Hungry Ang Mo | Food Blogger | Vegan

Vegan Burg watch out! There is a new burger joint in town. Vegan Burg has been incredibly successful in its quest for meat-free supremacy, so I knew it would only be a matter of time before other similar eateries would crop up in Singapore, and attempt to emulate Vegan Burg's success. Greenzilla ticks all the right boxes - Catchy name, delivery service, modern look and unique marketable burgers. So far, 2013 has been a fantastic year for vegetarian food in Singapore, with many new vegetarian eateries with original concepts opening up - Long may it continue...

Greenzilla
Location: Unit B1-43, 1 Vista Green Exchange (Star Vista)
Contact: 97190893
Opening Hours: Daily 10.00am-9.30pm

Greenzilla currently have two locations in Singapore. The one most customers will inevitably flock to will be the Star Vista outlet, which is where I went for this review. This outlet is incredibly small, with only four seats for customers. If you're going to this eatery during busy periods, don't expect to get a seat. Instead, it may be wiser to take away. Everything at the Star Vista outlet is vegan - There is no dairy, egg or meat in any of the food (no onion or garlic either). Their other (original) outlet, which is located at Blk 221 Jurong East Street 21 has some additional dishes, such as pasta - Which are not vegan. The burgers can be bought alone, or purchased as a set meal ($11.90) - The set meal comes with a side of salad and an organic drink.

Just like with Vegan Burg, Greenzilla have launched a number of interesting side dishes, which can accompany the burgers. We selected the Pumpkin Pops, which I found pretty reasonable for the price. Taste wise, the pops had a nice crunchy outer layer, and a soft fluffy pumpkin centre. The sweetness of pumpkin was not really present, and I didn't really detect any other flavour, making it a little one dimensional and flavourless. Salt, in particular, was lacking.

Price: $2.90. 6/10

A perfect meal for kids is the Minizilla Set. This set comes with three mini-sized burgers and a side of coleslaw - Or at least it was supposed to come with a side of coleslaw. After all our food arrived, the coleslaw was not to be seen. I asked the staff 'shouldn't the minizilla set come with coleslaw?' - To which he abruptly replied 'no' - Even though it clearly states it comes with coleslaw. Confused, I returned back to my seat. A couple of minutes later the staff gave us a side of salad, not coleslaw. I'm still perplexed as to what went on exactly with the coleslaw. Other than the weird coleslaw incident, this set meal is pretty decent. Having a selection of mini burgers is great for those wanting to sample the different kinds, without getting too full. The three types of burger are tofu fusion, herbshrooms, and royal mushroom. The royal mushroom stood out as being the best burger I tried at Greenzilla, really outstanding.

Price: $6.90. 7/10

I was recommended by a few readers to definitely check out the Herbshrooms Burger. Overall this was a pretty satisfying burger. The burger bun has strong herb flavour, which gives the burger almost an Italian feel to it. The mushroom patty is juicy and flavourful, and perhaps a little pasty in texture. One thing I usually despise about ordering burgers in Singapore is the rancid (almost rotten) state of the lettuce and tomato used. One big positive about Greenzilla is that their ingredients are definitely fresh, which makes a huge difference for me. Not only are all the ingredients fresh, but everything (bun, patties, sauces etc) at Greenzilla is painstakingly handmade, which is really refreshing.

Price: $5.90. 7/10

I am guessing the burger that will attracted most attention at Greenzilla is the Tofu Fusion Burger. This is mainly due to the distinctive black appearance. The blackness in the burger bun comes from charcoal, which doesn't really taste of anything, but certainly makes it look unique. The highlight of this burger was the tofu patty. The tofu has been marinated in a dark sauce, which really penetrated into the tofu, making it nice and flavourful. The tofu texture was perfect too, neither too soft nor too tough. What I didn't like about this burger was the sheer messiness of it. After one bite, the tofu patty will start sliding around like an ice hockey puck. Also, the BBQ sauce used is too diluted and watery. This causes the sauce to soak into the burger bun - Eating soggy bread doesn't appeal to me. Thicken up the sauces, and this burger will be a winner.

Price: $5.90. 6/10

Conclusion - So I know the question you all want to ask me - Vegan Burg vs Greenzilla? Which is better? I don't want to dodge this question, but it is important to note that Greenzilla is only a few months old. If Greenzilla can continue to grow, and learn from the things that Vegan Burg do well, and capitalise on the things Vegan Burg do poorly, then I foresee Greenzilla being capable of surpassing Vegan Burg. I'll be interested to see how Greenzilla evolves in the future.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 7/10

In the increasingly competitive Singaporean food scene, thinking outside the box is becoming a prerequisite in order to ensure one's business survives. ROTI-Alka's Kitchen is an exciting new 100% vegetarian restaurant, which opened up on the 21st August 2013, specializing in Indian-style deli-wraps. It is certainly refreshing to have a new Indian option available for those poor souls living in the West of Singapore.

ROTI - Alka's Kitchen
Location: #B1-22/23, 154 West Coast Road, West Coast Plaza
Contact: 67740422
Opening Hours: Daily 10.00am-10.00pm

Before I chat about the food quality, I simply must mention the staff. This restaurant is run by Madam Alka C Mehta, and her husband. Madam Alka has a wealth of cooking experience, which includes a masters degree in Food Science & Nutrition. This is coupled with 23 years experience in the kitchen, and even featuring in cooking contests, such as the 2012 Family Food Legacy cooking competition (which she won), and the 2011 Mama Lemon cooking competition. Chef Alka prides herself on serving fresh and authentic dishes to her customers. Because of this, the dishes will not arrive within 15 seconds like most eateries in Singapore. Customers will have to wait a little longer, but the food and freshness is worth the wait.

ROTI-Alka's is one of those restaurant (like Gokul) where you don't need to be a lover of Indian food to visit. Unfortunately, Indian food often gets a pretty bad reputation in Singapore, from people who really don't know anything about it. This restaurant does have a lot of authentic Indian dishes (North Indian in origins), but the main selling point is certainly the roti wraps. Pictured on the left are the customization options for ordering the wraps. In terms of other dietary requirements - I was really delighted by how well educated Madam Alka and her husband are on vegan food. As soon as I mentioned the word 'vegan' to them, they instantly understood, and reassured me that they will not use any animal products in any of the dishes they serve to me. Additionally, for those unable to take onion and garlic, Madam Alka can make most dishes without those ingredients, but a longer waiting time will be needed, as she will have to prepare it fresh.

So let's start with the star dish, the Roti Wrap. For my customization, I chose a mock meat daily special, on a whole wheat spinach wrap, with smokey roast sauce. The roi wraps are currently on promotion (usual price is $6.90), so right now they are tremendous value for money. As the roti wrap is a key selling point to this restaurant, the standard really has to back this up - And it did. These are truly outstanding wraps, which were a joy to eat. As this is an Indian fusion wrap, there are certainly undertones of Indian spices inside. But, none of these spices overwhelm the wrap, and there is very little chilli heat. The roti bread is exquistly charred, yet not too tough in texture. The roasted sauce was delectably smokey, and the vegetables inside were crispy and fresh.

Price: $5.00. 8/10

In terms of bread, ROTI-Alka's Kitchen pride themselves specifically on the preparation method of their Taava Chapatti. They use the traditional method of preparing chapatti (this method is common in India, but rarely implemented in Singapore). The result of this process is a nice light and delicate chapatti, which is slightly crisp on the outside, yet has a pleasing elastic texture. Fantastic chapatti.

