Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle 吊桥头大华猪肉粿条面 (Lavendar)

Bak Chor Mee $8

Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle has been in operation for over 75 years. This stall is extremely famous for its Pork Noodle also know as Bak Chor Mee (BCM) / Minced Pork Noodle. The owner of this stall, Mr Tang Chay Seng, first selling minced meat noodles 1936 at Hill Street before shifting to Marina Square in 1986, its present location is now at Crawford Lane. Located 5 minutes away from Lavendar MRT station, Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle can be found in a coffee shop (the coffee shop is called Tai Hwa Eating House) at the back of Immigration & Checkpoint Authority of Singapore (ICA).

I first got to know of this Bak Chor Mee stall in 2006. Since then, this has always been my favourite Bak Chor Mee. Long queues were a norm during lunch and dinner period with queues stretching out of the coffee shop (which means 45 minutes to 1 hour wait)! In the recent years, queues are frequent even during non-peak hours (e.g. 11am, 5pm). 

The prices of the food have increased significantly. From $3 in 2006 to  $4,$5,$6 in 2011 to $5,$6,$8,$10 in 2015 The owner is smart, as many customers including myself goes for the $8/$10 version after queuing for such a long duration, we just want to make our wait worthwhile (may as well right)? In addition, this is the kiasu Singaporean mentality. 

Bak Chor Mee $8

This is the $8 Bak Chor Mee.

Bak Chor Mee $8

Look at the amount of ingredients given. This Teochew style Bak Chor Mee was perfect. The ingredients were so fresh and cooked to perfection. The Pork Liver which was cooked just right deserved a mention; soft and tender with no unpleasant taste or smell. Can't find any fault with their meatballs, minced meat, dumplings, fried crispy fish and pork lard. They were all so good. Toss everything up with the mixture of chilli and vinegar sauce. The vinegar they used intensified the oomph factor of this dish. Irresistible!

Dumplings and Meatballs Soup $6

We also ordered a bowl of Dumplings and Meatballs Soup $6 for sharing.

Dumplings and Meatballs Soup $6

It consisted of pork slices, minced meat, liver, meatballs, dumplings and seaweed! So tasty! The soup is full of essence of pork flavour that can only be achieve through hours of boiling pork meat and bones. I drank every single drop. 

Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle's Bak Chor Mee is still (and will be) my favourite Bak Chor Mee after all these years. In fact, its the best (die die must try!) Bak Chor Mee in Singapore. Fresh quality food that is well worth the money spent and time queuing. This is one food worth the wait and money! Can't wait to have more of this! This is the one and only Hill Street Tai Hwa! There are no other outlets!

Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle (Lavendar)
Block 466 Crawford Lane
#01-12 Tai Hwa Eating House
Tel 6292-7477
Open from 9.30am to 9pm; closed on the first and third Monday of each month
Website

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Hainan Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee 海南福建炒虾面 (Golden Mile Food Centre)

Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodles $3

Hainan Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee 海南福建炒虾面  is another popular stall at the hawker centre. It is located next to the famous chicken rice stall; Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice 海南起骨鸡饭.

As its name suggest, Hainan Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee 海南福建炒虾面  sells Hokkien Prawn Noodles.

The version here is different from elsewhere, it is dry (very dry). The owner would allow the stock to simmer till it has evaporated and the flavours are adsorbed in the yellow noodles and beehoon. He would not be able to fry too many plates at any one time as he would need to keep stirring the noodles under intense heat to prevent them from being burnt and also seal the flavours and wok hei in.

During peak period, the waiting time maybe as long as half an hour as frying the Hokkien Prawn Noodles take time.

Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodles $3

This plate of Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodles $3 was delicious! It well executed and fried. I have never tried such a dry verison before. It was so dry that I am sure it would have been charred if he still left them in the work. The yellow noodles and beehoon were well coated with immense flavours and smokey fragrance. It was served with slices of pork belly, squid, small prawns, sambal chilli, cut chilli and lime. A must try! 

Hainan Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee 海南福建炒虾面 (Golden Mile Food Centre)

#B 1-34 Golden Mile Food Centre

505 Beach Road

Singapore 199583

Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 8am - 230pm
                           Closed on Mon

Tel: +65 6294 6798

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Eng Kee Fried Chicken Wings 榮記炸鷄翅膀 (Commonwealth)

Eng Kee Fried Chicken Wings 榮記炸鷄翅膀 is a well known stall located at a old coffee shop in Commonwealth Drive HDB estate. 

Eng Kee Fried Chicken Wings is essentially an economic noodle stall offering bee hoon, noodles, sausages, eggs, fishcakes, otah, luncheon meat, vegetables, etc.

