When you watch the elderly uncle at the stall fry his “Orh Luak” (oyster omelette), it’s a huge clue that Xing Li Cooked Food does one that is unlike others.
Most hawker stalls that sell this popular dish have a massive wok or pan over a fierce fire and a cacophonous soundtrack of clang-clang-clang. Not to mention, they tend to also include fried carrot cake and sometimes, fried noodles in their repertoire. The oyster omelettes they churn out tend to be quite thin, broken up, and have loads of crispy bits (which is of course, enjoyable in their own way).
Xing Li Cooked Food’s on the other hand, is single-minded and serves just the one dish and it’s all about fluffiness. The uncle stands with his back to customers while cooking, his eyes mostly locked on the small flat round pan where a blend of egg and tapioca starch bubbles away. Time seems to slow down when you order from here because a relative calm and quietness reigns at the stall. He does the cooking in small batches, so patience is needed if you wish to try this. But let me assure you, it is worth waiting for because what you get is “Orh Luak” that is thick with an amazing soft and even light fluffy fullness (there are hardly any blobs of rubbery starch to be found). Elevating it further are the large, plump oysters tossed in towards the end of the cooking process, and the dip of a bold vinegary chilli sauce.