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    Seoul Yummy @ The Central

    While waiting for about 20 mins for my table for 2, I took a business card from it's cashier counter and to my surprise, the owner behind this outlet is also the brains behind the franchise of Korean stalls found in a number of foodcourts.

    Though the waiting time was dampening, the food arrives amazingly quick and my order all arrived soon after I've warmed my seat for 5 mins or so.

    The appetizers (only 6? I thought the norm is 8 or more.) were pretty normal but the kimchi still packs a punch. It could have done more to include some Korean pancakes as an appetizer like some other authentic Korean restaurants I've tried.

    They do have quite an extensive menu though and if you cannot decide what to have, try their set menus which you can mix and match some of their all-time favorites - just a pity that they do not have Ginseng Chicken Soup.

    Overall, I would recommend this for an affordable Korean restaurant. So yummy?...nah, I would just say it is better then foodcourt standards.

        

    August 13

    IL Piccolo - Any pasta at $4.40!

    YES! ANY pasta. Valid for the month of August 2009 only.
     
    Vongole Pasta @ only $4.40  (usual $7.00). I am amazed by the generous portion given the low price...
    Hawker fare at restaurant standard...*salute*
    ...and hey, this is definitely better than Pasta Mania.

    National Day Treat! =D

    From my company to every employee :)
     
     
    August 10

    Chilli Padi

    The shopfront displayed numerous accolades and awards like Wine & Dine, Makan Sutra and even Tatler's best restaurant, but I guess I should have taken a closer look at the year which they had won the awards. I must admit that I was very much taken in by the price of S$13.80++ for a nonya buffet. Well, it's not that the food's yucky, but the buffet spread was not really what I had expected. There were very few dishes such that you not only can try every item at least once, you may be "forced" to have a second helping! I really wondered how it could continue to claim to be an award-winning restaurant if it doesn't keep up to its standards and fare. Below are all the dishes they had...you be your own judge.
     
     
    The buffet bar (yes that's all)
     

    Nonya Laksa

    DIY kueh pie tie

    Gado Gado

    Pig's Stomach Soup (Is this nonya at all???)

    Babi Assam

    Chap Chye

    Gado Gado (again)

    Nonya Kuehs

    more Nonya Kuehs...

    Unidentified jelly

    and more Nonya Kuehs...

    is nonya coffee different? It tastes kinda weird...
    August 02

    Xin Yuan Ji Fish Charcoal Steamboat

    I am sure the older generation would find this signboard familiar. Started as a charcoal fishhead steamboat specialist at a chinatown hawker stall, it has relocated (and expanded) its business to 31 Tan Quee Lan Street, opposite Bugis Junction.

    I was taken aback when I took my first glance at the menu - $25 for small fishhead steamboat. That could buy me about 5 reasonably good servings of sliced fish bee hoon at a nearby coffeeshop or foodcourt. Take a peep into the restaurant and you'll find many willing people cramming inside a charcoal-fumed place, with every table ordering at least one of their signature charcoal steamboat. With that, I decided to find out just how good this steamboat is.

    We did not wait long for a table for 2 and settled for a small charcoal fish MEAT (Ang-Gor-Lee fish) steamboat instead ($35) since we are not very good at sucking the collagen out of the fishheads. It came within minutes with soup filled to the brim...and oh boy it did not disappoint us :D To begin with, I didn't actually find the size of the steamboat small at all. As we dig in, I find that the portions were very generous too. Fish meat is what it promised as we helped ourselves to fish meat that could have served more than 5 sliced fish bee hoon! They also help to top-up the fish stock in case it evaporates faster than you eat. But it was just enough for the 2 of us as we slurped till its last drop, and in the process, discovered more ingredients that helped to create this wonderful fish soup - fried crispy sole fish, dang gui (angelica root) and preserved plum.

    To avoid wasting food, order other dishes only if you are dining with 3 pax or more.