6 Dishes Crazy Rich Asians Should Have Tried At Newton Food Centre Instead Of Satay

If the sheer number of articles, videos and opinion pieces showing up on our news feeds in the past week are any indication, it’s clear that we’ve reached peak Crazy Rich Asians hype.

There’s been a lot of discussion surrounding the movie, and while we’re generally okay with how Singapore was portrayed, one scene that did irk us was when the main characters visit Newton Food Centre and declared its satay as the best in Singapore.

[caption id="attachment_36901" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]Newton Crazy Rich Asians (Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures YouTube)[/caption]

Uh…no. We’re not calling ourselves the ultimate authority on food, but we’re pretty sure that we’ve had better ones at East Coast and Lau Pa Sat, at the very least.

While it might not have the best satay, it *is* true that Newton Circus is home to some really good eats. If you’re planning to head down to this iconic hawker centre to channel your inner Rachel Chu, here are the six dishes that you should be trying out instead:

Bee Heng Popiah

[caption id="attachment_36905" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]NewtonPopiah01 (Image Credit: Discover SG)[/caption]

If you’re looking for an appetiser before going all-out, then Bee Heng Popiah ($4.40 for a minimum order of 2) is pretty much the only right choice here.

The generous amount of shredded turnip is probably enough to warrant a place on this list, but it’s the skin that’s the real star of the show. Unlike other Popiah’s it has a light, sweet taste of its own, which blends well with the other ingredients of egg, nuts and shrimp.

[caption id="attachment_36904" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]NewtonPopiah02 (Image Credit: Discover SG)[/caption]

The soft skin makes for a weak foundation, however, and there’s about a 60% chance that the abundance of ingredients will spill out before you can bring it to your mouth.

Some might prefer more structurally sound Popiah’s, but if you’re willing to put up with the mess you’ll be treated to one of the tastiest versions of this beloved dish that we’ve had.

Bee Heng
Unit: #01-12

XO Bak Chor Mee

[caption id="attachment_36909" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]NewtonBCM01 (Image Credit: Discover SG)[/caption]

There’s Bak Chor Mee…and then there’s XO Bak Chor Mee ($4.50).

If you’re a fan of minced meat noodles and haven’t tried this variant, you owe it to yourself to. Thanks to the addition of…well, XO, the noodles don’t dry out as fast, and quite literally add a new layer of savoury taste to it.

[caption id="attachment_36908" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]NewtonBCM02 (Image Credit: Discover SG)[/caption]

The “meat” part of the dish isn’t anything to scoff at, either — the pork was extremely lean and pretty much melted in our mouths, and the minced meat was so abundant that we had enough to put in every spoonful.

The best part of the dish, however, is still the Fuzhou fish ball, which might honestly be the best Fuzhou fish ball that we’ve ever eaten. There’s only one per bowl, which is probably a good thing because any more would lead to a full-blown addiction.

XO Minced Meat Noodle
Unit: #01-10

Kwee Heng Duck Noodle

[caption id="attachment_36906" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]NewtonDuck01 (Image Credit: Discover SG)[/caption]

On their own, the ingredients of Kwee Heng’s Duck Noodles ($4) aren’t anything to write home about — the noodles and soup are standard prawn noodle fare, and the duck strangely enough tastes a bit like chicken.

When eaten as a whole, however, the flavour profile is flipped on its head in the best of ways. The saltiness of the soup is perfectly complimented by the lighter taste of the meat, creating a balanced taste that’s just the right amount of savoury.

[caption id="attachment_36907" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]NewtonDuck02 (Image Credit: Discover SG)[/caption]

And if for some reason that isn’t enough, adding a hint of chilli further enhances the flavour with an extra kick of sweet spiciness. We admittedly weren’t expecting much from this dish, but it quickly grew to become one of our favourites.

Kwee Heng
Unit: #01-13

Stall 51 Hokkien Mee

[caption id="attachment_36913" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]NewtonHM01 (Image Credit: Discover SG)[/caption]

With the use of thinner noodles, Stall 51’s Hokkien Mee ($5) is reminiscent of those served at Old Airport Road or Serangoon Gardens’ Chomp Chomp, and taste just as good as well.

The dish has just the right amount of wetness, and retained its consistency even after being left on the table while we got our other dishes (the hallmark of a good Hokkien Mee). The amount of seafood is decent enough, but its the generous serving of egg that really puts this on a whole other level.

[caption id="attachment_36912" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]NewtonHM02 (Image Credit: Discover SG)[/caption]

And what’s Hokkien Mee without some good chilli? The owner jokingly warned us about how spicy his blend was, but despite its belachan-esque appearance we found it to be more sweet and spicy, and added a new dimension to the dish’s flavour. Needless to say, we wiped the plate clean.

Stall 51
Unit: #01-51

Alliance Seafood

[caption id="attachment_36903" align="aligncenter" width="5781"]NewtonStingray01 (Image Credit: Discover SG)[/caption]

Being awarded the coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand for two years straight is no small feat, but we can totally see why the folks at Alliance Seafood managed to do so. The stall is probably best known for their Chilli Crab and Cereal Prawns, but we decided to go for the other crowd-favourite choice of stingray ($12) instead.

the meat was well-cooked throughout, and flaked off the bone as soon as we applied the slightest amount of pressure with our chopsticks. The dish is also lathered with sambal, and while it wasn’t as spicy as we would have wanted it to be, has a rather sweet taste that grows on you.

[caption id="attachment_36911" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]NewtonStingray02 (Image Credit: Discover SG)[/caption]

Much like Kwee Heng’s Duck Noodles, the two ingredients are okay on their own, but produce an entirely new taste when eaten together. We’d recommend flaking all the meat and giving it a good mix before eating to achieve the maximum effect.

Alliance Seafood
Unit: #01-27

Bangkok Express

[caption id="attachment_36914" align="aligncenter" width="6000"]NewtonBE (Image Credit: Discover SG)[/caption]

When you think of “good Thai food”, the usual suspects like Nakhon Kitchen and…well, the entire Golden Mile Complex are usually the first places that come to mind.

Don’t let the rather random location of Bangkok Express fool you, though — with food prepared by an actual Thai chef, this unassuming stall will give your favourite haunts a run for their money, and is one of the best-kept secrets of those working around the Newton area.

Their extensive menu offers everything from Phad Thai to Basil Chicken, and with so much food already on our plates we decided to go for the Seafood Tom Yum Soup ($6).

While most Tom Yum dishes will have you ordering another cup of sugar cane, this iteration is surprisingly light on the spiciness, while still packing a strong, sweet flavour at the same time. They’re pretty generous with the seafood part as well, with squids and prawns appearing in pretty much every spoonful.

Bangkok Express
Unit: #01-04

Also Read 5 Must-Order Dishes At Hougang’s Hainanese Village For $4 And Under

(Header Image Source: Discover SG)

8 Hawker Food Haunts That Are Tried, Tasted, And Recommended By True Blue S’poreans

Sometimes, with so many food options available in Singapore, I tend to forget what my favourite food is. It’s Mee Hoon Kueh.

Everyone has like, 3 favourites so it’s really hard to choose one. But here are some favourites that I’ve managed to source from my friends, with their favourite place to go for that particular dish.

Here we go.

Bak Chor Mee

1. Meng Kitchen

Meng Kitchen has been around since 1946, serving up bowls of fishball noodles and mushroom minced pork noodle (bak chor mee).

[caption id="attachment_36231" align="aligncenter" width="3968"]singapore food Image Credit: yumyumformytumtum[/caption]

They’re better known for their Bak Chor Mee. For just $4, you get a bowl of minced pork, meatball, springy mee pok coated with chilli, vinegar, and garnished with crispy pork lard.

[caption id="attachment_36230" align="aligncenter" width="645"]singapore food Image Credit: Burppler Casey Tan[/caption]

Meng Kitchen used to be 24 hours though now they close from 5am. It still remains a popular supper spot for many.

Meng Kitchen
Address: 246B Upper Thomson Road, Thomson Garden Estate, Singapore 574370
Opening Hours: Daily: 9am – 5am
Contact no.: 6455 4890

Fish Soup

2. Blanco Court Fish Soup

Blanco Court Fried Fish Soup is one of the old greats that used to reside in the now-demolished Blanco Court Food Centre.

The broth here is flavourful though some find the soup too salty.

The fried fish is crispy and chunky and the broth is served with plenty of deep fried egg batter.

[caption id="attachment_32157" align="aligncenter" width="640"]singapore food Image Credit: Burpple User Justin Teo[/caption]

They also use spinach in their soup (we LOVE spinach), which imparts a different texture and taste to the dish compared to the more bitter chye sim variants.

They’ve moved to a new standalone shophouse at Beach Road and they added other dishes such as Black Bean Fish Head with BittergourdPrawn Rolls and Chicken Wings besides their signature Fried Fish Soup.

Blanco Court Fried Fish Soup
Address: 325 Beach Road, Singapore, 199559
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 10am – 7.30pm
Contact no.: 9151 2401

3. Yong Lai Fa Ji Shu Shi

Yong Lai Fa Ji Shu Shi looks like a run-of-the-mill fish soup stall, but the queues are always long – a clear indicator of good food.

