Category: Outside PH

I am not cutting my umbilical cord to Chinese food, but with impressive succulent surfeit of spices, some Indian vegetarian cuisine are also good. Sauntering around Little India, I’ve come across this humble food house, a quiet enclave perpendicular to the busy Serangoon road, while in active pursuit of pure vegetarian restaurants yesterday.

Their menu lists Indian snacks having different flavors of pratta, rava, uthappam, dosa and other sweets. I’m not well-versed with any of these but I felt the urge to try masala dosa (because it sounds good), a staple food in the South Indian region.

Address: 5 Hindoo Road, #01-01 Singapore

Contact Number: 63417552

Opening Hours: 11:30am–3:30pm, 5:30pm–11pm daily

Nearest MRT: Little India

How to Go: From the MRT, walk past Tekka Centre and straight ahead you’ll have your nearest landmark: Broadway Hotel. Cross the street and there’ll you find the restaurant on your left.

Food I Ordered: Masala Dosa

Pictures:

 

The Experience:

Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

Chennai Dosa can be like a resting / chill-out place. Why’d I say? The person on the table opposite me never ordered any food from the time I came in until I left. He talked to somebody on the phone, hanged the mobile phone up, waited for a while, drank [free] water and just sat, waited there and acted like he had time aplenty to be stashed away. Oh, well, the other two people seated next to me also just talked relentlessly without ordering anything. The waiter did not bother them at all.

Service: ★★★★★

The waiter was very friendly and productive. Though it was like a one man show for him (he was the one preparing the food, taking the orders and payments in the restaurant that can accommodate 40 people), he was able to present good service, powered probably by his passion to create something outstanding for the guests. When I asked him to pack the leftover food, he asked with a smile, “Why? Unable to eat?” I was embarrassed because he might think that I didn’t like their food but the truth was that I was full to the max. I gave out my honest reason and he said okay. 

Food: ★★★☆☆

Dosa is a fermented crepe or pancake made from pureed rice batter and black lentils. In India, it is a common breakfast dish and street food. It’s rich in carbohydrates, with no salt, sugar, saturated fats and gluten content. The crust was crispy and the filling was stuffed with mashed potatoes which are bland in taste. I had to dip portions of it to the sauces: coconut chutney, curry and muddha pappu. Overall, the dish was decent and satisfactory but by no means transcendental. Because of its novelty, their masala dosa can be a good starter course for those who want to try Indian food.

A little bit of trivia: Masala dosa was listed at number 49 on the World’s 50 most delicious food compiled by CNN Go in 2011.

Price for Value: ★★★★★

I paid S$2.60 without service charge. The meal was more than adequate for my stomach to contain for a snack, so I give this full marks. My instinct was right when I decided to go into their restaurant all along.

I only wanted to try one of Nature Vegetarian Delights’ dishes because over the Internet, many bloggers have reviewed the restaurant and found it to be one of the best. Here’s the list of places you can find the same restaurant name Nature Vegetarian Delights or 大自然素食 in Chinese, although I’m not sure if these branches constitute to the same food chain and if they still are open:

• No. 37, Teck Chye Terrace, Singapore 545734
• Blk 356, Hougang Ave 7, #01-803, Singapore 530356
• Blk 112, Bukit Purmei Rd, #01-201, Singapore 090112
• No. 24, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 59000

I went to the branch in Serangoon because it’s nearest to our place:

Address: 756 Upper Serangoon Road, #04-26 Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre, Singapore
Contact Number: 62868028
Opening Hours: 9am-9pm daily except Tuesdays
Nearest MRT: Serangoon
How to Go: From Serangoon Central, walk north east and go straight to Upper Serangoon Road. When you see the Paya Lebar Methodist Church, cross the road and straight ahead is the shopping center. All these walking might take you about 10-15 minutes.
Food I Ordered: Claypot Trotters Rice
Pictures:

The Experience:

Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

Situated in a rather old building, I first thought that it was closed when I saw the signboard on the glass in the first floor. I read further and saw another banner in Chinese pointing to their new location–to the fourth floor. Upon entering, I felt a strong Buddhist vibe because of the paintings, sayings and statuettes of Buddha and His teachings mounted on the wall. The restaurant was spacious, designed with thorough simplicity and practicality.

Service: ★★★★☆

The waitress ushered me to a table and gave me the menu at once. I took pictures of the area first before reading their laminated book-style food menu. What is she, a reporter? she might be thinking deep inside her head. The food came promptly and she asked me if I wanted any dessert or drink. When I said “not this time,” she just left the menu on my table for any chances of following through.

Food: ★☆☆☆☆

For the record, this claypot trotters rice was my least favorite item among all vegetarian food I ever tasted. Walau-eh! Full of ginger (as you can see in the pictures above) more than the actual mock trotter pieces, it had a punch of medicinal herbs with plenty of vinegar, dark soy sauce and a smack of sugary sweetness. I could not take all but I didn’t want to put it to waste and I already put out the effort of purposely going to Serangoon for it so I had to carry on. I looked at the menu again to see if there’s anything I could add on to balance out my dissatisfaction and redeem my impression on the restaurant. But no, I was full. Let’s leave it at that. The tofu, mushrooms and the mock meat were fine anyway.

