Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Lor Mee

Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Lor Mee

Lor Mee

Nothing was sponsored, we visited as regular paying customers. Photos in this post were taken between 2000 and 2024 (across 24 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:
Lor Mee, Lu Mian, Lomi, Braised Noodles

Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $4 - $8

List in alphabetical order - click the links to jump to entry

1. Ah Ma Chi Mian
2. Bukit Purmei Lor Mee
3. Fu Chun Laksa & Lor Mee
4. Lor Mee 178
5. Lorong Ah Soo Lor Mee
6. Ma Bo Lor Mee
7. Original Tiong Bahru Lor Mee
8. Shi Ji Noodle Stall
9. Soon Heng Lor Mee
10. Soon Huat Noodle House
11. Xiang Ji Lor Mee
12. Xin Mei Xiang Zheng Zong Lor Mee
13. Yew Tee Feng Zhen Lor Mee
14. Yuan Chun Famous Lor Mee
~~Jue Dai Lor Mee~~
~~Tian Tian Lai Lor Mee~~

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Description:
The Lor Mee is a Singaporean Chinese dish that consists of thick flat yellow noodles and assorted ingredients in a thick viscous braising gravy. Also known as Lu Mian, Lomi, or Braised Noodles, the Lor Mee dish is usually priced around SGD $4 to $8 per serving. It's an affordable, filling dish eaten primarily during breakfast or lunch.

The thick starchy braising gravy that characterises Lor Mee is made with a blend of water, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, white sugar or palm sugar, salt, garlic, ginger, 5-spice powder, shallots, pork bones, prawn shells, and cinnamon, thickened with corn starch or tapioca starch. Some stalls may add other spices or ingredients, such as cloves, star anise, whisked chicken eggs, or oyster sauce. A generous splash of black vinegar, some minced garlic, and a scoop of sambal belacan completes. The braising gravy has a thick sticky gloopy texture with robust meaty savoury salty sweet sour herbal spice flavour.

The majority of garnishing for Lor Mee is braised in the same gravy. Typical ingredients for Lor Mee include the chewy thick flat yellow noodles with grainy sweet flavour, crisp blanched bean sprouts with vegetal sweet flavour, tender braised pork belly with meaty savoury salty herbal spice flavour, bouncy braised chicken eggs with eggy salty sweet herbal flavour, tender crisp deep-fried fish fillets with meaty sweet savoury flavour (either snakehead fish, Spanish mackerel fish, or shark meat), springy fish cake slices with sweet savoury salty flavour, and crunchy 5 spice rolls with meaty salty savoury sweet flavour. Some stalls may also add deep-fried yam / taro fritters, fresh coriander, fresh bird's eye chili, or deep-fried minced pork wonton dumplings.

The Lor Mee will usually have to be eaten quickly, lest the deep-fried ingredients soften in the hot braising gravy, or the braising gravy texture thins out due to the release of water from the vegetables. A filling meal, the potent use of minced garlic in Lor Mee also means there is a tendency for it to linger on your breath. Personally, I like my rendition with lots of black vinegar, and I sometimes swap the noodles for thin rice vermicelli noodles instead.

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1. Ah Ma Chi Mian
@ Bukit Panjang Plaza, 1 Jelebu Road #01-58
Opening Hours: Daily 8:15am – 9:15pm

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $5.50) @ Ah Ma Chi Mian.

Established in March 2020, this brand serves up oodles of noodles. Supposedly named after someone's grandmother to evoke familial bonds.

Their braising gravy is thick and dark, bold with spices. The thick flat noodles have a gentle chew with grainy sweet flavour, contrasted by the crisp bean sprouts with vegetal sweet flavour.

The 5 spice roll is bite sized, tender and crunchy with meaty salty savoury flavour. There's chunky slices of braised pork belly, tender with meaty salty savoury herbal flavour.

A bouncy hard boiled chicken egg with eggy salty sweet flavour completes. Portion size is slightly smaller than elsewhere.

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2. Bukit Purmei Lor Mee
~~@ 109 Bukit Purmei Road #01-157~~

@ 269 Queen Street #01-236
Opening Hours: Daily 7:30am – 3:30pm

Taken in 2012

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $7) @ Bukit Purmei Lor Mee.

