Da Dong Prawn Noodles @ Joo Chiat Road - A Stingy Bowl Of Prawn Noodle

I have heard many raving reviews of Da Dong Prawn Noodles at Joo Chiat Road. Some even labelled it the best in Singapore, with long queues at the stall daily and usually sold out by late noon. Da Dong has been around since 1966, and now the 2nd generation is running the stall. So together with my foodie friends, we dropped by on a Monday morning to try the prawn noodle.

Prawn Noodle Soup 4/5

The prawn noodle comes in 3 sizes for $6, $8 and $15. We have the regular size for $8. the Prawn Noodle Soup comes with two small prawns sliced into half and julienne pork slices. My first reaction was that it is a very stingy bowl of noodles for $8. Even the prized soup is only half-filled. I can understand why many raved about the soup. Unlike the other more crustacean based soup, their soup is more pork-based, incline to a tonkotsu broth.

Prawn Noodle Dry 4.2/5

We also ordered the Prawn Noodle Dry, another pathetic serving of 2 small prawns sliced into half and two small pieces of pork ribs. Taste-wise it is better because of the sambal and pork lard. I would recommend going for the dry version.

Is it a good bowl of prawn noodles? Yes, it is. Is it worth it? No, it does not. Why so? While their soup is different and tasty, it is too stingy and not value for money. Unless you stay around the neighbourhood, it is not worth travelling all the way for it.


Da Dong Prawn Noodles
354 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427600
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Nearest MRT:

Opening Hours:
Wed-Mon: 730am - 2pm
(Closed on Tue)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Block 99 (Stop ID 81181). Take bus number 16. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

The Coco Rice @ Tiong Bahru Food Centre - From Selling Nasi Lemak Cake At Home To Opening A Hawker Stall

Aries Chan made a name for herself with her home-based business - Nasi Lemak Indulgence, selling Nasi Lemak Cake. From the comfort of her home, she has opened a hawker stall - The Coco Rice at Tiong Bahru Food centre selling Blue Pea Nasi Lemak Sets.

The hawker stall offers four different sets. The four sets on the menu are Sambal Lady Finger and Fried Tempeh Bean Curd ($6.90), Fried Chicken Whole Leg with Herbs & Spice ($7.90), Fried Fish with Sambal Kicap Chili ($8.90) and Sambal Prawn with Petai ($9.90). On top of that, you also have the option of adding extra ingredients for an additional cost.

Fried Chicken Whole Leg with Herbs & Spice 4.2/5

I decided to go for the Fried Chicken Whole Leg with Herbs & Spice ($7.90), which comprises blue pea nasi lemak rice, homemade sambal, fried anchovies, fried peanuts, sunny side-up, cucumber and whole fried chicken leg with herbs & spice. I even added a homemade pan-grilled otah patty for an extra $2.

Among the various items on the plate, my favourite is the fragrant and fluffy nasi lemak rice complemented by the sweet and spicy sambal on the side. However, the star has to be the whole fried chicken leg. It is deep-fried to a crispy golden brown accentuated by the marination of the herbs and spices, giving it a lovely aroma.


The Coco Rice
Tiong Bahru Food Centre
Blk 30 Seng Poh Road
#02-58
Singapore 168898
Website
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line), Outram (EW Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 930am - 5pm

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. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Outram MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Walk to bus stop opposite Outram MRT station (Stop ID 06011). Take bus no. 33, 63, 75, 121, 122, 851 or 970. Alight 1 stop later at Blk 55 Tiong Bahru Road. Walk to destination about 200 meters away. Journey time 8 minutes.  [Map]

Ah Five Hainanese Chicken Rice @ Ang Mo Kio Ave 4 - By Daughter Of Five Star Chicken Rice Founder

While exploring the newly opened Thomson East Line brings me to Ah Five Hainanese Chicken Rice near Mayflower MRT station Exit 3. What caught my attention was a petite young lady behind the chopping board. It is a rare sight in the hawker scene. The stall, run by a sister and brother team, is inside a coffeeshop at block 158 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4. They are the children of Mr Lee Tai Keng, the founder of Five Star Chicken Rice.

