Restaurant-Quality Mod 'Cai Png' From $6 By Ex-White Rabbit Chefs ...

Skip to main content Advertisement Breadcrumb

1. Home
2. Eat & Drink
3. News & Reviews
4. Restaurant-Quality Mod ‘Cai Png’ From $6 By Ex-White Rabbit...

RECENT SEARCHES TRENDING SEARCHES Mediacorp 8days Singapore Advertisement Restaurant-Quality Mod ‘Cai Png’ From $6 By Ex-White Rabbit Chefs At Café Near Yishun

Meanwhile, an ex-Ce La Vi mixologist mixes bubble tea to order here.

Rachel Genevieve Chia 03 Dec 2021 at 16:54 Share Bookmark Bookmark Share on Facebook Share on WhatsApp Share on Twitter Share on WeChat boxfan grain bowls cai png bubble tea boba tea boba bbt mentaiko salmon rib eye pork belly broccoli cherry tomatoes corn gong bao chicken mala prawn mala. tempura takoyaki milk tea biscoff milk tea fruit tea

The quiet Springleaf neighbourhood bordering Yishun (where Benz Hui’s daughter’s cafe and the popular new Friends Cafe cha chaan teng are located) is slowly gaining traction among foodies. Now, there’s another new reason to make the trip: to try food cooked by former restaurant chefs from just $6 (the most expensive dish here is $12).

Three of the four partners behind BoxFan (pronounced “box fun”), which opened on October 1 at The Brooks I condominium, cut their teeth at upmarket restaurants like the now-defunct White Rabbit, and at fine-diners in Mandarin Oriental and Raffles Hotel, before leaving to start their own Asian eatery offering tasty grain bowls (what we cheekily call mod 'cai png' here since you get to pick and choose the ingredients in your slightly elevated bowls).

All photos cannot be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg

1of20

Pedigreed team

Half of the quartet behind BoxFan comprise two chefs: Ang Shu Rong, 32, (centre left in pic) and Tan Wei Xiang, 29 (centre right).

The other half is husband-and-wife duo Thomas Tang, 36 (far left), a bartender, and Wong Lin Lin, 27 (far right), the owner of an events company.

The chefs and bartender met each other while working under the Lo & Behold Group at upscale eatery Black Swan, whose founder Wee Teng Wen is supportive of their new venture, they say.

Shu Rong began his career as a cook at Raffles Hotel, then spent five-and-a-half years as sous chef for Lo & Behold concepts White Rabbit, Black Swan and Straits Clan before moving on to pan-Asian restaurant Coriander Leaf.

Wei Xiang spent a year at Mandarin Oriental, cooking for the hotel’s buffets and wedding banquets, before joining Lo & Behold’s Black Swan and White Rabbit between 2014 and 2018 as senior chef de partie.

Thomas spent four years as senior mixologist at MBS’s Ce La Vi (previously Ku De Ta), before joining Hotel Indigo as bar manager. He then spent two years at Lo & Behold's Black Swan (occasionally being rotated to other concepts) before joining beer importer Pacific Beverages as a sales executive in 2019.

2of20

Inspired by staff meals

The idea for BoxFan was dreamed up when the four met for dinner earlier this year, and realised they shared the same goal of starting an F&B biz.

Lin Lin, whose events biz has been halted by the pandemic, is angling for BoxFan to supply catering when events resume. Adds Shu Rong: “I left (Lo & Behold) to experience something different from cooking Western fine-dining.”

The items on BoxFan’s menu are the same dishes the two chefs whipped up for staff meals at Lo & Behold, they say. They shortlisted their favourites (such as miso salmon and gong bao chicken) and refined the recipes.

3of20

Friendly regulars

Planning for the new biz began in July, and the four sprung $80,000 on a small, simply-furnished 20-seater unit on Springside Walk. They like the neighbourhood’s kampong feel.

Since launching, they’ve been happily enfolded into the community, they enthuse, with a steady pool of friendly regulars from the landed houses and condominiums nearby, plus army boys from the Nee Soon Camp opposite. “Some customers even invite us into their homes,” Lin Lin says.

They sell about 60 bowls a day, and are earning enough to hire a third chef.

4of20

Shaken, not stirred

Apart from a little kitchen tucked in the back, the shop has a small counter where Thomas makes drinks to order with a practiced hand, applying precise measures of milk and syrup in a jigger and shaking the boba in a cocktail shaker. It’s great to watch.

5of20

How to order

BoxFan serves side dishes and drinks, but the main offering is build-your-own grain bowls. Depending on the protein, prices range from $6 (for tofu) to $12 (for ribeye with mentaiko sauce).

With each order comes a base of rice, noodles like soba or lettuce, plus two toppings: choose from 10 options including corn, broccoli and cherry tomatoes. Additional toppings at $1 each.

6of20

Mentaiko Salmon Bowl, $11 (8 DAYS Pick!)

