Best Halal Restaurants in Singapore

La Marelle Cafe & Boutique

When I first stepped into La Marelle, I thought a Candy Crush bomb exploded in it. Located on the second floor of a shophouse at Bagdhad Street (near Arab St), the bright airy cafe was adorned with colourful walls decorated with cloud and raindrops motifs, flowery paper lanterns, whimsical decorations and merchandise for sale. We were immediately transported to the La Marelle world for children the innocent child in us. I went to La Marelle twice actually. The first time I was on my own, and the second time with two friends. It was surprising to find La Marelle rather empty on a weekend afternoon on both visits, which makes it a great place to hide from the over-populated cafes and hot weather.My friends ordered the Bonjour Singapore, which comprised of a butter croissant, grilled chipolata sausages, scrambled eggs and a side salad.

Something funny happened when my friend was ordering at the cashier. She asked to have the egg sunny-side up.

Cashier asked the cook if he can do sunny-side up.

Cook replied ok ... but after a few seconds, he asked, "How to cook sunny-side up?" Anyway in the end, she just told the cook to do it scrambled style.

We were joyous when the scrambled eggs were successfully produced. Although they made it, they were not fluffy enough. As for the croissant which is supposedly their speciality, we could only say we had better ones. It would be better if the croissant was warmed before serving. The salad dressing was too sweet.

I didn't know how to pronounce the name so I could only point it on the menu to the cashier. Basically, it's spaghetti tossed in aglio-olio style and served with turkey bacon and cherry tomatoes. I find it too oily. There was too much olive oil until I could see a patch of it beneath. The turkey bacon was not bad though but would be better if there was more of it. Hmmm quite expensive for a cheesecake. But actually it is more than a cheesecake. The top layer is made of sweet crumble topping that is dusted with sugar icing. The cheesecake beneath was creamy and cheese-intensive. But the thing is the crumble doesn't stick to the cheesecake and so I ate them separately. I love the presentation which had little pink, red and white sugar hearts sprinkled on top of chocolate syrup. 

Sunday cafe hopping and Limei suggest visiting La Marelle Cafe near Haji Lane after looking at some of the photos and reviews online so we headed over for our Sunday brunch! The shop house itself was quite easy to spot because of the vibrant colours painted outside and a staircase led us to the cafe on the 2nd storey. Upon entering, all sorts of colours welcomed you. The walls are painted in blue, pink, red neon lights and paintings/ doodles all over the place (as you can see in the photos below) Like as if i entered a quirky place where they do fortune telling via those crystal orbs,  Overview of the 3 dishes and a cup of coffee. Presentation wise, it looks really good. Taste wise, you will have to judge it for yourself. I heard recently they did a revamp on their menu though. The thing about instagram nowadays is people now take a photo of their food and upload it before they actually taste it. Their followers will then have the first impression that the food is good based on the photo and decided to find one day and head down to visit the place. (i'm not just referring to cafes) Oh wells. Good presentation and good editing of food photos does get the likes right? 

Read More

Best Halal Restaurants in Singapore

Tang Tea House Hong Kong Cafe review

My bro was telling us about this Hong Kong food place at Simpang Bedok. He claimed that they have one of the best 'rojak' ever that will give him free dried 'sotong' when he order. I was very sure that he was talking about Tang Tea House (TTH). Well, until he drove past TTH itself and turned into the car park where the Simpang Bedok market is.

That's when I realise that he talking about the sort-of 'newer' Hong Kong food place. When they first opened, I heard some not-so-savoury reviews about them. I've also heard people mentioning this Enak Tea House that's like a spin-off of TTH.

Then again, I've always mis-read the 'Enak' of the logo as 'Chak'. And I thought that to be a pretty crappy name. I mean the 'e' was almost uncurled, making it look like a 'c' and somehow I got the word 'Chak' impulsively running into my mind. Until that day. Madness!

ANYWAY....

