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!