130 福建炒虾面 Hokkien Fried Prawn Mee (Amoy Street Food Centre)

Hadn’t been to Amoy Street Food Centre for quite a while but it is always quite amazing how there is something new to try whenever we skip on this location for lunch on a week day after a while. Was going through the upper floors of the food centre when we had found a rather unfamiliar sight — 130 福建炒虾面 Hokkien Fried Prawn Mee is a relatively new addition to the food centre; these guys are situated right beside the popular Han Kee Fish Soup which had been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand and see snaking queues for it during weekday lunch peak hours. The “130” in the namesake of 130 福建炒虾面 Hokkien Fried Prawn Mee likely refers to the stall unit number that 130 福建炒虾面 Hokkien Fried Prawn Mee operates out of (being #02-130); this stall unit also once house the short-lived that existed some time back in end 2023. Unlike most new stalls run by aspiring hawkerpreneurs in the food centre that they are situated in, 130 福建炒虾面 Hokkien Fried Prawn Mee looks like a typical hawker stall; whilst its specialty would be in their fried Hokkien prawn noodle offerings, its other offerings includes carrot cake and laksa as well.

We aren’t folks that are usually intrigued by fried Hokkien prawn noodle; that being said, the offering of a Hokkien Fried Pork Mee by the stall did manage to capture our attention — something that feels more to be like the stall’s unique spin to fried Hokkien prawn noodle that would appeal to folks whom prefer having meat than seafood. 130 福建炒虾面 Hokkien Fried Prawn Mee does not describe on the elements that are being served with their dishes on their menu; that being said, it can be observed from our order that the Hokkien Fried Pork Noodle does come with elements such as pork lard, spring onions and chunks of fried pork — all accompanying the usual stock that one would expect for Hokkien Fried Prawn Mee with the type of noodles served with the dish being thick Bee Hoon and Yellow Noodles. It is noted that the version of the Hokkien Fried Pork Mee served here would be the wet type — the dish being served in a metallic bowl. Digging into the bowl of Hokkien Fried Pork Mee here, we did find that the stock that is also used for their Hokkien Fried Prawn Noodle is pretty flavoursome — the stock carrying a umami note from the prawns that is rich and pretty thick. Whilst the noodles here seem to lack the smokiness that some would be looking out for, the texture of both the thick Bee Hoon and yellow noodles are pretty on-point. We would really recommend enjoying their Hokkien Fried Pork Mee with the sambal chili that they offer at the self-service condiment bar at the front of the stall – the addition of the savouriness of the chili really helps to ante up the flavours of the broth and noodles and gives the dish a contrast of flavours.

These folks also seem to be very generous with the serving of fried pork lard that accompanies their Hokkien Fried Pork Mee — these golden-brown nuggets of crispness were fried just about right; didn’t feel like they were trapping too much grease within, and definitely weren’t the limp sort that some stalls serve up which feels especially jelak after a while. The fried pork served here comes with light and crisp batter; didn’t feel particularly greasy though best enjoyed when the dish is served up since these do turn a little soft and soggy after absorbing the stock for a while. Expect flavours similar to that of the Hakka-style fried pork — we do suspect the use of Nan Ru (i.e. fermented beancurd) being used for an added umami note; the chunks of pork also did not carry an undesirable porky stench, and was considerably easy to chew on without being too firm. Considering how we have visited the stall with zero expectations, the Hokkien Fried Pork Mee was actually item that we found to be particularly satiating even despite us not being folks whom tend to order Hokkien Fried Prawn Mee elsewhere — the use of fried pork here in their Hokkien Fried Pork Mee is definitely a fresh take that perhaps got us intrigued to give them a try. The prices of their various offerings range from $4 to $7 — the lowest priced being their small portion sizes of their carrot cake, while the priciest would be the large portions of their Hokkien Fried Prawn / Pork Noodles; pretty reasonably priced. An option which we would not mind going for again if at Amoy Street Food Centre for lunch on a typical work day.