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03-09-2020, 09:20 AM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
10 Must Try Yong Tau Foo In Singapore
  Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu Blk 32 New Market Rd, People’s Park Complex Food Centre, #01-1084, Singapore 050032 Opening Hours: 1pm – 4pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon There are a couple of Yong Tau Foo hawker stalls that can be found at People’s Park Complex Food Centre, but Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu enjoys the longest queue and also the shortest opening hours. It only opens for 3 hours a day, starting from 1pm (closed on Mondays). You may already find a small queue forming even before its official opening hour. They only have one choice on their menu and they do full justice with it, whether it is the freshness and generosity of ingredients or the delicate and perfect balance of flavours. Their Yong Tau Foo with Soup ($4.50) comes served without any heavy carbs like noodles or bee hoon. I found it a great option for those who are looking for something low carbs and low calories for lunch. The soup while light, was surprisingly ”qing” and tasty. There are a couple of fixed items within from fishballs, soft beancurd to deep-fried bean curd. The deep-fried bean curd was my favourite ingredient, beautiful golden-brown, along with a great tasting tofu in silky consistency that melts in your mouth. Some may find this too ‘simple’ (especially if they are more zhong kou wei”), but its deliciousness is in its subtlety.   Poy Kee Yong Tau Foo Blk 32 New Market Rd, People’s Park Complex Food Centre, #01-1066, Singapore 050032 Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm (Mon – Sun) This is the other popular Yong Tau Foo stall at People’s Park Complex Food Centre. Flavorsome soup with the springiest fishballs and noodles. This is a very famous stall for a number of reasons. Most people visit this particular stall to get one mean serving of Yong Tau Foo without having to stand in an overly long line (compared to Yong Xiang Xing). Although their dish is in high demand, they work through a highly productive and efficient working system that cuts the waiting time short. And it also comes with choices of mee kia or mee pok (Not all YTF stalls offer these two types.) I got the dry version of Yong Tau Foo with mee pok noodles ($3.50, $4.50/$5.50). I was surprised at how generously filled and satiating for its price. The delicious stock was complemented well by crispy ikan bilis with a nice savoury balance. Not that salty at all. The soup carried tastes of anchovies and soybeans, but the star of the dish was definitely the springy and chewy fishballs, and the taupok with fresh fish paste. I was more indifferent towards the noodles.   Bai Nian Niang Dou Fu 270 Queen Street, Albert Food Centre, #01-106, Singapore 180270 Opening Hours: 9am – 8pm (Mon – Sun) Bai Nian Niang Dou Foo easily has the longest queue at Albert Food Centre. It used to be semi-popular, but line wasn’t this long. Well, its popularity was largely to food bloggers and instagrammers who raved about this ‘hidden’ place a few years back. Now, it has a couple of branches in Singapore, and perhaps standard has not been as consistent as before. Unless most other Yong Tau Foo stalls where you can pick and this, the bowl here ($4.50 – 5.50) comes with more or less fixed choices from bitter gourd, prawn paste, pork paste, beancurd, and a combination of “gold, white and black” rolls. What draws customers would be its clean-tasting clear soup that is both light and flavourful, and said not to contain added MSG. My favourite item is the prawn paste pieces (like prawn balls), which have that sweet taste and succulent bite.   Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu 秀記江魚仔釀豆腐 335 Smith St, #02-88, Singapore 050335 Opening Hours: 5:45am – 3pm (Mon – Sun) Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu is one of those stalls that enjoy the longest queues at Chinatown Complex Food Centre. Note: While its closing hours state 3pm, the food is sometimes sold out by 2pm. Their Yong Tau Foo, priced at $3.00 with 6 pieces (cannot choose your own) with bee hoon or noodles is a class of its own. Part of the fact is that they make their own special fish paste which adds that level of freshness of ‘genuine’ flavour, instead of using the factory-made varieties. Those deep-fried anchovies also add some flavours and crunch. You can also get a bitter gourd or eggplant included to your order for an additional $0.50. The soup while clear, was tasty and didn’t taste overly salty.   Rong Xing Yong Tau Fu Tanjong Pagar Plaza, Block 6 #02-04, Singapore 081006 Opening Hours: 7am – 2.30pm (Tues – Sat), Closed Sun, Mon One of Tanjong Pagar Food Centre’s most popular stall, which is slightly under-rated. Note: A family member also opened a Rong Xing Hakka Yong Tau Fu located at the Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre but let’s leave the family drama out of this. A piece goes for 70 cents here, with a minimum order of $3.50. The best part of this dish here would be the soup with umami, cooked with soya beans for that light sweetness. In fact, you would find quite a number of soft soya beans within the soup which I enjoyed. If you are undecided at what pieces to choose from, the all-time favourite includes the meat balls (both deep-fried and soup versions – they are quite bouncy and juicy) and fried tau-kee. Another winning aspect is the mixture of sweet dark sauce and chilli – added with dried shrimps.   Soon Li Yong Tau Foo 115 Bukit Merah View, #01-78 Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre, Singapore 151115 Opening Hours: 12am – 3am (Note: Hours vary and stall may open later than midnight, and close earlier than indicated.) Where do I even start? Contrary to its name “Soon Li” 顺利, which in Chinese means “smooth flowing”, there is nothing “shun li” about the whole buying process. First things first, this Yong Tau Foo supposedly opens at midnight, and closes about 3am. HOWEVER, it can change its operating hours as and when. It is best to go with at least one other person to command and conquer OR divide and conquer. There are supposedly 2 queues – one to pick items on the right, one to pay on the left. An indicative pricing could be anything from $8 to $20 plus. The star of the Yong Tau Foo to me was the soup base, cooked with deep fried ikan billis and pork belly. Tasty, full of flavours, surprisingly not overly salty or oily. As for the items themselves, I say… go for the pork belly.   My Favourite Café Lucky Plaza #06-047, 304 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238863 Opening Hours: 8:30am – 6pm (Mon – Sun) Those who are in the know would be familiar with Lucky Plaza’s very popular My Favourite Café Yong Tau Foo stall, attracting long queues during lunch time. Fans of this Yong Tau Foo stall would know they are known for TWO signature items – the handmade meatballs and Korean mushrooms. All their items are at 60 cents each. The rest are the standard beancurd, chili, bitter gourd, seaweed wrapped chicken, mushroom ball, kang kong… nothing very special in that aspect. The meatballs are slightly smaller than a ping pong ball, deep fried till crispy while the inner is filled with minced meat. Rather substantial and meaty. Get the freshly fried batch, and you would be in cloud nine. Some if left in the open for too long, would taste ‘over-rated’. My mee kia was surprisingly tasty, tossed in fragrant oil, flavoursome enough that you do not need to add too much of the sweet sauce. Avoid peak hours.   Tiong Bahru Yong Tao Hu 56 Eng Hoon Street, #01-46, Singapore 160056 Opening Hours: 7am – 9pm (Mon – Sat), 7am – 9:30pm (Sun) Homely and comforting handmade Yong Tau Ho that’ll make you keep coming back for more. This old school food place is one of the top favourites of locals. They are successfully operating since 1989, and are quite famous for their homemade fishballs and comforting bowls of soup to warm your bellies and heart. It used to be a stall, but now they have expanded to take over the entire coffeeshop. Note that there are only 4 choices available, beehoon in soup or dry, or ingredients only in soup or dry. They are priced at $5 and $7. Additional vegetables at $1. The soup version of Yong Tao Hu from this stall is the prefect comfort food for rainy days. You can expect four fixed ingredients in the bowl. People like their bouncy homemade fishballs made from yellowtail and wolf herring, though I personally prefer the soft tau kee with succulent fish paste wrapped within. The beehoon is not bad here as well. The only thing is I find the soup slightly on the saltier side sometimes, and it used to taste much better before expansion.   Golden Mile Special Yong Tau Foo #B1-44 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Rd, Singapore 199583 Opening Hours: 10:45am – 3pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun This food stall at Golden Mile Food Centre is family owned, established since 1958 with genuine and authentic recipe of Yong Tau Foo passed down from generations and improved to perfection. They receive a swarm of loyal customers every day, and continue to brighten their day with one of the best Yong Tau Foo servings in town. They have a Teochew fish-based variety of Yong Tau Foo ($0.50/piece with minimum of 8). The dish is prepared with homemade ingredients and comforting and homely flavours. I loved the fresh taste of fishballs and fish paste, made with yellowtail dish meat with no additional flour or addictive. Yes, just pure fish meat. Their pig intestines are also one of the most popular items you can add. The fish soup to me was more average though, maybe because it lacked that soy bean sweetness or I went too early in the morning. Maybe next time I would order the dry version as I found the deep-fried wanton and tau kee soaked within the soup as well. Bummer.   Fu Lin Bar 127 Telok Ayer Street Singapore 068596 (Tanjong Pagar, Telok Ayer MRT) Opening Hours: 10am – 3pm (Mon – Sat), Yong Tau Foo in the day, Tapas Bar opens after 3pm, Closed Sun Fu Lin’s style is a class of their own – a dry version where the items are covered in gooey brown minced chicken gravy made from a secret recipe. A 6-piece set with Signature Noodles cost $6.00+. Another thing to note: all their items are DEEP-FRIED #caloriealert. (Unless there is a special request for them to be boiled instead.) The ‘signature noodles’ turned out to be thick bee hoon in a starchy sauce similar to beef noodles. I found the sauce both appetising and salty. No wonder the wide selection of deep fried items such as you tiao and deep fried bean curd skin which would absorb the ‘zup’ (sauce) like a sponge. 
