitting nearby the stall.

Char Kway Teow - $3

Hill Street CHar Kway Teow

Rating:  4 / 5

Hill Street Char Kway Teow
Location: Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre, 335 Smith St #02-032, Singapore 050335

Your Guide to Lou Hei

History of Renri (from Wikipedia):

Renri (人日, literally Human Day) refers specially to the 7th day of zhengyue (正月, the first month in the Chinese calendar). According to Chinese customs, renri was the day of creation of human beings. It is celebrated not only in China, but also other regions influenced by Chinese culture. In Chinese myths, nüwa (女媧) is the godness who created the world. She created the animals on different days, and human beings on the seventh day after the creation of the world.

Preparation

Step 1 : All at the table offer New Year greetings.
Say: 恭喜发财 “Gong Xi Fa Cai” meaning “Congratulations for your wealth” or 万事如意 “Wan shi ru yi” meaning To Be Smooth Sailing.

Step 2: When adding fish, this symbolizes the abundance or excess through the year
Say 年年有馀 "Nian Nian You Yu"

Step 3: Adding of Pomelo / Lime to increase luck and auspicious value
Say 大吉大利 "Da Ji Da Li"

Step 4: Pepper & Cinnamon Powder spread over the ingredients hoping to attract wealth and treasures.
Say 招财进宝 "Zhao Cai Jin Bao"

Step 5: Pouring out the oil circling the ingredients to increase all profits 10,000 times and encouraging money to flow in from all directions
Say 一本万利 "Yi Ben Wan Li and 财原广进 "Cai Yuan Guang Jin"

Step 6: Carrots are added, indicating blessings of good luck.

Say 鸿运当头"Hong Yun Dang Tou".

Step 7: Then the shredded greens is placed, symbolising eternal youth aka forever young.
Say 青春长驻 "Qing Chun Chang Zhu"

Step 8: The shredded white radish is added, meaning reaching a level higher in each step - prosperity in business and promotion at work.
Say 风生水起 "Feng sheng shui qi" and 步步高升 "Bu Bu Gao Sheng"

Step 9: Chopped Peanut bits represents eternal youth and also they are an icon of longevity. Not only that they are spreaded on the dish symbolizing a household filled with gold and silver.
Say 金银满屋 "Jin Yin Man Wu"

Step 10: Sesame seeds quickly follow symbolizing a flourishing business.
Say 生意兴隆 "Sheng Yi Xing Long".

Step 11: Followed by deep-fried flour crisps in the shape of golden pillows that literally means the whole floor would be filled with gold.
Say 遍地黄金 "Bian Di Huang Jin".

Step 12: Start tossing the salad in an auspicious 7 times with loud shouts of “Lo Hei” 捞起 and other auspicious New Year wishes.
Say Lo hei 捞起 which is Cantonese for “Tossing Luck”.

Lou Hei

 UMakeMeHungry Wishes you a Huat Huat Year!

Waraku Japanese Causual Dining

If not for the mocked big black bowls of ramen in the display cabinets along the 3rd level passage way, we would not have known its existence as it is hidden in one passage of The Central. Under the family of Waraku there are two kinds of dining available, pasta de waraku, selling fusion Western Japanese pasta and Waraku Japanese Casual Dining, focusing more on the common Japanese cuisines.

Waraku Japanese Casual Dining

Simply love the windows view by the side of Singapore River, however most of the seats have taken up. For walk in customers, there were no piority seats given. Thus, remember to do your homework before visiting if you want such a view.

View By the Windows

 It's causal and relaxing environment were all what we were looking for after a hard week of work.

Tables

The drinks came just right in time clearing our thirst and creating a good passage way in the system before "pouring" the heavy dinner down.

Beverages

The sweet Japanese Egg Roll was our sweet start of the night. Love its sweetness and the soft layers rolled up. For a refreshing treat, tag some white radish along.

Dashimaki - $4.80

The bowls were as big as what was in the displayed cabinets, perhaps as big as it could fill up one's face. It was filled with Ramen Noodles, roasted pork, seasoned bamboo shoots, vegetables with soya base ramen soup.

Shoyu Ramen - $13.80

With a good few pieces of tender roasted pork to go along with the hot bowl of soup. Nice!

