Steamed food stalls in hawker centres are not so common, often overshadowed by other popular heavyweights. It’s nice to see a place like this holding the fort for lighter, homestyle cooking.
Zhen De Hao 蒸得好 at ABC Brickworks Food Centre had been sitting on my radar for a while, so I finally decided to check it out.
The lines are consistently long. (Oh yah, there is also the similar-sounding Zhen Hao Wei 蒸好味 at Bt Merah View Food Centre opened by their friends apparently.)
The name 蒸得好 (zhēng dé hǎo) is a clever play on the phrase “really good” which roughly translates to “steamed well”.
The stall keeps things simple, focusing on steamed food and Cantonese-style soups.
The steamed dishes include Steamed Mushroom, Sausage, Chicken ($5.50), Steamed Fungus Ginger Chicken ($5), Steamed Pork Pate with Salted Fish and Chestnut ($5.50), Steamed Pork Pate with Lotus Root ($4.50), Steamed Pork Pate with Mui Choy ($4.50), and Steamed Pork Pate with Dong Choy ($4.50).
There are also Steamed Pork Ribs with Black Bean Sauce ($5), Steamed Tofu with Fish Paste ($3.50), Steamed Egg with Minced Meat ($2.50), and Oyster Sauce Kailan ($4).
They offer plain or brown rice (both $0.50).
The Steamed Mushroom, Sausage, Chicken ($5.50) was a proper old-school combo, and it looked as comforting as it sounds.
I got tender chunks of chicken, slices of Chinese sausage that brought that unmistakable sweet-salty kick, and soft mushrooms that soaked up all the good stuff.
It was the kind of dish that tasted like a family dinner, simple and familiar.
That said, the seasoning ran a bit safe. You are really counting on the sauce and sausage to carry the flavour. Best eaten with rice to mop up the juices.
The Steamed Pork Pate with Salted Fish and Chestnut hit in a totally different way.
The minced pork was firm and juicy, shaped into a thick patty, with salted fish scattered on top bringing a salty blast in every mouthful.
Full of old-school flavour, the chestnut added a bit of crunch and sweetness. It was bold, briny, and great for anyone who liked strong, punchy flavours.
If you prefer something lighter, I say go with the Steamed Egg with Minced Meat ($2.50).
The egg was silky smooth, with the minced meat adding a savoury punch that made each spoonful satisfying.
There are also soups available like Double-Boiled Old Cucumber Soup ($3.50), Double-Boiled Lotus Root Peanut Pork Ribs Soup ($3.50), and Double-Boiled Winter Melon Pork Ribs Soup ($3.50).
The stall is run with quiet efficiency, and you get the sense that the team knows exactly what they are doing.
If you are in the mood for something light and straightforward, gentle and familiar.
Zhen De Hao 蒸得好
ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre #01-108, 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 150006
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 8pm (Mon – Fri, Sun), Closed Sat
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