Top 10 food spots in Kim Keat Palm Food Centre worth waking up & queuing for
I have never been an early bird. The thought of waking up before the sky turns blue or the birds start calling furiously deter me. On rare occasions though, I may willingly drag myself out of bed for a sole purpose. That is, getting my hands on the freshest and best local breakfast items.
Before I bore you any further, here are the top 10 hawker stalls in Kim Keat Palm Food Centre that deserve your morning attention!
1. Min Kee Tanjong Rhu Wanton Noodle (#01-49)
I have never been a fan of wanton noodles. That was until I tasted the ones served at Min Kee Tanjong Rhu Wanton Noodle. In fact, I loved it so much that I chose to feature them as my first recommendation in this list!
The long queues at this stall attest to its fame and proves how well-loved the Wanton Noodles (S$3.50) are. Customers can choose between the dry or soup versions and I noticed the former to be the more popular option. I was initially confused by the list of sauces listed on their menu.
As soon as I received my bowl of noodles, I understood what those sauces meant. Because I did not specify if I wanted additional sauces in my dish, the noodles were served plain but slightly oiled.
Although I was slightly taken aback by the lack of seasoning used, I was pleasantly surprised at its clean flavour and QQ noodle texture. Without hesitation, I polished these noodles off within minutes! From now on, this is how I would enjoy my wanton noodles, I thought.
I also appreciate the thick char siew slices added to the dish. I absolutely despise thin and measly meat strands and enjoyed pairing the sweet meat with those addictive noodles.
Kudos to the team for nailing a starchy stock with such deep flavour, too!
Wed to Mon: 7.30am – 2.30pm
Closed on Tue
2. Hai Nan Xing Zhou Beef Noodle (#01-06)
In addition to the insane queues lined up in front of Hai Nan Xing Zhou Beef Noodle, I was curious to find out how Michelin Bib Gourmand beef noodles tasted. The stall was clearly the most popular one in Kim Keat Palm Food Centre.
I waited until the queue subsided before finding out.
I was lucky to receive the last portion of kuay teow noodles for my bowl of Sliced Beef + Beef Ball + Stomach + Tendon (S$7). Similar to the wanton noodles I bought earlier, I was asked to choose between dry or soup versions. I chose the latter.
Submerged in a translucent but dark brown-coloured broth were generous slices of tendon and stomach. I would recommend adding the extra cost for more ingredients to pair with your noodles. The supplement ingredients did not taste gamey and I loved the chewy textures.
The star of the dish was none other than the broth. It possessed a deep and beefy flavour that warmed my body and soul. Especially satisfying on a chilly morning, the liquid gold got my attention first, before I gobbled up the rest of the noodles.
Tue to Sun: 8.30am – 3.30pm
Closed on Mon
3. Hainan Cuisine & Snacks (#01-35)
During my visit, I saw many tables with large white boxes of kueh. Curiosity got the better of me and I went in search of its origin. I located Hainan Cuisine & Snacks around 1pm and noticed they were selling out fast!
Without a doubt, their most popular item is the signature Yi Bua (S$1.20). Generously stuffed with a coconut and gula melaka compound and perfumed with grated ginger, the chewy dessert is then shaped into a circle.
Bite through the thick and dense dough layer for the most unique fragrance and textures encased within. For those unfamiliar with this traditional handmade delicacy, I strongly urge you to try one for yourself.
With more than 40 years in the business, it is no wonder their goods sell out quickly; come early to avoid disappointment!
+65 9338 1903
Wed to Sun: 7am – 1pm
Closed on Mon & Tue
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4. Dove Desserts (#01-21)
Out of all the dessert shops present in the food centre, snaking queues were located in front of only Dove Desserts. And that got my attention.
If you had to choose only 1 item, go for the Homemade Nyonya Chendol (S$2). It features a heap of super smooth shaved iced flavoured with thick gula melaka and silky coconut milk.
Similar to Korean bingsu, the shaved ice found here is snowy and delicate. I have to admit that it is the most fluffy and light chendol I have ever eaten.
I also heard that the owner personally travels to Melaka to grab a batch of pandan jelly that she uses in the creation. No wonder it tastes so fragrant with no artificial flavours at all!
You will also find hot desserts here. I especially loved the Tau Suan (S$1.40) which was perfectly sweetened.
Order delivery: foodpanda
+65 9272 5712
Mon to Sat: 11am – 5.30pm
Closed on Sun
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5. Old Long House Popiah (#01-03)
A family favourite since my secondary school days, Old Long House Popiah in Kim Keat Palm Food Centre specialises in only 1 item — Popiah (S$2). There are 2 types of spring rolls that I have eaten — one that’s deep fried, and this.
Personally, I am not a fan of the former mainly because I do not like deep fried items as much as the average guy. The white-skinned version though, I enjoy very much. With only 1 item on the menu, the ordering process is not difficult.
A bunch of shredded vegetables are marinated, stewed and stuffed into thin membrane-like popiah skin. A variety of ingredients accompany the stewed vegetables including boiled egg, crabmeat sticks and crushed peanuts.
