Midas Every Touch Is Gold at Yishun Park Hawker Centre

Sax Choa, the owner, named its stall after King Midas in Greek mythology which possessed a special power to turn everything that he touches into gold. He used to be an Operations Director with more than 25 years of experience in the Food & Beverage and hospitality industries. He wanted to recreate and share the curry experience when he started this stall at Jalan Kukoh Food Centre before moving to Yishun Park Hawker Centre. 

I was there on 23 September 2017, the opening day of the food centre. I was told that they ran out of curry. Sax suggested that I should try the Baked Croissant Murtabak Sardine Puff ($3.00) as it just came out of the oven which I agreed. You could also choose to go with Corn Beef as filling for $4.00 in a piece of oven-baked prata that resembled the texture of the croissant. I did not like it as much after I took my first bite, the filling consists of bits of sardine with too many corns and peas. 

I was there again on 26 September 2017 for dinner and this was one of those stalls with no queue at that time. I decided to go with the Set B on the menu, which is Master Touch Chicken Curry ($5.00) to go with a plain prata ($1.00) and a spring onion prata ($1.50). The prata is different, it is not pan-fried but baked in an oven with right temperature controls. This is the healthier version as it is less greasy but crispier and flakier in texture. The plain prata and the spring onion prata actually tasted quite alike. My dining companion commented that he would not pay the extra $0.50 for the spring onion prata and would just go with the plain one. 

The curry is different from the usual Chinese-style curry, it is thicker and rather creamery with a strong hint of spices, it tasted a little closer to the Indian-style curry. Mustard seed, lemongrass, and onions are some of the ingredients added to make it tastes differently. The level of spiciness is well-balanced, it is good even for my dining companion that has little tolerance towards spiciness. It consists of a boneless chicken thigh, potatoes, and a hard-boiled egg. 

I was curious enough to ask Sax on one of his posts on Facebook. I asked why did he choose to add a hard-boiled egg to his curry which he replied, "Egg itself goes well with curry more so when you break it and mix with the curry, the yolk enhances it and is extraordinary flavorsome." I could sense the amount of pride that he has in serving it this way.

If you are wondering what to eat in this recently opened hawker centre, I would suggest giving this stall a try, for something different. 

MIDAS EVERY TOUCH IS GOLD

51 Yishun Avenue 11 #01-31 Yishun Park Hawker Centre SINGAPORE 768867

Operating Hours: 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm (Closed on Mondays & Thursdays)

Rahmath Cheese Prata : skip the cheese prata, go for the plain one

It was a rainy Wednesday when I came specifically to look for this stall in this food centre. I was expecting a queue but there was none at 12.40 pm. This is a stall located at Toa Payoh Vista Food Centre, near Toa Payoh MRT station and is directly opposite Church of the Risen Christ. It is in the same food centre with the famous Gen Shu Mei Shi Shi Jia (根叔美食世家). They serve Prata in the morning and Mee Goreng from 1.30 pm to closing, at about 4.00 pm. 

A Makansutra award of 5-chopsticks was given to their Apom in 2013, it could be easily overlooked and mistaken that award is for their prata. Ali, the owner, acquired the skill in making prata from a friend and started off with his first shop in Ang Mo Kio before moving to Toa Payoh about 11 years ago. Ali named the stall as 'Rahmath Cheese Prata" using the name of his grandfather and also to include their signature prata on the signboard. 

I initially ordered 2 pieces of plain prata for $1.80 but decided to change a piece to cheese prata since it is their signature. Their prata is usually freshly made upon order. A piece of cheese prata is priced at $2.00, which is slightly expensive for just a piece of normal cheese to be added. It was served on a piece of brown paper placed on a tray and curry sauce in a small disposable bowl. 

I was looking forward to tasting the cheese prata but it did not quite meet my expectations. Perhaps, I am just expecting too much? I would actually prefer the plain prata to the cheese one as the cheese has not much effect in enhancing its flavour and it did not go quite well with the curry sauce, too. It might taste better if eat it with just sugar, the rather old-school way of enjoying prata. You should, in my opinion, skip the cheese prata and just go for the plain ones as it does not quite make sense to pay extra for that piece of cheese. It might not be the best prata but its texture was fluffy and slightly crispy on the surface. The accompanied mutton curry sauce was not as diluted as compared with some of the other stalls out there. 

I might just come back for their Apom someday as I am curious how good it is. 

