Claypot & Cooked Food Kitchen @ Chinatown Complex Food Centre - Cantonese Fare that Opens Only for 3 Hours

Claypot & Cooked Food Kitchen is a humble hawker stall nestled in a corner of Chinatown Complex Food Centre, helmed by Uncle Hong, who brings forth traditional Cantonese delicacies honed through years of experience at renowned Chinese restaurants, including the iconic Lai Wah Restaurant, established in 1963 by the legendary "Four Heavenly Kings of Singapore Cantonese Cuisine".

Braised Fish Head 4.2/5

Getting a taste of the stall's offerings requires some strategic planning due to its limited operating hours. To secure a meal, one must arrive well before lunchtime. We arrived at 9:30 am to place our order, and by 11 am, our dishes were served. Unfortunately, those who came later, around 11 am, were all turned away.

Taking the spotlight first is the Braised Fish Head ($25), an impressive dish both in portion size and flavour. The fried fish head is generously bathed in a light yet flavourful gravy, accompanied by vegetables, tofu, and taro.

Sweet and Sour Pork 4/5

Among the array of claypot delights, the signature Sweet and Sour Pork ($7) stands out. Crispy pork, cloaked in a delicate batter, is enrobed in a sweet and tangy sauce, possibly tinged with hawthorn for a unique zesty twist.

Claypot Pork Liver 4.2/5

The Claypot Pork Liver is a true gem. It boasts thick slices of pork liver cooked to perfection in a savoury brown sauce infused with the aromatic essence of ginger and scallions, sizzling in the claypot.

Sea Cucumber Stew 4/5

The Sea Cucumber Stew presents bouncy sea cucumber alongside succulent roasted pork, mushrooms, and cabbage, all bathed in a rich and flavourful sauce.

Sambal Kang Kong 4/5

For those craving a kick of heat, the Sambal Kang Kong delivers, offering crunchy kang kong stir-fried to perfection in a spicy and aromatic sambal sauce, providing a burst of flavour in every bite.

Prawn Paste Chicken 3.8/5

While the Prawn Paste Chicken doesn't quite steal the show like its counterparts, it still holds its own with its mild yet satisfying prawn paste flavour.

Salted Fish Char Siew Shrimp Fried Rice 4/5

Finally, the Salted Fish Char Siew Shrimp Fried Rice wraps up the meal with its fragrant aroma and comforting wok hei, offering a simple yet satisfying conclusion to a wonderful meal.


Claypot & Cooked Food Kitchen
Chinatown Complex Food Centre
335 Smith Street
#02-83
Singapore 050335
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 10:30am - 12:30pm

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]

Nan Hwa Chong Fish Head Steamboat (南华昌(亚秋)鱼头炉) - Singapore Oldest Fish Head Steamboat Restaurant

Nan Hwa Chong Fish Head Steamboat, located at the corner of North Bridge Road, is Singapore's oldest fish head restaurant since 1927. The restaurant is also popularly known as Ah Chew Fish Head Steamboat among the regulars. Ah Chew has now retired, and the restaurant is run by his partner, Lee Hong Chuan's son, Michael now.

Fish Head Steamboat Grouper 3.5/5

A must-have at Nan Hwa Chong has to be their Fish Head Steamboat. You can choose the type of fish for the fish head steamboat. There are four choices - Pomfret, Grouper, Snapper and Song Fish. We had the grouper ($39/$48/$72) that was cooked with other ingredients such as cabbage, yam, and tofu in a rich pork bone broth and sole fish. However, the sole fish flavour is less prominent than it used to be. I was hoping for a richer flavour.

Signature Pork Belly 4/5

Besides the fish head steamboat, the restaurant also woks up a delicious selection of cooked dishes. The Signature Pork Belly ($12) is coated in fermented beancurd and deep-fried to a delightful bite. I enjoyed that the fermented beancurd was not overpowering, crispy on the exterior and succulent.

Signature Homemade Tofu 4/5

The Signature Homemade Tofu ($10) will delight both young and old. A soft and flavoursome tofu is encased inside the light and crisp batter coat. I can't pinpoint what they have done to make the homemade tofu, but it has been seasoned to elevate the taste profile.

