Ah, it's heartwarming to see the younger generation take up a good hawker legacy.
Those of you who love dark sauce wanton noodles will certainly recall Sin Hoe Hin Wanton Mee at Rowell Road - it was the closest we could get to the KL-style noodles. How we cried in anguish when they decided to close for good in 2008 when the coffeeshop was sold.
But they are back, thanks to the son of the lady boss. He's been learning the skills from his mother, and is running the shop with another partner. It's at Jin Hock Food Place, the renovated coffeeshop at the corner of Upper Serangoon Road and Simon Road that took over Nam Heng coffeeshop.
Upper Serangoon is not a place I frequent, so I didn't get to see the old pre-war Nam Heng eatery where the famous oyster omelette used to be (they've moved a few doors down to 965 Upper Serangoon Road). Now it's just another brightly coloured modern coffeeshop.
But let's see how the noodles fare. Are they as good as they used to be? I was really (and desperately) holding out high hopes (never a good thing, as we all know).
OK, mix it up and you'll get the dark sauce coating the noodles. Mine (dry wanton noodles, S$3.50) was prepared by a young girl, and not any of the bosses, so I don't think I got the best deal.
Well, it doesn't seem as potent somehow. I remember the old noodles were not so one-dimensional.
What I do like - the fresh and fairly large pieces of wanton, the fried pieces of lard and the watercress which is a nice change from wretched chye sim. The soup that came with it was also decent.
It's still a good plate of noodles in general. Just a bit shy of wow.
There's hope though. I hear your experience might differ if someone else prepares your noodles.
You can see the wantons being freshly prepared. If I do go back, I'd try the shrimp dumplings.
SIN HOE HIN WANTON MEE
Jin Hock Food Place
941 Upper Serangoon Road (junction of Simon Road)
Singapore 534713
Open 8am to 10pm daily except Mondays
oh it is so near my place. I must go and try. Thank you for sharing the post.
ReplyDeleteOf the few visits I made, the best was made by the mum. The son operates in the day and his partner at night. I have not seen the partner cooked but was a middle age lady. It is not difficult to make the dumpling (shui jiao) or wanton tasty, it is in the recipe. It is another thing altogether in the noodle cooking. It takes skill, that can't be achieved overnight. It is not as good as before unless the mum cooks but give the young man some time. In the meantime be aware that what is sold at night is rather different. However, I find the partner more friendly and earnest :-)
ReplyDeleteThey've moved yet again!! No longer at Jin Hock. Anyone knows where they are?
ReplyDeleteThey've moved yet again!! No longer at Jin Hock. Anyone knows where they are?
ReplyDelete