Sin Hoe Hin Dark Sauce Wanton Mee

According to the ST Foodies Club, there are at least 5 different types of dry wanton mee in Singapore: the traditional Cantonese wanton mee, the ketchup wanton mee, the Kuala Lumpur dark sauce wanton mee, the Sarawak kolo mee and the Pontian wanton mee. Sin Hoe Hin Dark Sauce Wanton Mee is a KL dark sauce wanton mee which is characterised by the use of dark soya sauce and oyster sauce as compared with the traditional Cantonese wanton mee which uses light soya sauce, chilli and oil.


I ordered a plate of $4 wanton mee which comes with delicious noodles topped with generous servings of char siew, kangkong vegetables, fried wanton and shrimp dumplings. The mouthwatering noodles are thoroughly coated with the flavorful dark sauce which has the unmistakable fragrance of dark soya sauce and the delightful sweetness of oyster sauce. The fresh kangkong complements the noodles very well, adding a different flavour to the dish. The char siew is tender and well-roasted. The fried wanton are crispy and tasty. The shrimp dumplings are extremely fleshy and appetizing.

Although I am a fan of the traditional Cantonese wanton mee like Hong Mao, Fei Fei, Koka and Koung's, I still find Sin Hoe Hin wanton mee very sumptuous. This is indeed the best KL dark sauce wanton mee in Singapore.

7.5/10

Sin Hoe Hin Dark Sauce Wanton Mee
12 Rowell Road
7.30am to 1.30pm
Closed on Tuesdays

Update 21/9/2008 - This stall has closed down.

Zi Yean Stewed Beef La Mian

Zi Yean is a restaurant at the void deck of a HDB flat which has two sections, an air-conditioned and an alfresco one. Though famous for its impressive tze char (ala carte cooked dishes), Zi Yean also serves delicious dim sum (snacks and dumplings) and la mian (homemade noodles) for lunch and tea.


My favorite is the stewed beef la mian. For only $3.80, you get a bowl of delicious la mian with generous chunks of stewed beef. All beef lovers will be delighted to know that the chunks of beef are not only VERY HUGE but tasty, tender and well-marinated. The flavorful gravy is extremely complementary to the homemade noodles which are smooth and delicate.

I strongly recommend Zi Yean's stewed beef la mian for lunch. One day I shall try its famous tze char and blog about it too. Stay tuned.

7.5/10

Zi Yean Restaurant
Blk 56 Lengkok Bahru
#01-443 S(150056)

Bukit Purmei Lor Mee

Located in a coffee shop at the void deck of a small housing estate, this famous lor mee is well-known to draw large crowds during lunch time. When I went there for lunch today, I had to queue for 20 minutes before I got my noodles.

A $3 bowl of Bukit Purmei lor mee comes with a satisfactory variety of delicious ingredients eg ngor hiang, fish cake, braised meat, char siew, meat nuggets etc. Like Yuan Chun Famous Lor Mee at Amoy Street, its mouthwatering gravy is its winning factor.


Extraordinarily fragrant and flavorful, the special gravy coats every strand of noodle thoroughly, every mouthful is simply irresistable. The complementary chilli and garlic pastes further accentuate the rich and authentic flavour of the gravy, making the dish so fantastic that you can eat it on its own. Even so, this lor mee comes with generous servings of ingredients which are fresh and tasty. I was pleasantly surprised to find char siew in lor mee.

Compared with Yuan Chun lor mee, I feel that Bukit Purmei lor mee is more delicious and value-for-money. Even though it is not as accessible, I still prefer to have Bukit Purmei lor mee for lunch.

8/10

Bukit Purmei Lor Mee
Blk 109 Bukit Purmei Road
7am - 3.30pm
Closed on Mondays

Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice

When I was younger, I used to go down to East Coast for supper. And more often than not, I would have Five Star Hainanese chicken rice as it was one of the few stalls that were open until late at night. I still remembered the exceptionally fragrant rice, extraordinarily spicy chilli and extremely tasty chicken. In my mind, this was no doubt the best chicken rice in Singapore.

