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If you’re in the know about the latest buzz, you’ve definitely heard of goreng pisang’s Caucasian cousin, the ‘vegan banana tempura’. After making its debut in Hollywood last week and getting featured on Instagram by none other than Hollywood media personality, Kourtney Kardashian, netizens around the world were left in stitches with its new name.
My Facebook timeline has been filled with an abundance of ‘vegan banana tempura’ articles and memes for days, and I obviously started to crave the lovely crispy-on-the-outside and creamy-on-the-inside banana fritters; where better to get them than at Lee Kee 李記香蕉炸? Located at Bedok Interchange Hawker Center, this hidden gem sells very tasty Chinese-style goreng pisang, and a slew of other classic deep-fried snacks too.
What I tried
It’s not every day I get to indulge in Goreng Pisang, and I try to avoid deep-fried snacks as much as I can but the ones sold here are impossible to avoid. Lee Kee 李記香蕉炸’s crispy fried banana treats will come in two sizes—Large (S$1.50 for one) and Small (S$1.20 for one). They may come with a hefty price tag but they sure are worth it.
Lee Kee uses pisang rajah for their banana fritters which have a nice and sweet taste. One look and you can see that their batter is noticeably thinner and lighter which is perfect because a thick batter equates to a doughy texture, which isn’t what you’re looking for. Its crunchy exterior paired with a sweet custard-like centre is so addictive—I’d pop these like candy if I could.
Of course, I couldn’t leave with just their Goreng Pisang, and had to try the slew of fried snacks on display like the exotic Cempedak (S$0.80 for one). This funky tropical fruit has a sweet taste, akin to that of durian or musky mango and has its own fan base. You either love it or hate it; there’s no in-between. Like the Goreng Pisang, the fresh cempedak is encased in a thin batter making it light and easy to consume.
Here’s the thing; whenever I see the words ‘green bean’ anywhere, I instantly think of the time I spent in kindergarten bawling my eyes out because I was force-fed a bowl of piping hot green bean soup. But on this day, I sensed the Green Bean Cake (S$0.80 for one) mocking me and I just had to have it.
The Green Bean Cake tasted as it should; crisp with a hint of earthy undertones leaving a slightly bitter aftertaste. However, I still prefer red beans, although this wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be—no thanks to my childhood trauma.
Next is the Sweet Potato Cake (S$0.80 for one)—also known as keledek. Over here there are three different styles of fried sweet potato: cake, fries, and balls. Three bites into the mildly sweet cake and I regretted not getting the sweet potato balls instead because it got cloying very quickly. However, if you love sweet potatoes, the Sweet Potato Cake will be a nice tea time snack to munch on as it’s subtly sweet and has just the right amount of crisp on it. I guess I’ll just never be a fan of sweet potatoes and will continue to stick to the regular ol’ potatoes instead.
Lastly, the You Tiao (S$0.80 for one). These versatile fried dough sticks are a good addition to anything—from soya bean drinks to porridge. The ones here are thin, crispy, fluffy, and absolutely delicious; if I didn’t have to share them with my family, I’d have consumed these doughy delights alone.
Final thoughts
Apart from the price increment, it’s amazing how their iconic batter has managed to stay the same over the years; as if they’ve mastered the art of thin batter-making. Additionally, do remember to make your way down between 2pm to 4pm to avoid a long queue.
If I lived in Bedok, you best believe I’d be making my way down to Lee Kee 李記香蕉炸 on the regular because their fried snacks are absolutely irresistible. Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre is a real treasure trove of food gems, and I’m glad this stall is still around promising delectable treats to everyone.
Expected damage: $0.80 to S$3 per pax
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