Ours comes with beautifully textured pearl rice mixed with quinoa, plus sides of edamame, onsen egg, and sauteed kale. The two medium-sized flaky salmon fillets from New Zealand taste quite sweet from the mirin and sake-infused miso marinade, and are bathed in yummy, creamy mentaiko sauce (all sauces are made in house).

7of20

Grilled Rib-eye Bowl, $13 (8 DAYS Pick!)

With pearl rice, cherry tomatoes, onsen egg, and garlicky sauteed mushrooms. The Australian rib-eye – first seared, then finished with a blowtorch – is fabulously smoky, and the meat is tender and juicy. Bigger eaters may find the protein portion a bit small, but the quality is undeniable. Still, we wish they could be more generous with the soya sauce accompanying the rice. Go for the side dish of Grilled Ribeye Cubes ($7) to let the meat shine on its own.

8of20

Stir-Fried Pork Belly Bowl, $8

Similar to the beef, the fatty pork belly is torched to finish, and boasts an enticing smokiness. Thanks to the shoyu and citrus juice sauce it’s cooked in, the rice is also wetter than the beef bowl. However, meat portions might not be enough for bigger eaters. We also don’t love the side of curried chickpeas – the Indian notes don’t gel with the Japanese flavours, though the beans themselves are cooked till soft and boast a good heat.

9of20

Gong Bao Chicken Bowl, $8

This one’s a fancied up instant noodle combo, featuring addictive Koka noodles tossed in scallion oil, and sides of charred broccoli, sauteed mushrooms, and deep-fried enoki tempura. The stellar tempura boasts an unbelievably light and crispy batter – the only downside is it outshines the mushrooms within. As for the meat, the kung pao sauce has been tweaked to be sweeter and less spicy, with the result that the chicken thigh pieces look and taste a little bit like char siew, albeit with a pepperiness at the end.

10of20

Mala Prawn Bowl, $9 (8 DAYS Pick!)

The prawns are coated in flour and deep fried, then slathered in a calorific mala-spiked mayonnaise. There’s an authentic spicy kick, but it’s toned down enough by the rich creaminess. The pairing with soba noodles dressed in lemon juice, sesame oil, and soy sauce is a bit odd at first, but it grows on us. Ours comes with corn and rather tangy homemade kimchi, which don’t quite balance out the cold noodles and shrimp.

11of20

Vegetable Tempura, $5 (8 DAYS Pick!)

Even meat lovers will adore this tasty tempura, made with a homemade batter that stays crisp after several hours in the fridge in a takeaway box. The seasonal vegetables, including eggplant, mushrooms and carrots, are perfectly fried and not oily, plus there’s a whisper of saltiness, heat, and a curry note from a seasoning mix including Sichuan peppers and cumin that’s been roasted in-house.

12of20

Signature Prawn Paste Chicken, $5 (8 DAYS Pick!)

What we thought was deep-fried chicken skin turns out to be small pieces of deboned chicken thigh coated in the same seasoning as the tempura, giving it a peppery savouriness. The chefs’ twist on har cheong gai involves infusing dashi into the prawn paste for greater umami, and slashing the amount of prawn paste to cut down on the saltiness. The result is delightfully light, perfectly seasoned fried chicken bits that are good enough on their own without the Thai chilli sauce.

13of20

Oden, $5

In a gentle, layered broth of dashi and bonito is a fall-apart soft slab of daikon. We’ve been so impressed by the food at BoxFan so far, it's almost disappointing that the two fish balls taste a bit processed (they’re bought from a supplier).

14of20

Salmon Takoyaki, $5

Not really takoyaki, but a mashed potato ball with scallion oil and spring onions. It’s stuffed with a cube of salmon that’s as soft as the potatoes, so the fish flavour does disappear. Nevertheless, the crisp breadcrumb exterior and fluffy mash are delish paired with the takoyaki sauce and mayo.

15of20

Signature Milk Tea, $3.80

The tea is light and free of the usual powdered creamer (a mix of fresh milk and cream is used), but wants more richness and sweetness. “Tastes like teh si,” our photographer remarks. Ouch. The small pearls are a touch too soft.

16of20

Biscoff Milk Tea, $4.80

Thanks to the sweet, buttery biscuits, this one’s a little tastier than the Signature Milk Tea.

17of20

Signature Fruit Tea, $5.80

Thomas uses a muddler to press various fruits – grapes, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and berries – to let out their sugars, then adds jasmine green tea, aiming to create a taste not unlike virgin sangria. It’s promising, but could use some fizz.

18of20

Lychee Apple Fizz, $4.80

The fizz helps liven up this drink, which is refreshing from the mint leaves and green apple, but dominated by the taste of canned lychee syrup. It’s a little too sweet.

19of20

Bottom line

Yummy grain bowls and side dishes that are clearly a cut above the usual offerings — you can tell experienced restaurant chefs prepped the items at this humble-looking eatery, in particular the beef and deep-fried dishes. Price-wise, it’s on par with or slightly cheaper than other grain bowl competitors in town, though the meat portions here might not be enough for bigger eaters. Luckily, the side dishes are tasty and very reasonably priced, so top up your meal with some beef cubes or prawn paste chicken.

