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I’ll admit, roast meat isn’t what I’d usually go for at a hawker centre. Neither is queueing, so I’m beyond me why I decided to wait in line for 2 popular roast meat stalls in Maxwell Food Centre.
That said, when roast meat is done right — the kind that glistens through the glass display and hits that holy trifecta of smoky, juicy, and crispy — it really hits the spot.
Introducing today’s contenders! First up is Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia (#01-71), a no-frills stall with loyal queues and a 4.5-star rating with 212 reviews. Hot on its heels is Ah Zhong Roasted Delights (#01-93), with a similar 4.5-star rating with 131 reviews, at the time of writing.
I dragged a roast-meat-loving friend along, so we divided and conquered. While he stood in the ridiculously long line for Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia that formed even before the stall’s opening at 12pm, I went ahead to queue for Ah Zhong Roasted Delights that also saw its fair share of customers. (He voluntarily queued hor, I didn’t decide for us).
We ordered the exact same combo from each: Char Siew, Roast Pork and Roast Duck Rice.
Price & Portion
Fu Shun doesn’t offer the 3 meats as a set, so we got their Mixed Meat Rice (S$4.50) that comes with char siew and roast pork, then added on the roast duck for an additional S$3. S$7.50 for one plate isn’t cheap by any means, though the generous cuts of meat made up for it. It comes with thick cucumber slices and a drizzle of a sweet, dark sauce over plain rice.
On the other hand, we got the 3 Combo Rice (Roasted Duck)(S$7) from Ah Zhong. You can substitute the duck for roast chicken, if you prefer. They use chicken rice instead of plain rice, but what really caught my eye was the achar and crispy pork skin bits bordering the side of the plate. Oh, and they serve a bowl of soup on the side, too.
Char Siew
Let’s start with a staple from both Maxwell roast meat stalls.
Fu Shun really brought out the big guns with this one. Their char siew slices were substantial, the kind that stands its ground when held up with chopsticks. The edges were gorgeously caramelised — charred, sticky — glistening and begging to be devoured. It had the perfect fat-to-lean balance that made each bite deliciously tender, with a natural, juicy sweetness.
None of that “best for last” nonsense here, this was hands down my favourite of all the meats across both plates.
Ah Zhong‘s char siew looks visibly different; classic, red-hued slices that are more savoury than sweet. The meat was slightly leaner, though still tender, with a sweet-ish sauce to pair. It’s nostalgic, no-frills and a solid above-average char siew. I can’t help but wonder if it can contend on its own without the sauce, though.
Roast Pork
Now, this one was closer than expected.
Fu Shun absolutely nailed the sio bak. The skin crackled beautifully with each bite, complementing the deliciously fatty meat to keep things juicy. Each piece was clean-tasting, well-salted, and didn’t have any of that unpleasant porky aftertaste that can sometimes linger in cheaper cuts.
Ah Zhong’s roast pork held its own, albeit slightly saltier. The crackling skin was just as crisp, the shatter echoing in my ears like a budget ASMR video, lol. Compared to the cleaner flavour of Fu Shun’s version, this one was more aggressively seasoned, with each bite packing a punch of savoury intensity that masked the natural porkiness of the meat. It was balanced out nicely when paired with the rice, though!
Xiao Di Charcoal Roasted Delights: Succulent char-kissed roast meats you can’t get enough of
Roast Duck
To preface, neither impressed me, but that could also just be my indifference to duck.
Each slice of Fu Shun‘s duck was thicc and substantial, yet impressively tender — no easy feat. The meat was clean-tasting with none of that gamey aftertaste I cannot stomach, and while the skin wasn’t exceptionally crispy, it was decent. I enjoyed it paired with chilli; it was a satisfying bite that felt hearty and balanced.
Ah Zhong’s, on the other hand, had the better skin. It was crispier and, in my opinion, more visually appealing. However, the meat underneath didn’t quite deliver. It was also clean-tasting, but noticeably tougher and chewier, lacking the succulence that Fu Shun’s carried.
Rice
The rice played a quiet but important supporting role for both Maxwell roast meat stalls.
Fu Shun serves plain white rice with a drizzle of dark braised sauce. The grains were fluffy but nothing fancy, though I personally felt they could’ve elevated the flavours of the sauce, as it fell a little flat.
Ah Zhong surprised me with an upgraded fragrant chicken rice as its base. It added a subtle richness that paired beautifully with the roasted meats. Although I can foresee that some might find the whole combination a little heavy.
Verdict
As I’ve established in the beginning, I’m not one to queue, but I would totally stand in the stuffy line for 30 minutes just for Fu Shun’s char siew.
With that, it’s an easy win for Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia for this Maxwell Roast Meat Showdown. Each of their meats carried its own natural sweetness with a beautiful fat-to-lean meat ratio that made for the perfect juicy and meaty bite. Paired with the plain rice, the cuts could shine so much more.
Regardless, Ah Zhong Roasted Delights serves up a mean plate of roast meats too, which I would have no qualms about eating if a plate of it were presented to me.
