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Char kway teow has always been a sinful yet irresistibly delectable dish in my memories. The smoky charred flavour, along with that intense umami from the soy sauces, always hit the spot. So, when a secret through the grapevine revealed that there was a rather established char kway teow stall in Bukit Merah Central Food Centre named Day Night Fried Kway Teow, I jumped at the opportunity.
Expectedly, tables were almost fully occupied in Bukit Merah Central Food Centre, so be sure to chope a place before shifting to buy some grub!
Look at that queue! It seems many folks knew to patronise Day Night Fried Kway Teow. With news clippings stuck on the glass, they definitely flexed their prestige, with many awards and stickers from a variety of publications — ieatishootipost, Shin Min Daily News, and even from us at SethLui.com.
Though the queue was long, it moved with brisk speed, all thanks to the lady boss’s efficiency. With the uncle behind the glass working his wok magic and the lady boss’s fast service, the two made a fantastic team!
What I tried at Day Night Fried Kway Teow
Even though I opted for the bigger portion of S$5, I found myself feeling unimpressed by the portion I had received. Even as I brought the dish over, my companion was stunned at the unexpectedly small portion. However, considering that the portion may be a one-person size, it made sense.
On the other hand, the smell made a bold statement, with that smoky scent wafting around. It definitely hinted towards the wok hei of the dish, which I felt was a little on the lighter side. I adored the sweetness enveloping the noodles thanks to the dark soy sauce.
I am a complete sucker for different textures, having a deep appreciation for the two types of noodles — kway teow and yellow noodles. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the kway teow was on the thinner side, adding a slight jump to the strands.
Surprisingly, the tau gey acted as a nice refresher for the overall hearty dish. With the crunch from the vegetables combined with the springy softness of the noodles came great satisfaction. For those who usually opt for them to be removed, the tau gey is unfortunately not possible to be removable at this stall, so do take note.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the ingredients in Day Night Fried Kway Teow’s char kway teow. Fishcakes are my longtime weakness, and in my humble opinion, it tastes even better with all that soaked up wok hei goodness. It came with mini pops of pork lard, which were crunchier than the regular type I was accustomed to.
To my astonishment, there were some pieces of mini cockles. The salty brine made for a delightful surprise that added to the flavour profile of the char kway teow. However, it is rather limited, with only 2 or 3 of them in the big portion.
My favourite ingredient had to be the pork lard. A good portion of us agree that pork lard is essential in char kway teow, yes? Day Night Fried Kway Teow’s pork lard was on the crunchier side, rather than the melt-in-your-mouth kind. Chewing on it with the other parts of the dish gave a fattiness I loved and fully appreciated. It was definitely worth the clogged arteries.
Final thoughts
After trying, I can see why there was a queue for sure. Day Night Fried Kway Teow definitely scratches that hearty itch. Still, I do hope for more ingredients, especially for the price. Perhaps I would ask for more of the sausage and pork lard next time round.
If you are at Bukit Merah Central Food Centre, it would be a good call to stop by and try what Day Night Fried Kway Teow has to offer.
Expected damage: S$4 – S$5 per pax
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