We Paid $100 To Try Hawker Food in Tokyo..Was it worth it?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ส.ค. 2024
- I tried Singaporean food in Tokyo, opened by Mark from Singapore. Get Surfshark VPN at Surfshark.deals/ghib and enter promo code GHIB for 83% off and 3 extra months for free!
Little Merlion is a cafe serving Singapore food, and they serve no meat to cater to people with different religions. I tried some of their menu such as curry chicken, nasi lemak, roti plata and also asked Mark his impression of living in Japan and how it's like doing business here.
Big thanks to Mark and all the staffs at Little Merlion and to Lydia for joining me for the shoot. Check out their socials from the link below.
- Little Merlion littlemerli...
- Lydia's TH-cam / quekchannel
00:00 Intro
02:11 Inside the Singaporean Cafe
04:30 Premium Laksa Review
06:45 Nasi Lemak Review
08:04 Carrot Cake Review
09:31 Roti Prata Review
10:19 Drinks at Little Merlion
10:55 Pandan Cake
11:34 Why Mark Moved to Japan
12:59 Why Open Singaporean Cafe?
13:32 Any struggles living in Japan?
16:36 What are your ambitions?
Thank you Surfshark for sponsoring this video and continuing to support this channel.
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I've been there. Mark is the nicest guy ever, and the food definitely helps scratch the itch of missing local food. Also: IMO the best item on the menu is the curry puffs! Those are 1000% authentic and delicious!
Hello! The curry puff part made me laugh all over again - I had never been offered a curry puff mid-meal and it wasn't until this day that I realised a curry puff is not something I would eat in the middle of a meal. Ghib-san, you may eat a curry puff however you want, whenever you want! Just so you know! Lol. But I guess it's like, if you're eating a tempura soba halfway and suddenly someone offers you a nikuman, it might cause your brain to tell you it's not the time for a nikuman right? Something like that lah!
Thank you for also giving me the opportunity to hang out with Mark-san. He is a really nice person and I enjoyed getting to speak with him.
For those wondering why I ordered a peanut butter protein shake (and not the bandung, which I had my first time) it's because Mark-san said it's the most popular item on the drink menu. According to him, it's a drink he had in a gym in Singapore and it impressed him so much that he thought if he ever had a cafe, he would offer this on the menu. It was really filling and tasty, not too sweet!
lydia i just realise it was you dia 🤣,,, stay cool 👍😅✋
@@sujaniaslam2428 hey Sujani! lol yes it's me. This is my face, haha. stay cool too and have a nice day!
先日、行ってきました。呑みすぎでお腹いっぱいになってしまって、カレーパフ食べられませんでした。が、シフォンケーキは別腹に入りました。お店のみなさん、良い方たちばかりで、とても楽しかったです‼️
This is really one of the better Singapore restaurants that I enjoyed dinning at. Really delicious! Make me wanna go again soon
Good for you Mark. There are plenty of adventures and opportunities outside Singapore. It takes courage to venture beyond your comfort zone. Glad your Little Merlion is doing well. Many years success ahead of you!
日本にいてシンガポールが恋しくなったら、是非行きたいお店ですね。どのお料理もとっても美味しそうでした✨コロナ禍のさなかに日本に来て、数年であの素敵なカフェを立ち上げたなんて…驚きました。フードトラックも成功しますように😊楽しみにしています！
Hey Ghib san! Thanks much for letting us know the awesome place to grab authentic Singaporean food! Every single dish must be good.
Content like this is so wholesome so many stories and experiences to tell
Given some of the ingredients are not avaliable in Japan, the price tags might translate from the special arrangement to import the ingredients from South East Asia
For sure! Price may be expensive compared to hawkers but if compared to other cafe restaurants in Tokyo, not too expensive
@@mini_meme Have you thought about the rental costs in Tokyo? It is ridiculously expensive. That is why their cost of living in the major is higher as well.
Hotate is not cheap on its own usually tho..
@@GhibOjisan Hi is there vegetarian menu at the restaurant?
@@mini_meme plenty of good chicken rice in Sydney CBD for $10-12 AUD, no idea where you are paying $30...
Ghib is so cute trying to dip currypuff into the laksa 🤣. Actually there is no rule you can eat however or whenever you like. But Singaporen or Malaysians tends to eat during tea time and we normally don't dip into anything but then again you can do however you like 👍
ジブおじのSGへの恋しさが日々高まっていた様子がわかる動画だったw
本物のシンガポール料理が食べられるお店かぁ
遠そうだけどシンガポールに行くよりは近くて安いからいつか行こう
自分の家の近所のお店でビックリ！！
今度行ってみます。
This restaurant is so close to my house.
I’ll visit soon!
