For over two decades, I’ve watched Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre go through major upgrades while stalls came and went. For one stall, the odds have proven to be no obstacle. For Inspirasi, it goes beyond just running a business.
Established in 1970, this family-run stall has storefront plastered with accolades. The line of hungry customers outside runs so long that it doubles back on itself.
It’s always this way every time I’m here and it’s easy to see how they’ve maintained a solid following. With only four options to choose from, they pride themselves on quick and hearty meals. Take my word for it — Inspirasi is truly the place to be for authentic Malay fare.
The team behind Inspirasi is rather laid back so their opening hours and days tend to vary. To be safe, drop by around mid-afternoon when it’s less crowded and more likely to be open for business.
Don’t be daunted by the queue when you arrive. Since most components of their dishes are pre-prepared, it won’t take more than a minute for your food to be ready once you order.
What I tried at Inspirasi
I had to order the signature Mee Rebus (S$3). I added a side of Begedil (fried potato pancake) (+S$0.50) because the dish simply isn’t complete without this delectable snack. Mee Rebus is a classic Malay dish, with mee (yellow noodles) doused in a rich gravy.
Inspirasi plates their rendition with a hard-boiled egg, half a lime, fried green chilli slices, and fried shallots.
The portion served is much smaller than you’d expect but acceptable given the price point. Some might remember when the dishes used to cost just S$1.50. The slight increase over two decades is a huge feat, considering rising costs.
Made with potatoes, curry powder, ikan bilis (dried anchovies), soybeans and a few secret ingredients, the simple gravy was the true highlight. The starchy gravy had just the right consistency, with a perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavours. The noodles paired so well with the thick, luscious gravy that I was gobbling mouthful after mouthful.
The added crunch from the crispy peppers and shallots also introduced a firm texture to the comforting meal. Remember to squeeze that lime for some zest!
The hard boiled egg was a necessary staple to the dish but I wish they would have sliced it in half.
Hassan Stall: Old-school kampung-style mee rebus & laksa since 1959 at Changi Village Hawker Centre
Of course, you can’t miss out on their signature begedil, which is rather small at the size of a ping pong ball. This appetising carb was well-seasoned and maintained its light and crispy exterior.
If you find yourself at Inspirasi, this is all you need to make your dish complete.
The Soto Ayam (S$3) is one dish that I guarantee will win your heart. Here, chunks of nasi empit (compressed cooked rice) and exceptionally tender pieces of shredded chicken are doused in a turmeric-spiced broth.
The hearty broth was rich, earthy and simply exemplary. The sweetness of the chicken bones had fully integrated into the stock which is boiled for 12 hours. Super addictive! If there was one thing I had to pick on, it’d be the lukewarm temperature of the soup. I prefer a hot, piping bowl of soup and this one just didn’t make the cut.
What is Soto Ayam without the ayam (chicken), right? The fork-tender shredded chicken was easily the highlight of the dish. These supple slices were pillow-soft and just about melt in your mouth.
Despite the generous portion of chicken, I greedily wished there was more. Trust me, this is when you should be selfish and protect your bowl at all costs because it’s simply too good to share!
At Inspirasi, this traditional Malay soup dish uses nasi impit as the choice of carb instead of noodles. The compressed cooked rice chunks are often found in other dishes such as lontong. The nasi impit usually sells out really fast so you’ll need to get there early.
This staple doesn’t hold much flavour but, more importantly, it has a good chewy texture and complements the soup.
But I’m sure anything would have tasted good with that broth which had me slurping everything up to the very last drop.
Final thoughts
Aside from the portions, the Mee Rebus and Soto Ayam at Inspirasi tasted the best to me. Just remember, you’re probably going to need more than one bowl when you’re here because of the small-ish portions. Best to go alone because you’re not going to want to share, seriously.
Expected damage: S$3 – S$3.50 per pax
Shi Xian: Hearty plates of mee siam & mee rebus from $3, sells out by noon
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