Big parts of Western meals with 3 sides for $5.50 at Hougang kopitiam

I used to be astonished once I chanced upon a Facebook group that talked about The Flying Pan. It’s a Western meals spot nestled inside a kopitiam beneath a HDB void deck at Hougang Avenue 2.

The purpose for my shock? Well, the Western meals right here prices solely S$5.50, they usually even throw in not 1, not 2… however 3 aspect dishes of your alternative! How ridiculously inexpensive is that?

I knew I needed to examine this place out for myself, and it was an added bonus that it’s close to to the place I dwell.

The stall is comparatively new at its present location, which opened on 8 Apr 2021. It is owned by 23-year-old Vicky and her husband, Sean. Before this, they have been working one other enterprise referred to as Western Food @ Ci Yuan, additionally within the neighborhood of Hougang.

To assist their 3 children, Sean additionally doubles up as a personal rent driver. As a end result, Vicky has to deal with every part by herself at occasions. On weekends, their eldest son will chip in to assist.

Besides the 5 completely different choices that have been going at S$5.50, I additionally noticed a few dishes that have been priced barely increased: Fried 1/2 Spring Chicken (+S$1) and Ribeye Steak (+S$2).

As I used to be interested by why they didn’t hike up the costs, I made a decision to ask Sean instantly.

“We just want to sell our food at cheaper rates so that more people are able to afford it, and be able to try them as well,” he shared. Such a heartwarming purpose, proper?

What I attempted at The Flying Pan

I introduced my colleague, Rachel, to check out their Western delights. We selected the Fried Fish (S$5.50), which got here with our alternative of baked beans, butter corn and mashed potatoes. We have been dissatisfied that the mac & cheese and aglio pasta wasn’t obtainable that afternoon.

The piece of Fried Fish was shimmering with the right shade of golden brown. I proceeded to chop it with nearly no effort because it was coated with a paper-thin encrustment of panko.

After I skilled a crispy and lightweight batter upon sinking in my enamel, I used to be then greeted with flaky and moist flesh which disintegrated immediately in my mouth. It paired very well with the creamy mayo dip. The baked beans have been regular and nothing to rave about.

The mashed potatoes have been clean and have been coated with a heat savoury brown gravy. Even although it wasn’t selfmade, it nonetheless hit the spot for me. Perhaps my solely displeasure can be the absence of butter from the butter corn— it tasted prefer it was served instantly from the can.

We tried to keep away from having an excessive amount of fried meals, so we determined to attempt the Grilled Pork Chop (S$5.50) subsequent. For this dish, we opted for the coleslaw, fried mini bun and backyard veggie.

The items of pork chop had in all probability spent the evening being lined in herbs and spices, which explains why the meat was well-seasoned and perfumed with the aromatics used. It additionally had a delicate peppery punch which greeted me gently with each chew.

The smoky notes have been taken up a notch once I dipped the meat into the black pepper sauce, which gave the pork chop much more persona. The meat was usually good and tender though some components have been barely on the more durable aspect.

The backyard veggie turned out to be a beneficiant serving of boiled broccoli which got here coated in a barely viscous cream sauce. Rachel and I felt that though the sauce made the florets extra clean and slippery, it lacked flavour.

The coleslaw was tasty and barely crunchy with the right quantity of mayonnaise. In phrases of portioning, in comparison with the remainder of the perimeters, we thought that the fried bun (which was a mantou) lacked in amount as we have been solely served a single piece— two would have been higher.

Honestly, earlier than I ordered the Mushroom Soup (S$1.50), I wasn’t anticipating a lot from it till I noticed Rachel’s eyes gentle up after she took her first sip.

“The soup is gooooood!” She exclaimed, enthusiastically.

And she was proper. The soup did style barely completely different (in a great way)— don’t count on sturdy mushroom flavours coming from it although. It tasted as if a powerful flavourful inventory had been added— I’d advocate you to come back down and expertise it for your self.

Rachel’s and my jaw dropped to the bottom (in sync) when Vicky introduced out our aspect dish of Cheese Fries (S$3). We have been offered with an insane quantity of crinkle-cut fries and a beneficiant drizzle of cheese sauce.

It was pure indulgence and I felt a way of consolation as I wolfed down the crispy fries. The cheese sauce wasn’t overwhelming and earlier than we knew it, half the plate was already in our tummies— time for a weight loss plan!

Final ideas

Western hawker stalls are a typical sight in Singapore’s native meals scene. I’ve had my justifiable share of locations the place aspect dishes are non-customisable, and value not less than S$7.

Discovering locations like The Flying Pan which gives dishes at solely S$5.50 is a miracle. Although the style isn’t out of this world, the parts and value level greater than make up for it.

Do give Vicky and Sean some assist and check out their dishes for yourselves.

Expected harm: S$5.50 – S$9 per pax

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