Hao Lai Ke (好莱客) – Delectable Chinese Food in Bedok by Ex-Din Tai Feng Chef!

Now, where have I seen this before?

Hao Lai Ke (好莱客) has been receiving legions of customers ever since people caught wind of the restaurant quality food here. The waiting time can go up to 2 hours and that was a clear indicator that I should be there early to beat the queue, and also to ensure that I don’t make a wasted trip. The worst thing that could happen is making a trip there and being gently slapped with “sorry, sold out”.

Hao Lai Ke opens for dinner at 6 pm but when I arrived at slightly past 5 pm, there were already several people asking if they were open. I patiently waited till about 5.40pm when they announced that they were open. As soon as the stall lights turned on, a queue formed behind me. The snaking queue was almost spilling out of the kopitiam.

I ordered the Pork Ribs Fried Rice ($6), which looks just like the one you can get Din Tai Feng. I also got the Dan Dan Noodle ($4.5) and Mouthwatering Chicken ($5.2).

The Dan Dan Noodle ($4.5) looked irresistible to a noodle-lover like me. The noodles came topped with a serving of braised minced meat, chopped spring onions, and peanuts.

I gave the noodles a good mix and hastily slurped up a big mouthful. So shiok! The springy noodles were a tad chewy and soaked up the sauce really well.

The fragrance of the peanuts together with the spiciness and acidity of the sauce was what made the dish really delicious.

I reached for a piece of the Mouthwatering Chicken ($5.2). The dish looked really spicy and oily, and extremely appealing. My mouth couldn’t help but water. The slices of chicken thigh were slightly cold, nutty, and supple. This was one of my favourite dishes!

Don’t be alarmed by the cold chicken at Hao Lai Ke, the dish is supposed to be served this way. I appreciated that they used boneless thigh meat, unlike the chicken chunks that are usually filled with bones offered at many places.

Finally, the headliner, the Pork Ribs Fried Rice ($6). The pork ribs were tender and comparable to Din Tai Feng’s. However, they were missing the slight glazed crispy exterior that makes Din Tai Feng’s pork ribs so magical. The egg fried rice was sufficiently fragrant and packed with the delightful aroma of egg. But again, the rice was lacking the oiliness and grain texture that’s characteristic of the fried rice at Din Tai Feng.

Sure, Hao Lai Ke is no Din Tai Feng. But at $6, it is extremely value-for-money. I’m sure that’s what the long queues of people have realized as well. They also have other tempting options such as Tomato w/ Egg Noodle ($4.5) and Mala Beef Noodle ($5) which I wished I had the stomach space for. Definitely coming back to Hao Lai Ke for more!

MissTamChiak.com made an anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to 好莱客Hao Lai Ke. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

For more food videos, check out our official YouTube channel! You may also wish to check out Shi Xiang Ge, a ramen stall in Bishan helmed by Ex-Crystal Jade chef!

Join us on our Telegram channel!