Discover Japan, the land of contrast and rich culture
I booked my flight to Japan a week prior to the departure on 22 July and thereafter, started planning and booking accommodations. To explore more cities, I flew into NRT (Narita Intl Airport) and flew out of KIX (Osaka Intl Airport). I had 6 nights to immerse myself as much as possible.
How did I plan my Itinerary? I had intentions to cover Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka over the 6 nights and had read blogs, reddit review and watched multiple vlogs before pinning the exact locations. As this was a solo trip, I used Google Calendar to pre-plan the days with reminders and remember to input the location of your destinations on Google calendar invites. I received reminders on my iPhone as to what is the best time to leave to get to my next destination taking into account the traffic and never had to worry about figuring out what’s next on my list.
Need some ideas to plan your itinerary for your Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka trips? You can find it in my upcoming posts here on the places you could visit and my thoughts on it as well.
Here is a snapshot of the itinerary I had built for myself for the entire trip.
Final thoughts on the 6 nights in Japan? I should have stayed a little longer – perhaps a day or two. Perhaps I should have visited in October instead of doing a last minute trip. I would have seen a few more things in Tokyo or Kyoto and be fully present instead of rushing to the next destination. Perhaps it was the excitement or the Zen atmosphere of Kyoto that got me hooked.
As a solo traveler I met fellow solo travelers or strangers at the hotel rooftops or random cafes. Often the question I encountered was “What brings you to Japan” and I find myself answering, “I don’t know it was a random last minute trip”. Many share their passion for Japanese culture, food or the anime which amazed me as these individuals came from disparate countries but they could speak Japanese with intermediate proficiency.
Although I couldn’t speak Japanese, learning a couple of phrases before the trip helped and the staff at the restaurants get excited to help you out more when you try. That was the real charm of Japan. A developed country. Modern infrastructure, technology but English isn’t commonly spoken till today.
During one of my stints, I had the opportunity to venture around NTU and try out recommended places (by my colleagues). That being said, last August I landed back at NTU for a local semester exchange.
Well NTU Campus is huge and there are many buildings and canteens which I had a hard time navigating. If you are unsure of the locations, use google maps or ask someone for help, otherwise you would be wandering around the campus.
Friendly warning : Information presented is accurate as of early December 2020, do cross-check with other directory listings on the outlets’ operations. If there is any discrepancy, feel free to leave a comment!
Do note that there are more eateries at NTU which I couldn’t cover during my time there
North Spine Outlets
Grande Cibo
Grande Cibo is an Italian restaurant situated at North Spine Plaza, opposite Prime Supermarket. They have lunch deals from $5.90 and have a decent range of pizza and riso bowls. I liked the cozy ambiance of the restaurant but when the counter gets crowded, patrons tend to linger around the counter area making it look crowded.
I opted for the Chicken Meatball with Spicy Tofu sauce which was about $6.90. I wanted to upgrade the meal (drink+ soup of the day), but I ran out of cash.
Chicken Meatball with Spicy Tofu sauce
Thoughts : It had a manageable spice but the tofu softens the spice. Nonetheless, the sauce gave the entire Riso Bowl the flavour. This place is very popular for its pizzas so do try it if you get a chance.
The Sandwich Guys
Right next to Grande Cibo, is The Sandwich Guys. Here you can find a variety of sandwiches (like duh). Their set menus are around $6-8. I bought the Peri-Peri Chicken.
Thoughts : The sandwich was within my spice tolerance and I liked the dressing. As much as I liked the dressing, it was inconsistent throughout the sandwich, hence it might help to ask if they could add more sauce.
The Crowded Bowl
This one is a little new on the block. It is a vegetarian salad bowl place and they have a decent spread of ingredients to choose from. You might want to visit this place before the lunch crowd (12pm to 1.30pm) during the semester. I opted for their Mock Tom Yum cuttlefish, some standard vegetable toppings, olive rice, and added on the scrambled egg.
Thoughts : The scrambled egg was really good, it was creamy with that right texture but, it was a little cold. The tom yum cuttlefish wasn’t exactly what I expected and it was a moment of regret when I realised it. Other than that, its definitely one of the healthier lunch choices at North Spine!
