AAA Eunoia Diaries: Underrated Food Reviews are coming to EJ !!!

Written by: Giselle (25-E3), Isaiah (25-I4), Victoria (25-O1), Urvii (25-O6),

Designed by: Athens (25-I1)

To say that EJ’s food profile is to die for is arguably an overstatement, but to say that our options are miserable is doing our humble uncles and aunties behind the canteen stalls injustice. 

The mad rushes and snaking queues between lessons is a common sight within the compound. The last day of operation for the Japanese stall saw record breaking (at least in EJ) queues that had people sitting on floors — there is no doubt that our students take food really seriously. But walking past the long tables during break time, our team noticed another trend — plates often in repetition, lacking a sort of diversity, telling of the ‘safer’ foods that students tend to gravitate towards.

Though options stack high, initial impressions reflect a rather limited variety. It got us thinking: was there any food that deserved more love? With passion to revive the curiosity of the palate, we compiled a (rather short) list of underrated or underordered dishes from the student body. We have a sole purpose: to find the ultimate Hidden Gem amongst all the hidden gems. Why did we subject ourselves to this potentially risky operation that would make our tongue lose faith in our dietary choices? Why, to further our research in bigback science, and perhaps to show these food a little love and attention it needs once in a while. 

(Disclaimer: ratings are subjective and we tend to be more lenient)

Our Haul

Stall 1 — Loaded Fries 

The tantalizing aroma coming from the fries added to its visual appeal and instantly made us excited to taste what was named a “less popular” food item patronized by EJ students at the Western stall. The aesthetics of the fries looked very appetising, and should have been a favorite amongst more Eunoians. However, the flavour, in our opinion, was what was lacking and could have been improved upon. For starters, the texture seemed too soggy and the fries were drenched in the excessive amount of sauce that was drizzled onto it. We would perhaps suggest having the fries alone, without any dressing as they are much crispier that way. The taste seemed to make up for the mushiness, and was a good balance of sweet and sour from the blend of mayonnaise and BBQ sauce used. We did, however, feel that they were saltier than we would have liked, and the smell was slightly overpowering. The price did seem reasonable for the portion size which we would recommend for sharing. Hence, the loaded fries do offer value for money despite its limitations! So do try them out the next time you are looking for snack options in the canteen! 

Price: $2.50

Value: 🍟🍟🍟🍟½ 

Texture: 🍟🍟🍟½

Flavour: 🍟🍟🍟🍟

Overall rating: 🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟

Stall 2 — Masala Egg

At first glance, the brown-grey masala egg with gravy might not look like much. Compared to the usual fried egg that many people order, this side is often overlooked. Upon closer inspection, the egg yolk was slightly overcooked, nonetheless that did not significantly affect the taste and texture of the egg. On my first bite, I tasted a subtle flavour of the gravy, contrary to what I had thought, it was not spicy at all. So if you are looking for a non-spicy side in addition to your meal, you can definitely consider this egg! The flavour of the egg and sauce was not too overpowering but it was not particularly spectacular - its flavour was similar to that of non-spicy curry. However, the texture of the hard-boiled egg was cooked to the perfect balance of tenderness and firmness, offering a delightful bite. For the price of $0.50, it was not bad, so if you are considering what side to get, you can give it a go! 

Price: $0.50

Value: 🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣

Texture: 🐣🐣🐣🐣

Flavour: 🐣🐣🐣½

Overall Rating: 🐣🐣🐣🐣

Stall 3 — Hot & Spicy Noodles

The dish arrived with our chosen accompaniments - broiled pork slices, chye sim, tofu puffs, mushrooms and a poached egg - rested snugly on a steaming pile of thick, translucent strands of potato starch noodles. The broth that tied everything together was not as characteristically red as we had anticipated from the image displayed on the stall brochure; but it did have its redeeming qualities. It was clear, almost see-through - very unlike the objectionable flotsam present all too often in restaurants selling the same dish, and the micelles of chilli oil scattered across the soup surface polished the food with a glistening sheen of fat that was much to our enjoyment. The noodle strands sponged up the soup’s complex flavour (something that we could revel in in another article!) very well, though there was slight room for critique as they were noticeably overcooked. 

Price: $10+ 🫣

Value: 🍜🍜🍜🍜½

Texture: 🍜🍜🍜½

Flavour: 🍜🍜🍜🍜½

Overall Rating: 🍜🍜🍜½

After all that tasting, this begs the question: should you try it? If you’re tired of the same old duck rice and mala spices, we sure think you should try giving all these a go. However, we believe to have not yet discovered the Hidden Gem.

As for now, we will continue our research in bigbackogy as we explore more Eunoia Eats! If you want to see what you’re (intentionally) missing out on without the commitment of forking out your money, do keep an eye out for our articles coming out in the near future!