Fast food brands you really want to see in Singapore
#16
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,128
Do they also have an open salsa bar where you can help yourself to everything or do they just portion it out from behind the counter?
#17
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ KF (ex-UA)
Posts: 588
Worth noting that Mission burritos (Chipotle/Baja Fresh/etc) are none of the above, they are a San Francisco Chicano thing.
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 710
Pizza outlets in Singapore are dominated by the local brands like Peperoni Pizzeria, Crust, and Mad For Garlic. I've never heard a Singaporean say "I fancy going to Pizza Hut!".
#20
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
Pizza Hut is viewed as a delivery/fast-food brand in Singapore, I don't think there are any US-style sit-down restaurants with buffets etc.
#21
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: UA MM, Hilton-Dia
Posts: 1,480
I'd like to see Five Guys and Shake Shack although there has been a recent expansion of Japanese fast casual dining
#23
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,128
The only good thing about Muchachos was the guacamole. As for everything else it's a step down from Baha. The salsa was below average (el cheapo canned tomatoes), there was no open salsa bar or anything like that, just two near-empty bottles of orange sludge at the end that nobody even bothered refilling.
It was worth checking it out as I'm always willing to try something new, but it's back to Baha Fresh next time. The open salsa bar is simply unbeatable.
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 710
Oh yeah, definitely.
I went to Five Guys in Covent Garden London, and a small burger, fries, and Coke cost me 10.95. I think in London that is pretty much the going rate for a "gourmet" burger...same kind of price at Meatmarket, Patty & Bun etc.
But if Five Guys came to SG, then I think the food would be cheaper (compared to the UK!). I cannot imagine a meal at Five Guys SG costing S$23. ^ You could eat well at Ichiban Boshi for that price.
I went to Five Guys in Covent Garden London, and a small burger, fries, and Coke cost me 10.95. I think in London that is pretty much the going rate for a "gourmet" burger...same kind of price at Meatmarket, Patty & Bun etc.
But if Five Guys came to SG, then I think the food would be cheaper (compared to the UK!). I cannot imagine a meal at Five Guys SG costing S$23. ^ You could eat well at Ichiban Boshi for that price.
#25
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,665
Having checked out Muchachos yesterday, I'd say that Baja Fresh is way better.
The only good thing about Muchachos was the guacamole. As for everything else it's a step down from Baha. The salsa was below average (el cheapo canned tomatoes), there was no open salsa bar or anything like that, just two near-empty bottles of orange sludge at the end that nobody even bothered refilling.
It was worth checking it out as I'm always willing to try something new, but it's back to Baha Fresh next time. The open salsa bar is simply unbeatable.
The only good thing about Muchachos was the guacamole. As for everything else it's a step down from Baha. The salsa was below average (el cheapo canned tomatoes), there was no open salsa bar or anything like that, just two near-empty bottles of orange sludge at the end that nobody even bothered refilling.
It was worth checking it out as I'm always willing to try something new, but it's back to Baha Fresh next time. The open salsa bar is simply unbeatable.
But then I lived for 3 years in Phoenix so my standards for good Mexican and Southwest / Tex-Mex are maybe a bit lofty to reach. I have tried a few places here in SIN and didn't find any that I would rush back too.
The Chilli's at Tanglin was okay in the early days when they got US staff to train and set up, but the last two visits were utterly disappoiting food wise and I won't go back to waste my money another time.
Chipotle would be great, In-and-Out would be awesome, but again I don't think the standars one is used too in the States are easily met here.
It is a mix of staff skills, food taste, pricing, etc. that just doesn't gel in my view. Even if places are good and successful initially often it doesn't take long and they take a dive for the worse with food quality declining, pricing increasing, service deteriorating, etc. That goes for fast food joints the same as for restaurants.
But then maybe I'm just one picky bugger
Last edited by demue; Sep 4, 2014 at 3:03 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 710
I have come up with a personal list for my blog so far:
Mang Inasal - Philippines (Filipino Chicken)
Snog - UK (Frozen Yogurt)
Square Pie - UK (Pies and Pastries)
After You - Thailand (Luxury Deserts)
Kampong Kravers - Malaysia (Finger Food)
Brat - Hong Kong (Gourmet Hotdogs)
Kamikaze Karaage - Indonesia (Japanese Chicken)
Mandalicious - Dubai (Arabic Fast Food)
Just Falafel - Worldwide (Falafel and Wraps)
Tokyo Banana - Japan (Chocolate)
Panda Burger - Hong Kong (Burgers)
Sticks & Sushi - UK (Japanese Yakatori and Sushi)
Bagel Bagel - Indonesia (Bagel)
Five Guys - USA (Burgers)
Bong Kopitown - Indonesia (Coffee Shop)
Shirokuma - Japan (Japanese Dessert Caf)
Kimbap Cheonguk - South Korea (Kimbap)
Burger Fuel - New Zealand (Burgers)
Just wondering if any of these have actually been in Singapore before?
Mang Inasal - Philippines (Filipino Chicken)
Snog - UK (Frozen Yogurt)
Square Pie - UK (Pies and Pastries)
After You - Thailand (Luxury Deserts)
Kampong Kravers - Malaysia (Finger Food)
Brat - Hong Kong (Gourmet Hotdogs)
Kamikaze Karaage - Indonesia (Japanese Chicken)
Mandalicious - Dubai (Arabic Fast Food)
Just Falafel - Worldwide (Falafel and Wraps)
Tokyo Banana - Japan (Chocolate)
Panda Burger - Hong Kong (Burgers)
Sticks & Sushi - UK (Japanese Yakatori and Sushi)
Bagel Bagel - Indonesia (Bagel)
Five Guys - USA (Burgers)
Bong Kopitown - Indonesia (Coffee Shop)
Shirokuma - Japan (Japanese Dessert Caf)
Kimbap Cheonguk - South Korea (Kimbap)
Burger Fuel - New Zealand (Burgers)
Just wondering if any of these have actually been in Singapore before?
#29
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
For a brief moment there I thought that was in Singapore
I've yet to find a good bagel outside the US, although Tal Bagel in Jerusalem is pretty decent. But in Asia, or Australia for that matter, fuggedaboutit.
I've yet to find a good bagel outside the US, although Tal Bagel in Jerusalem is pretty decent. But in Asia, or Australia for that matter, fuggedaboutit.
#30
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
Apart from Brick Lane, they are difficult to find in the uk. I have driven from Wiltshire to Brick Lane because I was so desperate, but now every so often I make a batch. Not easy but you can make perfect bagels if you make it a mission. And of course you can burn them slightly. We fight over those.