8 underrated min jiang kueh stalls across Singapore
We’ve noticed a trend recently — there’s a growing popularity among the younger crowd for all things traditional and local.
There’s the ang ku kueh, ban mian and Chinese desserts such as tang yuan. The min jiang kueh, too, has been seeing a growing fan base.
These traditional pancakes, typically stuffed with peanut filling, have been reimagined by the younger generation to incorporate more modern flavours such as matcha and lotus biscoff, fusing the old with the new.
Still, when the min jiang kueh craving hits, it’s not easy to find one off the top of your head. We’ve curated a list of favourites across the island, so you can indulge in your favourite snack wherever you are.
1. Tanglin Halt Original Peanut Pancake
48A Tanglin Halt Road, Stall 16
Open: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday (3.30am to 11.30am)
Why visit? We’re aware of the painfully short (and early) opening hours, but trust us when we say that the pancakes from Tanglin Halt Original Peanut Pancake are well worth the trouble. Operated by an elderly couple since the 1980s, it touts long queues and often sells out early.
The early wake-up call will be worth it when you sink your teeth into the stall’s thick and chewy pancake dough (made with the owner’s homemade natural yeast).
Price range: $
Crowd faves: The titular peanut pancake (90 cents) is an obvious must-try. It has generous amounts of toasted, ground peanuts that are mixed with small bits of sugar to give the filling a sweeter taste. If you arrive early enough, try its black sesame peanut pancake (S$1.30) that comes in a circle.
2. Munchi Pancakes
Various outlets across Singapore
Open: Operating hours vary across stores
Why visit? Munchi is fast becoming a convenient stop for min jiang kueh cravings due to its rapid expansion. With six outlets scattered across the island, it’s impressive how Munchi Pancakes maintains its standards. It’s popular amongst the younger crowds for its unique flavours and colourful, eye-catching pancakes.
Price range: $
Crowd faves: The black sesame min jiang kueh (S$1.80) and biscoff min jiang kueh (S$1.90) are some of the most popular flavours among the younger crowd. Its munchi pancakes (from S$1.60), which come in the shape of a circle stuffed with an abundance of filling, also boast unique flavours such as matcha (S$1.90) and thai milk tea (S$1.90).
3. 682 Min Jiang Kueh
Hougang Village, 682 Hougang Avenue 4
Open: Tuesday to Sunday (5am to 12pm)
Why visit? A beloved spot among the residents in Hougang, 682 Min Jiang Kueh is known for its innovative, modern twist on its pancake flavours. Aside from the classic slices of pancakes, the stall also sells its pancakes as folded semi-circles stuffed with filling.
Price range: $
Crowd faves: Try the famed yam (S$1.60), green tea (S$1.40) or black sesame (S$1.60) pancakes. While they’re a little pricier, the pancakes are packed with a thick slab of filling. We recommend the curry puff-like pancakes as these are softer and chewier than its sliced counterparts.
4. My Pancake 面煎粿
Dunman Food Centre, 02-18, 271 Onan Road
Open: Tuesday and Wednesday, Friday to Sunday (7am to 3pm)
Why visit? Those who like their min jiang kueh with generous fillings will find themselves fans of My Pancake. Its pancakes are on the thinner side, lending the fluffy pancakes a hint of texture due to the crispy edges.
Price range: $
Crowd faves: Aside from the traditional flavours reminiscent of childhood, My Pancake also does an unusual peanut and sweet corn min jiang kueh (S$1.20). If you can get behind the creamy sweetness of the corn when paired with crushed peanuts, the combination delivers quite a flavourful punch. Otherwise, the peanut with peanut butter min jiang kueh (S$1.20) is fluffy with a strong peanut flavour.
5. Belinda’s Traditional Pancake
Teck Ghee Court Market and Food Centre, 01-27, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1
Open: Tuesday and Wednesday, Friday to Sunday (6am to 12pm)
Why visit? If you love the crispy skin on the corner pieces of the min jiang kueh, Belinda’s Traditional Pancake will be right up your alley. It’s best known for its cone-shaped min jiang kueh that is crisp and crunchy, with filling plastered on one side like a tissue prata.
Price range: $
Crowd faves: Head down early to snag a peanut cone (S$1.30), a classic flavour. Aside from its cones and pancakes, Belinda’s Traditional Pancake is also known for its putu mayam (rice flour noodle dish served with grated coconut and red sugar, S$1.80 for two). It’s a simple and comforting dish that’s a nice blend of sweet and salty.
6. Bu Bu Gao Sheng Pancake
120 Neil Road
Open: Monday to Saturday (7am to 5pm)
269B Queen Street, 01-236
Open: Monday to Sunday (7am to 3pm)
27 Jalan Berseh, 01-100
Open: Monday to Saturday (7am to 3pm)
1 Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, 01-02
Open: Monday to Saturday (7am to 3pm)
462 Crawford Lane
Open: Monday to Saturday (7am to 3pm)
Why visit? One of the more accessible options in this list, Bu Bu Gao Sheng has several outlets, many of them located in the central parts of Singapore. Not only do the pancakes here have a thick and substantial pancake texture, it somehow maintains this chewy texture long after the pancake has cooled. The stall sells both sliced and curry puff-like pancakes, depending on the flavours you choose.
Price range: $
Crowd faves: While you’re there, its signature coconut (S$1.60) flavour may catch your eye because of its unusual light green hue. There are also more ‘modern’ min jiang kueh fillings such as chocolate banana (S$1.40) and smoked cheese (S$1.20).
7. He He Min Jiang Kueh
105 Hougang Avenue 1, 02-16
Open: Monday (6am to 11am), Tuesday to Sunday (6am to 2pm)
Why visit? He He Min Jiang Kueh is an underrated gem that focuses on classic flavours such as peanut, red bean and coconut. Unlike most min jiang kuehs, the ones here are made in small, circular pans for individual servings. The crispy pancakes are folded and served whole instead of being cut into smaller pieces.
Price range: $
Crowd faves: The peanut min jiang kueh (S$1.20) comes with a substantial amount of filling. Be warned: You will have peanut spilling all over the place as you bite into your pancake. For something less messy, the cheese min jiang kueh (S$1.20) has a chewy, mochi-like texture that works well without being too overwhelming.
8. Mian Mian Bu Duan
Bukit Merah Central Food Centre, 02-17, 163 Bukit Merah Central
Open: Thursday to Tuesday (9am to 3pm)
Why visit? Run by a young hawkerpreneur, Mian Mian Bu Duan stands out amid the shops in Bukit Merah Central Food Centre with its minimalistic signboard. The pancakes are made fresh daily by the owner, whose passion for min jiang kueh shines through even on social media. Do look out for the occasional seasonal flavours such as the peanut butter jelly (S$2) flavour.
Price range: $
Crowd faves: A signature at Mian Mian Bu Duan is the peanut butter and peanut pancake (S$1.50). The slices are thick with a substantial amount of filling, and the kueh batter is delicate with a soft, cake-like texture. We recommend heating up the peanut butter and peanut pancake if you aren’t consuming it on the spot, as the filling tends to clump together when the pancake has cooled down.
For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on affordable mala xiang guo and Pretzel Planet.
Munchi Pancakes, My Pancake 面煎粿, Bu Bu Gao Sheng and Mian Mian Bu Duan are on the GrabFood delivery service and offer free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited. You can also book a ride to the stores in this article.
Gaelmaine Hoong
Author
Gael comes from a family of picky eaters and she also likes to talk a lot. So, writing about food seems like a reasonable pastime for her.
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