Talk about delicious Curry Chicken Noodles in Singapore, and Hong Lim Food Centre is THE place to head to.
The humble hawker stall Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee 興記咖哩雞米粉麵 has gained popularity for its deliciously complex Curry Chicken Noodles.
Located in the ever-busy ground floor of Hong Lim Food Centre (especially at lunch), its signboard is proudly adorned with mirror images of a chicken – as on the nose as it gets.
Otherwise, the stall is plain and unassuming. It has finally received a Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore in 2023 – what took the Michelin inspectors so long to discover them?
This comes 60 years after its establishment in the 1970s, on just its second-generation owner.
It also does not really need the award, as many consider it to be one of the best Curry Chicken Noodles in Singapore.
However, do be patient as the wait can be quite long. Even if you are lucky enough to see just a couple of customers ahead of you, be prepared to wait for say 30 minutes for your food.
The meticulous preparation process, from the hand-ground spice paste, slow simmering of the curry, and chopping of the chicken all take time.
At Heng Kee, each bowl is a symphony of yellow noodles or rice vermicelli, potent curry, and tender chopped chicken.
Get it in Regular ($6) or the more substantial Large ($9).
Half the magic is really with the chicken, which is poached every morning by a very specific method of dunking the chicken in and out of a pot.
Whatever the reason, it creates soft slices of chicken that are easy to chow down.
The other part is all about the curry, which does not pull back on its punches. It looks potentially red – thick and rich, balanced between spicy and savoury, though on the greasy side.
Watch the massive pot simmer on the stove, almost as if it does not reduce even when the bowls keep going out.
It is the perfect broth to coat the strands of noodles, where the yellow noodles give the bite while the rice vermicelli brings in the flavour of the broth.
Throwing in ingredients such as potatoes, tofu puffs, and fishcake, the curry noodles make for a filling lunch.
The tau pok (fried tofu puffs) is part of my favourite component, which are cut into bigger slices to soak up the curry like little sponges, offering bursts of flavour in every bite.
That sambal chilli sauce (take just one saucer) is the best accompaniment you can add to the gravy, as it enhances the flavours.
There is probably a reason why Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee is loved by many and has received an accolade, and that reason should be found out by yourself. Happy queuing.
Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee
Hong Lim Food Centre #01-58, 531A Upper Cross Street, Singapore 051531
Opening Hours: 10am – 3:30pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
Other Related Entries
Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore 2023
10 Must-Try CURRY CHICKEN NOODLES in Singapore
Ah Heng Chicken Curry Bee Hoon Mee (Hong Lim Food Centre)
Fu Hai Curry Chicken Noodles (Tiong Bahru Food Centre)
Hock Hai (Hong Lim) Curry Chicken Noodle (Bedok Interchange Food Centre)
Read: DFD Singapore Michelin Bib Gourmand Reviews
* Written by Daniel Ang and Dean Ang. Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
