This was the 3rd meal of our makan outing because the first 2, though nice didn't quite inspire enough. I suggested walking over to Hong Lim Food Centre for the famous Teo Heng Teochew porridge because it's a light meal that can fit into our precious last remaining stomach space. We were glad we did as we were all mind blown by the boiled rabbit fish 白肚鱼 🐟 Teo Heng is always a safe bet but this pak tor herr fish was beyond my expectation.
Singapore is on alert due to the global COVID-19 virus epidermic but Hong Lim Food Centre was fully packed and Teo Heng Teochew Porridge was almost sold out by 1pm, as usual.
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Boss Ah Yong and sister Ah Lan are fourth generation owners' of Teo Heng Teochew Porridge. The business was started by Ah Yong and Ah Lan's great grandfather. It was passed to their grand uncle before their father Leow Yer Kim (born 1925) took over in the 1940s. There are two 4th generation Teo Heng Teochew Porridge stalls - one here by Ah Yong and Ah Lan, and the second one at Amoy Food Centre by their elder brother Ah Heng. (Source: Street Food Warms Your Heart blog.)
Besides the obligatory braised intestines, pig skin, tofu, tau pok etc, we zeroed in on Teo Heng's legendary boiled fish. Today was our lucky day! They still have a few rabbit fish. Rabbit fish is seasonal and boss Ah Yong told us that the season was ending in 2 days time 😯
At Teo Heng, the fresh fish are simply dunked into a pot of boiling stock to cook. The stock is mainly made by boiling preserved mustard (laced with a bit of lard) which gave it a salty savoury tangy taste.
Pro-tip: Teo Heng opens at 8:30am but get your fish slightly later say around 11am. In the early morning, the stock flavour is just mainly from the preserved mustard. As the day progresses and more fish is put through the pot of stock, the fresh fish impart their natural sweetness into the pot. The flavour has the greatest depth nearing closing time (1pm) but you run the risk of the fish being sold out 😱 That's part of the fun about eating at Teo Heng 😂
Teo Heng's braises are mildly savoury in flavour with a bit of underlying natural fresh ingredient taste (similar to Teochew braises in "Little Swatow" i.e. Johor Bahru).
I like to eat my Teochew porridge splashed with lor (braising stock) like a good Teochew Ah Hia (even though I am a Cantonese Ah Seng).
The spongy braised large pork intestines were very well cleaned and taste just mildly savoury sweet.
The braised pig skin had a tenderly firm springy bite and a bit of savoury taste. Nice!
The star was the boiled rabbit fish which came smothered under a blanket of chopped preserved mustard.
When it is in season, rabbit fish is either filled with milt (sperm) or roe. Ours' were filled with milt.
Each rabbit fish yields about half a spoonful of milt. The milt was light and creamy like warm egg custard a la chawanmushi. It tastes very gently sweet like milk. It's very nice. Mind blowing nice 😮
The tender juicy white fish meat was also sweet. There was zero bitter taste. Zilch.
Recommended for you 👍 Third meal of the morning demolished. It's easy when the food is nice. Teo Heng's boiled fish is really memorable. I will be back soon! There are other fish I want to try and also their braised duck, handmade fishballs, fishcakes, etc. (All our food today [2020] at Teo Heng costs $29.)
Teo Heng Teochew Porridge is located in the back row inside Hong Lim Food Centre. Its signboard is partially hidden by an exhaust duct.
The easiest way to find it is to look for famous Heng Kee Curry Chicken Noodle on the ground floor. Teo Heng is in the row directly behind Heng Kee.
Restaurant name: Teo Heng Teochew Porridge
Address: Stall #01-56, Hong Lim Food Centre, 531A Upper Cross Street, Singapore 510531
GPS: 1.284966, 103.846049
Hours: 8:30am to 1:00pm (Closed on Saturday & Sunday)
Non Halal
Date visited: 25 Feb 2020
Ah Yong's elder brother's stall at Amoy Street Food Centre
I used to frequent this place years ago when I was working nearby.Hojiak!
ReplyDeleteThe idea of simmering fish in that pot of simmering chye boi was a suggestion by a diner, says the owner.
Thank you for the insight. Once again, proof that it is good to feedback personally to the hawker. Appreciate much.
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