I discovered the very best char siew in Singapore at Geylang Bahru Hao You Ji Charcoal Roasted Delights

Tucked beneath the HDB blocks in Geylang Bahru, is Hao You Ji Charcoal Roasted Delights (好友记炭火烧腊). Bendemeer is an space that’s filled with many espresso outlets with various kinds of meals, so figuring out a gem is equal to discovering a needle in a haystack. Located within the espresso store referred to as First Eating House Pte Ltd, Hao You Ji Charcoal Roasted Delights is located on the far left, noticeable with its lengthy queue of individuals.

The retailer seems to be like another roast meat retailer, and to be sincere I practically mistook it for one more roast meat place simply throughout the highway, simply due to the sheer saturation of hawker stalls promoting this explicit dish. Clearly, it has develop into a staple for many of us, and roast meat noodles have been ingrained in our weight loss plan for a really very long time.

Its storefront is decked with a typical unfold of roast meats: Roast Pork, Char Siew and Duck. They even have Soy Chicken and Roasted Chicken.

Their geese have been hung in vacant areas that stuffed the shop, drying them out a day earlier than to achieve that crispy pores and skin that the majority of us love. Apparently, this entire course of is definitely worth the wait.

I often have this as a takeaway possibility; my dad packs this on a weekly foundation for me and this was my first time visiting their bodily retailer. So once I arrived, I used to be greatly surprised to see the lengthy record of choices obtainable. Have you ever seen a roast meat retailer promote boiled soup?

What I attempted at Hao You Ji Charcoal Roasted Delights

I’m a noodles sort of individual any day, so you’ll be able to completely count on me to pair my roast meats with noodles.

First on the record was their Soy Chicken Noodles. For S$4, I used to be served a considerable portion of rooster, alongside boiled greens and an enormous portion of noodles. I requested for the rooster thigh, which was properly deboned and served tenderly. Apparently rooster thigh sustains flavour higher than breast does, no surprise my protein selection tasted tremendous flavourful and juicy!

Next, the noodles. The noodles have been very springy, though they have been the thicker sort. The noodles have been tossed in a aromatic brown soy sauce that had a steadiness of sweetness to savoury, and the sauce lined the standard alkaline style that comes with egg noodles.

The sambal belachan added one other layer to this dish. I often combine up chilli in my noodles for the fixed spice, as a substitute of individually dipping my substances into the saucer. It is salted with hints of ikan bilis and it isn’t that spicy.

Now for the last word take a look at, Hao You Ji Charcoal Roasted Delight’s roast meats! I’ve been set on a activity to search out the finest char siew noodles in Singapore, so you’ll be able to think about how severely I take discovering the very best char siew in Singapore.

I opted for the 3 Combination + Stew Soup Set. Featuring three sorts of meats, their charcoaled char siew, duck and crispy sio bak and a bowl of soup of your individual selection! For S$13.80, the value could be very inexpensive for what you obtain in your plate.

Nothing defines satisfaction higher than consuming a slice of char siew that melts gracefully in your mouth. This must be the very best element of my entire expertise right here as a result of their char siew actually stays true to its char!

Personally, I’m not a fan of fatty meats, however for them, I’d fortunately end my bowl of noodles with their cuts of meats— the char siew particularly. The pork is effectively marinated with a improbable proportion of smokiness to the lean elements of the meat. And its fatty facet merely melts; it isn’t too chewy or too chunky.

On the opposite hand, the roasted pork fell quick for me. Although it had an important crunch to it, I used to be anticipating a bigger wow issue like I had with the char siew. Nonetheless, it was nonetheless first rate! I consider that if they may work on bettering the style of the roasted pork to be extra distinguished, equivalent to to make it barely saltier, that may depart the followers wanting it extra.

Next, I had the roasted duck. I needed to decide up a slice of the pores and skin first to provide it a take a look at. To my nice shock, their entire technique of getting ready the duck paid off! The pores and skin was crispy and barely salty from its roast, and the fats beneath gave it a caramelised flavour distinctive to its personal.

Underneath the pores and skin lies its succulent meat which was not too robust— similar to how I prefer it. It’s very straightforward for locations to mess up duck meat, simply due to how straightforward it’s to overcook it!

This dish comes together with a bowl of candy sauce to pair up properly with the duck. For those that fancy a barely sweeter tasting duck, this might be a pleasant condiment to dip your meats into.

Final ideas

Like I discussed beforehand, roast meats are my staples in life. After having this again and again in takeaway parts, I’m glad I made the journey all the way down to check out their different dishes. I even had a go along with two totally different sorts of soup! They positively prioritise the concept of getting a balanced wholesome meal with their incorporation of greens and soup. It jogs my memory of a really homely Cantonese meal.

With all issues thought of, Hao You Ji Charcoal Roasted Delights by far must be one in all my favorite locations for a strong plate of roast meat rice. With that being stated, I additionally came upon that they’ve fairly numerous retailers scattered throughout Singapore. I suppose that’s excellent news for all of us! Even although they aren’t comparatively famed on the media, I feel it’s time they deserve their due recognition.

Expected harm: S$4 – S$5 per pax

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