Burpple - Tastemakers Guide To Jalan Besar Hawkers

A trip down the famous food haven of Jalan Besar is not complete until you've checked all these places off your list. Laksa with fresh cockles? Comforting pig organs soup with a side order of mei cai? Gravy ladened scissors cut rice? Check, check and check. Follow our Tastemaker's recommendations for a guaranteed happy belly!. This article was originally published on burpple.com. Download the app for iPhone and Android now at burpple.com/getapp!

• 1. Sungei Road Laksa

  Jalan Besar

  For Consistently Good Laksa
  If you only have time for one meal in Jalan Besar, let it be this widely acclaimed, family-run laksa stall. Sungei Road Laksa's coconut milk broth is simmered over charcoal fire, resulting in a flavourful yet light gravy that you can slurp up without feeling jelat. The sweet yet savoury broth is mildly spicy, so those looking to enjoy a spicier gravy will want to follow Tastemaker Wei Zhi Chiang's advice and stir in a few spoonfuls of their sambal. Coupled with fresh cockles, fishcake slices and slippery bee hoon, the one-size only Laksa ($3) is eaten with just a spoon — no chopsticks needed! Avg Price: $5 per person Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Wei Zhi Chiang

  
  

• 2. Johor Road Boon Kee Pork Porridge

  Little India

  For Silky Smooth Porridge
  Heed Tastemaker Michelle Kayla Tey's advice and come here early to snag a bowl of silky porridge, as this humble dish commands a long queue and sells out just after lunch time (or earlier, if it's a rainy day). Go for the crowd favourite Pork Porridge (from $2.50) that comes with a generous portion of minced meat, liver, chopped onions, tung choy (salted vegetable), fried shallots and a dough fritter (you tiao). Tastemaker Vanessa Kou describes the thick, smooth and exceedingly satisfying porridge to be surprisingly flavourful on its own, and also recommends adding an egg ($0.50) to stir in and further enhance the taste. Pro tip: Want to beat the queue? Call ahead and order to take away your porridge! Avg Price: $5 per person Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Michelle Kayla Tey

  
  

• 3. Fu Zhou Poh Hwa Oyster Cake (Berseh Food Centre)

  Bukit Batok

  For Old School Fried Oyster Cake
  This no-frills stall on the second storey of Berseh Food Centre is one of the few existing places in Singapore that still sells oyster cakes, a traditional Fuzhou snack. A circular, palm-sized amount of batter is first topped with ingredients before being lowered into the boiling hot oil. Once cooked, the uncle pours another layer of batter to seal the ingredients before flipping it over to fry. The Regular ($1.80), which is recognisable by the peanuts studding the batter, comes loaded with oysters, minced meat and one prawn encased in a flavourful crispy pancake. Tastemaker Wei Zhi Chiang was pleasantly surprised to find that the oyster cake was not greasy at all and stayed fluffy on the inside. Pro tip: Request for more ingredients ("jia liao", $2.30), to guarantee a freshly fried one with more prawns and oysters! Avg Price: $5 per person Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Wei Zhi Chiang

  
  

• 4. 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist

  Jalan Besar

  For Excellent Roast Meats
  This stall situated in a coffeeshop along Tyrwhitt Road should be reserved for days when you can head out for an early lunch. Offering char siew, sio bak, duck and chicken, lunch time often sees a long line of customers eager to get their hands on the famed roast meats. Of the four available, go for the Char Siew for its melt-in-your-mouth fatty bits that guarantees a satisfying lunch. Follow Tastemaker Irene Arieputri's recommendation and add on the Sio Bak for its tender meat, unbelievably crisp, crackling skin that has just the right amount of fats. You can have the roast meats with Rice (from $4) or request to have it with springy Wanton Noodles ($4.50) from the stall next door, The Wanton Mee Co. Avg Price: $5 per person Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Irene Arieputri

  
  

• 5. The Beef House (Syed Alwi Road)

  Jalan Besar

  For Traditional Hakka Eats
  Look no further for authentic Hakka food — this stall has even got a nod of approval from Burpple Tastemaker Ni Zhen's mom, who is Hakka. Get the Soon Kueh ($1 each), which will please with its springy skin and generous belly of ingredients that includes dried shrimp, black fungus and, of course, turnip. Also order the Abacus Beads ($2), which are made from a mixture of pumpkin and yam. Burpple Tastemaker Vanessa Kou describes them to be "soft, chewy, and a touch starchy, with each button holding just the right amount of bite". The dried mushroom and dried shrimp add lots of umami flavour too! If you still have it in you to eat more, try a portion of their Hakka Yong Tau Foo ($3). Pro tip: The stall sells out as early as 1pm, so come for breakfast. Avg price: $5 per person Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Vanessa Kou

  
  

• 6. Johore Ye Zhi Mei Hand Made Pau 新山葉子楣手工包點

  Jalan Besar

  For Juicy Baos and Rustic Dim Sum
  Set within a nondescript coffeeshop diagonally across from Swee Choon, this is a hidden gem serving handmade dim sum that, according to Burpple Tastemaker Acamas Teo, easily rivals Swee Choon and 126. Go with Burpple Tastemaker Michelle Kayla Tay's suggestion of the Super Big Bao ($3.20). The humongous fluffy bun holds together a generous combination of juicy fillings that include half an egg, mushrooms, Chinese waxed sausage, and chunks of chicken and pork. Pair this with the Century Egg Shrimp Siew Mai ($1.80) and the Tofu Bamboo ($1.70), which sees minced meat and bamboo shoot wrapped within a sheet of beancurd skin. The food selection is pretty minimal so save this spot for a teatime outing. Don't forget to order a stellar cup of kopi or teh while you're here — it's seriously good. Avg price: $5 per person Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Michelle Kayla Tey

