This New Golden Mile Stall Has $8 Algerian-Inspired Bowls—Is It Worth A Try?

MareMyst has Algerian-inspired dishes at Golden Mile

When I think of Algeria, I think of the film The Battle of Algiers and the footballer Riyad Mahrez. But Algerian food is something that I, and perhaps most of us in this little bubble called Singapore, are largely unfamiliar with. So when I caught wind of MareMyst, a new stall at Golden Mile Food Centre serving Algerian-inspired dishes, I roped a colleague along and headed down to try the food.

MareMyst, which means “Mysterious Sea”, is run by Algerian hawker Yahiaoui Yaacob. Together with his Singaporean wife, Nora, the couple serve rice bowls topped with distinctly Algerian flavours. They also offer quesadillas, potato bowls, and even house-made tiramisu, but since these weren’t available when we visited, we ended up trying two of their most popular rice bowls instead.

Food at MareMyst

First up was the Algerian Chtitha Lhem ($8), which is either a beef or mutton stew rice bowl, depending on what you choose. We went for the beef option, and got a heap of stewed beef cubes, boiled carrots, and harissa, a spicy chilli paste notable in numerous North African cuisines. These were set over a generous serving of rice, and while rice isn’t featured as prominently in Algerian cuisine, this combination will endear itself to the rice-loving masses of Singapore.

Most of the cubes were tender and succulent, though some were tougher to chew through than others. Nevertheless, the reddish-brown sauce you see above, dominated by notes of tomato paste and various spices, gave each bite a tangy and spicy kick. The chickpeas, meanwhile, added body to the stew and soaked up all its rich flavours.

Based on the browning of the carrots, we thought it would have a nice, roasted flavour, but that was surprisingly lacking—the carrots merely added some fibre and sweetness to the dish. What fared better, however, was the harissa, which wowed us with its smoky and earthy flavour.

And then there was the Chermoula Chicken Rice Bowl ($8), which swapped the beef stew for a chicken thigh. But this wasn’t just any ol’ poultry—it was baked chicken crowned with chermoula, a sauce made with herbs, garlic, lemon, and various spices.

The chicken on its own was seriously impressive, as it was sizeable, meaty, and wonderfully juicy. There was also a gravy poured over the chicken, giving it a creamy finish.

The chermoula went especially well with the rice, giving each grain a herbaceous aroma. And when combined with the harissa, this made for a really flavourful rice bowl that anyone looking for a hearty meal will enjoy.

Ambience at MareMyst

MareMyst is located within the treasure trove that is Golden Mile Food Centre. Because the stall sits in the basement and is packed between rows of stalls, however, the seats surrounding MareMyst aren’t the most comfortable—we recommend you take the food elsewhere in the hawker centre to best enjoy your food.

The stall is a nine-minute walk from Nicoll Highway MRT Station and Lavender MRT Station.

MareMyst – Eatbook Review

While MareMyst doesn’t offer completely authentic Algerian eats, its unique interpretation of the cuisine and hearty flavours make it worth a try, especially if you’re in the area.

For an eatery with excellent mandi, the Arabic equivalent of briyani, read our Cafe Mariam review. For famous prata that’s super crispy, read our Mr & Mrs Mohgan Super Crispy Roti Prata review.

Address: 505 Beach Road, B1-22, Golden Mile Food Centre, Singapore 199583
Opening hours: Tue-Wed 11am to 7pm, Fri-Sun 11am to 7pm
Tel: 8901 9722
Website
MareMyst is a Muslim-owned eatery.

Photos taken by Paula Formantes.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.sg.