Yong Heng Fried Baby Squid Prawn Mee @ Blk 155 Bukit Batok Street 11

Just a few stalls down from Tiong Bahru Lor Mee, located within the same coffee shop is Yong Heng Fried Baby Squid Prawn Mee.

I was actually looking for the lor mee stall when I chanced upon this stall selling Hokkien mee. The sight of the three whole squids atop the plate of fried Hokkien mee on the signboard (refer to the last photo below) prompted me to order a medium ($4/$6/$8) plate to try.

When my order was ready, I took a look at my plate longingly but the three squids were no where to be seen. There are only squid rings and if you piece them all together, does not even form the half of one squid, not to mention three.

Oh no.

Have I been taken for a ride? Is this yet another case of "photos are for illustration only"?

When will I stop being gullible?

Yang Zhou Fried Hokkien Mee @ Blk 127 Bukit Merah Lane 1

For the last 30 years, the owners of Yang Zhou Fried Hokkien Mee have been frying their noodles over a charcoal stove inside a coffee shop at Beo Crescent, effectively drawing long queue of customers everyday.

Two years ago, they relocated to another coffee shop called KPT Coffee Shop at Blk 127 Bukit Merah Lane 1 which, unfortunately, does not allow them to use charcoal anymore.

I am a old school foodie and I am game for anything cooked over a charcoal stove. Although they no longer uses it, I am still tempted to give them a try thanks to the glowing reviews online.

I visited the stall at about ten on a weekday morning with no queue in sight. The stall owner - Uncle Lim - was busy at the back while his wife is seated at the front with the newspapers spread in front of her. I walked up to her and placed an order for a $5 plate.

Ming Yun Famous Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle @ Geylang East Market & Food Centre

After a visit to Certis Cisco Centre at Paya Lebar, I decided to check out the nearby Geylang East Market & Food Centre for my late breakfast.

Due to it being my first time in this area, I had a bit of trouble locating it.

It doesn't help that I was caught in a heavy downpour that morning. Even though I had with me an umbrella, I was completely drenched.

With the wind threatening to wrench the umbrella out of my hands, I tightened my grip on it with one hand while the other held on to my phone for directions from google map.

I eventually found the food centre behind some shop houses which is almost impossible to spot from the main road. Feeling cold and uncomfortable with wet clothes sticking to my skin, I make a beeline for the shelter, grateful for the respite from the rain.

I have done my due diligence the night before and had a rough idea of what the food centre has to offer. I have my eyes set on the hokkien mee ($4/$5/$6) from Ming Yun Famous Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle. 

Cheng Ji Chao Xia Mian Hao Jian @ Seah Im Food Centre

While researching about Seah Im Food Centre, I learned about this notorious Hokkien mee stall who had, for reasons unknown, set some weird rules for its customers.

According to the accounts of several past customers, the owners do not allow them to take more than one pair of chopsticks. Those unaware of the 'law' ended up being chided for doing so. This has caused much distress among the 'victims' but the owners seem adamant about it.

This really piqued my interest hence I decided to pay this stall a visit. However, I have no plans to use myself as a bait to prove if the rumor is indeed true!

Xie Kee Hokkien Mee @ Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre

After Dad's hospital appointment on a Monday, we decided to drop by Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre for dinner since we are traveling by the downtown line.

We initially wanted to have the white bee hoon but the stall was closed. Instead, I was surprised to see Xie Kee Hokkien Mee opened for business because according to Burpple, Monday is their off day.

The uncle is sitting outside of his stall all alone without a single customer in sight. My immediate thought is how lucky we are, to be the first in queue thus we do not have to wait for long. I immediately placed an order for two $3 plates of Hokkien mee and took a seat beside the stall.