I am not a fan of fishball noodles. I don’t even crave fishballs, let alone like them that much. However, with over 1,000 Google reviews and an average of 4.2 stars, curiosity got the better of me, and I ended up at Mingfa Fishball Noodles on Upper Thomson Road.
Located alongside a stretch of eateries, Mingfa Fishball Noodles is difficult to miss with its large blue sign. While there was the option to eat inside, my dining companion and I decided to take advantage of the good weather and eat outside instead.
Sitting outside gave my companion and me a great view of the menu as well. I noticed that they had a Classic Breakfast Combo (S$5), with the option of either a Kaya Butter Toast Set or You Tiao Set. Those who know me know I love both to bits, but if I’m at a fishball noodle shop, I have to stay true to my mission and uncover what makes this shop so good.
Hence, I resisted temptation and chose to order their noodles instead.
What to order at Mingfa Fishball Noodles
The first dish we tried was the Regular Teochew Fishball Noodles (S$6.30). Though I’m a die-hard mee pok fan, I decided to be adventurous today and try mee kia instead, selecting the soup version too. This was topped with ikan bilis, leafy greens, fishballs and fishcakes.
Mingfa Fishball Noodles debuted a range of their frozen ingredients in big supermarkets, such as Fairprice and Shengshiong, and naturally, one of them was their fishballs. So, to say that I had high hopes for this might be an understatement.
The size of the fishball alone blew me away. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it took more than a few bites to simply finish that humble fishball alone. My dining companion and I felt that it was best soaked in the broth, producing a chewy and soft texture upon first bite.
The fishcake portion was generous, and we did not have to treasure-hunt for them. Large, thick pieces were added on top of our noodles, and we felt that they soaked up the broth well, and had a good balance between being savoury and retaining that springy texture.
Despite sitting outside, the broth didn’t make us feel hot at all. It was a mix of feelings – it felt light on our taste buds, but had depth in flavour, coming together to produce a perfect blend.
However, our biggest gripe was with the noodles themselves. We felt that it did not retain the depth of the broth well enough, and could have been better with a bit more flavour, as it lacked its own distinct taste. What made up for it was that it was springy and soft, and when paired with the other ingredients, its flavour was enhanced.
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We swung the opposite way and ordered the Regular Chicken Cutlet Noodle (S$6.50) for our next main. Mee Pok was the choice of noodles, and we opted for a dry tomato base.
To me, what makes a good bowl of noodles is how well the noodles are able to retain the base flavour. Hence, I was looking out for that tangy, sweet flavour from the mee pok.
Look at the way the noodles glisten under the natural light after being mixed together. I felt my stomach grumbling as my dining companion took her time to mix the ingredients, all for me to take a picture-perfect shot.
This did not disappoint. The chicken cutlet was crispy and not oily at all, though we wished it were less dry. What deserves a chef’s kiss is definitely the mee pok here. After being mixed with the tomato base, its rich, umami flavour was seeping through, and I could not put my utensils down.
What blew me away again (as if I wasn’t already) was the juiciness of the mushroom. It presented itself as the inconspicuous ingredient that I didn’t think much of at first, but once I bit into it, it was like heaven on earth for me. I dare say that vegetable haters will be converted after trying just a single piece of this.
As for our sides, what caught my eye was the Fried Teochew Dumpling (S$5.30 for 6 pieces). Portion-wise, Mingfa Fishball Noodles is definitely not lacking in this department. Its golden brown, crispy edges were fried to perfection, filled with a punchy centre. Though crunchy, what could have elevated this dish was a tad more filling.
Who Mingfa Fishball Noodles is best for
They are great for people who want a hearty bowl of noodles at wallet-friendly prices, as well as people who love having various flavours all packed into one bowl.
How to get there?
Mingfa Fishball Noodles is located along Upper Thomson Road. The nearest MRT station is Upper Thomson (TE3), and you should use Exit 3 for the shortest route. Alternatively, you can take a bus and alight at this bus stop: Bef Jln Todak.
Do we recommend Mingfa Fishball Noodles?
Yes! The customisation options are plentiful, and there are many different add-ons, hence you can essentially build your own bowl of fishball noodles to your own liking. Its generous portions won me over, and it is definitely extremely filling, too. I may have to give fishball noodles another chance after this visit.
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