Bari Uma Ramen

Even though this is my third time here, I still feel that this ramen shop is so underrated. This was discovered by a friend of mine, Jass, who actually also stumble upon this shop on accident. Firstly, in order to reach this place its quite a distance from Orchard Mrt thus by the time people reach here, they would most probably have chosen something else to eat in the hundreds of restaurants available nearby. Secondly it is not in any of the shopping mall but kinda under it instead.

Nothing fancy about the interior however since I went to Japan once before, it is actually very much like those Ramen shop in Japanese. Small and cosy yet you can see the chef cooking.

I tried their Nori-Uma ($15.50) which is ramen in Pork Flavored Shoyu Soup with Thick-Cut Flamed Chashu and Dry Seaweed. I added Ajitama which is the egg for $1.50 and reduce my ramen portion (-$2.00) because my stomach was already half filled so I wanted to eat without overeating. Total for my order was $15.00.

This is their Signature Dish which is Ajitama-Uma ($15.00) which consist of Pork Flavored Shoyu Soup, Ajitama which is the egg and Thick-cut Flamed Chashu. The egg here however was a little overcook but still, it taste good.

Other then Ramen they serve rice served in a hot stone bowl. This is the Ishiyaki-Chaofan Salmon ($12.00). I find this pretty good but if its compared to the Ramen, I think that the Ramen taste better. However if you want to go for rice, I would suggest the Ishiyaki-Chaofan Chashu ($9.50) instead.

The average pricing for a bowl is about $15.00 which I think its very affordable for this type of quality Ramen. Their Ramen noodles are homemade right in the house which are really tasty. Its chewy yet smooth and it goes really well with the soup which is very addictive. Their Chashu even though its pork belly which means you can literally see the layer of fats and meat, tasted like its slow cooked till all the flavored is absorb into the meat and its so tender that it kinda melts in your mouth. Double thumbs up! The really flavorful soup might be a little salty to some people liking.

Address:
#B1-01
Tanglin Shopping Centre
19 Tanglin Road

Ambush @ JEM

"Experience the many tastes of Europe, all at Ambush" Quoted from the menu. This is a causal restaurant. This outlet is kinda a open kitchen concept where you can see the chef cooking. 

The menu is quite special. Its almost like reading a newspaper.

There is a Top of $5.50 to every main course ordered to get the Soup Of The Day & a Drink ( Coke, Sprite, Frizzy Peach, Ice lemon Tea. The soup is Cream Of Cauliflower. Really creamy with hint of cauliflower flavor.

Roasted Pork Knuckle (Half) $18.00 this comes with Mashed Potato, Sauerkraut and Light Brown Sauce. The light brown sauce really remind me of the sauce served with meatballs purchase from Ikea. The Pork Knuckle was really good, its outer skin is crispy and the meat is tender. I think that one person to finish all of this might be a little too much and a little sick cause thats a whole lot of meat. So I think sharing this dish would be a good idea.

Baby Scallop & Flying Fish Roe - Squid Ink Sauce $14.80. Might not be shown in the above pictures but they were pretty generous with the scallop. This is very well season and worth a try if you are eating with someone you are comfortable with cause its gonna get a tad bit messy. We can choose our choice of pasta when we order the Italian Pasta dishes. There is Spaghetti, Linguine, Penne, Fusilli or add $2.80 for Fresh Tortllni with Three Cheese. This is a plus point because not everybody prefer the same type of pasta in the same type of sauce so this give us more freedom of choices. 

This is somewhat unique. Its the Norwegian Salmon Fillet - Thai Basil Sauce $13.20. The sauce really whet the appetite up. Somewhat like Thai Tom Yum which always gives a kick. Thai lover should give this a go!

This Oktoberfest Platter $17.80 is good for people that wants to try the Pork Knuckle as well as the Sausage. This platter includes Pork Knuckle Cutlets with Smoked Bratwurst & Bockwurst sausages served with Sauerkraut & Mashed Potato. Bratwurst is coarse smoked pork sausage with natural spices while the Bockwurst is finely ground pork sausage with crunchy natural casing. Salad on the side is tossed with Balsamic vinegar. 

Sausage lover can try the Swissgerman Sausage Platter $17.20. It has pan grilled Cheese Knacker, Bockwurst & French Chicken Garlic served with Sauerkraut & Choice of Starch which is Rosti, Mashes Potato, Fries & Pasta. We got Rosti. French Chicken Garlic is chicken sausage with minced garlic & mixed herbs while Cheese Knacker is ground chicken sausage with cheese bits.

Prices are not inclusive of GST and service charge but I think that the price range is not too expensive. Apparently they are quite famous for their mussels and paella. I wouldn't mind checking this place out again to try those. It was quite crowded during dinner time so maybe to avoid queue, its better to head there a bit earlier.

Address :
#04-13/14, Jem
50 Jurong Gateway Road

Madrina Pizzaria @ Farrer Road

This place is a bit ulu (hard to find) as it is a place that's surrounded by HDB flats. This place was recommended by my mom through her friend. They are famous for their pizzas which have a lot of different toppings and relatively big range of alcoholic drinks like beers.

