Fei Ma Hakka YTF — chilli version ($0.80/pc)!
Fei Ma Hakka YTF Tanjong Pagar — DIY picks in spicy chilli sauce: fried tofu, mushroom, lady finger, broccoli, lettuce, side broth. $0.80 per piece.
Lunch today: Fei Ma Hakka YTF at Tanjong Pagar, this time the chilli sauce version. 😋
What was in the bowl ($0.80/pc picks):
- YTF picks dressed in a bright red chilli sauce.
- Fried tofu cubes (2 large pieces).
- A whole shiitake mushroom.
- Lady finger (okra) stuffed with fish paste.
- Broccoli, bok choy and chives for greens.
- A side of clear soup with chopped scallions.
Yong tau foo (酿豆腐) is the Hakka dish of tofu and vegetables stuffed with fish or meat paste, and Fei Ma does the popular DIY format: you pick your own pieces from the display, priced at $0.80 each, then choose how you want them served. Last visit I had it with the sweet sauce, this time I went for the chilli sauce version.
The bright red chilli paste dominates the plate and gives everything a sharper, spicier kick than the mellow sweet sauce. The fried tofu and fried beancurd items are the ones that benefit most, their craggy, absorbent surfaces soak up the chilli beautifully, while the fish-paste-stuffed okra brings that signature bouncy YTF bite. The fresh broccoli, bok choy and the clear side soup keep the whole thing balanced rather than overwhelming.
Overall: 4.2 / 5. The chilli version was sharper and punchier than the sweet sauce, the fried tofu held the chilli well, and the fresh greens balanced it out. Same Fei Ma reliability. 😋👍🏼
