IPPIN

IPPIN Cafe Bar is a place located in Mohamed Sultan Road serving unpretentious real Japanese food that taste truly from home since October 2014. The business is run by Miss Ayumi Fujishiro, daughter of IPPIN's owner. At the first sight of this lady, I have totally no clue that she is a Japanese as she speaks perfect Singlish and in fact before that I have asked if she is a local.

IPPIN

Besides serving home cook meals, IPPIN also serves as a one stop shop with a section on the merchandise whereby people get to find goods directly imported from Japan like rice, noodle, tea, beverages as well as kitchen essentials. At a closer look on those items, I could not remember seeing them in Japanese marts like Isetan or even Mediya thus it marked all the differences.

Interior

Place was rather cozy and ambiance has given us a "feel at home" feeling. If you want to hook onto the cyber world, free WIFI service is available here.

Merchandise

Besides having merchandise and serving Japanese Food, IPPIN also catered a cooking corner for those who want to learn more about Japanese dishes.

Cooking Corner

Up the little steps to somewhere near the kitchen, you may get to see this little space artistically decorated by these art pieces from Children age 4 to 15. Interested in getting one of them or even creating one of them? They are actually located along the same road too in Mohamed Sultan.

Art Corner from the Children

More information on the children art classes and name cards are found here.

Children Art Classes

Since IPPIN is more towards the classic home based food in Japan, you won't find typical Singapore Japanese Food chains here like, bento, sashimi, sushi or Katsu here. They kind of opened up a bigger picture to my dictionary of Japanese Food and saying this, they have a condiment rack with

Condiments

Hiroshima is the number one landing of oysters in Japan and here we are, welcoming such big, thick and tasty oysters grilled in ponzu (yuzu vinegar) butter sauce achieving such refreshing taste. Besides being popular in size, these oysters were actually raised in clean ocean to attain such a clean taste. The set comes with rice (with barley), Hatcho miso soup, yummy Nikujaga pork and potato stew, salad and houjicha pudding (roasted green tea dessert), totally worth the value.

Grilled Oyster & Veggies in Ponzu Butter Sauce Set - $20

Love this side dish, it was a good comfort dish with tender sliced pork and the combination of potatoes with carrots gave a sweet starchy taste to the dish. Glass noodle was included and had well adsorbed the stew. It goes very well with a bowl of plain rice or even good enough to be served as a dish.

Nikujaga pork and potato stew

Another way of serving oysters was to have them deep fried! Likewise, these Oysters are originated from Hiroshima.Comes in 5 on a plate, these oysters were lightly battered and deep fried into its attractive crispiness. Apart from the way of serving the oysters, the sides in the set remains the same. On a good note, the egg mayonnaise and wasabi dip was very refreshing for the fried oyster, what I like about the dip was that you can actually get to see the ingredients of the dip like hard boil egg whites and cuts of cucumber.

Deep Fried Oyster Set - $24

Just take a closer look at the deep fried oysters, aren't they beautifully done up?

Deep Fried Oyster

Chicken pieces was plump and tender, well accentuated by the dashi (stock). Having Oyakudon for a Japanese meal is usually my favourite out of their rice dishes for it tasted so fragrant with its mild sweet stock with eggs and chicken.

Oyakudon Set - $15

Wettness level was abit high, nevertheless it was still a good tasty bowl of Oyakudon. This set comes with miso soup, hojicha pudding too.

Oyakudon Set

Miso Soup

Fried Soba aka Yakisoba is unique and had caught hold of my appetite during dinner. No doubt it is any Japanese comfort food, it is seldom found in most Japanese restaurant and the secret to this dish is none other than their savoury sauce.Yellow onions, carrots, cabbages and meat were mixed in giving additional texture to the tasty noodles.

Yakisoba Set - $12

Having said this, this dish is remind Miss Ayumi Fujishiro , owner of the IPPIN's daughter, on her dad's home cooking, so feel at home! The set also comes with small dish (Kobachi).

Yakisoba

Having tea after meal is good and its tea appreciation session. We had the chance to try out the most popular green tea, Sencha which has a perfect balance of refreshing aroma, delicate sweetness and mild bitterness. In order to have good tea served, server has to seized the right timing and temperature of water. GEnmaicha and Hojicha area also available.

Sencha - $6 per pot

For those who don't really take Sake, do try out this fruitty flavoured drinks and rest assured that you may get hook to them. In fact, this was the best recommended by one of the service staff. With 17% alcohol content and you can even taste the pulps among the drink. The taste was both sweet with a little sour just like the taste of Ichigo, strawberries in Japanese.

Ichigo

Besides having Strawberries Flavour, there is also Yuzu. It tasted both as great but my vote will goes to the former.

