Tag: food

7 Best Eats You Must Try Along Tanjong Katong For That Great Meal

The Tanjong Katong neighbourhood is one with cafes and eateries spouting out relatively fast. Coupled with old school eateries and stalls, it’s an eclectic neighbourhood with a wide range of food options.

With its large residential crowd and people flocking from all parts of Singapore, it is undoubtedly a prime spot for cafe owners and eateries.

Well, the East has practically everything for food! Yes, we East siders do take our food very seriously. Do join us for a gastronomic tour down Tanjong Katong Road as bring you 7 best cheap eats all under $15.

1. Punggol Nasi Lemak

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Don’t be fooled by its name. Although this stall is named Punggol Nasi Lemak, it is located along Tanjong Katong Road. Though it is priced slightly highly than your usual plate of Nasi Lemak, you get to choose from a wide array of dishes.

What we recommend – their crispy chicken wings fried to perfection, crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside; and their spicy Otah. Their French Beans fried with dried shrimps is also one of our must haves. For any Nasi Lemak dish, the sambal chilli is the most important condiment and we must say it is on point.

The queue starts as early as 6pm. Fret not, as their staff work quickly and it won’t take too long before it’s your turn (about 15 minutes). Each plate will cost from about $5 to $7 depending on what dishes you pick. Overall, its fried chicken wings and otahs undoubtedly win our hearts.

Punggol Nasi Lemak 
Address: 238 Tanjong Katong Rd, Singapore 437026
Tel: 65 6287 0020
Opening Hours: 5.30pm-2.30am, Closed on Thu

2. Eng’s Noodles House

(image credit: wanton mee. This place has come a long way from the 1950s where it started out from a pushcart at Duku Road to a stall at Dunman Food Center and now a shophouse unit along Tanjong Katong Road.

Their noodles are custom made according to Eng’s specifications. Thicker than the usual wanton noodles, they’re springy and firm. Bottles of hot chilli sauce are also provided at each table. Their wontons, though smaller in size, are seriously addictive. Priced at $4.50 for a small bowl of wanton mee and $5.50 for a large one.

Tip: Order an extra plate of wonton (we prefer the non-fried version), you won’t regret it!

Eng’s Noodles House
Address: 287 Tanjong Katong Rd, Singapore 437070
Tel: 8688 2727
Opening Hours: Daily 11am-9pm

3. Little Ice Cream Kafe

Known as LICK in short, this homely ice cream palour is opened by a pair of sisters-in-law. Serving up 30 flavours ranging from the good old classics, zesty fruity flavours to local delights, this is the place to go for a late night ice cream fix!

Some of their best sellers include Gula Melaka, Sea Salt Caramel, and Mao Shan Wang. This place also makes really good crispy waffles which are fluffy and soft on the inside.

The cafe is quite small and it is difficult to get a seat on weekends as it is usually crowded. $3.30 for a single scoop, $5.30 for double scoop and approximately $10 for 2 scoops of ice cream and waffles.

Tip: Half-price for waffles every Tuesday. Free Wi-Fi available.

Address: 258 Tanjong Katong Rd, Singapore 437046
Tel: 65 6440 8526
Opening Hours: Mon-Thu 1pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-12am

4. Maekhong Thai Cuisine

If you’re looking for affordable and good Thai food, check out Maekhong Thai Cuisine. With over 100 dishes on the menu, Chef Kuan and his team cook for the Singaporean’s tastebuds while retaining the authenticity of each dish.

Try their Basil Seafood Fried Rice (pictured above) at $6.80 nett. A very affordable price for big pieces of squid, sliced fish and prawns. Their Pineapple Rice ($6.80) with lap cheong (chinese port sausage) is delectable to say the least. For the sweet tooth, order their Red Ruby or Mango Sticky Rice for the perfect end to a great meal.

Maekhong Thai Cuisine
Address: 228 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437053
Tel: 65 6440 7714
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, 5-10.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm

5. Nan Xiang Chicken Rice

Nan Xiang Chicken Rice is the stall to visit if you are looking for some good chicken rice at Tanjong Katong. Located in a coffee shop along Tanjong Katong Road, this stall not only serves chicken rice but also the best char siew (cantonese roasted meat), roasted to perfection! Its char siew is done old school style – charred with fatty cuts. They also serve good roast duck and sio bak (crispy roast pork belly).

With quality food at affordable prices, this stall often gets crowded during meal times but it is well worth the waiting time for a good plate of chicken rice and char siew. A plate of chicken rice or char siew rice starts from $3.

