Army Open House 2017 @ The City (F1 Pit Building)

After an absence of five years, the Army Open House (AOH) has finally made a return! And what better time to bring it back than now because 2017 marks the 50th year of National Service (NS) in Singapore.

I visited the open house held at the F1 Pit Building near the Singapore Flyer over the past weekend. The crowd was insane and there was heightened security as visitors had to undergo body and bag checks before being allowed entry.

Da Jie Famous Wanton Noodle @ 209 Jalan Besar

Update: Da Jie Wanton Noodle has permanently closed.

When I was reading up on Hainan Chicken Rice Ball and Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice, I did not realize that there are so many good food to be found along the stretch of Jalan Besar which is somewhat out of my comfort zone.

However, I have already conquered half of it during my previous food trail to Hainan Chicken Rice Ball, Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice and Sungei Road Laksa.

It is a good thing that they are all within walking distances from one another so I only need to venture a little further during this visit to Da Jie Famous Wanton Noodle.

Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice @ Blk 638 Veerasamy Road

After an exasperating attempt to have Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice, I made a second visit the following weekend.

This time, I reached the coffeeshop at 11.40am instead, having learned a lesson the hard way previously. As I approached the stall, there is already a short queue of about five people in front of me but the queue is not moving at all.

I craned my neck and saw that the first customer is actually buying more than twenty packs of the chicken rice for the whole village. To my relief, she is already collecting the last few packs. After she is done, the queue finally starts moving.

Sungei Road Laksa @ Blk 27 Jalan Berseh

 
In my previous post, I visited Hainan Chicken Rice Ball at Dickson Road. I had also planned to visit Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice since they are about two streets away from each other.

Because Google and Burpple stated the opening hours of both stalls as 8.30am, I arranged my timing to reach there a little after 9am. However, when I reached Hainan Chicken Rice Ball, the stall owner is still preparing the stall for business (stall lights are off) thus, I went off in search of Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice only to find out that they too are not ready for business yet.

At that time, it did not occur to me that the timing I got from Google and Burpple could be outdated so I did not bother asking what time they are opening. I just thought that they might need an extra 10 to 20 minutes.

With that, I walked to and fro between both stalls for more than five times, thinking that by the time I reach the other side, they would be ready. However, that was not the case. I ended up feeling so frustrated that I ditched the plan and went for Sungei Road Laksa instead.

Why did these hawkers not put up their business hours in front of their stalls prominently for all to see, just like what Sungei Road Laksa did? (refer to photo below)

Hainan Chicken Rice Ball @ 3 Dickson Road

Update: Hainan Chicken Rice Ball has relocated. The new address has been updated at the end of this post.

The first time I had chicken rice ball was in Malacca three years ago. Frankly speaking, I was not too impressed by it. I remember the rice ball is mushy and lacked the aroma that I am accustomed to with Singapore-styled chicken rice.

When I found out that there is a stall in Jalan Besar selling chicken rice ball, I decided to see how it compares to the one across the causeway.

Jalan Besar is the part of Rochor area that I have not ventured before but the stall is surprisingly easy to find if you are coming by Rochor MRT Station.

Just take the exit towards Veerasamy Road, exit the station (you should see Lasalle College of the Arts opposite you), turn left and follow the pavement to the coffeeshop which is just round the corner.

Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle Rice @ Beauty World Food Centre

Update: Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle Rice has shifted two units down along the same row with a new signboard. New stall photo and unit number has been updated at the bottom of this post.

Just a few doors away from Hambaobao is this stall called Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle Rice (what a mouthful!) selling what else, but soya sauce chicken with either noodles, rice or hor fun. Do not confuse this with (*takes a deep breathe*) Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle, the Michelin-starred stall at 335 Smith Street which has since been rebranded as "Liao Fan".

The latter is my favorite but have become quite impossible to eat with the insane queue ever since it received the award. I had to turn to other alternatives like Ma Li Ya Virgin Chicken and Fatty Ox in order to have my soya sauce chicken cravings fixed.

This stall at Beauty World Food Centre is my latest find, and the nearest to me without having to go all the way to Chinatown where all my alternatives are located at. Other than soya sauce chicken noodle, they also sell the usual wanton noodle, dumpling noodle and beef brisket noodle.

Strangely, glutinous rice, chee cheong fun and yam cake are also available here.

Hambaobao Is Back @ Beauty World Food Centre - Till Next Year!

Update: Hambaoba has relocated. The new address has been updated at the bottom of this post.

Hambaobao (a direct translation of ham burger in Chinese) is the "new kid on the block", having set up stall at the Beauty World Food Centre about two years ago.

When I first got to know about this burger joint serving some Asian-inspired burgers like ayam buah keluak (sandwiched between two buns with chap chye, no less!) and crispy pork belly (aka sio bak burger), I told myself that I have to come try it one of these days.

However, the "one of these days" never did materialize as procrastination got the better of me.

Earlier this year, news about a mystery buyer buying over the food centre with intentions to redevelop it into an air-conditioned food court were rife. Before I knew it, the food centre ceased operations.

Original Jalan Tua Kong 132 Mee Pok @ 24 Sixth Avenue

Located in the same coffeeshop as 6th Avenue Wanton Noodle is this noodle stall called Original Jalan Tua Kong 132 managed by two guys.

The name of the stall baffles me as it is a combination of two very famous Teochew mee pok stalls like 132 Mee Pok from Marine Terrace and Jalan Tua Kong Lau Lim Mee Pok from Simpang Bedok. 

I know of the story between 132 and Lau Lim but what about this stall which claims to be the original? Is this stall hitching a ride on their names or simply a disgruntled sibling/relative/ex-worker striking out on his own?

In all honesty, I have not eaten both 132 or Lau Lim before hence, I cannot compare who does it better. However, this stall's mee pok is the best that I have tasted ever thus far.