Lion City Restaurant – 1177 Central Pkwy W Unit 70, Mississauga, ON L5C 4P3
Country: Singapore
Must-try dish: Goat Rendang
Dinner guest: Young Matt
The High: Elle(Owner) with the killer suggestions and recommendations for the perfect Singaporean culinary experience…. and the complimentary Tea
The Low: That this restaurant isn’t located closer to the Toronto area, but Lion City is worth the drive

With little knowledge of Singaporean cuisine and in a scramble to get the takeout order in before closing, Mandrea Bike called Lion City Restaurant to ask for recommendations of traditional dishes from the country for a party of three. Although it wasn’t known then, the rest of the evening was about to become amazing. 

Luckily, the owner Elle took control of the order and made a number of delicious sounding suggestions, explaining each dish and curating a diverse menu that would allow the exploration of Singapore’s culinary delights. Mandrea Bike was quickly hooked on the country’s food and on the restaurant itself. 

This is the list of the dishes that made of the night’s dinner: 

• Laksa
• Goat Rendang
• Grilled Fish in Banana Leaf
• Hainanese Chicken Rice
• Side of Coconut Rice

The Goat Rendang stole the show, but the Laksa wasn’t far behind. The goat is cooked in a fragrant sauce that’s bursting with flavour, and the meat falls off the bone effortlessly. When this dish was first proposed by Elle, it was evident that it was going on to the order because goat seems to be a hit at every stop when eating around the world in Toronto. Since the dish only comes with the protein, coconut rice is an excellent addition to add texture and additional flavour. 

So laksa can be found on menus across Toronto, but the Lion City Laksa was one of a kind. Spoiler alert – it’s rich, creamy, and tastes like coconut. 

The Grilled Fish in Banana Leaf exceed the gang’s expectations, not only in presentation but also in taste. The fish had an underlying chargrilled flavour mixed with tamarind, and the fish slid off the bones. 

The Hainanese Chicken Rice which is essentially chicken served with steamed rice is a staple in Singapore, and therefore, an important dish to taste on the quest to eat as the locals do. It’s served with three sauces – soy sauce, a hot sauce and a ginger/garlic sauce. You don’t need to be generous with them since each is potent. This dish also comes with a small side chicken soup that gives your insides a hug and would be the perfect remedy when ill. 

For those who like spice, all the dishes made as they should be is the way to go. However, for those with more of a sensitivity to heat, ask to have the spice downplayed in your order. 

The customer service went above and beyond here. To top it all off, Elle ran out to the car and gave us some Singaporean iced tea to pair with the meal to celebrate the first time trying Singaporean cuisine. It must be noted that such warmth is rarely shown when ordering takeout, and Mandrea Bike appreciated the genuine hospitality. 

Just a reminder to continue supporting local restaurants across the Greater Toronto Area during this pandemic because there are amazing people making amazing dishes, and we need to show them love so as not to lose the various choices available to keep our bellies full. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)