These days, traditional handmade fish dumplings are fast becoming a rarity. These fish dumplings are plumper than the usual factory-made ones, and they also come with a more slippery and springier mouthfeel, plus a distinctively delish filling. And to me, Song Kee will always be my go-to place for these classic fish wontons.
Traditional handmade Teochew fish dumplings (known as the herh kio in Teochew) are becoming more uncommon these days. So much so that most people who have not savoured them before would assume that those common, small, tacky white fish dumplings they'd get at the run-of-the-mill fish ball noodle stalls and supermarkets are the real deal. But in reality, these are quite very different altogether!
In fact, it's safe to say that traditional handmade fish dumplings are a few notches up in terms of gastronomic enjoyment and quality, compared to the common version we'd find ubiquitously. And to me, Song Kee Fishball Noodle (Song Kee) is the place to head over to if you're looking for the real deal.
The ingenious fish-pork wonton
Above: The soft, bouncy, and slippery wrapper of the handmade fish dumplings are made from fish paste and tapioca starch, and the filling contains seasoned minced pork and crushed deep-fried dried sole fish
I've always felt that traditional handmade fish dumplings are an ingenious culinary invention — especially how the wrapper is made. Shaped somewhat like a type of ravioli and functions essentially like a wonton, it's probably the only or one of the very few types of Chinese dumplings that employs a mixture of fish paste and tapioca starch as the ingredients for its wrapper.
The result: a wrapper that's somewhat translucent, and extremely soft, bouncy, and slippery, which makes it a challenge for most people to catch such a dumpling with a pair of chopsticks. And when cooked, the wrapper releases a delicious aroma and the umaminess of fish.
Traditional handmade fish dumplings are also typically much larger in size, and the filling would consist of a delicious mix of seasoned minced pork and crushed deep-fried dried sole fish (known as the tee poh in Teochew) instead of the fish paste you'd get in the factory-made ones.
And these are what they serve up at Song Kee and they are also the key reason I keep coming back.
Enjoyably bouncy noodles
Above: Perfectly cooked and seasoned noodles that are deliciously bouncy!
As much as the fish dumplings are the key attraction that brings me back, credit also goes to their perfectly cooked noodles. Springy and well seasoned with their signature chilli paste, crispy pork lard, fried shallots, and other condiments, the noodles' texture is perfect and they are definitely an enjoyment to chow down on.
Above: Yummy broth filled with bits of crushed deep-fried dried sole fish
The broth that goes with the noodles is delightfully tasty too! It's certainly more concentrated and flavourful than those you'd get at other fish ball noodle stalls and it's filled with lots of crushed deep-fried dried sole fish bits. In fact, just one look at the murky broth, and you'd be able to hatch a good guess that the taste will be exponentially better than those elsewhere. Yummy yum yum!
A comfy corner with a laid-back feel
Above: Comfy, quaint eatery with a laid-back feel to it
Nestled in a quiet nook near the tail end of the super-long Yio Chu Kang Road that's close to Boundary Road, I've always felt that this is a comfy, quaint little eatery with a laid-back feel, even though some people I know think that it's somewhat run-down.
At times when it's off-peak, this can be quite a quiet, private corner to mull over things in life over a delicious bowl of fish dumpling noodles or fish ball noodles.
But things are never really that quiet in most times of the day. When meal times come, the entire place would look like a clandestine corner where fish ball noodle addicts congregate and many cars will be parked alongside the small road next to the eatery that leads to a private property estate nearby.
Swerve by to give the fish dumpling noodles a try, if you haven't. I'm quite sure that it won't disappoint. Trust me on that!
Locate it
Address:
Song Kee Fishball Noodle
100 Yio Chu Kang Road
Singapore 545576
Operating Hours:
Opens daily except Thursdays,
11:30 a.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Call:
9336 2745
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