Soon Kee Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle @ Bukit Batok Street 11 - The Hokkien Mee Comes with Sio Bak

After writing about Fried Baby Squid Prawn Mee at Bukit Batok Street 11, I was told that there was another Hokkien Mee stall located at the other coffeeshop around the back of the same block. Hence I made my way down to Bukit Batok Street 11 on a Saturday to check out for myself.

Fried Hokkien Mee 3/5

I had the Fried Hokkien Mee with Sio Bak ($5/$7/$10). The normal one without the sio bak is priced at $3.50, $5 and $8. Surprisingly the sio bak is pretty good. It did give the plate of noodle an extra element of enjoyment

The version of hokkien mee at Soon Kee is the wet version. Compared to Fried Baby Squid Prawn Mee, I preferred the texture of the noodles here more. It is not as gooey with the noodles retaining a good bite to it. Unfortunately things went downhill from here. The prawn stock to cook the noodles was not robust enough and the noodles failed to absorb the flavour of the stock. It also lacked the wok hei. On top of that, I dislike the chilli sauce, it did not go well with the noodles at all.

Overall I think it was a decent plate of fried hokkien mee but not one of the best I have eaten. I do like the idea of having sio bak together with the hokkien mee if only if the noodle itself can match up to it.


Soon Kee Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle
Blk 155 Bukit Batok Street 11
#01-322
Singapore 650155
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 8am - 9pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus number 941. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Fried Baby Squid Prawn Mee @ Bukit Batok Street 11 - A Gooey Plate Of Goodness With Generous Serving Of Pork Lard

If you are looking for a good Fried Hokkien Mee in the West, you would probably enjoy Fried Baby Squid Prawn Mee located at Yong Xing Mian Jia Coffeeshop in Bukit Batok Street 11. When I was there during my visit, there was already a queue patiently waiting for the stall owner to fried their orders.

Fried Hokkien Mee 3.5/5

A plate of Fried Hokkien Mee ($3.50/$5/$8) comes with prawn, squid, egg and pork lard in a sweet and flavourful stock. The version here is wet and gooey, with the noodles soaking up the robust stock.

Different stalls use different ratio of noodles for the hokkien mee. At Fried Baby Squid Prawn Mee, it uses more bee hoon than yellow noodle for the plate of goodness.

I am not a fan of their chilli sauce. I always feel fried hokkien mee goes better with those chilli sauce that has a tangy. Saying that, the stall is generous with their pork lard which boosts more flavour into the plate of gooey goodness.

This stall serves a good plate of hokkien mee and I can tell from the endless queue during my lunch there. However, I think this is good but not the best. I have had better ones elsewhere. Unfortunately if its in the West, this is one of the better one I have come across so far. Do let me know if you are aware of any other good fried hokkien mee stalls in the West?


Fried Baby Squid Prawn Mee
Yong Xing Mian Jia Coffeeshop
Blk 155 Bukit Batok Street 11
Singapore 650155
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 930am - 930pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus number 941. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Famous JB101 Firewokz @ WCEGA TOWER - Decent Zhi Char Stall At Bukit Batok Crescent

Famous JB101 Firewokz is a zhi char stall that is located at Bukit Batok Crescent, an industrial area in the West. I visited the place quite a few months back. I understand the place has undergone a renovation and just recently reopened in end March 2017.

White Bee Hoon 3/5

During my visit, the place was actually quite dead, serving only a few workers in the area. We have the White Bee Hoon ($7 medium) which was rather plain looking but it was quite flavourful. The bee hoon was not overcooked and comes with a nice bite. It also came with pawns, squid, greens and egg.

Salted Egg Spare Ribs 4/5

The other dish we ordered is the Salted Egg Spare Ribs ($12 small). The deep fried pork was rather tender and what elevated it was the coat of salted egg sauce that has a nice hint of spiciness.

French Beans 4/5

Completing our dinner, we had the French Beans ($8 small) whih we enjoyed very much. The french beans was crunchy and the generous topping of the dried shrimps gave the green a lifted enjoyment.

Overall, the food at Famous JB101 Firewokz is reasonable good. The pricing is also quite reasonable. Furthermore there is no GST.


Famous JB101 Firewokz
WCEGA TOWER
21 Bukit Batok Crescent
#02-01 (Open air food court)
Singapore 658065
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line), Bukit Batok (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 12midnight
Sun: 5pm - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17171). Take bus number 106. Alight 6 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus 77, 106 and 189. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes.[Map]

Xiang Ji Roasted Chicken Rice, Noodles @ Bukit Batok Street 25 - Another Great Roasted Meat Stall In The West

My food exploration of the West brought me to another roasted meat stall at Bukit Batok Street 25. Never occur to me that there is a coffeeshop at the multi story carpark, in the quiet neighbourhood of Bukit Batok, hidden from the view from the main street. In fact there is no other shops around it, just HDB flats.

