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
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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
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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
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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]

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
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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
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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]

West Coast 503 Teochew Fishball Noodle (潮洲魚圓麵) - $2.50 Bowl Of Noodle With Gigantic Fish Balls

West Coast 503 Teochew Fishball Noodle (潮洲魚圓麵), located in the quiet neighbourhood of Teban Garden, is an unassuming stall inside a coffeeshop on the second floor of the HDB block above the Sheng Siong Supermarket. It is my first time venturing into the area, and I decided to try the stall as it looks promising.

Teochew Fish Ball Noodle 4/5

The stall sells a good variety of noodle dishes. If I didn't count wrongly, it has fourteen noodle dishes on the menu with interesting options such as Snow Crab Noodle, Abalone Noodle and more. On top of that, it also sells other ala carte items such as fishcake and Wu Xiang.

What is remarkable is I can still find a bowl of noodles for $2.50. I have the Teochew Fish Ball Noodle, which comes with fishballs, fish cake slices, fish dumpling, pork slices, and minced pork.

I decided to go for mee pok, cooked to a nice bite. The chilli sauce and vinegar mixture goes well with the noodle, but I prefer it to be more piquant. The highlight goes to the fish ball, which is gigantic and super springy.

Overall, West Coast 503 Teochew Fishball Noodle sells an above average bowl of noodles, and for $2.50 I am not complaining. I don't mind returning if it is nearer to my home.


West Coast 503 Teochew Fishball Noodle
61 Teban Gardens Road
Singapore 600061
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Direction:
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn Left and walk to Jurong Gateway Road. Cross the road. Turn right and walk to bus stop at block 131 (Stop ID 28301). Take bus number 79 or 143. Alight 9 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

Poh Preserved Veg Hor Fun (菜莆河) @ Chinatown Complex Food Centre - The Return Of The Teochew Chai Poh Hor Fun

Poh Preserved Veg Hor Fun (菜莆河) is back at Chinatown Complex Food Centre after abruptly closing its Empress Road Food Centre. The stall currently offers only four items on the menu, a reduction he used to sell at his last stall. From what I read online, Mr Ng, the stall owner, has 20 years of experience working at Shangri-La and Kim Huat Restaurant. He was running the stall alone during my visit.

Preserved Veg Hor Fun 4/5

We had the signature Preserved Veg Hor Fun ($6). I observed how Mr Ng heated up the wok and stir-fried the flat rice noodles in the high heat, infusing them with the wok's breathe (smokiness). After that, beaten egg is poured into the wok, wrapping and sealing the smokiness in the golden egg coat. When one tucks into the plate of noodles, the first thing that hit me was the release of the smokey aroma, followed by the egg's fragrant. It is like having a plate of fried white carrot cake, not getting the crunchy bites of sweet chai poh.

Oyster Preserved Veg Hor Fun 3.8/5

We also had the Oyster Preserved Veg Hor Fun ($6), which is not much different from the original version. However, I find the addition of prawns is better than oysters. The sweetness from the prawns gave the plate of noodles an additional boost in taste profile.

Egg Fried Rice 3/5

The Egg Fried Rice ($5.50) was rather ordinary. The rice texture has a bite, so if you prefer the soft and moist type, this is not for you.

Prawn Paste Chicken 4.2/5

To complement your plate of hor fun or fried rice, I would highly recommend the Prawn Paste Chicken ($10). Deep-fried to golden brown, it was crispy and juicy. The fried chicken was packed with the rich prawn paste flavour, rich and prominent.


