Tony Johor Kaki Travels for Food · Heritage · Culture · History

Food Explorer Storyteller with 63 million+ reads 📧 johorkaki@gmail.com

Thye Hong Handmade Fishball Noodle 🐟 Ghim Moh People's Favourite 太豐鱼圆面

Thye_Hong_Handmade_Fishball_Noodle_Ghim_Moh_太豐鱼圆面

Popular old fishball noodle stall in Ghim Moh Food Centre. Their springy noodles and lardy sauce are nice. I especially like their handmade fishball and fish cake as its savoury sweetness is among the best balanced of all that I've tried so far, anywhere in Singapore and Malaysia.

Stall name: Thye Hong Handmade Fishball Noodle 太豐鱼圆面


Address: 20 Ghim Moh Road, stall #01-36, Singapore 270020 (stall inside Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre)


Hours: 6:00am - 11:00am (Mon, Weds, Thurs off)

Ghim Moh Chwee Kueh. One of Last Handmade Teochew Water Cake Stall in Singapore 李老三传统水粿

Ghim_Moh_Chwee_Kueh_李老三传统水粿

Trays of freshly steamed chwee kueh - a scene you see at Ghim Moh Chwee Kueh, one of the last water cake stalls that still make and steam their cakes at the stall. It feels and tastes different from central kitchen supplied chwee kwee, so public reactions to it are mixed.

Stall name: Ghim Moh Chwee Kueh 李老三传统水粿


Address: 20 Ghim Moh Road, stall #01-54, Singapore 270020 (Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre)


Nearest MRT station: Buona Vista


Hours: 6:30am - 6:30pm

CLOSED Elusive Guan Kee aka Famous Ghim Moh Fried Kway Teow. I Waited 20 Years for this 🤔 源记炒粿条

Guan_Kee_源记炒粿条

✍️ 3 Dec 2023. Guan Kee Fried Kway Teow called it a day after 54 years.

Guan Kee owner 陈福源 fainted while frying kway teow on 21 Nov 2023. Upon recovery a week later, the 77 year old decided that it is finally time to hang up his wok for good 🥲

TOM's City Zoom Mee Pok Tar @ Ghim Moh F C 🐟 Fish Chor Mee? 🤔 乡城鱼脞面

TOM's_City_Zoom_Mee_Pok_Tar_Ghim_Moh_乡城鱼脞面

Ghim Moh folks' favourite, a nice re-interpretation of the old staple minced pork noodle by a young hawker. The signboard in Chinese says 鱼脞面 Fish Chor Mee or minced fish noodle.

Stall name: TOM's City Zoom Mee Pok Tar 乡城鱼脞面


Address: 20 Ghim Moh Road, stall #01-11, Singapore 270020


Hours: 6:00am - 1:00pm (Tues & Fri off)

Chao Xiang Cooked Food. Kway Chap @ Hougang Hainanese Village Centre 潮香熟食

Chao_Xiang_Cooked_Food_Kway_Chap_潮香熟食

Chao Xing Cooked Food serve kway chap popular with regulars at Hainanese Village Centre in Hougang, judging by the long queue at the stall everyday. It's one of the hundreds of food stalls that epitomises Singapore hawker culture upholding tradition, taste, affordability and community.

Stall name: Chao Xiang Cooked Food 潮香熟食


Address: 105, stall #02-27 Hougang Ave 1, Hainanese Village Food Centre, Singapore 530105


Hours: 7:00am - 12:00 noon

Hunters Kitchen 🇮🇩 Lovingly Home Cooked Authentic Indonesian & Peranakan Cuisine

Hunters_Kitchen_Indonesian_Peranakan_Cuisine

Thanks to arrangements by Andrew Ong and Benny Se Teo, we enjoyed a most scrumptious feast of Indonesian and Peranakan cuisine graciously hosted by well known home chef Christina Hunter and hubby Nick at their beautiful home in Singapore.

First Class Fragrance Yi Liu Xiang Nasi Lemak 🐠 The Hottest Stall @ Hougang Hainanese Village Centre 一流香

Yi_Liu_Xiang_Nasi_Lemak_一流香

If you go by how long are the queues, Yi Liu Xiang Nasi Lemak is the most popular stall at Hainanese Village Centre in Hougang. I love their simple but delicious package of coconut rice, fried fish fillet, fried ikan selar fish, fried whitebait and sambal chili - all that deliciousness for $3.

Stall name: Yi Liu Xiang 一流香 


Address: 105 Hougang Ave 1, stall #02-30 Hainanese Village Centre, Singapore 530105 (also known as Lorong Ah Soo Market & Food Centre)


Hours: 6:30am - 12:00 noon (Weds & Thurs off)

Good Food Guide to Hainanese Village Centre (Hougang Lor Ah Soo) ❤️ Feel the Heart in this Heartland Hawker Centre

Hainanese_Village_Centre_Hougang_Lor_Ah_Soo

Hainanese Village (Lor Ah Soo) Centre is a relatively small market & food centre but it is well loved as there are several good food stalls and warm kampung spirit here. Every day, families, neighbours, friends etc., come here to have a tasty, affordable meal and la kopi (stir coffee i.e. hang out over coffee).

