3 new hawker stalls were added to 2017’s Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore guide, including Ah Er Soup at ABC Food Centre, New Lucky Claypot Rice at Holland Drive and Zai Shun Curry Fish Head at Jurong East.
The additions represent a slightly more inclusive list, with new stalls appearing in the western parts of Singapore, rather than the more centralised regions.
Having curry fish head, double boiled soups and claypot rice – not the typical signature local dishes, also represents the diversity in Singapore’s food culture.
Rather than “Why these stalls got in?”, more were curious “Why so many better stalls do not?” We never really know why.
The following 20 stalls of were labelled under “street food”, though I do not quite understand how Sin Huat Eating House and Bismillah Biryani landed there, since they are considered closer to an eatery/restaurant. Anyway…
YES! I ate all of them. *burp*
For your convenience, I have included the addresses and opening hours. However, do note that as these stalls become popular, food may get sold out early. For travellers to Singapore (Welcome!), do note that the more popular stalls have erratic opening hours.
20 Michelin Bib Gourmand Street Food In Singapore
A Noodle Story – Amoy Street Food Centre
Amoy Street Food Centre #01-39 7 Maxwell Road Singapore 069111 (Tanjong Pagar MRT Exit G)
Opening Hours: 11:15am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 7:30pm (Mon – Fri), 10:30am – 1:30pm (Sat) , Closed Sun, PH
A surprise entry, as this is not the typical local food. Opened by young hawkerpreneurs, A Noodle Story serves “Singapore-style ramen” ($7, $9).
A bowl with Japanese style charshu, soy-flavoured braised egg, Hong Kong style wontons, potato wrapper prawn fritter for that crunch. Aesthetically pleasing and well-arranged, for a hawker stall. I like it – you don’t get a bowl like this anywhere else. A Noodle Story (Amoy Street Food Centre)
Alliance Seafood – Newton Food Centre
Newton Circus Food Centre #01-27 500 Clemenceau Avenue, Singapore 229495
Opening Hours: 1pm – 2am (Thurs – Tues), Closed Wed
Newton Food Centre has always been heavily promoted to tourists in Singapore, so it is not surprising to find one of seafood stalls in this list. But the locals, will probably have some reservations about the food in general.
Alliance Seafood sells a variety of seafood dishes, from Chilli Crab (market price), Black Pepper Crab (market price), Cereal Prawns ($24, $30, $36), Sting Ray ($12, $15, $20), Sambal Crayfish ($5 for 100gm) and Fried Baby Squid ($15, $20, $25).
Ah Er Soup 阿2老火汤
ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre #01-143, 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 150006
Opening Hours: 11am – 2pm, 5pm to 8pm (Mon – Fri, Sun). Closed on Sat
The humble stall serves up Chinese herbal soups, and started off by operating in food courts (at Jurong Leisure Complex Yuan Chin Road some years back).
Soups offered include Buddha Jumps Over The Wall ($6.50), Ten Tonic Ginseng Chicken Soup ($5.00), Herbal Ginseng Black Chicken Soup ($5.50), Gingko Pork Tripe Pepper Soup ($4.50), Lotus Root Peanut Pork Ribs Soup ($4.00), Old Cucumber Pork Rib Soup ($3.50), Watercress Pork Ribs Soup ($3.50), and ABC Chicken Soup ($3.50).
An additional bowl of white rice cost 50c, while I would recommend a tastier Pumpkin Rice at 80c.
Does Ah Er Soup offer the best Chinese soups in Singapore? I cannot say for sure, but the price point along with generous ingredients make it attractive. Ah Er Soup (ABC Food Centre)
Balestier Road Hoover Rojak – Whampoa Market Place
Whampoa Drive Makan Place #01-06, Block 90 Whampoa Drive Singapore 320090
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 4pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon – Tues
The special blend of Penang Prawn Paste is addictive. DO NOT miss ordering the divine century eggs to go along.
Bismillah Biryani
50A Dunlop Street Singapore 209379
Tel: +65 9382 7937
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 9.30pm (Wed – Mon), Closed Tues
Some of Bismillah Biryani’s signatures include the regular Chicken Dum Biryani ($8.50), Fish Biryani ($12.00), Double Chicken Biryani ($13.00), Pure Vegetable Biryani ($8.00), Kid Goat Biryani ($15) and Lamb Shank Biryani ($20.00).
On the slightly expensive side if you were to compare to other restaurants in the vicinity.
Their version is different from what most other places serve. You do not get a plate of oily-orange coloured rice drenched with gravy, topped with meats.
