The Dead Cockroach

singapore,plaza singapura,dinosaurs,dinosaurs unearthed,rawr,mamenchisaurus,where to go in singapore

Great news for all you dinosaur fanatics out there!

Dinosaurs have been sighted at Plaza Singapura and if you like these prehistoric creatures as much as I do, then do not give this exhibition a miss!

In collaboration with Sceince Centre Singapore, Plaza Singapura has brought in five animatronic dinosaurs for this mid-year school holidays.

The animatronics were quite realistic with their movements and sounds. One kid started crying from far while another begged for mercy from her enthusiastic parents not to make her pose for photos with the big, scary monsters!

Mamenchisaurus

Mamenchisaurus is a sauropod dinosaur genus including several species, known for their remarkably long necks which made up half the total body length. It is known from numerous species which ranged in time from 160 to 145 million years ago, from the Oxfordian to Tithonian ages of the late Jurassic Period of China, and the largest species may have reached 35 m (115 ft) in length and possibly weighed 50 to 75 tons.

Mamenchisaurus was first discovered in 1952 on the construction site of the Yitang Highway in Sichuan, China. - Wiki

Tyrannosaurus

Tyrannosaurus is a genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur. The species Tyrannosaurus rex (rex meaning "king" in Latin), is one of the most well-represented of the large theropods. Tyrannosaurus lived throughout what is now western North America, on what was then an island continent known as Laramidia. Tyrannosaurus had a much wider range than other tyrannosaurids. Fossils are found in a variety of rock formations dating to the Maastrichtian age of the upper Cretaceous Period, 68 to 66 million years ago. It was the last known member of the tyrannosaurids, and among the last non-avian dinosaurs to exist before the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction. - Wiki

Herrerasaurus

Herrerasaurus was one of the earliest dinosaurs. Its name means "Herrera's lizard", after the rancher who discovered the first specimen. All known fossils of this carnivore have been discovered in rocks of Carnian age (late Triassic according to the ICS, dated to 231.4 million years ago) in northwestern Argentina. The type species, Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis, was described by Osvaldo Reig in 1963 and is the only species assigned to the genus. Ischisaurus and Frenguellisaurus are synonyms.

For many years, the classification of Herrerasaurus was unclear because it was known from very fragmentary remains. It was hypothesized to be a basal theropod, a basal sauropodomorph, a basal saurischian, or not a dinosaur at all but another type of archosaur. However, with the discovery of an almost complete skeleton and skull in 1988, Herrerasaurus has been classified as either an early theropod or an early saurischian in at least five recent reviews of theropod evolution, with many researchers treating it at least tentatively as the most primitive member of Theropoda. - Wiki

Omeisaurus

Omeisaurus (meaning "Omei lizard") is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic Period (Bathonian-Callovian stage) of what is now China. Its name comes from Mount Emei, where it was discovered in the lower Shaximiao Formation of Sichuan Province.

Like other sauropods, Omeisaurus was herbivorous and large. It measured 20.2 metres (66 ft) long, and weighed 9.8 tonnes.

Omeisaurus was first described in 1939. It was named after the sacred mountain Omeishan, which is where the first fossil example of Omeisaurus was found. Most skeletons of Omeisaurus were found in the 1970s and 1980s, during the great “Chinese dinosaur rush”. - Wiki

Yangchuanosaurus

Yangchuanosaurus is an extinct genus of metriacanthosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in China during the Bathonian and Callovian stages of the Middle Jurassic, and was similar in size and appearance to its North American relative, Allosaurus. It hails from the Upper Shaximiao Formation and was the largest predator in a landscape which included the sauropods Mamenchisaurus and Omeisaurus as well as the Stegosaurs Chialingosaurus, Tuojiangosaurus and Chungkingosaurus. It got its name after its discovery site in Yongchuan, in China. - Wiki

This exhibition started on May 26 (I know, that's a week ago) and will run until June 11 so you still have a week to catch them in action!

Expect hands-on workshops, dino rides and 'live' science shows during the weekends.

For more information, click here.

RAWR! DINOSAURS UNEARTHED!

Date : 26 May to 11 Jun 2017

Time : 11am – 8.30pm

Venue : Main Atrium, Level 1

PLAZA SINGAPURA
68 Orchard Road
Singapore 238839

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/FUL9SmCXN4H2
GPS Coordinates:1.3010224,103.8431138

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlazaSingapura
Website: http://www.capitalandmallasia.com.sg

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

And so, Jurong West 505 Market & Food Centre has finally reopen after three gruelling months of renovation works. The food centre section is now cleaner and brighter but contrary to expectations, there are no increase in seating capacity so finding a clean table is still as difficult.

Anyway, three months is too long a time to keep me away from having my favorite porridge at Soh Kee Cooked Food. This stall offer the usual Chicken Porridge ($2), Fish Porridge ($3), Cuttlefish Porridge ($3) and Mixed Porridge ($3) but what most people ordered here is actually their plain porridge with poached chicken.

I love the poached chicken here as the meat is incredibly succulent. Even the breast meat is moist and tender; not tough and fibrous. I particularly like the taste of the meat dipped in the concoction of soy sauce and sesame oil.

The plain porridge that comes with the poached chicken have just the right consistency without being overly thick like Cantonese Jook or runny like Teochew Muay. A big bowl of this plain porridge is only 50 cents.

A personal set starts from $3.50 though we usually go for half a chicken at $10.

SOH KEE COOKED FOOD 苏记熟食

Jurong West 505 Market & Food Centre

505 Jurong West Street 52

#01-44

Singapore 640505

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 8am - 8pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/x68SHe6ttqt

GPS Coordinates: 1.3498657,103.7159713

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

food, food review, jurong west food centre, kok kee, kok kee wanton noodle, review, singapore, wanton noodles, 云吞面, 国记, 国记云吞面

I have long heard of the notoriety of Kok Kee Wanton Noodles from the now-defunct Lavender Food Square that overcharges for its small portions however, I have heard even more regarding its grumpy elderly owners who had offended quite a bit of customers (go snoop around the food forums and you'll see what I mean).

Yet, despite the less than favorable reputation, the stall still attract quite a queue daily.

Meanwhile, over at Jurong West Food Centre, there is a Wanton Noodles stall bearing the same name (also claiming to be from Bugis), charging the same higher-than-usual price, and does not serve green pickled chili just like the one at Lavender.

There were rumors that the young couple running this stall were the nephew and niece of the older couple who had since retired.

I cannot vouch for the authenticity of this information but, I am still very excited to try a plate of this "legendary" Wanton Noodles that I have heard so much about.

