Xing Ji Wanton Noodle @ Tampines Round Market & Food Centre - Go For the Chicken Feet Noodle Instead

During my visit to Tampines Round Market & Food Centre to check out Xing Yun Kway Chap, I noticed there is a constant long queue at Xing Ji Wanton Noodle. Being a foodie, I could not resist my curiosity to join the queue to find out for myself why the wanton mee stall attracts the snaking queue.

Wanton Mee 2.8/5

The Wanton Mee ($3) comes with slices of char siew, two wanton and a few strand of vegetables. The char siew is only passable lacking the carmalized charred. Overall the wanton mee lacks the depth to be considered as one of best.

Chicken Feet Noodle 4.2/5

Chicken Feet Noodle 4.2/5

While I find the wanton mee lacklustre, the Chicken Feet Noodle ($4) is actually worthy trying. Using the same noodle as the wanton mee, I find it more suitable to soak up the braised gravy of the chicken feet noodle. The chicken feet is also well executed with its crispy skin and braised to tender.

Conclusion I do not think it is worth queuing up for the wanton mee. However I feel the chicken feet noodle is worthy a try if you happen to be in the area.


Xing Ji Wanton Noodle
Tampines Round Market & Food Centre
Blk 137 Tampines Street 11
#01-35
Singapore 521137
Nearest MRT: Tampines (EW Line), Tampines West (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Thu-Tue: 6am - 1pm
(Closed on Wed)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tampines MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Tampines Bus Interchange (Stop ID 75009). Take bus number 20, 39, 292. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to junction of Tampines Ave 2 and Tampines Street 11. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tampines West MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to junction of Tampines Ave 2 and Tampines Ave 5. Cross the road. Turn right onto Tampines Ave 5. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes.  [Map]

Si Wei Yan (思味筵) @ Club Street - Home to Classic Sichuan Cuisine

We have known Singapore as a melting pot where we can get different cuisines from different races and nationalities. Over the years, with globalization we have seen more Chinese immigrants work or settle down in Singapore. This also leads to more Chinese restaurants offering cuisines from different part of China. Si Wei Yan (思味筵) at Club Street is one of these restaurants serving authentic Sichuan cuisine which is opened by the same folks behind the popular Si Wei Mao Cai at Mosque Street.

Mixed Vegetables in Special Si Chuan Sauce (思味上上签) 3/5

Our dinner started with the Mixed Vegetables in Special Si Chuan Sauce ($14). Chicken feet, black fungus and potato are skewered to the bamboo stick. The concept is like lucky pick. You never know which ingredient is at the end of the bamboo stick unless you drawn it out from the cup of mala chilli oil. A simple cold dish to kick start the dinner with the fiery special Sichuan Sauce.

Chicken in Chilli Oil with Minced Spices (思味搓椒口水鸡) 3.5/5

Poached chicken is nothing new to Singaporean but the Chicken in Chilli Oil with Minced Spices ($14) is a red hot introduction to the local palate. I like how the minced spices and chilli oil lifted the flavour of the poached chicken but the meat itself was a bit on the dry side.

Eggplant Topped with Homemade Green Chilli (烧椒茄子) 4.2/5

For those that can't really take spicy food, the Eggplant Topped with Homemade Green Chilli ($11) will be my recommendation. The homemade green chilli does not have that fiery kick, instead it gives a more garlicky, crunchy dimension to the dish which complements the eggplant excellently. A worthy note is how the chef prepares the eggplant to a nice crunch.

Beef Tongue Slices with Ginger (仔姜牛舌) 4/5

Beef Tongue Slices with Ginger ($16), may sounds rather acquire but it is actually quite nice. The beef tongue is sliced to thin slices which some what felt like eating bamboo shoot with its crunchy texture.

Raw Peanut in Spicy Soy Sauce (酒鬼花生) 3/5

It took me a while to get used to having Raw Peanut in Spicy Soy Sauce ($6). The more I chew into the raw peanut, the more I start to appreciate the new found taste. An interesting dish that may take a while for locals to accept.

