The Dead Cockroach

Crispy Mala Chicken Burger @ Shiok Burger, Lot One Shoppers' Mall

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Shiok Burger has just opened its latest outlet at Lot One Shoppers' Mall, so I went to check them out on their opening day.

Browsing through the menu on the self-service kiosk, I decided upon the crispy mala chicken burger. I could not believe my eyes when I look at the price.

For $5, I could get myself a mala chicken burger... with a drink included!

I had to admit that the packaging is very eye catching.

The red sleeve is printed with adorable motifs which can also be found on their paper cup.

All this while, I had thought Shiok Burger is a fast-food chain from China.

Well, who could blame me for thinking so?

I first come across this brand inside Scarlette at Westgate that had a PRC staff running the counter. With a Panda as its logo and having the mala burger as their signature burger, everything screams nothing but China to me.

Little did I know that this brand actually originated right here in Singapore!

The bun is the typical Chinese flatbread kind with a nice chewy texture.

Since I took some time taking photos of the burger, the sauce made the bun go limp.

You might be interested to know that they made the buns themselves instead of outsourcing from third-party suppliers.

This fact alone earned them my nod of approval.

For the price point, they did not opt for chicken patty which they could probably get cheaper in bulk. However, what I had is a boneless chicken thigh (read: pure muscle meat) slathered with mala sauce.

Beneath the crispy exterior of the thigh, is succulent, tender meat.

The mala level is a 小辣 (mild) for I could taste neither the ma nor the la. Instead, I believe I tasted cumin but, I could be wrong though. I love cumin so the flavor excites me.

They were pretty lavish with the sauce which dripped all over my fingers. I wished they could somehow, make the buns thicker so all the better to contain the sauce within with.

I know I had to eat the burger with the red sleeve so any drippings will be collected inside but doing so will make it difficult to see the burger in the video.

Crispy Mala Chicken Burger @ Shiok Burger Lot One - YouTube

SHIOK BURGER 新奇汉堡

Lot One Shoppers' Mall

21 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4

B1-K10

Singapore 689812

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 10.30am - 10pm

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/p4dkdBufV6wyTWDWA

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River Valley Nasi Lemak @ Lucky Food Centre, Lucky Plaza

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

It has been a while since I last visited Orchard Road.

Since I am in the vicinity of Lucky Plaza, I decided to seek out lunch at the basement where Lucky Food Centre is.

It is an old haunt of mine where I had my lunch several times each week when I worked nearby decades ago. I would usually have the nasi lemak from River Valley Nasi Lemak as pricing was affordable.

I am not even sure if the stall is still there after all these years, but guess what? It is.

I ordered Set 1 like I always do because it is the most value for money (to me). The set comes with a chicken drumstick, fried fish, otah and egg on top of coconut rice with cucumber and sambal.

From the photo above, you can probably tell that the chicken drumstick is super tough and dry.

I had long forgotten that they often over-fry their chicken drumstick.

I can vouch that it is not a one-off mishap, as I believe they intentionally fry it this way. Not sure why they do that but when I had their drumstick all those years back, it was already like this. It is almost like their style to over fry the chicken.

If you are looking for fork-tender drumstick that is juicy and succulent, then this is not the place for it.

The fried fish is fresh and fortunately not over fried like the drumstick.

Only thing is, I am not a fan of fish that come with too many bones.

The reason what this fish is doing on the plate is because it is included in the set.

The otah has a spicy kick to it and is probably the only saving grace of this meal.

The triangle omelette is my favorite egg to have with nasi lemak. In my opinion, it wins the hardboiled egg and fried egg hands down.

I always thought that it takes some kind of talent to fry the triangle egg until paper thin. It would be nice if it could come thicker.

The coconut rice is on the drier side. While I find the coconut aroma barely there, it is infused with pandan flavor which probably gave the rice its subtle hue of green.

The sambal leans on the savoury side though I prefer it sweeter and spicier. People who are spice-intolerant will be able to take it.

You can order your nasi lemak ala carte but there are also different sets to choose from.

They are all priced affordably at $5.80 per set. The price was even lower during the years when I was working nearby. This explains why I am a regular here even though his may not be the best nasi lemak there is.

River Valley Nasi Lemak @ Lucky Plaza

RIVER VALLEY NASI LEMAK 里峇峇里椰浆饭

Lucky Plaza

304 Orchard Road

Singapore 238863

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 9am - 9pm

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vyVYfsUMHQhUhWyC8

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Har Burger with Har Soup @ MOS Burger, Jem

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In a blink of the eye, 2025 has already crept into August which happens to be Singapore's birthday month.

To celebrate 60 years of independence, the various fast-food giants here have jumped on the chili crab bandwagon to launch their respective menu inspired by our iconic national dish.

McDonald's has collaborated with JUMBO to create the chili crab sauce prawn burger while KFC and Long John Silver's have their versions of the chili crab mantou burger.

MOS Burger, on the other hand, launched the har burger instead. This creation is MOS Burger's take on the classic prawn noodle reimagined between two buns.

"Har" means prawn in Cantonese so, this is actually a prawn burger.

There is a spicy and non-spicy version.

I opt for the former, which come in the form of cut, red chili. I thought they would slather on sambal instead.

The har burger features a prawn patty on a leaf of lettuce with fishcake, a fried egg on top and sandwiched in between two buns.

The prawn patty is hot and crispy, but it does not have noticeable prawny flavors, like the one from McDonald's does. I do not mean to compare the two but the competitor's prawn patty indeed fares better.

The har patty is made with real whole prawns but there just isn't any prawn flavor. Or enough of it to leave an impression.

Apart from that, everything else is on point. I have nothing to nitpick about the texture and freshness, but in terms of flavor, it is underwhelming for me.

The prawn sauce drizzled on the prawn patty did not seem to make any difference.

Apart from buns, I wonder if this har burger will turn out differently if they replace the bun with rice burger instead?

Let's move on to the har soup which is garnished with fried shallots.

The viscosity is thick, almost bisque-like.

Taking a sip, I find the flavor full-bodied and concentrated. It tastes just like prawn soup!

I should have poured some of this onto the burger!

The combo comes with a cup of iced tea. There is no option to swap it for other beverages.

When I first had a sip, I did not know what I was drinking. I could not tell that it was actually tea until I saw the receipt. But it wasn't bad; just that it does not taste like tea to me. It kind of grow on me after a while. It is rather refreshing to have.

Har Burger @ MOS Burger, Jem

MOS BURGER

Jem

50 Jurong Gateway Road

#05-03

Singapore 608549

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 10am - 10pm

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vyVYfsUMHQhUhWyC8

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Lao San Prawn Noodles @ 279 Bukit Batok East Ave 3

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Mon, 12 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I am back in the neighborhood of Bukit Batok East Point today, and the plan was to try the mee hoon kway from Gui Hua Ban Mian at Mei De Coffee Shop.

Although there is only one customer in front of me, the lady cooking was taking such a long time that I grew impatient and decided to look elsewhere for alternatives.

Lao San Prawn Noodles from two stalls away happened to catch my attention with its photos of prawn noodles on the signboard.

I promptly switched queue.

The prawn noodle is available in various combinations with pig's intestine, pork ribs, pig's stomach, and pig's tail.

I decided to go basic and ordered the traditional prawn noodles ($4.90) instead.

You can have it either dry or soup with your choice of noodle.

When it comes to prawn noodle, I always opt for yellow noodles in soup.

My bowl of prawn noodle soup come with three halved prawns, some slices of fish cake, bean sprouts and a mound of yellow noodles.

It is also garnished with fried shallots and crispy pork lard.

For the price, the portion is generous enough however, the bowl seems like a tight fit.

This makes stirring the noodles a challenge; I have to do this carefully, so nothing falls over the rim.

The robust broth is sweet and brimming with briny prawn essence but not cloying to the point of feeling jelak. For context, the prawn noodle broth from the stall near my place tastes plain sweet of rock sugar, uses teeny weeny prawns yet charges more expensive than Lao San.

I enjoy slurping up the yellow noodles soaked in the flavorful broth.

Although there is only three halved pieces of prawns, they make up what they lack in number with size. As I did not want to dirty my hands, I ate the prawns with the utensils. However, there is a bit of a struggle as I could not get the prawn meat cleanly off the shell. Not sure if it would made any difference if I had eaten with my hands instead?

I am not sure why Google reviews for this stall are so bad? Sure, the PRC worker could be more customer-oriented but at least, the food is good.

