Yellow Submarines Cheesesteak : The Better Cheesesteak Experience

After the absolutely disappointing experience at The Cheese Steak Soup located at Kallang Wave Mall, i am still on the hunt for the best possible Cheesesteak in Singapore. And, it brought me to Yellow Submarines at Toa Payoh Central. I was there slightly after lunch on a Saturday, the place was not as crowded as expected. The ordering counter is at the level 1. You are expected to place your order and made your payment right there. A receipt will be given with a number stated on it and that shall be your collection number when it flashes on the LED panel. 

There are quite a few sets on the menu board for selection. I went for the Yellow Submarine Classic (Set 1) set meal for $9.90 and Philly Submarine (set 2) set meal for $10.90. You could choose to have beef or chicken and i opted for the beef for both sets. Cheese fries and drinks are included in the set. You are expected to collect your drink first then the rest later. 

The number flashed in a bit on the LED panel for collection. The cheese fries were served in a paper cups and the sandwiches were nicely wrapped.

The cheese fries though not particularly crispy, it did not turn too soggy either even after left for a while. It was served with a generous amount of cheese sauce and quite a bit left over at the bottom of the paper cup even when done eating with those fries.

Yellow Submarine Classic consists of thin slices of beef Sirlon served with their specially blended cheese sauce and caramelised onions in a bread roll. First impression was the cheese sauce tasted a little like those made from powdery cheese rather similar to that particular type of cheese sauce for Cheese Fries. I liked the beef slices much more as compared to those shredded beef used in those sandwiches mentioned in that disappointing experience.  The beef slices here were bigger, juicer and tender. A good amount of Cheese was added with a rather tomato-ish sauce.

For $9.90 a set, i felt it is rather good value as compared to the $34 for 2 sandwiches, 2 drinks and 2 sides mentioned in this unacceptable experience. 

Could you see the amount of cheese in it as compared to this? Now, tell me which one would you choose? I guess the answer is rather obvious.

Their Philly Submarine ($7.90) was overall acceptable. It is only $10.90 if you order it as a set. The options for their sets include the beef too and not just chicken.

A substantial portion of same beef Sirlon slices and caramelised onions together with provolone cheese were sandwiched in between the bread roll. You could even see the cheese slowly pulled apart in the sandwich. I strongly felt that cheesesteak can never be called a cheesesteak is not enough amount of cheese is added to be so. Would you even bother to try if you have to pay an extra for more cheese to be added or ask for cheese sauce to make it a cheesesteak? I believe in paying for what it is truly worth and not topping it up with extra cash just to get what you expected it to be. 

More pictures of the Philly Submarine. What an appetising sight with cheese shown in the sandwich in all these pictures. 

A rather big slice of beef spotted in this picture.

Though not addicted yet but i gotta be caution as habit is slowly forming to loving their cheesesteaks.

This might not be the best cheesesteak that i ever tasted but it was much better than the other that i tried in Singapore. If you too, craving for cheesesteak then perhaps you should give Yellow Submarines a try and totally forget about going elsewhere unless you want to have a bad experience. 

YELLOW SUBMARINES CHEESESTEAK

Block 177 Toa Payoh Central #01-110 Singapore 310177.

Operating Hours: 10.30 am to 10.30 pm

The Cheese Steak Shop : Philadelphia is Disappointed With You

It took me quite a while to locate the shop, though they are located at Kallang Wave Mall but do not try looking for them in the mall. Exit the MRT and do not enter the mall but keep going straight, it is right at the corner. I was there on a Sunday and there was a promotion of 1-for-1 sandwich going on when you liked a particular FB page. Even so, the place was almost empty with just only 1 table occupied then. This is supposedly the franchise of the original The Cheese Steak Shop from the USA that started in 1982.

While standing in front of their service counter and looking at their menu board, a service staff came over with a menu and quickly ushered me to the table just next to it. The same staff took our order  at the counter later. I asked him whether i could upgrade it to a set by paying the extra. He said yes. I took notice that there is a Daily Special for selected Chicken Cheese Steak with a side and drink for only $8.90. 

