Xin Lu Teo Chew Fishball Noodle has been around for more than 50 years, having humble beginnings at the now-defunct Margaret Drive Food Centre. (Also read: 10 Must-Try FISHBALL MEEPOK In Singapore)
It is located at Mei Ling Food Centre (kind of near the Queenstown area), and the hawker centre houses other famous stalls such as Shi Hui Yuan Hor Fun Speciality, Mei Ling Street Handmade Carrot Cake, Sin Kee Famous Chicken Rice, and Lao Jie Fang 老街坊 known for Beef Brisket Noodles.
There is another fishball noodle stall here though – Hup Kee Teochew Fishball Mee.
The current hawker-owner learnt his ropes from his father, helping him since he was 8 years’ old. Even though he studied to be a designer, he decided to make a career switch by helping the stall.
”I don’t just sell fishballs, I sell a piece of history.”
The ingredients of the Teochew Fishball Noodles are considered ‘no-frills’, with fishballs, noodles, seasoning like vinegar and tang chye (preserved vegetables), so the rest is up to the skills of the hawker.
While there are other variations elsewhere such as Bak Chor Mee or those added with sliced fishcakes, Xin Lu keeps theirs to just fishballs and noodles.
The fishballs are handmade in-store with saito fish (wolf herring) and yellowtail fish, resulting in old-school savour with supple bounciness and slight chewiness.
They are slightly larger than the usual – almost ping pong sized, and you may find them on the plainer side in terms of taste – but I think the richer seasoning in the noodles help balance it out.
Nothing too salty about the soup as well, keeping it plain and simple.
The mee pok even after being da bao still retained a good al dente bite, well tossed with the heavier sauces with pork lard and fried shallot fragrance.
Something to note is that the chilli sauce was on the spicier side, with quite even coating on every strand of noodles. Did bring back those memories of good-old days.
Xin Lu Teo Chew Fishball Noodle 新路潮洲鱼圆粿條面湯
159 Mei Ling Street, Mei Ling Food Centre #02-05, Singapore 140159
Opening Hours: 5:45pm – 3pm (Mon – Wed, Fri – Sun), Closed Thurs
Other Related Entries
10 Must-Try FISHBALL MEEPOK In Singapore
Ah Ter Teochew Fishball Noodles (Amoy Street Food Centre)
Hock Seng Choon Fish Ball Kway Teow Mee (Bedok South Food Centre)
Ru Ji Kitchen (Holland Drive)
Ah Seng Bak Chor Mee (Albert Food Centre)
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