Doraemon's Time-Travelling Adventures in Singapore @ National Museum Of Singapore

Finally caught Doraemon's Time-Travelling Adventures in Singapore three days before the end of its run at the National Museum Of Singapore.

It seems like a strange decision to hold a Doraemon exhibition in a history museum but who is complaining?

Life-sized figurines of Doraemon posing with his gadgets can be found at the lawn in front but there are more inside the museum waiting to be discovered.

Fu Xiang Fried Oyster @ Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre

Many years ago, Dad and Mom brought home a big packet of orh luak (fried oyster omelette) from Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre. That was my first orh luak in years and I remember relishing it back then.

I do not eat this dish frequently. It is something that I have only once in a blue moon when I feel generous or when I wanted to give myself a treat.

I decided to check out this stall called Fu Xiang Fried Oyster at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre. I could not be sure if this was the very same stall where Dad bought it from as the stall's façade looked relatively new but I believe this is the only stall offering orh luak ($4/$6/$8/$10) at the food centre.

Taste The Kwang's Black - Charcoal Roasted Black Char Siew Wanton Noodle @ Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre

If you think that the Chinese characters 碳烤黑叉燒 on the signboard is the stall's name, then you are very much mistaken.

This stall have several outlets located around Singapore such as at Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Bukit Merah, Clementi, Kovan, New Upper Changi, Tanglin Halt, Upper Bukit Timah and Yishun. 

When I first come across the outlet at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre, I tried looking them up on the internet with this name but did not managed to find anything at all. 

The real stall name - 老廣黑味道 (Taste The Kwang's Black) - is found on the side menu panel instead. As the name is not in a prominent location nor particularly eye catching, it is easy to overlook. It actually took me a few days to discover the name from the photo I took.

As my sole purpose for coming to this stall is to try their charcoal roasted char siew, I decided to have their char siew wanton noodle ($4).

Snow Mount - Fried Kway Teow @ Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre

This is a continuation from the previous post. 

To recap, Snow Mount at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre houses two of my favorite food within one stall.

One half of the stall sells fried banana, or goreng pisang while the other half, sells fried kway teow (flat rice noodle).

You may find my post about their fried banana in the link above. I shall continue with the fried kway teow in this post.

Snow Mount - Goreng Pisang @ Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre

Snow Mount at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre houses two of my favorite food within one stall.

One half of the stall sells fried banana, or goreng pisang while the other half, sells fried kway teow (flat rice noodle).

Ironically, although both are my favorite, I hardly have them more than once or twice a year because there are non near me that is worth their calories.

Xi De Li - Glutinous Rice Bun @ Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre

If memories does not fail me, Xi De Li at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre has been there for as long as I could remember because I used to live in the neighborhood during my younger days. 

Some of my family's favorite things to buy here are the ham chim peng, yew char kueh, beh hei ji, and chin toi.

Just a show of hands, does anybody still calls them the way I do?

Apart from the ham chim peng (salted fried bun) and yew char kueh (youtiao), do you know what the other two are?

Well, beh hei ji refers to the butterfly bun while chin toi is sesame ball.

Fong's Dee Curry Puff @ Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre

Fong's Dee Curry Puff at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre sells a plethora of Chinese snacks but only those in the know knows that the star product here is actually their delectable curry puff.

From the mixing of flour, kneading, wrapping, crimping to deep frying, they are all individually handmade on site hence no two puffs looked the same.

Due to the small scale of production, only one curry puff flavor could be found here which is the chicken curry.

Sky Bluez - Masala Dosa @ 210 Choa Chu Kang Ave 1

A week ago, I was having my mee hoon kueh at 216 Coffee Shop along 216 Choa Chu Kang Ave 1 when I noticed this Indian Muslim eatery next door called Sky Bluez Food Hub Pte Ltd.

In my mind, I was already making plans to return the following week to try their pratas. 

Fast forward a week later, I set off from home and reached my destination at around 7am.

There was just one customer before me and the moment he left, I made an order for a egg prata and a plain one. Unfortunately, the staff told me that prata is unavailable.

I do not get it. How could a prata place not have any pratas at 7am? Is that not a staple for any Indian food establishment worth their salt? Puzzled, I asked what do they have then?

He took a look at the sauces and replied, "Dosa".

