Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Beef Noodles

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Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Beef Noodles

Beef Noodles
Beef Noodles



Nothing was sponsored, we visited as regular paying customers. Photos in this post were taken between 2000 and 2022 (across 22 years!), as such, the quality of photos varies drastically due to advances in camera technology. Mobile smartphones were in their infancy and had yet to become widespread.


Also Known As:
Beef Noodles, Beef Noodles Mixed, Beef Kway Teow, Gu Bak Kway Teow


Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $3 - $9








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Description:
The Beef Noodles is a Singaporean Chinese dish that consists of various cuts of beef, bean sprouts, and noodles, which can either be served in a soup or dry manner; with the dry version being more common. Also known as Beef Noodles Mixed, Beef Kway Teow, or Gu Bak Kway Teow, the Beef Noodles dish is usually priced around SGD $3 to $9 per serving. It's an increasingly uncommon dish that is typically eaten for lunch or dinner.

All 3 versions of Beef Noodles typically feature tender sliced lean beef shin, succulent beef brisket, gelatinous tendon, chewy beef tripe / stomach, crunchy bean sprouts, and bouncy beef meat balls. These various cuts lend bold meaty savoury salty flavour. The most common soup version is prepared Chinese Teochew style, with slippery kway teow / wide flat rice noodles. It's served in a cloudy and hearty soup / broth made by stewing beef bones, gula melaka / palm sugar, and bovril beef extract for hours. Completed with a garnish of blue ginger, the comforting soup / broth is deeply meaty sweet savoury in flavour.

The Beef Noodles dry version is prepared Chinese Hainanese style, typically with silky chor bee hoon / coarse round rice vermicelli noodles, served in a thick gloopy beef gravy. The gravy is made from stewing then reducing beef bones, bovril beef extract, sweet potato starch, dark soy sauce, star anise, cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Completed with additional garnishes of crunchy roasted peanuts, crisp pickled mustard greens, juicy chinchalok / fermented shrimp paste, zesty lime juice, and fresh parsley, the rich gravy has a complex meaty savoury salty herbal flavour.

The third version is the Hui Chinese Muslim Lanzhou Beef Noodles. This features a clear consommé (made by boiling beef bones, salt, and chicken stock), where beef flank is pre-marinated with a spice mix that includes 5-spice powder, star anise, cloves, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cumin seeds, cardamom, and peppercorns. It's served with chewy hand pulled all-purpose flour noodles, soft daikon radish, red chili oil, and crisp spring onions. This has pronounced spicy salty savoury meaty flavour. A meal of Beef Noodles is usually accompanied by a fiery chili dipping sauce flavoured with lime juice, lending a sharp zesty sour tangy spicy kick.


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1. Authentic Hock Lam Street Popular Beef Kway Teow
@ 6 North Canal Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 7:50pm

Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $7.80) @ Authentic Hock Lam Street Popular Beef Kway Teow.

Now helmed by the 4th generation since its founding in 1921, this legacy brand is renowned for their perfectly cooked beef parts and robust gravy.

They've managed to strike a nice balance of flavours - the rich meaty savoury salty flavour of the thick gravy, contrasted by the vegetal salty sour notes of the crunchy pickled mustard greens, and mild nutty flavour from the crushed peanuts.

The beef meat ball is juicy and springy, while the beef brisket and shin is tender with a light chew, having meaty savoury sweet flavour.

The slippery thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles pick up the gravy well. While I wish the soup was more natural-tasting, I love the sharp spicy sour notes from the chili as it has a good kick.





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2. Blanco Court Beef Noodles
@ Aperia Mall, 12 Kallang Avenue #01-36
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 9pm

Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $12.90) @ Blanco Court Beef Noodles.

This family-friendly casual eatery operated by the 3rd generation has been serving tasty beef noodles since 1979.

They're known for their robust beef broth and gravy, made by stewing beef bones with marrow, resulting in a bold meaty savoury salty flavour with a hint of richness.

