Hotel 81 Palace - NEWLY RENOVATED

This kway chap stall serves the broad rice noodles with pork belly, trotters, intestine, tripe and dried tofu braised in a spiced soy-based marinade. Noodles are thin and silky; braised pork and tofu impart deep flavours and aromas.

This stall has been serving just one item since opening its doors in 1960 – Hokkien fried mee with prawns. The egg noodles and rice vermicelli are tossed in a rich broth made with prawn shells and tomalley to impart deep umami.

Fried kway teow comes in two portion sizes and black and white varieties. Both feature good wok hei and silky texture. Bean sprouts, egg, preserved sausage and blood clams provide extra flavours.

In operation for over 70 years, this place serves aromatic dry prawn mee in sambal with heaps of fried scallion and depth. The soup version has a prawn broth loaded with natural umami. Choose from three kinds of noodles.

The second-generation owner-chef makes every dish according to traditional recipes for guaranteed authenticity. The concise menu only features 13 items, but seasonal dishes, not on the menu, are also available. The chef’s signature dish, sweet and sour pork, is made to order, so expect to wait. The ginger chicken is simply divine – tender chicken glazed in a mild chilli sauce alongside zesty pickled ginger shoots. Also, try the kale with prawns.

Noodles are cooked-to-order with nicely layered flavours and textures in every bite. Crispy dried plaice, fluffy cracklings, and tender pork liver are all meticulously prepared. Expect to queue any time of the day.

Fried rice vermicelli with crab, available for dinner, is the main event. The gigantic crab is loaded with seafood flavour; the vermicelli pick up the juices nicely, exuding scallion, ginger and chilli aromas. The other seafood dishes are also tasty.