Ever since our halal food guide to Bugis and Kampong Glam came out a few weeks ago, we've gotten some questions asking about some of the more hidden and unexpected inclusions on the list. Though the Kampong Glam area is known for its many halal eateries, finding new spots to grab a delicious bite is definitely a welcome surprise!
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One such place is Jason Niang Dou Fu - a halal-certified eatery along Beach Rd that sells some of the most unique Niang Dou Fu (or Yong Tau Foo) we've ever seen! ? I'll personally admit that out of everyone in the office, I'm probably the biggest fan of Jason's (eating there maybe 2-3 times a week ?) and hopefully, once you've read this article you'll want to give it a try too!
What is Niang Dou Fu?
Niang Dou Fu or Yong Tau Foo is a traditional Chinese Hakka dish consisting of a selection of vegetables, fishcakes, beancurd, and meat cooked together with rice or noodles. Yong Tau Foo stalls are some of the most common stalls found in hawker centres and food courts in Singapore, with several of these being halal-certified as well. ?
To get started on your bowl you typically select 4-6 pieces of ingredients as well as an optional noodle or rice, as well as whether you want the dish to be cooked in soup, or as a dry bowl with soup on the side. It's a popular dish because you can select the ingredients on your own and it's usually a healthier option too as the ingredients are boiled.
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But don't let that mislead you into thinking it's only for health-conscious foodies! One of the best parts of Yong Tau Foo is the Do-It-Yourself aspect and Jason's wide variety of ingredients means there are choices here for every palate. No one will judge you if you forgo the vegetables you dislike, and pick only the sausages, fishcakes, and beancurd you do like. ?
P.S. The fried ingredients such as the stuffed eggplant, chicken cutlet, and stuffed you tiao will be deep-fried by default before being served to you. However you can request for them not to deep fry the ingredients too!
So what's so special about Jason Niang Dou Fu? ?
There are various speciality Yong Tau Foo stalls in Singapore, and only a handful of them are halal. Jason's is one of them! The choices here are much wider for everything including the noodles, ingredients, and even what kinds of soup or gravy you can choose from. ?
Apart from the usual types of carbohydrates you'll find at any other stall such as bee hoon, laksa noodles, and white rice, you'll even find Yee Mee (Cantonese-style egg noodles), Mee Pok (Teochew-style dry egg noodles topped with chilli oil), Chee Cheong Fun (thin rolls made of rice flour), and even a Teochew classic of Yam Rice with dried shrimps, cabbage, and spring onions! ?
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As for the soup base, you'll find much more than the usual clear broth here. One of their iconic options is the Chye Poh Sauce, which is a thick, savoury, and salty gravy made from dried and preserved radish. Chye Poh is a common ingredient in some Chinese dishes, but it's near-impossible to find at halal eateries! However at Jason's, you can get a whole bowl of it that transforms the everyday ingredients into a special treat! ?
They also have Mee Rebus Gravy (only from Mondays-Wednesdays) that will put an interesting twist on your meal, as well as Laksa and Tom Yum for those who need some spice in their dish. The laksa gravy has a thick coconut taste to it, and I would definitely recommend it on a cold or rainy day! The tom yum leans more towards the sour side, but there's a dash of sweetness that turns it into the perfect mid-week pick-me-up after a tiring few days at work. ?
#HHWT Tip: If you're planning to visit on a weekday between 12pm - 1pm, be prepared to queue up to get your food as the queues are typically so long they reach the door! Seats are first-come-first-serve so it's best to go with some friends too!
I'm excited now! Any recommendations for what I should get?
If you're feeling overwhelmed, you can take a look at the suggestions up on the walls of healthier options - complete with calorie count! One of my personal recommendations is to get the yellow noodles with laksa gravy (rather than the usual laksa noodles) if you're a fan of something a little heavier. The saltiness of the yellow noodles goes so well with the creaminess of the gravy, and it'll leave you feeling satisfied for the rest of the day! ? The chye poh sauce with a side of yam rice is another Teochew combination that you hardly ever find halal versions of, so I would encourage you to try that out too! However it can be quite heavy, so you can split it with a friend or replace the yam rice with white rice for a lighter option.
Something else special to Jason's that I haven't found at any other halal Yong Tau Foo outlet is actually the range of condiments they provide for you. Apart from the usual sweet sauce, chilli sauce, and chopped red chillis, you can also find soybeans, pickled ginger, sesame seeds, and crushed peanuts! The crushed peanuts are the real secret ingredient in my book especially if you add them to the Tom Yum base for some extra crunch. ?
Jason's isn't a particularly big restaurant, but we really feel that it's one of the underrated gems in the Kampong Glam/Bugis area! Though it may look unassuming from the outside, the long queues and eager patrons speak for themselves at one of Singapore's most unique Yong Tau Foo restaurants. ?
Halal Status: Halal-certified
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon-Sat), closed on Sundays
Address: 321 Beach Rd, Singapore 199557