Old Shifu Charcoal Porridge

老师父火炭粥 Old Shifu Charcoal Porridge in Tiong Bahru is a small restaurant serving traditional charcoal-brewed porridge and other cheap and good food in air-conditioned comfort.

Porridge in Tiong Bahru

Tiong Bahru is a place for cheap and good food. Enjoying a bowl of comforting porridge is one of the simple delights associated with this popular foodie neighbourhood. The famous Ah Chiang Porridge, operating in an old school coffeeshop with tables out by the roadside under an awning, has been serving affordable bowls of porridge bliss for years

Old Shifu Charcoal Porridge at Seng Poh Road is the new kid on the block for the comfort porridge. According to an article in 8Days, Cher Kee Chiang was “the second-generation owner of a Cantonese chok joint originally started by his wife’s uncle in 1968 – at the corner of Eng Watt St and Tiong Poh Road in Tiong Bahru where Ah Chiang’s HQ joint is located – but it was a “no-name” operation back then“. When the chok business was sold and renamed Ah Chiang’s Porridge, Kee Chiang stayed on as a cook. In 2021, he teamed up with a business partner to start Old Shifu Charcoal Porridge.

The porridge restaurant at Seng Poh Road is air-conditioned and can seat about 50 . The interior decor is simple but the place is pleasant and comfortable. The chairs have cushioned seats.

Menu of Old Shifu Charcoal Porridge

The menu of Old Shifu Charcoal Porridge naturally features porridge cooked over a charcoal stove. The are many variety of porridge – minced pork, pig’s liver, fish, century egg, cuttlefish, frog, watercress vegetable and more. The ingredients can be combined in numerous permutations. Besides porridges, fried rice and mee sua are also on the menu. In addition, there are affordably priced zhi char dishes such as ginger chicken, stir-fried frog legs and salted fish with beansprouts.

Below are pictures of the menu.

There are also special breakfast sets and promotional bundles from time to time.

Porridge & Fried Mee Sua at Old Shifu

We ordered the Minced Pork Porridge ($5.50) with Egg ($0.60), Century Egg with Minced Meat Porridge ($5.50), Fried Mee Sua ($8.80), Cai Poh Omelet ($6.80) and Thai Style Tofu ($6.80).

Each bowl of porridge was served piping hot. The porridge, prepared with just rice and water and no additional broth base or seasoning, was light and smooth. It was neither too thick nor too watery. We were not discerning enough to be able to tell if the porridge was cooked over charcoal fire or otherwise.

The flavour in the bowl would come mainly from the toppings and the soy sauce and pepper that we could add to taste. The marinated minced pork was tender and palatable.

The Cai Poh Omelet and Thai Style Tofu were simple well-prepared dishes that went well with the porridge.

The Fried Mee Sua was stir-fried flour vermicelli with lots of other ingredients, including egg meat and seafood. The mee sua had a nice golden brown colour and was not too dry and not too soggy. It had a nice aroma and tasted good.

Food that Warms Heart

The next time you want porridge in Tiong Bahru you can head to the old school Ah Chiang or to air-conditioned Old Shifu Charcoal Porridge. You will get good comfort food at both places. At Old Shifu Charcoal Porridge, there are also options for those in your party who may not want porridge for that day. Old Shifu Charcoal Porridge is a comfortable place in Tiong Bahru for good food that warms your heart and fills your belly.

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

Old Shifu Charcoal Porridge
58 Seng Poh Road #01-17
Singapore 160058

Tel: +65 8201 8668

Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri: 7 am – 2 pm; 5 pm – 8.30 pm
Sat, Sun, PH & Eve of PH: 7 am – 2 pm; 5 pm – 9 pm

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The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
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