07-06-2025
We tried Singapore's best-rated Ipoh hor fun
My childhood was defined by a few routines, one of them being family dinners at the OldTown White Coffee 3 bus stops from our home every other weekend. The only thing I'd order is their Ipoh hor fun, in all its fragrant chicken, silky noodle glory.
However, this review isn't about OldTown. As far as I know, not many stalls in Singapore sell Ipoh hor fun, let alone specialise in it. So imagine my surprise when I came across JM (Sisters) Noodle House Traditional Ipoh Hor Fun with a 4.9/5 rating and 192 reviews (at the time of writing) standing proudly below its name.
No way lah… a near-perfect review? Shucksss, guess there was nothing I could do but go down and verify what is allegedly the 'most authentic bowl of Ipoh hor fun in SG' for you dear readers out there.
I can count on one hand the number of times I've been on the North-East Line upwards from Little India, and this trip at 10am on a Wednesday puts another finger down. Located at The Promenade @ Pelikat in the Kovan-Hougang area, I was praying this bowl of Ipoh hor fun would make my journey as a Westie worth it.
With only one dish — the soup variation of Ipoh Hor Fun — on the menu, you know it's legit.
I opted for the Regular Set (S$9.30), which comes with a bowl of Ipoh Hor Fun regular (S$7.80) and a canned drink. Top up another S$1 for the large bowl to satiate your hor fun cravings.
When my buzzer rang, I headed to the counter to retrieve my order from 1 of the 2 friendly sisters running the store. It came with a circular marbled tray supporting my bowl of piping hot noodle soup; how thoughtful of them!
Enough yapping, I dived head-first into the broth. It was clean and fragrant with the classic chicken stock base that carried a slow-cooked sweetness, all without the support of MSG. It's nostalgic in the way your grandmother's chicken soup is when you stay home from school with a fever — simple yet deeply soothing.
However, the layer of oil coating the top of the bowl started to get a little cloying towards the end of my meal.
The noodles are where their 'best-rated' title stems from, in my opinion. These narrow flat rice noodles resembling kway teow are imported straight from Ipoh, staying true to the OG absurdly silky texture that glided down my throat with no effort at all. Each strand was soft but not mushy, posing as the perfect conduit for the broth's flavour.
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Topping-wise, JM Noodle House doesn't go overboard, offering just the usual suspects. The main protein, a modest heap of shredded poached chicken, is tender and juicy, free from that dry, stringy texture you sometimes get with poorly handled breast meat. The shreds also soak up the broth beautifully, which serves to enhance that delicate chicken flavour further.
There were also 3 mini de-shelled (thank goodness) prawns. They might look unassuming, but don't underestimate their prowess because they packed a surprising punch of umami while remaining sweet and springy. I had to ration them so that my perfect last bite had a prawn, too. Hais, if only they gave more!
The fried shallots and chives that crowned the dish lent a subtle crispiness and vegetal note respectively, breaking up the richness of the bowl and finishing it off with perfect colour and balance.
My only gripe about this meal was that the soup was a tad bit oily, but regardless, I scraped the bowl clean. #Beasted.
Perhaps I'm just a sucker for the little things, but the fact that the sisters took the time to plate each order with a smile and greet each customer personally warmed my heart. I'm no Ipoh-rian, but this cosy 16-seater space and the back-and-forth conversations in Cantonese made me feel like I was visiting a relative's kitchen rather than a restaurant.
The price is a little steep compared to your usual hawker stalls, and the eatery is quite a distance from my house. But would I visit again? Absolutely — for the nostalgia and sincerity that define Ipoh hor fun at its best.
Expected damage: S$7.80 – S$10.30 per pax
Order Delivery: Deliveroo
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