Xing Ji Rou Cuo Mian : the soup Bak Chor Mee

This soup version of Bak Chor Mee is a popular choice, particularly in Bedok. There are only a handful of stalls serving this type of Bak Chor Mee and 3 of them are in Feng Shan Food Centre, this is one of the stalls. This stall has been around since 1968 and is amongst the most famous ones. Seng Hiang Bak Chor Mee, their direct competitor is just beside but it was closed on that day. There is also Ah Poh Minced Meat Noodles in the same food centre. At this stall, there is a selection of $3.00 and $4.00.

My dining companion asked, "Which is the best amongst them?" I tried the one from Seng Hiang Bak Chor Mee once and it tasted quite alike. I did not try the Ah Poh Minced Meat Noodles though. 

This is a simplified version of Bak Chor Mee with just a portion of thin egg noodles with minced pok and meatballs served in the lightly flavored pork broth. It is just no-frills comfort food.

XING JI ROU CUO MIAN

Block 85 Bedok North Street 4 #01-07 Feng Shan Food Centre SINGAPORE 460085

Operating Hours: 12.30 pm to 12.30 am (Closed on Thursdays)

28 Noodles : enjoyable Bak Chor Mee

This is a popular stall in the same coffee shop with the other outlet of Ah Seng Duck Rice, within walking distance from Serangoon MRT. There was just another customer when I was there on a weekday for an early lunch.

I decided to go with the larger portion of the Minced Pork Noodle at $4.5, there is a smaller portion at $3.50. I opted to have kway teow with an extra amount of chilli. Thre are also choices of Fishball Minced Pork Noodle ($3.50/$4.50), Laska ($3.50/$4.50) and Liver Mee Sua ($4.50/$5.50). 

The portion of the nicely cooked kway teow was substantial serving along with ingredients like slices of fishcake, lean meat, and liver with fishballs, meatballs, fish dumpling, minced meat then topped with chopped spring onion. The level of spiciness was manageable even though I requested for an extra amount to be added. The bowl of soup that served along was lightly flavored. 

It is simple yet satisfying. It reminded me of the kway teow dry that I used to eat with my late Grandpa at a stall in Ang Mo Kio but that stall is no longer around. 

I will be back for their Laksa and Liver Mee Sua.

28 NOODLES

Block 204 Serangoon Central #01-104 SINGAPORE 550204

Operating Hours: 7.30 am to 4.00 pm (Closed on Wednesdays)

51 Minced Meat Noodles : fusion Bak Chor Mee

This stall has recently opened on 1 May and they took over the stall where Fishball Story used to be. They serve fusion Minced Meat Noodles, there are choices of basic Minced Meat Noodles for $3, Signature Minced Meat Noodles for $5/$6, Braised Pork Noodles for $6.50 and Meatball Soup for $3.50. There was no queue when I went for lunch on Sunday. There was an auntie taking the order and a younger man cooking it. I decided to have the larger portion of Signature Minced Meat Noodle at $6. 

It was cooked using a timer for noodles but the ingredients were cooked together with the earlier order and it was then separated into the different bowls when done. This process might have been a little slow and the customers have to wait slightly longer. My dining companion said, "They should consider to cook them separately."

The highlight is the Japanese Chasu. My dining companion said, "It is soft but not quite flavorful." It did not manage to stay in shape after a quick toss as it had broken into smaller pieces. Those pieces of liver were cooked a little too long thus a bit tough. Those meatballs were quite forgettable. 

The soup had a distinct shoyu taste, tasted a bit like the broth for ramen.

I would rather have a bowl of traditional Bak Chor Mee like the one by Jimmy Teo of 黄大福 at Commonwealth Crescent Food Centre. It is still one of the cheap and good options around. 

51 MINCED MEAT NOODLES

51 Yishun Avenue 11 #01-27 Yishun Park Hawker Centre SINGAPORE 768867

Operating Hours: 7.30 am to 7.30 pm (Closed on Tuesdays)

黄大福 : cheap & good Bak Chor Mee

I did not manage to ask for the name of this young owner but I know that his name is not 黄大福, the name of this stall. I seated right in front of his stall while waiting for my burgers to be ready and I took notice of the constant queue there. Most of these customers seem to be the regulars, there was even a caucasian man ordered his Bak Chor Mee. I decided to try it.

