J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff Review: Michelin Bib Gourmand Puffs In The CBD

Michelin-approved J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff in Amoy

When it comes to curry puffs in Singapore, there are two unofficial camps: the flaky kind versus the Malay-style epok epok. I used to gravitate towards the latter—until recently when I rediscovered Wang Wang Crispy Curry Puff. Next up on my flaky curry puff list was J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puffs, a Michelin-recommended stall in Amoy Street Food Centre.

Food at J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff

Run by a husband-and-wife due since 2007, J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff was a Bib Gourmand awardee from 2016 to 2018. In fact, they were the only curry puff stall to have received such recognition! These puffs were given the Michelin stamp of approval, so I was excited to dig in.

Right off the bat, these were the flakiest puffs I’ve ever had. As soon as I’d picked one up, some of the layers would start falling out. I count it as a small downside, but it’s worth the mess as each piece was packed with flavour.

The Crispy Curry Chicken Puff ($1.80) is a signature for multiple reasons. Served piping hot, fresh from the fryer, this palm-sized treat crumbled upon my first bite, revealing a mildly spiced curry filling.

The puff was packed with bite-sized chicken chunks and soft, almost mash-like potato bits. As someone who loves spicy food, I wished the curry was spicier, though I also understand the need to dial it down for the masses.

There’s also the Crispy Black Pepper Chicken Puff ($2), which was similarly loaded with filling. The chicken bits were coated in a light glaze that was slightly sweet and peppery.

This puff was no less flavourful, but I realised that it was also a tad greasier than the other flavours.

If you enjoy fish, the Crispy Sardine Puff ($1.80) might be up your alley. The sardine featured here was flaky with a tinge of natural sweetness from the onions. You get shreds of fish instead of large chunks, which makes consumption a breeze.

Tempered with the buttery layers of the puff, this sardine puff was, thankfully, not overwhelmingly fishy.

Another unanimous favourite at the table was the Crispy Yam Paste Puff ($1.80), stuffed with house-made orh nee.

Well-executed yam paste is creamy and smooth, with a natural sweetness from the yam that isn’t jelak. I’m happy to say that J2’s rendition ticked those boxes; it was rich and flavourful with real yam cubes studded throughout, adding textural variation to the thick paste.

It’s also worth noting that every puff is made from scratch, from the hand-kneading of the dough to the deep-frying process. There’s almost always a line but the wait isn’t that long as everything is prepared fresh, in small batches.

Ambience at J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff

The stall is located on the first floor of Amoy Street Food Centre, which is a two-minute walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station. If you’re taking the blue line, it’s a five-minute walk away from Telok Ayer MRT Station.

While open and spacious, the hawker centre tends to get packed during weekday lunchtime, so try to drop by before that to make sure you get your curry puff fix.

The verdict

Although J2’s puffs lean towards the greasy end, there’s no denying how fresh and delicious they are. The short opening hours are a bit of a downside, but these sinful morsels are worth going out of your way for—especially when the cravings hit. Come here if you want the flakiest, messiest pastries ever, but make sure you enjoy them fresh on the spot!

Another popular Amoy Street Food Centre stall to visit is Kin Men Seng Heng, which serves halal braised duck rice with a delicious herbal soup. You can also check out Danlao, a popular Maxwell Food Centre stall with affordable scrambled eggs on rice.

Address: 7 Maxwell Road, #01-21, Amoy Street Food Centre, Singapore 069111
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 3pm
Tel: 9475 8425
J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff is not a halal-certified eatery.

This was an independent review by Eatbook.sg
Photos taken by Chew Yi En.