Golden Mile Food Centre, sometimes known as Beach Road Food Centre, is likely to close for renovations from December 2020 till March 2021.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, there will not be a temporary market as there is no suitable vacant space in the vicinity.

The last time the food centre had a major renovation was 18 years ago in 2002, and they are looking into replacing the exhaust system, fans, and making the area a cleaner environment.

However, some hawkers have remarked that business is still picking up after their long break during to the “Circuit Breaker” and “Phase 1” periods of COVID-19.

Golden Mile Food Centre used to be where I go to after “settling stuff” at the Army Market upstairs – the place of relief for many army boys and NSMen. Buy in-camp things then go downstairs eat.

The food centre which was opened since 1975, has a good mix of stalls both upstairs and downstairs. Most of the Halal stalls are located downstairs.

When I visited during the weekend evenings in the past, there were also performers singing oldies which really added to the atmosphere (though they are not allowed to sing this period).

There are many other famous and worthy stalls here, such as Charlie’s Peranakan Food, Mr Baguette, Haji Kadir Food Chains (for Tulang and Roti John), and Koothurar Nasi Biryani.

Here are 15 must-try stalls at Golden Mile Food Centre: (All stalls are tried anonymously, during multiple trips. While opening timings are stipulated, some stalls may close before indicated hours.)

Yew Chuan Claypot Rice

#01-73 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583

Tel: +65 9137 5661

Opening Hours: 12pm – 8:30pm (Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri), 4pm – 8:30pm (Sat, Sun), Closed Thurs

Close to 40 years in the claypot rice business, this couple team is still going strong at its original stall at Golden Mile. The owner was sheepishly proud that her stall was rated Number 1 over the other famous Holland Drive and

Chinatown stalls on a local television competition many years ago.

The main dish – Claypot Chicken Rice, is the star of this food stall. It comes in varied portion sizes. You can get it for $12, $18, $24, $30,

However, warning warning, you have to wait a good half an hour as the stall is often crowded as your food is prepared fresh on order. But it is well worth the wait.

Yew Chuan’s Claypot Rice is a classic – fragrant rice which was topped with tender marinated chicken pieces, tasty Chinese sausages, fresh green vegetables and light traces of salted fish.

The winner was the soya sauce, thick and dark, yet not overly salty which would usually make one thirst.

Added with a formulated sweet chilli sauce, the combination was aromatic and addictive. Cooked over charcoal, the moist rice was soft and fluffy on the bite. It complimented well with the slightly salty meat and sausage slices. One wished for some mushroom pieces for an added texture though.

Choon Kee Roasted Delights

#01-74 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583

Opening Hours: 10:30am – 3pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sat), Closed Wed, Sun

Choon Kee Roasted Delights is one of my latest finds. The roast specialist first started in Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 5023 canteen, and has now relocated to Golden Mile Food Centre.

Despite being ‘new’, there is typically a semi-long line here. Always sold out early (before “Circuit Breaker” days)

On its menu are Char Siew Roasted Pork Rice ($4, $5), Roasted Duck Rice ($3.50, $5), Roasted Duck Char Siew Rice ($5) and 3 Combi Duck Rice ($6). For the family, you can order the 3 Combo Duck Set ($8, $12, $20).

For this price, you could be amazing with the portion of meats given. Just look at that.

This is one of those few sio bak that I truly enjoyed, with a sizable-crunchy skin that could go ”cruck cruck” as you take those satisfying bites.

The Char Siew is chopped till thick slices with a tender bite, with a good proportion of lean meat to fats.

91 Fried Kway Teow Mee

#01-91, Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road Singapore 199583

Tel: +65 98300965

Opening Hours: 11am – 2:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Enjoy greener and healthier options at the Char Kway Teow to fulfill your cravings with less guilt.

Named after the stall’s number at the Golden Mile Food Centre, 91 Fried Kway Teow Mee 91翠绿炒粿條面 is known for its healthier version of Char Kway Teow – no pork, no lard, added with toppings of chye sim.

Their rendition of Fried Kway Teow Mee ($3.00, $4.00, $5.00) caters to health-conscious diners watching their calories and fat intake.

Portion seems to be relatively small, compared to the average stall (Mine’s the $4 version.)

To add a nice, crunchy texture, they sprinkle some fried whitebait on the top. Mix them up with the kway teow before eating. May not be everybody’s style as some would like theirs with more sauce, pork lard and wok-hei. 91 Fried Kway Teow Mee (Golden Mile Food Centre)

Ashes Burnnit

#B1-24, Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583

Tel: +65 9270 4670

Opening Hours: 11:30am – 8:30pm (Mon – Sun)

In case you have not realised, Ashes Burnnit occupies the same exactly stall location as Burgs by Project Warung previously.

The partners split ways, but there is slight differentiation in the recipe for Ashes.

A main highlight is the price. The basis Ashes Smash Cheese Burger complete with handcrafted beef patty and American cheese, is priced at $5.90 for a single patty complete with fries. Pretty neat price, and more value than those offered by the typical fast-food joints.

