Awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for three consecutive years, Taiwan’s famed beef noodle brand Niu Dian Beef Noodles has landed in Singapore. It’s the brand’s first overseas outpost outside of Taiwan, where it has only one location in Ximending, Taipei.

Those looking to slurp up its rich broth, brewed for 24 hours with quality beef bones, ribs and a special blend of herbs, and springy noodles, can head to VIIO shopping centre at Balestier. Sauces and marinades are flown in from Taiwan to ensure consistency.

The signature’s the Combination Specialty Beef Noodles with boneless beef rib fingers, golden coin, tripe and tendon or you can turn up the heat with the Spicy Pepper Combination Specialty Beef Noodles, which are served dry.

Niu Dian Beef Noodles is at #01-01/02 VIIO @ Balestier, 520 Balestier Road, Singapore 329853. Opens Sun to Thurs (11am to 3pm), and Fri & Sat (11am to 3pm; and 5pm to 10pm). Visit its Facebook page for more information.

Head to the second level of Tiong Bahru Plaza and you’ll find this cheery space. And to really bring through its theme, the decor also features pretty sky lanterns hanging overhead that harken back to Taiwanese culture.

Classic Taiwanese street food’s on the menu, with the signature being the Railway Bento ($16.90). This takes its inspiration from bentos found in Taiwan’s railway stations, and comes with a pork cutlet, tofu, sausages, a braised egg, and greens.

Other Taiwanese favourites include Salt & Pepper Chicken ($9.80), Braised Minced Pork Rice ($8.80), Pig Intestine Mee Sua ($9.80), Taiwanese Signature Beef Noodles ($16.80), and Pork Cutlet Rice ($11.80).

Lee Lai Jiak is at #02-105/106 Tiong Bahru Plaza, 302 Tiong Bahru Road, Singapore 168732. Opens daily from 11.30am to 10pm.

Fans of Initial D, be it the manga and anime, or the 2005 film starring Jay Chou, will be familiar with Fujiwara Tofu Shop, which belongs to the lead character Takumi’s father. Versions of the tofu store have been opened around the world, with Singapore being the newest.

Opened by a motor enthusiast, you’ll even find a replica of the iconic black and white Toyota Sprinter Trueno car parked outside. Menu-wise, tofu won’t be all that’s available. You can expect to dig into Asian-influenced fare like curry rice, gyudon, soya beancurd dishes, and its signature Homemade Black Tofu.

Fujiwara Tofu Shop is at 169 Sims Ave, #01-02, Singapore 387488. Opens Tues to Sun, 6pm to 2am. 

Hong Kong-based Little Cart Noodle House may have only opened in Singapore last December at Far East Square but the popular cart noodle brand has been operating in Hong Kong since 1960. Cart noodles are an iconic Hong Kong food staple that originated in the 1950s, and was initially sold in mobile wooden carts by street food vendors as a fast, inexpensive meal, which you can also customise.

Over at Little Cart Noodle House, you can customise your own bowl and spice level too. Choose from various noodles including thick rice noodles and Nissin instant noodles (from $2.50) or rice ($1.50). Then add on with the likes of toppings like fried pork chop, beef brisket, curry Fuzhou balls, pig trotters, mushrooms and greens such as lettuce and kang kong.

To make it a heartier meal, go for a la carte dishes like Curry Squid ($6.80), Fried Shishamo ($6.80) and Beancurd Skin Roll with Superior Broth ($5.80).

Little Cart Noodle House is at #01-01 Far East Square, 134 Amoy Street, Singapore 049962.

Hong Kong-style cha chaan tengs (casual eateries or tea houses) have been quite the hit in Singapore, and there’s yet another one joining the fold. Hong Kong Day is a new establishment at Goldhill Shopping Centre in Novena that’s opened by a Hong Kong-born sibling duo.

Decor-wise, the 60-seater plucks inspiration from quintessential cha chaan teng elements, from mosaic-tiled floors to booth seats and wooden furnishings. On the menu, you’ll find classic cha chaan teng fare. Think HK Noodle Set ($8.80), Baked Rice with Pork Chop & Tomato ($13.80), and Bolo Bun (from $2). It also serves claypot dishes such as Stewed Chicken with Sand Ginger ($13.80), and Braised Prawns with Glass Noodles ($18.80).

Wash it all down with the Authentic HK Milk Tea ($3.50), made using the Black & White brand of evaporated milk used in every HK cha chaan teng.

Hong Kong Day.Cha Kee is at Goldhill Shopping Centre, 165 Thomson Road, Singapore 307618. Opens Tues to Sun (11.30am to 8.30pm). Closed on Mon.

Taking its name from the Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour, Victoria Bakery is a new Hong Kong-inspired bakery-cafe at Marina Square. The 28-seater space is brightly lit and dressed in an earthy green and brown palette.

Sink your teeth into various traditional Hong Kong pastries. There’s the Baked Char Siew Bun ($2), HK Char Siew Pastry ($2.80), as well as tarts like the Coconut Tart ($3), Cheese Tart ($3.20), Cookie Skin Egg Tart ($2.60) and a flaky crumbly HK Egg Tart ($2.60) with a smooth custard filling.

You’ll get a variety of bolo buns too from the original HK Bo Lo Bun ($3) to the Char Siew Bo Lo Bun ($3.80). And for the sweet-toothed, get your hands on the Dark Chocolate Bo Lo Bun ($4.50).

Victoria Bakery is at #02-302/303 Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594. Opens daily from 10am to 10pm.

For your next bingsu fix, make a beeline for Gangnam Cafe a new dining spot in Link@896 shopping mall, located across King Albert Park.

Sporting a clean and casual interior, the cafe’s specialty is its range of the shaved ice dessert, such as the Injeolmi Bingsu (from $12.90), with toppings of rice cakes, sweet soybean powder, and sliced almonds, as well as options like Oreo ($12.90), Milo ($12.90), Green Tea ($13.90), Choco Banana ($14.90), Strawberry ($15.90) and Mango ($15.90).

The cafe also dishes up savoury bites like a variety of gimbap (from $13.90), as well as  tteokbokki (from $12.90).

Gangnam Cafe is at #01-07, The Link@896, 896 Dunearn Road. Opens Tues to Sun 10.30am to 9pm.

Be whisked away to the night markets of Bangkok at View Dee Bistro and Bar, which houses various stalls. Step inside the bistro, which took over the canteen space of the now-defunct Henderson Secondary School, and you’ll be greeted by neon-lit signs, fairy lights and lanterns. Fun fact: The bistro is opened by local actor Chew Chor Meng and two of his friends.

The stalls serve up an array of Thai favourites like phad Thai, moo ping, Thai-style omelette, and spicy cockles. You can also get fusion dishes like tom yum meatball pasta and tom yum seafood pizza.

View Dee Thai Bistro and Bar is at Sprout Hub, 102 Henderson Road, Singapore 159562. Opens daily, 12am to 11pm (Mon to Thurs) and 12pm to 1am (Fri to Sun).

Following its first eatery at Joo Chiat since 2009, Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant, best known for its authentic Vietnamese fare, has opened a second outlet in Chinatown. Expect the Vietnamese delights here, from the quintessential pho and other noodle dishes to beef stew served with French bread, fried rice, summer rolls and more.

For a potent pick-me-up, don’t forget to order its Vietnamese coffee, too.

Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant is at 239/241 New Bridge Road, Singapore 059439.

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