老三蝦面 Lao San Prawn Noodles @ 279 Bukit Batok East Ave 3 - YouTube

LAO SAN PRAWN NOODLES 老三虾面

Mei De Coffee Shop

279 Bukit Batok East Ave 3

Singapore 650279

Business Hours

24 hours

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vyVYfsUMHQhUhWyC8

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Aunty Noodle Shop - Signature Fried Meatball Noodle @ 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Thu, 08 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Instead of Aunty Huang (黄阿姨) herself, it was a young lad running the show when I turn up at 黄阿姨面店, a noodle stall located inside Mei De Coffee Shop at 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4.

I admit that it was the eye-catching signboard with its brilliant colors that caught my attention.

The stall serves noodle dishes such as "aunty special noodle", "Malaysia-style noodle", signature fried meatball noodle, laksa, fishball noodle, minced meat noodle, and dual egg & minced meat soup.

After a brief look at the menu, I decided to have the signature fried meatball noodle ($4.80).

I opted for the mee pok as my choice of noodle. I also requested for extra black vinegar and more sambal chili to be added.

The lad began to assemble the bowl by blanching the noodle and mixing the tossing sauce.

Since there is no queue, my order was completed in no time.

My order consists of four fishball-sized meatballs, a piece of fried dumpling, and a sliver of mushroom atop the mound of mee pok.

The mee pok was given a thorough tossing until every strand is coated with a slick of oil.

I picked up a portion of noodle with my chopsticks and eagerly shoved them into my mouth. They were cooked till springy with a lovely bite to it.

The sauce mix was subtly acidic with black vinegar while the sambal chili possessed an intense spiciness that added dimensions to this dish.

I did not actually have any high hopes for this bowl of noodle but wow, am I impressed! I love the concoction of tossing sauce so much I could have a bowl of noodle kosong with it!

The element of surprise for me would be uncovering the occasional crispy pork lard hidden among the noodles.

I deliberately saved the meatballs for the last.

One look and I could tell that they are handmade.

The texture is coarse and unrefined.

These babies are definitely 100% minced meat without any fillers added.

They were so rustic, it felt like they came right out from Mum's loving hands.

The meatballs are a little low on salt though but that is exactly how Mum would have made them, isn't it?

That is the signboard which made this post possible.

Visiting this stall was an impromptu decision; I did not do any prior homework to look up info about this stall.

I only did so after getting home and realize that this stall does not have much media presence. I guess it is due to a lack of anglicized name that make "talking about them" online difficult.

黄阿姨面店 Aunty Noodle Shop - Signature Fried Meatball Noodle @ 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4 - YouTube

AUNTY NOODLE SHOP 黄阿姨面店

Mei De Coffee Shop

273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4

Singapore 650273

Business Hours

Mon - Sat: 5am - 12.30pm

Closed: Sun

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wgbwRxHhb3D8BjJ1A

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Ru Yi Yuan Vegetarian @ 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Mon, 05 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I have long heard about the notoriety of the lady boss from Ru Yi Yuan Vegetarian at Bukit Batok East Point.

Since I am checking out Mei De Coffee Shop in this area, I finally had the chance to try this stall at 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4.

Well, do correct me if I am wrong but this Ru Yi Yuan is unrelated with the one at Margaret Drive Hawker Centre (previously from Tanglin Halt) and the one at Redhill.

Apart from sharing the same name and serving vegetarian beehoon with gravy, the three stalls are, in fact, separate entities from one another.

If you have not already noticed, even though they are all named Ru Yi Yuan, the design of their signboards and logo is different.

It is weird how three businesses could have the same name? I tried looking them up on the ACRA website, but I could only find the Redhill one.

While standing in line for my turn to order, I decided to get the larger plate to justify the "great lengths" I took to get here (I walked here from Bukit Batok Bus Interchange).

Surprisingly, it did not take long for me to reach the front because the lady boss and her two assistants cleared the line quite efficiently.

The lady boss is known for being calculative and rude.

However, I did not get to experience her service firsthand, so I could not comment much on that.

You can look up the complaints on Google review if you are interested.

I ordered the fried beehoon and opted for the starchy gravy to be added. I love my beehoon with gravy but not many places serve it this way.

If starchy gravy is not up your alley, you have the option to add curry gravy instead for a 50¢ top up.

I have not heard of anywhere else charging extra just to have a different sauce added to your vegetarian fried beehoon.

I wonder what is so special about their curry? Has anyone ever asked for it?

Be warned that pickled green chili is a controlled item here. The pickled green chili jar is not put out there for customers to help themselves to.

Rather, it is fiercely guarded behind the counter; every plate ordered will be rationed with just a little.

Want more? Pay for it.

Yikes.

Apart from beehoon, fried noodle and fried kway teow are also available.

Somehow, the kway teow ($5/$6) costs more than the beehoon and noodle ($4.50/$5).

Despite all that, the stall enjoys a brisk business. I observed that this is the only stall in the coffee shop with a nonstop queue.

My plate of beehoon in gravy came with five different types of ingredients.

Other than the usual zai er (mock goose) and cabbage, I do not recognize the rest of the ingredients at all.

Although the flavors are light, it is not bland at all. The rubbery/plasticky smell that I usually associate with mock, gluten meats, is non-existent here.

While I have no issues with the service or how the food tastes, the portion does not seem proportionate with its $5 pricing.

Ru Yi Yuan Vegetarian @ 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4

RU YI YUAN VEGETARIAN 如意园素食

Mei De Coffee Shop

273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4

Singapore 650273

Business Hours

Mon - Sat: 5am - 12.30pm

Closed: Sun

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wgbwRxHhb3D8BjJ1A

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Hello Western Food & Fried Chicken - Mee Siam, Lontong and Chicken Curry Puff @ 279 Bukit Batok East Ave 3

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Thu, 01 May 2025 13:24:00 +0000

There are two Mei De Coffee Shops located in the neighborhood of Bukit Batok East Point.

In the previous post, I went to the one at 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4 while in this post, I visited the other one at 279 Bukit Batok East Ave 3.

Despite the addresses suggesting that they are some distances apart, both coffee shops are literally a stone's throw away from each other.

I walked up to this western food stall named Hello Western Food & Fried Chicken to order their mee siam for breakfast.

Yes, you heard me right.

I ordered a mee siam from the western food stall.

You see, one half of the western food stall is dedicated to selling mee siam and lontong while the other half sell fried stuff such as curry puff, spring roll, youtiao, etc.

I assume this is what's available in the morning before the western stall take over in the afternoon.

The mee siam stall and curry puff stall operate out of the same cash register but I wonder are they separate entities from the western food stall, or do they all actually belong to the same owner?

I actually ordered the mee siam ($4) with a Chinese lady behind the counter which led me to think this mee siam is not Halal.

Imagine my surprise when I spotted Muslims buying as well. Bewildered, I looked around and that is when I noticed the Halal logo displayed on the signboard.

Served in a bowl instead of a plate like most places, the portion of the rice vermicelli and broth is more than generous.

Ingredients included the usual tofu puff, chives and a whole hard boil egg.

I like mee siam for its appetizing tamarind flavors and this does not disappoint.

The sourness is on point and hits all the spots for me. I have to restrain myself from licking the bowl dry.

The rice vermicelli looked kind of mushy but that is not the case at all. It is cooked to the right doneness.

The following week, I returned to try out their lontong ($4.50) and curry puff ($1.80) as planned.

This time, it is a Muslimah who took my order.

Ingredients in my bowl included tau kwa, compressed rice cake (look at the size of that thing!), a hardboiled egg, cabbage, long bean, and jicama.

Honestly, I am not a big fan of lontong so I cannot say I like this dish a lot, however, I do enjoy the very thick chunks of compressed rice cake here, which makes it very satisfying to bite into. The only thing is it is a bit cold on the inside.

Another of my favorite ingredient in lontong has to be the jicama which I like it for its crunch and sweetness.

The coconut milk broth though fresh, overwhelms the flavors of the rempah.

I feel they could be more generous with the portion of vegetables, such as cabbage and long bean.

My favorite ingredients are the rice cake, cabbage, and jicama.

The rest, not so much.

If I have to make a choice between the mee siam or lontong, the result is obvious.

I could not resist a freshly fried chicken curry puff, so I bought a piece to try.

It comes in this interesting paper packaging with Chinese words.

It is quite sizable for $1.80. Although not as plump as Old Chang Kee's, the size is decent for the price.

On the inside is a wedge of hardboiled egg and spiced potato cubes with no visible sign of any chicken meat.

Not that it mattered since my concern was the curry potato.

I feel that nothing can go wrong with the curry potato.

The deciding factor lies in the pastry.

Indeed, the curry potato is nicely spiced though I wish it could be spicier.

The pastry, on the other hand, felt a little jelak to me. I wonder is it the type of butter used or the frying oil?

