By Natalia George, Jia D’Souza and Sneha Thomas
Hello There!
Casual Observations is delighted to bring you a vibrant, diverse and flavourful selection of our personal favourite places to grab a bite with friends or family. We have tastefully included an amalgamation of restaurants and cafes of different cuisines and price points so you can have a delicious, mouth-watering experience, depending on where you want to transport your taste buds and how far your wallet is willing to compensate for their trip across the world!
- The Boneless Kitchen – Vegetarian Korean Cuisine
Price: $
Address: 1 Irving Pl, #01-31 Commerze @ Irving, Singapore 369546
Korean food is known for its deep, soul-quenching flavours, but is generally inaccessible to vegetarians because of the extensive use of meat. Well, not anymore. The Boneless Kitchen brings to you an exciting array of authentic Korean dishes, including classics like Japchae (stir fried noodles), Jjigae (boiling hot stew), and Bibimbap (mixed rice), but completely vegetarian! The Budae Jjigae (Korean Army stew) will leave your tastebuds yearning for more, and sharing the delicious Kimchi Jeon (Kimchi Pancakes) with your friends and family is bound to bring you closer than ever. And better yet, The Boneless Kitchen makes it a point to employ disabled staff, so don’t forget to leave an extra tip at the end!
- Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen – Japanese Cuisine
Price: $
Address: Multiple locations (313@somerset, 45 Bussorah Street, Changi Airport Terminal 3, Hillion Mall, Jurong Point, Paya Lebar Quarter, and Suntec City)
https://www.ichikokudo.com/about
For most people, the word ramen evokes thoughts of packaged cup noodles that you eat only when desperate. But for anyone that has eaten authentic Japanese ramen, they know that it’s a whole different ball game. And there’s no better place to start than Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen, with their unbelievable range of flavours and styles. The price range is from SGD 9.90 for their most homely, hearty bowls, to SGD 19.90 for the more exotic ones. If it’s your first time trying ramen, we would recommend a classic like the Ichikokudo Ramen ORIGINAL, while a more seasoned foodie may enjoy the Hokkai Jigoku Smoked Duck Ramen. Beware, though, as many of these dishes contain either beef or pork, so be sure to ask the restaurant staff before you place your order!
- Green dot – Vegan Asian Fusion Cuisine
Price: $
Address: Multiple locations (Bedok Mall, Bugis Junction, Junction 8, Jurong Point, Nex, Northpoint, One Raffles Place, Paya Lebar Square, Plaza Singapura, Rivervale Mall, and Westgate)
Green Dot is an Asian-fusion casual dining place that takes you on a journey of simple, homely indulgence. The best part, it lives up to its vision to let diners “Eat Green and Feel Good” by providing an unreal selection of all the plant-based versions of classic east Asian favourites like Rendang and Hot Pot. There’s something for every mood with such a wide selection of items, ranging from the robust vegan Laksa noodles to the hearty Lion Mane Mushroom Burger with fries. Cater your meal to your personal preferences by ordering the bento sets that come with rice and two or three choices from an assortment of veggies and “meats”. Our personal favourites for the bento sets are the aromatic sesame rice, the savoury soy nuggets and the fresh greens of the day. Apart from helping you eat more sustainably sourced food, Green Dot will leave you ‘feeling good’ by providing you with a satiating experience at an extremely affordable price. A true paradise for vegetarians, vegans and curious meat lovers who are looking to eat more clean, a meal from Green Dot will truly warm its way to your heart through your stomach!
- Kotuwa – Sri Lankan Cuisine
Price: $$
Address: 2 Dickson Rd, First floor within Wanderlust Hotel, Singapore 209494
Sri Lankan food is inherently colourful, from the gentle reddish-pink of a soft shell crab to the deep yellow of dhal. This vibrancy simply compounds the enigma that Sri Lankan food is- Indian, but not really. Some truly unique dishes can be found such as Deviled Cashews (large cashews coated in spices) and Lychee Achcharu (a wonderful marriage of sweet and spicy)! The spicy seafood curries wonderfully complement the Rice Hoppers (thin crepes with a runny egg), and together they bring a part of Sri Lanka’s lively culture right below your nose. And don’t worry, vegetarians do not miss out on any of the fun because Kotuwa has a variety of vegetarian dishes.
