This is one shop I would never have known about if not for local online food content generators (that's the PR circuit I'm talking about). Featured in an article by NOC Food King, I decided to check it out with my friend one fine evening.
The location is quite central, located in Killiney Road, just behind Orchard Central near Somerset MRT. But I have to admit I would never have ventured past the barricade of shopping centres and didn't even know about this street full of food shops.
Food
From a name like Da Shi Jia Big Prawn Mee 大食家大大大虾面, you could probably have guessed what they specialise in: Prawn Mee. And not just any prawn mee, but prawn mee with big big big prawns. (literal translation of the Chinese name heh)
On the menu, they sell two kinds of prawn mee, the first of which is the soupy kind.
For the soupy version, you get to customise your prawn mee, choosing the size of prawns and type of noodles you want. The prawn size really determines the difference in price, so being able to choose the type of prawns you want is nice if you are concerned about price. After all, most of us are used to paying no more than $5 for prawn mee, so having to pay $15-$20 for prawn mee is a bit of a shock.
The second type is the dry version. Or rather, the wok-fried version.
For this version, there's only a choice between the "big big prawns" and the "big big big prawns".
Okay, so how was the food?
Traditional Prawn Noodles ("Wet" Prawn Mee)
Traditional Prawn Noodles ("Wet" Prawn Mee)
The first thing that arrived was the soupy version. We ordered the ones with the big big prawns, and with yellow noodles and kway teow. Yes, they are known for their big big BIG prawns, but we held back.
A prawn mee connoisseur would have noticed that this is not the local-style of prawn mee, which has a browner broth. Being no prawn mee connoisseur, I can only rely on my research to tell you that this is closer to a Penang-style broth. The Penang-style broth is often served with the chilli already inside, and this is what Da Shi Jia used to do as well, but they removed it and served it on the side as customers weren't for it.
To be very honest, this is quite a regular prawn mee. The broth was tasty but wasn't super intense or rich. Don't misunderstand, it is still tasty, but definitely on the lighter side of prawn mee broths.
But the chili is amazing. Okay, if you know me personally, I will come clean now, I am anti-chili. So I am in no way qualified to make this statement. But my friend lives for chili and so I can confidently communicate once again that, the chili is amazing. Regular chili only has spiciness, but this one has flavour too. It definitely has a kick to it, because my tastebuds were thoroughly attacked when I tried it. But I have to admit, it gives the prawn mee a very rich complexity that its broth does not have.
And so how about the prawns? Since they are supposed to be what's so special here.
We ordered the big big prawns only, and not the big big BIG prawns, and I would have been none the wiser. These prawns are gigantic. They are very fresh, no seafood-y smell. Cooked to perfection, the slightly sweet flesh is juicy and succulent, with a bit of bounce and bite. Definitely not frozen.
Definitely not a disappointment.
Wok-Fried White Bee Hoon ("Dry" Prawn Mee)
Wok-Fried White Bee Hoon ("Dry" Prawn Mee)
We also had the dry version with the big big prawns (yup, held back on the big big BIG prawns again).
Okay, this one, this one is amazing. A M A Z I N G. ✨ (Sparkles for emphasis)
There is something about the aroma, the fragrance of the bee hoon that is so intense, so inviting. Just using chopsticks to load some of the bee hoon into your spoon releases a unique aroma. The kind of aroma that is developed through the high-heat chemistry of stir-fry. The smell is not one of flavour but one of smoke.
The texture is amazing as well. Every strand of white bee hoon has a tacky layer of gravy clinging on to it that the white bee hoon is no longer white, coloured a sandy brown by the gravy. Although I say this is the "dry version", this dish finely balances between the dry and wet realm of noodles. Not soupy, but still swimming in gravy. If you had to drink the gravy without a spoon but only through the medium of noodles, this would be it. The gravy is also very tasty with an intense seafood umami, elevated to another level with the smokiness of the wok.
Sprinkled throughout the noodles, there are bits of fried pork lard, pork slices, fried shallots, onions, and garlic that builds a story in the bee hoon. Yes, the prawns are the A-list actors here, but don't forget the supporting characters that make this such an exciting show. The crispiness of the lard, the bite of the pork, the sharp flavour of the fried shallots, the sweetness of the onions, and the punchiness of the garlic. This is one of the dramas you follow not because of the romance between the male and female leads, but because of the antics of the supporting cast.
We could talk about the prawns too. The prawns, as with the soupy prawn mee, are springy, succulent, and sweet. The wok hei of the noodles further brings out the sweetness of the prawn, and the diversity of textures in this dish makes one better relish the tender texture of the prawns.
This dish also comes with a bowl of rich prawn broth, that you could enjoy on your own, or with the noodles. I loved combining it with the bee hoon as it gives it an even more intense umami flavour, but it does cover up the wok hei aroma slightly. The broth here is even more intense than the soup in the soupy version, and is a great accompaniment to the dry bee hoon dish.
