A Hearty and Flavorful Fish Rice Lunch at Al Sana in Woodgrove for Just SGD 6.50!
A while ago, I visited a friend in the Woodlands area, and by the time our meet-up ended, it was already almost lunchtime. Since I was already in the neighborhood, I figured that it would be a good opportunity to enjoy a nice meal before heading home.
And of course, whenever I visit a place that's quite far from my usual dining spots, I always see it as an opportunity to explore the food scene in that area LOL.
So I decided to head over to Woodgrove, where there are several nice restaurants that I could choose from.
One of my favorites in this area is a restaurant called Al Sana, which offers an interesting variety of cuisines. Their menu includes Indian Muslim food, Thai seafood, Tandoori dishes, and even Western food!
It's quite impressive how they managed to put together so many different cuisines under one roof. Although everything on their menu looks interesting, I still prefer their traditional Indian Muslim food.
I guess it's because I believe that their traditional dishes are where their cooking expertise really shines.
And for today's lunch, I decided to order their Fish Rice Set for SGD 6.50!
I think that's a really affordable price considering that fish dishes in many hawker food centers nowadays can easily cost around SGD 7.50 to SGD 8.50.
What's even more interesting is that Al Sana offers a dining environment that's above average compared to the typical hawker food center.
The restaurant is indoors, air-conditioned, and furnished with comfortable wooden chairs and tables. It's definitely not fine dining, but the ambiance is pleasant enough to make the dining experience feel like a little upgrade without spending too much money.
Now, let's talk about the food!
When I placed my order, the waiter asked whether I preferred the fish curry or fried fish version.
I immediately went for the fried fish because I wanted to have better control over how much curry I would add to my meal.
And I think that was a good decision!
The fried fish came with a beautifully browned exterior that was generously coated with flavorful spices. The marinade was already savory enough that I could actually enjoy the fish even without adding the curry.
Meanwhile, the flesh was tender, moist, and flaky. I particularly enjoyed the contrast between the well-seasoned exterior and the delicate white flesh inside.
The curry was served separately in a small bowl, which I really appreciated. It had a rich reddish-orange color and came with some vegetables as well.
I enjoyed mixing a little of the curry with the fish and rice because it added another layer of flavor without overpowering the original seasoning of the fried fish.
They also provided a bowl of tangy and savory soup, which was a nice addition to the meal.
I found it particularly useful whenever the curry became a little too spicy for my preference. The tanginess of the soup helped balance the richness of the other dishes.
Another pleasant surprise was the sautéed cabbage!
It might look like a simple vegetable side dish, but it was actually packed with flavors from the herbs and spices used in preparing it.
The cabbage was nicely seasoned, with some carrots mixed into it, making it an enjoyable dish on its own. I wouldn't mind ordering a bigger serving of this vegetable if they offered it separately LOL.
And of course, the crispy papadum sitting on top of the rice added a nice crunchy texture to the meal.
Overall, I was really satisfied with this hearty lunch at Al Sana.
For just SGD 6.50, I got a flavorful fried fish, rice, vegetables, curry, soup, and papadum while enjoying the comfort of an air-conditioned restaurant.
It's a satisfying combination of good food, reasonable pricing, and comfortable ambiance.
I would definitely consider returning whenever I happen to be around the Woodgrove area again. Maybe next time I'll explore another dish from their traditional Indian Muslim menu.
Bon Appétit!
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