People’s Park Food Centre 珍珠百貨商場 located at Block 32 New Market Road (of short walking distance from Chinatown), has reopened after undergoing renovation works.
I recently visited the food centre, and I have mixed feelings about the experience.
The new space is cleaner and brighter, with updated tables that create a more pleasant dining environment.
However, it remains to be seen if the cleanliness can be maintained in the long run. Trays and plates were not frequently returned (also it was hard to find tray return counters at some parts of the food centre), resulting in a cluttered and untidy dining area. Food scraps were also scattered around, which was a bit off-putting.
Let’s all be mindful of keeping the dining area clean for everyone’s enjoyment.
On the positive side, there are over 80 food stalls offering a wide variety of culinary delights.
There are local unique stalls you cannot commonly find elsewhere – think Loh Mei and Hainan Fen. But perhaps the types of food and environment may not appeal that much to the younger generation.
Other than being known for roast meats, some of the best Yong Tau Foo stalls in Singapore can be found here, including Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu, Poy Kee, Koo Kee Yong Tow Foo Mee and Bai Nian.
Over the last decade or so, there are more Chinese and Sichuan style stalls setting base in the food centre (especially at the back section), leading to the popularity of dishes such as Mala Xiang Guo, Chinese skewers and Shui Zhu Yu (spicy boiled fish).
Other well-known stalls include Chop Hean Kuan (for dim sum), Fatt Soon Kueh, Jin Feng Mei Shi, Yi Pin Beef King, Tian Jin Fong Kee, Chuan Wei Fang, Kim Hua Guan Bak Kwa, Super Star Original Famous Penang Laksa and more.
Here are 12 People’s Park Food Centre stalls to check out:
Super Star Original Famous Penang Laksa
People’s Park Food Centre #01-1002B
Opening Hours: 2pm – 11pm (Mon – Sun)
Super Star Original Famous Penang Laksa is known for its authentic style of Penang Laksa, and it is also Halal-certified.
Their signature dish priced at $10, is a generous bowl filled with shredded mackerel, pineapples, lettuce, fresh mint leaves, torch ginger flowers, and ginger slices.
The thick rice noodles used in the dish are imported from a factory in Penang, adding an authentic touch.
The laksa broth is rich, sour, and spicy, providing a burst of flavours that are synonymous with Penang cuisine.
Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu
People’s Park Food Centre #01-1084
Opening Hours: 1pm – 4pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
There are a couple of Yong Tau Foo hawker stalls that can be found at People’s Park Complex Food Centre, but Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu enjoys the longest queue and also the shortest opening hours.
It only opens for 3 hours a day, starting from 1pm (closed on Mondays).
You may already find a small queue forming even before its official opening hour.
They only have one choice on their menu and they do full justice with it, whether it is the freshness and generosity of ingredients or the delicate and perfect balance of flavours.
Their Yong Tau Foo with Soup comes served without any heavy carbs like noodles or bee hoon. The soup while light, was surprisingly ”qing” and tasty.
The deep-fried bean curd was my favourite ingredient, beautiful golden-brown, along with a great tasting tofu in silky consistency that melts in your mouth.
Read more at: Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu 永祥興豆腐 (People’s Park Food Centre)
Poy Kee Yong Tau Foo
People’s Park Food Centre #01-1066
Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
This is the other popular Yong Tau Foo stall at People’s Park Complex Food Centre, known for flavourful soup with the springy fishballs and noodles.
Most people visit this particular stall to get one mean serving of Yong Tau Foo without having to stand in an overly long line (compared to Yong Xiang Xing).
And it also comes with choices of mee kia or mee pok (Not all YTF stalls offer these two types.)
I got the dry version of Yong Tau Foo with mee pok noodles, and was surprised at how generously filled and satiating for its price.
The delicious stock was complemented well by crispy ikan bilis with a nice savoury balance. Not that salty at all.
The soup carried tastes of anchovies and soybeans, but the star of the dish was definitely the springy and chewy fishballs, and the taupok with fresh fish paste.
Ri Ri Hong Mala Xiang Guo 日日紅麻辣香鍋
People’s Park Food Centre #01-152
Opening Hours: 10am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
While “Mala” has always been known for its Sichuan and Chong Qing origin, this particular dish did take up in Singapore in quite a big way.
One of the most popular stalls credited for making this famous, is Ri Ri Hong Mala Xiang Guo at People’s Park Food Centre. They have a few stalls in the same food centre.
This dish might not have been included a couple of years ago, but now you would spot a Mala Xiang Guo stall in almost every hawker centre, even food courts and coffee shop.
For the uninitiated, the dish consists of a variety of picked ingredients (such as sliced meats, spam, mushroom, vegetables to instant noodles) wok-fried in high heat together with tongue-numbing sauce.
Be careful with picking too much without considering, or it would be a very expensive meal.
Customers can usually pick from ”Xiao La” (little spicy), ”Zhong La” (medium spicy), to ”Da La” (very spicy).
I think they have tamed down the level of spiciness and greasiness to suit the local palates, which is perhaps one of the reasons why it got popular. Also it is not that expensive comparatively. However, it was not as xiang (fragrant) as I would have preferred.
Ma-La Hot Pot
People’s Park Food Centre #01-1060A
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
This is the other famous Mala Xiang Guo stall in the same food centre. Though Ri Ri Hong seems more popular, this is quite a worthy competitor.
