Satisfying Dinner @Gyoza King

If you have been to Tanjong Pagar recently, you will be pleasantly surprised to see many Japanese restaurants (bar-top style) around Orchid Hotel and more Korean restaurants along Duxton Road.

Opened by Ramen Keisuke King, is the new concept shop called, Gyoza King that started operations since late 2013. 

Gyoza King
1 Tras Link
#01-15 Orchid Hotel
Singapore 078867
Tel: 6604 6674
Email: keisuke_sg@singnet.com.sg
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KeisukeTokyoSG

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THE MENU ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Comes in a set meal at $13.90 per person (inclusive of choice of Gyoza, 1 bowl of rice, soup and 2 side dishes).

 

How You Order?

Simply goes down the list to :-
1.  Select your choice of Gyoza - 3 types namely, Tonkotsu King (pork); Tori King (chicken); and Keisuke (prawn). 
2.  Decide on the size of your rice and which soup (miso/veg). 
3.  Finally, pick out 2 side dishes.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THE INTERIOR ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

The moment you step into the shop, you will notice the open-concept kitchen.  So you can see the Chefs in action!  Amazed by how fast they can whip up a full meal with 2 side dishes for each customer. 

 

The restaurant has very limited space, with less than 20 persons capacity.  Customers are seated on high counter chairs.  It maybe cramped and a little uncomfortable for some customers, especially when the ladies might not have a chair to put their bags.  Therefore, I would suggest to go this place with your friend(s).

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THE TASTE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Using only high-end rice cooking pots made in Japan, the Koshihikari rice is cooked in batches.

 

There are complimentary vegetables e.g. pickles and beansprouts for customers to eat first, while waiting for their main dish to be ready.  *Free flow!

Next to that, you can mix your own concoction of Gyoza sauce (Japanese style).  You can follow their recommendation for the Gyoza sauce or create your own.

  

Gyoza: (5 pieces each)

Tonkostu King (left) - You can't actually distinguish them apart.  So be sure to ask the server which is which.  Definitely can try this!  It was juicy.  No stinky or oily smell of the pork filling.  Marinated to the right degree.

Keisuke (right) - Fresh!  Love the soft texture of the prawns.  Just right, not overcooked.

 

 

Sides Dishes:

Stir-Fried Eggplant/Brinjal with miso - *Thumbs up*  It is really good.  Their miso sauce used is flavoursome and somehow tasted like barbeque sauce.  Brinjal can easily be either too hard (undercooked) or too soft & mushy (overly cooked).  They are able to grasp the correct control of cooking it.

 
Deep Fried Chicken with spicy sauce & mixed sesame - Not bad.  Tasted like any crispy fried chicken. 

 

Deep-Fried Potatoes with Minced Pork Gravy - It tasted like roasted potatoes.  The minced pork gravy resembled so much like Chinese cuisine.

 

At the end of the meal, you will be very full.  Such a satisfying meal that would make you come back for more!  Great place to recommend to good friends (but more conducive in a small group).

Tea-Break @Tiong Bahru Bakery

Have heard about the highly-raved Tiong Bahru Bakery for sometime, but yet to try it until this day..  Cleverly taking the name from one of Singapore's oldest residential estate, "Tiong Bahru" subconsciously lead consumers thinking that it is an old establishment of a local traditional bakery shop.  In actual fact, you will be surprised with many French pastries and cakes, which are very unlike the usual confectionery in Singapore.
P.S:  They have a more accessible 2nd outlet situated at Raffles City Shopping Centre 

Tiong Bahru Bakery
56 Eng Hoon Street
#01-70
Singapore 160056
Tel: 6220 3430

The main store @Eng Hoon Street is a small shop with maximised seating arrangement.  You have to squeeze yourself in between tables and chairs to get to your seat, and find yourself sitting super close to the other customers around you.  From the picture below, you can notice that there are 2 different queuing lines.  What it means is that - if you are only ordering coffee/drinks, you can go straight to the cashier at the end, without joining the longer queue on the right-hand side.  But seriously, after seeing their wide array and enticing display of pastries and sandwiches, you can't stop by just for coffee!
Note:  Available coffee are painted on the wall next to the cashier

 

Savoury items are bigger in size, can definitely fill your stomach rather than the usual brunch items.

 

Last but not least, the sweet items (not much are left by mid-noon).

 

 

If you like something warm and soupy, you should try their soup items to go with nice toast.  Smart fusion of east and west.

  

The infamous, Lemon Calamansi Tart!  The sourness was overpowering, and it was like having lemon cream placed into the tart base.  Tart was plain normal and kind of hard to "fork" through it.  (Frankly speaking, Antoinette and Carpenter & Cook serve better lemon tarts.)  Each of us merely took 1 bite and that's it.  Overrated.

