Looking for delicious food with a taste of home in the heartlands? Why not give The Hainan Story a try? The restaurant has launched its fourth location at NEX, adding to its rich tapestry of lovely Hainanese cuisine tales. Furthermore, this is their first ever coffeehouse concept that will serve a selection of innovative products that will be exclusively at the NEX outlet alongside classic favourites.
Step into the coffee shop and you’ll be transported to another age. The whimsical color mix of red, green, and brown creates a warm atmosphere with brick foundation walls and mosaic tiles contributing to the vintage feel. The interior design sets the tone for a memorable dining experience which you can look forward to with four new dishes available exclusively at the NEX outlet.
Hainanese Ah Mai’s Chee Cheong FunThe Hainanese Ah Mai’s Chee Cheong Fun ($7.80) is spruced up with extras like fried fish ball and hard-boiled egg before being drizzled with a blend of chee cheong fun sauce, green chili sauce, rojak sauce, and light soya sauce. A saucy dish for the traditional food lovers, the meal is topped with fried shallot, spring onion, and Chinese celery for an aromatic boost as well.
Another dish worth trying is the Hainanese Pig’s Trotter Assam Curry Noodle ($9.80). The hog trotter slips off the bone after being cooked for hours in a sour-spicy assam curry. It has a good meat-to-fat ratio for a satisfying texture. Ribbons of al dente rice noodle soak up the curry sauce and the dish is served with beansprout, fish cake, and a hard boiled egg. Embodying a deep, rich, full-bodied flavor with malty, earthy, and spicy notes, the springy noodles helps elevate the taste of the overall dish.
If you are a fan of rou bing fan (meat patty rice), the Hainanese Pork Patty Noodle Soup ($7.80) delivers a noodle based version of it that is just as good with a slurp-worthy broth and plenty of ingredients. The pork patty is juicy and tender while the chye sim, fish cake and soft boiled egg makes this a hearty meal at any time of day.
Baked Hainanese Rice Cake LasagnaFor a British classic with an Asian touch, the Baked Hainanese Rice Cake Lasagna ($8.80) is a novel twist on the classic chwee kueh (steamed rice cake). The chef have substituted sliced cheddar cheese for the traditional caipo (preserved radish) while the wobbly rice cakes are soaked in an eggplant tomato stew and served with exquisite French beans and a beautiful bechamel sauce. This lasagna is probably one of my personal highlights and it stands out with is aromatic and chewy texture.
If you prefer Hainan Story’s classic dishes, Mama Wee’s Braised Pork Belly Set ($11.80) is also on the menu here which comes with freshly steamed rice, sambal belacan, seasonal vegetables and a fried egg. The recipe for their curry has been passed down for generations and it has a deep earthy, savory, and umami flavor, with the added blue ginger, chilli and curry leaves which elevates the dish.
Home-Made Gula Melaka Kaya & Cold Butter ToastIf you’re simply stopping by for breakfast or a tea time break, get their Hainan-style thick, extremely fluffy toasts topped with Home-Made Gula Melaka Kaya & Cold Butter ($2.20) or the crunchy Rojak & Peanut Jam Spread ($2.50), to go with Kopi Gu You (from $2.40), which includes a piece of butter in your coffee!
Dessert options also include Pandan Waffles (starting at $2.20) which can be paired with sweet toppings like gula melaka kaya, peach jam, or even savory alternatives such as rojak jam, avocado egg mayo, or cheese. There will also be a cake of the day option affordably priced at $3 which includes pandan coconut, black forest and chocolate peanut traditional cakes.
With lots more to offer for the whole family, pay them a visit to try out their food today!
Address: 23 Serangoon Central, #02-17 NEX, Singapore 556083
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm daily
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