Sin Lee Foods

Sin Lee Foods
4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee #01-164

https://www.facebook.com/sinleefoods/

The One And Only (SGD $21.90)

Modern Singaporean Dishes In A Nostalgic Place

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 5
Ambience & Setting: 6
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 3
Value for Money: 4
Spent about SGD $30 per person.


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Founded in July 2014 by chefs Mr. Sean Lim and Ms Jerraldine Chen, Sin Lee Foods is a nostalgic cafe throwback to simpler days. While appearing hipster, the cafe owners kept the original signboard, and the overall look and feel, due to their landlord's request, who places a great deal of sentimental value on the place. This 50-seater cafe located in the sleepy Bukit Ho Swee neighbourhood offers modern fusion breakfast / brunch dishes, albeit at slightly higher than average prices.

Ambience at Sin Lee Foods is casual, with an industrial rustic vibe, a classic hipster cafe. Think rough, exposed red brick and grey concrete walls, with functional, industrial wooden furniture in a variety of styles. There is barely any decor here, and the indoor seating area exposes diners to cooking from the kitchen. However, they win points for the tranquil, sheltered outdoor seating, which offers views of the sleepy, quiet neighbourhood and surrounding greenery.

Service at Sin Lee Foods is partial self-service, and there is minimal interaction with the mostly young staff. Ordering and payment is done self-service over the counter, but staff do serve orders to your table. Engagement is limited to asking about dishes, with staff able to answer queries, and willing to accede to requests for changing ingredients in dishes. Orders are fulfilled within 10 minutes, and I also note that staff are fairly quick in clearing empty / dirty tables. Not particularly memorable.

Food at Sin Lee Foods is modern fusion breakfast / brunch fare, with strong influences from American and Japanese cuisine. In particular, they have an emphasis on waffles, due to the owner's background, and they also refuse to serve eggs benedict. Taste is generally decent, and potions sizes are large, suitable for sharing. They're also priced more expensively than other cafes, budget about SGD $30 per person for a meal here. Overall, Sin Lee Foods is a good choice only if you're in the area, and willing to spend. But I feel it's not worth making the effort to travel here.


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Sin Lee Foods Facade

Sin Lee Foods Menu

The Magic (SGD $5.50) coffee blend is a smooth, robust, balanced beverage. A modern fusion hybrid between a latte, and a macchiato. Decent enough to order.

Magic (SGD $5.50)

The Coconut Slushie (SGD $9) is a refreshing chilled beverage, a smooth, thick, delicious blend of crushed ice, coconut milk, and coconut water. Topped with nata de coco / coconut jelly and toasted coconut flakes, which lend a fragrant, appetizing aroma! Nice, loved this drink!

Coconut Slushie (SGD $9)

Coconut Slushie

The Aburi Broccoli Salad (SGD $13) is among the best salads I've had, and definitely the best broccoli dish I've eaten! Fresh, crunchy broccoli florets are quickly torched aburi style, making them take on a savoury smoky flavour. A bed of sharp sour white balsamic vinegar and creamy mayonnaise, along with garnishes of sweet red sugar and crispy papadum chips complete this delicious salad dish. Addictive, delicious, and well worth visiting just for this. Highly recommended!

Aburi Broccoli Salad (SGD $13)

Aburi Broccoli Salad

Individually, each component of the Salted Egg Sweet Potato Fries (SGD $12) is excellent. The thick cut sweet potato fries have a slightly crisp exterior, and a fluffy interior, with an initial salty taste followed by good sweetness. The salted egg yolk sauce is thick, almost like a paste / spread, with delicious salty savoury eggy flavour, and a hint of spice from the curry leaves. But combined, the flavours don't pair well, clashing significantly, making this dish only decent at best. Not worth ordering.

Salted Egg Sweet Potato Fries (SGD $12)

Salted Egg Sweet Potato Fries

While The One And Only (SGD $21.90) is essentially a chicken and waffles dish, they're among the earliest in Singapore to popularise this modern fusion dish. The version here remains a pretty solid contender, with a large, crisp, iron waffle, though it's slightly dry. This is greatly helped by the large, juicy har jiong / prawn paste marinated boneless chicken leg. With a crispy skin, a thick layer of fat (which locks in the natural juices), and savoury, tender chicken meat, it's so tasty! A small but savoury sweet sesame gomae / sesame sauce coleslaw lends a fragrant, nutty flavour. The melted herb and maple syrup butter was outstanding, with a hint of sweetness, it paired really well with the chicken. Good!

The One And Only (SGD $21.90)

The One And Only

The One And Only

Described simply, the Beef & Grains (SGD $25) is a modern fusion dish, like a hearty beef porridge. This unique American Japanese fusion creation features a perfectly seared beef striploin, tender with a medium rare pink hue, over orzo rice, which actually isn't rice, but a type of short cut pasta shaped like rice, also called risoni. Garnished with a free range, sunny side up egg, strips of pickled sweet sour ginger, furikake sprinkles, and spring onions, this dish is bold in flavour, savoury sweet yet not overly salty. The pasta is wet and soft, but not mushy, and goes down easily, while the beef is incredibly delicious. Highly recommended!

Beef & Grains (SGD $25)

Beef & Grains

Beef & Grains

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