Nan Xiang Chicken Rice 
Address: 271 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437054
Tel: 65 6397 6823/ 9752 3448 (Jimmy)
Opening Hours: 9.30am-10pm, Closed on Tue

6. The Laneway Market

Located at a laneway (at Boscombe Road) off the busy Tanjong Katong Road lies a cosy cafe where people come together to enjoy good food. Serving up casual breakfasts to dinner mains, with speciality coffee and in-house baked pastries to go along, this cafe presents a welcoming atmosphere for its customers.

If you’d like to enjoy a chill out evening, drop by The Laneway Market. Its coffee, tea and desserts are decent with no extra GST or service charge. The cafe also provides free Wi-Fi and iced water. You can spend almost the whole day in the comforts of the cafe catching up with friends or work.

For the coffee lovers, try their Laneway Cuppa ($6), a special blend of Sumatran and Ethiopian beans infused with a shot of coconut essence. Their Earl Grey latte ($6) and cold brewed coffee are worthy of mention too. For the mains, we recommend their Laneway Carbonara – Bacon, Chipolatas, Sous Vide Egg ($15).

Whats more – download the Hollerout app and receive 10% discount with $40 min spent (code: DISCOVERSG).

7. Do.Main Bakery

(Image credit:
Address: 226 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437015
Tel: 65 6348 1406
Opening Hours: Tue-Thu 8am-9pm, Fri-Sun 8am-10.30pm

With so much good and cheap food along Tanjong Katong Road, there’s no reason to procrastinate. Head down soon to explore the place!

For those driving to Tanjong Katong, parking may be difficult to find along the main road, but there is a big public carpark if you turn into the road just beside Caltex. If you know of any other affordable must eats at Tanjong Katong, do drop us a comment and let us know!

(Header image by Instagram user @howicworld, edited by writer)

Also read: Here’s An Ingenious Way To Easily Save 10% Off Your Dining Bills

The Ultimate Guide For Supper At Siglap – 6 Places You Can’t Miss

Walk around the neighbourhood of Siglap and you’ll notice rows of bars, cafes and restaurants along both sides of the road. Well, we dare say this is the place to go for a night to chill out with friends or even for a date night at one of its many great restaurants.

In this pristine, quaint neighourhood, you’ll see locals flock to their favourite pubs for a soccer screening, group of teens meeting their friends for some ice cream time, and even expats chilling out at the restaurants. As a certified east-sider who grew up in the east, here’s our ultimate guide to supper at Siglap. Yes, only the best of the best gets on our list!

1. LTN 936 Food Village

This la mian dumpling stall is opened by a quiet couple from Xi’an, China. Their dumplings are all handmade on the spot, freshness at its best. Each dumpling is soft and tender, with its skin not too thick, filled with a nice amount of meat and doused with vinegar and chilli oil. You can get these guilty pleasures at $4 for 10 pieces. Xiao Long Baos are also available at $4 for 6 pieces.

If you are in for some Zi Char, do check out the Thow Yen Seafood stall too. They serve up great Beef Hor Fun and Fried Rice for your hungry tummy!

LTN 936 Food Village
Address: 936 East Coast Road, Singapore 459129
Opening Hours: Daily till late

2. Mas-Ayu Restaurant

How about some Seafood Kway Teow Goreng Pattaya and Teh Tarik for supper? Reputed to be one of the best Malay food you can find around the area, this homely restaurant serves up the best Seafood Kway Teow Goreng Pattaya and Nasi Pattaya! Its noodles are nice, springy, wrapped around with egg and drenched in tomato ketchup. Each plate is at $6.50. Another recommendation would be their Mee Bundung ($5.50). Its sour, sweet and spicy gravy are well balanced with fish cakes, prawns, vegetables, tender beef pieces and an egg to top it off! It is a good soupy bowl for a rainy cold night!

If you have trouble sleeping at night or feel hungry after a midnight movie, do drop by for some homely malaysian kampong cuisine at Ayu-Mas. This food outlet is open 24 hours, thus taxi uncles like to frequent this place and it gets crowded from early evenings till the early mornings.

Mas-Ayu Restaurant
Address: 55 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 455215
Tel: 65 6449 2844
Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours

3. Springleaf Prata Place (Jalan Tua Kong)

Open till 11pm or 12am depending on the day, this prata place is a 3 to 5 mins walk from Upper East Coast Road at Siglap. They offer an innovative array of prata, thosai and murtabak in unusual must-try flavours! Eggs Benedict Prata? Yes, you saw that right! Crispy prata, poached egg, turkey ham and hollandaise sauce all in one dish, priced at $5. Another must not miss item is their Umani 50. One of their newest item on their menu, this prata is stuff with chicken luncheon meat, chicken floss, mozzarella cheese, mayonnaise and egg. Their menu is quite extensive which means there is always something new to try!

This prata place has not only become popular for diners at night but residents flock to this place for a good brunch which serves up a fresh spin to your usual prata!

