Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
In these trying times, a plate of cai fan will easily set you back by S$5 to S$7, depending on the dishes you order. But what if I told you that you can eat as much as you want for just S$7? That’s the lunchtime buffet deal at 131 Mookata, available from 10am to 2pm, Mon to Sat (the lunch buffet is closed on Sun).
Featuring a selection of more than 10 dishes, the buffet lets diners enjoy unlimited sides, mains and even desserts.
When we arrived at 12pm, there was already a long line, but it did not take long before we were near the front.
In my opinion, buffets require a solid game plan, and our aim was to try each and every one of the dishes, so we could tell you what you should definitely order here.
What to order at 131 Mookata $7 cai fan buffet
For our first plate, we got Prawns, Noodles, Broccoli, and Cabbage.
The carbs for this plate tasted alright, nothing mind-blowing, and were not as dry as I had expected them to be. The cabbage was juicy and flavourful, while the broccoli had a nice crunch to it. Between the 2, my pick is definitely the cabbage, due to how tasty I found it.
On to the most anticipated part of the buffet — the prawns. Were they value for money? With how plump and large they were, of course. Peeling them wasn’t the easiest task around, and it was slightly flaky on the inside. However, for S$7, who are we to complain when we can eat free-flow prawns?
Battle of the expensive cai fans: 666 Cai Fan • Porridge ($21) vs Cafe&Meal MUJI ($20.80)
Our next plate featured Fried Rice, Curry Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, Minced Pork bits and Spring Rolls. The fried rice tasted like pineapple fried rice, with a sweet, tangy taste that I enjoyed. My recommendation is to drizzle the curry all over the fried rice to enhance its creaminess.
I enjoy curry chicken on regular days, and 131 Mookata exceeded my expectations. The curry chicken was large and easy to tear apart. It was moist on the inside, and the skin — my favourite part — was soft and savoury. It was so good that I even went back for a second helping.
If you are expecting a ton of spice, this might not be for you, as it has a moderate spice level, balancing heat with flavour.
Laksa and Shark Fin Soup are free-flow here. The staff is incredibly friendly and offered to scoop us a bowl on the spot. The broth had an acidic taste to it and while not overwhelming, it was not particularly to my dining companion’s liking.
The noodles used were thin beehoon, which soaked up the broth nicely, and had that acidic taste as well. I prefer my laksa to be on the sour side, so this dish is up to personal preference.
When it comes to shark fin soup, I prefer it to have a thick consistency. The shark fin soup here was lighter and had a silky consistency. Looking back, we should have made use of the free-flow pepper to bring out the flavour of the soup.
Dessert-wise, the Sponge Cakes were amazing. They were soft and had their own distinct flavour, with the green one tasting a lot like pandan, and I likened the brown to chocolate.
Who is 131 Mookata $7 cai fan buffet best for?
It’s great for anyone who can eat a lot and wants to eat a wide range of dishes while not breaking the bank.
How to get there?
131 Moookata has 2 locations, and the one featured in this article is located along Upper Paya Lebar Road. The nearest MRT is Taiseng (CC11), and you should take Exit A for the shortest route. Alternatively, you can take a bus and alight at this bus stop: Aft Paya Lebar St.
To get to their 2nd outlet, the nearest MRT is Lavender (EW11), and you should take Exit B for the shortest route. Alternatively, you can take a bus and alight at this bus stop: Opp Veerasamy Rd.
Do we recommend 131 Mookata $7 cai fan buffet?
Yes! Even if you’re not a fan of cai fan, the concept is interesting and worth every dollar. They don’t compromise on food quality despite the low price and it’s definitely worth checking out at least once. We recommend the curry chicken, fried rice and laksa.
People also read:
