8 Degrees Taiwanese Bistro: Affordable Taiwanese dishes with lu rou fan & scallion oil chicken rice from $6
If I could only eat one cuisine for the rest of my life, I’d have to go for Taiwanese. I miss the days when I could enjoy bowls of lu rou fan from little stores on the streets of Taipei, or sip on delicious cups of bubble tea from Ximending. One of my favourite spots to reminisce on my Taiwan adventures is 8 Degrees Taiwanese Bistro.
8 Degrees Taiwanese Bistro is located in Jalan Besar, along Foch Road. You can also find their other outlets at Sembawang and Kovan. The eatery’s menu comprises of classic Taiwanese dishes, drinks and desserts, with the most notable aspect being the affordable prices. Here, you can enjoy a bowl of rice or noodles for S$6++!
What I tried at 8 Degrees Taiwanese Bistro
Braised meat rice is possibly the most well-known Taiwanese dish. At 8 Degrees Taiwanese Bistro, their take on this dish, the Signature Pork Belly Rice (S$6++), comes with a generous serving of braised pork belly, an egg and shredded pickles.
If I could describe this dish in one word, it would be comforting. The braised meat was tender and slightly sweet, blending with the fluffy white rice perfectly. The pickled vegetables added a pop of sweetness and tanginess to the dish too, while the egg made the Signature Pork Belly Rice more filling and satisfying.
I did find that the portion, as a whole, was a little on the smaller side, though.
The Scallion Oil Chicken Rice (S$6++) was equally as homely and comforting. The shredded chicken pieces were tender, with a lovely scallion oil fragrance permeating throughout.
The aroma of the scallion oil was prominent, and I loved how the sweet and salty flavours of the sauce blended together. Similar to the previous dish, the portions were a bit on the smaller side. On the bright side, that left us with more stomach space to enjoy the assortment of side dishes.
I couldn’t get enough of 8 Degrees Taiwanese Bistro’s Sesame Cold Noodles (S$7++), containing cold noodles topped with sesame sauce, shredded cucumbers and a sprinkle of furikake.
The noodles had a silky smooth mouthfeel, while the sesame sauce made the dish creamy and aromatic. I found myself slurping up the semi-sweet noodles at an alarming rate — the coldness of the noodles also made it all the more refreshing to consume. Definitely give this dish a go!
As a hardcore floss lover, I had to order the Cheese Eggroll with Pork Floss (S$8), which was wrapped in a soft crepe.
Just look at how generously stuffed this eggroll was! The savoury flavours of the fluffy floss and the salty cheese were super tasty, especially when paired with the thin layer of egg inside the roll. The drizzle of sweet brown sauce on top did wonders in elevating this seemingly unassuming dish too.
My only gripe with 8 Degrees Taiwanese Bistro’s Cheese Eggroll with Pork Floss was the fact that the crepe skin outside was too soft, erring a bit on the undercooked side. I would have liked for the skin to be crispier.
Finally, we got 8 Degree’s Taiwanese Bistro’s Fried Chicken Cutlet with Cheese (S$9), which was drizzled generously with cheese sauce.
The chicken meat was slightly firm yet not tough, while the skin was crispy and fried to a golden brown colour. The chicken, which was thick and juicy, had been well-marinated, with tons of flavour seeping in through the meat. The cheese sauce had a piquancy that was similar to that of nacho cheese, and I found that its salty flavours complemented the fried chicken cutlet nicely.
I found this dish to be pretty delectable, albeit a little on the steeper side in terms of price.
Final thoughts
There’s a reason that I keep returning to 8 Degrees Taiwanese Bistro. Each dish was so comforting that they reminded me of home-cooked meals made with love. For a restaurant, the prices of these dishes are also relatively affordable, with almost all dishes coming in at under S$10 each.
I don’t know when I’ll be able to visit Taiwan again, so for now, I’ll enjoy it through 8 Degrees Taiwanese Bistro’s food.
Expected damage: S$6 – S$20 per pax
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