Ban Tong Seafood Restaurant - Clementi Ave 5

This place was where we used to visit for some zi char food when the stall was still located in a coffee shop in Ghim Moh. It shifted away and we never knew where it went.

It was quite a coincidence when my uncle stopped for coffee at the coffee shop in Clementi Ave 5 (beside the Police Station) and recognise the zhi char lady. Around the same time, I got an email from the owner it had moved after it found them self on one of my previous blog post.

So, it looks like it's time to go back there for dinner. We has since gone back a few times and this was the most recent photos.

Here was what we ate:



Flat Chicken! They had the whole chicken de-boned, meat taken out and replaced with fish paste!

It's fish paste with chicken skin deep fried and served flattened. It looks like it requires quite a bit of work! How was the taste? We kind of like it! You imagine it to be roast/fried chicken and when you bite it, it's fish!




We ordered two big servings of soup. Here's the lotus root and pork rib soup.
Decent but slightly salty soup.




Our obligatory veggie dish. Kind of like the veggies of the day.
Simple and good, and it provided us our fibre.




The nyonya style curry fish head. The sauce was tasty and the fish was fresh.
Perfect for walloping up with hot rice!




This was the dish that we missed! Their cereal crayfish. (Mai Pian Hay Po).
Chunks of crayfish yanked out of the shell and deep fried and topped and mixed with cereal.

The perfect dish for lazy folks like us, the best way to eat crayfish! It is also so good! Beats prawns anytime!




The ladies at home love yam ring. The outer yam ring was light and fluffy. The inner part of the ring was moist but too oily too. Nice crunch on the outside and soft yam texture inside.

Oh yes, we love to pick on the 'treasures' inside. I like the fried cashews!
Their prices are quite reasonable and portions big too.

It gets a bit busy on weekends, so you got to wait a while, but week nights are OK if you need to meet up with friends or relatives for a zhi-char makan.


Ban Tong Seafood Restaurant
(At the coffeeshop beside the Clementi Police Station)
Blk 378 Clementi Ave 5
#01-334
Singapore 120378

Reservations: Ah Hioh at 9047 9428
(We realise if you want to make reservations, call before 6PM, when they get busy, they have no time to pick up the phone!)

Hong Kong Street Jen Poo Kee @ Clementi West St (Beside the Market)

A Professor at work rounded up a few of us to give us a 'thank you' meal today.
She said she has been 'bugging' us for the whole year to do things for her and wanted to treat us for lunch. We were a bit 'pai seh' to accept the lunch treat, but in the end, we still went for lunch.

She said she discovered a place that has nice Assam Fish Head and would bring us to try it.
It's a Zhi Char stall inside the coffee shop behind the Chinese Temple and beside the Market opposite West Coast Plaza. It's called Hong Kong Street Jen Poo Kee, it's where Bao Gong used to be long ago.



The Assam Fish we were here to eat. It was absolutely delicious. It did not have lots of gravy but the gravy was thick and 'potent'. It's sour enough which really whet our appetite.

The fish head was huge and had lots of flesh too. Good recommendation.





One colleague felt like having Prawn Paste chicken so we ordered it. Nice crispy outer layer!
We were too happy eating the fish we seemed to have neglected eating this! We packed the leftover back and gave it to our office attendant who was too glad to have it for tea.




For our veggies, we ordered the Sweet Potato leaves. They served the young leaves version here.
Since we had spicy and fried dishes, we had this as a light stir fry with garlic. I don't see much garlic though! It was nice.




We also had the Yam Ring. This was good stuff. The yam ring is very delicate!
Though the ring looks crispy outside, beneath the crispy layer was a soft yam. It's almost like puree inside. I don't usually like yam ring, but this was delicious.




If you want to know the prices, it's quite reasonable.
The huge fish head was only $18.
Yam ring was $15 and the chicken and veggies were $8 each.



Hong Kong Street Jen Poo Kee
Blk 721 Clementi West St 2
Singapore 120721

Koi Cafe @ Clementi Central

The Bubble Tea craze is back! Not too long time ago, bubble tea stalls suddenly mushroomed everywhere. Everyone was drinking it, young and old! Then just as quick, the stalls closed down. Koi Cafe from Taiwan suddenly created the craze again!

I saw this in Clementi Central last week. It has been a long time since my colleagues and I went to Clementi Central. We all know that in Clementi, there was only 2 queues that are perpetually long. The SBS Transit service 96 to NUS and the Toto booth at NTUC Fairprice. Now,we have the 3rd perpetually long queue! During lunch time, it stretches from one block to the other!



The Koi Cafe queue!
 


One of our colleague texted the rest of us and asked if we wanted Koi. She has started queuing when she texted us. Since most of us never tasted it and someone is queuing, we said yes! Most of us would not have bother queuing for it ourselves. This colleague of ours absolutely adores the bubble tea. (from Koi)

Anyone reading this is also an hard core Koi Cafe fan?

The number you see is 88 on the queue number display. I think our number was 125!



This is it! Our Koi Cafe Bubble Tea. I asked another colleague who is also a bubble tea fan what is the flavour of our tea? She said the one we had was the Classic Milk Tea with Pearls with 75% sugar level.

I was a bit confused about the sugar level. Does 75% means, the whole cup was 75% sugar? No. It's 75% of sugar used in their original recipe.



Since I did not queue and order, I asked by colleague how the process it like.
1. Queue up and wait. Have something to do, e.g. play games on your phone. It might take up to 1 hour at certain branches during peak hour.
2. When it's finally your turn, place your order and pay for it. When you are ordering, you choose the flavour you want and specify the sugar level.
3. You will then get a queue number. This is your order number. When your tea's ready, you go to the counter to collect it.



Listing of Koi Cafes in Singapore in alphabetical order. It seems for certain branches during peak hours, you can call in and order first.



Koi Cafe Ang Mo Kio
Blk 704 Ang Mo Kio Central #01-2545
Tel: +65 6459 1518

Koi Cafe Bishan
513 Bishan street 13 #01-503
Tel: +6258 1729

Koi Cafe Clementi
Blk 442 Clementi Ave 3 #01-101

Koi Cafe Illuma
201 Victoria Street #01-15 Iluma At Bugis
Tel: +6884 6817

Koi Cafe People’s Park
1 Park Road #01-16 People’s Park Complex
Tel: +65 6536 8330

Koi Cafe Marine Parade
Blk 83 Marine Parade Central #01-562
Tel: +65 6440 4869

Koi Cafe Toa Payoh
190A Toa Payoh Central #01-562
Tel: +65 6256 1169

Megumi Japanese Restaurant @ Sunset Way

It's another birthday celebration. This time it's our cousin's birthday.
We had the celebration lunch at Megumi Japanese Restaurant at Sunset Way.

This was the Deluxe Sashimi Set. $80. It was good!




It was a mix of different kinds of sashimi except for salmon. No salmon stock in Singapore that week! But we noticed there was salmon belly though. ;-)




The Kuruma Ebi Ramen. $15.80
The prawns were huge prawns. Our cousin liked this ramen.





This was the Karaage Shishamo $6




This was the Tori Karaage Ramen $11.80




The chicken karaage looks a bit 'dark'. ;-)




This was the Katsu Curry $9.80
Ok lah. I think the katsu was a bit too 'done'. But the curry was nice.




This UFO Maki $12 tasted rather nice.




The Unagi Ishi Nabe $13.80
This came in a hot stone pot. It took a long time for this dish to be served though. But it was worth the wait.





Happy Birthday dear cousin!


Megumi Japanese Restaurant
Blk 106 Clementi St 12
#01-38
Sunset Way
Singapore 120106

Tel: 6779 1411

Megumi Japanese Restaurant @ Sunset Way

I am a bit busy at work, so I missed out a few's post. I realise I have some meals eaten in December 2009 that has not been documented too! Here's a dinner we had with our uncle, aunty and cousin.



We did not have a chawanmushi each, but shared two persons to one. I think it was not too bad. I was sharing with my cousin who doesn't eat any of the fillings. I ate the fillings while she ate all the eggy custard. ;-)





This inside out sushi was not too bad too.





What we all like was the sashimi platter. You can see for this platter. Guess what is hidden behind the leaf?





It's a rock fish. The service staff asked if we wanted to try it. So we did.





I took this sign to remind myself of the name of the fish. But it was a few weeks ago, but I think if my memory serves me well, the fish above is the Kasago / Rock Fish.





When the sashimi was served, we were told, they will deep dry the fish head after we finish the sashimi. Here's the deep fried head and bones. ;-)





I forgot what this is, but I remember it just melts in your mouth. I would want to eat this again when I come here again.