[caption id="attachment_36238" align="aligncenter" width="2048"]singapore food Image Credit: Philip Lim[/caption]

The fish is always freshly picked every morning by the stall owner, and each bowl of fish soup is cooked only upon order.

For $4, you get a no-frills bowl of fresh sliced fish soup with lettuce, seaweed and white tofu. Add on 50 cents for a bowl of rice to go with your soup for a more substantial meal.

[caption id="attachment_36240" align="aligncenter" width="720"]singapore food Image Credit: Philip Lim[/caption] [caption id="attachment_36241" align="aligncenter" width="2048"]singapore food Image Credit: Philip Lim[/caption]

Do expect a bit of a wait though.

Yong Lai Fa Ji Shu Shi
Address:
 Circuit Road Food Centre #01-66, 79A Circuit Road, Singapore 370079
Opening Hours: Fri – Wed: 12pm – 8pm, Thu: Closed

Ban Mian

4. Qiu Lian Ban Mee

Qiu Lian Ban Mian first started in Bishan and has since expanded, with multiple outlets all over the island.

They’re known for their Ban Mian ($4.50), I mean it’s in the name after all.

If you love your Ban Mian, this is one that you need try. There’s really nothing much to say about this except that it’s really good Ban Mian.

The ingredients are pretty standard – egg, minced pork, vegetables, and their handmade ban mian in the signature broth.

[caption id="attachment_36246" align="aligncenter" width="645"]singapore food Image Credit: Burppler Siming T[/caption]

You can find the full list of Qiu Lian Ban Mian below.

[caption id="attachment_36244" align="aligncenter" width="768"]singapore food Image Credit: Qiu Lian Ban Mee[/caption]

Qiu Lian Ban Mee
Website

5. Yumen Hut

Yumen Hut is the only place I know of that sells halal Ban Mian and Mee Hoon Kueh.

[caption id="attachment_36247" align="aligncenter" width="960"]singapore food Image Credit: Susan Wong[/caption]

Instead of pork, they use chicken. Which seems odd, but it works, surprisingly.

[caption id="attachment_36248" align="aligncenter" width="720"]singapore food Image Credit: Yumen Hut[/caption]

Apart from their Ban Mian and Mee Hoon Kueh, other bestsellers include their unique noodles made with different vegetables – pumpkin noodles, spinach noodles, and carrot noodles.

Yumen Hut
Address: 1 Pasir Ris Close, #02-113 Downtown East E!Hub, Singapore 519599
Opening Hours: Daily: 10am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6581 5191
singapore food Image Credit: iristansl[/caption]

And Mee Hoon Kueh should ALWAYS be hand-pulled. There’s just something about the texture that makes it that much better than the flat, uniform slices favoured by generic Mee Hoon Kueh stalls these days.

If you’re not a fan of Mee Hoon Kueh, the stall also has Pork Porridge and Koka Noodles available.

Ci Yuan Community Club Hawker Centre Mee Hoon Kueh
Address: 51 Hougang Avenue 9, Ci Yuan Community Club Hawker Centre #01-08, Singapore 530917
Opening Hours: Daily: 7am – 11pm

Chicken Rice

7. Katong Shopping Centre Delicious Boneless Chicken Rice

Every time Katong Shopping Centre is mentioned, I hear about this chicken rice stall. And as someone who shuns chicken rice because bone-in chicken is too much of a hassle for my liking, boneless chicken rice is a God-send.

[caption id="attachment_34511" align="aligncenter" width="645"]singapore food Image Credit: Burppler Nobelle Liew[/caption]

And that’s not all, their boneless chicken rice comes with complimentary soup and free-flow achar. One thing to note is that the soup they serve is not your generic MSG water – they actually cook proper soups to go with their chicken rice.

After all, good chicken rice should not overlook any aspect of the meal.

Delicious Boneless Chicken Rice
Address: 865 Mountbatten Road, #B1-85/87 Katong Shopping Centre, Singapore 437844
Opening Hours: Tue – Sun: 10.30am – 8pm, Mon: Closed
Contact no.: 9789 6073
Website

8. Tong Fong Fatt Boneless Chicken Rice

Tong Fong Fatt Boneless Chicken Rice is probably the ONLY chicken rice brand that’s primarily non-halal, but has a halal outlet at Bedok.

Good guy Tong Fong Fatt.

For $4.50, you get a plate of traditional Hainanese boneless chicken rice. The chicken is generously doused in their soya sauce, so you can be guaranteed that it’s not bland.

