10 places for comforting, handcrafted mee hoon kueh in Singapore
On days when we’re craving a warm bowl of noodles to comfort our souls, we gravitate towards the classic, old-fashioned mee hoon kueh — a traditional local dish comprising chewy, hand-torn flat noodles steeped in a light, flavourful broth.
For those who’re not quite acquainted with it, you can think of mee hoon kueh as a close sibling of the cult-favourite ban mian (pan mee), another handmade noodle variation that’s also served in an umami-rich soup.
But while ban mian comprises of strands of noodles that are uniform in size and shape, mee hoon kueh features noodles torn into chunky, flat pieces. Opinions vary as to which is the “better” of the two, but for this writer herself very much prefers the former, for its firmer texture and more satisfying bite — just the way we like our noodles.
If you’d like to try this local dish for yourself, we do have a handful of mee hoon kueh stalls in Singapore to recommend! Here’s our round-up of spots well-known for their handcrafted mee hoon kueh — they’re not just our top picks, but they’re also highly raved about by the foodie community, so you’re in for a treat!
1. Seletar Sheng Mian & Mee Hoon Kway
Mutiple outlets islandwide.
Open: Opening hours vary across outlets.
Why visit? First up on our list is Seletar Sheng Mian & Mee Hoon Kway — if you’re a mee hoon kueh connoisseur, chances are, you’ve visited its outlets and sampled its fare. Its not uncommon for mee hoon kueh lover to make a beeline for their nearest outlet early in the morning, right when the shutters are rolled up — all for a bowl of freshly made noodles.
If you’re wondering about its origins and why it’s so beloved — Seletar Sheng Mian & Mee Hoon Kway is a long-standing family business that has its roots in the now-demolished Seletar Hills Market & Food Centre, hence its name.
After the stall shuttered, the eldest brother set up a new shop at a hawker centre in Toa Payoh Lorong 8, in a bid to continue the family’s time-honoured mee hoon kueh legacy. His younger brother subsequently followed suit.
As of today, there are three outlets islandwide, all of which boast the same flavours and quality of noodles that the brand is reputed for. Long queues, especially during the lunch crunch, are a common sight, so you’ll have to swing by early if you’d like to get your hands on a bowl.
Crowd favourite: The signature mee hoon kueh with soup (from S$5) is our go-to order when we’re at the stall.
It’s heaped with ingredients, such as prawns, an egg and leafy greens, atop chewy sheets of mee hoon kueh. They all pair with the savoury soup perfectly, making for a great dish to savour on a cold, rainy day.
2. L32 Handmade Noodles
Mutiple outlets islandwide.
Open: Opening hours vary across outlets.
Why visit? L32 Handmade Noodles is another mee hoon kueh stall in Singapore that’s earned a stellar reputation for its handcrafted noodles. For those who reside in the east, you’re probably familiar with the brand — most of its outlets are located in the eastern region, save for its newst stall in the north-east.
We first stumbled upon the stall in Geylang (this is its most popular branch, too) by accident — we were craving a soupy bowl of mee hoon kueh, and came across the bustling store as we strolled down the streets.
As you step in, you’ll be greeted by the sight of staff fastidiously whipping up bowls of noodles for their hungry, eager-eyed diners. We observed that the crunch only slowly ebbed towards the late afternoon and understand that come evening, the crowd will pick up again — a testament to how sought-after its fare is.
Crowd favourite: There are a ton of options on L32 Handmade Noodles’ menu, but you can’t go wrong with the signature pork noodles with mee hoon kueh (S$5). We prefer to have this with soup, as the tender slices of pork complement the richness of the light broth well.
3. Jiak Mee
514 Bishan Street 13
Open: Monday to Sunday (8.30am to 8.30pm)
Kimly Coffeeshop, 01-01, 322 Sumang Walk
Open: Monday to Sunday (8am to 8pm)
925 Yishun Central 1, 01-249
Open: Monday to Sunday (9.30am to 9.30pm)
Why visit? When Jiak Mee first opened its doors earlier this year, it quickly made headlines on the news. This mee hoon kueh stall in Singapore is the brainchild of a young 20-year-old trio — Kelvin Ching, Gerald Lee and Tan Kuan Feng, who are in the midst of their university studies.
While most would shy away from the hawker life, the boys are actually well-acquainted with the F&B industry, having worked part-time for Kelvin’s parents’ hawker chain: Traditional Handmade Mee Hoon Kueh.