I am fighting back the nauseating feeling to prevent the curry puff from coming back up.

For me, the best epok epok come from makcik's basket that her anak used to tout from door to door back in the days.

Hello Western Food - Mee Siam, Lontong & Chicken Curry Puff @ 279 Bukit Batok East Ave 3

HELLO WESTERN FOOD & FRIED CHICKEN

Mei De Coffee Shop

279 Bukit Batok East Ave 3

Singapore 650273

Business Hours

Thu - Tue: 7.30am - 8pm

Closed: Wed

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HoCkJLxgB1SjGbK57

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Liang Hao Yong Tau Foo @ 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

After having the wah kueh from Lee Mama Yam Cake at 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4, I realize there is still some space left to fill in my stomach.

Venturing inside the coffee shop, I found this Liang Hao Yong Tau Foo stall next to the infamous Ruyi Yuan Vegetarian stall.

I like yong tau foo but there is none near me so whenever I see one, I will order a bowl to satiate my crave.

When it comes to this dish, I will always opt for the yellow noodle with soup but this time round, I decided to try out the dry version with a mix of rice vermicelli and yellow noodle.

My choice of five ingredients with noodle sets me back by a mere $4.80. The same combo I had at Yew Tee Kopitiam costs me $7!

Since I ordered the dry version, I was given a small bowl of soup served on the side.

My ingredients and noodle were served dry in a separate bowl. I helped myself to the condiments on the counter. I added two scoops of sweet sauce and two scoops of chili paste.

I gave everything in my bowl a quick toss and felt that it is a tad dry. I added two spoons of soup to give it some moisture.

The extra liquid did help to loosen things up a little but taste wise, I find just sweet sauce with chili paste a little too flat for my liking.

Of course, this is just a personal preference. With regards to yong tau foo, I still favor the soup version.

Apart from the affordable price point, what amazes me was the generous portion of noodle.

This is truly value for money!

This is one of the more affordable yong tau foo stalls I have ever come across.

Granted, I have not been to many but surely, four pieces of ingredients with your choice of noodle for $4 is unheard of?

Most places would require at least a minimum of five ingredients, but you can start with four here.

Liang Hao Yong Tau Foo @ 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4 - YouTube

LIANG HAO YONG TAU FOO 梁豪酿豆腐

Mei De Coffee Shop

273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4

Singapore 650273

Business Hours

Thu - Tue: 7.30am - 8pm

Closed: Wed

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vFPetDypMgtuWsmVA

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Lee Mama Yam Cake - Wah Kueh @ 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

It was during the Covid-19 period when I first heard about this Lee Mama Yam Cake stall at 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4.

Dining-in at food establishments were prohibited then and people were sharing on social media their favorite places to tapau (takeaway) from.

The reason that this stall had my attention was because they serve wah kueh (碗粿), a fast-disappearing Hokkien snack of yesteryear.

I have bookmarked the stall to visit once dining-in restrictions are lifted but guess what?

Six long years have since gone by, and I have yet to pay a visit to said location.

It was not until earlier this month when a customer posted that the ladies running the stall has decided to call it quits due to aging, poor business and rising costs.

I have no time to procrastinate any longer hence, I took a bus down to the coffee shop three days before their closure.

By the time this post is up, they have already hung up their aprons.

Lee Mama serves the usual breakfast offerings like glutinous rice, yam cake, chee cheong fun, chwee kueh and wah kueh among others.

Since I have come for the wah kueh ($2.20), that is exactly what I ordered.

The freshly steamed kueh was taken out from the steamer and placed on a disposable plate.

A brown sauce is then ladled over the kueh and as a finishing touch, garnished with fried shallots and chopped spring onions on top.

As I cut through the wah kueh with my disposable fork, I could feel a bit of resistance from it.

Taking a bite, the punch from the garlic and heat from the chili infiltrate my olfactory senses. It is a complex flavor of sweet, savory, and tanginess.

I thought it would be soft like the chwee kueh but the bouncy texture is a lot firmer.

Lee Mama has served the folks at Bukit Batok East for the past 40 years and I am sure the neighborhood would miss her delectable kuehs.

I can count offhand less than five places in Singapore where the wah kueh can still be found.

The Hokkien snack is already hard enough to find. With its closure, there is one lesser place to find this traditional kueh but nonetheless, I wish auntie a happy retirement!

Lee Mama Yam Cake - Wah Kueh @ 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4

LEE MAMA YAM CAKE

Mei De Coffee Shop

273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4

Singapore 650273

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 5.30am - 2.30pm

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/v9AfHfmVDx8BRs2H7

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Hot & Sour Pork Bone Broth @ Gong Yuan Ma La Tang

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The ma la craze has taken Singapore by storm for many years now, but can you believe that this is actually my first time having it?

Had I not won a gift voucher for Gong Yuan Ma La Tang from The Clementi Mall giveaway, I doubt I would have ever taken the first step to come to this ma la place for a meal.

So, what is stopping me from having something so popular with Singaporeans?

For the uninitiated, how these ma la places works, is by allowing customers to fill up an empty bowl with an assortment of ingredients like meats and vegetables from the chiller buffet styled.

You take whatever you fancy, and you will be charged according to the weight of the contents in the bowl. Therefore, the more you take, the heavier the bowl will be. There is a minimum order of 300 grammes.

Your order will then be prepared according to your desire (dry? soup? spicy? non-spicy?)

Foremost, I cannot wrap my head around the fact that these ma la places actually charge the ingredients by weight! This was literally unheard of before the ma la craze came to town. What's even more incredible is that this has been accepted as the norm and there is no lack of people willing to pay $20 - $30 for a bowl!

For context, a bowl of ramen from a Japanese restaurant can cost anything from $11 - $18. More if premium ingredients like crab is involved. Maybe it is not a fair apple to apple comparison, but you get the drift?

I have nothing against ma la but it is just something that I find hard to accept, economically wise.

While picking my ingredients, I was on tenterhooks the entire time, worrying that I would go over the limit.

When I put the bowl on the digital scale, I stared intently at the climbing numbers. I could feel my blood pressure going up as well.

My bill came up to a grand total of $15.35 (468 grammes). After deducting my $10 voucher, I only had to fork out $5.35.

They serve three types of spicy broths here such as ma la, hot & sour pork bone, and pickled vegetable.

If spicy food is not your forte, they also have non-spicy ones like pork bone, garden vegetable, and tomato.

I opt for the hot & sour pork bone broth which is quite gentle on the stomach.

I did not sweat buckets nor run to the toilet after. I attempted the whole bowl without needing a sip of water.

This would be so comforting for the belly during chilly days.

Kimchi is free flow from the condiments bar. Do help yourself to it but please take only as much as you could eat.

The condiments bar.

Customize your bowl with the sauces and garnishes as you deem fit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AFacxBevYc

GONG YUAN MA LA TANG 宫源麻辣烫

The Clementi Mall

3155 Commonwealth Ave West

#B1-28/29

Singapore 129588

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 11am - 9.30pm

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oV3DsCtz6xNUvMSp6

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Jian Bing Guo Zi @ Kun Hai Shop

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I have been watching videos about China street food on YouTube for quite a while now and my latest obsession is with the jian bing guo zi.

Imagine a Chinese crêpe of sorts, wrapped with crispy crackers and youtiao and eaten mostly for breakfast. It is always made fresh upon order, on a griddle by the street vendors.

It was by sheer chance that I happened to walk past this China supermarket at The Clementi Mall called Kun Hai Shop while on my way to Qin Ji Rougamo next door.

Out of curiosity, I entered the shop to check out the products they carry and to my surprise, I discovered a jian bing guo zi station inside!

You place your order over the counter with their cashier and make payment first, before instructions is passed over to a dedicated PRC lady to start preparing your jian bing.

From spreading the batter on the griddle to folding in the ingredients to resemble a pillow, the entire process takes just about 3 minutes.

You can watch the video I took of the making at the bottom of this post.

I happily carry my purchase to the HDB estate across the road from the mall, found a stone table with a scenic view and settled down to savor my very first jian bing.

The crêpe is losing its temperature fast, but still warm to the touch and felt quite hefty in my hands.

In case you are wondering, jian bing refers to the crêpe while guo zi refers to the youtiao.

So, how does it fare?

Foremost, the only flavor in this jian bing guo zi comes from the red sauce that was spread on the crêpe.

When I took the first bite, my nose was assaulted with the smell of... body odor.

Whaaat?

Well, it has to be the mysterious sauce, right? The crispy cracker, youtiao, and lettuce basically does not have much flavor on their own.

But do not let that scare you. All you need is some getting used to which you will be after a few mouthfuls.

