Cover COVER Soon Soon Teochew Porridge (Image: Facebook)
COVER Soon Soon Teochew Porridge (Image: Facebook)
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Singapore-based chefs recommend their favourite places for comforting Teochew porridge
Perfect for supper, or any meal for that matter, Teochew porridge has been a source of comfort food for many diners in Singapore. Displayed at these stalls serving these bowls of soft rice grains are all manner of fish, seafood, meat and vegetable dishes. Choose a variety of items you like along with some salted vegetables (kiam chye) and preserved radish (chye poh) to accompany the bowls of belly-warming porridge.
Below, we ask some of our favourite local chefs to share with us some of their go-to spots for the well-loved dish. Mark them down and seek them out the next time you're craving a bowl of porridge.
1. Teochew Rice & Porridge (Maxwell)
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Above ABOVE Teochew Rice & Porridge (Image: Facebook)
ABOVE Teochew Rice & Porridge (Image: Facebook)
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Chef Lamley Chua, Head of Japanese Culinary Development, 1-Group
Chef Lamley's favourite place for Teochew porridge is located in Maxwell Food Centre. “The stall was recommended by a friend more than 10 years ago and I’ve been going back there for comfort food ever since.” This popular stall has been around for four decades and consistently dishes out authentic and traditional Teochew porridge. “The stall owner, ‘granny’, who recently turned 85 years, old personally cooks all the dishes. Must-haves to be paired with the piping hot bowls of plain porridge are the braised pork belly, steamed whitebait and stir-fried minced pork.”
2. Teo Heng Teochew Porridge
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Above ABOVE Teo Heng Teochew Porridge (Image: Daniele Sperindio)
ABOVE Teo Heng Teochew Porridge (Image: Daniele Sperindio)
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Daniele Sperindio, Group Executive Chef, Il Lido Group
“Teo Heng is definitely one of my favourite Teochew porridge places in town. I love the homemade fish cake that is pillow-soft and very delicate in texture. And the fish is perfectly poached in a salted vegetable broth, which is well balanced.” This heritage stall has been serving authentic Teochew specialities including robust braised dishes for more than 60 years.
3. Ye Lai Xiang Teochew Porridge
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Above Photo: https://www.instagram.com/damienwanderer/
Photo: https://www.instagram.com/damienwanderer/
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Yeo Kai Siang, chef-owner, Chez Kai
“I used to live nearby and frequented the place very often as it opened till late. I’m a bit of a purist so I liked their braised pork (including belly and intestines) for the fat and gravy and salted vegetables. Braised meats are representative of Teochew cuisine and one of my earliest memories of having Teochew porridge was with my dad when I was five years old. He ordered braised pork belly along with it. I remembered not liking the porridge because I grew up with thick, flavourful Cantonese-style porridge and called Teochew porridge “watery rice” back then! Since then I have grown to appreciate this Teochew version of porridge, especially the dishes that go along with it.”
Ye Lai Xiang is also a favourite of chef Pang Kok Keong of Hakkapang and Supercurry. “I like their dark soy sauce pork belly, steamed pork ball, hae bee hiam, and braised cabbage with preserved beancurd.”
4. Sin Chao Gardens
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Chi Pin Han, chef-owner, Ki Teppan & Rogama and Ishinomaki Grill & Sake
“My family loves to go to Sin Chao Gardens at River Valley. It’s a heritage Teochew culinary institution run by a Teochew owner. The prices are fair and you can also dine in air-conditioned comfort. We will always have the pomfret of course. They serve it with pride here, and most times, it’s steamed to perfection with the classic slices of pork fat beneath the fish. Another must-have is the Teochew fish cake, which is full of flavour and has just the right bounce and bite, unlike other more commercialised versions.”
5. Soon Soon Teochew Porridge Restaurant
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Above ABOVE Image: Soon Soon Teochew Porridge Facebook
ABOVE Image: Soon Soon Teochew Porridge Facebook
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Willin Low, chef-restaurateur, Wild Rocket group
Low enjoys visiting Soon Soon in the Hougang or Kovan area for his Teochew porridge fix. “I like almost everything here. They used to serve a tofu with minced meat which I love, and the pig’s skin which was my mom’s favourite. When I’m there I would definitely order the hae bee hiam.” This place serves barbecued seafood items at night too.
Willin also enjoys the Teochew porridge at Heng Long, located at Upper Serangoon Road. Heng Long has four Teochew porridge branches around Singapore and also runs mixed vegetable rice and kway chap eateries.
