Tag: chicken

Nico Salad

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-My Order-

Nico Salad ($12.90, 2 Base, 3 Sides, 1 Protein, 1 Garnish, 1 Dressing)

  • [Base] Mesclun Mix, Romaine Lettuce
  • [Sides] Broccoli, Pickled Cucumber, Sweet Potato Mash
  • [Protein] Yogurt Chicken Breast
  • [Garnish] Almond Flakes
  • [Dressing] Wafu Dressing

-The Review-

I chanced upon this salad bar when I was grocery shopping at Marks & Spencer (Wheelock Place). It is right at the exit near the Kids’ section, and I was pleasantly surprised by how good this salad bar was.

Only salad shop that brines their chicken breast

This was my first experience with brined chicken breast at a salad bar, and I was genuinely impressed! Brining keeps the meat moist and tender, giving it a unique “Q” texture. After trying many similar-tasting chicken breasts from salad bars around Singapore, this one definitely stood out.

Their sides were also very well made.

The pickled cucumber had a homemade taste, thinly sliced and brined in white vinegar. It offered a refreshing contrast to the typical pickled gherkins found in many other places. The broccoli was perfectly cooked, and the sweet potato mash was smooth without being grainy, with some larger pieces of sweet potato adding a nice variety in texture.

A pretty generous portion

The bowl was about 400g, and they were quite generous with the amount of protein given. Here is a breakdown of the salad bowl.

  • 85g Base (Romaine Lettuce + Mesclun Mix)
  • 144g Yogurt Chicken
  • 52g Sweet Potato Mash
  • 50g Broccoli
  • 30g Pickled Cucumber
  • 8g Almond Flakes
  • 30g Wafu Dressing (*unable to accurately measure)

-Information/Hacks-

Address: 501 Orchard Rd, #01-02 Wheelock Place, Singapore 238880

Hours:
Mon-Fri, 9AM-5PM (note that the salad bar is only available on weekdays)
Sat-Sun, 10AM-5PM

Other information/Hacks: Nico Salad is not on any delivery platforms at the moment, but they are currently running a 20% off opening promotion.

HAAKON

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-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.