Some time ago, I read my colleague Anthia’s review on Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue, a stall that’s popular for their XXL portions of Western food. I was highly tempted to try it myself, but never had the chance to because of how far it is from where I stay. Then, I learnt about The Flying Pan, another Western food stall located in Hougang, which is said to sell similarly large portions of Western food at affordable prices.Â
I was genuinely impressed by how generous a Western stall can be with their serves—not only are the portions really huge, you get to pick three out of a whopping nine side dishes to go with your mains! Looking at the giant plates of food that almost couldn’t fit on our table, it was definitely a sinful feast I couldn’t wait to indulge in.
I prefer to stick to the classics when it comes to Western food, so I decided to go for the Chicken Cutlet ($5.50). We chose Aglio Olio, Coleslaw and Fries as the sides for this dish.Â
It was a literal big treat, with tender meat encased within a nicely breaded crust. Although I thought the meat was slightly dry, I appreciated how the crust was fried to a delicate crisp, which made each bite incredibly satisfying. Having the creamy coleslaw between each bite helps to offset some of its dryness, too.Â
The aglio olio and fries weren’t overly salty, which complemented the chicken cutlet well without overpowering the flavour of the meat. I can’t complain about the al dente texture of the pasta too.
The item that wowed me the most was The Flying Pan’s Pork Chop ($5.50), which was a massive slab of pork grilled to a gorgeous golden brown. For our sides, we went with Butter Corn, Garden Vegetables and Mashed Potatoes for some variation in textures.Â
I was delighted to find that the pork chop was well-marinated and incredibly juicy. In addition, the pork chop was slathered in their house-made BBQ sauce, for a blend of sweet, smoky, and savoury in every bite.Â
For yet another protein, we went with the Ribeye Steak ($7.50). The steak boasted a juicy and flavoursome finish, and the meat-to-fat ratio was well-proportioned, so I didn’t feel too jelak eating this.Â
Unfortunately, I found the meat a tad too chewy, perhaps because I ordered the meat medium-well. You might want to consider ordering your steak medium or medium-rare instead.Â
In my opinion, mashed potatoes are a quintessential side to go with any Western meal, so this was one we definitely could not miss. While it wasn’t particularly exceptional in terms of taste, I was nonetheless pleased with the large portion, which made the meal more substantial.Â
The side dish I enjoyed the most was their mac and cheese, which had a nice creaminess and sweetness that complemented the savouriness of all the main dishes. I appreciated the al dente texture of the macaroni too.
The Flying Pan is in a kopitiam along Hougang Avenue 2. It’s a pretty vibrant and busy coffeeshop, which gets quite packed during the lunch hour. There’s limited seating as well, so you might want to drop by outside of peak hours to avoid the crowd.Â
The Flying Pan is two bus stops away from Hougang MRT Station, followed by a short three-minute walk.
I enjoyed the budget-friendly and hearty portions of Western food at The Flying Pan. While there were some minor letdowns, the hefty portions you get for such affordable prices definitely make the trip worth it. This hidden gem is worth a visit if you’re around the area.
For more old-school Western delights, check out Western Barbecue, which is located at Old Airport Road Food Centre! Alternatively, if you are around Hougang, give Ming Fa Duck Rice, which is famous for their braised pig skin, a try!
Address: 703 Hougang Avenue 2, #01-201, Singapore 530703
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 9pm
Website
The Flying Pan is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Chew Yi En.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg.
Summary
Pros
– Large portions of Western food
– Pork chop was well-marinated
Cons
– Not near Hougang MRT Station
– Beef was overcooked and chewy
Recommended dishes: Pork Chop ($5.50), Chicken Cutlet ($5.50)
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 9pm
Address: 703 Hougang Avenue 2, #01-201, Singapore 530703
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