Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Fried Oyster Omelette

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Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Fried Oyster Omelette

Fried Oyster Omelette
Fried Oyster Omelette



Nothing was sponsored, we visited as regular paying customers. Photos in this post were taken between 2000 and 2023 (across 23 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:
Fried Oyster Omelette, Orh Luak, O-Chien, Hao Jian,
Fried Oyster Egg, Orh Neng, Hao Dan


Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $6 - $15








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Description:
The Fried Oyster Omelette is a Singaporean Chinese Banlamese / Minnanese (Teochew and Hokkien) dish that consists of pan-fried eggs, starch, oysters, and aromatics. Also known as Orh Luak, O-Chien, or Hao Jian, the Fried Oyster Omelette dish is usually priced around SGD $6 to $15 per serving. It's regarded as a decadent treat, typically eaten for lunch, dinner, or supper.

The typical Fried Oyster Omelette begins with the starch, a blend which may include one or more of the following - tapioca starch, sweet potato starch, potato starch, all-purpose flour starch, or corn starch. The starch is pan-fried with whisked eggs, fish sauce, and hot vegetable oil, and depending on the stall, can range in texture from gooey sticky, to crispy crunchy. Towards the end, juicy fresh oysters are added, and folded together with the mix.

Most stalls will garnish the Fried Oyster Omelette with spring onions and parsley, and serve it with a spicy sour sweet dipping sauce of lime juice and chili on the side. The Fried Oyster Omelette itself should carry eggy savoury salty briny starchy vegetal herbal flavour, with some bits gooey, and some bits crisp.

A popular variation of Fried Oyster Omelette omits the starch in place of more whisked eggs, resulting in a distinct fluffy texture with pronounced eggy sweet savoury flavour. This variation may be known as Fried Oyster Egg, Orh Neng, or Hao Dan, and typically has a higher price point. Some stalls may choose to serve Fried Oyster Omelette on a sizzling hot plate, while some prepare it similar to versions from other countries.


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1. 85 Bedok North Fried Oyster
@ 85 Fengshan Market & Food Centre, 85 Bedok North Road #01-09
Opening Hours: Daily 4pm – 2am

Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Fried Oyster Omelette (SGD $5) @ 85 Bedok North Fried Oyster.

This popular supper spot has decent quality of dishes.

Their version has more distinct chunks of fluffy egg and soft crisp potato starch, making it great for those who don't like it mixed.

The oysters are medium sized and juicy. Lends briny salty sweet flavour to the smoky eggy savoury notes of the base. Chili has a nice spicy sour kick that builds on the palate.





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2. Ah Chuan Fried Oyster Omelette
@ Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre, 22 Toa Payoh Lorong 7 #01-25
Opening Hours: Wed - Mon 6am – 6pm, Closed Tue

Taken in 2010


Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Fried Oyster Omelette (SGD $5) @ Ah Chuan Fried Oyster Omelette.

Among the most renowned stalls around, Ah Chuan and wife served for over 50 years, having since handed over the day-to-day running of the stall.

They're well regarded for their crisp yet chewy chunks of potato starch batter, fluffy chunks of egg, and juicy large Korean oysters, finished with crunchy parsley.

Seasoned with fish sauce, this carries bold smoky eggy savoury sweet salty briny flavour. A tad on the greasy side. The lime juice infused chili helped contrast nicely with its spicy sour zesty tangy kick.





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3. Geylang Lor 29 Hokkien Mee
@ 396 East Coast Road
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 12pm – 9pm, Closed Mon

Taken in 2010


Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Fried Oyster Omelette (SGD $6) @ Geylang Lor 29 Hokkien Mee.

Their rendition is delicious, with equal bits of potato starch and egg, crisp chewy fluffy in texture with lovely smoky eggy savoury sweet flavour.

The oysters are medium and juicy, lending a briny salty sweet note, while crisp parsley bursts with vegetal herbal sweet flavour.

The lime infused chili has a mild sour spicy kick, not overwhelming.





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4. Ghim Guan Fried Oyster
@ Circuit Road Market & Food Centre, 79 Circuit Road #01-60
Opening Hours: Thu - Tue 4:30pm – 9:30pm, Closed Wed

Taken in 2017


Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Fried Oyster Omelette (SGD $4) @ Ghim Guan Fried Oyster.

3rd-generation hawker Ang Poh Huat serves a rendition that carries good wok hei / breath of the wok, fragrant and smoky.

The regular version, pictured, has fluffy egg and chewy potato starch, with a good ratio of crisp to soft, carrying smoky eggy sweet savoury flavour. Crisp spring onions and parsley lend vegetal herbal sweet notes.

The oysters are small, plump, fresh, bursting with briny salty sweet flavour.