Roasted Duck Leg Rice 4.5/5

I ordered the Roasted Duck Leg Rice ($5) to try so that I can make comparison to Mei Xiang's roasted duck. It is understand that the stall still used the traditional method of charcoal grill their roast. Compared to Mei Xiang's roasted duck, Xiang Ji's roasted duck is fatter and more moist. However the skin lacks the crispy texture which Mei Xiang has. Hence it is really down to individual preference. For me, both are winners and I am great that there is 2 good roasted duck stalls in the west.

Dumpling Soup 4/5

I could not help adding a bowl of the Dumpling Soup ($3) to my order when I noticed the huge golf size dumpling from another customer in front of me. The generous filling of the dumpling felt more like have siew mei rather than dumpling. Nevertheless, I am not complaining as it is worth my penny.

Roasted Pork & Char Siew Noodle 4/5

I could not believe my eyes when I noticed the huge serving for my Roasted Pork & Char Siew Noodle ($3). The noodle used is those springy type used in wanton noodle drenched in a savory sauce. The roasted pork and char siew are not the best but they are pretty decent. Compare to Mei Xiang's roasted pork and char siew, Xiang Ji is much better than them.


Xiang Ji Roasted Chicken Rice, Noodles
BB 289 Food House
Blk 289H Bukit Batok Steet 25
Singapore 657289
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 5pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus number 77 or 106. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Xiang Mei Roasted Meat @ Bukit Batok Central - Charcoal Grilled Roasted Duck

The hunt for a good roasted meat stall has brought me to Xiang Mei Roasted Meat at Bukit Batok Central. The stall is located inside S-11 Food House which is a short walk from Bukit Batok MRT station.

We ordered a Trio Platter of Soy Chicken, Roasted Pork and Char Siew  ($7) and a Quarter Duck ($12). The soy chicken is cooked to tender but not the best I have tried. The roasted pork lacked the crispy crackling skin while the char siew is the worst of all. The char siew was dry and lacked any flavours at all.

Roasted Duck 4.5/5

The highlight at Xiang Mei Roasted Meat is their Roasted Duck. It is the reason that brought me to the stall. I actually wanted to order the duck leg only but the stall owner refused to sell me, so I have to get a Quarter Duck ($12). The charcoal grilled roasted duck is not too oily, succulent, and has a nice thin crispy skin with a tad of herbal taste.

Another selling point at Xiang Mei is their complimentary soup. Everyday they will have different soup for their customers. We have Peanut Pork Ribs Soup.

Xiang Mei Roasted Meat
S-11 Food House
Blk 640 Bukit Batok Central
Singapore 650640
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 830am - 830pm
(Closed on alt Thur)

Direction:
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Nyonya Curry Puff Cafe @ Bukit Batok East Ave 2 - One Of The BestChicken Curry Puff I Have Eaten

My curiosity brought me to the neighbourhood of Bukit Batok East Ave 2 after a reader dropped me a message informing of a very good curry puff place there. Nyonya Curry Puff Cafe is not actually a sit down cafe, it is more of a takeaway kiosk selling a variety of puffs, snacks and light bites.

Chicken Curry Puff 4.2/5

The deep fried Chicken Curry Puff ($1.30/pc) comes with a crispy and flaky pastry skin. A bite into it, my eyes brighten up. The inside of the puff comes with chicken, potato, egg stuffing perfumed by the spices which you can taste in Indian curry. I really enjoyed this.

Ku Cai Mushroom Puff 4.2/5

For vegetarian, there is the Ku Cai Mushroom Puff. This is something new, I have never heard or seen it elsewhere. I am a fan of ku cai and with the additional of mushroom and onion, the flavour is given a further lift. I like the creation. Even non vegetarian should give it a try.

Besides the two puffs that I tried. the cafe offers a wide varieties of creation. They also sells Sardine Puff, Lemon Tuna Puff, Mutton Curry Puff, Black Pepper Puff, Chicken Cheese Puff and Durian Puff. Some interesting item such as lemon tuna, chicken cheese and durian caught my attention. I already planning to come back and try them.


Nyonya Curry Puff Cafe
Blk 274 Bukit Batok East Ave 4
#01-106
Singapore 650274
Facebook
Website
Tel: +65 94520918

Opening Hours:
Daily: 5am - 8pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus 61, 77, 106, 852 and 990. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist @ Bukit Batok East Ave 2

Great news to fans of Cross Way Bay Hong Kong Roasted Meat which used to be at Tampines Street 43 before moving to Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The stall owner, Martin has moved back to Singapore and doing what he knows best, roasted meat. He has opened a new stall and called it, 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist at Bukit Batok East Ave 2.

What made Martin popular is his biscuit like Sio Bak. Even KF Seetoh wrote an article in Makansutra recommending Martin's Sio Bak.

