Monday, August 20, 2007

Beef Delights: What do you do when you found something good to eat?

With iwatch_uest, liverpool, Tag and smart

When you found something good to eat, do you:
  1. Keep it all to yourself so that the place will not get crowded and the food quality won't drop
  2. Rush home and post it up on the internet so that the world will know
  3. Ring up all your friends and organize a makan trip to the eatery
  4. Go back again to try it a second time to make sure the first was not a fluke before telling the world
  5. Take pictures of it so that you can re-live the ecstasy at your free time
  6. Just file it into your memory banks so that when someone asks you, you can rattle off a few makan spots and appear like a real guru
Well, Liverpool found this Beef Hor Fun and could not wait to get all of us makankakis there to try. Of course when you rave about a place so much, you also run the risk of everyone not feeling the same way you do, which can be quite embarrassing....... believe me I know.

So anyway, the group of us where "sold" this Beef Hor Fun by Liverpool who described it as "You have not tasted Hor Fun until you tried this one". This is what I call a "stick your neck out ready for the chopping board" kind of statement, especially when it is applied to a group of pretty "hardened" makankakis. (Myself NOT included, I am still joyfully discovering new things to eat everyday)

So when the Beef Hor Fun finally arrived, we all inspected it very suspiciously, wondering how an innocuous plate of Fried Hor Fun could get Liverpool so excited as to risk being shot down to pieces.

The Hor Fun was slippery and lively which was a nice contrast to the crunchy bean sprouts. The Beef was not overly marinated such that it assumed a sponge-like consistency. It still retained its natural bite but at the same time it did not require a mastication marathon to make it pliable enough to swallow. The beef did taste a tinge sourish that day, perhaps an indication that they use lemon juice or some other citric acid as a tenderizer. The Hor Fun could do with a bit more wok hei but overall, it was a pretty good plate of Beef Hor Fun for me. 4.25/5 However, I have to add that some of the other hardened makankakis were not so impressed, so Liverpool still ended up getting part of his ego bruised. But Liverpool being a cool guy he is, just responded with his signature chuckle.



This Beef Delight stall had just finished shooting for a Channel 8 program that featured its Beef Hor Fun, so the owners are understandably confident about their dishes. Since I have been searching for a wet Beef Hor Fun, we decided to give the wet version a try as well.

Unfortunately, there was a real lack of wok hei on the Hor Fun and the gravy was thin and watery and could really do with more of a beefy punch. 3.25/5

Conclusion

This would be one of the best dry Beef Hor Fun I have tried so far though I don't really go for this dish much so I have not got a good yardstick to compare it with. I can imagine how it can be better though.

Beef Delights
11am to 9pm
Closed on Sundays
51 Telok Ayer Street
China Square #B1-23

13 comments:

liverpool1965 said...

My stomach actually sticks out a lot more than my neck.. : )...had the dry version 3 times the last 2 weeks...

khim said...

isn't tis store just right next to wham burger?

liverpool1965 said...

yup! : )

zhouzi said...

you are right khim, how observant of you. (Saw it, doesn't mean I tried it ;) ). Went there last Friday, missed out on it as my makankaki doesn't fancy hor fun that day. Plan to go there soon to check it out.BTW the ch8 program is on Wed at 8pm-Where the queue starts. Hot tip- observe the appearance of the food being served and listen attentively to the judges' comments before running there to join the queue

Jim said...

Number 3, without question! My favorite thing in the world to do is eat at a great restaurant with good friends.

kp&jean said...

i've tried this hor fun b4 and the 1st time i tried it..its gd..

but recently i had the horfun again..and this was after i tried the Geylang Beef Horfun..i really dun tink this China Sq horfun is nice anymore..not much of taste..and the beef was actually over chewy..

smart said...

LP65 is a very brave man. Somethime we swear that a food stall is damn good and gather many friends to share with you the next visit.O my God! many said to you,after eating, "got standard or not?" LP65 is one of ieat's makan tasting group and I am happy he is brave enough to introduce this stall to us.Surely I will go again, just to test again.

zhouzi said...

went there today during lunch rush hour. Waited 20mins in the queue. Ordered the dry version as it is highly recommended. I asked the auntie to add the tendon ($2 extra- very ex but beefballs 3 for $1). Wah piang, so good i whack the dish in about 5mins-maybe 10 :).
I disagree with kp&jean, I like the meat to be chewy and not mushy but not like chewing rubber ;)."you tang sin".
After eating Beef house beefballs yesterday, this stall balls is more flavorsome and chewy.
Hey ieat, did you try the beefballs here?
BTW there is a stall in Amara SC which is similar I think, at $5. Stall owner claim he once worked at Tung Lok group resturant. Wonder if he is still there?

pchong said...

I recommend another beef hor fun, from an unexpect place. Prince Restaurant at Coronation Plaza serves one great BHF.

This is a western steakhouse/coffee house like place. The former owner was from Penang, and it used to serve some Penang food. But the staff took over the shop after the owner retired, and the chef remained...the BHF is great. As are some of the hainanese dishes, like hainanese pork chop, corn beef french beans are also great.

atticblooms said...

totally agree with Liverpool who described it as "You have not tasted Hor Fun until you tried this one". the 1st time i tried their food was 2 years ago with my family on a sat so it wasn't that crowded... n i've been bringing my friends there ever since... i luv their bee hor fun cos the beef is so tender... the uncle who does the cooking is pretty consistent with the quality say 9 out of every 10 times...
their beef ball dun really appeal much to me though after i've tasted the most beefy n gigantic beef balls in hong kong... hong kong's beef ball rocks!!!

Mr. Anonymous said...

I was the first customer yesterday. The boss was not around so the lady boss started cooking my hor fun. I find it ordinary, the hor fun was sticky, dull looking and too soft. Good hor fun should have bite and should be shiny with a coating of oil.

At $4, its value for money as it comes with soup(which is not that fantastic too).

Anonymous said...

China Square has been demolished. Anyone knows if they are still operating elsewhere?

ieat said...

Unfortunately the old couple are now in retirement but we are trying to persuade them to reopen again somewhere.

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