Kovan Rojak (高文罗惹) @ Kovan Food Centre - Delicious Plate of Rojak With Unique Add-on Like Abalone And Jellyfish

Kovan Rojak (高文罗惹) at Kovan Food Centre is a gem that delights diners with its delectable plate of rojak. It ranks among the best I have ever had. Rojak, a traditional Asian salad, features a medley of ingredients tossed in shrimp paste. While the components may vary across different stalls, Kovan Rojak offers a delightful combination of cucumber, jicama, pineapple, youtiao, and tau pok.

Rojak 4.2/5

Setting itself apart from other rojak stalls, Kovan Rojak goes the extra mile by providing unique add-on options like abalone and jellyfish. This unexpected twist adds a touch of novelty to the dining experience, making it stand out from the crowd.

The plate of Rojak ($4/$5/$6) encompasses the classic ingredients, including cucumber, jicama, youtiao, tau pok, and beansprouts, all coated in a delightful sweet and savoury prawn sauce, generously sprinkled with peanuts. I opted to include cuttlefish for an additional dollar to enhance my enjoyment. The tanginess of the pineapple and the freshness of the green mango heightened the overall flavour profile. While the youtiao retained its satisfying crispness, I found the tau pok and cuttlefish lacking the desired crunch. It would be fantastic if they could toast them before serving. Nonetheless, the rojak was undeniably delicious, leaving a strong impression that compelled me to return for more.

Kovan Rojak (高文罗惹) is a must-visit destination for rojak enthusiasts seeking an exceptional culinary experience. Prepare your taste buds for a tantalising adventure that will undoubtedly leave you craving another plate of their flavoursome rojak.


Kovan Rojak (高文罗惹)
Kovan Food Centre
Blk 209 Hougang Street 21
#01-39
Singapore 530209
Nearest MRT: Kovan (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1130am - 6pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Kovan MRT station. Take Exit C. Turn right and walk straight to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Hei Bai Chao (黑白炒) @ Grantal Mall Macpherson - Delicious Noodles By The Same Team Behind Daruma Tavern

Hei Bai Chao (黑白炒), located inside Grantal Mall Macpherson, is a food court stall operated by the same team behind Daruma Tavern. This stall offers a variety of tantalizing dishes, including Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee, Crispy Bee Hoon, and KL Dai Lok Mee.

Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee 3.8/5

The Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee ($7.80) at Hei Bai Chao is prepared in the wet style, showcasing a robust and prawny stock. However, it can be a bit salty for some palates. The dish features more vermicelli than yellow noodles, which can throw off the balance of flavors and textures. Nonetheless, the inclusion of fragrant pork lard adds a delightful aroma to the dish, enhancing its overall appeal.

Crispy Bee Hoon 3.5/5

When it comes to the Crispy Bee Hoon ($9.80), it boasts a crispy exterior while remaining moist on the inside. However, it falls short in comparison to the version served at JB Ah Beng, a popular eatery known for its crispy bee hoon. While enjoyable, the Crispy Bee Hoon at Hei Bai Chao doesn't quite reach the same level of crispiness that some might prefer.

KL Dai Lok Mee 4/5

On the other hand, the KL Dai Lok Mee ($8.80) stands out with its delicious and savory dark sauce, generously layered with fragrant pork lard. The noodles in this dish have a satisfying bite to them, further enhancing the overall experience. This flavorful noodle dish is likely to satisfy those seeking a hearty and satisfying meal.

Hei Bai Chao, located inside Grantal Mall Macpherson, offers a range of dishes that are worth trying if you find yourself in the vicinity. While some dishes may have their shortcomings, the stall provides a variety of flavors and options that are sure to cater to different tastes. Whether you're in the mood for the robust flavors of the Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee, the crispy and moist textures of the Crispy Bee Hoon, or the savory delights of the KL Dai Lok Mee, Hei Bai Chao has something to offer. So, if you happen to be in the area, it's worth giving them a try and discovering which dishes appeal to your palate.


