Farm House: Taste The World at the New Marketplace in Dairy Farm Mall!

Glenda Chong

Have you ever had the problem of deciding what to eat when you’re in a group? One person wants to have Thai dishes, the other craves some Italian cuisine, while all you want is some Chinese food. Making a decision that’ll have everyone happy in these moments can feel impossible, but I’ve got the solution! And that solution, folks, is Farm House!

Located within Dairy Farm Mall in the West, Farm House boasts a 200-seater air-conditioned experiential space, making it an anchor dining destination. So to all my Westie readers, you now have one more perk on your belt to help you settle the score with the other areas!

Said to be a new-generation marketplace of international cuisines, Farm House sounded like my tastebuds were in for a flavourful world tour! So, as soon as its opening was announced, I had to visit it to see and taste firsthand the diverse cuisines it offered.

Farm House

I’m no Westie, so this was my first time visiting the fairly new Dairy Farm Mall. But you’ll know you’re in the right place once you’ve spotted two giant cow statues at the entrance, a whimsical nod to the mall’s name.

Found on the mall’s first floor, Farm House has a hard-to-miss neon yellow sign across from the French bakery Pâtisserie CLÉ. Now that you know how to get to Farm House, let’s talk about what to expect in the marketplace.

Farm House currently has eight stalls open for you to try, with one stall still unoccupied, so you’ll have to wait and see what type of cuisine will take the space. After giving the place a quick survey, I can safely say that you’ll find a good mix of cuisines that should cater to different palates.

Whether you fancy a simple dish or a more extravagant meal, international cuisine or something closer to home, Farm House has almost all bases covered, so no one will be left out! But I know that talk is cheap, so allow me to share what you can try and our review of the cuisines we sampled.

Kopifellas

The first stall you’ll see upon entering is Kopifellas, a homegrown brand you might have become familiar with in the food scene over the last few years. Kopifellas caught my eye because of its central setting and emerald green bar aesthetics, essentially making it the heart of Farm House.

Do you know of any other marketplace with an opulent-looking, in-house bar as its centrepiece? I don’t so I was already eager to try this as a Kopifellas newbie! It might seem obvious that with a name like Kopifellas, the cafe’s main selling point is its coffee. Still, they also serve drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and traditional Singapore fare, such as their Kaya Butter Toast Set (S$6.80).

In the daytime, you can treat yourself to a fresh Kopifellas brew, and at night, stop by for a good time with their creatively crafted drinks! Special drinks here include Once Upon A Farm and Fuse, both curated by the in-house bartenders.

Since we went during lunch hour, we aimed for their coffee range. The drink we found that was raved about the most was SG Kopilicious (S$7 for small, S$8 for large)!

SG Kopilicious? What’s that? One thing to know about Kopifellas is that its founder had set up the business to preserve a part of Singapore’s heritage, i.e. the everyday tradition of sipping kopi (Malay for coffee) at a coffee shop, but with a modern twist. And Kopilicious is the embodiment of this ambitious mission!

This drink comprises brown sugar, oat milk, Nanyang kopi, and coffee jelly. Fun fact: The oat milk used in SG Kopilicious comes from our local oat milk brand, OATSIDE, so plus points for supporting local! The drink sounds interesting, doesn’t it? But is it as kopilicious as its name suggests?

Well, my dear reader, yes, it is! I can’t say I’m the biggest coffee drinker, but my coffee-addicted colleague and I enjoyed SG Kopilicious! Owing to the oat milk added, SG Kopilicious is a creamy delight; and with brown sugar, it makes for a very rich drink.

What about the coffee jelly, then? Some might get turned off by it, but for us, it provided a new, interesting layer to the drink, and when you bite into the jelly cubes, you’re hit with bursts of more coffee flavour!

We didn’t get to try the other drinks offered besides coffee, but given the high quality of SG Kopilicious, I do not doubt that the others are just as delicious.

Sui Yuan

To your left, you have a row of three stalls to choose from, and the first stall in line is Sui Yuan. We were told that this stall’s unique point is that its dishes come from various provinces in China. With many dishes, such as the Shanghai Roasted Prawn and the Nanjing Boiled Salted Duck on the menu, you’ll surely be able to savour the flavours that’ll take you on a culinary trip to China!

We did not order anything from the stall as we found that the dishes were better suited to being shared among larger groups. This stall is better for a family dinner or a gathering with friends.

To say I was disappointed not to have tried their cuisines is an understatement, but the next time I’m in the West, I’ll be sure to sit down and have a family dinner at Sui Yuan!