"I will have the masala dosai then".

He gave me a nod and proceeded to the back of the empty kitchen.

216 Mee Hoon Kueh @ 216 Choa Chu Kang Ave 1

This is a continuation from my previous post, where I visited 216 Coffee Shop along 216 Choa Chu Kang Ave 1 for its chee cheong fun.

As mentioned previously, the coffee shop was a stone's throw away from my house. I arrived at around 7am to place an order for the chee cheong fun. I anticipated that the rice rolls would not keep me satiate for long hence, I also ordered a bowl of dry mee hoon kueh ($4) for good measure.

Just like the chee cheong fun stall, the mee hoon kueh stall does not have a signboard as well therefore, allow me to call it 216 Mee Hoon Kueh.

I was given a number tag and told to take a seat.

216 Chee Cheong Fun @ 216 Choa Chu Kang Ave 1

The location that I am headed for today is just a ten minutes walk away from my place.

Having lived in my area for the last thirty-odd years, not once have I come to this part of the neighborhood for breakfast. And it is high time I did.

216 Coffee Shop is situated at 216 Choa Chu Kang Ave 1. It is a small coffee shop housing just a coffee stall, a mee hoon kueh stall and the subject of today's review - the chee cheong fun stall.

The stall does not have a signboard so, allow me to call it 216 Chee Cheong Fun.

I only got to know about this chee cheong fun through words of mouth from someone who, ironically, stayed at the other end of the country.

So, I took a brisk walk from my house and reached the coffee shop just before 7am however, there are no customers at all. I was secretly screaming for joy on the inside because that meant I could take all the photos I wanted without being judged by anyone.

You Peng Noodle Dumpling House - Sour & Spicy Noodle @ Beauty World Food Centre

You Peng Noodle Dumpling House at Beauty World Food Centre is immensely popular for their affordably priced xiao long bao (小笼包) and jiaozi (饺子) that are freshly made at the stall daily.

Despite located at a inconspicuous location of the food centre, the stall continues to attract a healthy queue of followers who are willing to stand in line for their fix of dumplings. It is a norm to see individuals savoring multiple bamboo steamers of xiao long bao at one go.

To be honest, I am not too big a fan of either as I find such pork fillings usually too heavily marinated for my liking. 

That is why I tend to avoid pork items like siew mai, xiao long bao and even big pau as they tastes the same to me after a while which can be a little overwhelming. 

Penang Home Made Beef Balls @ Beauty World Food Centre

Penang Home Made Beef Ball at Beauty World Food Centre offer a few selection of dishes such as beef ball noodle soup, mixed beef noodle soup, braised beef brisket noodle, beef hor fun and beef fried rice. All the dishes here are reasonably priced at a flat rate of $5.

Footfall here pales in comparison to their ever popular neighbor, Top 1 Hand Made Noodle which attracts a constant queue everyday.

I decide to give them a try anyway, and ordered the braised beef brisket noodle. You can opt for yellow noodle, kway teow, mee kia and chor bee hoon.

Noodlefellas - Lor Mee @ Beauty World Food Centre

Update: Kopifellas has shifted right next to Noodlefellas. The address has been updated at the end of this post.

Noodlefellas is yet another relatively new stall at Beauty World Food Centre. 

Set up by the people behind Kopifellas who took up another stall at another row in the food centre, I am excited to see new entrants setting up business here, injecting new life and vibrancy to the 36 years old premise which narrowly escaped from a acquisition fate just a couple of years ago.

I guess it is a no brainer as to what the two stalls had to offer judging by their names? 

Noodlefellas had fish ball noodle, fish ball soup, minced meat noodle, laksa, sliced abalone noodle and my favorite hawker dish, lor mee included on its menu.

Little Red Dot House Of Noodle - Prawn Paste Pork Chop Noodle @ Beauty World Food Centre

Update: Little Red Dot House Of Noodle has relocated. The new address has been updated at the bottom of this post. 

A majority of the stalls were still closed when I reached Beauty World Food Centre at around 9am. Only Top 1 Handmade Noodle and Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle Rice were in service in the early morning but I did not come for those.

There is another stall that opened even earlier than the two stalls. I had come for the prawn paste pork chop noodle from a stall named Little Red Dot House Of Noodle. According to their Facebook, they serve "traditional Hong-Kong style noodles with 古早味".

