Tiong Bahru Lor Mee – A Legacy in Every Bowl at Bukit Batok

Bukit Batok isn’t a neighbourhood I frequent, so when I found myself there recently, I had no idea what was good to eat. But one name kept coming up – Tiong Bahru Lor Mee, a stall with deep roots in Singapore’s lor mee scene. Since I love a good bowl of lor mee, I had to give it a try.

This half-stall tucked inside a coffeeshop constantly has a queue, and I was told they usually sell out by lunchtime. That alone piqued my curiosity. Over the years, I’ve seen several Tiong Bahru Lor Mee stalls pop up around Singapore, so I wanted to know-how are they all connected?

Turns out, the lady boss comes from a family of lor mee masters. Her mother used to run the Lor Mee stall in Tiong Bahru (but she has retired), and her late uncle was the man behind the famous Bukit Purmei Lor Mee. With such a strong heritage, my expectations were naturally high.

Starting from $4.50, the lor mee here offers a slightly different twist from the traditional version. The bowl comes loaded with char siew, fish fillet, and crispy you tiao, alongside the usual braised gravy and yellow noodles.

The gravy is thick, rich, and flavorful, striking the right balance between being starchy yet smooth. It wasn’t overly cloying or floury-just the right consistency to coat the noodles and ingredients beautifully. I added my usual lor mee toppings: a modest amount of garlic, a little bit of chili and coriander, and a generous splash of vinegar. That final touch of acidity really brought out the depth of the broth.

One ingredient that I really enjoyed was the fish nuggets. The gravy slightly softened the crispy exterior, but inside, the fish remained flaky, soft, and moist with a subtle sweetness.

Another interesting element was the use of you tiao instead of the usual fried fritter bits. At first, I was skeptical, but the crispy yet airy texture of the you tiao worked surprisingly well. It soaked up the luscious gravy, making each bite a mix of crispy and chewy textures – a small but clever tweak that I really appreciated.

Tiong Bahru Lor Mee at Bukit Batok delivers a well-executed, flavourful bowl that gets all the key elements right-a good gravy consistency, well-prepared ingredients, and thoughtful twists that add character without straying too far from tradition.

If you’re a lor mee lover and in Bukit Batok, this stall is definitely worth the queue. Just make sure to go early before they sell out!