11 best hawker stalls at Chong Pang Market & Food Centre to fuel you up
Sure, most of the hawkers are making the jump to the shiny new space once it's up and running — but nothing beats the feels of a good ol' food centre (or maybe I'm just too ancient and sentimental).
So, until that time arrives, here is my curated guide of the 11 best hawker stalls at Chong Pang Market & Food Centre to fuel you up. Enjoy it while it lasts!
Old Chong Pang Wu Xiang Xia Bing originally operated from the Old Chong Pang Market, which was demolished in 1984. So, even though the signboard states 'Established since 1986,' the business actually has a longer history, running for over 42 years.
The options at this wu xiang xia bing stall are aplenty with a minimum of 4 items required. Tuck into delicious (S$1.30), Liver Roll (S$2.50), Fish Cake (S$1.30), and more. You can even order a plate of (S$1.20) to complement your meal.
This, my friends, has got to be one of the best wu xiang xia bing places I've ever been to — aside from my favourite Lao Zhong zhong Fine Spice Stall. The Prawn Cracker (S$1.70) was crispy and not oily while the Egg Chestnut Pancake (S$1.30) was tasty and had crunchy bits of water chestnut.
The classic but rare pink sauce was also served with the Pork Sausage (S$2.50) while the Bean Curd (S$1.20) took me by surprise with its fluffy, cloud-like texture.
Order delivery:
+65 9066 2588 Tue to Sun: 10am – 3pm & 5.30pm – 10pm Closed on Mon |
Compared to traditional old-school bakeries, spotting Hong Kong-style pastries in a hawker centre is like searching for a needle in a haystack. So when I spotted Chong Pang (H.K.) Pastries, I got excited!
Besides spotting (S$2.50 for 3), Wintermelon Wife (S$1.30) and Salted Green Pea Pastry (S$1.20), there were local offerings such as Sardine Puff (S$1) and Curry Puff (S$1) as well.
I was blown away by the Roasted Char Siew Bao (S$1.50). The golden-brown crust was crumbly and nicely caramelised, encasing a loaded char siew filling that was moist and packed with flavour. The Hong Kong Egg Tart (S$1.50) was also fragrant and irresistibly eggy with a flaky tart shell. The egg tart puts other mainstream, pricier ones to shame.
Daily: 8am – 8.30pm |
As with many popular stalls, Chuan Kee Boneless Braised Duck has seen its fair share of both praise and criticism online. With another outlet at Ghim Moh Market which has received the prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand mention, it would have been foolish not to give it a try.
A 1/4 Duck here costs S$13 while a single portion of Duck Meat starts from S$5.60.
While deciding on what to order, I was recommended the Set which comes in 3 different price points: S$4, S$5 and S$5.80 (depending on whether you opt for additional duck meat).
My S$4 plate came with a generous mound of rice, duck meat, braised peanuts, half a braised egg, and tau kwa.The rice was arguably one of the sauciest I've ever had, coated in a rich, deep brown hue. The duck was decently tender and tasty with a shiok chilli dip that added bright, tangy notes.
Sun to Fri: 9.30am – 8pm Closed on Sat
I know, I know. I'm totally biased towards this chain of chwee kueh stalls. But to me, Bedok Chwee Kueh (Yishun Branch) — here and at other outlets — puts a smile to my face EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. So, imagine my excitement when I realised that there's a branch at Chong Pang Food Centre, too.
The fluffy steamed rice cakes come in 2 Pieces (S$1.40), 3 Pieces (S$2.10), and 4 pieces (S$2.80). If you want the ingredients separated, there's a minimum order of 4 pieces.
My 2 Pieces came topped with sinfully oily but delicious chopped cai poh (preserved radish), served with sambal. The chwee kueh, as always, was soft and silky smooth. It served as the perfect blank canvas for the savoury and crunchy mini pops of cai poh. The chilli had some kick and was rich in dried shrimp flavour.
Daily: 6.45am – 7pm
Kedai Atok Goreng Pisang is a family-run business that's been operating at Chong Pang Market & Food Centre for about 2 years. Before you dismiss it as just another run-of-the-mill fried banana fritters spot, I assure you… it's not!
They sell fritters in all shapes and sizes including Keledek (S$2 for 7 pieces), Cempedak Goreng (S$2 for 3 pieces) and Jemput Jemput (S$2 for 3). They also have fried snacks like Vadai (S$2 for 6 pieces) and Samosa (S$2).
I decided to give the traditional (S$2 for 4 pieces) a go. I was pleasantly surprised at how sweet the pieces of banana were, or what my dining partners refer to as 'pisang raja'. The Sardine (S$2) was also rather enjoyable.
Daily: 8am – 6pm
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One of the stalls that attracted a long line was Nee Soon Fish Head Mee Hoon. Trust me when I say that the menu gave me a headache in a good way — I was spoiled for choice with over 26 dishes to pick from!
