Dining

Katrina – Love Mee!

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So there I am, standing in the middle of the jam-packed Tampines Mall on a Saturday evening and checking out Katrina. The place looks nondescript and plain, and the menu seemingly ordinary. In my mind I’m thinking: people are eating here only because they are unwilling to brave the queues at the more popular restaurants.

Succumbing to the hungry rumbling of my stomach, I venture in and order myself a bowl of Mee Rebus.

And if I haven’t done that, I wouldn’t have tasted the best Mee Rebus I’ve ever had.

Mee Rebus

Mee Rebus
SGD3.20 / $4.80 (with chicken)

What strikes you immediately is the colorful and tantalising array of garnishes on the dish: hard boiled egg, fried shallots, chopped green chili, bits of fried tofu, crunchy beansprouts, half a lime and a dollop of sambal chili. All the ingredients are so fresh and the portion is huge! Need we ask for more?

The most important component of Mee Rebus is the sweet potato gravy. It is wonderfully sweet (not the sugary sweet kind) with a spicy tinge that is just enough to give you a kick. The sambal chili is most welcome, too. Some hawker stalls don’t provide additional sambal for this dish as it’s already spicy. But when the sambal is as tasty as Katrina’s, it makes the dish so much better.

The yellow egg noodles, which happens to be my favorite kind of noodle, are boiled to the perfect texture and totally slurpilicious! In Japanese cuisine, you are supposed to slurp your udon noisily to express appreciation for the chef’s cooking. I’d gladly do the same here, too!

Simply put, this is the most satisfying Mee Rebus I’ve ever had. But, of course, if you have an even better recommendation, I would love to hear it in the comments and sample it for myself!

Nasi Bali

Nasi Bali
SGD5.50

Another dish that is equally colorful and visually appealing is the Nasi Bali. It looks and tastes like nasi lemak to me. But if I remember correctly, the rice is different.

Once again, the dish has several accompaniments such as achar (pickled vegetables), peanuts, crisps, dried shrimp floss, vegetables and sambal chili.

Grilled chicken

The grilled chicken is served on a separate wooden plate, like what hawkers normally do for Ayam Penyet.

For the price, we find that the size of the chicken is rather skimpy. The grilled chicken at the Plaza Singapura food court, you know the one with that never ending queue, is easily twice or thrice the size, and cheaper, too! The dark sweet sauce here is yummy though.

Katrina at Tampines Mall

So the next time you’re in the east, whether it is to shop at Tampines one, or to catch a movie at Tampines mall, you can check out Katrina!

Katrina (

Halal certified)
Tampines Mall
4 Tampines Central 5 #B1-K21
Singapore 529510
(65) 6781 7090 Website

Bus services: 3, 8, 10, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 31, 37, 38, 39, 65, 67, 69, 72, 81, 168, 291, 292, 293, 553, 969, 2N, NR7
Nearest MRT: Tampines

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About the Author

Veron Ang is the founder and chief editor of Sparklette. She lives in Singapore and has dined and traveled across the world. She also runs Sparklette Studio, a web design and WordPress development firm. If you'd like to connect with her, head on over to the contact page or follow her personal updates on Twitter: @VeronSG.

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26 responses

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ida
August 18, 2009

that mee rebus……. **stomach growling**
Reply
kh
August 18, 2009

Hey you can try this Mee Rebus @ 69, Jalan Sultan Ibrahim 80300 Johore Bahru. Quite famous for their Mee Rebus
Reply
- Veron
  August 18, 2009
  
  Wow it’s in JB! Is it convenient for Singaporeans to go there? Near the causeway, I hope?
  Reply
  - kh
    August 18, 2009
    
    Yea its very near the causeway. You know where is the Zon?
    
    Is the stretch along the river facing Singapore. After exit from custom, just keep right and make a U-turn downwards and then at the T-junction, turn left and its along that stretch.
    
    BTW I am working in JB now! So if you need directions just let me know
    Reply
    - Veron
      August 18, 2009
      
      Got it! Thanks for the detailed instructions. Will let you know when I finally get to try it out. Must see how different it is from the Singapura version :)
      Reply
neo
August 18, 2009

Argh…..u miss out the Tauhu Telur!!!
Reply
- Veron
  August 18, 2009
  
  Wow, like that you also know! Do you go there a lot?
  Reply
  - neo
    August 18, 2009
    
    My workplace nearby only~
    The tauhu telur is heavenly good and one serving can make u real full~
    
    Oh ya, I ate the mee rebus before….not bad :P
    Reply
proud mom to maximus
August 18, 2009

babe

my uncle ever drove us to this makan place in JB. it has a kampong feeling, with huts all over and u can choose either to sit on the hut floor or normal red chairs…
they serve the best mee rebus that comes with bone steak! and aft the mee rebus hungrily eaten, proceed by sucking on the bone…
anybody went there b4??
i just watched in silence coz i dun eat mee rebus or tulang…hehehe..
Reply
- Veron
  August 18, 2009
  
  Hey babe, what’s this kampung place? Can it be Danga Bay? And I never knew people serve mee rebus with bone steak! How filling and incredibly satisfying that must be!
  Reply
  - kh
    August 19, 2009
    
    Hey is the place called Anjung Warisan?
    
