Everyday eats

While I’ve certainly written my fair share about chi-chi restaurants on this blog, the truth is that S and I can’t afford to eat expensive meals all the time. Usually, we’ll splurge at most once or twice a week on something special (unless we’re entertaining clients) and forage in or near our neighborhood for good affordable meals the rest of the time. The below are three restaurants — two of which are pretty new — that S and I turn to when we’re just too tired to cook.

Sbey Sbey
One of my favourite everyday eats is Victor’s Kitchen. It used to be my number one reason to head over to Sunshine Plaza. Now, however, you’ll often find me tucking into a Pad Thai or yummy curry at Sbey Sbey, a new (3 months old) Thai joint located on the outside of the mall. Sbey Sbey is a good, no-frills place for lunch, dinner or a late night snack. It’s open daily from 10am – 130am. S and I have tried several dishes here. Amazingly, we haven’t been disappointed yet. Especially good are the minced pork omelette (not actually on the menu but you can ask for it), the green curry chicken, and the Pad Thai (pictured below; pictured at the top of the post is their chicken and cashews). The menu here is pretty standard, so don’t come here expecting new and novel dishes. But do come if you want some good simple Thai food prepared well.
#01-014/22
Sunshine Plaza
Bencoolen Street
Singapore

Creperie des Arts
S and I wandered into this delightfully humble creperie in Prinsep Place a few days before Christmas. She had a salted caramel crepe while I had one stuffed with sauteed potatoes, emmental cheese and bacon. Both were delicious. S demanded we go back a few days later. This time, I tried a crepe stuffed with scallops, leeks and cream sauce. S had a bacon, egg and gruyere crepe. These were equally delicious and Creperie des Arts has quickly become one of S’s favourite places in town. Since we’ve come back from Istanbul, she’s repeatedly suggested dropping in for another meal. Which I’m only more than happy to agree to.
44 Prinsep Street, #01-01/02
Singapore
Creperie des Arts is open Tuesday – Sunday 4pm – 11pm

Torisho Taka
This stunning Yakitori restaurant owned by the Les Amis group is my current favourite restaurant. If I had my way, I’d eat there 3 or 4 times a week. Torisho Taka can be, if you aren’t careful about what you are ordering, a really expensive place to eat. But, if you order intelligently, you can actually have a really satisfying, slightly chic and surprisingly affordable meal. The ramen, curry rice and oyako-don here are all amazing (I honestly believe that Torisho Taka serves the very best Japanese curry in town) and priced well. The latter two dishes come in both regular and mini sizes. Do note though that it will take a heck of a lot of self-control to come here and order only 1 or 2 dishes. S and I have often dropped in, planning on having a small, cheap meal only to find ourselves, some two hours later, stuffed out of our heads, having devoured a dozen different delicacies and having downed a big bottle of sake. Not that I’m complaining. A meal at Torisho Taka is worth every penny.
76 Robertson Quay
#02-01, Gallery Hotel
Singapore
Tel: (65) 6732 3343