Claypot curry fish head has been gaining plenty of attention lately, and one of the places we recently checked out is JB Claypot Curry Fish Head, tucked inside Chang Sheng Eating Place at Bedok North Street 3. The stall specialises in charcoal claypot curry fish head, alongside a selection of hearty, comforting zi char-style dishes that are perfect for sharing over a casual meal.
While the Signature Curry Fish Head ($26) is the dish to try here, we chose the Curry Fish Tail ($33) instead. The stall prides itself on its JB-style curry, which comes with a noticeably rich and lemak profile. The curry is thick, creamy and packed with coconut richness, with just enough savouriness to keep you going back for more. It is the kind of curry that works especially well with a bowl of steamed rice, soaking up all that luscious gravy.
Signature Curry Fish Head / Fish Tail 4.2/5
Served bubbling in a charcoal claypot, the curry fish tail is topped with crispy beancurd skin, adding a pleasant textural contrast. Digging underneath, there is a generous amount of vegetables including cabbage, long beans, brinjal and okra, making this a hearty one-pot dish. The fish tail itself was meaty and paired well with the rich curry.
Sambal Four Heavenly Kings 3.8/5
We also tried the Sambal Four Heavenly Kings ($12), a familiar mix of long beans, okra, brinjal, and petai, finished with crispy fried ikan bilis for extra crunch. The vegetables retained a decent bite, while the ikan bilis added a nice savoury contrast. However, the sambal was rather mild and lacked the fiery punch we were expecting. If you enjoy your sambal with plenty of heat, this might come across as a little restrained.
Dried Shrimp Fried Lala 4/5
The Dried Shrimp Fried Lala ($14) was another enjoyable dish. The lala were plump and juicy, wok-fried in a fragrant dried shrimp sauce with sweet, spicy, and savoury notes. The dried shrimp gave the sauce a deep umami character, coating the shellfish with plenty of flavour without overpowering its natural sweetness. A good option to order alongside the curry and rice for some variety.
Ginger Paste Kampung Chicken 3.5/5
The Ginger Paste Kampung Chicken ($18) comes with kampung chicken, identifiable by its slightly more yellow-toned skin. The chicken was paired with a fragrant ginger paste that brought a warm, aromatic quality to the dish. The ginger sauce complemented the chicken well, though we found some parts of the chicken slightly dry. It is a comforting and familiar zi char-style dish, but compared to the curry fish tail, it was less memorable.
JB Claypot Curry Fish Head offers a satisfying selection of hearty zi char dishes, but the highlight for us was definitely the JB-style Curry Fish Tail. The rich, creamy and lemak curry, together with the crispy beancurd skin and generous serving of vegetables, makes it particularly enjoyable with plenty of steamed rice. If you are a fan of rich curry and communal zi char meals, this Bedok North stall is worth checking out for its charcoal claypot curry.
Note: This is an invited tasting.
JB Claypot Curry Fish Head
Chang Sheng Eating Place
Blk 539 Bedok North Street 3
#01-593
Singapore 460539
Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)
Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 930pm
Direction:
1) Alight at Bedok MRT Station. Take Exit B or C. Walk to Bedok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 84009). Take bus number 225G. Alight 3 stops later, cross the road and walk to the destination. Journey time is about 10 minutes. [Map]