20of20

The details

BoxFan is at #01-09, 60 Springside Walk, S786020. Open Tues – Sun 11am - 10.30pm.

All photos cannot be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg

Photos: Kelvin Chia

boxfan grain bowls cai png bubble tea boba tea boba bbt mentaiko salmon rib eye pork belly broccoli cherry tomatoes corn gong bao chicken mala prawn mala. tempura takoyaki milk tea biscoff milk tea fruit tea Rachel Genevieve Chia 03 Dec 2021 at 16:54 Share Bookmark Bookmark Share on Facebook Share on WhatsApp Share on Twitter Share on WeChat Advertisement

Related Stories

Share Bookmark Bookmark

News & Reviews

Tanglin Make-Up Artist & Husband Open Legit Traditional HK Cha Chaan Teng

Share Bookmark Bookmark

Hawker Food

Hip Grain Bowl Stall At Chinatown Food Centre By Ex-Jigger & Pony Mixologist

Share Bookmark Bookmark

News & Reviews

Benz Hui's Daughter Opening Cafe In S’pore After Home-Based Bakery Takes Off

Advertisement

Shopping

Share Bookmark Bookmark

Lifestyle

Where To Buy Cheongsams & Cheongsam Tops In Singapore — From Modern To Versatile Pieces To Wear Even After Lunar New Year

Share Bookmark Bookmark

Lifestyle

Demon Slayer Merch To Buy Ahead Of The Immersive Exhibition In S'pore

Share Bookmark Bookmark

Home Matters

Home Feng Shui Fixes: 5 Common Sources of Negative Energies — Or ‘Sha Qi’ — And How To Fix Them

Expand to read the full story

Subscribe to the 8days weekly e-newsletter to receive the latest entertainment, celebrity, food and lifestyle news!

By clicking Subscribe, I consent to the Terms & Conditions. Terms & Conditions!

I consent to the use of my personal data by Mediacorp and the Mediacorp group of companies (collectively “Mediacorp”) to send me notices, information, promotions and updates including marketing and advertising materials in relation to Mediacorp’s goods and services and those of third party organisations selected by Mediacorp, and for research and analysis, including surveys and polls.

Ok

Want More? Check These Out

Share Bookmark Bookmark

News & Reviews

We Checked Out The Hotpot Restaurant Previously Linked To Ex-PropertyLimBrothers’ Grayce Tan

Share Bookmark Bookmark

News & Reviews

Restaurant Lolla, Once Listed On Asia's 50 Best Restaurants List, Shutting Down

Share Bookmark Bookmark

News & Reviews

Penang Chefs’ Guide To The Best Char Kway Teow, Peranakan Food & Teochew Porridge

Watch

00:26 1 in 3 Singaporean employers don’t give weekly rest day to domestic workers #8dayssg #8dayssgtrending #sgtiktok #fypsg #domestichelper 01:39 Luckily he’s now an ex 💆🏻‍♀️ #8dayssg #8dayssglocalent #gaslighting #relationship #fypsg 00:23 “It’s not your bedroom,” netizens say. But, did he really sleep topless, though? #8dayssg #8dayssgtrending #emirates #businessclass #grwm 01:04 Hazelle Teo and James Wong share how they knew they were “The One” for each other in their new podcast, Couple’s Classroom. #8dayssg #8dayssglocalent #couple #relationship #fypsg 00:36 After being labelled indecisive on Single’s Inferno, this season's most talked-about contestant draws mixed reactions as netizens debate giving her a break #8dayssg #8dayssgasianent #singlesinferno #choiminasue #rich 00:38 this valentine's day, don't be like these birds hor #8dayssg #8dayssgtrending #sgtiktok #birds #situationship 00:41 The group have admitted that even they sometimes can't tell each other apart when they’re in costume #8dayssg #8dayssglocalent #avantgardey #dance #tiktoksg 00:50 What do people on Arab Street feel about this mural? #8dayssg #8dayssgtrending #sgtiktok #fypsg #arabstreet 00:51 Did they deliberately skip the event? #8dayssgAsianEnt  #8dayssg  #barbiehsu #memorial #wangxiaofei 00:47 $10 can buy two plates of chicken rice sia #8dayssg #8dayssgtrending #singapore #sgtiktok #cny 00:28 Time to join the bangs club? 😛 #8dayssg #8dayssglocalent #hair #Avantgardey #funny 00:52 The former Wah!Banana actor vanished from the spotlight in 2018 #8dayssg #8dayssglocalent #edenang #wahbanana #tiktoksg

You May Also Like

Content is loading... This browser is no longer supported

We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with 8Days to be fast, secure and the best it can possibly be.

To continue, upgrade to a supported browser.

Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us

• A
• A
• A
• A
• A