Years back during the “Yummy King” programme voting for the favourite wanton mee, neighbouring Cho Kee Noodle won the taxi drivers’ hearts, but it was Hua Kee who earned the viewers’ votes to be Number One in Singapore.
Those were probably the days when diners could walk into Old Airport Road Food Centre, look at the two famous wanton mee stalls near the front, and decide if they wanted to do their own little comparison.
It has been quite a few years since I last wrote about “Hua Kee Hougang Famous Wanton Mee”, and quite a bit has changed.
The stall used to be located at the front row near the left extreme end, where it was hard to miss with its bright red signboard and media cuttings.
Now, it has moved towards the back of the food centre, and the name has changed to “Hougang Traditional Famous Wanton Noodle” (dropping the “Hua Kee”).
It still keeps its MICHELIN Selected (previously known as “MICHELIN Plate”) listing though.
I had the Wanton Noodle ($5), which came in a black bowl with thin mee kia, slices of red char siew, greens, pork lard, chilli and sauce.
The noodles still had a decent spring to them, with a lightly eggy bite that worked better after everything was tossed together properly.
They were not the soft and soggy type, but neither were they the extra firm, QQ style that some newer wanton mee stalls now aim for.
I would say the texture sat somewhere in between, pleasant enough when eaten hot.
The sauce had that slightly oily, slightly sweet, slightly savoury profile, with chilli worked into the mix. This version is heavier, more saucy, and a little more old-school in taste.
At the same time, I can also understand why not everyone would enjoy it.
The sauce may come across a touch sweet, which may not work for diners who like their wanton mee more savoury.
The char siew was the traditional reddish type, sliced thin, and some pieces were a little firm. The wantons were simple and soft.
If you are trying it for the first time today, without that memory attached, you may wonder why the stall has such a famous name. That may also explain the mixed reviews.
Still, if you are at Old Airport Road Food Centre and want to revisit one of its long running wanton mee names, this is worth a try with the right expectations.
Hougang Famous Wan Ton Mee 后港祖傳馳名雲吞麵
Old Airport Road Food Centre #01-35, 51 Old Airport Road, Singapore 390051
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon, Thurs – Sun), Closed Tues, Wed
Other Related Entries
24 Best Wanton Mee In Singapore
Cho Kee Noodle (Old Airport Food Centre)
Somerset Wanton Mee (Old Airport Road Food Centre)
Yap Kee Wanton Egg Noodles (Holland Drive Food Centre)
Ji Ji Noodle House (Hong Lim Food Centre)
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