Hainanese Village Centre (also known as Lor Ah Soo Market & Food Centre)


Address: 105 Hougang Ave 1, Singapore 530105


Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Kovan station

Wang Jiao Shu Shi @ Hougang Hainanese Village. Can't Get Enough of this Old School Wanton Noodle 旺角熟食

Wang_Jiao_Shu_Shi_Wanton_Noodle_Hougang_Hainanese_Village_旺角熟食

This neighbourhood wanton mee stall has one of the most addictive noodles and sauce in the WTM business in Singapore.

Stall name: Wang Jiao Shu Shi 旺角熟食


Address: 105, stall #02-41 Hougang Ave 1, Hainanese Village Food Centre, Singapore 530105


Hours: 8:00am - 2:00pm (Sun off)

Ming Fa Duck Rice @ Hainanese Village Centre Hougang 🦆 One of my Fav Teochew Braised Duck with Power Sambal! 明发鸭饭

Ming_Fa_Duck_Rice_Hainanese_Village_Centre_Hougang_明发鸭饭

This is one of my favourite braised duck rice stalls now. The meat texture, taste of the duck and sauce, rice, soup, the pricing and even the sambal chili all ticked the right boxes for me ✅ 

Stall name: Ming Fa Duck Rice 明发鸭饭


Address: 105, stall #02-01 Hougang Ave 1, Hainanese Village Food Centre, Singapore 530105


Hours: 7:00am - 12:00 noon (Sun & Mon off)

Hup Huat White Carrot Cake @ Hainanese Village Centre Hougang. I Like this House Made Carrot Cake

Hup_Huat_White_Carrot_Cake_Hainanese_Village_Centre_Hougang

Lovely, comforting fried carrot cake in a homely feel hawker centre with kampung spirit.

Stall name: Hup Huat (White) Carrot Cake 合发白箩卜糕


Address: 105, stall #02-35 Hougang Ave 1, Hainanese Village Food Centre, Singapore 530105


Hours: 7:00am - 2:00pm (Mon & Thurs off)

Xiang Jiang Soya Sauce Chicken @ Alexandra Village F C. Like their Noodles, Soup & Sui Kow 香江豉油鸡

Xiang_Jiang_Soya_Sauce_Chicken_香江豉油鸡

Xiang Jiang serve a popular Hong Kong style wanton noodle, HK style soya sauce chicken, and huge prawn dumplings (sui kow). It's one of the most popular stalls at Alexandra Village (judging by the constant queue), touted by influencers as the best soya sauce chicken in Singapore, awarded the Michelin Plate, owned by ex-Raffles Hotel chef and all.

Stall name: Xiang Jiang Soya Sauce Chicken 香江豉油鸡


Address: Stall #01-77, Alexandra Village Food Centre, 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 150120


Hours: 8:00am - 2:00pm (Mon & Tues off)

Shu Heng Bi Tai Mak @ Kebun Baru Food Centre. Johor Bahru Style Rat Tail Noodle in Ang Mo Kio

Shu_Heng_Bi_Tai_Mak_Kebun_Baru_Ang_Mo_Kio

If you miss the lou shi fun or mee tai mak at JB's Kimdo restaurant, now you can your fix at Shu Heng Bi Tai Mak. The three month old stall also have a "dry" version with a savoury tangy spicy lardy sauce which I like a lot. The queue is building up at the stall as word is getting around fast about their delicious mee tai mak. 

Stall name: Shu Heng Bi Tai Mak 數興老鼠粉


Address: 226H Ang Mo Kio Street 22, stall #01-25, Kebun Bahru Market and Hawker Centre, Singapore 568226


Hours: 7:00am - 12:00 noon (Tues off)

When Pigs Can Fly ✈️ Bu Jian Tian Char Siew Wanton Noodle in Singapore 🐷

Bu_Jian_Tian_Wanton_Noodle_Singapore

Many wanton noodle enthusiasts are crazy about char siew made with "bu jian tian" or the "armpit" cut of pork. Like other bu jian tian fans, I also prefer this special cut over the usual lean meat / pork belly char siew. Out of hundreds of wanton mee stalls in Singapore, the number serving bu jian tian char siew can be counted with the fingers on one hand.