When I went there for dinner today, I had very high expectations of Five Star chicken rice. I ordered a chicken drumstick and a plate of rice which cost $4.60.


Remarkably chewy in consistency, the impressive rice is well-cooked in irresistable chicken broth, every grain is coated with a layer of savory essence and delightful aroma. The distinctive chilli sauce is unbelievably spicy, scorching the taste buds gently as it combusts within the mouth, leaving a sensational aftertaste that lingers for hours. Fresh and tender, the delicious steamed chicken is especially fleshy and flavorful, much to the delight of chicken lovers.

It was indeed a very sumptuous and satisfying dinner. To all chicken rice enthusiasts out there, please do not miss the opportunity to try Singapore's best chicken rice. Come down to East Coast today.

8.5/10

Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice
191 East Coast Road

Koka Wanton Noodles

There is something strange about this wanton mee stall in North Bridge Road Food Centre. Firstly it starts business only after 8pm and secondly its signboard isn't lighted up when it starts business. Yet when I went there for dinner last Friday, I was surprised to know that people have started placing their orders as early as 7pm and there were more than 20 people waiting for their noodles by the time it's 8pm. I waited for more than an hour and certainly had very high expectations of the noodles.


I ordered a $4 plate of Koka wanton mee. My first impression of the noodles is that it has a striking resemblance to Hong Mao Wanton Noodles. Its impressive chilli sauce, which is more spicy and salty than sweet compared to other wanton mee, is delightfully flavorful and blends extremely well with the delicious noodles. The char siew is fresh and tender and the dumplings are big and tasty.

Despite its unilluminated signboard and unconventional operating hours, Koka Wanton Noodles is no doubt one of the best wanton mee in Singapore and is definitely worthwhile waiting an hour for.

8/10

Koka Wanton Noodles
North Bridge Road Food Centre
Blk 10 North Bridge Road
#01-99 Singapore 190010
8pm to 12am
Closed on Sundays

Yuan Chun Famous Lor Mee

As its name suggests, Yuan Chun Famous Lor Mee is one of the famous lor mee in Singapore. Located on the second storey of Amoy Street Food Centre, this stall is well-known to have queues that are so long, it is almost impossible to have it during lunch time. My opportunity finally came when I went there on a Saturday afternoon at 2pm, a time when the queue was practically non-existent.

I ordered a bowl of $3 lor mee which comes with ngor hiang, braised meat and fried fish. The distinguishing factor of Yuan Chun lor mee lies in its mouthwatering gravy that gives every strand of noodle a thick coat of extraordinary flavour. I was initially disappointed when I found out that Yuan Chun lor mee does not come with chilli paste but I soon discovered why. The savory gravy complements the noodles so well, there is no need for any chilli paste.


Apart from the special gravy, the rest of the lor mee, including the ngor hiang, braised meat and fried fish, is sadly ordinary. The slices of ngor hiang are more plentiful than braised meat and fried fish, although I would prefer more of the latter two.

Nevertheless this is indeed one of the more tasty lor mee in Singapore. I would have rated it as the best if it had come with better ingredients eg shark meat nuggets.

7.5/10

Yuan Chun Famous Lor Mee
Amoy Street Food Centre
7 Maxwell Rd
#02-79/80 S(069111)
0830 to 1600
Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays

River South (Hoe Nam) Prawn Noodles

As a prawn mee enthusiast, nothing makes my day more than a bowl of delicious prawn noodles with huge prawns. Of all the prawn mee I have recommended so far, I like Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles best. None of the other prawn noodles has ever come close. Until I tried River South (Hoe Nam) Prawn Noodles today that I finally found another prawn mee that can match the impressive standards of Wah Kee.


I ordered a $5 bowl of prawn noodles with pork ribs. Unlike some famous prawn noodles which serve halved prawns with meat stuck onto their shells, Hoe Nam prawn mee comes with 3 large full prawns which are extremely fresh and succulent. There are also 3 large pieces of well-marinated pork ribs that are tender and tasty. The savory soup is concentrated with the rich essence of prawns and pork ribs, complementing the delicious noodles and accentuating its seafood flavour.

