Curry Times

Curry Times at Novena Square, Singapore, is an offshoot of Old Chang Kee, the establishment famous for its curry puffs, fried fish balls and fried squids on sticks among other snack foods.

My friend and I chose the Nasi Lemak set on a Monday lunch just this week and I must say it is sadly disappointing. The Nasi Lemak set came with a few fixed side dishes which were Achar ( nonya salad), fried ikan bilis with peanuts, chilli, regular fish cake and slices of cucumber. You only have to choose the options of fried curry chicken wings, mint curry chicken or salmon otah( a kind of fish meat moulded into either and long shape or circular shape, in this case) with just a wee bit of salmon meat.

I chose the otah and my friend chose the mint curry chicken. The otah was a disappointingly small circular blob which was not worth its price in taste and value. The mint curry tasted like dried mint leaves  hurriedly thrown atop the cooked chicken in its equally tasteless curry gravy.  I was not particularly thrilled with the ikan bilis because it tasted like it was factory made. The fish cake tasted regular wet market bought. The chili, well, I must say, some factory canteen or school canteen chili paste for nasi lemak does it better.  The chili paste tasted still slightly raw and I would have preferred it to be more cooked and mellowed in.  Rice was a real let down but I guess for the health conscious who cannot consume coconut milk will like it. I personally am of the view that if I choose Nasi Lemak to eat, then I must have the full monty no holds barred. Rice was hard and not moist to absorb the mint curry nor the chilli. The egg was the only saving grace. Cut into a heart shape with yolk slightly undercooked was enjoyable enough. But that was it.  The Nonya Salad, Achar, is so so too.

Conclusion: If you want a quick meal and you are not a foodie for the day, this is the place to go. If you are also not particular with aesthetics like the kind of tin plate they used in olden days to serve your rice in, then by all means try. Also if you do not mind a bit of rust to add to its "rusticness" too. Readers may differ in this aspect.

I have to try their prata but not till a long time later though. If you want to hear yourself speak with your friends, this is not the place to go. The noise level resonates when the whole place is full of people :(