NomStop Review: Nashville Hot Chicken, American BBQ Ribs And More Under $15

NomStop has affordable American cuisine in Punggol

Eateries that specialise in American food—beyond your usual fast food—aren’t too common in Singapore. So it was a pleasant surprise to learn about the opening of Nomstop, a stall within Singapore Institute of Technology‘s (SIT) new Punggol campus that offers Southern American classics such as Nashville hot chicken and seafood boil.

The fact that the stall is set in SIT is no coincidence, as it is run by five SIT alumni from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). They’ve taken influence from regional specialities across the US, resulting in dishes that, for the most part, impressed us.

Food at NomStop

We started with the Jerk Chicken Leg w/ Rice ($5.60), which came with a deboned chicken leg, broccoli, and white rice. For the uninitiated, jerk is a Jamaican style of marinating meat in spices such Allspice, thyme, and Scotch bonnet peppers, before it’s grilled or smoked. It then became popular in the US through the Jamaican diaspora, particularly in cities with large Caribbean communities.

NomStop’s rendition really nailed it in the flavour department. The grilled chicken was excellently seasoned, with a smoky, earthy, and slightly spicy flavour that made each bite exciting. Texturally, however, we found the chicken to be on the drier side. If it was a bit juicier, it would have earned our full recommendation, especially given the price.

We also have to mention that the broccoli, with its umami seasoning and charred goodness, was surprisingly addictive.

You can upgrade the white rice to the Dirty Rice ($5.60), which we found to be delectable. Each grain of rice was fluffy and wonderfully spiced, making it flavourful enough to have on its own yet balanced enough to complement the bold jerk chicken.

Our next dish, the Nashville Hot Chicken w/ Rice ($6.40), is a classic from Nashville, Tennessee.

The fried chicken batter boasted spicy and tangy notes, while its exterior yielded satisfying crunches. Like the jerk chicken, we had an issue with the meat, which we found a bit tough and lacking in succulence. Nevertheless, this was our favourite of the dishes we tried here.

The last meat dish we had was the American-style BBQ Ribs ($13.30). The ribs weren’t fall-off-the-bone tender, but they were still good, with a sweet BBQ sauce that wasn’t overly intense. The macaroni and cheese and coleslaw sides were a total write-off, however.

Finally, we tried the Seafood Boil ($13.30), a dish rooted in Louisiana’s Cajun food culture. This bowl of prawns, mussels, crab sticks, corn and more is said to feed up to two people.

We found most of the items in the bowl fresh and well-seasoned with Cajun spices. This was a great complement to the dishes that came before, and the generous portion made it feel like a substantial side.

Ambience at NomStop

NomStop is located within the SIT food court Foodgle Hub, which offers plenty of other food options. It’s also quite spacious, with plenty of tables and seats around to accommodate students, staff, and the public alike. The glass roof allows plenty of sunlight into the place, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Foodgle Hub is an eight-minute walk from Punggol Coast MRT Station.

The verdict

While there were a few flaws with NomStop’s dishes, we still enjoyed most of what they offered. If you’re looking to try American cuisine in a food court setting, NomStop is definitely worth a shot.

For a popular retro American diner with mains under $15, read our Joji’s Diner review. For chicken cordon bleu and risotto under $10 at a hawker stall, read our 5dot7 review.

Address: 1 Punggol Coast Road, SIT Campus, Block E4, Foodgle Hub, 828608
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 7pm
Tel: 8817 2334
Website
NomStop is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Marcus Neo.
This was a media tasting at NomStop.