Price for Value: ★☆☆☆☆

The meal was one of the most expensive in the list under the “Rice” category. I paid S$5.80 for it, and on a scale of 1-10, my satisfaction rate can only go as far as 1. Sorry.  On a positive note, I have tried yet another special delicacy and I could share about it. ٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶

Chicken rice is one of Singapore’s unofficial national signature dishes, and lots of tourists never leave the country without devouring this enticing meal. Consisting of rice cooked in chicken broth and poached or roasted chicken slices, it is eaten with chilli-lime sauce, black soy sauce and a bowl of soup made from the chicken stock.

Here in Singapore, a hawker place or kopi tiam without a chicken rice stall is almost next to impossible. But finding stalls serving vegetarian chicken rice is as rare as an ice cube in the Sahara Desert, probably.

I’ve only seen this in two restaurants so far: one in Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant in Fortune Centre and another in Tian Yi Vegetarian Food in Ang Mo Kio where I was supposed to have had it yesterday morning.

I was disconcerted when the owner said it’s only available on Sundays, and there’s no way I’m ever musing of going back to that faraway place. So I returned to the Fortune Centre today to be “at peace with the world.”

Address: 190 Middle Road, Fortune Centre #01-07 (Other branch: 19 Upper Dickson Road Singapore 207478)
Contact Number: 63967769
Opening Hours: 9am-8:30pm daily

Nearest MRT: Bugis / Bras Basah

How to Go: You can walk from Bugis MRT, north to Selegie Road. It’s just a block away from Midlink Plaza, also near Sunshine Plaza. You can also walk from Bras Basah MRT and go straight from Waterloo Street.

Food I Ordered: Chicken Rice

Pictures:

The Experience:

Ambiance: ★★★★☆

There was a standing tarpaulin at the entrance stating that this vegetarian fast food serves no onion, no garlic and no egg. Offering a variety of Asian, Western and Indian cuisine, its signature dishes include: ardine murtabak, paper masala dosa, chicken rice and soup tulang. On the counter were printed cards and photographs of the Hindu god Krishna. (Gokul is actually where Lord Krishna was brought up.)

There were also a box for donations and a basket of mint candies for customers to take in after meal. The walls were painted plain white, the floor was black and the chairs were red. The colors just reminded me of Germany’s old flag.

The kitchen and the dining area was separated only with a clear divider, so we could see how the chef cooks the food. There were like 10 tables only, with four chairs per table in the entire rectangular-shaped diner. Noise from inside and outside could be heard outstandingly.

Service: ★★★★★

I stared at the Indian chef with a grown mustache because he was also staring at me, when I was unsure if I’d order from him directly. Why, he was standing by the counter, while the wait staff were so busy taking in payments and tidying the mess of tables of customers who had just left.

To cut the first turf, I called him out for one chicken rice. He repeated my order and got to the wok. I paid at once to the cashier attendant and I noticed he handed me the change in a traditional North Indian manner–by lightly placing his left hand on his right forearm near the elbow.

Two minutes after I sat down and the chef served me a plate of chicken rice with chili sauce and soup. He nodded to the wait staff who then gave me a napkin and a pair of utensils. While I was eating, the chef gave me this crispy crackling (like some bonus treat), which was not originally found in their picture:

Food: ★★★★★

I don’t know but maybe their vegetarian chicken rice tastes closely to the non-vegetarian chicken rice, without the chicken fats. The main ingredients tossed to the wok, I guess, were: coarsely chopped ginger, fresh red chilli padi, salt and pepper, pandan leaves and stir-fried mock chicken made of wheat gluten. Side dishes were cauliflower (with Indian flavor) and a small slice of cucumber.

The chicken was staggering good when paired with the fragrant rice. The whole meal made me ravish with delight. I can’t say any negative.

Price for value: ★★★★★

With a dose of excellent food and great customer service, what more can I say? The price was just right at S$5, and there was no added service charge. I like this place very much!

The sweltering heat of summer in Singapore has come up. Not exaggerating, I could even see the wavy optical illusions and tangled refractions resulting from saturated humidity pricking the air.

However, to get to my planned goals and destinations, [too bad] I could not escape today’s relentless heat. I just had to put on an ample amount of sunblock and UV protection, on my face especially. And with my comfy rubber shoes on and bright-colored umbrella, I took off anyway…up to the north-central heartland!

Affinity Vegetarian Restaurant

Address: Blk 421 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 #01-1149 Singapore 560421

Contact Number: 93384188

Nearest MRT: Ang Mo Kio

How to Go: From AMK MRT, ride bus 265 and alight at Blk 475 (5 stops). (But because I felt energetic this morning, I walked all the way! I had a great workout.)

