Fi Woodfire Thai – A Modern Thai Culinary Concept with A Woodfire Twist [MEDIA INVITE]

Fi Woodfire Thai (“Fi”) Restaurant showcases a modern Thai culinary concept through the dynamic use of fire and curated for the local palate. To deliver a deep smoky richness, Fi uses a double-insulated wood-fire oven with Bincho-tan charcoal for longevity and heat stability, complemented by aromatic lychee wood.

Entrance - From Inside Robertson Walk

Entrance - From Outside Robertson Walk

Located at Robertson Walk, Fi is a cosy establishment that seats 40 guests. The restaurant is minimally decorated, merging simplicity and warmth. The main dining area is filled with high tables and chairs for a group of four or six. Meanwhile, the centrepiece of the restaurant is the long bar that double-up as a dining table that can seat up to a dozen of guests.

The Bar

We started our adventure at Fi with drinks. Thai Ice Lemon Tea [$8] and Sabai [$20]. The Thai Ice Lemon Tea is potent, thick and strong. I initially asked for no sugar, luckily the service staff recommended a bit of sugar, to remove the bitterness from the tea. A good recommendation.

Thai Iced Lemon Tea

LD choose a cocktail, Sabai. Sabai mean “to relax” in Thai, this cocktail mixes Mekong rum with a squeeze of lemon, simple syrup, and fresh basil leaves for a refreshing mid-day tipple. LD says it is refreshing and the bartender is very generous with the splashes of rum as well.

Sabai (Front)

Charred Corn Som Tum [$14]. Traditional Thai Som Tum complete with its ingredients Shredded Papaya, Cherry Tomato, Long Bean, Dried Shrimp, Onions, Chilli Padi, Garlic, Fish Sauce, Lime Juice and Peanuts. The salad is refreshing with a touch of spiciness and the grilled corn is absolutely delicious. Smoky, charred, sweet and juicy. A good start to the meal.

Charred Corn Som Tum 

Basil Minced Pork on Charred Eggplant [$18]. I usually don’t eat basil minced pork in a Thai restaurant, because it is usually very spicy. The version here is mild in spiciness, aromatic, sweet and packed with flavour. I also make an exception for the eggplant, the texture is smooth, crunchy with a nice smoky flavour and a nice grilled mark on the inner part. It provided an excellent base for stir-fried basil minced pork.

Basil Minced Pork on Charred Eggplant

French Poulet [$28] - Grilled Half Gg French Poulet, Chicken Liver, Jaew Sauce. The refined version of grilled Thai Chicken (Kai Yang). The French Poulet is juicy, succulent and the marinate penetrated to the bone. The meat from the breast and thigh are equally juicy. The marinated sauce is a bit sweet initially, but after a squeeze of lime, the citrus flavour just brings the overall flavours to life. It is best to be eaten with the raw salad.

French Poulet

“Moo Ping” Smoked Pork Ribs (500g Bone In) [$42]. Absolutely, ridiculously, super yummy. The pork ribs’ texture is fork tender, juicy, succulent, well-marinated with a lovely charred crust. It can feel a bit “Jelak” (Overwhelming), but it can easily be fixed with a squeeze of lime or dipping sauce. It is heavenly and finger licking good. #OinkOink #Porkgasm

Moo Ping

The Bones

Seafood Pad Thai [$18] - Shrimp, Squid, Egg, Tofu, Sprouts, Chives, Rice Noodle, Crushed Peanuts. This version here is Pad Thai which you get in restaurants / hotels in Thailand. It uses juicy big prawns. I find the taste of the pad thai is too bold for my liking, especially the sweetness level. Although it has a nice smoky flavour at the beginning, it dissipates from the dish after the second bite.

Seafood Pad Thai

Thai Milk Tea Panna Cotta [$12] - Thai Milk Tea Pudding Served with Coconut Ice Cream and Tea Jelly. A well-plated and well-constructed dessert. The milk tea pudding is dense and creamy. The tea jelly delivers a bold thick flavour of Thai tea, while the coconut ice cream binds all the ingredients nicely.

Thai Milk Tea Panna Cotta 

For spicy food lovers, please inform the service staff when you order the food. The kitchen can adjust the spiciness level for the Som Tum, Basil Minced Pork and Tom Yum. They can also serve cut chilli if needed.

Overall, we enjoy the food at Fi. Don’t expect a traditional street food in Thailand, be open minded to the modern interpretation of Thai Food here that are suitable to pair with their cocktails and drinks. Don’t miss out on their amazing French Poulet & Moo Ping. Chiyo!! Cheers!!

Thank you very much Protegie Consultancy and Team Fi Woodfire Thai for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50; $51 - $80

Fi Woodfire Thai

11 Unity Street

#01-07, Robertson Walk

Singapore 237995

T: +65 8776 1569

W: https://www.fi-woodfire.com/

F: https://www.facebook.com/fiwoodfirethai

IG: @Fi.woodfire

OH:

Wed – Sun: 11.30 – 15.00, 17.00 – 22.00

Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays

Marmaris – Hidden Treasure in Little India

Marmaris is Authentic Arabic, Mediterranean and Western food in Singapore’s Little India. A quick google search will show that it is one of the highest rating restaurants around Little India. Since we were looking for something different, we decided to check out Marmaris.