It was with their encouragement that the boys decided to start an offshoot of the mee hoon kueh business — hence the birth of Jiak Mee. If you haven’t been to the stall yet, it features the same menu and recipes that you can find at Traditional Handmade Mee Hoon Kueh.
The only difference between the two is that the former has a groovier image — it’s helmed by a band of Gen-Zs, after all.
Crowd favourite: The traditional mee hoon kueh comes in both soup and dry versions, but we prefer the latter (S$5.30). It’s a best-seller at Jiak Mee, and rightfully so!
The dish sees bouncy wedges of mee hoon kueh doused in a dark, umami-rich sauce, and it’s crowned with a smattering of ingredients: Minced meat, egg, shallots and greens. Mix them all together, and you get a creamy, savoury combination chock-full of textures and flavours.
4. Ah Yi Handmade Noodle & Fish Soup
Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre, 01-66, 4 Woodlands Street 12
Open: Friday to Wednesday (8am to 8pm)
Why visit? If you’re a regular at Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre, then you’ll be familiar with Ah Yi Handmade Noodle & Fish Soup — one of the most beloved stalls there. A family-run business, it specialises in fish soup and handcrafted noodles cooked to a perfect al dente.
The mee hoon kueh (from S$4) is a highlight here, as it’s prepared from scratch daily for the best freshness and quality. This results in a firm, chewy buoyancy that’s synonymous with the traditional mee hoon kueh dishes that we know and love.
Crowd favourite: Adding to Ah Yi Handmade Noodle & Fish Soup’s charm is the option to pair your noodles with slices of its signature fish meat, at an additional S$2.
You get the best of both worlds — succulent chunks of fish meat atop al dente mee hoon kueh noodles, which is a classic combination that will comfort the soul.
5. Sky JB Mian Fen Kueh
Old Airport Road Food Centre, 01-39, 51 Old Airport Road
Open: Saturday to Thursday (10am to 10pm)
KS21 Coffeeshop, 205 Sims Avenue, Lorong 21A Geylang
Open: Sunday to Friday (8am to 9.30pm)
Why visit? Another mee hoon kueh stall in Singapore that’s highly recommended by regulars is Sky JB Mian Fen Kueh. Located at Old Airport Road Food Centre, it’s owned by a husband-wife duo, who both hail from Johor Bahru.
What sets Sky JB Mian Fen Kueh’s offerings apart from the other places on this list is that its handmade noodles come in a trio of unique flavours: Pumpkin, spinach and original (for those who are sticklers of tradition).
When it comes to mee hoon kueh dishes in Singapore, the pumpkin- and spinach-flavoured noodles are definitely lesser-seen variations, so we’d recommend that you give them a try when you’re here. And if you enjoy bold flavours in your soup, you can also opt for the noodles to be served in a spicy, curry or tom yum broth.
Crowd favourite: Don’t sleep on the pumpkin mee hoon kueh (from $5), which is one of the bestsellers at the stall. We find it goes well with the classic broth — the noodles are imbued with the fragrance and sweetness of the pumpkin, which adds richness to the light soup.
6. Banting Traditional Cuisine
223 River Valley Road
Open: Monday to Friday (8am to 5pm) and Sunday (8am to 3pm)
Why visit? If you happen to be in the central region and are looking for lunch alternatives, pop by Banting Traditional Cuisine — it’s another famed mee hoon kueh stall in Singapore known for its handmade noodles.
It’s owned by a friendly couple from Kuala Lumpur, who both take great pride in serving quality noodle dishes. They also prepare their ingredients by hand, right down from the noodles and fried shallots to its chilli — so you know that the folks are serious about their craft.
Crowd favourite: The mee hoon kueh (S$5) is what the customers return time and time again for, and it’s a dish that continues to convert those new to the brand from the first mouthful. The hand-torn noodles are cooked al dente, and are served in a comforting, sweet broth, as opposed to an umami-forward soup. The price is also affordable, and you get a good ratio of ingredients to noodles.
7. Top 1 Home Made Noodle
Beauty World Food Centre, 04-44, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday and Tuesday, Thursday to Saturday (11am to 6.30pm)
514 Geylang Road
Open: Monday to Saturday (11.30am to 9pm)
Why visit? If you’re a huge ban mian fan, you’ve probably have already heard of Top 1 Home Made Noodle at Beauty World Food Centre. You’d also know hard it is to get your hands on a bowl there.
