15 best fried carrot cakes 菜头粿 in SG that are worth your indulgence [Nov 2024 update]
Of the many local hawker delicacies we Singaporeans love feasting on, Fried Carrot Cake 菜头粿 is an undoubted favourite. Don’t be mistaken by its name; there’s absolutely no connection or resemblance to the Western carrot cake that’s eaten as a dessert, nor does the dish contain any actual carrots.
Although carrot cake is colloquially known as chai tow kway, a more accurate name for it is 萝卜糕 (luo bo gao) which translates to ‘radish cake’. Somewhere down the line, it got lost in translation and the name ‘carrot cake’ arose instead.
For the uninitiated, the dish consists of radish (white carrot) cake cubes stir-fried with eggs and preserved radish, better known as chye poh. For me, at least, chilli is a must-add for that extra kick!
Two variations exist: black or white. The former is fried with dark soy sauce, giving it a pleasant sweetness, whereas the latter is fried only with beaten eggs to form a crispy crust.
Now, let’s get on to the 15 best fried carrot cakes in Singapore that are worth your indulgence.
1. 炒菜头粿 Fried Carrot Cake @ Clementi 448 Food Centre
Headed by a striking yellow signboard sporting its name in huge characters, 炒菜头粿 Fried Carrot Cake is impossible to miss. Despite its simple name, this stall has shaped up to be a must-try when you’re in the area. Not convinced? Let its characteristic long queues do the talking.
To many, it’s affectionately dubbed ‘448 Carrot Cake’, synonymous with Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre, the hawker centre that houses it.
Their Black Carrot Cake (S$4/S$5/S$6) is superb; I say this as someone who grew up having this every weekend after tuition class, and who’s always had high standards for chai tow kway. The radish cake chunks are soft and smooth, complemented well by the savoury chye poh and chewy egg bits. Perfectly sweet and moist, it makes for an absolute treat.
They’re said to sell out by the early afternoon, so it’s best if you make your way down early to secure yourself a plate.
Block 448 Clementi Ave 3, #01-45, Singapore 120448
Tue to Thu: 6am – 4pm
Sat: 6am – 3pm
Sun: 6.30am – 3pm
Closed on Mon & Fri
2. 合眾菜頭粿 He Zhong Carrot Cake
As a fervent member of Team Black, I never once thought that Team White stood a fighting chance. That was until I tried He Zhong Carrot Cake at Bukit Timah Interim Market & Food Centre.
He Zhong is what I call a “one-dish wonder”. Their sole menu item, White Carrot Cake (S$3.50/S$4.50/S$5.50) never fails to rack up queues even within an ever-popular hawker centre teeming with variety. The dish is a hit with frequent and new patrons alike, myself included.
The carrot cake here is fried and served in “blocks”. For S$3.50, you’ll get a satisfying 2-block serving. The soft and moist radish cake cubes are dotted with bits of chye poh that lend an umami kick, blanketed altogether by a lightly charred egg crust. If you opt to have your dish spicy, it’ll be paired with a superb hae bee-filled chilli.
The dish is a hit with frequent and new patrons alike, myself included. Brace yourself for a wait of at least 15 minutes if you make your way down for their carrot cake. Alternatively, you can ring them up to place your order in advance.
2A Jln Seh Chuan, Bukit Timah Interim Market & Food Centre, #01-057, Singapore 599213
+65 8498 9211
Tue to Sat: 6am – 8pm
Sun: 8am – 8pm
Closed on Mon
3. Tian Tian Fa
Tian Tian Fa, located in Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market, has become my go-to chai tow kway stall of late. While its proximity to our office is a huge plus, my regular patronage is primarily fuelled by the quality of their fare.
You must order the Black Fried Carrot Cake (S$3/S$4/S$5/S$6). It was my first meal on the day I began my stint at SETHLUI.com, and has been a regular lunch affair of mine ever since. In my humble opinion, their carrot cake ticks off all the right boxes.
The radish cake cubes are soft and perfectly complemented by the chye poh and egg bits. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about plain patches in your dish as each element is coated well in that sweet-savoury sauce. To top it all off, it boasts a prominent wok hei.
