Hou Lah, which opened recently on 2 December 2023, is located along North Bridge Road, right in between Lavender, Jalan Besar and Bugis MRT Stations. They’ve come all the way from Taiwan, and originally started as pop-ups in night markets and food shows.

You might have spotted them at Artbox 2023 or Singapore Food & Beverage Fair 2023 as Hou Hou De, selling their signature buttery thick toasts that are crumbly on the outside and soft as a marshmallow on the inside. 

But now that they’ve launched a brick-and-mortar store, you can enjoy their thick toasts any time you want!

They’ve also expanded their menu with more thick toast flavours, mains and Taiwanese desserts like snow ice (from S$5.80) and more.

You’ll never go wrong with the Original Classic Thick Toast (S$4.80), but I’m definitely eyeing the Earl Grey Creme Thick Toast (S$5.80), which sees milky earl grey-infused cream stacked upon a fluffy toast before being toasted to a crispy golden brown. 

For that extra crunch, go for their Classic Puff Pastry Thick Toast (S$8.80) or check out their other equally delicious flavours like Cheese, Chocolate and Peanut Butter (all S$5.80).

Pair the thick toast with a cup of Mr Brown Blue Mountain Coffee (S$3.60) or Wintermelon Milk Tea (S$4) and you’ve got yourself a perfect breakfast or teatime set!

Alternatively, you can order their thick toast combos that comes with a soft-boiled egg and a drink (milk tea, red tea or wintermelon tea) from S$7.80.

Hou Lah also offers Taiwanese crepes that are rather uncommon in Singapore. This street food delicacy is also known as dan bing (蛋饼), or egg crepe rolls. 

They’ve got quite the range of flavours, with interesting ones like Hash Brown Taiwan Crepe (S$5.20), a chef-recommended Fish Floss Taiwan Crepe (S$6.20) and savoury flavours like Beef (S$6.20), Cheese (S$5.20) and more.

If you’re not satisfied, why not go for their mains instead? Hou Lah won’t disappoint you with their fried Taiwanese noodles, especially their Beef with Cheese and Milk (S$9.20) that mixes creamy cheese with savoury beef, topped off with a runny fried egg. 

Hou Lah’s special noodles series are also highly recommended amongst seafood lovers. Try their Lala Fried Noodles (S$13.20) or Seafood Guo Shao Yi Mian (S$10.80) for some hot, flavourful soup.

Hou Lah is pork and lard-free, so if you’re looking for the usual Taiwanese dishes like braised pork rice, you won’t find them here!

Now you know where to go for some great bites after some shopping at Haji Lane!

Hou Lah
Facebook | Instagram 
783 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198751
11am–10pm (Daily)

For more lifestyle updates like this, subscribe to our Telegram channel at @confirmgood.

The post This Taiwanese cafe has hard-to-find Taiwanese thick toasts, crepe rolls and fried noodles with cheese and milk appeared first on Confirm Good.

Tucked away in (the aptly named) Food Tyrant Coffeeshop along Tyrwhitt Road, this noodle stall offers various selections of noodles from the classic ban mian to the more rarely seen koka noodles. Their soups are also praised for its richness and range from your usual pork options to luxurious bowls like Abalone (from S$14).

The signature dish of Madam Tyrant however, is Happy Bowl (S$6.50), a rainbow-coloured bowl of mee hoon kueh made with all natural ingredients. In your bowl of pork broth, you’ll find hand-torn pieces of chewy mee hoon kueh in a myriad of colours: green (spinach), yellow (pumpkin), purple (sweet potato) and red (beetroot).

Madam Tyrant Handmade Noodles prides themselves heavily on the “handmade” part — even their recipes are passed down from the owner’s grandmother, so you can expect a “taste of home” in every bowl you order!

Another secret to their popularity is their homemade chilli sauce that has many customers coming back for more. The chilli sauce takes centre stage in their Dry series, which you can try from just S$5.30. You’ll also be able to better appreciate their thick yet springy noodles in a dry bowl.

If you’re willing to splurge a little more, you definitely should treat yourself to the Premium Seafood Dry Noodles (S$10.80). Just imagine the umami combination of prawns, pacific clams, minced meat and fish mixed with the fragrant chilli sauce! As for the noodle choice, fans of the store have recommended ordering Madam Tyrant’s mee hoon kueh or ban mian as it is bouncier and chewier than most stalls.

Leave some space in your stomach for their crispy fried Hakka Pork Belly (S$5), marinated in red fermented bean curd paste, or their Handmade Meatballs (S$4) that is equally flavourful. 

