Friends often tell me I’m blessed to live in the East. Good food is always a short trip away and popular central locations are not far off either. That makes it easier to find outlets for specific cravings. Horiginal Beef Noodle which sells both Hainanese and Teochew-style beef noodles is the perfect example.
Opening at HAPPY Hawkers kopitiam, they decided not to stick with either style and drew from both traditions instead. It’s pretty insane as Horiginal Beef Noodle opened in late 2020, which was during the height of the Covid pandemic in Singapore. Yet, that did not deter their business and they are still up and running today.
I arrived during the late lunch hour for this and, as you’ll read, it was to my slight loss.
What I tried at Horiginal Beef Noodle
You don’t go to a noodle shop and ignore the noodles, right? So, of course I ordered a bowl of their Premium Beef Mixed Noodle (S$9). It’s their Mixed Beef Noodle with added Tendon and Oxtail. I don’t think my picture does justice to just how big and loaded with ingredients the whole bowl was. I got it dry, which is akin to the Hainanese rendition of beef noodles.
I get that it’s pricey for a bowl of noodles, but hey if you can do without the oxtail and tendons, you can get their 6 in 1 Mixed Beef Noodle (S$5), which has a mixture of beef ingredients and pickled vegetables.
Because I’m a bit of a weirdo, I tasted just the gravy all on its lonesome. It was a good way to make out the herbal notes in the savoury gravy. If you’re a fan of starchy and thick sauces with your noodles, it’s a no-brainer to pick the dry version.
You’ll have your pick of noodles for your bowl: Kway Teow/Hor Fun, Bee Hoon, Yellow Noodle or Thick Vermicelli. I was recommended the Vermicelli and I don’t regret it. As it sat underneath the ingredient pile, it soaked up the gravy, bits of which clung to the strands as I pulled them free.
The beef slices and oxtail were tender and easy to tear apart with my teeth. There was even bone with marrow, so you can certainly say it was a collagen-filled treat.
My friend had the Ground Beef Rice (S$5) which was labelled as a daily limited item, gone once it is sold out for the day. The fluffy rice is topped with, of course, ground beef, crispy fried shallots, a yolky egg and a stalk of kai-lan.
When I mixed everything together, the yolk gave the dish a creamier texture as it helped the beef and fragrant onions cling to the rice. I only had one bite as my friend scarfed down the bowl.
Considering how high Horiginal Beef Noodle had been going till that point, we hit the lowest point with the Beef Ball Soup (S$). If you order the soup version, which is made in the Teochew style, this would be the base for it as well. It was disappointing.
No complaint about the beef balls themselves, as they thankfully lacked the frozen meat taste. But for a soup that was likely left simmering for a while, it tasted flatter than I had hoped. I’m not saying it’s bland, it just didn’t pack quite the same punch as the gravy.
I mentioned earlier that my late lunch caused a problem of sorts. I had wanted to order their Soya Ring Roll (S$2) to dip into both the soup and the gravy. But I was told they were fresh out for the day. You usually get these at hotpot places, so I was honestly curious to try them with my noodles. Till I go back again, guess you’ll be the ones to tell me how well they pair.
As someone who can’t handle spice, I only took a drop from my chopsticks in each to try. So, I cannot confidently vouch for them unless you want me to just say that those tiny dips were all it took to make my eyes water. But my friend expressively exhaled and winced from them, saying that they were all killers, specially the Fragrant Thai Chili Oil.
Final Thoughts
Beef noodles aren’t exactly a rarity in Singapore, but at least you and your friends won’t be arguing about what to eat here. It’s pocket-friendly too, with a generously sized bowl of noodles and ingredients.
If heavy dishes are your thing, Horiginal Beef Noodle may suit your taste. You don’t even have to get the premium bowl like I did. Not exactly the healthiest of meals, but a very filling one. Just don’t repeat my mistakes, like going past lunch hour.
Expected damage: S$5 – S$9 per pax
Order Delivery: foodpanda Deliveroo
Price: $
Our Rating: 4.5 / 5
Horiginal Beef Noodle
739 Bedok Reservoir Rd, #01-3139, Singapore 470739
Horiginal Beef Noodle
739 Bedok Reservoir Rd, #01-3139, Singapore 470739