I decided to order Bak Chor Mee and added $1 for extra ingredients. While waiting for my order to be ready, I said, "I somewhat could not quite associate the Chinese stall name with a young man cooking at the stall." I asked, "Did you happen to take over the stall from your father?" The young owner replied, "黄大福 is not my name. I balloted this stall. I decided to use  as the stall name as this is the name of the person that taught me how to cook the noodles." The young owner actually reminded me of Douglas Ng that operates Fishball Story, the Fishball Noodle was really good when he just started at Golden Mile Food Centre but not so now. 

I also said, "A basic bowl at $2.70 is cheaper than most of the other stalls." He replied, "There are many elderly folks in this estate so I cannot afford to set the prices too high." He continued to say, "There are also other stalls in this food centre selling at this price. There is a Chicken Rice stall behind selling at $2.50 per plate and also a dessert stall selling desserts at $1.00 per bowl." He said, "My stall used to be next to the dessert stall When I first started. The elderly owner has quite an attitude. She will snap at the customers when they ask her for cold desserts." I asked, "How long have you been in this food centre?" He replied, "About 3 years already."

It consists of a good portion of mee pok with liver and lean meat with minced meat together with meatballs. The pork liver was cooked just right, those pieces were thinly sliced in big pieces. The lard is available in a container at the stall for self-service. I helped myself with a big spoonful of those bits of crispy lard, it was tasty and not oily. I tossed the mee pok to mix it with the sauce beneath. 

The first mouthful wowed me. The mee pok was perfectly cooked to the right texture, with just the right balance of chilli sauce, and vinegar added. This bowl of Bak Chor Mee is easily amongst the best that I have eaten. This is even better than some of those popular ones out there.

The accompanying soup was lightly flavored with a hint of fresh pork.

I went back to the stall and tell the young owner that, "I am a big fan of Bak Chor Mee and your Bak Chor Mee is really nice." He smiled and said, "Come back more often then. We open on every day." This Bak Chor Mee is a new found favorite.

黄大福
31 Commonwealth Crescent #02-93 Commonwealth Crescent Food Centre SINGAPORE 149644
Operating Hours: 8.00 am to 5.00 pm (Daily)

Fu Gui : worth trying Fishball Noodle

A friend told me about this stall at Empress Road Food Centre. I was there at about 11.30 am and there was a short queue. The owner has just reopened his stall after completed his reservist training. While queuing, he raised his voice and said, "The mee pok and mee kia have finished already." The customer in front of me wanted mee pok but there was not enough so he decided to have it with mee tai mak. It reminded me of the elderly owner of the already closed Sembawang Teochew Minced Pork Noodle at Sembawang Hills Food Centre. He ever told his customer that wanted to mix mee pok with mee tai mak, the texture of both noodles is different so it is not advisable to mix them together. After the customer left, he said to me, "I would not want to cook something that is not nice."

When it was my turn to order, I said, "The small portion of Minced Meat Noodle." There are 2 sizes, the smaller portion for $3 and the larger portion for $4. I opted to have it with yellow noodles and wanted to add fish dumplings to it but I was told that the fish dumplings have finished. While waiting, I asked, "How long have you been in this food centre?" He said, "About a year or so." I did not take notice of his stall when I was there for the stewed duck about 5 months ago. I was told that it is quite unusual for most of the noodles to run out at 11.30 am. And, I said, "Maybe your customers missed your noodles too much so die-die-must-eat today." He laughed. He asked the customer after me, "I thought you were just here this morning?" 

I asked for an extra amount of chilli to be added. He asked, "Extra chilli?" I nodded my head and replied, "Is it going to be very spicy?" He said, "Not too spicy but maybe a little saltish." He was right. The level of spiciness is quite manageable. It was served with a good portion of noodles with minced meat, fishballs, and slices of fishcake then garnished with chopped spring onions, ikan belis, and lard. I tossed the yellow noodles lightly to mix it well with the chilli and an enjoyable bowl of Fishball Noodle awaits. Though it is listed as Minced Meat Noodle on the signboard, it is actually more like Fishball Noodle. 

The stall closes at about 1.30 pm as the food centre is usually quiet after lunch hour on weekdays. 

FU GUI

7 Empress Road #01-100 Empress Road Food Centre SINGAPORE 260007

Operating Hours: 7.30 am to 1.30 pm

Punggol Noodles : the one-armed hawker legend

Mr Yee Meng Yong, 55, the owner, he lost his right hand in an industrial accident in 1984 at the age of 21. Another setback was the loss of his wife in 2008. He has been cooking with just his left hand for 22 years to raise his family. It used to be a noodle stall in Punggol Road near to St Anne's Church. It was only $1.20 for a bowl then in 1985. It moved to Kovan Food Centre then to Block 210 Hougang Street 21 before moving to its current location in October 2011. That is why the stall is known as Punggol Noodles even though they are located in Hougang. 