Beef Shank Slices in Si Chuan Sauce (米椒拌牛腱) 4.5/5

Beef Shank Slices in Si Chuan Sauce (米椒拌牛腱) 4.5/5

One dish that I would highly recommend diners to order is the Beef Shank Slices in Si Chuan Sauce ($16). Look at how beautiful the beef shank is being sliced with the pretty marbling. Drowned in the pool of spicy Sichan sauce, this accentuated the whole flavour to a tongue wagging enjoyment.

Matsutake Millet Soup (小米松茸) 4.2/5

After all the spicy food, we have a break for some non-spicy items. Sichuan cuisine is not just about hot and spicy food. The Matsutake Millet Soup ($12) is timely to cool off the tongue. I like the millet in the soup which has a creamy texture like mash potatoes and fluffy like rice. It felt like having a bowl of comfort porridge.

Stewed Beef Brisket with Vegetables in Pork Bone Soup (粗粮牛腩) 4.2/5

The Stewed Beef Brisket with Vegetables in Pork Bone Soup ($22) is light and refreshing but yet flavourful. Borrowing a quote from one of the diners in the group - it felt like drinking ABC soup.

Stir Fried King Oyster Mushroom (小炒杏鲍菇) 4/5

The Stir Fried King Oyster Mushroom ($18) is probably the most popularity dish on the table. Thinly sliced and fried to crispy like potato chips, this is the first dish to disappear from the plates. I do not even have the opportunity to go back for a second helping.

Corn Fried with Salted Egg Yolk (金沙玉米) 2.5/5

While most of the dishes are hits, the Corn Fried with Salted Egg Yolk ($18) is a miss. First of all, I find the dish too costly. In addition, I could not even taste the salted egg yolk. All I tasted was the sweetness of the corn kernel.

Signature Beef Belly Slices in Sour Soup (酸汤肥牛) 4.5/5

For those that like sour stuff, you will enjoy the Signature Beef Belly Slices in Sour Soup ($32). This is my first time being introduced to the dish. The tanginess of the soup definitely entice the appetite. Together with the beef belly slices, mushroom and black fungus, this is a hearty and comforting bowl of soup.

Garlic Chives Flavoured Beef Slices (韭香牛柳) 4/5

In Hokkien we have the Kong Bak Pau but I didn't know that in Sichuan, they have the Garlic Chives Flavoured Beef Slices ($26) with steamed bun too. The beef slices are cooked to a beautiful tender that literally melted in the mouth.

Si Wei Signature BBQ Pork Ribs (思味王排) 3.8/5

Spectacular in presentation is the Si Wei Signature BBQ Pork Ribs ($48). The gigantic pork ribs is first braised, then grilled and finally deep fried before topping it with the different spices and spring onions. You can request the kitchen to chop up the pork ribs into smaller pieces for easy consumption. I thought the meat was a bit tough and dry but my dining partner actually enjoys the textural bite.

Red Grouper in Si Wei Dry Chilli (炝锅红斑) 4.5/5

I personally prefer the Red Grouper in Si Wei Dry Chilli (Seasonal Price) more than the Pork Ribs. The fish is steamed to a lovely moist and dressed in a coat of dry chilli. The star is the dry chilli that emits an aromatic scent when eaten together with the fish.

PROMOTION TO READER - DISCOUNT OF 10% OFF TOTAL BILL

Great news for SG Food on Foot readers. Si Wei Yan will be giving readers a discount of 10% off the total bill for the month of April 2016. All you need to do is to quote "DERRICK10".


[CLOSED]
Si Wei Yan (思味筵)
1 Club Street
Singapore 069400
Tel: +65 62216836
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Cross Street. Turn left onto Club Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Legendary Hong Kong @ Jurong Point 2 Shopping Centre

Many who has been to Hong Kong will know that it is a food paradise. From dim sum, wanton mee to roasted meat these are the delicacies that we must try whenever we visit Hong Kong. With the opening of Legendary Hong Kong at Jurong Point 2 Shopping Centre in July 2014, the restaurant actually brings to you all the Hong Kong delicacies into one place. Legendary Hong Kong comes in four sections offering roasted meats, noodles and congee, dim sum and bakery.

