Local Chomps

Regardless of type, what constitutes a good dumpling for me is simple: a soft skin and a nicely-seasoned, juicy filling. The ratio of those two is key. Furthermore, the dumplings have to be freshly made on site.
中国拉面小龙包 - hawker stall #02-135 at Chinatown Complex Food Centre, is always buzzing because theirs fulfill all these requirements. The hive of activity centres around the tiny team that handmakes every single dumpling and the customers who mill around, awaiting their orders to be ready.

Been on a prawn noodle phase of late and watching videos of people making hokkien prawn mee just stokes my craving. Found out about this joint online and was ecstatic that it's so damn near the office. The stock was deliciously sweet and full of prawn flavour. The dried shrimp chilli gives it an umami lift. What a scrummy slurp!

Due to lack luster prawn noodles of the past, I gave up hoping for that glorious bowl that will astound me. So imagine my delight when a long forgotten stall I used to visit when I was younger popped into my radar while I was watching telly. This lady was slurping on said noodles and I was sold. I got the $11.80 large bowl because I am that greedy. The broth was so rich with that briny prawn umami flavour it as hard to stop. You got to give credit to the generous amounts of pork lard and fried shallots too. Thankfully they give soup refills. The dry version is equally addictive because of the shiok sambal liberally tossed within. What can I say - I'm hooked enough to be thinking of it one week later.

Char siew is usual my preferred protein when I'm out eating noodles. This time, there weren't any as they only specialized in chicken. I got the kway teow and they made for a silky bed for the chicken that was well showered with a light soy sauce. Pretty comforting lunch time food. I had them with a bowl of dumpling soup (also nice and comes with three plump dumplings)

First time dining at Food Republic @ Capitol and chanced upon a pretty decent bak chor mee stall (Capitol Bak Chor Mee). The mee pok noodles had plenty of bite (in other terms al dente) that I rarely get at other bak chor mee places. Incredibly shiok!