We tried Singapore’s worst-rated chilli ban mian

I vividly remember the shiok chilli burn and the uncontrollable sweating when my Malaysian friends took me for my first bowl of chilli ban mian in Kuala Lumpur. So when Ng Kuan Chilli Pan Mee at 14 Clementi Road popped up while I was hunting for the worst-rated establishment, I thought to myself, “Hmm… how bad could it be?”

The stall has a 3.1-star rating with a total of 127 reviews on Google Reviews (at time of writing). Among its 3 outlets, this is the worst one, with the other 2 branches earning 3.5 stars. So what’s the issue with them?

According to the bulk of the 1-star reviews, many netizens complained about the overcooked noodles, slow service, houseflies, weird-tasting fried pork, the unhygienic surroundings… the list goes on.

I noticed the words “Top 3 Chilli Pan Mee In Singapore” above the signage, and shook my head in disbelief. I’ve tried their noodles a few times before, but I was never that blown away to rank them among my top few.

When we arrived at 11.45am, it wasn’t that crowded and the place looked decently maintained. Perhaps they’ve cleaned up their act? They share the same space as 冰多多, a shaved ice and dessert brand.

There were 2 self-ordering kiosks at the front, and when your number is flashed, you have to collect your food at the back. The footfall was impressive, with crowds of university students and office workers streaming in.

What I tried at Ng Kuan Chilli Pan Mee

As time ticked by, the online delivery numbers kept flashing instead of the dine-in ones. Was this why customers were complaining about the 35-minute to 1-hour wait, despite the place being empty? We even heard a lady telling her husband how packed it was and how they had waited nearly an hour on their last visit.

Right on the 14-minute dot (because yes, I was keeping track), my number was called. The dry Fried Pork Ban Mian (S$8.80) came in a glorious mess of golden-brown and fiery red — fried garlic chips, ikan bilis, fried shallots and sambal — piled high on a bed of silky white ban mian, just waiting to be mixed.

The fried pork pieces were served by the side on a plate, and since I’m a sucker for anything deep-fried, I dove right in for my first bite.

Unlike the comments that claimed the fried pork tasted sour, I found it perfectly crispy and savoury. As an added bonus, it wasn’t saturated in oil, too!

Back to the main event — the noodles themselves. I do agree with the comments stating that the portion doesn’t justify its price point. I just wish there were a bit more noodles and ingredients.

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The strands of ban mian were slightly clumped together, and I relied on a spoonful (or 2) of broth to loosen them up. The noodles tasted slightly floury and were a little too soft for my liking. The overall taste was great, though.

The fiery notes from the sambal felt like a mini volcano erupting n my mouth, with the heat hitting me straight in the face. Spice lovers… this will definitely be your jam!

I remember — what, 5 years ago? — the first time I tried Ng Kuan at their now-defunct Potong Pasir branch. I wasn’t a fan of their fried garlic chips back then; they were over-fried, resulting in a slightly bitter aftertaste. I’m glad to report that the chips were more palatable this time round.

The crunchy ikan bilis added an extra depth of texture and umami.

The dry You Mian (S$6.80) came in the exact same configuration as my previous bowl, but with added minced pork and a poached egg thrown in.

The egg was cooked to perfection, flowing like a golden river trickling down a stream with a gentle prod of my utensils.

With the egg in the picture, the noodles tasted creamier and richer. But the same problem persisted — the you mian strands were devoid of any bite (yes, you guessed it… overcooked).

Just when I wanted to say that the housefly problem was no longer an issue, a single fly — whom I named Richard (don’t ask me why) — started buzzing around. Fortunately, it was just him and no other comrades joined in the annoyance. It was still tolerable for me.

To further test out their offerings, I ordered the soup Mee Hoon Kueh (S$6.50). The broth was almost filled to the brim, and I struggled a little carrying this back to my table (it was heavy!).

I think as the sheets of mee hoon kueh were much broader, they took up additional space which made the bowl seem like it was loaded with ingredients.

I wanted to see if the flat sheets were done right this time round. Unfortunately, they were slightly overcooked once again — a triple whammy, indeed!

Now, for the positives. The soup was flavourful and well-seasoned — unlike some reviews that said that it tasted like water. The pieces of spinach were a great touch, too.

Though the ikan bilis lost their crispiness after being doused in soup, they still retained their umami flavour, giving every bite a bit more personality.

To convince my body that I’m still on its side, I ordered the Spinach with Homemade Chilli Sauce (S$5) for that all-important veggie boost.

Aside from my first mouthful, which had a few rogue particles of sand, the rest were perfectly fine, and the texture was spot-on! If only the chefs had cooked the noodles with the same level of precision as this plate of spinach.

Final thoughts

With all the negative reviews floating around, I wasn’t exactly excited for my visit to Ng Kuan Chilli Pan Mee in Clementi. But to my surprise, it turned out better than expected—except for those overcooked noods, of course.

Since this place only closes during the wee hours of the morning, do the houseflies only come during that time period? Leave your comments and let me know.

Perhaps they’ve identified their weaknesses and made improvements internally. I always believe that not everything depicted online is true and heading down to experience it yourself is the best gauge.

Expected damage: S$6.50 – S$11 per pax

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