Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (The Seletar Mall)

We are fans of Song Fa at New Bridge Road, so we were delighted when we discovered a branch at The Seletar Mall in Sengkang. So, we decided to pop by for a visit.

Location: Conveniently located at The Seletar Mall, with ample car parking, and bus/LRT connections. Part of the new mall, where there are endless dining options over four floors (including the basement).

Ambience: One of the fun things about eating at Song Fa is that they take pains to decorate the dining area to look like eating places of old. This outlet has done up the inside with displays and even a pushcart from the olden days.

Food: The usual fare of pork-rib soup and accompaniments like groundnuts, salted vegetables and dough fritters (youtiao) are available. We also ordered their braised pork trotters which is very good.

Taste: The bowls of piping-hot Bak Kut Teh come with three large pieces of pork on the bone in a peppery broth. The pork is tender and falls off the bone, and is not stringy or fibrous (you know, the type that gets stuck between your teeth!); much better quality than you would get at a hawker stall. The free-flow soup is well-flavoured and has just the right amount of pepper to give it that extra kick. Beware of topping-up too much, as the soup gets progressively spicier! Best enjoyed with steamed rice, or a scatter of You Tiao.

The Braised Pork Trotters dish is well-done, with a good balance of fatty skin and lean meat. Very flavourful, and the sauce is a good topping to our steamed rice. Perfect with a side of Preserved Vegetables.

Beverages: Pre-mixed lime juice and water chestnut are available. However, sitting next to the drinks station, we observed how the drinks are poured out in advanced and topped with ice upon order, which doesn't make it seem very hygienic. Drinks also tend to be very sweet.

Verdict: Still a nice place to drop by for a hot meal anytime you're in the north-east.