The Dead Cockroach: Ah Choon Traditional Lor Mee @ Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre

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I have finally paid my first visit to Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre, a social enterprise food centre run by NTUC Foodfare. Simply turn right after exiting the fare gate at Admiralty MRT station and you will see it on your left. It is located on the second level which is accessible by the escalator or lift.

While checking out the stalls, I spotted one serving lor mee, prawn noodle and laksa. My heart is bent on having the lor mee since it is a perennial favorite of mine. Studying the menu, they have fish lor mee ($3.50), chicken cutlet lor mee ($3.50) as well as signature lor mee ($4) but it is the $2.80 traditional lor mee that caught my attention.

I will not delve into the details of what a social enterprise hawker centre is all about but under contract, every stall is required to offer at least one food item at $2.80 to ensure that food is made affordable for everyone.

I decided to have the $4 signature lor mee instead because I knew that the $2.80 version will probably not satisfy me.

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While placing my order, there was no eye contact nor any form of communication from both the cashier and the auntie cooking my order.

After collecting my bowl, I realized that condiments like black vinegar, minced garlic and coriander were not available outside the stall for me to help myself to. They only have cut chili floating in soya sauce.

I supposed the auntie should have added those for me although she did not bother asking if I wanted any. Or not.

Looking at the first photo, do you think any black vinegar, minced garlic and chili have been added?Without these, I could hardly enjoy my lor mee. Why wouldn't they let us self-service is beyond me. How much could we take anyway?

The taste of the lor is rather light. I would have appreciated it more robustly flavored.

My bowl of lor mee included half a braised egg, an entire piece of ngor hiang, one prawn and a piece of fried fish that is pretending to be a prawn. Underneath the ingredients is a handful of flat Hokkien noodle with some fried crispy bits and bean sprouts.

Giving the bowl a stir, I was dismayed to find the portion super measly. For a $4 bowl, I had expected more value than this. They could have at least be more generous with the noodle.

The photo of the bowl of lor mee on their menu is full to the brim but what I had was only half-filled. I know pictures are for illustration only but the disparity between a full bowl and half a bowl is too great.

This makes me wonder what is the portion of the $2.80 traditional lor mee like?

Normally, when having lor mee, the gooey sauce would cling onto the noodle and by the time you finished the noodle, there would be hardly any lor left. But for this, there is a lot left behind as the texture is actually quite runny. There is also not much egg ribbon in it.

The only redemption is their ngor hiang and fresh, crunchy prawn. Unfortunately, the fried fish's texture is mushy while the batter is not crispy (not because it was softened by the lor but it has been a while since leaving the fryer).

Maybe their prawn noodle and laksa would fare better but honestly, I have no confidence to try.

I am not trying to be difficult but I believe there is still much room for improvement both in food and service. From the cashier to the auntie cooking my order, their faces were a lot more sour than the vinegar in my bowl.

Smile and pass on the positive vibes.