Ponggol Noodles @ Hougang Hainanese Village Centre. One Arm Noodle Man & a Different Take on Bak Chor Mee

Ponggol_Noodles_Hougang_One_Arm_Noodle_Man

Ponggol Noodles serve a different kind of bak chor mee or minced pork noodle which many come to love. The popular stall at Hougang's Hainanese Village Centre (market & food centre) is transiting into the third generation now, from grandfather to father (in 1995), and now to daughter. I love their slurpy noodles, special sweet savoury sauce and handmade pork balls.


Stall name: Punggol Noodles 榜鵝乾麵


Address: 105 Hougang Ave 1, stall #02-24 Hainanese Village Centre, Singapore 530105 (also known as Lorong Ah Soo Market & Food Centre)


Tel: +65 9722 5590


Hours: 8:00am - 3:00pm (Mon & Fri off)

Fatty Cheong @ ABC Market 🐷 Bu Jian Tian Char Siew Noodle with Butcher's Secret Cut

Fatty_Cheong_Bu_Jian_Tian_Char_Siew

In Singapore, Fatty Cheong at ABC Market is synonymous with "bu jian tian" 不见天 char siew to go with their egg noodles or plain rice. They were the pioneers that make char siew with this cut of pork popular with Singaporeans

Stall name: Fatty Cheong 肥仔详烧腊云吞面


Address: 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-120, Singapore 150006, ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre


Hours: 11:30am - 8:00pm (Thurs off)

Hong Xing Handmade Fishball Meatball Noodle @ Hong LIm F C. Breakfast in Chinatown

Hong_Xing_Handmade_Fishball_Meatball_Noodle_Hong_LIm_Chinatown

Popular early breakfast option at Hong Lim Food Centre serving traditional Teochew handmade fishball and meatball with spicy noodles.


Stall name: Hong Xing Handmade Fishball Meatball Noodle 鴻興手工魚圓 . 肉圓麵


Address: Hong Lim Food Centre, #02-30, 531A Upper Cross Street, Singapore 051531  


Hours: 7:00am - 2:00pm (Weds off)

Yong Xiang Carrot Cake Stall Famous for their Fried Teochew Kueh @ Bendemeer F C

Yong_Xiang_Carrot_Cake_Bendemeer

Yong Xiang Carrot Cake serve a unique take on Teochew kueh that I've not seen anywhere else. Love it or loathe it, it's interesting and I recommend that you give it a try when you are at Bendemeer Food Centre.

Stall name: Yong Xiang Carrot Cake


Address: Stall #01-35 Bendemeer Market & Food Centre, 29 Bendemeer Road, Singapore 330029


Hours: 6:00am - 2:00pm (Mon, Weds, Fri off)

San Xi Hainanese Chicken Rice @ Bendemeer FC 🐔 三喜海南鸡饭

San_Xi_Hainanese_Chicken_Rice_Bendemeer_三喜海南鸡饭

San Xi Chicken Rice popular with residents living around Bendemeer Food Centre serve a tender, juicy chicken with a sweet savoury sauce, nutty aromatic greasy rice, nice chili and ginger sauce, and excellent soup. All at an affordable, competitive price.

Stall name: San Xi Hainanese Chicken Rice 三喜海南鸡饭


Address: #01-53 Bendemeer Market & Food Centre, 29 Bendemeer Road, Singapore 330029


Hours: 10:00am - 3:00pm

I am Wearing my Father's Watch ⏱️ Seiko 6139-7100 Darth Vader

Seiko_6139-7100_Darth_Vader

I am now wearing my dad's Seiko 6139-7100 from the 1970s. I like the watch's unique, unorthodox design - it is chunky and thick but looks nice in a "cute" kind of way.

Hai Sheng Carrot Cake @ Bendemeer F C 😋 Choose Black or White, No Mixed, No Black & White 🤔

Hai_Sheng_Carrot_Cake_Bendemeer

Hai Sheng is the most popular of at least three carrot cake stalls at Bendemeer Food Centre.


Stall name: Hai Sheng Carrot Cake 海盛菜頭粿


Address: 29 Bendemeer Road, Singapore 330029. Bendemeer Market & Food Centre stall #01-85


Hours: 6:00am - 11:00am

Guide to Famous Hawkers & Hidden Gems @ Bendemeer Market & Food Centre

Bendemeer_Market_Food_Centre

This is a very busy, gritty old market & food centre at the city fringe with many good hawker stalls. Most of the food stalls serve comfort dishes but there are a few surprising twists to the old school favourites worth checking out.


Bendemeer Market & Food Centre


Address: 29 Bendemeer Road, Singapore 330029


Nearest MRT: At the doorstep of Boon Keng station

Singapore Bao. Lovely Siew Mai & Not Bad Lo Mai Gai @ Bendemeer Food Centre 新加坡包点

Singapore_Bao_Siew_Mai_Lo_Mai_Gai_Bendemeer_Food_Centre_新加坡包点

Singapore Bao doesn't sell buns but a good lo mai gai and an excellent siew mai. They're rather elusive and available only between 7am - 9am at Bendemeer Market & Food Centre. I only managed to get a taste of these on my third visit.

