Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hun Restaurant 荷兰村XO鱼头米粉酒楼 (Dover)

XO Fish Head Bee Hoon XO鱼头米粉 $7

Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hun Restaurant 荷兰村XO鱼头米粉酒楼  is a zi char stall located in a coffeeshop in Dover Crescent popular for their XO Fish Head Bee Hoon.

This stall is also well-known for their customer service which is terrible. Despite that, they still attract customers from all over the island. It is a testimony of how good their XO Fish Head Bee Hoon is.

This reminds me of some Hong Kong cha chaan teng where the more the service attitude is terrible, the better the food tastes.

The zi char stall sells a variety of food. You will need to ask for their menu. As you can see from the signage, the prices of their most popular item is clearly displayed. This reduces the number of requests for the menu as many people are here for just the XO Fish Head/Meat Bee Hoon.

For myself, I made a special trip down to specially their XO Fish Head Bee Hoon.

XO Fish Head Bee Hoon XO鱼头米粉 $7

I ordered the smallest version of the XO Fish Head Bee Hoon XO鱼头米粉 $7. It would have cost me $1 lesser if I had ordered the fish meat version. But I am one of those who loves fish head. It is in fact the real deal. If you are also a foodie, you will probably agree that fish head is better than fish meat.

XO Fish Head Bee Hoon XO鱼头米粉 $7

The XO Fish Head Bee Hoon was delicious! The soup which was cloudy, was tasty, creamy and intense XO taste. Surprisingly, I liked the soup and drank most of it. Not bad for someone who does not fancy liquor. Slices of ginger was added to balanced out the flavours and get rid of any unpleasant fishy smell. They were so generous as there was so many chunks of fried fish head in the bowl. They had given nearly the whole fish head (lips, grills, eyes, etc). Moreover, the fish head was so fresh.

Now I understand why the XO Fish Head Bee Hoon has been so highly raved about. In my opinion it is a real hearty bowl of XO Fish Head and value for money.

Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hun Restaurant 荷兰村XO鱼头米粉酒楼 (Dover)

Blk 19A Dover Crescent, #01-05

Singapore 131019 

Tel: +65 6778 3691

Opening Hours: Mon to Sun 1130 am - 2pm, 5pm - 11pm

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328 Yi Jia Teochew Fish Porridge.Fish Soup 一家潮州魚粥.魚湯 (Tekka Food Centre)

Pomfret Mee Sua $5

328 Yi Jia Teochew Fish Porridge.Fish Soup 一家潮州魚粥.魚湯 is a fish soup stall located in Tekka Hawker Centre / Food Centre.

You may find the name familiar as it has a similar stall in Maxwell Food Centre. 

Menu

As its name suggests, the stall specialises in selling fish soup and porridge. 

They offer a variety of fish such as batang fish and pomfret fish, and prawns with porridge, rice or noodles (e.g. bee hoon and mee sua). 

Batang Fish

The batang fish (also known Spanish Mackeral) is the most popular food fish in Singapore that most fish stall offers. The sliced of batang fish are all deboned.

Pomfret and Fish Roe

They sell the pomfret fish which is popular among teochews. The pomfret they use is likely to be the Chinese Silver Pomfret 斗鲳. Sometimes, the pomfret gets sold out pretty early at around 1230pm. As you can see in the above photo, they also sell fish roe. 

Pomfret Mee Sua $5

This is the Pomfret Mee Sua $5. The freshness of the fish is an essential point. The slices of  fish were smooth and nicely cut with sweet tasting meat. There are several slices with bones though, which not some people will it troublesome and dislike the whole dish. 

Fish (Batang) Soup $4

On another occasion, I ordered the Fish (Batang) Soup $4 with rice of course. Similarly, the fish slices were smooth and fresh.