Loving all these Singaporean Japanese crossover videos!
The price point is probably more focused on the running of the place rather than the ingredients cost. That's how it could sustain and keep opening to offer these dishes, pretty sure some of the dishes won't taste the same because of the chef decisions and ingredients available. Still it's a good introduction to Singapore foods if I have Japanese friends there to go to. Though I would ask them to come to Singapore and taste the original with a cheaper price point with humidity slapping in their faces too.
Will definitely visit Little Merlion when I can travel to Japan, Free and Easy. 🥳🥳🥳
Many thanks Ghib San for this video. 😉
its very nostalgic to find singapore local food in japan, and the 3 seasons in Singapore are hot, hotter, hottest i think lol
I just love Japan and it’s totally different from others. The biggest surprise to me is that I once saw a few kids wearing like shin-chan walking one by one to school….I thought it’s just the character of the cartoon but it amazes me a lot in the similarities in real life. The next time I’m to visit Japan sure I won’t left out Mark’s cafe
I was expecting you to visit this place when you were in Tokyo. This place really gives the same vibes as a Tiong Bahru hipster eatery, I wouldn't classify it as regular hawker food as it looks like Little Merlion makes a lot of their ingredients from scratch out of necessity.
All the best Mark! Thanks for bringing singapores name and culture to the rest of the world :))
Mark's Japanese-Malaysian and his wife is Singaporean. All I can say is when you can find such a rare Singaporean/Malaysian eatery in Japan, it's truly a blessing. It's a given that the common Singaporean foods that we're so used to is different in taste in Japan or in other countries. Even Toastbox in Hong Kong taste a little different. Nevertheless, able to have find such foods in Japan is comforting. Great job, Mark!
probably he was educated in S'pore.
This place is so cool ❤ love this episode very much
I absolutely love this place for taking care of people - vegetarian, halal friendly - and healthy too. I've already added this restaurant to my 'places to eat' list for my soon to come Japan travel.
But absolutely not wallet friendly 😅
@@johnan06 well you don’t need to order as much as Ghib did, which is a lot haha. The laksa is $23 SG which is obviously more than a hawker centre in Singapore, but you’re in a restaurant in Japan having a hawker experience. You don’t have to spend $100 there ☺️
@@fahmidamiah Yes but would I pay 23 dollars for a bowl of laksa with fishcakes that I can easily make at home or would I rather pay for 2 bowls of good tonkatsu ramen with the same amount
Heard from the little merlion from a TH-cam Japan.
They talk about the reason of setting shop, the stress and difficulties and the "payoff" which gains popularity.
😊 Not bad Ghib San
Now that looks like an authentic Singapore restaurant in Japan!
so so thoughtful for making the cafe halal and vegetarian !! as a muslim i always worry about finding halal food overseas and especially in Japan as it is my dream country to visit 🥰
Same! Muslims travel y’all 😂 There’s 1 billion of us!
Great to see Little Merlion still doing well. Everything was super legit! Fragrant Nasi Lemak with Sayur Lodeh, Peanuts Ikan Bilis, down to the fried fish cake ‘fillet’ and paired with their housemade sweet-ish mild sambal. Curry puff is also piping hot and moist inside (definitely beats Old Chang Kee please). However, my favourite has to be the Fried White Carrot Cake! That really hit the spot for me. Will be back again to visit real soon, see you then Mark & Melissa!
P.S. eh but I like using Inkan leh! Gives me a sense of 儀式感 as a traditional seal or an official stamp for major transactions/purchases and important documents.
😸 Really like it that the spreading of these different meals to others = can be so meaningful and wonderful as a whole
👍
Nooooooo!!!! I stayed in emblem hostel before and loved it! So sad to hear that it’s no longer there, was even thinking of going back once Japan fully opens :’(
I cant wait for the plan to have LM here in SG!! When i heard it was halal friendly i got so excited
Oh My Goodness! I googled this cafe’s spot and immediately remembered I stayed at adachi for a few days AT Emblem Hostel! And was wondering what happen to it as I can’t find it on any of the major booking sites. So Covid did them in 😭.
It was a amazing place to stay then
Will definitely try Mark’s place if I go Tokyo and could head to that spot again! Adachi is a really nice spot in Tokyo.
I find it slightly disorientating but totally refreshing with the role reversal in your videos, with Singaporeans speaking Japanese, like in a multiverse.. hahaha
Customer service when you pick up your ordered food in a nutshell.
Japan - お待たせいたしました！
Singapore - $12.70.
Dine in customers too.
Japan - 美味しかったです。ごちそうさまでした。
Singapore - *leaves without a word*
Wow, great to know vegetarian friendly Singapore cafe in Tokyo. Will definitely try visiting when I m in Tokyo.
