Herbal Kitchen 大厨帝皇鸡 @ Tanjong Pagar Market

Off to check out the recently renovated Tanjong Pagar Market and Food Center that has just opened!

Heard from colleague yesterday that 1/4 of the stalls are opened and I decide to check it out today despite jokes that there may be additional “pepper” in your food. Haha.. For those who do not understand, the “pepper” refers to dust from shops that are still under renovation.

The hawker is much more spacious, brighter and airy compared to the old one. I had expected it to be quiet but to my surprise, it is bustling and we could not find a seat when we arrived at 12pm! About 80% of the stalls were opened, some familiar and some new, some at their usual spots and some at new locations. Familiar favourites like Traditional Hakka Rice, Pandan Leaf Nasi Lemak, Issan Thai Food, Katong (Peter) Char Kway Teow, Soon Heng Lor Mee, fish soup, roast meat are either sold out or have extra long queues of hungry folks waiting to get their fix after being deprived for close to a year. Prices of the food at most stalls, as expected with any renovation, have gone up and the cheapest price you can expect to pay for a main course is at least $3.

In line with my 2014 NY resolution, I opted for a healthy lunch from Herbal Kitchen. The stall occupies the location previously taken by the Kazan Japanese Cuisine but rename as unit 02-17.

I never had to queue so long at Herbal Kitchen when it was at its old location at the other end of food center. Looks like this new location attracted a bigger crowd.

The uncle with his new signage indicating the new prices of his food.

My Herbal Chicken Soup with Rice ($4.50+$0.50) – the signature soup at this stall which is supposed to help improve your blood circulation, good for your spleen and lungs, helps expels “wind” and enhance your beauty.

Close up of my chicken in the soup.

Fishing out my chicken from the soup. Healthy and yummy but I feel that the soup is not as flavourful as before. Maybe he just started operation after a long break and need some time to tweak the taste. ;p Will definitely be back to try other soup on the menu and other food in the food center!