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03-09-2020, 09:38 AM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
10 Fishball Meepok In Singapore
  Ru Ji Kitchen – Holland Drive 44 Holland Drive #02-28/29, Singapore 270044 Opening Hours: 7am – 1pm (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon Ru Ji Kitchen first started at Holland Drive, Blk 44 #02-28, and now 3 other outlets in Singapore – Old Airport Rd, Blk 51 #01-37, Redhill Lane, Blk 85 #01-25, and Toa Payoh Lor 7, Blk 22 #01-58. I read that there are quite differing qualities among the 4 stalls; and I tried both the original Holland Drive and Old Airport Road outlets. Being freshly made, the fishballs and fishcake are of great quality. The famed fishballs begin as a beaten mixture of fish paste, using only pure fish meat with no flour extenders added. If you are not up to too much spice, order ”少辣” (Shao La, less chilli) so that the spicy, savoury sauce at the bottom of the noodles are just enough to coat the noodles once mixed. The pork lard also provides that pleasant crunch.   Hock Lee Fishball Noodles 270 Queen Street, Albert Food Centre, #01-102, Singapore 180270 Opening Hours: 6:30am – 12pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon You must come here early enough, or the fishballs generally get sold out early. This is a great place to stop by for breakfast as the stall opens bright and early at 6:30am. They serve freshly made fish ball noodles with or without soup and your choice of noodle such as mee kia and mee pok. The dry Mee Pok ($4) are cooked quite al dente with a delightful springy texture, tossed with vinegar and chilli. But it is those fishballs that steal the show as they are quite divine – very juicy and bouncy. I also enjoy the clear soup garnished with fresh coriander and spring onions. Probably one of Singapore’s best fishballs.   Hock Seng Choon Fish Ball Kway Teow Mee 16 Bedok South Road, #01-50 Bedok South Food Centre, Singapore 460016 Opening Hours: 12pm – 11pm (Thurs – Tues), Closed Wed Hock Seng Choon Fish Ball Kway Teow Mee has been around for over 20 years and still a popular choice at Bedok South Food Centre. Expect irregularly-shaped and not perfectly round ones with a texture that is tender yet firm, bouncy (not rubbery) with a good bite. Unlike other hawker stalls which add too much flour to extend the fish paste, Hong Seng Choon is generous with the fish paste made from scratch so you can taste the subtle sweetness of the ikan parang fish. Others find them a little saltier than most fishballs, but generally are praised for being one of the best fishballs in the Bedok area. The seasoning sauce included some sweet tomato ketchup which makes it a little ketchup-sweet, and not everyone would like that.   Song Kee Eating House 100 Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore 545576 Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun) Do not be confused with Finest Songkee’s Fishball Noodle (which took over the space once occupied by the one-and-only Song Kee Fishball Noodles), or the one at Toa Payoh, or the one in Ang Mo Kio or even at Eunos. ALL of which are run by their relatives, and not related to the original store. The basic normal Fishball Noodles goes in Small ($5), Medium ($7) and Large ($9) – a dollar increase from their online pricing and previous location. Customers can choose from 6 different types of noodles: mee pok, mee kia, yellow noodles, bee tai mak, kuay teow and bee hoon in either Dry or Soup version. Opt for the Mixed Soup if you crave for additional fishballs, herh keow and tau pok, available at $8 and $12. Getting the herh keow is a MUST here. The fishballs are hand-made using Malaysian yellow-tail fish and a bit of tapioca flour for the flattened fish skin, a mixture of minced pork, shallots, fried garlic and flat fish bits were folded into dumplings. Note that Song Kee has moved from Katong to Yio Chu Kang.   Eng Huat Fishball Mee 22B Havelock Road, Stall 26, Singapore 162022 Opening Hours: 6:30am – 9:30am (Mon – Thurs), 11am – 1pm (Fri) This is a stall for all the early birds out there. The stall is a one man show, meaning that the meals are prepared by only one person, and the wait can be tediously long when the queue is long. Plus I been there a few times (not the most convenient food centre to get to), and it has sometimes closed. But all of it is worth it for a bowl of their fresh and delicious fishball mee pok. Make sure to get their early, as they were already running out of fishballs (and only left with fishcake) by the time I got to the stall say like 9am. The Fishball Mee Pok ($3, $4) comes with generous toppings, and I loved the mix of sauces with crunch pork lard which gives this old-school flavour. The deep-fried fishcakes with a thin crisp outer layer was pretty-tasty as well.   Ah Ter Teochew Fish Ball Noodles 7 Maxwell Rd, #01-14 Amoy Street Food Centre, Singapore 069112 Opening Hours: 7am – 4pm (Mon – Thurs), 7am – 3pm (Fri – Sat), Closed Sun The genesis of Ah Ter Teochew Fishball Noodles was a Chinese immigrant who came to Singapore in the 1950s. He made a living making fishballs by hand, then opened a stall at Maxwell Food Centre in 1958 called 亚猪鱼圆肉脞面 (literally, “Asian Boar Fish Ball and Minced Meat Noodles”). Now run by Ah Ter’s son Gilbert at Amoy Food Centre, the stall specialises in the same handmade fishballs that have become popular through the years. An order consists of a bowl of soup, with your preferred noodle in a separate bowl – tossed in the signature chili sauce. What’s special in this sauce is that it’s a blend of 7 ingredients stir-fried continuously for 6 hours. Made-fresh-daily pork lard and fried shallots are thrown in for added flavour, plus a splash of black vinegar to add sour notes and some tomato sauce. The medium-sized fishballs are made from fresh saury fish, bought fresh daily from the market at 3am, and have a soft, bouncy texture.   Yam Mee Teochew Fishball Noodles 209 Hougang Street 21, 01-35, Kovan Market & Food Centre, Singapore 530209 Opening Hours: 7am – 9pm (Tues – Sun) There are three popular fishball noodles in Kovan Food Centre itself – Fa Ji, Chun Fu, and Yam Mee. They all have their own fans with constant queues during the weekends, and Yam Mee seems to come most highly recommended. Now helmed by 3rd generation hawkers, it was frequently recommended by Channel 8 variety shows and attracts many non-Hougang residents to head down. Enjoy the best Mee Pok in town since the 1970s at this 3rd generation hawker stall. The best thing about the Mee Pok Dry ($4) was that every strand of noodles was coated with mixture of flavours, and a wonderful balance of chili and vinegar. The fishballs were bouncy and had a fresh taste. The noodles tasted a bit alkaline though, but overall the dish was above average.   Hup Kee Fishball Noodles 158 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4, #01-590, Singapore 560158 Opening Hours: 7:30am – 1pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon Something different. This is where you can get taste of the authentic, handmade Malaysian style fishball noodles. Less is more – this holds true for this quaint little stall. They have a minimalistic menu, and focus their expertise and talents towards making delicious Malaysian style fishballs every day. They don’t use the pre made type that has flour in it, but rather get the meat off fresh yellowtail fishes to have the perfect and authentic fishballs, with best flavors and no added preservatives or store bought taste. The Fishball noodles with soup ($4.50) had 4 pieces of fishballs in the bowl, along with some tasty slices of fishcake. The bowl also had fried stuffed beancurd and wanton, and topped with crunchy spring onions and fried shallot. I loved the simple and classy flavors with sweet and fresh taste, which gelled in well with the chili and vinegar. There was this dark sauce but made it different from the usual styles.   Ming Fa Fishball Noodles 246B Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574370 Opening Hours: 9:30am – 5am (Mon – Sun) Ming Fa Fishball Noodles is a chain noodle shop with outlets at Upper Thomson, Our Tampines Hub, Admiralty Hawker Centre, Blk 529 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, Chinatown Food Centre, New Market Road, Woodlands Link Soon Hong Eating House, Holland Road Market, Bukit Batok East Blk 279, Tekka Centre, Market Street Interim Food Centre, and Paris Ris Central Hawker Centre. The shop at Upper Thomson seems to be the most well-known due to its occupancy of an entire shop space, and opening hours till 5am in the morning. The business has been taken over by his children, and operates on a semi-automation model. The prices are considered quite reasonable, and the highlight of their stall include Bak Chor Mee, Fuzhou Fishball Noodles, and Curry Chicken. The Fishball Noodles include springy meepok cooked to al dente, coated with crispy pork lard, vinegar, and chilli. The fishballs are soft, bouncy and quite consistent in taste.   Fishball Story 77 Circuit Road, #01-450, Singapore 370077 Opening Hours: 8am – 9pm (Mon – Sun) The success of Fishball Story by Douglas Ng is an inspiring one, that hopefully can encourage other young Singaporeans with that passion to become ‘hawkerpreneurs’. This stall used to be listed in the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand, though it is no longer included after its move to Timbre+. For $6.00, you get a choice of noodle tossed with homemade sambal chilli, vinegar and crispy porklard, served with handmade fishballs, fishcake, fried beancurd skin wrapped with fishmeat, and crispy fishskin. What differentiates this bowl with the others are the sambal chilli and fishballs. The chilli paste fried with fried shrimps added this layer of fragrance and light crunchiness to the base, also adding a lift to the noodles. Perhaps it was better during Golden Mile days, but note that all its previous outlets at Golden Mile, NUS, Geylang and Timbre+ have closed.
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03-09-2020, 10:05 AM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
10 Must Try Fried Carrot Cake aka Chai Tow Kway In Singapore
  Chey Sua Carrot Cake Blk 127 Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre Lor 1 #02-30 Singapore 310127 Opening Hours: 6am – 1pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon Sisters Grace and Shirley man the stall, staying true to how their parents have done the dish over the years. The prices are still very reasonable at $2, $3, $4, and there is only a ‘white’ version, not the sweeter black kind. there may not be a line per se, but everyone around the stall are just waiting. So after a 30-minutes wait (or more), the ‘chai tow kway’ looking like a pancake arrived. Unlike some of the other variants, Chey Sua’s version is fried like rectangular blocks, crisp brown on the outside, spread with a thin layer of chilli, looking thinner and flatter than usual. Beneath the outer layer contains soft, small pieces, and I liked the texture which was moist and soft (unlike factory-made ones which have a certain firmness). Though some may find this version very oily. There is something nostalgic about this, like the Carrot Cake of my growing up years.   Fried Carrot Cake #01-45, Blk 448 Clementi Ave 3, Singapore 120448 Opening Hours: 6am – 12pm (Tues – Sun) Some call this the “Best Carrot Cake in Singapore”. This is probably the stall at Clement 448 Food Centre with the longest queue, and people love this for its old-school flavour. The stall used to be owned by an old uncle Mr Ng, who has passed his skills to his son and grandson. Brace yourselves for at least half an hour long wait with long queues. They sell both the white and black variety of the Carrot Cake ($3, $4), and the dish is cooked fresh upon order. Hard to say which version I preferred, but the White Carrot Cake had a nice crisp generally more on the soft and slightly mushy side. I noted that the pieces were cut and fried till very small. The Black Carrot Cake included dark sauce slightly sweet, while both versions were fried with generous amounts of egg.   He Zhong Carrot Cake 51 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, #02-185, Singapore 588172 Opening Hours: 7am – 10pm (Mon – Sun) Probably one of the most famous White Carrot Cakes around, though Bukit Timah residents may say that this used to be crispier and better in the past. Note: While the stall only sells White Carrot Cake, there is a stall a few rows behind serving quite a decent rendition of Black Carrot Cake (Called 134 Yong Ji). This stall is special for many reasons. It isn’t in the usual flat or scrambled style, but chunky blocks that are almost rectangular and piled on top of the other. The big chunks of white carrot cake have a tempting eggy aroma, generally more to the soft and fluffy side. For only $2.50 onwards ($3, $4, $5) per serving, you get quite a generous amount of carrot cake. I do enjoy the springy and flavourful chunks, mildly salty chai poh and hints of garlic. Another bonus: they send the food to your table.   Heng 興 Newton Food Centre #01-28, 500 Clemenceau Avenue North, Singapore 229495 Opening Hours: 6pm – 1:30am (Mon – Sun) Heng 興 which has been around since 1971, was awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand. The stall is known for selling Carrot Cake ($4, $5, $6, $8) in both black and white versions. No pork, no lard. The owners from Heng still steam their own Carrot Cake, which is getting more unusual in Singapore as many stalls simply get supplies from the factory. Typically, I find that ‘homemade’ carrot cakes have a more wobbly texture with less generic taste – sometimes you can feel those strips of radish. Be prepared to wait if you go during peak hours, though they would likely send the plate to your table if you sit nearby. So if you ordered a couple of dishes from various stalls, this may be the last to arrive. The White Carrot Cake was quite ‘eggy’ with soft and moist cubes, though I could imagine some people finding this on the bland side and would reach out for more chilli.   Fu Ming Carrot Cake #01-49 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085 Opening Hours: 5pm – 1am (Mon – Sat), 6am – 1am (Sun) Of all the new entrants of the Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore Guide 2019, perhaps the most surprise entry would be Fu Ming Cooked Food 福明熟食. Fu Ming Cooked Food is quite popular as a supper treat for its Fried Carrot Cakes ($3, $4, $5), available in both white or black versions. The stall also sells Bak Zhang on the side for $1.40 each. To look out for the stall, find the “Mickey Mouse” on their signboard. Good to know that this stall still steams their own carrot cake, and thus you would find it softer and more watery, compared to many others who simply get their supply from factories. Get the black version. There is this soft texture and flavour along with hint of radishes, some pieces of eggs, dribbled with sweet black sauce which was added twice for extra sweetness.   Song Zhou Fried Carrot Cake 208 New Upper Changi Road, #01-37 Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre, Singapore 462208 Opening Hours: 7am – 8pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun While Song Zhou gets their carrot cake from a supplier and quality may not be consistent depending on who’s frying it, their Black Carrot Cake probably still ranks as one of the tops you can find in Singapore. Accordingly, they have a secret which makes their carrot cake cubes softer and therefore delicious. The pieces are fried with fresh chai poh and garlic, and later with egg batter, fish sauce and black sweet sauce. Most people would order the Black ($3, $3.50, extra egg $0.50) in which each piece would be coated with the sweetness from the sauce, and slightly charred eggs. A good balance of savoury and sweet. Get the extra eggs version.   LAU GOH Teochew Chye Thow Kway Zion Riverside Food Centre #01-26, 70 Zion Road Singapore 247792 Opening Hours: 11am – 3:30pm, 6pm – 11pm (Mon, Wed – Sat), 8:30am – 4pm (Sun). Closed Tues Carrot Cake seller Peter Goh might seem to be your usual hawker at first sight. In fact, he was extremely polite and smiled thoroughly, asking if you wanted more chilli and pepper. It was only after reading a sign that I realised that he was deaf, and had to take orders by either lip-reading or through gestures. Disability had not prevented him from taking over this popular stall from his father (who is Lau Goh). The stall specialises in classic Teochew style carrot cake and sells both black and white carrot cake ($4 onwards depending on portion size). Those who cannot decide between the two options can simply get the black and white mixed version – the best of both worlds. I found his version to taste ‘healthier’ and less greasy than usual, probably because Peter used vegetable oil instead of lard.   Guan Kee Black Carrot Cake 270 Queen Street, Albert Food Centre, #01-59, Singapore 180270 Opening Hours: 7am – 6pm (Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat), Closed Mon, Thurs, Sun This stall only opens a few days per week, and so do get a chance to try it while you are there. You can choose between white (salty) or black (more sweetish), though more would go for the black. The Black Carrot Cake ($3) had a smooth and soft texture. The uncle was quite skillful and experienced in manning those flames to get the chunks just right with crispy edge wok hei along with plentiful pieces of egg.   Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake 115 Bukit Merah View #01-37 Singapore 151115 Opening Hours: 7am – 1:30pm, 4:30pm – 1:30am (Mon – Sun) One of the under-rated Carrot Cake stalls in Singapore, this is my go-to place for late-night cravings as it is opened till 1:30am. The bonus? The stall is opened from 7am. This is where both White and Black versions have their own fans. A pity that while they used to mill their own rice and steam the cakes, they have switched supplies. A positive thing is while the cakes are generally in bigger cubes, they remain soft with distinct trace of radish. Also, loads of eggs given. The black version is unlike the usual, with a tinge of savoury-sweetness, though I personally prefer a richer version. Oh yes, the brothers take on varied shifts at this stall, so the very same item can taste somewhat different both day and night.   Ang Mo Kio 409 Fried Carrot Cake Stall #24, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269 Opening Hours: 4pm – 11:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon This stall is famous for both its Fried Oyster ($5, $8, $10, $12), and Carrot Cake ($3, $4, $5). While a number of online reviews sing praises of its Orh Luak (which I thought was more to the starchy side and would prefer more eggs), I thought that the more stand-out dish was its Chye Tow Kueh. Its Carrot Cake comes in both the white and black variety, and pay $5 and you can get a yuan-yang plate of half and half. The white version had a slight crispy texture, contrasted with its soft and smooth radish cake which was quite pleasurable. The black version was also not bad, but I would prefer more distinct flavours of the sweet black sauce.