During both occasion, I thought that the soup was clear but too bland. The essence of the fish was not extracted. This stall offers many condiments including salted beans (a favourite among teochews), shredded ginger, raw garlic and the usual chilli padi with light soy sauce. This is a huge plus point for me as I love adding salted beans into my chilli padi with light soy sauce. This is the way how teochew love to savour their fish (pl do not judge me).  =)

328 Yi Jia Teochew Fish Porridge.Fish Soup 一家潮州魚粥.魚湯 (Tekka Food Centre)

665 Buffalo Road 

#01-330 Tekka Centre 

Singapore 210665

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Inako Scenic View Cafe Restaurant 清境伊拿谷景觀咖啡餐廳 (Taiwan, Nantou Country)

Roasted Chicken (Earthen Jar Chicken) 現烤甕缸雞 560 TWD (S$24.50)

Inako Scenic View Cafe Restaurant is an alfresco dining restaurant perched over a mountainous deep valley in Cingjing. 

This restaurant is well-known among Taiwanese for its food and scenery. It has been featured by their local magazines and visited by Taiwanese celebrities.  

This is the magnificent view from the dining area. It is beautiful and the air is so fresh. Coupled with the cooling weather, it is a perfect place to enjoy our food during the afternoon.

Set Menu

We ordered the Set Menu for 5 persons at 1200 TWD (S$52.40). It consisted of Steamed Live Trout 清蒸中段活鱒魚, Stirred Fried Mountain Vegetables with Mountain Pork Meat 山菜炒山豬肉, Crystal Shrimp 碧湖水晶蝦, Stirred Fried Chicken Soup Bamboo Shoot 雞湯滷桂竹筍, Highland Cabbage 高山高麗菜, Live Trout Head and Tail Soup 活鱒魚頭尾湯 and Steamed Rice.

We also ordered their signature Roasted Chicken (Earthen Jar Chicken) 現烤甕缸雞560 TWD (S$24.50). This is dish and the Steamed Live Trout 清蒸中段活鱒魚 are their signature dishes \.

Do note that, I have literally translated the Chinese characters to English Language. Hence, the dishes may sound weird in English Language.

The signature Roasted Chicken (Earthen Jar Chicken) 現烤甕缸雞 is a very famous dish here and this is a must try at the restaurant. The chickens are marinated and then cooked in huge earthen jar placed outside the restaurant. The chickens are hooked up-right and cooked (roasted).  The essence and fats from the chicken is then collected at the bottom. Each earthen jar can cook four chickens at any point in time. Every now and then, a staff will take out each chicken from the jar and spray them with a layer of oil before putting back to roast, resulting in the crisp skin and tender meat.  

Roasted Chicken (Earthen Jar Chicken) 現烤甕缸雞 560 TWD (S$24.50)

The signature Roasted Chicken (Earthen Jar Chicken) 現烤甕缸雞 560 TWD (S$24.50) was served with dipping sauce (i.e. chilli and salt) and interesting a pair of cotton knitted work gloves and plastic gloves! Just like what you see in the above photo.

The chicken was so tender that it was easily torn into smaller pieces by hand. Hence, gloves were provided. The chicken skin was crispy and there were no fats in between as the fats had all been roasted. The interior meat was juicy and tender, not dry at all. Taste wise, it was just nice and there was no need for me to use the dipping sauce. A must try! 

Highland Cabbage 高山高麗菜

These cabbage from the Highland Cabbage 高山高麗菜 dish were grown and harvested from the mountains. Although it was well cooked and the cabbage was sweet and crunchy, it was just an ordinary dish. 

Stirred Fried Chicken Soup Bamboo Shoot  雞湯滷桂竹筍

The Stirred Fried Chicken Soup Bamboo Shoot 雞湯滷桂竹筍 is another must try.This dish was well executed. They were so fresh and crunchy with a sweet taste. Not hard at all and taste so different from the ones you eat or can buy in Singapore. 

Crystal Shrimp 碧湖水晶蝦

The Crystal Shrimp 碧湖水晶蝦 was a very addictive dish. The shrimps were deep fried with their shells still intact and were lightly seasoned with pepper, salt and chilli. They were so well deep fried that the shells were so crisp and crunchy which the interior meat was soft and sweet. Perfect with plain rice (white steamed rice).

