Arab Street - The New Favourite Hangout!

The outside of the restaurant.

Last night I revisited one of my favorite spots in Singapore, Arab Street. This area of Singapore has become one of my ultimate places to visit on a Friday, Saturday or even a weekend night! I think a lot of expats in Singapore can agree that though 'perfect', Singapore gives this manufactured type of unrealistic, disney- like environment. However, on Arab Streett here is a certain authentic vibe that you get from the lovely Hookah smoked filled streets and people clamoring about for late night treats. I also think the reason I am drawn to it is that, it is the closest reminiscent of the East Village in New York City. 

The food on Arab Street has a mix of Mediterranean, Malay, Arab and of course Turkish cuisine. I had a taste of AlaTurka, which is fast becoming my favorite Turkish spot in Singpoare. Which if you think about it is actually not that hard considering the lack of Turkish food in Singapore. But nonetheless the place here is great. 

My friends and I managed to have almost everything on the menu. (Sadly I couldn't post everything up as everyone said I was bothering them with my food porn photos.) One of my favourites was the beef stew on top of a bed of mashed potatoes. Living in Singapore you'd be surprise how difficult it is to find a good plate of mashed potatoes and beef stew! Creamy and flavorful. 

Something I have never tried in Turkish cuisine is the pizza. Which surprisingly was quite delicious. The dough tasted pretty much like naan bread you have in Indian food.

The beef stew on a bed of mashed potatoes and 'pepperoni' pizza.

Ding! Its Din Tai Fong!

Busy little bees rolling the soup dumplings.

Okay, I have to admit something, when I first at my first Din Tai Fong in Singapore I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Until I ate at the original Din Tai Fong in Taipei, but you can't really go anywhere after heaven, unless of course it's called heaven's heaven -- but then now I am no longer making sense.

One can't really pinpoint why the Din Tai Fong in Taipei is better, it just is. This dim sum place is known for its Xiao Long Bao, or pork soup dumplings. I always wondered how they get the soup in the dumpling? And recently found out that it is a gelatin that they roll into the dumpling and once steamed become this soup. Truly amazing. The trick to eating this steamy soupy dumpling is to eat it right after it has been served to you. 

Pork over rice, another old stand-by, but darn delicious!

Happy 牛 Year!

Happy New Year Guys! Its the year of the Ox, and for the second year in a row I spent my Lunar New Year in Taiwan. This time my good friend Susan welcomed me to her family's home for some spectacular and bountiful home cooking.  Where do I start... I will let all my pictures do the talking this time.

The evening's dinner gets prepared. The first dish of the night  was a stew with shark fin, vegetables, chicken -- as the story goes this dish is so delicious that the Buddha jumped a wall to come and eat it.

Homemade beef stew in carrots, and some vegetables and rice.

It's a croissant baked into a cookie! And red bean mochi with a fresh strawberry inside. Shoot me I am in heaven.

First Time? Try First Thai.

Inside the restaurant. 

Singapore is known, at least by Anthony Bourdain as the food Mecca of Southeast Asia. This is pretty much true because you can find such an diverse array of delicious foods from Malaysia to China to India. Just go to an average hawker centre and you will be overwhelmed with the choices of food you can pick from. However, what I have noticed is that there are few, and few good Thai restaurants. My theory is that Thailand is a close plane ride away, (2.20 hours), so people from Singapore would rather just fly to Thailand and eat it. However, DO NOT use this theory on Indonesia (also 2 hours away) --there are tons of Indonesian restaurants here, but I attribute that to the much larger Indonesian population here. 

Needless to say finding good authentic Thai food is pretty hard in Singapore. You have the Golden Mile, but that is another adventure in itself. But suffice to day First Thai is a good bet. Now, don't quote me as this is the best Thai food in Singapore but it comes pretty close when you are far away from the motherland. The best part of the restaurant? The menu comes with pictures and Keanu Reeves hanging on the wall.

Other Suggestions: Pad Thai, Pad Siew, Fried Fish

My favorite Yum Mango Salad and another favorite, Keanu Reeves next to the Royal Family. Because somehow Keanu is synonmous with Thailand. 

Pandan Chicken. A classic at the restaurant and Hor Mok (fish cake). Like an Otah in Indonesia. Otah means brains in Indonesian and Malay. Because the dish kinda looks like mushed brains.

23 Purvis Street

Singapore

+65 6339 3123

Cash Only.