Wang Jiao Handmade Noodle – Spicy Dry Ban Mian in West Coast Food Centre

Sometimes, when it is raining, all you want is a warm, comforting bowl of noodles.

I was at West Coast Food Centre on a rainy day, looking for one of my favourites – Dry Ban Mian. After receiving the same recommendation from several of my friends who stay nearby, I knew I have to make a trip here.

Wang Jiao Handmade Noodle offers the usual ban mian, U-mee and tom yum noodles. They also have uncommon options such as Fermented Rice Residue Mee Sua (红糟鸡面线) and a more luxurious Clam U-Mee.

I ordered the Dry Ban Mian ($4), the Clam U-Mee, Soup ($4) as well as a side of Dumpling Soup ($3).

My favourite, the Dry Ban Mian ($4) was topped with fried onion, fried ikan bilis, little handmade meat cakes, green vegetables and an egg.

Ban mian is a dish where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I gave the noodles a good mix, ensuring that the sauce, which lay at the bottom of the bowl, coated every strand of noodles. The saucy mess was one that I have loved for most of my life. On the first bite, the chilli sauce was the component that stood out the most. Not that it was particularly spicy, but the taste of red chilli  was strong, and lingered in my mouth. The chilli went exceptionally well with the fried onion, making the combination really addictive. I also liked the meat cakes which were soft and tasty.

The Clam U-Mee, Soup ($4) came with a good portion of clams. I started with the soup which was rich in the flavours of pork, vegetables and clam. Usually, the soup is quite bland, but I was delighted that this was otherwise. The clams certainly made me feel like I was getting a bang for the buck as the dish was only $4.

The Dumpling Soup ($3) came with 6 dumplings that are filled with pork, spinach and a good amount of shredded carrot. This core of each dumpling was crunchy texture and sweet. I can see how this might appeal to people who love their vegetables, but I was craving a more satisfying savoury bite, like the ones I had at Uncle Lee’s.

As the rain fell relentlessly, the hot bowls provided more comfort. I wanted to finish the soup as quickly as I could, because it warmed my stomach, but I didn’t want to finish it all that quickly too, because I wanted to savour it. What a dilemma.

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

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