The marinated beef shank carries the unmistakable notes of 5-spice, with a firm chew to texture. The beef slices are tender, contrasting the spongy crunch of the beef tripe, while the beef meat ball is juicy with a springy bounce; all having meaty savoury sweet flavour.

The thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles are slippery smooth, better in the gravy than the broth. The chili has a decent strength with a good spicy kick.





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3. Cheng Kee Beef Kway Teow
@ Hougang 203 Coffee Shop, 203 Hougang Street 21 #01-89
Opening Hours: Daily 8:30am – 5pm

Taken in 2015


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $6) @ Cheng Kee Beef Kway Teow.

For well over a decade, this stall has been delighting with its soup rendition, even more so than its about-decent gravy.

The star is the robust soup / broth, rich with meaty sweet savoury herbal peppery spice flavour, without being overpowering. Best paired with the silky kway teow / wide flat rice noodles, which has a soft chew.

The beef cuts are rather small but well cooked and tender, while the tripe is properly spongy crunchy. The beef meat balls have a springy juicy chew, with meaty sweet savoury flavour.

Of note is their robust chinchalok / fermented shrimp paste, which lends a contrasting punchy sour salty shrimpy savoury flavour.





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4. Hai Nan Xing Zhou Beef Noodle
@ Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre, 22 Toa Payoh Lorong 7 #01-06
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 8:30am – 3:30pm, Closed Mon

Taken in 2010


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $6) @ Hai Nan Xing Zhou Beef Noodle.

For nearly 70 years, this stall has been drawing queues for their excellent Chinese Hainanese rendition of beef noodles.

Their signature gloopy thick gravy has a distinct sweet savoury salty meaty flavour, with the gravy simmered for hours. Contrast the richness with a splash of lime juice and crunchy pickled mustard greens, lending a zesty tangy sour vegetal note.

The beef is thinly sliced and blanched quickly, resulting in a springy chew to texture. The natural freshness of the beef shines with meaty sweet savoury flavour.

The tripe has a satisfying chew, while the silky thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles picks up the gravy well. The chili is also fairly punchy, which I love mixing in. Expect queues averaging 20 minutes.





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5. Hong Heng Beef Noodle Soup & Laksa
@ Kebun Baru Market And Food Centre, 226H Ang Mo Kio Street 22 #01-16
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 7:30am – 3:30pm, Closed Mon

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $) @ Hong Heng Beef Noodle Soup & Laksa.

Known for serving 2 dishes which are rarely paired together, this stall's rendition of Chinese Hainanese beef noodles outperforms their laksa.

The beef noodles has a rich, gloopy thick gravy enhanced with beef stock, resulting in robust meaty savoury salty flavour. Slurp it up with the silky thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles, so satisfying.

The beef slices are chewy, the tripe crunchy, and the beef meat balls juicy, all having bold meaty savoury sweet notes. The crunchy pickled mustard greens and lime juice contrast nicely with vegetal salty zesty sour flavour, yum.





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6. Hong Kee Beef Noodle
@ Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Road #01-42
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 11am – 7pm, Sat - Sun 9am – 2:30pm

Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $6) @ Hong Kee Beef Noodle.

This mom-and-pop stall has been serving a robust rendition for over 60 years.

The gravy is thick and gloopy, rich with lovely meaty sweet savoury flavour, thanks to the stock being slow boiled for over 24 hours.

Love how generous they are with the beef cuts, from the lightly chewy beef slices, to the springy beef meat balls, to the succulent tripe which soaks up the gravy.

Complemented by the silky thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles, and a side of that delicious broth. Bold beefy meaty savoury sweet flavours here, good even without the spicy chili.





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7. Hwa Heng Beef Noodles
@ Bendemeer Market & Food Centre, 29 Bendemeer Road #01-86
Opening Hours: Wed - Sat 10am – 2:30pm, Closed Sun - Tue

@ ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn #B4-03
Opening Hours: Daily 10:30am – 8:30pm

Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $5) @ Hwa Heng Beef Noodles.

