Kuey chap from AMK 232

I was brought here (coffeeshop at Blk 232, Ang Mo Ko Ave. 3) the first time for kuey chap (rice noodles with braised pig parts and innards if you don't know) about a year or so go by a friend who lives nearby and this is actually my second visit here, recalling the bits of fried garlic bits that the store puts into the bowls of kuey (flat rice noodles) that added another depth of fragrance to the soup. Not to mention that the very mildly herbalish soup in the first place was noticeably better than many similar stores that seems to use a diluted and less rich flavored broth.


One thing that I like about the various spare parts or innards options offered in this particular stall is that it includes pig stomach that is braised in the same dark sauce. That is not something that isn't seen very often in many other kuey chap stall and this option alone puts this particular stalls up there amongst the top few to revisit whenever I have the craving. The strips of pork belly was unfortunately not as tender as I had hoped for. Still, I'd say that this place is good for their innards if that's your thing as well.

For those of you who're thinking of giving this a go, it's located at the same block as the Mellben Seafood place where everyone goes for the crab bee hoon. It's in the coffeeshop at the other end of the block.

What is this called?

Can anyone tell me what's the name of this paste? It's one of those things that come with the south Indian rice meals from Komala Vilas and I'm sure somewhere else must serve this too. What I can describe of it is that it's a moderately spicy and very nuttish tasting paste that is an excellent accompaniment with rice. I asked the server and he mumbled something that sounded to me like 'doe-way'. Any clues anyone?

Mini beefburgers from ICB

These mini burgers from Ice Cold Beer (9 Emerald Hill Road, tel : 6735 9929) were honestly larger than what I thought they might have been in size and to that, it was a pleasant surprise. As you can see from the photos, each of them toasted sesame buns is loaded with a juicy (well, that can't be seen), thick and almost ball like beef patty, a slice of tomato, onions and lettuce. Those patties don't really have much fillers there, so you're getting your dollar's worth of meatiness if that's what you're looking for. I wouldn't say that it's the best for that, but it was really not bad.The only thing that could have made it better was probably some nice salty cheddar over the top of the meat. Excellent with a pint or three of some like refreshing Hoegaarden. For $18, I really have no complains with food like this coming from a pub. Don't forget to try their prawn paste chicken wings as well.

I'll have to rank this close to the sliders down at Barracks for mini burgers to go for when I get the craving.

Hooked, Upper Thomson Road

Here's a shark vindaloo from Hooked, a seafood/fish based place that's been operating for some time now at Upper Thomson (203 Upper Thomson Road) along the food stretch of shophouses. I couldn't say that this is majorly exciting since most of the dishes are fish based with the other seafood on the back burner in the department of variety. But I wouldn't write them off despite their overly pricey crayfish which was $12.50 a pop for a very regular looking single crayfish. I had honestly expected one more at least and what's with the bland black pepper butter? Not recommended at all.

Back to the main dish, I did find the shark vindaloo rather decent and the most of it was probably because of the tangy vindaloo gravy that was moderately spicy making it rather appetizing. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough of that gravy for that mound of rice that came with it. The tender shark meat tasted very much like another fish to me so, yeah, it was okay. It sure looked like there was more shark meat on the menu though. I'm not too sure about what to feel about the place. It isn't lacking for variety, but it just doesn't quite scream "interesting enough". That being said, I wouldn't mind giving the place another try, another time.

Sapporo Ramen Miharu, Gallery Hotel

I've been wanting to try the ramen from Sapporo Ramen Miharu (1 Nanson Road, GF The Gallery Hotel) for the longest time after being recommended and despite the fact that I am within the vicinity of the ramen joint fairly often, it hasn't happened until recently. I wonder why is that and I have nothing but curiosity for this place. I've to admit that even though I'm not one of the biggest fans of ramen around, but I do eat them and especially enjoy the cold variety that suits the weather here well most of the time. And what's with all the chinese/cantonese speaking from the people working there?


You might have guessed that I picked their cold noodles. This koumi tsukemen was appreciably done very nicely from the texture of their chilled springy noodles (great stuff) and the bodied flavor of the shoyu based dip that accompanied. I'll have to say that I'll be tempted to order this again if I come back. What probably didn't work so well for this was the hot broth which I thought didn't quite do it for me since the ramen wasn't really cold after dipping them in. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing at all, but it'll probably not be what I'll be after when I feel like having cold noodles.


There was also a aide of steamed gyozas which decidedly felt to me like chinese dumplings minus the exceedingly thick skin. I found them to be more enjoyable than the fried variety and these ones actually have prawns in them. There's chilli oil for condiments on the table so don't forget to drizzle them on for extra oomph.