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Correct me if I’m wrong, but one thing that Singaporeans love is the drama and rivalry between rival hawker stalls, especially when it involves members of the same family. If you’re a curry puff lover and, ahem, a kaypoh, you would probably know about the family dispute and chaos between Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff and Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff Original which made headlines in Jun 2023.
A few years ago, I remember a good friend of mine letting me try the chicken potato curry puff from one of these stalls. It was soooooo yummy but to be honest, I couldn’t remember which stall she got it from. As someone who works in food media, this is unacceptable! I need to know the characteristics of each stall and which one I prefer.
And so, together with my colleague Dean, I headed down to Hong Lim Market & Food Centre. Don’t worry, I won’t drag you into the drama any further— instead, I’ll give you an honest taste comparison between these 2 stalls run by the brothers.
Cost and Offerings
Here is a breakdown of each stall’s offerings:
- Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff
– Chicken Curry Puff— S$2
– Sardine Curry Puff— S$2
– Otah Puff— S$2
– Yam Puff— S$2
– Chicken + Potato + Egg— S$2
– Chicken Mushroom Puff— S$2.20 (new flavour that was released 2 months ago) - Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff Original
– Potato Chicken With Eggs— S$2
– Potato Sardine With Eggs— S$2
– Fish Otah Curry Puff— S$2
– Yam Crispy Puff— S$2
The former has a total of 6 offerings while the latter has a streamlined lineup of 4.
Considering today’s market rates for curry puffs— Old Chang Kee, 1A Crispy Puff and AMK Curry Puff at S$2, and the ever-increasing Polar Curry Puff, now priced at S$2.60 (roll eyes)— the prices at both stalls are reasonable.
Appearance
Based on first impressions, Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff (pictured on the left) has adopted a crescent-like shape similar to Malay epok epok. I can’t help but think that the crust’s texture resembles the ones from 1A Crispy Puffs.
On the other hand, Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff Original has a more roundish-triangular shape that’s almost identical to brands like Tip Top Curry Puff and AMK Curry Puff. Texture-wise, the crust is closer to epok epok.
Chicken and Potato
Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff’s version was distinctively juicier than its competitor. However, the amount of filling in the puff was slightly less compared to the other, which was packed to the brim.
As for the taste? Well, all I can say is that if I had closed my eyes and savoured both the fillings on their own, I wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference.
Sardine
The sardine variations from both stalls are indicated with the standard red marking. The filling from Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff (pictured on the left) is juicy with chunks of onion and sardine, with a small amount of potatoes.
For the Potato Sardine With Eggs from Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff Original, there was a quarter wedge of boiled egg with more potatoes than sardines. It was also slightly drier than the former.
Taste-wise, I’m glad to report that both versions are on par— 2 thumbs up!
Yam
The yam puff from Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff has a single green marking while the other has 2. Visually, both have a similar triangular shape. Right off the bat, based on the stuffing alone, I somehow already knew which of the two would be my favourite, even before trying.
The taro filling from Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff Original (pictured on the right) was more moist and had a shiny appearance. And I was right! It was luscious and smooth with the perfect amount of earthiness and sweetness.
Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff’s version was grainy and dry, as if all the moisture had been sucked out of it. That being said, it tasted similar to its competition.
Otah
Similar to the yam earlier, both Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff (red marking) and Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff Original (single green marking) have the same shape.
After the first mouthful from each stall, I couldn’t really distinguish any difference in taste between the two. Thankfully, my greed and hunger pushed me to keep on eating.
The robustness of the spices in Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff Original’s otah rendition became more pronounced with each subsequent bite, while the flavour of its competitor remained flat.
Verdict
And now, ‘drumroll’… the moment you’ve all been waiting for: my personal opinion on which stall deserves the win. Before you start bashing me online, please remember this is purely based on my own taste and preference, and you may or may not agree with me.
- Chicken and Potato: Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff
- Sardine: Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff
- Otah: Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff Original
- Yam: Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff Original
As you can see, each has its strengths and weaknesses. But if you ask me to pick a winner, I’d choose Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff, purely based on its Chicken and Potato, which is the crowd favourite.
Which establishment do you prefer? Do let me know in the comments.
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