Bak Kee Teochew Satay Bee Hoon: Why is there so few Satay Bee Hoon stalls?
With Taukwa and Cactuskit
Ever wonder why there are so few Satay Bee Hoon stalls in Singapore? Is it because there is little demand for this dish or is it because there just aren't enough hawkers passionate enough to want to serve it?
According to the uncle who mans this particular stall, which has been around for over 30 years, the reason is because Satay Bee Hoon is a lot of work. There is a lot of ingredients that you need to prepare and also you have to cook that pot of peanut gravy. So I guess selling something like Kway Teow soup might be simpler. But hey, I can't imagine that Satay Bee Hoon can be more trouble to make than say Nasi Padang. Afterall, aside from the peanut gravy, the rest of the stuff needs little preparation right? But this is not the only Satay Bee Hoon seller that told me this. The uncle over at East Coast Lagoon also told me the same thing.
Our kaki, Taukwa as been eating at this stall since he was only a Tauhoo and he loves it so much that as long as the stall is still around, he will continue to patronize the stall until he becomes a Taukee.
After my first taste of the Satay sauce, I can see why. The gravy is very addictive and unlike the East Coast version, this one is more grainy and robust so you can actually bite into the peanuts. It is not overly spicy or sweet so the balance is just right. Satay Bee Hoon is not something I automatically look for when I am at the hawker centre, but if I come to Redhill Food Centre, this is definitely on my list of things to order. 4.5/5
If you want to make Satay Bee Hoon at home, they have ready made sauces direct from their own factory so all you have to do is add water and heat up! Just imagine what great ingredients you can pour the gravy over!
Conclusion
You can count the number of good Satay Bee Hoon stall using one hand even if you are missing a finger. With Satay Bee Hoon being so shiok, why are there so few around?
Bak Kee Satay Bee Hoon
2nd last row of stalls
12pm - 8pm
Closed on Wednesdays
52 comments:
Why do you have so little SATAY BEE HOON post?
"Ever wonder why there are so few Satay Bee Hoon stalls in Singapore? Is it because there is little demand for this dish or is it because there just aren't enough hawkers passionate enough to want to serve it?"
__________________________________
Either you hate it or love it. I hate it. I don't like mixing my favourite bihun with something sweet. Peanut sauce is meant for satay. The only 'bihun' that I like mixing with something sweet is String Hoppers. Yeah, String Hopper is a dessert. There!
Finally my favourite Satay Beehoon is up here. This stall serve one of the best SBH. But most of the time you have to q ( be careful not to q the wrong q, I did once. Those who go during lunch time will know what I mean.
Operation Hour should be
Mon - Sat 12pm till 8pm
Sun & PH 9am till 6pm ( while stock last ) ha ha
Wed close
i love satay bhoon and this is in the west...yipeeeeee
hmm...where is this place? the address says Second Last Row of stores...where is this?
I love the taste of satay bee hoon but not the texture of some of the ingredients in it. Regardless, I'll go anywhere to have good satay beehoon -- especially since I'm far from it in NYC right now. Love your pics!
Notice this Satay Bee Hoon is a Teochew one... maybe our Teochew Ah Hia is swayed by Swatow wind and slightly more partial? I find the taste average. Gravy is rather oily but I guess this comes with the territory. The cuttlefish kangkong is rather fresh and is without oil.
stangely....the man selling satay beehoon looks like taukwa !!
is it just me ?
P Chong, after you park at the open carpark, walk through the wet market chicken stalls row then you will see Ming Yun HKM that ieat blog about. Go behind this HKM stall, walk almost to the end along that row of stalls and you will hit two queues. One is for teochew muay, the other is for this Satay bihun. Happy hunting.
BTW the teochew muay beside is good too. That is the queue you may end up with as anony has done.
I like the Satay Bee Hoon in Chomp Chomp Food Centre in Serangoon Gardens.
Maybe will give this a try when I'm nearby.
Heard a lot about this Redhill Satay Bee Hoon. Hmm sorry ah taukwa...but the word 'factory' says a lot.
