Monday, February 26, 2007

Yue Lai Xiang Cheng Tng: This is One Special Cheng Tng: Bedok Corner FC Part 1 of 3

With holydrummer and iwatch_ueat


When it comes to Cheng Tng, I only know of one that really stands heads and shoulders above the rest. Yue Lai Xiang has been around since Bedok Corner Hawker Centre was still by the beach. Started by Grandma, the secret recipe has been handed down for 3 generations and it seems like no one else has been able to crack the secret.



This Cheng Tng is really Cheng (Clear) and has got 11 different ingredients in it. The soup is constructed from soups from 2 different troughs. One has got dried longan, pandan leaves and rock sugar in it and the other trough contains a "secret ingredient" which Mr Lim prefers to keep secret. Whatever it was, the soup here tastes very Liang (Cooling) and though you can make out the sweetness of the rock sugar and the longan, there was just that extra something else that makes it very special. They have several rather special ingredients in the mix too that really stands out. One is the dried persimmon you can see in the picture above and the other is the dried winter melon strips. 4.5/5



Here is another hawker who is very proud of his craft. Mr Lim was sharing with me how he used to watch Grandma making the Cheng Tng and how he used to ask her why some bowls had more ingredients and others less. She simply replied that the fingers on her hand are also not all of equal lengths!

Conclusion

There are many Cheng Tngs around, but I don't know any that are like the one here. I just love fishing out the pieces of dried wintermelon and persimmon. The feeling is like finding that piece of chicken in your curry puff!

Yue Lai Xiang
Hot and Cold Cheng Tng
Bedok Corner Food Centre Stall 31
aka Bedok Food Court
Junction of Bedok Rd and Bedok Junction
Open 12pm to 8pm
Closed on Mondays

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey!
Try the cheng teng from tiong bahru market.
Its good value for money tho it costs around $1.20. For $1.50 you get to bring home a really big packet that can feed 2.
Their ingredients are good as they are all home made.
Try it hot or lukewarm, not cold as putting too much ice in it will dilute the teng.
-ahbeR

stay-at-home mum said...

You are spot on. This is one of the best cheng tngs I have tried too!

My name is name said...

Mr Lim's my relative. You should try the ju eng cai (cuttlefish kang kong) next to it. It's all under the same family. :) Keep blogging more. Love your posts.

ieat said...

Akan Datang! Watch for Part 3 of 3
Do let Mr Lim know his pics are on the web!

Lam Chun See said...

Hi Doc. Luv your blog. But not to pour cold water .. it appears you eat out a lot. Not good for health you know.

Problem is not just the type of food you consume. I don't think those hawkers have time to thouroughly clean their utensils and vegetables. So we may be consuming a lot of man-made chemicals when we eat out so often.

tequila said...

hi! where exactly is this food centre?

politicojock said...

Mr LCS,

You sound like a very ziao-gay person.

Whether one eats out a lot or not is not anyone else's business. Whether one is a doctor and eats out a lot is not something anyone else can bitch about either.

I like ieat's blog a lot, and so do a lot of other people. If you don't have anything constructive to say then please point your beak in some other direction.

ieat said...

Dear LCS,

Do have a read of the FAQ: http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/search/label/1%20FAQs
Some of the issues you have brought up have been addressed there!

ieat said...

Hi tequila,

Have updated the blog. Thanks for your feedback. Directions found here:
http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel.php?travel_id=29991&travel_site=1

hgfoodie said...

I guess this is the only cheng tng in Singapore that has the good old "sai pia and tang kueh chek". I don't quite like the chunky crushed ice in the cold version, will normally tapao the hot version and chill them at home fridge before eating.

The Queen of Suds said...

hello ieatitreat! this is the first time i'm commenting in any of your posts but i've been an avid reader for quite a while now. Am so glad you blogged yue lai xiang! When i was still living in the east, my boyfriend and i made it a point to cheng tng at YLX once or twic every 2 weeks! each time we buy 2 big bowls each! to some people it is incredulous that anyone would spend almost 10 bucks on cheng tng but then they probably haven't tried YLX's cheng tng if they say that! :-) If you haven't decided what part 3 of Bedok FC should be, may i suggest the hokkien mee stall or Ah Ngeow's stall? i find their herbal soups nice, haven't tried their other dishes though.

piCkLes said...