Price: $1.00/pc. 8/10

Next dish to the table was Briyani of the Day. I like how this dish changes each day, so that regular customers can expect something new each time they order it. Personally, I would have liked the basmati rice texture to be a little firmer, and less salt in the dish overall. Also, I am not a big fan of whole garam masala in dishes, as it becomes quite irksome having to pick it out, and occasionally accidentally chewing a piece. Although I can appreciate that using whole garam masala (opposed to powder) does heighten the flavour of any dish. Not a bad briyani overall, and went nicely with the other dishes ordered.

Price: $6.50. 6/10

I couldn't resist ordering a couple of curries to go along with the other dishes. First one I selected was Baigan Ka Bharta. This Indian dish is a personal favourite of mine, and basically consists of mashed smoked eggplants with a myriad of delightful non-spicy Indian masalas - Almost like an Indian style baba ganoush. There are literally hundreds of different versions of this dish in India, but I was surprised to find the eggplant skin was inside the dish (usually the skin is discarded after the smoking process). I quizzed Madam Alka on the reason why, and she explained that keeping the skin on allows her to make the eggplant fresh every time. I must say, the skin was not too tough, and added extra flavour. A tremendous dish.

Price: $8.00. 9/10

The second curry I ordered was the Chicken Masala. It is unusual that an Indian restaurant would use mock meats (Gokul is the only other one I know of), but I'm glad, as mock meat really combines well with Indian curries. This dish was made without cream (which would otherwise be included) but still tasted delicious. There is a distinct difference in taste between a curry that has just been flung together using pre made sauces, and a curry that has been made with greater love and attention. This curry definitely belongs to the latter category, and the result is a well-balanced deletable curry, which went perfectly with the chapatti.

Price: $8.00. 8/10

Conclusion - I challenge anyone to visit Alka's Kitchen and not leave with a smile on your face. This restaurant has probably the most humble and endearing owners you will likely find. The food is fantastic, and you can tell the best ingredient of all has been added into every dish - Love. One of the best places I've visited this year, and one I will return to over and over again in the future.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 10/10
Value - 8/10

Whampoa is well known among Singaporeans as being one of the prime locations to find cheap, good quality food. But what can vegetarians expect? Whampoa does actually have a lot of pretty good vegetarian options for those on a meat-free diet - The only problem is, most of them close by 1pm. For those visiting Whampoa in the evening or weekends, you will not find many open vegetarian eateries in the area. For today's post, I will be doing a quick review on Hometown Vegetarian. This is a very simple stall, which specialise in their bee hoon and dishes.

Homeland Vegetarian
Location: Blk 81 Whampoa Drive
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Unknown

I know a lot of people are sometimes a little critical of my blog because I feature a lot of mock meat dishes. But, believe it or not, my usual meals from hawker centres and coffee shops (like this one) just consist of vegetables. For this Bee Hoon and Dishes meal I opted for their eggplant, mushroom and bittergourd dishes. The quality of the bee hoon is pretty good, not too soft and pretty fresh. The dishes that I selected were pretty typical. Nothing flavour wise stood out as being out of the ordinary.

Price: $2.80. 6/10

Conclusion - The problem with vegetarian stalls in hawker centres or coffee shops is that the food is too similar. There is only a small percentage stalls that leap out as being something unique or special. Hometown Vegetarian is one of those stalls selling the typical average tasting trite fare. Decent in taste.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 6/10

A couple of weeks ago I received an interesting comment from an Israeli-born reader named Eran. He suggested that I visit Pita & Olives, as it serves the best quality Mediterranean food in Singapore, in his opinion. Now, this place is not 100% vegetarian - As I type that I can hear the 'no Hungry Ang Mo, no! Don't betray us!' chants. Don't worry, this review is, of course, a vegan perspective of dining at Pita & Olives. As vegetarians/vegans, we are sometimes unavoidably put in a situation where we need to find a non-vegetarian eatery to please stubborn flesh-feasting family members or friends. So I do believe this review will be useful, especially for those sort of invidious scenarios.

Pita and Olives
Location: #03-10, 100 Tras Street, 100AM
Contact: 90112312
Opening Hours: Daily 10.00am-9.00pm

WARNING - This place is not 100% vegetarian

The menu at Pita & Olives is very vegetarian friendly, and somewhat vegan friend. Although meat does feature in many Mediterranean dishes, it definitely is not the focal point. Upon scanning through the menu, customers will find that at least 50% of the dishes are vegetarian - With one page dedicated to meat-free dishes.

Aviv Zafrir, the director of Pita & Olives, takes particular pride in the high quality ingredients used in his dishes, and the traditional way in which they are made. The Pita Bread being one of those items he is particularly proud of. Upon sampling the pita, it certainly was better than most pita bread I have eaten in the past. The bread is warm and fresh - Slightly crunchy on the outside, and fluffy and light on the inside.

Most of the main meals come with a side of pita bread. However, customers can also opt to have stuffed (filled) pitas. The one we opted for was the Sabich Half Pita. This dish does come with a boiled egg inside by default, but as I don't consume eggs, I asked for this to be excluded. The name 'sabich' is translated form the Arabic word (صباح), which means 'morning'. But it is Israel where this dish has become most synonymous. The eggplants are creamy, and contrast perfectly with the fresh uncooked cucumber and tomato. Even without the boiled egg, I still found this to be a highly enjoyable dish.

Price: $5.90. 7/10

After tasting the delicious half pita, we then graduated onto the main courses, starting with the Falafel. All the main course dishes are served with one pita bread (which I discussed above) and salad. The humus that is served in this dish is quite mind-blowing. It is a silky, sticky, creamy, gooey, smooth mixture, which I simply couldn't stop shoveling up with the pita. The humus was so creamy, I almost suspected dairy was used inside - But the owner assured me no animal products were used. For the falafel, I also found they were quite tasty, but the humus was what I had my eye on the entire meal.

Price: $11.90. 8/10

Next dish selected was the Stuffed Vine Leaves. This dish, also known elsewhere was dolma, consists of a splattering of humus, salad and the wrapped vine leaves. Inside the leaves are a mixture of rice and herbs (no meat or dairy). The vine leaves themselves are quite sour, and make for a delectable contrast with the rice. This was my first time sampling such a dish, and I must say I loved it. Once again the humus was outstanding and the salad nice and fresh.

Price: $11.90. 8/10

Conclusion - For those who don't like the idea of eating at a non-vegetarian place, but still want to enjoy the flavours of Mediterranean food, then you only have one option - Pita Pan. But for those who are a little more flexible, then Pita & Olives definitely offers a large selection of vegetarian and vegan delights to choose from.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 7/10

Ah Seng is smiling gleefully in this picture, and so am I. The reason we are both smiling is very simple - The lesser known second season for durians has just begun in Singapore. Most Singaporeans who have limited knowledge of durians will simply think there is one season, which usually ranges from June to August, and the rest of the time the durians are lousy - This mentality is not true at all. The second season, which ranges between November to January has durians that are just as fanastic in quality, compared with the main season. For the second season, the durians are coming mainly from Muar and Segamat area, as those regions really hit their prime at the end of the year. The Muar durians are especially well-known for being delicious.

Ah Seng Durian
Location: Blk 20 Ghim Moh Market, #01-197
Contact: 94656160

Gang Hai is one of those durians that tends to drift in and out of season. Staying for a few weeks and then suddenly disappearing again. Ah Seng describes gang hai as a 'beginners durian' - For those who are not used to the strong pungent flavours of durian, then gang hai acts as a perfect introduction to the world of durians. The flavour is very mild, the texture is clotted and creamy and the seeds are reasonable small, and have a unique teardrop shape. Nutty flavour and an undertone of sweetness can be detected in this durian. It is mild, but not mild in the sense of D24 (tastes of nothing), which is probably the most overrated durian on the planet. Structure wise, this durian has a similar physiological shape to red prawn, as many of the husks have a thin 'tail' at the rear.

