Tian Wai Tian Fish Steamboat

• 1382/1383 Serangoon Road (off Opal Crescent)
  Opening Hours: 11am to 2pm, 6pm to 11pm, Mon to Fri
  4.30pm to 11pm, Sat & Sun & Public Holidays
• lk 638 Veerasamy Road #01-101
  Yi He Eating House
  Tel : 6392 3233
  Opening Hours: 5pm to 2am

I have personally tried this but I ate at the Serangoon Road outlet which is the de facto outlet.

The die die must try dish here would be their famous fish head steamboat because the soup was a heady concoction of fresh promfret fish slices and chunks, yam, seaweed, lettuce and fried flat fish pieces for that extra oomph, kept piping hot and boiling by the traditional method of burning charcoal, which the Chinese believe gives food a different taste compared to gas stoves. You can even choose the kind of fish you want for your steamboat - whether you prefer the promfret fish or the red garoupa or other varieties depending on availability. You can even ask for additional soup if your soup level runs low.

Another must try dishes would be their fried kang kong with cuttlefish and the fried har choy (deep-fried beancurd skin roll wrapped with shrimp meat filling and eaten with a dab of sweet honey plum sauce).

Oh, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Waiting hour during peak period is more than an hour. Go and order before you get hungry. Else, to beat the crowd, go as soon as this place opens.

Komala Vilas

• 76-78 Serangoon Road
  Tel: 6293 6980/6294 5294
  Opening Hours: 11am to 3.30pm (lunch) & 6pm to 10.30pm (dinner) For Level 2
  11am to 10.30pm For Level 1
• 12-14 Buffalo Road
  Tel: 6293 3664
• Website: http://www.komalavilas.com.sg/ourmenu.html
  

This Komala Vilas is not to be confused with the Komala’s fast food restaurant. Personally, I much prefer this Komala as I find it gives me better value for my money.

If you want to have the meals set, you should go to Level 2. If not, you should try to find a place at Level 1. I’m usually found at Level 1 and you find that sometimes you have to share your table with a stranger. This place is quite popular with tourists, so I guess that’s why they have the menu showing pictures of the food all over the walls. It’s easy for us to order.

Komala Vilas is one of a plethora of small, casual eating places in the ethnic quarter of Little India, serving up cheap, filling and delicious Indian food in a fast-food setting. The vegetarian menu provides a whole traditional South Indian meal, with favorites such as the dosai, a vegetable-filled crêpe, and thali, a complete meal comprising rice, lentils and a selection of curries, all served on a banana leaf. A great place for breakfast, open from 0700. No credit cards.

I always love their paper dosai (S$2.20 only!) (see the picture above). A must try is also their special tea/coffee which comes in a small metal “urn” and a small bowl. You are supposed to pour the tea/coffee from the “urn” into the small bowl and then back into the “urn”. This is to cool the tea/coffee so that you can sip safely without burning your tongue.

Allauddin's Briyani

Blk 665, Buffalo Road, #01-297
Tekka Market Food Centre
Opening Hours: 10am to 6pm daily

This is the most famous nasi briyani stall in Tekka Market. The grains are quite dry, but not as loose (stirring and pre-fluffing in the pot helps).

The nasi (rice) has a tad more flavour (some may call it saltier) and the mutton is grainy and quite soft, but a little dry and gamey.

The queue at peak hours is at least 20 minutes but it moves fast as the server is precise and methodic.

He slaps some nasi on a styrofoam plate, lowers a piece of mutton onto it, covers it with more nasi, pushes you a bowl of thick but not-too-spicy dulcha curry (as how most of his Chinese customers like it) and you’re down by $3.50.

I’m not a briyani person but this is one of the best briyani I’ve ever tasted. It’s a little bit dry, so pour the curry over the nasi for a better taste.