Sio Bak 4/5 and Char Siew 4.2/5

Unfortunately when we reached the stall at around 4pm, he told us that the good cut has been sold out and can only give us what is left. Someone ever told me that a good Sio Bak should have seven different layers and martin has retained that consistency. While the skin is still crispy and brittle but somehow lacks the standard it used to be. Later did I realize that he is still waiting to install his charcoal roasting oven as he is currently using what is left behind from the previous owner.

On the other hand, it seems like he has improved on his Char Siew. The char siew was not too sweet, tender and with hints of charred aroma.

Roasted Duck 4/5

It seems like when Martin moves to Johor Bahru, he has improved in his roasting skill. His Roasted Duck turned out to be pretty good too. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender. I even packet some back for my family to eat.

Roasted Chicken 4.2/5

The Roasted Chicken was the other surprise with its tender and moist meat. The sesame sauce that is drizzled over the chicken provided the extra lift in flavour.

I am glad to know that Martin has moved back to Singapore. I can't wait for him to get his charcoal oven installed and go back to try his sio bak again, maybe the rest of the roasted meat too.


[MOVED]
88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist
Blk 265 Bukit Batok East Ave 4
Singapore 650265
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 7pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus number 177. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Spruce @ Fire Station (Upper Bukit Timah)

This is the time of the year where restaurants are pushing out their festive menus. After my recent visit to Spruce at Phoenix Park, I am back to Spruce but at their Upper Bukit Timah Fire station outlet to try their Festive Set Menu ($38++) available from 1 to 30 December 2014 except 24, 25 and 31 December 2014. OCBC cardmembers will enjoy a 10% discount for the Festive 3 course menu which comes with a Salad, choice of main and a dessert.

Roasted Beetroot & Chevre Salad 4/5

Starting the 3 course Festive Menu was the Roasted Beetroot & Chevre Salad. It consists of a bed of roasted beetroot, candied walnuts, arugula and white balsamic dressing. I like the roasted beetroot which still comes with a nice crunch on top of its earthy sweetness.

Split Pea and Sweet Potato Soup 3.5/5

For an additional $10, you can add the Split Pea and Sweet Potato Soup to make it a 4 course meal. It was a comforting and hearty soup especially for the rainy period. If you are in the mood for some champagne, spruce offers the Pierre Paillard Cru Brut Chapagne for an additional of $45 for 375ml or $85 for 750ml.

Smoked Lamb Bockwurst with Chestnut Stuffing 3/5

Roasted Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing 3.5/5

The mains come with a choice of either the Smoked Lamb Bockwurst with Chestnut Stuffing or Roasted Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing. I really like the plating, the dish has the Christmas feel in its presentation. Among the two mains, I would prefer the turkey. I enjoyed how the sweetness of the cranberry sauce complemented the turkey meat.

Pumpkin Pie 2.8/5

Drawing the curtain to the 3 course festive set menu is the Pumpkin Pie. While I enjoyed the buttery crust, I thought the pumpkin flavour was lacking. I could barely tasted any pumpkin. It probably has been masked off by the sweetness of the marshmallow.

Ahi Tuna Tartar 4.5/5

Besides the festive menu, Spruce at Fire Station offers a lot of yummlicious dishes on the a la carte menu. One such dish is the Ahi Tuna Tartar ($22) that my friend highly recommended. 120 grams of sashimi grade raw tuna mixed with a special vinaigrette and served with a sliced avocado and toasted ciabatta bread. One word, awesome. You just need to have it.

Signature Salad 4.2/5

For a healthy and clean diet, Spruce's Signature Salad ($19) is pretty substantial with fresh corn, dates, almonds, Momotaro tomato, cucumber, avocado mixed green and chevre cheese. I like the choice of the champagne vinaigrette dressing which is not too heavy complementing the nature flavours of the salad. I actually find the use of dates in the salad rather interesting as you don't often get it elsewhere.

Spruce Burger 4/5

Over at Spruce @ Phoenix Park, I tried their pasta dishes so this time round I had the burgers instead. First up is the Spruce Burger ($18) which comes with a 160 grams freshly grounded Australian beef chunk sandwiched in between the black and white sesame bun that is made freshly daily. The burger is also topped with havarti cheese, bacons, lettuces etc. The beef patty itself was juicy and moist. However I felt something was missing in the burger, probably that feeling of guilt and messiness when you bite into one. I like my burger to be very big in flavour but this was more refined.

Tuna Burger 3/5

The Tuna Burger ($24) is one item on the menu that caught my eye when I first visited Spruce. I tried the cod fish burger from market grill before and it was awesome. I was hoping the tuna burger will be something similar. Unfortunately, I felt a bit disappointed when it was served as a patty instead of a whole tuna fillet. I was a decent burger but it was not memorable.  The star ingredient, tuna was hardly noticeable in the execution.

Red Velvet Cupcake and Latte 4/5

Don't be mislead by all the different colourful neon lights at Spruce Fire Station. This is not just a drinking place, it actually serves a cup of good coffee. The beans are sourced from Naples in Italy. We also tried the Red Velvet Cupcake which gets the approval from around the table. It was nicely balanced, not overly sweet and moist.

Pecan Pie 3/5

Baked Ginger Date Pudding 4/5

I have tried the Baked Ginger Date Pudding ($15) before and I still enjoy it. Warm, moist and comes with hints of ginger flavour. This is heavenly paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. If you like something nutty and sweet, the Pecan Pie would be a good choice too.

Having visit both Spruce's outlet, I have to say I have enjoyed both my experience. For those that drives, parking is free. Spruce Fire Station also screens live soccer matches, hence it is a good place to hang out with friends for a drink and catch a match too. Of course not to be missed is the festive promotional menu at $38++ and OCBC cardmembers get another 10% discount.


Spruce @ Fire Station (Upper Bukit Timah)
260 Upper Bukit Timah
#01-01
Singapore 588190
Tel: +65 64665582
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpruceFirestation
Website: http://www.spruce.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line), Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 12midnight
Sat-Sun & PH: 9am - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus no. 852. Alight 6 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 184. Alight 13 stops later. Walk to overhead bridge. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

Ah Lim Zi Char & Fish Head Steamboat @ Bukit Batok Crescent

To be frank I would have never imagine myself travelling all the way to the West for Zi Char not to mention an ulu location nestled in the Bukit Batok industrial area. Who would have known that there is a coffeeshop with a zi char stall which is only opened for around 2 weeks during my visit. The location of Ah Lim Zi Char & Fish Head Steamboat actually felt a similarity to Sin Min industrial area with eateries opening in the area in recent years.

Fish Head Steamboat 3.5/5

Dinner started with Ah Lim's signature Fish Head Steamboat (market price) using charcoal fire. While the soup is packed with the vegetable sweetness, all of us felt that it is lacking the robustness that we are seeking for. Compare to popular fish head steamboat like Whampoa Keng and Nam Hwa Chong (Ah Chew), this fell short of my expectation. Nevertheless this place is opened for only two weeks, probably a little more adjustment and fine tuning they should be good.

Homemade Golden Mushroom Beancurd 4/5

The Homemade Golden Mushroom Beancurd ($12) was much better. The star has to be the silky and smooth beancurd. For me the golden mushroom is purely gimmick but it did give the dish an extra crispy bite.

Crispy Chicken 3.8/5

I thought the Crispy Chicken with Plum Sauce ($22) was quite unique in its own way. The delectable crispy chicken skin is like an interpretation of suckling pig or Peking duck. However I thought if the marination for the crispy skin could be stronger or tastier it would be even better.

Fried Five Spice Pork 4/5

The inconspicuous Fried Five Spice Pork ($10/$15) has a familiar homely taste that I could not really put a picture or word to it. The combination of the aromatic spices together with the layer of fats simply melted my heart disintegrate in my mouth.

Salted Egg York Crab 3/5

While I applauded the thought behind the Salted Egg York Crab (market price) to showcase the freshness and natural sweetness of the crustacean, the salted egg york flavour was hardly noticeable. Having grown up with the saucy chilli crab and pepper crab, a good sauce has become an important criteria to determine a good crab dish. I still think Singaporean will still prefer something that is more saucy to encompass the sweetness of the crustacean.

Stir Fried Dou Miao with Fried Garlic 4.2/5

The Stir Fried Dou Miao with Fried Garlic demonstrates the wok skill of the chef. It was cooked to perfection with the greens retaining the crunchiness. I like having the fried garlic giving it an extra aroma boost.

Braised Pork Belly 4.5/5

A must try at Ah Lim Zi Char is the Braised Pork Belly ($15/$20). The gorgeous looking collagen packed pork belly glazed with honey was melting delicious. As this takes long hours to cook, each day only limited amount is available. If you want to savour this and not to be disappointed, it is better to pre-order before your visit.

Thai Sambal Chilli Fish 4.5/5

The other worth ordering dish is the Thai Sambal Chilli Fish (market price). Fresh red snapper fish head cooked in a delectable Thai sambal sauce that not only worked harmoniously, it also accentuated the taste of the fish meat.

Being only opened for two weeks, I have not set my expectation high as I understand it will take them sometime to settle down. Saying that, they did manage to delight my palate with the execution of the Braised Pork Belly and Thai Sambal Chilli Fish.


Ah Lim Zi Char & Fish Head Steamboat
WCEGA Plaza
1 Bukit Batok Crescent
#02-06
Singapore 658064
Tel: +65 81980414
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ahlimkopitiam
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus number 77 or 106. Aight 5 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]