Feasting and Shopping Galore
When you hear the name ‘Gain City’, what comes to mind? Chances are, you’ll probably think of air-conditioning and other household appliances. It’s a familiar name in Singapore, but we don’t give it much thought.
Well, here comes a revolution. From now till the 11th of December, Gain City is holding an amazing food festival at their megastore in Sungei Kadut, complete with performances, lucky draws, and delicious food from different cuisines. We headed down to find out just what they’ve got in store for us.
THE FOOD
1. Katoshka
Image credit: @thekatoshka
If you missed this bad boy at the Geylang Bazaar earlier this year due to the insanely long queue, Gain City’s food festival is giving you a second shot at fried food happiness. I love fries, and Katoshka’s saliva-inducing variety definitely scores two thumbs-up from me.
Made from russet potatoes, sliced to just the right thickness, fried so that they’re crispy on the outside but still fluffy within, and loaded with your choice of cheese sauce or chilli sauce – these fries might actually be worth the $5.90 you pay for them.
The creamy chilli topping, a mayonnaise-based sauce with tiny flecks of sliced chilli, provides a mild kick, but we say go straight for the cheese sauce. Gooey and rich, it was the perfect accompaniment to the fries.
They’ve also got fruity flavoured sodas going for $4 that come in a huge cup that’s about the same size as my head – a refreshing thirst-quenching treat after all the eating you’ve been doing.
2. Choco Kebab
If you have a sweet tooth, the Choco Kebab ($5.00) is a MUST try. Loaded with paddlepop ice-cream, marshmallows, chopped nuts, sprinkles, chocolate shavings (both milk and white), cocoa powder and fruits like strawberries and kiwis atop a delightful soft crepe – you might want to have a seat chowing this one down. A total sugar rush waiting to happen, we’d advise sharing it with a friend or two. Of course, you could definitely eat one entirely on your own. Just don’t tell your dentist!
And if you’re not into sweet stuff, Choco Kebab’s sister, BBQ Chef, serves up regular meat kebabs.
3. SK Food & Beverage
If you’ve been lusting after the good old pasar malam favourite of a Ramly Burger, SK Food & Beverage has you covered. Whipping up these burgers hot and fresh, you can tuck into a piping-hot serving that’ll transport you back to the night markets we all know and love.
They also serve up roti john, ondeh-ondeh, kueh tutu, and Indian snacks like vadai, which are fried dough fritters with various fillings ranging from prawns to crab meat.
Snag some of their Vadai – 3 pieces for $2
4. Banana Tree
Banana Tree takes the cake when it comes to having visually astounding desserts and drinks. Let’s start with their Flowerpot Puddings ($7) which are available in three flavours – chocolate, banana, and strawberry. Not only is this dessert incredibly IG-worthy, it’s also extremely tasty.
We tried their chocolate pudding, and it came looking more like it belonged in a garden, topped with chopped nuts, M&Ms, and some cut fake flowers. The pudding was creamy and sweet, but I think it’s definitely best shared with others to avoid that post-bingeing jelat feeling.
Their Som Som Soda ($5) looks like something out of Candyland, topped with the most beautifully spun cloud of cotton candy I’d ever seen. It’s available in three different flavours – Blue Lemonade, Ice Yuzu, and Ice Red Tea. Be sure to eat the cotton candy ASAP though, because it turns into a sugary, sticky mess rather quickly.
5. Dragon Bowl
Dragon Bowl is known for serving up delicious dim sum and Chinese food, with restaurants over at Aperia, Greenwich V, and Marina Square. Get a sneak peek at their menu at Gain City, with delicious siew mai, fluffy char siew baos, and liu sha baos that are just oozing with salted egg goodness.
They’ve got other stuff on their menu as well, like mala dumplings, braised ee-fu noodles, and fried rice. Their dim sum will only set you back around $1.20 per piece, so you can sample all their different offerings without spending a bomb.
6. Lucky Cafe
Don’t judge this bingsu by its looks!
Serving up a mix of sweet and savoury crepes alongside their take on the ever-popular Korean bingsu – Lucky Cafe is the pop-up creation of one of two of Gain City’s very own F&B endeavour, Lucky Cuisine.
One dish you absolutely must try is their bingsu. This Korean shaved ice trend has a reputation for being ridiculously overpriced, but a hearty serving here costs just $6.80! We tried their mixed fruit bingsu, and it came with chocolate ice-cream, sweet syrup, and a veritable fruit salad filled with longans, pineapples, and melons. Yum.
