From The Straits Times    |

MAK’S NOODLE
Locations: #01-63/64 The Centrepoint and #02-06 Westgate Shopping Mall

most post Hong Kong food treats to eat in Singapore MAKS NOODLE

Succulent prawn dumplings and thin, slightly alkaline-tasting egg noodles, served in a light, savoury broth … If you try just one dish at Mak’s Noodle, make it the wonton noodle soup. The broth base, made from powdered dried shrimp roe, flounder and pork bones, is super-flavourful, while the noodles are springy, with just the right amount of bite. The dumplings are equally scrumptious – plump, slightly crunchy prawns encased within a thin, silky skin.
An order of wonton noodle soup will set you back $6.90. The portion is small – about the size of a Chinese rice bowl – but this is to prevent the noodles from going soggy too quickly. If you fancy something heartier, try the Tossed Noodle with Beef Tendon and Brisket, which does not disappoint with its chewy noodles and tender chunks of beef. This dry noodle dish costs $10.

The owner of Mak’s Noodle, Mak Chi-ming is the third-generation descendant of Mak Woon-chi, who once served his wonton noodle dish to the leader of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-shek. The original recipe is said to be unchanged to this day. There are currently several Mak’s Noodle outlets in Hong Kong, one in Macau, and two in Singapore.

JENNY BAKERY
Location: 422 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, #01-2534

most post Hong Kong food treats to eat in Singapore JENNY BAKERY
Image: SPH Magazines

Who knew simple butter cookies could garner such a huge following? When Jenny Bakery opened here in October, fans queued for hours to get their hands on these scrumptious morsels packed in their signature teddy bear-design tins.

Cookie lovers have a range of flavours to choose from, like coffee, pistachio, walnut, chocolate, hazelnut macadamia and raisin oats, but if you prefer a more traditional flavour, go for their classic butter cookie. In addition to good-quality butter, it is thought that the cookies owe their rich taste and short texture to other “secret” ingredients, such as rice flour, wheat flour, eggs and icing sugar.

The cookies are expensive compared to the ones sold in Hong Kong. A small tin of 4-Mix Butter Cookies costs S$25 here, whereas in Hong Kong it’s HK$70 (equivalent to about S$13). To discourage re-selling on the black market – where tins of the stuff have been known to cost 70 per cent more than in the stores – each customer is only allowed to purchase two to four tins at a time.

TIM HO WAN
Locations: #01-29A Plaza Singapura, #02-02 Toa Payoh Hersing Centre, #B1-51/52 Bedok Mall, #01-13/14 Westgate, and #01-01/02/03 Aperia

most post Hong Kong food treats to eat in Singapore TIM HO WAN

The menu offerings at Tim Ho Wan are not unlike what you’d find at other Cantonese dim sum joints, but what sets this restaurant apart are the freshness and quality of the ingredients. And, unlike other dim sum restaurants that pre-steam and reheat their food, Tim Ho Wan makes their dishes to order, to retain the flavour and texture of the ingredients.

What’s good here? Fans can’t get enough of the Baked Buns with BBQ Pork, the fluffy Steamed Egg Cake, the crisp-yet-chewy Pan Fried Carrot Cake, the velvety-smooth, filled vermicelli rolls, and dim sum classics like steamed chicken feet, steamed beef balls with bean curd skin, and pork-and-prawn dumplings.

Did you know that Tim Ho Wan is the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant? The original Mongkok branch was awarded its first Michelin star in 2010. This year, the Sham Shui Po, North Point and Tai Kok Tsui branches each received one Michelin star.

KAM’S ROAST GOOSE
Location: To be confirmed
 

most post Hong Kong food treats to eat in Singapore ROAST GOOSE

When Kam’s Roast Goose opened in Wan Chai in July 2014, it quickly built up a loyal following. Its signature dish is a true feast for the eyes and taste buds: tender, juicy, fragrant, roasted goose meat with the perfect amount of fat, covered by a thin layer of glistening brown skin, and served with a sesame-infused jus and fruity plum sauce.    

Roast goose is popular in Hong Kong, but to satisfy a variety of customers, Kam’s also serves char siew pork, roast pork, roast suckling pig, and soya sauce chicken. Enjoy these beautifully cooked meats with rice or noodles – Kam’s recommends its Prince Kinsen noodles, a dish of egg noodles tossed in the fat and juices from its roasted geese. Appetisers, such as sesame oil-seasoned jellyfish, marinated cucumber and marinated eggs, are also on the menu. Kam’s must be doing something right – within four months of its opening, the restaurant was awarded one Michelin star.

Kam’s Roast Goose has been compared to another famous roast goose restaurant in Hong Kong: Yung Kee. The head chef at Yung Kee left to join Kam’s when it opened, which is probably why the roast goose tastes very similar. You may also be surprised to know that both restaurants belong to members of the same family. A legal dispute between brothers Ronald Kam and Kinsen Kam – the sons of Yung Kee founder Kam Shui Fai – ended with Ronald gaining control of their father’s business. Kinsen’s son, Hardy then branched out to open Kam’s Roast Goose, taking the head chef with him.  

Kam’s Roast Goose is set to open a 100-seat restaurant here by the first quarter of 2016. Diners can expect the same menu as the Hong Kong branch, although to appeal to Singaporeans’ taste buds, roast duck will also be available.

HONEYMOON DESSERTS
Locations: #01-93 Vivo City, #B1-07 Citylink Mall, #01-70 Bugis Junction, #B1-09 Paragon, #B3-15/16 Ion Orchard, #B1-30 112 Katong, and #01-17B Parkway Parade

If you’re craving something sweet, the Hong Kong-style treats at Honeymoon Dessert are sure to please. You’ll find over 100 hot and cold desserts that showcase traditional Asian flavours, such as red beans, bean curd, black sesame, durian, sago, black glutinous rice, bird’s nest, coconut milk, grass jelly, and green tea. Among their most popular desserts: the mango roll – chunks of mango and fresh cream wrapped in a crepe – and the mango, pomelo and sago soup, which combines all three flavours into one delicious and refreshing, tropical dessert.

THE BUTCHERS CLUB BURGER
Location: #01-01B The Cannery, Clarke Quay

most post Hong Kong food treats to eat in Singapore BUTCHERS CLUB BURGER

The Butchers Club was established in 2013 in Tin Wan, Aberdeen as a butcher’s shop, a private dining room, and a space for cooking classes. The brainchild of a group of chefs and butchers, the business focuses on high-quality, dry-aged beef from Australia.

Having made an impact in Hong Kong and Bali, The Butchers Club team is now in Singapore, serving meat lovers its signature dry-aged Black Angus beef patties, minced to order and grilled to perfection. Prepare to fork out at least $20 to $25 for a burger here.

The food menu is limited to The Burger, the restaurant’s signature burger, which, besides the juicy beef patties, also includes maple-glazed bacon strips, caramelised onions, English white cheddar, tomato, pickles and a special sauce on a Scotch bap bun. The buns are made to a special recipe that keeps them soft and prevents them from getting soggy. A secret menu of alternative (including non-beef and vegetarian) burgers is also available. Feeling extra hungry? The chunky duck fat fries make an ideal side dish.

Want more delicious food to try? Check out the 5 Top must-try dishes at Dazzling Cafe Singapore and the 5 Korean-style desserts you must try at O’ma Spoon Cafe.