Hong Kong Style Kitchen: Toa Payoh Zi Char Stall With Famous Bittergourd Fish

Hong Kong Style Kitchen for popular zi char in Toa Payoh

Toa Payoh is a haven for good food, but if you’re in the neighbourhood craving some quality zi char, head down to Hong Kong Style Kitchen, located at the Blk 93 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 Market and Hawker Centre.

Image credit: Kiew LW

The zi char stall is run by a Cantonese couple that hails from Hong Kong. One of the founders used to work in a former five-star restaurant too. Everything on the menu is Cantonese-style dishes, and most of them are affordably priced to boot.

Right off the bat, be prepared to wait for up to an hour for your dishes, though the average waiting time is 30 minutes. Most of the dishes are priced between $7 to $15, depending on the size. They also offer whole steamed fish, priced from $15 to $20.

Image credit: @ljy_eats

Some of their bestsellers include their Bitter Gourd Fried Fish Slices, where sweet slices of tender fish are stir-fried in a peppery, lightly spiced sauce. A generous portion of bittergourd slices accompanies the fish, adding their characteristic bitterness to each bite.

Image credit: Eric Chai

The Fried Big Prawns are another standout. These see twelve pieces of fresh prawns fried in a scallion-and-sesame oil, with vegetables and mushrooms.

Image credit: Eric Chai

Don’t skip on their Steamed Minced Pork with Salted Fish, generously spotted with pieces of umami salted fish, and pork fat.

Balance out your meal with some greens. Fans recommend their Three Colour Spinach, served with century egg, salted egg, and regular egg ribbons, stirred through a rich, gooey sauce, as well as their Stir Fried Sweet Potato Leaves, flavoured with wok hei, ginger, and garlic.

Don’t forget to finish off your order with their double-boiled soup of the day! The flavours rotate daily.

For more zi char, check out our 18 Seafood review for a restaurant that sells XO fried mee pok and champagne ribs. There’s also our Canton Delicacies review for a stall that sells salted egg pork rice and more Canto classics in Geylang Bahru.

Address: 93 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, #01-44, Toa Payoh Lorong 4 Market and Hawker Centre, Singapore 310093
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11:30am to 1:30pm, 4:30pm to 7:30pm
Hong Kong Style Kitchen is not a halal-certified eatery.

Featured image adapted from Eric Chai, Kiew LW and @domaine_wines_sg

Beatrice

Beatrice is currently the Group Editor (Branded Content) at The Smart Local Media Group. Prior to this role, she’s spent a decade on staff at lifestyle titles in Singapore, including Lifestyle Asia, AugustMan, and Men’s Folio. Food, drink, and beauty have always been her main beats, but no, she doesn’t get paid to eat good food and wear makeup (unfortunately).