Category: Breakfast

Grain Traders

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-My Order-

Gather Your Meal ($17.50, 1 grain, 1 protein, 2 veggies, 1 side, 1 topping, 1 dressing)

  • [Grain] Super Greens
  • [Protein] 100 Day Grass-fed Beef Parrillada
  • [Veggies] Green Papaya Salad, Sweet Potato w Fennel
  • [Side] Cauliflower Pickle
  • [Topping] Green Sambal Iljo
  • [Dressing] Homemade Coconut Curry

-The Review-

Vegetarian Option Pad Kra Pow Jackfruit available

They have very interesting proteins. Pad Kra Pao Jackfruit is essentially the vegan/vegetarian renditition of the Thai Basil Chicken. Unfortunately, they left this item out of my order and I wasn’t able to taste it, despite being so excited that I was willing to top up $5 (on deliveroo). I did get my refund in Deliveroo credits after a lot of back-and-forth with the platform, but that’s not Grain Traders’ fault.

Unlike everything else they offered on the menu, their Sous Vide Chicken Breast seemed to be the dish they put in the least effort in. It was disappointingly dry, and lacked finesse.

The 100 Day Grass-fed Beef Parrillada I tried in another order was so much better. It was incredibly tender, almost like braised pork, and beautifully seasoned. This will definitely be my go-to protein option on future visits, although I still look forward to trying the Pad Kra Pao.

Love the wide range of vegetables

Even the base is not the usual Romaine Lettuce, but a blend of Kale and Spinach. The raw vegetables are all crisp and fresh, and the cooked ones are perfectly timed.

A lot of work is needed to prepare each dish because they all have many layers and components. For example, the Broccoli was mixed with Okra and Coconut Flakes. The Cauliflower with Pomegranate & Pistachio. The eggplant was braised with a very light cashew sauce. All presenting a very nice contrast of sweet-and-nutty nodes.

Grain Traders July 2024 Menu – Base, Protein, Veggies

Even the Green Papaya Salad had edamame and purple cabbage in it.

Of the sides, I’ve tried the Cucumber Pickles (made with Kaffir Lime & Mustard Seeds) and the Cauliflower Pickles (made with carrots, tumeric, curry, and curry leaves). Both are refreshing, light, and adds just the right amount of acidity to your bowl. I can’t wait to try the other two as well.

As for the sauces, the Asian Gravy is a Teriyaki/Worcester mix and it was too salty for my liking. The Salsa Verde is a little too oily, although I did give it a taste and it is quite fragrant. I might try the Beetroot Yogurt or the Homemade Coconut Curry in future, but it seems like they are lacking a lighter dressing option.

Grain Traders July 2024 Menu – Sides, Toppings, Base

Small portion for its price.

The portion size is about 400g. They do weigh every component while adding it to your bowl so the portion sizes are fairly consistent. For a $17.50 bowl, this is one of the most expensive salad bowls in town. However, as I mentioned earlier, every dish is complex, made with multiple ingredients and spices/sauces, and the ingredients are of good quality so I felt that the price is quite justified.

  • 95g Sous Vide Chicken Breast
  • 50g Cauliflower, Tumeric, and Curry Pickle
  • 80g Mixed Mushroom
  • 75g Eggplant w Cashew
  • 60g Super Greens
  • 30g Spiced Chickpeas
  • 25g Asian Gravy

[30 Jul 2024 Edit] I finally managed to try their Pad Kra Pow Jackfruit. The Jackfruit was so delicious, and it tastes almost like the texture of pulled pork.

The two remaining pickled dishes (Kimchi & Beansprouts) paled in comparison with the Pickled Cauliflower so that’ll be what I shall pick in my future orders.

The sweet potato with fennel and curry potato with grapes are both very tasty if you’re looking to supplement your bowl with some light carbs.

The homemade curry is also a good option as a dressing. Unfortunately in one of my bowls they forgot to include my Feta Beetroot Yogurt dressing, along with my chili & lemongrass peanut topping. After reaching out to them, one the owners asked me to return for another bowl on the house. I’m looking forward to try the remaining flavours that I’ve yet to explore!

[3 Aug 2024 Update]

Thanks Bryan and Javier for arranging this on the house! I appreciate the effort they put into maintaining their customer service standards.

