Chye Kee Cooked Food : Mushroom Shredded Chicken Noodle

This is another popular stall by an elderly couple in this food centre beside the popular Song Kee Fish Ball Noodle. Their signature dish has to be the Mushroom Shredded Chicken Noodle at $3.00 and $3.50. The waiting time could be long as some customers took away a few packets at one go, it is usually longer than the queue at Song Kee Fish Ball Noodle. I decided to go with the bigger portion after queued for so long.

It consists of a good portion of nicely cooked noodles with shredded chicken and braised mushroom. It served along with a bowl of soup that has 6 pieces of handmade dumplings in it. My dining companion was impressed by the dumplings, he said, "This is one of the better ones that I have eaten." He did not find the Mushroom Shredded Chicken Noodle to be spectacularly memorable though. He said, "It was homely but nothing too special."

CHYE KEE COOKED FOOD
Block 527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 #01-122 Cheng San Food Centre SINGAPORE 560527

Operating Hours: 6.30 am to 11.30 am (Closed on Fridays)

Song Kee Fish Ball Noodle in Ang Mo Kio

This is the other Song Kee Fish Ball Noodle nestled in the food centre just a stone's throw from the Ang Mo Kio MRT station. I was told that it is manned by a relative, the stall started quite early and usually sold out before 10.00 am as it happened a few times when I was there late. There is always a queue right at the stall but it moves pretty quickly and so the waiting time is usually a short one. 

There are the $4.00 and the $5.00 portion available. When it was my turn to order, I asked, "Only the $5.00 came with the fish dumpling?" The friendly auntie replied, "No. The $4 is already served with fish dumpling and the $5 portion has extra fishballs." I decided to go with kway teow dry at $4 and requested for extra chilli to go with it. 

The star has to be that only piece of fish dumpling. My dining companion felt that it is not as good as the one from the other Song Kee in Bishan. The skin of this fish dumpling is slightly thicker and chewier. The tau pok with fish paste, fish balls, and meatballs were pretty average though. The chilli was nice and not too spicy, it complemented the kway teow nicely. 

It served along with a bowl of lightly flavored soup and fresh-cut red chilli.

SONG KEE FISH BALL NOODLE

527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 #01-123 Cheng San Food Centre SINGAPORE 560527

Operating Hours: 6.30 am to 12.00 pm (Closed on Thursdays)

Xiang Kee Yu Yuan Mian Tang : a Good Alternative Choice

I actually made an effort to be there at about 11.00 am for a particular noodle stall but it has already sold out. I went looking for an alternative choice and spotted a queue right in front of this stall. The Aunty saw me and she asked, 'What do you want to eat?' I said, 'Bak Chor Mee, yellow noodles with extra chill added, less vinegar." I pointed to a table nearby but was told that it is self-service. There is actually a big 'Self-Service' sign there that i overlooked. I waited for just 5 minutes before that Aunty waved at me to indicate it is ready for pick-up. 

While i was taking pictures, i took notice that light of the signboard of that stall was turned off and they started to clean up right after. I looked at my watch and it was only 11.30 am. I must be really lucky to have one of the last few bowls of that day.

The smaller portion is good enough for me, it came along with a bowl of lightly flavored soup and ingredients like minced pork, pork liver, fish dumpling, fishcake, fishball, meatball and braised mushroom then topped with a handful of chopped spring onion to serve. The taste was much better than expected, the spiciness of chilli has packed a nice punch and it actually enhanced its flavor pretty much.

The Bak Chor Mee is served in 2 sizes, the smaller one at $4.00 and the larger one at $5.00, extra ingredients are added at $1.00. There is also Fishball Noodle at $3.00.

XIANG KEE YU YUAN MIAN TANG

Block 527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 #01-117 Cheng San Food Centre SINGAPORE 560527

Operating Hours: 5.00 am to 11.30 am 

527 Fried Carrot Cake : Black or White?

This stall has been in this food centre for more than 10 years serving fried carrot cake in white or black version for $2.50, $3.00 and $4.00. During my last visit, i asked, 'Is there a change of owner? i remember it used to be fried by a much younger guy.' The lady pointed at the man and said, 'He has always been the one but is much younger than.' The man said, 'It was me but i am much older now, it has been more than 10 years already.' Time flies, indeed.