Springleaf Prata Place
Address: 57B Jalan Tua Kong, Singapore 457251
Tel: 8693 5393
Opening Hours: Sun-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri-Sat 7am-12am

4. FLAVA Asia Bistro and Grill

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Opened by the team behind the former Cafe Mondo at Orchard Central, FLAVA is the new kid at the estate which serves up contemporary Asian grill. If you’re in for some late night chow or some cakes and ice cream to satisfy your craving, head down to FLAVA. With their Kapiti New Zealand range of ice cream to choose from, you will love all the flavours and end up ordering their 12 mini putts. Perfect for a couple’s sharing or with some friends with 12 flavours of mini ice cream. Select your own ice cream flavours at $20, or let the house decide for you at $17. Do check out their menu
Address: 907 East coast Road, #01-03 Springvale, Singapore 459107
Tel: 65 6702 0302
Opening Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat/Eve of PH 11am-2am, Sun/PH 9.30am-11pm

5. Udders and Kook

If waffles and ice cream are your supper eats, Udders and Kook will never fail! From liqueur based to the all time favourite flavours such as Thai Milk Tea, chocolatey, to choose from, we must say Udders do know their customers’ taste palates well. Order their waffles to go along with your favourite ice cream! Imagine, crispy waffles on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, topped with a scoop or 2 of ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. Heavenly!

Whats more, Udders and Kook recently upgraded itself to serving you not only your favourite ice-cream, but burgers and snack bites also! Feast on their delightful Mario Mushroom Burger ($15.90) or their Angmoh Burger ($15.90) filled with scrumptious cheddar, bacon, onions, tomato, rocket leaves and a well-grilled beef patty. These calories are well worth it! Juicy burgers and ice creams are a great combination for a satisfying supper.

Udders and Kook  
Address: 81 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 455220    
Tel: 65 6448 8732
Opening Hours: Sun-Thu 12pm-11pm, Fri-Sat/eve of PH 12pm-1am

6. Mikawa Yakitori Bar

If you enjoy Japanese Tapas, you’re going to like this one. Opened recently at Siglap, Mikawa Yakitori Bar is a cosy place offering traditional Yakitori. This small Yakitori Bar has a wide range of almost 50 items of kushiyaki skewers on its 53 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 455214
Tel: 6444 8484
Opening Hours: Tue-Thu 6pm-10.30pm, Fri-Sun 12-2.30pm, 6pm-12am, Closed on Mon

If you are driving to this area, free parking is available at the big open space carpark after 10pm. So, it’s time to make your way to Siglap. Chill to your heart’s content and start feasting away! With all these late night spots for supper at Siglap, you’ll never have to go to sleep with a growling stomach ever again.

(Header image by Instagram user, _rimiroo, edited by writer)

 Also read: Go Ga-Ga Over Geylang With These Seriously Good Eats Under $15

Go Ga-Ga Over Geylang With These Seriously Good Eats Under $15

Geylang Sipaku Geylang!

The atmospheric district of Geylang is known for many things (if you know what I mean…), but do you know that it is also home to a huge selection of food at penny-pinching prices? Well, now you do. We’ll be happy to take the credit!

Let us take you on a trip down the streets, past whimsical shophouses and great period architecture to get your fill of some of the best local food in the country. On offer is a greedy grab of choices that will make you go gaga with glee!

1. Penang Seafood Restaurant

Craving for authentic Penang dishes but don’t want to travel across the causeway? Don’t pout, leave your passports at home and opt for the popular Penang Seafood Restaurant instead, a worthy alternative. Aside from traditional favourites, they also serve a wide array of local zi char dishes.

Penang Seafood Restaurant
Address: 76 Lorong 25A Geylang, S 388258
Opening Hours: Daily: 11am – 12mn
Tel: 6841 3002

2. Geylang Claypot Rice

A specialist at their craft, Geylang Claypot Rice takes an estimated 30 minutes – an hour (during peak hours), to serve the food. Good food must wait. For interested diners, it’s advisable to call them in advance. Served with an array of wholesome ingredients, kick up the taste with the recommended two rounds of dark sauce. Believe me, the wait is well worth it.

Geylang Claypot Rice
Address: No. 639, Lorong 33 Geylang, S 389570
Opening Hours: Tues – Sun: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 12am
Tel: 6744 4574

3. Hong Qin Fish & Duck Porridge

This stall offers a variety of Teochew fare such as braised duck and pig trotter platters (in other words, Kway Chap side dishes) to go with their signature porridge. Of course, their best would be the sliced Batang fish, which is often sold out a few hours into business (there’s the fried fish option too). The early bird catches the fish!

