Hup Choon@Binjai

Binjai Park is a "rich man's" residential area. I remember jumping into a friend's chauffeur driven car and being driven to her Binjai Park residence where we would spend after school hours eating lunch and relaxing. We would then be driven back to school for our ECA (extra-curricular activities). It was a luxury and the 7 of us always felt rather privileged to make the trip once a week. I can't recall what we spent time talking about. Probably movie stars and teachers!

Binjai Park has other secrets other than Ivins and a wine bar alongside antique furniture shops. In a coffee shop at Binjai Park is Hup Choon Seafood "cze cha" stall. Don't bother going any later than 6.30pm on weekends. You won't find a seat and the "ta pau" queue is long. However, you can phone in to order and they will give you a time for pick up.

I love their sweet sour pork - all lean meat and not chunks of fat and flour in tangy sauce. They have a wide selection of vegetables and their sambal sweet potato leaf is delicious. Stir fried broccoli with garlic is nice and "cheng". Ask them for what is available for the evening. Try the cereal prawn which has a tinge of chili padi hotness but not overwhelming. Bitter gourd omelet can be a little oily but tasty. Ask for oyster omelet if you like oysters. One dish meal include their fried rice, hor fun and fish with bitter gourd rice soup. All reasonably priced and yummy. Very home cooked taste.

They have lots more on their menu and all very good. It's a coffee shop so don't expect any ambience.

The adjoining coffee shop got taken over by a pizza joint. There went our favourite prata and tosai stall, nasi padang and mee rebus stall, fish ball noodle and laksa stall and great coffee shop kopi as well as a "mang chang" kuh stall. Now, only pastas and pizzas. Sigh... I hope this kopi tiam stays. Burp, burp, burp, burp for me!

Hup Choon Seafood

1 Binjai Park

Singapore 589818

Tel: 6468 4081

Open 5.30pm - 10pm

Rating by BURPS

5 BURPS - worth every burp - MUST go.

4 BURPS - try to go

3 BURPS - if got time then go

2 BURPS - let other people go

1 BURP - anyone also no need to go

0 BURP - DON'T go