Ng Ah Sio Pork Ribs Soup: Politically Incorrect Bak Kut Teh!
Just what is it about Bak Kut Teh that is so special that politicians spurn potential embarrassment just to get a taste of it at this stall? I mean really. If you are a well known politician, why would you risk getting your name smeared by being thrown out of a restaurant? You would think that after this Bak Kut Teh stall turned down Mr Donald Tsang's request for a bowl of Bak Kut Teh that as a politician you would thread carefully. But no. Along comes Mr Thaksin Shinawatra whose money may buy lots of other stuff but not a seat here. Well let me qualify that. He did get a seat because unlike Mr Donald Tsang, he came during the opening hours, but he made the mistake of arguing with the owner over a bowl of innards and apparently got himself kicked out of the restaurant!* OK, two famous politicians down.... next!
So just what is it about Bak Kut Teh that reduces big name politicians to mere mortals? Or is it that this Bak Kut Teh is so elusive that when these big guys are recommending food places to each other, it becomes a sort of a "dare" to come eat here and live to tell about it? Or do they really believe, as is reported in "talking cock"* that people who kena tekan (got whacked) come can eat the Ter Kah (Braised Pig Trotter) because of its mysterious restorative powers? Poor Mr Thaksin not only did not get his cure but got tekan some more.
Anyway, I can't understand why he would come here for Ter Kah because the ones I had in Thailand are so much better. The Ter Kah here was not as soft as I expected it to be. It could be that this was a new batch and did not spend enough time in the braising sauce. 3.75/5
The Bak Kut Teh soup was an peppery blast typical of Teochew style Bak Kut Teh. Robust and spicy, it is guaranteed to clear your sinuses. (If it doesn't, please see your Doctor!) The garlic and pepper residue at the bottom of each bowl is evidence of how long the stuff has been boiled. Unfortunately, I did not manage to order the prime ribs that day and we ended up having off cuts, so the meat was a bit dry. I think the prime ribs would have been better. 4.25/5
Eating Bak Kut Teh without tea would be blasphemy wouldn't it? There is a good reason that it is called Bak Kut Teh, it is literally Pork Bone Tea after all. It is believed that the tea's astringent properties neutralizes the fats/cholesterol that comes from the pork fat and bone marrow.
Drinking tea is one of those things that the older people do that I have started to appreciate. You know you are getting older when you start enjoying the stuff that your grandparents used to enjoy when you were a kid. You know, things like drinking herbal stuff and chinese tea along with horrors of horrors, Rosewood furniture! (No I am still not old enough to appreciate Rosewood furniture yet!)
Conclusion
Yes the Bak Kut Teh soup was very enjoyable but I am still left wondering if it is really worth risking one's reputation for it?
Ng Ah Sio Pork Ribs Soup Eating House
208 Rangoon Road
62947545
6am to 2pm
Closed on Mondays
Couldn't resist taking a picture of this old Avery scale which was so prevalent when I was growing up! A real Gen X antique!
*Stuff reported in Talking Cock shouldn't be taken too seriously
29 comments:
The Thaksin article is a joke...
Personally, I feel that this stall is extremely over-rated. Been to this place once and will not go back ever. Prices are high. Full of MSG. Nothing is spectacular. Spent about $60 for 3 adults.
Did Thaksin really went there to eat and got thrown out?
Quite funny to read what happened to Thaksin as written by Talking Cock.
BTW
As you enter the Talking Cock website, you can read the below
.....SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:
1. WE MAKE STUFF UP. We do not engage in rumour, we indulge in humour and fiction. Do not believe or rely on what we write! If you do, you're even more cock than us!.....
There's a much much better BKT at Owen road just futher down. The coffeeshop (Unit 50+ or 60+) is located just behind the not defunct Farrer Park Stadium.
One thing I always remember bout' this BKT is that they serve abalone :)
I have stayed at Rangoon area for around 15years and never find it good at all. The service is very bad and hygiene is not up to standard too. I feel that this place is highly overrated too. A friend of mine said not to go there unless you are a tourist. I have to agree with Damien. That BKT stall is call Heng Heng BKT, its soup has a unique flavour. They uses green chilli padi to spice the soup and abalone can be requested too. I have always bring my customers there for meal and they all love it. This stall used to be at Rangoon too, about 15years ago. Leslie you should try this BKT!!!
OK I will try it soon!! With such rave recommendation how can I not? Plus one of my patients this morning also mentioned this Owen Road stall! I think it is a divine appt!
Since you made such a good recommendation, why don't you click on "other" and give yourself a pen name so that we know who is giving the recommendation. After a while I have grown to rely on the regulars like whose pen names and avatars appear frequently on the blog. When an "anonymous" gives a recommendation, it goes towards the bottom of my priority list of places to go. When the ones when recognizable pen names recommend it it usually goes on top of the list! That's why you should all adopt a pen name and build up your reputation!
