15 stalls at Boon Lay Place Food Village to travel west for
It’s safe to say Westies are pretty familiar with Boon Lay Place Food Village.
This hawker centre is a haven of delectable hawker grub. Boon Lay may be in the far West of Singapore, but I know that a good many of us foodies are more than willing to travel across the country for good food.
As further motivation, I’ve compiled a list of 15 stalls at Boon Lay Place Food Village worth travelling to the west for.
1. Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak (#01-106)
One cannot think of Boon Lay Food Village without thinking of Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak. Needless to say, this is perhaps the most popular stall at this hawker centre.
People queue for this stall as though the stall’s releasing a new iPhone, and they have good reason too! For $4, you can get a nice steaming Chicken Set cooked with extra virgin coconut oil, consisting of a chicken wing, a fried egg, ikan bilis, peanuts and sambal chilli paste.
This Nasi Lemak is probably the epitome of all Nasi Lemak — every part of the dish was well-cooked, from the fluffy coconut rice to the crispy and juicy chicken. I liked how the chicken wasn’t too oily and had a subtle ginger taste. Also, the sambal was sweet and had a decent kick of spice, and paired especially well with the rice.
They also have an Ayam Berempah set (S$7) that plates up 1/4 rempah chicken, egg, anchovies, cucumber, and peanut with sambal.
Order Delivery: foodpanda
+65 6811 0443
Tue to Thu: 7.30am – 4pm & 5pm – 3.30am
Closed on Mon
Website | Facebook | Instagram
2. I. Mohamed Ismail Food Stall (#01-104)
I. Mohamed Ismail Food Stall has garnered an insane reputation for its pratas. Like a few other stalls here, their opening hours are the reason Boon Lay chaps are able to stuff themselves in the dead of night.
At 8am, the staff appeared to be in full swing (check out the makcik with the drip). You know it’s a good stall when a whole platoon’s needed to run things like clockwork. Most in the queue were walking away with stacks of prata; quite a testament to their speed.
I had the classic pairing of Roti Prata (S$1.50) and Egg Prata (S$2). The dough was tough and dry, quite unlike the countless praises that have been sung about their crisp surfaces. Perhaps it was a one-off as other diners swear by their quality. The curry managed to salvage the prata with its robust flavour and by softening the dough.
Past 10.30am, the stall also cooks up decent Chicken Briyani (S$8) and Mutton Briyani (S$9).
Tue to Sun: 4am – 10pm
Mon: Closed
3. Yao Heng Cooked Food (#01-101)
Yao Heng Cooked Food opened in the same year that Boon Lay Place Food Village first began operations, which makes the stall well over 40 years old. Despite the owners refining their signature dishes and maintaining an old-school touch since 1976, the stall remains criminally underrated.
Given how uncommon the dish is, Satay Bee Hoon (S$4/S$5/S$6) being offered here means Boon Lay residents never have to go out of their way to search for rice vermicelli in a delectable sweet, spicy and nutty gravy.
If that doesn’t strike your fancy, Pork Rib Noodle (Dry/Soup) (S$5/S$7) and Pork Rib Prawn Noodle (Dry/Soup) (S$5/S$7) are also on the menu. You also have Mixed Cuttlefish Dish for a different pick; it is served with a house-made sambal sauce and kang kong to accompany the cuttlefish, in S$6, S$8 or S$10 portions.
Daily: 5.30pm – 11pm
Facebook | Instagram
4. Heng Huat Boon Lay Boneless Duck Noodles (#01-140)
Like Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak, Heng Huat Boon Lay Boneless Duck Noodles pretty much dominates the hawker centre. Everyone seems to be hooked on the Boneless Duck Noodles ($4.50/S$5.50), as proven by the lengthy queue that stretches to the footpath in front of the hawker centre.
To be honest, I didn’t quite understand the hype behind this dish. Don’t take this as a bash on their quality, as I simply don’t enjoy duck meat as much. Admittedly, the portions were decent and I liked how the duck meat did not have a really pronounced gamey taste. The noodles also come with chunks of lard that give the dish a huge boost in flavour.
Duck Drumstick Noodles, dry or soup, come at a flat S$6. You can choose to load up your bowl with additional Duck Wing (S$0.70) or Gizzard/Liver (S$0.70).
Tue & Wed: 6am – 10am & 5pm – 7pm
Thu: 6am – 10am & 5.45pm – 7pm
Fri: 6am – 10am & 4.45pm – 8pm
Sat: 6.30am – 10am
Sun: 6am – 10am
Closed on Mon
5. Lian Yi BBQ Seafood (#01-161)
BBQ zi char stalls are a dime a dozen in Singapore. In fact, there are already two or three of them in this hawker centre alone. But the quality of the Sambal Stingray ($15+) at Lian Yi BBQ Seafood is in a league of its own.
The portions are pretty generous, and I highly suggest you go for as large a portion as possible if you want a decent amount to share.
