Tanuki Raw, Orchard Central

I have heard of Tanuki Raw (#02-03 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, tel : +65 6636 5949) from their association with Standing Sushi Bar which I've never been too. Had never been interested because I've always assumed that since they're both bar and a kitchen and if they're as affordable as they say, neither of which has got to be good. Besides, they're doing a contemporary slash bastardised slash Americanised form of Japanese food. Which is pretty much everywhere so I didn't find them compelling.

Long story short, we heard numerous mentions about their truffle yakiniku don going for an affordable $14.80 at lunch and decided to give it a go. Presentation aside, this was actually pretty good. Though I had expected those short rib to be pan seared instead of just being aburi-ed. I would not mind coming back to eat that again. Oh, I finally figured out that those fox like things lurking at the entrances are actually the tanuki.

Boneless Chicken Rice near Yishun MRT

I hadn't eaten at this coffee shop for quite a while and didn't realise that the chicken rice stall had changed. This one was so much better than the previous. Their boiled chicken was tender and smooth and frankly, deboning the bird usually scores points with me. There was that sprinkle of deep fried garlic bits to differentiate from the usual stalls. 

Their beady rice was decent if not extraordinary. Works with their garlicky chilli sauce. This was one competent stall which while doesn't rank in the top of my list, made good eating if one had the craving. Which is actually saying something considering that there are literally tonnes of chicken rice shops in the country. And oh yes, they threw in a complimentary bowl of peanut and chicken soup as well. Very drinkable stuff compared to what many pass off as soup.

This shop is located just a minute's walk away from the train station (Yishun St. 72, Blk 744, S-11 Coffeeshop).  By the way, the stall is really just called 'boneless chicken rice'. Watch out for the queue.

Rosita's Deluxe @ Meatsmith

This was a pop up cheeseburger and beer event seemingly by the folks from Cajun Kings & Meat Smith. I did spy David Pynt of Burnt Ends out in the back rubbing shoulders near the kitchen. Anywayyys, those cheeseburgers that they did were actually pretty decent stuff. They had used two slices of different cheeses for good measure (I can't tell what kind) and their juice filled, well salted and crusty patties etched with char was properly treated and delicious. Very much like how it was done in Butchers Club Burgers. I'm not sure how often are these things happening, but I think they've gotten things done right. Much better than that Wildfire Kitchen place at that.

Nakajima Suisan Grilled Fish, Takashimaya Food Hall

tuna cheek shioyaki

gindara teriyaki

This was a lot better than I had expected. I've always seen this grilled fish teishoku shop (#B2-01-1, Takashimaya Food Hall, 391A Orchard Rd) at the corner with their relentless queue and never understood why that was. So today, we finally found out it is because they offer one of the best valued quality grilled fish meals in town. The cod that they served was smooth, tender and flaked off beautifully by the grain and their tuna cheeks grilled with salt was such a pleasure that I'd be hard pressed not to order it again the next time.

Komala Vilas this year

We hadn't been back to Komala Vilas for a while. But today, we managed to break out of the usual rice meal orders and had gotten a rice plate instead. The difference between the meal and the plate would be an additional piece of chapati or poori (of your choice) and that the rest of the food was not refillable. Which actually works as well since the portions were pretty generous already. But we didn't get any thoveyal today

Below's dosai meal served with exactly the same vegetables on the side as the rice plate. I was thinking those vegetables that come with the meals could be a seasonal thing depending on availability, but I don't know if they do seasonal here as opposed to rotating another dish in just for variety. In any case, it was all very tasty.

Joo Chiat Beef King, Chinatown Food Centre

Here's a bowl of beef tendon kuey teow soup from Joo Chiat Beef King. I was initially thinking that the broth could do with a little more flavour, but this light broth slowly grew onto me with each mouthful. The tendons were suitably tender and rocked with the chilli sauce. This could also be the first time I've had these beef noodles with boiled radish.