Paik’s Bibim
There are a few outlets across the island, but there are some student promotions that you might want to check out if you are near by. Their meals start from ~$7. I found their dish pretty consistent with what I had at the marina Square outlet. However, it was slightly cheaper as I had a student discount. It would be a nice way to treat yourself (in a healthy way) after an exam or presentation!
Since I’ve previously written a review about them, check it out here!
Connect 71
This is a cozy cafe that is situated at ARC, a few hundreds metres from the Lee Wee Nam Bus Stop. They serve lunch sets, desserts and drinks. This student run cafe is a popular place for catch up with friends, dates or colleagues. Importantly, I observed some charging points at the long table!
I had the Iced Matcha Latte and have written a review on it last year, so take a look at it now!
Tea Party Express
Tea Party has finally set its foot on NTU Campus! Tea party definitely has comforting pasta and small bites for anyone to grab during their breaks or downtime. Check out the review here.
Canteen A
This canteen has been refurbished, hence the stalls differ now. However mini wok is still available.
1. Mini Wok
It is the first shop when you enter the Canteen and you would observe a reasonable crowd here.
Beef with Rice
Thoughts: The beef wasn’t that fantastic as it was a tad hard and I had a hard time chewing. But my friend tried their chicken-based dishes and he really loved it as it was tender and the sauces they had for the respective dishes was flavorful.
2. Korean/ Japanese
This stall is located on the extended building of the canteen (next to Peach Garden). It is the second stall from the entrance. If I’m not wrong, they sell Japanese and Korean dishes.
Thoughts: This stall is pretty affordable, however I didn’t enjoy this dish. There was not much meat on the chicken pieces and a large portion of it was bony. If you’re looking for something to fill you up yet taste delicious, skip this dish.
3. Salad Bar
Pick & Choose Salad
Thoughts: If I had to choose between this and the crowded bowl above, I would rather head to the crowded bowl. Their meat wasn’t exactly tender, the toppings were pretty much cold. Their potato salad looked promising, but I didn’t try it out that day. Nonetheless, I didn’t visit this stall again during my time at NTU.
4. Mala Hotpot
This stall is situated on the extended building, next to Peach Garden. It is right next to the tray return area. They have the usual spread of ingredients that you would expect at a Mala stall, however they tend to be conservative on the spice levels.
Mala hotpot
Thoughts: I tried it twice and both times got the zhong la. It wasn’t that spicy, I managed to have it without a drink. Nonetheless, the numbing and tingling sensation kicked in, thanks to the seasoning. I spent close to $9 on the meal on both occasions and it wouldn’t be something I will return for.
5. Western
This Western stall is also located on the extended building and it is next to the Vietnamese stall. They have a decent spread of red and white meat, both in options of grilled and fried. Their meals were approximately $5 and additional top up of side dishes cost ~$1.
Chicken Chop with Salad, Fries and Spaghetti
Thoughts : Personally I found their Spaghetti to be bland though, their spaghetti portion was huge. Their chicken chop comes with two sauces – mushroom or black pepper. Black pepper definitely adds a new flavour to the meat. Well, I would say this is definitely an affordable option if you’re craving for western fare and if you’re near North Spine.
6. Taiwanese
This stall is located on the main building near the Yong Tau Foo stall in Canteen A. XL Large Chicken Chop Rice ($5) comes with braised egg, pickled vegetables and shredded cabbage.
Thoughts : They have different variations of chicken and pork chop. The chicken chop was crispy and juicy but I found it a little dry, over time. So you might want to get more mayo on the cabbage or more sauce on the rice.
Canteen B
This canteen is rebranded to Fine Foods. They have a two storey canteen and there is a Subway and the popular CHICHA San Chen.
1. Japanese
It is the stall right next to the chicken rice stall near the stairs. Since I had a relatively short break, I decided to get the Omelette Rice with Chicken Cutlet.
Thoughts: This omelet and the chicken cutlet was too oily and it was far different from the pictorial representation on the stall. Skip this and try something else at this stall.