The outer layer of the stingray was crispy and charred, and the meat was juicy and tender. The sambal wasn’t the spiciest but a few spoonfuls definitely got me sweating. I pushed through to enjoy the sweeter notes paired with the stingray’s delicate flesh.
I liked that the spice levels weren’t that intense, which allowed the taste of hae bee (dried shrimp) to be more prominent. I also hear different chillis are provided to accompany each bbq dish but take that with a grain of salt.
Wed to Mon: 4.30pm – 9.30pm
Closed on Tue
6. Yew Teck Food Stall (#01-146)
Yew Teck Food Stall is operated by 2 different teams, one that runs the morning shift and the other that takes over from 11am, and each team deals with different menus. The morning crew usually draws a bigger crowd for their fried wanton and dumpling noodles.
Notably, they use pork lard, which we found gave the noodles an irresistible fragrance. The combination of that with the sweet scallion soya sauce must be what keeps regulars coming back for more.
3 variations are available here — Wanton (S$4), Dumpling (S$4) and Fishball Minced Meat (S$4) — with S$4.50 and S$5 portions as well.
If you turn up past noon, the stall will have switched hands, offering generous portions of Minced Meat or Fishball Noodle (Dry/Soup) (S$4/S$4.50) and Laksa (S$4/S$4.50), as well as their Signature Mee Suai/Tang Hoon (Dry/Soup) (S$4/S$4.50).
+65 9695 9439
Wed: 2.30am – 10.30am
Thu & Fri: 11.30am – 10pm
Sat to Tue: 2.30am – 10.30am & 11.30am – 10pm
7. Boon Lay Satay (#01-150)
The stall owners previously operated out of Yew Teck Food Stall before moving out to #01-150 along the same row. Run by a Chinese couple, Boon Lay Satay is one of the few satay stalls that sells pork satay. You can choose from Chicken, Mutton or Pork, all of which go for $0.80 per stick.
The meat was juicy and tender, and the charred taste permeated the meat thoroughly.
I found the peanut sauce to be smoother than most and it had a prominent nutty taste. However, the mutton was a little too tough for my liking. I suggest you go for the pork and chicken for tender and juicy morsels.
You’re quite spoiled for choice with the number of economical bee hoon options at Boon Lay Place Food Village, but Boon Lay Satay sets itself apart with their Curry (S$1.50) if you’d like more heat on top of the mild satay sauce.
+65 9695 9439
Daily: 3.30pm – 11.30pm
8. Tong Luck Restaurant (#01-157)
Tong Luck Restaurant is yet another stall that opens in the wee hours of the morning. Their kway chap is actually worth waking up for even if you’re not a morning person as the stall usually closes before noon. Don’t be put off by the queue as the staff manage it at a deceptively fast pace.
At S$4.50, S$9 or S$13, each plate of assorted braised ingredients comes with a braised egg, salted vegetables, pig intestines, pork belly, rind, tau pok and slices of fish cake. The intestines are impeccably clean and have a nice chew while the pork belly brings some fat into the mix. Don’t forget to dip them into the chilli sauce for some kick.
Do note each bowl of Kway is charged separately at S$0.70. The zhap is light and distinctly herbal, which encourages sips as you’re chewing.
Thu to Sun: 4am – 10.30am
Closed Mon to Wed
9. Ho Huat Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee (#01-125)
Earning the approval of many food bloggers and reviewers, Ho Huat Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee has received a number of accolades since 1977. You’ll notice its menu features just 2 stir-fried dishes — Hokkien mee and fried rice.
The starting portion for the Hokkien Mee is S$5, and that plate is already pretty voluminous. If you opt for anything more up to S$10 for an average meal, it might get dicey. The Fried Rice, which is their less popular item, is priced at S$4.
I liked that the noodles were rather wet and came with a good amount of egg. The spring onions weren’t chopped and were left in whole, which made their taste a little more pronounced. Don’t expect too much out of the prawns, though. The sambal wasn’t too spicy which added a pleasant sweetness and some bite to each sopping mouthful.
Order Delivery: foodpanda
+65 6268 1033
Mon to Sat: 9am – 10pm
Sun: 9am – 8.30pm
10. Boon Lay Fried Carrot Cake & Kway Teow Mee (#01-125)
Selling Fried Carrot Cake ($3.50/$4/$5) and Fried Kway Teow Mee ($4/$5), Boon Lay Fried Carrot Cake & Kway Teow Mee is a resident favourite at Boon Lay Place Food Village. Their portions offer pretty good value for whatever you’re paying.
Many people would agree that the stall evokes a sense of nostalgia as it’s been an enduring part of their childhood. While the white carrot cake is pretty good, I very much prefer the black version. Aside from adding some sweetness, the sauce adds a somewhat deeper smokiness puffed up by an already present wok hei.
