Update: Ah Hua Assam has permanently closed.
Ah Hua Assam is a relatively new entrant at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre having set up stall only in August this year. Their main focus are dishes made with their home made assam (tamarind) sauce.
In fact, they were marketing their home made assam sauce in glass bottles online before setting up stall here.
When photos of their enticing dishes served on enamel plates began making their rounds on Instagram, it caught my attention. Wow, that screams nothing but old school therefore, I decided to go check them out at the food centre.
On the menu are their signature assam chicken set, braised chicken set and assam batang fish set. The sets are served with rice, omelette, and your choice of curry vegetable or chap chye.
They also have whole assam fish heads and other add-ons, like home made ngor hiang, assam bee hoon, babi pongteh and otak.
When photos of their enticing dishes served on enamel plates began making their rounds on Instagram, it caught my attention. Wow, that screams nothing but old school therefore, I decided to go check them out at the food centre.
On the menu are their signature assam chicken set, braised chicken set and assam batang fish set. The sets are served with rice, omelette, and your choice of curry vegetable or chap chye.
They also have whole assam fish heads and other add-ons, like home made ngor hiang, assam bee hoon, babi pongteh and otak.
I love assam but I usually have them with seafood like fish or prawns. I have not heard of assam chicken before hence I decided to try their signature assam chicken set ($4.50) which comprised of a chicken drumstick, two pieces of omelette and a portion of chap chye with rice. I added on a piece of ngor hiang ($1.50) for variety.
The chicken drumstick is cooked till fork tender. I tried lifting it up with the fork for a photo and the meat just lifts off from the bone effortlessly. I was using a disposable fork, mind you. That says something about the tenderness of the chicken.
I am glad they served the flat, triangular omelette here instead of fried egg (aka sunny side up) because I am very anal about how my fried egg should be. My ideal fried egg should be crisp at the corner with a wobbly yolk in the center. Blasphemy if you are going to serve me one with a fully cooked yolk! This omelette? You are safe. 🙆
The chap chye is soft but not mushy yet tastes a little different from others. I am uncertain if they had added tau cheo to it but it is nice though.
As for their home made ngor hiang, it is filled with minced meat and chestnuts. It is not too oily too despite being deep fried. Perhaps the chopped chestnuts helped cut through the greasiness. Good attempt.
Their assam sauce seemed potent but its tartness and spiciness is actually quite mild.
I had more assam sauce drizzled over my plate of rice (you can ask for curry sauce too) which adds a tangy, piquant lift to every bite.
I had breakfast that morning but not lunch so I was famished by dinner. The meal proved to be very satisfying as the assam is so appetizing.
I am glad they served the flat, triangular omelette here instead of fried egg (aka sunny side up) because I am very anal about how my fried egg should be. My ideal fried egg should be crisp at the corner with a wobbly yolk in the center. Blasphemy if you are going to serve me one with a fully cooked yolk! This omelette? You are safe. 🙆
The chap chye is soft but not mushy yet tastes a little different from others. I am uncertain if they had added tau cheo to it but it is nice though.
As for their home made ngor hiang, it is filled with minced meat and chestnuts. It is not too oily too despite being deep fried. Perhaps the chopped chestnuts helped cut through the greasiness. Good attempt.
Their assam sauce seemed potent but its tartness and spiciness is actually quite mild.
I had more assam sauce drizzled over my plate of rice (you can ask for curry sauce too) which adds a tangy, piquant lift to every bite.
I had breakfast that morning but not lunch so I was famished by dinner. The meal proved to be very satisfying as the assam is so appetizing.
The assam bee hoon looks good so I am going to try that on my next visit. Oh, and maybe I will have some of that babi pongteh too!
Website: https://www.facebook.com/AhHuaAssam/
Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/kYMaYve5of2WR1QCA
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