Amoy Street Lor Mee @ Senja Hawker Centre

Bukit Panjang welcomed its second hawker centre - Senja Hawker Center six months ago on 11th December 2022. 

With 28 food stalls and 580 seats, the hawker centre features a rooftop garden and a underground car park. Due to the high ceiling and numerous huge fans, the place is kept well-ventilated. Illumination is also optimal.

The tables are comfortably spaced apart due to the huge size area. In fact, it has the potential to add a lot more tables to fully utilize the space if needed. 

I actually visited the new hawker centre twice in January this year when they had just opened for a month. Understandably, the place was packed and those who knew me, knows that I hate crowded places. I left without having anything but I made a mental note of the stalls to try.

Super Shiok Nasi Lemak @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

During my previous visit to Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, this stall named Super Shiok Nasi Lemak located beside Heng Ji Chicken Rice caught my attention when I saw several young Muslim ladies in hijab queuing for its nasi lemak.

Judging by their DSLRs, heavy makeup and big sunglasses, my guess is that they are probably tourists.

At that time, the operators inside the stall were Chinese therefore, it aroused my curiosity. I did not see any halal cert displayed although it is stated on the signboard that they uses halal ingredients.

Fast forward to this visit, I still did not see any halal certification but the people inside the stall now is a Malay guy and a older lady wearing the hijab.

Da Jia Shi - Deep-Fried Intestines Porridge @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

Da Jia Shi at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre is very low profile without much social media presence. Managed by one elderly lady, the stall does not attract a lot of attention and is known only to their regulars.

Illuminated by a couple of fluorescent lights, the dim and unattractive store front did not give me the urge to want to check them out despite the numerous times that I walked past over the years. 

I had no idea what they sell even though the photos of their menu is plastered on the glass window. 

I only realize this is a porridge stall after someone posted about it on my social media timeline. 

Hawker Chan - Soya Sauce Chicken Drumstick Noodle @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

Hawker Chan was formerly known as Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodles. 

Located at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, this hawker stall propelled to international stardom when it received a One MICHELIN Star in 2016.

I would usually pack a bird home for dinner together with some of their very nice char siew every couple of months but all that change after they clinched the prestigious award. 

They were already very popular during their pre-award days, with a perpetual queue forming round the perimeter of the stall. The queue situation worsens after their win.

At times, I wonder is the award really a blessing or a curse?

Ga-Hock Roasted Meats - Wanton Noodle @ 794 Upper Bukit Timah Road

Taking up the prime spot at Ga-Hock Eating House is Ga-Hock Roasted Meats.

You will not miss the stall if you are coming from the main road.

I heard the roast meats here are fantastic so I ordered a plate of wanton noodle ($4) to try. There is no one before me and I got my order in under five minutes.

I let out a little gasp when I saw the staff ladle some dark sauce into the plate but I am too late to stop him and the deed is done. 

Honestly, I am not a fan of such dark sauced noodle.

Ga-Hock Fried Fritters @ 794 Upper Bukit Timah

Located at a corner within Ga-Hock Eating House is a stall named 乡村小吃 (no anglicised name). In the morning, the stall specializes in fried fritters and mee siam but come evening, it transforms into a satay and otah stall named Carol Satay & Otah.

I happened to walk past the stall one morning when I was there to check out the roti prata and I saw these beautiful darlings on display behind the glass window.

The temptation is too strong to resist therefore I ordered a silverfish fritter and a prawn fritter to try. Oyster fritter, minced meat fritter and vegetable fritter are also available.

Ga-Hock Roti Prata @ 794 Upper Bukit Timah

Ga-Hock Eating House is a modest coffee shop sharing the same building as Bukit Panjang Hokkien Kong Huay at this stretch of old shop houses along Upper Bukit Timah Road.

I have lived in the vicinity for about 30 years now but I'm totally oblivious to its existence.

To think that I have been taking the bus to school via this route for eight consecutive years (three years primary and five years secondary) yet I have never noticed!

I only found out recently when I come across people talking about it on Facebook. It piqued my interest to come check it out. 

The very first thing you would see, when you reach here, is the roasted meat stall right at the entrance. Walk past it and you will find yourself flanked on both sides by the beverage stall, a noodle stall, a snack stall, a tze char stall and a roti prata stall.

The premise is so cramp, there is no space for even one table. The seating arrangements are all at the back behind the building under the huge Bodhi tree. Do not worry, though, as you will be protected from the elements under a zinc roof. 

I am awed by the laid-back vibes here which is reminiscent of a dai pai dong in Malaysia.