Location: Hougang Mall foodcourt, Stall 16, Level 4
Must Try!: Ban Mian
Pricing: $3-$6
Overall: ****1/2 (4 stars)
Mum didn’t went shopping for groceries this week, which left us practically nothing at home to cook for dinner. Therefore, I had to dine out before going home from school. Deciding to go for something near, the first thing that came into my mind is Qiu Lian Ban Mian at Hougang Mall. Took an MRT there, and alighted at Hougang station. Walked to Hougang Mall.
As it was before the evening after work rush hour, seats were plentiful. Despite the fact that the foodcourt was nowhere near filled, there were still a seizable amount of people queuing up for the Ban Mian. After queuing for some time, it was my turn. Being not a fan of the thick and broad Ban Mian noodles, I opted for the slimmer You Mian. I’ve also requested for extra anchovies, surprisingly, at no extra charges! So rare in Singapore to get extra stuff without extra cost nowadays. Got my noodles and found myself a seat effortlessly.
Staring at the Ban Mian makes one hungry. The tempting smell didn’t ameliorate the situation either. Took a closer shot before I started devour on it. Every part of the Ban Mian blends in so well like a perfect concoction from heaven. Hmmm, so what is it that make the nondescript noodles taste so great? I’ve did an investigation to find out why.
Suspect #1: The delicious Soup base
The soup is sweet and refreshing. It also not too salty to the extent of one feeling thirsty after drinking the soup. There were only little trace of MSG in the soup too. Rather good for the health conscience group. The explicit taste is unbeatable. I wonder how long they took to brew it. Hmmm.
Suspect #2: The crunchy Anchovies
Crunch, crunch, crunch. Just as you thought you were munching on some crackers, you realised that it was actually the anchovies. The anchovies were so crunchy that it doesn’t get soggy once in contact with the soup. Based on my experiences, most anchovies get soften when in soup. It’s kind of a miracle for this to happen. Another thing special about these anchovies is that it is not too salty. The saltiness of the anchovies were just nice that they were able to be eaten alone, without any other dishes. Perfect is so its middle name.
Suspect #3: The chewy Vegetables
Being a carnivore in nature, it’s kind of hard to get me piqued to eat vegetables. But Qiu Lian did it effortlessly. The vegetables in the Ban Mian were chewy yet not that difficult to break it. The vegetables were also fresh, as you can see in the photo. It’s so green that it’s no surprise if someone were to suspect it was being dyed. The vegetables were also cooked just nice. As you might know, if vegetables were over cooked, it will turn old and it won’t taste nice. If the vegetables were under cooked, it will have a very raw green taste, which is a major turn off for me. Yucks! Therfore, I think the often neglected vegetables deserve a honourable mention here.
Suspect #4: The fluffy Noodles
Smooth and springy, two words I would say. The thickness of the You Mian is to my liking. Not too thin, not too thick. The noodles were also well cooked. More often than not, you will encouter You Mian that’s powdery. That’s because the noodles are still not cooked throughly yet. There’s also those soggy and disgusting noodles, which is a sign of it being over cooked. It really take the skills to master the art noodle cooking. It’s not your kind of instant noodle, which is a no brainer to cook. Get it, yeah?
Suspect #5: The heavenly Chilli
Chilli is the key to how delicious a dish is, don’t you think so? Well, at least that applies in Singapore. I think the chilli is self made by the stall, if I’m not wrong. The chilli has a well blend of spicy and sour. The different layer in taste is definitely a gastronomical adventure for your taste buds. It is not those kind of chilli that is determined to put you on death throes, leaving you with a strong, spicy after taste. Ironically, the chilli is kind of refeshing that will definitely whip up your appetite.
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Well, after interrogating all the suspects, I came out with the main culprit that made this Ban Mian a Must-Try:
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The main culprit is THE ANCHOVIES!
I confess that I’m a sucker when it comes to the crunchy anchovies. The are seriously the best in Singapore! Try them!
wah. write until like professional liddat wor. if me i only know how to say “This is nice” and “This is not nice”.
Thanks for the compliment! Glad to see that people are reading my blog.
are you reading mine den
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