[caption id="attachment_36258" align="aligncenter" width="645"]singapore food Image Credit: Burppler M[/caption]

The chilli sauce still has a spicy kick without being too overpowering. If you’re looking for another chicken rice spot to try, go for this.

Tong Fong Fatt Boneless Chicken Rice
Address: 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-32 ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre, Singapore 150006
Opening Hours: Thu – Tue: 10am – 9pm, Wed: Closed

Oyster Omelette

9. Hougang Fried Oyster

Oyster Omelette, or Orh Luah, is a dish that I usually avoid because I don’t understand what compels people to eat something as slimy as oysters.

Hougang Fried Oyster has been around for over 25 years, serving plate after plate of fried oyster omelette.

[caption id="attachment_36259" align="aligncenter" width="645"]singapore food Image Credit: Burppler Bryan Lee[/caption]

For $4, you get a crispy yet fluffy omelette cooked in lard with 4 oysters, fish sauce and sambal chilli.

There’s also a $5 option which gives you 6 oysters. The chilli here is homemade using fresh chilli, pork lard, and dried shrimp. Don’t underestimate this potent concoction because it packs a really strong punch.

Hougang Fried Oyster
Address: Blk 435 Hougang Ave 8, Singapore 530435
Opening Hours: Tue – Sun: 12pm – 9.30pm, Mon: Closed

Masala Thosai

10. Ananda Bhavan

Ananda Bhavan has the BEST Masala Thosai in Singapore”, said my overenthusiastic friend.

And for good reason too. It’s the most popular South Indian recipe and Ananda Bhavan does it well.

[caption id="attachment_36260" align="aligncenter" width="550"]singapore food Image Credit: TripAdvisor[/caption]

Simple plain thosai is served with a side of mashed potatoes. No frills and extremely comforting.

If you’re craving for a prata, I suggest you give Masala Thosai a try instead. It might (will) become your new favourite.

Ananda Bhavan
Address: Find your nearest outlet here
Website

So there you have it. The food that Singaporeans cannot live without, and the best places for each dish.

We’ll keep expanding this list as we go on.

Do you have any you’d like to recommend? Let us know in the comments!

Also read I Paid $400 To Make My Own Watch From Scratch – And It Was Totally Worth The Price Tag

(Header Image Source: Burppler M and Burppler Casey Tan)

Singaporeans, Here’s What Your Go-To Hawker Food Says About You

It’s no secret that we Singaporeans love our food. We will queue for them, travel for them, pay for them; we will go to any lengths to get ahold of the foods we love.

While we’re always on the lookout for the next big food craze, we’ll admit, there’s a special place in our hearts for our very own local delicacies – our messy, greasy plates of char kway teow, our savoury, vinegary bowls of bak chor mee, our deliciously sinful, spicy bowls of laksa…

Most of us have a go-to local dish – the dish we head straight for when we’re in a food court; the one we miss when we’re out of the country; the dish we absolutely cannot imagine our lives without.

Whatever your go-to may be, it reveals plenty about you. Here’s what your go-to Singaporean food says about you:

1. Yong Tau Fu

[caption id="attachment_29446" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Yong Tau Fu from Ding Hao Yong Tau Fu (Image Credit: Deliveroo)[/caption]

You’re either someone who is very health conscious, or someone who likes to feel like you’re making at least some healthy choices in your life. You can be a picky eater, and when ordering food online, you will browse through the entire Deliveroo catalogue until you find something that perfectly suits your mood.

You like feeling like you’re in control at work, at home, and in life in general. You’re careful, meticulous, and reliable. You prefer to err on the side of caution and more often than not, you stick with the safer option.

2. Chicken Rice

[caption id="attachment_29447" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Chicken Rice from Buffet Town (Image Credit: Deliveroo)[/caption]

You like your food like you like your days – good, but in a safe, predictable kind of way. You are a creature of habit and you truly believe you can eat chicken rice every single day.

You take great comfort in routine and familiarity, and you are faithful and loyal to the people and the things you love. You are simple, easy-going, and you don’t sweat the small things.

3. Laksa

[caption id="attachment_29448" align="aligncenter" width="1431"] Image Credit: AspirantSG[/caption]

You live for a bit of risk. You’re adventurous, fiery and passionate. You say go big when others say play it safe. You’re always jio-ing your friends to try cool new eateries with you and you’re often drawn to the most unusual items on the menu.

The Deliveroo catalogue is like a playground to you, and you often have a hard time nailing down what to eat, and where you should even order from. Novelty and things that are outrageous excite you, and you constantly seek out these experiences in your life.