Sliced Roasted Pork

I like the presentation of the sukiyaki wazen especially when it was so appetizing. Love the thin sliced beef & tofu suki hot pot that comes with egg, mini udon, chawanushi, potato salad, white rice and pickles.

Sukiyaki Wazen - $30.80

Dip these thin slices of pork into the hot pot to cook the meet, thereafter dip them into the egg to enjoy the taste.

Sliced Beef

 Yakitori lovers, this is your take. Enjoy assorted sticks all in a plate.

Yakitori Mori - $12.80

Consist of Uzura Bacon, Grilled quail eggs wrapped with bacon, the Aromatic Asparagus Bacon whereby grilled asparagus is wrapped with bacon too. All was good except the fried chicken wing which had too much of salt rubbed on. Weight conscious diners might want to give the pork belly stick a miss.

Yakitori

All in all, the ambiance was great just that service was a bite lacking. Regarding the dining space for table of 2, it was rather squeezy as well especially when we ordered quite a number of dishes. Having dined in both outlets (the one in East Coast), I would say both places have their hits and misses.

Waraku Japanese Casual Dining
Location: The Central, 6 Eu Tong Seng St #03-89/97/98 (Soho1), Singapore 059817
Operation Hours: 11.30am - 11pm (Last Order 10.30pm)
Website

Sedap! [Closed]

Sedap! is located in the Sports Arena of Pandan Gardens, opened daily as early as 8AM to 12 Midnight serving local food like Nasi Lemak, mixed vegetables, Mee Rebus and Mee Siam.

Sedap!

The food they sold was more towards local Coffeestall. One can get their cup of Kopi, teh , toast and half boil eggs over their breakfast. What a way to enjoy a Singaporean style of breakfast!

Counter

The place looked like the typical industrial canteen with high ceiling and Air Con Cassettes hanging high above the tables. And red was their main color, other than white.

Overall View

 It's really a case of what you pay for what you get. At a price of $3.50 (normally we pay $2.50 - $3 at coffeeshops), the portion was stomach fillings and comes with something special, the halal version of Ngoh Hiong.

Mee Rebus $3.50

While I'm enjoying my Mee Rebus, those with  bigger appetite can try their Nasi Lemak. Since they are opened daily till midnight, this is just another spot for supper. What's more food after 10pm will be at discounted price!

Rating: 3/5

Sedap!
Location: 200 Pandan Gardens #01-12/13 Singapore 609336

Royal Rojak

Here comes the Royal Rojak located in JEM Cooked House!

Royal Rojak

Added with Century eggs, my Must Have Item in the Rojak :). Filled with chopped peanuts, fried you tiao, pineapple, beansprouts and all the other common items we can find. What made the bowl of Rojak different wast that jellyfish was added too.

Rojak - $4.50 (with century egg added)

Overall, I find it rather standard even though I'm quite happy to see the small portions of jellyfish included. If only the You Tiao were a little heated up and Century eggs were chilled enough, it would have fare better.

Rating: 3 / 5

Royal Rojak 黄家囉喏

Location: Jem, 50 Gateway Road #05-04, Singapore 608549

Li Xin Teochew Fishball Noodle

What's the crowd over at Li Xin Teochew Fishball Noodle in Cookhouse by Koufu? It seemed to be one of the popular stalls among so many stalls there. Perhaps this Teochew Fishball has its reputation over most of the foodcourts. Let's check it out...

Li Xin Teochew Fishball Noodle

It's so generous of the stall assistant to fill with with tons of ketup and chilli, sprinkled with chopped spring onions. Though it was oily with the input of cripsy pork lard, it still worth the while having such bowl of Bee Tai Mak (at least I havent come across anyone so generous).

Bee Tai Mak (Dry) - $4.50

Unexpectedly the fishballs were good, chewy and bouncy.  Yums! But overall, due to the oiliness and too much sauce added, I would not rate it a 4 out of 5. For healthier version, ask for lesser sauce or skip the dry version. :)

Fishballs

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Li Xin Teochew Fishball Noodle
Location: Jem, 50 Gateway Road #05-04, Singapore 608549