Swatow City

Visiting Swatow again, but this time with a twist for which every Wednesday night, Swatow City @ Bukit Batok HomeTeamNS hosts open mic sessions from 6.30–9.30pm. 🎤

HomeTeamNS

Swatow City is located on the 2nd level of the club, welcoming guests with a glamorous entrance framed by warm lighting and an inviting archway. 

Entrance

We settled ourselves down and were served with the nicely packed chrysanthemum drinks packed by the restaurant in a nice bottle.

Chrysanthemum Drinks

We began with the Teochew Specialities Trio Combination Platter, a must-try at any Teochew restaurant. It featured Chilled Jellied Pork Knuckles, Crispy-Fried Handmade Prawn Roll, and the unique Crispy-Fried Pork Liver Roll, each showcasing the essence of traditional Teochew flavors. The platter was accompanied by sweet sauce and chilli sauce on the side, perfect for enhancing the flavors of each bite.

Teochew Specialities Trio Combination Platter 潮州三彩拼盘 - $32

Skipping the rice for carbs, we opted for Ee Fu Noodles instead. Despite its simplicity with mushrooms, beansprouts, and chives, the noodles were undeniably delicious, carrying that comforting wok-kissed flavor in every bite.

Ee Fu Noodle with Mushroom

Here comes a series of chef’s specials. The Braised Pork Ribs with Bitter Gourd in Preserved Black Bean Sauce brought a familiar comfort, reminiscent of classic Cze Char dishes found in the heartlands. The flavors were well-balanced, not overly salty, making it enjoyable even on its own without white rice.

Braised Pork Ribs with Bitter Gourd in Preserved Black Bean Sauce 鼓汁凉瓜排骨 - $23

Besides the array of tantalising dishes, the highlight is also the Open Mic Session every Wednesday, where diners can dedicate songs and sing over the microphone, adding a lively and engaging touch to the dining experience.

Open Mic Session Every Wednesday

Sichuan Chicken with Dry Red Chilli came with crunchy cashew nuts and carried a savoury kick. It wasn’t overly spicy, though the flavours could have been more deeply infused into the meat.

Sichuan Chicken with Dry Red Chilli 官保鸡球 - $23

Next up, the Prawns with Creamy Lime Sauce, juicy battered prawns, deep-fried to golden crisp, then coated in a rich, tangy lime sauce and finished with a sprinkle of roasted sesame for extra fragrance.

Prawns with Creamy Lime Sauce 西柠奶油下 - $24

Crispy Fish Coated with Sweet Golden Syrup, this dish instantly reminded me of a Chinese New Year snack. If I wasn’t told it was fish, I could have mistaken it for the familiar syrup-coated treat, with its addictive crunch and caramelised sweetness.

Crispy Fish Coated with Sweet Golden Syrup 酥烤鱼柳（四川） - $20

Stewed Eggplant with Sambal Chilli, a comforting dish that evoked a nostalgic taste of home-cooked food, with tender eggplant soaking up the spicy, savoury sambal.

Stewed Eggplant with Sambal Chilli 辣味茄子 - $18

Stewed French Beans with Minced Meat (Sichuan Style) – a delightful dish with a sweet and tangy balance, appetising with every bite.

Stewed French Beans with Minced Meat (Sichuan Style) 干扁四季豆 （四川）- $18

Overall, these were the dishes we ordered, a delightful spread with a good balance of noodles, vegetables, seafood, and meat dishes.

Dishes Order

No meal feels complete without desserts. We ended with the Teochew staple, Orh Nee with pumpkin and ginkgo nuts not too sweet, just to our liking

Teochew Orh Nee with Pumpkin & Gingko Nuts 潮州金瓜白果芋泥

We also shared the Fresh Mango & Pomelo Sago, a refreshing and satisfying way to complete the meal.

Fresh Mango & Pomelo Sago 金枝玉露

With Chef Specials featuring both Teochew and Sichuan dishes, plus an open mic on Wednesdays, it’s no wonder the place draws a crowd.

Swatow City 
Location: Bukit Batok HomeTeamNS, 2 Bukit Batok West Ave 7, #02-05 , Singapore 659003

Swatow City (Bukit Batok Home TeamNS)

Many years ago, I visited Swatow in Toa Payoh for dim sum, and it left a lasting impression on me. Knowing that they have a branch in the west, we made plans to head down and try their Chinese meals. It felt like a nostalgic revisit, this time with the anticipation of discovering how their full dining experience would compare.