The Beetroot Feta Yogurt is definitely a good higher-protein dressing, although I have to say the homemade curry is still my favourite. The peanuts are very fragrant, and a good topping to have if you’re looking for a nice crunch too!

I think I made up my mind on a go-to order, edited above. Grain Traders is definitely the place I’d visit when I’m looking to treat myself to a healthy but really tasty meal!

-Information/Hacks-

Address: CapitaGreen, Guoco Tower

Hours: CapitaGreen – Mon-Fri, 8AM-5PM, Guoco Tower – Mon-Fri, 8AM-8PM, Sat 11AM-4PM

Other information: Upon comparing the various food delivery platforms and their self-pickup discounts, along with Grain Traders’ own website, Deliveroo‘s 25% off is the most value-for-money. If you have Deliveroo Plus, each bowl would cost you only $15.

It was 50% off for a week or so when they first opened their Guoco Tower branch
This would have been $17.50 on their website.
This would have been $21.60 on their website.

Avorush

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-My Order-

Regular Bowl ($13.90, 2 bases, 1 protein, 2 sides, 1 dressing, Avo of the day) + $1 for chicken breast

  • [Base] Mixed Greens x2
  • [Protein] Roasted Chicken Breast (+$1)
  • [Sides] Zucchini, beets & carrots
  • [Dressing] Sriracha
  • [Avo of the day] Guacamole
(P.S. They definitely plated it nicely when I first received it but I messed it up in my transport home)

-The Review-

While they are not a halal-certified restaurant, they claim that they only use halal-certified meat, making them one of the only few Muslim-friendly salad bars in town.

Serving size is rather small for its price.

And any meat-based protein comes at an additional cost. $14.90 for ~360g of food makes it one of the most expensive salad options I’ve had thus far. Here is how much everything weighed –

  • 60g Mixed Greens
  • 85g Beets & Carrots
  • 70g Zucchini
  • 35g Guacamole
  • 15g Spicy Sriracha Dressing
  • 95g Roasted Chicken Breast

The items were of decent quality, but nothing truly outstanding.

The beets, carrots, and zucchini I ate were pleasant, but not outstanding enough to make me consider coming back. The roasted chicken breast was quite dry. Moreover, their dressings contain a lot of calories due to the oil/fat they contain. It will be nice if they had a low fat option.

Avorush Menu
Avorush Menu – July 2024

-Information/Hacks-

Address: #02-23 Asia Square Tower 2, 12 Marina View, 018961

Hours: Mon-Fri, 8AM-7:30PM

Website: http://www.avorush.com

Other information: They are on Deliveroo and Food Panda, but it is delivery-only and prices are more expensive than directly buying them items in store.

If you’re not particular about what is in your bowl, you can order a surprise salad at $7.50 for pickup at 1600-1800h on Yindii. Use my referral code DKJRMDG2 to get $5 cashback credit after your first order.

The Harvest

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-My Order-

Small Bowl ($9.40, 2 bases, 2 supplements, 1 protein, 1 topping, 1 dressing)

  • [Base] Romaine Lettuce, Sweet Potato Mash
  • [Protein] Plain Sous Vide Chicken Breast
  • [Supplements] Pickled Cauliflower, Mixed Mushroom
  • [Topping] Wolfberries
  • [Dressing] Spiced Yogurt

-The Review-

Their display immediately showcases the freshness of their ingredients. The leaves are crisp, the grains and fruits look plump, and even the avocado, despite being cut, showed no signs of oxidation.

Pickled Cauliflower is definitely the highlight

The store’s unassuming appearance initially led me to underestimate its offerings, but I was pleasantly surprised to find interesting supplements like Pickled Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Mash available.

The pickled cauliflower provided a refreshing kick with its crunchy texture and tangy flavor, which complemented my bowl well.

As for the Sweet Potato Mash, its clean taste was exactly to my liking, allowing me to fully enjoy the other supplements without being overwhelmed by herbs or salt in every bite.

The mixed mushrooms were slightly too oily for me, but in terms of taste it is well-seasoned.

Many Sous Vide Chicken options available

You can choose from Plain, Kung Pao, Cilantro pesto, or Honey Mustard, all of which do not come at any additional cost. The plain sous vide chicken was lightly seasoned with a touch of pepper, and I appreciated its tender texture that made it easy to bite into.

This is a very well-balanced bowl.

