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After working in Toa Payoh for nearly 2 months, 1 stall has caught my eye. I’m not adventurous, and when I find a comfort stall, I tend to find myself going back repeatedly. When I chanced upon Shengtai Beef Noodle at Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market & Hawker Centre, I knew that I would become a repeat customer.
This unassuming stall sits in the 2nd row of the hawker centre, and has a small, simple menu. When I went for my formal tasting, there was already a line, but it dwindled due to the uncle’s quick preparation of each order.
What to order at Shengtai Beef Noodle
I got my usual order of Beef Shank Noodle (S$5/S$7), opting for the S$5 version. Between the dry and soup options, I chose the soup. I was extremely excited to tuck into this warm bowl of beef shank noodles after the 1-hour commute here, and they did not disappoint.
What I enjoy most about Shengtai Beef Noodle is that they are not stingy with the amount of beef that they include, regardless of whether you’re dining in or taking it away.
The beef was tender and savoury. It had a hint of umami flavouring to it, which I particularly enjoyed, and melted in my mouth. I was glad that there were multiple pieces in the broth, as it meant that there was enough for the 2 of us.
The noodles to me were silky and paired well with the savoury oomph of the beef.
Next, my dining companion and I got the Beef Tendon Kway Teow (S$7/S$9), opting for the S$7 and soup option. Tendon is not my usual choice, considering that it has a jelly-like taste to it but I was down to try this dish.
To my surprise, the tendon was not as silky as I had expected. It was chewy, but still had a bit of bite to it, which I liked. I was surprised that it did not have as strong a beef flavour as the beef in the beef shank noodles, but instead had a creamy, gelatinous texture and taste.
The kway teow did a better job of soaking up the broth and was not overly soggy.
My only qualm with the broth was that it did not have a deeper taste to it. What drew out the flavours was the substantial amount of pepper which we chose to add to the broth itself. Still, it was a hearty and satisfying way to end our meal.
Who is Shengtai Beef Noodle best for?
It is definitely for people who want a good, affordable bowl of beef noodles and really enjoy beef. It is also for people who want beef that is tough on the outside but incredibly soft on the inside.
How to get there?
Shengtai Beef Noodle is located along Lorong 8 Toa Payoh. The nearest MRT is Toa Payoh (NS19), and you should take Exit B for the shortest walking route. Alternatively, you can take bus 238 from the bus Interchange and alight at this station: Blk 210 Mkt/FC.
Do we recommend Shengtai Beef Noodle?
Yes! Shengtai Beef Noodle offers clean-tasting beef, which lacks the gamey taste that the same dish from some other stalls have. The beef is soft and tender, and the broth is light and flavourful, making it comforting and easy to drink, as well as addictive.
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