Cliff(y) Goes Dining

Mouth-watering 'buta kakuni' onboard! Happy New Year, everyone! Let's begin the year with a series of posts on my trip to Nagoya and nearby regions in Japan. My journey began with a smooth flight from Singapore to Narita International Airport aboard Japan Airlines JL712 before taking a domestic flight. What were served onboard?

Not wow-ed by its beef burgers though... Born in Germany, Hans im Glück (lit. Hans in Luck) is a burger chain named after a fairytale recorded by the Brothers Grimm. Known for its forest-inspired decor, the outlets create a cozy, rustic atmosphere. Here in Singapore, it's been rebranded as SERVUS German Burger Grill and it can be found at VivoCity.

Cantonese cuisine not quite as outstanding as expected... Housed within the National Gallery in the Civic District of Singapore, Yan blends classic Cantonese recipes with modern culinary innovation. Its menu showcases a balance of tradition and creativity, from roasted meat to hand-crafted dim sum . The restaurant is part of the AMEX Love Dining programme.

The best espresso jelly I've ever had! Starting as a humble shop by the river at Robertson Quay in 2009. Kith Café has since expanded to no less than ten outlets across the island. The founder is a firm believer in feng shui (Chinese geomancy), seen in the cafe's logo with auspicious elements: 18 black and 18 yellow spaces arranged in an octagonal shape, symbolising prosperity and success.

Pancake x  soufflé originated from Tokyo! Hailing from Japan, Flipper's is a chain café renowned for its fluffy, jiggly soufflé pancakes. While I've never had the chance to try the pancakes in its country of origin, I was excited to finally experience them at the Westgate branch here in Singapore, which has been drawing long lines of eager patrons.

Trying it again in Singapore after years! Yoshinoya is the second largest chain of gyudon (lit. beef bowl) restaurants in Japan. Although its first shop opened in Tokyo, the name of the chain actually pays homage to the former town of Yoshino in Osaka Prefecture where its founder hailed from. After years of giving Yoshinoya in Singapore a miss, I recently found myself revisiting one of its branches at Bugis Junction.