Even though I attended school near Holland Village for two years, I had only ever been to Ghim Moh Food Centre, for it is Holland Drive Food Centre’s better-known sibling. Only after I graduated did I come across this food haven, that is just a mere bus stop away from Buona Vista MRT Station. Here is a list of my favourite stalls that I’ve collated after visiting this underrated hawker centre near Holland Village a couple of times.
Table of Contents
Image credit: @xu_miyan
Should you have any cravings for good ol’ chai tow kway, Traditional Carrot Cake will be more than happy to serve you a comforting plate of old-school Black/White Carrot Cake ($3/$4/$5). In the mix of eggs fried to crisp and soft radish cake, lies a trove of crunchy chye poh, giving the dish a salty burst of flavour. Sprinkled with some chopped spring onions, this dish is definitely worth the calories.
Find out where to get more cheap and good fried carrot cake!
Unit number: #02-20
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6:30am to 1pm
Traditional Carrot Cake is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @singaporeyummy
From the never-ending queue at Cheng Heng Kway Chap And Braised Duck, it’s easy to tell that this stall is surely a crowd favourite. Their Kway Chap ($3.50) comes with a bowl of silky smooth kway, glistening in a slightly herby broth, as well as generous portions of braised offal, braised duck meat, and braised eggs.
Unit number: #02-05
Opening hours: Fri-Wed 7:30am to 2:30pm
Cheng Heng is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @hunkyhock
After hearing many sing praises about Ru Ji Fishball Noodles, I decided to give their Dry Mee Pok Fishball Noodles (from $3.50) a shot. The al dente noodles were laced with traces of their house-made chilli and showered with a generous amount of pork lard. The aroma whetted my appetite, but the springy and surprisingly sweet fish balls had all my attention. Apparently, the QQ fishballs are handmade daily by the boss alone. His efforts are truly commendable, and his fishballs are definitely worth braving the queue for.
Unit number: #02-28
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7am to 1pm
Ru Ji is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @pastorwithanappetite
The two ladies who own Hakka Noodles start preparing for their day at 3:30am every morning and usually finish selling everything by noon. Their Yong Tau Fu (from $3.50) comes with a fixed set of handmade ingredients and a bowl of springy noodles doused in a savoury house-made concoction. Ask nicely and you are most likely able to switch your least favourite ingredients for your best pick. Down the last drop of their tasty YTF soup to end this homey meal!
Unit number: #02-15
Opening hours: Daily 5am to 2pm
Tel: 9470 3110
Hakka Noodles is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @eat_after_eating
This is where I go for a fix of good wanton mee. The owners of Yap Kee Wanton Mee capture the hearts of customers with their springy noodles, house-made chilli, handmade wanton, and also their friendly and chatty personalities. It is with reason that customers return continuously despite the long waiting time. Give the mee a good mix and slurp those noodles up; the tantalising flavours of the dish will have you swooning. Prices start from $4 for a bowl of wonton mee.
Unit number: #02-04
Opening hours: Fri-Sat 6:30am to 2pm
Website
Yap Kee Wanton Mee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @hunkyhock
My favourite part about Aini Muslim Food’s Ayam Penyet ($5) is the sambal. The fiery sauce tingled my taste buds and whetted my appetite. Aside from that, the crispy fried crumbs that came atop the tender ayam were so addictive. Don’t forget to add the lime, as it adds a refreshing touch and cuts through the greasiness.
Unit number: #02-14
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8am to 2pm
Aini Muslim Food is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Image credit: @ivancpk
When I see Char Siew Roasted Pork Rice at $3, I order. Leong Wei Roasted Delights may command a long queue, but the thought of the crispy skin on the sio bak and tender char siew always keeps me in that long chain of hungry people. The sauce that’s drizzled all over the plate has a lightly sweet and charred flavour. Their Braised Duck Rice and Roasted Duck Rice start from $3 too, a price that’s hard to beat!
Unit number: #02-36
Opening hours: Mon 11am to 11pm, Tue-Sun 11am to 10pm
Leong Wei is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @simbocun
Meet Debbie, the boss of Rojak Line, a rojak enthusiast who doesn’t like hae ko (shrimp paste). She ended up starting her own rojak stall, selling vegetarian rojak for like-minded people who don’t like shrimp paste: one of the most important ingredients in rojak. Many who tried her ROJAK LINE rojak (from $5.50) couldn’t even spot the missing ingredient! Guava and green apple add a refreshing crunch to the dish, which is oh-so-addictive.
