Beach Road Fish Head Bee Hoon: Michelin Bib fried fish soup that’s perfect for rainy days
When the skies turn grey and rain starts pattering on the windows, what do you crave?
Most may respond with porridge or a soup of sorts. I go with the latter, specifically, fish soup. This harmonious combination of succulent fish in milky broth is sure to lift the spirits and warm the soul!
During my search for the best fish soup that’s perfect for rainy days, I noticed that 3 hawker stalls offer fish soup under the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2023–2024 list. There’s one that caught my attention though — Beach Road Fish Head Bee Hoon at Whampoa Market.
Maybe it’s their mouth-watering fried fish or the pastel pink tables, but this stall kept swimming back to me. Or just maybe, it’s because reviews have boldly stated that they possibly serve “the best fish soup in Singapore“.
Either way, my interest was piqued. I needed to uncover if this was as promising as it seems.
What I tried at Beach Road Fish Head Bee Hoon
Fate had its way, again.
I don’t remember the last time it had rained, but the heavens heard my prayers and it amazingly did that day. Seizing the opportunity to experience the soothing comfort I’ve longed for from a bowl of warm broth, I actually cleared my schedule for this.
From experience, I strongly believe that food tastes best when shared with your loved ones. So, it was a no-brainer decision to bring my mum along today. Why? Thanks to her years of trawling through wet markets for the freshest catch, she has acquired the ability to sniff out the quality of a fish. Most importantly, she is a sucker for fish soup, like me.
After struggling to close our malfunctioned umbrella that had been turned inside out from the wind, we soon faced the humble Michelin Bib hawker stall that had no displays of accolades or food reviews that they have garnered whatsoever.
They know their worth lah.
Upon hearing that the wait time for Beach Road Fish Head Bee Hoon is up to 30 minutes or more, we decided to reach around 1pm, an hour before the stall closes at 2pm.
Yes, there were not many customers. To my horror though, I espied a no-nonsense towkay counting the number of people in line while glancing at the remaining ingredients strewn around the kitchen. ALL SOLD OUT?!
Thankfully, we managed to snag the second last bowl in-store. Phew.
Priced affordably at S$5.50 each, their straightforward menu consists of Fried Fish Head (Soup/ Rice), Fried Fish (Soup/ Rice), Sliced Fish Bee Hoon, Sliced Fish Soup and Fish Porridge. They offer Special Tom Yum Soup that caters to the younger crowd too!
With not many options left for us, I settled on a piping hot Fried Fish Soup.
Of course, we wasted no time diving into that milky emulsion. My mum had to stop me from scooping the aromatic fish soup into my thermal flask… you could drink this with a straw.
Clouded with evaporated milk, this umami-laden broth had a natural sweetness yielded from simmered fish bones. Despite its creamy mouthfeel, the soup was light on the palate and I did not feel jelat at all. And if you asked what is the definition of “warming the soul”, this truly encapsulates that.
We particularly enjoyed slurping that soup-erb goodness with a spoonful of silky chu mi fen topped with savoury shallots. I must say, the portion is really generous for the aforementioned price tag. Back to the chewy al dente noodles that are commonly found in laksa – they perfectly tie back to the core of this clean-tasting dish. A perfect vehicle for soaking up the rich broth.
Now, the fish.
According to my mum, the seafood connoisseur, “The fish is fresh.” Boasting a golden exterior with no sign of “fishy smells”, the lightly-battered fried fish retains a soft (not mushy) interior. We liked that the fishies were meaty and once again, generously portioned.
Compared to its deep-fried counterparts at, say, An Shun Seafood Soup, the fried fish at Beach Road Fish Head Bee Hoon is definitely a healthier option. For a greater textural contrast, the sinful foodie in me would have preferred a crispier fish though.
Nonetheless, I do appreciate the addition of cai xin that provided a refreshing crunch to every bite!
Final Thoughts
Shiok.
As evidenced by the long queues for their comforting bowls of Fish Soup, it’s safe to say that Beach Road Fish Head Bee Hoon has rightfully earned its spot on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list, and a place in the hearts of many.
The star of the show? My answer will always, always be that fish broth. I’m still dreaming about it as we speak. And apparently, my rarely-impressed mum wants a revisit to try their titular Fried Fish Head Soup.
That speaks volumes.
Now, this begs the question: Is this truly the best fish soup in Singapore? While some may beg to differ, I don’t agree. But one thing I know for sure is that this hawker stall will be tucked away in the folds of my ‘oh-so-heart-warming’ culinary tapestry.
When the skies turn grey and rain starts pattering on the windows, you know where you’ll probably find me.
Expected damage: S$5.50 – S$6 per pax
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