Fortune Centre is usually the place you visit for vegetarian cuisine, and more recently, Japanese food.
I walked past Chao Bing Xian Seafood Sliced Fish Soup 潮炳鲜, and stopped because its interior was quite a sight.
It looked like a miniature version of an old Teochew inn.
Old-style lanterns hang from the ceiling and the walls are covered with vibrant posters of the various soups on offer.
I heard that this place went viral on social media recently?
However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the crowd was quite manageable when I arrived.
There were plenty of empty stools and I did not have to ‘fight’ anyone for a spot.
The menu focuses on Teochew style soups with various combinations of meat and seafood.
Options include Mixed Pig Organ Soup ($8), Seafood Mixed Pig Organ Soup ($12), Teochew Fish Soup ($8), Seafood Teochew Fish Soup ($10), and Handmade Mushroom Meatball Soup ($6).
For the standard Teochew Fish Soup, you can choose a base of cabbage, salted vegetables, and bitter gourd, or even a yam base (for an extra $1).
These choices significantly alter the profile of the clear broth.
The salted vegetables add a tangy depth, while the yam option will give it a thicker, earthier finish.
However, this level of customisation was not available for the Seafood Soup (they didn’t explain clearly why), though it did come with quite a lot of cabbage.
The broth itself was clean and light, relying on the natural flavours rather than heavy seasoning or milk.
The sliced fish was fresh and firm, holding its shape well without becoming mushy.
While the soups were competent and certainly better than your average food court fare, they did not quite reach the heights of the most legendary stalls in Singapore.
If you want something to share, you can pick up the Fried Fish Cake ($10), Handmade Fried Meatballs ($2 for 3 pieces), Preserved Radish Omelette ($8), or the Oyster Omelette ($10).
The real surprise of the afternoon was the Preserved Radish Omelette, or Chai Po Omelette. I ordered it on a whim and it turned out to be the highlight of the meal.
The eggs arrived hot and fluffy with just the right amount of salty crunch from the preserved radish.
It tasted exactly like the kind of homely dish your grandmother might make on a rainy day.
Chao Bing Xian Seafood Sliced Fish Soup 潮炳鲜
Fortune Centre #01-17, 190 Middle Road, Singapore 188979
Opening Hours: 9.30am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)
Other Related Entries
Bau Mak (Golden Mile Food Centre)
Thai Seng Fish Soup (Ubi)
Piao Ji Fish Porridge 標记 (Amoy Street Food Centre)
Mei Xiang Black & White Fish Soup (Berseh Food Centre)
Chen Fa Fish Soup 臣發魚湯 (Lower Delta Road)
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