Sauteed Turnip Cake with XO Sauce 4.2/5

From the dim sum section, we tried the Sauteed Turnip Cake with XO Sauce ($5.50), Steamed Shrimp Dumpling ($5.50), Chicken Claws in Black Bean Sauce ($4) and Rice Flour Roll with Deep Fried Shrimp Spring Rolls ($5.50).

The Sauteed Turnip Cake ($5.50) was pan fried to a nice exterior crisp while retaining the internal moist with bites of the shredded turnip. The XO sauce further enhanced the whole flavours giving it a hint of spicy kick.

Steamed Shrimp Dumpling 4.2/5

The Steamed Shrimp Dumpling ($5.50) comes with fresh, sweet and crunchy shrimp wrapped in a thin translucent dumpling skin. This is really good and you probably would not stop at just one basket.

Chicken Claws in Black Bean Sauce 4/5

I am big fan for Chicken Claws in Black Bean Sauce ($4). This is well cooked until soft, infused with the flavourful black bean sauce.

Rice Flour Roll with Deep Fried Shrimp Spring Rolls 4.2/5

Zha Liang is a popular dish in Hong Kong wrapping rice flour roll around youtiao. It has been given a little tweak,  substituting the youtiao with deep fried shrimp spring rolls. I feel the version of Rice Flour Roll with Deep Fried Shrimp Spring Rolls ($5.50) is actually quite clever, giving it a more crunchy and crispy internal.

Crispy Egg Tart 4.2/5

From the bakery section, we tried both the Crispy Egg Tart ($1.80/pc) and Custard Crush Buns with Salted Egg Yolk ($5 for 3pc). Having been recently to Hong Kong and tried the Honolulu Cafe's egg tart, my standard has been raised. While I have a high benchmark, the flaky egg tart is not far off. It definitely one of the better ones I have eaten and I like it.

Mini Custard Crust Buns with Salted Egg Yolk 3.8/5

Mini Custard Crust Buns with Salted Egg Yolk ($5 for 3pc) is another interesting creation at Legendary Hong Kong. This is a 2 in 1 bun with the combination of Bo Lo Bao and Liu Sha Bao. Inside the bun is molten salted egg yolk filling but unfortunately it did not flow.

Congee with Century Egg & Pork 4/5

Moving on to the Noodles and Congee section, we tried the Congee with Century Egg & Pork ($6.80), Tossed Shrimp Dumpling Noodle ($7.80) and Wanton Noodle Soup ($6.80).

I was expecting the Congee with Century Egg & Pork ($6.80) to be plain but the comforting bowl of congee was actually well seasoned and flavourful with a smooth texture.

Tossed Shrimp Dumpling Noodle 3.5/5

Wanton Noodle Soup 4.5/5

My recently trip to Hong Kong also brought me to Mak's Noodles in Hong Kong. I am really excited that chef making the wanton noodles at Legendary Hong Kong is from Mak's Noodles. I tried both the Tossed Shrimp Dumpling Noodle ($7.80) and Wanton Noodle Soup ($6.80) and I preferred the later more. However I did notice some slight difference in the bowl of noodle. The texture of noodles I had in Hong Kong seems even finer and also hair-like thin, here is a bit thicker. The wanton is wrapped into a ball shape, here has a loose end probably means less shrimp is used. Saying that the noodles itself is still thin and springy, very similar to what I had in Hong Kong. The chef also insisted of using shrimp for its wanton instead of pork which is more common in Singapore.

Barbecued Pork 3/5

Last but at least the Roasted Meat section. The Barbecued Pork ($10.80) was rather pedestrian. I felt that the barbecued pork lacked the smoky charred aroma or it will be excellent.

Roasted London Duck 4.8/5

Not to be missed at Legendary Hong Kong has to be the Roasted London Duck ($14.80 per portion). The duck is specially imported from Ireland Silver Hill Farm. The first thing I noticed is a lay of fat between the skin and meat. It is like a layer of jelly which we get from Hainanese Chicken, oily but not greasy. The meat itself is also more succulent. If I can draw a comparison, it is like having pork from a suckling pig. This is definitely a must try.

