26-6-2023 (SINGAPORE) Aaron Wong, a finalist in the inaugural season of MasterChef Singapore in 2018, has been making waves in the culinary scene. Following his successful run on the popular cooking competition, Wong ventured into the food industry by establishing Jiak Song, a mee hoon kueh hawker stall in Telok Blangah. Today, Jiak Song has expanded into a chain of outlets, further cementing Wong’s reputation as a talented chef.
Now, Wong has set his sights on a new venture—a wonton mee stall located in an industrial canteen in Bukit Merah. The stall, aptly named Legend Wanton Mee, offers patrons a delectable bowl of noodles for a flat price of S$5.50. Diners have the option to choose between a soup-based or dry version. Legend Wanton Mee is an extension of Wong’s successful pop-up concept called Wang Ji Wanton Mee, which made its debut last year at the renowned Singapore Food Festival. Wong’s inspiration for creating his own version of “good wonton mee” stems from his extensive experience of consuming countless bowls of this beloved dish across Singapore and Malaysia.
In describing his wonton mee journey, Wong, who works full-time as a professional underwater photographer, expressed his frustrations, stating, “None had gotten it all right. If the sauce is perfect, the noodles may lack the desired texture. And if the sauce and noodles are good, the disappointingly dry char siew (barbecued pork) falls short. Even when the stars align, and the noodles and fatty char siew are spot-on, the accompanying vegetables often leave much to be desired.”
During the Singapore Food Festival, Wong’s wonton mee was priced at S$12 per bowl and featured slices of succulent Kurobuta pork belly char siew. However, customers should not expect the same premium ingredient at his Bukit Merah stall, as it aims to be more wallet-friendly, offering the delectable dish at S$5.50 per plate. Nevertheless, the char siew is still prepared in the traditional KL-style, delicately roasted with a caramelized glaze.
In addition to the wonton mee, Wong takes pride in serving wontons with a generous filling of “at least 15g” of meat, ensuring that customers do not experience the disappointment of meager portions. He humorously shared that during his initial tests, the wontons weighed between 12g and 15g each.
Sharing the same space as Legend Wanton Mee is Wong’s upcoming steamboat concept, Guo Jin (meaning ‘extreme pot’ in Chinese). The steamboat stall, currently in the planning stage, draws inspiration from the renowned character Guo Jing in Chinese author Louis Cha’s novel, The Legend Of The Condor Heroes. Wong revealed that the menu and prices for Guo Jin are still being finalized, but hinted at a classic, homestyle steamboat experience reminiscent of Chinese New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Food enthusiasts can find Legend Wanton Mee & Guo Jin Steamboat at Stall 6, Maddox Canteen Bar, 3752 Bukit Merah Central, Singapore 159848. Legend Wanton Mee operates from Monday to Saturday, 8:30 am to 2 pm.
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