5,268 views

Katrina – Love Mee!

Rating:

By Veron Ang

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
S$3.20 / $4.80 (with chicken)
Rating:

What strikes you immediately is the colourful and tantalising array of garnishes on the dish: hard boiled egg, fried shallots, chopped green chilli, bits of fried tofu, crunchy beansprouts, half a lime and a dollop of sambal chilli. 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 chilli 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 favourite 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
S$5.50
Rating:

Another dish that is equally colourful 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 chilli.

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 (

)
Tampines Mall
4 Tampines Central 5 #B1-K21
Singapore 529510
Tel: +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

Tags: casual, dinner, Halal, lunch, Malay, mee rebus, nasi lemak, Singaporean, Tampines, Tampines Mall

Subscribe to new posts

About the Editor

Veron Ang is the Founder and Chief Editor of Sparklette, a Singapore restaurants guide, lifestyle and travel blog. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and runs a web design firm at Sparklette Studio. To get in touch, head on over to the contact page or follow @Sparklette and @VeronSG on Twitter.

Where Do You Watch Live Soccer?

Loong Fatt Tau Sar Piah – The Original Balestier Tau Sar Piah

Comment using Facebook

Responses Leave a comment

ida
13 comments

that mee rebus……. **stomach growling**
Reply
Posted August 18, 2009 at 6:26 pm
kh
3 comments

Hey you can try this Mee Rebus @ 69, Jalan Sultan Ibrahim 80300 Johore Bahru. Quite famous for their Mee Rebus
Reply
Posted August 18, 2009 at 8:35 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  Wow it’s in JB! Is it convenient for Singaporeans to go there? Near the causeway, I hope?
  Reply
  Posted August 18, 2009 at 8:39 pm
  - kh
    3 comments
    
    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
    Posted August 18, 2009 at 9:14 pm
    - Veron
      3438 comments
      
      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
      Posted August 18, 2009 at 10:35 pm
neo
29 comments

Argh…..u miss out the Tauhu Telur!!!
Reply
Posted August 18, 2009 at 8:54 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  Wow, like that you also know! Do you go there a lot?
  Reply
  Posted August 18, 2009 at 9:06 pm
  - neo
    29 comments
    
    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
    Posted August 18, 2009 at 9:14 pm
proud mom to maximus
29 comments

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
Posted August 18, 2009 at 9:49 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  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
  Posted August 18, 2009 at 10:39 pm
  - kh
    3 comments
    
    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
    Posted August 19, 2009 at 9:25 pm
    - proud mom to maximus
      29 comments
      
      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
      Posted August 19, 2009 at 10:37 pm
      - Veron
        3438 comments
        
        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
        Posted August 19, 2009 at 11:05 pm
    - Veron
      3438 comments
      
      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
      Posted August 19, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Marg
3 comments

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
Posted August 19, 2009 at 3:07 am
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  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
  Posted August 19, 2009 at 10:52 pm
  - marg
    3 comments
    
    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
    Posted October 25, 2009 at 7:37 pm
    - Veron
      3438 comments
      
      I’ll take up your suggestion. Thanks!
      Reply
      Posted October 25, 2009 at 9:47 pm
jalapeno
16 comments

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
Posted September 1, 2009 at 5:50 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  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
  Posted September 2, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Hadi
4 comments

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
Posted September 3, 2009 at 4:45 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  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
  Posted September 4, 2009 at 7:36 am
stargirl
11 comments

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
Posted September 11, 2009 at 1:23 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  Thanks for the recommendations! I’ll definitely have the mee rebus. A flavourful 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
  Posted September 11, 2009 at 9:55 pm
  - stargirl
    11 comments
    
    Thanks for the recommendation! I’ve just tried the porridge you recommended and boy it was really good :D
    Reply
    Posted September 15, 2009 at 9:49 pm
    - Veron
      3438 comments
      
      Oh, you went!!! Thrilled that you like it :) Shows that my review is accurate! Haha
      Reply
      Posted September 16, 2009 at 4:30 pm