New Year, New Beginnings

After 2005, the Old Airport Road Emporium & Cooked Food Centre located at Blk 51 Old Airport Road, would be relocated just down the road from its original location. This Olympian sized food court housed many culinary gems that I only hope will not be lost after the upgrade. Here’s a little tribute to the stalls that I loved and (fingers-crossed) moved to the new complex instead of moving on to retirement.

Sin Bee Hiong Hokkien Lo Mee Prawn Mee
Previously at #01-127C



Certified by Makansutra with a triple chopstick grading, this Lor Mee sets the standard. The dark vicious gravy is hardly starchy and the crunch garnish of deep-fried and crumbled ang ko li (red snapper) bits, makes this humble dish rather spectacular.

Chuan Kee Satay
Previously at #01-123S


These meat sticks are dangerously addictive. After my first stick, I eyed the rest jealously, making sure that I got my equal share or more of the 2 dozen that we ordered. The meat is perfectly barbequed, the meat takes on the sweet marinade, remains succulent and takes on little burnt bits to provide some bitterness. And did I mention they came with a yummy pineapple satay sauce?

The battle of the Wantan Mee



Cho Kee Noodles
Previously at #01-113

vs.

Hua Kee Hougang Famous Wan Ton Mee
Previously at #01-113B

When I wandering into the far deep end of this eating complex, I found two famous wantan mee stalls -- judging from the number of newspaper articles, Channel U and Makansutra awards -- just stall or two away from each other Hua Kee had a long queue and Cho Kee had a digitised signboard that flashed numbers, summoning their customers forward to collect their bowls of noodles. Curious to see which was better, I bought one from each. I preferred the Cho Kee for its noodle texture, chilli and sauce, but wantan vs. wantan, Hua Kee’s wantans were better, Cho Kee’s was a little dry.

Matter Road Seafood & Barbeque
Previously at #01-131G

We had the chilli crabs from here, and the sauce was great, but the crabs were so-so. The stingray was wonderful and rightly torn apart and eaten under 5 minutes.

My Genie Gourmet
Previously #01-135

My dad groaned and complained about the queue when my mother queued up for some of their soon kueh, but he ate ALL of it for breakfast and did none for us. So I personally did not taste it, but it must have been good, no?

Mr Cook
Previously at #01-135C

The herbal chicken was fantastic. Falling off the bone, the meat melted in my mouth and the herbal chicken juices were slurpishly good.

Other very worthy stalls:

Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Prawn Mee
Previously at #01-115J

If you trust our makan guru See Toh, this is another tripe chopstick award winner.

To-Rico Guo Shi
Previously at #01-129D&E

So successful and popular, this double stall is hard to miss with the snaking human queue.

Toa Payoh Rojak
Previously at #01-125D

I haven’t been to the new place yet, but with a treasure chest of hawker gems, my next visit is not too far off.