Household-run Taiwanese hawker stall’s strong braised pork rice & noodles from $5.50

Taiwanese meals isn’t the most cost effective however because of the relative accessibility of our hawker tradition, costs are extra inexpensive at these stalls. I had fully missed Chong Jia Meals located in a nook of Yuhua Market & Hawker Centre till a brief quest introduced me to the world just lately.

Run solely by siblings, Chong Jia Meals is a product of their love for Taiwanese fare. It stemmed from an thought that they had because the eldest sister, Chong Siew Fong picked up cooking from her Taiwanese family members. They now function out of two stalls, one at Yuhua Market & Hawker Centre and the opposite at Pasir Panjang Meals Centre. 

The title ‘Chong Jia’ (‘Jia’ means home or house) represents the siblings’ household title and their objective of bringing the style of ‘house’ to their clients’ plates.

What I attempted at Chong Jia Meals

As one of many icons of Taiwanese consolation meals, Chong Jia Meals has finished Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice (S$5.50) justice after which some. Relegating the method of a compact bowl piled with substances to the smaller rice bowls, Chong Jia presents their braised pork rice on a wider plate with accompaniments rigorously framing the mound of rice at its centre. 

That spotlight to element extends to the small garnishing of sesame seeds on the peak. My eyes have been already feasting earlier than I dug in. 

I’m a sucker for sensuously fatty meat and braised pork stomach – they carry a sure enchantment that triggers a fervid response in me. Attractive brown in opposition to snowy white rice and a sheen that denotes a totally moist mouthfeel — totally irresistible! The fats that had taken on the color of the braising combination spilt its succulent contents and labored with the tender meat so that every chew had an ample mixture of textures.

A formidable mixture of candy and savoury was the cherry on prime. Had this been my solely order, I’d have polished it off in a minute.

The braised peanuts have been much less alluring (to me) however with the braising liquid working its magic, the tasteless insides have been imparted with its soy sauce profile. I detested the feel of peanuts although, as I chewed, the mixed perfume of each was slightly satisfying. Ending these turned out to be straightforward. 

I favor when egg yolks retain a few of their former yolk-ey high quality as a substitute of the hard-boiled chalky texture that braised eggs normally have. However dry chalk can nonetheless style good with sufficient time face-down in a shallow pool of the pork stomach’s juices. The bouncy egg white vessel wanted a couple of exact bites to sever.

The least attention-grabbing ingredient was shredded cabbage. There’s nothing outrightly spectacular about its inclusion, very similar to the style. Its greatest contribution right here is visible, lending its nice inexperienced to a plate of largely uninteresting colors.

The bowl of Signature Minced Pork Noodles (S$5.50) receives the identical firm of braised peanuts and thinly shredded cabbage, changing pork stomach and rice with minced pork and noodles. 

A number of tosses later, the noodle strands have been sufficiently coated within the sauce that had pooled beneath. It wasn’t conventional al dente however smooth on first contact with a extra chewy center. The delicate sweetness from its brown colouration was very a lot welcome.

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The finely minced pork was paying homage to ragu, bursting with juices at each chew. Since there have been no distinctly fatty bits, it was a contact much less decadent than the braised pork stomach. A number of sliced shiitake mushrooms scattered all through conferred gentle faucets of umami. 

The mellow braised concoction stored the flavours from overwhelming my palate even alongside mouthfuls of noodles coated in the identical combination. Compared to rice, the bowl of egg noodles packs much more flavour.

We had a couple of facet dishes, the primary being Braised Beancurd Pores and skin (S$2.50). The strips weren’t overcooked to the purpose that they’d shear on the slightest power, and as a substitute possessed sufficient toughness to yield with stunning density. The beancurd soup stored each strip moist and flaccid all through the meal, but I discovered it too gentle and had them tossed with my noodles to reinforce the beancurd pores and skin’s profile.

As a fried hen fan, I used to be delighted to see a facet dish of Taiwanese Salt & Pepper Rooster (S$5.50). The dashes of orange chilli powder contrasted superbly in opposition to the craggy exterior. Each bit subjected me to a whiff of the nice spice.

Simply just below bite-sized, the hen’s salty crust greater than delivered on crunch. Chong Jia Meals is aware of what we wish out of our fried hen sides; not a balanced ratio of batter to meat however one which’s correctly indulgent. The hen meat beneath the mantle was additionally rightfully succulent.

To take it a step additional, Salt & Pepper Rooster Noodles (S$6) and Salt & Pepper Rooster Rice (S$5.80) are additionally on the menu.

The Taiwanese sausage (S$3.20) was depicted with some zucchini on the menu however we didn’t obtain any with ours, not that I minded all that a lot. Just like the fried hen, each skewers obtained a marked dose of chilli powder on their scored surfaces.

The skinny wrapping of intestines round every sausage had been fried to a crisp movie, simply bitten by way of to disclose smooth delectable flesh inside. It wasn’t greasy and complemented the subdued sweetness of the braised soup of the noodles extraordinarily properly. In the event you want one thing totally candy to raise the flavours, their Taiwanese sausages are a must-get.

Served as a condiment, the oily mixture of garlic and chilli needs to be utilized with reserve because the resultant earthy kick could be fairly off-putting. I unloaded virtually all of mine into the minced pork for a deep punch.

Our braised pork rice and minced pork noodles every got here with a small bowl of candy corn and carrot soup. The fragile flavours make nearer to a meal chock-full of briny dishes and hearty meats

Ultimate ideas

I’ve gotta kick myself for lacking this stall for so long as I’ve. As a substitute of travelling out to the shops or looking out whereas I’m out and about, I’ve discovered a spot serving one in all my a lot sought-after cravings, and inside strolling distance at that.

At an inexpensive S$5.50 for a plate of braised pork rice/noodles or minced pork rice/noodles, Chong Jia Meals is a compelling selection over the larger Taiwanese cafes and eateries. As compared with different hawkers, they’re additionally priced on the decrease finish. In the event you’re simply trying to get a small meal, their Small Braised Pork rice (S$4.50) can be a superb selection. I’m assured these parts are properly and above what you pay for elsewhere. Take it from this self-proclaimed huge eater.

Anticipated harm: S$5.50 – S$8 per pax

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