There is one specific brand of hawker food center that I usually go to whenever I want a good quality meal with a nicer ambience, and that is Koufu. I know hawker food is already everywhere in Singapore, but sometimes the dining environment also makes a difference. I like it when the place is bright, clean, and comfortable enough to enjoy my meal slowly instead of just rushing through dinner.
Recently, I found a Koufu branch in Woodlands North, so I purposely went there to have my dinner. This was actually my second time visiting this branch, and I was still excited because they have quite a lot of food stalls that I have not tried yet. Even though some stalls can be repetitive across different Koufu branches, I noticed that the quality and serving portions can still vary from one branch to another.
For this particular branch, I feel like the serving is more generous. Maybe because the location is not inside a busy shopping mall or a more expensive area, the pricing and portion somehow feel more worthwhile. That is just my observation, but as someone who loves a satisfying meal, I really appreciate it.
At first, I wanted to order from the Putian cuisine stall. Unfortunately, it was closed that day, so I had to quickly change my plan. I walked around and decided to try the Roasted Delights stall instead. Their display looked very tempting with all the glossy roasted meat hanging at the stall, and their menu had a good variety of roasted meat and soy sauce chicken.
Since I was quite hungry, I went straight for the trio set. It came with roasted pork, char siew, and soy sauce chicken, served with chicken oil-flavored rice. Just by looking at the plate, I already knew it was going to be a very satisfying meal LOL.
The presentation was actually nice. The meal was served on ceramic plates instead of disposable ones, which I think made the whole dining experience feel a little more elevated. It may sound like a small detail, but it really does make a difference. The rice came in a generous mound, the roasted meats were arranged neatly on a separate plate, and there was also a bowl of soup on the side.
I was also impressed by the side dishes. They gave me green chili pickles and chili paste as condiments, which are always perfect with roasted meat rice. The soup was also better than I expected because it had potato, carrots, and some meat in it. It was not just plain soup, which made it feel more thoughtful. At that point, I was already glad I picked this stall because I was really hungry haha.
The trio meat was the highlight, of course. The soy sauce chicken had a smooth and tender texture, with that savory-sweet glaze on the skin. The char siew was nicely caramelized, with a slightly smoky and sweet flavor. My favorite might be the roasted pork because of the crispy skin and juicy meat. It had that nice contrast of texture that makes every bite enjoyable.
What made the meal fun was the variety. I kept switching between the soy sauce chicken, char siew, and roasted pork, so the flavor never felt boring. One bite was sweet and smoky, the next was savory and tender, then suddenly crispy and rich. The condiments also helped add some zest and spice, especially the green chili pickles that cut through the richness of the meat.
The price was SGD 8.80, which is definitely more expensive compared to other hawker stalls selling similar roasted meat rice. It is not very cheap indeed. But considering the portion, the presentation, the soup, the condiments, and the overall quality, I think it still gave me satisfaction.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable dinner at Koufu Woodlands North. It was filling, flavorful, and comforting, exactly the kind of meal I wanted after a long day. I still want to go back and try the other stalls, especially the Putian cuisine stall when it finally opens.