As luck would have it, there was no available parking lots in that area (even at the other side where Mad Jack is). So we parked at the public car park beside TTH. And we decide that it's simply inconvenient to cross the road, especially with a toddler & pram in tow and so we just dine there. And horror of horrors! The rojak stall is gone. We eventually put two-and-two together and figured out that the awesome rojak my bro was talking about was from the same rojak stall that had moved to the premise across the road. Yes, to another HK Tea House. Sounds like the battle of the tea houses already, Well, my bro took no chances and went across the road to take+away the desired rojak. And yes, he got the free 'sotong', alright. It doesn't help that the crowds weren't really picking up at TTH despite the fact that it's already 6pm. Worse still, when I want to order my favourite dim sums, the server gave me a crestfallen look and showed me the looooong list of unavailable items at that moment. Oh crap. It's like 60% of the items are not there, can?

Something that I had planned to order, initially. But my dad cut me to it and I let him have his way. Nice to see him being adventurous with his food choices, for once.

I asked him how it was and he said it was alright. I remember a friend who commented about the meat being on the slightly tough side. I took a piece. It was ok. Not very tender, just nice. The sauce had a slightly 'herbal' accent. Not sure what it was. Maybe it's five-spice. Oh, there's even a wanton or two on the plate.

We also ordered some satay, since the guy came by our table and we find it hard to turn him down. But the sauce was a real downer. It was so runny/watery that it didn't even cling onto the meat! Plus there were a few sticks that were undercooked. Had to send them back for more time on the grill.

All in all, I'm not sure if the food quality has diminished. I've never really fully tried their 'zhi char' items, save for the hotplate tofu that's meant for my toddler. And the fact that our favourite rojak stall has moved across the road…

Well surely, next time I'm heading to that area, it's to check out Chak Enak Hong Kong Tea House. 

Our Muslim friends can rejoice at the opening of the very popular Halal eatery Enak Enak HongKong Tea House. If this sounds familiar, yes Enak Enak of Simpang Bedok has expanded with its second outlet now located at East Coast Park Seafood Centre, opened in early April. The outlet boasts prime sea views as well as a huge car park nearby. Although most people may not realise it, there is a strip of beach in front of the Seafood Centre, and otters were spotted there last month. If there’s one thing that won’t escape notice when you step into Enak Enak, it is that of its extensive menu. It is so extensive, it is more than 10 pages long, and mind you, each page has like 20 items listed! Practically anything under the sun is sold here, ranging from dim sum, to Western grilled dishes, all the way to steamboat, peanut soup and banana milkshake? The list is almost endless. Scroll down to check out sample pages of the menu. And get this, they are open 24 hours every day. Tang Tea House Hong Kong Cafe located in Bedok, Singapore serves a large variety of Cantonese, Chinese, Fusion and Halal cuisine food. Tang Tea House Hong Kong Cafe is an in-between restaurant, higher class than hawker food stall but lower than those restaurant with themes. Despite the lacking on decorating, Tang Tea House Hong Kong Cafe makes it convenient for the Muslim by having their own praying room inside the restaurant!

Tang Tea House Hong Kong Cafe serves a large variety of choices on their menu. They serve not just only Hong Kong cuisine but Fusion cuisine food such as Chinese, Malay and Western cuisine. What is more is that the food they serve are all halal certified including their Dim Sum! If you are a Bee Hoon lover, you surely came to the right place as they have the best Pan-fried Crispy Bee Hoon around town! The Bee Hoon is well-fried and is very crispy but not oily! If you like to have some spicy and sour seafood, you can also add on with their Asam Fish. Their ingredients used are all fresh and well processed before cooking to ensure the best quality of their food. Dine in here if you are in a big group like family or a group of friends as they have a family set for the ease of ordering. You will also hardly run out of choices as they have a large variety of choice, be it in a la carte or set meals. Tang Tea House Hong Kong Cafe also provides catering service for those who needed.

