Kovan Scrambled Egg Rice Review: HK-Style Scrambled Egg Rice Stall That Can Rival Dan Lao

Kovan Scrambled Egg Rice at Kovan 209 Market and Food Centre

Kovan Scrambled Egg Rice is a new stall at Kovan 209 Market and Food Centre, having only been open for a little over a month. As its name suggests, it specialises in the classic Hong Kong dish, scrambled egg rice. Offering accompaniments such as char siew, luncheon meat and chicken cutlet, the stall has inevitably invited comparisons to Dan Lao, which has an outlet at Tam Chiak Kopitiam nearby.

As someone who’s spent many a night perfecting her own scrambled egg technique, I understood, at some level, the varying levels of complexity that can go into a serving of scrambled eggs. So when I was tasked to review Kovan Scrambled Egg Rice, I couldn’t wait to taste-test their version of the dish. 

Food at Kovan Scrambled Egg Rice

The most affordable item on their menu is the Luncheon Meat Scrambled Egg Rice, which is priced at $5. It bears a striking resemblance to the one served at Dan Lao, with chunky cubes of deep-fried luncheon meat scattered across a layer of scrambled eggs, sitting atop abed of white rice.

Of course, we have to start this review with the scrambled egg: soft, airy and fluffy, it’s faintly reminiscent of Korean steamed eggs. The eggs here are more well-done and less runny than I’d usually prefer, but I found that the firmer texture paired nicely with the chewy white rice grains. 

There’s not much to comment on the taste of luncheon meat; texture-wise, it was well-fried and moist on the inside, with a thin and crispy layer on the outside.

The luncheon meat’s salty flavour profile can be enhanced with the stall’s house-made chilli paste. It also has a piquant prawn flavour that adds some much-needed umami to the luncheon meat. You can mix the chilli paste in with the rest of the dish, if you wish.

Another dish that caught my eye was the Mala Pork Scrambled Egg Rice ($6), which doesn’t have an equivalent on Dan Lao’s menu. This main combines the popular Chongqing dish with fragrant scrambled eggs.

This version certainly has heavier flavours than its luncheon meat counterpart. The soft and tender pork was coated in a generous amount of mala sauce, which was fragrant and peppery with just the right amount of ma, or numbness. I did feel like it could’ve been a tad bit spicier, though, as I usually prefer my mala dishes with more heat. 

My colleague also commented that she found the pork a little too salty for her taste, but I personally didn’t think much of it throughout the meal. I found that the sweetness from the eggs and rice balanced out the saltiness. It is worth taking note of, however, for those with lighter-leaning palates. 

Ambience at Kovan Scrambled Egg Rice

Kovan 209 Market and Food Centre seems to see sizable crowds regularly, which made finding a good seat a bit of a hassle. 

My colleague and I thought that we could skip the lunch crowd if we arrived early at 11:30am, but the hawker centre was already brimming with people. Fortunately for us, the stall didn’t have a long line, so we got our food pretty quickly. 

The verdict

As a self-proclaimed scrambled egg connoisseur, I wouldn’t mind travelling down to 209 Kovan Market and Food Centre again to pay Kovan Scrambled Egg another visit, especially since it’s only located at a short two-minute walk from Kovan MRT Station. Personally, I thought the hawker stall executed their namesake dish well, and has affordable prices and generous  portion sizes too.

If you want to have a taste of Dan Lao, check out the nearby Tam Chiak Kopitiam! Otherwise, drop by Acai Brothers at Upper Serangoon for a healthy bowl of superfruits. 

Address: 209 Hougang Street 21, #01-23, Kovan 209 Market and Food Centre, Singapore 530209
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 9pm
Kovan Scrambled Egg Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Kaedynce Chew.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.