Woodlands Centre BBQ Fish at Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre

This stall used to be known as Hoe Heng BBQ Fish and was at the Woodlands Centre Food Centre for about 18 years before moving to the current location. I decided to go with the smaller portion of BBQ Stingray at $10 and the smallest portion of Sambal Sotong at $12 with 2 plates of rice at $1 each. After paying, the boss said, "Go and take a seat. We will serve it to your table." We waited for about 15 minutes or so before receiving the Sambal Sotong followed by 2 plates of rice and the BBQ Stingray was delivered a few minutes later.

The Sambal Sotong stir-fried with shredded onion and served on the banana leaf. Its level of spiciness is quite manageable to my dining companion that has little tolerance for spicy food.

My dining companion looked at the BBQ Stingray and said, "This is the smallest piece of BBQ Stingray that I came across for about the same price." He said, "It tasted nice but the portion is really too small and it is just not quite worth the value." The portion consists of 2 small slices of fish with sambal chili and garnished with slices of red onion.

It was unexpectedly quiet during dinner at that hawker centre.

WOODLANDS CENTRE BBQ FISH

4 Woodlands Street 12 #01-58 Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre SINGAPORE 738623
Operating Hours: 3.30 pm to 10.00 pm (Closed on Mondays)

Yan Ji Seafood Soup: As Good as It Gets

Yan Ji Seafood Soup has been around for more than 30 years and it is in the good hands of the 2nd generation now. Their main outlet is at Woodlands Centre Road Food Centre and they have just started a branch at Marsiling Lane in September 2014.

The prices for the seafood soup range from the normal one at $6 and $8 to those with crayfish or fish maw at $10 and $12, they also serve Braised Pork's Trotter at $7.00.  Rice is available at 0.50 cents per bowl.

The main outlet at Woodlands Centre Road Food Centre is usually crowded during lunch and weekends, the waiting time could be as long as 45 minutes or even longer. My usual order whenever i am there is their medium portion of seafood soup which consists of 3 medium sized prawns that are served together with those minced pork chunks and several pieces of dory fish in the broth.

The prawns were notably fresh, its meat was rather firm and it peeled off the shells quite easily. Those chunky pieces of minced meat were nicely seasoned with quite a distinct dried flat fish flavor and bits of mushroom embedded in it, its texture was quite tender. I did not like those pieces of dory fish too much and its taste did not quite stand out. The crayfish tasted equally fresh and sweet, it is an interesting option to have it with the seafood soup. The broth was full-bodied and rich with a distinct sweetness, derived from simmering quality ingredients like dried Hokkaido scallops in it.

YAN JI SEAFOOD SOUP 炎记海鲜汤

Block 4A Woodlands Centre Road #02-11 Woodlands Centre Road Food Centre 

SINGAPORE 730004

Operating Hours: 11.00 am to 4.00 pm (Closed on Mondays)

It is located at the same HDB block with Sin Kee Seafood Soup but in a much quieter coffee shop at the other corner. Their menu is the same with their main outlet in Woodlands Centre Road Food Centre. I was there during lunch but unlike their other outlet, there was no queue at all. I ordered exactly the same thing, which is the medium portion of seafood soup at $8.00. 

It has also 3 pieces of medium sized prawns, few pieces of chunky minced meat and dory fish. It is more expansive as compared to the other 2 stalls in Marsiling Lane that is served with about the same portion at only $6.50 and that might the reason why there are most customers at the other 2 stalls. Though the ingredients were relatively fresh but the soup here was slightly clearer but less robust and not as flavorful as compared to their main outlet. 

YAN JI SEAFOOD SOUP 炎记海鲜汤

Block 19 Marsiling Lane #01-283 Broadway Coffee Shop SINGAPORE 739152

Operating Hours: 11.00 am to 4.00 pm (Closed on Mondays)

Sin Kee Seafood Soup : Impressive Service

Sin Kee Seafood Soup is amongst the 3 stalls in Marsiling Lane serving this unique version of seafood soup. There is also Yan Ji Seafood Soup, a branch of the main outlet at Woodlands Centre Road Food Cetnre, located in another coffee shop at the other corner of the same block. And, also SK Seafood Soup in the food centre, directly opposite the block. These 3 stalls seemed to be in some way related to each other but Yan Ji Seafood Soup has ever announced on their Facebook Page that they are in no way related to Sin Kee Seafood Soup.  

Sin Kee Seafood Soup is located in the same coffee shop with the relatively famous Hong Ji Claypot Bak Kut Teh. The menu of Sin Kee Seafood Soup is quite similar to the other 2 stalls but they do not serve Braised Pork Knuckle which is available on the menu of that 2 stalls. 

You could choose between dory fish, batang fish or pomfret fish, crayfish is available as an add on for the seafood soup, the price difference is indicated on the price list that is prominently displayed at the stall. Each portion is cooked individually using the broth from the main pot then simmered with fish slices, prawns and minced meat. The combination of ingredients has given the seafood soup a distinct flavor with a hint of dried flat fish, which is commonly known as teepo.

I placed my order for the the medium portion of seafood soup with dory fish for $6.50 which consists of 3 pieces rather big prawns with a few pieces of chunky minced meat and also dory fish chunks. All the ingredients tasted relatively fresh though the broth was lighter than that of Yan Ji Seafood Soup at the Woodlands Centre Road Food Centre. Those chunks of minced meat though flavorful and in bigger pieces but it did not have bits of mushroom in it so not as tasty. 

What is most impressive is definitely their service. I walked away after placing my order without collecting the number tag but i pointed to the table right in front of their stall to indicate that i would be seating there. A friendly lady from the stall approached the table with a number tag. She pushed those dirty plates on the table to the corner and wiped the table. She then came over again with a saucer of red cut chillies together with a pair of chopsticks and spoon. I moved to a bigger table just beside later after the customers seated there left. The same lady delivered the seafood soup with a bowl of rice a while later and she came back just a bit with a cloth. She cleared those dirty plates on the table and wiped the table even though i told her it is alright to just leave those dirty plates on the table. 

SIN KEE SEAFOOD SOUP 鲜记海鲜汤

Block 19 Marsiling Lane Teo #01-329 Chap Bee Eating House SINGAPORE 730019

Operating Hours: 10.30 am to 8.30 pm (Closed on Mondays)

Ye Lai Xiang Laksa : A Simple Taste

This was one of the stalls opened for an early lunch when i was there on a weekday. The food centre was rather quiet at that time and there was just another customer in front of me at this stall at that time. The younger man was asking what i want and the elderly man cooked it, it was done in just a couple of minutes before he served it to me.

I requested for yellow noodles and it was served in rather rich and thick gravy which is better than most of the other Laksa out there. I could also taste an intense flavor of coconut milk added to bring forth its creaminess and further enhanced by the dried shrimps added for an aromatic flavor. It was served with slices of fishcake and tau pok together with a few cockles and a handful of bean sprouts. Though added with sambal chilli but its spiciness was still rather mild.

It might not be the best tasting Laksa that i have ever eaten but it is amongst one of the most satisfying ones. It is definitely worth a try if you happen to be here for breakfast or lunch.

Other than Laksa, they do serve Lor Mee, Prawn Mee and Fish Ball Mee too. The smaller portion for Laksa and Lor Mee is $3.00 and $3.50, the Lor Mee and Fish Ball Mee is $2.50 and $3.00.

YE LAI XIANG LAKSA

Block 4A Woodlands Centre Road #02-36 Woodlands Centre Road Food Centre

SINGAPORE 731005

Operating Hours: 3.00 am to 3.00 pm (Closed on Thursdays)