5 Must-Order Dishes At Hougang’s Hainanese Village For $4 And Under
Growing up, I’ve always envied the ones living outside of the West side of Singapore because the food was always guaranteed to be better, more varied, and even cheaper.
So after hearing my colleagues rave about food in Hougang for months, I decided to head to Hougang and try the food for myself.
The destination? Hougang Hainanese Village.
[caption id="attachment_36631" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]And here are the 5 dishes to go for when you’re there.
1. Qiu Yun – Tom Yum Ban Mian
[caption id="attachment_36618" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]Ban Mian is a standard coffeeshop and hawker centre staple. There’s always a stall that sells ban mian, sliced fish soup and the likes. But not all are good.
However, that’s not the case at Hainanese Village. Qiu Yun is a simple store selling ban mian, mee hoon kway, sliced fish soup, and some Pu Tien-style dishes.
They even have Garoupa Head Fish Soup for those with a more adventurous palate.
I got the Tom Yum Ban Mian ($4) and wasn’t really expecting much. I’ve never been a big fan of ban mian. I’m okay with it but it’s usually not a first choice.
[caption id="attachment_36619" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]So I was genuinely surprised when the noodles remained springy without becoming soggy, even though I left it for a good 10 to 15 minutes, just busy getting more dishes.
[caption id="attachment_36620" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]The Tom Yum soup isn’t too spicy or salty either, which is good because I know of stall owners who are heavy-handed with their Tom Yum paste.
That being said, $4 for a decent-sized bowl of Tom Yum Ban Mian is actually worth it, though they could be a BIT more generous with the minced meat.
Qiu Yun
Unit: #02-17
2. Yi Liu Xiang – Nasi Lemak
[caption id="attachment_36621" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]Yi Liu Xiang serves up Chinese-style Nasi Lemak and you know it’s good because the queues are crazy long.
I managed to jump into the queue before 6 others hastily lined up behind me. Lord. I remember thinking to myself, “It’s JUST Nasi Lemak, why is it so hyped?”
First off, $2.50 for a simple plate of Nasi Lemak with a fried fish fillet, omelette and ikan bilis seemed a bit ridiculous to me. I can probably get the same at Ananas for $2.
[caption id="attachment_36622" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]Boy, was I wrong. The fried fish fillet was STILL crispy despite being left out for a while, and it wasn’t too oily. It also had a satisfying crunch that was lacking in most fish fillets.
Now, as with all Nasi Lemak dishes, the make-or-break ingredient is the chilli. Yi Liu Xiang’s chilli was a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and not too spicy that it’ll make you reach for your drink.
12/10 will return and queue for this. Do come early though (before 10am), some of the ingredients sell out VERY early.
Yi Liu Xiang
Unit: #02-30
3. Hup Huat White Carrot Cake
[caption id="attachment_36623" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]As its name suggests, this stall only sells white carrot cake.
[caption id="attachment_36628" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]For $2.50, you get a plate of White Carrot Cake that looks more like a fuyong omelette.
Each plate is cooked upon order and the smell is DIVINE. If you like your carrot cake crispy, this is it.
The chilli doesn’t overpower the taste of the carrot cake, and the omelette has a tinge of wok hei to it, making this extremely satisfying to eat.
Honestly, this is how carrot cake should be prepared islandwide. Make this a thing please.
Hup Huat White Carrot Cake
Unit: #02-35
4. Lai Xing Cooked Food – Duck Kway Chap
[caption id="attachment_36624" align="aligncenter" width="3605"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]Kway Chap is traditionally served with pig offal and pork belly. But not here.
At Lai Xing Cooked Food, they serve up Duck Kway Chap. And for $2.50, it’s actually a very decent portion for one.
[caption id="attachment_36629" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]You get a small platter of fish cakes, tau pok, braised hardboiled eggs, and duck intestines. Since I shun offal like the plague, I decided to acquaint myself with the remaining ingredients.
[caption id="attachment_36630" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]The fish cake is fresh and springy with bits of vegetable in the fish paste.
Though the tau pok today seemed a little undercooked, I’m going to give them the benefit of doubt considering that it was early and the tau pok hasn’t been braised thoroughly enough to be sufficiently soft.
But all in all, Duck Kway Chap is an interesting dish and I highly recommend that you try it too.
Lai Xing Cooked Food
Unit: #02-09
5. Shun Quan – Soya Beancurd With Gingko Nut
[caption id="attachment_36625" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]As I was busy getting the other 4 dishes, I saw a few tables with soya beancurd.
And let me just clarify that I LOVE SOYA BEANCURD. So I tracked the source and found Shun Quan.
I was very surprised and had to double confirm the price when I ordered the Soya Beancurd with Gingko Nut. It’s only $0.80. WHAT.
[caption id="attachment_36636" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]Price aside, the beancurd was so soft, it’s barely solid. It just disintegrates as soon as it leaves the spoon.
The gingko nuts provide a nice contrast in texture from the (literally) silky smooth beancurd.
By far the best tau huay I’ve ever had. Rochor beancurd who?
Shun Quan
Unit: #02-38
So there, if you’re at Hainanese Village in Hougang, eat these. Legit no horse run. Also, all 5 dishes cost us a total of just $12.30.
The place is nestled deep within the Hougang neighbourhood so here’re some buses that you can take to the Hainanese Village.
[caption id="attachment_36632" align="aligncenter" width="3024"] Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]Oh, and come with at least 1 other person because seats are hard to come by.
Happy eating!
Also read This Shop In Outram Sells Customised ‘Kim Zua’ Handmade By A 65-Year-Old Uncle
(Header Image Source: DiscoverSG)
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"] 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"] 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"] 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 Bittergourd, Prawn 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"] 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"] Image Credit: Philip Lim[/caption] [caption id="attachment_36241" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] 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"] 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"] 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"] 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"] 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 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 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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 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)
Address: 1 Pasir Ris Close, #02-113 Downtown East E!Hub, Singapore 519599
Opening Hours: Daily: 10am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6581 5191
Image Credit: iristansl[/caption]
Address: 51 Hougang Avenue 9, Ci Yuan Community Club Hawker Centre #01-08, Singapore 530917
Opening Hours: Daily: 7am – 11pmChicken 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
Address: 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-32 ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre, Singapore 150006
Opening Hours: Thu – Tue: 10am – 9pm, Wed: ClosedOyster Omelette
Address: Blk 435 Hougang Ave 8, Singapore 530435
Opening Hours: Tue – Sun: 12pm – 9.30pm, Mon: ClosedMasala Thosai
Address: Find your nearest outlet here
Website