The petite young lady is Natalie, who has just finished her Master in Intellectual Property. Instead of joining the corporate world, she decided to open Ah Five Hainanese Chicken Rice to continue her dad's legacy. Her dad, Mr Lee, founded Five Star Chicken Rice at 224 East Coast Road. He later entered into a partnership with Mr Yeo Ban Seng to open the current Five Star Chicken Rice at 191 East Coast Road. Mr Lee has since sold his share of the business and is no longer associated with the present Five Star Chicken Rice.

So how does Ah Five Hainanese Chicken Rice fare? I visited the stall twice with two different groups of friends, and they both enjoyed it. The stall uses kampong chicken which is leaner but tastier than the broiler. The poached chicken is tender with a sinful but yet so delicious layer of fatty skin. We have the Half Chicken priced at $15.

If half a chicken is too much for you, you can go for the 1 Person Set priced at $5. I like how Natalie chopped the poached chicken into chunky pieces. However, the rice was not as fragrant on my second visit. Maybe there is some consistency issue which I hope they can get it sorted. An essential element for a good plate of chicken rice is the chilli sauce. The spicy and tangy chilli sauce complements the chicken rice excellently, zesting up the whole experience.

Besides the poached chicken, the stall offers Shredded Chicken Porridge ($3) and Special Chicken Fried Rice ($5). The porridge and fried rice are cooked by her brother, Lex. The fried rice fried a la minute comes with the poached chicken too.

Ah Five Hainanese Chicken Rice is an unexpected discovery. It is another good chicken rice stall I will recommend. I am glad to see Natalie and Lex, willing to continue Mr Lee's legacy, learning from the Master himself. They have spent months learning and perfecting their skills before opening the stall a month ago in August 2021. If you are in the area, do support them.


Ah Five Hainanese Chicken Rice
Blk 158 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4 
Singapore 560158
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Nearest MRT: Mayflower (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 730 am - 230pm

Direction: Alight at Mayflower MRT station. Take Exit 3. Walk to destination. Journey time about 4 minutes. [Map]

Town Restaurant @ The Fullerton Hotel Singapore - Past Meet Future Pop Up Featuring Celebrated Specialties Of Singapore's Next Gen Hawkers

For the month of March, Town Restaurant at Fullerton Singapore collaborates with four next-generation hawkers, showcasing their respective speciality in addition to the line-up of heritage dishes.

Seafood On Ice 4/5

Before diving into the much-celebrated specialities of the next-generation hawkers, we had a round of appetisers first, including the huge, stunning bowl of Seafood On Ice. Within sits Tiger Prawns, Norwegian Smoked Salmon, Spanner Crab, Conch, Half Shell Scallop, Black Mussels.

Sashimi & Maki Roll 4/5

Along with the Seafood On Ice came a family-style platter of Sashimi & Maki Roll.

Whole Roasted Baby Chicken Sapit 4/5

Each table is also entitled a one-time order Whole Roasted Baby Chicken Sapit, served with Spicy Kicap Manis Dip. The chicken was incredibly moist and tender. I love the gravy that was served over chicken. It was robust and vibrant with spices, perfect for kicking start your appetite.

Tree Coconut Nasi Lemak 4/5

Moving on to the stars of the month. Tree Coconut Nasi Lemak shines with its moreish coconut rice and that ever pleasing Sunny-side up.

Beef Noodle Soup 4/5

BeeF Noodle Dry 4/5

Next was the Authentic Hock Lam Street Popular Beef Kway Teow, and you can have the best of both worlds as it comes in soup or with gravy. The beef balls and beef slices were tender as expected. The chilli served at the side, enlivened the dishes by a notch.

Popiah 3.5/5

Popiah is my all-time favourite. Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah didn't disappoint with its stretchy skin. Still, I thought the turnips could be softer and more flavorful.

Eat3Cuts Cantonese Roast Meats 3.8/5

Another draw of this heritage feast is the Eat3Cuts Cantonese Roast Meats, featuring Roasted Pipa Duck, Soy Chicken and Golden Chicken Coin, with sweet and sour cucumber. The Roasted Pipa Duck was the highlight with its well-roasted skin.

Asian Delights Platter 4/5

The Asian Delights Platter is a must-try here. It comes with Iconic Singapore Chilli Crab Golden Mantou, Singapore Satay Beef & Chicken, Kurobuta Pork & Crab Meat Ngoh Hiang. A pleasing platter for the whole family.

