Shanghai Char Siew Chee Cheong Fun

Located in Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Shanghai Chee Cheong Fen has a variety of special chee cheong fun (steamed rice noodle roll) at very affordable prices.


I especially love its char siew chee cheong fun which costs only $1.20. Served with sweet black sauce, chilli and sesame seeds, the appetizing chee cheong fun is stuffed with abundant servings of fresh and tasty char siew (Chinese roasted pork).

Certainly value for money and comparable with the standards of famous dim sum restaurants, Shanghai char siew chee cheong fun is definitely one of the best that I have tasted in Singapore.

8/10

Shanghai Chee Cheong Fen
Chinatown Complex Food Centre
#02-174
335 Smith Street Singapore 050335

Jacob's Cafe Beef Stew

After I read the book Tell It @ Jacob's Cafe written by Towsoon Lim, the founder of Jacob's Cafe, I was curious about its famous beef stew, so I went down to the restaurant at Changi Village on a Friday evening to try it for myself.

Seated at the alfresco section of Jacob's Cafe, I enjoyed the cosy and soothing ambience and almost did not realise that I was actually on the void deck of a HDB flat. I ordered a bowl of beef stew and a plate of rice which cost $10.20. With no service charge and no GST, the prices on the menu are exactly what you pay on the bill.


Indeed value for money, the delicious beef stew comes in a satisfactory portion served with generous chunks of beef and pieces of carrot and potato. Concentrated with the sweet essence of beef, the mouthwatering soup is delightfully thick and irresistably flavorful. The beef chunks, though tasty and fleshy, could have been less tough and more marinated.

Overall it was a sumptuous dinner at Jacob's Cafe. I absolutely loved the special ambience of the place and would certainly bring my family and friends down to try its other recommended dishes eg Hainanese mutton stew and chicken curry.

7.5/10

Jacob's Cafe
Blk 5 Changi Village Road
#01-2049 Singapore 500005
Closed on Sundays

Uncle Sim Home Cooked Nyonya Economic Rice

I walked past this economic rice stall in Whampoa Food Centre and was immediately attracted by its colourful signboard. On it featured the signature Nyonya dishes such as curry fish head, curry chicken, special omelette, sambal sotong, fried chicken etc.


I ordered a plate of plain rice with sambal long beans, fried omelette and curry chicken, which cost only $2.50. Concentrated with the distinctive aroma of coconut milk, the mouthwatering curry gravy is thick and flavorful with the right mix of sweetness and spiciness. Besides the outstanding curry, the crunchy sambal long beans and the tasty egg omelette also complement the rice very well.

Uncle Sim home-cooked Nyonya economic rice is certainly one of best that I have tasted in Singapore. More importantly, its delicious dishes are very affordably priced despite its superior culinary standards. Bring your family down to Whampoa Food Centre and try it for yourself today.

8/10

Uncle Sim Home Cooked Nyonya Food
Blk 90 Whampoa Food Centre
#01-63
Closed on Tuesdays

Teck Kee Cheng Tng

Whenever I visit Adam Road Food Centre for dinner, I never fail to complete my meal with a bowl of refreshing cheng tng from Teck Kee.


Reasonably priced at $1.50, the cheng tng comes with a wide variety of ingredients such as sweet potato, dried longan, fresh longan, white fungus, gingko nut, jelly etc. The saccharine sweetness and soothing coolness of the cheng tng readily quench one's thirst after a sumptuous dinner.

Besides cheng tng, Teck Kee also has other hot and cold desserts eg ice kachang, bubur hitam, tau suan etc. Do try it when you are having lunch or dinner at Adam Road Food Centre.

7/10

Teck Kee Hot and Cold Dessert
Adam Road Food Centre
Closed on Mondays

Kwai Luck Mee Siam

According to wikipedia, mee siam is a Siamese dish of thin rice noodles (vermicelli) in sweet, sour and spicy gravy. Thus the quality of the gravy plays a very important role in determining whether a mee siam is impressive or mediocre.


