Woo Ji Cooked Food has laksa and prawn noodles from $2
Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre is brimming with many good food places, which explains why it’s almost always packed. And Woo Ji Cooked Food is one such stall that contributes to the crowd. With laksa and prawn noodles from $2 only, anyone would want to snag a good deal here. However, saying that Woo Ji is only good for its cheap prices would be doing the stall a huge disservice.
Beyond this great deal is a stall with a rich history. According to Lianhe Zaobao, Mrs Woo started selling prawn noodles and laksa at a roadside stall around 1963. This was long before they moved to their current location in 1983. Now that Mrs Woo is getting old, her son and right-hand man Mr Victor Woo has taken over to serve the same bowls of noodles.
As to why the owners insist on keeping prices low, Mr Woo told The Straits Times that he did not want to transfer the burden of the price increases to his customers who were mostly elderly residents of the Chin Swee district. He emphasised in both interviews that he just needed to make enough money.
Food at Woo Ji Cooked Food
We arrived early at 8:30am but the laksa was already sold out. So we got two bowls of Prawn Noodles, one Small ($2) and the other Big ($4).
As my colleague started eating the smaller bowl, she exclaimed “Damn worth it leh!” and she was right. The small bowl was packed with ingredients. It was also only slightly smaller than the biggest bowl. But if you need extra fuel in the morning, you can go for the bigger bowl that gives you more noodles and liao.
We were given plenty of toppings: slices of prawn, lean pork, fishcakes, and beansprouts. The prawns were firm and fresh, and the thin slices of meat retained their juiciness as the owner did not cut out the outer layer of fat from the pork loin. It was also enjoyable having a mouthful of prawns and meat with the fragrant deep-fried shallots.
For some crunch, we also got their deep-fried Wonton ($1 for three pieces). Unfortunately, these dumplings were cold as they were likely fried and left on the counter for some time. Each piece was also filled with a grainy fish paste that leaned salty, though I liked it. As these dumplings come free with every order of laksa, I could imagine pairing them with the spicy gravy but alas, we were too late.
Back to the prawn noodles—my favourite part was the broth. This soup had a slight fattiness from pork lard, which gave it a glossy sheen. The strong prawny taste of the soup was accentuated by the lard and shallots, giving the broth its richness despite its light body.
As we could choose the noodle type we wanted, we got a combination of yellow noodles and bee hoon for the small bowl to get some variation in texture. We liked that both noodles were well-cooked—the yellow noodles had no hint of alkalinity, and the bee hoon did not taste raw. We also liked that the yellow noodles absorbed the broth very well.
Though we didn’t get to try the Laksa (from $2), many have touted that this affordable yet hearty dish resembled yong tau foo as you get a lot of toppings here. Along with two pieces of wonton, the bowl is also topped with two pieces of crispy tau pok, a fishball, hae bee AKA dried mini shrimps and a piece of green chilli stuffed with fish paste. The laksa gravy is said to have a satisfying spiciness but is light enough for breakfast.
Ipoh Zai Prawn Noodles Review: Ipoh-Style Prawn Mee In Tanjong Pagar With Shiok Sambal
Ambience at Woo Ji Cooked Food
Woo Ji Cooked Food is a five-minute walk from Chinatown MRT Station or Maxwell MRT Station, and is located on the second floor of Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre. While the place is very well-ventilated, it can get crowded on a weekend morning so it is better to visit on the weekdays!
The verdict
Overall, breakfast at Woo Ji Cooked Food was pleasant. As I was queueing for their food, I saw that most of the customers in line were old folks. I think it’s great that Woo Ji still offers $2 dishes despite inflation, so anyone can fill up without feeling the pinch. I will definitely be back to try the laksa.
For more cheap food, read our cheap hawker food guide for $1 nasi lemak and $2 cai fan. Otherwise, read our list of the best food in Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre for cheap xiao long bao and Michelin-approved chicken rice!
Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-056, Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre, Singapore 050335
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 6am to 9:15am
Woo Ji Cooked Food is not a halal-certified eatery.
10 Stalls With Dishes That Are $3 Or Less Including Laksa, Nasi Lemak And Prawn Mee
Photos taken by Kaedynce Chew.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.sg
Woo Ji Cooked Food Review: $2 Laksa And Prawn Noodles In Chinatown
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Woo Ji Cooked Food Review: $2 Laksa And Prawn Noodles In Chinatown - 7.5/107.5/10
Summary
Pros:
– Cheap noodles
– Delicious broth
Cons:
– Closes very early at 9:15am
– Items sold out way before closing time
Recommended dishes: Prawn Noodles (from $2)
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 6am to 9:15am
Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-056, Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre, Singapore 050335
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