We tried Singapore’s worst-rated Indian rojak
This is one of those tricky ones. 3.4 stars from over 200 reviews (at time of writing) on Google seems fine for Mohamad’s Teh Tarik Eating House… until you start reading the reasons why customers have left negative reviews.
There are horror stories of rusty nails, salmonella infections and sour potatoes. It’s unusual that the majority of the negative feedback comes not from customers complaining about the taste but instead straight-up questioning the hygiene standards.
That’s part of the reason that, for the first time, I felt an actual sense of dread when it was time to go for a tasting. But the show must go on and I trudged on to my old stomping ground of Tampines for the experiment to begin.
What I tried at Mohamad’s Teh Tarik Eating House
Mohamad’s Teh Tarik Eating House is located at 503 Tampines Central 1, nestled amidst residential blocks. When I arrived at lunch time, it was quite crowded and no one was holding their stomach in pain. Both were reassuring signs.
This stall sells virtually everything you could expect from a casual Indian eatery. There is mee goreng, thosai, goreng pisang, curry puffs and even drinks. I was spoiled for choice and also hoping that none of the food was spoiled.
From that vast array, my eyes were drawn to the Rojak (S$8.20). The price, of course, depends on the amount of ingredients you choose for your plate. It’s not the most affordable rojak in Singapore but it certainly has its share of online fans. Ditto for the Curry Puff (S$5 for 2) which looked very appetising.
Our choices were whipped together and handed to us after a short wait. Looks-wise, both the Rojak and the Curry Puffs were enticing for sure. The former came with two small bowls of their sweet thick, spicy peanut sauce.
On the plate, there was tofu, fried dough fritters stuffed with potato, plain fritters, and fishcake, all topped with sliced green chilli, cucumber and onion. It’s a comfortingly familiar jumble of textures and colours for most Singaporeans.
I loved the fried dough fritters— they added just the right amount of bite amidst the crunchy crisp of the cucumber and onion, and the softness of the tofu.
On the tofu, though, I have to say that it didn’t seem all that fresh as it lacked that firm springiness. The fishcake was nice, especially when dipped in the rojak sauce.
It’s no surprise that most people agree that it’s the sauce that makes the rojak. Here, the mixture of tangy lime, sweet brown sugar and savoury belacan made for a delicious accompaniment, especially with the hints of tamarind. My one complaint about the sauce would be that it was slightly diluted.
The curry puffs, though, were the biggest disappointment. Despite that mouthwatering crispy look, not only was the filling of sardine cold but it was devoid of any flavour, too.
Final thoughts
Unlike what several of the online reviews had said, I found the staff to be reasonably friendly. This was the case despite it being rather busy when I was there.
The Rojak was of the standard that you would expect from an establishment of this kind. I have tasted better and I have tasted worse; Mohamad’s Teh Tarik Eating House just about straddles the middle. I would say it’s a tad on the expensive side given that the portions are quite pedestrian.
Had the tofu been fresh and if the sauce had had a bit more zing to it, I would have been much happier. On the other hand, the Curry Puffs were a complete miss. If your Rojak isn’t enough to fill you, this is the wrong choice of side to pick up the slack.
Speaking of sides, I waited some time after my meal just to make sure that there definitely were no side effects from the meal. Fortunately, all was a-okay in that regard. Phew.
Mohamad’s Teh Tarik Eating House has a 3.4 rating on Google from its 200+ reviews and that’s about right. Unless you are one of those unfortunate enough to encounter a nasty surprise, the wide variety of choices and the amiable service make this place a pretty reliable supper stop.
Expected damage: S$4 – $8 per pax
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