Price: $7.00/kg. 6/10

My whole purpose for visiting Ah Seng on this occasion was to test out the elusive Tawa durian. This durian can be found only during the second season, and usually only sticks around for 2-3 weeks, before disappearing again. The sheer mystery surrounding this durian made me eager for the second season to arrive, as I have never previously sampled tawa durian. Tawa is a pale fleshed bitter durian. The flesh has a certain milky flavour, not too disimilar to XO. However, the flesh of tawa is silky smooth, without any clumps. The seed is small, long and thin in shape. The overall shape of this durian can differ - But, it can be said the thorns on this durian are similar to MSW, and the durian is long in structure.

Here is another example of a tawa durian, but this one is much larger. We can see that the durian has a much more pronounced elongated shape, similar to black pearl. Although this is a mysterious durian, which comes in very low quantities, the price is pretty reasonable. In summary, I guess the biggest question would be is it worth seeking out this winter visitor? Flavour wise, I didn't find it to be anything too special. But, it is a durian that has small seeds and therefore is great value for money.

Price: $7.00/kg. 7/10

Conclusion - Ah Seng is one of the few places where customers can pick up tawa durian. As the popular saying goes - '~~Time~~ Tawa durian waits for no man'. So, if you're entertaining the idea of testing out this durian, then you must act fast, as it does not hang around for long.

For those unfamiliar with Little India and the Komala Vilas chain, you may only know of the Komala Vilas restaurant on Serangoon Road - It is probably the most famous vegetarian eatery in all of Singapore, being featured in several travel publications and known by everyone living in Singapore. However, what many people don't know is that there are actually two other Komala Vilas restaurants in Singapore. The three outlets can be found at 76 Serangoon Road, 12 Buffalo Road and 24-26 Race Course Road. The latter will be the focus of this review.

Komala Vilas Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 24-26 Race Course Road
Contact: 63415435
Opening Hours: Daily 7.00am-10.30pm

The menu at every Komala Vilas outlet is highly similar. Having said that, I still have my personal preferences as to which outlet I enjoy the most. I find that the Serangoon Road outlet is simply too hectic and busy most of the time (as that outlet is the one which has received so much publicity). Therefore, most of the time I visit their Buffalo Road outlet, as it is slightly more peaceful during non-peak timings.

Some things just work perfectly together - Coconut water and Indian food is definitely one of them. The soothing and cooling coconut water combats the rich and intense Indian flavours to create an ideal balance in the body. This Fresh Tender Coconut has a pure nutty flavour, void of the undertone of sourness that some of the larger coconut species have. Went perfectly with our meal.

Price: $3.50. 7/10

Idiyappam, also known as string hoppers, are one of the more interesting Indian staple food items. This dish is arguably most popular in the Kerala and Karnataka regions of India. This item is simply made out of rice flour, water and salt. It is then steamed and fed through a device (which gives it the 'noodle' like shape) and served with a coconut-based chutney or curry. Considering how Indian food has a reputation for being too spicy, oily and salty - Idiyappam is proof that Indian food can be mild and nutritious. This dish is admittedly quite flavourless, but when added together with the coconut curry, it becomes quite tasty.

Price: $2.20. 6/10

We move from a dish that is quite healthy, to a dish that is anything but. The enormous artery-clogging orb of doom - Otherwise known as Bhattura. This hollow deep-fried ball will arrive to your table glistening in oil, served on the side with the traditional raw onion, green chili, wedge of lime and chickpea curry. Bhattura has always had a soft spot in my heart, even if it is ultimately damaging my heart. There is no doubt bhattura is a joy to eat, especially as Komala Vilas serves probably the best bhattura I have eaten in Singapore. Beautiful crisp, yet elastic texture make this bread a joy to eat. Don't attempt to eat this with a fork and spoon, please - Your right hand is the only cutlery you require.

Price: $4.50. 8/10

We finished off our meal with the Dosai Meal. This meal certainly made my jaw drop when it arrived to our table. Served on a banana leaf, this is truly a king sized meal. There are a total of four sauces/chutneys, and three vegetable curries on the leaf, with an additional dessert. Unfortunately for vegans, you must request that the dosai is not made with ghee - Otherwise, by default they will use ghee to cook it in. This meal is a mesmerizing firework show of food, where each mouthful gives the customer a myriad of different flavours and tastes. Instead of dissecting every aspect of this dish, I urge you to go and try yourself, as some things can't be explained with words.

Price: $7.50. 9/10

Conclusion - There is no denying the supreme quality that Komala Vilas provides. Sometimes an eatery can get such huge following, that ultimately the quality of the service and food diminishes over the years. The owners of Komala Vilas have ensured that this has not (and will not) happen/end to this beloved franchise. If you're looking for the best South Indian food in Singapore, Komala Vilas is still the number one place to go.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 9/10

Kong Lee Hup Kee Trading

This endearing little stall in Pasir Ris is considered a national treasure in my eyes. This stall is run by husband and wife duo Mr & Mrs Chia. Both are second generation durian sellers, who have been selling durian for almost all of their adult life. The durian scene in Singapore is so often cluttered with sly deceitful durian sellers, so it is a breath of fresh air to visit such a heart-warming little stall. Mr Chia is especially open to teaching people all his skills on how to select good durians, so feel free to ask him for a free lesson.

Durian Origins: Pahang, Segamat
Best Durian: XO, D88, Golden Phoenix
FULL REVIEW: HERE

Info:
Kong Lee Hup Kee Trading
Location: Blk 440 Pasir Ris Dr. 4, #01-03
Contact: 98517753

Sembawang Durian Seng

Too much durian can often make people a little crazy - This is definitely true for owner of Sembawang Durian Seng. Mr Yap has been selling durians in Singapore for over 30 years, but ironically he doesn't like the taste of durian himself. Mr Yap is one of the most flamboyant durian sellers you will likely meet. On certain days of the year he gives away all his durians for free to the public. Not only that, if you catch him in a good mood, he will give you fantastic special offers if you buy a lot of durians from him. This stall is famous for its lao tai po durian, which is a breed grown exclusively in Yong Peng.

Durian Origins: Yong Peng, Pahang
Best Durian: Lao Tai Po
FULL REVIEW: HERE

Info:
Sembawang Durian Seng
Location: 12 Jalan Tampang, Sembawang Garden Arcade
Contact: 93441512, 97598265

Ah Chai Durian

Ah Chai has yet to reach durian 'celebrity' status in Singapore yet, but for those living in the Bedok area, you will know how reliable and honest this seller is. Ah Chai is probably the most underrated durian seller in Singapore. Many don't know who he is, but for those who know, they always keep coming back to him. He has a loyal following of customers who have been religiously purchasing durians from him for many years - Without disappointment. When in season, his kasap merah durians are sensational.

Durian Origins: Unknown
Best Durian: Kasap Merah, Jiu Ji Kia, Ang Ba Kia
FULL REVIEW: HERE

Info:
Ah Chai Durian
Location: 58 Upper Changi Road (Boston Bakery)
Contact: 81379828

Combat Durian

Combat Durian represents the longest running durian stall in Singapore. It has been running along the Balestier Road stretch for over 50 years now. The founder of Combat Durian is Mr Ang, who still manages the stall simultaneously with his daughter Linda (pictured). The signature durian from Combat is known as 'King of King's' - This durian is essentially a super high grade mao shang wang. If you get a good one, you will be sent into sweet creamy ecstasy.