The stall has been around since 1956, first operating along what is now known as Old Jurong Road (some west-siders may still remember when it was demarcated by miles). If you like old-school carrot cake, then you should definitely give this stall a visit.
Tue to Fri: 6am – 12am
Sat & Sun: 6am – 2pm
Closed on Mon
11. Lin Ji Yu Tang Yu Zhou 林記鱼汤鱼粥 (#01-195)
If you’re feeling a little under the weather, head down to Lin Ji Yu Tang Yu Zhou and fetch yourself a hot piping bowl of fish porridge.
Porridge has always been considered a healthier option at hawker centres. Although its medicinal properties may be up for debate (some parents may insist on the contrary), the fact that the ingredients aren’t fried (for the most part) or have trans-fat means they don’t get in the way of your body’s recovery.
The simple Sliced Fish Soup (S$6) had an inviting fragrance of coriander and tasted rather prominently of fish sauce. I liked that the soup wasn’t peppery. The fish slices were soft and tasted like they were marinated, too! If you need more, they also have Red Grouper/Fish Head Soup (S$10/S$12) and Sliced Fish Bee Hoon (S$6).
My bowl of fish soup was pretty nourishing and gentle on the stomach; I can see why it’s perfect for a sick day.
Tue to Sun: 8am – 2pm
Closed on Mon
12. Chong Pang Huat (#01-127)
If you come across, Chong Pang Huat Chicken Wings, definitely don’t miss out on a plate of Chicken Wings ($1.50 per piece). Trust me when I say that these BBQ wings are one of the best I’ve ever tasted.
The skin was nicely glazed with an exceptionally crispy and flaky texture. The wings were sweet, with a slightly charred flavour too. I also liked how the meat was juicy and succulent with the faintest taste of ginger.
Combining the greasy charred meat with a burst of zesty lime juice made every bite scrumptious! Do note that you need to get a minimum of two pieces, but given how good these wings are, finishing them won’t be a problem.
Daily: 4pm – 9.30pm
Facebook
13. Xin Sheng Ngoh Hiong Prawn Cracker (#01-164)
Located on the row of stalls facing Boon Lay Shopping Centre, Xin Sheng Ngoh Hiong Prawn Cracker has been around for over 70 years. Like so many others with a long history, it began as a pushcart. Now, they have 2 outlets — the other is at Taman Jurong Food Centre.
While the Crispy Prawn Cracker (S$1.50) is the go-to, there are also a few other ingredients worth mentioning. I absolutely loved the Fried Big Prawn ($1.50), which had a satisfyingly crispy exterior with a doughy filling.
The chilli paste went rather well with the plainer ingredients such as the Fish Ball ($0.40), Bean Curd ($1) and Fish Cake ($1). At S$1.80, the Chicken Wing is a tad more expensive than the alternatives at Boon Lay Place Food Village. If you’re looking for a quick but satisfying snack, these small treats will perk you up.
For S$0.30, they also throw in more cucumber to counteract the fried picks you’ll have inevitably chosen.
+65 9646 8348
Daily: 11am – 11pm
14. Ghee Huat (#01-111)
Ghee Huat‘s main speciality is Fried Oyster ($5) but if you’re hankering for a mean plate of Fried Kway Teow Mee ($4.50), then this is the stall for you.
I didn’t quite like this stall’s Fried Kway Teow Mee before as I found the noodles rather overcooked and dry. Thankfully, they had improved the dish tremendously when I went this time. It’s now wetter and richer with the heavy dark sauce.
Though it was quite oily, it was easily overlooked because of its fragrance. It also came in a reasonable portion. I liked how the cockles were plump and really fresh, too!
If you’d rather have the Fried Oyster, it’s strong on the wok hei with oysters that are fairly juicy. Definitely don’t expect a healthy meal.
Fri to Wed: 12pm – 10pm
Closed on Thu
15. Eng Kee Chicken Wings
Yes, we hear you. There’s another chicken wing stall on the list. But while Chong Pang Huat is known for their grilled wings, Eng Kee Chicken Wings is a popular fried chicken joint sporting a menu with economical bee hoon as well as chicken wings.
At S$1.60 each (S$0.10 over Chong Pang Huat’s), you get juicy wings encased in delightfully crispy skin that’s been fried to a golden brown; the quintessential chicken wing experience. If you’d like to convert these to full meals, get a plate of Bee Hoon (S$1) or Kway Teow Mee (S$1) with some add-ons like Luncheon Meat (S$0.70), Ngoh Hiang (S$1.20) or Cabbage (S$0.70).
Set meals are available as more economical options, from Set A (S$3.50) made up of bee hoon, ngoh hiang, fish cake and egg, to Set E (S$4) which consists of kway teow mee, chicken wing, long beans and egg.
Order Delivery: foodpanda Deliveroo
+65 9620 6589
Tue to Sun: 7.30am – 2pm
Mon: Closed
Facebook | Website
The post 15 stalls at Boon Lay Place Food Village to travel west for appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
