It’s been 8 years since our last visit to Punggol Noodles, which, by the way, isn’t anywhere near Waterway Point. Instead, the hawker stall is nestled in Hougang Hainanese Village Centre at Lorong Ah Soo.
Punggol Noodles – stall front
Has its standard dropped, or are the dishes still as delicious? I had to find out for myself. It’s lunchtime, and there were already 6 people in front of me at the stall.
Punggol Noodles – stall owner
Despite a past accident that had caused Mr Yee to lose the front part of his arm, it doesn’t hinder him in any way. I watched as he cooked each bowl of noodles individually, and the line cleared surprisingly fast.
His excellent memory and speed put other hawkers with 2 arms to shame. And on top of that, he is incredibly nice!
Punggol Noodles – stall assistant
Mr Yee’s assistant not only helps with cooking but also serves customers and collects money.
What I tried at Punggol Noodles
Punggol Noodles – meatball noodles
With our stomachs rumbling, my dining partners and I gleefully tucked into the bowl of dry Meatball Noodles (S$4.50). My mee kia came with flavourful pieces of mushrooms and crunchy tau geh. The dish was accompanied by a separate bowl containing 5 Teochew meatballs, slices of fishcake, and fresh green veggies in a clear broth.
Punggol Noodles – tossed noodles closeup
After incorporating all the lovely seasonings and chilli that were hibernating under my bed of noodles, the yellow strands of mee kia were gleaming with oily deliciousness. However, I must admit that I was eagerly waiting for the umami-ness of the pork lard oil, typically associated with dry noodles, to hit me. Unfortunately, that moment didn’t happen.
Punggol Noodles – meatballs
The meatballs weren’t your cookie-cutter factory-made ones; instead, they were irregularly-shaped, which piqued my curiosity. As I took my first bite, I was pleasantly intrigued. The meatballs offered a delightful balance of chewy and tender portions, and I could taste the flavourful bits of dried sole fish injected into them.
