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Fried Hokkien Mee with topping of luscious Pork Fat
Down the road from Block 921 at Yishun Bus Interchange, I found another coffeeshop which had more hustle and bustle than even a school canteen at lunch time. It was a quaint little shoppe located around the bend and a particular sign board caught my eye.
One of the stall's signboard (though it might not have been very obvious) said 921 Yishun Fried Hokkien Mee. See the link? Two 921 Hokkien Mee stalls at two different coffeeshops. Well which is better?
This serving of Hokkien Mee was quite generous in noodle portion and each spoonfull (or chopstick full) carried an air of a heavy seafood stock. Still, I think that for the price of $4.00 they should have given a little more toppings and ingredients, like the sliced pork belly which was all but there.
The chilli though red hot in colour, proved to be inadequate with the quality of the dish. It was somewhat too strong in its prawn paste smell and tasted a little like chilli from the bottle.
Therefore in comparison with this version of Fried Hokkien Mee and the one located at Block 921, it seems that the latter wins this dish hands down. Though it would not hurt to try out different styles of cooking.
Price : $3.50/$4.00
Rating for Fried Hokkien Mee : 3.5/5
Hainanese (Debone) Chicken Rice
The coffeeshop's serving of one of Singapore's most Singaporean Dishes - Hainanese Chicken Rice attracted a queue. In Singaporean terms, anything with a queue must be good.
I ordered the $3.50 serving of the Boneless Chicken Rice to find out what was so good about this stall's speciality. The chicken was served mostly without its skin (excellent for you health junkies) though the ladle of light sauce and sesame oil was a little too heavy for my liking. The meat was soft and a little juicy and pair this with the serving of warm chicken rice, it was good!
I particularly enjoyed their rice. It was grainy but not too hard with each grain being a little oily from the chicken fat. Also it was not overpoweringly fragrant and provided a delicate complement to the meat.
The chilli sauce provided is something I really enjoyed. I presume it was blended from Chilli Padi so even a little dip of it on the meat made the bite fiery hot. For all you spice haters, beware!
Arguably this is one of the better Hainanese Chicken Rice I have eaten though it would be better if they were to go a little easy on the light sauce. It is not the best so far where in the lights of Yet Con along Purvis Street but for a neighbourhood whipping up of the dish and with it boneless, it is deal definitely value for money.
Now I know why there was a queue.
Price : $2.50/3.50
Rating for Hainanese Chicken Rice : 4/5
Dim Sum in a Coffeeshop? Who could have guessed!
Singapore Favourite Foods - Chinese Rojak
Almost every other coffeeshop has a stall selling Chinese Rojak with its crispy You Tiao, tau pok, turnip, cucumber, dried squid all mixed in a big bowl of prawn paste with chopped nuts.
Today's Chinese Rojak called for the addition of Century Eggs - Duck eggs covered in mud and buried underground for 100 days till its ferments. Yummy! The acquired taste of the century eggs is definitely a strong ally with the sweet taste of the prawn paste and couple that with a slice or two of the crispy you tiao, oh my gosh, you are in heaven!
While the prawn paste that coats this Rojak isn't too strong, the chef was a little heavy handed with his use of sugar, so I didn't really enjoy the sweeter version of this popular Singaporean Dish. Now if they threw in a tau pok or two, this would really make a dish value for your money.
Price : $3.00 + $1.20 (century egg)
Rating for Chinese Rojak : 3.5/5
Comments
If you really are craving for an above average value for money deal at a coffeeshop at the Yishun vicinity, you might just want to pop by at this neighbourhood coffeeshop. While it does not serve the food like those in restaurants and posh cafes, it still bodes strongly of the local flavour and you might just be surprised at what dish you could really enjoy!
Location : Yishun 81 Food Court. Near Yishun Bus Interchange.
Hainan 2nd Streeet Coffeehouse Speciality - Hainanese Pork Chops!
