A nondescript Killiney Kopitiam by day; a craft beer bar by night. At Orh Gao Taproom, instead of having your kopi pulled by an uncle, have an ice-cold beer served to you by baristas in snazzy aprons. With steady flowing beer taps and a no-frills lineup of Asian fare to complement each session over the past 3 years, it is no surprise it became such a hit with craft beer lovers and nearby residents alike.
Casting a spotlight on a mix of hyper-local Asian fare, we’ve picked out a few staples that you must order while you work your way pint after pint. Look around you and you’ll soon find that almost every table would have ordered the OG Sambal Curry Mussels ($18).
Expect sweet black mussels swimming in a mildly spiced umami-ladened broth with bright hints of lemongrass and garlic. Served with slices of sourdough to act as a sponge for the leftover broth, we’d recommend you to order an extra serving of sourdough just to sop all that yum yum sauce up.
Next up, a hawker favourite done right and undoubtedly a best seller. The Pari Bakar ($15) is essentially 2 slabs of meaty grilled stingray generously slathered with feisty in-house sambal that boasts a pleasant but lasting afterburn – nothing a freshly tapped lager or kölsch can’t help extinguish.
Chicken lovers, look forward to the Shrimp Paste Chicken ($12) and the Rempah Fried Chicken ($14) but if you had to choose one, go with the latter. Crispy succulent thigh meat with a fragrant herb spice marinate that showcases distinct notes of turmeric and curry leaves.
With 10 taps of rotating craft beers with occasional seasonal drops from exclusive international breweries, you can definitely waste the afternoon away imbibing on a range of refreshing Pale Ales, juicy New England India Pale Ales or even robust Stouts. Don’t worry if you’ve worked your way past the 10 taps, there’s also a fridge with a wide range of craft beer cans and a modest natural wine selection that is curated for variety.
Time Out Singapore reviews anonymously and pays for all meals. Read our restaurant review policy here.
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