I have been giving food recommendations on radio CNA938: Foodie Friday (catch it at 7:10pm Fridays), mostly focusing on cheap and good eats in Singapore, or unusual treats to look forward to on the weekend.
I thought this would be a good place to list them with photos! Google map links are in the addresses to help you pinpoint these joints. There have been more than 10 episodes so far, and I will be putting them up in the coming days. Enjoy! If you have other recommendations or hidden gems, please share them in the comments!
Here are the items from my first episode:
Traditional Malay Muslim Cuisine - The $2.50 Shop
Open 3:30am to 2:30pm daily (but hours may vary depending on family circumstances)
Owner Hani Isnin has a double degree in law and econs from NUS but she left a cushy corporate job to help her hawker parents. Not only that, she priced everything at S$2.50 to help disadvantaged families and rental flat residents. What a big heart! You can feed a family of four for $10! Notable dishes include lontong, mee rebus, and nasi lemak. There's also nasi padang a la carte, mee siam, mee soto, mee/bihun goreng and tauhu goreng.
Photo from their Facebook page where you can see updates on opening hours etc.
There are also some stalls at the Jalan Kukoh Food Centre worth checking out if you're there:
- Jalan Kukoh Teochew Kueh: handmade glutinous rice cakes, order in advance (min 10 pcs)
- Teochew Fish Soup: fish and prawn soup (S$5) limited to 3 per customer
- Ri Tao Fu Teochew Pig Organ Soup: S$5 bowl is full of ingredients, not much MSG taste
- Jalan Kukoh Porridge: pork, chicken fish, cuttlefish, century egg (from S$2.50)
Beng Hiang Dim Sum Buffet Lunch
11:30am to 2:30pm for lunch
This is an old school Hokkien legend! They're now in the far west but worth the trip for dim sum. Especially popular are the big plump juicy fresh prawns in the dumplings. There's also prawn paste chicken wings, BBQ pork buns, Sichuan dumplings in chili oil, fried fish fillet in Thai sauce, pot stickers, pork ribs, and so on. Each guest also gets a serving of fish maw thick soup with crab meat. Prices:
S$26.80 (adult, weekday); S$30.80 (adult, weekend)
S$15.80 (child, weekday); S$18.80 (child, weekend)
Mosella
Opens daily 6:30am to 10pm (til 10:30pm Fridays and Saturdays)
This beautiful restaurant is shaped like a longhouse over a waterfall, nestled within lush greenery of Pan Pacific Orchard. It marries Mediterranean and Peruvian flavours with the magic of the Josper grill. You must try the Hamachi Tiradito and the Lamb Chops of Aji Panca (red Peruvian peppers).
S17 Community Kitchen
Opens daily 8am to 9pm (Sundays 11am to 9pm)
What a love-filled Saturday Movement aiming to provide sustenance, companionship, and solace to those struggling in low-income areas, Restauranteur and philanthropist Raymond Khoo set up this S17 Community Kitchen as a social enterprise serving Nasi Padang to help the underprivileged and elderly around the neighbourhood. The food is both hearty and heartwarmingly good.
