Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle – Even Chow Yun-Fatt is Impressed!

Among the many popular prawn noodles stalls in Singapore, Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle from Pek Kio Market and Food Centre stands as a strong contender amongst its competitors. Despite serving bowls of prawn noodles up to tens of dollars which might come as a surprise to some, it has undoubtedly won the hearts of many Singaporeans across the island with their heavenly prawn noodles.

Building on its 65 years of legacy at Pek Kio Market and Food Centre, it has opened another outlet at a prime location, Esplanade Mall. Their signature big prawn Noodles, available in dry or soup, is a must-try.

Surely, we were not left disappointed. The Mee Kia noodles, which was specially made for Wah Kee Prawn Noodles, were cooked to al dente and had a great QQ texture. The lard and chili provided the extra Oomph to the noodles, making it even more flavourful. Soup noodles are also available, but we highly recommend trying the dry version.

Finally, introducing the star of the day- succulent prawns sitting in a bowl of heavenly broth. The prawns were perfect, slightly firm yet bouncy with a slight crunch texture upon biting into it. Dip your prawns into the specially crafted spicy sauce for the extra kick!

The owner shared his secret recipe of using 6 different types of prawns and completely no meat to prepare the broth for 4 hours. The sweetness and richness of the prawns came through upon the first sip of the broth. A slight spice kick and hint of garlic elevated the dish further, and left us feeling satisfied.

There are 4 sizes available: Regular, Medium, Large and Extra Large, priced at $6, $12, $20, $30 respectively. Only the regular and medium sized portions were priced slightly higher by $1 and $2 than the Pek Kio stall respectively, which is reasonable in our opinion. Upon comparison, the prawns found in the $20 portion were sweeter and more flavourful than the ones in the $12 portion.

Expect to be indulge in a wide array of new creations and special dipping sauces prepared in-house daily at this branch! Seafood lovers will be glad to know that this place could be your next heaven. Grilled or steamed options are available, with the choice of 2 complimentary sauces.

If you appreciate raw oysters, definitely tuck into the Fresh French Oysters ($4.50 per piece) and Fresh US Oysters ($3.50 per piece). The fresh oysters were fresh, juicy and plump. The oyster dishes come with a choice of 2 sauces from a selection of 4 sauces – the classic Tobasco sauce, Sawadee sauce, Ponzu sauce and Sichuan sauce. Perhaps, you could give the tangy Ponzu sauce a shot if you’re spoilt for choice. Any additional sauces will cost an extra $2. Although we were served the freshest catch of the day – Canadian Oysters instead, feel rest assured that the restaurant promises to deliver the freshest to you. If you’re in the mood, feel free to pair your seafood with their comprehensive selection of wine.

Doesn’t this dish remind you of the typical oyster cakes that we are familiar with? We personally felt these Oyster Croquettes ($12 for 3 pieces) were pretty tasty. The dish came with 2 dipping sauces – Soya Mayonnaise and Chili Barbecue. Prying the crispy exterior open which reveals the oyster is like discovering a rare pearl in an oyster.

The Blue Mussel With White Wine ($30) was a relatively mediocre dish in terms of aesthetics and taste. There were no hints of white wine at all, and the steamed mussels were not the most flavourful that we have tried. For that price tag, you may want to save your stomach space for better dishes.

This Grilled Squid ($15) was one of the highlights among all the dishes we sampled. It was served warm and had a fragrant aroma. Upon service, the flesh looked very tender and moist, and indeed, it was. The sweet juices of the squid were locked in well, but go ahead and have yours with the special dipping sauces for extra flavour.

Wah Kee Prawn Noodles has put their own spin on Singapore’s local favourite dish, Rojak, by injecting in some East-West influence with strawberries. The Rojak Salad ($12) makes for a perfect appetiser if you are not a fan of seafood. The dough fritter pieces were crunchy and slightly chewy in the centre.

For dessert, the Black Glutinous Rice with Coconut Ice Cream ($5) was nothing much to shout about. The coconut ice cream was a letdown as it lacked the fragrance and richness that we were looking for. Perhaps, you may want to give this a miss and look for other dessert options.

Be sure to check out this classic hawker favourite at Esplanade Mall from 3 December onwards at 11am and don’t miss out on Wah Kee’s opening promotion – the Regular size (UP $6) is going at only $5 and the Medium size (UP$12) at $10. After all, the queues at this restaurant are expected to be shorter than the ones at the Pek Kio stall.

Note: This is an invited tasting.