Ah Wing Wanton Mee @ Empress Road Market & Food Centre

When I was previously looking up Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre on Google map, I discovered that Empress Road Market & Food Centre (also known as Farrer Road Food Centre) is just a little further up.

I did not realize that Farrer Road is actually so close to the Queenstown and Commonwealth area. I have wanted to check out Empress Road Market & Food Centre since a few years back but shelved the plans as I thought it is rather out of the way.

Now that I know how easy it is to get there from my place, I decided to pay a visit to the food centre even though if it meant I had to take three buses to reach my destination (but it's okay, I love bus rides especially when it's raining and with my ear pods plugged in).

So, what makes me want to come Empress Road Market & Food Centre all these years? It is all because of Ah Wing Wanton Mee!

I once saw a photo of their wanton mee and I was fascinated by their plump wantons and charred char siew that I promised myself I would have a plate of it one of these days. The "one of these days" took a little longer than expected but better late than never, right?

Bee Yee Teochew Famous Fish Ball Kuay Teow Mee @ Blk 117 Commonwealth Drive

I am done with reviewing the food at Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre but I thought I will give Google photos a final browse just in case I missed out on anything.

And I am glad I did because the photo of a beautiful bowl of Teochew mee pok (flat noodle) caught my attention. It did not look like it came from Huang Da Fu or Hao Hao Noodle House.

I clicked on the photo and it brought me to a Straits Times article about this noodle stall called Bee Yee Teochew Famous Fish Ball Kuay Teow Mee at block 117. Then, it dawned upon me that I have seen that article a long time ago.

That bowl of mee pok with prawn, fish cake, bak chor and pork lard seemed alluring enough for me to want to have a bowl but at that point of time, I still have not figured out how to get to the location thus, the matter was soon forgotten.

Eng Kee Fried Bee Hoon And Chicken Wings @ Blk 117 Commonwealth Crescent

Eng Kee is a typical economical breakfast stall serving the usual staples like fried bee hoon, fried noodle and fried kway teow with an assortment of sides like fried chicken wings, otah, luncheon meat, ngor hiang, fish cake, fried long beans and stewed cabbages among other things.

Unlike other such economical stalls which closes by noon, Eng Kee starts business from noon onwards till late at night.

I have tried Eng Kee at their Redhill market outlet before and I am now at their main outlet - the birthplace of the fried chicken wings which they are famous for.

I arrived at around 11.30am so I ordered a drink, intending to wait for the stall to open for business at noon. However, I noticed that by 11.40am, they have already started operations.

By then, a short queue have formed but I did not join in until the queue starts moving.

Henry's Chicken Rice @ Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre

I have read numerous reviews about Henry's Chicken Rice at Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre just across from Hao Hao Noodle House and I decided to check them out.

I am particularly intrigued by two of the reviews which mentioned about a certain black-faced auntie. Why is she black-faced? I reminded myself not to blindly believe everything that was posted online. Who knows, it might have been a disgruntled customer bad mouthing her?

On the day of my visit, I approached the stall with an open mind. Surely, the auntie will not be black-faced for no rhyme or reason? Her back was facing me when I stood in front of the stall. It was still early so a queue have not build up yet. When she turned around, I have to say, I was taken aback by her expression. Her face was, like they said - black.

Auntie:  要什么？(what you want? what is your order?) 
Me: 烧鸡腿饭，这里吃。(roasted chicken drumstick rice, having here)

She proceeded to prepare my order, placed them on the tray and collected payment without another word, a smile or thank you.

But I did not do anything to make her angry what. Why is she mad at me? I eventually came to this conclusion: perhaps auntie is naturally poker face lah. Not that she is angry or anything.

Cannot expect people to keep smiling right? Siao meh?

Hao Hao Noodle House Wanton Noodle @ Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre

Hao Hao Noodle House is another popular noodle stall at Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre.

The stall sells a variety of noodles like wanton noodle, sui kow noodle, Ipoh hor fun, mushroom & chicken feet noodle, and laksa.

Being a fan of wanton noodle ($3), I have to order a plate of my favorite noodle. It is self-service here so you order, make your payment and wait to collect your food.

I was watching the chef blanch my noodles when he suddenly toss them high into the air and catching it deftly in his ladle with precision. That was totally unanticipated! I thought such flying acts could only be found in Malaysia.

Huang Da Fu Minced Meat Noodle @ Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre

Huang Da Fu is one of the more popular noodle stall at Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre. 

Run by a young couple, the stall serves minced meat noodle (bak chor mee) that come in three sizes ($2.70/$3.50/$4.50).

Their cheapest bowl, at $2.70, is the most affordable I have ever seen. I think bak chor mee at most places starts from $3. I decided to go for the medium bowl and the lady who took my order suggests adding on their delicious fish dumplings (4 pieces for $1).

After collecting payment, the guy immediately gets to work; blanching the noodles and putting the bowl together.

牛車水阿婆鹵鴨 @ Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre

I am not a duck person but I am a convert after discovering Cai Ji's braised duck from Seah Im Food Centre a couple of years ago. Now, whenever I come across a braised duck stall at any food centre, I would be most willing to give it a try.

During my first visit to Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre, I noticed there is a braised duck stall called 牛車水阿婆鹵鴨 located near the escalator. Although there is a perpetual queue in front of the stall, it gets cleared pretty fast. I made a mental note to give it a try during my next visit.

On my second visit, I came up from the escalator and was elated to see no one in the queue. The stall owner was sitting outside the stall, taking a break.

I immediately walk up to her and ordered a plate of braised duck rice ($3).