Having nominated as the top ten best fried kway teow dish, or in fact being famously known as the number one by locals in Singapore, “Hill Street Fried Kway Teow” dominates with a dish that is truly remarkable!
Hill Street Fried Kway Teow Review
I could still remember at countless time when I was craving for a plate of fried kway teow dish, I would be kept telling myself that on someday, I certainly need to make a trip down to get a first hand perspective of this goodness!
Having located in the east region of Singapore, “Pasar 16 @Bedok” is this food centre that is no stranger to this outstanding stall that whips up this mind-blowing dish!
I was here during early lunch hours to have already found myself joining in a line of queue that is filled with the local people who came from all parts of Singapore to indulge in this dish!“Hill Street Fried Kway Teow” is a reputation that has being pass down from past generations that bears the culinary skills of involving a two cycle of stir-frying!
The first cycle would involve by adding in a large potion of kway teow noodles into the wok that is stir-fried with some light soy sauce, followed by transferring over into numerous bowls. It is then subsequently divided individually into smaller portions to stir-fried for the second time that is added with dark soy sauce & main ingredients!
It took about 20 mins to get my hands on the fresh goodness where it contained a generous amount of ingredients such as egg, beansprouts, spring onion, yellow noodles, seafood cockles, Chinese chives & my favourite Chinese sausages!
There were also special ingredient of lard crackling added which should not be missed out on, adding into the wide spectrum of irresistible flavours in this dish!
The entire plate was filled with aromatic wok fragrance that contains a beautiful dark brown in colour from the hint of dark soya sauce. It is one of those kind of food dishes where it is just too pleasantly good looking to admire while constantly hesitating to start digging in!
Immediately what stood out upon having my first bite, were the taste of sweet fragrance from the dark soya sauce that was added!
There were an adequate amount of moisture that came along with the kway teow, eliminating the typical dryness that is commonly found in most stir-fried dishes.
The kway teow texture was definitely to my liking as it contained a delicate spongy texture that has fully absorbed the richness of the dark soy sauce, making it a superb enjoyable dish to savour!
For my order, i specifically requested mine to be added with some sambal chilli, where it certainly blew me away by that fusion of amazement from both the sweetness of the dark soy sauce & spiciness of the sambal chilli that is trying to dominate over one another!
The overall taste till far was considered beyond excellent where mentioning about the assortment of ingredients that were included with this dish, were really much considered as an additional bonus that brings the dish to a whole new level!
I really had to commend on the generous amount of ingredients that came along with the affordable price, making it extremely value for money!In particular, the ingredients such as the eggs were well prepared to elevate that fresh eggy flavour to the dish, as well as the seafood cockles that were extremely fresh & also my favourite Chinese sausages that had carried the bite size of sweetness!
To sum things up, “Hill Street Fried Kway Teow” is definitely & will be one of my best recommendation for a deserving plate of fried kway teow dish!
Finally for now, I am satisfied to have conquer this outstanding gem which really lives up to its name!
With such a scrumptious dish offered, I definitely could not resist finishing up the entire plate of goodness within minutes!
This is the kind of dish that you really want to cherish upon each bite while constantly be amazed by its charm.
About Hill Street Fried Kway Teow (禧街炒粿條)
Address: 16 Bedok South Road #01-41, 460016
Opening Hours: Tue – Sun: 10:30 – 18:00 (Closed: Mon)
Tel: –
Average Price:
- SGD $3.50 – Fried Kway Teow (Small)
- SGD $4.00 – Fried Kway Teow (Large)
A Bit of History
Let’s start with some background. Kway teow refers to flat rice noodles that are a staple ingredient in dishes across Singapore and Malaysia. The name “Hill Street” comes from the famous Hill Street Food Centre located in the Bugis area, where the dish was likely created. Vendors would stir-fry the kway teow noodles roadside with ingredients like seafood, egg, and bean sprouts. The woks would create a lovely aroma that would draw in hungry customers from the busy shopping district nearby.
While the original stall no longer exists, the name stuck and Hill Street Fried Kway Teow has become iconic. These days you can find it at hawker centres and kopitiams (local coffee shops) across the island. My favorite is the Hill Street Fried Kway Teow at Bedok South Food Centre. The queues can get long during peak mealtimes, but it’s worth the wait!
The Star Ingredient – Kway Teow
So what exactly are these magical kway teow noodles? They are flat rice noodles that are cut into strips. The noodles have a nice springy, chewy texture and absorb the flavors of the stir-fry beautifully. I love the broad surface area of the strips that allows every strand to get perfectly coated in the sauce. Some versions use the thicker kway teow while others use a thinner bee hoon variation. My personal preference is the standard kway teow, but it’s fun to try different types!
Freshly made kway teow has a lovely soft texture. Most vendors purchase it from noodle factories and then briefly rinse or soak the noodles to rehydrate them before frying. You can find dried kway teow in Asian grocery stores that you can quickly reconstitute at home. The pre-cut noodles save a lot of effort compared to making them entirely from scratch.
The Iconic Hill Street Fried Kway Teow Flavors
Now let’s get to the flavor! This dish is all about the interplay between sweet, savory, and smoky flavors. It starts with a very hot wok and just a bit of oil to coat the bottom. Sliced lap cheong (Chinese sausage) is fried first to render the fat and add sweetness. The sausage infuses the oil with tons of umami flavor.
Next, the noodles get tossed into the wok and fried very briefly with the sausage oil. Then eggs and bean sprouts are added and scrambled together. At this point, the chef adds a sweet dark soy sauce mixture that coats the noodles and creates that iconic dark color. A bit of thick, molasses-like black soy sauce adds complexity. Shrimp and sliced fishcake are tossed in to cook just until done.
The final touch is a sprinkle of minced garlic chives. They add a lovely hit of garlic flavor without being overpowering. For the utmost convenience in preparing this delectable dish, I highly recommend using the best garlic press to effortlessly extract the full essence of garlic, enhancing the overall flavor profile. A drizzle of chili sauce can also be added to amp up the spice level. The end result is an incredible combination of savory, sweet, smoky, and lightly spicy flavors all coating the springy noodles. It’s an addictive taste sensation you’ll crave again and again!
Tips for Enjoying Hill Street Fried Kway Teow
If you ever travel to Singapore, be sure to try this iconic dish! Here are my tips:
- Head to a hawker centre in the morning or for lunch. Afternoon and dinner hours will have longer queues.
- Go for vendors with the longest lines for the best quality. Or ask locals for their favorite stall.
- Feel free to customize your ingredients – add extra egg or remove bean sprouts if you prefer.
- Mix in the sambal chili to taste if you like some heat. Caution – a little goes a long way!
- Stir the noodles well as you eat to get an equal coating of sauce in each bite.
- Savor the medley of flavors and textures in each mouthful! The soft noodles, smoky sausage, sweet sauce, and crunchy sprouts.
I hope you get the chance to try the amazing Hill Street Fried Kway Teow in Singapore someday. Let me know if you have any other favorite Singaporean dishes I should try on my next visit! This foodie is always eager to discover new and exciting flavors.