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In this day and age, finding a hawker stall that sells food at S$2.50 is a needle in the haystack. You may find businesses that offer this price perhaps, but mostly only for their budget meal option. Not Chang Ji Gourmet at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, though. All their dishes are selling at just S$1.30— no, it’s not an April Fool’s joke (it’s November).
Around for over 5 decades, the stall is currently helmed by the 2nd generation which consists of 3 siblings (2 sisters and a brother) who took over from their mum. From a distance, I already spotted the long queue that had formed in front. As most of the customers were senior folk, I was one of the ‘younger’ ones in line.
A large silver cauldron of congee stood before me, as I watched the uncle diligently stir it like a magical brew. One of the sisters was busy stir-frying the bee hoon while the other took orders and served customers.
What I tried at Chang Ji Gourmet
We kicked things off with the Economical Fried Mee— a humble, no-frills dish featuring yellow noodles stir-fried to a light brown hue with simple seasoning. The ingredients were minimal, with a sprinkling of bean sprouts and a dollop of chilli served neatly on the side.
One of the reasons yellow mee isn’t my usual noodle of choice is its off-putting alkaline-like taste; the kind that leaves a weird sensation on your tongue. And after my first bite, it only solidified my reasoning.
There wasn’t any depth of flavour, and eating the noodles felt like having them plain. The only saving grace was the chilli which gave it a little kick of spice. Otherwise, it felt like an alkaline assault on my mouth.
The bowl of Fish & Peanut Porridge was perhaps the most unassuming porridge that I’ve had. It looked watery, with no sprinkling of sliced spring onions to add a pop of colour.
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But, ladies and gentleman, I judged it too soon. This plain Jane had plenty of surprises up its sleeve. I was confused. The porridge had an umami-rich flavour akin to dried bonito, similar to the taste you’d find in a dashi broth.
Yet, it also had a distinct note that hinted at the essence of dried scallops even though its texture was similar. It was a pity that it was in the form of tiny, undistinguishable bits, most likely due to the long simmering that caused the ingredients to disintegrate. The only obvious component was the peanuts.
Texture-wise, it wasn’t viscous like a congee; instead, it veered closer to the consistency of Teochew porridge. If I had this as a main meal, I’d probably need 2 to fill myself up.
After the initial disappointment of the Economical Fried Mee, I wasn’t having high hopes for the final dish, the Economical Bee Hoon. Like the noodles, it was a simple stir-fry of rice vermicelli and tau geh, with the addition of chilli if you desire.
While queuing, I observed that the noodles remained untouched while the bee hoon was constantly replenished— it now made sense why. It was moist and delectable with the fragrance of soya sauce and other seasonings doing a dance on my taste buds.
While enjoying the bee hoon, I found myself momentarily drifting into a daydream. “If only I had otah, tau kwa, and luncheon meat together with this, it would be perfect!” I thought to myself. It would certainly be the ideal base for everything.
Final thoughts
To be honest, I was taken aback when I saw the portion size. But then again, I shouldn’t expect so much since it only costs S$1.30, right? I finally understood why many customers in front of me had ordered double bowls.
If you’re patronising Chang Ji Gourmet, definitely go for the bee hoon and porridge.
While some would think that the appetite of a senior citizen isn’t huge and it’s good value for money, others like my dining partner (my dad) commented that it’s actually quite pricey for the portion.
“For S$0.80, I can get more noodles at the economical bee hoon stall in our neighbourhood,” he exclaimed.
What are your thoughts on this? Do let me know in the comments.
Expected damage: S$1.30 – S$2.60 per pax
