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Somehow, I’ve always had the idea that authentic Peranakan cuisine in Singapore was pricey.
That’s why when I found out there was an eatery here that sold affordable Peranakan food, I was a tad sceptical. After a visit to the place though, my doubts quickly evaporated.
Makko Teck Neo is a hidden gem tucked away at the quiet vicinity of Telok Blangah Rise, where they offer a variety of Peranakan dishes under S$15++.
The eatery provides an outdoor dining area too, but we opted for the comfort of air-conditioned indoors seating because of the haze.
While the space doesn’t hold a ton of people, it still gives off a humble and homely atmosphere.
What I tried at Makko Teck Neo
We were overwhelmed with all the options on their menu, but we knew we had to get the classic Nyonya Kueh Pie Tee (S$13.90) to start with.
I liked that they weren’t stingy with the prawns, which were fresh with a bouncy bite to them.
I appreciated how the tart shell held its shape well even after a bite. Plus points because it also maintained a crunch, despite getting a bit soggy from the juices of the vegetable filling.
There was a natural, juicy sweetness from the turnip and mushroom bits, and each mouthful of the kueh pie tee provided an explosion of texture and flavour.
After the kueh pie tee kick-started our appetites, we were ready for a feast and started off with the Dry Mee Siam (S$6.50) first.
Since the mee siam that I get from other places typically comes with a lot of sauce, this one seemed a little too dry to me initially.
However, a spoonful of the mee siam proved me wrong, because it had absorbed whatever sauce there was. They were also springy and not soggy. I might actually enjoy my noodles drier now!
The sauce was sweet and sour with a good amount of spice, which was just enough to make my tongue tingle.
The dish also comes with a generous portion of sliced eggs and tau pok, which soaked up the gravy for an explosion of sweet, spicy and sourness in my mouth.
My only gripe was that the prawn, despite being of a decent size, was on the tougher and drier side.
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Next up, we managed to try Makko Teck Neo‘s Nyonya Laksa (S$6.50) which is only available on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
It comes with a decent portion of your typical thick vermicelli, which was springy and not soggy.
I enjoyed that the curry wasn’t too thin nor too thick, with a creamy flavour from the coconut milk used. The spice also packed a punch, without being too overwhelming.
You can expect the usual ingredients like prawns, fishcake, beansprout and tau pok.
Thankfully, the three pieces of prawns in this dish were tender and chewy. They were also decently-sized and deshelled, which I greatly appreciated.
Since laksa curry is usually more savoury than sweet, the piquant Assam Fish Curry (S$13.90) was something unexpected.
The fish curry was thick, creamy and on the sweeter and slightly sour side. Not what I was used to, but I wasn’t complaining.
The chunks of tomatoes were probably what added some sweetness and acidity to the curry, while the lady’s fingers provided a nice crunch.
A bowl comes with two medium-sized fish fillets, and the flesh was decently meaty and soft. The skin added a nice silkiness to the meat as well.
Definitely a dish I wouldn’t mind re-ordering!
Somehow, we weren’t sick of all the curry yet, and rounded up our feast with the Ayam Buah Keluak (S$18.90). Similar to the fish curry, this dish had had a thicker and sweeter curry, but with a hint of saltiness.
The buah keluak (black nut) further added a layer of slightly bitter and earthy taste to the curry.
The dish came with three pieces of chicken, which were still tender and meaty even though they didn’t tear apart easily.
Compared to the chicken, there were only one and a half pieces of pork, which was a pity. But similarly, the pork was easy to bite into, and while it had a gamey taste, it was not overpowering.
This dish contains more complex flavours than the usual curry I am used to, but I actually would recommend it to my friends as something unique that they should try out.
Final Thoughts
Although I stepped into Makko Teck Neo without any high expectations, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I definitely wouldn’t mind ordering these dishes again, simply because of how value-for-money yet tasty they are.
Even though their Telok Blangah outlet is too out of the way for me, I would surely check out their second location at The Metropolis in Buona Vista!
If you’re looking for some authentic Peranakan cuisine without breaking the bank, Makko Teck Neo is the place to visit.
Expected damage: S$10 – S$15 per pax