Yeah will visit the yishun of Tokyo and give Mark's take on SG food! Go Mark!
Nice to know its halal friendly! I can consider going there when I visit Japan again.
I think the food actually looks really good. It would be a fantastic source of Singaporean food in Tokyo.
wishing you nothing but the best Mark
Little merlin 今日行ってきました。美味しかったです。
Omg when he said 'harmless laksa' i cracked hahahahahhahaha
東京はシンガポール料理のお店がたくさんあるみたいで羨ましいです✨
パンダンリーフのケーキ美味しそう😍
First comment 🙏 keep bringing the good local stuff bro ..
I’ve been here twice!! My favorite is the black carrot cake.
Yea the carrot cake was nice 🥰
@@GhibOjisan in some parts of malaysia they do put beansprouts into the carrot cake.
it was too sweet for me I prefer the white version
@@smboo1834 Yes, but more like an exception rather than a norm. The Malaysian version (Kway Ka, 粿角) puts beansprouts
是非行ってみたいです！フードトラックも期待してますね☆
The food on this channel looks very good.
Wah bro cool vlog and review
Wow what a nice cosy cafe! Japanese vibes 😃😃
Tau ge in carrot cake is normal several decades ago there's even prawns
I think the food is more than worth it !! so much was ordered !! it would be more if you were to have the same in a singapore cafe!...
I like how they started talking singlish when they talked about singapore’s 3 seasons😂
Hi Mark and Melissa 💛 from Singapore 🇸🇬
Wow! Laksa in Japan! Cool
Now I want to visit when I go over to Japan 😆
Mark's family food is pretty much "Cina Peranakan" or "baba -nyonya" food. Cina peranakan are Chinese which migrated to Malacca hundreds of years ago and expanded from there. Cina Peranakan food is great if you like spicy and sour food.
Achars are great to go with prawn crackers, another delicacy that can be found in the region.
Mark - maybe to consider selling Singapore Rojak (black prawn paste peanut salad option of add fruit apple and mango - aside the usual pineapple) would be a good sell!!
the nasi lemak looking good for the price point. portion wise it's pretty on point and for sure i will consider this place. the prata is unique
Is it just me or Lydia really looks and feels like Stefanie Sun
just you
her short hair kinda resembles Stefanie Sun
Yes!! When I saw her in the earlier video, I kept thinking that she looks like someone in SG . Now… I get it . A great resemblance indeed to Stefanie Sun 😊
I need to ask… where is your shirt from? The one with all the names of our local delights!!!!
it’s his merchandise! Can buy under the link in the description box 😄
How well does hokkagai or akagai taste if used to replace hum
ロティプラダの焼き加減が最高でした！昔テッカセンタ－で食べたものよりおいしかった😋🍴💕
シーリングファンがシンガポールの風を運んで来そう😊東京のイーシュン！すごくイメージ出来るロケーション。いつ行こうかな💕
That carrot cake in cube can be found in Malaysia. SG version are more rectangle. Just saying.
I personally think when it came to food Singapore has it all .japan can also be counted in for fresh seafood and fresh spring water
Mark seems like a great guy
Gibさん、littlemerlion 行かれたんですね！私2018〜2020SG在住コロナSG上陸直後帰国しました。
沿線在住なのでたまに伺ってます。マークさんとは中国語でお話ししてます。
キャロットケーキとカレーパフをテイクアウトしてます。待ち時間は当然マイロ〜飲んでますよー
I went there back in March but unfortunately Mark wasn't around so I didn't get the chance to talk to him. Now I have finished my studies in Japan and returned to Singapore. Really cannot stand the weather here lol
The same way that Bánh mì is sold in sg. It's very hard to achieve 100% authentic taste as the origin country. but you may find that they added some ingredients to a dish not found in origin country and it actually taste nice. Or that familiar chill sauce is actually very good even though not similar taste as the origin. Or a fusion dish like a Japanese style Nasi Lemak which is like 60% Singapore and 40% Japanese. I wouldn't expect I will pay around the same price for a bowl of Laksa in Japan. So far I have yet to find a thai boat noodle or a vietnam pho for under 5 sing dollars. haha.
That's a lot of one person... Obviously he never met Ghib before 🤣🤣🤣
Dude... you're in Japan?! So where's home? Japan or Singapore?! But Mark, you're doing great man - hang in there, all the success to you! Food truck is a great concept - eventually a franchise? Sky's the limit man.
Wah need to visit when Japan borders reopen proper …. This is more outskirts of central Tokyo though ….
