I am an old fashioned kind of guy. I think that in Singapore, the older the market, the better the food. I always love going to Toa Payoh Lor 8 or even the shophouses near Toa Payoh Central to eat, and even Chinatown or the the People's Park Hawker Center before the plastic surgery. Great food. In fact, I often wouldn't want to eat at the newer areas because I just don't think that there will be anything great to eat.
And there is Food Republic. Opened by the creator of BreadTalk and the person responsible for bringing in Din Tai Fung. I have to say the concept is great. Make it look old and feel old. The decor is pretty cool because it makes me think that the food actually might be good. I like the Tim Sum person pushes the Tim Sum cart around, I like the Indian man bringing around all the little snackies for sale and I especially love the Kopi Tiam atmosphere, with the old stools and tables. The food there is still slightly expensive than the old markets. I mean, do you really expect an "old," hawker center in the heart of Orchard road be cheap? No. When I found out that the Food Republic was opened, my point was try every store possible. Did I? Nope. Not really.
Over a period of 6 months,I have tried NEARLY every store, except the restaurant ones. The fake western food store, the Indian and Thai store I skipped out because I felt that they were in synch with the integrity of Food Republic. So here is the quick review of the other true hawker center stores at the Food Republic:
Chicken Rice Store: Nothing fantastic. I ordered the chicken rice set and asked for extra stuff. Service was good and friendly. Rice was okay but nothing fantastic about the chicken.
Value:5/10
Service:6/10
Food: 5/10
Fish Soup Store: Was impressed by their different variety of fish for the store. Looked interesting. The fish soup again was nominal at best. Service wasn't great. They kept bugging me to decide and I was confused by the type of fishes. But the soup was ordinary. Nothing too "old school," or flavorful about it. Nothing to write to mum about.
Value: 5/10
Service: 4/10
Food: 4/10
Indian Store: Service was okay. Food. Bryani was too small a portion for $4.50 or was it $5? Prata was good. It was actually pretty good. And my dad loves their ginger tea.
Value:6/10
Service:5/10
Food: 6/10
Nasi Padang Store: As usual, old Malay ladies are the sweetest people in the world. They were very polite and motherly. Asked me what I wanted every time and explained to me what they were. Food was pretty good. Rendang was never too tough and their Padang was LEMAK! Price was very LEMAK as well. Each time I ordered 2 meats and 1 vege, it was close to $7. I thought it was pretty expensive.
Value: 4/10 - a little too expensive to Nasi Padang
Service: 7/10 - probably the most polite vendor there.
Food: 6/10 - worth a try.
Beef noodle store: Bleargh ...... A pretty cute girl served me my Hakka beef noodles soup. And that was the highlight of the meal!
Value: 4/10
Service: 4/10
Food: 3/10
Hookien Mee Store: By far, the store with the longest queue. The owner has pictures of his C.I.A trip pasted over the food store. C.I.A is the Culinary Institute of American, not the Central Intelligence Agency. Its a joy to watch them do the Hokkien Mee. In our increasingly voyeuristic world, I have to say that just watching them make the Hokkien Mee makes me want to learn how to do it! They wear their pretty funny looking straw hat, a trademark look methinks and their noodles are served on the special white leafy type material that all good Chinese food is supposed to be on! Hokkien Mee is actually between better and good. Its not the best. But its definitely up there. In my personal opinion, just order the Hokkien Mee, the rest is just a waste of time.
Value: 6/10
Service: 5/10
Food: 7/10
Roasted Meat Store: I have to say they are the most pricey roasted meat store I have had in a fake Hawker Center. I am not saying its not great. I'm just saying that for $4, I am getting very little pieces of meat on my plate. The wontan and the Har Kaw soup on the other hand is fantastic! Order it. Its one of the best things there.
Value: 4/10
Service:5/10
Food: 5/10. Wantan/Har Kaw Soup: 7/10
Duck Rice Store: It has to be one of the least crowded store there. Amazing. But I know why. Its just average. Its the duck rice you have every where else. And whats worse, you're next to the store with the longest queue. So no one ever bothers to take a look at the store.
Value: 5
Service:5
Food: 5
Quasi - Coffee Shop: My wife loves the coffee and toast. I love the coffee and toast! I like their jam and otah toast. Seperately of course. Not together. It tastes great. The only knock on Ya Kun if I ever have one is that their kaya bread is so darn thin. Here, its uber thick like Texas toast. Service is okay and value is great! I don't know about the hygiene though. The mountain of butter is left out there the whole day.
Value:7/10
Service:5/10
Food:7/10
I know that I missed out on a couple of stores. The soup store next to the Hokkien Mee store, and the Chinese Handmade noodles store next to the duck rice store. I can't write it because I have never tasted the food. But overall, I do like the Food Republic a lot. The lines might be long and its a bitch to find a seat during peak hours but its totally worth the experience. I just hope all the other food court owners would follow in its foot steps, its definitely the way to have a food court.
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