Cai Li Seafood Soup

I came across this stall named Cai Li Fish Head Steamboat in Blk 90 Whampoa Drive Food Centre one day when the more famous one in Blk 91 Whampoa Drive Market was closed and was surprised to find that its fish head steamboat is just as good, if not better. Hence I returned today to try its seafood soup.


A bowl of seafood soup which costs $4, comes with 3 medium sized deshelled prawns, a few pieces of sotong and several huge chunks of fresh fish. Unlike the bland broth which other stalls use for their seafood soup, Cai Li's winning point lies in its superior quality soup which is indeed as thick and flavorful as the one it uses for its fish head steamboat. And unlike cheapstake ingredients eg fish cake, fish balls, crab stick which other stalls use for their seafood soup, Cai Li uses fresh fish, prawn and sotong which I am willing to pay slightly more for.

Impressed by its outstanding fish head steamboat and seafood soup, I will definitely return for back. However Cai Li is a relatively small stall with few helpers hence its service can sometimes be rather slow, so please be prepared to wait.

8/10

Cai Li Fish Head Steamboat
Blk 90 Whampoa Drive
Whampoa Drive Food Centre
#01-70

Sin Chie Toke Huan Pork Porridge

Whenever I have the craving for delicious porridge, I will think of Zhen Zhen in Maxwell Food Centre. Unfortunately, Zhen Zhen only opens in the morning and the queues are invariably long. Recently I found this porridge stall inside a coffee shop along Upper Serangoon Road well-known for its curry rice but I was impressed by its porridge instead.


A bowl of pork porridge from Sin Chie Toke Huan costs $2.50 (add $0.50 for egg) and comes with sliced lean meat, minced meat balls and pig liver. Remarkably soft and silky in consistency, the piping hot porridge is fragrant and flavorful. The minced meat balls are very well-marinated with a delightful tinge of pepper.

The key to an outstanding porridge lies in two factors: its textile and its taste. But although it sounds simple, many porridge that I have tried seem to get one or the other wrong. Sin Chie Toke Huan has got both right, hence this is one porridge that you must definitely try.

7.5/10

Sin Chie Toke Huan
1018 Upper Serangoon Road
S534756
Closed on Tuesday

Poon Nah City Home Made Noodle

When I was taking photos of the Hari Raya bazaar in Geylang Serai, I stumbled upon Poon Nah City Home Made Noodle inside a coffee shop on the 5th storey of City Plaza. Surprised to see many people ordering from this stall when I didn't even know that this coffee shop exists, I couldn't resist but try it myself.

Upon seeing the wide variety of home made noodles eg prawn, fish, clam, abalone etc that Poon Nah City has and the thick chilli paste that it sells, I immediately noticed the striking resemblance between this stall and China Whampoa Home Made Noodle in Whampoa Drive Market.


I ordered a bowl of prawn ban mian which costs $3 and was served within 15 minutes. Topped with prawns, minced meat, vegetables and sliced mushroom, the home made noodle is thick and tasty and the piping hot soup is filled with delightful seafood essence. The special chilli paste is remarkably spicy and burns inside the mouth.

Although I have to admit that Poon Nah City home made noodle is one of the best in Singapore, I still prefer China Whampoa home made Noodle as the latter comes with more flavorful soup and deshelled prawns. However Poon Nah City home made noodle is open till 830pm on Monday to Saturday hence there is ample opportunity for you to come down to City Plaza to try it.

8/10

Poon Nah City Home Made Noodle
City Plaza
810 Geylang Road
#05-02
S409286