I have tried their black version before so decided to go with the white one this time, i was asked whether to go with $2.50 or $3.00 portion by that aunty and decided to just go with $3.00 though they have a bigger portion at $4.00. I waited in front of the stall for about 5 minutes before receiving it. The portion was quite substantial for $3.00. 

It was fried with a good amount of beaten egg and a handful of preserved radish. I did not actually like what i had tasted, it did not taste as good as compared to their black fried carrot cake. I have also eaten a better white carrot cake before so this one did not manage to impress me. It would be nicer if it is crisper and with more preserved radish added for more flavor.

527 FRIED CARROT CAKE

527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 #01-117 Cheng San Food Centre SINGAPORE 560527

Operating Hours: 5.00 am to 1.00 pm (Closed on Wednesdays)

Ann Hoo Teochew Porridge : Cheap & Comforting Fare

I have met a group of residents staying in Ang Mo Kio quite recently and we ended up talking about food choices in this area. This is one of the stalls that is strongly recommended and this is quite well expected as this is a rather famous Teochew porridge in this part of Singapore. I had eaten at this stall  a few times before and i enjoyed it. 

I was there at about 1 pm on a weekday and there was a queue about 6 people at at that time. I joined in the queue quickly and waited for about 15 minutes to order. This stall is well-known for their affordable yet fresh tasting steamed fish dishes so it is definitely a must-order. The next must-order item has to be their handmade fishcake then followed by my usual favourites like braised cabbage and sliced pork in soya & sesame sauce with preserved pickles. And, i usually ordered an extra bowl of porridge to go with the dishes. I was expected to give the table number and go right back to wait for it to be delivered and then paid.

I could not quite believe that all these dishes together with 2 bowl of porridges only cost $13.80. 

The average-sized red snapper was steamed with bits of carrots, preserved vegetable and tomato to bring out its natural sweetness and freshness. It tasted even better if eaten with their fermented bean sauce. Such a steamed fish is usually expected to cost much more but i was told it is only in between $6 to $7 when placing order.

Their braised cabbage is an usual favourite that i would order. Though simple tasting but it reminded me of my late Grandpa as this is a homely dish that he used to cook when i stayed with him. Their braised cabbage is amongst one of the better ones that i ever tasted. They managed to cook it just right to give it a slight crunch and lightly flavored with bits of dried shrimps added to enhance the taste.

Their steamed fish cake is a popular choice and almost every table there ordered it. It was moulded from the fish paste with bits of chilli and chopped spring onions added before they steamed it. It went really well with their special chilli.

Another regular choice has to be their sliced pork cooked with soya and sesame sauce together with preserved pickles. This is a perfect dish to go with the plain porridge and i usually poured the sauce into the porridge to flavor it. I absolutely enjoyed this comforting taste.

Their constant long queues are the good indication of their popularity. You should try it if you happen to be this food centre. 

ANN HOO TEOCHEW PORRIDGE

Block 527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 #01-126/127 Cheng San Food Centre SINGAPORE 560527

Operating Hours: 9.00 to 10.00 pm (Saturday to Thursday) (Closed on Fridays)

Fried Black Carrot Cake

I travel quite often for work and i have often been asked what local food do i miss the most when i am away from Singapore. During those days, fried carrot cake is often in my mind.

I have always been craving for a simple plate of fried carrot cake using a good amount of sweet dark sauce together with extra preserved radish, extra chilli to give a well-balanced taste of sweetness and saltiness that often left a lingering fragrance on the taste buds. It has always been the perfect choice for breakfast and even lunch.

I have recently chanced upon a new fried carrot cake stall a stone's throw away from house. I happened to be there for an early lunch then walked past a table and spotted a plate of beautifully fried black carrot cake there. I looked around and spotted this stall.  I was given the selection of $2.50, $3 and $4 for the black and the white version. I went for the $2.50 black fried carrot cake. As i was the other customer then so i got my plate of fried carrot cake within minutes.