I have to agree that this place have a very unique interior design which I would describe as something towards the English style cum bricks design.

There is also this place where most of the beers, cider and other alcoholic drinks are placed at which makes the whole place really classy and cosy.

The owner was really friendly and he will be glad to introduce some alcoholic drinks to his customers liking. We got a Mango Cider with Dessert Lime. We also got a personal waiter that is in charge of refilling the mugs when its empty hahahaha and that is my lovely brother

We also had Thatchers Rose. In terms of texture, this one is more towards the Sparkling type, almost like a substitute for Sparkling wine if I am not wrong. However as a person that prefer ice lemon tea to coca cola, I prefer the Mango Cider.

This is one of their appetizers, Calamari Fritti Insalata. To be honest, I don't understand the last two words and its basically Calamari with two sauces, mayo based and tomato based. The squid was not overcooked so its was crispy on the outside, soft and tender inside and it goes well with the tomato based sauce.

The first pizza arrive. This is the Ischia ($20.00) which is topped with Prosciutto Ham, Wild Arugula, Crush Pepper, Extra Virgin Oil. They are famous for their pizza because their dough are freshly made and they only do when there is an order and thus the waiting time was a bit longer, around 15-20mins for pizzas. All the pizza sold here are Thin Crust which is a plus point for ladies. We keep a watch on our carbo intake to stay slim Or maybe its just me hahaha 

Out of the two pizza I tried, I must say I love the Grosseto ($20.00) one better. It is topped with Bacon, Mushroom and Egg. Nothing can go wrong with Bacon and Mushroom but whats unique is the center of the pizza, the egg. It brings an whole new level to the pizza and this is not seen often in many pizza stalls. The owner recommended this to us because he said that nowadays not many people wants to do this type (involving egg) of toppings anymore. Since the yolk was runny, the owner taught us how we should eat this which is using the folk and spread the runny yolk equally to every slices of the pizza so that each slices would have extra flavor and at the same time it cooks the yolk a little.

 This is Spaghetti Vongole ($18.00) which is Live Clams that are slowly simmered with White Wine, Garlic, PArsley & Fresh Basil entwined in a nest of Spaghetti & topped with Tomato Concasse. Wow pretty long description for this dish. It is the soupy based kind unlike the usual Carbonara or Aglio Olio wher the sauce is thick and coated evenly among the noodles. Basically if you are a Clams lover, don't miss this. The Clams are generous in this, very generous.

We had Tiramitsu ($10.00) and Grandma's Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream ($10.00)  for dessert. Once again, I have tried better tiramisu before however there is a significant difference between this Tiramitsu and the ones I have eaten before. I believe it is alcoholic where by they most probably use rum to soak the lady fingers with. Grandma's Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream is a pastry casing filled with custard and topped with pine nuts. This was served warm and it went great with the Ice Cream.

This place is great to hang out with friends and family and chill with couple of beers. If I were to visit this place again I will most probably tried out more of their different pizza toppings because their pizza were really pretty good. Although this place is pretty ulu, its actually a walking distance from Farrer Road Mrt Station and for people that drive, the shop is actually above this one level public car-park so it is also convenient in terms of finding lots.

Address :

Blk 3 #02-141, Queen's Road

S (260003)

Saboten @ IMM Building

Japanese cuisine is one of the cuisine that is in my top 5 list. Tonkatsu (breaded deep fried pork cutlet) or rather anything that is fried in panko (Japanese Breadcrumb) is in my Top 3 list apart from sushi and sashimi. Saboten which is one of Japan's largest and popular Tonkatsu chain is just the perfect place for me.

 Simple and classy interior which is a great place to chill and hang out with family and friends

Off topic random moment. My brother did this super cool thing. He crumpled the paper that comes with the chopstick and create a mini stand for the chopstick to prevent it from touching the table. Isn't it cool? When I said it was cool he gave me this disappointed look and said, "what... You didn't know?.." Whatever k bro. Laughs

Every set meal here comes with Rice,  Miso Soup, Pickled Vegetable, shredded Cabbage and dessert which was Matcha (Green tea) Ice Cream. The prices for a set meal range from about $25-30 and there is free refill for Rice, Miso Soup and the shredded Cabbage. Oh my gosh?! I totally went crazy on the Cabbage because there was two Japanese salad dressing provided in this potion looking transparent glassware which are the Roasted Sesame dressing (Nude colored on the left) and Yuzu-Citrus dressing (brown coloured on the right). 

For people that eat Tonkatsu often, Tonkatsu is never the same without its Tonkatsu sauce. There is some hands on here which is we get to grind our own black and white sesame seeds that is provided to go with the sauce. Basically there are many lines in different groups of direction designed inside the bowl and by circulating the thick wooden stick, the sesame seeds will break down into smaller form. Whats the purpose of this? It is to bring out the flavor of the sesame. While grinding, there will be this fragrant and strong scent that is diffuse to the surrounding air.

