I haven’t eaten fishball noodles for a long time because I find it very difficult to find good fishball noodles these days and there are so many other more delicious hawker food to try which won’t disappoint.
I’ve seen Thye Hong Handmade Fishball Noodles stall at Ghim Moh Food Centre many times but have always dismissed it because its signboard has no pictures, and being a millennial, I need pictures! What eventually drew my attention to this stall were the words ‘Handmade Fishball Noodles‘.
Since then, I have been wanting to try these noodles but it has a long queue during the weekends and it only opens for half-day on days it is opened. It also closes on some random days (which I’ve learned from the regulars is because of Uncle’s health condition).
When I finally got to eat at this stall, I told the uncle that I’ve been waiting for so long to eat his fishball noodles but always gave up when I saw the queue. The uncle is a jolly and friendly fellow and he laughed and said, “Aiyo! Uncle make very fast one! You don’t have to wait very long even if there’s long queue!”
Thye Hong Handmade Fishball Noodles has been a one-man show ever since Uncle’s wife passed away some years back. Uncle is indeed very fast, considering he works alone, but if you come during peak hour, you will still need to wait for around 15 to 20mins in the queue. I observed that Uncle will ask the elderly to sit down at a table to wait and will let them know or serve them himself when their noodles are ready. This is one hawker stall with a lot of 人情味 (heart and warmth).
Thye Hong Handmade Fishball Noodles is one of the stalls that is already lit up and buzzing with preparation work at early dawn. Business officially starts at 6am and even when it is this early, Uncle has a joyful smile on his face, ready to serve you!
I chose Mee Kia (thin noodles) this time after seeing how delicious it looked when a customer before me collected his bowl of Fishball Mee Kia Noodles from the uncle.
Pork lard added to anything really improves flavour and makes it more fragrant. Mixed with chopped spring onions, lard oil, vinegar, soy sauce and chilli, these springy noodles are a joy to slurp!
Looking at the irregularly-shaped fishballs really made me excited to try them! These handmade fishballs are really a craft of passion!
The fishballs were supple, sweet and seasoned to be slightly salty. There was also no fishy taste – a testament to the fresh yellowtail fish used!
Uncle has been selling fishball noodles since 1977 from a pushcart until the government made all street hawkers sell their food in a food centre. Ghim Moh Food Centre has many stalls which have been around for a long time. These hawkers are getting old but still wake up early in the morning almost everyday serving their regular and new customers with gusto.
Knowing Uncle has a health condition but still go about his daily work with joy really makes me respect him a lot! His other brothers also sell noodles, with one of his younger brothers just beside him selling lor mee.
I don’t know if this is the best fishball noodles in Singapore but I do crave for Uncle’s fishball noodles sometimes. If you stay or work around this area and are looking for a good traditional bowl of fishball noodles, come support Uncle at his stall! You will not be disappointed!
What’s special:
- Yellowtail fishballs and fishcakes hand-moulded freshly every morning.
- Traditional fishball noodles since 1977!
What to Order:
- Dry Fishball Noodles with chilli, $3/$4/$5 Uncle makes his own chilli which is really rather spicy but shiok!
What to Skip:
- If you don’t want to eat fishball noodles, then skip this stall. Haha
Thye Hong Handmade Fishball Noodles, Ghim Moh Food Centre
Address: 20 Ghim Moh Rd, #01-36, Singapore 270020
Telephone Number: NIL
Nearest MRT Station: Buona Vista
Opening hours:
Sun to Wed, 6am to 2pm, or until sold out (which is usually way before 2pm)
Closed on Thursdays (and adhoc days as the Uncle’s health isn’t too well T^T)
These foods look delicious and fresh, are they foods that have been around for a long time?
Yes indeed! This uncle has been selling his fishball noodles since I was a kid! And I was a kid like 30 years ago. haha!