With the rainy season approaching, why not head down to Madam Tyrant for a comforting bowl of noodles?

Madam Tyrant Handmade Noodles 霸婆手工面 
Facebook | Instagram
???? 153 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207566
???? 11am–8pm, or until sold out (Daily)

For more lifestyle updates like this, subscribe to our Telegram channel at @confirmgood.

The post This handmade noodle stall in Lavender is known for its rainbow mee hoon kueh, spicy dry ban mian and more appeared first on Confirm Good.

HUE restaurant is a modern Thai dining concept along Tyrwhitt Road which serves unique Thai fusion dishes and creative cocktails that are to die for. 

In English, HUE refers to the gradient of colours which would explain the colourful wall tiles that line the walls of the restaurant. But in Thai, HUE also means “hungry” — what a clever play on words. 

Apart from marrying food with their interior design, HUE hopes to take you on a learning journey through food with their new line-up of cocktails and bar bites. The new nibbles and tipples are made with exquisite Thai ingredients. Whether you’re a lover of sweet, spicy, or sour drinks, there’s definitely one for you on the menu. 

Drink-wise, they have an interesting line-up of cocktails including the LALISA (S$18) — the Blink in me just had to get it. In case you didn’t get the reference, the cocktail is a nod to Lisa from BLACKPINK, who also happens to be Thailand’s biggest artiste today. 

It is made with Grey Goose vodka, raspberry syrup, cranberry juice, citrus dilution and lychee to give it a tropical and fruity taste. It tasted very much like an alcoholic fruit punch so if you love sweet stuff (or Lisa), you’ll definitely love this. 

Much like Lisa herself, this drink transforms into a star with a simple stir. Give the pretty drink a light stir and the drink magically transforms into a shimmering Barbie pink drink. And yes, the glitter is safe to drink.

Another equally gimmicky but just as tasty cocktail is the Bubble Pop (S$18) which is inspired by the impressive sunsets of Thailand. It is made with Mount Gay spiced rum, pineapple, lime juice, pandan cordial, and finished with a scented smoke bubble floating atop. 

Theatrics aside, the drink is light and sweet with a light and refreshing hint of pineapple. It is truly stunning on your eyes and on your palette too! 

In line with National Day, HUE restaurant also has a special Nasi Lemak (S$18) cocktail which is inspired by our favourite local dish. It has a pretty strong coconut fragrance and taste so if you’re not a fan of coconut, maybe give this one a miss. The drink is only available from now until 13 August 2023, so make sure to give it a try while you still can. 

For something that is more authentically Thai, go for the Tom Yum (S$18) which is a mix of vodka, lime juice, kaffir lime, lemongrass, fish sauce, chilli padi and Thai seaweed powder. It is a balance of sweet, sour, spicy all in one drink. 

Somehow it reminded me more of the flavours of Thai mango salad than Tom Yum. This was definitely a unique concoction which I might consider ordering again if I’m feeling adventurous. 

Food-wise, you’ll realise that most of the dishes here veer away from your regular Thai food offerings. But they’re still equally authentic and very flavourful. The Thai Thai Fries (S$13) feature crispy french fries tossed in in-house tom yum spice served alongside three different dressings — culantro aioli, maepranom (Thai chilli paste) chilli aioli, and culantro mint. And yes, we mean culantro (also known as Thai parsley), not cilantro, though they taste similar.

The maerpanom chilli aioli was a nice spicy mayo contrast to the smokey seasoned fries. For something more refreshing and with a sour zing, the culantro mint is an excellent dip. But, the fries are equally addictive even without any of the sauces, the perfect snack to pair with your drinks. 

Is it really a Thai restaurant if they don’t feature a dish with the iconic MAMA noodles? Well, the Mama Mia (S$21) — love the punny name — is HUE’s version of the famous Jeh O’ Chula TomYum MAMA noodles. The dish is chock full of ingredients like prawns, mussels, squid, and even pork balls.

 I absolutely loved the hearty broth which is not like the usual Tom Yum soup base. Instead, it’s got a richer prawn mee-like soup base that is super flavourful and umami. Definitely a must-order, especially if you’re a seafood lover. 

The Char Moo (S$17 for 3 sticks) is a zhng-ed up version of your regular moo ping. It stars thick and juicy pork collar patties glazed in a tangy chilli sauce. The chilli sauce does pack some heat so if you’ve got a low spice tolerance, consider yourself warned. 

