A9 Noodle Dumplings Review: 15 Dumplings for $4 And Mala Noodles At Bugis

A9 Noodle Dumplings at Bugis

I think I can safely speak for all Singaporeans when I say that we can’t resist a good deal. It is one of the easiest ways to get us to step foot into a store. Upon hearing about A9 Noodle Dumplings, where 15 dumplings goes for only $4, you can see why I was so eager to pay them a visit.

Food at A9 Noodle Dumplings

With only two types of dumplings available here, we decided to give both a try, starting off with the Cabbage Pork Dumplings ($4). And yes, if you were looking to scrutinise like I was, there are indeed 15 dumplings on the plate.  

Since the dumplings are boiled and are not served with any accompaniment of sauces or seasonings, it solely relies on its fillings for flavour. Though the minced pork and cabbage were nothing outstanding, together they provided a good bite and were marinated enough to qualify as a decently flavourful dumpling. 

However, I did find the skin to be a tad too thick for my liking, especially at the folds, which contributed to a slightly unpleasant chewiness.

Similar to the Cabbage Pork Dumplings, a plate of Chive Pork Dumplings also goes at $4 for 15 pieces. Its richer and more piquant taste can be attributed to the presence of chives, which also contributed a good amount of crunch to the otherwise soft dumpling. 

Since the dumplings are boiled, there were times I found both flavours to be slightly dull and lacking in dimension. Luckily, a dip into their house-made chilli did just the trick by adding heat and savouriness. 

Besides dumplings, A9 Noodle Dumplings also offers, as the name suggests, noodles too. I was looking forward to trying their enticing Mala Savoury Noodle ($5) and Spicy Savoury Noodle ($5), but found out that they had sold out of these the day before. 

These noodles were still unavailable because they were waiting for a new batch of ingredients to come in. So, we settled for a Pork Meatball Noodle ($4), featuring the same noodles, but in a clear soup and with boiled meatballs.

I don’t have much to gripe about the noodles, as they possessed a pleasant springy, bouncy texture. I can imagine slurping them up on a cold, rainy day would be warm and comforting.  Yet, I still felt that it left more to desire, and I do think they would’ve paired better with a savoury sauce, or a richer soup.

As for the meatballs, I wouldn’t necessarily call them juicy, but they were definitely of a substantial size, and contrasted the comparatively softer noodles with a firmer texture.

Unfortunately, as much as I tried to like the soup, there wasn’t anything particularly spectacular about it. Its flavour was quite one-dimensional, with a taste suggesting plenty of MSG.

Ambience at A9 Noodle Dumplings

Hidden at the back of the second level of Fortune Centre, A9 Noodle Dumplings is the busiest at lunchtime, when students from the nearby SMU, NAFA, and such come to get their fix of dumplings. They currently only have space for at most 15 people at any given time, so it isn’t unusual to see queues snaking out of the store. 

The verdict

There’s no doubt that the grub at A9 Noodle Dumplings is insanely affordable, and is a price that is hard to find anywhere else. I’m not sure if I would go out of my way to visit them again, but if I do happen to find myself back here, there’s no way I’m leaving without trying their other noodles. 

If you’re looking for more places with affordable dumplings, check out our Xin Peng La Mian Xiao Long Bao review for $4 handmade XLB and more in Clementi. For more noodle recommendations, check out our Chef Kin HK Wanton Mee review for noodles made from duck eggs from an ex-Crystal Jade chef.  

Address: 190 Middle Road, #02-26, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 8pm
Tel: 9667 1510
Website
A9 Noodle Dumplings is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Tanya Tham.
This is an independent review by Eatbook.sg.