Next, the crispy crackers are not as crispy as I thought. The ones in the YouTube videos I watched gave loud resounding cracks when snapped. The one wrapped within my jian bing is soft. In fact, even the youtiao is limpy.

I am beginning to question the authenticity of the jian bing guo zi here. I wonder how this compare to the ones in China?

On the bright side, this jian bing guo zi is very filling. I had to pack the remainders for later as I cannot finish it at all.

Do take note that even though the supermarket opens at 9am, jian bing guo zi is only available from 11am onwards.

I chose a can of lychee soda from the chilled section.

It tasted like real lychee with carbonated water without that artificial taste.

Rather refreshing.

Seriously can consider buying this in bulk for Chinese New Year.

KUN HAI SHOP 坤海国货超市

The Clementi Mall

3155 Commonwealth Ave West

#04-31/32

Singapore 129588

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 9am - 11pm

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bzRfVNhDJXTB2EbJ6

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Pickled Cabbage Fish with Rice Noodle & Cumin Pork Rougamo @ Qin Ji Rougamo

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Unlike my previous rougamo/roujiamo which are found in a coffee shop and hawker centre, Qin Ji Rougamo is located inside The Clementi Mall on the fourth floor, right outside the food court Boleh Boleh.

They have other locations at Alexandra Retail Centre, Guoco Tower, Jurong Point, Payar Lebar Square, Raffles Place, Sengkang Grand Mall and The Woodleigh Mall.

This brand is operated fast-food style, where you place your order over the counter with their crew whom I find pretty friendly. You will be given a printed receipt with your order number and all you have to do next is to wait for your number to be called to collect your food.

Their menu is basically rougamo and rice noodles in various flavors.

Rougamo:

Qin Ji Pork Rougamo
Chicken Rougamo
Cumin Pork Rougamo
Black Pepper Beef Rougamo
Healthy Vegetable Rougamo
Crispy Rougamo

Noodle:

Sour & Spicy Sweet Potato Noodle with Minced Pork
Rice Noodle with Fatty Beef Slice in Bean Sauce
Braised Beef Rice Noodle
Tomato Soup Rice Noodle
Cold Noodle Skin
Noodle with Minced Pork in Bean Sauce
Qin Ji Braised Beef with Dry Rice Noodles
Pickled Cabbage Fish with Rice Noodle

There are also four set meals of various combinations. I decided upon Set Meal D, which comprised of a bowl of pickled cabbage fish with rice noodle, a cumin pork rougamo and a beverage of your choice (I picked Ice Peak Orange Soda).

I am puzzled when I was charged $13.85 for the set instead of the advertised $18.50. I checked the receipt and realized there is a 25% discount. It was only then that I discovered the standee outside the store. For its fifth anniversary promotion, there will be a 25% off for all set menu and a 20% off for ala carte.

This promotion is valid for all outlets.

This is the bowl of pickled cabbage fish with rice noodle.

Or some might find the name "sauerkraut fish rice noodle" or "suan cai yu mixian" (酸菜鱼米线) more familiar.

The rice noodle, which comes in a very generous portion, is served in a piping hot bowl of soup topped with pickled cabbage, sliced fish, chickpeas and garnished with coriander.

The soup is tangy, probably due to the pickled cabbage and slightly spicy too. The tanginess is rather appetizing, but the spiciness burns my lips a little.

This bowl of noodle is great for a rainy day while sitting by the window looking out at the streets below.

However, I find the ala carte pricing of $10.80 rather alarming.

As much as I like this dish, this is something that I will not have frequently.

(Could this be the cause for the 25% discount? If you check out their Google reviews, their pricing is a common complaint)

The chickpeas are a nice addition to the bowl and provided a nice crunchy mouthfeel. The longer you leave it in the soup, the softer it becomes.

The fish slices are thick and tastes fresh with no fishy smell. The texture is firm and does not break into flakes easily.

Next, we come to the rougamo.

I have watched some China travelogues and in the Xinjiang region particularly, they talked about the zi ran (孜然) a lot.

Zi ran is the Chinese name for cumin.

This piqued my interest how cumin really tastes like, so I decided to give the cumin pork rougamo a try. The ala carte price is $6.50.

As usual, the rougamo is super flakey and crispy.

Every bite I took shattered bits and pieces off the bun.

The chunks of marinated pork and onion slices reminded me of satay.

The meat is moist and tender without being too dry and fibrous like pulled pork.

And the cumin certainly did not disappoint.

I like its unique flavor but hope it can be more prominent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oywO30Px1r8

QIN JI ROUGAMO 秦记肉夹馍

The Clementi Mall

3155 Commonwealth Ave West

#04-23/24

Singapore 129588

Business Hours

Mon - Fri: 11am - 9pm

Sat - Sun: 11am - 9.30pm

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TE2LZFuwCSPT1umC8

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Beijing Time-Honored Cuisine - Pig Trotters Rice @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

To be honest, I have not heard of this stall named Beijing Time-Honored Cuisine before even though it has been there at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre for a while.

I guess it is easy to be overlooked when the stall is sandwiched in between the bigger names like Hawker Chan and Heng Ji Chicken Rice. The situation is made worse when another stall with a similar menu is ]located directly across them. The stall in question is Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao and it had a Michelin 2018 decal proudly displayed on its display window.

I only got to know about this stall when I came across a photo of their pig trotters rice on Instagram which prompted me to come check them out.

According to Google, they open daily at 10am however, they were far from ready for business. The food trays behind the glass display are empty and the lights in the signboard is not lit.

I ordered a cup of iced kopi from the drinks stall and I wait.

30 minutes passed but the lights has yet to turn on.

I went to verify with the Chinese lady inside the stall regarding their operating hours (as the timing on Google might be inaccurate) and she replied "right about now" which is 10.30am. I guess certain menu items such as dumplings and noodles might be ready but pig trotters won't be till 11.30am.

I decided to go check out the controversial Samsui Woman mural nearby that has been the talk of town lately and return later for my lunch.

They probably used Google translate for their menu which I will post here in its entirety for your reference:

Braised pork rice $5
Spiced pork foot rice (Pig trotters rice) $5
Whole pig's foot rice $6.50
Halogen pig intestine $5
Dumpling noodles $5
Three fresh mushroom noodles $4.50
Beijing Jjajang noodles $4.50
Dumplings (10 pcs) $6.50
Ala carte gravy (braised pork) $6
Ala carte pork feet $6
A single order pig tail pig feet $7
Red oil plagiarism (10 pcs) $6
Xiao long bao (7 pcs) $5
Fried dumplings (10 pcs) $7

At 11.30am, I returned to the stall to check if the pig trotters were ready. Thankfully, they are.

The soft-spoken lady asked if I wanted more meat or skin and if I wanted them with or without bone. I opt for more meat and without bone.

She piled on the chopped meat on a plate of rice with a side of cabbage and taupok before garnishing with sprigs of parsley. Gravy is then generously ladled on as a finishing touch.

While there is no plating to speak of, I must admit that it was a beautiful mess on the plate.

I like my cabbage tender but these still had a crunch to them. I finished them anyway.

The taupok had soaked up the gravy like a sponge and upon pressure from my tongue, unleashes the savory juices within into my mouth.

The gelatinous skin were soft and such a delight! I had to carefully ration them to last throughout the meal. I like that there were no prickly hairs nor a lot of fats which I abhor. On hindsight, I should have asked for more skin instead.

As for the meat, they were tender and juicy; not stringy at all. For the price, the portions were extremely generous as well.

The sprigs of parsley were not simply there for decoration. They helped to cut through the greasiness thus the meal did not felt too heavy at all.

In fact, having the rice with gravy felt so homely and welcoming.

If you enjoy pig trotters, this is quite okay to try. Just don't come too early like me.

By the time I finished my meal and left, the signboards were still not lit.

BEIJING TIME-HONORED CUISINE 北京美食

Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

335 Smith Street

#02-128

Singapore 050335

Business Hours

Mon - Fri: 10am - 8pm

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jt5uD2qmJUiVUtdC9

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Big Dot Chicken @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I can never resist the lure of fried chicken hence when news of this month-old stall at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre reaches my ears, I know I have to head down for a look.

A joint venture by three entrepreneur friends, Big Dot Chicken is a social enterprise aimed at helping the unemployed by offering them jobs and providing on-the-job training to equip them with the skills required to run their own stall one day. They do not need any F&B background nor even have to pay any franchising fees.

Impressed by the noble cause behind its inception, I support this business wholeheartedly. If this business module indeed works, it can help someone in need to make a living.

On the day of my visit, I dropped by the stall fifteen minutes before the advertised timing of 11am and guess what? An elderly uncle was already seated at the table in front of the stall, enjoying his fried chicken.