There are different types of Teochew-style Minced Meat Noodles from $3 to $3.50 as well as side dishes like Braised Intestine ($2), Teochew Meatball Soup ($2/$3) and Vegetable Soup ($2) on their menu. There is also Teochew Handmade Meatball paste at $12 per box for ordering, each box can be made into about 30 meatballs. 

I decided to go with Minced Pork Noodle ($3.50) and a bowl of Teochew Meatball Soup ($2). Their signature handmade meatball is as big as a ping pong using minced meat, fish and deep-fried sole fish as its main ingredients. Uncle started making it when he took over the stall from his father in 1995, it was handed down to his parents from his grandfather. He was forced to do the cooking due to circumstances. 

He asked, "Do you want pork liver? Do you want it with bean sprouts?" Uncle is cheerful and rather friendly. He went swiftly ahead to blanch the pork liver, lean meat, minced meat and the meatballs in the boiling water before dished up and placed them in 2 bowls. The assistant ladled the soup into the bowls thereafter. He quickly tossed a portion of noodles in the boiling water and started to prepare the sauce mixture in a bowl, he then balanced the strainer with his amputated right arm while stirring it using his left hand before placing the blanched noodles into the bowl and topped it with braised mushroom. It left me feeling amazed.

I was delighted that those slices of pork liver were cooked to a perfect tenderness. I noticed that the soup was lukewarm so as not to continue cooking those liver in the bowl. The soup was lightly flavored with a hint of natural sweetness. The noodles were cooked well to retain its springiness. The well-flavored meatballs were not overly starchy coupled with the desired bounciness and a notable flavor derived from the dried sole fish. It tasted unique and different from the other meatballs. 

I am definitely coming back for the braised intestine that I did not get to taste it this time and I will go for additional ingredients when ordering the Minced Pork Noodle again. 

PUNGGOL NOODLES

Block 105 Hougang Avenue 1 #02-24 Hainanese Village Food Centre SINGAPORE 530105

Operating Hours: 8.00 am to 3.00 pm (Closed on Mondays and Fridays)

Aw's Signature Minced Pork Noodles : by a passionate Gen-Y Hawker

It was a rainy morning when I came by this food centre in the quiet estate of Tanglin Halt, near to Commonwealth MRT station. It is about 5 minutes' walk away and you will first come across Tanglin Halt Food Centre, a smaller one near to those old shop houses. This stall is at Commonwealth Drive Food Centre across the road, this food centre is an iconic building in this heritage estate. I used to be attending Blessed Sacrament Church nearby and always hung out with friends and drinking Teh Halia, a ginger tea, in this food centre.

I was there at about 11.30 am and I was their only customer at that time. The owner was seated at the table right beside his stall and his baby was in a baby chair just beside. He stood up when he saw me. I said, "Signature Noodle, eating here.". He asked, "Do you want mee pok or mee kia?" I replied, "Mee pok, extra chilli please." While waiting, I asked, "Can I add braised pork? It looks quite nice." He replied while cooking, "Thank you. You can. That's an extra $2." His wife came back and he said to her, "Signature Noodle with braised pork." Then, she looked at me and said, "The total is $7." I continued waiting for my order to be ready after done with the payment.

Under the "About" on their Facebook Page, it stated, "A Gen-Yper wishing to serve the public with cheap food." This next generation owner is passionate enough to want to make a difference in the hawker trade. 

The menu includes the different types of noodles, like Signature Noodle ($5/$8), Minced Pork Noodle ($3/$5), Handmade Fishball Noodle ($3/$5) and Shredded Chicken Hor fun ($3/$5).

If you like varieties then Signature Noodle is a good choice as it consists of ingredients like prawns, quail egg, meatball, sliced abalone, fish maw, fish dumpling and mushrooms. The noodles were cooked nicely to the right texture with no alkaline taste detected. Though I requested to have an extra amount of chilli to be added but its level of spiciness was still pretty mild. Apparently, the sauce seemingly did not have a distinctive taste thus, overall, it did not taste too memorable. 

It changed my opinion when I took a bite of that braised pork. It was perfectly braised to the right flavour and texture. When done right, such a simple dish could be the best thing that you ever eat. The braised pork is cooked based on a recipe that has passed down from his granny. I will be happy to just order the bigger portion of Braised Pork Noodle at $6, perhaps added with an extra portion of braised pork for another $2 next time.

