Last Sunday night, after a long and tiring videography session at Chinese Garden, my brain was already in “reward mode.” You know that feeling when your legs are done, your camera bag feels twice as heavy, and the only thing that can reset your mood is a proper meal? Yup, that was me. So instead of eheading straight home, I decided to do a little food exploration near Chinese Garden MRT.
To be honest, I haven’t really explored the Chinese Garden area for food before. In my head, it’s always been more of a “go there for the scenery, take photos, then leave” kind of place. But that night, I realized the neighborhood actually has a solid food scene nearby, likely because there’s also a market around the area, which usually means hawker centers and hidden gems are not far away. The only catch? It was already around 8pm on a Sunday night, and many stalls had closed early. Understandable lah, most visitors had already left, and the vibe was winding down.
Still, I did what I always do: walk around with hope, scanning for whatever is still open, and letting my cravings decide the final destination. An,d lucky enough, I spotted a stall offering Sarawak Delicacy. Immediately my interest went 📈 because recently, I’ve been craving Sarawak foo those comforting, no-nonsense flavors that feel simple but always hit the spot.
The stall I found was Sarawak Delicacy Laksa and Kolo Mee, and the moment I saw the name, I already knew what to try. I went for Kolo Mee, and because I was feeling a bit adventurous (and maybe also because I was hungry-hungry), I added 2 pcs of truffle meatballs.
Now… truffle meatballs with Kolo Mee? Sounds like some kind of Sarawak-meets-Western fusion situation. And honestly, that’s what made it exciting. Kolo Mee is usually a pretty straightforward dish — it’s not the type that screams “strong flavor” at first bite. The noodles have that unique springy texture, and the seasoning tends to be subtle, almost quiet. But that’s the charm of it: Kolo Mee lets the toppings do the talking.
And in this bowl, the toppings really did their job. The minced meat added that savory richness, the slices of meat gave it more bite and satisfaction, and those truffle meatballs… wah, they changed the whole vibe. They made the dish feel more “elevated” than your usual humble bowl of noodles, like suddenly my simple hawker dinner became a treat-worthy meal. From a classic comfort dish, it turned into something I genuinely enjoyed way more than I expected.
One detail I loved was how it was served. They used a bowl that felt traditional, the kind that makes you feel like you’re eating something homely, even though you’re in a hawker center. Even the design of the bowl gave me that comforting, familiar feeling, like “okay, this is going to be good.”
By the end of the meal, I felt satisfied in the best way, not just full, but also happy. It reminded me that even places I don’t usually think of as “food areas” can surprise me, especially when I’m willing to explore a little. And yes, I’ll definitely be back soon, because I’m pretty sure there are more stalls around Chinese Garden waiting to be discovered.
Bon appetit!
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