Monthly Archives: August 2011

Ah Loy Thai (Shaw Towers) (2nd Post)

This is my second post on Ah Loy Thai which is located in Shaw Towers. The first post can be found here.

As you may have noticed in this menu, prices have increased. Hence, there was a need to cover the prices.

Long queue (right of picture)

Visited Ah Loy Thai  on a saturday for dinner. It was around 6pm and yet there was already a long queue that stretched down the stairs to where the male toilet is. Notice the white long sleeve shirt man whose image is not clear and back is facing us? Well he is the guy who ensures that patrons queue up and assign them to the tables. So you will not want to offend him.

More seating spaces

Ah Loy Thai has expanded and taken a unit next to it to cater to the crowd. As a result, their seating capacity has increased around 100%! But my concern will is that the owners increased the seating capacity without increasing kitchen size. How will it cope with serving customers their food and not result in an increase in waiting time? As mentioned in my first post, the waiting time for food was around 40minutes.

Menu

While we were queuing up, we were given a pencil and this slip of paper with all the dishes and prices. We waited close to 20 minutes and had lots of time to decide what to eat.

At last, we had a place to sit. All the way at the back at a cozy corner. Having decided what to order, I went to the cashier and made the payment for my orders with the slip of paper before going to my seat. It will be a 45 minutes wait, that was what the cashier told me.

Thai Pandan Chicken $9.00

Luckily for us, we waited just around 30 minutes. The first dish that was served was the Thai Pandan Chicken. The Pandan Chicken wrapped in pandan leaves was tender, juicy, tasty and well-marinated. The pandan leaves seems to have helped trap and ensure that all the moisture and flavours did not eascape. In addition, pandan flavours were present in the chicken. The chicken were cooked till it was slightly charred. Shiok, delicious! The only down side was, it was oily. Well, for delicious food its worth it.

Thai Fried Keoteow (Phad Thai) $5.90

Having tried the Phad Thai previously, I ordered it again. Phad Thai is the thailand version of fried kway teow. It is fried with prawns, toufu, fried egg and bean sprouts. Accompanied with grinned peanut and lime. The dish was fragrance and tasty! Certainty better than most places.

Tom Yum Seafood $6.90

Over the past 1 year, I have drank several different versions  of Tom Yum Soup. (can look at the tag ‘+ Tom Yam Soup‘ for the other posts). Ah Loy Thai’s Tom Yum Soup looks fiery red with the chilli oil on top. It came with prawns, mushrooms (straw and oyster) and squids. It is a spicy yet sour soup that was balanced nicely such that despite the spiciness (numbing your tongue/sweating), you would find yourself going for more servings. We ordered a bowl of rice to accompany the soup.

Overall, despite the wait time, the food is too good to forgo. After this visit, the must try items are Thai Pandan Chicken and Phad Thai. Come to think of it the Tom Yum Soup is also another star. Give it a try. But do come early if you are planning a dinner as Ah Loy Thai closes at 815pm on weekdays and 715 on weekends.

After your meal, you can hop over to Tom’s Palette just opposite Ah Loy Thai for ice cream.

Ah Loy Thai (Shaw Towers)
100 Beach Road
#01-39/40
Tel: 91651543
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri, 12pm to 8:15pm
Sat: 1pm to 7:15pm

                                 Closed on Sundays

Paradise Dynasty (ION Orchard)

A trip down to Paradise Dynasty on a weekday for lunch. We arrive before 12 noon. Do not be mistaken by the queue. They are waiting for either their friends or waiting to be seated. Still lots of space available inside at this time. Do note, you will only be brought inside when all your guest have arrived. 

The World's First 8 Flavoured Xiao Long Bao

The World’s First 8 Flavoured Xiao Long Bao which created lots of publicity online and in the media for this restaurant.

Tables near the entrance. This photo was taken as we were leaving at around 130pm. By then, the place was full. Not an easy accomplishment as it was a weekday and the place was huge!

We were seated inside. Here you can spot more empty tables as these photos were taken when we arrived. Huge place with large sitting capacity. Amazing, it was full by 1245pm. Look at setting of this restaurant. Moreover, waiters and waitress were in uniform that makes you feel as if they are serving a prince/princess (you).

