Yong Bak Kut Teh at River Valley Road

Yong Bak Kut Teh is a stall in a coffee shop located just beside UE Square near the junction of River Valley Road & Mohamed Sultan Road. Yong Bak Kut Teh has been operating there for more than a decade and its history can be traced back to the 1960s. It remains under the radar but its Teochew version of bak kut teh is quite good and it has very long opening hours.

Mention “bak kut teh” and Singaporeans are likely to get into a long discussion about where to find the best “meat bone tea” in Singapore. A heated debate may even ensue as to whether the Hokkein version, Teochew version or Klang version is the best.  With so many versions of bak kut teh sold by chain stores as well as standalone stalls all over Singapore, perhaps the right approach is to say there is a time and a place for everything. Sometimes a light clear soup with peppery taste may be best and at another time a complex broth of herbs and spices may give the needed kick.

Yong Bak Kut Teh offers Teochew style bak kut teh with a slight difference. The usual Teochew version has light clear broth but Yong’s broth is dark in colour.

Yong Bak Kut Teh has a variety of side dishes including pig trotters, braised peanuts and dough fritters.

I ordered a bowl of bak kut teh with rice a side dish of braised vegetables. The total bill was $8.50.

Each order of bak kut teh would be individually prepared after an order is taken; so expect to wait for a while for the food to be served. When my bowl of bak kut teh arrived, it was piping hot.

Yong Bak Kut Teh’s dark broth was peppery with a subtle sweetness and had a rich meaty taste.  The quantity and quality of the pork ribs were good. They had meat that was tender which could be easily detached from the bones. On the whole the bak kut teh was well balanced, tasty and enjoyable.

Bak kut teh is said to be best enjoyed with a pot of Chinese tea. I needed coffee that day and had a cup of good strong local coffee. For just under $10 I had a good complete meal. If I am in the area, I would go to Yong Bak Kut Teh again if I feel like a satisfying bowl of bak kut teh.

Ratings:
Food: 4
Service: 3
Value: 3
Atmosphere: 2
Overall Rating: 3 TOPs  

Yong Bak Kut Teh
219 River Valley Rd
Singapore 238277

Opening Hours
Mon-Sat: 7 am to 3 am
Sun : 7 am to 9 pm

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a Singapore food blog by ordinary people looking for places to eat