To attain its distinct sweet flavour, a sweet sauce with a syrup-like consistency is added to the roll. Although I requested mine to be without spice, I hear that the house made chilli boasts robust fragrance. That sounds like the perfect mix of flavours in one body.
+65 9171 7157
Wed to Sun: 6.30am – 2.30pm
Closed on Mon & Tue
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6. LiXin Chao Zhou Fishball Noodle (#01-20)
Almost every article written on the food offerings from Kim Keat Palm Food Centre mentioned LiXin Chao Zhou Fishball Noodle. Even my mother, who is not the biggest fan of hawker food, made a shoutout to this particular stall when she knew I was reviewing the food centre.
I witnessed Uncle lifting the shutters and coming in early to start preparations for business and knew then that those fish balls had to be one of the best. Patrons should definitely order the Fishball Noodles (S$3.50).
The handmade fish balls used here are significantly larger than those found at other fishball noodle joints. Made from pure yellowtail fish mince, the result is an almost chewy but firm texture. They are coupled with yellow-coloured noodles dressed in a sweet but savoury sauce mix.
Oh, and for those who simply cannot get enough, additional fish balls may be purchased at S$0.50 each!
Thu, Sat & Sun: 7am – 1pm
Closed on Mon to Wed & Fri
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7. 港式猪肠粉 粥 (#01-48)
I was always under the impression that Hong Kong style chee cheong fun could only be found in restaurants. But alas, this is the second hawker stall I’ve visited that sells this dim sum delight. 港式猪肠粉 粥 is the only stall within Kim Keat Palm Food Centre that does not have an English name.
While I was ordering, I was glad that the owners were patient and willing to communicate with an English speaking customer. As surprising as this fact may be, I’ve encountered a few unfortunate situations where stall owners simply dismiss my family and me when we try to place an order.
The stall specialises in several porridge and steamed rice rolls dishes. I picked the item that was listed first on their wide menu board — 3 Taste Chee Cheong Fun (S$6). Minced char siew, baby scallops and prawns were lightly rolled into the silky steamed rice batter mixture.
I loved the combination of ingredients which complemented the rice roll well, in terms of flavour and texture. Also, I thought the portion justifies the price well!
However, I found the chee cheong fun sauce slightly salty and lacking the addictive flavour known to this creation. Other than that, it’s a dish you must try when you visit this hawker centre.
Daily: 6am – 11pm
8. Fruit Juice Sugar Cane (#01-13)
Fruit Juice Sugar Cane located within Kim Keat Palm Food Centre sells exactly what their stall name suggests.
The latest drink creation introduced to me by my colleagues has been fruit juices. I know this may sound extremely surprising but I’ve never purchased fruit juices from hawker stalls.
Freshly-cut fruits are neatly displayed in a see-through cabinet. There are 2 ways to enjoy the sweetness of these fruits. One, have them as it is. Two, blend them into the most juicy, sweet and refreshing beverage. I don’t have to spell out which option I prefer, do I?
I ordered Watermelon Milk (S$2.50), Pineapple (S$2.50) and Melon (S$2.50). I was surprised to find that prices were consistent despite the inclusion of milk. Furthermore, Uncle was quite generous with his portions.
I’ve noticed that usually, only 1 melon slice is used for a beverage this size. However, 3 large melon slices were pressed into a silky smooth consistency similar to soy milk here. Score!
Daily: 6am – 1pm
9. Granny’s Pancake (#01-09)
At my rather late arrival in an attempt to capture the best breakfast spots in Kim Keat Palm Food Centre, Granny’s Pancake was already seen packing up. A popular local breakfast option is served here — min jiang kueh.
A thick and slightly dense batter is poured onto a battered skillet and cooked until bubbles form on its surface. A variety of fillings are then generously spread across the entire pancake and folded in half before being cut into serving slices.
Priced at S$1.20 per piece, the most popular flavours have to be the Peanut and Peanut Butter. I mean, who can resist the ooze of warm and creamy peanut butter in the latter?
2 other flavours are sold here — Red Bean (S$1.20) and Coconut (S$1.20). The former features a smooth and thick paste that is subtly sweet. The latter encompasses bright orange strands of coconut sweetened with orange sugar. Truly divine.
Daily: 6am – 1pm
10. Ah Chuan Fried Oyster Omelette (#01-25)
I am always on the lookout for a good plate of oyster omelette and carrot cake. I placed my order at Ah Chuan Fried Oyster Omelette as soon as I spotted the stall.
I ordered the White Carrot Cake (S$3). Service could not be faster as Auntie quickly turned away and packed the carrot cake cubes. As soon as she handed me the packet, I caught a whiff of wok hei fragrance drifting.
The carrot cake chunks were firm and thoroughly cooked through. I also appreciated the amount of eggs incorporated into the dish. However, I wished for more charred bits within the dish (just a personal preference).
Although Auntie did not ask whether I preferred spice or not, the dish came subtly spiced.
Thankfully, the Oyster Omelette (S$5) was fried on the spot. Although slightly oily, I enjoyed the chewy batter and fried eggs combination with the spicy chilli dip. The oysters were adequately plump, too.
Mon, Wed to Sun: 6am – 4pm
Closed on Tue
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