Lye Huat Cooked Food (來發熟食), Jalan Bukit Merah Food Centre

Pretty good tasting Chinese mee siam from Lye Huat (#01-21, 112 Jalan Bukit Merah Market & Food Centre, 112 Jalan Bukit Merah). This one had a slightly gritty broth that was sweet, lime-y and a little nutty with a bit of heat. We were initially intending to try the lontong but that was sold out at around 9am in the morning. Whisper was that that this stall has been operating for many years.

Bai Sheng Teochew Minced Meat Noodle (百胜潮州肉脞面), Defu Industrial City

Pretty generously portioned $5 bowl from Bai Sheng Teochew Minced Meat Noodle (GHK Defu Industrial City, 2 Defu South Street 1). A few things I didn't like. Mee pok was overcooked. Fried lard (猪油渣) chunks were a little soggy and not particularly fragrant. I suppose the bowl could also benefit from the sambal packing a bit more punch. But otherwise edible.

Dabba Street, Tiong Bahru Plaza

Have been wanting to try Dabba Street (#B1-K06 Tiong Bahru Plaza, 302 Tiong Bahru Road) for some time and it finally happened.

Got the Butter Chicken Biryani and the Butter Chicken Dabba Bowl. They were kinda like Indian/mediterranean fast food. The chicken wasn't actually butter chicken per se but their baked chicken that's doused with their butter chicken sauce.

Briyani spices were kinda tame and low on the salt. The Dabba Bowl came with unflavoured blue pea rice. But I don't mind getting them again because it tasted kinda wholesome and didn't feel particularly heavy. Maybe with more of the yoghurt and aioli the next time.

Shou Yi Fried Fritters (手義油条•豆浆), Food Opera @ ION Orchard

I've been looking these glutinous rice buns. Chanced across them at Shou Yi Fried Fritters at Food Opera (B4-03/04 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn).

The last time I've found these was at Xi De Li. For some reasons, they don't seem to have them anymore since.

Ratio of bun to glutinous rice felt different but the flavour's kinda similar with the five spice saltiness in the buns and sweetness in the tender glutinous rice.

Zhang Liang Mala Tang (张亮麻辣烫), 100AM

Zhang Liang Mala Tang has setup shop at 100AM (#02-17/18/19/20/21 100AM, 100 Tras Street). We got the regular broth today like we always did - the same one we realised had it's heat cranked up the last time we ate at Bugis Junction. To our surprise, the heat today was manageable. Very manageable. It seemed that for this particular broth, there was also no option to adjust spiciness. Which was strange because we were pretty sure we specified every time we ordered it previously. 😕

Kam's Roast Express, Food Opera @ ION Orchard

Might have eaten at Kam's Roast Express here (B4-03/04 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn) once or maybe twice previously. And one time last year at The Food Place. While they have never been considered bad tasting, we have never recalled them with fondness given their reputation. Portions were generally small and they're kinda pricey. Something seemed to have changed recently.

Duck rice had chunkier cuts of breast meat and was surprisingly tender. Love that sesame flavoured sauce they're using for the rice. Note to self: ask for more sauce.

The roast pork's pretty decent too. A good bite in the meat with relative tenderness and adequate crunch in the crackling. Not as impressive as what I remember from their Michelin starred flagship in Hong Kong of course, but I find myself not adversed to coming back another time.