YOU

Next to Sui Yuan is YOU, where you can get YOUrself a breakfast bite or a lighter mid-day meal. As suggested by its name, the star of this stall’s show is its crispy and fluffy homemade XL You Tiao (S$1.50).

Despite not sampling YOU’s offerings, I will say that what you see is what you get! I saw the youtiao hung behind the glass display, shining under the warm light in all its golden glory, which meant it took all my willpower not to splurge on it!

Of course, no youtiao can go without its ideal companion — smooth and silky beancurd (S$2.20) or a warm, comforting cup of soya bean (S$1.80). The beancurd is house-made, so you will most definitely taste the authenticity.

Warung Corner

The final stall ending the line is Warung Corner. As you might have noticed, Warung in Indonesian refers to a type of small, family-owned eatery found in Indonesia. The stall is nestled snugly at one corner of Farm House, so the stall’s name fits like a glove!

Here at Warung Corner, don’t miss the opportunity to experience the best of Indonesian cuisine.

Some dishes that might ring a bell include Ayam Geprek (S$8.90), an Indonesian crispy battered fried chicken that is mixed with hot sambal, and Gado Gado (S$8.50), an Indonesian salad with vegetables and hard-boiled eggs, boiled potato, fried tofu and tempeh, and sliced lontong served alongside a peanut sauce dressing.

These dishes, along with the rest of their menu, showcase the authentic flavours of Indonesian street food, perfectly embodying the stall’s name.

Dairy Farm Western

Turn to your left, and there are four more stalls for your choosing. We mainly chose to spend on these stalls given our limited time, so you’ll hear me rave about them the most. First up is Dairy Farm Western; satisfying your Western food cravings with dishes like Grilled Salmon Steak (S$15.80) and Creamy Spaghetti with German Sausage (S$12.80)!

But we landed on the Breaded Chicken Cutlet (S$8.80), which we had heard high praises of! A breaded chicken cutlet might sound like a simple dish, but if one makes the wrong move, the chicken could easily be messed up.

Luckily, the Breaded Chicken Cutlet didn’t disappoint when it came to showtime! The chicken was massive, taking up most of the space on the already giant plate — I was actually a little nervous that we wouldn’t be able to finish it. It also seemed that no corner was spared during the frying as I could see the exterior fully and flawlessly coated in a crunchy crust.

Most Western food stalls tend to skimp on the vegetables, but it’s safe to say the portions of coleslaw and greens were hearty! They also weren’t shy about loading the plate with sufficient fries, and from the looks of it, they were golden and crispy, so rightfully, my hopefulness skyrocketed.

However, one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, so taste testing is a must! And yes, the chicken was as crispy as it looked. Sinking my teeth into the meat, every bite had a satisfying crunch, so I had no complaints about the exterior.

The interior, however, was a different story. Although I’ll give points for the tenderness of the meat, I found it flat as a pancake. It seemed that in perfecting the batter, they had sacrificed the quantity of meat, so most of what I could taste was the batter. In this case, size did indeed prove deceiving.

Moving to the sides, I didn’t have many complaints. Even though the coleslaw lacked some salad dressing, the greens on my plate tasted fresh and had a good crunch. The fries also didn’t disappoint me, with a crisp yet fluffy consistency without being too salty.

If you need some sauce, the dish also comes with a peppery mushroom sauce. Despite agreeing it was a delicious kick to the meal, we felt that this sauce normally goes with other Western dishes like chicken chops, so it was a little out of place.

Despite the minor hiccups, I thoroughly enjoyed the tastiness and generous servings of the Breaded Chicken Cutlet, so this won’t be the last time I’ll patronise the place!

KangKar Nang

Doesn’t the name KangKar Nang ring a bell? If you’re thinking what I’m thinking, then you’re absolutely right — this is the same stall with roots in one of Singapore’s neighbourhoods! Originating from the historic KangKar Fishermen Village in Punggol, KangKar Nang fittingly serves the flavours of the sea!

Freshness is undoubtedly non-negotiable, and even though we didn’t get a taste of the stall’s dishes, just from the giant fish proudly displayed on their front counter, you can tell they take their seafood seriously. As for what’s on the menu, the choices are endless, but here are some highlights from the stall we were informed about!

Seafood lovers will be marvelled by their signature Crab Bee Hoon (S$80), which is a little steep in pricing but worth every dollar once you’ve tried the succulent crab meat. The umami Seafood Soup is also perfect for communal sharing; guaranteed to comfort the soul and stomach.

Also, just to take note, KangKar Nang is sharing one space with a fellow stall, so make sure you hop into the correct queue if you intend to order from KangKar Nang.