Hailing from a beloved but now defunct beef noodle stall opposite the old Odeon theatre in the 1970s, you're assured of a good quality bowl here, made with an authentic family recipe that hasn't changed.

They're known for 2 things. The 1st, a robust Chinese Hainanese gravy, a thick and unctuous sauce mixed with beef stock, superior soy sauce, then thickened with potato starch. Paired with lime juice, chinchaclok (fermented shrimp with salt and white vinegar), and chilli. The result is a big meaty savoury sweet salty tangy sour spicy burst of flavour.

The 2nd is the generous cuts of perfectly cooked beef parts - springy beef meat balls, spongy beef tripe, tender medium-rare beef slices, and crunchy beansprouts, alongside silky smooth thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles. Lovely meaty vegetal sweet savoury flavours.

The stall only opens for a limited 4-days per week, and for only 5 hours each time. Needless to say, go early, and prepare to queue for up to 40 minutes.





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8. Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles
@ Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road #01-89
Opening Hours: Thu - Tue 11:30am – 7:30pm, Closed Wed

Taken in 2009


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $7) @ Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles.

Serving tasty and reliable bowls of beef noodles since 1978.

The gravy is medium-thin and less gloopy than elsewhere, yet carries good meaty sweet savoury flavour.

The use of crushed peanuts lends a contrasting crunch to texture, while the silky thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles pick up the gravy well.

Love the medium rare beef slices with a light chew to texture, while the bouncy beef meat balls are springy and juicy.

An overall decent bowl, with a tasty beef stock soup on the side.





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9. Mian Mian Ju Dao
@ Causeway Point, 1 Woodlands Square #04-01
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 9pm

@ New Tech Park, 151 Lorong Chuan #02-01B
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 8pm

Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $6.50) @ Mian Mian Ju Dao.

This under-the-radar stall serves a tasty Taiwanese style braised beef noodles soup.

The deep colour of the soup / broth reveals a robust meaty sweet savoury herbal flavour, and the braised beef brisket is fall-apart tender with big meaty herbal savoury spice notes.

The fresh baby bok choy lends a contrasting crunch with vegetal sweet flavour, while the slippery black fungus / cloud ear fungus holds vegetal earthy sweet notes.

Completed with chewy thin hand-pulled wheat noodles, and optional side of chili for a sharp spicy kick to the broth.





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10. Mr Wong Seremban Beef Noodle
@ Marine Parade Central Market & Food Centre, 84 Marine Parade Central #01-184 – Stall Relocated

@ 929 Tampines Street 91 #01-451
Opening Hours: Wed - Mon 10am – 7pm, Closed Tue

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $8) @ Mr Wong Seremban Beef Noodle.

For well over a decade, Mr. Wong has been serving uniquely delicious bowls of beef noodles, derived from a peculiar Malaysian style.

The thick unctuous gravy has robust meaty sweet savoury herbal flavour, the difference being its distinct sweetness from a sweet black sauce, carrots, and daikon radish, all added to the beef stock.

The garnish of crunchy roasted peanuts, juicy pickled mustard greens, and white sesame seeds, lend a unique nutty vegetal sweet sour salty flavour, lifting the overall dish.

The sliced beef is mildly tender with a light chew, the tripe is spongy with a slight crunch, while the beef meat balls have a satisfying bouncy texture, all with meaty savoury sweet flavour.

The silky thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles complete this excellent bowl. Craving for more.





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11. Nuodle
@ SingPost Centre, 10 Eunos Road 8 #B1-128
Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 10pm

@ Our Tampines Hub, 1 Tampines Walk #01-101
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10pm

Taken in 2019


Taken in 2019


Taken in 2019


Taken in 2019


Taken in 2019


Taken in 2019


Taken in 2019


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $8.80) @ Nuodle.

Possibly the most popular brand for halal Chinese Lanzhou style beef noodles.