Hei Bai Chao (黑白炒)
Grantral Mall @ Macpherson
601 Macpherson Road
#01-31 Stall MR4
Singapore 368242
Facebook
Instagram
Nearest MRT: Tai Seng (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tai Seng MRT Station. Take Exit B. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Garden Street Kway Chap (呀侖街粿汁) @ Bukit Panjang - Popular Kway Chap Stall In Serangoon Opens New Outlet In The West

Helmed by third-generation hawker Jason, the popular Garden Street Kway Chap from Serangoon Market & Food Centre has now found its way to the West, in Pending, Bukit Panjang.

From its times in the 1940s till now, the stall has been serving up comforting bowls of herbal kway chap. In addition, they offer a variety of meat and non-meat options, from small intestines, pig stomach, and pig skin, to braised beancurd, fried fishcake and braised eggs. This new outlet also features two new menu items, the Pig Organ Soup ($5) and Pig Stomach Soup ($5).

Kway Chap 4.2/5

Ordering is straightforward. There is the Kway Chap Set for 1 ($5), Set for 2 ($11) or even the Non-meat Set for 1 ($4.50). If you are keen on a la carte, that is also available at varying prices for the ingredients.

We tried an assortment of ingredients, and the standouts were the tender and very well-cleaned pork innards and the slices of fried fishcake. Their innards were braised lightly and not gamey.

The Kway ($0.60 for small) came in a smooth, lighter-flavoured broth. If you are hungry, go for the bigger bowl at $0.90.

The queue looked short when we arrived on a Saturday morning, but expect a bit of a waiting time.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Garden Street Kway Chap
Kim San Leng Coffeeshop
259 Bukit Panjang Road
#01-36
Singapore 670259
Facebook
Instagram
Nearest MRT: Bukit Panjang (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 730am - 8pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bukit Panjang MRT station. Take Exit A2. Walk to Bukit Panjang LRT Station. Take the LRT to Pending Station. Walk to Bukit Panjang Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bukit Panjang MRT station. Take Exit A2. Walk to bus stop at Bukit Panjang MRT station (Stop ID 44029). Take bus number 171. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to Bukit Panjang Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Bukit Panjang MRT station. Take Exit A2. Walk to Bukit Panjang Bus Interchange (Stop ID 45009). Take bus number 976. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to Bukit Panjang Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 14 minutes. [Map]

Davis Prawn Court @ Kovan Food Centre - The Popular Cai Png Uncle Is Back Frying A Delicious Plate Of Hokkien Prawn Noodles

Davis Prawn Court at Kovan 209 Food Centre is a new stall selling Prawn Noodle and Fried Hokkien Mee. Residents in Kovan will be familiar with the man behind the wok. The same uncle used to run the now-defunct popular Cai Png stall - Teow Heng Cooked Food.

Hokkien Prawn Noodles 4.2/5

We had the Hokkien Prawn Noodles ($5/$8). The style is more of the gooey, semi-wet version packed with robust, savoury prawn stock. It reminds me of Come Daily Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee in Toa Payoh. Quite similar but less west. The plate of slurping goodness came with prawns, pork belly, sotong and pork lard. In addition, the accompanying chilli sauce has that slight tang that complements the noodles. It is indeed a good plate of Hokkien prawn noodles.

Davis Prawn Noodles 4/5

Besides the Hokkien Mee, the stall also offers a variety of prawn noodle options such as Big Prawn Noodle, Abalone Prawn Noodle, Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle, Pig Tails Prawn Noodle and Intestinal Prawn Noodle.

We had the regular Davis Prawn Noodle ($4.80/ $5.80), which comes with half-sliced prawns, pig's skin and lean pork. I opted for a mixture of beehoon and yellow noodles tossed in a fragrant dried chilli sauce that goes well with the noodle. As for the soup, it has a balance of pork and crustacean flavour. It is not the full-blown, rich crustacean flavour type.

Overall I prefer the Hokkien Mee over the Prawn Noodle. Comparing the two, the Hokkien Mee fares better. However, if you have stomach space, you can try both items. By the way, the hokkien mee is only available from 10am onwards.