Farm Chicken

Next up is Farm Chicken, which occupies the same space as KangKar Nang. Helmed by Andy Phang, who formerly worked as a chef at Shangri-La Hotel, Farm Chicken serves local classics like Curry Chicken Noodles (S$5.90), but the main attraction has to be their Chicken Rice (S$5.90).

If there’s one local dish I’m particularly discerning about, it’s chicken rice. Growing up with this staple, I have developed high standards for chicken rice! Furthermore, my colleague noticed that chef Andy Phang was also behind the counter cooking up a storm, so my expectations were through the roof!

Their only chicken option was steamed chicken, which, luckily for them (please don’t flame me), I deemed superior to roasted! So as soon as the tray hit the table, I adopted my best food critic persona and pulled out my phone to note down… Every. Single. Detail.

In terms of appearance, the Chicken Rice ticked the boxes of what constitutes your standard chicken rice. I’ll give a little extra credit for the soup on the side, which is a rarity these days. Taste-wise, the rice was fragrant but a little oily and mushy in texture, making it my least favourite part of the dish, though it’s not the worst rice I’ve had.

Look at that beauty glistening in the light!

As for the chicken itself, the meat was tender and moist, leaving me with zero complaints! My personal favourite, the chicken skin, did not disappoint either; each piece slid down smoothly with its silky, delicate texture. Unlike the usual side of cucumbers, their version included other greens that made the presentation colourful.

Finally, we can’t forget about the must-have ginger chilli sauce. Farm Chicken’s version perfectly enhances the tender and juicy chicken while adding a tangy spiciness.

In a nutshell, Farm Chicken’s version of Chicken Rice managed to retain the simplicity that makes this dish delicious. While it’s not the best chicken rice I’ve had, it certainly ranks high amongst all the chicken rice dishes I’ve had before.

Tokyo Taste

Last but by no means least, we have Tokyo Taste! This stall, serving Japanese cuisine, is tucked at the very back of the marketplace and for good reason. At Tokyo Taste, you get your personal seating areas, aka front-row seats to see seafood freshly prepared right in front of you!

What’s more, Tokyo Taste serves its own alcoholic beverages like highball and sake, making them a little more bougie and certainly not like the rest. And speaking of bougie, the dishes offered look just as exquisite. Indulge in fresh Sashimi, Makimono, and signature Don bowls like Bara Chirashi Don (S$17.90) and Pork & Salmon Sumiyaki Don (S$13.90), which will take you to Japan culinary-wise!

By the time we got to this stall, we were practically stuffed, but dear readers, I am not one to give up this easily, and I promised to review as much as we could. And so, the final dish we ordered was the Spicy Salmon Maki (S$15.90)!

Maki is the old name for sushi and refers to rolled sushi rice. Balled into a cylinder with thin strips of cucumber, cabbage, and omelette, the maki we ordered were next level. They generously topped them with juicy raw salmon before drizzling them with mentaiko sauce and fermented vegetables.

The Spicy Salmon Maki tastes just as good as it looks

From the first bite of the maki, I tasted an explosion of flavours! Every bite was pure luxury, owing to the melt-in-your-mouth sensation of the raw salmon. Pair the salmon’s richness with the creamy mentaiko sauce, and I was in heaven. The maki was also delicious on its own, with the refreshing crunch of the cucumbers and fluffy rice, which were simple but delightful.

Tokyo Taste is where you can experience a complete and lavish Japanese dining experience, and here’s a good reason why you should head down to the stall immediately! As a grand opening special, their drinks, High Ball and Sake (100ml glass), will go for S$9.90 and S$10, respectively, a massive discount from their usual prices! If I were you, I’d run, not walk, to get these fantastic deals before it’s too late!

Drink Deals and Variety Offered

A celebration is never complete without some drinks, and Farm House has indeed pulled all the stops to take the opening festivities to the next level! For starters, you can enjoy a Hoegaarden Bucket Deal Special, where a Bucket of 5 will go for S$36.

Other than beer, Farm House also houses refreshing cocktails and a fine selection of wines priced between S$38+ and S$52+.

Farm House Details

It’ll probably be a long while before I revisit Farm House because the West is essentially worlds apart from where I live, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget the culinary experience I had at the marketplace.

For all my Westies or any foodies hunting for a new food haunt, Farm House is positioned perfectly near Dairy Farm Nature Park and new condominiums! If this isn’t the go-to destination for a food paradise, I don’t know what is.

So the next time you want a taste of the world, skip the travel agent and head straight to Farm House, where I promise the experience is worth every dollar.