Buddy SP who hails from Penang was thrilled by Legency's Jawa mee which is her hometown's iconic comfort food. SP has been living in Singapore for several years and she said Legency's Jawa mee is as authentic as it gets here. I am thrilled by SP infectious enthusiasm, although truth be told, I tried Jawa mee in Johor before and wasn't overly excited then.
Legency is a tiny stall set deep inside 128 Choices coffee shop. Quite inconspicuous but folks from north Peninsula Malaysia have found them, and this corner now seem like a little north Malaysia with hometown compatriots flocking here for a taste of home 😁 The young couple running the stall hails from Kedah and their family runs an established Jawa mee business there.
Jawa mee originated in north Peninsula Malaysia and is a Javanese Peranakan (local born of Chinese and Javanese descent) dish.
They also have curry mee, so we ordered that too 😁 Everything here for $9.50 altogether.
The soul of the Jawa mee dish is the sauce. In Penang, they make the sauce by boiling a blend of pumpkin, potato, sweet potato, tomato, onion, chili pepper, etc with cornstarch thickener in anchovy or prawn stock. At Legency, they use boiling water for a cleaner taste and to offer a vegetarian option.
The savoury relish made with caramelised cuttlefish, onion and spices is a critical element in the dish which gives the sweetish sauce the much needed umami savoury highlight (for us carnivores 😬 ).
The crisp golden brown fried cracker is another essential component of the Jawa mee dish. Its savoury crispness add more flavour and texture to the generally soft dish.
Jawa mee felt lighter and tastes less umami savoury salty than its cousin dish, mee rebus. Jawa mee is sweeter and is another interesting way to enjoy yellow noodles, if you have not tried it or if you are missing hometown food.
I was initially a little hesitant about ordering the curry mee in order to save on tummy space. Turned out, we were glad we ordered it as we like its refreshing taste and flavourful aromatic spices.
In the bowl of fiery looking curry there's yellow noodle, fried tau kwa, egg, soft crunchy long beans, and a piece of chicken. The curry was quite rich with coconut milk and spices.
The famous Che' Rose Nasi Padang stall is in the same 128 Choices coffee shop.
Other food you may wish to try at the hawker centre right beside Blk 128 👈 click
Written by Tony Boey on 30 Sep 2022
how was the version in singapore?
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