BUGIS @ STUDIO M
Bugis Street was home to raucous street-side dining and buzzing night markets in the 1950s to 1980s and Bugis @ Studio M is Studio M Hotel's update of the back-alley experience.
This 32-seat outdoor kiosk features an eclectic old-school decor and serves street food and craft beers including those from Singapore microbreweries such as Archipelago draft, Ki Siao Brown Ale, SG Blonde Ale, Sibei Ho Witbier, Tiger and Tok Gong America IPA ($10 plus GST each).
International labels ($12+ each) like the Australian Bridge Road Robust Porter, French La Chouette, North Coast Stellar from California and Belgian St Bernardus Witbier are also represented here.
The menu consists of Asian favourites such as Just Spam La ($10+), thin slices of luncheon meat fried with curry leaves and chilli padi; and Hou Yu Pi ($10+), fried fish skins seasoned with Szechuan pepper.
Wah! Hot Chicks ($10+) are spicy chicken wings served with sweet Thai chili sauce, and Kam Heong Chicks ($10+, above) comprises fried chicken pieces tossed with dried shrimp, curry powder and curry leaves.
Larger plates include Tok Kong Laksa ($12+) and Beef Rendang Sedap ($14+), slow-cooked dry curry with spices, accompanied with rice.
Where: Studio M Hotel Singapore, 3 Nanson Road
Open: 5pm to midnight (Sundays to Thursdays), 5pm to 1am (Fridays and Saturdays)
Info: Call 6808-8888 or go to www.studiomhotel.com
BISHAMON HOKKAIDO MISO RAMEN
After a four-year absence, Bishamon, which specialises in miso ramen (above), is back in Singapore.
Helmed by executive chef Melvin Yeo, the 58-seater at Suntec City's Eat At Seven enclave has a new menu featuring traditional Sapporostyle miso ramen.
The ramen broth is a unique blend of three types of miso - red, white and a rare black miso rarely used in Singapore.
Bishamon gets its black miso from suppliers in Japan.
The three types of miso are stir-fried and made into a paste, which is then mixed with pork bone and chicken soup.
Bishamon's Special Sapporo Miso Ramen ($15.8++) is topped with large slices of tender kurobuta pork collar cha shu and comes with corn, bamboo shoots and soft-boiled egg.
The meat is cooked in Bishamon's pork broth for two hours, and then soaked in a special marinade for another two hours.
For tonkotsu lovers, there is Special Tonkotsu Miso Ramen ($15.80++), made using the same pork bone and chicken broth as well as white miso paste.
Thin white ramen noodles are used instead of the yellow noodles of the Sapporo-style miso ramen - an ideal option if you prefer a milder flavour.
Where: 03-313 Suntec City North Wing, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Open: 11.30am to 3pm and 5.30 to 10.30pm daily
Info: Call 6235-3386 or go to www.facebook.com/bishamonsg
TWENTY EIGHT CAFE
Twenty Eight Cafe, located in the Mount Sophia and Mount Emily area, has its own special blend of coffee beans from Bali.
It serves an all-day menu of brunch favourites such as Eggs Benedict ($16.90, all prices nett) served on hash, and Luncheon Fries ($12.90).
From noon, there are mains such as burgers and sandwiches to six varieties of pastas.
Among the other highlights are Cold Truffle Pasta ($19.90), angel hair pasta tossed in Italian truffle oil and Japanese kombu seaweed, and Smoked Salmon Igloo ($18.90), where crispy sourdough bread is served with a dome-shaped smoked salmon igloo, which houses a runny poached egg.
Another dish is the Pig-Out Sandwich ($17.90), Spanish pulled-pork shoulder and cooked ham with cheddar cheese, gherkin, cabbage and lettuce tucked between two slices of sourdough bread.
A must-try for those with a sweet tooth is Indian Churros ($4.90, above), which is inspired by traditional roti prata. The churros are made with a flaky dough and twisted by hand to resemble a knot and then dusted with cinnamon sugar.
Where: 01-06, 28 Wilkie Road
Open: 7.30am to 5pm (Mondays to Fridays), 8.30am to 6pm (weekends and public holidays)
Info: Call 9628-2829 or go to www.facebook.com/TwentyEightCafe
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