莱兴, Lai Heng Handmade Teochew Kueh

Pan-Fried Turnip/ Chive Dumpling ($0.70)

We ate and made takeaway; just like the many others who came to collect their large order of 20s or 30s from this stall in Yuhua Market & Food Centre. It was nothing out of the ordinary. Just traditional Teochew kueh in the making - no fancy ingredients, special recipe or exorbitant price tags. Just honest, good stuff in their plainest form.

Nothing too salted. It was plain, fresh ingredients within. A dip in their special chili sauce that wasn't overly spicy nor salted, makes it all the more better. And I'm starting to develop a craving for this kueh...

Guess which of these usually got sold out first? 

If you are reaching later than 1pm, call Mr Wu at 9455 6341/ 9818 2116 for reservations.

Turnip Dumpling, 笋粿 ($0.60)

Glutinous Rice Dumpling, 饭桃 ($0.80)

Chive Dumpling, 韭菜粿 ($0.60)

Saigon Food Street @ Bukit Panjang

Classic Viet Noodle w/Pork ($5)

Viet Fresh Southern Rolls w/Prawn & Pork ($3)

If you are looking for something different and clearly appetizing for the weekend, do visit the new Bukit Panjang Ring Road Hawker Centre for this Vietnamese food stall. The petty Vietnamese lady chef, hails from the kitchen of Nam Nam Noodle Bar, Raffles City, does raise some eyebrows with her wide offerings. And i was trying to imagine the tiresome work behind all these!

The best part was the pricing here - the Wagyu Pho cost less than halved of that from restaurants. And i regretted not hoisting up the many succulent slices of Wagyu for some photo moments; it was simply too tempting to delay further. 

If Pho kway teow isn't for you, you may like to try their Vietnamese classic instant noodle which was flown in from Vietnam. It reminds me of the texture of Thai Mama instant noodles, but sturdier and more substantial. Can try. 

Pho w/Wagyu ($8.50)

Banh Xeo Viet Pancake ($5)

Our first try of Vietnamese pancake, and we like it! It wasn't just flour. It actually has the flavor of our local five-spice prawn crackers. The friendly hawker taught us to break and wrap up the crunchy pancakes with lettuce, cucumbers or the mint leaves. Then dip it all, into the spicy fish sauce provided.

This is definitely refreshing and yummy.

 Viet Banh Khot/ Viet Mini Pancake w/Prawns & Pork ($8)

BBQ Chicken Wing

BBQ Chicken Wings (1 for $1.20, 5 for $5.50)

Stall #01-02 at the Jalan Berseh Food Centre simply has its name "BBQ Chicken Wing" on bold golden font against a plain white signboard. So it tells you plainly, go for their chicken wings! The BBQ satay that they are also selling, plays second fiddle.

The barbecued chicken wings are finger-licking good - crisp tight skinned and juicy. The meat actually fell off from its bones, while dripping juices as we pulled it apart!

Chicken/ Mutton Satay ($0.50 per stick), Rice Ketupat ($0.60)

In their bid to give their best to customers, the hawker made their satay chunky and loaded their satay sauce with crushed peanuts and pineapple puree. You'll find your every cents worth. But we find the generous meat stick a tad tough, maybe some loosening up with fats will be good?

The pineapple peanut gravy was heavy and viscous, albeit being overly salted. Else, all is great.

Lim's Fried Oyster, 蚝煎林！

Oyster Omelette ($5)

Finally, a good orh luak in a long time!

Oyster Lim at Jalan Berseh Food Centre had it both crispy and gooey over the steady fire. With just the right amount of oil, and size of oysters that weren't tastelessly small or overwhelmingly large. Everything was just right. Boy, we were excited! Eating and packing away for the family supper.

Despite the hefty price tag of 5 dollars for the minimum order, we were well satisfied to feel pinched. Then came Dad's approving grin while he indulged in his favorite omelet. Priceless.

Rice Roll, Yam Cake and Dumplings

Bean Dumpling ($1.50)

Quite unexpectedly, i've developed a craving for bean dumplings. This was ever since Ric bought some snacks from stall (#01-59) in the Sims Vista Market and Food Centre.

Together with its warm slippery steamed rice roll and yam cake, my weekend seems ready to bounce!

Yam Cake ($0.90) and Chee Cheong Fun ($0.80)

合记, Hup Kee Teochew Fishball Mee

Fishball Noodle ($2.50)

A simple enough fishball noodle? What's the magic here?

Hup Kee was relocated from the torn down Margaret Drive Hawker Centre. It was a stall we had frequently patronized for their simple and generous bowl of $2 noodle which include fish balls, fish cake and fish dumplings. It was comfort food.

Hup Kee is now operating from the Mei Ling Street Food Centre. Still good; still cheap; still heart warming.

海棠, Hai Tang Lor Mee

Lor Mee ($3)

I was nursing a craving for Lor Mee at the Mei Ling Street Food Centre. It wasn't a craving for the traditional lor mee with fried fish flakes, else we would have gone to Xin Mei Xiang (新美香) at Old Airport, or the Yuan Chun Lor Mee (驰名源春卤面) at Amoy. It was a craving for hot, gooey, vinegary broth with slurpy noodles!

Hai Tang fits the bill. And it was a garlicky bowl, rich in a variety of ingredients - braised egg, braised meat, fried fish fritters, you tiao, ngor hiang and fish cake. So much, that my every mouthfuls never contain just noodles! Can i request for more noodles, please.

