Authentic Charred Claypot Rice + KL-Style San Lao Bee Hoon At Sembawang

Sembawang Traditional Claypot Rice is well-known for its authenticity ? every pot of claypot rice is cooked fresh upon order. It?s sooo fresh that the stall even cooks the rice from scratch inside each claypot!

Located at Sembawang, this cosy little zi char eatery also sells a selection of other standard zi char items.

The minute I stepped into the stall, I could smell the charred smokiness from the claypots at neighbouring tables, which made my dining companion and I incredibly excited to try it for ourselves.

Sembawang Traditional Claypot Rice has limited seating and already had a snaking queue outside when we reached. It only has a couple dozen tables or so, so it?s best to call to make a reservation.

Plus, it isn?t air-conditioned and only has rotating fans, so it can get quite stuffy, especially on a hot afternoon.

If not for the fact that this zi char place is located in Sembawang, I?d gladly bring my entire family (and extended family, at that) for a bowl of gloriously charred claypot rice again.

To me, the curry fish head is a must-order. The curry was fragrant and aromatic and I?d love to drench my rice or bee hoon in it.

The prices here at Sembawang Traditional Claypot Rice are also relatively reasonable and the portions are huge, so I?ll definitely be back!

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
4 Jalan Tampang, Singapore 758948

Opening Hours:
11am - 10pm (Daily)

Telephone
+65 6757 7144

AVERAGE PRICE: $8 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Great Claypot Rice Cooked Using Charcoal.

The cooking of claypot rice is a slow process that requires a lot of patience, especially when the rice grains are cooked from scratch. I learnt about Yuan Yuan Claypot Rice (源源砂煲饭) when I was working on the Google Pixel campaign.

The waiting time here can stretch up to 30 minutes during peak hours. This place is always packed!

The first thing that caught my eye was the charcoal stoves. Using old rice grains, each pot of rice is prepared upon order and cooked over a charcoal fire. What you get is a nicely-charred crust at the bottom of the pot, and every rice grain carries a lovely smokiness.

Before the grains are fully cooked, a plate of marinated chicken pieces, lup cheong (Chinese sausages) and salted fish are placed on top of the rice.

The moment the lid was removed, a distinct smoky aroma wafted out. The commendable tenderness of the chicken pieces is the result of a 6-hour marination. We could also taste the pleasant notes of hua diao wine.

A huge amount of skill and precision is necessary for perfect heat control. Herbal soups are available, as well

Uncle Seah is already in his 70s, but he is not retiring yet. It?s great that his son and daughter-in-law help out at the stall at night.

While it?s really tiring and tough, I really hope that they don?t give up their craft! The wait for their famous claypot rice was long, but the delicious rice was definitely worth the wait. Such a satisfying dinner, I will be back!

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-38 ABC Brickworks Food Centre, Singapore 150006

Opening Hours:
4pm to 11pm, closed on Wednesdays

Telephone
6276 5259

AVERAGE PRICE: $4 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Dinner & Supper

Two-Month-Old Stall Cooks Up One Of The Best Minced Meat Noodles In Serangoon North

Pin Ji Fishball Minced Meat Noodles (品记鱼圆肉脞面) might only be two months old, but the couple running the business have been cooking up a storm.

Located in the heart of Serangoon North, at an old-school traditional coffee shop known as Guan Hock Tiong Eating House, this fishball noodle stall has been noticeably gaining recognition.

Michelle and Keith, the minds behind Pin Ji Fishball Minced Meat Noodles, are a young couple who only started the stall two months ago.

They mastered the art of cooking fishball noodles within a short period of time, too. For a hawker stall, I would consider this an impressive feat.

They learnt the recipe from a childhood friend, who also handmakes the fishball. The duo handcrafted their own chilli too, resembling a taste close to home.

The chilli had a slight sambal taste. I was hoping for a stronger spice kick, yet I was slightly disappointed at how mellow the chilli tasted.

However, if you are someone who loves the slight hint of chilli but doesn?t wish for it to overwhelm your palate, this chilli would definitely coddle your tastebuds.

For a newly-opened hawker stall, it was definitely pleasant to see the efforts that the young hawkers are putting in to revive the hawker culture in Singapore. Would you try out this fishball noodle stall?

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
Blk 153 HDB Serangoon North Avenue 1, #01-512, Singapore 550153

Opening Hours:
7.30am - 1.30pm (Mon to Sun), Closed on Fri

Telephone
Nil

AVERAGE PRICE: $3 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Breakfast and Lunch

Tai Lok Claypot Chicken Rice may sounds familiar to some. The stall used to be at Margaret Drive Food Centre and moved to Alexandra Food Village when the building was demolished. I remembered I reviewed the stall back in 2010 when I started blogging.

It is almost a decade, and I am glad that they are still around.

If you did not pre-order, be prepared to wait for around 30 to 45 minutes. As you can see from the photo, for $17 ($12 plus $5 for extra chicken), I get a pot of claypot rice brimming with ingredients. It comes with chunky pieces of tender chicken, Chinese sausage, liver sausage and vegetables.

The rice is cooked on charcoal, taste a lot better than those cooked by electric rice cooker. They are very generous with the ingredients such as mushroom, chicken & chinese sausages but prepare to wait..

Besides the claypot chicken rice, the stall also sells several soup dishes to go along with the rice.

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
Alexandra Food Village
120 Bukit Merah Lane 1
Singapore 150120
Tel:

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 5pm - 10pm
(Closed on Mon-Tue)

Telephone
+65 6474043

AVERAGE PRICE: $5 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Breakfast and Lunch

One of the better prawn noodles in Singapore.

River South (Hoe Nam) Prawn Noodles is one of the better prawn noodles in Singapore. I have probably eaten here during my childhood days as my parents stay in Potong Pasir.

However, I have not gone back since then, not till my editor from Lian He Zao Bao recommended me to have a meal there.

The stall was established in 1971 by Png Kim Soon, and taken over by his children in 1989. Two sisters, Ah Zhu and Ah Lian, run the stall in the day while their brother takes care of the evening crowd. The stall ?Hoe Nam? was named after the province where their ancestors lived. I

In the past, they only have prawn noodle soup but the menu expanded to include dry noodles and eventually way more dishes like big prawns, pork ribs, pig tail and baby abalone.

The centre part of the prawns have been de-shelled, leaving the prawn heads and tails intact.

This makes it easier to peel the prawns. For every order, a small paper box will be provided for you to throw your prawn shells.

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
31 Tai Thong Crescent，Singapore 347859

Opening Hours:
6.30am to 4.30pm, 6pm to 4.30am. Closed on Mondays

Telephone
6281 9293

AVERAGE PRICE: $5 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner and Supper

Silky Hor Fun, Great Wok Hei, Big Portions.

I don?t really come across hawker stalls that specialize in hor fun. The dish seems to be more commonly served at zi char places. I was on the lookout for nice hawker places and chanced upon Hor Fun Premium, which is located at Alexandra Village Food Centre.

The online community has shared rave reviews about Hor Fun Premium, and I knew I had to make my way there.

Hor Fun Premium has become exceedingly popular since opening in 2015. The owner, Mr Leo, picked up his culinary skills from his father and started cooking at a zi char stall at the age of 17. One day, he decided to venture out on his own and started Hor Fun Premium.

Hor Fun Premium really whips up an awesome plate of hor fun! The beef slices were perfectly cooked and tender. The vegetable stalks remained crunchy and refreshingly sweet. I absolutely love how simple yet hearty this dish is. Absolutely spot-on!

Hor Fun Premium has successfully made it to my list of favourite food haunts. Fresh and good quality ingredients, wonderful wok hei, and huge servings. Need I say more?