Nothing beats having a perfectly deep-fried, crumb coated, crispy yet tender Pork Chops tantalizing your palate! The Hainanese Pork Chops is very different from what you see at Western stalls, with their version being deep fried compared to the Westerns who grill theirs.
Hainan 2nd Street Coffeehouse is one of the many more prominent Hainanese Coffeehouses and restaurants situated along Purvis street. While arguably not as famous as Chin Chin or Yet Con, it is still a fighter in the Hainanese food scene.
The Hainanese Pork Chops of 2nd Street is possibly better than Chin Chin's. There is a crispy exterior with a firm bite through the meat inside. Furthermore, each piece is tasty and succulent.
If you visit 2nd Street, you have to try their Pork Chops. I went there specially for it and it left me satisfied.
Price : $9 (Medium Serving)
Rating for Hainanese Pork Chops : 4/5
As standard fare, I ordered the Hainanese Chicken. It was rather average and nothing to boast about. The meat was tender and soft, with the skin not being too sticky or chewy. There was a fare amount of soy sauce and sesame oil drizzled on the poultry, but comparatively, I prefered Yet Con's Chicken, whose skin is so yellow it will possibly remind you of the good old days.
Rating for Hainanese Chicken : 3/5
The chilli sauce at 2nd Street is a must try for Hainanese Chilli fans. There's a saying that goes
"If the sauce is good enough, you can even eat it alone with rice"
I have to agree. Wallop huge servings of 2nd Street's chilli with their Chicken rice, add a meat or two, and you have a mouthful of ....burp..
Hainanese Mutton Soup - Herby and Excellent
I particularly enjoyed the Hainanese Mutton Soup served at 2nd Street. The broth was strong, clear and tasty, while the portions of liao (ingredients) were generous. Comparatively better than the one I tasted at Mooi Chin (at Golden Landmark Hotel), but in the mutton selection department, 2nd Street's choice is sub-par to the one at Mooi Chin whose meat is oh so tender and soft.
Price : $8 (Medium Serving)
Rating for Hainanese Mutton Soup : 4/5
Conclusion
Hainan 2nd Street Coffeehouse is just one of the many Hainanese food establishments located along Purvis Street. With so many, it is inevitable that comparisons will be made across board. However, 2nd Street does not disappoint and is an excellent coffeehouse to visit for your above average Hainanese fare.
Venue :
Hainan 2nd Street Coffeehouse
16 Purvis Street
Near the National Library at City Hall
Contact : 6333 3550
Open Daily from 7am to 10pm
Hidden Hainanese Cuisine - Do you know that it is even there?
2 comments Posted by Justin D. Pereira at 10:10 AM Mooi Chin's Hainanese Chicken - Gratifying and Sumptuous Not too far from the busy urban streets of Bugis lies an almost deserted shopping centre whose heyday was in the 80's. Golden Landmark Shopping Complex, with at most slightly more than half its shops open at any time, surprisingly boasts an authentic Hainanese Cuisine Restaurant located in the Golden Landmark Hotel adjacent to it. The chicken can be summed up in one word - good. It was not too dry like the ones usually found in hawker centres and coffeeshops nor was it too rough. I enjoyed the wholesome texture of each piece of meat with the light soy sauce mixed with sesame oil being a perfect compliment to the overall taste. Together, the meat seemingly just slides down your throat. Hainanese Chicken Rice - Fragrant, though it came to me as a tad dry. While there is good chicken, there ought to be good rice. I found the Chicken Rice fragrant but apart from which it was a little too dry and grainy. It would have been better for a softer variety of rice to be cooked. Somehow, if there was better rice, there would have been a better rating. Price : $12.00 Overall Rating for Hainanese Chicken and Hainanese Chicken Rice : 4/5 The two sauces served (Chicken Rice Condiments on the left, whatever not Sambal Chilli on the right) is perhaps a must for the meal. Arguably, the chicken went well with the spicy looking red chilli sauce which turned out to be quite sweet and not blazingly hot. It might be an idea to mix the Chilli, Ginger and Sweet Black Sauce all up for that savoury taste, Also, the Sambal Chilli is perhaps one of the freshest which I have seen in a restaurant setting. The chilli is not too hot and with the squeezed lime, the tangy taste really added flavour to the dishes. I must comment that the spices used in Mooi Chin's have been toned down (obviously...) for the foreigners and tourists visiting the establishment. So you might want to ask for that Sambal Kang Kong of yours to be spiced up! Sambal Kang Kong The Sambal Kang Kong was perhaps a disappointment for my tastebuds. Though it was nice and crunchy with the occasional spice in it, I felt that the chefs have been slightly too skimpy in the sambal. It was a dish that really needed more hotness for that kick in it. Once again, ask for more sambal when you order (I learnt that to my disappointment) Price : $10.00 Rating for Sambal Kang Kong : 2.5/5 
Hainanese Mutton Soup - The mutton simply melts in the mouth!