Located in Chong Boon Market in Ang Mo Kio, Kwai Luck is well-liked for its cheap and delicious mee siam. A plate of mee siam which costs only $2 comes with egg and fried beancurd. You can top up 50 cents for extra egg or bee hoon. The mouthwatering gravy, which goes very well with the bee hoon, has a kaleidoscope of flavours, ranging from the sweetness and spiciness of sambal tumis to the sourness of tamarind (assam).

Kwai Luck mee siam, which opens only in the morning, is certainly one of the best mee siam in Singapore. Come down to Ang Mo Kio and try it for yourself.

7.5/10

Kwai Luck Mee Siam
Blk 453A
Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10
#01-96
Singapore 561453
Closed on Mondays

Amoy Street Fried Kway Teow

Located at the corner of the ground floor of Amoy Street Food Centre, this fried kway teow stall was one of the very few stalls that were open when I was there on a Sunday afternoon. Unable to resist the sinful fragrance of the fried kway teow, I decided to give it a try.


A plate of Amoy Street fried kway teow, which costs only $2.50, comes in a satisfactory portion topped with egg, sausage, cockles and pork lard. Sweet and savory, the kway teow is well-fried with a distinctive charred flavour that is further enhanced by the delightful aroma of pork lard. The fresh cockles, though small, are plentiful and tasty.

If you are passing by Shenton Way and craving for some delicious fried kway teow, come down to Amoy Street Food Centre and try it for yourself.

7.5/10

Amoy Street Fried Kway Teow
Amoy Street Food Centre
7 Maxwell Road
#01-01

Soon Lee Fire-Pot Stew Beef Noodle

There are times when I wished I have taken a better picture of the food I recommend. But I was too hungry to resist the temptation of this fire-pot stew beef noodle, so I just snapped a random shot and started to eat. Believe me, this fire-pot stew beef noodle tastes a thousand times better than it looks in the photo.


Run by two ladies in their sixties, Soon Lee at Alexandra Village Food Centre has a variety of stew beef dishes. I ordered the fire-pot stew beef with a plate of noodles which cost $6. Served piping hot in a fire-pot with carrot and potato, the tender and fleshy chunks of well-marinated stew beef are coated with thick flavorful gravy that is irresistably sweet and savory. The mouthwatering gravy, together with the special chilli paste, complement the thin noodles (mee kia) very well. The delicious noodles also come with a bowl of soup that is concentrated with delightful beef essence.

Soon Lee fire-pot stew beef noodle is certainly the best that I have tasted in Singapore. If you are a beef lover like me, come down to Alexandra Village Food Centre and experience it for yourself.

8/10

Soon Lee Beef Soup
Alexandra Village Food Centre
#01-16

Da Lu Prawn Noodle

When I was taking photos at China Square last weekend, I walked past this air-conditioned eatery named Da Lu Xia Mian and was tempted by the irresistable aroma of prawn mee soup.


I ordered a bowl of prawn noodle soup which costs $5. Concentrated with the delightful sweetness of prawns and pork ribs, the flavorful soup complements the noodles very well. Although the halved prawns are nicely deshelled, they could have been more fresh and tasty.

With competition from two other famous prawn noodle stalls (The Old Stall Famous Hokkien Prawn Mee and Ah Hui Famous Hokkien Big Prawn Mee) located at Hong Lim Food Centre nearby, it is still worthwhile to pay $5 for Da Lu prawn noodle for its delicious soup and dining in an air-conditioned environment.

7/10

Da Lu Prawn Noodle
22 Cross Street
China Square Central
#01-54/55
Singapore 048421

Fatty Weng Seafood Hor Fun

I recently read about this cze char stall opposite Singapore Badminton Hall at Guillemard Road that has been discussed on local food forums for its impressive but expensive hor fun. Being a hor fun lover, I could not resist the temptation and decided to try it for myself.


A plate of seafood hor fun which costs $5 comes with fish cake, lean meat, pig's liver, pig's intestine and prawns. Instead of being deep fried with light soya sauce to a rich wok hei flavour like other famous hor fun, the thin kway teow is lightly fried with dark soya sauce to give it a dark colour and a savory taste. The delicious gravy is sweet and salty and coats the kway teow very well.

