Straits Express @ Kallang Wave Mall

~Invited Session~

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The Straits Express, a new Straits settlement-themed restaurant that serves 3 types of cuisines by its true-to-cuisine chefs; decorated Peranankan chef, Philip Chia, Penang-born street-food chef, Frankie Ooi, and Singapore’s own Anglo-Hainanese chef, Bermuda Say.

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Penang food always tempts!

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Calamansi

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Penang Fried Kway Teow ($9)

With all the penang char kuay teows I have been stuffing myself with, it is a matter of time I fly myself to Penang again for the real deal.

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This is similar to the CKT we have locally where chicken egg is used.

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A dash of lime is important for that zestiness and the aid with the jelard feeling after eating too much of this. I found this average though, as compared to the authentic.

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Penang Assam Laksa ($8)

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Another tall mountain to climb with this Penang signature as well. It lacked some punch in the tangyness expected of the rich broth, rather mild which possibly fits the local palette better.

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Nyonya Mee Siam ($8)

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This nonya meesiam also missed the spicy mark by a couple of notches, great for those who crave one without the spice.

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Penang Lor Bak ($8)

The Lor Bak however, is definitely worth seconds. Plump meat rolls wrapped with beancurd skin and deep fried.

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Oxtail Stew ($18.50)

Wholesome stew that bears some Hainanese association - word has it that in the past, cooks were tasked to create dishes with an asian touch and that was how dishes like oxtail stew and hainanese pork chops were conceived.

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This is possibly one of those stews that I eat for flavour rather than meat.

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Nyonya Chap Chye ($9.50)



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Fried Icecream 

I remember eating it for the first time in the old Tiong Bahru Hawker Center before the major overhaul and it had a fried fritter around it and deep fried. I never got down to decoding the science behind it but the combination of hot and cold was a memorable one.

This had a thick crepe-like casing over it and within was an all too familiar vanilla icecream, served with whipped cream and cherries.

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Durian Pengat ($4.50)

Pungent and sweet, it was a very decent and affordable durian pengat in my opinion.

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Black Glutinous Rice

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Ice Kachang

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Milk Tea

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Recipes for sharing comes from a book written by one of their stellar chefs, Chef Philip Chia.

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If all else fails, the view outside the restaurant is quite a killer.

Kallang Wave Mall is home to a number of eateries and Straits Express is one of the hugely crowded ones. A suggested itinerary for an intended visit would be to check out NTUC Express, dine at Straits Express, wine by their bar with a resident band and take a lovely stroll by the river.

Straits Express
Kallang Wave Mall

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