Are you a foodie who is obsessed with Asian food or just someone who caught the travel bug but can’t find time to travel?
Good news. You can now tour Asia without leaving Singapore.
How? Go on a food trail at these malls in the west and have a taste of flavours from around the region.
You can even convert your spendings into cash vouchers through a mission-based challenge that’s going on now at the malls.
Westgate
You can start your ‘travels’ at Westgate, conveniently located right outside Jurong East MRT station and with plenty of food options available.
Gochi-so Shokudo (#01-02)
First stop, Japan.
Hop on the Japan bandwagon by visiting Japanese eateries and restaurants, like Gochi-so Shokudo.
At Gochi-so Shokudo, you can enjoy tasty Iberico pork, barbecued to crispy and savoury perfection, with your rice.
Iberico char siew and loin katsu set. Image courtesy of Gochi-so Shokudo.
To celebrate the launch of the savoury new menu item, you can enjoy the Iberico char siew don for just S$8.80.
Want something crispy fried to go with the barbecued meat?
Get the Iberico char siew and and Iberico loin katsu for just S$10.80.
The best part? You can enjoy these promotional prices everyday.
Pavilion Banana Leaf (#02-28)
At Westgate, you’ll also get the chance to transport yourself to India at Pavilion Banana Leaf.
Expect classic Indian dishes but with a fancy twist.
Try, for example, their lamb shank biryani (S$35.00++).
Lamb shank biryani. Image courtesy of Pavilion Banana Leaf.
You can also find sharing dishes like fish head curry (S$30.90++).
Fish head curry. Image courtesy of Pavilion Banana Leaf.
IMM
I don’t know about you, but each time I’m on holiday, I start missing food from home at some point during the trip.
For a taste of local cuisine, drop by IMM.
Hainan Second Street (#02-38-38A)
At Hainan Second Street, you’ll find heritage dishes that we all love, such as Hainan chicken rice (S$7.30) to eggs and kaya toast set (S$5.70).
Hainan chicken rice. Image courtesy of Hainan Second Street.
It’s a no frills eatery that’s perfect if you’re going through one of those days where you just don’t feel like fussing over your food and want something reliable but delicious.
However, if you do want some frills, they also have fancier menu items like the Iberico Pork Steamboat Set for two (S$69).
White Restaurant (#02-24)
For something truly local, head to White Restaurant and order a plate of their Signature White Beehoon (S$8.50).
Signature White Beehoon. Image courtesy of White Restaurant.
If you’re dining out with a group, White Restaurant’s menu also has staples for sharing like Traditional Sweet and Sour Pork (from S$14.30) or Signature Meat and Seafood Roll (from S$14.80).
Image courtesy of White Restaurant.
White Restaurant’s IMM branch is having a promotion right now.
If you’re ordering the regular-priced a la carte items (excluding noodle and rice dishes) on a weekday, you’ll enjoy a 25 per cent discount from 11am to 12pm, and 30 per cent from 3pm to 6pm.
Lot One
Travel a little north-west, and you’ll find more Asian delicacies on offer.
TamJai SamGor Mixian (#B1-10/11)
For a taste of something from Hong Kong, visit Tamjai Samgor Mixian.
At TamJai SamGor, you’ll be able to customise your bowl of noodles to your liking.
You pick a soup base, choose your toppings, and then select one of 10 spice levels.
The menu also offers a la carte items like chicken mid-wings, sliced pork belly with mashed garlic, and poached vegetables to add a little twist to your meal.
With its wide range of menu items and customisable noodles, TamJai SamGor mixian will be ideal for solo diners as well as groups with varied preferences.
Image courtesy of Tamjai SamGor Mixian.
Visit Tamjai SamGor Mixian now and you’ll get to enjoy two combos that will leave both you and your wallet full.