Durian Origins: Pahang
Best Durian: King of King's, Golden Phoenix
FULL REVIEW: HERE

Info:
Combat Durian
Location: 249 Balestier Road
Contact: 92789928

Ah Seng

Probably the most famous durian seller in Singapore is still Ah Seng, and rightfully so. What makes people make the often arduous journey to Ghim Moh Market is the trust and reputation for quality that Ah Seng (also known as Steven) has built up over the many years. Not only are his durians exceptional, but the price is arguably the most reasonable out of any seller. Moreover, Ah Seng has adopted social media and technology to improve the efficiency of his service. Customers can be updated on durian availability and price on his facebook page. Orders can be made via facebook, whatsapp and SMS too. Ah Seng represents exactly how a perfect durian business should be run. Aim to get the elusive tawa durian during second season (November-January).

Durian Origins: Pahang, Tangkak, Muar
Best Durian: Mao Shang Wang, Golden Phoenix, XO, Tawa, D13
FULL REVIEW: HERE

Info:
Ah Seng Durian
Location: Blk 20 Ghim Moh Market, #01-197
Contact: 94656160

Other Honest Sellers:-

Lian Hua Chun Trading

Location: Blk 506 Jurong West St 52 #01-184
Contact: 65615063

FULL REVIEW: COMING SOON!

Guan Hin Durian

Location: 55 Tiong Bahru Road

Contact: 62234868 (Mdm Tan)

FULL REVIEW: COMING SOON!

Katong Durian

Location: 227 East Coast Road (Opp Jago Close)

Contact: 97514828 (Ah Loon)

FULL REVIEW: COMING SOON!

717 Trading

Location: #01-01 Highland Centre, 22 Yio Chu Kang Road

Contact: 96751821 (Mr Goh)

FULL REVIEW: HERE

818 Durian & Pastries

Location: 201 Telok Kurau Road, #01-02

Contact: 96932727

FULL REVIEW: COMING SOON!

Botak Kho Durian

Location: Blk 164 Bukit Batok St 11 (Bakery Express)

Contact: 81562247

FULL REVIEW: COMING SOON!

Leong Tee Fruit Trader
Location: 264 Tanjong Katong Road
Contact: 63466683, 98928899
FULL REVIEW: HERE

Sindy Durian
Location: 221 Balestier Road, Rocca Balestier
Contact: 97102427
FULL REVIEW: COMING SOON!

Uncle Hee Lele Durian
Location: 20 Ghim Moh Road, #01-214
Contact: 96948584
FULL REVIEW: COMING SOON!

What the vegetarian food industry has been needing for a long time is an injection of Generation Y - And it seems like now we are finally getting it. The idea of Jiv Jago Vegetarian Cafe came from husband and wife duo Yuga and Vaishnavi, both only in their mid-20's. Vaishnavi is the star in the kitchen, while Yuga manages the cafe. The name 'jiv jago' literally means 'soul awakened' in Bengali. Rather interestingly, Vaishnavi is the daughter of the owner of Gokul. Growing up in such a household, and learning from her mother (who is one of the most talented cooks I've met) must surely have put Vaishnavi on the right tracks for her career in the kitchen. Jiv Jago has a frequently updated facebook page.

Jiv Jago Vegetarian Cafe
Location: 17 Bali Lane
Contact: 96796722
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-10pm

The decor and ambiance of this eatery is almost like a backpackers cafe. It is very laid back and casual, with images of famous vegetarians, such as Albert Einstein and The Beatles plastered on the walls. The contents of the menu is entirely Western. In terms of dietary requirements - Everything on the menu is void of onions and garlic, except for garlic bread and aglio olio. All food is eggless. For vegans, many dishes are naturally vegan, and most of the rest can be converted into vegan.

One of the affordable side dish options available at Jiv Jago is the Mushroom Soup. This soup comes in a small bowl, and is an ideal accompanyment to any of the main meal options (especially the pasta). The soup is freshly made, and I really enjoyed the large chunks of mushroom that could be found swimming inside. Note - Subsequently after my visit I've found out this soup contains dairy (cream), vegans do not order. I hope in the future that clear indications on the menu as to which dishes are/are not vegan can be introduced.

Price: $2.00. 6/10

Continuing with the side dish theme, we also selected the Tuna & Mayo Wrap. To reiterate, this mayonnaise (like everything at Jiv Jago) is eggless. The mock tuna inside this dish had a unexpected kick of heat to it. This slightly spicy mock meat was balanced nicely by the coolness of the mayo. The mock meat didn't resemble tuna that much, and I would have preferred an alternative ingredient used to simulate tuna - An incredibly authentic tuna can be made using chick peas, and would have gone perfectly in such a wrap. The concept of a wrap is definitely a winner, and with some adjustments this dish would be top-notch.

Price: $4.50. 6/10

We then moved on to the main dishes, starting with the Chicken Chop. This dish consists of the usual french fries, salad, baked beans, and two chicken patties. There is one pitfall when making vegetarian Western food, which almost every eatery regrettably falls into - Too much stuff out a packet. For this dish, definitely it was enjoyable and satisfying. However, as all the ingredients are from a tin or packet, it inevitably means the dish is lacking in skill or creativity. Western vegetarian food can be done with originality and little reliance on stuff from a packet - Veggie Cottage is a perfect example of that.

Price: $6.90. 6/10

Jiv Jago have a number of different pasta options, and eventually I settled on the Spaghetti Bolognese. This dish was certainly my favourite of the evening. The tomato sauce (which is made from scratch) was outstanding, and really lifted the dish up to another level. I was quite surprised to see large chunks of mock meat used in his dish, this was an interesting twist, but perhaps using TVP would allow this dish to become a more traditional looking bolognese. This dish was quite a large serving, so good value for money. The only tinge of disappointment I had was with the pasta, which was slightly overcooked. It could have done with 40-60 seconds less time in the water.

Price: $6.50. 7/10

Conclusion - I can't help but smile upon seeing refreshing new vegetarian eateries like Jiv Jago pop up in Singapore. An injection of youth into Singapore's vegetarian industry will only blossom positive results. Jiv Jago is brand new, so of course there are some improvements that could be made - But I love the energy of the owners and I'm sure the future will be bright for this eatery.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 7/10

Potong Pasir is one of the older estates in Singapore, which is home to a number of interesting dimly lit coffee shops. Lurking inside these eating houses are some pretty decent vegetarian stalls, one of which will be the focus of my review today. Zhen Ji is a newly opened stall, which has a wide array of dishes to select from. The stall is run by a couple of aunties, who always greet their customers with a smile. Although in the heartlands, this coffee shop can get very busy, even during non-peak timings.

Zhen Ji Vegetarian Food
Location: #01-148, Blk 136, Potong Pasir Ave 3
Contact: 96864228
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 5.30am-8.00pm, Sat-Sun 5.30am-6.00pm

I still haven't quite figured out how the menu system works at Zhen Ji. I visited this stall twice, both in the morning - On both occasions, almost every dish was not available. But, there were a couple of daily special dishes. I am not sure if more of the menu opens up for availability in the evening time. Customers can expect the typical Chinese dishes on offer at Zhen Ji.

The first dish from Zhen Ji to make its way to my table was the Wan Ton Mee. Usually when I visit hawker centre/coffee shop stalls, my expectations are pretty low, as most of the food and dishes taste the same. This dish, however, was shockingly delicious and probably one of the nicest wanton mee that I have had in Singapore. The wantons were crispy and light, with a tasty filling in the centre. The noodles were nice and bouncy and the dark sauce brought all the ingredients together ideally. Certainly I would recommend trying out this high quality dish.

