What comes to your mind when someone mentions Chinese vegetarian food in Singapore food centres? Run-of-the-mill vegetarian beehoon, oil-laden vegetables, or maybe the colouring-laden gluten passing off as mock char siew. It does get pretty boring, especially when you are on a vegetarian diet and crave for tasty vegetarian versions of typical hawker fare.
Jeun VirtueFarm 浚德田 is a relatively new stall at 79A Circuit Road Food Centre which sells vegan renditions of local noodles stall favourites. The stall is run by young hawkerpreneurs who treat their trade as an art form - instrumentals could be heard from the background as the young noodle chef cooks the noodles with skilled precision. The menu is simple and clear: shiitake minced meat noodles and Fuzhou fishball noodles (update: they now serve shrimp and squid ball noodles too!). The serving trays look quintessentially modern Japanese.
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| Fuzhou fishball noodles |
The Fuzhou fishball noodles (S$4.50) is taste-wise very close to its non-vegan cousin. The noodles are thin and springy like la mian, while the Fuzhou fishball is stuffed with finer "bak chor" ("minced meat") fillings that produce a pleasant umami taste. The chilli sauce tastes surprisingly savoury - it's not just one-dimensionally spicy. Yum.
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| Shiitake minced meat noodles |
The shiitake minced meat noodles (S$4.50) has a more refined texture and taste compared to the typical non-vegan bak chor mee that are commonly served in Singapore. The "bak chor" is similar to the Fuzhou fishball fillings, with a more minced and less fatty texture compared to minced meat. The shiitake mushrooms are deliciously seasoned with thick brown savoury sauce, which is not too salty and balances the taste of the springy noodles.
There is also the option of upsizing your noodles (option of +S$0.50 and +S$1.00) and adding fried wantons (S$1.00 for 3 pieces) to your choice of noodles. The fried wantons do not seem to have much "minced meat" fillings, but the fried wanton skins are pretty crispy. Pretty good, considering these are vegan-friendly snacks.
The folks at Jeun VirtueFarm impress us with their delicious vegan-friendly versions of local noodles at fairly affordable prices. In fact, the noodles taste even better than their non-vegan counterparts. Bak chor mee at food centres is never going to be the same again.
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| Jeun VirtueFarm 浚德田 |
79A Circuit Road Food Centre
#01-84
Singapore 371079
Opening Hours:
Mondays - Saturdays: 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
