Indulging in Henghwa cuisine tends to be expensive. For the uninitiated, Henghwa — or Putian — cuisine is a style of Chinese cuisine that originated from the Putian region. Since Putian is near the sea, seafood features prominently in their cooking, and popular dishes include lychee pork, fried yam, and Henghwa-style lor mee and fried bee hoon.
There are few places in Singapore that specialise in Henghwa cuisine, the most popular being the restaurant chain PUTIEN — but dining there can rack up quite the bill. For an affordable, yet equally delicious, option, head down to Xiao Pu Tien Restaurant in Tampines.
Try their Henghwa Bee Hoon, a staple when it comes to Henghwa cuisine, priced very reasonably at S$6 onwards. Unlike your typical bee hoon dish, Henghwa bee hoon is first braised in a pork bone stock to infuse it with aromatic flavours, before it’s fried with fresh prawns and clams. The plate of fragrant vermicelli is then topped with peanut and crispy seaweed — a famous local product from Putian itself.
For those who prefer their noodles served in broth, go for the Henghwa Lor Mee (from S$6. If you’re expecting to see the familiar dark gravy that’s found in most lor mee dishes, you’d be surprised.
In Henghwa lor mee, the broth is a little less starchy, and a lot more pale. For that reason, the dish is sometimes also known as white lor mee. The noodles are simmered in a cloudy, pale-coloured seafood broth, and then topped with prawns and clams, resulting in a hearty dish full of umami flavour.
To complete your meal, the extensive menu also includes other Henghwa favourites, such as Lychee Pork, Stir-Fried Yam, and Stir-Fried Beancurd Kale.
With their satisfying dishes and affordable prices, this humble eatery is definitely worth a visit.
Xiao Pu Tien Restaurant
???? 138, Tampines St. 11, #01-124, Singapore 521138
???? 11am – 10pm (Mon to Sun)
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