Other than the usual wanton noodle and dumpling noodle, they also have braised chicken wing noodle, prawn paste chicken wing noodle, braised pork trotter noodle and prawn paste pork chop noodle.

I actually got to know about them through a sponsored post on Facebook that appeared in my feed. I do not recall seeing this stall at the food centre before so I snooped around their Facebook and found out that they are newly opened in August 2020. Before that, they used to operate at 375 Upper Aljunied Road.

While at their previous premise, they serve a different menu of chicken rice and roasts.

Jin Li Satay Bee Hoon @ Beauty World Food Centre

Update: Jin Li Satay Bee Hoon has permanently closed.

I must admit that I am not exactly a satay bee hoon person therefore, you will not find any satay bee hoon reviews here in this blog. I do like satay but I find the pairing of the sauce with bee hoon is kind of weird for me.

However, I am willing to make an exception for Jin Li Satay Bee Hoon at Beauty World Food Centre because something about the stall reminded me so much of how a typical hawker stall in the 1980's looked like.

After all, Beauty World was built nearly forty years ago. I believe most of the older stalls here have not gone through much changes since day one.

As a child of that era, I missed the good old days when life were simpler and I really appreciate the 80s vibes the stall is giving me.

Top 1 Handmade Noodle @ Beauty World Food Centre

Top 1 Handmade Noodle at Beauty World Food Centre is highly raved among ban mian fans. I had wanted to give them a try since a long time ago but have always been turned off by the never-ending queue in front of the stall.

Perhaps due to the pandemic, there were a lot less people than usual when I visited the food centre today. What better time to join the queue than now?

But joining the queue is just the first hurdle. I stood in line for about twenty minutes before I finally get to place my order with the female stall helper. After making payment, I was told to wait at one side.

If you are dining in, you will be given a ticket number. It is then another round of waiting for your number to flash on the screen to collect your order (I waited for about another ten odd minutes). If you are taking away, she will call out to you therefore, wait where she could see you.

While waiting, I noticed her accepting phone orders so there may be invisible orders before yours. Manage your expectations regarding the waiting time. Do not join the queue if you are rushing for time. They do not entertain refunds unless the waiting time exceeds thirty minutes.

Koung's Wanton Mee @ JEM (Jurong East)

Update: Koung's Wanton Mee has permanently closed.

Great news for fans of Koung's Wanton Mee especially if you reside in the West like me. The popular wanton mee from the East has set up an outlet here at JEM, right beside Jurong East MRT Station.

I had wanted to try their wanton mee at Sims Ave for the longest time but have procrastinated for just as long due to their location.

Now that they have opened a more accessible outlet near me, I can finally tick it off my bucket list.

Zhao Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice - Tumeric Chicken Rice @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

It is not an exaggeration to say that Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre is heaven for fans of Singapore's national dish - the iconic chicken rice...

All sorts of chicken rice can be found here, from the common roasted, poached and soya sauce chicken to the not so common salted chicken and the star of today's topic, turmeric chicken from Zhao Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Being one of the latecomer to this food centre, Zhao Ji appears to be the underdog here. It does not help that they are surrounded by the more established names such as Ma Li Ya Virgin Chicken at the front and Hawker Chan at the back.

However, judging from the queue I encountered on the day of my visit, they should be doing okay.

169 Hainanese Chicken Rice @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

As the stall that I am supposed to feature today is far from ready to open for the day, I began walking around to seek out another stall to review. My search brought me to this new chicken rice stall called 169 Hainanese Chicken Rice.

If I am not mistaken, the previous tenant serve chicken rice as well under the Super Mummy brand who owned several other stalls along the same row at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre.

The owner, Zhen Jie was crowned Super Mummy in a Mediacorp TV contest decades ago. 

It is not clear if 169 Hainanese Chicken Rice is started by a new operator, or still owned by Zhen Jie but registered under a different name?

New Market Seafood Soup @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

I woke up this morning, craving for a bowl of fish soup. This is rather out of the norm for me as fish soup is not something that I usually have cravings for as compared to wanton mee or chicken rice.

Yes, I do have an occasional bowl of fish soup from time to time (I am talking about years in between bowls) but it is not something that I would look forward to.