Poh Preserved Veg Hor Fun (菜莆河)
Chinatown Complex Food Centre
Blk 335 Smith Street
#02-206
Singapore 050336
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT Line, NE Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 10am - 3pm
(Closed on Mon)

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]

Kwee Zeen @ Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort - Limited-Time Hawker Buffet On Magnifique Hawker Nights

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa has collaborated with some of the best and well-loved local hawkers and brands to create a one-stop destination for the best local food across Singapore. In celebration of National Day, the Hawker buffet ($74++/pax) runs from 5 to 9 August 2022, featuring free-flow food from 15 hawkers, including:

1) Ah Ma Lor Mee
2) Jian Bo Shui Kueh
3) Legendary Bak Kut Teh
4) Janggut Laksa
5) Lee Wee & Brothers
6) Hock Lian Huat
7) Nam Kee Chicken Rice
8) Li Xin Teochew Fishball Noodles
9) Kim Choo Kueh Chang
10) Old Amoy Chendol
11) Hong Seng Curry Rice
12) Mr Popiah
13) Rochor Original Beancurd
14) Du Du Cooked Food
15) Old Original Serangoon Hokkien Mee

While the Taste of Singapore will end on 9 August 2022, the stalls included in the hotel's Magnifique Hawker Nights Buffet line-up are still operating every Friday and Saturday from 12 August.

Each hawker stall has its own booth, and dishes are assembled on-site by the hotel's chefs with ingredients catered from respective hawker stalls. The booths span from the indoors to the outdoor area of Kwee Zeen restaurant.

We kickstart the buffet with a piping hot bowl of goodness from Legendary Bak kut Teh. The pork ribs are soft and fork tender, stewed in a robust broth of fragrant herbs and spices.

Next, we moved on to the Traditional Hainanese Curry Rice from Hong Seng Curry Rice. Messy but delicious, we piled the plate with the quintessential Pork Chop, Boneless Curry Chicken, Pork Belly and Cabbage before topping off everything with thick and luscious curry sauce.

One of my favourites is the laksa from Janggut Laksa. The trademark of the Original Katong Laksa was that the noodles were cut short and eaten with a spoon for the sake of convenience. As for the laksa broth, it was comforting, flavourful and light, even though it is not too spicy.

The Lor Mee from Ah Ma Lor Mee was also satisfying, with a flavourful and viscous gravy packed with a good amount of lor bak, white fish flakes, egg and fried meatball.

We had a bowl of dry meepok noodles from Li Xin Teochew Fishball Noodles. It is a comforting bowl of noodles with a springy texture. You can opt for the soup version as well.

The Nasi Lemak from Lee Wee & Brothers had all the quintessential ingredients fried chicken wings, otah, roasted peanuts, cucumber slices, ikan bilis and sambal chilli.

For beverages, we had the soya bean milk from Rochor Original Beancurd. It was cold, refreshing, and as good as I remembered it to be. While you are there, grab some of their traditional beancurd as well.

The buffet also includes other local delights such as the satay and chilli crab with mantou.

Dive into favourites such as the Sambal Squid, Braised Pork Knuckle, and Chef Nelson's rendition of the tender beef cheek rendang.

There is also small seafood on ice selection, including prawns, clams, black, gong gong, mussels, scallops, and yabby.

End your meal on a sweet note with a wide array of traditional Nyonya kuehs and desserts, such as the Kueh Lapis, Rainbow kueh and ondeh ondeh.

Not to be missed is the chendol from Old Amoy Chendol, which comes with shaved ice, red beans, pandan jelly, coconut milk and gula melaka. As it was a DIY station, we topped off our bowl with extra coconut milk, which has a strong taste but is not too overpowering, and gula melaka, which was fragrant and rich.

While $74++ may be pretty steep price to pay for free-flow hawker food, it is a great solution to sample the best of Singapore's hawker culture in one place without having the hassle of travelling to the outlets one by one. Moreover, with the hotel's aim to give featured hawkers a "platform to earn a sustained income with a long-term partnership", which allowed the hawker buffet to run from 12 August to the end of the year, we absolutely love the cause and support for our local hawker heroes!

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Kwee Zeen
Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa
2 Bukit Manis Road
Singapore 099891
Tel: +65 67088310
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Harbourfont MRT (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 7am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at HarbourFront MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to pick up point at Exit D. Wait for the complimentary shuttle bus service. The shuttle service is available every 30 minutes of the hour. Journey time about 30 minutes. [Map]