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| Tian Seng Fried Prawn Mee 添成炒蝦麺 | 79 Circuit Rd, stall #01-10, Singapore 370079 (Circuit Road Hawker Centre) 🚅 5 minute walk from Mattar station ⏰ 6pm - 11pm (Mon & Tues off) |
Buddy Aaron found a new favourite fried Hokkien prawn mee comparable to his GOAT benchmark Hainan Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee.
His enthusiasm was infectious and we quickly arranged to try it together. We arrived before the stall opened but can already smell the alluring aromas from caramelised garlic and sizzling eggs.
I felt famished from a combination of anticipation, aromas, and the sight of the forming long queue (before the stall opened).
Boss has been frying prawn mee for over forty years. Still relatively low media profile but has his own loyal following, especially from the neighbourhood.
His method is old school. Simmer and fry the mix of fried chicken eggs, blanched prawn, pork, yellow noodles and bee hoon in prawn head / shell and pork stock till the liquid is sufficiently reduced.
Cover and let the contents stew a while to infuse the umami flavours into the carbs.
Finish with a few more strokes of the spatula 铲, then serve in plates.
Five dollar serving.
Just enough for an average guy's appetite. Yellow noodles, slender bee hoon, bean sprouts, egg, pork, prawn, but sans squid 🦑
No sotong 🦑 because boss said supply is erratic. I guess that made it expensive too, hence it was dropped. A common phenomenon in fried Hokkien prawn mee in Singapore today 😔
The definitive trinity of pork, prawn and squid is less common nowadays.
Ask and Tian Seng will give you lard croutons (we didn't this time).
On the drier side of the fried prawn mee wet-dry spectrum but still moist, the way I like my fried Hokkien prawn mee. The flavour and aroma were certainly reminiscent of Hainan FHM at Golden Mile. Umami savoury with a bit of wok hei toastiness but a shade less intense savouriness, a tad more garlicky and wetter than Hainan's.
Generous amount of prawns (to make up for the lack of sotong?). But, quality was just alright, a bit limp and skinny with not much flavour.
The savoury intensity bit is easily fixed by mixing in the savoury salty spicy chili sauce.
I prefer the cut red chili which is old school and aids in heightening our sensitivity to flavour nuances.
I will never squeeze lime into my fried Hokkien prawn mee 🤭 Never say never but it is definitely not my first instinct. I don't like sour things.
If you are here for yellow noodles and bee hoon well infused with crustacean umami savoury sweetness that bursts in your mouth.... If you are here for that kind of fix, Tian Seng got you covered. That means in my books, it is up there with my favourites Hainan Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee, and 618 Hokkien Mee, etc.
Stall name: Tian Seng Fried Prawn Mee 添成炒蝦麺
Address: 79 Circuit Rd, stall #01-10, Singapore 370079 (Circuit Road Hawker Centre)
Nearest MRT: 5 minute walk from Mattar station
Hours: 6pm - 11pm (Mon & Tues off)
Written by Tony Boey on 27 Jun 2025
About Johor Kaki
I need to declare this is my perennial favourite in terms of consistency and flavour. Uncle is ageing and healthy and pray he stays that way!
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