Just Acia Pasir Ris

Just Acia, Pasir Ris

Photograph: Just Acia's Teriyaki Chicken Set.

We visited this family-friendly restaurant at Downtown East recently. Just Acia in Pasir Ris is a restaurant that I visited for the first time.

I tried the Teriyaki Chicken set meal at Just Acia, Pasir Ris branch as I liked Teriyaki chicken and that would serve as a comparison to the same dish that I've tried in other restaurants in Pasir Ris and elsewhere in Singapore.

Just Acia, Pasir Ris branch Teriyaki chicken set came in a big plate with golden strips of deep fried chicken coated with a glossy layer of teriyaki sauce. Besides the teriyaki chicken, it came with miso soup, plain rice (not Japanese grained) and a bowl of kim chee.

I liked Just Acia's (Pasir Ris branch) chicken as the seasoning was pretty sweet, with the meat in a firm yet not rubbery texture. The coating on the chicken was just about crunchy even though it appeared a little thicker than dishes served elsewhere.

Besides the main set, at Just Acia Pasir Ris branch, you get to drink an unlimited serving of a wide selection of drinks. There is also a self-service free-flow of ice-cream included in the price.

While the dish is not the best I have tasted, considering the size of meat served, together with other dishes in the set meal, plus the unlimited drinks and ice-cream all in one price, it is definitely value for money.

Recommendation for Just Acia teriyaki chicken:
Score: 7 out of 10.
Price $9.90 per set.

Halal Food Eastpoint Mall

Halal Food Eastpoint Mall

I tried some new halal food at Eastpoint Mall. Not at the Banquet Foodcourt but at a stylish cozy little Turkish restaurant. I sampled their Kebab Chicken Rice while on an outing with family, in search of halal food for dinner (not lunch) at Eastpoint Mall.

Picture: Kebab Chicken Rice, Halal food at Eastpoint Mall.

Their version of halal food at Eastpoint Mall came in a very presentable and appetizing plate. In the dim lighting at the table outside their restaurant, I was amazed by the huge portion of this halal dish.

Taste-wise, the sliced pieces of Kebab chicken was quite firm but not too rubbery. It lacked a favourful kick that I was led to expect from its saliva-inducing aroma. There was too much vegetables, mushroom and cucumber for my liking and I had to pick the chicken pieces to ascertain its individual taste.

The yellow rice was fairly passable, again lacking in a strong kick. If you prefer, you can ask for the 'power chilli' for added oomph. Personally, I think strong chilli masks the flavour of a dish and should not be used liberally. Mine had generous flow of tomato sauce which also made it difficult to taste the chicken well.

Overall, the presentation was appetizing, the portion was great but somehow the kebab lacked an X-factor.

Recommendation for Kebab Chicken Rice, Halal Food Eastpoint Mall:
Score = 6 out of 10.
Price = $6.80

Location of this Halal Food at Eastpoint Mall:
Istanbul Gourmet
Level 1
Eastpoint Mall

Chicken Satay Downtown East Food Centre

Chicken Satay Downtown East Food Centre

Photo: Chicken Satay from Downtown East Food Centre


The Chicken Satay that I sampled at Downtown East's single storey non-airconditioned Food Centre was not as good as I expected.

There were about 8 to 10 stalls at this food centre serving similar food. So I had expected competition to raise the culinary levels, especially for a common dish like chicken satay. Besides, spouse and I noted quite a number of patrons at this corner stall. Like what most patrons would have thought, the more customers, the better the food. Big mistake!

I felt the Chicken Satay at this Downtown East Food Centre was a letdown because of several reasons. The main culprit was the satay peanut gravy. We had two bowls, one was oily and dilute, the other was more concentrated. But the concentrated peanut gravy was still rather dilute. It lacked the oomph that I had grown accustomed to. While sweet, the peanut bits were too refined and uncrunchy.

The chicken satay meat was rather small, less than what I had expected for 50 cents per stick. There were several burnt bits that I had to tease away. That reduced the amount of protein even further. The real test was in the tasting and it lacked the robustness and crunchy dynamism that I expected.

Recommendation For Chicken Satay Downtown East Food Centre
Score = 4.5 out 10

Tony Roma BBQ Chicken

Picture of Tony Roma Family Feast with BBQ Chicken (arrowed)

Tony Roma BBQ Chicken

I sampled the BBQ Chicken of Tony Roma's Family Feast. Earlier I've also talked about the St Louise-styled ribs.

Presentation-wise, the well tanned thick slabs of chicken looked tantalising. The dark BBQ stripes on the well-glazed chicken skin signaled to me that it was hot off the BBQ grill and appeared very appetising.

One small bite on the Tony Roma BBQ Chicken revealed its soft, juicy and fleshy meat. It's got that wholesome chicken flavour that makes the tongue lust for more. The secret BBQ sauce that Tony Roma used to cook their BBQ chicken tasted sweet and thrilled my tastebuds.

This is one of the better BBQ chicken that I've tasted, that doesn't come with a thick coat of batter. I prefer it this way was batter coating often adds an unnecessary layer that masks the chicken taste.

Recommendation:

Score for Tony Roma BBQ Chicken = 8.5 out of 10.

Half Chicken, Swenson's Restaurant Suntec City

We ate at Swenson's Restaurant, Suntec City recently. I chose the chicken as I was feeling carnivorous. This Swenson's restaurant is a branch located at the basement where there were many other crowded restaurants around the Fortune Fountain.

The chicken was very soft, easily cut by teeth, with bits of chewy tendons. As expected of chicken, the fatty parts under the skin were minimal but not overshadowed. I liked the texture of the chicken, although the seasoning was too salty for my liking.

The carrots and vegetable were softer than I had come to expect. I severely felt the absence of an outstanding sauce, and it really affected the overall chicken taste in this dish. Otherwise I would have given the chicken dish at this Swenson's restaurant branch a grade higher than 7.5 out of 10.