Malay Nasi Padang - for Fish and Rendang

Assam Fish, Bitter Gourd and Rice ($3.90)

I come here often, for my fish craving.

Unlike most Nasi Padang stalls which charges you easily $3 for a piece of fish or the beef rendang, the ones here in the air-conditioned NTU North Spine Food Court are usually $2.50. These are often not deep fried but broiled. I appreciate tasting its fresh tenderness and gooey collagen.

Vegetable dishes are at 60 cents and 80 cents, depending on its complexity. Prices aside, we were never disappointed with their authentic Malay cooking.

Chili Kang Gong, Sambal Goreng, Fried Beancurd and Rice ($2.70)

Breakfast at 1983 - Taste of Nanyang

Kaya Butter French Loaf, Set B ($2)

And we were back from yesterday, to Koufu @ the South Spine, NTU. This time to the second storey of the eating house where air-conditioned 1983 Taste of Nanyang, the concept store of Koufu Enterprise was sited.

I wanted to have their Mee Rebus which i saw yesterday; it looked so good. But it was not available for breakfast, they only have the Mee Siam and curry chicken. While i'm not usually impressed with Mee Siam, the one here is most memorable - spicy and sourish, it hits the right spot! And i have not even added in the extra chili paste. I made a mental note to rave about this.

The plump half-boiled eggs too, impresses me. Somehow, i find it easy to drink up today as the eggs are without the usual raw reek. I actually enjoy it. The lovely toast was crunchy and fluffy all at the same time; the coffee should have made it if we didn't leave it to cool.

Note: Prices at 1983 outlets in institutions are near halved of what's being charged at the shopping malls. Serving size is as big, just lesser on garnishing.

Mee Siam ($2.80) 

The Half-Boiled Eggs

Western Food at NTU, New Canteen B

Grilled Chicken Chop Set ($3.50)

Went on a walkabout at the newly renovated Koufu @ the South Spine, NTU for some lunch ideas. It was then the Western lunch set struck us at its low pricing - $3.50. So we try it out.

Not bad at all, albeit the tough, dry bits of the charred chicken chop.

We like the lightly buttered rice and wouldn't trade it for the plump scoop of mashed potatoes when the server offered it. The light salad was refreshing and healthy. Some students preferred their Dory fish & chips, but it's Tempura fish for us.

Tempura Fish Set ($3.50)

Ayam Penyet Stall at NTU Canteen 2

Ayam Penyet Set ($4.50)

Ikan Grouper Penyet Set ($6)

Whenever we were on a lazy weekend, we headed to the NTU Canteens. Elsewhere outside, is too crowded, rowdy and hurried. 

Lately, we came upon this Ayam Penyet stall at the newly revamped Canteen 2. Food is freshly deep fried upon ordering and you wait for your number to be called when it is ready. Flavorsome curry laded the set plain rice and the accompanying sambal chili is as authentic as the real thing, reminding us of Indonesian dining. And when the grouper penyet got sold out, our next favourite is their steamed chicken laden with sweet black sauce. 

The canteen serves German beer - not a bad idea to chill off the evening here.

Steamed Chicken Set ($4.20)

新食界, China Fare at New World Cafe

Pork Rib La Mian, hand-pulled noodles ($4)

At the North Spine of NTU opens an air-conditioned Kopitiam, named "The New World" that operates on cashless purchase like the Marche's restaurant - you are given a card to present to each hawker and only billed at the exit when you give the card back to the cashier.

We had our fill of flour; not in a bad way, but because of the large servings, we felt really bloated. Here is some good hand-pulled noodles, as well-textured as you are seeing on the photo above and a good standard of home cooking.

Don't tell me Carbohydrates are fattening. Come, have your fill here!

Seafood and Pork Dumplings, 11 pcs ($4)

Old Beijing Zhajiang Mian

老北京炸酱面, Old Beijing Shredded Pork Noodles ($3.50)

Nursing a regret when i left Beijing without having their classic Beijing Zhajiang Mian, i jumped at the opportunity when i chanced upon this new China lamian stall at NTU, canteen 2.

