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No shouts, no sounding the drums — that’s what Dong Fang Hong Sotong Ball Seafood Soup’s closure looked like. Nestled in Hong Lim Market and Food Centre, this 45-year-old stall drew its last crowd on 23 Jul.
The stall is owned by 3 sisters who make their sotong, meat and fish balls from scratch. However, since several health scares resulted in the retirement of the eldest and youngest, Aunty Yang Mei Li has been at the helm alone.
From peeling shallots and garlic to scooping up the minced paste, everything here is done by hand. Can you imagine waking up at ungodly hours to prepare for the day ahead, only to repeat it all tomorrow? I certainly can’t, which is why I have the utmost respect for Aunty Yang who’s doing it solo.
Despite having help from her brother and nephew, the never-ending queues before their stall made preparations difficult. Popularity is both a blessing and a curse indeed.
Dong Fang Hong doesn’t have social media channels or a phone number listed on Google, which made their closure even more sudden to newcomers. On 23 Jul, a snaking queue greeted the stall as a last hurrah for both owners and lifelong fans.
Aunty Yang had always loaded each dish generously with squid and fish balls, as well as meatballs. Customers report that each handmade sphere was packed with chunks of seafood or meat, unlike factory-made fare.
Dong Fang Hong’s soup base is light, yet full of umami from flower crabs, fish and chicken. Many complimented the sisters for preserving the recipe even as ingredient costs rose. I can feel my stomach crying at the chance we lost to taste this gem with its fish dumplings, seaweed and fried garlic chips.
But, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining. Dong Fang Hong’s famous seafood balls and meatballs will be sold as pre-cooked, frozen packages. What’s more, the stall for these goodies will be less than 20 metres from their original location, situated right in the wet market.
So, if you’re aching to try a bite of 45-year heritage, pick a date to drop by Hong Lim Market and Food Centre. But remember to get there early, because everyone’s definitely going to want a bite!
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