Haji Kadir Food Chains: Possibly the best Sup Kambing in Singapore
Haji Kadir Food Chains have been around for a long time. Known for their Sup Kambing, their original stall is located at Golden Mile Food Centre, and they’ve since opened two other stalls— at Lavender and Tampines. Obviously, I opted to make my way to their Tampines outlet as it’s the nearest to me.
Over the years, many stalls have been known to water down their bowls of sup kambing while retaining their high status. Quite an unethical thing to do if you ask me. It is what it is, am I right? Before I begin my review, did you know sup kambing is a considerably unique dish in Southeast Asia? A quick Google search will reveal that it was brought over by Arabs and Indian Muslims who migrated into the Malay Archipelago during the colonial era.
The standalone eatery, situated at the end of the stretch, immediately reminded me of Zoul’s Corner— another hidden gem located in Tampines. Like many other Indian Muslim eateries in Singapore, they also sell a slew of other dishes apart from sup kambing. I was in for a treat!
What I tried at Haji Kadir Food Chains
First, I ordered a bowl of Kambing Soup (S$6) and one French Loaf (S$2). If you are not familiar with this dish, you’d definitely find its greenish-yellow colour off-putting. However, like the Vietnamese pho, the dish’s aromatics alone are enough to get you salivating.
Upon first glance, I noticed that the sup kambing comes with a generous serving of meat and is less oily than most I’ve tried. For the unbeknownst, the recipe for this decadent dish calls for goat meat (and other parts for some), vegetables like tomato, leek, celery, and ground spices.
I was pleasantly surprised by the thick yet flavourful broth. It was truly refreshing from the majority of diluted bowls that are sold around the island. Each spoonful was a warm and comforting treat.
The tender mutton chunks here aren’t gamey, and are incredibly flavourful.
Personally, the best way to enjoy this dish is by dipping a piece of bread into the broth. Opt for the French loaf due to its thickness then proceed to have a bite off the well-soaked bread for an elevated experience. This French loaf to soup combination is a close second on my list. First is white bread in hot cuppa milo, of course.
Like the Sup Kambing, another dish that has been butchered over the years is my childhood favourite, the Mutton Chop (S$8.50). For obvious reasons, the dish is not named after the facial hair style that’s famously worn by Mötorhead’s Lemmy.
The Indian Muslim dish is a unique one, consisting of both Indian Muslim and Western elements. Mutton Chop comes with mutton cubes marinated in common Indian spices, coated with a sweet-spicy red sauce, along with a side of mata lembu, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, French fries, and green peas.
Like the Sup Kambing, the mutton cubes here are tender and flavourful. They are also fresh which is refreshing as most places use frozen mutton cubes in their Mutton Chop these days. Additionally, the red sauce here deserves a worthy mention for elevating the dish.
However, do bear in mind that this dish is messy and will indefinitely stain your clothes. So avoid wearing white when having it!
Another worthy mention is that Haji Kadir adds green peas to their Mutton Chop which is essentially how it’s supposed to be. Maybe it’s just me, but I cannot fathom why most places omit the addition of green peas to their Mutton Chop. It’s a crucial element (only because I love them)!
This beautifully messy dish alone deserves a standing ovation.
Last but not least, Mee Hoon Goreng Merah (S$6). What’s going to an Indian Muslim joint without getting a plate of either of their goreng dishes?
Over here, the Mee Hoon Goreng Merah comes with heaps of bean sprouts and small mutton chunks. It was missing the usual tomato sauce and cucumbers combination, though. Despite that, I still found the Mee Hoon Goreng delicious!
Final thoughts
I came here with zero expectations but Haji Kadir has gained a new fan! Although famous for their Sup Kambing, I was also impressed with the quality of their other dishes— especially their Mutton Chop, which I will be coming back for.
It’s also commendable how the quality of their food hasn’t changed over the years. The next time I’m craving a hearty plate of Mutton Chop or a bowl of Sup Kambing, you best bet I’ll be making my way down here to get my fix!
Expected damage: S$6 – S$16.50 per pax
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