SIN: Kota88 Restaurant
Pork lovers should go for the 'nasi campur babi' (lit. pork mixed rice)!
The number 8 is considered to be a lucky number in Chinese culture, so 88 symbolises good luck and fortune. All the prices on the menu end with 88 cents.
Chinese Indonesians rejoice upon hearing the name Kota88, a go-to restaurant along East Coast Road to cure homesickness with comfort food. Located not far from Siglap Centre, it has been around since 2018. The word kota (lit. city) here is a colloquial term referring to Jakarta's Chinatown.
The number 8 is considered to be a lucky number in Chinese culture, so 88 symbolises good luck and fortune. All the prices on the menu end with 88 cents.
Fu Yung Hai S$12.88
Taste: 7.5/10
Egg foo young is an omelette dish featuring a mix of meat and/or vegetables. Distinctive of the Indonesian counterpart is the accompaniment of sweet and sour sauce with green peas. The omelette, which was adequately fluffy, featured a bit of crab meat and crunchy cabbages among other ingredients. I'd certainly love it even more if the sauce were to be thicker and more robust.
Nasi Campur Babi S$12.88
Taste: 8.5/10
At Kota88, there's no need to decide whether to go for roasted or barbecued pork rice (though they're available on the menu). Simply go for the signature rice dish that came with an assortment of treats: roasted pork, barbecued pork, pork satay, pork dumpling, braised pig ears, prawn beancurd rolls, egg and clear soup. While not the best I've ever eaten, it was delectably savoury and sweet overall. I especially enjoyed the pork satay that was succulent and smoky. On the other hand, I was hoping that the pig ears to be crunchier and better marinated.
Two types of chili were provided. The watery version that was sweeter than it was spicy, while the ground chili had much more heat, but not overly spicy.
Mie Goreng Spesial Kota88 S$9.88
Taste: 8/10
The stir-fried noodle came with quite a generous amount of ingredients: chicken, beef, pork, Chinese sausage, fish cakes, egg strips, beansprouts and chye sim (Chinese mustard green). The taste wasn't disappointing at all, even though it could have more of the smoky aroma. I also enjoyed the accompanying pickles made of chopped carrots and cucumbers that gave a zing to the savoury noodle.
Jus Alpukat S$6.88
Taste: 8/10
I immediately knew what beverage to order the moment I saw avocado juice with chocolate condensed milk on the menu. Consistency wise, the comforting shake was pretty thick, but it would've been even more lovely had it been creamier. Thankfully, they didn't skimp on the chocolate condensed milk.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 8/10
Ambience: 7.5/10
Service: 7.5/10
Overall: 7.5/10
I'm interested to try their nasi goreng (lit. fried rice) and see for myself how authentic it is next time. Pika's advice: Should you wish to feast on a whole suckling pig, you need to place an order 3 days in advance. The dish is called Satu Ekor Babi Panggang, which costs S$238.88.
Kota88 Restaurant
907 East Coast Road
Singapore
(Daily: 11.00am - 3.00pm, 6.00pm - 11.00pm)
*Prices quoted are subject to 5% service charge and 7% GST.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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