RANDOM HEARTLAND EATS: BUKIT TIMAH FOOD CENTRE @ BEAUTY WORLD

The nearest food centre to my office is the one that I frequent least. That is the great irony of it all, and we had a chance to correct that slight by this visit. And we realised what we have missed all along. The original Bukit Timah Food Centre, located next to Pei Hwa Presbyterian School and erected in the mid 1970s, was demolished in 2023. It then moved to the large empty field in front of Beauty World MRT station. In actual fact, it is now located on the original premises of the now-fabled Beauty World.

Old Beauty World, demolished mid-1980s.

Old Bukit Timah Food Centre & Market,
demolished 2023.

The Beauty World of old was a shanty town, a ramshackle rabbit warren of shops and food stalls that had too many fires for its own good, and was shut down permanently in the 1980s. The present Bukit Timah Food Centre, an interim location, has that similar vibe of busyness, randomness and chaos, and with a wide variety of food stalls distributed over a large area. There are so many choices that it is almost bewildering.

There's even an annex block
to this food centre.

We decided on a few food stalls, had an enjoyable dinner, the dishes are displayed on this page together with where we bought them. With that, we also made the promise to come back and try the other stalls on another day.

Yong Tau Foo in soup

White Chai Tow Kuay (Carrot Cake)

Chicken Chop with Rose sauce (creamy tomato)

Ice jelly with longans

BUKIT TIMAH FOOD CENTRE

2A Jalan Seh Chuan

Singapore 599213

Corner of Upper Bukit Timah Road

and Jalan Jurong Kechil

SUKA MAKAN VEGETARIAN EDITION: ORIGINAL GREENS @ SHAW PLAZA, BALESTIER ROAD

This is the first vegetarian restaurant to be covered in Suka Makan. Being an omnivore, going to a vegetarian restaurant is not a common event. After the very few times I've been vegetarian, my usual reaction has been, "Needs more meat". I was put to the challenge this time by the Lee family, young pianist Mikkel Myer, his parents Bryan and Felina, and his teacher-mentor Tedd Joselson.

I've heard so much about Original Greens at Shaw Plaza, Balestier Road that I had to take up their kind invitation. This is a truly friendly place with a panoramic view of Balestier Road, and where Mikkel spends most of him away from the keyboard. Right away, I felt welcome and the menu looks wonderful.

Nasi Lemak

Mapo Tofu

Mala Dumplings

Seaweed Tofu Steak with Ginger

Two kinds of risottos:
Wild Mushroom and Eggplant Unagi

Mala Seafood Pizza

The concept is fusion vegetarian and no longer should it been said that vegetarians lead a boring feeding existence. All the dishes are very much like the best of Asian and Western cuisine, absolutely tasty except that no animals have been harmed. They also have a vegan option for most dishes, and this was what we opted for. No disappointments, only pleasure and the comforting feeling that no animals had to die for our dining experiences. Many thanks go to the Lees for broadening my experience, and palate.

Fruit flower tea & Matcha latte

Yellow fungus dessert

Fruity Acai & Chocolate Lava cake

ORIGINAL GREENS

360 Balestier Road #04-07 K2

Shaw Plaza

Singapore 329783

(20+) Facebook

SUKA MAKAN: THE SOUP EXPERT @ SUNTEC CITY

When it comes to food, sometimes the patient knows best. It was on the recommendation of Janet's patient that we made a rare trip to Suntec City. I've have not frequented this enormous mall since the bygone days of Tower Records and the SSO Music Marathon. That must have been over 25 years ago! The third floor of Tower 1 is occupied by classy restaurants, and The Soup Expert was the first one to be seen coming out from the lift lobby.

It's quite spacious despite not being too large, and there's even an "outdoor" dining area within air-conditioned comfort. The food is excellent. The soups are served in small porcelain teapots, and you can either drink the soup like tea served in a small cup, and also sample the meats in a small bowl.

Black garlic beef bone soup

Garlic sandstorm chicken

The side dishes were also excellent, presented in different tastes for a very enjoyable and balanced meal. We will definitely come back, the next time with friends.

Hakka fried ensemble

Claypot mushroom with dried shrimp

THE SOUP EXPERT

Tower One, Suntec City

3 Temasek Boulevard #03-315, 316 & 331

The Soup Expert (@thesoupexpert) • Instagram photos and videos  

SINGAPORE NIGHT FESTIVAL 2026: SOME PHOTOS FROM THE THIRD NIGHT / Part 1

We had so much fun on the opening night of the Singapore Night Festival 2026 that we simply had to come back. On this Sunday evening, we focused our attention to the area nearer to Stamford Road / Raffles City / Funan Mall. The civic district is small enough and easy to navigate, so no sight is too long a walk away. Enough said, here are the photos.

We began our walk outside Funan Mall.

Whatever this was, it looked stunning.

Then we worked our way to
Armenian Street, outside the Peranakan Museum.

The Birdmen of Close-Act have returned!

Judging by the response,
the Birdmen were a great hit.

The static illumination of Stamford Place.

Continued in Part 2:

pianomania: SINGAPORE NIGHT FESTIVAL 2026: SOME PHOTOS FROM THE THIRD NIGHT / Part 2

Singapore Night Festival 2026