Davis Prawn Court
Kovan Food Centre
Blk 209 Hougang Street 21
#01-37
Singapore 530209
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Kovan (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun: 7am - 9pm
(Closed on Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Kovan MRT station. Take Exit C. Turn right and walk straight to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

NiuNiu Tea & DuDu Rice @ Whampoa Drive Food Centre - Taiwanese And Korean Street Food In Hawker Centre

I first get to know NiuNiu Tea & DuDu Rice during Covid when it is doing home delivery. Since then, it has moved on to opening a hawker stall at Whampoa Drive Food Centre selling Taiwanese-Korean street food cuisine. It is a combination that is unique to the local hawker scene.

You may wonder why Taiwanese and Korean street food. It is quite simple as these are food close to the heart of Ryan, the young hawker stall owner. Ryan's parents are from Taiwan, while his wife is Chinese-Korean. If I am right, the interesting stall name is named after his two daughters too.

Lu Ru Fan 4/5

The bowl of Lu Ru Fan ($4.70) comes with braised pork, a whole braised egg and pickled vegetables on top of fragrant pearl rice. The braised pork leaned towards more fatty parts, which is my preference for a bowl of braised pork rice. However, the braising sauce is a bit on the light side. I prefer it to be richer.

Oden 4.2/5

To go with my bowl of braised pork rice, I also ordered a bowl of Oden ($1.50 for 3pc) from the oden bar, whereby customers can pick their oden from a selection of assorted Eomuk, Daikon, Konjac, assorted Balls and assorted Sausage. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the unique pairing of braised pork rice with a bowl of soupy oden. It's like how Chinese usually like to have soup for their meal.

Besides what I had, the stall also sells other items like Taiwanese Mee Sua, Taiwanese Crispy Chicken Cutlet, Tteokbokki and Gimbap.


NiuNiu Tea & DuDu Rice
Whampoa Drive Food Centre
Blk 90 Whampoa Drive
#01-82
Singapore 320090
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line), Novena (NS Line), Toa Payoh (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 12pm - 830pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to bus stop at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (Stop ID 07211). Take bus 130. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road. Walk down Balestier road towards Whampoa Drive. Turn left onto Whampoa Drive. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take Exit B. Cross the road and walk to bus stop opposite Novena Church (Stop ID 50031). Take bus 21 or 131. Alight 6 stops later. Walk down Balestier road towards Whampoa Drive. Turn left onto Whampoa Drive. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (Stop ID 52009). Take bus 145. Alight 6 stops later. alk down Balestier road towards Whampoa Drive. Turn left onto Whampoa Drive. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Tow Kwar Pop (豆乾薄) @ Tiong Bahru Food Centre - A Dish That Is Disappearing From Our Hawker Scene

Located at Tiong Bahru Food Centre is an unassuming stall selling Tow Kwar Pop (Stuffed Tofu Puffs), a dish disappearing from the Singapore hawker scene. The dish name is also the stall name. The stall was started by two brothers in 1965, the same year as Singapore's independence.

Tow Kwar Pop 4.5/5

The plate of Tow Kwar Pop ($4/$5) comes with freshly toasted tofu puffs over charcoal fire stuffed with crunchy vegetables such as cucumber and beansprouts, topped with peanuts. Accompanying the tofu puffs are you tiao, cuttlefish, pineapple, turnip, and green papaya, which is quite similar to a plate of naked rojak. I enjoyed the addition of cut fruits, giving the dish an extra refreshing touch.

It also comes with two accompanying sauces. One is a dark sweet, tangy sauce similar to rojak sauce with fragrant shrimp paste. Those who prefer some kick can dip the tofu puff in the chilli sauce.


