Do-It-Yourself Tour
(Own time own target. Eat as you go, go as you eat.)
Best Food in Chinatown
Breakfast/Lunch
First Stop:
Chinatown Complex, Block 335 Smith Street
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Lor
Mai Fun
Niu Che Shui Glutinous Rice
#02-011
Opening Hour: 6.30am to 11.00am
Closed: Thursday
Comment: Although too much glutinous rice can cause indigestion to many, it’s worth joining the perpetual queue and get your hands on both varieties – eat the savoury first and have the sweet one as dessert. They sprinkle a spoon of crispy fried shallots which gives the soft dish an extra nice texture and taste.
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Carrot
Cake
Lao Ji Cooked Food
#02-014
Opening Hour: 5.00am to 7.00pm
Comment: The steamed lor pak ko (radish cake) and wu tao ko (yam cake) is superbly soft, smooth and fragrant. They don’t re-fry them, they simply garnish it with some flavoured oil, soy sauce and sesame seeds and it will send our palate heavenwards. They freshly make a whole stack of these cakes in trays (about 20 plus) daily and they go fast. Be patient with the long queue and note the short operation hours.
Second Stop:
Hong Lim Market and Food Centre, Block 531A Upper
Cross Street
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Char
Kway Teow
Outram Park Fried Kway Teow
#02-18
Opening Hour: 7.00am to 4.30pm
Closed: Sunday and Public Holiday
Comment: His char kway teow seems to get better and better with increased human traffic. Maybe more practice makes a better char kway teow too! You can have it with or without the sweet black sauce. He does not use any stock and just relies on a very good frying technique.
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Ipoh
Hor Fun
Tuck Kee (Ipoh) Sah Ho Fun
#02-41
Opening Hour: 11.00am to 3.00pm
Closed: Sunday
Comment: This stall is a household name in crayfish hor fun. The daily queues are legendary and a half an hour queue time is normal. Their thickened sauce is tasty yet light and has a smooth savoury seafood flavour.
Third Stop:
Maxwell Road Food Centre
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Onde
Onde
Xing Xing Tapioka Cake
Stall 31
Opening Hour: 8.00am to 2.00pm
Closed: Sunday
Comments: The sweet potato flour mix batter is smooth and soft and each onde onde is made ala minute on the spot. The freshness of the grated coconut and the good grade of gula melaka used is the winning formula here. The fillings “ explodes” when bit into.
Tau
Suan
75 Peanuts Soup
Stall 57
Opening Hour: 7.30am till sold out
Closed: Monday
Comment: Light and not too starchy. Beans not overcooked.