Read More

Best Halal Restaurants in Singapore

Yellow Submarine

We don't have Halal Subway in Singapore but we do have...Yellow Submarine! I was super impressed with the beef sandwiches at Yellow Submarine because they were incredibly juicy and the meat was super tender. The only downside to it is that it's really expensive. One set meal costs about $9 which is nearly twice the cost of a set meal from McDonald's. The thing about Yellow Submarine sandwiches is that it gets really messy so it's best if you don't go there for your first date. They have only one outlet so far and there's a limited seating space so you can expect a long queue on weekends.I'm a carnivore and nothing makes me happier than a combination of thin juicy slices of premium beef with gravy, topped with melted American cheese and sauteed onions sandwiched in a bread roll.  The latest option to satisfy this Philly Cheesesteak craving in Singapore is the Yellow Submarines, a cheery and happy spot located in the Toa Payoh heartlandThe menu here was conceptualized by fellow Philly cheesesteak lovers, with the help of celebrity chef Chef Eric Teo. Other than the classic cheesesteak, there's also the chicken sub, veg sub, tuna sub and burgers. From a sales point of view, that's only logical considering how we Singaporeans are so darn fickle-minded when it comes to food. 

It's fast food self service at the Yellow Submarines though all orders are made to order on the spot. The food comes out pretty fast so make sure you keep your eyes on the display for your queue number to be pinged. The Yellow Submarine Classic (S$6.90) is a tasty sub no doubt with high quality Australian sirloin steak being used in this one. The cheese sauce also had me swooning and i wished there was more of that in my sub (i gave feedback that they should provide a side portion of cheese sauce for all who wants more heh). The bun was also faultless with its crusty exterior and toasted  buttery interior.  Here comes the but.. and only because i'm too accustomed to the real deal. The meat was a little too thickly sliced and hence it lacked in the juice department. The large onion chunks (a fixture in all their subs) were too Asian styled for my liking. Philly cheesesteaks have long strands of sauteed, caramelized onions, not chunky pieces. And why the ketchup? Now that definitely doesn't belong in a Philly cheesesteak. Thankfully the ketchup taste wasn't too overpowering. I'm not saying it is no good, it's just not authentic Americano. Now the Oregano Submarine ($6.90) is nothing American. This is what i'd call an Asian Chicken sandwich. I don't mind the onions in this one as much as i do in the Classic because it belongs with the other flavors. The chicken meat was very tender and juicy and I enjoyed the peppery taste in this one. Aunties and uncles from the neighborhood would probably identify with this sub. 

 cannot express how crazy i am about Yellow Submarines' cheese sauce. Made from a blend of several cheeses, this heavily guarded secret recipe is a sure winner. You gotta make your sub a meal with the Torpedo fries and a drink for an additional $3. I say this is certainly one of the best tasting cheese fries in Singapore. 

Other sides were pretty good as well. I had fun with the Dino Chick Junior (4pcs, $2.80), which were perfect with cheese sauce. Kids would love this one. The Corn Mine ($1.50) was also very sweet and juicy. Dayums

Desserts don't fare as well here ($2.80 each). Again, everything was toned down for the Asian palate. The cheesecake was very milky and soft, though lacking in the richness of the cheese. The brownie was dry and not chocolatey enough.

Overall, i did enjoy my meal at the Yellow Submarines. The fries are sufficient for me to visit again soon. Do hope some changes will be made to un-Asian-fy the subs. More cheese would definitely be awesome. 

On a side note, i lament this whole 'catered to Asian taste' thingy. Food should educate, not accommodate. I admire those chef that stick to the authentic flavors and not let the whim and fancy of ignorant customers dictate what they should serve on the plate. It takes time, but I'm sure the sophisticated Singaporean diner would appreciate that. 

Read More

Best Halal Restaurants in Singapore

1 Market by Chef Wan

Opened by Celebrity Chef Wan, 1 Market is a Halal-Certified buffet restaurant that serves a great variety of food for you to choose from. 

