New casual Asian eateries to visit in Singapore
By: Alexandra Lin
Ippudo Raffles City
The new Ippudo at Raffles City (B1-61/62) is the popular Japanese ramen chain's eighth dining outlet in Singapore. Fans can slurp up its hearty signature ramen creations and sample other exclusive dishes here. It will be hard to resist the Ippudo Spicy Chicken Wings (S$8.80), deep-fried and jazzed up with homemade sweet and spicy sauce. While waiting for your mains to arrive, munch on the Shaka Shaka Fries ($6.80), dusted with salty-sweet egg yolk powder.
For a quick snack, order the Salmon Katsu (S$4.50) comprising salmon coated with panko and deep-fried, then sandwiched between pillow-soft buns. Perk it up with Ippudo's original homemade savoury sauce, spicy chilli sauce, and Japanese mayonnaise. For something hearty, go for the Teppan Rice, laden with red and yellow peppers, corn, and crisp-fried Ippudo ramen noodles. The eggy cheese lava sauce is poured on to the sizzling hot plate. You can choose to have either the rice topped with grilled wagyu beef (S$13.80) or pork (S$12.80) slices.
This Raffles City outlet also features an extensive beverage menu. The venue is complete with an in-house sake cellar offering Japanese-style shochu sour and 20 types of sake. From now till 13 September, Ippudo Raffles City is offering a special lunch set at S$15.90. The promotion is only valid on weekdays from 11am to 5pm. You will get one ramen (signature Akamaru and Shiromaru, Veggie Dashi or Chicken Shoyu), one side (gyoza, chicken karaage, pork bun, chicken bun, takoyaki or mini green salad) and one drink.
Kafe Samsa
Kafé Samsa was launched in July by The Nomads, a modern Central Asian restaurant at 70 Telok Ayer Street. The all-day dining concept located at the restaurant's entrance comprises a café and retail space, which stocks a range of spices, jam, bread, butter, candy and tea, either made in-house or sourced from Central Asia. In the evenings, this area is transformed into a hole-in-the-wall wine bar.
Samsa is a local pastry typically enjoyed in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Ideal for tea parties, each half-a-dozen box of savoury samsa (S$40) comes with homemade tomato relish. There are five flavours including meat-filled options like Lamb Samsa (S$8) – this modern puff pastry version is stuffed with a minced lamb, house-blend aromatics and sautéed spiced onions.
The Wagyu Beef Samsa (S$8) teems with minced Australian wagyu marinated with house spices and caramelised onions. Or try the Chicken Samsa (S$7), which is like a spiced chicken potpie. Vegetarians can go for the Mushroom & Lentil Samsa (S$7) made with king oyster mushrooms, lentils, and onions. Similar to an apple ‘pie’, the Apple Samsa (S$6) is packed with apple chunks and puree, and perfumed with the warmth of cinnamon and cloves.
After work, head to Kafé Samsa's bar to enjoy wines from Central Asia alongside bar bites. Think: shashliks (skewered and grilled meats) such as Green Adjika Chicken (S$6) and Lamb Meatballs in Charred Tomato Sauce (S$8).
https://order.thenomads.vip/#/
Putien
The well-loved Putien has just opened its 14th outlet at the recently revamped Great World. Tuck into unpretentious Heng Hwa fare such as the popular Putien Sweet & Sour Pork with Lychees (S$14.90) and fried Heng Hwa bee hoon (S$10.90) - made with sun-dried vermicelli milled by hand in Putian, and partnered with a milky and flavourful stock made of pork bones and old hens. A crowd favourite, the Fujian Lor Mee (S$10.90) comprises silky Putian noodles teeming with pork belly, prawn and clams, in a pork broth.
Just as popular is the shredded pork with sesame bun (S$4.90/pc) consisting of stir-fried shredded lean pork and sweet onions served with golden sesame buns. For something comforting, go for the braised bean curd with Chinese cabbage (from S$19.90) – the broth with seasonal clams from Putian, dried shrimps and dried scallops, brims with homemade beancurd and Chinese cabbage. The menu also offers fresh seafood dishes such as ‘100-Second’ Stewed Yellow Croaker (S$14.90). The fresh fish and ginger is stewed for exactly 100 seconds, resulting in a fresh, light and healthy dish.
From now to 31 October, check out Putien’s special live eel dishes such as the Eel Cooked in Natural Spring Water, Baked Eel Dressed in Garlic & Puning Bean Sauce, and Crispy Fried Eel Bone.
Maxx Coffee
Maxx Coffee, a popular lifestyle coffee chain from Jakarta, recently opened at JEM. This café offers unique signature beverages and proprietary Indonesian single-origin coffee, including Sumatera Lintong, Java Ciwidey, and Aceh Gayo. And its unique house blends are made with coffee beans sourced from world-renowned coffee-growing regions: Indonesia, Brazil, and Colombia.
Among the extensive range of beverages, try the Signature Latte Freddo (S$5.50); concocted with a shot of espresso, this drink has notes of nuts, chocolate, caramel and berry. Or sip the Signature Klepon Freddo (S$5.50) – a concoction of espresso perfumed with flavours of gula Melaka, pandan and coconut. Food-wise, you can tuck into some of the baked meals, artisanal deli products, and assortment of pastries and cake (some with a local twist).
Pair your drinks with Maxx Coffee’s Signature Cruffins (S$3.90), which is basically croissant dough twirled into the shape of a muffin. They come in four flavours: Srikaya, Pandan Gula Melaka, Bandung and Oreo. If you want a quick lunch, Maxx Coffee has a variety of savoury flatbreads (from S$6.70). Pick one of the freshly-toasted fluffy focaccia: Basil Margherita, Turkey Ham with Camembert and Roasted Pepper.
There are also croissants and multigrain sandwiches (from S$7.20) such as Smoked Salmon or Classic Beef Pastrami with multigrain bread, and Oregano Chicken Croissant. For something more substantial, savour the Lasagne Pie filled with chicken bolognese sauce and topped with a light buttery crust (S$7.60).
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