Song Fa Bak Kut Teh Review: Singapore’s Famous Michelin-Approved Bak Kut Teh, Open Since 1969

Song Fa Bak Kut Teh is Singapore’s most famous bak kut teh brand

When I was assigned to review Song Fa Bak Kut Teh, I was a little surprised. “This one need to review meh?” was what I thought initially. This place needs little introduction to most Singaporeans. In fact, it is probably the first few places people think of when it comes to eateries that serve the iconic, sneeze-inducing peppery pork rib soup. What I was not aware of, however, was that the eatery we visited at 11 New Bridge Road was a seven-year Michelin Bib Gourmand award holder, which was impressive. Turns out, Song Fa has much more to offer other than just bak kut teh.

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According to the Michelin Guide, Song Fa Bak Kut Teh was first started by Yeo Eng Song as a bak kut teh (BKT) pushcart in 1969 along Johor Road. By 1975, the pushcart was upgraded to a hawker stall located along Victoria Street. Now, the business is managed by Yeo’s children.

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Food at Song Fa Bak Kut Teh

We got the Pork Ribs Soup ($8.80++) and Premium Loin Rib Soup ($9.80++) for comparison.

The premium loin came with one large piece of loin rib which had its bone sticking out of the soup. Although it was quite expensive seeing how this bowl, which came with only one piece of rib, was almost $10, it was quite satisfying to sink my teeth into the meat.

For more bang for your buck, the regular pork ribs soup would be a better choice. This bowl had three ribs, and we were lucky to get pieces that were almost as meaty as the premium loin. After trying both dishes, I concluded that you would not be able to taste much difference between both ribs, so it might be wiser to stick to the cheaper option.

Back to the bak kut teh: the highlight was the soup. Song Fa’s broth was not too peppery, making it a great place to bring your tourist friends if you’d like to introduce them to the dish. I can tell that this broth must have been brewing for a long time as it had a distinct rich flavour of pork.

As we were eating, we also appreciated that the waiters were walking around with a kettle of soup, ready to refill the bowls on each table at any time. I found this level of attentiveness to be quite rare in most BKT places.

Dipping the Dough Fritters ($2.30++) AKA you tiao into the soup was also very satisfying. The you tiao absorbed a lot of the soup while retaining its crispiness. This resulted in each piece of fritter being crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside.

Another great way to enjoy the soup is to order the Mee Sua ($3.20++), which will soak up the flavours of the broth! We liked these noodles a lot as they did not go soggy even after our prolonged shoot. Each slurp was packed with a peppery, umami goodness. Fun tip: the soup in this bowl is refillable as well!

Next, we tried the sides. We got the Homemade Ngoh Hiang ($5.20++) because we were told it was house-made. Unfortunately, we felt that this pork roll was quite pricey, especially because we were only given six pieces per order. Each crispy piece of pork roll has a chunk of prawn in the middle for extra textural variety and visual appeal. We also liked that there was ginger in the pork marinade to cut through the grease of the deep-fried dish.

Another classic side dish we got at Song Fa was the Braised Pig’s Trotters ($8.60++). After we took a shot of this dish, my colleague immediately called first dibs on the collagen-rich pork skin. She really liked the jelly-like texture of this!

Even though I found the trotter meat to be quite dry, dipping the pieces into the house-made chilli sauce seemed to help. I liked that the vinegary kick of the sauce was a good contrast to the soya sauce braise too.

We left the best for the last: the Braised Large Intestines ($9.30++) was our favourite side dish. The intestines were very well processed and we did not taste any gaminess. We also loved the satisfying chewiness of every piece, which was full of pork fat, too! The atty bits were like a sponge that soaked up the braise, so every bite was bursting with flavour as well.

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Ambience at Song Fa Bak Kut Teh

Song Fa flaunts its rich history through the restaurant’s interior design. Other than mural paintings that depict their humble beginnings, the red roofing and wooden name sign give off an “old Nanyang” vibe.

Song Fa has 13 outlets islandwide. The location we went to was a two-minute walk from Clarke Quay MRT Station, just across New Bridge Road. Even though we arrived just five minutes after the opening hours, there was already a queue forming outside as many tourists were eager to try this famed BKT restaurant. So be prepared to queue if you decide to visit this outlet.

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The verdict

Overall, I think Song Fa is the place to go if you and your friends cannot decide what to eat, considering their wide selection of sides and dishes on offer. Nobody would object to a comforting bowl of soup, especially with Song Fa’s peppery broth, which was so easy to drink! And if pig organs are your thing, definitely get the well-cooked braised large intestines. Personally, I found some of the items quite expensive for the portion you’re getting, but if you do not mind paying, then it should not be an issue.

For more Clarke Quay food, check out this atas FairPrice Finest that has a food court and cocktail bar! Alternatively, read our Song Fa Kway Chap review for peppery kway chap in ION Orchard!

Address: 11 New Bridge Road, #01-01, Singapore 059383
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9pm
Website | Full list of outlets 
Song Fa Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.

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