Last Meal at Mellben Seafood

Singapore Day 4
Toa Payoh Lorong
7:36 p.m.

So little time so much to eat.... that's the motto of our Singapore trip!

Believe it or not, four days was not enough to cover the culinary delights of Singapore. The Lion City is such a food mecca that we have not eaten staples chili crabs, nasi lemak, fish head soup, etc. and yet we were already down to our last meal before flying home.

I truly longed to cap the excursion with nasi lemak but the choice to head to a seafood restaurant was still an easy decision that we made as it would have been a crime to have visited Singapore without having a taste of its national dish, chili crabs.

Mellben Seafood, a popular destination for crab lovers, got the distinction of hosting our last meal in Singapore. Its specialty is claypot crab bee hoon soup which we were silly to not have ordered.

Al Fresco Dining

Steamed Bamboo Clam in Garlic

Light and fresh. Strong garlic flavors complemented the dish well.

Guinness Stout Short Ribs

Meat was very tender though I would have preferred a stronger presence of the Guinness.

Cereal Prawns

The coating was good but the prawns were overcooked.

Salted Egg Prawns

A good alternative for those who like their prawns salty. 

Mantou

Crispy and hot. Sweet bread which I just loved to eat.

Black Pepper Crabs

Meat was fresh and sweet but I was somehow overwhelmed by the very strong pepper flavors. 

Chili Crabs

Wished the sauce was thicker and spicier but despite the shortcomings, I couldn't think of  a better way to  end our stint in Singapore but with this dish. 

Looking back, the food trip was a fruitful one with us managing to eat the very best of Singaporean cuisine. It dawned on me however that I need not travel far the next time I'm craving for Singaporean food because in Manila, we are lucky to have Tao Yuan and Wee Nam Kee which are equally good, if not even better, than some restaurants we visited during our great Singapore food binge.

I'll always have fond memories of the food experience I shared with friends during this trip, but I don't think I would ever want to go back to Singapore for another round of eating as if there's no tomorrow.

Mellben Seafood has branches in Ang Mo Kio, Pasir Ris, and Toa Payoh in Singapore.

Dinner at Boon Tong Kee

Singapore Day 2

Boon Tong Kee Balestier Road

9:42p.m.

Boon Tong Kee is the place to be if you're looking to enjoy Singaporean cuisine at an air-conditioned, more sanitized environment. It serves a mean version of chicken rice as well as other favorites the Lion City is known for.

There are several branches of Boon Tong Kee but we chose to dine at the original branch in Balestier Road upon the recommendation of locals.

The Famous Chicken

The Balestier branch was still full of diners even late at night so we were relegated to the "al fresco" dining area. I didn't mind the on the street eating as it somehow made the experience more authentic. haha

On the Street Eating

Deep Fried Crispy Beancurd

I hate anything soy related but miraculously got convinced to try this chicken nugget looking dish. I'm glad I did because it tasted heavenly! Every bite was smooth as silk and I'm sure the touch of mayo helped in making me enjoy the dish.

Crispy Cereal Prawns

Sweet, spicy, salty, and everything nice. This is one example why I love Singaporean cuisine! The huge prawns were also perfectly cooked.

Chicken, Salted Fish, and Chinese Sausage Claypot Rice

They didn't scrimp with the ingredients and it was seasoned well (read: not salty).

Signature Boiled Chicken

Though not as splendid as I remembered it to be, Boon Tong Kee's chicken still deserves to be considered as one of the best chickens in all of Singapore. Head to a branch near you to discover why...

Boon Tong Kee has 6 locations in Singapore. For more information, click here.

A Taste of Singapore at Wee Nam Kee

I had my doubts when I first heard that Wee Nam Kee was opening in Manila.

But just like everyone else, I braved the long lines to give this import from Singapore a try.

A trip to Wee Nam Kee isn’t complete without ordering their specialty, Hainanese chicken.

Steamed Chicken Medium (488php)

Close enough to the flavors found in Singapore. Better than most white chicken served in Manila. Chicken is soft and has the right amount of fat.

