Ah Yee’s Soon Kueh: Traditional Teochew Kueh From $1.80 In Joo Chiat

Ah Yee’s Soon Kueh has traditional kueh in Joo Chiat

My grandmother often buys soon kueh back home for the family. It used to be from Yong’s Teochew Kueh, but recently, she has been frequenting Ah Yee’s Soon Kueh along Tembeling Road. The store offers a range of nostalgic eats, including png kueh, yam kueh, and of course, soon kueh. All of these treats are made the old-fashioned way: by hand.

Originally located at Dunman Food Centre, the original owner closed the stall in 2012 due to a lack of manpower for the tiring work of making soon kueh fresh daily. Her son, Jeffery, decided to leave his well-paying job at a bank to carry on his mother’s kueh legacy, re-opening the store at its current location in 2017.

The Soon Kueh ($1.80) here is one of a kind. Its skin was chewy and mochi-like, with a joon joon texture that wasn’t too tough to break apart. Its highly savoury filling comprised of dried shrimps, bamboo shoots, turnips, and carrots.

The chopped veggies were crunchy and juicy as well. Don’t forget to drizzle on the chilli and sweet sauce for extra flavour!

The gorgeously sculpted Peng Kueh ($1.80) is also worth a shot. This peach-shaped snack is particularly delicious because of its fragrant glutinous rice and dried shrimp filling. 

While we thought the skin was a bit too thick, the filling was substantial, and we thought it made for a good bite with each spoonful, going well with the sauces. 

Be sure to also try the Yam Kueh ($1.80). The natural flavour and sweetness of the yam elevate this Teochew snack, and as with all Ah Yee’s other kueh, its skin is pleasantly tender and chewy.

If you’re a fan of chives, the Ku Chye Kueh ($1.80) is for you: smoky and flavourful with that wonderful garlicky aroma. The chives were chopped and wrapped well within the thin soon kueh skin for a delightful snack. 

Get the Glutinous Rice (from $3.90) if the kueh isn’t filling enough for you. It was filled with a good amount of dried shrimp and mushrooms, and packed a deep, rich flavour with the dark soy sauce notes coming to the fore. Sticky, chewy, yet not too oily, this glutinous rice dish was certainly delightful.

The Yam Cake ($3.90) was an equally delicious offering: soft and easily parted, yet having a firm consistency that carried the earthy yam flavours well. The other ingredients, such as dried shrimp and sesame seeds, lent a variety of textures to the cake while also accentuating its rich flavours. 

Though prices have been slowly raised due to rising costs, Jeffery stays committed to preserving his mother’s original recipe, which has remained unchanged for 8 years and counting. His team of aunties and workers arrive early at 3:30am each day to handmake their kueh fresh daily, so you can rest assure that the kueh here at Ah Yee’s Soon Kueh is of top quality. 

If you’re looking for more soon kueh places to try, have a look at our best soon kueh stalls. For more food in the Joo Chiat area, check out our Katong and Joo Chiat food guide. 

Address: 124 Tembeling Road, Singapore 423623
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 7am to 5pm
Tel: 9878 2843
Website
Ah Yee’s Soon Kueh is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Jordan Ong.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg.