This is one of my favourites. There's no real reason to venture to Beo Crescent, part of the Bukit Ho Swee housing estate, except for its food. I discovered this humble HDB coffee shop in 1990 when I was doing housemanship at the nearby Singapore General Hospital. There were several stalls but the one that caught the eye, nose and tastebuds was the Yang Zhou Hokkien mee stall.
It was run by a Mr Teo, slightly older than myself, who would labour at his wok and bring out the most delicious and piping hot Hokkien noodles, with just the right degree of wetness and oil. Pork lard had to do with that but prawns, sotong (squid) and garlic all added to the taste. This was regular haunt of mine, even during my army days, later bringing my wife and son to enjoy its sheer slurping delectation.
Mr Teo has since retired, and the woking passed on to his kopitiam colleagues and a new generation of Vietnamese cooks. The essential taste has not changed, the quality is maintained simply because this stall is a super-specialist - it serves only one dish: Hokkien mee. Before I forget, the coffee shop is called Lian Seng Eating House, and is located on Block 40 Beo Crescent, just off Havelock Road.
Also in the same coffee shop is the Lim Teck Guan bak kwa stall which serves otak (fish paste) and bak hu (pork floss) run by a Mr Lim who is no relation to the franchise. He's been here for close to 40 years.
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| Big otak: $1.20 / Small otak: 70c |
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| The otak is a perfect prelude to the Hokkien mee. |
Just across the coffee shop is the Beo Crescent Food Centre in its latest iteration after undergoing multiple renovations. It has a famous char koay teow stall, but I'm here for the desserts. The soy bean dessert stall does brisk business, but that vintage confection has to be the kueh tutu, which comes in coconut and peanut fillings. Mr Tan has been selling these for 50 years, originally an after-school pastime but now for a living.
It is important that we keep these vintage stalls and businesses alive by patronising them whenever we can. An essential part of our heritage will be lost when any hawker stall closes for good.
LIAN SENG EATING HOUSE
Blk 40 Beo Crescent
BEO CRESCENT FOOD CENTRE
Blk 38A Beo Crescent
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