This stall is well known for their fried chicken wings. There is a perceptual queue at this stall even during non-peak hours. It has been said that the original owner sold the stall off and has opened a new one at Red Hill Food Centre. 

I have heard so much about this stall and has been wanting to try this for ages. Since I was in the area, I decided to try this for myself. I ordered the noodles, bee hoon and two pieces of fried chicken wings. 

The noodles were average, a waste of calories. As for the chicken wings, they were the bomb! The chicken wings were big, meaty, tender and succulent! Very well executed frying technique as they were not greasy at all. The wings were just so juicy. At $1.20, this is just so value for money. The chicken wings at Eng Kee Fried Chicken Wings 榮記炸鷄翅膀  is a must try! 

$1.20 each

It was so good that I queue up again and packed  8 pieces of chicken wings back home. I envy those who live at the HDB flats nearby. I would practically be buying this every week if I am staying there.

Eng Kee Fried Chicken Wings 榮記炸鷄翅膀 (Commonwealth)

117 Commonwealth Drive

#01-711

Singapore 140117

Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 12pm - 10pm

                         Closed on Sun

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Fishball Story 鱼缘 (Golden Mile Food Centre)

Fishball Noodles (Mee Pok) $3.50

Fishball Story 鱼缘 is a hawker stall manned by a young hawker, Douglas Ng, 24, specialising in serving fishball noodles. The stall is located at level one of Golden Mile Hawker Centre at Lavendar. 

So what is so unique about Fishball Story other than the fact that it is manned by a 'young hawker'? Or in marketing terms, its called USP (Unique Selling Point). Well, unlike other (most) fishball stalls, the fishballs and chilli-scallion fishcakes are all handmade! He would arrive as early as 4am to blend the fish paste. The fishballs are made entirely from yellow tail fish with no flour.

 In case you are wondering, the queue here is short. The most number of people i have seen queuing here is around 5. Sometimes, there is no queue.

Fishball Noodles (Mee Pok) $3.50

I ordered Mee Pok Fishball Noodles (dry) $3.50.

Fishball Noodles (Mee Pok) $3.50

It comes fishballs, chilli-scallion fishcakes, fish dumpling (herh qiao), mee pok, pork lard, shallots, lettuce and sambal chilli sauce!

Fishball Noodles (Mee Pok) $3.50

What was fantastic to me was the mee pok and the sambal chilli sauce. The mee pok was cooked perfectly; just nice! As for the sambal chilli sauce which was cooked with hae bi (dried shrimps), it was so fragrant and addictive; outstanding! When mixed with the noodles, it complemented the noodles perfectly; lip smacking! Just the noodles and the sambal chilli sauce itself would suffice for me!

Frankly speaking, when I first tried the handmade fishballs, I was surprised. I did not like the initial taste. The exterior of the fishball was firm, but the interior was tough, not bouncy and not spongy. I am probably too used to factory made fishballs and was not used to this version of handmade fishballs with no flour.

I went back again two weeks later as I really missed the noodles and sambal chilli noodles (no joke!). It was still as good. This time I got used to the fishballs and enjoyed them more. This is a case of the more you have it the more you will love it.

I can forsee myself coming back for more fishball noodles (especially the sambal chilli)! Going to rate this as a die die must try!

Fishball Story 鱼缘 (Golden Mile Food Centre)
#01-85 Golden Mile Food Centre
505 Beach Road
Singapore 199583
Opening Hours: Daily 1030am to 5pm
Tel: +65 9800 5036
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Heap Seng Leong Coffeeshop (Lavendar)

Coffee with Butter (Kopi Gu You) $1.10, Kaya Toast $1.20 and Soft Boiled Eggs $1

Heap Seng Leong Coffeeshop (Lavendar) is located at Lavendar at the back of ICA behind Lavendar MRT station. It is 5 minutes walk away from the famous Tai Wah Minced Pork Noodles (Bak Chor Mee).

When I first stepped into the coffeeshop, it felt as though I had stepped into a time machine and travelled back to the past! 

It is as if time has stood still in this coffeeshop while everything else outside becomes modernise. The white tiles are brown, ceiling fans, no false ceiling, orange coin operated payphone and even abacus! 

This is the 78 year old owner. He is wearing a singlet and old style pyjamas pants which seems out of place in today's context. But this was the way people wore in the past. Most of the customers in the coffeeshop were elderly folks who are reading Chinese newspapers while sipping their coffee. Only the owner's son and I were using smartphones!

Coffee with Butter (Kopi Gu You) $1.10 and Kaya Toast $1.20

Coffee with Butter (Kopi Gu You) $1.10 

I have never tried Kopi Gu You (Coffee with Butter) before. Yes, if you are wondering, it is literally coffee with a thin piece of butter floating on top! The butter would then melt and form a layer of grease on top. Give it a good stir before drinking it. 

