On the list of any Singaporean’s top five national food, one can undoubtedly find Char Kway Teow; because why not? Char Kway Teow is in fact, quintessentially a Singaporean dish.
Think about it, Char Kway Teow is relatively affordable (averaging $3 per plate), full of flavours, can be quickly prepared (talk about efficiency), and is simply just shiok.
Read any article that promises a write-up for the best Char Kway Teow in Singapore, and you’ll probably recognise the same recycled popular Char Kway Teow enclaves. No.18 Zion Road, Hill Street, Circuit Road, Heng Huat, Outram Park @ Hong Lim.
For the adventurous foodies, it is simply unsatisfying to just dine at the “won’t go wrong” choices. After all, some of the greatest joy in eating is discovering surprisingly delicious and affordable food fare in uncharted territories.
At Discover SG, we did the hard work and present 10 obscure Char Kway Teow in Singapore that gives the oft-mentioned Char Kway Teow stalls a run for their money.
1. Fried Kway Teow Mee @ Seah Im Food Centre
At just SGD$2.50 per plate, Fried Kway Teow Mee @ Seah Im Food Centre probably serves up the most value for money Char Kway Teow around. Char Kway Teow at the Seah Im stall is so good that it is bound to hit the craving spot in the Char Kway Teow craving monsters in all of us.
As a goreng-stall, they serve up other dishes like Char Tow Kway (Fried Carrot Cake), and Fried Hokkien Mee. The wok hei essence (a distinct essence found in wok-frying dishes) can definitely be tasted in the Char Kway Teow.
With no lard and less oil, decent amounts of lup cheong (Chinese Sausages), fishcakes, and hums (Cockles); the affordable price of SGD$2.50 definitely merit a try whenever one is around Vivocity.
Where? 2 Seah Im Rd, Seah Im Food Centre, #01-26, Singapore 099114
What Time? 6am – 11pm (Daily)
Damage Leh? SGD$2.50/SGD$3
2. Chomp Chomp Char Kway Teow @ Chomp Chomp Food Centre
Chomp Chomp Food Centre is synonymous to some of the most appetising dishes in Singapore. It is hardly a surprise that Char Kway Teow is among them. As it is, at nearly every stall in Chomp Chomp, the queue for the Char Kway Teow can be a long arduous yet worthy wait.
The wok hei essence is distinctly palatable in every plate of Char Kway Teow. The freshness of the prawns and the hums totally whip out the flavours of the fried dish.
All in all, Chomp Chomp offers a comfortable and definite balance on how a good Char Kway Teow dish should taste. The only thing average about Chomp Chomp Char Kway Teow is the price; at just SGD$3 per plate, you have to be allergic to good food to ever miss this.
Where? Chomp Chomp Fried Kway Teow Mee: 20 Kensington Park Road, Chomp Chomp Food Centre, Stall 35, Singapore 557269
What Time? 4pm-12am (Daily), Closed on Alternate Tuesday
Damage Leh? SGD$3
3. Apollo Fresh Cockles Fried Kway Teow @ Marina Parade Food Centre
Some say this is the ugliest plate of Char Kway Teow in Singapore. On the other hand, true beauty lies within. Indeed, Apollo Fresh Cockles probably offers the most unique plate of Char Kway Teow on this list.
Apollo’s Char Kway Teow is so wet and moist that it actually resembles Hor Fun (fried flat rice noodles with tonnes of gravy). It makes more sense to use a spoon instead of a pair of chopstick to feast on it.
Taste wise, the Char Kway Teow at Apollo has a strong garlicky taste (garlic fans fall in!), and a hint of peanut sauce. Additionally, the chef of Apollo actually incorporates the blood of hums in the dish to give it an extra oomph! The ingredients are fairly fresh and standard, with the real selling point of the Char Kway Teow in its wet texture and aromatic garlic taste.
Judging from chatters on the social media, Apollo’s Char Kway Teow is rather divisive, one either loves it or hates it. The only way to find out is to head down to Marine Parade and try it. After all, it is a unique plate of Char Kway Teow that merits a try, especially for adventurous foodies!