Stall name: Singapore Bao  新加坡包点


Address: 29 Bendemeer Road, stall #01-61 Bendemeer Market & Food Centre, Singapore 330029


Nearest MRT: At the doorstep of Boon Keng station


Hours: 7:00am - 9:00am or till sold out

Bendemeer Prawn Noodle 🦐 Residents' Fav @ Bendemeer Food Centre 明地迷亚虾面

Bendemeer_Prawn_Noodle_明地迷亚虾面

Stumbled upon Bendemeer Prawn Noodle stall while stalking hawkers at Bendemeer Market & Food Centre. They serve an old school prawn noodle that appeal to the residents here at the mature HDB estate, hence the constant queue at the stall. I enjoyed the comforting level of crustacean savoury flavours and punchy sambal chili though its soup lacks the thick gao gao body and extreme umami of in-trend Singapore prawn mee of today. 

Stall name: Bendemeer Prawn Noodle


Address: 29 Bendemeer Road, #01-42, Singapore 330029 (Bendemeer Market & Food Centre)


Nearest MRT: At the doorstep of Boon Keng station


Tel: 9113 1386


Hours: 7:00am - 2:00pm

Tee Poh is Treasure of the Seabed & Kitchen 💎 地宝.比目鱼.大地鱼.扁魚.铁脯鱼.左口鱼

Tee_Poh_地宝.比目鱼.大地鱼.扁魚 

In Singapore, some people are obsessive about having tee poh in their food like in bak chor mee. For them, it is the defining ingredient - have tee poh 👍 good, no tee poh 👎 bad. I am also like that but often wondered what the words "Tee Poh" stand for 
🤔

44 Bendemeer Prawn Mee 🦐 Reporting to CAN EAT! Hawker Food HQ

44_Bendemeer_Prawn_Mee_Foodprints_Hoe_Seng

Finally made a trip to Blk 44 Bendemeer Road to taste the no name prawn mee stall at Foodprints Hoe Seng F & B kopitiam. Members of Can Eat! Hawker Food Facebook group know this as the group HQ - an icon of "can eat" hawker food in Singapore 😄  

Stall name: No name prawn mee


Address: Blk 44 Bendemeer Road, Singapore 331044. Stall inside Foodprints Hoe Seng F & B kopitiam 翮成餐饮室


Hours: 7:00am - 3:00pm (Mon off)

151 Bishan Song Kee Fishball Noodle. It's All About Fish Dumpling. Her Kiao 松记鱼丸面

151_Bishan_Song_Kee_Fishball_Noodle_松记鱼丸面

Relatively low profile Song Kee pedigree fishball noodle stall tucked away in a Bishan neighbourhood 15 minutes walk from Bishan MRT station. Its handmade fishball, fish dumpling (her kiao), pork-fish ball, sambal chili, noodles etc all come together deliciously. The best thing here for me is their her kiao.

Stall name: Song Kee Fishball Noodle 松记鱼丸面


Address: 151 Bishan Street 11, Block 151, Singapore 570151 (stall inside Ong Seng Lee Eating House kopitiam)


Tel: 8949 9490 WhatsApp


Hours: 7:00am - 1:00pm (Fri off)

Zhao An Granny Grass Jelly 🌿 Chin Chow @ Golden Mile F C 诏安祖传仙草粿

Zhao_An_Granny_Grass_Jelly_Golden_Mile_诏安祖传仙草粿

Cincau or chin chow or grass jelly is one of those childhood favourites we can still get today in Singapore and Malaysia. However, almost all are factory made now and any cincau stall that still makes cincau from scratch using Mesona Chinensis herb is a gem we should treasure. There is one such stall at Golden Mile Food Centre called Zhao An Granny Grass Jelly.


Stall name: Zhao An Granny Grass Jelly 诏安祖传仙草粿


Address: 505 Beach Road, stall #01-58 Golden Mile Food Center, Singapore 199583


Tel: +65 9146 7313


Hours: 11:30am - 7:30pm

91 Fried Kway Teow Mee @ Golden Mile F C 🥬 Healthier Choice or April Food Joke? 翠绿炒粿条面

91_Fried_Kway_Teow_Mee_Golden_Mile_Food_Centre

1st April 2021. 91 Fried Kway Teow Mee is the most popular char kway teow stall in Golden Mile Food Centre. Its main selling point is it has no pork, no lard and yet according to its many fans there is no compromise in taste.

Stall name: 91 Fried Kway Teow Mee 翠绿炒粿条面


Address: 505 Beach Road, stall #01-91, Golden Mile Food Centre, Singapore 199583


Hours: 9:00am - 2:00pm (Monday off)