To The Moon

This noon, my boss and I decided to make a pilgrimage to Havelock Road Hawker Centre to try the legendary Meng Kee Char Kway Teow. Being so close to Zion Riverside Food Centre, which is home to the famous Zion Char Kway Teow, I couldn't resist making a comparison in my mind even before the first bite.

Once we arrived, we naturally split the responsibilities. I took on the "critical" task of reserving a table while relaxing with my phone. Meanwhile, my boss, the true VIP of the operation was assigned the far more demanding mission of joining the famous queue. Thirty minutes later, after patiently waiting in line, he finally returned triumphantly with two plates of char kway teow.

The first thing that caught my eye was the cockles. They were impressively fresh, plump, and generously sized. Since I've never been a fan of fat, juicy cockles, I happily donated every single one to my boss. Needless to say, he had no complaints about receiving the bonus.

As for the char kway teow itself, it was undeniably flavourful. Ming Ji serves a very traditional, old-school style of char kway teow, with a fragrant wok hei and a nostalgic taste that many people would appreciate. It was a satisfying plate and easy to understand why it has built such a loyal following over the years.

That said, if I had to compare it with Zion's famous char kway teow, I would still give Zion a slight edge. Personally, I really enjoy the touch of fish sauce used in Zion's version, which adds an extra layer of savoury depth and makes the flavours pop a little more for my palate.

Overall, Ming Ji Char Kway Teow is still well worth the wait. If you're someone who appreciates a classic, traditional, old-school style of char kway teow with fresh ingredients and excellent wok hei, you'll probably love it. For me, Zion remains my personal favourite, but Meng Kee  is definitely a place I'd happily return to.