Timbre+ Eastside, Expo: “Feels like a one-visit wonder”

To all who proclaim proudly that the East side is the best side, this one’s for you. The folks behind Timbre+ One North have opened a second food park named Timbre+ Eastside, located at the Singapore Expo.

This 2,000sqm eatery is said to be Singapore’s first sustainable food park and houses a variety of merchants, each boasting a unique array of cuisines. From hawker-style barbequed chicken wings to smoked duck lor mee and even cocktails made by a robot barista, this one will have both your tastebuds and cameras in a tizzy.

What I tried

Timbre+ Eastside did carry similar elements with the vibrant, bustling hawker centres all Singaporeans love to visit—the variety is formidable enough for picky eaters, and you’ll definitely get a chance to treat both yourself and the camera.

Perhaps the most notable stall of all would be Bottle Shop, where you can place an order for a cocktail and watch a robot barista prepare it for you—seamlessly, without mistake, and all within seconds.

Spice up the laid-back, casual atmosphere at Timbre+ Eastside the same way that we did—with a Pink Lady (S$13.90) and a Cosmopolitan (S$13.90) cocktail in hand. It’ll be perfect to sip back and relax, though I would’ve enjoyed more novelty drinks unique to Timbre+ Eastside for a truly memorable experience.

Speaking of pork skewers, the Moo Pin (S$5.50 for three) is not to be missed. The stall is aptly named Streets of Bangkok, and if you close your eyes when you sink your teeth into a juicy grilled pork skewer, it’s almost as if you’re wandering Chatuchak on a blazing hot afternoon. Don’t let the size of these skewers fool you—the punch they pack is loaded with flavour, so sinful, and utterly deserving.

If there’s anything Singaporeans love, it’s thick ropes of mentaiko atop… anything. You’ve heard of mentaiko fries, but spice things up on your visit to Timbre+ Eastside with Ajiya Okonomiyaki’s Potato Cheese Mentai (S$11).

Think of thinly cut slices of potato slathered with a generous serving of that pale orange pollock roe mentaiko, torched until slightly brown and promising a savoury, rich mouthful. The combination of potato with mentaiko will never go wrong, though I have to admit that I’d pick fries over this in half a heartbeat.

You’ll want to wolf the next one down. The Alpha Burger (S$14.90) from Wolf Burgers was next on my list to try. This burger isn’t for the faint-hearted, so make sure you’re coming to Timbre+ Eastside with an appetite as ravenous as a wolf’s. Two hefty beef patties sit sandwiched between layers of gooey melted cheddar before it’s topped with sauteed onions, fresh vegetables, and their signature WOLF sauce. It’s served with fries, making this a great option for all the carnivorous eaters out there.

Most of us out there love a comforting bowl of soup noodles, but the one we tried from Noodlefellas boasts of a unique twist that you’d least expect. The Smoked Duck Lor Mee (S$6.80) had me raising a sceptical eyebrow, simply because while I love smoked duck and lor mee, I’ve always enjoyed the two separately.

Perhaps it’s best that we maintain the status quo because the starchy noodle gravy always has an enveloping flavour that refuses to share the spotlight, and in that regard, the smoked duck felt more like a backup dancer than a co-star.

My favourite dish from Timbre+ Eastside was from Devil’s Hood. The Fried Chicken Leg with Curry Onsen Leg (S$8) reminded me a little bit of ayam penyet, though with a few notable differences. I’ve always associated an onsen egg on rice with donburis, but this unusual addition proved to be a worthy one. It soaks up the fragrant chilli nicely and lends palatable moisture to the dish.

I’ve never been a fan of fried chicken, but ayam penyet is an exception, and now, this. Even though the chicken was slick from deep-frying, I found its oiliness easy to remedy with a scoop of the rice in the same bite. It’s got the crunch, the richness, and the full-bodied spicy flavour in every bite—can we normalise topping rice with an onsen egg all the time?

Final thoughts

I think I’d set the bar too high, especially since Timbre+ One North garnered pretty good reviews. As much as I thought the food was enjoyable, Timbre+ Eastside felt like a one-visit wonder—just make the trip down for novelty’s sake. Our sunny island has no shortage of spectacular hawker grub, and it’s unlikely you’ll find that level of prowess here.

Expected damage: S$6.80 – $25 per pax

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