Established in the 1950s, and now in the hands of the 3rd-generation, this stall still attracts long queues.

The braising gravy is thick and viscous, with punchy savoury salty sour spice herbal flavours, thanks in part to the generous splash of black vinegar, scoop of minced garlic, and chunky sambal belacan.

The thick flat noodles are chewy soft with grainy sweet flavour, the crisp bean sprouts have vegetal sweet notes, and the springy fish cake is sweet savoury in taste.

The bouncy braised egg has eggy sweet notes, the tender braised pork belly is meaty salty savoury herbal in flavour, while the crunchy chewy 5 spice roll has meaty salty savoury sweet nutty earthy flavour.

Completed with shreds of mackerel fish with meaty savoury salty flavour, and fresh coriander with vegetal sweet herbal flavour.

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3. Fu Chun Laksa & Lor Mee
@ Eunos Crescent Market And Food Centre, 4A Eunos Crescent #01-25
Opening Hours: Wed - Sun 6am – 1pm, Closed Mon - Tue

Taken in 2009

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $4.50) @ Fu Chun Laksa & Lor Mee.

Also known as Hock Choon Lor Mee, this heritage stall has been serving for more than 2 decades.

Regulars love the generous portions, particularly their crisp tender battered dory fish fillets with meaty sweet savoury flavour.

The thick starchy braising gravy with black vinegar, minced garlic, sambal belacan, and coriander, carries herbal earthy salty savoury sour eggy sweet spice flavour.

The richness of the gravy carries the chewy thick flat noodles, the tender braised pork belly, the bouncy braised egg, the crisp bean sprouts, and the crunchy tender hand made 5 spice rolls.

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4. Lor Mee 178
@ Tiong Bahru Food Centre, 30 Seng Poh Road #02-23
Opening Hours: Thu - Tue 7am – 1:45pm, Closed Wed

Taken in 2012

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $5.50) @ Lor Mee 178.

Founded in 2004, this Michelin Bib Gourmand stall often sees long queues for their delicious noodles.

Their braising gravy starts out starchy gloopy, but gets silky thin as you eat. Enhanced with black vinegar, minced garlic, sambal belacan, and parsley, this has savoury sweet herbal sour spice flavour.

The chewy thick flat noodles have a mild grainy sour sweet flavour, and together with the crisp bean sprouts with vegetal sweet flavour, picks up the gravy nicely.

The star is the battered shark nuggets, crispy outside tender inside, crunching satisfyingly with meaty savoury salty flavour.

Completed with tender braised pork belly with meaty salty savoury herbal flavour, and bouncy braised chicken egg with eggy salty sweet notes.

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5. Lorong Ah Soo Lor Mee
@ Hougang Hainanese Village Centre, 105 Hougang Avenue 1 #02-51
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 12pm – 3:30pm, Closed Mon

Taken in 2009

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $5.50) @ Lorong Ah Soo Lor Mee.

This legendary stall has been around for over 50 years, and only operates about 3 hours a day. Queues form well before they open, but thankfully moves briskly.

Their unique spin features chewy shredded braised duck meat, lending a depth of meaty salty savoury flavour.

The braising gravy is viscous, enhanced with black vinegar, minced garlic, sambal belacan, and spring onions, carrying savoury salty earthy herbal spice sour flavour.

The chewy thick flat noodles, crisp bean sprouts, bouncy braised egg, springy fish cake, and crunchy 5 spice roll, all combine to lend grainy sweet eggy savoury salty earthy herbal nutty flavour.

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6. Ma Bo Lor Mee
@ Albert Centre Market And Food Centre, 270 Queen Street #01-67
Opening Hours: Daily 7:30am – 8:30pm

Taken in 2012

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $4.50) @ Ma Bo Lor Mee.

Established in August 2013 by Li Xia and her business partner, this brand is known for serving affordable and delicious bowls of noodles.

Their battered dory fish fillets are the most popular, crispy outside soft inside, with savoury sweet salty flavour.