Instead you get a dry, flavourful version as the chef-owner Arif Salahuddin cares about the health of diners and strive to cook the least unhealthy meals possible. Bismillah Biryani (Dunlop Street)
Chey Sua Carrot Cake – 127 Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre
Blk 127 Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre Lor 1 #02-30 Singapore 310127
Opening Hours: 6am – 1pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Not the Western style of Carrot Cake, but Teochew-style ‘chai tow kway’ made with white radish and rice flour, then fried with eggs and preserved radish.
Be prepared for a 30 – 45 minutes wait (or more).
Unlike some of the other variants, Chey Sua’s version ($2, $3, $4) is fried like rectangular blocks, crisp brown on the outside, spread with a thin layer of chilli, soft pieces when you ‘lift’ the layer of egg. Chey Sua Carrot Cake (Toa Payoh Lor 1)
Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa – Alexandra Village Food Centre
Blk 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-75, Alexandra Village, Singapore 150120
Opening Hours: 9:00am – 3:30pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
This stall originated form the Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa near CMPB, and word has it that the old couple sold their recipe to its present owners.
The present version ($5.50) is said to be less sizzling hot though. Spicy, coconut-y lemak and quite tasty. (Used to be better, I think). Claypot Laksa Alexandra Village
Famous Sungei Road Trishaw (laksa) – Hong Lim Market & Food Centre
Hong Lim Market & Food Centre, #02-66 Blk 513A Upper Cross Street, Singapore 051531
Opening Hours: 11.30am to 5.30pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
The laksa gravy cooked using fresh coconut, scallops, dried oysters and dried prawns with gravy that has a thin texture like some chicken soup. Not as ‘lemak’ (coconuty) or thick like the normal (unhealthier) ones.
Other than laksa, the stall is popular for its Fruit Juice Crayfish Mee Siam – a dish of thin vermicelli cooked in a light, spicy, sweet and sour gravy, added with crayfish on top. (Read: Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa Hong Lim)
Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee – Tiong Bahru Market
Tiong Bahru Market #02-82 30 Seng Poh Road Singapore 168898
Fried Hokkien mee with sliced squid, prawns, pork belly and a dollop of chill, the noodles is fried slightly to the drier side.
Decent, above average, though perhaps not the best around in terms of flavours. Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee (Tiong Bahru)
Hong Kee Beef Noodle – Amoy Street Food Centre
Amoy Street Food Centre #01-42, 7 Maxwell Road Singapore 069111 (Tanjong Pagar MRT Exit G)
Opening Hours: 11am – 7:30pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 2:30pm (Sat – Sun), Closed PH
This stall is said to be around for more than 50 years, moved from Tanglin Koek Road, to Cuppage Centre to its current location at Amoy.
Gooey gravy, tender beef slices, slippery kway teow and a sprinkling of salted vegetables make a satisfying bowl ($4, $5, $6). Hong Kee Beef Noodle (Amoy)
Hoo Kee Rice Dumpling – Amoy Street Food Centre
Amoy Street Food Centre #01-18 7 Maxwell Road Singapore 069111 (Tanjong Pagar MRT Exit G)
Opening Hours: 10am – 4pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun, PH
Tasty Bak Zhang ($3.60) with fillings of chestnuts, salted duck egg yolk, mushrooms, wrapped in bamboo leaf before steaming.
While I am really watching my cholesterol, the salted egg version has stolen my heart with generous savoury ingredients densely packed. Gets sold out early.
J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff – Amoy Street Food Centre
Amoy Street Food Centre #01-21, 7 Maxwell Road Singapore 069111 (Tanjong Pagar MRT Exit G)
Opening Hours: 8am – 4pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun, PH
Also known as J2 Crispy Curry Puff, this comes with layered flaky pastry and spicy potato, black pepper chicken, sardine and yam paste fillings. Each at $1.20.
Chef Willin Low recommends the sardine ones, “One of the best around”. I agree. J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff (Amoy)
Liang Zhao Ji (soy duck) – Whampoa Market Place
Whampoa Drive Makan Place #01-07, Block 90 Whampoa Drive Singapore 320090
Opening Hours: 10.45am – 3pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Tues
Many grow up having their Braised Duck Rice, affordability priced at $4 – $5. I did think that the best parts of the plate was NOT the duck, but perhaps everything else that came together.
The savouriness of the flavoured rice (didn’t taste any yam though), the texture of the tau kwa (beancurd) and the tangy-spiciness of the chilli sauce. Liang Zhao Ji (Whampoa)
Na Na Curry – 115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre
Blk 115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre, Bt Merah View Singapore 151115
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 7pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
Started off at Marina South Food Centre in 1989, signature dishes include Fish Head Curry ($18 – $30), Pork Rib Curry and Mutton Curry ($4.50).
