Alexandra Village Food Centre is already packed with familiar names, so I was quite curious when I spotted a brand-new curry stall with an old-school-looking “婆婆” on its signboard.
Curry Popo 咖喱婆婆 serves what it describes as “traditional Singapore-style curry”.
The hawkers shared that what worked in a small pot at home did not necessarily work when they started cooking in larger batches, so they went through numerous trials and adjustments before settling on the version they serve now.
They actually grew up eating a spicier curry, but made this one milder while trying to retain its creaminess and savoury flavour.
For now, the menu is deliberately small, with Curry Chicken Thigh ($5.80), Curry Drumstick ($5.50), Curry Drumstick + Thigh ($7.80) and Curry Vegetables ($4.80).
You can add Rice ($0.80), Yellow Noodles ($0.80), Curry Fishballs ($1 for 3 pieces), Tau Pok ($1), Potato ($1), Vegetables ($1) or French Loaf ($1.20 for 3 slices).
I tried the chicken curry with both yellow noodles and French loaf, and the gravy was probably what I enjoyed most.
It was creamy and coconutty, with enough chilli and spice to give it flavour without becoming overly hot.
This was not the very gao, rempah-heavy style where the spices hit you immediately, and I can imagine some curry lovers wanting more heat.
I personally did not mind the gentler approach, especially as I could keep spooning up the gravy without it becoming too rich or jelak.
The chicken was tender, while the potato had softened enough to absorb some of the curry without completely breaking apart.
Between noodles and bread, I preferred the French loaf. The slightly crusty bread soaked up the curry particularly well, and this was probably the combination that gave me the most old-school, comforting feel.
Curry Popo is still very new, and judging from its early posts, the owners are still adjusting things as they settle into the stall.
But I do like the idea of a new hawker business concentrating on something as familiar as Singapore-style curry, rather than trying to reinvent it too much. Jia you!
Curry Popo 咖喱婆婆
Alexandra Village Food Centre #01-37, 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 150120
Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)
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