Bittergourd Soup @ NUS Science Canteen

Every now and then, after all the rick and expensive food, it's time for some cheap, lower calorie food. haha..

When colleagues and I go to the NUS Science Canteen, the steam soup stall seems to be healthiest amongst all the stall. So it's bittergourd and chicken soup and rice. Less than $3 with the rice included.



Not the nicest of all, but sometimes you just got to eat less and the a little healthier option.
Before we balloon into huge gorillas.



The 'someone' is complaining that I am putting on weight. haha..

Uncle Penyet @ NUS Science Canteen

We had the Ayam Penyet from this stall last week. Since it's still fresh in our minds, we were thinking about having it again. The queue seems to be moving faster now. There is still a queue, but it clears very fast.

This time we tried something different, something cheaper from the menu. The Chicken Wing Penyet. $2.80
Not too bad right? 2 chicken wings, 1 piece of fried tofu, cucumbers slices and a few cherry tomatoes. Chicken is nice and crispy.



I asked for the rice to be drenched with more curry. I love lots of curry on my rice. I also ask for extra vegetable top up. So lunch was $3.50 in total.

2 other colleagues also ordered the same thing. ;-)




But be careful of their chilli though. If your stomach can't take it, you will suffer the next day. LOL

Uncle Penyet
Science Canteen.
National University of Singapore.

Benkei Japanese @ NUS Science Canteen

It's another quick lunch at NUS.

A colleague who had tried it previously said the Swordfish set at the Japanese stall beside Spinelli's quite value for money. I saw the queue was short and my legs controlled by the brain who was manipulated by the growling stomach brought me to this stall.

The set has two kinds of fried stuff. One of it is supose to be sword fish. I have absolutely no idea which is the sword fish. But what I know that the fried stuff tasted good. That's Japanese curry on top of it, not the usual curry, but a little peppery.

Sometimes you don't really care if it's authentic, if it makes you happy, that's enough.



Served with white rice and black sesame seeds. A bowl of soup and 3 little jellies.
$4.20 and you get a stamp on their frequent diner card.




Ben Kei Japanese Food
NUS Science Canteen
National University of Singapore.

Uncle Penyet @ NUS Science Canteen

Colleagues and I visited the Science canteen at NUS and noticed this very long queue at the Claypot Stall. We thought it was the Claypot stall, but when we got nearer, we saw it's not the Claypot Stall anymore! It is now called Uncle Penyet!

They have all sorts of Penyet too! Ayam Penyet (Smashed Chicken), Udang Penyet (Smashed Prawns), Pomfret Penyet, Dory Penyet, Chicken Wing Penyet. Are we in for a 'smashing' good time I wonder? LOL..



The queue was too long the day we were there. So we went back 3 days later. This time we were mentally prepared to queue up. We all ordered the same set! The Ayam Penyet Set. ($4)



A huge piece of crispy chicken thigh, a piece of fried tofu, cucumber and the chilli sauce.

How's it? If you are not a health freak, crispy chicken always taste good! The chilli was nice, it's not tongue burning spicy, so I like it. One colleague said it's not spicy enough. he likes it to sting his tongue (mad!).



It comes with rice that's soaked with yummy curry over it.



We hope the portion size and standard will remain. Most canteen stalls in NUS always tend to shrink in size and quality after a while. Many students and staff knows that, so is that why they are queuing while it's new? :-p

We all recognise the operator. They are the same people selling the Indonesian Panggang at Engineering Canteen. We have not been there for some time, we wonder if they are having two stalls now, or have moved over. The stall sells the Ayam Panggang too. (the first photo is only half the signboard haha)

Oh ya.. we find it amusing that though they sell 'penyet' stuff, none of the ayam sets we ordered were 'penyet'. Are they too busy to do the last step? ;-p



Uncle Penyet
(beside the fruits stall, formerly the Claypot Stall)
Science Canteen
National University of Singapore.

Noodles Stall @ Science Canteen

It has been a really busy busy month. Our lunch time has been really boring. We have been eating the same old thing. Noodles or mix rice. If you noticed, the nicer places I posts are mostly dinner and eaten during the weekend or when we are away on course. :-)

Today's post entry is what people who are in a rush eat. Go to the canteen and grab some canteen food. We got to go early too, to avoid the queues and also to ensure we have seats.


Colleagues and I ate this at the NUS Science Canteen noodle stall today. It's one stall that you can go to satisfy your meat cravings very very cheaply! Order a large pork rib noodle, and you get around 5 or sometimes 6 (depending if you smile or not haha) of pork ribs.

