The ultimate guide to GastroBeats 2023

In search of some fiery Thai heat? You'll find it at the corner store Na Chiangmai, serving up authentic Northern Thai flavours to light up your tastebuds. God for the Yum Woonsen Seafood ($12.90) – we enjoyed the springy vermicelli tossed in a tangy mix with heaps of seafood. Do note that it packs a spicy punch. The Pad Kee Mao ($10.90), which we ordered with Thai Mama noodle – arrives studded with clams and is significantly less spicy and more savoury. 

There is also the Thai dessert of mango sticky rice ice cream to beat the heat. The iconic combination of creamy rich coconut ice cream, ripe mangoes, and sticky rice took us straight to the night markets in the land of smiles.

There are some seriously snackable Thai-inspired sliders at Breadfirst Everyday. Starting out as a hawker stall starting rosti and brunch items in Serangoon, this little outfit is changing things up a bit at GastroBeats. It has a selection of sliders – essentially fried mantou buns stuffed with the likes of Thai larb salad ($12 for three) and garlic mayo chicken cutlet with nacho cheese ($12 for three).

Our favourite was the signature slider, a moreish combination of crispy soft-shell crab and fragrant Thai yellow curry. It's a whopping $24 for three, but worth it considering it was one of the best dishes we tried at the event. 

These aren't your run-of-the-mill blow-torch beef cubes that come with the frosty taste of the freezer they came from. Instead, dry-ageing specialists Damn Meats presents their dry-aged beef in two formats ($25); in cubes or as a juicy burger. Upon order, the lads fire up the grill and get to cooking so your plate is as fresh as it gets. We find out that Damn Meats use only fresh grass-fed beef – they come pleasantly tender and bursting with plenty of umami. Consider getting a refreshing side of chilled spicy crushed cucumber salad ($8.50) to refresh the palate too. Other dishes include the mala duck confit ($25) and sour plum fries ($12.50).

Not all fried chicken is created equal and More Batter is as literal as it gets. Other than being a play on the Singlish 'more better', it's also a reference to its signature batter-coated chicken thighs. These boys are twice-fried to achieve a crunch like no other – thick yet shatteringly crisp. The Korean-inspired flavour combinations include savoury seaweed, sweet honey garlic, cheesy gochujang, ginger soy and a tangy white slaw. Each tray comes with four giant chunks and will set you back only $7 – one of the more affordable choices at the festival.

Find the folks behind Clumzy Plumzy at GastroBeats – but serving up something very different. For this festival, they leave behind the booze for Korean-inspired snacks. We tried the bulgogi beef nachos ($15), a confection of crispy nacho, bulgogi beef, topped with tangy kimchi. There's a dakgalbi chicken variation too ($15), as well as festival-friendly Korean corn dogs ($8). Or say yes to a satisfying cheese pull with the cheesy tteokbokki corn ($8) – it has juicy corn and chewy Korean rice cakes drenched in sweet mayo and stringy cheese. 

Whiskdom catapulted to fame in recent years and have since come a long way since their home-based bakery days. Now, their signature brownies and cookies are up for grabs at GastroBeats 2023. Sink your teeth into gooey-centred bakes ($6.50) with toothsome flavours such as speculoos, oreo peanut butter, and matcha. Whiskdom currently has three outlets and has expanded its offerings beyond its popular bakes. Satiate your festival hunger pangs with savoury bagels (from $13.90) – you'll find hearty combinations of beef, lobster or even truffle chicken stuffed bagels.

The weather has been mighty hot so if you're in need of a cool down, head straight to Chagee (otherwise known as Bawangchaji) at the Taiwan-themed food street. We tried the premium milk tea latte ($6.50) and fresh fruit tea ($6.50). The former impressed with its fragrant tea notes and smooth pour while the latter had a lemon-lime base that provided just the right refreshment we needed in the humidity.