Queue-worthy smoky hor fun & mui fan with to-die-for gravy

We all know Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre as the hawker centre with maddening lunch crowds. I can say without any hesitation that a good portion of those folks were queueing for Hin Fried Hor Fun.

Many Google reviews hold this stall in high regard, stating that they have completely nailed classic local hor fun. Along with that, people expressed their awe over the constant long queue that stretches across the whole row of stalls. Would it be worth the wait? I ventured to Ghim Moh to find out. 

Clearly, no one was joking about the massive queue. Every time one gleeful customer left the queue with their order, more customers joined the line. I was thankful that the wait was not too long, as preparation and payment happened briskly. However, the same person is handling payment and plating of the dishes, so some patience is required.

Hin Fried Hor Fun is manned by 2 gentlemen — one handles customer service and plating while the other preps the ingredients. Right as the hor fun or gravy starts to diminish to dangerously-low levels, the Uncle behind the counter replenishes it with a fresh batch.

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The most impressive fact was that all the refilling was done without a word spoken between the duo, showcasing their fluid teamwork. Definitely worthy of awe, in my opinion. 

Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre was mighty crowded, with almost every table occupied. Other than the usual corporate crowd, there were even tourists here to appreciate this epitome of classic Singaporean cuisine. 

What I tried at Hin Fried Hor Fun

Just a glance is needed to tell that there are 2 different types of gravy to decide between. It turns out that this stall caters to those who cannot eat beef, creating one gravy containing beef and one without. 

With that in mind, I decided to order Fried Hor Fun With Beef (S$6) and Mui Fan With Sliced Fish (S$6), Hin Fried Hor Fun’s core dishes. You can even add on prawns for some extra seafood goodness.

I am a complete sucker for lots of gravy, so I was rather pleased at the generosity of this stall. With one spoonful of just sauce (for curiosity’s sake), I was in bliss. This smooth, thick gravy coated the rice grains perfectly, creating a light savoury taste with each bite. Be sure to mix it thoroughly to get more of the comforting gravy! 

Another note was that as you eat more, the gravy’s flavour loses depth relatively quickly. However, I do prefer my food on the saltier side, so perhaps you may disagree.

I thoroughly enjoyed how delicate the fish slices were with their pleasant soft texture. On the other hand, the Chinese cabbage provided a delicious crunch with a light sweetness. I found myself gobbling each mouthful of rice with both ingredients for extra indulgence.

With a darker hue, the Fried Hor Fun With Beef proves to have a bigger visual ‘wow’ factor, towering over its mui fan companion. Having gotten a whiff of the beef as it was plated, I was practically vibrating with anticipation to dig in.

The beef had its own marinade, which added a wonderful flavour alongside the beef gravy. I adored how pronounced the beef flavour was, truly giving the dish a much needed lift. 

I spotted quite a number of beef slices, significantly more than the number of fish slices in the Mui Fan With Sliced Fish. Hin Fried Hor Fun’s beef will definitely cater to those who despise fatty meat, since the beef slices here only contain lean meat. 

Gravy-wise, I have to say I prefer this one. Compared to the lightness of the fish gravy, this gravy packs a heavier punch, which is more my style.

What I loved most had to be the hor fun. Upon close inspection, you’ll realise that some strands have a charred, darkened surface. It gave  the noodles a fantastic overwhelming wok hei flavour, which I loved. Truly couldn’t get enough in each bite!

Final thoughts

Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre is home to many hidden treasures, and I would say that this has to be one.

Despite being no stranger to crowds, the one in Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre during a weekday lunch period is truly a godzilla among the dinosaurs.  I’ll definitely be sure to drop by during non-peak hours when I’m longing for some comfort food. 

Expected damage: S$6 per pax

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