I’m assuming you haven’t heard of Beo Crescent Market & Food Centre before — it’s a small food centre, with just two long rows of stalls selling a small variety of dishes.
It looks unassuming, cramped and just a little bit run-down. Yet, it houses some of the most affordable and delicious local food you can find in Singapore.
Beo Crescent Food Centre is located in the heart of Bukit Ho Swee, an area that is highly populated by the elderly. The place is full of chatter – old neighbours catching up over breakfast, customers and stall owners shouting over the noise to hear each other.
It’s an odd feeling to be amidst all that, but it’s also rather heartwarming.
Here’s a list of 8 traditional local dishes at Beo Crescent Market & Food Centre to remember the good old times.
1. Prawn Noodles (Loi Kee Cooked Food, #01-84)
At Loi Kee Cooked Food, you’re sure to be served one delicious bowl of prawn noodles. They have a variety of options to choose from – the standard Prawn Noodles ($2.50), Prawn & Pork Rib Noodles ($4), and more.
I wanted the best of both worlds, so I went for the Prawn & Pork Rib Noodles. It comes with two prawns, two ribs, a bunch of kang kong vegetables, and a few slices of pork rinds.
The portion size of the noodles is pretty decent as well, especially for its price.
As with any bowl of prawn noodles, the key component is its broth. A strong prawn essence emanated from the broth, giving it a wonderful depth of flavour, along with a gentle sweetness.
Albeit a little small, the two prawns were fresh and firm to the bite. I especially loved the succulent pork ribs, each bite came a wave of umami-filled flavour. A stunning bowl of prawn noodles at an incredibly affordable price!
Expected damage: $2.50 – $4 per pax
Loi Kee Cooked Food: #01-84
2. Fried Carrot Cake (Heng Heng Cooked Food, #01-72)
Fried carrot cake may not be the most exquisite or fanciful dish, but it tastes and feels like home. Definitely give Heng Heng‘s carrot cake a try if you ever visit Beo Crescent Food Centre!
This Fried Carrot Cake ($2.50) is what I grew up eating, and the one which made me fall in love with carrot cake. One of the best things about it is how chunky the pieces are, unlike many others which come in very small shards.
I always order the black carrot cake because let’s be real, it’s way more flavourful than the white one. The carrot cake-to-egg ratio is also ideal, providing for a very balanced and wholesome dish.
Expected damage: $2.50 – $3 per pax
Heng Heng Cooked Food: #01-72 | Opening Hours: 5am till sold out
3. Kueh Du Du (Kia Xiang Du Du Nyonya Kueh, #01-88)
I’ve never been a big fan of kueh du du, but even I love Kia Xiang‘s Kueh Du Du ($2 for four small pieces). Made fresh, they come filled with either peanut or coconut, but I think you’ll want the peanut filling because it is utterly amazing.
The rice flour was nice and firm; a little bit chewy but still soft. It held its shape quite well, which is an indicator of a well-made kueh du du.
Biting in, you’ll feel a delightful crunch from the small peanut bits, before a fragrant nuttiness spreads in your mouth as you chew.
The sensation is quite spectacular – you’ll get crispy, crunchy bits bouncing in between a tender and chewy casing. It’s as delicious as kueh du du gets, so you simply can’t afford to miss this if you’re ever in the area.
Expected damage: $0.50 – $2 per pax
Kia Xiang Du Du Nyonya Kueh: #01-88 | Opening Hours: 5.30am till sold out
4. Century Egg Porridge (Porridge Kiosk, #01-86)
I’m not kidding when I say that this is one of the best porridges I’ve had in Singapore. I had their signature Century Egg Chicken Porridge ($3) and was thoroughly impressed with how incredibly robust in flavour the porridge was.
I also loved the consistency of the porridge. It wasn’t overly sticky, nor too watery, making for very easy eating. They were also quite generous with the servings of century egg and chicken; no mouthful of porridge went without a companion.
Freshly prepared and steaming hot, this is a bowl of comfort perfect for a cold, rainy day, or when you’ve got the flu.
Expected damage: $3 per pax
Porridge Kiosk: #01-86 | Opening Hours: 6am till sold out
5. Fish Soup Noodles (Hai Chew Fish Soup, #01-85)
Nothing is more comforting that a hot, steaming bowl of soup noodles on a cold, rainy day. At Hai Chew Fish Soup (海洲魚湯), the Fish Soup Noodles ($4) are exactly the kind of comfort food you’ll wish for on a gloomy day.
Served with a generous portion of tender fish slices, this bowl of noodles is certainly value-for-money. The broth is deep with flavour, and comes with slices of bitter gourd that provide some extra flavour to the dish.
If you like your fish soup with milk, make sure you tell them to add it in!
Expected damage: $4 per pax
Hai Chew Fish Soup: #01-85 | Opening Hours: 8am – 7pm
6. Lor Mee (Soon Heng Lor Mee, #01-84)
Lor mee is a breakfast staple here in Singapore, and Soon Heng Lor Mee serves up excellent bowls of traditional Lor Mee for only $2.50.
As one judges prawn noodles by the quality of its broth, one judges lor mee by the quality of its gravy. Soon Heng’s gravy is thick and luxurious, boasting a sticky, gooey quality that is crucial for a good bowl of lor mee.
The noodles are cooked to springy perfection; each strand coated with that delicious sauce. Toppings are aplenty, add a little bit of chilli and you’ll have yourself a stunning bowl of lor mee!
Expected damage: $2.50 – $3 per pax
Soon Heng Lor Mee: #01-84
7. Fishball Noodles (Nan Yuan, #01-68)
Every time I visit Beo Crescent Market & Food Centre, there’s a snaking queue at Nan Yuan. And justifiably so, because the fishball noodles sold here are absolutely delectable.
Smooth and springy, the noodles are cooked perfectly. Mixed with the chilli, vinegar and other condiments, you’ll get a bowl of slurp-worthy noodles. Add on the fish roll for an extra bite!
Expected damage: $3 per pax
Nan Yuan: #01-68 | Opening Hours: 6am – 1pm (Sat – Wed), Closed on Thursdays and Fridays
8. Soya Bean Milk (Uncle Lim’s Beverages, #01-79)
What’s a hawker food guide without soya bean milk recommendation? Uncle Lim’s Beverages offers Soya Bean Milk ($0.80) in gigantic cups, so it’s really bang for your buck.
The soya bean milk was luscious and incredibly fragrant with subtle notes of sweetness. It wasn’t watered down at all, unlike many others.
Besides soya bean milk, Uncle Lim’s Beverages also serves Grass Jelly ($0.80). This grass jelly drink has just the right amount of sugar syrup, such that the flavour of grass jelly still shone through. There was also a good amount of grass jelly, providing texture to the drink.
For the amount given, these traditional drinks are priced affordably and you’d be silly not to have one of these along with your meal!
Expected damage: $0.80 per pax
Uncle Lim’s Beverages:#01-79 | Opening Hours: 4am – 3pm
