Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle (Pek Kio Market & Food Centre)

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Big Prawn Noodle (S$25)
Sadly there’s no much roe in the prawns today.

Usually order the $5 prawn noodles and it is filling enough.
The soup is slightly sweeter than the average prawn mee but has a great deal of umami and freshness. The prawns are average, not particularly big and juicy. If you are particular about prawns, try the big prawn noodles.
Beware of closing time as they vary! They will close once it is sold out so have a back up if you want to come to pek kio.

Before “Da Dong Prawn Noodles” moved to Joo Chiat and stole my heart and stomach, it was “Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles” at Pek Kio Market that ranked as my favourite stall to hit whenever I craved a good bowl of “hae mee” or 虾面. I would brace myself to brave the queue and the elderly lady who takes the orders (she is an interesting character) so as to indulge.
After at least a couple of years of not dining there, I dropped by the stall with my dad a few days ago. To my surprise, there was no queue and the same lady was chatty and full of smiles (“time to buy 4D”, my dad had commented under his breath). So we happily ordered a $5 bowl each. I opted for the dry version as I remember liking the savoury sambal chilli they tossed the noodles in. True enough, that was still shiok but the soup left me less impressed. It struck me as being all about prawns which I’m sure is why many love it, but I felt it tasted pretty one-dimensional personally. Perhaps the main reason for this is because I have gotten used to the thicker, more rounded style of broth at Da Dong’s which is boosted by the sweetness of pork bones as well.
But to be clear, I still found pleasure in my bowl of Wah Kee’s prawn noodles. It was good; just nowhere as mind-blowing as it was for me in the past.

Big Prawn 🦐 Noodle (S$30)
Available at @WahKeeBigPrawnNoodle
Only left either S$5 or S$30 servings.
Since already in the queue, so got the more expensive one.
Served with a pack of tissue.
Although only 5 persons in the queue, it was about 30 minutes wait.
Full of umami taste for the broth, but kind of not filling enough.
.
Wah Kee King Prawn Noodle
Address 🏠 : Blk 41A Cambridge Road, # 01-15 Pek Kio Market & Food Centre, Singapore 🇸🇬 211 041

MRT 🚇 : Farrer Park (NE8)
Note 📝 : Queue behind the red line.
Close on Monday.

Well-known that Wah Kee is a really popular option for prawn noodles for many but at this third try, it still isn’t quite my thing. Broth was rather rich, but its richness is different from what my ideal bowl of prawn noodles would be like. Their flavour emphasises quite a bit on the lard and that somehow kinda overwhelms it for me. Prawns were plump and fresh nonetheless!

📍Michelin Guide Street Food Festival 2018