Ah Ma Lor Mee @ Blk 328 Clementi Ave 2

The row of aquarium shops at Blk 328 Clementi Avenue 2 is my to-go-to place for my aquarium supplies.

At the end of the row is a coffeeshop which I have always walked by but never patronize. Who would when the coffeeshop always seemed so quiet and not all the stalls are in operation? 

Furthermore, the popular 448 Clementi Market & Food Centre is just a five to ten minutes walk away.

But, little do I know that hidden in the coffeeshop is a lor mee stall called Ah Ma Lor Mee which happens to be run by the third generation of the popular Feng Zhen Lor Mee (凤珍卤面).

I would not have known about them if not for the fact that Ah Ma Lor Mee was among the Top 10 most-voted-for stalls of the Singapore Food Master 2017 competition and it emerges as one of the top 3 in the west zone category.

Eng Kee - Fried Bee Hoon And Fried Chicken Wing @ Redhill Market & Food Centre

I have long heard about Eng Kee and their famous fried chicken wings but have not gotten round to visiting them as I still have not figured out how to get to their location at Commonwealth.

As fate would have it, they opened a branch at Redhill Market & Food Centre which is easier for me as I already know how to get there. But of all places to set up shop, they opened their branch at the previous stall of YAN (焱), who is also famous for their fried chicken wings.

Since I have just visited YAN (now renamed YON YAN) at their new location at West Coast Market, I thought I might as well visit Eng Kee to see the difference between the two? This is something that I have wanted to do but procrastinated till now.

Yon Yan - Fried Bee Hoon And Fried Chicken Wing @ West Coast Market Square

About six months ago, Eng Kee posted a photo of YAN's stallfront on their Facebook. I was puzzled why did Eng Kee open their new branch at YAN's location? 

For the uninitiated, Mr Hu, the owner of YAN, is the original owner of Eng Kee at Commonwealth. Mr Hu's Chinese name is 胡火荣 while Eng Kee's Chinese name is 荣记 so can you see the link between them? He sold off the brand and recipe then set up YAN at Redhill. Both stalls offer similar food items i.e economical fried bee hoon and fried chicken wings which both are popular in their own rights.

What's confusing me is, since Eng Kee is opening their branch at YAN's location, why didn't they change the signboard to their own before putting up the photo on their Facebook?

It wasn't until last December when the Chinese tabloids reported that Mr Hu has ended the business at Redhill Food Centre six months ago due to a work injury but has now reopened for business again at a new location with a new name and they finally have their own Facebook page!