Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre is a nostalgic place for me as I past here literally a thousand times during my secondary school days - my school, First Toa Payoh Secondary was just across the road. I still come here occasionally as there are a few nice old hawker stalls at the food centre on the upper floor.
Chey Sua Carrot Cake stall #02-30 opens 6am - 1pm (now temporarily closed until further notice). Chey Sua is probably the most famous carrot cake stall in Singapore. They have represented Singapore hawkers in overseas events. They still make their own carrot cake from scratch with rice flour, carrot and radish. They serve only the white type of carrot cake which is like a thick omelette with cubes of carrot cake inside. The eggy omelette is crisp outside while the carrot cake inside is soft and tastes sweet savoury (from cai poh, fish sauce).
Hong Kong Lung Hwa Roasted Delights stall #02-18 opens 10:30am - 2:30am (now temporarily closed until further notice). This popular stall is run by a Hong Kong born roast chef with extensive international and Singapore experience. His roast pork belly, char siew and duck, all freshly made at the stall, are crisp outside while juicily tender inside. Seasoning and toasty smokey flavours are just right (not overpowering). Their plum sauce is so good, I can eat it on its own.
Teochew Handmade Pau stall #02-02 opens 6am - 2pm (Mon off). One of the rare hawker centre stalls that still make their own dim sum and steamed buns. Stall has been here since 1993 i.e. for nearly 30 years, so it has the support of residents. The kong bak bao pork belly is robustly savoury salty, slightly stiff but works well with the sweet fluffy soft flat hinged bun. Their fan choy is tasty with generous amount of char siew but is greasy. Their lo mai gai is good too, though is likewise a tad oily. They are also known for their mini char siew bao and meat bao though some feel that they are a little pricey for the dainty size. Their lotus paste bao are popular as they are not overly sweet.
Traditional Hakka Lui Cha stall #02-39 opens 7am - 2pm (Mon & Weds off). Boiled rice topped with stir fried fresh vegetables (long bean, spinach, cabbage, leek), fried tofu, toasted peanut, and optional fried pork and Hakka pork filled yong tau foo pieces. Eaten with the bowl of rice and toppings flooded with green gruel (tea) of vegetables, herbs and aromatics. Slight minty taste. Cai poh (preserved turnip) adds crunch and savouriness. This friendly stall serves an affordable, delicious rendition of the classic Hakka dish. (Brown rice option available.) If you are looking for good thunder tea rice in Singapore, we got one here.
Surrounding Area
Your favourite stall(s) not in this list? 😤
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Some stalls I have tried but did not include in this list. I will risk my neck in the comments, if it is your favourite 😬
If I haven't tried it, I promise that I will visit your suggested stall as soon as possible. I may add the stall to this list. If not, at the very least, I will reply to your comment in detail after visiting your suggested stall.
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First Toa Payoh Secondary School was opened in 1969. I was a student there from 1973 to 1976.
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| Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore |
I was one of the students in this First Toa Payoh Secondary School contingent marching past Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at National Day Parade 1975 at Toa Payoh Stadium.
The FTPSS school buildings were demolished in 2019.
Glad you featured 2 of my favourite stall at Block 127, Chey Sua and Come Daily. Another fav of mine is Lau Shen Ji Si Mian #02-01. Unfortunately, it has been elusive as I am often too late or it is sold out. The stall used to operate in corner coffee shop at Upp Serangoon/Serangoon and Tai Thong Crescent for many years. It was run by the mother and 2 brothers. It has very clear soup of basically whole chicken and pork. The whole chicken is taken out and shredded for the noodle. Their famous her kiao (fish skin dumpling) is the most popular. Those days, you can order as many her kiao as you like.
ReplyDeleteThey later moved to a another coffee shop opposite the old Jackson Food
Centre nearer to Machperson Road. For some reason, they disappeared for a few years and I was told that they sold braised duck rice somewhere else.
By coincidence, my Toa Payoh friend staying next block told me about this new fabulous shredded chicken noodle. I went to try and recognise stall operator as the eldest son. Not sure what happened to the mother and the younger brother. Very busy and now they restrict the numbers of her kiao (much smaller now) you can order. The standard remains fairly consistent with the good old days but at a higher price and a less friendly operator. (maybe too good business).
Try if you are there again and catch them early before sold out.