The menu here is simple enough.

They serve fried chicken in three different combos:

Combo A (chicken thigh with fries) $3
Combo B (chicken drumstick and chicken wings with fries) $4
Combo C (chicken thigh and chicken drumstick with fries) $5

The chicken parts are available ala carte too. A chicken thigh is priced at $2.50, chicken drumstick at $2 and a chicken wing at $1.50.

Apart from fried chicken, the stall also serve heart-shaped waffles for $1 and wafer ice cream for $1.50.

I decided to have the Combo C however, do take note that it is self-service here. I was told to help myself to the pre-fried chicken which are laid out neatly in three rows inside the food warmer.

The top row are the chicken thighs, the middle row are the chicken drumsticks and the lowest row are the chicken wings.

I grabbed a disposable box by the side and picked my chicken parts using the tongs provided.

I handed the box to the lady in the stall and she filled it up with fries.

The fried chicken are available in two flavors: original and spicy. I do not know if it is a marketing gimmick but it is hard not to correlate the chicken here with those from the finger-lickin' good place.

That is a bold and risky move to put themselves on par with the fried chicken giant.

To be fair, they did not say that.

I did.

But, as mentioned earlier, if you are going to associate your fried chicken with the words "original" and "spicy", be prepared that people will link the two together.

I picked the original for both my chicken thigh and chicken drumstick. I have no idea how long the chicken parts have been sitting in the food warmer but I assumed not that long as they are still hot to the touch.

After taking a bite, I realized the batter is just a thin layer on the skin. If you are expecting a loud crunch with every bite, this is not it.

Also, the marinade tastes quite uneven with some areas saltier than it should. The marinade did not permeate to the thicker parts so the inside is still a little bland.

I wonder what happened during the marinating process? Were the chicken parts thoroughly massaged?

What's comforting is that the chicken parts were fried just right. They are juicy and moist with no streaks of blood on the inside.

As for the fries, it came lightly salted just the way I like it. They were thicker than the usual shoestring fries so it is a little puffy on the inside.

Actually, I am a little curious as to why they wanted to serve pre-fried chicken instead of cooking upon order?

Saving time and manpower crunch is one thing but I believe most people would baulk at the idea of having fried chicken that has been "left out in the cold" (even if they are stored in the food warmer)?

But if you think about it, you can have the pick of the crop by choosing the largest piece of chicken available.

Well, since they have just started out, I do not want to be too critical but there is definitely room for improvement.

Do give them some time to gather feedback and improve on areas that needed attention.

I wish them success so they could outreach to those who can benefit from their program.

Big Dot Chicken is Muslim-friendly as they are awaiting for their Halal certification.

BIG DOT CHICKEN

Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

335 Smith Street

#02-223

Singapore 050335

Business Hours

Mon - Fri: 11am till sold out

Closed: Sat/Sun

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XjtRYeJsW3BuZwXq9

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Zhonghua Roujiamo @ Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Update: Zhognhua Roujiamo has permanently closed.

My very first rougamo was from a coffee shop behind Clementi Bus Interchange two years ago. It was love at first bite but unfortunately, that stall has since shuttered.

Fast forward to last week. I heard there is a newly opened rougamo stall named 中华肉夹馍 at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre.

According to a 8 Days magazine interview, the stall belongs to a Mr. Sham Hei from Hong Kong. If the name sounds all too familiar, that is because he is the man behind Chef Sham H.K. Vinegar Trotter - a chain of hawker stalls known for their black vinegar trotters and nutritious Cantonese soups.

The craft of rougamo making was acquired from one of Chef Sham's business associate, a native from Xi'an, where the street snack hails from. He has since gone back to his hometown and the stall's day-to-day operation is now handled by Michael, a Singaporean PR from Malaysia.

You can read more about the interview here.

You have the option to stuff your rougamo with either chicken ($4.80), pork ($4.80), beef ($5.20), fish ($4.80) and vegetable ($3.20).

As they say, your first love is always the most memorable. I find this to be quite true as I still think fondly of my Clementi pork rougamo from time to time.

There is no room for indecisiveness here as I straightaway ordered the pork one.

Michael beckoned for my attention as he pulled out a steel drawer filled with rougamos.

Grabbing one from within, he proceeds to assemble my burger.

Michael is generous with the pork filling which spills over the edge of the rougamo. I kept sweeping them in but they keep falling out. As I held up the Chinese burger - as they are affectionately called due to their resemblance - it felt quite hefty in my hands.

By sheer size alone, this rougamo is well-worth its price.

However, I did not quite expect the filling to be pulled pork instead. Well, the pork was chopped but it resembled pulled pork to me.

The Clementi rougamo uses pork belly so there is a mixture of skin, fats and lean meat. As a result, the interesting mix of textures makes it a delight to bite into.

On the other hand, the rougamo here uses all lean meat which makes it a little too tough and chewy for me.

Apart from pork, there are also lettuce and tomato slices within. Somehow, I feel they are trying a little too hard to cater it to suit Singaporean's palette.

Due to that much lean pork, it was rather overwhelming for me. I wished there are green peppers in my rougamo just like the one from Clementi did, to help cut through the jelakness.

With such an eye catching signboard, one can spot the stall from a mile away. If it does not, the mountain of rougamos all over the counter will.

~~ZHONGHUA ROUJIAMO 中华肉夹馍~~

~~Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre~~

~~335 Smith Street~~

~~#02-124~~

~~Singapore 050335~~

~~Business Hours~~

~~Mon - Sun: 10am - 3pm, 4.30pm - 8pm~~

~~Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9dLKNKy8Eu1Xnaky8~~

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Bai Li Xiang Economic Bee Hoon - Ah Lian Bee Hoon @ 651 Jurong West Street 61

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Have you heard of a particular Ah Lian Bee Hoon that is located at the far western part of Singapore, inside a coffee shop right beside Pioneer MRT Station?

Notorious for their rude service, it is akin to our version of Karen's Diner, where customers willingly succumb themselves to bad service.

Due to the information online, I always thought this economic bee hoon stall is a "supper spot" that only cater to the dinner crowd. Little did I know they operate from 6pm till 11am the following morning!

The hours are rather odd for a economic bee hoon stall hence, I am unsure if this timing reflected on Google is actually accurate? Nevertheless, I decided to take the risk and visited on a morning.

To my delight, the stall is indeed opened for business! In fact, it is near closing time when I arrived around 10am.

I promptly ordered a plate of fried bee hoon (rice vermicelli) with fried noodle. I also chose a fried chicken wing and a piece of otah-otah to go along with the meal. I do not know the breakdown of the individual items but the total adds up to a little over $4+.

It seems like the fried chicken wing is their specialty as they are in a customized glass display above all the other ingredients (refer to last photo below).

The glass display is placed right at the middle hence the stall is separated into two different queues each with a designated staff to take your order.

Actually, I wanted to order a veggie as well like cabbage or tau kok (long beans) to make the colors on the plate more aesthetically pleasing however, I did not see any greens on my side of the queue.

The glass display makes it difficult to see what other ingredients they have on the other side.

I did not want to take up too much time to pick my order so I chose only what I can see on my side.

So, how did Ah Lian Bee Hoon fare?

I like that the bee hoon is not oily but it can be a bit more flavorful. The noodle on the other hand, come with a bit of kansui (lye water) smell which is not unexpected. Also, while the bee hoon was lukewarm, the noodle is dead cold. To me, there is nothing more depressing than having cold food to start the day.

As for the fried chicken wing, it is well-seasoned but unfortunately not very meaty as it is on the smaller side. It would be nice if they had used XL-sized chicken wings instead. I do not mind paying more for quality.

The otah-otah, a spicy fish cake with origins from Southeast Asia was disappointing as well. Perhaps due to the lack of temperature, the aromatics of the spices were barely noticeable.

The only thing that stood out for me in this meal is the sambal which complimented the bee hoon well.

I do not get the hype behind this stall at all. While the meal was decent, nothing is memorable enough to leave an impression. This is quite different from what I had read in the reviews.

It is just a standard fried bee hoon stall available everywhere if you ask me.

For the benefit of doubt, maybe Ah Lian Bee Hoon was really as good as what is being described back in the days that is, before Ah Lian's disappearance from the stall.

Her current whereabouts is shrouded in complete mystery. Did she wash her hands off of the worldly affairs?

Perhaps, she should come hold the fort again, to keep everyone - staff and customers alike - on their toes in order to uphold the honor of Ah Lian Bee Hoon.

MAY THE AH LIAN RISE AGAIN!

Wow! When was the last time you see a marquee? After all these years, I finally found the excuse to use it again.