Marmaris

When you arrived at the location, you will be greeted by two vertical rotisseries, commonly found in the Middle Eastern grilling the meat. In the middle, there will be the ingredients bench, which looks similar to the one in Subway store, where the staff assemble the shawarma, salads and other items on the menu.

Shawarma

For dine-in, you can go to the 2nd floor. It is air-conditioned and simply furnished with wooden tables and chairs. The lights and the walls are decorated with Middle Eastern lights and Middle Eastern motifs wallpapers. There is also al-fresco seating on the 1st floor.

Dining Area 2nd Floor

Decor and Lights

We started the meal with Hummus Salad Platter ($8) – Served with Arabic Bread, Veg Salad and Muhallal – Arabic Pickle. The hummus is smooth, creamy and packs with chickpea flavour. The Arabic bread is warm, soft and pillowy. We just can’t stop scooping the hummus with it. The salad on the side is simple yet refreshing. In no time, we polished off the platter.

Hummus Salad Platter

Falafel (1pcs, $1.50). From the look, we thought it was going to be hard and dry. Surprisingly, it is crispy externally, while it is moist and soft inside. Very good.

Falafel

Al Faham (Grilled Chicken, Signature, $15.50 half, $28 full). We ordered half, as we also ordered a rice dish. According to the menu, the chicken is slow-grilled with special herbs. It is served with Arabic bread, veg salad and garlic sauce.

Al Faham

The exterior of the chicken has a nice charred texture and flavour, followed by juicy and succulent flesh, including the breast part. Though the marinate of the chicken looks fiery red, it was not spicy at all. The chicken is very tasty and the garlic sauce just enhances the flavour of the chicken and herbs further. It is served with lovely Arabic bread as well.

Al Faham

Lamb Shank Briyani ($17.90, 1 pax). I just can’t say NO to a lamb shank briyani. Cooked in a claypot dum, the aroma just entices us when it was brought to our table. Of course, the bone sticking out just add the WOW factor to the dish. The rice is fluffy, sweet and tasty. The lamb shank is juicy and without any gamy flavour, however, it is a bit of a challenge ripping the meat off the bones. I think the lamb shank can be cooked longer, before mixing it with the briyani. My best experience with lamb shank briyani is when the meat reaches the point of fork tender and falls off the bone. I’ll probably order the mutton briyani next time.

Lamb Shank Briyani

Lamb Shank Briyani

Lamb Shank Briyani

We end our meal with Kunafe ($12) - A traditional Middle Eastern dessert made with cheese and thin noodle-like pastry soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup topped with crushed nuts. I like the crispy texture of the Kunafe, combine with the sweet and savoury flavour in it. The sugar-based syrup is served separately. Though the syrup looks milky, I find it too watery and does not blend well with Kunafe. Instead of pouring the syrup into the pastry, it is better to dip the pastry into the syrup.

Kunafe

We had Mango Lassi ($4.50) and Fresh Lime Soda ($4.50) to accompany our meal. The bottled water is already on the table, so if you open it just let them know when you make the payment on the 1st floor.

Drinks

CBK verdict: it was a great Arabic Middle Eastern food. Very tasty, flavourful and pocket friendly. The winners of the night are the Hummus, the chicken & the garlic sauce. We’ll definitely come back to try the Shawarma and the rest of the dishes. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 9/10

Service: 6/10

Ambiance: 6/10

Budget per Person: $11 - $25; $26 - $50.

Marmaris

111 Dunlop Street

Singapore 209430

T: +65 6291 3001

W: https://www.marmaris.sg/

F: https://www.facebook.com/marmaris.sg

IG: @Marmaris.sg

OH: Daily 11.30 – 22.00

Tora Hachi – Comforting Donburi and Grill Food [MEDIA INVITE]

Tora Hachi Japanese Grill & Restaurant (“Tora Hachi”) is a Japanese-style grilled food restaurant, that offers a wide choice of skewers and donburi. In short, it is also known as Izakaya. Tora Hachi is the expansion of Kushiya at Westgate, elevating their brand from a shoebox kiosk to a full fledge restaurant in Holland Village and completing their offering with sakes and beers to complement their food.

Tora Hachi

We started our tasting with Gyu Don ($11.90) and Kimchi Slice Pork Don ($10.90). My first impression is that their servings are very generous. Both the beef and pork topping filled the bowl to the brim and can easily fill your stomach. I like the marinate in the gyudon as it gives a nice balance between sweet and savoury complete with umami finishing. For the kimchi don, the pork is tender and juicy, while the kimchi provided the acidity in balancing the meal.

Gyu Don

Both the dons are supposed to be served with Ajitsuke Tamago (ramen eggs). Usually, the Ajitsuke tamago is seasoned with soy sauce, till the egg white turns brown to show the soy sauce has been absorbed into the eggs. The version at Toro Hachi is lighter as the egg white is still bright in colour and the taste of soy sauce is minimum.

Kimchi Slice Pork Don

Hiyashi Udon ($6.80). Sanuki style udon served cold with onsen tamago. The thick, chewy and bouncy udon perfectly complements the housemade sauce, onsen tamago and seaweed. You need to mix all the ingredients before you slurp. It is cold, refreshing and tasted heavenly. Simplicity at its best. Yummy!!

Hiyashi Udon

Hiyashi Udon

Oyago Don ($11.90). Grilled thick juicy and succulent chicken thigh, covered with generous servings of seaweed. I like the texture and flavour of the chicken, but I just feel there is a disconnection between the ingredients. Maybe Tora Hachi can consider adding Oyakodon style of egg or onsen egg style to bind all the ingredients together.

Oyago Don

For the appetizer, we try Chicken Karaage ($9.80), Hane Gyoza ($12.80) and Edamame ($5.60). The fried chicken has a crispy exterior followed by a juicy and succulent interior. It is served with mayonnaise for dipping sauce. The edamame was done just right. Soft, moist and enjoyable.

Chicken Karaage

Edamame

The Hane Gyoza (also known as Gyoza with Wings). Each of the gyoza is interconnected through the thin piece of crispy sheet. The shape of this gyoza is rounder and more plum compared to the traditional gyoza. The skin of the hane gyoza is thicker and the fillings do not have the strong smell of chives, that usually come with regular gyoza.

Hane Gyoza

Hane Gyoza

For the grill section, we started with grilled vegetables. Onion ($3.20), Garlic ($3.20), Pepper ($3.20), Lady Finger ($3.20), Sweet Corn ($3.20), Oyster Mushroom ($3.20) and Shiitake Mushroom ($3.20). I must say, we are very surprised with the quality of the grilled vegetables. They are probably one of the best that we ever tried in izakaya around Singapore.

The Grilled Vegetables, Meat & Hane Gyoza

Sweet Corn - 2nd Round

We peel the onion layer by layer and each one of them is sweet and juicy. The oyster mushroom is tasty and plump. LD and RM enjoy the pepper and lady fingers, the vegetables that I don’t like. Not forgetting, the sweet corn, which has a nice balance of charred and sweetness. We ordered a second round because it was awesome.

Grilled Oysters Mushroom, Lady Finger, Shiitake Mushroom & Beef Ribeye

Grilled Onion

Grilled Paprika

For the grilled appetizer. Grilled Chicken Mid Wings ($8.90) are well marinated, succulent and full of flavours. We would prefer it to be crispier externally, however, the wet marinate does not allowed for super crisp skin.

Grilled Chicken Mid Wings

Grilled Chicken Mid Wing

Grilled Pork Belly ($9.80) is juicy and tender, while Yaki Ika (Squid, $10.90) is soft with a nice chewiness in each bite. While Grilled Shishamo ($6.80) get our seal of approval as well.

Grilled Pork Belly

Yaki Ika

Grilled Shisamo

For the protein on skewers, we tried Beef Ribeye Skewer ($4.20) and Chicken Thigh with Scallion ($4.20). The beef ribeye skewer is a must-order. Small cuts of beef are held together by the skewer, delivering juicy and well-marinated MOO MOO. I suggest you eat this while it is hot, if not the beef will be chewy.

Beef Ribeye Skewer

The chicken thigh with scallion has a crispy exterior with juicy and succulent interior. I did not try the scallion, but I enjoy the chicken very much.

Chicken Thigh with Scallion & Grilled Garlic

To accompany your meal at Tora Hachi, the group ordered Asahi Draft ($7.90, 300ml), Asahi Black ($8.90, 300ml). Since I can’t drink, I stick with Ice Genmai Tea ($2.80) and Coke Zero ($2.80).

Asahi Draft & Asahi Black 300ml

The décor of this place will make you feel like you enter an Izakaya somewhere in Japan. The front of the shop is decorated with big sake barrels, and once you enter the shop you will see the red lantern hanging from the wall all the walls are covered with Japanese illustration with red as the predominant colour. The dining tables and chairs are made from wood, complete with the QR code sticker to see the menu and place your order.

Part of the Dining Area

Part of the Dining Area

Overall, we find the food at Tora Hachi to be very comforting. The Hiyashi Udon, Gyudon, grilled vegetables (especially the grilled sweet corn), beef ribeye skewers and pork belly are a must order here. Tora Hachi delivers comforting and reasonably priced food and drink. However, I think there is room for improvements in the menu at Tora Hachi to cater for the more sophisticated clientele in the Holland Village area and stamp their presence there. Kanpai!! Cheers!!

Thank you very much Tora Hachi Team for the invitation and for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 7/10

Value: 8/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Tora Hachi Japanese Grill & Restaurant

29 Lor Mambong

Singapore 277687

T: +65 9067 3489

W: https://tora-hachi-jp-grill-restaurant.business.site/

F: https://www.facebook.com/ToraHachi8/

IG: @Tora.hachi8

OH:

Sun – Thu: 11.00 – 23.00

Fri & Sat: 11.00 – Midnight

Menu Available Online