The noodles are available in two different sizes at $3 and $4. This is undoubtedly more expensive than other Wanton Noodles where the price usually start from $2.50. I decided to go for the $4 portion since they are reputed for their small portions.

When my order is ready, the stall helper brought it out and put it on a tray ready for my collection but the other lady inside (presumably the 'niece') took it back and removed the 2-3 wantons from my plate of noodles, while leaving the ones in the bowl of soup untouched. The first thought that come to my mind is why did she take back the wantons?

Once I got to my table, I did a 'headcount' of the wantons straightaway and is miffed to see only two miserable boiled wantons in my $4 Wanton Noodles. Is there anyone who can confirm this? That the large serving of Kok Kee Wanton Noodles only have two wantons?

I wonder how many wantons does the $3 serving have then? This is my first time having Kok Kee so I have absolutely no idea.

As for their paper-thin Char Siew, it is red on the outside, white and annoyingly lean on the inside. I suspect their Char Siew were simply boiled and dyed red instead of being roasted in a vat.

I am not too anal about Char Siew as I have long resigned myself to the fate of not finding quality Char Siew in my Wanton Noodles.

This is why sometimes when I eat Wanton Noodles, I will simply request for no Char Siew.

It seems nothing good is coming out of this review thus far but let's not get too hasty.

Contrary to what I read online, I am surprised that the portion of the noodles is quite generous (refer to first photo) and definitely good enough for two to share. I suppose the additional $1 is just for extra noodles (加面不加料) of the $3 version.

The noodles they used are slightly thicker than the usual Mee Kia (thin noodles) which had a slight alkaline smell although it is barely noticeable.

The saving grace is that the noodles are delightfully springy and goes great with the excellent sauce doused over it.

It has this ketchup-ish flavor which reminds me of my favorite childhood Wanton Noodles that is sadly no longer around. This is strange because I did not see any ketchup other than the chili and the clear sauce in my noodles right before tossing.

After trying it for myself, I can see why there are people who have a love-hate relationship with Kok Kee.

In conclusion, I do like the old-school taste of Kok Kee Wanton Noodles but for that price, there are better options at a lower price located within the same food centre.

KOK KEE WANTON NOODLES 国记云吞面

Jurong West 505 Market & Food Centre

505 Jurong West Street 52

#01-14

Singapore 640505

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 7am - 12pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/x68SHe6ttqt

GPS Coordinates: 1.3498657,103.7159713

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

food, food review, jurong west food centre, long kee, long kee wanton noodle, review, singapore, wanton noodles, 云吞面, 隆记, 隆记云吞面

Jurong West Food Centre has no lack of Wanton Noodle stalls. Based on my memory, there are at least four of them but there could be more though as I did not really go and count.

Apart from Kok Kee Wanton Noodle, the other notable one with a perpetual queue is Long Kee Wanton Noodles.

I have tried their Chicken Feet Noodle before which is not too bad. The chicken feet were well-braised and tender and I remember liking it very much then. This time, I tried their Wanton Noodle which comes in two different sizes at $3 and $4.

The noodles were firm to the bite and had a eggy fragrance. I especially like the concoction of sauce coating the strands of noodles.

Long Kee's Wanton Noodle had three average-tasting wantons filled with minced meat which were of a moderate size.

Their Char Siew were just slightly better than Kok Kee's but still not very pleasing to the palate. Unfortunately, this kind of Char Siew is the norm in our local Wanton Noodle so I did not actually habor any high hopes.

Just like Kok Kee Wanton Noodles, Long Kee had good sauce and noodles but disappointing Char Siew and Wantons.

Why is it so hard to find a plate of Wanton Noodles with everything done perfectly? I am sure their business will be even better if they improve on their Char Siew and Wantons.

LONG KEE WANTON NOODLES 隆记云吞面

Jurong West 505 Market & Food Centre

505 Jurong West Street 52

#01-185

Singapore 640505

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 6am - 3pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/x68SHe6ttqt

GPS Coordinates: 1.3498657,103.7159713

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

164 stirling road, 164 stirling road wanton mee, 164 stirling road wanton noodle, food, food review, review, singapore, wanton mee, wanton noodle

For years, a nameless Wanton Noodle stall has been dishing out delicious Wanton Noodle in a dingy-looking coffeeshop at Stirling Road - one of Singapore's oldest estate - in Queenstown.

Fronted by an aged signboard with only a generic "Wanton Noodle" in both English and Chinese, the fading photos on it bear witness to the number of years they have been serving the residents in this neighborhood.

According to my research, the stall used to be called Chun Ji (春记) however, the name is not on the signboard anymore. It is now more commonly known as "164 Stirling Road Wanton Noodle" with reference to its location under block 164.

I came to learn about this noodle stall while reading up on the must-eats at Meiling Market & Food Centre which is only a few minutes walk away. As photos of the Wanton Noodle looked so enticing, I decided that a visit to the stall is in order.

I initially wanted to order this Set A Wanton Noodle that come with Char Siew, braised mushrooms, boiled and fried Wantons but the lady misunderstood my order and gave me the normal Wanton Noodle with only Char Siew and boiled Wantons. I suppose the fault is all mine because I said "$4 Wanton Noodle" instead of "Set A".

Well, lesson learned.

The normal Wanton Noodle with only Char Siew and boiled Wantons costs $3 but since I asked for $4, she gave me extra noodles. And by 'extra', I mean A LOT.

The Mee Kia (thin noodles) they used is thinner than the usual kind which reminded me of Angel Hair.

The very substantial amount of noodles dressed in a thick sauce that is sweet, savory and spicy. Their piquant chili sauce deserves a mention as it packs a punch.

Alas, the noodles were a tad overdone which got me a little sick in the stomach.

I heard that they roasted their own Char Siew in the stall but it looked just like those dyed ones to me. There is no caramelized exterior to speak of and no yummy fatty bits thus it is a letdown for me.

There are four boiled Wantons in the soup.

The Wanton skin is beautifully wrapped around the minced pork filling with no excess folds of skin. A bite revealed subtle hints of sole fish which is delightful.

And the surprise does not end there.

There are actually pieces of radish together with the boiled Wantons in the soup. After taking a sip, I realized the refreshing bowl of soup is made from a base of Daikon stock.

I could not stop drinking the soup that has been flavored by the natural sweetness of the root vegetable.

Absolutely delicious!

I suppose this is the crispy pork lard but it does not come in the usual cube shape. Instead, it appears to be tiny pieces clumping together.

The Wantons with Daikon in the soup

The stall

Located in the coffeeshop under this block

Getting to this coffeeshop is very convenient. If you look at the map, the nearest MRT Station is Queenstown which would require a bit of walking up slope. I would suggest taking bus service 64 from the bus stop opposite Redhill MRT Station instead.

