a day of orange lanterns, national geographic and sushi

A friend wanted to eat Vietnamese food, so off we went to Harbourfront to visit the Orange Lantern Vietnamese Restaurant. Well... did consider Pho99 (the one that Jade Seah went to for the show 'Real Deal for Good Deal') but it doesn't open on weekends apparently. It was then a toss between Yummy Viet and Orange. Yummy Viet is at Smith Street but it was raining, and after that basically nothing much to do at Chinatown. Moreover, both of us haven't try Orange Lantern before, so it was decided to go orange. It's a halal joint, so muslim friends now have an alternative to visit. The restaurant itself somehow reminds me of Thai Express. Not sure why! Haha.


didn't get any of these


decor, inside the restaurant


imperial rolls


inside are normal spring roll fillings


My friend ordered something un-Vietnamese (imho). Tomato based stewed beef noodles! Maybe it's a French influence?


stewed beef noodles


interesting dip for the stewed beef (plum powdered salt? can't taste the plum 'coz the salt very salty!)

There plum powdered salt given for the stewed beef. Interesting! Yup, a little of those did enhance the taste of the beef!

As for myself, how can I visit a Vietnamese restaurant without trying their pho?


pho bo (beef noodle soup with beef balls, beef slice and beef brisket)


yummy tender beef slice


Somehow, I can't find beef brisket inside my bowl! Haha! But I think those thinly sliced chewy stuffs must be it! The normal beef slices were quite tender, so that was likeable. The soup was clear and light tasting, and flavourful. Not intense, but still nice. Eat it all, with Thai basil and fresh beansprouts, provided as garnishes.


Thai basil


After lunch, we walked around Harbourfront and eventually Vivocity. Some event was going on at the ground floor. Apparently got some football cups on display. Hahaha, if not wrong, I think people who subscribe to mio EPL channel will get a chance to have their photos taken with these championship cups?


football stuffs


After walking enough (that would be when our feet demands to be rested), we retreated to National Geographic Cafe, away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds in Vivo. Very dark decor, furnitures with characters and very explorer like atmosphere.


table decor that you can buy


cappucino mocha


vanilla milkshake


chocolate truffle


Went over to The Central, and after bouts of walking (in our futile attempt to feel better after eating all those high caloried stuffs...), we went over to Liang Court to browse at Kinokuniya. Found an interesting Japanese conversational (English-Japanese) phrase book, that was simple to understand (with romanji) and situational use, and is fully illustrated, like a comic book. Imported from Japan, and hence hefty price-tag! About close to SGD$50! There was also an illustrated book on Japanese etiquette, which I browsed through for 10 minutes. Keke. Probably gained SGD$40+ worth of read time? :P

Didn't think I could eat somemore for dinner, but how to resist the call of sushi? Especially after being in a Japanese bookstore?? Haha! So, for dinner, we were at Tampopo.

My friend had zaru soba and clam soup. While I had my mini nigiri sushi.


zaru soba


clam soup


mini nigiri sushi


maguro, with such pretty color~


yummy fatty salmon~


It sure felt like a foodie's trail where the agenda is to eat and eat and eat the whole day long! :P