Harmless laksa. Hahaha... that's a good one
Agree with Mark
When you know how to speak hometown language, you dun even get the chance to learn Japanese or speak Japanese
I myself went to Japanese language school in Singapore to learn their language because I love Japan culture
After learning, I dun have the chance to speak as I am surrounded by English and Chinese
Until I met a girlfriend of mine who worked in Japanese company and get to know her Japanese manager whom based in Singapore branch office, I started to hear them speak Japanese
Now I also get to know two of her Japanese colleagues who are working here too, I may start to speak in their language again
It might not fluent but I'm able to hear and understand
If i am eating food like a proper meal, i too will wait till i finish my food before eating the curry puff.
When and if i do plan to study in japan can i part time here :)
Pricing for JP i totally get, but man those prices in SG better have lobster in my frickin laksa, yea i know some hotels do have that here
比較的近所です。全然知りませんでした。今度、訪ねてみます。
This is my fren's outlet❣️🙏🥰
Oh wow. $23dol for laksa n $16 for nasi lemak... shikoshi takaii ne 😲🙉!! But for anybody who misses SG food, I guess the price tag doesn't matter much. Lol.
Its like in singapore you are paying more for japanese food where in japan they are cheap cheap
When is your next video coming up! 🤓
The subtitles for 9:13 lol!
Actually…in Johor Bahru or Malaysia..they add bean sprout (tow gay) into their fried carrot cake.
Question, when he mentioned that they are vegetarian friendly is only for certain items in the menu? As there's prawn in the laksa and you would use dried shrimp to make the sambal and laska paste. Also ikan bilis is fish too.
FYI, in Malaysia, beansprouts are added to fried carrot cakes.
Hello from Singapore MARK ! I like to wish you lots of happiness and success for yr LITTLE MERLION Restaurant in Tokyo -especially after the visit of GHIB OJISAN accompanied by LYDIA a Singaporean lady living in Tokyo. I like yr Vision of starting a Little Merlion Food Truck. Perhaps this is a good chance for you to sell Franchise and create business opportunities for your friends and business contacts. Hopefully The Singapore Embassy can also give you some support ! I find it very amusing when you referred to the area where yr restaurant is located as THE YISHUN of Singapore. I have to tell Singaporeans about this ! GHIB is quite a great promoter of YISHUN in the North East of Singapore in numerous videos. Yishun is also where I lived and played in.
I look forward very much to have a meal with you , Lydia to Ghib when you are visiting Singapore again // Jimmy Y H Yap
Looking forward to meeting you someday too, Jimmy :)
@@diainJP Hello D I A !!! Pity I could not join GHIB this trip since Gov only allows Spouses of Japanese Nationals
Heard of this restaurant last year when looking at vids on singaporeans in japan. Glad they are doing well. Kinda also thinking trying Japan for uni but then grades must be good so must work hard these few months (Doing research on study in japan from online and friends, ofc also need improve my grades to even go uni). Though idk if my problem of feeling sian in sg would be fixed. Maybe i just never explore enough of sg and singaporeans (which ghib ojisan seems to be doing more than me haha)
Idk maybe ill appreciate sg better when im overseas (i dont travel much) and kinda keen on japan but gonna try appreciate sg while im here
神戸にもこういったカフェがあったらええのにな～🎵
神戸、あまりないんですね！
@@GhibOjisan いや、カフェ自体は昔から多いし三宮や元町なんかは関西でも有数の激戦区やけど本格的なシンガポール料理を出す店って意外とあれへんのよ。最も数年前にチキンライスのお店がオープンしてんけどいつの間にか閉店してもたからね～
23sgd for laksa! That’s pog
HAMLESS laksa hahahaaga
I think his name is Mak, short for Makoto lol.
okay check it out lah
was lydia a teacher? She looks like and speaks like my primary school teacher.
$100 for hawker food ? totemo takai neiii , Ghib san
Malaysia style carrot cakes..
Shalom .Thank you. Watching from Australia. 73 Praise the Lord 37 . 26 Praise the Lord 86 .
That woman is your wife)
西新井が日本のユーシンみたいな所というたとえが言われてみればと思って笑えた。料理のおいしさは勿論ですが、オーナーのハートも行きたいと思わせる大きな要因ですね。シンガポール、空路陸路と何度も行きましたが、最初はゴミポイ捨てで罰金というどんだけ厳格な国なんだろうと恐る恐る訪ねましたが、拍子抜けしたのを覚えています（笑）。
🤤🤤🤤
SG has 4 seasons
Hot
Wet
Mosquitoes
Durian
SG has these 4 seasons....
High prices
high inflation
High GST
high Dengue
You forgot the haze.
I've never seen okra used in Singaporean laksa before!
This is not singaporean food this is fusion...
Japanese people are just build different
OHHH リディアさー－－ん。
Huh, laksa with chopstick!