Nihon Mura or Japanese Village literally is located to the side of Tampines Swimming Complex. (Of all the places)
Decorations are pretty good with bamboos and teak taking the bulk of the ambiance but seat lay outs do tend to be on the crowded side during dinner.
The twist in Nihon Mura is their 99 cents sushi (2 per plate) and their stick ordering system.
The ordering system is quite unique in that all you have to do is collect sticks from the various counters containing your order and bring it back to your table. This includes everything from drinks to dessert to rice. The only exception are the sushi which you collect from the now familiar conveyor.
Sushi wise, the shop is nothing to shout about. I found the rice used of average quality and lacking in taste, some were also not packed properly so thats a few points off. Its still decent for its price mind you.
Having been there twice as of now. I'd say the service was very good. I ordered a beef bowl rice (sorry i forgot the name) which cost me about $10 but i couldn't taste the beef. I confirmed with my gf that its tastes more like Pork Liver then beef before i called the supervisor over to reason with him. When i told him to try, he promptly offered to change the dish for another beef rice bowl even though we have consumed close to half of the current bowl. The second bowl brought to us was newly made and cost lesser, this time, with the beef taste i so desire. Add the fact that the rice is served in a rock bowl which was heated, giving the rice a wok hei taste and you have a good experience.
The other item we had was the fried tofu which is a staple dish for me at any japanese outlet. Their rendition was good but somehow pales in comparison with Sakae's crispier skinned ones. Overall though, still a good Tofu.
Pan Fried Salmon (about $7) - only this dish was plainly a waste of money. Small, overly tough and lacking taste whasoever, something nobody should order regardless of the circumstance.
My experience at Nihon Mura is a mixed affair. Food wise, the place really isn;t much to shout about but services wise, i'm very impressed with the staff. Also, the beef rice is indeed very nice and fragrant. Which i heartily recommend.
Do try out the place for the kick of it. After all, 2 filling meals there cost me a total of $60.
Located in Changi Airport Terminal 1, Popeyes is a simple fast food restuarant in the vein of Macdonalds and KFC. Given its location, one would deduce it to have a relatively short queue and waiting time. However, that would be grossly wrong since queues are generally LONG and waiting time will usually be about 20-25 minutes. Well, i hated queuing and i was there with my gf to just take a stroll, dinner here was more or less ad hoc.
I've always loved the cartoon Popeye the sailor man. I guess its all about muscles and who would have thought spinach gave you superhuman powers? Its just a really funny cartoon at the time and age. So the draw for this place was simply nostalgia for me as they had a corner doing constant reruns of the show. No spinach on the menu though.
Ok, this was the queue that greeted me which i joined to begin my 25 minute journey to the counter of friendly, tired staff and slow moving staff.
Fries - Nothing spectacular but it does have an additional herbish taste (maybe spinach?) that makes it taste slightly better than others. It did come across as a little too dry though.
Mashed Potato - The mashed potato came in a small serving thats only slightly bigger then KFC. The sauce however tasted better in my opinion as its less watery and less salty compared to KFC. The potato also had small chunks in it which i suspect is yam but i'm not too sure on that.
3 Piece Chicken Meal ($8.65) - Its called Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits so obviously, this should be its main draw. Its biscuit is nicely fragrant and warm which does differentiate it from usual fast food chains which give horrible tasting buns. The chicken was fried to a crisp and yet managed to maintain its juiciness unlike KFC which usually comes off as a tad dry or sometimes undercooked. The seasoning is not unlike its mashed potato sauce which made it fragrant with each bite. I like the fact that the chicken meat was firm and tender at the same time which was surprisingly uniform throughout the 3 different chicken parts. (Please note that requests for specific chicken parts result in a 50 cents charge each)
Seafood in a basket ($7.95) - For this meal which i ordered for my fish loving girl, we're actually quite torn about our opinions for it. I liked the fish and the shrimp because this was usually served piping hot unlike its "left to cool in warm container chicken". I felt the fish was tender and reasonably good tasting but she felt it was less tender nor fresh than other offerings. Also, she commented that the fish was fried after being taken out of the fridge which gave it a 'frozen' taste. The shrimp was relatively small and so is the serving. It was crunchy and like everything here, is full of batter and flour which may or may not appeal to everyone. For the shrimp, our debate is mostly on whether the crunchiness of it is chemically enhanced or naturally preserved. But you can't fault that it tastes better the way it is now.
Suggestions - Oooo...this piece of paper is so important. I'd only hope they take a look at the suggestions written into serious consideration. Firstly, they need to have another outlet. Secondly, they need more counters and faster serving staff. Thirdly, chicken parts should be given by request and not chargeable.
The queue when we left - Yes, this is the queue throughout our entire meal. It never quite diminished and i doubt it will reduce by much anytime soon. Management needs to look into this soon, for the customers sake and for their staffs sake.
In all honesty, this place isn't half bad. The chicken is actually better then KFC in many ways and tastes a notch above the other fast food chains. However, queuing and its location didn't really make me enjoy the experience much. The price was on par with about every other fast food restaurant (the meal cost $16.60) so the only weak links are its queues and its obscure location. Do try for yourself and find out if you like it.
After our rather filling dinner @ Pow Sing Restuarant in the previous post, we proceeded to have dessert @ Icecube which was conveniently nearby. This is what we had.
Mudpie - I really can't remember what flavor this mudpie was. Thus i forgot the name as well. Terribly sorry. However, i remember it had caramel and a flavor reminiscent of peanuts. Smooth and quite fulfilling though a little too sweet.
Waffle with cookies and cream ice cream - I'd say the waffle is excellent. Definately try it. Its served warm and with the ice cream melting atop it. Tastes simply heavenly. Not to mention the ice cream is pretty good as well. You must try this.
Total for this came up to $20 as well. As a good place for dessert, its definitely worth a try and visit for the waffle alone.
feizhusaid: you didn't mention got 50% off waffles on tues :p 07 Nov 2007 at 10:16 am
zihuisaid: do they still do the students' rate thing? 07 Nov 2007 at 10:24 am
Lucardiasaid: Yeah, students rate still on the last time i was there. And yeah, there's still 50% off dudes. Haha 07 Nov 2007 at 10:49 am
iYebsaid: Have walked pass this place so many times. but never want to step in. Looking at the photos and ur review now, guess I missed great stuff! Sure going to try soon. 07 Nov 2007 at 11:58 am
Lucardiasaid: Haha, true true. You should try it out for the waffles alone. Good stuff. 07 Nov 2007 at 12:24 pm
claudsaid: ah its 50% off crepes on Tues leh. Not waffles. Students get 45% off waffles drink daily from 4-7 i think. 28 Nov 2007 at 9:46 am
Another entry in the budget food section, due in part to my ultimate lack of funds and the belief that there may be reasonably good food at a reasonable price. So, i met up with a good friend at Serangoon Garden for our much belated catch up session.
Located to the immediate carpark next to the bus interchange at Serangoon Gardens is this little restuarant. Its a pretty well known restaurant but there are many chicken rice stalls in Serangoon Gardens so it might be good to note that they all have their different niches which they cater for. Anyway, i worked in this area for 2 years so its natural for me to actually get a good feel for which chicken rice i actually like, and this is one of them.
Ah Char - This comes the moment you sit down but its not free mind you. I can't complain about the price since its only $1 and honestly, its a good appetizer for me since its sour and sweet at the same time.
Chicken Portion for Two - The chicken portion which they gave for the two of us. The meat is fragrant and tender which i felt was important for a good plate of chicken rice. I didn't quite like the fat beneath the skin so its a good thing there wasn't too much of that. I also liked the fact that i didn't have to pick through bones for the meat and a good point to note is that the serving managed to fund my friend through 2 bowls of rice and me through mine.
Crispy Nonya Tou Fu - I was telling everyone this was the must-have dish at this place. The Tou Fu is absolutely soft and melts in your mouth on the inside and crispy on the outside. Its always hot and warm even to the last piece and the sauce it came with definately helps to make the dish even more delectable. I can't quite make out the sauce but i suppose it tastes like a cross between oyster sauce and tian jiang (sweet sauce).
