Covent Garden Prawn Noodle @ Havelock Road Food Centre - A Taste of Nostalgia

During my previous visit to Havelock Road Food Centre, I noticed a short queue at Convent Garden Prawn Noodle. When I was back recently, I decided to join the queue to find out for myself how good is the prawn noodle. You know what? I queued for 45 minutes for my noodles!

Prawn Noodle Dry 2.8/5

The bowl of Prawn Noodle Dry ($2.50/$3/$4) comes with 3 half-sliced prawns, slices of lean pork, fish cake tossed in a mild chilli sauce and topped with fried shallots and pork lards. Unfortunately I thought the chilli was rather disappointing, it did not have that kick and robustness to complement the noodle.

Prawn Noodle Soup with Pig Intestine 3/5

I also tried the Prawn Noodle Soup with Pig Intestine ($4/$5) which fare better then the dry version. The soup did not have the rich crustaceans flavour but instead a clear light soup flavoured by the pork lard. The pig intestines was also well cleaned without the gamey taste.

I can't say Convent Garden Prawn Noodle is one of the best but it definitely comes with a taste of nostalgia. I am sure it will bring back a lot of memories for many diners. Besides the two bowl of prawn noodles I tried, the stall also sells prawn noodle with pig tail.


Covent Garden Prawn Noodle
Havelock Road Food Centre
Blk 22B Havelock Road
#01-24
Singapore 162022
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Fri-Mon: TBA
(Closed on Tue-Thu)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Bukit Ho Swee Link. At Bukut Ho Swee Link, turn left and walk to Jalan Bukit Ho Swee. At Jalan Bukit Ho Swee turn right and walk to Jalan Klink. Walk down Jalan Klink and look out for a staircase that goes down the slope. Take the staircase to the bottom. Turn right and follow the covered walkway to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Xin Cuisine Chinese New Year 2017 @ Holiday Inn Atrium

With the turn of the year, we are all really to welcome the year of the golden rooster. Many families and companies will be planning for their reunion dinner or company dinner for the Lunar New Year. This year's Lunar New Year is earlier falling on 28 January 2017. Hence you may need to start making plan. One recommendation would be Xin Cuisine at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium.

A must have at every reunion dinner is the Yu Sheng to toss to a year of prosperity and abundance. At Xin Cuisine, it offers a healthier version using dragon fruit dressing. The Abalone and Salmon Yusheng with Dragon Fruit Dressing comes with shredded yam and purple potato on top of the usual ingredients.

Festive Dim Sum Selection 4.2/5

We started with some dim sum selection. Sitting on the plate from left to right is the Deep Fried Chicken and Foie Gras Yam Dumpling, Steamed Vegetarian Bun with Morel Mushroom and Baked Barbecued Pork Pastry with Diced Abalone. It reminded us that Xin Cuisine is not just only known for its a la carte dishes, their dim sum is exquisite too.

Braised Kurobuta Pork with Snow Pear 3.5/5

Xin Cuisine will also be introducing some new a la carte item in the new year. One of them is the Braised Kurobuta Pork with Snow Pear. While the texture was soft and tender, I thought it was a bit porky or it would be an excellent execution.

Wok Fried Glutinous Rice 4/5

Once the lid of the huge steam basket is lifted, the Wok Fried Glutinous Rice filled the air with the beautiful aroma. The used of preserved meat further elevated the flavour of the glutinous rice. This is definitely worth postponing the diet plan.

Xin's Traditional Pen Cai 4.2/5

My favourite item on every Chinese New Year menu is the Pen Cai or Treasure Pot. The Xin's Traditional Pen Cai has around 12 ingredients. There are abalone, roasted pork, roasted duck, mushroom, prawn, fish maw, oyster, cabbage, Chinese sausage, radish, fat choy, scallop etc. This is also available for takeaway for a luxurious reunion dinner with your family members.

Double Boiled Four Treasure Tea with Glutinous Rice Balls 4/5

There is nothing more fitting than the Double Boiled Four Treasure with Glutinous Rice Balls to end the dinner. Glutinous rice ball or Tang Yuan which symbolizes reunion, is the ideal dessert to be served over dinner will all the family members coming together for the reunion dinner.

Besides the Lunar New Year menu for reunion dinner, Xin Cuisine has also introduced a number of Chinese New Year goodies for takeaway. You can find out more from the website.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Xin Cuisine
Holiday Inn Atrium
317 Outram Road
Singapore 169075
Tel: +65 67317173
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily 12pm - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10169). Take bus number 123. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes.  [Map]

Uncle Chicken RIce @ Havelock Road - Moved From Simpang Bedok to Tiong Bahru Area

In my previous review on Uncle Chicken Rice when it is at The Bedok Market Place, both the brothers of Sin Kee Famous Chicken Rice, Niven and Benson were working together then. Now they have once again gone their separate way. Benson has opened his own stall at the coffeeshop at block 40 Holland Drive while Niven decided to move to Havelock Road.

