Stay-home promotions from Katrina group restaurants

There’s still two weeks to go before safe distancing measures under Singapore’s Phase Two (Heightened alert) are lifted, and dining-in might be allowed again. In the meantime, takeaway meals and deliveries are the order of the day – but that doesn’t mean we’re resigned to always dabao-ing meals from the nearest coffee shop.

Katrina group is bringing its chain of halal-certified restaurants to your doorstep with their latest takeaway deals, so you can brighten up work-from-home lunches (or dinners) with some tasty Asian fare.

Here are some highlights from each brand:

So Pho

We can’t travel to Vietnam just yet, but we can dig into delish, authentic pho from So Pho and pretend that we’re on a bustling street in Ho Chi Minh (hey, whatever works). The Viet chain has a Five Super Value Set ($11.80) comprising a main dish and a drink: pick from Grilled Lemongrass Chicken with Rice, Grilled Lemongrass Beef with Rice, Basil Leaves Fried Rice, and Pho Noodle Soup with Sliced Beef and Beef Balls.

Our pho comes steaming hot, with the noodles, beef and beef balls thoughtfully separated from the broth, ensuring they’re not overcooked; sliced chillies and beansprouts also come in a separate bag. The soup is meaty and umami, but light, and when paired with the springy rice noodles, won’t leave you in a food coma after lunch. Good choice for when you crave something soupy and filling, but not heavy. For drinks, we opt for the Iced Lemongrass Tea, which is citrusy and refreshing, and arrives surprisingly cold, thanks to a cleverly designed drinks packet stuffed with ice cubes.

Top up $2.90 for a side of Summer Roll with Prawn and Chicken, which, like the pho, is light but substantial. Rolled up in sticky Vietnamese rice paper is a heaping handful of rice noodles, lettuce, peppers, a slice of prawn, and some chicken pieces. Dipped in sweet-spicy Thai chilli sauce, it’s an appetizing start to the meal.

Bali Thai

The popular Thai eatery is selling Takeaway Specials ($13.80) consisting of an appetiser, a main course, and a drink. There are two appetisers to pick from – the Tofu Goreng with Thai Chilli Sauce or the Green Thai Mango Salad. We get the latter, which is a great accompaniment to any main: a generous heaping of crisp, julienned green mangoes topped with onions, chilli, and peanuts. It’s tangy, tastes fresh and healthy, and adds a much-needed dash of fibre to our diets.

For mains, there are four choices: Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice, Stir-fried Basil Leaves Chicken with Rice, Pad Thai Noodle, and Green Curry Chicken with Rice. Not part of the set, but worth a mention, is the Tom Yum Seafood Soup, which comes crammed with ingredients including two whole large prawns, mussels, squid and shimeji mushrooms. It has all the herby, sour notes typical of Thai cuisine, but isn’t high on the spice factor. While this might disappoint some, it makes it perfect for children and the elderly to enjoy, as well as people – like us – who can’t take spicy food.

Streats

Replicate quick, no-nonsense Hong Kong chaa chaan teng lunches in your dining room with the Value Meal ($11.80). Choose from HK Beef Crispy Noodle or Fried Kway Teow Seafood, plus a classic HK beverage: hot or iced milk tea. Those who need their Singapore food fix can opt for the local dishes of Ayam Penyet or Claypot Curry Chicken with Rice, plus bandung for their drink.

We skip the sets to sample the Macau Chicken Chop Fried Rice and the Hong Kong Fried XO Seafood Noodle. The fried rice comes with a juicy, well-cooked slab of chicken chop that’s slathered in a slightly congealed, umami gravy. The meat is tender, with bite, and pairs perfectly with the bright, tomato-ey fried rice, which has bits of egg and onion to give it a rounded sweetness. The seafood noodle boasts outstanding wok hei - the chef clearly knows what he’s doing – and is scattered with bits of cabbage and carrot for texture and colour. Sitting on top are three pieces each of prawns, sotong, and mussels. We’re taken by surprise by the searing aftertaste of the peppery noodles, which are a touch oily. With the generous ingredients and well-executed frying technique, this one’s worth the calories.

Order from Katrina group restaurants online.

Free islandwide delivery with a minimum spend of $50.