Located at the heart of Singapore, EatAlley in Orchard Gateway can be a Malaysian food lover’s dream come true – without travelling up the Causeway.
This 150-seat food court at basement 2 is an enclave showcasing some of the best of Malaysia’s fare, bringing together renowned street food brands from Kuala Lumpur under one roof.
Stalls include illustrious names like Koon Kee Wanton Mee, Hong Lai Hokkien Mee, Siong Huat Bah Kut Teh, Kam Heong Braised Duck, Soong Kee Beef Noodle, Fatty Nasi Lemak, and Restoran Chuan Huat – fondly known as Uncle Beh Pork Noodle.
While prices are slightly above the norm for a food court, it is understandable since the space is located in the heart of town at Somerset. (But I can already anticipate a number of online comments on the pricing, especially with the current exchange rate.)
It has already attracted quite a sizable lunch time crowd, so I would recommend coming slightly off peak hours if you can afford it.
It is a convenient destination for those longing for a taste of Malaysian street food fare in Singapore without crossing borders.
Check out the following 8 stalls from EatAlley: Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any content and photos without express and written permission from DFD is strictly prohibited.
Koon Kee Wanton Mee
Being a Wanton Mee lover, I was most keen to try Koon Kee Wanton Mee first – and I was also enticed by their char siew with that gorgeous caramelisation.
Customers can order the Signature Trio Wanton Noodles ($12.80) which combines char siew, sliced steamed chicken, chicken feet and mushroom; or usual Char Siew Wanton Noodle ($7.80).
The noodles, springy and freshly made in their own factory, came drenched in a flavourful dark sauce.
My favourite part was the melt-in-your-mouth char siew, beautifully caramelised, which elevated the dish to another level. I did wish the char siew slices could have been warmer though (tasted slightly cold), so perhaps something could have been managed about that.
Hong Lai Hokkien Mee
Hong Lai Hokkien Mee from Kedai Kopi Dan Makanan Hong Lai with a legacy of 53 years, is another standout and seems like one of the most popular stalls here.
The corner stall serves KL style Hokkien noodles ($9.80), Moonlight Horfun ($9.80), Shanghai Horfun or Wat Tan Hor ($9.80), Shanghai Bee Hoon ($9.80), and Cantonese Yee Mee ($9.80).
Their KL Hokkien Mee, famous for its dark, fragrant sauce and crunchy pork lard, was a hearty, savoury delight.
Flavourful and not overly greasy, the dish delivers a good amount of ‘wok-hei’, although a smokier aroma would add to the authentic taste.
The lard which was freshly prepared every morning, took the dish to a whole new level of deliciousness with the presence of crispy, golden-brown crunches.
Soong Kee Beef Noodle
The stall started in 1945, and is known for its Beef Combo Noodles ($9.80), available in both dry and soup versions.
This is not like your usual Beef Noodles. This came in two parts, with Minced Meat Noodles of mee kia bathed in a rich, signature dark soy sauce and topped with a mix of savoury minced beef and pork.
The soup includes beef slices, beef balls, beef tripe and brisket; and my favourite part was the dense beef balls with a bouncy bite.
Kam Heong Braised Duck
Established in 1976 by Tan Boon Seong, the star of the show here is undoubtedly their Teochew-style Braised Duck.
A Kam Heong Signature Set ($9.80) comes with braised duck, braised egg, salted vegetable and special “butter rice”
The duck is braised freshly every day, with the whole preparation process taking 5-6 hours.
While many Braised Ducks have a strong herbal taste, you would find that the skin is coated in a light brown glaze,
This stall opts for a lighter fragrance of spices, allowing the natural flavors of the tender meat to shine through. Give it a dip on the specially made chilli sauce.
Accompanying is Kam Heong’s popular preserved salted vegetables. Unlike the usual versions that possess a strong sour taste, this stall’s rendition adds a pleasant twist with a tinge of sweetness that also effectively cleanses the palate between bites.
Siong Huat Bah Kut Teh
A stall that specializes in herbal Bah Kut Teh ($10.80) served in mini claypots, the aroma wafting from the stall would be hard to resist.
I found their famous Klang style Dry Bah Kut Teh ($10.80) more impressionable.
The fall-off-the-bone ribs were a testament to their slow-cooking technique, coated in a rich and robust sauce, slightly spicy yet well-balanced with faint aroma of Chinese wine.
Uncle Beh Pork Noodle
For a unique taste, venture to Uncle Beh Pork Noodle from Restoran Chuan Huat.
Their Beh Signature Pork Noodle Combo ($10.80) is a tantalising mix of minced pork, sliced pork, pork kidney, liver and intestines.
Notably different from Singapore’s Bak Chor Mee, there is no vinegar or chilli sauce added to the dry noodles.
Instead, the noodles, especially the recommended “mee tai mak”, are tossed in a delectable dark sauce (I did wish there was some spice to oomph it up).
The soup was the better part to me, offering clean-tasting pork innards and a sweet, flavourful broth, testimony to their insistence on using fresh ingredients.
Kampung Nasi Lemak
Fatty OUG or Fatty Nasi Lemak offers a broad range of Nasi Lemak options. This ‘road-side’ stall was specially ‘hunted’ by the founder himself, who mentioned he wanted to bring this authentic style here.
Starting from $8.80, diners can savour Nasi Lemak with Ayam Rempah, Ayam Masak Merah, Chicken Rendang, Beef Rendang, Sambal Cockles, or Sambal Cuttlefish.
At the heart of this dish is the fragrant ‘kukus’ style rice – steamed using wooden steamers resulting in a fluffy texture and light pandan aroma.
The Ayam Rempah or spiced chicken, is the recommended choice. The chicken is marinated in a aromatic blend of spices, then fried till golden with a a crispy outer layer while retaining its tenderness.
There is also a drink and dessert stall serving Toasted Bread sets, snacks, dim sum and dessert.
The Toasted Bread Sets can be paired with traditional kopi (coffee), teh (tea), and half-boiled eggs. Have the golden brown toasted spread your choice of butter with kaya (coconut jam), peanut butter, or condensed milk.
Another item worth exploring at EatAlley is their Chendol ($3.50) to beat the tropical heat, a dessert that combines shaved ice, coconut milk, gula melaka (palm sugar syrup), and a variety of toppings – loved the generous amounts of red bean.
EatAlley
Orchard Gateway #B2-12, 277 Orchard Road, Singapore 238858
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Other Related Entries
10 Exciting Eats At orchardgateaway
* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
“generous amounts of red bean”? More like anorexic amounts of red bean. My experience on 30/7/23. I have video to prove!