Cuttlefish Kang Kong 4.2/5

Another lovely dish is the Cuttlefish Kang Kong cooked in a fragrant sambal sauce which is very shiok. The thickly sliced cuttlefish was firm and bouncy too. It is a simple stir-fried dish, but the cooking timing was perfect, retaining that crunch in the vegetable.

Prawn Paste Chicken Wings 4.2/5

Lastly, we had the Prawn Paste Chicken Wings ($10/$15/$20) deep-fried to a beautiful golden brown. Not only was it crispy and juicy, the distinct prawn paste flavour was well marinated into the chicken wings. It is one of the better versions I have eaten in a long while.

I have not returned to Nan Hwa Chong Fish Head Steamboat for years. The flavour was lighter for the fish head steamboat on my recent visit. However, the zichar items were better than what I had previously eaten.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Nan Hwa Chong Fishhead Steamboat
南华昌(亚秋)鱼头炉
812 North Bridge Road
Singapore 198779
Tel: +65 62979319
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Nearest MRT: Lavendar (EW Line), Nicoll Highway (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Nicoll Highway MRT station. Take Exit A. Take the overhead bridge and walk to the end. Continue onto Jalan Sultan until traffic junction of North Bridge Road and Jalan Sultan. Journey time about 8 minutes.[Map]

2) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Lavendar MRT station (Stop ID 01319). Take bus number 107. Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes.[Map]

3) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and cut across the carpark towards the canal. Walk along the canal and across over. Cut through the blocks of flats to the main road. Turn right onto North Bridge Road. Continue on North Bridge Road until traffic junction of North Bridge Road and Jalan Sultan. Journey time about 12 minutes.[Map]

Nan Yang Dao (南洋岛) @ Serangoon Central - Authentic And Affordable Malaysian-Style Dishes In Serangoon

Nan Yang Dao (南洋岛), a vibrant eatery offering Malaysian-style dishes, opened earlier this year. It is located within Serangoon Central and just a short walk away from Serangoon MRT. The popular eatery has seen crowds throughout the year, especially during meal times to get a taste of their extensive variety of authentic Malaysian classics.

3 Layers Coffee 4/5

We kickstarted the meal with a cup of 3 Layers Coffee ($3). This layered drink was initially inspired by Sarawak's famous '3 Layer Tea. As for the coffee version, the drink consists of three layers of black coffee, palm sugar, and evaporated unsweetened milk. Perfectly milky without being overly sweet, it is great for coffee drinkers who prefer their coffee to be milkier and sweeter.

Penang Fried Kway Teow 4.2/5

The Penang Fried Kway Teow ($6.80) is one of their signatures. The Penang's rendition has lesser soy sauce and boasts a nice wok hei aroma. The pork lard gave the dish an extra oomph and comes with essential ingredients like Chinese sausages, bean sprouts, fish cakes and prawns.

Selayang Big Bowl Curry Noodle 4.2/5

Another signature is their Selayang Big Bowl Curry Noodle ($9.90). It arrives in a giant bowl of curry mee while a plate contains the excess curry broth at the bottom to depict the overflowing goodness. The rich curry broth is fragrant and slightly spicy and comes loaded with pork belly, prawns, beancurd skin, meatball, and fishball.

Dry Curry Mee 4/5

We also tried the Dry Curry Mee ($6.90), where yellow noodles are doused in a robust and creamy curry sauce and topped with char siu slices and french beans, along with tau pok and shredded chicken. Like the Selayang Big Bowl Curry Noodle, the spiciness was slightly tamer, but the dishes were still very satisfying.

Hometown Prawn Paste Fried Chicken 4.2/5

The Prawn Paste Fried Chicken ($10.80), better known as 'Har Cheong Gai', is crisp on the outside and succulent on the inside, with a pleasant prawn paste aroma. The wings packed a punch full of flavours from its special shrimp paste batter.