I am not going to make the post too long with the rest of our own 'carbo dish'. Here's sis and mine.
Sis had the Charcoal Soba. We saw the word charcoal and just wanted to try it.

It taste just like soba. ;-)





I had the beef cutlet curry rice.
The beef was tender inside the crispy batter.




It was a nice dinner. Looking back, we were going slow and clearing leave at the end of last year, most of us in the office are now working so hard to meet the various deadlines! Help!


Megumi Japanese Restaurant
Blk 106 Clementi St 12
#01-38
Sunset Way
Singapore 120106

Tel: 6779 1411

Rong Guang BBQ Seafood @ Ulu Pandan Road

It's been a long long time since we had dinner at Rong Guang. I know many of you say the branch at Alexandra village is better, but this place is nearer to our home and we have a nickname for this place. We call it 'chao long gao'. (smelly drain in Hokkien). It's like let's go have dinner at Chao Long Gao. haha...

To set the record straight, this place is not smelly at all, we call it chao long gao because it's beside a big long gao. (ie the huge monsoon drain / Ulu Pandan River)   I am sure you do too. :-)

These photos are taken under moon light with no flash and partial lights from the street lamps, so pardon the 'dark' photos. :-)

The dish for people with no teeth. Boh geh jiak tao geh. The bean sprouts and salted fish dish. We had the big portion because uncle likes tau geh! (no he is not boh geh hehe)



We also had the sweet and sour pork. I think this was ordered for me, because I like it. :-)



This dish is dedicated to blur blur people of the world. Sotongs for the sotongs.
Sambal Sotong. Always delicious! This is sis's favourite.
(I have to say she's not blur, just in case she reads this. hehe...)



Our cousin's favourite dish. She loves the Sambal Stingray here. We ordered the half spicy and half non spicy version. It seems that they now put the sambal in a bowl if you want it "half-half".



Aunt's favourite dish. She likes cereal prawns.

Do you all have the habit of munching on the crispy cereal? Ya, it's not a very healthy habit. :-p



Now this is dedicated to the 'fools of this earth'. Fang Tong! That's me.
"Must eat rice one", especially if you eat the above dishes.



Always a hearty meal here. Prices that are not too expensive too. I think it was $71 for all of the above plus drinks for 5 persons and the usual taxes etc.


Rong Guang BBQ Seafood
301 Ulu Pandan Road
Singapore 596469

Tel: 6468 8290
Business Hours: 5:00 PM - 12 Midnight

Grill Out! @ Sunset Way

This was dinner with our Care Group. We have a 'makan night' every 3 or 4 weeks. This was eaten around two weeks ago. Our CG leader picked the venue and it was Sunset Way. The sms was to meet at Sunset Way and  we will walk and choose a restaurant there.

We 'walked' and somehow decided we shall try "Grill Out". Why? it's because someone saw the meats and got tempted. (It's not me!)

This is our complimentary soup. It was mushroom soup. Someone was cheeky and asked if it was 'campbell'? We were told they made it themselves. They added that complimentary does mean they just can soups. haha.. It was quite ok. It was excellent with the soft bread served.



It was too difficult and dark to take photos at night and sitting in semi darkness. So I only took the one that sis and I shared. (these photos have been 'added lots of light' by software. haha)

Sis and I had the "set for 2" deals. You get 3 different kind of meats with portions just nice for 2. 1 of it is Rib Eye, I forgot the 2nd meat. Sis also can't remember it now.



The other side of the dish, the 3rd type of meat was the short ribs. Sis and I liked it. We had our meat prepared medium and it was nice.



We ordered a Pork Backribs to share with the rest too.
It was good, but it would be better with a little more sauce. I like it saucey. hehe..



The rest of our CG members had oysters, caesar ' kuro ham salad (which was very nice), another couple had the wagyu/pork leg and sirloin set for 2, another the Angus Tenderloin etc. The list goes on...

We were 'pigging out' at Grill Out. haha..


Grill Out
106 Clementi Street 12 (Sunset Way)
#01-38E
Singapore 120106

Tel: 6774 7001
Hours: 11.30 am to 10.00 pm

Grill Out! @ Sunset Way

This was a birthday treat from Uncle and Aunt on Sunday. Our Aunt heard from friends that Grill Out is quite a nice place and their food's pretty good too. So we came her for lunch.

