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As a newbie in Bendemeer Market and Food Centre, I headed to Xin Xin Yong Tau Foo for a familiar taste. Trust me, you’ll never go wrong with soft fish cakes in piping hot broth.
What’s more, this yong tau foo stall has noodles and side dishes as well, making it the perfect beginner’s pit stop at Bendemeer.
What I tried at Xin Xin Yong Tau Foo
There was no way I was going to go home without a bowl of classic Y.T.F, right? I was also excited to try something different, and my wandering eyes locked onto the picture of spicy tom yum. Yum indeed!
The Yong Tau Foo Soup (S$5 for Regular, S$6 for Large) was filled with various fish cakes. The S$5 portion that I ordered came with more than 8 pieces of yong tau foo; pretty worth it!
One thing I love about yong tau foo is how the saltiness of the fish paste is absorbed by the broth. It leaves the fish cakes with a light, gentle sweetness that pairs well with a spoonful of savoury soup.
This bowl does just that — while the meat-stuffed bitter gourd flooded my senses at first, its lingering aftertaste helped enhance the umami of the broth. I also enjoyed the fish paste mixed with minced pork, where the chew of meat and bouncy cooked fish meld together.
Glistening in the broth was this pearl of a fish ball. Its bouncy flesh revealed a salty core untouched by the cooking process, a welcome boost in the gentle flavour profile.
Another one of my favourites was the fish cake wrapped in bean curd skin. Soaked in the soup, the bean curd skin was silky and juicy while retaining its bite. Paired with the softness of the fish cake inside, this bite was a great balance of textures.
As I grow older, the tofu I once called tasteless has become part of my meals. They’re the perfect sponge for sauces and soups, just like this stuffed fried bean curd. The puffy skin lifts off the fish paste within ever so slightly, becoming a pocket for soup to collect in.
It’s basically a meaty xiao long bao, if you get what I mean!
2 sauces were available at Xin Xin Yong Tau Foo: sweet sauce and chilli. While the chilli provided a spicy kick to the milder flavour profile of the fish cakes, it wasn’t the sauce I’d reach for as I ate.
That trophy went to the sweet sauce, with a taste similar to Singapore-style chee cheong fun sauce. The thickness of the sauce lets it pool in the crevices of the tofu. The coating of sauce was even despite being diluted by the soup on the ingredients.
My favourite yong tau foo stall at Cheng San Market & Cooked Food Centre
Rounding off this bowl was the heart and soul of all yong tau foo — the soup. Enriched by anchovy broth, Xin Xin Yong Tau Foo’s rendition was well-seasoned and could be enjoyed alone.
Sour, spicy and deliciously soupy, the Tom Yum Fried Fish Soup (S$5 for Regular, S$6 for Large) is one way to shake things up. If you’re in the mood for a flavour bomb, put down an order right now!
The chunks of fish in this bowl of soup were phenomenal — thick and crispy without any day-old fishiness. I counted 5 in my bowl, and considering that each slice was nearly a centimetre thick, I think my S$5 was money well spent.
Apart from the fresh crunch of the bok choy, the tomato was actually the dark horse of the ingredients. It was juicy, with an acidity that was enhanced by the tom yum. Yet there was this natural sweetness that balanced out the whole flavour profile. Super addictive!
I loved the fragrance of lemongrass in the soup and how the sourness seeps into all the ingredients for an appetite-inducing bite. However, the soup could have used less salt. Since it already had a strong flavour, the saltiness was overpowering to me.
Of course, this can be combated with the addition of Rice (S$0.50) or You Mian (S$1). It mellows down the punchy soup and makes the meal more filling, a win-win situation!
Final Thoughts
I loved the variety of dishes available at Xin Xin Yong Tau Foo. Paired with the affordable prices and generous portions, there are no complaints from me. I’ll pop by if I’m in the area again — which will happen soon, trust me.
This stall does both: comforting classics that dredge up memories of my childhood and modern twists that pack a burst of flavour. I’m looking forward to trying the other items on the menu when I return.
So if you’re stuck in the maze of Bendemeer Market and Food Centre, look out for this signboard. And remember to come with an empty stomach, because these bowls aren’t for small appetites!
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