AiXin Wanton Noodle 爱心云吞面 at Chinatown Complex Food Centre caught my eye with the words “新山古早味” (old-school Johor Bahru-style) on its signboard. That promise of nostalgia was reason enough to stop for a bowl.
Aside from the Chinatown original, they have also expanded with a second outlet at 546A Serangoon North Ave 3.
The stall has a interesting heritage.
While the hawker originally hails from Vietnam, she married into a Singaporean family and learned the recipe from her father-in-law’s relative in Malaysia.
That relative has been selling JB-style wanton mee for more than 40 years, and she took up the mantle to preserve the traditional family flavours.
On the menu are Char Siew Wanton Noodle White ($4.50), Char Siew Wanton Noodle Black ($4.50), Char Siew Wanton Noodle Soup ($4.50), Shredded Chicken Noodle ($4.50), and Fried Wanton or Wanton Soup ($3.50).
Add-ons include extra noodles ($1.50), wanton ($1.50 for 3 pcs), braised chicken feet ($1.50), and takeaway container ($0.30).
While the hawker recommends the best-selling black sauce version, I ordered both the white and black bowls to compare.
The black sauce bowl had the more rounded flavour, with a gentle sweetness and savoury coating around the noodles.
It was not overly dark or heavy, and helped coat the noodle strands without making them soggy.
The noodles had a firm enough bite, with some springiness after mixing everything together, while the crispy pork lard added small pockets of fragrance.
I would have liked the noodles just a touch more QQ, but the overall toss was enjoyable enough.
The char siew was the lean, old-school kind, with a mild sweetness rather than fatty caramelised edges.
Some may prefer thicker, smokier char siew, but this style is quite typical of many wanton mee stalls.
By omitting the dark sauce, the inherent flavours of the lard, char siew, and egg noodles come through more directly, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer a less sweet profile.
If you prefer your wanton mee less saucy, this may work better.
The wantons were soft-skinned with a meaty filling, and the soup on the side was light and pleasant with some vegetables.
The Fried Wanton ($3.50) was more snackable, golden-crisp around the edges and best eaten hot.
What makes the stall particularly noteworthy is its name, AiXin, which translates to compassion.
Beyond operating a business, the team regularly partners with community groups to provide free meals to vulnerable seniors and rental flat residents in the area.
AiXin Wanton Noodle 爱心云吞面
Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre #02-149, 335 Smith Street, Singapore 050335 (Near Maxwell MRT)
Opening Hours: 9am – 2pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun
AiXin Wanton Noodle 爱心云吞面
546A Serangoon North Ave 3, #01-01, Singapore 551546
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 3:30pm (Mon – Sat), 8am – 3pm (Sun)
Other Related Entries
Peng Tiong Bahru Wanton Mee (Market Street Food Centre)
Yap Kee Wanton Egg Noodles (Holland Drive Food Centre)
Lee Place Wanton Mee (Chinatown)
Somerset Wanton Mee (Old Airport Road Food Centre)
Ji Ji Noodle House (Hong Lim Food Centre)
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