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03-09-2020, 10:20 AM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
10 Beef Horfun In Singapore
 Geylang Famous Beef Kway Teow 237 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389296 Opening Hours: 12pm – 2:30am (Tues – Sun), 4pm – 2:30am (Mon) Better known as the “Geylang Lor 9 Beef Horfun”, this shop actually has a Michelin-recommendation. Priced at $7, $12, $18, $22 and $28, the plate is known for its generous portion of tenderer-than-tender beef slices (suspected too much tenderiser), cooked in thick gravy. This was once considered THE Beef Hor Fun. I remembered the very first time I had it, it was as though this was one of the most wonderful thing that I had ever eaten. (Okay, would say this was about 20 years ago.) While I still enjoy it, the quality has dropped throughout the years. The wok-hei was not as strong as before, and sauce thinner as compared to the past. However, the generous portion and almost-too-tender beef still continue to save the day if you need a comforting treat.  Bee Kia Seafood Restaurant 1 Thomson Rd, Singapore 300001 Opening Hours: 12pm – 11pm (Mon – Sun) (Closed alternate Sundays) Bee Kia Restaurant is located within a coffee shop at Thomson Road, opposite Thomson Medical Centre. If you noticed, almost every table would order the two signature dishes – Beef Hor Fun and Prawn Paste Chicken – which were indeed crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Their signature saucy Beef Hor Fun ($8) was actually enough to feed two people. The velvety smooth rice noodles were cooked to appetizing charred flavour with nice smokiness. The succulent beef slices were drenched in luscious black bean and cut chilli which added mild spiciness, making every mouthful rather full of flavour. Termed as Geylang’s closest competitor, its edge would be the succulent beef full of bite, compared to Geylang which might be overly soft. You feel there is substance. Delivery Bee Kia now provides delivery service. However, delivery slots are limited due to manpower and customers are recommended to order in advance. Orders for same day delivery should be by 3pm (subject to availability). Delivery charges varies for different locations, call +65 6254 8490 for ordering and pricing.  Hin Fried Hor Fun 20 Ghim Moh Rd, #01-56, Singapore 270020 Opening Hours: 10am – 3pm, 5pm – 8:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon Of all the recommendations that came through IG, most were supportive of “that Beef Horfun from Ghim Moh”. The bright red signboards are very easy to spot, and the stall is jam packed with hungry customers during peak lunch hours every day. Note: I went a couple of times and they happen to sell out before the indicated closing hours. The stall is run by two chefs in an open kitchen where you can spot them furiously frying and cooking to create their signature smoky wok hei taste. The price is $5 for all their dishes, and you can choose combinations that come with sliced fish, prawns or mui fan as the base. As the dish is assembled (ie beef and sauce poured over ready-cooked rice noodles), you may not get that much wok-hei depending on which batch you receive. However, there was still that smokiness in the noodles, and juicy tasty beef slices which were quite alluring. Definitely worth a try if you are at Ghim Moh.  Kee Hock 448 Clementi Ave 3, Singapore 120448 Clementi Ave 3, Singapore 120448 Opening Hours: 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Wed, Fri – Sun), Closed Thurs Kee Hock is located at Clementi Central Hawker Centre and Market, and serves up has Zi Char dishes like Seafood Hor Fun, Sliced Fish Hor Fun, and Mui Fan. All affordably priced at $4.50. If you are a fan of thick, eggy sauce, then you are in for a treat, especially when the dish came piping hot. The only thing was the beef slices could be lacking in flavours, and you would find yourself reaching out for more of those green-cut chilli.  Good Day Amoy Street Food Centre #01-25, 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111 Opening Hours: 10:30am – 7pm (Mon – Sun) There are other dishes such as Sin Chow Bee Hoon, Yang Zhou Fried Rice, and Beef Fried Rice, but people are really here for the Beef Horfun ($4.50, $6.00). I read that this is opened by siblings of the owners of Bee Kia at Thomson Road. For $4.50, I really cannot complain about the portion, especially when you see how much beef is given. The beef was thinly sliced, very tender and tasty, cooked in a thick dark sauce. Even the rice noodles were imparted with a wonderful savoury flavour (though they were pre-fried). I could totally have this dish again and again. However, as the stall is trying to gather to a huge lunch crowd and long line of customers, the wok-hei could be lacking in this one.  Pepper Bowl Amoy Street Food Centre #02-102, 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111 Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat – Sun The Pepper Bowl stall is helmed by a self-taught couple, and recently got quite popular after being featured in a number of food blogs. The stall has a few main signatures including Spring Onion Beef Rice ($5.50), Spring Onion Pork Rice ($5.00), and Black Pepper Beef Rice or Horfun ($5.50). You can request for “double meat” at an additional $3.50. Additional ingredients such as onsen egg ($0.60) can be added on, and the stall actually has a highly customisable menu with a variety of combinations available. I liked that the bowl was quite full-on and ‘powerful’ in the black pepper flavour, and no lack of wok-hei. The wait can be slightly long as the chef is frying up bowl by bowl, but it is well-worth the queue.  Quan Ji Amoy Street Food Centre #01-56/57, 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111 Opening Hours: 11.00am – 2:00pm, 4:30pm – 10:00pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon – Tues The stall may look like typical Zi Char stall, but they serve up dishes relatively fast, and their rendition of Beef Hor Fun and San Lou Hor Fun are one of the best I had in Singapore. I once interviewed fashion designer Keith Png, and he said the Beef Horfun here was his favourite, “It serves the best beef horfun I have ever had. The kway tiao has a slightly burnt taste to it, the amount of gravy and beef are generous and the beef is ohhhhhhhhh soooooooo tender yummy.” The winner here was indeed the black bean sauce. Once I added some of the red chilli sauce, and turned out to be a delicious combination. Most of the dishes are also affordably priced, such as $5 for the noodles, which also come with strong wok hei.  Mongkok Dim Sum 8 Cheong Chin Nam Road, Singapore 599733 Opening Hours: 11am – 2am (Mon – Sat), 11am – 12:30am (Sun) 214 Geylang Road, Singapore 389274 Opening Hours: 24/7 Who would have thought that a eatery known for its inexpensive dim sum items would serve up a rather decent rendition of Beef Horfun. The Beef Horfun ($6.80, $14) is labelled as “Geylang Lor 9 Beef Horfun”. If you are wondering WHY, the two are owned by the same group. Therefore, you would find that their styles are so similar – super-over-tender beef, thick sauce with that touch of spiciness, that I think some people would not be able to tell the difference if there was a blind-taste test.  Por Kee Eating House 69 Seng Poh Lane (Tiong Bahru), #01-02, Singapore 160069 Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 11:30pm (Tues – Sun). Closed Mon A surprise find, since I am usually there for the other Zi Char dishes such as Champagne Ribs and Braised Tofu. The Black Bean Sauce Beef Horfun was surprisingly good. The wok hei flavour, thick sauce and chewy tender beef suggested that the cooks were very skilled in frying them and controlling the fire so that it is not overcooked. The friend said it was even better than Geylang’s anytime, but the corn was totally out of place. Its heavier price might put some people off, and Por Kee has seen better days.  Hor Fun Premium Alexandra Village Food Centre, 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 150123 Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun) Hor Fun Premium is a very popular stall at the Alexandra Village Food Centre. The three parts of Beef Hor Fun ($4.50) are cooked separately. The smooth and broad kway teow would usually be completely drenched in saucy egg gravy, and the layers do not clump together. I like that they are generous and also include crunchy-fresh kailan, just that it could overall be on the saltier side.
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03-09-2020, 10:42 AM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
12 Must Try Congee In Singapore
 Zhen Zhen Porridge 真真粥品 Maxwell Road Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street #01-54, Singapore 069184 Opening Hours: 5:30am – 2:30pm (Wed – Mon), Closed Tues There are several stalls famous for congee at Chinatown and Maxwell Food Centre, such as Tiong Shian Porridge Centre and Hoe Kee Porridge, but many have a soft spot for Zhen Zhen Porridge. However, the waiting time was a bit longer than I would have liked. As mid-morning is their rush hour, you may want to get there a bit early. The queue was not entirely the reason for the wait, as the aunties inside took a painstakingly long time to cut up the ingredients and get orders. Choose between Fish Porridge, Chicken Porridge, Sliced Fish with Shredded Chicken and Century Egg, Century Egg and Chicken, and Fish Belly Porridge ($3, $4, $5). The congee was warm and pleasant with thick and dense rice grains cooked to a perfect consistency. Every spoonful was full of delicious ingredients like meat, chicken, and century egg along with other peripherals of spring onion, shallots and chopped preserved vegetables. It is easily one of the better congees around Singapore with its smooth texture and varied constituents. Note: While there are stated opening hours, Zhen Zhen Porridge may close as and when.  Sin Heng Kee Blk 685 Hougang Street 61, Singapore 530685 Opening Hours: 7am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun) When I did a poll on the most recommend congee in Singapore on IG Stories, Sin Heng Kee easily came up tops. Sin Heng Kee takes up an entire coffeeshop at Hougang Street 61, and has another branch at Yishun Junction 9. The place is always swarming with people and its best to go in early. They serve extremely thick concoction, which is the result of hours and hours of boiling to right consistency. The recommended bowl is the Signature Porridge ($5) which includes a mixture of pig’s organs, pork slices and meat balls; while you can also order the Century Egg with Lean Meat, Sliced Fish or Triple Egg Porridge ($4, $4.50). The congee itself could be a bit bland to some, but the texture was nicely-creamy when mixed with yolk. The best parts were the minced pork and mixed organs which were tenderly-soft. I would have liked the bowl better if I didn’t feel that thirsty after the meal. You can also get fried dough fritter ($0.80) with the congee. However, it comes in a plastic bag and unfortunately soggy. Most regulars who bothers to, would go to the opposite kopitiam to ta-bao freshly-fried ones, and the shop seems to allow that.  Ah Chiang’s Porridge (Tiong Poh Road) 65 Tiong Poh Road (Tiong Bahru), Singapore 160065 Opening Hours: 6am – 11pm (Mon – Sun) Ah Chiang’s Porridge at Tiong Bahru (not the Toa Payoh branch, which is…) has been my regular favourite since the good-old days, though I must say they used to be better – say 2-3 years back when there was visibility more ingredients. The shop is run on the principles of a healthy, hearty meal at an affordable price. The setup is quite simple and minimalistic with the porridge shop, opening at 6am and serving simmering hot fresh porridge. Each bowl of porridge is prepared post ordering, so be prepared to wait around 10 to 15 minutes. The congee is essentially Cantonese style and combines other ingredients like pork, seafood, chicken, vegetables, or century egg. Usually my favourite would be the Mixed Pork Organs with Meatballs. While it may look simple and plain, it has a creamy consistency with fresh ingredients. Add some soy sauce, pepper and cut chilies, and you have got yourself a delightful bowl. Tip: There are some side dishes of Fried Wantons and Dou-$$$$ which you can get.  Xian Ji Porridge 57 Eng Hoon Street (Tiong Bahru), Singapore 160057 Opening Hours: 7am – 1pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon This is quite an under-rated congee stall, though it is frequently sold out early in the morning (even though closing time states noon.) It is run by two sisters who work tirelessly, stirring the pot several hours before the opening hours to get the rice grains to a perfect smooth and creamy consistency. A bowl ($7) with an egg (additional $1) contains chunks of fresh pork meat, minced meat balls and small intestines, generous portions of chopped vegetables (watercress), and some pepper and soy sauce. Flavourful, full of ingredients, and extremely comforting.  Mui Kee Congee Singapore 妹記生滾粥品 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road, #01-12. Singapore 228208 Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am – 3pm Last Order 2.30pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon Known for its Cantonese style congee, Mui Kee Congee 妹記生滾粥品 from Hong Kong) has opened a permanent space at Shaw Centre under the Les Amis Group. The classic range of congee includes Sliced Parrot Fish Belly, Homemade Pork Meatballs, Pig’s Innards (livers and intestine), Sliced Beef and Pork with Century Egg priced at $7.80 onwards. Premium range of congee such as Alaskan Crab Legs, Hokkaido Scallops and Braised Abalone are also available at $16 – $20. The congee is said to be prepared from scratch, following a five-hour-long process in which the raw rice grains are first mixed with mashed century eggs, which help to break down the grains. Pork bones and fish stock are then added and the mixture is stirred every 5-10 minutes, for 5 hours for a luxuriously creamy end product. The vanishing tradition of cooking in copper pots is also kept alive here. This seemed to be more watery than the Hong Kong version.  Yin Ji 银记肠粉店 Far East Square 133 Amoy Street #01-01 Singapore 048775 Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 8pm (Sat), Closed Sun Yin Ji 银记肠粉店 which originated in Guangzhou in the 50s, has set up its Singapore flagship at Far East Square. Congee choices include the ‘all-in-one’ Boat ($6.50), Sliced Fish ($7.00), Sliced Pork ($6.00), Sliced Pork and Liver ($7.00), Sliced Tender Bee ($7.00) , Century Egg & Pork ($6.50) and Vegan ($4.00). The texture of the Congee was very close to what I would find in a reasonably good Cantonese restaurant in Singapore – slightly sticky, with rice broken into smooth consistency. It was not as out-of-this-world as some of the great Hong Kong ones I tried, but if you are craving for this particular style, it would be a good bet. The bowl was topped with sliced egg, spring onions and peanut which added some crunch. Some may find this overall slightly to the bland side, and reach out to some soy sauce. But I have the feeling people who work at Raffles Place are more health-conscious, and won’t mind something plainer for lunch.  Ri Ji Porridge 269B Queen Street, Singapore 182269 (Bugis MRT) Opening Hours: 7am – 7pm (Mon – Sun) This congee stalls goes back to 1976. It was first started by Mr. Wong, and the family recipe has been passed down since then with innovations and improvements to bring its regular patrons the best-selling Cantonese porridge in the area. The business is small and robust with the servers working tirelessly to make the most palatable and rich congee. According to Dr Leslie Tay from ieatishootipost.sg, the porridge is cooked via a steaming process. Varieties available here include Pork Congee ($3), Fish Congee ($3.50), Cuttlefish and Peanut Congee ($3.50), and Century Egg Congee. Although the congee looked simple, and possibly one of the ‘plainest’ I had (in this list), the consistency was smooth and slippery, and didn’t feel jelak (rich) finishing the entire bowl. While you are here, not to be missed is also the Chee Cheong Fun ($2).  