It is heartening to see the young hawkers wanting to do their part in preserving our hawker heritage. This is particularly crucial as most of the pioneer hawkers are retiring and without the younger ones coming in, the hawker trade is at risk of dying out and might just be gone some day. 

AW'S SIGNATURE MINCED PORK NOODLES

Block 1A Commonwealth Drive #01-08 Commonwealth Drive Food Centre SINGAPORE 141001

Operating Hours: 7.30 am to 2.00 pm / 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm (Mon to Thu) / 

7.30 am to 3.00 pm (Fri & Sat) (Closed on Sundays)

Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee : the decades old Bak Chor Mee

They started at the front of Thong Chai Medical Institute in 1945 before moving to Hong Lim Food Centre and is serving Teochew style Mushroom Minced Pork Mee, which is also known as Bak Chor Mee. Ah Kow, the founder, has since passed on the skills and the stall to the elder and fourth sons. These 2 brothers used to take charge of the stall together. The elder son would operate from Fridays to Mondays and the fourth son would do so from Tuesdays to Thursdays. They decided to go separate way after a dispute in 2000, the fourth son used to run a stall in Old Airport Food Centre but closed in 2014 as the rented stall was sold away by the owner. He made a come back in a coffee shop at Bukit Batok in 2016. Jon Cher, his son, left a message on my Facebook page to tell me about his dad's stall. 

I went on a weekday and was there slightly after 12.00 pm, there was no queue. The light of signboard was off and I actually thought they might have already sold out. The Auntie spotted me when I was standing in front of the stall. She raised her voice a little and asked the Uncle, "Why you did not on the light for signboard?" She then asked for my order. Their menu is similar to the other stall in Hong Lim Food Centre. You could choose between the $4, $5 and $6 for the Bak Chor Mee and between $4, $5 and $6 for the Teochew Dumpling Soup. I decided to go with the $5 portion Bak Chor Mee and the $4 portion for the Teochew Dumpling Soup. 

The smallest portion of Teochew Dumpling Soup came with 6 pieces of handmade dumplings which consist of minced meat and dried sole fish as part of the filling. It was in a lightly flavoured soup that has a hint of dried sole fish and with slices of mushroom in it. The soup tasted better as compared to the one served at the other stall at Hong Lim Food Centre, it was rather bland over there which I did not like.

I requested to have an extra amount of chilli added to my dry mee pok but I felt it was a bit too much till the extent that I could actually taste it in almost every mouthful. The amount of vinegar added has reminded me of Tai Hwa Pork Noodles at Crawford Lane. It was heavy thus rather overwhelming and added a sourish taste to the noodles. If I do go back, I would have to remind Uncle to go easy with it. It was served with ingredients such as slices of lean pork, minced meat, liver, braised mushroom, dried sole fish and dumplings, there was a total of 3 pieces of dumplings for the $5 portion. 

Though not the best but this is still easily one of the better Bak Chor Mee around.

AH KOW MUSHROOM MINCED PORK MEE

Block 359 Bukit Batok Street 31 SINGAPORE 650359

Operating Hours: 8.00 am to 2.00 pm (Mon) / 8.00 am to 8.00 pm (Wed to Sun)

(Closed on Tuesdays)

Sembawang Teochew Minced Meat Noodle

This stall was started in March 2015 and they used to be known as Tai Hwa Pork Noodle at that time. The elderly Uncle used to be an assistant working for Mr Tang Chay Seng, the owner of Tai Hwa Pork Noodle at Crawford Lane that has been newly awarded the 1-Michelin Star. When chatted with the Auntie then, I was told that Mr Tang was here on their opening day as this stall is opened with his blessing. But the name has been changed to Sembawang Teochew Minced Meat Noodle much later. 

When I was there for a late lunch recently, Uncle and Auntie were just sitting at the table in front of their stall as there was no customer at that time. I ordered the smallest portion of mee kia at $4.00, there is also the $5.00 and $6.00 portion available. While Uncle was doing the cooking, I asked the Auntie, 'I remember your stall used to know as Tai Hwa Pork Noodle. Why did you change the stall name ah?'. I guess Auntie did not quite expect that I asked this question. I then asked, 'Did you ask to change the name?'. She said, 'Don't want to be the same la.' She paused a bit then said, 'If not, will get sue.' I decided to stop asking further as Auntie seemed a bit reluctant to elaborate it. 

