Pasta & Donburi by Kenny : just so-so

Pasta & Donburi by Kenny is one of the newest stalls in this food centre that has re-opened after renovation about a year ago. This stall is helmed by Kenny Hew, 32, a new generation hawker who used to work as a chef in Western and Japanese fine-dining restaurants for about 12 years. He is serving Italian and Japanese cuisines consisting a combination of pasta and Japanese rice bowls known as Donburi, there are a total of 9 dishes on the menu, priced from $5.00 to $7.50. His stall is located right next to his father-in-law's stall, the famous Ghim Moh Chwee Kueh that has been around for 57 years.

While standing there and deciding what to order, I asked, "What do you recommend?". The assistant there replied, "Each has its own fan." I decided to go with Fried Chicken & Mushroom Pasta with Tomato Sauce ($6.50) and Chicken Donburi ($6.50) which I paid after ordering. There is an LCD panel but I have not been issued a number for collection so I just waited there. When collecting it, I was telling the assistant, "My friend tried it and he liked the pasta." Kenny overheard and he replied, "Thank you." He said, "Everything is made from scratch including those sauces." There is also no MSG added.

Fried Chicken & Mushroom Pasta with Tomato Sauce which comprises a good portion of spaghetti with a piece of deep-fried crumbed chicken cutlet with mushroom slices in tomato sauce then garnished with chopped parsley with some vegetable that tasted like spinach. The spaghetti was cooked just right. The chicken cutlet was done well to have a slight crispiness on its surface and still moist within. I did not like it as much as expected, in fact, I would prefer what I have tasted at Grill & Pasta in Sembawang Hill Food Centre for the same price. 

The Chicken Donburi is the Japanese rice bowl that consists of a piece of deep-fried crumbed chicken cutlet that is sliced into strips then served with shredded onions and eggs in dashi-based sauce on Japanese short-grain rice along with a bowl of Miso soup. It was garnished with chopped spring onions and sesame seeds. The portion was generous but not the best tasting as Konomi Zen, the Japanese food stall at the food centre in Ang Mo Kio is serving a better version at a cheaper price. 

Miso Carbonara with Onsen Egg ($7.00) seems to be highly recommended from those reviews online and I am interested to try it if I happen to be there again. 

PASTA & DONBURI by KENNY

20 Ghim Moh Raod #01-53 Ghim Moh Food Centre SINGAPORE 

Operating Hours: 11.00 am to 2.30 pm (Monday)

11.00 am to 2.30 pm / 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm (Closed on Thursdays)

Grill & Pasta : 11 Choices of Hawker Style Pasta Dishes

This stall has been in this food centre for the longest time. It was first of such hawker stall serving pasta dishes when it started before the others started to follow suit.

I made a special order, I wanted Marinara with a piece of Chicken Chop added. The chef did not quite get it the first time and I was asked to repeat my order. I repeated that I want to order Marinara with Chicken Chop. He got it this time. He asked, "Do you want them to be in the same plate?". I nodded. I waited in the queue for it to be ready as it has changed to 'Self-Service', the chef used to have an assistant during my last visit but he was all by himself this time, even so, the waiting time was a short one.

In total, I paid $7.20 for Marinara and $5.00 for that piece of grilled Chicken Chop. The Marinara was in good portion with ingredients like prawns, squid, and clams in the tomato-based sauce.  There were dried chilli flakes and dried parsley flakes for self-service at the counter but missing the Parmesan cheese, it used to be served by placing on the spoon and served along with it. It stated under the 'additional charges' on their menu board that the cheese is chargeable at 0.80 cents. You could also add cream for 0.80 cents or upsize the pasta at $1.00. There are a total of 11 pasta dishes from $4.00 to $8.00 for selection together with the other 2 choices of penne served with grilled chicken or grilled fish at $6.50.  

The spaghetti was cooked just right to the desired texture and those ingredients were notably fresh particularly the prawns, the texture was firm with a delightful chewiness. 

The well-marinated Chicken Chop was grilled to near perfection, it was nicely charred at those edges with a slight crispiness and moist within. 

If you are thinking to visit this stall, please take note that they will be closed from 28 October to 7 November 2016.

GRILL & PASTA
590 Upper Thomson Road #01-34 Sembawang Hill Food Centre SINGAPORE 574419
Operating Hours: 12.00 to 2.00 pm / 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm (Closed on Mondays)