Bukit Panjang Plaza unveils 8 new food spots, serving up Korean-style lunchboxes to Taiwanese braised pork rice – we did a taste test and here are our reviews

Scratching your head over where to eat?

Allow us to point you to the west - more specifically, Bukit Panjang Plaza. The mall just unveiled 8 new F&B spots, ranging from Korean to Taiwanese to Mediterranean cuisines. With such exciting options (Korean fried chicken! Lamb mandi! Froyo!), foodies will definitely be spoilt for choice here.

That is why we've taken it upon ourselves to eat at all of these new food places and give you our reviews of each of them. It's a tough job for sure, but somebody has to do it. You're welcome.

Xi Men Jie, #01-60/61

If you've got intense cravings for Taiwanese food, then Xi Men Jie is the place to go for familiar favourites such as oyster mee sua ($6.50), braised pork rice ($6.50), crispy fried chicken cutlet ($6) and cheese onion egg pancake with floss ($7.90). There's also bubble tea on the menu, so you can satisfy all your cravings at once.

Arabisk, #01-55

We knew we were in for a treat at Arabisk, because the first thing that hit us was the aroma and heat wafting from the tandoor. The highlight of its menu is undoubtedly the lamb mandi ($18), which delivers a symphony of flavours with succulent lamb and fragrant basmati rice bathed in a rich blend of spices. The hummus ($10) was a standout too - it was nutty, creamy and smooth, with just the right balance of garlic, tahini and cumin.

Beyond Fruit, #02-22

This homegrown dessert chain gives you a guilt-free excuse to indulge in a sweet treat. Their natural yoghurt is made with no added sugar and is loaded with beneficial bacteria that is good for your gut.

We're obsessed with the collagen froyo series (from $1), which tastes just like soft serve. If that's not your thing, there's also the premium acai series (from $4.90). The flavoured options come packed with generous portions of fruit, which makes them really value-for-money!

Phat Fingers, #01-40

If you have not tried Phat Fingers, this is your sign to give it a go. This joint serves up Korean-style fried chicken that is delightfully crunchy on the outside but still juicy and tender on the inside. The fried chicken comes with a soy garlic or yangnyeom (sweet and spicy) glaze, but those who can take the heat might want to kick things up a notch with the "nuclear xtra spicy" flavour.

rrooll, #01-39

Who can say no to freshly baked cinnamon rolls? Certainly not us! There's just something about sinking your teeth into rrooll's soft pillowy layers - each bite was extremely satisfying, and the balance of flavours was just right. Nothing felt too overpowering or cloying, even with indulgent choices such as Hazelnut Rocher ($3.70), Apple Cinnamon ($3.90) and Pecan Classic ($4.20). Those who aren't big on sweet flavours can opt for the Garlic Onion Cheese ($3.90) instead.

Bibimbap! / Dosirak!, #01-41

If you're searching for a healthy lunch option, look no further than Bibimbap! / Dosirak! at level 1. The eatery serves up Japanese and Korean-inspired lunch sets, with our favourite being the Bibimbap (from $7), which is topped with five types of vegetables. The portions are generous, and the ingredients are super fresh - we thoroughly enjoyed every bite.

Eastern Rice Dumpling, #01-43

As its name suggests, you can find all sorts of rice dumplings at Eastern Rice Dumpling - ranging from the subtly sweet nonya-style dumpling to the savoury hokkien-style dumpling and even the distinctly yellow-hued dessert dumpling (kee chang). Fun fact: this third-generation business uses a 30-year-old recipe that was passed down from one generation to another!

Besides the wide array of delicious dumplings, you can also find an assortment of traditional kuehs, such as muah chee, tutu kueh and ang ku kueh.

Ya Kun Kaya Toast, #02-01A

Yes, Bukit Panjang Plaza has a Ya Kun Kaya Toast outlet now - which surely is good news for those who need their daily dose of caffeine. While the brand itself requires no introduction, we feel that it is our duty to point you to the kaya butter steamed bread. Each bite was wonderfully warm and fluffy, and we dare say there's no better way to kickstart your mornings than with these little clouds of happiness alongside a cup of kopi or teh.

We hope these reviews have been useful in helping you navigate Bukit Panjang Plaza's slew of new F&B offerings! Whether you're craving familiar local favourites, a sweet treat, or just want to expand your palette with flavours from around the world, you'll be sure to find something there.

And here's more good news: spend at any F&B stores in Bukit Panjang Plaza on the weekends and you'll be rewarded with 50X STAR$^®! This promotion runs till March 3, 2024, terms and conditions apply. 

Address: Bukit Panjang Plaza, 1 Jelebu Rd, S677743

This article is brought to you in partnership with Bukit Panjang Plaza.

sophie.hong@asiaone.com

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