Hambaobao Is Back @ Beauty World Food Centre - Till Next Year!

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

Hambaobao (a direct translation of ham burger in Chinese) is the "new kid on the block", having set up stall at the Beauty World Food Centre about two years ago.

When I first got to know about this burger joint serving some Asian-inspired burgers like ayam buah keluak (sandwiched between two buns with chap chye, no less!) and crispy pork belly (aka sio bak burger), I told myself that I have to come try it one of these days.

However, the "one of these days" never did materialize as procrastination got the better of me.

Earlier this year, news about a mystery buyer buying over the food centre with intentions to redevelop it into an air-conditioned food court were rife. Before I knew it, the food centre ceased operations.

Original Jalan Tua Kong 132 Mee Pok @ 24 Sixth Avenue

Located in the same coffeeshop as 6th Avenue Wanton Noodle is this noodle stall called Original Jalan Tua Kong 132 managed by two guys.

The name of the stall baffles me as it is a combination of two very famous Teochew mee pok stalls like 132 Mee Pok from Marine Terrace and Jalan Tua Kong Lau Lim Mee Pok from Simpang Bedok. 

I know of the story between 132 and Lau Lim but what about this stall which claims to be the original? Is this stall hitching a ride on their names or simply a disgruntled sibling/relative/ex-worker striking out on his own?

In all honesty, I have not eaten both 132 or Lau Lim before hence, I cannot compare who does it better. However, this stall's mee pok is the best that I have tasted ever thus far.

6th Avenue Wanton Noodle @ 24 Sixth Avenue

If you have read this, you would have known that I went to Sixth Avenue for breakfast before going to the Learning Forest at the Botanic Gardens. After leaving Botanic Gardens, I decided to head back to Sixth Avenue for lunch.

Remember about the coffeeshop I mentioned that is bustling with customers? I decided to pop over for a look to find out for myself what is so "happening" over there.

Along the way, I took the time in the bus to google about the coffeeshop which I found out is called Good Good Eating House of which the wanton noodle and Teochew mee pok are highly raved. 

I could not decide which to try since they both looked so good in the pictures. In the end, I decided to be bias and ordered wanton noodle.

Swan Lake @ Singapore Botanic Gardens

In my previous post, I visited the newly opened Learning Forest at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. I took a bus from the bus stop opposite Sixth Avenue MRT station which brought me straight to Tanglin gate in front of the Garden.

As the Learning Forest is just a little further down past Swan Lake, it is therefore nearer to go by this way instead of coming from the Bukit Timah gate.

This photos in this post are taken around Swan Lake before I reached the Learning Forest.

The Learning Forest @ Singapore Botanic Gardens

After my breakfast at Master Tang's, I make my way back to Sixth Avenue MRT station. The Botanic Gardens is another two train stations away but I crossed over to the bus stop opposite and took a bus instead.

The MRT will bring you to the Bukit Timah gate at Botanic Gardens MRT station but the Learning Forest is nearer to Tanglin gate at Orchard Road side.

If you go by the Bukit Timah gate, you have to walk at least 2 - 3 kilometers to reach the Learning Forest. Taking the bus, however, brings you right to the front of Tanglin Gate.

From there, it is only a short distance from Swan Lake to reach the Learning Forest.

Master Tang Wanton Noodle @ 10E Sixth Avenue

Update: Master Tang Wanton Noodle has permanently closed.

During the Good Friday holiday, I decided to visit the newly opened Learning Forest at the Botanic Gardens. I took the downtown line and head towards Botanic Gardens station.

Along the way, I got off at Sixth Avenue station for breakfast at Bukit Timah Road. I am there looking for a certain Master Tang who used to be the head chef of Crystal Jade and is now running his own business at said location selling wanton noodle.

With this level of fame, I was expecting a huge turnout at his stall but unexpectedly, there is not a single soul at the coffee shop. On my way in, I saw the other coffee shop brimming with customers and long queues everywhere.

This coffee shop is the exact opposite of that coffee shop. I thought perhaps I was too early or maybe the stall is still not ready for business yet.

I approached the stall cautiously and I saw an elderly man wrapping wantons silently by the side while a lady was busy checking on the many simmering pots they had which were all screaming for attention at the same time.

That should be Master Tang with his Malaysian wife.

Feng Zhen Lor Mee @ Blk 787B Choa Chu Kang Drive

I have heard so much about the famous Feng Zhen Lor Mee at Taman Jurong but I have never gotten round to having a bowl of it as the location is rather out of the way.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that they have a second branch at Yew Tee which is so much nearer and convenient to me. Apparently from what I heard, the stall at Taman Jurong is run by the mother while the one at Yew Tee is run by the daughter.

My favorite lor mee is from Bukit Purmei Lor Mee at West Coast Drive but unfortunately, the stall has ceased operations due to the owner's declining health. Since then, I have been unable to find any lor mee that is worthy of its calories.