Hopscotch – Unique Cocktails & 1-for-1 Mains with Burpple Beyond

I remember the days where Hopscotch was a cosy bar inside the Red Dot Traffic Building, whipping up a good variety novelty cocktails. They haven’t deviated from this specialty, but the vibes here now are quite different in the hipster/artsy enclave of Gillman Barracks.

Walking to Hopscotch (don’t park illegally like these cars!)

They still keep things interesting, changing their menu up once in a while. They’re on their 5th menu at the moment, with Singapore or Asian themed cocktails.

My cocktail of choice: Kungfu Hustle (U.P. $22++/HH $15++), which has a base of Chrysanthemum infused scotch. It’s exactly what I look for in a cocktail: Strong, & not sweet. A harmonious balance of floral rose honey, fragrant Gunpowder Tea (珠茶), with a hint of heat from young ginger. Also, check out the bottle it’s served in – soooo aesthetic.

Happy Hour is 5:30 – 8:30PM daily, & yes I could get HH prices on my cocktail ($15++) despite redeeming a Burpple Beyond deal on the same bill. I always make sure I check, & never to assume. I appreciate it when restaurants are flexible like that, so thank you Hopscotch!

Shelves of games you can play – fun idea

The Ribeye Steak ($26++) is part of the Burpple Beyond 1-for-1 menu options. 220g of New Zealand Grass-fed Black Angus Ribeye. It’s a simple hunk of steak, with not much else to the dish. It lies on a light swoosh of Purple Potato Mash that wasn’t very carby, & has a small side of sauteed baby spinach for you to get your veggies & fibre in.

I opted for my usual medium rare, but was afraid that at this thickness it’d be a little tough. But it wasn’t! It was also seasoned pretty well; I didn’t need to dip it in the veal jus served on the side – though that was tasty too. (My dad lapped it up quite eagerly…)

Ribeye Steak, eligible for Burpple Beyond’s 1-for-1 deal

Hopscotch’s Chilli Lobster Tagliatelle ($28++) pays homage to local flavours with a chilli sauce of local spices & a lobster-based stock. The chewy homemade tagliatelle pasta was firm to the bite, & the half a Boston lobster it comes with is fairly meaty. The heat isn’t unbearable, in all quite pleasantly tingly on the tongue with a subtle sweetness.

Being a pasta & seafood lover, I would order this again. Exceptionally pleased that I got this at “half price” thanks to Burpple Beyond’s 1-for-1 main deals, too!

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope & Quandoo
🍽 Burpple Beyond partner
🏃🏻 Shopback GO partner
💦 Water is not chargeable

Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa – Soup Isn’t Thick, But is Delicious

I’ve read about this stall at Alexandra Village Food Centre for the longest time, & have always walked past it but never tried. My dad ordered a bowl of laksa ($4 small/$5 medium/$6 large – prices are nett) & wanted to share – I couldn’t say no.

I was surprised to find the soup not viscous at all; in fact, I was afraid with such thin soup, I’d be disappointed.

My fears were alleviated as I slurped my first spoonful – the soup is on the lemak side, but overall good flavour. Without adding any extra chilli paste (i.e. this is the default), the spicyness really hits the back of your throat. Have a drink prepared if you, just like me, don’t eat spicy food much!

The thick bee hoon 粗米粉 noodles were a bit too soft for my liking, but absorbed the soup well. In terms of ingredients, they were alright in terms of variety, & fairly fresh. Plenty of shredded chicken, a dismal single prawn, several taupok pieces, cockles & beansprouts.

In all, this was a delicious bowl of laksa. I’m not head over heels in love with it, but I’d eat it again. Just not too often as it isn’t the most healthy dish!

Dong Ji La Mian Xiao Long Bao – Another Good, Authentic Dumpling Stall!

ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre has a plethora of food choices, but I decided on Dong Ji La Mian Xiao Long Bao 东记拉面小笼包 (#01-19) because I had to buy some frozen dumplings home today.

