Yesterday was another good day for a cycling and food adventure! Since Geylang Bahru is only a few minutes away from me by bicycle, I decided to head there and reward myself with a nice and satisfying dinner after cycling around.
Of course, whenever I'm in this area, I wouldn't miss the chance to eat at Geylang Bahru Hawker Centre. There are quite a number of stalls here that have become my favorites over the years, so deciding where to eat can sometimes be a challenge, LOL.
But one stall that's definitely near the top of my list is Sheng Ji Soya Sauce Chicken Rice / Noodles.
One thing that caught my attention about this stall is that they have been endorsed by Food King. Over here, Michelin recognition is often considered a good indication of whether a place serves good food, but there are also local food personalities who have earned the trust of many people. So whenever I see one of those familiar recommendation stickers at a hawker stall, my expectations immediately go higher hahaha!
For my dinner, I ordered their Soya Sauce Chicken Noodles.
Unfortunately, I completely forgot to tell the auntie not to add chili paste. My stomach was feeling a little acidic yesterday, so spicy food wasn't exactly what I needed. My solution? Order an additional plate of rice! LOL.
My plan was simple: I would eat the parts of the noodles that weren't covered in chili and use the rice to compensate so I could still have a filling dinner.
But then the aunties surprised me.
Instead of giving me plain rice, they generously added several slices of Char Siew on top! Suddenly my table looked like I had ordered enough food for two people even though I originally just wanted chicken noodles, hahaha.
And they weren't finished being generous either.
The order also came with a small bowl of soup with a dumpling in it. I really appreciate little extras like this because they make a simple hawker meal feel much more satisfying. Perhaps this generosity is also one reason why this stall seems to have a queue so often. Give people tasty food and a little extra, and they'll definitely remember you!
The noodles themselves were perfectly cooked, with that nice springy texture that I enjoy. They were coated in a flavorful sauce that made every bite savory and satisfying. The soya sauce chicken was another highlight. The slices were moist and tender, and I especially liked how the sauce soaked into the chicken and noodles without completely overpowering them.
Then there were the pickled green chilies.
Yes, I know I was trying to avoid chili because of my stomach... but I still couldn't resist adding a few pieces, LOL. The sourness from the pickled chilies added another layer of flavor and made the whole dish even more interesting. Sometimes that little bit of acidity and crunch is exactly what a rich, savory noodle dish needs.
Overall, this turned into a much bigger dinner than I expected, but I'm definitely not complaining. Good noodles, tender chicken, unexpected Char Siew, soup, and some pickled chilies on the side—what more could I ask for after cycling?
Another satisfying hawker food adventure completed!
Bon appetit!
