Excuse me for the month delayed post, but it's better late than never right?! The Night Noodle Markets has very year has been tradition to celebrate Good Food Month, and one I am perhaps becoming less inclined to follow as the years come. The first year I went (3-4 years ago) the novelty of it all was very exciting - delicious food, good music and great company - but come present day and age my patience grows weary. Super long queues, increased food prices, and little room for dining really dampens the experience. It's great to know that many of stalls have their own physical restaurants that are readily available for dining. Amongst them are the likes of Din Tai Fung, Ippudo, New Shanghai, Chat Thai, Thainamic, Jacky M Malaysian Cuisine and Mamak.
Porklol Toss Mi Salad w Marinated Pork Belly $12
I bumped into a couple of mates who suggested trying out Porklol and happy to do so considering the lines of other stalls. And I am so thankful that I did, cause pork belly with vermicelli noodles, salad AND CRACKLE is amaze. The home made fish sauce was a good balance between savoury, sweet and spicy, and a plus is lots of crispy crackle. Crackle makes any dish fail proof, really.
Porklol Banh Mi $10
Ga-mazing Banh Mi $10
Out of the two banh mi rolls, the porklol pork belly one was a favourite. The pork belly was juicy with a sweet-ish marinade, and the pickled kimchi flavours complimented this sweetness well. The chicken was also yum, but would of been better if it was hot (no one wants to eat cold chicken roll). The most disappointing thing was that the actual role was stale. Banh Mi rolls are served fresh and crunchy with more crumbs that Hansel and Gretel left behind. The soft stale bun made it difficult to chew through the bread.
Gay Ol' Time $7.50
I did try any of this dish but it seemed like a really good concept. Shan tried it and enjoyed it, however it would seem a box of Gaytimes (or Messina) would of been better.
Chicken Pad See Ew and Vegetarian Pad Thai from Chat Thai $12
After lining up for 30mins and waiting another 30 for food we finally received our orders. Having previous tried Chat Thai before, this was nothing like I remembered. It was quite bland and very oily, but after waiting that long anything would of sufficed.
My dining companions also tried the much hyped about Ramen Burger and said it was just that - much hyped.
While it's too early to tell, this will be the year I will call it quits for Night Noodle Markets. Perhaps this means that during this period the actual restaurants will be less packed... food for thought ;-)
Labels: food