Lighting on the ceiling

What drinks to order? Water or tea when the price is the same.

Tea

Well, we ordered tea, which was refillable.

Legend of Xiao Long Bao

How to eat your Xiao Long Bao?

Signature Dynasty Dumplings (8 flavours) $13.80

Needless to say, we ordered the Signature Dynasty Dumplings. Appearance wise, I would have given a perfect 10. Taste wise, it was a disappointment. Even the original flavour one was so-so. I would still prefer Crystal Jade’s.

Part of La Mian Menu

La Mian with Sliced Pork in Signature Pork Bone Soup $9.80

I ordered the La Mian with Sliced Pork in Signature Pork Bone Soup. The la mian was good,  each strand was thin, soft and fragrant. Each piece of pork was thinly sliced. The half an egg was nicely cooked too with its runny yolk. The only down side was that the soup base was quite salty.

Part of La Mian Menu

La Mian in Hot and Sour Soup $8.50

The La Mian in Hot and Sour Soup was supposed to be spicy and sour. But it was way too sour.

Making Xiao Long Bao

Overall, in terms of food, Paradise Dynasty reminds me of Crystal Jade. After tasting the food, I would prefer Crystal Jade’s Xiao Long Bao and La Mian. In terms of service, Paradise Dynasty’s service was prompt and efficient. Felt that Paradise Dynasty’s Xiao Long Bao was over-hyped. Nothing special. But overall, is still a decent place to come for lunch if you are in town especially for its la mian.

Paradise Dynasty (ION Orchard)
2 Orchard Turn
#04-12A ION Orchard
Tel: 6509 9118 
Opening Hours: Mon–Fri  11am – 10pm
                                 Sat–Sun & PH10.30am – 10pm
Website: http://www.paradisegroup.com.sg/ 

 

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (The Cathay)

*There is a Groupon voucher for Popeyes now! $3.30 for 2 pieces of Bonafide Chicken. Usual price is $5.50. I just bought it. Have you? (No I am not pay to advertise, just that this is a good lobang to try the chicken)*

I first ate Popeyes in Korea in 2007. I remember that its burger and biscuit (as they were delicious!)

Now is the chance to try Popeyes in Singapore. Went to the one at The Cathay. Somehow I was so used to the menu with Korean words that I do not remember or know what to order. Even the pictures look unfamiliar. In the end, I decided to go for the Two Piece Chicken Combo which consist of  two pieces of chicken, one drink, one side and one biscuit. This would have cost $7.40. But as I changed my drink to Ice Lemon Tea, I had to top up 30cents to $7.70.

Two Piece Chicken Combo $7.70

For the chicken, you have a choice of going for the mild or spicy. I chose the mild one and regretted, should have chosen spicy!

The fried chicken at Popeyes seems to be more crispy than that of KFC. In addition, the batter was thinly. However, I felt that there was not enough fragrant and flavour which could be partly due to my order for mild chicken. Inside, the chicken meat was super tender and juicy! It was not tough, each strand of meat can be teared out easily by hand. I would definitely say Popeyes’ fried chicken seems to be so much better than KFC.

Jam for the biscuit

The biscuit? It was so-so .. average. Nothing fantastic. I remembered the one in Korea was much better, more buttery and fragrant.

Mashed Potato

I am  crazy fan of potato. But the Mashed Potato at Popeyes does not agree with my taste bud. Totally dislike it, should have ordered Cajun Fries instead. Well food is subjective and based on personal preference. Many people have claimed that Popeye’s Mash Potato is superior compared to KFC. For me I would prefer KFC’s version. So it is best to try it yourself and see which is you cup of tea.

Today, Popeyes has 10 outlets in Singapore and is Halal certified. Their outlets are at
• Ang Mo Kio Jubilee Entertainment Centre
• Bedok Point
• Century Square
• Downtown East
• Orchard Xchange
• Punggol East
• Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3
• Singapore Flyer
• Square 2
• The Cathay

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (The Cathay)
2 Handy Road
#B1-21, The Cathay
Tel: 6735 3586
Website: http://www.popeyes.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PopeyesSGP