The thick flat noodles are chewy grainy sweet, the bean sprouts are crisp vegetal sweet, the fish cake is springy sweet savoury, and the braised chicken egg is bouncy eggy salty herbal sweet.

The crunchy tender 5 spice roll carries savoury salty herbal earthy flavour. The braising gravy is starchy gloopy thick, made with 7 different herbs, splash of black vinegar, chunky sambal belacan, scoop of minced garlic, fresh coriander, lend savoury herbal salty sweet spice flavour.

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7. Original Tiong Bahru Lor Mee
@ Bukit Batok West Shopping Centre, 155 Bukit Batok Street 11 #01-324
Opening Hours: Thu - Tue 5:30am – 1:30pm, Closed Wed

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $5) @ Original Tiong Bahru Lor Mee.

Established in 2006 by Andrew Khoo, this stall boasts a thick braising gravy made with pork bones and spices, including cinnamon and 5 spice, enhanced with black vinegar, minced garlic, red chili, and spring onions, carrying lovely robust savoury salty sour herbal sweet spice flavour.

The chewy thick flat noodles have grainy sweet notes, the crisp bean sprouts vegetal sweet notes, and the tender braised pork belly has meaty salty savoury sweet earthy herbal flavour.

The stars are the chunky 5 spice roll that's crisp juicy with meaty salty savoury sweet herbal earthy nutty flavour, and the super crispy fried dough fritters that crunch satisfyingly.

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8. Shi Ji Noodle Stall
@ Seah Im Food Centre, 2 Seah Im Road #01-56
Opening Hours: Wed - Mon 7:30am – 2:15pm, Closed Tue

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $6) @ Shi Ji Noodle Stall.

Operating for over a decade, this stall serves a more-than-decent rendition.

The thick gloop braising gravy carries savoury salty herbal sour spice flavour, which the chewy thick flat noodles with grainy sweet flavour pick up well.

The tender braised pork belly, bouncy braised chicken egg, springy fish cake, and crisp bean sprouts, lend meaty savoury salty herbal eggy sweet flavour.

The tender 5 spice roll has sweet savoury spice notes, though their rendition is different from elsewhere. The battered dory fish fillets are crunchy flaky with sweet savoury flavour, yum.

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9. Soon Heng Lor Mee
@ Beo Crescent Market, 38A Beo Crescent #01-84
Opening Hours: Daily 6:30am – 4:30pm

Taken in 2011

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $5) @ Soon Heng Lor Mee.

Since 2000, regulars have been coming to Madam Chua and Mr Tang stall here for delicious lor mee with shark meat fritters.

The freshly fried golden fritters are crisp crunchy flaky tender, with sweet savoury salty flavour.

Together with the crisp fried wonton pork dumplings with meaty sweet savoury flavour, they lend a beautiful contrast to the thick starchy braising gravy and its savoury salty herbal spice sour sweet flavour.

The chewy thick flat noodles with grainy sweet flavour, the tender braised pork belly with meaty salty savoury herbal flavour, the bouncy braised egg with eggy salty sweet flavour, the crisp bean sprouts with vegetal sweet flavour, and the chunky 5 spice roll with meaty savoury salty spice flavour, completes.

Added crunchy fried dough fritters for greater satisfaction.

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10. Soon Huat Noodle House
@ 237 Serangoon Avenue 3 #01-130
Opening Hours: Fri - Wed 6am – 3pm, Closed Thu

Taken in 2010

Taken in 2021

Taken in 2021

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $4.50) @ Soon Huat Noodle House.

The chewy thick flat noodles has grainy sweet flavour, and the crisp bean sprouts carry vegetal sweet flavour. But I also like to swap for the silky thin rice vermicelli noodles which picks up the thick starchy braising gravy well.

Has to be eaten quickly too, as the robust braising gravy, enhanced with black vinegar, minced garlic, sambal belacan, and parsley, can thin out towards the end, though its savoury salty sweet earthy sour herbal flavour holds all the way.

The tender braised pork belly lends meaty salty savoury herbal flavour, while the crunchy crisp nuggets of 5 spice rolls lend meaty savoury salty spice flavour, so satisfying.

