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.

Tien Lai Rice Stall @ Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre

Tien Lai Rice Stall at Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre is known for their roasts, particularly their char siew which is rated very highly among foodies online.

During my previous visits to the food centre, I noticed that a line of customers have already formed in front of the stall even before they are ready for business.

I decided not to join the queue then because the line only gets increasingly longer by the minute. Today, I was surprised to see only three customers in the queue therefore, I wasted no time in joining them.

De Ji Hong Kong Soy Sauce Chicken @ Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre

While checking out the stalls at Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre, I could not help but notice the rows of soy sauce chicken beckoning to me from behind the glass display at De Ji Hong Kong Soy Sauce Chicken.

I stopped in my tracks and took a moment to worship the chickens whose skin glistens under the caress of the warm spotlights. For just $3, you could have your soy sauce chicken with either rice or noodle.

I opted for the $4 soy sauce chicken with noodle.

58 Minced Meat Noodle @ Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre

58 Minced Meat Noodle is undoubtedly one of the more popular stalls evident by its daily snaking queue. Located on the third floor of Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre, the line often stretched to the nearby escalator, blocking the path of the people coming up.

With a history spanning 47 years, the stall is now succeeded by Deon Ang, the second generation who has been helping his father out at the stall since his teenage years when they were still at their previous location.

On the day of my visit, Deon was there at the helm, cooking bowl after bowls of minced meat noodle at lightning speed while assisted by a lady helper.