Hong Qin Fish & Duck Porridge
Address: #01-127, 134 Geylang East Avenue 1, S 380134
Opening Hours: Daily: 5.45am – 3.30pm
Tel: 9061 4988

4. L32 Kopitiam Ban Mian

When it comes to handmade noodles, the phrase “one of the best” often gets thrown around a lot. But this time, we’re going to make an exception. On the surface, L32 Kopitiam may look ordinary, until you take a glance at the queue at this stall. Such is the power of their Ban Mian, which comes equally slurp worthy, dry or soup.

L32 Kopitiam Ban Mian
Address: 558 Geylang Road, S 389509
Opening Hours: Tue – Sun: 11am – 9pm
Tel: 9770 2829

5. 126 Dim Sum

Also featured in best 24-7 food places, it’s impossible not to include Wan Dou Sek in this list too. Head down for a no-frills dining experience of value for money dim sum. Nevertheless, be wary of the quality inconsistency of some of their dishes (sometimes good, sometimes bad). At their prime however, this eatery deserves to be on everyone’s list.

126 Dim Sum
Address: 126 Sims Avenue, S 387449
Opening Hours: Daily: 24 hours
Tel: 6746 4757

6. Lorong 9 Beef Kway Teow

When you plaster the word “famous” in bold white front at your eatery, you are either arrogant or your food really is damn good. Fortunately, it’s the latter. Arguably one of the best Hor Funs in Singapore, the thick sauce is irresistibly shiok. Although I’ve heard that standards have dropped, it still remains somewhere along the pinnacle.

Must try: Beef Hor Fun ($6)

Lorong 9 Beef Kway Teow
Address: 237 Geylang Lorong 9, S 388756
Opening Hours: Daily: 4.30pm – 2.30am
Tel: 9388 0723

7. The Ranch Cafe

Astons? Chargrill Bar? Collins Grille? With all of them offering affordable Western delights and much to the chagrin of our tummies, we can only be at one place at one time. Well, when in Geylang, add The Ranch to that list, which is also same same, but different. Their economical set lunches and dinners on menu are to die for.

The Ranch Cafe
Address: 71 Lorong 27 Geylang, S 388198
Opening Hours: Daily: 11.30am – 11pm
Tel: 6747 0788

8. Little Vietnam Café

Little Vietnam is quite literally, a little Vietnamese-run eatery that serves an extensive menu of Vietnamese staples. You’ve got your phos, banh mis, spring rolls and the likes. Not forgetting to mention, this place is uber popular because prices are middling cheap. Add to that a chill atmosphere and you’ve got yourself a winner.

Little Vietnam Café
Address: #01-25, Grandlink Square, 511 Guillemard Road, S 399849
Opening Hours: Daily: 5pm – 3am
Tel: 6547 8587

9. Brawn & Brains Café

We’ve now headed into café territory so how can we neglect Brawn & Brains, one of the best cafes Singapore has to offer? Brawn & Brains ticks all the boxes. Instagram-worthy food? Check. Artisanal drinks? Check. Good vibes? Triple check. For a genuine wholesome dining experience, make this place your next destination.

Brawn & Brains Café
Address: #01-02, Singapore Badminton Hall, 100 Guillemard Road, S 399718
Opening Hours:
Tue – Fri: 9am – 7pm
Sat – Sun: 9.30am – 7pm
Tel: 6348 0501

10. The Real Hut

Need a break from the meat fare? Head down to this Asian-Western fusion inspired vegetarian café, a relatively new player in the culinary scene. The Real Hut’s dishes are eloquently presented and they look outstanding, giving our favourite greens the extra zing (you have to admit it’s hard to make veggies look appetizing). Psst, there is no service charge and GST too.

The Real Hut
Address: #01-197, Blk 46 Sims Place, S 380046
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 11am – 8.30pm
Tel: 6846 9976

There you have it! A world of delectable food for you to explore. So, when in Geylang, you know what to do… Oei! You know what I meant!

Are these places worthy of this list? Did we miss out anything in our food series? Let us know!

Also read: 8 Best Laksa In Singapore For Thick, Flavourful & Spicy Broth

Rise Of The Rice Bowls – 9 Bowls That Taste As Good As They Look

They say that a square meal is a nourishing and balanced one that contains enough ingredients and nutrients to satisfy the body. But with the rise of restaurants serving a comprehensive rice bowl fit for a king, you’ll soon be agreeing that circular meals are exactly what you need right now.

From the delightfully delicious ingredients to the delicate crockery that house them, rice bowls makes for an easy and wholesome meal that’s easy on the eyes and stomachs. Here’s our list of some of the prettiest rice bowls we could find.

