Whathefish! Review: Get Mentaiko Salmon And Cod Fish And Chips At Tanjong Pagar - EatBook.sg - Local Singapore Food Guide And Review Site
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Whathefish! Review: Get Mentaiko Salmon And Cod Fish And Chips At Tanjong Pagar

17th November 2017

Mentaiko salmon and more at Whathefish!

Update: Whathefish! has moved to 2 Venture Drive, #02-42, Vision Exchange, Singapore 608526.

Whathefish! - Flatlay

There are days when I dream about visiting Edinburgh with my friends and eating fish and chips wrapped in newspaper by the roadside during a chilly December. Since fish is generally pretty pricey, I don’t often have cravings whenever I’m eating out. However, there are long nights when I’m just not up for a McDonald’s treat, and hawker fish and chips becomes the absolute next in line. Found at Tanjong Pagar, Whathefish! sells one-of-a-kind fish dishes and it is catered to fish lovers who are looking for an affordable and tasty meal.

Mentaiko Cod Fish And Chips At The CBD | Whatthefish!
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Mentaiko Cod Fish And Chips At The CBD | Whatthefish!

Food at Whathefish!

Whathefish! - Shopfront

Whathefish! serves a very limited variety of dishes yet they manage to range from healthy plates to cheat meals. After ordering, I was given a self-collection buzzer. My impatience and excitement got to me as I waited eagerly for my dishes to arrive. 

Whathefish! - Mentaiko Salmon

I jumped up to retrieve my order before the buzzer would ring twice and the first dish I tried was their Mentaiko Salmon Rice Bowl ($8.90). I was greeted with a generous serving of grilled salmon with mentaiko sauce squeezed all over and torched. The sweet Japanese rice drizzled with teriyaki sauce, onsen egg (+$1), and shredded cabbage completed the bowl.

The mentaiko sauce didn’t taste strong in this one, possibly because the freshness and flavour of the salmon were much richer. Being a fan of grilled salmon, one thing is certain: this salmon was comparable to many restaurants’.

Whathefish! - Onsen Egg

I was glad that I added the onsen egg as it gave the finishing touch to this hearty bowl. The egg white was thin, just the way I liked it. You can choose between having your mentaiko salmon with rice, soba or a salad to suit your liking. If mentaiko isn’t in your favour, you can choose to have their Teriyaki Salmon ($7.90) instead.

Whathefish! - Seabass Bowl

Moving on to our next dish, the Crispy Seabass Rice Bowl ($5.90) caught my attention with its large portion. It was their must-try meal with three big chunks of sea bass, crispy fried cabbage and carrots served with a scoop of coleslaw.

What left me awestruck was the sweetness this dish gave off. It wasn’t just the teriyaki sauce, but the fried batter that tasted sweet yet savoury. Personally, I don’t enjoy eating hard, crunchy vegetables but the carrots had me blown away! It was soft, exceptionally sweet and could probably pull off as a fruit.

Whathefish! - Seabass Bowl Closeup

The sea bass was absolutely remarkable, it was so fresh and soft that every slice melted right into my mouth. Compared to the other dishes, this seabass gave a light yet flavourful taste.

At about 1pm, I overheard the young hawker at the stall telling a customer that their crispy sea bass rice bowls were all sold out and to give a ring at 11:30am to place a reservation next time.

Whathefish! - Cod Fish & Chips

Last but not least, the Cod Fish & Chips ($7.50) enhanced the mentaiko sauce (+$2) most. Strangely, the sauce was orange here even though the same sauce was used for the salmon. It gave off a stronger and sweeter mentaiko tang that went well with the crispy batter. Once again, they were very kind with their portions; two servings of cod layered over a bunch of seasoned fries.

Whathefish! - Cod Fish & Chips Closeup

It wasn’t the crusty coat that made this cod fish thick. Surprisingly, it was the fish that played a huge role. It was fresh, giving a mild and delicate taste. On the other hand, I preferred the sea bass for its stronger taste.

Whathefish! - Durian Tiramisu

There’s always room for dessert, specifically to those durian devotees out there. Their Mao Shan Wang Durian Tiramisu ($5.90) is made of real durian pulp which tasted sweet in my mouth without giving off a sour aftertaste. It went unexpectedly well with the taste of coffee and cocoa powder, making every spoonful wonderfully bittersweet.

Ambience at Whathefish!

Whathefish! - Ambience

A five-minute walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station, Whathefish! is found on the second floor of Tanjong Pagar Plaza, in a packed coffee shop named Dingxin Mei Shi Coffee Shop. Being a very cramped eatery with limited seats, it got crowded and stuffy from 12pm ahead, causing the floor to be oily and sticky. I had to get a drink to stop myself from perspiring. Fortunately, we got there a little earlier while it was less crowded and our food took no more than 10 minutes to be ready.

The verdict

Whathefish! - Verdict Shot

After stumbling upon Whathefish!, I’m really glad I got to try their dishes. Stock tends to run out fast, so do give them a call before heading down. It was a tough choice picking a favourite but I have to say, the mentaiko salmon rice bowl was best. The other two got too jelak after a couple of mouthfuls. As for the price, it was very reasonable with the portion given. I’ll definitely be coming back for a second visit, just at a less crowded timing. For more fish and chips, check out Big Fish Small Fish, which serves fish and chips from $6.90, or our list of affordable fish and chips!

Address: 2 Venture Drive, #02-42, Vision Exchange, Singapore 608526
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 8:30pm, Sat 12pm to 3pm, 5pm to 8:30pm
Tel: 8644 8652
Website
Whathefish! is not a halal eatery.

This is an independent review by Eatbook.sg.

  • 8/10
    - 8/10
8/10

Summary

Pros
– Generous portions given
– All fish dishes were fresh
– Friendly staff

Cons
– Limited opening hours

Recommended Dishes: Crispy Seabass Rice Bowl ($5.90) and Mentaiko Salmon with Rice ($8.90)

Operating Hours:
Mon-Fri 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 8:30pm, Sat 12pm to 3pm, 5pm to 8:30pm

Address: 2 Venture Drive, #02-42, Vision Exchange, Singapore 608526

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