Xin Yuan Ji (Bugis)

Among the longest-serving, most well-known brands, they still attract long queues daily for their reasonably priced and tasty dishes. Queue moves relatively quick, averaging a 20-minute wait.
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The fresh and boneless mackerel fish fillets, both natural and fried, are served in a generous portion. Large and chunky, yet tender flaky in texture, each fish slice has lovely meaty sweet savoury flavour.
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The garnishes of crunchy cabbage and juicy tomato, lend lovely vegetal sweet flavour. Nice pairing with fluffy white rice, with grainy sweet notes.
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The robust broth carries bold sweet savoury salty flavour, from stewing fosh bones for hours. I prefer the rendition without milk, where you can taste the depth of flavour in the soup.
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Fish Soup
Xin Yuan Ji
@ 31 Tan Quee Lan Street #01-01
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More details:
https://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.com/2023/03/best-of-singapore-hawkers-fish-soup.html

Have been seeing snaking queues at this fish soup restaurant for the longest time and glad that I finally tried!

The Red Snapper Fish Meat Steamboat ($60 for medium) came with several fish meat pieces and vegetable ingredients all heated using charcoal in the middle. The soup, being their signature, really did not disappoint as I was so surprised by the flavour of the broth. It is very robust and had alot of umami. You know they probably cooked fish bones in this for a very long time. The red snapper meat were meaty, though slightly mushy. Don't think this is the kind of fish we truly liked, though I didn't mind. Felt like though this may be a very good fish broth, its really expensive for the amount of fish meat given!

We also had to get their Prawn Paste Chicken ($15.80) which was fragrant and crispy, with pretty succulent meat. Definitely better than average.

Perhaps the magic question is if its worth the queue: I believe you can get good steamboat as well without the 30 min wait, but if the queue is shorter, this is something you can try!

✨咖啡排骨 (Pork Ribs with Coffee Sauce)✨

It is a little pricey, considering how the fish soup was only $5+ for that big bowl. The pork was really tender and chewy, plus it wasn’t dry at all! The coffee sauce also adds a little sweet and bitter flavour to it. The portion was quite generous and is good value for its price, but would like if they had other garnish or vegetables on the side.

💰: $15.80
📈: 9/10

✨炸鱼肉汤 (Fried Fish Meat Soup)✨
This is the dish I order every time I dine here (and add extra milk😙) The fish is so soft and silky! As the soup tastes quite creamy, the fish is not too heavy, hence it complements each other quite well, preventing this soup from being jelak😌 The vegetables is not the best, as it tastes a little raw and tough to chew. I recommend adding in the small chilli to give a little spicy kick for more enjoyment 😎 Also!! Put rice in your spoon and dip it in! I swear you won’t regret it🤤

💰: $5.80
📈: 10/10

mom & i’s favourite! seeing the bubbling, enthusiastic pot of curry when first brought never gets old !! the gravy has wonderful kick of spice to it, and picking the bones from the fish head though is a pain in the ass is sooo worth it for that sweet meat! filled to the brim with asparagus, tomato, beancurd tofu and cabbage. paired with a cup of iced barley truly elevates it to a delectable comfort food :)

Pickled Radish Beancurd, $13.80. One of the MUST ORDER dish everytime we are back here! Simply love their beancurd, super silky, soft and melt in your mouth! It’s slightly pan-fried to beautiful golden with a lil crispy on its outside before soaking in a bed of lightly, fragrant tasty gravy, and finally topped with generous portion of their crispy pickled radish!!! Goes so well with just a bowl of white rice and a piping hot and clear fish soup!