Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Foo

That was different. Unlike a typical yong tau foo stall's stacked salad bar-style of ingredient selection, everything at this Chinatown Complex stall (335 Smith Street #02-87) was pre-configured. There were no veggies available, and there were no soy beans in the soup either (nor was there any of that brown sauce). I guess that this was the more traditional way of doing this?

Regardless, I could see why this place always had a long line...it was because of those delightful little ikan bilis fish that they top the noodles with. Perfectly crunchy and savory (and small enough that they don't annoyingly scrape the insides of your mouth), that little bowl of noodles was so much fun to eat that the tofu itself really became more of a distraction.

I still like Orchard Yong Tau Foo, but this one was different enough that I'll easily come back here. The fact that they open at 5:45 AM will also make it a convenient place to hit up if I'm ever locked out of the office too early in the morning again. And if Joe Porridge is open at the time, then I'll run around the corner and pick up some of his yummy yu sheng to go with it.