Singaporeans alike all love to feast and bury themselves in local hawker delicacies. So there’s no doubt our Fried Carrot Cake 菜头粿 is included. No, there’s absolutely no connection or likeness to the western sweet carrot cake eaten as a dessert, nor does it have any real carrots in it.
Although it is more affectionately known as chai tow kway, carrot cake is more accurately known as 萝卜糕, which can refer to both carrots and radish. Somewhere down the line, it got lost in translation and it was referred to as ‘carrot cake’, instead of ‘radish cake’.
For the unbeknownst, carrot cake is made with ‘white carrot’ which is also known as radish cake cubes, stir-fried with eggs and preserved radish, then flavoured with seasonings. Chilli is a must to give this dish an extra kick!
Two variations exist: black or white. The former is fried with dark soy sauce which gives its sweetness, whereas the latter, my favourite, is where the carrot cake is fried only with beaten eggs to form a crispy crust.
Let’s get on to the 12 best fried carrot cakes in Singapore that are worth the calories.
1. 炒菜头粿 Fried Carrot Cake @ Clementi Food Centre
Yes, this stall’s signage is simply labelled ‘炒菜头粿 Fried Carrot Cake‘. Its signboard carries such big words that it is impossible to miss it. Another thing that will help you spot this carrot cake stall is the super long queue that will obviously catch your attention. Just a short walk away from Clementi MRT and bus interchange, this is one you have to try when in the area.
Their Black Carrot Cake (from S$3) is out of this world. Almost everyone I know who’s heard of them loves it (including my parents)! Soft and hot chunks of radish cakes along with chewy egg bits— an absolute treat. I also heard that they are usually sold out by 12pm or earlier, so make your way down early to not miss out.
Block 448 Clementi Ave 3, #01-45, Singapore 120448
Tue to Sun: 6am – 6pm (or till sold out)
Closed on Mon
2. 菜頭粿 Carrot Cake @ Chomp Chomp
This is another stall with the mere ‘Carrot Cake’ words on them, just like the days before branding existed in Singapore’s hawkers. Simple, but enough to capture the attention of hungry patrons craving a good plate of carrot cake. Although there are a few carrot cake stalls in Chomp Chomp, this one won my heart.
They only serve White Carrot Cake (S$3/S$4) here. It is fried until crisp and fragrant, and rumour has it, their secret recipe gives their carrot cake an extraordinarily unique flavour. Not only that, they also add prawns in to further bring out the flavour. Two thumbs up.
20 Kensington Park Road, Chomp Chomp Food Centre, #01-36, Singapore 557269
Daily: 5.30pm – 12am
Closed on alternate Tue
3. 福顺菜头粿 Hock Soon Carrot Cake
Located at Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre is none other than 福顺菜头粿 Hock Soon Carrot Cake. Folks who live around the area speak highly of this stall and obviously, I had to try it to find out for myself.
The White Carrot Cake (S$3/S$4/S$5) comes with slightly soft yet easy-to-chew cubes and is mildly fragrant. However, the sweet radish bits and crispy layer of eggs made up for it. To elevate my plate of White Carrot Cake, I didn’t forget to ask for additional chilli. I understand the hype.
20 Ghim Moh Road, Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre, #01-29, Singapore 270020
+65 8660 7250
Mon: 6am – 12pm
Tue to Sun: 6am – 7pm
4. 福明熟食 Fu Ming Cooked Food
With great consistency in the sizes of each radish cube, it is also equally important that seasonings are added adequately without overpowering the entire dish. I like how the stall’s uncle fries the carrot cake till small bits of charred surfaces appear to give you that twist in caramelised flavour and texture with each bite.
Additionally, I love how the egg coats nearly the entire dish, giving it a bit of colour, and a lovely egg flavour. Here, you will get both texture and a burst of umami with each bite, and that is the kind of carrot cake-eating experience I’m down for.
85 Redhill Lane, Redhill Food Centre, #01-49, Singapore 150085
+65 9641 0565
Wed to Sat: 12.30pm – 7.30pm
Sun: 7.30am – 1.30pm
Closed on Mon & Tue
5. Ghim Moh Carrot Cake
Carrot cake connoisseurs would know this place in a heartbeat. So, it needs no introduction. With two outlets under their belt, one at ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre and the original at Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre, there is always a snaking queue for their homemade carrot cake.
The Black Carrot Cake (S$3/S$4/S$5) here is sweeter than most I’ve tried, but it’s probably due to the generous amount of dark soy sauce added. Radish bits that can be found were slightly salty but I felt like they brought a good contrast against the sweetness from the dark soy sauce. Personally, I’d love for the spring onions to be a tad bit crunchier.
20 Ghim Moh Road, Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre, #01-16, Singapore 270020
Wed to Fri: 6.30am – 1pm
Sat & Sun: 6.30am – 2pm
Closed on Mon & Tue
6. Hai Sheng Carrot Cake
Dubbed the most popular carrot cake stall in Bendemeer Market & Food Centre is none other than Hai Sheng Carrot Cake. The crucial thing about standing in line at the carrot cake stall is deciding which plate you want to go for: black or white. Oftentimes, I’d opt for a mixed plate due to my indecisiveness.