Singapore Laksa 4/5

Another notable item is the Singapore Laksa, one of the buffet's signature dishes. The gravy imbued all the oomph of a good laksa, at least to me.

The dessert course was superb with a platter of well-curated sweet treats. I love the Strawberry Shortcake that has an ideal fresh cream to sponge cake ratio, as well as the unique Teh-Banana Tart comprising layers of ingredients. The Fullerton Fudge Cake is worth a second helping too.

Past Meet Future Pop Up Buffet
Every Friday & Saturday, March 2021 6.30pm to 10.00pm
$69 per adult, $35 per child

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Town Restaurant
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
1 Fullerton Square
Singapore 049178
Tel: +65 68778188
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 630pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT Station. Take Exit H. Turn right and walk towards the river. At the river, turn right again and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Old Bukit Purmei Lor Mee @ Queen Street (Bugis) - The Return Of The Legendary Bukit Purmei Lor Mee

Fans of Bukit Purmei Lor Mee will be glad to know that it has made another come back. Having followed them from Bukit Purmei to West Coast Drive, the joy was shortfall when uncle Teo falls sick again, and they have to close the stall. This time the stall is run by the third generation, uncle Teo's nephew. With the news of Old Bukit Purmei Lor Mee opening, the stall has been gathering long queues every day. During my visit, I queued for around an hour.

Lor Mee 4.2/5

The Lor Mee comes in 3 sizes - $3.50, $4 and $5. The $5 portion comes with fried fish, but the stall did not have it during my visit. The stall owner told me that they are short of staffing and cannot cope with the overwhelming crowd..

As the stall does not have fried fish, we ordered the $4 portion, which comes with slices of pork, fish cake, char siew and fried ngoh hiang balls in a thick and flavoursome braising sauce. I looked back at my old photo album of bukit purmei lor mee, and I realized it used to have more ingredients such as ngoh hiang and fried crispy bits. It also feels a bit weird to have char siew for lor mee.

In my view, the bowl of lor mee is good but fall short of the standard we used to know. I also don't quite understand the ngoh hiang ball, which is very hard and lacked the five spice flavour. I prefer the stall to bring back the standard accompanying ingredients that Uncle Teo used to serve in his bowl of lor mee. 


Old Bukit Purmei Lor Mee
269B Queen Street
#01-236
Singapore 180269
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Bugis (DT Line, EW Line), Bencoolen (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 730am - 330pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to traffic light junction. Cross the road. Turn left and walk to Bugis+. Cut through the building to Queen Street. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bencoolen MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Bencoolen Street to the junction of Bencoolen Street and Middle Road. Turn road onto Middle Road. Walk down Middle Road. Turn left onto Waterloo Street. Walk towards Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho temple. Walk to block 268B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

YouFu Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle @ Golden Mile Food Centre - Hokkien Mee By A 21 Years Old Hawker

I was alerted by my friend, MissTamChiak that there is a pretty good Hokkien Mee stall - YouFu Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle at Golden Mile Food Centre cooked by a young 21 years old hawker. That is pretty young to take up the spatula and cook Hokkien Mee, which needed a lot of skill.

Hokkien Mee with Thick Vermicelli 4/5

The Hokkien Mee here is the dry type and comes in two versions for customers to choose. You can request for either the thick or thin vermicelli. I would recommend the thin vermicelli because it tends to soak up the broth and smoky wok hei more.

For $5 a plate, it comes with prawn, pork belly slices and squid. Not forgetting that you can add your own pork lards. As for the chilli, it is not bad, but my followers will know that I prefer the tangy type, which I think is more appetising.

Hokkien Mee with Thick Vermicelli 4.2/5

For 21 years old, I have to say Andre woks up a really delicious plate of Hokkien Mee which is already better than a lot of places. He picked up the skill from his father who used to sell fried hokkien mee at Changi Village. By the way, the father is also helping out at the stall too. He also shared that his son skill is not perfect yet, but I am sure with time and experience, he will only get better.

For those that are taking away their order, the hokkien mee will be wrapped in opeh leaf which enhances the flavour. Overall, this is a decent plate of hokkien mee that is way better than many places. I personally feel that the stall should improve on the chilli sauce to make it more enjoyable.


