Homely Teochew Porridge It's with great sadness when I read that Ah Seah Teochew Porridge would be ceasing operations on 19th June due to manpower issues. This eatery is an institution, having been around for 58 years. There's a sense of homeliness and nostalgia whenever I step in, and there isn't another eatery quite like Ah Seah. The decor may not be the prettiest and the food may not be the tastiest, but the sheer number of dishes on offer (easily 40 or more) distinguishes Ah Seah from other ๐ง๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ stalls.ย
We dropped by for one last hurrah and ordered some popular dishes. Steamed fish may be a luxury, but it's the most popular dish here as there were only two left. (I'm broke, so didn't order the fish.) The Minced Pork, Braised Duck, Spinach, Long Beans and Braised Tofu were nothing to shout about, but we could taste the assiduousness and dedication in every bite of the simple, well-executed fare.ย
What caught the eyeย wereย the meatballs. Oddly-shaped and asymmetrical, they were the antithesis to the sleek, perfectly spherical fishballsย that are now commonplace. These meatballs looked primitive by comparison. But they were bouncy and juicy, and hand-making dozens of these everyday, in addition to preparing 40 other dishes, demands our respect.
Dining at @ahseahteochew is like visiting my grandmother's house when I was a kid. She would cook lots of dishes while everyone -- uncles, aunties, cousins -- would take turns to sit at the table for dinner. Nothing fancy, just homely, heartwarming meals with loved ones. There isn't another eatery quite like Ah Seah.
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31 Teck Chye Terrace
Singapore 545731