4. Bak Chor Mee

[caption id="attachment_29449" align="aligncenter" width="1192"] Bak Chor Mee from Yammee Teochew Fishball Noodles (Image Credit: Deliveroo)[/caption]

You’re someone with very particular tastes. With food and with every other aspect of your life, you know exactly what you want, and you will go out of your way to get it. You have your go-to pick for everything from the supermarket, to the place you do your hair, to the app you use to order your food. If Deliveroo is your go-to, there’s a good chance you’re sticking with it till the end of time.

While you do get distracted once in a while, you always remember to get back on track – that’s just the laser-focused kind of person that you are.

5. Char Kway Teow

[caption id="attachment_29450" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Image Credit: Burpple[/caption]

Your favoute phrase is ‘treat yo’self’ and you whip it out as often as you can. You love indulging in the things that make you happy and you couldn’t care less what others have to say about it. You’re independent, smart, sassy, and have a mind of your own. Whether it’s bubble tea, pasta, or Chinese food, your Deliveroo order is always at least a little bit different from the rest – and you take pride in that individuality.

Aside from the ones closest to you, what others say or think about you and your decisions don’t faze you. When your mind is made up, there’s no stopping you.

6. Cai Fan/Nasi Padang

[caption id="attachment_29451" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Image Credit: Malay Mail Online[/caption]

You’re an impatient character and you want your food, chop chop, right now. You don’t ask for your food to be amazing – decent is good enough. While you’re normally quite sui bian when it comes to food, you like to spoil yourself once in a blue moon. That’s when you go all out, ordering all the delicious grub you’ve heard and read about.

That said, food is not where your passion lies. You prefer to spend your time, effort, and energy improving yourself, nurturing your interests, or on your work; these are the things that give your life meaning, and you pour yourself wholeheartedly into them.

7. Roti Prata

[caption id="attachment_29452" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Roti Prata from Casuarina Curry (Image Credit: Burpple)[/caption]

You’re the life of the party. You have plenty of close friends, and you’re the person everyone calls (or texts) to talk to in the middle of the night. You’re outgoing, extroverted, a little bit cray, and you believe in making good memories over food.

To you, both with food and with people, the more, the merrier. You’re always that person who orders extra sides to share – and you’re happy to pay for it too. You’re all about having a good time, and your infectious energy never fails to light up the whole room.

Were your food “readings” accurate?

We Singaporeans are spoiled for choice when it comes to good food. Now, we’re even more spoiled by Deliveroo, who will bring all these tasty hawker staples right to our door step! (Well, all except for cai fan, but you can always order tze char and make your own cai fan.)

Whether you’re up to your neck in work at the office or decide to spend a lazy day at home, Deliveroo is just a couple of clicks away, and they’ll have all your dining needs covered!

This article is written in collaboration with Deliveroo.  

Also read Lady M Created A Light-Up Lantern For Its Mooncakes, Because Boxes Are So Mainstream

6 Places Nathan Hartono Might Head To For His Bak Chor Mee Cravings

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past weekend, you would know who Nathan Hartono is and what exactly he’s accomplished.

For those who have no clue who he is, Nathan Hartono, a local born talent won first runner up in popular singing reality show Sing! China (the furthest any Singaporean has placed!). Not only did this local singer start a Milo craze which resulted in milo trucks making an appearance at Plaza Singapura, he also gave this popular local dish a special shoutout, BAK CHOR MEE!

Bak Chor Mee is the quintessential comfort food, not only can you find it in every other coffeeshop, you can have it in so many different ways! Here at DSG, we’re always on the hunt for the best foods and that (of course) includes Bak Chor Mee. Here are the top 6 places where you (and Nathan Hartono) can satisfy those Bak Chor Mee cravings!

1. Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle

[caption id="attachment_15986" align="alignnone" width="1024"]1-hill 2-lai-heng 3-58 ah-hoe 5

Don’t be fooled into thinking this Bak Chor Mee spot has no queue, they have a queue number system so be prepared to wait up to an hour for a bowl here. Dishes at Macpherson Minced Meat Noodles are prepared individually and are crafted with springy noodles and stripes of braised pork belly and crispy lard. While the dish is amazing on its own get it with soup on the side, the rich pork broth is the perfect compliment to this popular local dish.

Macpherson Minced Meat Noodles
1382 Serangoon Road, S328254
Opening Hours: 6.30am – 2pm, Tue Closed

6. Seng Huat Eating House

[caption id="attachment_16029" align="alignnone" width="427"]seng-huat )

Also Read: 
6 DIE DIE Must Visit Stalls For Lovers Of Seafood White Bee Hoon!