Tow Kwar Pop (豆乾薄)
Tiong Bahru Food Centre
30 Seng Poh Road
#02-06
Singapore 168898
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Havelock (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 930am - 3pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Havelock MRT. Take Exit 2. Walk straight down Zion Road to junction of Tiong Bahru Road and Seng Poh Road. Cross the road and walk down Seng Poh Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Uptown Malaysia Nasi Lemak @ Telok Ayer Street - Popular Ayam Goreng Berempah In CBD With Long Queue

Malaysian style Nasi Lemak, better known as Ayam Goreng Berempah, whereby you get a whole spiced marinated chicken leg, has recently been popular in Singapore. As a result, many places have started selling the dish on their menu, from hawker stalls to restaurants. Uptown Nasi Lemak in the CBD is one such place that attracts long queues. Their nasi lemak, founded by two Malaysian childhood buddies, is inspired by the best Malaysian nasi lemak from Damansara Uptown, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

Ayam Goreng Berempah 4/5

The Nasi Lemak with Ayam Goreng Berempah is $8.20. It comes with a whole chicken leg, achar, half a boiled egg, sambal chilli, ikan bilis and peanuts. It is quite a steal to get a meal below ten dollars in the CBD. Furthermore, the portion is generous too.

The whole chicken leg is coated in a crispy layer of spice-marinated skin. However, the soy sauce is a tad too much overpowering the aromatics. The sambal chilli sauce was shiok, better than Dickson Nasi Lemak. The other condiments were a disappointment. The achar lacked the refreshing crunch, while the ikan bilis were not crispy. As for the rice, the texture is firmer, with a hint of coconut milk flavour but not as fragrant as Dickson Nasi Lemak.

Besides the Ayam Goreng Berempah, the stall sells other items such as Beed Rendang, Sambal Sotong, Curry Kapitam Chicken, Sambal Petai Prawn and Sambal Fish. All are priced below ten dollars.


Uptown Malaysia Nasi Lemak
121 Telok Ayer Street
#01-01
Singapore 068590
Tel: +65 87518927
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 10am - 3pm
Sat: 10am - 230pm
(Closed on Sun, PH and Last Sat of the month)

Direction:
Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left onto Telok Ayer Street. Walk down Telok Ayer Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Turn left onto Telok Ayer Street. Walk down Telok Ayer Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Redhill Pork Porridge @ Redhill Food Centre - Chef Cao Yong & Misstamchiak Opens Hawker Stall Selling Hainanese Pork Porridge

Finally, the shutter of Redhill Pork Porridge at Redhill Food Centre is drawn up again but with new owners. The previous owner, Mr Han has retired, and new owners have taken over the stall. The new owners are non-other than Chef Cao Yong, Maureen Ow (aka Misstamchiak) and Chef Kenny.

Why pork porridge? I understand from Misstamchiak that her family used to sell Hainanese pork porridge, and she helped at the stall on weekends. So when she learned about Mr Han's retirement plan, it was like a higher calling for her to start a new venture close to her heart.

Together with Chef Cao Yong and Chef Kenny, they took over the stall. While they retained Mr Han's recipe, they incorporated better quality ingredients into the bowl of porridge, such as the handmade mushroom meatball and thick-cut pig's liver.

Their bowl of Hainanese Pork Porridge ($3.50/ $4.50) comes with tender pork slices, thickly-cut pig's livers, handmade meatballs and crisp deep-fried youtiao. You can add an egg for additional fifty cents. The porridge is thick and smooth, where you still get the grain's texture. The highlight for me is the soft and bouncy, thick-cut pig's liver, a texture that you probably will not expect or have eaten before. I understand this is from the famous noodle stall known for its pig's liver. No wonder it is so good.

Currently, the stall only opens from 6am to around 9am or till sold out, selling about 250 bowls each day. Why the short hour? Actually, the previous owner also operates for about 3 hours each day only. The new owners are considering extending the opening hours, but they would prefer to take one step at a time to smooth out the operations. Staffing probably is another consideration if they plan to extend the opening hours.


Redhill Pork Porridge
Redhill Food Centre
85 Redhill Lane
#01-90
Singapore 150085
Instagram
Nearest MRT: Redhill (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 6am - 9am (or till sold out)
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left towards the taxi stand. Continue walk down Tiong Bahru Road until the traffic light junction. Cross the road onto Redhill Close. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Mr & Mrs Nasi Lemak @ Seng Poh Road (Tiong Bahru) - Re-Located From French Road to Tiong Bahru

Mr & Mrs Nasi Lemak, which used to be at French Road, moved to its new location in Tiong Bahru, Seng Poh Road, earlier this year. It is where Loo's Hainanese Curry Rice used to be, which has now been relocated to the nearby Tiong Bahru Food Centre.