You can alight at:
bus stop number 11561 (one bus stop after the Chinese temple), or
bus stop number 11579 (Meiling Market & Food Centre bus stop)

Either ways, you just have to cross over to the opposite side where block 164 is.

164 STIRLING ROAD WANTON NOODLE

Blk 164 Stirling Road
#01-1200
Singapore 140164

Business Hours
Thu - Tue: 7am - 3pm
Wed closed

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/koy554W3jyu
GPS Coordinates: 1.291498,103.8003033

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

fishball mee, fishball noodles, food, food review, meiling food centre, meiling market & food centre, review, singapore, xin lu, xin lu fishball mee, 新路, 潮州鱼圆面, 鱼圆面

Not far from 164 Stirling Road Wanton Noodle is Mei Ling Market & Food Centre. It is a two-storey building where residents can do their marketing on the ground floor before going for their breakfast at the food centre up stairs.

As Stirling Road is a mature estate, my initial thoughts about the food centre is that it would be dark, dirty and maybe bad air-circulation as well.

My first visit to the food centre last week, however, painted a very different picture. The food centre is extremely clean with no litter on the floor, illumination is bright, there is no buildup of dirty bowls on the tables, and the area is spacious and airy with the high ceiling. You will not leave the food centre smelling like Char Kway Teow or Fried Carrot Cake.

This is all thanks to a upgrading programe which I just found out was completed about eight years ago. Even though it has been years since the upgrading, its condition is as good as new.

I must say this is by far the most well-maintained food centre I had ever seen.

Anyway, the stall I am reviewing in this post is Xin Lu (新路) selling Teochew Fishball Noodles. When you take the escalator up (hurray for the elderly folks residing here) to the second floor, you can see the stall on your right.

If you do a google search on what to eat here, Xin Lu is one of the top result that turns up. Formerly from Margaret Drive Food Centre, the stall moved to this current location after its previous one was demolished for further developments.

I ordered the $3 Fishball Noodle that comes with a portion of Mee Pok (flat noodles) and five fish balls served on the side in a bowl of soup.

The Mee Pok is cooked al dented and tossed in a concoction of ketchup, chili and probably pork lard oil. I find the spiciness quite subtle with the sweetness from the ketchup standing out more. It is quite delicious but I would have preferred my noodle to be spicier.

The big and bouncy fish balls tasted fresh with a firm bite. As for the soup, it is clear and light but I did not find it particularly tasty so I left it untouched after a few sips.

On the whole, the noodle is good with the sauces especially with the crispy pork lard. If only they include the orange fishcake to make this bowl of Teochew Mee Pok complete.

Holding the fort at the stall is this stylo milo young man with a man bun and wearing shades.

The exterior of Mei Ling Market & Food Centre

The sign at the bus stop

Getting to this food centre is very convenient. If you look at the map, the nearest MRT Station is Queenstown which would require a bit of walking upslope. I would suggest taking bus service 64 from the bus stop opposite Redhill MRT Station instead as it brings you directly to the food centre (bus stop number 11579) with minimal walking required. You know you have reached when you see aunties/grannies alighting the bus with their marketing trollies.

XIN LU TEOCHEW FISHBALL KWAY TEOW MEE SOUP 新路潮州鱼圆粿條面汤

Mei Ling Market & Food Centre

159 Mei Chin Road

#02-05

Singapore 140159

Business Hours
Fri - Wed: 8am - 2pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/ZoSZqSKcJH62
GPS Coordinates: 1.293241,103.8002453

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

bib gourmand, food, food review, hor fun, mei ling market & food centre, review, shi hui yuan hor fun specialty, singapore, 实惠园, 实惠园驰名香滑河粉, 河粉

Shi Hui Yuan Hor Fun Specialty (实惠园驰名香滑河粉) at Mei Ling Market & Foode Centre serves Ipoh-styled Hor Fun which is another one of my favorite food. Apparently, the Hor Fun is so good, it was included in the Michelin Bib Gourmand List 2016 and 2017.

Prior to my visit, I have read the story about the elderly couple running the stall. Unfortunately, the auntie suffered from a stroke so the daughter started coming to help out. Even though the auntie had to be in a wheelchair, she would be sitting near the stall everyday giving her husband and daughter moral support.

My heart goes out to them after knowing their plight. Perhaps due to auntie's ailment, they were only able to open for business four days a week.

I was expecting to see them in person when I was there however, all I see were two middle-aged men and a elderly man inside the stall. Is the elderly man the uncle? Where is the auntie and their daughter then? And who are these middle-aged men?

I have to mention that the elderly man is very polite. He gave me a big smile and a very loud thank you when he was done cooking my order. Most of the time, I was the one saying thank you to grumpy-faced hawkers so it is actually nice to get one back in return.

Click to enlarge menu

They serve a variety of Ipoh Hor Fun here. You can have it with braised chicken feet, braised pork ribs, shredded chicken and duck, chicken drumstick, duck drumstick, or, if you cannot make up your mind like me, you could order a combination.

But no matter which combo you order, it came with large juicy mushrooms and greens.

I ordered the "Blissful Combination" (available in $5/$6/$7) which has a bit of everything from the menu. There were three mushrooms, two pieces of braised pork ribs, a portion of sliced roasted duck and also a portion of sliced roasted chicken meat.

There is also a considerable mound of Hor Fun and all these for only $6.

The Hor Fun is smooth, thin and slippery. Drenched in a sauce made from the stews of the chicken feet, braised pork ribs and mushrooms, the result is a plate of Ipoh Hor Fun that is rich, robust and delicious yet not overwhelming on the palate.

The three precious stews

Due to its herbal taste, this Hor Fun might not suit everyone's taste. It's either you like it or you hate it.

Thankfully, I am the former.

The exterior of Mei Ling Market & Food Centre

The sign at the bus stop

Getting to this food centre is very convenient. If you look at the map, the nearest MRT Station is Queenstown which would require a bit of walking up slope. I would suggest taking bus service 64 from the bus stop opposite Redhill MRT Station instead as it brings you directly to the food centre (bus stop number 11579) with minimal walking required. You know you have reached when you see aunties/grannies alighting the bus with their marketing trollies.

SHI HUI YUAN HOR FUN SPECIALTY 实惠园驰名香滑河粉

Mei Ling Market & Food Centre

159 Mei Chin Road

#02-33

Singapore 140159

Business Hours
Thu - Sun: 8am - 2pm
Closed: Mon - Wed

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/ZoSZqSKcJH62
GPS Coordinates: 1.293241,103.8002453

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

A while back, I went to a nondescript coffeeshop in Stirling Road for the special "Set A" Wanton Noodle but due to my oversight while ordering, I had the 'normal' Wanton Noodle instead.

I returned to Stirling Road again, determined to have the special "Set A" Wanton Noodle. This time, I pointed to the photo by the side of the stall, making sure that the lady inside saw me doing that.

The normal Wanton Noodle came with only Char Siew and boiled Wantons but the 'special' had additional braised Mushrooms and fried Wantons.

The crispy fried Wantons

The Char Siew during this visit looked much better than the previous time

The bowl of soup with the boiled Wantons and pieces of radish and cabbage

The Wanton

The lovely soup that is cooked with radish and probably msg too but I did not feel especially thirsty after drinking this. This time, I also discover pieces of cabbage in the soup.

The glistening noodles and luscious Mushrooms tossed in that wonderful sauce

For the full review, refer to my previous visit here.

The stall

Located in the coffeeshop under this block

So much ingredients for $6 (gravy yet to be added)

"Blissful Combination"

164 STIRLING ROAD WANTON NOODLE

Blk 164 Stirling Road
#01-1200
Singapore 140164

Business Hours
Thu - Tue: 7am - 3pm
Closed: Wed

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/koy554W3jyu
GPS Coordinates: 1.291498,103.8003033

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

Shinnosuke, or Shin Chan, the annoying yet lovable five-year-old is no stranger to all. I was first introduced to this perverted little boy via manga a long time ago however, it was not until a few days ago that I found out there is actually a horror series of this anime known as 蜡笔小新都市传说系列.

Loosely translated as "Crayon Shin-chan Urban Legend Series", the anime in this series are a little dark and macabre - quite different from the usual slapstick comedy I know.

I have to admit some are quite disturbing but there are also some which are downright hilarious. I have embed a few of my favorite ones here for your viewing pleasure.

恐怖的升降电梯

This is the creepiest and my favorite.

The protagonist in this story is Tōru who was returning home from the kindergarten. As he took the lift up to his flat, he keeps ending up on the wrong floor. He was eventually brought to the rooftop where he saw himself alighting from the school bus in the street below...

幼儿园的楼梯

This is another one of the creepier stories. After losing a finger-guessing game to Nene, Tōru had to climb a flight of stairs alone in the dead of the night. The next morning, however, the flight of stairs vanished without a trace.

谜团重重的队伍

While dragging their feet to a play date with Nene, Shinnosuke, Tōru, Masao and Bo encountered four ladies who pleaded with the boys to stand in the queue for them. When the ladies did not return, the unsuspecting boys soon found themselves stuck and unable to step out of the queue. Just at the eleventh hour, who else is there to save them except Nene who had come to look for them who are late for their play date.

荡秋千的少女

Shinnosuke and gang chanced upon a playground which they had never seen before. Things started going awry when they realized that they were unable to leave the playground. Does this have anything to do with the mysterious girl who keeps urging them to play on the swing?

扭蛋人

When Masao threw away the repeated Gachapon (capsule toy) that he bought, he finds himself under attack by clones of himself! Those of you who like to collect Gachapon, watch out!

大回转夫人

Shinnosuke and his parents came to a sushi place but there is something about the Sushi chef that I cannot quite point a finger to...

被诅咒的娃娃

In this story, Hiroshi returns home drunk and brought back a doll which he had picked up from the streets. I will leave you to find out the story but just to let you know that I feel more sorry for the doll than Shinnosuke's family whom the doll has placed a curse upon.

恐怖的法国娃娃/恐怖幼稚园

There are two stories in this video. In the first one, let's just say it is a horror version of the Toy Story although the ending is a little incomprehensible. In the second story, the kids return to the kindergarten after Spring break but Shinnosuke and gang realize that the rest of the school has gone missing. They eventually found everyone inside a fourth classroom which appeared out of nowhere however, all their friends have turned into stone! As it turns out, what happened were all part of Tōru's nightmare. Or is it?

The following is a full-length feature film and does not fall under the Urban Legend series but I will add it here anyway.

蜡笔小新剧场版Amigo！森巴入侵计划

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

berseh food centre, food, food review, jalan besar, oyster cake, review, singapore, fuzhou, meat puff, 蚝饼,福州蚝饼,福州

If memory does not fail me, I was first acquainted with the Fuzhou Oyster Cake more than two decades ago in a coffeeshop next to the Commonwealth Theatre which is one of the two cinemas (the other being Empress Cineplex) in Clementi.

Commonwealth Theatre has since been torn down and redeveloped into the current Cityvibe. The Oyster Cake stall has also closed down before the destruction of Commonwealth Theatre began.

Its new location or whether it is even in operations for that matter, remains unknown.

Those were the days when the age of internet (and mobile phones) were still not as widespread therefore I have no means to track it down.

And that, was last time that I had had any Oyster Cake.

I was pretty excited when I found this stall selling Oyster Cake on the second level of Berseh Food Centre along Jalan Bersah during my recent food hunt in the area.

I understand that they used to be located in the same coffeeshop as Da Jie Wanton Noodle and had only moved to the current location two years ago in 2015.

To be honest, I had completely forgotten how an Oyster Cake is suppose to taste like or even if this stall's version measures up to the one from Clementi. I am just glad to have found this traditional street snack and have a taste of it before it disappears together with the current generation of Oyster Cake hawkers when they decide to call it a day.

After all, traditional Fuzhou Oyster Cake hawkers are few and far between. They are not as easily available as Chicken Rice or Wanton Noodle so do drop by while you still can, to have a taste of the good old days before they are gone for good.

These Oyster Cakes are best eaten on the spot while they are still hot as you might find them seeping in oil by the time you reached home or the office.

They are assembled and fried upon order or in small batches therefore they are always served piping hot. It may seem like a simple snack but a lot of preparation work goes into the making.

First, a layer of special batter mix is spread onto a shallow ladle followed by Chinese celery, minced pork, prawn and oyster. These are buried under another layer of batter mix, then topped with peanuts and whitebait before being released into hot oil and fried to a crisp.

The moment I received my Oyster Cake, I was eager to have a taste but it was hot to the touch. I took a small bite, careful not to burn my tongue.

Hot steam immediately gushes from within as the thin, crispy shell gave way under the pressure of my teeth. The filling is moist and savory but what strike me the most was the briny flavor of the oyster. I wished there were more oysters so I could feel the flavors of the ocean exploding in my mouth.

Priced at $1.80 each, I have no complains although I find that the color of the shell a tad too dark. It would be more pleasing if it was of a golden brown.

There is also the option to "upsize" for more ingredients at $2.20 each for greater satisfaction.

FU ZHOU POH HWA OYSTER CAKE

Berseh Food Centre

166 Jalan Besar

#02-34

Singapore 208877

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 10.30am - 6pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/jYrncHUSxyB2

GPS Coordinates: 1.3073233,103.8546603

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

abc brickworks market & food centre, abc market, chicken chop, food, food review, review, western food, wow wow west, abc brickworks

I have long heard of this western stall called Wow Wow West that serves big portions of western food for reasonable prices at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre. Even though I go to the nearby IKEA Alexandra quite frequently, I was often too lazy to make a detour to the food centre.

Wow Wow West used to be located at the school canteen of Raffles Institution (RI) however, the school holidays meant that income would be badly affected so they had no choice but to relocate first to Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre before finally settling down at the current location.

I was full of anticipation for their Chicken Chop after reading many raving reviews about them online. Furthermore, I feel there is a need to support the stall because they support the Yellow Ribbon Project by hiring ex-offenders. I personally think it is awesome of them to give the ex-offenders a second chance to set their lives straight and contribute to society.

They used to deliver the food to your table but they have now implemented the self-service system. After placing your order and making payment, you will be given a number. Just wait for your number to be called to collect your food.

For $7, I was thrilled to see the generous portion of food on my plate. Other than the Chicken Chop, there are three different sides consisting of crinkle-cut fries, homemade coleslaw and canned baked beans.

The size of the chicken chop is not just large but also of a considerable thickness. Furthermore, the portion of the sides were also much more generous than what other western stalls would give you.

Unfortunately, that is all there is to this plate of Chicken Chop. When it comes to the taste, it fell short of my expectations.

Firstly, I find that the chicken is not too well-seasoned. The meat is smothered with black pepper but other than that, it actually tasted quite bland to me. It does not help that the brown sauce doused over the chicken is thin and diluted.

When I flip the chicken over, I noticed that they score the underpart of the chicken which may be to help the chicken cook faster however, I am not sure if that will make the chicken lose its moisture as well? The reason why I mentioned this is because I found the meat not as tender as I expected.

Next, the crinkle-cut fries.

I do not know if the fries have been over-fried but they were hard instead of being crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. This is a big disappointment to me.

As for the Coleslaw, may I suggest chopping the cabbage coarsely for more crunch while the dressing could do with a bit more vinegar for that extra oomph. (Oh, and perhaps add some carrot/purple cabbage for color?)

The baked beans came straight out of a can so I have nothing to say about it.

Cheesy Chicken Sausage

I added on a Chicken Cheese Sausage for $2 more. It has that smoky flavor which reminds me of bacon but sadly, the texture of the sausage is too mushy for my liking.

I am sorry for giving Wow Wow West a less-than-stellar rating despite the glowing reviews online. Perhaps I got them on a very bad day when they had just opened for business (yes, I had this for breakfast at 10-ish in the morning) or maybe they had a new trainee cook? There are just so many possibilities to what could have happened.

But, you know what?

I will give them another try just like how they gave their staff a second chance in life and I hope I will not be disappointed again.

ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre

Wow Wow West

WOW WOW WEST

ABC Brickworks Food Centre

6 Bukit Merah Lane 1

#0-133

Singapore 150006

Business Hours

Tue - Sat: 10.30am - 7.30pm

Closed: Sun - Mon

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/WkEm7nRGimC2

GPS Coordinates: 1.286869,103.8058649

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

abc brickworks, abc brickworks market & food centre, abc market, fatty cheong, food, food review, review, roast, singapore, 肥仔详

A week ago, I visited ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre specifically aiming for the Wanton Noodle from a roast stall called Fatty Cheong because I have heard so much about their bu jian tian Char Siew which is actually BBQ pork made from the pig's arm pit.

In order to avoid the lunch crowd, I intentionally arrive slightly after 11am - their stipulated opening hour listed on hungrygowhere and burpple.

To my dismay, they seem far from ready for business as the lights are not on and there are no roasts hanging on the racks.

I did not want to waste any time so I went through my food list and decided to go for the next available stall opened at that time which is Wow Wow West.

The plan was to wait for Fatty Cheong to get ready while having my Chicken Chop but as fate would have it, I was too full from my western food to have anything else. Furthermore, by the time I finished, it was nearing noon and Fatty Cheong is still not opened yet.

I have to leave in disappointment and plan another trip back soon.

So fast forward a week later, I am back at the food centre again and at around the same timing as the previous week but Fatty Cheong is still not opened for business yet.

Same thing, the lights were off and nothing was hanging on the racks. I ordered a mug of old school pineapple drink and found a seat where I could see the stall.

By 11.30am, I noticed someone standing in front of the stall however, the lights were still not on yet.

I am on high alert as a second person stood behind the first arrival. I finished up my drink and make it to the queue as number three.

I stood in line, rather impatiently because the first person was packing quite a few orders. The lights finally came on at 11.40am.

It is self-service here. You place your order, make your payment and wait to collect your food. When it reached my turn, I placed my order for a plate of Wanton Noodle.

After collecting my order, I proceed to find myself a table and sit down. It was at that moment my nose caught a whiff of strong alkaline smell coming from the noodles which I detest.

Apart from the thickened BBQ sauce drenched on the Char Siew and a layer of oil at the bottom, the noodle is basically devoid of any other flavorings (such as soy sauce) which make the noodles rather bland and unpalatable.

That chilli is good though.

I had to leave half of the noodles untouched as I find it hard to stomach.

Bu jian tian Char Siew

Fatty Cheong's Char Siew however, is definitely a cut above the rest. Just look at that charred bits and the thin/fat ratio. Now, this is what I call a proper Char Siew.

How I wish all Wanton Noodle stalls serve this type of Char Siew! Those paper-thin dyed Char Siew are crap!

Boiled Wantons

The Wantons and soup did not fare too well either. The boiled Wantons are quite pedestrian while the soup is simply tasteless.

I will be back to try their other roasts but I will give their noodles a miss.

FATTY CHEONG 肥仔详

ABC Brickworks Food Centre

6 Bukit Merah Lane 1

#0-120

Singapore 150006

Business Hours

Mon - Sun : 11am - 8.30pm

Closed: Thu

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/WkEm7nRGimC2

GPS Coordinates: 1.286869,103.8058649

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

abc brickworks, abc brickworks market & food centre, abc market, food, food review, review, singapore, yong kee fish ball noodle, 榮记驰名鱼圆面, 鱼圆面, fish ball noodle

Located directly opposite Fatty Cheong is another famous stall called Yong Kee Famous Fish Ball Noodle which is famed for it's handmade fish balls.

Other than Fish Ball Noodle ($3/$4/$5), they also serve Mushroom Minced Meat Noodle aka Bak Chor Mee ($4/$5) and canned Abalone Noodle ($12).

Since the stall is revered by foodies, I had to give it a try.

While queuing to place my order, I heard a commotion between the lady boss and the customer in front of me. Apparently, the customer wanted the $3 bowl but did not inform the lady boss who had already prepared the $4 serving.

A sign hung above us read:

Basic order price is $4.00. Please inform us in advance if you wish to order the $3.00 serving.

I believe the customer, who is an old lady, did not see the sign because I too did not notice it until I saw the lady boss gesturing to it. The old lady remained silent throughout lady boss' tirade.

When her order is done, the old lady asked for a little more crispy pork lard which seemed to annoy the lady boss even more.

"Mei you le! Mei you le!" (NO MORE! NO MORE!) she slightly raised her voice in a irritated tone.

With the tray in her hands, the old lady turned and walk away with her head down.

On tenterhooks, I ordered the $4 bowl of Fish Ball Mee Pok (flat noodle) which came with two fish balls, two meat balls, a fish dumpling and some slices of fish cakes.

I gave the Mee Pok a thorough tossing and took a bite. I must say that I like the overall taste of the noodles especially the tangy vinegar taste that shine through with every bite. Things would be even better if the Mee Pok retained a bit more bite.

As mentioned earlier, this stall prides itself on it's handmade fish balls and teochew meat balls which is a mixture of fish and pork.

Unfortunately, I am impressed by neither. They tastes bland to me and the texture is not as springy as claimed. I do not know what went wrong (or maybe it is just me) but I do not taste the freshness of the fish balls at all.

The stall operates from 7am till late into the night at 2am with the lady boss and her husband taking shifts. With such long working hours, it is no wonder why tempers would flare.

Well, first time visitors to the stall take heed. Do your homework and find out how the stall operates if you do not want to incur the wrath of the lady boss.

YONG KEE FISH BALL NOODLE 榮记驰名鱼圆面

ABC Brickworks Food Centre

6 Bukit Merah Lane 1

#0-121

Singapore 150006

Business Hours

Mon - Sun : 7am - 2am

Closed: Thu

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/WkEm7nRGimC2

GPS Coordinates: 1.286869,103.8058649

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

food, review,food review,peter pan western food,western food,singapore, bukit timah market & food centre, bukit timah,chicken chop,peter pan chicken chop,peter pan

As its name implies, Peter Pan Western Food is a food stall serving western fare at Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre. Managed by a middle-aged couple, what draw my attention to this food stall was actually its catchy name - Peter Pan.

This is probably one of the more popular stalls at the food centre because they offer generous food portion at affordable prices.

The husband is the one behind the stove while the wife is at the stall front, taking orders and collecting payments.

It is self-service here. You place your order, make your payment and wait to collect your food.

I ordered my usual Chicken Chop ($6).

Indeed, I was impressed by the food portion when I received my order. Other than the Chicken Chop, there are also three side dishes such as potato wedges, coleslaw and baked beans.

The sizeable chicken was drenched with a special tomato-based gravy. It is a creation of the stall owner who remains tight-lipped about the recipe. The gravy goes exceptionally well with the fresh and tender chicken which is just lightly marinated.

Towards the end of my meal, I realized something important is missing from my Chicken Chop - the chicken skin! Whatever has happened to it? It is the best part of the meal!

Instead of the normal shoestring or crinkle-cut fries, Peter Pan served potato wedges instead. I love potato wedges!

Their potato wedges are freshly fried so not only is it smokin' hot, it's also crispy along the edges and fluffy on the inside. Very satisfying!

I love how crunchy and tangy the Coleslaw is which makes it very appetizing. I wished it come in a bigger scoop though.

The nearest MRT Station from here is Beauty World (DT5) on the blue-colored Downtown Line. Exit from the station at Exit C and walk to destination in 2-3 minutes.

PETER PAN WESTERN FOOD

Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre

51 Upper Bukit Timah Road

#02-133

Singapore 588172

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 12.30pm - 10pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/dbj8RQUoe582

GPS Coordinates: 1.3394235,103.7738529

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

As part of the island's 45th anniversary celebrations, Sentosa will be hosting Southeast Asia's largest sand festival "Sentosa Sandsation 2017" at Siloso Beach.

Spreading over 2,400 square metres, Sentosa Sandsation 2017 will feature more than 30 larger-than-life sand sculptures with some measuring over 5 metres.

The exhibition have three zones, each offering a different experience.

Zone 1 features 15 three-dimensional sculptures by JOOheng, Singapore's very talented sand sculptor who's works have been showcased in over 60 cities, across more than 20 countries round the world. These sculptures are inspired by local culture, quirks and colloquial slangs.

I have put up some photos of those sculptures that I liked. You can click on the link below each photo for the description behind each piece.

Some of these sculptures come with multi-sensory effects, such as music and lighting effects after dark.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4406/36188892694_6eeb09fbb4_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4434/36188892184_45debe500a_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4375/36853463262_b51865aa58_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4403/36853463182_755c95333a_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4419/36188890794_d350c21ed3_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4400/36188890234_ed7831e76a_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4402/36188889784_5d0951cb18_o.jpg"

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4382/36188889234_37448ee116_o.jpg

Zone 2 features 14 sculptures from the Sentosa International Sand Sculpting Championship crafted by sand masters from around the world.

Again, I have only put up a few of those that I like. You can click the link below each photo for the description.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4385/36853462432_5dc67ee894_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4358/36853461942_8352f8fa69_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4335/36188886524_b4f6ff2819_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4409/36188886094_31e1bc2ae7_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4407/36853461682_1d9358c481_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4365/36188885584_1e6e0c87f6_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4417/36853461552_be42074dd8_o.jpg

The third and last zone is Shifting Sand 2, featuring an interactive sand sculpture by JOOheng which you can step onto for a photo opportunity.

This segment pays homage to JOOheng's very first sand sculpture exhibition which was held right here at Sentosa’s Palawan Beach seven years ago in 2010.

If you are a local resident, you would be pleased to know that you can now enjoy free Sentosa Express monorail rides and free vehicle entry to Sentosa via Sentosa Gantry from 4-10 September 2017.

Please click here for more info.
For the complete album, please click here.

SENTOSA SANDSATION 2017

Date : 1 - 17 September 2017

Time : 10am - 9pm daily

Venue : Siloso Beach

Free admission!

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

He Zhong Carrot Cake has been at Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre for as long as I could remember. They have been operating their business at this location long before the renovations when their stall was still facing the carpark near the stairs then.

You will not be able to find the black Carrot Cake here as they only specialize in the white variety. Unlike the black Carrot Cake where the radish cubes are fried to a complete mess along with all the other ingredients, He Zhong fries theirs into rectangular blocks where the radish cubes are held in place by the beaten eggs mixture.

The surface was fried to a crisp with a medley of flavors coming from the egg, chye poh, fish sauce and their chili sauce smeared on top.

I like the eggy fragrance and the savory crunch from the chye poh that comes with every bite.

The radish cubes are in chunks so the texture is rather firm. I would have liked it more if the texture is softer. Oh, and more chye poh please!

He Zhong Carrot Cake is arguably one of the more popular stall in this food centre so expect to wait especially during peak hours.

bukit timah, bukit timah market & food centre, carrot cake, food, food review, he zhong carrot cake, review, singapore, 合眾, 合眾菜頭粿, 菜頭粿

Do not be fooled by the seemingly lack of a physical queue in front of the stall because their queue is invisible!

How is that so? Because, all you have to do is to give your table number to the helper standing outside the stall and return to your seat. She will deliver it to you once it is ready. While ordering, she will inform you of the estimated waiting time. I was told the queue is about 15 minutes but the actual time for my order to reach me is much shorter than that.

The nearest MRT Station from here is Beauty World (DT5) on the blue-colored Downtown Line. Exit from the station at Exit C and walk to destination in about 2-3 minutes.

HE ZHONG CARROT CAKE 合眾菜頭粿

Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre

51 Upper Bukit Timah Road

#02-185

Singapore 588172

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 7am - 10pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/dbj8RQUoe582

GPS Coordinates: 1.3394235,103.7738529

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

bukit timah market & food centre, food, food review, review, singapore, xie kee hokkien mee, 謝記福建面, 福建面

After Dad's hospital appointment on a Monday, we decided to drop by Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre for dinner since we are traveling by the Downtown Line.

We initially wanted to have the White Bee Hoon but the stall was closed. Instead, I was surprised to see Xie Kee Hokkien Mee opened for business because according to Burpple, Monday is their off day.

The uncle is sitting outside of his stall all alone without a single customer in sight. My immediate thought is how lucky we are, to be the first in queue thus we do not have to wait for long. I immediately placed an order for two $3 plates of Hokkien Mee and took a seat by the side.

However, as we waited, I thought uncle is taking an unusually long time with our orders. I popped over for a look and discovered that he did not cook plate by plate but rather, one big batch of noodles in a wok. At this point, I realized that a good plate of Hokkien Mee cannot be rushed as they need time to be simmered in the broth.

After what seemed like forever (by that time, a short queue had already formed in front of the stall), uncle beckoned me to collect my order as he began scooping the noodles onto plates. To my dismay, I found that one plate had significantly lesser noodles than the other.

Xie Kee uses thick bee hoon and flat yellow noodles instead of the usual round yellow noodles that other places are using. This Hokkien Mee is served slightly wet just the way I like it. With a squeeze of lime and the sambal mixed in, the stock-infused noodles tasted flavorsome.

Each of our plate comes with two small-sized prawns and quite a bit of tiny squid pieces however, they were overcooked.

Also, there are two very important elements which I found missing from this plate of Hokkien Mee which is pork belly strips and crispy pork lard. Include these and I would be a happy regular here.

The nearest MRT Station from here is Beauty World (DT5) on the blue-colored Downtown Line. Exit from the station at Exit C and walk to destination in about 2-3 minutes.

XIE KEE HOKKIEN MEE 謝記福建面

Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre

51 Upper Bukit Timah Road

#02-174

Singapore 588172

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 7am - 10pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/dbj8RQUoe582

GPS Coordinates: 1.3394235,103.7738529

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

eat 3 bowls, food, food review, lu rou fan, review, seah im food centre, singapore, taiwan, 呷三碗, 滷肉饭

Recently, I decided to visit Seah Im Food Centre for breakfast before heading over to Sentosa for Sentosa Sandsation 2017.

This is my very first visit to the food centre and I had my eyes set on Eat 3 Bowls (呷三碗), a relatively new hawker stall offering Taiwanese street food like Lu Rou Fan (滷肉饭), Intestine Mee Sua (大肠面线), Salted Chicken (盐酥鸡), etc.

What I learned from the online reviews is that what the stall serve is quite authentic in terms of taste. Many reviewers have said that what they ate heretasted quite close to what they had had in Taiwan.

This is quite an achievement considering the business owners are not even Taiwanese but two Singaporean guys who made repeated trips to Taiwan to make sure that they got the taste right.

Encouraged by all the positive reviews, I had to order their signature, the Lu Rou Fan which translates as "Braised Meat Rice".

Lu Rou Fan is basically grounded pork belly served on top of rice.

Taste wise, it does not taste too bad. I like the fatty bits which have that melt-in-the-mouth texture. Since I have not been to Taiwan myself, I could not vouch for their authenticity but my personal take on this is that it reminds me of the minced meat stuffed inside our Nonya Dumpling.

At first glance, I thought the bowl of Lu Rou Fan looked really small. No wonder they are called Eat 3 Bowls because you need to eat three bowls to be full. On the contrary, that one bowl kept me satiated during my day at Sentosa!

Each bowl of Lu Rou Fan costs a mere $2.50 which makes it really affordable. Even the other items on their menu are quite wallet-friendly. And that is how all street food should be - to be made affordable for all.

Seah Im Food Centre is opposite Habourfront Centre and the nearest MRT Station is Habourfront. Just follow the signs to Exit A and walk about 2 minutes to the food centre.

EAT 3 BOWLS 呷三碗

Seah Im Food Centre

2 Seah Im Road

#01-21

Singapore 099114

Business Hours

Mon - Wed: 8.30am - 7.30pm
Thu - Fri: 9am - 5pm
Sat: 8.30am - 7.30pm

Closed: Sun

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/x8EzYP4NBU92

GPS Coordinates: 1.2666157,103.8169546

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

food, food review, review, seah im food centre, shi ji noodle stall, singapore, 獅記麵食攤, seah im food centre, lor mee,卤面, 獅記麵食攤卤面

During my second trip to Seah Im Food Centre, I decided to try out Shi Ji Noodle Stall (獅記麵食攤).

This stall sell Duck Noodle, Prawn Noodle, Tom Yum Noodle and Lor Mee (Braised Noodle). I decided to go for the Lor Mee as I was craving for it that day.

It is self service here. You queue to order your food, wait to collect and pay for your food.

I am pretty much impressed by the generous serving of ingredients in my bowl. There are plenty of ngor hiang (five spice rolls), lor bak (braised meat), fish cake and a certain fried stuff which I was unable to identify.

There is also half a lor ngerng (braised egg) and topped with minced garlic and coriander. I added two spoonfuls of black vinegar into the bowl which is the SOP for me.

The stall uses flat yellow noodles for their Lor Mee which I think is the traditional style. The crunch of the taugeh (beansprouts) complimented the softness of the noodle well so it does not have that jelat feeling.

Their lor (gravy) is quite pleasant and not too starchy. I have to mention that I love their lor bak and the fried stuff very much.

For just $3, this comforting bowl of Lor Mee is indeed value for money.

While waiting in the queue, the braised duck inside the window caught my attention. Then, I saw the two bowls of Duck Noodle ordered by the customer before me which look really enticing. I think I shall have that for my next visit!

Seah Im Food Centre is opposite Habourfront Centre and the nearest MRT Station is Habourfront. Just follow the signs to Exit A and walk about 2 minutes to the food centre.

SHI JI NOODLE STALL 獅記麵食攤

Seah Im Food Centre

2 Seah Im Road

#01-56

Singapore 099114

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 10am - 8pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/x8EzYP4NBU92

GPS Coordinates: 1.2666157,103.8169546

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

cheng ji chao xia mian hao jian, food, food review, fried hokkien mee, hokkien mee, review, seah im food centre, singapore, 成記炒蝦麺蠔煎,fried prawn noodle,fried hokkien mee,fried hokkien noodle,fried prawn mee,福建面

While researching about Seah Im Food Centre, I learned about this notorious Hokkien Mee stall who had, for reasons unknown, set some weird house-rules for its customers.

According to the accounts of several past customers, the owners do not allow them to take more than one pair of chopsticks. Those unaware of the 'law' ended up being chided for doing so. This has caused much distress among the 'victims' but the owners seem adamant about it.

This really piqued my interest hence I decided to pay this stall a visit. However, I have no plans to use myself as a bait to prove if the rumor is indeed true!

The stall in question is called Cheng Ji Chao Xia Mian Hao Jian (成記炒蝦麺蠔煎) and located just a few units away from Shi Ji Noodle Stall. Cheng Ji sells mainly chao xia mian (Fried Prawn Noodle aka Hokkien Mee) and hao jian (Oyster Omelette).

When I finally make my way to the stall, it was already past the lunch hour. The owners seemed to be in a jovial mood as they were sharing a good laugh with a lady standing in front of their stall who make a move as soon as she saw me coming up behind her. She does not seem like a customer as she left empty-handed.

The happy smiles that were on the owners' faces just moments ago disappeared without a trace as the lady boss went back to work at the back of the stall while the boss took my order.

As I waited for my order, I saw this piece of A4 paper staring back at me.

What exactly does the "one plate for one person" mean? Does it mean that one person can only buy one plate? Or two persons cannot share one plate? If everyone in my family wants to have their Hokkien Mee, the whole clan must turn up to order for themselves? But what if I wanted to have both Hokkien Mee and Oyster Omelette? I can only choose one between the two to have? Hmmm...

Anyway, my order was ready in less than two minutes (I have a GoPro strapped on me in recording mode). It seemed a little quick to fry a plate of Hokkien Mee if you ask me or perhaps it has been pre-cooked so all uncle did was to reheat? I did not pay much attention to uncle's cooking because I was reading that piece of paper.

As I was reaching for the chopsticks, I took a quick glance at the owners but no, I did not receive the hawk-eye treatment from them.

Phew.

The stall uses thick bee hoon (rice vermicelli) and round yellow noodles. I wished the noodles were simmered for a little longer though as they still have not fully absorbed the flavors of the broth but it tasted ok, I guess. However, all is good with their sambal mixed in. No wonder they wanted to charge 50¢ if you wanted more of it.

I counted five pieces of small prawns, bits of squid, chives and eggs. Unfortunately, the seafood were overcooked and had lost the 'crunch'.

Although I did not have any unpleasant encounter with either of the owners, I still hope they can try to be a bit more cordial. I know it's a backbreaking job being a hawker but it does not hurt to be on good terms with your customers. After all, customers are more likely to return if they receive a good service from you.

Does anyone know the story behind this stall? Did something happened before that make the stall owners come up with the "one plate for one person" and no extra chopsticks/plate rule?

Seah Im Food Centre is opposite Habourfront Centre and the nearest MRT Station is Habourfront. Just follow the signs to Exit A and walk about 2 minutes to the food centre.

CHENG JI CHAO XIA MIAN HAO JIAN 成記炒蝦麺蠔煎

Seah Im Food Centre

2 Seah Im Road

#01-59

Singapore 099114

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 8am - 10pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/x8EzYP4NBU92

GPS Coordinates: 1.2666157,103.8169546

Follow/Like

twitter: dead_cockroach

instagram: thedeadcockroach

fb page: the dead cockroach

RAWR! Dinosaurs Unearthed @ Plaza Singapura!

Soh Kee Cooked Food @ Blk 505 Jurong West Food Centre

Kok Kee Wanton Noodles @ Blk 505 Jurong West Food Centre

Long Kee Wanton Noodle 隆记云吞面 @ Blk 505 Jurong West Food Centre

164 Stirling Road Wanton Noodle @ Blk 164 Stirling Road

Xin Lu Teochew Fishball Kway Teow Mee Soup 新路潮州鱼圆粿條面汤 @ Mei Ling Market & Food Centre

Shi Hui Yuan Hor Fun Specialty 实惠园驰名香滑河粉 @ Mei Ling Market & Food Centre

"Set A" 164 Stirling Road Wanton Noodle @ Blk 164 Stirling Road

Shin-Chan: Urban Legend Series

Fuzhou Poh Hwa Oyster Cake @ Berseh Food Centre

Wow Wow West Chicken Chop @ ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre

Fatty Cheong Wanton Noodle @ ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre

Yong Kee Fish Ball Noodle @ ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre

Peter Pan Western Food Chicken Chop @ Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre

Sentosa Sandsation 2017

He Zhong Carrot Cake 合眾菜頭粿 @ Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre

Xie Kee Hokkien Mee 謝記福建面 @ Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre

Eat 3 Bowls "Lu Rou Fan" 呷三碗"滷肉饭" @ Seah Im Food Centre

Shi Ji Noodle Stall "Lor Mee" 獅記麵食攤"卤面" @ Seah Im Food Centre

Cheng Ji Chao Xia Mian Hao Jian 成記炒蝦麺蠔煎 @ Seah Im Food Centre