Tired of picking up the same old takeaways from within and around your local neighbourhood or when you’re on the way home? Need to add actual, extra flavourful options to your everyday food delivery choices? Then read on to spice up your life (or, at least for your next meal at home); take your time ordering and sweating it out (literally, till Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) ends) with the hot stuff from these 4 tried and beloved Asian cafés and resto chains.
Bangkok Jam
Thai food is a firm favourite with the folk here in SG – no surprises, given how traditional Thai cuisine is a tongue-tingling blend of spicy, tangy, sweet and sour. And, if you want a good, dependable Thai resto that plates up comfort food that’s refined for the urban palate, then Bangkok Jam is your go-to and mainstay; it opened at Great World City (as it was known back then; now it’s just known as Great World) in 2007, with three centrally located outlets now in operation. And, while we might not have to intro you to the good old faves such as its Red Tom Yum Soup with Seafood ($12.73) and Fish Head in Tom Yum Curry ($29.85), we do have to bring your attention to its current “Stay Home Special” value meals where its signature dishes such as Spicy Mango Salad, Clear Tom Yum Soup, Tom Yum Fried Rice and more are going for a wallet-friendly $8.80. Need a feast for the fam? Then opt for its “Family Sets” that are suited for 4 to 5 peeps, with each – the Communal Family Set ($109.14), Seafood Splendour Set ($109.14) or Best of Thai Set ($110.21) – featuring an assortment of its best-selling appetisers, mains and drinks. Cool down with its “Stay Home Dessert Special”; try the tart Calamansi Tart ($8.80) or stick with the more traditional Mango Sticky Rice ($8.80).
Bangkok Jam, multiple locations, www.bangkokjam.com.sg; www.facebook.com/BangkokJamSingapore; www.instagram.com/bangkokjam.sg
BONUS: Once (and if) dining in resumes after 18 August 2021, SAFRA members can get to enjoy 20% off ala carte food items with a minimum $50 spend at Bangkok Jam (only valid for Monday to Thursday, except for public holidays, special occasions and their respective eves). Click here for more information.
Siam Kitchen (at SAFRA Toa Payoh)
Okay, so here’s the diff for these two resto chains, Siam Kitchen and Bangkok Jam, that are owned by local food empire Creative Eateries: The former is touted as a halal, authentic home-styled and Thai street food resto, while the latter offers more modern twists and takes on Thai fare, with both serving equally yummy and piquant dishes. Onto Siam Kitchen; a quick perusal through its Oddle site (for island-wide delivery) tosses up some nice-n-spicy suspects: Green Papaya Salad ($10.59), Northern Style Hanglay Curry with Beef ($15.94) and Stir-fried Spicy Chicken with Yellow Paste ($14.87) are but some. But, if you intend to big up on variety and value on your home dining, then pick from any of its four Family Sets (A to D; $101.72 each) that’s right-sized for a family of 4 or 5 and filled with various, flavourful dishes; our reco’s Set A, if you fancy more fiery mains, as it has Green Curry Chicken as well as Sambal Fried Rice with Chicken.
Siam Kitchen, multiple locations, https://siamkitchen.com.sg; www.facebook.com/SiamKitchen.sg; www.instagram.com/siamkitchensg
BONUS: SAFRA members can enjoy a 1-for-1 Thai Iced Milk Tea, Lemongrass Tea or Lemon Tea (U.P. $5.90) at Siam Kitchen at SAFRA Toa Payoh. Once (and if) dining in resumes after 18 August 2021, SAFRA members can also get to receive 20% off ala carte food items with a minimum $50 spend at Siam Kitchen (only valid for Monday to Thursday, except for public holidays, special occasions and their respective eves). Click here and here, respectively, for more information.
Heavenly Wang (at SAFRA Mount Faber)
Just want to have a slight kick to your food but can’t take the heat? Then you might just want to try the local-flavoured options at the Heavenly Wang outlet at SAFRA Mount Faber. Yes, the cafe doesn’t just dole out your usual cups of teh and kopi and slices of crispy toast bread, but also spiced-up main meals, too. First up, there’s familiar, savoury noodle dishes such as Laksa and Mee Rebus, the two being part of a special Takeaway Deal for 2 ($12; U.P. $15) that has both these dishes accompanied by a cup of Homemade Barley and a cup Ice Lemon Tea drink. Or, if chicken and rice is more your thing, there are its three Nasi Lemak Favourites (ala carte, $7.80; set with a cup of Homemade Barley, $8.50). The Ayam Lemak tender coconut curry chicken slow-cooked in a sweet and savoury spiced gravy; the Ayam Bakar has sedap kecap manis sauce drizzled atop crispy-skinned, grilled chicken; and the Ayam Goreng Kremes showcases crispy fried chicken that’s marinated with aromatic spices and made even more crispy with extra flakes on top. What’s more, you can choose one of three types of rice – Nasi Lemak (coconut rice), Nasi Kuning (turmeric rice) or Nasi Ulam (mixed herb rice) – to pair with your chicken dish of choice. Whatever chicken and rice set you choose, each is served with a dollop of sambal manis, a hard boiled egg and ikan bilis.
Heavenly Wang, 2 Telok Blangah Way, SAFRA Mount Faber, #01-05, 098803, www.wangcafe.com/HeavenlyWang; www.facebook.com/WangCafeSg; www.instagram.com/wangcafesg
TIP: SAFRA members can enjoy the abovementioned Heavenly Wang takeaway deals at the Heavenly Wang outlet at SAFRA Mount Faber. Click here for more information.
Sakunthala’s Restaurant (at SAFRA Mount Faber)
If you need sheer variety in halal-certified spicy food, then dip into home-grown Sakunthala’s Restaurant’s myriad of offerings. Though it specialises in home-style Indian cooked fare, the iconic family-friendly resto chain also pushes out Asian fusion with a range of familiar dishes from South Indian, North Indian and Chinese cuisine. You can find everything from rolls, salads and snacks such as mini samosas and fried pakora, to breads such as prata, naan and murtabak, to different kinds of biryani rice and local noodle faves such as maggie goreng and mee hoon goreng at any of its six outlets. For spicier fare, try its Chilli Fish (fried boneless fish cubes with chilli), Prawn Jalfrazie (prawns stir-fried and served in a thick spicy curry sauce) or the ever-dependable Curry Fish. Just a tip: you might want to look at the respective menus of each outlet (available online on the resto’s main site) for the options available and the prices (they are different for takeaway and for home delivery). Or, you can simply head to our SAFRA promotions page (see below) for Sakunthala’s Restaurant to make your choice that much easier (and value-laden)!
Sakunthala’s Restaurant, multiple locations, including 2 Telok Blangah Way, SAFRA Mount Faber, #01-07, 098803, www.sakunthalas.com; www.facebook.com/Sakunthalas.Restaurant; www.instagram.com/sakunthalas.restaurant
BONUS: SAFRA members get to enjoy a Takeaway Special Package ($39.90); free delivery for home orders above $120 (with a minimum spend of $40 for home delivery); and other deals at Sakunthala’s Restaurant at SAFRA Mount Faber. Click here for more information.
