Written by: Jace Bong (20-E1), Leia Ong (20-U1), Soh Iwin (20-E5)
Designed by: Kothandam Anusha (20-I1)
Welcome, one and all, to the maiden publication of the Ultimate Eunoian Foodie’s E-A Guide! As Singaporeans, we know how important food is in our lives – hence, our intrepid journalists have (most willingly) travelled, tasted and laboured to assemble this unique compendium of international cuisine across the island. With each letter of ‘Eunoia’ as your guide, perhaps try one new food each day of the week!
From breakfast to supper, restaurant to cafe, here are six diverse entries that are sure to satisfy even the most avid Eunoian foodie.
E: Entre-Nous Creperie (Leia)
I stumbled across this quaint little shop after a visit to the MINT Museum of Toys, and being an enthusiast in all things crepe, I had no other option but to investigate.
For the uninitiated, a crepe is a very thin French pancake, served either as a dessert or savoury meal – think the polar opposite of mountainous Japanese souffle pancakes.
During my visit, I tried one of each: a Ham and Emmental Cheese crepe ($15.90) and a sweet one with chocolate and vanilla ice cream ($9.90). The savoury crepe came folded in a square, which I learnt is called a galette.
Although the prices were rather steep, the quality of ingredients was apparent, which the menu proclaimed were imported from Brittany. Both crepes were thin, mildly flavoured yet very satisfying when paired with their respective toppings, whether it was the sweet banana or salty ham, the latter of which I unexpectedly enjoyed. Due to the mildness of the crepes balancing the strongly-flavoured toppings, the dishes were not jelak, or overly rich.
If you’re ever in the Civic District and peckish after museum-hopping, then I recommend checking this little restaurant out – bring friends to share!
Location: 27 Seah St, #01-01
U: (Tamoya) Udon Singapore (Jace)
After being crowned the “Sanuki Udon Champion” on a reality cooking show in Japan, bonafide celebrity chef Tamotsu Kurokawa came to Singapore two decades ago and established Tamoya! Now, Singaporeans from all walks of life including students such as ourselves seeking gastronomical deals get to enjoy a bowl of his signature chewy udon, handmade in-stores daily.
As you take a whiff of the savoury smell of udon while walking into the store, do order these recommended picks. The Truffle Tonkotsu Don is a top dish for anyone craving a traditional udon broth with a tinge of truffle, but do consider the Beef and Pork Tonkotsu Dons as well! For around $10, this homely don store is a must-try for all udon-lovers.
Location: Plaza Singapura #06-11/12, 68 Orchard Rd
N: NY Night Market (Iwin)
NY Night Market sells an array of atypical modern Korean-style dishes that’s different from the usual jajangmyeon or bibimbap we would eat, such as Korean Macaroni and Cheese and 50cm long bulgogi baguettes. Of course, they still sell common dishes like Army Stews.
During my trip, I tried out their Macaroni and Cheese, which was pleasantly fulfilling. Priced at $11.50, the macaroni was flavourful. Although a little pricey, the macaroni and cheese was worth the price. This is because the cheese was not dry nor salty – an ideal complement to the well cooked macaroni. The cheese was also creamy and plentiful like those which can be pulled a lot, leaving you craving for more of it.
Location: #01-29, 313@Somerset
O: O.BBa Jjajang and BBQ (Leia)
What’s a food guide without at least one Korean barbeque restaurant? This restaurant, located at Beauty World, isn’t the cheapest, but the quality of food they offer makes it very worth it. O.BBa serves both K-BBQ and other Korean-Chinese cuisine, and I tried both with my family, ordering a BBQ set meal consisting of a spread of red meats and a kimchi stew.
Needless to say, both did not disappoint. The meats were generously marinated with the signature salty and sweet sauce characteristic of K-BBQ, and were not too fatty; the kimchi stew with soft tofu was fragrant, spicy, sour and overall very authentic to versions I’d tried in Seoul. Many side dishes (a.k.a. banchan) were also included, which also tasted good and more than completed the meal.
For a value-for-money Korean dining experience, bring fellow foodies to visit this establishment.
Location: 19 Cheong Chin Nam Rd
I: Island Creamery (Jace)
When you think of ice cream, chocolate and vanilla are staple flavours that come to mind. However, this cosy ice cream cafe, established in 2003, took the dessert we love one step further and infused local flavours into it. Now, you get to order flavours such as Teh Tarik, Horlicks ice cream and even Mao Shan Wang – except this isn’t a 1990s roadside kopitiam anymore.
If you have a sweet tooth like me, you will be delighted to find out that Island Creamery also serves waffles and cakes! Even with these conventional confectionaries, the shop does not fail to disappoint and surprises its customers with treats such as the Mudpie, a decadent affair with three sinful layers of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, sitting atop an Oreo cookie base with yet more crushed Oreos garnishing the top. The price range of below $10 should delight many Eunoians as well!
Location: #01-01, 559 Bukit Timah Rd, King’s Arcade
A: (The) Açai Craft (Iwin)
If you’re looking for açai that’s cheap and near EJC, The Açai Craft’s the place to go! With a wallet-friendly student deal of $10 for two cups, you can bring your friends in together for an açai indulgence. For those who dislike having fruits on their açai, the good news is that unlike other açai shops, The Açai Craft allows you to choose the toppings that you want to add to your açai! This includes special toppings such as Fruity Pebbles cereal and Oreos.
The Açai Craft’s açai base was a good match with toppings such as cookie butter sauce and fruity cereal. However, given that the topping quantity was too low to properly supplement the less sugary nature of their açai, this made my experience there slightly disappointing.
Location: #01-02, Jubilee Square Shopping Mall
That’s all from us for now! We hope that you have learnt of some new interesting places to satisfy your voracious appetite. May this review serve as a guide to help you find more delectable dishes in Singapore!
The Origin* 