I guess I will have the fish soup stall near my place to blame for my lack of enthusiasm towards this dish because frankly, it serves one of the saddest and most boring fish soup around (although the stall does have its loyal fan base).

Admittedly, I have barely tried any fish soup from beyond the perimeter of my neighborhood, hence it would be unfair of me to judge all fish soups based on one single stall.

Maybe it is a sign from above, telling me it is high time I give fish soup hawkers a chance to prove their worth and to let me know that not all fish soups are created equal?

I decided to head to Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre for my fix because where else can you get the freshest supply of fish with the wet market just two floors down?

But, fish soup stalls are aplenty here at the food centre. Which one do I go to? After some googling, the beacon of light pointed towards New Market Seafood Soup.

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.

Qi Lin Xuan Kitchen - Chicken Rice Balls @ Blk 442 Jurong West Ave 1

Qi Lin Xuan Kitchen first started out in 2014 as a tze char business. When they began offering chicken rice balls in 2018, it was picked up by social media where it made a flurry of appearances in various media outlets.

Knowing me, I would always wait for the hype to wear off before I make my move but I think I may have waited a little too long (three years!) as there was nary a soul when I arrived just before noon.

Has the chicken rice balls lost its magic already? There were no other customers in the premise and the coffee shop was dim inside. Only the lights from the chicken rice stall at the front of the coffee shop is on but there is no one manning it.

Just as I was about to walk away, someone called out to me from the depths within.

"Shuai ge, chi ji fan ma?" (handsome, chicken rice for you?) 

On account of him calling me shuai ge, I ordered a chicken rice ball set ($3.50). For some reason, after making my order, customers began streaming in one after another and they were all addressed as shuai ge by the very same staff. 🙄

Du Du Shou Shi - @ Blk 505 Jurong West Market & Food Centre

I have walked past Du Du Shou Shi at Blk 505 Jurong West Market & Food Centre numerous times before but this is my first time patronizing them.

It used to be a noodle stall by day and a tutu kueh stall by night. However, when I visited the stall this morning, it has fully transformed into a tutu kueh stall. Any signs of it being a noodle stall in the past is no longer apparent.

And taking helm at the stall front now is a younger man instead of the usual elderly uncle.

Swee Kee Wanton Noodle @ ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre

It is quite obvious what Swee Kee Wanton Noodle.Laksa at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre sells. Apart from the obvious, wanton soup, shredded chicken with mushroom noodle and chicken feet with mushroom noodle are also on the menu.

I decided to order the wanton noodle ($3) and added on two braised chicken feet (80¢ each) with the amiable auntie inside the stall.

It did not take long for my order to be ready as I came just before the lunch hour crowd descend upon the food centre. I helped myself to the sambal chili and pickled green chili that are placed right in front on the counter. I also added a dollop of ketchup as well. 

Sin Heng Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice @ ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre

There are not many reviews about Sin Heng Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre but the very few that I could find had nothing but positive things to say about them. I decided to seek out this stall to give them a try.

They offer a range of roasted meats such as char siew, roasted pork, roasted duck, roasted chicken and even Hainanese poached chicken. Tau kwa, braised egg and sausage are also available.

I like how the pricing of every possible combination of meats is spelled out clearly without having to worry about exceeding our budget for the meal.

Eager to try as many of their meats as possible, I ordered the char siew and roasted meat rice with chicken meat ($5.50).

Chun Seng Noodle House - Braised Pork Made With A 100 Years Old Recipe @ ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre

Update: Chun Seng Noodle House has relocated. The new address has been updated at the bottom of this post.

Chun Seng Noodle House is a relatively new hawker stall at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre.

Opened in late 2019, it is run by a pair of young hawkerpreneurs who signed up for the hawker incubation stall program. Under the scheme, aspiring hawkers pay subsidized rental fees for a total of 15 months and the stall came pre-fitted with basic equipment to lower the upfront capital investment.

Since they are a noodle house, they sell a variety of noodles such as minced pork noodle ($3.50/$4.50), chicken feet noodle ($3/$4.50), braised pork noodle ($4/$5/$6), meat ball soup ($3/$4/$5) and fish ball soup ($3/$4/$5). 