Chendol 4.5/5

To end off the meal on a sweet note, we had the Chendol ($3.50). It has a good amount of gula melaka without being overly sweet and has a nice brown sugar and coconut fragrance. The generous amount of red beans and chewy green jelly toppings also added a nice textural contrast to the dessert.

Words and photos 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.


Nan Yang Dao (南洋岛)
Blk 262 Serangoon Central
#01-85
Singapore: 550262
Tel: +65 65131750
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Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 10am - 9pm
Sat-Sun: 9am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit E.Turn left and walk down Serangoon Central. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 mintues. [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]

Golden Charcoal @ Bedok North Street 1 - Zichar By An Indian Head Chef Fluent In Mandarin

Golden Charcoal, located at Bedok North Street 1 is a new Zichar stall by two young partners. Justin, the owner, used to work in the finance industry while his head chef, David (小黑), worked for a zichar stall in the Thomson area. Currently, they are having promotions offering two crabs for $60.

Mala Chicken 3/5

My friend who has dined here a few times is in charge of ordering some of her favourite dishes. We started with Mala Chicken, whereby the tender chicken is tossed in fragrant mala sauce. While the mala is pungent, I thought it was a bit heavy with the sodium chloride.

Prawn Paste Chicken 3.8/5

I think children will love the Prawn Paste Chicken here. Not only is it juicy, but it is also incredibly crispy. However, I prefer the prawn paste flavour to be more distinct.

Sambal Kang Kong 4/5

Sometimes, the most simple dish is the best way to show the chef's culinary skill behind the wok. The Sambal Kang Kong is one of the best I tried. The sambal is fragrant and with the greens still having a nice crunch.

Assam Fish Head 4/5

Another beautiful dish on the menu is the Assam Fish Head. The fresh fish head is complemented by the pungent assam, which is incredibly delicious. I could not help drenching my plate of rice with the flavoursome sauce.

Cereal Fried Rice

For some carbo intakes, diners can go for the Cereal Fried Rice or Moonlight Hor Fun. Children will enjoy the Cereal Fried Rice. The topping of the sweet and crispy cereal brightens up the fluffy fried rice. 

Moonlight Hor Fun 3.8/5

For the Moonlight Hor Fun, I can't help comparing it to my favourite at KEK Seafood. The style here is the savoury type packed with wok hei. Give the egg a good toss to give the noodles an enjoyment coat of creaminess. 

Chilli Crab 4.2/5

Diners should not miss the current two crabs for $60 promotion. We have it cooked with chilli crab sauce. The sauce is legit, and it is one of the best I have eaten. Best is to order some mantou to wipe up the yummy chilli crab sauce. I heard their mala crab and black pepper crab are as good too.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Golden Charcoal Seafood
Blk 204 Bedok North Street 1
#01-435
Singapore 460204
Tel: +65 97304808
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left to the pathway between Bedok Mall and Bedok Interchange hawker centre. Walk to the end. Walk to block 204. Walk to the coffeeshop facing the park. Journey time about 4 minutes. [Map]

The Canopy Cafe @ Marina Bay Golf Course - Chao Ta Bee Hoon, Hokkien Mee, Penang Fried Kway Teow At A Golf Course?

I would never think I would discover The Canopy Cafe at Marina Bay Gold Course as I don't play golf; hence it is not a place I would ever visit. If not for my friends The Ranting Panda, I would not have known of the hidden gem that offers a delicious selection of local zichar dishes.

The Canopy Cafe located on the second floor is an alfresco cafe with the dining area having a stunning view of the CBD landscape and the golf course.

Johore Fried Bee Hoon 3.8/5

The Canopy has an eclectic menu ranging from Western, Japanese, Snacks and Local dishes. The highlight is their local dishes. Who on earth would imagine you can get a plate of Johore Fried Bee Hoon ($9) or better known to many as "Chao Ta Bee Hoon" in a cafe at Marina Bay Golf Course. Though you could not get that crisp compare to JB Ah Beng, the flavours and smokiness are there.