Chicken Rice - One thing i always look for in chicken rice is that it must not be too oily. And Pow Sing does it just right. Its possible to enjoy the rice without feeling too guilty about it afterwords because unlike other run-of-the-mill chicken rice elsewhere, its chicken rice is fragrant yet not oily, tasty yet not overwhelming.
Well, the meal only cost us about $10 a person. So its really rather cheap. If you came for a packet of chicken rice, it only costs between $3-$4 for a rather huge packet so i'd say its good value for money.
Since this isn't exactly a posh eating place, there's no need to judge certain criteria like service and ambience. Its still a decent eating place for simple a non-oily chicken rice at a decent price. Do give it a try if you are there.
claudsaid: Looks yummy! Will go try it soon. 06 Nov 2007 at 11:13 am
Lucardiasaid: Haha, Yeah you should. Must order the Tou Fu. The rest of the dishes are average since i can't remember the other stuff i've tried there. 06 Nov 2007 at 11:34 am
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I was actually introduced to this place by my gf because she is a fish lover. So we made our way down to try it on a nice couple date, 7th July 2007 (07072007). Contrary to its name, the Manhattan Fish Market (MFM) franchise actually originated from Malaysia in 2002 and its first outlet in Singapore is the one situated at Plaza Singapura. The first thing this restuarant brings to mind is its direct competitor, Fish & Co (F&C), which has been in Singapore for a far longer time than MFM. So how does its food really fare, you know the drill by now. Read On!
For serving only fish, the menu does contain a pretty good selection of items ranging from fish to mushrooms to squid and all manner of friendlies from the ocean. I have to say i was impressed with the service attitude of its staff from the moment i stepped in. They seemed a jovial and happy lot unlike some other establishments where their staff seemed to have been placed there with a gun to their backs. When we entered, it was rather early, around 6.30 pm, and were quickly shown to a couple seat found hidden to the right corner of the restuarant. It came with a tv and simple cushioned seats, but was sufficient nonetheless. The service staff were also very attentive and i never had to raise my hand for a glass refill. Very impressive indeed, especially when the crowds started to appear, my glass was still filled! Talk about service. Bravo!
Manhattan Seafood Soup - The Manhattan seafood soup was surprisingly tasty and full bodied. A single scoop can easily net you a spoonful of fish meat, crab, scallops and even a little squid! For $4.90, this really surprised me as i was expecting something much less worthwhile. A good way to start the meal.
Fried Country Mushrooms - My gf told me this was a must try dish at the place and i must say, its really very good. I couldn't quite make out if the mushrooms were shiitake or small portebello mushrooms but they were really juicy when you bit into it. The fried layer of batter was thin and crispy, coupled with the juicy and soft mushroom, it was just a match-made in heaven. ($9.90)
Hot Fiery Action!!! - Ordering a seafood platter also gives you a small demonstration of what the staff would do to your face if you tried to flee without paying. Nah, just kidding. He's just torching the layer of mayonnaise and cooking the prawn.
Seafood Platter for Two - The main event. This monster really did us both in. Well, me anyway, since i did most of the eating. Worth mention is the rice which tasted a little like Hainan Chicken Rice and as with all things in this restuarant thus far, simply fitted in well with everything. There were 3 fried oysters, 4 scorched prawns, dozens of squid , 1 huge piece of fish fillet and loads of fries and rice. Couples on a diet? Stay away!! But honestly, this was really good and the portion much bigger then what you can get from F&C. The squid was fresh and had a sour taste that whet your appetite and really mixes well with the rice. The oysters tasted like the mushrooms mentioned above and was simply great. The fish was normal and lacked anything i could complain about except that it tasted like any other fish fillet. The prawn and scorched mayo deserve mention. Definitely eat the mayo with the rice, its really good, i wonder if we could ask for more mayo next time. And the prawn with mayo is great, i could complain a little about freshness but for the price, its pretty decent. ($29.90)
Total bill came up to $52.60. Reasonable given the quality of food and service. I'll be back for more on this place.
