There are so many ex-chefs from Din Tai Fung opening fried rice stalls these days that I’ve lost count.
Some rise quickly with queues, while others fade quietly back into the background.
Yi Family Dynasty Fried Rice 意家人炒饭世家 at Telok Blangah Crescent Food Centre is one of the latest names to enter this crowded arena, and it comes with an interesting story and a menu that feels both familiar and personal.
Hawker Joseph Khow spent more than a decade at Din Tai Fung, and the stall’s “Yi” 意 comes from his Chinese name.
The menu lists eleven varieties of fried rice, priced from $4.30 to $7.90.
Choices include pork chop, chicken, shrimp, fish fillet, sambal-spiced options and a more elaborate plate called “Mommy Secret Recipe”.
I was most curious about the Mommy Secret Recipe Fried Rice ($7.90), which interestingly did not come with any meat toppings, considering it was the priciest thing on the menu.
Apparently, Joseph often recalls how his mother would cook fried rice from scraps of leftover rice and vegetables, keeping it simple yet filling.
This plate came with egg, cabbage, preserved radish, mushrooms and long beans.
I liked the addition of long beans and mushrooms, which gave the dish a crunch and added more texture to the fried rice.”
While it looked pretty simple, this fried rice tasted quite layered and complex, and I cleared the plate without much effort.
The Golden Egg Fried Rice with Chicken Chop ($6.90) was a more straightforward plate that focused on clean execution.
The rice was evenly mixed with egg, giving it a mild richness while keeping the grains distinct (quite 粒粒香). Thankfully, it was not too oily and carried a steady savoury flavour.
In a landscape crowded with Din Tai Fung alumni chasing fried rice fame, Yi Family Dynasty’s version stands out for its honesty and comforting flavours.
I am now curious to try their other home-style food such as Ah Gong Fried Ngoh Hiang, Ah Ma Shrimp Omelette and Lou Dau Omelette.
Yi Family Dynasty Fried Rice 意家人炒饭世家
Telok Blangah Crescent Food Centre #01-127, Blk 11 Telok Blangah Crescent, Singapore 090022
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Thurs), 11am – 8:30pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Fri
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Telok Blangah Crescent Food Centre Food Guide
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