{"id":56587,"date":"2023-01-27T04:58:14","date_gmt":"2023-01-27T04:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/27\/shiok-charcoal-fried-hokkien-mee-since-1968-at-geylang\/"},"modified":"2023-01-27T04:58:15","modified_gmt":"2023-01-27T04:58:15","slug":"shiok-charcoal-fried-hokkien-mee-since-1968-at-geylang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/27\/shiok-charcoal-fried-hokkien-mee-since-1968-at-geylang\/","title":{"rendered":"Shiok charcoal-fried hokkien mee since 1968 at Geylang"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The title of \u201cBest Hokkien <\/span>Mee<\/span><\/i> in Singapore\u201d is definitely a contentious one. Some say <\/span>Nam Sing Hokkien Mee<\/span><\/a> deserve the title, whereas regulars at Chomp Chomp pledge that Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Noodles is The One. There\u2019s one other hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i> stall that deserves to affix the ring: <\/span>Swee Guan Hokkien Mee<\/b>, and I\u2019m right here to inform you why.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Swee

Known for its charcoal-fried hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i>, Swee Guan Hokkien Mee is situated in a espresso store alongside <\/span>Geylang Lorong 29<\/b>, 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Swee

Despite there being different stalls within the espresso store (I noticed a <\/span>zi char <\/span><\/i>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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wordlessly, I joined the queue for a plate of charcoal-fried hokkien <\/span>mee <\/span><\/i>and started ready.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Swee

After 10 minutes, I spotted why the queue wasn\u2019t budging\u2014 the uncle fries his hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i> one batch at a time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i> begins out with a mountain of <\/span>bee hoon<\/span><\/i> and yellow noodles, that are drenched with a seafood-base inventory, after which cooked until it’s lowered to the specified consistency.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Swee

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 <\/span>Hokkien <\/b>mee<\/i><\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cS$6, S$8, and S$10!\u201d, the stall attendant replied curtly in Mandarin. \u201cEven have S$15, S$20 or S$30 if you want.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I responded in Mandarin: \u201cOkay, <\/span>S$8<\/b> then. Two packets\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It was then I lastly understood why on-line evaluations have famous that this stall isn\u2019t the most effective with well mannered customer support, as a result of the stall assistant instantly barked in response: \u201cYou tell me packet, I give you <\/span>tapau<\/span><\/i>! So <\/span>tapau<\/span><\/i> or eating here?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019re environment friendly with the meals. Not so forgiving when it got here to my subpar Mandarin, maybe.<\/span><\/p>\n

What I attempted at Swee Guan Hokkien Mee<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Swee

Okay, first impressions. The hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i> seemed completely scrumptious.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was sufficiently moist with out being soaked in gravy, and there have been loads of substances akin to prawns, <\/span>sotong<\/span><\/i> and egg. Do observe that Swee Guan Hokkien Mee solely makes use of <\/span>bee hoon<\/span><\/i> and yellow noodles for his or her hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i>, so that you gained\u2019t have the ability to ask for a distinct noodle mixture.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, I instantly observed that for <\/span>S$8<\/b>, it appeared as if the parts wouldn\u2019t be filling sufficient, because it seemed similar to a small plate of hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Swee

I used to be blown away by my first mouthful as a result of it was so stuffed with flavour.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>wokhei<\/span><\/i>\u2014 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 <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i> out of the park.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though the noodles have been shorter than I\u2019d like, to the extent that I couldn\u2019t even maintain it up with my chopsticks, I actually loved how the hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i> 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As I took chunk after chunk of hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i>, I informed my eating companion: \u201cNow, this is what a plate of hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i> should taste like.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Swee

For a plate of <\/span>S$8<\/span><\/i> hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i>, I counted about 4 medium-sized prawns on every plate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Though the scale of the prawns are nothing to speak about (they weren\u2019t jumbo prawns, however not less than they weren\u2019t shrimp-sized), I loved how the prawns have been taut and crunchy\u2014 a positive signal that they have been contemporary.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Swee

While most hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i> stalls serve their <\/span>sotong<\/span><\/i> in giant rings, I used to be shocked by Swee Guan Hokkien Mee because the <\/span>sotong<\/span><\/i> was already reduce up into little bite-sized items. Though the <\/span>sotong<\/span><\/i> didn\u2019t 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 <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Swee

If you may\u2019t 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 <\/span>sambal belacan<\/span><\/i> you\u2019d get with <\/span>nasi lemak<\/span><\/i>, the spice slowly crawled up my throat and grew into a pointy, cough-inducing spice that even my <\/span>teh peng<\/span><\/i> couldn\u2019t save.<\/span><\/p>\n

Final ideas<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Swee

Judging by the best way my eating companion and I polished off our plates, I\u2019d say that Swee Guan Hokkien Mee definitely deserves a go on the title for \u201cBest Hokkien <\/span>Mee<\/span><\/i> in Singapore.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Frankly, I liked every part about it. The manner every plate of messy hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i> in a surprising 10 minutes (that\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For <\/span>S$8<\/span><\/i>, I anticipated to be full, however sadly each of us have been nonetheless hungry afterwards. We finally went subsequent door to have <\/span>banh mi<\/span><\/a>, however agreed that regardless of all its shortcomings, Swee Guan Hokkien Mee\u2019s power-packed hokkien <\/span>mee<\/span><\/i> was one thing that everybody ought to strive not less than as soon as of their lifetimes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Expected harm: S$6 \u2013 S$10 per pax<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Other articles you would possibly like:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Sumo Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee: Best Hokkien Mee you will discover in Ang Mo Kio<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Magic Kitchen: Laksa chee cheong enjoyable + thick toasts at this old-school eatery in Ang Mo Kio<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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