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There seems to be some sort of quiet shift in the stalls at Amoy Street Food Centre, with new stalls coming and going. One of the newest stalls to pop up is Gan Lao Zai (干捞仔), which can be found occupying the stall next to TempuRamen and opened sometime in early Dec 2024.
As its name suggests, Gan Lao Zai’s menu features dry noodles tossed in sauce, with a total of 9 different varieties for diners to choose from. The flavours range from fairly standard like Mushroom Noodle (S$4.50), Honey Glaze Pork Noodle (S$6.50) and Hua Tiao Chicken Noodle (S$6.50), and some more interesting ones like Mash Potato Noodle (S$4.50) which appears to have a stronger influence from China.
I can appreciate mashed potatoes and noodles, but together? I’d have to try it personally.
The menu also includes several add-ons starting at S$1, with the option to add more noodles, pork or chicken, crab meat, mushrooms and vegetables.
The Chilli Crab Noodle (S$8) appears to be one of Gan Lao Zai’s signatures. It features crab meat, tobiko and mini mantou (which look very much like croutons), and chilli crab gravy. The noodles are described as being similar to youmian served from ban mian stalls in taste and texture, with good bounce and chew. The chilli crab gravy also hits the right notes of sweet, spicy and tangy, and the mantou adds an extra element of crunch.
The Honey Glaze Pork Noodle is also said to be worth a try, with the pork being incredibly tender. In addition, while it may not bother some diners, it’s worth noting that Gan Lao Zai serves their dishes in disposable containers and cutlery, even if you dine in.
Have you tried Gan Lao Zai’s creations? Let us know what you think of the mashed potato and noodle combination!
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