Its not everyday you are able to come across Hainanese Mutton Soup. This particular one at Mooi Chin's is in a class on its own. Served generously with a wide variety of mutton meat and tendons, bamboo shoots, black wood ear mushroom and beancurd skin, in addition to that herb infused broth, this soup aims to please. The meat was tender and the fat (yes fat...stop running from it) simply melted in the mouth. Pair this with the Sambal Chilli provided and it will taste exceptionally great! One point to note is that this soup won't leave you sweltering with perspiration as I suspect that they (once again) reduced the quantity of herbs used to suit the tastebuds of the foreigners.
Price : $12.00
Rating for Hainanese Mutton Soup : 4.5/5
Sambal Deep Fried Fish Fillet - An Definite Award Winner!
Now this is what I call fantastic! Crispy on the outside, fresh, tender and cotton smooth on the inside, with an absolutely delicious fried sambal chilli topping to boot - the Sambal Deep Fried Fish Fillet is perhaps what you can call a gift from the heavens. Each bite leaves you with a tantalizing desire for that next piece of fishy goodness and by gosh, this may turn you into a Sambal Fishatarian. (if there was ever such a word)
Price : $10.00 per piece of Fish Fillet
Rating for Sambal Deep Fried Fish Fillet : 4.5/5
Yam Paste ("Orh Nee") with Pumpkin
Hidden below the whitish goodness (I suspect Coconut milk) lies the purplish Yam Paste with smooth Pumpkin mix in it. This is by far one of the better Yam Pastes I have tasted and after such a heavy meal, what more to end it with a heavy dessert. I particularly enjoyed the white 'cream' on top which presented the otherwise rather plain looking Yam Paste in a different light. The pumpkin added is also something new to me and was a great compliment to the yam. Not too sweet with a gratifying feel at the end. One Word again - Delicious!
Price : $4.00
Rating for Yam Paste with Pumpkin : 4/5
Overall Conclusion
Mooi Chin is by far one of the most authentic Hainanese Restaurants I have been to. Originally from Purvis Street (a haven for Hainanese Cuisine), this establishment has a significant history to its name. The dishes served while not always at the top of its class, still provide that warm, home cooked goodness of Hainanese food in comfort. You might also want to try some of its other Authentic Dishes such as the Hainanese Pork Chops.
Thinking of throwing a dinner party for that grandma of yours? Mooi Chin might just be the place to go for the enjoyment of everyone! Just take note that the dishes have been toned down for tastebuds more than ours.
Mooi Chin Place Pte Ltd (Hainanese Cuisine Specialist)
Situated at Golden Landmark Hotel
390 Victoria Street, #03-12A, Singapore 188061. Adjacent to Golden Landmark Shopping Complex.
Tel : 6392 1600 Fax : 6392 2633
Yet Con Hainanese Coffeeshop - Tradition in its own right!
1 comments Posted by Justin D. Pereira at 8:35 AM
Hainanese Chicken - This is really good!