Its reputation isn’t unfounded — even before the stall is open for business at 11.30am, there are already long, snaking queues formed, with many loyal customers eager to sample its goods. It is unsurprising that its noodle dishes sell out quickly, and those who arrive later in the day are likely to return home empty-handed.
The main draw of Top 1 Home Made Noodle is undoubtedly because of its customisable menu, which allows you to pick your choice of noodles, soup base (or none) and main ingredient. You can also request to heap on additional ingredients at an extra cost.
Crowd favourite: The dry mee hoon kueh (S$4.50) is our usual go-to order when we’re here, but the other noodle dishes in their dry variations are equally as delicious. Every ingredient is full of flavour, and the noodles thoroughly soak up the savoury house-made sauce that’s served in the dry-style dishes.
8. China Whampoa Home Made Noodle
Multiple outlets islandwide.
Open: Opening hours vary across outlets.
Why visit? When it comes to comfort fare, China Whampoa Home Made Noodle is one of the go-to places for tantalising handmade noodles that will warm the soul. It’s a family-run business with three outlets under its wing, though the branch at Whampoa Drive, which bears its titular namesake, remains the most popular.
The noodles are made fresh daily at one location, before it’s distributed to the other outlets. This way, the taste and texture of the noodles remain consistent, and diners are treated to the same familiar flavours that they’re accustomed to when they’re here.
China Whampoa Home Made Noodle also sells a trio of take-home chilli condiments that are crafted with a secret housemade recipe: Original red garlic chilli (S$6), pineapple chilli (S$7) and lime green chilli (S$7) — all of which are specially formulated to complement the savouriness of the noodles.
Note that the availability of the condiments differs across outlets.
Crowd favourite: Seafood lovers shouldn’t miss the star item: homemade noodles with prawns (from S$5). It’s generously topped with a smorgasbord of ingredients, which include succulent prawns, mani cai (sayur manis) and even anchovies.
Add in a pinch of chilli for that extra kick of spice, which adds a new layer of flavour to the dish.
9. Prince Noodles
Multiple outlets islandwide.
Open: Opening hours vary across outlets.
Why visit? Enjoy freshly made, hand-pulled noodles at Prince Noodles, an affordable eatery in town that dishes up authentic KL-style noodles (or as they call it, pan mee).
The menu here is straightforward, with only three varieties to choose from: Ban mian, you mian and mee hoon kueh. You can savour the noodles with a soup, or without — though we find that the latter is preferable, as you get to relish the noodles in its unadulterated, savoury glory.
The noodles are coated in an umami-forward sauce, which gives them a velvety richness that’s oh-so-addictive. You won’t even need to add any condiments to the dish, as it already touts a strong, flavour-filled punch.
Crowd favourite: The dry handmade mee hoon kueh (from S$6) is our pick at Prince Noodles, as it features chunky sheets of noodles doused in a dark, flavourful gravy. Mix it with the minced pork and ooey-gooey egg, and the result is a creamy, slurp-worthy bowl of noodles.
10. Chilli Pan Mee (Batu Road)
Far East Square, 22 China Street
Open: Monday to Friday (10am to 8.30pm), Saturday and Sunday (10am to 7.30pm)
Why visit? If you’re following on the trail of pan mee places, then Chilli Pan Mee (Batu Road) should be next on your list of must-visit mee hoon kueh eateries in Singapore.
Originating from Malaysia, the famed noodle brand is also known as Restoran Super Kitchen Chilli Pan Mee there, and has multiple outlets under its wing. It landed on our shores in 2018, and this China Street spot marks its first and only international store overseas.
Chilli Pan Mee (Batu Road) utilises the same recipe as its other sibling outlets in Malaysia, so you can expect super legit KL-style chilli pan mee when you’re there. Each noodle dish is adorned with a medley of classic ingredients, such as minced meat, fried shallots and deep-fried pork lard.
Crowd favourite: We’d opt for the mee hoon kueh (from S$8.50) in its dry version — the noodles are cooked perfectly firm and chewy. Give it a good stir, until every piece is delightfully coated in its signature robust sauce for that hit of flavour.
Hungry for more? Read our guides on the top places for Japanese food, and where to savour the best steaks in town. For the latest eats, check out the newest openings in Singapore here.
All places, except for Seletar Sheng Mian & Mee Hoon Kway and Top 1 Handmade Noodle, are on the GrabFood Delivery Service and offer free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited.
You can also book a ride to these stalls for a bowl of comforting mee hoon kueh in Singapore.
Do explore the GrabFood Dine Out service for awesome deals.
