1 GARCONS FRENCH STALL
After running Garcons@Essen at The Pinnacle@Duxton for five months, chefs Enoch Teo and Immanuel Tee have opened at Alibabar The Hawker Bar in Katong.
It takes the space of the now-defunct By The Fire stall by chef Alexander Chong, who now runs Garcons French Stall.
The menu at Alibabar focuses on charcoal-grilled dishes at affordable prices. The menu features char-grilled pork chop ($13.50), barbecued pork ribs ($14.90) and char-grilled ribeye steak ($23).
Other new items include Scotch egg ($6.90), crispy baby squid ($9.90), escargot ($12.90), seaweed pasta ($8.90) and squid ink pasta ($12.90).
For those who like the French-style signatures from Garcons@Essen, main courses available in Katong include herb-crusted salmon ($14.50) and duck confit ($15.90).
Where: Alibabar The Hawker Bar, 125 East Coast Road
Open: Noon to 2.30pm, 5.30 to 10pm daily except Tuesday
Info: E-mail admin@eifoodconcepts.com
2 NEW MANLEE BAK KUT TEH
Japan Foods Holding, which runs ramen restaurant brands such as Ajisen Ramen and Menya Musashi as well as Osaka Ohsho, which specialises in gyoza, has opened its first non-Japanese restaurant.
New ManLee Bak Kut Teh at The Clementi Mall is a franchise from Kuala Lumpur. The brand was established more than 40 years ago. The peppery style of soup (from $7.90), which is more commonly found in Singapore, and the Malaysia-style herbal soup (from $8.90) are served at the restaurant. Set meals are priced from $13.90. Variations of meat include pork belly, premium pork rib and pig's stomach.
Other items on the menu include dry bak kut teh ($7.90) and braised pig trotters ($8.90). Side dishes include fried dough fritters ($2), braised beancurd ($3.90) and salted vegetables ($3.90).
With Japan Foods' roots in Japanese cuisine, you can have your bak kut teh with Japanese rice, udon (dry or soup) and hojicha (roasted Japanese green tea), instead of the usual white rice, mee sua and Chinese tea.
Where: B1-34/35 The Clementi Mall, 3155 Commonwealth Avenue West
Open: 11.30am to 10pm daily
Info: Call 6659-5380 or go to newmanlee.com.sg
3 FACE TO FACE NOODLE HOUSE
The popular noodle brand from Malaysia, known for its Sarawak noodles, has opened its first outlet in Singapore at City Square Mall.
Order hot and spicy pan mee served with minced meat, anchovies, onsen egg and house special dry chilli ($8.90); traditional Sarawak noodles served with minced pork, char siew, fried wonton and marinated spring onions ($8.90); Creations pork pan mee with minced pork, wonton crisp and pork balls ($8.90) and Genki herbal chicken soup pan mee ($12.90, limited portions available) with chicken and enoki mushrooms. You can pick either flat or round pan mee.
Complete your meal with a value set priced at $9.90 (with drink) or $10.90 (with drink and a snack). Snack choices include deep-fried fish cake, bacon cheese ball and fried wonton. Hakka yong tau foo ($7.50 for five items) is also available.
Where: 02-23/24 City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road
Open: 11am to 10pm daily
Info: Call 6509-0182 or e-mail general@facetoface.com.sg
4 WASAI-YA
Instead of the usual Singapore-style economy rice, in which you pick a few dishes to go with rice, do it with Japanese food instead.
Wasai-Ya's daily menu offers more than 20 dishes. Choose a set meal (from $5.90), with three dishes served with rice and miso soup. A la carte items are priced at $2 or $3.
Choices include beef or salmon teriyaki, chicken karaage and chawanmushi and diners can opt for Japanese curry gravy or gyu-don beef gravy ladled over rice.
Wasai-Ya is by Dining Innovation Group, which also runs Sumire Yakitori House in Bugis Junction and shabu shabu stalls Shaburi Express at Food Junction in Raffles City and Junction 8.
Where: Stall MR4, Junction 8, Food Junction, 9 Bishan Place
Open: 10am to 10pm daily
Info: www.facebook.com/wasaiya
5 UYI SAVOURY SQUIDS
Chomp on the popular street snack of fried or grilled squid at this kiosk at Bugis Junction.
The large crispy squid ($6.80, $7.50 for drink set) comes with a choice of flavours including curry, seaweed and pepper, or sour plum, while the grilled squid ($3.80, $4.50 for drink set) comes with obachan sauce.
Other offerings include grilled prawns ($3.20), popcorn squid ($3.80) and Japanese-style spicy crab ($7.80).
Where: B1-K05 Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street
Open: 11am to 10pm daily
Info: tinyurl.com/zw97szl
Eunice Quek
•Opening a new restaurant? Send the details to stlife@sph. com.sg
