J’s Wok And Grill (Bedok)

Another dining location to spring up in the heartlands, this time in Bedok. What used to be a provision shop (???) or something to my vague memory, it is now transformed to a cosy restaurant serving reasonably priced food, both western and oriental.

Upon stepping into the restaurant, one can sense that it has been impeccably renovated with a modern touch. It also has a function room on the 2nd level where you can host events of up to 30-40 people, together with catered food.

While dining here, you tend to forget that you are in the middle of a HDB estate and that next door is a traditional provision shop. The lighting and the whole ambience is just right.

The menu was simple but presentable, not like some others that reminded you of your school days. Food selection was wide, with a variety of courses to choose from. We settled for the J's classic Combo, Chicken Chimichagas, Sizzling Sirloin, Roast Beef Balsamico and the Hainan Chickenn Chop.

J's Classic Combo ($17.90) - This can easily serve 2 persons, with the combination of beef, lamb and chicken. Presentation was impressive and the food tasted just as good. Portions of the meat were done just right and slicing of the beef was effortless.

Chicken Chimichages ($9.90) - Lovers of crispy stuff will like this dish. Imagine bits of spicy and tender chicken cubes wrapped with a layer of fried golden brown batter. All delectably done up. It is sort of a cross between fish and chips and curry puff, if this description is suitable at all. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable dish to savor again.

Roast Beef Balsamico ($9.90) - Tender and juicy was the first impression. Done and grilled to medium well, the beef feels like it melts in your mouth. Together with the sweet and not so overpowering sauce, it all tasted just right. Recommended dish to try apart from the traditional sirloin steaks.

Hainan Chicken Chop ($8.90) - The juices were well kept within the chicken and as it was sliced up, we could see it dripping out from the chicken. It was perfectly done and not dry like some others. The seasoning was not overpowering and the taste of the chicken was preserved. The chicken was topped with just a fried egg and to me this was appetizing. It shows that you do not need to resort to fanciful means to whet the appetite (perhaps to me). Simple pleasures in life can be enjoyable.

Sizzling Sirloin ($9.90) - As like all the other steaks, this was done medium well and tucking into it was effortless. The meat was juicy and tender and had an aftertaste that lingered in your mouth causing you to want more.

The total bill came up to be about $70 for 6 persons and really makes this an affordable and practical meal. Service is also excellent. Although the restaurant was packed with weekend diners the service staff were attentive to our needs and promptly responded. Interestingly, the bill shows no additional service charges only GST.

The owner of the restaurant Mr Hasni Abdullah was a friendly chap. He explained to us how the restaurant got started and his decision to open one in the heartlands. He also made sure we had our meals served all at once (a basic service etiquette lacking in most restaurants).

Overall a pleasant dining experience and recommended for its food, price and service quality.