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Although Joo Chiat is home to a slew of really good makan places, there are plenty that remain hidden—like Muslim-owned e1 Wingz.
Unlike many, I am barely a fan of fried chicken wings. So, upon noticing that e1 Wingz are known for their flavoured, baked chicken wings, I had to pop by and try them out for myself. Not to fret, apart from wings, they also offer other Asian-fusion dishes to whet your appetite.
I know what you’re thinking: why should you travel down to Joo Chiat just for baked wings? You best believe me when I say their wings weren’t the only things that blew me away.
Located next to Hotel Classic by Venue, I understand why the quaint restaurant is often overlooked, especially since it’s located near Geylang Serai Malay Village. However, location aside, as soon as I entered the restaurant, it immediately transported me to a homely joint in Batam or Malaysia; the simple wooden furniture along with a solo food counter plays a vital part in lending a sense of cosiness to the space.
What I tried
As a huge fan of pasta and Asian-fusion dishes, I knew I had to order at least one pasta dish, and it was what I started off with.
They have a pretty extensive selection of pasta dishes available but I decided to go for the classic Aglio Olio with Chicken Sausage (S$8.90). The moment I received my dish, a strong scent of familiar aromatics filled the air; think stir-fried onions and garlic, and hints of chilli flakes, pepper, grated Parmesan cheese and Italian herbs tossed in olive oil. I couldn’t wait to dig in.
You can’t choose your pasta type here so it comes with spaghetti by default; no complaints from me as that’s my favourite. The pasta is generously topped with sausages, and red and green capsicums. I wasn’t expecting much as most places tend to butcher pasta dishes especially when infused with local flavours but not at e1 Wingz.
From the al dente spaghetti right down to the perfectly cooked ingredients, this was one flavourful dish. Traditionally, an aglio olio isn’t prepared with onions but the sweetness of the onions did this dish justice. It also wasn’t doused in heaps of olive oil making it a very light dish however, as a huge spice lover, it could definitely do with more chillies.
Another classic I had to try was the Cod Fish ‘n’ Chips (S$13.90). It comes with two pieces of battered codfish fillets served with French fries, chilli sauce, and mayonnaise, and a side of lemon wedge. Okay, here’s the deal; I’m very particular about my sauces so the mere fact that it didn’t come with tartar sauce kind of threw me off a little.
Like the plate of Aglio Olio, the Cod Fish ‘n’ Chips wasn’t oily. The fish’s crisp skin produced a loud and soothing crunch as I was cutting a piece for myself and it was like listening to ASMR. Its coat wasn’t too doughy and the fish was firm and flavourful. If it came with a side of tartar sauce, this dish would’ve been a solid ten in my books.
Finally, after an hour of waiting, came the raved-about baked wings. They’ve eight flavours to choose from ranging from spiciest to least spicy: Fiery, Mala, e1 Spicy, Korean Tangy, Garlic Parmesan, Honey Glazed, Barbeque, and Thai Sriracha, at four pieces for S$6.90 (choice of one flavour), eight pieces for S$13.90 (choice of two flavours) and 12 pieces for S$19.90 (choice of three flavours). Of course, I had to go with the spiciest and got four pieces of E1’s Fiery Baked Wingz.
I have a very high tolerance for spicy food so when I heard that many diners have made their way down here to tackle E1’s hot wings, I was extremely excited to experience it for myself. There they were; the devilish wings, staring at me with their shiny red skin.
As expected, each bite into the perfectly baked chicken released a tingling sensation that lasted for a few minutes, thanks to the chilli padi-infused sauce but I understand why it’s a hot favourite among many; not only did the wings deliver its spiciness, it was also extremely flavourful. One thing I’ve to point out is that it smelled and tasted eerily similar to ayam masak merah, albeit this is a version that packs a tongue-numbing punch.
There was also a subtle hint of sweetness which balanced the heat very well. Kudos to the chef for coming up with such an immaculate marinade.
The spice level could be turned up a notch hence, it’s a solid 6.5/10 for me. Again, it’s only due to my high tolerance for spicy food, nothing more. The basket of perfectly baked wings superseded my expectations and I am going to sleep tonight with sweet dreams of E1’s Fiery Baked Wingz.
Final thoughts
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from e1 Wingz but they did a brilliant job in blowing me away with every dish despite some minor hits and misses and a rather long waiting time (good things come to those who wait, right?). I’m thoroughly impressed with their ingenuity, especially with their baked chicken wings.
Do you know anyone else who serves baked chicken wings? This is definitely my new favourite spot for a delicious and tummy-filling meal. See you again soon, e1 Wingz!
Expected damage: S$8 – S$35 per pax
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