Among the vast array of hawker delicacies that Singapore is known for, the one that requires the least ingredients but demands the highest amount of skill to perfect is fried Hokkien mee.
To us, the perfect plate of Hokkien mee has to have a heady wok hei aroma and flavour, an intensely savoury prawn and pork base and a consistency that’s not too dry but not overly moist either.
Perfecting a plate of Hokkien mee is no easy feat. We’ve patronised many stalls all over the island, many of which faired decently—some surpassing expectations even—but somehow we haven’t been able to find the perfect one.
Having heard so many rave reviews about Singapore Fried Hokkien Mee in Whampoa Market, we were determined to pay them a visit to find out just how good it was.
Our honest opinion on Singapore Fried Hokkien Mee
Perhaps one of the better versions we’ve tried, their Fried Hokkien Mee (S$4) brims with a savoury aroma, with every ingredient intermingled nicely to create a strong fragrance.
The dish had the right consistency and all the flavours from the various components had been absorbed into the noodles.
The fluffy strips of fried egg did well to absorb the stock’s essence, elevating the overall experience. However, we felt that the dish on a whole was lacking that smoky wok hei quality we were eagerly anticipating.
We also felt that they could have been a little more generous with their ingredients. For S$4, we would have appreciated more than just two small prawns and a few tiny bits of squid.
For maximum enjoyment, mix in the sambal on the side. It provides a spicy kick and bolds very well with the savouriness of the noodles and sourness from the calamansi.
Overall, we were very pleased with our plate of Hokkien mee. But as to whether it struck all the right chords for us to crown it ‘best’, we think not. Guess this means our search continues.
This humble stall in Whampoa Market is one of the rare few in Singapore that operates till as late as 1.30 AM daily.
Disclaimer: Uncover Asia made an anonymous visit to Singapore Fried Hokkien Mee and paid for their own meal.
Address: 90 Whampoa Drive, Singapore 320090
Opening Hours: 3.30PM – 1.30AM (Mon to Fri), 2PM – 1.30AM (Sat & Sun), Closed on Thursdays
Contact: +65 6251 2857
Nearest MRT Station: Novena
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