Where? Marine Parade Food Centre, #01-174, Singapore
What Time? 11:30am-9:30pm (Daily), Closed on Tuesdays
Damage Leh? SGD$3/5
4. Green Sky Char Kway Teow @ Bedok Food Centre
Green Sky is better known for their super crispy Orh Luak (Oyster Omelette), and Char Tow Kway (Fried Carrot Cake). Being a specialist “goreng” stall, it is only natural that the stall is equally adept at frying up a mean plate of Char Kway Teow to boot.
The Char Kway Teow at Green Sky is extremely flavoursome. The noodles are not soggy, and the generous portions of hums and tau gey (Beansprouts) give the dish an extra crunch. Beyond the traditional Char Kway Teow with hums, there is also Seafood Char Kway Teow for the seafood lovers.
Beyond the palates, Green Sky is probably one of the most inclusive stalls on this list. Their Char Kway Teow is Halal-Certified. In keeping up with the times, Green Sky also has a FaceBook page as well.
A hidden gem indeed.
Where? 1 Bedok Road, Bedok Corner Food Centre, #01-14, Singapore 469572
What Time? 11:00 am – 9:30 pm on Mondays, 11:00 am – 9:30 pm on Tuesdays to Sundays
Damage Leh? Cockles Char Kway Teow @ SGD$3/4/5, Seafood Char Kway Teow @ $4/5
5. Dong Ji Char Kway Teow @ 51 Old Airport Road Food Centre
Among all the Char Kway Teow on this list, Dong Ji Char Kway Teow is one the highest profiled among food bloggers who know their stuff. Dong Ji is often overshadowed, perhaps unfairly by its neighbour at the Old Airport Road Food Centre, Lao Fu Zi.
For one, Dong Ji’s Char Kway Teow is not the traditional Char Kway Teow. As many food bloggers have positively reviewed, Dong Ji’s Char Kway Teow is aptly described as a fusion between the Penang style that is traditionally savoury and the sweet-tasting Singapore style. Be expected to find bonus ingredients like prawns, and sotongs (Squids)!
With each plate individually fried, the wok hei essence of the Char Kway Teow is distinctively strong and flavoursome, yet not too overpowering. The ingredients score both on quantity and quality. Not only are there many ingredients but it is also all very very fresh. Being more savoury than sweet, Dong Ji’s Char Kway Teow is a fresh alternative from the sweeter traditional Char Kway Teow.
Some say this is the probably the most bang you can get out of SGD$4 these days.
Where? 51 Old Airport Road #01-138 Old Airport Road Food Centre Singapore 390051
What Time? 8am-2pm (Char Kway Teow may be sold out by 12 noon)
Damage Leh? SGD$3/4
6. Choon Hiang @ East Lagoon Food Village
The East Coast Lagoon stall has been gathering popularity in recent years for both of their popular accolade-worthy dishes, Char Kway Teow and Fried Hokkien Mee.
Although it is the Fried Hokkien Mee that is more popular at Choon Hiang, the Char Kway Teow is equally delicious. This dish is a good balance of fresh hums, aromatic wok hei, tangy eggs, and perfectly fried noodles. The East Coast Lagoon stall offers a wholesome plate of Char Kway Teow.
Choon Hiang is currently managed by a second generation hawker, who has been helping out at the stall at the age of 12. We like to think that Choon Hiang will be around for a long time. Being managed by a Gen Y hawker, it is no surprise that Choon Hiang has a FaceBook page.
At this rate, it won’t take long before the queue at Choon Hiang starts to stretch out of East Lagoon Food Village. Feast on it while the waiting time at the queue is still wait-able
Where? #01-46, East Coast Lagoon Food Village, 1220 East Coast Parkway, Singapore 440000
What Time? 12pm-10:30pm (Daily)
Damage Leh? SGD$3/4/5
7. Lai Heng Char Kway Teow @ Shunfu Mart Food Centre
Char Kway Teow with Otah? Why?
Because, why not?
Lai Heng’s unique addition to a plate of Char Kway Teow is a piece of Otah at an affordable price of SGD$1. Eating Char Kway Teow will never be the same again. The Otah and Char Kway Teow combine to give a sense of sweet and spicy taste not typically tasted in most Char Kway Teow.
Whilst the wok hei essence is not strong in Lai Heng’s Char Kway Teow, this is made up for with the plethora of fresh lup cheongs and hums. The noodles are also on the moist side, and is definitely not over-fried; thus allowing you to actually taste the Char Kway Teow for what it’s worth.
