Category: Nutrition Info

HAAKON

Leave a comment

-My Order-

Make Your Own Bowl ($11.50, 1 Base, 1 Protein, 3 Sides)

  • [Base] Mesclun Salad
  • [Protein] Grilled Chicken Fillet
  • [Sides] Gochujang Cucumber, Baked Cauliflower, Thai Green Papaya

-The Review-

Haakon is my original go-to place for healthier options. Their macro-calculator and nutrition information on their website are very helpful, although it’s worth noting that these resources haven’t been updated with their new menu yet. Unfortunately, the branches I frequented at Raffles Place and Holland Village have since closed, so I haven’t had the chance to visit in a while. Their standards seem to have fallen quite a bit.

Light-tasting sides

Their dishes generally have a clean taste due to their light seasoning. For instance, the Thai Papaya Salad in my order was notably mild, lacking a strong fish-sauce flavor. Similarly, the Gochujang cucumber, which included onions, carrots, and cucumber, was quite subtle in flavor—though I found the raw onion a bit too intense for my taste. The baked cauliflower, seasoned lightly with curry powder, was also on the milder side.

The grilled chicken fillet is rather dry

I recall loving their Tuna Tataki, but I’ve noticed that their menu has since shrunk, and many of my previous favorites are no longer available. The grilled chicken fillet, seasoned with turmeric and cumin, was well-seasoned, but unfortunately, the chicken was tough and dry.

Portion is small for its price, every item would cost you a little bit more

For the price, the portion size is quite small. My bowl, which would have cost $11.50 if purchased directly from Haakon, contained less than 100g of protein and totaled about 325g. Adding extra toppings or sauces would have further increased the cost. Here is the weight breakdown.

  • 60g Mesclun Salad
  • 95g Grilled Chicken Fillet
  • 50g Baked Cauliflower
  • 50g Thai Green Papaya
  • 70g Gochujang Cucumber

-Information/Hacks-

Address: 313 Somerset, KINEX

Hours:
Somerset – Mon-Sun, 10AM-9:30PM
KINEX – Mon-Sun, 11AM-8:30PM

Other information/Hacks: Deliveroo’s self-pickup offer is the best, my bowl will cost $10.50 after self-pickup discount. Ordering directly from their website would cost me $11.50. However, because I had my new user discount, I chose to order via FoodPanda, as my bowl was $7.40 after discount.

Poke Theory

Leave a comment

-My Order-

BYO Regular Bowl ($17.50, 1-2 base, 0-3 Poke, 7 toppings, 0-2 crunch, 1 sauce)

  • [Base] Crunchy Greens (Red Cabbage, White Cabbage, Lettuce)
  • [Poke] Shoyu Tuna, Balinese Spiced Salmon
  • [Toppings] Japanese Cucumber, Cajun Sweet Potatoes, Egg White, Carrots, Honey Pineapple, Charred Broccoli, Roasted Pumpkin
  • [Crunch] Tobiko
  • [Dressing] Miso Avocado

-The Review-

Poke Theory is a great choice if you’re seeking a healthy and tasty option nearby (they have multiple locations across Singapore). Most of their outlets are also open on weekends. If you are counting your calories, they have a nutrition calculator. However, note that the calculator is not updated with their latest menu.

Proteins taste clean and healthy

The Balinese Spiced Salmon surprised me—it was light and not oily at all, possibly because they sous vide it without the skin. I enjoyed it more than expected; sometimes Balinese spiced dishes can be heavy but it isn’t the case here. I’d definitely order it again when I’m craving cooked fish.

I also tried their Shoyu Tuna. This is my standard order at Poke Theory because it isn’t too salty, and tuna is one of the leanest proteins out there. Their Sous Vide Chicken is also tender if you’re looking for a less-seasoned protein option.

Broccoli was overcooked

Their sides are simple yet delightful. Everything is either unseasoned or lightly seasoned, allowing you to savor the freshness of each ingredient. The Cajun Sweet Potato is mashed, providing a nice contrast to the crunchiness of other toppings. They also offer egg whites as an option.

My only complaint would be that the broccoli is mushy and overcooked. Personally, I prefer broccoli to retain its crunch after cooking.

Sauces are nice but the portion is very small

20g of dressing isn’t enough to mix properly into the regular bowl. Instead, I dip my Poke into the sauce rather than stirring it in. I’ve tried both the Sambal Matah and Avocado Miso, and found both to be well-balanced and light. Neither sauce contains oil, making them decent choices if you’re seeking a lower-calorie option.

