Whoever said “The East side is the best side” has not stepped foot into the wonders of the West. For all the praise the East receives for its food offerings, the West is equally deserving of the spotlight and Yuhua Village Market & Food Centre is one of the reasons why.
It is not just about variety here; the long queues at many stalls are a testament to how delicious the dishes are. The next time you’re craving local fare in the West, check out these 10 stalls at Yuhua Village Market & Food Centre!
Image credit: @teojimmy
Simple yet satisfying, Xiang Ji Cooked Food’s porridge often sells out by late morning and is truly a reward for the early risers. A bowl of Sliced Fish Porridge ($3) comes with fried dough fritters, coriander, chye poh (dried radish), and fish slices. The porridge itself is neither overly thick nor watery. It has a nice heft that brings out the flavour of the egg (additional $0.50) if breaking the yolk is your thing. Other porridge dishes include the Century Egg Lean Meat Porridge ($3.50), Pork Porridge ($3.00), and Shredded Chicken Porridge ($3.00).
Unit number: #01-53
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 5:30am to 11:30am
Image credit: @breakfastobsession
A veteran in the scene for more than 40 years, Fei Fei Roasted Noodle often sells out within a few hours. Both the roasted duck and char siew undergo an arduous preparation process, involving charcoal fire and thorough marination that begins at 3am. The result is a bowl of Wanton Mee ($3) that comes with tender slices of meat that are full of flavour from the fat, and well charred on the outside.
Each wanton is also full and juicy; the delicate skin encasing a generous amount of minced meat and prawn paste. Served with a bed of springy noodles and green vegetables, the dish is a savoury treat that will give you a bang for your buck.
Unit number: #01-28
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 9am to 1pm
Image credit: @wenderlinchua
Just when you thought $2 dishes didn’t exist anymore, 139 Hainan Chicken Rice bursts in with its economical offerings. The Chicken Rice, Roasted Meat Rice, and Char Siew Rice are all priced at $2 and come in generous portions. The steamed chicken and roasted meat are both on the dry side. Nevertheless, they are flavourful enough. There is also silken tofu and spring onions in the soup, making these dishes value for money offerings in our inflation-ridden economy.
Unit number: #01-39
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 8:30pm
Image credit: @noobcook
254 Minced Meat Fishball Noodle is a good option for those looking for simple fare. Their Fishball Minced Meat Noodles ($2.50) comes with a generous portion of noodles doused in chilli-like oil, and the usual ingredients of minced meat, fishball, and fishcake slices. The stall also offers other classic hawker dishes such as Laksa ($3), Prawn Noodle ($3), and Vermicelli Soup ($2.50).
Unit number: #01-32
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 9pm
Image credit: @andirahmansyah
West Coast Arifin Ali is the answer to your supper cravings with its authentic flavours and long opening hours. You can find a variety of Indian fare here including Chicken Briyani ($6), Mutton Briyani ($6) and Mee Goreng ($3.50). The Mee Goreng comes with a fair portion of mutton cubes with strong and spicy flavours, making this an indulgence-worthy dish. That being said, their service is not known to be fast, so be prepared to wait a little!
Unit number: #01-41
Opening hours: Daily 4am to 11pm
Image credit: @swongtw
Heng Heng Cooked Food serves a hearty bowl of Laksa ($3) that sells out fast. Each bowl comes with a fair portion of thick wheat noodles, fishcake, beansprouts and cockles which add a light oceanic note to the milky gravy. Thick yet not cloying, the gravy is fragrant and strikes a nice balance between the coconut milk and spiciness.
Unit number: #01-12
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 7:30pm
Image credit: @tjoengyennyagus
Straying away from the conventional factory-manufactured carrot cake cubes, Seng Huat Homemade Fried Carrot Cake slices its own cake—resulting in a sea of big and uneven cubes. Each plate ($2.50) contains a generous portion of carrot cake, fried egg and sweet black sauce. The stall is only open between 6am and 10am, so be sure to head out early if you do not want to be disappointed!
Unit number: #01-48
Opening hours: Daily 6am to 10am
Not your usual BBQ stingray is the BBQ Hotplate Stingray ($12/$15/$17) from Jiao Cai Hotplate BBQ. Served on a sizzling hot pan, a fresh, thick piece of stingray is slathered with rich sambal chilli that continues to cook even as the meal proceeds. The stingray is moist, well-marinated, and gives off a good barbecue aroma.
Other dishes include the Stir Fried Kang Kong ($6/$8) as well as the BBQ Squid ($10/$12) which has an equally strong wok hei as the BBQ Stingray. Almost everything here is cooked in their house-made sambal chilli so if kick is what you are looking for, Jiao Cai Hotplate BBQ is the place to be.
Unit number: #01-24
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 5pm to 10pm
Image credit: @britez
At Cai, their hor fun varieties include Fish ($4.50), Beef ($4.50), and Prawn ($4.50). If you’re not a fan of hor fun, pair your order with stewed rice instead! Both options come with a thick golden-brown gravy that is savoury, smooth, and eggy.
Unit number: #01-14
Opening hours: 10:30am to 5pm
Image credit: @slurppbucket
Despite being tucked in a quiet corner, Rong Sheng Fish Head Beehoon still draws in crowds as their reputation more than makes up for it. Specialising in fish soup, they also serve Fish Head Bee Hoon ($3.50/$4) and XO Fish Head Bee Hoon ($7). For those looking to avoid going through the bones, their Fried Fish Bee Hoon ($3.50/$4) is also a popular choice that’s well-received for the crispiness of the fried fish and the flavourful soup!
Unit number: #01-44
Opening hours: Fri-Wed 8am to 11pm
Yuhua Village Market & Food Centre alone is testament to the array of good food found in the West. If that still isn’t enough to convince that Eastie friend of yours to make the trip with you, check out this list of nine hawker centres in the West!
Address: 254 Jurong East Street 24, Singapore 600254
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