I wanted 2 sets and i should have 4 sandwiches since i have liked that particular FB page together with that particular post and shown it to the service staff. I decided to go with Deluxe Cheese Beef Steak ($10.90), Garlic Cheese Steak ($10.90), Mushroom Cheese Steak ($10.90) and Barbeque Cheese Steak ($9.90). I initially wanted Steak Hoagie ($10.90) and Spinach Cheese Steak ($10.90) but i was told that some ingredients were not available at that time. 

As for drinks, i went with 2 large Pepsi at $2.70 each. For the sides, i decided to try their Cheese Fries ($3.90) and Twister Fries ($2.90) as recommended by that service staff. The total bill came to an unexpected $34.00. When done a check, i realised the drinks and sides are not part of the set but ala-carte orders. When i questioned the service staff, he kept apologising and no explanation was given. The least that he could have done is to explain why he did not include the drinks and sides as part of the set as we clearly communicated upon placing the order. He should really be honest about it even if there is no sets available for Cheese Beef Steak or the 1-for-1 promotion is only applicable for ala-carte order. This is bad customer service. 

The drinks came first. It was served in tall plastic cups instead of those disposable cups. 

The 2 different types of fries came next followed by the 4 different types of sandwiches.

The Cheese Fries and Twister Fries did not taste as special as expected. The thickly cut fries were rather soggy when left it for a bit. Those Twister Fries were just normal. You should just forget about ordering their fries. 

The presentation of those sandwiches was pretty shabby. As for the beef, it looked more like beef stripes or even towards shredded beef and not those slices of beef that are expected of a proper original Philidelphia style Cheese Steak sandwich. 

The Garlic Cheese Steak was not amongst the favourite. I felt those bits of garlic did not enhance its overall taste much thus not very special. This was partly so as too little cheese was placed underneath the pile of beef stripes and slices of onion. The cheese could only be tasted at both ends but was missing in the centre part of the sandwich. 

The Deluxe Cheese Steak was not the favourite too, the paste sauce was a bit overpowering and too little cheese added so very little cheese taste to the extend that you could hardly taste any and somehow reminded me of eating a pizza sandwich.

The Barbeque Cheese Steak did not fare too well either, the barbeque sauce was again overpowering and with too little cheese added. I could not help but wonder why is this even called a cheese steak when not much cheese taste is detected. They should just called this a Barbeque Beef Steak Sandwich.

The Mushroom Cheese Steak was the better one amongst the 4 different types that i ordered, but again not much cheese taste as not enough cheese was added to be called the Cheese Steak. I have no doubt that it would definitely taste much better if more cheese could have be added and perhaps they should really do it the traditional way by placing the cheese on top rather than at the bottom. 

Some pictures to show the miserable bit of cheese added to the sandwich.

Could you see any melted cheese in there? Where is the cheese? With such a premium price charged for the sandwich, there is absolutely no reason to have so little cheese added to each sandwich.

Again, only a bit of cheese spotted at the side.

In this picture, only a bit of cheese at the end of the sandwich. Honestly, these sandwiches do not deserve to be called Cheese Steak since too little cheese was added to make it to be one. By the way, this was half of the Mushroom Cheese Steak, it was the one with the most cheese and even so, not enough was added.

"Caution: May be habit forming". I seriously doubt so.

It was just slightly after 2pm, the place was almost empty. I guess most Singaporeans are not lover of Cheese Steak or maybe they shared the similar bad experience too?

As for their tag line 'We're Bringing Philly to you", what i have tasted did not even remind me a bit of the truly great Cheese Steak that i had eaten in Philadelphia. It was an absolutely disappointing experience though i could felt the owner must have a great passion for Cheese Steak to start such a shop.

And NO, it is definitely not worth the value, i would rather go for a sandwich at one of those Subway outlets anytime.

THE CHEESE STEAK SHOP

No 1 Stadium Place #01-10 Kallang Wave Mall Sports Hub SINGAPORE 397629.