Mixed Rice | Ziggy

A mixed rice stall, sometimes known as an economic rice stall (as they are considered economical and cheap) refers to stalls that has a variety of food on display at the shop front and for us to select which items we want to go with a plate of rice. Smaller ones would have 10 odd items, while big ones would offer more than 30. Usually serves local Chinese dishes like sweet and sour pork, kung pao chicken, curry chciken etc.

Listed here would include stalls that offer maybe Peranakan or Indonesian dishes too, anything in the spirit of having different items on display for customers to pick and choose is included in this category.

Ordering is simple, just go up to them, tell them if it's to eat in or takeaway, then point at which items you want. Don't be shy to ask them what certain items are if you cannot identify the meat or vegetable! All items selected would be put on the plate with the rice.

If 2 or more are eating from the same stall, you can ask for selected food put on different plates separately so that everyone can share the items. Might be wiser to tell them to give 2 person portions (or 1 portion) for a arty of 3 so that you can order more dishes. Otherwise, each dish would come in portions enough for 3, in that case, you won't be able to order too many dishes.

Mixed Rice

Jun 2021

Delicious Indonesian style mixed rice stall. The food here definitely tastes better than it, or the stall looks!

A very popular stall at Bendemeer Food Centre during lunch time, the Q here had sneaked round to the back of this corner stall when I arrived at 1110am. There was 11-12 ahead of me and I waited 20 mins, quite a few multiple orders ahead of me.

There was white or yellow rice, I vaguely remember seeing blue rice with butterfly pea too but wasn’t asked. Selection here was not a lot. There was fish head or fish tail, fried section of fish, fried chicken, curry chicken, chicken chop and beef or mutton rendang. Vegetables, you get beansprout, lady’s fingers, lontong cabbage and cabbage. There were also some fish cakes and ngo hiang piled together at one corner.

I opted for the yellow rice, no regrets as it went very well with the rendang; I could imagine that it would not be as fragrant if I had ordered white rice.

We tried lontong cabbage, chicken chop, rendang mutton and beef, and the ngo hiang. The ngo hiang while not fantastic, was definitely above average. The cabbage went very well with the food, it was definitely pretty good.

Maybe it was a mixture of the cabbage and rendang curry, every mouthful of the rice, which was soaked in both curry, was excellent. Abundant fragrance, not spicy but delicious. It was not until we were halfway through our lunch before I stopped enjoying the food and asked my lunch partner, who equally couldn't stop eating, if the food was good, there was only one answer, excellent!

The chicken chop would likely get you at “hello”, love at first sight. I had initially wanted to try the curry chicken but when I saw it, there was no hesitation to change! Crispy and very tasty, it was scrumptious, one of the best chicken chop ever. The batter was thin and crispy fresh, uniquely delicious. Despite it being a takeaway order, the freshness and crisp retained 30 mins later.

The rendangs didn’t fill me with confidence when I saw it, but they exceptional too. The mutton one had a pretty strong mutton taste, good for mutton lovers. They looked tough and dry but were actually tender and juicy instead; kind of like me, looking tough and rough but having a tender heart… the rendang curry paired well with the mutton (and beef) too, not too gingery, with the rendang spices mixed perfectly to enhance the taste of the meat multifold.

It's funny, or probably more accurately, my lack of photography skills, I can't seem to take nice photos from this stall. The food definitely tastes better than it looks! As mentioned, like me......

The brilliant mixture of the curries from the cabbage and rendangs with the yellow rice will never be forgotten! I am sure I will have cravings and return.

Indonesian Curry Rice

29 Bendemeer Road, #01-49 Bendemeer Food Centre, s330029

1030am – 730pm, closed on Sat and Sun

https://www.facebook.com/ICR.SG

SinHuat

Mixed rice, tze char

May2021

Reputable restaurant that has a mixed rice stall, entertains Anthony Bourdain whenever he visited!

I first decided to try this very odd looking mixed rice stall at Sin Huat Restaurant, not knowing anything about its reputation. We were there because my friend had driven by, saw that the duck rice stall was popular and decided we should try. I didn’t want to go with the crowd and had mixed rice here instead. I was pretty impressed, had always wanted to return but have not until this second lockdown.

On offer were some unconventional items seldom seen at mixed rice stalls. I later realised this is the famous restaurant that entertained the late Anthony Bourdain. Rumour has it that he visited here with every visit.

