Rachel Tan tries ten eating establishments in this former Hainanese immigrant area in Bugis
No 5 Saveur This former Joo Chiat hawker stall has been reincarnated as a bistro on eatery laden Purvis Street, though still stays true to its roots – no cushiony seats, just the basics. Apart from the must-order foie gras ($7.90-$14.90), we also like the angel-hair pasta with tiger prawn and lumpfish caviar ($6.90). 9125 0124, www.saveur.sg. Daily noon-9.30pm. Main courses $8.90-$21.90.
No 8 Shinryoku Yakitori Restaurant Don’t let the humble frontage put you off this cosy 30-seat joint serving tasty, well-seasoned yakitori and a crowdpleasing crispy salmon-skin salad. A bonus: weekday lunch sets are priced at a very decent $10++. #01-01 Talib Court (6338 8472). Mon-Thu noon-11pm; Fri & Sat 6pm-midnight. $30 per person.
No 16 Hainanese 2nd Street Coffee House Go for the succulent Hainanese pork chop doused with the signature sauce. The mutton soup boasts a herby, strong broth while remaining clear and light, while the home-made sweet and sour chilli sauce is fragrant enough to be eaten alone with rice. Daily 7.30am-10pm. Main courses $5-$15.
No 18 Kooka Café This sunny-walled Aussie-style café was set up by the people behind Chalk Restaurant, so expect to see familiar smiles: co-owners Cheong Bei Jia and pastry chef Lauren Chambers are on site every day to bake the goods, panini-press the sandwiches and make the organic fair-trade Graffeo coffee. The orange and almond cake ($6+) is our favourite of the lot: among its dense, moist bites, the ground almonds lend it a chewy texture. Those craving a taste of Australia should make tracks for the Yo-Yo – a shortbread cookie with cream cheese filling. 6467 0288. Mon-Wed 10am-7pm; Thu 10am-9pm; Fri & Sat 10am-10pm. Desserts $5.50- $7.80; coffees $3.50-$6.80.
No 19 Chin Chin Eating House A no-frills cavern with fold-up tables and plastic seats, this canteen-like space presents generously plated cereal prawns, intensely wok-fired kang kong greens and fragrant bowls of tender, supple chicken rice. 6337 4640. Daily 7am-9pm. Main courses $7-$20.
No 23 First Thai Food The tom yum soup ($7) benefi ts from rich textures but is not overly salted, and the pad thai ($8) and other stir-fried dishes are also honest comfort food. While a little on the oily side, they remain flavourful, possessing that innate spirit of a well-worn wok, and swirling with chilli pastes and soy. 6339 3123. Daily noon- 10pm. Main courses $7-$10.
No 25 Yet Con Hainanese Chicken Rice An institution since 1940, the nondescript quarters of Yet Con have been known for their unfussy chicken rice and crispy, sweet-and-sour Hainanese pork chops. Cooked chickens are placed on enamel plates instead of hung up, thus marinating in flavour until ordered. It’s a less oily, leaner version of chicken rice. 6337 6819. Daily 10am-10pm. Main courses $5-$15.
No 30 Killiney Kopitiam Though not its original outlet, the standards – a gooey sandwich of thick-cut kaya and butter toast ($1.80) or a sweet-and-spicy bowl of mee siam ($3.80) – still satisfy without breaking any budgets. 6337 7656, www.killiney-kopitiam.com. Mon-Sat 7am-10.30pm; Sun 7am-7pm. Dishes $3-$7.
No 36, #01-02 Garibaldi This dimly lit, green-walled Italian restaurant and bar focuses on pure ingredients and bold presentation, resulting in brightly coloured tagliolini neri ($36) and risotto mare ($38). You’ll probably be hankering for a double serving of the complimentary warm and chewy focaccia. 6837 1468, www. garibaldi.com.sg. Daily noon-11pm. Main courses $24-$58.
No 36, #01-03 Gunther’s Expect French food with a modern, arty twist in dishes such as angel-hair pasta with Oscetria caviar, cocotte of French chicken in hay, or a pillow-like soufflé. The dark, polished space is intimate but classy. 6338 8955, www.gunthers. com.sg. Mon-Sat noon-10.30pm. Main courses $38-$90.
© 2007 - 2013 Time Out Group Ltd. All rights reserved. All material on this site is © Time Out.
TOS RSS feed
TOS Twitter
TOS on Facebook
Print
Email