If you are craving for Hong Kong cuisine, Legendary Hong Kong is definitely a good choice to satisfy your craving. The all in one concept means that they are over 300 over dishes in the menu ranging from Hong Kong cafe, dim sum, congee and noodles, bakery and roasted meat. Without flying to Hong Kong, the delicious food is served to your table.


Legendary Hong Kong
Jurong Point 2 Shopping Centre
63 Jurong West Central 3
#03-80
Singapore 648331
Tel: +65 67941335
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegendaryHK
Website: http://lhk.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Boon Lay (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Boon Lay MRT station. Take Exit C, D, E. Walk to the new wing of the shopping centre. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Fei Lou Porridge @ Telok Blangah Crescent Market & Food Centre

If you have been following me on instagram or my facebook page, you will noticed that I have been coming back to Fei Lou Porridge to have late dinner for 2 consecutive weekends. The food here definitely cannot compare to restaurant standard but it is something that is homely, comforting and affordable.

The first visit, I felt that the father and son team was a bit unfriendly. They hardly spoke or acknowledged your order not say even a smile. For a moment I thought they were mute. I kept observing them until I saw them talking to a few of their regular customers. In my 2nd visit, I managed to exchange a few words with the uncle and realized he is actually quite nice. He even gave me a goodbye wave after I finished my dinner and left the place.

Ham & Century Egg Porridge 4/5

The stall offers quite a few choices of porridge but my favourite has been the Ham & Century Egg Porridge ($3). The smooth and silky Cantonese style porridge need no further seasoning. If I am not wrong from what I have observed, the stall added some chicken stock in cooking the porridge. Although the bowl of porridge is cheap, I still get value in return with a generous servicing of century egg, ham and even fried white bait fish.

Ham Macaroni 3.5/5

The beehoon here usually sold out pretty fast so we ended up ordering the Ham Macaroni ($3). I felt that the stall added a bit too much of the chicken stock resulting it to be on the salty side. Nevertheless a hearty bowl of ham macaroni to satisfy the hungry tummy.

Chicken Feet 4/5

Another must order dish for me whether I come here is the Chicken Feet ($3). There are at least about 5-6 pieces of the well braised chicken feet that has absorbed the braising sauce perfectly. Before servicing they will topped it with a few spoonful of peanuts which I like to eat with my porridge.

Cuttlefish & Cabbage 4.2/5

My favourite dish at Fei Lou Porridge is the Cuttlefish & Cabbage ($4.50). This is something different from usual cuttlefish kang kong that is drenched with rich overpowering prawn paste sauce. The cuttlefish cabbage simply allows the sweetness of the cabbage to shine and complement the cuttlefish. Topped with a generous servicing for fried shallot, this is light, refreshing and serves as a delectable side dish to go with the porridge.


Fei Lou Porridge
Telok Blangah Crescent Market & Food Center
(Opposite Mount Faber Safra)
Blk 11 Telok Blangah Crescent
#01-116
Singapore 090011
Nearest MRT: Harbour Front (CC Line, NE Line), Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 630pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Harbour Front MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop at Harbour Front MRT station (Stop ID 14141). Take bus number 131. Alight 6 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10161). Take bus number 195. Alight 6 stops later. Cross the road to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Dim Dim - The Hong Kong Pantry @ Marina Square (Marina Link)

Will Singapore slowly develop into having its own dim sum culture similar to Hong Kong? I am not surprise if one day we do from what I have observed. Dim Sum has become very popular in Singapore with many Chinese restaurants starting to offer the bite size delights. There are also a emerging trend of all day dim sum restaurants such as Swee Choon, Wen Dao Shi and the popular Tim Ho Wan which has a Michelin Star in Hong Kong. The above are usually very crowded and if you one of those that thinks it is not worth it to queue for so long for their dim sum then you may like to check out Dim Dim - The Hong Kong Pantry located at Marina Square (Marina Link).

