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When I talk about Western food, I’m thinking of grilled chicken chop and crinkle-cut fries at the hawker centre. Plus points if you get buttery dinner rolls for free. Here at Wild Olives, they have both the atmosphere and food for you to enjoy.
Located in Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre, this stall is infamous for long queues. But was it worth the time? Well, I was going to find out.
What I tried at Wild Olives
Not getting some type of grilled meat at a Western food stall is blasphemy. With Wild Olives’ 26-item menu, though, I was very close to committing pork chop sacrilege.
Am I glad that I followed my gut and ordered the Grilled Pork Chop (S$7.20)? You tell me. A butterfly-cut slice of pork is pressed into the grill for maximum char before it’s slathered with glaze. That, my friends, is the Western stall’s notorious top star.
Battered thin, the pork cooks through without becoming tough. The meat was easy to cut and was so juicy. But that’s all standard practice at top-tier Western stalls. What sets Wild Olives’ pork chop apart is the Apple Cider Whole Grained Mustard Sauce coating the chop.
This glaze is tart and slightly sweet, much like apple cider vinegar. This sourness cuts through the richness of the pork and ensures that there’s no gaminess. It also helps to refresh the palate and whet the appetite.
Every item under the Western Dish section comes with a choice of two sides. I chose Wild Olives’ Signature Mushroom Rice and Grilled Herb Potatoes to go with my Grilled Pork Chop.
I had expected risotto-style rice, but I’m not mad about this bowl of steamed rice. Hear me out. It’s mixed with slices of shiitake mushroom for a smoky savouriness and strands of sweet caramelised shallots.
Alone, the rice packs a gentle fragrance. But with a piece of pork or half a wedged potato? This rice was the perfect wingman. The flavour profile of the mushrooms and shallots bolsters the rich pork and creamy potatoes. A mouthful of either combination brought a fusion of East and West.
Potatoes — the staple carb in Western food. They’re easily the most versatile carb out there, but a grilled potato coated in sauce always hits. With the skin on, these potatoes gain a crispy outer layer that doesn’t soften in the sauce.
Slicing into one reveals the silky inner flesh that balances out the saltiness of the sauce. Popping one into my mouth released the heady aroma of aromatics and caramelised sauce. With the mushroom rice, this one-upped my favourite caifan braised potatoes. Sorry caifan.
Of course, pasta was a must-try! I got the Smoked Duck Marinara Spaghetti (S$7.20) and my stomach growled back to my table. There’s just something about smoked meats that’s irresistible.
The scent of the duck mingling with the marinara sauce was testing my patience. I could not wait to dig into this pasta. The pink duck meat was juicy, tender and full of woody smokiness.
Pairing the pasta with the duck creates a savoury bite that’s cut through by the acidity of tomatoes. I usually gravitate towards white sauce pasta, but this bowl was reminiscent of homemade pasta, so it gets a free pass.
You can even add Black Mussels (S$8.20) with Garlic Butter Cream Sauce to make it a bowl of rosé pasta. If you want to play into that nostalgic vibe, Wild Olives offers Homemade Meatballs (S$7.20), the classic protein found in traditional marinara pasta.
Final thoughts
Even though I queued for nearly 30 minutes for my food, all my gripes disappeared when I took my first bite. The Grilled Pork Chop was the highlight for me. I loved how Wild Olives took a dish found in almost every Western stall and added a twist.
They cleverly play with the balance of modern and classic to make each dish more memorable. While my love for pork chop and pasta helped me pick out the dishes I tried, the taste of the food is what makes me return.
If you’re looking for an atas, indulgent rendition of our favourite Western stall staples at an affordable price, this is it. So drop by Wild Olives when you have the time because the line only gets longer the more you hesitate!
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