Beverages were served in a sleek disposable can, offering a modern and convenient way to enjoy a chilled drink at Swatow.

Drink

We ordered the Roast Peking Duck with Homemade Wraps & Trio Sauce, a highlight of the evening. 

Roast Peking Duck with Homemade Wraps & Trio Sauce 北京片皮烤鸭

Like many traditional Chinese restaurants, Swatow follows the customary protocol of slicing the roasted duck skin piece by piece in front of the diners. 

Peking Duck

The glossy, crisp skin was skillfully carved and served with delicate homemade wraps and a trio of sauces, each enhancing the duck’s rich flavour in its own way.

Skin

Another star of the night was the Braised Teochew Superior Shark's Fin Soup served in a Stone Bowl with Crispy Shrimp Roll. Presented in a hot stone pot placed on a wooden board, the dish was visually striking and retained its heat throughout the meal. The soup was rich and full of umami, with a luxurious texture that spoke of careful, slow braising. Paired with the golden Crispy Shrimp Roll, which added a delightful crunch, the combination was pure yumminess from start to finish.

Braised Teochew Superior Shark's Fin Soup Serve in Stone Bowl with Crispy Shrimp Roll
金汤石锅鲍翅伴手工虾卷 - $58

While we were savoring the shark’s fin soup, the Roast Peking Duck with Homemade Wraps & Trio Sauce was served in sequence at the table, accompanied by neatly arranged cucumber and scallion, ready for wrapping and enjoying.

The Sauces, Wrap, cucumber and scallion

The duck was beautifully roasted, flavorful without being too gamey. The thin egg wrap was delicate yet held together well, perfectly complementing the savoury roasted duck skin and trio of sauces. The sauce had a pleasant sweetness that paired nicely with the rich duck, while the skin was wonderfully crispy, adding a satisfying contrast in texture with each bite.

Wrap it up!

Some of the duck meat was used to prepare a comforting plate of Ee Fu Noodles, while the rest was served separately as a generous portion on a platter. The meat was tender, flavorful, and infused with the rich, roasted essence of the duck, absolutely delicious in both presentations.

Roast Duck

One of the more visually striking dishes was the Ice Sweet & Sour Kurobuta Pork with Lychee. Served atop a bed of crushed ice, the chilled presentation added a refreshing twist to the classic sweet and sour profile. 

Ice Sweet & Sour Kurobuta Pork with Lychee
 冰沙荔枝黑豚咕噜肉

The Kurobuta pork was perfectly fried, crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. Coated in a tangy, glossy sauce and paired with chunks of pineapple, bell peppers, and whole lychees, the dish offered a harmonious balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors. A creative and delightful take on a familiar favorite, ideal for beating the heat.

So Yummy!

For a lighter, more refreshing touch, we had the Sautéed Asparagus & Fresh Lily Bulbs with Macadamia Nuts. The asparagus was crisp and tender, offering a satisfying crunch in every bite. Paired with delicate fresh lily bulbs, earthy mushrooms, and buttery macadamia nuts, the dish was beautifully balanced in texture and flavor. It was lightly seasoned to let the natural sweetness of the vegetables shine, a clean, nourishing contrast to the richer dishes on the table.

Sauteed Asparagus & Fresh Lily Bulbs with Macadamia Nut
夏果鲜百炒芦笋

A portion of the duck meat was cleverly repurposed into a hearty serving of Braised Ee-Fu Noodles, while the rest remained as a generous platter of roast duck. The noodles were braised just right, soft yet springy, and well-coated in a savoury sauce. Generous strips of tender duck meat were tossed in alongside crunchy bean sprouts and slivers of yellow chives, adding both texture and a subtle sweetness. It was a comforting, satisfying dish that showcased the duck in a whole new way.

Braised with Ee-Fu Noodle 烤鸭二度焖伊面 $20 

In conclusion, Swatow City offers a delightful journey into Teochew cuisine with a diverse menu ranging from fresh seafood to traditional dim sum. The dishes are crafted with authenticity and care, while the setting provides a comfortable, family-friendly dining experience. With thoughtful touches like beverages served in trendy disposable cans and islandwide delivery options, Swatow City ensures both dine-in and takeaway experiences are enjoyable and convenient. A great spot for anyone craving heartwarming Teochew flavors.

