Located along the same stretch as 90 Minutes Tteokbokki Buffet and Pocha In A Forest is a hidden speakeasy modern bar. Hiding behind what looks like a traditional mama shop is Mama Diam, a place serving bites and cocktails with local twists.
Hidden Bar in Dhoby Ghaut
From the outside, the place might look like a mama shop selling old-school snacks. However, the hidden entrance will lead you into a modern bar setting filled with neon light decorations and a bar counter.
You can choose to be seated indoors or outdoors, with the outside having more of an old-school vibe – they even have the iconic tables you occasionally see at HDB void decks!
Mama Diam Menu
The restaurant/bar has a pretty extensive menu with Large Plates to share among friends/family and Small Plates that are great as bar bites. Their dishes tend to have a local twist to them as well.
9 Bites of Wonder
If you’re lazy to think of what to get, simply opt for the 9 Bites of Wonder ($38) which contains an assortment of their Small Bites menu. Here’s what included:
- Crab Kueh Pie Tee
- Drunken Chicken Roulade with Marinated Black Fungus
- Oyster Casina
- Stuffed Seafood Lychee
- Butter Boxing Chicken
- Seaweed Corn Ribs
- Chicken Satay Pithivier
- Truffle Mushroom Wanton in Chilli Oil
- Pork Belly Char Siew Tacos
We really enjoyed the Crab Kueh Pie Tee, which contained crabmeat, diced green apples, Japanese mayo, and even Gochujang. The Truffle Mushroom Wanton and Stuffed Seafood Lychee were also really interesting!
If you enjoyed any of these and want more, you can simply order them from their ala carte menu.
Beef Striploin & Herbal Bak Kut Teh Udon
The Beef Striploin ($24) was served with a toasted sesame chimichurri, sauteed vegetables, and some fries. A great choice for those who just want to play it safe.
On the other hand, the Herbal Bak Kut Teh Udon ($15) got us curious since it was placed in the Pasta section of the menu.
It was served in a claypot and leaned more towards the Malaysia kind of BKT. We loved how bouncy the udon noodles were, which went well with the fragrant herbal broth.
Pork Belly Char Siew
The Pork Belly Char Siew ($17) was one of our favourite dishes for the night. Slabs of well-roasted pork belly, served with a side of cabbage rice, archar, and honey mustard sauce. We loved how tender the pork belly was, which has a nice, caramelized sweetness.
Duck Confit
The Duck Confit ($20) is made with duck legs that are cured in-house, served with waffles and some apple jam. We did find the waffles to be slightly undercooked but have since feedbacked it to the staff.
A4 Wagyu Aburi Beef Nigiri
The A4 Wagyu Aburi Beef Nigiri ($19) is from their small plates menu. It’s made using sliced Wagyu beef, sushi rice, and a secret homemade gong bao sauce.
Don’t be fooled by the description, the gong bao sauce isn’t overwhelming at all, in an attempt for customers to enjoy the savoury flavours of the A4 Wagyu beef.
Cocktails at Mama Diam
Rosie ($16) and Coco Pandan ($16) are both made using Hendricks Gin. Rosie is made with cultured milk, rose, and citrus for some bandung elements, while Coco Pandan contains coconut water and pandan syrup for a familiar local taste.
One of the stronger concoctions for the night was Mama’s Kopi ($16) which is made using Sailor Jerry Rum, Smokey Monkey Whisky, Espresso, and Honey. It’s also topped with a piece of marshmallow for an extra sweet touch from the strong bitter flavours.
There’s also ‘Is It Tea You’re Looking For?’ ($28/pot) which almost looks like a typical pot of tea. However, inside is a mixture of Hendricks Gin, Citrus, and White Chocolate paired with your choice of Oolong or Lychee Tea.
Interesting Dinner Spot near Dhoby Ghaut
If you’re thinking of where to grab dinner near Dhoby Ghaut, you can check out Mama Diam, especially if you’re thinking of destressing with some cocktails.
Mama Diam
38 Prinsep Street #01-01, Singapore 188665
Mon-Sun, 4pm-10:30pm
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