Mayim @ West Mall

It's located at Level 2 of West Mall, Bukit Batok. Can't miss the bright red signboard. Serves typical Chinese food, and if you're early (like before 5pm), there're an assortment of dim sums and porridge available as well.




typical table setting


various condiments


One fun thing is that the tea cups on the same table usually differs from diner to diner.


tea cups in assorted shapes and sizes


The restaurant is very very noisy, with boisterous crowds during dinner. Tea is served from pot and prices ranges from $1 to $1.80 per head. If two diners order the same tea, you'll be given just one teapot but with the option to change/add tea leaves and unlimited refills of water.

As for the food, usually we'll order a couple of dishes to go along with rice.


appetiser - jelly fish with carrots, cucumber and mushrooms


spinach with mushrooms and edamame


the orange blob is not egg, it's tomato


trotters in ginger vinegar sauce


collagen!

The pig trotters in ginger vinegar sauce (猪脚醋) is the de-facto dish that we always order. Probably because everyone in the family likes it! The sauce is nice and goes well with a bowl of white rice.


white rice


chicken in wine sauce with half-cooked yolk


the yolk has been mixed into the sauce


yummy fats that doesn't feel oily


firm juicy chicken


The chicken dish that we had, looked ordinary but tasted good! The chicken was cut up in chunky pieces (but watch out for the bones), deep fried and later cooked in sauce. The meat was firm yet juicy and flavourful.

Chinese cooking tend to be heavy on salt, so wash it down with a pot of tea.


jasmine with rose buds


pretty flowers in my teapot


drink it up!

A Pinch of Salt @ Katong

Some say it is the old Ms Clarity Cafe. Well, I've no idea since Katong is really out of the way for a MRT traveller like me. Someone suggested to try this joint, and transportation is available, so why not.

It was 820pm when we reached and parked at this dimly lit carpark.


carpark view


looking in from the outerside


The cafe was about 80% full, but we were in a party of 5, so they told us to wait for a group that was leaving. And they will clear the table for us. So we sat outside, and pored over the menu.


menu


We felt like the forgotten child. No one updated us on the status of our table, no one came to take orders, and no one offered us even a glass of water...

We finally got a table and ordered our food at 9pm....


maybe this is disclaimer to thwart unhappy customers?


it took them 20 minutes to clear a table...


drawings on table


half full or half empty?


farm yard


root beer float


pan seared dory (which was super salty! so at your own risks!)


chicken cordon bleu


bacon and sausage baked rice


bread and butter pudding


Some of their dishes looked quite good, for example the escargots from other people's table, the giant chicken leg but a word of caution is do not expect too much out of the food or the service. We've seen at least 1 chicken leg sent back to the kitchen because it wasn't cooked properly at certain parts, and our own pan-seared fish dory (2 plates) were overly salty. The drink that came with the set meal, is so diluted you'd wonder whether it was really fruit punch.

Tampopo @ Liang Court

Had a craving for sushi, and was at Liang Court, so decided to dine at Tampopo. The sushi here is not exactly cheap, but I do like the quality of the fish that they give.


zaru soba


side view


clam soup (seasonal)


closer view


mini nigiri sushi




maguro




fatty salmon


tai

National Geographic Cafe @ Vivocity

Easily located inside the National Geographic shop, the cafe is the first section you'll see when you walk inside. A sharp contrast of moods. Outside always busy with the hustle and bustle of shoppers (especially during weekends!), inside it is almost serene but not in a zen like mode, more like the quiet before a major discovery...

Just walk into the cafe, and find a seat on your own. No fuss. Furnishing is almost exotic. I liked it as I felt the furnitures gave the cafe, character.


tabletop decor


menu


Being tea time, we didn't order a lot. Just a drink and a cake to share.


chocolate truffle cake


cafe mocha classic


vanilla milkshake

If you'd like your drink (that contains milk) to be low-fat, do inform the service staff and they'll gladly make it for you.


dense cake


fluffy cream

Orange Lantern @ Harbourfront

Located at Level 1 of Harbourfront, it's at the other end away from customer service. The whole restaurant is orange in color, with a very big paper umbrella at its entrance. This is a halal restaurant serving Vietnamese cuisine.


wall decor


cutlery


special menu


On the day of our visit, they have only 2 service staff. The restaurant itself is not very big, so not much of a problem. They have set meals for individual priced at $21+ or for 2 pax priced at $39+. The set meal for 2 consist of 1 appetiser (choose either mango/pomelo/beef salad or assorted rolls), 2 main course (except combo meals) and 2 drinks. Main course are priced around $10+ and above. Combo meals are like bento sets.

We decided to go ala-carte and ordered imperial rolls, pho bo, stewed beef noodles, orange juice and plum juice.


imperial rolls


dipping sauce for the appetiser


Imperial Rolls has a very dim sum like crunchy outer layer that crumbles with every bite. It has similar fillings as spring rolls, and makes an enjoyable snack when dipped into the sauce.


closer view


fillings


The plum juice drink is quite nice. But I am biased towards plums in general :P. The saltiness and sourness of the plum used was just right.


plum juice


The stewed beef noodles looked decidedly western! Tasted somewhat like beef goulash, but with noodles. The noodles used here looked like the yellow noodles.


stewed beef noodles


yellow noodles


chunks of stewed beef


salt for dipping?


That was my first time eating coarse flavored salt with beef. Strangely, it did enhanced the taste of the meat! But not too much though, as the salt was very salty! The soup was thick in tomato taste but my friend seemed to enjoy it.

I had the pho bo, which is the beef flat noodles soup. It has beef slices, beef brisket slices as well as beef balls. The soup was clear and light, but tasty nonetheless. It is served with a plate of garnishes (thai basil and beansprouts). Eat it all together, and thai basil worked wonders to the meal!


pho bo


tender beef slices


flat noodles with beef slice, and thai basil


chili sauce and hoisin sauce for dipping


This meal for 2 costs us about SGD$42, inclusive of GST and svc charge.