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Most of us are no strangers to this famous hokkien mee joint. Having just moved to a newly renovated coffeeshop in Siglap, Geylang Lor 29 Charcoal Fried Hokkien Mee is back fresher than ever!
I hold rather fond memories of their hokkien mee. Whenever my family struggled to decide on what to eat, we would always circle back and choose this place. Back then, I remembered it as a comforting meal, irresistible to little ol’ me. Curious to see if much had changed, I ventured to their new location to try my childhood meal once again.
Within the coffeeshop, Geylang Lor 29 Charcoal Fried Hokkien Mee was difficult to miss. I was hit by a wave of nostalgia thanks to the bright yellow signage, which was nearly identical to the previous one.
Having opened for a solid 40 minutes, this stall’s queue was shorter than I expected. However, I missed out those who had already ordered and were waiting for their hokkien mee. A tell-tale sign was that almost every table had one of those beepers given after you make payment.
Unfortunately, the beeper’s signal is unable to travel even the coffeeshop’s short distance, which defeats its purpose. Not much fretting was involved, as Uncle was kind enough to wander about looking for the orders’ owners. Be sure to sit close for convenience’s sake!
What I tried at Geylang Lor 29 Charcoal Fried Hokkien Mee
Ordering the Hokkien Mee (S$6) was a given, but I also got Carrot Cake (S$6) out of curiosity. Since I thought that the S$6 portion for the hokkien mee was already quite big, I cannot fathom what the bigger 3 sizes could possibly look like. Sharing may just be mandatory.
At first bite, I fell in love all over again. Rich in umami flavours, the noodles of the hokkien mee were delicious even without the other ingredients. I thoroughly enjoyed that the noodles were of a wetter variety, so there was more savoury sauce to enjoy with the strands. The different textures between the thin bee hoon, thicker yellow noodle and the bean sprouts made for a fantastic mouthfeel.
Apparently, this stall is one of the last few to still use charcoal to fry their hokkien mee. That smoky wok hei really does make the difference, as it brings further depth to the beloved dish. Without a drink, the hokkien mee may taste on the more jelak side. A quick fix would be to squeeze the lime given, which gives a wonderful acidity that alleviates that heavy taste.
Sadly, my plate did not have any sotong rings, which was my favourite part of the dish. Instead, the sotong bits were both on the smaller and meagre side. On the other hand, every piece did taste fresh and their light chewiness was satisfying to munch on with the noodles.
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Seasoning-wise, it was slightly light which may not be for everyone. I did not mind it, as I felt that it helped the dish have more balance.
Having had many prawns from this stall’s hokkien mee in the past, I was quite gleeful that this aspect didn’t deviate from my memories. My small portion had come with 4 chunky prawns, which was plenty for one person. Without any fishy taste and very succulent, the prawns disappeared in a flash.
Of course, the Carrot Cake could not outshine the main star at Geylang Lor 29 Charcoal Fried Hokkien Mee. But it did make for quite a solid accompaniment. Rather than being in clumps, the carrot cake came as a full omelette.
I wholly appreciated the slight hint of spice following the aftertaste, which gave it a delicious kick. The carrot cake was on the lightly-seasoned side as compared to its hokkien mee companion. I am a tad biassed towards Black Carrot Cake, so perhaps that is just my personal taste talking.
Final thoughts
This trip truly invoked a trip down memory lane for me, and I can definitely say that my family will be back for their plates of goodness. Here’s hoping that Geylang Lor 29 Charcoal Fried Hokkien Mee enjoys immense popularity in the new space!
For those who plan to visit, it would be wise to go during off-peak hours to not have to fight for seats.
Expected damage: S$6 – S$12 per pax
Order Delivery: foodpanda Deliveroo
Quan Ji Cooked Food: Wok hei-laden plates of char kway teow & Hokkien mee with crispy pork lard
