The glimmering signboard of 137 Lor Mee Prawn Mee beckoned as I walked towards Tampines Round Market and Food Centre. Or rather, the growing queue spurred my steps.

I lost to an aunty by a narrow margin, but managed to claim fourth place before the earliest office crowd arrived. Perhaps it’s time to get a gym membership, sigh. However, my urge to go healthy was quickly replaced by the mouth-watering scent of lor mee zhap.
What I tried at 137 Lor Mee Prawn Mee




Inspirasi: Top-notch authentic mee rebus & soto ayam since 1970

137 Lor Mee Prawn Mee crowns their Lor Mee (S$4 for Regular, S$5 for Large) with a spoonful of garlic, chilli sauce, chopped coriander, and black vinegar. You could choose to opt out but there’s no way I was going to miss out on a hearty dose of minced garlic!

If there’s one thing I love having with thick sauces, it’s fried fish. Tartar, chilli, you name it. If it dips, it fits. The chunks of fish in the lor mee were thick and battered for a thin and crispy outer layer. The crunch of the freshly fried fish echoed in my ears as I bit down.
I was initially worried about receiving soggy fish when I saw the generous golden brown pieces smothered in lor mee sauce. I’ve never been more glad to be proven wrong!

A braised egg sat to the side of the bowl. It was a far cry from the star of the show, but the lor mee I know wouldn’t be the same without it. The firm yolk melted into the starchy broth as I chewed, lending a mellow creaminess to the herbal fragrance.

The extra surface area of the flattened yellow noodles allows much more of that gooey lor mee goodness to pervade every bite.
This is where the black vinegar really shines, as its acidity cuts through the richness of the sauce and keeps you coming back for more. Bring a pack of tissues, because eating clean simply isn’t possible with such a slurp-worthy bowl!
Final thoughts

I found 137 Lor Mee Prawn Mee’s portion sizes and ingredient quantities right up my alley. For S$4 a pack, I didn’t have to think twice before choosing 1 of each dish to sample. The prawn noodles were standard fare: the number of ingredients complemented the portion of noodles, and the soup was easy on the palate.
On the other hand, the lor mee was a cut above others I’ve tried before. Perfectly savoury, sour and slightly spicy, the broth enhanced the texture and flavours of the other ingredients. I’ll definitely try out the S$5 version next time.
If you’re in the area, 137 Lor Mee Prawn Mee is an affordable and tasty option for any meal of the day. Just make sure to go a little earlier, because the lines can be pretty intimidating!
Expected damage: S$4 – S$8 per pax
Katong Laksa (George’s): By George! That’s some solid Katong laksa in Katong