The SG Fav combo is priced at S$13.80 before service charge and GST and comes with the following:
- Soup base of your choice
- Pork, lettuce, tofu puffs (three pieces), minced pork
- Drink of your choice
The Confirm Shiok combo is priced at S$15.80 before service charge and GST and comes with the following:
- Soup base of your choice
- Premium beef slices, tail-on shrimp (three pieces), pork liver, tofu puffs (three pieces), enoki mushroom
- Drink of your choice
Image courtesy of TamJai SamGor Mixian.
Tori Story (#B1-K2)
Want to feel like you’re a salaryman rushing to work during peak hour Tokyo?
Grab Japanese skewers on the go at Tori Story.
At Tori Story, you’ll get yakitori delights like chicken skewers, chicken gyoza, tamagoyaki on a stick, and even chicken tail.
If you’re looking for a more complete meal, pick out one of Tori Story’s bento boxes, starting at S$6.90.
Image courtesy of Tori Story.
Tori Story also has side dishes like Mentai Mayo Ebi Tempura (S$5.50) for when you feel extra special and want to treat yourself to something more.
Image courtesy of Tori Story.
Bukit Panjang Plaza
Finally, end your journey in the west at Bukit Panjang Plaza, where Taiwanese night market snacks and a refreshing new tea shop await.
Xi Men Jie (#01-60/61)
If you’re craving classic Taiwanese night market street snacks but don’t want to fly all the way to Taiwan just to satiate your desires, head to Bukit Panjang Plaza instead.
Located at level one of the mall, Xi Men Jie has been cooking up Taiwanese flavours in Singapore since 2005.
You’ll find classics such as oyster mee sua (S$6.50 / S$7.50), braised pork rice (S$6.50 / S$7.50), chicken cutlet (S$6.50), and a variety of bubble tea flavours.
Braised pork rice. Image courtesy of Xi Men Jie.
Oyster mee sua. Image courtesy of Xi Men Jie.
Yes Lemon (#02-22)
Another day, another fresh bubble tea brand to rave about.
Well, Yes Lemon isn’t so much a ‘bubble tea’ with a selection of milk teas to choose from.
It’s more like fruit tea, but for a specific fruit — citrus lemon.
Originating from Nanjing, the lemon tea specialists have now arrived on Singapore’s shores with their first outlet at Bukit Panjang Plaza.
You might be thinking, “what’s so special about iced lemon tea?”
Yes Lemon mixes their drinks using citrus lemons specially picked from Guangdong which are freshly punched when you order your drink.
If you’re in the mood for something refreshing and tangy, Yes Lemon’s menu offers a variety of options to help quench your thirst.
Image courtesy of Yes Lemon.
Thai iced lemon tea. Image courtesy of Yes Lemon.
Image courtesy of Yes Lemon.
Journey to the West
There you have it.
You now have a way to curb your travel bug or satisfy your Asian food cravings without having to take a long flight
Just hop on a bus, train or cab and head to Bukit Panjang Plaza, Lot One, IMM and Westgate and explore Asia and the world through your stomach.
Besides enjoying tasty food, from now until Oct. 13, 2024, you’ll get to participate in the Shop To The Top challenge and stand to win eCapitalandVoucher (eCV) when you spend at any of the four malls.
The mission-based challenge requires you to spend S$80 in any of these four categories:
- Glamour (Beauty & Fashion)
- Gourmet (F&B)
- HomeTech (Home & Electronics)
- Lifestyle (selected Supermarket + Specialty Mart + Value Stores + Hobbies & Leisure)
With each spending requirement met, you’ll receive one mission stamp and S$5 eCV.
The first 1000 shoppers to complete all four missions will get a bonus S$10 eCV.
You can combine receipts for each mission but only up to a maximum of four.
For more details on the challenge mechanics, participating stores and voucher availability, check out the Shop To The Top website here.
The bonus S$10 eCV is still up for grabs, so get to it while you can!
Menu promotions are also for a limited-time only, so check in-store for more details or the latest promotions.
The writer of this sponsored article REALLY wants to try Misty Mountain Dragon Well Tea from Yes Lemon.
Top image via Pavilion Banana Leaf, Gochi-so Shokudo, Yes Lemon