As I'm drafting this post, there's only half a container of arrowroot chips left in front of me. This has got to be one of the best versions I've had in a long time - crispy, THICK, golden, sweet and nicely dry. By the end of this draft, I'm quite sure I'd have emptied the whole container. To me, it also signifies the end of another lunar new year celebration. I'm missing the chips already. And the good times, of course.
Anyway.....
To chronologically explain the chain of events that led us to Thaksin Beef Noodle may take as long as the running of Friends (as in that Rachel and Ross sitcom) because it's just too intricate. It involves a closed claypot rice stall by the name of New Lucky, the sporadic case of a Burmese food stall that was also closing earlier that day, some bad luck, improper planning (my bad), a few preserved vegetable mooncakes and the indecisiveness at the food market. Nevertheless, our first ever gathering at Clementi was not in vain when our aunty-killer friend suggested this beef noodle stall.
Since then, I've been returning whenever I crave for some serious beef action. What's there not to like about a bowl of savoury soup containing all the tripe, tendons and briskets the bowl can fill? And when most cuts are well-softened, thanks to the long hours of simmering, you know it's worth a return. Just the sight of the huge pots brimming with hot, mocha-coloured soup and beef itself calls for instant salivation. Slightly sweet, the parts when eaten with a dip consisting of a mixture of vinegar, lemongrass and cili padi is contrastingly blissful. Not unlike any other typical Thai beef noodle setting, a bunch of basil leaves top the ensemble. My only suggestion is to power up the soup by making it more flavourful and aromatic. Add more spices!
And let's not forget the delightful mohingar from Aung Myanmar Food (the stall that closed earlier). What makes it different from the rest that I've tried is the addition of fried, crispy dhal. It certainly gives an interesting texture and some extra sweetness. The usual features of crunchy turnip slices and sourish stock are an addiction. Seriously, I can handle 3 bowls of these at once. I notice that they do serve mixed rice with Burmese dishes. Now, I might not need to travel all the way to Peninsular Plaza afterall.
There's so much good food to offer here at Clementi. The fact that most stalls are within walking distance from the MRT station makes it even more convenient to try. So, what's next? Definitely New Lucky. Not on a Wednesday though. Unbeknownst to me earlier, it's their day off.
Mohingar
The "supreme" version of Thaksin Beef Noodle.
Pad (that was not quite) Thai
Brother's Rojak - a famous stall in the same coffeeshop.
Popiah - another famous stall.
Blk 431, Clementi Avenue 3
Thaksin Beef Noodle, Brother's Rojak, Popiah
Block 449 Clementi Ave 3
#01-211
Singapore 120449