Compared with other famous hor fun, Fatty Weng seafood hor fun is certainly not over-priced in terms of the quality of its hor fun and the variety of its ingredients. Come down and try it to decide for yourself.

7/10

Fatty Weng Restaurant
94, Guillemard Road S399717

Wan Li Xiang Economic Rice

There is something special about Wan Li Xiang economic rice at Seah Im Food Centre that keeps me coming back for more. It's not the wide variety nor the cheap prices of the cooked dishes. It's the way the dishes are cooked such that they taste really healthy, not oily or sticky at all.


A plate of rice with curry vegetables, fried egg omelette, curry potato and Kung Pao diced chicken cost only $3. I especially love the curry vegetables because the curry gravy is spicy and savory and just right in consistency, not too thick and not too watery. The egg omelette which is fried with onions, is delightfully sweet and tasty. The Kung Pao diced chicken is well-marinated with the flattering flavours of soya sauce, chilli, pepper and other spices.

This is one of the cheapest and most delicious economic rice that I have tasted in Singapore. Be sure to come down to Seah Im Food Centre early in the evening before the tasty dishes are all snapped up.

7.5/10

Wan Li Xiang Economic Rice
Seah Im Food Centre
2 Seah Im Road #01-51

Whampoa Best Lu Mian In Town Lor Mee

A boastful name like "Best Lu Mian In Town" is a double edged sword. On one hand, it can arouse sufficient curiosity in customers to give it a try. But on the other, it will raise the expectations of customers, which if not met, will ensure that they will never return again. I decided to try this lor mee at Whampoa Market to see if it can live up to its name.


I ordered a $3 bowl of lor mee which comes with braised meat, chicken nuggets, you tiao and fried fish. Savory with a mild tinge of spices, the flavorful gravy coats the noodles very well. I especially enjoyed the special chilli paste that is spicy, sweet and fragrant, as well as the tasty chicken nuggets and the fresh fried fish.

Whampoa Best Lu Mian In Town lor mee is certainly outstanding in terms of its novel ingredients. While I agree that it is one of the more delicious lor mee in Singapore, it has to work harder to become the best.

7.5/10

Whampoa Best Lu Mian In Town Lor Mee
Blk 91 Whampoa Dr
#01-19

Fatty Cheong Char Siew Wanton Mee

Located at ABC Brickworks Food Centre in Bukit Merah, Fatty Cheong is famous for its top grade char siew. Even though I have read its raving reviews on local food blogs, I have yet to try it until today.


I ordered a plate of char siew wanton mee which costs $3. Living up to its reputation, the well-marinated char siew is extraordinarily fleshy and tasty, certainly one of the best in Singapore. The savory light sauce and the spicy chilli paste complement the springy noodles very well, making every mouthful seem really irresistable.

If you are a fan of wanton noodle, you must not miss Fatty Cheong char siew wanton mee. It is not only impressive for its fantastic char siew but its delicious noodles as well.

7.5/10

Fatty Cheong Char Siew Wanton Mee
ABC Brickworks Food Centre
6 Jalan Bukit Merah
#01-120
Closed on Thursdays

Jian Bo Shui Kueh

Chwee kueh is a local breakfast snack of steamed rice cake topped with diced preserved radish (chye poh). Although it is commonly found in coffee shops all over the island, the best still comes from Jian Bo Shui Kueh in Tiong Bahru Market.


For only $1, you get 4 chwee kueh sprinkled with generous servings of chye poh. What is extraordinary about this chwee kueh is its soft yet firm consistency, its super smooth texture and its distinctive rice flavour that makes it so delicious, it can be eaten even on its own. The sweet and salty chye poh, with the fragrance of sesame seeds, further enhances the flavour of Jian Bo chwee kueh, making it the most outstanding in Singapore.

I have to admit that I am not a fan of chwee kueh but after trying Jian Bo's, I was truly impressed. Come down to Tiong Bahru and try it for yourself.

