Lao San Prawn Noodles: Comforting, traditional prawn noodles in Tampines from $4.90

I don’t often visit the East side of Singapore, so when I found myself wandering around the Tampines vicinity looking for a spot to have lunch at, I had no idea what I should try first. Of all the stalls located in the area, Lao San Prawn Noodles had one of the most eye-catching signages.

The vibrantly-lit prawn noodle store showcased noodle dishes containing prawns, pork ribs and even pig tail and pig stomach. When I ordered my bowls, I was delighted to find out that I could choose from 7 noodle types, including yellow noodles, bee hoon and mee pok!

What I tried at Lao San Prawn Noodles

Given how the whole stall revolved around prawn noodles, I had to try Lao San Prawn Noodles’ Traditional Prawn Noodles (S$4.90), a simple yet classic dish that many in Singapore are definitely familiar with. I opted to get the yellow noodles and the dry variation of the dish.

The dish came with 3 halved prawns, which I was quite surprised by. Given the price of the dish, I had expected to receive 3 whole prawns instead. Nevertheless, the prawns came in their shells and had a tender and juicy flesh.

Though the prawns were good, I wish there was more to justify the S$4.90 price.

The yellow noodles were soft and bouncy, albeit quite average. They were pretty enjoyable, especially when I slurped them up with the soup.

The soup of the Traditional Prawn Noodles was tasty and rich in umami flavour, but the starchy taste of the yellow noodles had seeped into the soup, causing the flavours of the prawn to be more muted and less intense.

Overall, Lao San Prawn Noodles’ Traditional Prawn Noodles were comparable to most other prawn noodle hawkers in Singapore. I didn’t find them to be all that outstanding, especially since they just came with 3 halved prawns and a few slices of fishcake.

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Lao San Prawn Noodles’ Pork Rib Noodles (S$5.90) were a little more satisfying. I opted for the dry version and chose mee pok as my noodle option. The bowl of noodles came with a side of prawn soup.

The mee pok was nicely coated in an oily, spicy sauce. I enjoyed the mild spice and savoury flavours of the sauce, and I certainly found the noodles here to be much more flavourful compared to the soup variety.

The noodles came with 3 large pieces of pork ribs, which I enjoyed. Each pork rib had a fairly tender flesh that tore apart easily. The meat also had a peppery, slightly herbal taste, making it more flavourful.

The clear standout of my whole meal was the bowl of prawn soup served on the side. It was incredibly robust and full-bodied with different dimensions, and the taste of the prawn was rich and fresh.

Compared to the soup in the Traditional Prawn Noodles, which was less rich due to the addition of the yellow noodles, this bowl of soup was able to fully shine through on its own. I couldn’t get enough of it!

The Pork Rib Noodles were a huge step up from Lao San Prawn Noodles’ Traditional Prawn Noodles, and I would get it again.

Final thoughts

While the dishes at Lao San Prawn Noodles didn’t blow me away, they were still pretty solid and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend choosing the dry variation of whichever dish you choose to get as the noodles were so much more flavourful and tasty compared to the soup version. Plus, the soup on its own was absolutely glorious.

For the most part, Lao San Prawn Noodles’ dishes were comparable to most other stalls, so I wouldn’t travel down to the East just for them again. However, if you live near 201 Tampines and are craving prawn noodles, why not give this stall a try?

Expected damage: S$4.90 – S$7.50 per pax

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