    Taman Seni Budaya Negeri Johor, 296-A, Jaland Petri 80100, Johor Bahru
    
    Mr Sulaiman @ 0197690202/ 0197224466
    
    Not sure if this is the place but its quite a famous place that tourist like to visit. They are called “shu shan” – “tree up” direct translation. This place is famous because the hut is on top of the tree. They serve good tomyam prawns, nasi beryani and chicken chop. Note: I am typing this from a johor delights book i bought recently – have not really tried the food there hee. But i do hear alot about this place.
    Reply
    - proud mom to maximus
      August 19, 2009
      
      yes!! i asked my uncle he said its at jln petri near the JKR headquarters…
      u got it right KH…
      i used to snap some pics but i think i deleted the whole album gggrrrrr…….
      Reply
      - Veron
        August 19, 2009
        
        No worries dear. When I go there I would snap some photos for you :)
        
        Keep the recommendations coming! You always have such excellent gems to share!
        Reply
    - Veron
      August 19, 2009
      
      Whoa! You guys are good! What would I do without your extremely helpful info and recommendations? Sounds like a die-die must try place. Thanks!
      Reply
Marg
August 19, 2009

My stomach os growling at that photo of Mee rebus!!
Unfortunately, like 5% of the population, my hubby is allergic to MSG. It would be VERY helpful if in your future reviews, you mention whether or not the restaurant uses MSG.
Reply
- Veron
  August 19, 2009
  
  Hi Marg, thank you for your suggestion! I would try as far as possible to indicate whether MSG is used. Some restaurants indicate it proudly on their menu and website that they do not use preservatives or MSG. But there would be many that probably wouldn’t reveal the truth even if you ask them.
  
  Here’s one restaurant that guarantees healthful food and is MSG-free!
  Reply
  - marg
    October 25, 2009
    
    Thanks for the link. I will check it out.
    (BTW If you’re ever looking for good meat, may I suggest the beef tenderloin steak at Fine Cuts.)
    Reply
    - Veron
      October 25, 2009
      
      I’ll take up your suggestion. Thanks!
      Reply
jalapeno
September 1, 2009

The Mee Rebus looks absatively posilutely scrumptious! Thanks for this. BTW, Wonder why they don’t garnish mee rebus with tiny friend shrimps like the good ol’ days?
Reply
- Veron
  September 2, 2009
  
  Hey, now that you mention it… They don’t seem to do that anymore. None of the mee rebus I had in recent years had any of those fried shrimp. Hmm… anyone knows where they still serve it with the shrimp?
  Reply
Hadi
September 3, 2009

Missy Veron! Love ya webby!

There’s this stall @ Blk 58, New Upper Changi Road. Stallname: SELERA KITA They sell only Mee Rebus, thats cheap and good! Light on the wallet :)

Oh yes, expect long queues during weekend though.
Reply
- Veron
  September 4, 2009
  
  Thanks! I am always open to trying out new places in Singapore. Let’s see if Selera Kita would dethrone Katrina for the best mee rebus I’ve ever had :)
  Reply
stargirl
September 11, 2009

hey i tried their mee rebus yesterday night, their noodles were indeed cooked perfectly! you should try the mee rebus from the foodcourt at Parkway Parade, you get a huge portion for (i think) $3.20. their gravy’s really flavorful! :D if you visit Parkway Parade you may also like to try the famous Tiong Bahru porridge as well!
Reply
- Veron
  September 11, 2009
  
  Thanks for the recommendations! I’ll definitely have the mee rebus. A flavorful mee rebus gravy is hard to resist :) Speaking of porridge there is this lesser-known stall at Zion Road called Ichiban Congee. It’s a hidden gem and their porridge is really tasty. It’s something I can have any day!
  Reply
  - stargirl
    September 15, 2009
    
    Thanks for the recommendation! I’ve just tried the porridge you recommended and boy it was really good :D
    Reply
    - Veron
      September 16, 2009
      
      Oh, you went!!! Thrilled that you like it :) Shows that my review is accurate! Haha
      Reply
sparklette
October 25, 2009

Mee Rebus at Changi Airport T3. Very rich, yummy gravy. On par with Tampines Mall’s Katrina :) http://sparklette.net/food/katrina/

This comment was originally posted on Twitter
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