Food I Ordered: Kway Chap

Picture:

The Experience:

Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

Since this food stall is part of Tian Tian Lai Kopitiam in a normal HDB, I didn’t expect much for good feel of the environment. Provided were tables and chairs, of course, but there was no air-conditioning. I did not at all feel refreshed after walking for like 30+ minutes to reach the “hidden” place.

Around it were many of the common features of the island nation’s neighborhoods: hawker centers, wet markets and HDB housing blocks. So being there made me experience being in the “provincial area” of Singapore, away from decibels of traffic noise of the city’s maddening crowds. It was as if I were transported to an oasis of joy and inner peace.

Service: ★★★★☆  

This is a self-service eatery. I had to pick up my own utensils and bowl of food. The store owner’s actions are fast though, considering that many queued up, he had managed to prepare the dishes well and serve each customer at almost breakneck speed.

Food: ★★★☆☆

It was my first time to eat kway chap. I have not tried the non-vegetarian version of it because the ingredients consist of boiled fatty pork, pig’s innards (intestines) and fallopian tubes or braised duck–all of which I don’t eat. Gasp. Kway chap is one of the “classics” of Teochew cuisine and it’s very popular in local Singaporean restaurants’ menus. I thought that before leaving the country, I should at least know how it tastes like.

The vegetarian version consisted flat sheets of noodles with fried bean curd and salted vegetables in herbal soup and dark soy sauce. The noodles had a thick, starchy texture. It’s fair but not exceptional.

Price for Value: ★★★★★  

Singaporeans say that the mark of good Kway chap is that the rice noodles should be smooth, satiny and slippery. Affinity Vegetarian Food has achieved that, so the hearty platter I got was just worth the S$2.50 I paid. For those who can’t take pig organs, you can try this one lor! ❂‿❂

Why did I choose Zen Japanese Vegetarian Restaurant for my second review? I have done my homework and according to my research, it is the first Japanese-style vegetarian restaurant concept in Singapore; therefore, it’s not to be missed!

Also, they claim to offer vegan food without garlic, onion, MSG, egg and other dairy products. Then I became much intrigued: if this is so, what would be the difference in taste between non-vegetarian Japanese food and this one? I have to find out.

Address: 122 Middle Road Midlink Plaza #02-02, Singapore, 188973 (This will be relocated in May. According to the waitress, new address is not yet confirmed.)

Contact Number: 68831586

Opening Hours: 11:30am-3pm & 5:30pm-10pm daily

Nearest MRT: Bugis

How to Go: The nearest landmark is the National Library. Walk opposite that and further down.

Food I Ordered: Unagi Don Set

Pictures:

The Experience:

Ambiance: ★★★★★

Zen Japanese Vegetarian Restaurant has an amazingly serene atmosphere, designed with a zen feel where seating arrangements (boxed) are positioned quite widely apart illustrating form and function. The place was free of clutter, answering the quest for tranquility and balance.

Think minimalism combined with modernistic beauty. It suddenly bought me back a flood of fond Restaurant City (Playfish game) memories because its interior is similar to mine (in the game). Haha.

The place was quiet, with only three of us tables active probably because it was a week day today and I had my brunch at 1:30pm. I heard it’s usually so jam-packed with diners in office hours and weekends that you should call to make a reservation or else you won’t get a chance to have seats right away.

Service: ★★★☆☆  

I bowed like a Japanese as I pushed the door from the entrance. The attendant must have thought that I was Japanese and smiled. She gave me the liberty to choose my spot. I sat in the middle cubicle of the restaurant and she handed me the menu together with some tissue paper and chopsticks.

When I was ready to order, I raised my hand as usual to call out the waiters. However, although all of them were idle, there was not even one wait staff in sight who was looking out for customers’ calls. I took the initiative to walk forward to the cashier and ordered food there.

I did the same thing when I billed out because they were all facing either the kitchen, the counter, the door outside or talking with each other. Food was served in less than 10 minutes.

Food: ★★★★★

The unagi don set is one of the most favorite dishes in the menu, as suggested by the online community. Definitely, it’s a must-try. It came with the following: four pieces of unagi (eel) that is actually made of tofu (note: not mock meat) grilled with seaweed and nice sweet Teriyaki sauce, traditional sticky Japanese rice, a small bowl of organic miso soup, garden lettuce salad with cherry tomatoes topped with sesame/peanut dressing, pickles and seaweeds, mixed steam vegetables (medley of radish, pumpkin and ladyfinger) and peach pudding.

I thought as a whole, the presentation of the set looked very upmarket, creative and luxurious! The taste matched the elegant execution of the dishes. It was beyond divine. (Even non-vegetarians would love it.) I savored everything in one hour. Burp.

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

The original price of the set was S$16 and there was a 10-percent service fee. It was like a hundred times more than my usual budget for a meal. However, I thought it’s worth the price for the food comprised not of boring vegetarian products made from gluten but of real vegetables. It’s one of the very best vegetarian meals I’ve ever had. Certainly, it deserves a two-thumbs up!