If A Poke Theory was a prim and proper straight A student, the family’s pride and joy, then Alter Ego would be the misunderstood rebellious goth sister with an edgy life motto. Alter Ego, the ‘evil twin’ of A Poke Theory, tempts you to cave in to your sinful indulgence.
Located beside Esplanade MRT Station, Alter Ego possessed a certain charm. Perhaps it was the fairy light dangling from the ceiling or the flora. But the 2010s EDM did bug me a little.
Indulgent Split Self of A Poke Theory
Wanting to see what else Alter Ego has in store for us, we dived right into their mains. Their Fish & Chips (S$25) was similar to Big Fish Small Fish’s style of cooking. There was a thin coating of fried batter, a stark contrast from the puffy beer-battered variations, which allowed the milder flavours of the Tilapia to stand out. The highlight of the dish was unfortunately the tangy tartar sauce.
Their Chicken Burger (S$25) was a fried southern-spiced Fried Chicken in a 3 cheese sauce ranch. Although I was expecting more of a kick to go with the rich sauce, the flavours were pretty decent overall. But, a touch more spice would’ve definitely elevated the flavour profile. Texture-wise, the bun was too chewy and the fried chicken was a little soggy.
Do note that it was supposed to come with a side of curly fries but they were all out.
Crispy, juicy, their famous Har Cheong Kai (S$15)can be improved with a more prominent prawn paste flavour. It was paired with a sweet and spicy Thai Chili Sauce. While it wasn’t the best prawn-paste chicken I’ve had, it was essentially S$1.9 per piece, which was quite a steal in my opinion.
The menu also includes Salmon Rice Bowl (S$25), Steak Rice Bowl (S$30), salad and pizza.
Poke Bowls Set Lunch
I’ve had their Poke Bowls before and they’re generally more flavorful and robust compared to their counterpart that boasts ‘healthier’ and lighter flavours.
I notice that their Original Poke Shaker (S$20), had a stronger marinate to the raw fish compared to A Poke Theory.
The same goes for the other bowls, which features crazy elements like wasabi yuzu salmon, ginger miso salmon, smoked almonds, tempura crisps and tobiko.
The Wasabi Yuzu Dragon, Umami Omega and Ginger Mi-Softly are all priced at S$20.
Verdict
Alter Ego’s mains are plagued by fundamental issues, like soggy fried food and chewy buns. But, even without them, I would still highly recommend their poke bowls over their mains as their poke bowls do stand out with the more creative flavour profiles. Meanwhile, their mains were a little pricey for the mediocre qualities.
Location: #01-13D, Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Avenue, 039802
Tel: +656327 9301
Opening hours: 12pm- 11pm (Weekdays); 11am- 11pm (Weekends)
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