Hai Kee Seafood : comfort food

This was one of the stalls with a long queue during lunch on a weekday. Most of these customers were likely to be the office workers working nearby. Though the queue was quite long, it moved rather quickly. I did not wait for too long to order the 2 Combination Soup ($4.00) that listed as item number 6 on their signboard and I wanted it with rice ($0.50). I was asked to try this stall by a friend after I posted a review on another stall serving seafood soup at Eunos Crescent Food Centre. 

Most of the tables were taken up during lunch. As I was alone, I had to carry the tray and walked to the other end of the food centre to find a table. 

The 2 Combination Soup consists of sliced fish together with the fried ones and a generous amount of lettuce. The clear soup was lightly flavored and those slices of fish tasted relatively fresh, it went well with rice. I would likely eat it again when I am in the vicinity. 

HAI KEE SEAFOOD

Block 210 Toa Payoh Lorong 8 #01-18 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh Food Centre SINGAPORE 310210

Sweet Heart Dessert : Sardine Puff and Potato Puff, must-try

A friend recommended the Sardine Puff and Curry Puff from a dessert stall at Toa Payoh Lorong 5 Food Centre. He did not recommend any of those desserts on the menu but just the puffs. I was there at about 1 pm on a Friday but the Sardine Puff have already sold out, left with the Potato Puff and Fried Popiah. The homemade Curry Puff and Sardine Puff are 3 pieces for $2, the homemade Popiah is $1 each. I was asked to self-service when the lady noticed me. I took 3 Potato Puffs and 1 Popiah for $3.00. The same friend mentioned that Sardine Puff is actually much better. 

My dining companion took a bite of the Potato Puff and he nodded his head, said, "This is simple and nice. It tasted warm and the crust was crispy."  He actually prefers this to those by Epok Epok Central at Eunos Crescent Food Centre. 

This is easily one of the better Potato Puff that I have eaten. It does not need to have egg or some fanciful fillings, this is good enough for me.

I went back for the Sardine Puff today. There were some left at 1.30 pm and also some Potato Puffs but no more popiah. I decided to go with 3 Sardine Puffs and 3 Potato Puffs. There were some customers ordering their hot desserts at that time.

My dining companion took a bite of the Sardine Puff and said, "I still prefer the Potato Puff a bit more. The puff is value for money though, it is packed with sardine filling. I do not think you can get another at this price elsewhere." I actually liked the Sardine Puff though, the filling was generous with a very mild spiciness, which is nice.

SWEET HEART DESSERT

Block 75 Toa Payoh Lorong 5 #01-06 Toa Payoh Lorong 5 Food Centre SINGAPORE 310075

Song Kee Kway Teow Noodle Soup at Toa Payoh

This is one of the other Song Kee on our shore and this particular one is related to the other Song Kee along Upper Serangoon Road and also that one at Thomson Plaza. They are not directly related to the other Song Kee in Joo Chiat and Bishan. There is also another Song Kee in Ang Mo Kio operates by the daughter of Mr Chua Keok Sip, the father of the 3 brothers who run the Song Kee in Joo Chiat and Bishan. 

This particular stall has been around for about 16 years in this food centre. The option on menu is straightforward, the dry one at $3.50 or $4.50 and the soup at $3.50. They used to serve fish dumplings but no longer do so now. I ordered the $4.50 portion, opted to go with kway teow and requested for an extra amount of chilli to be added. It consists of a piece of tau pok stuffed with fish paste, meatball, fishballs, and slices of fishcake.  

Having tried the other Song Kee, I would not consider this is the best amongst of them. The sambal chilli tasted quite familiar and it added flavor when mixed with the nicely cooked kway teow. It is not particularly spicy though, a little oily but still acceptable. I did not find those handmade fishballs to be any special, same with the meatball and stuffed tau pok, it was still quite enjoyable nonetheless.

SONG KEE KWAY TEOW NOODLE SOUP

75 Toa Payoh Lorong 5 #01-20 SINGAPORE 310075

Operating Hours: 10.30 am to 12.00 am (Closed on alternate Wednesdays)

Lotus Root with Pork Ribs Soup.

Wanting a simple dinner and i thought i should check this stall out for the first time. Most of the customers were placing their orders for the signature claypot rice. They ordered and left their table number then proceeded to wait at their tables. It indicated that the claypot rice is cooked only upon order. A certain amount of waiting time is anticipated then. I decided to go ahead to order their steamed soup to have it along with rice. Steamed soup  and rice are expected to be of self-service though.

I wanted their Lotus Root with Pork Ribs Soup for $3 and a bowl of rice for 0.50 cents.

A good portion of piping hot Lotus Root with Pork Ribs Soup was served in a metal container. The taste of soup was good though not fantastic. The time during the cooking process might have been compromised as the soup did not have the intensified taste of lotus root and peanuts. 