I would think the portion was a bit too little for $2.50 but the generous amount of egg added somewhat made up for it. It was nicely pan-fried to give it a slight crispiness without compromising the texture of those pieces of unevenly cut carrot cake. I could distinctly taste bits of preserved radish added to enhance its overall flavor. The carrot cake used is probably factory made as i saw rolls of them stacking up right at the stall.

This might not be the best tasting fried carrot cake that i ever eaten but its standard is good enough to satisfy a crave temporarily.

527 FRIED CARROT CAKE

Block 527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 #01-117 Cheng San Food Centre SINGAPORE 560527.

Why the queue?

I had the chicken rice once but i did not get too impressed then.

I happened to be there for lunch last Saturday. There was a queue of about 10 people right in front of this stall. I decided to give it another try so i joined in the queue and waited for about 15 minutes before i gotta order. I wanted Roasted Chicken Rice with liver added. I requested to have Chicken Drumstick for an additional 0.50 cents. I paid a total of $3.50. It was served with bits of achar and a bowl of soup.

A substantial portion of rice was served with a good portion of deboned chicken drumstick and liver. I took a mouthful of rice. The texture of the rice was slightly dry with no distinctive taste of chicken broth. It tasted as good as plain rice perhaps that explained why the texture was not even a slightly greasy but it was rather grainy though.

The roasted chicken did not fare too impressively as well though it was deep-fried well to achieve the delightful tenderness of the meat. Apart of the slightly greasiness, the skin tasted quite flavorful.

The liver was nicely poached then sliced it in thick pieces to give it the desirable texture. The achar was a good addition to complement the meal nicely.

The flavourful soup served with a piece of sweetcorn in it and garnished with bits of chopped spring onion.

I could not quite understand the reason behind such a queue as the taste of the chicken rice served is not outstanding despite those nomination and awards presented on the front of their stall. And, there is actually a better tasting chicken rice stall in this food centre with an equally or a longer queue and that stall would be a must preferred choice for me.

ZHOU KEE HAINANESE CHICKEN & ROASTED RICE

Block 527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 #01-147 Cheng San Food Centre SINGAPORE 560527.

The Homely Taste

This cooked stall is a hidden gem in my neighborhood. There is always a constant long queue right at this stall during lunch and dinner. I wanted to try before but turned off by the long queue but i made up my mind to try it this time. I was there at about 7.30 pm and there was already a long queue of more than 10 people as expected. I queued and waited for about 10 minutes to order the foods and waited for another 15 minutes for the foods to be served to our table. 

The dishes that i ordered were Squids with Thai Chilli, Stir-fried Cabbage, Sweet & Sour Pork and Steamed Fish with 3 bowls of porridge for only $10.20. It is cheaper than we expected. I think that is most probably the reason to explain the constant long queue of customers. 

My favourite has got to be the Steamed Fish. Almost every table ordered it and some tables even ordered 2 or more. The fish was of an average sized and nicely steamed with salted vegetable. It tasted really fresh. The fish was tender and juicy with no fishy smell. 

Though Stir-fried cabbage is a simple but they cooked it quite well. They have gotten the texture of the cabbage just right.

The Steamed Squids with Thai Chilli was chosen over the braised meat and it has been proven to be a better choice. The thai chilli sauce a difference in this dish. 

The Sweet & Sour Pork is another must try dish. The pork used has gotten a good balance of fat and lean meat and well seasoned. They fried it well before stir-fried with the sweet & sour sauce together with ingredients like onion, pineapple and cucumber. 

There are fermented bean sauce and chilli sauce available for self-service. The saltiness of the fermented bean sauce complemented the Steamed Fish and plain porridge really went.

I really enjoyed the homely taste of these dishes with porridge. I will definitely be back soon.

ANN HOO COOKED FOOD

Block 527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 Cheng San Food Centre SINGAPORE 560527.

Teochew Porridge - Homely Taste

I have been wanting to try it but turned off by the forever long queue. I came on a Saturday evening and waited in queue for about 20 minutes to order. Some of the dishes that i ordered were Steamed Squids with Thai Chilli, Stir-fried Cabbage, Sweet & Sour Pork and Steamed Fish.

ANN HOO COOKED FOOD

Block 527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10

#01-126

SINGAPORE 560527

Operating Hours: 11.00 am to 10.00 pm

Closed on Friday