When you think of Western stalls in coffeeshops and hawker centres, what are the first dishes that come to mind? Chances are, you’re used to seeing the usual chicken chops, pastas and sirloin steaks that often adorn local Western menus. 5dot7 Western, however, takes things a step further with rare and fancy dishes typically only found in restaurants and cafes.
5dot7 Western is hidden within an unassuming coffeeshop in 401 Hougang Avenue 10— psst, you’ll spot this coffeeshop easily as all of the signboards don bright pink colours. Unlike the usual Western joints, 5dot7 Western offers chicken cordon bleu and risotto!
You’ll also find classics like aglio olio, spring chicken and fish & chips, if you prefer something a little more familiar.
What I tried at 5dot7 Western
I was most excited to dig into the Chicken Cordon Bleu (S$9), which was served with a mashed potato, corn cheese and mushroom sauce. The chicken meat was nicely wrapped around ham and cheese, with a crispy golden brown breading.
The cheese was oozy while the ham provided a nice amount of saltiness to each bite. The chicken itself was tender and not dry, and its milder flavours were nicely balanced out by the stronger, saltier flavours of the cheese and ham within.
The sides were pretty average— the mashed potato was creamy and satisfying, but the corn cheese did not have any noticeable cheese element at all.
Overall, S$9 was a good price to pay for a quality chicken cordon bleu, especially since it was cheaper than those you’d find in restaurants.
The Seafood Risotto (S$9) at 5dot7 Western was absolutely outstanding. This dish was made with Italian rice, sauteed seafood, parsley, tomato and parmesan, and had a seemingly unassuming appearance. When I took a bite, though, I was blown away by how multi-dimensional the risotto was— the flavours of the dish shone through beautifully, with a deep and rich savouriness that complemented the slightly sweet nature of the tomato.
The risotto also had an exquisite wine-like flavour, though I’m not sure if 5dot7 Western used any actual wine in their cooking.
The seafood within the risotto was generous too, with there being whole baby octopi, prawns and clams scattered throughout the bright orange dish. I was very impressed by the Seafood Risotto— it tasted like a dish from a restaurant, and its affordable S$9 price made it even more enticing. I would certainly return just for this!
Next, I decided to try a whole Spring Chicken, seeing that it only cost S$14. The huge chicken came whole and uncut, with fries, corn cheese and coleslaw as its sides.
The chicken had a beautifully crispy skin that burst with flavour. The flesh within was tender and juicy, with a seasoned taste.
The sides were pretty lacklustre, if I’m being honest— the fries weren’t that crispy while the corn cheese lacked actual cheese. The coleslaw was average, too. The star of this dish was definitely its main spring chicken, and thankfully, 5dot7 Western did not disappoint in that aspect.
I gave the Aglio Olio with Chicken Chop (S$8) a go, too— this dish consisted of aglio olio pasta cooked with mushrooms and served with a large grilled chicken chop.
The aglio olio was quite mediocre, unfortunately. It was oddly a bit wet instead of oily, and pretty bland. There was barely any garlic and not enough herbs and seasoning to elevate its flavours. As someone who prefers my aglio olio with more kick, this was a let down.
The chicken chop was not too bad, as it was large in size and had a lovely roasted aroma. It effectively elevated the flavours of the aglio olio and provided a bit of a textural contrast.
The Carbonara (S$7) at 5dot7 Western was standard, too. The spaghetti came served in a pool of cream sauce and was topped with ham slices and parmesan.
This tasted like any other typical carbonara you’d find anywhere in the country. The flavour wasn’t outstanding, but it was certainly comforting and satisfied my cream pasta cravings. S$7 was a bit steep, though.
Final thoughts
The dishes at 5dot7 were pretty hit or miss, but their hits were definitely worth the trip down for. The Seafood Risotto was extremely impressive, and their Chicken Cordon Bleu wasn’t too bad either. I quite enjoyed the Spring Chicken, too.
I would certainly return to patronise 5dot7 Western again if I happen to be in the Hougang vicinity. After all, where else can you find such affordable and quality risotto and chicken cordon bleu in Singapore?
Expected damage: S$5 – S$14 per pax
The post 5dot7 Western: Coffeeshop stall with fancy $9 chicken cordon bleu & seafood risotto hidden in Hougang appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
