Last Saturday was one of those nights where I told myself, “I’ll just wander around for a bit,” and somehow I ended up doing a full-on adventure. 😂 I went to St Andrew’s Road to experience the Light to Night event, and it was seriously a lot of fun, so much happening, so many things to look at, and the vibe around the area felt extra alive. The only problem? All that walking and staring at art installations makes me hungry fast. LOL.
Somewhere in the middle of my wandering, my stomach started protesting, and I knew I needed a proper refuel if I wanted to continue exploring. I tried looking for restaurants nearby, but it was one of those peak crowd situations, queues everywhere, tables packed, and people waiting like it was a concert. So I decided to do the smarter (and honestly less stressful) move: head to Funan Mall and eat at Big Appetite, the food court inside.
Now, let’s be real, food court prices in malls are usually more expensive than hawker centres. But I’m okay with it sometimes because you’re paying for the overall experience too: the cleanliness, the air-conditioned comfort, and the ambience that lets you take a breather. Big Appetite felt bright, spacious, and busy in a good way, like a shared dining hall where everyone is happily focused on their own food mission. It was crowded, but not chaotic, and I liked that.
The best part? There are so many different cuisines in one place. My eyes were doing that “walk faster, look everywhere” thing because every stall looked interesting. But that night, my craving was very specific: Japanese food. I haven’t had a proper bento meal in a while, so the moment I saw the options, I already knew what I wanted.
I picked a bento set with salmon and chicken karaage, because that’s the magic of bento meals, right? You get variety without committing to just one thing. It’s like a combo meal that actually feels exciting.
First, the chicken karaage. This was the highlight for me. It tasted freshly fried, and the batter was crunchy and flavorful, that kind of crisp bite that makes a tiny crackling sound when you chew. The chicken inside was juicy enough to balance out the crispy coating, and with rice, it became instant comfort food.
The salmon was okay too—nicely cooked, slightly glazed, and satisfying in that simple “fish + rice = peace” kind of way. It wasn’t the most mind-blowing salmon I’ve ever had, but it did its job, especially when paired with the sides.
And can we talk about the pickled vegetables? I love pickles in a bento. That tangy, refreshing bite really helps cut through the richness of fried food and fish. Every time I switched from karaage to salmon, the pickles acted like a reset button for my taste buds.
There was also a free soup on the side, which I appreciated. I do wish it had a stronger miso flavour because it tasted a little bland, but I didn’t mind too much. It actually helped “clean my palate” as I bounced between chicken and salmon, and it felt comforting after being out the whole night.
Overall, it was a satisfying, recharging meal, exactly what I needed to power up for another round of wandering around the event. And honestly? Big Appetite is now officially on my “reliable refuel spots” list.