RAHMATH CHEESE PRATA

74 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 #01-08 Toa Payoh Vista Food Centre SINGAPORE 310074

Operating Hours: 6.30 am to 4.00 pm (Closed on Mondays)

Ahsia Food Stall : Roti Prata with Sardine Sauce

When i was compiling a list of must-try stalls at Woodlands Centre Road Food Centre for my recent article on MAKANSUTRA, this is one of stalls recommended to be included in the listing as they are really popular in this food centre. They are also likely to be the only stall serving their prata with their special sardine gravy. When i was there for the first time at about 10.30 am, they have already sold out. I was told that they usually sold out by 10.00 am. I made an effort to wake up early on the next day and managed to be there at about 9.30 am. I joined in the short queue and waited for just 5 minutes to be served. I ordered 2 plain prata at 0.90 cents and add in another 0.60 cents to have it with their special sardine gravy. 

While waiting for my order, i had a chat with the stall assistant and i was told that they sold out much earlier during the weekends, it could be 9.00 am or even earlier than that. I also chatted with a Malay couple that has been patronising this stall for decades. I was told that the stall is now manned by 2 stall assistants without the presence of the owner. The husband was telling me that the owner was hospitalised not too long ago and have not been around for a while. He shared that their standard for the prata and their sardine gravy used to be better although it is still good now. He also told me that some of their assistants have left and set up their stalls elsewhere but somehow it just did not taste as good especially for their sardine gravy and their stalls have closed down eventually.

Some of the reviews that i have read mentioned that it is their sardine gravy that actually made it special as their prata tasted just decent. As their regular customers, the husband and wife agreed to that. The husband shared that even though there is a drop in the standard for their prata but this stall is still handmade the dough and not using the factory made ones just like the other stalls in this food centre. One of the assistants was telling me that he has to be at the stall at 12.30 am in order to have those dough ready by 4 am.

The sardine gravy has got a small chunk of sardine in it, it was a little spicy and slightly sweet likely from the tomato puree added. It tasted quite special though not particularly memorable that will get me to make that effort to wake up early and travel for about 1 hour by MRT and bus to eat there too often.

AHSIA FOOD STALL

Block 4A Woodlands Centre Road #02-76 Woodlands Centre Road Food Centre

SINGAPORE 731005

Operating Hours: 4.00 am to 10.00 am (Daily)

Sin Ming Roti Prata : Their Coin Prata is a Must-try!

This stall has been around for decades, they used to be at Cluny Road before moving to Sin Ming and it is in the hand of the 3rd generation now. Aziz and Faisal, the father and son team, are still doing it the traditional way by mixing sugar, eggs, salt and the flour without adding ghee or milk. It is then kneaded by hand, let it rested for a hour before moulded into those dough balls. The flipping of prata is another important act to determine the texture of prata and it takes years of practise to really master it.

Their prata is nicely crisp on the outside but still have its chewiness and fluffiness right beneath, not greasy too. They cook their Prata upon order but they will usually pre-cook them during weekends .

Their signature Coin Prata that is shaped like small, thick pancakes has a slightly crispier texture. They are always made fresh to ensure its crispiness, its texture is rather light and airy and it is priced at $3.50 for 6 pieces. 

Their curry is rather thick and slightly spicier but its level of spiciness is still manageable even for those that do not usually eat spicy stuff. Their Fish Curry is a more popular choice but i like the Chicken Curry a bit more. I always order a portion of it to eat with my Prata. I usually drenched them in curry gravy and let it soaked a little while before eating it.

They do serve Murtabak, Curry Fish Head, Mee Goreng and Nasi Briyani if you want something more substantial.

SIN MING ROTI PRATA

24 Sin Ming Road #01-51 Jin Fa Kopitiam SINGAPORE 570024

Operating Hours: 6.00 am to 7.00 pm (Daily)

Super Prata House

Prata has always been a delightful choice for breakfast. My personal preference has to be the plain prata. I felt it tasted better when eaten with the curry provided.

This was my first time trying the prata from this stall. I ordered 2 pieces of plain prata for $1.60. A pretty economical choice for breakfast.

I was asked to take a seat as this was to be served to my table. I waited for about 5 minutes or so when the Uncle served it.  The 2 pieces of plain prata were prepared upon order and that explained why it was not served on the spot. I could taste the warmth and the slight crispiness when i had my first bite. The texture of the prata was light and not greasy.

The accompanied curry sauce has got an aromatic curry taste with a rather minimum level of spiciness. It was rather thick and complemented the plain prata perfectly.

Though it was a simple breakfast but i enjoyed it.

SUPER PRATA HOUSE

Block 338 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 CHOICE @ 338 SINGAPORE 560338.