Chicken Wing Set 3/5

I had the Chicken Wing Set ($5), which comes with deep-fried chicken wing, egg, ikan bilis and achar. Diners can choose either spicy or non-spicy ikan bilis. I went for the spicy version, which is exceptionally crispy and packed with the lovely aroma of the sambal.

The sambal was a bit out of place for me. It has a sour taste which I didn't enjoy. The rice grains used are longer, similar to basmati rice which has a nice delectable bite. As for the chicken wing, it was pretty small. Though it was deep-fried to crispy, it lacked the aromatics in the marination.

On top of the different nasi lemak sets, customers can choose to add on from the a la carte items. We decided to add on the Deep-fried Pork Belly for an extra $1.70. It is pretty dry in texture but has delightful crispiness.

Overall I think Mr & Mrs Nasi Lemak serves a decent plate of nasi lemak that will satisfy the hunger. However, it is not something that you will travel for it, as you probably can get one that is as good or even better near your home.


Mr & Mrs Nasi Lemak
Blk 71 Seng Poh Road
#01-49
Singapore 160071
Tel: +65 93835689
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Havelock (TE Line), Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun: 830am - 2pm
(Closed on Thu and alternate Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Tiong Bahru Road towards Kim Pong Road. Turn right onto Kim Pong Road. Turn left onto Lim Liak Street. Walk down Li Liak Street. Turn right onto Seng Poh Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Havelock MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk straight down to Zion Road to Seng Poh Road. Turn right onto Seng Poh Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Shanghai Fried Xiao Long Bao (上海生煎小笼包) @ Chinatown Complex Food Centre - Juicy & Crisp Sheng Jian Bao By Ex-Restaurant Dim Sim Chef

Newly opened earlier this year at Chinatown Complex Food Centre is Shanghai Fried Xiao Long Bao (上海生煎小笼包). The stall is opened by Chef Jiang, who has 25 years of experience working as a dim sum chef at Crystal Jade and Paradise Group.

Xiao Long Bao 3.8/5

The stall sells several items, such as noodles, wantons and dumplings. We ordered the chef's recommendation starting with Xiao Long Bao ($4.80/6pc). Compared to others, I find the skin is thicker, and I wished the filling had more broth.

Sheng Jian Bao 4.8/5

The highlight has to be the Sheng Jian Bao. There are two versions, Original Pork Sheng Jian Bao ($3/3pc) and Prawn Sheng Jian Bao ($4/3pc). We had the original version, which is handmade at the stall, and cooked in a huge flat pan that steamed the bun while giving it a crispy exterior at the bottom. It is so good, soft and fluffy, with a delightful crisp at the bottom. The filling was well-flavoured and juicy. I love how the broth gets soaked up by the fluffy dough that gives you a mouthful of flavours in each bite.

Beef Vermicelli Soup 2.5/5

Besides the Xiao Long Bao and Sheng Jian Bao, we also had the Beef Vermicelli Soup ($4.5). The noodles are smooth and silky. However, the broth is very light, almost bland, which is not my cup of tea.

The star dish is the Sheng Jian Bao here. I would highly recommend ordering them. As for the Xiao Long Bao and Beef Vermicelli Soup, you can give it a miss.


Shanghai Fried Xiao Long Bao
(上海生煎小笼包)
Chinatown Complex Food Centre
Blk 335 Smith Street
#02-104
Singapore 050336
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT Line, NE Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Tue: 1030am - 330pm, 530pm - 830pm
Thu-Sun: 1030am - 330pm, 530pm - 830pm
(Closed on Wed)

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Pagoda Street. Turn right onto Trengganu Street and walk to the end of the street. Cross Smith Street and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk to Sago Lane. Turn left and walk down Sago Lane. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]