Niu Dian Bugis Junction – Braised Pork Belly and Yakiniku Pork [MEDIA INVITE]

Niu Dian, Michelin Bib Gourmand Taiwanese Beef Noodles has opened their 3rd outlet in Singapore. It is located in at Bugis Junction and they have officially launched their new curated dishes, that has NO BEEF.

Niu Dian @ Bugis Junction

These new creations will feature in-house made braised and yakiniku sauces, meticulously prepared following time-honoured Taiwanese recipe. The latest additions are Braised Pork Belly Rice Bowl, Braised Pork Belly Noodles, and Yakiniku Pork Pearl Rice Bowl.

Salted Vegetable &
Beef Bone Marrow Chilli Oil

Yakiniku Pork Pearl Rice Bowl ($15.90) – served with a bowl of soup. The grilled pork sits on the bed Taiwanese pearl rice, bask in yakiniku sauce and soft scrambled egg. I can taste the fatty texture in the juicy pork meat. The yakiniku sauce is sweet and pack with umami flavour, complimented by the scrambled eggs and chopped onions. The sesame seeds and furikake sprinkle on top add a pleasant aroma and different flavour to the rice bowl.

Yakiniku Pork Pearl Rice Bowl 

Braised Pork Belly Noodles ($16.90) – dry version, served with braised egg, blanched vegetables and salted vegetable. This signature noodle is silky and bouncy, coated with the pork braising sauce. The pork belly is fork tender and infused with braising sauce like traditional Taiwanese “Lu Rou Fan”. The taste of the Taiwanese braising sauce is subtle compare to Singaporean braised pork belly. LD adds the chilli sauce in the noodle and she said it brought up the flavour.

Braised Pork Belly Noodles 

For the side dishes, we have Cold Century Egg Tofu with Bonito Flakes ($5.90) and Braised Beancurd ($3.90). Served cold, the tofu is soft and silky, topped with century egg, covered with sweet brown gravy and loads of shaved bonito. The overall dish is just creamy, refreshing finished off with umami flavour from the gravy and bonito.

Cold Century Egg Tofu with Bonito Flakes

The braised beancurd supposed to be serve warm. This time the braised beancurd was served at room temperature. Kind of missing the traditional smoky flavour that usually found in Taiwan.

Braised Beancurd

For the drink, we ordered the Lime & Sour Plum Green Tea with Aiyu Jelly ($5.70) and Lychee Mint Black Tea ($5.70). Both teas complemented our meal nicely. The Lime & Sour Plum balance the “jelakness” from the meal. While the Lychee Mint offer a refreshing end to the meal.

Lime & Sour Plum Green Tea with Aiyu Jelly 

Lychee Mint Black Tea 

Overall, the new dishes provided beef alternative for the diners. Initially, only Black Sesame Sauce Noodles were available. Now, diners can choose from more options like Braised Pork Belly Pearl Rice Bowl, Braised Pork Belly Noodles, and Yakiniku Pork Noodles. Cheers!!

Part of Dining Area

Thank you very much Protegie and Niu Dian Beef Noodles for the invitation.

For the full review of Niu Dian Beef Noodle (Click Here) and Niu Dian Beef Rice Bowl (Click Here)

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 7/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7/10

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

Niu Dian @Bugis Junction

200 Victoria Street

#02-50, Bugis Juntion

Singapore 188021

W: https://linktr.ee/niudiansg

F: www.facebook.com/niudiansg/

IG: @niudiansg

OH:

Sun – Thu: 11.00– 21.30

Fri & Sat: 11.00 – 22.00 (LO 21.30)

Menu available from the website.

The Gyu Co – Seriously Awesome Gyudon [MEDIA INVITE]

Classic Gyudon plus Meal Set

The Gyu Co present to you their humble Gyudonya. Located at Vision Exchange, Jurong East, The Gyu Co focused on everything about Gyu (beef). Currently, The Gyu Co focused on churning out Gyudonya before adding new creations for their dinner service menu at a later stage.

The Gyu Co

Classic Gyudon ($9.90 for reg, $15.90 for double meat). I was scratching my head at first when I saw the price. I was not sure what to expect as most premium Gyudonya is usually priced from $16 and above.

Classic Gyudon plus Meal Set

The plating is neat, showcasing all the toppings blanketing the rice completely. You can see the sliced beef, onsen egg, the homemade sauce with its root vegetables, pickled ginger and spring onion.

Australian Wagyu Beef

The beef has a good marbling, it is juicy and succulent. The onsen egg is cooked to perfection, the yolk gently flows into the toppings when you poke it. Meanwhile, the homemade sauce is thick, sweet yet mellow perfectly bind all the ingredients together. You can also see the sliced burdock root spread all over the topping. It is comforting, very delicious gyudon and worth every cent.

Burdock Root

Truffle Foie Gras Gyudon ($17.90 for reg, $23.90 for double meat). While the basic ingredients are the same as the classic gyudon, the shaved truffle and pan-fried foie gras are added to this bowl. If you serve this bowl in a high-end Japanese restaurant, you are looking at a substantial dent in your pocket.

Truffle Foie Gras Gyudon

There is one thick cut of foie gras served on top, plus a few smaller pieces hidden below the toppings. LD and I notice that the truffle aroma is very delicate, unlike those stinkers from artificial truffle oils. The use of shave truffle enhances the overall flavour of the gyudon. After you mixed all the ingredients evenly, you can taste the foie gras in each scoop of the rice. Yummy!!