Swatow City (Bukit Batok Home TeamNS）
Location: HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok 2 Bukit Batok West Ave 7 #02-05 Singapore 659003

Website

Mian Wang 1971 面王一九七一

It has been 4 years since my last visit to Wang 1971 面王一九七一 and this place is still as popular as one of the popular Hokkien Mee in Bukit Batok. The stall has shifted its location but still resides in the same coffee shop.

The business was bustling during our visit and we had to wait about 20-30 minutes for our order.

The Salted Egg Calamari was well-battered and deep-fried with a crispy yet soft exterior. 

Salted Egg Calamari Hokkien Mee 咸蛋海鲜福建面 - $7

I'm simply addicted to its savoury taste. Pairing this with the moist Hokkien Mee with Squid and Prawns was good. The crispy pork lards topping the Hokkien Mee had also lifted the taste of the HKM.

Calamari

Besides the Calamari, I'm also a fan of Lala, thus I also ordered the Lala Seafood Hokkien Mee. Hokkien Mee in general had a tad of "wok hei" with slightly thick stock and a reasonable amount of squids and prawns. Lala on the other hand were a handful too.

Seafood Lala Hokkien Mee 海鲜啦啦福建面 - $7

What a satisfying meal we had. Besides that, if you can take some spiciness, enjoy the fiery kick of the chilli.

Lala

Do give it a try if you are keen on a plate of Hokkien Mee.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Mian Wang
Location:  Blk 537 Bukit Batok Street 52, Sin Eating House, Singapore 650537
Nearest Station: Bukit Gombak (NS3)

Xiang Mei Roasted Meat

I was introduced to this Traditional Popular Roasted Meat place up in the hills of Bukit Gombak Estate. I searched through the stalls of the coffee shop only to realise that Xiang Mei Roasted Meat is an eatery that has a whole unit space of its own.

Xiang Mei Roasted Meat

Just before entering the eatery, a big menu is plastered by the side of the wall, allowing patrons to decide what to order.

Menu

The texture of the noodles was springy and tossed in its seasoning with blanched vegetables. The white radish soup consists of softened cut radish blocks. Despite this plainness without the roasted meat, I felt that I could even finish the noodles and soup alone without other ingredients.

Noodles

For the 4 mixtures of meats, we have Angelica Duck, Roasted Chicken, Roasted Meat and Char Siew. The Roasted items on our platter were skillfully done in a uniform brownish colour in the outer layer, keeping the meat moist without getting too dry.

4 Mix - $15

While observing the "Ah Po" aka Granny sitting at one of the tables quietly working on wrapping up the dumplings one by one and enjoying my bowl of dumpling soup. Although I prefer the White Radish soup taste that comes with my noodle, I prefer these dumplings as it was plump and succulent with prawns, minced meat, crunchy water chestnut chunks accompanied by vegetables in the soup too.

Dumpling Soup 水饺汤 - $5.50

Enjoy the crackle from the top crispy layer while biting down the roasted meat. 

Roasted Pork

Looking at the neverending queue, be it food deliveries or walk-in patrons, it's a good testament to the standard of food Xiang Mei Roasted Meat is serving. If you have not tried them, do give it a try!

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Xiang Mei Roasted Meat
Location: 395A Bukit Batok West Ave. 5, #03-06, Singapore 651395
Nearest Station: Bukit Gombak (NS3)

Shi Mei Hainanese Chicken Rice

Many online have raved about this chicken rice stall being the best among the competitors and the chained chicken rice. With the chicken rice craving, we had, it's hard to resist our legs from carrying ourselves here at Shi Mei Hainanese Chicken Rice Stall. 

It was a surprise to us as the stall was packed and with customers surrounding the stall waiting for their number to be called. Nonetheless, the lady who was in charge of taking orders was quick and got our orders done in a minute or two.

Stall of Shi Mei Hainanese Chicken Rice

This is absolutely a lunchtime gluttony meal for 2 pax with so much meat. We had assorted meat (4 types) and a Thai Style Beancurd.

Our Orders - $32.40

The Thai Style Beancurd was deep fried and coated with sweet and sauce chilli sauce.

