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As good as Old Chang Kee’s Sotong Onstik are, I’ve always encountered this glaring issue of them being sold out whenever my fried squid craving kicks in (I’m looking at you, Causeway Point outlet!). The Popcorn Squid with Paprika Powder at S$4 per bag is the answer to that, as it made its return on 1 Nov 2022 at all Old Chang Kee outlets.
Predictably, there were no surviving Sotong Onstik when I came to the Old Chang Kee outlet at Causeway Point, but thankfully the Popcorn Squid were plenty.
My first impression was how small and thin some of them looked. It also occurred to me that the ones I got weren’t freshly fried.
It tasted very similar to the classic Sotong Onstik, but at the same time, it had a distinct difference as it lack the ample usage of the iconic Old Chang Kee batter. The paprika powder added a nice touch of really subtle spice, but it wasn’t coated evenly and some pieces were slightly saltier than others.
They also weren’t crispy at the slightest and were surprisingly oily for their size.
I don’t think the portion reflects the relatively high price (they used to cost S$2.50!), as you’re essentially getting fried mini squids that you could probably get at supermarkets in the form of frozen calamari. Also, a Sotong Onstik cost S$2 and would probably do a better job at filling your squid cravings, not to mention Old Chang Kee’s other various fried snacks that are well below the Popcorn Squid‘s price point of S$4.
However, if no Sotong Onstik is available, then your second best option would be the Popcorn Squid with Paprika Powder, though I really think you’ll be paying more for less.
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