5 Unlikely but Yummy Finds at a Food Court!

Local meal options have vastly diversified over the last century to include foods from all over the world. I get that adrenaline rush just thinking about travelling abroad in search for Thai dessert or Japanese cuisine, but the fast-paced demands of our Singapore work culture makes it difficult for us to travel often. Now, prepare to be transported to different countries at Food Republic @ Westgate. They have 5 unique and “unlikely” dishes that might just curb your wanderlust.

Soup Guru

Soup Guru is definitely THE stall to patronise if you crave delicious and nutritious Chinese soups. One of their must-tries is the 客家姜酒鸡 Hakka Ginger Wine Chicken with White Rice ($7), which is not commonly found elsewhere. For those who are not aware, yellow wine is traditionally made by Hakkas at home and the fermentation process of the wine takes no less than 3 months. Soup Guru ferments its own Chinese wine for this nourishing dish. West-siders are in for a treat!

Following the traditional Hakka preparation method,黄酒 yellow wine is added to enhance the delicate aroma of the chicken soup. Every spoonful rewards you with a thick and flavourful chicken essence that will make you yearn for more. Not only is it delicious, the soup promises to nourish both the body and soul with an infusion of herbs, such as ginger and red dates. There’s also a subtle burn which will invigorate those who are tired after a long day of work. The soup pairs excellently with moist olive rice.

An unusual alternative is the Hakka Lei Cha Brown Rice (客家雷茶, $6.50), which sees an array of herbaceous greens lying on a bed of brown rice. A bowl of hearty basil tea rice is served separately too. Either mix the tea into the rice till you achieve your desired thickness or eat it separate – which is just the way we like it! Soup Guru is your go-to stall if you fancy a taste of tradition.

Tempura Fuji

Nestled in the heart of Food Republic is Tempura Fuji, a joint dedicated to freshly prepared Tempura. Unique to Tempura Fuji is the self service kiosk where patrons can choose from numerous tempura options (prices ranging from $0.90 to $3.90).

Some of our favourite picks include Chicken Katsu ($3.90), Sweet Potato ($0.90) and Shrimp ($1.90), all of which are battered and deep fried to perfection. Enhance the flavour of the tempura by adding a splash of light dipping sauce! Best of all, you can avoid worrying about beating the lunch crowd for seats when patronizing Tempura Fuji because it features a mini restaurant that’s great for dining in!

Board and Basket

Board And Basket whips up savoury and sweet Western dishes that are available at wallet-friendly prices! With the recent surge in the popularity of salted egg yolk dishes, Board And Basket has also jumped on the bandwagon with their East-meets-West Salted Egg Chicken with Pasta ($7.90).

The creamy and savoury sauce is made from scratch, before it is added to the pasta and fried chicken.

Imagine the sheer joy on the faces of the young and those with a sweet tooth when the Waffles with Chocolate Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream ($4.90) is served. I was delighted to learn that the chef was previously from Gelare, so diners can expect crisp and light waffles. Diners can also opt for other ice cream flavours to go with your waffles.

Thu Thu Baguette and Pho House

Food Republic houses a delicatessen, Thu Thu, which serves a variety of authentic Vietnamese cuisine. For a quick, convenient, yet delicious option, we suggest the Signature Pork Baguette ($6.50) or commonly known as Vietnamese Banh Mi.

Sandwiched between two halves of baguette are pieces of fatty pork belly that are grilled separately. A generous amount of lightly pickled radish and carrot shreds, as well as coriander sprigs, are then added. Remember to request for an extra dose of chilli sauce and mayonnaise from their friendly staff!

JJ Thai

You know you’re in for an authentic Thai experience when you hear the chefs conversing loudly in Thai and working with Asian aromatics such as fish sauce and coconut milk. If you frequent Thailand, you’ll be glad to know that you can find many familiar dishes including Pad Thai ($5) and Tom Yum Fried Rice ($5) here.

Opt for a rich and creamy serving of Thai Red Ruby ($2.90) if you’ll like to end your meal with a sweet treat. Swimming in Pandan-scented coconut milk are huge, crunchy water chestnuts that are deliciously addictive. You just can’t quit after one spoonful. Get the Thai Red Ruby for only $1 when you purchase any of their mains!

The diversity of cuisine found in Food Republic @ Westgate is unparalleled. They offer the best of hawker cuisines and multi-cultural food to everyone in the vicinity.

5 lucky readers will walk away with a $20 Voucher from Food Republic. Check out our Facebook page to take part!

This post was brought to you by Food Republic.