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While researching the best-rated roasted meats stall in Singapore, I was mortified to discover that Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia (福顺烧腊面家) at Maxwell Food Centre was the one worthy of the title. With a 4.5 stars out of 5 rating from 237 Google Reviews (at time of writing), you may be questioning the reason for my strong reaction.
Truth be told, I had patronised this establishment when I was writing my food guide of the best roasted meat stalls in Singapore. Though it was worthy enough to be placed in that list, I felt that some aspects of their roasts could be improved.
I arrived at the stall 5 minutes before its opening time and, just as the online reviews had stated, there was already a line of customers. Some netizens have even speculated that the staff deliberately take their time chopping and serving the meat, allowing a queue to build up and, in a way, creating the impression that it’s a popular stall.
While standing in line, I noticed that the uncle at the stall struck up a conversation with almost every customer — cracking jokes, asking how they had been, and chatting about this and that. This is probably the reason why its taking longer than expected but hey — no one’s complaining! I didn’t witness any pretence whatsoever, just warm and friendly service that’s hard to come by these days.
The array of roasted meats glistened under the trio of spotlights, but I couldn’t help but think of the slight disappointment I had with them on my last visit. Would things turn out better this time? Let’s find out!
What to order at Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia (福顺烧腊面家)
If you’re eager to know what some of the shortcomings were during my previous visit, here they are: tough roasted duck and char siew that didn’t quite blow me away. Of course, even the best stalls in Singapore have their bad days, so I decided to give them another try and started things off with the Duck Drumstick Rice (S$7). I opted to have the duck chopped after the uncle offered to do so.
The roasted duck skin on the drumstick had patches of char which were slightly too dark in some areas. While I was fine with it, I could imagine some customers raising concerns about it being potentially carcinogenic.
Was the flesh just as tough as before? Surprisingly, it wasn’t. It was tender and flavourful — a vast improvement from my previous experience. Maybe it was due to the person handling the meat, whom I noticed drizzling the duck’s natural juices over the chopped slices of meat which would enhance the taste.
The rice was fluffy and cooked well. The dark sauce that was slathered over was lightly fragrant and savoury, allowing the natural flavour of the roasted meats to shine through.
So far, everything was going well, and I couldn’t wait to tuck into the Three-Combination Noodles (S$8), AKA san ping mian (say this when you order). It isn’t an official menu item, in case you’re panicking while waiting in line.
The gorgeous trifecta of roasted meats (roasted pork, char siew, and roasted duck) laid cosily atop the bed of Hong Kong-style egg noodles, dressed in dark sauce and complimented with green veggies.
Before the noodles lumped together, I gave them a good mix and the fine strands of mee gradually transformed from a yellow to a rich dark brown. The sauce was perfectly balanced and paired flawlessly with the delicate noods, with crunchy green veggies adding some texture.
I was mentally preparing myself for that off-putting alkaline or ‘kee’ taste, but thankfully, there was none of it.
The pieces of roasted pork were heavenly — delightfully savoury, soft, and with skin so crispy that it crackled with every bite. Their sio bak has remained consistently excellent — two thumbs up for that.
After savouring the first piece of char siew, I remained silent for 5 seconds, processing what had just happened. Wow, what a major upgrade in both quality and taste. It was subtly sweet and melt-in-the-mouth, with just the ideal amount of smokiness and char.
Similar to the drumstick earlier, the breast portion of the roasted duck was also tender and roasted to perfection.
If I had to pinpoint something that could be better, it would be the chilli dip. Even though my dining partner had no issues, I found it a little too sweet for my liking.
Who Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia (福顺烧腊面家) is best for
It’s excellent for those who crave aromatic and roasted barbecued meats like duck, char siew, and roast pork. Whether you choose to pair it with rice or noodles, you won’t be disappointed (I hope).
How to get there?
Maxwell MRT Station (TE18) is just next door to Maxwell Food Centre. Otherwise, you may take a 10-minute stroll from Chinatown MRT Station (NE4) Exit A. There are also bus services that will alight at Maxwell Stn Exit 2 bus stop
Do we recommend Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia (福顺烧腊面家)?
Given that they have improved so much over a year, I will highly recommend this stall as they really deserve it. I really enjoyed all the meats this time, with each variety executed flawlessly. If you don’t mind the 30-minute queue, go give this spot a try and let me know if your experience was as good as mine.
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