Nerdy Noodles (四眼仔): Authentic Hong Kong Street Cart Noodles With DIY Toppings At Bugis+

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Hong Kong is dim sum, but there’s so much more to Hong Kong cuisine.

Nerdy Noodles aims to bring you something different, with authentic and traditional street cart noodles in Bugis+.

Stepping into Nerdy Noodles transports you straight to Hong Kong with the furniture and wall decor resembling a cha chaan teng.

Nerdy Noodles brings us a range of noodles with various broths and toppings to choose from, leaving us totally spoilt for choice.

For those of you who can’t decide what to order, Nerdy Noodles offer signature noodle bowls as well. We decided to try a few of their different signature bowls.

The Yuan Long Boy元朗仔 (S$12.90++) is one of their recommended bowls. Served with warm Signature Spicy Curry Soup and thin egg noodles, the dish also has curry fishballs, two braised wings, a soft-boiled egg and large chunks of radish.

I was particularly impressed by the superb broth. I expected the curry to be thick and creamy, but it was somewhat light and clear, and was not lacking in flavour in any way.

The broth had a slight nuttiness from the spices and after a few spoonfuls, the spiciness really kicked in.

We absolutely loved the springy texture of the egg noodles — it wasn’t mushy or overcooked despite being in the broth for a while. Nerdy Noodles did a good job when pairing their noodles with the toppings, ensuring that the flavours complement each other without being too overwhelming.

The braised wings are one of the favourites here, because the meat was extremely tender and fell off the bone easily. As I nibbled on the wings, I was instantly reminded of my grandma’s aromatic soy sauce chicken. It is definitely worth the top-up if you’re at Nerdy Noodles.

Yet another bowl worth drooling over is their Tai Koo Boy太古仔 (S$11.90++). 

Though it may not look very different from the previous bowl, the Tai Koo Boy uses their Signature Beef Brisket Soup as the soup base. The bowl came with thin egg noodles, beef brisket, soft radish and a sunny-side-up egg.

The broth was akin to Taiwan’s beef noodle soup. The savoury soup had similar notes of herbs that brought earthy flavours and warmth as I slurped it up.

The tender beef brisket was infused with the strong herbal flavour from being braised in the broth for long hours. The portion of meat was generous, making it pretty worth it.

My favourite topping of all was the radish chunks. Cooked in Nerdy Noodles’ Signature Beef Brisket Soup, the radish absorbed all that soupy goodness and bitting into it released a burst of sweetness.

The Central Boy 中環仔 (S$9.90++) came with a light broth with subtle hints of sweetness that came from the chicken bone reduction. However, it might be a little bland for those who prefer broths with stronger flavours.

Nerdy Noodles paired this broth with flat rice noodles and topped it with a slice of luncheon meat and a sunny-side-up egg. The addition of luncheon meat was a smart choice as it gave the light broth a touch of savouriness.

This bowl may seem simple, but it brings back the memories of primary school days where luncheon meat and a sunny side up was enough to make a hearty meal.

If you’re looking for a side to share, Nerdy Noodles hops onto the salted egg yolk bandwagon and has created their very own Salted Egg Fish Skin (S$6++).

Mmm, crispy fish skin drenched with homemade salted egg yolk sauce. After all the soft noodles, it’s good to switch it up with a little crunchiness.

For those who loves trying new things, you can always come to Nerdy Noodles to DIY your own noodle bowls. Their range of toppings and broths will guarantee you a fresh new taste each time you visit. Head over to Bugis+, and slurp up a warm bowl of Hong Kong street cart noodles!

Expected Damage: S$10 – S$20 per pax