Thai Style Beancurd

We ordered a quarter of steamed chicken and a quarter of roasted chicken. This tender and glistering chicken was generously drenched by a few layers of sticky sauce whose style was rather unique as compared to the usual coffee shop chicken rice we had. The meat was decked up by a bed of blanched beansprouts,

Roasted and Steamed Chicken with braised egg

The crackling roasted pork skin was delicious and the layer of meat to fat was clearly defined by a glance. Char Siew on the other hand was drenched with sweet tasty dark sauce and had some charred edges.

Char Siew  Roasted Pork

The bowl of chicken rice was packed full of fragrance and I can totally consume it plainly without any meat. On a side note, for those who love to drink the soup that comes with the meal, it may be a little disappointing as it was rather peppery.

Rice - $1.20

Shi Mei Hainanese Chicken Rice Style is indeed standing up from the rest with its bean sprouts and the sauce used. If you are looking for a style away from our conventional chicken rice meal that is ladled with soy and sesame sauce over the chicken meat, you might want to give this a try.

Rating: 3.25 / 5

Shi Mei Hainanese Chicken Rice
Location: 371 Bukit Batok Street 31, #01-326, Singapore 650371

Feng Zhen Lor Mee (Taman Jurong)

I noticed that Feng Zhen Lor Mee has been aggressively expanding across Singapore and it was made known that the Yew Tee and Taman Jurong versions of Feng Zhen Lor Mee is manned differently by relatives in case you are as confused. Just recently on the 5th of July, Feng Zhen Lor Mee (Taman Jurong) has opened another outlet in Bukit Batok which is about 5 minutes away from Bukit Gombak MRT.

Stall of Feng Zhen Lor Mee (Taman Jurong) in Bukit Batok

While I prefer to go for originality, I opted for the Traditional Lor Mee comprising of fish cake, braised pork belly, half hard-boiled egg and meatballs. I was excited to have the bowl of Lor Mee initially but my excitement died down as I took a mouthful of the braised gravy. It was lacking flavours and oomph. The taste was nothing familiar to what I had in Taman Jurong. 

Traditional Lor Mee 传统卤面 - $4 (Small) 

While the handmade fried Meat Ball was what left a good impression on the Taman Jurong Lor Mee Stall on Yung Sheng Road that I had over the years. The bowl of Traditional Lor Mee has 2 of it.

Fried Meat Ball

Following the Taman Jurong Style, the Fish Lor Mee comes with flaky pieces of fried Batang fish, fishcake, and half hard-boiled a egg as the ingredients.

Fish Lor Mee 全鱼卤面 - $6

Having tasted the Yew Tee Feng Zhen Lor Mee version recently, I would say that the style and braised gravy are of vast difference. If you have tried both the Yew Tee and Taman Jurong versions too, which do you prefer?

Rating: 3 / 5

Feng Zhen Lor Mee (Taman Jurong)
Location: 373 Bukit Batok Street 31, Singapore 650373
Nearest Station: Bukit Gombak (NS3)

Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee

If you love BCM (Bah Chor Mee) you would have probably heard of Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee which was previously located in Hong Lim food Center. The stall has been around since 1945, passing recipe from the original owner to his sons.

Everytime, without fail, I will get to Ah Kow's Die Hard Supporters adding to its long snaking queues. What's so great about the bowls of noodle, let's check it out.

Stall Front

Our frequent order from the stall will be Bee Tai Mak Dry in its smallest available portion at $4 per bowl.  For those who prefer more vinegar in their minced meat noodle will definitely appreciate the "uncontrolled" use of black vinegar in their noodles.

Minced Meat Noodle (Dry) - $4 (Small)

Noodles were springy and complemented well with the sauce. Ingredients were generous in its thick cut braised mushrooms, handful of minced meat and noodles stand up with its fragrant fried sole fish.

Minced Meat Noodle (Dry) - $6 (Big)

Overall, Ah Kow's noodle is some food that we will return for its taste and generous portion.

 Apart from food, I notice that the stall owner has passion in running the business. On several occasions, I noticed that his white shirt was totally drenched either in his sweat or most probably from the steaming vapour of his soup, but such thing has never stop him from serving out more delicious bowls of Minced Meat Noodle!

Bee Tai Mak Dry

Rating: 4 / 5

Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee
Location: Block 359 Bukit Batok Street 31 Singapore 650359