Chai Chee Pork Porridge 85 Bedok North Street 4, #01-210 Fengshan Market and Food Centre, Singapore 460085 Opening Hours: 5pm – 2am (Mon – Sun) Chai Chee Pork Porridge is one of those stalls that you would usually find people queuing at the 85 Fengshan Market. In fact, they are so popular that they have 2 stalls – one which they open in the day, and the other at night till late. The earlier stall becomes a preparation stall for the night stall. The Pork Porridge ($3.50) was cooked until it is thick and smooth with an almost gluey texture filled with yummy minced pork and lean pork meat, topped with you tiao and spring onions. Such a bowl of happiness.  Li Fang Porridge 丽芳粥品 270 Queen Street, #01-78, Singapore 180270 (Bugis MRT) Opening Hours: 7am – 9pm (Mon – Sun) Li Fang Porridge has a number of shops around Singapore. The main outlet is at Queen Street Albert Centre, with other branches at 20 Ghim Moh Road, ABC Market, 115 Bukit Merah View, 407 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, 293 Yishun Ring Road, 207 New Upper Changi Road and 208D New Upper Changi Road. They have a number of seafood-based choices, such as Seafood Congee ($20 – no typo), La La Congee ($5), Mixed Scallop Congee ($5.50), Prawn Congee ($5), Sliced Fish with Cuttlefish Congee ($4.50). I chose the standard Lean Meat with Century Egg ($3.50), and appealed with its richer taste and creamy texture. However, of all the bowls of congee I had in this list this bowl left me with the greatest thirst.  Congee 88 127 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310127 Opening Hours: 7am – 3pm (Tues – Sat), 7am – 2pm (Sun) 88 粥品 (88 Zhou Pin) at Toa Payoh serves up a familiar yummilious taste of Hong Kong styled congee, the quality kind that you would find along the roads of Nathan Lane. On a fine breakfast outing, the single bowl relieved my cravings for Kowloon street food. What’s Congee without the good old familiar youtiao? The dough stick was freshly deep-fried on the spot and served one long stick on top of the bowl in its entirety. Some of the recommended Congee included the Meat Ball & Century Egg, Prawn Ball and Meat Ball & Intestine Congee where the meatballs were home-made with a secret recipe. If you wonder why you could get hotel quality food in a hawker centre, that was because Chef Au worked in Westin Hotel, Raffles Hotel and Hong Kong’s Shangri-La before he moved up to set up his own stall.  Johor Road Boon Kee Pork Porridge 638 Veerasamy Rd, Singapore 200638 Opening Hours: 6:45am – 2:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon A slightly under-the-radar stall (at least on the social media sphere), but don’t be deceived as this Hainanese porridge stall attracts a constant crowd and often sold out way before closing time. The basic bowl starts with $3, and there are various options such as pork, chicken, sliced fish, cuttlefish, or a combination of the ingredients. Additional egg or century egg cost $0.50 extra, and I would reckon it is worthwhile to add both. Rest assured this is a nourishing, filling, belly-warming bowl, and you would find the texture much-thicker than the usual Cantonese style ones. The grains are still slightly distinguishable, but yet it is overly still smooth. Still flavourful with tender pork.  Canton Paradise Marina Bay Sands 2 Bayfront Avenue #01-02 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018972 Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10:30pm, Last Order 10:00pm (Mon – Thu) 10:30am – 11:00pm, Last Order 10:30pm (Fri – Sun, Eve of PH, PH) The consistency of this Cantonese style Handmade Meatball Congee ($9.80) should stand out. As I scooped up a spoonful, I could tell by appearance that it had a velvety smooth and silky texture. Using a combination of Japanese pearl and Thailand fragrant jasmine rice, this is a result of dedicated effort by the chefs who constantly stir the pot to ensure its uniformity. It reminded me of a good old Hong Kong style congee, looking pearly-white and plain, but tasty enough. I also liked the pork meatballs which were freshly prepared by hand, and had a firm elastic bite.
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03-09-2020, 11:41 AM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
12 Must Try Ban Mian In Singapore
  China Whampoa Home Made Noodles Blk #01-24, 91 Whampoa Dr, Singapore 320091 Opening Hours: 8am – 2pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon This Whampoa Ban Mian came up most highly recommended among many DFD’s readers. The signature bowl is the Home-Made Noodles with Prawns ($4, $5), but if you are lazy to pluck off the shells, there are choices of abalone clams, sliced fish, fish maw, and pig’s kidneys. The wait is said to be long, but fortunately you do not have to wait in line under the mad-heat as a buzzer would be provided. The wait wasn’t longer than 20 minutes when I visited them early afternoon, and they were quite efficient in getting orders out. The hawkers make their noodles within the stall in little batches, with a range of delicious ingredients like fish slices, clams, abalone or prawns. It is then added to the light and clear broth with mani cai to give it a tangible sweetness. I tried the Abalone Clams Hand Made You Mian ($4) and enjoyed how “qing” (light and sweet) the soup base was. Egg lovers may be disappointed as it came without it, but I reckon that is about the style so that you can appreciate the soup better.   L32 Hand Made Noodles 558 Geylang Road (Lor 32), Singapore 389509 Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon In terms of Dry Ban Mian, I think this famous stall at Geylang can easily be ranked as Top 3 in Singapore (1st for many, I would assume.) This little stall is owned by a couple who make Ban Mian out of their love for cooking and excellent culinary skills. One of their ‘formulas’ is to leave the soup to simmer for over 10 hours a night before. Coupled with their handmade noodles and star ingredients of anchovies and meat or seafood ingredients, the Ban Mian is a considered a bowl of heaven to many. There are choices of pork, chicken, fishball, meatballs, prawn, sliced fish, abalone clam, fish head, and prawn with sliced fish. A bowl is priced from $4 to $7. It was the Dry Bee Hoon Kway, tossed in a sweetish black sauce that stole my heart. I would recommend adding some of the chilli sauce in to balance out the sweetness. All their ingredients are said to be fresh and soup MSG free.   Qiu Lian Ban Mee 100 Beach Road #01-38/39/40 Shaw Tower, Singapore 189702 Opening Hours: 8am – 9pm (Mon – Sun) Maybe I am impartial towards Qiu Lian, because theirs was the very FIRST Ban Mian I ever eaten (and I remember having it at Bishan, Marina Square and Changi Airport.) Of course, they are very famous now and even have their own packets of ready-to-cook noodles sold in super markets. The signature is the Qiu Lian Ban Mee of freshly made handmade noodles in rich soup. There are also other options such as Ban Mee with Prawns, Fried Fish Fillets, Tom Yam Ban Mee, Ah Ma Mee Hoon Kuay, Wa Wa Clam-shells Soup, Dry Braised Pork Ban Mee, Dry Pork Balls Ban Mee and Qiu Lian Dumplings Soup. There are three elements which I thought made it work – the handmade noodles with the right thickness and springy texture, soup that is very flavourful on its own without any toppings, and the crispy anchovies. Though I wish they could be more generous with their serving of crispy ikan billis. Their Mee Hoon Kway is also usually towards the thicker side.   Qiu Rong Ban Man Seafood Soup 51 Old Airport Rd, #01-30, Singapore 390051 Opening Hours: 9:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun) Surprisingly, their soup base turned out to be one of my favourites – quite under-rated I thought. Qiu Rong Ban Mian has changed locations over the years (previously from Roxy Square), but the stall still has the same friendly couple serving their piping hot bowls. Uncle and auntie have been successfully running the stall for over 20 years now. However, a first-time customer may just miss out on their Ban Mian offerings, as the signage is more prominently featuring their Pork Ribs Soup and Chicken Mee Suah in Red Wine ($4.00). Offerings include Sliced Fish Ban Mian ($4.50), Tom Yam Seafood Noodles ($5.00), Mee Hoon Kway + Prawn ($3, $5) or You Mian ($3.00). While I thought that their Mee Hoon Kway’s texture was pretty ‘standard’ and decent, it was their rich, flavourful soup with fried ikan bilis that gave a salty kick and crunch that made a difference. Comforting homemade noodles to warm you up and satiate your cravings.   Top 1 Home Made Noodle Beauty World Food Centre #04-44, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 588177 Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sun), Closed Wed This handmade Ban Mian which has been around since 1989, the stall is located at a corner unit of the top floor food centre of Beauty World. This is one of the few stalls where you can have rather varied permutations, to have your own personalized bowl by picking out the type of noodles and soup with a choice from many delectable ingredients. Noodles wise, choose from mee hoon kway, you mian (thin noodles), ban mian (flat noodles), mee suah, bee hoon, Hong Kong mee, and cintan mee (egg noodles). Four choices of bases are available – soup, tom yum, hot & spicy, and dry; to be paired with ingredients of fresh prawn, meat balls, sliced fish, fish maw or abalone. A bowl without the luxurious ingredients is priced at $4 or $5. Most people would opt for the dry version which is dribbled with a generous serving of dark sauce. I had the soup version, which I found to be in between – not too rich or mild, but still flavourful. BUT, the real magic to me, is that killer chilli sauce which is very shiok to have. Just a little can make a whole lot of difference.   Poon Nah City Home Made Noodles 810 Geylang Road, #05-02 City Plaza, Singapore 409286 Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon – Sat), 10am – 7pm (Sun) City Plaza is known for their clothing stores, Arnold’s Fried Chicken and Poon Nah City Home Made Noodles. Finding this place may be tricky for first timers, especially if the escalator is down and you would feel like you are caught in 1990s Singapore. Located at City Plaza’s food center on the 5th level, they have over 8 different varieties of noodles ranging from mee sua, mian and ban mian, bean flour and egg noodle. You can pair it with your choice of ingredients such as abalone clams, kidney, sliced fish, fish maw, or prawns ($3.50, $4.50). They add wolfberry leaves for that earthy-mellow taste in the soup. Noodles were on the soft side, so views can be divided as some of prefer something chewier. Of all the stalls I tried, I would say I am quite indifferent to this as I thought it didn’t have that one distinctive factor that stood out – whether it was the noodles or soup or ingredients. But overall, a not-too-bad bowl.   Madam Leong Ban Mian 7 Maxwell Road #02-109 Amoy Street Food Centre Singapore 069111 Opening Hours: 8am – 3pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun Where you can relish Hakka-style ban mian made with love. The business was set up when single-mum Vivian (Madam Leong) needed to find a means to support her teenage daughter. So this is a stall with both heart and soul. Other than Mee Hoon Kway ($4, $5), Ban Mian ($4, $5) and Tom Yum Ban Mian ($5.50, $6.50), the dish that came highly recommended was the Dry Chilli Ban Mian ($4.50, $5.50). The eggy Ban Mian came with an agreeable, almost al-dente-like bite that it reminded me of pasta. The sauce tasted like the typical sweet-savoury type similar to many stalls, but it was when the dry chilli part was mixed in when it lifted the overall taste. The mushrooms, cooked soft as though it was in a bowl of tasty Bak Chor Mee, were a worthy accompaniment.   456 Mian Fen Guo 59 Food Court, 59 Upper Changi Road Singapore 461059 Opening Hours: 9am – 3pm (Fri – Tues), Closed Wed, Thur (Google stated it is “permanently closed” but I just went last week!) Those who stay Bedok told me this is a ”die die must try” Ban Mian. Helming the stall is the young Dickson Ng who took over the stall from this grandmother. The draw is in the handmade noodles, prepared using Australian imported flour which would provide a springier texture. You would notice that the helpers only start churning out the noodles fresh upon ordering. Business is always brisk, and most are there for the Mian Fen Guo ($3.50, $4) available in both dry and soup versions. While the soup looked light, it actually packed in quite a bit of flavours with sweetness coming from corns and ikan billis. The type of rainy weather food.   Seletar Sheng Mian 210 Lor 8 Toa Payoh Singapore 310210 Opening Hours: 6am – 2pm (Mon – Tues, Fri – Sun), Closed Wed, Thurs (Another outlet at Blk 226H Ang Mo Kio Street 22, Kebun Baru Food Centre) Compared with other stalls with various combinations of topping, this stall came with more straight-forward choice of Mee Hoon Kway ($3.50, $4, $5) and Sheng Mian ($3.50, $4, $5), both available in soup and dry versions. While you can supposedly add anchovies or vegetables, I was told ”not enough” even though I was there early in the morning. Honestly, I think part of the reason why the stall attracts a constant queue is due to its affordability – a $3.50 bowl with prawns. The Mee Hoon Kway had moderate ‘thinness’ with good bite; while the soup might not be as rich and flavourful as some would have expected. Slightly above the average bowl in terms of taste, but generous for its price.   Greenview Café Far East Plaza #04-06 14 Scotts Road Singapore 228213 Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun Located at one other end of Orchard Road, Level 4 of Far East Plaza has a lot to offer in terms of inexpensive fuss-free eateries, but this particular food stall tucked on corner is the food fix you need. It has limited seating so you may consider taking-away. In terms of noodles alone, there are choices of Minced Pork Mee Hoon Kuey ($4.50), Herbal Soup Mee Hoon Kway ($5.50), Fried Mee Hoon Kuey ($5.00), Prawn Mee Hoon Kuey ($4.50), Fishball Mee Hoon Kuey ($4.50), Sliced Fish Mee Hoon Kuey ($5.00), and Tom Yum Mee Hoon Kuey ($5.50). Their Mee Hoon Kueh ($4.50) is probably the version that came with the most irregularly shaped pieces – confirmed hand-made. The soup that came without egg, was slightly on the mild side for me. Shall have the dry version next time, as most every other table had a bowl with it.   Grandma Ban Mee 老妈子板面 Amoy Street Food Centre #01-07, 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111 Opening Hours: 10.30am – 2pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat – Sun This relatively popular stall at Amoy Street Food Centre serves up both soup and dry versions of Ban Mian ($4, $5), but it is the Ban Mee Dry that most customers seem to be ordering. It reminded me of a dry bowl of La Mian, with thin long you mian, topped with minced pork, braised mushrooms, black fungus, deep fried anchovies, runny egg and the highlight of it all… the chilli. Toss your noodles well, and the relatively fiery-spiciness of the chilli is quite shiok, enticing enough to make you want to finish the bowl; while the mushrooms were soft and flavoursome. There is an accompanying bowl of spinach soup, which was to the plainer side.   He Jia Huan Ban Mian Mee Hoon Kway 75 Lorong 5 Toa Payoh #01-14 Singapore 310075 Opening Hours: 3pm – 3am (Mon – Sat), 2pm – 2am (Sun), Or till sold out The one main reason I took note of this stall is that it opens up to 3am every day. I don’t think there are many place in Singapore serving up Ban Mian beyond midnight. This stall at Toa Payoh serves up Mee Hoon Kway, Ban Mee with Meatballs, U-Mee with Abalone Clams, Mee Hoon Kway Prawns, Sliced Clams Ban Mian and E-Mee, all in both dry and soup versions. Each bowl is priced at $4. If you are feeling indulgent, there is an all-in signature bowl at $12. The soup was moderately flavoursome, not the super rich and tasty type, and I did wish there was slightly more pork and fried ikan billis. The Mee Hoon Kway had a pleasant, chewy bite though. Looking at what the other customers were ordering, I reckon that the dry version is more popular, which I will order next time I pay them a visit.
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03-09-2020, 11:57 AM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
Top 10 Herbal Soup Restaurant In Singapore
 1) Tan Ser Seng Herbs Restaurant Tan Ser Seng Herbs Restaurant has been in the industry for over 70 years, and as such have garnered quite a following. Customers flock there for their turtle soup, but if you’re not too adventurous there are other kinds of herbal soups there too. They can be found at Lor Bachok.  2) Ivy’s Hainanese Herbal Mutton Soup f you’re craving herbal soup for lunch or dinner, just head on over to Ivy’s at Pasir Panjang Food Centre. They serve traditional Hainanese herbal mutton soup, which is stewed for hours with a cocktail of more than 20 herbs. Add to this a dollop of chef Max Ng’s homemade chilli paste and you’ll have an additional kick.  3) Seng Kee Black Chicken Herbal Soup Seng Kee’s has a rich history, beginning over 50 years ago, when Mr Seng Kee began selling black chicken herbal soup as a hawker. Fast forward to today and the soup is just as popular as it was, only now it’s served in a comfortable restaurant. The Seng Kee team also serves Mee Sua and other dishes.  4) Lim Soup Too often, restaurant soups are full of MSG. This is not the case with Lim Soup, as they guarantee no MSG or MSG equivalents are used to season their soups. All you will get is high-performance ingredients that nourish you with “collagen, antioxidants & fiber”. They even have unique soups like Old Coconut Chicken Soup. Visit Lim Soup at Bukit Merah Central.  5) Imperial Restaurant Healthy food doesn’t have to be bland, in fact, Imperial wants you to enjoy a tasty meal that’s good for you. They use traditional Chinese imperial philosophies with their cooking, particularly emphasizing the usage of less sugar, salt and seasonings. They have quite a range of soups to offer, and you can order other dishes to pair with it too.  6) Soup Restaurant Soup Restaurant is a franchise, with several branches throughout the island. They keep Samsui heritage alive and well with authentic Chinatown Heritage Cuisine. The concept for Soup Restaurant came about in 1991, when the first outlet was opened on Smith Street. The founders had noticed that Herbal Soups gained popularity in Hong Kong, and took inspiration from there with their local version.  7) theherbalbar It’s the closest you’ll get to a homecooked meal, seeing as the recipes here are generational, and influenced by the founder’s mother – who was a Traditional Chinese Medicine physician. They set out to create meals that are tasty, without overusing salt, sugar and oil. There is also no MSG in their food, only natural ingredients are used. You can get soups like Mini Buddha Jumps Over The Wall, Lotus Root Soup and others.  8) Kent Thong Turtle Soup Yet another location to get Turtle Soup is Kent Thong’s, located on Smith Street. Trek your way to Central Singapore-Chinatown Complex Food Centre to find them. They have been around for many years, and besides the famed Turtle soup, they also serve Mutton Soup and Herbal Black Chicken Soup. With a straightforward and simple menu, they know what works for them and stick to it.  9) Wild Turtle Herbal Soup Though the name of the shop suggests they only serve Turtle soup, this is not the case. They also serve several other dishes there. These include Black Chicken Soup and Braised Crocodile Meat. You can opt to complete your meal with yam or white rice. Head over to Cambridge Road for a fix at this store.  10) Earth Jar Treasure Earth Jar Treasure is located at Block 22, Sin Ming Road. They are open for lunch and dinner, the perfect place to get your soup craving sorted out. The herbal soups they have include Ginseng Chicken Soup, Pork Soup to stimulate appetite, Black Chicken Soup to cultivate blood, and Lotus Pork Soup for heat relief.
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03-09-2020, 12:34 PM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
10 Must Try Kway Chap In Singapore
  Chris Kway Chap 瑞庆粿汁 216 Bedok North Street 1, #01-80 Block 216 Bedok North Street 1 Market & Food Centre Singapore 460216 Opening Hours: 8am – 2pm (Thu – Sun), Closed Mon – Wed This highly-recommended stall often attracts long line once it opens at 8am in the morning, and till 2pm (or sold out). Though not the cheapest of them all, you can get a bowl of kway and a platter for meats starting at $5.00. This is a “set menu” which includes the chef’s choice of 5 items. So some customers may not like that they cannot choose their preferred 5 items. You can choose to top up additional items such as egg, tau pok, tau kwa, pig skin, pork knuckle, pork belly, preserved vegetables (only weekends) and tau kee. The secret comes the seemingly bottomless pot, simmering a well-balanced braising liquid – it is both sweet and savoury and carries herbal notes. All ingredients, from thoroughly cleaned intestines to pork belly, are braised for hours in this potent pot of umami flavour. Another secret to its success is that Chris is particular about keeping all the intestine and parts clean, and braises them separately (rather than dump them together in a pot).   Garden Street Kway Chap 呀侖街粿汁 49A Serangoon Garden Way, #01-21 Serangoon Garden Market, Singapore 555945 Opening Hours: 8am – 3pm (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon One of the most popular stalls in Serangoon Gardens Food Centre, Garden Street Kway Chap is known for its diners lining up to buy their highly rated rice noodle sheets and braised meats. Founded in the 1940s by the late Mr. Koh, it has been run by grandson Jason since 2005. Jason prepares, cuts, and arranges his food meticulously, so do be prepared to wait. Their Kway Chap has a noticeably lighter flavour compared to other stalls. The boiled flat rice sheets are delicately smooth, silky and not unpleasantly too thick. The brown soup base, made with from a home recipe of 15 ingredients, is boiled for at least 2 hours to develop its robust, herbal taste. To complete your kway chap, add a platter of their meticulously cut meats – pork belly, pig trotter, pig intestine, pig stomach, pork skin, and lean meat. Though lean, they are not dry but still tender and well braised. Intestines are prepared well and cooked properly, leaving out the unappealing stench and retaining a springy texture.   Blanco Court Food Centre Kwap Chap (3rd Storey) 多丽哥粿汁 51 Old Airport Road, #01-135 Old Airport Road Food Centre, Singapore 390051 Opening Hours: 10:30am – 3pm (Wed – Fri, Sun), 10:30am – 3:30pm (Sat), Closed Mon, Tues This stall has several names, from “Blanco Court Food Centre (3rd Storey)”, “Blanco Court Kway Chap” (unofficial name) to “To-Ricos Guo Shi”, so it may get a bit confusing. They have sets for or 1 or 2 persons, and you can order an add-on if you like additional ingredients or innards. Ingredients that can be bought separately include pig trotters ($5), big intestines ($4), pig’s stomach ($4), pork belly ($4), pig skin ($1, $2), tau kwa (80cents), to braised eggs (60 cents) Some of the other components were more to the average side, which I wished had a more braised taste. The pork slices were slightly leaner and blander than I wished. The favourite part in the entire plate was the intestines, cut in large bite-size pieces, are spongy tender yet not springy. Interesting to note that the stall does not offer small intestines.   Bishan 284 Kway Chap 284 Bishan Street 22, Singapore 570284 Opening Hours: 8:30pm – 3am (Mon – Sun) Open starting at 8:30pm, this Kway Chap stall at 284 Bishan is an ideal venue for a cheap and filling supper option. It has been a popular spot for late-night cravings as it dishes out Kway Chap until 3am. Their version of kway is doused in a soy-based broth that leans on the sweet side. If you enjoy things sweet, then a bowl would not be enough. Soft and thin, the rice sheets complement that light bodied, not-too-oily broth. Ingredients are fresh; you can tell they thoroughly cleaned and cooked the intestines, marinating it for full flavour. Sorry, but they don’t have pork trotters here. They do offer pig ears aside from their pig skin and pork belly. Worth mentioning for chili lovers that their chili packs a punch and sour-good.   Chuan Lai Guo Zhi Wang, Quan Lai Kway Chap 560 MacPherson Road, Sin Fong Restaurant, Singapore 368233 Opening Hours: 9am – 3am (Mon – Sun) This is one of the Kway Chap not found in a hawker centre. Quan Lai’s Kway Chap broth is quite well-known with its strong spiced and herbal taste. It has been around for more than 50 years. While savoury, it is easy on the saltiness. The rice sheets are cooked together with the rich broth, absorbing all the flavours. For the braised platter, they offer duck meat aside from the usual pig intestines, pork belly, taupok, tofu, ngoh hiang, fishcake, and egg. Portions are generous but comes with a price at $12.00/person with duck, more expensive the other typical Kway Chap stalls. Order their Fried Large Intestines, enjoyably crispy outside and slightly chewy inside with little gamey taste.   Boon Tong Kee Kway Chap Braised Duck 文通记粿汁卤鸭 70 Zion Road #01-24 Zion Riverside Food Centre, Singapore 247792 Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Thurs – Tue), Closed Wed Bong Toon Kee’s slurp-worthy version of Kway Chap ($10 for 2, $15 for 3) comes with a generous portion of well-cleaned offal (small and large pork intestines), braised duck meat, braised eggs, tau pok (fried bean curd) and tofu. If you are dining alone, there is an individual set priced at $3.50, worthy for its price for the generous portion also included with pieces of duck. Interesting to note is that recipes developed by the owner Madam Yang, derived from the internet and through experimentation instead of being some age old family recipe The intestines won’t give you that the ‘off’ smell, as they take time to clean then carefully before braising them in a thick gravy made from dark soy sauce, meat stock and aromatic Chinese herbs.   Cheng Heng Kway Chap and Braised Duck Rice 進興粿汁.鹵鴨飯 44 Holland Drive, #02-05 Holland Drive Food Centre, Singapore 270044 Opening Hours: 7:30am – 2:30pm (Mon – Sun) Serving its own version of Kway Chap ($3.50 for individual set), Cheng Heng is one of stalls to head for when you crave for those soft and smooth rice noodles and, at the same time, Braised Duck Rice. Of the two components, I enjoy the ”kway” part better – which were really smooth and would just slide down as you take you bite. Also, the sheets do not clump together, which is also a testament to their ‘skills’. While the intestines could be slightly softer and the base sauce was slightly on the saltier side, there was no strong gamey taste and portion was good. The pig’s skin – even though I don’t normally order it, is not to be missed.   Blanco Court Kueh Chap 白兰阁粿汁 44 Holland Drive, #02-02 Holland Drive Market & Food Center, Singapore 270044 Opening Hours: 7am – 2:30pm (Tues – Thurs, Sat – Sun), Closed Mon, Fri Open as early as 7am, Blanco Court Kueh Chap allows you to start your day with a breakfast of kway chap. Named after its former location at the 4th storey of Blanco Court (junction of North Bridge Road and Ophir Road), it kept its name as Blanco Court Kueh Chap despite moving to Holland Drive. It originated in the 1950s by current operator Uncle Tan’s grandfather. Get a bowl of Kway Chap with a plate of braised meat, tau pok (fried beancurd), tau kwa, and braised egg for only $4.50. The braised pork is lean, tender and tasty. Blanco’s kway are delicately thin, very smooth and soft yet don’t stick together. They sit on a bowl of silky herbal broth, which appeal to those who prefer a lighter taste and not too heavy on dark soya sauce. If it is too mild for your taste, add some fried shallots or their piquant chili to enhance its flavour and cut through the sauce. Their chili has a tangy flavour with some sour notes to mingle with the proteins.   Shi Le Yuan 實叻園 Redhill Food Centre, 85 Redhill Lane Singapore 150085 Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon – Sun) Shi Le Yuan 實叻園 (selling Kway Chap) was once listed in the Michelin Guide Singapore in 2017, and made its return back in the 2019 list with a Michelin Plate. The Kway Chap is affordably priced at $3 or $4 for individual portion, $6 or $7 if you intend to share. I enjoyed that the intestines were soft and without that wonky after-taste. Perhaps the pork belly could have been softer, and customers may prefer tender and fattier melt-in-your-mouth texture. Compared to some other stalls which are usually heavier and dark braising sauce, could tell that this takes on a milder and perhaps ‘healthier’ approach. Maybe it has got to do with the customer base being generally more elderly.   Ah Heng Duck Rice 同济前阿兴鸭饭 531A Upper Cross Street, #02-64 Hong Lim Market & Food Centre, Singapore 051531 Opening Hours: 6:30am – 4pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon Ah Heng at Hong Lim Food Centre sells Kway Chap ($4 for one pax) with pig intestines. The kway – the broad, flat rice sheets were smooth though nothing to shout about, in a bowl full of the dark soy sauce gravy “chap”. What’s the draw was all its ingredient, from the greasy pork belly, soft and tender intestines without a strong smell, and the braised egg, all drenched in this dark sauce. I worried a little about my cholesterol levels, but the soft pig skin was totally appealing.