Expect to find long queues and a fixed plate of either black or white Carrot Cake. No mixed portions are available. The Black Carrot Cake here is sweet and spicy, and is portioned generously. If you have a poor appetite, bring a friend (or two) along for breakfast as they usually sell out by 9am.
29 Bendemeer Road, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre, #01-85, Singapore 330029
+65 9182 7272
Daily: 6am – 11am (or till sold out)
7. Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake
I heard that their Black Carrot Cake (from S$3) is a must-order here. What you will get is a hearty plate of radish cake cubes that are generously covered with eggs coupled with a slight crisp on the side. The radish cake cubes, on the other hand, have a bouncy texture which many may refer to as the overly-used term: QQ. It’s also mildly oily which isn’t too cloying. However, the chilli here isn’t as spicy as many would prefer it to be.
115 Bukit Merah View, Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre, #01-37, Singapore 151115
+65 9689 8696
Mon & Fri: 7am – 6.30pm
Wed: 7am – 8.30pm
Tue, Thu, Sat & Sun: 7am – 3.30pm
8. Hong Heng Fried Carrot Cake
I ordered the White Carrot Cake (S$2.50/S$3) because I like how it tastes more balanced than its counterpart black version here. Oh, they don’t usually place a piece of leaf on the bottom but I requested one anyway for better visuals. Just my luck they had it handy, or else it’ll end up looking like a boring image of carrot cake atop a green plate.
Portion-wise, it was perfect for me. The radish cakes here have a springy edge to them but lean towards the softer side. It’s topped with fresh spring onions which help to cut through the oiliness of the dish, giving it that refreshing fragrance over intense flavours.
Blk 216 Bedok North Street 1, #01-71, Singapore 460216
Daily: 10am – 2pm
9. 合眾菜頭粿 He Zhong Carrot Cake
The carrot cake at He Zhong is a hit with frequent and new patrons alike. Granted Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre is fully packed with lunch-goers and dinner crowds because there’s so much good variety here. I’m always making a beeline to this stall for their White Carrot Cake (S$3/S$4/S$5), and needless to say, they rarely disappoint.
At He Zhong, the radish cakes are softly moist, well-covered with slightly charred egg crust, and everything is held so well together the chunks won’t fall off your chopsticks as you kiap onto them.
51 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre, #02-185, Singapore 588215
Mon to Wed, Sat & Sun: 6am – 8pm
Thu & Fri: 6am – 8.30pm
10. Soon Lee Heng Carrot Cake
At Soon Lee Heng Carrot Cake, it’s advisable to get the fragrant Black Carrot Cake (S$3). The plate of Black Carrot Cake also comes in a generous portion, compared to others that are in the same price range. Expect to find chunky bits of egg that complement the radish cakes incredibly well.
Do request for chilli as they mix in a dollop of their homemade hae bee hiam (dried shrimps) sambal, which brings this dish to the next level.
726 Clementi West Street 2, West Coast Food Centre, #01-180, Singapore 120726
Tue to Sun: 6.30am – 12.30pm
Closed on Mon
11. Chey Sua Carrot Cake 青山菜头粿
Brace yourself to wait for up to 40 minutes upon dropping your order at Chey Sua Carrot Cake. Yup, they are that busy. Besides, what more would you expect from a stall that’s plastered with countless accolades and consistently listed in the Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2016. Also, they only serve White Carrot Cake (S$3/S$4/S$5) here.
Once you receive your order, you will understand why people are willing to wait so long for a plate of their carrot cake. It is crispy, soft, and full of wok hei— quite the confusion on a plate, huh? They also steam their radish cakes in aluminium tins, and their cubes have an almost silky texture to them. Unlike many stalls, you will also be able to spot bright orange carrot strips and chye poh scattered throughout your plate. Which is amazing!
Block 127, Toa Payoh Lorong 1, Toa Payoh West Market and Food Court, #02-30, Singapore 310127
+65 6254 6323
Wed to Sun: 6.30am – 1pm
Closed on Mon & Tue
Facebook
12. Geylang Traditional Carrot Cake
Tucked away in Upper Boon Keng Market & Food Centre is Geylang Traditional Carrot Cake. Try and get here as early as 7am as they usually sell out by 10.30am, hence, this stall clearly doesn’t wait for late risers (like me). Despite being disappointed one too many times, this stall brings back fond memories.
Choose your plate of black or white Carrot Cake (S$3/S$3.50/S$4) and be prepared to be blown away. Like Chey Sua, you can also find julienned slices of fresh carrots hidden in their portion of crispy white carrot cake. Personally, I find the black carrot cake here tastier.
17 Upper Boon Keng Road, Upper Boon Keng Market & Food Centre, #01-21, Singapore 380017
Mon to Sat: 6.30am – 12pm (or till sold out)
Closed on Sun
Other articles you might like:
Shiok Shiok Noodles: Young hawker recreates grandma’s nostalgic recipes in Ang Mo Kio