The highlight of this stall is their one hundred years old braised pork (lor bak) recipe that has been passed down and perfected over three generations.

Needless to say, I skipped the others and head straight for their braised pork noodle.

42 - Economical Fried Bee Hoon That Truly Lives Up To Its Name @ ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre

Fried bee hoon, also known as economical bee hoon, is a popular breakfast option for many that gives you the flexibility to add different ingredients to your meal. Unfortunately, due to rising costs, the word 'economical' may have lost its meaning along the way.

Simply add one or two ala carte items to your bee hoon and watch the cost of your breakfast soar past the $3 mark.

The term 'economical bee hoon' is loosely used to describe such fried bee hoon which is ironically getting increasingly uneconomical these days.

However, I have discovered a stall at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre that truly lives up to the economical bee hoon name!

This stall have no name except for the number 42 in a very large font on its signboard, in reference to its unit number (#01-42) alongside with the menu of what they sell such as nasi lemak, fried bee hoon, peanut porridge and chee cheong fun.

Rong Fa (Mui Siong) Minced Meat Noodle @ Redhill E-Centre

Update: Rong Fa (Mui Siong) has relocated. The new address has been updated at the bottom of this post.

Mention Mui Siong and people would first think of the minced meat noodle stall at blk 638 Veerasamy Road but, did you know that they have another stall in the central region along Jalan Bukit Merah?

It is located inside a cafe on the ground level of E-Centre@Redhill, diagonally across the main road from CPIB which is just a few minutes walk from ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre.

The difference between the two stalls is that the one at Veerasamy Road named Jin Xi Lai (Mui Siong) Minced Meat Noodle is run by the brother while the one at Jalan Bukit Merah named Rong Fa (Mui Siong) Minced Meat Noodle is run by the sister. 

Mui Siong was started by their mother in the Rochor area fifty years ago. The siblings loved their mother's cooking and minced meat noodle so much that they decide to carry on her legacy.

In fact, Rong Fa was opened in 2015 while Jin Xi Lai only opened two years later in 2017. I have been to the coffee shop at Veerasamy Road in 2017 but I was there for Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice instead. I believe I was there one month after Jin Xi Lai opened but I did not know about them then therefore I did not try their noodle.

No-Name Wanton Mee With Hor Bao Daan @ Blk 125 Bukit Merah Lane 1

A certain no-name wanton noodle stall has recently been making its rounds on several Facebook groups. What caught my attention was the hor bao daan (fried egg) on the plate alongside the wanton noodle.

I thought the combination was quite interesting. After some background checks, I found out the noodle stall is located inside a coffee shop called Hong Kong Street Chun Kee at Jalan Bukit Merah.

Upon checking google map, I realized that I have passed by the coffee shop several times before though it has never occurred to me to try the food there as the place was pretty quiet.

For the full story behind this wanton noodle stall, do check out Johor Kaki's blog.

The Legend Roasted Meat Rice And Noodle @ Hong Lim Market & Food Centre

To be frank, it was the posters of Bruce Lee that pulled me towards this roast stall called The Legend Roasted Meat Rice And Noodle which is located at the back row on the first level of Hong Lim Market & Food Centre.

When I got nearer, I discovered even more memorabilia like figurines and photographs. When the lady inside the stall saw me taking photos, she asked: "are you also a fan?"

I would be lying if I said I was but I nodded anyway.

"I had been collecting them for over forty years." she said, beaming with pride.

Indeed, one can tell that the stall owner is obsessed with the kungfu star by the amount of memorabilia found all over the stall. You can even see a shadow figure of Bruce on the signboard doing a high kick. 

Oh, and do not mistaken the nunchucku (second last photo) hanging on the rack as siew cheong! 

Tai Wah Pork Noodle @ Hong Lim Market & Food Centre

Mention Hong Lim Market & Food Centre and chances are, Tai Wah Pork Noodle would come to mind.

It is one of the more popular stalls here evident by the line of customers it serve everyday. I have long wanted to give it a try but was intimidated by the waiting time.

Imagine my surprise when I visited the food centre on a particular morning to see only five people in the queue. I did not go there specifically for the pork noodle but since such an opportunity does not come easy, I wasted no time in joining them although it still took about thirty minutes for me to receive my bowl.