Price: $3.00. 8/10

Next dish I was lucky enough to sample was the Hor Fun. For this dish, I specifically requested for 'gan he' hor fun, which is the dry version if this dish. I prefer the dry version as the 'wok hei' flavour is much stronger typically. I found this hor fun was equally as impressive as the wanton mee I consumed previously. There was definitely a good amount of smokey flavour present. The chopped vegetables inside were fresh and still had a good crunchy texture. I loved how thin the rice noodles were, as it really allowed them to absorb all the flavours of the wok and other ingredients. Another expertly cooked dish.

Price: $3.00. 8/10

Conclusion - I was really impressed by the food on offer at Zhen Ji Vegetarian Food. If you're looking for some of the highest quality hawker/coffee shop food for dirt cheap pricing, then Zhen Ji is certainly worth making the trip into the Potong Pasir heartlands for. An outstanding little stall.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 9/10
Value - 8/10

Gaining a reputation for selling high quality affordable durians is not easy. It takes sellers decades to acquire such a loyal following - Especially with so much competition now in the durian business. Uncle Leong has been selling durian for over 20 year now, originally at Jackson Centre. A lot of his most dedicated customers still know him from the Jackson Centre days. Now being located in Tanjong Katong, he faces stiff competition from the well-known Katong Durians, run by Ah Loon.

Leong Tee Fruit Trader
Location: 264 Tanjong Katong Road
Contact: 63466683, 98928899

Uncle Leong is a very kind and humble man. He can speak only in Mandarin or Hokkien, so for those English speakers, you may find it quite an uphill task communicating with this Uncle. During our talk, he spoke to me with a great deal of pride about recently being feature by ieatishootipost (Dr Leslie). I must agree, it is wonderful after all his years of hard work, that now he is finally getting exposure.

I visited Leong Tee at quite an unfortunate time. His cultivator was experiencing a low crop, and therefore he didn't have many durians available. Uncle Leong is at his best during the peak durian season June-August. The Golden Phoenix he had on offer that day tasted good, but the flesh was a little too watery for my liking. The fantastic slightly fruity golden phoenix flavour was definitely there, and this durian was packed with flesh - So definitely good value. Overall though, I've had much better golden phoenix.

Price: $10.00/kg. 6/10

Uncle Leong is specifically known for his great quality Mao Shan Wang. During the peak season, customers will flock to his stall specifically for this durian. It is without question his best seller. His mao shan wang has gained such a reputation due to them falling from one particular old tree. The older the tree, the better the quality of durian. During the winter season his supply becomes lesser. On this particular day he recommended I try the mini-sized mao shan wang. This durian wasn't a particularly good one. The flesh was still a little too firm, and it had an unwelcome sour taste. I've yet to eat a good mini mao shan wang in Singapore.

Price: $15.00/kg. 5/10

Conclusion - There is no doubting the honesty and kindness of Uncle Leong. His Leong Tee durian stall is definitely one I would recommend visiting during the peak season. During the winter season it may be best to avoid though.

With the motto 'meatless doesn't mean tasteless', Well Dress Salad Bar & Cafe hope to offer a refreshing new concept to the vegetarian scene in Singapore. This cafe is actually owned by the same people in charge of Eight Treasures, which is conveniently located just upstairs. Eight Treasures is certainly one of the more traditional looking vegetarian restaurants in Singapore, so it is interesting to see it contrasted with this more youthful and trendy Well Dressed Cafe.

Well Dressed Salad Bar & Cafe
Location: 282 South Bridge Road
Contact: 65347787, 97893072
Opening Hours: Daily 10.30am-9.30pm

The unique selling point of this eatery is definitely the customizable salad. There is a variety of options to choose from (see pictured), and even someone who doesn't particularly like salads will be somewhat curious by the different choices. I must say, it is pleasing to see salads being taken seriously for once. I get awfully tired of receiving the same sorry looking, half-rotten pieces of lettuce and a slice of depressing looking tomato and/or cucumber at almost every vegetarian eatery I visit. A salad doesn't always have to be lettuce, cucumber and tomato - For goodness sake!

Although salad is in their name, it is not the only thing they are serving. Rather wisely, the owners of this eatery have padded out their menu with a variety of Western-style vegetarian dishes. Therefore, even those customers who look at salad as if they've seen a ghost need not worry - There will be other options for you. This is not a vegan eatery, so make sure to clarify what dishes contain animal products.

Salad and fruit juices are like medicine for the body - Undoing all the crimes to biology that meat and dairy might have done. This cafe has a generous host of fresh fruit juices, so if you feeling like giving your insides a treat, it would go perfectly with a salad. My curiosity, however, led me in the direction of the Watermelon ice Tea. Watermelon and lemon tea is an unusual mixture, and I think opinion might be divided on whether this combination works well together or not. Personally, it didn't suit my taste buds.

Price: $5.00. 6/10

So here we have the Create Your Own Salad Bowl meal. For this salad, we picked rocket as the green. For the six toppings, we opted for chick peas, beetroot, almond silvers, capsicum, pasta, olives (yes, I was trying my best to pick the most expensive ingredients). These ingredients were then sprinkled with creamy wasabi lime, which was our chosen dressing. Overall the presentation of this salad was wonderful. Also, all the ingredients were fresh - Nothing half-rotten here. The dressing was particularly good, but I would have liked a little more of it. Also adding a wider range of more exciting toppings would be better - Roasted pumpkin, grilled tofu, quinoa etc.

Price: $8.50. 7/10

Of course, a salad would never come close to filling a hungry ang mo like myself, therefore I flicked open the menu and pointed towards a dish named Black Pepper Veg Chicken Chop. Let's start with the negatives - 1. Cold baked beans (got to go). 2. Sweet chili sauce (got to go). These ingredients have no place on any true Western dish. Also, the two mini-buns were tough in texture and unappealing. Luckily, the focal point of this dish (the mock chicken) was quite delicious. They consisted of two very thin slabs of soy mock meat, but it is the black pepper sauce which really brings them to life. One of the better black pepper sauce that I've had the privilege to try.

Price: $10.00. 6/10

Conclusion - Any cafe/restaurant that is promoting the consumption of fresh fruit juices and salads will get the thumbs up from me. Vegetarian food in Singapore has many negative connotations attached to it, one of those being that it isn't particularly healthy (which is partially true). A cafe like this one can hopefully highlight healthy, yet interesting vegetarian food.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 6/10

My quest to find the most honest durian sellers in Singapore continues. For this post, I will be featuring a durian stall which many Singaporean's will probably not be aware of. The owner of Lele Durian Stall is Uncle Hee. This uncle has been selling durians in the Ghim Moh area for over 30 years now. His original stall was at Block 11 Ghim Moh Road. However, he shifted over to the Ghim Moh wet market a couple of years ago. Customers can find durian updates on their facebook page. Lele durian also offer a delivery service on orders over $150.

Lele Durian Stall
Location: #01-214, 20 Ghim Moh Road (Market & Food Centre)
Contact: 97823116, 96948584

Uncle Hee has built up a loyal following of customers, who have been purchasing durians from him for many decades now. Uncle Hee is an extremely kind and friendly man, who prides himself on selling good quality and unique durians to his customers. He named the stall 'Lele', as that is the name of his grandson. This stall is well known for their D17 (coffee durian) and D100 durians. The latter being their best seller.