Yes, the cheng tng at YLX is the best! When I am there, die die must have a bowl.

I also like the jiu her eng chai stall just next to it. Too bad it doesn't serve bee hoon to go with it. But it's still nice.

I also like the or luak there. It's at the same entrance as the jiu her eng chai stall but on the other side.

Oh ya, the hokkien mee also very good.

Whenever my family goes there, we will order all these dishes and share, except for the cheng tng, of course. That one must have a bowl to myself :-)

Lam Chun See said...

Aiyah Harold. So fierce for wat. My intentions are good.

Holy Drummer said...

For a person who tried cheng tng FOR THE FIRST TIME there at YLX. Totally blew me over. This is some stuff u can keep on drinking/eating without stopping one lor. Drink till knee soft ah. LOL.

The hokkien mee I've long heard. Pity it was not yet open when we were there.

Eddy™ said...

YLX Cheng Tng damn cooling. I did my NS in 3 SIR, just opp. the food market. Without fail, this is the "Must Order" list during guard duties...

Anonymous said...

My family and I had tried this store twice, but last Sunday after Church was meant to be our final trip too.

This hawker got the "fame" thing get into his head already!!

He was so rude and arrogant that I think he put the Catholics to shame.

I was not familiar with his ordering "rules" as the previous time was done by my better half.

So I happily went to place our order. I told him 2 small servings of Cheng Tng. He stared at me while peeling his "sweet cooked potato", didn't respond, so I assumed he didn't hear me. So I repeated my order, he yelled at me and said "HOT OR COLD?!!" Woah! I got a rude shock! Then I resorted that I didn't know as most of his customers order COLD Cheng Ting and they serve mostly if not all COLD Cheng Tng..(Who would want HOT Cheng Tng on a HOT Day? Unless you are ah-ma or ah-kong??no offense...) And besides that was my FIRST time ordering!!

How could I have just "swallow" this sort of treatment? ("hello, I came here to give you business? Do I owe you a living?)

I rebutted and told him that it was my first how would I have known, he should not have stare at me in such a rude manner!! He resorted to say that he's already 50+, his vision not perfect and he's a Catholic...Gosh..what does he being a Catholic got to do with this?

Anyway, I could have just walk away...I didn't(which I've regretted not doing it)since I have already "placed" my order. His daughter gave me my change with a sheepish look.

At the end, I didn't enjoy my dessert, I let my two darlings have it. I order something more digestible for my stomach and soul.

khim said...

finally!!! i've tried the so-called "famous" or "legendary" cheng tng!! however, i was really disappointed..

i find tat tis cheng tng store is too over-rated.. yes, no doubt tat there's a lot of indegredients in in, which is pleasant.. i do like the dried persimmon n dried winter melon strips.. but to put mung beans (those tat u find in tau suan) into e tng too? i really find it weird... =(

i've been barking my bf to bring me to try e cheng tng for so long n looking forward to it.. wif super high hopes n expectations but after i tried my first mouthful (ordered hot while bf order cold to try both), i was like: "huh? like tat only ah?"

perhaps my expectations of tis cheng tng is way too high, thus, higher disappointment.. =(

when i asked my bf how he find it, he told me he prefer e cheng tng opp. my house.. =)

yes, i've been eating e cheng tng opp. my house since young.. more than 20 years!! =) n i'm still loving it!! previously, i had never n refused to try other stores' cheng tng (such a loyal customers huh? =p) but recent couple of years, i've decided to try cheng tng from other places to see if i can have better ones, but i'm glad to say tat no other stores can beat e cheng tng store outside my house!!! =)

when uncle smart commented in e other post tat he tried once n found tat e cheng tng is too bland to his taste - well, tat might be true if u r taking e cold one.. i, myself, never like to take cold cheng tng as e ice always dilute my cheng tng.. e store really has got e best cheng tng (hot) imho! ;)

anyone staying around aljunied can come try it.. it's at Blk 79, Circuit Road Food Centre.. store number 570.. e store is quite near to e traffic light in case u have problem finding it..