Another equally addictive and tasty is the Three Little Pigs (S$22) which features oven roasted crispy pork belly, sauteed with garlic, coriander, and white pepper. I love the strong garlic aroma and flavours in this dish coupled with the crispy pork crackling that has been roasted to perfection. This might be the only time I find coriander mildly tolerable. 

Other bites worth trying include the Egg-e-egg-egg (S$19), Prawn Me Softly (S$21), and the Chicken Nest (S$20). Whether you’re looking for some unique Thai food or enjoy some creative drinks, HUE restaurant is the place to head to. One thing’s for sure, I’m definitely making plans to return for more Mama Mia! 

Need a place to satisfy your Thai food cravings? Reservations can be made here.

HUE
Facebook | Instagram | Website
???? 123 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207549
???? 6pm—10.30pm (Mon to Wed), 12pm—3pm, 6pm—10.30pm (Thu & Sun), 12pm—3pm, 6pm—11.30pm (Fri & Sat)

For more lifestyle updates like this, subscribe to our Telegram channel at @confirmgood.

Photos by Marcus Leong

The post This modern Thai restaurant serves a modern take on dishes like MAMA noodles, grilled pork skewers as well as BLACKPINK-inspired & tom yum cocktails appeared first on Confirm Good.

The cafe is the brainchild of Whisking Bakes — the home-based business turned cafe best known for their taro bakes and their orh nee tart balls. Since opening a brick and mortar shop last year, the cafe has gone through a major revamp, sporting a fresh new look and introducing more taro-centric dishes to the menu. 

The Taro Pork Floss Sando (S$5.50) was one of the dishes that really piqued my interest. It’s a sweet-savoury combination of the house-made taro paste and pork floss sandwiched between two toasts. While I’m not the biggest taro fanatic, I would prefer if there was a bit more taro as the flavours were muted by the pork floss. 

For something heartier, the All Day Mini Breakfast (S$8.50). It stars two slices of toast with a house-made taro jam, along with your regular breakfast staples like mini chicken sausages, a nicely fried sunny side-up, bacon and a side of salad. The real MVP of this dish was the taro jam. It had an orh nee-like consistency and paired perfectly with the toasts. It also helped to balance the saltiness of the sausage. 

Other mains on the menu include the HK Style Nissin Noodles (S$6) and Teriyaki Chicken Breast Wrap (S$7.50). 

Now, onto the pretty purple desserts — we were super excited about this. We were torn between the Taro Crepe Cake (S$8) and the Taro Choux Puff (S$8). We settled for the Taro Choux Puff which turned out to be my favourite. It had a buttery and crumbly crust — similar to a Hong Kong-style bolo bun. Inside was a creamy taro cream which was the perfect blend of fresh cream and taro. 

But of course, we couldn’t visit this pretty cafe without trying one of their prettiest desserts — the Taro Tartlette (S$8). The tartlette had a nice buttery cookie crust that was not too sweet. The Taro filling was laced with tiny bits of taro — they certainly didn’t skimp on their ingredients. I wasn’t a fan of the lavender cream on it’s own as it was too overpowering for me. But, when paired with the taro filling and cookie crust, it gave it a nice creamy texture and a floral finish. 

Cleanse your palette with the beautiful Taro Einspaneer (S$6.50) that is paired with a taro foam — you can also have it with regular cream, but why would you do that? There’s also a new addition to the drinks menu, the Lilac Lemonade (S$5) which is made with butterfly pea tea, soda water and lemon juice. It’s the perfect drink to perk you up on a hot and humid day, though we recommend adding a teeny bit of sugar as it can be a bit sour. 

Apart from a very chill ambience and serving you dishes that both look and taste good, the cafe also does not charge GST or service charge, which means the prices are nett. You also don’t have to be a taro-lover to enjoy these dishes — you might even become a convert afterwards! To quote the words written on the cafe mirror, these guys were “taro-ffic”.

 Check out this purple cafe to get your dose of taro today!

Cafe Lilac by Whisking Bakes
Instagram
???? 466 Crawford Ln, #01-08, Singapore 190465
???? 11.30am—9pm (Mon to Thu), 11.30am—11.30pm (Fri), 10am—11.30pm (Sat), 10am—4pm (Sun) 

For more lifestyle updates like this, subscribe to our Telegram channel at @confirmgood.

Photos by Marcus Leong

The post This pretty purple cafe in Lavender serves affordable taro-infused crepe cakes, choux puff, tarts, sandos & more appeared first on Confirm Good.