Since it was a dinner with my family, we ordered a Twin Special Set ($46.00) which consist of a Breaded Pork Loin , Asparagus Cheese Roll and two Crab Cream Croquettes and Breaded Shrimps. The Breaded Pork Loin (Tonkatsu) goshhhhh! The first bite was so heavenly. There was a thin layer of the outer coating of panko which was so light and crispy, followed by the inside which was packed with a thick layer of meat. It was already so perfect but wait... Dipped in the Tonkatsu sauce with extra fragrant sesame seeds?! I am getting so excited recalling that exact sensation while typing this out. 

There was also a Saboten Special Set ($25.00) (left) and the Ebi Katsu Tenderloin Set ($26.00) (right). The Saboten Special Set consist of a Breaded Shrimp, Mini Pork Tenderloin, Half-sized Pork Loin and Crab Cream Croquette. As the name suggest, Ebi Katsu Tenderloin Set consist of a Ebi Katsu and Tenderloin. The Ebi (prawn) used here was fresh and thick with a crunch and for cheese lover, the Crab Cream Croquette was creamy and cheesy. Just a note, tenderloin and pork loin is actually different. Tenderloin is a small part of the whole Pork Loin. Tenderloin is that small part of muscle that was used for posture thus it is leaner and the most tender part. Since its just a small part, it is more pricey than Pork Loin.

A picture before I officially start my meal. 

I must say that the cabbage was very crunchy. I am pretty sure that once they shred the cabbage, they most probably soak it in cold water to retain the crunch of the cabbage.

Yes I admit I did ask for extra serving of the cabbage. Mwehehehe

After meal photo before we ask for dessert.

No picture of dessert because 

1. It was ice cream how could I risk it from melting?! 

2. I admit, my phone went out of battery and I was lazy to get the picture from my brother phone.

It was this scoop of smooth, creamy Matcha Ice Cream. So full and satisfied after everything. 

Blessed to have this meal as a treat from Godmother ^3^

Definitely worth trying out this inexpensive great Tonkatsu place if you haven't

Address :
IMM Building
2 Jurong East St.21
#01-19 S(609601)

NAM NAM Noodle Bar @ Raffles City

Nam Nam Noodle Bar is a pretty famous eatery where people go there for good Vietnam Pho. They go by a "Please wait to be seated" concept. When we arrive at our seating the waiter passed us the order list. After deciding and ticking the orders we then proceed to the cashier to make payment. 

We got a counter seating with a view of cooks wrapping the Vietnam spring roll which is call Fresh Southern with Sweet Shrimps, Egg and Fresh Herbs ($4.90). Isn't it cute that all the kitchen stuff are wearing the I ❤ Pho t-shirt. I also like how they have this hook right under the counter table so that ladies like us wouldn't have to go through the #firstworldpains of putting our handbag on our lap and feeling uncomfortable while eating the delicious Pho.

While making payment I saw that they have this weekday (except public holidays) Value Lunch Set ($9.90) which consist of the Southern Rolls + Chicken Pho / Beef Steak Slices Pho + Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk / Iced Lotus Tea. Set lunches are always a better bargain so I ordered one set of it. The next time I come I would like to try their Banh Mi ($5.90) which is toasted baguettes stuffed with the following combinations.  

 There was a selection of sauces on the table like the Vietnamese fish sauce and Hoisin sauce I assumed it is from Vietnam because of the Vietnamese language on the bottle of sauces 

My Southern Rolls and our drinks arrived. I must say the rolls are very bland and fresh because there was no seasoning other then the original flavor from the boiled shrimp, bee hoon , spring roll and cucumber. However this came with a peanut sauce. Eating the roll with the peanut sauce brings a whole new level. The peanut sauce was so good! I did not really like Arene's Lotus Tea ($2.50). It just tasted like ice water mix with an after taste of lotus. It just wasn't my cup of tea /see what I did there/. My Classic Iced Coffee ($2.50) was good. Even though the full name was Classic Iced Coffee with condensed milk, it was the sweet type of coffee. It is gravitated to the thick coffee flavor, something like americano just that maybe a tad bit sweeter. 

Our Pho arrived! The waiting time was actually very short. Maybe around 5mins our drinks came then followed by the Pho 5mins later. This is pretty much like a fast food chain just that it serve a healthier food , Pho. 

This is Arene's Beef Combination Pho ($9.90) which have beef slices , beef ball , tendor and some other parts.

My Sliced Beef Pho ($8.90) is here. The slices of beef are a tad bit raw when they arrive. Dunk it and stir it around in the soup and its good to go. The soup is very flavorful judging from the fact that they have this "No MSG" written all over the menu. The Pho was cook to perfection. Smooth, silky with a slight chewy texture. I like its original broth taste but since Arene was adding the chili sauce and fish sauce as soon as her Pho arrived, I decided to give it a go after eating half of my Pho. I thought this was quite cool because we get to change the soup taste to our own liking. 

The prices are all inclusive of the 7% GST charge and they do not have service charge. I don't really visit Vietnamese restaurant much but I read online that Nam Nam Noodle Bar pricing is actually much cheaper than many other Vietnamese Eatery, plus point. I also read that it is pretty crowded during those lunch/dinner peak hours. We went there at 2pm, there was no queue but it was about 3 quarter filled.

Address:

252 North Bridge Road, #B1-46/47

Raffles City Shopping Centre, S(179103)