Bustling Chinatown

I have not gone to Chinatown during the CNY period since about 5 years ago. The last time I went was during my uni days. After tuition at SAD, the whole bunch of tutors went there for food, goodies shopping and to bustle in the spirits of CNY.

It is equally bustling, if not more. People crowd along the streets and by the various stalls set up between the rows of shop houses. The roads are decorated with lanterns, flowers, lightings, and auspicious greetings, similar to the Christmas decoration along Orchard Road. Long queues are still apparent in front of the famous bak kwa (roast pork slices) shops. Business is so prosperous that the bak kwas are sold out by four plus in the afternoon.

The tables in People’s Park Complex Food Centre are almost fully occupied. Queues formed in front of the more well-known stalls, like the Yong Tau Hu (not Ko Kee, but another one). Every stall attempts to capture your attention with excerpts from newspapers or TV where the stall has been featured for its delicacies.

Typically, we will observe the food ordered by other patrons before deciding if they are worth trying, rather than wholly driven by how many features the stalls have secured. We have settled for a salted fish meat-cake with rice, handmade noodles and the Shanghai xiao long bao. The handmade noodles are thinner than the normal noodles which we have seen elsewhere. They are springy without being too hard or starchy. The xiao long bao taste better than that of Crystal Jade’s or Din Tai Fung’s. They are scorching hot with ample soup. They are so hot that I accidentally scalded the front of my tongue when I tried one of them. The skin is soft without being too floury and the meat is succulent and melts in your mouth. The teh tarik is aromatic and soothing. It does not leave any stiff after-taste on your tongue.

Are you already salivating from what I have described above?

Chinatown has always been known for their food. There are three well-known food centres within walking distance of one another – Hong Lim, People Park’s Complex and Chinatown (currently under renovation). In addition, there are many other coffee shops, eateries which can be found among the shophouses. For the foodies, it is definitely an area not to be missed.