Shiok charcoal-fried hokkien mee since 1968 at Geylang

The title of “Best Hokkien Mee in Singapore” is definitely a contentious one. Some say Nam Sing Hokkien Mee deserve the title, whereas regulars at Chomp Chomp pledge that Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Noodles is The One. There’s one other hokkien mee stall that deserves to affix the ring: Swee Guan Hokkien Mee, and I’m right here to inform you why.

Known for its charcoal-fried hokkien mee, Swee Guan Hokkien Mee is situated in a espresso store alongside Geylang Lorong 29, a mere six to seven minute stroll from Aljunied MRT. The stall first opened in 1968 and is now run by a second-generation chef who took over from the predecessor, who’s his father. 

I smelt the stall even earlier than I may see it. It was the tell-tale scent of smoky charcoal and barbecue, as if I had stepped right into a BBQ, that informed me I had reached my vacation spot.

Despite there being different stalls within the espresso store (I noticed a zi char stall and a carrot cake stall), there was just one unstated queue, which had already grown to an honest size of about six to seven individuals. 

Wordlessly, I joined the queue for a plate of charcoal-fried hokkien mee and started ready.

After 10 minutes, I spotted why the queue wasn’t budging— the uncle fries his hokkien mee one batch at a time. 

Even from the place I used to be standing, I may see the wok steaming with wisps of smoke from the charcoal embers beneath. Each batch of hokkien mee begins out with a mountain of bee hoon and yellow noodles, that are drenched with a seafood-base inventory, after which cooked until it’s lowered to the specified consistency.

It took one other 5 minutes earlier than the queue lastly began transferring, and as soon as I reached the beginning of the queue, I enquired in regards to the costs for a plate of Hokkien mee.

“S$6, S$8, and S$10!”, the stall attendant replied curtly in Mandarin. “Even have S$15, S$20 or S$30 if you want.”

I responded in Mandarin: “Okay, S$8 then. Two packets—”

It was then I lastly understood why on-line evaluations have famous that this stall isn’t the most effective with well mannered customer support, as a result of the stall assistant instantly barked in response: “You tell me packet, I give you tapau! So tapau or eating here?!”

Meekly, I informed her I used to be eating in, and she or he swiftly ready my orders for me in silence. Okay, properly, not less than they’re environment friendly with the meals. Not so forgiving when it got here to my subpar Mandarin, maybe.

What I attempted at Swee Guan Hokkien Mee

Okay, first impressions. The hokkien mee seemed completely scrumptious. 

It was sufficiently moist with out being soaked in gravy, and there have been loads of substances akin to prawns, sotong and egg. Do observe that Swee Guan Hokkien Mee solely makes use of bee hoon and yellow noodles for his or her hokkien mee, so that you gained’t have the ability to ask for a distinct noodle mixture.

However, I instantly observed that for S$8, it appeared as if the parts wouldn’t be filling sufficient, because it seemed similar to a small plate of hokkien mee.

I used to be blown away by my first mouthful as a result of it was so stuffed with flavour. 

As I chewed on the noodles, I may style the charcoal smokiness from the hearth and the candy and briny seafood broth, which had been absorbed into the noodles. This was extra than simply wokhei— the heady, smoky scent of the charcoal crept its manner into the noodles to create a definite wealthy, savoury and sturdy mix of flavours that knocked this plate of hokkien mee out of the park.

Though the noodles have been shorter than I’d like, to the extent that I couldn’t even maintain it up with my chopsticks, I actually loved how the hokkien mee was moist sufficient from each the seafood inventory and the beneficiant quantity of eggs to provide an virtually silky-like really feel to every mouthful. 

As I took chunk after chunk of hokkien mee, I informed my eating companion: “Now, this is what a plate of hokkien mee should taste like.”

For a plate of S$8 hokkien mee, I counted about 4 medium-sized prawns on every plate. 

Though the scale of the prawns are nothing to speak about (they weren’t jumbo prawns, however not less than they weren’t shrimp-sized), I loved how the prawns have been taut and crunchy— a positive signal that they have been contemporary.

While most hokkien mee stalls serve their sotong in giant rings, I used to be shocked by Swee Guan Hokkien Mee because the sotong was already reduce up into little bite-sized items. Though the sotong didn’t add a lot by way of flavour (it in all probability had been absorbed by the noodles by now), I appreciated the way it added a well-needed chewy chunk to the plate of moist hokkien mee.

If you may’t deal with your spice, please heed my recommendation and keep away from the chilli. I contemplate myself a spice lover, however this was manner too spicy for me. While it first began out as a nice sweetness, virtually just like the sambal belacan you’d get with nasi lemak, the spice slowly crawled up my throat and grew into a pointy, cough-inducing spice that even my teh peng couldn’t save.

Final ideas

Judging by the best way my eating companion and I polished off our plates, I’d say that Swee Guan Hokkien Mee definitely deserves a go on the title for “Best Hokkien Mee in Singapore.”

Frankly, I liked every part about it. The manner every plate of messy hokkien mee managed to steadiness out the smokiness from the charcoal fireplace with the savoury sweetness from the seafood inventory was simply good. Everything got here collectively in a manner that made it really easy to slurp up the noodles.

My solely gripes could be the shortage of lard, not-so-friendly customer support, its portion and value. My eating companion completed his plate of hokkien mee in a surprising 10 minutes (that’s quicker than the time it took for me to queue for it!), whereas me being the slower eater, completed it off in about quarter-hour. 

For S$8, I anticipated to be full, however sadly each of us have been nonetheless hungry afterwards. We finally went subsequent door to have banh mi, however agreed that regardless of all its shortcomings, Swee Guan Hokkien Mee’s power-packed hokkien mee was one thing that everybody ought to strive not less than as soon as of their lifetimes.

Expected harm: S$6 – S$10 per pax

Other articles you would possibly like:

Sumo Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee: Best Hokkien Mee you will discover in Ang Mo Kio

Magic Kitchen: Laksa chee cheong enjoyable + thick toasts at this old-school eatery in Ang Mo Kio

Have good meals to share or new promo? Email us at information[@]sethlui.com