Wet Market Zi Char : KL Hokkien Mee & San Lou Bee Hoon

This Zi Char stall has been around in this food centre for quite a while and I have only taken notice when I came across pictures of their dishes posted in a particular group on Facebook. I came to check it out on a Saturday for dinner and most of the tables were already taken at that time, these customers ordered from the 2 popular stalls that are serving Western and Penang dishes. When approaching this Zi Char stall, I was greeted by a friendly auntie. She asked, "What do you want to eat?". I did not bother to go through their menu as I have already decided on what to eat. I went ahead to order their KL Hokkien Mee and San Lou Bee Hoon for $14, which is more expensive that I have expected as such dishes are usually priced in between $5 to $6 at most Zi Char places.

I am a big fan of KL Hokkien Mee but it is difficult to find a particular one that is as good as what I had eaten in Kuala Lumper. My current favourite has been the one from Lin Da Qiang, a Zi Char stall at Smith Street Food Centre in Chinatown. The standard of this one here is pretty close though not quite as good. They are using KL style thick fat noodles and cooked it with ingredients like cabbage, slices of fish cake and lean meat with a handful of fried pork lard added to bring forth the flavour. 

San Lou Bee Hoon is also known Chao Ta Bee Hoon, this is a popular dish made famous in San Low Seafood Restaurant at Johor Bahru. JB Ah Meng serves the most popular version in Singapore followed by Yong Kee Seafood Restaurant. This dish is not too commonly available here.

After stir-fried, the bee hoon is further pressed onto the sizzling wok using a spatula to slightly charred it for the desired crispiness and also to absorb the intense wok flavour. It is served along with ingredients like slices of lean meat and fish cake, prawns and veggies underneath. I enjoyed it.

WET MARKET

Block 711 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 #01-3501 S11 Food Centre SINGAPORE 560711

Operating Hours: 11.00 am to 10.00 pm

Lin Da Qiang Steamed Fish Head 林大强酱蒸鱼头 :Good KL Hokkien Mee!

Have you ever get really excited over eating a particular dish just like i did over this KL Hokkien Mee? It is not a common dish to be found in Singapore particularly a really good one, this one has actually left an impression after i tasted it the first time. I went to take away and it still tasted good when i had it at home. I decided to go back for the second time and i will eat it right there this time, it should be much nicer when eat it hot. It was after 2 pm after the lunch crowd, i ordered the KL Hokkien Mee  at $5 without much hesitation. I was looking around for a table when i was asked for the table number, the aunty said in Cantonese, 'Just find a table around here'. It was served by an elderly Uncle in just a while. He said, 'Slowly, slowly, no hurry.' in Cantonese. He said that when he saw me digging in my purse to pay.

The portion was good for just $5 with ingredients like prawns, sliced meat with greens and topped with a handful of crispy fried pork lards to serve. 

It is the dark sauce that provide the aromatic fragrance and succulent flavor to the thick noodles, it has a well-balanced taste of a mild sweetness with a hint of savouriness. It serves with just a saucer of red cut chilli and not the sambal chilli like the famous KL Hokkien Mee at Jalan Petaling in Kuala Lumper, Malaysia. Those tasty crispy pork lards have added a depth of flavor to bring forth the delightful flavor.

It has all the elements that a good KL Hokkien Mee should has, this is definitely one of the best that i have eaten in Singapore so far. It is not just the good food but also the old-fashioned heartwarming service that has left an impression here.

Lin Da Qiang Steamed Fish Head 林大强酱蒸鱼头

335 Smith Street #02-072 Chinatown Complex Food Centre SINGAPORE 050335

Operating Hours: 12.00 pm to 8.30 pm