Teochew Handmade Pau (朝洲自制包点)

Handmade dim sum can be found here at this heartland food market. Since early morning, the queue never subside. Traditional buns are rather harder to make compared to machine make, hence, the buns are generally smaller in size. However, in terms of taste, handmade version are definitely more superior. 

List of dim sum available for selection are written clearly at storefront. When it is my turn to order, their Shrimp Dumplings were already sold out. It was only 11am on a Sunday morning!! 

Lotus Paste Bao - Very sweet paste, but i like it!! 

Small Pork Bao - Flavourful, the amount of meat filling is just nice. Just one of this mini bun is not enough to satisfy your appetite.  

Red Bean Bao - The red bean paste is slightly less sweet compare to the lotus bun. 

Char Siew Bao - The pork filling is flaky and abit dry. It is different from the usual juicy char siew bao. Not really to my liking.

Big Chicken Bao - Minced chicken meat with added garnishes. I prefer those conventional chicken bun that have big pieces of chunky meat.

Bian Rou Bao - It is actually a mini version of chinese "Kong Ba Pau", marinated pork meat bun. The texture of the pork meat taste like pulled pork, but in the Chinese way. Really love this bun. Less fattening and sinful and yet delicious. There is no fatty pork within, and thus it would disappoint some, but appeal to those who are more health conscious.

Verdict 3.5 / 5

The buns that are sold here are slightly different from the usual bun that I had ate. Although it may have a refreshing look, but i still prefer the common version of Char Siew Bun and Chicken Bun. Other than that, the lotus and red bean bun are really great. Maybe because I have sweet tooth, but i strongly recommend these two buns.

Will come back again and support handmade shops!!

Telephone: 6254 2053 / 6659 5786

Website: www.teochewhandmadepau.com.sg

Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 6am to 2pm, Sunday 6am to 12pm (Off on Monday and Alternate Tuesdays)

Chey Sua Carrot Cake (青山菜头粿)

I had heard so much about Chey Sua Carrot Cake and finally I had a chance to try it. From what i had gathered, the carrot cakes are homemade from radish and carrots and steamed and left for a day to attain the firmness in texture.

I reached the place around 11.45 am on a sunday noon. There are lots of customers waiting patiently for their orders. The order list is 2-3 pages long. Price range from $2, $3 and $4. Informed them of your table number if you have a table, they will serve the food to you. For take away, you have to enquire on the waiting time, jalan jalan for awhile before coming back for your order.  

The waiting time for this piece of delicious fried carrot cake is about 1 hour !! Never did I waited so long for a dish. 

The carrot cake is beautifully pan fried, crispy and yet moist on the inside. Lots of eggs are used to create the crispness. Little Chyai Por are added in, but in place, the sambal chili that are fried together with the carrot cake greatly enhance the taste, savoury and mouth watering.  

Verdict: 4/5

I won't complaint more other than the waiting time, the carrot cake IS really delicious. Try it if you are willing to wait. You will not regret it.

Opening hours: Tue – Sun 6am to 1pm, closed on Mon

Song Fa Bak Kut Teh - Chinatown Point

Opening its 5th branch at the Chinatown Point, Song Fa Bak Kut Teh have made their cuisine easily accessible to the locals and tourists. Public transport such as MRT and bus are just nearby and thus this location draws the office crowd from CBD too. I rushed to queue during my lunch break in order to avoid the lunch crowd. Luck is on my side as i manage to have a table within 5 minutes. 

Well, Song Fa Bak Kut Teh has been around for such a long time, they even managed to attract tourists to visit their shops. Since previously I did not have a chance to try their food, so I decided to drop by and decide for myself if it is good.

The place is packed with customers during lunch time, i guess it will be much worse during dinner time!

Have a look at the menu

From main dishes to braised dishes to side dishes and drinks, you will be able to see what they have to offer at a glance 

Lots of waiters and waitresses can be seen, hence it is easy to catch their attention

Homemade Barley ($1.80) - Sweetness is just right. The barley are nearly mashed up, hence it is much more easier to drink with the straw 

Chili and dark soy sauce are provided

Braised Pig's Intestines ($6.50) - At a glance, it does not really look delicious, but after I took a bite, my mind really blew off. I am bewildered by how clean the intestines are washed, absolutely no intestine smell at all. The intestines are well marinated and braised, the sauce can be tasted when you chew at the intestine. Braised sauce is savoury but not overwhelming. Highly recommended to order!

