Yummy Sarawak Kolo Mee : a popular choice

This is one of the stalls that with a queue and they serve the not commonly available Sarawak Kolo Mee. This is probably one of the most famous Kolo Mee around as they have been around for quite a while. And, though there is an indication of Wanton Mee on their signboard, Kolo Mee is actually different. How different? The noodles are made using egg whites with no alkali added. The color is lighter tone and rather curly, like the instant noodles. It actually tastes different, too. 

I went with the Signature Sarawak Kuching Kolo Mee Set Meal, the number 1 item on their menu board. The smallest portion at $4 then followed by $5, $6 and the largest portion is priced at $7. I decided to have the $5 portion with additional wantons. No chilli is added as part of the mixture for the sauce apart from the shallot oil and soy sauce, it is served on the side. Its level of spiciness is not to be underestimated though so go easy with it. The egg noodles were good enough to be eaten by itself, its texture was firmer and springier as compared to the usual mee kia. The fresh noodles are available for pre-ordering. It accompanied with ingredients like vegetable, braised pork ribs, char siew, fried wanton, soup wanton and dumpling, quite similar to the wanton mee. 

I did not eat enough to attest its authenticity but it actually tasted not too bad. 

YUMMY SARAWAK KOLO MEE

137 Tampines Street 11 #01-45 Tampines Round Market & Food Centre SINGAPORE 521137

Operating Hours: 5.00 am to 3.00 pm (Daily)

Lao Li Pig's Viscera Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle

This is one of the popular stalls in this food centre that often has a queue, particularly during lunch. Most of the customers go for their signature Viscera Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle and that is my usual order too. I will go for the large portion at $4.50 and added $1.00 for pork liver. There are also choices to add the small intestines and kidneys as well as meatballs to the noodle. There are fried lard and red-cut chilli available for self-service. 

The noodles were nicely cooked with a handful of bean sprouts and garnished with fried shallots. It did not have much sauce underneath that pile of noodles. The fried lards were a bit too soggy and oily to bring forth the flavor when added to the noodles. 

The lightly flavored soup was served with ingredients like prawns, pork ribs, prawns and a generous amount of pork liver. The ingredients tasted quite fresh.

The pork ribs were cooked to the right texture, soft and not too chewy. 

Those thinly sliced pork liver were slightly undercooked so as not becoming tough when soaked in the hot soup for too long. 

Other than this stall, Teo Kee Mushroom Minced Pork Noodle is another must-try in this food centre that often has a long queue. 

PIG'S VISCERA PORK RIBS PRAWN NOODLE

137 Tampines Street 11 #01-43 Tampines Round Market & Food Centre SINGAPORE 

Operating Hours: 7.00 am to 2.00 pm (Closed on Mondays)

Teo Kee Mushroom Minced Pork Noodle : Braised Pork Ribs, a must-try

It is difficult to miss this stall as you can see the long queue from afar. This stall has the longest queue amongst the other popular stalls in this food centre and they usually sold out by 1.30 pm or earlier. I was there at about 1 pm, the Mushroom Minced Pork Noodle ($3/$4) has already sold out at that time. I went with the smaller portion of Pork Ribs Noodle at $3.50, the larger portion is available at $4.50. I added a braised egg for $0.50 and braised chicken wings for $1.00. There are also Chicken Feet Noodle ($3/$4), Chicken Wing Noodle ($3/$4) and also Dumpling Soup ($3/$4) on the menu. You could choose between the dry and the soup version.

The Uncle, while cooking, looked up occasionally when he recognized some of his regular customers. He asked one of them, said, "You have not been here for a while."

The mee pok though nicely cooked, it did not have much sauce underneath the pile of noodles thus it was a bit dry. The chilli has a very slight spiciness and it did not enhance the flavor much, it was also garnished with fried shallots.

It was served separately, the noodles by itself and the rest on the plate. Their pork ribs are the must-try, it is the usual favorite of their regular customers that got them to queue up for. It was nicely braised to the desired softness with a slight sweetness. The braised chicken wings were pretty flavorful too, it reminded me of the braised chicken wings that I had at Bing Kee, an open-air food stall that is known as dai pang tong in Hong Kong. 

TEO KEE MUSHROOM MINCED PORK NOODLE

Block 137 Tampines Street 11 #01-05 Tampines Round Market & Food Centre SINGAPORE 521137

Operating Hours: 6.00 am to 2.00 pm (Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)

137 Lor Mee Prawn Mee : with fried fish nuggets

There was no queue when I was there for Lor Mee. Apparently, they serve only Lor Mee though it is indicated on their signboard that they do serve Prawn Mee as well. I have to decide between the $3 and the $4 portion. When it was my turn to order, I said, "I want it with extra fried fish nuggets." The Uncle looked up while cooking and said, "Then, it is the $4 one."

It consists of a good portion of the flat yellow noodles with ingredients like braised pork belly, ngor hiang, fish cake and half of a braised egg with fried fish nuggets, garnished with chopped coriander, garlic paste, and red cut chili. To start, give it a good mix. The braised sauce was not as sticky as I liked it to be, it was much lighter though still quite flavorful. The fried fish nuggets still retained its crispiness and did not turn soggy even after soaked in the sauce. 

Though this is not amongst the best Lor Mee that I had eaten but it is quite satisfying, a definitely must-try if you happen to be in this food centre for lunch. 

137 LOR MEE PRAWN MEE
137A Tampines Street 11 #01-09 Tampines Round Market Food Centre SINGAPORE 522137
Operating Hours: 6.30 am to 2.00 pm

Nasi Lemak Specialist @ Street 11 : Beef Rendang Nasi Lemak

This recently opened stall is owned by Madam Mazwin and working alone with her son, Qadir Yusoff, serving Nasi Lemak, Mee Siam, Mee Rebus, Lontong and Chicken Briyani during the weekends. Her sister owned a stall in AMK 628 Food Centre, their signboards are identical and they have a similar menu. 

I was there at about 1 pm when they were about to close and most of the items have already finished. I wanted the Beef Rendang set ($5.50) but was told that they have already run out of Begedil (potato cutlet) and Madam Mazwin offered to take 0.50 cents off from the set. I added the remaining piece of the chicken wing for $1.50. The set also includes a fried egg with some ikan belis and peanuts. 

My dining companion prefers the beef rendang to their chicken wing, the chicken wing though had had its crispiness but not as flavorful within. The beef rendang was pretty good. It had an amazingly tender texture and a depth of flavor with complexity. 

All of their ingredients are freshly prepared and cooking it directly from scratch to give it a homely taste. Just like some of the other Malay stalls, they are using basmati rice though it is not a common choice as the cost incurred is usually higher. It is cooked using freshly squeezed coconut milk for an aromatic fragrance and a lighter texture. The sambal tumis has a slight sweetness with a rather mild level of spiciness but it complemented the rice well.

Their Lontong is as highly recommended but it usually sold out quite early and I did not get to eat it this time. 

NASI LEMAK SPECIALIST @ STREET 11

137 Tampines Street 11 #01-14 Tampines Round Market SINGAPORE 521137

Operating Hours: 7.30 am to 1.00 pm