The Silicon Valley is home to a large Asian population. Among them are inhabitants from a tiny country, six times smaller than Rhode Island, known as Singapore. This tiny island is famous for its delicious cuisines. However, due to the minority of people who identify as Singaporeans, Singaporean Food is nonetheless overshadowed by other ethnic Asian food such as Thai cuisines, Chinese restaurants and Japanese sushi places, which run plenty throughout the Bay Area.

Enter Layang Layang, a humble, lone-standing shack on the south end of De Anza Boulevard, which is home to numerous culinary awards and regularly positive restaurant reviews. The restaurant, since established in 1997, has received steady business and has afforded to open up a second branch in Milpitas.

Ambiance

Upon entering the shack, customers are immediately greeted with multiple positive newspaper reviews and awards plastered on the wall. Among other noticeable objects are the bamboo walls, the large, ceremonial fans and the straw-thatched shingles which appear across the entrance to the kitchen and the bathroom. The room is dim and gives off a night-time feel even during noon. The tables, adding on to the dark ambiance of the room, are plastered with rich dark velvet tablecloths.

Roti Canai

To those who are trying Indian or Malay food for the first time, the Roti Canai could be the best thing a customer can try on the menu. The dish comes with a thin, warm Roti, also known as “Indian Tortillas,” and a yellow curry sauce. The roti itself is already a mouthwatering sensation. It differs from Roti found in other places as it brings in a mild sweet taste which blends perfectly with the taste of warm flour. The sauce, furthermore, adds a creamy, garlic-like sweetness to the dish. Overall, a must-try for any customer.

Hainan Chicken

This is a famed dish among Malaysians and Singaporeans. It consists of a separate dish with steamed chicken and red blended chilli-ginger sauce and, for an extra $2.99, a bowl of yellow rice which has been marinated and seasoned with chicken. The rice comes as as a trademark dish for Layang Layang as the added flavor taste being added to steamed rice is an amazing combination. The chicken, on the other hand, was a little bit old, dry and hard to chew. Adding it to the ginger sauce brings a savory initial taste but cannot compensate for the paper-dry backlash. Overall, try the dish for its prestige as being one of the national cuisines for Singapore.

Prawn Mee

Another classic among Singaporeans, the Prawn Mee consists of a large steamy bowl of thick egg noodles, spicy shrimp broth, shredded pork and vegetables, egg and large whole shrimp. The taste definitely accounts for its price. The shrimp broth adds a spicy and savory taste of shrimp to the egg noodles. The pork wasn’t dry and the vegetables weren’t stale.

Pulut Hitam

A dessert dish for those who like milk and coconut, the Pulut Hitam supposedly consists of a black and white stew with sweet-sticky rice and creamy coconut milk. This dish was extremely sweet and is ample size for two consumers. The rice, although labeled as “sticky,” was nowhere near close. The coconut milk, additionally, tasted more like sweet red beans rather than coconut. Only try this dish if you have a craving for extreme sweetness.

Verdict

Ultimately, Layang Layang was worth the go, even as the food may be expensive. The restaurant provides a dark and laidback feel, perfect for a mellow evening. Layang Layang is definitely worth a try for it’s unique Singaporean styled food and feel free to become a regular customer should you fall in love with one of the dishes.