les, i think u should try it at least once (maybe when u r really planning to try e tanglin steamboat, u can try it? let me know if u r eating e steamboat! i wanna go too!! =p)

recently found out tat their store is listed in "Singapore's Best Food Online Directory" from a small sticker pasted somewhere on their store.. can select e link below n look for e 4th dessert store "Kiang Kee Cold & Hot Ngo Bee Tng" to take a look.. n yes, their prices r very reasonable too.. starts from 60 cents! =)

http://www.sbestfood.com/Food%20Choice/dessert.htm

khim said...

to e anonymous before my comment: is tat his daughter or wifey?? i tot it's his wife lei!! hehe..

anyway, sorry for e long-winded comment above! =p

just feel tat i have to say it out lor..

no way am i going back to have e cheng tng again (when i can have e best cheng tng just opp. my house!!!! )

;)

smart said...

Khim, Ok I will try the cheng tng again n this time order the hot one.
Les, The Tanglin Satay steamboat is good (but standard of their satay gravy/sauce drop).Let have dinner there.

Anonymous said...

Hi, have been reading the blog for a while and also tried some of the recommendation. Must say that I am glad to chance upon this blog.

Can anyone recommend a nice place that I can find nice bo-bo cha-cha. The last good one I had was in KLCC at Madam Kwan restaurant.

Damien said...

I love the burbur chacha at Mdm Kwans at KLCC too.

If you're in KLCC, can try Little Penang too.

Both restaurants serve pretty good Penang food at affordable prices too.

Anyone knows where good burbur chacha is available, please share.

smart said...

Damien, Blangco Court Dessert at Old Airport FC. Had it when they were at the old place before the whole place went under renovation.Understand the son took over. Hope it is still great.

Anonymous said...

Hey Khim, Sorry for the late reply.

Both wifey and daughter was there that day....anyway....I believe his store still draws certain crowds for whatever their reasons maybe. BUT he definitely losing alot more...

khim said...

Hi anonymous,

think i went there in e afternoon (maybe around 3 - 4 plus?) but there was only him n 1 woman inside lei.. but anyway, maybe e crowd could be his long time customers who are staying nearby lor.. dun think i see any other cheng t'ng stores around..

BUT i really wun go back to his store anymore lor.. maybe u can try e cheng t'ng outside my place n give me ur comment? =)

dun put "anonymous" lei.. leave a pen name, k? ;)

Mrs Poh said...

Hi Khim,

That's the problem when there is no competitor around!! He's cocky.

Your place is Circuit Road huh...ok, will try when my darling is willing to drive me there...I am clueless when it comes to location...hahaha...typical housefly if you may.

Next time when your bf bring you go bak tor around that area,you may want to try ice cream instead...across the street, there's this store besides Cold storage..called The Ice Cream Gallery. wow I tried the Rum & Raisins & Green Tea...I can dare say, it surpass Haagen Dazs Rum & Raisin anytime...

khim said...

hi mrs poh,

leslie did blogged abt the Ice Cream Gallery but i dunno it's so near to e food centre!! therefore, thanks for ur info! =)

e better known vicinity i can give u is the Singapore Post Centre/Paya Lebar MRT Station, it's very nearby Circuit Road

do let me know how u find e cheng t'ng from Circuit Road after u managed to try it! =)

hr-is-back said...

im swallowing my saliva while reading.. this is tempting..

Anonymous said...

i just tried this today!! it was really cooling/soothing to the throat and of the right sweetness! A good reason to take your ippt at the bedok camp!

Julian Si said...

Sumosumo took me there ... deeeelicious ;-)

http://juliansi.blogspot.com/2009/04/ye-lai-xiang-cheng-tng-established-in.html

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