Established in 1995, this stall makes its own handmade noodles like Mee Hoon Kuey (S$4/S$5) and Ban Mian (S$4/S$5/S$6). You can also get Mee Sua Soup (S$4/S$5/S$6) and Teo Chew Porridge (S$5). For something fiery and appetising, you can slurp on the Tom Yam Seafood Bee Hoon (S$6).
If you're in the mood for congee, options like Mixed Pork Congee (S$5) and Century Egg & Sliced Pork Congee (S$4) will hit the sweet spot.
I decided to settle for something simple and light, and ended up with the Sliced Fish Soup (S$5). It was filled with lots of thick, fresh slices of batang fish, silky tofu cubes, and vegetables. The broth was clean and on the lighter side, and they didn't skimp on the ingredients either.
Tue to Sun: 6.30am – 8.30pm Closed on Mon
For a dessert and drink stall to have been around since 1984, they've clearly been getting something right all these years. Yes, I'm referring to Soya Bean & Jelly Drink, which specialises in only 2 main elements — handcrafting their in-house soya bean and chin chow.
At just S$1.20, you can beat Singapore's relentless heat with a refreshing cup of Grass Jelly or Soya Bean. Can't decide between the two? Go for the popular MJ (S$1.30), which combines the best of both worlds in a single cup.
Alternatively, customers who are looking for something spoonable rather than sippable, there are dessert options, too. Enjoy the Soya Beancurd (S$1.20), Grass Jelly (S$1.50), or the recommended Soya Beancurd + Grass Jelly (S$1.50).
Daily: 6am – 9pm
Another stall notorious for its long queues is Yao Fa Teochew Mushroom Meat Noodle. It's operated by an elderly couple who serve up old-school-style noodles in either Soup (S$3.80/S$4.30/S$4.80) or Dry (S$4/S$4.50/S$5) with decent portions.
Though its operation time states that it closes at 3pm, the stall is mostly done for the day by 1pm , so be sure to get there early to avoid any disappointment!
Whether you seek bee hoon, kway teow, mee tai mak, or the classic mee pok, each bowl of noodles is filled with minced pork, sliced fishcake, lean pork, pig's liver, black mushrooms, fishball and meatball.
The broth here has been simmered for a long time to extract all the flavours, producing a robust, full-bodied soup.
Tue to Sun: 7am – 3pm Closed on Mon
On cold, rainy days, what's the best option to warm you up? Simply lookout for the red signboard of Chong Pang Pig's Organ Soup | Herbal Mutton Soup for a piping-hot bowl of soup. If you're into innards, the Pig's Liver Soup (S$5/S$6.50), Pig's Kidney (S$6/S$8), and Pig's Organ Soup (S$5/S$6.50) will be right up your alley.
If you're dining with a friend, be sure to share the value-for-money Set Meal For 2 pax (S$13.80). It consists of a braised pig's trotter, salted veg, pig's organ soup and rice.
For those who don't mind the gaminess of lamb, the stall also serves mean bowls of Herbal Mutton Soup (S$7.50/S$10), Lamb Tendon Soup (S$7.50/S$10) and Mutton Ball (S$6/S$8). This stall is touted as serving one of the best herbal mutton soups in Singapore.
Wed to Mon: 10am – 8.30pm Closed on Tue
If you have a penchant for fishballs, then visit Xiang Xiang Fishball Noodle at Chong Pang Market & Food Centre to satisfy your cravings. Since 1982, this humble old-school noodle stall has been dishing out bowl after bowl of delicious fishball mee, and it's currently run by the second generation.
The fishballs here are made in-house using yellowtail fish or ikan parang, depending on availability. The flavour is clean with a delicate fish taste, and the texture is tender with a slight bounce.
With prices starting from just S$3.50, this place certainly falls into the affordable range by today's standards.. You can order the Fishball Noodle Soup (S$3.50), Fishball Macaroni Soup (S$3.50) or the Mixed Mee Pok Dry (S$3.50/S$4) with a choice of chilli, ketchup or black sauce.
Thinking of getting fishballs for your hotpot feast at home? You can also purchase 8 pieces of Fresh Fishballs at S$2.
Tue to Sun: 6am – 4pm Closed on Mon
Yi Xin Shu Shi Spicy & Vegetables is an under-the-radar stall without any huge social media presence at Chong Pang Market & Food Centre. Manned by a friendly elderly couple, they sell a huge variety of cai fan dishes that won't burn a hole in your pocket.
One of the cheapest dishes on the menu is the Set D (S$2.50), consisting of rice, 2 pieces of ikan kuning, a sausage and sunny side-up. You can also explore Set B (S$4) that comes with a large chicken drumstick, veggies, fried egg, and rice.
If you feel that your options are restricted, pick and choose your ideal combination with the à la carte selections like onion omelette, pork chop, or pork belly instead.
Sun to Fri: 6am – 10pm Closed on Sat
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Solve the daily Crossword
