The festive period can be overwhelming, filled with seasonal offerings and special creations. It’s all well and good as they add a dash of excitement to mealtimes, but sometimes all we need is to have a comforting, familiar dish that is simple and satisfying. Here are three affordable restaurants that offer age-old recipes and value-for-money dishes that don’t break the bank.
Go Unique by Go Noodle House: New concept and dishes
Go Unique is a new concept under Go Noodle House offering a wider selection of dishes beyond the restaurant chain’s famous mixian noodles. The new branch in Raffles City Shopping Centre offers new dishes such as Unique Lap Mei Rice ($15.90++) where three types of rice grains are cooked in a claypot with sliced lup cheong (waxed Chinese sausage), dark liver sausage and gui fa meat (dried and sliced pork patty) from Hong Kong; and Steamed Pork Patty with Tian Jing Tung Choi Rice in Broth ($12.90++), a pao fan dish featuring a soup base made with at least 14 types of fish bones. Foodie-favourite Hakka Sauce Pan Mee With Century Egg ($11.90++) remains on the menu where noodles are coated with pork lard, and served with black fungus, fried shallots, fried anchovies, minced pork, and of course, century egg.
Go Unique by Go Noodle House is at 252 North Bridge Road, B1-12 Raffles City, Singapore 179103.
Shan Cheng: Celebrating Ipoh’s culinary heritage
Shan Cheng has unveiled a new menu introducing the famed Helicopter Nasi Kandar ($10.80) and more Ipoh classics. The former has long been a beloved comfort food among Ipoh locals, now affectionately named “Helicopter Rice” when a Malaysian tycoon sent a helicopter to pick up multiple packages of the dish. The restaurant’s version features rice topped with chicken doused in a rich, aromatic curry made from a blend of fish, chicken and traditional Malay masak merah curries. Equally exciting is Shan Cheng’s partnership with Guan Heong, the famed biscuit shop in Ipoh with over 100 years of heritage. Five of Guan Heong’s best-selling pastries will be made available across all Shan Cheng outlets.
Shan Cheng is at Bukit Panjang Plaza, AMK Hub, Compass One and Midview City.
Siong Tong Gai: New affordable options
Specialising in premium seafood dishes, Siong Tong Gai offers a diverse menu of home-cooked Malaysian favourites. It recently opened its first outlet at 313@somerset to snaking queues. While diners can find staples like Signature Steam Fish in superior broth (an original secret recipe perfected over 30 years) and Fried Prawns with Soy Sauce, there are new affordable options like Stir-Fried Pork with Green Pepper ($18.80), Golden Crispy Chicken Drumettes ($18.80), and Double Delight Pork Chop ($18.80).
Siong Tong Gai is at 313 Orchard Rd, #B3-02/03/04/05/06, 313@somerset, Singapore 238895.