The new location at Havelock Road is an air conditioned, sit down eatery hence you will find the price a bit higher. On the wall, there is a painting of Smith Street in the olden day. This is where Niven's father started selling and learning the skill of the chicken rice before opening Sin Kee.

Poached Chicken 4.2/5

Currently Uncle Chicken Rice offers 3 different menu set menu - Single Set (from $4.50), Set Meal A ($16.80 to $32.80) or Set Meal B ($20.80 to $42.80). We gone for Set Meal B ($42.80 for 4 pax) which comes with a choice of Poached Chicken/Soya Sauce Chicken/Combo, Chicken Rice/White Rice/Plain Porridge, Graden Vegetable with Oyster Sauce and Chicken Feet with Peanuts Soup.

Soya Sauce Chicken 3.5/5

Since there is a choice of chicken from our set meal, we decided to go for the combo which comes with both the poached chicken and soya sauce chicken. The chicken is still chopped into chunky pieces for the full enjoyment of the moist and tender chicken. While Niven still maintains the high standard of this poached chicken, I thought the soya sauce chicken still lacking in terms of flavour. I could not really taste the soya sauce flavour in the chicken.

Besides the chicken, I am glad that Niven has kept the fresh ginger and scallion dip to go with his chicken. Not to forget his concoction of chilli sauces. For the regulars, you will be glad that he still does the more spicy and tangy version but only serve upon request.

Chicken Feet with Peanut Soup 

Garden Vegetable with Oyster Sauce

The set menu we ordered also comes with Chicken Feet with Peanut Soup and Garden Vegetable with Oyster Sauce. They are good side dishes to complement the meal. I only visit the soup is cooked longer to extract the full essence of the ingredients. Not to forget that their delicious Lava Egg which is available on their other set menu. I think you should be able to add on as ala carte.

Lava Egg 4.2/5

Uncle Chicken Rice has only opened for about a week, so it still needs time to smooth out its kitchen's operations. It will also gradually introduced more dishes on the menu. Meanwhile, if you missed his chicken rice, it is all ready to receive you.


Uncle Chicken Rice
729 Havelock Road
Singapore 169649
Tel: 1800 2442536
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to PSB Academy. At the junction of Jalan Bukit Ho Swee and Bukit Ho Swee Crescent, cross the road walk towards the HDB flats. Cut through the HDB flats and walk towards block 40. Walk to the shop houses behind block 40 along Havelock Road. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

IAAI Malay Food @ Havelock Road Food Centre - Mee Rebus At Only $2

On my trail to find cheap food in Singapore, it lead to IAAI Malay Food stall at Havelock Road Food Centre. This humble and little known stall sells a variety of items on the menu at at two dollars. A price you hardly can find in Singapore nowadays.

Mee Rebus 

For the price tag, the bowl of Mee Rebus ($2) is very substantial. The stall owner is not stingy with the ingredients or portion at all. It comes with yellow noodles, green chillis, spring onions, Chinese celery, fried firm tofu, fried shallots, bean sprouts and a whole hard boiled egg. The gooey gravy with mild spiciness may not be the best I have eaten but it is acceptable if you one that is not too picky. I am not complaining as its only two dollars for the portion.

Mee Siam 2.5/5

Besides the Mee Rebus, I also tried the Mee Siam ($2). Again the portion is huge and it comes with a whole hard boiled egg. Unfortunately the gravy lacked depth and it tasted watered down.

During our visit in the late morning, their Epok-Epok Kak Andon (1 for $0.70 and 3 for $2) was already sold out. The stall auntie told us that its very popular and usually its the first item to be gone. Guess I need to be very early in my next visit to try the Epok-Epok. The stall also sells Mee Soto ($2), Nasi Lemak ($2), Nasi Sambal Goreng and Nasi Campur.


IAAI Malay Food
Havelock Road Food Centre
Blk 22A/B Havelock Road
#01-30
Singapore 162022
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 1pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Bukit Ho Swee Link. At Bukut Ho Swee Link, turn left and walk to Jalan Bukit Ho Swee. At Jalan Bukit Ho Swee turn right and walk to Jalan Klink. Walk down Jalan Klink and look out for a staircase that goes down the slope. Take the staircase to the bottom. Turn right and follow the covered walkway to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]