How food is presented matters as you eat with your eyes first. However, satay bee hoon is a dish that goes against this notion. Satay bee hoon wasn’t made for Instagram as it is basically a lumpy reddish-brown sauce slathered over rice vermicelli and other ingredients.
Nevertheless, satay bee hoon has found many devotees who love the rich peanut sauce that makes up the soul of the dish. Said to be created by Teochew immigrants who used extended their ingenuity from the beloved barbecued skewers, satay bee hoon is noted to be a dying heritage dish as fewer people are willing to invest in making the labour-intensive delight. So while we still can enjoy it, here are the best hawker stalls to enjoy satay bee hoon in Singapore.
Founded in 1956, Sin Chew has been a longtime favourite for its satay bee hoon. Despite being opened only four days a week with a break in between lunch and dinner, devotees still stand patiently in the queue for the family recipe that’s perfectly balanced in terms of taste and consistency. Satay bee hoon costs $4/$5/$6.
51 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, #02-162 Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre, Singapore 588172
Bak Kee, established in the 60s, is another hawker known for its satay bee hoon. Now helmed by a father and son duo, the recipe handed down generations is paired with the usual cuttlefish, pork, pig liver and kang kong (water spinach). Satay bee hoon costs $4/$5.
85 Redhill Ln, #01-40 Redhill Food Centre, Singapore 150085
Bedok 85 is already a mecca for good food so add Shi Wei Da to your list of must-eats there. A former Michelin Bib Gourmand, Shi Wei Da serves its satay bee hoon with tau pok (beancurd puffs), pork, pig liver, beansprouts and kang kong. Do note that Shi Wei Da is a one-man show, so expect quite a wait. Satay bee hoon costs $3/$4/$5.
85 Bedok North Street 4, #01-41 85 Fengshan Centre, Singapore 460085
Previously located at Havelock Road, Soon Huat is difficult to miss thanks to the display of many awards and photos of local politicians that have dined here. Honed over 30 years, the dish is served with cuttlefish, pork, pig liver, kang kong and beansprouts. Satay bee hoon costs $4/$5.
6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-47 ABC Food Centre, Singapore 150006
Beauty World Food Centre is a food destination located in the west. Jin Li is a stall you shouldn’t miss, as they have been serving up satay bee hoon for over 35 years. Each plate comes with pork, cuttlefish, prawn, cockles, kang kong and tau pok. Satay bee hoon costs $4/$5/$6.
144 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, #04-40 Beauty World Centre, Singapore 588177
Northerners, we haven’t forgotten about you. Centre Satay Bee Hoon located in Ang Mo Kio has been serving the dish since 1979. Its version comes with cuttlefish, kang kong, prawns, cockles, pork and tau pok. Satay bee hoon costs $4/$5/$6.
724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6, #01-12, Singapore 560724
Lao Chao Zhou is known for two star dishes – mee siam and satay bee hoon. Of course, we’re focusing on the latter, which comes with pig liver, cuttlefish, prawns, cockles and kang kong. Also, Lao Chao Zhou opens mainly in the morning (630am to 130pm) so do come early. Satay bee hoon costs $4/$6.
20 Ghim Moh Rd, #01-18 Market & Hawker Centre, Singapore 270020
Located just a stone’s throw from the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, Meng Hui has over 30 years of experience selling satay bee hoon. Each plate comes with pork, pig liver, tau pok, beansprouts and kang kong. Satay bee hoon costs $4/$5/$6.
270 Queen St, #01-111 Albert Centre Market & Food Centre, Singapore 180270
Opened only once a day between 930am to 3pm, Teochew Satay Bee Hoon is headed by a mother and son who cooks with an over three-decade-old recipe that’s said to contain over 20 ingredients. Every serving comes with pork, pig, liver, beansprouts, kang kong, cuttlefish and cockles. Satay bee hoon costs $3.30/$4.3o/$5.
6 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #02-46, Singapore 081006
Whampoa Makan Place houses two satay bee hoon stalls, of which Whampoa Satay Beehoon is one of them (the other is called Liang Liang Cooked Food). Each plate is served with kang kong, pork, prawns cuttlefish and tau pok. Satay bee hoon costs $4/$5/$6/$8.
90 Whampoa Dr, #01-38 Whampoa Makan Place, Singapore 320090