No Name Hainanese Curry Rice: Maximum Ommph, Minimum Fuss

Crispy Fried Pork

There is really only one word that would adequately describe this meal and that word is SHIOK! Somehow "really tasty", "yummy", "delectable" and all the other adjectives don't really capture the emotional response as well as the word "SHIOK" or even better, "D__n SHIOK!". It just rolls off your tongue and I think it must also cause the release of endorphins when you say it. It really is almost like uttering a vulgar expletive because it does give release to your pent up emotions inside when you taste something that hits the spot. I reckon the Singapore Tourism Board should intentionally market it to tourists so that it has the same level of recognition as "Oishi!" and "Aroy Mak!".

This meal can be found in the most predictable of places, viz in an old run down coffeeshop reminicent of Singapore in the 60's. It is so unassuming that the stall doesn't even have a name, let alone a signboard. They don't even bother to light up the dreary trays of food! It goes to show that for Singaporeans, when it comes to food, it is all about substance over style, Shiokability over show.

The Crispy Fried Pork here is really D__n Shiok! Unlike some other stalls which I have tried, the crispy pork here is like eating Keropok. It is crispy right through and when you add it to the plate of rice covered with the deluge of curry, lor and cabbage gravy, it really is heavenly. Give me just these two things and I am a happy man. 4.75/5


Rice with Curry, Lor and Chap Chye Gravy. 50 cents

Now I always say that the only thing better than really good food is when the really good food is cheap as well. So here is probably the cheapest way for you to fill your tummy, still have change for your dollar AND still be able to say SHIOK! Yes, I have confirmed that they will actually sell you a plate of rice with 3 gravies for 50 cents and it comes with a plate and utensils.


Hainanese Curry Chicken

Now the star of the show is the Crispy Pork. The rest of the dishes like the Curry chicken 4/5, Braised Pork 4.25/5 and Stewed Cabbage with "Lion Head" 4.25/5 are all very good but not as outstanding. However, taken as a whole package, it makes for a very satisfying meal.

Conclusion

Shiok Not Enough! Veeeery Veeery Shiok!

No Name Hainanese Curry Rice
Blk 40 Beo Crescent
6.30am to 3pm
Closed Wed

Beach Road Scissor Cut Curry Rice: Sticky, Gooey, Goodness

I would bet that if you brought an Ang Moh friend to eat this Hainanese Curry Rice, he would think you were pulling a quick one on him. It's a plate of rice topped with an unthinkable mixture of gooey chicken curry, braised pork and slimy soft cabbage gravy. If you had never eaten this before, you'd probably be wondering how something that looks like pig's swill could even taste good.

But if you had just finished a 20km road march and had nothing else to eat but dry biscuits and water, this stuff will definitely hit the G-spot.

I also cannot imagine how you can mix curry with lor (braising sauce), but man the concoction sure tastes good. And that is not all, the texture of the gravy is like that of Tau Suan. It's full of corn starch, so it's like eating glue. But when you are famished, that bolus of rice and gravy slides down the oesophagus like engine oil on pistons. It's the quick and tasty way to satisfy your hunger pangs.



Best of all, you can eat everything with just a spoon since they cut up the meat for you with a traditional pair of scissors (don't know where to get these nowadays). Effortless, tasty and simply damn shiok. 4.5/5

Conclusion

Know any Ang Mohs who actually like this stuff?

Beach Road Scissor Cut Curry Rice
Cnr of Jalan Besar and Kitchener Road
11am to 3.30am daily

Redhill Curry Rice: Everything is good!

With iwatch_ueat, liverpool and SCS Butter


I am so glad that SCS Butter recommended this Curry Rice stall to me. When I eat at an economic rice stall, I usually order the same old dishes, namely Egg Tofu, Sweet and Sour Pork, Vegetables and maybe the curry chicken. Humans are such creatures of habit, or is it that we simply prefer to stick with what we know rather then venture into untested territory?

Anyway, I am so enamored with this particular Curry Rice stall because their selection of dishes are a little different from the rest and almost every dish here is really shiok! Seriously, if you arrange just a bit of each dish on a single plate and decorated it nicely, you could have a 10 course degustation menu!

The first thing that got my eyes wide open was the sambal which you scoop for yourself. My first taste of it was that "What the heck did they put in this" holy grail experience. After that, I was sold on the rest of the dishes. The sambal was sweet and tasted like its got chye poh inside, but the stall owner assured me that there isn't any in it. I could simply have the rice and the sambal and be really happy. 4.75/5 (Because it is not spicy, may people may not even consider this sambal and may disagree with this rating. But for me, it was sweet, savoury and super shiok)

Then there was the crispy pork which are almost like eating chewy Keropok (Fish Crackers). The contrast between the crispy pork and the soft rice drenched in savoury curry must be one of those "ahhh, I needed that" experience when you are really hungry. 4.25/5



This might look like Tau Pok (Fried Bean Curd) but it is not. It is their homemade fish paste wrapped in Tau Kee (Dried Bean Sheets) braised in a soy based sauce. The homemade fish paste is made from Batang fish and has excellent flavour and texture. I just loved the way the Deep Fried Tau Kee soaks up that tasty gravy! 4.5/5



Although this Curry Rice stall reminded me somewhat of the Hainanese Style Curry Rice, the owners are Teochew, not Hainanese and the food is not typically Teochew either. Except for maybe this Braised Pork which was one of the best I ever tasted. The texture was "melt in your mouth" perfect and the "Kiam Pang" flavour of the Pork really lingers at the back of your tongue after you swallow the tasty morsel. If only three layer pork was not bad for you! I could just savour a few slices of these with Steamed Buns! 4.5/5



Finally, the Fish Rolls. As I said earlier, their fish paste is made from Batang Fish which has a different taste from many places that use Yellowtail. The texture is soft but bouncy at the same time. They also added a bit of minced meat into the paste. Very very good. Must try this! 4.5/5

Conclusion

Everything is good! No Kidding! I'll be back again and again and again!

Redhill Curry Rice
Redhill Market and Food Centre
Blk 85 Red Hill Close
#01-95 (Facing Main Road)
10.30am to 9.30pm
Sunday Closed
96523471
Recommended by SCS Butter