Why We Think Cheeky Signature’s Has The Best Bee Hoon Soup In SG

Cheeky Signature’s has unique noodle dishes by ex-fine dining chef

Maybe it goes without saying, but bee hoon is a highly versatile type of noodle. You see it stir-fried in households across the country, doused in peanut gravy to create old-school satay bee hoon, and even prepared with crab to create the luxurious dish that is crab bee hoon. But rarely have I seen it used as cleverly—and as deliciously—as at Cheeky Signature’s (formerly known as Cheeky Bee Hoon).

Cheeky Signature’s is the brainchild of ex-fine dining chef Darwin Wong, whom I discovered through his now-defunct omakase restaurant, JIDAI. However, it was after I reviewed Cheeky in 2023 that I became a huge fan of Darwin’s, and would frequently return to the Katong outlet for a taste of his forward-thinking bee hoon.

In this review, we look at the dishes Cheeky is best known for, as well as a few new additions that extend the noodle offerings beyond just bee hoon.

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Food at Cheeky Signature’s

The must-try dish is the Cheeky Signature ($11.90), a bee hoon soup dish packed with ingredients such as meatballs, minced pork, cabbage, and lala. If you’re not a fan of bee hoon, you can instead have it with mee kia, kway teow, and even a side of pork lard pearl rice.

The most obvious thing that sets this apart from other bee hoon soup is the incredibly unique broth. There was a strong wok hei aroma permeating the soup, punctuated by peppery notes, umami, and the rich taste of pork bone stock. Goji berries and rock sugar also added a touch of sweetness to each sip. If you think bee hoon soup is bland, know that this was the complete opposite—this was strikingly flavourful.

Made by hand in Sarawak, the soft and silky bee hoon absorbed all these delightful tastes. According to Darwin, he infuses wok hei into the broth itself, which means he doesn’t have to first fry the noodles in a wok to create that smoky flavour. This ensures that the rice vermicelli retains its original qualities in the soup, while also possessing that wok-kissed aroma.

The other ingredients in this bowl served the dish well, but special mention has to go to the fresh lala and meatballs, which were stuffed with tee poh to give them extra savouriness.

Chef Darwin recently introduced a Dry Mee Pok option to go with the aforementioned soup. And while I still prefer his bee hoon, the mee pok was excellent. Marked by a broader, almost silkier brand of flat noodles, piquant chilli sauce, and chunky pork lard, this dish complemented the soup nicely, while having just enough to set it apart from most dry mee pok renditions.

Another new addition is the Sliced Fish with Minced Meat ($8.80), which Darwin suggested we try with the kway teow. Here, the lala and meatballs are replaced by sliced fish.

While the soup here is largely the same as in the previous dish, the fish slices impressed with how fresh and tender it was, and how well they soaked up the broth’s incredible flavour. The kway teow, meanwhile, had a firmer bite than most you’ll find in Singapore, and it remained so even after sitting in the soup for a while.

However, I did find myself missing the extra umami kick that the lala and tee poh-filled meatballs provided, so those who prefer stronger-tasting dishes should stick to the Cheeky Signature instead.

As for sides, we recommend the crispy Tempura Lotus Roots ($3.80) and Fresh Crab Handmade Dumpling ($4.80). The latter was our favourite, as it featured actual crab meat, meaning each bite was punctuated by the juicy sweetness one expects from the crustacean.

Interestingly, the menu now features Cheeky Satay, with options including Chicken ($1), Beef ($1.20), Pork ($1), and Mutton ($1.20). Each skewer was grilled till smoky and tender, although it was almost too tender—a slightly firmer bite could’ve helped it feel more substantial.

Ambience at Cheeky Signature’s

Cheeky’s Katong outlet

Cheeky Signature’s evokes a strong sense of nostalgia. From walls decorated with 80s Chinese memorabilia to the antique furnishing—the wooden flooring was taken from an old badminton court, for instance—the restaurant will take you back to days of yore as you enjoy some fine bee hoon dishes.

Cheeky’s Macpherson Mall outlet

At the time of writing, Cheeky has outlets at Katong and White Sands, with the newest located at Macpherson Mall. We visited the latter, but all the dishes mentioned in this article are available across the three locations.

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With such a skilful and innovative chef behind these dishes, it’s no wonder Cheeky Signature’s serves arguably the best bee hoon in Singapore. Be sure to give them a try if you’re a fan of noodle dishes.

For another one of my favourite noodle places, check out our Laifaba review. For economic bee hoon and kaya toast in a retro cafe, read our Kopi Siew Dai coverage.

Website | Full list of outlets
Cheeky Signature’s is not a halal-certified eatery.

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Photos taken by Ke-ian J Leong and edited by Marcus Neo.
This was a media tasting at Cheeky Signature’s.