Truffle Foie Gras Gyudon

The hidden Foie Gras

You can complete each gyudon / don with Make it a set! Miso + Chawanmushi + Drink ($3.50). The chawanmushi is filled with extra ingredients, such as Japanese fish cake, bits of prawns and sliced mushrooms. The flavour of the chawanmushi is on the lighter side and the same can be expected with their miso soup. According to Wilson, the owner, this is to cater “health-conscious” lunch crowd from in the building.

Make it a Set! Drink

He also highlighted that most of the ingredients like the sauces and even slicing of the beef are made in house and from scratch. Therefore, their gyudon has its own unique flavour and tasted delicious.

Chicken Karaage

Chicken Karaage ($5). It is crisp externally, followed by juicy and succulent flesh. It is served with generous dollops of mayonnaise, furikake plus healthy cabbage and lettuce at the bottom. Missing from this side dish is a slice of lemon, which might further enhance the taste.

Chicken Karaage

The Chicken

The décor is simple. Due to the size of the shop, most of the seats will be located outside the shop. Service is limited but friendly. You grab a seat, place your order at the cashier, play with your handphone and wait till your food comes.

CBK Verdict: A very nice Gyudon and value for money. Definitely worth a visit. If I work nearby or stay in the West, I will have the gyudon regularly. Cheers!!

Menu 1

Menu 2

Thank you very much Protegie Consultancy and The Gyu Co team for hosting us.

Food & Drinks: 8/10

Value: 8.5/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 6/10

Budget per Person: $11 - $25

The Gyu Co

2 Venture Dr

#02-35 Vision Exchange

Singapore 608526

T: +65 8233 9138

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

IG: @Thegyuco

OH:

Mon – Sat: 11.30 – 14.00; 17.00 - 21.00

*Limited to 100 portions per meal service

[CLOSED] Bowls & Bites – Delicious, Health, Wholesome Meal [MEDIA INVITE]

Truffle Beef Bowl 

Bowls & Bites is a new concept by the folks behind Black Fairy Coffee. Bowls & Bites (“BB”) aim to deliver an enchanting experience through good food and drinks. Located in CBD, BB offers a hearty, wholesome and nutritious meal followed by an extensive Happy Hour and value alcohol offerings.

Bowls & Bites

We started the tasting with BB signature Truffle Beef Bowl ($15.90) with additional Foie Gras ($3). For the base, you can choose between Pearl Rice, Brown Rice or Salad. The toppings include medium-rare beef tenderloin that delivers a lean yet tender protein, onsen egg, boiled broccoli and furikake Together with diced foie gras and truffle oil, it’s like a flavour bomb happening in your mouth.

Truffle Beef Bowl 

I realised the base sauce for this beef bowl is on the sweet side. Luckily, each rice bowls are served with apple salad. It is crunchy and slightly sourish, mixed with dried cranberries which helps to balance the rice bowl perfectly. There is an option to get the large version for ($8.90), it is good to have it on its own or as a main meal.

Beef Tenderloin

Apple Salad with dried Cranberry

Mentaiko Salmon Bowl ($14.90). Brown Rice, Salmon topped with Mentaiko sauce, onsen egg and broccoli. The brown rice is tasty and crunchy, the mentaiko sauce paired well with the salmon. The salmon is a bit overcooked of my liking, as it tasted dry without the mentaiko sauce.

Mentaiko Salmon Bowl

The Salmon

Rustic Beef Stew ($14.90). This is one of my comfort foods. A huge chunk of beef, stewed with potato, carrots and herbs. BB uses a leaner cut of the beef, however, I tasted three different parts of the beef: the lean meat, tendon and also the fats. The broth of the stew is on the lighter side and soaked up nicely by the toasted ciabatta. For small eater, this dish can easily satisfy two people.

Rustic Beef Stew

Rustic Beef Stew

We washed down the meal with refreshing Lemongrass Pandan ($4 for cold) and Grapefruit Pomelo ($4 for Cold).

Grapefruit Pamelo & Lemongrass Pandan

The furnishing of the place is simple yet attractive. A combination of a gold colour steel base and walnut are used for the high table and chairs. There are two seating areas, inside the China Square Food Centre and outdoor, just beside the entrance to the food centre. However, most of the glass window and walls are covered with alcohol promotions.

Part of Indoor Dining Area

Food Menu

Drink Menu

Overall, Bowls & Bites cater to the CBD dining trend. It provides a delicious, healthy and wholesome meal for lunch, followed by long happy hours for the after-office hour crowd. The Truffle Beef Bowl and Rustic Beef Stew is a must-try. Cheers!!

Note:

- This Media Tasting is conducted before the Phase 2 Heightened Alert.

- During this P2HA, Bowls & Bites only catered for Islandwide Delivery only, from 10AM to 8PM daily. Order through WhatsApp 8444 0352 or visit order.tabsquare.ai/BowlsandBites

- Check out Bowls & Bites FB page for more details here.

Thank you very much Protegie PR and Bowls & Bites Team for hosting us.

Food & Drinks: 7/10

Value: 7/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 6.5/10

Budget per Person: $11 - $25

Bowls & Bites

51 Telok Ayer Street

#01-03 China Square Food Centre

Singapore 048441

T: +65 8444 0352

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

IG: @Bowlsnbites.sg

Order: https://www.blackfairycoffee.com/fgv

OH:

Mon – Fri: 10.00 – 20.00

Sat – Sun: Closed