When it comes to Teochew food, dishes such as braised duck, soon kueh and orh nee (yam’s paste) first come to mind. But another equally heart dish from the Chinese dialect group is the pig’s organ soup. Though the dish sounds deceptively simple, it actually is difficult to execute well. For starters, the pig’s offals such as the liver, kidney and intestines need to be washed thoroughly to remove any off-putting gamey stench. The broth then needs to balance the umami of the protein with other herbs and pepper added to make the comforting soup. Ahead are 10 hawker stalls that have mastered the dish and are ready to serve you a bowl of comforting pig’s organ soup.
Fans of pig’s organ soup would find Koh Brother a familiar name. After all, the family-run business has been around since its inception in 1955 by Koh Kee Teo before being managed by third-generation owners now. Awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for multiple years, Koh Brother has since expanded beyond its Tiong Bahru location to Tampines so that east-siders can have a taste of its light and clear broth with tender pork slices, pig’s stomach, liver, pork balls, and salted vegetables.
Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup is at 30 Seng Poh Road, #02-29 Tiong Bahru Food Centre, Singapore 168898 and 824 Tampines Street 81, #01-38, Singapore 520824. Visit its Facebook page for more information.
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There are two hawker stalls with similar names selling pig’s organ soup — Authentic Mun Chee Kee and the next on the list, Cheng Mun Chee Kee. Both of them originated from the same family before branching out. The former, Authentic Mun Chee Kee, is headed by David and Derek Tan and they claim to have worked with the original founder, Uncle Mun Chee who created the recipe in 1973, before acquiring the business in 2013. The broth here is comparatively lighter and more refreshing in flavour, with a generous portion of ingredients. The soup is also refillable.
Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig’s Organ Soup is at 207 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208893.
Cheng Mun Chee Kee is just a few minutes walk from the previous entrant that shares a similar name. This means that you can easily try both on the same day and decide on your favourite. The broth at Cheng Mun Chee Kee is on the punchier and more peppery side, which makes it good to warm up with on a cold, rainy day. Both stalls also serve up other dishes such as Vinegar Pork Trotters and Salted Fish Steamed Minced Meat to complete the meal.
Cheng Mun Chee Kee Pig Organ Soup is at 24 Foch Road, Singapore 209263.
Soon Huat is another reason to head to the popular Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre. There’s usually a long line of people queueing to score a bowl of its tangy pig’s organ soup that is accented with preserved vegetables, tomato slices and fried garlic oil. The family-owned hawker stall also serves up braised proteins such as pig’s intestines and trotters.
Soon Huat Pig’s Organ Soup is at Stall 42, Serangoon Garden Food Centre, 49A Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555945.
Having been in the same coffee shop for over 30 years, Ah Keat continues to remain popular for its two namesake dishes — pig’s organ soup and kway chap — among the nearby residents. Both are flavourful with the former being on the lighter side and the latter having a slight herbal and sweet note. Either way, you can fulfil two cravings at one go at Ah Keat.
Ah Keat Pig’s Organ Soup and Kway Chap is at 211 Marsiling Cres, Singapore 730211.
Good food is often elusive and needs some effort to get to. It is the same at Ri Tao Fu as it is located up a small hill at the Jalan Kukoh Food Centre. The stall is now headed by second-generation owner Tan Jo Huak who took over the reins from his father over 40 years ago. He continues to serve up bowls of flavourful packed pig’s organ soup tinged with preserved vegetables as well as braised meats.
Ri Tao Fu Teochew Pig Organ Soup is at 1 Jalan Kukoh, #01-11 Jalan Kukoh Food Centre, Singapore 161001.
If you love your pig’s organ soup to be peppery and punchy in flavour almost akin to the peppery-style bak kut teh, head to Aik Kee. The menu at the nondescript stall is straightforward — pig’s organ soup and ngoh hiang — both of which are fan favourites in the food centre.
Aik Kee Haslet Soup is at 117 Aljunied Ave 2, Aljunied Avenue 2 Market & Food Centre, Singapore 380117.
After an invigorating walk along the adjacent Lower Peirce Reservoir Park, head to Jia Jia Xing to rest your feet and refuel. The pig’s organ soup here is peppery and tangy, making it an appetite booster, and can be bulked up with Yam Rice and braised Pig’s Trotter.
Jia Jia Xing Pig’s Organ Soup is at #01-10 Sembawang Hills Food Centre, 590 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574419.
Say Seng is located near Bugis MRT and adjacent to the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple. The stall is easy to find thanks to the long queues that form and only serves two dishes – Pig’s Organ Soup and Braised Pork. The former comes with a tangy, peppery and porky broth and the latter used to be made with wild boar before it was banned.
Say Seng Cooked Food is at #01-92 Albert Centre, 270 Queen Street, Singapore 180270.
Seng Kee is a well-known dinner and supper spot near Kembangan MRT. While the brand, which was founded in the 1970s, names the Black Chicken Herbal Soup in its signboard, the Kidney Mee Sua is likely the best-selling item on the menu. The dish comprises herbal and slightly peppery broth with mee sua and kidney. But if you want regular pig’s organ soup, Seng Kee has it too alongside an extensive menu of zi char dishes.
Seng Kee Black Chicken Herbal Soup is at 475 Changi Road, Singapore 419892 and 511 Bedok North Street 3, #01-31/32, Singapore 460511.