Malaysia
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Located in Tampines Round Market and Food Centre, Xing Ji Wanton Mee is the rare Pokémon you can only catch at 6am. Not only are they closed 2 days a week, but their opening times also vary from 4 to 7 hours, or more often than not, until they’re sold out.
To top it all off, this elusive stall sports a long queue whenever it’s open. Even arriving at 11am didn’t save me from lining up. Thankfully, the queue moved quickly since there were 3 people manning the store.
It seems like Google reviewers have mixed feelings about this place. Was it worth the hype, or did Xing Ji Wanton Mee deserve its recent 1-star review? Well, that’s what I was going to find out.
What I tried at Xing Ji Wanton Mee
The two dishes advertised on the sign were their classic wanton mee (surprise, surprise) and Chicken Claws Noodle (S$6 for Regular, S$8 for Large). Despite coming at 11am on a Thursday, all the Chicken Claws Noodle were sold out. WHAT.
To calm my shock, I ordered the Wanton Noodle (S$5 for Small, S$6 for Regular, S$7 for Large). The bowl came with char siew, bok choy, wantons and egg noodles — the usual suspects.
I also opted for the chili, which came in a dollop beside the noodles and mixed into the dish easily.
The char siew was sweet, meaty and provided a nice chew when paired with the bok choy. There was a generous handful of the pork, but I was a little disappointed by the lack of caramelisation or char on the edges.
Drenched in sauce and chilli, the wanton was perfection in a bite. It was packed with juicy minced meat that complemented the savoury flavour profile of the Wanton Noodle.
I love how the skin wasn’t too thick, allowing a balanced ratio of meat-to-carb even when paired with the egg noodles. Finishing these in a bite left me itching for more. Definitely asking for extra wantons on my next visit!
Xing Ji Wanton Mee’s egg noodles are slightly thicker than regular wanton mee noodles. This gave them more bounce and enhanced the texture of each mouthful I took. Even though they were springier, these noodles were still easy to sever and chew.
My replacement for the Chicken Claws Noodle came in the form of Shredded Chicken Noodle (S$5 for Small, S$6 for Regular, S$7 for Large). This bowl was soupy, savoury and reminded me of the chicken noodles I ate as a child. Points for nostalgia!
Xing Ji Wanton Mee was pretty generous with the slices of chicken too. These were boiled and tender, but since they weren’t cooked in the broth, the meat lacked that soy sauce punch. This was where the chili came in.
The self-serve chili was a hidden gem — literally. I almost went without it since it was left in an unremarkable metal bowl at the end of the counter. This chili was a suspension of oil and aromatics that exuded a wonderfully gingery fragrance.
Juicy mushrooms accompanied the vegetables, rich and savoury against the egg noodles. The soup featured a flavour profile enhanced by chicken stock and mushroom, turning the same egg noodles into a different treat. It highlighted the versatility of the ingredient, which I appreciated.
Final thoughts
I found Xing Ji Wanton Mee’s menu to be comforting and nostalgic, though their prices reflect those of the present day. While the dishes were enjoyable, I cannot justify having this as a meal regularly because of the relatively higher price.
Having enjoyed their wantons in particular, I think that 1- and 2-star reviews are too scathing. After all, tastes are based on preference rather than waiting times or ingredient amounts. Even then, I didn’t wait too long for my food despite the queue.
If the line isn’t that long and there’s still stock left, I don’t see why you shouldn’t give it a try!
Expected damage: S$5 – S$10 per pax
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