I like the place. Reasonable price. Big servings. Good food. Laid back atmosphere. Great service. Which is more than i can say for some insanely priced hotel outlets. This is one place thats filling on the tummy and easy on your wallet. Do swing by for a meal if you are in the vicinity and like fish.
zihuisaid: i didn't quite enjoy my time at the Central outlet ): 05 Nov 2007 at 11:04 pm
Lucardiasaid: We must have met different serving staff then. I found the service pretty good. On my second visit, they even opened the closed section so the 2 of us had it all to ourselves. =) 05 Nov 2007 at 11:08 pm
Bobosaid: Cool another person with a good exp there! Hmm but I reviewed this before le.. how come mine's gone? lol 06 Nov 2007 at 12:48 am
Lucardiasaid: Hi Bobo. Oh, i chose the one with no reviews yet because i saw 2 of the same businesses so thought i'd pick the road less traveled. 06 Nov 2007 at 9:15 am
Kilkennysaid: Sorry for the confusion guys, I've removed the duplicate entry and moved the review to the "more travelled" one. :D 06 Nov 2007 at 9:42 am
Polarbearsaid: Hmm.... Maybe it is time that I revisit this place again. Since you all singing all the praises. 06 Nov 2007 at 10:13 am
Lucardiasaid: Haha, Yeah man. But note to order whatever i have ordered. I went again recently and tried the "catch of the day" platter for 2. $39.90 for a full sea bass. Somehow doesn't taste as good. 06 Nov 2007 at 11:37 am
1=SGD 0.0587
Decorations are pretty good with bamboos and teak taking the bulk of the ambiance but seat lay outs do tend to be on the crowded side during dinner.
The twist in Nihon Mura is their 99 cents sushi (2 per plate) and their stick ordering system.
The ordering system is quite unique in that all you have to do is collect sticks from the various counters containing your order and bring it back to your table. This includes everything from drinks to dessert to rice. The only exception are the sushi which you collect from the now familiar conveyor.
Sushi wise, the shop is nothing to shout about. I found the rice used of average quality and lacking in taste, some were also not packed properly so thats a few points off. Its still decent for its price mind you.
Having been there twice as of now. I'd say the service was very good. I ordered a beef bowl rice (sorry i forgot the name) which cost me about $10 but i couldn't taste the beef. I confirmed with my gf that its tastes more like Pork Liver then beef before i called the supervisor over to reason with him. When i told him to try, he promptly offered to change the dish for another beef rice bowl even though we have consumed close to half of the current bowl. The second bowl brought to us was newly made and cost lesser, this time, with the beef taste i so desire. Add the fact that the rice is served in a rock bowl which was heated, giving the rice a wok hei taste and you have a good experience.
The other item we had was the fried tofu which is a staple dish for me at any japanese outlet. Their rendition was good but somehow pales in comparison with Sakae's crispier skinned ones. Overall though, still a good Tofu.
Pan Fried Salmon (about $7) - only this dish was plainly a waste of money. Small, overly tough and lacking taste whasoever, something nobody should order regardless of the circumstance.
My experience at Nihon Mura is a mixed affair. Food wise, the place really isn;t much to shout about but services wise, i'm very impressed with the staff. Also, the beef rice is indeed very nice and fragrant. Which i heartily recommend.
Do try out the place for the kick of it. After all, 2 filling meals there cost me a total of $60.
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I've always loved the cartoon Popeye the sailor man. I guess its all about muscles and who would have thought spinach gave you superhuman powers? Its just a really funny cartoon at the time and age. So the draw for this place was simply nostalgia for me as they had a corner doing constant reruns of the show. No spinach on the menu though.
Ok, this was the queue that greeted me which i joined to begin my 25 minute journey to the counter of friendly, tired staff and slow moving staff.
Fries - Nothing spectacular but it does have an additional herbish taste (maybe spinach?) that makes it taste slightly better than others. It did come across as a little too dry though.
Mashed Potato - The mashed potato came in a small serving thats only slightly bigger then KFC. The sauce however tasted better in my opinion as its less watery and less salty compared to KFC. The potato also had small chunks in it which i suspect is yam but i'm not too sure on that.
