Yong tau foo seems like a simple dish to execute well. Besides the easy part of choosing the beancurd and vegetables you want to have stuffed, the tricky part comes from the stuffing. Usually made with fish or meat paste, the stuffing has to be flavourful but just enough to accentuate the fresh-tasting ingredients it accompanies. Then there’s the sauce or soup that accompanies it, whether in the form of a hearty broth, sweet and chilli sauces or a luscious meat-based gravy. Well, we’ve got them all here in our round-up of the best places to get yong tau foo in Singapore.
Fu Lin is not the place to go if you’re looking for a healthy meal made of yong tau foo. Having been around since 1995, the establishment deep-fries the yong tau foo before slathering on the dark, minced meat-based sauce that amps up the moreish factor. The popularity has since allowed Fu Lin to expand beyond its East Coast location.
Fu Lin Tofu Yuen has multiple locations in Singapore
A family-owned and -operated business founded in 1097, Goldhill maintains handmaking the fish paste it uses to make the signature Hakka-style yong tau foo. And once you’re there, why not try the other Hakka dishes they have on the menu too?
299 Changi Rd, #299A, Singapore 419777
109 Yong Tau Foo is for those who work in central Singapore as it is within walking distance from Clarke Quay MRT. And if you’re looking for a more sinful alternative to the regular yong tau foo, get the popular laksa soup base.
90 Circular Rd, Singapore 049441
Jostled between the Chinatown Complex food haven is Xiu Ji. The popular hawker stall sells yong tau foo stuffed with house-made fish paste before the dish is topped with fried ikan bilis, adding both umami and crunch. Expect long queues though, or head there early to get it before it sells out.
335 Smith St, #02-88 Chinatown Complex, Singapore 050335
With four decades of experience under their belt, Hup Chong knows what they are doing when they make their Hakka yong tau foo from scratch with fish or meat paste. Have it in soup form or dry with the stall’s house-made chilli and sweet sauces.
124 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310124
Yong Xiang Xing is another Chinatown option for yong tau foo located in People’s Park Food Centre. It is another stall that can be recognised by the long lines of people waiting patiently for a bowl of yong tau foo stuffed with house-made fish paste. PS: Yong Xiang Xing is only open for three hours a day.
32 New Market Rd, #01-1084 People’s Park Food Centre, Singapore 050032
Founded in 1989, Tiong Bahru Yong Tao Hu tucked within the hipster enclave has been attracting hordes of customers with its comforting house-made yong tau foo. The bouncy and flavourful fishballs are another big draw and a must-have.
56 Eng Hoon St, #01-46, Singapore 160056
Beng Cheng is another place well-loved for its traditional Hakka Ampang yong tau foo. Beng Cheng’s special bean paste gravy is especially great with rice. And if you want to compare, walk over to Ngee Fou Ampang Yong Tou Fu nearby, which is another famous hawker selling the same foods.
922 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 787121
Xi Xiang Feng can be spotted easily amidst the crowd of stalls thanks to the long lines. They have nearly 40 options to pick from, making it challenging to make up your mind. But when it comes to the sauce, try the creamy and rich fan favourite laksa soup.
724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6, #01-23 Xi Xiang Feng Yong Tau Foo, Singapore 560724
We can’t do a round-up of Singapore’s top yong tau foo places without mentioning Koo Kee. After all, the brand, which has been around since 1954, has spawned many locations islandwide peddling the tried-and-true yong tau foo. Heck, they even sell it on Shopee if you don’t want to queue.
Koo Kee Yong Tow Foo Mee has multiple locations in Singapore
This article was originally published in Singapore Women’s Weekly.