What do you get when you combine traditional kuehs with a hip, modern setting? You get Cafe Confetti! Located a stone’s throw away from Tai Seng MRT, in Leong Huat Building, Cafe Confetti is the culmination of Confect.T’s recent rebrand and transition from online business to physical cafe.
With chicken rice and mala stalls a dime a dozen, it’s refreshing to see hawkers branch out into less common cuisines in the heartlands. Bánh Mì Bé Bi is one such family-run business that makes Vietnamese sandwiches from scratch, among other traditional offerings.
There has been a spate of Michelin Bib Gourmand hawker recipients expanding beyond their home bases and setting up shop across Singapore. Good for them – and good for us to be able to get a taste of their revered recipes closer to home! One of these growing hawker businesses is Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice, which recently opened its third outpost in Tampines Street 81.
Duo Chicken Rice ($5 – $6)
You’ve heard of 100-year old recipes passed down for generations, but what about 100-year old sourdough starters? Goldenroy’s San Francisco Sourdough Pizza is a takeaway kiosk whose claim to fame is American-style sourdough pizzas, the base of which is made from a 48-hour aged sourdough starter that is itself an heirloom strain aged over 100 years old!
Japanese cuisine aficionados who fondly remember Hokkaido Ramen Santouka as the go-to place for authentic ramen, rejoice, for you can now indulge in the same goods at a fraction of the price. Ramen King, a hawker-based venture by ex-Santouka cooks, has set up shop at Tampines Street 81, bringing its mouthwatering recipe to the heartlands. (Double yay for this Eastie!)
These days when I find myself too busy to dip out for my daily lunch run, I find myself scrolling through food delivery apps to discover new eating spots. Ishiro Rice Bowl is one such eatery I stumbled upon when looking for a quick fix for my cravings for Japanese food.
With multiple outlets scattered across Singapore, Ishiro Rice Bowl has become well-known for its affordable Japanese-style rice bowls with runny onsen eggs and bold flavours. Upscaled, yet wallet-friendly Yoshinoya is how I would describe their delicious bowls!
Tipsy Penguin can be described as somewhat of a hidden gem in central Tampines. Since its opening some three years ago, it has been huddled between two bustling commercial centers, Our Tampines Hub and the trio of shopping malls around Tampines MRT station. Until the recent hiatus on live performances, Tipsy Penguin has served as a robust gathering place for residents and workers alike in the east.
Chue On It 