8/10

Jian Bo Shui Kueh
Tiong Bahru Market
#02-05

Inspirasi Mee Soto

Open only after 11am daily, Inspirasi Stall at Bedok Interchange Food Centre has one of the best mee soto in Singapore. Even before the shutters are drawn, there is already a queue in front of the stall.


I ordered a bowl of mee soto which costs $2.50. The magic of Inspirasi mee soto lies in the special gravy which is irresistably savory and spicy. Some people have commented that the gravy is too sweet for their liking but I feel that, together with the fantastic sambal chilli, the gravy is certainly the best that I have tasted so far.

If you are a fan of mee soto, you must not miss Inspirasi mee soto that is not only outstanding but value for money.

8/10

Inspirasi Stall
Bedok Interchange Food Centre
#01-11

Chuan Bee Lor Mee

With famous food like Outram Park fried kway teow, Tuck Kee crayfish hor fun, Ah Heng and Heng Kee curry noodles which have been featured on local food blogs and forums, Hong Lim Market is certainly a food paradise in Singapore. Today I decided to try Chuan Bee lor mee which was recommended by some food lovers.


I ordered a $3 bowl of lor mee which comes with braised meat, fish cake, fried fish, fish nuggets and fried yam balls. Though thick and savory with a herbal tinge, the gravy seems to be lacking in flavour and does not complement the noodles well enough. I especially like the special fried yam balls that are sweet and crunchy and the fried fish that is fresh and tasty.

While the lunch time crowd at Hong Lim feel that Chuan Bee lor mee is one of the best, it certainly did not live up to my expectations. As taste is subjective, do come down and try it for yourself.

6.5/10

Chuan Bee Lor Mee
Hong Lim Food Centre
Blk 531A Upper Cross Street #02-55

Xing Ji Curry Pork Rib Noodle

During my teenage years, my father used to buy this curry pork rib noodle from Tampines Round Market for my breakfast every Sunday morning. I have been wanting to blog about it but it was either sold out or closed for holiday during the last two times when I was there.

Last weekend, I deliberately woke up early to make sure that I get to taste Xing Ji curry pork rib noodle. When I was there at 830am, there was already a long queue and I had to wait for around half an hour to get my noodles.


A bowl of curry pork rib noodle which costs $3 comes with several pieces of pork rib and potato. Soupy in consistency, the curry gravy is filled with the delightful aroma of coconut milk and a special flavour that blends very well with the ee mee (thin egg noodle). The pork ribs are remarkably fleshy, tender and tasty.

As featured on Where The Queue Starts 2, Xing Ji also has wanton noodle. But the curry pork rib noodle is one dish that is almost unique to Xing Ji and certainly worthwhile queuing up for. Be sure to go there early before it gets sold out.

7.5/10

Xing Ji Curry Pork Rib Noodle
Tampines Round Market & Food Centre
Blk 137 Tampines Street 11 #01-35
Closed on Wednesdays

Tian Tian Dao Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle

Recently I found out about two neighborhood fried hokkien mee stalls with similar names: Tian Tian Dao at Ang Mo Kio and Tian Tian Lai at Toa Payoh. I decided to start by trying Tian Tian Dao first.

Open only after 3pm, this stall is well-known for its long queues during dinner time. When I was there at 6pm, I was lucky to find no queue but soon as I placed my order, the queue started forming.


A plate of Tian Tian Dao fried hokkien prawn noodle which costs $3, is served with prawns, sotong and fatty meat. The noodles are well-fried with a delightful charred aroma and topped with sambal belacan chilli.

Overall Tian Tian Dao impresses with its special sambal belacan that is extremely spicy and savory. It is one of the more delicious neighborhood fried hokkien mee that is certainly worth trying.

7/10

Tian Tian Dao Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle
Chong Boon Market & Food Centre
Blk 453A
Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 #01-219
Singapore 561453

Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow

After a while, all good fried kway teow seem to taste the same, except for Tiong Bahru fried kway teow that keeps me coming back for more. This is the third time I have tried this fried kway teow in Tiong Bahru Market and it has been consistently outstanding so far.