It was indeed a very satisfying experience eating Hoe Nam prawn mee. This is no doubt one of the best prawn noodles in Singapore. If you are a prawn mee lover too, do not miss this opportunity. Come down and try Hoe Nam prawn noodles today.

8/10

River South (Hoe Nam) Prawn Noodles
31 Tai Thong Crescent (Near Jackson Centre)
Singapore 347859
Tel: 62819293
6.30am to 4.30pm daily
Closed once a month on Mondays

Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa

There is plenty of controversy surrounding Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa. It started many years ago when a famous stall selling delicious claypot laksa at Depot Road closed down. It subsequently re-opened in Alexandra Village Food Centre but people were skeptical if this was the original stall. After all there were other stalls with similar names, selling claypot laksa at Telok Blangah, Killiney Road and Vivocity.

When I went to Alexandra Village Food Centre for lunch yesterday, there was a long queue in front of this stall. I ordered the $4 claypot laksa which came with a reasonable serving of noodles with prawns, cockles and shredded chicken . The mouthwatering gravy is delightfully sweet and spicy, brimming with the concentrated flavors of coconut and dried shrimps. Every strand of the delicious noodles is thoroughly coated with a thick layer of savory gravy, every mouthful is simply irresistable.


It is indeed a very sumptuous claypot laksa. My only dissatisfaction is that the gravy is slightly too thick. As compared with Katong Laksa which I can finish two bowls at one go, Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa is so filling, I could hardly finish the gravy. Nevertheless it is still the best laksa I have tasted in Singapore and I definitely look forward to having Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa again.

8/10

Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa
Alexandra Village Food Centre
Block 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-75
8.30am to 3pm
Closed on Mondays

Borshch Steakhouse

Let me begin by introducing Borshch Steakhouse as the restaurant which serves the best and most affordable Russian food in Singapore. Located at Serangoon Gardens, opposite Chomp Chomp Food Centre, this restaurant is surprisingly quiet despite its inexpensive set lunches and set dinners. Maybe it's the lack of publicity. Maybe it's the lacklustre surroundings. Or maybe it's the old-fashioned layout. Nevertheless I decided to give it a try and I was extremely impressed.

I ordered the set dinner which comes with shrimp cocktail, Borshch soup, sirloin steak, peach melba and coffee for only $13.80 ($14.50 after service charge and no GST). Where else in Singapore can you get a sumptuous Western set dinner at such a price?


The shrimp cocktail which is delightful and appetizing, serves to prime the taste buds for the irresistable main course. The authentic Borshch soup which comes with cabbage and mutton, is absolutely mouthwatering with a kaleidoscope of flavors ranging from sweet to spicy to sour.


Served sizzling on the hotplate, the impressive sirloin steak is tender, succulent and fingerlicking good. Every portion of the sirloin steak is evenly grilled with a distinctive charred aroma and an unforgettable smoky taste.


Complete your sensational dining experience with peach melba which is vanilla ice-cream topped with a slice of peach.


This Russian restaurant is indeed praiseworthy for its affordable food and prompt service. However its dim lighting and poor ventilation can be improved. Nevertheless Borshch Steakhouse left me a great impression and I will certainly be returning for more.

8/10

Borshch Steakhouse
58 Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555954
Tel: 6280 4351
Opens daily from 11am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm

Xing Ji Minced Meat Noodles

This is the one and only minced meat noodles (or better known as rou cuo mian in Mandarin or bak chor mee in dialect) in Singapore that I have a craving for. Having tasted Xing Ji minced meat noodles many years ago, I still remembered the smoothness of the noodles and the flavorfulness of the soup.

Seated near the stall and watching the owner churn out bowl after bowl of noodles, I waited very impatiently for more than half an hour before my noodles arrived. Fortunately it was still as impressive as ever.


