Delicious yong tau foo with tasty, zero-MSG soup, hidden in Somerset

Hidden away in a nook at Cuppage Plaza is Orchard Yong Tau Fu, a hole-in-the-wall yong tau foo stall that attracts lengthy queues, particularly throughout lunch. 

Though you may be tempted to present it a move, contemplating its restricted seating choices, I’m right here to inform you {that a} bowl of its hearty, home-style yong tau foo soup is totally value queuing for. Not to say, a bowl of yong tau foo begins from S$6.30 for 7 elements, making it wallet-friendly.

Orchard Yong Tau Fu is a family-run institution specialising in yong tau foo, and whereas most yong tau foo spots supply all kinds of soups, comparable to laksa and tom yum, Orchard Yong Tau Fu solely provides one— its homey yellow soybean soup.

For being a hole-in-the-wall eatery with lower than 20 seats, I used to be impressed by its big selection of recent elements. You’ve obtained your customary yong tau foo gadgets— stuffed woman’s fingers and chillies, sliced eggplants, agency and egg tofu, in addition to not-so-common selections like salted duck eggs, century eggs and lobster balls.

No matter which ingredient you decide, all of them go for S$0.90 every. As you’ve obtained to select a minimal of seven gadgets, every bowl of yong tau foo begins from S$6.30. This doesn’t embody the price of rice or noodles, which value S$0.90 too.

Once you’ve positioned your order, a pleasant uncle will verbally assign you a queue quantity. Afterwards, it’s all about ready on your desk. 

As I got here alone, my wait lasted about 10 minutes and I used to be finally given a counter seat dealing with the wall. If you’re coming in a bigger group, be ready to attend longer.

What I attempted at Orchard Yong Tau Fu

Hungry and chilly from the rain, I went for 9 elements comparable to Spinach, Fish Cake, Otah, Salted Duck Egg, Daikon (aka 白萝卜), Fried You Tiao, Fried Beancurd, Wanton and Grilled Bitter Gourd, and opted for a bowl of Rice. 

Altogether, my bowl of yong tau foo value me S$9. However, if you happen to’re on a finances, I’d advise you to select 7 substantial elements like Stuffed Firm Tofu, Pumpkin and Broccoli, and if potential, decide out of carbs.

Oh, wow. This was incredible yong tau foo broth. 

All it took was one sip and I may immediately inform that no MSG was used. I may style a transparent sweetness, a stunning full-bodiedness from the yellow soybeans, in addition to a light-weight contact of saltiness from the anchovies. To prime all of it off, there was a sprinkling of white pepper and shallots, making this a very flavourful, candy, clear and light-weight soup.

No surprise folks have been singing praises of Orchard Yong Tau Fu on-line. This has obtained to be top-of-the-line yong tau foo soups I’ve ever had.

Orchard Yong Tau Fu’s rectangular-shaped Otah and Fish Cake wedges have been springy and recent. Personally, as somebody who gravitates in the direction of stronger and spicier flavours, I most popular the Otah for its light spice, although you may’t go unsuitable with the basic Fish Cake too.

While I often don’t like putting my fried gadgets immediately into my yong tau foo soup, that is the primary time I discovered myself having fun with it.

Despite being soaked within the soup for a while, the Fried You Tiao was nonetheless delightfully crispy on the skin, whereas the inside dough had absorbed all the wonderful savoury flavours from the comforting broth.

Not to say, the you tiao had include toasted sesame seeds on the highest, which added a contact of nutty crunch to every chunk. Super yummy!

Though the Daikon was nonetheless agency and I may maintain it up with my chopsticks, biting into it was like melted butter— comfortable and luscious, with a scrumptious burst of full-bodied, candy broth. 

I liked that it had soaked up all of the yummy soup, and the Daikon turned out to be my favorite ingredient for the day.

Interestingly, Orchard Yong Tau Fu provides Salted Duck Egg on the identical worth as the remainder of its elements. My finest recommendation can be to right away take it out of the soup, in case it disintegrates immediately into the broth.

This was an absolute punch of salted, buttery flavour. I loved biting into this in-between sips of soup, and liked the way it acted as a daring distinction in opposition to the clear tasting soup.

Final ideas

This fuss-free yong tau foo expertise modified my life. Never would I’ve thought that there’d be such a scrumptious and inexpensive lunch choice within the Somerset space! 

Its hole-in-the-wall idea jogged my memory of Japan, the place no-fuss, standing eateries are commonplace, and I can think about that eating at Orchard Yong Tau Fu can be excellent for single diners who’d take pleasure in their lunch in peace.

The solely factor I didn’t end from my meal was the rice. That goes to point out how scrumptious Orchard Yong Tau Foo’s broth and elements have been— I polished off all the things else, and gosh, I didn’t even want the carbs!

It’s a ten/10 from me. You can wager I’ll be again.

Expected injury: S$6.30 – S$10 per pax

Other articles you may like:

10 meals spots beneath S$10 in Tanjong Pagar for a meal with out breaking the financial institution

Mama’s Curry: Fiery bowls of mutton, rooster & vegetable curry at Golden Mile Food Centre from $4.50