For only $2, you get a satisfactory plate of fried kway teow topped with fish cake and fresh cockles. Impressively fried to a semi-wet consistency, the mouthwatering kway teow is coated with a thin layer of sweet and savory gravy with a distinctive charred fragrance and a subtle tinge of garlic.

A fantastic fried kway teow is one that makes you want to have it mouthful after mouthful without asking why. Tiong Bahru fried kway teow is just that. Reasonably priced at $2, this is certainly the cheapest and most delicious fried kway teow that I have tasted in Singapore.

7.5/10

Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow
Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre
30 Seng Poh Road
#02-11

Heng Heng Prawn Mee Soup

When I visited Dunman Food Centre last weekend, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the famous Eng's Wanton Mee which had disappeared recently, had not closed down after all. Instead it was relocated to the basement of Dunman Food Centre. Although I was very tempted to try its super spicy wanton mee again, I reminded myself that I was there to try Heng Heng prawn mee soup.


I ordered a bowl of pork rib prawn noodle which costs only $3. Topped with several pieces of pork ribs and sliced prawns, this prawn noodle is certainly value for money. When I tasted the soup, I was immediately reminded of Joo Chiat prawn mee. Considering the close proximity of the two prawn noodle stalls, I really doubt if the similarity is merely coincidental. The mouthwatering soup, which is concentrated with the delightful sweetness of prawns and the subtle fragrance of fried onion and pork lard, really brings out the "old school" flavour that is missing in most prawn mee nowadays.

Regardless of whether it is related to Joo Chiat prawn mee or not, Heng Heng prawn mee soup is certainly worthwhile trying. If you are a prawn noodle lover like me, do not miss this delicious prawn mee with a traditional flavour.

7.5/10

Heng Heng Prawn Mee Soup
Dunman Food Centre
#02-12
Onan Road
Singapore 424768

Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee

When I went to Old Airport Road Food Centre for breakfast last week, I was surprised to see a very long queue in front of Xin Mei Xiang lor mee when there is hardly any queue for the other stalls. There must be something special about this lor mee that keeps its customers wanting to queue for it.


I ordered a $4 bowl of lor mee which was topped with such generous servings of fried fish (take a look at the photo) that I could hardly contain my delight. The thick and mouthwatering gravy complements the noodles really well, giving every strand a thorough coat of irresistable flavour. Besides my favorite fried fish, this fantastic lor mee also comes with ngor hiang, braised meat and braised egg.

The winning factor of Xin Mei Xiang lor mee has to be its special fried fish. Like the rest of the customers, I certainly don't mind queuing up for half an hour just to have a taste of it.

7.5/10

Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee
Old Airport Road Food Centre
Blk 51 #01-116
Closed on Thursdays

Sembawang White Bee Hoon

Located opposite Sembawang Shopping Centre, the speciality dish of this cze char stall, as its name suggests, is 'white bee hoon'. Fried in a similar way as fried hokkien prawn mee, 'white bee hoon' is coated with tasty white gravy and topped with fried egg, prawns and sotong.

I was initially skeptical when my friend told me about this fantastic white bee hoon but after trying it, I have to agree that this is the BEST seafood fried bee hoon in Singapore.


A plate of Sembawang white bee hoon, which costs $4, comes in a serving that is very satisfactory for one person. Impressively fried with a rich wok hei flavour, the bee hoon is coated with thick mouthwatering gravy and served with generous toppings of fried egg. I especially enjoyed the special sambal chilli sauce that is spicy and sour and complements the fried bee hoon really well. Forget about the prawns and sotong as the bee hoon is already so delicious, you can eat it on its own.

Besides having the best seafood fried bee hoon in Singapore, Sembawang White Bee Hoon also has other cze char dishes. After trying it for the first time last month, I began to have repeated cravings for the white bee hoon and certainly didn't mind travelling all the way to Sembawang to have it. Come down and try it for yourself too.