A $3 bowl of Xing Ji noodles comes with delicious yi mee topped with generous servings of minced meat and 8 meatballs. The savory soup is filled with the irresistable essence of minced meat and blends extraordinarily well with the delicate mee kia, fresh minced meat and tasty meatballs. The noodles are so fantastic, I just couldn't stop eating them, mouthful after mouthful.

This is indeed the best minced meat noodles in Singapore. Come down to Bedok North and experience it for yourself today.

8.5/10

Xing Ji Rou Cuo Mian
Fengshan Food Centre
Block 85 #01-07
Bedok North Street 4
5.30pm to 3am

Albert Street Prawn Noodle

I was at Old Airport Road Food Centre last weekend when I saw a long queue in front of Albert Street Prawn Noodle. Somehow the name sounded vaguely familiar but I just couldn't recall where I have seen it before. Tempted by the big and fresh prawns that were displayed at the front of the stall, I decided to give it a try.


I ordered a bowl of prawn noodles with pork ribs which costs $5. When I first tasted the soup, I immediately remembered that I tasted Albert Street Prawn Noodle at Lavender Food Centre before and was put off by the strong herbal taste of the soup. But this one at Old Airport Road Food Centre was slightly different. The flavorful soup has a subtle herbal taste that blends nicely with the rich essence of prawns and pork ribs and complements the delicious noodles very well. The tasty pork ribs are tender and fingerlicking good. The fresh prawns are extremely sweet and easily de-shelled.

I must admit that I was very satisfied with Albert Street Prawn Noodle for the extraordinary freshness of its prawns and pork ribs. Do not miss it if you are a frequent patron of Old Airport Road Food Centre.

7.5/10

Albert Street Prawn Noodle
Old Airport Road Food Centre
51 Old Airport Road #01-93
Singapore 390051

Xing Long Economic Rice

I love economic rice or otherwise known as mixed vegetable rice because of the wide variety of dishes available for mix and match. While a plate of economic rice with 2 vegetables and 1 meat costs around $2.50 in hawker centres and $3.50 in food courts, I was surprised to pay $4.50 when I first tried Xin Long economic rice in Marine Parade Food Centre a few years back. But the higher price did not deter me or the rest of the customers in the queue from patronizing this stall all these years. There is something special about this economic rice that keeps all of us coming back.


Of all the delicious dishes, I like the fried ngor hiang best. Filled with abundant water chestnut and marinated minced meat, the fried ngor hiang is unbelievably crunchy, sweet and tasty. The curry chicken, though not the best I've tasted, is fresh and tender and coated with thick savory gravy. The fried egg omelette is extremely flavorful with the irresistable sweetness of spring onion.

This is one economic rice that comes up top in terms of culinary skills. It is definitely worthwhile to pay more for the impressive quality of the dishes. Try it for yourself today.

7.5/10

Xing Long Cooked Food
Marine Parade Food Centre
Blk 84 #01-185
Closed on Sundays

Bee Kia Seafood Hor Fun

Better known as "the hor fun stall opposite Thomson Medical Centre", Bee Kia Seafood Restaurant is famous for its seafood hor fun and beef hor fun, rated by food reviewers as one of the best in Singapore. When I went there for lunch today, I was surprised to see many people in the coffee shop eating hor fun. As it is uncommon for Singaporeans to have hor fun for lunch, it only means that Bee Kia's hor fun must be really excellent.


I ordered the seafood hor fun which costs $3. Coated with thick mouthwatering gravy filled with the flavorful essence of seafood, the delicious kway teow is thoroughly fried with an irresistable charcoal fragrance and delightful soy sauce taste. The prawns and sotong are fresh and sweet while the meat is tender and tasty.

This is indeed one of the best seafood hor fun I have ever tasted in Singapore. With well-fried kway teow and savory gravy that complement each other so well, this seafood hor fun is so sumptuous, you can eat it on its own. I will definitely return to try its beef hor fun someday.