Surprisingly, I did not hate this! I was initially worry that it would be greasy/oily. It was not! Taste wise it was rich and complex with a salty caramel taste. Moreover at $1.10, this is so affordable. 

 Kaya Toast $1.20

The Kaya Toast $1.20 was quite well executed too!

 Kaya Toast $1.20

 Interestingly, the owner would use the top of a milk can to scrap off the charred parts of the toast. 

Soft Boiled Eggs $1

I was initially worried the Soft Boiled Eggs would be under or overcooked. Hence, when the Soft Boiled Eggs $1 arrived, I was thrilled that it was cooked perfectly! Do note, the eggs are cooked only upon order. Hence, there is a need to wait around 6 to 8 minutes for this.

At the counter, there are many plastic containers filled with local confectionery (snacks). There was also a orange coin operated payphone which was a common sight in the past! Now, with the high mobilephone penetration rate in Singapore, I cannot even find such phones anymore. Do you spot another item from the past?

Abacus

Yes, its the abacus!

I can forsee more trips back to this coffeeshop. My breakfast consisting of Coffee with Butter (Kopi Gu You, Kaya Toast and Soft Boiled Eggs cost just $3.30! This is so affordable. Furthermore, it was delicious, what a bonus!

Heap Seng Leong Coffeeshop (Lavendar) 

Blk 10 North Bridge Road, #01-5109

Opening Hours: Daily 4 am to 8 pm

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928 Yishun Laksa (Yishun Central) 3rd Post

Laksa $2.80

Posting about this well-known laksa outlet in Yishun for the 3rd time. I have been eating this laksa since I was in Secondary School (that is more than  17 years ago)! You will not see any shop name but you will be able to know that you are at the right stall when u spot everyone eating the Laksa in a red bowl! Also, at the stall menu statues "Laksa" clearly. Over the years, this stall gained a following through word of mouth among those living in the north (Yishun). Gradually, everyone started calling this laksa stall as '928 Yishun Laksa' as the stall is located under Blk 928 in Yishun. This laksa stall is located just behind the Yishun Interchange, a stone throw away from Yishun MRT station.

I visited on a Sunday afternoon at 330pm. I normally visit at this timing as this is normally the timing with the least people; I can escape squeezing/queuing with the lunch/dinner crowd. But I was wrong that day. There was a long queue of more than 9 persons in front of me! Amazing how popular this stall gets through word of mouth!

 It was a 20 minutes wait.

The price of the Laksa has increased recently to $2.80 or $3.30 (for a bigger portion). Used to be $2.20 and $2.50 for the smaller bowl of laksa.

Dessert Menu

There also offer dessert. But I have never try their dessert before. If you want any dessert, you should just pop over to the next shop as the dessert stall there is more popular. Most people would have their laksa at this stall and then go over to the next shop for dessert. In the past, both the laksa and dessert stalls were located in the same shop.

Laksa $2.80

This is my bowl of Laksa which cost $2.80. It consists of fish cakes, crab sticks, dried toufu, hum (cockles), beansprouts, hard boiled eggs and thick bee hoon. The laksa gravy was light and rich. With fresh coconut milk, chilli and lots of dried shrimps that made the gravy so tasty and fragrant yet spicy. Also, the gravy was not oily. Despite the spiciness, the more gravy you savour, the more you will love it. It was so addictive that I would always finish the whole bowl of laksa gravy (not something which I normally do as its not healthy).

Do note that this eatery is not air-conditioned. Also, there are few fans. You will likely sweat, so wear something comfortable! This is worth sweating for! Still the best Laksa in Yishun.

Laksa $3

I also packed a bowl of laksa back home. The good news is that you can request for the gravy to be packed separately!

928 Yishun Laksa (Yishun Central) 

Blk 928 Yishun Central 1 

#01-155

Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 11am - 7pm

                         Closed on Mon

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Must Try Grilled Pork Ribs from Jobakjip 조박집 (South Korea, Seoul)

Grilled Pork Ribs (Galbi) 돼지갈비

If you are a fan of BBQ / Grilled Pork Ribs, the best place to have it in Seoul is in Mapo 마포 at Mapo's Dwaeji Galbi & Dwaeji Jumulleok Alley. In the 1950s, the Mapo port was busy with cargo boats that carried timber and grains down the Han River to the many sawmills and granaries in Mapo. There were many hungry seamen and workers looking for cheap filling food and booze to get over their strenuous day. With a growing demand, many eateries started popping up selling grilled pork and Makgeolli (Korean rice wine). Even after the port closed down, the blue collar workers were replaced with white collar workers (e.g. office workers). The office workers would frequent these eateries for the Makgeolli and Soju after a stressful day at work. The youngest employee in the group would normally be tasked (arrow-ed) to grilled the meat. Today, there are many barbecue restaurants (some having been opened before the dock was closed) along this particular alley.