The hand-pulled noodles are freshly made in-house, with a choice of thickness - thin, normal (thick), flat, or leaf shape. Cooked till soft and springy with a light chew.

The clear beef soup has big meaty sweet savoury flavour, with the crunchy spring onions complementing with vegetal sweet notes, and the red chili oil lending a spicy kick.

The 5-spice marinated beef shank slices are firm with a moist chew, and meaty savoury salty spice flavour. Would have liked a little more tenderness.

The tender daikon radish with vegetal sweet flavour completes. Option to add-on a wobbly soft boiled onsen egg for its eggy sweet notes.

Separately, the beef meat balls are springy with a satisfying chew, served with the same delicious beef broth and spring onions.





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12. Odeon Beef Noodles
@ JEM, 50 Jurong Gateway Road #05-01
Opening Hours: Daily 11:30am – 8:30pm

@ Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street #03-30
Opening Hours: Daily 8am – 10pm

Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore

Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $8) @ Odeon Beef Noodles.

With the recipe hailing from the famous defunct stall beside the Odeon theatre, this commercialised brand marries the 1980s taste with modernised processes.

The fortifying beef broth and thick gravy both hold a warming savoury sweet herbal flavour, extracted from beef bones stewed for up to 5 hours.

The soup is best paired with silky kway teow / flat rice noodles, while the gravy goes with smooth thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles. Garnished with crisp bean sprouts and crunchy spring onions, lending vegetal sweet flavour.

Both versions have a good portion of beef parts - chewy premium Australian beef slices, tender beef brisket, springy beef meat balls, spongy tripe; all picking up the meaty savoury sweet herbal notes.

Complete with sharp spicy chili for added kick.





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13. The Beef House
@ 218 Syed Alwi Road
Opening Hours: Sat - Thu 7:30am – 4pm, Closed Fri

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $5) @ The Beef House.

The beef noodles here take after the Chinese Hakka style, closely resembling that of a Vietnamese Pho.

The family-run stall is renowned for their handmade beef meat balls, painstakingly made daily using fresh Australian beef. It's minced and seasoned according to the heritage family recipe, resulting in a lovely bouncy springy texture with bold meaty sweet savoury flavour.

The fresh beef slices are medium-rare with a satisfying juicy chew, and robust meaty sweet savoury flavour.

The clear broth holds a full-bodied meaty sweet aroma, from beef bones boiled over 5 hours. Served with silky kway teow / flat rice vermicelli noodles, though the option of thin bee hoon is popular as well. Pure comfort food, yum.





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14. The Beef Station
@ The Venue Shoppes, 2 Tai Thong Crescent #01-05
Opening Hours: Wed - Sun 11am – 9:30pm, Mon 11am – 3pm, Closed Tue

Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $9) @ The Beef Station.

A relatively new contender in the beef noodles arena, this family-run stall has been operating since June 2019.

Their pleasantly light soup carries a simple meaty sweet savoury flavour, unlike elsewhere, no herbs are used. Likewise their thick gravy, which clings well to the smooth thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles.

The beef slices have a light chew, more so than elsewhere, and satisfying meaty savoury sweet notes. The beef meat balls are springy with a straightforward meaty salty savoury flavour, while the soft tripe soaks up the taste of the soup or gravy.

Garnishes of crisp bean sprouts and crunchy pickled mustard greens lend vegetal sweet sour tangy salty flavour. Completed with leafy coriander for that hint of freshness.





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15. Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles
@ Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Road #01-43
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 9:30pm

@ Hillion Mall, 17 Petir Road #01-07
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10pm

Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore

Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $9.90) @ Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles.

This halal Chinese Lanzhou style eatery is renowned for their delicious clear soup, made with an infusion of 15 herbs into water filled with beef bones, which is slow boiled for over 10 hours.

Their authentic beef noodles features: 一清 / 1st clear soup、二白 / 2nd white daikon radish、三红 / 3rd red chili oil、四绿 / 4th green spring onions、and 五黄 / 5th yellow hand-pulled wheat noodles, as well as 5-spice marinated beef shank and beef brisket cuts.

