Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Macaroni and cheese is one of my go-to comfort foods, and while simple to make, I’ve struggled to find a place in Singapore that gets it done fast, yummy and at an affordable price. That was until I stumbled upon newly-opened The Big Cheese.
Hiding around one of the corners of centrally-located Sunshine Plaza, The Big Cheese doesn’t offer much dining space but is big on flavour. The halal family-run business is already swarmed with customers during lunch hour, but like me, people didn’t seem to mind waiting.
The service was efficient and once my order was taken, I waited for less than 10 minutes to get my food.
Everyone enjoys Mac & Cheese differently, so while the traditional pasta used may be macaroni, you can start by opting for other variations that you like.
The popular option at The Big Cheese is to Make-A-Mac (Small $5.90 nett, Large $9.90 nett). As the name suggests, you customise your own Mac & Cheese and choose from a variety of cheese and toppings.
$5.90 will get you two cheese bases (cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan) and you can top up 50 cents to opt for premium cheeses like gruyere, gouda and feta.
Then, choose two meat, seafood or vegetable options from the many that are available – beef bacon, chicken sausage, shrimp, mussels, beef pepperoni, chicken ham, spinach, broccoli and mushrooms.
Finally, you get to choose from a variety of toppings like parmesan crumbs, garlic oil, bacon bits, Doritos or Ritz crumbs and truffle oil. Mmm… truffle oil.
I went for the penne, cheddar, parmesan, beef bacon, chicken sausage and Doritos crumbs combination – and I LOVED IT. I’ve had one too many dry Mac & Cheeses in Singapore, and I’m so glad that The Big Cheese serves portions with ample cheese sauce.
The ingredients that I chose resulted in a slight smoky flavour, which paired nicely with the extra cheesy flavour from the Doritos crumbs. The Small was enough to fill me up but if you’re hungry, definitely go for the Large.
If you’re hungry but unsure of what to choose, try some of the recommended combinations like The Big Cheese ($7.90 nett). I received a box of truffled Mac & Cheese paired with pulled beef and topped with gruyere.
Maybe I’m just an overall cheese-lover but this really hit the spot. The mixture was seasoned extremely well and no element overpowered the other. The best part? You could always pack it to-go to save some for later (as if that’s ever going to happen).
The Big Cheese is my new found love in the heart of the city, and is a quick fix for anyone looking for something hearty. Do take note of the opening hours though so you don’t get disappointed, and it’s payment by cash only, so withdraw some money before you get there!
I’m really looking forward to and will definitely be back to try some of the other snacks and bites when they officially launch on the menu – Grilled Cheese Toasties, Mac & Cheese Squares and Cheesy Potato Skins anyone?
Expected damage: $5.90 – $10