1. MAY MAY

I run the risk of sounding lame but the first thought that came to my mind is ‘this place very chio’. And you’ll see where I’m coming from once you’ve had a meal there. Natural lighting and living wall facade adorns the minimalistic space, and everywhere you turn is an Instagram spot. But the real star is their lunchtime rice bowls. Opt for the Butter Poached Cod ($18), where tender smooth pieces of cod lie in the midst of wakame, oven roasted tomatoes, grilled mushrooms, pickled lotus root, wasabi sprouts, soft centred egg – the result is a kaleidoscope of colours that’s almost too pretty to eat.

MAY MAY
Address: 65 Tras Street
Opening hours: Mon – Sat: 11:30am – 3pm, 6:30pm – 11pm

2. Ninja Bowl

Perhaps the reason why the restaurant is named ‘Ninja’, other than its obvious Japanese influence, is the speed at which you’ll find yourself swiftly clearing the contents of your rice bowl. These hearty and affordable rice bowls come loaded with various protein and a slew of healthy greens, making them a great meal option. The Kabuki bowl ($14) is a safe option with seared honey chicken leg, baby corn, pickled beets, an onsen egg and bean sprouts that come together harmoniously in your mouth.

Ninja Bowl
Address: 15 Duxton Road
Opening hours: Mon – Fri: 9:30am – 7:30pm; Sat – Sun: 9am – 6pm

3. Aloha Poké

The funky name reflects the brand’s ethos – bringing fun and fresh Hawaiian flavours into Singapore. They specialise in poké, which for the uninitiated, is a traditional Hawaiian dish where raw seasoned tuna is tossed with sesame seeds, sweet onion and scallions. Served with fresh salad greens, squeeze the wedge of lime provided to awaken the fresh tropical flavours of this dish. This light meal (from $11.90) makes for a great healthy lunch option for all sashimi lovers out there.

Aloha Poké
Address: 92 Amoy Street
Opening hours: Mon – Sat: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 11pm

4. Tendon Ginza Itsuki

The snaking queue outside this eatery in Tanjong Pagar is testament to the popularity of its tendon – a one-bowl soul food filled with various ingredients deep fried to a delectable golden brown. Step inside and you’ll see most people indulging in their Special Tendon Set ($13.90), where prawns, chicken and vegetables are prepared tempura style. Don’t forget the oozing tempura half-boiled egg that’ll make for a great sauce coating. This might sound like an indulgent bowl of fried food, but you’ll have little regrets once you start eating.

Tendon Ginza Itsuki
Address: 101 Tanjong Pagar Road
Opening hours: Mon – Sun: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10pm

5. Grain Traders

The open interior and open-spaced kitchen makes Grain Traders a welcoming place for a healthy and hearty meal option. Personalise your very own nutritious lunch with their Build-You-Own-Bowl ($16) and choose from the various protein and vegetables that’s freshly prepared in batches. Expect charred furikake corn, seared marinated tuna, apple kimchi and other mouth-watering selections. The only thing you’ll need to worry about is holding up the queue when attempting to choose from their extensive variety.

Grain Traders
Address: 138 Market Street, #01-01/02/03
Opening hours: Mon – Fri: 8am – 8pm

6. Nosh

I’m thinking that the restaurant aims to provide nourishing food in a posh setting judging from the earthy wooden furnishing and wholesome menu. Don’t be too quick to dismiss the Yakitori Salmon ($24) as yet another Japanese fare. Nosh brings the usual Japanese flavour up a notch with their thick chunk of salmon resting on a bed of sweet coconut rice and topped with vietnamese caramel, creating a salty-sweet dish that’s unlike any brunch item you’ve had before.

Nosh
Address: 9 Rochester Park
Opening hours: Tue – Fri: 11:30m – 10:30pm; Sat – Sun: 10:am – 10:30pm

7. Superbowl

Inspired by donburis, Superbowl is a concept eatery specialising in rice bowls that are outstandingly fresh and delicious. Their Super Fish Bowl ($20) is the ultimate dish for sashimi lovers, where a selection of salmon, tuna, swordfish and scallop sashimi sits comfortably above a bed of short-grain rice and crowned with a spoonful of fish roe.

Superbowl
Address: 8 Circular Road
Opening hours: Mon – Fri: 11:30am – 3pm

8. The Refinery

The minimalist industrial interior of The Refinery plays host to a restaurant/ bar and a co-working space upstairs. I don’t know about you but if I have a restaurant that serves this Gyuniku Donburi ($15) right below my workspace, I’ll have to resist having it for lunch every other day. With fragrant truffled shimeiji mushrooms, shredded tare marinated beef and a runny onsen egg, this rice bowl that’s punctuated with scallions is a well thought-out dish that’ll have you coming back for seconds.

