T.G. Fish Porridge: Haig Road Market’s fish soup could be one of the best in Singapore

T.G. Fish Porridge, located in Haig Road Market & Food Centre, is run by an elderly couple and is one of the widely-recognised names in the local hawker food scene.

Over the course of several decades, they have perfected a range of fish-based dishes and made a remarkable name for themselves. I figured it was about time that I sank my teeth into some of their signature dishes and discovered the reason for their popularity for myself.

What I tried at T.G. Fish Porridge

We made our way down to T.G Fish Porridge to try a dish that has received many positive reviews over many years— their Sliced Fish Bee Hoon (S$6). It is also available in larger portions for S$8 and S$10. 

Unfortunately, the stall had run out of bee hoon which I was eager to taste by the time we arrived at 1 pm. Figuring that the true essence of the meal lay in the fish and broth rather than the noodles, we opted for the Sliced Fish with Rice (S$6.50) instead.

Service was quite speedy given that the stall prepares every serving individually as customers order them. My steaming bowl made its way to the table within a few minutes of my order.

I took one look and was elated— the fish was served with the skin on. You may think that’s a small detail but it is actually quite significant when you consider what happens during the cooking process: fish skin reacts with the other ingredients in the pot as it is being cooked.

You may have noticed that dishes with fish as an ingredient tend to have a stronger flavour and smell when the skin is left on. Not only does the skin enrich the taste of the broth it is cooked in, but it also can find its way into the other ingredients such as the vegetables, giving them the same rich undertones. 

I often ask hawkers to leave the skin on when I order fish dishes for exactly that reason. You may do the same at your favourite hawker stalls if you wish, too. Some stalls are able to do things my way but others who have pre-prepared their ingredients may not. 

Here, the fishiness had managed to infiltrate the veggies, which was awesome because the helping of greens in my bowl was just huge! There was seaweed and cabbage, and anchovies that added a well-rounded flavour to the dish.

Naturally, the star of the meal is the fish. You are served several huge chunks (I think I counted 10) of fresh and firm, white flesh that are irresistibly fresh. Every bite was an infusion of light saltiness balanced out by the soup. 

I have to admit that because I usually have my fish soup with milk, the colourless soup here had seemed very bland when I first lay eyes on the bowl. However, it is anything but. There was a hint of sweetness from the seafood, which kept me going for more. 5 out of 5 for being deceivingly delicious!

Final thoughts

We must have been there on a particularly slow day because even though we arrived at 1pm, there was just one person in the queue before us. From the horror stories we had heard about the wait time, it was a welcome surprise.

Another criticism that I have seen levelled at T.G. Fish Porridge numerous times is that the staff is ‘arrogant’ or rude. Our experience was entirely the opposite. Both the people manning the stall were very nice and went out of their way to serve us our food quickly. They were also exceedingly patient in answering all our questions. I easily rate the service a solid 9. 

My usual order of fish soup is for fried fish pieces and milk in the soup. Here, I got neither. My initial apprehension at seeing the colourless soup and plain white fish chunks quickly evaporated as soon as I started eating.

T.G Fish Porridge does an excellent job of delivering an authentic and addictive dish— I very quickly became a fan. Fish soup is my go-to comfort food, and I’m proud to say I’ve tried many different bowls of this dish, from all over the island. I’m happy to report that T.G. Fish Porridge has climbed up to my top spot.

S$6 may seem like a bit much for bee hoon and fish, but not when you look at the amount of high-quality ingredients that go into every bowl. I had a hard time finishing mine despite the wonderful taste because there just was too much. In a departure from what I usually think, I would say that T.G Fish Porridge should offer a smaller bowl, too, perhaps in the S$4 to S$5 range.

If you are in the neighbourhood and starving, though, this is the perfect order.

Expected damage: S$6 – $10 per pax

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