Food Review | Mama Diam @ 38 Prinsep Street

My birthday treat by my besties and initially, we chose a different place but after I changed another date to meet, here we are at Mama Diam. Saw some other friends already been there and from the looks of it, made me reminisced my childhood times. Now you can hardly see such provision shops. Glad I did during my times. Mama Diam or Mama shop is a provision shop usually located under HDB blocks and their shop is filled with our childhood snacks, sweets and essential cooking and household items. I love going down especially when my mum asked to buy easy stuff (I was only a kid) and I will also buy a pack of Mamee for 20cents, sometimes chewing gums for 10cents (before government ban) or 冰条 Ice pop or freezies where we twist it into half and share with friends and it costs only 10-20 cents. Happiest time!

But this Mama Diam you are reading here is kind of different but not so different. Just bringing patrons nostalgic elements with a modern twist on our local favourites, more like local fusion food maybe. 

The store front looking like a typical Mama Diam a.k.a provision shop, displaying all my favourite childhood snacks and toys. Also the stone table which you can find under HDB blocks where elderly will sit there and chit chat. There is mural arts on one side of the wall that tells you the good old times, and the tables and chairs for diners are those which my grandparents used to have in their house. And hop-scotch. We used to draw with chalk on the floor to play. Literally my childhood in the 80s.

But as you enter the restaurant, it is like a change of dimension. From childhood memories to a bar and restaurant. So cool right? But the door is a little hard and heavy pull open.

So the ladies ordered whatever I told them in the groupchat. I'm like 'this is just a suggestion'. They can order whatever they wanna try and not accommodate me though. Anyways, thanks ladies!

First order of business: RIBENA SOUR $38 (6 shots in a tray) 👌

Usually when I have shots, it will be Tequila shots. This tray of Ribena Sour shots is new to me and the alcohol level isn't that overwhelming. All I taste was alcohol and sourness. That's all. Nice try!

MAMA DIAM SOTONG HEAD $15 👌
TRUFFLE MUSHROOM GYOZA $15 👍

The Sotong Head was decent though crispy and chewy. At least it wasn't too dry and small portion like those I had at Old Chang Kee (oops... sorry for comparing). But the Truffle Gyoza was good. Crispy on the outside while keeping the filling moist and tender, with the taste of truffle that is not too overpowering.

LAKSA CHEE CHEONG FUN $15 👌

An unique combination of laksa sauce and chee cheong fun👍(good texture), along with quail eggs, beancurd skin roll 👍 and ngo hiang 👌. As compared with the mainstream chee cheong fun with just sauce and maybe char siew or prawns, this one here is more filling for one person portion. Probably the laksa sauce can be more 'laksa' and fragrant though is kind of rich and creamy, also the ngo hiang more flavourful. 

SIEW MAI DUO $15 👌

Abalone Siew Mai Duo versus Truffle Siew Mai Duo, topped with caviar. I like how the tiny bit of abalone on top of each Siew Mai. Never seen such tiny weeny ones. Overall taste, decent flavour with good texture and nice fillings and I also enjoy having the caviar popping in my mouth. 

MALA FRIES $13 👌

The crispy fries taste almost like those from Long John Silver which I love it so much but kind of jelak from the Mala numbness when having a little too much. That's why we never finish it. If you are not a Mala fan, probably go for other options like Sour Plum Curly Fries or Truffle Fries.

SOFT SHELL CRAB BAO $18 👍

Using the Kong Ba Bao/Gua Bao's bun to kiap with crispy soft shell crab drizzled with chilli crab sauce. The bun imprinted with Mama Diam logo, was soft and fluffy. It wasn't wet by the chilli crab sauce and remained a good texture. Instead of the usual chilli crab, unique idea of having soft shell crab with the same sauce. 

Although we did not order any main dishes but they do have rice and noodles as mains. If I ever come again, I wanna try their Claypot Vegetarian Mushroom Mee Tai Mak and Cold Truffle Mien. Oh by the way, upon making payment, we get a lucky draw via their toy capsule machine and got 1 free glass of house pour wine. Not bad!

Conclude the post with one word: Nostalgic. The food were average but creative, the shots were interesting but price on the steep side. Nevertheless, Mama Diam brought back lots of memories and old school vibes through the storefront, not the food. Just being honest. 

THANK YOU MY LADIES! Cheers!

Disclaimer: All the above were paid by writer's friends. Not sponsored post. All reviews are based on writer and her friends' preference and taste bud and does not represent anyone else other than herself and her friends.