PUBLISHED November 9th, 2020 05:00 am | UPDATED November 13th, 2020 07:23 pm
To say that the new Garang Grill is a little tucked away is an understatement; our Grab driver drove circles around Tampines Industrial Crescent before we finally found the place. Hidden in a corner of New Ubin Village, an unassuming food court in Space@Tampines, Garang Grill serves up some of the biggest, boldest flavours you’ve ever tasted since the pandemic – and at very affordable prices too.
Garang Grill started off as a three-month pop-up in 2017 in Siglap’s Swan Lake Avenue – it was so popular that it went on till the end of 2019. Now, as part of New Ubin Village, it continues its mission of garang (meaning bold, fierce in Malay) flavours that are truly Singaporean.
Their crown jewel is a S$16,000 Mibrasa charcoal grill oven, which is responsible for the signature smoky flavour of their meats like the cult favourite Crispy Pork Jowl (S$12). While it looks simple, the process behind it is quite lengthy; the meat is cooked sous vide for half a day, then coated in a special flour mix before being finished off in the oven. Paired with a miso-infused gula melaka dipping sauce, every bite of this dish is luxurious and decadent.
An unexpected favourite was the Garang Prawn (S$15). Every bite of crispy batter, deep-fried to perfection gives way with a loud crunch to juicy and sweet prawn. Another seafood highlight was the Chilli Crab Rillette (S$12) — think chilli crab sauce made into a buttery, creamy, chunky dip, served with hot deep-fried mantou bites.
Their mains are also something to reckon with. Their Classic Carbonara (S$12) is traditional and blasphemous all at once. This carbonara uses just eggs for its deliciously creamy sauce — no cream, like in a traditional carbonara. In place of pancetta, there is house-smoked pork belly, infusing a complex umami flavour into the dish. It’s also served in a piping hot claypot, allowing for some bits of spaghetti to crisp up and add a textural crunch to the dish.
The Argentinian Striploin (S$38) is definitely one of the pricier dishes on the menu here, but we’d shell it out for premium grass-fed steak. Incredibly tender yet boasting a good bite, the Mibrasa oven imparts a rich, crispy-charred outer edge that adds some extra flavour. Served with sweet potato mash and a coleslaw, this portion is definitely big enough for two. Or three.
Continue your quick tour around the world with their LA Galbi Beef (S$18), marinated Korean-style and barbecued till tender, and the BBQ Pork Belly (S$21), a Duroc pork belly rubbed in Cajun spices and seared to superbness.
If you think you’re full after all that, think again. There’s one dessert that’s worth sticking it out for: their Sticky Date Pudding (S$9). This dense cake is sweet and sticky and delicious, served with a housemade salted caramel ice cream that adds some umami to this sugar bomb. This dish might just be the nail on the coffin of that food coma of yours, but oh what a glorious one it’ll be.
Garang Grill is located at 18 Tampines Industrial Crescent#01-16, Singapore 528605, p. +65 9740 6870. Open 11.30am — 3pm and 5.30pm — 10pm.
Photos courtesy of Garang Grill.