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-78, Singapore 150120

Opening Hours:
10.30am to 2.30pm, 4.30pm to 8.30pm

Telephone
Nil

AVERAGE PRICE: $3 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Lunch & Dinner

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Creative Local ?Donburi? With Hakka Yong Tau Foo & Thunder Tea Rice, At Tanjong Pagar Centre.

It is heartening to see young hawkers going places, especially when it is not easy work. And great to see some creativity in how our local food can be presented. (Really a ?FoodieMakeover?)

Ah Lock Tofu run by the young Lee Lock Teng, first started at Yishun Park Hawker Centre as part of Timbre?s incubator programme for first time F&B ?hawkerpreneurs?.

The signature dish was an interesting Hakka Tofu Rice Bowl, a combination of Hakka-style Yong Tau Foo and elements of Hakka Thunder Tea Rice (lei cha fan).

The Yong Tau Foo recipe was from his grandmother, and he decided to marry the two types of food items into a rice bowl.

You can say this is ?Hakka-style Donburi?.

We?ve actually changed the rice to Japanese short grain rice and incorporate seaweed. There?s this thing about Japanese rice and seaweed that really comes together, and makes it delicious.

If you go to a hawker centre, you?ll see that most stalls specialise in just one item. I love that tradition: ?I specialise in chicken rice, and I only sell chicken rice?. You?ve got so many different choices under one roof, but each hawker is a master of their own speciality.

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
7 Wallich St, #B2-22/23/24 Tanjong Pagar Centre Singapore 078884

Opening Hours:
7.30 am ? 8.30 pm (Mon ? Fri), 11.30 am ? 8.30pm (Sat), Closed Sun

Telephone
+65 8826 0244

AVERAGE PRICE: $3 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Lunch & Dinner

Braise Yourself For a Deep, Duck Secret

For as long as I can remember, I don?t think I actually liked duck rice. Perhaps it was because my first plate of duck rice wasn?t very good and left a bad impression on me. Ever since, I?ve always been a fan of chicken rice. However, after having a plate of probably the best duck rice, I?ve started to think that maybe duck rice isn?t so bad after all.

With almost 40 years of history, Sean Kee Duck Rice is set to be a top contender in the race for the title of best duck rice in Singapore.

They only serve duck rice and duck porridge, but it seems like they?re better known for their duck rice. The stall is currently run by 3 brothers ? Lawrence, Ron and Albert.

Despite their manly and tough countenance, the trio is actually very friendly and rather comical. Albert told me that the recipe for their duck rice was passed down from their father who first started the stall in 1979!

Their father has retired, and the 3 brothers have since taken over the stall. The brothers get up at 5am every day to prepare all the ingredients by hand ? from braising the eggs to whipping up the chilli. And, they only open their stall at 11am! The duck used is brought in fresh daily, so you be sure that you?re savouring only the freshest here.

They also serve braised peanuts, tofu, braised eggs, duck innards and even handmade fishcakes. They told me that it?s a lot of hard work but their dedication and diligence have not gone unnoticed by their loyal customers.

You can order a regular plate of duck rice, which comes with soup and chilli, for $5. I?d recommend that you bring along a couple of friends and order a platter so you can get to try everything they serve.

Just let them know if you don?t eat certain items, and they?ll be more than happy to personalize the platter for you.

Overall, I think the braised sauce was the star of the dish. I couldn?t help but lick my plate clean. They told me that their duck rice is catered towards the younger generation, hence their rendition is sweeter, unlike the traditional Teochew Duck Rice which is a tad saltier.

Sean Kee Duck Rice is situated within Sin Huat Eating House, amongst other tenants. However, you?ll easily notice that most, if not all, of the patrons there are enjoying duck rice. And, it?s the same for me. The only reason I?ll ever go back there is to get myself a hearty plate of duck rice.

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
Address: 659-661 Geylang Road, Lorong 35 Singapore 389589

Opening Hours:
11am to 6pm daily. Closed on Saturdays.

