Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
3 years ago, I wrote with a heavy heart that my beloved Ah Seah Teochew Porridge was shutting down. Who would’ve known that they would resurface on the F&B scene? This time, they return as a hawker stall at Serangoon Garden Market — I’m on cloud nine!
I can still vividly recall the elderly uncle who used to take orders at the stall back then at the now-defunct Kovan Centre. My friends and I would cross the road after playing endless rounds of Counterstrike back at Niner Cafe in Highland Centre and hear, “Bak chor, kong bak, chai buey!” It was the old uncle shouting our selected dishes out loud.
When we arrived this time, there was a queue of about 8 people in front of us. The signboard maintained its signature red and white look that I dearly missed.
Due to the limited space available at the current hawker stall, the variety has dropped from a staggering 40 choices in the past to just about 23 items (still pretty good). As I waited in line for my turn to order, my eyes were swiftly scanning the options available — the braised duck and special beancurd are, sadly, no longer available.
Would the other dishes taste the same as they did in the Kovan Centre and Teck Chye Terrace days? I figured, what better way to put it to the test than to jio that same group of friends who enjoyed the porridge with me in the past.
Vegetables start from S$1 on their own, and S$0.80 when ordered with rice, whereas Meat prices start from S$2 to S$3.
Alas, we targeted the crème de la crème Bak Chor w/ Black Beans as our first priority. A new batch had arrived piping hot while we were in line. Everything tasted like nothing had changed — the minced pork was savoury and slightly spicy with a teeny-weeny hint of earthy aroma from the black beans.
I closed my eyes briefly for a few seconds and thought to myself, “I missed this so much!”
Same goes for the Cai Buey, which maintained that old-school flavour that I yearned so badly. The pieces of Braised Pork Belly melted in my mouth easily and possessed a gentle hint of star anise.
The Large Intestines were executed with finesse, lightly perfumed by the braising liquid they were simmered in.
I also thought that the chilli dip tasted exactly like I remembered — savoury, slightly tangy and mildly spicy.
The steamed Squid was fresh and tender, and was served alongside a plum sauce-like dip.
The rice-to-liquid ratio of the porridge was also perfectly calibrated, just like the good old days.
In a nutshell, though the price was slightly steep (each person spent about S$12.60), we all felt that the folks at Ah Seah still managed to keep the quality and flavours consistent.
If you’re a die-hard fan, why not swing by Serangoon Garden Market? However, get ready to queue for it!
15 best porridges in Singapore that deserve the congee-niality award [May 2025 update]