This plate is colleague's lunch. He had the springy yellow noodle with pork ribs and extra vegetables. His version is usually 'no chilli', 'no tomato sauce', only soy sauce version.  He will then mix it with the fresh chop garlic. Give it a good stir with the hot noodles and the whole plate of $2.40 noodles transform into something really heavenly.



I had something similar. I had meat cravings so I ordered what I call the 'chicken pox' version. I had pork ribs and had extra braised chicken wing to go with it. It was a hot day and I did not want more heat, so I opted for no chilli. I only wanted soy sauce and tomato sauce. (I think tomato sauce makes it a little tangy which I think is nice! It's not only the two sauces, they mix it with a few other mix of sauces.)

I added some garlic too and lots of pickled green chillis. Give it a good stir before eating and oh.. you get steaming hot noodles that's really fragrant you literally salivate before eating it! The pork ribs are nice, but not the nicest you can get, but we like the quantity of it. The chicken wings are 'sliding off the bones' kind. It's only $2.80. The extra chicken wings that cost 80 cents.:-)




There you go, a quick simple and cheap lunch but very satisfying.
Oh, if you are coming, go there early, during peak hours, you can see a snaking long queue of students and staff from university and the hospital queuing!


Noodles Stall
NUS Science Canteen.

Mee Tai Mak @ NUS Science Canteen

Have not had any post from the usual very economical food that colleagues and I have for our lunch. You know you can have so many combination of food from the sale stall. While I was deciding, I suddenly thought of the Lo Shi Fen / Mee Tai Mak that I had at a place called "Canteen" too.

This Mee Tai Mak at this canteen is 7 times cheaper though. LOL...

My order to the uncle selling was: "Lao Su Fen, Gan De, Niang Kuai, Chan Chan".
(Mee Tai Mak noodles, Dry Version, $2 (which is the large version of it), Mixed. )

Mixed (chan1 chan1) is for those who wants to have almost all the ingredient you can find on display counter at the stall. It's a pick of a tiny bit of everything. 1 fishball, a few ngor hiong slices, 1 wanton, 1 piece of fried wanton, few pieces of mushrooms, few pieces of char siu, few pieces of braised pork, some minced pork, etc.. Always looks satisfying!



For those who wondered what is "lao su fen" / "mee tai mak" / "niao zhi sai".
It's whitish fat and short noodles.




Noodle Stall
NUS Science Canteen
National University of Singapore
Kent Ridge Campus

Megabites @ NUS Science Canteen

This was lunch a few colleagues and I had at Megabites at the NUS Science Canteen two days ago.

While looking at the menu and deciding what to eat, I realised that everyone in the queue was ordering Set A - Chicken Chop. ($3.80)

I have never ordered this before and I wondered why my colleagues are all ordering it? When it was my turn to place an order, I suddenly said Chicken Chop set. LOL.. Why did I say that? I don't know.... Talking about peer pressure!

I know why people like eating this now. It was quite delicious! Chicken's tender and a little crispy and salty. For people who needs carbo, they give you some rice and also mash potato.

I think the number one reason that made it so nice was sauce on it.
**wonders what they put inside that makes you want to lick the sauce off the plate.**



Oh, the mushroom soup this time was blech!
Too watery and quite tasteless. It was not like this the last time.



Megabites Cafe
National University of Singapore - Science Canteen

Benkei Japanese / Korean Cuisine @ NUS Science Canteen

Many friends who are students in NUS are updating on their Facebook status or twitters that it's their last lecture as an undergrad. I suddenly thought: "wah.. i feel so old! my last lecture as an undergrad was more than a decade ago!"

Anyway, since we are talking about NUS, we shall talk about eating in NUS. The canteens in NUS offers quite decent food at very cheap prices. This week, as Singapore's economy is projected to go worse, colleagues and I have been eating value for money meals at NUS Canteens.

I realise I have 3 sets of photos from the same stall in my camera this week. 2 eaten by colleagues and one by me. All from Benkei Japanese Cuisine at the Science Canteen.



This is the Korean BBQ Chicken Set that I had. $4.
That's quite a generous portion of meat too right? Taste is not too bad lah.



This is colleague's Japanese Saba and Teriyaki Chicken Set. $4.
The Saba has already been eaten when I took this photo. hehe....



The Korean BBQ Beef Set. $4.50
Colleague says it is nice, and very spicy too!



The sets comes with a bowl of rice and a bowl of miso soup.





If you order the Japanese set emals, you get 3 pieces of mini jelly. If you order the Korean, you get a small saucer of Kimchi.



The kimchi that another colleague had was not as nice as the one I had on a different day. Hmmm different batches taste different?

We suddenly realise we miss the Japanese stall that was at the Arts Canteen long long ago. We think that was the best. Anyone remember them? ;-)

Benkei Japanese / Korean Cuisine,
NUS Science Canteen.

