All the talk about Tanglin Halt Food Centre seems to revolve around the two food centres of the late, but there are also other F&B establishments such as Cui Xiang Yuan Restaurant and The Milky Way that are both worth mentioning around this quaint estate that has garnered plenty of media attention lately.

With its beginnings from a neighbourhood cafe serving up waffles and ice-cream alongside specialty coffee, The Milky Way has since seen a switch of hands and is run by the same folks behind Aw’s Signature Minced Pork Noodles from Tanglin Halt Food Centre Blk 1A for quite a while now, which offers their signature minced pork noodles with a variety of other dishes such as braised pork rice and curry chicken alongside the original items which The Milky Way used to serve. With the signature dish only available with Kway Teow, Bee Hoon, Yellow Noodles or Rice for the option of carbs, we went for the Kway Teow — the portion is pretty generous at $5.80, where one will get a bowl of noodles, accompanied with a bowl of pork broth containing the minced pork, fish dumpling, prawn and egg. Unlike the usual minced pork noodles from most other stalls, the version here sees a sauce blend that is almost akin to that of Ipoh Hor Fun; exceptionally fitting for the Kway Teow we have ordered, and comes just vinegary enough to cut through the savouriness — the Kway Teow being smooth and slippery and laced with the sauce for a slurpy goodness. The minced pork provides a meaty bite, but the pork ball comes crisp on the exterior whilst meaty inside. The elements in the pork broth are fresh as well, minced pork, pork balls and shrimp were all pretty fresh; the pork items devoid of any undesirable porky stench, while the prawn is succulent and firm to the bite, carrying a distinct sweetness from its freshness. There, the fish dumpling was bouncy and chewy, providing a tactile bite while the silky egg was a crowd pleaser; the spinach providing a wholesome feel. The broth also carried a light note of meatiness, but otherwise remained pretty clean.

Aw’s Signature Minced Pork Noodles was already a spot that has its own following since their days at Tanglin Halt Food Centre, and it’s obvious why — despite serving up a rendition of minced pork noodles that may be unique to their own perhaps even not quite up to the tastebuds of most, it’s a really hearty bowl that is made with a lot of heart. Despite serving this up in a cafe setting, prices are kept pretty affordable, which also makes it a fairly appealing option especially if the food centres are crowded with folks checking out the hawker stalls there before its impending fate of being demolished due to the en-bloc status of the entire estate. Perhaps a spot to be added to the itinerary for those looking to visit this iconic estate it goes into history.