Was initially headed to another stall that also serves up Bak Chor Mee in another food centre nearby but plans got diverted when I found out that the stall wasn’t opened upon reaching the location — and that is how I find myself ending up with Ah Gong Minced Pork Noodles (not to be confused with Ah Gong Teochew Noodle, which operates at Whampoa Drive Food Centre, Sin Ming and Yishun).

Have had quite a fair number of Bak Chor Mee from various stalls around but having one served in a claypot is probably a first. There is the Signature Bak Chor Mee that is the full works, but I went for the Dumpling Meat Ball Bak Chor Mee since I wasn’t really feeling like I wanted to deal with the other condiments that may come along with that version. Interestingly, all variants of Bak Chor Mee here comes in a claypot (the plain jane version also being especially affordable at $2.50), and can be opted to be served soup or dry. There is, however, only one choice of noodles here — the U-Mian. I liked how claypot isn’t just simply used as a preferred choice of crockery for the noodles here — the dry noodles are essentially served with a bubbling mix of sauces in the hot claypot that works as some sort of “reduction” as one tosses the sauce with the noodles. Unlike most dry Bak Chor Mee out there that relies heavily on dark sauce and vinegar for flavour, the rendition here seems particularly light in flavour — especially fitting for the lighter choice of noodles used here since it emphasises more on the piquant spiciness of the old-school style chili that the noodles come tossed in. The noodles also come with a good load of minced pork and shallots, whilst pork lard is also added in the variant here, though the pork lard here isn’t as crispy as what I would have preferred to be. The dumplings here are especially well-packed however; the meat seemingly packed rather loosely as compared to what most other stalls will serve, though the star here for me would the pork meat balls — these come evidently marinated considering how they are all savoury without being particularly gamey. They were also loosely packed; almost the same consistency as the dumplings in terms of texture — could imagine how good these may be if they could provide for fried versions as well.

Despite being called Ah Gong Minced Pork Noodles, each order is painstakingly prepared by the Auntie behind the counter — do expect some waiting time involved especially if there is a short queue (she even plucks the vegetables to be included upon order) around. That being said, there is quite just something about their Bak Chor Mee that feels somehow comforting despite its difference from the usual; and that is probably why I would say that this is definitely worth having a go if a trip has to be made to this food centre.

PS: Auntie does give out a coupon for 30 cents off the sugarcane juice at #01-08 (also the nearest drink stall to them) with an order made — like how they are all about supporting fellow stall owners in the same food centre here!