Ola Beach Club also serves their version of the Loco Moco (S$28) with a wagyu beef patty, kombu rice and panko egg.

Ola Beach Club: Life’s A Beach

Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes like the Grilled Octopus (S$18.50) with globe artichoke, fava beans, tomato confit and an olive emulsion.
Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes like the Grilled Octopus (S$18.50) with globe artichoke, fava beans, tomato confit and an olive emulsion.

Hawaiian cuisine is not what you call sophisticated, but it sure is a hearty meal that will have you saying Mahalo with a big smile. We are far from the pristine beaches of Waikiki Beach, but we can look no further than Siloso Beach to get our fix of island paradise. Ola Beach Club (FB) lay just minutes away from Beach Station on Sentosa, serving up wholesome Hawaiian-inspired fare and Tiki cocktails next to their own private beach.

Beach themed entrance to Ola Beach Club.
Beach themed entrance to Ola Beach Club.

They have magical formula going on over there. There is kayaking, banana boats and (wait for it) jet-packs and jet-blades to propel you through the air and ocean waves. If that doesn’t build up an appetite, I don’t know what will. Hunger is the best condiment, after all.

That is not to say that the kitchen at Ola Beach Club needs any help. Chef Liinson Heng has 10 years under his belt, and has successfully recreated the soft, tender meat of a Kalua Pig without an underground oven. While Poi (fermented taro stem, a staple) is still not on the menu, he delivers an addictive bowl of Kombu Rice I can’t get enough off (a bucket to-go, please).

Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes including the Lomi Lomi Salmon (S$16) of salmon, momotaro tomatoes, Maui onions and ebiko in a crispy sesame waffle. Additional caviar (S$4) is available.
Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes including the Lomi Lomi Salmon (S$16) of salmon, momotaro tomatoes, Maui onions and ebiko in a crispy sesame waffle. Additional caviar (S$4) is available.
Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes such as the Kalua Pig Taco (S$25). It will be served with gucamole, Lomi tomato relish and homemade spicy Hawaiian sour cream. There's a choice to add-on fries and salad (S$5).
Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes such as the Kalua Pig Taco (S$25). It will be served with gucamole, Lomi tomato relish and homemade spicy Hawaiian sour cream. There’s a choice to add-on fries and salad (S$5).

The traditional way to make Kalua pork is a tedious one. It uses an imu, a dirt pit, which acts as an oven to slow cook the entire pig. The use of banana leaves and koa wood helps retain the natural moisture of the meat, all while imparting the a unique flavour. It is served shredded to allow the melted fat to mix into every morsel for a satisfying bite.

Of course, in Singapore, getting an imu set-up will have even Tom Cruise screaming mission impossible. Chef recreates the texture and taste of the coveted Kalua pork, and serves it up as a delectable Kalua Pig taco (S$25 for two) covered completely in cheese. It is a heavy dish, so be generous with that spicy Hawaiian sour cream to ease between bites.

Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes including the Saimin Salad (S$15). It is a salad consisting of somen noodles, spam, omelettes, crispy fish cake and lettuce, with a choice to add-on pan-seared scallops (S$7), Lomi Lomi Salmon (S$7) or Ahi Poke (S$7).
Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes including the Saimin Salad (S$15). It is a salad consisting of somen noodles, spam, omelettes, crispy fish cake and lettuce, with a choice to add-on pan-seared scallops (S$7), Lomi Lomi Salmon (S$7) or Ahi Poke (S$7).
Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes including the Saimin Salad (S$15). It is a salad consisting of somen noodles, spam, omelettes, crispy fish cake and lettuce, with a choice to add-on pan-seared scallops (S$7), Lomi Lomi Salmon (S$7) or Ahi Poke (S$7).
Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes including the Saimin Salad (S$15). It is a salad consisting of somen noodles, spam, omelettes, crispy fish cake and lettuce, with a choice to add-on pan-seared scallops (S$7), Lomi Lomi Salmon (S$7) or Ahi Poke (S$7).

Or, tag someone along and split the tacos. That way, you can move on to their Saimin Salad (S$15). They call it a salad, but the somen noodle base is enough for a meal. Served with a light yet sweet soy-based dressing it is tossed with a refreshing mix of eggs, lettuce, crispy fish cake and (of course) spam.

Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes including this customisable Ahi Poke (S$15) bowl. The bowls feature tuna in a choice of three flavours (Kimchi, Shoyu or Togarashi) upon a base of Jasmine Rice, Brown Rice or Salad. Here is a Kimchi Tuna with Pumpkin Seeds and Cranberries on top on brown rice.
Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes including this customisable Ahi Poke (S$15) bowl. The bowls feature tuna in a choice of three flavours (Kimchi, Shoyu or Togarashi) upon a base of Jasmine Rice, Brown Rice or Salad. Here is a Kimchi Tuna with Pumpkin Seeds and Cranberries on top on brown rice.

We can’t leave out the poke bowls. Here, you get to customised a generous serving of Ahi Poke (S$15) with tuna in either kimchi, shoyu or togarashi. While salmon is always a popular choice, the subtle meaty flavour of a lean tuna is always my go-to. Its lower fat content makes a healthier choice as well.

Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes such as the Huli-Huli Chicken (S$26) with burnt leeks.
Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes such as the Huli-Huli Chicken (S$26) with burnt leeks.

If Chef Heng has not already blown your mind with his rendition of the Kalua pork, then the Huli-Huli Chicken (S$26) needs to be on your list. He sure knows how to treat his meats right. Succulent and big on flavour, thigh or breast.

The sauce is reminiscent of teriyaki sauce. Sweet and salty, and best friends with the burnt leeks. When grilled, it presents a similar sweet taste to onions (with a smoky charred exterior too). There is nothing overly fancy about this dish. It just hits all the right spots.

Ola Beach Club also serves their version of the Loco Moco (S$28) with a wagyu beef patty, kombu rice and panko egg.
Ola Beach Club also serves their version of the Loco Moco (S$28) with a wagyu beef patty, kombu rice and panko egg.
Ola Beach Club also serves their version of the Loco Moco (S$28) with a wagyu beef patty, kombu rice and panko egg.
Ola Beach Club also serves their version of the Loco Moco (S$28) with a wagyu beef patty, kombu rice and panko egg.

We have gone through quite a list at this point. To make your time worth at Ola Beach Club, there are two dishes with a big “must-have” sticker slapped on. They are the Loco Moco (S$28) and Grilled Octopus (S$18.50).

The star of the Loco Moco is the juicy wagyu beef patty, but that Kombu rice hiding beneath it was what made the dish. It has bits of Kombu seaweed for little bursts of umami flavour we all know and love. And, that panko egg? Let it ooze gloriously over the patty and rice, mix it up a bit and just enjoy the moment.

Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes like the Grilled Octopus (S$18.50) with globe artichoke, fava beans, tomato confit and an olive emulsion.
Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes like the Grilled Octopus (S$18.50) with globe artichoke, fava beans, tomato confit and an olive emulsion.

Chef Heng has done the kalua pork, huli huli chicken right, and what really took the cake was this unassuming plate of tiny grilled octopuses. There was so much going on on the plate. but every bite was seamless. The slight brine of the seafood, the sweet, nutty olive emulsion to the charred smoke from the globe artichoke. Needless to say, I shamelessly picked the plate clean.

Warning: Those adverse to seafood may need some getting used to.

Ola Beach Club's cocktails include the Ola Huli Pau! (S$23) (left) and Uli Uli Tiki (S$22).
Ola Beach Club’s cocktails include the Ola Huli Pau! (S$23) (left) and Uli Uli Tiki (S$22).

 

Ola Beach Club's dessert menu includes the Haupia Sphere (S$22) which coconut Chantilly, coconut sponge, nata de coco, chocolate pearls and vanilla ice cream.
Ola Beach Club’s dessert menu includes the Haupia Sphere (S$22) which coconut Chantilly, coconut sponge, nata de coco, chocolate pearls and vanilla ice cream.

For dessert, Chef Heng presents his rendition of the Haupia – on steroids. The traditional coconut milk-based dessert is usually served as a white pudding or custard. At Ola, it is served as the decadent Haupia Sphere (S$22). A gravy boat of hot Valrhona chocolate sauce melts the shell to reveal a smorgasbord of coconut flavours. Coconut sponge, coco chantilly and nata de coco – I think you get my point.

There is much to do and a lot more to devour at Ola Beach Club. Every weekend is one activity after another. Bouncy castles for the kids during the day or their in-house DJ spinning everyone into the mood come sunset. They pride themselves in bringing a little slice of island paradise to this corner of Singapore, and, if my return that very weekend was any indication, they have done well.

Ola Beach Club 46 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa Singapore 099005
Tel: +65 6250 6978 Email: aloha@olabeachclub.com

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