Quan Ji @ Amoy Street Food Centre - Go For The Noodle Dishes But Skip The Cooked Items

Occupying two stalls at Amoy Street Food Centre is Quan Ji, a zichar stall located at level 1 of the food centre. Started in Hong Kong Street back in 1965, it has been relocated to Carpenter street before settling at its current location. The stall is now helmed by Tony Liew, a third generation hawker known for dishing out noodle dishes infused with wok hei.

Yellow Cloth Noodle 4.5/5

A dish not known to many is the Yellow Cloth Noodle. The name came from the layer of fluffy egg omelette with prawn that is laid over the egg noodles. The egg noodles may look kind of ordinary without any gravy or sauce but you will be in for a surprise. The delectable egg noodles have been blanched and tossed in lard, infused with a coat of aroma.

Beef Hor Fun 4/5

The other noodle dish we tried is the Beef Hor Fun. Love the tender beef in the plate of hor fun that is drenched in a dark savoury sauce.

Prawn Roll 3/5

Besides the noodle dishes, we also ordered a couple of their cooked items to go with our carbo. The Prawn Roll was fried to a beautiful crispy brown with a soft innard. I agreed with my friend that it lacked a textural bite to it.

Kailan with Sliced Fish 3/5

Even the health promotion board has to remind the public to eat their greens, so we obediently ordered a plate of Kailan with Sliced Fish. The sliced fish was rather pedestrian but the greens still retained a good crunch to it.

Braised Tofu 2.5/5

My less favourite dish has to be the Braised Tofu. The tofu is silky but the whole dish is still too starchy.

Pork Ribs 3.5/5

While I enjoyed the Pork Ribs (Pai Gu Wang) which have been coated in a delicious sweet-vinegary sauce, the pork ribs are not very meaty.

Overall I think the cooked dishes are decent but not something to shout about. However I would recommend going for the noodle dishes such as the yellow cloth noodle and beef hor fun. We actually wanted to try the prawn paste chicken, unfortunately it was sold out during our visit.


Quan Ji
Amoy Street Food Centre
7 Maxwell Road
#01-56/57
Singapore 069111
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 11am - 130pm, 430pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Mon-Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Turn left and walk to Amoy Street Food Centre. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

99 Buona Vista Kitchen @ South Buona Vista Road - My Go To Place For Zi Char Dinner Near My Place

I was a bit lost when my favourite zichar stall, 138 Hong Kong Street Teochew Fish Head Steamboat near my place closed down. Now that I have discovered 99 Buona Vista Kitchen, it is my to go place for zichar nowadays. For those that is not familiar of the area, the zichar stall is located at the same row of shophouses where Paddy Hills is at.

Black Bean Pork with Bittergourd 4/5

Having visited the place a couple of times, I have noticed it is quite popular with the residents in the neighbourhood. Even expats are seen dining at the zichar place, immersed in the local dining scene.

Chinese Chives with Beansprouts 4/5

I ordered a couple of dishes to try and they are really quite delicious. The Black Bean Pork with Bittergourd is tender complemented by the slightly sweet and spicy black bean sauce. The addition of beansprouts with the Chinese Chives provides the extra crunchiness.

Salted Egg Tofu 3/5

I thought the Salted Egg Tofu topped with pork floss was quite interesting but it did not quite meet my expectation. While the tofu was silky, the salted egg sauce is too sweet and lacked the robustness.

Fried Fish Tail 3.5/5

The Fried Fish Tail may not be any refine dish served in some big restaurants. The fish tail is crispy with the skin on and moist in texture. Dressed in a brown savoury sauce, everything comes together as a homely cooked dish.

Beef Curry 4.2/5

Sometimes what is good at a dining place, you need to observe what other diners are eating. I noticed a lot of tables ordered the Beef Curry, hence I also got a plate to try. The beef cut may not be the best but the portion is quite generous. It even comes with potato. Most important the curry is fragrant and creamy.

Black Bean Sauce Hor Fun 4.2/5

If you are alone, there are also a selection of one plate meal such as noodles or rice. I had the Black Bean Sauce Hor Fun which comes with wok hei rice noodles, bittergourd and slices of fish cakes.

I am great that there is such a a good zi char place near my place. Hidden in the corner of the row of shophouse, the place can be quite crowded on weekend. Great thing, the kitchen is quite fast in dishing out the orders.


99 Buona Vista Kitchen
22 South Buona Vista Road
Singapore 118156
Tel: +65 64731719
Nearest MRT: Haw Par Villa (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alighat at Haw Par Villa MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Haw Par Villa MRT station (Stop ID 16019). Take bus number 200. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Wee's Family Seafood @ Bukit Merah Central - A New Zi Char Place In Bukit Merah Central

It is great to know that my friend Milton from Wee's Family Coffee Shop has opened a 2nd branch nearer to my place at Bukit Merah Central named Wee's Family Seafood. The new branch is actually located behind an industrial building, hidden from the main road. It took up a stall inside the industrial canteen which is quite spacious and airy.

Prawn Paste Chicken Wings 3.8/5

We started with the Prawn Paste Chicken Wings ($8/$12/$16) which are coated in a light crispy batter. The chicken wings were also moist and juicy inside with a hint of prawn paste. I personally prefer the prawn paste flavour to be stronger.

Handmade Prawn Roll 4.5/5

One of our favourite items is the Handmade Prawn Roll ($10/$15/$20). The prawn roll is generously stuffed with many delectable ingredients such as minced pork, mushroom and crunchy chestnut. Marinated in five spice powder and encased in a thin crispy beancurd skin, this is best eaten together with the accompanying sweet sauce.

Green Dragon Chives 4/5

A common greens on the menu is the Green Dragon Chives ($10/$15/$20). Simply stir fried, I like the used of bean sprouts together with the green dragon chives for the extra crunch and bite.

Lamb 3/5

The Lamb ($25) probably is a rather rare dish to find in a zichar menu. I actually quite enjoy the red meat but my dining company is not a fan of the gaminess.

Crispy Pig Knuckle 2.8/5

A dish that required improvement is the Crispy Pig Knuckle ($30). While we enjoyed the crispy skin but we felt the whole execution was rather bland. It felt like the kitchen has forgotten to season it.

Assam Red Snapper Fish Head 3.8/5

For the price, I thought the Assam Red Snapper Fish Head ($24) is rather worth it  Not only was the fish head fresh, it was huge and meaty. Being an assam fish head lover, I think the dish is not sour and spicy enough. The flavours can be intensified further.

Salted Egg Crayfish 4.2/5

Wrapped in a thin batter and coated with salted egg sauce is the Salted Egg Crayfish ($20). What I applauded is the effort to de-shell the crayfish. Its like removing the barrier for the sauce to marry with the succulent crayfish. The batter which replaced the shell, provided the extra layer of texture to the dish.

Three Egg Fu Zhou Mee Sua 3/5

Last but at least we had the Three Egg Fu Zhou Mee Sua ($10/$15/$20). Once again this is a dish I do not usually see in zichar menu. The texture of the noodle is quite similar to those Ban Mian stall's you mian. I thought the dish has great potential but again it was under seasoned. I ended up mixing the mee sua with the sambal chilli to elevate the flavour.

Overall I felt the new branch still fell short in standard compare to the main outlet in Bedok Reservoir Road. Most of the dishes also felt a bit light handed. I thought they can be a little more bold in their seasoning.


Wee's Family Seafood
Blk 1003 Bukit Merah Central
#01-3752
Singapore 159836
Tel: +65 62755711/98798868
Facebook
Nearest MRT:

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

Direction:
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at opposite Tiong Bahru Plaza (Stop ID 10161). Take bus number 5. Alight 3 stops later at Bukit Merah Central Bus Interchange. Walk to Bukit Merah Central road. Turn left and walk down the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at opposite Tiong Bahru Plaza (Stop ID 10161). Take bus number 16 and 851. Alight 4 stops later at Bukit Merah Central Bus Interchange. Walk to Bukit Merah Central road. Turn left and walk down the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Zai Shun Curry Fish Head @ Jurong East Street 24 - Michelin Bib Gourmand Awardee 2017

The second edition of Michelin Guide 2017, Bib Gourmand winners have been announced on 22 June 2017. Among the 38 eateries that has been listed in the 2017 Michelin Bib Gourmand is Zai Shun Curry Fish Head at Yuhua Village, Jurong East Street 24. Great to know that the Michelin inspectors have ventured into the far West of Singapore to seek out good food.