The Owen Rd BKT is called Heng Heng if I am not wrong. They also sell 'old her' or mullet fish.It was closed on the Tues when we went to Rangoon Rd. Tastewise not bad, Teochew style.
Have been to this stall many times and at first I felt that it was super yummy. But after awhile, I realised that I would feel very thirsty the whole day after having this for breakfast. Me thinks its due to the MSG. One other thing I realised about this stall is that it is very inconsistent! Somedays the soup is real nice and flavourful, other days the soup is oily and just plain salty. You should try the one at PSA building. The soup and ribs there is always consistently yummy and tender! The ter kah is also much nicer than Ah Sio's. Best of all, the service and cleaniness of the PSA one is much better than Ah Sio's. Nicer soup, more tender ribs, softer yummier ter kah, better & friendlier service, and cleaner... What more can you ask for...
Akan Datang!
Bro, as much I hate to say the, "I told you so" they arent that fantastic.
You may try this Bak Kut Hei Mee stall @ Sam Leong Road, its behind Tai Hoe Hotel, a humble stall that sells out by 2pm everyday. Order a big $4.00 bowl, tell them to seperate the noodles and savour the soup.....and the intestines...
SCS
I've always been going back to this BKT stall in Joo Chiat Road called Ah Hock [or something to that effect]. This is like 2 doors away form My mum's place / kitchen. Pretty good BKT and service friendly.
What's the thing with huge amount of pepper/MSG and Bak Kut Teh in Singapore???
My friend and I tried this after reading the Thaksin article and we both fell sick for days after that! Utterly unacceptable!
We managed to talk to one of the (presumably) lady bosses about our 'stuffs of legends' (hehe) in KL and all she could reply was theirs 'is very famous', 'very good', 'VIPs come here to eat' etc. Duh.
Come to Klang lah!
Or if you're around Tiong Bahru, can try Ah Ping :) Much better value for money too.
ya, i absolutely agree with anonymous, nothing special about this bak kut teh, soup full of garlic, barely 2/3 pieces of pathetic bak kut. Duno why always crowded, lousy service attitude, tried it once, will never try again, really not worth it. Ah Peng's Bak Kut Teh near the Shell Petrol Kiosk at tiong bahru is worth trying, one of the better ones in s'pore, no doubt!
i like the one at Balestier, next to the Boon Tong Kee restaurant. that one has a clear peppery soup.
the other one not too bad is the one at Havelock road.
Did not know soup can be refilled! I notice every table is equipped with tea making facilities, is the tea free or chargable?
I only thing is the environment and the tea pot. At first glance i went wow this must be something but was totally disapointed & pricely.My fav for now is at Sing Ming till find another.
Seconding the vote for Yu Hua at Havelock... aside from BKT, be sure to try the pig tail and pig stomach if that's your thing! Some of the best around.
For me, i like this place called Founder Rou Gu Cha (the place with tons of photos of the owner with celebrities inside lol).. it's located at new orchid hotel along balestier road, opposite the shaw plaza.. not too expensive and pretty darn tasty.. the queue to this stall is always looong..
not even a single comment is good on this ng ah sio bkt, those VIPs really dont know what is good. any stall beside this NASio can be better. peppery, msg, snob, rude, bowl so small ask for soap will push here and there between the staffs and the boss. staff will say go look for the boss, the boss will also come with soap that is so little as if it tasted so nice. no as i say peppery, msg>>>> went there once and never go back. my $40+ spending there for 2 pax , not worth it. Dont go back there, those crowds are all blinded by ??????
Ah Wah is also added msg in the soap but not too bad if you go early. After 1.30pm the soap will turn bad with taste of msg all fill in a bowl. expensive but can still go. Better than Ng Ah Sio.
Can the media stop advertising for this BKT. They don't deserve your comment. It just look stupid on you all media.
i was a fan of ah wah BKT until a fren "forced" me to try ah pheng BKT which is around tiong bahru area (beside the previous birds appreciation corner). i was so surprised not many talked about ah pheng around here. the price is right, the service is good and i wun say the food is perfect, but it is definately better than ah wah and ah sio. oh... hear from the worker there that the boss used to have shops in cantoment and circular road. were there famous bkt there?
will not go to this bak kut teh place. service was horrible. i asked for an additional bowl of soup and he kinda scorned me... ban ban ban
Very dispointed and didn't enjoy anything here.
why post it? dont know how to eat.
personally i think Founder Rou Gu Cha is simply hyped up rubbish. And this one too. Lao Ah Di at Towner Road is the one you should go. Mr Lao Ah Di has been making his traditional clear soup style BKT for 40 years.
One more bak kut teh stall to add on to your list. There is this really nice stall at Marsiling. Location is in a coffee shop nearest to Blk 20 Marsiling Market. The soup is herbal like, served in a claypot. Pricing is reasonable too. Check it out if you free.
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