Boon Lay Place Food Village for the lucky West-siders
I practically grew up eating at Boon Lay Place Food Village. Duck noodles on lucky weekday mornings before school, nasi lemak on Saturdays, and BBQ stingray hotplate for special occasions like birthdays. There was never a hungry moment at home as the hawker centre is just a lift ride down. Even though I’ve moved, I still crave the dishes found there. They are delicious, varied, and easy on the wallet. Here is my list of 10 stalls at Boon Lay Place Food Village that I’ll visit again and again.
1. Heng Huat Boon Lay Boneless Duck Noodles
Image credit: @wallace_cheong
Heng Huat Boon Lay Boneless Duck Noodles is probably the most elusive stall at Boon Lay Place Food Village. They almost always close before the stated opening hours as they seem to sell out within hours, making it a wasted trip for many who travel down just to have a bowl before work. I highly recommend getting their Dry Duck Noodles with Braised Pork ($4.50). Their brown sauce for this lor mee is thick, smooth, and full of comforting flavours and spices. The duck meat is fragrant without any hint of gaminess, and the braised pork is tender.
Unit number: #01-410
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 6am to 10am, 4:45pm to 7pm, Sun 6am to 10am
2. Ho Huat Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee
Image credit: @liniinn
Ho Huat Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee has always been my go-to whenever I’m feeling under the weather. Their Fried Hokkien Mee ($4) is on the wetter side. Squeezing the lime and mixing their garlic sambal chilli well into the noodles makes the flavours of the plate of noodles richer, with added warmth and depth. Aside from seafood such as prawns and sotong, you can also find cuts of pork belly as well.
Unit number: #01-135
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am to 11pm
Tel: 6268 1033
Website
3. Lian Yi BBQ Seafood
Image credit: @bonsaisv
Lian Yi BBQ Seafood is a family-favourite. The sizzling sounds and smokey wafts that linger above the hotplates never fail to make our mouths water. Prices range from $8 to $25 for fish, $8 to $15 for sotong, $20 to $50 for prawns and $10 to $15 for lala. Doused with sambal chilli, the BBQ stingray is a must-try. The meat is plump and soft, and can be easily scraped off the bones with a spoon. With a friendly level of spiciness, along with slightly charred parts, each mouthful is a terrific marriage of flavours.
Unit number: #01-161
Opening hours: Daily 5:30pm to 11pm
4. Chong Pang Heng BBQ Chicken
Image credit: @louischong82
Chong Pang Heng BBQ Chicken serves finger-licking good chicken wings at $1.30 each. Their chicken wings glisten, as they are coated with a caramelised layer that is both sweet and savoury. The meat is also tender and delightful, with a smokey flavour from being grilled. Make sure to squeeze some lime over the wings and dunk them into the accompanying chilli sauce before devouring them.
Unit number: #01-98
Opening hours: Daily 5pm to 11pm
5. Chwee Hua Mixed Vegetable Rice
Chwee Hua Mixed Vegetable Rice made it on our list of cheap cai png stalls. Opened for two generations, this stall has managed to keep their prices down. A plate of rice with two vegetable dishes and one meat dish costs only $2.50. You can even get four dishes at smaller portions for the same price. Order their signature sweet and sour vinegar trotters ($1.50), which is fall-off-the-bone tender.
Unit number: #01-154
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 5pm to 9pm
6. Xing Sheng Ngor Hiang Prawn Crackers
Image credit: @chinbeeee
Xing Sheng Ngor Hiang Prawn Cracker has been around for as long as I can remember. Items to order are the ngor hiang and prawn cracker. The deep-fried ngor hiang might be on the thin side, but it packs a flavourful punch. The prawn cracker is also a hot favourite, always being the first to make a disappearing act from the plate. It is crisp, light, and aromatic, yet it doesn’t leave a trail of grease.
Unit number: #01-164
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 11pm
Tel: 9836 1435
7. Power Nasi Lemak
Image credit: @audwin30
Power Nasi Lemak can practically be considered an iconic landmark of Boon Lay Place Food Village. You can almost always eye an interminable queue that snakes all the way to the carpark’s entrance. When my East-sider friends ask me what really is the big deal about their nasi lemak, my answer stands firm with a solid, “Everything, period”. The chilli has a good ratio of sweetness to spiciness, the rice is separable by the grains, and the chicken wings are well-marinated to the bone. A basic plate of Chicken Set Nasi Lemak ($3.50) is one I think of going back for once in a while.
For more cheap and good nasi lemak in Singapore, check out our nasi lemak guide!
Unit number: #01-106
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 11:45pm, 12am to 3am
Tel: 6266 4466
Website
8. Traditional Hakka Lui Cha
Image credit: @howicworld
The Thunder Tea Rice ($3.50) from Traditional Hakka Lui Cha is my mom’s frequent pick at Boon Lay Place Food Village. It is both healthy and delicious at the same time. It has toppings such as nuts, chopped long beans, cabbage, and fried tofu. The tea soup is fresh and appetising, boasting hints of mint and basil. They also serve additional items such as fish cake and niang tau pok, which you have to try if you are lucky enough to chance upon it.
Unit number: #01-96
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 6am to 2pm
Tel: 9828 1188
Website
9. Banana Leaf Nasi Lemak
Image credit: @pahbueytoh
Banana Leaf Nasi Lemak is worth a mention even though Power Nasi Lemak has already made its way to this list. The stall is opened by a Chinese family, and they serve their nasi lemak cai png-style. A regular plate of nasi lemak with egg and chicken wing sets you back $3. Their sambal chilli is on the chunkier side and is slightly sweeter than typical ones. The ikan bilis and nuts add-on is a winner for me. Underneath their sticky, sweet layer, there is still a good crunch to every bite. The food here is extremely moreish and makes me keep coming back for more.
Unit number: #01-132
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 9:30pm
10. Boon Lay Soya Bean Drink
Image credit: @yuekaiw
On weekday mornings, waking up to a warm bowl of tau huay and soya bean drink from Boon Lay Soya Bean Drink is a luxury. I love getting the soya bean drink ($0.90) with less syrup as the soya bean flavour will be more pronounced and milkier. On the other hand, I would have the beancurd ($1) the regular sweet way. A dessert for breakfast? Hell yes!
Unit number: #01-100
Opening hours: Daily 5am to 1pm
Underrated Boon Lay Place Food Village
Boon Lay Place Food Village is just three bus stops away from Lakeside MRT Station. Because of its location, it is relatively unknown unless you live in the area or study in NTU. Regardless, there is much to boast about this hawker centre. With affordable prices and delicious food, you can head down here with the family for a hearty dinner.
If reading this has set your heart for hawker fare ablaze, check out our recommendations for other food centres such as Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre and Redhill Food Centre.
Address: 221B Boon Lay Place, Singapore 642221
Nearest MRT Station: Lakeside (EW26)
Featured image adapted from Instagram user @audwin30‘s post.
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