The coffee shop is located below the multi-storey carpark just outside Pioneer MRT Station.

BAI LI XIANG ECONOMIC BEE HOON 百里香经济米粉

Kimly Coffee Shop

651 Jurong West Street 61

Singapore 640651

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 6pm -11am

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zgi4tXzhkYMUQvHGA

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651 Ayam Penyet @ 651 Jurong West Street 61

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Not many people know about this but I have a spreadsheet where I bookmark all the interesting food places that I have come across on social media.

They are arranged according to district, followed by postal code and unit number in running order for ease of classification so I could check them out whenever I have the opportunity to.

Recently, I had plans to get some stuff from Decathlon beside Joo Koon MRT Station so I checked my spreadsheet and found some to-eat suggestions one station before it at Pioneer MRT Station.

One of the earliest stall here to make it into my list, is the infamous Ah Lian Bee Hoon - a title that NTU students bestowed upon the stall owner with the terrible attitude.

Think of it as our version of Karen's diner where customers get scolded and disrespected.

Regrettably, I have yet to experience the stall's ~~hospitality~~ hostile-tality for myself whose actual name is really Bai Li Xiang Economic Bee Hoon (百里香经济米粉) because they only open from 6pm onwards.

I could only opt for the next stall on the list which is 651 Ayam Penyet.

Although the stall has only been here for six months, their reputation are renowned among NTU students as they were previously from NTU canteen 2.

I ordered their signature ayam penyet set ($6.80) that comes with a chicken leg sprinkled with crispy batter bits, a mound of rice laden with gravy, a leaf of lettuce, cucumber slices, two cherry tomatoes and sambal.

It would be nice if tau kwa, tempeh and a bowl of soup could be included to make the set even more complete.

What stood out for me is definitely the chicken leg. One look and I am allured by its beautiful golden skin. It is so crisp it crackles when I push the fork through it.

One thing that I cannot tolerate when having chicken is seeing the bone still oozing with blood and the meat pink.

I like my chicken thoroughly cook but not overcooked. It takes certain experience to achieve that fire controlling skills and this stall managed to do just that.

Although deep-fried, the chicken is not oily at all while the meat remain moist and tender. The well-marinated meat is flavorful even at the thicker parts.

I can see why the ayam penyet is such a hit at NTU.

Initially, I thought the gravy laden over the rice is lontong however, it turns out to be curry which is more intense and spicy. I like it so much I will return just for their curry chicken stew.

A word of caution here - please get yourself a cold drink beforehand as their sambal is quite pedas.

The tip of my tongue is burning from the sambal but nobody came to ~~my rescue~~ take my order for a drink. I am unable to leave my food unattended to get myself one either as there are 'bomber' birds lurking around.

Left with no choice, I pressed my tongue against the cooling cucumber for some instant relief.

Thankfully, I survived.

Apart from ayam penyet set, the stall serve ayam kukus set, curry chicken stew set, nasi lemak, lontong, and mee rebus as well.

An assortment of fried ingredients are also available for ala carte add-on.

The coffee shop is located below the multi-storey carpark just outside Pioneer MRT Station.

I still hope to check out ah lian bee hoon someday although having char bee hoon for dinner feels a tad too heavy for my liking. I hope they cater to the morning crowd soon.

651 AYAM PENYET

Kimly Coffee Shop

651 Jurong West Street 61

Singapore 640651

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 6am - 11pm

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WaYz3DyRxset5z349

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En Hui Vegetarian Food - Vegetarian Chicken Rice @ Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In the previous post, I had the vegetarian nasi lemak from Hong Cook Food however, my hunger was not satiated by its small portion so I went in search of the other vegetarian stalls at Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre to see what they have to offer.

I came upon En Hui Vegetarian Food and what caught my eye here, is the photo of their vegetarian chicken rice ($5).

The stall owner began to fry the mock chicken in the deep fryer only after I placed an order so there is a short wait.

The ingredients in my vegetarian chicken rice include a rather large portion of mock chicken and a few cubes of fried tau kwa drizzled with dark soy sauce. By the side is a mound of rice with zai er (mock goose) on top.

Although the mock chicken and zai er are basically made of the same thing, they have different textures. The former is more layered with the resemblance to real meat while the latter is thin and crisp.

For chicken rice (vegetarian or otherwise), the yellow colored rice was a little unusual. The rice is a little lumpy but it can be easily broken up by pressing with the back of the spoon. No big issue.

You obviously cannot cook the rice with real chicken stock here so expect some compromise in terms of taste from the real thing. However, it does come with very strong hints of ginger though.

You would be disappointed if you were expecting the usual garlic chili sauce. Being vegetarian, it have to be allium-free so there is no garlic in it.

It is mostly white vinegar so it is tangy and a bit sweet. If you are a chili fiend, take note that this is not spicy at all.

Because everything is deep fried, it could get a little jelak but thanks to the clever use of vinegar, it cuts through the greasiness so it was not so bad.

The thing about Marsiling Mall is that it is not very accessible to get to although it is only one bus stop distance away from the temporary Woodlands bus interchange.

The hawker centre is located on the ground level of Marsiling Mall. My observation is that it can get pretty warm and stuffy in there as the ceiling fan circulates the hot air repeatedly. Also, the dim lighting just does not seem very welcoming. I prefer the row of tables facing the main road as ventilation is better there.

The shops and supermarket can be found on the second level whereas the third level and above is the multi-storey car park.

EN HUI VEGETARIAN FOOD 恩惠素食

Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

4 Woodlands Street 12

#01-56

Singapore 738623

Business Hours

Tue - Sun: 7.30am - 8.30pm

Closed: Mon

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/AdZBy9NtLdgtNLBS8

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Hong Cook Food - Vegetarian Nasi Lemak @ Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

If I am not mistaken, Hong Cook Food is one of the three vegetarian stalls located at Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre.

I found out about this stall when I come across a photo of their vegetarian nasi lemak ($4) on Facebook. It looked promising to me so I was tempted to give it a try.

Something cropped up on the day that I am supposed to drop by. I postponed the visit to the following week which coincidentally falls on the lunar fifteenth when I have to abstain from meat for a day.

Seems like everything is working out according to someones' plan.

The ingredients on the plate of coconut rice included a fried egg, mock fish, mock ikan bilis with peanuts and sambal chili. You may ask to omit the egg if you are a pure vegetarian.

At first glance, I mistook the mock ikan bilis for fried shallots. I am uncertain what they are made of but they are pretty crispy. As for the peanuts, they are fresh and does not have the putrid stale oil smell.

The mock ikan bilis with peanuts is homemade by the stall and available for sale in bottles. I believe you need to pre-order in advance as they are only made upon order.

Spotting a lovely hue of green, the fragrant coconut rice is infused with the flavor and color of pandan leaves which pairs extremely well with their homemade spicy sambal chili.

On the whole, this vegetarian nasi lemak is generally okay. The only issue lies with the two thin slices of mock fish which were rather unmemorable to me.

They serve the usual vegetarian fried bee hoon fare with mock char siu, zai er and cabbage. They also have the daily specials. The nasi lemak is only available on Sundays and a random weekday.

Do check out their full menu here.

The thing about Marsiling Mall is that it is not very accessible to get to although it is only one bus stop distance away from the temporary Woodlands bus interchange.

The shops and supermarket can be found on the second level whereas the third level and above is the multi-storey car park.

HONG COOK FOOD 鳳煮食

Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

4 Woodlands Street 12

#01-28

Singapore 738623

Business Hour

Fri - Wed: 6am - 8pm

Closed: Thu

Website: https://www.facebook.com/hongcookfood

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nDFYPW2pZWDkTcWf7

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Gao Ji Shu Shi - Nasi Lemak @ Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Gao Ji Shu Shi Nasi Lemak is another one of the more popular stalls located at Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre.

I have bookmarked this stall ever since I found out that they were from the Old Woodlands Town Centre Hawker Centre. I believe they may have been around since the 1980s, judging from their very old school signboard.

They have a very simple menu which are mostly deep fried finger food such as Chinese sausage, hotdog, fish roll, ngor hiang, fish fillet, crab tempura, luncheon meat, fried egg, otah otah and fried chicken drumstick/wing/cutlet.

I opted for the chicken drumstick combo ($4.70) that also come with a fried egg, luncheon meat and crab tempura (imitation crab stick) on top of fragrant coconut rice and sambal chili.

One interesting thing I noticed is that the stall owner will separate the chicken meat from the bone using a pair of scissors and he does it for every customer. This is a nice touch but it also lead to a longer waiting time.

Also, there is already a tray of fried eggs in the window but they will still fry a new one for you. Again, they do this for every single order. You can tell they actually take pride in what they do as every single egg is perfectly fried with a runny yolk.

