Best of 2013

Apparently, my 2013 new year's resolution, like one of the gazillion people in the world out there, is the oft-made-but-quickly-abandoned "lose weight". A big contribution is because I love eating waaaay too much to diet! So anyways, here are my very favourite eats of 2013 that contributed to the failure of that resolution.

Best "Fast Food": Omakase's burgers are sumptuously juicy you'll be wiping the dribble off your chin. Oh and they offer root beer floats too!

Best Cantonese: It's a toss up between Li Bai and Wah Lok. Both venerable institutions of Cantonese fine-dining, the food is always reliable, albeit "boringly traditional", at the former and the latter really shines through their dinner menu for classic Cantonese done right.

Best Peranakan: Violet Oon's Kitchen, one of the best things about living in the west. Their pulut hitam is to-die-for.

Best Italian: Cugini for rustic Sardinian cuisine and Valentino for refined Italian home-cooking.

Best old-school restaurant: Beng Hiang for its braised duck with sea cucumber in claypot. It's old-school comfort food bubbling in a hotpot.

Best Brunch: The eggs benedict at Choupinette and for the ultimate in luxurious decadence, the Sunday Champagne Brunch at Checkers Brasserie.

Best Dessert Bakery: Fluff Bakery, their cupcakes are so good you'd gladly break any diet for.

Best Festive Market: Geylang Serai Hari Raya Bazaar, all of the Malay street food is so finger-licking good here, you'll happily brave the crowd.

Best Childhood throwback: Economic bee hoon at Yip Economical Bee Hoon at Bukit Merah and the chicken wings at Economic Bee Hoon at Redhill Market opened by the original person behind Eng Kee.

Best Salads: The Lawn for their barbecued bite-sized meats scattered atop fresh crisp greens. And now that they have a second outlet in the CBD, eating healthier has never been as enjoyable!

Best Indian: Samy's Curry, don't leave without trying their chicken masala, it's tongue-numbingly spicy but so awesome your fired-up-and-very-upset stomach will gratefully thank you for it.

Best Japanese: 2013 was the year of ramens. I've eaten waaaay more ramen than I should, but they were all (mostly) good I couldn't muster the regret. The Spicy Miso at Come-In-Hokkaido and Spicy Black at Ippudo get my votes for the best of the lot.

Best Cheap Eats: Shen Ji Chicken Rice at Tanglin Halt and hawker centre bastardised western food at No. 1 Western Food at Tanglin Halt Food Centre.

Most Consistent: The Imperial Treasure group hits it right out of the ballpark again with their newest, Imperial Treasure Shanghai Cuisine. A must-try is their smoked duck with tea leaves. You'd be remiss if you didn't. 

Special Mention(s) to my fail-safe favourite restaurants, evidenced by my loyal patronage thereof: Lei Garden, SPRMRKT, Crystal Jade Golden Palace, Wild Honey, Cherry Garden, Jumbo.

Here's to even more awesome eats in 2014, Happy New Year everyone! 

Comments

yixiao said…
No mention of Imperial Treasure? Perhaps for Most Consistent Chain? Great round-up nonetheless. Glad it isn't filled with cliche IT restaurants.

Happy 2014!
2.1.14
Bern said…
ahh, you've given me a great idea! i didn't want to repeat those from the "best of 2012" list u see.

here's wishing u a wonderful 2014 too!
2.1.14
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