Drinks
We ordered some drinks as well, Fresh Green Apple Juice with Sour Plum (left) and Honey Lemon (right). I usually don't have high expectations of drinks, but I was pleasantly surprised once again. The Apple Juice was refreshing and light, contrasting nicely with the intense flavour of the prawn mee, and the honey lemon was not saccharine sweet and and refreshed the palate in between mouthfuls of irresistible prawn mee.
Worth it?
The traditional prawn noodles start at $5.80 and go up to $16.80. The wok-fried white bee hoon is $16.80 or $19.80 depending on the size of prawns.
You're probably looking at spending close to $20 per person, without drinks or sides.
Spending so much on Prawn Mee? It's kind of crazy, but I have no regrets. Some restaurants serving shrimp scampi pasta use paltry frozen prawns but charge the same amount or even more. When you think about the giant prawns you're getting, it's definitely worth it. And that rich intense prawn broth used to flavour everything? It's hard work and a lot of effort to get that intensity of flavour.
Next time?
Definitely coming back for more. I can see this being a regular haunt. But I will probably skip the traditional prawn noodles, and go for the wok-fried white bee hoon. The experience of that wok hei and the intense umami is priceless.
Location
89 Killiney Rd
Singapore 239534
Nearest MRT: Somerset
Opening hours: 10.30 am - 10 pm, open everyday
Okay, this one, this one is amazing. A M A Z I N G. ✨ (Sparkles for emphasis)
There is something about the aroma, the fragrance of the bee hoon that is so intense, so inviting. Just using chopsticks to load some of the bee hoon into your spoon releases a unique aroma. The kind of aroma that is developed through the high-heat chemistry of stir-fry. The smell is not one of flavour but one of smoke.
The texture is amazing as well. Every strand of white bee hoon has a tacky layer of gravy clinging on to it that the white bee hoon is no longer white, coloured a sandy brown by the gravy. Although I say this is the "dry version", this dish finely balances between the dry and wet realm of noodles. Not soupy, but still swimming in gravy. If you had to drink the gravy without a spoon but only through the medium of noodles, this would be it. The gravy is also very tasty with an intense seafood umami, elevated to another level with the smokiness of the wok.
Sprinkled throughout the noodles, there are bits of fried pork lard, pork slices, fried shallots, onions, and garlic that builds a story in the bee hoon. Yes, the prawns are the A-list actors here, but don't forget the supporting characters that make this such an exciting show. The crispiness of the lard, the bite of the pork, the sharp flavour of the fried shallots, the sweetness of the onions, and the punchiness of the garlic. This is one of the dramas you follow not because of the romance between the male and female leads, but because of the antics of the supporting cast.
We could talk about the prawns too. The prawns, as with the soupy prawn mee, are springy, succulent, and sweet. The wok hei of the noodles further brings out the sweetness of the prawn, and the diversity of textures in this dish makes one better relish the tender texture of the prawns.
This dish also comes with a bowl of rich prawn broth, that you could enjoy on your own, or with the noodles. I loved combining it with the bee hoon as it gives it an even more intense umami flavour, but it does cover up the wok hei aroma slightly. The broth here is even more intense than the soup in the soupy version, and is a great accompaniment to the dry bee hoon dish.
Drinks
We ordered some drinks as well, Fresh Green Apple Juice with Sour Plum (left) and Honey Lemon (right). I usually don't have high expectations of drinks, but I was pleasantly surprised once again. The Apple Juice was refreshing and light, contrasting nicely with the intense flavour of the prawn mee, and the honey lemon was not saccharine sweet and and refreshed the palate in between mouthfuls of irresistible prawn mee.
Worth it?
The traditional prawn noodles start at $5.80 and go up to $16.80. The wok-fried white bee hoon is $16.80 or $19.80 depending on the size of prawns.
You're probably looking at spending close to $20 per person, without drinks or sides.
Spending so much on Prawn Mee? It's kind of crazy, but I have no regrets. Some restaurants serving shrimp scampi pasta use paltry frozen prawns but charge the same amount or even more. When you think about the giant prawns you're getting, it's definitely worth it. And that rich intense prawn broth used to flavour everything? It's hard work and a lot of effort to get that intensity of flavour.
Next time?
Definitely coming back for more. I can see this being a regular haunt. But I will probably skip the traditional prawn noodles, and go for the wok-fried white bee hoon. The experience of that wok hei and the intense umami is priceless.
Location
89 Killiney Rd
Singapore 239534
Nearest MRT: Somerset
Opening hours: 10.30 am - 10 pm, open everyday
Love your writing :)
ReplyDeleteZion road hawker center $25 prawn noodle is better.
ReplyDelete