hawker (noodles) 🍜

Paid a premium ($4 for small, usually $3) in view of CNY surcharges - rather unpalatable price given that this plate was average at best. Broth was on the thin side and overall sorely lacking in wok hei!

A somewhat lacklustre bowl of gan lao mian ($3.50) - the sauce looks much richer than it actually tastes! Was rather bland overall. The noodles were springy but the wantons stale.

Was feeling a little indulgent at lunch so I ordered the chicken cutlet noodles ($3.50)! Promptly regretted it thereafter - the chicken was crispy but tasted of stale oil, and the noodles were too alkaline for my liking. The traditional wanton noodles look better!

Finally bit the bullet and joined the long snaking queue! The noodles ($4.30) are springy and coated with a tasty mix of chilli and vinegar. The real highlight, though, is the soup - sweet, filled with lean minced meat and handmade balls. The fishballs are light and bouncy whilst the meatballs have the good bite of real meat.

This bowl of beef brisket noodles ($4.50) was really large! Soup is thick but a little salty. Beef was very tender!

This store sports perpetual queues! A small bowl of BCM ($3) is hefty, with a substantial portion of noodles and meat. The sauce is a little watery but coats the noodles nicely and is very flavourful!

Was warned that the spicy wanton ramen ($4) would be really spicy, but it’s not at all!! In fact, I’d love a stronger kick of chilli and vinegar. Loved the chewy noodles but found the dumplings quite average. Would probably get a plain version the next time and add a huge dollop of chilli oil on the side!

This store took over Teo’s, which was famous for its fishballs! You can give these minced meat noodles ($3) a miss - the noodles were mushy and dry with regular factory-produced toppings.

Settled for a bowl of dry prawn noodles with beehoon ($3.50) because the store ran out of soup AND kway teow - all before noon! The ingredients are surprisingly substantial, and I must say that the small bowl of soup I had on the side was extremely enjoyable - very robust flavour!

The Penang hokkien mee ($3) uses the same soup as their prawn noodles, so you’re not missing out on much! The prawns are unquestionably smaller but they were surprisingly sweet and firm.

Tried both the original Ipoh hor fun and the chicken chop hor fun ($3.50) - the noodles are silky and coated by a viscous savoury sauce. I much preferred the version with crispy fried chicken as it had more dimension in flavour and texture!

Their braised beef noodles ($6) are hands down my favourite version! The soup is clear and light. Kway teow pairs perfectly with the savoury soup with hints of sweetness and tang. The highlight of the meal, though, is the braised beef - perfectly tender with a nice rounded flavour!