210 Lor 8 Toa Payoh, Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market, #01-42, Singapore 310210
Daily: 6am – 12pm
4. 源成菜头粿 Yuan Cheng Fried Carrot Cake
Yuan Cheng Carrot Cake is located in the low-key Telok Blangah Food Centre and has been for over 3 decades. The stall’s purple signboard with faded pictures of their carrot cake isn’t its only enduring feature; the long queues are, too.
Yuan Cheng offers both Black and White Carrot Cake (S$3.50/S$4/S$5). Spoilt for choice? You can get a mix of both with their Yuan Yang (S$3.50/S$4/S$5) option. Also, their carrot cake is fried with vegetable oil, so your indulgence is a tad healthier.
Their Black Carrot Cake stands among the best I’ve eaten. The radish cake cubes have just the right balance of firmness and moisture, stir-fried with an ample amount of fluffy eggs. It has a subtle yet noteworthy crisp lent by a slightly caramelised sweet sauce and smoky chye poh bits.
79 Telok Blangah Dr, Telok Blangah Food Centre, #01-33, Singapore 100079
+65 9859 3031
Fri to Wed: 4am – 2pm
Closed on Thu
5. Guan Kee Fried Carrot Cake (Temporarily closed)
If you do a quick online search for Guan Kee Fried Carrot Cake, you’ll see its history listed out on its Google Maps profile.
Guan Kee’s origins can be traced back to the 1950s, wherein they started as a humble chai tow kway pushcart in then-kampung Bugis. In 1978, the pushcart was upgraded to a hawker stall within Albert Food Centre, where it still resides today.
Guan Kee’s White and Black Carrot Cake are priced at S$4 for a Small portion and S$8 for a Large portion. If you’d like a mixture of both in yours, they have an option for that too, priced at S$6 (Small) and S$10 (Large).
The Black Carrot Cake is the epitome of wok-kissed perfection. The radish cake cubes held a firm yet bouncy bite, enhanced by crispy bits of fried chye poh that contributed to an overall savoury flavour profile. Albeit a little pricier than most others I’ve come across, it’s worth the semi-splurge.
270 Queen St, Albert Street Market and Food Centre, #01-59, Singapore 180270
Daily: 7am – 9pm
6. Unforgettable Carrot Cake 忘不了萝卜糕
Of 115 Bukit Merah View Hawker Centre’s numerous carrot cake stalls, Unforgettable Carrot Cake stood out to me. I mean, how could anyone forget that name? It’s also worth mentioning that the stall boasts a spot on the 2023 Michelin Guide Singapore.
The stall’s chai tow kway comes in both Black and White variations in 3 sizes, priced at S$4, S$4.50 and S$5 respectively. Do note that mixing is not allowed, though, as reflected on a notice pasted on their stall front.
You’ll notice that the uncle uses 2 woks to fry his carrot cake. The first holds just radish cake cubes seemingly left to “absorb” the wok hei. I noticed that they’re chunkier than average – a smart way to get the flavours of the radish across!
He’ll then give the radish cake chunks a toss before transferring them over to another wok, in which your order is fried accordingly. In my order of Black Carrot Cake, the cake cubes saw a generous drizzle of sweet black sauce on top of the addition of chye poh, garlic and beaten eggs.
If you prefer your chai tow kway less sweet, Unforgettable Carrot Cake’s take on the dish is made for you. I also particularly appreciated its prominent wok hei, supplemented by the inclusion of crispy charred bits.
115 Bukit Merah View, Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre, #01-30, Singapore 115115
+65 9325 2500
Daily: 6am – 2pm
7. Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake
Housed in the same food centre as Unforgettable Carrot Cake, Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake is yet another popular stall for chai tow kway. Though its name is more straightforward, the stall is recognised and commonly frequented all the same.
The Black Carrot Cake (S$3.50/S$4/S$5) seems to be a must-order here. What you’ll get is a hearty plate of radish cake cubes that are generously covered with eggs, tied together by a light crisp. The radish cake cubes have a firm, bouncy texture which many may refer to as QQ. It isn’t overly greasy and thus isn’t too cloying. Don’t forget to ask for lots of chilli to spice it up!
While there have been many mixed reviews on the quality of carrot cake dishes, I guess only one would truly know by going to Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake to find out.