To find Hainanese Chicken Rice across Singapore is quite easy these days. What you need to find now are those that really stand out. After trying the likes of those heavily soaked in sesame oil and light soy sauce, perhaps it is time to revert back to the original flavour of home cooked Hainanese Chicken.
Now, Yet Con Hainanese Coffeeshop might be familiar to the older generation but this is my first time visiting this place. It was extremely crowded and a bit of a squeeze but it really felt like I was back in the good old days (minus the air conditioning).
Their Hainanese Chicken stands out particularly for its simple taste. There is no heavy sauces ladled over the meat, but just good kampung chicken with its yellow skin. Each piece was smooth to the bite and not tough and dry. You could actually feel the juice and moisture of the meat.
Rating for Hainanese Chicken : 4/5
Fabulous Roast Pork - Smoky and breahtaking
Roast Pork is one common dish found in food courts and kopitiams, and they all have that standard salty taste. However, Yet Con's roast pork is slightly different.
The first bite exuded that smoky flavour of the meat which is entirely unique and the interestingly enough, the meat was drizzled with dark sweet sauce. I don't know how many of you would like this, but for me, this is a dish two thumbs up!
Rating for Roast Pork : 4/5
Overall, Yet Con Hainanese Coffeeshop is a unique outlet to visit for that traditional home cooked Hainanese food. Forget about all those additives like MSG, this is the real deal!
For a group of 6 people, expect to spend an average of $80 depending on what you order. Ambience was ok for a coffee shop but apart from all that, the feel of a genuine walk back into the past was there.
Overall Rating for Yet Con Hainanese Coffeeshop : 3.5/5
 | Yet Con Hainanese Coffeeshop. Purvis Street. (Near the National Library and Bugis MRT Station) |
Review : Lee Kwang Kee Chicken Rice @ Sun Plaza Kopitiam Food Court
0 comments Posted by Justin D. Pereira at 12:21 AM
White chicken wings with rice
The grainy luster of the chicken rice is the first sight which many Singaporeans will look forward to. Coupled with the aromatic fragrance that is coming out from the rice as well, it is enough to make any person's mouth to water.
Today's lunch takeaway was Chicken Rice from the Lee Kwang Kee Stall at the Kopitiam Food Court in Sun Plaza, Sembawang. I ordered instead of the usual breast meat serving, two pieces of white chicken wings instead. (influenced by my mum)
Each grain of the rice could be clearly seen with the shiny goodness of the chicken oil cooked with it. The bite was firm and gives off a taste which leaves you wanting for more.
The chicken wing pieces was tender and not dry, with the skin being very smooth and soft. Even without the skin, the white chicken is just as delicious. A standard ladle of the light sauce with sesame oil is drizzled over the chicken for that extra kick.
Fish Otah-Otah
However, perhaps this stall's Achilles Heel is their chilli sauce, which could be better. The grade of the chicken rice is not determined by the chicken or the rice alone, the chilli sauce which goes along with it must be good as well. While there is a strong chilli taste in this particular sauce, the mix is a bit thin and not tasty enough. Perhaps it could be better if there was a slight modification to the recipe.
In overall, the chicken rice from Lee Kwang Kee can be considered above average for its good tasty chicken and the rice. A value for money meal at an average of about $4.00-$5.00.
Rating : 3/5
Stall Name : Lee Kwang Kee Chicken Rice
Venue : Sun Plaza Kopitiam Food Court (Next to Sembawang MRT Station)
Golden Honey Pineapples - Yum!
Looking for a healthy dessert to complete your meal of chicken rice? Try the Honey Pineapples available at the Fruit Stall located near the entrance of the Sun Plaza Kopitiam Food Court. The pineapples available there are usually very sweet and juicy, and priced at 90cents per slice, it is a deal well worth it.
If you are the type who loves even more juice and sweetness, try the sliced Sarawak pineapples (those in semi-circle shapes) as well!