8.5/10

Bee Kia Seafood Restaurant
Blk 1 Balestier Hill Shopping Centre
Thomson Road
12pm to 11pm

Chung Cheng Chilli Mee

There is no prize for guessing correctly what makes Chung Cheng Chilli Mee so popular. This stall in Golden Mile Food Centre serves delicious noodles topped with a special chilli paste that is simply irresistable.

Made from red chilli, onion, dried shrimps, prawns and other secret ingredients, this authentic chilli paste bursts into flames in the mouth, gently scorching the gums to produce an unforgettable delightful sensation that lingers on the taste buds.


For only $3, you get a large bowl of mouthwatering chilli-coated noodles with fresh prawns, marinated pork ribs, tau pok, fish cake and a small bowl of savory prawn soup to extinguish the flames in your mouth.

For all chilli lovers in Singapore, this is an extraordinary experience that is not to be missed. Come down to Golden Mile Food Centre and try it for yourself today.

7/10

Chung Cheng Chilli Mee
Golden Mile Food Centre
#01-59
Closed on Tuesdays

Kok Kee Wanton Noodle

If you have eaten at Lavender Food Centre before, you would have noticed that the longest queue is the one in front of Kok Kee Wanton Noodle. And if you have looked at a plate of Kok Kee wanton mee before, you would agree with me that it looks so plain and simple, you really doubt if it tastes good. But if you have tasted Kok Kee wanton mee before, you would understand why it is so popular.


A plate of Kok Kee wanton mee costs either $3 or $4, more expensive than other wanton mee. The delicious noodles are rich in egg fragrance and splendidly springy in consistency. The magic of Kok Kee wanton mee lies in the special sauce that is poured on top of the noodles. This mouthwatering sauce is extraordinarily flavorful and complements the noodles so well that you can eat it without any chilli. The char siew and dumplings are also tasty and tender.

For all wanton mee lovers who cannot tolerate the spiciness of chilli, Kok Kee is just the right wanton mee for you. Unless you are a small eater, please order the $4 portion for a satisfying meal.

7.5/10

Kok Kee Wanton Noodle
Lavender Food Square #01-06
380 Jalan Besar
12pm to 2am
Closed every three weeks on Wednesdays and Thursdays

Ah Hui Famous Hokkien Big Prawn Mee

I came across this prawn noodle stall when I was at Hong Lim Food Centre to try Outram Park Fried Kway Teow. As a prawn noodle lover, the temptation is just too great for me to resist.


I ordered a bowl of $5 prawn mee with medium sized prawns. The halved prawns were fresh and sweet. The pork ribs were tasty and tender. The savory soup, though filled with the flavorful essence of prawns and pork ribs, was somewhat disappointing compared to that of other famous prawn noodles I have recommended, lacking in the authentic taste.

Overall this is still one of the more delicious prawn mee in Singapore. Do give it a try if you happen to be at Hong Lim Food Centre.

6.5/10

Ah Hui Famous Hokkien Big Prawn Mee
Hong Lim Food Centre
531A Upper Cross Street #02-61
Singapore 510531
Closed on Wednesdays

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

What makes a great chicken rice? Is it the fragrance of the rice? The tenderness of the chicken? Or the spiciness of the chilli?

Maxwell Food Centre is famous for its Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. I remembered my first time eating it many years ago. It was a very sumptuous and satisfying experience.


Even though it is so popular, a plate of Tian Tian chicken rice costs only $2.50 or $3. The excellent rice which is thoroughly coated with irresistable chicken broth is sufficiently chewy in consistency and extremely fragrant and flavorful. The steamed white chicken is fleshy, tender and tasty. The special chilli is spicy and savory and complements the rice very well.

Tian Tian indeed lives up to its reputation of being one of the best chicken rice in Singapore.

7.5/10

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
Maxwell Food Centre
12 Murray Street #01-10
11am to 8pm
Closed on Mondays

Heng Kee Curry Chicken Noodles

Heng Kee Curry Chicken Noodles was recommended by a friend who read my blog post on Ah Heng Curry Chicken Noodles. So there are actually 2 famous curry mee in Hong Lim Food Centre. One on the ground storey, the other on the second. Both have been featured on food blogs and magazines. And both have long queues during lunch time.