There was a good amount of slices of lotus root and quite a few pieces of meaty pork ribs in the soup.

The thickly sliced lotus roots were not overly mushy but firm in texture. The peanuts were not too soft with a certain bit of remaining crunchiness. I do wish to have more peanuts in the soup though. The texture of pork ribs was unexpectedly soft. It was done well to give it the desired softness with a minimum level of chewiness. It was so soft that it actually pulled away from the bone effortlessly. The bowl of rice that served along with the steamed soup has got the likable texture of fluffiness and moistness.

It was an enjoyable dinner nonetheless. 

CHUAN TONG SHA BAO FAN

Block 75 Toa Payoh Lorong 5

#01-32 Toa Payoh Lorong 5 Food Centre

SINGAPORE 310075

A must try for Dry Ban Mien fan.

This handmade noodle stall caught my attention when i was there for dinner. There was just another customer right there but i still decided to try it nonetheless. I ordered a bowl of dry ban mian for only $3.

I stepped back to take a picture of the stall. A voice was asking me from behind. The male voice asked, 'Why are you taking picture?'. I ignored it at first and continued taking the picture. He asked again, 'Why are you taking the picture?' I turned and saw a big man in white shirt seated at the chair near the railing. I smiled then said, 'I am doing a food review.' He did not ask any further.

I only realised that man might be the owner of the stall when he proceeded to help out at the stall later on.

I collected my bowl of dry ban mien and moved to my table.

A good portion of ban mien was served with ingredients like minced pork, ikan belis, vegetable and bits of egg. I was asked whether i want it with meatballs and i said yes. I paid an extra 0.50 cents for the 2 pieces of meatballs added.

The soup was not as flavorful as expected. If this is the same soup base used for the soup version of their noodles then i am glad that i did not order it.

The chilli made up of the blended chilli with red cut chilli. It tasted good when added into my dry ban mien. The level of spiciness is acceptable.

I wasted a bit of time to take pictures. When i was about to toss it. The ban mien has already clumped together. It took quite a bit of efforts to toss it well without breaking the noodle.

There was a pool of dark sauce underneath the noodle. It actually tasted nice. The texture of ban mien has got a likable springiness and a desirable chewiness. The dark sauce mainly consists of dark soya sauce did not taste too saltish as well.

The meatballs tasted good though not outstanding. I would not mind adding it as i do prefer to have it as extra ingredients.

This picture was taken after i done eating. The queue was getting longer. There was at least 10 people waited in queue then. The tip is to come early to avoid long queuing time.

This is one of the better dry ban mien that i ever eaten. A must try for dry ban mien fan like myself.

HE JIA HUAN BAN MIAN - MEE HOON KWAY

Block 75 Toa Payoh Lorong 5

Toa Payoh Lorong 5 Food Centre #01-14

SINGAPORE 310075.

Comforting Pork Congee.

Happened to be in the vicinity so came by this newly renovated food centre for dinner. My attention was caught by the auspicious sounding stall name on the signboard. This porridge stall is one of the recently added stalls after the renovation. There was a few people waiting for their order when i was there. 

The stall was manned solely by an Uncle then. This stall offers different types of congee like Pork Congee, Fresh Fish Congee, Shredded Chicken Congee, Century Egg Pork Congee, Cuttlefish Peanut Congee and Congee in Boat Style. All are priced at $3. The selection of Raw Fish is at $4, $6 and $8.

Macaroni is available at $3.50.

I quickly placed my order when i gotten his attention. He asked with or without egg then he asked for my table number. Though it is stated SELF-SERVICE but the Uncle offered to have it delivered to my table. I thought it might be due to the long waiting time and he did not want to keep me waiting there. Such thoughtfulness is commendable.

I ordered a bowl of Pork Congee at $3.00 with an egg added for an extra 0.50 cents. It was delivered to my table by the same Uncle in 10 minutes. It was quite a big bowl served with you tiao and chopped spring onion.

To begin, i deliberately break the egg then stirred it into the congee and nicely mixed in the you tiao and chopped spring onion, too. 

The Congee was rather close to what i had in Hong Kong though not as fine and smooth. I was delightful to find the generous bits of minced pork balls as well as slices of lean meat in it. The minced pork balls were nicely seasoned to give it the desired flavour. The slices of lean meat were thinly sliced to give it the right texture.

And, added an egg is definitely a good choice to give the rather plain congee a pleasant eggy taste. The congee was so hot to actually cooked bits of the egg. It did not serve with the light soya sauce and the pepper as it has already added in it. Though it was slightly saltish but rather acceptable. I wish the serving of you tiao would be a bit more generous though.

This bowl of Congee was a good choice for a light dinner.

I really enjoyed the comforting taste.

WANG WANG CONGEE

Block 75 Toa Payoh Lorong 5 Food Centre Toa Payoh Lorong 5 #01-24 SINGAPORE 310075.