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If you’re a cinephile or were around in the ’90s, you might’ve watched or at least heard of the 1995 local film Mee Pok Man directed by Eric Khoo. This Singaporean classic tells the story of a shy mee pok seller and his infatuation for one of his frequent customers, set against a backdrop of an all-night fishball noodle stall in a sleazy neighbourhood.
You’ll be keen to know that you can visit the very mee pok stall – Hua Bee Restaurant – tucked away in the not-at-all-sleazy Tiong Bahru.
Hua Bee Restaurant is a quaint coffeeshop located along Moh Guan Terrace and has been around since the 1940s. With hardwood furniture and marble tabletops, its old-school interior evidently hasn’t changed much since then. The wall also sports a large Mee Pok Man poster, paying homage to the film.
It once shared the space with the now-closed Japanese yakitori restaurant Bincho, which used to operate in the evenings.
Not to worry, though. Hua Bee Restaurant still dishes out bowls of unadulterated Fishball Noodles (S$4.50), which you can enjoy with your choice of noodles. Most opt for the mee pok, of course.
The noodles are cooked al dente and tossed in a mix of ketchup and chilli sauce. The latter is highly recommended by patrons. You’ll also be given a bowl of soup with minced meat chunks, fishballs, meatballs and slices of fried fish cake.
Hua Bee Restaurant’s homely atmosphere makes it a prime place to lim kopi, and you certainly can! It’s equipped with a coffee and tea corner, so you can get your caffeine fix with options like hot Kopi (S$1.10 for Small, $1.30 for Big) and Teh (S$1.10 for Small, $1.30 for Big).
The traditional breakfast options of Kaya Toast (S$2.40) and Half-boiled Eggs (S$1.80) are also available for you to start your morning right.
Do pay Hua Bee Restaurant to give the mee pok man’s mee pok a try, or to simply bask in the nostalgic atmosphere.
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