When I went for lunch today, I had to queue for around 15 minutes for Heng Kee Curry Chicken Noodles. Hoping that the long wait will be worthwhile, I was rather disappointed by the small bowl of curry noodles which costs $4. The savory gravy was sweet and spicy but lacking in the fragrance and flavour of coconut milk. The noodles blended well with the gravy but the serving was so little, I could finish it in 4 mouthfuls. The 3 pieces of steamed white chicken were more bony than meaty and miserable, if I can think of a word to describe them.

Comparing the 2 curry noodles in Hong Lim Food Centre, Ah Heng Curry Chicken Noodles is definitely more delicious and value-for-money. Ah Heng's gravy is thicker and more mouthwatering than Heng Kee's. Ah Heng's chicken is fresher and more tender than Heng Kee's. The portions of noodles and chicken from Ah Heng are also bigger and more satisfying than that from Heng Kee (Compare the pictures I posted if you don't believe me).

I really don't know what is it about Heng Kee curry noodles that make people queue for it. Perhaps Singaporeans who are more health-conscious may prefer Heng Kee because of its lower content of coconut milk. Perhaps it has an authentic flavour that I could not appreciate. But I can confidently say that I definitely won't be coming back for more.

6/10

Heng Kee Curry Chicken Noodles
Hong Lim Food Centre
Blk 531A Upper Cross Street #01-127
Closed on Sun and Public Holidays

Tiong Bahru Yi Sheng Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee

This fried hokkien mee at Bukit Merah has been discussed on our local food blogs and forums, compared to the likes of Kim's and Nam Sing. When I went down to ABC Food Centre for lunch today, I was surprised to see no queue in front of Yi Sheng Hokkien Mee. After all I had the impression that the length of the queue is somewhat proportional to the standard of the food.


I ordered a plate of $4 fried hokkien mee which comes with 3 medium sized prawns and generous servings of sotong. The delicious noodles are thoroughly fried in mouthwatering prawn broth with a delightful charcoal aroma and flavorful taste. The distinguishing factor in Yi Sheng's Hokkien Mee is its special homemade chilli which is fabulously savory and extremely complementary to the noodles.

Somehow I feel that Yi Sheng fried hokkien mee resembles Geylang Lor 29's in terms of taste and consistency, although Yi Sheng is less oily and more tasty. Compared with Kim's, I still feel that Kim's is much better in terms of culinary skills.

7/10

Tiong Bahru Yi Sheng Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee
ABC Brickworks Food Centre
6 Jalan Bukit Merah #01-13
Closed on Wednesdays

Ah Heng Curry Chicken Noodles

When I saw the long queue in front of Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee, I knew that it must be worth a try. After all, only about half of the Singaporeans enjoy curry mee (the other half probably avoid it because of the high cholesterol content or the spiciness of the gravy) and yet the queue is so long, it only means that this curry mee must be extraordinary.


When I took my first spoonful of the mouthwatering gravy, I was instantly impressed. The irresistable gravy is extremely flavorful with the natural sweetness and distinct aroma of coconut milk which linger on the taste buds. Though very savory, the remarkable gravy is not overly thick or spicy and complements the bee hoon mee very well, coating every strand evenly and thoroughly. The delicious steamed white chicken is tender and juicy and blends impeccably with the gravy.

For all curry noodles lovers out there, Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee is definitely one of the best curry noodles in Singapore. Come down to Hong Lim Food Centre and experience it for yourself today.

8/10

Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee
Hong Lim Food Centre
#02-58
Singapore 510531
9am to 5pm
Closed on Sunday & Public Holiday

Outram Park Fried Kway Teow

I read about this famous fried kway teow at Hong Lim Food Centre but never had the opportunity to try it as it was always closed in the evenings when I went there for dinner. The opportunity finally came when I went there for lunch today and I must admit that it is really fantastic.