The Refinery
Address: 115 King George’s Ave
Opening hours: Tue – Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 12am; Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 1am; Sat: 11am – 4pm, 6pm – 1am; Sun: 11am – 4pm

9. Tanuki Raw

Our last restaurant is a heavyweight when it comes to the rice bowl scene in Singapore. Touted as one of Singapore’s best lunch bowls, Tanuki Raw dishes out affordable meals as well as alcoholic drinks. Order the crowd favourite – Truffle Yakiniku ($18) – which features slices of US angus beef short ribs pan seared to perfection and drizzled with truffle soy sauce that’ll make a great accompaniment to the mixed rice.  

Tanuki Raw
Address: 181 Orchard Road
Opening hours: Mon – Sun: 11am – 10:30pm

With these photogenic rice bowl options, you’ll have to remember to put down your phone and actually get to eating the meal before it turns cold. Boasting the complete package of both looks and taste, you’ll soon find yourself falling head-over-heels for these rice bowls. 

(Header image: Also read: Food Trend Alert! Are Over The Top Fries The Next Food Craze?

8 Best Hokkien Mee In Singapore For That Fragrant Seafood Flavour

Ask any Singaporean and it won’t be long before they list Hae Mee, otherwise known as Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodles as one of their favourite local dishes. Who could blame them? Fried with eggs, yellow noodles, bee hoon, juicy prawns, squid and pork belly strips before simmered in rich prawn broth, this mouth-watering dish is perfect for any time of the day.

From the dry to the soup(ier) versions, here’s our pick of the 8 best Hokkien Mee you can find in our sunny island!

1. Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Noodles

Situated at Chomp Chomp Food Centre, Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Noodles is the place to go for your late night Hokkien Mee fix! Their version of Hokkien Mee is the dry version and they use thin bee hoon instead of the thick ones. What’s different about this dish is that, along with its noodles, bits of prawns and seafood are simmered in pork stock, giving the dish its rich flavour. This stall also uses a combination of cut red chilli and sambal chilli.

Expectedly, Hokkien Mee lovers around the area flock to this stall. There’s a short queue to place your order, and they’ll deliver the Hokkien Mee to you. The waiting time ranges from 15 – 45mins. $3, $4, $5 portions are available.

Ah Hock Hokkien Noodles
Address: 20 Kensington Park Road, #01-27, S557269
Opening Hours: 530pm-12am (Closed every other Tue)

2. Geylang Lor 29 Fried Hokkien Mee

It may be named Geylang Lorong 29 Hokkien Mee, but this stall is actually located at East Coast Road. The reason is simple; the stall is helmed but the same family who owns the stall located in Geylang Lorong 9! A rare sight these days, the stall owner uses a special charcoal fire wok to fry the noodles. This dish is of the soupier type and has a slightly smokey taste to it. Simmered in prawn stock for 7 -8 mins, the owners do their best to serve pipping hot noodles to every customer.

Although the waiting time is slightly longer and each plate may be relatively more expensive ($6), the Hokkien Mee here is flavourful; full of garlicky, eggy goodness; topped with fresh sotong and prawns; and served with deep-fried crispy lard – totally worth the wait! With the generous portion of seafood, we thought the noodles are worth the price and if you ask us, this is definitely one of our top choices for Hokkien Mee.

Geylang Lor 29 Fried Hokkien Mee
Address: 396 East Coast Rd, Singapore 428994
Contact: 65 6440 5340
Opening Hours: Daily 11am-8pm

3. Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee

Run by four brothers who used to run their stall at Hougang, Nam Sing Fried Hokkien Mee is now situated at Old Airport Road Food Centre.

The Hokkien Mee here isn’t overly dry and has sufficient moisture that brings out its flavour. With more bee hoon than yellow noodles, we have to say, the owner really knows the way to our hearts. The flavourful savoury prawn stock which requires hours of preparation coupled with the extensive amount of ingredients used, gives the stock its slight tinge of sweetness. For the health conscious, you’ll be glad to know that no lard is used for this stall’s Hokkien Mee.

Priced at $3, expect to wait for approximately 15-30mins for your plate of noodles. Is it worth the wait? Definitely. Do note that this stall closes on random days and they are usually sold out before closing hours, so do call before heading down to avoid disappointment!

Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee
Address: Old Airport Road, #01-32 Old Airport Road Food Centre, S390051
Contact: 65 6242 0080
Opening Hours: 11.30am-9.30pm, closed on Mon

4. Singapore Fried Hokkien Mee

Whenever anyone mentions Whampoa Market, Singapore Fried Hokkien Mee stall is one that immediately comes to mind. It may have perpetually long queues, but this wok hei* Hokkien Mee noodles is well worth the wait. With 3 types of chillies – sambal, red cut, and green cut – take your pick and spice the dish up your way. Non-chilli lovers may want to stay away from the super spicy sambal chilli.

At $4 per plate, their Hokkien Mee will make you instinctively slurp up the noodles in no time.

