Yoshi’s Kitchen at Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre is one of those stalls that turns out to be more interesting than expected.
Wait… Nasi Lemak and Omurice?
Their signature is familiar comfort food with a Japanese twist – Nasi Lemak Omurice.
Coconut rice sits under a fluffy tornado omelette with a drizzle of teriyaki sauce and furikake scattered on top.
It was opened by Desmond Lum and his nephew Herbert Bong, neither of whom trained as chefs.
They started off selling factory-made nasi lemak and kueh from a small takeaway joint, but rising costs forced them to learn to make everything themselves.
The result? A stall named after their cat, Yoshi, complete with his photos watching over the fridge like a little guardian mascot.
The Nasi Lemak rice bowls include Chicken Karaage and Luncheon Meat ($5.50), Mid Wing ($6.50), Norwegian Saba and Chicken Karaage ($7.80), and the hearty Ultimate ($11.90).
Other options feature Mayo Chicken Karaage ($5.50), Spicy Mayo Chicken Karaage ($5.50), Mala Chicken Karaage ($5.80), Black Pepper Chicken Karaage ($6.00), Orange Chicken Karaage ($6.00), and Mentaiko Chicken Karaage ($6.00).
I went for the Chicken Karaage and Luncheon Meat Nasi Lemak Rice Bowl ($5.50), which honestly over-delivered for its price.
Big, chunky cubes of luncheon meat are deep-fried until they’re golden on the outside but still soft inside.
I also noticed that the hawkers deep-fry some items upon order, which keeps them crisp and warm.
The chicken karaage is boneless and marinated with lemongrass, so it’s got that subtle citrus hit you don’t always expect in hawker fried chicken.
The coconut rice, though slightly wet, was fragrant and not too greasy, with the fluffy omelette adding just the right amount of richness.
You can taste the effort from their sambal as well.
Yoshi’s Kitchen is genuine, creative, and good value for money. If you’re anywhere near Toa Payoh Lor 1, it’s worth queuing up for.
Yoshi’s Kitchen
Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre #02-18, 127 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310127
Opening Hours: 9am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 7:30pm (Tues – Fri), 9am – 3pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon
Other Related Entries
Oh Lemak (Bukit Timah Food Centre)
108 The Nasi Lemak Shop (Hong Lim Food Centre)
Madam Lim’s Nasi Lemak (Holland Drive Food Centre)
Spicy Wife Nasi Lemak (Amoy Street Food Centre)
Straits Club (Alexandra Village)
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