One thing I noted was that the stall people picked the ingredients for the customer – you just point and choose. Not too expensive as well (comparatively to other places), with my bowl costing $10.
I enjoyed the texture of the instant noodles; it was oily but not over. One thing to note was that the ma (numbing sensation) was more apparent here, and spices aromatic.
There are also other cooked food dishes here such as Frog’s Legs, Chongqing Spicy Sliced Fish, Hot Pot Chicken, Spicy Chicken aka La Zi Ji, and Twice-Cooked Pork.
Hong Peng La Mian Xiao Long Bao 洪鹏拉面小笼包
People’s Park Food Centre #01-1064
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Somewhere within this massive hawker place in the Chinatown district, is a Michelin-recommended stall serving up La Mian and Xiao Long Bao.
The handmade Shanghai Xiao Long Bao filled with minced pork and chives, were chewy and juicy.
The skin was not too thick, so you won’t feel too stuffed after a few pieces.
Freshly made on the spot and steamed, they were served with accompanying condiments chopped chili and ginger strips soaked in black vinegar.
I won’t say they are the best around in Singapore, and perhaps lacked of the fine-delicate touches, but probably above the average with their juicy fillings.
Zhen Zhu Fang Roasted Delights 珍珠坊香港烧
People’s Park Food Centre #01-1098
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Zhen Zhu Fang Roasted Delights 珍珠坊香港烧 has been listed in the Michelin Guide with a Michelin Plate for a number of years.
Some of the reasons why it is that popular is due to its consistent taste, affordable pricing, and its location right next to the entrance of the food centre.
Expect to find delights such as Roasted Duck Rice, Char Siew Rice, Twin Mix Rice, Roasted Pork Rice, Roasted Duck Noodles, and Wanton Noodles
While I won’t say that the Char Siew Noodles is out of this world, there is something about that dark sauce and well-marinated roasted pork that gave it that familiar Cantonese flavour.
Read more at: Zhen Zhu Fang Roasted Delights 珍珠坊香港烧 (People’s Park Food Centre)
O Kee Roast Delight O 记 (previously called Wen Dao Ji 文道记)
People’s Park Food Centre #01-1014
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Toh Kee may have closed, but there is this roast meat stall called “O Kee Roast Delight O 记 ” just a few stalls away.
Some customers may be confused if it is the actual previous “Toh Kee / Dao Ji”. (Interestingly, the stall pasted a Lianhe Wanbao” article but if you read between the fine lines, it described how Toh Kee’s 3rd generation hawker was unhappy that their old staff was employed over. Anyway…)
On the menu are items of Roast Duck, Pork Ribs, Roast Pork, and Roast Char Siew in various combinations.
I had the Roast Char Siew with Rice, and thought that the rice was fragrant, matched with delightful savoury-sweet plum sauce.
Between the duck and char siew, I preferred the latter was nicely charred, lean yet tender and sweet. I wished they were thicker and slightly fattier but no major complaints.
Lek Kee Authentic Teochew Braised Duck 陆记正宗潮洲卤鸭
People’s Park Food Centre #01-1104
Opening Hours: 11:15am – 2:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
A stall that would see a moderately long queue before opening hours, and usually gets sold out by late lunch time.
Lek Kee is known for selling authentic-style Teochew Braised Duck.
Customers usually add on other braised side dishes such as gizzards, tau kwa, tau pok, pig’s stomach, and egg.
What you get is something of old-school Teochew flavour – lean duck braised with soy sauce and aromatics, and braising sauce splashed over the meats and rice.
Loh Mei Specialist 湿卤味
People’s Park Food Centre #01-1106A
Opening Hours: 12pm – 8pm (Mon – Sun)
Uncle was proud to declare that his stall is probably the only one of its kind left in Singapore. It specialises in Cantonese-style braised meats and tofu in a nan ru red fermented soybean paste.
The dish came interestingly served in a metal container, on top of a red plastic tray. I saw braised parts like pork belly, chicken wings, tau pok and kang kong in nan ru.
The sauce was surprisingly on the wetter diluted side, almost like soup, and I sensed hints of Chinese wine.
I thought it tasted strange on my first mouthful, but I gradually liked it better as I went along. The fermented taste was not as strong as I would have expected. An acquired taste.
Hometown Hainan Fen 家鄉海南粉
People’s Park Food Centre #01-1100
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)
Something I have not seen commonly elsewhere – Hainanese-style Beef Noodles which is different from the dark gooey, starchy version we are more accustomed to.
The stall helmed by two Hainanese sisters serves up Hainanese Fun with pork or beef, Hainanese Pickle Fun, Bao Luo Fun Soup, Brisket Fun, and Brisket with Pickled Cabbage Fun.
The “Fun” here refers to the thick vermicelli, which is similar to the beehoon used in laksa (This is an alternative as the original Sanya “Fun” would be more expensive to import over.)
My bowl came with roasted peanuts, pickled vegetables, bamboo shoot and thin shredded beef in a starchy brown sauce.
This is probably as close and authentic as what you can get from Hainan island, though may need to get some accustoming to due to the slightly-sweet gravy.
Chop Hean Kuan
People’s Park Food Centre #01-1018
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Chop Hean Kuan specialises in handmade dim sum. Their menu boasts a wide range of delicious options, including the all-time favourites like Siew Mai, Lo Mai Kai, fried dumplings, chicken wings, egg tarts and Pau.
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