My Korean friend brought us to this particular eatery known as Jobakjip 조박집 at the Dwaeji Galbi & Dwaeji Jumulleok Alley (aka Mapo BBQ Alley). Along the way, we spotted several barbecue restaurants and in fact, there was a hint of smokey barbecue smell in the air in this alley! Jobakjip 조박집 is 5 to 10 minutes walk away from Mapo Station (subway line 5) Exit 1.

When we entered the eatery, I was surprised that the eatery was nearly full (considering the competition). 

Menu

Focus on the menu, not the guys... The menu was mainly in Korean and English language. It was also simple and straight to the point. There was just two mains in it; (i) Hanwoo Grilled Seasoned Meat (Beef Jumulleok) 한우 주물럭 and (ii) Grilled Pork Ribs (Galbi) 돼지갈비. There were also Rice,  Radish Water Kimchi Noodle (DongChimi Noodle) 동치미국수 and Alcoholic Beverages. 

Interestingly, this is a non-smoking eatery. The eatery is well-ventilated and the place is not smokey unlike some other barbecue restaurants. But do note, your clothes will still definitely smell. 

All the wooden tables in the eatery had a charcoal fire pit in the middle as all the customers here would definitely be here for the barbecue food.

This was the spread we ordered, some food items are not shown in this photo. As usual, there would always be complimentary side dishes.

Each person would be served a bowl of salad.

Another side dish for sharing. There was also preserved radish.

Grilled Pork Ribs (Galbi) 돼지갈비

I was told that this eatery is well known for its Grilled Pork Ribs (Galbi) 돼지갈비. No need to worry about the fats as they would melt in the heat and help ensure that the meat is tender. The excessive fats would drip down into the grills.

The meat is normally marinated in a concoction of soy sauce, sliced scallions, garlic, ginger juice, sugar, sesame seeds, sesame oil and pepper. It would typically be scored to allow the meat to adsorb the marinade easily. 

Grilled Pork Ribs (Galbi) 돼지갈비

The Grilled Pork Ribs (Galbi) 돼지갈비 was indeed delicious. It was well marinated and succulent, of great quality and flavour. The smokey flavour from the charcoal stove was locked in the meat too. This is a must try! 

The garlic can be grilled too. The sauce at the left is the gochujang sauce. Not too sure what the sauce at the top is.

The locals would normally not eat the meat alone. They would take a piece of lettuce, spread the gochujang sauce on it, add a grilled garlic on top.

Then they would take the piece of cooked Galbi and drip it into this special sauce before adding the meat onto the lettuce and wrap it up. This is how they would eat this.

Radish Water Kimchi Noodle (DongChimi Noodle) 동치미국수

We also ordered a bowl of Radish Water Kimchi Noodle (DongChimi Noodle) 동치미국수 each. This is water based, non spicy kimchi and is traditionally consumed during winter. Today, koreans consume this all year round. It was served chilled. The broth was clear and was refreshing while the radish was crunchy.

Hanwoo Grilled Seasoned Meat (Beef Jumulleok) 한우 주물럭

We also ordered the Hanwoo Grilled Seasoned Meat (Beef Jumulleok) 한우 주물럭. Compared to the Galbi, this is normally lightly marinated in a concoction of sesame oil, salt, garlic and pepper. Instead of scoring the meat, the concoction would be rubbed over the meat.

Hanwoo Grilled Seasoned Meat (Beef Jumulleok) 한우 주물럭

The staff would change the grills before this is grilled. The marbling on the meat looks great. However, looks can be deceiving. The appearance and price of the Beef Jumulleok, mismatch the taste. It was not as tasty and flavourful as the Galbi (which was way cheaper). 

Fermented Soybean Paste Stew (Doenjang jjigae) 된장 찌개

Towards the end of the meal, we were given a complimentary small pot of Fermented Soybean Paste Stew (Doenjang jjigae) 된장 찌개. We place it on top of the charcoal stove and heat it up further. This was tasty and delicious. We really enjoyed the soup. 

It was worth our time travelling down specially to Mapo to try the Grilled Pork Ribs (Galbi) 돼지갈비 from Jobakjip 조박집. This is worth a visit if you are in Seoul. Do not miss this!

Namecard

This is the name card of the eatery.

Jobakjip 조박집 (South Korea, Seoul)
Yonggang-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
서울특별시 마포구 용강동 40-1번지
Tel: +82 2 712 7462

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