8.5/10

Sembawang White Bee Hoon
2 Jalan Tampang
Singapore 758946
Closed on Wednesdays

Chi Hao Liao Signature Hor Fun

Being a big fan of seafood hor fun, nothing excites me more than a plate of SPECIAL seafood hor fun eg the $10 signature hor fun from Chi Hao Liao in Toa Payoh.


Certainly worthwhile for its price of $10, the signature hor fun is served on an opeh leaf and comes in a portion that is satisfactory for two persons. Topped with a wide range of fresh ingredients eg mushrooms, sea cucumber, prawns and scallop cake, the hor fun is expertly fried to a delightful wok-hei flavour. The mouthwatering gravy is concentrated with savory stock and complements the tasty hor fun really well.

I must admit that Chi Hao Liao signature hor fun is certainly value for money in terms of the outstanding quality of hor fun as well as the generous variety of ingredients. However, as I am not a fan of sea cucumber, I would have given it a higher rating if it had come with other ingredients such as sotong, fish, chicken, lean meat and pig's liver. Nevertheless having this sumptuous signature hor fun is indeed a wholesome dining experience. Come down to Toa Payoh and try it for yourself.

7.5/10

Chi Hao Liao Signature Hor Fun
Blk 94 Toa Payoh Lor 4

Guan Kee Fried Kway Teow

It has been a long time since I saw a queue as long as the one in front of Guan Kee Fried Kway Teow when I was at Ghim Moh Market for lunch last week. With every passing minute, I got hungrier and hungrier but my turn never seemed to come.


I finally got my plate of Guan Kee fried kway teow which cost $3. Well-fried to a semi-wet consistency, the fragrant kway teow is coated with savory sauce and sprinkled with generous servings of pork lard which accentuate its flavour. If you are a shellfish lover, you will be delighted to know that this fried kway teow comes with several juicy cockles to satisfy your craving.

In my opinion, Guan Kee is one of the more delicious fried kway teow in Singapore but certainly not the best. Although I agree that pork lard enhances the aroma of fried kway teow, I prefer mine to be more healthy and less oily. If you are a fried kway teow lover, come down to Ghim Moh Market and decide for yourself.

7.5/10

Guan Kee Fried Kway Teow
Ghim Moh Market And Food Centre
Blk 20 Ghim Moh Road #01-12
Closed on Wednesdays and Fridays

Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist

Winning the highest number of votes in the Straits Times Readers' Choice Favorite Hawkers Poll, Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist at Hong Lim Food Centre must be one of the most delicious wanton mee in Singapore. When I was there for dinner on Friday at 6pm, there was already a relatively long queue.


I ordered a plate of $3 wanton noodle and a bowl of $2 dumpling soup. Topped with fresh cai sim, mushrooms and char siew, the mee pok is springy in consistency and served with sweet and savory dark sauce and chilli paste. The huge prawn dumplings, filled with generous servings of minced meat and prawns, are extremely fleshy and tasty.

Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist is certainly impressive for its fabulous prawn dumplings. I will definitely return for more dumpling soup.

7/10

Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist
Hong Lim Food Centre
Blk 531A Upper Cross Street
#02-49

Wei Nan Wang Hock Kian Lor Mee

Run by an elderly couple in their seventies, Wei Nan Wang Hock Kian Lor Mee at Golden Shoe Food Centre is well-known for its long queues during lunch time because of its cheap lor mee. So in order to avoid the crowd, I went there at 11am today.


Instead of the $2 lor mee, I ordered the $3 bowl which came with fried fish, ngor hiang and braised meat. More watery and soupy in consistency as compared with the usual thick and sticky gravy of other lor mee, the special gravy is flavorful and goes very well with the noodles.

When translated into English, "Wei Nan Wang" means memorable. Although not the best in Singapore, Wei Nan Wang Hock Kian lor mee certainly leaves a memorable impression with its cheap and simple lor mee with a nostalgic flavour.

7/10

Wei Nan Wang Hock Kian Lor Mee
Golden Shoe Food Centre
50 Market Street
#03-03