Although the patriarch of Lai Heng for the past 40 years may be stepping down, Lai Heng is not following him. According to ieatishootipost, Lai Heng will be taken over by the his daughter! We find assurance in the news that the Otah Char Kway Teow will not be going away anytime soon!
Where? Shunfu Mart Food Centre #02-20, Singapore
What Time? 11am-8pm (Daily, closed on Mondays)
Damage Leh? SGD$2.50/3 + Otah (SGD$1)
8. Ang Mo Kio Fried Kway Teow @ Ang Mo Kio Central Food Centre
The Uncle of Ang Mo Kio Fried Kway Teow has been on this for nearly 20 years, so you can rest assure that he is pretty darn good at what he does – frying mouth watering plates of Char Kway Teow.
Being a fried dish, Char Kway Teow prides itself in not being dry, a common aspect in fried food. At Ang Mo Kio Fried Kway Teow, the Char Kway Teow is exactly that. Don’t mistake its dampness for sogginess either, the Char Kway Teow is well-balanced and not too cloying.
With an abundance of hums, fried crispy lards, thinly sliced lup cheongs, and the unmistakable taste of the wok hei essence, Ang Mo Kio Fried Kway Teow is certainly more than just a plate of wet kway teows.
Where? Ang Mo Kio Central Food Centre Blk 724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 Singapore 560724, Singapore
What Time? 11:30am-8pm (Daily)
Damage Leh? SGD$3/3.50
9. Armenian Street Char Kway Teow @ Anchorvale Link
Armenian Street Char Kway Teow may not be a familiar name to most of us. However, it should be recognisable to the older generation. Today, this Char Kway Teow stall has spawned many outlets including in Tampines and Sin Ming (all of which has relations to the original Armenian Street outlet). However, the real McCoy is in Anchorvale Link.
Armenian Street at Anchorvale Link serves really traditional plates of Char Kway Teow. It’s unmistake with wok hei aroma, juicy hums, scores of crispy pork lard bits, and sliced lup cheongs.
All in all, the Char Kway Teow is fairly consistent throughout in its texture and freshness. In fact, it is not uncommon for patrons to request for extra hums when ordering; giving testimony to just how fresh the hums are.
Armenian Street Char Kway Teow also has an active FaceBook page. The Anchorvale Link outlet certainly retains tradition in the style and taste of the Char Kway Teows, it is surely worthy of a trip.
Where? Blk 303 Anchorvale Link, Singapore 540303
What Time? 1130am-7:30pm (Friday-Wednesday), Closed on Thursdays
Damage Leh? SGD$3/4
10. Guan Kee @ Ghim Moh Market
Together with Dong Ji at number 5 on this list, Guan Kee is one of the highest profiled Char Kway Teow stall on this humble list. This Ghim Moh Market stall shows multiple characteristics of a hugely well known hawker stall; long queues (Dr Leslie Tay from ieatishootipost described Guan Kee as having the longest queue that he ever seen for a Char Kway Teow stall), limited openings (Guan Kee only operates four days a week, operating for at most 5 hours each time), and mouth-watering Char Kway Teow!
Guan Kee serves a homely plate of Char Kway Teow that provides the same comfort as home cooked food does. Perhaps the most unique factor in Guan Kee’s Char Kway Teow is the crispy pork lard that retains its crispiness instead of being sog-ed down by the wetness of the Char Kway Teow. All in all, Guan Kee’s Char Kway Teow is pleasant and well balanced, not too savoury, not too sweet, definitely worth a try!
Guan Kee went on a hiatus since 2014, and only returned earlier this year when the Ghim Moh Market reopened from renovation. More details can be found on this FaceBook page. There’s a short video that quintessentially captures the spirit of the head chef behind Guan Kee when he is not behind his wok.
Where? #01-12 Ghim Moh Road Market and Food Centre, Blk 20 Ghim Moh Road, Singapore 270020
What Time? 9am-2:30pm (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) 8am-2:30pm (Fridays and Saturdays) Closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays.
Damage Leh? SGD$3/4/5
And that’s a wrap up! 10 Unfamiliar Awesome Char Kway Teows around Singapore to try! What are you waiting for? Lace up your shoes and hunt these stalls down!
(Header Image Credits: Burpples and Guan Kee’s Facebook)
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