 

 

My Choice: Chocolate Kouign Amann.  I am usually a croissant person, but have chosen to give it a miss that day.  Nothing too fanciful about its appearance, but once you try it, you will realise how special it is.  The layers of pastry are carefully circled around, with tinge of chocolate infused in the top core.  It turned flaky and fragile the moment you try to cut it open (can be pretty messy eating this).  Its taste is pure and clean, nothing more or less.  Am falling in love and craving for it more each day! *grin*

 

Millefeuille Marron Cassis (NEW!) - One of their new inventions, made up of three layers of puff pastry with alternating layers of chestnut and blackcurrant filling.  Pretty interesting combination.  Rather difficult to eat it as the puff pastry were not fluffy enough to be cut through easily.  Best to eat a small portion of puff pastry with the cream filling in each bite, as the filling itself was on the sweeter side.

 

My usual caffeine fix, Latte was alright.  Only strange thing was that it bubbled up when we are halfway drinking it (and the bubbles lasted quite a while).  Later on, I searched through the internet to find that it is normal to have such bubbles for it is a sign of fresh brewed coffee, due to the natural oils in the coffee beans.

 

 

Can always come back to try out more of their pastry items whenever convenient (never cos' of its fame), especially their pricing is affordable.

Fusion 6-Course Dinner @The Clan

To celebrate our 1st Year Wedding Anniversary, my Hubby made a reservation thru' his contact (who happens to be relatives with the restaurant owner).  I was told that it is owned by the same management as Dozo (which I loved it during last visit), so I expected equal standards in their food.
[**Suitable for romantic moments & celebration]


The Clan
(diagonally opp. Majestic Hotel)
18/20 Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore 089832
Tel: 6222 2084



 

At the beginning, I was taken aback when we were led to an extreme corner table with a Glade refresher placed near the window next to us.  However, after tasting their dishes, I was soon won over by their quality food with exquisite taste and thoughtful, elegant food presentation.
 
Complimentary from the restaurant, Iced Strawberry Sorbet - Very refreshing and yummy (ladies would love it!), that clears your palate to taste the good foods coming ahead..

-- STARTER -- 

Chef's Starter (without prior knowledge what's in store for us).

 

Zooming into the starter served, and eating in recommended sequence accordingly.  So good & tasty, we got nothing to pick on!

#1: Pan-seared scallop

 

#2: Pork block (didn't catch the full name when the waiter introduced)

 

#3: Japanese fried shrimp sushi 

 

-- COLD DISH --
Alaskan King Crab with Home-made Karashi Dressing - Just that 1 king crab leg had so much juicy meat & kept me wanting for me!  Coupled with the salad in Japanese dressing.  Two words: Splendid coldness. 

 

 

Beef Carpaccio with Truffle Teriyaki & Horseradish Sauce - The beef was very thinly sliced.  Remarkable slicing skills & well-balanced sauce did justice to the red meat!  Awesome!

 

-- SIDE DISH --
Herb Crusted Mushroom Escargots - The escargots are removed from its shell and served in a small, tall bowl.  How thoughtful!  Very delicious with succulent escargots blended in little crisps of garlic & mixed herbs. 

 

Steamed Razor Clams, Salmon Trout Roe drizzled with Japanese Sauce - The clams are steamed and minimally prepared with light sauce, kept its original taste, so one can taste its freshness & sweetness.

 

Compliments from the house, which is highly recommended by the Restaurant Manager..Kurobuta Pork Belly Confit.  It tasted like thicker piece of roasted pork to me, but without the crispy skin.  I'm not really a fan of it, but my Hubby gobbled it down.

 

-- SOUP --
Cepes Mushroom with Truffle Paste - One word: Divine.

 

Crab Bisque Cappuccino & Prawn Twister - I just simply like it!

 

-- MAIN --

48-hour Beef Short Ribs on Lava Stone - The luscious meat cooks itself on the lava stone as you consumed your meal.  Totally tantalising without disappointment.  Highly satisfying to your mind and senses.

 

Duck Confit w Plum Mustard, Truffle Mashed Potato & Seasonal Vegetables - This is one of my favourite French dishes.  Rightfully  salted in preservation, giving the sapidness in the dish.  Well done!



-- DESSERT --

Assorted Cheese Platter - A great choice to go with a glass of red wine (if you still have space in your stomach!).

 

Chocolate Lava Cake with Home-made Gelato - Who can resist warm molten cake with vanilla ice-cream & nut bits?!?  I always appreciate when natural vanilla ice-cream is being served to me cos' I know how much effort is required to scrape off the tiny vanilla seeds from whole pod.  Gone in 60s!

