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With the 9% GST hike in effect, we’re all no doubt loathing the idea of dining out more and more. So, places that offer no GST and service charges become safe havens for wallet-friendly people. One such place is the month-old Qing Shan Dao (青山稻) @ Grantral Mall at MacPherson.
Qing Shan Dao is a Chinese and Japanese fusion-style eatery that offers rice bowls, noodles and mini hotpot sets. Hearing this, you may be worried about the price point but their rice and noodle sets are all priced under S$15.
Starting with something for the unagi lovers, you should order their Kabayaki Eel Rice Bowl (S$12.90). It comes with an onsen egg, miso soup, a portion of shredded seaweed and a salad bowl. Above the rice will be the grilled and marinated eel.
It’s not just unagi rice bowls on the menu though. Some of the other rice bowls on the menu are Qing Shan Dao’s Grilled Chicken Thigh & Wagyu Beef Combo ($11.90) and their Curry Fried Pork Cutlet ($11.90).
If you’re more into noodles than rice, you should get their Golden Sauerkraut Fish Noodles (S$8.50). It’s something for people who like sour flavours as the fish used is suan cai yu. The noodles, fish, corn, bok choy, pickled vegetables and bamboo shoots lay in a bowl of sour and spicy soup.
If it isn’t enough for you, there is also a selection of mini hotpot sets, some letting you indulge in Angus beef with a sukiyaki soup base. It will also be served with rice.
If you’re looking to indulge at an affordable cost, unaffected by the GST hike, take a 2-minute walk down from Tai Seng station to Qing Shan Dao.
En Ramen: Family-run eatery with $8.90 ramen, $9.90 Japanese Mapo Tofu & big karaage pieces
