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Having been covered by an array of publications, Truly Teochew has gained quite the repertoire for having Teochew porridge that comforts the soul. Despite its popularity, Truly Teochew has decided to close its shutters, closing as of 13 May 2023.
Usually, traditional dishes with a unique yet authentic flair would do well, as one might believe. Some examples of such would be Taste Good‘s Salted Egg Chicken Rice or 808 Eating House‘s cuisine. Yet, it seems that Truly Teochew is one of the unfortunate stalls that have slipped through the cracks.
Truly Teochew, founded by former corporate staff Ziying, started out as a home-based business during the Covid-19 period. As the dine-in restrictions subsided and many folks went back to the physical F&B places, Ziying decided to ride the wave of Truly Teochew’s popularity to open a physical stall of her own.
Having opened the physical coffeeshop stall at Bukit Merah in Nov 2022, this authentic Teochew stall closed a mere 7 months later. What’s the reason? Well, the reasoning behind this closure remains unclear, with no solid reason on their social media.
It is truly a shame, as this business announced closures to both their online and physical store. With no mentioned plans of continuing anywhere else, Truly Teochew seems to be ending their chapter for good this time.
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Ziying thanked folks for all their love and support throughout the operation, mentioning that it has been a pleasure bringing their homemade Teochew porridge to the community. This was definitely a heart wrenching moment for many.
The pao fan-style Cuttlefish Teochew Porridge (S$7.80 for regular, S$9 for large) is made using a 50-year-old recipe by Ziying’s grandma, being packed full of umami without any MSG. This bowl of goodness is loaded with an abundance of ingredients like pork belly and shiitake mushrooms, providing a homey taste just like grandma’s meals.
Like most of the comments on Truly Teochew’s goodbye post, I give my thanks to Truly Teochew for providing such a heartwarming and nourishing dish for Singapore to enjoy. Perhaps, there is an inkling of possibility that this porridge stall may come back to Singapore’s food scene.