I got my bowl of noodle in just a bit. The portion for $4.00 is enough if you are not too hungry. It consists of a substantial portion of mee kia with ingredients like minced meat, sliced lean meat, pork liver, meatball, dumpling and dried sole fish. The mee kia was cooked just right to the desired springiness. 

The taste, in fact, is quite similar to the Tai Hwa Pork Noodles at Crawford Lane but the amount of vinegar added is not as excessive. The bowl of soup that served along was quite flavorful too. They might not be as good but there is no queue here so it is not a bad choice after all.

SEMBAWANG TEOCHEW MINCED MEAT NOODLE

590 Upper Thomson Road #01-29 Sembawang Hills Food Centre SINGAPORE 574419

58 Minced Meat Noodle : Cheap and Good

I am a big fan of Bak Chor Mee and i have been going around eating it from different stalls at different places, this is so particularly after the closure of Joo Heng Mushroom Minced Minced Pork Mee at Ang Mo Kio. I have tried many Bak Chor Mee including the famous ones but none has taken over the place of Joo Heng's as my favourite Bak Chor Mee yet. I was so crazy about them that i could eat 2 to 3 times per week. I was still a regular customer even after they raised their prices a few times. They closed down all of sudden, that stall was then converted to a drink stall managed by the Auntie. I have never see the Uncle since then. I guess something must have happened to him. That stall only lasted for a while before it closed down due to poor business. 

Currently, my regular choice whenever i am craving for Bak Chor Mee is Seng Kee Mushroom Minced Pork Noodle at Serangoon Garden Food Centre. The taste of it somewhat reminded me of Joo Heng's. 

I have heard about 58 Minced Meat Noodle. I am even curious enough to travel from Ang Mo Kio all the way to Taman Jurong just to satisfy my curiousity to know how good are they. I was there near 2 pm and there was no queue. I was told the queue is usually long during lunch time. Their Bak Chor Mee is available at $2.50, $3.00 and $3.50. Needless to say, i went for the larger bowl. As i was the only customer then, i gotten my order in just a couple of minutes. I requested to have extra chilli to go with my mee pok.

The first impression was the generous amount of ingredients like minced pork, pork liver and braised mushroom, bits of crispy pork lards were also added to enhance its flavor. To enjoy this bowl of noodles, you have to thoroughly mixed the chilli which is underneath that pile of noodles well. The level of spiciness was just right.

I reckon this is one of the better Bak Chor Mee after i had my first mouthful. The mee pok was nicely cooked to retain its springiness. I particularly enjoyed the few big pieces of pork liver, it was of the right thickness and perfectly cooked to a desired tenderness. 

I would have be one of their regular customers if it is not of its location. I would also be more than willing to pay $3.50 for such a bowl of noodles, this is one of the cheaper and better Bak Chor Mee that i have ever eaten.

58 MINCED MEAT NOODLE

3 Yung Seng Road #03-150 Taman Jurong Food Centre SINGAPORE 618499

Operating Hours: 6.00 am to 2.30 pm (Daily)

No service charge equal to no service provided?

I was there this morning. I wanted to take away a portion of $4 dry mee pok with extra chilli and another portion of mee pok soup together with mee tak mak soup. I asked to pack them separately in 2 plastic bags. The auntie was a bit annoyed. 

She said, 'Now, i ask you again! What's your order? what do you mean by packed in 2 bags?' 

I repeated my order. 

She prepared them but packed together in the same plastic bag. She threw the bag and 2 packets of noodle fell out of the bag. I gotta pick them up myself. 

Before i left, i told her, 'Your service standard is bad'. She replied, 'I didn't charge for service charge so what service do you expect?'

That's arrogance. I was amazed.

So, no service charge is equal to no requirement of service to be provided? 

The standard of food served is rather average but service is definitely bad. So, would you endure bad service for good food? The auntie was cooking the noodle, collecting the payment and also packing the food but she has no reason to throw her unhappiness on her customers.

Though there is another noodle stall serving similar noodle but this stall has better soup than the other stall but the noodle is not as good. Both stalls have equally long queue most of the time. 

SIN KIAN HENG

Block 226H Ang Mo Kio Street 22

#01-26

SINGAPORE 568226.

This stall has better service though. I guess i should just support them for now.  Good service is the key to reckon the return of customers.

TECK KEE COOKED FOOD
Block 226H Ang Mo Kio Street 22
#01-23 Kebun Baru Food Centre
SINGAPORE 560226.