The Weekend Guide To Eating At Tai Seng

The industrial estate of Tai Seng is more than just a concrete jungle of warehouses and factories. Hiding in her belly is in fact a treasure trove of delectable food options. If they say we shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, well then the exact same should be applied to the this unassuming neighbourhood of Tai Seng. From the seventh floor of industrial buildings, shophouses and hidden buildings, we sussed out some of our favourite dining options in Tai Seng to help convince you that there’s more to this place than what meets the eye. So for your next weekend dining option, why not beat the bustling town crowd and pop by this quaint neighbourhood.

Everton Creamery

Now in case you were wondering, we didn’t get the location wrong. Everton Creamery, which first opened in Everton Park, has found its way into the distant land of Tai Seng. And they have brought with them the same frozen treats that comes handcrafted without preservatives or flavourings. We loved their Taiji Yuan Yang ($8.50 for double scoop) which was a bold and nutty swirl of peanut butter and black sesame that tasted way better than its dull appearance.

Jie Confectionary & Bakery

It’ll be hard to walk by this traditional bakery without stopping. Besides their charmingly rustic and retro vibe, the smell of freshly baked goods from Jie Bakery & Confectionary will have you stopping in your tracks. Preparation for their bread loaves start as early as seven each morning, and you can have them slathered ($2.80) with the classic flavours of kaya and butter for a truly nostalgic experience.

Carol Mel Cafe

The tinted doors might not send as much of a welcoming vibe, but the diverse menu and quality dishes might make you think otherwise. And the same could be said for their United’s French Onion Soup ($12) which sounds like any regular soup. But this hearty red wine and beef bouillon stock came packed with loads of caramelised onions, and with what essentially was a giant piece of grilled cheese sandwich floating on top. Each piece was toasted and cheesy on the top, and soaked through with the flavourful broth at the bottom. Other unexpected creations include their FUSION French Mushroom Soup ($12) that’s served with onsen egg and bonito flakes, and their Deconstructed Banana Split ($15) with banana fritters matched with scoops of gelato and fresh fruits.

Truly Test Kitchen

Setting up a traditional hawker store within an industrial building in Tai Seng by a group of young entrepreneurs might sound incredulous, but Truly Test Kitchen is exactly that. Dedicated to serving up authentic hawker favourites, expect five different concept stalls serving everything from curry rice, homemade yam and pumpkin cake to local western cuisine. Whatever you choose, make sure you leave space for their ooey curry drenched rice with crispy pork cutlet (from $2) and braised bittersweet radish (our personal favourite!).

The Boneless Kitchen

Helming the title as the first meatless Korean dining establishment in Singapore, appropriately named The Boneless Kitchen serves up vegetarian renditions of your favourite Korean cuisine. We had one of their bestsellers, Budae Jjigae ($9.90) which even came with slices of mock spam and some cheese. Think of this pimped up kimchi ramen as a healthier alternative to your standard army stew. Other options include the Dolsot Bibimbap and its medley of greens and scorched rice ($9.90) and the Mapa Dubu ($9.90) which comes with spicy tofu and nuts.

Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint

With a four million dollar recipe, this next place requires no further introduction. Sample some of Kay Lee’s finest with their 3 Combination Roast Meat ($10) that comes with their signature roast pork, char siew and roast duck. The roast duck was juicy and tender while the moist char siew slices had the perfect meat to fat ratio. But the clear stand out for us was the roast pork and its addictively crispy crackling. Just one plate and you’ll understand the fuss behind this eatery and their time-tested recipe.

The Oven Cafe Bistro

The Oven Cafe Bistro and its unassuming exterior might make it easy to miss. But step into this homely eatery and you’ll be treated to unpretentious and comfort western fare that’ll bound to satisfy your craving. The Baked Salmon Spaghetti ($13) that we had came with a thick fillet of salmon and our choice of the pomodoro sauce with our pasta. Coupled with their great and warm service, you’ll want to return to this place and try some of their other dishes, like their highly recommend Baked Chicken Spaghetti ($12).

Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee

A name like Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee might put off non-spicy eaters, but trust us when we say that their proprietary chilli blend will convert anyone out there (and this is coming from someone who can’t even handle a McSpicy). Originating from Kuala Lumpur, this famous eatery has now landed in Tai Seng. We had two of their bestsellers, the Signature Dry Chilli Pan Mee ($5) and Fishball And Meatball Chilli You Mian ($5) which came blandly dressed. Adding their famous chilli blend will really bring the dish to another level with its fiery kick and crunchy bits. Stir through the half-cooked egg from the Signature Dry Chilli Pan Mee and let the yolk coat each strand of their noodle for a saucy slop that taste a lot better than it looks. The bouncy jumbo fish balls from the Fishball And Meatball Chilli You Mian was also the perfect complement with their crunchy chilli flake blend.

SuperMilk

With an extensive menu covering from brunch, mains and drinks and desserts, SuperMilk is one comprehensive cafe that you can pop by at any time of the day. The unique Bubble Waffles ($10.90) that we had comes as an upgrade from the usual waffle and ice cream combination. Beautifully plated, the pockets of batter is a good mix between fluffy and crispy rolled into one. Other popular dish include the Tunisian Eggs ($15.90) which features a slow-cooked spicy tomato herb sauce with minced beef, chicken and baked eggs.

23 Jumpin

Pop by 23 Jumpin when you’re in the Tai Seng area for some classic brunch fare. The Bangers & Mash ($8) with bratwurst sausage and brown onion sauce made for a great mid-day snack which we washed down with a glass of their Authentic Thai Iced Milk Tea ($5). We would have loved to try their Mushroom Pizza Waffle ($14) where they put a savoury twist on the classic Belgium waffle by topping it with white button mushroom and mozzarella cheese but it was all sold out when we visited.

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