Xin Yun Kway Chap

Widely popular and always in the running to be among the top Kway Chap stalls in Singapore, Xin Yun Kway Chap amazingly opens only three days in a week.

WHAT TO ORDER: 
Just tell the stall owner the number of people (servings) and the number of kway. Like other Kway Chap stalls, you can ask more of this or less of that.

WHAT SO GOOD:
I like the broth, nice herbal taste and without getting too salty. The kway is soft and smooth, but yet firm enough such that it does not break easily. Good mixture of ingredients (braised meat, big intestines, skin, tau pok, tau kwa, tau kee, egg), all well stewed with flavour nicely permeated. Only noticeable ingredient missing is the small intestines.

NOT SO GOOD:
Remember it is only Fri, Sat and Sun that the stall opens, or else you will be disappointed if you go on the wrong days. Of course, when the stall is opened, be prepared to queue.

MY RATING:
8.25 / 10

Wan He Lou

Nestled within the striking shophouses of Jalan Besar neighbourhood, Wan He Lou serves affordable dishes of Chinese cuisine. Helming the restaurant is Chef Dee, who had won numerous awards, including the top prize at a culinary event which was part of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

WHAT TO ORDER: 
The Must-order is the award-winning Lobster Porridge. The Crispy Lotus with Salted Egg serves as a good starter. Consider ordering the Pan Fried Kurobuta Pork, Signature Chicken and Yellow Gravy Crab Meat Tofu and Green Dragon Vegetables with Dried Shrimps

WHAT SO GOOD:
The porridge is cooked in Teochew style with the loose rice grains swimming in the broth. The fresh lobsters are sliced into halves and added during the cooking process to produce the fresh, sea flavoured broth.  The firm lobster meat, the well flavoured porridge and the tasty accompanying dishes make this a nice, complete meal!

NOT SO GOOD:
Stir Fried Vermicelli, though a signature dish, was nothing to shout about. The Black Glutinous Rice topped with Yam Ice-cream (Dessert of the day) was not impressive either

MY RATING:
7.75 / 10

Shanghai Renjia

Tucked in an inconspicuous corner of Ang Mo Kio, Shanghai Renjia does not place much focus on the interior design. Instead it aims to serve customers with well executed Shanghainese dishes.

WHAT TO ORDER: 
The selection on the menu is not huge (which is what I like). I like most of 9 dishes that I ordered. If I were to pick the best ones, Pan Fried Shanghai Bao, Xiao Long Bao, Stir-fried Pea Sprout and Pumkin (as spelt in the menu) Pancake will be my top choices.

WHAT SO GOOD:
The bottom half of the Pan Fried Shanghai Bao is nicely fried to crisp, and the top half is fluffily steamed at the same time. Hard to find such Sheng Jian Bao so well made. The Xiao Long Bao is so delicious that they are served without no vinegar and ginger. I love the natural sweetness of the Pea Sprout. End off the dinner with Pumkin Pancake - crispy fried skin wrapping the nice pumpkin purée mashed with read bean inside

NOT SO GOOD:
Small place with limited seats. Making reservation does not guarantee that you do not need to queue. Advise you book and come at 6pm. Also I find Handmade Noodle with Pork Chop and Diced Chicken a bit too plain. If you order the Mei Cai Pork Belly Bun, add the gravy to the handmade noodles and you find the taste greatly enhanced.

MY RATING:
8.75 / 10

2014 Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice World Top 25 Restaurants

The results are out! Here are the World Top 25 most favourite restaurants:

1. El Celler de Can Roca - Girona, Spain
2. Midsummer House - Cambridge, United Kingdom
3. Maison Lameloise - Chagny, France
4. The French Cafe - Auckland, New Zealand
5. Alinea - Chicago, Illinois
6. El Club Allard - Madrid, Spain
7. Epicure - Paris, France
8. Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons - Great Milton, United Kingdom
9. Le Gavroche - London, United Kingdom
10. Martin Berasategui - San Sebastian - Donostia, Spain
11. Europea - Montreal, Quebec
12. I Latina - Buenos Aires, Argentina
13. Voila Bistrot - Paraty, Brazil
14. Geranium - Copenhagen, Denmark
15. Diverxo - Madrid, Spain
16. Kokkeriet - Copenhagen, Denmark
17. Restaurant Guy Savoy - Paris, France
18. Eleven Madison Park - New York City, New York
19. Funky Gourmet - Athens, Greece
20. The Test Kitchen - Cape Town Central, South Africa
21. TRB - Beijing, China
22. Arambru - Buenos Aires, Argentina
23. Restaurant Gary Danko - San Francisco, California
24. Vue de monde - Melbourne, Australia
25. Costes - Budapest, Hungary

More than half of these top 25 restaurants come from Europe, with Spain leading (4). However, the results are overall quite spread out across the global, given 14 countries making into the list.

Have you tried any of these?

HongKong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle - Chinatown

Looking at the length of the queue, this stall needs no further publicity. Crowds flock here to enjoy the tasty and yet very affordable priced soya sauce chicken.

WHAT TO ORDER: 
Go for the Soya Sauce Chicken noodles ($2.50). Buying of the whole chicken ($14) is also very common here. You may also consider adding char siew and/or roasted meat to your order

WHAT SO GOOD:
The chickens are stewed with sweetish soya sauce-based marinade, which permeates through the skin into the tender and juicy meat. The serving of the chicken meat is generous, considering the relatively low price

NOT SO GOOD:
It is no surprise that cheap + good = long queue. Also I find the sauce of the noodles is slightly on the salty side, but having said that, I still like it a lot.

MY RATING:
8.5 / 10

Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle - Lavender

Best in Singapore or not, it is highly debatable, but Tai Hwa certainly sets the golden standard for Bak Chor Mee.

WHAT TO ORDER: 
Minced meat noodles; dry; choices of $5, 6, 8 or 10

WHAT SO GOOD:
Al dente and springy noodles, tasty sauce rich in vinegar but not overwhelming, liver cooked to perfect timing and the accompanying robust soup (often neglected elsewhere) full of pork flavours

NOT SO GOOD:
Be prepared to queue, but definitely worth the wait... and this makes you more hungry!

MY RATING:
9 / 10

Great partnership; both know exactly their respective roles

Photo from 1980!

UFM 100.3 Survey: Best Curry Fish Head

Results of this week 美食大PK on the best Curry Fish Head:

1. Ocean Curry Fish Head at 92 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310092
2. Muthu's Curry at 138 Race Course Rd, Singapore 218591
3. Chye Lye Curry Fish Head at 1 Jalan Legundi, Singapore 759263

What are your favourite stalls? Vote for your ones next Tuesday before 7.45am!

View UFM 100.3: Best Curry Fish Head in a larger map