The Asian Makanstall - Chicken Briyani @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

Update: The Asian Makan Stall has renamed to Onion Mamak Stall and relocated to another stall at the same food centre. The address has been updated at the bottom of this post.

The Asian Makanstall at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre has been around since 2017 but in all honesty, I have not heard of them before.

Their odd location at the food centre might be the reason why people walked by without even realizing they are there as they are hidden from view behind some pillars.

In aquarium speak, the stall is located at a dead water zone where the current (customers) does not flow through.

If it is of any help, the stall is situated at the blue zone of the food centre right next to 二姑糖水, or along the same row as Babas Peranakan.

The stall name is not quite telling as to what they sell but according to Google, the Chinese-owned stall started off selling Fuzhou oyster cake and nasi briyani (chicken/mutton).

Yes, you heard me right. Stalls specializing in Fuzhou oyster cake are usually standalone stalls so it is quite unusual to come across one selling other food items particularly one that is from another ethnicity. 

They have since included rojak, glutinous rice and tau pok pau on the menu.

Bedok Chwee Kueh @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

After having the wa kuih from Ah Kong Wa Kuih at Chinatown Market & Food Centre, I realized it was not satisfying enough as I am still hungry. I walked past Bedok Chwee Kueh stall and decided to have some to "fill the gaps".

While wa kuih and chwee kueh may seem similar, they are in fact two different things even though both are steamed rice cakes. The wa kuih, of Hokkien influence is usually steamed with fillings such as mushrooms and dried prawn then served with gravy while the chwee kueh, of Teochew influence is steamed plain and served with chye poh (preserved radish).

There are several Bedok Chwee Kueh branches around Singapore. The unique thing about their chwee kueh compared to the other brands such as Tiong Bahru Jian Bo Chwee Kueh is their larger than usual size. Their rice cakes costs 50¢ each with a minimum purchase of two pieces. I suggests getting four pieces instead because two will never be enough.

Ah Kong Wa Kuih @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

A few months back, a new wa kuih stall called Ah Kong Wa Kuih has opened next to my favorite pandan butterfly bun stall at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre.

I have tried visiting the stall numerous times but the shutters were always down. It does not help that information regarding their operating hours and off days are not available.

I must have made at least six wasted trips to the stall before I was finally able to catch it in business today.

Yuan Lang Soy Sauce Chicken Master - Salted Chicken Rice @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

Update: Yuan Lang Soy Sauce Chicken Master has permanently closed.

Among the many chicken rice stalls at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, Yuan Lang Soy Sauce Chicken Master is often the overlooked one...

I visited the food centre on a Monday to grab my late lunch after an appointment at the nearby hospital. It is probably a bad idea to visit a food centre on the first day of the week since a majority of the stalls would be closed but this stall is just one of the few options available.

This stall sells soy sauce chicken that you can have with noodle or rice. Hanging on the rack alongside the soy chicken is something quite unusual - the salted chicken - which many might mistaken for Hainanese chicken.

However, do not confuse it with salt baked chicken either because it is not baked. Think of it as the poached version of salt baked chicken that is cooked in a stock made of Japanese scallops, dried octopus and a variety of herbs giving the chicken its unique taste. 

What the stall cannot emphasis enough is that they do not use MSG so what you are ingesting are all natural goodness.

If you notice from the signboard, they used kampung chicken which are healthier.

Porridge Master @ Blk 442 Jurong West Ave 1

While checking out the chicken rice balls from Qi Lin Xuan Kitchen at Blk 442 Jurong West Ave 1, I found out about this porridge stall called Porridge Master from the coffee shop next door. 

A search revealed that this porridge stall does not have much online presence. According to whatever little information I could gather, the stall owner purportedly dishes out fantabulous bowls of porridges. 

Upon my arrival at around 10am, the stall owner was sitting outside his stall, having porridge with canned sardines.

I felt bad for disrupting his breakfast but I did it anyway and ordered the signature mixed pig's organ porridge ($4.50). He did not immediately respond to me but took his time to put down the spoon and slowly make his way into the kitchen without a word.

Chong Jia Food - Lu Rou Fan @ Blk 493 Jurong West Street 41

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

Over at Jurong West Street 41 is a coffee shop named Tahoe Garden. Inside, you can find Chong Jia Food, a stall specializing in Taiwanese lu rou fan (braised pork rice), special marinated drumstick steamed rice and congee. 

I was greeted by the cheerful stall owner who prepared my order for a plate of lu rou fan. The ingredients were all ready cooked so it did not take her long to assemble everything together.

On my plate of white rice sprinkled with black sesame seeds were a generous serving of lu rou, braised peanuts, two halves of a hard-boiled egg and a bed of lettuce. It came with a free bowl of vegetable soup.

JJ Sarawak Noodle @ Blk 504 Jurong West Street 51

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

I recently found out that there is a stall selling Sarawak noodle (kolo mee) as well as Sarawak laksa inside a coffee shop at Blk 504 Jurong West Street 51.

I visit the market and food centre at Blk 505 from time to time but I have not seen or heard of the stall called JJ Sarawak Noodle before as the coffee shop is located at a secluded part of the neighborhood with low footfall.

Business here is a far cry from the food centre or even the halal coffee shop just one block away. You have to see it for yourself to know what I am talking about.

Anyway, I am not complaining because those places are rowdy and difficult to find seats. If I wanted some peace and quiet to have my meal, this is where I would go.

Fu Ji - Minced Meat Noodle @ Blk 491 Jurong West Ave 1

After my dental appointment at the nearby Polyclinic, I visited this noodle stall named Fu Ji which is located inside Fu Chan Coffee Shop at Blk 491 Jurong West Ave 1. 

I learned about the minced meat noodle here weeks prior my appointment from a Instagram friend so I planned a visit to check it out.

Business was sluggish upon my arrival with only Fu Ji and a chicken rice stall opened. At a glance, there are less than five customers in the coffee shop.

As it is my first time here, I am not sure if it is due to the dine-in restrictions or competition from across the road at Jurong Central Plaza where there are more coffee shops and therefore more choices.