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03-09-2020, 02:07 PM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
Wow the pics look great - looks like I'll need to monitor this thread more often!
Anyway cholesterol intake through diet doesn't correlate strongly with your blood cholesterol level - so don't worry too much about eating too much cholesterol from food...
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YMMV Trust, but verify. 「一切有為法，如夢幻泡影，如露亦如電，應作如是觀。」 「若人欲了知，三世一切佛，應觀法界性，一切唯心造。」
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03-09-2020, 02:44 PM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
Quote:
Likewise, in reality, there aren't two Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee anymore as well. Only the one at Blk 359 Bukit Batok exists presently. Factually, Ah Seng has taken over Ah Kow's outlet at Hong Lim. Ah Seng has decided to keep Ah Kow's signboard because of its history and reputation, instead of using the Ah Seng brand name, and unsuspecting customers are under the impression that it is still Ah Kow's noodles that they are consuming. On another note, thanks to ET, I've finally found where MacPherson Minced Meat Noodles has shifted to.
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03-09-2020, 03:28 PM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
11 Honest Durian Stall In Singapore
1. Ninety-Nine Old Trees 99老树  Ninety-Nine Old Trees 99老树 is centrally located in Farrer Park, and they sell amazingly fragrant durians.  Their durians are freshly picked from trees that grow on rich soil in the lands of Bentong and Raub in Pahang, Malaysia. Every durian seed is checked to ensure that the fruits are ripe and fresh, so you can be assured of a pleasant durian experience. Psst, they’re one of the creamiest durians I’ve ever tasted!  If you’re worried about stinking up the car, you can even order the durians online and get them delivered to your doorstep. Ninety-Nine Old Trees 99老树: 46 Owen Road, #01-277, Singapore 210046 | Opening Hours: 10am – 11pm (During season) 2. Combat Durian  At Combat Durian, you’ll be served by Mr Ang, a durian seller in his 70s, who has been selling durians ever since he was a young man. His stall in Balestier has achieved a kind of iconic status, and it is no wonder that Combat Durian is popular with both locals and tourists. It sells out often in the early evenings, so be sure to check their Facebook page before heading down. They update it with a post notifying when daily stocks are sold out. Their durians come in fresh everyday at 5pm. Combat Durian: 249 Balestier Road, Singapore 329727 | Opening Hours: 1am – 9pm (Daily) 3. Sindy Top Quality Durians Stall 阿玲山芭榴莲摊  Sindy Top Quality Durians Stall 阿玲山芭榴莲摊 is a family business in Whampoa that has been serving customers durians for more than 30 years. It place emphasis on maintaining their reputation as a trustworthy quality durian supplier. There is little to argue against this renowned stall that has kept this track record for decades. Sindy Top Quality Durians Stall 阿玲山芭榴莲摊: Block 89 Whampoa Drive, #01-835, Singapore 320089 | Opening Hours: (no specific hours) 4. Wan Li Xiang 万里香  Many travel to Dempsey Hill enjoy a night of indulgence at the many restaurants and bars there. But little do you know that there is a durian stall that has been serving customers the king of fruits for many years. Located at a car park, Wan Li Xiang 万里香 has a kampong vibe, which is a stark contrast from its neighbouring F&B places. Prices do not come cheap at this stall but for a unique experience, try Wan Li Xiang. Wan Li Xiang 万里香: Block 7 Dempsey Road (Carpark), Singapore 249671 | Opening Hours: 3pm – 11.45pm (Daily) 5. Leong Tee Fruit Trader 龍池  Those living around the East Coast area would most probably be familiar with this stall along Tanjong Katong Road.It takes a certain kind of reputation to lure many of my friends who live in other parts of Singapore to come down specially to buy their durians from Leong Tee Fruit Trader 龍池. Needless to say, the owner has upheld an excellent reputation for honesty, and is possibly one of the most trustworthy durian sellers around. I experienced this first-hand at this stall. While eyeing a particular Mao Shan Wang durian, Leong Tee came to me and suggested that I take another one as it was bigger and better at the same price. Such service to ensure the maximum satisfaction is legendary indeed! Leong Tee Fruit Trader 龍池: 264 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437051 | Opening Hours: 2pm – 11pm (Mon – Tue), 2pm – 1am (Wed), 1pm – 11pm (Thu – Fri), 2pm – 11pm (Sun) 6. 818 Durian & Pastries  Having lived within a few minutes’ drive of 818 Durian & Pastries near Katong, this place is one of my go-to places for all things durian. Their durians are a little on the expensive side, but are guaranteed to be of top quality. This stall features excellent durian pastries as well. Durian lovers need to try their durian puffs and cakes, which are equally wonderful. If you are looking for a durian cake for a birthday celebration or just for normal consumption, look no further, because this is the place to come to. 818 Durian & Pastries: 201 Telok Kurau Road, #01-02, Singapore 423910 | Tel: Opening Hours: 11pm – 10pm (Daily) 7. 227 Katong Durian  Another of the stalls I usually frequent, 227 Katong Durian specialises in Mao Shan Wang durians. Durian prices are listed on its website and Facebook page, so you’ll know how much to prepare in advance. You will get quality durians from this stall, albeit at higher prices, but your taste buds will thank your pockets when you taste the delicious durians. 227 Katong Durian: 227 East Coast Road, Singapore 428924 | Opening Hours: 10.30am – 10.30pm (Daily) 8. Kong Lee Hup Kee Trading 公利合记货易公司  For those who truly live in the Eastern part of Singapore, you don’t have to suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out), especially if you reside in Pasir Ris. Started by a husband and wife team since its early beginnings, Kong Lee Hup Kee Trading 公利合记货易公司 is one of those rare stalls where you will see a lady opening durians for you. Prices are reasonable and their friendly service is often raved about at this stall. Kong Lee Hup Kee Trading 公利合记货易公司: Block 440, Pasir Ris Drive 6, #01-03, Singapore 510440 | Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 7.30pm (Sat & Sun) 9. Ah Seng Durian  Another long-established stall in Singapore, Ah Seng Durian is probably the most well-known durian seller in the Western part of Singapore. Durians undergo a strict quality check before being placed in the stall for sale. Ah Seng even makes personal visits to the plantation to ensure that the durians are aromatic and fleshy, so that they’ll satisfy all your cravings. Ah Seng Durian: Block 20 Ghim Moh Market, #01-119, Singapore 270020 | Opening Hours: 1.30pm – 8.30pm (Mon – Fri), 1.30pm – 6.30pm (Sat & Sun) 10. Botak Kho Durians  If you live in the West, you’ll be no stranger to Botak Kho Durians. Known for his reasonable prices, this stall offers prices that are hard to beat elsewhere in Singapore. And no, the quality of the durians are not compromised. For those who are looking for a good deal when buying durians, this is the place for you. Botak Kho Durians: Block 164, Avenue 6, Bukit Batok Street 11, Singapore 650157 (Next to Tiong Choon Trading) | Opening Hours: Check their website for update 11. Durian Kaki  Durian Kaki in Yishun may be a new face to many. Started by a group of young durian fanatics in 2015, this store is the modern version of your regular durian stall. Bright modern signage, chalkboard menus, glass panels, feature walls, and air-conditioning give the durian stall a bit of a café vibe. Who says that selling durian is only for the “uncles”? We can rest easy, knowing that our durian-eating traditions will carry on with these young sellers. Durian Kaki: 18 Yishun Avenue 9, #01-83, Junction 9, Singapore 768892 | Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon – Sun, store pick-up), 11am – 9.30pm (Mon – Sun, delivery)
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03-09-2020, 03:45 PM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
11 Must Try Western Food In Singapore
  Chef Hainanese Western Food Tanglin Halt Food Centre, 1A Commonwealth Dr, #01-04 141001, Singapore 141001 Opening Hours: 7pm – 9pm (Mon – Wed, Fri – Sun), Closed Thurs While the stall only opens at 7pm or so, you may see a line forming here from 6:30pm or even earlier. Nestled in the Tanglin Halt Hawker Centre, this is one of the most visited stalls for dinner, and for a very good reason. A father-and-son team helms the stall, and you would find the calling and cooking in clock-work efficiency. You will find traditional Hainanese style food with authentic Western flavours that are wholesome and filling. The price is quite affordable, but due to the limited working hours and only dinner time servings, customers are often welcomed by snaking long queues (and yes, please maintain your social distance). Their Mixed Grill Platters ($10) are very popular, which offers a serving of pork chop, tender chicken chops, fish cutlet and chicken sausage. Along with the meats, there was a dollop of coleslaw, baked beans, baked potato and crinkle cut fries. It’s a lot for one person, so make sure you bring your appetite with you. While I am never that a fan of Grilled Pork Chop due to possible tough meat and slight gamey taste, this stall offers one of the best versions at $6. Tender and well-marinated meat with a subtle grilled taste and a citrusy tang from the sauce. Old-school flavours, generous portion, the only thing holding me back is the long queue and longer wait.   Indulgence @ Commonwealth Tanglin Halt Food Centre, 1A Commonwealth Drive, #01-09 141001, Singapore 141001 Opening Hours: 10:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 5:30pm – 9pm (Sat), Closed Sun Located at the same Tanglin Halt Food Centre, the menu here is expansive. Wait? Aglio Olio for $3? Indulge in delicious Italian hawker stall food with inexpensive pasta dishes in huge heaps to satiate your cravings. The portion size at this stall is everything. The dishes come loaded with generous toppings and sides, and the service is quite efficient and swift. Western food items include Chicken Chop ($6.50), Crispy Chicken ($6.50), Chicken Cutlet ($6.50), Pork Chop ($7), Crispy Dory ($6.50), Grilled Dory ($7) and Ribeye Steak ($16). Customers can top-up with pasta choices of chicken Bolognese, carbonara, alfredo and pomodor. The Chicken Chop with Carbonara Pasta ($11.50) I ordered should be enough to feed two, as it came with a creamy and heavy base. The delectable thing about it was the crispy bacon strips that were plentiful and delicious, along with a glorious cracked egg atop the heap of pasta. I thought that the chicken chop was slightly too charred, though some would think it adds to the smoky taste.   Wow Wow West ABC Food Centre, 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-133, Singapore 150006 Opening Hours: 10:30am – 2pm, 4:30pm – 8pm (Tues – Sat), Closed Sun, Mon Wow Wow West which started as a school canteen stall, employs a number of ex-offenders in order to provide them a second chance to give back to society. (Christian Hokkien and Mandarin songs can often be heard playing in the background. The western food stall supported the Yellow Ribbon Project by hiring ex-offenders and ex-drug addicts to work. 2nd generation hawker Elizabeth Ng could be seen helping out at the stall with her father, and her life as a hawker started when she was helping out her father’s first stall at Raffles Institution, which was named “Wow Wow West” by the boys. Their delicious and affordable western food fare earned much popularity from the RI boys. Their signatures include the Chicken Chop and Chicken Cutlet, which is massive for just $6. The gravy and coleslaw used is also prepared on a daily basis and is not mass produced. I also usually add on an extra order of jumbo Cheese Sausage.   Western Barbeque Old Airport Road Food Centre, 51 Old Airport Rd, #01-53, Singapore 390051 Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Sun) This stall is famous for its Mixed Grill Set which includes chicken, lamb and pork, and other old-school Western style dishes such as the Chicken Chop, Pork Chop, Sirloin Steak, Lamb Chop and Chicken Wing plates. Their magic? The garlic sauce. The sauce is created using more than 10 ingredients and the recipe has remain unchanged for more than 2 decades. There is also another interesting item on the plate, which is an old-school butter bread supplied by Victoria Bakery & Confectionery, spread with butter and wrapped in plastic bag. The bread is fluffy with some of that familiar sweet taste. Use that and dip into some of the garlic sauce. Yums.   Tom’s Kitchen Taman Jurong Food Centre, 3 Yung Sheng Rd, #03-130, Singapore 618499 Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 8:45pm (Tues, Wed, Fri – Sun), Closed Mon, Thurs Tom’s Kitchen is a very famous stall at the Taman Jurong Food Centre, famous for the taste and flavours of the dishes, but also the value for money and amazing portion sizes that will satiate your cravings. (Though I must say this is one of the furthest in Singapore I have travelled to have Western food.) They have a huge variety of dishes, and almost all of them are under $8.50 or less. Items include Grilled Chicken Chop ($6), Grilled Fish ($6.50), Grilled Salmon ($7.50), Grilled Pork Chop ($6.50), Grilled Sirloin Steak ($8.50), Grilled Lamb Chop ($8.50), Chicken Cutlet ($6), Fish Cutlet ($6.50), and Pork Cutlet ($6). The Sirloin Steak ($8.50) is popular with good portion size and thick slices of beef drenched with brown mushroom sauce, and a generous side of coleslaw and fresh vegetables. The Chicken Chop ($6.50) also had a tasty thin layer of crisp matched with juicy meat. The fries were drizzled with chipotle powder to add a unique taste. On the flip side, waiting time can be quite long.   