Hungry Ghost

My first encounter with Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen was at their Novena Square 2 outlet a few years ago and the memory of the “erupting volcano” stayed with me.    On a recent trip to Jurong East, I was delighted to see that Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen has opened a new outlet in JEM. Those who stay in the west side of Singapore can now enjoy a piping hot bowl of Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen without having to travel all the way to Novena Square 2 or Liang Court.      This is how Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen got its name. Look at the smoke coming out of the red inverted funnel-shaped cover, it does look like a volcano that has erupted, doesn't it?                        It’s not difficult to see why   Kazen Shoyu   is one of the most popular   ramens   at Tonkotsu   Kazan Ramen. The creamy   tonkotsu   broth is enriched with   a special   blend of soy sauce, so it is lighter on the palate. ...

Kabe no Ana was established in Japan in 1953, introducing   wafu   (Japanese-style) pasta to the world. It reminds me of my first introduction to Japanese-style pasta at Yomenya   Goemen   (CityLink).      Kabe no Ana’s first and only outlet in Singapore is located at the basement of NEX Shopping Centre in Serangoon. It is a little hidden, so finding it was like discovering a hidden treasure.      Kabe no Ana does an excellent job of blending Japanese and European styles into the design of the restaurant. The wooden partitions and wooden tables and chairs are definitely Japanese, but the stained glass lamps are very European.      The central wall is covered with wooden photograph frames depicting   coloured   mouth-watering dishes that Kabe no Ana has created and black and white photographs of older restaurants.    I am not one to normally order side dishes, but this   Salmon Acqua Pazza   lo...

      Did you know that a new pizza place has recently opened in CityLink Mall, taking over the corner where Starbucks used to be? It is the Yellow Cab Pizza Co. that specializes in New York style pizzas.  Yellow Cab Pizza Co. offers both indoor (air-conditioned) and outdoor alfresco seating.  Yellow Cab Pizza Co. offers Lunch Buddy Bundle from Monday - Tuesday during   11 am   -   3 pm: any 2 10” Pizza + 2 Soda for $30 nett; any 2 14” Pizza + 4 Soda for $55 nett; any  2 18” Pizza + 8 Soda for $80 nett.  This is Yellow Cab Pizza Co.’s signature pizza called   New York’s Finest   [$17 for 10   inches, $28 for 14   inches, $39 for 18   inches]. The thin-crust pizza is loaded with pork pepperoni, ground beef, Italian sausage, pork ham and fresh vegetables. They are very generous with the ingredients and every bite you take is bursting with   flavour. I love the thin crust of the pizza which is really well baked...

Way before Din Tai Fung was ranked as one of the Top 10 Restaurants in the World by The New York Times, my parents and I have been patronizing Din Tai Fung. Din Tai Fung has become my family’s go-to restaurant whenever we are looking for a good Chinese meal. Din Tai Fung’s emphasis   in   quality is reflected in that small plate of sliced ginger that accompanies every table. The ginger is as fine as hair and the quality is consistent.    Although I have not tried every item on Din Tai Fung’s menu, these are 10 of my “must-order” items whenever I patronize.         Din Tai Fun’s Steamed Pork Dumpling was awarded own Michelin star by the Hong Kong and Macau 2010 edition of the Michelin Guide.            Oriental Salad in Special Vinegar Dressing  小菜 [$4.50] is an oriental side dish that reminds me of China. Thin strips of dried beancurd, kelp and cucumber   are   mixed with vermicelli and bean sprouts in ...

Yes, I have finally tried out MegaZip and MegaJump at Mega Adventure Park in Sentosa after thinking about it for months.    After the adrenaline rush, Jing Ru and I came back to HabourFront Centre. It has been a while since I last ate at Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe so we decided to have our dinner there.    Baked Char Siew Bo Lo Bun  [$4.50] is one of Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe's signatures. It is almost identical to Tim Ho Wan's Baked Bun with BBQ Pork. Sweet and moist barbecued pork   mussels   are wrapped in   a moist   bun topped with a crispy custardy top with a crosshatched pattern that resembles the outside of a pineapple.    Steamed Creamy Custard Bun   is such a letdown. The bun itself is fluffy but too thick and the salted egg custard filling is not thick enough and tastes more like melted butter than the creamy salted egg filling it is meant to be.      Papaya Soup Bee Hoon is another signature dish at Cin Wa...

  Hanakatsu is a new addition to the Eat at Seven enclaves in Suntec City. Eat at Seven features the most trending restaurants in Japan.    There are only two items on Hanakatsu's menu: Ha-Na (Pork + Chicken) Katsudon and Ha-Na Katsudon Spicy (Pork + Chicken + Spicy Flavor). You can also opt for Ton-Ji-Ru (Miso Soup with Pork and Vegetables) or Rice Upsize to complement your meal.    Drink menu includes soft drinks such as   Coca-Cola,   Coca-Cola   Light, Sprite, Iced Lemon Tea and Iced Green Tea (free refill). There are also alcoholic beverages such as Suntory The Premium Malt (Beer), Sapporo Premium Beer, Suntory "Ha Ku" High Ball (Whiskey + Soda) and Ka Mo Tsu Ru 180ml (Sake - Dai Ginjo).    Ha-Na Katsudon   [$13.50] is supposed to be a mixture of chicken and pork, but they ran out of pork so I was given all chicken fillets. It takes about 15 minutes because the katsu are fried fresh upon order, so you can be assured of the fres...

  I did a review of "Eat at Seven" in January this year which features 7 of Japan's best and trending specialized concept restaurants. I was running an errand in the area a few days ago when I realized that two of the restaurants have been replaced with new restaurants.    Nikunoki   has been replaced by Burg Kitchen, a restaurant by Chef Karaoke that specializes in Japanese hamburg steak.      Burg Kitchen has basically retained Nikunoki's original interior design, with wooden flooring and wooden tables and chairs. I like that the tables are widely-spaced, making it easy to navigate the restaurant without having to worry that my butt will topple over any tables or chairs.      Burg Kitchen offers a counter where you can enjoy free-flow of pickles, salad and desserts.    Besides the Original Burg and the deluxe version Cheese Burg, Burg Kitchen also offers 5 side dishes to complement your   Hamburg   Chicken Combo, Go...