One of the new species that Uncle Hee has recently introduced at his stall is called the Black Dragon. When you are going around to different durian sellers in Singapore, you may often find lots of unusual new names for durians. The durian sellers like to create these 'sexy' new names to garner more attention/curiousity. It was given the name 'dragon' as the husk apparantly resembles the scales of a dragon. The taste of the flesh is slightly woody, but with the sweetness of cotten candy. It has a very rich complexion, and slippery flesh. The seeds for this durian were quite big, but overall I enjoyed the flavours of it. This duran is coming from Tangkat, Malaysia.

Price: $8.00/kg. 7/10

Uncle Hee is also known for his high quality Mao Shan Wang, and he was eager for me to try one. Having had some pretty poor MSW recently, it was a welcome change to have a really good quality one. Currently, during the winter season, the MSW are coming from Batu Pahat, in Johor. This particular MSW had a delightful buttery taste, which is incredibly addictive. The seeds are a little on the large side, but the outrageously delectable glowing yellow flesh makes up for it. An outstanding durian.

Price: $13.00/kg. 8/10

The signature durian at Lele is unquestionably the D100. Uncle Hee is particularly proud of this durian, which he calls 'Super 100'. The tree which these durians come from is at high elevation, and thus produces the most fruitful crop of D100. This durian is a new hybrid durian, which is incredibly difficult to find in Singapore. The flesh is extremely thick, with the seed size/shape and texture closely resembling the black pearl durian. However, D100 has a more pronounced sweetness, compared with black pearl. This durian should not be fridgerated, as the flesh at room temperture is already so thick, a lower temperature will cause it to become too hard. Uncle Hee and his son affectionately call this the 'hello kitty' durian, as it often sells out.

Price: $12.00/kg. 9/10

Conclusion - If you're living anywhere near Ghim Moh area, then you are really spoilt for choice. Of course, within the market you have Ah Seng - Probably the most popular durian seller in all of Singapore. But, I must say the durians at Lele were also of very high quality. To successfully sell durians for over 30 years means you must have trust with your customers - Uncle Hee definitely has that.

I am sure almost everyone in the Singapore vegetarian/vegan scene know about Barbara and her LivinGreens eatery. For many years, this establishments has been sitting comfortably along Beach Road. However, a couple of months ago, LivinGreens uprooted and shifted to Rangoon Road. Although Little India is a hustling bustling mad house most of the time - Rangoon Road is actually surprisingly quiet, which makes this eatery pretty difficult to just stumble upon, unless you're specifically looking for it. This is a 100% vegan establishment.

LivinGreens
Location: 89 Rangoon Road, Urban Lofts #01-04
Contact: 98574881
Opening Hours: 11:00am-8:30 pm (Mon - Sat). Closed on Sundays.

Barbara has used this location change as motivation to also change the look and content of her menu. Currently, there is a temporary menu offering quite a large selection of items. But in the future Barbara is planning to expand this menu even further. For those who have been to the old Beach Road outlet, the menu should seem quite familiar to you. I was pleased to see her lasagna (which I praised so highly in my first review) is still on the menu.

For those who don't know about the story of Barbara Chin, it is really quite an amazing one. Born in Eastern Malaysia, Barbara worked as a beautician for several years. It was only in the late 1990s that she decided to make food look beautiful instead. This change was inspired by her husbands unfortunate cancer diagnosis. After researching, she was convinced that a change to a vegan diet could reverse this invidious disease. It was this event that has inspired the last 15 years of vegan cooking that she has brought to Singapore.

'Ma Lak' Noodle was the first dish to arrive at our empty table. Traditionally a spicy dish, I was pleased that the spice level was quite subtle. The noodles were fresh, and the carrots and other vegetables still had some crunch. The most interesting aspect of this dish were the three handmade 'meatballs'. These balls were moist and juicy. My only criticism would be the salt level of the dark sauce was a little too high. The fresh coriander on top added superb extra flavour.

Price: $7.90. 7/10

It was difficult for me to withhold the urge to order lasagna, but I decided variety is the spice of life, and went for the Shepherd's Pie. Growing up as a child, shepherd's pie was one of those dishes I ate on a weekly basis. Barbara has clearly worked diligently to make this dish as healthy as possible. The pie is stuffed internally with a variety of vegetables. Even tempeh is inside, which was a welcome surprise. The pie has a slight sourness from tomato, and a glorious natural sweetness from the carrots and other vegetables. It may not be like my mother's shepherd's pie (a wacky mess of cheese, potato and gravy), but Barbara's is undoubtedly better for ones health.

Price: $9.90. 8/10

No meal is complete without something sweet to cap things off. There are a handful of dessert options available on a daily basis. We went for the Orh Nee, which is a traditional Chinese taro/yam paste dessert. My problem with this dessert was the overall lack of sweetness and flavour. The syrup sauce (probably derived from molasses) couldn't sufficient bring to life the ultimately bland flavour of the taro paste. Perhaps my Western palate is still not used to the subtle/tasteless flavours of Chinese desserts, so this may be a dish others can enjoy. The presentation was definitely top notch.

Price: $4.50. 6/10

Conclusion - It is hard not to love LivinGreens when you know the story behind its creation. I will be curious to see what new dishes are added, once the finalized menu is sorted out. Definitely the lasagna and shepherd's pie are must-try dishes.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 7/10

Penang is one of those places where vegetarians really don't need to panic or worry about being able to find food. Not only can vegetarian food be found in great abundance in Penang, but the quality is also very high. This post marks my second review of Lily's Vegetarian Kitchen, my first review was conducted back in 2010.

Lily's Vegetarian Kitchen

Location: 98 Noble House, Madras Lane, Georgetown, Penang

Contact: (04)2263810

Opening Hours: 9.00am-9.00pm

The menu has remained pretty much the same, compared to three years ago. Lily's offers a variety of different cuisines, but mainly specialising in Chinese food. The owner Lily has a zero wastage policy. Customers will be able to find posters scattered around the eatery urging customers not to waste any food. If you're considering purchasing a drink, I strongly recommend the luo han guo (RM1.50).

We kicked our meal off with the Vietnam Spring Rolls. I have eaten authentic Vietnamese spring rolls in Vietnam before, and obviously these ones can't compare. The key to making Vietnamese spring rolls successful is the freshness of the ingredients. I found that mint was lacking in Lily's version, along with it being quite expensive for two small sized rolls.

Price: RM5.00. 5/10

Next dish we tried was the Chix Burger with Cheese. As a vegan, I requested for the cheese to be excluded from this burger. Thankfully, Lily and her staff were quite knowledgeable on what veganism is, and were happy to alter the burger to accommodate. I ate this same burger three years ago, and it has not changed one bit. It is a very decent burger overall. I have tried many vegan and vegetarian burgers over the years, and while not outstanding, this is definitely a solid attempt.

Price: RM4.50. 7/10

Everyone who visits Penang will know about the famous Penang Char Kway Teow. It is one of the signature dishes of the island. For vegetarians, you will definitely be able to sample many meatless char kway teow versions in Penang. Lily's version was acceptable, but I found it was lacking in smokey aroma, which is an essential aspect of this dish.

Price: RM5.50. 6/10

Another Western dish we sampled was the Fish & Chips. This was a surprisingly pleasant dish, with the mock fish being the highlight. The slab of fish comes with hole in the centre, which simulates where the fish bone would have been. The soy based mock meat is lightly battered, to ensure it is nice a crisp. The dish is served with french fries and a simple salad.

