Hawker Gems

After having savoured their great Hokkien Mee, I had to return to sample their other dishes. The char kway teow was just as enjoyable, boasting the stall's signature smokiness that's a common trait across all their offerings. With an indelible balance of sweet, salty and savoury, the flavourful noodles were al dente and not at all oily. Pro-tip - go ahead and add fresh cockles for an additional $1.
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Kopi Soh Eating House
Tampines St 81

This was a surprisingly good plate of Hokkien Mee from a chain restaurant. Of the saucier variety, the egg-streaked noodles were veritably swimming in garlicky umami. A generous amount of squid and firm and fleshy prawns were also given, and chunks of sinful lard were peppered throughout the dish. My kid absolutely loved this, and we will definitely be back to try their other dishes.

Nothing but consistent quality at this zi char stall in an air-conditioned foodcourt within an industrial estate. The mee goreng is sweet, spicy and smoky, loaded with streaky egg and tender sotong rings. A squeeze of the lime added a dash of zesty freshness that cut right through the heavy flavours.

What this Hokkien Mee lacks in wok hei, it more than made up for in terms of portion size and ingredients. Meant for 3, our order could easily feed 4 of us. Besides the unique distinction of being cooked in a claypot, the Hokkien Mee here is also brimming with sotong and lala clams. And in-lieu of pork lard - gloriously crispy chunks of salty pork belly crowning the noodles. Speaking of the noodles, these are of the wetter variety, which was a plus point because the broth was flavourful, imbuing the combination of yellow noodles and beehoon with umami. Some might bemoan the absence of smokiness, but I didn't miss it here. The accompanying sambal and limes enhanced the enjoyment further, with bursts of spice and zestiness to break up the monotony of the soft noodles.

Heroing the dish is the soup, robust and packed with umami from the clouds of minced pork and fat. The springy egg noodles soak up all that flavour beautifully, and last but not least, the huge pork dumplings are plump with meat and silky smooth. This is a more than viable alternative to its more famous counterparts in the neighbourhood.
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Li Fa Minced Meat Noodles (利發肉脞麵)
The Marketplace @ 58
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Taste: 3.5/5

One of my favourite mee poks in recent memory, this modernised take hits all the right notes for me – springy noodles lathered in a spicy, savoury chilli with loads of tender minced pork, spring onion and lard. I particularly liked the moreish pork meatballs that tasted more of pork than filler as is so often the case. Of course, I must mention the utterly addictive crispy fish strips that add an extra dimension of crunch and umami. Even the clear broth is delicious - mildly porky, sweet and with no trace of MSG.
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Finally, don't forget to take a saucer of their tangy chicken rice-style chilli sauce, it really adds a load of punchy flavour to everything it graces.
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Mee Pok Time
Happy Hawkers, 602B Tampines ave 9, #01-01 (S522602)
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Taste: 3.5/5

Still crispy and piping hot, the battered chicken was coated in one of the better salted egg sauces I've had. Runnier and saltier than the norm, you could also clearly taste the chilli and curry leaf.
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Taste: 3/5

The chicken is clearly the star here - enjoyable in an uncontrived way, the thin cutlet is tender, juicy, and subtly flavoured with the aroma of chinese cooking wine. Its crumbed coating is a crisp veneer that doesn't distract from the protein. The sides, especially the white bread, are forgettable and almost seem like an afterthought.
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Taste: 3/5

Set up by former longtime employees of Xing Long Cooked Food and also in the same centre as the aforementioned, Emmanuel dishes up healthier yet no less delicious versions of Nyonya-tinged caifan, as well as their take on nasi lemak, which is quite on the money for me.
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Their blue pea rice is pretty but could probably do with a stronger hit of coconut, but the chicken rendang is fire. The house-made rempah packs loads of spice and aromatics into the luscious sauce coating the meat, so do request for more to accompany your rice with. With requisite fried egg, ikan bilis and punchy sambal, you’d be all set for a satisfying meal, but do consider adding on the soft and creamy Muah-style otah, you won’t regret it.
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Taste: 3.5/5

It was serendipity that Nam Seng moved from the CBD where I used to work to Toa Payoh, where I work now. Having patronised them at their previous location but having never tried their famed wanton mee, it was only natural I ordered myself the large portion.
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No ragrets because it's exactly the style I like - firm, springy noodles in a light brown sauce, plenty of fatty char siew, blanched greens and a bowl of wanton soup at the side. The dumplings were plump and had a good ratio of pork to prawn, all wrapped in a thin, translucent skin. Last but not least, there's free-flowing freshly fried lardons for you to pile onto the noodz to your heart's content.
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Taste: 3.5/5

I must profess I’ve not heard of popular wanton mee stall Wen Kang Ji before, but I’m more than happy to be acquainted with their second outlet at Joo Chiat now, in the same coffeeshop as Da Dong Prawn Noodles.
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The version here is standout in every way. Fatty, caramelised char siew made from the underarm of the pig roasted in-house, “QQ” noodles in a savoury brown sauce and plump, meaty pork wantons with a hint of dried sole fish, came together in symphony of umami and textural delight.
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To have to decide between my favourite prawn noodles or killer wanton mee the next time I’m there and confronted with the inevitable queue at both stalls is a #firstworldproblem I’d gladly face.
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Taste: 3.5/5

Sequestered in a quiet building next to Katong Shopping Center is a hidden gem that's been serving affordable and tasty hawker comfort food to loyal patrons for years now. Kipo's in the Odeon@Katong might not look much at first - with a cramped kitchen and counterfront right inside the building's side entrance and tables strewn across the first floor lobby, but you'll find yourself returning for more.
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Amongst their popular dishes are wanton noodles, chicken cutlet and fried fish soup, but don't overlook the humble fried rice dishes either, which are full of "wok hei" and best eaten with a side of sunny side up ($0.80) and shrimp paste wings (2 for $2.5)
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Taste: 3/5