Heng Kee House of Steamed Fish: Crab Bee Hoon!
With Amagada
I have been hankering for crab bee hoon ever since I saw Anthony Bourdain eating this dish at Sin Huat Seafood. However, the thing that kept me from fulfilling my hanker was the fact that I have been warned that a meal at Sin Huat could well work out to be more than a week's wages if one is not careful. Regular readers know that I always maintain that food that is great will never be better than food that is great and cheap. So rather than voluntarily putting my head on Sin Huat's chopping block, I have up till now adopted the "ignarance is bliss" posture to Crab Bee Hoon.
That all changed when one reader wrote in to tell me that the is another restaurant closeby which sells the same style Crab Bee Hoon as Sin Huat! When I read it, I experienced a "Buay Tahan Liao" (Can't stand it anymore) plea from my tastebuds to make a trip down to eat it!
Not many people would order Crab Bee Hoon at 11pm in the evening for supper. But that was how "Buay Tahan" I was. I found out that the crabs were going for $35 per kilo and the smallest one they had was 1.2kg. Tried to bargain with them but to no avail. I think the Lao Ban Niang there could see that I was really "Ngian" (Hardup) for the Crab Bee Hoon.
You know, I seldom eat bee hoon. The only time I have it is when it is being served at a catered buffet or as mee siam. But I have to tell you that when 
properly cooked, Bee Hoon is an excellent medium for absorbing all the flavours of the stock and ingredients! The Bee Hoon looked a bit dry at first, you have to really dig to the bottom get all that yummy gravy to mix it properly. Each mouthful of the savoury beehoon mixed with crab roe was absolutely heavenly! 4.5/5
The crab here is solid. The pincers were so full that I had a hard time separating the meat from the shell. Interestingly, the crab we had that day had a pink hue to it. The Aunty said it was because of all the roe, but I can't imagine how the roe could colour the flesh pink like the picture on the right. If you are a crab expert, please write in to let us know!
Conclusion
The crab bee hoon here was great and reasonably priced. My only problem now is that it has got me wondering if the Sin Huat version can be so much better that I would be willing to pay the cut throat prices for it. Tahan (control)....... must tahan.....
37 Heng Kee House of Steamed Fish
671, Geylang Road (Lor 35)
Open 5pm to 1am daily
98481942 Ah Leng (Ms)
Note: Will be trying to organize the ieat-weMeetweEat session here depending on how many eventually confirm coming!
21 comments:
Hi Leslie, once again, must say I LOVE your blog :) On Crab Bee Hoon, thanks for the post on Heng Kee. I have also discovered Ming Kee Live Seafod in McPherson (beside the coffee shop with one of the best kway chap in Singapore). The crab bee hoon there (39 NETT, no service charge per kilo) is out of this world but seems to be done in a slightly different style. Cheers!
How does Shen Ji at holland V measure up to this 1 ?
Tried the Shen Ji one, was reasonably impressed with it
Do you happen to have their opening times and phone number?
Shen Ji one uses vermicilli, this one uses Bee Hoon. Crab here is much better, more solid. The taste is also memorable. Put it this way, I would go to Heng Kee for my next crab Bee Hoon if I had to choose between the two.
Shen Ji one uses vermicilli, this one uses Bee Hoon. Crab here is much better, more solid. The taste is also memorable. Put it this way, I would go to Heng Kee for my next crab Bee Hoon if I had to choose between the two.
Fwah! If we are REALLY going there for the makan session, be warned.
The pincer(s) will be gone. in a flash.
WAHAHAHA!!! =D
The first pic makes me want to have it for breakfast lunch or dinner.oooo a dry version that I must try, is this better than the briyani experience we had?
Hi hi, I am interested to join in this makan outing.
The crab pricing is expensive (Melben's $32 per kg), but if it's good, then I will still go for it.
I've tried both this and Sin Huat. The difference is not only that Sin Huat uses Bee Hoon not the thick vermicilli and the good thing is that Sin Huat's Bee Hoon absorbs all the juices and stock used to cook the crab which is addictive! Similarily, Sin Huat's Crab Bee Hoon is filled with crab roe, long strips of leeks and generous portions of mushrooms! The size of the crabs are massive and the meat very substantial. I've had a meal in Sin Huat before, crab bee hoon [2 giant crabs], a plate of veggies, a platter of steam garlic prawns, black pepper crayfish and gong gong for like 350 [There was like 5 of us]. Expensive, but good for a treat once in a very long while!
Longestflight, please drop me an email at leslie.tay@gmail.com
no wonder i found tis place very familiar, read it asiaone wine, dine&unwind food reviews before..
tis is e address n contact number, les.. can call them n chk e operating hours..
Ming Kee Live Seafood
556 Macpherson Road
(S) 368231
Tel: 6747-4075
Yum Factor: 9/10
Value-For-Money: 9/10
Wah... see already feel like eating even though I'm allergic to seafood!
Will let u know if Im going for the wemeetweeat session soon!
Hi Leslie!
First time visitor to your blog.
Wah, must say your blog is so yummy and the pictures make me want to lick my monitor!:)
Thanks for 'sacrificing' yourself to bring us such great eats. Good thing you are a doctor, if I eat like you, I sure die liao!!!! hahaha.....
I'm al for it if you wan to hold the makan session here boss! I can actually walk there, hehe.
Mel ben is out of this world. i crave for it in my sleep. and it's $32 per kg, ordered 2 different kinds with my boyfriend for less than $70 and finish both by ourselves. beyond words. (of course, crab is supposed to be shared in a big group, usually $15-$20 per person for 4 crabs and a selection of other stuff- 12 ppl dinner)
There's a new claypot crab beehoon neat Geylang Lorong 33, opposite the claypot rice. You may call Raymond at 9005 1144. I went there once, food is decent but not many patrons. Most people would flock to the claypot rice across the road
Food is decent doesn't sound that exciting. Was it shiok or not? Will you go back to eat it again this month?
I tried Xin huat crab bee hoon last week and Heng Kee today. The price diff is only $2 cheaper but the taste of the bee hoon is world of difference.
I think u can jus hop over to Xin huat to try, is not tt expensive afterall. For 3 pax I paid for $58. U dun have to lun anymore. :p
Yes Sir!
Do click others and use a pen name.
I have been told that the standard there has dropped tremendously. The chef seems to have changed. Beware!
I visited this stall recently with my family, wow, the food is great. I tried a few dishes ... and I love the cereal prawn, assam fish and 3 cup chicken - Must try!
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