Curry Fish Head 3.5/5

Before the award, Zai Shun Curry Fish Head is already well known to the locals for their steamed fish and medley of cooked dishes to go with a bowl of pipping hot porridge or steamed rice. Try to avoid the lunch crowd as the coffeeshop is always packed and it may take sometime to find a seat.

Curry Fish Head 3.5/5

Making my trip down to the newly awarded bib gourmand awardee, I just have to order their Curry Fish Head. The curry gravy is the tangy assam type which is indeed very appetizing and goes well with the rice. The fish head we had was huge, meaty and fresh. Unfortunately the fish meat failed to absorb the essence of the curry. I suspect they just steamed the fish head and drenched the curry gravy over instead of cooking the whole fish head together with the curry.

Steamed Red Garoupa Hong Kong Style 4.5/5

I can't help noticing almost every table at the coffeeshop orders their different styles and types of steamed fish. It is a tell tale signs that they are more popular with the steamed fish. Hence we placed an extra order of fish and had their Steamed Red Garoupa Hong Kong Style. Great that we ordered it because this is indeed cooked to perfection in a flavourful soya sauce. During my visit, I noticed other fishes such as promfret, song fish head etc.

Actually Zai Shun is also know to offer some exotic fish on their menu such as the expensive Empura which can cost up to a few thousand dollars in restaurant but at Zai Shun, you can have it from $200 onwards.

Bitter Gourd with Fried Egg 4.5/5

We asked the stall to recommend a vegetable dish and they suggested the Bitter Gourd with Fried Egg. It was a hearty dish that surprised me. The bitter gourd was not overcooked, crunchy and not bitter at all. The highlight is the fried egg which still retained a fluffy and moist texture.

Minced Meat with Salted Egg 3/5

Lastly we had the Minced Meat with Salted Egg. It was firm and meaty but I thought the taste can be more robust and the salted egg flavour was lacking.

Actually I find Zai Shun Curry Fish Head rather interesting. It is like a 3-in-1 eatery offering Teochew porridge, mix vegetable rice (cai fan) and cze char dishes. The highlight for me at Zai Shun is not their curry fish head but their steamed fish.


Zai Shun Curry Fish Head
Blk 253 Jurong East Street 24
#01-205
Singapore 600253
Tel: +65 65608594
Nearest MRT: Chinese Garden (EW Line), Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Thu-Tue: 7am - 3pm
(Closed on Wed)

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinese Garden. Take Exit C. Walk to traffic junction of Boon Lay Way and Jurong Town Hall Road. Cross the traffic junction and turn left onto Jurong Town Hall Road. Continue on Jurong Town Hall Road to the next junction of Jurong East Ave 1 and Jurong Town Hall Road. Cross the traffic junction and walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East bus interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 160 or 506. Alight 7 stops later. Cross the overhead bridge and walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East bus interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 66. Alight 7 stops later. Cross the overhead bridge and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

KEK Seafood @ Pandan Gardens - Innovative Oriental Burgers That Is Better Than McDonald's Burgers

Recently I was back at KEK Seafood Pandan Gardens with my mother-in-law. This is her first time visiting the place so I ordered a few classic dishes as well as new creations by Chef Wayne for his new outlet.

Moonlight Horfun 4.2/5

The Moonlight Horfun ($6/$10) is a dish that I never failed to order at Keng Eng Kee (KEK). The dish get its name for the egg yolk symbolizing the moon. The richness of the dark sauce infused with the wok hei aroma, coated with the egg yolk for a smooth and silky finish.

Thai Style Tofu 4/5

This is my first time ordering the Thai Style Tofu ($8/$12) and we all enjoyed it. Especially the crispy exterior and silky smooth interior. For the extra texture enjoyment, it is topped with cucumber and crispy baked cod fish strips.

Lotus Heaven Macadamia 4/5

For something light and crunchy, you can try the Lotus Heaven Macadamia ($10/$20). The used of cashew and macadamia nuts provided the extra crunch on top of the greens, mushroom and lotus roots.

Coffee Pork Ribs 4.5/5

Not to be missed at KEK Seafood is the Coffee Pork Ribs ($12/$18) which is both tender and juicy. An excellent dish bursting with rich flavours with the chemistry of the caramelized sweetness and coffee aroma coming together. I have ordered the dish regularly and the consistency is always there.

Salted Egg Yolk Crab Spaghetti 4.2/5

A one pot dish that is worth having is the Salted Egg Yolk Crab Spaghetti ($12). Unlike many other places that just tossed the spaghetti with the sauce, the spaghetti is given a toss in the wok infusing the wok hei aroma and coating it evenly with the salted egg yolk sauce.

Pai Gu Wong Burger 4.5/5

One of the latest creation at KEK Seafood is their Oriental Burger, giving the western fare an Asian twist. A total of seven different burgers are created incorporating Asian techniques into the burger. I had the Pai Gu Wong Burger ($9) which comes with a huge piece of tender and juicy pork in a sweet sauce, sandwiched between 2 toasted buns. It turned out surprisingly good. Other burgers available on the menu are Salted Egg Chicken Burger, Marmite Chicken Burger, Coffee Pork Burger, Salted Egg Pork Burger, Sambal Beef Burger, Salted Egg Sotong Burger. For a mere $9, it comes with pickles and a drink.


Keng Eng Kee Seafood
200 Pandan Gardens
#01-12
Singapore 609336
Tel: +65 66943044
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East Bus Interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 51. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

136 Hong Kong Street Teochew Fish Head Steamboat @ Clementi West Street 2 - Popular Claypot Mee Tai Mak Has Moved To The West

It is my great pleasure to announce that the popular zichar stall, 136 Hong Kong Street Teochew Fish Head Steamboat has moved from Toa Payoh to Clementi. Taking the social media by storm for its Claypot Mee Tai Mak, I am so happy that the stall has moved from central to the west, which is so much nearer to my home now. In fact, I have already visited the place 3 times since its opening

Claypot Mee Tai Mak 4.2/5

As there was 2 of us, we order the medium size Claypot Mee Tai Mak ($8) which is good for two person. The hot piping pot of mee tai mak is cooked in savoury black sauce that is instrumental in bringing the whole dish together. The addition of minced meat and diced kai lan provided the needed lift in textures. On top of that, the mee tai mak is brilliantly infused with the aromatic wok hei for an enjoyment experience.

To go with our claypot mee tai mak, we ordered a plate of Salted Egg Yolk Pork Ribs ($10). Deep fried to golden with a delectable crispy exterior that is marinated in a grainy salted egg yolk sauce. The addition of chilli padi and curry leaves, gave the tender pork ribs a spicy kick that did not overpower it but instead enhanced the whole execution.

Salted Egg Yolk Pork Ribs 4.2/5

I have read that the zichar stall is very popular when it is in Toa Payoh, however I did not encounter the crowd at their new location yet. Maybe they are still new to the neighbourhood and it will take a while for words to get around. I also think the zichar stall owner needs to speak to the coffeeshop owner about brightening up the place to attract traffic. Although the coffeeshop is located along the main road, I have passed by it several times in the afternoon and thought it was closed due to the dim lighting.


[CLOSED]
136 Hong Kong Street Teochew Fish Head Steamboat
Blk 713 Clement West Street 2
#01-115
Singapore 120713
Tel: +65 82883368
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 2pm, 5pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Clementi Bus Interchange (Stop ID 17009). Take bus number 282. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Royal J's Seafood @ Foch Road - Ipoh Style Fried Porridge

Remember the Fried Porridge  (炒粥) which I blogged in November last year? The owner has closed in stall and moved into a bigger space in Jalan Besar at Foch Road. With the bigger space, the stall owner has renamed the stall as Royal J's Seafood and expanded its menu offering zichar dishes beside the fried porridge.

Fried Porridge 4/5

Compared to what I had the previous time, I felt that the stall owner has fine tuned the recipe but for the better. The dark sauce that is used to fry the porridge seems lighter in colour and taste. However the flavour of the yam has been elevated, giving it a more rounded enjoyment.

Fried Porridge 4/5

Overall the fried porridge is very comforting and hearty. The porridge may look kinda plain but there are actually ingredients such as yam, cuttlefish, dried shrimp, pork, fried shallots, pork lard, crab meat and spring onion in it.