Manned by 2 stoutly China men, i perceive my hand pulled noodles to be well made. And was pleasantly delighted with their meticulously handmade dumplings also; clean and sleek food presentation with rather fresh tasting ingredients - just 2 men in the kitchen.

云吞拉面汤, Shrimp Wanton Noodle Soup ($3.50)

The strong gravy of the Beijing Zha Jiang noodles packs a punch and is a must try for aficionado like myself. For the lighter taste buds, the noodle soup was preferred. Recommendation for the adventurous would be their long list of outlandish styled La Mian - be the brave one to try and report back?

Servings are big. And guaranteed to satisfy your scout for something different, yet acceptable.

Kaneda Japanese, from NTU to NUS

Chicken Katsu Set ($3.50)

We were wondering, where has the good old Japanese stall from NTU-Canteen 1 moved to. Then suddenly, we found them in NUS Techno Edge canteen, at the faculty of Engineering this evening!

Serving presentation is now a little different; with our favorite Teriyaki Pork off the menu. But the cook is the same uncle and food still comes in hefty delicious portion. Good feed.

Yum, Thai Street Food

Canteen 2, Nanyang Technological University

NTU canteen 2 undergone a recent revamp to introduce some new food stalls. The Western Barbeque was gone and replaced with that of Thai cuisine.

You have a choice to make your meal a set that includes sides of papaya salad ($2.50, ala carte) and choice of 1 fried chicken wing or Thai fish cake. But was told that 'set' was not available today as they had ran out of wings and fish cakes. So good business?

Well... The papaya salad left much to be desired, while the Tom Yam soup is just passable. It does carries quite some ingredients though - small prawns, chicken pieces, crab stick and straw mushrooms.

Grilled Pork Rice ($3/ Set $4.50)

Grilled pork is the exceptional one. Taste a little sweet and has an aroma of our Bak Kwa, or Satay!? All's perfect with the plain rice that was doused heavily in Thai green curry.

This grilled pork reminisces our good time on the food streets of Bangkok.

Tom Yam with Rice ($3/ Set $4.50)

7-Inch Square Pizza

Some cheap pizza for the weekend! Packing away from Canteen 1 of the NTU campus, the 7" Square Pizza is retailed at a discount of $1 for the undergrads here, at just $3.90. The canteen is open to public.

And this is our order with lots of cheese! Yes!

Tom Yum Pizza (Tom Yum Paste, Prawns, Squid Rings, Mozzarella Cheese) $3.90

Tom Yum is a tasty choice to go with seafood. It is yummy.

Peppers Pork Pizza (Mayonnaise Garlic Sauce, Pork Belly, Capsicum, Mozzarella Cheese) $3.90

And you surely must try some semi-fatty pork belly with cheese; they are such surprisingly good combination! With more generous toppings, these pizzas would be nearer perfect.

Old School Chicken Chop

Chicken Chop ($3.80)

Sometimes we enjoyed reminiscing memories of eating that messy yet satisfying plate of chicken chop - our very first introduction to Western food, in school canteens. Food standards need not be first-class; the occasional treat of the rich food was an overjoyous event to the simple kid.

Likewise, our chicken chop from the new western food stall in NTU Canteen 14 wasn't exemplary but reminded us of the hearty campus fare with its familiar brown gravy and overdose of chili sauce. Only missing out was the favourite canned baked beans.

Old Hong Kong Bruce Cafe - revised menu

Pan-fried Chives Dumpling in Beancurd Skin, 3 pcs ($3.20+)

Today's visit to Bruce at University Town found they had put up a new menu, with new pricing to facilitate their episodic buffet offerings. Our favourite 6 pieces Dim Sum Basket was also removed and replaced.

If you are planning to visit them for buffet, keep in mind that they do better with Dim Sum, cooked food is fairly average.

Cooked Food Menu

Dim Sum Menu

Steamed Chicken Glutinous Rice wrapped in Lotus Leaf, 3 pcs ($3.20+)

Steamed Barbecued Pork Buns, 3 pcs ($3.20+)

Perfect Match - Milk Tea & Coffee ($1.60+)

We would recommend you for a nice coffee and Dim Sum meal here. We too would forget about having their cooked food, just the Dim Sum.

