Tag: Weekdays

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.

The Salad Shop @UOB Plaza

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-My Order-

Human Feed ($14.80, 3 cold + 2 warm + 1 protein) + 1 add-on protein ($3)

  • [Base] Romaine Lettuce
  • [Cold Feed] Red Cabbage w French Dressing, Tomato Salsa, Thai Glass Noodles
  • [Warm Feed] Char Siew Eggplant, Egg White with Spinach
  • [Topping] Spring Onion
  • [Dressing] Signature Chili
  • [Protein] Pesto Sous Vide Chicken Breast, Spicy Blackened Chicken

-The Review-

I was thrilled by the unique options on their menu. Their offerings certainly set them apart from most places. For instance, they provide choices like cauliflower rice and broccoli rice, though I preferred to stick with my romaine lettuce base to fairly judge their supplements and proteins. However, I was disappointed with two aspects.

The Salad Shop UOB Plaza Menu
The Salad Shop’s July 2024 Menu

First, many things on their menu turned out to be high in fats.

The red cabbage was excessively coated in French dressing, which typically contains 13% carbs, 86% fat, and 1% protein. It would have been better if the cabbage had been thinly shredded.

The Spicy Blackened Chicken was prepared using chicken thigh, and after removing the skin, only about half the amount of chicken remained. Additionally, it seemed they had added oil during the cooking process.

Even the Sous Vide Chicken, which is supposed to be the healthiest standard option without an additional charge, included Pesto. Pesto is usually high in fats due to the nuts, olive oil, and cheese content.

Second, the taste profile of the items were very one-dimensional

The Thai Glass Noodles, which I was excited about, lacked acidity and did not capture the expected Thai flavors. Adding more lime/lemon, garlic, and fish sauce could enhance its authenticity.

Similarly, the Tomato Salsa was missing the bright flavors of lime, cilantro, and onion.

While the signature chili had a satisfying kick and texture, it didn’t offer much beyond that in terms of flavor complexity.

Overall, the bowl tasted predominantly spicy and oily. I found that adding some White Wine Vinegar at home significantly improved the flavors, suggesting that they might consider incorporating more acidity into their offerings to enhance taste profiles.

If I had to buy it again…

I would definitely opt for the Egg White with Spinach. It was the standout item in my bowl. In terms of protein, the Sous Vide Chicken Breast was also very well-prepared. It remained tender and appeared to be the least oily option available.

However, as someone mindful of my caloric intake, I didn’t find the additional calories from the oil and fats (even if they are healthy fats) justified. Those calories would have been better spent enhancing the natural flavors with ingredients like onion, cilantro, and lime in their supplements.

Personally, I prefer the Thai flavors at Omnivore and the salsa at Urban Mix/Patrons.

Nevertheless, The Salad Shop is still worth trying. They offer vegan-friendly options, and if you’re bulking, this place might be a better fit for you than for someone like me watching calories closely.

[Edit: 29 Jul 2024] I decided to give The Salad Shop a try again and this time round I picked the Beetroot Yogurt along with Brussels Sprouts. I also opted for the simpler cold feeds like pickled tomato and boiled egg which did make the bowl a lot less oily. The bowl added up to a total of about 665g.

  • 50g Mixed Greens
  • 134g Pickled Tomato
  • 132g Tomato Salsa
  • 56g Boiled Egg
  • 57g Egg White Spinach
  • 63g Brussels Sprouts
  • 125g Pesto Sous Vide Chicken Breast
  • 12g Fresh Lime
  • 35g Beetroot Yogurt

-Information/Hacks-

Address: UOB Plaza 2, 80 Raffles Pl, #01-20, Singapore 048624

Hours: Mon-Fri, 8AM-4:30PM

Website: https://www.thesaladshop.com.sg/

Hacks: Their queues can get quite long. You can pre-order for self-collection using this link here.