Very consistent size

They do weigh the amount of Poke and base they give, so the sizing has been pretty consistent. It was about 110g of Protein, and a total of about 500g worth of food –

  • 45g Pineapple
  • 53g Sweet Potato
  • 30g Cucumber
  • 25g Carrot
  • 50g Pumpkin
  • 30g Broccoli
  • 40g Egg White
  • 60g Balinese Spiced Salmon
  • 50g Shoyu Tuna
  • 90g Crunchy Greens
  • 20g Avocado Miso Dressing

-Information/Hacks-

Address: Various locations around Singapore

Hours: Hours differ with each location

Other information/Hacks: You can also use my referral code here for $5 off your first order.

Otherwise, ordering for self-pickup on Deliveroo would give you the best value with the ongoing 30% off (up to $8) offer.

The Daily Cut (Summer 2024)

Leave a comment

-My Order-

Regular Bowl ($14.00, 2 bases, 1 protein, 3 supplements, 1 topping, 1 dressing)

  • [Base] Lettuce Medley x2
  • [Protein] Chicken Breast
  • [Sides] Sriracha-Dusted Broccoli, Gochujang Cauliflower, Marinated Zucchini
  • [Topping] Pickled Cucumber
  • [Dressing] Garlic Raita

-The Review-

I love their summer menu

My favorite part about TDC is that they change their menu every quarter. As someone who eats salad every day, certain supplements and options can get quite boring. The fact that they change their menus every now and then is what keeps me coming back.

From the summer menu, the Gochujang Cauliflower, Marinated Zucchini, Chili Lime Shrimp, Green Chili Chicken Patties, Pickled Cucumber, and Garlic Raita Sauce have become my go-tos. The spiced items (Gochujang Cauliflower, Chili Lime Shrimp, Green Chili Chicken Patties) are very refreshing and not too spicy. Sriracha-dusted broccoli and maple Dijon carrots are nothing special in my opinion.

Screen Grab from their Macros Calculator – The Garlic Raita Sauce is the lowest calorie option for dressing, besides the lemon wedge.

Beef is overcooked and tough

The only thing I really dislike on their menu is their beef. It is overcooked, rubbery, and tough. Every other protein option on their menu is a better choice.

[9 August 2024 update: I decided to give their beef another try and they have definitely improved their standards! They seemed to have also change the cut of beef they use and it tastes a lot better.]

Service standards are inconsistent

I first tried TDC in 2015 when I was interning nearby. More recently, since I started working in the area, there was a period when I would eat at TDC at least 2-3 times a week—mostly because it’s the only salad store still open by the time I end work. By now, I’ve tried everything on their menu (except the bases, as I always stick with romaine lettuce everywhere I go).

That changed when they made mistakes on my orders three times in a row just last month. In the first two instances, they forgot to add the additional topping I paid for, and in the third, they completely missed a supplement (corn).

I placed these orders through Deliveroo, and the refund process turned out to be quite a hassle. When I contacted TDC via Instagram, I received template service recovery replies. However, they did try to process a refund through Deliveroo for me. I received a full refund for one of the bowls, which I considered fair compensation for the missing items in the other two orders. Therefore, I told them that I didn’t need a refund for those.

For the sake of this blog, I decided to patronise them once more, and thankfully, there were no mistakes this time.

Macros available, and they are quite accurate

The macros calculator available on their website is very helpful. Moreover they are quite accurate. Here is how much everything weighed in my bowl (~500g of food) –

  • 90g Lettuce Medley
  • 160g Chicken Breast
  • 80g Gochujang Cauliflower
  • 70g Sriracha-Dusted Broccoli
  • 55g Marinated Zucchini
  • 8g Pickled Cucumber
  • 35g Garlic Raita Sauce
The Daily Cut Summer 2024 Menu
The Daily Cut Summer 2024 Menu

-Information/Hacks-

Address: One Raffles Place, Guocco Tower

Hours:
Mon-Fri, 11AM-9PM
Sat-Sun 11AM-4PM

Website: thedailycut.sg | Macro Calculator Here

Other information/Hacks: TDC is only available on Deliveroo. They do have an ongoing promotion where you get 45% off self-pickup (50% for deliveroo plus members), making each bowl only $8.52!

[Aug 2024 update: Deliveroo’s offer has become 15% for plus members.]

Grains & Co.

Leave a comment

-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.