Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge Review: Michelin Bib Gourmand Fried Fish Soup In Newton

Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge has famous fish soup at Newton Food Centre

Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge was first put on the map in 2021 when they were listed on the Michelin Bib Gourmand. Since then, they’ve consistently maintained their place on the list, including this year. 

While they’ve only been thrust into the spotlight recently, this stall has actually been around since 1962! With the shiny new Michelin sign on their storefront, we would never have guessed that they’ve been open for more than 60 years. They’re currently managed by second-generation hawkers, and have even opened a second outlet at One Punggol Hawker Centre.

Given the fanfare, we decided to head down to their long-standing Newton Food Centre outlet to try their famous fish soup. 

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Food at Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge 

We started our meal with the Dual Fish Soup ($7) and paired it with a bowl of rice ($0.50). Our dish featured a mix of fried and fresh fish slices submerged in clear soup, topped with fried shallots, spring onions and Chinese cabbage. We were told by the aunty who manned the stall that the fried pieces were dory fish, while the fresh slices were batang fish. 

Because the stall doesn’t use any pork or lard, much of the soup’s flavour comes from the slow cooking of fish and vegetables. The result is a light and clean-tasting soup, with a good balance of sweet and savoury, and no hint of fishiness.

One thing my colleagues and I noticed immediately was the generous size of the fish slices. Most of them were larger than the spoon, which made for a filling meal. 

Both kinds of fish were also well-cooked. On one hand, the fried dory pieces were coated in just the right amount of batter, and had a pleasant bouncy texture. On the other, the batang fish slices were soft, flaky and delicately sweet.

My only nitpick is that the rice was slightly overcooked, so it was a tad clumpy and mushy in some parts. It wasn’t too big of a problem though, especially when enjoyed with the soup.

Next, we had the Fried Fish Soup ($6) with Yi Mian ($0.50). Like the first bowl, the fish here is served with fried shallots, spring onions and cabbage. For this bowl, I also requested to add evaporated milk to the soup. 

It’s ultimately up to personal preference, but my colleagues and I liked the enhanced, full-bodied flavour of this version better.

Fresh off the stove, some fish pieces at the surface of the soup still had some bits of slightly crispy batter. When submerged, the batter of the fried dory soaked up the broth nicely, which put the richness of the soup centre stage in each bite.

Similarly, the eggy overtones of the yi mian complemented the creaminess of the soup. The noodles were also tender and delightfully springy. 

Ambience at Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge 

As Newton Food Centre is home to more than 80 other stalls, it might be difficult to spot Kwang Kee if you’re not familiar with the layout. Following the sequence of unit numbers on the stalls, however, will lead you to a quiet corner of the hawker centre where Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge is located. 

There wasn’t a queue when we arrived at 11:30am on a Wednesday, so we got our food pretty quickly. More people began to arrive for lunch around 12:30pm, but there were still plenty of seats to go around. 

Not only is Newton Food Centre situated in central Singapore, it is merely a five-minute walk from Newton MRT Station. This makes Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge relatively accessible.

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The verdict

At first glance, Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge’s fish soup dishes appear simple and unassuming, featuring  common ingredients that can also be found at other stalls around Singapore. Upon closer inspection, though, the generous serving of fish and expertly executed soup warrants some commendation. It’s no wonder that Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge tops out at number three on our ranking of best fish soups in Singapore. If you’re in the area or are a fish-soup enthusiast, don’t hesitate to pay them a visit!

For more food in the area, check out our Newton Food Centre guide for more good eats at the hawker centre. Alternatively, head over to Baristart Coffee’s new outlet at Wisma Atria, which is just one MRT stop away.

Address: 500 Clemenceau Avenue North, #01-20, Newton Food Centre, Singapore 229495
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 8pm
Tel: 9769 9893
Website
Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.

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Photos taken by Chew Yi En and Raelynn Ng.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.