  
  

• 7. Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig's Organ Soup

  Jalan Besar

  For Stellar Pig Organ Soup and Lu Rou Fan
  While its competitor with the same name located at Foch Road might seem more crowded, this original stall along Jalan Besar Road is where you should head to for a satisfying bowl of pig organ soup. The Burpple community and Tastemaker Zhihui Lim prefer this stall's broth for its lighter, more balanced kiam chye flavour. Swing by for the Pig Organ's Soup (from $4) that comes loaded with lean meat, liver, innards, pork balls and silky tofu. Be sure to add on a side of Mei Cai ($2.50) to share. Instead of white rice, go for the Lu Rou Fan (braised pork belly on rice, $1.80) — it pairs excellently with the refillable soup and is another reason why you should come here instead of the Foch Road stall! Avg Price: $10 per person Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Zhihui Lim

  
  

• 8. One kueh at a time

  Jalan Besar

  For Handmade Kuehs
  You'll want to swing by this stall on the second storey of Berseh Food Centre as early as you can to get your hands on their popular kuehs. One Kueh at a Time operates from 8am to 2pm, and sells a limited amount of kuehs every day. It is owned by a former financial consultant who aims to continue the tradition of handmaking, well, one kueh at a time, with the recipes handed down from his mother. There are five kuehs ($1.20 each) available — Koo Chye Kueh (steamed chive dumpling), Ang Ku Kueh (with a savoury mung bean filling), Peng Kueh, Carrot Kueh and the crowd favourite, Soon Kueh. Tastemaker Russell Leong was pleasantly surprised by how much he liked the thin-skinned soon kueh and its generous portion of umami-rich turnip, hae bi and bamboo shoot filling that he had to stop himself from buying all the remaining soon kuehs when he visited! Avg Price: $5 per person Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Russell Leong

  
  

• 9. Ah Hor Teochew Kway Teow Mee 亚河潮州粿条面

  Farrer Park

  For Fishball Noodles with Buah Keras Chilli
  This humble bowl of fishball noodles is what draws the crowd to the unassuming coffeeshop stall across from Mustafa Centre. Despite the long wait under hot and humid conditions during midday, our Burpple community is willing to sweat it out. What you must have is the dry version of the famed Fishball Noodles (from $3), and be sure to add on the succulent braised mushrooms and the big chunks of crunchy, deep-fried (dried) flat fish. Apart from the usual cut red chilli provided on the side, ask for the homemade chilli that is mixed with pork lard, haebee and buah keras (candlenut). Tastemaker Amanda Liu describes the chilli to be "crazy shiok and addictive", which gives the dish the extra oomph! They sell out early, so head here as early as you can to avoid disappointment. Avg Price: $5 per person Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Amanda Liu

  
  

• 10. Lim's Fried Oyster (Berseh Food Centre)

  Jalan Besar

  For Incredibly Tasty Oyster Omelette
  Located in the basement of Berseh Food Centre, this corner stall is the spot to head to when the orh luak craving strikes. The stall only operates from 5.30pm till midnight daily, so make this a part of your supper plan. The Fried Oyster Omelette ($5) automatically comes cooked with Lim's fiery chilli, so alert the uncle if you can't handle the heat. It's also significantly more gooey than most oyster omelettes, and comes with incredibly plump Korean-imported oysters that Tastemaker Jason Wong loves. Be sure to coat everyhing with the homemade chilli that comes on the side! Avg Price: $5 per person Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Jason Wong

  
  

• 11. Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice (Veerasamy Road)

  Little India

  For Amazing Fried Chicken Wing RIce
  Why have plain old steamed chicken rice when you can enjoy your chicken fried, crispy and downright yummy? When the fried chicken craving next strikes, head on down to this stall along Veerasamy Road, which Burpple Tastemaker Acamas Teo declares is bang for your buck. The Signature Fried Chicken Wing Rice ($3) comes with two fried chicken wings encased in a flavourful batter that holds its crispness, a portion of steamed chicken rice, and free flow soup. This is perfect for penny-pinching days, so plan a month-end lunch here with your colleagues! Pro tip: This is located in the same coffeeshop as Johor Road Boon Kee Pork Porridge. If you're here for that, consider ordering these wings (sans rice) to snack on while you wait. Avg price: $5 per person Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Acamas Teo

  
  

• 12. Beach Road Scissors Cut Curry Rice (Jalan Besar)

  Jalan Besar

  For a Cheat Day Indulgence
  At the crossroads of Jalan Besar and Kitchener Road lies this famous scissors cut curry rice joint that you should put your diet plans aside for. Come here with a plan to indulge and choose your ingredients with reckless abandon. Get the staff to pile your plate high with the classics — deep-fried pork chops, braised pork belly, ngoh hiang, fried egg and braised cabbage — before watching them cut the ingredients swiftly into bite-sized pieces with their scissors. Be sure to get your plate drenched with thick, flavourful curry that isn't spicy or overpowering, just how our Tastemaker Zhihui Lim enjoys it. Avg Price: $5 per person Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Zhihui Lim

  
  

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