[MOVED] Maison Ikkoku Cocktail Bar @ Kandahar Street

Update 20 Jan 2025: Maison Ikkoku has moved to Amoy Street.

Stepping into Maison Ikkoku Cocktail Bar is like entering another world.

For one, its sophisticated and intimate interior is a far cry from the bustling cafe two storeys below. White brick walls and exposed steel pipes give this semi-al fresco bar an industrial feel, while sleek metallic globes hang from the ceiling as a sign of some out-of-this-world mixin’ going on.

Then there’s the menu: there isn’t. You choose your poison by telling ’em what you’re in the mood for (Something sweet? Minty? Strong?), and after a slightly surreal exchange, you sit back and watch Maison Ikkoku’s artisans shake and mix with an almost rhythmic grace.

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Up, Up and Away: The Singapore Flyer

As someone who has spent her entire life cooped up in an urban jungle, I’ve never been a huge fan of observation towers. Whether it’s the N Seoul Tower in South Korea or the iconic Tokyo Tower in Japan, the idea of paying to take an elevator all the way up just to gaze down on an overcrowded city dwelling hardly appeals to me.

Having scored free unlimited rounds on the Singapore Flyer with my F1 pass a few weeks ago, though, I decided to check it out to see what the hype was all about!

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[CLOSED] Kraze Burger @ The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

Update June 2020: Kraze Burger has closed. 

There are three things in life that one should never not cheat on: exams, lovers, and diets.

But if you absolutely have to cheat on the last item in this list, you’d better be darned sure that those calories you’re flirting with are worth every. Single. Bite.

Arriving at the pristine halls of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands one evening, my friend and I were famished, having spent the afternoon at the ArtScience Museum. Having little room in our wallets for more damage from the other chi-chi fine dining places, and not willing to spend our precious moolah on a certain high end food court (which to me isn’t half as good as the next hawker centre), an affordable, yet satisfying meal was in order.

We decided on Kraze Burger. 

Established in 1998, Kraze Burger is a South Korean franchise on a mission to take on one of the West’s most iconic offerings: the ubiquitous hamburger.  Walking into its green and brown hued interior, one could easily mistake it for a Western pub – that is, until the upbeat tunes of PSY, Big Bang and the like clue you in.

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Monster Maki @ Maki-San (30 Aug – 13 Sept 2013)

Ever so often, there comes a rivalry that rocks our generation. From the catty fallout between Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, to the relentless tug-of-war with Mac and PC – anything and everything is a potential battleground to see who can come out tops.

And Maki-San is no exception.

Touted as “the mother of all battles”, the Monster Maki menu was launched in conjunction with the cafe’s 1st Anniversary Bash. Boasting a whopping 10 ingredients each, the Gargan (a meat-based sushi roll) and the Tsunamo (its seafood opponent) will be rollin’ for 2 weeks, during which fans get to vote for their favourite Monster based on taste, appearance, or the sheer novelty of it.  

And the prize? A permanent spot on the menu. 

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Magnum Pleasure Store @ Clarke Quay Central Fountain (27th July – 25th Aug 2013)

“Surprise me.”

“Huh?” I turned to my friend, confused, as we stood in front of the circular counter in the Magnum Pleasure Store.

“Help me pick the toppings and drizzle at random; I can’t decide.” He explained, gesturing to the kaleidoscope of toppings which beckoned to us from their little containers.

Pub goers to Clarke Quay would have noticed a brown hued container-like structure in place of the Central Fountain that has dazzled many a tourist (and drenched a few foolhardy ones) recently. Bearing the now iconic M monogram of the Magnum brand, it’s none other than the Magnum Pleasure Store, a popup store that has been dishing up delectable creations from the world’s classiest ice cream.

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Arriving at its premises one hot Saturday afternoon, we found it packed with ice cream lovers, curious foodies, and simmering Singaporeans who, like us, were seeking a delicious way to escape the relentless heat. And what better way to do so, then to pop by this lil box of sweet surprises? 😀

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[CLOSED] Din Gi Noodle House @ Plaza Singapura

Update June 2020: Din Gi Noodle House has closed.

It was a slightly rainy Sunday when a couple of my mates and I popped by Plaza Singapura looking for a bite to eat, having frolicked the entire day at Marina Barrage for our graduation photo shoot. We decided to check out Din Gi Noodle House, home of the much loved and talked about 一根面 yi gen mian  or single strand noodle.

Tucked away in a corner of Basement 2 of Plaza Singapura, Din Gi Noodle House looked nondescript and we would have completely missed it if not for a couple of chefs hard at work, making their signature single strand noodle with nothing but a pile of dough and years of dedication and practice.

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Nandos @ Plaza Singapura

There are many ways to find out whether your grub is truly as good as they say it is. From simple taste tests to elaborate searches for online reviews, the list is endless. Heck, you can even pit it against a famous Michelin star chef if you’re feeling really confident.

To me, the ultimate testament to good food is whether you can still savour it when you’re sick – or down with a stuffy nose, to be precise.

Hear me out here; I know we all have our good ol’ comfort food to soothe our troubled selves when we’re down, but what’s a girl to do when she has a date to keep? Without that oh so important sense of smell, what else is left to enhance the flavour of our food? Nothing much.

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So when I stepped into Nandos at Plaza Singapura a couple of nights back, I knew their signature Portugese grilled chicken was in for a real test against the tastelessness that had long overtaken my taste buds. Even the decor and menu which practically screamed “Spicy!” did little to convince me otherwise.

Turns out, I was so wrong.

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