Telephone
9690 6606

AVERAGE PRICE: $3 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Lunch & Dinner

Duck rice and duck porridge have always been my go-to for comfort food since it?s both affordable and scrumptious.

If you stay somewhere in the East, I am sure you will have heard about Kun Ji Duck Rice at Marine Parade Central Market & Food Centre. There are long queues during peak hours every day!

In hopes of adding another gem to my duck rice/porridge list, I traveled all the way from the West to the East to get a taste of Kun Ji Duck Rice.

Kun Ji gave a pretty generous portion of rice, and the dish also had plenty of duck meat drizzled with braised sauce all over.

There was a good mixture of thicker and thinner slices of duck meat, all with skin, and each piece was tender and flavourful with a good amount of fat.

The rice had a nice soft but still textured consistency, and after being coated with the braised sauce became more flavourful.

Take a spoonful of the rice and some duck meat with a dash of sambal ? that?s the best way to savour all the flavours and textures at once!

Overall, I found this to be an affordable and satisfying plate of duck rice. If I?m ever back in the Marine Parade area, I?d like to go back for a second plate.

My trip to the East was not in vain, and I liked that the dishes were generous in portion, tasty yet affordable. I would definitely add Kun Ji Duck Rice to my list of go-to duck rice/porridge places.

Craving some comfort food that doesn?t cost much? Head down to Kun Ji Duck Rice if you?re in the East!

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
84 Marine Parade Central, #01-178 Marine Parade Central Market & Food Centre, Singapore 440084

Opening Hours:
9.30am - 10pm (Daily)

Telephone
Nil

AVERAGE PRICE: $3 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

The Definitive Bak Chor Mee!

Current and former residents of Bukit Merah will find Mdm Keo and Mr Goh a familiar presence in the neighbourhood. After all, they?re the folks behind Sheng Ji Noodles, and have been serving up the area?s best bak chor mee (minced meat noodles) for 37 years.

What most might not know is that this recipe is even older than that! For 50 years, Mr Goh?s father had made a living selling Teochew-style bak chor mee near the Singapore River. When the elder retired, he passed down the recipe to Mr Goh and Mdm Keo. The couple have dutifully kept the business thriving since, moving only once to their current location in Bukit Merah.

Teochew-style bak chor mee is a quintessential hawker favourite ? nearly every hawker centre and kopitiam has a bak chor mee stall.

Yet, amidst a sea of similar options, folks who live and work in the area firmly stick to Sheng Ji Noodles for their bak chor mee fix.

Many have continuously patronised the stall for decades. Even those who have moved out the neighbourhood make a point to travel across the country regularly for these noodles. One such long-time customer visits regularly from Tampines!

What is it that sets Sheng Ji?s bak chor mee apart from the rest? What?s the secret behind Mr Goh and Mdm Keo?s 87-year-old recipe?

These days, most food can be pre-made, outsourced, or bought in bulk, stored, and used over a longer time. The resultant products are not bad too, thanks to better food technology and efficient mass production, but ?not bad? is, well, not good either.

Sheng Ji Noodles - Mee Pok
These mee pok will put a spring in your step.

Mdm Keo replied in a calm and modest manner: ?No secret ingredients. Everything is just fresh.?

What sets Sheng Ji?s bak chor mee apart from the rest, is Mdm Keo and Mr Goh?s dedication to freshness. Their diligence and attention to detail elevate their product to a whole other level. That they?re such a well-known and well-loved establishment in Bukit Merah View, is not by chance or luck. Through years of honest hard work, Mr Goh and Mdm Keo made the ordinary bak chor mee, simply extraordinary.

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
Kim San Leng F&B
Blk 116 Bukit Merah View
Singapore 151116

Opening Hours:
Daily 6:00am to 4:00pm

Telephone
Nil

AVERAGE PRICE: $3 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Breakfast & Lunch

Relive the Good Old Days Through Home-Cooked Local Dishes

Fu Xiang Signatures best known for its Award Winning Curry Chicken, started out in the 1990s, from a small stall in a Coffee Shop, and has since expanded islandwide.