Marsling Teochew Fish Soup

Twin Fish Soup, mix of fried and fresh fish ($4)

In every of my visit to the Marsiling Lane Market & Cooked Food Centre, there was always a long queue at this fish soup stall (#01-41). But we have been stubborn to resist the lure of the queue until today, and it was no regret. 

A good drink of milkiness, unless you opted for clear soup. Bitter gourd and few green vegetables satisfy the fiber needs. Fluffy deep fried omelette which we called the 'bomb' was included. The star of the dish was without a doubt - the fresh sliced Batang fish, which was way... better than their fried fish fitters.

And what do you like with your fish soup? They have options of bee hoon, ee mian, rice, kway, porridge, and even mee sua! It is no wonder, business is a constant bustle here.

亚九, Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee since 1945

Minced Meat Noodle, Dry/ Soup ($4)

As good as it looked; i have been running to the kitchen for water, fruits, and more water to quench the dryness that had turned bitter in the mouth. But this is the famous Ah Kow Bak Chor Mee from Hong Lim Market that had since opened an outlet at Blk 359, Bukit Batok West Ave 5.

Tormenting dryness aside, we took comfort in the hawker's genuine effort in preparation of his every ingredient - their special meat dumplings, the well braised mushrooms, the fresh minced pork, and crispy dried sole fish. These are no mere feat.

Brunch at Jalan Benaan Kapal - Singapore's Oldest Food Centre (Pt.2)

Continue from Part 1... 

There are only 2 Malay stalls in the Jalan Benaan Kapal canteen - the oldest food centre in modern Singapore. In this part 2, we go into them.

Stall No. 6 - Mee Rebus, Mee Siam

Now do not be disappointed, that stall no. 6 does not serve a splendid spread. We tried their Mee Rebus ($2) which is their most popular item, but it came across as fairly mediocre.

Stall No. 9 - Nasi Padang, Lontong, Mee Goreng

Lontong ($3)

Malay Mee Goreng ($2), Coffee ($0.60)

The Lontong and Mee Goreng were delicious to satisfy the morning hunger! But if you come later when both of these were sold out, get their Nasi Padang! I love the lontong vegetable stew (Sayur Lodeh) so much, I repeat it on our order of the nasi.

The lady chef cooked everything hot and fresh. It was yummy.

Fried Chicken Wings, Sambal Goreng, Long Beans.

Fried Chicken Drumstick, Fried Bean Curd, Sayur Lodeh. (2 plates for $7)

Stall No. 10 - Kang Siang Coffee Stall

You might recognize that tables with the roaster cup were purchased from Stall No. 10. While those of the transparent glass mug were from Stall No. 1, mentioned in the Part 1. They are the only 2 drinks stalls here. And both offer their coffee from 50 cents.

So which one's better? Stall No. 1 is. But be prepared to join their long, slowing queue.

有朋, You Peng Noodle Dumpling House

"Xiao Long Bao", Steamed Dumpling with Soup ($7, 10pcs)

The Beauty World Centre used to be our Orchard Rd - where we shop for New Year clothing and feast in celebration at its al fresco food court on the 4th level. Then in the 1980s, the Beauty World was probably 'the' entertainment center of the Jurong district.

Today is my revisit of the place after... ... 28 years!

It was decided for the visit after reading some rave reviews about this China dumpling stall. Alas, food isn't exemplary. We couldn't agree with the sauce of the 'Zha Jiang Mian' because it just isn't how we like it. The filling of the dumplings was standard and routine. You can skip this stall if you are looking for the best, else it is decent eat.

The most rewarding experience today is the chance to step into the old shopping mall again, after the 28 year absence. And finding everything still looking familiar - the same shops! the layout; the floor tiles...!

"Zha Jiang Mian", Special Sauce noodle ($3.80)

Guo Tie, Fried Dumpling ($6, 10 pcs)

亚木 (柴船头), Ah Mu Teochew Kway Tiao Soup (Boat Quay)

Early bird catches the worm. This good stall in Sims Vista Market and Food Centre, opens from 4am till sold out, usually before 10am! If you arrived, seeing lights off of the yellow signboard, means it's game over.

So how good is the food? If you consider Tai Hwa Pork Noodle at Crawford Lane to be the ultimate premium. Ah Mu here, is the budgeted premium. I would gladly choose Ah Mu over Tai Hwa.

Fresh ingredients aside, the vinegary seasoning of the dry noodles entices us, while we got totally sold on their luscious meat broth! Like us, you would slurp the bowl dry too.

Teochew Minced Meat Fishball Noodle, Soup ($3)

Teochew Minced Meat Fishball Noodle, Dry ($3)

老两, Lao Liang Pork Trotter Jelly

Some food just seems better with time.

Long time since our visit in 2012, we were finally back to our favorites (level 2, Stall 37) at the Jalan Berseh Food Centre - the Teochew Pork Trotter Jelly. The fare is a disappearing trade because of the laborious work involves; we foreseen only expensive restaurants might ultimately be the only one selling it. So get them at this cheaper hawker price while you can.

Our first with their braised items, and they are good. The braised sauce ladled over the fragrant white rice was especially appetizing.

And the hawker actually concocted 3 different chili dip for each of his signature dishes - vinegary blue ginger sambal chili for the trotter jelly; peanutty plum sauce for the shark meat; and a dollop of pure chili sambal on chili vinegar for the braised items. Each tastes unique, it is very enjoyable!

Zhu Jiao Dong ($5)

Shark Meat ($5)

Homemade Braised Delights ($5)