Stew of Beef Curry with Rice ($6.50+)

Minced Meat Noodles with Bean Paste, dry ($4.80+)

Bruce Cafe - Romance is sharing nice food with him..

完美组合, Perfect Match Dim Sum Basket ($4.50+)

'Tis the most romantic part of the evening - sharing a platter of tasty Dim Sum with Ric as we halved everything between us; sharing the lovely palate. The most enjoyable dish of the meal when every Dim Sum pieces is succulent and of different texture, you have the steamed ones, the baked and the deep fried.

Akin to having the best from the house, there is the barbecued pork puff, egg tart, egg yolk custard bun, shrimp dumpling, meat dumpling and a salad spring roll. With each so fresh, it's like having them just out from the oven, fryer, steamer.

Claypot Rice with Minced Beef and Egg ($5.80+)

The Claypot rice is a savory dish that's bore burned crusty rice bottom. And we had appreciated the well-balanced seasoning that isn't overly salted.

Baked Spaghetti with Pork in Portuguese Sauce ($8.80+)

Always look forward to richly baked spaghetti, don't you? They have a decent version here but we will skip the curry-tasting Portuguese sauce next time and have the customary Cream or Tomato sauce.

Chilled Coffee with Tea, 鸳鸯 ($1+, with order of selected main course)

We were in the new University Town of NUS where Old Hong Kong Tea House of Katong Village operates a similarly 24hrs  Cha Chaan Teng themed cafe, named Bruce Cafe.

Less the weekend crowd in shopping malls, the quiet dinner is most relaxed ;)

FCX @ UTown

Fish & Co. Express

We were checking out food outlets in NUS University Town where we noticed Fish & Co. having an express station here - cheaper food in fast food settings.

Pretty affordable $4.95 value meals option which includes Fish & Chips! Let's try.

Grilled Fish Samba Combo, with mashed potato and coleslaw ($5.50)

Fried Chicken, with Garlic rice ($4.95)

Having an untimely craving for fried chicken wings, i refused to budge on anything else - just hot fried chicken wings satisfy me today! And it goes well with tangy Samba sauce from the grilled fish combo.

But we were baffled by the worse than norm grilled fish prepared. Should be complacent and stick to their good old Fish n Chips that other tables were enjoying :P

亚坤, Ya Kun Kaya Toast in SP

Kaya Toast Set ($3.60)

Ya Kun now opens in foodcourt 2 of the Singapore Polytechnic.

Yes, where the McDonald's formerly resided.

Though located in a campus compound, prices here are only slightly lower than their city stores. But when the plump soft-boiled eggs were served and i took a sip of their aromatic Nanyang coffee, i find it all worthwhile :)

Coffee and Kaya Toast

Oriental Delight - Grandma's House

The E-Canteen in National University of Singapore, NUS

The Prince George's Park Residence houses 2 canteens, one of which is the E Canteen which we hasn't visit. It now feels especially inviting after a recent renovation and had food which are looking interesting. 

大盘鸡面, Braised Chicken Noodle ($3)

Looking enticing is this China-styled Chicken Noodle which reminds us of our very Curry Chicken Noodle? Similarly spicy, the serving of Chicken was generous..

水饺, Dumplings, 10 nos. ($3)

The dumplings was most satisfying and value for money albeit they don't serve ginger slices with it, we make do with plain vinegar dip.

In fact, the stall's speciality lies in its China-styled Lor Mee, 卤面 and Ma La Soup 麻辣烫. We shall make another trip down for it sometime later.

添一点, SOH (Source of Health) Food

This is the other stall in our Singapore university campus serving China Zi Char. Located in NUS PGPR Residences food court, the fare varies slightly from the Sichuan cooked food stall we used to frequent in NTU campus.

But for a similar dish, the different and amount of seasoning used produce adverse result.

土豆烧牛肉, Stewed Beef with Potato ($8)

And are we impressed? Not quite. The stewed beef was good though.

But i would say it maybe just the wrong dishes we ordered; they have a long list on their menu, and there's bound to be nicer ones to explain their steady popularity here.

鱼香茄子, Eggplant with Sweet & Sour Sauce ($4)