3 Piece Chicken Meal ($8.65) - Its called Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits so obviously, this should be its main draw. Its biscuit is nicely fragrant and warm which does differentiate it from usual fast food chains which give horrible tasting buns. The chicken was fried to a crisp and yet managed to maintain its juiciness unlike KFC which usually comes off as a tad dry or sometimes undercooked. The seasoning is not unlike its mashed potato sauce which made it fragrant with each bite. I like the fact that the chicken meat was firm and tender at the same time which was surprisingly uniform throughout the 3 different chicken parts. (Please note that requests for specific chicken parts result in a 50 cents charge each)
Seafood in a basket ($7.95) - For this meal which i ordered for my fish loving girl, we're actually quite torn about our opinions for it. I liked the fish and the shrimp because this was usually served piping hot unlike its "left to cool in warm container chicken". I felt the fish was tender and reasonably good tasting but she felt it was less tender nor fresh than other offerings. Also, she commented that the fish was fried after being taken out of the fridge which gave it a 'frozen' taste. The shrimp was relatively small and so is the serving. It was crunchy and like everything here, is full of batter and flour which may or may not appeal to everyone. For the shrimp, our debate is mostly on whether the crunchiness of it is chemically enhanced or naturally preserved. But you can't fault that it tastes better the way it is now.
Suggestions - Oooo...this piece of paper is so important. I'd only hope they take a look at the suggestions written into serious consideration. Firstly, they need to have another outlet. Secondly, they need more counters and faster serving staff. Thirdly, chicken parts should be given by request and not chargeable.
The queue when we left - Yes, this is the queue throughout our entire meal. It never quite diminished and i doubt it will reduce by much anytime soon. Management needs to look into this soon, for the customers sake and for their staffs sake.
In all honesty, this place isn't half bad. The chicken is actually better then KFC in many ways and tastes a notch above the other fast food chains. However, queuing and its location didn't really make me enjoy the experience much. The price was on par with about every other fast food restaurant (the meal cost $16.60) so the only weak links are its queues and its obscure location. Do try for yourself and find out if you like it.
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Mudpie - I really can't remember what flavor this mudpie was. Thus i forgot the name as well. Terribly sorry. However, i remember it had caramel and a flavor reminiscent of peanuts. Smooth and quite fulfilling though a little too sweet.
Waffle with cookies and cream ice cream - I'd say the waffle is excellent. Definately try it. Its served warm and with the ice cream melting atop it. Tastes simply heavenly. Not to mention the ice cream is pretty good as well. You must try this.
Total for this came up to $20 as well. As a good place for dessert, its definitely worth a try and visit for the waffle alone.
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Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!you didn't mention got 50% off waffles on tues :p
07 Nov 2007 at 10:16 am
do they still do the students' rate thing?
07 Nov 2007 at 10:24 am
Yeah, students rate still on the last time i was there. And yeah, there's still 50% off dudes. Haha
07 Nov 2007 at 10:49 am
Located to the immediate carpark next to the bus interchange at Serangoon Gardens is this little restuarant. Its a pretty well known restaurant but there are many chicken rice stalls in Serangoon Gardens so it might be good to note that they all have their different niches which they cater for. Anyway, i worked in this area for 2 years so its natural for me to actually get a good feel for which chicken rice i actually like, and this is one of them.
Ah Char - This comes the moment you sit down but its not free mind you. I can't complain about the price since its only $1 and honestly, its a good appetizer for me since its sour and sweet at the same time.
Chicken Portion for Two - The chicken portion which they gave for the two of us. The meat is fragrant and tender which i felt was important for a good plate of chicken rice. I didn't quite like the fat beneath the skin so its a good thing there wasn't too much of that. I also liked the fact that i didn't have to pick through bones for the meat and a good point to note is that the serving managed to fund my friend through 2 bowls of rice and me through mine.
Crispy Nonya Tou Fu - I was telling everyone this was the must-have dish at this place. The Tou Fu is absolutely soft and melts in your mouth on the inside and crispy on the outside. Its always hot and warm even to the last piece and the sauce it came with definately helps to make the dish even more delectable. I can't quite make out the sauce but i suppose it tastes like a cross between oyster sauce and tian jiang (sweet sauce).