2. Pasta Express
Pasta Express is pretty popular and my classmates enjoyed it (in fact were addicted) to it. They do have an outlet at SMU and I have tried it a couple of times, so you can read my review on it here.
Canteen 16
1. Japanese
This canteen is opposite to NTU Innovation Centre. There are a couple of stall here offering namely Japanese, Indian cuisine. The venue is relatively small. I heard this Japanese stall was popular so I tried it out.
Thoughts : Both the Tonkotsu Ramen and Chicken Katsu Curry rice did live up to expectations. I found the ramen’s pork broth to be milky with the thin consistency of the noodles. For $5.80, I would really think its absolutely worth the price. Similarly the Chicken Katsu was crispy and the curry base tasted somewhat similar to the Omurice restaurant.
2. Mala Hotpot
Mala Hotpot
Thoughts : It was around $7 and I picked about 7/ 8 ingredients. However, though the spice level was manageable for me and it seemed like a much more affordable option, I didn’t really enjoy it. Perhaps, psychologically the venue and the way the ingredients were presented pre-suaded (yes, it is something that I learnt in my communications module last week) me into a perception that it would be sub-par.
Nanyang CrescentFood Court
This canteen was crowded and I was happy that I managed to get a seat! The western had a decent queue length and I joined the queue. As usual, I didn’t know what to get and opted for the chicken chop with fries and potato salad.
Thoughts : As I sat down and looked at the food, I wondered “Why do I make terrible decisions in life?”
Canteen 11
I got the Chicken Wing Nasi Lemak with Egg (~$3.50). I didn’t expect such a large portion of rice, so you should ask for less if you can. The location could be quite far if you’re somewhere at South Spine.
Chicken Wing Nasi Lemak
Thoughts : Overall it was fine but I was stuffing myself with the rice. Given its location, I find it a hassle to get there. By the way, they sell waffles with ice-cream, at this canteen. So if you still have room for desserts do try it!
Canteen 9
One of my colleague said Canteen 9 has one of the best Mala and I must try it. Yes she gave a friendly warning that their spice levels were Here you can find an Indian stall selling north Indian fare too!
Mala Hotpot
Thoughts : Indeed it was pretty spicy, numbing and addictive. I liked it and it was one of the best mala I’ve tried at NTU.
The Quad Cafe
All stalls in this canteen are halal-certified and there are 4-6 stalls here.
1. Yong Tau Foo
One of my acquaintance disappointedly said that their stir fried maggi is their mala . After hearing this, I believed it and recently I found out that they DO have mala hotpot. But you need to let the person know you want mala and not stir-fry.
Thoughts : Not much introduction needed for this stall, the vendor is a friendly lady. I’m not a fan of yellow noodles so I didn’t like the soup version of my YTF. Their stir-fry YTF seems to be a real comfort food and a hot-seller too. When it comes to their Mala, it is affordable (usually less than $7), but I didn’t find the same taste as the one at Canteen 9. Nonetheless, for the price accessibility, if it serves as a good quick fix.
2. Korean
This stall is the first stall when you enter the glass door. The chicken bibimbap comes with soup and rice at $4.50.
Chicken Bibimbap
Thoughts : Given the price I would think it’s really a decent bibimbap.
Co-Op Cafe @ The Hive
This student-run cafe is located inside The Hive Level 1. There are many seats available at the Hive’s open area. They serve both lunch and breakfast sets as shown on their menu below.
I’ve tried a couple of dishes here as I found the queues pretty short.
Menu Co-op Cafe NTU
Fish & Chips
Crispy Chicken
Spaghetti Tom Yum
Teriyaki Chicken with Salad & Fries
Thoughts : I find the place to be calming, at times. Everything is a little pricey and their presentation of food explains is a plus factor. I liked the Fish & Chips and their Crispy Chicken. Both the chicken and fish was crispy, not too greasy. The dijonnaise sauce that accompanied the chicken gave the meal a tangy and sharp flavour. But I observed over the weeks that they quality of fish and chips fluctuates (though within acceptable levels).
