Pao fan is definitely becoming a trendy hawker dish in Singapore, what with established chefs and celebrities all entering the scene with recipes of their own. For those who don’t know, pao fan, or poached rice, is a familiar dish at upscale Chinese restaurants or banquets. Often confused for porridge, pao fan features cooked rice and rice puffs dressed with broth, and served with a type of protein.
Seafood pao fan, in particular, has become a popular appearance in hawker centres, which now means you can find the dish topped with Boston lobster or prawns for wallet-friendly prices. Here are some stalls where you can find cheap pao fan in Singapore.
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One of the earliest arrivals to the pao fan scene, Chao Ting, is located in the CBD, at Far East Square. The brand is under the JUMBO Seafood group of restaurants, so you know their seafood is definitely fresh. Their Teochew-style pao fan comes in five styles, including Sliced Fish ($7.80), Fried Fish ($7.80), and Fresh Prawn ($8.80). If you’re feeling indecisive, the Duo Fish ($8.80) has both sliced and fried fish; otherwise, the Premium Seafood ($10.80) gets you all of the above, served in a seafood and bone broth cooked for five hours.Â
Check out our Chao Ting review!
Address: 132 Amoy Street, Far East Square, Singapore 049961
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 4pm
Tel: 6788 3637
Website
Chao Ting is not a halal-certified eatery
King of Pao Fan leaped to fame with their chef’s ex-Raffles Hotel pedigree; they now have two locations in Bugis and Holland Village. We highly recommend the Half Live Lobster Pao Fan ($20.50), served with half a Boston lobster, but if you’re on a budget, they have Clam Pao Fan for just $4.90.
Check out our King of Pao Fan review!
Website | Full list of locations
King of Pao Fan is not a halal-certified eatery
Run by a former Jumbo Seafood chef, San Pin Pao Fan in Lavender sells six different types of seafood pao fan on the menu. Go for a bit of everything with their Mixed Seafood Pao Fan ($7.50), which comes with creamy broth, prawns, fried fish, steamed fish, lala, bittergourd, and egg floss. We especially liked how the prawns were generously sized, even though the dish is priced at quite a steal. The cheapest bowls are just $6 here, for Fresh Prawn Pao Fan, Mixed Sliced Fish Pao Fan and more.
Check out our San Pin Pao Fan review!
Website
Full list of locations
San Pin Pao Fan is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @xp11
Head to Jurong West for Yu Huang Premium Seafood Soup, a hawker stall that was started by an ex-Canton Paradise chef. Their broth is one of pork, chicken, and fish bones, cooked with fresh seafood to serve for natural umami and sweetness. Go for Lala Soup ($5) for a wallet-friendly option, with prices going up to $14 if you choose Giant Grouper Head Minced Meat. Then, there’s the super luxe Premium Seafood Soup (from $22), finished with abalone, scallops, prawns, clams, and giant garoupa!
Address: 101 Yung Sheng Road, Taman Jurong Food Centre, Singapore 618497
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 11pm
Website
Yu Huang Premium Seafood Soup is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @joycet.bell
Check out Chef Wai’s Poached Rice the next time you see it in any Food Republic food court! The crispy rice bits are served separately, so you get to enjoy them as crunchy as you like. You’ll find every bowl here made with a prawn-based broth, which explains its bright orange hue.
Choices here include Seacaught Prawn Pao Fan ($8.90), or Springy Prawn Paste Ball Pao Fan ($8.90). You’ll also find a premium Superior Lobster Pao Fan ($19.90) here, complete with half a lobster; otherwise, go for USA Premium Beef Sliced Pao Fan ($9.90) for a non-seafood-topped bowl.
Website | Full list of locations
Chef Wai’s Poached Rice is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @misato_hernice1818
Previously only in Teban Gardens, TK Kitchen has now expanded to a second, more trendy space in Jalan Besar called Pao Fan Paradise. The pao fan specialist has unique takes on the signature dish, including Flower Crab ($38), Ginseng Chicken ($35), XO Fish ($45), and White Pepper Pork Stomach Chicken ($40) pao fan, all of which feed two to three per order.
Website | Full list of locations
TK Kitchen is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @v.jzx
Gong Xi Fa Cai Eating House may be a zi char stall by definition, but one of their hero dishes is the Lobster Pao Fan (from $38), served in a claypot, and made with a full lobster. The lobster weighs around 500g so you’re getting plenty of value for your buck. It feeds two to three as well!
Address: Blk 254 Jurong East Street 24, #01-11, Yuhua Village Market, Singapore 600254
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9:30pm
Tel: 9859 6358
Website
Gong Xi Fa Cai Eating House is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @wanwaiwen
A second option to consider if you’re a Taman Jurong dweller is Le Kitchen Seafood Pao Fan, located on the third floor of Taman Jurong Food Centre. Their bestselling Seafood Pao Fan is priced at $8. Alternatively, you could go for Fried Fish Pao Fan or Pork Sliced Lala Pao Fan, both of which are priced at $5.50.
Address: 3 Yung Sheng Road, #03-126, Taman Jurong Food Centre, Singapore 618499
Opening hours: Mon 10am to 2pm, 5pm to 7pm, Thurs-Sun 10am to 7pm
Tel: 8238 0368
Website
Le Kitchen Seafood Pao Fan is not a halal-certified eatery
For pao fan that doesn’t break the bank, try any of these seven stalls. For more affordable eats, check out our list of dim sum in Singapore, starting at just $1.30. Alternatively, read our guide to halal buffets starting at just $7.90.
This post was originally written on 25 January 2021.
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