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Within the touristy hawker centre located between Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar, Zhen Zhen Porridge remains a strong contender among the large number of hawker stalls residing within Maxwell Food Centre.
First impressions wise, we were slightly taken aback by the rundown exterior of the stall which was dimly lit in comparison to neighbouring stalls. The 2 stall owners were the representation of a humble business.
They coordinated like clockwork. Uncle stayed within the kitchen at the back of the shop and dished out thick congee into red bowls according to the portion purchased. Only 2 portions are available and are priced at S$4 and S$5 accordingly.
At the store front, Auntie took orders and was responsible for seasoning the Cantonese delight. The menu was straightforward — basically choose what ingredients you wanted in your bowl of congee.
What I tried at Zhen Zhen Porridge
Without a doubt, I went for the ‘all-in’ right away — Sliced Fish + Shredded Chicken + Century Egg Porridge — at the S$4 portion.
The porridge itself was so flavourful. All those extra toppings — fragrant sesame oil, fried shallots, spring onion, sliced ginger and preserved vegetables — were added in proper sizes and quantities.
The generous amount of these toppings were essential in adequately seasoning and providing a refreshing taste to the thick and creamy congee.
My dining partner did not like the addition of sliced ginger, but I appreciated its ability to cut through the creaminess of the congee and century egg (a must-have item whenever I eat porridge). The preserved vegetables added bursts of saltiness which pleasantly surprised me.
Despite the name of the dish being “shredded chicken”, the chicken was served in chunks, bite sized and super tender. There was barely any need for chewing but the meat remained firm and intact even after much stirring.
Botak Cantonese Porridge: Large bowls of Cantonese-style porridge from $3.50
Though similar in size to the chicken pieces, the fish was more delicate as compared to the poultry. It was also more tedious to individually locate the fish chunks and they broke off effortlessly at the pressure of my chopsticks.
As if the above ingredients were not already enough, I added an Egg (S$0.50). For first timers, do not be alarmed when Auntie cracks a raw egg into the bowl before Uncle pours a ladle of porridge over to briefly cook the egg.
While the addition of raw egg may put off individuals, I welcomed it with both arms open. The silky egg complemented the savoury flavour of the congee while adding dimension to the dish.
I would advise customers to quickly eat before the porridge waters down and creates an unpleasant mix with the half-cooked egg.
Final thoughts
The term ‘no frills’ is most apt in my experience with Zhen Zhen Porridge.
I am reconsidering whether porridge should even be named a simple dish after witnessing how many components the 2 stall owners have to prepare beforehand. Like many others, this stall is now my go-to when I am craving a satisfying portion of porridge.
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