#Hawkerpedia

I must say, I was never into Yong Tau Foo even well through my teenage years. I avoided it vehemently, having seen my parents eat it time and again at food courts/hawker centres. I always thought, why choose such a plain meal when there is a plethora of other stalls and cuisine to choose from? Thus, I resolved never to touch Yong Tau Foo. Fast forward to few years ago, while researching for good food around my new home, imagine my surprise to find a supposedly good and famous Yong Tau Foo stall. I was perplexed as to what made a good Yong Tau Foo, because to me, it has always been that super plain soup with tons of vegetables. Well, it didn't take me long to find out. I fell sick a few weeks later, and having no appetite nor energy to cook, I made my way to the close by Hup Chong Hakka Yong Dou Foo. I never felt so cleansed and refreshed (even though I cheated and added some ngo hiang and fried wanton skin) after a meal. From then on, whenever I feel under the weather, Yong Tau Foo will always come to my mind. Pictured here is the first time I am having the dry variant. The sauce is a little overpowering, but still fantastic meatballs and ngo hiangs. Perhaps, when I'm older, I will too be like my parents and go for super plain soup with tons of vegetables every time I eat out. #Hawkerpedia

During my trainee days in the army, I would always look forward to this mouth-watering, sinful plate of Hokkien mee. I remember that my family had just relocated to Toa Payoh, and we were out on a mission to explore the good food around our new house. The first time we came here, we had to wait for more than 30 minutes, but the friendly aunty gave us their name card so that we could call in advance the next time. I thought the mee was good, but didn't think much of it until the following week when I was in camp. Maybe it was the appalling camp food, or the tough training I was under, but I had a sudden, intense craving for this luscious prawn noodles! Needless to say, this plate became my motivation to get me through the many arduous weeks to come. Even now, looking at this picture makes me salivate! Tian Tian Lai (come daily) indeed. #hawkerpedia