He also serves a unique no-starch oyster omelette rendition that features garlic chili served gravy style, blanketing the dish in piquant goodness.





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5. Hock Kee Fried Oyster
@ Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre, 49A Serangoon Garden Way #01-19
Opening Hours: Tue - Fri 7:15am – 2pm, 5:45pm – 10pm, Sat - Sun 7:15am – 3pm, 5:45pm – 10pm, Closed Mon

Taken in 2009


Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Fried Oyster Omelette (SGD $6) @ Hock Kee Fried Oyster.

Hawker husband-wife team Simon Poh and Joey Lim started off in 1997, and till today, still work the dual woks at their stall, frying up local favourites with strong swift movement.

The potato starch goes in first, then the whisked egg, cooked till the surface is slightly crisp, slightly chewy. Then fresh oysters, plump and juicy, are swirled with the batter till fluffy.

Garnished with fresh crisp parsley, paired with a sharp chili. Has lovely smoky eggy sweet savoury briny salty herbal flavour.





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6. Hougang Oyster Omelette & Fried Kway Teow
@ 435A Hougang Avenue 8
Opening Hours: Wed - Sun 11am – 7pm, Closed Mon - Tue

Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Fried Oyster Omelette (SGD $6) @ Hougang Oyster Omelette & Fried Kway Teow.

For over 32 years, wife-husband duo Lim Suan Eng and Ong Lim Chong have perfected their wok skills, churning out plate after plate of exquisite, delicious local favourites.

Mr Ong specialises in the Fried Oyster Omelette (while Mdm Lim specialises in Char Kway Teow), frying large plump oysters with potato starch batter, eggs, and pork lard - yet his rendition isn't overly greasy, having more crispy bits than most.

The contrast of crispy fluffy soft juicy creamy textures, and robust smoky savoury sweet briny salty flavour, are outstanding.

Their home made chili is a winner, infused with lime juice and garlic, bursting with sour tangy zesty herbal spicy sweet notes.





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7. Hup Kee Fried Oyster Omelette
@ Newton Food Centre, 500 Clemenceau Avenue North #01-73
Opening Hours: Tue - Sat 6pm – 12am, Closed Sun & Mon

Taken in 2010


Taken in 2019


Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Fried Oyster Omelette (SGD $8) @ Hup Kee Fried Oyster Omelette.

Famed as a hawker icon even before appearing in the 'Crazy Rich Asians' movie, this stall has been operating since 1966, and is now in the hands of the 2nd generation.

They're known for their fluffy golden brown egg omelette folded with crisp potato starch, not overly greasy, with a homely smoky eggy sweet savoury salty flavour.

A generous portion of small but fresh juicy oysters sit on top, lending briny salty sweet flavour. Crisp parsley with vegetal herbal sweet flavour to complete.

Pair with the sour spicy tangy zesty chili dipping sauce for shiokness.





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8. Song Kee Fried Oyster
@ East Coast Lagoon Food Village, 1220 East Coast Park #01-15
Opening Hours: Thu - Tue 4:30pm – 9:30pm, Closed Wed

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Fried Oyster Omelette (SGD $5) @ Song Kee Fried Oyster.

Queues to order at this popular stall can stretch up to 30 minutes, more so now that they've gained a Michelin Bib Gourmand award.

Their rendition has a nice helping of small but juicy fresh oysters, bursting with briny sweet salty flavour.

The mix of gooey crisp potato starch and fluffy egg, topped with crisp parsley, carries smoky eggy sweet savoury herbal salty flavour. They cook it slightly wet, with a bit of gravy.

The lime infused chili has a good zesty tangy sour spicy kick, lingering on the palate.





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- 123 Fried Kway Teow & Oyster – Permanently Closed
@ Geylang Bahru Market And Food Centre, 69 Geylang Bahru #01-23

Taken in 2018






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- Ah Hock Fried Oyster – Permanently Closed
@ Whampoa Food Centre, 90 Whampoa Drive #01-54

Taken in 2011






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- Bugis Street Fried Kway Teow – Permanently Closed
@ Longhouse, 183 Upper Thomson Road #01-19

Taken in 2009






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- Geylang Lor 9 Fresh Frog Porridge – Quality Different From Before
@ 235 Geylang Road

Taken in 2010






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- Makansutra Gluttons Bay – Quality Different From Before
@ Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Avenue #01-15

Taken in 2009






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- Nam Heng Restaurant – Permanently Closed
@ 941 Upper Serangoon Road

Taken in 2011






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- Soon Lee Fried Oyster – Permanently Closed
@ Eunos Crescent Market and Food Centre, 4A Eunos Crescent #01-26

Taken in 2010






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