But before you start helping yourself with the food, queue up and pay first. You will get a invisible chop on the hand for re-entry purposes (just in case you need to go to the toilet). 

No time limit like some other buffet restaurant. So you can enjoy the food while catching up with your friends and family members. The dining area is big and spacious, you won't feel crammed while getting your food. With a great variety of food to choose from sections such as Japanese, Desserts, Seafood, Salad and many more. There are some areas they need to improve and that is the replenishment of food and drinks. We were seated near to the drinks section and from the moment we came in, it was full till half way through our meal, nothing left. No orange juice, barley, fruit punch. The very popular ones which customers go for rather than gassy soft drinks. And it took really a long time for their staff to replenish. Imagine you have to endure that thirst. This is one of the last thing a buffet restaurant should ever have. We pay for the service tax. How can you leave your customers in thirst and probably some customers have to inform the staff? This is bad. I suspect they are understaffed. And that shouldn't affect the service standard because it is their internal problem, not the customers. Imagine customers flowing in every min. If replenishment is not done fast, what do you think is left for the customers?

Another one will be maintaining the cooking standard. Take example, the first round of BBQ prawns were nicely done (which you can see just above) but thereafter, charred. Plus it wasn't springy and didn't manage to maintain the moisture within during the BBQ process.

The Sushi presentation looks messy (look above for the photo) though it tastes alright like any other sushi. If not because of the messy look on the sushi, the Japanese food section is great. I love their salmon. They have Chawamushi too.

But I think the only saving grace would be the desserts. Had their cream puff and eclairs. It was good. The pastry chef should be commended. Presentation was nice, knowing how each different pastry complement one another on the display. When I go for buffets, I would first look at desserts section especially those pastries because they are eye-pleasing. 

But this shall be the one and only visit to 1 Market on 26 May 2015.

Join Chef Wan on his heritage culinary journey at this expansive buffet that serves up to 200 dishes. Perfect for weekend lunches and family dinners.

Specialty:

– Halal certified

– Fantastic desserts – Ice kachang, assorted cakes and traditional kueh, custard, waffles and ice cream

– Large selection of Asian dishes like Rojak, Popiah

– Seafood dishes – oysters, prawns, fish…you name it.

– Wide selection of Japanese cuisine like Sushi and Sashimi

On your special day

– Let them know it’s your birthday and they will send a slice of complimentary cake to your table, with a group of their staff singing happy birthday.

Note:

– 1 Market is not vegetarian friendly

– You will have to make reservations in advance, as it’s mostly packed even during lunch hours.

Getting there:

Nearby MRT Stations:

Dhoby Ghaut

Bus Lines:

64, 65, 139, 65, 139, 587, 590, 598

1 Market has been opened for a while and my first time here with 3 girlfriends. Our celebration of Hari Raya holidays. Lunch starts at 11.30am and I was early. People were peeping in curiously and about 10 minutes before opening, both the walk-in and reservations queue were long. 

Located on level 4 of the new extension of Plaza Singapura, 1 Market is a buffet themed huge restaurant by chef Redzuawan Ismail, more widely known as Chef Wan, http://mychefwan.com/, a Singapore-born Malaysian celebrity chef. 1 Market is also a collaboration with foodcourt chain, Food Junction. An important fact of 1 Market, it is a halal buffet restaurant, a great place for gathering with friends who are muslim.

1 Market opens Monday to Sunday

Buffet Lunch: 11.30am - 2.30pm

Mon-Fri

$23.80++(Adults), $12.80++(Child*)

Sat, Sun, Eve PH & PH

$29.80++(Adults), $17.80++(Child*)

Buffet Dinner: 6.00pm - 10.00pm

Mon-Thu

$35.80++(Adults), $16.80++(Child*)

Fri-Sun, Eve PH & PH

$39.80++(Adults), $19.80++(Child*)

Read More