History: I came here once in the younger days, with my BFF when he brought his Bristol mates here. He was good at picking strange places for great food, we were told to be patient and wait our turn for our orders to be taken by Chef Danny, and I will always remember the very interesting frog’s leg with Brand’s essence of chicken. I remember having to go through a wooden gate to the restaurant, maybe they have renovated; maybe my memory is not that great.

Here and now, choices here include curry and rendang chicken, rendang pork ribs, Taiwanese style pork belly, and pork belly in dark sauce, vinegar pork knuckle, what looks like pig skin and meat from pig’s head, whole boiled octopus, baby octopus, curry mutton, petai, steamed chicken and just sambal belachan.

Here’s my list of favourite items:

Otak
Pork Chop
Taiwanese Loo Rou (Taiwanese style pork belly, brown sauce)
Baby Octopus
Rendang Pork Ribs
Bitter Gourd
Otak
Curry Mutton
I heard the crab bee hoon here is excellent, yet to try it, think I did back in that visit
And finally, the Otak

Top of the list is the otak. Has to be the 2nd best otak I’ve ever tasted in Singapore. The first one isn’t quite the same as it comes with an entire fish, so this is the best otak I’ve tasted in paste form. Made fresh daily by the chef, meat from fish is used to make this; it is not cheap, $8 per slab that is slightly bigger than my iphone 7, but thicker. Orders can be in halves. Thick and tender, the taste of the otak is fresh and meaty, $8 is not cheap, but I’d treat myself with it now and then. $8 for an item at a mixed rice stall (sometimes termed an "economical ricestall", where $3-4 gets most people a meal) is not exactly within common budgets, but one can say this is worth it.

The vinegar pork knuckles is also quite decent, more sweet than sour, it doesn’t have an overpowering vinegar taste. I have never chosen bitter gourd from a mixed rice stall, who wants a bitter taste in your mouth, right? Came late once, it was the only roughage available…. Surprise! It was delicious, so soft and smooth, they were in danger of slipping straight down the throat; the big surprise was that it was sweet! I had to ask again if it was bitter gourd. In Chef Danny’s hands, they become sweet gourd!

Curry chicken and bitter gourd

Vinegar pork knuckles

Another very nice item is the pork chop. A very large piece of sweet and sour pork. Tender and tasty, the sweet and sour combination was perfect here. Meat is lean and the chop thin, but the texture was soft and tender with a good bite. A very easy and satisfying eat.

I would suggest the curry chicken instead of the rendang, curry was pretty good but the rendang chicken was a bit dry and salty. The baby octopus was nice and juicy, it almost felt like they melted in my mouth. This was well prepared and a wonderful tasty treat as its texture was soft yet crunchy with a very good bite. I have yet to try the full sized octopus but I’d bet that it would nicely boiled too.

Left and above: the pork chop, right: steamed baby squid

The rendang pork ribs were excellent, a big piece soft tender meaty pork rib coated in a non-spicy rendang sauce. The rib was as long as my palm, the only regret I have for trying this is that I will have one more choice to make in my next visit…

The Taiwanese Pork Belly, the one with the lighter brown sauce, tastes wonderful. Actually the one with the dark sauce is quite good too, but this is exceptional. Very happy the lady serving it was generous that evening when I ordered this and I had quite a scoop. The marinade for this is perfect, mildly sweet, very umami and nice salted.

Other worthy mentions would be the curry fish head (availability differs), and I have yet to try the crab bee hoon which I see is quite popular, and a famous dish people travel here for. Also the wobbly fish ball which is hand made.

The petai and curry mutton are both very tempting items seeking my attention whenever I'm there. The petai is not cheap, made the mistake of ordering the patai, otak and baby squid once and i had a $12 bill for an "economical rice" meal....

It is definitely a very interesting mixed ricw stall, I’d highly recommend this, if nothing else, the otak here is a must try, and the sweet tasting bitter gourd!

Curry fish head, patai and the wobbly fish balls

Other interesting items in pictures....

Left to right, top down:

Row 1 - assorted pig head and skin;Taiwan pork belly and pork slice;

Row 2 - steamed fish; chicken rendang;

Row 3 - pork chop, bitter gourd etc, rendang egg

Sin Huat Curry Fish Head

@ Sin Huat Seafood Restaurant

659-661 Lorong 35 Geylang, s389589

Daily 11am – 12am

Ocean

Mixed rice, curry fish head

Nov 2020

Big spread of delicious dishes to choose from! THE mixed rice stall in town.

My office used to be at Telok Ayer Street and this is a place I tried and liked, though I don’t usually visit, due to the intimidating Q, as well as the distance (despite being an animal in the football field – my own description, team mates might disagree… - I’m not too keen on walking "far" for lunch) as there are nearer places for food.

I have always been amazed by the variety of nice food on offer, and they all look delicious; they have this sambal cockles that I am always tempted to try even when I’m not a big cockles fan! Once a friend brought me to a nice place to eat at Toa Payoh, he ordered. When the food came, I told him that I will bring him to one place he will like as the food on offer seems similar and I was sure he’d like it. Turned out it’s the same Ocean when I asked for the name of the place! They have 3 outlets, Telok Ayer/Amoy, Toa Payoh and Bedok.

If there's a mixed rice stall you want to experience in Singapore, this would be top of my recommended list, can't think of many things not available here! And most dishes are top notch, way beyond average taste.

Telok Ayer Street

Toa Payoh

Bedok

Let's begin with the curry fish head since it’s in the name of the shop! This item is not on display, you would have to order it from a service staff. Nice and creamy, it has an appetising hint of sour to it, making it beautiful. The whole head would cost $40 at Toa Payoh and it should be good for 2-3 if you eat just that; $26 for half the head. In terms of curry, it is excellent. Don’t worry about waiting time if you’re in a hurry during lunch hour, the fish appears before you can finish reading your whatsapp messages…..

Curry Fish

Curry fish head

I made the mistake of ordering the sweet and sour pork rib and pork (gulao rou), they were similar in taste and texture, just one in small pieces, the other bigger! The vote would be for the pork pieces. Delicious and well glazed with sweet and sour sauce, it may not be of the crispy variety so you’ll be disappointed if you like your sweet and sour pork crispy. Alternatively, they have big pork chop piece which they would cut into bite size after you expressed interest, similar taste, equally delicious.

Sweet and sour pork chop

Sweet and sour pork rib

If you like petai (or smelly bean), this place offers a nice sambal petai; if you don’t know what it is and why it’s so called, it’s less when you eat it, more when you pee later. It has a nice soft crunch texture. Taste wise, it has a flat slightly ammonia taste, I kind of like it, especially with sambal, and I like it more when the pee comes out 😜😜😜 and no, I won’t smell my own pee like Ziggy would!

Sambal petai

The otak on offer was also decent, but the butter chicken was special. Creamy and very tasty, it was one of the best dishes from a mixed rice stall. Served inice big chunky chicken pieces, the cream was a wonderful mixture of nicely salted butter in your mouth mixed with the savoury chicken bites.

Other interesting items from Ocean is the mutton rendang and the sambal cockles, both of which are seldom seen in other places, and they are also delicious.

Ocean would be the mixed rice stall to go to in my opinion. There would always be a Q during peak hours but waits are never too long as service is prompt and efficient.

Variety

Otak

Butter chicken

Sambal chili

Ocean Curry Fish Head

- 92, #01-264 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, s310092 – 11am – 3pm, 430 – 9pm, closed alternate Tue

- 181, Telok Ayer Street, s068629 – 1030am – 3pm, 530 – 830pm, Sat 1030am – 3pm, closed on Sun

- 128 Bedok North Street 2, s460128 – Daily 11am – 8pm

http://www.oceancurryfishhead.com.sg/

TeckEe

Mixed Rice Stall

Dec 2020

At the corner of Telok Kurau Road and Changi Road T-junction, they are actually very prominent but not many talk about them when I mention the Kim San Leng here, other stalls seem to catch the attention or imagination. Despite this, they are quite popular.

Joo Chiat/Dunman Junction

Changi Road/Telok Kurau

What attracted me there was the interesting variety of food available. My first try were the ubiquitous sweet and sour pork, cabbage and pork belly with salted vegetables; while my boss had a sour plum sauce chicken, which was fantastic, plus spinach, all were good stuff! Subsequently tried the gung po chicken and it was good too, my colleagues whom I bought some takeaway for all agreed.