Singapore Fried Hokkien Mee 
Address: Whampoa Food Market, Block 90 Whampoa Drive #01-32,  Singapore 320090
Contact: 65 6251 2857
Opening Hours: Daily 4pm-1.30am

5. Eng Ho Hokkien Mee

Do you know that the owners of Ah Eng Hokkien Mee are relatives of the owners of Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee and Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Noodles? Now you know why their thin bee hoon seems familiar.

The stock has ingredients such as wild sea prawns instead of the usual tiger prawns. Combined with squid and pork, the overall sweetness of the stock is hardly surprising. Their Hokkien Mee leans to the wetter version with it being neither overly satly nor oily.

Its location may not be easily accessible, but the stall still attracts a huge crowd. With its operating hours from 4pm-12am, Ah Eng is the place to go for your dinner and late night suppers! Price ranges from $3 to $5 per plate.

Ah Eng Hokkien Mee
Address: 409 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, #01-34 Teck Ghee Square Food Centre, S560409
Contact: 98156826 (Mr Tan)
Opening Hours: 4pm-12am (Closed on alt Tues)

6. Simon Road Hokkien Mee

Originally located at the corner coffee shop along Upper Serangoon Road and Simon Road, Simon Road Hokkien Mee has relocated to Hougang. This stall is now helmed by its fourth-generation.

With its spicy chilli and drips of lime juice, this is one 0f the most flavourful, tasty Hokkien Mee with a taste of wok hei* and a fragrant aroma.

If you are around Hougang Central area, do check out this plate of traditional goodness. Their Hokkien Mee ranges from $4 for a small plate up to $10. Advance orders are also accepted should you wish to skip the queue.

210 Hougang Street 21, Singapore 530210
Contact: 9820 2888
Opening Hours: 11am-10pm (Closed on Mon & Tue)

Situated in the West, Soon Kee serves up a delightful plate of Hokkien Mee. Not only are the prawns big and fresh, but the amount of sliced squid is also generous. This Hokkien Mee is served with sambal and lots of crispy pork lard to add extra oomph to your Hokkien Mee.

If you prefer a soupier version of Hokkien Mee, Soon Kee is definitely the place to go to. Prices start from $3 a plate.

Soon Kee Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle
Address:  Li Soon Eating House, Blk 155 Bukit Batok Street 11, #01-322, Singapore 650155
Opening Hours: 8am-9pm (Closed on Mon)

8. Tiong Bahru Yi Sheng Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee

Located at ABC Market, Mr Toh is Yi Sheng Hokkien Mee’s second generation hawker. His father started selling Hokkien Mee in a push cart in Tiong Bahru before moving to their current location.

Yi Sheng’s Hokkien Mee is moist with its thick prawn broth and thin bee hoon. The noodles are tender – not too hard or soggy, with its savoury lard flavour. What’s special about their Hokkien Mee is its signature sambal chilli. Robust with a savoury flavour made from anchovies and dried prawns, their addictive homemade chilli is proudly made using a secret recipe.

As this stall is quite well known around Queenstown area, queueing in the heat can get pretty frustrating. But fear not, as Mr Toh encourages his customers to make pre-orders to reduce their waiting time! Each plate is priced at $3/$4/$5.

Tiong Bahru Yi Sheng Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee
Address: Blk 6, Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-13, ABC Brickworks Food Centre
Contact: 9862 9296
Opening Hours: 3pm-10.45pm, closed on Wed

With such good Hokkien Mee around, it sure is difficult choosing our favourite stall. Do share your favourite Hokkien Mee stall by leaving a comment below!

*wok hei is the “essence” imparted by the wok when stir-frying over very high heat.

(Header image by sgfoodonfoot)

Also read: 5 Best Places To Try Famous American-Chinese Dishes In SG

9 Of SG’s Best Local Street Snack, How Many Have You Tried?

After trawling through Coachella pictures from Buzzfeed and Instagram, the one thing that caught my eye was the food. Oh good lord, the pictures made my stomach rumble even after I just had my lunch! It looked so sinful yet so enticing at the same time. My mind instantly drifted to the street food that I could savour in Singapore.

Fret not when it comes to food in SG! You’ll always be able to find some unique and equally tempting street snacks on our sunny island from the night bazaar, a.k.a pasar malam. Read on to find out what food is available, and where you can find the nearest pasar malam to you.

1. Tutu Kueh

This ‘hobo’ right here, me, only learnt about tutu kuehs two years ago and boy when I tried it did I wonder what I was missing out all these years!

Depending on which flavour you choose, the soft and springy dough skin bursts open when you bite it, revealing the sweet filling inside. My absolute favourite version would be coconut but it comes in a few other varieties like chocolate or peanuts.