115 Bukit Merah View, Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre, #01-37, Singapore 151115
+65 9689 8696
Daily: 6am – 2pm & 4pm – 8pm
Order Delivery: foodpanda
8. Grandfather Carrot Cake
Grandfather Carrot Cake is located in Soy Eu Tua coffeeshop along Upper East Coast Road. It’s helmed by Mr Big Kodo (大四哥), who has been responsible for noteworthy ventures such as Fort Canning Big Prawn Noodle and the now-closed Grandfather Food Empire Bak Chor Mee.
Grandfather Carrot Cake keeps its indulgence old-school, frying up plates of White/Black Carrot Cake (S$4.50/S$5.50/S$6.50) with pork lard upon customers’ requests. As a result, the soft radish cakes sport an almost-crackly crust and are exceptionally fragrant.
The Black Carrot Cake in particular has an addictive sweet-savoury flavour profile, elevated by crispy charred eggs and an intense wok hei.
You’re also in for a treat if you love chye poh – each plate of carrot cake is adorned with a liberal sprinkle of crunchy chye poh that you won’t have to carefully ration as you eat. You can also count on the fiery house-made chilli for an added kick.
15 Upper E Coast Rd, Singapore 455207
Tue to Sun: 7am – 3.30pm
Closed on Mon
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9. Ghim Moh Carrot Cake
Ghim Moh Carrot Cake requires no introduction; carrot cake connoisseurs would undoubtedly recognise the stall in a heartbeat.
The popular stall, situated in Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre, had a second at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre that has since shuttered. Nevertheless, the original stall is still going strong, with their handmade carrot cake drawing snaking queues regularly.
As you can tell from its deep shade, the Black Carrot Cake (S$3.50/S$4/S$5) holds much wok hei. It’s fried with a generous amount of dark soy sauce and thus leans sweet. The sweetness is nicely contrasted by the savoury bits of chye poh scattered throughout, allowing the dish to achieve a nice flavour balance.
Some have dubbed this one of the best carrot cakes in Singapore and with the long queues forming during operating hours, be prepared to wait before indulging in your plates of carrot cake.
20 Ghim Moh Road, Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre, #01-16, Singapore 270020
Wed to Fri: 6.30am – 1pm
Sat & Sun: 6.30am – 2pm
Closed on Mon & Tue
10. 菜頭粿 Carrot Cake @ Chomp Chomp
Here’s yet another stall with plain ol’ ‘Carrot Cake’ as its name, derived from its namesake signature dish. It may be simple, but can certainly capture the attention of hungry patrons craving a good plate of chai tow kway. Though Chomp Chomp Food Centre houses numerous carrot cake stalls, this stands as one of the most popular.
They offer both Black and White Carrot Cake (S$3/S$5). No mixed option, though. If it eases your choice, opt for the Black if you prefer sweet and stronger flavours, and get the White if you love chye poh and crisped edges. Their carrot cake is said to have a unique flavour it owes to a secret recipe, enhanced by the addition of prawns. Two thumbs up!
20 Kensington Park Road, Chomp Chomp Food Centre, #01-36, Singapore 557269
Wed to Sat: 5.30pm – 12am
Sun: 5.30pm – 10pm
Closed Mon & Tue
11. Chey Sua Carrot Cake 青山菜头粿
Ready yourself for a wait of up to 40 minutes upon dropping your order at Chey Sua Carrot Cake. Yup, they are that busy. Besides, what more would you expect from a stall that’s earned itself consistent listings in the Michelin Bib Gourmand on top of countless accolades plastered on its front?
Chey Sua Carrot Cake only serves White Carrot Cake (S$3/S$4/S$5). Once you tuck in, you’ll understand why people are willing to wait so long for a plate.
The carrot cake is crispy, soft, and full of wok hei. The radish cakes are steamed in aluminium tins, resulting in a silky texture. You’ll find chye poh scattered throughout your plate, along with bright orange carrot strips that are seldom found elsewhere. Simply amazing!
With mixed reviews regarding service circulating online, one might wonder if it really is worth the 40 minutes wait time?
