[CLOSED] Qiu Lian Ban Mee (Shaw Tower)

Visited at 12pm on Sunday and we were surprised that there was almost nobody here since we’d seen Qiu Lian Ban Mee packed with people at the same time on a different weekend. I’m not too sure when the crowds come, but they seem to thrive predominantly on student or teenager patrons on Sunday afternoons.

Went for the Minced Meat Dry Ban Mee, which was yummy, but not outstanding. It’s worth noting that this was many folds better than the Qiu Lian Ban Mee sold in Fairprice as the noodles don’t stick together, they’re slippery and QQ, but I didn’t find them mind blowing. The minced meat stewed in what looks like a watery chilli gravy is scooped from a small pot right at the end to top off the noodles, but I find the gravy more sweet than spicy, and that they’re quite stingy with the minced meat. After tossing in the sauces, the resultant bowl of dry noodles is slightly sour, sweet, spicy and savoury. I would really recommend adding the shallots and ikan bilis for extra crunchiness, texture and flavour. I would’ve gotten bored of this bowl of noodles otherwise.

Note that the dry noodles don’t come with a bowl of soup, so you might want to consider getting a bowl of dumpling soup to share if you’re dining in a group and want some soup.

No! It’s Non-spicy Dry Mee Hoon Kueh ($5.50) 😏
Thought of trying this instead of the usual soup one from 秋莲板面 and it was a wrong decision! Not only did the look disappoint me, the entire taste saddened me 😫 Pat myself on the shoulder for being adventurous 😅 Verdict: The best dry version Mee Hoon Kueh are the ones at Far East Plaza & Serangoon coffee shop 🙂

#burpple

You ain’t a Bishaner if you had not heard of Qiu Lian Ban Mee, and that’s also the place that I started loving Ban Mian, because their handmade noodles had always got this springy texture, and their broth was flavourful without too much emphasis on artificial add-ons.

So when I came across the same stall at Shaw Tower, I could not help but to order that same bowl of nostalgia. Thanks to inflation, a bowl of Ban Mian now costed S$4.50, but the flavours were still quite close to my first acquaintance with it. Finding seats did not seem to be a problem at all, mainly because the ample seating area at the next door was probably meant for the weekday lunch crowds.

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Braised Meat Ban Mee - $5.80
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Savoury braised meat, with a few bites of soft bones. Ban mee still maintains the QQness. Overall generous in portion. The dish added a dash of chilli to spice things up, making the noddles more flavourful, less 腻. Even though fried pork lard was spotted, the flavours from braised meat covered it up. If you love soupy noddles, do try their classic Ban Mee, which also has intense flavours
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Qiu Lian Ban Mee
Shaw Tower

Brings back good old memories when I had the hot piping noodles at Bishan, Changi Airport or Marina Square food court. Those were really precious and happy days when things were a lot simpler.

Qiu Lian Ban Mee has opened a new standalone outlet at Shaw Tower and the noodles are still as good as ever! There is also Big Prawn U-Mian, Tom Yam Mee Hoon Kuey, Fish Fillet Ban Mee and many more. Please read my review at www.hungryghost.sg