Before popping by Fu Xiang Signatures for lunch, I was expecting the owner to be an experienced middle-aged man.

To my surprise, I was greeted by Edric and Edwin, a pair of twin brothers in their early thirties. When asked about the story behind Fu Xiang Signatures, Edric said, ?It started from our parents and we wanted to continue the heritage.?

The two brothers have been helping out at their parents? stall since they were kids. After finishing their studies, they went into other trades, but ultimately returned to F&B to carry on their parents? legacy, and build the brand.

?It?s our parents? hard work and we want to grow it and not let it go to waste,? the brothers shared.

Fu Xiang Signatures believes that everyone should have a taste of heritage, and relive the good old days through home-cooked local dishes that are made from scratch.

If you are in the vicinity and craving for a good bowl of chicken curry, Fu Xiang Signatures is the place for you.

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
10 ANSON ROAD, INTERNATIONAL PLAZA #05-17 S079903

Opening Hours:
Mon ? Sun: 10am-10pm (Last Order 9.45pm)

Telephone
Nil

AVERAGE PRICE: $5 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Bubble Tea and food collaborations are what Singaporeans would continue to expect, as BBT businesses found a way to ?survive? after the ?Circuit Breaker? measures.

Due to the extended ?Circuit Breaker?, all standalone BBT outlets that sell only beverages are required to close their outlets.

So BBT shops in Singapore started forming partnerships (some not quite expected), from KOI with Grain, CHICHA San Chen 吃茶三千 with Yu Kee Duck Rice and Milksha with Yum Cha.

Jiak by Jin Feng 金峰 has also worked with PlayMade by 丸作. At least both are selling Taiwanese food, so at least there is some synergy.

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
53 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, AMK Hub #B2-47, Singapore 569933

Opening Hours:
11am ? 10pm (Mon ? Sun)

Telephone
+65 9093 5766

AVERAGE PRICE: $5 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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D?Authentic is easily one of the most popular Nasi Lemak stalls in the East, and it is not difficult to spot a long queue during lunch time.

The stall is known for its aromatic rice, sweetish-spicy sambal chilli, and crispy chicken wings.

I had heard quite a number of things in regards to this Nasi Lemak stall at Marine Parade Blk 84 hawker centre.

Thirteen people have finished their training with some of Singapore's top hawkers, but just five of them will be running two "incubation" stalls with a year-long lease. (Four banded together to run a wanton mee stall.)

Another five opted to stay on at the trainers' stalls while three others are leaping straight into running their own.

The first batch of graduates from the Hawker Master Trainer pilot programme showed off their skills at a tasting session on Monday, cooking for panelists of the CEO Hawkers' Guide published by the Business Times.

I had head that it was a family team and that every component of the Nasi Lemak was fresh and flavorful.

I also heard that there were long queues at this place as it was so fresh and good. Thus, when I found myself there and there was no queue, I jumped right in!

The first thing that hits you is the rice. So nice and flavorful, tasted so light and a little coconut and pandan.

Not too lemak, but quite nice. The egg is a little overcooked, but that?s ok. The fried fish, very tasty and flavorful, done nicely.

The chicken wing was also nice and crisp and juicy on the inside.

The chili that comes with the set, nice and sweet and hot, it went great with the rice. The fishcake chili was pretty hot, but so good.

This is a great choice in Marine Parade, I am waiting for the next round!

Very shiok!!!

Food is very nice and satisfying.

The food price is reasonable so order away!

Drop in today! Highly recommended!

Address
#01-36 84 Marine Parade Central Market and Food Centre

Opening Hours:
7am ? 3pm or earlier when sold out (Mon ? Sun)

Telephone
Nil

AVERAGE PRICE: $3 onwards

SUITABLE FOR: Breakfast & Lunch