Premium Loin Ribs ($9.50) - Wow, this is really an expensive premium dish. The meat is very tender, easily to separate the meat from the bones. Well marinated and tasty too. The soup is very peppery and taste of garlic and peppers. However, the broth lack of the sweetness from the meat which is what I am looking for. I am really disappointed with it. This is just a dish which the ribs and the soup are prepared separately. Totally no fusion at all.   

Remember  to return the wet tissue if you do not require it, it will be deducted off your bill

There are 2 queues which are operating simultaneously, one is located at the front door while the other queue is located in the shopping mall itself. I will suggest to queue inside the shopping mall since there is air conditioner compared to the front door queue. 

Queue inside shopping mall

Verdict: 3.5 /5

The taste of the food is fairly usual, I do not feel that there is any "wow" factor. Although the pig's intestines and the loin ribs are good, it somehow lack the flavour that I am looking for.

Service provided by the staff is prompt and courteous, i am surprised since they appeared to be very busy and chaotic at times. Good job there!

Considering the price of the food sold here, I find it abit steep. Overall, I may not come back here again. Recommend for first timer only.

• Taste(3)

  
• Environment(4)

  
• Service(4)

  
• Clean(4)

  
• 
  
  Price(3)

  

Look out for my other Reviews on Bak Kut Teh

New Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh 新順發肉骨茶 - Click Here

Outram Park Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha - 欧南园亚华肉骨茶 - Click Here

Victor's Kitchen - Sunshine Plaza

I have heard so much about Victor's Kitchen and had pass by this cafe many times. Finally, after so many years, i get to try their famous dim sum. Located in Sunshine plaza, along side with the famous parklane wanton noodle, this cafe is always packed with customers especially during meal hours and weekend. 

If you are willing to wait, which waiting hour could be quite long, then you get to chance to taste their wonderful handmade dim sum.

HK Summer Iced Tea （冰镇奶茶） $3.20 -  Smooth in texture and rich in flavour. This is their famous iced milk tea. The ratio of tea and milk are in right proportion which i like, with acceptable sweetness. The cup of tea is place in a bowl of ice so that the ice will not dilute the drink and  affect its taste. Very considerate thought for the customers.  

Golden Egg Yolk Lava Buns (黄金流沙包） $4.80 - Bestseller

One of their bestseller, the salted egg yolk oozed out from the bun when you take a bite at it. Savoury, buttery and rich in flavour. The buns are fluffy and soft in texture. It is really nice to eat with the filling in it. These buns are a must try.  

Oozing egg yolk in action!!!!!

Siew Mai $4.80 - 4 pieces of pork filled dumplings. The pork are juicy and sweet and the fillings are quite generous considered that it is wrapped thinly. Yummy!! I would recommend this dish. 

Victor's King Prawn Dumpling （超级虾饺皇） $5.20 - This is another must try dish. The dumplings were sweet and crunchy, it is also filled with 2 whole BIG prawns wrapped within the dumpling!! Wow!!! Usually, most Har Kao are wrapped with  1 or 1 & half prawn in it. Hence, this is really a surprise and enjoyment to me.

Chili Specialty - Don't be deceived by it's look, this is really spicy. I guess it is made up of dry chili and garlic and blend together? LOL, try it yourself.  

Steamed Carrot Cake w/ XO Sauce （XO酱干贝腊味蒸萝卜糕） $4.80 - This is one of their specialty dish. On the outside, the steamed carrot cake look like paste. However, after u cut it open, strands of carrots slices lay underneath the paste. This diminished the overall texture of this dish. I only like the upper layer of the paste. Although the strands of carrot are soft, but it just don't match with the texture. Really disappointed. Light soy sauce are poured over the carrot cake for flavour,

Prawn Chee Cheong Fun $4.80 - 3 prawns in each rolls with light soy sauce pour over it.

