The next time you find yourself in town with no idea what to eat, look no further than this modern East-meets-West grill concept by the Les Amis group.
Nope, I’m not telling you to randomly splurge on fine dining.
I’m telling you to visit KOAL, a casual restaurant in Shaw Centre specialising in affordably priced sharing plates and meats grilled over an open flame.
Think cuts like beef belly, Iberico pork presa, and ribeye paired with complementary sides like charred broccoli, potato salad, and more.
But if you wish to stray away from the classics, go for dishes like the Crispy Pork Riblets (S$16), crisp yet tender ribs tossed in a mala honey glaze, peanuts, and chilli oil, if you’re the kind that always orders marmite pork at zi char restaurants.
I was also impressed by the Grilled Eggplant (S$12), or yaki nasu, which had been roasted till soft, sticky, and caramelised, dressed with soy confit garlic, coriander yogurt, and crunchy tempura bits.
As for dessert, look no further than the signature Apple Crumble ($16), a sweet-savoury, hot-cold combo of apple compote, oat crumble, and smoked gelato drizzled with a shoyu caramel.
We recommend coming by for lunch if you’re seeking a more value-for-money option, with three different types of sets comprising a main and dessert to choose from.
The Rice Bowls are perhaps the most popular, so you can look forward to sets like the KOAL Chirashi (S$38), Grilled Pork Collar (S$27), and Grilled Salmon (S$31).
However, KOAL is known for their meats after all, so we were eager to try the Meat Sets, both of which are served with Yuzu Caesar Salad.
Regardless of which protein you pick, we highly recommend forking out an additional S$4 for the Chilled Tomato Soup, a piquant and refreshing pick-me-up with vinegared nori and croutons.
As someone who perks up at the mere mention of the word “steak“, I was hoping to really enjoy the Steak & Potatoes (S$38), comprising triple-fried potatoes and 200g of angus ribeye, but the meat was a tad too overcooked for my liking.
The Spring Chicken & Potatoes (S$25), a roasted half spring chicken topped with fried garlic and a moreish sweet onion jus, fared a lot better.
However, the potatoes were the real star of the show. Soft and fluffy on the inside, with shatteringly crispy skin — we couldn’t get enough of them.
The apple crumble is unfortunately not available at lunchtime, but you’ll still get to choose between the equally enticing Miso Pannacotta with Passionfruit or Umeshu Jelly.
The best part? From now till 31 May 2024, diners can enjoy 50% off the second set lunch, so grab a friend and swing by for a midday feast in the heart of Orchard!
Reservations can be made here.
KOAL
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📍1 Scotts Road, #03-09/10/11 Shaw Centre, Singapore 228208
🕐 12pm–2.30pm, 6pm–9.30pm (Tue to Thu), 11.30am–2.30pm, 6pm–10pm (Fri to Sun), Closed on Mon
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Photos by Christabel Tan
I'm always feelin' either boozy or boujee ✨