On early Sunday morning, it was raining very heavily. For me when I woke up, I thought what a wonderful sign from above! It's showers of blessings and it's since it's really pouring, God's really generous too! He has always been hasn't He?

At around 1.30pm when we came for lunch, the rain had stopped and the weather is just perfect for al-fresco dining!

We sat down and we saw that this place serves kobe beef and kurobuta. We were pleased because we knew their chefs would be trained to not do silly things with great meats. :-)



We like this place when we came because the various host and hostess were really helpful and patient with us. She explained to us what the various cuts were because we asked things on the menu like what's Pork Skirts, Pork Collar, Pork Butt etc. (I am sure you didn't know pigs or cows wear skirts too eh?)

After placing our orders, we were promptly served some bread and butter.



We all ordered the different sets and it all came with soup of the day which was Prawn Paste Soup. All of us except sis liked it. Never mind, we had hers. :-)



Some items that we shared:

The Clams and Mussels in White Wine sauce's really really tasty! We all preferred the clams more than the mussels though. (Mussels as usual has too much 'taste of the sea') If we would to come again, we will just order the clams instead of a mixture of both. The sauce just made it so nice. I nearly want to drink it!



The Pork Collar was nice too. (Sorry for the blur photo).
There's a hint of vinegarish taste in it, which makes it quite appetizing. It was quite tender. See the bits of mustard at the side, it goes well with the pork too!

(It kinda reminded us delicious pork collar bbq meat you get on the streets of Bangkok.)



We had oysters too. Some of us wanted it raw and others slightly cooked, so we voted.

So, the oysters were served slightly grilled and hey, I liked it. A bit of heat does makes a difference! It was still raw oysters but not so 'fishy'.



Now for the mains.

We saw the "2 to dine for $26" deal and asked what it was. We get to choose 2 mains but it's only from a shorter list of choice. We thought it was good and took up the deal.

The next 4 mains are from the deal.

Our cousin had the Sirloin Steak done medium. It was nicely charred and juicy and the little girl liked it.



Uncle had the Pork Collar Butt. It was tender. He enjoyed it. (so did the rest who 'taxed' some of the meat.)



Aunt had the Pork Skirt Pasta and we were quite surprised by it. It was very delicious. It was al-dante and had the what we call 'wok hei' fragrant to it. The Pork Skirt was really tender and moist. This section of meat is supposedly one of the better ones because of the high fat to meat ratio. So after grilling it, it's oh! so yummy!



Sis' order of grilled fish was so so only according to her.
So she was picking on our food.



The next two mains (I think it's around $30 + each) were from the 'usual' mains menu. The mystery was solved when we saw the portions! They were huge. The 2 for $26 deal was a bit smaller. But they were all quite worth it.

Momo had the Peri Peri Chicken. Usually when you see a whole chicken served, it's a spring chicken, but this is not a spring chicken and a full size chicken! The sauce was nice and you could see that Momo enjoyed it and was totally stuffed!



I initially ordered the Beef Ribs. But they came back and told us they ran out, and they asked if I wanted the Short Ribs instead. So I said OK.

I don't think I had Short Ribs before. It looks so 'different'. So nice looking and such a big portions too! Oh, the mustard sauce with it made it taste very good. Everyone who tasted bits of it liked it too.



While we were eating midway, Jon (whom I think is the boss?) asked how was everything and we said everything's good. I think Aunt casually mentioned that we are here for my birthday. Then at the end of the meal, he surprised us by bringing out a cake! (Oh, it was so embarrassing!)

The cake was good. It was warm brownies with ice cream on top. I think it's from Peaberry & Pretzel which is just next door. Such a nice gesture and what a pretty cake too!

(See, the showers of blessings thingy I mentioned... it's already happening!)



We were very satisfied with our lunch. We think this place is a good alternative to Astons.
(Except maybe the fish for mains.)

I am not sure if they give cakes all the time to birthday boys or girls, but their service's very good. Maybe it was because we were in a big group? Maybe he was feeling happy that day too? We will most probably go back a few more times. :-)


Grill Out
106 Clementi Street 12 (Sunset Way)
#01-38E
Singapore 120106

Tel: 6774 7001
Hours: 11.30 am to 10.00 pm