Original Pillow Cake/Brownies

Original Pillow Cake/Brownies
Far East Square #01-01
(In front of Lingzhi Restaurant)
Tel: 9684 2389 (Ms Tina Lau)
Operating Hours: From 11am until the cakes are sold out (usually by 1pm); closed on Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays

You don’t even need to take a bite to realise why these sponge cakes are called pillow cakes. Shaped like loaves of bread, these fluffy cakes are amazingly soft and springy to the touch. They’re tasty too - soft and with just a hint of sweetness so you can eat as much of it as you like without feeling jelak (cloying in Malay).

The pillow cakes (S$4.20 per loaf; comes in 2 flavours - original vanilla and mocha) were originally sold at the now-defunct OA Bakery at People’s Park. Now, they can be found at a non-descript pushcart stall at Far East Square located outside the Ling Zhi Vegetarian Restaurant.

They also have brownies/cookies which comes in a pack of 2 for S$1.60. But it’s their pillow cakes which are sold out fast each day. Go early!

Hachi Tei Japanese Cuisine

51 Telok Ayer Street #B1-27
China Square Food Centre
Tel: 6535 2988

Opening Hours: 10am to 10pm, Mon to Sat; closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

This is one of my most favourite place to have lunch. I always go for their sashimi set lunch (S$12, no GST or service charge). What you get are thick slices of fresh fish and octopus. Simply the best!

Of course they have other value lunch sets like the Hachi Tei set, $15, which comes with tempura prawns, salmon sashimi, grilled chicken and soup. They have much more and it’s up to you to explore. As for me, I’ll stick to my sashimi set.

What I also absolutely love about this place is the service you get from Mrs Ang (aka Cherine Lee). Her memory simply astounds me and her friendliness overwhelms me coz you can never get such personal service in a restaurant.

Wham! Burger

B1-22, China Square Food Centre
Tel: 9008 0604 (Wendy)
Opening Hours: 10am to 3pm, Mon to Sat

Imagine for S$4.80, you get a thick slice of beef patty (which is seasoned and juicy), lettuce sandwiched between 2 seasame buns to go with that burger. Is that good value for money or what?

Or if a single patty can't satisfy you, I dare you to order the Double Whammy! (see picture above). Double Whammy! with cheese will cost you S$8.50. And for an additional S$1.30, you get an egg and sauteed Portabello mushroom.

They also have chicken fillet burger which is a whole chicken thigh fillet marinated in a mild Satay marinade (S$4.80). Or if you like fish, they also offer crispy fish burger (dory fish for S$5.80) for you.

If you want a side to go with your burgers, go for the Combi (S$5.80) which will get you a burger (excludes Double Whammy!) and a side. Choose your side from potato salad, chilli con carne, raisin coleslaw, crinkle cut fries or onion rings. Sides on their own cost from S$1.50 to S$2.00.

Blanco Court Kim Kee Fried Fish Soup

#01-10 China Square Food Centre
Tel: 6534 0668
Opening Hours: 10am to 9pm daily

They used to be at Blanco Court, hence the name "Blanco Court Kim Kee Fried Fish Soup". I've never tried the one at Blanco Court but given the long queue at this stall during lunch time on weekdays, I guess they've managed to upkeep the standard.

Before you dismiss this stall as another fish soup, I believe that they are the first (or only!) fish soup stall that includes fried egg in each bowl of fish soup. Although to me, this makes my soup very oily, the fresh fish and the fried egg make an interesting mix to the usual ho-hum fish soup. Each bowl costs S$4.

They also offer fish head soup but I'm not a fish person, so fish slices are fine for me. :D