Penang Fried Kway Teow 4/5

The Penang Fried Kway Teow ($9) fares much better than the Johore Fried Bee Hoon with its wok hei aroma. You can also find prawns, fish cake, egg and beansprouts in the plate of rice noodles. I felt that the generous egg serving further enhanced the flavour.

Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee 4/5

My favourite is the Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee ($9). It serves the wet version with the noodles soaking up the robust prawny stock. My only slight disappointment is the accompanying chilli sauce. I find that it does not go well with the noodle.

Tahu Goreng with Special Sauce 4.2/5

A surprise for me is their Tahu Goreng with Special Sauce ($8.90). Unlike the usual sweet sauce with a lot of peanuts, the deep-fried tofu comes in a pool of red chilli, beansprouts and cucumber. Don't be scare by the sea of red; it is not very spicy. It is kind of sweet, a bit like Thai chilli sauce but it still has the sambal fragrant.

Prawn Paste Fried Chicken Wings 3.5/5

While the Prawn Paste Fried Chicken Wings ($9.90) comes in a crispy batter coat, it lacked the prawn paste flavour. Putting that aside, it is an enjoyment deep-fried chicken wing, crisp and juicy.

In my wildest imagination, I would never expect a cafe at a golf course can dish out such delicious local dishes. It is not easily accessible by public transport but for those that drives, you may like to visit the place as it has a lot of parking with a beautiful dining view. By the way, do not mistake Canopy Cafe with the ones at Bishan Park and Hort Park.


The Canopy Cafe
Marina Bay Golf Course
80 Rhu Cross
#02-01
Singapore 437437
Te;: +65 63425742
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Stadium (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 730am - 930pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Stadium MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Singapore Indoor Stadium (Stop ID 80199). Alight 4 stops later. Walk down Rhu Cross Road until the Vistor Centre. Walk further down and turn left again onto Rhu Cross Road into Marina Bay Golf Course. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

Sin Ho @ Bedok North Street 1 Market and Food Centre - Serving One Of The Best Har Cheong Kai In Singapore

So I have heard about this zi char stall at Bedok North Street 1 Market and Food Centre that serves one of the best Prawn Paste Chicken (Har Cheong Kai) in Singapore, and they are sold out pretty fast. The gang arrived as early as 5pm at Sin Ho zi char stall for dinner, so that we manage to have the so-called legendary prawn paste chicken which even MissTamChiak has to made several trips to eat it. The stall sells fish soup in the day, and at night it is turned into a zi char stall offering hearty and comforting cooked dishes.

Prawn Paste Chicken 4.5/5

The sight of the Prawn Paste Chicken ($8 for 6pc/ $12 for 9pc / $16 for 12pc) with its reddish exterior is already a sign of what is good to come. In fact, I could even smell the fermented shrimp paste fragrant when the dish is served. Crispy on the exterior, yet juicy inside flavoured with the distinct fermented shrimp paste, no wonder this dish is so popular with the diners here. In fact, almost all the tables ordered the prawn paste chicken.

Crayfish Seafood Soup 3.5/5

The Crayfish Seafood Soup ($15) is light and sweet. You can find crayfish, clams, tofu, prawns, cabbage and more items in it. I suspect the soup base is what they used for their fish stall, as they also offer the normal Batang Soup on their dinner menu. Though the portion is generous, it lacked that crustacean robustness in the soup.

Prawn Omelette 4/5

The Prawn Omelette ($6) may look like a simple dish, but it is executed to perfection. It has a nice wok hei aroma with a fluffy interior and comes with big juicy prawn in it.

Sambal La La 3.8/5

Last but not least, we had the Sambal La La ($15) with plump and juicy flesh. I personally prefer it to be spicier, but for those that can't take too spicy, this will be just nice.

While most of the stalls are closed for the night, the hawker centre is buzzing with Sin Ho's diners. As it is in a hawker centre, the table seating may not be suitable for large families. And do remember to go early if you want to try the prawn paste chicken, or else prepared to be disappointed.


Sin Ho
Blk 216 Bedok North Street 1
#01-75
Singapore 460216
Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 5pm - 9pm
(Closed on Mon-Tue)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit B. Cut through the housing estate and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]