Ma Bo Lor Mee @ Hong Lim Market & Food Centre

There used to be a Ma Bo Lor Mee stall located near my place. I liked their lor mee so much that I would patronized them about two or three times a week. I was devastated when the stall closed. Although there have many outlets across Singapore, I have not had any ever since.

After a hiatus of so many years, I came across an outlet at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre. I decided to relive the taste of the lor mee that I used to adore. 

You can have their lor mee in three ways: signature ($2.50/$3.50), with fried battered fish ($3/$4) or fried chicken cutlet ($3/$4). Laksa is also available in the same permutations and pricing. I could not recall if laksa is a new addition to the menu or did they have it all along?

Previously, I would only order their chicken cutlet lor mee therefore this time, I decided to have the fried fish lor mee instead.

Ah Meng Ondeh Ondeh @ Hong Lim Market & Food Centre

A couple of months back, my family was blessed with three packs of this orange colored ondeh ondeh by a neighbor who had purchased them from Ah Meng Ondeh Ondeh at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre. 

Unlike the usual green colored pandan-infused glutinous rice balls, these handmade ondeh ondeh from Ah Meng are made with sweet potato instead.

They come ready packed in four ($1.60), six ($2.40) and eight pieces ($3.20). The stall also sell handmade tapioca kueh which are equally popular and gets sold out by noon.

Lee Kheong Roasted Delicacy @ Hong Lim Market & Food Centre

Update: Lee Kheong Roasted Delicacy has permanently closed.

Due to online recommendations, I have come to Lee Kheong Roasted Delicacy at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre for its spare ribs but as the stall had just opened for the day, only the char siew, roasted pork and roasted duck are available.

What a shame it was not ready yet because the photo of the spare ribs that I saw was so succulent looking I wished I could sink my teeth into them right there and then.

Hong Xing Handmade Fish Ball Noodle @ Hong Lim Market & Food Centre

I was doing my rounds checking out the stalls at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre when I noticed the queue in front of Hong Xing Handmade Fish Ball Noodle.

Many have come for their handmade fish balls ($4/$6/$8) and meat balls ($5/$6/$10) but you could also have them with your choice of noodle ($3.50/$4.50/$5.50).

Since it is my first meal of the day, I did not think the smallest bowl would satiate my appetite therefore, I opt for the medium bowl of mee pok dry. The queue moved rather quickly so it did not take long to place my order with the friendly uncle.

Meng Kee Claypot Braised Pig Trotters @ Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre

Meng Kee at Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre serves quite a variety of claypot dishes all at a standard price of $5.

On its menu are braised pig trotters, braised meat (pork), sesame chicken, bak kut teh, pig's liver and ginger & spring onion batang sliced fish. They also do curries like curry chicken, curry spare ribs, curry mutton, curry sotong, curry fish and curry vegetables.

It is quite easy to overlook this stall as the stall front honestly does not seemed interesting enough to warrant another look and not to mention it being hidden in a inconspicuous corner of the food centre. 

Despite being just a few units away from Ng Kee, I did not once throw it a glance that is, until I learn about their pig trotters which they are highly touted for from the hardwarezone community. 

Ying Ji Wanton Noodle @ Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre

 

While queuing for my curry mutton noodle from Ying Ji Wanton Noodle at Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre, I noticed the customer before me ordering their wanton noodle.

I was stunned by the sheer amount of char siew in his bowl therefore I made a mental note to come back for it. 

On the day of my visit, I went up to the stall and straightaway ordered a $4 bowl of wanton noodle with the auntie. For some reason, I thought the wanton noodle come in $3 and $4. I only looked up at the signboard after ordering and realized that the dish come in $3 and $3.50 instead.

I knew I was going to have trouble finishing the noodle. With bated breath, I stood there watching the auntie putting the bowl together. True enough, when the finished product was placed on the counter, I gasp. 

The enormous bowl of wanton noodle come with a big bowl of soup on the side.

Ying Ji Wanton Noodle - Curry Mutton Noodle @ Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre

Despite her name, Ying Ji Wanton Noodle located on the third floor of Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre has a lot more to offer other than wanton noodle.

Also on the menu are fried wanton noodle, chicken feet noodle, mushroom shredded chicken noodle, curry chicken noodle and the focus of this review - curry mutton noodle. 

I think it is rather unusual to find curry mutton noodle at a wanton noodle stall therefore, I decided to order a regular plate ($4/$5) to try.

Ng Kee Teochew Fish Ball Kuay Teow Mee @ Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre

Located on the second floor of Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre is Ng Kee Teochew Fish Ball Kuay Teow Mee, a popular fish ball noodle stall run by three brothers.

The stall is so popular, I am unable to get myself a bowl during my first three visits to the food centre. 

The scenario was the same for all three visits: I did not see any queue from afar so I happily skipped towards the stall only to be told of the 40 - 50 minutes long waiting time. I did not want to wait that long so I did not order.

However, if you do not mind the wait, the brother taking orders will give you the heads-up of the waiting time before asking you to take a seat after you have placed your order therefore, do not be misled by the seemingly lack of a physical queue that there is no queue at all.

I only managed to lay my hands on a bowl after my fourth visit when I visited the food centre real early at 8am (the previous visits were at about 10am). I was thrilled when he told me the current waiting time is five minutes (although in reality, it took fifteen minutes instead).

While waiting for my order, I noticed that he deliver the orders to those sitting in front of the stall. Those who were a little further away, like I do, will have to collect on their own. While serving a customer near me, he came over to tell me that my order is next. Barely a few moments later, he beckoned to me that my order is ready for collection.

Hong Man Tian Char Siew Roasted Pork @ Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre

Apart from Tien Lai Rice Stall, Hong Man Tian Char Siew Roast Pork is the other roast stall located on the same floor at Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre. I have walked past this stall many times and honestly, I did not intend to review this stall since I had already tried Tien Lai but I eventually succumbed due to the eye-catching signboard.

This stall had the same menu as Tien Lai: char siew, roasted pork, roasted duck and soy chicken. Even their pricing are quite competitive.

However, the edge Hong Man Tian have is you can have their roasts with either rice, noodle or hor fun and a bowl of complimentary soup. Tien Lai only served theirs with rice and no soup.

I decided to give Hong Man Tian a try and ordered a regular plate of rice with roasted duck meat and char siew ($4/$5). 

Leng Huat Fish Ball Noodle @ Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre

This post was initially intended for Ng Kee Teochew Fish Ball Kuay Teow Mee, a popular fish ball noodle stall located on the second floor of Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre.

Unfortunately, I had underestimated its popularity because the few times I went down to the stall, I was informed of the 40 - 50 minutes long waiting time. As I did not want to spend too much time waiting, I would visit the other stalls on my list instead, thinking I could come back for it during the next visit.

However, the same scenario would repeat itself when I returned. I have now almost reached the end of my list and my next visit to the food centre would be my last. I will give them another shot then failing which, I will have to move on to my next food trail location.

Leng Huat Fish Ball Noodle is another fish ball noodle stall on my list found on the same floor as Ng Kee near the escalator. 

If you google about fish ball noodle at Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre, this is the other name that pops up in the search engine.

Sikkander's Briyani @ Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre

Sikkander's Briyani is located on the second floor of Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre. I have bookmarked this stall since a very long time ago even way before I planned a food trail here.

This Indian stall specializes in the usual Indian fare like murtabak, thosai, puttu mayam, roti prata and nasi briyani. 

I would have loved to try something new but, my focus today is their chicken briyani.

The reason why their briyani caught my attention was its price point. At $3.50, this has to be the most affordable chicken briyani I know. Even their mutton briyani costs just a little more at $4!

Anyway, this is already my third briyani from Sikkander's since I started checking out this food centre. 

Chwee Kueh @ Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre

Update: The stall has permanently closed.

A certain chwee kueh stall at Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre has recently been thrown into the limelight on social media. The stall is simply called Chwee Kueh.

I first noticed this stall while queuing for the roasts at the popular Tian Lai Rice Stall next door. Unlike Tian Lai that is enjoying a roaring business, the chwee kueh stall seems quite the opposite with no customers in sight.

The stall is run solely by a elderly uncle in his 80s. With a hunched back, uncle goes about his chores with no extra help.

Judging by the tools in his kitchen, I believed he made the chwee kueh from scratch himself instead of relying on ready-made stock from the supplier. Even the chye poh (preserved radish) and chili sauce are made in the stall.