Today, my wife and I visited the recently re-opened "The Food Place" at Raffles City, which is now operated by Food Republic instead of Food Junction. We were "encouraged" to visit this food court because it boasts the following stalls: SMASH by BurgerLabo, Penang Jiak, Ju Xing Fish (from Hong Kong), and Mon Kee Cafe (also from Hong Kong). The first two did not disappoint, but the last two did. We did not expect a mala element in a Hong Kong-style soup from Ju Xing Fish, and Mon Kee Cafe informed us that we could not order its Hong Kong milk tea on its own, but only with a meal. We were also disappointed by the long queue for drinks here and wonder if this could be vastly improved. That said, we will return for SMASH by BurgerLabo and Penang Jiak.
Mera Safa
3
Edited review: "Finally got to eat at the food court. A little disappointed as I found the food expensive, especially given the quantity served, and the quality of food we tried was only so-so. Expected more, as the food court's vibes were vibrant; unfortunately, the food was disappointing. And, sadly, even car parking costs at Raffles City have now gone up a lot too…"
Joan Lee
3
(12/07): The food court has undergone a renovation, making it feel welcoming and bright. The selection of food includes: Kam’s Roast, Koo Kee Yong Tau Foo, Fitra Chicken Rice, King Grouper Fish Soup, Li Xing Fishball Noodles, Hankang Pocha Express (Korean), and Penang Jiak.
I tried a newcomer to the food court scene: Ju Xing Fish by Hong Kong Ju Xing House, which I believe has won a Michelin award?
I ordered the sauerkraut crunchy grass carp fillet soup with bee hoon. At $14.80, this is significantly higher in cost for a single portion in a food court.
Taste-wise, the soup had a meaty sweetness, but the numbing mala taste was overpowering. Still, it was nice overall.
I definitely needed a cold drink to wash it down! 😆
I also tried the Penang Fried Kuey Teow, which took about 15 minutes to prepare. I'd give it a 6/10.
Update 15/07:
I returned to try Hankang Pocha Express, as their regular restaurants are highly rated. I wanted to try their express outlet first to get an idea before visiting the main restaurant.
I had the ginseng chicken soup. It was a single portion.
Pros: It wasn't high in sodium and had a pleasant meaty sweetness.
Cons: There was no discernible ginseng or red date taste. The portion was relatively small, and the pricing was high for a single lunch in a food court setting. For me, there are better Korean options at Fortune Center Level 2 in terms of taste and value.
Overall: I might still drop by this food court during off-peak hours, especially when I'm willing to pay higher prices for a food court setting.
T. Seng (Food Sensei)
3
Lots of new concepts and good offerings, but some are more hype than substance. The Shanhai Gold Duck, for instance, was cold and hard in some parts. At $7.8 for a duck drumstick with no chili dip, it felt overpriced, especially since the dishes in general seemed rather cold. I doubt it could compare with the Kams Roast across the street; that one is so much better.
The Indonesia Padang stall looks good. The taste was decent, but it can be costly; Beef Rendang, for example, starts at over $9. While the beef was soft and decently portioned, the vegetable portion was small, and the rice was hard. The curry chicken is about $1 cheaper. However, the variety of dishes is attractive and draws you in. The sambal, I must say, is very good. Oh, one more thing: the Nasi Padang plates are like a merry-go-round and can't stay still. The cutlery provided was also unsuitable. Overall, I feel the experience was overhyped and under-delivered.
Kenneth Tan
4
Visited Food Place @ Raffles City on its reopening after renovation. The space is now modern, bright, and visually appealing.
Stall assistants are smartly dressed.
However, it still gets quite congested during lunch hours.
There are some new and interesting stalls like Mon Kee and Ju Xing Sauerkraut Fish, a specialty burger stall worth checking out. Nasi Padang is popular too.
The window-side seats offer a pleasant view of the city, although they can feel warmer.
Overall, it’s worth a visit, but for a more relaxed dining experience, it’s best to avoid peak lunch hours.