(Closed) The Bait 鱼耳 – Come for the Fish Soup, Stay for the Beef Hor Fun!

There’s nothing like zi char when it comes to dining out or eating in with family or a group of (five) friends, especially when everyone has different tastes for food. Chai Chee Village has recently welcomed a new zi char stall which has been steadily growing in popularity among the residents nearby. Whether you’re here for lunch, dinner or supper, The Bait 鱼耳 is ready to serve you an array of classic zi char dishes. 

Don’t be fooled by its name and exterior as a stall only serving seafood, though a fair amount of their recommended dishes fall under that category. Highlights include Steamed Red Garoupa Fish, Crab Bee Hoon ($35), Crispy Noodles with Sliced Fish ($6) and Chilli Crab. Other proteins to look forward to include Signature Chilli Chicken Chop ($8), Jujube Spicy Chicken ($8) and Blanched Beef ($9). 

One of their more popular offerings is the Red Garoupa Fish Head ($8) which comes in a light-coloured broth along with tomatoes and cabbage. The soup had a clear, refreshing taste that brought out the flavours of the fish and a slight zing that reminded me of suan cai. 

The fish was very fresh and paired well with their homemade sambal chilli. The chilli was more on the acidic side and delivered a piquant kick that was further enhanced by a hint of lime. If  you’re someone who doesn’t fancy too many bones, go for the Red Garoupa Fish Sliced ($8) which holds the same amount of flavour and is every bit as good! 

I also gave the Lala Beehoon ($6) a shot and was instantly impressed by the aroma of the sauce. When mixed well, the dish exuded a beautiful garlicky fragrance and you can expect a hint of sweetness from the cabbage. 

However, the ingredients in the beehoon itself had a mix of hits and misses. While the fish slices were as fresh as what I received in my fish soup, the prawns were slightly on the mushier side and weren’t as firm and sweet as I would have liked. As for the clams, there was a bit of a fishy taste clinging to the delicate meat that overpowered its natural sweetness. 

Saving the best for last — the Beef Hor Fun ($6) emerged as my favourite of the lot. The silky-smooth hor fun was doused in a deliciously smoky sauce that was very addictive. The beef slices were very tender and there wasn’t much marination added to it, allowing you to fully savour their natural beefy flavours. 

Even though it’s located in the East which is not exactly a convenient location for me, I would drop by again to pick up the beef hor fun. As many of their dishes are largely affordable, I’d recommend heading down to have your first taste of The Bait 鱼耳  before the crowds come!

MissTamChiak.com made an anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

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