Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
As a Gen Z individual, I’m on various social media platforms, one of which is the Hokkien Mee Hunting Facebook group. One day, I came across several posts raving about a supposed hidden gem stall called Bedok 69 Fried Hokkien Mee in Foodpark Coffee Shop. Then, I saw another, and then another. Soon enough, my entire feed was flooded.
Bedok 69 Fried Hokkien Mee is named for Bedok South Block 69, where it is located. They have recently surged in popularity following a reopening after reportedly resolving some rent issues. After they were praised by the Facebook group’s moderator, many customers apparently began coming down to try for themselves. In fact, I found myself in a queue of 5 people when I arrived, the only stall in the coffeeshop to draw such a crowd.
What I tried at Bedok 69 Fried Hokkien Mee
What else to buy from a hokkien mee stall other than their Fried Hokkien Mee (S$6/8/10/15)? This plate is their S$8 portion, which at first I assumed was just the right amount to eat on my own, but then I saw a couple sharing the same plate. Either I’m just a big eater, or I’m a terrible judge of portions.
The plate came loaded with slippery yellow noodles, thick beehoon, sotong rings, prawns, and pork. You’ll notice that there’s not a single strand of taugeh, and I completely approve. Honestly, this might be the perfect plate of hokkien mee for picky eaters like me. No taugeh nor vegetables, just artery-clogging goodness.
Upon scooping up a spoonful of noodles, I noticed how the texture was wet but not mushy. Each strand had a faint glisten to it, but I really wouldn’t call the plate ‘wet’ in the traditional sense.
The noodles were a combination of flavours that all worked together in a symphony. My first chew filled my mouth with a burst of umami flavour, accompanied by subtle hints of natural seafood sweetness. After that, I tasted bits of acidity on my tongue, which was odd considering I only squeezed a single lime.
I couldn’t ignore the striking red mound of sambal chilli on the edge of the plate. I usually mix the chilli with the noodles, but I chose to take a small spoonful and put it along with the noodles this time. That does make me wonder, do you mix the chilli with the hokkien mee or take small spoonfuls every bite?
The chilli definitely leaned towards sweet and tangy. Personally, I would’ve liked it to be a bit spicier and less watery.
Ah Huat Hokkien Prawn Mee: We finally tried Punggol’s most talked-about Hokkien mee stall
Onto the prawns, the biggest hit or miss of most hokkien mee plates. I was given 4 deshelled and deveined prawns, which was a good sign. Only the tail was left intact, perfectly placed for this kaypoh Gen Z to grab and snap a photo.
The prawn itself was firm, slightly sweet, and very fresh. Maybe a bit too fresh, as there was a fishy aftertaste. However, there was no fishy smell from any other component of the dish whatsoever.
I thought the pork slices were a bit dry, but still had just enough fattiness and juiciness to pass. Generally, I’ve noticed that flatter cuts like the one shown above tend to make meatier slices of pork taste just a bit drier, so it could be the cutting method as well.
No complaints about the sotong; they were wonderfully tender and fresh. Interestingly, there was no fishiness, unlike the prawns.
I think my biggest complaint has to be the pork lard, but not because of the taste. Each bit was super crispy and filled with flavour; they were a joy to crunch into. However, I was given so little! It was like 2 small spoonfuls of pork lard at best, which isn’t a lot considering the portion of noodles. I also wished that the bits were more consistent in size.
While I absolutely understand that I could’ve just asked for more pork lard, that would be unfair, as I was evaluating the average customer’s experience.
Final thoughts
So, is Bedok 69 Fried Hokkien Mee worth the hype? Yes. You really cannot beat how fresh their ingredients are; they just need to iron out some of the fishiness issues with the prawns. The flavour-packed noodles help their case as well. If you’re in the Bedok area, why not check them out and see for yourself?
Expected damage: S$6 – S$8 per pax
