Bonchon Chicken, Ion (Singapore)

Wow. I take a lot of spicy stuff but these things really got my tongue burning. I got a 6pc meal, half and half. So I got 3 pieces of soy garlic chicken (okay-ish, more salty), 3 pieces of spicy chicken (looks like its covered in hot sauce made for kids, but trust me, its not), fries and a drink.

The chicken was amazingly crispy. My first impression was that since they were covered in sauce, they'd be soggy, but hell no! Crispiest chicken, hands down! Fries were the same way and on top of that, they were sprinkled with herb-chili-salt flakes- magnificent stuff!

Verdict? At $10 a pop for the 6 piece set, these babies don't come cheap but its definitely worth the money and I'm coming back to try the rest of the menu (tofu salad looked awesome)! You can also get some Hite (Korean beer) here to put out the fire in your mouth. They also sell the chicken by the hundreds- fantastic for parties! YOM!

Soup Restaurant (Singapore)

One of my favorite restaurants to go to for comfort food is the Soup Restaurant. Its like going to Granny's for dinner.

I usually have a set list of dishes I order, but this 'beggar bowl' is one of their relatively new items and mighty inexpensive at $5+ a pop. Its a great lunch-sized portion and comes in 4 or 5 different variations. This is my favorite- their famous samsui chicken and vegetables.

Verdict? Great homestyle cooking! Gotta love their ginger sauce!

Nutella

Nothing I love more than my hazelnut chocolate. And yes, here I'm eating it with a fork at work.

Verdict? I'd use my hands if I have to!

Hole-in-the-wall, Golden Mile Complex (Singapore)

Since I haven't been to Thailand since age 9, coming here to the Golden Mile Complex, the famed little Thailand in Singapore, is probably the closest I'm getting to authentic Thai (street) food.

This plate of mango salad turned out fantastically spicy and refreshing. I really like those dried shrimp on top too. It came on a pool of liquid which was really yum- wanted to drink it up with a spoon.

We also got what they called 'thai laksa'. It really was some thin white noodle in a clear spicy broth and 3 frozen fishballs. I was lamenting how overpriced it was at $4, until I got done with mine and saw people eating theirs by helping themselves to random herbs and vegetables on the table and topping up their noodle dish with it. Pfft. You'd think they'd tell us.

Verdict? I'd still brave the dodgy mall and come back for the mango salad if I'm in the area. Adventurous people should attempt their raw crab mango salad. Those salted, black (raw, remember?) bad boys were clobbered up and mixed right into the salad. (Yuckk.)

District 10 (Singapore)

Finally made it out to this much talked about hotspot, unfortunately, I defied my usual food logic and ordered the steak at a non-steakhouse. I guess that's really my fault. It did come out very beautifully plated and generous with the wedges and vegetable though. The mushroom sauce could be a tad more flavorful.

They do have extremely reasonably priced wines and champagnes, which is a plus. That and their food is relatively inexpensive.

Verdict? I wasn't impressed with any of the food so I have to say I'm disappointed because there's really been so much hype. However, I'm loving the laid-back vibe of this restaurant cum drinking spot, so I'd be willing to give it another shot and maybe order something safe next time like their signature fish and chips?