The Original Boat Noodle $1.30 Mini Bowls to Eat till Shiok at Changi City Point

I won’t be wolfing down ten hamburgers to have my name on the wall of fame nor be seen stuffing my face with twelve baskets of soup dumplings in a free-flow Xiao Long Bao buffet. To friends who flaunt their storey-high sushi plates at sushi chain stores, I have to burst your bubble for being the only one without the gene of a competitive eater. I admit I gave away part of my unfinished ramen sometimes.

So when these famous boat noodles swam their way into Singapore offering one-slurp-for-all mini portions, I howled silently in joy.

The Original Boat Noodle has opened at Changi City Point for quite some time. Located in the back of the mall at basement one, it took us a while before we spot the restaurant’s backlit sign hung against a backdrop of wall mesh and disheveled brick walls.

The interior is furnished in rough paint patches scrawled across faded walls while mood lighting set upon neatly arranged wooden chairs and tables. Embossed metal plates bearing names of food dishes balanced above open-concept kitchen which reminds me of school canteen. At one corner of the kitchen, a lady chef was seen hurling noodles from their strainers, gradually filling up the heap of mini bowls before her.

Business began to pick up as night drew closer. The hungry throngs started to file into the empty seats around us as our orders arrived to our table uninterrupted. The Original Boat Noodle’s Boat Noodle $1.30 is served in a mini rooster bowl and comes with a choice of either soup base – Pathumthani or Ayutthaya.

The Pathumthani was made from dark soy sauce as the base, married with herbs, spices and other ingredients to create a slight citrusy taste with a tang of sweetness. It carried a little spiciness perhaps due to the inclusion of chilli.

Ayutthaya, on the other hand, used coconut milk which churned out a creamy rich broth, further seasoned with herbs and spices for a favourable impact on the taste bud. If you fancy something savoury, go for this.

After you have decided on the broth, you can opt to have it with beef or chicken meatballs. We tried all four and reordered again.

It is recommended for each person to consume four such bowls plus a couple of side dishes. But it seemed like almost every diner was happily devouring at least 5 or 6 bowls. I am in.

Another signature dish that won all our hearts was the Kra-Pow Chicken Rice $8.90. There was neither theatrics here nor wild garnishing. A simple fried egg sat atop fluffy white rice mounted into a half moon while the minced meat spilled apart like a dress. Each bits of meats were superbly tender, juicy and tongue-numbing spicy. We mourned the last morsel.

With prices as low as $3.90, I am glad quality and quantity ain’t compromised.

Flamed Grill Ayam Legend $4.90 was a decent slab of chicken, supernaturally tender with lightly charred skin.

My votes went to the Crunchy Thai Popeye’s Tempura and Crispy fried Som Tam; both excelling in their own ways.

Crunchy Thai Popeye’s Tempura $3.90 was actually fried kang kong. The killing detail was that each leaf was battered-fried to a thin crispy golden brown which delivered a mind-blown textural twist to the limpsy leaf.

If papaya salad is too mainstream, the Crispy Fried Som Tam $4.90 would float your boat. Be prepared for a wave of crackly skin juxtaposed against firm strips of sweet and sourish green papaya.

Some other sides include the Grilled Beef Meatballs $4.90, Tasty Chicken Wings $6.90 for three pieces and Fried Chicken Skin $3.90.

There is only one dessert on the menu and it is the Hot Steamy Sangkayaa $4.90, a classic sweet treat to round up the meal.

Drinks are from Chill Chill, a Malaysian brand that specialises in Thai milk tea. Be it the sweet Cha Yen $3.90, the earthy Cha Keow Yen $3.90 or the refreshing Cha Manao Yen $3.90, options are aplenty and portions’ generous too.

Menu as follows:

The Original Boat Noodle appeals with its pocket-friendly pricing with no items over $10. Food-wise they are generally good with several dishes hitting all the right notes. Recommended are the Kra-Pow Chicken Rice and crispy side dishes. to name a few. Of course, don’t hesitate to order as many mini boat noodles as you want – these soup bases are solid in their flavours.

Time to head down with your friends for a bowl stack challenge!

 

The Original Boat Noodle

5 Changi Business Park Central 1, Changi City Point

#B1-34A, Singapore 486038

Daily: 11AM – 9PM

Website: https://www.facebook.com/boatnoodlesg/

 

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