On a different occasion, I ordered the chicken combination to try the roasted version:

Chicken Combination (248php)  

The roasted chicken didn't taste any different from the steamed variety.



Ginger.Soy.Chili

No chicken should be eaten without a dip in ginger or soy sauce.

Chicken Rice (40php) 

Very flavorful. I don't eat rice but I managed to eat an entire bowl of chicken rice on my own.

Cereal Prawns (375php)

Another Wee Nam Kee must-try. Not oily and I love the generous coating of cereal each prawn had. The cereal coating is especially addicting.

Steamed Prawns with Garlic Sauce (375php)  

I love the strong garlic flavors.



Salt and Pepper Squid (250php)

Fresh and light. Nothing out of the ordinary though.

Wee Nam Kee doesn't disappoint, giving us, Manila residents, a taste of Singaporean cuisine.

Wee Nam Kee is located at Ayala Triangle Gardens Ayala Avenue Makati.

A Feast at Tao Yuan

Whenever my family dines in a Chinese restaurant, I have the tendency to overeat as we usually order like there’s no tomorrow. Our last meal at Tao Yuan was no exception.

Food that night:

Taosi Spareribs (90php)

Nice way to start the festivities.

Steamed Shrimp and Vegetable Dumplings (90php)

My brother’s order which he easily finished.

Egg Tarts (90php)

Much raved about by friends but I still prefer Lord Stowe’s.

Crispy BBQ Pork Pie (100php)

YUMMY! Would have eaten more if my stomach allowed.

Dipping Choices for the Chicken

Singapore Hainanese Chicken (880php) 

The dish that put Tao Yuan on the map. This was just ok and is not deserving of all the raves it gets. Not even close to the authentic Hainanese chicken served in Singapore.

Spring Rolls with Garlic (268php)

Such a simple dish which kids would love.

Singapore Spareribs (530php)

Was recommended by the order taker but this was just an msg-filled dish. Nothing special and is overpriced. One of the few dishes that we were not willing to finish.

Sichuan Hot and Sour Soup (530php)

Mighty sour making it hard to enjoy. It was as if I were drinking pure vinegar.

Birthday Noodles (460php)

Not fond of noodles; thus this was just ok for me. I, however, noticed that the noodles had a generous amount of meat, seafood, and quail eggs.

Lapu-lapu with Mango Relish (980php)

My favorite dish that night. This was uniquely delicious and should be tried by everyone.

Singapore Curry Chicken (328php)

This was another so-so dish. It had a good taste but not remarkable when compared to some stellar dishes.

Angel Shell (540php)

While I don’t really know what this is, I found it fresh and a welcome break from all the heavy dishes we had.

Singapore Chilli Crabs (2440php)

I also loved Tao Yuan’s version of Singapore crabs. Crabs were huge and fresh while the sauce had the perfect blend of spices making this a truly awesome dish. Was even able enjoy the sauce on its own.

Fried Bun (120php)

Loved it. Perfect partner of the crabs. Only gripe is that this doesn’t come free with the order of crabs.

Singapore Laksa (328php)

Good stock and loved the hint of coconut milk. The shrimps were huge and the fish balls were also fresh. I didn’t appreciate the consistency of the noodles though.

Singapore Cereal Prawn (150 per piece)

Not readily available in other restaurants so this is a must try. Cereal coating was yummy though the prawns could have been crispier.

Yang Chow Fried Rice (198php)

Not a fan of fried rice so I have no opinion about this Chinese restaurant staple. Mom said it was one of the more delicious versions she has tried in a long time.

Mochi Ball and Red Bean Jelly

Aside from mango sago, we were served a complimentary dessert of mochi and jelly. Didn’t like the mochi balls but loved the red bean jelly. This is saying much as I usually don’t eat red beans.

While the Hainanese chicken disappoints, I would still recommend Tao Yuan for families who are tired of the usual Chinese fare. Tao Yuan has a good mix of traditional and more adventurous dishes that would satisfy each member of the family.

Tao Yuan is located at 508-512 General Malvar St., Corner A. Mabini St. Malate Manila. Contact them at 522-7009 to 10.