SINGAPORE: Marine Parade Central is small compared with many other HDB Town Centres. It is a place where I used to go when I was young. Back then, there was a Yamaha, and all the parents in the East will take their children there for music lessons. The hawker centre is right beside Parkway Parade, a popular mall in the area. Most will give this hawker centre a miss since you do get more options at Parkway Parade. However, if you don't visit this hawker, you are missing some pretty good food.
Kun Ji Duck Rice and Porridge
If there is only one thing you can have at Marine Parade Central Market and Food Centre, it will be Kun Ji Duck Rice and Porridge. They are known for serving some succulent braised duck. The flavourful soy aroma with a hint of herbs and spices is irresistible. Although they are known for their duck, their roast meats are excellent too. Char Siew is nicely charred, and the roast pork is very crispy. Don't forget to add duck liver or duck gizzard if you love innard; if not, the braised tofu and braised egg is also a great addition to the meal. Finally, to round these all up, it is their fantastic chilli. You literary can taste the dried shrimps.
The rice dishes are between S$3.5 to S$6. You can get a whole Braised Duck for S$38 or Roast Duck for $40. Finally, the side dishes are S$0.5 each.
If you are a fan of duck rice, click here to learn about other Best Duck Rice in Singapore.
D'Authentic Nasi Lemak
For our Muslim friends, D'Authentic Nasi Lemak is the stall to go for if you can only choose one. The smell of the rice is so aromatic that I can get the sweet coconut fragrant even with my mask on. The rice is soft yet not mushy. However, it is the sambal cuttlefish that caught my attention. This is a dish I commonly see in Nasi Lemak in Malaysia but hardly come across in Singapore. Therefore, it is the dish I have to order. The sweet sambal is what ties all the dishes and rice together.
At D'Authentic Nasi Lemak, you order your Nasi Lemak like Nasi Pandang. Get a plate of rice and pick any dishes you like.
Click here to check out Best Nasi Lemak in the East of Singapore (burgernbacon.com)
Apollo Fresh Cockle Fried Kway Teow
Apollo Fresh Cockle Fried Kway Teow has been around for more than 40 years. It has always been in this hawker centre for as long as I can remember. This is no ordinary Char Kway Teow. First of all, this is a char kway teow true to its name, which is translated to "Fried Rice Noodles". Unlike other stalls, it only has Kway Teow (Rice Noodles) and not yellow noodles. Apollo Fresh Cockle Fried Kway Teow is the wet version of the dish which is not commonly found. The noodles are soaked in this eggy mixture topped with fish cake and Chinese sausage cut in large slices.
Tian Kee Carrot Cake
Tian Kee Carrot Cake is a winner of Promising New Hawker during the SG Hawker Seminar, and they serve a mean plate of Fried Carrot Cake. We are inspired by the hawker's story of leaving the corporate world and starting their own business. There are mixed reviews out there, and some stated that the Hokkien noodles need improvement. However, we have only tried their carrot cake, and we love it!
Here are other Top 5 Fried Carrot Cake we love.
Four Seasons Cendol
We finish the meal with this amazing dessert from Four Seasons Cendol. Their cendol (chendol) uses Gula Melaka and the large Kidney beans, which is a massive plus. Moreover, allegedly, Four Seasons Cendol is frequented by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Four Seasons Cendol serves Ching Teng as well. It is not bad, but we still prefer their cendol.
Address: 84 Marine Parade Central, Singapore 440084