Bao Er Cafe (Fortune Centre)

Bao Er Cafe has been on a roll recently with the opening of several new outlets, including one in Holland Village that also had commenced operations not long ago. Those whom have been following the local F&B scene for quite a while would have known that the brand had first started from being Prawnography by Bao Er. Its new Fortune Centre outlet takes over the former premises of the now-defunct Duke Desserts; this makes them located in the same row of shops where Ume San 100 and the original location of Yat Ka Yan 一家人 Dessert is located. The food menu at Bao Er Cafe’s outlet at Fortune Centre is split into sections such as Bao Er Kaya Toast, Signature Hokkien Mee, Wok Fry Series (Noodles), Wok Fry Series (Rice), Specialty Pasta Series and Bao Er Bee Hoon Stall.

We found ourselves settling for the Jenny’s Seafood Hor Fun (Stir-Fried) in the Wok Fry Series (Noodles) section of the menu. It can be observed from our order that the Jenny’s Seafood Hor Fun (Stir-Fried) features wok-fried broad Kway Teow that comes with shreds of eggs, prawns and squid. Some would probably relate the Jenny’s Seafood Hor Fun (Stir-Fried) with the local Char Kuay Teow due to its wok-fried nature though we do feel that Bao Er Cafe’s Jenny’s Seafood Hor Fun (Stir-Fried) does come with its very own twist where it does not seem to be an attempt on serving up your typical plate of Char Kuay Teow. The highlight here would probably be how the Hor Fun is being fried; wok-fried with dark soy sauce, it does carry a hint of sweetness while there is also a smokiness (wok-hei) that comes through considering how some parts of the wok-fried Hor Fun came with a slight char. This went well with the chili that comes on the side — the same one which accompanies their Signature Hokkien Mee that is savoury, zippy and comes with a good kick of spiciness that tickles the tastebuds of those whom are tolerable to moderate levels of spiciness. The accompanying seafood such as the prawns and squid does also come sufficiently fresh as well.