The Dead Cockroach: Mr Fish - Sliced Fish Bee Hoon @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

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Update: Mr Fish has permanently closed.

Mr Fish is located at a secluded spot of Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre which could prove to be a little challenging to find however, if you know where Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu is, the stall is just a bit further in.

What brought me here is their fish soup which is purportedly made with no milk added. The creaminess and depth of flavor was achieved through long hours of non stop boiling fried fish bones.

A long waiting time is to be expected during peak hours as each bowl is cooked upon order. I arrived at about half past ten but the stall did not open till slightly after eleven. Even though I was the second customer of the day, my order only came ten minutes after the first customer was served.

You can place your order with the purple-haired auntie at the stall and she will bring the food to your table so be prepared to let her know your table number. I ordered a bowl of sliced fish soup with thick bee hoon ($5).

The first thing that hits me, or rather my nose, when the auntie puts the bowl on the table is the aroma of the fish broth. A thin layer of film has formed on the surface of the broth which I believe is caused by the gelatin from the broken down collagen due to the prolong boiling period.

The soup has a gingery and delicate taste. It is also not too salty so you could still taste the natural flavors of the fish broth.

Thick bee hoon is often my choice of noodle for this dish although I felt it does little in absorbing the flavors of the broth. I just like it for its slippery texture which is easy to slurp up.

Sang Yu (Snakehead/Toman) is used here. The meat is firm, not flaky and does not crumble or break into pieces easily. There is no earthy smell too despite being a freshwater fish.

I counted about eight slices of fish slices which is pretty generous. Even the portion of the thick bee hoon is quite considerable. Given its freshness and portion, $5 for this bowl of sliced fish soup with thick bee hoon is definitely value for money.