With over 260 stalls to choose from at Chinatown Complex Food Centre, I decided to try YouFu Fried Hokkien Mee because the queue was surprisingly short — almost non-existent — even though it was peak lunch hour.
The stall offers Hokkien Mee in three sizes: $5 for small, $7 for medium, and $9 for large. I went with the $5 portion and waited less than 10 minutes before my plate was served piping hot.
The dish featured the classic mix of two noodles — yellow vermicelli and white bee hoon — topped with slices of pork belly, two small prawns, and several crispy bits of pork lard. Sadly, there was no squid, which is a common (and welcome) addition in many Hokkien Mee versions.
What struck me immediately was the incredible wok hei — that smoky, fiery aroma straight from the wok. It was exceptionally deep and aromatic, a clear sign of real skill of the person behind the stove. This was the wet-style Hokkien Mee I love, and the wok hei hit me right from the first bite. The noodles were cooked perfectly, soaking up every drop of the rich, savoury prawn broth to deliver layers of sublime flavour.
The ingredients were top-notch too. The pork belly slices were tender yet pleasingly chewy, the prawns fresh with that satisfying snap, and little flecks of egg mixed through the noodles added a subtle sweetness that I often find missing elsewhere. Those small pieces of pork lard? They were the secret weapon — lending an irresistible richness that made every mouthful downright addictive.
YouFu Fried Hokkien Mee is hands-down one of the best I’ve tasted so far. No surprise it’s famous for drawing long queues every day at its Chinatown stall. I got lucky with the quick service, but it’s definitely worth a visit — just aim to go early and beat the lunch rush!
Ratings:
Noodles: 7.5/10
Savoriness: 9/10
Taste: 10/10
YouFu Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle(Chinatown outlet)
Chinatown Food Centre #02-186, 335 Smith St, Singapore 050335
Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 10:30am – 8pm; Closed Sun
