Have you ever heard of the phrase “cheat day”? Well, for me, I like to think of it more as a weekend treat. It’s that time when I give myself permission to crave something beyond my usual weekday meals. After several days of trying to eat more intentionally and going through the usual work stress, the weekend feels like the perfect time to enjoy something that simply makes me happy.
That’s also one reason why I look forward to weekends. It gives me something small but exciting to anticipate. Sometimes, rewarding yourself with good food is enough to make the week feel worth it. Life can be stressful, so why not enjoy a nice meal once in a while, right? LOL.
Last Sunday, I went to the city, specifically around the Shenton Way area, and found my way to Lau Pa Sat. I’ve always thought that Lau Pa Sat is one of the best spots in the city to experience what Singapore has to offer when it comes to food. The building itself already has so much character, with its classic design surrounded by tall modern buildings. It’s such an interesting contrast, like old and new Singapore standing together in one frame.
What I really like about Lau Pa Sat is the variety. It feels like every craving has a place there. Rice meals, noodles, grilled food, desserts, drinks, local favorites, international flavors—you name it, there’s probably a stall for it. The ambience is also quite nice, especially with the high ceiling, warm lighting, and rows of food stalls that make the whole place feel lively.
As soon as I reached the food center, I walked around several times just to check what stalls were open. Let me tell you, it was very difficult to choose what to eat because I felt like I wanted to try everything. Too bad I only had limited space in my stomach. Otherwise, I would probably order from every stall and try every cuisine they have haha.
Finally, I decided to start with drinks because it was the fastest and easiest thing to order. Plus, I could carry it around while deciding on my food. I ordered from Partea and chose the Mango Milk Tea. It was quite unique and refreshing, although a bit sweet for my usual preference. Still, it was enjoyable, especially on a warm afternoon.
For my main meal, I ordered from Nasi Campur, which serves Malay-style cuisine where you can pick the dishes you want on your plate. I chose the fried pomfret fish, added some cabbage, and also took lady finger as my vegetable side. The plate looked simple but very satisfying.
The highlight was definitely the fried pomfret. I loved how fresh it tasted, and the batter was nicely crispy. It seemed newly cooked because it was still steaming when I took my first bite. That crispy outer layer with the soft fish meat inside was really enjoyable. The vegetables helped balance the meal too, giving it a nice homey feeling.
And of course, dessert had to happen. It may sound a bit funny to eat muffins after a heavy rice meal, but that was exactly the craving I wanted to satisfy. I went to Butter & Cream and picked the cheese muffin and KitKat muffin. The display was so tempting, with all the tarts and muffins lined up beautifully.
The muffins were light, fluffy, and definitely worth the treat. The cheese muffin had a nice creamy touch, while the KitKat muffin was rich and chocolatey without feeling too heavy. It was such a happy ending to my Lau Pa Sat lunch.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable Sunday meal. Lau Pa Sat is really a great place when you want variety, comfort, and a little food adventure in the city. I’ll definitely come back for another weekend treat because there are still so many stalls I haven’t tried yet.
Bon appétit.
