Alexandra Central may be an ulu mall to many, but there are actually more finds here than expected.
Located a short walk from IKEA Alexandra, the mall has places like Liu Lang Mian Noodle Bar 流浪面, Food Principle 食德, Cafe ON:DO, Yukkuri Kohi, and now Don Lechon.
For those who follow Filipino food in Singapore, Don Lechon should not be an unfamiliar name.
It is better known for its Grandlink Square outlet near Paya Lebar, where it has built a following for lechon belly and Filipino comfort dishes.
The East Village branch has since closed, while this Alexandra Central outlet is its newer location.
Lechon generally refers to roasted pig, and in the Filipino context, the appeal is usually in the contrast of crisp skin, fatty layers and tender pork, eaten with rice and dipping sauce.
The menu includes Chopped Lechon Belly ($13 for rice meal, $25 for 1/2kg, $46 for 1kg), Lechon Sisig ($13 for rice meal, $20 ala carte), Lechon Kare Kare ($11 for rice meal, $19 ala carte), and Lechon Sinigang ($19 for rice meal, $17 ala carte).
I went for the Chopped Lechon Belly Rice Meal ($13), which is probably the easiest way to know what Don Lechon is about.
The pork came in thick pieces with rice on the side, and the better bites had that mix of fatty meat, roasted aroma and crackly skin.
Some pieces were more tender than others, and I would have liked the skin to be more consistently crisp, but with the sauce and rice, it still satisfied that lechon craving.
The Lechon Sisig Rice Meal ($13) was the heavier tasting one.
It came on a sizzling plate with chopped lechon, onions, green chilli and an egg on top.
Once mixed together, it had that savoury, greasy and slightly peppery profile that worked better with rice than on its own.
The flavour was there, though it was also a little oily at the base. Not unexpected for sisig, but perhaps something to note if you prefer your rice meals cleaner tasting.
The Lechon Lumpia ($10) was an addictive side to share, and think of it as fried spring rolls filled with seasoned lechon.
The mall has been slowly collecting these slightly unexpected food finds, and for lechon belly, sisig and Filipino rice meals, this is one more reason to head to this part of Alexandra.
Don Lechon
Alexandra Central #01-10, 321 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159971
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Don Lechon
Grandlink Square #01-52, 511 Guillemard Road, Singapore 399849
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
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