Price: RM10.00. 7/10

Conclusion - Nothing much tends to change at Lily's, and perhaps there is no need for change. If it isn't broken then don't fix it. Lily's still definitely ranks as one of the better vegetarian eateries in Penang, and certainly worth visiting if you're planning on travelling there.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 7/10

As I've mentioned a few times on my blog, Whampoa is actually quite a decent place to get good vegetarian food. The only problem is, most the places are closed after 1pm. Keat Lim Vegetarian Food is another one of those stalls, which is only open until lunch time. This stall is quite popular, with customers clamoring for their bee hoon. There is another Keat Lim stall right next to this one, but it has always been closed whenever I've walked past.

Keat Lim Vegetarian Food
Location: Blk 91 Whampoa, Whampoa Drive Food Centre
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Daily 7am-1pm

Considering this stall only sells Bee Hoon and Dishes, it was not a difficult choice when considering what to order. The price for this dish is alarmingly expensive. I did order an extra mock roasted duck, but even then the cost is really high. If you can get over the exorbitant price, then it must be said this is quite a delicious bee hoon dish. The texture of the bee hoon is firm and bouncy. I particularly loved the deep fried beancurd sheets, which were light and just melt in the mouth.

Price: $4.00. 7/10

Conclusion - There is no denying the quality of this bee hoon, but the price is a big put off. I definitely would consider returning to this stall again, but I wouldn't make it a regular thing.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 4/10

It has been a while since I have visited Brownice, so this second review has been long overdue. I felt particularly compelled to write about Brownice once more, as Denise (the owner) has recently introduced a few new savoury items to their Sin Ming Road menu - Making it no longer just a dessert place. Brownice have also recently opened up a second outlet in Singapore, located at Zhongshan Mall level 1.

Brownice
Location: 8 Sin Ming Road, Sin Ming Centre, #01-03
Contact: 64566431
Opening Hours: Mon-Thur 1pm-11pm, Fri-Sun 1pm-12am.

The savoury menu is still a work in progress, with there being only a couple of items on offer currently. Denise is keen to expand these items in the future. All these savoury items are 100% vegan, and also void of any onions and garlic. She is open to new ideas for savoury items, so leave your ideas in the comments below!

If you're looking to indulge in vegan desserts in Singapore, then you only really have two viable options - Brownice and Delcie's. Delice's offers superb vegan desserts, using the very best of ingredients. However, as both Delcie's outlet have no seating options, Brownice is a wonderful place to sit and relax. Over the years, Brownice has gained a reputation for their awesome vegan ice cream, which is derived from brown rice. The ice cream is really incredible and you simply must try it when visiting. Brownice is also the more affordable and better value option, compared with Delcie's.

The whole purpose for visiting Brownice was to sample the savoury food, so we kicked things off with the Pocket Sandwich Cheesy Hummus. Hummus and bread certainly work well together, and I thought the nutritional yeast used in the hummus really brought out a nice cheesy flavour. In terms of improvement, chick peas and bread together can be a little dry. Perhaps the inclusion of fresh tomatoes or a dipping sauce would bring this snack to a whole new level.

Price: $4.80. 7/10

Here is a closer look at the insides of the pocket sandwich.

Being a recovering pizza addict, I couldn't wait to sample The Classic Thinner Pizza. It is wonderful to now be able to find vegan pizzas in Singapore. This pizza is 8" in size, which is a little too small for someone with my unrelenting passion for pizza. This pizza has a fantastic tart tomato base. Ingredients include tomato, olive, capers and sweetcorn. On top, the pizza is drizzled in vegan nut cheese sauce, and sprinkled with paprika. Of course, this pizza doesn't have the gorgeous stringy gooey puddle of mozerella on top (goodness, I'm becoming clammy just thinking about it). But, for a cheeseless vegan pizza this is as good as it gets. Hopefully more varieties of pizza can be introduced in the future.

Price: $9.80. 7/10

One of Brownice's long time best sellers has been the Mudpie. This is not my first time indulging in this pie, but I am still in awe at how it can be made without the use of any dairy. The different layers of chocolate are rich in flavour, and even those without a sweet tooth (like myself) will surely love it. I particularly loved the salted caramel nuts, which are sprinkled on top. The bottom layer (crust) is made out of brown rice as well. Personally, I would have preferred a more denser nut based crust, instead of the somewhat hollow brown rice.

Price: $9.80. 8/10

During my last review of Brownice, I failed to order their Waffles, so here it is. The waffles can be either eaten alone ($3.50), or with a scoop (or two, or three, or four...) of ice cream ($3.80 per scoop). Considering that the waffles contain no eggs or dairy, they have a remarkable resemblence to 'real' waffles. The chocolate sauce, which is drizzled on top adds a delightful extra boost to the dish. Ice cream and waffles is a combination that is guarenteed success, with Brownices' being some of the best I've eaten.

Price:$3.50 (+ $3.80 per sccoop of ice cream). 9/10

Conclusion - If you love desserts, then Brownice is the number one place to visit in Singapore, in my opinion. The ice creams, pies and waffles are all outstanding. I am curious to see how the savoury menu expands in the future. If Brownice can produce a vast array of Western savoury dishes, then this eatery may rank as one of the best in the country.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 9/10
Value - 8/10

For those living in the West of Singapore - Yes, I know, I have been neglecting you. I am doing my best to haul myself over to the West as much as I can, so that I can review new stalls in that area. One place that was recommended to me a long time ago was this NTUC Foodfare food court stall at block 303. Olive fried rice is one of the best sellers at this eggless vegetarian stall. Let's see how this place fares...

Go Vegetarian
Location: #01-723, Blk 303 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Daily

Here is a look at some of the dishes on offer. All dishes range from $3.00-$4.00.

Does anyone know anywhere that actually serves pineapple fried rice inside a pineapple, as pictured? Anyway, here is a look at the other side of the menu.

Here is a look at the ready made dishes. As it was around 1pm when I visited, most of the food had been sold.

Considering how this stall has a reputation for good Olive Fried Rice, I certainly had to try it for myself. The portion size of this dish was not too bad, and it was certainly full of ingredients. The let down for this dish was the hideous clumps of salt that could be found nestled in the rice. This occasionally caused a gritty texture when chewing, and an excessive salt level in general. I also would have liked a greater wok aroma from this fried rice. Acceptable, but would have been far more enjoyable with a regulated salt level.

Price: $3.50. 6/10

Despite the potential embarrassment of sitting in bustling food court eating two dishes simultaneously by myself - I still went ahead and ordered Mee Goreng also. Regrettably, this was quite a lackluster amateurish attempt at mee goreng. Personally, it is an unforgivable sin to exclude any lime in mee goreng. The acidity of the lime acts as a balancer to heat of the chilli. Without the lime, the overall flavour is pretty one dimensional. The ingredients (which were chopped as if done by a 5 year old) were acceptable, and the noodles bouncy. But overall the flavour just wasn't there for me.

Price: $3.50. 5/10

Conclusion - Nothing special here really. The olive fried rice could have been good, but unfortunately it was ruined by a salt-crazed chef. The mee goreng has a lot of areas of improvement, before it can be considered a decent dish. Not a stall I would return to again, unless I really had no other choice.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 5/10

Almost every tourist visiting Taiwan will inevitably be spending a few days in the capital city of Taipei. Most of these tourist will definitely want to experience Taiwan's infamous night markets. Rather mistakenly - In my opinion, at least - Tourists always flock to Shilin Night Market. This is a huge night market, but bigger is not always better. Rao He is one of the oldest night markets in Taiwan, and is still one of the best. I will be reviewing a series of Taiwan night markets in the future, taking a look at what vegetarian offerings are available at each one.

