Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee : the decades old Bak Chor Mee

They started at the front of Thong Chai Medical Institute in 1945 before moving to Hong Lim Food Centre and is serving Teochew style Mushroom Minced Pork Mee, which is also known as Bak Chor Mee. Ah Kow, the founder, has since passed on the skills and the stall to the elder and fourth sons. These 2 brothers used to take charge of the stall together. The elder son would operate from Fridays to Mondays and the fourth son would do so from Tuesdays to Thursdays. They decided to go separate way after a dispute in 2000, the fourth son used to run a stall in Old Airport Food Centre but closed in 2014 as the rented stall was sold away by the owner. He made a come back in a coffee shop at Bukit Batok in 2016. Jon Cher, his son, left a message on my Facebook page to tell me about his dad's stall. 

I went on a weekday and was there slightly after 12.00 pm, there was no queue. The light of signboard was off and I actually thought they might have already sold out. The Auntie spotted me when I was standing in front of the stall. She raised her voice a little and asked the Uncle, "Why you did not on the light for signboard?" She then asked for my order. Their menu is similar to the other stall in Hong Lim Food Centre. You could choose between the $4, $5 and $6 for the Bak Chor Mee and between $4, $5 and $6 for the Teochew Dumpling Soup. I decided to go with the $5 portion Bak Chor Mee and the $4 portion for the Teochew Dumpling Soup. 

The smallest portion of Teochew Dumpling Soup came with 6 pieces of handmade dumplings which consist of minced meat and dried sole fish as part of the filling. It was in a lightly flavoured soup that has a hint of dried sole fish and with slices of mushroom in it. The soup tasted better as compared to the one served at the other stall at Hong Lim Food Centre, it was rather bland over there which I did not like.

I requested to have an extra amount of chilli added to my dry mee pok but I felt it was a bit too much till the extent that I could actually taste it in almost every mouthful. The amount of vinegar added has reminded me of Tai Hwa Pork Noodles at Crawford Lane. It was heavy thus rather overwhelming and added a sourish taste to the noodles. If I do go back, I would have to remind Uncle to go easy with it. It was served with ingredients such as slices of lean pork, minced meat, liver, braised mushroom, dried sole fish and dumplings, there was a total of 3 pieces of dumplings for the $5 portion. 

Though not the best but this is still easily one of the better Bak Chor Mee around.

AH KOW MUSHROOM MINCED PORK MEE

Block 359 Bukit Batok Street 31 SINGAPORE 650359

Operating Hours: 8.00 am to 2.00 pm (Mon) / 8.00 am to 8.00 pm (Wed to Sun)

(Closed on Tuesdays)

Lai Kee Homemade Pau . Dim Sum : Chicken Nest Pau (鸡窝包)

Their Chicken Nest Pau (鸡窝包) is the reason why i took notice of this dim sum stall in a coffee shop nestled in the neighborhood estate of Bukit Batok, within walking distance from Bukit Batok MRT station. The last time when i eaten Chicken Nest Pau was in Johor Bahru and i liked it so much that i even took away a few from there to have it at home. Though this was not my first time eating this unique dim sum dish in Singapore but i have yet to find a good one so far. 

Ah Lai, the owner, he used to be helping his relative in Malaysia before started his own stall in Clementi and eventually expanded to 4 outlets now. He is not making all of these dim sim by himself but hired dim sum chefs to do it in the central kitchen. There is quite an extensive choices for different types of dim sum on their menu but i was there just for their Chicken Nest Pau this time. 

It is quite reasonably priced at $3. If i remember correctly, the size was not as big as the one that i used to eat in Johor Bahru.

The skin though fluffy was a slightly too thick.

When pulled part of the skin slightly, ingredients like slices of canned mushroom with pieces of meat fallen off.

If you look at it carefully, you could see bits of salted egg amongst the other ingredients. 

All these ingredients seated on a lump of glutinous rice. All in all, i enjoyed it but i could not say this is the best that i ever tasted. I felt it would be better if they are not using the canned mushroom as part of the ingredients. It might not be quite economical for them to do so if taken the difference in cost into consideration unless the customers are willing to pay a higher price. 

I am definitely interested to come back for their Kong Bak Pau and Amy Yip Big Pau next time. 

LAI KEE HOMEMADE PAU . DIM SUM

来记自制包點 . 點心

Block 207 Bukit Batok Street 21 #01-118 Food Park Coffee Shop Singapore 650207.

Operating Hours: 6.30 am to 9.30 pm

Hilltop Cze Char : Not as Good as Expected

This Cze Char is located in the housing estate of Bukit Batok, just a stone's throw away from the Bukit Batok MRT station. It is about 5 minutes walk from there. I went specifically for their Kuala Lumper (KL) style black Hokkien Mee as i was told it is a must-try and tasted rather close to the real thing in KL. Apparently it was sold out then as i gotten there slightly after lunch. A friend was telling me, "Having the KL Mee there is more like fishing but there is a way if you know them." I will take this as a challenge and i am going to make sure i will get to taste it soon.

I decided to go for their usual Hokkien Mee at $4. It actually tasted not too bad. A good portion of nicely braised flat yellow noodle served with fresh tasting ingredients like slices of lean meat and fishcake with prawns and greens. A handful of crispy pork lards was added to enhance the flavor. I liked it so much that i would definitely ask for an extra portion of these addictive pork lards to be added if i do visit again. 

Though i did not like the Fish Sauce Bee Hoon at $4 as much but it was not disappointing. The wok taste was a bit too strong and it ended up tasted a bit like the burnt taste at some part though it might not be the case. The ingredients found were rather similar to the Hokkien Mee. There were bits of salted fish and dried shrimps in it to supposedly enhance its flavor.

Overall, the taste was not quite memorable and if it is not because of that particular KL style Hokkien Mee, it might not quite worth making an effort to dine there if you are not staying in the west side of Singapore. 

HILLTOP

Block 207 Bukit Batok Street 21 #01-118 Food Park Coffee Shop Singapore 650207.

Operating Hours: 11.30 am to 11.30 pm