The portion size of about 300-360g was just right, with everything perfectly proportioned. There was a good balance—enough base without overwhelming the supplements, and the flavors complemented each other well. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my Harvest bowl; it had a clean and fresh taste, exactly how a salad bowl should be. I can definitely see myself returning.

  • 35g Romaine Lettuce
  • 130g Sweet Potato Mash
  • 95g Plain Sous Vide Chicken
  • 50g Mixed Mushrooms
  • 25g Pickled Cauliflower
  • 7g Wolfberries
  • 20g Spiced Yogurt
The Harvest OUE Downtown Menu
The Harvest Menu – July 2024

-Information/Hacks-

Address: 6A Shenton Way #03-30 Downtown Gallery, #2, Singapore 068815

Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30AM-5PM

Other information: You can pre-order by contacting Irene via WhatsApp at 96487905.

Grains & Co.

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-My Order-

Regular Bowl ($12.90, 2 base, 5 supplements, 1 protein, 1 dressing) [Side note: You can also purchase their Gain Bowl at the same price for 1 base, 3 supplements, 2 proteins, 1 dressing]

  • [Base] Romaine Lettuce x2
  • [Supplements] Korean Beansprouts, Charred Cauliflower, Cherry Tomatoes, Roasted Carrots, Smoked Pumpkin
  • [Protein] Paprika Chicken Breast
  • [Dressing] No sauce

-The Review-

I’ve tried everything on their menu—I’m that big of a fan. Grains & Co is hands down one of the most value-for-money options out there. The portion sizes are fantastic (nowhere else offers two proteins for $12.90), and every item on their menu actually tastes delicious.

First, their proteins are very worth it.

The Cajun Fish is my absolute favorite. Getting two whole fillets in a $12.90 grain bowl is incredible value.

Their vegetarian choices like tofu kebab, Korean tofu, and black bean kebab are all well-seasoned. Each protein is perfectly flavored—never too salty—and they provide generous portions.

The chicken breast options (paprika and rosemary) are cooked to perfection, remaining juicy. Their chicken thighs (Thai basil and teriyaki) strike a great balance with minimal oiliness and just the right skin-to-meat ratio.

The beef is typically cooked to medium-well, although occasionally it may be slightly overcooked. You can always check through the glass display before ordering to ensure it meets your preferences.

This was such a perfectly cooked batch of angus beef, thank you CIMB branch ❤
Regular Bowl – 2x Romaine Lettuce (120g), Korean Beansprouts (40g), Roasted Okra (60g), Beetroot Hummus (40g), Boiled Egg (50g), Capsicum Hummus (40g), Chipotle Dressing (20g), Herb roasted Angus Beef (112g, +$3.30)

Secondly, their supplements are lightly seasoned and offer a diverse range of flavors and textures.

The beetroot hummus provides a nice balance to the spices in the protein dishes. Korean beansprouts add a satisfying crunch, while roasted okra offers a unique stringy texture. Potatoes contribute a comforting starchiness.

They also offer basics like boiled broccoli, charred cauliflower, or roasted carrots, catering to different preferences and moods.

Gain Bowl – Romaine Lettuce (100g), Smoked Pumpkin (60g), Charred Cauliflower (70g), Boiled Broccoli (70g), Jalapeno Ranch (25g), Rosemary Chicken (138g), Cajun White Fish (143g)

While these options may seem simple, many salad stores typically prepare them (especially broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and sweet potatoes) in a standard manner—usually boiled or roasted. Grains & Co stands out by providing variety to these otherwise common choices, enhancing the overall dining experience.

If I had to nitpick…

It would be the limited availability of low-calorie sauce options. While their sauces are flavorful, during my calorie-conscious days, I preferred choosing “no sauce” so I could add my own vinegar at home. (I must commend the team for promptly accommodating my request for a “no sauce” option through their platforms.)

-Information/Hacks-

Address: One Raffles Place/CIMB Plaza/Fusionopolis

Hours: Mon-Fri, 10:30AM-7:30PM

Website: https://grainsandco.sg/

Nutrition Information (with Macros) available here

Hacks: You can pre-order for self-collection on their website. Add in the code “20off” for 20% off ($10.32 per regular/gain bowl) your first order. You can also earn points to offset future meals!

Alternatively, Deliveroo would cost you $10.50 with self-pickup for Plus members, which is the cheapest option across delivery platforms.