Chicken curry mee is a unique dish found in Singapore and Malaysia (former British Malaya) which is a fusion of Malay, Indian and Chinese elements. I still remember the awe and delight of my first smell and taste of chicken curry that my primary school classmate's mum made for our class excursion. Have gone through countless chicken curry since then but always looking for one that gives me that unforgettable feeling.
Chicken curry mee is really not that common as a hawker dish in Singapore. For whatever reason, Hong Lim Market & Food Centre has the largest collection of good chicken curry mee stalls in Singapore. So, if you are a chicken curry lover, Hong Lim is the place to be.
After eating at Hong Lim for many years, here's what I think of the chicken curry mee stalls.
Recommended for you 👍 I was delighted by the thick sweet savoury spicy curry at Cantonese Delights. The natural sweetness in the tender and juicy drumstick just add to the pleasure of eating their chicken curry mee. Good value at $4.50.
Recommended for you 👍 Heng Kee's curry mee is relatively spicy balanced with sweetness and savouriness (but it is not spicy hot). The large serving costs $8 but they are generous with the chicken, fishcake and tau pok. The chunks of chicken are tender and juicy with natural sweetness.
Recommended for you 👍 Ah Heng's curry is nicely savoury sweet spicy and not too thick. The poached chicken is also the best here in my opinion - so tender, juicy and sweet. But, the portions are the smallest for $7.
Recommended for you 👍 One of the pioneers of curry chicken mee in Singapore. Elderly Mr Goh is the second generation owner. Excellent poached chicken with tender juicy meat and natural sweet tasting chicky flavour. The curry is light and a little flat tasting. This generously filled bowl cost $5.
Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist stall also serves chicken curry mee. Their likable thick curry is savoury sweet spicy but the chicken is cooked till stiff and there is no taste except for the curry clinging to it. The noodles are the generic slender wanton mee type and done quite wiry stiff and chewy. Price $4.50.
What do you think of this ranking? Your comments are highly valued.
Hong Lim Market & Food Centre
Address: 531A Upper Cross Street, Singapore 051531
GPS: 1.284966, 103.846049 🌐 1°17'05.9"N 103°50'45.8"E
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer station
Recommended for you 👍 I was delighted by the thick sweet savoury spicy curry at Cantonese Delights. The natural sweetness in the tender and juicy drumstick just add to the pleasure of eating their chicken curry mee. Good value at $4.50.
Recommended for you 👍 Heng Kee's curry mee is relatively spicy balanced with sweetness and savouriness (but it is not spicy hot). The large serving costs $8 but they are generous with the chicken, fishcake and tau pok. The chunks of chicken are tender and juicy with natural sweetness.
Recommended for you 👍 Ah Heng's curry is nicely savoury sweet spicy and not too thick. The poached chicken is also the best here in my opinion - so tender, juicy and sweet. But, the portions are the smallest for $7.
Recommended for you 👍 One of the pioneers of curry chicken mee in Singapore. Elderly Mr Goh is the second generation owner. Excellent poached chicken with tender juicy meat and natural sweet tasting chicky flavour. The curry is light and a little flat tasting. This generously filled bowl cost $5.
Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist stall also serves chicken curry mee. Their likable thick curry is savoury sweet spicy but the chicken is cooked till stiff and there is no taste except for the curry clinging to it. The noodles are the generic slender wanton mee type and done quite wiry stiff and chewy. Price $4.50.
My favourites in Hong Lim hawker centre according to preference 👉
🏆 Cantonese Delights 👈 click
🏆 Heng Kee 👈 click
🏆 Ah Heng 👈 click
🏅 Ping Ping 👈 click
To me Cantonese Delights tops the list even though they are not a curry chicken mee specialist and came into the scene later. Their poached chicken and curry are excellent, and their competitive pricing tipped the balance in their favour for me. Waiting time can be over 30 minutes during peak hours.
Heng Kee is my favourite when it comes to taste of chicken and complexity of the curry. But, pricing is relatively higher, so it is more an indulgence than daily sustenance. Waiting time can also be up to 30 minutes.
Ah Heng's chicken is among my favourites though the curry is less layered than its top competitors. Pricing is also relatively high. As Ah Heng has two stalls in Hong Lim FC, waiting time is shorter (a consideration for folks who are pressed for time during lunch).
Ping Ping's chicken is great but the curry is relatively watery and lacks punch compared to the rest. Pricing is competitive - cheaper than Heng Kee and Ah Heng. Queue is relatively short (around 10 minutes), so it is a good alternative if you are pressed for time.
Ji Ji (a wanton mee specialist) is not really in the same league for curry chicken mee.
🏆 Cantonese Delights 👈 click
🏆 Heng Kee 👈 click
🏆 Ah Heng 👈 click
🏅 Ping Ping 👈 click
To me Cantonese Delights tops the list even though they are not a curry chicken mee specialist and came into the scene later. Their poached chicken and curry are excellent, and their competitive pricing tipped the balance in their favour for me. Waiting time can be over 30 minutes during peak hours.
Heng Kee is my favourite when it comes to taste of chicken and complexity of the curry. But, pricing is relatively higher, so it is more an indulgence than daily sustenance. Waiting time can also be up to 30 minutes.
Ah Heng's chicken is among my favourites though the curry is less layered than its top competitors. Pricing is also relatively high. As Ah Heng has two stalls in Hong Lim FC, waiting time is shorter (a consideration for folks who are pressed for time during lunch).
Ping Ping's chicken is great but the curry is relatively watery and lacks punch compared to the rest. Pricing is competitive - cheaper than Heng Kee and Ah Heng. Queue is relatively short (around 10 minutes), so it is a good alternative if you are pressed for time.
Ji Ji (a wanton mee specialist) is not really in the same league for curry chicken mee.
Hong Lim Market & Food Centre
Address: 531A Upper Cross Street, Singapore 051531
GPS: 1.284966, 103.846049 🌐 1°17'05.9"N 103°50'45.8"E
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer station
You can save some stomach space and calories by omitting the noodles from your curry chicken. Then you can try more stalls on.the same day.
ReplyDeleteI love to eat yellow noodles with the curry leh ;-p Actually i come to Hong Lim FC often. I think it is one of the best hawker centres in Singapore.
DeleteExcellent comparison! Heng Kee is my all time favourite but problem is the queue. Pro tip: go at 10.15-10.30am when they open. I patronise Ah Heng most often (they are open in the evening when the queue is less). I have a slight preference for Heng Kee but honestly, its like splitting hairs. Ping Ping is maybe not better than these 2 but its very good in it's own right and Uncle sells out each day as well. Cantonese Delights' version is a bit different, more thicker curry than "curry soup".
ReplyDeleteThanks for the insights TC. Yes I recognise that Cantonese Delights is a slightly different type of curry mee. Appreciate much.
Deletei like ping ping curry mee best ..u must add their chilies to maximus the taste,power ..i found the other curry too thick and sweet..ping hand leg very fast that y cut short waiting time...
ReplyDelete