Tutu Kueh
Cost: 5 pieces for $2.50
Where to buy: Pasar Malams, most heartland malls, and Food Republic food court

2. Putu Piring

This is akin to the Malay cousin of Tutu Kueh. The difference? Gula Melaka filling, softer rice cakes, larger in size, and topped with freshly grated coconut. Warm, gooey, and not too sweet, these putu pirings are a definite treat.

However, there are only a few places that still sell this traditional Malay snack. One of which is Traditional Haig Road Putu Piring, that has been well-loved and much raved about. Pay them a visit one of these days to give it a try!

Putu Piring
Cost: 5 pieces for $2.50
Where to buy: Traditional Haig Road Putu Piring, 970 Geylang Road, #01-12; Pasar Malams

3. Ondeh Ondeh

These adorable little chewy green balls are typically made out of glutinous rice flour, dyed naturally using pandan leaves’ juice and comes with a white coat of desiccated coconut.

You can usually find these either kosong (plain) or with some gula melaka filling hidden inside. Some stores even sell a yam variety where sweet potato is used to substitute half the usual required amount of glutinous rice flour.

Ondeh Ondeh
Cost: 3 for $1
Where to buy: Xing Xing Tapioca Kueh/ Ondeh Ondeh
Address: #01-31, Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street, 069 184
Contact: 9863 2833
Operating hours: Mon to Sat: 8am to 2pm, Closed on Sundays

4. Steamed Tapioca Cake

My love for the fried version of the tapioca cake (featured below) was terrible for my waistline hence I stuck to its healthier steamed buddy when I was on a roll to cut down on my unhealthy eating habits.

Equally as delicious, just without the guilt, the steamed tapioca cake is typically moist and QQ (chewy). You can get this addictive chewy snack from the same place as above! Kill two birds with a stone and try out both their Ondeh Ondeh and Steamed Tapioca Cake.

Steamed Tapioca Cake
Cost: 1 box for $2.50
Where to buy: Xing Xing Tapioca Kueh/ Ondeh Ondeh
Address: #01-31, Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street, 069 184
Contact: 9863 2833
Operating hours: Mon to Sat: 8am to 2pm, Closed on Sundays

5. Fried Tapioca Cake

Found at most pasar malams, these green cakes were one of my favourite childhood snacks and I would bug my mom to buy three slices for me (three for $1 back then) whenever we pass by any pasar malams.

These greasy green cakes are crispy on the outside yet moist and chewy on the inside and since it is made out of tapioca (duh) it is naturally sweet but not overly so.

Fried Tapioca Cake
Cost: 5 pieces for $2
Place: Pasar Malams

6. 3-in-1 Nian Gao

Sandwiched between a slice of yam and sweet potato, it is no wonder this nian gao treat is known as 3-in-1.

This fried ‘sandwich’ tops the chart with a slice easily adding 300 calories (and possibly more) in your calorie count according to a doctor from Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

However, this sticky and chewy goodness will make my half-an-hour daily run worth it.

3-in-1 Nian Gao
Cost: Around $1.50 per slice
Where to buy: Kim Soon
Address: #01-18 Kovan Hawker Centre, Block 209, Hougang Street 21
Operating hours: Mon to Fri: 5am to 2pm; Weekends and public holidays: 5am to 4pm

7. Mee Jian Kueh

This fluffy pancake is cheap (roughly around $0.60 to $1.00 a slice) and comes in an array of fillings to choose from. I would recommend peanut or coconut fillings, but the best part would be the crunchy sides.

Mee Jian Kueh
Cost: $0.60 for one slice
Where to buy: Tanglin Halt Original Peanut Pancake
Address: Stall 16, Tanglin Halt Market, 48 Tanglin Road, 142 048
Operating hours: 5am to 11am, closed on Mon and Fri
Contact: 9712 3653

8. Tau Huey

The bean curd or tau huey as it is known locally, is a popular breakfast or all-day snack since it is relatively healthy. It comes in either the hot or cold option which is perfect for Singapore’s hot-rainy-humid weather.

Soft and silky, my favourite tau huey shop’s beancurd was so smooth that the best way to consume it was by drinking. Extremely unladylike I know, but this still is my preferred way to have my tau huey fix.

Tau Huey
Cost: $1.80 per bowl
Where to buy: QQ Soya Bean
Address: #01-165 Old Changi Airport Road Hawker Centre
Contact: 8339 3459
Operating hours: 11am to 9pm daily

My favourite stall would be Dou Xiang, located at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, Block 453, #01-92. It operates from 7am to 9am daily for $1.50 a bowl. However, it is closed temporarily till 1 July 2016 as the market is undergoing and overhaul.

9. Popiah

Also read: 13 Eateries Open All Day All Night For Your Late Night Meal!