Block 127, Toa Payoh Lorong 1, Toa Payoh West Market and Food Court, #02-30, Singapore 310127
+65 6254 6323
Wed to Sun: 6.30am – 1pm
Closed on Mon & Tue
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12. 福顺菜头粿 Hock Soon Carrot Cake
福顺菜头粿 Hock Soon Carrot Cake is another chai tow kway stall in Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre. It’s still worth your while, though, given how highly folks who live around the area speak of the stall.
The White Carrot Cake (S$3.50/S$4/S$5) comes with slightly soft yet easy-to-chew radish cake cubes and a mild fragrance enhanced by the sweet chye poh bits and crispy layer of eggs. Don’t forget to ask for chilli to elevate your plate of White Carrot Cake; you’ll understand the hype.
The Black Carrot Cake (S$3.50/S$4/S$5) is a dish you shouldn’t overlook either. Possessing soft and sweet textures, you really can’t go wrong. Hock Soon Carrot Cake doesn’t allow for mixing as highlighted on their stall. While you’re there, why not give their Rojak (S$4/S$5/S$6) a sample as well?
20 Ghim Moh Road, Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre, #01-29, Singapore 270020
+65 8660 7250
Mon: 6am – 12pm
Tue to Sun: 6am – 7pm
13. Hai Sheng Carrot Cake
Dubbed the most popular carrot cake stall in Bendemeer Market & Food Centre is none other than Hai Sheng Carrot Cake. They’re known for their solid Black and White Carrot Cake priced from just S$2 a plate! If you’d like a bigger portion, there’s a S$3 option as well.
However, do note that the early bird catches the worm here, as Hai Sheng Carrot Cake closes at 11am and is said to sell out earlier on most days. And when I say early, I mean early as queues have been known to form as early as 7.30am on some days!
You’ll have the long queue time to decide whether you want the Black or White option; no mixed portions are available. The Black Carrot Cake here is sweet and spicy, and comes in a generous portion despite its price. If you have a poor appetite, bring a friend or two along for a hearty breakfast!
29 Bendemeer Road, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre, #01-85, Singapore 330029
+65 9182 7272
Daily: 6am – 11am
14. Hong Heng Teochew Carrot Cake
Like at Hai Sheng Carrot Cake, be prepared to fight the morning fatigue if you want a share of Hong Heng Teochew Carrot Cake’s chai tow kway. The stall, located at Blk 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market, draws constant queues regardless of its early opening hours.
With over 40 years of business, Hong Heng Teochew Carrot Cake has become the go-to for many residents of Bedok. The stall offers both Black and White Carrot Cake (S$3/S$4/S$5) as well as a Yuan Yang (S$4.50/S$5) option. These all come in generous portions that’ll adequately satiate your hunger pangs.
According to online reviews, the White Carrot Cake seems to reign supreme among its patrons. The radish cake cubes have a springy edge to them but lean towards the softer side. It’s topped with fresh spring onions that cut through the grease, lending the intense flavours a refreshing fragrance.
Blk 216 Bedok North Street 1, Blk 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market, #01-71, Singapore 460216
Tue to Sun: 5am – 1.30pm
Closed on Mon
15. 鐀记 Gui Ji Fried Carrot Cake
Rounding off this list is 鐀记 Gui Ji Fried Carrot Cake, located in West Coast Market Square Food Centre. It was previously known as Soon Lee Heng Carrot Cake, from when it used to be a 3-in-1 stall that sold chai tow kway, grilled satay and chicken wings a few years back. It sells only the former now, though.
Don’t hesitate to get the fragrant Black Carrot Cake (S$3/S$4) at Gui Ji. It’s said to come in generous portions, giving you bang for your buck. Expect to find chunky bits of egg that complement the radish cake cubes incredibly well.
If you’re more of a White Carrot Cake fan, you can get that too at S$3 for the Small size and S$4 for the Big, or opt for the Small/Big Black + White (S$4/S$5) for the best of both worlds.
Don’t forget to request for chilli in yours; their house-made hae bee hiam-laden sambal brings this dish to the next level.
726 Clementi West Street 2, West Coast Food Centre, #01-180, Singapore 120726
Tue to Sun: 6.30am – 12.30pm
Closed on Mon
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