Yuzu - $34 per bottle

These peanuts are totally driving me nuts, coated and available in 3 flavours, serious coffee, creamy strawberry and grassy matcha. They are not only addictive but also something interesting to take note of.

On the right, the wobbly Hojicha pudding. The style did not fit me as I find that the Tea taste was a little too strong here which turned out to be bitter.

Rattsu Nuts

Overall,  IPPIN did really stand up in terms of serving classic hearty Japanese home style food with  competitive pricing. It is an absolute spot to hit if you want to enjoy something different from the usual Japanese fare.

Thanks Hazel & IPPIN Team for inviting and the great hospitality during our tasting session.

Rating: 3.25 / 5

IPPIN Cafe Bar 
Location: 18 Mohamed Sultan Road Singapore 238967
Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Tel: 6733 4794

Sing Yi Seafood Garden

Driving into the industrial estate at night gave me another view of the world in Pioneer. Everywhere were dim and under the dim street lights, it gave me the kind of uneasiness even though I was not alone. Perhaps because of the environment where many hostels were around and none of them seems local which made the surrounding so different from the area I always think it ought to be. Culture in there was not the usual stuff we see and feel daily, for example I would never expect someone flying on the concrete pavement at night looking at his smart phone.

I have never been to Pioneer Industrial again after since my last job. It was really a drastic change and I have never knew there were eateries, conveniences stalls and hardware stalls all clustered in that area within walking distance from the dormitories.

With a few similar coffee shops around, Kim San Leng Coffeeshop seemed to have take over the eateries territories in the Vicinity.

Kim San Leng

Cze Char Hokkien Mee is those flat yellow noodles that comes in braised gluey gravy with ingredients such as lean pork, prawns, fishcakes and vegetables. Taste was rather standard and with the use of fried pork lard, noodle was fragrant. Not only that, the fried dumplings skin made the dish rather a memorable one at its first impression. On a side note, medium portion was good enough for two.

Hokkien Mee - $8.50 (Medium)

Supposingly to be hotplate marmite chicken but the hoteplate was there more for its name than to enhance its taste. There were no sizzling scene and banana leaf was placed at its base. Marmite Chicken tasted good with sweetened pineapple cubes, dried chilli and sesame seeds clinging on to its sticky chicken pieces. The only disappointment in the dish was that there were more bones than meat expected.

Marmite Chicken - $12 (Small)

While we expected soup to be served first, it had gone the reverse, becoming the last. However, out of 3 dishes ordered, I would vote for the soup. It was tasty not only with salted dvegetables but also prune which kind of remind me that they shared similar ingredients to one of the steamed fish dishes. Delighting, added with carrots, fried onions oil to enhance its taste, at the same time slices of cut gingers were included to spark a refreshing taste among the ingredients used.

Salted Vegetables & Tofu Soup - $5 (Small)

The place is suitable for families meals and best for gatherings too, since it is located in industrial park, it might not be easily accessible but definitely a place to go as a group. I would definitely be back for meals.


Rating: 3 / 5

Sing Yi Seafood Garden
Location: 3 Soon Lee Street #01-11 Pioneer Junction Singapore 627606

Comnam Broken Rice Bowl

It's been a while I had heard about Comnam and its broken Rice bowl. They are launched by the folks of NamNam Noodle Bar and there is no need for another question about its location as they are just located next to the Noodle Bar. Likewise, when you talk about MSG in their food, it does follow suit.

Comnam Vietnamese Street Eats

Even the ordering concept is the same, just fill up the order on the piece of paper with pencil and proceed to the counter for payment and collection. Comnam, when broken down and translated in Vietnamese refers to cooked rice (Com) and Nam Refers to Southern (Vietnam). Thus if you are thinking the origin of the broken rice dish, its actually from Saigon in South Vietnam.

Ordering Process

Having their desserts before the meal as drink, I find that this Che dried Longan, Lotus Seeds, Water Chestnut and seaweed was rather similar to our chinese dessert, Ching Tng. Served in a cup where ingredients were stacked up occupying half of it with shaved ice toppings over them. Sweetness was moderate and tasted refreshing.

Che Dried Longan Drink - $4

No dripping of Viet Black Coffee as we had ordered them in Cold Condensed milk Version.

Viet Coffee - $2.60

Crispy Potao String Shrimps were served in with a faux newspaper on its base, absorbing the grease from the fried stuff. This String Shrimps looked extremely delicate and indeed very crispy. A closer look at the curls, they were actually made up of yellow onion rings.

Crispy Potato String Shrimps - $6.90

Another side plate that is worth the order will be its calamari or rather cripsy squid on the menu. It was deep fried and also presented with a faux newspaper. Dipping them into the dill and green chillies sauce is indeed very appetizing.

Crispy Squid, Dill, Green Chillies

  Besides having the traditional metal cup with ordering slip and pencil on the table. Seasonings and condiments were readily prepared on every table.

On the Table

Presentation of the Dry Rice Noodles with Sauteed chicken, prawn, seafood money bag was a common sight of a bowl of Vietnamese food where you find raw shredded vegetables like carrot, cabbages and beansprouts on the bowl. Also, a lime wedge as a add on enhancing the taste of the food.

Dry Rice Noodles - $10.90

Sauteed Chicken

The Spicy Beef Rice Noodle soup gave out a strong heady scent of prawn paste and spiciness which kind of summarized its spicy level. The bowl of spicy beef rice noodle include Pork Balls and bean sprouts. To minimize the spice level, adding lime juice will help.

Spicy Beef Rice Noodle Soup - $9.90

The Dry Pork Noodles came in a differently as compared to the two others Noodle ordered. Perhaps its more for someone who are more adventurous and love Pig Offal. The bowl consist of fish cake, beansprouts and pig offals like intestines, heart and belly meats. 

Dry Pork Noodles - $10.90

Instead of Rice Noodles, these yellow curly noodles were served instead.

Noodles

 Though it was supposed to be a "Rice" Place, we ended up ordering their noodles instead. Therefore, it gave me another reason to visit them again. Besides there are no GST or any service charge required.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Comnam Broken Rice Bowl
Location: Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road #B1-46/47 Singapore 179103

Prata Frenzy

Prata Frenzy was a new recommended place and was indeed a good discovery among the neighbourhood with extensive menu from Prata, Thosai, briyani, murtabak, roti john, Goreng food items (indian style) and even Set Meal.

Prata Frenzy Stall Front

Setup of the eating place was well lighted with white wash paintings, a typical feel of an eating place under the housing estates. Wall mounted fans were there to give the place a better ventilation.

Interior

Before I can even decide what to have, Briyani was strongly advocated by one of the lunch kakis. Without further ado, we did the standard ordering, just only Mutton and Chicken Briyani.


Drinks were served first and while I thought my beverage of syrup limau was just clear syrup with limau (lime). I was kind of surprised by the cherry red cup of drink that came nearer to my sight. Its actually lime in rose syrup. Selections of drinks by the rest were all Teh Tarik (cold & hot).

Teh Tarik

Teh Tarik Ice

Syrup Limau

Chicken was coated with thick and yummy curry gravy supported on a bed of long grains rice. Meat was not only tender and easily pulled off from its bone, totally inviting with the crispy texture of disc shaped papadum.Additional curry was given separately on a metal saucer. Do take note that the gravy was a tad spicy.

Chicken Briyani - $5.50

Presentation of Mutton Briyani looked a little more appealing here, revealing its assorted pickled vegetables or in short "Ah Zar". Muttons portion was distinctively proportionate to the amount of rice given and likewise gravy on the meat was sparingly given with additional amount of them in the accompanied saucer.

Mutton Briyani - $6

Through the experience of our lunch, service was friendly and smiley. Food wasn't too bad too! Now that we have one more selection for Indian Muslim Food in Clementi for lunch!

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Prata Frenzy
Location: Blk 354 Clementi Ave 2 #01-235 Singapore 120354

Nam Kee Fried Prawn Noodle 南記炒虾面

Crowd of Nam Kee Fried Prawn Noodle is a usual norm during dinner times and often because of their long waiting hours I skipped the chance of joining the queue.The stall is easily noticeable with the stacks of empty paper boxes piling up, covering portion of the stall.

I heard a fair bit about this stall from my friend who stayed in Clementi all these while and comments for the stall did not really tally the scene - the queues. On top of that though I have tried their fried prawn noodle couple of years back, I could not really remember every bit of its taste.

And just this afternoon, opportunity strikes as the queue was not that long. I ordered the smallest portion available at $4 and apparently the wok had filled with readily fried Prawn Noodle which made ordering a breeze. Looking into the kitchen where the prawn noodle was, I felt intimidated as the guy with red and green tattoos all over scooped up the portion onto my plate.

Yellow noodles looked soggy on my plate and presentation was unappealingly. Nevertheless, the man who took my order gave me a scoop of red chilli paste on the plate with 2 limes as add-ons. Food tasted alright with fresh ingredients (Sotong and prawns) but texture was soft and lumpy. It seemed that the noodle had absorbed every bit of the stock taste, unfortunately, overdoing it, sacrificing the noodles' texture. In such instance, the usual sticky and thick gravy were all absent. Could this be one of the time that the noodles are totally inconsistent? If not, why are there queues every night? Perhaps another trip here would tell me more.

Fried Prawn Noodle - $4

Fried Prawn Noodle - $4

Rating: 3 / 5

Nam Kee Fried Prawn Noodle
Location: Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre, Blk 448 Clementi Ave 3 #01-12 Singapore 120448

Feng Kee Hainanese Curry Rice [Closed]

If you have been to Pasir Panjang Food Cetnre, you would have heard about the famous and pocket friendly Hainanese Curry Rice that attract long queues during peak hours. Having the luxury time to sneak out from Clementi to Pasir Panjang just to enjoy such delicacies with a group of colleagues were usually the best times of my working life.

Femg Kee Hainanese Curry Rice

Smells good! Plates of fluffy rice will be usually served first and you got two shades of colors gravy drenched onto of them unsparingly. The combination of braised and curry gravy is usually a common practice from a Hainanese Curry Rice Stall.

Hainanese Curry Rice

You will be spoilt for choices and hope that you can try almost everything on their glass cabinet. Be prepared to be spoilt from the choices but if you come in a little bit late, you might get to see empty trays too.

One of the staples from Hainanese Curry Rice stall is none other than this notable fried pork cutlet. Without them, having Hainanese Curry rice just would not be complete. With a breaded cripsy exterior and deep fried into perfection, these lean meat were aromatic with a good texture.

Pork Cutlet

Another all time favourite on my list will be their braised cabbages. Moist enough with adequate vermicelli. In terms of flavour, they are sweet and yummy. Don't leave the place without having them!

Braised Cabbages

Braised pork belly were quite fatty but they were very soft till the extend that it can be easily separated with little efforts.

Pork Belly

Fresh squid on the plate with a traditional way of serving! There were original stuffing and don't worry, it still taste as good. Simply love its chewy texture without being too "rubberband".

Squid / Sotong

A surprise on the table with all the wings and drumlets.Do not expect the red hot curry over here and instead these curry chicken were in their own world of their default starchy curry, similar to those that were put onto the rice.

Curry Chicken

The fried egg seemed rather oily too us, maybe because they were the last piece of the stack of eggs. Do take note if you want to skip something oily for your meal.

Egg

If you want to enjoy and share a good meal among your group, look no further, do try out Feng Kee Hainanese Curry Rice. Not to worry about the speed of service as they are in fact very efficient and food will be served promptly after making your orders.
Rating: 4 / 5

Feng Kee Hainanese Curry Rice
Location: Pasir Panjang Food Centre, 121 Pasir Panjang Road #01-41 Singapore 118543

Koon Bak Kut Teh

Passing by the rows of shophouses along Bukit Timah, the look at Koon Bak Kut Teh gave us a promising dinner meal. Parking over there with roadworks going on was never an easy task and on top of that it was a Friday night which made securing a carpark lot a great challenge for us during peak hours like this.

Koon Bak Kut Teh

Presented by a large menu at its door front, diners get a good view and welcome by over 30 dishes. Though it was a Bak Kut Teh place, their kitchen can served more than just the usual of the Bak Kut Teh Stall.

Menu

Presentation of Homemade Ngoh Hiang was a let down - dry with no glossy look. However the temperature of these fried Ngoh Hiang was well kept in its fillings as we bite them. Ingredients were average and was rather oily.

Handmade Ngoh Hiang - $8

Bak Kut Teh version is white and cloudy with soup tasted more of garlic and peppery. Though its soup was not diluted, it tasted full of MSG, making us thirsty shortly. Going with a plain bowl of fragrant rice at $0.80 was dull without the essential condiments. Just like most Bak Kut Teh place, the soup is refillable and in Koon, a lady will go around the eating place with a medium size stainless steel cup to refill your bowls.

Pork Rib & Spare Rib Soup - $7.50

Being the Signature Dish and with its professionally captured images plastered all over on the shop's walls, its hard to resist such tempting sensation especially when seeing something pork trotter with Bee Hoon excites me. Though the bee hoon looked brown enough, giving the thoroughly braised impression, it was an utter disappointment despite of its well presented nature in a "boat". The Bee Hoon lacked the kind of sweet and fragrant punch even with the braised gravy drenched over them. It was bland and tasteless. Not even a slightest fragrant from the black mushroom.

Pork Trotter Bee Hoon - $9.90

Though there is no GST and Service Charge, the dishes were quite expensive and tasted mediocre. Perhaps getting from the Hawker would have us ended up with a happier stomach. Moreover the aircon temperature was low with high fan speed blasting into the food, temperature of the food eventually turns cold which wasn't a good idea for the diners.

Rating: 3 / 5

Koon Bak Kut Teh
Location: 10 Cheong Chin Nam Road Singapore 599735