You can also expect Truffle Mushroom Burger ($8), Best of Both World ($9), Fried Chicken Burger ($5.90), and Grilled Chicken Burger ($6.50).

I thought that the Truffle Mushroom Burger ($8) provide good value with its juicy beef patties with slight char on the outside, though the truffle cream sauce lacked that ‘aroma’ people would love.

The fries slightly seasoned and crisp, were quite the bomb. For health-conscious people, you can add $2 to replace with salad. But then again, why have salad when you can have those fries?

Wedang

#B1-19 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road Singapore 199583

Opening Hours: 12pm – 8:30pm (Tues – Sun) Closed Mon

The stall looks non-descript and ordinary, no newspaper cuttings what-so-ever, and you may just walk past it without a hint of its accolades.

It was once awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

Wedang’s offerings are straightforward – Tahu Goreng (Malay style fried tofu with spicy peanut sauce., Gado Gado (a style of Indonesian salad with peanut sauce), Mee or Bee Hoon Soto Ayam (yellow spicy chicken soup with noodles or rice vermicelli) and Nasi Ayam (chicken rice), all at $3.00 per plate or bowl.

The Bee Hoon Soto Ayam ($3), a Javanese-influenced dish of rice vermicelli with a deep fried begedil (potato cake), shredded chicken in yellow spicy chicken stock, was pleasingly tasty.

Its soup base came across as being balanced, cloudy yet not overly rich, spicy but manageable. It is not as salty as some of the Mee Soto I have come across.

Hainan Hokkien Mee

#B1-34 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road Singapore 199583

Tel: +65 6294 6798

Opening Hours: 10am – 3pm (Mon), 10am – 5pm (Tues, Thurs – Sun), Closed Wed

Hokkien Mee can divide fans – there are supporters of the wet and saucy; while others enjoy the dry and flavourful.

This is the DRY version.

The Hokkien Mee at this stall stands out for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is cooked fresh on order. Secondly, the method of preparation is different, as the noodles are fried along with the stock until they completely absorbs the whole flavor.

This gives you a rich taste in every mouthful.

The Fried Hokkien Mee ($4) though disappointedly had a small serving size, came with delicious chilli for a tasteful kick to the noodles.

Ah Xiao Teochew Braised Duck

#B1-43 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583

Tel: +65 9109 8026

Opening Hours: 9:30am – 3:30pm (Mon – Fri), 9:30am – 1:30pm (Sat – Sun)

Traditional duck rice that will hit you with the perfect dose of nostalgia.

Amidst all the hustle and bustle at Golden Mile Food Centre, this particular stall shines like a star for selling the nostalgic braised duck rice.

Founded by Mr Peh Thiam Ting, Ah Xiao Teochew Braised Duck has been serving authentic Teochew-style braised duck since the 1990s. It is now helmed by 2nd generations owners.

The simple and homely preparation and flavours take you back in time and make you nostalgic for home. A quarter of Braised Duck goes at $10, 1/2 at $18, while a whole Braised Duck is priced at $36.

Their signature Braised Duck Rice ($3) is prepared with simple and traditional flavours that were warmly comforting and quite tender. Worthy of mention are the two types of chilli sauce given.

The lor (sauce) poured on the rice in particular, albeit light, was mostly on the sweet side and complemented the aromatic grains perfectly.

Golden Mile Special Yong Tau Foo

#B1-44 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583

Opening Hours: 10:45am – 3pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

This food stall at Golden Mile Food Centre is family owned, established since 1958 with genuine and authentic recipe of Yong Tau Foo passed down from generations and improved to perfection.

They receive a swarm of loyal customers every day, and continue to brighten their day with one of the best Yong Tau Foo servings in town.

They have a Teochew fish-based variety of Yong Tau Foo ($0.50/piece with minimum of 8).

The dish is prepared with homemade ingredients and comforting and homely flavours. I loved the fresh taste of fishballs and fish paste, made with yellowtail dish meat with no additional flour or addictive. Yes, just pure fish meat.

Their pig intestines are also one of the most popular items you can add.

The fish soup to me was more average though, maybe because it lacked that soy bean sweetness or I went too early in the morning. Maybe next time I would order the dry version as I found the deep-fried wanton and tau kee soaked within the soup as well. Bummer.

Da Po Hainanese Chicken Rice & Curry Chicken Noodle

B1-53 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583

Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm (Tues – Sun)

”My curry nice or not? How did you hear about us?” Auntie was super friendly when she found out it was the first time my friend had tried her Curry Chicken Noodles.

The Curry Chicken Noodles ($5, $6) comes with big pieces of poached chicken, soft potatoes, fishcake slices, tau pok, soft bean sprouts, and the best thing… pig’s skin. They are indeed generous with the ingredients.

The curry gravy which is made with fresh coconut milk, didn’t taste overly greasy and was quite ‘drinkable’ – you could just finish the entire bowl.

I would say it was just balanced and not too rich or lemak.

Poached chicken was tender and quite moist. This Curry Chicken Noodles stall also sells Chicken Rice.

Chung Cheng Chilli Mee Prawn Laksa

#01-59 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road Singapore 199583

Opening Hours: 9:30am – 6:30pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues

You may just dismiss this stall as yet another Prawn Noodle stall, but it is THE Chilli Mee that is the outstanding dish.

Selling Chilli Mee, Prawn Mee, and Laksa, priced at $3.00, $4.00 or $5.00 depending on the portion size, Chung Cheng is talked about its signature chili paste.

What makes this house-made chili paste special is the combination of belacan, dried shrimps, garlic, onion and some secret spices.

The signature chili paste is generously used in Chili Mee and Prawn Mee, with huge dollops of it scooped from a metal pot and added to the noodles. The soup Prawn Noodles is comparatively more average. Chung Cheng Chilli Mee (Golden Mile Food Centre)

YouFu Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle

#01-57 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583

Tel: +65 9825 7449

Opening Hours: 10am – 8:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

This Hokkien Mee gained some social media limelight as it was spotted that a 21-year old hawker is doing up the frying.

Hokkien Mee comes in four pricings – $4, $5; while the $6 and $8 portions are served on orh peh leaf.

The style is closer to the dry side with slight stickiness, and so customers may just relate this to the other dry Hokkien Mee downstairs. It has been described by the young hawker Andre as “carbonara” style, which is just in between wet and dry.

I am opened to both, and loved how the strands of noodles ‘captured’ the distinct essence of the prawn stock. As though you get that rich seafood flavour every mouthful you take.

Though I would think some may find this a notch salty overall.

Portion is considered generous with crispy pork lard, and you would find good wok-hei within.

Keng Heng Whampoa Teo Chew Lor Mee 慶興黃埔潮州鹵麵

#01-63 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road Singapore 199583

Tel: +65 9844 4853

Opening Hours: 7:30am – 2pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

This hawker stall will grab your attention for a lot of reasons. It is hard to miss with the large flashy signboard compelling you to get a steamy bowl of Lor Mee, and no matter what time of the day you visit the stall, you will always be met with snaking long queues.

You may have to wait a good half an hour for your order even on weekdays.

The classic Teochew style Lor Mee is priced at $3 – $5 which I found reasonable. The large portion size was quite huge and shareable if you are not too hungry.

The bowl was loaded with tender pork belly balanced with the crisp and crunch of the fish skin (which is not commonly found in other Lor Mee stalls), fishcakes, fried wantons and chunks of crispy fish.

The gravy had a distinct sweetish taste of its own with the same starchy thickness its loyal fans all know and love. But not everyone would enjoy the gooeyness. Oh yah, may want to go easy on the chilli.

Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles

#01-89 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road Singapore 199583

Tel: +65 98219566

Opening Hours: 11:30am – 7:30pm (Thurs – Tues)

“One person one set”. The stall has a variety of both dry and soup version of beef noodles, available at $4, $5, $6 and $7 depending if you want stewed beef, beef balls, or tendon.

But they do not offer Beef Soup or Beef Ball soup ala carte unlike most other stalls. Well, well.

While there is a limited selection, the Dry Beef Noodles ($5) comes with delightful sticky thick gravy almost bursting with flavor. I liked that the portion was just nice, which covered every strand of the rice noodles.

Soup could have been more robust with fuller flavours though.

The stall opens in the evening and is always swarming with crowd so you might have to wait a little for your turn.

75 Ah Balling Tang Yuan

#01-75 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road Singapore 199583

Tel: +65 62938702

Opening Hours: 11am – 8:30pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 8:30pm (Sat, Sun)

For a dessert treat at this food centre, 75 Ah Balling stall has a nice variety Tang Yuan filled with delicious fillings.

Their peanut soup is the most popular choice (because the peanuts are really soft), but there are also ginger, almond and longan red dates soups. A single bowl of soup is only $1.40.

You can pair it with glutinous rice balls aka Ah Balling filled with peanut, sesame, yam, matcha and red bean.

4 pieces along with soup comes in $2, five pieces for $2.30 and six pieces for $3.

You can mix and match a variety of flavours, though the recommendation is the peanut soup and ah balling with red bean or mixed fillings.

Zhao An Granny Grass Jelly

#01-58 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road Singapore 199583

Tel: +65 9146 7313

Opening Hours: 11:30am – 6:30pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), 1:30am – 6pm (Tues)

Get a cold serving of delicious and healthy Grass Jelly based on a fine tuned recipe passed down from generation to generation.

Every component of the recipe is fresh and homemade.

You can get a bowl of either hot or cold topped with nata de coco, palm seeds, longans, and sea coconuts, served in traditional porcelain bowl.

The consistency of the grass jelly definitely had the typical homemade taste rather than the generic factory one, refreshing, slightly sweet with natural ‘bitterness’. Also get a cool chin chow drink with grass jelly strips ($1.50).

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