A generous helping of crisp, golden tempura atop a bowl of steaming hot rice? Yes, please! This tempura specialty restaurant in Bugis Junction has been drawing crowds with its premium tendon bowls. The best part? You can opt for a Vegetable Bowl, a Mixed Bowl, or even customise your own tendon bowl—from the ingredients (chicken, prawn, vegetable or mixed) and base (rice, udon or soba), to the sauce and the level of spiciness.
Pro-tip: Be warned, it’s not a light meal, so you might want to order more conservatively if you’re a light eater.
Located at: 200 Victoria Street, #02-50, Bugis Junction
Opening hours: Mon – Thurs & Sun, 11am – 10pm | Fri & Sat, 11am – 11pm
https://www.facebook.com/koganeyamasingapore/
Gu Thai Noodle Café
Sawadee ka! A short trip out to Thailand is a pretty much a once a year affair for many Singaporeans—reasonable flight prices, great shopping, and most importantly, delicious food that is simple but no less indulgent. So, what do you do when you’re in the Dhoby Ghaut/City Hall area and really craving authentic Thai food? Well you could take a bus ride to Golden Mile (aka “Little Thailand”), or better yet, just take a slow stroll to PoMo and visit Gu Thai Noodle Café.
Incredibly reasonable prices for authentic (and pretty spicy) Thai cuisine awaits you at the humble eatery with its wooden furniture and bright red sign. Savour a small (or large) bowl of the popular Thai Boat Noodles—the umami broth and silky noodles will leave you wanting more. Don’t forget to wash down the heat with a cold, fragrant cup of cha yen (Thai iced milk tea). There is, of course, much more to order from Gu Thai, such as perennial favourites Tom Yam Kung, Pad Thai, Papaya Salad, and Mango Sticky Rice.
Pro-tip: Gu Thai is opened into the wee hours of the morning. So if you’re struggling to find a good meal after a long day of school activities or work, you’re definitely covered!
Located at: 1 Selegie Road, #01-04 PoMo Mall.
Opening hours: Mon – Sun, 11am – 5am
https://www.facebook.com/Thainoodlecafe/
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Check out the hashtag #FoodAroundSMU on Instagram for more yummy highlights! Here are more meal tips around SMU from The Royce Lee: