Chong Wen Ge Nyonya Café beside Thian Hock Keng Temple 崇文阁

When you visit Singapore and want authentic experiences in the sunny island, visiting a Chinese temple and tasting Nyonya food should be in your itinerary. If you come to Chong Wen Ge Cafe 崇文阁, you can taste good Nyonya laksa and visit Thian Hock Keng Temple at the same time.




Thian Hock Keng 天福宫 established in 1839 is the oldest and most important temple of Singapore's Hokkien community which is the largest Chinese dialect group in the country. Thian Hock Keng was built to worship Mazu 媽祖, the Chinese sea goddess. Early immigrants who came to Singapore by sea from Fujian China came here to thank and pray to Mazu for journey mercies.



Chong Wen Ge is just beside Thian Hock Keng, on the temple's left hand side.




In its past life, Chong Wen Ge was Chong Hock Girls’ School established in 1915. The classrooms were on the upper floor, the offices and tuck shop at the ground level and there was also a three storey pavilion built in 1852 where scholars enjoyed poetry.



Chong Wen Ge Cafe is in the old tuck shop at the ground level.



Chong Wen Ge Cafe owner Soh Boon Huat is a developer and prominent temple volunteer. When the opportunity to operate a cafe at Chong Wen Ge was available, he took it in a leap of faith.



Two previous tenants had bowed out but Mr Soh figured that it is not often in life that one can have the chance to run a cafe in such a beautiful setting in a historic temple in the financial and spiritual heart of Singapore.



With the tenancy in hand, Mr Soh had to quickly figure out what to serve in his cafe. He turned to his wife for her family's heirloom Nyonya laksa recipe.




So, that's how we have a Nyonya cafe in Singapore's oldest Chinese temple - a uniquely Singapore combination. On the strength of Mrs Soh's Nyonya laksa and Nyonya kueh from a leading supplier, Chong Wen Ge Cafe is thriving and will be celebrating its third anniversary soon.



Chong Wen Ge's Nyonya laksa curry is rich - the crazy rich Asian, over the top kind of rich. It's the kind of full body creamy richness which is many Singaporeans' concept of laksa curry, hence it is popular with locals. The milky sweet coconut flavour was complemented by mild spices, dried shrimp savouriness and gentle chili heat. I finished the tasty laksa curry to the last drop, even though I prefer my curry to be less creamy.



The lightly blanched bean sprouts added juicy crunch and sweetness while the finely chopped laksa leaves gave the curry fragrance. (Nyonya laksa price $11.80.)



Stirring in the house made sambal chili added more dried shrimp savouriness and a bit more mild chili heat.



In the bowl, there were 3 good size fresh prawns and a few (maybe 5) canned razor clams.



I like it that they go the extra mile to butterfly and de-vein the prawns, cooking it just before serving for best texture and juiciness.



If Nyonya laksa is too lemak or rich for you, Chong Wen Ge also have Nyonya mee siam. The mee siam sauce was also thick but without the coconut milk. Fermented bean paste and ground dried shrimps provided the savouriness and body to the sauce. Tamarind and lime gave it tanginess and chili added spicy heat to the dish. (Price $10.80.)



Chong Wen Ge Cafe's Nyonya kueh were nice too. Though I would prefer Nyonya kueh that are half a notch softer, I like it that CWG's kueh are not overly sweet. CWG's Nyonya kueh supplier supply the same kueh to top Singapore hotels. (Price $1.50 per piece.)




Restaurant name: Chong Wen Ge Cafe 崇文阁
Address: 168, Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068619
GPS: 1°16'50.8"N 103°50'51.4"E 🌐 1.280780, 103.847615
Nearest MRT station: Telok Ayer (Downtown Line)
Tel: 9099 3535
Hours: 11:00am - 5:00pm

Non Halal



Date visited: 27 Oct 2018

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