The fact that they are probably the only place in Singapore cooking the Malaysian dish, it is a reason by itself for you to make your way down to try it. Beside that, it is the same coffeeshop where 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist is. More reason why you to drop by the coffeeshop.


Royal J's Seafood
30 Foch Road
Singapore 209276
Nearest MRT: Lavender MRT (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1030am - 945pm
(Closed on Alt Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Lavender MRT station (Stop ID 01311). Take bus number 133 or 145. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to Foch Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Horne Road. Walk down Horne Road. Turn right onto Tyrwhitt Road. Turn left onto Beatty Lane. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Mellben Signature @ Tanjong Pagar Plaza

Due to the government reclaiming back the Bestway Building at Prince Edward Road, Mellben Signature has to move from its previous location to the current location at Tanjong Pagar Plaza. I like the new location as it is more accessible and nearer to the MRT station.

Australian Baby Abalone in Superior Sauce 3.5/5

Dinner at Mellben Signature started with the Australian Baby Abalone in Superior Sauce ($12/pc). The abalone was firm and bouncy dressed in a flavoursome sauce. However I find the sauce a bit on the starchy side.

Seafood Crispy Beancurd 4/5

Crispy on the exterior and pillow soft in the interior is the Seafood Crispy Beancurd ($12/$15/$18). A delectable dish that will be enjoyed by both adult and young.

Salted Egg Pork Ribs 3.8/5

The Salted Egg Pork Ribs ($15/$20/$30) are hugemongous. The meat fell off the bone with ease. Coated with the savoury salted egg sauce, this is finger licking good. If the salted egg flavour can be more distinct, that will be perfect.

Icy-Chilled Sweet & Sour Pork 4/5

This is my second time having Icy-Chilled Sweet & Sour Pork ($15/$20/$30). I had it previously at Kai Garden. I still have it gimmicky. Putting that aside, it is executed quite well. The sauce was not too sweet and the pork was firm with a good bite to it. Even though the plate will drain the melted ice water, I would still advise to eat it quickly before it gets soggy when the melted ice water comes in contact with the pork.

Stir Fried Garlic Chives with Shimeji 4.2/5

Stir Fried Garlic Chives with Shimeji ($20/$30/$40) is currently one of my favourite vegetable dishes to order at Chinese restaurant. I like the crunchy texture. It also does not have that strong earthy taste that most people dislike.

Deep Fried Marble Goby in Homemade Thai Sauce 3/5

Deep Fried Marble Goby in Homemade Thai Sauce (market price), it maybe old school but a timeless favourite among many diners.

Braised Beehoon Crab 3.8/5

Mellben becomes popular when it started its first outlet in Ang Mo Kio serving delicious crab dishes. Hence a visit to Mellben, how can we not try their signature crab dishes. The crab is selling at $65 per kg here. 

The Braised Beehoon Crab is cooked in a black pepper sauce. The smooth and silky beehoon coated with the black pepper sauce is slurping good. As this is a crab dish, I was hoping to taste the essence of the crustacean but it was overshadowed by the strong peppery taste.

Creamy Butter Crab 3/5

Aside from the sweetness and firm texture of the crab which got my thumbs up, I find the sauce for the Creamy Butter Crab lacklustre. Instead of the buttery flavour, it seems that too much milk was added to get that creamy texture.

Chilli Crab 3/5

The Chilli Crab does have a spicy kick to it with an abundance of egg white in the sauce. Best to wipe it clean with some fried mantou. However the sauce was too starchy for my liking.

Claypot Crab Beehoon Soup 4.5/5

The highlight for me at Mellben is the Claypot Crab Beehoon Soup. The milky soup probably has evaporated milk added to it for a lift in flavour and creaminess. I could also taste the essence of the crustacean infused into the soup as well as being absorbed by the thick beehoon. This is worth going back for second helping or maybe third. You can also request to add more soup and beehoon for a small cost.

Overall I have an enjoyable meal at Mellben Signature. I would highly recommend ordering the Claypot Crab Beehoon Soup. The restaurant is packed with people when I visited in a weekday evening. Hence I would advise making a reservation if you plan to make a trip down to try their dishes.


Mellben Signature
Blk 7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
#01-105
Singapore 081007
Tel: +65 62205512
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 1030pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 530pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Orchid Hotel. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road at the traffic light junction. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes [Map]