If I am not mistaken, every fried item is returned to the deep fryer for a brief hot oil bath upon ordering so everything is hot and fresh.

The fluffy coconut rice is served hot with a nice pandan aroma. Only downside is that it is on the bland side.

This is where the sambal chili come in. It is the sweeter type so it is not spicy at all. Simply mix it in with the rice and eat together.

The thing about Marsiling Mall is that it is not very accessible to get to although it is only one bus stop distance away from the temporary Woodlands bus interchange.

The hawker centre is located on the ground level of Marsiling Mall. My observation is that it can get pretty warm and stuffy in there as the ceiling fan circulates the hot air repeatedly. Also, the dim lighting just does not seem very welcoming I prefer the row of tables facing the main road as ventilation is better there.

The shops and supermarket can be found on the second level whereas the third level and above is the multi-storey car park.

GAO JI SHU SHI NASI LEMAK 高記熟食椰漿飯

Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

4 Woodlands Street 12

#01-60

Singapore 738623

Business Hours

Tue - Sun: 7am - 3pm

Closed: Mon

Website: https://www.facebook.com/gaojinasilemak

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nDFYPW2pZWDkTcWf7

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Uncle Louis Famous Chicken Rice @ People's Park Food Centre

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

It has been some time since my last visit to People's Park Food Centre at 32 New Market Road.

The hawker centre underwent a 3-months long renovation last year and is now comparatively cleaner and brighter. However, the persisting bird nuisance remains a issue to be addressed.

The lunch crowd was already gone by the time I arrived at two o'clock. I walk around to check which stalls are still available post lunch hour and I came upon Uncle Louis Famous Chicken Rice.

I do not remember seeing this stall before. I have not been here for ages so it might be new. I decided to give it a try.

I see steamed (poached) and roasted (deep fried) chicken as well as char siu (barbecue pork) and siu yuk (roasted pork) hanging on the racks. Chicken is always my preferred option over pork therefore, I ordered a plate of poached chicken rice ($4).

Since I am the only patron, it did not take long for my order to be ready.

As I turn around with the tray in my hands, I nearly stumble over the leg of a Caucasian who had his leg sticking out across the aisle. He was drinking with four others at the table in front of the stall.

Fortunately, I managed to stable my footing in time from tripping forward. He did not look the least apologetic. However, I am not surprised by his nonchalant behavior as the look of disdain on his face tells me everything I need to know about his character.

The bloody lowlife merely withdraw his leg under the shadows of the table and carried on his merry ways.

I did not request for any specific chicken part and was given the deboned breast meat. The texture is tender but not as smooth as I like.

I have had chicken breast from other places which are rendered better so perhaps this is an area that they can look into improving?

Doused in a mixture of soy sauce and sesame oil, I find the dressing a tad too salty as well.

I did some background check after I got home and realized that Uncle Louis is an ex-chef from Hilton. With such credentials behind him, naturally the bar have to go higher.

To give credit where credit is due, the generous portion is value for money.

The Thai short grained rice actually stood out for me more than the chicken.

I love that it is richly flavored with the aromatics yet not too greasy. I could easily have two plates on its own.

I am unable to tell what soup this is but I can assure you that it is more than just hot water with a dash of pepper.

It tastes robust with bold hints of ginger aftertaste. I am not discounting the use of MSG here though.

Help yourself to the holy trinity of chicken rice dipping sauce available: dark sauce, ginger puree and the mandatory garlic chili.

I am not usually a fan of the dark sauce but I drizzled a few rounds on the rice for some color.

The ginger puree is mildly savory without that pungent, spicy note. It goes great as a dip for the chicken or simply to have with some rice.

As for the garlic chili, it is not diluted with loads of white vinegar. The consistency is slightly thick and packed quite some heat.

UNCLE LOUIS FAMOUS CHICKEN RICE
People's Park Food Centre
32 New Market Road
Singapore 050032

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 9am - 10pm

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hfhpYpDkTbocysi3A

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Quan Long Wanton Noodle @ Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Within the past two weeks, I have been to Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre three times for this Quan Long Wanton Noodle however, I have no luck with it as the stall is close each time I am there.

I wanted to try this stall so much because of its glowing reviews. According to Google, they open everyday so it seems like they might have closed for good?

On the fourth visit, I still harbor a glimmer of hope that the stall is still in business but I am also mentally prepared to try something else just like the previous three visits.

Imagine my joy when I saw the shutter up with a line in front of the stall. I joined the queue eagerly.

Apart from wanton noodle, the stall also serve fried chicken noodle, lor mee, mushroom soft bone noodle, prawn dumpling noodle and chicken slice hor fun.

Actually, my original plan was to try the wanton noodle but seeing the char siu in the window, I have a feeling that I will not like it so I was contemplating whether to have the prawn dumpling noodle instead?

However, everyone in front of me left the queue with at least one plate of wanton noodle ($5). Surely, so many people cannot be wrong? I decided to follow suit.

I understand from earlier reviews that the pricing two years ago is $3.50 up till $4.50 just last September. And now?

It is a whopping $5.

My plate of wanton noodle come with a mound of noodle topped with slices of char siu, one piece of fried wanton skin and pickled green chili.

There were two boiled wantons in the bowl of soup served on the side.

Now, if only I had listened to the voices in my head and opted for the prawn dumpling noodle. The char siu were indeed not to my liking as they were too lean and a little tough.

Also, the noodles were tossed in a dark sauce which is far too sweet for me. Even though I asked for more sambal, it was completely overshadowed by the dark sauce.

The noodle had a pretty good texture though - springy with a gummy mouthfeel.

The boiled wanton skin is silky smooth while the pork fillings wrapped within were not excessively seasoned which I like.

On the whole, I find this wanton noodle falls short of my expectation. Not that it is bad but it is not the style that appeals to me especially the lean char siu and dark sauce.

However, do not take my word for it and go try for yourself please.

The wanton noodle do have its merit and loyal followers who swear by it as proven by its stellar 3.9 Google rating.

The thing about Marsiling Mall is that it is not very accessible to get to although it is only one bus stop distance away from the temporary Woodlands bus interchange.

The shops and supermarket can be found on the second level whereas the third level and above is the multi-storey car park.

QUAN LONG WANTON MEE 全隆雲吞麵

Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

4 Woodlands Street 12

#01-65

Singapore 738623

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 7am - 1pm

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WpvQejnMpmXZf4P28

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Ye Lai Xiang Laksa - Prawn Noodle @ Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

If you have been researching for food recommendations at Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre, chances are, you will see one particular name keep turning up in your search.

As I was about to find out, this stall called Ye Lai Xiang Laksa is one of the more popular stalls here with a constant queue. I observed that customers just keep coming the entire time I was sitting there in front of the stall, however, the staff clears the line efficiently.

I think the auntie would make a pro at playing Cooking Mama.

The stall serves laksa, lor mee and prawn noodle at two prices: $4.50 for regular and $5.50 for large.

Although laksa is their signature dish, I decided to try the dry prawn noodle instead hence I ordered the large bowl.

I am not gonna lie but as I watched the auntie place my bowl onto the tray, my jaw dropped. The portion of the noodle here is literally double compared to the one from my neighborhood!

I walked off with my order, trying to make sense of everything when I heard the auntie calling me from behind. In my haste, I had forgotten about the bowl of prawn soup that come with my dry noodle.

Ingredients in the bowl include the standard toppings such as prawns, pork, fish cake and bean sprouts.

Garnished on top were spring onions and fried shallots.

The three whole prawns have been deshelled except for the tail. Honestly, I prefer my prawns whole rather than halved as the whole point of having the crustacean is enjoying the bite. It might not be deveined but out of sight out of mind. Just eat and do not think about it.

Another one of my favorite thing to have in prawn noodle is the tender sliced pork. I do not mind exchanging halved prawns for more sliced pork if they would allow me to!

The prawn broth is quite gao (concentrated), bursting with briny flavors.

Only thing is, it turned cold fast probably due to the many huge ceiling fans installed around the hawker centre.

I am not sure if they offer free soup refills but it would be nice if they do (I did not ask).

Admittedly, I felt a little jelak as I did not expect the portion of the yellow noodle to be this much. I will probably ask for a mixture of yellow noodle and bee hoon (rice vermicelli) during my next visit.

Yes, I actually do not mind coming all the way down for another bowl of Ye Lai Xiang prawn noodle again.

The thing about Marsiling Mall is that it is not very accessible to get to although it is only one bus stop distance away from the temporary Woodlands bus interchange.

The shops and supermarket can be found on the second level whereas the third level and above is the multi-storey car park.