The Tom Yum Spaghetti looked appetizing, however its strong taste didn’t stick well with the pasta. For the teriyaki chicken chop, the chicken was fine. It was succulent and tender but the teriyaki sauce was overpowering. Furthermore it was salty and intense. Perhaps the mushroom sauce would be better.
Well, Starbucks secret recipes and menu aren’t secret anymore, with so many on the internet. There was a blog stating that you could blend any pastry or even a sandwich with a drink. The usual (insane) me, was thrilled to blend a cake (~ SGD6.90) into a drink! So I decided to try it out the first time at the nearest Starbucks outlet which happened to be at Fusionopolis – One North MRT, Singapore. Subsequently, I tried it out at other outlets in Singapore.
If you’re adventurous like me, go ahead and try it out on your next trip to Starbucks. I do admit, some baristas get a shock (with the judging face) when they hear the request of blending a cake into a drink. There are also some hearing them for the first time and they get a little curious wondering what would the drink taste like.
*As these drinks were experimented in Singapore and may not be available at your location. Nonetheless check with your baristas if they are able to whip these drinks. All prices are in Singapore Dollars.
Monster Cookie Frappuccino
I vaguely recall seeing a secret menu stating that the cookie could be blended into the drink! Since I was on a budget deficit, I decided to try blending a cookie which was about $4 alongside with a Grande Vanilla Creme Frappuccino.
Fun Fact : One North Starbucks is pretty quiet after work hours and can be a good spot (especially the 2nd floor), if you needed to relax with your drink near One-North MRT. Nonetheless, it would be worth the visit to head over to Buona Vista Starbucks (Rochester Outlet), which is a two-storey bungalow house giving chill vibes while enjoying the serenity by being away from the hustle and bustle.
Verdict : The Vanilla Creme Frappuccino is a versatile drink and thankfully it blended well with the cookie. But you could taste the bits of the cookies, it wasn’t very fine (barista warned me about it too), so the drink had a crumbly texture. Overall the cookie taste wasn’t too overwhelming it complemented each other, but it was a tad sugary with a slight doughy taste.
Green Tea Cheesecake Frappuccino
In 2018, Starbucks released their Green Tea Cheesecake Frappuccino (on the left) and they were running 1-for-1 offers pretty frequently. I recall queuing up for almost an hour during internship (thankfully my boss was overseas). At first the idea of Green Tea Cheesecake put me off, since I wasn’t a fan of Green Tea Frappes.
Well I gave in and decided to try it out. It was very creamy with the matcha notes, which got me addicted and I went back to try it again. But Starbucks took the flavour off the shelf very quickly and I was upset. So I decided to give it a shot and try to assimilate a very similar drink (on the right).
With that I suggested to the barista to blend a Good Ol’ NY Cheesecake with the Green Tea Creme Frappuccino. Well this barista at the Fullerton Waterboat House was cool, mentioning that it was common for patrons to blend cakes into their drinks at that outlet. He whipped it up real quick and asked how much of the cake slice I wanted to blend into the drink. Well I opted to blend the entire cake so I could enjoy the creaminess, nonetheless you could play around and blend 1/2 or 3/4 of the cheesecake into the drink and have the remaining cake separately.
FunFact : Fullerton Waterboat House is Starbucks’ 100th outlet in Singapore. It overlooks the Singapore River, however they closed the outlet recently in February as the lease expired. Indeed was a gorgeous outlet.
Verdict : It was almost the same as the drink Starbucks released, but the blended version was much creamier! If it weren’t for the price and calories, I would have this again. The hue of this drink was different from the Starbucks ‘released’ drink, since the syrup they used must have been different.
Cookie Crumble Cheesecake Frappuccino
Cookie Crumble Cheesecake blended Frappuccino
During my internship near Fusionopolis, I did another experiment using Starbucks’ versatile drink – Venti Vanilla Creme Frappuccino. This time blended the Cookie Crumble Cheesecake.
Verdict : I liked the hue of the drink which came from the Cookie Crumble Cheesecake. As you can see the bits of cookie were still but the bits were finer than the Monster Cookie Drink. But the taste was different from the Monster Cookie since the cookie gave a more doughy taste while the cheesecake was creamier. So it depends on the texture and taste you want to go for!