Even though it is so outstanding, a plate of Outram Park Fried Kway Teow costs only $2. Compared to the other fried kway teow, it is slightly more wet in consistency and vaguely resembles the Apollo Fried Kway Teow from Marine Parade Food Centre although it is much better. The mouthwatering kway teow is impressively fried with savory sweet sauce which confers a memorable flavour that is accentuated by the pleasant fragrance of pork lard and the unmistakable aroma of garlic. For those who believe that fried kway teow is never complete without cockles, the irresistable kway teow is complemented by a generous serving of fresh cockles.

Outram Park Fried Kway Teow is indeed the one and only fried kway teow that is both delicious and value for money.

7.5/10

Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee
Hong Lim Food Centre
Blk 531A Upper Cross Street
#02-18
Singapore 510531
7am to 4.30pm

He Ji Noodle

Located at Jalan Kayu, next to the famous Jerry's BBQ & Grill, He Ji Noodle is one of the recommended wanton mee on Singapore Best Food Online Directory. The website also tells the heartwarming story of how the founder inherited the skill of making noodles with flour and duck eggs from his great uncle, how he improvised, persevered and finally perfected the art of making He Ji noodle that is so popular in Malaysia.

When I went there for dinner last Friday, I was surprised to wait for 20 minutes even though there were only a few customers before me. I couldn't help wondering if the long waiting time is due to the meticulous way with which the noodles are cooked.


Indeed the delicious noodles are special in that they are more springy in consistency than the usual wanton mee. The unique chilli sauce tastes very different from the usual sauce in that it is spicy and savory with an unmistakable tinge of pepper. The dumplings are tasty and complement the noodles very well.

A heartwarming story, a special noodle and a unique sauce. This is what He Ji Noodle is all about in a nutshell.

7/10

He Ji Noodle
273 Jalan Kayu
Singapore 799501

Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak

This must be one of the best nasi lemak in Singapore. Even when its side dishes eg otak otak (grilled fish paste) and begedil (potato patties) are sold out, the queue is still so long. Even though the nasi lemak is slightly overpriced, its customers are not deterred at all.


A plate of nasi lemak which costs $3, comes with ikan bilis, fried egg and fried chicken wing. What distinguishes Selera Rasa from the other nasi lemak is the use of basmati rice, a superior grade rice which has a significantly finer consistency and whose grains do not stick together. In addition, the special rice has the distinctive fragrance and irresistable flavour of coconut milk and pandan leaves and is well complemented by the savory sambal tumis. The fried chicken wing is tasty and crispy.

This is indeed one impressive nasi lemak that I will not hesitate coming back for more.

8/10

Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak
No 2 Adam Road Food Centre
7am to 10pm

Kim's Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee

When I first tasted Kim's fried prawn hokkien mee, I couldn't believe that it was so fantastic. Even though I visit Joo Chiat so frequently for its delicious food, namely Joo Chiat Prawn Mee, Hong Mao Wanton Mee, Fei Fei Wanton Mee, Joo Chiat Fried Kway Teow etc, I didn't know that at the junction of Joo Chiat Place and Tembeling Road, lies is a small restaurant famous for its world-class fried hokkien mee.


For only $4, you get a large plate of mouthwatering Kim's fried hokkien mee with crispy pork lard and spicy sambal belacan. The tasty noodles are so impressively fried with a characteristic charcoal fragrance, every single strand is thoroughly coated with savory seafood gravy. The special pork lard accentuates the flavorful taste and irresistable aroma of the noodles. While most fried hokkien mee use sambal tumis, the sweeter version of sambal chilli, Kim's uses sambal belacan, the spicier version which surprisingly complements the noodles very well. Even though the hokkien mee comes with generous servings of prawn and sotong, it is cooked so excellently, you can actually eat it on its good.

This plate of fried hokkien mee is a masterpiece indeed. After you try Kim's, you will find it difficult to be satisfied with any other hokkien mee in Singapore.

8.5/10

Kim's Place Seafood Restaurant
37 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427761
Tel: 6742 1119
Opens daily from 11am to 3am