And I prefer my gravy smooth, not grainy and too peanut-y. Case in point, the one at Chomp Chomp. Too dry and heavy.
Amazingly, Ya Kwang recently did a very mean Satay Bee Hoon during our visit there & the residents of Perth are very very lucky to have Jason whip this dish up for them. Certainly can rival my favourite Meng Kee @ ECP.
Just ask my bro.
Hi chaozhouzi I always go redhill on sunday and the Teochew muay is not opened. Can you tell me more about the muay, it seems like worth going down as you mentioned there's always a q. BTW what do you like about the muay. Sorry for the HIJACKED as I found no info on this muay.
P.Chong its at redhill food centre.. he did mention it in the last 2nd paragraph =x
Ihate this stuff
You dont post anymore ah!
Please be responsible and keep your comments focussed on the food stall.
Yes good point ephemeral one. : )
I also like this Satay bee hoon. Find the ingredients very fresh. This fc is really happening. SO many nice stalls.
sorry I should focus on satay beehoon
hohoho....its not redhill food center.
It is called redhill lane block 85 food center, opposite redhill MRT, next to the market.
The duck mee still there or not ??...missing them...argh...
We should meet for lunch again soon bro... : )
I am one of the few who likes satay beehoon. Started with AMK HC near the market loooong time ago but I last tried it and it's no longer what it used to be. Still like Meng Kee, hoped to try Ya Kwang one day in Perth and I like it smooth too, not grainy.
Wahcow, that's him Taukwa if he works under hawker's livelihood. The guy looks older I think.
Anon, the muay is not "gooey" or clumpy. My makan kaki, a teochew ah hia, loves the fish there. He is finicky about fresh fish and can't stomach any fishiness. Your timing counts too. Be there when it is just out of the steamer. I haven't got it right yet. Once had fish head that was cold and unpalatable. :(
Wahcow, have you tried the duck mee at Tanglin halt HC (new one). Another is at Tanjong Pagar.
hahaha...agree right ? the guy really looks like taukwa...anyway our friend is now tryig all the fabulous food in penang and ipoh.
went there yesterday but the market was closed for spring cleaning...
chaozhouzi, tanjong pagar ? which one ? you have the address ? got craving....mooohahahahaha
D'best satay bee hoon in Singapore is in Bukit Timan food center. I have been eating there since a kid.
I have tried satay bee hoon around Singapore. No stall can beat my Bukit Timah SBH! keke.
All these pales in comparison to the Meng Kee's from East Coast Lagoon Food Village.
wahcow, sorry no add for tanjong pagar but Tanglin Halt HC is #01-23 sign board proudly proclaim "Delicious duck noodle since 1969". Just went there as suddenly had the craving. ;]
All I remember for Tanjong Pagar one is the stall is behind the CKT stall and more known for its duck rice.
Sorry ieat for hijacking your post.
Ok back to Satay bihun, there is a stall at whampoa that give you a tablespoon to scoop up the gravy. I remember I scoop up every bit of the gravy (the gravy is that good). Aaahh, bring back memories, back I need to go back there. woohoo...
What's a Cactuskit?
Its just a nickname. : )
Yep. For all those who remember Ya Kwang owner Jason Tan, he is now settling well in Perth. And dare I say that his sauce is smoother than Meng Kee's at East Coast..
wahcow, the redhill duck noodle you're refering to nis it call Seng Heng Hokkien loh duck? It's one of the best around the area. But it's quite expensive. BTW you can avoid the q when you go during weekdays from 8am to 10am. Note they don't sell during lunch time.
Bukit Gombak also got a very nice satay bee hoon... it is at a coffeeshop between bukit gombak MRt and BBDC..along BBDC that side of the road... the coffeeshop that aell teochew porridge too... the BBQ western grill also not bad.. but the Satay bee hoon is... very very nice....heard that they are some how related to redhill market that stall...
gon clouds
next time when i go for my test, i can try. do u know their opening hours?