Noodles @ Science Canteen, NUS

We have been having 'cheap eats' lunch at the NUS Canteen this whole week. The students are not coming in till next week, so there's still seating places.

It seems people are willing to queue for is value for money. The noodle stall's queue seems to be longer than the 'chinese mixed rice' queue!

Colleague's lunch: The chicken wings noodles with 'jia cai, jia dan' (extra vegetables and egg). Around $3.



This is what I had. "Pai Gu Kuo Tiao, gan, bu yao la, yao fan qie" (I hope that's correct).
Pork Rib Rice Noodles, Dry version, No Sambal, Yes to tomato sauce. $2.
I love add in pickled green chilli and minced garlic. Give it a good mix and it taste yummy!



Colleagues and I eaten so often here, that we have eaten all kinds of permutations of available!


Chinese Noodles Stall
The Frontier (Science Canteen)
Science Drive 2
National University of Singapore

Megabites @ NUS Science Canteen

This was today's lunch. We saw a mini poster outside Megabites about some promo set meals. Soup, Fries, Butter Rice, Chicken pieces with a choice of 3 sauces @ $3.90

Sounds like not bad a deal, so colleagues and I went straight in.
This is my lunch for today.



Two other colleagues ate the same thing. All three of us had the different sauces that goes with it.



The soup.



I had the sweet and sour sauce. (Honey something).
The other two were Teriyaki and Thai Chilli.



It's so so food, but it was filling and affordable.

Something we noticed though. "Old Cat" was telling us that while he was queue for his food, he noticed that there's this person in front of him that was being very difficult, wanted to change the vegetables, soup changed and this and that.

But he noticed that the person serving still had a happy face and was just did what the customer wanted. We shall see if they are like this the next time we visit. I think they score points here!

Megabites Cafe @ NUS
S16 Level 1
Science Drive 1
Singapore 117543

Tel: 6775 1383

Noodles stall @ NUS Science Canteen

Lunch after coming back from holidays has been familiar food.

Side track: Yesterday colleagues and I ate the Malay stall at the NUH Staff Canteen. (We noticed the food taste errrr... standard jatuh so much! We then look towards the stall. We notice none of the familiar faces selling the food's there now. Also, we noticed the menu on the board has been pasted with white paper. OK, not going back anymore.)

Today colleagues and I had lunch at the NUS Science Canteen. The stall owner's still the same. :-P

Two of us had the 'chan chan niang kuai' ('mix mix two dollars') noodles. This is it. A mixture of everything. It's always satisfying for people who wants to taste everything.



Two other colleagues had the 'Pai Ku Mian'. (Pork Rib noodles). They 'jia chai' (added extra vegetables) and this is their healthy looking noodles. $2.20



Familiar food always taste good. :-)

Chinese Noodles Stall
The Frontier (Science Canteen)
Science Drive 2

Pai Ku Mian yet again @ NUS Science Canteen

Not sure if you all like to go to the same stall to eat the same thing. We realise that we do! A few colleagues and I, when we feel like having lots of meat and have it cheap, we head to the Noodle Stall at the NUS Science Canteen.

Though they have also joined the rest of stalls in Singapore in raising prices, it is still a big portion in comparison to the price we pay elsewhere.

Yes, we are eating the same thing over and over, but we try to make it a bit different each time. One thing though, we always seem to ask for 'kuey teow'. This just happens to be our lunch few days ago, and realised we ordered the same thing, but it is still quite different.

Dpuk likes to add extra veg and have a 'lu dan'. (soy stewed egg)
He does not like to add chilli or the tomato sauce in it. Just plain old soy sauce. He says this is how he likes it.



For me, I think I eat enough eggs so I usually omit the eggs.

But I am now fond of the tomato sauce that they will add in if you do not ask for chilli. Somehow it gives some tangy taste to the noodles. (I used to hate the tomato in it) I love the green chilli and a scoop of garlic to go with it. The scoop of garlic just makes it taste so good! I give it a good stir and enjoy. (Without any addition it cost $2, usually around 5-6 pieces of meat)



'Wire' another colleague likes to add in veg and 'lu dan' too. The difference is that he likes it very very spicy. If I am not wrong, he already has the 'sambal' added to his noodles. He adds in more potent 'chilli padi' as well, plus the garlic.



How do you like your noodles? All dark soy, tomato sauce or spicy chilli?

Megabites Cafe @ NUS Science Canteen

On Thursday, colleagues and I had lunch at Megabites Cafe at the Science Canteen in NUS. It has been quite sometime since we came here for lunch.