Chicken Rice - One thing i always look for in chicken rice is that it must not be too oily. And Pow Sing does it just right. Its possible to enjoy the rice without feeling too guilty about it afterwords because unlike other run-of-the-mill chicken rice elsewhere, its chicken rice is fragrant yet not oily, tasty yet not overwhelming.
Well, the meal only cost us about $10 a person. So its really rather cheap. If you came for a packet of chicken rice, it only costs between $3-$4 for a rather huge packet so i'd say its good value for money.
Since this isn't exactly a posh eating place, there's no need to judge certain criteria like service and ambience. Its still a decent eating place for simple a non-oily chicken rice at a decent price. Do give it a try if you are there.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!Looks yummy! Will go try it soon.
06 Nov 2007 at 11:13 am
Haha, Yeah you should. Must order the Tou Fu. The rest of the dishes are average since i can't remember the other stuff i've tried there.
06 Nov 2007 at 11:34 am
For serving only fish, the menu does contain a pretty good selection of items ranging from fish to mushrooms to squid and all manner of friendlies from the ocean. I have to say i was impressed with the service attitude of its staff from the moment i stepped in. They seemed a jovial and happy lot unlike some other establishments where their staff seemed to have been placed there with a gun to their backs. When we entered, it was rather early, around 6.30 pm, and were quickly shown to a couple seat found hidden to the right corner of the restuarant. It came with a tv and simple cushioned seats, but was sufficient nonetheless. The service staff were also very attentive and i never had to raise my hand for a glass refill. Very impressive indeed, especially when the crowds started to appear, my glass was still filled! Talk about service. Bravo!
Manhattan Seafood Soup - The Manhattan seafood soup was surprisingly tasty and full bodied. A single scoop can easily net you a spoonful of fish meat, crab, scallops and even a little squid! For $4.90, this really surprised me as i was expecting something much less worthwhile. A good way to start the meal.
Fried Country Mushrooms - My gf told me this was a must try dish at the place and i must say, its really very good. I couldn't quite make out if the mushrooms were shiitake or small portebello mushrooms but they were really juicy when you bit into it. The fried layer of batter was thin and crispy, coupled with the juicy and soft mushroom, it was just a match-made in heaven. ($9.90)
Hot Fiery Action!!! - Ordering a seafood platter also gives you a small demonstration of what the staff would do to your face if you tried to flee without paying. Nah, just kidding. He's just torching the layer of mayonnaise and cooking the prawn.
Seafood Platter for Two - The main event. This monster really did us both in. Well, me anyway, since i did most of the eating. Worth mention is the rice which tasted a little like Hainan Chicken Rice and as with all things in this restuarant thus far, simply fitted in well with everything. There were 3 fried oysters, 4 scorched prawns, dozens of squid , 1 huge piece of fish fillet and loads of fries and rice. Couples on a diet? Stay away!! But honestly, this was really good and the portion much bigger then what you can get from F&C. The squid was fresh and had a sour taste that whet your appetite and really mixes well with the rice. The oysters tasted like the mushrooms mentioned above and was simply great. The fish was normal and lacked anything i could complain about except that it tasted like any other fish fillet. The prawn and scorched mayo deserve mention. Definitely eat the mayo with the rice, its really good, i wonder if we could ask for more mayo next time. And the prawn with mayo is great, i could complain a little about freshness but for the price, its pretty decent. ($29.90)
Total bill came up to $52.60. Reasonable given the quality of food and service. I'll be back for more on this place.
I like the place. Reasonable price. Big servings. Good food. Laid back atmosphere. Great service. Which is more than i can say for some insanely priced hotel outlets. This is one place thats filling on the tummy and easy on your wallet. Do swing by for a meal if you are in the vicinity and like fish.
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Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!i didn't quite enjoy my time at the Central outlet ):
05 Nov 2007 at 11:04 pm
We must have met different serving staff then. I found the service pretty good. On my second visit, they even opened the closed section so the 2 of us had it all to ourselves. =)
05 Nov 2007 at 11:08 pm
Cool another person with a good exp there! Hmm but I reviewed this before le.. how come mine's gone? lol
06 Nov 2007 at 12:48 am