Sour plum chicken and spinach

Gung po chicken

Sweet & sour pork, pork belly with salted veg and cabbage

Sweet & sour pork and sour plum chcicken

Other dishes worth mentioning are the lemon fried fish, fried fish, doufu with minced pork and the otak.

Minced pork on doufu

Lemon chicken

Otak

My recent favourite would be the tomato omelette...

This will undoubtedly be a place I come to if I want to have a variety of dishes and not want to think too much, just point and pick your favourite comfort food. Price is very decent, $4.20 for 3 dishes of sweet and sour pork, gung po chicken and spinach. Definitely one of the best places in terms of price to quality!

One thing about Teck Ee, I'd advise avoiding their steamed fish, it's decent, but doesnt feel like the right choice there, especially considering they are premium products. The pork chop and otak are much better options for premium products.

Pork chop

Soy sauce chicken

There is another Teck Ee along Joo Chiat Road at the Dunman Road junction. It's the same company but both have their own chef cooking their dishes. Despite there being different chefs, the food there are generally similar, and just as good!

Joo Chiat/Dunman Junction

The excellent plum sauce chicken

Changi Road/Telok Kurau

A piece of steamed fish

Teck Ee Economic Vegetable Rice Porridge

Kim San Leng @ Changi Road

324T Changi Road, s419799

Daily 6am – 730pm

Babas

Mixed Rice, Peranakan

Jan 2021

Tucked in a small corner of the mazy Chinatown Complex, when I first saw it I wondered if people actually would visit this corner and how its business would be amongst the 260 stalls. Seems like I didn’t have to fret for them as business is brisk, once I came here again at 110pm and they were pretty much sold out…

This is a mixed rice stall and all the dishes are cooked by the owner uncle, Mr. Tan, who is a Baba, or Peranakan (Straits Chinese, males are fondly called Babas). The items are not the typical Peranakan dishes but they have a Peranakan twist and are quite different in taste from the usual mixed rice stall, and they are fabulous.

There are not too many choices here, but those available are all very nice. The fish cake is subtle and unusual, with a soft and tasty core and well made, fried fresh daily, the chives and onions in the fish cake gives it a fragrance and taste that is unusual and delicious.

The fried bean curd also has a subtle curry flavour and wonderful, it is served with a little bit of curry and mixed with long beans and tempeh, a fermented soy cake. Tempeh are cut about the same size as the bean curd, it is crunchier than bean curd, so that you get a mix of crunch or soft with each mouthful. The otak has a different flavour to it from the usual, made by Mr. Tan himself, it has a subtle gingery taste and each otak is packed full of fragrant ingredients.

The curry chicken come with the whole thigh and drumstick. It come in a nice and curious diluted and almost pinkish curry. The curry flavour is also very subtle, feels a little bit diluted but it is very tasty and satisfying. It is creamy enough but not too strong, more like a soup than a curry. When they ask if you want curry with your rice, go for it! I think the next time I visit, I will bring my own utensils, save the environment and all that, and I will bring a 1 litre bowl for this dish!

This has become my favourite curry chicken! I have cravings for it so often!

Fried chicken or fish, they both have a good taste to it, they are not fried with any batter so it’s just the meat with some marinade. They have a subtle curry flavour which is nice, and the outer parts are nice and crispy enough, so it is quite good. It is a bit on the dry side, so given a choice, I’d have the curry chicken, which is fabulicious.

The last 2 items are pretty common stuff at most mixed rice stall but those on offer here do actually stand out. Omelette and cabbage. The cabbage comes with or without curry, after tasting both, I’d go with the curry one! The omelette has onions in it which gives it abundance fragrance and is delicious, something different from the usual plain ones. Another item that I crave for. The first time the boss came here, she bit into the omeletter and wanted a second piece! she went on to order another omelette and gave me half her chicken! To this day I'm still wondering who had the better deal! hahahah

Brought my friend here for late breakfast at 945, he was so impressed, he said he didn’t mind coming back for lunch! And he is known for not repeating things, maybe we will be back the next day….

One year after the review, I can say that this is probably the most visited place for me, and everyone I have brought here has been impressed. Most impressed is their humble omelette. The boss was so impressed with the omelette, she gave me half her chicken and ordered another instead!

Babas Peranakan

335 Smith Street, #02-225 Chinatown Complex, s030335

9am – 130pm, closed on Wed