Earl Grey Honey Frappuccino
The Early Grey Honey cake is a sponge cake that I was eyeing for a while back in 2018 (not sure if this flavour is still around). It has earl grey buttercream on the top and between the layers.
Blended this cake into the grande vanilla creme frappuccino.
Verdict : There were granular bits of earl grey dusting (I believe), but it doesn’t really affect the taste or the texture. It was pretty smooth, simple yet addictive with the hint of earl grey. The elements gelled well that I was surprised that it tasted better as a blended drink than a stand-alone cake and drink. Well, I did regret buying a grande instead of a venti for the first time.
Blueberry Cheesecake Frappuccino
Blueberry Cheesecake
Last year May, when I was interning at NTU, I decided to redeem my complimentary birthday cake. I had to purchase a Venti size drink, which made me think of blending the cake together with a drink, since I was rushing for time. So had the Venti Vanilla Creme Frappuccino and blueberry cheesecake. I had a tough time choosing the cake, but the kind barista helped me and suggested to try the blueberry cheesecake. He was pretty dazzled by my request of blending a cake into a drink and was curious of how it tasted.
I’m not sure if the picture is able to highlight the slight gradient effect, but right after blending the cake into the Frappuccino, it had a pinkish-purple gradient which came from the blueberry ‘jam’ on the top of the cake.
Verdict : I like the hue which reminded me of those pink cotton candies. Though there were granular bits coming from the ‘blueberry jam’, it wasn’t really in the way. Each sip had a sweet tangy taste at first followed by the creamy cheesecake taste, so you got to stir well. The flavour was as rich as the other blends I tried above and nothing short, and I was pretty full after this drink. (Not sure if my appetite is becoming smaller or the drink was the reason why).
Final thoughts: I have read a lot on the secret menu but I am usually status-quo and head for the safer options that are on the menu. However, if we live life so vicariously are we really living it? This quote really made me wonder and pushed me out of my boundaries. I didn’t get the chance to try out my Starbucks experimentation this year, yet. But if I would choose a favourite blend I have tried, it would be the green tea cheesecake frappuccino. But that doesn’t mean I will stick to it, I’m looking forward to my drink experimentation once circuit breaker is over.
Tip : Further customise the drink to your preference / diet by changing the milk type (non-fat, almond milk), adding sugar-free syrup!
What are your thoughts on this? Is there a blend that you think I should try out at Starbucks? Leave a comment below!
Situated a stone throw away from one-north MRT station is Timbre+. This hipster hawker centre which was opened in 2016, houses several cuisines in one place. Ranging from western to local fare, there is something for every picky eater. Together with my intern friends, I tried out several stalls and here’s my opinion.
Wong Kee Wanton Noodles
“If you see a long queue, don’t ask questions – just join!”. That’s what typical Singaporeans would say and true enough, this stall does have a long sprawling queue during lunch hours. They have a few interesting variation of wanton mee – Spinach and Tomato base.
A bowl of comforting dry wonton noodles
Verdict : The stall aunty can be a little aggressive and unfriendly at times which deters some of my colleagues from visiting. The price, especially for the normal wanton mee, might be more than average for some. In that case, you might want to just add an additional dollar to try out their spinach or tomato base wanton noodles. Would I return again : Yes.
Rong Ma Curry Rice
The curry rice is not that bad, but I felt the price was a little too expensive for 1 Meat and 2 Veg. The fish fillet is popular among the lunch crowd, by 1.30pm this fillet is usually sold out and it is worth ordering the fillet. Do top it off with some cheese. When it comes to the curry it is quite thick and was not that spicy. As you can see, the storekeepers are frugal and they do not offer a pool of curry and the presentation is not that messy.
Plate filled with cheese fish fillet, sausage /potato and sambal goreng topped off with curry.
Verdict : Although it looks good, it comes off close to $6.00 for this meal, and can be cumbersome in the long run for the wallet.
Will I return to try again : Nope.