YouFu Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle
Golden Mile Food Centre
505 Beach Road
#01-57
Singapore 199583
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Nicoll Highway (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 10am - 9pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Nicoll Highway MRT station. Take Exit A. Take the overhead bridge and cross over to Beach Road. Walk down Beach Road along with the flow of traffic. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

One Prawn Noodle @ Golden Mile Food Centre - A Prawn Noodle Stall By 2 Young Hawkers

Located at Golden Mile Food Centre is a rather new hawker stall - One Prawn Noodle. The stall is opened back in April 2019 by two young hawkers selling Prawn Noodle. Apparently, one of the partners, Gwyneth Ang, has experience working in the kitchen of Forlino and Burnt Ends.

3 Combination Prawn Noodle 4.2/5

I decided to order the 3 Combination Prawn Noodle Dry ($8) which comes with Pork Ribs, Pig Skin and Intestines. For $8, the amount of ingredients pretty justify for the money spent. In the bowl of noodle, there are egg, prawn, vegetable, shallots and pork lard too. The pork ribs are cooked to fork-tender, and there is nothing to pick about the others too.

For the soup, it is flavoursome and sweet. It is not very prawny type, it is inclined to a pork bone soup base. So I think it will be quite subjective to individual preference. The highlight for me is the chilli sauce that is very shiok. It is spicy and fragrant. It enlivens the whole experience.

Overall I find One Prawn Noodle serves a good bowl of prawn noodle. The chilli sauce is quite powerful with the noodle. If you opt for the soup version, it may be subjective. Not that it is not good, I do enjoy it, but it may not meet your expectation of a robust, rich prawny flavoured soup.


One Prawn Noodle
Golden Mile Food Centre
505 Beach Road
#01-93
Singapore 199583
Tel: +65 96398668
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Nicoll Highway (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 8pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Nicoll Highway MRT station. Take Exit A. Take the overhead bridge and cross over to Beach Road. Walk down Beach Road along the flow of traffic. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Flaming Chicken Pot (雞煲火鍋) @ Yishun Street 72 - Unique Chicken Pot Plus Hotpot Concept

Having explored the East and West in our previous meetups, the foodie gang decided to go to the North in our recent catch-up. We decided to check out Flaming Chicken Pot (雞煲火鍋) at Yishun Street 72. The unique concept combines both chicken pot and hotpot, which the founders took a year to perfect the recipe before opening the stall.

Flaming Chicken Pot offers two types of chicken pot on their menu - Black Pot and White Pot. They come in 3 sizes - Single Pot ($9.80), Half Chicken ($28) and Full Chicken ($38). It also has a $58 set menu whereby customers get a half chicken black pot and white pot, with 3 choices of meat items and another 3 choices of vegetable items. For our visit, we ordered a whole chicken black pot as well as a whole chicken white pot.

White Pot 4/5

Our half chicken white pot comes with ingredients such as tender chicken pieces, pig stomach and red dates. The soup base tasted somewhat like a mixture of pig stomach and chicken soup, a sweet version of the usual peppery pig stomach soup.

Black Pot 4.2/5

The black pot is more towards the dry version, similar to gong bao chicken sauce. Premium Moutai wine is added to the pot and set ablaze at the table before marinated chicken pieces are added to cook together in the pot. It is quite a spectacular sight. However, we didn't really taste the moutai. What we tasted was a savoury, and rich sauce that goes well with a bowl of steamed rice. It is a bit spicy, though.

I mentioned earlier that Flaming Chicken Pot is a unique concept combining chicken pot and hotpot because you can also order ala carte ingredients to have it like a hotpot. From the meat section, we picked sliced dory fish, handmade beef meatballs, handmade pork meatballs, pork belly slices, premium beef slices and prawn paste. As for the vegetables, we had tang-o, cabbage, black fungus, enoki mushroom, tofu and lotus root.

I was told that the stall has limited portion each day. Hence it is better to call and make a reservation to avoid disappointment.


Flaming Chicken Pot (雞煲火鍋)
Hiap Hoe Eating House
Blk 747 Yishun Street 72
Singapore 760747
Tel: +65 88148151
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Yishun (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 5pm - 11pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Yishun MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]