Golden "Bo Lo" Char Siew Butter Buns (菠萝蜜汁叉烧包）$5.20 - A new item on the menu. You can really smell the butter when it is served hot. Crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside. The buns are filled with chunky pork meat fillings.

Did you see the chunky pork meat in the bun???

Nemo's Porridge $4.80 - Sliced fish with preserved egg porridge. A bit bland in flavour but it comes with generous serving of sliced fish and eggs. Porridge are cooked till slightly thicken and mushy texture.  

Verdict 3.5 /5

Address: 91 Bencoolen Street Sunshine Plaza, #01-49 Singapore 189652 

Tel : 98382851

Operating hour: Mon-Sun, 10:30am - 8:00pm

Well, i wasn't expected much since i heard that the standard of food drop drastically. I feel that most of the food here are edible but nothing fantastic. I like the "Bo Lo" Char Siew Butter Buns served here as it is really delicious and fragrant while serve hot. The ice milk tea is also tasty and smoothing.   
The service i receive wasn't that great too. For me as a first timer, the "auntie" simply place the order form on the table and leave without any instructions. So i ordered the food that i like to have and "seek" someone to attend to me. The time that i went was after 2pm, after lunch hour, hence by right shouldn't have much difficulty seeking for attention. But it prove otherwise.

Despite all, i still feel that you should come and visit here if you have not done so. I will visit here again if i really have an urge to eat the dim sum.

• Taste(4)

  
• Environment(4)

  
• Service(3)

  
• Clean(3)

  
• 
  
  Price(3)

  

Look out for my other reviews on Dim Sum

搵到食 Wen Dao Shi Dim Sum - Click Here

Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant 瑞春点心餐厅 - Click Here

Yi Dian Xin Hong Kong Dim Sum (一点心) - Click Here

Shanghai Ren Jia 上海人家 - Click Here

Kow Loon Hong Kong Dim Sum - Ang Mo Kio - Click here

Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant - Joo Chiat Road (Singapore)

(This photo is taken after 3pm when the queue had already subsided.. LOL) 

An authentic Vietnamese Restaurant, Long Phung, located at Joo Chiat road serves quality food at affordable price. The restaurant is popular with locals and the foreigners as well. The queue is quite long when i reached there at 2pm and i had to wait 15mins to get a seat.   

Their specialty is Pho Dac Biet - Sliced beef noodle which i had heard so many people talking about it

Restaurant is full even after 2pm. My goodness.......

Vietnamese Spring Roll (Small $7) - 4 spring rolls wrapped with vermicelli, vegetables, bean sprouts, sliced prawn and pork. The rolls are extremely fresh and crunchy. The vermicelli is used instead of turnip which we usually see from the chinese spring roll version. The softness of the vermicelli in this spring roll is wonderful. The vegetables and bean sprouts adds crunch to the spring roll and if you are a meat eater like me, there are prawn and pork slices wrapped together too. 

Dipped into the sweet brown sauce with peanuts bits for extra flavors and crunch.

Chicken noodle soup ($6.50) - The clear broth is fantastic! It is tasty and not salty. Lots of garlic, onions and bones must have used to create this wonderful broth. The broth is not oily and with the Pho (kueh tiao noodle), it is simply delicious. Generous portion of vegetables and garnish. Really a comfort food!

Grilled Pork Vermicelli ($8.50) - Slightly more expensive dry noodle but it comes with fried spring roll and grilled pork chop. A bowl of slightly sweet syrup is given to add in the mixture for easy mixing. Lots of ingredients such as fried onions, peanuts, bean sprouts, cucumber and cabbage are added into the vermicelli as well. The dish itself taste superb. The syrup makes this dish slightly sweet which make it very appetizing and refreshing. The amazing part is the fried spring rolls and pork chop which are fresh, not oily and goes well with the other ingredients. Really a must try dish.   

Opening Hour: 11am-12am

Contact: (+65) 9105 8519

Address: 159 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427436

Verdict: 4 /5


Good food, fast service and affordable pricing. This is really a good place to visit if you have not do so. Try it, you may change your mind about Vietnamese cuisine. They are much more delicious than what you think.

• Taste(4)

  
• Environment(4)

  
• Service(4)

  
• Clean(4)

  
• 
  
  Price(3)

  
•