Paired with rice or toasted baguette, the Peranakan-style inspired curries pack an oomph, and are quite spicy. Na Na Homemade Curry (Bukit Merah View)
New Lucky Claypot Rice
Holland Drive Market and Food Centre, 44 Holland Drive, Singapore 270044 (10 min walk from Buona Vista MRT)
Tel: +65 6778 7808
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:00am – 1:00pm, Dinner 5:00pm to 8:00pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sun) Closed on Wed
The signatures at New Lucky Claypot Rice include the Claypot “Wu Wei” Rice for two pax ($10/$15), 3 pax ($15/$20), 4 pax at ($20/$25). The “Wu Wei” rice includes a mix of both chicken and Chinese sausages.
The waiting time is estimated to be between 20 to 30 minutes for off-peak periods, and 45 to 90 minutes for peak period.
Some diners any ask – why so long, why can’t fast fast?
That is because traditional Claypot Rice requires the rice to be cooked within the pot itself, with appropriate control of the fire. Plus the fact the stall is using charcoal, which would take up at least 45 minutes of cooking. New Lucky Claypot Rice (Holland Drive)
Shi Hui Yuan (noodle with chicken and duck) – Mei Ling Market & Food Centre
Mei Ling Market & Food Centre #02-33, 159 Mei Chin Road, Singapore 140159
Opening Hours: 8am – 2pm (Thurs – Sun), Closed Mon – Wed
Slippery smooth Ipoh style Hor Fun with chicken slices and mushrooms in gooey gravy. Will recommend the Blissful Plate ($5) which contains a bit of everything, including pork ribs and duck slices.
Note: Even though opening hours are indicated, the stall may not open every day (or open late), and tend to close early when sold out. Shi Hui Yuan Hor Fun Specialty (Mei Ling Food Centre)
Sin Huat Eating House
659/661 Lorong 35 Geylang Singapore 389589
Opening Hours: 7:00pm – 12:00am
This is almost a ONE-MAN SHOW restaurant. Chef Danny takes the orders, cooks, and then two aunties will send the food to our table.
Prices are not exactly cheap, and diners have complained much about service, or the lack of.
Our orders were the legendary Crab Bee Hoon ($160 for 2 crabs), Prawns ($84 for 14 pieces), Scallops ($50 for 2 kg, that was like 12 pieces?), Frogs’ legs with essence of chicken ($26 for 2 frogs), and Vegetables ($20).
A word of caution: The kitchen was heavy-handed in using garlic. If your nemesis is garlic or you are a Dracula, stay far-far away from Sin Huat. Sin Huat Eating House (Geylang)
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice- Maxwell Food Centre
Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street #01-10/11, Singapore 069184
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Tian Tian’s winning formula to me has to be its rice. Even Anthony Bourdain said that the chicken rice is so fragrant and delicious that it can be eaten on its own. Gordon Ramsey ‘lost’ a hawker challenge here.
Probably one of the best chicken rice in Singapore, it’s warm, fluffy, fragrant and tasty. However, with increasing fame comes greater inconsistency. Tian Tian Chicken Rice (Maxwell Food Centre)
Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice – Tiong Bahru Market
Tiong Bahru Market #02-82, 30 Seng Poh Road Singapore 168898
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm
Above average chicken rice. I find the general taste of the chicken rice more muted – less oily, not so fragrant, juicy chicken but can have more depth in flavours. Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice
Zai Shun Curry Fish Head
253 Jurong East Street 24 #01-205, Singapore 600253
Opening Hours: 7:00am – 3:00pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sun), Closed Wed
Zai Shun Curry Fish Head does not just sell Curry Fish Head, and is ironically better known for its Steamed Fish, Zi Char fare, and Teochew Porridge.
The Cantonese style Steamed Fish include the catch of the day, Soo Mei Fish, Red Snapper Fish Head with Tau Cheo, and even the prized Empurau – known to be the “Forget Me Not” fish.
The Assam Curry Fish Head had a spicy, tangy gravy that went well with rice, so much so that I almost drenched my bowl in it. Zai Shun Curry Fish Head (Jurong East)
Read: DFD Singapore Michelin Bib Gourmand Reviews
Other Related Entries
Singapore Michelin Guide 2017 – The Results
Singapore Michelin Guide 2016 – The Results
Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore 2017
Amoy Street Food Centre – 15 Must-Try Stalls
Zion Riverside Food Centre – 10 Favourite Stalls
* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
The post 20 Michelin Bib Gourmand “Street Food” In Singapore – Claypot Rice, Curry Fish Head, Herbal Soups appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.