Golden Mile Food Centre: Take a walk back to the good ol' days

Beach Road; Golden Mile Food Centre.

Old but Gold; (photo credits: migrationology.com)

To the unassuming naked eye, the Golden Mile Food Centre looks just like any other dilapidated old hawker centre. However, when one takes a closer look, they'll realise that this ageing hawker centre holds some of Singapore's very best budget eats. In this issue, I'll be walking you through two of the very best must-try dishes the humble-looking Golden Mile Food Centre has to offer.

Relocated here in 1997; Still overwhelmingly popular

Located at the basement of the massive 4 storey complex, unit #B1-35 houses a regional legend that has been housed here since late '97. The modestly-named Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice has been serving up plate after plate of delectable Hainanese chicken rice for near 30 years now, in one location or another. The stall is well known for one very good reason. It serves up restaurant-standard chicken rice for amazingly good rates. Here you can get a decent meal for 3 for just  S$10.

S$7 for all of that

But really, what attracts people is not the reasonable pricing but the absolutely incredible food. The de-boned chicken, and they really give you the whole chicken, is cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of tenderness that it almost melts in your mouth. The meat is then served in one of their signature green plates before being drizzled with a specially-made "secret" chicken sauce that brings out all of the meat's potential, giving the chicken a full-bodied flavour. When eaten with rice, the chicken has that "just-right" amount of saltiness and an irresistible aroma that makes everyone keep coming back for more. Keep a lookout for the speedy yet comical serving auntie, who is always running around to deliver food to diners.

le meilleur du meilleur

Chicken rice not exactly your cup of tea? Don't worry, the Golden Mile Food Centre has more delights to offer.

In the end, nothing really beats a great bowl of dumpling noodles. Once again, the Golden Mile Food Centre doesn't disappoint. The otherwise-quiet unit #B1-39 serves up one of the best dumpling noodles in the area. Simplicity is the name of the game here, so your only choice is between a Dumpling Noodle-Soup or a "kon-loh" style Dry-Noodles with Fried Dumplings. Rest assured, neither disappoints. Whichever style you choose to have your meal in, the stringy yellow noodles are well-cooked, with just the right amount of softness and chewiness.

Combine with Fresh Sugar Cane Juice for the best lunch you'll have in a very long time...

Tempting enough?

Whilst the noodles are a class act, the real pièce de résistance here is the dumplings, which are simply splendid.  The dumplings are stuffed full of completely lean minced-pork mixed with a few cubes of diced water chestnut and a variety of spices. The result? A wonderfully crunchy yet tender texture mated to an astonishingly aromatic taste. Combine this with the beautiful noodles, and you get what is one of the best Dumpling Noodles in Singapore. And for a bargain-basement price too: a Large bowl of noodles which would stuff even the most hungry of patrons costs only S$3.00.

From decent Western cuisine to the most traditional Asian delicacies, the Golden Mile Food Centre has it all. Pay the grand old complex a visit at 505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583 for a great walk back in time to local hawkers serving up piping hot delicacy after delicacy.

Though Singapore is at the forefront of the most modern cities in the world, this hulking complex, concealing such delights, is a grand reminder of the nostalgic, good old days.