Hang on I'm a lil confused. I thought this Bukit Merah Lane Food Centre??? Or? Let me check up streetdirectory keke.
oh will go try the Bukit Gombak Satay Beehoon hopefully soon since it's near me :)
Incidentally, I had a very good plate of Satay Beehoon at EAT. at Rall Mall along Upper Bukit Timah Road. The sauce was thick and not too salty nor sweet. Thumbs up :)
The Satay Beehoon at Bukit Gombak is not bad. They sell other side dishes like kangkong with cuttlefish and cockles too.
I agree that the Satay Beehoon at Bukit Timah food centre is good too but be prepared to queue! The best thing I like about this stall is that they always pack the gravy and beehoon separately(without having to request)for take-away.
i conclude that most satay beehoon must queue long long.....was at bak kee....long queue....taukwa lookalike prepares each plate carefully
The result shows, the beehoon was just nice, liver not overcooked, tasty lah.
The best part is that each plate of satay bee hoon is $2.50 or $3.00. Comparing with east coast or whampoa, it is a steal......worthy of being the hang cheng pai list of hawkers
Thumbs up ! good food at good prices :)
For your info, the satay beehoon @ Bukit Gombak is the elder brother of the one @ redhill. They have a factory too.
The other SBH is at Si Beh Lor hawker centre, now they are at a make shift place across Rochor Centre. Both of these are my all time fav SBH. I really dislike the East Coast one...Attitude problem.....
SCS Butter
The satay Beehoon at Bukit Timah Hawker Centre is superb. You should try it, but the queue is really long!:D
Wahcow,
Meng Kee @ ECP also sells $2 & $3 portions.
They meticulously prepare each order according to customers' preferences.
So unlike SCS Butter, I've never encountered any "attitude problem". Perhaps he can clarify so that the Ng brothers would be aware.
That's my uncle in the pic! =)
The link to good food good mood is wrong. should be http://goodfood-goodmood.blogspot.com/
Late lunch at Bak Kee this afternoon.
Too 'jerlak'. Indeed, the gravy is too grainy and peanut-y for my liking. Nowhere near smooth. Though credit must be given to freshness of ingredients especially the cuttlefish.
But I only had 2 slices of 'ter kua' (liver) and 'qia bak' (sliced pork). And about four pieces of 'see hum' (cockles) and 'geow her' (cuttlefish). That's all.
Even despite the petty portions, I couldnt even finish my plate - couldn't stomach the mash of bee hoon.
And it says a lot if I don't finish my food (and it was the smallest portion @ $2.50, mind you) and those who know me, knows how much I hate to waste food.
Honestly, I think 4.5 is overrated. 3.5 at best.
In terms of value and taste, Meng Kee @ ECP wins hands down.
Holy Drummer,
wat time were you there? how's the q long or short?
3pm. Short. I was 2nd in queue.
There's a very good satay beehoon at Bukit Timah food centre. I have never tried it, but there are always long queues. It smells really nice though. I always feel hungry while reading your blog!! Haha.
After reading your post, I really curious with this satay beehoon. It remains me with my hometown's one, Pucamee.
Then today I tried it with my colleagues.
we agreed that overall it is nice but the taste is not really *kicking*.
Because it is not spicy enough and not sweet enough for our taste.
At 3$ it is a good deal for a plate of satay beehoon.
There is one store that sells good satay beehoon at the temporary food centre next to Bugis Mrt... Long queue at lunch time but it was worth the wait. The prawns are very fresh. Yummy.. They used to be located at the waterloo food centre near the Guang Ying Temple.
Did not really enjoy this satay bee hoon.
My personal preference though... The sauce was not "chunky" or thick enough and the taste was kinda unbalanced.
Still prefer the one at AMK Central FC. There are two stalls at the same FC and ironically, before the renovations, they were placed side by side!
Look for the stall with a man cooking the dish. Can't miss it. Always a considerable queue.
AMK Central FC is somewhere I have yet to blog! OK besides the Satay Bee Boon what else is good?
The YTF, HKM, Mee Soto are definitely worth a try.
Must know which stalls are there are many duplicated stalls selling the same items though...
Post a Comment