Prawn Dumpling 4.2/5

The Prawn Dumpling or Har Gow ($4.20) was wrapped in a handmade translucent thin skin with fresh juicy plump shrimps. I also tasted something crunchy in the filling. If I am not wrong they have added water chestnut in it.

Steamed Custard Bun 3.5/5

Steamed Custard Bun 3.5/5

The Steamed Custard Bun or Liu Sha Bao ($4.20) was pretty decent but I think there is room for improvement such as fine tuning the doughy texture and probably a little more of the runny custard filling to have that explosive impact.

Cuttlefish and Peanut Congee 3.5/5

The Cuttlefish and Peanut Congee ($5) is a welcome change from the using century egg congee. The light and comforting bowl of congee was smooth and sticky with the cuttlefish, peanuts and flour crisp providing the contrasting textures.

Deep Fried Shrimp in Beancurd Skin Roll 4.2/5

Packed with generous shrimps inside the roll, the Deep Fried Shrimp in Beancurd Skin Roll ($4.60) was crispy on the outside with fresh juicy shrimp inside. I understand that the beancurd skin has undergone an additional step of cooking (using their own recipe) to achieve the taste and look.

Steamed Cheong Fun with Chinese Dough Fritters 4.2/5

I remembered I first have the Steamed Cheong Fun with Chinese Dough Frittrs or Zha Liang ($3.60) in one of my earlier Hong Kong trip. Since then, I don't remember seeing this being served in Singapore. I was glad that I finally get to eat this again after so many years. Pretty good execution with the silky smooth rice noodle roll wrapped tightly around the fried and crispy youtiao. It also comes with a peanut and seafood dipping sauce to further enhance the enjoyment.

Mini Egg Tart 4.5/5

The Mini Egg Tart ($3.60) was freshly baked from the oven daily. The flaky thin puff crust with the warm egg custard was simply too good to just stop at one.

BBQ Honey Pork Bun Coated with Crispy Butter 4/5

One of their popular dishes is the BBQ Honey Pork Bun Coated with Crispy Butter ($4.20). The bun has a nice sugary crisp on the outer layer, soft inside and filled with delectable honey pork. Compared to Tim Ho Wan's version, the flavours is milder.

Steamed Chicken Claw with Black Bean Sauce 4/5

A must order for me whether I have dim sum. The Steamed Chicken Claw with Black Bean Sauce ($3.80) was well seasoned with the flavours beautifully infused.

Aloe Vera with Sweet scented Osmanthus Juice 3.5/5

Moving on to dessert, the Aloe Vera with Sweet Scented Osmanthus Juice ($3) was light and refreshingly, somewhat acted like a palate cleanse after all the earlier dim sum items.

Mango Puree with Sago and Pomelo 4/5

The Mango Puree with Sago and Pomelo ($3.50) was really good. My only complain is that the portion was a bit too small. On the background of the photo is the herbal jelly which was not memorable.

Chilled Pumpkin Puree with Black Glutinous 4.2/5

Initially I thought this is the rendition of the Pulut Hitam dessert but it ended up not. It so what caught me by surprise as I was not expecting the combination. The Chilled Pumpkin Puree with Black Glutinous ($3.20) was served with a scoop of coconut ice cream. Overall this is a very good dessert which I will be glad to finished it. My only opinion is that the flavour of the coconut ice cream overpowered that of the pumpkin puree. Somehow the coconut ice cream became the star of the dish instead of the pumpkin puree.

Besides the usual dim sum items, Dim Dim also serves a selection of Bamboo Rice, Noodle and Congee. It even has a high tea menu at $6.80++ whereby it comes with a choice of Congee/Cheong Fun/Noodle + Steamed/Fried Dim Sum + Soya Milk on weekday from 3pm to 5pm. Overall, Dim Dim serves pretty decent dim sum that is tasty at a affordable price.


Dim Sum - The Hong Kong Pantry
Marina Square (Marina Link)
6 Raffles Boulevard
#B1-16
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 63369088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dimdim.marinalink
Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am - 9pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 930pm

Direction:
Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Marina Link. Continue on Marina Link towards Marina Square. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes.