It was only supposed to be a music weekend devoted to U2 concerts, but somehow my trip to Singapore also turned into a food trip where every meal (or almost) was delectable.
Dinner at Kallang Wave Mall Food Court
For my first meal, I went to Kallang Wave Mall because it was right beside the National Stadium, which I scouted first before the U2 show the next day. I had researched the place extensively before traveling, and I knew that there was a food court. When I got there, I was a bit disappointed to find the food court was actually just a small area with one vendor. But I ended up having a super delicious meal!
I ordered a braised duck rice meal. This is probably only the second time I’ve ever had duck in my life. I don’t remember the first time, but this is one I will not forget – the duck was tender and tasty; the rice was smothered in soy-flavored sauce but not too much that it turned into soup. There were also peanuts and cucumber on the side, with a bowl of broth. The meal (with bottled water) cost around 6 SGD, which by my budget was pretty reasonable. And the small size of the food court actually turned out for the best – I was able to enjoy a quiet, relaxing meal.
Rating: 5/5
Breakfast at the Southbridge Hotel
The hotel I stayed at offered complimentary breakfast, and if you think this meant a few sad pieces of bread and some cereal, you would be wrong. Breakfast at the Southbridge Hotel consisted of two eggs cooked to your preference, bacon, chicken fingers, salad, and a choice of two pancakes, two croissants, or a Belgian waffle, with unlimited coffee, tea, or ice water. The portions were very generous – just right to give you the energy you need to face the day, and not overwhelming to give you a food coma. The bacon was nicely done, the pancakes (which I chose) light and fluffy, with the salad providing the right balance to everything else. If I have one teeny tiny quibble, it may be that the eggs were barely seasoned at all, but maybe that’s just their style, and it was no problem because I added a little pepper and paired them with the tasty chicken fingers. Overall, it was an amazing meal with the perfect contrast between flavors and textures which I love so much.
Rating: 5/5
Lunch at Hawker Chan
Hawker Chan in Singapore is known for serving the cheapest Michelin-starred meal in the world. It’s only a fast food restaurant but it met the exacting Michelin standards, so I was very excited about my Hawker Chan experience. I was prepared for a long wait, so I gave myself plenty of time for lunch. The line was not so bad because the staff was very efficient in dealing with the line. I ordered the recommended Soya Sauce Chicken Rice, and with a bottled water, the whole meal cost only around 6 SGD.
Being as famous as it is, the place was packed, but people don’t stay long and so you’re bound to find a spot eventually. Just be prepared to share your table with others. You place your order with the cashier and wait for your number to be called, and while I was waiting the manager advised me to find a place first because there’s a screen that displays which order number is ready.
Here’s the thing: I don’t know if it’s because I had high expectations for the food (with it being a Michelin-starred meal after all), or maybe I was just unlucky, but unfortunately I was disappointed. Eep. I feel awful for not liking the food. I can say that the chicken was really tender and juicy. But there was blood visible on the chicken, and the rice was dry for me. The part with sauce was good though. But I was still glad for this chance to have a Michelin meal because when will I get to experience that again in my life?
Rating: 3/5
Late late dinner at Small Seafood and BBQ
My weekend was all about going to the U2 shows, and on the day of the concert, food had to be an afterthought. I spent most of my Saturday at the stadium, so I had to content myself with a vegetable wrap for “dinner”. But I knew I was going to make up for it after the show. The restaurant at my hotel was only open until 1 am, and I got home way later than that. Luckily, the receptionist recommended the Small Seafood Restaurant, which was literally just across the street from us, and which was open until 4 am. And what’s more, their food was delicious! It was nothing really fancy, just good old-fashioned Chinese food. I ordered chicken skewers and fried rice. The rice was packed with vegetables, shrimp, and crab meat, plus the serving was very generous. It was enough for two people, but I was practically starving so I almost finished it. The meal set me back around 7 SGD.
I ate in my room so I didn’t have time to take photos of my food, but thanks to their Facebook page and Google maps, I got these images.
Rating: 5/5
Lunch at Cedele, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
For my last full day in Singapore, I met up with my friend and we splurged a bit on our meals. For lunch, we wanted to treat ourselves at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen. But we learned that it’s impossible to just walk in without a reservation (of course). So we settled for Cedele, but settled isn’t even the right word, because we ended up very satisfied with our meal. I ordered the sumptuous Fried Portobello Truffle Pasta, and the serving was so generous I couldn’t even finish it. Everything was perfect – the enormous mushrooms, the hint of truffle, the potato crisps – my mouth still waters at the thought. I had planned to eat the rest while queuing for the second U2 show later in the day, but our line moved so fast that I had to throw away my food to get in. The pasta was seriously so good that to this day I still regret not finishing all of it. It was a bit pricier than my previous meals at 22 SGD, but hey, it was my last day and I wanted to indulge myself.
Rating: 5/5
Dinner at Marche Movenpick
It turned out that I saved the best for last, because my last dinner before leaving was at the Marche Movenpick in front of the Raffles Hotel. This was another one of those unplanned events, because we were just looking for a good restaurant that was still open at 1 am. The hostess at the Fairmont Hotel recommended the place, and we were not disappointed. The place had a relaxed atmosphere, and even though we dined al fresco, it was still quiet and not frenetic at all. I had the Caesar Salad with Smoked Salmon, and I must say, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. It was a simple salad, but the dressing was perfect, and the salmon was simply to die for. No words except YUMMY. I guess it was also a refreshing change to eat something different from the local food I’d been eating over the weekend, but it wasn’t only the novelty. It was simply so good. It set me back around 23 SGD, but for the serving size, taste, and with it being a Movenpick brand, it was reasonable. I would definitely go back just to have this salad.
Rating: 5/5
I loved everything about my Singapore experience. I went there to see U2, but the place was so beautiful, the people very friendly, and the food was simply divine!
mister beebop 