- Kafe Utu – Mixed African Cuisine
Price: $$
Address: 12 Jiak Chuan Rd, Singapore 089265
Kafe Utu is like none other. Apart from being Singapore’s first African cafe, it boasts decor that requires multiple visits to fully absorb and appreciate (in fact, it was called one of the most Instagrammable cafes in the world). The walls of the cafe are furnished with vibrant handcrafted pieces of art that give this cafe a unique ambience. The cafe expertly brings to you colours and flavours from all over the African continent, from its peanut flavored plantain curry known as Matoke, to its Liberian Peanut Chicken Stew. Our Indian audiences will be surprised by the number of flavours and names we share with our African brothers and sisters, especially when it’s time for dessert. The purple Malindi Halwa, made of dragon fruit and a variety of nuts is a must try. This heavenly cafe also brews some amazing coffee to be had alongside their brunch menu.
- The Blue Ginger – Peranakan Cuisine
Price: $$
Address: Two locations (Tanjong Pagar and Great World City)
The Blue Ginger hosts the unique flavours of Peranakan heritage, a marriage of Malay/Indonesian and Chinese cooking styles that results in a delectable feast with the distinct aroma of spices and herbs native to the Isles of South-Eastern Asia. The ambience of the restaurant is cosy and inviting, as if you were eating at your grandmother’s house. A renowned, Michelin featured restaurant, The Blue Ginger boasts authentic Nonya delights including Ayam Panggang (boneless chicken thigh soaked in an exuberant marinade of coconut milk and exotic spices). This restaurant provides you with an explosion of flavour that sends you back in time to rediscover the heritage of the East.
- BAKALAKI Greek Taverna – Greek Cuisine
Price: $$$
Address: 3 Seng Poh Rd, Singapore 168891
High ceilings, warm yellow pendant lights, sea blue upholstery along with beachwood and walls lined with olive oil bottles and barrels of wine, BAKALAKI transports you to sunny, warm Greece. The authentic Greek menu boasts soft pita bread with soothing dips, kebabs that will take your mouth on a ride, and exquisite seafood such as Htapodi (grilled octopus), Garides (jumbo prawns), and Xifias (swordfish). And of course, for those with a sweet tooth, the Greeks do not disappoint. Loukoumades, which are fried dough balls eaten with cinnamon syrup, remind my Indian taste buds of jalebi. The crispy Baklava and sweet Giaourti (Greek Yoghurt) are also the perfect way to end the meal.
- Binomio – Spanish Cuisine
Price: $$$
Address: 20 Craig Rd, #01-02 Craig Place, Singapore 089692
Binomio, simply put, is a love letter to Spain. For those of us who are limited to “Paella” when thinking about Spanish cuisine, get ready for a revolution. Spain is a country with a plethora of rich seafood, and Binomio lives up to the mark by serving the most authentic squid and salmon dishes of all. The restaurant also allows us to enjoy a variety of Iberian cold cuts and, quite obviously, queso (cheese) to go along with it. Binomio also has a tapas bar, where one can enjoy a variety of cold and hot starters or appetizers, which caters to the adventurers and the curious souls. Regardless of whether you have a sweet tooth or not, we personally recommend some piping hot Churros with a rich chocolate sauce to end the hearty meal!
We hope that this diverse list of culinary experiences inspires you to take that leap into discovering new cultures and flavours. We absolutely loved these places and were often pleasantly surprised at how different styles of cooking could completely transform simple ingredients and spices into unique expeditions to all corners of the world. That’s our “Food for Thought” in this edition of Casual Observations!
Till next time,
Nuts and Chia
The Casual Observer 