Bumping into Ben

I cycled past this nondescript spot, nestled between a coffeeshop and a hair salon, multiple times.

Its facade never quite appealed to me.

One rainy night, I decided to take shelter in it rather than pedaling on in the downpour. The point was to wait out the rain with a coffee. The reality was I would go on and discover the best restaurant along Tanjong Katong road.

The Nasi Ayam Rendang left me breathless with its viscously rich gravy that oozes dense spices. Together with the literal melt-off-the-bone chicken drumstick, it was a tantalizing dance on the taste buds.

In the Sate Babi, I found it unrivalled amongst the satays I tried in Singapore. Its tenderness surpassed renowned peers like Ah Pui in Tiong Bahru and Kwong's in Geylang, thanks to the meticulous hand-snipping of tendons. The spice marinade added a sweet profile, elevating the smoky meat.

The Bakmie Spesial is now my personal comfort dish. A trio of roasted, barbecued, and minced pork adorned a bowl of noodles that flaunted an incredible bounciness. The slightly sweet noodles conferred a chewiness that would put most noodle shops to shame (including Eng’s wanton just down the road).

And then came the Babi Kuling – the crispy skin, harmoniously paired with the spice-spiked meat, nearly prompted me to stand up and applaud. In my opinion, all roast suckling pigs should aspire to be prepared in this manner.

Most of the dishes are packed with flavors in their own right, but if more oomph is needed, they have a medley of homemade chilis with escalating spiciness in turn. The proprietor, Uncle Ben is gregarious and makes the effort to greet every guest and to procure their feedback. It doesn’t feel like a restaurant, and more like a chow-down at a home-chef buddy’s kitchen. If you are lucky, he might just whip up an off-menu dish just for you.

Personally, this spot has etched its place for me with its hearty flavours. It is worthy of a detour whenever I am pedalling in the area, regardless of the weather condition.

Ben's Kitchen

273 Tanjong Katong Road (parking available along the street or behind the restaurant)

Note: Photos are collected over multiple visits. Text is 60% generated by AI.