YE LAI XIANG LAKSA 夜來香叻沙

Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

4 Woodlands Street 12

#01-73

Singapore 738623

Business Hours

Fri - Wed: 7.30am - 3pm

Closed: Thu

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BAdqtbRXng6J24EB9

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Ah Yi Handmade Noodle - Manually Hand-Pinched Mee Hoon Kueh @ Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This is my first ever visit to Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre at 4 Woodlands Street 12. Opened in 2018, it houses 70 cooked food stalls with 80% of the hawkers coming from the Old Woodlands Town Centre Hawker Centre.

While researching for food recommendations here, Ah Yi Handmade Noodle & Fish Soup caught my eye. Maybe I am bias but that is because I love handmade noodle.

Among the types of noodles available, my favorite is the mee hoon kueh. However, most of the time, I would order either the ban mian or u-mian instead.

The reason for doing so is because not all mee hoon kueh are created equal.

I like my mee hoon kueh thick rather than those super thin ones.

While many places tout their mee hoon kueh as "handmade", their dough were actually pressed by the pasta machine then cut into pieces with a knife.

Often, I struggle to pick them up with my chopsticks as they are anorexic-thin. I find absolute no pleasure in eating them and simply a waste of calories so I would rather have something else.

The mee hoon kueh here, however, is a cut above the rest. This is one of the rarer stalls that still pinches their mee hoon kueh off the dough by hand, resulting in a irregular shaped noodle.

The stretching gave it a satisfying doughy and gummy mouthfeel one could only dream of.

My bowl of mee hoon kueh is great value at $5. It is also available in $4 and $6.

Ingredients in the bowl include the standard toppings such as fried ikan bilis (anchovies), minced pork, sliced pork, an egg and spinach.

The ikan bilis could be crispier but at least they are not extremely salty like how the uncle at my neighborhood makes them. I have no idea why but I guess it is for economic reason so customers will not ''ask for more''.

The stall is pretty generous with the knobs of minced pork although I feel that they are too heavy-handed with the marinade.

Personally, I prefer my minced pork unseasoned just like those found in bak chor mee. Maybe just a sprinkling of salt will do but definitely no pepper for me.

I even tasted Chinese wine if I am not mistaken. I am of the opinion that too much seasonings complicate and confuse the taste buds.

Another thing that I cannot stand having in my mee hoon kueh is an overcooked egg. It happens when the egg is added into the boiling pot on the stove.

Thankfully, this stall only crack the egg into the bowl after the cooking is completed. As the egg did not go through the cooking process on the stove, it remains runny just the way I like it.

As for the soup, it tastes of spinach because, well, the stall uses said vegetable. If I had wanted spinach soup, I would have gone to a spinach soup specialty stall instead of a handmade noodle stall.

Some stalls, like the uncle at my place, uses the chye sim while some, like Ah Yi, uses spinach. There are no hard and fast rules as to what vegetables you can use.

My preference, however, is the sayur manis (mani cai/马尼菜) as this vegetable imparts a distinct flavor to the dish which no other vegetables can.

Also because when this dish was first introduced to our local food scene, sayur manis was the default vegetable used so I would just stick to that.

The thing about Marsiling Mall is that it is not very accessible to get to although it is only one bus stop distance away from the temporary Woodlands bus interchange.

The shops and supermarket can be found on the second level whereas the third level and above is the multi-storey car park.

AH YI HANDMADE NOODLE 阿壹手工麵粉粿魚湯

Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

4 Woodlands Street 12

#01-66

Singapore 738623

Business Hours

Fri - Wed: 8am - 8pm

Closed: Thu

Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Ah-Yi-Handmade-Noodle-Fish-soup-100063638913691/

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nDFYPW2pZWDkTcWf7

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Xiang Mei Roasted Meat & Chicken Rice - Nanyang Curry Chicken Noodle And Dong Quai Roasted Duck With Char Siu Rice @ 395A Bukit Batok West Ave 5

noreply@blogger.com (thedeadcockroach) — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 00:00:01 +0000

This location at Goodview Gardens, 395A Bukit Batok West Ave 5, is actually Xiang Mei Roasted Meat & Chicken Rice's second outlet.

The address leads me to a annex building next to the multi-storey carpark where amenities such as a coffee shop, a clinic, a hair salon, a pet groomer and a Chinese medical hall are housed in.

Do take note that Xiang Mei is not one of the stalls inside the coffee shop but they took up tenancy in one of the shops outside it.

The eatery is not too big but it is clean and brightly lit with good ventilation owing to the tall ceiling. I feel really comfortable dining there.

There is no table service here. You have to place your own order at the counter where a beeper will be given to you after payment. Head back to the counter to collect your food once the device go off.

The original stall is still operating inside the S-11 coffee shop at Bukit Batok Central behind the bus interchange.

They have been serving roasted duck, char siu (bbq pork), siu yuk (roasted pork) and siu gai (roasted chicken) at this location for the last twenty odd years.

According to them, they have their beginnings at Bencoolen Street since the 1920s. This makes their brand more than a century old!

This review is made up of two separate visits.

During the first one, I had their Nanyang curry chicken noodle ($5.30).

Ingredients included chicken meat, tau pok and bean sprouts in a fragrant curry broth with a distinct lemongrass fragrance that I like.

Sadly, there are no curried potatoes.

When it comes to curry or laksa, my opinion is that the rempah should be the star. The coconut milk is just a supporting role so there should not be too much of it to steal the limelight.

Thankfully, the curry is not too heavily laden with coconut milk. I would describe its consistency as being more broth-liked than creamy so it is very drinkable without feeling jelak. It helps that it is also not very oily.

The spiciness is at a comfortable level so you do not need the fire brigade on standby.

It took me a great deal of will power to restrain myself from finishing the entire bowl of delicious curry.

I am not sure if you could request for chicken parts like the drums or wings? I did not and what I got were boneless breast meat chopped in thick chunks.

The chicken is the poached type so it is considerably tender.

On the second visit, I could not decide between the char siu and roasted duck therefore, I ordered the duo meat combo. You have the option to pair it with either rice, yellow noodles or hor fun.

I picked rice and the pricing is quite standard at $6 for two types of meat.

Gravy was doused on the white rice, giving it sweet and savory notes. I do not usually like starchy sauce on my rice but I have to admit that this one is pretty tasty.

Although what I got is the breast meat, the roasted duck is tender and does not have a fibrous texture that makes it a pain to eat.

With a mild hint of dong quai (Angelica root/female ginseng) flavor, the breast meat is pleasing on its own even without any dipping sauce needed.

What truly wowed me was their char siu. The exterior is caramelized with a layer of blackened char without that bitter aftertaste. Not sure if they baste their char siu with honey or maltose, it could be a little too sweet for some; a glob of marinade came into contact with the back of my spoon and they stuck together. I lifted the spoon into the air and the char siu simply clings on.

But I still like it though. It is not everyday that you come across such char siu.

As for the interior, there is a intermingling layers of fat and lean where the fat literally melts in my mouth. I closed my eyes in contentment as I savor the flavors.

My order came with a bowl of soup served on the side. Well, not those watered down kind that tastes like tap water sprinkled with spring onions and a dash of pepper but full-bodied ones with ingredients in it.

Today's soup-of-the-day is white radish soup.

From photos shown on the menu, it seems they also sell double boiled soups such as peanut chicken feet soup, sweet corn soup, herbal soup, Sichuan vegetable soup and salted vegetable soup.

While having my roasted meat rice, the aroma of chicken rice wafted to my nose.

Apparently, I could smell the garlic and pandan flavor from two tables away. This gives me a pretty good idea of what to have at my next visit!

Just check out their Google ratings of 4.0. So many people cannot be wrong?

They have impromptu off days but it usually falls on a Tuesday. They simply paste a note outside the shop to inform their patrons. There is no way of knowing beforehand as their social media are hardly updated.

This could be frustrating for people who came from afar to support them only to find it closed. I guess the only way is to give them a call at 9450 1941 before making your way down.

By the time this entry is posted, I have already visited this place about five times. Twice of it are on Tuesdays and they are closed. 😫

The location could be somewhat inconvenient unless you drive or live in the vicinity.

It is about a 8 minutes walk (600m) from Bukit Gombak MRT Station. Just walk under the MRT tracks heading towards Swiss Cottage Secondary School direction and you will see Goodview Gardens on your right. Just walk up those stairs on the right hand side in the photo above.

If the location is too out of the way, there is always Deliveroo and Foodpanda!

XIANG MEI ROASTED MEAT & CHICKEN RICE 香美粤式烧腊

395A Bukit Batok West Ave 5

Singapore 651395

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 8.30am - 8.30pm

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dG5VosyK5uffRiHA7

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