Particularly like the crispy fried wonton pork dumplings with meaty sweet savoury notes in this nostalgic dish, which holds up well structurally despite the hot braising gravy.

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11. Xiang Ji Lor Mee
@ Old Airport Road Food Centre, 51 Old Airport Road #01-81
Opening Hours: Wed - Mon 7am – 3pm, Closed Tue

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $5) @ Xiang Ji Lor Mee.

Having branched off from their legendary competitor over a decade ago, this stall commands a fast moving queue during peak periods.

I like how generous they are with the ingredients, including the chewy thick flat noodles, crisp bean sprouts, bouncy braised chicken egg, tender braised pork belly, soft 5 spice roll, and heaps of flaky fried mackerel fish.

The braising gravy starts out a thick gloopy stew, thinning out to a warm soup as you go.

Added black vinegar, minced garlic, sambal belacan, bird's eye chili, and parsley. This has robust savoury salty herbal sour spice meaty eggy fishy sweet flavour. Nicely filling.

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12. Xin Mei Xiang Zheng Zong Lor Mee
@ Old Airport Road Food Centre, 51 Old Airport Road #01-116
Opening Hours: Tue - Wed 6am – 1pm, Closed Thu, Fri - Sun 6am – 1pm, Closed Mon

Taken in 2012

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $8) @ Xin Mei Xiang Zheng Zong Lor Mee.

This legendary stall was established in 1973, and today is run by 2nd-generation owner Lim Chong Teck. An award-winning brand, they continually attract good queues across their 6 outlets islandwide.

The thick gloopy starchy braising gravy has wisps of egg, enhanced with black vinegar, minced garlic, sambal belacan, red chili, and parsley. Carries robust savoury salty sour earthy herbal spice flavour.

Garnished with chewy thick flat noodles, crisp bean sprouts, tender braised pork belly, bouncy braised chicken egg, soft 5 spice roll, and heaps of flaky fried mackerel fish. Has meaty eggy fishy savoury salty sweet herbal flavour, yum.

Filling and satisfying, the kind of rendition you'll crave.

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13. Yew Tee Feng Zhen Lor Mee
@ 787B Choa Chu Kang Drive #01-241
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 6am – 1pm, Closed Mon

Taken in 2017

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $6) @ Yew Tee Feng Zhen Lor Mee.

Founded in 1997 by Madam Teo Siew Tin, this popular stall is now run by her children, sons Du Han Zhong and Du Han Chuan, daughter Jaycee Du.

The braising gravy has a nice starchy thickness, and enhanced with black vinegar, sambal belacan, and minced garlic, has a deep savoury salty herbal sweet spice flavour.

The thick flat noodles, bean sprouts, and fish cake, are fairly standard, chewy crisp springy in texture respectively, with combined grainy sweet savoury flavour.

But the stars are their hand made items, from the tender braised pork belly with meaty salty savoury herbal flavour, the bouncy braised egg with eggy salty sweet flavour, and the addictive crunchy fried yam / taro fritters with savoury earthy salty flavour.

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14. Yuan Chun Famous Lor Mee
@ Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Road #02-79
Opening Hours: Sat - Wed 7:30am – 2:30pm, Closed Thu - Fri

Taken in 2012

Taken in 2024

Taken in 2024

Lor Mee (SGD $5) @ Yuan Chun Famous Lor Mee.

Established before 1984, this stall has a loyal following who love the thick gloopy braising gravy, carrying meaty savoury salty herbal earthy sour spice flavour.

Derived from the pork bones and herbs stock, enhanced with black vinegar, red chili, coriander, and white pepper. Uniquely, no minced garlic.

The chewy thick flat noodles and crisp bean sprouts lend grainy vegetal sweet flavour, while the thin silvers of tender braised pork belly carry meaty salty savoury herbal flavour.

Standouts here are the minced pork meat balls which are crispy outside soft inside with meaty salty savoury flavour, and the bits of fried dough fritter which crunch loudly with grainy savoury flavour but have to be eaten quick.

Completed with bits of flaky fried mackerel fish which lend pleasant fishy savoury salty notes.