XLX Modern Tze Char
Verdict : Ordered Seafood White Beehoon, however the order was mistaken and they gave La La Beehoon and claimed that it was seafood Bee Hoon. Nonetheless, I felt that this dish had nothing much to be bragged about except for the large number of La La found in this dish. Would I return again : Although, I haven’t tried their other items on the menu I would not come back again. Because their offering is pretty limited and one meal costs about $6.
JC Nasi Lemak
Nasi Lemak with Chicken Wing and Bergedil
Verdict : The rice is aromatic with the chicken wing being crispy. However, the food can be lukewarm if you visit during lull period, but this is one of the more affordable stalls. JC Catering AKA Jamil Catering sells nasi lemak at approximately $4-$5. The lady was friendly, she gave a bergedil in addition to the set meal I bought. However, felt the chicken wing was a tad oily. During the fasting month, they offer Air Kathira too.
Would I return again? : Yes.
Royal Caravan
Relatively a new shop that opened around June this year. Within a few weeks of operations they have rolled out new menu offerings such as salad, and variation in the fish n chips.
Fish & Chips
Verdict: I have tried this stall twice and found the quality inconsistent. On some days the Fish n Chips is a little too burnt and oily. Would I return again : Hmmm… maybe not, unless I needed a quick fried food fix within a $5 budget.
Big Bern’s Grill
Tried Big Bern’s Grill which is next to the stage in a mobile truck (which isn’t movable). This one piece Fish N Chips meal was $6.90. The fish is crispy and it was not oily. The cajun fries and garden salad was alright. The pasta salad wasn’t really to my liking and several of my colleagues felt it was a little too bland, so you might want to keep this in mind when you order the sides for the meal.
Fish & Chips with 2 sides of your own choice!
Verdict : Wouldn’t recommend the pasta salad. They do have other dishes you might want to try out (Chicken Chop / Cheese Burger) but I personally prefer the Fish n Chips Would I try again : Yes!
Food Anatomy
Food Anatomy serves salad bowls during lunch hours and the design food, available on weekend and weekday after 5pm.
Verdict: The paprika chicken goes well with almost any salad dressing making it a versatile topping. I felt that they have a range of toppings for you to choose from. I have visited this stall more than 10 times in the 3 months spent at Block 71, their duck meat is great too! But don’t be turned off by the long lunch queue! The stall keepers attend to the crowd pretty fast!
Would I return : No doubts – YES
Wang Jiao Ban Mian
One of the crowded shops during lunch hours. All my friends love to visit this stall for their ban mian fix, especially the dry version.
P.s I wanted to try their dry ban mian but I didn’t get the chance. So when I do get the opportunity to visit timbre+, yes I will take note to try this out!
Two Wings
Two Wings sells chicken wings (like duh). Two wings has 3 flavors – salted egg, heritage and chili crab. The heritage is simply the original wings with no sauce topped. I have yet to try chili crab flavor.
Verdict: The salted egg sauce is not sufficient to cover all the wings. The perk here is that you can choose the number of wings you would like to have, if you want to go with a combo set… (pretty much like any fast food restaurant). BUT I still prefer the salted egg wings available at Curious Palette. Would I return? : Yes to try out their Chili Crab Flavor
Hungry Thai
Verdict : They have set lunches at affordable price which made me try out this stall. The pad thai (according to Carol) was good but I’m not a fan of pad thai. The Thai Basil Leaf Chicken was spicy and fragrant.
Kopifellas
Kopifellas, one of the Kool Kids on the block with cool drinks served in mason jars. Nothing much to mention about, since there is only 1-2 stalls selling beverages with some specifically selling only fruit juice and smoothies.
Thai Rose Milk Tea
Verdict: I find their Thai Milk Tea affordable (around $2) and the drink above is the Thai Rose Milk Tea. The taste is akin to Soi55 and a little of Tuk Tuk Cha. Will I return? : Yes if I am there definitely will head to kopifellas.
There is a Timbre+ App that entitles you to a 10% discount if you opt to pay via the app, so make sure you download the app prior visiting! Do check out their website for more updated details.
