Fernvale has got a new hawker centre and it's situated within a community centre. Designed to accommodate families and large groups, the well-ventilated dining space has got plenty of tables catering to different group sizes – the largest round table sits up to eight. For those who enjoy a little cooking at home, there's also a wet market around the back. Whether you’re craving nasi goreng, carrot cake, mutton biryani or even fried porridge, you can easily find them all under one roof among these 28 stalls.
Here's what we tried
Seng Hiang Bak Chor Mee (#03-07)
Bedok 85's famed bowl of soupy goodness is worth your every cent. But first, you'll have to join the snaking queue. Once the wait is over, you'll be treated to a worthy bowl filled with five bouncy meatballs, fluffy minced meat, springy noodles and a fragrant soup flavoured with heaps of garlic. Starting from just $4.50 a bowl, there's really nothing much to whine about. Right, maybe just the queues. Want your bowl faster? Try arriving before 12pm during lunch and 6pm during dinner to beat the rush hour crowd.
Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh and Fried Porridge (#03-01)
Fried Porridge (from $5) is all the craze right now and the guys at Feng Xiang know just that. The robust dish has got a ton of braised meat flavours and umami in each silky spoonful where hints of pork lard still linger. While many claim a certain smokiness from the wok hei, we didn't get any. No matter, because the signature crispy pork belly cutlet was sheer decadence, boasting a distinct fermented savouriness that paired nicely with the porridge. Yes, the red-hued marinade may be top secret but we thought we tasted prawn paste and five spices. There is also a lime-forward chilli that helps to refresh your tastebuds every once in a while. Overall, it is still a comforting dish to enjoy on a cool evening.
Song Zhou Fried Carrot Cake (#03-27)
Hailing from Bedok Interchange Food Centre, this charismatic hawker isn't one for indecisive diners. That is because they don't serve mixed orders of white and black carrot cakes (from $3.20). Well, you can't always have the best of both worlds. But fret not, there is one clear contender. Skip the unexpectedly bland white and order yourself a nice hearty plate of black carrot cake. One whiff and the aroma of the dark soy sauce will overcome your senses. The distinct caramel flavours stick to each luscious morsel while boasting a fierce wok hei. This comes highly recommended.
Saudagar Penyek (#03-21)
There are a handful of Muslim-friendly options but this action-packed stall stood out. Think of loud clanking woks, fast-moving plates, and the constant smashing of crispy fried chicken – it's sure to attract all foodies alike. Instead of the aromatic white rice, we indulged in the nasi goreng ($7.20), a fiery plate that kicked up a party in our mouths. On the side is a sweet onion-laced sambal that provided some balance to the heat. It is topped off with the juicy fried chicken, impressively well-seasoned with strong hints of lemongrass, making for a satisfying meal that's bang for your buck too.
Munchi Pancake (#03-04)
This Min Jiang Kueh stall introduces a modern take on the classic treat where charcoal and matcha-flavoured pancakes thrive. Apart from the classic peanut and coconut fillings, trendy crowd-pleasers range from Lotus Bischoff, Belgium Chocolate, Oreo Cheesecake to even Thai Milk Tea. It makes the perfect treat for sweet tooths so save some space for dessert or takeaway after your meals.
While you're there, you might spot familiar names such as Hock Hai (Hong Lim) Curry Chicken Noodle, Whitley Road Big Prawn Noodle, Amoy Street Lor Mee and Xin Xin Claypot Rice – be sure to give them a try. It is about time Sengkang New Town had some nosh that's worth travelling down for. And don't worry about stuffing yourself silly, Seletar Mall is just a short stroll away so you'll be able to walk it all off in no time.