You can also tuck into their Dakgangjeong (Korean fried chicken) for $4.80, nibble on Spicy Kimchi Cheezy Fries for just $3.80, or settle for their ayam panggang (roast chicken) crepe for a midday snack. You won’t be able the find these kind of prices elsewhere!
The actual Lucky Cuisine sits on the 3rd floor, and serves up some of our local favourites and Western fare from Penang Kway Teow to Lamb Chop. Their other F&B establishment, Happy Café, does a mix of Western and Thai dishes, and sits on the 1st floor!
SHOPPING
1. Electronics sale
Of course, after eating your way through all the delicious food, go into the Megastore and shop away! From smartwatches to washing machines and even hair dryers, they’ve got every home appliance you’ll ever need here.
Aside from electronics, the Gain City Megastore also has a section dedicated to bedding, DIY and homeware. Think light fixtures, bulbs, paints, and an entire section devoted to beds, mattresses, and sofas. They even have a section selling scooters and bicycles – the amount of stuff crammed into their four floors of retail shop space boggles the mind.
The Christmas season is upon us, so they’ll be having some pretty sweet deals on their products! Looking to buy a toaster for a friend who just moved house, or need a new TV at home? This is the place to go.
2. Korean snack paradise
If electronics aren’t your thing, here’s another reason to pop by Gain City’s food festival – KOREAN SNACKS GALORE. If you’re always hunting down those elusive korean mini marts across the island, here’s where you’ve got to hit next.
Think honey butter chips, giant packs of seaweed, and unique instant noodle concoctions like the new Cheese Spicy Noodles in both packet and cup form. Time to fill up the pantry.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
On the weekend of 10th – 11th December, there’ll also be performances happening at the food festival, providing some entertainment while you eat from one end of the promenade to the other. From K-Pop dances to singing performances, just grab a chair, sit back and enjoy.
Find out more about their lineup here.
*BONUS* A secret rooftop with a view
While we were at the Megastore, we were let in on little secret – getting to the highest point in Sungei Kadut. Simply take the lift closest to the bedding section all the way up to the rooftop on the 11th floor, make a left when you exit the lift, and you’ll be at the carpark, which is full of Gain City delivery vehicles.
Cross over to the edge of the building, and feast your eyes on a view of Singapore like never seen before. Because the Megastore is located in an industrial estate, it’s 11 storeys are the tallest for miles. They’ve already rooted a pair of binoculars to the ground for you to get a crystal-clear panoramic view of the Kranji Industrial Estate, and on a good day, even as far as Johor Bahru!
They’re also hosting a rooftop BBQ feast on 17 Dec – find out more here!
Gain City’s Food Festival
If you’re looking for something to do over the weekend, head down to the Gain City Megastore! Even if you’re not on the hunt for a comfy mattress or a new tablet, the food festival itself is worth popping by to sink your teeth into the yummy goodness.
Additionally, going to the Megastore is an experience in itself. Most of us will never visit the industrial estates of Singapore, so go off the beaten path and visit the Gain City Megastore for an afternoon of eating, shopping, and seeing a different side of the city.
From now to 22 January, the Gain City Megastore is having a special Weekly Winner promotion! Simply spend more than $100 on selected brands and products*, and you’ll enter their lucky draw and stand a chance to win a pair of round trip tickets to various destinations around the world. A little birdy told us the most recent winner won tickets to Japan, but Europe and Taiwan are also on the list.
So mark your calendars and take a trip down to Gain City for one heck of an experience.
Find out more about Gain City Here!
Gain City Food Festival
Date: 2 Dec – 11 Dec 2016
Time: 11AM – 9PM
Address: 71 Sungei Kadut Drive, Singapore 729577
Tel: 6899 1212
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Website
*Enquire in-store to find out more
Getting There
The Gain City Megastore is located in Sungei Kadut, which is nestled right in the heart of the Kranji Industrial Estate. Getting there isn’t easy, so the best way is honestly to drive or get a cab.
However, they’ve got a way to make our travel to Sungei Kadut far more pleasant. There are free shuttle buses to and from Yew Tee MRT Station every 8 minutes Choa Chu Kang MRT Station every 26 minutes, sparing us the hassle of navigating the web that is the industrial estate. Now, it’s ulu-ness isn’t a problem at all.
This post was brought to you by Gain City.