With satisfying tender chewy crisp textures and robust meaty vegetal sweet savoury salty spicy flavours, each bowl is pure comfort, great especially on cold days.





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16. Yi Zun Noodle
@ 60 Joo Chiat Road #01-08
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10pm

Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $10.80) @ Yi Zun Noodle.

Founded by Madam Aisha, this Muslim-owned eatery opened in May 2015, specialising in Chinese Qinghai style beef noodles, made using an authentic family recipe.

Their soup is made from scratch by stewing fresh beef bones for over 3 hours, creating a distinct meaty sweet savoury flavour, light yet delicious.

Each batch of hand-pulled noodles is made by hand-mixing wheat flour, then kneading the dough for up to 30 minutes, resulting in a beautiful springy chew to texture. Choose from 6 different styles of thickness, from thin to wide & flat.

Completed with tender marinated beef shank with meaty savoury salty spice flavour, juicy daikon radish with vegetal sweet notes, and crisp spring onions with a refreshing vegetal herbal taste. Option to add chili on the side, for a mild spicy profile.





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17. Zheng Yi Hainanese Beef Noodles
@ 47 Tai Thong Crescent
Opening Hours: Mon - Thu 10am – 4:30pm, Fri 10am – 3pm, Sat 10am – 2:45pm, Closed Sun

Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Beef Noodles (SGD $7) @ Zheng Yi Hainanese Beef Noodles.

While compiling this list, I've discovered that the Potong Pasir to Kallang Bahru stretch seems to be the beef noodle enclave of Singapore, with up to 4 famous stalls all in proximity in these areas.

This go-to stall for many serves a delicious rendition, thanks to its thick gloopy gravy infused with beef stock, herbs, and spices, giving it an addictive meaty sweet savoury herbal flavour.

The thick fresh beef slices have a succulent chew, the beef balls are slightly springy, and the beef tripe is spongy, all with meaty savoury sweet salty flavour.

The slippery thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles carries the gravy well, while crunchy peanuts, juicy pickled mustard greens, and chili, complete this dish with nutty vegetal tangy sour salty spicy flavour, yum.





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- Bedok Beef Kway Teow – Quality Different From Before
@ Changi Village Hawker Centre, 2 Changi Village Road #01-45

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021






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- Hock Lam Street Popular Beef Kway Teow – Permanently Closed
@ Far East Square, 22 China Street #01-01

Taken in 2008






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- Joy Feast Beef Noodle – Permanently Closed
@ Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street #01-36

Taken in 2011






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18. Horiginal Beef Noodle
@ 739 Bedok Reservoir Road #01-3139
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 8:30pm

@ 78A Telok Blangah Street 32 #02-01
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 8:30pm

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Beef Noodles (SGD $6) @ Horiginal Beef Noodle.

Opened during the pandemic in November 2020, this brand has quickly established itself as being among the best in Singapore. Renowned for offering both Chinese Teochew and Chinese Hainanese versions, and specialising in offering uncommon beef cuts, each bowl is a delight.

The base of slippery thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles, crunchy pickled mustard greens, and crisp bean sprouts, pair well with both soup and dry versions, complementing with mild grainy vegetal sour sweet flavour. The lean beef slices, beef stomach tripe, beef meat balls, beef brisket, and minced beef rolls, are tender with a light chew to texture, carrying lovely meaty sweet savoury salty herbal flavour.

Their soup is light yet rich, simmered with bay leaves, angelica root, white pepper, cinnamon, and other spices, for over 6 hours, giving it a lovely meaty sweet herbal flavour that isn't overly salty. Similarly, their gravy is thick but not heavy or gloopy, with enticing notes that don't overwhelm the palate.

Some chincalok / fermented shrimp paste with shallots and lime juice complete, lending a crisp texture and bright tangy shrimpy salty sour spice flavour.





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