Outram Park Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh, Keppel

This Bak Kut Teh institution on the fringes of the CBD is a branch of Ya Hua at Havelock Road, but unlike the Havelock original, this is completely non-air-conditioned. It's got a bigger space and larger capacity, but it's not the most conducive of environments to be indulging in refillable bowls of piping hot soup, so it's best to hit this place up on overcast, drizzly days.

We opted for the Spare Ribs Soup ($8) over the shorter pork ribs version; it's more satisfying and succulent. There are 2 options for the long ribs: the lean or fatty. My advice is to pick the fatty spare ribs. My mantra, when it comes to food, is to always pick the fatty one. Don't worry, the "fatty option" isn't as fatty as you'd think. It's just the right proportion of fat, and a little fat goes a long way in greasing up the meat. Otherwise, you end up with a dry piece of meat that's tough to get through. The soup isn't the most full-bodied, but I appreciated that the peppery overtones weren't overwhelming. 

Lazybums will likely prefer the Sliced Pork Loin Soup ($7), because, the tender pork slices are boneless, so your fingers stay clean.

The Sliced Fish Soup ($7) may be a tad overpriced compared to other fish soup stalls, but at least the fish was fresh and smooth.

Instead of steamed white rice, the Mee Sua Soup ($2), soft and silky strands of flour vermicelli dunked in pork-based soup and garnished with fried shallots and spring onions, was a popular alternative pairing with the pork ribs.

The Braised Peanuts ($3), while pedestrian, were velvety and rich.

Ditto for the Braised Tau Pok ($3), these were fluffy and chewy.

The crunchy Salted Vegetables ($3) provided a bright contrast and cut through the heavy drudgery of the braises and stews.

The Oyster Sauce Chye Sim ($7) the obligatory green fibrous showing of lunch, was enlivened by lashings of golden fried onions.

The wilted and limp Fried Dough Sticks ($2) had evidently been sitting out for some time, but were (somewhat) revived when dunked into the hot soup. 


Outram Park Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha
7 Keppel Road
Tanjong Pagar Complex #01-05/07
Tel: 6222 9610 / 8282 7896
Open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 7am to 3am;
Sundays from 7am to 1am;
Closed on Mondays
Website: yahuabakkutteh.com

Comments

Unknown said…
The food is ok, nothing to wow or fantastic about. For 3 tiny bones sell 8dollars too expensive. It not all about food. Service lousy. We went there just to have a feel on how fantastic is the food. But damn irritating, when our soup finished, the waitress only top up little of the soup and imagine how small is the bowl. Second we ask to top up soup again but this time another young girl did a good job or maybe new fellow have not learn the old trick. When we about to finish our food and wanted to taste our chinese tea. I m sure the lady boss came and off the kettle gas and next she bring the soup and ask whether we need top up our soup, seem to be nice but what you guess, she actually want us to paid the bill and get off the shop...what kind of attitude is this...I come from pasir ris to tanjong pagar to tried this kind of treatment. Yah got many well know people and regular customers support right so no need to take care about others. Lousy service, lousy attitude and hello some not so famous shop sell better food and more courtesy than this kind of "hao lian" shop.

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