 

[ My Verdict ]:  What a sumptuous feast with a great array of meat and seafood selection!!  If you are a carnivore (same as me), I would strongly recommend you to try their dishes, for you can enjoy best quality food & wine in a quiet ambience (even when the restaurant is fully booked), at affordable price without burning a big hole in your wallet.  A slice of Cake-of-the-day will be given on the house, as long as you are here for celebration be it birthday/anniversary.  It may not be very fancy but it's the kind gesture that counts.  An absolute plus point, the "only" waiter who was serving my dining area is very professional to provide the attention customers require, and responsive to his surroundings that he can respond almost instantly to your calling.  A very, very rare quality in F&B staff nowadays.

 

Birthday Treats @TCC

The Connoisseur Concerto (TCC) is nowhere new or unfamiliar to the locals, but somehow we don't frequent or rave much about the chain boutique restaurants.  I have the TCC membership card thru' a girlfriend for several years without utilising it.  Until recently I got my new card, I started to use during my birthday month.  I must say they have surprised me with their interesting interpretation and variety of main course - pasta.
FYI: For members during birthday month, get to enjoy 50% off on first visit and 30% off on subsequent visits.  On the other hand, GSS promotion for members is 1-for-1 pasta (valid till 28 July 2013)!  Very worthwhile to try their new dishes (revised every now and then, to create novelty for customers)!

The Connoisseur Concerto (TCC)
*Various location

 

Fried Prawns in Martini Glass - Nice!  Filling portion.

 

 

Seafood Aglio Olio - Ordered by my girlfriend and she finished it all.  It was alright for a typical Italian pasta (but she would prefer Coffee Club's).

 

Tobiko Scallop Pasta - This is a fusion Italian pasta with Japanese influence.  Very yummy, appealing and appetising dish!  Slightly more 'soupy' gravy with a light, non-creamy yet special taste.  There were a generous splash of fresh juicy tobiko (Japanese fish roe), scallops and mushrooms.

 

Devil-misu - Something different from the usual tiramisu.  It was made of espresso and mascarpone cream and I feel it's lack of sufficient rum.  Too much of mascarpone cream, putting more biscotti will be better.  In addition, the pair of brandied cherries was overpowering, but with the nice presentation I deliberately overlooked it.

 

New Favorite Bakery in the Heartland - Baker Talent

My #1 most frequently eaten food will be BREAD!  I would say most Singaporeans would opt for bread as daily breakfast due to our busy lifestyle - it is the "easiest" food to get, rather than having to rack your brains everyday over what to buy for the 1st meal of the day.  Almost everyday if not, every other day, I will have bread for breakfast or 'filler' in between meals.

I have recently took up some tuition assignment, which allow me to be more well-commuted outside my residence area.  As such, I keep passing by this shop that sells bread alongside with those neighbourhood shops under one of the HDB blocks.  Its shopfront setting reminds me of Bar Cook, but what really caught my eyes was that it is also a shop which sells bubble tea!

 

Therefore, one of the days, when there is no queue and plenty of bread choices are still available (because honestly, I reaaaaally hate to queue up for my food!! I can faint due to starvation! hahaa), I finally managed to try out 9 out 12 bun selection on separate occasions - HK-style Poluo bun with & without char siew (港试菠萝面包); Lemon cheese bun; Cranberry cheese bun; Golden sand bun (黄金流沙面包); Sesame & peanut paste bun; Mocha bun; Ham bun; & Tuna bun.

 

Baker Talent
@Blk 303 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4
(next to NTUC Foodcourt)
Singapore 680303

First bite into their bun reminds me of those traditional, old school bakery shop whereby the texture is soft and full of fluff (thus you shouldn't put inside your bag & crush it, else it will become very small). 

 

My Top 3 Choice would be the:

(1) Lemon Cheese bun --> a new and refreshing taste with lemony freshness balancing the cheese, even my elderly Mother can eat it!;

 

(2) Golden Sand bun --> only managed to buy this the 2nd time, cos' 1st time the lady in front of me bought the last piece!  When I first bite it, the egg yolk paste did not flow out, so I wasn't expecting the subsequent bite will cause the paste to overflow and nearly make a mess, having to finger-licking myself like a cat.

[*Advice: Best consume on the spot you buy it, while it is warm]; &

 

(3) HK-style Poluo bun --> I would usually choose the char siew type cos it is more filling!  Their char siew are braised red in colour and love the part where it is made of small shreds so nothing will fall out as you eat, and is not fatty nor oily.  The best, is that if you leave it overnight to eat the following morning, the top crust layer is still intact and did not turn all soft with ambient moisture.

 

In general, their bread taste good and definitely worth the price! For ALL breads cost less than S$1 each! Where can you still find such low prices bread that still taste good?!! (So don't expect to have further price slash after 8pm yah!)

 

So if you happen to be in that estate, you know where you can find cheap & good bread (while their daily supply last!!)! *wink wink*