Shan Zhong Bao Herbal Soup – A Legendary Turtle Soup Legacy Returns to Berseh Food Centre

For those of you who have been missing Shan Zhong Bao Herbal Soup, great news – they are back! After a decade-long hiatus, the legendary turtle soup brand has reopened at Berseh Food Centre, helmed by second-generation hawker Sunny Lew.

Shan Zhong Bao was originally founded in 1965 by Papa Lew, who started the business as a humble roadside stall in the backlanes of Desker Road. In the 1970s, the stall found a permanent home at Berseh Food Centre, where it became a go-to spot for turtle soup lovers.

Sunny has been involved in the business since his primary school days, helping out alongside his parents. Shan Zhong Bao was the first turtle soup stall in the hawker centre, earning a strong following over the years. Unfortunately, after Papa Lew passed away and Mama Lew grew older, the stall officially closed in 2014.

After a decade away, Sunny decided it was time to continue his father’s legacy. Seven months ago, he took a leap of faith and successfully bidded for a hawker stall at Berseh Food Centre.

“My mother actually disapproved of me reopening the stall since it had been 10 years. But with the encouragement of my wife and friends, I decided to give it a try. If not now, then when?” Sunny shared.

This was my first time trying Shan Zhong Bao Herbal Soup, and I must say – I loved it. I didn’t have the chance to try Papa Lew’s version, but Sunny’s soup is pretty damn good.

Since 6:30AM every morning, Sunny starts boiling the soup to ensure that it’s rich and flavourful by the time the stall opens at 11AM. His Teochew-style broth is slightly lighter but still carries a distinct, pleasant herbal taste. At the cooking station, you’ll see two large metal pots – one used to boil the tougher meats, while the other is to warm the cooked meats for serving.

The broth is gelatinous, hearty, and deeply herbal, packed with rich, comforting flavors. You can tell a lot of effort goes into each bowl. The meat is perfectly cooked – tender, not too chewy, and never rubbery.

Sunny’s turtle soup starts from $10, which is really affordable. In fact, many hawker stalls sell it at a higher price. “I know turtle soup is a delicacy, but I try to keep it affordable because I want everyone to try my turtle soup,” he says. From $15 onwards, he reheats the soup in the claypot to retain the heat.

Sunny’s homemade chilli really packs a punch. It’s a must-have, especially when paired with the fragrant yam rice. According to Sunny, many of his old regulars have returned, telling him, “I finally found back the old-school taste!” Hearing this makes him feel incredibly heartened and motivated.

It takes a lot of courage to restart a business after so many years, but Sunny is doing it with passion and determination. So if you’re a fan of traditional herbal turtle soup, this is definitely one stall to support!