Mam Mam Review: Hidden Gem Restaurant Near NUS Has 100-Hour Duck Confit And More

Mam Mam has rice bowls and duck confit at NUHS

I’ve always had a misconception that the food options around hospitals are often plain and bland. That was until I learnt about Mam Mam, a casual cafe in National University Health System (NUHS) that serves up affordable, hearty mains for healthcare professionals and those working in the area.

Mam Mam was conceptualised by renowned local chef Sebastian Ng, who owns VENUE By Sebastian in Downtown Gallery. His recipes are inspired by his food adventures around Asia, as well as his culinary experience at the three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordan Ramsay in London. Mam Mam’s goal is simple—to provide quality, wallet-friendly meals for lunch breaks. 

Food at Mam Mam

Chef Sebastian’s Signature 100-hour Duck Confit ($10.35) is their iconic dish, so we began with that. We learned about the painstaking preparation process of this dish: after being marinated for two days, the duck is then slow-cooked in its own fat for another day. It is finished on the pan to crisp up the skin before it’s served. 

In my own experience, duck confit is either a hit or miss; overcooking it renders a dry and tough texture, and undercooking often results in it tasting too gamey. Here, the duck meat was cooked just right—the meat was fall-off-the-bone tender, with a thin and crispy skin that added texture. In terms of flavour, thanks to the long hours of slow-cooking, the duck did not have a strong gamey taste, which I appreciated. 

The duck confit came with their house-made green sambal sauce. Drizzle some of it over to add a tangy, spicy kick to your meat.

We moved on to their next best-seller—Chef Sebastian’s Signature Spice-Crusted Chicken Rice Bowl ($7.65), a large chicken thigh that comes with a sunny side up and some vegetables on the side.

At first glance, this chicken didn’t look exceptional. Don’t underestimate it based on its appearance, though; the chicken here is marinated with 16 spices such as turmeric and lemongrass, so the meat is packed with lots of flavour. 

The chicken was marinated well, with the blend of spices adding a myriad of flavours. Other than the meat being a tad too dry, this was a delicious piece of chicken that was worth its price. 

We also tried their Minced Chicken with Basil Rice Bowl ($5.30), which stars minced chicken stir-fried with long beans, chopped chillies, and basil.

I enjoyed the chunks of long beans, which added a nice crunch to each mouthful. I was also impressed by how the dish reminded me of Thai-style basil chicken rice, without being overly spicy. While I’d wish there was a more discernible basil aroma, the generous amount of minced chicken made up for it.

We rounded everything off with an order of their Dry Yong Tau Foo ($7.10). This dish stars egg noodles topped with minced chicken and spring onions, and six pieces of yong tau foo on the side.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything outstanding in this soup—it tasted rather one-dimensional and bland, perhaps because the ingredients were not made in-house. Nonetheless, it’ll make a good item to order if you’re looking for something light on the palate. 

Ambience at Mam Mam

Mam Mam is located in NUHS, which is a three-minute walk from Kent Ridge MRT Station. The eatery is spacious, but it can get crowded during lunch hours—especially when the office crowd streams in. Nonetheless, the lunchtime crowd clears up relatively quickly, so you don’t have to worry about finding a seat for long. 

The verdict

The affordable prices and high quality of Mam Mam’s signature items definitely surpassed my expectations of food options near hospitals. While not all the dishes we tried were to our liking, their food was tasty and substantial enough for a quick meal if you’re around the area!

For more grub around the area, check out our NUS food guide. Alternatively, read our Tenderbest Makcik Tuckshop review for a unique dining experience in Sengkang Riverside!

Address: 1E Kent Ridge Road, Level One, NUHS Tower Block, Singapore 119228
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 5pm
Tel: 6252 4320
Website
Mam Mam is a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Hui Hui Lau.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg