Fook Seng Goldenhill Chicken Rice inside the quaint Jalan Rumah Tinggi housing estate

HY's craving for chicken rice has done it again. She had sniffed out a 'ho liao' (good stuff in Hokkien) chicken rice shop at Jalan Rumah Tinggi. I can't believe it. We were living in the vicinity for almost 10 years and we didn't discover this gem of a chicken rice stall until now. It's such a shame.

Fook Seng is located in an quaint old housing estate in Jalan Rumah Tinggi where the Bus 63 terminal is located. The shop space is located on the 1st floor of a housing block. There no fuss about the shop. Foldable tables and plastic chairs were laid out to fill up as much of the space as possible. This area is so quaint that I'm half suspecting some kampong chicken running around on the grass patch behind the shop. The chicken here was super tender. I'm a 'breast' man when it comes to chicken rice and the plate of chicken breast meat that HY and I ate is one of the best! The garlic chilli here is a must-try and is quite spicy. Apart from chicken rice, Fook Seng also serve chicken porridge and even raw fish as a side dish. Nothing beats the joy of finding good food and fulfilling the desires of our palates. Yummy.

37 Jalan Rumah Tinggi #01-429
Singapore
Tel : 9777 3318
Fook Seng's Website

My favorite vegetarian noodles @ 如意园素食 Ru Yi Yuan Vegetarian Food

A 20 minutes queuing got me this plate of vegetarian noodle/vermicelli with cabbage,  mock char siew, mock goose and mock duck. I always like to get extra servings of their mock duck. Their mock duck and goose are fried to a golden brown crisp and many of Ruyi Yuan regulars like me would order extra to compliment the noodles that we ordered. More details in my previous post.

Blk 80 Redhill Lane

Singapore

天天海南咖哩饭 Tian Tian Hainanese Curry Rice

Following the recommendations of a fellow foodie, I came to Blk 116 Bukit Merah View, 天天海南咖哩饭 Tian Tian Hainanese Curry Rice. The stall resides in the 鸿裕 Hong Yu Coffee shop. This sunny afternoon, I came, I ate and I enjoyed.

My S$7 Curry Rice Lunch from Tian Tian

S$7 for everything that's spread out here.

I thought it's good value for the quality.

Pork Chop

The crispy pork chop is drizzled with the same sauce as the pork patty.

Minced Pork Patty

The minced pork patty came "swimming" in a

bowl of peppery sauce with onions, peas and corn.

A bite off my minced pork patty

Half bitten pork patty over the "curried" rice.

"Curried" Squid

This is a portion for one person. A whole piece of the squid

will cost S$7. The squid is very tender as it is well cooked.

Overcooking this will result in a heap of "rubber bands".

Stir Fried Cabbage

It doesn't look at all appetizing on its own but the look is

deceiving. Compliments well with the "curried" rice.

Tau Pok

The tau pok is so so only .....

"Curried" Rice

My plate of "curried" rice with a a different tinge of yellow

and orange. A small myriad of curry and braised sauces

was drizzled on my plate of white rice. More curry sauce please!

The Curry Rice Stall in the Kopi Shop

A little queueing may be needed at the stall. It's after all a stall

that has made a name with the several media coverage.

Address : Blk 116 Bukit Merah View, Hong Yu Coffee Shop.

Opening Hours : 8:00am~9:30pm (Closed on alternate Tuesday)

Country : Singapore

311 Curry Rice @ Bukit Merah View Food Centre

When you see an abundance of taxi parked in a nearby car park, it would usually imply that the place has a good supply of good budget food. Bukit Merah View Food Centre just fits this description. This is one of the nearby lunch time place for me as well. 311 Curry Rice is a good choice in this food centre if you are a newbie to the place.

My Lunch Time Curry Rice

Pork Chop, Cabbage drizzle with generous amount 

of curry sauce with asam batang fish in a separate bowl

Asam Batang Fish

The asam sauce has a spicy sourish taste which is infused

into the meat of the fried batang fish. This is a populr dish at the stall.

The lunch time queue at the stall

Address : Blk 115 Bukit Merah View, Bukit Merah View Food Centre, #01-311

Country : Singapore

Durian Season is here! ...... whether you hate it or love it. Part I

I'll know that durian season has arrived when I can smell the fragrance before I see the temporary stalls that were set-up to sell this "King of Fruits". Durian is a favourite fruit to many Singaporeans and people around the region. It's either you love it forever, or you never go near it. To many foreign friends, the alluring fragrance known to me, is an eternal stench.

The durians that were sold in fruit stalls are mostly imported from Malaysia, just north of our island. In Singapore, there are some durian trees, but land is just too scarce to be developed as durian plantations. That's why durians, in Singapore, are so much more expensive than in Malaysia.

This is the temporary stall that sold me their durians freshly transported via lorries from Batu Pahat in Malaysia. The price tag show, S$8 for 1 and S$20 for 3. At these, prices, it's considered quite cheap. Durians are also commonly sold, in other fruit stalls, by the weight. The prices will vary from the species. This link lead to Dr Leslie Koh food blog (our popular Singapore food blogger) that writes, in more details, about the different species of durian we get in Singapore.

The durian seller choosing and opening the thorny fruit with a knife.

Pincing and sampling the yellow flesh of the fruit before giving the nod of acceptance.

Our durian split right in the middle, exposing the yellow, creamy texture fruit inside the thorny exterior. I bought 3 and was good enough to put a smile on my mother-in-law's face for the whole day.

The "Elusive" Redhill Porridge @ Redhill Close Food Centre

Many Saturdays and Sundays, I had walked up to the Redhill Porridge stall and was baffled that they are always not opened. I thought it's another case of  "another one bites the dust". Contrary to my thoughts .........

It happened to be my off day this Wednesday and I walked to the same row of food stalls and was suprise that the queue leads all the way out the shelter of the food centre.

The queue ........

I joined the queue and counted that I was behind 10 people. The queueing was worth it as I have discovered the best porridge stall in the food centre. It was up till the point where I was near the front of the queue that it dawn upon me, the reason behind the "elusive" Redhill Porridge. A sign displaying "Closed during Saturdays and Sundays" was stuck onto the commercial fridge near the stall entrance. Saturdays and Sundays just happens to be the times that I frequent the food centre. On top of that, they are already closed for business even if I happen to pop by for lunch. That's why Redhill Porridge always stays closed for me .......... until today.

Here's my S$3.50 worth of Fish and Pork Porridge with egg. After mixing the porridge up, I realized that it's value for money. They are generous with the pork and fish. No wonder many old folks like to frequent the stall (of course most of them have the time to kill ... oops .... queue).

Here's my S$2 worth of raw fish.  They do provide quality raw fish for what S$2 is worth. Not stingy at all!

Here's the porridge menu as shown at the front of the stall

Pork Porridge                   S$2/3

Fish Porridge                    S$2/3

Fish + Pork Porridge       S$3/4

Raw Fish                            S$2/3/5

Add egg                              S$0.50

If you do not like your porridge to be too salty, please inform them while making your order and then add the soya sauce later to your liking. So, if your schedule is able to meet their business hours and you're a porridge lover, go try it.

Address : Blk 85 Redhill Lane #01-90 Redhill Close Food Centre (Facing Redhill Close main street)

Opening hours : Mon~Fri, 6am to sold out (usually around 10am to 11am)

Country : Singapore

成兴福建卤鸭面 Seng Heng Braised Duck Noodle

成兴福建卤鸭面 Seng Heng Braised Duck Noodle is one of the many popular hawker stalls in the Redhill Close Food Center. You can tell by the long queue, especially during the weekends. If you observed this stall long enough, you'll notice that at certain times there's no queue at all. Not that it has no business, it's just that the previous batch of braised ducks are sold out and the next batch is still cooking. When the ducks are ready, the line forms again. So, the braised duck that you get is guaranteed to be freshly cooked. 

Here is HY's S$2.50 bowl of  braised duck noodle soup. The soup is tasty and yet not too herbal, like duck noodle soup from other places. A second helping of soup is most welcome. Sometimes, the stall helper will jokingly ask if you'll pay them for the extra soup.

I'm not a duck lover so I'm very choosy about how I like to eat duck. Braised, tender ones that Seng Heng serve is one of the few that I liked. Here's my S$2.50 portion of the dried braised duck noodle. The chilli is a must try if you are a chilli fan.

The bowl of soup that comes with the dried noodle is usually not enough. Subsequent helpings is allowed.

Seng Heng also sells whole braised duck but do order with in advance.

They hardly sell beyond noon time. So try to catch them in the morning for breakfast.

Address : Blk 85 Redhill Lane #01-28 Redhill Close Food Centre

Country : Singapore

Ali Fatimah Food Stall @ Redhill Close Food Centre for Roti Prata

I remember that there were instances that I have to leave home early. Even at 6am, Ali Fatimah's Roti Prata is available for my breakfast before I start the day. I recall that they use to make their own prata dough. So Ali (I don't know the owner's name, I guess it's Ali from the stall's name) will beat up the dough with his strong muscular arm inside a red big plastic basin every afternoon after he close for the day at around 11am~noon. Nowadays, he gets his dough pre-made from a supplier. Yet, the standard is still the same. It's his skill in getting the roti prata right that cause a human queue rather than the type of dough he used. The prata that he flips up is spread thin such that after frying on the hot plate, it's crispy. Every prata is made fresh to the order. So when you eat it hot, the prata is crispy. The prata with egg is less crispy but more tangy.

This is my stainless steel plate (makes me think of eating in army canteen huh ....) of Kosong (plain, S$0.70) and Telor (egg, S$1.20) Prata. The extra curry mutton cost S$2.50 

A close up of the S$2.50 piece of mutton dunked inside the curry. Ali Fatimah makes good curry. The mutton that comes with the curry is so soft and tender that it's so easy to chew on.

When you are in Redhill Close Food Centre and crave for this popular local food, visit Ali Fatimah Food Stall and let Ali fix you a good Roti Prata Breakfast.

Address : Blk 85 Redhill Lane #01-01 Redhill Close Food Centre

Country : Singapore

如意园素食 Ru Yi Yuan Vegetarian Food @ Redhill Close ......... one of the best vegetarian fried noodles around

There was one day, just a couple of years back, I saw an aunty, definitely past her 50s, sitting on the floor of the void deck below the block where I live. Just out of kindness, I went to ask if she's OK and need any help. She told me that she's fine and she's just sitting down to rest. I found out much later that she's the owner of 如意园 Ru Yi Yuan. I'm glad that till now she looks fit as a fiddle and still at her stall whipping out good food for us.

Ru Yi Yuan is located inside a coffee shop just beside the Redhill Close market. Most of the time, during their opening hours, you'll see a daunting queue. Everyone's waiting for their turn for the vegetarian bee hoon. On the 初一十五 1st and 15th of every lunar month, also every weekends, the queue sometimes doubles, extending all the way out of the coffeeshop. It may take some time to reach the front of the queue, but the wait is definitely worth it!

The main draw of the vegetarian stall is their fried noodles (bee hoon, mee and kway teow). You'll be ask if you'll like gravy over the fried noodles. I've ordered so many times before but I've never gotten to reject their gravy. The gravy makes the fried noodles so much tastier. If you do a take away, they can make the extra effort to separate the noodles and the gravy. This is absolutely helpful when I'm doing a takeaway and then travelling all the way to my parent's place for breakfast. This way you don't get the soggy noodles upon arrival. You see below, my takeaway order of vegetarian bee hoon (S$2.00). Even my father-in-law, thinks that the portion they give for S$2 is really worth every penny. He was always complaining that food portions at food centers cannot feel his stomach. When I takeaway the fried noodle from Ru Yi Yuan for him, we hear nothing but all praise.

Apart from the vegetables, like cabbage and string beans, it always amazes me how different each mock vegetarian ingredient (e.g. mock duck, mock char siew) look and taste even though they're made mostly of the same fundamental ingredient, wheat gluten. The photo below shows a close up of the mock char siew (the reddish one) and the mock fried duck (the golden brown one). The 斋鸭 mock fried duck is my personal favourite to go with Ru Yi Yuan's fried bee hoon. It's crispy on the outside and slightly tangy inside ..........

I like it so much that I'll always buy a whole strip of 斋鸭 mock fried duck (S$1.50) to compliment my fried bee hoon. This is the strip that's not cut up ito smaller strips like what you see in the previous photo.

In addition to the food that I described above, Ru Yi Yuan will cook up the Mixed Vegetable Curry, Braised Mixed Vegetables and fried spring rolls during Sundays and 初一十五 1st and 15th of every lunar month.

At the stall front, you'll notice that they're not new to the media glitz. There are some newspaper cuttings with Aunty's facial close ups. There is also a poster of a popular TV food show endorsing the good food award for Ru Yi Yuan culinary skills.

Never mind all the media glitz that Ru Yi Yuan had received, just go join the queue and try their food. You'll then understand why they're popular.

Address : Blk 80 Redhill Lane

Opening Hours : About 7+ am a till 12 noon

Country : Singapore

Hua Kee Chicken Rice 华记鸡饭 .......... Best Chicken Rice in Redhill Market

This under rated chicken rice stall is a secret known to the people living in the Redhill area. There's always a consistent queue that forms when the stall opens. If you're eating in the food centre, try to find a table along the same section where the stall is located or else they'll ask you to do a takeaway.

The consistent queue at Saturday noon time ..........

My plate of S$3 chicken rice and a bowl of soup. The rice is cooked very fragrant but yet not too oily ..........

The chicken breast that I ordered. Although its chicken breast, it's tender! ..........

Cost : S$2.50 / 3.00 per plate

Address : Blk 85 Redhill Lane #01-40 Redhill Close Food Centre

Country : Singapore

Bak Kee Teochew Satay Bee Hoon .......... where's the satay?

The Satay Bee Hoon at Redhill Food Centre always has a constant queue. When you are in front of the queue you can see how the food is prepared. The bee hoon is cooked in the boiling water. It is then scooped up and placed in a plate. They'll take the underside of another plate and press at the bee hoon so hard that most of the water is squeezed out. The satay gravy (peanut sauce) is poured over the cooked bee hoon. Typical of satay bee hoon, you'll have lean pork meat, pork liver, cockles, cuttle fish and some kang kong. Apart from satay bee hoon, the stall also sells Cuttle Fish Kang Kong. This dish is actually kang kong and cuttle fish with some sweetened sauce. The stall is closed on Wednesday.

Satay Bee Hoon still not mixed up yet ..........

My S$3 satay bee hoon after it's mixed up ..........

Cost : S$3/4/5

Address : Blk 85 Redhill Lane #01-40 Redhill Market

Country : Singapore

Shun Li Yong Tau Foo 顺利酿豆腐 ............... Good Chilli Padi flavoured soup

Shun Li  Yong Tau Foo 顺利酿豆腐 is one of the "out of the world" dining experience in Singapore. Even if you're not really there for the food, it can still be a "fun" outing for a group of friends.

The stall is supposedly opened at 10.30pm but the opening hours usually stretched to 11.00pm. Last night, the stall opens at 12 midnight. That's just how erratic their time management can be. The stall is closed at around 3.00 ~ 4.00 am. This is not a typo error. Yes, 10.30 ~ 11.00 pm is the stall opening hours. Shun Li does the late night business. But just look at the crowd ....... Singaporeans are real hungry!

I've been to eat at Shun Li many times. The following describes my observations. Read it carefully .........  it is a free tip I'm giving to get your food faster at Shun Li. The "strategy" is in sequence.

You need at least 2 people and some strategies to get your food fast (1 person shall be the designated queuer and the other the food grabber).

TIPS FOR THE QUEUER :

The stall sign will not light up when the stall owners are still preparing to start business. At about 15 ~ 30 mins before the stall opens, many people will crowd around the stall. The aunty will sometimes chide the overly enthusiatic customer to stand back and stop obstructing her. Then all of a sudden the queue just forms. The queue is positioned on the left of the stall and right in front of the entrance into the stall. It'll lead out of the perimeter of the hawker center and then start to snake into an L shape.

The queue ..........

At this time you need to queue fast. If not you'll be standing at the back of the queue and it'll be 45 ~ 60mins lesser sleep for you (and your party of hungry frens). Every person that is in front of you will easily pose a minimum 10mins waiting time. Everyone will  grab as much food like there's no tomorrow. The mentality here is : since you wait for such a long time, might as well eat more!

TIPS FOR THE "FOOD GRABBER" :

When the stall sign light up, like in the start of an F1 race, you'll see many "dangerous" over taking manoeuvres. Make sure the "food grabber" goes in and grab the bowl and then the pincer (pincer at the top shelf). Then just flow with your food instinct and pick the food fast. If you think just a second more, you'll either miss some food item that you want or you'll have to wait again for the aunty to refill. When you are in position, stand your ground, ignore all shoving until you finish grabbing your food items. If you are behind, find gaps between people, or if you are tall enough, stretch you arm over people, to grab the food. After you are done, place your bowls onto the big metal tray on the table right in front of the stall. The "food grabber's" job is done. All that's left is to remember which bowls of food item on the metal tray belongs to you.

Grabbing food items for your Yong Tau Foo ...............

The big metal tray where bowls of food items are placed ...............

TIPS FOR THE QUEUER :

When the queuer reach the front, get your bowls of food items and pass them to the aunty or uncle. Let them know if you'l like extra ikan bilis or chillipadi to be added to the soup. Then when asked, tell them how many bowls of nodles you want to go with the Yong Tau Foo soup.

Observations:

1) At 15~30mins before the stalls open, you'll see groups of Yon Tau Foo "fanatics" creep slowly to the front of the stall and then some start cupping their ears to start discussing "strategies"

2) In the queue, you'll hear alot of grumbles about the long wait. So for the faint hearted and the impatient, avoid this stall.

The spoils of our "mission", 2 bowls of food filled Yong Tau Foo soup. Good tasting soup that taste even better after the effort ..........

Close up of the soup shows a good generous amount of the ikan bilis (anchovies) and green chill padi. Considered a fiery soup to some people with low chilli spiciness threshold .............

You'll be stopped by some mysterious folks (who's sipping beer at tables near the stall) from taking photos of the stall. Don't know what they'll do to you ........ I'm publishing this at a risk. :)

Cost : S$22 for 6 person (the 2 big bowls of Yong Tau Foo in the photo)

Address : Blk 115, Bukit Merah View, #01-397, Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre

Opening Hours : Daily 10.30pm ~ 3.30am. Closed on Monday.

Country : Singapore