Ye Lai Xiang 1 Kadayanallur Street, Maxwell Food Centre, #01-94, Singapore 069184 Opening Hours: 12pm – 2pm, 6pm – 8:30pm (Tues – Fri), Closed Sat – Mon Maxwell Food Centre is quite famous for their wide range of stalls serving all kinds of local and international treats. Ye Lai Xiang is pretty well-known there, considered pioneers in introducing Hainanese western food in hawker centres, from the early days in Tanglin Halt and Margaret Drive. The recipe is said to be developed by the late master chef who was a head chef in the British Navy. Portions are generous, and meats evenly grilled. However, I did note that prices are increased overall since I last visited. Items include Chicken Chop ($7.50), Chicken Cutlet ($8), Pork Chop ($7.50), Pork Cutlet ($8), Fish and Chips ($8), and Lamb Chop ($16.50). For the Chicken Chop ($7.50), the large piece of chicken with a generous side of crinkle cut fries, sweet bun and mixed vegetables makes it quite filling. That succulent chicken chop, poured over with a special brown sauce with butter bun and canned beans, is so old school. But the side accompaniments such as fries and bun, were on the cold-side and not as impressive.   Apollo Western Food 105 Hougang Ave 1, #02-32 Hainanese Village Centre, Singapore 530105 Opening Hours: 12pm – 9pm (Wed – Mon), Closed Tues This is a family stall that is well-loved in this food centre in Hougang, with recipes that have the good old taste and flavours that we all know and love. There were many meaty temptations, including Ribeye Steak ($9.50), Lamb Chop ($8), Chicken Cutlet ($6), Chicken Chop ($5.50), Fish and Chips ($5) and Pork Chop ($6). The ordering system is not like the conventional – without any number. The auntie noted where I was sitting, and said she would “wave at me” when my order is ready. The Chicken Chop had a very standard preparation, with the perfect tenderness and not-bad sauce. The dishes came with crinkle cut fries and a warm toasted bun. I did wish that the portion of the meats were bigger – maybe it was just the plate I had.   Tip Top Western Food #01-22, 84 Marine Parade Central Market and Food Centre Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun) This is where you can get old-school Western food, now operated by 3rd generation owners. The items offered include Chicken Cutlet ($6.50), Pork Chop ($6.50), Fish & Chips ($6.50), Grilled Fish ($6.50), Steak ($8.00), Spring Chicken ($10), Fried Chicken Wing ($1.40), Chicken Bolognese Spaghetti ($5.00), and Cheese Fries ($3.50). The Chicken Chop ($6.50) came in a sizeable portion, tender and moist, liberally topped with pepper. It was overall an o-k-ay plate, perhaps because the sauce was more generic and needed that “oomph”.   Johnson Western Food 5 Cross Street, #01-37, Market Street, Interim Food Centre, 048424 Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat – Sun Delectable Western food can come from the most down-to-earth places and the owners of Johnson Western Food certainly know how to serve a plate of irresistible Chicken Cutlet ($5). Marinated and fried to a crisp, the cutlets are then served with a creamy serving of coleslaw. If you are not that into deep fried food, perhaps give their Mixed Grill ($8) a try which is also a pretty popular item on their menu.   Hot Plate Western Food 30 Seng Poh Road, #02-54 Tiong Bahru Food Centre, Singapore 168898 Opening Hours: 12pm – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 9:30pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues This stall labels itself as “Taiwan Style”, a stall at the popular Tiong Bahru Food Centre to get Western Food at satisfying portion sizes served on hotplate. In case you are wondering, there is also an item of Taiwan Style Crispy Chicken ($4.00). Although you have to wait a while for your order, the taste and value is definitely worth the wait. From tender and juicy Black Pepper Beef Steak ($8.50), Mixed Grill ($10.00), to satiating and blissful Chicken with Nachos Cheese ($6.50), everything is seasoned to perfection and comes sizzling hot. However, the best thing at the stall is the succulent Chicken Chop ($6.00) and Pork Chop ($6.00), a big slab with a light char on the outside. The dishes come loaded with fries and a traditional English style serving of beans and fried eggs to make it a complete meal.   Seng Huat Western Food Zion Road Food Centre, #01-12 70 Zion Rd, Singapore 247792 Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2.30pm, 5:30pm – 9pm (Wed – Sun) The inconspicuous stall at Zion Road Food Centre sells classic western food items such as Fish and Chips ($5) and Mixed Grill (7.50). (They used to have more exotic options such as Ostrich Steak.) They also have Chicken Chop and Chicken Cutlet Rice dishes which comes with fried egg for just $3.50. If not, go for the old-school classic options such as Grilled Chicken Chop and Chicken Cutlets ($5.50) which comes in sizeable portion of fries and baked beans.
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03-09-2020, 04:05 PM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
10 Must Try Chicken Rice In Singapore
  Hua Kee Chicken Rice 85 Redhill Lane, #01-72, Redhill Food Centre, Singapore 150085 Opening Hours: 8am – 12:30pm (Wed – Sat), Closed Mon – Sun Loyal followers would know it is owned and run by a 70 plus year old hawker, an affectionate auntie named Mdm Tan. For more than 40 years, she has served hundreds of diners and now her son, Jay Lim is helping her out. This no-frills hawker shop with a red signboard, a favoured lunch spot among locals, has a two-items menu: Chicken Rice ($4, $5) and Poached Chicken ($15 for half, $28 for whole). What gives the chicken meat its mild flavour is the blend of light soy sauce and chicken broth that serves as poaching liquid. The poached chicken was not overly greasy or saucy, in fact still tasted slightly ‘cold’, but had this smoothness which was quite alluring that I enjoyed very much. It adds that subtle savoury and sweetness that go well with the house made chili sauce. Simple but worth the wait for.   Sin Kee Famous Cantonese Chicken Rice Block 40, Stall 7, #01-39, Holland Drive, Singapore 270040 Opening Hours: 11am – 4pm or while stocks last (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon Founded in 1971 as a hawker stall at the now-defunct Margaret Drive Food Centre, it is a family business owned by a Mr. Leong. This stall is operated by one of his sons Benson. The flagship item Chicken Rice ($3.50, $4.00, $4.50) is the most popular in the menu line-up. Sin Kee’s chicken are poached in a flavourful stock using chicken bones and other seasonings, to produce chicken that’s tender, smooth-skinned, succulent, and evenly cooked through. An interesting method is that the chicken is plunged in icy water to “shock” the poultry. This cooking method results in a meat that is ‘crunchier’ and in a skin that is smoother. What makes diners constantly coming back for more is essentially their signature dish Chicken Rice, all chunky slices of chicken meat served with a plate of flavourful yet surprisingly, not as oily rice. Note: As per Sin Kee’s tradition, there is no soup served along with Chicken Rice.   Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice Maxwell Food Centre #01-10/11, 1 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore 069184 Opening hours: 10am – 7:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice which is probably Singapore’s most famous chicken rice stall outside of Singapore. The stall is helmed by Madam Foo Kui Lian and her children, and the business was initially set up by her elder brother. Anthony Bourdain said that the chicken rice was so fragrant and delicious that it could be eaten on its own. Gordon Ramsay took part in a “Hawker Heroes Challenge” and ‘lost’ to Tian Tian. (I use the word ‘lost’ loosely as it mattered just how the competition was carried out.) The smooth slippery chicken pieces were a highlight, soaked in an ice bath prior for a firmer texture and to lock in the natural juices. Tian Tian’s winning formula to me has to be its rice. I liked that it was generally warm, fluffy, and fragrant. Tasty enough after absorbing flavours of the stock, and I could just eat it with the chilli sauce and garlic. But perhaps nicer in the past.   Delicious Boneless Chicken Rice Katong Shopping Centre #B1-85/87, 865 Mountbatten Rd, Singapore 437844 Opening Hours: 10:30am – 8pm (Tues – Sun) This stall hidden in the basement of Katong Shopping Centre is well-loved by the Easties for obvious reasons. Other than being “Food King Good”, generous portions, the 2nd generation hawker is known to be an influencer with creative dances to ‘entertain’ customers. It is hard to miss as over 75% crowd of the food court is at this stall alone. A huge draw is in its portion size, the achar (love it with loads of pineapple) and that tasty cabbage soup served FOC. (I hear the soup ranges from pork ribs to peanuts, which is indeed substantial.) The chicken itself was juicy and tender, tasted more delicious with the flavoursome sauce and fried garlic. As for the rice, it would be a love it or so-so affair, as one would expect the grains to be more fragrant? But considering the overall package, its popularity is not without reason.   Chin Chin Eating House 19 Purvis Street, Singapore 188598 Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun) This no-fuss eatery located near Bugis is successfully running since 1934, and they offer a variety of authentic and delicious Hainanese dishes, including the famous steamed Chicken rRce with a great homemade dip and sauce. The recipe is passed down from generations, and several of the dishes still taste quite old-school. If you are ordering more, don’t forget about their Hainanese Pork Chop, Hainanese Mixed Vegetables aka Chap Chye, Hainanese Prawn Roll, Fish Maw Mixed Vegetables, and Black Pepper Beef. The Steam Chicken Rice ($5) was lightly drizzled with aromatic sesame oil and soy sauce which really enhanced the flavors of the well-cooked and succulent chicken. The rice was also cooked just right. I liked that it wasn’t too greasy and had a nice balance and fragrance from garlic and ginger.   Yet Con Hainanese Restaurant 25 Purvis Street, Singapore 188602 Opening Hours: 11:30am – 6pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 6:30pm (Sat – Sun) Yet Con Hainanese restaurant used to be really famous, known for its old-school taste and nostalgic vibes (though standard hasn’t been consistent recent few years). This is a small and unassuming restaurant at Purvis street that doesn’t seem to offer much at first glance. Sometimes, simplicity and minimalism is better, as you can enjoy your meal in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. It is one of THE places to get Hainanese chicken rice in the area. It is known for its “Tender Boiled Chicken with Chicken Stock Flavour Rice”, in which the chicken rice has homely flavours. Chicken meat was slightly above average in terms of tenderness to be honest. Seems like more people head there for the Signature Chicken Rice Steamboat (serves 2) which comes with a generous serving of hearty chicken broth, along with seafood and vegetables plate that can be shared among two people. The rice bowls can be ordered separately for $1.   Boon Tong Kee Chicken Rice Balestier Road, 399 401 & 403, Singapore 329801 Opening Hours: 11am – 3:30am (Mon – Sat), 11am – 2:30am (Sun) Boon Tong Kee had quite a humble beginning, but is now a successful running chain with 8 successful outlets (Whampoa West Blk 34, 425 River Valley Road, 199 East Coast Road, 18 Cheong Chin Nam Road, Blk 233 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, Tampines Century Square, and Compass One Sengkang Square. The flagship outlet at Balestier Road is the one listed with a “Michelin Plate”, serving as the prime spot to fulfill your chicken rice cravings day and night. Opened till the late hours of 3:30am on most days, this is a perfect place for the night owls. Their menu is extensive and offers a variety of home-style Chinese foods besides Chicken Rice as well. While the Chicken Rice ($19) is quite pricey, customers love their fluffy rice, chicken to their dipping sauce prepared to perfection. I liked the light and fragrant rice that wasn’t too greasy and had flavours from the chicken broth. As for the chicken, it was still slippery smooth and juicy, though I wished it was less bony.   Pow Sing Kitchen 59 Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555961 Opening Hours: 9:30am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun) The owners of this quaint and tasteful restaurant are Hainanese themselves, so you can expect authentic flavours from their menu. It is successfully running since 1983, and has many loyal customers and fans at the Serangoon Garden area. The food is reasonably priced, and there are many options besides chicken rice to choose from. However, I did hear they used to be better in the past – this I won’t know. Their Hainanese Chicken Rice is priced at $4, while a Drumstick Rice is at $5.50. Affordable considering this is a sit-down restaurant. Service was quick. The chicken was quite tender, while the rice wasn’t too oily or greasy, and had a mild scent and deep flavours from the chicken stock. The ginger sauce and bright chili sauce offered a pop.   Hainanese Delicacy #05-116 Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Rd, Singapore 228213 Opening Hours: 10:15am – 8pm (Tue – Sun) This restaurant has a pretty convenient location, just a few steps away from the Orchard MRT station in the Far East Plaza. However, only those in the know would head up to Level 5 for this Chicken Rice. It has a no-frills casual layout with simplistic décor, and is often packed during peak lunch hours. If you want to avoid tediously long queues, try to make it there before 12pm. The large menu is stuck on a glass wall. The Chicken Rice is quite reasonable priced at $4.50, and loved how tender and soft it was in texture. Enhance the flavours with some of the soy sauce, minced ginger and ‘power’ chili sauce. Also try their Drumsticks ($5.50) and Salted Vegetable Duck Soup ($5) with homely flavours.   Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant 201 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574343 Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon – Wed) Another well-known Chicken Rice eatery with those nostalgic vibes, Nam Kee is popular among the Upper Thomson families. Simplistic décor, old-fashioned booth and counter, nothing too elaborate. Chicken dishes included Hainanese Steamed Chicken ($14 for half, $28 for whole), Roasted Chicken, along with gizzard or liver. Braised egg and rice are at an addition of $1 each. The chicken meat had a strong garlic taste, and was not too bad. The rice was the weaker link, and perhaps lacked in the needed-aroma. The highlight of the dish for me, was their chili mix that tied the whole dish together and gave it a delectable sweet-spicy kick.