View Larger Map
Rao He Night Market
Location: Raohe Street, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan
Opening Hours: Daily from 6pm until late

As you first enter the night market you will see a pretty decent Smelly Tofu stall. The texture of this tofu is nice and crisp, and the flavour is quite mild. Although it definitely doesn't rank as one of the best smelly tofu's in Taiwan, it certainly makes for an enjoyable way to kick-off night market experience at Rao He.

Price: NT40.00. 7/10

One of the signature stalls at Rao He is definitely the BBQ King Oyster Mushroom stall. Actually, there are two of these stalls both within Rao He. When placing your order, you have the option of choosing a variety of flavours - Such as BBQ, tom yam, lime etc. These are (obviously) all written in Chinese, if you can't read or speak Chinese, then you are going to be left feeling very hungry and frustrated at Rao He.

Price: NT40.00. 8/10

Another interesting stall at Rao He is selling Peanut Ice Cream Wrap. This is a 100% vegetarian stall, but the ice cream has milk, so not suitable for vegans. Fresh coriander was used inside the wrap, and made for a captivating contrast, when merged with the peanut ice cream.

Price: NT40.00. 7/10

Desserts are plentiful also, this large stall on the corner of a side street is selling many varieties of Chilled Beancurd. A good place to sit down and temporarily escape the bustle of the market.

Price: NT40.00. 6/10

Conclusion - Throughout my entire Taiwan stay, Rao He market was one of those that I really enjoyed. I even returned back there for a second time. The single road stretch is surprisingly long. Like all night markets in Taiwan, it is better to get there early and avoid it on weekends. My personal favourite is the grilled mushrooms!

NIGHT MARKET RATING

I often get asked where should I bring my family/friends/colleagues for guaranteed high quality vegetarian food. Bespoke is one of those I always find myself recommending to people, mainly due to the novelty of it being a 100% vegetarian Japanese place. Recently, Bespoke decided to increase the number of dishes on their menu, so I felt compelled to head down and let you all know what dishes to expect from the new menu. So, here we go...

Bespoke Japanese Vegetarian Dining
Location: 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-50 Sunshine Plaza
Contact: 63377050
Opening Hours: Daily 11.30am-3.00pm & 5.30pm-10.00pm

Japanese Seaweed Fried Rice was the first dish to be assessed. Overall this was a decent fried rice, with a glorious smokey aroma, which shimmered through every grain of rice. The seaweed was also particularly delicious. It was neither too fishy in taste, nor slimy in texture. The portion size (like most dishes at Bespoke) is also quite generous, although some may still be a little deterred by the price tag. An enjoyable fried rice dish.

Price: $8.00. 7/10

As I type this review, there is a tinge of humility that I feel come over me when reflecting on this Gai Lan Sesame Sauce side dish. Honestly, I was reluctant to order this dish, as it is 'just vegetables' to me. My girlfriend managed to convince me, and I am glad she did. Believe it or not, this turned out to be the best dish we ordered all meal. The kai lan itself is perfectly cooked. I mean perfect. You couldn't possibly cook this vegetable better. It was fresh and crunchy, with zero annoying stringy fibre. The sauce had delicious roasted sesame flavour (gomadare), matched with slight acidity (ponzu sauce) and salt from light sauce. I felt like losing all social inhibitions and licking the sauce from the plate like gleeful golden retriever. Simple is sometimes best.

Price: $4.00. 9/10

Another new dish to grace the menu is the Tomato Meat Sauce on Rice. I was quite disappointed to discover upon sinking my spoon into the food, that a layer of melted cheese was nesdtled between the rice and sauce. For vegetarians, I am sure this cheese will have you giggling with delight. For vegans, it is a bit of an unwelcome surprise (especially as it is not indicated at all on the menu). The flavour of the meat sauce is exactly like a stereotypical pasta sauce, which would have perhaps worked better as a baked rice. Overall a good quality dish.

Price: $9.00. 7/10

Dumpling with Five Kind Vege was the next dish to arrive to our cramped table. Presentation wise, there is not much to complain about. The raging fire beneath a stone cube looked magnificent. However, overall this was probably the most forgettable dish of the evening. Bespoke still has salt problems in some of their dishes (which I've addressed in previous posts). This dish is simply too salty, I would not be doing my duty as a food writer if I said otherwise. The dumpling skin is decent, but I found the filling to be too overwhelmed by the conglomeration of herbs used. Definitely some significant improvements can be made to this dish.

Price: $10.00. 6/10

I always love ordering the Avocado Maki and Unagi Maki from Bespoke, both never fail to disappoint me. As I'm vegan, I always request for the mayo (which is not vegan) to be excluded from the sushi - Although most of the time the staff forget and I ultimately have to get it sent back again. It is difficult to pick a winner in this maki vs maki battle, but I would have to say unagi is my favourite. Pluck one of these beauties from the plate, dip it liberally in wasabi infused light soy, slot it in your mouth and you will be in heaven.

Price: $12.00. Avocado - 8/10, Unagi - 9/10

Lastly, we decided to order one of the new set meals, which was the Buta Shoga Set. The focal point of this dish is the mixed vegetable stir-fried pork style plate. The mock pork used was pretty decent, although the overall salt levels were a little too high once again. Most the set meals at Bespoke come with their delightful radish salad, which never fails to disappoint. Rice, soup, soft tofu and pudding dessert are the other components to this set meal. I still prefer the unagi don set and green tea soba set personally.

Price: $14.50. 6/10

Conclusion - I would happily pay $40 and order 10 plates of sesame kai lan, and munch away with joy on them. The kai lan is a must order, and was undoubtedly the highlight of the new menu. The rest of the new dishes were a bit hit and miss for me, honestly. I wish they would clearly indicate which dishes are vegan on the menu, otherwise Bespoke will inevitably end up feeling the wrath of vegans who order dishes that secretly have cheese or other animal products inside. Bespoke is still one of the best vegetarian places in Singapore, with some really outstanding dishes. If they could control their salt levels, it would rank even higher.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 7/10

Life as a vegetarian can often seem quite grim for myself, being a proud resident of the glorious Sengkang area. To me, Hougang is the closest place I get obtain above average vegetarian food. Hougang Mall is just a two minute walk from the MRT of the same name. This Kopitiam food court is located on level 4, and can be a little difficult to spot.

Cai Gen Xiang 菜根香 Vegetarian Cuisine
Location: Level 4, Kopitiam, Hougang Mall
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Daily

As I mentioned recently on my facebook page, this stall is probably one of the most expensive I've been to - In terms of economical rice and dishes. The word 'economical' is almost becoming a joke now. I paid $4.70 for brown rice, mushroom, bittergourd and mock meat on a separate visit. That is $1.20 more expensive than their cook to order dishes - Absolute insanity.

菜根香 has a separate poster advertising Laksa as their signature dish. In terms of 2013, I feel privileged that I have eaten laksa at its very best at YWQ Vegetarian, which was one of the most impressive dishes I've eaten this year. A consequence of this, however, is that every laksa I consume following this seems terribly ordinary. It is like visiting Mount Everest and then going to Bukit Timah hill the next day. To be fair, this is not a terrible laksa, and the paste used does seem to be made fresh (not from a packet like most places). However, I didn't find that the laksa gravy had enough diversity in flavour. Moreover, the bowl is riddled with noodles, but doesn't contain enough of the other ingredients.

Price: $3.50. 6/10

Conclusion - This vegetarian stall at Hougang Mall probably represents the most disappointing vegetarian eatery in the Hougang area. For those visiting Hougang, I recommend visiting excellent eateries such as Divine Realm and Divine Vegetarian Family instead - You will find better quality and more affordable dishes at those eateries.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 4/10

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