Chicken Up @ Century Square, Tampines

Some say Singaporeans are united by the diversity and innovation of their cuisine. For us, food is definitely a 'language of love' and hearty meals are opportunities to bring us closer together.

I brought K to Chicken Up at Century Square after school one day. As it was a weekday and before lunchtime, the restaurant was not crowded although the crowd started streaming in quickly around 12.30 pm. We ordered Topokki With Cheese and Seafood ($20) and one of their in house specials - the Ganjang Chicken Wings (4 for $12). We wanted to order more chicken wings but the waitress advised us not to as the serving might be too big for just the two of us. It was good that we took her advice because we had difficulty finishing what we ordered.

Deep fried to maximum crispiness... sinful and full of flavour, just the way we like love it!

We love chicken wings very much. I peeled the chicken for K because they were freshly fried and were too hot for her to hold. The Topokki was hot and spicy, just the way we like it. I did not fancy the unique mussels and scallops mixed in, but they would have been perfect for Daddy if he was here.

The creative Koreans know how to make their deserts both visually appealing and tasty. We shared the Watermelon Bingsu - hollowed out watermelon with powdered ice and ice-cream.

If only Daddy was here. Well, that just means we had to come back with everyone else right?

Back again on a Sunday for dinner after a visit to the library, we got there around 6.30 pm and there was already a queue outside the restaurant. Chairs are provided in the queue outside the restaurant so we could rest our tired feet. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor dining areas. We chose to sit outside to avoid a longer wait and it was good that they had two big cooling fans to disperse the heat. However, our table was just in front of the cooling fans so the kids had to sit facing the fans just so that our hair would not get into our mouths as we eat. Mummy had to eat with a hand holding her hair as the fans were just behind her She wished she could enjoy the meal properly.

We ordered my favourite Ganjang Chicken Wings again and this time the kids had a kid's set each. It comes with a watermelon or orange juice and a coloring activity book. Mummy ordered the Yangnyum Chicken Wings (4 for $12) and Japchae ($12).

The Japchae came first. K took such a liking to it that she finished half the plate before her kids' set arrived. It was seasoned with sweet soy sauce.

Yangnyum chicken wings - sweet sauce and seasame seeds. We preferred the original Ganjang wings as these were a little on the sweet side, and the skin-soaked sauce took away some of the dry-crispy feel.

The kids' set had this curry-rice option which is quite a hit with the older girl.

For the wing lovers among the kids. The sets were served with cheese-stuffed spring rolls that were simply yummy.

The colouring set that came along with the kids' meals.

And the bones get tossed in here!

What's dinner out without desert? We opted to share the Melon Bingsu and a Mango Bingsu.

Massive! We had difficulty keeping the melon spheres on while we tucked in and a couple of them rolled off and onto the table at first. Good thing Daddy was there to catch them and apply the 'five second rule'.

Pureed mango mixed in with a flurry of crushed ice and ice-cream.

I ordered a Coke along with my meal, and you know you've reached that milestone in life when the waiter chooses to share a Coke with...

Not the best way to encourage your 'forever young at heart' guests to return, but for the crispy wings between our teeth, we'll consider coming back next time.