We saw that there was some promotion and this is what we ordered. A few colleagues and I had the Fish & Chips. $3.50 We had to wait and it was worth it as we got freshly fried fish. :-)



It comes with soup too btw.



Ms Preggy had something else. There's a promotion for the western sets where you get a scoop of ice cream for only 50 cents.

This is her lunch.



And her ice cream. Hmmm looks good too right?



Have a great weekend to all!

Benkei Japanese / Korean Cuisine @ NUS Science Canteen

Today, I met an insurance agent or rather they are now called Financial Consultants friend and also a former uni housemate, Kevin, for lunch.

When he arrived at my office, I was famished, so we went to the NUS Science Canteen for a quick bite. We went to the Japanese Stall to try out the sets.

Kev had the Salmon Set ($4.20). He said it's not bad. Doesn't really have the 'fishy' smell that cooked salmon has.



I had the Saba Teriyaki ($4). I have been wanting to try this since another colleague had it and said it is not bad. I like fish, so I like it. :-)



Both were sets meals, so they came with rice and a soup.
The soup, you know why the photo is not posted up here. LOL. Everything else is good.



After lunch, we discussed how I should be more adequately protected. ;-)
You should too you know....

Benkei Japanese / Korean Cuisine,
NUS Science Canteen

Benkei Japanese / Korean Cuisine @ NUS Science Canteen

It's a quick revisit to this new stall at the NUS Science Canteen. This time, two other colleagues who did not try it with us the other day decided to give it a try.

Ms Preggy has the fish set. $4. It seems quite tempting isn't it? She gave us some of her fish to try. Not too bad. The set seems to be more worth it, compared to the rice dishes that we had.



'Pirate' had the curry set. $4. It looks quite good too. Definitely not the best in town, but at this price, can pass.



The set comes with rice, soup and some cute little pieces of jelly.

Benkei Japanese / Korean Cuisine
NUS Science Canteen


Have a good and yummy weekend!

Benkei Japanese / Korean Cuisine @ NUS Science Canteen

Colleagues and I made a trip to the NUS Science Canteen yesterday. We realise that the old Japanese stall that was closed has now reopened and it's 'under new management'. We thought we should give it a try.

It's a two in one stall. The main signboard says Benkei Japanese Cuisine, but the secondary board says Benkei Korean Cuisine.



DPuk tried the Oyako Don $3.50.



I had the Ten Tama Don $3.50



To us, the food's ok, taste good too, Definitely a 100% improvement compared to the previous Japanese food stall in the same location. But we concluded that the portion's a bit small.

(Small is a bias comparison :-) by many people who eats here.
Explanation: Things in the canteens are NUS have an average of $2 for most meals. But when someone charges $3.50, your expectations in the 'NUS Canteen Economy' must raise a high percentage right? haha... Yes, that's the bias. )

Benkei Japanese / Korean Cuisine
NUS Science Canteen.

Chinese Food @ NUS Science Canteen

Second last day in Darwin. Tomorrow will be our last day here. It's been 8 days since we are here. Everyone's saying what can you do in Darwin? Well, it seems we have survived so many days here.

Back to my prepared posts....

-----

Wondering what typical students and staff in NUS around the Science Faculty eat? They eat the Chinese Food at the Chinese Cooked Food stall. It has a perpetual long queue and no, it does not have very nice tasting food. So so and mostly very sweetish.

But it still has a long queue because it is cheap! LOL

Typical food that I have. 2 Veg and 1 Meat. I love bittergourd.



What you see costs $1.90.

Steamed Soups @ NUS Science Canteen (New stall)

Recently a new stall opened at the NUS Science Canteen. If you are familiar with the Science Canteen, Bambino is gone! A new stall selling steamed rice and steamed soups have taken over. It seems people in this canteen has been sick of eating the same thing. So when a new stall opens, everyone flocks over...




These photos were taken last week. Colleagues and I decided to give it a try. We ordered 4 different soups and 3 types of their steamed rice.

The Pork Ribs with Old Cucumber Soup. $2.20



The Chicken with Bitter Gourd Soup. $2.20



The Pork Ribs with Watercress soup. $2.20



The Pork Ribs with Szechuan Vegetable Soup. $2.20



All the soup was tasty. For me personally, I like the Szechuan Veg and the Bittergourd Soup.

For the steamed rice. They only had 3 kinds available when we were there, so we ordered all three. This is the Pork Ribs Rice. $2



This is the Chicken with Chinese Sausage Rice. $2
The other Chicken Rice $2 looks the same. Just take off the sausages and imagine it with more chicken.



The rice portions are kinda small. But filling enough for small to moderate eaters. Colleagues says that if you order a rice and soup to go with it, it will be expensive by canteen food standards. ;-)

We think it will survive for the time being...