Singapore - updated 3 Nov 2026 -
One of the pleasures of living in Singapore is discovering good hawker food within walking distance from home. On this occasion, I made my way on foot to Chong Boon Market & Food Centre to try 453 Prawn Noodle, a stall serving up one of Singapore’s classic hawker favourites.
The prawn broth was the highlight, delivering a rich umami flavour with a smooth texture and fragrant prawn aroma. I ordered the chor bee hoon (thick rice vermicelli), which paired nicely with the flavourful soup and soaked up its savoury goodness.
However, the ingredients were rather minimal, with just one prawn cut into two, a few slices of lean pork and some bean sprouts. While the broth was enjoyable, I wished the portion of ingredients had been more generous.
Yu Kee House of Braised Duck (#01-28) serves up a tasty and satisfying bowl of dried duck noodles that offers good value for money at just $4. The noodles were delicious, coated in a savoury sauce that complemented the rich flavours of the braised duck.
The portion was decent, with a nice serving of noodles and duck meat that made for a fulfilling meal without burning a hole in the pocket. The tender, flavourful duck paired well with the noodles, making every mouthful enjoyable.
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Today, I decided to take a little lunch adventure to Chong Boon Market & Food Centre.
The name was carried over from the old Chong Boon Chinese School, a village school that served the local community during the area's kampong (village) days.
Getting there was surprisingly easy — I hopped on Bus 45, and just about 15 minutes later, I arrived at this neighbourhood hawker centre. Sometimes the best food discoveries are just a short bus ride away!
My first stop was 339 AMK Carrot Cake, also known as Sheng Fa Ji, located at #01-14. The stall, run by Mr. Tan Bak Seah, is known for its soft and flavourful carrot cake and a rather potent chilli sauce. I went for the smallest plate at just $4.
The carrot cake was soft, savoury and satisfying, with the chilli adding a nice kick. For a simple plate of fried carrot cake, it certainly started my lunch on a good note.
Next, I tried 453 Fish Soup, where the Batang fish soup cost $5.50. Unfortunately, this was the disappointing dish of the day. I love Batang fish, and having eaten plenty of fresh Batang over the years, I can usually tell when the fish has been frozen and thawed. The meat here did not taste particularly fresh and lacked the firm, clean texture I look for in fresh Batang. Sadly, this bowl did not meet my expectations.
To finish lunch, I headed over to Lucky Soya Bean Milk at #01-26 and ordered bean curd for dessert. This was a much better ending with a smooth, silky and delicious curd. It was exactly what I needed after the disappointing fish soup.
Overall, it was a mixed lunch experience: good carrot cake, disappointing fish soup, and a very enjoyable bean curd to finish.
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