Despite the wealth of Taiwanese food stalls in Singapore, you’d be hard-pressed to find one that is Muslim-friendly. Thankfully, Muslims looking to get their fix of halal beef noodles now have another venue in the form of Beef Up.
Started by three friends, this Toa Payoh stall utilises recipes from the owner’s mother who is a Taiwanese; making this as authentic a taste as you can get.
Naturally, we had to get to get the Beef Noodle (from $6.50) first. Despite us ordering the regular bowl, we were surprised to find that it was huge. It was bigger than my palm, so I can’t imagine how the large one would even be.
Taste-wise, the beef brisket chunks were tender and came in generous portions. I especially loved the broth, as it had a smooth consistency but delivered strong notes of umami.
Admittedly, I wasn’t a big fan of the noodles. Maybe it’s ‘cause we got the thicker you mian, but I felt that they could have been chewier to complement.the soft beef.
They also have a Braised Chicken Noodle ($4), which comes with braised chicken, braised egg and pickled greens. While I liked the taste of the chicken, the dish failed to impress, as the consistency was all over the place.
The sambal did not mix well with the ban mian noodles, and made it too unctuous for my liking.
Depending on how you like your chicken, the Chicken Cutlet ($4.50) might be a hit-or-miss for some. The dish comes with a liberal amount of chicken chunks and one of these powder toppings:
While the chicken itself was juicy, I thought they could have cut down on the batter. The coating didn’t stick fully on the chicken, which led to a mouthfeel that had an overly floury taste.
Located in Grains & Hops Food Court Bistro, Beef Up is neighbours with Fatty Bom Bom – so you can expect a similar ambience. One thing I did like was the chill atmosphere, courtesy of the dim lights and low footfall.
There’s also a good variety of seating options here, from high stools to round tables, making it a versatile hangout spot for casual dates or dinner sessions with friends.
I like Beef Up. The portions here are large and their beef noodles are definitely worth the trip. Admittedly, some tweaks to the recipes are in order to bring them to the next level.
But if you’re looking for affordable and decent food in Toa Payoh, the humble stall is a good bet.
Address: 978 Toa Payoh North, #02-01, Grains & Hops Food Court Bistro, Singapore 319001
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 3pm, 5pm to 9pm, Sat 12pm to 3pm, 5pm to 9pm
Tel: 9839 1172
Website
Beef Up is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Photos taken Tan Ee Jing
This is an independent review by Eatbook.sg
Summary
Pros:
– Portions were big
– Beef and chicken were tender and flavourful
Cons:
– The noodles could be chewier
Recommended dishes: Beef Noodle ($6.50)
Operating hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 3:30pm, 5pm to 9pm, Sat 12:30pm to 9pm
Address: 978 Toa Payoh North, Grains & Hops Food Court Bistro, Singapore 319001