In the past few months, Taiwanese food has been gaining some traction in the scene. Maybe Singaporeans are really missing the night markets in Taipei.
In fact, you can find two Lu Rou Fan stalls at the diverse Golden Mile Food Centre itself – Wen Li Taiwanese Food 文礼台湾美食 and braise 卤之家.
The young hawker duo behind Wen Li Taiwanese Food brings flavours from across the straits to Singapore, and they have done a good job in a short span of time – having opened three stalls already.
Other than the original stall at Golden Mile Food Centre, there are two more at Bedok North Street 1 and 90 Boon Lay Place.
The young hawkers behind Wen Li are not newbies to the industries. Apparently, they met while working at Five Guys.
The very affordable and comforting Taiwanese food served by them can be attributed to their combined food and beverage experience.
Items on the menu include Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice ($3.60), Pig Intestine Mee Sua ($3.50), along with sides of Braised Chicken Cabbage ($2, $3.80) and Homemade Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken ($3.80).
The magnum opus, Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice ($3.50), comes in a good portion. I added an egg which was $1.50 more.
You can also order as a set at $6.80 (still very affordable) which includes the Lu Rou Fan, Popcorn Chicken, Soft Boiled Egg, and Chilled Cucumber Salad.
Its rustic charm lies in its simplicity, with recipe said to be gathered from a Taiwanese Ah Ma.
Every bowl is assembled by laying a scoop of delicate braised pork over a layer of Taiwanese pearl rice, with spring onions to finish.
Of course, it has more to it than it seems, with a considerable amount of time put into the cooking process.
While I won’t use “super authentic” to describe the bowl which has probably been fine-tuned to suit local palates (especially with chilli added), the combination of saucy braised pork collar and pork jowl was flavourful.
And I am glad they used short-grain Taiwanese pearl rice which was fluffy, slightly sticky, and complemented the braised meats well.
I thought that the $3.50 bowl needed some form of pickled vegetables to balance the richness of the sauce. Then I realised the more expensive set included chilled cucumbers.
Another Taiwanese comfort food is on the menu, being the Pig Intestine Mee Sua ($3.50). A version with oysters might be the more well-known counterpart.
A Set B ($6.80) gets you the mee sua dish and the popcorn chicken.
Preparing pig intestines is a very labour-intensive process, but they a good job with it. Placed together with mee sua (thin vermicelli), the savoury dish, served hot, was nicely gooey and decent.
Some may prefer a version a version with oysters, and I thought the bonito flavour was rather strong. But loved the semi-thick consistency.
I guess the perfect Taiwanese street food is nothing else but the Homemade Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken ($3.80).
Fried to order, the chicken thigh chunks receive a salt-and-pepper seasoning before it is served. Or you can get it in a set.
I was recommended to order the Braised Chinese Cabbage ($2/$3.80).
Although I was filling very full already, I am glad I did because this was the side dish that indeed reminded me of Ah Ma’s (grandmother) cooking, which has melt-in-the-mouth soft cabbage, some pork belly chunks, and homely garlicky taste.
Since Taiwanese food is also meant to be affordable, the Set A ($6.80) comes with the braised pork rice, popcorn chicken, soft boiled egg and a cucumber salad side.
With such value-for-money, Wen Li Taiwanese Food should hang around for some time. And the hawkers are known to be friendly and personable.
Wen Li Taiwanese Food 文礼台湾美食
Golden Mile Food Centre #01-65, 505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583
Opening Hours: 11am – 7:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Wen Li Taiwanese Food – Bedok
Blk 204, Bedok North Street 1, Shi Wei Tian Coffeeshop #01-435, Singapore 460204
Opening Hours: 11am – 7:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Wen Li Taiwanese Food – Boon Lay
90 Boon Lay Place, Singapore 649884
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Other Related Entries
braise 卤之家 (Golden Mile Food Centre)
Breakfast Hola 早餐好了 (South Bridge Road)
MONKI 台灣小吃部 (The Star Vista)
Want Food Taiwanese Delights 恋恋湾味 (Cross Street)
初早餐 True Breakfast (Capitol Singapore)
* Written by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary and Dean Ang. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
