Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
I arrived at Boon Keng with one goal in mind — to eat as much as I could at the pasar malam that is operating from 10 to 25 May 2023 only.
We located this unique stall by following the long queues leading up to the corner of the market. Man Kou Xiang Stinky Tofu specialised in 6 flavours of, well, deep fried stinky tofu.
Despite its not-so-strategic location in the market, it attracted the most crowds with waiting time going up to 30 minutes.
At 8.30pm, the White Vegetarian Stinky Tofu (S$6.50 for small) had sold out. Hence, we chose to season our Black Bean Tofu with the Speciality Garlic Chilli Sauce (Dry).
The combination of crunchy tofu blocks doused into a spicy and savoury sauce was the perfect pairing of the evening. The generous amount of fresh chilli and minced garlic used as garnish amplified the savoury flavours of the gravy.
While the stinky smell was hardly present, the fermented tofu taste was distinct but not overwhelming. With 8 tofu blocks per serving, I was happy to satiate my hunger solely with these spicy and numbing flavour bombs.
I also waited in line for an extended period of time for these Tutu Kueh from Chubtutu. Never had I imagined these little soft morsels could be encased with so many filling options. I mean, Durian or Blue Pea?
The customer in front of me even informed the stall owner that she aims to return everyday to try all the flavours before the market ceases operations.
Under the category for Today’s Specials, I chose the Black Sesame and Chocolate Cornflake.
While the former incorporated ground sesame seeds which added a strong nutty flavour, the latter oozed with creamy chocolate. The incorporated cornflakes also added a crunch factor into the soft and light snack.
Amidst the other items purchased, the last stall that stood out to me was one displaying Meat Skewers on green trays at S$2 per stick (S$5 for 3 sticks).
I chose the E-San sausage (Sour), Pork and Chicken Sausage. I did not taste any hints of sourness with the bite sized E-San sausages. Instead, the meat filling incorporated minced garlic and onion within a very snappy sausage skin.
The Pork skewer was charred and then a sweet sauce was brushed over as a marinade. There was a smoky aroma despite the meat itself being rather dry.
Both the outer layer and filling of the Chicken Sausage was soft, giving almost a fluffy texture. While I was receptive to the soft texture, my dining partner did not think it suitable for sausages.
Essentially, these 3 stalls are what you should be queuing for when you visit the Boon Keng pasar malam. For dessert fans, you should be excited when I say that taro cookies, kaya balls, hard crepes and churros are some sweet offerings found in the market.
There are also tables and chairs set up with large fans within the market. I highly recommend making full use of them by eating those piping hot stinky tofu cubes!
