While it may be right next to a busy bus interchange, Seah Im Food Centre (2 Seah Im Rd.) has some great options for after a big run at Mt Faber Park or a shopathon at Vivocity. Here are the unmissable stalls.
Cai Ji Boneless Duck Rice (#01-58)
We love the toothsome yam rice here, cooked in a fragrant broth until brown, and served with heaps of sliced duck and fragrant brown sauce ($2.80). If you’re not feeling that hungry, the silky duck porridge ($2.50) is equally good.
Cheng Ji Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee (#01-59)
The fried prawn mee ($2.50) is sloppy and messy but the generous amounts of prawns and cuttlefish on top of the egg and rice noodle mix is always a good sign. The dish is not too wet or too dry, so it coats the noodles in an even slick of sauce. Don’t skimp on the sambal and lime, though, for the perfect balance of flavors.
Fried Kuay Teow Mee (#01-26)
Not the most original of names, but who cares. While the stall’s main focus is fried kway teow ($2.50) with cockles and Chinese sausage, their carrot cake ($2.50, both white and black) is surprisingly good. It comes with proper wok hei with soft morsels of radish cake, scrambled eggs and scallions.
Aspirasi Food Stall (#01-45)
One of the many halal stalls at Seah Im, this is the place to satisfy chicken cravings. Although they have dishes like lemon chicken, the star of the menu is their ayam penyet ($5). The generous portion comes heaped with rice, a huge chicken thigh and sambal. You can even help yourself to unlimited fried flour crumbs, arguably the best part.
Ichiban Seafood Sliced Fish Soup (#01-18)
The fish here is sliced thick and is tender but firm. Each bowl is a pretty generous portion for what you pay ($4) and uses seabass (not the cheap stuff). While the broth is light and delicate, it’s still flavorful. Plus, the ginger-garlic condiment seals the deal.
Thaksin Beef Noodle (#01-44)
This Thai stall uses slippery kway teow noodles topped with chunks of beef and tripe in a super beefy broth, not unlike pho. You can also get Thai fried rice ($3.50) and Thai fried kway teow ($3).
Tian Ji Niang Dou Fu (#01-52)
Yong tau hu is perfect comfort food for rainy days and the one here comes with a fiery laksa variant ($3). Although you can’t pick and choose your ingredients, a standard bowl consists of fishballs, fried crispy tofu and fish cakes. You choose the type of noodles, though.