Ordered their Dumplings 水饺 ($5.00 for 10) & Xiao Long Baos 小笼包 ($4.50 for 6, $6.00 for 10). The skin is on the thick side, which I’m not so used to.. Especially for the XLBs where I prefer the skin thinner.

But this made for a decent meal. The chives in the dumplings added good flavour, & the soup in the XLBs was delicious. I would eat these again.

Plus points for self service ginger & vinegar – I always load up on the ginger, with minimal vinegar. & yet another one: This stall accepts GrabPay, so yay for cashless transactions & earning Grab points!

Made my way home with frozen goodies in tow: Xiao Long Baos 小笼包 go for $10 a bag of 20 pieces, Dumplings 水饺 at $12 for a bag of 30 pieces.

Umami Prawn Mee Soup at ABC Brickworks’ Yong Zhen

I took a gamble on Yong Zhen Lor Mee Prawn Mee 永珍卤面虾面 (#01-40), not because there isn’t anything famous/worthy at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre (just Google), but because I came here for a late lunch & several lunch stalls had closed, & dinner stalls hadn’t opened.

My eyes lit up as I tasted the soup of the Prawn Mee ($3 nett). It was umami, slightly herbal, & very tasty. I slurped it again just to confirm – yep, it’s good.

Prawn Mee – soup & dry versions available

The noodles they use for the prawn mee is the lor mee noodles – the thick & flat yellow ones. I don’t actually like lor mee; I’ve never tried this combination before…. But I really like it! The silky smooth kuay teow mixed in upon auntie’s recommendation adds a nice texture variant, too.

Can’t complain about the ingredients in this dish. This bowl is priced affordably, & the prawns (only 2 pieces, wish there were more!), fishcake & pork slides were of decent quality. I finished everything in the bowl… Except the prawn tails. Mmmm yes I will be back for more.

Awesome Coffee at Hylam Street Old Coffee

Yesterday was International Coffee Day – I found this out only when the day was almost over! But perhaps it’s this special day that gave me the good luck I needed to uncover a great coffee stall at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre.

My dad regularly orders coffee from Hylam Street Old Coffee 海南街老咖啡, after a friend introduced it to him & he got hooked. He then did the same to me, & now I’m hooked too.

We’re always here during off-peak hour (past 2pm on a weekday), so the queue is minimal if even there at all. During crowded times, the queues can get pretty snaking long, I’ve heard!

This is clearly for good reason. The amazing fragrance of roasted beans, superb taste, & affordability. When I walked forward to place my order, I could smell the beans immediately. That made me change my order of tea to a coffee before I blurted it out to the uncle.

In terms of taste, I really can’t ask for more. It has the socksy kopitiam taste that you want in a cup of hawker centre coffee. It’ll definitely give you that kick awake that you need in the morning/mid-day.

& the price? $2 total for this kopi & kopi C kosong. Who needs volume when you’ve got quality; want more, just buy 2 cups lor. Still cheaper than Starbucks.

Happy belated International Coffee Day!

Disappointing Prawn Mee at Wei Zhong Qi Prawn Noodle

My usual favourite stall at Alexandra Village Food Centre was closed for 2 weeks, so I ventured to another one. Prawn Mee was the craving of the day, & it being past 2PM on a weekday, I didn’t have as much options at this hawker centre as compared to during regular lunch hour.

Gave Wei Zhong Qi Prawn Noodle 味中奇虾面 (#01-87) a shot, & ordered the large prawn noodles ($6.00 nett) because I was hungry.

In theory, this would have been good. Substantial ingredients: Several sizeable peeled prawns, fishcakes, thin pork slices that weren’t tough, & bean sprouts. However, this fell short of expectations & I knew it the moment it was served to me.

You can tell why, too. Just look at how overcooked the prawns are. & looking at the texture, the freshness is questionable too. My first bite into it confirmed this, & I struggled to finish the rest of the prawns in my bowl.

The soup also felt salt-laden, & didn’t have that umami flavour that I love. I also struggled to finish that, as well… Which is so unlike me.

Overall, unfortunately a disappointing bowl of prawn noodles that I wouldn’t recommend or order again.

📱 Accepts GrabPay