Stirred Fried Mountain Vegetables with Mountain Pork Meat 山菜炒山豬肉

The vegetables and pig used in this dish (i.e. Stirred Fried Mountain Vegetables with Mountain Pork Meat 山菜炒山豬肉) were grown from the mountains. They were very generous with the pork meat.

Steamed Live Trout 清蒸中段活鱒魚

This is another signature dish - Steamed Live Trout 清蒸中段活鱒魚. The trout fish was taken freshly from the fish tank. Its head and tail were removed leaving just the body. The fish was then cooked with shredded ginger, chili and garlic mixed with little soy sauce till it was 50% cooked. It would then be served to customers.  The staff would then advise the customers to wait 10 minutes as the fish would continue cooking. By then the fish would be perfectly cooked. 

Steamed Live Trout 清蒸中段活鱒魚

The trout fish had a lot of bones in it. Even for someone like me who is used to eating fish, I was extremely careful when eating this dish. I did not find this fantastic. 

Live Trout Head and Tail Soup 活鱒魚頭尾湯

As for the head and tail of the trout fish, they were not wasted. They were used to cook the Live Trout Head and Tail Soup 活鱒魚頭尾湯 together with ingredients such as mushroom and carrot.

Live Trout Head and Tail Soup 活鱒魚頭尾湯

The soup was lightly flavoured.

高山鱒魚

Look at the number of Trout Fish in the fish tank. Interestingly, they were all perceptually swimming in a particular direction. 

Inako Scenic View Cafe Restaurant 清境伊拿谷景觀咖啡餐廳(Taiwan, Nantou Country)

546南投縣仁愛鄉大同村仁和路信義巷36之1附1號

No. 25-1, Rénhé Rd, Renai Township, Nantou County, Taiwan 546

Tel: 049 280 3710

Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 9pm

Website

Facebook

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Fresh Fish Seafood Soup 鱼三鲜汤 (Sembwang Hill Food Centre)

Sliced Fish Soup $4

Fresh Fish Seafood Soup 鱼三鲜汤  is a fish soup stall tucked away in a quiet corner of Sembwang Hill Food Centre. This stall is well known among those who lives near by or those who lives in the Yishun or Upper Thompson. 

There would always be a perceptual queue at this stall. The queue can easily exceed 10 persons long during peak periods. It can get extremely uncomfortable queuing in this food centre / hawker centre as the ventilation is quite bad. 

This owner of this stall is quite innovative. He uses several equipments to make his work easier. Look at how the chopsticks and particularly the spoons are placed. U-shaped spoone holder!

Also, he has a fried garlic dispenser at the right of the photo. Just 2 quick swipes and the fried garlic condiments would be added to the dish. Next to it, is a coin dispenser gadget. It helps him to dispense the correct coins and ensures that he does not given the wrong change. Next to it is his chopped spring onion dispenser. Furthermore, he uses a plastic finger clip to hold the hold bowls of soup. Interesting! 

Someone should give him an award for being so innovative (and this increases productivity too).

Sliced Fish Soup with rice $4.50

This bowl of Sliced Fish Soup with Rice cost $4.50. The fish soup came with tofu and many pieces of sliced fish. In fact, there was around 10 pieces of sliced fish. Where can you find a stall that gives so many pieces of sliced fish? Moreover, The sliced fish were thickly sliced and were so fresh and tender! As for the soup, it was clear and lightly flavoured.  So refreshing, if you are someone who hates MSG laden soup and just wants something light and healthy.

Sliced Fish Bee Hoon Soup $4

This photo does not do this bowl of Sliced Fish Bee Hoon Soup $4 justice. it tasted way better than it look. Around half of the fish slices were hidden underneath.

This stall's fish soup is value for money considering the quality and quantity of fish given. The downside is the hot and humid venue. 

Fresh Fish Seafood Soup 鱼三鲜汤 (Sembwang Hill Food Centre)

#01-36 Sembwang Hills Food Centre

590 Upper Thomson Road

Singapore 574419 

Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 7am to 230pm

                          Closed on Mon

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Sin Kee Seafood Soup (Woodlands)

Seafood Soup (Dory Fish) $5

Sin Kee Seafood Soup is a fish soup stall located at Teo Chap Bee Eating House (coffeeshop) in Woodlands. This stall is located at Blk 19 Marsiling Lane a distance away from Admiralty Park and Republic Polytechnic.

Arriving on a weekday afternoon for lunch at 1215pm, the coffeeshop was bustled with people. Although all tables were occupied, it was a breeze finding an empty table as the coffeeshop was large and the cleaners were so efficient. I noticed that most patron mainly ordered from just two stall; Sin Kee Seafood Soup and Hong Ji Claypot Pork Rib Soup (Bak Kut Teh).

Menu

The prices at Sin Kee Seafood Soup are clearly displayed in front of the stall. This stall specialises in seafood soup consisting of Dory Fish, Batang Fish or Pomfret Fish. There is also an option to add Crayfish. After placing my order, I was given a number plate for displaying at the table. I was told then that the wait would be half an hour long.

Their business was so good that we waited for nearly an hour before our food was served. We ordered the Seafood Soup (Dory Fish) $5 and Batang Fish with Crayfish $10.50 with 2 bowls of plain rice. Each bowl of plain rice cost $0.50.

Seafood Soup (Dory Fish) $5

The partner ordered the Seafood Soup (Dory Fish) $5 which was delicious! The stall owners were so generous with the ingredients! There were several thick chunks of dory fish, two prawns, chunks of minced meat and tomatoes. The dory fish was incredibly fresh, soft and sweet! The prawns did not disappoint too. Fresh, firm and sweet tasting. The chunk of minced meat, a mixture lean meat, fats and mushrooms was well marinated and was delicious. The amount of minced meat given was more than what I had ever gotten in a bak chor mee or homemade noodles dish.

The soup was tasty; slight salty with hint of sweetness and sourness (probably due to the tomato). At $5, this Seafood Soup (Dory Fish) is so value for money considering the freshness and amount of ingredients.

Batang Fish with Crayfish $10.50

I ordered the Batang Fish with Crayfish $10.50 which consisted of several thick slices of Batang Fish, three half crayfish, chunks of minced meat and tomatoes, The soup was nowhere as good the Seafood Soup (Dory Fish). This soup had a strong fishy - crayfish after taste which spoiled the taste of the soup. The crayfish was just average and did not taste as fresh as I hoped. On the other hand, the batang fish was fresh and sweet.

Overall, Sin Kee Seafood Soup serves pretty decent seafood soup. If you are keen to give this a try, I would suggest avoiding lunch time and ordering their crayfish. In fact, I would recommend the Seafood Soup (Dory Fish) which was value for money and delicious! 

Sin Kee Seafood Soup (Woodlands)

Teo Chap Bee Eating House

Blk 19 Marsiling Lane

Singapore 730019

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Woodlands Fried Fish Soup (Changi Airport T2 Staff Canteen)

We reached the Changi Airport Terminal 2 Staff Canteen at 11am on a weekday. Most of the stalls were still closed except for a handful. I had wanted to patronise Wild Olives again, however the stall was still closed.

After walking around the Staff Canteen, we decided to order from the stall called Woodlands Fried Fish Soup which was just next to Wild Olives. 

As it was so early, there was no queue. 

Menu

Woodlands Fried Fish Soup specialises in fish head, sliced fish and fried fish dishes. 

Sliced Fish Bee Hoon $4

I ordered the Sliced Fish Bee Hoon which cost $4 (public price). It reminded me of Hot Spot Cafe Restaurant opposite Sim Lim Square (Bugis). The Sliced Fish Bee Hoon came with several slices of fish, vegetables, lots of thick bee hoon and beaten fried egg. It was topped with scallions and spring onions. 

The batang fish slices were fresh. The fish soup stood out; it was so tasty and flavourful (not salty). The beaten fried egg enhanced flavour to the soup. If only more was given.

Fried Fish Bee Hoon $4

Fried Fish Bee Hoon $4

The partner ordered a bowl of Fried Fish Bee Hoon. It was essentially the same as what I ordered except that the fish was fried. 

Overall, the fish soup served at Woodlands Fried Fish Soup were pretty decent. Worth a try especially if you looking for somewhere where you can eat in a cheap and fast manner. 

Woodlands Fried Fish Soup (Changi Airport T2 Staff Canteen)

Stall 6, Staff Canteen Level 3M

Airport Boulevard, Changi Airport Terminal 2 - Public Area

Opening Hours: Daily 8am to 8pm

Staff Canteen Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 7am - 8pm

                                              Sat, Sun & PH 7am - 9pm

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Four Seas Fried Mee & Rice•Fried Hor Fun (Albert Centre Market & Food Centre) 2nd Post

Four Seas Fried Mee & Rice•Fried Hor Fun is located in Albert Centre Market & Food Centre, near Bugis Junction. The stall specialises in dishing out Hor Fun, Fried Mee, Fish Head Soup, Slice Fish Soup and Seafood Soup. It had been almost 6 months since I patronised Four Seas Fried Mee & Rice•Fried Hor Fun. The main reason why it took me so long to visit this stall is not because of the food. Instead it was because I did not have the patience to wait. I still remember that the Hor Fun served here was outstanding, its gravy was tasty and flavourful.  

This time round, I resisted the temptation to order their Hor Fun and was determined to be patient and order another dish; the Fish Head Soup with Rice. I queue for 35 minutes during lunch hour! 

Fish Head Soup with Rice $4.50

At long last I got my food. The Fish Head Soup with Rice at $4.50 was value for money! (I shall come to this part on why it was value for money later.) Customers can choose the fish soup with preserved vegetable or bitter gourd. In this meal, I chose preserved vegetable. 

Fish Head Soup

Fish Head Soup

You would have noticed from the above pictures, that they were very generous with the amount of fish head.  (there were so many pieces that I took a good half an hour savouring them despite the fact that I consider myself a as a fast eater.) The soup was filled with many different ingredients. Preserved vegetables, fish meat, spring onions and several other ingredients that I could not recognise. There was also small bits of pork lard added to enhanced the flavour of the soup and provided an additional texture (crispy and crunchy). 

The soup was 'souperlicious'. Robust and packed with flavours! It was slightly salty (mainly due to the preserved vegetables) with a faint hint of sweetness. The fish head was fresh. More importantly, it was not fried. You may have noticed how many fish soup stalls fried their fish head to help mask the fishy taste which at times means that the fish is not fresh. Despite the slight saltiness of the soup (I am very particular when it comes to saltiness, what I feel is salty may not be so to you), I finished the whole bowl of soup. 

Salted Bean Sauce and chilli Padi

The salted bean sauce mixed with chilli padi is a must for fish soup lovers. I cant' help but say how I wish that  all fish soup stalls provide this instead of chilli padi with light soy sauce. The taste is totally different and does not complement as well as the ones with salted bean sauce! 

Four Seas Fried Mee & Rice•Fried Hor Fun did not disappoint. It was a fulfilling meal. The only negative aspect was the long waiting time. I will be keen to try their bitter gourd slice fish soup when I have an opportunity and of course patience. It was so value for money considering the quantity and quality of fish given. 

ps: Even if the queue at this stall is short, you are likely to wait for a long time. This is because the regulars normally normally do not queue, they order directly with the lady, find a seat nearby and are served. Hence, the queue at the stall (visible to you) may not be the actual queue. I have also noticed that for some regulars they do not need to make payment when they receive the food. Instead they make payment after they have eaten. Integrity!  

Four Seas Fried Mee & Rice•Fried Hor Fun (Albert Centre Market & Food Centre)

270 Queen Street

#01-106 Albert Centre Food Centre

Location

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