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03-09-2020, 04:21 PM
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Re: BEST FOOD DISCUSSION - Palatable, Savory, Delicious Food Found In ASEAN
12 Must Try Chendol In Singapore
 Jin Jin Hot / Cold Dessert 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-21 ABC Brickworks Market Food Centre, Singapore 150006 Opening Hours: 12:30pm – 10pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sun), Closed Wed Other than the signature Gangster Ice (Liu Mang Durian + Mango dessert), Jin Jin at ABC Brickworks Food Centre Hawker enjoys a steady line of customers waiting to get a taste of the Power Chendol. (Tip: Have it after the Tiong Bahru Yi Sheng Fried Hokkien Mee, which is located just opposite.) The stall is helmed by Calvin and Ewan, two friends who originally did not know anything about making desserts but proceeded to revive the stall when the original owner wanted to close it down. Prices of the desserts still remain about $1.50 and $2.00 on average. The stall received top votes at the Singapore Food Festival, and their fame lies in their delicious bowl of Power Chendol. Priced at $2, you get generous servings of ingredients, drizzled with thick Gula Melaka syrup imported from Indonesia and cooked daily by the stall owners. It is called ‘Power Chendol’ for a reason. The Gula Melaka was thick, flavourful and mildly sticky, almost like glue sticking on top of the mini-hill. The gooey and heavy palm sugar imparted an intense and rich flavour. The ice is rather compact, so may need some ‘knocking’ from the spoon to hit it apart and mix the syrup all in, which otherwise may be too sweet. Otherwise, very shiok.  Four Seasons Chendol 四季煎蕊 210 #01-07 Lor 8 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310210 Opening Hours: 11am – 12:30am (Mon – Sun) New branch at 724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6. Four Seasons Cendol is commonly recognized by many to serve the best cendol in Singapore. Other than an outlet at Toa Payoh Lor 8, I just discovered a branch at Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 Food Centre. Keep your expectations high when you visit this place for a rich and creamy bowl of sugary delight. Every bowl is prepared on order and swiftly put together within a minute so you don’t have to wait too long. It is exceptionally tasty and the presentation is also Instagram worthy (shoot your photos fast in this hot weather though). I got myself a bowl of Cendol for $2.20. The bowls already have attap seeds and red beans, filled up with thick green jelly and ice shavings in a perfect dome of deliciousness. The gooey Gula Melaka topping gave the cendol an appeasing, sweet lingering aroma. Special mention goes to the big red beans which were very soft (there are no small red beans by the way.) The stall opens till 12:30am by the way. Chendol for supper? No problem.  Dove Desserts 22 Lor 7 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310022 Opening Hours: 11am – 6pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun Seems like the famous Cendol stalls are found at Toa Payoh. Dove Desserts probably serves up one the cheapest bowl of Chendol at $1.80, although you can pay 70 cents extra for durian puree topping. (The Cheng Tng is only $1.20 by the way.) The Chendol at Dove Desserts is freshly prepared, with generous ingredients. I loved the springy and mildly fragrant jade green ‘worms’. While there is no one component that stand out, I thought that all ingredients balanced well, and complimented the Gula Melaka and creamy coconut milk. Ice was not too coarse as well. Note: Sometimes they are sold out way before closing hours.  Old Amoy Chendol 335 Smith St, Chinatown Point Food Centre #02-008, Singapore 050335 Opening Hours: 10:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun) (Monitor their Facebook as they may close from time to time) Branch: F&B12 Trengganu Street, Singapore 058466 Run by young hawkers, I would say that Old Amoy Chendol is one of the best versions I had in Singapore, with rich and thick Gula Melaka. It is located at Chinatown Food Centre, with a branch at F&B12 Trengganu Street (just downstairs). Get a delicious bowl of the famous cold dessert at only $2 for a bowl. From Gula Melaka to the green jelly, everything is prepared fresh from scratch every single day It was light with a lovely coconut taste, smoky and fragrant Gula Melaka to complement the soft and sweet red beans. The surprisingly element was the soft green jelly which had a distinct pandan fragrance. However, I tried it again recently and thought the ingredients weren’t as ‘full’ as before.  The Coconut Club 6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787 Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Sat), 11am – 3pm (Sun) The Coconut Club at Ann Siang Hill which received the Michelin Bib Gourmand, is actually famous not only for the Nasi Lemak, but Cendol as well. A bowl of Cendol ($3.80) at The Coconut Club is definitely more inclined towards the rich and creamy, with dense coconut milk that gives the bowl its most dominant flavor. If you want to enjoy it with red beans, you will have to pay $1.20 more. Would be happier if it was a bigger portion.  Nyonya Chendol 51 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, #02-147, Singapore 588215 Opening Hours: 10:30am – 8:30pm (Mon – Sun) Where did Nyonya Chendol come from? Out of the ‘sudden’, you see outlets popping all around the island with its distinctive white and green signboard, and menu of 4 Chendol items. You can find the stalls at Bukit Timah Food Centre, Old Airport Road Food Centre (#01-115), Whampoa Food Centre (#01-17), Blk 85 Redhill Food Centre (#01-57), Albert Street Food Centre (#01-69), and Boon Lay Food Centre (#01-130). Nyonya Chendol specializes in the sweet icy and milky dessert of Chendol, serving the traditional, plain Chendol ($1.50), Red Beans Chendol ($2), Sweet Corn Chendol ($2) and XO Durian Chendol ($3). The first noticeable thing was the big mound of shaved ice, which suggested that they aren’t stingy with their ingredients. The ice was flavored with thick and glossy Gula Melaka and heavy coconut milk with a smooth and pleasing texture. The highlight of course, was the luscious red beans. While standards may not be consistent among the various branches and it may not be the best-best, the dessert is generally a crowd pleaser.  Malaysia Boleh (Jurong Point) 1 Jurong West Central 2, 03-28, Singapore 648886 Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun) When I asked for Cendol recommendations in Singapore, many actually commented Malaysia Boleh served up a cheap and good version. You can also find similar versions by concepts under the same group, such as Malaysia Chiak! and Tangs Market – the basement food court. The Penang Road Chendol ($2) is prepared Teochew style and comes with green jelly that is prepared fresh with pandan leaves. While the red beans were plump and coconut milk creamy and heart, the serving size would be larger and ice less coarse.  Qing Tian Desserts 青天冷热甜品 #01-60 Redhill Food Centre, Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085 Opening Hours: 4pm – 11pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon – Tues The stall got enough more famous when PM Lee Hsien Loong was spotted queuing for it, with special note of the “dancing uncle” and techno music. (PM Lee said he would do an Instagram video the next time, which I think didn’t happen.) While uncle didn’t dance when I was there, he was still very jovial and ‘moving around’. This stall serves up quite a variety of both hot and cold desserts, from Chendol, Sea Coconut Iced Jelly, Ice Kachang, Cheng Tng, Red Bean Sauce to Mango Pudding Cocktail. The Chendol is very affordable at $1.50, with a Durian version at $2.50. While the dessert was not the most aesthetically pleasing – all the ingredients were buried below, the ice was soft, coconut milk fragrant, and red beans delicious.  Makan Melaka 1901 Changi Village Rd, #01-2046, Singapore 507721 Opening Hours: 8am – 9pm (Sun – Fri), 8am – 12am (Sat) Another outlet at Blk 492 Jurong West Avenue 1 #01-70, Singapore 640492 Sometimes known as the “Changi Village Chendol”, the shop has also opened a branch at Jurong West. They offer “Cendol Melaka” ($1.70) with several options of top-ups, including corn, red bean, glutinous rice, durian, or a combination of all ($2.00 – $3.50). What is appealing is its freshness, with the coconut milk sourced from local suppliers and gula melaka specially brought it from Malacca. The richness of the palm sugar along with the faint pandan flavour of the green ‘worms’ make it a refreshing treat. (You may ask the server to adjust the sweetness level if you are worried it would be too sweet.  Cendol Geylang Serai 1 Geylang Serai, #02-107, Singapore 402001 Opening Hours: 8:30am – 6pm (Mon – Sun) This 50 year old Geylang Serai stall serves up traditional Indonesian-style Cendol. This stall is one of a kind. They have been serving cendol for decades, tends to receive relatively long queues every single day. They serve up 3 versions – Cup with Ice ($3), Cup without Ice ($3.50) and Bowl ($2.00) for dine in only. One thing to note as well, they don’t include Red Beans in this rendition. The green pandal flavored jelly has more rice flour in it than any other place, making it soft and flavorful. The coconut milk and Gula Melaka tasted fresh as well, though overall was slightly on the sweet side. Some people may find it less value-for-its-money than others as it did not include other ingredients such as attap seeds, red bean or sweet corn.  Chendol Melaka 15 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 455207 Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm, or till sold out (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon Not to be confused with Makan Melaka, this stall is located within a corner coffeeshop along Upper East Coast Road. The stall is known for two products – Nasi Ulam and Chendol. The Chendol is priced at $2.30 ($2.50) for takeaway, with XO Durian option ($3.30), made from fresh and creamy coconut milk infused in shaved ice. It is drizzled heartily with moderately thick Gula Melaka – it had that delicious caramelized flavour though, not as sticky. My favourite component was actually the red beans which were pleasantly soft. Note: While the opening hours state 8am to 6pm, it may open later and close earlier (I experienced that myself after making a far trip there.  99 Dessert in Cup 208B New Upper Changi Rd, Bedok Interchange Food Centre #01-60, Singapore 462208 Opening Hours: Varies This stall at Bedok Interchange Food Centre serves up a variety of desserts, but it is their “Homemade Chendol” ($2.50) which catches your eye, said to be made with a secret recipe with different ingredients. The serving size is generous, and you could find quite a bit of ingredients buried under the Gula Melaka and ice shavings. You find your ‘treasure’ from red bean, sweet corn, attap chee to glass jelly. The surprise is from the pandan ‘green worms’ which are thicker and fatter than the usual, with real pandan taste which isn’t very common. The Gula Melaka was also thick and sticky.
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