Unit number: #02-13
Opening hours: Thurs-Sun 1pm to 7:30pm
Rojak Line is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @ohmydia
Da Chang Jin Chee Cheong Fun captures the attention of people with their Hong Kong-style chee cheong fun that comes with six different toppings, from the conventional char siew to creative smoked salmon. Their eye-catching Fish Roe and Smoked Salmon Chee Cheong Fun ($6) puts a twist on this breakfast dish, which many enjoy. Freshly made to order, this stall surprises its customers by switching up the typical fried shallots with a salty burst of chye poh. Their regular Chee Cheong Fun is priced at $2.50.
Unit number: #02-33
Opening hours: Daily 7:15am to 2:30pm
Da Chang Jin is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @g13ndachiang
With a Bib Gourmand award under its belt, it is no wonder that New Lucky Claypot Rice boasts a long queue at all times. Their Claypot Wu Wei Rice (from $15) is topped with chunks of tender chicken, smoky lap cheong, and a handful of salted fish. Season the dish to your liking with sesame oil and dark sauce. Remember to get the charred bits at the bottom! Those are the real treasures of this pot.
Unit no: #02-19
Opening hours: Thurs-Sun 11am to 1pm, 5pm to 8pm, Mon-Tue 11am to 12:30pm, 5pm to 8pm
New Lucky Claypot Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @ken_leem
Praised for its great value and generous portions, Fifty Yong Tau Fu is where it’s at for wallet-friendly Hakka-style YTF. Their prices start at $3, but opt for their largest $5 portion, which comes with 8 different types of Ampang-style ingredients, including QQ fishballs, fish paste dumplings, and stuffed bittergourd, served atop mee kia that’s tossed in a fried shallot oil dressing and a piquant house-made chilli paste.
Unit number: #02-37
Opening hours: TBD
Fifty Yong Tau Fu is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @janatewhat
Shima’s Kitchen is a popular nasi padang stall in Holland Drive Food Centre. Queues tend to be long, and dishes sell out early, so you ought to head down before the lunch crowd if you want to be sure to nab their ingredients. Prices vary, but expect to spend around $7.50 on their nasi padang. If you’re here for breakfast, their Lontong ($3), dressed with a creamy, coconutty curry, is a crowd fave.
Unit number: #02-12
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 6:30am to 2:30pm
Shima’s Kitchen is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Image credit: @mrsjackiechan
Another big name kway chap eatery at Holland Drive is Blanco Court Kueh Chap. The eatery traces its roots back to the 1950s, operating out of the now-defunct Blanco Court. They specialise in a lighter style of kway chap, so expect less of that intense, herbal soy flavour that typically comes with the kway and innards. Still, the offal is prepared well, the innards are clean, and the sheets of kway are silky smooth—all hallmarks of decent kway chap. A portion starts at $5.50.
Unit number: #02-02
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7am to 3pm
Blanco Court Kueh Chap is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Rise&Shine
If you love handmade bao like we do, then you’ll know Ru Fa Bao Dian is a must-visit. Aside from your traditional char siew and lian rong bao priced from $0.90, the stall offers other more inventive steamed bao fillings, including their signature Otah ($1.80), Yam ($0.90), Curry Chicken ($1.30), and Chicken Cheese ($1.10).
Unit number: #02-09
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 6:30am to 2pm
Ru Fa Bao Dian is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @tigerkiller
Sweet Bistro sells quite a variety of dishes, from kueh to house-made pound cakes, madeleines, sandwiches and more. What fans rave about here, though, is their signature Penang Fried Kway Teow (from $4.50). Steeped with wok hei, this aromatic, smoky CKT is one of the most legit takes on the Penang version of the noodle dish that can be found in Singapore, according to some fans.
Unit number: #02-24
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 3pm
Sweet Bistro is not a halal-certified eatery
Now you know where to go when the lines at Ghim Moh get too frustrating. Note that some stalls may sell out early, which means closing earlier than the stated time. So remember to go down earlier to catch these delicacies. Check out Geylang Bahru Food Centre and Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Food Centre for more gems!
Address: 44 Holland Drive, Singapore 270044
Nearest MRT Station: Buona Vista
Featured image adapted from @tigerkiller,@ken_leem and @g13ndachiang
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