Lai Hua Porridge Cheong Fun: Found my Zhar Leong at last!

I finally found a stall in a hawker centre that sells Zhar Leong (Chee Cheong Fun with You Tiao)!

For those who haven't yet tried this Hong Kong Dim Sum dish, it is essentially deep fried flour wrapped in steamed flour and drenched in a slightly sweet and savoury soy sauce. A very simple dish which uses the most basic of ingredients but it really hits the spot and can be quite addictive.

Zhar Leong isn't quite considered a top dim sum dish in Singapore, but in Hong Kong it is found in every self respecting Dim Sum restaurant. I must say that it is my favourite form of Cheong Fun (Steamed Rice Rolls) and I would always ask for Zhar Leong first and settle with Char Siew Cheong Fun if it wasn't available. It isn't easy to find Zhar Leong even in a lot of fancy Dim Sim restaurants which is why I am quite excited to find this stall that sells it for $2.50 in Changi Village Food Centre.

I thought that it was very smart of Chef Tham to include this dish in his newly opened stall. It really does differentiate his stall from the others. It certainly caught my attention. Chef Tham used to be the head Dim Sum Chef of Goodwood Park Hotel, before he decided to venture out to start his own business, so he certainly has good credentials backing him up.

The Cheong Fun is made fresh when you order and was quite good though I expected it to be just that bit more soft and silky since it is handmade. Otherwise, for $2.50 it did satisfy my craving for Zhar Leong.  4/5

For those who like the Hong Kong style congee, you can also order a bowl of congee from the stall. For me, the Hong Kong style congee is less robust than the Hainanese style. The porridge here reminded me of congee that Crystal Jade serves. The pork balls are a little different from the usual local version where minced meat are rolled into balls. These are a little more bouncy and have a texture somewhere between the commercially available pork balls and the ones you make yourself at home. Great if you are looking for Hong Kong style porridge. 3.75/5



Conclusion

Not many places where you can just sit down and order a plate of Zhar Leong in Singapore so it is well worth a visit if you are after a tasty snack.

Update:  16 Sep 2008

My apologies, the Changi Village Food Centre is closed for renovations till 7 Oct 2008.  Thanks to our readers who highlighted this to us.

Lai Hua Porridge Cheong Fun 

Changi Village Food Centre 

8am to 9pm 

Closed on Wed 

96526038



What to do next:

Check out another place to eat Zhar Leong: Victor's Kitchen
Must try the Ipoh Hor Fun opposite this stall!
As well as the Beef Kway Teow beside it!

Freshly Made Chee Cheong Fun: The Secret Weapon for Finicky Kids!

Char Siew Chee Cheong Fun $2 each

My five year old daughter is really picky about food and often would take an hour just to finish a meal (if she even finishes it!). But when she took her first bite of this Chee Cheong Fun, she couldn't stop eating it and I had to go back to buy an extra one just for her! Are there any parents out there who are reading this?

The reason she likes it so much is that the Chee Cheong Fun is really soft, smooth and slippery. That's because it is made on the spot. The sauce that goes with the Chee Cheong Fun is the type that you get when you go for Dim Sum. Ok, belay that, the Chee Cheong Fun IS the type that you get at Dim Sum Restaurants -- only better. It doesn't get fresher than having your face steamed by the very steam that steamed your Chee Cheong Fun.



Ok, I admit it. I had to buy my daughter some more Chee Cheong Fun because Daddy liked it so much that Daddy had finished it before she had enough. I am so enamored with freshly made Chee Cheong Fun that I don't think I would ever be satisfied with the usual pre-made ones anymore! Aside from the superly duperly soft-as-silk Chee Cheong Fun, I also found the Char Siew to be very good. Gimme two Char Siew Cheong and I am a very happy man! (Oh and two more for my little girl....and two more for my boy) 4.5/5


Hae Chor and Sui Gao $4

Besides the Chee Cheong Fun, the other item that you should try is the Hae Chor. It's handmade and contains lots of crunchy water chestnuts and they are freshly friend to order. Bit on the small side but it packs quite a crunch! 4.25/5

Conclusion

Definitely one of the best Char Siew Cheong Fun and great value for money too! From my daughter's point of view it would probably have rated close to a 5!


Freshly Made Chee Cheong Fun
Old Airport Road Food Centre
#01-155
8am to 10pm daily